Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-06-22

Prepared by the National Geographic
Society. .. ashington. ID. c.
Lafayette National park. on Mount
Desert island In Maine, is one of the
latest parks to be created by the fed
eral government, and is the only-na-
tional park In the East. But If young
In its status as a park. 1t Is physically
one Of the oldest parts of America.
Its granite mountains were standing
out against the ice and frost, the rains
and waves, millions of years before
the Rockies and the other ranges OF
the West had risen above the prehis-
toric seas that covered that part OF
the continent. 1t is the peak of the
Atlantic coast-Ilne of the United
States-the one spot on the eastern
coast south Of the st. Lawrence where
what may truly be called mountains
meet the sea.
1t Is appropriate that the national
park on Mount Desert island should
be named for a great Frenchman, for
the French played IN important part
in the earliest history of the island.
1t was the first land to be approached
and named-"Isle des Monts Deserts
i'm the earliest recorded voyage of
exploration made along the coast of
Maine to the east of Kennebec. Cham
p~fa4H-sailea aemH- this unknown coast
in September, 1904, passing isle and
headland until he saw rising boldly
ahead the range of the Mount Desert
hills with their bare rock peaks and
deep, fce-gouged, dividing valleys. Feel
ing that ne had come upon something
worthy of closer examination, he an
chored In what has since been called
~Frenchman's bay. a fine body of water
that lies between the island and the
shore to the east. By making friends
with the Indians, Champlain laid the
foundations the following day for the
French colony which was later to oc-
cupy the island.
The fame of the beautiful Isle DIES
Monts- Deserts was carried back to
France, but 1t was not until 1913 that
an opportunity was found to settle
there the proposed colony. The little
ship which brought to Mount Desert
its load of colonists with their seed
grain. food supplies, implements and
livestock. has been called "the French
Mayfower." The voyagers landed on
the east coast, not far, perhaps, from
the site Of Bar Harbor. Later they
moved to the shores of n cove on the
south side Of the island.
Unfortunately, ''the French May
flower was not destined to be respon-
sible for a permanent settlement as
was its British counterpart After the
colony had lived only a few years. a
fleet came and wrecked II.
Permanent settlement was first begun
the American colonies In 1871.
Entire Island Not in Park
Mount Desert island lies off the
coast In about the latitude OF
Minneapolis and st. Paul. and Is some
300 miles northeast of New York. II
has many i~ndentations, but may be
roughly described as is miles long
and u miles wide. 1t Is connected
with the mainland by a bridge utiliz-
an island In the narrows.
Lafayette park does not embrace
the entire island. The town of Bar
Harbor, an important summer resort.
Is situated on the eastern shore of the
island, and numerous privately owned
and resort villages nestle In
coves along the coast. The park does
contain: though, the greater part of
Mount Deserts outstanding feature.
the range of granite mountains. In
places rising above 1000 feet. which
stretch across the island. Exeeilent
drives are all about this
peak and over its hills and
along It's sheer ellis and smooth
have been constructed paths
md iron ladders In order that the
may reach its vantage points
md enjoy it's views OF the mingled
mountain and So scenery. . cornbina-