When the Block Island Conservancy was less than a month old, F. Nelson Breed, an architect who designed buildings throughout New England, donated 35 acres of fields between Sachem Pond and Middle Pond to the Town of New Shoreham.

Located in a relatively undeveloped end of the island, it was prime habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Breed put restrictions on the deed that would prevent development of any kind. Herbert S. Whitman, Town Council president and secretary of the conservancy, said the deed was drafted so that "There is nothing allowed on the land, not even so much as a picnic table."

While the Laphams and the Lewis family are credited for their dramatic contributions to land conservation on Block Island, it is also true that their gifts triggered an outpouring of generosity by many others.

Historian Robert M. Downie noted in his 2001 book, Block Island -- The Land, that most of the original officers and board members of the Block Island Conservancy later donated some of their own or their families' land for preservation.

Downie reports gifts by the following original directors and officers:

• Helen Cullinan -- land near Grace Cove.

• The families of Cliff Payne and Blake Phelan -- land near Mohegan Bluffs and Sands Pond.

• John Gray -- land south of the dump and at Esta's Park in Old Harbor.

• F. Albert Starr's family -- land along Great Salt Pond.

• Luella Ball's family -- land near Clay Head.

• Adrian Mitchell -- fields and pastures along Corn Neck Road.

At least twice each year, Rob Lewis spread the news of his campaign in letters to 1,500 fellow islanders. His letters were always positive and exuberant. And they always pointed to more work to be done.

Just before Christmas in 1976, Rob wrote: "A very exciting thing has happened!"

Island couple Richard O. and Sallie D. Mazzur gave the Block Island Conservancy 6.4 acres overlooking Rodman's Hollow, the very place where Rob had launched the conservation movement a few years earlier.

"One hardly knows where to begin in describing the magnificence of this gift of land," Rob wrote. "It is located at the top of the eastern ridge overlooking Rodman's Hollow, and it includes the highest elevation of the ridge. Upon seeing it for the first time, one is immediately awestruck by the comprehensive, wide-ranging, 360-degree view from this splendid overlook, which is nothing less than spectacular."

"What a wonderful Christmas gift to the Block Island community, its people and its wildlife," Rob wrote.

He closed with this observation: "As we enjoy the Blessings of the Christmas season, it is important to remember that 'Peace on Earth' means peace to all the earth, and to all of the creatures thereof -- 'Human, Creature, and Plant alike' -- each one a magnificent creation."