HONORING FAMILY’S VISION PLACE

HONORING A FAMILY’S VISION OF PLACEWhen Sayles andEmily Nicholson cruisedthe coast of Maine halfa century ago, theynoted in their logbookthat one of their twofavorite settings alongthe entire coast was thestretch of Casco Baybetween Quahog Bayand The Basin. Theirson Jake Nicholsonrecently found that oldlogbook and realizedthat the site they had fallen in lovewith more than 50 years ago waswhere he had summered since earlyyouth. In 1970, the Nicholsonsbought Bear Island off Sebasco as afamily retreat and spent two monthseach summer there for decades.This August, four members of theNicholson family generously gavean easement on the southern halfof their island to Maine CoastHeritage Trust.“At 102 acres, Bear Island is aprominent scenic landmark in EasternCHRISTINA EPPERSONCasco Bay,” says MCHT ProjectManager Chris Fichtel. “The protectedsouthern half is completely undevelopedand has an active bald eagle nest.”Bear Island’s ecological value isenhanced by its proximity to undevelopedMalaga Island, which MCHTacquired for a bargain price in 2001.Jake Nicholson, who shares ownershipin the island with his siblingsPeter Nicholson and Jill Williams,credits his parents with taking the initiativeto preserve the island. Hisfather began exploring conservationFAMILY MEMBERS GATHEREDAT BEAR ISLAND TO CELEBRATETHE SIGNING OF A CONSERVA-TION EASEMENT THAT WILLKEEP THE ISLAND’S SOUTHERNHALF (SHOWN HERE) COM-PLETELY UNDEVELOPED.options in 1988, but did not pursueaction before his death in 1993.Years slipped by, but in 2002, EmilyNicholson resolved to follow throughon completing a conservation easement.She grew ill in 2003 andsigned the easement, along with herchildren, just a week before passingaway. Knowing how much both ofthem cared for the place, Jake says,“it’s really nice to know that thesouthern end of the island will bepreserved forever. We will alwaysthink of them there.”HELP PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF MAINE’S COASTWe greatly appreciate contributions at all levels in support of our land protection work.Name:Address:Seasonal Address:AmountCheck: I/we are enclosing a check payable to Maine Coast Heritage Trust(Address: 1 Main Street, Suite 201 • Topsham, ME 04086)Credit Card Number: (Visa/Mastercard)Expiration Date:Telephone:Securities: I/we would like to make a gift of securities and will have my/our broker contactLindsey Cadot, MCHT Development Assistant, at (207) 729-7366 for transfer instructions.Thank you! Questions? Please call (207) 729-7366 (or e-mail: development@mcht.org).www.mcht.org3 MAINE HERITAGE FALL 2003

CELEBRATING CONSERVATION SUCCESSESIN SEAL BAY AND WINTER HARBORThis summer, three generationsof families from aroundVinalhaven’s Seal Bay andWinter Harbor gathered onPenobscot Island to celebratetheir collective conservationachievement – protecting allthe Bay’s islands and muchof the shorefront, totaling 18miles of conserved water frontage.Their work to protect theunspoiled beauty and wildcharacter of this “whole place”began four decadesago, before conservationeasements wereeven used in Maine.PENOBSCOT ISLAND FORMS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE ISLANDS IN SEAL BAY.JIM WARKthose individuals andfamilies whose efforts andsupport have produced theincredible conservationsuccesses in Seal Bay andWinter Harbor. MCHTalso extends thanks to Aland Hilary Creighton,Linda Labaree, Tom andAnne Godfrey, AnneRussell and Didi Stocklyfor all that they did tomake this summer’s celebrationpossible.LINDA LABAREE, A SEAL BAYLANDOWNER ACTIVE IN THEVINALHAVEN LAND TRUST,SERVED UP A WONDERFULLUNCH AT THE CELEBRATION.THOSE ATTENDINGTHE SEAL BAY CELE-BRATION ENJOYED APICNIC AT THESOUTHERN END OFPENOBSCOT ISLAND.Long-time landowners around Seal Bay can recallplans from the early 1960s for a fly-in, fly-out resort.An entrepreneur constructed an airstrip, laundromat,pizza restaurant, and bowling alley before a conservation-mindedneighbor diplomatically quelled furtherconstruction plans by negotiating to purchase a deedrestriction on the land.The 1980’s real estate boom brought new threats tothis tranquil area. When an 8-lot shorefront subdivisionwas proposed, neighboring landowners sprang into action,creating a partnership to acquire the land and place conservationrestrictions on it. Since then, Maine CoastHeritage Trust and Vinalhaven Land Trust have helpednumerous landowners preserve the stunning quality of thiswildlife-rich bay. Both trusts offer sincere thanks to allMCHT PROJECT MANAGER BETSY HAM TALKS WITH PENOBSCOT ISLANDOWNERS HILARY AND AL CREIGHTON DURING THE SEAL BAY CELEBRATION.MCHT’S NEW PRESERVEON WINTER HARBORIn recent years, MCHT has acquired severalproperties by the mouth of the Mill River in WinterHarbor. On the western side of this inlet, the Trustrecently created “Carrying Place Bridge Preserve,” a13-acre property with a rustic boat launch that offerstraditional small boat access. The Trust plans todevelop a trail that will allow the public to enjoyviews of Winter Harbor, Penobscot Island, and otherprotected properties nearby. On land it purchasedjust across the inlet, MCHT is removing two foundationsof planned shorefront houses that would havecompromised the area’s wild and scenic character.RICH KNOX4 MAINE HERITAGE FALL 2003

