Exhibit reveals secrets that are hidden in the woods

CORNWALL — A fascinating summer exhibit has premiered at the Cornwall Historical Society.“Out of the Woods,” a look at how Cornwall’s forests have evolved, succeeds in not only telling an ever-changing story, but is also full of surprises.That the forests of today are not the ones from even a century ago is the first surprise. There is a lot in the show about the impacts of weather, agriculture, industry and infestation. Cornwall was once far from the 81 percent forested it is today.During months of wading through documents and artifacts, both in the historical society’s collection and on loan from town residents, curator Raechel Guest was continuously surprised by attitudes Northwest Corner residents take for granted today. Conservation is really a fairly new concept, one that came about only after the majority of people stopped living directly off the land and after the end of iron production here.“Trees were either timber or in the way,” Guest said. “It was never about saving them. And logging was actually once a big industry here. “Probably the thing that surprised me most was that the state forests were created not for recreation, but for raising timber.”Guest pointed out a sign she found posted by the state in their forests here some decades ago. The signs stated, “The purpose of the state forests is to raise timber and to equalize stream flow.”In much smaller print was added, “They are also open to the public for recreational purposes. You are welcome. Be careful of fires.”There are aerial photographs of the work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, which created jobs for unemployed men who planted hundreds of trees in perfectly straight rows on Cornwall’s mountains.Oddly, when the state initiated tree planting around that time, they went with red pine.“They grew straight and tall and made excellent timber, but this is not part of their native range,” Guest said. “They were also planted around reservoirs, and they did fine for many decades.”Eventually, the stress of not being quite hardy enough for the region lowered their resistance, to the point they succumbed to the normally non-fatal red pine scale.A look at recreational uses of the forests includes a Camp Fire Girl uniform worn by Harriet Clark circa 1918, with bloomers that would be worn under a skirt — or alone when in the privacy of the camp.Mohawk Ski Area, which is in a state park, gets a nod.“I found some references to ski areas from the early 20th century,” Guest said. “The approach was to either put them in a forest, or plant trees around them. The trees served as trail markers and windbreaks, and also created the Alpine atmosphere skiers wanted.”The exhibit includes looks at the 1989 tornado; the tapping of sugar maples; and the iron industry, which, in Cornwall, meant large piles of burning wood used to make charcoal. Then there are fascinating predictions for the future.If trends hold, in less than a century the forests will be dominated by entirely different tree species.“Out of the Woods” includes interactive activities for children. It runs through Oct. 28 and is open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays and holiday Mondays, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation. For more information, go to www.CornwallHistoricalSociety.org.