ABANDONED TRAILS OF ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: V.I.A. ROADS AND PATHS COMMITTEE REPORTS

PATH COMMITTEE IS DOING GOOD WORK

Bar Harbor Times
September 17, 1924

Annual Report to Bar Harbor V.I.A., Shows Much Good Work Accomplished and Constructive. Plans for Coming Year.

The annual report of the Park Committee of the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association as read by the chairman of the committee, Mr. Harold Peabody, shows that much excellent work has been accomplished during the past year and that the plans for the coming year are for even more important work than that already accomplished. Mr. Peabody's report follows;
After the annual meeting of the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association held in september, 1923, the Superintendent of the Lafayette National Park asked the Path Committee to again take over the supervision of all the paths and trails on Green, Dry and Newport Mountains, excepting the Kane Path, the Jesup Path, Emery Path, Kurt Diedrick Path and the Beechcroft Path, which remained under the supervision of the Park authorities. During the autumn up to November 10th - when work on all trails was stopped for the winter - it was found necessary to employ two men on the trails on these mountains in order to preserve them so that they could very quickly be put in condition in the spring.
The winter was not a severe one, and the trails were found to be in a satisfactory condition when work was commenced on May 2nd last. Only one man has been employed throughout the season, and he has done his work faithfully and well, as I think all will agree who have used the paths and trails during the summer.
During the autumn, spring and summer there have been 184 working days given over to cleaning brush from the paths and trails; repairing bridges, mowing, removing 97 fallen trees, renewing or setting up in new places 104 pointers, 36 cairns, and 60 new signs; building new bridges on the Kebo Brook Path, Faun Pond Path, Cadillac cliffs Path, Bracken Path and Witch Hole Path and the improvement of the trail around Lake Wood.
The following changes in existing trails have been made;
1. On account of the flooding of the old path around Witch Hole due to a new beaver dam across the outlet, a new path had to be built in many places.
2. The last part of the Green and Black Path from the Bowl has been changed. Formerly it passed through a field after emerging from the woods, but now follows along the woods to the Otter Creek Road.
3. The last part of the Canon Brook Path has been changed so that the path emerges from the woods into a field on the Otter Creek Road. All these changes have been well marked and should not be hard to follow.
The great storm of August 26th accompanied by high winds and a down pour of rain damaged many of our trails with washouts. Extra work has thus been made necessary to clear away the debris and prepare for the fall hiking.
During the first year that the present Chairman of the Path Committee has been at work $975.00 has been generously contributed for the support and maintenance of the work; disbursements have amounted to $449.15; leaving a balance on August 31st of $495.85.
The following new work has been planned for the coming year;
1. The continuation of the Gorge Trail south between Green and Dry Mountains to join the Canon Brook Path. This will add to the many beautiful trails in the Bar Harbor district. The length of the trail will be approximately one mile, and the estimated expense about $1000. A large part of the balance above mentioned will be used to push this work as far as possible this autumn. This beginning is made in the hopes that somebody may be encouraged to present the funds necessary to complete this path during the coming year.
The funds for building the long discussed path along the cliffs by Canoe Point above the road to Hull's Cove have been promised and it is planned to make it a memorial path. Permission is being secured from the property owners along the way, and it is sincerely hoped that work may be begun before long.
The policies of pursued by the former Chairman of the Path Committee are being followed, and it is hoped that the paths and trails will be kept in the same admirable way as under his able leadership.
In closing the Chairman wishes to publicly thank Andrew Liscomb, superintendent of the Paths and Trails in the Bar Harbor district for over thirty years - for what he has done the past year. The work would be impossible without his help and advice.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harold Peabody,
Chairman of the Path Committee.
Bar Harbor Village Improvement association.
September 9, 1924.

