The Ouabache Land Conservancy (a 501(c)3 non-profit land trust) invites everyone to “Jackson-Schnyder Day” to be held at the Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve on Saturday, August 15 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. to celebrate the rich history of conservation.
In September of 1929, the roughly 20-acre property was purchased by Julius Schnyder, a 40-year-old immigrant from Switzerland. Schnyder had fulfilled his dream of becoming a “man of property” just before the stock market crashed. Schnyder would go on to call the property home with his wife and five children, while running a dry goods market in St. Mary-of-the-Woods village. In 1969, after 40 years living on the property and laying his wife to rest, Schnyder needed to sell the land. And their paths would cross.
In September of 1964, Marion Jackson would begin his 37-year career at Indiana State University as a professor in Life Sciences, also teaching at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College part-time. After 5 years teaching at “the Woods”, Marion Jackson would purchase land less than a mile away from campus from Julius Schnyder. Schnyder died just one year after the sale on his 81st birthday.
For the following 40 years (coincidentally) Jackson would introduce his classrooms to his personal outdoor laboratory featuring many old growth trees and an abundance of wildlife to study. At age 76, Marion Jackson donated the land to the then newly formed Ouabache Land Conservancy in 2009 at the dedication of Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve. Jackson died February 2019.
At “Jackson-Schnyder Day” we invite everyone to join us at the preserve as we honor the handshake for conservation between two gentlemen and their families.
Scheduled activities include:
Participants will join us in a moment of silence at 9:00 a.m. to honor Marion Jackson and Julius Schnyder. Bring your stories and memories for sharing.
Afterwards we will set off on our “Wildflowers & Woods” hike through prairie and forest. Board members Phil Cox and Marty Jones will lead the morning hike with plant and animal identification along the way. Be sure to bring binoculars if available.
Native seed crafts available throughout the morning.
Volunteers are encouraged to help us remove Invasive Species like Burning bush from the nature preserve. Invasive training will be provided. Please bring your clippers, loppers, and gloves to lend a hand.
The preserve is located at 1100 W. Concannon Ave., West Terre Haute, IN 47885. To get to the Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve, take Hwy 150 to St. Mary’s Ave and turn west, drive past the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. Turn left on Bloomtown Road, go under the railroad and turn right on Concannon Ave. Just past the bridge is the roadside entrance to the Preserve. No reservations are required for this free, family friendly event. Roadside parking only. No facilities onsite. FREE EVENT, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. For more information contact: amber@sicim.info .