Helen Woodruff Smith Bird Sanctuary, Meriden Bird Club

Site: N09-12
Municipality: Plainfield, NH
Location: Brook Road, Meriden
Site Type: Miscellaneous.

Left from Meriden about 0.5 m. on a dirt road to the Helen Woodruff Smith Sanctuary (guide obtainable at top of hill), the first of its kind in the country, and established in 1910 by Mr. Baynes on an abandoned farm that had been bought by Helen Woodruff Smith, who financed the project at first. The sanctuary comprises about 32 acres of sloping pasture and meadow land sheltered by deep woods. It was improved by the landscape architect and ornithologist, Frederick H. Kennard. Paths lead through the woods, bird houses of every type hang from trees, and drinking pools are numerous amid the ferns. Bird baths are placed at intervals, one a boulder weighing 5 tons; another of bronze and sculptured by Annetta (Mrs. Louis) Saint-Gaudens in commemoration of the bird masque, 'Sanctuary,' first performed here in 1913. The masque was written by Percy MacKaye and the cast included the Misses Eleanor and Margaret Wilson, daughters of President Woodrow Wilson. Miss Juliet Barrett Rublee, the artist Joseph Lindon Smith, the poet Witter Bynner, MacKaye and Baynes. A Colonial house has been transformed into a Museum of Conservation, which contains models of nest boxes, feeding devices, traps for bird enemies, bird baths, and a small collection of stuffed birds, skins and eggs. In the reception room are several Audubon plates and Selby prints.
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