The Wilderness from Chamberlain Farm: A Story Of Hope For The American Wild - Hardcover

Bennett, Dean B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1559637293 ISBN 13: 9781559637299

Publisher: Island Press, 2001

Synopsis

Deep in the wildlands of northern Maine is a remote piece of land with a small point sheltering a shallow cove along the shore of an expansive lake. Used as a campsite by indigenous peoples for thousands of years, the land was cleared in the mid-1800s, developed into a lumber depot and named Chamberlain Farm. Following a period of neglect after a century of use by lumbermen, the area was turned into a rustic enclave for hunting and fishing enthusiasts. In recent years as civilization encroached, it became the focus of protection efforts by wilderness lovers who sought to ensure preservation and keep in it some semblance of its former wildness.In The Wilderness from Chamberlain Farm, historian Dean B. Bennett traces those transformations, bringing to life the people involved, their motivations, and the interconnected effects of their actions. Beginning 10,000 years ago with the retreat of the glaciers, Bennett offers an overview of the forces that shaped the land, and the visitors to and inhabitants of this place once known as Apmoojenegamook -- "lake that is crossed." We meet one of the first American owners of the property, David Pingree, and his agent E. S. Coe, who kept a tight rein on operations from the 1840s until the turn of the century. An acquaintance of Coe and visitor during that time was Henry David Thoreau, who passed through the area on one of his excursions in the Maine woods. We also are introduced to the indomitable Patty and Al Nugent, who staked a claim on the land and built a sporting camp with their own hands that has served as a haven for outdoorsmen from the 1930s to the present day. And we learn of the efforts of Senator Edmund S. Muskie and others to protect this wild river area, culminating in the creation of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and its federal designation as the nation's first state-administered riverway in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.The dynamic history of the farm and its setting illuminate society's evolving perspective on the natural world around us. The Wilderness from Chamberlain Farm describes and explains the perspectives revealed by those attracted to the farm and its environment, and those who fought to protect the Allagash, offering a valuable lens through which to understand the changing relationship of people and the land.

About this title

About the Author

Dean B. Bennett is professor emeritus at the University of Maine at Farmington. Much of his professional life has been devoted to teaching and writing in the fields of science and environmental education, natural history, and human relationships with nature. His books include Allagash: Maine's Wild and Scenic River (Down East Books, 1994) and The Forgotten Nature of New England (Down East Books, 1996).

 Stewart L. Udall was elected to four terms as congressman from Arizona before being appointed by President John F. Kennedy to be secretary of the interior, a position he held for eight years during the administrations of President Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson. He is the author of The Quiet Crisis and many other works.

Reviews

A remote piece of land located in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in northwestern Maine, Chamberlain Farm has undergone many changes since it served as a camping place for indigenous peoples. In this study of the various economic, political, and cultural forces that have profoundly affected this land, Bennett (environmental education, emeritus, Univ. of Maine, Farmington; Allagash) shows how these forces "reflected society's evolving beliefs and attitudes regarding nature and wilderness." In the mid-1800s, for example, the site attracted lumber barons who valued wealth and dominance over nature, whereas in the late 20th century it attracted urbanites who wanted playgrounds for their motorized boats and bikes. The desire to preserve the integrity of wilderness areas has become more important to Americans as the number of pristine places has dwindled. Bennett argues that only constant vigilance against private interests can protect unique places like the Chamberlain Farm. Written with an abundance of historical details and a sincere affection for the Maine forests and rivers, this book is recommended for environmental, natural history, and local Maine collections in academic and public libraries. Ilse Heidmann, San Marcos, TX
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Island Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1559637293
• ISBN 13: 9781559637299
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 359