PATH COMMITTEE MAKES ITS REPORT

Bar Harbor Times
August 23, 1922

Committee Hindered In Works By Destruction Of Signs Indicating Trails

Editor's Note; - In presenting the annual report for 1922, the Bar Harbor Path Committee calls attention to the fact that each year a number of signs are destroyed, thus making it difficult and often dangerous for visitors to enjoy our splendid system of trails. This is a matter of grave importance and any person found destroying these signs should be dealt with severely. The report this year shows the usual amount of unselfish work on the part of the committee members and will be read with interest by all who enjoy the opportunities made possible by the work of this committee. New members of the committee this year are; Barrington Moore, George S. Robbins, and Arthur C. Train. The report follows;
The usual improvement and repair of the Bar Harbor Trails was commenced by the committee on April 17th last and has since continued in order to put them in the best possible condition for the walking season and the enjoyment derived from the healthy and beneficial pastime of mountain climbing as the paths now extend throughout the Bar Harbor District in almost every direction.
The present active membership of the Path Committee consists of George B. Dorr, Dr. J. Madison Taylor, Mrs. John B. Markoe, Miss Alice Miles Carpenter, Andrew Liscomb, Barrington Moore, George S. Robbins and Arthur C. Train; Frederic Delano Weekes being Chairman and Andrew Liscomb Superintendent, a position successfully filled by him for some years. Fortunately the winter season was not a severe one and the trails were found to be in a fairly satisfactory condition and not to any extent encumbered with many fallen trees or damaged by washouts that often cause considerable trouble. It is, however a subject of great regret that such a number of signs are found missing every year and to replace them cause much extra expense to the committee. These appear to have been pulled down or shot away for when a sign absolutely disappears there can be no other explanation except that it has been either destroyed or carried off. Paths must be properly marked or their use is not only difficult but even a source of danger and the maintenance of the signs is therefore of great importance to the community. Their wanton destruction has already been given serious consideration by the Selectmen of the Town of Bar Harbor and to destroy or remove them has been made a misdemeanor. The Path Committee earnestly hopes that this thoughtfulness and entire disregard so far as the public are concerned in the comfort and use of the trails upon which so much money has been expended for the benefit of the Bar Harbor residents, will not continue, but if so, that the culpits may be apprehended and meet with just and proper punishment.
The season's work thus far by the Committee is the care of the trails and up to August 1st may be stated briefly as follows; During April Kebo Mountain, Hardin Road and Farm, Toll House, Bracken, Green Mountain Gorge and the North Ridge Trails of Green were entirely cleared of brush, 25 pointers being replaced and 10 cairns erected. In May the trails on Great Hill and the Duck Brook, Breakneck, Half Moon, Witch Hole, Mcfarlands, Curran and Aunt Betty's Pond paths were cleared of brush, also the trails around the foot of Eagle Lake down to Bubble Pond and along its west side to the Boyd road steps being also built over the Toboggan Slide at the lake. The committee found that the beavers were causing interference there as they had built a dam across Bubble Pond Brook and the trail near it in consequence was submerged. The committee will however, endeavor to remedy the trouble in such manner as may be suggested and without disturbing the engineering work of this interesting colony.
Further work was carried on in June and the Southwest Valley trail skirting base of Sargent Mountain was cleared of brush and fallen trees removed. The Fawn Pond Path leading to the beautiful tract of land donated by the late Charles T. How, was also cleared, fallen trees removed and pointers restored. The Southwest Trail of Green Mountain to the Boyd Road was cleared and 10 cairns erected, and the east trail on Green a recent addition to the Bar Harbor Path system and which opens up many beautiful views of the Otter Creek region leading to Canon Brook Path, was cleared of brush. In the Northern district a large tree was cut out of the Witch Hole path and missing pointers restored. 3 new signs were also put on the Duck Brook Path and 1 on the South Ridge of Green near the old well. Aunt Betty's Pond Path, South West valley trail and Fawn Pond, Bracken, Kebo, Harden Farm and Half Moon paths were mowed out, 2 large trees removed and 8 new signs put up on the Half Moon Pond, eagle Lake and Toll House paths.
Additional work was performed in July and the trails around the Witch Hole and about Great Hill mowed out. On Cadillac cliff Path 10 pointers were replaced, 2 large trees removed and 6 cairns erected. The Yellow Path running to the White one was cleared of fallen branches, brush removed and fallen trees were cut away on the Blue Trail to the White one. The Red Path was also cleared of brush and branches removed. The Toll House Path and the Canon Brook trail were also cleared and mowed, the bridge over the brook being repaired. Mcfarlands paths were mowed out and the south West Valley Trail also, being in addition cleared of brush together with the Curran and Jordan Pond Trail from the south West Valley Path.
In order to maintain and carry on the work that has been undertaken as well as to complete other necessary repairs and improvements to the path system nearly $600 has been already subscribed by certain Bar Harbor residents who always were generous and zealous supporters of this particular branch of the Bar Harbor Improvement Association's activities, and contributions for this purpose were received from Miss Mary P. Coles, Barrington Moore, Mrs. Max Farrand, Dr. Robert Albee, Miss Agnes Miles Carpenter, Courtland Palmer, Mrs. John S. Kennedy, Mrs. John Markoe, frederick W. Vanderbilt, George S. Robbins, Hon. George L. Ingraham, Philip Livingston, Mrs. Herbert L. Satterlee, Mrs. Ernest Schelling, Thomas de Witt Cuyler, Arthur C. Train, Mrs. John Innes Kane, F. Maurice Newton, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Blake and Frederick Delano weekes.
The further work undertaken by the Committee from august 1st will be included in its report at the annual meeting of the association on September 14th.
Any additional contributions for the purpose of improving the trails will greatly assist the Committee as to maintain them requires a considerable outlay their present extent in the Bar Harbor District alone being in excess of 125 miles.

