From collection Creating Acadia National Park: The George B. Dorr Research Archive of Ronald H. Epp

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1924
SECRETARY WORK DEFINES
NATIONAL PARKS POLICY
Confirming the Practice of Fifty-two Years of Government, He
Declares for Highest Scenic Standards and
Complete Conservation
On January 14, 1924, Secretary of the Interior Hubert Work, of
Colorado, addressed the following letter to Senator Duncan U.
Fletcher of Florida:
My DEAR SENATOR:
I have before me your letter of January 4 asking for a statement of
poliey that governs the creation of National Parks.
Under the theory and practice of the United States Government
since 1872 when Yellowstone National Park was created, our National
Park System is made up of areas enclosing scenery of quality so un-
usual and impressive, or natural features SO extraordinary, as to
possess national interest and importance as contradistinguished from
local interest. Such outstanding examples of typical world architec-
ture as the Grand Canyon, exemplifying in unequalled grandeur the
highest accomplishment of stream erosion, or the rugged portions of
Mount Desert Island in Maine which are incorporated in the Lafayette
National Park, exemplifying unique rock forms in association with
quite extraordinary eastern forests, compel immediate recognition of
National Park values.
The National Parks, therefore, must not be lowered in standard,
dignity, and prestige by the inclusion of areas which express in less
than the highest terms the particular class or type of exhibit which
they represent.
Size is not important so long as the proposed park includes within
its boundaries those scenic elements that meet established standards,
but the area must be susceptible of effective development to make
it accessible to the people, and of convenient administration and
control. Duplication of exhibits already in the National Park Sys-
tem must be carefully avoided in order that the individuality of the
members of the System may be maintained.
And, when once established by the Congress along well-studied
boundary lines, they must be conserved in their natural state, un-
touched by the inroads of modern civilization, so that coming
generations, as well as the people of our own time, may be assured
their use for the purposes of recreation, education, and scientific
research.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) HUBERT WORK,
Secretary of the Interior.
NotE: In late January of 1924, preparations
began for a hearing in Washington, D.C Scores before
Interior Secretary Hubert Work.
of of documentation have been
separated pages from this archival series (I) and
placed in series III titled "Roads: 1924 Hearings".
Consult this file for chronological complete ness.
ADDRESS ONLY
THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WASHINGTON D. a
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WASHINGTON
January 5, 1924.
Personal and confidential.
Dear Mr. Dorr, -
I tried to get this letter off to you last night,
but I had conference which took me way into the night, and
again tonight I've got to give a lecture at the Metropolitan
Club which will pull me away from here in half an hour.
Still, I must get a line to you to review the happenings of the
past few days.
Thursday Secretary of the Interior Work called
me up and said he had been requested by Senator Pepper to give
a hearing the next morning to himself, Harold Peabody of
Boston, and Mrs. Eliot Wadsworth, and that he had agreed.
He went over the Lafayette Park situation with me, saying
that these people were going to protest against the road
program. I went over the entire plan with him, including
the history of the case, the elimination of certain of the
road trails and the approval of those shown on the map, as
well as the approval of the through motor road and the pro-
posed road project up Cadillac. I explained to him about
young Mr. Rockefeller's donations as being part of donations
from half a dozen peo le for the same purposes (he had told
me Senator Pepper had told him that Rockefeller was standing
the cost of all the work. ) Well, to make matters short, the
next morning the three called and I was called in. Senator
Pepper was particularly fine in his statements, giving you
and Mr. Rockefeller all possible credit, but claiming that
you had not taken anybody into your cafidence despite many
inquiries on you from your most intimate friends and neighbors
so that a cloud of suspicion has been cast on what you
really intended to do. That they were protesting against the
road trails in particular, since there were more than enough
of trails located in those areas by the trail association,
and that there was no assurance that these road trails would be
kept as such, but would eventually be motor roads. They
protested strongly against the type of some of the bridges
you were putting in, stating that you were putting in bridges
more fitted for Central Park or a city park than for Lafayette
Park. They said that the various chairmen of the small
towns on the island were all worried, and what they wanted
was a hearing or meeting at which all these plans could be
discussed and the various points of view on these matters
thoroughly discussed and brought into the open. Dr. Work
ADDRESS ONLY
HE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WASHINGTON D. c.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WASHINGTON
showed them the approved map, approving my giving them a copy
for their information, and directed me to arrange for a hearing,
and informal hearing, with Harold Peabody at which all these
points could be brought out. The Doctor is a great man for
holding these hearings so that everybody who has a grievance
may have a chance to have it out, and the plan is shortly
to arrange for this hearing here in Washington which all these
people and those whom you want to have appear may be heard.
I read to him Senator Hale's and Fernald's letters and that
from Congressman Nelson, and explained also Judge Peters's
and President Eliot's attitude. I found that even among the
group represented by Peabody and Pepper there was a difference
of opinion on various things, for instance Senator Pepper
was Green to have the road you are now building continue along
Jordan Pond while others want it flexed around Pemetic --
I think that is the mountain. The Doctor also told me that
he wanted all construction work stopped until this matter
had been decided. I told him that such a meeting probably could
not be called before April or May, if it was to be held on the
Island, but th if it were to be called for Mashington it could
be held at any time, - and that anyway winter conditions would
prevent work on the roads till June. I'm to write you a letter
in a few days, officially holding up work on the roads. I then
told him, and I emphasized to Peabody that even were a vote
taken on the best course to pursue, that I wouldn take the
judgment of the majority vote for what is best to do under the
circumst nces, since it might easily be one side, and it can
be either side, could gather enough people present by their
votes to over-ride the sensible thing to be done, and that as
far as I am concerned, after these meetings, or this meeting,
have been held, and the points at issue brought out, I would
ask the Secretary to ask the landscape member of the National
Fine Arts Commission, the Federal Advisory Body, whose services
are available in such cases, to make a personal inspection and
decide the points involved for the Secretary's guidance.
Peabody though this a good point, and later on when I mentioned
it to Dr. York he himself agreed that that was the course
to pursue.
Senator Pepper emphasized the fine or you were doing
and had done, and that he had no desire to disparage the work
in
any wey that Mr. Rockefeller and his associates were doing,
that properly directed it would be as beneficial as it was
public spirited, but that they are fraid the
park
was
being
ruined with the best of intentions to the contrary. He said
he was going to see Senator Hale.
I think the above covers t e points brought out,
frankl- and in detail.
[Armo Cammerer]
Mr. Dorr to Mr. Cammerer
night letter
strictly personal.
Western Union
Bar Harbor, Jan 7th, 1924.
Letter of January 5th marked "personal" received this
morning. Work is continuing as authorized on motor road to
Bubble Pond and on one horse-trail. Not possible to wholly
interrupt without matter immediately becoming public and front-
page item in newspapers in state and over country. Most im-
portant no such action be taken without fullest consultation
with and due notice to both Senators from State and Congressman
from this district. Men hired for winter who gave up other
work for this on faith of Government authorization would be
thrown out of work and strong feeling aroused to permanent
injury of Park. Nothing to be gained from immediate stoppage.
On motor road am simply connecting two ends already completed
with work partially done throughout between. This section,
ending at Bubble Pond and now three-quarters done, lies
wholly in town of Bar Harbor, and is not part of that to
which objection has been raised, which latter can be left open
for discussion later.
Construction proceeding only on single horse-trail,
that west of Jordan Pond where rockslide in conspicuous
portion is already past. No bridge building involved.
No change in situation with regard to objections
raised would be accomplished by cessation on this trail on
which small crew alone is working. By leaving it to con-
tinue until conference is held would obviate necessity of
bringing matter publicly to attention.
Not physically possible for me to leave at once for
Washington. Have just returned from Boston where my presence
was required for matters relating to my work. Matters here
require me now for next few days and there is a limit to my
strength and energy. Have made plans for coming shortly to
Washington as Yard informed you and will come earliest I can.
No meeting in Washington should be held at which
both senators from Maine and Mr. Nelson are not present. The
presidents or vice-presidents of all Village Improvement Asso-
ciations on the Island should be given opportunity to attend,
with ample notice, not path committee chairmen merely. And
if these associations are to be represented at such hearing the
communities themselves who are vitally interested should be re-
presented also. Not to do this would endanger good relations
between the two and place the Government in position of seeking
selected class opinion only. The Trustees of Public Reservations
from whom the Government received its land in gift should be
represented also.
[G.B.Darr]
Mr. Dorr to Mr. Cammerer
Bar Harbor, Jan. 10, 1924.
Dear Mr. Cammerer:
I sent you Monday night the night-letter of which
I enclose copy, marking it "strictly personal", as your letter
which it answered came, and I sent it not as official but
Public Vs Rocord
charged against my personal account so that no record of it
might get into the files. I think it will have made the
situation briefly clear.
Winter is no hindrance to the work that I am
doing on the motor road. The section of this from its com-
mencement at Great Pond Hill on the Eagle Lake Road to the
crossing of the brook at the foot of Bubble Pond is a distance
of two miles. The first mile is practically done; some
surfacing, the care of borders to eliminate rawness and dis-
figurement, and the placing of some coping stones alone remain
to finish it. This section was about equally divided between
ledge and earth deposits; the portion I am now working on is
wholly ledge, the shallow soil which covered it having been
stripped off and used to make a screening bank upon the lower
side.
The end by Bubble Pond, which is in earth, was
completed last fall and needs only surfacing with gravel and
landscape work along the sides to finish it.
The strip between, where blasting is required,
I
prepared last fall for winter work by stripping it to the sloping
rock, so that snow could be removed with slight expense as
rapidly as the work progresses. A thousand feet on this section,
also, has now been roughly done and work upon the rest is
rapidly proceeding, with a carefully culled-out and exceptionally
efficient crew. By next summer, if there be no interruption
of the work, the two completed ends should be connected and the
landscape work along its borders done, when it will become a
unique source of interest and pleasure to a great host of
visitors. No pains are being spared to bring the road into
harmony with its surroundings and no criticism has come to me
from any source of my work upon the portion now completed, but
only commendation.
For drilling I bought two months ago a costly
but most efficient air-compressor which is practically inde-
pendent of winter in its operation and exceedingly effective.
Its acquisition was a generous gift to our equipment.
[G.B.Dorr]
Mr. Dorr to Mr. Cammerer
Bar Harbor, Jan. 10, 1924.
Dear Mr. Cammerer:
I sent you Monday night the night-letter of which
I enclose copy, marking it "strictly personal", as your letter
which it answered came, and I sent it not as official but
charged against my personal account so that no record of it
might get into the files. I think it will have made the
Publie
situation briefly clear.
Winter is no hindrance to the work that I am
doing on the motor road. The section of this from its com-
mencement at Great Pond Hill on the Eagle Lake Road to the
crossing of the brook at the foot of Bubble Pond is a distance
of two miles. The first mile is practically done; some
surfacing, the care of borders to eliminate rawness and dis-
figurement, and the placing of some coping stones alone remain
to finish it. This section was about equally divided between
ledge and earth deposits; the portion I am now working on is
wholly ledge, the shallow soil which covered it having been
stripped off and used to make a screening bank upon the lower
side.
The end by Bubble Pond, which is in earth, was
completed last fall and needs only surfacing with gravel and
landscape work along the sides to finish it.
The strip between, where blasting is required, I
prepared last fall for winter work by stripping it to the sloping
rock, SO that snow could be removed with slight expense as
rapidly as the work progresses. A thousand feet on this section,
also, has now been roughly done and work upon the rest is
rapidly proceeding, with a carefully culled-out and exceptionally
efficient crew. By next summer, if there be no interruption
of the work, the two completed ends should be connected and the
landscape work along its borders done, when it will become a
unique source of interest and pleasure to a great host of
visitors. No pains are being spared to bring the road into
harmony with its surroundings and no criticism has come to me
from any source of my work upon the portion now completed, but
only commendation.
For drilling I bought two months ago a costly
but most efficient air-compressor which is practically inde-
pendent of winter in its operation and exceedingly effective,
Its acquisition was a generous gift to our equipment.
[G.BDORR]
Dorr
9.13.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
January 15th, 1924.
Dear President Eliot:
atters needing to be considered by the
Trustees of Public Reservations have come up since I
returned here and in your absence I have requested Mr. Lynam,
as secretary, to call a meeting of the Corporation on
Tuesday next, to attend which I shall stay. I am taking
the opportunity of the meeting, also, to get a by-law
passed which will enable the Corporation to drop as members for
continued mon-attendance at its meetings men like Mr.
L. 2. Kimball of Northeast Harbor who do not attend them
and take no interest in the Corporation's work and aims.
I have gone over this and other matters with Judge Densy
and know you will approve.
I hope to be again in Boston shortly, on my
way to Washington, and to COME out and see you.
Yours sincerely,
George B.Dass
Itra day of sameline after light fall
of law, and wonderfully beautiful ERR.
Darr
9.
B.
Cambridge, Mass.,
16 January 1924
My dear Dorr:
I do approve of the meeting of the Trustees of
Public Reservations which you have called for January 22nd
and of the proposed additional By-Law which will enable the
Trustees to throw out the name of Loron Kimballof Northeast
Harbor.
l'everthcless, I hold that winter meetings of the
Trustees should be avoided if possible, or that no business
should be done at winter meetings except what may fairly be
called matters of course or matters proviously agreed upon
by the Trustees. Have you got something good dono about
Schoodic?
I hoard a report, coming through an English
woman, that Lady Lee had agreed to something.
I wish I could share your pleasure in a "day
of sunchine after a light fall of snow" at Mount Desert; but
I can walk from my desk across the room and look with delight
at those two beautiful photographs of the Eliot woods which
you cave me.
They often attract the notice of visitors at
my Study.
Sincerely yours
[c.W.Eliot]
Mr. George B. Dorr
EARWARD UNIVERSIT?
