With the help of generous donations, Easton Legacy Fund aims to help Easton not-for-profits support and give back to the town through various projects. Below, we highlight the Governor Ames Estate, which we feel is a strong consideration for future Legacy Fund grants.
Governor Ames Estate
A Property of the Trustees of Reservations
35 Oliver Street, North Easton | Visit Site
The Governor Ames Estate is one of the Trustees of Reservation’s newer properties. The Trustees which were founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, have an Easton connection as they were founded in the Boston offices of Frederick Lothrop Ames, the builder of Langwater. For more than 125 years, they have been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. Supported by members, friends and donors, The Trustees’ more than 120 reservations are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike., Each year, more than 2 million people visit its reservations, 250,000 people participate in more than 5,000 programs and events, and volunteers contribute over 50,000 hours of assistance in all aspects of their work. The Trustees purchased the Governor Oliver Ames Estate in 2012 from the David Ames family and Elizabeth Ames, with a significant contribution from The Easton Community Preservation Committee (some later reimbursed by the Commonwealth’s LAND program). Now, in the heart of the North Easton National Historic District, the cultural legacies of the Ames family live on at the 36-acre estate. The property was first home to Oliver Ames who served as Massachusetts’ governor from 1887–1890. Today, more than a century later, saplings planted by the Governor, his son Oakes, and later his nephew John, thrive as old specimen trees and pepper the property, which includes a 19th- century stone stable, farm fields, a brook and several garden ponds.
The Trustees mission is to preserve for public use and enjoyment places of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. At the Governor Oliver Ames Estate on Oliver Street in North Easton visitors have the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll and explore sweeping arboretum-style lawns, an elegant 19th-century stone stable, an agricultural field, meadows, a brook, garden pond, and other features. Residence of Easton and visitors from across the Commonwealth and beyond are invited to unfurl a blanket for a picnic with friends, examine the centuries-old trees dotting the property, and extend the day with side trips to the many shops, eateries, and organizations the comprise the Shovel Town Cultural District within walking distance to the Estate.
The Trustees are especially proud of their connections within the local community, and they sponsor or support a variety of Easton events. The Governor Ames Estate hosts the annual Legacy Festival in North Easton, it is part of the course for the YMCA’s 5k race, and it provides volunteer and recreational opportunities for the Easton Public Schools.
The Trustees are always looking for opportunities to increase its partnerships with members of the Easton community in order to provide additional public offerings to our visitors. We welcome the opportunity to forge deeper connections with Easton residents, businesses, and organizations, especially those who are our neighbors in North Easton. We are continually seeking support for on-going maintenance needs at the estate and are looking to grow our volunteer base to help us keep the grounds beautiful and welcoming to the public.