V.I.A. ANNUAL MEETING - 1914

Bar Harbor record
September 16, 1914

Roads And Paths Committee

Reports from the following committees were made; Finance committee, L.A. Austin chairman, Village committee, Miss Fannis Norris, chairman, trees and planting committee, Mrs. John Markoe chairman, sanitary committee, Dr. Robert Albee chairman, roads and paths committee, Prof. R. E. Brunnow chairman, Village green committee, Mrs. John Harrison chairman, Glen Mary Park committees; How Park committee, D.C. Blair chairman, milk committee, Dr. Nathaniel Gildersieeves chairman.
In the report of the Roads and Paths committee, Prof. R.E. Brunnow now chairman has in Sept. since the last report of Sept. 11, 1914, $(unreadable) have been expended on the work of keeping the paths in order. This sum together with the amount expended from 1, to Sept. 1, 1913, $833.67, making a total outlay of $660.06 for the care of the paths during a period of 14 months.
Last summer, Mrs. John I. Kane most generously provided the funds for the construction of a memorial path in memory of her husband, John I. Kane, the late chairman of this committee. The path is now completed with the exception of the approach from the Gorge Road, and extends along the base of Dry Mountain from the northern end of Little Meadow to the entrance of the Ladder Path, leading through some very picturesque rock formations.
I have also to announce that Mrs. C. Morton Smith has just made an equally generous offer to present a memorial path in memory of her late husband, and that she has decided, on the recommendation of the committee, to have it on the Western side of Picket Mountain, where it will lead from the Gorge Road opposite to the entrance of the Kane Path to the summit of the mountain slope from which some very fine views of the ocean to the north and south are obtained.
Your committee has decided to make a further important contribution to the existing network of paths on Newport Mountain by authorizing the construction of a trail leading up from the Orange and Black Path over the precipitous cliffs on the eastern face of the mountain, just above the Great Cave. This trail will be an absolutely unique feature on the island, hardly to be paralleled anywhere east of the Rockies.
Resolutions were adopted on the death of Dr. S. Weir Mitchell and Mrs. Robert B. Potter, the members attending at the resolutions were read.
The thanks of the association were extended to Mrs. John I. Kane and Mrs. C. Morton Smith for their very very generous contributions.
The following offers were re-elected; Hon. L.B. Deasy, president; Rev. William Lawrence, Dr. A.F. Schauffler, Dr. Augustus Thornedike, vice president; H.M. Conners, secretary and F.C. Lynam treasurer.

ANNUAL V.I.A. MEETING - 1903

Bar Harbor Record
Sept. 16, 1903

The fourteenth annual meeting of the Village Improvement Association was held at the St. Sauveur Hotel last Tuesday morning. The officers elected were the same as last year, Parke Godwin, president; L.B. Deasy, John S. Kennedy, Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, vice presidents; Fred C. Lynam, treasurer; A.H. Lynam, secretary.

