Cheshire
Land Trust
Cheshire
Land Trust
Preserving Land as
a Living Resource Since 1969
News, Notes & Happenings
CLT produces The Balance Sheet twice a year. The newsletter is mailed to members, business owners and local officials. The name for the newsletter was coined by Tom Pool, an energetic and dedicated past president who had his hand in many things to help grow the fledgling organization. Balance is derived from our mission...to preserve open space while respecting the needs for the community to grow and develop. The name also demonstrates the importance the governing board places on its accountability to members.
Newsletters ---- March 2008 ---- Financial Statement 2008 ----Fa-----S
March 2007------- Financial Statement 2006
August 2006 ----------- March 2006 ---------- August 2005 ---------- March 2005
Return to Home Page ------ Photo from recent Events ------ Calendar ----- Contact Us
The Harvest Festivals at Ives Farm
Membership Appreciation Day at Ives Farm - Sunday, October 14th
Under near perfect skies throughout October, thousands celebrated the fall harvest days at Ives Farm. Tim and Dyan Casey have created a delightful experience for young and old for many years at Ives Farm. This year was even better with the introduction of a challenging corn maze made possible by the professionals at MazePlay.
Horse-drawn Hay Rides, Clowns, Fire Truck Slide, D.J., Rock Wall, Pony Rides and of course, the fabulaous Ives Corn maze added to the the month long excitement at Ives CLT joined in on the fun with a membership tour of the farm. Several families and dozens of cubscout's took a closer look at Ive's.
Corn Maze - Fall 2007
Four acres of strategically planted corn were planted at Ives Farm. This aerial photo was taken in August 18, 2007 when the corn was about 5 feet high. By early October the corn towered eight to ten feet and created two trails totaling nearly 3 miles. Hundreds experienced the MAZE CRAZE this Fall.
For more information visit Ives Farm or call Tim or Dyan Casey at 272-5847
Cub Scouts from Pack 92 take time out for a photo-op. They joined in on one of many tours of Ives farm taken during Membership Appreciation Day, which was held at Ives Farm Oct. 14th during the Fall Harvest and Pumpkin Festival.
Ives Farm - Cheshire St. - October 15, 2006
Cheshire Fall Festival
Hundreds of people came to the Fall Festival at Bartlem Park September 9, 2006. The land trust booth was packed. People were excited by the recent acquisition of Ives Farm and the prospects for farming continuing there in the years ahead. They had many questions for CLT directors and volunteers. The prospect of new members unfolded throughout the day under a brilliant blue sky.
These interested Cheshirites look over aerial photos of Ives Farm with Dave Schrumm
Rick Marinaro works the crowd
This delightful image of Ives Farm was rendered by Carla Koch some 12 years ago. She displayed several of her Ives Farm watercolors at the CLT tent. The large barn is no longer there, a fallen relic of old age.
Summer Picnic at Mixville
Jo Kowalski - charter member - with her brother in-law Bernie
The Land Trust held its annual picnic at Mixville Pond August 17, 2006. The event was attended by 20 members and the highlight of the affair was Jo Kowalski. Jo is a charter member and served as CLT's treasurer for 25 years. She has recently returned home from a stint in a nursing home. She was a lively as ever as she told all, "I haven't missed a land trust picnic yet". Her brother-in-law Bernie, a regular at these summer gatherings, is seen in the photo above.
For more picnic pictures go to Photo from recent Events
Krampitz Bequest
CLT member Minnie Krampitz died in 2005. She bequeathed $80,000 to CLT. She and her brother Archie, who predeceased her some five years ago, were long time members. Their remarkable story follows. As of February 2007 CLT has received $155,000 form their estates.
Minnie was born on a farm on Peck Lane. The farm was purchased by her parents, immigrants from Germany, in 1911. The Krampitz family consisted of nine children, six girls and three boys. The farm was operated as a truck farm, delivering vegetable produce by horse and wagon daily to the Waterbury farm market. Their father, Ferdinand, is said to have grabbed an occasional cat-nap on the way home, but he was always returned home safely by horses that knew the route.
In later years the farm was operated by Archibald (Archie), August (Butz) and Whilhelmina (Minnie). They operated a popular farm stand on Meriden-Waterbury Road known as the Krampitz Farm Market selling fresh vegetables and flowers.
As the siblings advanced in age they sold the development rights to their farm to the State of Connecticut. Archie was among the first Connecticut farmers to take advantage of a new state program that was designed to sustain farming. The state bought the development rights and placed permanent deed restrictions on the land for farming use only. The Krampitz family retained a four acre parcel and Archie farmed a small garden into his nineties. John Romanik is the current owner of the former “Krampitz Farm” property and farming pursuits continue there to this day.
Minnie Krampitz was the last member in the local family lineage which has left a significant imprint upon Cheshire. Archie and Minnie Krampitz leave a lasting legacy in the name of farm and land conservation. Our town and the Cheshire Land Trust have truly been touched by their love for the land. CLT will most certainly convert this treasure into acres in the years to come.