Rutland Forest Preserve
Hampshire, IL
Description
The site today consists of rolling slopes and marshy depressions. Rutland features a snowmobile trail for wintertime fun.
Rutland is located on Big Timber Road, 2 miles north of Route 72 or 5 miles west of Randall Road. This forest preserve is primarily for picnics and nature study.
Preserve Map Reserve Shelter #1 Reserve Shelter #2
Amenities
- Historic Sites
- Picnic Areas
- Shelters
- Snowmobiling
- Winter Activities
History
A site inventory of this preserve was conducted in 1989 to better characterize its use. This lead to a surprising discovery about the former use of the site. A peat bog was drained and dug out almost completely by hand! The excavation is found in the center of the site. The peat apparently was of good enough quality to be in demand by wholesale cut-flower growers throughout the Chicago area. The bog appears to have been approximately five acres and fifteen feet deep. A large volume of peat for one person to harvest by hand.