The Map

There are three main categories of things that you will be able to find on this blog: 1. Old Structures, 2. Histories and 3. Nature. The latter of these includes pictures and descriptions of animals, plants and insects that I found of particular interest and did some research into. The primary reason that I think people will be coming to this site however, is to find and understand the various remnants of buildings, hidden tunnels etc that exist within the park. The best way to access these is through this map. Click the map and each foundation, solitary confinement block, hospital foundation etc, will be noted at its specific location and will include a link that will give you a much more detailed account of what is there and any research that I have done to uncover its previous use. These will be written in this blog, but scrolling haphazardly through this blog may not be the best way to access all of the information here. Also, please note the labels on the left hand side of the blog, those will be a help to trying to find specific types of entries.

Buck Moth Caterpillar

So this guy was walking....crawling... confidently down the center of the dirt road, just after the entrance (#1) to the park. I hadn't seen one of these before and after a little blind research, I believe this is a Buck Moth Caterpillar. Good thing I didn't try to pick it up, I guess it packs quite a punch. Each of those little barbs is hooked to a poison sack that can lead to everything from the usual itching, right up to muscle spasms and seizure. They range all the way up the east coast and seem to be a serious problem in Louisiana where they are actually sprayed back with pesticides. There is even a dreaded "Buck Moth season" down there. They feast on Oak trees. Guess I'll have to stay away from these guys. On your way sir...

The History

This is going to end up being an ongoing entry. The history of Rutland State Park is actually several histories, and some of them are pretty cool. Within this park there are prison camps, "healing" spring waters, hidden cemeteries, mass murders and myriad personal histories that, with help and luck, I will try to uncover and present here. The park has two historical "hearts": The Prison Camps, and Coldbrook Springs. Each of these thrived for a time, given in their own way, and met their end with the clearing of the area for the Quabbin Reservoir Aqueduct system.
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