By Darrell Halen
Staff Writer

Observer/Darrell Halen Judge Michael Jones, Frederic Cutter Merriam and Frederic Sanborn Merriam at the conservation area’s opening.

Since Pelham voters agreed in 2004 to spend $3 million to buy and protect undeveloped land, Pelham has purchased nearly 400 acres.

Paul Gagnon, chairman of the town’s conservation commission, calls the Frederic Cutter Merriam Conservation Area, 110 acres of protected land, the “crown jewel” of the community’s open space purchases.

But it’s not that the Merriam property’s uplands are better or its wetlands are more beautiful than those of the other parcels, he told a group of people who gathered for the opening of the Merriam land.

“What sets this apart is nearly a half-mile of frontage on one of the busiest roads, as we can see, in the town of Pelham,” Gagnon said. “You almost can’t find a resident of Pelham who doesn’t drive Sherburne Road and who isn’t familiar with this parcel and doesn’t thank us for protecting the scenery by maintaining this parcel.”

Frederic Cutter Merriam and his wife, Ellen Sanborn Merriam, joined about 30 other people at the opening ceremony, held Saturday, Sept. 23.

Last year, the couple sold the 110 acres to the town for $1 million. Gagnon credited the Merriams, who live in Danvers, Mass., for recognizing the value of protecting the land from development for generations of others to enjoy.

“I don’t know of another family more conservation-minded,” Gagnon said.

The land, which is heavily wooded and includes a pond and other wetlands, has approximately two miles of walking trails.

It is land that has been in the family for many years.

“The Merriams and the Cutters always looked at it as a trusteeship, and we are proud to pass along the trustee status to the town of Pelham and all the users,” said Judge Michael Jones, whose wife, Carolyn, is a niece of the Merriams. “We hope that you all will use it with the same sort of respect for the nature, the water, the wood lots, the family has done.”

“We’re proud to be part of this partnership,” added Jones. “And I know on behalf of Fred and Ellen, they’re grateful for this opportunity to share the family land with future generations.”

The land can be accessed from Sherburne Road. During the ceremony, a sign designating the land as the Frederic Cutter Merriam Conservation Area was unveiled next to the road. Victor Danevich, chairman of the Pelham board of selectmen, thanked the Merriams for selling the land to the town.

Last March, residents voted to designated five properties, including the Merriam land, as town forests.

Deb Water, who serves on the town’s stewardship committee, thanked volunteers for marking trails, blazing boundaries and putting up signs on the Merriam property.

Waters said the land will be managed to enhance wildlife, provide for long-term sustainability, and provide for passive recreation.

Revenue derived from a selective harvest will be used to lay out new trails, create an information kiosk and parking lot, and allow for safe use of the land, Waters said.