East Sangerville Grange performs annual community service at Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary
ELLIOTTSVILLE — Many people know and love Borestone Mountain. Hundreds climb its steep two-mile trail each year to marvel at the spectacular 360-degree view to be had atop the nearly 2000 ft. high peak.
photo courtesy of East Sangerville Grange
SPRING FIX-UP — East Sangerville Grange members Mike Kagan and Toby Hall replace cedar shingles on one of the Maine Audubon Society’s lodge buildings on Borestone Mountain.
Part of the payoff is a glimpse of Borestone’s historic rustic lodges that are tucked between the craggy rocks and trees next to Midday and Sunset Ponds. Each spring, members of the East Sangerville Grange devote a weekend to helping ready the buildings to welcome annual visitors.
Built in the early 1900s, Borestone’s rustic Adirondack-style lodges are available for rental through the Maine Audubon Society. But before the season begins, all sorts of chores need to be done ranging from sweeping, scrubbing, and airing out the cabins to removing shutters, making needed repairs, hauling in propane tanks and putting in the dock.
It’s a job that many hands make much easier. The members of East Sangerville Grange are more than happy to oblige and have been doing so for the past 10 years as an in-kind contribution to the Maine Audubon Society. “It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it,” says Alan Bray, overseer of East Sangerville Grange. “It’s a time to enjoy the camaraderie of friends and have a big dinner in the most beautiful dining room in Maine.”
This spring’s work weekend included taking time to honor Don Annis, who retired recently after eight years as the mountain’s onsite property manager.
Grange members will return to Borestone in October as they do every fall to help close the lodges for the winter.
The East Sangerville Grange is one of the six subordinate Granges of the Piscataquis Pomona No. 11 in Piscataquis County and is part of the Maine State Grange system. The Grange was founded in the late 1800s to support and sustain the local agricultural community. More information can be found at www.grange.org/eastsangervilleme177/