\F TRUST BULLETIN The Lyme Land Conservation Tiust F a,ll 2002

THREE TOWNS CELEBRATE THE RIVER Rounding out the committee are: Litnda Krause, director of the River Estuary Regional Planning Agency (CRERPA), The land trusts of the towns of Lyme, Salem and East Had- Chatles Feredette, Water Management director for the Department of dam held an Eightmile Riverfest event at the Devil's Hopyard in Envfuonmental Protection; and Nathan Frotrling, director of the Tide- This was to celebrate federai approval for a study of the June. lands Ptogram of The Nature Conservancy (lNC) who will bring to determine its eligrbility for Wild and Scenic tleir experience to the deliberations. River designation. The Study Committee is awaiting the National Patk Service's Senator Christopher Dodd and Representative Rob Simmons, appointment of a staff person who will oversee the work. In the who saw the legislation through Congress, were guests of honor. meantime, the committee has been meeting to develop the topics An estimated 200 people of all ages from the three towns enjoyed a to be included in the final report. At the late August meeting, mem- sparkling day on the banks of the river. They admired the photos bers began to define what they considered the special qualities of school children submitted for a contest, tapped their feet to the the river and its watershed that should be protected. music of the East Haddam Drum and Fife Co1ps, played "Backyard Bass," a fish casting game supplied by the Department continaed 0n ?dse 6 of Environmentai Protection's fisheries division, met a peregrine pRESIDENr,,s faicon owned by \)7inds Over Wings of Clinton, which rehabilitates MESSAGE injured birds, ate freshly smoked shad provided by the East Had- 9,t was the offrcial kickoff event for the Eightmile Wild dam Sportsmen's Club, and browsed amoflg displays from support- June Scenic River Study. Over 200 people joined Representative Rob hg grouPs' & \..-l Simmons and Senator at Devil's Hopyard State Park The Study Committee on a beautiful Sunday aftemoon. In July, the study committee met In the formal presefltatlon, the members of a Study Commit- for the first time at the Salem Town Hall. The committee will tee were introduced. They will represent the interests of the three meet every fourth Monday at 5:30 in a revolving schedule be- towns, the region and the state, guide the direction of the final re- tween the town halls at Salem, East Haddam and Lyme. The pub- port to be submitted to Congress, which must approve arry fnal lic is welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings. Commit- designation for the river. They will also reach out to the wider citi- tee membets include the three First Selectmen, the presidents of zenship and seek other experts as needed. each land trust, a planning board member from each town and a The members of the committee are: for Lyme, Selectman Bill representative each from the Connecticut Department of Envi- Koch, David Tiffary of the Planning and Zorutg Committee, and ronmental Protection and the National Park Service. Bi-ll Koch, Anthony Irving of the Land Trust; for Salem, Selectman Peter Siel- David Tiffany and myself represent Lyme. man, Eric Beit of the Conservation Commissiorl, and David Bing- You may ask why the three towns embarked on this designa- ham of the Land Trust; for East Haddam, Selectwoman Sue tion process, one that wi-ll be time consuming, rigorous and will Merrill, Jonathan A,{oris, Conserwation Commission, and Maureen Iikely take three years to complete. It has to do with our collective the Vanderstad of Land Trust. continued on page 2