The Report Of The Committee On Roads And Paths.
The paths and trails are in good condition. In addition to the work done last autumn a man has been employed for the months of June, July and August to work on the paths, to put up signs and pointers, and to remove the trees which occasionally fall across the paths, and to do any special work suggested to the committee.
Two new paths have been made, the Chasm Brook Trail and the Sargent Brook Trail. The latter on the western slopes of Sargents Mountain in a little brook which runs through big boulders, between high cliffs, opening up one of the remarkable bits of rock work on the island, a great slab of granite cut by nature from the mountain side, which at some time slide off the mountain and now stands on edge by the bank of the brook, the upper end resting against the mountain slope, having a long gallery at the base, between the great sheet of granite and the mountain side, through which one can walk between this grand roof of stone.
The trail starts on the old Northeast Harbor road not far from the junction of that road with the road to Northeast Harbor which skirts the Sound. A beautiful road without steep grades could be built at comparatively small cost connecting this sound road with the Eagle Lake road at the site of the Curran House following in part the old Southwest Valley wood road and the western shore of Eagle lake.
The path work requires for next season an appropriation of at least $250.
Waldron Bates
Chairman of paths and Roads Committee.

NINTH ANNUAL V.I.A. ROADS & PATHS COMMITTEE

Bar Harbor Record
October 5, 1898

The ninth annual report of the Village Improvement Association will be given to the public this work and is most interesting reading. The officers and members have every reason to be proud of the showing the association makes, and the people of bar Harbor must congratulate themselves on having an institution in their midst that has done so much to improve and beautify the village and its surroundings. every succeeding year seems to increase the usefulness of the association and add new triumphs to its career. It has accomplished wonders in the past, and these are but an earnest and foretaste of what may be expected in the future from such successful and devoted workers. The substance of the report is as follows;
Mr. F.C. Lynam, treasurer of the association, reports receipts amounting to $2,931,09, and expenditures, $2,930,03, leaving a balance of $1.06 in his hands at the end of fiscal year, July 19. He had also bonds owned by the association which cost $2,156.65. Since that date, the Entertainment Committee has added largely to the receipts. It was determined, early in the season, that on account of the war and the depressing effect it had on all the minds of the people it would be better to forego the usual entertainments upon which the association had heretofore depended for its income, and, instead, to solicit subscriptions. This was done by several members of the entertainment committee, and up to date of publishing the report, $2,529 had been collected in this manner. The venerable president of the association, Mr. Parke Godwin, generously aided the committee by giving an informal talk about his reminiscences of men and events, which netted $207 for the fund.
The reports of the various committees read at the annual meeting, July 19, were given at that time in the Record. They are republished in this annual report, and go to show that the committee members have been untiring in their efforts for the good of the village. The public has fully realized this summer, how well their work has been done. No one who uses his eyes to any advantage, could fail to see the improvement on the village in general, and the streets, roads and paths in Particular.
At the meeting last month, the following amounts were appropriated to the various committees for the current year; Committee on Roads and Paths, $440; Trees $800; Village $5oo; Sanitary $500; Bicycle Path $200 to pay a man to keep path in repair and afford suitable protection next summer. Last year there were 91 annual members, this year 84 have paid the annual membership fee to date. There are at present 63 life members who have paid the required fee, $25. The donations this year, as already stated, amounted to $2,529. It will be seen from the foregoing not only that the association has accomplished excellent work, but also that it is in a flourishing financial condition. May it long prosper.

