Updated: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 11:43 AM

There is but one word to describe the Summer of 88: HOT! Imagine days so hot that the water temperature of Branch Pond averaged in the 80’s. Or so much haze that Peter DeAngelis couldn’t locate the Pond from the air. Or not being able to find a fan for sale at any department store in Ellsworth. Yes, the main topic of conversation around the Pond was the heat and the sudden realization of the meaning of the phrase "the greenhouse effect". However for those of us who endured, it will be a comforting memory in mid February with a wind chill of 50 below.

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 am by Peter DeAngelis. Approximately 60 members were in attendance. A summary of the major points follows:

Treasurer’s Report: 136 families paid dues during 1987 - 88; income from dues and special contributions = $3570; interest income = $150.84; expenses including legal fees = $2105.25; balance as of July 15, 1988 = $2421.47.

Water Quality Report: Glen Curtis sampled seven sites an Branch Pond and sent the specimens to Augusta for analysis. The results indicated the average ph to be 6.5 and the coliform bacteria count to be negligible. It was suggested that the water quality tests might be broadened to include the testing of nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates.

Development On Lower Lake: Peter DeAngelis reviewed the construction by Mr. LaFreniere and subsequent action that was taken by the Ellsworth Planning Board, City Council, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Branch Pond Association. A more detailed description will be covered later in this Newsletter.

BPA historian: Dan Hayes graciously accepted the position of historian for the Association.

Dues: The annual assessment for dues will be maintained at $25 per family.

The BPA Executive Board:

Co-Chairmen -
Murray and Judy Billington

Secretary
Dick Mitchell

Treasurer -
Barbara Howd

Peter and Gloria Delingelis
Richard and Ginny Bourne
Frank Howd
James Woodall
Ralph Mastrorio

On the evening of Wednesday, August 10, in the steamy Council Chambers of Ellsworth’s City Hall, the Planning Board gathered in front-of television news cameras and a full audience. Amidst the blaring music of a band concert, automobile horns, and even a fireworks finale, the Board attempted to act upon two agenda items concerning Mr. LaFreniere's development. The first request pertained to the granting of after-the-fact permits for some of the roads Mr. LaFreniere has constructed. After carefully examining his plans, the Board voted to table his request until the Christinat subdivision is approved. It seems that there is a city ordinance that requires that all subdivisions abut public roads or previously approved subdivision roads. Since Mr.-LaFreniere’s roads abut Mr. Christinat's property, the Board wants to act upon the Christnat proposal first.

The second item before the Planning Board that evening dealt with Mr. LaFreniere’s request for a permit to construct a house on a 2.5 acre peninsula in lower lake. After carefully examining the site plan for the home, the Board granted a conditional permit requiring that all roads be brought up to standards and that further study be done to explore the possibility of eagles nesting in the area. This point is very important for eagles are protected by Federal Law and could greatly restrict development of the area.

The next episode in this saga takes us to Fridays August 19. At the request of Mr. LaFreniere and his attorney, a meeting was held with members of the BPA Executive board. The -purpose was to allow Mr. LaFreniere the opportunity to present to the BPA his development plans for the 800 acres of land he owns. The following is a summary of the major points of that meeting:

1. He has no major plan to develop the 800 acre parcel.

2. 500 acres of "backland" are presently for sale and he is willing to offer it to the BPA for $250,000.

3. He plans to retain approximately 100 acres of land which abuts Phillips Beach Road, the 2.5 acre peninsula, and 28 Acre Island.

4. His intended use of these properties are as follows: 28 Acre Island will become a "familij compound" with a maximum of 5 homes; a "spec" house will be constructed an the peninsula; the 100 acres of land along Phillips Beach Road will -be sold to cottage owners along the road who require additional space for septic systems, privacy, etc.

5. Since he owns most of Phillips Beach Road, he plans to establish a Road Association in order to maintain the existing road.

6. All of the above plans are conditional pending his request to the DEP to construct a bridge to 28-Acre Island. If the DEP refuses his request for the permit, he will have to "rethink his plans".

7. If the BPA works against him, his offer to sell abutting lots to cottage owners will be retracted.

After hearing Mr. LaFreniere's proposals the BPA Executive Board scheduled a meeting on Tuesdays August 23, to discuss their options. The Board felt it imperative to invite as many residents as possible from Phillips Beach Road since they would be directly affected by any decision the Board would make. Don Hayes, Dick Bourne, and Sonny Sanborn were able to reach most of the property owners still present an the lake. Their responses were presented to the Board at the meetings and they demonstrated a strong desire for the Association to continue in its efforts to monitor the LaFreniere Development and to provide input at both the city and state level.

The Executive Board via the Newsletter will attempt to keep the membership updated on further developments.

Back to top

According to Ruth Sergeson, the hut, humid summer took a toll on the loons. Increased boat traffic resulted in a number of reports of abandoned nests with unhatched eggs. In spite of all the problems, Hancock County came up with a respectable total of 154 adults and 28 chicks with Branch Pond contributing 17 adults and 4 chicks to the total. Ruth wishes to apologize to some of our devoted "loon counters" on Branch Pond who did not receive forms for counting this summer. Do to an error at Maine Audubon, many of you who have counted in the past were left out. Ruth hopes to correct the problem for next year. She would also like to thank all of you who work so diligently toward keeping the loons on our Maine lakes.

The BPA Sailing Committee, under the leadership of Commodore Paul Wight, organized a series of five Sunday races as well as the Annual Regatta. Although weather conditions were not always ideal, all who participated found the races to be fun and competitive. The Portsmouth Handicap System was used which allowed for sailboats of varied classes to compete with each other. A total of sixteen skippers and their crews took part in the series at various times.

