Trailhead
One entrance is at the Annunciation Church Rectory at the intersection of Center Street and VFW Parkway. The trailhead is behind the rectory.
Image: Joe Geller Steep Entrance
The trail head behind the rectory is fairly steep and does not provide an accessible entrance.
Image: Joe Geller The Mysterious Allendale Wall
The “Allandale Wall” intersects many of the trails through the property. This wall is not attributed to anyone. It's about 18-inches wide and runs up and down the sloping site.
Image: Joe GellerCrossing the Stream
The trail system is well maintained with wooden bridges crossing the stream. The stream is a remnant of what was likely the Souther estate, which was described in Arnoldia magazine: “The Souther estate consisted of a grand two-and one-half-story house set on a curving terrace. Below the house was a 60-foot-long greenhouse and a meandering stream, with the springhouse built at its source and with a pond downstream.”
Image: Joe Geller The Souther Estate Pond
The pond created as part of the Souther estate still exists, although the plantings around it have become considerably more natural.
Image: Joe Geller Roxbury Puddingstone
An example of the Roxbury Puddingstone, which is abundant throughout the site.
Image: Joe Geller Springhouse
The Springhouse built as part of the Souther estate sits over the Allandale spring and provided water to the estate. The structure was recently restored.
Image: Joe Geller Non-native Species
Some of the non-native and invasive species prevalent throughout the woods. How they got there is described in Arnoldia magazine. “On the edge of some of the most disturbed wet ground are large eastern cottonwoods, Asian cork trees, and castor aralias, the last two most likely started from seeds carried by birds from the nearby Arnold Arboretum."
Image: Joe Geller