The Richmond Land Trust, on behalf of the Friends of Gillett Pond, has struck a deal with the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains to acquire Gillett Pond, adjacent land and the rights to the deteriorating dam responsible for the pond. But there's a catch. The friends group only has until Jan. 31 to raise $90,000 to cover the purchase price and associated costs for acquiring the 88-acre property along Wes White Hill Road in Richmond.
“The immediate goal is to complete an initial public fundraising campaign in time to complete the purchase by the deadline,” Friends of Gillett Pond spokesperson Nancy Stoddard said in a press release posted on the Huntington town website. “We can then start working to protect the pond for the long term by raising another $250,000 to renovate the dam.”
"This is a win-win for the Scouts and the organizations and communities involved." - Richmond Land Trust Chair Fritz Martin
According to the Friends of Gillett Pond page on Huntington's website, the group has raised $50,000 toward its goal.
The pond was created by a dam built in the mid-1800s. According to the Richmond Land Trust, in 1902 the Richmond Light and Power Company improved the dam to supplement the water supply to a hydroelectric plant on the nearby Huntington River. The plant ceased operation several years later, but the pond remains a popular recreation area.
“We’re delighted with the Girl Scouts for this commitment to protecting a place treasured throughout our communities,” Richmond Land Trust Chair Fritz Martin said. “Recreation, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, water quality, flood control – you name it, Gillett Pond provides it. This is a win-win for the Scouts and the organizations and communities involved.”
Bob Low, another member of the Friends group and who lives near the pond, commented: “Generations of people in Richmond, Huntington and beyond have enjoyed Gillett Pond. Now we’ve gained the chance to guarantee that this beautiful resource will be there for future generations to enjoy as well.”
The next fundraiser for the Save Gillett Pond Fund is a New Year's Eve concert, at 7:30 p.m., at the Richmond Congregational Church. The show features Hannah Beth Crary, Hilary Stewart, The Fiddleheads and The Highland Weavers.
