434 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1963 



every 4 miles ; about 15 miles of interior roads were built; a swamp was 

 drained for a roadway to the Central Station (Corbin, 1893). Some 

 of the old farm buildings were remodeled, and other cottages were 

 constructed for keepers. Several fenced areas were established within 

 the preserve. No. 1, or the Central Station (pi. 2), was an area of 

 about 100 acres of pastures and woodlands; here were built the main 

 clubhouse, dormitories for workmen, barns and pens for some of the 

 stock in winter, stables, kennels, and other buildings. No. 2 was an 

 area of 30 acres; this was a holding area for new stock, principally 

 bison, until it was ascertained they were in good health and otherwise 

 desirable. They then were transferred to area No. 3, of 1,800 acres, 

 where they were bred to demonstrate that their offspring were up to 

 standard, after which they were turned into the main preserve 

 (Baynes,1931:72). 



In London in 1890 Corbin had purchased 20,000 hawthorn trees. 

 Two varieties — white and black hawthorn — were used extensively 

 in British and French game parks ; growing to 10 feet in height they 

 were the toughest and strongest trees available. In the spring of 1892, 

 4,000 of these were planted at Corbin Park, some of them immediately 

 inside the marginal fence, to eventually replace it as it weathered 

 and to form a living hedge strong enough to secure the buffalo and 

 other large animals. Chestnuts {Castanea dentata) were planted to 

 provide food for the boars. 



At the turn of the century the Corbin Preserve was the largest and 

 one of the best-equipped game preserves in the United States, and con- 

 siderably larger than similar establishments in Europe (Palmer, 

 1910). Fifteen or more wardens were employed; several men were 

 occupied hunting foxes and other predators; Corbin planned to secure 

 a forester from Germany to supervise cutting timber. Many early 

 records are lacking or unavailable, but there persist a few names of 

 managers and superintendents of the tract. The first "chief" was 

 Blaine S. Viles, from Maine, "Long Tom" Currier, also from Maine, 

 was a superintendent in the early days; Sidney A. Stockwell served 

 in this capacity in 1899. Forest W. Kempton was a hunter and guide, 

 and "Billie" Morrison was the keeper of buffalo, about 1900. Ernest 

 Harold Baynes (1868-1925), writer and naturalist who in 1911 estab- 

 lished the Meriden Bird Sanctuary in Plainfield, was long associated 

 with the Corbin Preserve. A. H. Currier was the manager until 1957, 

 when he was succeeded by Maurice L. Nelson, who still occupies the 

 post. 



Much attention was devoted to the bison (pi. 3). Corbin once con- 

 sidered crossing them with Galloway cattle, to secure a superior beef 

 animal, but this was not accomplished. Baynes experimented at break- 

 ing them to yoke, but never achieved notable success. No bison was 

 kept if there was any suspicion that it was not in perfect condition. 



