Reserve Manager Cory Riley welcomes attendees to the ribbon cutting of the new boardwalk, June 2016
A Brief History of the Estuary, Reserve, Trust and Stewards …
1939 Proposal to dredge or dam the Bay between Adams Point and Newington Shore to allow for more shoreline property
November 27, 1973 Spokesman for the Olympic Oil Company announces its intention to build in Durham the largest oil refinery ever started from scratch anywhere in the world
March 6, 1974 Ninety percent of Durham residents vote at Town Meeting against the refinery
March 7, 1974 State legislature votes not to override Durham’s decision
1983 Great Bay Trust formed to help preserve Great Bay
October 3, 1989 Designation of Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
1992 Boardwalk construction at the Discovery Center
1994 First Great Bay Matters issue
June 2, 1994 First official public event held at the Sandy Point Discovery Center, which was then still under construction
March 1995 First meeting held at Sandy Point to discussing forming a support group, following concern that the state was not providing financial support for the Reserve
June and July 1995 Meetings with consultants at the Center to decide on creating a support group for the Reserve
August 18, 1995 First meeting held to vote on the recommendations of the steering committee and to officially start the process of becoming a non-profit corporation
September 30, 1995 First annual meeting; Fred Langley (Greenland) becomes chair
May 28, 1996 Joint meeting of the Trust and Stewards – “Much animated discussion closed the meeting”
June 1, 1996 Grand opening of the Sandy Point Discovery Center; first Evelyn Browne award given out (Dr. William Penhale receives the first award by unanimous vote)
November 1996 Great Bay Trust trustees unanimously decide to pursue a merger with the Great Bay Stewards; Stewards receive their 501(c)(3) designation
May 10, 1997 Great Bay Trustees and Great Bay Stewards vote to merge “By joining with the Stewards we can continue, with renewed energy and commitment, our efforts in protecting and preserving our valuable natural resources,” wrote Richard Langan, president of the GBESCT
1998 Great Bay Rough Water Swim launched with seven swimmers
1998 Trustees join Vice President Al Gore on the banks of the Oyster River to announce $1.6 million restoration and protection plan toward protecting estuaries and reopening clam and oyster beds
1998 The Reserve purchases the historic 1854 railway station adjacent to the Discovery Center (the “Depot House”) with the help of Marple & James real estate
1999 Great Bay Matters editorship is handed from Stewards Trustee Bill Penhale over to Reserve Education Coordinator Kelle Loughlin
October 2, 1999 Great Bay 5K is launched as part of the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Reserve (the “Great Bay Fest”)
2002 Plans for “the Barn” for use in education programs begin
2002 The Gundalow Company is formed; the Stewards begin developing projects with them
Fall 2002 The wigwam is constructed
2003 20,000th student attends the Reserve’s school program
2005 First Art of Great Bay show and sale
June 16, 2006 Dedication of the Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center (“the barn”)
2009 40,000th student attends the school program
2009 20th Anniversary of the Reserve
2011 Great Bay Special Collections opens
2014 Blue Heron Education Pavilion constructed
June 2016 Ribbon cutting for opening of new boardwalk
2017 Dedication for the Wellenberger Woods Natural Play Area
November 2017 Allison Knab becomes the GBS Executive Director; Development Coordinator Lauren Saltman joins the staff
2018 Accessibility to waterfront improved
Fall 2018 Estuary Explorers fund for field trips launched
2019 30th Anniversary of GBNERR; Time Capsule unearthed with the help of Greenland students and buried again in front of GBDC
October 2020 Great Bay 55K Challenge added to the Great Bay 5K
December 2020 – 2021 Free Grab & Go educational kits put out weekly during the pandemic, with support from the Stewards