BAR HARBOR'S BROOKEND COTTAGE

DUCK BROOK DAM AND BROOKEND COTTAGE
Bar Harbor Record
June 11,  1902


THE BROOKEND DAM
A Difficult Engineering Feat Successfully Accomplished

Nature has done much to make the island of Mount Desert the ideal place upon which to erect beautiful summer homes.  The conformation of its shores rugged and irregular as they are, afford diversities of situation to suit the tastes of the most fastidious.  The first summer people to locate here chose the action of the shore lying in close proximity to what is now the village of Bar Harbor.  So rapidly were cottages erected on the covered water front lots that it was not long before many of the desirable situations had been taken from the market.  Families who preferred the water edge to the  more mountainous locations where compelled thereby to canvas the outlying sections.  The result has been that each year cottages have been built farther and farther, both south and west, from the village center.  Today the coastline of the village is several miles in length, and it is dotted all over with handsome and palatial homes.
A few years ago Dr. and Mrs. Robert Abbe of New York, in looking about for a suitable location whereon to establish their summer home, came upon the old mill property on the Hulls Cove Road at Duck Brook.  Once this mill had done a prosperous business, getting its power from the water in the brook.  The water falling, and engine was installed and the mill was operated by steam for a season, and than abandoned.
When Dr. Abbe purchased the property the mill had long been idle, and was fast going to ruin.  Its dilapidated buildings were a disfigurement to the otherwise beautiful scenery, and the general appearance was far from inviting.  While to many the sight of those old buildings might of been, and no doubt were to some, repelling, Mrs. Abbe, with an eye for the beautiful, saw much that others did not see.  She saw the possibilities that lay in the neglected mill site, and that with the old buildings removed a different and far more attractive picture could be presented.  Not only that, but she saw by the expenditure of money combined with the ingenuity of man, a miniature lake that could be built and the whole vista thereby transformed.  Mrs. Abbe's eye took in the ravine across the road with its towering spruce and pine trees, where dark green foliage intermingling with the lighter green of birch and hemlock were destined to form an agreeable background to a most harmonious picture.
Upon the storefront of the property a comfortable cottage had already been built and occupied for a few years.  Having purchased the property Dr. and Mrs. Abbe spent their first season planning how it could be improved.  Attention was first given to the cottage and this was materially enlarged by the addition of a handsome stone extension which the Record fully described in its issue of Jan. 24,  1900.  At the same time the mill buildings were torn down and a dam was built across the brook, the land on both sides of which now belonged to Dr. Abbe.  The dam was built of wood and was quite ornamental.  But though it served to show what could be done it was not durable enough to withstand the strain that must necessarily be put upon it.
As a result of one years experience it was decided that a second dam should be built, this time of stone.  And there is where an interesting problem presented itself. In order to support the heavy masonry necessary to make the dam perfectly secure a foundation must be laid far below the surface of the stream.  This was an engineering feat of no small magnitude, for in undertaking it one had to contend with the water of the brook on one side and the tide of the bay on the other side.  Many who had investigated the matter said such a dam could not be built.  But where there is a will there generally is a way.  Dr. Abbe had the will - and the money - and in the person of Mr. P.W. Blanchfield he found the way.  Mr. Blanchfield assured Dr. Abbe that he could and would build a dam that would withstand all the strain that the waters on both sides could bring against it.
With plans submitted by Miss Beatrix Jones,   Mr. Blanchfield commenced work of construction the first of last September.  In order to overcome the water difficultly he build a coffer dam of his own design.  work was continued all through the winter and the dam is now complete and a pretty sheet of clear water takes the place of the old mill.
The dam is 112 feet long and 7 feet, 6 inches wide on top.  The foundation is laid 19 feet below the bed of the brook in the center and rests on the solid ledge.  The dam is 14 feet wide at the base and is constructed of solid masonry, the two sides being faced with granite.  The water over the dam has a fall of seven feet.
The construction of this dam reflects great credit on Mr. Blanchfield.  It was a hard undertaking and it has been successfully carried out.  Dr. Abbe and his family are very much pleased with the work and have personally complimented Mr. Blanchfield for his skill and workmanship.  During the winter Dr. Abbe took great interest not only in the work but in the workmen.  His forethought and kindness has endeared him to all, and the men have shown their appreciation of him by each striving to do his best.  The kindly feeling that existed between the two is a thing most pleasant to record.
With the exception of the natural rocks at each end of the dam, which have been left exposed, the sloping ground on the west side of the brook is being carefully sodded and studded all over with wild roses, sweet ferns and other wild shrubbery.  With all the artificial work that has been done the rugged picturesqueness has not been disturbed.  In fact the artificial, except for the dam, is hardly discernible.  The natural wild wood appearance is noticeable on all sides.

BROOKEND COTTAGE - BAR HARBOR MAINE

The improvement that has been made  to the town by the building of this artificial lake cannot be estimated in dollars and cents, and the benefit will be lasting, a disfigurement has given place to a thing of beauty.  While many of the improvements on the private property are merely for the pleasure of the owner, these will be enjoyed by the public.  Passerby will be inclined to stop and admire the scene.  In fact some have already done so and wondered why they had not seen what Mrs. Abbe saw.
The landscape designing for the lake shore and for the spacious grounds in front of the cottage was done by Miss Beatrix Jones and is in keeping with her always high and artistic taste.  Her plans for these improvements have been faithfully carried out by Mr. Blanchfield.  One little design of Miss Jones is a small flower garden at the western end of the cottage.  Here, shut off from the driveway has been planted several little flower beds in fancy designs.  In one of the beds are ten or twelve tea rose plants  which have stood the test of out doors one winter.  It has been said that it is impossible for tea roses to live out doors the year round in this climate, and Mrs. Abbe is justly proud that she can disprove this assertion.  Another stated impossibility has been accomplished, and that is to grow trailing vines on the waterfront of the house.  The house is built so near the rocky ledge that but little space is left between, just a narrow foot path.  But here are seen today vines planted a year ago flourishing and finding their way up the rough stone of which the cottage is built.
On the grounds near the road way is a fine lawn tennis plot where the lovers of the sport can indulge in their favorite pastime to their hearts content.  Although Brookend is one of the most attractive places on the shore and Dr. and Mira. Abbe may well be proud of the years formation that has been wrought in the short time they have owned it.