The top three finishers in the Regatta were:

First Place: Joshua Reynolds; Second Place: Glen Curtis; Third Place: George Lewis; David Whedon, sailing a Sunfish, won the ''Best Effort" Trophy for finishing every races including one where there was much rain and very little wind. While some gave up, David didn’t and, in corrected times finished second.

Commodore Wight wishes to thank-the following individuals who helped to make the racing series a success: Don Hayes, Glen Curtis and Ellsworth Bourque who served on the Racing Committee; Lorna Whedon and Dave Hardy - Time Keepers; Bob Murray and Gordon Shaw - Safety Boat; Russell Thomason - Photographer; and all those who furnished food and hosted our after-the-race get-togethers.

Back to top

Several years ago, Don Hayes began to include in the Newsletter, interviews with individuals who have spent most of their lives an Branch Pond. As Historian for the BPA, Don, along with Ellsworth Bourque conducted an interview with Hilda Walls in August. Hilda has been a resident of Branch Pond since 1923, living at the intersection of Winkumpaugh Road and what is now called Walls Farm Road. What-follows is the first part of that interview.

Q: When and why did you first come to this area?
A: We came in 1923. AIan (Hilda’s husband) came from Southwest Harbor and I came from Mt. Desert. Alan had been gassed and shell-shocked, and he had to get away from the salt water. See, Alan was supposed to die in 1925, but he lived until 1984. It was moving here that helped him. He was gassed bad. Greeley Walls owned all of this woodland over here and he was a distant relative of Alan’s. He had 14 children so he populated the place pretty well. That was down to Seal Harbor and Otter Creek. He had the florist shop down there. Greeley’s daughters husband was Alan’s buddy in the service. We first lived in the old house, which we bought from Alexander Gray. It was on the corner over there. Alexander Gray's son was living in our house when we bought it.

Q: There is a G.W. Gray listed on this old map as living on the Happy Town Road. Is this who you bought from?
A: Oh, that’s George Gray. He was a relative of the man we bought from. He had two daughters. That was just as you turn the corner, and he lived with his daughter and her husband. Her husband worked on the State Road. He was a foreman. (Examining the map). Union Church! That’s got quite a story to it. It was the Happy Town Grange Hall,, but they had church meetings in it. And the fellow that was living in one of the houses was burning the blueberry lands and he burned it down - while he was in to supper. It was located by the cemetery, right up by the road. It was 1928 that the Grange Hall burned.

Q: Where did the name Happy Town come from?
A: Nobody knows. And everybody asks that too. We had blueberry land over there, but no one was there but Eban Brown when we came here.

Q: I’ve heard people talk about Happy Town as a commune. Was it a commune in the socialistic sense?
A: No. They were just very close friends. Everybody was. They were mostly farmers. And they all went to Mt. Desert Island with their things. They raised stuff and Mt. Desert Island was their market. Of course the Grange used to be an agricultural agency, but now it’s more of a social group. Then the Grange was the head of everything in a way. But nobody could get in - we couldn’t get in at first. When we came, we were "fureigners" (not foreigners). We were referred to as "fureigners" for ages. When I started teaching, then we made friends and they wanted us.

Q: We've heard stories about what a good hunter you are. You did shoot a bear didn’t you?
A: Two Bears! One was right out there by the apple tree. And the other was over by the sheep (we had sheep an this side of the road). I heard the sheep hollering, and I knew something was bothering them. I was alone here that morning, so I took the dog and went over. And there was a bear just coming over the fence. So I came back, changed my shoes, got my gun and started over. He was bleeding, so someone had shot him before. I looked up and there-he was in a tree. So it wasn’t much to finish him. But we had an awful time getting him out because he had his arm hung aver a limb. Toivo Ikalainen had the bear skin for years. You used to see bear more often then you do now.

Q: Did you and Alan sell the lake lots on the Walls Farm Road?
A: Yes. Harjanne was among the first to buy, and he sold his lot to the Moltons from New Hampshire. There was a Fred Kellian who had the Crichton’s place. And he got that Mrs. Molton here. That was his girl friend. and it was really funny, quite a romance! She was a widow. The oldest camp down there is where Ikalainen is now. That was Dr. Snow’s camp. He was the one who disappeared and there were a lot of stories about it. We don't know the truth of it yet. When Dr. Snow came out here from Bangor, he came by horse and wagon because the road was bad. He left it up here on the hill so my husband could take care of it for him. He had a stable down on the lake too.

Q: Who else was down there at that time?
A: Bobby Brown. Their camp burned several summers ago. It was the Spellman camp. Bobby’s daughter still owns that place --Frances Brown. She hasn’t been out for quite a while. We started to sell the lots in the thirties. Babcock's front camp belonged to a man from Mt. Desert Island. Babcock didn’t buy that one from us. He bought the land for the one in back from us. Burnham's camp was built later. The Murrays are an old family. Del Murray’s grandfather was a Bracy and he bought an old camp - the Burnham’s. Then he sold that and bought the one that Merle Cronkite has. Bracy bought it thinking he was going to make some money on it. He was from Bangor and first had a camp out here an the side of the road. Then he bought the camp down on the pond. Bracys are about the oldest on this shore.

... To be continued in a later Newsletter.

Back to top

Dues for the year 1988 - 89 are due now. Send your check for $2S payable to the Branch Pond Association to:

Barbara Howd
14 Spencer Street
Orono, ME 04473

Monitoring development activities around the Pond are expensive. Attorney fees and engineering studies are costly. In the past, the membership has responded by making special donations in order to supplement our budget. Land developers can afford expensive attorneys. In order to keep pace, the Executive Board requests that any member wishing to make a contribution do so by sending a check to the above address. Unless directed otherwise, we will acknowledge your special donation in the Newsletter.

Kenneth Knobel
Thank You!