For you Appalachian Trail history buffs:
"Now the important thing to note is that the lowland areas were peppered with tote roads used in the timbering operations on the private forest lands. The bulk of the AT in Maine was in private ownership. These roads served as the first path for the AT to follow. By August 14, 1937, the final 2 mile link of the AT was completed on the north slope of Spaulding Mountain making the trail one continuous footpath along the East Coast.
Myles Fenton was one of builders of last two miles in Maine (see ATN November 1987). Fenton was among 7 members of the CCC who blazed the last two miles of the AT. He returned 50 years later to be recognized for his contribution to the trail. Readers might want to get a copy of this issue since it highlights several of the trail wide 50 year celebrations!
More details of the historic event are found in Field’s 1937 history of AT in Maine before the days of emails with the formality of letters:
“August 16, 1937. Leon P. Brooks, Principal Foreman, Camp P-66, Bridgton, Maine, to Myron Avery
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to a copy of your letter of August 7, sent to Mr. Billings. The Bridgton crew, under the supervision of Foreman Hicks, have been out on the trail for two weeks, including last week-end, therefore they are coming back out on August 20th to take the remainder of the week off to compensate for the overtime worked. They will return to the trail on Monday, August 23rd, at a point near the Ledge House.
If agreeable, and convenient with you, you could come to Bridgton and go up with the crew or meet them at Farmington about Monday noon.
The trail was completed to Bigelow Station on August 14, including the two miles of new construction. The present plan is to complete the trail then return and build the shelters.
[Note: This is the official notification of the completion of the Appalachian Trail.]
Any suggestions that you may see fit to offer will be carried out by Foreman Hicks. May we hope to see you on the 23rd of August?
P. S. It would be well to telegraph me as to the time and place of your arrival.”
Source: History of the Appalachian Trail in Maine –1937 - Transcribed by David Field - Page 161
From this formal communication, it seems the authors did not or could not anticipate the historic significance of the date or the event! Additional lean-tos were to be built in Maine and the trail always needed clearing for foot travel. About a year later in September 1938, the New England Hurricane devastated much of the AT and this required several years to reopen the full trail. This, of course, was followed by the war years of the 1940s, and during a period where the demand for timber was great. This meant that the roads were improved to reach the timber, and this in turn changed the character of the Maine Woods."
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Sound interesting? Check out this book published by the Appalachian Trail Museum.
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