Goddard Sanctuary

donors - Bill and Lucy Goddard

date of gifts: 1986-1995

acreage:25.65 acres

Special Features: This property contains a 1/4 mile mill canal dating to approximately 1791, wooded paths, wetlands, bridges, waterfalls and high value (Lindera benzoin) native plants which provide food for migrating birds. This property is ideal for the quiet appreciation of nature, but we request that you visit respectfully, as it also provides habitat for over 193 species of wildlife, including 60 trees and shrubs and 48 species of wildflowers. It also provides a refuge for fox, otter, great blue heron, owls and hawks. The sanctuary protects watershed and streams feeding Mirimichi Lake (part of the Taunton River Watershed), which indirectly supplies drinking water to the City of Attleboro. NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY

Location : roughly bounded by Turnpike Lake, Shepard St, Rt 152 and Engelhard Industries

1986 Bill Goddard by the little water wheel (destroyed by vandals and since removed)

Before the Goddards came to live in Plainville in the early 1950s, this property was owned by Elmer Bartlett.
He had the little water wheel house (above) built, and had wildflower gardens and bridges throughout the property. He employed students (including Howard Reid) at the Norfolk County Agricultural School, to maintain the paths, and each year he sent out Christmas cards with a different scene from the land. Only two have survived. Here is one of them showing a rustic bridge over the Turtle Brook (then called the farm brook)

a half century later, the saplings in the background are mature forest.

Canal path and bridge leading back to Shepard St.