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Moose entering water near Rangeley, Maine in Franklin County
Copyrighted photo courtesy Franklin Journal
Farmington & Franklin County - Not Just for College
Kids
By Debra Conklin
Published: August 25, 2005
BECAUSE of the nature of my husband's job, we've lived in several
different locations throughout Maine. Although I was never happy
moving our family around, preferring to remain tightly in familiar
surroundings, I also knew the moves were only temporary. So I
decided to make the best of it and take the opportunity to really get to
know the places where we had to, for a short period of time, set up
housekeeping.
We spent over a year in Farmington and though known as a college town (University
of Maine at Farmington) I found it to be much more than that. It
became a second home for us. Downtown Farmington is as bustling
and busy as the college students who become a part of the community for
nine months. Geared towards the students, many of the shops became
literally crammed, in late August, with trendy clothing, footwear and
dorm decor. The cafes' and pubs fill to capacity from the weekend
fraternity set. New and used bookstores carry lines of literary
tomes, which cater to the required reading lists of college essays, and
The Narrow Gauge Cinema tends to show movies that attract the 18-30 year
old age group.
September isn't only about the students though, many local events occur
during the waning days of summer.
Moonlight
Madness, happening in late July, and presented by the downtown
merchants is an all day event. Featuring live music and art as
well as a host of other events, it definitely is an exciting time.
At the end of September, the
Farmington Fair
rolls into town, running for six days, it is one of the best
agricultural fairs in the area.
Matt Davis of New Sharon tending to one of
his family's 17 cows at the Farmington Fair
Copyrighted photo courtesy Franklin Journal
But, the beauty of Farmington and its surrounding areas isn't the center
of town, it's the fact that it seems to come to life each fall with the
influx of its college-bound, young crowd. Not only does the campus
come alive, so does the landscape. It seems to mimic the young people's
ceremonious arrival. The abrupt change in scenery is as loud and
attention grabbing as the kids announcing their appearance to
Farmington's summer solitude.
Still, a place of relative quiet can always be found on the Sandy River.
At six miles long and winding its way from Farmington Falls to New
Sharon, it's a wonderfully inviting place to swim, kick back and spend a
day. With just enough deep pockets, along the shoreline for teenagers to
swing off the many ropes, which hang from trees over the river, and
sandy shallow areas for the smaller children, it's the perfect place to
enjoy a summer afternoon. Fall along the river is just as special,
too. Though challenging, in some spots, taking a canoe or kayak
down the river's clear waters makes for a pleasant fall journey.
With the view of transforming trees on both sides of the river, clear,
cool skies and a mountainous background, fall on the Sandy River is
truly a memorable experience.
Over in Phillips, just a few miles
outside of Farmington, off the beaten track is another mode of
transportation to view the brightening countryside. By rail.
Specifically, the
Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad. Though the ride
itself is short, the authenticity of the train and knowledge of the
conductor will fill your head with a wealth of historical information.
Before boarding the train, check out the exhibits and souvenirs in the
Sanders Station and the Phillips Freight House, where you'll find
interesting facts and collectibles concerning the railroad. At the
end of the ride you can wander through the train museum or board a
meticulously restored passenger train. Before climbing back aboard
for the ride back to the station, a guide will take you through a
roundhouse full of antique engines in various stages of refurbishment
and restoration. As if telling a long familiar tale, the guide
will describe the importance of each engine and chronicle the reluctant
and untimely demise of railroad travel.
Moving onwards into Wilton, home of
the Wilton
Blueberry Festival (occurring in early August) you'll find a tidy
little town filled with specialty shops, antique emporiums and a busy
general store. A main attraction for Wilton along with the
blueberry festival, is Kineowatha Park. A former girls camp, meant
to enlighten the young ladies on the joys of camping, horseback riding,
pottery making and crafts, it now serves as a public beach and
playground. What's spectacular about Kineowatha is the mountain
range that seems to enclose the beach, making it seem worlds away from
civilization. I remember spending a muggy, humid day in the park, with
my family and as we were preparing to leave for the day, the skies
darkened and threatening storm clouds rolled in. We were barely
packed up when the thunder began booming. The echo of that much-needed
thunderstorm resonated across the lake, frightening my youngest child
but causing the rest of us to have a deeper appreciation of nature's
strength.
A place not to be missed is Webb Lake in the
Mt. Blue State Park.
Once summer has faded into September and the green leaves give way to
sharp reds and blazing oranges, the lake seems to sparkle with the
reflections of colorful trees bouncing off its depths. A slow,
leisurely boat ride along the lake with a trolling fishing line may even
yield a bass big enough to fry in one of the fire pits, for an evening
meal. Following a satisfying campside meal, a stroll through the
park on well-maintained roads is a pleasing afterthought.
Traveling just a little further outside Farmington, cruise down Route 4
and head into Rangeley. In
the shadow of Saddleback Mountain, this town shifts into high gear with
the arrival of fall, preparing for the snow-worshiping, inevitable
crowds of dedicated skiers. Driving into Rangeley, you virtually become
a part of the mountains. Overhanging trees weighed down with vivid
yellow and orange foliage, seem to reach out for your vehicle as you
pass by. Kicking up an avalanche of leaves as you buzz down the
road, it seems amazing that there are any left on the trees. The
drifts of colorful leaves covering the ground, turns the countryside
into a wildfire of brilliant leafage.
A day spent in Franklin County
is not just for college kids but also for nature lovers who can
appreciate life outside the college dorm.
To get to Farmington:
From the North:
Exit 157 off Interstate 95
Route 2 through Skowhegan, Norridgewock and New Sharon, then into
Farmington.
From the South:
Exit 112A off Interstate 95
Route 27 through Belgrade Lakes into New Sharon.
Route 2 into Farmington.
_____
Copyright 2005. Debra Conklin lives in the country with her
family and has been published in various magazines and newspapers.
Her first book of poetry and essays, This Ain't Shakespeare ... But It Sure Is Real