Merrymeeting Fields Preserve

In 2003, the 125-acre preserve was donated to the Trust at the generous bequest of Eleanor B. Burke, long time resident of the property. Mrs. Burke’s will instructed the Trust “to maintain the property’s open space, forests, woodlands, and varied habitats with no hunting, trapping or motor vehicles to be allowed.”

History of Merrymeeting Fields

6000 BC

Native Americans visit the banks of Merrymeeting Bay to harvest shad, sturgeon, and other migrating fish species.

1607

Samuel de Champlain sails up the river to Merrymeeting Bay, initiating the European fur trade with Native Americans.

1604 - 1940

Land on East Chopps Point is farmed. In the early 1600s, Dexter Baker raised horses, cows, and pigs on the land, while selling milk and vegetables. He also put up ice, so the family had no need to go to the town of Bath, except for flour.

1720

Robert Temple runs a garrison on Chopps Point, where he is granted 1000 acres in return for bringing 200 settlers to Cork Cove, Dresden.

1860 - 1936

A public road (the wider section of the North Loop Trail!) leads to the range light tended by the Baker-Temple family, to guide ice boats and steam packets away from the rocks.

1880s

Huge iron rings at the Overlook mark the spot where David Trott and his two sons moored their scow to dredge sand from the river.

1930s

Portable steam-driven lumber mills harvest the old pine trees.

1942

The Baker-Temple family, stewards of the land for four generations, sell to George Reynolds.

1952

Reynolds sells the property to Walter A and Eleanor B Burke, who name their new homestead Merrymeeting East.

2002

Eleanor Burke dies, leaving her beloved property to the land trust. She directs, in her will, to “remove all structures from my Chops Point homesite and restore the area to it’s natural vegetative state.” She also gives instruction “to maintain the property’s open space, forests, woodlands, and varied habitats. No hunting, trapping, or motor vehicles allowed.”

August 2006

Merrymeeting Fields Preserve opening celebrations!

Ecology of Merrymeeting Fields

As you enjoy Merrymeeting Fields’ beautiful waterfront and forest, look for six natural features that support a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Open Fields:

The north slope of the ridge is maintained for nesting birds and small mammals. Once a pasture, fields are increasingly rare in Maine as family farms are being abandoned and sold for development.

Mixed Woods:

Two-thirds of the preserve is a forest dominated by red oak, white pine, hemlock, big toothed aspen, and white ash. Winter wrens, ovenbirds, black-throated green warblers, hairy woodpeckers, and barred owls favor this habitat.

Waterfront:

Bedrock ledge broken by mud beaches illustrates Merrymeeting Bay’s geology. Tidal erosion fells old trees, freeing silt that travels with the current until it settles in mudflats. This creates important substrate for aquatic plants, and becomes the feeding grounds for migrating birds. A forested waterfront prevents runoff that lowers water quality, and one might see minks and raccoons browsing the shoreline.

Merrymeeting Bay:

A four by seven mile inland bay, created by the confluence of six rivers, is an outstanding habitat for black duck, blue-winged teal, Canada geese, and many other species that feed on the mudflats. It’s also prime bald eagle habitat — there are seven active nests on the bay. A perfect striped bass spawning ground lies off Merrymeeting Fields’ shore in the quick-moving river waters. Clean water supports nine anadromous species, which are fish that spawn here but live in the ocean for the other part of their lives.

Forested Wetland:

These habitats are damp enough year-round to support sphagnum moss and amphibians. They serve as a sponge to hold water and slowly release it, which protects water quality.