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL V.I.A. MEETING

Bar Harbor Record
July 28, 1897

Roads And Paths Committee

Mr. Herbert Jaques, chairman of Committee on Roads and Paths, presented the following report;
The committee on Roads and Paths has continued to develop the path system during the past year and has put in repair most of the old paths.
A new path has been run around Bubble Pond on the southwest side, which can be reached from the system around the head of Eagle lake as well as from the road which runs into the pond from Seal Harbor Road. A new path has also been run over the southern slope of Day Mountain which connects with the path running into the green Mountain Gorge to the Otter Creek road and which comes into the road just beyond the Newport Gorge. This latter path down the eastern slope of Dry is quite steep and needs to be followed with caution. There is also a new path which leaves the Seal Harbor road just where Otter Creek Brook crosses it and runs up the bed of the brook to the Dry Mountain Path, this is an extremely picturesque walk and runs through a very attractive country. One can take this path and, turning to the right about a quarter of a mile from the road, go up over Dry or turning to the left go through a short stretch of woods and over the long slope of Green making an all day walk.
A path from Green Mountain Ridge now runs down to the road to Bubble Pond which is picturesque and affords a good walk. The committee wishes to do a large amount of work at the head of Eagle Lake, where a good portion of the forests has been cut and the paths has been thrown into more or less confusion. The path up the Bubbles ought also to be cut and requires a considerable amount of work.
The committee has put in place a great many signs and hopes to add many more this season.
Those who are familiar with the Duck Brook system will find the country about the reservoir much changed as the water company has covered the pipe from Eagle Lake to the dam with gravel and dug up the old path in many places, and one now walks on this covering to go to the Bracken Path as well as to Eagle Lake.
The committee wishes especially caution the public that the paths run through private property and that they may be closed or changed by the owners at any time and therefore that great care should be taken not to deface the trees or rocks, not to destroy the shrubs and especially not to kindle fires nor to throw matches or cigars and cigarettes away carelessly. It is also particularly required that all papers, boxes and other traces of lunches be entirely removed.
The path system now extends over some sixty miles, and it is hoped that a liberal appropriation be made for their care.
The various members of the committee have tried to secure a better system of caring for the roads but after several interviews and meetings with prominent residents, their suggestions were voted down at the town meeting. The roads however show a marked improvement over the condition of former years and it is to be hoped that some plan can be devised whereby the road commissioner can be assured of a longer term of office than twelve months, as the best results can only be obtained by the systematic following out of a single policy contained through several years.
Respectfully submitted,
Herbert Jaques
Chairman.

V.I.P. - A NEW DEVELOPMENT - 1895

Bar Harbor Record
July 17, 1895

(Note; sections of the first two paragraphs could not be read, however they were clearly talking about a new approach of making trails, that would not only include hikers but also people on bicycles.)
Briefly it is intended to make a new series of paths available not only for foot passengers however, but suitable for bicycles as well. If there is a pleasure in the pathless woods, certainly that pleasure will not be lessened by offering the inducements of easy access and safe going afoot and on the wheel.
It is easy to formulate the requisites of such paths. They must be nearly as level as possible, they must have safe road beds, they must lead through beautiful scenery and must begin and end at desirable points, To make them means much expenditure of time, money and energy, but the advantages gained will be so great that if they are properly understood, hearty support will be given by all residents, cottagers and the sojourner at our hotels.
The idea of those who have the matter in charge, is to take advantage of town and other roads where they are sufficiently and good to be available to "bush-out" and improve existing wood-tracks and make them suitable for wheeling, and to construct connecting links always maintaining the same level, and always seeking the most beautiful scenery that can be found.
To give a definite idea of what it is proposed to do a short account of the chosen route will perhaps be the best method, but it must be promised that those mentioned are purely provisional and depend in the very first instance on the kindness of the owners of land for percussion to construct the desired paths.
Beginning in what is called "How's Park" a path can be readily built along the course of the new water pipe, giving short access to Eagle lake, by a route which is level throughout its whole length and which will eliminate the difficulties of the terrible hill that rises over the shoulder of Green Mountain. That such a road is picturesque and attractive need not be urged here. Too many of us have followed the "Royal Fern and Bracker" footpaths to feel doubt of that.
From "How's Park" the Bloomfield and Woodbury Roads (both among the most level and best kept on the island) will be followed until we get to "Kebo". From the Eagle Lake Road at that point a short, easy and level path can be built, almost without the falling of a tree, certainly without the destruction of any natural beauty, to a point on the Cromwell Harbor Road beyond the high hill, which is so unpleasant to climb, and from this later road a path can be constructed, taking advantage of existing wood roads, which crossing the Otter creek road will - all the way upon a dead level, end on the Schooner Head Road near Bear Brook, heading through the exquisite forest, which lies at the base of Picket and Newport Mountains, where are to be found today the greatest of Hemlocks, spruces and birches on the island.
Will our readers help this projected scheme which will do so much to make known the hidden beauties of the island?
To estimate the cost is necessarily difficult, for it is neither road making nor path building, but something completely new. The proposed paths are to be six feet wide, all rocks, roots, etc. grabbed up or buried, and all bad or swampy places filled so as to make not a "speeding" track but a road essentially safe to wheel or walk upon. Appropriate signs will be conspicuously posted. All over hanging limbs and bushes will be cut away and the natural changes of the very beautiful routes proposed will be carefully and tenderly preserved. As far as is possible to estimate it is confidently believed that this can be done within a fortnight after the consent of owners has been obtained, and that approximately four miles of new paths will be secured, at an expense of not more than $1000.
And who will profit thereby? Assuredly bicyclists and the pedestrians, but will it be only they? Will not all who are interested in our island gain largely by this scheme? Every development which makes our land more attractive and its beauties more accessible must be for the benefit of all. Nine out of ten who come here at all, come because the place is beautiful, and if new beauties can be shown and new attractions can be offered at such tiffing cost is it not wise to foster and encourage such plans?
It is well to open our forests to the view of all. New lands as fair as those now covered with homes, will be shown and brought into the market. these paths will take the place for a time at least for those fine roads which we hope some day to see, offering new and beautiful drives and drawing more and more pleasure seekers here to appreciate the independents which are offered.
commend this plan. Until we have new carriage roads as those just mentioned, there can be no better substitute offered than these projected roads. The affair has been placed by the association in the hands of a committee, the chairman of which is the originator of this clever plan, and we feel sure that under his energetic management it will be pushed to a speedy and admirable conclusion.

