Members of the Jamestown Historical Marker Committee, with officials from Jamestown Community College, Fenton History Center and the city of Jamestown government, unveiled the newest historical marker recognizing the “Hundred Acre Lot,” which was saved by efforts of teachers and students in 1916. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

“Preserved by generations that are and for those that are to be,” is a sentiment included on the newest city historical marker recognizing the efforts of teachers and students more than 100 years ago who saved the land in 1916.

On Wednesday, the Jamestown Historical Marker Committee, with officials from Jamestown Community College, Fenton History Center and the city of Jamestown government, unveiled the 76th historical marker in the city, which will be located by the entrance to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, located at 311 Curtis St.

Becky Nystrom, Jamestown Community College forest stewardship task force and sustainability committee, said the lot today, which is now known as Jamestown Community College’s College Park, is still about 52 acres in size and is a wetland forest home to songbirds and rare flowers. She said the Hundred Acre Lot owes its existence to the teachers, students and alumni of Jamestown Public Schools who worked for three years between 1913 and 1916 to raise the necessary funds to purchase the land. Through their efforts the beloved patch of forest became one of the first school parks in the United States in 1916.

Jennifer Champ of the Fenton History Center said it was discovered that Mary Willard played an important role in saving the Hundred Acre Lot. Willard is known for being a friend, mentor and teacher of former Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson.

Champ said Pam Brown, retired Jamestown Public Schools Records Management Coordinator, was instrumental in discovering the details of the story through surviving documents and archival materials in the school archives.

Champ said while research Willard’s relationship with Jackson, they discovered information about how Willard was one of the teachers involved in the fundraising process to raise the necessary funds to purchase the land.

She said half of the funds necessary to buy the property was raised through students going door-to-door asking for donations. She added the other half was raised through a community festival featuring the works of William Shakespeare.

According to a news release about the historic marker, $8,250 was needed to purchase the property. The spirit of the park’s early advocates lives on today in the efforts of JCC’s Sustainability Committee, which includes several JCC faculty members.

Following in the footsteps of Willard, JCC biology instructors still bring their students to the woods to understand firsthand the importance of biodiversity and conversation. Led by retired JCC biology professor Nystrom, a group of JCC faculty, staff and community members recently formed a Forest Stewardship Task Force devoted to raising awareness of the park and ensuring the preservation of its ecological treasures for years to come.

Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, said each year the city budgets between $2,500 to $3,000 for the historic marker that cost around $2,800.

He said even though the city faces difficult financial challenges, he appreciates that the Jamestown City Council doesn’t eliminate the money for the historic marker from the city budget.

“We have a rich and robust history in this city,” he said.