PHILOSOPHY
ANDIPERCE
COMPANY Hok
January 23. 1924
Dear Afra Don't
We, have an opportunity to seoure
8 portrait of Professor Royce which 10 an
excellent likenesso It meets with the one
thusiastic approval of Professor Palmert
who subscription 18 complete with the ex
coption of about $300.0 a AS a friend of
oype you kwill perhapp be able to join us
TO completing the subscription Lioto
Sincerely yours,
J
N.Words
Honorable G.B. Dorr
Page I of5.
Feb 5th
COSMOS CLUB
WASHINGTON,D.C.
924
Wear President Eliot,
Iham received
urtic from Mr Lynam of
a meeting of the Hil Co
Trustin of Public Reen- -
batins, Called to anthony
transfer th the Gov't of the
Lake Wood probuty been
of Hull's Cour which Mus
Kam has lately bought
for Such purpose, through
me, which was duded
thinkward the Truster
The Gov't has approved
the tith which fills -
lu the study git made
by Mr Lynau - One Struet
2
3.
dud for execution after
The hact taken he the whole basin of
the little lake, Heift What the
R got - lively odd year ago, for
I backs How, togethe wist the thing labolit,
4.
COSMOS CLJB
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Jaur Paid Which drain
into Lake Wood - the
Whole Compress that
160 acres of lake n
Woodland Vistbly lovely
The purches
a ally bill hig yard
hear the outlet of the
lake kift by the triller
Pisch!
Than had a rather
Sheminos the fruit I
gither, but so far all
has you as will and
Could asly- there to lu
a hearing before Decretary
work On March 26
ADDRESS ONLY
THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D. C.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WASHINGTON
February 12, 1924.
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
26 Broadway,
New York City.
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:
I found it necessary to come on to
Washington before I got this letter off which I enclose.
CBD
I received word from the National Park Service that a
fresh attack was being made upon our work and plans by
Sir Peppers
Senator Pepper, using the influence of his official po-
sition with the Secretary of the Interior, Dr. Work, to
whom the whole matter of course is new. And my presence
here was needed. I was happily able to forestall success-
fully his first attack and think all coming well, but I
have had an anxious time. I shall be able now to get away
from here within a few days, when I shall come to New York
and shall see you. A hearing on the subject has been ap-
pointed by Dr. Work for the 26th of March, for which I am
preparing. I have the Park Service and the National Parks
Association strongly wi th me, President Eliot, the Trustees
of Public Reservations, and the whole State of Maine.
I
before
have no question as to the result, but it will not do to take
anything for granted or leave anything undone that may help
to present the matter rightly.
Yours sincerely,
George B. Was
Source: R.H.Epp. Creating Acedia National Park 2016.
See also Roads/1924 Road Hearing file
in Dorr Archive, Series III.
One wonders whether Dorr's superlative effort to engage the Barr Hill
enthropist in park development could have grown out of some level
awareness that new Rockefeller projects-beginning in 1924-would
mpete" with his persistent interest in Mount Desert Island. These
ded developing the Mesa Verde National Park museum, securing
erties in Jackson Hole to eventually create the Grand Teton National
funding the establishment of the sugar pine forest approach to
mite Valley, and securing a five-million-dollar gift from the Rockefeller
dation to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Not to
on Rockefeller's undertaking the most ambitious restoration project
Colonial Williamsburg.49
While the answer to this question is beyond the scope of this inquiry,
Count Desert island park expansion was no longer tolerable to George
now a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. For more than
ears he and his island allies had tried to arouse popular support for
ation of interior wildlands exempt from road intrusion. He threatened
the debate over Lafayette National Park road construction into the
Senate. As Yard's publication circulated, it provided a standard against
to measure the reasonableness of the unprecedented assault by those
demanded the cessation of road construction within the park. As the
terior secretary agreed to open hearings in Washington to resolve
of road construction in Lafayette National Park, the foreseeable
of Mr. Rockefeller's carriage roads and the fate of the park
ndent were at stake.
THE PRINCE OF ALTRUISTS
207
NARACP, R679, CCF Acadea
SYBK SERAICE
Misc Rpts
OE THE
New England Conference for Protection of National Parks
Composed of delegates from various
HARLAN P. KELSEY, Chairman
New England Organizations
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED, Secretary
Fellow Boston Society of Landscape Architects
Brookline, Mass.
Salem, Mass.,
March 7, 1924.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Harlan P. Kelsey
APPALACHIAN
MOUNTAIN CLUB
Mrs. Julian C. Woodman
Mr. Stephen T. Mather,
MASSACHUSETTS STATE
FEDERATION OF
National Park Service,
WOMEN'S CLUBS
Department of the Interior,
Allen Chamberlain
Washington, District of Columbia.
SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS
Harris A. Reynolds
Dear Mr. Mather:
MASSACHUSETTS FORESTRY
ASSOCIATION
Frederick Law Olmsted
Some little time ago I wrote you with reference
BOSTON SOCIETY OF
to action taken by the New England Conference for
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Protection of National Parks relative to the Lafayette
National Park and proposed building cf a system of
ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED
BY AUTHORIZED DELEGATES
roads in that park.
Votes pending in other organizations
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB
May I ask what is the present status of this matter
MASSACHUSETTS FORESTRY
as many of our members are very anxious to know if the
ASSOCIATION
Park Service intends to carry out the plans as previous-
SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FORESTS
ly determined upon or willing to grant Hearings with a
CHOCORUA MOUNTAIN CLUB
view to possible elimination of some of these roads.
BOSTON SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS
MASSACHUSETTS STATE FEDERATION
Mr. Albright was here fortunately and attended the
OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY
meeting of our New England Conference and gave a splendid
MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL
talk on the Roosevelt-Sequoia matter. He also heard the
SOCIETY
discussion on the Lafayette National Park matter which
MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR
PROMOTING AGRICULTURE
is really of vital interest to New Englanders and he can
FIELD AND FOREST CLUB
tell you how the matter stands. Any information you can
MASSACHUSETTS CIVIC LEAGUE
give me on this matter will be of the livliest interest
MASSACHUSETTS FEDERATION OF
PLANNING BOARDS
to our people here.
NEW ENGLAND TRAIL CONFERENCE
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB, INC.
I have never written you what a remarkable recep-
MAINE FEDERATION OF WOMEN' CLUBS
tion your official photographer got for his illustrated and
CONNECTICUT FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
moving picture address on Yosemite. About 1200 of our City
BROOKLINE CIVIC SOCIETY
BOSTON SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
club members heard him and I had the pleasure of introduc-
ing him and say a word for the National Parks.
If this lecture was put on the road so that everyone
in the United States could hear it I believe it would tot-
ally revolutionize National Park affairs. It is not only
the best lecture and exhibition on nature I have ever seen
and heard but it is staged in a very pleasing way and gives
an idea of our National Parks that drives it home so that
people will not forget. You are to be congratulated on
Alain
having such a piece of publicity material to use and I wish
it was possible in some way to have this lecture sent to
every leading center in the country this summer. Also it
would be a ten-strike to have it exhibited to Congress
[H.P.Kelsey]
3HL A adidas
LINE
MEN
BM
New England Conference for Protection of National Parks
Composed of delegates from various
HARLAN P. KELSEY, Chairman
New England Organizations
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED, Secretary
Fellow Boston Society of Landscape Architects
Salem, Massachusetts.
Brookline, Mass.
March 7, 1924.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Page 2
Harlan P. Kelsey
APPALACHIAN
MOUNTAIN CLUB
Mrs. Julian C. Woodman
MASSACHUSETTS STATE
FEDERATION OF
WOMEN'S CLUBS
self or where the members of Congress could see it.
Allen Chamberlain
SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS
With best regards,
Harris A. Reynolds
MASSACHUSETTS FORESTRY
ASSOCIATION
Yours very truly
Frederick Law Olmsted
BOSTON SOCIETY OF
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Chairman.
HPK: LO
ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED
BY AUTHORIZED DELEGATES
Votes pending in other organizations
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB
MASSACHUSETTS FORESTRY
ASSOCIATION
SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS
we all know Mr. Dears real
CHOCORUA MOUNTAIN CLUB
BOSTON SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS
MASSACHUSETTS STATE FEDERATION
OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL
that he is more than anyone
interest in Lafayette V
MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY
SOCIETY
MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR
PROMOTING AGRICULTURE
FIELD AND FOREST CLUB
Else perhaps responsible for
MASSACHUSETTS CIVIC LEAGUE
MASSACHUSETTS FEDERATION OF
PLANNING BOARDS
NEW ENGLAND TRAIL CONFERENCE
having such a park afall.
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB, INC.
MAINE FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
Jet this doesnot mean that
CONNECTICUT FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
BROOKLINE CIVIC SOCIETY
BOSTON SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
his ideas of chopping the park
up with road is the right ave. Our
us. people are really vitally interested
in leaving this water too carefully late.
weighed before it-s
EHI A
Entered
matter,
July
10
1914,
at
the
postoffice/at
Bar
Harbor,
Maine,
under
Act of March 1879.
PARK HEARING AT
No lover of horses the country over will be reluctant to see the
horse given his chance, in these days of motors, to play his part in the
WASHINGTON TODAY
development of Lafayette National Park. While the most striking
feature of the development program is the long desired motor road
Six
to summit of Cadillac Mountain, of hardly less interest is nesuperb
Matters of Vital Importance Under
horse-trail now under construction as a part of the Park's approved
Discussion There Upon Which
National Park Road Develop-
plan. Nothing is taken from the motorist by this splendid gift for
ment May Depend
no motor road would ever be constructed at the tax payer's expense
where this magnificent trail now runs or is to be built; the cost would
nes
As the TIMES goes to press, March
be prohibitive.
de-
26th, there is taking place in Washing-
Maine has for generations been famed as a breeding ground for
irls
ton before the Secretary of the Depart-
fine horses. For decades, and until a very few years ago, Bar Har-
ias
ment of the Interior, Dr. Hubert Work,
bor was famed the summer home of the finest horses in America.
he
a hearing relative to the matter of don-
o,
tinuance of road development in Lafay-
With the inevitable advent of the motor, the horse was almost at
A.
ette National Park.
once driven from our streets and roads as he had largely been driven
ye
For the plan, which was approved in
from The highways of the country. Just prior to the coming of
in
1922 and on which work has been done
motors, there was serious consideration, on the part of thought-
h-
in the road development since and is
Id
still continuing to be done, a host of
ful men, of a plan that would open one or two public roads to mo-
to
Maine proponents will appear.
tors and leave the horse in undisputed possession of the majority
as
Among them will be Fred C. Lynam
of the highways. This is significant as showing the place that
of Bar Harbor, vice-president of the
the horse had in the hearts of our people' but a dozen years ago.
be
Bar Harbor Village Improvement So-
Had the Lafayette National Park development program been ap-
d,
ciety; President C. |E. Dow of the Bar
la
proved and under way in those days, with what joy it would have
Harbor Board of Trade, Dr. D.
iy
Phillips of Southwest Harbor, a state
been hailed and what problems it would have solved! While
Mt.
senator; Chauncey D. Joy of Northeast
Desert Island gained in business, it lost much of its picturesque-
Harbor, prominent in all community
ness with the march of progress that motorized our traffic. The wise
in
matters; Oliver L. Hall of Bangor, editor
plans for Lafayette National Park development are designed to pre-
and part owner of the Bangor Commer-
serve for all. time the most charming features of summer life here and
cial, who knows Mount Desert as few
even provide for the return of some of the lost charms of this great
newspaper men can: Sam E. Conner city
editor of the Lewiston Journal, who last
resort section.
year wrote one of the best feature stories
The opportunity for the return of the horse to something of his
h
of Lafayette National Park after several
former glory made possible by the Lafayette National Park plan is
days(exploring it; David O. Rodick, who
unique and will be hailed warmly by lovers of horses everywhere.
has been actively interested in Park
matters since its beginning; Albion F.
Men of means who find their chief pleasure in stables of finely bred
Sherman of the Bar Harbor TIMES, who
animals will find on Mt. Desert Island an unparalleled opportunity
has handled much publicity for Island
for the enjoyment of their horses without sacrificing any of the ad- h
and Park.
vantages of a motor age. Residents and visitors of lesser means will
And in addition to the local men and
create a demand for successor$ to the public stables of an earlier day
the newspaper men, there are present
supplying good riding and driving horses for hire at reasonable rates.
at Washington, besides Supt. George B.
or
Dorr, his assistant, A. H. Lynam and
Particularly will this be true In the case of saddle horses which as a
his chief ranger, B. L. Hadley, Maine
source of healthful and invigorating pleasure are perhaps more highly
men who represent great interests.
regarded today than ever before. The promised opportunity for the
James Q. Gulnac, whose name is syn-
enjoyment of riding and driving over excellent trails especially de-
onymous with every forward movement
signed for horses, and wending their ways through these marvelousth
in Maine; Manager A. L. T. Cummings
of the State Chamber of Commerce and
parilands, is an opportunity without parallel in America.
ay
Industrial League; D. W. Hoegg, city
One whose memories frequently go back to those gala days of the
editor of the Portland Express who has
old Bar Harbor Horse Show can not leave Morrell Park out from his
put out some of the finest ;publicity for
consideration of the equestrian possibilities of Mt. Desert Island her
the Park and Island.
He is reminded that this magnificent show ground with a backgroundm
One woman will be present and she is
of tradition comparable to its marvelous scenic background is, byod
one of the most fortunate choices, Mrs.
Roselle! Huddilston, a past president of
the generous gift of Mrs. Edward Morrell, the property of the people
the Maine Federation for troméno Clubs,
of Bar Harbor and that it. directly adjoins the parklands. Here
Might
a member of the board of directors of the
well be developed a veritable Mecca for lovers of horses the couritrylw
national federation, president of the
over. Here is a splendid setting for every activity of the horseman.ry
Maine League of /Women Voters.
Here is a track for the training and racing of horses. Arecent survey.
Governor Percival P. Baxter, unable
to be present personally, sent Hon. Willis
proves that there is opportunity for polo. Horse shows and gym-*
E. Parsons of Dover, who, being Com-
Khanas follow as a natural result of a community of interest in and
missioner of Inland Fisheries and Game,
activity with horses. From this center there is easy access to miles
has been in close touch with Supt. Dorr
upon miles of horse trails now existing or under construction through-
and his rangers in matters concerning
'fish.
and
Lafayette Park, trails that open up to the lover of horses and to the
game.