This column is the third in a seriesoutlining the core conservationvalues—ecological, recreational,scenic and productive—that defineMaine Coast Heritage Trust’s work.If you look through a conservationeasement or plan,you’ll find documentation ofthe land’s ecological significance,recreational value andproductive capacity. Facts andfigures confirm the property’sworth in concrete terms thatspeak to scientists, lawyersand accountants.Yet from that reading youmay gain little true appreciationfor the unique character of theconserved land. Many of itsmost notable qualities cannotbe quantified or even capturedin words. Scenic values are thequalities of place that touchboth our senses and our souls.The sensory impact can bedescribed in terms of the characteristicsights, sounds andsmells that define the place.What is harder to express is the waythat a given landscape works its wayinto our hearts.Cherished natural vistas oftenbecome private landmarks, settingsby which we measure the course ofour days. More often than not, theyare small pockets of wildness that wetreasure because of their intimatescale and quiet beauty: a local marshalive with the song of spring peepers;an old orchard that draws in deer atdusk; or the crest of a hill where anexpanse of bay opens out and weknow – once more – that we’re home.The collective impulse to conserveland grows directly from these personalMore than Meets the Eye:Conserving Scenic ValuesSINCE ITS FOUNDING, MCHT HAS SOUGHT TO PROTECT THE BEAUTY OF MAINE’S COAST SO THAT PEOPLECOULD ENJOY LANDSCAPES THAT NOURISH THEIR SENSES AND THEIR SOULS.bonds with place. It was love forMaine’s islands that prompted a dedicatedand visionary group of peopleto found Maine Coast Heritage Trust33 years ago. They wanted to ensurethat the irreplaceable splendors ofthis coast would be there for generationsto come, a natural legacy forall people and all time.A similar impulse has motivatednearly every landowner with whomMCHT has worked in the interveningdecades. People have manysound reasons for conserving theirproperties, but beneath the rationaljustifications is a profound bond withthe land. The decision to pursueconservation becomes a means of passingalong some part of the immeasurablegift the landowners have receivedfrom a vital and nourishing place.“Scenic values” stand in a class bythemselves because they reflect notjust the outer landscapes that we“see” but the essence of our deepestrelation to the land. Not all landshave notable ecological features orproductive capacity or recreationalpotential. And not all lands wouldqualify as “beautiful” in all eyes. Butevery natural setting holds the potentialto touch and transform peoplewho recognize the vital character ofa living landscape.© SARA GRAY5 MAINE HERITAGE FALL 2003

COURTESY OF L.L. BEANA Tribute toBill Silliker1947 - 2003Maine’s conservation community lost a true friend this fall withthe untimely death of wildlife photographer Bill Silliker, Jr. Sillikerdied while leading a photography workshop in Baxter State Park, apart of Maine that he revered and worked hard to preserve. “Billwas a passionate conservationist who used his photographic skills toinspire greater stewardship of the natural world,” reflects ChrisHamilton, MCHT’s Senior Policy Coordinator.Silliker published his work in numerous books, magazines andcalendars, and led photography workshops for L.L. Bean’s OutdoorDiscovery School and others. He generously volunteered his timephotographing for conservation groups and donated the use of countlessimages. He also helped to launch the grassroots group, Friends ofthe Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.“Bill had a great impact because he lived out his passion so fully,”Hamilton observes. Silliker often expressed his hope that otherswould use their unique gifts to benefit the natural world. His bookSaving Maine:An Album of Conservation Success Stories ends with thewords: “Most of the work of saving the best of Maine comes from theefforts of just plain folks. You could be one of them.”SAVE THE DATE FOR MAINE’S 2004LAND CONSERVATION CONFERENCEApril 30 and May 1, RockportStaff NewsMCHT welcomes Debbie Poor as a stewardshipintern. As part of a practicum in hergraduate program at Antioch College, Debbieis helping MCHT develop stewardship managementplans.Isabel Aley, a recent graduate of BatesCollege, is volunteering at the Topsham office,helping to organize MCHT’s slide collection.MCHT extends best wishes to MeganShane Hellstedt, who is leaving the Trustto launch a consulting business that willserve land trusts, the State, and others whoare conserving land in Maine and northernNew England.THE TRUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 22-FOOTSISU FIBERGLASS INBOARD THAT WILL BE MOORED OFFMOUNT DESERT ISLAND AND USED PRIMARILY FORSTEWARDSHIP DUTIES ON ISLAND PROPERTIES.FORREST DILLONMAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUSTis dedicated to protecting land that is essential to the character ofMaine, its coastline and islands in particular. Since 1970, morethan 113,000 acres have been permanently protected. MCHTprovides conservation advisory services to landowners, local landtrusts and state and community officials free of charge. A membershiporganization, MCHT welcomes your support and inquiries.1 Main Street, Suite 201, Topsham, ME 04086207-729-7366P.O. Box 669, Mt. Desert, ME 04660207-244-5100Aldermere Farm, 70 Russell Ave., Rockport, ME 04856207-236-2739Visit us at www.mcht.orgMaine Coast Heritage Trust1 Main Street, Suite 201Topsham, ME 04086Return Service RequestedPrinted on recycled paperDesign & Prepress: EthosWriting: Marina SchaufflerNON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDPERMIT # 6PORTLAND, MAINE