Note; I was on the edge of my seat reading this, waiting for the name of the chairman of this new committee to be named, but the article never named that person who would be placed in charge of seeing these "New" carriage roads get built, though one wonders if it was Mr. Dorr himself. The plan laid out above uses 'How's Park" located on Bloomfield street, as a starting point and ends at the base of Newport and Picket mountains, yet in another article on these new bicycle and hiking paths, it states the area near the base of Newport and Picket was chosen as a starting point because of its beauty, and that is where the first of these "Bicycle and walking paths" were constructed. Did these new roads ever stretch from How's Park to the Eagle lake Road, and from there down to Cromwell Harbor road and on to the area around the Beaver pond, that I don't know, but clearly large sections of those old Woods Roads are still visible today if you know where to look for them.

V.I.A. ANNUAL MEETING - 1907

V.I.A. REPORT - BICYCLE PATHS

Bar Harbor Record
Sept. 18, 1895

The following report of Mr. Dorr, Chairman of the Bicycle Committee of the V.I.A., is handed to us for publication by the secretary of the Association, Mr. Sherman, as a matter of general-public interest.
The work done by the Bicycle Path Committee this summer has been to lay out, and in so far as the funds at its disposal have permitted, to build a path about a mile in length skirting the Northwest base of the Newport Mountain, and opening at either end into the cross-roads for driving and riding, which is now being jointly built by the Village Improvement association and the owners of the land between the Schooner head and Otter Creek town roads.
This path was selected for this first year's work because of the unusual beauty of the woods it opened up near to the town and because of the courteous consent of Mr. Martin Roberts to allow his half mile trotting track, which is at present the best bicycling ground upon the island, to be used in conjunction with the path. The greater and by far the most expensive part of the path is now completely built, graveled and rolled, the bush has all been taken off and burnt and the unsightly banks left by grading have been covered with loam. The thickness of the woods, the wet character of much of the ground and the side-hill slope of the remainder has made this part of the path exceptionally expensive, its total cost having been somewhat about $850, of this amount $660 has already been raised by subscription and more is promised. The remaining part of the path will be much less expensive to build and the cost of its completion would probably be between $250 and $300.
The interest in the scheme seems to be very wide spread, and it seems important that future continuance upon which its main usefulness and attraction depend that the work done should be regarded as the accomplishment of the Society as a society and not as that of a few specially interested individuals. Such work has an important public bearing and ought to have a character at least semi-public given to it. Not only the pleasure it would add to the general summer life upon the island but the much needed connections it would establish between points that now seem distant, make the building up of such a system work in which not only the society but the town itself ought, for its own widely extended advantage, to share.
It seems desirable that the piece of path taken for this summer's work should not have to wait till another summer, when fresh work ought to be begun with fresh interest elsewhere, for its completion if the delay can be avoided. As to the general expense of path construction, our experience seems to show that one thousand dollars a mile would be an outside average estimate for the cost of building, in the best and most permanent way, a path through wild and wooded land. In the more cultivated portion of the island the cost would be considerably less.
At a regular meeting of the board of managers of the Village Improvement Association held on the 10th last, a sum not to exceed $250 was appropriated from the funds of the association to complete the seasons works as proposed above.

