Author Archives: George Fergusson

William Corliss McKeen Feb. 16, 1941 – January 8, 2025

Bill was a talented and accomplished individual. We’re still using the “Ice Cream Social” signs he made for us. He will be missed. This Obituary can be found at Direct Cremation of Maine.

WHITEFIELD – William Corliss McKeen of Whitefield, Maine passed away on January 8th at his home with his beloved wife, Susan, by his side. He was born in Millinocket, Maine on February 16, 1941, the son of Edwin and Verna McKeen. He graduated from Camden High School in 1959.

Bill was a graphic designer, painter, genealogist, history buff and a collector of coins, guns, diecast car models, books and antiques. Bill’s interests were boundless. He began his professional career at the age of 5 when he sold his first painting at the corner store in Rockport. Bill went on to become a maker of hand-painted signs. His design talents soon took him to Presque Isle where he became television art director at WAGM TV. Soon after he put his many talents together as a newspaper designer at The Aroostook Star Herald in Presque Isle, Courier Gazette in Rockland and the Coastal Journal in Bath where he became owner and  publisher. After selling the Coastal Journal Bill formed an advertising agency, McKeen & Associates in Bath. His next project took him full circle back to producing signs, but this time using digital technology, by forming Minuteman Signs located in Augusta. Continue reading →

Extraordinary Ice Conditions on Clary Lake

Clary-Ice-1-10-25-1It’s been a good winter for ice so far, though it was a little dicey to begin with! Carolyn Curtis and her husband Paul Devlin have a camp over on Hornpout Lane, they came up last week to spend some time at camp and to go skating. Carolyn sent me a couple of pictures, the one above and the one at left. I’ve added them both to the Winter 2025 gallery, one I turned into a banner on the site. My skating days are behind me, but I’ve been out walking with ice creepers on. Clary is a four season adventure!

Harvey Jennison Gerdts January 10, 2020 – January 2, 2025

Our love and compassion go out to Hillary Relyea and her husband Ben Gerdts over the loss of  their son Harvey earlier this month. He was just shy of 5 years old. Hillary sent me this news and some pictures this morning and asked if I would share with our Clary community.

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved son, Harvey Jennison, who left us too soon on January 2nd. He brought boundless joy and laughter into our lives with his inquisitive nature, love of art and puzzles, and compassion for all. His smile, always accompanied by a twinkle in his eye, was a reflection of his vibrant, infectious happiness. He cherished his family and embraced his role as a big brother and oldest cousin. Though Harv’s time with us was too brief, the love and memories we shared will forever remain in our hearts. Continue reading →

December 2024 Water Level Chart Archived

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December 2024

And so we come to the end of another year! I have archived the December 2024 water level chart (above, and at left). The drought conditions we experienced in September, October, and November ended fairly early on in December though technically, this section of Maine was still in Moderate Drought through the end of the month and into the new year. We received 6.01 inches of precipitation in December, 2.57 inches more than normal and ended 2024 with a total of 53.27 inches of precipitation, 9.21 inches more than the annual average of 44.06 inches making 2024 the second wettest year in the last 6, right behind 2023 with 60.31 inches for the year. A particularly heavy rainstorm on December 11th brought the lake up almost a foot virtually overnight. When it looked like more precipitation was coming later in the month, we opened the gate a half a foot on the 18th in an attempt to keep the lake from rising too much. We started the month down -1.78 feet and ended up a half a foot higher at the end of the month. The gate remains open 1/2 foot going into the New Year.

20241215_093634-MediumWe intentionally drew the lake down nearly 2 feet this past fall to assist two lake shore owners on Duncan Road complete their fully permitted shoreline stabilization projects. The work was being done by Plummer Excavation from Walpole Maine and was supposed to start in November but the contractor wasn’t able to start the work until mid-December by which time the lake had already started rising again. Fortunately, while the lake level rose some, it stayed low enough to not hamper the work. The shoreline adjacent to Duncan Road has been a source of soil erosion for years which has eaten away at people’s yards and polluted the lake with  sediment and phosphorus. Over the years people have taken half measures to minimize the erosion. The work being done now is anything but a half measure. The picture at left taken on December 15th shows the almost completed riprap work on the Vincentsen property. Brent Duncan is having the same thing done to his shoreline later this winter. These lake shore owners are to be commended for making this substantial investment to protect their property and protect the lake.

