Lincoln Woods History

 

DATE STATE ACQUIRED: 1908

NAME ORIGINATION: The park was named for the 16th President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln on February 12, 1909.

OTHER NAMES: Lincoln Woods Reservation

GENERAL HISTORY: Lincoln Woods was acquired by gifts, purchases and condemnations. Between 1908 and 1910, 457.41 acres were purchased by the Metropolitan Park System at a cost of $26,755.00. Then, after Nelson J. Ballou donated .59 acres, the total was raised to 458 acres in 1918. The swimming area at the park was known as Lincoln Woods State Beach and later as Olney Beach. Then on June 18, 1977, the swimming area was dedicated as the Frank Moody State Beach.

ZACHARIAH ALLEN, PIONEER IN APPLIED SILVICULTURE: In the state park system of Rhode Island is a tract of woodland, unmarked (indeed practically unknown) that is the site of what "was, without doubt, the first attempt at anything like silviculture ever made in New England, and probably in the United States," according to the late Professor Charles S. Sargent. It was 1820 that Zachariah Allen, prominent manufacturer, scientist, founder of Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies and one of Rhode Island's most respected citizens, began what is believed to be the first scientific and carefully recorded experiment of silviculture in our country. Evidence of this extensive experiment which was recorded over a period of 67 years, exists in the form of numerous entries in his diaries, the ledger in which, with remarkable accuracy and care, all accounts of the disbursements and receipts of money in connection with the silvicultural venture were entered. Allen was only 25 years old when he first put his abiding theory that "vacant land may profitably be improved by planting trees", into practice. The Smithfield land chosen by Allen for his experiment was 40 acres in extent. Prior to coming into his hands, upon the division of the estate of a relative, it had been used for nearly one hundred years as pasture. In 1820 the land was "entirely worn out". Zachariah Allen found it impossible to lease the land for pasturage, because of its exhausted state, and because he had neither the time nor the inclination to devote himself to restoring its lost fertility by the rapid and expensive methods known to the agriculturists, he determined to try the experiment of planting the whole area to trees. His decision was based on the fact that trees, once established, would require little future care and attention, and because such employment of the land would bring at some time or another a certain slow return. The whole cost of planting was but $45.00 and the price of the land, which was appraised on the division of the estate, at $15.00 per acre, was higher than the value as shown by the taxes. A lower valuation of the land would, of course, have greatly increased the actual profits of the plantation. But the account, as it stands, is a strong argument for the money profit to be derived, at that time, from New England silviculture.