Eightni le RiaerJest: J ane CAROL HARDIN KIMBALL After only one year on the board of the Land Trust before her death last spring, Carol Kimball had made a signiflr- cant mark. Her long experience as a fund- raiser with The Nature Conservancy, and earlier with the Brooklyn Botanical Gar- den and other organizations, was ex- tremely valuable in the Land Trust efforts last year to purchase the PLimpton Prop- erry. She was working with the Finance Committee on more long range fundrais- rng inrtiatives as well. Carol had already contributed several articies to this newsletter and we were look- ing fonvard to more, as she had proved her wriring skills wrth contributions to TheTide- land: oJ the Connectical Nuer A Cilde to is Hidden Coux and Tnbalanx. Her passionate and enthusiastic love of nature and her at- View Plinpton Reserue tachment to Lyme \r/ere among the sources fron oIher creative spint. We sha]l miss her. !, L i M P T O N T R-A I I, T L} U R As a final indrcauon o[ these attach- Last spring, the Land Trust held a mains of the l8th cefltury road which led ments, the Land Trust recently learned that dedication ceremony for the recently pur- north before bridges were built across the Carol's estate had left a bequest of $1,000 chased Elizabeth Piimpton Memorial Pre- mouth of the Falls fuver. to the Trust. We are indeed grateful, and sefl/e ofl Steding City Road. More than There will be a gurded nature tour of wiil hope to live up to her exactrng standards. fifty people turned out on a perfect May the trail on Saturday, Octobei 26 at 10 a.n. The Board sends its condolences to her day to thank Ken Plimpton and his Anthony Irr.ing, ecologist, and Ralph Lewis, brother, children and grandchildren. daughter Caroi Ely Plimpton for their role state geologist, will add some extra dimen- in the creation of the Pteserve. By now, sions to the enjoyment of the trail. The en- j'IiftSi/iit '5 'i marry people will have climbed up the traflce is on the north side of Sterling City \ I -4{f,i.!. i ii: :r n/intu! .it ozt bc?: somewhat steep trail to enjoy the striking Road, about a quarter mile from the Lyme vision for the Eightmile fuvet system. In view of the Falls River/Hamburg Cove Congregational Church. Parking will be at 1991 the selectrnen of the three towns valley and surrounding hills, and sauntered Grange patking across the signed the Eightmile River'Watershed Con- the lot from more easily down the east side to the re- church. Sunday the 27,h will be the rain date. servation Compact which stated in part that: a The Eightmile River and its tributaries iii g, {,? E {.1A R. M E h,! B E R.S are considered treasures by the people D who live there. There have been an unusual numbet of Stewardship activitieg. * The uplafld area of the Eightnile River vacancies on the Board. Last winter we anuci- Eliaai;r:th Morgaar was appointed as Watershed, which drains to these nvers pated only one. Then the seats of Carol Kim- an interim member. A semi-retired graphics and streams, is vital to the protection of ball and Ron Phillips became vacant. One designer, she has been one the Trust's hsh these waterways and is a wildlife habitat seat $/as fllled at the Annual Meeting. The monitors, an assistant to Ginger Bladen in of high importance in its own right. President has apporrted two rrteam mem her bird banding, an active member of the bers, to be formally approved next spdng Lyme Ambulance Association, and other r, The ecological health of the $Tatershed when there will be additional vacancies. local activities. and her . is inextricably iinked to the economic She husband gave an Aatlir:r,-; ir.rili,,a;:': was approved as a easemefl.t on part of their property on Brush and social activities of these communiues. regular member. A recent resident of Hill Road, where they have iived for 12 years. Land use in our towns is the key deter- ", Mitchell Hill, Tony has had a iong career .. , , . is also an irrterirn ap- minant of the health of the Watershed's '" -' as a CPA with PricewaterhouseCoopers pointee. A certified Master Gardener from natural resources. L.L.P. and curtently works on an assign- the University of Connecticut Cooperative A healthy watershed ecosystem is con- meflt basis with Checkers International, Extension Service, she is an active Lyme sistent with our town goals of promot- Inc., a corporate security and investigation Garden Club member and has a secretarial ing a healthy communiry, preserving firm. His enjoyment of outdoor activities and administrative background. She lives on rural character, and nurturing suitable has made him a regular member of the Joshuatown Road. economic growth. If these defining features are put at risk due to uncontrolled developmeflt, how can PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE continsed we protect the river and its watershed? We without local input and support. Coming agz;n, tf we are to shape and control the felt that designation of the Eightmile as a up with a truly representative river man- future of our community, we need to par- federally recognized Wild and Scenic River agemeflt plan requires landowners to get ticipate in the process. It is the obligation of would give us the best chance for long-term involved. Hopes, fears, questions, and the study committee to provide these op- protection. It would provide us with the obsewations all need to be incorporated portunities. Over the flext two years the resources and preservation tools necessary into the information mix if we are to accu- land trust will be sponsoring information to study and maintain the habitats, the water rateiy assess the issues and desires of the forums to both receive and disseminate resources and the rural landscapes that river communities. The final study plan information. make up the watershed. The knowledge must reflect these findings because desig- We hope everyone in Lyme will par- gained hete could then perhaps be trans- nation of the Eightmile as a Wild and ticipate because whether we l-ive near or far ferred to shaping future growth manage- Scenic Rivet will happen only if the citi- from the Eightmile River it is a central fea- ment across our communities. zeirs of each to\r/n vote in favor of it. ture that defines our town. None of this, however, can succeed What it comes down to is that, once Antbonl lruing 3

