Michael and Margaret Roohan, owners of Granite & Marble Works in Wilton, have donated to Skidmore a land tract of 189 acres in Greenfield.
The land is adjacent to land tracts of 200 acres donated by the couple in 2010, and nearly 120 neighboring acres donated in 2014. All parcels are undeveloped woodland in Greenfield, located near Skidmore College’s North Woods property that lies behind the College’s Van Lennep Riding Center.
“We feel strongly about supporting Skidmore College. Its people and programs add so much to the quality of life in Saratoga Springs, and we are very pleased to have the opportunity to give back to the college,” said Michael Roohan.
The Roohans said they feel Skidmore’s creative, multidisciplinary approach to using this land for teaching, research, and recreation assures the most valuable use for the greatest number of participants and assures the education of future generations in the care of natural surroundings.
Few northeastern colleges have woodlands as large and as near to campus as Skidmore’s, said college President Philip A. Glotzbach, adding that the gifts are highly valued by the college “and will be of great interest to our faculty and students.”
Skidmore woodlands have been used for research and classroom learning in disciplines ranging from environmental studies and sciences to anthropology to American studies. The college is currently working on a sustainable stewardship plan for all of its undeveloped land.