Evening star., 1947-12-28

sure the public that, in spite OF last
falls fires, 1948s summer visitors
will find a pleasant vacation land
for the most part unchanged.
According to State officials, the
impression seems to have gotten
around the country that major
portion of the Pine Tree State was
burned over and that many resorts
lie in charred ruins. Actually, they
report after a recent appraisal,
about l per cent of the entire land
area bears fire scars and only about
three resort areas were burned.
Exaggerated ideas Of the October
damage, dramatized by early news
bulletins and radio flashes that
fashionable Bar Harbor appeared
doomed, are causing State officials
and business interests some con-
Germ. Unless they are checked, such
beliefs can bring "a far greater eco
nomic loss to the State" than that
caused by the fires themselves, &C
cording to Gov. Hildreth. Fire dam
age last fall in the State has been
estimated at $30,C00,000.
"StatisticaIy," says Gov. Hildreth,
"only about 250,00O acres of the
States 1886, ,000-acre area were
burned over. BY far the greater part
of the fire damage was done to areas
little frequented by summer visitors.
Less than dozen miles of
Names 2,465-mile seacoast were af-
fected. None of the inland vacation
areas was hit. Only three out of
more than 5000 places resort areas
that accommodate visitors were
burned. Only one boys and girls
camp out of more than 200 was in
the fire area.
There is not the slightest doubt
in my mind that Bar Harbor will
emerge as an even more desirable
place than it was"
X
/ A recent report by the State OF
Maine Publicity Bureau supports
the prospect that Bar Harbor will
recoup at least a large portion of
its loss. No one supposes that it
will be rebuilt exactly as it was.
The bureau says new and better
resort" is planned, and gives these
summaries of recovery efforts in the
fire areas:
Bar Harbor-Many estate own
ers assure they will rebuild Bal
tholomew Associates, noted city
planning group, detailed by John D.
Rockefeller, jr., to work with Bar
Harbor Planning Board. Two
thirds OF town untouched, many
shady streets and drives still as
beautiful as ever.
York County - Goose Rock S
Beach summer residents voted to
raise 100000 for community beau-
tlfcation, in addition to rebuilding
themselves. 1t is one of the finest
small beaches in Maine.
"Brownsfield was one of the worst
hit villages Church and meet
ing hall will be the first building
rebuilt. Other homes and busi-
ness places to be rebuilt with help
of various agencies"
X X
The motorist who holds to the
main highway inland from Bar
Harbor is not aware that devastat-
ing fire ragged in the vicinity. This
is pointed up in report by John
Black, American Automobile Asso-
citation field reporter for New Eng
land. He visited Bar Harbor few
weeks ago to check personally on
the damage. He writes:
"As I turned off the main highway
that leads down to this peninsula
| resort town, I began wondering
what to expect g. The closer I
came to the town, the more peered
for signs of fire. Eight miles, five
miles, three miles away-still not
sign. began to think was on the
wrong road Finally, mile from
town, a blackened area of woods
and lone chimney came into view
Continuing. passed the area where,
three months before, I had seen
those large estates overlooking the
bay. They were still standing, as
attractive as ever.
Another half mile and was in
the town itself. I drove up one
street and down another. Rows Of
small, neat, permanent homes lined
each side of the roads. Through
the shopping district everything was
intact. I went up and down few
more streets, but still there was not
sign of a burned object.
Finally, headed out of town to-
ward Cadillac Mountain. Sudden
ly the devastation of the fire came
into full view. The ruined area be-
gan at the southeast corner of town
Here had stood the Malvern and
the Belmont Hotels Now there was
nothing but chimney spires and Gel
lar walls Farther along, heading
out of town, came to small sec
ton Of permanent residences that
had been completely wiped out
Back in the woods, nearly hidden
from view, were blackened remains
of estates. Charred woods covered
the countryside, even to the top of
Cadillac Mountain and down the
other side toward the sea.
Bar Harbor had suffered, but the
town itself was untouched. Homes
and estates back in the woods had
been destroyed. The four leading
resort notes.-the Malvern, Belmont,
De Gregoire and Nonatauk-were
gone. Thousands of acres of the
pine-covered Acadia National Park
had become a blackened, charred
ruin.
"It will take years for nature to
restore the forests and erase all
signs Of the fire. But plans are al