BHR
3/26/24
lover of nature recreational upportunities that are indeed boundless.
Such are a few possibilities for development to be brought about
by the completion of the horse-trails of the approved Lafayette
Note See series III
National Park plan. If the possibilities fail of realization and if the
horse as an instrument of pleasure is doomed, the attempt to perpet-
trate an intinite source of wholesome and invigorating pleasure is none
under Road Hearing"
the less a gallant attempt and one that in no way mortgages or binds
for extended documen-
the future. to which on the Vontrary it gives an added oportunity
and is wider choice.
tation.
JENIOR RED CROSS
HOW TO MEASURE A
1/16/2021
1 - 25 of 36 results . The History Trust
Deasy Lot" 1941 -683-330 - Jesup Memorial
Deasy Lot" 1941-683-330 ww Jesup Memorial
Library
Library
Item im 4717
copy
Ensorth, Maine, March 20th 1934.
Hon. Hazbert Work,
Beazetary of the Interior,
Bachington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Sagretary:-
A court spasics will prevint my attanance at the Park
herring March 26th. I are deeply interested in the Lafayette National
Park. From my birth my home and always been within night of its hills.
Under Dr. Charlas W. Eliot President, I will an officer of the public
Corporation that through may gifts, devises and purchasea accured title
to the Park and presented is to the Federal Government. I was much
gratified when your producesses, the lite Sacretary Lane, visited and
inspected the Park and again later chen I naw the 12nn of Park ronda
approved, after careful comminsion, by the Park Service. These 0821
einlly approved rondo extend but N few all shrowah ten thousand norea
of park Bind.
They are however admirably planned 60 as to affort protection to
the Park and to make nomi of isu beauties accessible to the grout unjor-
ity of us who from necessity or choice are not mountain climbers.
last
I was enpecially pinneed when George B. Dorr wha appointed
custolian of the Park and given charge of 1:08 roads. In public apirit,
enthusians, anaxay and integrity Mr. Dorr 10 sated by all who know him
at one hundred pez cont.
Mr. Dorr wha givon explicit Authority by the Park Service to
Trima money from privise yourgeal, and to proceed with the road construc-
tion. This, without compensation oz possibility of parsunal benefit, he
preoneded to do. From genezous and public spirited citizens he decurred
large contributions and 1100 cursied on the work procisely, I believe,
in accordance wish the officially approved plan.
A abort time ago I learned with autonishment that there WBB
opposition to the continunce of the work on the ronda FLU officially
planned and from 3010 sourden opposition to all Park rondo.
I believe that some part of all public parka should be middle
accessible to this tablic. Thin the opposition any 1a an orroneous
theory.
Objectiona (2015 send Hourees 80 only to details, Whether
in reapout to details any molificition WOUL improve the plan should
of course be carefully considered, though to my mind no no ification
that has been suggested in necessary or desirable.
I
the nuro that opposition to the road building pinn na B.
whole 10 confined to a very, very small fractional part of the persona
familier 1th, and interested In the Park, and while aindern 10 not in
the internat of the public.
Vocy sincerely yours,
loust
Im
Ite
Luere B. Deasy to Hubert Work
Letter, March 20, 1924
Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association
https://historytrust.net/digitalarchive/find?query=Deasy&view=4
2/5
THE BAR HARBOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 26, 1924
GOVERNMENT APPROVED PARI
What Are the Wild Wa
ROAD PLANS IN
Report of Assistant Director of National Park
PERKINS, WHAT ARE
Service Approving Lafayette Park Plans
DOING
TUNING
-Made Public for First Time Today
IN ON ONE OF
e
Document of Timely
THEN CABARETS
e
Interest
ig
d
b
The hearing that opened in Washington this morning is called
d
to see if the National Park Service shall be allowed to complete the
road work in Lafayette National Park as outlined in plan approved
or
by the Department of the Interior in 1922. This plan was approved
e
d
after a careful study of the park by Stephen T. Mather, Director of
the National Park Service and his assistant, Arno B. Cammerer.
Director Mather was here two days and left Assistant Director
Cammerer to complete the inspection and to fully go over the plans
on the ground with Superintendent Dorr. Mr. Cammerer's report of
that inspection trip is a document of exceeeidngly great interest at
this time and is made public for the first time today. Its reference to
Exhibit A" and "Exhibit B" are references to blueprints showing
road diagrams. These blueprints THE TIMES can not reproduce in
this issue. The report says:
Memorandum for Director Mather:
or two days would e content with that
You and I left Washington on the Fed-
short space of time but will wish to re-
eral Express at 7:30 o'clock on the even-
main and extend it. This will not be a
ing of June 1, 1922, arriving in Boston
park for "trippers" but a place for visi-
on the morning of the 2d. We left
tors spending not less than a week or two.
Boston on the evening of the 2d, arriving
It is to be borne in mind that the great
in Ellsworth, Maine, at 6:40 the next
mass of visitors to national park do not
morning, motoring from there to Bar
desire walking trips over rugged territory
Harbor, where we were put up by Super-
or strenuous climbs; for such, youth and
intendent Dorr at his home. Mr. Dorr
activity, the habit and love of exercise,
had met us in Boston and accompanied
are necessary. For the older, the less
us to the Park.
strong and active, or less strenuously
seen from either above or below and
could have accomplished what has been
inclined, who are the vast majority,
along these rockslide sections boulders
done and in being done and will be done,
Saturday, the 3d, was raihy, with low-
means must be provided making reason-
and other weathered-rocks which are
and that he has established for all time
hanging fog clouds obscuring all except
the immediate distance. With Super-
ably accessible the features of special
abundant along the route can be SO ar-
the creation of Lafayette National Park,
intendent Dorr and his assistant Mr.
interest and beauty in the Park. Were
ranged that the road will scarcely appear,
as it eventually will leave his hands, a
these, in such a system as Superintend-
at all, in evidence.
splendid example for the American people
Lynam, I made an automobile circuit of
the eastern section of the Island and
ent Dorr has now planned, to be added
The roads, with the exception of a
of what a public spirited man, supported
walked over a path of new construction
to the Park's already extensive foot-trail
small section of the system flanking
by n group of public spirited citizens, in-
along the eastern side of Jordan Pond.
system, I venture to predict that Lafay-
Bubble Pond which will run close to the
spired by his initiative and ideals, can do
It was impossible even to see the further
ette National Park will become the most
shore of the Pond are surveyed at ele-
to reserve for all time a great scenic area
shore of the pond on account of the fog,
popular place of resort for lovers of nature
vations sufficiently high to be out of
for the health, recreation and pleasure of
which, however, enabled me to give
and landscape to the eastward of the
sight from the trails and planned to bring
the American people. IIe has done this
more attention that day to the path con-
Great Lakes and Mississippi.
out to the utmost beautiful reflection and
modestly and inconspicuously, with
struction and the beauty of the natural
Before proceeding to a discussion of the
light effects of the lower-lying ponds. as
wholehearted endeavor toward one end.
ground covering.
road projects I wish to state that the
they are termed locally but which are
In conclusion, I feel that no element
The next two days were bright and
trail work carried on from early times and
true lakes. Not until these roads have
entering into a thoughtful consideration
been built, affording the general public
sunny, and you and I were occupied from
recently with fresh energy since the
of these road projects seems to have been
morning until evening folowing woodland
Park's creation has resulted in something
such a view as this of these exquisite,
overlooked. The plan shown in Exhibit
very fine. There are two hundred miles
clear, and beautifully shaped bodies of
trails and climbing the mountains
On
B, in my opinion, shows the reasonable
of well-kept trails, carefully marked so
water will it get a true appreciation of
the 4th we circuited the Amphitheatre
solution of handling the practical prob-
that a boy venturing forth for the first
their great charm and beauty. I am
head to Jordan Mountain, passing Sar-
lems of traffic control and distribution of
gent Mountain Pond upon the way
time into the Park area would have no
confident that the future will de
visitors, coupled with fire and game pro-
The next day we climbed Champlain
trouble to find hie way, Locations have
mand rather for the cutting of vistas at
tection, and is imperative to meet the
been carefully chosen for the THIL
well-chosen places to open the views to
Mountain by the Precipice Path, descend-
inflowing hosts of visitors the coming
bring out the greatest scenic value in the
than for vegetation to hide the
ing by the Beehive to Sand Beach, where
years will bring. The Park is one that
areas traversed, and exquisite taste is
road CORRFUCE
personally verified
we bathed and lunched. We then
must be enjoyed at leisure. It is small
y
motored over to Beech Cliff.
apparent alike in the selection of routes
this in following the surve the
uro-
in
comparison with our other major
and the care of waysides
posed motor road running along the
and is rich in its offerings.
and the caré
flank of Pemetic Mountain, and also the
You had to leave on the evening of the
Eventually licensed operators will have
5th; I remained, to continue my inapec-
The original plan for motor roads and
flank of Pemetic Mountain, and also the
to be installed to furnish! saddle horses
tion and to make preparation of this re-
trail roads tentatively suggested by
section of the road trail system or the
and light buggy service at reasonable
Superintendent Dorr is shown, as stated,
side of Jordan Pond. Neither you nor I
port, until the evening of June 8th, when
prices.
by Exhibit A. We come to Exhibit
had time to follow the route of pro-
I left for Boston on the 9 'clock ferry
B. which is a revision of Exhibit A with
posed motor road to the top of Cadillac
I therefore recommend that the plan
The special purpose of my inspection
Mountain, or to climb that mountain,
receive your approval as basic for a motor
was to study the road and trail system
elimination, which you considered ad-
visable, of certain extensions or duplica-
but anyone who has climbed any one of
road and road-trail communication sys-
laid before us in Washington recently by
the major mountain masses will come to
Superintendent Dorr on a tentative pro-
tions of the road trails. This map shows
the sure conviction that a road for motor-
tem for Lafayette National Park
ject-map which he had prepared and
one main, park line for motor travel from
ists should lead to the top of at least one
the town road now ending blindly near
I may add that the demand for a devel-
which was the result of long study on his
of the mountains so that those who can
part directed to securing a basic com-
the Jordan Pond House to the Bar Har-
opment such as Superintendent Dogr pro-
bor-Somesville road, with a road to the
not climb may get opportunity to receive
munication system for the Park. This
poses
to be strong in the State
the inspiration and feel the exaltation of
accorded happily with our recent in-
summit of Cadillac Mountain springing
not only in the immediate
structions to the superintendents to pre-
from it opposite Eagle Lake. Road
spirit that come with an hour spent on
Park, but throughout the whole exten-
pare maps, estimates, and other data
trails available for foot, horseback, or
the breeze-swept hills with their superb
sive resort section of Maine which has
covering road projects to be submitted
horse-drawn vehicle, but closed to motors
views over sea and island, losing them-
come to regard the Park as an important
and constituting a separate park system
selves in far distance. If one good
asset.
motor road to the top of Cadillac Moun-
3/26/24.
page 2
e
road program.
enclose in two great, connecting
tain is not provided in this plan, 16 1wm
Superintendent Dorr has been study-
Penobscot-Sargent Mountain mass and
3
inevitably come through popular insis-
ing for years the needs of the Park in
that of Pemetic Mountain, The Triad
tence in the future. In fact, every one
regard to roads and paths, to link it with
and The Bubbles, passing four lakes-
of the roads now shown on Exhibit B,
the residential sections of the Island and
Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Hadlock Pond
in my opinion, is essential and should be
to afford interesting ways of travel
and Bubble Pond-upon its course,
safely established on this basic plan.
In
through it, his study including also that
Northward it is linked with road-trails
of similar character already constructed
my opinion a road up Cadillac Mountain
R
of means to efficient fire control and game
protection. Superintendent Dorr's orig-
in the Paradise Hill and Witch Hole Pond
will not be equalled anywhere in the
United States for its combination
of
inal plan, tentatively laid out, is attached
section above the Bluffs on Frenchman's
mountain massing, valleys, inland lakes,
hereto as Exhibit A. It shows two -
Bay. These road-trails have been plan-
it
and ocean and should be given when
terns of ways, one of which, marked in
ned along easy grades, affording, when
n
built a distinctive name that will identify
1,
red on the attached blue print, is plan-
constructed, to the splendidly wooded
it as a national scenic road and give it
2)
ned for motor roads; the other, shown in
slopes of half a dozen mountains absol-
individuality throughout the world, even
yellow, for a system of road-trails
for
utely necessary lanes for fire and game
e
as the Corniche and other old-world
is
use on foot or by horse, motors being
protection.
drives are world famous.
excluded from them.
it
I think it impressed you as it did me,
Exhibit B has been prepared as the
t,
Before referring to Exhibit B, which
and as was emphasized by Superintend-
result of an hour's conference between
fe
shows conclusions arrived at in confer-
ent Dorr, that these sections of the Park
Mr. Dorr, you and myself, shortly before
ence between you, Superintendent Dorr
covered not only by yellow lines showing
p-
your leaving. Comparison with Exhibit
in
and myself, I want briefly to register
road trails, but by the red lines showing
A shows that road details have been
d
certain impressions that the Park and
motor roads, are practically inaccessible
Island have made on me.
eliminated. The map as now altered
he
except under the most strenuous exer-
I had not been in Lafayette Park be-
shows a simple communicating and feeder
e
tions for such protection work or for en-
fore and was surprised at the large scale
system laid out 80 as to serve the most
joyment. I personally traversed the
of the Island. From the point where one
important administrative requirements
thickly forested western slope of Pemetic
es
enters it from the mainland; by the bridge
Mountain with great difficulty, and from
of fire fighting and game protection pa-
is
at the Narrows, to Seal Harbor, is six-
trols while at the same time affording
the fire protection standpoint, roads of
t.
views of the best scenic exhibits of the
teen miles by road, while from the head
such * character, properly located, are
re
of Somes Sound to Schooner Head is
1
an absolute necessity. The great value.
