The Rangeley Lakes Maine

This book encompasses the region’s six major lakes — Aziscohos, Kennebago, Mooselookmeguntic, Rangeley, Richardson, and Parmachenee — as well as the mountains, ponds, and rivers that surround them. It is presented one lake at a time, interspersed with side trips to the sights and activities you find, or do, around a Rangeley region lake, mountain, or stream. It’s an eclectic journey, taking things as they come, expected or unexpected, which is the best way to explore the Rangeleys.

Rangeley, Maine, was settled in 1817 when Luther Hoar brought his family from Madrid to a log cabin he had built on the shore of Rangeley Lake. Several others families soon arrived, cleared land, and began farming. It was a small farming community only until the 1850s though. Lumber barons had arrived in the late 1840s, built dams, and started logging the vast timberlands. Soon after, fishermen from Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington arrived to fish the multitude of lakes, ponds, and streams. By 1900, Rangeley was a bustling town with several hotels and two railroad lines. The big hotel era ended after World War II, and secondary residences began to dominate the scene. Today, thousands of visitors come to Rangeley annually to take advantage of the beautiful scenery and crystal clear waters and participate in numerous outdoor activities.

Maneskootuk Island lies prominently in the eastern part of Maines ten-square-mile Rangeley Lake, in one of the state's most beautiful vacation regions, the western mountains. The pristine island has had a colorful, lively history that is lovingly-and candidly-recounted by the woman who holds the current deed, Carolyn Garrigues Scofield. The Island Maneskootuk includes accounts of the historic island's flora and fauna, its various boats, old and new structures, gardens, and countless resident and local characters. There are colorful accounts by the author and her family and visitors, as well as the descendants of early Maneskootuk residents, describing life on the island through many decades, llustrated throughout by fifty pages of historic and family photos. Setting the tone for The Island Maneskootuk is the author's heartfelt approach to the island treasure that has meant so much to her, her family and now her grandchildren. "The Dicksons built their big house and lived in splendor, the public rented accommodations on the island when Dr.Clough invited physicians, the Persians turned the island into a mini-principality, and then we, the Scofields stepped ashore. "We stepped foot on our Maneskootuk in late afternoon. The grass was at least a foot high, and the dandelions blazed at their peak. The sun was still hot and everything was still. We marveled at this place, this magical land, and began immediately to bask in the peace and serenity of our island home. "Our Maneskootuk adventure was about to begin."

From inland peaks and forests to the bold and rocky shore, Maine provides habitat for more than 400 species of birds--roughly half of the species that can be found in all of North America. That wealth of birdlife, coupled with spectacular scenery, has ranked the state high on many birders' lists, and few have observed its loons and puffins, owls and eagles, more thoroughly than Liz and Jan Pierson and Peter Vickery. The Piersons, who have been birding together for more than twenty years, coauthored A Birder's Guide to the Coast of Maine in 1981. Deciding it was time to revise and expand the scope of that book, the Piersons spent two years in the field doing research and enlisted the help of another longtime Maine birder - avian ecologist and author Peter Vickery. The result is this fascinating and comprehensive new guide, which covers both coastal and inland areas of the state. Want to see a Willet? Need a Green Heron to cap off a bird list? Salt marshes are the place to look. Where are the best spots to watch hawks? Try York's Mt. Agamenticus or Popham Beach State Park. Broken down by region - from the waters of Biddeford Pool to the mountains of Baxter State Park - this handy book offers birders an in-depth look at the birds characteristic to the various ecosystems found in Maine. It also provides a timetable for birding as well as easy-to-follow directions to the best sites. An invaluable resource, A Birder's Guide to Maine deserves a spot next to the binoculars in any birder's backpack.