from Shelley Farrington, Lincoln News

by Avern Danforth, past president of the Katahdin Area Rotary Club, 2007-07; and Kiwanis Club of Katahdin, 1969

MILLINOCKET – The Kiwanis Club of Katahdin was charted on April 16, 1958. Bob Crossley was general chairman of the Charter night and Andy Humes was the first president.

One of the very first projects of the new service club was the Jerry Pond Road and Recreation Area. On June 1, 1959 a lease for recreation purposes was granted to the Millinocket Recreation Commission by Great Northern Paper Co. for the Kiwanis project.

The lease was “made to confer upon the lessees the right to cut a right-of-way and construct and maintain a road from the easterly end of New Jersey Street to Jerry Pond; also to construct parking areas near the shore of Jerry Pond; build proper cement, block, brick or stone fireplaces in the vicinity of the parking lots and improve the shore of the pond by creating a sand beach.”
Under the leadership of many Kiwanians a 2,200 feet by 20 feet roadway was built along with parking areas, fireplaces and picnic tables. A sand beach was developed by hauling and spreading sand. In later years swing sets were added.

The “Jerry Pond Project” was always dear to the hearts of the local Kiwanis Club and was a source of joy to all who in some way benefited from the work of the club. The club named the area the “Harold Clark Recreation Area” after one of its charter members. To financially support the project, Kiwanis started a fund raising auction in the fall of 1958 that was held for many years at the Millinocket Armory.

The area was maintained by the Kiwanis Club until the club became inactive on Sept. 30, 1983. To assure proper supervision and care of the area, Kiwanis asked the Town of Millinocket to assume responsibility for the lease of the site. It has been the responsibility of the recreation department since that time.

On March 1, 1991 a quit claim deed was conveyed from Great Northern Nekoosa Corp. to the “inhabitants of the town of Millinocket” the parcel of land known as the “Jerry Pond Recreation Area” measuring approximately 500x800 feet.

It has been 51 years since the Kiwanis Club of Katahdin was formed and the 50th Anniversary of the Jerry Pond Project.

The current service club of the area; Katahdin Area Rotary Club, has chosen the revitalization of Jerry Pond as its service project and the beneficiary of its annual roast beef dinner and auction March 26 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Millinocket.

For more information contact any Rotarian or call Avern Danforth at 723-9536.