Ephraim Malickson loved his dog.
Ephraim loved his dog so much that when he was cited for allowing the collie to wander his Christmas tree farm near Valley Forge, he gathered the pup, disassembled his 1939 Luscombe two-seater airplane, and drove his 1978 Cadillacs — yes, plural, up to what would eventually become 200 acres in Robeson Township where he and a succession of collies could freely live out their lives.
The airplane never got off the ground again, but Ephraim’s legacy took flight Friday on a chilly, rainy afternoon when officials from Berks Nature and guests formally dedicated the Ephraim Malickson Wildlife Sanctuary in the 2000 block of Cocalico Road.
Berks Nature President Kim Murphy recalled how over 15 years ago Ephraim contacted the organization about conservation easements on his property.
“I want this property to be a place for the birds and the deer to go and be safe,” she recalled Ephraim telling her.
“He lovingly referred to this property as ‘Tekene,’” she said. “Tekene is the Lenape word meaning woods or an uninhabited place.”
He passed in 2010 at age 88, Murphy said, doing what he loved to do: walking the property.
Berks Nature had worked with Malickson to create the conservation easements on his land, and the organization in 2022 took formal ownership of the property.
“Mr. Malickson was committed to protecting nature, for wildlife and for his beloved dogs,” Murphy said. “He had a reputation for fighting developers, in and out of Berks County, all for his love of open space.”
Ephraim made quite an impression on his neighbors Donna and Joe Hurley, who have lived in the area for over 50 years.
“He affectionately became known as Cadillac Jack,” Joe said, “because he always drove a ‘78 Cadillac, like a land yacht. And he said that was the safest car on the road. So he had multiple ‘78 Cadillacs for spare parts.
“He loved his dogs and his Cadillacs.”
Joe recalled how Ephraim would acquire a new collie, that it had to be the same breed and color. They even had the same names: Mr. Tip 1, 2 and 3. The one exception was Mr. Sniffer.
“He was always generous,” Donna added.
The neighboring Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center has benefited from Ephraim’s vision, said co-founder Jean McCarney as she walked the trails during a tour of the preserve.
“Rock Hollow Woods benefited from his preserving the land because part of what we have is 45 acres that belonged to Ephraim,” she said. “He would walk this land with his dog and was always kind to everyone. And his heart was open to preserving this area.”
The wildlife sanctuary is home to the headwater streams and springs of the Indian Corn Creek that is an important tributary to the Schuylkill River, Murphy said.
“The forest that surrounds us today protects this creek and its watershed,” she said. “Thanks to Mr. Malickson’s vision and trust in Berks Nature, the forest will be protecting the water, and much more, in perpetuity.”
The Hurleys couldn’t be happier.
“Gosh, his vision worked out,” Joe said.
Source: Berkshire mont
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