Plant a tree in memory of Albert
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Laurie Godin uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 31, 2017
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Al making the trails perfect for "The Lovely's"!
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Laurie Godin uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 31, 2017
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Al receiving his plaque officially naming Al's Alley
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Laurie Godin uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 31, 2017
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Digging up some rocks on Al's Alley in his Kubota tractor
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Laurie Godin uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 31, 2017
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Al telling us all a story.
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Laurie Godin uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 31, 2017
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Happy hour at Camp Tukumbaktu
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Laurie Godin uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 31, 2017
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Virgin trip in Al's new Ford groomer.
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Laurie Godin posted a condolence
Monday, July 31, 2017
Hello family and friends of Al, or Albee or Uncle Al or Chief Sagamore. No matter which name or title you knew him by if you knew Al your life was a little richer for it.
For those of you who don’t know me, I am Laurie… of Pete and Laurie. Pete and I met Al when we bought our first camp up on route 11 in what was then called T5R9. We met our new neighbor Sheldon and he suggested we go meet Al for our snowmobiling trail questions... When we asked where Al was located, Sheldon said take the right immediately after the bridge and look for the camp on the left with a blow up doll in the window! Yup… we found it ok… Although, I must admit we were a bit hesitant to knock on the door of a complete stranger based on the advice of another complete stranger, but as it turned out, this was to be some of the best advice we were ever given and led to our introduction to one of the most interesting people I have ever met.
I believe Al was 68 or 69 when we first met him… I know he wasn’t really retired yet, but he could have been. He would later give the rather sound advice that you should retire as soon as you can because youth is wasted on the young! At that time he still had his home down in Manchester by the Sea and made the journey to camp as often as he could. Initially he wasn’t around much during the summer months. I believe he still had his sailboat then and spent his summer months sailing to Cranes Beach. I do, however, recall that the first full winter that we owned our camp he was up for an extended stay so he could snowmobile. We learned many of the trails during those first two winters with Al. At that point in time, many of the trails were not marked and designated as they are now. I personally learned that out by Medawisla, you needed to look for the two big pine trees with the big rock in front of it. The trail was directly across from that tree rock formation! I learned that when heading from White House Landing via the lake, the trail that came off the lake to get you up on the trail we now know to be the Pemadumcook Parkway was marked by two trees with tops that formed a V. And let us not forget, before the bridge went in up at Gauntlett Falls, the best place to cross late season was where you could see the rock in the middle of the stream… how many of us remember that ride?
Al was very good at reading the signs… and I am not talking about snowmobile signs… I am talking about signs that Mother Nature leaves for us all… Al was a very spiritual person…he loved nature and was in awe of it… anyone who has read one of his poems knows that. A few years back, his wonderful niece Jennifer placed one of his favorite poems at the lookout on Farrar Mountain along with a photo of Al… it is still there and I like to think that everyone who visits that spot, stops to read those beautiful words and looks out over the view with a new sense of awe, just as Al did.
Al was always looking for ways to improve things… one of his projects was getting the Philbrook Farm Trail opened up. He proudly shared with me the typewritten letter he had sent to Scott Ramsay of the snowmobile grant program in Maine suggesting this change. As I read the letter I considered how thoughtfully it was written and carefully explained...you see, Al was always a little embarrassed by his lack of education… yet he very clearly had a way with words and not only compensated for his lack of education but exceeded what many, more educated people are capable of. He eloquently got his point across and after a bit of time, the trail was in fact opened up and became a groomed trail that we all now know to be the 111 connector. This is a very heavily used trail now… What once was a goat trail is now what I refer to as The 111, closer to heaven…which is of course Ebeemee and camp.