c A N A i0,&5r',q .t:A { l a h E,,l s E tu{ 8 ft ?' saii i E r{: :€,r}i? i; il i g.i#: The Lyme Land Conservation Trust table donation, the gift must be for conserva- work out the best strategy to fi.rl{ill the was formed n 1966 to serve the residents of tion purposes, such as protection of natural needs of afl owner. For example, a dona- water tion can be phased over time; some por- Lyme. Its mission is "to enhance the qual-ity wildlife habitat, scenic open space, resources or agdculture which are considered tions of a parcel may be reserved for de- oflife through the conservation ofthe natu- in the pubLic interest. Most land in Lyme velopment, for instance to provide for ral, scenic, water and historic landscape for would be eligtble. children, or even for sale, if it does not the benefit of the residents." ieopardtze the conservation values of the Although not explicitly stated in its What is the Value of an Easement? land. mission, the Land Trust also helps landown- Value must be detetmined in each case ers to plan for the future of their family lands by a licensed real estate appraiser. In gen- What about Charitable DonationsP so that their chrldren may continue to enjoy eral, it is the difference between the value of \X4rile the estate tax rncentive is gone them and continue the family stewardship the land before the easemeflt, and the value for most people at preserit, landowners ethic. NIany landowners have found the do- after donation of the developmeflt rights. may ovedook the federal income tax ad- nation of a conservatiori easemerit to an For most practical pu{poses, this means the vantages of charitable donations. Under eligrble chantable orgaruzation is an attrac- difference between the potential develop- federal tax laws, a donor may deduct the tive tax incentive, while protecting valuable ment value and the residual value, with no, charitable value of the easement ftom his and beloved natural resources. How does or lirnited rights of development. Since income up to 30 percent of his gross in- thrs work? much of the value of land in Lyme resides come for each year for six years. in development potential, an easemeflt cafl There is currendy in the U. S. Senate What is a Conservation Easement? reduce assessed value by as much as 80 per- bill S. 701, introduced by Sen. Max Bau- Ownership of land is actually made up cent. Thrs can have important tax advantages. cus (D. MT), which would expand this of a bundle of rights, such as the right to incentive to allow z 50 oh deduction of mme, to farm, to cut the adjusted gross in- timber or to build. A come, and allow carry- conservation easemeflt over for an unlimited extinguishes the right number of years. This to develop part or all would benefit donors of the land. A11 other of moderate or small uses are retained by incomes who m,tght the owner except wish to conserve large those that are cofltrary or valuable parcels. to the conservauon They would thus be \ purpose. Acrivities able to obtain tax ad- Y such as recreauon, vantages comparable to agriculrure or forestry the value of the land. are universally ac- What Does It Cost? cepted uses if they are Donation of atr performed in an envi easement does entail ronmentally sound professional expenses lnanner. A gravel lawyer, arl ap- operation would not fot a praiser, and sometimes be accepted by the a surveyor. The conser- lfltemal Revenue Ser- vation values will also vice for inclusion in a need to be docu- conservadon easement. mented. Typically, costs Easements are perpetual grfts that LVild dogwood currently run between and but these costs are specifically apply to your land. If propedy $5,000 $8,000, What are the Current Tax Rules? also tax deductible, as an itemized ex- drafted, they cannot be undone. Formedy a main tax implication of an pense connected with the determination A conservatiofl easemeflt may be sold 'to easement was to reduce t}le value of an es- of your tax liabiJity, to the extent that the or donated a charitable organization, tate, which in tum reduced the amount due total all itemized deductions exceed such as the Land Trust. (Only rarely has the of in federal estate taxes. The 2001 Tax Relief two percent your adjusted gross in- Land Trust purchased easements.) of Act, signed by the Ptesident in 2001, come. The easement, conveyed by a deed, is June raised the level at which estate taxes take The Land Trust urill consider help- recorded at town hall and held by the chari- effect to million this yeat, and dses to a ing landowners who are not able ab- table organization in perpetuity. The owner $1 to $3.5 million exemption by 2008. This effec- sorb the cost. continues to ov/n the land, control access to tively removes most estates from federal it, and may sell or pass it down to his chil- Are Easements Common? estate tax. The tax is scheduled to be phased dren. The easemeflt stays with the Land Since 1981, the Lyme Land Conser- out by 2010, although this may be subject to Trust. vation Trust has received 46 easements change in the future by Congress and the totaling more than 1500 acres. In 2001, Is Public Access Required? President. Thus the distant future is not Connecticut land trusts held easements You may Some landown- No. decide. altogether clear, and the wise landowner on 19,100 acres and owned 45,000 acres. ers choose to give limited access, such as for might consider his options. a trail or education. Some owners do not A total estate will include not only land Let Us Help allow any access. value, but also all other property including a The Lyme Land Conservation Trust would be glad to answer questions, or Is Any Land Eligible? persohal residence, investrnents and per- sonal property. Only a lawyer versed in both refer you to local professionals. Call To be acceptable to the IRS as a chari- easements and the fine points of tax law can Anthony Irving, president, 434- 2390. ^t Courtesy of thc (;atcway (lommlssron Connecticut Nuer uiew todal WHAT IS THE CO!{NECTIC{]7 R.IV E R GAT EWAY C O M MISSIONT by Melvin lYoody The lower valley is which also includes one rePresefltauve from These combined efforts, many of the last important river estuary on the east- the Department of Environmental Protec- them in collaboration with The Nature ern seaboard of the Uruted States that re- ton p.E.P.) and one from each of the two Consenancy or with local land trusts, mails unspoiled. Due to the sandbar at its regional planning agencies serving these have succeeded in protectlng almost mouth, the estuary has escaped the develop- towns. The Commission is charged with 1,400 acres of riverfront iand. Most re- estuaries and overseeing any changes in Town Plans of cently, the commission , provided ment that has blighted the ^ shores of so many major rivers, with oil Development, zoning and subdivisiori regu- $70,000 matching grant toward the pur- re{inenes, tank farms and refuse dumps. lations that might adversely effect the river chase of the Roger Tory Peterson prop- But in the late 1960s, local residents scene. Although the Commission consists erty between the Hambutg Road and the and state and lederal officials began to fear primarily of local residents because they are best head of the Lieutenant River. that indiscriminate recreaxon and residential ible to orrersee development, it acts on behalf The Peterson tract was Purchased development might destroy the very naturai of all the people of Connecticut ard, indeed, all outright and will eventually be accessible and aesthetic advantages that make the val- those who enjoy the beauty of the area. to the publ-ic, wheteas the donors of sce- the exclusive right to ley such an attracdve place to live and visit. nic easemeflts retain ,Y Senate authorized a Easements walk, hunt and fish on their own iand. In response, the U.S. Acquisition'The of Scenic scheme to protect the area by establishing a legislarure authorized the D.E.P. They don't have to open their land to the national park comparabie to the Cape Cod to purchase scenic easements and develop- public, except as a landscape to be seen National Seashore. But the Bureau of Out- ment rights on as much as 2,500 acres of from a distaflce. I7ith an easement, the door Recreation produced a plan for such land within the conservation zone. The landowner gives up some or ali of his intensive recreation that local residents saw members of the Gateway Commission and right to develop his propetty. If he does that it would destroy the very values every- representatives of the state undertook the not wish to divide his properry in any one had hoped to preserve. advance planrung for the conservadon zone, case, the owner loses very little. Yet the Lyme Land Trust founder Bili NIoore set priofities for acquisition of easements, guarantee that neither he nor any future devised a scheme to protect those values assigning the highest priorities to the ridge- owfler may do so is still of value to the through local control. Moore and lus col- lines most visible from the River. The legis- state and the public because the view league Peter Cashman, who succeeded hinj lature authorized $5 million in bonds to Pur- from the river will re'main intact. in the state Senate, persuaded fellow legtsla- chase these easemeflts, but only a fraction of tors that the Connecticut Rivet Estuary is a that amount was e\rer actually bonded. R.egulatory" Standards fot the Zone unique and precious resource for the entire \X./hen-the eight towns in the lower state. In 1973, the Genetal Assembly au- Fundine Problems valley voted to join in the conservation thorized the creation of the Connecticut ln 1982, the Gateway Commission was pact, they agteed to accept a set of mini- River Gateway Conservatior.Zone in order the beneficiary of a million dollar out-of- mum standards that apply to the portion "to protect the natural, historic and aes- court settlement of a dispute about Po$/et of each town that falls within the Conser- thetic values of the lower Connecticut lines crossing the dver. Some $300,000 of vation Zone. The committee that planned River." these funds were immediately committed to tlre Conservation Zone was charged with The zone encompasses riverside por- help The Narure Consewancy acquire a developing these standards. It surveyed tions of Chester, Deep River, East Haddam, unique tract of 300 acres at Chapman's existing regulations in the towns, and Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme, and Say- Pond, adjacent to Gillette Castle State Park. attempted to devise standatds to gurde brook. All of these towns voted at town Then the state cut off funding for the future development that would be consis- meetings to join in an effort to protect the Gateway Commission, which has since had tent with existing ordinances, and that Connecticut valley by gutding further devel- to draw upon the yield from the unspent would not be too burdensome for local opmerit through comrnon zoning, planning principal of the court settlerhent to pay its planning and zoning officials to adminis- and developmeflt criteria and by purchasing expenses. Nevertheless, it has long since ter. Stated briefly, some of the most sig- scenic easements and development rights restored that principle to the original figure nificant standards are: on visually important parts of the landscape. of $1 million, and has used othet earnings r No structure may be etected within 50 rZ The legislature established a Connecti- from that fund to leverage purchases and feet of the Connecticut River or its cut fuver Gateway Commission to oversee gift-purchases of land and scenic easements tributary wetiands. Marine faciiities and the conservation zone. Each town elects a along the river. Generous outright gtfts of other accessary structures may be delegate and an aiternate to the commission, land and easements have also contributed continwd on page 5 sigruficantly to the program. (iourtcsy of thc Gateway Commission '['he tame riaer uiea showing po/ential deuelopnent under curren/ regulations

