Lower Trent Conservation is celebrating its 50th anniversary! To commemorate this milestone occasion, we have released our ’50 in 50′ historical blog series. This special series features 50 articles highlighting some of the achievements, milestones and events of the past 50 years. We hope you enjoy them!
A Wildlife Sanctuary was officially opened in June of 1975 with the unveiling of a cairn located on a clearing in the trees on property known today as Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area. The stone cairn and plaque were dedicated in memory of Frank E. Goodrich.
Frank Goodrich was a very tall, quiet man who had a great attachment to the land. He was a farmer and a woodsman. He also had a vision for Cold Creek, which ran through his property, as being the best fishing spot in the area. He hauled trout fingerlings in milk cans from a hatchery near Toronto and fed them ground liver every morning. Marjorie Morgan, his daughter, recently stated in a local newspaper article that “their ancestors are still in that creek.”
Today, Cold Creek remains a popular spot for fishing. After his death in 1969, 145 acres were sold to Lower Trent Conservation with the understanding the property would be named to perpetuate the memory of the late Frank E. Goodrich.
An adjacent parcel of land was purchased 2 years after the Goodrich property in 1973. Brothers Ray and Allen Loomis farmed the land, raising horses, chickens, pigs and cattle and had an orchard, vegetable garden, and grew raspberries and strawberries. When the property was sold to the Conservation Authority, Ray Loomis was given a lifetime lease to his home.
Nestled in the scenic, rolling hills of Northumberland County, Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area offers some of the most scenic natural beauty found in the Quinte area. With 12 kilometres of trails, it is a great place to take a hike, mountain bike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski.
In addition to boasting one of eastern Ontario’s finest trout streams, the 179 hectare (441 acre) parcel of land supports a wide variety of ecological communities: remnant prairie; oak savannah; provincially significant wetland; and mature mixed forest. There is also an established bluebird population.
At the unveiling of the Goodrich cairn in 1975, it was acknowledged that “the area, which abounds in wildlife, fish, and trees, would serve as an excellent retreat for those seeking outdoor recreation activities.” A statement that rings very true almost 50 years later!
Lower Trent Conservation Watershed Blog 