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Where the tannin-darkened waters of the Nulhegan River flow into the mighty Connecticut —a place steeped in history—an important public access area is now protected. Here, Native Americans once paused on their journeys between the St. Lawrence and the Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Penobscot river drainages. Here, Rogers' Rangers made their way home as best they could after their raid on the village of St. Francis in 1759. Here, the Nulhegan Lumber Company ran countless logs through what was then one of the largest sawmills in the country. And here, for decades, many a memorable canoe trip began and finished. For years, Anthony and Rose DeBanvile allowed paddlers to cross the grassy area on their property to bring boats to and from the river.
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Public access is a tradition the DeBanvilles believe should continue for future generations. The VRC was able to make this a permanent public access area by facilitating the conveyance of a public access and conservation easement from the DeBanvilles to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (VT FPR). VRC negotiated the agreement to purchase the easement from the DeBanvilles so as to ensure that the river will always be accessible to the public in this historic location. Funding for the project came from a grant from the Connecticut River Joint Commissions (through the Connecticut Valley Partnership Program) and from contributions from individual donors. The DeBanville Access has lots going for it. Only a few hundred yards from the newly constructed DeBanville Store, (Sherry and Darlene Belknap did a wonderful job rebuilding the store last year), the DeBanville access also serves the only “natural” designated segment on the Connecticut.
Seven miles of river from Wheeler Stream to the Maidstone iron bridge is off limits to motorboats by New Hampshire state law. The DeBanville access is also located at a key area along the Northern Forest Canoe trail, an historic 740-mile trail being established between Adirondacks and northern Maine . The DeBanville Access has been added to Lyman Falls State Park, just a few miles to the north, and is owned and managed by VT FPR. The VRC created Lyman Falls State Park in 2001 through a purchase from the Washburn family and a subsequent conveyance to VT FPR.
page updated5/14/08 by Zephyr Sites |
