Pine Hill Park in the 1900’s
1921: May 2, Henry O. Carpenter gave 273 acres of land to the City of Rutland with the idea that it will be developed as a park. The land was described as “part of the Pierpoint tract and one of the finest sections of Pine Hill.” A suitable quarry site was found on the property and the decision was made to move the stone crushing equipment from the Lincoln Avenue quarry. A 12 foot wide road was built from the end of Evergreen Avenue to the quarry, the machinery was moved with 12 horses, and production started in February.
1925-1926: A concrete powerhouse was built to house the machinery at the quarry.
1927: Concrete bins were built to hold the crushed stone at the quarry.
1931: Rutland City appropriated $3000 to hire out of work men for “make work projects.” 30 to 45 men worked in the park clearing trails, widening and grading roads, cutting cordwood, and removing brush and fire killed trees.
1932: “Make work projects” continued in early 1932. Roads were built from the ends of Evergreen and Watkins Avenues to a parking area.
1933: Quarrying operations ceased as stone was available at a lower cost from other sources.
1934: April 11 a large fire burned 120 acres.
1936: Works Progress Administration (WPA) crews widened the road to Rocky Pond from a path to “wide enough for two cars” and built a “large recreation and picnic area” ¾ mile North of the end of Evergreen Avenue. The National Youth Administration (NYA) built a ski run parallel to and west of the road.
1952: Led by the Rutland Chamber of Commerce and supported by many service clubs, work began on establishing a swimming beach at Rocky Pond on land leased from Rutland Country Club.
1954: The parking area and road were widened. July 4 was the public opening of the Rocky Pond Recreation Area.
1956: The road to Rocky Pond was paved.
1957: After a season of inclement weather, operating losses, and vandalism; operations ceased.
1967: The state owned land next to Pine Hill Park was considered as a possible location for a new high school.
1971: 40 acres of adjoining land (known as East Creek Meadows) were transferred from the state of Vermont to the city, enlarging Pine Hill Park. John Giorgetti, a member of the state lands committee was credited with helping the city obtain the land. A 4 mile trail was established and marked to Rocky Pond, Muddy Pond, and around the Pine Hill Forest. A water and soils nature trail was also established.
1975: The ball fields and lower parking area were constructed.
1976: On May 13, Pine Hill Park is dedicated as John J. Giorgetti Park.
1977: The skating rink building was constructed. It opened on August 2 with basketball courts and paddleball courts in the summer and ice skating in the winter.
1998: Money from the estate of John Giorgetti is used to upgrade the rink building, purchase a Zamboni, and pave the upper parking lot.
Links to other resources:
History of Rocky Pond 1952-54 from the Rutland Historical Society
Stone Crusher History by the Rutland Historical Society
Present Day
2002
Stemming from a public meeting held by the Rutland Recreation Department in January, volunteers begin revitalizing the park.
The name Pine Hill Park is used based on old maps.
Existing trails cleared:
● Crusher Road
● Pond Road
● Watkins Wood Road
● Evergreen Fall
● Freefall
● Dewey Wood Road
● Overlook
● Lower Ledges
● Birches
● Upper Giorgetti
● Middle Giorgetti
● Sore Elbow
2003
Entrance boardwalk built.
New Trails:
● Escalator
2004
Six bridges were built on the Giorgetti trails in October – November. The bridge on Sore Elbow was built.
New Trails:
● Furlough
● Lonely Rock
● Rembrandt’s Brush
● Trillium
● Upper Ledges
● Svelte Tiger
● Droopy Muffin
● Backstairs
● Lower Giorgetti
2005
New Trails:
● 999
● Backstairs (through quarry)
● Scramble
● Jersey Turnpike
● Santa’s Little Helper
● Tim’s Vista
2006
Pine Hill Partnership is formed as a volunteer organization to steward the trails.
New Trails:
● Aaron’s Air
● Underdog
● Lower Giorgetti reroute
● Middle Giorgetti reroute
● Upper Giorgetti reroute
2007
Pine Hill Partnership received 501(c)3 status. The Serpentine Bridge was built on Stegosaurus.
New Trails:
● Halfpipe
● PA4J
● Stegosaurus
● Upper Giorgetti reroute
2008
The Suspension Bridge was built in September – October on Overlook. The Hourglass Bridge was built November – December on Stegosaurus.
New Trails:
● Annex
● Salamander
● Strong Angel
● Furlough reroute
● Jersey Turnpike reroute
2009
The Seeping Ledge bridge was built on Svelte Tiger. The Armadillo Bridge was started in December on Birches.
New Trails:
● Broken Handlebar
● Overlook reroute
● Overlook Lichen Rock (started)
2010
The Armadillo Bridge was finished on Birches. The Arch Bridge was built in September – October on Shimmer. The Centrifuge Bridge was started on Underdog.
New Trails:
● Sisyphus
● Quartzite
● Birches reroute
2011
The Centrifuge Bridge was finished on Underdog.
New Trails:
● Shimmer
● Overlook Lichen Rock (finished)
2012
New Trails:
● Voldemort
● 999 reroute
● Halfpipe reroute
2013
New Trails:
● Exit Strategy
2014
The Carriage trail officially opened in May.
New Trails:
● Annex reroute
● Sore Elbow reroute (phase 1)
● Trillium reroute
● Lower Giorgetti field entrance reroute
2015
• Sore Elbow (phase 2 & 3)
• Redfield Trails opened in June
2016:
Reroute:
* Broken Handlebar North
* Broken Handlebar South
2017:
New Trail:
* Jigsaw
2018:
New Trail:
* Milk Run-section 1
2019:
New Trail:
* Milk Run-section 2
2020:
New Trail:
* Milk Run-section 3 finished during COVID-19 with 3 volunteers and a 4 person VYCC crew for 2 weeks. This trail is just under 4000′ long.
2021:
New Trail
* Maximum Capacity started construction with a one week VYCC crew paid for out of membership dollars and contributions. Pine Hill Partnership has received an RTP grant from VT Dept of Forest, Parks and Recreation which will pay for a 3 week VYCC crew to finish Maximum Capacity and Bone Spur.
New bridge on Sore Elbow
Eagle Scout Bradley Bishop and Troop 120 replaced small bridge on Sore Elbow in September.
Fall of 2021: Pine Hill Partnership in conjunction with Rutland Recreation are applying for an Enhanced Recreation Stewardship Grant. We are hoping to secure funding to improve Broken Handlebar North, Upper and Lower Halfpipe and Aaron’s Air. These trails would be done with a professional trail builder. Also asking for funding for a 4 week VYCC crew to refurbish some of our older trails that need trail tread and drainage work.