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OQUOSSOC — The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust named its recently acquired property on the Magalloway River, the John J. McDevitt Woods, after “a very special person,” the trust said in a news release.
Far off in the western corner of Maine, speckled by Aziscohos and Parmacheene lakes and defined by the Magalloway River, Aziscohos Mountain and the Diamond Peaks, lies the tiny village of Wilsons Mills.
Certainly not a metropolis for outlying, smaller communities, but rather the pivotal connection to some of Western Maine’s mosaic natural features, sportsman’s tales, and homage of traditional New England family values, the trust said.
“Thanks to the vision and generosity of the John J. McDevitt Family, the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is honored to support these traditions through the acquisition of 230 acres on the Magalloway River,” it said.
Influenced by an Allagash Fire Warden as a child, Jack McDevitt spent his adolescence years navigating the remote forests and waters of Downeast and northern Maine. In his early adulthood, ge enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the European theater in World War II. Shortly after his tour, McDevitt returned to Maine, rekindling his love of the mountains and waters that eventually bonded his family for the generations to come.
In the spring 1948, he married Pauline Garvey, eventually raising five boys, all of whom shared his affection for the outdoors and inherited his values and work ethic, put to work in the family business, McDevitt Trucks.
In 1974, following decades of raising his children Downeast, McDevitt leased a parcel on Parmacheenee Lake from Brown Paper Company, eventually building a family camp, which is still owned by the McDevitt family. They still recall those days when a trip “upta camp” brought peace, joy and excitement, with many laughs, great food and adventures in the woods.
In early 2001, McDevitt and his son Kevin acquired Bosebucks Camps on Aziscohos Lake. During their ownership they transitioned the camps to four-season use and worked to connect snowmobile trails from New Hampshire to Maine via the Bosebuck trail circuit. In 2008, they sold the camps to the Yates family, who established the gold standard for adventure vacationing in the western mountains of Maine today.
Today, nearly 80 years since McDevitt took to the woods, the Wilsons Mills area hasn’t changed much. The Magalloway River is still one of the best native brook trout streams in Maine, snowmobile trails still integrate Maine and New Hampshire tourism, the landscape is abundant with wildlife and glistening bodies of water. Most importantly, it continues to make memories that instill family values, sense of place and the memories of a lifetime.
Thank you John J McDevitt, the trust said. “You were the ‘finest kind’ of person and have left your family and community a priceless legacy forever.”
PHOTO: Bill, Jack Sr. and Jack McDevitt “upta camp.” The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust has named its recently acquired property on the Magolloway River the John J. McDevitt Woods. (Submitted photo)
