Olson History
Ted Olson was born in 1898 in the original family home that recently was the Kleist residence on Valley Road. In 1900, Ted’s father purchased more property in Rolling Bay after it had been logged. Upon his death, his father left 15 acres to his two sons, Ted and Clarence. Eileen Olson, Clarence’s daughter, is one of five family members who currently own the 5-acre piece contiguous to the Ted Olson Preserve. “My father always loved the Island,” Eileen says. “He never wanted to sell this land for fear it would be developed.”
The initial wish to preserve the property led Eileen and Deb DeVlieger, a Kallgren Road neighbor, to propose the property for purchase to the City’s Open Space Commission in 2002. Although the OSC
didn’t purchase the parcel, the family members needed to sell it. The property had been on the market for a while when Land Trust members called Eileen.
“It met all of the Land Trust criteria for preservation,” says Karen Molinari, Executive Director. “It’s contiguous to existing open space, is next to the City’s wildlife corridor and is in a natural state with a mature grove of trees.” The owners sold the land in a “bargain sale”, offering it for $375,000, $120,000 less than the current market price.
The Kallgren Road neighborhood collected over 100 signatures from people hoping to see the property left undeveloped. The neighbors were instrumental in collecting funds towards the property’s purchase. The City’s Open Space Commission also contributed $125,000 to acquire the property.
“The acquisition of this property was a true partnership,” Molinari explains.
The Land Trust also holds conservation easements on the following public lands:
Gazzam Lake Preserve
Meigs Park
Meigs Farm
Peters Tree Farm
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Mission
