By Bill Kirk, bkirk@eagletribune.com The Eagle-Tribune
Starting around 7000 BC, it is believed the Algonquin Indians started using the site, building fish weirs in Cochichewick Brook and sometimes even burning the property to flush out game or improve the soil for agriculture.
When colonists arrived in the 1600s, they cut timber and cleared the land to make way for livestock pastures.
In the 1700s, the site took on a more industrial use, as hydro power from ponds and streams off Lake Cochichewick was used to power lumber and grist mills.
And in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the property was used for recreation, becoming home to the clubhouse of the North Andover Country Club, where members would gather before paddling across the lake in canoes to play golf.
More recently, the Trustees of Reservations has decided to incorporate much of that history into its management of the property, now an active recreational area, as well as habitat for a growing diversity of plants and animals, in addition to being the source of North Andover’s drinking water.
Weir Hill is in North Andover, just a few minutes from the busy Route 114 business corridor. From Route 114, take Andover Street to Great Pond Road to Stevens Street. Go past the intersection with Pleasant Street and you’ll see parking on either side of the road near a large map kiosk. From 495, take Massachusetts Avenue to Great Pond to Stevens. Parking for a dozen or so cars. Alternate, unofficial entry is from the spillover lot at the Town Beach with access to the Hatch and Alewife trails.
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, with several hill climbs. Maps are available at the main parking area, and sign posts throughout the park indicate the trails, marked with different colored blazes.
Note to dog owners: Pick up after your dog, ie., do not leave plastic bags of dog feces on the side of the trail. (We did see this on Thursday.) And when you encounter someone without a dog, put your dog on a leash in case the other person is afraid of dogs. Be thoughtful.
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