Behind the Stephenson Memorial Library in Greenfield, a mysterious trail winds into the woods, hinting at adventure.

“It does look kind of look like a trail from a fairy tale,” said Library Director Ella Cademartori.

On June 27, 14 volunteers from the Society of the Preservation for NH Forests (Forest Society) worked all day to create the trail linking the lawn behind the library to the trails in the Emma Gipson Forest. The Emma Gipson Forest, which is accessible from Slip Road near the Greenfield Post Office, is managed by the Forest Society for sustainable forestry, productive wildlife habitat and other conservation benefits in support of the greater Greenfield community.

In 2023, the Forest Society was approached by former Library Director David Bridgewater and Andra Hall of the library trustees about the potential for connecting the trail system at the Gipson Forest to the library grounds.

“The goal is for community members who are using the library to be able to enjoy the trail system. The library can also provide a safe and easy parking for those wishing to access the trails,” Carrie Keegan of the Forest Society stated.

The new trail starts just behind the gazebo built in memory of longtime Greenfield resident Deborah Cilley.

In the next few months, Cademartori and her team plan to move the library’s Story Walk from its previous home in the field behind the library onto the new trail.

“The woods will be an even better setting for the story walk, and a reason to get children into nature and enjoying nature-themed stories and books. We’ve had stories on tracking, on animals, on the different seasons,” Cadermatori said. “We’ll have an announcement for that event coming soon.”

Greenfield resident Emma Gipson willed the forest to the Town of Greenfield in 1935. Prior to 2021, the last timber harvest on the property was in 1975. In 2016, the Ierlan family donated additional land to enlarge the Gipson Forest, and in 2021, the Stephenson Memorial Library and the Town of Greenfield jointly purchased a strip of land from the Greenfield Inn, connecting the library’s land to the Gipson Forest.

Sprucing up the gardens

Gardeners organized by Trustees of Stephenson Library have been hard at work sprucing up the library’s landscaping in recent weeks. Master Gardener Warren Aldrich has been leading town volunteers in tidying up the gardens surrounding the gazebo, which were originally planted by Greenfield’s Girl Scout Troop 51925, as well the perennial border near the front door.

Aldrich also recently acquired classical-style faux stone urns to grace the stairs at the library’s old entrance.

“These were a great find,” Aldrich said as he weeded the borders on Tuesday. “They match the beaux-arts style of the building.”

Stephenson Memorial Library, which was built in 1909, is on the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places. Aldrich said a great group of town volunteers had come out to assist with the project last week.

“People in town really care about the library,” Aldrich said.

For information about Stephenson Memorial Library, go to greenfield-nh.gov/stephenson-memorial-library. To learn more about the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, go to forestsociety.org.