Harold Parker State Forest Talk on Thursday

The North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society kicks off its 2014-2015 “Our Town” lecture series with a talk about the Harold Parker State Forest on Thursday, Nov. 6.

The event will be led by Park Interpreter Robert Anderson and Society Member Beth Thomson. They will delve into the history of the forest, which lies in Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton and is more than 3,000 acres of forest.

The Harold Parker State Forest’s tales go well beyond the beauty of the land.

The area was formed by glacial movement and there is evidence of glaciers there today. The Pentacook Indians lived on the land until England farmers settled there around 1650.

There is a belief that homes near the forest were used as Underground Railroad stops in the 1850s. There are secret doors that remain in these homes.

“A History of Harold Parker State Forest” will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 in the Third Meeting House, first floor, 155 Park St., North Reading. Admission is free.