The recent project of Girl Scout Troup 30715 to put bird houses in trees along Millie’s Path was one more step in a series of community efforts to make a dream come true.
When I first moved into Foxglove Apartments, housing for the elderly and handicapped, in 1994, I discovered Bowers Brook right in my backyard. I had always liked making trails, and I envisioned a walking trail along Bowers Brook from Foxglove to Carlson’s grocery store (now the Harvard Post Office) on Route 111. Learning that the land along the brook was town conservation land, I got in touch with Bob Reed, chairman of the Conservation Commission at the time, and discussed what I had in mind. The two of us, along with my wife, Nancy, laid out the proposed trail, marking with ribbons which trees and plants to save and which ones to remove.
Once the trail was marked, I got in touch with the Bromfield School to find the names of seniors (class of 1994) who needed a community service project. This was a good idea because soon I had a group of Bromfield seniors armed with rakes, shovels, saws, muscles, and enthusiasm to clear a new trail. Once the path was cleared, the DPW brought woodchips from its abundant supply. Next, the Girl Scouts did a beautiful job of spreading the chips to make the trail.
After it was completed, Bob Reed asked me about a name for the trail. I wanted to name it after my mother, who had just passed away the year before and who loved quiet places. Shortly, the Conservation Commission announced that it had a new town trail called Millie’s Path, located between Lancaster County Road and Old Mill Road. My dream had come true.
Over the years many others from the community have helped to maintain the trail and to make improvements. Credit goes to members of both the Harvard Lions Club and the Harvard Rotary Club for all their hard work and donations for materials to build boardwalks, bridges, etc. Millie’s Path is a beautiful example of what a community can do when it pulls together.
Michael Henry
Ayer Road
