Mill Town Messenger | Oct 2022

Overview

The newsletter chronicles Newport Historical Society activities, focusing on Corbin Park’s role in American bison conservation, historical figures like Austin Corbin and Ernest Baynes, and related archival materials and artifacts. It details herd numbers, conservation efforts, and the legacy of bison breeding and donations to national preserves.

Additional society news covers recent events, acquisitions, museum operations, volunteer roles, membership drives, and upcoming features including local family histories and Baynes’s writings. Practical information on museum hours, contacts, and publications is provided.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

This quarterly newsletter is generally published in January, April, July and October.

Main Points

• Corbin Park Establishment: Austin Corbin, Jr. founded the Blue Mountain Forest and Game Preserve (Corbin Park) in New Hampshire in 1890 to save and breed endangered animals, notably the American bison, at a time when their population was near extinction in the US.
• Bison Conservation Efforts: The Corbin family actively propagated and donated bison from their herd to parks and preserves across the country, significantly aiding bison conservation and the prevention of species extinction.
• Bison Herd Numbers: The Corbin Park bison herd peaked at about 173 animals in 1903, but maintenance costs led to a gradual reduction; by 1914, only 69 remained, including 13 calves.
• Failed Crossbreeding Attempts: Attempts to crossbreed bison with domestic cattle, such as Polled Angus, were unsuccessful and not economically viable compared to purebred bison.
• Role of Ernest Harold Baynes: Ernest Harold Baynes served as Conservator of Corbin Park from 1904 to 1925, training bison and advocating for their domestication for use by small farmers.
• National Impact: Bison from Corbin Park helped establish or supplement herds in major US parks and reserves, including Van Cortlandt Park (NY), the National Zoological Park (DC), and the Montana National Bison Range.
• Bison Extirpation and Recovery: American bison were nearly exterminated in the wild by the late 1800s, but dedicated efforts like those at Corbin Park contributed to the species’ survival; as of 2017, North America had over 362,000 bison, mostly on farms, reserves, or tribal lands.
• No Current Corbin Park Bison: Despite its historic role, Corbin Park currently has no bison, but its legacy in species conservation is recognized and appreciated.

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