Nov, 2009 letter to residents
Dear South Waterford Resident, Nov. 1, 2009
Re: CITY BROOK TRAIL, PROPOSED ROUTE
Friends of City Brook is a group of neighbors working to bring attention to the rich historic and natural resources of South Waterford village and to help people better appreciate them. We began in November 2008 by hosting representatives of the Maine Historical Preservation Commission to visit the village, especially the historic industrial sites along City Brook. An historian and two archeologists from MHPC confirmed the presence of seven mill sites and significant public and residential buildings. They concluded that South Waterford is a significant regional historic resource, confirming State support for our efforts.
In May 09 we invited Waterford neighbors to walk the brook with us. Signs were posted at each mill site to date each and identify industries that operated there: a rich industrial heritage unknown to many of us. David Sanderson joined the group to share his knowledge of Waterford’s history. Robert Spencer and Geraldine O’Donnell welcomed us to Watson’s Mill and dam which they have owned for over 30 years. The site was a saw mill, box factory and finally a cider mill, one of the few sites remaining in Maine with an intact split granite dam and large geartree with gears still in place seemingly ready to transmit hydropower to the equipment which has been removed.
We are now contacting you asking you to join us on the next step of our plan: an historical walking path along City Brook from its source at the Keoka dam south to Cross Street Bridge. We envision an easy walk along the stream, highlighted by historic sites like Wesleyan Chapel and Bear Mountain Grange as well the mill sites. The path will make the most of the natural beauty along the stream. The land ownership map attached is from the Town Tax Map, identifying you as the owner of land that might be crossed by such a trail.
We are asking you if you would be willing to participate by granting a temporary right-of-way for the portion of your lot over which the path might run. The agreement would be between you and The Friends of City Brook; a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Maine. It would be restricted for public recreational access to a specific right-of-way for a period of 5 years.
We plan to fashion the trail with the help of Appalachian Mountain Club volunteers: some of the most skilled trail experts in New England. The National Park Service has also offered assistance. As a landowner, you would be invited to participate fully in the process to ensure that the plan and execution are satisfactory to you. You will be protected from liability by Maine State Law (14 MSRA-159-A. Public Law 622), which relieves landowners who permit recreational use of their property of any liability.
As you read this letter, work is already under way as several of your neighbors lay out trail sections. Initial landscaping may already have been done; so that you might talk with these hosts to see how the trail might develop.
We list contact persons below. Feel free to talk with any of them about the project. This is, first and foremost, a project by members of the community, for the community. South Waterford has a long history of such community projects, some very successful. We hope you will join us in this latest one.
Sincerely,
The Friends of City Brook
Happy and Perry Chapman. 583-4438
David Sanderson. 583-2529. dwsandeson685@roadrunner.com