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Thanks to a generous and dedicated family, a portion of the “first official farm” in Washington County, hereinafter to be called Foster Pond in honor of the family that made it so, is now under public ownership. This farm has an extremely interesting history and a bright public future. Connie Foster stated that her perfect vision for this pond is a young child catching their very first fish in the presence of their loving family. This vision is in keeping with her memories of her late father, Floyd Foster, and his love to share his pond and its fish with others. This vision is in keeping with memories of her parents, Pat & Floyd Foster and her sister, Jackie Foster Alfredson, and the countless hours they spent enjoying the pond and its wildlife History states that Adam Ritchey
first claimed this property in 1836, surviving the first winter in a makeshift
lean-to only through the kindness of local Indians. Floyd Foster & his wife,
Pat, acquired the farm in 1936 which then consisted of a tavern/boarding house,
a barn, and some other small buildings. This family spent their entire lives
there, as only the third owner’s in the property’s colorful history. One of the Foster’s favorite accomplishments was the “big hole” dug down towards the timber that “God filled with water.” Throughout the years, they shared both fish and fishing in that hole with a multitude of individuals, families and groups. When progress required that Highway 218 become a four lane highway, the Iowa Department of Transportation acquired 12 acres from the Fosters as a borrow site. They promptly began excavating this “Class A Fill” to construct the road bed for several miles north and south of the Henry/Washington County line. “God yet again filled the resulting hole with water”, this time covering approximately 4 acres an average of about 8 feet deep. Floyd passed away about the time that the Iowa DOT was finished with the 12 acres. The family all residing out of the area, began searching for a way to honor & preserve their family history in Washington County. Their search brought them to the Washington County Conservation Board, and they began exploring avenues of achieving this goal. With assistance of their attorney, Thom & Connie Foster entered a purchase agreement with the Washington County Conservation Board for the purchase of the 12 acres, including the 4 acres that “God filled with water.” This was at considerable personal financial risk since it included two huge “ifs”. The WCCB would acquire the property ‘if’ a Fish Habitat Stamp Grant were received and “if” it could be acquired and developed at no net cost to them. The Fish Habitat Stamp Grant, funded by fishermen when they purchase their licenses, was received. The family then donated $10,000 to pay for the local share of the grant plus items not eligible. Thanks to a generous donation of their services by Washington Title & Guaranty Company, every penny of it will go directly to the property, which officially became property of Washington County on August 21, 2007.
FOSTER POND RENOVATION IS COMPLETE! See attached article by Steve Anderson. Contact InformationConservation Education Center
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