Park without invading other and exten-
sive sections which can be reserved to
nineteen miles. This constitutes only
of a road for fire protection was obvious
re
the eastern half of the Island which is
the walker.
in the Beech Hill section of the Park,
rs
more compact and less extended than
am returning from this inspection trip
d
where an old, rough road served not only
the western half and is the section that
as a. patrol lane for a forest fire that
with a true realization of the wonderful
t,
d
you and I covered in such portion as we
burned over Beech Mountain two years
work Superintendent Dorr has done and
had opportunity. This extent of the
ago, creating scar hundreds of acres in
I am confident I can speak for you sim-
g-
Island is increased further and empha-
extent that will be many years in healing,
ilarly in putting this on official record.
y,
ix
sized |by the bold, abrupt character of
but acted as a barrier to that fire when
No one can appreciate, until he has been
the mountain masses, while the wonder-
it reached the road; on one side we now
on the ground and viewed the immense
be
ful views of the ocean dotted here and
see the native tree growth and plant life
tracts of valuable lands turned over to
TB
there with islands, give a sense of vast-
W
in all its freshness, while on the other side
the Government through his efforts, and
ill
ness that eliminates all feeling of narrow-
the charred trunks of trees covering
the detailed construction work already
ness or restriction. One |may, indeed,
hundreds of acres were in horrible con-
done, what a stupendous undertaking it
ry
regard the broad expanse of water, 15-
trast.
has been. This achievement is quite
gle
th
landed and stretching away into the
In order to ascertain to what extent
without parallel elsewhere. In his splen-
horizon, as an extension of the Park.
the roads would be visible from the
did accomplishment, Superintendent Dorr
available for recreational uses.
has been ably supported by many other
m
mountains tops when built special atten-
oll
It would be difficult to say which
of
tion was paid to the proposed locations
public spirited men in the free and gen-
the rémarkable opportunities the Park
erous donation of lands and money; and
I
of those along Pemetic and Jordan
offers for enjoyment and recreation are
Mountains. On Tuesday I circled Jor-
in fact, as soon as the road projects
om
the more attractive-woodland walks
ty-
dan Pondi partly by the new survey and
shown on Exhibit B are approved, dona-
and rides, walks along well-planned, well-
partly where such existed-by foot
tions of large sums not from one but
a
at
kept trails that lead over the mountains
ine
trails followed motor road
number of public-spirited individuals
and up the precipitous cliffs, affording
through the woods along the western
will be available, not only to build the
per
constant succession of grand and besu-
slope of Pemetia Mountain from the foot
motor road from the Bar Harbor-Somes-
by
tiful, views, or motor trips, or boating
ike
of Jordan Pond to the northern end of
ville road to the Jordan Pond road but
and salling, or bathing. To the lover
Bubble Pond, distance de about three
for the. acquisition of thousands of acres
use
nature the appeal of the woods is irreals
l of
miles Surveybr Simpson who made
of land, not yet in the Park, but to
tible:
Along the 'trails on every, side
the survey, and Lynapi accompan-
stragetically located as to be absolutely
objects of interest in plant and an-
led
Superintendent
Dort
essential for the complete rounding out
and
me:
fimal
arising
The
road
the Park and its enjoyment by the
lakes are filled with fish and the odean
reviewing
achieve
conclusion is inevitable
Dorr
University of Minnesota
Copy
Archives
Thomas S. Roberts
HERBERT W. GLEASON
Natural History Correspondence
ILLUSTRATED LECTURES ON TRAVEL AND NATURE-STUDY
Scenic Alaska
The Old Spanish Missions of California
Mt. Monadnock
Luther Burbank and His Magic Gardens
Our National Parks
Volcanic Peaks of the Pacific Coast
The Maine Woods - Alpine Flowers of the Rocky Mountains
Our Romantic Southwest - Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees
Lafayette National Park
Wild Flowers, East and West
Grand Canyon of the Colorado The Yellowstone Wonderland
Island Gardens of Mt. Desert - Mushrooms and Other Fungi
The Wonderland of Southern Utah - Over the John Muir Trail
Afield with Henry David Thoreau
The Spell of the Desert
Ancient Cliff Dwellings of the Far West . The Canadian Alps
Gardens and Deserts of Southern California
Bird Life
1259 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE, BOSTON 34, MASSACHUSETTS
April 18, 1924.
My dear Dr. Roberts:
Here is another story which I had in the Boston Trans-
script this week. The pictures are punk (there were a number of others
which got crowded out, perhaps just as well), but you may be interested
in the story. By the way, if you should want any of these gull photos
for your educational work, or any lantern slides of the same, I think I
can secure them for you at nominal cost. The negatives are in my control,
but I took them for Mr. Geo. B. Dorr, superintendent of the Lafayette
National Park, and he is glad to have them used for educational purposes.
We have spent the past two summers at Bar Harbor, - rather a
mild substitute for our trips into the Far West, but we have greatly en-
joyed them, and plan to go there again this summer. It is a combination
of business and pleasure for me (exclusively pleasure for Mrs. G.) which
is very agreeable. My work during the summer is chiefly photographic,
with occasional lectures, and with a motor-boat and automobile at my dispos-
al, the time goes pleasantly. You ought to visit Mt. Desert. I am sending
you copy of a pamphlet recently issued at Washington which will tell you
more about it. The half-tones in this are very good, as I think you will
observe.
By the way, can you tell me where I can get a good "blind"
for bird work? I remember Mr. Figgins used to make a good contrivance, but
I think he has discontinued the business.
Tell me about yourself and what you are doing. I would like
immensely to spend next month in Minnesota among the birds, but that is
hardly feasible this year.
Sincerely yours,
Herbert If Eleason
Dr. Thos. S. Roberts,
Minneapolis, Minn.
HOUSE
No. 1080
FINAL REPORT
OF THE
JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC
RESERVATIONS
APPOINTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF AN ORDER ADOPTED BY THE
SENATE ON MAY 27 AND BY THE HOUSE ON MAY 28, 1924
BOSTON
WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., LEGISLATIVE PRINTERS
32 DERNE STREET
1925
19.20f3
REPORT OF THE JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEE
ON PUBLIC RESERVATIONS.
The foregoing Order was reported by the Committee on Harbors and Public
Lands as the result of the bill, Senate No. 221, introduced by Senator Walter
Shuebruk of Cohasset in the Legislature of 1924.
I. ORGANIZATION.
Under the foregoing Order the President of the Senate appointed Hon. George
M. Webber of East Bridgewater and the Speaker of the House appointed Repre-
sentatives Arthur W. Jones of Nantucket, Edward C. Hinckley of Hyannis and
Thomas H. Nickerson of Harwich. The Committee met on September 25, 1924,
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and organized, electing George M. Webber as Chairman and Thomas H. Nickerson
as Secretary.
II. PROCEEDINGS.
The Joint Special Committee on Public Reservations was established under the
The Committee held public hearings in the state house and elsewhere, cor-
following Order:
responded with officials of all the other states relative to the manner in which this
question had been handled elsewhere and visited various undeveloped stretches
Ordered, That a joint special committee, to consist of one senator and three representatives,
of seashore frontage north and south of Boston and on Cape Cod.
to be designated respectively by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives, shall sit during the recess of the general court for the purpose of investigating
the question of the establishment in the commonwealth of public reservations and of ac-
III. CONCLUSIONS.
quiring by purchase, gift or eminent domain, on the part of the commonwealth, such tracts
of land bordering upon the ocean suitable for recreational purposes or for the establishment
The Committee, as the result of its investigation and consideration of the
of camping facilities for motor tourists as may be expedient. The committee shall also
subject, is unanimously of the opinion that the situation is one that warrants
consider the subject matter of current senate bill number two hundred and twenty-one. The
the careful consideration by public authorities as well as by all who are interested
committee shall have quarters in the state house, may hold public hearings, may require
in conserving the public resources.
the attendance and testimony of witnesses, may administer oaths, and may expend, from
such appropriation as the general court may make, such sums, not exceeding twelve hundred
Judicial decisions have made it clear that the owner of the upland bordering the
dollars, as the governor and council may approve. The committee shall report its recom-
ocean in general has title to the fee of the land as far as low water mark and is
mendations to the general court not later than December fifteenth in the current year, ac-
therefore able to exclude the general public from the seashore, except possibly
companied by such drafts of legislation as may be necessary to carry the same into effect.
for the purposes of "navigation, fishing and fowling". In other words, the general
public has no right to bathe or to use any beaches for recreation where the upland
is privately owned. The result has been that private owners have in a great
many instances excluded the general public from the beaches, either by posting
signs or by the adoption of other methods and this policy is apparently on the
increase and has become almost universal along certain parts of the shore which
have been developed by private owners. It seems perfectly reasonable to antici-
pate that within a very short time the general public will be excluded from prac-
tically all of the beaches except those owned by the public or by public spirited
citizens or organizations who are willing to keep them open for general use.
The present condition has led to another very serious situation because during
the summer months there is apparently an irresistible tendency for the people
to go to the seashore in automobiles. The result has been that the roads leading
to and running along the seashore, in many instances merely country roads, have
become crowded with traffic, producing disorderly and obnoxious conditions
which the local authorities have been unable to control. Traffic has become
seriously congested and automobilists and others have made a practice of tres-
passing on private land, causing serious inconvenience and annoyance to travelers
and property owners. Even if the small towns along the seashore were financially
able to cope with this situation, it appears hardly fair that the burden should
be imposed upon them, since the situation is one created by automobilists and
others from all parts of our state and from other states.
HOUSE-No. 1080.
[Feb.
1925.]
HOUSE No. 1080.
Page
7
6
There are, of course, certain public reservations, such as Revere Beach and
mobile and tourists' camps, and the development of properly supervised comfort
Nantasket Beach, maintained by the Metropolitan District Commission, but
stations, therefore, demand careful and immediate attention.
they are already overcrowded on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and are wholly
It appears to the committee that no time should be lost in taking definite steps
inadequate to accommodate the still larger throngs of tourists, many of whom,
toward acquiring and preserving for the people of the commonwealth some parts
moreover, would prefer more remote and more quiet places for bathing and other
of the seashore frontage. Various plans for taking definite action along these lines
have been suggested and undoubtedly other methods than those suggested could
forms of recreation.
Some towns have established reservations open to the general public and it was
be devised by further consideration of the subject. It seems to the committee that
brought to the attention of the committee that in particular the municipal reser-
it certainly is a state problem and that the state should not expect the small sea-
vations at Gloucester and Plymouth have been used by hundreds and thousands
shore towns to bear the financial burden of solving this problem for the benefit of
of tourists. There was considerable evidence also that these reservations had
all the people. Unquestionably there are many objections to any plan which would
been greatly appreciated by the public, that the privileges had not been abused
centralize full authority in the state. Possibly, however, there could be devised
and that the maintenance of these reservations had proved beneficial in many
some method of joint acquisition and control, either by counties and towns, or by
the state and towns or possibly by all three. It has been suggested to the Com-
ways to the municipalities.
Many other small reservations or parks on the seashore are maintained by
mittee that some law could be drafted along lines similar to chapter eighty-one of
certain towns and there are also associations and private owners who have main-
the General Laws, providing for state aid in the construction of roads, which would
tained seashore parks for the benefit of the general public. In many instances,
authorize the state to assist the towns in maintaining reservations for the benefit
however, these reservations are restricted to the inhabitants of the particular
of the general public.
town in which they are located and the privileges are limited or restricted in
IV. RECOMMENDATIONS.
various ways. Furthermore, and most important of all, there can be no guarantee
This Committee did not have the time, money or other facilities for acquiring
of the permanency of any of these reservations and in the aggregate they appear
sufficient knowledge of the problem in all its details or to make an exhaustive study
to be wholly inadequate to accommodate even a small part of the people who are
of the situation. Enough was learned, however, to convince the members of the
attracted to the seashore during the summer months. Few, if any of them, more-
Committee that further study of this problem should be made forthwith and they
over, have accommodations for the parking of automobiles or bathing facilities
believe that some of the state commissions which are already acquainted with many
or comfort stations.
of the facts and conditions affecting the situation and with locations which might
The policy of preserving for public use and enjoyment of some of the natural
be available for reservations, should carry on this work. The Committee therefore
resources of our country has been universally recognized, and in Massachusetts
recommends that the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public
we have examples, such as Greylock State Reservation, Wachusett Mountain
Safety, the Department of Conservation and the Department of Public Health be
State Reservation, Mount Tom State Reservation, Mount Sugar Loaf State
instructed to study the question jointly and to make specific reports to the Legisla-
Reservation, Deer Hill State Reservation, Mount Everett State Reservation,
ture on or before December 15, 1925, as to what sites are available, both for seashore
Mount Toby State Demonstration Forest, Walden Pond State Reservation,
and inland reservations, the approximate cost of acquiring the same by purchase,
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, Standish Monument Reservation, Virginia
the likelihood of acquiring by gift, and to make recommendations as to the best
Wood, Goodwill Park, Rocky Narrows, Mount Ann Park, Governor Hutchinson's
method of handling the whole problem in the future. A draft of proposed legisla-
Field, Monument Mountain Reservation, Pine Knoll, Petticoat Hill, and many
tion is appended, see Appendix "A".
parcels of land devoted to fish and game propagation, in addition to thirty-five
state forest reservations.
