Living in suburban or rural New England, stone walls can be seen almost everywhere you go. In Easton, they are most commonly seen in the woods. Many people are curious about the history of these stone walls in New England.
When were these walls built?
It depends on the wall, but most were built between 1750 and 1850. The oldest ones usually are falling down and have moss or lichen growing all over them.
Who would build walls in the middle of the woods?
These walls were not originally built in the woods. Much of the land that is now wooded was once cleared and used for farmland. As people realized that the north was much better suited for factory work, the clearings became overgrown.
Who built these walls?
The walls were built by settlers in the New England area, mostly farmers.
Why would someone build a wall?
The walls were meant to separate farmland. As settlers attempted to clear their land, they found countless rocks in the ground. To this very day, the soil in Easton is still very rocky and difficult to grow crops in. There were so many rocks being pulled out of the ground, that farmers began to pile up rocks into walls in order to create property boundaries.
Stone walls have a unique history and it is important that they are preserved. Next time you visit a stone wall around Easton, take caution to leave it undisturbed, so they can continue to be enjoyed in the future.