G AT I: V:.4'i' CO IIi41J-(ICAI c o n t i n r e d J r o m ? aze excepted by special permit. because they know that their own view and from such appeals. Since its establishment the value of their property is assured, since n 7973, the Gateway Commission has o A site plan is required for any subdivision their neighbors and people actoss the river are exercised these powers judiciousiy and or commercial, industrial or multi-family bound by the same standards. reasonably. The "presence" of the Gate- project. These plans must iflclude erosion Although the task of enforcing these 'way org niz tion itself serves to promote and sedimentation control, and a plan regional standards falls primarily to the local a consciousness of the riverway as a very showing areas to be cleared of trees. commissions in each town, the Gateway special public resource. e A building height limit of 35 feet or two charged with overseeing the Commission is Demand for New Standatdl and a half stories, whichever is less, with entire zone. The iocal zoning ordinances and The only change in the standards of allowance for certain exceptions such as regulations aflfecting the conservation zone nearly thirty years was a clari{ication of spires and cupolas by special permit. canflot be changed without the approval of the standard affect.,ng the height of struc- The Commission o Commercial cutting of timber to be ai- the Gateway Commission. rures that came in resPonse to urglng can overrule such changes they conflict lowed only by permit and in accordance if from Lyme and Old Saybrook. The pro- wrth a set of regulations designed to pro- with the minimum standards or wlt]r the posal for a 740 foot dock across from and pres- tect scenic and ecologicai values. specific purposes of conservation Gillette Casde and the number of houses ervatron set forth in the law that established Removal of gravel, soil and other earth of a size quite out of scaie with the \zr the conservation zone. materials is permitted only in already ex- "traditional scene" the Gateway Zone The Commission can modrfi, the stan- isting commercial operations. This does was intended to preserve, have alarmed dards for the Zote in the hght of experience, not prohibit excavations for foundations the public and evoked a demand for new but oniy after a duly announced public hear- and normal landscaping. Dumping and standards and a searcli for new ways of ing. The Zomg Boards of Appeal of mem- storage ofrefuse is prohibited. enforcing them. That demand has re- ber towns must noti$r the Gateway Com- sulted in a series of forums during the Lirnits and Protections mission of any appeal affecting land in the past year, resulting in proposals for new Anyone who owns property within the Conservation Zone. standards from the Gateway Commis- law also accords the Conservation Zone is both limited and pro- The enabiing both sion. An article in the next issue of ttus Commission and the Conservation tected by these standards. Limited, because Gateway bulletin will discuss these proposals. each town the status of ag- they'require owners to be carefui in the Commission in grieved parties Z.B.A. hearings on Meluin ll/ood1, a proferor of Pbi/otopfut at maflagement of their property to preserve the in ary such cases and in any coutt appeal arising Conneclicat College, is a longstanding Llme remarkable beauty of the valley. Protected, reprerenlatiue on the Galewa1 Comnisrion.

