The Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA) has been busy all summer laying out a new trail on their 95 acre property at the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden. The historic courthouse grounds, set on 20 acres on the Eastern River side of Rt. 128, has a short nature trail along the river.
East of Rt. 128 is 75 acres of woods, which is home to two miles of new trail. LCHA volunteers blazed trails there earlier this summer. A Maine Conservation Corps field team crew has been busy at work building bridges over small streams and ravines. MCC hopes to complete five of seven bridges this week.
In 2010, LCHA logged off the bottom third of the property. Project director George Keyes walked the property, and was so impressed with the diversity of trees on the remaining unharvested section, that LCHA decided to construct a walking trail.
“I realized what a wonderful woodlot it was,” Keyes said. “I was very impressed by the woodlands, their extraordinary variety, scale and variety of growth make it quite a special place. I hope it becomes very special to people. We decided to reach out to a much larger constituency.”
LCHA applied and received a Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands grant, which paid for materials and MCC labor costs. Keyes said the trail is the first public land in Dresden with hiking trails. “That made it very attractive to the State. We were very fortunate to attain a grant,” Keyes said.
The trail system consists of a series of three loops, which can also be hiked in a giant loop around the perimeter. Although all the bridges have not been built, the trails are well marked with yellow, orange and blue blazes, and are ready for hikers. Extra care is needed in sections where bridges have not been built, as portions are steep and rocks can be slippery when wet.
LCHA plans to build two kiosks for the new trail system, one to be located at Pownalborough Court House, and one across Rt. 128 at the trail head. Parking is at the courthouse.
The trail starts at the far end of a field located across from the Rt. 128 entrance to Pownalborough Court House. Enter the woods on an old road bed, called Rangeway, or Cross Road. This old road goes out to Common Road.
Three trails branch off of Cross Road. The first, Hardwood Slope, follows a stonewall then circles around and joins South Ravine Trail. The Hardwood Slope Trail is blazed only and has not been cleared. The second trail off Cross Road is the South Ravine Trail. The North Ravine Trail branches off the South Ravine Trail and rejoins it at the Eastern edge of the property. South Ravine Trail circles around and rejoins Cross Road.
The trails are open to hiking and snowshoeing only. No ATV’s or bicycles will be allowed.
Future plans call for linking the Nature Trail at the courthouse to the new trails. Keyes hopes LCHA can connect the two next year. For now, hikers park at the courthouse and walk down the dirt driveway, cross Rt. 128 and follow the path through the field to the trail head.
The 18th century Pownalborough Court House was built in 1761. The grounds formerly were home to two forts, Ft. Frankfurt and Ft. Shirley. The Cross Road Trail, was used by the Rev. Jacob Bailey, who preached at a church on Common Road.
The grand opening of the trails will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10 at Pownalborough Court House’s 250th birthday celebration. LCHA and Dresden Recreation Committee plan a grand celebration, starting at 9 a.m. and lasting all day.
A parade of judges, many dressed in period costumes starts festivities. There will be a living history exhibit with 20 historians and exhibits including a forge, cooper (barrel maker), shingle mill, hand lathe, colonial cooking, and loom and textile equipment.
There will be 18th century games to play, including rounders, fox and geese, quoits, and corn hole, to name a few. Artists will be painting and selling their works. The Bath Municipal Band will play at 12:30 p.m. The militia will form a procession, which will include Sheriff Todd Brackett dressed in period costume.
An Episcopal minister will give the invocation and history of the courthouse, followed by a musket and three pound cannon salute.
Castlebay will play and call traditional Irish fold dances from 5-7 p.m. They will play period Irish music they found at Pejepscot Historical Museum in Brunswick.
The 18th century Pownalborough Court House is the crown jewel of LCHA’s properties and one of Maine’s singular historical treasures. It was a major outpost in the region’s legal system when Maine was part of Massachusetts. John Adams was among the legal figures of the day who conducted business there. The courthouse was built in 1761 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The LCHA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the history of Lincoln County. It welcomes new members and volunteers. See www.lincolncountyhistory.org for more information.