The Francis E. Montville Memorial Aquatics Area Project
Greenland Point Center
University of Maine at Machias
The waterfront area is an important teaching and recreational area for our conservation and education programs. Children have lessons in boating safety, personal water safety, canoe safety, fly-fishing, astronomy, and freshwater wildlife on the docks. Recreationally the docks are used to provide an enclosed, safe swim area that can easily be supervised. The water outsiude the dock enclosure provides excellent fishing, with many children catching their first fish there. The docks provide a safe and efficient loading and departure point for the camp's large boats, including three twenty foot sailboats. The docks also provide a relaxing area for campers and staff to socialize while enjoying a pristine Maine lake.
The propsed dock system should be a sixty by sixty foot "U" with the shore closing the opening of the "U". The sides should be five feet wide, with the lake side being eight to ten feet wide, with a total carrying capacity of 50 campers.
The docks need to be sturdy and solid but have the ability to be disassembled and stored by three or four college students. In our research, we have found that metal-framed docks with cedar decking would meet these requirements. These docks are built to last fifteen to twenty years. The estimated cost from inquires made last year range from $10,900 to $14,000.
A campaign was done to fund this project. The campaign and resulting dock system was done in memory
of Francis E. Montville, a dedicated outdoorsman, that gave his time to backing fishing and conservation education,
to the people of Maine, especially to the youth. Fran was a regular volunteer instructor at Greenland Point Center,
until his untimely death in the winter of 1999.
