WELLS — It was the late 1970s when Mort Mather, Ruth Howard and about a half dozen others gathered around Howard’s kitchen table for the first time to discuss how they could save a 19th century farm bordering salt marshes in Wells from the threat of development.

Laudholm Farm, which spanned about 250 acres, was purchased by Charles C. Lord I in 1881 with some partners, whom he eventually bought out. It was passed down to family members for generations. But by the late 1970s and early 1980s, the time was ripe to brake up the property into a large subdivision.

The farm never really recovered from the Great Depression of the 1920s and 30s, said Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve spokesman Scott Richardson. By the 1950s, most of the farming activity had ended.

When cash was short, the family was selling off the land a parcel at a time, said Mather. He and the others in his group thought it was paramount to protect one of the last, large historic farms on Maine’s southern coast.

So after a lot of fits and starts, much perseverance and a few turn of events no one could have predicted, the group was successful. Instrumental in the preservation of the farm, was that at the same time the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was looking for a location in Maine to establish a national estuary reserve.

In 1982, the non-profit organization the Laudholm Trust was founded, and four years later the farm was purchased and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve was established.

On Thursday, Mather, who was the first president of Laudholm Trust, told a crowd of about 50 the story of the saving and creation of the reserve. The talk was one the activities to mark the Wells Reserve’s 25th anniversary.

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of only 28 such reserves in the country, and the only one in Maine.

Including Laudholm Farm, the reserve covers 2,250 acres. It includes land owned by the town, by the state and the federal government. Parts of the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge are included within the reserve also.

Many of the original farm buildings have been preserved and were transformed to serve current purposes. They house administrative offices, research laboratories, an auditorium, public meeting spaces and more.

Wells Reserve is federally funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and it receives a local match through the fundraising efforts of the Laudholm Trust.

The estuary is a place where fresh and salt water meet.

The Wells estuary is unique, said Reserve Educator Paige Rutherford. It encompasses the Little River and Webhannet River. Although there is little development along the Little River, the mouth of the Webhannet is in Wells Harbor where there is lots of activity and pollutants. Looking at their meeting point provides an opportunity for researchers to compare how the two scenarios impact the ecosystem.

Estuaries serve numerous functions, said Rutherford. Estuaries provide a home for numerous species of fish and other water life; they provide a breeding area for some and a food source for others; the salt marsh filters pollutants; and wetlands prevent flooding by soaking up water.

Seventy percent of the species of fish harvested spend at least part of their life cycle in an estuary, said Rutherford.

The reserve also serves a variety of other functions, said Wells Reserve Director Paul Dest, including research, education, stewardship and preservation.

Some of the research activity includes water quality monitoring and looking at the health of the marsh. Dest said the reserve works with communities as well. The research at the reserve can help identify sources of pollutants and be used to improve the health of communities’ waterways.

Education is another important part of the reserve’s mission, said Dest. The Wells Reserve is hosts a number of school field trips every year.

The reserve, with assistance from the trust, is working to maintain its relevance for future generations, said Laudholm Trust President Diana Joyner. She said her efforts have included finding ways to attract younger people and to provide activities at the reserve that appeal to active, young families.

Looking back on the history of Laudholm Trust and the Wells Reserve, Dest said, “It’s quite a miracle this happened. It’s one of the biggest conservation success stories in Maine.”

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.