I’ve been a little busy lately so I’m late getting this post finished. There’s more I could add to it but I need to close the book on 2024 and get to work on 2025. You’ll find ALL the 2024 charts you’re looking for including a few charts you’re probably not looking for in the 2024 Water Level Charts gallery.

Happy New Year!

New Ice-In Date Ahead

Five days ago the lake was frozen solid. Two days later it rained heavily and the temperature rose to 50° needless to say, the ice didn’t last long. Normally we call ice-in when the meteorological conditions exist to allow the lake to freeze completely. We revise that date when the meteorological conditions exist to melt off the ice just a few days later! We’ll be revising the ice-in date when the lake finally freezes over again; the weather forecast is for single digit temperatures this weekend so it probably won’t be long.

Audrey J. Relyea May 28, 1928 – December 11, 2024

It’s been a year of love and loss here on Clary Lake, two seemingly conflicting emotions which actually go hand in hand. It is with sadness that we mark the passing of yet another long time Clary Lake Association member, Audrey Relyea. I’ve spent a little time with Audrey off and on over the years. I would have liked the opportunity to get to know her better! The Relyea family over the years has played a significant role in the Association, and continues to do so. Her husband Bruce Relyea who is no longer with us was President of the Clary Lake Association in the early 2000s, and her son Steven is our current Vice President. Her granddaughter Hillary Relyea is our newest Board member. The family owns property on the South side of Clary Lake in Jefferson.

The following obituary recently appeared in the Fort Worth Star Telegram: Continue reading →

Official Clary Lake Ice-In Date: December 15, 2024

After several false starts, the meteorological conditions necessary to freeze up the lake have finally occurred though it remains to be seen if the ice survives the rain and 50° temperature forecast for next Tuesday. Our ice-in and ice-out records go back to 2001 and for what it’s worth, today, December 15th, is the average ice-in date. There were 282 days in 2024 without ice on the lake, considerably more than the average of 254 ice-free days. Gorgeous looking ice, but I’d let it thicken before venturing out on it!

While 23 years really isn’t a long enough period of time for meaningful climate data analysis, a look at the above chart shows clears trends developing for later ice-in and earlier ice-out dates. However, the yellow line showing days between ice-in and ice-out picks up days on both ends and there’s no uncertainty at all in how that statistic is trending.

Thomas Warren Gillette October 10, 1931 – December 3, 2024

Tom liked among other things, fishing and drinking coffee. The above picture was taken at the State boat launch in early September 2022, Tom and his fishing buddy Chris Stoltz were just coming off the lake after a morning of stalking finned monsters up in the marsh, his favorite fishing haunt. I was conducting Courtesy Boat Inspections on Labor Day weekend, the last weekend of the CBI season. I’m pretty sure from the smile on his face that he was enjoying himself! Tom also liked coffee and he’d call me up on the spur of the moment and invite me over to his camp on the lake for a cup of his strong Louisiana coffee, or he’d show up at my house, unannounced, settle into a comfy chair, and enjoy a cup of my equally strong coffee. The picture at left is him doing just that, back in 2016. At times like these we’d have good and lengthy conversations on just about any subject but eventually we’d always end up talking about Clary Lake. Throughout those long hard years of the water level crisis and our seemingly endless battle for the survival of Clary Lake, at times the outlook was bleak. Tom was always there, always supportive, always upbeat and optimistic, and always full of ideas and inspiration. He helped me through a very difficult period of my life in more ways than I can mention. Over the years he has been a valuable steward of Clary Lake and a generous patron of the Clary Lake Association at a time when we needed all the help we could get. He will be remembered. He will be missed.

I had my last cup of coffee with Tom this past fall out on his deck just a week before he and his wife Delph packed up and left for Houston. I thanked him again for all his help over the years protecting and preserving Clary Lake. His response was a characteristically dismissive wave of his hand. His health had been failing, and I hoped, but doubted, that I would see him again. News of his passing was sad, but not unexpected. He was 93.