V.I.A. MEETING - 1894

Bar Harbor Record
July 18, 1894

FOR WANT OF A CLOCK

(Note- much of this article was unreadable, however one section was, which I have titled For Want Of a clock).

Mr. L.B. Deasy made a short address which was enthusiastically received.
After describing certain earlier abortive attempts to organize similar societies in Bar Harbor, Mr. Deasy said;
"A few years later this association was organized; and while it has not accomplished great things, it has been faithful over a few things. It has not revolutionized society, but it has pointed the way to certain improvements and has led the way. It at least can prove its existence without the production of its records. It has accomplished everything that it has undertaken except one; it has not been able to find a location for the town clock. For the benefit of those present who may not be familiar with the history of the town clock movement and of this society's connection with it, i beg leave to say a few words on that subject.
Years ago a sum of money, a thousand dollars, was given to this Association to be expended in the purchase of a town clock. The Association added from its own funds another thousand to secure a place to put it in. In the years that have flown since that time the society through its committee has been engaged in frantic but futile efforts to secure a location for that clock. but the experience of our committees and the zeal of new, have been alike unavailing, 'Like the skeleton at the feast that warning time piece has never ceased' to trouble this society. The funds were invested temporarily in the bonds of an electric railroad, and a clock maker was consulted; but as years rolled on the railroad went into the hands of a receiver, and the clock maker into the hands of an under taker and the problem is still unsolved.
This clock has had several very narrow escapes; it came near being used to adorn that picturesque ruin that was once a popular hotel; at one time the chairman of the committee in desperation proposed to stick it up in the middle of the road; the project that met with the greatest favor was to build a tower for it on the Congregational Church in the place of the architectural calamity that now surmounts that otherwise beautiful building.
It is measurably true of this problem as was said of Jarndycc vs. Jarndycc, that old people have died out of it and young maidens have married into it, and I am almost moved to say now, that heaven and earth shall pass away but the town clock question will not pass away.
However, a possible solution presents itself. At the last annual town meeting a movement was made in the direction of building a new town hall; not that such a town hall is needed; with the Bijou Theater on Main Street and the beautiful new Opera House on Wayman Lane, Bar Harbor needs no other public buildings. This movement in favor of a town hall may have been simply to provide a place for the town clock. A committee was appointed to secure a lot and plan for a hall subject to the approval of the town. That committee has attended to its duties and about the first of August, a town meeting will be held to see if the town will raise money for construction.
If the society wishes to solve the clock question it should do what it can to forward the building of a hall, with a tower within which the clock may repose and be at rest.

V.I.A. FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING

Bar Harbor Record
Paths and Roads Committee
Nov. 23, 1893

Note - first paragraph was unreadable.
At the fourth annual meeting of the association held at the Marlborough Hotel on the morning of July 18th the attendance was larger than on any former similar occasion. Some eighty members were present. The Record gave a full account of the proceedings at the time.
Mrs. Charles Dorr for the Committee on Tree's reports in part as follows; that the sum appropriated for the committee's work, $1000 has been judiciously expended. The money has gone in many channels - for the clearing of dead wood and brush on the Bay View drive; for a large clearing of the same on the Breakneck Road; for the same on the Otter Creek road, and on the Schooner Head Road, the work covering many miles. Add to this 299 healthy young trees planted in the village streets, all having good roots and two years acclimation in the nursery of the association, and all doing well and showing no signs of their transplantation. One hundred and fifty dollars have been expended on the village cemetery, and other sums in other ways to complete the total in an equally satisfactory manner.
Mr. Goddard, the chairman of Committee on roads and Paths, reports as follows; Your Committee on Roads, Paths, Etc. would report that the roads are in unusually good condition, broadened and well formed, with an almost entire freedom from up cropping large stones, many of which have been removed since last year and loose stones are removed with a fair degree of frequency.
The signs have been put out on the paths and the paths themselves put in fair condition, some new signs reading "Path" have been placed at doubtful points, but there will be some further changes in the placing of signs during the next few days.
Work has been commenced on the path which is to follow the easterly or southernly base of Newport Mountain, ultimately to reach Great Head with a branch to Schooner head and another to the Bowl and Otter Creek Road. One hundred dollars has been appropriated for this work and before the season is over it is expected that this most interesting walk will be opened with its many points of interest.
It is proposed to drop the path from Strawberry Hill to the Otter Creek road although the signs have been placed, for the path is uninteresting and many parts wet most of the time, and it will require much expense to make it a good road; also the path in from Otter Creek road to Picket and Newport Mountains which is in fact a combination of the Strawberry Hill Path. Mr. bates has done much valuable work upon the Jordon Pond end of the Sargent Mountain path, and before long your committee hopes to have a well defined path from the eagle Lake Road at Mcfarland's house to Jordon's Pond.
A path up Great Pond Hill is being considered. Yellow letters on a dark green ground have been adopted as our colors, and all new signs will be of these colors, and the old signs changed gradually.

