Bassett-Kell Preserve

The Bassett-Kell Preserve, a 22-acre parcel on Mill Street in West Hartland, HLT’s first land acquisition, was a gift from the two families to HLT in 2011. HLT also received a grant from the Farmington River Coordinating Committee to support acquisition expenses. The Bassett and Kell families vacationed on and stewarded this land for four generations. When Charles Bassett, a schoolteacher, died in 2012 his family said that his summer home in West Hartland was “the place on earth he loved above all others”.

In the parcel’s Management Plan, HLT Board of Directors members Gail DiMaggio, Neil Gilpin and Sue Murray, describe the property as follows: “The property is located within a large area of undeveloped pristine area of forest and wetland. The landscape varies consisting of natural land cover much of which is likely 2nd growth upland forest dominated by hemlock, white pine, maple, oak, rock ledges, several small streams, and swamp. It also contains many stone walls which served as fencing during the property’s past agricultural use.”

Charlie’s Letter read by Emma Kell

On a crisp October day Emma Kell represented her grandfather Charlie Bassett at the ribbon cutting ceremony of HLT’s first donated property, which includes the site of her parents’ wedding. Charlie died November 17, 2012, but his intentions for the preservation of his favorite place will live on.

“My grandfather, the Reverend Mr. Edward D. Bassett, bought this land in 1901. He was a Methodist minister, and as such moved about from parsonage to parsonage, never having a true home of his own. He purchased this old farm of approximately 35 acres hoping to establish here a permanent summer home for his family. His plan worked. Since that time Hartland has been the summer gathering place for generations of our family and friends.

As a child, I would walk through the woods, identify all sorts of wildflowers and mushrooms, play in the brook, pick berries, and run the stone walls. My brother and I were charged with hauling water from the Big Spring—a spring that never ran dry. In the evening, the family would sit around the kerosene lamp at the table while my mother read stories aloud.

Many important family events have happened here, including my daughter’s wedding which was held in the lower meadow. Six generations of Bassetts and two generations of Kells have loved this, our spiritual home. For reasons of distance and poor health, neither my brother nor I could be with you this afternoon. Yet I’m sure I speak for Bob as well as myself when I say that this is a most happy occasion for us. We can now be assured that our beloved piece of Hartland will be protected forever in its natural state, and that in the future others will be able to enjoy it as well.”

Charles E. Bassett

October 6, 2012