GOSA

Name/Title

GOSA

Entry/Object ID

2026.002.005

Scope and Content

2 binders of material related to the Groton Open Space Associate compiled by Sidney Van Zandt in 1978 and 2018. The collection includes a typed history and chronology of GOSA compiled by Sidney Van Zandt, maps of GOSA properties, and a collection of new clippings, collection of news clippings, correspondence, studies and records relating to GOSA's work on Haley Farm, Bluff Point, the Trumbull Airport, the Merritt Family Forest, Sheep Farm, X-Town Trail (hike connecting the Poquonnock River to Beebe Cove through Bluff Point, Haley Farm, the Mort Wright Preserve, the Merritt Family Forest, Beebe Pond Park, Moore Woodland and Avalonia's Town's End property), Candlewood Ridge, the Avery Farm Nature Preserve, Candlewood Hill Wildlife Management Area, Beebe Cove Vista, and Sheep Farm South organized chronologically, 1960-2018. Also includes copies of the GOSA newsletter GOSA News, 2014-2016. The Groton Open Space Association was founded in 1967 in response to plans to build 425 multi-family housing units at Haley Farm. The first meeting was held June 29, 1967 under the name "Save the Haley Farm Committee." The name of the organization was formally changed to GOSA at the group's fourth meeting on December 6, 1967. The group was instrumental in challenging development plans for both Haley Farm and Bluff Point, and ensuring that both properties were preserved as state parks. Today GOSA maintains eight properties amounting to nearly 900 acres of open space across the Town of Groton.

Collection

Van Zandt Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2026.002

Source or Donor

Sidney Van Zandt

Acquisition Method

Donation

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Scrapbook

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Album

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Memorabilia

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Search Terms

Groton Open Space Association, Bluff Point, Haley Farm, Haley Farm State Park, Bluff Point Coastal Reserve, Merritt Family Farm, Candlewood Hill, Beebe Cove

Archive Details

Creator

Sidney Van Zandt

Date(s) of Creation

1960 - 2016

Primary Language

English

Provenance

Notes

Admin or Biographical History: The Groton Open Space Association was founded in 1967 in response to plans to build 425 multi-family housing units at Haley Farm. The first meeting was held June 29, 1967 under the name "Save the Haley Farm Committee." The name of the organization was formally changed to GOSA at the group's fourth meeting on December 6, 1967. The group was instrumental in challenging development plans for both Haley Farm and Bluff Point, and ensuring that both properties were preserved as state parks. Today GOSA maintains eight properties amounting to nearly 900 acres of open space across the Town of Groton. Custodial History: Materials were compiled into scrapbooks by Sidney Van Zandt in 1978. In 2018 Sidey re-organized the material into binders, replacing newsprint with photocopies and placing items into plastic sleeves before donating them to the Groton Public Library.