News
Fishermen, museum unite to save waterfront access
The Old York Historical Society seeks grant funds to turn part of its property into a fishing facility.
By ANNE GLEASON, Staff Writer
Portland Press-Herald
May 12, 2008
YORK — Fishermen and the Old York Historical Society have formed an unusual partnership in an attempt to secure the working waterfront in York's squeezed harbor.
The historical society is applying this week for a grant through the statewide Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program.
The group hopes to turn part of its John Hancock Wharf property into a commercial fishing facility for lease to three or four fishermen. The museum would continue to own the property and use the back part, which is home to two historic buildings: the John Hancock Warehouse and the George Marshall Store.
The plan is the latest example of how fishermen in York are working with nontraditional partners to preserve their access to the waterfront.
John Ewing/Staff PhotographerJohn Ewing/Staff Photographer
“We see this as preserving our heritage,” Scott Stevens, executive director of the Old York Historical Society, says of a proposal to lease part of the group’s property to fishermen.
Early in this decade, two lobstermen worked with the York Land Trust to secure the Sewall's Bridge Dock.
Over the past couple of decades, commercial fishermen in York have steadily lost access to the harbor as properties have changed hands.
It's a problem that many communities in southern Maine have had.
York Harbor is home to 23 full-time lobstermen and groundfishermen, and all but three use the town's dock facilities. Sewall's Bridge Dock, secured with the land trust partnership, is used by two lobstermen, and another has an arrangement with a private owner.
Bob Donnell, a lobsterman in York, said fishermen can wait as long as an hour and a half some afternoons when using the town's facilities. The John Hancock Wharf proposal, Donnell said, would take pressure off the town dock.
"I think it's a great thing for everyone in the harbor," he said.
About five years ago, the York Land Trust worked with lobstermen Mark Sewall and Jeff Donnell to secure Sewall's Bridge Dock, along the York River. Eileen Sewall, wife of Mark Sewall, is now working with the historical society and others to re-create that success.
"We're hoping that the state will understand that the pressure in southern Maine is extreme," she said.
Lobsterman Ed Blanar was the first to approach Scott Stevens, executive director of the historical society, about 10 years ago to inquire about using the John Hancock Wharf.
The working waterfront grant opportunity finally made the project financially feasible for both parties.
A state grant is being sought to fund the $172,000 renovation of York’s John Hancock Wharf into a commercial fishing site – a proposal first made by a lobsterman, Ed Blanar, in 1998.
"This is unbelievable that they're even considering it," Blanar said. "When have you ever heard of (a property) going backwards? It usually goes to someone outside of Maine and a 'no trespassing' sign goes up."
Fishermen in York Harbor at one time had six access points with hoists, Blanar said.
In the past few decades, a couple of lobster pounds closed down, property changed hands and commercial access disappeared.
John Hancock Wharf was used by a commercial fisherman for years, until the early 1980s. In recent years, the historical society has leased the wharf to recreational boaters in the summer and allowed lobstermen to tie up there in the winter.
The $172,000 proposed project would turn the wharf into a largely full-service commercial fishing site, with an expanded float area, a dock structure that could support trucks, a refrigerated bait shed and a hoist. The wharf structure also needs repair.
The project would let the historical society use grant money to repair the structure, which would otherwise have been costly for the nonprofit organization.
"(Sewall's Dock) was a success story, and we would love to create another one," Stevens said. "We see this as preserving our heritage."
The town is also working on a project to expand its facilities for commercial fishermen. The waterfront grant would ensure another property that supports commercial fishing forever.
"This is like a gift," Blanar said. "Even if I don't tie up there, I just want it for future generations."
Staff Writer Anne Gleason can be contacted at 282-8229 or at: agleason@pressherald.com
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