Allen Sheep Farm

The magnificent vista of Chilmark Pond and the Atlantic Ocean across the Allen Farm Fields was permanently  preserved with the help of the Vineyard Conservation Society. In 1991, VCS collaborated with the state and MV Land Bank to purchase the development rights on a critical 22.5-acre portion of the Farm. This was accomplished through raising $25,000 in donations, securing grant funding through the state scenic highway fund, and the creation of a 10-year installment purchase agreement.

It was the foresight and patience of owners Clarissa Allen and Mitchell Posin that allowed the complex package to take shape. They also donated back $100,000 of the appraised value of the development rights, and placed a conservation restriction (CR) on an additional 7.3 acres of the Farm.

In 1995, with the help of VCS, Clarissa and Mitchell made an additional gift of a CR on 5.3 acres of the Farm, protecting wildlife habitat and more than 500 feet of the brook flowing into upper Chilmark Pond.

Top photo by Brendan O’Neill; bottom by Jeremy Houser; click here for scenes from our December 2015 Winter Walk.