This is a simple, family-friendly geocache in Tanner's Brook in North Lincoln, part of a series that highlights some of the fantastic, less-traveled trails in our little town.
These are relatively quiet Lincoln Land Conservation Trust trails abutting Minuteman National Park. Here you will find notable stonewalls and evidence of agricultural use in the past. From the ridge near the cache, you'll have a fantastic view of how the rolling land is divided by walls.
Since Minuteman doesn't allow caches, this is a good way to enjoy caching while enjoying this historic area. It's also much less busy here on nice days than the more well-known trails.
I put my Swarthmore history degree to some use and did some research around the name of Tanner’s Brook:
Within Minuteman National Park, you can find the Joshua Brooks house, a founding family of Lincoln and Concord. The Brooks owned 355 acres of land in this area, and you will see their name on many properties, roads, and geographic features. Joshua Brooks Jr. grew up in that house, and later operated a successful tannery in this area, across North Great Road from their home. The deed transferring the Brooks House from Joshua Jr. to Noah Brooks in 1695 listed Noah as a tanner in trade. Noah’s son Joshua then received the tannery in 1713, the year of his wedding to Lydia Wheeler (another notable family in the Lincoln/Concord area). The tannery passed down several generations. In 1829 Isaac Brooks, plagued by debt closed the tannery and sold the property to his brother Nathan.
A colonial tannery was a thriving business that made sense alongside owning a large tract of land where livestock was kept. A running water source like the brook here would have been used for washing the hides after slaughter and preparing the liming solutions to cure the leather. Tanning hides was a lengthy and physically arduous process that took multiple months. Leather was essential for colonial life as the basis for rugged clothing, shoes, saddles, belts, harnesses, and books that could survive the harsh conditions.
Isaac's business likely suffered in the early 1800s as the Industrial Revolution transformed methods of production with new chemicals and standardized processes.
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Please note that the lower-lying areas of Tanner's Brook do get a bit muddy, and there are ticks/poison ivy/brambles during the warmer months. As such, this cache is not on the ground, and right off the trail with no bushwhacking required.
I suggest parking in the Minuteman National Park lot mapped as a waypoint, walking through the Bedford Lane trails, and crossing Morningside Lane to the Tanner's Brook area. It is also safe to park on the street on Morningside right off 2A.
This trail map will be helpful! Enjoy!
https://lincolnconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Map1_LincolnNorth.pdf
FTF: gwenerson