14-R335

2014 -- H 7481

Enacted 06/13/14

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION OF HILLSDALE AS A "FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESERVATION" CONSISTENT WITH THE WISHES OF MR. DE COPPET AS INSTRUCTED BY THE TERMS OF HIS WILL

Introduced By: Representatives Valencia, O`Grady, Amore, Ackerman, and Palangio

Date Introduced: February 13, 2014

     WHEREAS, Mr. Theakston de Coppet, formerly of the Town of Richmond, Rhode

Island, now deceased, owned 1825.20 acres of land located on Hillsdale Road in the Town of

Richmond, consisting of woodlands, wetland and streams with frontage on the Beaver River,

property commonly known as "Hillsdale"; and

     WHEREAS, Hillsdale is located in the designated Hillsdale Historical and Archeological

District, containing remnants of nineteenth century rural industrial development including

foundations for a water powered stone mill, a woolen mill and a dye house, a cider mill, a dance

hall and store and worker housing; and

     WHEREAS, Hillsdale contains a ¾ mile long section of the Beaver River, a major

tributary to the Pawcatuck River, which said river’s 300 square mile watershed comprises most of

southwestern Rhode Island and extends into Connecticut; and

     WHEREAS, The Pawcatuck River supports roughly 70 percent of Rhode Island's

globally imperiled species and provides abundant clean groundwater which serves as the sole

source of drinking water for more than 60,000 local residents; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. de Coppet bequeathed Hillsdale to the Theakston de Coppet Trust

currently managed by Bank of America together with instructions, restrictions, and limitations,

including life tenancies, for use and occupation of Hillsdale; and

     WHEREAS, The last remaining heir and life tenant are now deceased; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. de Coppet, instructed the Trust that upon the death of all heirs and life

tenants, to transfer Hillsdale to the State of Rhode Island upon an act of the General Assembly to

accept Hillsdale and agree to terms of his will and instructions; and

     WHEREAS, The terms of Mr. de Coppet's will included a provision for 8/40ths of the

income of the Trust be paid to the state for the sole purpose of the maintenance and development

of Hillsdale; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. de Coppet stipulated that Hillsdale be preserved as a "Forest and

Wildlife Reservation" in perpetuity; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby recognizes the natural, historic, and ecological significance of Hillsdale and

acknowledges the foresight and wisdom of Mr. de Coppet in his desire to preserve Hillsdale in

perpetuity as a sanctuary; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby supports the preservation of Hillsdale

as a "Forest and Wildlife Reservation" and the usage and management of the property and

proceeds of the Trust consistent with the wishes of Mr. de Coppet as instructed by the terms of

the will; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly respectfully requests the Rhode Island

Department of Environmental Management to consent to the conveyance of Hillsdale from the

Estate of Theakston de Coppet to the state and to accept care, control, and custody of Hillsdale;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, and

the Director of the Department of Environmental Management.

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LC004525

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