Statement by Sid Block, President, at the October 19, 2019 press conference in Belfast, Maine

Dr. Harriet L. Hartley, born in 1874, was a nationally acclaimed pediatrician and professor of surgery in the early 20th century.  She was a pioneer, championing in the role of women in medicine, advocating for the vaccination of children and promoting public health. 

From the 1920's she and her husband owned the shore land between the Little River and what is now the beginning of Tozier Rd.  Before she died in 1950, she sold the property with a covenant " ...with the understanding it is to be used for residential purposes only, that no Businesess for profit are to be conducted there..."   That covenant has been passed down in all subsequent deeds. 

To ensure her intent, as various properties were sold, she reserved the intertidal zone in front of all of them for her summer cottage, now the Little River Center owned by Jeffrey Mabee and Judith Grace who have placed this property into what is now being named the Harriet L. Hartley Conservation Area. 

It is the purpose of the Friends of the Harriet L. Hartley Conservation Area to honor her commitment to the beauty and ecological importance of this intertidal zone, by doing everything we can to protect it and defend its associated ownership and covenant.  Nordic Aquafarms claims those opposed to its fish plant are "a few noisy protestors.”  In fact, we are part of a large and growing number of informed, intelligent, upstanding, tax-paying citizens to whom our government should be attentive, supportive and protective.