HOW SHOULD YOUR GARDEN GROW? The "perfect lawn" has become a cul- berries, seeds, insects, or flectar depending and densities can suit the choosy tastes of tural icon that has created ecologricai havoc, on species. Hummingbirds see bright colors, different species. asserted Jennifer Baer of the National Wild- but don't smell, while butterflies can smell. Some species will raise their young in life Federation, speaking to the Land Trust Each is equipped to suck nectar from flow- oest boxes or birdhouses, others in dead Winter Forum. Chemicals and fertilizers run ers of differeflt forms. One needs also to trees, or the various piles also used for off into the waterways, the wasteful use of attract bees and other insects to poilinate the cover. Ms. Baer notes the startling fact scarce water, and air pollution from lawn various crops. that the purple rnartin is almost entkely mowers all have negative impacts. Lawns For water, a bird bath car, attract tf dependent on martin houses and is seldom are a monoculture that contribute to the protected from predators and helped with found in the wild. lack of diversity in flora and fauna. The heat in the winter, while puddles can provide The many handouts at the lecture Federation instead urges use of native minerals to butterflies, and the mud can be proved popular and some of the favorites plants, matched to the specific site, which used for nests. Nloving streams' and still arc: I-iuing Rcnurcr and Habitats oJ tbe use less water and fertirzer and so contrib- ponds of different depths provide habitat l-.awer Connecticut NaerBrlJleitr, # 37, Con- ute to improved water qual-ity. for diverse [sh, birds and animals, each pte- necticut College Arboretum; Connecticat \a/ To attract wildlife, a landowner should ferring a special niche. Natiue Tree and Sbrab Auailabiliy Ust, Ct. consider the needs of all creatures for food, Likewise a vaiety of vegetation can D. E. P.; List of Deer Resistant Plants, water, nesting sites and cover from preda- provide cover fot wildlife to hide from Salem Gardens; National Wildlife Federa- tors, noting the specific needs of each spe- predators. Trees, shrubs, brush piles, log tion, www.nwf.org cies. For example, birds may need nuts, piles, and stone walls of different heights 6

