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Devil's Head park lands face uncertain future

About six miles south of Calais proper, a granite peak projects 340' into the air, giving its visitors an unparalleled view of the St. Croix River as it winds its way inland from Passamaquoddy Bay.

About six miles south of Calais proper, a granite peak projects 340' into the air, giving its visitors an unparalleled view of the St. Croix River as it winds its way inland from Passamaquoddy Bay. Devil's Head Conservation Area covers 315 acres and has an unusual history, but its future as an actively used recreational site is now in question because of a potential lack of committed caretakers.
Like many areas of coastal Maine, the original story of Devil's Head goes back to the Passamaquoddy and their ancestors. For more than 11,000 years the shoreline and woodland were used for clamming, fishing and hunting by the Native Americans. The first Europeans arrived on St. Croix Island in 1604, led by Samuel de Champlain. The Frenchmen themselves utilized nearby Devil's Head for hunting and gathering firewood, and it's been said that the name originated from the anglicization of French colonist Sieur D'Orville's last name.
In 1889, 11 residents of Calais paid $1,100 each to form the Devil's Head Association, which purchased the 315 acres that comprise the conservation area today. A few years later, the land was sold for the purpose of building the DeMont's Hotel, a gazebo, outbuildings and docks. DeMont's C named for one of the leaders of the French expedition -- was a successful hotel that attracted wealthy Victorian travelers. It burned in the early 1900s, and the land became the domain of scattered camps and the wilderness once more.
By 2002 the area was divided into five lots owned by four separate owners. Charles "Brand" Livingstone, former president of the St. Croix Historical Society, saw the potential in the preservation of the land for recreational and historic purposes.
"This is the only place in Calais where you can go up and look around and see the tides. Calais doesn't have any closer connection to the salt water from which it grew," Livingstone says. "I wanted to investigate what could be done to preserve it."
He approached the St. Croix International Waterway Commission, of which he was a member, and proposed the project as a suitable preservation venture on the American side of the river. The majority of the board approved the suggestion, and efforts got underway to raise the funds required.
The $400,000 that was raised was used to repair the original road that lead down to the old docks. Signs were painted and erected. Two trails were added and marked, maps were posted at each trailhead and public toilets were put in. Picnic spots line the area just above the shoreline, which can be reached by descending giant granite stairs.
The park and its lands were donated to the City of Calais, which has been providing maintenance when possible ever since. Recent budget limitations have significantly limited the city's ability and commitment to maintaining the site. The road remains passable, but it is beginning to show compounding damage from erosion and overgrowth. The public toilets are usable but occasionally lacking in amenities. The railing along the granite stairs has been knocked over, and the trails are gradually being reclaimed by the wilderness.
Livingstone wrote a letter to the city council discussing the road conditions in 2012 and again in 2014, but each time the city couldn't afford to fix them. Livingstone understands the city's quandary but remains adamant that at least some funds need to be allocated to the park.
Livingstone has added his effort to the city's in keeping the park presentable, but as he is now in his 93rd year, he says that he no longer has the ability to perform regular checks and maintenance, and he cannot traverse the trails. There have been attempts to organize a committee of volunteers to help direct resources to the site and its upkeep, but nothing has yet manifested.
"What we need is a group of young people to get out here and clean up the trails," Livingstone implores. "This is the one place in Calais you can come for a spectacular view of the St. Croix River, but it's getting harder to get to."