Indiana’s oldest and largest local land trust, ACRES was incorporated on March 2, 1960.
ACRES 12 founders became our first members, each contributing $5, including $2 memberships, toward the goal of preserving land – forever.
The ACRES founding Board of Directors included:
James M. Barrett III, Ethyle Bloch, William C. Bloch, Jane H. Dustin, Thomas E. Dustin, A. K. Hofer, Florence S. Klotz, Dr. John W. Klotz, Elmer Phelps, Glenn W. Poe, Werner R. Reifsteck, and Robert C. Weber.
The Edna W. Spurgeon Woodland Reserve in Noble County became ACRES first property, donated in 1961 by its namesake. At the time, the organization was named Allen County Reserves. With the acquisition of Edna W. Spurgeon’s land, outside of Allen County, the board moved to change the name to ACRES – an acronym for Allen County REServes.
ACRES founders were instrumental in creating the Indiana Nature Preserve Act (1967), legislation that protects natural areas throughout Indiana.
Each preserve holds countless untold stories - from the land itself and from the people who love it.
James M. (Jim) Barrett III read his “Conservation Today” paper to the Quest Club of Fort Wayne in April 1964, four years after he co-founded ACRES Land Trust, and two years before he wrote the Indiana Nature Preserves Act.
“From our understanding of nature and our love and respect for it will grow an ethical basis for our defining our proper relationship to it.”
This mind-opening paper tells the compelling story of how people, plants and creatures sustain life on earth.
ACRES has reprinted this paper to celebrate our 60-year anniversary. You can read this paper online, for free. If you are interested in a printed copy, please call ACRES at 260-637-2273 or email [email protected].
