Hiestand Woods Park And Preserve Est. 1945

Hiestand Woods Park And Preserve Est. 1945. . , History , Hiestand Woods holds a prominent place in the Van Wert community. The park and preserve were established from a section of a 78-acre tract belonging to William "Billy" H. Hiestand. Following Billy's passing in 1919, his two children, Jean Hiestand and Norma Hiestand Moran, inherited the land. In 1936, Norma sold her share of the farmland to her brother Jean., Gaylord E. Leslie, a friend of Jean, served as President of the People's Saving Bank and held positions as Trustee of the Van Wert County Hospital Association and the Van Wert County Foundation. Under his guidance, the property was sold to the Van Wert County Hospital Association. The sale deed included a stipulation that the wooded section of the land must remain in its natural state indefinitely. The Hospital accepted the option and finalized the purchase from the entire 78-acre tract at a rate of $200 per acre., Following the completion of the sale, the Van Wert Hospital Association extended an offer to the Van Wert County Foundation for 18.57 acres of the wooded preserve. The Foundation acquired the land at a cost of $200 per acre, amounting to a total of $3,714.00., The Gleason Fund, established by Hazel Gleason, provided the funding for the land acquisition. On August 21, 1945, Hiestand Woods was officially designated as a nature preserve for Van Wert County. Since its acquisition, the Van Wert County Foundation has diligently preserved and maintained the park, ensuring the conservation of its natural splendor., Fun Fact | Hiestand's Band , Billy Hiestand, a skilled Cornet player, began to lead the Van Wert Silver Cornet Band shortly after he settled in Van Wert. He promptly renamed it Hiestand's Band, a name it retained until its dissolution. The band consisted of 15 to 20 members who regularly performed concerts at Hiestand Woods and participated in various special events. The group often provided their services without any fee, according to the Van Wert Historical Society. Hiestand's Band, renowned throughout the region, proudly played for over 50 years., Today , Over the years, the Van Wert County Foundation has remained dedicated to the maintenance and care of Hiestand Woods and Preserve, consistent with its overarching mission of enhancing the community's quality of life. Through their ongoing support, the Van Wert County Foundation enables the funding of enhancements and upkeep initiatives that ensure the safety and accessibility of this urban park for all members of the community.