Bear Island

[Pineedles]

Why are non-residents denied the ability to view the trail map? I would think it would be interesting for everyone to see how this huge island interconnects the onshore and offshore camps.

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

Why are non-residents denied the ability to view the trail map? I would think it would be interesting for everyone to see how this huge island interconnects the onshore and offshore camps.

A question for the map creator I guess...but you are right there are some interesting landmarks and geographic features throughout the island. Our journey from the south end to the mail dock and back took 2.5 hours.

[Bear Islander]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

Why are non-residents denied the ability to view the trail map? I would think it would be interesting for everyone to see how this huge island interconnects the onshore and offshore camps.

I created the Bear Island Map from scratch by walking the island with a GPS attached to my hat. And yes, I received funny looks. The GPS unit recorded my exact location every 20 seconds and way-points when I pressed a button. When transferred to computer this data provides the basic elements of a map.

The map contains many elements that are sensitive in nature. It has the exact location of Historic Sites we wish to preserve including an unmarked graveyard. Break ins have occurred in the off season and public access to a detailed map could make that easier.

Additionally the entire island is private property and is only open to residents and their guests. The 911 system, police, fire, utility companies, residents and island contractors have been given access to the map. I will be happy to give a copy to anyone having a legitimate interest, but I do not feel that publishing it on the internet is in the island's best interest.

[Pineedles]

I understand completely your reluctance to publish if it has sensitive elements contained within it. We have been lucky, in having year round residents living next door to our camp and haven't experienced any break-ins or vandalism during the winter. Are there any photographs that you might be willing to share of the unmarked gravesite, or anything else historic that would not give its location away?

[Bear Islander]

The graveyard is rather unusual. There are no gravestones or markers, just a few field-stones in a row in dense woods. You could walk through it a hundred times and never guess it was a graveyard.

I have several pictures of the graveyard and this is the best one. It shows a couple of the stones. Not what you expected?

We don't even know for sure who is buried there.

[Pineedles]

You're right, it's not what I expected. How do you know it was a graveyard? Indians never used marker stones, did they? I guess I need to pickup a book on Bear Island history, if there is one? Thank you for the picture.

[Barney Bear]

Bear Island Reflections [second edition] is a very complete and interesting history of our fabulous island.

[Pineedles]

I did a search and wound up at this site: http://www.lwhs.us/islands/bearislandearylhistory.htm

Very informative, and included a map. Is #6 the "graveyard' the one that Bear Islander posted a picture?

[Bear Islander]

That "Old Island Map" is not really that old. It lists Camp Nokomis which was founded in 1952. However we have island residents whose grandparents purchased of Bear going back to 1895 and 1913. That provides an oral history of where the graveyard is. The old map does show the approximate location of the graveyard but you would never find it with that.

Copies of "Bear Island Reflections" our history book are available. They are $10 and we usually have a few available when the mail boat is at the dock.

[Pineedles]

I was struck with the names of some of the early settlers, Bickford being one. They are relatives of mine through marraige. Some of the other names still are represented here in the Lakes Region. That's nice. I will be buying a copy of the book, probably through Amazon via the Winni forum.

[Bear Island South]

Our property was orginally owned by Bickford, sold off to Duquette in 1906.
Aiken is another name, the majority of the camp lots around us came out of the 125 acres he owned. The majority of that property was deeded to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests which is adjacent to the church property.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

Our property was orginally owned by Bickford, sold off to Duquette in 1906.
Aiken is another name, the majority of the camp lots around us came out of the 125 acres he owned. The majority of that property was deeded to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests which is adjacent to the church property.

According to the Society's web site they have a 152 acre reservation known as "The Bear Island Forest" which also according to their web site is completely open to the public. From their site...

"The Forest Society owns over 160 reservations, located on over 50,000 acres spread across New Hampshire – and we want you to come explore it! All of our properties are open to the public, yet several offer a more complete recreational experience by having designated parking, kiosks, trails, and events. We've highlighted some of these reservations in our Guide to Our Lands area of the site. We hope you visit these gems and share your experiences with us."

I'm curious why Bear Islander stated the entire island is privately owned and only owners and guests can visit??

Dan

[Bear Islander]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

According to the Society's web site they have a 152 acre reservation known as "The Bear Island Forest" which also according to their web site is completely open to the public. From their site...

"The Forest Society owns over 160 reservations, located on over 50,000 acres spread across New Hampshire – and we want you to come explore it! All of our properties are open to the public, yet several offer a more complete recreational experience by having designated parking, kiosks, trails, and events. We've highlighted some of these reservations in our Guide to Our Lands area of the site. We hope you visit these gems and share your experiences with us."

