Shiloh Pond Committee
The Shiloh Pond Committee’s purpose is to guide the municipal officers in protecting
local natural resources and to guide the municipal officers on how the Shiloh Pond
Property should be used to best meet the community’s needs and priorities while
protecting the established conservation easements.
Committee Members:
Chairman, Kathy Houston
Richard Hawkes
Robert Woodhouse
Stacey McCluskey
Norman Goff
William Jeffries
Ralph Parker
Brent West representing Maine High Peaks Alliance
Lynn Duttlinger (abutting property owner)
Just 2 miles from downtown Kingfield, nestled between hillsides that you feel you can touch, lies a pristine pond and 215 acres of wild beauty.
History: When this once privately owned, pristine, wilderness pond came up for sale, the High Peaks Alliance worked with the Trust for Public Land to find a way to secure this property for future generations. The transaction took years of work and multiple meetings with the community, yet finally funding was secured, the details were agreed upon and Shiloh Pond and the surrounding 215 acres were purchased. Most of the support came from the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program (MNRCP), who granted the property to the town of Kingfield at no cost. We are especially grateful to abutting landowners for giving a right of way to the town.
After the town voted overwhelmingly to accept the gift, the Selectboard formed a Shiloh Pond committee to manage the property. The Shiloh Pond Committee bases all its work and decisions on its mission: “As long-term stewards of the Shiloh Pond parcel, our mission is to protect and preserve the natural resources and traditional uses of the land.”
One of our first tasks was to improve access and usability of the property. With the help of generous donations from Walter Kilbreth, Wahl Construction, Jordan Lumber Company, ARC Inc, Birch Royall, the committee and volunteers were able to improve the access road ((no longer is a 4 wheel drive pick-up needed but low clearance vehicles need to use caution, we like to think of it as “subaruable,” but not necessarily “sedanable!”), remove the old cabin (a safety hazard), re-deck and stabilize the bridge (for our visitors safety), widen access through the gate (to allow better access), and expand the parking area (it is about 800 feet from parking to the pond). Committee members also got out their paint brushes, clippers and brush saws and marked the boundary, cleared grown over trails and eliminated brush on the sides of the road. We hope to refresh the trail to a waterfall later this year.
Visiting Shiloh Pond: When visiting the property, please remember this fly-fishing only, gem of a pond and surrounding property needs your care.
The committee asks that you follow our Guidelines and honor our Prohibited Uses:
Guidelines
1.Carry In/Carry Out – there are no trash cans
- Respect property, plants and wildlife
- Hunting and fly fishing welcomed
- Keep boats in the designated boat storage area and off the shoreline
Prohibited Uses – a condition of the acquisition and outlined in the purchase agreements with the town.
- Motorized boats
- Off Road/Motorized vehicles
- Fires
- Overnight camping
Whatever your chosen activity be – snowshoeing or skiing in the winter, birding in the spring, fly fishing, swimming, or canoeing in the summer, bird hunting in the fall, or simply immersing yourself in the rejuvenating peace of nature we hope you enjoy the beautiful gift of Shiloh Pond.
-The Shiloh Pond Committee