We have recognized the public interest in preserving for all the people the
APPENDIX "A".
mountain tops, the ponds and the woodland trails, but we are allowing the ocean
RESOLVE PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE
frontage, the real and crowning glory of the old Bay State, to fall into private
TO PUBLIC RESERVATIONS.
ownership SO that shortly the citizen of Massachusetts who cannot afford to own
ocean front property will be deprived of the opportunity of bathing in the ocean,
Resolved, That an unpaid commission, consisting of the Commissioner of Public
of playing on our beaches, or even of looking out upon the sea, except from such
Works, the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Commissioner of Conservation and
limited areas as those already provided by the state at Revere and Nantasket.
the Commissioner of Public Health, be established for the purpose of studying and
The question can be considered from many angles, among others, the possible
investigating the availability of sites for public reservations, both along the sea-
commercial advantage to the state and to various communities by attracting
shore and in the interior of the commonwealth, and the approximate cost of ac-
tourists from other states and the opportunities for recreation for our own citizens;
quiring the same by purchase or otherwise or the likelihood of acquiring the same
but of supreme importance is the consideration of the tremendous value to the
by gift. The commission may expend from such amount, not exceeding five thou-
health of our people in which the state as a whole is vitally interested and is each
sand dollars, as may be appropriated by the General Court, such sums as may be
year taking a larger part in promoting.
approved by the governor and council, and shall report to the General Court its
The increased appreciation of the country, which has gone hand in hand with
recommendations and estimate, with drafts of any proposed legislation, and a copy
increased ease of transportation and which prompts people in continually increasing
thereof with the governor and the budget commissioner, on or before December
numbers during the vacation season and in fact at almost any opportunity during
fifteenth, nineteen hundred and twenty-five.
the year to seek the out-of-doors, is of undoubted great health benefit particularly
to those engaged in sedentary occupations. On the other hand there is present in
this large and rapid dissemination of persons throughout the country districts
a
distinct element of hazard in the spread of communicable diseases from contact of
campers with one another and from contamination of water supplies and camping
places, not to mention the always present possibility of infection through insects,
being aggravated by decaying refuse improperly disposed of. Control of auto-
Confidential
June 24, 1924.
Dear Mr. Lynam
After conference with Mr. Rockefeller on Friday, June
20th, I telegraphed that he had approved the committee arrangement
and had also authorized additional funds.
In discussing the matter with him further we were
greatly concerned about the manner in which this change in the
conduct and control of the road building work should be brought about.
Obviously, the control of any road building in the Park must remain
in Mr. Dorr's hands, and both Mr. Dorr and Mr. Rockefeller would be
rather in a better position to meet any possible criticisms were
the suggestion of the committee arrangement and conduct of the
work to come from Mr. Dorr. Naturally, I feel somewhat embarrassed
to make this suggestion direct to Mr. Dorr since I have already
talked with him about it. However, I think you will understand the
situation and the reasons for dealing with the matter through Mr.
Dorr. Do you suppose Mr. Dorr would be willing to write Mr.
Rockefeller a letter something along the lines in the accompanying
draft? If this draft covers Mr. Dorr's ideas, the letter could
be sent to Mr. Rockefeller simply that Mr. Rockefeller might be
advised of the proposed change in the method of conducting work
and control of the expenditure of funds for road building, which
were contributed by friends of the Park. I will, thereupon, act
on the authority given me by Mr. Rockefeller to subscribe up to
$55,000 to complete the road to Bubble Pond, of which 5,000
has already been sent you, and another $5,000 is being sent to you
today.
I could, perhaps, enlarge on the whole matter but I
think you will understand the situation sufficiently from this
letter and the accompanying draft, as you already know Mr. Rockefeller's
attitude toward Park matters and the necessity which he is under of
proceeding most carefully SO as not to place himself in a wrong
light before the public.
[ArmoCammerer" ?]
Please consider the matter and advise me if this
method of handling the change to the committee, meets with your
approval. In any case please make any changes or criticisms
which occur to you. I hope to be at Bar Harbor again in a couple
of weeks but should be glad to hear from you promptly on the above.
Very truly,
p.2of2
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR. MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
June 25th, 1924.
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:
Mr. Heydt's coming to Bar Harbor to advise with
us with reference to methods of accounting and conducting
the construction of the Eagle Lake -- Jordan Pond Automobile
Road has been most helpful to us all.
While any road building that is done in Lafayette
National Park must be under my ultimate supervision as
Superintendent of the Park, it would be a relief to me and
I think a real advantage to the work if the current control
of construction, when I have passed upon the alignment of
the road were put in the hands of a committee consisting of
Mr. Lynam, Assistant Superintendent of the Park, as
Chairman, Mr. Dow, who is always in close touch with me, Mr.
Simpson as chief engineer, and Mr. Higl, park engineer,
immediately in charge of the work.
Because you were kind enough to put Mr. Heydt's
services at our disposal, I am writing to tell you of this
new form of control of the work which is being set up and
to thank you for the assistance which you have rendered the
Park through Mr. Heydt.
In accordance with my instructions as Superinten-
dent from the National Park Service all road construction
in the Park involves elements of a landscape nature for the
beauty of the roadsides and to remove the disfigurements
resulting from construction. This work which is not of an
engineering nature but forms an essential element in the
permission for construction given by the Go ernment will
need to be more especially under my own supervision and
should be dealt with under saparate and distinct appropriation.
Sincerely yours,
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Esq.,
[G.BDORR]
26 Broadway,
New York City.
GBD-0
Pg.lof5
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Motor tourists come always to Bar Harbor first. It is
the resort center of the Island, of which all have heard. They
often arrive late and regard it as their journey's end. One site
not too distant from the Par office and the Village needs to be
provided for them. To meet this need was what I had in mind in
providing the campground on the meadow near Bar Harbor, half a
mile from the Park office on the road to Otter Creek. The
one
choree
were.
(1)
That it is wholly removed from the neighborhood
of any summer residential land.
(2)
That the ground occupied for camping can be
completely screened from view from road or trail.
(3)
That an unlimited supply of pure water is
available, immediately at hand; and that electric lighting
no
(4) That close control can be economically main-
tained owing to its vicinity to administrative quarters.
(5)
That it adjoins what will henceforth constitute
the Park's nearest entrance from Bar Harbor and hence will easily
be directed to from the Park office and the Information Bureau.
(6)
That it lies at a central spot for the camp
tourist for nood and +most
N.A.R.A.
RG 79 NPS
Gentral Class Files, 1907-49
1907 - 32
Titled Seawall Naval Podic
Nahad Par : Acudia
station 1928-32.
601-604
Donations Ber Hastory 1930-32"
Box 201
Entry 7.
- Indeed. 13 oldfarm Photos, encandin cardhoard.
/
- File
# 604 J.D. - Lochefeller Jr. Lobs Build's food and
Trails Donations
SEAL MON EHI
2.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
with regard to the proposed campground at Otter Creek,
the statement made by Mr. Peabody in his third paragraph needs
correction.
The actual history is this: In the summer of 1924,
canvassing the whole available territory in the eastern section
of the Park for a good permanent camp site that would be at once
attractive to motorists and without objection to summer residents
it
the Black Woods, would make an excellent site. I consulted Mr.
George 1. Stebbings, representing the Seal Harbor Realty Company,
the then owner of the tract, as to its availability for acquisi-
tion for that purpose. He approved the purpose and brought the
matter to Mr. Rockefeller's attention. Mr. Rockefeller in turn
approved the site and negotiations were entored into between
him and the Realty Company for the purchase of the tract, which were
concluded in the following summer. In the meantime, when I next
came to Washington, it occurred to me, following the line the
Secretary had indicated, to invite the presidents of the three
village Improvement Societies of Bar Harbor, Seal and Northeast
Harbors to constitute themselves a committee to consider and pass
upon the site; and should they not approve it, to state their
objection before further steps were taken. This committee was
formed and met the following summer and approved the site.
Mr. Rockefeller purchased it the following winter; then,
becoming interested in the landscape features of the tract, which
has more than is mile of rocky ocean front besides a long frontage
on the Creek, ended by purchasing this fall the remainder of the
Companyls
district.
Last spring he put some acres of this tract above the
Creek in order for motor camping, spending in the neighborhood of
$1,000 on clearing and levelling, on supplying it with electric
light and sanitary conveniences. He then leased this to the
Service at a nominal rental and paid the wages of a man to look
after it through the summer, considering it as an experiment to be
tried out.
3HL LA adidas
3.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
The part prepared was not extensive and lying on LL slope
descending steeply to the Creek cave room for a few cars only.
But for those few it made a decidedly attractive site, though
lacking as yet an adequate supply of water. This land, which can
readily be extended to provide for camping on a greater scale,
Mr. Rockefeller has offered to rent the Park again next summer, such
rental being still regarded by him as experimental, to try out the
success of a campground on that site.
As an illustration of why publicity, in advance of plans,
cannot unreservedly be looked on as desirable, Mr. Blair, though
a member of a committee formed with the approval of the National
Park Service to pass upon the question of desirability of
the site for Park campground, and obtaining his knowledge of the
matter on that basis, made an endeavor -- as he has since frankly
told me -- to get Mr. Rockefeller to place the site in the hands
of a summer-resident committee, instead of conveying it to the
Park. Mr. Rockefeller took no interest in his proposal.
I quote his paragraph:
"A year ago a committee was formed of which Mr. Gist
Blair, of Washington (President of the Bar Harbor Village
Improvement Association) was a member. This committee chose as
a camping site in what is known as the Black Woods, near Otter
Creek, where Mr. Rockefeller was intending to buy a large tract
of land and turn it over to this committee to run as a camp. AS
a result, the general opinion, as I know it, was that this was
to be the only camp site on the island, and that all organiza-
tions or towns were to cooperate with it to the best of their
ability." 11
THE 14
4
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To take up the question of the approa ch road to
Champlain Mountain;
The
Park
lands
way private lands over which no public rights existed neede to be
IO reach them from the public high-
crossed. Those lands I owned, inherited.
It is essential to the Park that i t should control
for its entrances and I have only waited since the Park's establishment
assurance that my plan, long formed, for its approaches from
Bar Harbor, here and across the meadow, would be carried out, to
convey the tracts. Last year, for the first time, funds for
these entrances became available along with those to commence
construction
on
the
IL makes a noble and beautiful approach and has given gave
I
the Park for the first time a legal entrance to its land on
Champlain Mountain, in the approach to it from Bar Harbor.
The road across the meadow which provides the
campground provides also a singularly beautiful entrance to the
Park 1 nd at the foot of the Flying Squadron this, Cadillac,
and Champlain being the three mountains in the Bar Harbor section
of the Park.
beautiful, one of the most beautiful features, in point of fact,
Feabody rightly states, is
in the Bar Harbor region. Sieur de Monts Spring lies at its
further end and its brook winds picturesquely through it. The
effect, opens this feature to the public; it in no way mars it.
road, which has been thoughtfully planned with a view to landscape
From the town highway little is seen of it, and that little
may be lost; and no trail has crossed it. The land I save the Park
last winter for the purpose of this entrance and for the motor
camp site will carry not only the oad but a path alongside it
people to reach them from the Village pleasantly affot.
connecting Bar Harbor directly with parklands and enabling
3HL 14
5
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
reature,
as
Mr. Peabody suggests, it is I -- to give a bit of personal history
in connection with the tract -- who saved it when, sixteen or
seventeen years ago, I discovered that negotiations were on foot
to secure a high bank clothed with beautiful old pines bordering
it on the Bar Harbor side, with the meadow below, for a land-
disposal town garbage dump, which would have absolutely ruined
the meadow and been offensive words. I stppt in and personally
secured the tract -- buying finally the whole meadow to protect
it, since pig yards and shanties ere creeping out upon it from
the town. That it should be opened in its beauty to the public
the land.
I have Elways meant and it WLS for this principally that I gave
I trust that, this will make all clear, and so
trusting I remain
Yours cordially,
(signed)
George B. Dorr
Superintendent.
GBD-0
enclosure.
Mr. Stephen T. Mather,
National Park Service,
Dept. of the Interior,
Washington, D. C.
3HL to adidas
DATE CENTS A COPY
NUMBER
SENA OR FERNALD
WORK AND MATHER HERE TO
VISITS THE PARK
Senator Thinks People of
STUDY LAFAYETTE PARK
Best How To De:
Lafavette National
Secretary of Interior and Director of National
John
States Senator Bert M. Fernald
m alayette
Parks See Park Roads and Hear Opimons
Mon.
the guest of Fed
of Those Interested in Development
con-
and one of
Hubert Work Sec tary of the briefy? but in well
itspearliest
and appreciative
Onard
tred
Allacher
an
una
th
US
and Judge Peters
Ho was
the Director
Paric
Bar Harbor uesday morn-
office by
great
Chief
Langer
ephen
great
to
anied them an
thinks
id and avne
Salaverte Natural State
consented to talks
had
Which Dr. Work came to Mount Desert
formal way taking the
lunchtoon Beach
inspects
Aficial art of inspection to Lafayette
given the TIMES
whene party Grove to the Park Office
National Park We shall
himself
being met at the wharf by the car sent
listen for as long as he will consent
with the develop-
an from Washington and in which
talk to the about the National
or the pans He has always been
3
Director Mather accompanied by Mr.
present to wither time
most enthusiast about the scenery of
and Mrs. II. W Gleason of Boston, his
Stephen E Mather
D'eser consistently
personal friends and guests came down
upported the park development both
Mather responded.ru the appliuse
from Boston
and gre ting un
Maine and ate Washington. Senator
At the Park office, Chief Renger
"When get an bere.to Bar Harbo
than ever inter
enjamin La. Hadley awarted them with
the the of this RED
getfonte aver speedy rischedule
reation area and amemuch interested
Kien, Henry Smith
herevuntil the
seem the plan approved by the De
Clerk Cart Nowack ISEATI
be busier in this relative small
partment of the Interior in 1922 carried
summer J. For Anthony
They were
than I am in some of the arks of
outLas soon as possible. The work al
introduced turn to Dr. Work and them
eady accomplished on the of Green
square miles more Perhaps
the teto to cough the Park beran.
the spirit of dent
Mountain Road is marvelous piece of
Director Marker left for kus summer
layette Part which lets
engineering and openshup some of the
estate Omrena onn. Saturday ROOD
schedule and some
most views to be found
where. I firmly convinced that
Secretar V Wor remained Saturday and
people of Mt Desert Island and of
Saturday meeting Senator er
tead
Dr.
hald in Ellsworth be being a guest there
And LUMIS hotton
State of line generally best know
if Judge John Peters Secretar
Date hings
roper met development
Work also bad areas terestime conference
Washington
abbe
Robert Albe, an-old
there
one am
colleagu
from
the
heartily continuing the good
sion. the practice of which
them
work already
take-up this present
Members of the Bar Harbor Board of
OAR
LAN COSTOME BALL FOR
BENEFIT OF HOSPIT
Trade had the opportunity
reeeung morsday
A costume ball the benefits
when he addresse
the Assessors Rooman Mather
State
Jame.