Here is Tom’s obituary, written by his son Baxter. The obituary should appear in the Houston Chronical this coming Tuesday and soon, in the Brunswick Times Record and the Lincoln County News. Continue reading →

Thomas Gillette Has Passed Away

I just received news that my good friend Thomas Gillette has passed away. I had a cup of coffee with him a couple of months ago out on the deck of his home on the lake. I was so looking forward to having another one with him next summer. Thomas loved fishing on Clary Lake. The above picture, taken some years ago, shows Thomas proudly displaying a 7.5 pound largemouth bass he caught.

I’ll post his obituary when it becomes available.

November 2024 Water Level Chart Archived

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November 2024

I have archived the November 2024 water level chart (above, and at left). The dry weather we experienced in September and October continued with a vengeance in November, normally our wettest month with average monthly rainfall of 4.58 inches. We  did end up receiving 2.81 inches or 61% of normal, almost all of it falling at the end of the month. Thanks to excess rain back in March, June, and August, we’re still almost 5 inches ahead for the year but even so, we remain firmly in Moderate Drought going into December. According to the USGS,  groundwater levels in this area are quite low, even for this time of year. Continue reading →

Happy Thanksgiving from the Clary Lake Association

Everyday should be and is an opportunity to give thanks.  During these difficult and unprecedented times, we can easily lose our footing in gratitude and only focus on what we don’t have, what we can’t do, and sadly for some of us, what we have lost.  And so, we must remain steadfast in our work of living in the moment, taking nothing for granted and performing little acts of kindness.  No earthly power can prevent us from living in this way.

May all of us, near and far, take a moment and remember what is truly important and know that it is found within. Happy Thanksgiving… now and always. Be kind and stay safe!

Margaret Fergusson

Aerial View of Clary Lake

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Mark Rowe took this drone photo and posted it on Facebook the other day and gave me permission to post it here. Great photo. This is looking west toward David Hodsdon’s point in the distance. I look forward to more drone shots in the future!

October 2024 Water Level Chart Archived

10 Clary-Lake-Water-Level-October-2024I have archived the October 2024 water level chart (above, and at left). The dry weather we experienced in September continued into October which is normally one of our wettest months, second only to November in average monthly rainfall. All told we only received only 2.13 inches of rain in October. For the year we’re still about 8 inches above normal precipitation thanks to excessive rain in March, June, and August but rainfall for September and October combined is only 3.89 inches, 4.40 inches less than normal. Despite the shortage of rain this fall, it is likely that ground water supplies are still in pretty good shape but the ground surface is pretty dried out and the fire danger is high. The US Drought Monitor shows this area as being “Abnormally Dry” but in “Moderate Drought” just a mile to the east of Clary Lake. Continue reading →

Richard B. Gallion October 11, 1947 – October 23, 2024

It is with great sadness that I post this obituary of Rick Gallion that appeared in today’s online version of the Central Maine Papers. Rick always had a ready smile, a hearty laugh, and a helping hand which he extended freely and often. He will be missed.

JEFFERSON – Richard B. Gallion, 77, died suddenly on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Rick was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 11, 1947, the son of the late Virgil A. and Doris E. (Johnson) Gallion. He grew up in southeast Kansas and earned a B.A. in French literature from Pittsburg State University.

Rick served as a Green Beret in the United States Army but had conflicted feelings about the U.S. military. Rick married Saundra Mackey while he was in the service, and they divorced some years later after many adventures together. Saundra preceded in him death.

On Oct. 5, 1996, Rick married the love of his life, Linda S. Marrs Farrell, at the Topeka Kansas Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Together they shared 28 wonderful years of marriage. Continue reading →

Sad News about Rick Gallion

I received word earlier today from Linda Gallion that her husband and business partner, Rick Gallion, passed away yesterday, very suddenly. Rick ran the Clary Lake Woodworking School and he and Linda together have run the Clary Lake Bed and Breakfast for the past 20 years. Rick was a good friend. He was 77 years old. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Linda and the family in this sad time.