Appleton approves Sherman’s Mill Pond land acquisition to create Getchell Family Park
Shermans Mill Pond (Photo courtesy Lorie Costigan)
Shermans Mill Pond lies near the Peabody Road and Sleepy Hollow Road.
Lot 18 on Map 22 of the Appleton tax maps sits at the intersection of Sleepy Hollow and Peasetown roads.
Shermans Mill Pond (Photo courtesy Lorie Costigan)
Shermans Mill Pond lies near the Peabody Road and Sleepy Hollow Road.
Lot 18 on Map 22 of the Appleton tax maps sits at the intersection of Sleepy Hollow and Peasetown roads.
APPLETON — Four months after introducing to townspeople the idea of acquiring four acres of Sherman’s Mill Pond frontage, voters gave their landslide approval November 30.
The vote was taken at a special town meeting, with polls remaining open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the fire station for citizens to cast their ballots.
With that, 164 Appleton citizens, out of a population of approximately 1,400, made their ways to the polls to consider two questions:
Article 1: “Shall the Town approve an expenditure from surplus, not to exceed $80,000, to purchase 4 acres on Sherman’s Mill Pond – Map 22 Lot 018 – to create the Getchell Family Park to preserve freshwater access, provide future recreational opportunity, and provide a location for a dry fire hydrant water source for the Town of Appleton?”
Article 2: “Shall the Town pursue and, if available, accept funding through the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Land for Maine’s Future, American Recovery Plan Act, and others toward the purchase of the parcel described in Article 1?”
Out of the 164 voters, five opposed the two measures, while 158-159 voted yes (the discrepancy of one vote is attributed to a blank ballot on Article 1).
“The vote was a wonderful show of community spirit and unity,” said Select Board Chair Lorie Costigan, Dec. 2. “Notes left following the vote expressed gratitude for memories of old and the knowledge more will be made in future generations.”
Sherman’s Mill Pond is approximately 37 acres in size, long and narrow, with a maximum depth of six feet. It was created with the construction of a dam on Allen Brook, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
“An agreement, dated in 1899, was made to allow the land to be flooded from the first day of September to the first day of April each year,” IF&W said. “Sometime during this agreement, the brook remained permanently flooded and thus the pond became a ‘great pond’; owned by the State of Maine.”
Over the years, and under Getchell Family ownership, the public was allowed to traverse the land to get to the pond. But others weren't so familiar with the Getchell’s generous legacy.
“Residents were wholeheartedly pleased to know this slice of life in Appleton will be preserved,” said Costigan. “One of the best comments came from a woman in Burketville who had always wanted to kayak but felt it was trespassing.”
In August, Appleton’s Acting Fire Chief Prent Marriner said the area’s water supply for the fire department is underserved and a hydrant placed at the pond could help the town’s fire safety system.
Appleton had assessed the parcel at $104,000. In August, the Getchells proposed that figure be the sale price, and suggested a charitable donation of $29,400 at the time of the sale, making a sale price of $75,000.
According to Costigan, conversations with Maine’s Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have already begun to obtain assistance with planning and funding.
On November 18, at an Appleton public hearing on the special town meeting warrant, IF&W’s chief planner, Diano Circo, had, said Costigan, told the town that opportunities such as the Shermans’ Mill Pond offer are rare in the Midcoast, given the highly competitive real estate market.
“He urged residents to seize the opportunity,” she said. “With 97 percent approval they did just that and now the town will begin to design access points and work on potential funding offers. A lot of work ahead, to be sure, but all forward movement for now and generations to come and that reality needs to be celebrated.”
Costigan had noted last summer that Appleton lacks public access to any ponds or lakes for recreation. While residents can access a stretch of the St. George River, the larger waterbodies are in private ownership.
“We couldn’t thank the Getchells enough, for their years of generosity and for their willingness to work with the town and turn away from what we all know to be an explosive real estate market,” said Costigan.
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657
