Ina Butterfield Phelps      

CHS Class of 1945

 

CHS ’45 Chemistry Club, Athletic Association, Church Choir, Horseback ridingm cycling, swimming and ice skating, contributed to the war effort-collecting newspapers, tin cans, aluminum & other recyclable material

Simmons College BS Home Economics ’49 Outing Club, skiing, Biking & Mountain Climbing

Career
New England Deaconess Hospital Dietitian; Harvard Medical School part of a team studying causes of ulceration of the stomach; MIT continuing work moved from Harvard; Community Land conservation in Wendell, MA and other communities in the CT River Watershed. Began with 235 acres of land in Wendell for a wildlife sanctuary, purchased land from abutters accumulated 1300 acres named the sanctuary Whetstone Wood; to permanently protect Whetstone over 1000 acres given to the CT River Watershed Council, Ownership of the sanctuary transferred to Massachusetts Audubon Society; Sanctuary contains over 200 acres adjoins the Wendell State Forest and is part of a wildlife corridor running from the Quabbin Reservoir to Mt. Toby State Reservation; 

Awards
CT River Watershed Council Award, US Department of the Interior Award, Massachusetts Audubon Society prestigious Chickadee Award, Special Environmental Hero Citation from MA Governor Paul Cellucci; Citation reads in part: “Mason [Ina’s husband] and Ina Phelps of the Town of Wendell have a history of open space accomplishments going back more than 35 years. They have purchased and donated more than 2000 acres of land to create the Whetstone Wood Wildlife Sanctuary. They are founding members of the Valley Land Fund which has since helped to protect and additional 2500 acres. They have been active advisors and strong allies to all of our state agencies, working to ensure that wherever possible, State land is left in its natural condition.”