Welcome and a Little History

Welcome one and all to the Thoreau Country Conservation Alliance's "Thoreau Country" blog.

Almost exactly twenty years ago (in February and March 1988) an improbable team of five individuals from eastern Massachusetts (call us "The Gang of Five") pooled their talents, knowledge, and resources in what was dismissed by some as a hopelessly quixotic attempt to prevent two massive commercial developments from wrecking two important sites near Walden Pond in Walden Woods--one a gigantic condominium development on Bear Garden Hill, the other a so-called "office park" on Brister's Hill." They created a nonprofit organization that they named the Thoreau Country Conservation Alliance (TCCA). Despite fierce opposition, derision, and--the worst--apathy, TCCA won the "War for Walden Woods," although by no means alone. Thousands of other people from across the United States and beyond lent their support, most notably Don Henley of The Eagles fame, who created his own organization, the Walden Woods Project (www.walden.org).

Now, twenty years later, TCCA is launching a blog to communicate with people from around the world. In this blog we will recount the exciting days of yore when every day brought new and daunting challenges and opportunities, the years of tremendous accomplishment and (mostly) triumph between then and now, and the current situation. We will also explore opportunities, options, and challenges that loom on the horizon. And, of course, we solicit your thoughts, ideas, comments, suggestions, and wisdom.

So, welcome one and all to Thoreau Country, and especially to Walden Woods, the very "Heart of Thoreau Country," wherein nestles that shining jewel in the diadem, Walden Pond.

Ed Schofield
August 10, 2008