By Stewart Coffin
One time about 50 years ago, my wife and I were hiking in that large tract of woodland and swamp where the towns of Lincoln, Weston, and Wayland all come together, now called Van Leer Conservation Land, when we came upon a strange excavation that looked to be manmade. We couldn’t figure out what it was, but on the way home, Hans Van Leer happened to be out in his front yard and we stopped to chat.
He said we had probably discovered the old World War II shooting range. It seems that some of the local men too old to serve had formed a sort of local “militia” and practiced shooting with ammunition that was hard to buy at that time but was provided by the government. He also said there was a spring nearby that they used to keep their beer cool.
All of this I am reporting from memory after half a century later, and I hope I have got it right. There were probably more details that I wish I had recorded but have now forgotten. This and more must have been recorded sometime somewhere, if only I could find it. I thought it might be important enough to be noted on the conservation handout and map, but evidently not. Recently I have returned to look for that site and of course it is still there, although much overgrown and harder to find now. I have also brought along a few friends to point out the site.
The site appears to me as being located near where the three towns come together. I am guessing the excavation and grading was done using a tractor. If so, the access might have been via the Schumacher farm land that is now Appletree Lane rather than across the large swamp that now has a long boardwalk.
An important first step would be to verify that we have the site right, which might be done by historical research. Or try to find that cool spring (if it still exists) or look for spent cartridges. My thought is that the site might be worth marking on a map, together with a brief description. I am now 96 and trying to bring to fruition projects like this while still around. Anyone with more information may contact me at stcmsd@aol.com.
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