Preserve Baxter’s history

Not everyone was as enthralled with the stewardship of Baxter State Park under former director Buzz Caverly as the politicians who heaped accolades on him last month at a retirement party at the University of Maine.

In fact, those who were quoted by Bangor Daily News reporter Nick Sambides were not the many local people nor the park rangers who experienced close-up the effect of his misguided policies. Likewise, campers at Daicey Pond returned last year to find that Caverly had initiated the destruction and removal of three cabins that have graced the pond for a hundred years; one with a sign in front of an empty space arrogantly declaring: “Restoration in progress.”

He and the park authority rejected the offer of a cadre of cabin experts and engineers, and a construction company that volunteered its time, at no cost to the park, to go to Daicey Pond and restore these gems of Maine backwoods history. In fact, they never responded to this generous offer.

As a historian who has written extensively on the legacy and need for preservation of the old cabins for the past 20 years, I am appalled at the wanton disregard for their one-of-a-kind place in Maine history. Because of his gross ineptitude and mismanagement in this matter, Caverly will not be a candidate for sainthood any time soon. This despite his political correctness and coy posturing as Gov. Percival Baxter’s spokesman, protector and savior.

It’s abundantly clear that the park authority under the leadership of Attorney General Steven Rowe was negligent in not exercising more control over park affairs. Those of us who are familiar with the petty intrigues and arrogant attitudes that have characterized its governance look forward to the appointment of someone who is above politics as usual. Someone perhaps outside the current circle of insiders who witnessed this wonderful resource of nature turn into a little fiefdom at the whim of one man’s ego.

The old sporting camps have been a cash cow for park revenues for 35 years. Cosmetic upkeep is short-lived. If wood structures can last 500 years in Europe and elsewhere, why not in Baxter State Park? The fact that a new director will soon be appointed leaves us hope that someone with vision and integrity can put the policies in place to save the 20 remaining cabins at Daicey and Kidney ponds, all of which are in dire need of restoration. If Baxter State Park does not have the expertise to restore the camps, we know where there are people who do. Why not preserve this rich piece of Maine history for future generations to enjoy?

The rustic elegance that a stay in these cabins evokes is something that many people cherish and look forward to all year round. Given the past attitudes and actions of “destroy and remove,” there will be no cabins left in a very short time. I hope Mainers will encourage the park authority to abandon the indifferent and negligent policy of the past and act to preserve a part of Baxter State Park that the late governor recognized as being in keeping with his vision of nature and history.

George Kerivan is a resident of Benedicta.