I believe life puts you where you are meant to be...Life put Al on the Ebeemee Lake Road. The road association purchased a large plow truck, and in it was a CB. Darrell would radio Al when he was ready to start the run out. Al would watch for traffic and send out a warning to any unwary travelers. You see, Al’s camp was strategically located. It was close by and on the way… even if you didn’t live on the camp road. It was commonplace for people to stop in for a visit with Al. Sometimes it was that morning cup of coffee before we started our day… sometimes just a hello…He was a social person and because of that he possessed a wealth of information. Stop in and have a visit and catch up on what was going on . You would be greeted with the “Hey Neighbor” typically and welcomed in… He was the common denominator… I would run into people I hadn’t seen in months at Al’s! I’m glad life put me near Al. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people because of Al.
Thankfully, Pete and I were accepted into Al’s group… and consequently… The Sagamore Wanderers expanded…
Because of this acceptance, we were introduced to communication via the CB radio as mentioned before… Al would hop on the airwaves in the morning and we would hear the weather report. We would find out who was on their way up and when they might be expected to arrive, and it was always great to hear Al declare; “good morning this morning”. We would all make our plans for our trail rides figuring out where we were going and what time to meet. We would let it be known where and what time Happy Hour was to happen… all by CB... no phone required. We all had a CB radio in our camp thanks to Al… in fact many of us still do. Al was, in fact… looking back, the weather prognosticator, Social Director, guide, traffic director and Mayor of T5R9.
And what about that Happy Hour… I credit Al with our Happy Hours at camp. The tradition started way back when… We would play or work around our camps all day… stop late afternoon, clean up and prepare for happy hour. In our early days, most times we gathered at Al’s camp, The Sagamore’s Wander Inn… Happy Hour consisted of big band music playing in the background…something most of us only associate, still to this day, with Al. We would share delicious snacks and so much laughter and camaraderie. Many times the happy hour would go late into the night… You see we didn’t get to see each other all the time so there was always so much to catch up on…Once again, Al was the common denominator. It was at these happy hours, turned pot luck dinners that many stories were shared… I remember how horrified I was when Al recalled the time he went through the ice… how he just knew that if he didn’t make it out on the third try he wouldn’t make it out at all...that particular story cemented my fear of frozen water… There is still not a time that I pass over a pond in the winter that I don’t recall that story. But it wasn’t his time yet, he still had many friends to meet and many more memories to make.
In the summer time, it was fishing stories. We loved to see and hear of the retrofits he had done to his fishing boat… As I recall the first one was “The Cadillac”. But boy oh boy, once he retired he replaced the Cadillac with a much fancier boat. He and his good friend Mike would head to Sebois and fish… Always coming back with something… even if only a story to share during happy hour!
I remember Al was so very clever at figuring out gadgets to make his camp more compfortable or his toys more productive. Nothing ever remained the same from when he first acquired it. I remember the first time he showed me his shower mechanism… holy cow, pump the water in, heat it up, then fill the overhead tank until the flag went up to indicate the tank was full! It even had a thermometer… women liked it one temperature and men preferred a little cooler! How many of us remember the snowmobile drag he built out of wood with the long stinger as he called it out the back? Or the big wooden box he built for his 4-wheeler with the big mirrors sticking out on the front? His last and best project in my opinion was his ice fishing sled… he had that fine-tuned for ease of use… A place for everything and everything in its place. He was a Master Tinkerer.
Al was very patriotic and so very proud of serving his country… We are all probably aware that he received not one but two silver stars… so proud…and how about the 4th of July and birthday celebrations… Remember… Life puts where you are meant to be. His 80th birthday was a weekend long celebration… all that traffic going by his camp and hanging that huge flag proudly and so high… he sat in his shed and watched as it waved in the breeze… That was the flag he flew on his sailboat… I remember seeing the photo and wondering how the sailboat stayed upright with that massive flag hanging proudly from its mast! And I myself, personally enjoyed singing the Star Spangled Banner for him…. And I think he liked it too!!
His wisdom was timeless and unique… I recall when we were looking at our “new” camp down on Pearl Pond… Pete asked him if he thought it was too much money for a camp in the area. His words were “well if it is worth it to you, then it is worth it”… how right he was.
