Stuart Homestead

South Nelson Road affords numerous vistas of farmland and forest. A notable example is the property of Ken and Kathy Cranson which is the beautiful hay land, colonial era farmhouse, barn, and historic Stuart Needle Shop seen as one travels the long curving sweep of road south of Justice Hill Road.

In 2019, Ken and Kathy conveyed a 4.3 acre Watershed Preservation Restriction (WPR) on the east side of South Nelson Road to DCR to further protect the Rocky Brook watershed – a Wachusett Reservoir tributary – and in addition gifted a 12 acre Conservation Restriction (CR) to the Sterling Land Trust. Their decision to place

covenants on these tracts, while retaining private ownership, ensures the permanent protection of woodland and wetlands within the WPR, and agricultural land under the CR. The 12 acre hayfield is mapped by the Mass Dept of Agricultural Resources as being comprised of Prime Agricultural soils and Soils of Statewide Importance.