Family’s vista is priceless

There is an interesting and telling contrast between the actions of William P. Stewart and the family of Robert E. Suminsby. Stewart joined the Northeast Harbor community as a summer resident in the early 1990s after purchasing two adjacent shorefront properties, razing one of the two houses and building a much larger dwelling in its place.

In 1993, Stewart built a 350-foot permanent pier into the waters of Somes Sound in front of his properties. During the summer months, a 36-foot by 72-foot float via a 40-foot ramp is attached to this dock, and a motorboat and large sailboat are docked there.

In 1995, Kathryn Suminsby and her husband Robert, lifelong and year-round residents of Northeast Harbor, placed a conservation easement on their Somes Sound property, now called the Viewing Field. Their purpose, as specifically stated in the conservation easement, is “to preserve the scenic and undeveloped character of the protected property, the availability of the field on the protected property to the general public who may wish to enjoy the view of Somes Sound, and the availability of the roadside parking area for temporary daytime use by motorists who may wish to enjoy the view of Somes Sound from the protected property.”

If you have had the opportunity to visit the Viewing Field, you understand what a magnificent and unspoiled vista this is. Almost the entire northern span of the sound and the south side of Acadia Mountain unfold before your eyes. The only impediment, and indeed it is just that, is Stewart’s pier.

Had the Suminsby family looked upon this piece of property in material terms, they could have sold it for, literally, millions of dollars, and some wealthy person would have bought it up and built a summer house there, greatly compromising the public view. However, the preservation of the scenic beauty and natural character of Somes Sound meant and means so much more to this family than any material gain.

Their central thought was and remains the preservation of this beautiful area for everyone, residents and visitors alike. The entire community of Northeast Harbor along with thousands of visitors who love to come to cast their eyes upon this body of water nestled within Acadia National Park should be everlastingly grateful.

Now Stewart wishes to make another encroachment upon Somes Sound, for he plans to add more floats and more boats to his already large dock complex. Indeed, he wishes to double his float space to 3,500 square feet in order to accommodate a 154-foot vessel and several additional smaller boats.

Would that Stewart understood and learned from the selflessness and sensitivity of the Suminsby family.

Redmond Finney lives in Upperco, Md.