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William Weaver Christman (1865-1937) was a farmer in Duanesburg, New York. In later life he was known as the Poet of the Helderhills. Four volumes of his poetry were published between 1926 and 1937. He received the John Burroughs Medal for his book of nature poetry, “Wild Pasture Pine” in 1934.
Will Christman was also recognized for his many years of advocacy for rural education reform. He supported school centralization and free transportation to school for rural children. He wrote many letters to newspapers about the issue, including The New York Times.
Will and his wife Catherine were both nature lovers. Many of Will’s poems had nature themes. The Mohawk Valley Hiking Club (MVHC) from Schenectady, New York, led by Vincent Schaefer, proposed developing the Christman farm into a wildlife sanctuary. Will and Catherine agreed and on Sunday, June 14,1931 the Christman Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary was formally dedicated and opened to the public.
In 1970 the farm was purchased by The Nature Conservancy as a nature preserve. Today it is known as the Christman Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Will Christman died at his home on February 26, 1937, of heart failure.
References
- ^ W.W. Christman Nature Poet Dies. New York Times February 27, 1937
- ^ Final Rites Held for W W Christman. Altamont Enterprise March 5, 1937
- ^ Christman's Sanctuary Founded. Altamont Enterprise April 24, 1931
- ^ W. W. Christman Wins Burroughs Medal. New York Times April 8, 1934
- ^ Getting to Rural Schools. New York Times April11, 1923
- ^ Christman Sanctuary. https://www.nature.org/ Retrieved December 11, 2022