SALEM AND LY&,!E FIiSTCIRY

Local history buffs will find many gold his estate found a tract of 4,000 acres, al- was the plea of the colonel's slaves t nuggets in a book recently republished by though other documents suggest lesser num- set free, which ultimately they 1tr7g.-.r/ the Salem Land Trust. Chnnicle: of a Connecti- bets. It extended from the Colchester, New There are other small insights to the life cut Farru 1769-/ 905 was first published pri- London and East Haddam borders to par- of slaves in the 18,h century. vately in 1905. It was compiled by Mary E. cels recorded in the Lyme records. Names of While today we think of Lyme, Sa- Perkins "for Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Mitchell, ponds, hills and other features have changed, lem, New London, Colchester and others the present proprietors of the Mumford and and stone piles and marking trees are lorig as fixed entities, which tend to revoive Woodbridge Homesteads." It is a documen- gone. It is therefore hard to determine just around their own administrative centers, tary history of ownership of these lands in where Colonel Browne's estate lay, but it ap- in the 77th and 18th century, these southern Salem and the people who lived pears to have stretched into present day Lyme boundaries were more fluid and were there. which sometimes was referred to as "South only gradually set. Salem, eady called The tale begins in the 17th century as Salem." Paugwonk after a pond which is now the settlers purchased land from the Indi- As the revolution came, Browne's heir Fairie Lake, was a small village of about afls, thefl faced disputes over the terms. remained loyal to the British king and fled to five miles square, and part of the town of There were also disputes over town England rn 1776. (He later became a gover- Colchester. The Salem parish was set off boundaries, such as the one between Lyme nor of Bermuda.) h 1778, the selectmen of from Colchester and Lyme in 1725. A and New London, which, according to one Lyme, including a Seth Ely, a Samuel Selden Lyme-Colchester boundary appears on tale, was settled when each town selected and a Daniel Lord, family names sdll familiar early maps. It was not until 1819 that two pugrlists who slugged it out. in town, petitioned the New London County Salem became a separate town. The early 1700s focuses on the land Court to conftscate the land for the use of A reader does not have a sense of purchases of Colonel William Browne, for- the state by dividing it into lots. rural isolation, at least *,:;n:r*;jTr; merly of Salem, MA. By 77 40, one survey of One eloquent document in this process