I'm curious why Bear Islander stated the entire island is privately owned and only owners and guests can visit??

Dan

I was giving a simple answer to a complex subject. Yet what I said is perfectly true. In the first place the forest in question is in the center of the southern end of the island. It is owned by "Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests" and is therefore private property, NOT public property. If the society wishes to open their land to GUESTS then that is their privilege. The society can also rescind that permission at any time they wish. So as I said the entire island is private property and only open to owners and guests.

Additionally the forest property in question has no access from the lake. There is no way to get to this land without passing over private property. So unless you plan to parachute in you can't get to the forest. And then of course how would you get out. Helicopters are no allowed on society lands.

So you see the simpler answer I gave is still true. You can't take a boat to the island and walk around unless you are a property owner or a guest of a property owner.

Anyway my post was only about why I don't post my map on the internet. Not a legal argument on land access.

[Jonas Pilot]

Is it OK if we look at the island when we boat by?

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

I was giving a simple answer to a complex subject. Yet what I said is perfectly true. In the first place the forest in question is in the center of the southern end of the island. It is owned by "Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests" and is therefore private property, NOT public property. If the society wishes to open their land to GUESTS then that is their privilege. The society can also rescind that permission at any time they wish. So as I said the entire island is private property and only open to owners and guests.

Additionally the forest property in question has no access from the lake. There is no way to get to this land without passing over private property. So unless you plan to parachute in you can't get to the forest. And then of course how would you get out. Helicopters are no allowed on society lands.

So you see the simpler answer I gave is still true. You can't take a boat to the island and walk around unless you are a property owner or a guest of a property owner.

Anyway my post was only about why I don't post my map on the internet. Not a legal argument on land access.

All of the Society's land is open to the public. Since the society is a property owner and since all their land is open to the public, would that not make the public their guest??

It would be a shame to have such a large parcel of land gifted to the society for the enjoyment and recreational experience of all be curtailed by a few island curmudgeons who believe their property lines and rights extend beyond their purchased deed.

Dan

[Barney Bear]

Visitors to our beautiful island could land at the dock in Church Cove. A short walk up the hill past St. John's-on-the-Lake chapel will take you to the tracts of land donated to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests by the East Bear Island Association and the Mayo Family. Welcome!!!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Barney Bear

Visitors to our beautiful island could land at the dock in Church Cove. A short walk up the hill past St. John's-on-the-Lake chapel will take you to the tracts of land donated to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests by the East Bear Island Association and the Mayo Family. Welcome!!!

Thanks Barney Bear for the welcome!! The lake needs more people like you! I knew the land abutted St Johns land just was not sure about access.

I have yet to see the chapel and hear it is beautiful!! I have every intention of attending at least one service there this summer.

Thanks again!

Dan

[Islander]

Barney,

I don't know who you are but do you know that you have just invited possibly thousands of boats to use the church docks? Are you an officer or director of St. Johns on the Lake? Do you have the authority or permission to make that decision?

Does the offer include your own dock? What number are you?

[RailroadJoe]

I'll get FLL and we will sneak in on your island and check it out!

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by Islander

Barney,

I don't know who you are but do you know that you have just invited possibly thousands of boats to use the church docks? Are you an officer or director of St. Johns on the Lake? Do you have the authority or permission to make that decision?

Does the offer include your own dock? What number are you?

I think that was awful nice of Barney Bear and CTYankee to offer an option for us "out crowd" folks to enjoy a piece of "public" property.

And sense you took the tone, as a multi-generation NH Native, I will ask; do you have the authority or permission to prohibit the use or access of public lands in this state or any other? Because, as a NH Native (read resident) I am certain that I would be more than willing to put a petition in front of my local House Rep., that an easement should be put in place so that I and anyone else that would like to explore a piece of public land within the borders of NH, can do so without issue.

Your posting history speaks volumes and I would hope that your neighbors will convince you that that is not the NH way of thinking!

Oh I almost forgot, in case any of you folks forgot about NH's open land law, I may just tie off my canoe to a shore line tree and head on in for a look see. There has to be some unposted land on that Island, it is big enough.

BI, I respect your position (and your reason), but you should really check yours and your neighbors tone when it comes to your seasonal properties in this state. It is these types of attitudes that get you folks in hot water around here. Be a neighbor and be neighborly.

[Jonas Pilot]

Originally Posted by Islander

Barney,

I don't know who you are but do you know that you have just invited possibly thousands of boats to use the church docks? Are you an officer or director of St. Johns on the Lake? Do you have the authority or permission to make that decision?

Does the offer include your own dock? What number are you?

