In the spring of 2011, Woollam worked with Little Traverse Conservancy to place a conservation easement over the entire acreage. And just this fall, Woollam donated the land to the Conservancy as the George and Althea Petritz Nature Preserve.

“The protection of this spectacular land was due to John’s singular commitment to seeing it stay natural,” said Ty Ratliff, Conservancy land protection specialist. “His interest in the region started simply with the island as a sailing destination. Since then, he has truly fallen in love with Beaver Island, its shoreline, and its people,” Ratliff said.

The new preserve is found within walking distance of St. James Bay and town. From the beach, views of Garden, Hog, and Squaw islands can all be seen. In addition to being natural habitat for deer, wild turkey, and other animals, the state threatened Pitcher’s Thistle and Lake Huron Tansy grow on the new preserve. Situated at the north end of the island, the preserve protects significant waterfowl and migratory bird habitat.

From the start, Woollam was most interested in leaving the land as natural as possible. “When you see it, you will understand why I fell in love with it the first time I saw it,” Woollam says. He recently learned that more than 100 years ago, a Coast Guard tower sat on shore and was used to survey shipping lanes for any trouble. Remnants of a path to the old tower site exist today.

Before acquiring the initial parcel, Woollam was introduced to the owners, George and Althea Petritz. A relationship was started and John eventually met much of the family, some of whom share his sailing passion. The family’s longtime love and enjoyment of the Beaver Island land was for the same reasons that it had captivated him. The Petritz family was thrilled to sell, knowing the land would eventually become a nature preserve. Piece by piece, Woollam worked with the neighbors to secure adjacent acreage and expand upon the land’s protection. He even had a home moved off an adjoining parcel to another location on the island, and then actively participated in the restoration of the site.

In writing his personal description of the preserve and his purpose for protecting it, Woollam says, “People, animals, plants, and trees allowed. All other human-made structures or objects prohibited. I would like it to remain a place to quietly appreciate nature.”


Photo of Petritz Preserve. (John Woollam)