Nuerfest: Deep Naer Dram and Fife Corpt

THREE TOWNS conlinaetl lram page I Nathan Frohling drew on work done'a Iist of the living creatures of the valley. the area, the hard to deline scenic quali- few years ago during the federal designation David Bingham of the Salem Land and potential tecteational process of portions of the Farmington Trust pointed out that the study needed to lij:..".r.", River. He spoke of the importance of the address the dramatic geologic history of the Linda Krause outiined some of the Eightrnile River as being: an intact riverine area, which provides the base conditions for planning issues which should be ad- ecosystem throughout its geographic extent, the river and its habitat. Mr. Irving added dressed: the hydrology of the river - which iq unusual for a river in such a devel- that the connections betweefl river and where the water comes from, where it oped area as the lower Connecticut fuver ridgelines of the hills provide further diver- goes, location of acquifers and what de- basin; the excellent water quality; the virtu- sity, as a sequeflce of plants and trees have gree of flow is needed to sustain l-ife; cur- ally free-flowing descent (a qualification for adapted to different soils, from the lower rent and desirable land uses; current and Wild and Scenic status) with only two dams, uret areas to the dryer uplands. projected demographics; the management both of which have fish ladders to link up- The 40,000 acre watershed is also spe- systems of local, state and federal ordi- per and lower sections. cial in the extent of the forestry cover - 85 nances and a survey of agencies that af- In addition, he noted: the extensive percent. These woods xe p^rt of a larger fect the enr.ironment and development of freshwater wetlands, the tidal wedands, and network of forestry blocks. Together, these the watershed. diversity of aquatic habitats, including cold, ptovide habitat for those birds which require When the new staff person is on fastflowing sections, with slower sections, forest interiors for nesting and larger mam- board, the committee will arrange meet- shallow and deep waters, all contributing to mals, such as bobcats and coyotes which ings with the many stakeholders and hold the diversity of flora and fauna. These in- require extefl sive territory. public information hearings. In the clude rare plants, rare and endangered fresh- The group also began to list other *.rrrti*., ideas, suggestioir, qrr.ruom V water mussels, a wide variety of fish and topics which might contribute to the spe- may be addressed to Anthony Irving at invertebrates such as mayflies, damselflies, cial qualities of the Eightmile River. These 434-2390. dragonflies, beedes and snails, from a long would include the history and culture of d:ATllELii'tE FgllRER - A GIFT TG LYlufil by Cynthia & George ll/illsuer \- Catherine Fehrer first came to Lyme Changrng as she did in the years that open paths to the whole of the Preserve, urith her pareflts and sister, El-izabeth, in we knew her, Catherine taught us, too, that and in the prospect of furure generations 1918. During her youth, she and her family some thiflgs need not change. For example, enjoying it as she had. wintered in City, and later Cath- she kept her house exactly as her father and Our friend's other passion grew erine worked and lived in Boston. But to mother had kept it. She had the remarkable from her identity as the daughter of one her, Lyme was always "home." In recent grft of Iiving simply and modesdy. Entering of Lyme's painters. She adored her fa- years we looked forward to her migration her house one had the sensation of entering ther, Oscar Fehrer, and she felt as "home" in mid-NIay. She stayed in Lyme a time warp. Rather than paint a wall or im- strongly about his legacy as she did about through Election Day, when she voted, shut prove the kitchen, she enjoyed them as they her mother's legacy of the land. When up the house and was gone. living in New York, and later in Boston, Central to Catherine's love of Lyme she regularly visit.ed art galleries and mu- was a love of the land, rvhich she inherited seums. In her workrng hfe as a scholar from her mother. Her family origtrally and professor of French literature, she owned two of the houses at the corner of honed skills which in retirement she ap- the Hamburg Road and Beaver Brook Road plied to restore the somewhat neglected and hundreds of surrounding acres, most of reputation of the Academy Julian in Paris which the Fehrer sisters gave to the Nature where her father had studied. To this end Conservancy, with Catherine the rather she published a number of articles in fierce force that carr-ied the gfting process professional journals and served as a to fmrtion. consultant for several exhibitions in Bos- Our friend was a steady advocate of the ton and New York. Then in her will she preservation of the Pleasant Valley she ioved arar,ged to have her family's house and from childhood. She especially enioyed the surrounding Iand given to the Florence pond her father created for her and her sis- Griswold Museum. In this way'she tied ter by damming a small stretch of the Eight together in an enduring way her love of Mile River, the gently rolling h-ill between the land and her father's place in the her house and Beaver Brook where wild tradition it inspired. bergamot and butterfly bush flourished, the One of Catherine's last acts was to steep ledge across Beaver Brook Road, up clear brush on tlle soaring ledge opposite which she and her sister had scrambled in her house. Trash bucket in one hand, cane childhood. Catherine Fehrer in the other, her folded scarf trghdy knot- . \X,/hen we ftrst met Catherine more were, to our delight. Instead of tearing down ted beneath her chin, she supervised the Vthu., rhirry' years ago, she was disrncLned to the prir.y she re-roofed it and told with urork of the men she hired for the job, g,ive her land to the town. She was quite mock horror of the snake skins she found then day after day cleaned up behind reclusive, disenchanted urith her sense of inside. Avoiding busy work she spent much them. To us this seems her creation of a betrayal by those who built the libtary on of her time reading, pickrng local berries and monumefl.t honoring het several passions. Iand her family had g,iven to the town for fruits i-n their various seasons, admiring the Catherine's very generous gift of operi space. Often she told us she was going wild flowers in her field, or walking to visit $50,000 to the Land Trust symbolizes her -|ennie to give her land "to the Indians," a disquiet- Stark, a friend from her childhood. In enduring faith in all of us as serious and ing threat to say the least. Happily for the our opifliofl, she spent her tirne wisely. committed stewards of the land she and town we teased her out of thrs objective, , Cathenne Fehrer's hnal gifts to the her family feli in love with almost one and she softened her attitude and became community speak for themselves. She hundred yeats ago. Mindful of this w-e interested irr town affairs and participated in worked very hard to protect for all of us the want to challenge the Florence Griswold them. Standing in line for the Firemen's land which we know as the Pleasant Valley Museum and the Land Trust to work Dinner she enjoyed greeting people, more Preserve. All of her life she walked these collaboratively to develop Catherine's and more of whom came to know her. An- acres with pleasure. In her eighties, steadied remarkable legacy in imaginative ways. other pleasure was mingling with the crowd by her cane, she once lost her sense ofdirec- at the Fourth of July celebration, and one tion and she was lost for hours. She de- Ceorge and Clnthia lYillauer were neighbort year ioiniflg the parade. lighted in what the Land Trust was doing to and long-standingfriendt of Ms. Fehrer.

