Those involved in the acquisition and preservation of 10.52-acres of property on College Highway, now known as Moore Meadows, gathered March 29 to celebrate closing on the property. They are: (from left) Community Preservation Coordinator Sabrina Pooler, CPC members Dennis Clark, John Whalley III, Richard Harriman, Southwick Historical Society President Denise Muldrew, SHS Board member Marcus Phelps, SHS Archivist Lee Hamberg, SHS Secretary Barbara Phelps, CPC member David Spina, Select Board member Doug Moglin, SHS Treasurer Pat Odiorne, Select Board member Diane Gale, CPC member Christopher Pratt, and Select Board member Jason Perron.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
SOUTHWICK — Most of those involved in the successful purchase of 10.52-acres of property on College Highway for the Southwick Historical Society gathered on March 29 at Moore Meadows, the property’s chosen name, to thank residents for supporting the purchase during Town Meeting and donors for their financial help.
“We are truly grateful for the town’s support of this project,” said society Treasurer Pat Odiorne who was one of 14 who attended the first celebration.
The society chose “Moore Meadows” as the property’s name to recognize it was a part of the historic Moore family farm.
At the Special Town Meeting in early January, voters authorized an allocation request by the Community Preservation Committee of $164,000 to purchase the conservation restriction on the property for the Southwick Historical Society, th society still needed $11,000 to make up the difference of the $175,000 purchase price.
While the society closed on the property on Feb. 19, donations are still needed to help the society pay off the mortgage from Polish National Credit Union and expenses associated with the property’s acquisition.
Those include $21,000 for the property being surveyed prior to closing, a property management plan, real estate agent fees, closing costs, $1,000 for landscaping and the remaining balance of the mortgage.
The property will now allow public access to the property from the parking lot of the Gillett Cigar Factory on the society’s property at 86 College Hwy.
One of the reasons the society wanted to acquire the property was to keep it from being developed as an industrial site.
“It would diminish the setting the Southwick History Museum and alter the area’s rural character. If the site isn’t protected, it will be first commercial/industrial development to greet visitors traveling north of Connecticut,” said society Archivist Lee Hamburg last year.
He also said its acquisition also accomplished one of the goals of the town’s master plan, which is balancing the town’s distinctive New England heritage, rural character and commitment to natural resource protection with strategies for future development and growth.
The society plans to have interpretive trails on the property based on topography, wetlands, agricultural usage, educational value and environmental assets, and in the kiosk photographs of some of the known flora and fauna on the property, and a short history about its use as the former Moore-Nicholson-Waterman Farm.
All donations from supporters are tax deductible. Checks can be made out to the Southwick Historical Society, Inc., and mailed to P.O. Box 323, Southwick, MA 01077.