Harbor Hospital will be held at the
NPS
Swimming Clubs Tuesday August
smeeting
under the
auspices the
west
Mrsal THE
Sugar
father
said
your
summer
Mr.
Johns
D
Continued page 8)
DISTINGUISHED SPECIALISTS REMOVE 0
1
nearly the entire mountainous section of
A Plan to Devise Roadways Which
the Island. and a considerable area hesides, the
World Possess the Greatest Amount
all the land having been ionated to
United States Government by the private
of Accessibility and Yet Which
owner The mountain summits, while not
loar (the highery being only a little over
would Not Deface the
find feet above afford surfries
ingly extensive and Varied years the out-
Natural Grandeur of
look in every difection being wonderfully
appealing and full of rare beauty Laray-
Mt. Desert
ette ParkMissthe only member of the entire
National park family which combines in
S1C
close association the charms of mountain,
By Herbert W. Gleasaon
forest. like and seashore : and the oppor-
[Herbert
W
9
tunities fol physical recreation. In the way
HE extreme motherly solicitude
of woodland tramps, mountain Nimbing.
T
for her offspring on the part of
fishing. yachting. motor-boating. etc., this are
a hen with one chicken has been
exceedingly abundant Because of of
unique scenic interest. and also because Mt.
the subject of amusing comment
its delight fully cool summer climate
from time Immemorial There
Deser! Island has been for many years A
is no discredit to the hen involved : certain
famous summer resort.
Previous in the establishment of the
ly none to the chicken. It simply affords
park. the mountain summits and the wilder
'suitable basis for comparison when con-
portions of the island were reached by a
sidering certain human relations.
few foot t-trails which had been constructed
The six States of New England, with ali
and were maintained by a voluntary asso-
ciation of summer residents But with the
their wealth of natural beauty. possess
creation of the park It became apparent
only one National park: between them,
Oifford Pinshot to George B. Dorr
COMMON ALTH OF PRNNSYLVANIA
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
Harrisburg
August 15, 1924.
Mr. George B. Dorr,
18 Commonwealth Avenue,
Beston, Mass.
Dear Georges
This morning I discovered a handkerchief of yours
in my drawer. It has evidently been with me a good while,
for I notice it is pretty well worn out, but at any rate
1t gives no a chance to write and ask how you are, how
things are going with you, and what you are doing and
thinking. You are busy, I imagine, with your great
contribution to outdoor life, for which the American
people ought to remember you always.
We are doing some things along the same line here
in Pennsylvania, and w have made the State Forests more
useful for recreation than they have ever been before, but
we still have a long ways to go.
We are all well and flourishing, and I personally
am having more fun out of this job than any I over held.
Yours as always,
G. P.
Enclosure.
[Gifford Pinchot]
page lof3
copy
September 6, 1924.
Dear Mr. Satterlee:
I write to furnish you with a memo-
randum of our recent talk concerning the purchase of the
Homans property, and the shares of the Bowl Aqueduct Com-
pany held by the trustees of Mrs. Homans' estate.
The trustees made me through Lr. W. H. Sherman,
in whose hands as real estate agent they placed the
property for sale a year ago, an offer of $7,500 for the
entire property with the exception of the Water Company
stock which latter they offered at its last quoted price
of $75 per share, there being thirteen shares held by
the estate. This price was made specially to me, it was
stated, in case of the purchase of the property for the
benefit of the Public Reservations or the Park, one of
the trustees, M. Robert Homans, desiring especially in
memory of his aunt such disposition of the property.
The Homans' land extends unbrokenly, except for
the public road which crosses it, from the shore to the
mountain tract containing the Bowl and Beehive which
MISS. Homans gave the Trustees of Public Reservations
1985
through President Eliot in the summer of 1908, it con-
2.
stituting their first possession. The tract lying be-
tween the road and shore is stated to contain twenty-
five (25) acres; that lying between the road and Mrs.
Homans' Bowl and Beehive gift is stated to contain
thirty-three and one-half acres, but probably would be
found to exceed this upon exact survey. This tract con-
tains the old Bowl and Beehive trail and only oppor-
tunity to reach the southern end of Newport Mountain from
the East; the shore lot contains Anemone Cave.
I took an option on the property at the stated
price six weeks ago, after consulting with President
Eliot; he and I have raised since then, as I stated to
you, $3,500 toward its purchase. In addition to this
you offered me $2,00 and, since the option was expiring
and there was danger of the property's passing to other
purchasers through Mr. Sherman, you offered in addition
to guarantee the purchase of the property at its offered
price, taking personally six shares of the Bowl Aqueduct
Company's stock out of the thirteen held by the Estate.
The total amount, including the price of seven
shares of the Water Company's stock, to be raised for the
purchase of the property is $8,025. Deducting from this
the $5,300 now subscribed leaves a balance of $2, 725 which
constitutes what you offered to guarantee in order to en-
able me to secure the property, which I did through Mr.
3.
Mr. A. H. Lynam has made a careful study of the
title since I took the option and has found it good.
The tract will constitute one of the most important ever
secured by the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reser-
vations and must prove of value without price to the
public in the years to come.
I thank you and Mrs. Satterlee most warmly for
your generous and helpful interest in securing it, and
with regards remain
Sincerely yours,
[GBDORe]
SATTERLEE AND CANFIELD
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
HERBERT L.SATTERLEE
UPTOWN OFFICE
GEORGE F. CANFIELD
24 EAST 63 00 STREET
27 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK
R. RANDOLPH HICKS
HUGER W.JERVEY
CABLE ADDRESS SATCAN NEW YORK"
FREDERICK C. BANGS
ELLERY C. HUNTINGTON, JR.
F. MORSE HUBBARD
MERRILL N. GATES
27 WILLIAM STREET
September 11th, 1924.
George B. Dorr, Esq.,
Bar Harbor, Maine.
Dear Mr. Dorr:-
Upon my return to the office on Monday, I found your
letter of September 6th, which is entirely satisfactory. I confirm
the arrangement made on the CORSAIR, as stated by you. If you want
the $2000. which we subscribed to the purchase of the Homan's place,
please speak to Mrs. Satterlee about it. I will send her your letter
and a copy of this SO that she will be fully informed. When you get
the Bowl Aqueduct stock transferred, please have the six shares put
in the name of "Louisa P. Satterlee" as she is the owner of "Great
Head" and I want the water rights to be associated with that property
and to go with it. If, for the purpose of closing the title before
you complete the subscription to the fund to buy the place, you have
to call upon me to make my guaranty good, please ive me ample notice.
I trust that our transaction can be kept confidential and
that you will have success in getting some more subscriptions.
I
hope that you may get an opportunity of calling on Mrs.
Satterlee and keep her posted with regard to these matters. She will
be at "Great lead' for two or three weeks longer. I may be able to
run up for a few days before she comes down.
It was a great pleasure to see you again. trust that you
will succeed in getting the money to finish the road up to the top
of Green ountain and to build is stone rest house or inn up there,
well below the sky line. I think if this could be done it could be
rented during the sumer season and run under restrictions which wou d
benefit the public and result in some income to the Par
When this
Green Mountain road is completed, it seems to me that we will have all
the roads on Mt. Desert Island that we can possibly need for many years
to come and that then the great fight should be made to keep the re-
mainder of the forest lands as wild and secluded as possible and to
prevent advertising signs from being put on any of the roads on the
Island. I also hope that no more "ladder" trails will be built. I
do not think they are very highly thought of by expert mountain
climbers and are a danger to the inexperienced; and more than all,
they minimize the possibility of getting the eagles back on the Island.
We all enjoyed the ea/ les at their eyre on the Bee Hive, but ladder
trails frightened them away nd as far as I know they have never re-
turned.
[Herbert L. Satterlee
With best wishes, I am,
1/s
Faithfully
Page I of 3
copy
September 6, 1924.
Dear Mr. Satterlee:
I write to furnish you with a memo-
randum of our recent talk concerning the purchase of the
Homans property, and the shares of the Bowl Aqueduct Com-
pany held by the trustees of Mrs. Homans' estate.
The trustees made me through Mr. W. H. Sherman,
in whose hands as real estate agent they placed the
property for sale a year ago, an offer of $7,500 for the
entire property with the exception of the Water Company
stock which latter they offered at its last quoted price
of $75 per share, there being thirteen shares held by
the estate. This price was made specially to me, it was
stated, in case of the purchase of the property for the
benefit of the Public Reservations or the Park, one of
the trustees, M. Robert Homans, desiring especially in
memory of his aunt such disposition of the property.
The Homans land extends unbrokenly, except for
the public road which crosses it, from the shore to the
mountain tract containing the Bowl and Beehive which
Mrs. Homans gave the Trustees of Public Reservations
through President Eliot in the summer of 1908, it con-
2.
stituting their first possession. The tract lying be-
tween the road and shore is stated to contain twenty-
five (25) acres; that lying between the road and Mrs.
Homans' Bowl and Beehive gift is stated to contain
thirty-three and one-half acres, but probably would be
found to exceed this upon exact survey. This tract con-
tains the old Bowl and Beehive trail and only oppor-
tunity to reach the southern end of Newport Mountain from
the East; the shore lot contains Anemone Cave.
I took an option on the property at the stated
price six weeks ago, after consulting with President
Eliot; he and I have raised since then, as I stated to
you, $3,500 toward its purchase. In addition to this
you offered me $2,00 and, since the option was expiring
and there was danger of the property's passing to other
purchasers through Mr. Sherman, you offered in addition
to guarantee the purchase of the property at its offered
price, taking personally six shares of the Bowl Aqueduct
Company's stock out of the thirteen held by the Estate.
The total amount, including the price of seven
shares of the Water Company's stock, to be raised for the
purchase of the property is $8,025. Deducting from this
the $5,300 now subscribed leaves a balance of $2, 725 which
constitutes what you offered to guarantee in order to en-
able me to secure the property, which I did through Mr.
Sherman, as agent, the day following our talk.
3.
Mr. A. H. Lynam has made a careful study of the
title since I took the option and has found it good.
The tract will constitute one of the most important ever
secured by the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reser-
vations and must prove of value without price to the
public in the years to come.
I thank you and Mrs. Satterlee most warmly for
your generous and helpful interest in securing it, and
with regards remain
Sincerely yours,
[6. B. Dorr]
Charles W. Eliot to George B. Dorr Esq.
Cambridge, Mass.,
20 October 1924
My dear Dorr:
I have sent to Dr. Stillman
your letter to me of October 17th. The
acquisition of the Homans estate is cer-
tainly a good job well done.
I am hoping to hear from you about
the Wild Gardens of Acadia.
Sincerely yours,
Charles W. Eliot.
Mr. George B. Dorr.
NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
ILLUSTRATED REPORT, FEBRUARY, 1924
AN ANALYSIS OF
LAFAYETTE
NATIONAL PARK
A REPORT BY
ROBERT STERLING YARD
Executive Secretary
Photograph by Herbert W. Gleason
1924
THE NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION
1512 H STREET N.W., WASHINGTON, D. C.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
November 11, 1924.
SA.
Dear Dr. Eliot:
I am sorry there should have been delay in sending
you the publications.
There are only two or three that might
be of use to you. The Park is still in the making and its full
story is not written.
What I enclose is: (1) A Government publication, issued
three years ago and entitled Rules and Regulations but contain-
ing as its main contents a paper by myself, on the region and the
Park; (2) A publication written by Mr. Robert Sterling Yard
executive secretary of the National Parks Association, who
spent the summer of 1923 at Southwest Harbor and wrote the paper
on his return to Washington. Certain others, of E historical
or descriptive nature, were issued earlier, under the title
of The Sieur de Monts Publications, at my own expense but
I cannot at the moment put my hand on copies of them.
The Park had its inception in the meeting called by
your father in 1901 at Seal Harbor to discuss the formation of
a corporation for acquiring and holding in the public interest
scenically important lands upon Mount Desert Island. It was
attended by less than a dozen people, whose names I do not
all recall but which could be recovered doubtless from the
Harry. Coll.Popen & Charles W Eliot. II. File 3077. c.3
2.
records of the Corporation. That Corporation was modelled,
as you know, on the one founded by your brother in the State
of Massachusetts.
The year previous, 1900, I had endeavored to get a
tept
forestry association started on the Island with a similar aim,
1900
but had got no further than some promises of subscription and a
forestry survey of the Island by the then recently established
United States Forest Service, which approved the. project.
This
was dropped on the formation of the Public Reservations Cor-
poration, which was granted freedom from taxation by the
Legislature at its next ensuing meeting.
The Trustees' first gift of land came from Mrs. Charles
D. Homans, consisting of the Bowl and Beehive tract at the
southern end of Newport Mountain which she had purchased in
connection with her home below upon the shore by Schooner
Head. This was not till the summer of 1908, seven years after
organization.
1908
My own active work in connection with the Corporation
resulted from this gift and the encouragement it gave. The
following autumn and winter I secured with the aid of Mr.
John S. Kennedy the summit of Green Mountain, which I held to be
the one spot on the Island most liable to disfigurement, having
had two hotels upon it in my memory and a cog railroad up its
side from Eagle Lake to supply the second.
3.
Newport, Pickett and Dry Mountains followed, secured
through individual gifts; Pemetic, Jordan, and Sargent through
subscription. Dondemnation rights granted the Trustees for
the protection of the Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond water supplies,
after a campaign of education, resulted in acquiring the entire
drainage basins of these lakes, linking the mountain tracts to-
gether.
At the end of four years, in the autumn of 1912,
reservations so extensive had been secured as to endanger the
1910
Trustees' charter rights and freedom from taxation, our counsel,
Judge Deasy, told me, unless development of the tract in the public
interest -- more than its mere holding -- could be shown. It was
necessary, in fact, to defend it that winter before the State
Legislature, which I did. In consequence of this, it was de- -
cided, after consultation with President Eliot, president of the
Corporation, to offer its major holdings to the National Government
for a Federal reserve.
