Pimpneymouse Farm, the historic coastal farm that has graced the eastern-facing shoreline of Chappaquiddick for nearly a century, will be preserved in a joint conservation purchase by the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank and the Sheriff's Meadow Foundation.
Pimpneymouse Farm, the historic coastal farm that has graced the eastern-facing shoreline of Chappaquiddick for nearly a century, is slated for preservation in a joint conservation purchase by the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank and the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, aided by a major contribution this week from the commonwealth.
The farm is owned by the Potter and Slater family.
The farm is owned by the Potter and Slater family.
The plan was confirmed by Sheriff’s Meadow executive director Adam Moore after the Healey-Driscoll administration said in a press release that it would contribute $1.25 million toward the purchase of the 166-acre farm that has long been a symbol of Chappaquiddick.
The total price that will be paid for the property is $13.78 million, Mr. Moore said, with the two conservation groups splitting the amount. Sheriff’s Meadow is continuing to fundraise for the last $1.5 million of its $5.78 million share, Mr. Moore said.
“We’ve been working quietly with the land bank to conserve Pimpneymouse Farm on Chappaquiddick for little over a year now,” he said.
Citing land bank policy, executive director James Lengyel said he was unable to comment because no contract has been signed yet.
“The land bank does not comment on prospective acquisitions,” he said.
Pimpneymouse Farm is owned by the Potter and Slater family, who are relatives of the late Edith W. (Edo) Potter, a longtime Chappaquiddick resident and one of the earliest leaders in conservation on the Island. Ms. Potter, who had many other public roles including as a selectman in Edgartown, died in 2018. Her father Charles Welch started the farm in 1932, and she continued to manage it for 50 years after his death in 1947. Her 2010 memoir The Last Farm on Chappaquiddick, details the history of the property — a working gentleman’s farm where hay was raised, horses were kept and the coastal marshlands fronting Poucha Pond were used for duck hunting.
The sale is expected to be about $13 million, officials said.
The sale is expected to be about $13 million, officials said.
The farm includes several houses, a barn and other outbuildings. About 35 acres of the property will continue to be held by members of the family, Mr. Moore said. The farm directly abuts 612 acres of protected open space, and the plan calls for eventually creating connecting trails with nearby conservation lands, including at Wasque Reservation, and at other land bank properties.
“It will make some very significant trail connections,” Mr. Moore said. He also took special note of the significance of the purchase, since Ms. Potter had served both on the land bank and on the Sheriff’s Meadow board of directors.
Once completed, this will mark the second major joint conservation purchase with the two groups, which partnered in 2020 to buy Red Gate Farm in Aquinnah, the 304-acre oceanfront estate owned by the family of Caroline B. Kennedy. That property now makes up part of Squibnocket Pond Reservation.
Those who knew Ms. Potter were not surprised about plans to put her family estate into conservation.
“I couldn’t see it any other way really,” Edgartown poet laureate Steve Ewing said Tuesday. “If something happened and they didn’t do it, it’s possible the people of Chappaquiddick would rally to do it ourselves.”
Over decades serving on various Island boards together, Mr. Ewing said he came to know Ms. Potter as a “great force” in the Island community. In 2015, he penned a commemorative poem upon her retirement from the land bank, writing: “Remember a woman of / persistent courage / Who stands up so proudly / for what she holds dear.”
Edith Potter was one of the early leaders in the Island' conservation movement.
Edith Potter was one of the early leaders in the Island' conservation movement.
“She was like your aunt,” Mr. Ewing said. “Not your mother, but your aunt. You could tell her anything. With your mother, you can’t.”
Others who worked with Ms. Potter felt similarly. Vineyard conservationist Tom Chase said he first met Ms. Potter while volunteering at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and that she was integral to helping him get his first paid conservation job on the Island – working under onetime Gazette publisher Henry Beetle Hough at the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation.
“I knew that was Edo’s wish,” Mr. Chase said of the plan to conserve her family’s property. “I was glad to see the Land Bank and Sheriff’s Meadow rise to that wish and honor that.”
Mr. Chase said he visited Pimpneymouse Farm many times as a guest of Ms. Potter’s, and could not think of another individual who had been so impactful in Island conservation. To him, Ms. Potter represented a bygone era of community-based conservationism, when personal relationships could go further to bridge ideological gaps. Thanks in part to her work, Mr. Chase said, Islanders understood the role conservation plays to improve daily life.
Ms. Potter wrote about the farm in her memoir The Last Farm on Chappaquiddick.
Ms. Potter wrote about the farm in her memoir The Last Farm on Chappaquiddick.