V.I.A. SUB-COMMITTEE - 1890

Bar Harbor Record
October 16, 1890

Needed Improvements.

At the late meeting of the Sub-committee of the V.I.A. (Mrs. Charles H. Dorr Chairman) the following objects were appropriated for -
1. For shade and ornamental trees, to be planted in a preparatory nursery, ready to be planted and cared for in and next to the streets and ways of Bar Harbor, which may also be sold to the town of Eden and private parties under proper regulations.
2. For removing and clearing dead trees, etc. along the roadsides of the Ocean Drive.
3. For rent of nursery ground, planting and care of trees.
4. For the Cemetery and incidentals. Mr. Deasy was requested to formulate an ordinance granting authority to the V.I.A. to plant trees by the road side on or in the streets next and within the edge of the properly located sidewalk and protect and care for the same, and imposing a penalty for injury - all under the selectmen and Road Commissioner's superintendence. It was decided that the least width of road permitting lines of trees along the edges of sidewalks toward the street, is sixty feet; while the width of 66 feet, or 4 rods, is more appropriate and advantageous. After nature deliberation it was concluded in view of the permanent shading and ornamentation of the ways of the village by tree planting, because of the uncertainty of Eden, Mount Desert and Main Streets and since the permanent boundaries, adjustment of the sidewalks, alignment, gradients, and construction of all the roads are yet indeterminate, that no trees shall be planted in the public ways unless jurisdiction can be granted for one or more streets not less than 60 feet wide. The town authorities are to be requested to take such steps as shall lead to the establishment of the foregoing and that the following streets shall be actually permanently located of the widths below stated;
1. Main Street - five rods wide from the wharf to Mount Desert Street. the widening is to be made on the side toward Eden streets, also eagle Lake Road to Eagle lake and Schooner Head Avenue to the forks of road to Otter Creek, to be in each and every case 4 rods wide.

Among the subjects under consideration by the Sub-committee on roads etc. of the V.I.A., is that of clearing and repairing all of the important paths leading out from the village to the commanding points near, or those possessed of special scenic interest. The following has been completed;
1. Duck Brook from Eden Street to the Eagle Lake Road.
2. Woodbury Park to the pond of Witch Hollow, intersecting the Duck Brook path near the old reservoir.
3. Kebo peak from the Valley of Kebo Brook.
4. Green Mountain from Cromwells Harbor road via Kebo Brook, and the most picturesque gorge between Green and Dry Mountains.
5. Newport Mountain from the valley to Bear Brook.
6. From Otter Creek Road near the Gorge in rear of Strawberry Hill to Cromwells Harbor Road.
The paths from Eagle lake to Jordon's Pond; from Newport via Picket Mountain to the Otter Creek Road; Newport via the Beehive to the Ocean Drive near Homans; from Great Head to the sandy Beach nesr; from Schooner Head Road from the road next below Bear Brook to the Ocean Cliffs on the other, are to be carried to completion.
All of the above should be ready for use of single pedestrians of walking parties for next season. They will be well and clearly marked by sign posts, showing also distance and elevations, and the name is finely described upon. Those who have specially interested themselves in this are Major Wheeler, Mr. F.H. Peabody of west Street, Henry Sayles, Prof. Thayer, George B. Dorr, Serenes Rodick and others. The field work has been conducted by Mr. P.W. Blanchfield.