A Caring Community
Mary Garland and her husband Peter moved into a house on Old Dublin Road in Hancock in 1956. For years, Mary, Peter, and their five children were the only year-round residents on the road.
To quote Mary from an essay she wrote in Views & Voices, Hancock, NH:
“We hoped that growing up in a small, caring community, with intimate contact with the world of nature, our children would have the confidence to feel comfortable to venture wherever they wanted on this remarkable planet.”
An Enduring Legacy
Mary fell in love with the natural world along Old Dublin Road and wanted to see it endure. Meade Cadot remembers:
“Mary Garland was integral in the initial stages of the Harris Center becoming a land trust.”
Mary spoke with Meade about protecting the land along Old Dublin Road, eventually becoming the first landowner to donate a conservation easement to the Harris Center. She also helped Old Dublin Road become the first “scenic road” to be established in New Hampshire.
Mary remained dedicated to land conservation throughout her lifetime. The Harris Center was just one of many organizations in Hancock and the larger community that benefited from her involvement and support.
Sadly, Mary passed away on September 11, 2018. Her memorial gathering was held at the Harris Center, where family and friends from as far away as California came together to celebrate this very special person, who made Hancock and all of the Monadnock Region a better place.
Contact Us
For more information on the Harris Center’s 50th anniversary celebrations, please contact Lisa Murray at (603) 525-3394 or by email.
