HARTFORD — Somewhere down the road, Hartford’s main drag will be lined with fruit trees, thanks to the vision of a local couple.
At their April 7 meeting, selectmen granted a request from Elizabeth Garcia O’Keefe and Arthur Harvey to plant fruit trees on town land along Main Street.
Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Lee Holman read a letter aloud about the project.
“We have a vision of Hartford Center from the Town Hall to Bim’s Garage: Let us line the road with apple trees — pears and plumbs every so often — wherever they can be out of the right of way and with enough sun and wherever the landowners agree,” Holman read.
O’Keefe said the planting of apple trees also has some historical significance. She noted the Baldwin apple was named after Col. Loammi Baldwin, who lived in Hartford, served in the American Revolution and is considered the father of American civil engineering.
She said they should plant a variety of trees in case frost or bad weather kills them.
“There is no expense because we bought the root stock and Arthur grafted the trees,” she said.
Some apple trees have already been planted at the Hartford Heritage Society and on the Westcott property. Other proposed locations include north of the small garden between the Town Office and Town Hall, south of the irises in front of the town’s oil tank, east of the path to the old salt pile, which is now a parking lot, and west of the town garage. In their letter, O’Keefe and Harvey indicated they’ve also received permission from the Hutchinses to plant on their property.
“Well, I think it’s a great idea,” Holman said. “It is not every day we can be quite as forward-thinking as that.”
“It’s gonna be pretty,” O’Keefe said.
Selectmen will meet with the couple to decide locations and address plowing and mowing needs.
The vote was 2-0 with Holman and Selectman Peg Poskus voting for the measure. Selectman Cathy Lowe was absent.
Holman said she was looking forward to enjoying some of the fruit.
“When they’re close to the road, it’s easy to stop and get some apples, because I have,” she said.
O’Keefe said they could use another donation of fencing. Anyone interested in donating to the project can contact the Town Office at 388-2674 or [email protected].
In other news, selectmen:
* Approved an underground location permit for Oxford Networks on Spring Road. “They are going to put in another one of these DSL booster things. We’ve seen them around town,” Holman said. “They’re all over the place. That’s why we’re able to have more than one person on the Internet at once.”
* Learned Road Commissioner Alan “Bim” McNeil graded Tucker, Darrington and Labrador Pond roads.
* Did not act on the Administration Policy amendments and retirement plan for town employees. “I still don’t feel like I am on top of it enough to come up with a retirement policy,” Holman said. She wants the board to make this a high priority for the coming year.
* Will create a sign-up sheet for a CPR class to train people on using a defibrillator the town acquired through a grant.
* Learned from Holman that Western Maine Transportation will give a presentation on its services at the Tuesday, April 26, selectmen meeting.
* Announced the town meeting report cover has a contest. Visit the Hartford, Maine, Facebook page to weigh in.
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