Project 365 historical pasture

If you have ever traveled around Connecticut you have seen lots of stone walls in the woods. May people ask, now why do they have stone walls in the woods, the answer is, they wern't woods in 1756, 80% of CT was clearcut. The "Savanna" that was here when the pilgrims landed were wide spread trees and grass growing underneath. The colonists cut the timber for charcol, ships masts and houseing material. In the 1720's the King said no more trees over some 24 inches would be cut so he could have them for ships masts, this is one way to date old houses. So when my ansestors got here on Quoketaug hill they used slave labor, indians and hired help to clear the land of stone and divide it up into PASTURES. So if these LOTS have been pastures since at least 1712 when we settled here why are they not pastures now ???

This picture is of the ox pasture, been called that for hundreds of years, you are looking west towards the house, the spring fed pond is in the front.