On Friday, September 7, the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) marked the opening of the Leeming Jelliffe Preserve in Huletts Landing with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by nearly 40 community members and supporters of the project.

The 33.3-acre upland preserve was purchased by the LGLC in April. Over the summer, LGLC staff and volunteers blazed a short, easy trail to the preserve’s viewpoint overlooking the narrows and Silver Bay on the western shore. There is currently a small road-front area for parking; a larger parking lot may be created, if needed.

The purchase was made thanks to the willingness of the Wilkening family to work to protect it, and to a timely and generous donation by Paul and Sylvia Jelliffe Lawler, which was matched by Mr. Lawler’s past employer, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The donation also made possible the purchase of a conservation easement on an adjoining house lot with over 600 feet of Lake George shorefront.

The Lawlers joined LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown to cut the ceremonial ribbon at the preserve’s entrance on Bluff Head Road. Sylvia Lawler then spoke about her family’s roots at Lake George, and specifically, Huletts Landing.

Sylvia Lawler’s great-grandparents, and Helena “Bunny” Wilkening’s grandparents, Dr. Smith Ely Jelliffe and Helena Dewey Leeming Jelliffe, bought 125 acres of land in Huletts Landing in the early 1900’s. Over time the land was divided between their children. Mrs. Wilkening’s inherited the land given to her mother, including the property which is now the Leeming Jelliffe Preserve. The Preserve is named after Mrs. Wilkening’s Uncle, and Sylvia Lawler’s Grandfather, William Leeming Jelliffe.

The LGLC also announced a new campaign, launched with a challenge pledge from the Lawlers and Kellogg Foundation for conservation in the Huletts Landing area. The LGLC will be fundraising to match the pledge, so that funds will be available for permanent land protection in this important conservation area.

Foster Brook and several other smaller streams flow through the hamlet, which is mostly undeveloped. Campaign efforts will focus on protecting the Foster Brook watershed, the viewshed from the lake, and creating recreational opportunities, where appropriate.

For more information about the Lake George Land Conservancy visit their website.

Photo of the ceremonial ribbon cutting on September 7, marking the official opening of the Leeming Jelliffe Preserve, left to right: LGLC Development Manager Helen Barton Benedict, Paul Lawler, LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown, LGLC Board President Mike O’Reilly, Sylvia Jelliffe Lawler, LGLC Board Member Patty HasBrouck, provided by Friends of Historic Huletts Landing.