Westminster Then & Now

		Note: Click on image for larger copy.
This picture shows what Westminster looked like in the 1830's, when Nelson Miles was born. The landscape was painted by Deacon Robert Peckham from the 40 foot high bell tower of a church that was then located on Academy Hill. Painting used courtesy of the Forbush Memorial Library in Westminster, MA.	This picture shows what Westminster looked like in the year 2004.  The photograph was taken from a 40 foot high fire truck ladder that was parked on the same spot (on top of Academy Hill) as the church bell tower used by Deacon Peckham to paint the 1831 landscape of Westminster. Thank you to the Westminster Fire Department for their help in taking this picture.

Critical Thinking Questions

• Why do you think there were so few trees in downtown Westminster when Deacon Peckham painted the picture of town? Think about how early citizens of Westminster stayed warm during the cold winter… how did this affect the number of trees in the area?

• How else has Westminster changed since the 1830s?

Student Activity
Where did all the trees go? Complete this math activity to learn more.

Created by Erin MacDonald, Grade 12 student at Oakmont Regional High School as part of the Miles Project. To return to the main page on Miles' early life, click here. Last updated in March of 2005.