Spragueville Extension showcases new fence at park

16 years ago
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer

    PRESQUE ISLE – Community members had the opportunity Aug. 23 to see the new, vinyl fence that was recently installed at the memorial park at the site of the historic Double Eagle II launch on the Spragueville Road in Presque Isle.

 

    SERVING REFRESHMENTS at the Double Eagle II memorial park on the Spragueville Road Aug. 23 were members of the Spragueville Homemakers Extension, from left: Marilyn Wheeler, LaVone Walters, Lois Griffin, Betty Ryder, Blanche Beckwith, Norma Gudreau and Ann Knight.

ImageStaff photo/Michael Gudreau

 

    Members of the Spragueville Homemakers Extension showcased the fence and served cookies, iced tea and lemonade.
    “We had between 40 and 50 people attend,” said publicity co-chairman Ann Knight. “The balloonists were there with their crew, and others coming from the community. We were pleased to see people come; we really didn’t know how many would show up.”
    “I was really pleased with the crowd that came,” said Marilyn Wheeler, Extension member. “We received a lot of positive comments about how nice the park looks. Everybody seemed to partake in the refreshments. It was a nice afternoon.”
    Knight said the fence was installed in June.
    “It replaced the old, dilapidated rail fence that we had,” she said. “The deer and the moose kept knocking it down … I hope they don’t do that with the vinyl one. It’s a lovely fence. It was so pretty the other day … the sun, the green grass, and flowers.”
    The fence, installed by Gervais Fence and Guardrail of Limestone, cost $5,750. The fence was paid for through donations the Extension had received.
    “We sent out letters in regards to the fence to the businesses in town, and we had a pretty fair response there,” said Wheeler. “We also received a donation from the Presque Isle Rec Department.”
    “We sponsored a hunter’s breakfast on Junior Hunter’s Day last fall,” said Knight, “and we made money there. We also served stew during the winter at the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club and proceeds went to the fence project. We also received some funds from the Presque Isle Rotary Club, as well as donations from local residents.”
    In total, the Extension raised about $7,000 through donations and fund-raisers.
    Wheeler said they will erect a sign at the memorial park with the names of the fence donors. The additional funds raised beyond the fence installation will cover the cost of the sign.
    The Extension oversees the park, and plants the flowers every year, which line the pathway leading up to the Double Eagle II monument.
    “The city owns the land,” said Knight, “and is in charge of the mowing and maintenance of the balloon replica.”
    Wheeler said she remembers watching the Double Eagle II take off from the Spragueville Road Aug. 11, 1978.
    “Me and my sister set up a hot dog stand and we sold 1,000 hot dogs and 1,000 cans of soda,” recalled Wheeler. “The balloon was delayed a little from taking off from what people thought would be the original time, so people were hungry and that really helped us. I think in the end people were eating a hot dog whether they had a roll or not.
    “We spent three or four days up there watching them prepare and get ready,” she said. “It was a very historic occasion and I’m glad I was there to watch it.”
    For more information on the Spragueville Homemakers Extension, call president Lois Griffin at 764-3006. The Extension meets the fourth Monday of each month – except for July and August – at 7 p.m. Contact Griffin for meeting location.

 

Staff photo/Scott Mitchell JohnsonImage
    A NUMBER OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON PILOTS and their crews who were in Presque Isle for the fifth annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest gathered Aug. 23 at the site of the historic Double Eagle II launch on the Spragueville Road to view the monument, enjoy cookies, iced tea and lemonade served by the Spragueville Homemakers Extension, and pose for this group photo.

 

 

ImageStaff photo/Michael Gudreau
    THE SPRAGUEVILLE HOMEMAKERS EXTENSION showcased the new, vinyl fence that was recently installed at the memorial park at the site of the historic Double Eagle II launch on the Spragueville Road in Presque Isle. The fence, installed by Gervais Fence and Guardrail of Limestone, cost $5,750. The fence was paid for through donations and fund-raisers. While at the Aug. 23 celebration – held in conjunction with the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest – the Extension served cookies, iced tea and lemonade.