“Edo knew that conservation had to reflect both the environmental concerns and the human concerns,” he said. “She really deeply integrated the history, the personal relationships, the relationships to the land...she was a pioneer.”
“It’s hard today to be the kind of person Edo was,” he added. “It’s a much more complicated community.”
Editor's note: this story has been updated with further comments.
Comments
A great family and a
Tom Engley West TisburyA great family and a remarkable property. I had the privilege of cooking for Edo’s memorial service. Adam Moore and Jim Lengyel are brilliant men thank you both for making nature more accessible on MV.
This would have been much
William C. Edg.This would have been much better suited for a mixed use housing development, sad to see this land being taken away from a bright economic future.
Actually, mixed use housing
Douglas Finn Edgartown Town HallActually, mixed use housing is NOT appropriate for Chappaquiddick - there are no water or wastewater services on the island, no real fire protection, and dense development is NOT appropriate for what is essentially a microcosm of MV. When Zoning was first established in Edgartown in 1966, and formally adopted by the Town in 1973, the first rules for regulation of development were made for Chappaquiddick. Those rules have not changed in fifty years, and in my opinion, it's one of the wisest decisions made by the Town in modern history.
agreed-so happy it is to be
Sami Edgartown, MAagreed-so happy it is to be conserved
Though I appreciate the
Chris MAra EdgartownThough I appreciate the efforts of those seeking to conserve properties on the island(s), The resources of these conservation groups should be diverted, at least in part, to address the housing crisis. Those with means support conservation but perhaps they should look beyond it's effect on the rising cost of property to the rest of the population who unfortunately will never be able to buy property here. Becoming a place where the only people who live here are the affluent and everyone else rides the boat to work here is where we're heading. Their efforts at conservation have contributed to the current situation. It will destroy the social fabric.
Agree!
Nick Dean Oak BluffsAgree!
When it comes to housing do
tom BostonWhen it comes to housing do we have a supply problem? Or do we have a demand problem? After all, MV is an island with finite resources.
Dukes County has the next to
Albert GosnoldDukes County has the next to lowest population density in the State, Nantucket has point one person less per square mile.
Does Boston have a supply or a demand problem?
Our resources are no more limited than Manhattan Island.
Tom,
Mike SomewhereTom,
Well said.
The affordable housing folks just don’t get it.
MV is finite and fragile.
Affordable housing complexes as desired by so many will ruin what is left of what is but may not be for long a beautiful place.
I commute 2 1/2 hours a day because I can’t afford to live where I work. No big deal.
Why is this such a hardship for MV workers.
Many supporters of Nature
Norma EdgartownMany supporters of Nature conservation also support Affordable housing programs on the island. Both are necessary. In fact, they happen together more now than ever before. But even now there is so much construction of 2nd homes continuing unabated. Perhaps the town Selectpeople and planning departments need to require an enforceable number of ‘workforce-affordable’ homes before approving further building. Our towns work hard on affordable housing, and have achieved a lot in the past 12 years. But we can do better - we need enforceable regulations. Regulation can lead to innovation.
I appreciate that many people
Chris Mara EdgarownI appreciate that many people support affordable housing but has any town ever spent almost 14 million on affordable housing? At any time? These large purchases are a regular occurrence in the conservation world on this island.
Yeah, those pesky 2nd home
malika baltimore and obYeah, those pesky 2nd home owners who cheerfully pay exaggerated prices for mediocre goods and services, while greasing the economic engine of the island and subsidizing the year round home owners thanks to paying property taxes without using essential services such as schools.
With the spread of the lone
MartyWith the spread of the lone star tick, and subsequent proliferation of the alpha-gal syndrome, I hope the Land Bank is doing everything it possibly can to educate people who create, maintain, and use these trails about the very real, life altering risk of alpha-gal. I live near a trail “maintained” by the land bank and it is an overgrown tick haven. I hope the land bank pivots to preserving beachside properties with boardwalks to beaches.
I can only commend the Land
Wolfgang Bauriedel EdgartownI can only commend the Land Bank for their trail management. It is outstanding and everybody I know is impressed by the wonderful state of trails and properties.
Excellent point. Great idea
Cameron ChilmarkExcellent point. Great idea to get more beaches. We have lots of trails but not enough beach accesses. Some towns barely have any. I think the problem is that abutting landowners sue the land bank because they don’t want public accesses to the beaches. Meanwhile all Nantucket beaches are public.
This is terrific news for a
Wolfgang Bauriedel EdgartownThis is terrific news for a property with such sensitive and breathtaking marshes, grasslands and woods. Like the Red Gate Farm this is MV nature at its best. We owe it to future generations to have these properties preserved. Kudos to the Potter Family, The Land Bank and Sheriff's Meadow!
