Friends of the North 40

History of the North 40

In 1873, Mr. Henry F. Durant, co-founder of Wellesley College, imposed certain restrictions (the Indenture) on land conveyed to Wellesley College. On April 18, 2014, Wellesley College filed a complaint to the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) requesting that the Durant Indenture be removed allowing Wellesley College to sell the property. Less than fourteen days later, the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts accepted the request and the SJC granted a final judgment on May 2, 2014.

While Durant envisioned "farm lands, pasture, woodlots, mowing fields, as well as pleasure grounds and cultivated lands" for the benefit of Wellesley College, he also foresaw the possibility of a different use of the land. His Will (separate from the Indenture and not legally binding with regard to the North 40) states "and the lot of about forty acres which I purchased from Beth Dewing, shall be always held used and owned by Wellesley College,” and “It sometimes occurs that those who represent benevolent institutions do by means of legislative enactments and otherwise divert property from the object designed by testators and avoid the provisions of wills under the pretense that the testator, if alive, would justify their course. I do therefore positively and solemnly leave it in charge to Christian men and women who will in the years to come be the Trustees of Wellesley College, that no part of the above described real estate shall be, directly or indirectly sold, conveyed, or disposed of....The Dewing wood-lot of about forty acres may be sold if it should be necessary, but I strongly desire that it should be retained.”

The abutting residents learned of Wellesley College's request to the Supreme Judicial Court on April 24, 2014, just eight days prior to the final judgment.

Residents of the Town of Wellesley were dismayed to learn of Wellesley College's plans to sell the land for the purpose of development. Concerns of density, traffic and eradication of forested land became topics of conversation throughout town.

On March 3, 2015 Wellesley residents overwhelmingly voted to purchase the North 40 from Wellesley College.

Threat of Sale is Imminent for Wellesley College's North 40

The Coveted North 40, Wellesley Weston Magazine, Winter 2014-2015

Wellesley Historical Commission Report on Historical Assets in or Near the “North 40”

Historical Commission Asset Report
Addressed to Barbara Searle, Chairman, Board of Selectmen
2015-03-12 WHC North 40 Letter.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [71.6 KB]

News:

The North 40 was purchased in part with $10 million dollars of funding from the CPA. The Community Preservation Committee has proposed the acreage to be under deed restriction to the Select Board. Watch the discussion from the November 14 Select Board meeting starting at 1hour 26minutes.

The Wellesley Trails Committee submitted a Statement on Protecting the North 40 to Town Boards. Read it here:

Trails Committee Statement on Protecting[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [219.9 KB]

Ribbon Cutting at the Vernal Pool

The skies cleared for a beautiful ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the boardwalk at the North 40 Vernal Pool, which provides both access and protection to this important resource.

Selectman Jack Morgan and NRC Director Brandon Schmitt addressed the large crowd in attendance, and lead volunteer Bill Giezentanner had the honor of cutting the ribbon. The boardwalk was funded by the Community Preservation Act (CPA), and built with over 500 hours of volunteer labor.

See the video about the boardwalk here.