BYRON – About half the town turned out, along with several state officials, to laud First Selectman Steve Duguay for his successful efforts to preserve the land around Coos Canyon at a special celebration last week.
But Duguay said that although he had the idea several years ago, the successful fund drive to buy those nine acres was a joint effort by many people.
“I wish they hadn’t of done that, but they did. It was a group effort,” he said, adding Tuesday evening that the event was “pretty cool.”
Most people from the area, and many from outside, had believed that the popular swimming hole, picnic area and gold-panning site off Route 17 was owned by the state largely because the Maine Department of Transportation maintains the area. But it wasn’t.
Duguay began his drive to get public ownership of the property several years ago when he wrote a letter to then-owner, Mead Paper Co. After the land was sold to Bayroot LLC about three years ago, that letter turned up.
He then began working to find ways to pay the $80,000 asking price to protect the nine acres. The deal was closed this spring.
Jerry Bley, owner of Creative Conservation of Readfield, was instrumental in getting much of the money through Land for Maine’s Future and the Outdoor Heritage Fund, said Duguay. The two organizations contributed about $70,000 toward the purchase price. Another nearly $14,000 was raised through private donations. The excess funds were used to pay lawyer fees and other miscellaneous expenses.
The $14,000 was raised by donations as small as $5 from people whose families have visited the site for generations.
“People from all over the country sent us money. We’ve sent them all thank-yous,” said Selectman Bruce Simmons. “Steve was the one that got it all started. He had the foresight to get it going.”
Patricia Duguay, executive director of the River Valley Growth Council, also led a fund-drive to get the required cash. In just four weeks, those efforts netted about $10,000.
Although Steve Duguay said it was a group effort, Town Clerk Rosie Susbury said the plaque specifically singled out Duguay because he put so much work into it.
The plaque cites Steve Duguay as having the foresight and dedication to his community to make Coos Canyon available for all to enjoy, said Susbury.
Steve Duguay said he is pleased with the result of his and the town’s efforts.
“It’s a done deal, and it is open to the state of Maine. It’s owned by Byron,” he said.
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