President Wilson's administration was inaugurated
the following March. I went to Washington and had a talk on
1913
the subject with his Secretary of the Interior, Hon. Franklin K. Lane,
who received the plan encouragingly. A year later I went again
carrying deeds which were submitted to the Public Lands Commission,
who examined them and reported favorably on a cceptance but
required perfected titles and that the tract to be thus accepted
by the Government should be bounded by a single line.
4.
Two years later, in the spring of 1916, I returned to
Washington with deeds that were passed upon as satisfactory,
conveying a tract bounded by a single line and free from any and
all rights or easements -- leaving outside the tract to be
accepted by the Government lands held by the Trustees that could
not be connected with it physically or over which private or
corporate rights of one kind or another still existed.
After conference with the Biological Survey and
other friends of the pro ject at Washington, and with the
approval of Secretary Lane, it was decided to offer the tract
to form a national monument under the Monument Act passed
under President Roosevelt in 1906. This required action only by
the President and the Secretary of the Interior. No funds
were involved, the lands being conveyed to the Government in free
gift.
After various obstacles that threatened the pro ject
had been overcome, and a delay of some months, the tract was
finally proclaimed by the President as the Sieur de Monts National
Monument, in a proclamation drawn up by the Secretary of the
Interior, on the 8th of July, 1916. Two years later it received
its first appropriation for protection, maintenance and develop-
ment from the Government, accompanied by the statement that
its status should be changed to that of a national park, in
which class it belonged. That fall a bill, making it a
5.
Lafayette National Pady,
National Park, was approved by the Public Lands Committees
of Congress and passed by both Houses. This bill was
signed by the President in February, 1919, during his
brief return from France.
[George B. Dorr ]
Page lof4
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
city
plobe
November 14, 1924.
Dear Mr. Mather:
I have been working out plans for the per-
manent development of the Park -- not yet completed --
which I hope to bring with me to Washington this winter for
your approval. One thing I desire to do which should be
left to me. I wish to name the woods through which the
new motor road will pass on its way from Eagle Lake to
Jordan Pond: The Mather Woods, commemorating your name in
connection with our enterprise and the national park development
of the last eight years which has given new meaning to its
units.
These woods are beautiful, springing from
good soil, well-watered, and everyone who visits the Park or
Island will pass through them, by road and trail. They will
be a feature on a road of remarkable beauty, lying between
two open portions with wide-extended views. The forest
is one of the oldest, of extent, existing on the coast, where
lumbering was early practiced; but it is not primeval.
It is composed of over-shadowing hard-wood trees -- beech,
sugar maple, canoe and yellow birch, oak and ash. Among them,
one still finds the stumps of early lumbered, primeval pines,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
2.
giants of the eastern forest that time must in the end
restore, while every year will add to the interest and
beauty of the woods.
Years ago I established a similar feature with a
personal touch in the Eliot woods, associated alike with
President Eliot and with his son, the landscape architect, who
devised the Massachusetts Trustees of Public Reservations
Corporation on which ours was molded. These occupy the
valley and gorge the County road passes through in going from
Bar Harbor to Seal and Northeast Harbors, land similarly
well-watered and deep-soiled, a site for great trees
hereafter.
The new motor road, completed now to Bubble Pond.
Program new
except for some roadside work and planting left till spring,
is alvancing rapidly from either end, in the section from
Lood
Bubble Pond to the foot of Jordan Pond. Over a mile of
this is already built and there is no disfigurement, nor has
it been necessary to cut important trees to find a way.
The
whole indeed is working out beyond my expectation and you
will be well content with it, I know, when next you come.
BHLT
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
3.
I have recently completed in the interest of the
Park the purchase of a beautiful tract upon the shore, near
Schooner Head, our first of such character in the Bar Harbor
section. It belonged formerly to Mrs. Charles D. Homans of
Homais
Boston, the donor of our first reservation -- the Bowl and
Property
Beehive lot on Champlain Mountain- and gives us unbroken access
to that lot from the public highway, which we have lacked till
now, and the land opposite from the highway to the shore, where
Mrs. Homans' summer home was at a point of magnificent view --
seaward., bayward, and mountainwood.
This lot must enter importantly into future plans
for the development of the Park, there being no more beautiful site
than it upon the shore nor any land upon it connecting better
with the existing parklands. With the purchase of this Mr.
Rockefeller has had no connection; I secured it independently.
My old friend, Dr. Robert Abbe, of New York, has
Rabut
become deeply interested during the past summer in the
abbe.
establishment of an Indian museum in connection with the Park
and has gathered together a unique collection of Indian
implements and other relics found along this shore, which
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR. MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
4.
he hopes to establish as the nucleus of a permenent exhibition
in the Park next season; but it lacks as yet a building.
With regards as ever,
Sincerely yours,
Grunge B. Worr
Mr. Stephen T. Mather, Director,
National Park Service,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C.
GBD-0
Rockefeller Archive Center.
III. L I. 85, 839
OFFICE OF
Page (of 6
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLEP; in
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
December 8, 1924.
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:
President Eliot, who faces things frankly, asked
me last summer to set down in writing my ideas and plans for
the development of the Park and for my work's continuance.
And he asked, also, that I take up the work of perfecting
the organization of the Wild Gardens of Acadia whom he and
I have planned to succeed me in its furtherance and direction.
I
have been at work on this since people left and plan to
continue until it be done.
One of the things that I have most in mind is
the development and right future use of the magnificent
system of bridle paths and roads for use with horses which
you are forming and which I believe can be made a feature
so important that when we both are gone, in years to come,
it will still continue devoted to such use, gathering about
itself a sentiment that will perpetuate it.
In studying the situation over, I have re-
visited old haunts and seen them with new vision. An oppor-
tunity which the more I have studied it becomes more interest-
2.
ing is that of extending your road system for use with horses
eastward to encircle Newport Mountain, as the roads now building
do, upon a more extensive scale, the combined masses of
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR. MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
2.
Sargent and its associated mountains. Mr. Hill has
examined this for me in detail and tells me it presents
no difficulties that cannot readily be over-come. The
grades would be easy, the views of the sea superb, the
road overhanging the shore, while the eastern view, to
Schoodic Head and over Frenchman's Bay, would make a
wonderful contrast to the western one obtained from the
road now under construction on Little Brown's and Sargent
mountains.
This fall I succeeded in obtaining the first tract
3.
of land upon the ocean front the Park as yet possesses --
HOMANS TRACT
taken temporarily, till plans shall be worked out for its
development, in the name of the Trustees of Public Reserva-
tions. This is the Homans tract, bordering on the southern
1908
side ,and overlooking, Schooner Head. It was the summer home
of the donor of our first Reservation tract, given through
President Eliot in 1908, the Bowl and Beehive tract at the
south end of Newport Mountain.
Mrs. Homans' early gift carried with it no access
from the public road except by courtesy, the trail to the
mountains and across a low pass in them to Otter Creek,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
3.
which dated back beyond my memory, lying across the Homans
pasture, the pasture of an early farm.
The public road divides this new property into
two portions, the one extending westward to the mountain
receive
foot where it joins the Bowl and Beehive tract; the other,
containing twenty-five acres on the shore between Schooner
Head and Great Head, having a magnificent view up Frenchman's
Bay and across its entrence to Schoodic Head and to the
open sea.
Mrs. Homans' house, a simple bungalow of the
early type, still stands, and will probably, until better can
replace it, be put in order by the Government for public use,
making the land at once available.
The mountain portion of the Homans land, passing
beneath the Beehive, has beautiful woods upon it that have
been preserved by summer resident ownership for fifty year
and that extend into similar woods that came to the Reserva-
tions through Mrs. Homans' gift in 1908. Beyond this the
4
road would pass at an elevation of from 250 to 300 feet above
the sea close below the Cadillac Cliff path, with Gorham
Mountain which is the nearest to the sea of any in the Island
chain, rising immediately above. The road would be approxi-
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
4.
mately level, running parallel to the Ocean Drive but high
above, and the course not difficult for road construction.
The woods which clothed this land have recently been cut, SO
that no obstacle exists to an unbroken ocean view similar to
but finer than, owing to its elevation, that afforded by the
Ocean Drive.
Around the turn above the Radio Station at Otter
Cliffs the road would pass, still at approximately level
grade and with a similar wide view south-westward, to close
beyond the junction of the Ocean Drive and the Seal
Harbor- Bar Harbor road, where there is good opportunity
to cross beneath in a deep bed of glacial gravel, bringing
it quickly into land already owned.
This section of the suggested road stands by
itself. The Homans site will make undoubtedly a Park
center on the eastern side important for a road system
that would fully serve the Park to reach and that,
like Jordan Pond, will become a terminus of drives and
expeditions.
The road beyond this to Bar Harbor, should
it seem desirable to extend it, would pass first through
other and old woods; then through an open meadow beneath the
829
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR. MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
5.
east cliff of Newport Mountain, the grandest on the Island
and hidden from the motor road by woods of oak not likely
to be cut; then would slightly rise again, where the Town
road dips, to another splendid stretch of view across the Bay,
overhanging the resident shore, which would bring it to the
valley of Bear Brook and the existing Park and Reservation land
where old roads of wood-road character would carry it to the
Morrell Park property which the Town maintains, and will
doubtless maintain permanently since it received it as a
trust, as a riding school and horse-show center, from which
Bar Harbor can be reached easily across Great Meadow by
direct and grassy ways.
The connection from Morrell Park through the Gorge,
made on the eastern side of the Otter Creek - Seal Harbor
road, to the underneath road-crossing would complete the
circuit of the mountain. In large and in detail, the whole
road would be one of beauty not surpassed by the one under
construction, yet not duplicating this since the views it
opens and the territory are entirely different, as well as
the climbs and various excursions it would give access to.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR. MAINE
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
6.
The distance along the suggested course from the
Otter Creek road crossing to the Homans site would be not
far from three miles, estimated by the map, the circuit
of the mountain as a whole not over eight; and in general
the construction would present no difficulty.
With this road built, the Park would have a horse-road
system crossing the motor one at level grade only at
Jordan Pond, and twice by tunnel, at Eagle Lake and at the
place I speak of, and that would be complete in itself, linked
up with all resort portions of the Island eastward of Somes
Sound and extensive enough and varied enough to make
a permanent and unique feature in its offering to the
public.
Yours sincerely,
George B. Dor
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., , Esq.,
26 Broadway,
New York City,
RBOR
TIMES
CEMBER 17,
1924
FIVE CENTS A (COPY
NUMBER 546
PLAN FARM BUREAU
$20,000 FOR THE
EEK SERVICES
WORK FOR THE YEAR
MOUNTAIN ROAD
OR CHURCHES
Nearly 100 Present at Meeting with
Deficiency Bill Provides $20,000 and
Bayview Grange, Salisbury Cove:
Interior Bill Will Have $30,000
Men and Women's Branches
program given by the Sunday School of
More for Lafayette Park
Elect
t is King, School;
the Methodist Church, the following will
ong, Merry Christ-
be the program: prelude, Nazareth,
Washington, D. C., Dec. 15-The
e, Harris McLean,
Gounod; Christmas anthem,
Hancock County is not resting on its
deficiency bill left over from the last
Christmas Starlight de Armond: Address
laurels though it is the champion county
feeting, Benjamin
session of Congress, but passed by the
by pastor, The Shepherds of Life;
in Farm Bureau work thus far and on
as Greeting, Agnes
Senate last week, and recently signed by
Friday evening a big impetus was given
Miss Harriman's
violin solo, Gerald Kinney; song by class
the President, carries an item of $1,000,-
Manger, Llewellyn
of girls, Under the Stars; hymn There's
the Farm Bureau work by the planning
000 for road construction work in Na-
a Song in the Air; showing of beautiful
meeting held with Bayview Grange at
tional Parks. This matter is of interest
ng, School; Seeking
ittredge; My Wish,
colored slides on the First Christmas,
Salisbury Cove when despite the storm
to Maine people in view of the fact that
with description of scenes in the Advent
nearly a hundred people were present,
$20,000 of this amount is to be allocated
y Garlands, George
of Christ; hymn, Silent Night, Holy
and when a joint meeting the men's
to the building of an automobile road
Branches, primary
le Christmas Gift,
Night; offering, for World Service;
and women's branches was /held, with
up Cadillac Mountain in Lafayette
Christmas Wish,
postlude, o Come All ye Faithful,
meetings of the men and women held
National Park at Bar Harbor, Maine.
Whiting.
separately for the election of officers.
Christmas Wishes,
The Interior Bill, recently passed by the
In the absence of the Master, Fred
House, contains another item of $1,500,-
y Christmas, Har-
Sawyer, a delegate to the state grange
000 for similar road work, of which
the Desert Sands,
Roman Catholic Church
in Portland during last week, Julian
st Time, Frances
$30,000 additional will be allocated to
Rev. Fr. J. D. 'Brien, pastor
Emery presided in a most capable man-
and, Carroll Moore
Lafayette Park for the continuance of
ner. County Agent Bickford and Miss
rederick Roberts;
At, the Church of the Holy Redeemer,
the motor road, which, when constructed,
Beckett, Home Demonstration work
Earth, Harold Saw-
the services for Sunday are as usual, at
will afford easy access to the summit of
agent were present.
the highest mountain on the Atlantic
exercise by Helen
10.30 in the morning and 4 in the after-
The outstanding feature of the evening
coast, and afford a matchless view of
Geraldine Mann;
noon with special and appropriate hymns
was the showing of moving pictures.
and music. The program for the Christ-
mountain, lake and ocean. Congress-
ng, John Rodick;
The big picture showed a big, fine and
man Nelson of the Third Maine District,
st, Haynes Leland;
mas Day special services will be announc-
profitable farm, Hillcrest in New Jersey.
within whose district this park is situated,
I, Long, Long Ago,
ed.
