History of Forest

Site History

Greendale, WI, was a “greenbelt” community created by the federal government in 1939. The government purchased 3,400 acres of farmland south west of Milwaukee for the construction of the community. The three main objectives of the federal government’s Resettlement Administration for Greendale were: to demonstrate a new kind of suburban community which combined both city and country life, to provide good housing at reasonable rents, and to provide jobs to unemployed workers. In 2012, the U.S. Department of the Interior named Greendale a National Historic Landmark. More information regarding Greendale’s community history can be accessed on the Greendale Historical Society website and Greendale’s Community website.

The wooded areas were included as school district property since the 1930s. Records indicate they were part of the federal government’s purchase of land from farmers. Through GMS students’ lab activities in science classes, the ages of the largest trees in the Canterbury/GMS woods are estimated to be older than the 1930s suggesting the wooded parcel had existed before the federal government’s purchase of the land. Additionally, federal government surveys clearly depicted and described the woods in this location while plans were being drawn for the community. Photos from this era show a mix of differently aged trees in the Canterbury/GMS woods. Both parcels most likely have transitioned from Oak forests to Southern Mesic Forests over the years. This can be seen from the age and number of oak trees present vs. that of sugar maple and other shade-tolerant trees. The inference coordinates with the description of the undergrowth and the non-tree flora found in both parcels as well. It also fits in with descriptions of this area of Southern Wisconsin as fires were no longer being implemented for management after farming became vital to the area. Most importantly, the conclusion matches with that made by DNR foresters in our Forest Management Plan.