White Family Donates Historic Marchmont Property, Expanding Protection of 400 Acres of Winchendon Woodlands
WINCHENDON — Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust is proud to announce the “Marchmont” property, nearly 400 acres of woodlands just west of Lake Monomonac, has been donated to Mount Grace by the White family. The unfragmented forest supports a rich mix of hardwood species and provides vital habitat for native wildlife.
This milestone represents the second chapter of a conservation journey that began in 2012, when the first conservation restriction was placed on Marchmont. “With this agreement, we fulfill that vision and expand it by securing the 11-acre site of the former Marchmont Castle, previously unprotected,” said Emma G. Ellsworth, Executive Director at Mount Grace. “Mount Grace is deeply grateful to the White family for their generosity and to the Town of Winchendon for their partnership. This achievement both honors Winchendon’s heritage and invests in its future.”
This achievement both honors Winchendon’s heritage and invests in its future.
“I’m so glad Mount Grace will be caring for this land,” said June Girouard, a Winchendon resident whose family runs the neighboring Murdock Farm. “It’s beautiful here in a way you don’t fully appreciate until you walk the trails. From the road it looks like just fields or woods, but once inside you discover how peaceful it really is.”
With nearly 400 acres of the historic Marchmont property now officially transferred to Mount Grace, the land trust now holds the land as a public resource, with the Town of Winchendon holding a conservation restriction (CR) to ensure its permanent protection. The project really began back in 2011, when the White family and the Town of Winchendon partnered with Mount Grace to protect the first portion of the property. At that time, much of the estate was covered by a conservation restriction, but roughly 11 acres surrounding the site of the historic Marchmont Castle—destroyed by fire and removed in 1955— were excluded from the CR. With this new transfer, those 11 acres are now secured as well and will be managed by Mount Grace for community events and recreation.
The property sits within the Millers River Watershed and is home to mature woodlands of white pine, red oak, hemlock, and red pine. A long-established network of multi-use trails weaves through the forest, enjoyed for decades by local snowmobile groups and other visitors. Open to the public since 2012, the land will remain accessible. Now, with Mount Grace as its new steward, plans are underway to enhance the trail system with clearer signage and improvements in areas where water or rough terrain can limit access. The newly protected 11-acre parcel includes open fields with exciting potential for community use, offering space for activities such as disc golf, archery, and other outdoor gatherings.
Marchmont Forest was both a key piece of the Southern Monadnock Plateau project— completed in 2012 — and a southern link in the larger Quabbin-to-Cardigan Initiative. The land enhances regional conservation connectivity while opening new recreational opportunities for the public.
For generations, the White family has been central to Winchendon’s history, and their dedication to land conservation continues that legacy. Mount Grace is deeply grateful to the White family for their vision and ongoing support, and to the Town of Winchendon for their partnership. The protection of Marchmont is both a celebration of Winchendon’s heritage and a lasting investment in its future.