NORWAY — The Board of the Paris Hill Country Club donated a conservation easement, protecting 27 acres of open space on Paris Hill, to the Western Foothills Land Trust recently. The closing took place on Nov. 8 at Dow’s Law Office.

The easement protects the open nature of the historic golf course and restricts the size and location of any future structures or additions to the current Country Club buildings.

The Paris Hill Country Club was formed in 1899, with golf initially played near Holt Spruces on Beech Hill. The Country Club purchased its Paris Hill Road location from Ella Clark on April 26, 1913. The Clark farm was previously owned by Henry Howe who purchased the unimproved acreage from Isaac Butterfield in the 1840s. It was a part of the old Lemuel Jackson farm.

By 1850 Howe had built his five-bay Greek revival home on site, that home stands as the historic core of the Country Club. One of Jackson’s barns was moved on site and was connected to the home via an ell. The barn was taken down in 1915 after the club purchased the property.

The historic nature of the golf course, the views protected to and from the landscape, and the club’s role in the overall village history, were important components of the land trust’s acceptance of the easement.

The golf course is also contiguous with the 147-acre Cornwall Preserve which is contiguous with a 35-acre conservation easement-protected parcel owned by Dr. and Mrs. Whitney. With the protection of the golf course, there is now a conservation corridor for wildlife habitat and protection exceeding 200 acres.

The Paris Hill Country Club Conservation Easement evolved through effort of the Western Foothills Land Trust, Country Club directors and members, neighbors of the club and Dow’s Law Office.