Barney,
When would be the best time to come over? If I came very early in the morning could I beat the thousands coming later?

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Thanks Barney Bear for the welcome!! The lake needs more people like you! I knew the land abutted St Johns land just was not sure about access.

I have yet to see the chapel and hear it is beautiful!! I have every intention of attending at least one service there this summer.

Thanks again!

Dan

Here's one of the Church entrance, if you haven't been to a service than it is worth the trip. I believe there is a service when you can bring your pet and have them blessed.

[Jonas Pilot]

What a beautiful sight. Thanks for sharing.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

Here's one of the Church entrance, if you haven't been to a service than it is worth the trip. I believe there is a service when you can bring your pet and have them blessed.

I found the Church on Google Earth today..picture taken one year ago. The satellite camera is almost directly above..but just enough to the side to figure out it's a tower. NB

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

Here's one of the Church entrance, if you haven't been to a service than it is worth the trip. I believe there is a service when you can bring your pet and have them blessed.

Thank you so much B.I. South!! Do you know when the church updates their web site showing the time and dates of service?? I would love to bring my pet for the special pet blessing service. She is currently not doing well and the comfort of the blessing and service would mean a lot to me and my wife.

Thanks again!!

Dan

[Oblio13]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

According to the Society's web site they have a 152 acre reservation known as "The Bear Island Forest" which also according to their web site is completely open to the public. From their site...

"The Forest Society owns over 160 reservations, located on over 50,000 acres spread across New Hampshire – and we want you to come explore it! All of our properties are open to the public, yet several offer a more complete recreational experience by having designated parking, kiosks, trails, and events. We've highlighted some of these reservations in our Guide to Our Lands area of the site. We hope you visit these gems and share your experiences with us."

I'm curious why Bear Islander stated the entire island is privately owned and only owners and guests can visit??

Dan

I'm the Forest Society's Land Steward for Bear Island, perhaps I can help clarify.

All of the Society's reservations are open to the public. However, some - like this one - are difficult to access.

The town of Meredith owns a lot that abuts the Forest Society land, but there is no dock there.

There is a narrow right-of-way by the church's docks, but the docks themselves are owned by the church.

[CTYankee]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

I did a search and wound up at this site: http://www.lwhs.us/islands/bearislandearylhistory.htm

Very informative, and included a map. Is #6 the "graveyard' the one that Bear Islander posted a picture?

Hi Pineedles, No, it's not the same cemetary. The one marked on the map found in [I]Reflections[I] is actually next to my camp on West Bear (315).

By-the-way, everyone is welcome to come explore and enjoy BI as my guest whenever they like.

[Bear Islander]

Originally Posted by CTYankee

Hi Pineedles, No, it's not the same cemetary. The one marked on the map found in [I]Reflections[I] is actually next to my camp on West Bear (315).

By-the-way, everyone is welcome to come explore and enjoy BI as my guest whenever they like.

That is very generous CTYankee. I hope you have a lot of space at your dock at #315. Perhaps you could show the cemetery to those that are interested.

Just to clarify, when you invite people to explore BI, I assume you are not including the children's camps or other areas that are fenced or posted "No Trespassing".

[pam.in.ny]

I went to the link www.bearisland.org to look for information about purchasing the book "Reflections of Bear Island. Is there another link? I see they have a used copy on Amazon but would rather purchase from the ".org" so that they receive the money.

Thank you!

[Jonas Pilot]

Thank you Barney Bear and CtYankee. It's good to know that there are still people around that understand the New Hampshire spirit.

My apologies to Alton Mumma for the direction in which this great post traveled.

[Bear Islander]

Originally Posted by pam.in.ny

I went to the link www.bearisland.org to look for information about purchasing the book "Reflections of Bear Island. Is there another link? I see they have a used copy on Amazon but would rather purchase from the ".org" so that they receive the money.

Thank you!

You can purchase the book for $10 at the Bear Island Mail Dock starting late June. Or you can purchase it by mail. I have just added information on purchasing the book to the bearisland.org website.

[NoBozo]

As an Off Islander..and ALWAYS respectful of Private Property, anywhere I find it, ..I am encouraged that some people on the island are open to having visitors, without prejudice.

The OTHERS.....I guess we can draw our own conclusions.. ............... NB

[pam.in.ny]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

You can purchase the book for $10 at the Bear Island Mail Dock starting late June. Or you can purchase it by mail. I have just added information on purchasing the book to the bearisland.org website.

BI, Thank you very much for the information. I'll definitely be ordering one via the mail. I have a couple others NH history books and would love to add another one to my collection.

Thank you again, BI, for the adding the purchasing info to the website.