And how about his little limericks… We need to compile them…
Al was a hugger. His greeting to me anyway, was a hug and a sniff of my hair and a “please God… make this moment last”. So to all of you, look back and embrace and remember all the good times. They are what really matter…
So in closing, my life is richer for knowing Al and God knows… He was definitely one of the more colorful threads in the fabric of my life. I am so glad life put him on the Ebeemee Lake Road so I could go there too and get to know him and so many of you. Keep his memory alive and think of him when you hear the loons cry or see the eagle soar or watch a babbling brook flow by… He is still here.
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Alida Bryant posted a condolence
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Dear ones:
I knew Al for a few years when I first moved to Manchester. He lived on Pleasant Street next to the entrance to Powderhouse hill, where I would walk my dog every morning and often see and chat with Al. He was a good and helpful neighbor and was quite sad to leave Manchester. He loved his house, and working on it. I will be sure to let the current owners know about Al. I know they will be interested to learn a small piece of the history of their home. I am happy to read about his joy in his life in Maine. A good life, well lived is a great gift. My condolences to his Family. I know you will miss him.
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Betty (Nowe) Rhodenizer posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Dear family of Albert;
Condolences and blessings from a cousin in Nova Scotia. (my mother was a Nowe)
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Kathy Baldasare posted a condolence
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Remembering a nice neighbor while growing up in Manchester. I haven't seen him in years but have many memories of him throughout my early years . Rest in Peace Al
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Louis Logue posted a condolence
Monday, July 10, 2017
Sorry to hear of Al's passing, I know he will be greatly missed. I hope to get up to Milo but that may not be possible, we'll see. I had the privilege to work with Al in my early years and learned a great deal in all facets of the construction field from him. Al prided himself of doing it the right the first time. When he wasn't watching out for us he was telling us how he couldn't wait till he got back to his camp up in Maine. He would go on and on, no wonder that's where he ended up. I can see why, some of my friends and I get up to the W. Branch a few time a year, already been up their twice this past spring. and hope to be a few more times this year. Rest easy Sagamore I'll have one on the rocks next time I'm up their somewhere along the Golden Road. Hope all is well with the rest of the family. Fondly Louie Logue
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Lee Spence posted a condolence
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Al was a wonderful neighbor and friend here in Manchester. When I used him on carpentry jobs, the day always began with a half-hour recitation of whatever is on his mind - and I remember many of those. I have missed him since he left for "up north", but knew that was where he wanted to be. My thoughts are with the family.
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David &Debbie Hersey posted a condolence
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Thinking of all of you at this time. We are so sorry for the loss of Albe. We have a lot of great memories. Sending our love and condolences.
Dave & Deb
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Susan Harrington posted a condolence
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Skilled sailor, carpenter, woodsman, fisherman, dancer and humorist....that was Al. The booze was hidden under the floor boards (really?), the two seater was up in the woods, the stories were long but interesting and funny. His Manchester days (before by-the-Sea) were full of many friends and good times. I feel privileged to have been a friend who was not a Townie. Thinking of Al will always make me smile. God Bless, and may Al's Alley make others, for generations to come, smile too.
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Charlie Lane posted a condolence
Saturday, July 8, 2017
I'm really sorry to hear of Al's passing. He lived a few houses up the street from my house and would often stop by to have coffee and chat with my late wife Barbara. We would both end-up laughing when he reminisced about "the good old days". It was a sad day when he told us that he was moving up to Maine, but we knew that he would love living there fulltime.
God bless him and his family.
Charlie
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Dana & Lola (Nowe) Aptt posted a condolence
Saturday, July 8, 2017
So sorry for your loss, I got to know Al while working in Manchester Ma. many years ago and found we were distance cousins. You'll be missed buddy, your great sense of humor and a great smile. We lost touch but thought of you often over the years. You were a great guy and many laughs, you'll be missed.. GOD SPEED
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The family of Albert Van Knowe uploaded a photo
Thursday, July 6, 2017
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