Many of New England’s old stone walls, which have stood undisturbed for hundreds of years, are now under threat.

Development has brought a growing demand for stone for massive new walls and other stonework that is often overly ornate with a stylized design and construction alien to the New England countryside. Too frequently, the stones from old walls on private property are being pilfered one by one by unethical contractors in need of attractive old stones for new walls.

A bigger threat is posed by “strip mining” of old stone walls, wherein the entire wall is removed to make way for new development or for resale for new stonework elsewhere.

Some towns, including the Town of Harwinton, have enacted local ordinances requiring permits for the dismantling or removal of stone walls. But most towns, like Newtown, have no such oversight or protection for the old walls.

New England’s ancient stone walls are cultural ruins of the region’s earliest settlements and authentic monuments to its agrarian heritage. Alarmed by the rate at which this important historical legacy is being dismantled, preservationists at the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History have established The Stone Wall Initiative to promote “the appreciation, investigation, and conservation of stone walls in New England.”

If you would like to learn more about The Stone Wall Initiative or join the growing effort to help preserve stone walls in New England, call 860-486-6198 or visit the website at stonewall.uconn.edu.

—C.C.