The Spaulding Pond Preserve

This 950+ acre natural area preserve is mostly “forever wild” and was assembled, created and protected by Happy Kitchel Egler during the 1960s and 1970s. Over time it was enlarged via small property contributions from her husband Frank Egler. Spaulding Pond Preserve Map 2024

To quote Frank Egler, “The preservation of this magnificent tract of over 1000 acres, lying within the small area of northern ‘beech-birch-maple-hemlock’ forest in northwestern Connecticut, was one of the remarkable accomplishments of an extraordinary woman,” Happy Kitchel Egler (1912-1978) [Spaulding Preserve Paper #1, p. 1].

“The purpose of Spaulding Pond Wilderness is multiple. Primarily, it is to serve the future as a changing developing Natural Area, kept as free as possible from altering human influences. Within this context, it is to serve as a base for long-term, low impact scientific research… in short for the enjoyment of the wild values inherent in us all, which amenities played so strongly a motivating role in her own life.” [#1, p.1].

The Preserve was known to a select few and  family as “Happyland.” Happy’s very DNA had charitable public purpose and “forever wild” in it, as she followed upon a land protection and gifting tradition set by her mother’s gift of 600 forever wild acres to the Algonquin State Park in Colebrook, CT. A small cabin on a two acre inholding on the pond is owned by Happy’s children and grandchildren.

On the property there is the medium-sized and shallow Spaulding Pond, woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and hayfields; also there is evidence of early charcoaling sites and gravel pits. These lands are roamed by beaver, bear, deer, coyote, rabbit, moose, birds etc. Its pond was stocked in the 1960s with largemouth bass and bluegills. The preserve is home to rare amphibians and a myriad of diverse wildlife.

A 1997 survey noted that the Spaulding Pond Reserve encompasses a broad spectrum of terrain and habitat. The predominant community type is northern hardwood forest, significant in the state of Connecticut due to its limited range. The 1997 spring Natural Resources Inventory included 218 plant species, 45 bird species, and 14 animal species (of that, one endangered, one threatened, and two special concern plant species were found, along with one reptile and three bird species of special concern).

There is a self-guided Interpretive Nature Trail called The North Swamp Trail created for use by students and families of the Botelle School via a 1980s private arrangement, and available for use with prior permission from Aton Forest (website: atonforest.org, email: atonforest@gmail.com and phone: 860-542-5125) or the Norfolk Land Trust, by stewards, other educational groups and bona fide scientific researchers. The trail is not open to the general public. There is no hunting on the Preserve. Spaulding Pond Preserve North Swamp Trail Map 2024

The original Spaulding Pond Wilderness was made up of 14 properties, as follows: No. 1 Ghidossi Tract (55 acres; 1962), No. 2 Oneglie Tract (165 acres; 1962), No. 2 bis. Malley Half-rights to the Lake (1964, gifted from Frank to Happy), Billikopf South Tract (111.5 acres; 1964), No. 4 Griswold Noble Lot (42 acres) & No. 5 Griswold Remaining Lots (348 acres; 1966), Gabriel Tract (200 acres; 1966), No. 7 Addie Hill Tract (2 acres; 1966), No. 8 Whitehill Tract (5 acres; 1966), No. 9 Rosenbaum Tract (8 acres; 1967), No. 10 Hill Tract (25 acres; 1968), No. 11 Billikopf- East Tract 22.5 acres; 1970), No. 12 Smiley House (2.5 acres; 1971), No. 13 Toomey House (2.5 acres; 1972), No. 14 Collins Tract (79 acres; 1974). The Winchester Road parcel (109 acres) was later added.