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Forest service seeks volunteers to restore historic nursery

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking volunteers to help fix up a historic structure at the former Chittenden Nursery in Wellston. It's a partnership between the Forest Service and HistoriCorps, a national organization dedicated to the preservation of historic structures on public lands. Volunteers hammer, chisel, saw, scrape, sand and paint historic buildings back to life. Officials say no previous construction experience is required, just a positive attitude and strong work ethic. 

Chittenden Nursery was an important spot in the 1930s during efforts to replant Midwestern forests that had been mowed down during the logging era. The Civilian Conservation Corps provided laborers for Chittenden Nursery. It supplied seedlings and transplants for regional planting and featured several buildings, including a greenhouse.

The nursery closed in 1973.

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