I had the privilege of riding
Gary Shelton WestportI had the privilege of riding Edo’s horses around the property with my sister. Happy that a large portion will be preserved for people to enjoy.
Thank you, thank you, thank
Rick Manley ChappyThank you, thank you, thank you, for conserving this special property!
I have suggested that the
Tom Engley. West TisburyI have suggested that the Land Bank should open a conversation about land for housing and I believe this will happen. Martha’s Vineyard is for sale for sure. A 64 unit apartment complex where a garden center once stood is a problem it’s in a bad spot. Too much congestion in that area. The garden center is being moved to a place where housing makes sense so once again it’s greed over compassion. Land bank is important too Mv. Sheriffs Meadow is important. The State forest looms large hundreds of acres. Open up 10% of this forest for housing. I’ve seen for the Last 69 years building a home on a hand shake and hard working islanders. My Dad and uncle built many homes back in the day most were for summer people there was no greed then just a fair living wage to raise kids and live life. Now many contractor (not all) are greed motivated They laugh at the rest of us they vacation together they protect each other it’s shameful.
If only the Same
Jo HIf only the Same consideration for conservation was given to town owned parcels off Edgartown bay road in Katama.
Two farms preserved/conserved
Ginny Jones WTTwo farms preserved/conserved in one week (fields at Flat Point Farm and Pimpneymouse Farm)) is a total win win situation for ISLANDERS in every possible way. For one important reason out of dozens: why put more/any affordable housing in totally unsuitable locations such as Chappy or the South Shore? Miles from public services and public transportation....to think otherwise is delusional.
Grateful Thanks to families who have long owned these very precious resources and who have done the right thing rather than cashing out. Over the years Edo was my role model for life. In addition, and also over many years the Potter and Fischer families have given us models for appropriate, responsible and respectful land stewardship.
Another wonderful private and
Paolo AquinnahAnother wonderful private and public conservation endeavor. Thank you, all.
Congratulations to these hard
Norma Costain EdgartownCongratulations to these hard working organizations, their supporters and donors, and the Potter-Slater families, for creating a lasting legacy for future generations. And thank you to the Healy Administration for contributing to this critical piece of conservation land protection.
Affordable Housing:
Marco EdgartownAffordable Housing:
If you can afford to live on Martha’s Vineyard, great! Otherwise, live elsewhere!
The Vineyard and Chappy are
Dave Davis Oakland CaThe Vineyard and Chappy are complex situations. Housing is in crisis EVERYWHERE, and I'm not sure how it will get fixed. That being said, I'd like to say that I was fortunate to spend many days out at the farm under the brilliant stewardship of Mr. Chappy himself Kevin Keady. His hay ride party's were epic, and he loved that farm and the family so much. I'm glad it will still be available to the public.
Kudos to saving more open
Mike Edgartown/chappyKudos to saving more open space! The only people who want to see development of the farm are developers or construction concerns that stand to profit if housing were built there. This will preserve the character of one of the islands most magical places.. thank you again for conserving this spot.
Both Chappy and Martha's
Lorraine EdgartownBoth Chappy and Martha's Vineyard are over populated now for what is sustainable for both. Declare a moratorium on building across the board. Affordable housing is the ruse used to get the camel into the tent. I see it all over the country. Open your eyes, children, we are over populated now.
A similar sized island,
Albert GosnoldA similar sized island, Manhattan, is overpopulated.
Dukes County has almost the lowest population density in the state.
This is exactly what Edo and
Alan wilson Formerly on ChappaquiddickThis is exactly what Edo and Bob would have liked. Affordable housing would have inappropriate due to difficult access to Chappy.
Great farm. Love that it’s
RickGreat farm. Love that it’s preserved. Do they still duck hunt on the property? Would be great if could do that
This would have been a great
Bob NYCThis would have been a great opportunity for affordable housing….
This is not the spot got
Jim ChappyThis is not the spot got affordable housing! There are plenty of areas near the State Forest and in Oak Bluffs for dormitory style housing. Not on Chappy!!
Chappy is not a spot for
Mike EdgartownChappy is not a spot for affordable housing. There is a huge added cost of the ferry. Or maybe we should also subsidize that? That is preposterous. Preserving open space is very important to maintaining the islands heritage. The folks calling for affordable housing can open their homes and have people live with them for free if they wish. That would solve a lot of the problem. The developers who sit and lie in wait for open parcels and assemblage of parcels should just go elsewhere on the mainland and stay off the island. They are only seeking to make profits and could care less about any problem with congestion or overuse of municipal resources.
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