NORWAY – Norway Savings Bank has announce that it has donated $5,000 to the Western Foothills Land Trust for the purchase of the Roberts Farm Preserve. The 150-acre piece of land is located on Pike Hill and overlooks Lake Pennesseewassee.

The historic piece of land was originally owned by Dudley Pike, a Norway founder who acquired the land in 1782. In 1820, Dudley’s son, Henry, began farming the property and by 1880, 72 acres were under cultivation by the Pike family.

In 1881 Henry gave the farm to his daughter, Carrie, and her husband, John Roberts. Their son continued to farm the land, and he developed a dairy herd that supplied the area with milk in the farm’s signature “Cop the Cream” bottles through the 1940s.

In 2000, the land was sold for timber harvest and potential development. The Western Foothills Land Trust agreed to purchase the property in the summer of 2007. The trust closed on the property in October. To date, the trust has raised $100,000 from contributions and grants toward the total $310,000 acquisition costs.

The Western Foothills Land Trust plans to utilize the land as an education tool, recreation spot and environmental preserve. By conserving the land, bird and wildlife habitats will be protected and water quality will improve in Norway Lake.

The area will also serve as a recreation area. Trails will be created for walking, running, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The preserve will also be available as an open-air classroom for local schools.

Robert Harmon, president and CEO of Norway Savings Bank, said the bank saw the pledge to the Western Foothills Land Trust as a natural fit for their “mutual” charter and the bank’s ongoing commitment to its customers, employees and communities.

For more information about the Western Foothills Land Trust, visit http://www.wfltmaine.org. For more information about the bank, visit http://www.norwaysavingsbank.com.