Welcome home. That was the greeting given to the Baldino family at a building dedication ceremony recently held at Brinton Run Preserve, a 71-acre historic public preserve where the final skirmish of the 1777 Battle of Brandywine was fought.
Sandra Baldino and her late husband, Frank Baldino Jr., Ph.D., owned the property and raised their family on a home along its rolling hills and small creeks. In 2019, Sandra approached the North American Land Trust (NALT) with an idea to protect the property as an alternative to development.
NALT purchased the historic property with generous donations from several community organizations, historical groups, and local, county, and state agencies. In 2022, NALT opened Brinton Run Preserve to the public as a place where visitors can learn about its history, as well as enjoy its hiking trails through meadows, streams, and forest.
On July 17, the NALT Board of Directors dedicated the “Baldino Family History and Nature Center,” which is a renovated building on the property that now will serve as a community and educational center.
“We’re here to celebrate the official opening of the Baldino Family History and Nature Center – a space that will serve as a gateway to both the natural and historical richness of this special property,” said NALT President Steven Carter. “But more importantly, we’re here to honor the individual whose vision, generosity, and spirit helped make this place a reality: Sandra Baldino.”
Baldino said she and her husband valued the scenic beauty of the property, and she was happy to work with NALT to ensure the open space was conserved. She also appreciates the ability to visit her former property and share it with others.
“It’s so lovely to be able to come back and learn, volunteer, reflect, and exercise, and for everyone else in the community to do the same.” Baldino said. “My late husband and I embraced the beauty of this land, and I’m so grateful for everyone at NALT who provided all of us those opportunities through their talent and commitment to land conservation.”
Chadds Ford Township Supervisors Kathleen Goodier and Samantha Reiner attended the event. The township holds the conservation easement on the property, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
“The Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors were honored to be part of this event. The community has been strengthened by the generous actions and support of the Baldino family, and we were excited to celebrate with them and the North American Land Trust. An eternal thank you to the Baldino family and NALT for preserving a special parcel of land that can tell a critical part of the story of the Battle of the Brandywine,” the supervisors said.
Carter thanked Baldino on behalf of the NALT Board of Directors for her trust and belief in what the preserve can become.
“We are proud to have your name on this building, and even more proud to count you as a member of our NALT family,” Carter said. “Congratulations – and welcome home.”
The public preserve, which is along Oakland Road across from the Brinton 1704 House, is open for visitors from sunrise to sunset. There, visitors can imagine the skirmish between American and British forces on September 11, 1777, when General George Washington ordered the retreat of the Continental Army to be able to fight on another day.
For more information, visit the Brinton Run Preserve website and follow the preserve on social media for upcoming events and news about the opening of the Baldino Family History and Nature Center.
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