The various phases of farm life were
has been untiring in his efforts to see that
brought out in an interesting and also in
this wonderful National Park of ours
llence has been ar-
Christian Science Church
an entertaining and/ instructive manner.
should receive due recognition and sup-
itto for the morning
And the picture pointed out emphatically
port from the Government.
ons by the choir,
On Sunday the serviçes of the Christ-
the lesson of care and safeguarding in the
evens, solo by Miss
ian Science Church on Mt. Desert Street
matter of the terrible plague, tuberculo-
violin obligato by
at 10.30 will be of special interest and
sis. For the daughter of the proud
iman.
the program will be enriched by special
owner of Hillcrest was a victim; and the
FREE CHRISTMAS
and appropriate music.
picture went on to show causes, the work
of cure, the work of prevention. Other
reels were shown which were of great
SHOW AT STAR
[ethodist Church
St. Saviour's Church
nney, pastor
Rev. W E. Patterson
interest in this type of work.
Then came the joint meeting of the
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Farm Bureau branches, men and women,
Mr. Emery Announces Extra Show
ing service will be
Holy Communion, 7.30 a. m.
and Charles L. Shand was elected chair-
Christmas Morning; All Who
on by the pastor on
Morning Prayer, 10.30 a. m.
man; Mrs. Florence Alley, secretary;
Can Not Afford to See
Church School, 12.00 m.
Miss Elinor Emery, boys and girls
"America" at Regular
hristmas Quest."
ic service will be:
Evening Prayer, 7.30 p. m.
club leader.
Shows Invited
the Night, Bohm;
Christmas Day
The women then left the hall to attend
agels Sing; anthem,
Holy Communion, 7.30 a. m.
to supper preparations and during their
In order that everyone in town, both
Matins and Holy Communion, 10.00
absence the held their Farm Bureau
children and grown-ups, may have an
hymn, Come and
ere's a Song in the
a. m.
meeting.
opportunity to see the great patriotic
na, Wachs.
Christmas tree for Church School
The men elected the following project
picture, 'America' that is to be shown
leaders: Crops, Clarence Alley;
at the Star Theatre on Wednesday and
vening concert the
Saturday, St. John's Day, 4.00 p. m.
Stock, Howard Russell; Orcharding,
Thursday, December 24 and 25, Mr.
M. Arey. Plans for the year were dis-
Emery has asked THE TIMES to announce
cussed and formulated.
a special free show on Christmas morn-
K DIES
GRADE PUPILS ARE READY
FOR THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION
Supper was served and was a distinct
ing at ten o'clock. Every man, woman
credit, even in view of their fame as
and child in Bar Harbor who feels that
For some weeks the grade pupils of
cooks, to the women of Salisbury Cove.
he or she can not, for any reason, afford
ADELPHIA
At the close of the supper hour the
to attend one of the other showings, is
the Heald building have been actively
women/ while the men cleared away and
most cordially invited to attend the
working for the exhibition which takes
washed the dishes, held their meeting
Christmas morning show as the guest of
place on Thursday, beginning with a
and elected the following: Mrs. Susie Fogg
the management.
his Morning Re-
program at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
It is the earnest request of Supt. George
chairman; Mrs. Jennie Bowden, secre-
The special show on Christmas morn-
Here; Funeral
ary; Mrs. Lilla Hall, food project
ing will identical with the afternoon
at Battle
H. Beard and of the grade principal,
Mrs. Ethel Conners, that the fine record
leader; Mrs. H. W. Jellison, clothing
and evening performances on the same
ichigan
of Education Week may be repeated, so
project leader; Mrs. Lelia Gray, house-
day.-D. W. Griffith's masterpiece,
hold/ management project leader.
It
"America; there will be two comedies
Esq., for many
far as visitors are concerned. Every
was voted to hold a meeting every
and other short subjects. "America" is
st prominent attor-
parent and friend and all interested in the
month except in July and August.
considered by many critics to be greater
unty, died at three
good of the schools are invited cordially
to be present on Thursday afternoon.
The meeting of Friday night was one
than 'The Birth of a Nation, in fact,
g at the Jefferson
The work of 119 children will be on
of the most successful in the annals
several of the leading critics have called
elphia, following a
of the organization and augurs well for
it the greatest picture ever made.
ews of Mr. Clark's
exhibition, each child of the grades rep-
continued success in Farm Bureau work
Mr. Emery is giving this free show as a
by telegraph by his
resented having some part. The ages
of the pupils whose work will then be
in this section.
contribution toward making Christmas
:afford. Mr. Clark,
a little happier for some of the less for-
dent of Bar Harbor,
seen is from 5 to 11 years. The grades
tunate people of the community. He
practiced his prófes-
and teachers of the four rooms taking
MT. KEBO CHAPTER ELECTS
sincerely hopes that his invitation to
/part are: Grade 1, Miss West and Mrs.
OFFICERS FOR YEAR
D. C. It is under-
the Thursday morning show will be
Cumming; Grade 2 and 3, Miss Linda
services and inter-
accepted in the spirit in which it is ex-
Leland: Grade 2, Mrs. Liscomb; Grade 3,
At the annual election of Mt. Kebo
rs. Clark's home in
tended by little children, boys and girls,
Miss Mabel Chase.
Chapter, Royal Arch Chapter, the fol-
fathers and mothers, grandfathers and
gan.
lowing were chosen: F. J. Haskell,
grandmothers, in fact by all who, for
Subscribe for THE TIMES
E. W. Johnson, K.: D. W. MacLeod,
any reason at all can not afford to see
THE TIMES
Scribe: John Suminsby, treasurer; Ben-
'America' at one of the regular perform-
The
Whispering Pines: An American Idol Tour
Page 1 of 6
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August 8, 2012 By John R. Cross '76
9 Comments
Featured Post
Barry Mills: A Reunion
Mill
and a Farewell
In his latest column, John Cross '76 uncovers a great hoax played on
the College community and the town of Brunswick surrounding a
visit by Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette.
Featured Post
In 1824, nearly a half-century after the beginning of the American Revolution and a
quarter-century after the death of George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette
Whispering Pines:
Opening Act:
accepted the invitation of President James Monroe to tour the United States as an
Charles W.
honored guest. As you may have guessed, there were connections to Bowdoin
Morse-Ice King,
College in Lafayette's travels.
Prince of Financiers, and
Steamship Magnate
Lafayette's story was well known to the American people at the time. A French
Featured Post
aristocrat, he spent his own fortune to come to America at age 19 and fight in the
American Revolution. He became a close friend of George Washington, who
'What is Bowdoin?' is
thought of him as an adopted son. Commissioned a major general (without pay) by
The Question to a
Congress in 1777, Lafayette was wounded at Brandywine, recruited the Oneida as
'Jeopardy!' Answer -
allies, returned to France to raise support for the American cause, and soon
Again
returned to the battlefield. Later in the war, American forces under his command
pinned down Cornwallis's troops at Yorktown, leading to the British surrender.
Bowdoin Delivered Daily
Back in France, Lafayette became a member of the National Assembly, and with
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help from his friend Thomas Jefferson, wrote "Declaration of the Rights of Man
and of the Citizen" in 1789, a foundational document for the French Revolution. As
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commander-in-chief of the National Guard in France at the outbreak of the
revolution, Lafayette tried to maintain order and still advance the cause of
democracy. As radical elements gained control in France, Lafayette attempted to
Bowdoin Athletics
flee to the Dutch Republic; he and his family were captured by Austrian forces, and
they were imprisoned for five years. Napoleon Bonaparte eventually secured
Schedule
Scoreboard
Headlines
Lafayette's release, but the French Revolution had cost the marquis land, fortune,
No items.
and status in his native land. The invitation for the 1824-25 tour of America
included a Congressional appropriation for $200,000 (to reimburse Lafayette for his
Bowdoin News
financial contributions to the American Revolution), land in Florida, and back pay
for his service as a general in the Continental Army.
'American Artists Look at the Night':
Museum of Art's 'Night Vision' in The
Wall Street Journal
p://www.bowdoindailysun.com/2012/08/whispering-pines-an-american-idol-tour/
6/18/2015
Whispering Pines: An American Idol Tour
Page 2 of 6
Larayette
'What is Bowdoin?' is The Question to a
'Jeopardy!' Answer - Again
Record-Breaking Reunion Weekend 2015
Captured in Photos
Kent Island Life: Investigating the Decline
of Herring Gulls
Bowdoin in the 1830s, by 1977 U.S. postage stamp. Portrait of Lafayette at the
T. Moore's Lithography,
time of his American tour.
Round-UpiFellowships, Scholarships
Take Students Studies
Boston.
IJ
From his arrival on Staten Island on August 15, 1824, until his departure from
Bowdoir Socia Media
Washington, DC, on September 7, 1825, Lafayette was in the public eye and the
public consciousness. He visited all 24 states, and wherever he went he was met by
f
huge crowds, long lines of local dignitaries, feasts, parades, speeches, and tributes.
It was a defining moment for many Americans - they would always remember the
Bowdoin Tal Lectures,
day that they saw Lafayette.
Discussions and Events
2015 Honorand Till Lepore, Educator and
Wanting to be part of this historic event, and acting on the news that his travel
Writer
itinerary might bring him to Maine, Bowdoin's Governing Boards voted on
September 1, 1824, to confer upon Lafayette an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Bowdoin Chorus and Mozart Mentors
However, Lafayette's schedule did not include Brunswick in early September of
Orchestra with Conductor Anthony
Antolini '63
1824 he got as far as Portsmouth, New Hampshire. There he was greeted by
cheering crowds, including prominent citizens and war veterans like Benjamin
A Mind of Winter: Photographs by
Pierce, who chose to see Lafayette rather than travel to Brunswick for the
Abelardo Morell
graduation of his own son, Franklin Pierce of the Class of 1824, the future 14th
President of the United States.
On This Day
1954 The Harvey Dow Gibson Hall of
Meanwhile, back in Brunswick, word of an honorary degree for Lafayette spread
Music is dedicated.
like wildfire; the news that he was unable to attend, however, did not. John
Cleaveland of the Class of 1826 (and a cousin of Professor Parker Cleaveland)
recognized that when a door closes a window of opportunity often opens. The
Bowdoin Obituaries
Reverend Ephraim Peabody [1827] later wrote" of the reception of Lafayette in
Rodney A. Tulonen '69 May 30, 2015
Brunswick, a mock reception in which the town's people were entirely taken in, in
which Cleaveland played the part of Lafayette even to the most tender salutation
David H. Caldwell '54 May 30, 2015
of the ladies beginning with bells ringing; the circulation of the rumor of his
Thomas A. DeGray G'67 May 24, 2015
coming; cannon firing; shutting down of the saw-mills; procession formed, headed
Clifford A. Clark '52 May 12, 2015
by such music as could be got; cheering; the flocking of the citizens; the marching
down [one side of] Maine St. and up the other; the ladies at the windows and in the
William E. Pfau III '73 May 11, 2015
yards waving their handkerchiefs, and in an agony of enthusiasm; Cleaveland in
Richard O. Card '54 May 7, 2015
old regimentals and with his aid[e] in an open chaise, and actually getting out at
Robert E. Cetlin '54 May 6, 2015
one house where a bevy of fair ladies stood at the gate, their eyes dim with
Richard C. Wilsey '58 May 3, 2015
excitement and enthusiasm, and kissing them " There is no other written account
of the incident, to my knowledge, SO we are left to imagine what happened after
the hoax was discovered.
The above is a list of deaths recently
reported to us with links to outside
obituaries full Bowdoin obituaries will
I thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me of a personal
appear at bowdoinobituaries.com soon
acquaintance with you, Gentlemen of that College, where young
republicans, the hope of the Country, are instructed in every literary
This Week at Bowdoin
and scientific branch, and above all in the first of all sciences, the
science of freedom, equal rights, and self-government.
Lectures, performances, and other campus
events.
http://www.bowdoindailysun.com/2012/08/whispering-pines-an-american-idol-tour/
6/18/2015
Whispering Pines: An American Idol Tour
Page 3 of 6
Bowdoin Daily Sun Mobile App
Lafayette finally reached Maine in June 24, 1825, arriving in Portland to great
Bowdoin Daily Sun Mobile App
fanfare. The Brunswick Light Infantry had marched the 26 miles to Portland in
Now Available in iTunes Store
uniform to be one of three military escorts present. The crowd of 15,000 included
(free)
Bowdoin Trustees, Overseers, and students, who heard Stephen Longfellow (the
poet's father), deliver greetings from the city. In presenting the honorary degree,
Bowdoin President William Allen called the last surviving general of the
Revolutionary War ...an enlightened and unshaken friend of regulated liberty."
Ever gracious, Lafayette responded, "While I much regret not to be able to offer
these sentiments at the seat of your SO interesting institution, I thank you for the
opportunity you have afforded me of a personal acquaintance with you,
Gentlemen of that College, where young republicans, the hope of the Country, are
instructed in every literary and scientific branch, and above all in the first of all
sciences, the science of freedom, equal rights, and self-government...
After returning to France, his fortunes replenished and his fame renewed,
Lafayette retired to his country estate at Château de la Grange-Bléneau, where a
constant stream of Americans - both invited and unannounced - found him to be a
gracious host, including a young Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1826. Until his
death in 1834, Lafayette remained a champion of French-American relations. On
August 7, 2002, the United States Congress made Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, an honorary citizen of the United States,
more than 175 years after he joined the Bowdoin family.
With Best Wishes,
John R. Cross '76
Secretary of Development and College Relations
Other Posts In This Category:
1. Whispering Pines: Night of the Great Revolution
2. Whispering Pines: Whispers
3. Whispering Pines: Common Ground
4. Whispering Pines: Bowdoin at Gettysburg
Filed Under: Alumni, Bowdoin, History Law, Government & Politics, Maine, Whispering Pines
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Comments
Erl Hardy '70 says:
August 8, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Once again, John, thank you for a fascinating column!
http://www.bowdoindailysun.com/2012/08/whispering-pines-an-american-idol-tour/
6/18/2015