Author: Tadd Stuart

Join Us! Help Shape a New Accessible Park in Waterboro

Tadd Stuart

The Francis Small Heritage Trust is proposing a new, fully accessible “Outlet Park” on Lake Arrowhead in Waterboro.

Before we finalize our plans, we need your input. We want to build a space that works for everyone in our community.

Join the Conversation

Please attend our public listening session to share your thoughts and learn more:

  • When: April 8th, 2026, at 6:00 PM
  • Where: Waterboro Town Hall
  • Bonus: Refreshments will be available!

Proposed Park Highlights

  • Wheelchair accessible, level trail (0.4 miles)
  • Accessible park benches (example image below)
  • Reserved handicapped parking spaces
  • Dog-friendly daytime use
  • Trail access for fishing

We hope to see you there! For details, visit www.FSHT.org or email us at mail@FSHT.org.

Sincerely, The Francis Small Heritage Trust

JOIN OUR TEAM

Tadd Stuart

Now Hiring: Community Liaison Coordinator (Seasonal)

Building a More Inclusive Outdoors

Francis Small Heritage Trust is excited to announce an opening for a Community Liaison Coordinator. We are looking for a dedicated individual to help us ensure our trails and nature preserves are welcoming, safe, and accessible to everyone in our community.

This is a unique opportunity to lead outreach efforts for regional groups—including elders, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and persons with disabilities—and to facilitate meaningful, guided experiences on the land.

Position Highlights:

  • Role: Relationship building, group trail facilitation, and light stewardship.
  • Compensation: $25.00 per hour (Contracted position).
  • Schedule: 20 hours per week (Flexible, June 1 – October 31, 2026).
  • Location: Various FSHT holdings across northern York, southern Oxford, and western Cumberland counties.
View Full Job Description Here

How to Apply

We are looking for a candidate with strong communication skills, cultural competency, and the ability to work independently in the field.

Interested candidates should email their resume and/or inquiries to: Francis Small Heritage Trust at mail@fsht.org

Community Events

Tadd Stuart

Mark Your Calendars!

We have an exciting lineup of outdoor activities, educational talks, and community challenges scheduled for the coming months. Whether you’re a bird enthusiast, a foraging fan, or a trail trekker, there is something for everyone! 

Spring & Summer Schedule

EventDateTimeLocation
Spring Bird Discussion03/20/266:30 pmKezar Falls Circulating Library
Waterboro Listening Session04/08/266 pm – 7 pmWaterboro Town Hall
Geocaching Talk04/11/26NoonKezar Falls Circulating Library
Community Listening Session04/16/266 pm – 10 pmPorter Town Hall
Earth Day Cleanup & Planting04/25/269 am – 1 pmRiverview
Spring Bird Walk05/02/267 amSisson Heath
Trail Open House05/23/269 am – 12 pmDevils Den
Black Locust Flower Foraging06/06/2610 amIngalls Pond
Moon Over Malibu, Maine (story walk)June 13 – July 13—Jagolinzer
Moonlight Hike06/26/268:30 pmJagolinzer
Mushroom Foray08/08/26 (rain date Aug 22)—Bald Ledge

Special Season-Long Challenges

Get outside and explore our local landscapes at your own pace!

  • Water Trail Challenge: Join us throughout July.
  • Locations: Gould Island, Riverview, Ingalls Pond, & Jagolinzer.
  • Hiking Trail Challenge: Running through July and August.
  • Locations: All trails.

Event Highlights

  • Birding with Chris Lewey: Don’t miss the “Return of the Natives” discussion on March 20th, covering migration, nesting, and identification, followed by an early morning Bird Walk on May 2nd.
  • Mushroom Foray: Save the date for August 8th; if it rains, the event will move to August 22nd.
  • Community Input: Residents are encouraged to attend the listening session in Waterboro regarding the all-persons trail in Outlet Park.

For additional information on any of these events, contact Sheryl Adams at nannyhoofer@gmail.com

Line Elementary Second Graders Explore Gerry Preserve

Tadd Stuart

On February 3, students from Line Elementary School stepped out of the classroom and into the winter wonderland of the Gerry Preserve in Newfield. As part of our ongoing “Developing a Sense of Place” program, Mrs. Eaton’s and Mr. Kellis’s second-grade classes enjoyed a guided nature walk along the Little Ossipee River.

Accompanied by FSHT volunteers Peter Zack and Myke Russell, the students learned to identify animal tracks and winter nesting sites. For many of the children, the highlight of the day was their very first experience using snowshoes to navigate the trails.

A Longstanding Partnership

Mr. Zack has been leading these educational walks for 13 years, visiting the classrooms beforehand to share the history of the preserve. By visiting the land in both the fall and winter, students are able to observe seasonal changes firsthand and develop a lifelong respect for protected lands in their own community.

The Francis Small Heritage Trust is proud to partner with RSU 57 to foster curiosity and environmental stewardship in our local youth.

Click Here to see the full article

📰 Local History Spotlight: Surveying Cornish, Ancient Times to Current

Tadd Stuart

December 4, 2025

We are excited to share an article from the December 4th edition of the Waterboro Reporter focusing on the history of Cornish land surveying, which heavily references the history of our namesake, Francis Small.

The article summarizes a recent presentation by Robert Yarumian II of Maine Boundary Consultants, covering the evolution of local land from its ancient roots to the present day.

  • Indigenous History: The presentation touched on the area’s original occupation by Native Americans, noting that the land we now know as Cornish was part of the Pequaket Trail, traveled by the Sokokis tribe.
  • The Francis Small Propriety: The history of Francis Small’s settlement and fur trading post in the 1600s was detailed, including the pivotal land exchange with Chief Wesumbe (Captain Sandy). This exchange, recorded in a 1668 deed, resulted in Small acquiring a vast tract of land between the Great and Little Ossipee Rivers, up to the Saco River.
  • Town Formation: The presentation explains that Francis Small’s heirs, known as the proprietors, later petitioned the courts to regain the land following the French and Indian Wars. This process led to the formation of the towns of Cornish (originally “Francisborough”), Limerick, and Parsonsfield. These three towns, along with Limington and Newfield, are believed to have been included in the original 1668 deed.

The article provides fascinating context on how the land was settled, surveyed, and developed into the modern communities of southern Maine. Read the full article in the Waterboro Reporter.

Governor Mills Announces Funding for Francis Small Heritage Trust Conservation Project

Tadd Stuart

September 16, 2024

The Francis Small Heritage Trust (FSHT) has been approved for funding through the revitalized Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Program.

In total, Governor Janet Mills announced $3.8 million in LMF funding for 12 new conservation projects across Maine. Since the Governor proposed and the Legislature approved $40 million to reinvigorate the program, the LMF Board has approved 75 new projects, totaling $29.9 million.

The project supporting FSHT falls under the Conservation and Recreation Projects category:

Porter Hills Phase II Moody Road Parcel (Porter, Oxford County)
This crucial project protects 98.6 acres of critical wildlife habitat and prime outdoor recreational destinations. The new parcel will connect to FSHT’s existing 700 acres of conservation lands, all within the Town of Porter and the Porter Hills Focus Area of Statewide Ecological Importance.

Original Article: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/news/news.shtml?id=13023962