LAND DONATION PRESERVES WOODLAND
Nicolaus Preserve

Twenty acres of woodland in New Berlin will be preserved forever by the Waukesha County Land Conservancy.  Frieda hart has donated part of her family’s farm, land on which she grew up.  The site will be named the Nicolaus Preserve, Frieda’s family name.

Frieda’s grandfather, Adam Conrad, purchased the farm in New Berlin to raise dairy cattle.  His daughter married David Nicolaus and continued the dairy operation.  Frieda remembers taking the cattle into the woodland for water in hot summers.  “Someone drilled a well in that woodlot,” she said.  “It was either may grandfather or my father.”  She also remembers that her family used to cut firewood there for their woodburning stove.  The woodlot has not been pastured for many years.

Fortunately for the Waukesha County Land Conservancy, years ago Frieda Hart took some adult education classes at the University of Wisconsin, Waukesha Center.  There she met and became friends with one of the biology professors, Marlin Johnson, who now serves on the board of directors of the Waukesha County Land Conservancy.  Marlin walked on Frieda’s property years ago, giving Frieda the idea that it should be preserved.

“When I heard that land north of this site was going to be developed, I knew the development pressure would soon be here.  And I didn’t want that to happen,” Frieda said.  “Donating the land to the Waukesha County Land Conservancy worked out very well,” she added.
Frieda remembers a very large butternut tree in the woods.  She has memories of yellow violets, which she says are still there.  The Conservancy’s land manager, Jason Dare walked the property with marlin and Frieda.  Jason called it a good mixed forest, with sugar maples, a very large hackberry tree, and a ground layer of wildflowers including Jack-in-the-pulpit and wild geranium.  This spring the Conservancy will conduct a thorough plant inventory.  It will be exciting to have this new property to explore!