WELLS — In the mid-1980s, urban sprawl was occurring throughout Maine, and many rural areas were being developed. Conservation and being green were not so much in the general social consciousness as they are today.
But in Wells, someone with forethought and the desire to protect at least a portion of what made Maine so special took action.
The year was 1985 when Maurice “Moe” Fenderson decided he would like to see a portion of some of the land he owned in western Wells stay permanently in its undeveloped state.
He and his wife, Evelyn, donated the first 50 acres of what is now known as the George and Effie Fenderson Wildlife Commons to the Town of Wells. Over the years, the couple has donated a total of approximately 350 acres of land to the town, which makes up about half of the conservation commons. It is named after Moe Fenderson’s parents, who first owned a portion of the land.
Moe and Evelyn Fenderson, with their four children, had once lived on the property after they built a home there in 1967, said Evelyn Fenderson.
“At that time, there was absolutely nothing up there,” she said. “My husband loved the woods, he loved the area.”
Moe, who died in 2008, donated the land to the town, she said, because “he decided he didn’t want to see that land as a housing development. He thought he would like to see it remain as it is.”
In recognition of Moe Fenderson’s generosity, on Sunday, Nov. 10, a trail at the Fenderson Wildlife Commons was named in his honor.
“Moe’s Trail is open to the public for their enjoyment and to present them with the same opportunity to wander this natural forested parcel that Moe had during his life,” said Owen Grumbling, chairman of the Wells Conservation Commission and a professor in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of New England in Biddeford.
Grumbling said the town owes the Fendersons a debt of gratitude.
During the 1980s, he said, the town was going through a growth spurt. He and other members of the conservation commission wanted to preserve natural habitats that were in danger of development, he said.
At first, “we tried to effect conservation through the zoning process, without much success,” Grumbling said.
Then, the Fendersons made their donation, and conservation commission members began the process of protecting land by either accepting land donations, purchasing property from willing owners or working with property owners to place land in conservation easements.
This process has proved very successful, said Grumbling.
Today, there is a total of approximately 1,500 acres of undeveloped natural habitat that are forever preserved in four separate conservation commons, with about six to seven miles of trails combined.
In addition to the Fenderson Wildlife Commons, the town owns the Tilton Homestead Wildlife Commons, the Great Haith Wildlife Commons and the Perkinstown Wildlife Commons.
These four areas are called conservation or wildlife commons, said Grumbling, because during colonial times, town commons were established in many New England communities, as areas where townspeople shared pasture for their cows and goats.
He noted that the land now known as the Fenderson Wildlife Commons was a town commons where livestock pastured in Wells’ colonial past. Today, said Grumbling, these wildlife commons are for the use and enjoyment of all townspeople.
“It’s for all the people and all the other creatures in the town, that live in the town together,” he said.
There are three primary goals for preserving undeveloped land in conservation commons, he said. These include protecting natural habitat for wildlife, especially endangered species; maintaining land for traditional outdoor recreation like hiking, birding, snowshoeing, hunting, picnicking or just taking a walk in nature; and providing opportunities for environmental education.
Protecting the land also benefits the town in other ways, said Grumbling.
Preserving natural resources helps protect water quality, he said, which is important for the lobster, fishing and tourism industries, as well as for the many residents who rely on well water.
Town residents are aware of the value of land conservation, said Grumbling: “The people of Wells get it.”
And they have used their pocketbooks to back up the belief. Since 1985, residents have voted to allocate money to a special land bank fund, said conservation commission member and Trail Manager Markus Diebolt.
“The Town of Wells is one of only a few towns in the entire state that has a voter-approved, publicly funded land bank for the purpose of acquiring qualified lands that offer significant characteristics worthy of conservation,” according to Diebolt.
In the last two years, voters approved $100,000 each year to go that fund, he said. Today, said Diebolt, there is approximately $500,000 in the fund.
The money is being saved to be spent in an emergency, he said, such as when an important piece of property comes up for sale and must be purchased immediately.
In most cases, said Diebolt, the town has been very lucky and has received land donations or grants to buy parcels.
Diebolt said he is personally appreciative of all those who have made the wildlife commons possible.
As the trail manager, he said, “I’m out there weekly.”
Both he and Grumbling said they like to “play in the woods.”
“If everyone played in the woods every week for a few hours,” said Grumbling, “people would be a lot happier.”
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
