Route 152 doings:
By Don Doucette
DODGEVILLE POND
Now is the time for a rare view of Locust Valley Brook at South Main Street. There has been some brush clearing and the brook is presently visible. This is close to South Main Street as Locust Valley Brook joins the end of Thacher Brook before all flowing into upper Dodgeville Pond. Locust Valley Brook drains from near Hemlock Drive, culvert crosses under Locust Street at the big curve and thence through wetlands and then down through the former golf course and Jack Gaffney’s former dairy farm before reaching South Main Street.
Slightly upstream, another small brook joins Thacher Brook near South Main Street. I inwardly refer to that short tributary as Pappy’s Brook. Pappy Tatreault (sp) was the last horse and wagon rubbish collector in Attleboro with a make-do rubbish wagon with automobile tires. The horse and wagon with Pappy reining frequently clopped-clopped-clopped at a trot through Attleboro’s downtown via Park Street. During his later years, Pappy peeled spuds outside behind Izzy Solomer’s, Barney’s Diner on Bank Street – KP style.
Pappy’s old dump still exists. That’s down Gaffney’s Farm lane and then a side lane to the left through a small red maple swamp to Pappy’s former dump hole. He filled a glacial kettle hole (former vernal pool) in the woods and by now the forest has taken hold and is obscuring the old dump site.
My father told the story about Pappy’s son flying a small plane years ago, was doing low pass-by loops and crashed and was killed on a glacial esker leading to Pappy’s dump and Gaffney’s Farm There are houses presently built on that same gravel esker.
From South Main Street, the view of Jack Gaffney’s former dairy farm homestead backed by a gallery of mature white pine with the red maple swamp to the left, with dairy cows grazing in the foreground near the brook at South Main Street and with untouched Oak Hill looming as a backdrop, was once one of the most beautiful vistas in (East) Attleboro. All gone now.
Of special mention, the beautiful weather vane restoration atop the Hebronville church.
Another special mention, the revised entry and bold new sign leading visitors to the Gammino Pond Conservation Area just north from the Seekonk Library along Route 152. Gammino Pond receives the waters of Coles Brook before joining with Central Pond. The pond is a favored feeding site for Great Blue Heron.
Enjoy!
Don Doucette
“Ten Mile River Watershed Rambles”
Friends of the Ten Mile