Bliss Woods and the Olins - Beal Farmland

The Freeport Conservation Trust as well as other conservation minded people were able to preserve nearly 100 acres from being turned into a subdivision back in the mid 1990's. In fact if you walk into the woods, you can still see surveying tape on some of the trees. My wife and I owned a lot on Bliss Woods way several years ago. We sold it to a couple who used Michael Welsher as their builder. It is one of the most attractive new homes in Freeport.

Across the street from Bliss Woods is one of my favorite farms owned by Olins and Beal. They own 36 acres of lovely pastureland. Although it technically isn't in conservation, 21 acres is in a "farmland" classification while the remaining 13 acres is in "tree growth". Tree growth classification is a way you can reduce your property taxes. The South Freeport community and visitors from away benefit hugely from having this buccolic open space.

South Freeport Post Office

The South Freeport post office is a daily community gathering spot. Home delivery isn't an option in the village. Larry Welsher, a well known builder in the area, owns the South Freeport Post Office. He in fact built it back in 1980. The U.S. Postal Service rents this space from Welsher. (I'm crediting Down East: The Magazine of Maine for this information) If you need a good builder, contact Larry's son, Michael Welsher, who does exquisite work. Larry taught him well!

L'ecole Francaise du Maine - South Freeport

Bonjour! Comment ca va? Ok, I'll switch to English. Who would have known that a French immersion elementary school would choose to locate in South Freeport village several years ago? The school occupies a building that formerly served as the early childhood program for the Freeport-based Merriconeag Waldorf school. I believe I'm correct in saying that the Province of Quebec and the French government support the South Freeport French immersion program in some way. There is a strong French Canadian connection here in Maine as many French Canadians immigrated to Maine over the years, especially during the heyday of the woolen mills. Simply open the phone book in any town in Maine and you will easily find French last names names. There is a Franco-American center Lewiston which occupies a former church building. Fifty years ago you would have heard French spoken on the streets of Lewiston/Auburn or L/A as the locals refer to that area. L/A is only 40 minutes away from Freeport. Brunswick maine which is just to the north of Freeport also had a very strong French Canadian population.

Harraseeket Yact Club aka HYC

With a prime waterfront location on the Harraseeket river, this is a community yacht club without the sense of prestige and exclusivity. All members pitch in to run the club whether it be organizing the dingy dock or managing the sail training for kids. The club offers opti's, 420's and laser boats for their summer training program. The program starts at "recruits" and moves on to "mates" and the highest level is "skippers". All three of my kids have participated in sailing lessons at HYC. My wife and I wanted to make sure each child learned the ropes of a sailboat which was sort of "mandatory fun" in our family. I enjoy the Wednesday evening races during the summer where I sail on "Milady" a 34' Sabre. Our skipper and crew are very competitive in the summer series of races. This Saturday the docks were hauled in for the winter. Alas, the onset of winter is just around the corner.

Mitchell Ledge Farm - 132 acres put in Conservation

Roughly 20% of town land is in conservation. People generally move to Maine to have a home and a lifestyle that doesn't look like it did in their suburban or city home "from away". Locals are equally concerned to keep Maine from being spoiled by sprawl and homogenous, cookie-cutter subdivisions.

In last week's edition of the Forecaster, a weekly newspaper that covers the Portland north area, I learned that the Freeport Convservation Trust completed a 2 1/2 year effort to preserve the 132 acre Mitchell Ledge Farm on Flying Point Road. The funds to preserve the land came from a variety of sources including the Freeport Land Bank Fund, the state program called Land For Maine's Future, and a Federal grant. There were also roughly 100 local contributors to this worthy project. Soon I hope to take a walk on the new hiking trails that will eventually connect to property on Maquoit Bay.

We have had some amazingly warm October weather which is about to come to an end. When you move to Maine and work with me to find your dream home, you will be amazed how wonderful it is to sail here in September and October. My boat which is featured here in the photo is scheduled to be hauled out of the water any day now. The forecast for the next few days is for the thermometer to head south to more seasonal temperatures.

This adventure into becoming a reporter for the South Freeport and Freeport area has been a good one. I was speaking with Mary at Brewer's the other day to let her know that I had a new blog. She noticed my picture which was taken on Monhegan this fall. Mary said that she and her husband Curt love Monhegan. She also said that her husband who is soon to retire as a fisherman was shipwrecked when his scallop boat caught fire and sank back in 1982. Curt apparently was in the water for 24 hours until he unknowingly washed up on the shores of Monhegan. At daylight, Curt had to hail a local fisherman to inquire what island he was on. Mary is going to encourage Curt to write his memoirs of 32 years as a New England fisherman. I'll be the first one to read his book!

Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster

Located in the heart of South Freeport village, this is the restaurant that draws tourists from around the country and around the globe. Our family often takes out-of-town visitors here so that they can sample a Maine lobster and see a slice of South Freeport harbor. The Coffin family of Freeport has run this highly successful business for years.

Down East magazine, the December 2005 issue, wrote a terrific article titled "The Other Freeport: The real village the outlet shoppers never see" I would encourage you to contact Down East Magazine to order the full text of the article. When I have tourists ask me what to include on their tour of Freeport, I always encourage them to visit South Freeport and then have dinner at Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster