Opinion ID: 2001913
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: possession up to a visible line marked clearly by monuments, fences or the like;

Text: Marja first contends that the northern edge of the old roadway is not a visible line marked clearly by monuments, fences or the like. Here, the referee found the old roadway readily discernible visually by the edge of vegetation and the remains of fences and stone walls. It is also located on the maps submitted in evidence. Further, location of the roadway has not changed except in minor detail for approximately 50 years. The referee properly found the roadway's northern edge was a clearly marked visible line for the purpose of determining whether there had been acquiescence to that line as a boundary between the properties. Marja also contends that the various farming, quarrying, fencing, logging and residence activities undertaken by Allain and Eldridge or their predecessors in the area generally north of the old roadway did not establish their possession precisely up to its northern edge. In contrast to the facts of Calthorpe II, relied on by Marja, where a single construction activity near the disputed boundary was held to be insufficient to establish possession of the disputed land, in this case the numerous land-based activities by the defendants and their predecessors occurring close to the old roadway adequately established their possession to the edge of the roadway. See Emerson v. Maine Rural Missions Ass'n, Inc., 560 A.2d 1, 2 (Me.1989) (possession of rural property may be established by its use and enjoyment in a manner similar to that of the average owner of like property). Contrary to Marja's contention, the referee is not required to accept Marja's interpretations of the evidence of possession offered by the defendants. See Wellington Assoc., Inc. v. Capital Fire Prot. Co., Inc., 594 A.2d 1089, 1091 (Me.1991).