Land Trust Moves to New Office

HARPSWELL— The Harpswell Heritage Land Trust has moved into its new home at 153 Harpswell Neck Road.  The new building, owned by the Trust, includes office space and a 50 person meeting room for holding public educational events and for use by community groups.  Groups interested in using this space can contact the Trust at 721-1121. The building is handicapped accessible.  The Trust will be holding an open house in July, but members of the Trust and the public are welcome to stop in anytime.
 
Trust President Keith Brown said “The Harpswell Heritage Land Trust has assumed, with its 19 conservation easements on 1000 acres of private land and the management of the 200 acres of its 10 preserves, obligations ‘in perpetuity’.  Our new building provides the Trust with the space it needs to meet those permanent obligations.”
 
Brown added “In its first seventeen years of existence, the Trust worked out of the homes of its trustees and volunteers.  For the last five years, the Trust has worked from small rented offices and prevailed upon the generosity of the Kellogg Church and others when it needed larger spaces for Board meetings and other activities.  Now, not only do we have adequate office and work space for our growing needs, we can sponsor more public educational events and meetings of other community organizations.  In fact, the Harpswell Community Housing Trust has already utilized the meeting room twice.  We also hope to show the work of local artists in the meeting room.”
 
The Trust received contributions from many local businesses and individuals as well as several foundations.  Bill and Jomay Barron of North Harpswell contributed the land for the new home.  Maroney Gay Design contributed the building design.  D.W. Newberg & Associates contributed the septic design. Vail’s Tree Service contributed the lion’s share of the site clearing.  R.W. Webber & Sons is providing site preparation at a discount.  Fred Perry & Daughters discounted the well.  Downeast Building Supply is providing materials at a discount.  The Sherwin Williams Company contributed the paint. Lowe’s Home Improvement discounted various appliances.  Ralph H. Black, Jr. constructed the building. 
 
To pay for the building, the Trust is conducting a fundraising campaign with a goal of $365,000.  Four foundations, including the Aldermere Foundation and the Davis Conservation Foundation, have provided grants totaling $13,000.  Business contributions have come from Home Depot, the Bath Savings Institution, the Gardiner Savings Institution, Homes & Harbors Real Estate, Morton Real Estate, and Rob Williams Real Estate.  In addition, 260 individual have given a total of $150,000 so far. Brown noted that “While we have a ways to go yet to finish paying for the building, the Trustees are very grateful to all those who have donated to date.  We hope the remaining Trust members and other supporters will also chip in.”  Donations may be sent to the Trust at PO Box 359, Harpswell ME 04079.
 
Since 1983 the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust has been a membership supported non-profit land trust working in Harpswell.  Besides conserving land and historic buildings, HHLT also operates a day camp for one week each summer for kids ages 7-11 to introduce them to Harpswell’s natural world and has initiated a community garden program integrated into the curricula at Harpswell’s two elementary schools.  HHLT also sponsors walks and talks about Harpswell’s (and Maine’s) natural and cultural heritage, and cooperates with other organizations of like purposes.