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Then & Now - An Avalonia Timeline

1968
February 21

Year of Incorporation

Year of Incorporation

Incorporated as Mashantucket Land Trust on February 21, 1968 to include towns of Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington and Stonington, CT

May 29

Charitable Non-Profit

CT US Treasury Department granted charitable non-profit status – 501 (c) ( 3) – on May 29, 1968

1969
July 10

1st Property

1st Property

Acquired 1st property – July 10, 1969. Ram PT, Stonington, CT

1971
January 1

100 acres of Land

Only three years after establishment, Avalonia’s four acquisitions totaled over 100 acres of land, preserved in perpetuity. Click here to learn more about Avalonia’s significant environmental activism in the early 1970’s.
1972
January 1

Geographical Expansion

Geographical Expansion

Certificate of Incorporation revised to include three additional towns, Griswold, Preston, & Voluntown, CT

1979
March 21

Beyond Connecticut

Certificate of Incorporation revised to enable inclusion of property located throughout and outside of Connecticut on March 21, 1979.

1983
February 1

500 Acres

Gift of the Holdridge Tract, now part of the Great Cedar Swamp in Ledyard, 25th land donation, crossing of the 500-acre threshold.

1995
May 24

Name Change

Name Change

Name changed to Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc. May 24, 1995

2009
December 16

Conservation Defense Liability

Commitment to participate in the Land Trust Alliance Conservation Defense Liability Insurance Program to safeguard against conservation defense costs that can run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

2016
February 16

Endowment Fund

Establishment of an endowment fund ($50,000 initial deposit) with the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut to safely grow funds while providing a reliable income stream to support Avalonia’s preserves and preservation work in perpetuity.

2017
February 16

Accreditation Achieved

Accreditation Achieved

The Land Trust Alliance awarded accreditation to Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc. on February 16, 2017

2018
February 21

50th Anniversary Celebration!

50th Anniversary Celebration!

Avalonia turned 50 and celebrated in the Mystic Aquarium’s Grand Hall.

see event recap and photos

March 20

Largest Fee Acquisition to Date

Largest Fee Acquisition to Date

Acquisition of the 409-acre Tri-Town Ridgeline Forest straddling the towns of Griswold, North Stonington, and Preston. Avalonia‘s largest fee acquisition in 50 years, bringing total preserved acreage to exactly 4000.

see press release

photo by Kelly Allen

2019
October 7

Atkinson-Dirlam Acquisitions – Groton Utilities Partnership

Atkinson-Dirlam Acquisitions – Groton Utilities Partnership

The Groton City Council voted to approve the contribution of $159,945 from Groton Utilties to Avalonia. This contribution to Avalonia for the purchase of the Atkinson parcel marks the beginning of a long-term partnership with Avalonia for the common purpose of protecting valuable watershed land. This partnership intends to provide watershed protection, best management practices for passive recreation within a watershed and collaboration on educational opportunities.

article with The Day

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