Published by the Stowe Reporter, January 9, 2025. Written by Patrick Bilow. Original link here.
Lifelong Morristown resident Ron Stancliff is continuing his legacy of land conservation after donating 32 acres of land on Pond Road to the University of Vermont.
As a member of the Morristown Conservation Commission, Stancliff has long been a proponent of protecting land in Lamoille County and has led multiple conservation projects in the area. The property on Pond Road, however, is personal.
It is home to Joe’s Pond, a scenic body of water surrounded by primitive trails, vibrant wetlands, forests and mountain views in the distance.
In the late 18th Century, the pond was home to two of the first settlers in Morristown — named Joe and Molly — who earned storied reputations for providing for the eight other people in Morristown at the time.
Legend has it that, during one particularly cold winter, when supplies in Morristown were dwindling and morale was running low, Joe went off into the woods and took down a moose, which he brought home and distributed to the community.
Stancliff inherited the property, and after years of exploring the land, he opened it up to the public in 2005 through a conservation easement with the Stowe Land Trust, which exists in perpetuity.
Recreationists are welcome to access the land and explore the short trail system on the property. Brochures with Stancliff’s hand drawn trail map can be found on the Stowe Land Trust’s website.
With his donation, the University of Vermont plans to add Joe’s Pond to its list of protected land throughout the state, which the school utilizes for environmental education purposes.
Ron Stancliff tromps through the snow at his 32-are property on Pond Road in Morristown, which he recently donated to the University of Vermont.
Joe’s Pond is the eleventh property under UVM’s Natural Areas program, which includes the ridge of Mount Mansfield, 80 acres on UVM’s campus and 300 acres in Hinesburg.
Even though UVM owns the land, the easement under the Stowe Land Trust remains in place, protecting public access to the property.
According to Brendan Fisher, director of the Natural Areas program, UVM will utilize the property as a place for students to learn field techniques, including wetland monitoring and other types of ecological studies.
Fisher hopes some students will have the opportunity to study the history of Joe’s Pond and explore some of the lore surrounding Joe and Molly.
“This is exactly the type of area we want to get our students into,” Fisher said. “Not only for field training reasons, but also for the social and cultural history that Joe’s Pond offers. It’s a nice living landscape that has these deep cultural and ecological ties.”
Stancliff sees the land donation as a way to give back to his community, and he’s happy that the land is protected from any type of major development.
Anyone who’s ever been to Joe’s Pond knows it’s a special place,” Stancliff said. “I’m glad people will be able to enjoy it forever.