The easy well-marked trail winds down to the left from the parking lot, passing an informational sign and kiosk. It then terminates in the woods on the western border of the preserve. Returning from that furthest point leads to the expansive waterside lawn. Here the less distinct trail uses the shoreline as a handrail. Along the shoreline are Adirondak benches, a picnic table, two more informational signs and a bat-house. The bat-house, atop a twenty-foot pole, is the signal to turn right up the slope back towards the parking lot, enroute passing a commemorative bench, a stone table and a pollinator garden.
Two historic markers at Osage trails tell the story of the Williams factory complex and shipyard dating to the late 1600s, and of the British raid on Essex in 1814. Active for two centuries, the factory complex powered by water from a dam included through the years: sawmill, grist mill, iron works, manufacturing and ship building. The stone “water fence” extending into the cove, still visible at low tide, was used to store ship building lumber brought down the Connecticut River. There is also a fieldstone foundation hidden in the woods. These two ruins are remains of the Williams’ establishment.
Visible in the distance at the western tip of the cove still stands the gristmill/factory, with an intact millrace. It is now a private home. The once bustling shipyard across the cove from the preserve produced ships for trade, especially to the West Indies, and during the War of 1812 privateers (e.g. legal pirates). The British burned the 400 ton ship Osage in the Williams shipyard during the April 4, 1814 raid along with 26 other ships on the Essex waterfront.
The Falls River estuary, including Falls River Cove and Essex’s North Cove, supports a burgeoning list of wildlife and vegetation. Cedar tree stands are scattered among the maples and oaks in the young forest. The cove waters attract osprey from the nearby Connecticut River and are home to double crested cormorants along with wading birds such as herons, egrets and several species of ducks.
Osage Trails was donated to the Essex Land Trust in 1998 by Elizabeth “Diz” Callender. Born in 1915, Diz grew up on North Main Street in an Essex that is wonderful to imagine—one where trolleys ran, groceries were delivered by horse and wagon and roads were still unpaved. She often went for walks with her mother through River View Cemetery and along to the cove and Foxboro Point. In those days the cove was largely undeveloped. If not for Diz there would be no publicly accessible open space on Foxboro Point.
Our preserve rules and dog policy can be found on the Essex Land Trust website.
From Route 9, take Exit 3. Turn onto Route 154 and then head east on West Avenue for 1.6 miles. Turn left onto Grove Street for 0.3 miles. Slight right onto New City street. After 0.2 miles, turn left onto Riverview Street and after another 0.2 miles turn right onto Foxboro Road. The gravel parking lot is the second driveway on the left.
Take Main Street/Middlesex Avenue or Plains Road east until they intersect with West Avenue. Follow the directions above.
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