Dave Beglan Memorial Walk at Roxbury’s Mine Hill Set for November 28
Join the Roxbury Land Trust on Saturday, November 28, 2026 at 10:00 am for the Dave Beglan Memorial Walk at Mine Hill Preserve.
Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, Mine Hill Preserve is the site of a 19th-century iron mine and furnace complex. The Roxbury Land Trust acquired the preserve in 1978 and restored and stabilized the stone and brick structural remains of the furnace complex.
This year’s walk lead by Roxbury Land Trust president and geologist John Smoliga will focus on the Roxbury granite quarrying operations, both past and present. The walk will include a tour of the current quarry operation, covering the geology and mining history of this unique architectural stone.
The annual post-Thanksgiving walk is held in memory of Dave Beglan, historian and director of the Roxbury Land Trust, who died in October 2017. As a Roxbury resident, Beglan volunteered countless hours to the study of Mine Hill, initially working tirelessly on obtaining the funding which allowed RLT to procure the Mine Hill Preserve and many other land preserves. He remained active in the Trust as the historian and gave his time freely to the betterment of Roxbury.
The group will meet in the Mine Hill Preserve parking lot at 32 Mine Hill Road in Roxbury. Please wear appropriate shoes for a 1.5-mile moderate to strenuous walk with some steep inclines and declines. Inclement weather will cancel the event.
Since it was established in 1970, the Roxbury Land Trust has preserved approximately 4,200 acres of farmland, woodlands, wildlife habitats, watercourses, wetlands and open space in Roxbury and neighboring communities. The non-profit organization maintains 32 preserves with 32.5 miles of hiking trails, three active farms and historic iron and granite mines, as well as offers a range of educational programs.
For more information call the Roxbury Land Trust at 860-350-4148 or visit www.roxburylandtrust.org.
