York town farm tour explores historic value
Source: seacoastonline.com, by Chris Quartarone
January 22, 2007
YORK, Maine -- Gary Stevens, a resident of Ferncroft Road, wants the town farm, which his home borders, to be essentially left alone.
"I've played around here my whole life, and my kids have been playing here their whole lives," he said.
Recently, about 15 York residents, along with members of the Historic District Commission, toured the 12-acre town farm to try to determine the best use of the land while giving it a firsthand look.
Former selectman Ron Nowell, a member of the residents' group known as the Committee to Preserve the Historic Town Farm, led the tour. He applied to the Historic District Commission to have the property declared a historic site providing agricultural, historical and passive recreational uses.
Elizabeth Woodbury, of the Historic District Commission, wanted to see the town farm firsthand before deciding on the matter.
The HDC wants to review all the information before making any decisions. Whether or not the town farm is historically relevant is yet to be determined," she said.
The HDC will have a meeting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the York Senior Center. The Committee to Preserve the Historic Town Farm will present its information, and the HDC will decide if it will sponsor the property as a historic site.
The proposal to designate an area as an historic site needs to be initiated by the selectmen, the Planning Board, the local historical society, the Historic District Commission or by a petition signed by 100 or more residents of the town, according to the Historic District Commission.
During the tour, Nowell showed many historical spots, including a grave of a Civil War soldier. He also described the countless events that have occurred on the farm over the centuries. The land was originally given to the town in 1675.
Chris Colby, who has been running the town farm community garden for 20 years, has spent countless days at the farm.
"I hang out here all the time. It's such a fun place," he said, "We grow all kinds of things here and even some rare things like kiwis from China."
The town farm had been up for sale until Jan. 8. It was then pulled off the market by selectmen who voted unanimously against selling the Long Sands Road property for three 30,000-square-foot housing lots after people voiced their opposition.
Many residents, including Helen Rollins Lord, got involved after hearing the town farm might no longer be.
"I was going to get out of politics, but this brought me back in," she said, "There's so much educational value to this property. Getting rid of it would not be a good thing."
Committee member Howard Koeppel is amazed at the positive response he has received.
"Saving the farm has taken a turn I hadn't expected. I've gotten many phone calls from families wanting to get involved," he said, "The history here is unbelievable."
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