Eastport beach access issue sparks controversy

A social media furor has sparked the anger of some Eastport residents who hope that a beach access point historically open to the public remains available despite its closure for construction.

A sign declaring that there is no trespassing has been posted on the wire fencing that surrounds the former Wass sardine cannery at 11 Madison St. The path that formerly led people down to the water opposite the end of Warren Street has been blocked off as the factory building is being transformed into a private home.

Jo Ann DeWitt Wright grew up in Eastport before moving to South Carolina as an adult. She remembers using the access as a child and still comes to Eastport every summer, searching for beach glass along the coastline. She became concerned when she heard that the sardine factory's Warren Street access had been blocked. "As a kid, nobody ever cared where we walked. In fact, they invited you to go on the beaches. It's something I want to carry on as a tradition."

So Wright took to social media to express her fears and tried to figure out a way to create a petition. Dozens were attracted to her posts. Soon, city hall was hearing about the controversy. "Yes, a number of people have brought it up to us," says City Manager Brian Schuth, adding that he appreciates those public watchdogs. "I'm glad people are watching."

But the current furor over the closure may take some time to definitively resolve. City Assessor Wes Farley says documents dating from 1818 do show that land was given to Eastport for a continuation of Warren Street. Records also show the selectmen of the then‑town accepted the property.

For years that access has apparently been used by the public but was not maintained as a public street. It doesn't appear on current deeds, so more investigation needs to be done, Farley says. Even then, such legal beach access points only allow people to use them for "fishing, fowling and navigating," a state list of uses that more recently has included scuba diving.

"Just because we have access to the beach doesn't mean that you can walk down to the beach then cross over somebody's private property looking for sea glass," Farley says. In fact, the fencing off of the old sardine factory has been approved by the city while construction is ongoing. "Right now, it's kind of a wait and see," Schuth says. "Council is aware of it and will take action as it becomes available."

Meanwhile, the owner of the cannery and surrounding property, Richard Sheroff, who's owned the land for over three decades, says it only makes sense to ensure any public access is closed off at this time. "If I didn't close it and somebody got hurt, I'd be liable for it," he explains. "I've never had a problem with anybody here in Eastport."

The last time the property was in the news was in 2024 when a venture named Campobello Holdings, owned in part by Wai Tat "Jimmy" Wong, rented the building. After Wong's business never got off the ground, he stopped paying rent to Sheroff and left the building in bad shape.

Today the former cannery is seeing new life. Its interior has been cleaned of trash and reinforced, and rock is being added to the beach area to protect the building from high tides. Sheroff, who lives in Georgia, envisions it as a second home with windows onto Passamaquoddy Bay.

As far as the beach access, Sheroff said it isn't listed on his property records, but he acknowledges that he – like the city – is taking a wait‑and‑see approach to the issue. "If it is, it is. And if it isn't, it isn't," Sheroff says, adding that he will follow the law regarding right of access, "if it's official and legal."

Wright, who wrote the social media posts about the issue, says, "It does feel like it's propelling forward – that's a good sign to me. Either way, an answer would be great, but I'd still like for it to remain a public access."