Princeton NJ Non-Profit Press Releases

On Sunday, March 15 at 2:00 pm, the Princeton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will formally present the DAR National Conservation Award to D&R Greenway Land Trust, recognizing the organization's decades-long leadership in preserving and caring for historically significant Revolutionary-era  landscapes across New Jersey.  The presentation is open to the public, seating is limited and reservations are requested in advance at www.drgreenway.org. A suggested donation of $10 supports D&R Greenway's ongoing stewardship and educational work

 

The National Conservation Award recognizes people and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the conservation of historically and environmentally significant land, while advancing education and public engagement connected to our nation's heritage. The award honors work that protects irreplaceable landscapes tied to American history and ensures their care and interpretation for future generations.  Preserved sites associated with the Continental Army, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and nationally significant encampments continue to educate, inspire, and connect the public to our shared history.

 

"The Princeton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution looks forward to honoring D&R Greenway Land Trust with the DAR Conservation Award, recognizing their exceptional commitment to preserving open space and protecting the natural landscapes that define our region," says Claudia Wilson Anderson, Princeton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

 

 

"D&R Greenway Land Trust is a relentless force for good in New Jersey. This is evidenced by the organization's tireless efforts to preserve important historic landscapes across the state.  D&R Greenway's most exciting new initiative is the creation of The Betty Wold Johnson Hillside Farm Preserve in Hopewell, New Jersey. This Preserve saves some 800 acres of land that are associated with the American Revolution and the Battle of Monmouth.  I am honored to support the work of D&R Greenway Land Trust, an invaluable New Jersey organization that is helping preserve history and make our state a better place to live and work," said Richard F. Veit, Ph.D., RPA, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor, Dept. of History and Anthropology, Monmouth University.  

 

D&R Greenway Land Trust invites the public to be part of this historical moment. Hear from a group of distinguished panelists who will each speak about preserving local history. 

 

Avril Moore is the former owner of Tusculum, originally built by John Witherspoon, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the 6th President of Princeton University. Avril will tell the tale of how she carefully restored the historic mansion and worked closely with D&R Greenway to ensure permanent preservation of the historic landscape.

 

Donna Lazartic was a leading force, with World War II veteran Lt. Col. Robert Vaucher, in the quest to save historic land where the Continental and French armies marched in Bridgewater, NJ. Along the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail, the land was threatened by development. Donna will speak about how the community partnered with D&R Greenway through the twists and turns that led to preservation.

Philip S. Getty is a geologist with a keen sense of how to methodically study the land to discover the secrets it holds.  He will show-and-tell about the evidence he found at Hillside Farm in Hopewell that demonstrates that George Washington's troops encamped here during the American Revolution. Historic maps, journals and letters show this to be the site of a very large Continental Army encampment of over 10,000 troops, a rest stop on the route to the Battle of Monmouth, three days hence in June 1778.

 

D&R Greenway Land Trust's Mission and Historic Conservation Focus
D&R Greenway Land Trust's mission is to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic, now and forever. Founded in Mercer County, New Jersey in 1989, D&R Greenway has permanently protected and stewarded nearly 23,000 acres across 332 properties, with more than 50 miles of publicly accessible trails. Many of these lands are nationally significant and include sites where the public can literally walk in the footsteps of the Continental Army.

• Preservation of nearly 600 acres in Princeton once traversed by the Continental Army during the 1777 Battle of Princeton at the Institute for Advanced Study
• Protection of land along the Delaware River near Washington's Table Rock, where General Washington planned the 1776 Crossing and the Battle of Trenton.
• Preservation of the historic Tusculum estate, home of John Witherspoon, Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• Leadership in preserving two adjoining properties at the Middlebrook Encampment, where more than 5,000 Continental Army soldiers were stationed and later traversed by Rochambeau's French Army along the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.
• Creation of the Betty Wold Johnson Hillside Farm Preserve in Hopewell, including land once owned by John Hart, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, where over 10,000 Continental Army soldiers encamped from June 23–25, 1778, just days before the Battle of Monmouth.