Permanently protected by the Town of Rockport and managed by the Conservation Commission.

Trail Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Length: ~1 mile

The DeLamater Sanctuary was acquired by the inhabitants of Rockport in November of 1968. It abuts the Rockport Golf Club property to the north, and several town-owned parcels to the northeast and east.

This 32 acre site is managed by the Conservation Commission “for the promotion and development of natural resources, and for protection of the watershed” according to the deed. 

A swamp within the Sanctuary feeds the Waring Brook, which drains the property into Whale Cove.

Lloyd B. Waring donated the Waring Fields to the town in 1980. The fields are now leased to the Seaview Farm owned by Ken Lane. The main house and its operating farm stand are at 38 South Street, 1/3 of a mile toward Rockport center.  

The front and back Waring Fields contain a stream running through them and are considered wet meadows. They are very active with bird and animal life, including some large mammals. When passing through them, especially in the back field, you may see deer, foxes and occasionally coyotes.  

The front field of 9.6 acres is along South Street and is bordered by the public right of way down Thomas Road. The back field of 6.4 acres is reached by a level walk of 1/3 of a mile along Thomas Road and through the edge of land owned by the Rockport Golf Club.  

The land that these fields are on was purchased by the Lane family from the Lands End Association on April 21, 1890, for agricultural purposes. They have always stayed in continuous agricultural use, with the back field used for some years to grow Cranberries. 

When you walk to the back field, you will notice that it is enclosed around most of its perimeter by uplands, the narrow end of the field and its steam could be blocked to flood it for their harvesting. 

Mr. Waring purchased the land from the Lanes in the 1970’s. He started his business career in 1921 as an errand boy for Kidder, Peabody & Co. and worked his way up to be a Vice President. He also was chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party and was treasurer of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential campaigns. He was a long term resident of Rockport and always generously supporting the town.