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Located near the Maine border north of Errol, N.H, the 27,000-acre Second College
Grant, one of the last remaining large land grants in New England, is 200
years old this year. On June 18, 1807, the New Hampshire legislature authorized
the gift of land to support Dartmouth, as the College was viewed as
"signally useful in diffusing science in the various professions,
academies, and schools throughout the state."
Dartmouth's Second College Grant is located in northern New Hampshire and is
open for use by College students, employees, and alumni. (Photo by Joseph
Mehling '69)
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"It's truly a unique model of land use," says Andrew Harvard '71,
director of outdoor programs and
one of 13 members of the Grant Management Committee (GMC). "We balance
sustainable harvest with recreation and the preservation of natural habitat.
But the reason Dartmouth still owns the Grant is not because of the land—it's
because of the people. Members of our community really use this place. They
fish in the spring, hike in the summer, hunt in the fall, and back country ski
in the winter. We've had three generations of Dartmouth families going there
every year."
The College will celebrate the anniversary on Saturday, June 23, and Sunday,
June 24, at the Grant. There will be tours of wildlife habitats and forestry
sites, demonstrations of logging equipment, and opportunities for hiking,
fishing, kayaking, and mountain biking. Professor of History Emeritus Jere R.
Daniell '55 and New Hampshire Environmental Services Commissioner Tom Burack
'82 will speak on Sunday. Daniell will also unveil his new book,
Dartmouth's Second College Grant: A History, which he co-authored with
Jack Noon '68.
About 4 percent of the Grant is logged each year, producing 7,500 cords of
lumber, some of which is fashioned into campus furniture by a company in
Lisbon, N.H. Every bookshelf, desk, and dresser (503 full sets) in the recently
opened McLaughlin
Cluster and Tuck
Mall Residence Halls are made from Grant wood, as are some 3,000 beds on
campus, according to David Eckels, director of residential operations.
"It's locally grown and locally made," he says.
Areas that are selectively cut are allowed to recover at least 15 to 20
years, and 10 percent is a designated natural area that cannot be logged. As a
result, the grant is a vital ecosystem where mountains, river valleys, and
forests provide habitat for moose, coyotes, ruffed grouse, peregrine falcons,
pine marten, and osprey. The Dead Diamond and Swift Diamond rivers offer cold,
clear water for native brook trout, a fish that can only live in the purest
water.
Accessible via miles of dirt road, the Grant is a scenic natural area where
students, faculty, and employees can experience a range of activities or enjoy
the rare sense of solitude that comes from being in a vast wilderness. Eight
cabins are reserved for Dartmouth alumni and employees. "Not everyone at
Dartmouth realizes they have access to such a wonderful natural area,"
says Adam Keller, executive vice president for finance and administration, who
works closely with the GMC. "We encourage all employees to
visit."
To attend the June 23-24 celebration at the Grant, contact Laura Dukeshire of the
Outdoor Programs Office or call 646-0351. For information about cabin
reservations, visit their Web
site.
By STEVEN J. SMITH
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