News
On June 27th, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, Wyndham Land Trust, Pomfret Historical Society, and NAACP Windham/Willimantic came together to host the first-ever Pathways to Nature: Black History Hike at Nightingale Forest. The event brought together twelve participants for a journey through the forest’s understory, blending nature exploration with local history.
Guided by historian Donna Dufresne, attendees learned about generations of people of color connected to the land, including enslaved Africans buried in the Randall/Higginbotham Burial Ground. Stories shared during the hike included the history of a locally patented iron plowing tool—eventually acquired by Volvo—and evidence that the foundry which produced the iron for this tool may have been partly operated by Nipmuc and African American communities descended from those once enslaved on the property.
Donna Dufresne’s insights underscored the significance of Nightingale Forest to both Connecticut and American history. Over three miles, participants visited building foundations, the burial ground, and a memorial stone—all actively conserved by Wyndham Land Trust to honor the site’s rich past. Nightingale Forest stands as an example of a land trust engaged in environmental and historical conservation, and CLCC will continue to connect Wyndham Land Trust with community partners who can support and enhance its work.