SALEM AllD LYLIE continted;t'rom page 6 inhabitants. The Chronicler comments, lies of New London, the Gardiners of the back the lands of the original Browne about the 1750s, "though Salem was a re- island, the Saltonstalls. Lyme famiJies in- estate, parts of which had been sold off mote village, the Mumfords did not lead a volved in the story include Griswolds (who as farming became less profitable. lonely life, for in those days a ride of twelve sold land to Browne) kes, Pecks, Lords, The Alfred Mitchells lived rn New or fifteen miles was not a bar to social inter- Marvins, Tiffanys and others (this was of London; their summer house there is course." One family from Saiem attended coutse before the Lyme-Old Lyme split). rlow Mitchell College. Their eldest the Third Church in Hamburg. We frnd At the time the book was frrst pub- daughter maried Hiram Bingham, Jr , marriages between Salem famil-ies and those lished Alfred Mitchell, son of a minister the discoveter of Machu Picchu and U. from New London, Norwich, Newport and from Norwich and an eighth generation heir S. Seflator. Their descendants still enjoy even Boston. Several young Salem Iadies of both Mitchells and Woodbridges, had the family lands. Vmarried goverllors of Connecticut and inherited some of the former Browne estate. The Salem Land Trust still has a few . Through these links, we leam In 1871 he matried Annie O. Tiffany of the copies of the book. Address enq"iri65 1s of the Shaw, Mitchell and Woodbridge fami- New York jewelry store family, and with Sandm Kozlowski, 887-1468. their joint fortunes they set forth to buy REMEMBER THE LAND rRL/5f lN YCUR WILL In the normal course of a year, we depend on the generous annual, tax-deductible conftibutions from local residents to acquire land and then to manage it. Membership dues, memotial gifts, and donations fot special land acquisitiofls are usually made through outright gifts of cash atdf or appreciated securities. In recent years, however, people are also demonstrating their commitment to pre- serving our opefl space by making bequests through their WiJls or Living Trusts. A bequest is a gift of an item or items (usually money) to a specific beneficiary, and has many advantages. Simple to arrallge, a bequest can be made when wills are made or revised, or a codicil can be added to an existing will. Furthermore, a bequest is revoca- ble; you can change or eliminate the beneficiary if and when you wish. And because bequests to charitable organizations are wholly deductible from one's gross estate, they can offer sigruficant federal estate tax savings. And making a gift through a will is possible for everyofle, not just the wealthy. A bequest can be for a specific dollar amount or for a per- Land Trust at the Fourth of Parade centage of your residual estate. Or a "contingent" bequest might Jz[t be appropriate should the individual heirs you have named in your Fron left: Rarell Shffir, Joan Nch, Ceorge lVillauer, Anthonl will predecease you. While a monetary bequest is the simplest way Iruing Robert parn.ey Prescott Littlefeld with Peter and Michae/ to beneltt the Land Trust, other creative estate plaflriing options can also be used depending on personal and family circumstances. marily driven by tax benefits, but reflect the donor's philosophy These options could include naming the Lyme Land Conservation and priorities. Not too long ago, the LLCT received a bequest from Trust as the, or a, beneficiary of a charitable remainder trust, re- the estate of long-time resident Chambedain Ferly. His widow, tirement plan, or a no-longer-needed, paid-up life insurance pol- Barbara, explained: "Chamb deeply loved Lyme's pristine wetlands icy. All of these vehicles are tax-favored. However, anyone con- and rock-filled woods. He hoped his bequest would inspire others sidering a bequest, or other estate gift, should consult his/her to act similarly so that as much as possible of Lyme's remaining legal and financial advisors. open space could be preserved." Ultimately, charitable gifts through one's estate are not pri- What a lovely sentiment to leave behind!

BOann oF DIRECToRS LYME LAND Non Profit Org. LYME LAND CoNsgRveTIoN TRUST CONSERVATION TRUST, INC. U.S. Postage Box 1002, Lyme, Connecticut 06371 PAID Permit No.56 Anthony \*tng, Pnsiden Lyme, CT 06371 Joan Rich, Vice Pnidtnt Robert W. Baraey, Tnuanr

LindaBkeley, Semtary

'I'homas S. Childs,Jr. Elizabeth Morgan

Marta Cone Russell Shaffer

Judith W. Davies Anthony Sullivan Steven I'loyt Marilyn Wilhns Ralph Lewis Henry Willard Prescott Littlefield Postal Customer

The Lyme Land Trust BuIIetin is published several times a year by the Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Inc. as a matter of interest to its membership and to the general public in Lyme. Readers are invited to direct questions and suggestions to Joan Rich, Editor, at 434-7091.

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