Walking tour created for town

    Business students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle have spent the past year working on a project to help the town of Limestone with its tourism efforts.     Students in several of Professor Bob Murray’s business classes have worked to create, develop and promote a self-guided historical walking tour of Limestone. The project, being done in conjunction with the Limestone Historical Society, is saving the town time and money that it would have had to spend if it had these services done professionally or if it had done the work itself.
    Last summer, students began the first steps of the project – selecting the sites to be featured in the walking tour with the help of the Limestone Historical Society. The sites are easily accessible for everyone – young or old, handicapped or not. Society members provided the information for each of the 13 buildings and landmarks showcased – including the Trafton House, the Cyr Store and the Kearney Cemetery – and students designed the path participants would take to view the entire tour.
    During the Fall of 2007, three students compiled the information and helped to prepare a pamphlet of the walking tour. During the Spring of 2008, four more students applied the various marketing techniques they learned about in class to create awareness for the Limestone walking tour. And, finally, this summer, one more student devoted time to bringing media attention to the walking tour.
    Students who participated in the project included: Joanna McGlinn, Ashley Brooker, Liza Maynard, Rachael Willey, Brett Mayhew, Matthew Dubay, Harriet Huntley, Amanda Williams and Jenna Flanagin.
    The goal of the project is to bring more visitors to the area and serve as a boost to the local economy. This project is one of the initiatives that has come out of Limestone’s Strategic Planning process and the Greater Limestone Economic Development Committee, chaired by Carl Flora, CEO of the Loring Development Authority.
    “This is a win-win situation because the students are gaining valuable experience in tourism marketing, and the Limestone community will benefit with an increase of visitors to the town,” Murray said.
    For more information about the project, contact Jenna Flanagin, the student coordinating media coverage this summer for the project, at 408-505-8659.