txt: timber
And going in the fashion of the day, Henry Howard followed the train. To the top of the hill that offered a view of the valley below where the Chestnuts grew.
And from his nest, this hill on high, Henry gazed at land and sky. He vowed to conquer and secure this place. From which the tracks would radiate.
Pushing out among the trees, his lines would stretch to meet the sea.
Ten thousand timber for every track. His train will turn these blue skies black.
The woodlands of the Schuylkill Center are not old-growth forest. These are young trees, and some of them are non-native species. This got me thinking about the initial decision to clear the old forest for agriculture, and the motives that might lead to such a judgement. Written from the perspective of the Houston family, the narrative supposes that the land was spared because of Henry's fear of the water. Although this might not be the case, the Schuylkill Center was spared the destiny common to most of Henry's real estate holdings when it was left undeveloped. The Center would certainly not be here had the land been built upon, so the farm did allow for the land to maintain some of its original character.