Our Roots & Development

 

On June 16, 1973, five Harvard residents - Albert Anderson, Frank Coolidge, Larry Finnegan, Erhart Muller, and Edward Squibb -- came together to form the Trust.

At a meeting long ago, Cloyce Reed, one of HCT's first trustees, arrived with an acorn in hand. She drew a memorable analogy: "From this little nut grows a big tree. So too with the Trust grown from something small to something great.: And with that our Oak Tree logo was born.

Since that auspicious Day, the Trust has helped acquire or protect more than 600 acres for conservation -- including the land surrounding Town Beach, Watt Farm, Barba's Point, and Dean's Hill.

Today the Trust comprises nearly 500 members and is governed by a volunteer Board of 15 Trustees, all Harvard residents each of whom may serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

Trustees of the Harvard Conservation Trust as of December 2007:

Kenneth Cochrane
Molly Cutler
Becca Day-Newsham
Dennis Delaney
Pamela Durrant
James Elkind
Pricilla Endicott
Stephen Finnegan
Philip Knoettner
Theodore Maxant Margaret Nestler
Victor Normand, President
Eric Prouty
Russell Shappy
Susan Toll

Associate Trustees as of December 2007:

Anne Butterfield
Steve Colwell
Gail Coolidge
Tom Cotton
Glen Frederick
Bart Hanlon
Bob Mayerson
Nils Nordberg
Marc Sevigny
Doc Westerling

Emeritus Trustees as of December 2007:

Francis Coolidge
Larry Finnegan
Erhart Muller
Edward Squibb

Executive Secretary:

Linda Kaferle

Through our Lands Committee, the Trust works with property owners to creatively find ways to protect desirable property -- be it through tax-advantageous gifts of land, the purchasing of development rights, agricultural preservation restrictions for farmland, or granting of conservation restrictions. Interested property owners should feel free to contact any of our Trustees.

The Trust currently owns and manages more than 200 acres of land. From time to time we raise additional funds for specific projects, such as restoring the Rufus Porter murals in the Harvard Inn and the Elm Tree Fund.

The Harvard Conservation Trust supports the progress of a diverse housing stock in Town. It is integral to the Trust's mission to preserve the rural character, sense of community and history of the Town of Harvard. In order to achieve this goal, the Trust is willing to partner with others to facilitate selective residential developments. These activities could include the acquisition of land or buildings and the development of housing that is needed by the community.

Through our Housing Committee, the Trust owns and manages the Inn on the Common, and a 4.79 acre parcel known as Great Elms on Stow Road -- both properties offer below-market-rate rental units (the properties count toward the state-mandated 10% affordable housing threshold required to avoid large developments -- and protect local zoning restrictions.) A recent HOME grant, administered through the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, allowed major renovations of these properties. The Trust continues to investigate ways to meet Harvard's specific housing needs, such as market-rate senior housing.

State funding has helped buy conservation land in the past, but this source is now limited. Town funding is limited as well. Moreover, increasing land values make it more difficult to purchase land outright for conservation. As development pressure on available open space in Harvard accelerates, it is critical that we have sufficient capital on hand when a conservation opportunity arises.

Most of the Trust's land projects require considerable cash outlay -- both up front and throughout, to cover, for example, a variety of carrying costs. While we are generally able to recoup most, if not all, of these costs (depending on whether we can sell the land to the Town or a portion privately), these subsequent transactions can often take a year or more to finalize. In keeping with its non-profit status, the Trust does not seek to profit on the sale of land to the Town.

Financial support comes from dues and contributions from our members, as well as our fundraising campaigns. The Trust has also borrowed from individuals and banks to facilitate certain purchases.

Money may not grow on trees -- but it can certainly help preserve the extraordinary beauty and sense of community that have drawn people to Harvard for centuries.

Donations of all shapes and sizes help sustain our efforts:

HCT Membership -- We'd like to welcome you as our newest member. Take a moment and return the downloadable Membership Form for your copy of Harvard Trails and other membership benefits.

Capital Fund -- We've established a capital fund to help protect the limited lands coming to market. We invite you to take a step with us. Remember that all contributions are tax-deductible.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities, Land, Other Property -- Are you seeking to reduce your capital gains? A gift of appreciated securities allows you to deduct the full value of your stocks for tax purposes.

Corporate Matching Gifts -- If your employer offers a matching gift program, be sure to send the appropriate form with your donation.

Planned Giving/Charitable Bequest -- Some of the Trust's most enduring support has been received through planned gifts, such as wills or life income gifts, such as charitable remainder trust, and charitable gift annuities, life insurance, reserved life estates, and gifts of IRAs and pension plans. There are several ways to make a charitable bequest:

• A fixed dollar amount
• Specific assets
• A percentage of your estate
• Contingent amount based on specific events
• Remaining assets in the estate after all other bequests are filled

The have been some important new changes to tax laws governing the donation of land or placement of conservation restrictions on property. The US government is making it much more attractive financially to donate land. More details on these changes are available by clicking here

Hundreds of acres of fruit trees, the four-season beauty of Bare Hill Pond, and miles of conservation trails and scenic vistas beckon and enchant visitors and townspeople alike. This is the legacy the Trust seeks to preserve for generations to come.

Increasingly, towns like Harvard are faces with the decision of buying available farmland and forest lands or letting them go for residential development which can prove costly both environmentally and fiscally -- i.e., creating the need for more public service. As the pressures of development make our famous orchards vulnerable, the role of the Harvard Conservation Trust is more important than ever. Currently, less than 15% of Harvard's land is in conservation (compared with more than 20% in towns like Acton and Stow.)

The Harvard Open Space Plan envisions a greenway that would link conservation lands throughout the Town. The Trust is committed to finding innovative ways to preserve as much of this land as possible. Our hope is one day to be able to walk from one end of Town to the other using a connecting system of public trails and easements.

The Town of Harvard holds a special place in the history of Massachusetts, having provided a home for the Shakers, the Transcendentalists, and other notables. Harvard continues to be a special place, not only for residents, but for all who come to enjoy bike riding, hiking, horseback riding, apple picking, and the Town's many events on the Common.

Won't you help us preserve our history and our home?