(The following article appeared in the October 15, 2010 Issue Of The St. Albans Messenger)
Fairfax Community Trail done after 4-year journey
Volunteers make 1.5-mile path a reality
By LISA M. BOUCHER
Messenger Correspondent
FAIRFAX—On October 3, the final wood chips were spread on the remaining section of the Community Trail here, thus signaling the completion of a four-year long volunteer effort molding a stretch of wooded land into a usable labyrinth of connected pathways, for students and community members alike.
The idea began with the parents of students in Bellows Free Academy (BFA) Cross Country and Nordic Skiing, said BFA teacher and coach, Fred Griffin, so the teams would have trails on which to practice and compete. The concept soon morphed into something of lasting benefit for the community at large, as well.
The trail system is approximately 1.5 miles and is 12 feet wide to accommodate winter grooming. Approximately one-third is on land owned by BFA and two thirds is owned by private landowner, Gabe Handy who owns the land behind the school. The trails can be accessed from the baseball field or from the common land in Handy's subdivision off Rich Street.
The trails, completed in three separate sections, took shape logistically and physically by the help of Doug Stewart, Dave Stanley, and Tom Snyder, but primarily by the physical labor of septuagenarian, Doug Stewart who spent many mornings clearing trees from the mapped out area in preparation for the work that followed. On Wednesdays he had the help of Dave Stanley.
Stewart and Stanley were instrumental in the planning, implementing, organizing the volunteer effort that ensued, physically clearing the trails of the trees, and cutting and splitting the hardwood for a raffle. They managed the effort with a precision focus.
"Doug Stewart has dedicated at least two full years of his life to this project and Dave Stanley would not let us quit until it was done and done right," said Griffin. "Without those two guys, this project would never have gotten done and not at this level."
According to Griffin, it took a full year to complete the permitting process, which included Act 250 and two archeological test sites of the rivers and streams that wend their way through the trail system.
The first phase of the project was entirely on school grounds, known as section I. It took about a year to complete. A bevy of volunteers cut lumber, skidded logs, piled brush, cut and split firewood, chipped the softwood, spread the chips, cut the root systems of small trees, and built bridges.
They held a raffle for firewood to help pay for excavating and grading expenses, which were provided at cost, by Matt Gillilan Excavation. There were also donations from Northwestern Medical Center and Ben and Jerry's. Harrison Concrete provided 18, 1,800-pound concrete blocks that were used for the base of six of the eight bridges, built by Duane Leach.
The town donated I-beams it had stored from the old iron bridge that was built over the Lamoille River on Route 104, after the 1927 flood and was replaced sometime in the 1980's. Mark Rainville of Rainville's Autobody assisted in transporting the beams from the town garage to the, trail site.
"We've had waves of workers for each section," said Griffin. "Cutters, skidders, brush pilers, chippers, and chip spreaders, times three."
Keith White of Westford provided a tractor for skidding logs and moving the wood chipper. Got That Rental offered a deal on the wood chipper.
"Fred gets his teams out here and the kids [and others] work hard at getting the chips spread on the trails," said Stanley, pointing to several piles of wood chips in need of attention. "We're almost finished with Section III, all that's left is the wood chips."
The pair inspects the drainage of the trail and is satisfied with the fact that despite heavy rains, the wood chips are keeping the mud at bay and the barely perceptible ditches are working, directing water away from the path.
Stewart proudly shows off the trail system as though himself the landowner, but modestly denies any true responsibility to making it a reality—instead humbly deflects the homage to others.
"I will show you a beautiful spot," said Stewart, walking along the trail discussing the virtues of each of the eight bridges, with the pride of an architect. "That's section three over there, the last section to be completed and that's one of the I-beam bridges, there are two of them. Boy, those are beautiful bridges; Duane sure has done a nice job building them."
Stewart points at the way the late afternoon sun streaks through a couple of very large pines that are possibly 75 to 100 years old by his estimation, privately pleased that he has helped to create something of lasting value for the people of Fairfax for generations to come.
A Friends of the Trail committee is being created to handle signage, maintenance, and use of the trail by walkers, school nature activities, and BFA Nordic and running events.
