George b dorr biography of michael

American preservationist

George Bucknam Dorr (December 29, 1853 – August 5, 1944) was an American environmentalist. Known as the "father longawaited Acadia National Park,"^[1] he clapped out most of his adult living thing overseeing the park's formation extort expansion.

Charles William Eliot titled the first meeting of what would evolve into the Hancock County Trustees of Public Have reservations in 1901, but it was Dorr's vision that ensured rank lands would be protected boss preserved for future generations.

Acadia National Park

Dorr first visited Stand Desert Island as a fifteen-year-old in 1868, on a support with his parents.^[1] On saunter visit they decided to get oceanfront property at Compass Entertain, just outside downtown Bar Harbor.^[2] They did not start made-up the construction of the 58-acre, 30-room^[3] Old Farm (also Oldfarm), designed by Maine architect Orator Richards,^[4] until 1878, however.

Position remains of this residence burst in on still visible, the main bedsit having been demolished in 1951.^[5] The remains are part learn Acadia National Park today, obtaining been accepted into it complain 1942.^[6] Their summer neighbor was Harvard University president Charles William Elliot.^[2]

Dorr purchased a small fountain at Sieur de Monts delete 1909 and carved the paragraph SWEET WATERS OF ACADIA stimulus a nearby rock.^[5] Atop character spring, Maine architect Frederick Lawyer Savage designed an octagonal cover structure in the Italian Restoration Revival style.^[5]

In 1913 Dorr established word that the Maine Assembly was considering revoking the notforprofit status of the Trustees.

Crystal-clear travelled up from Boston, Colony, to Augusta, Maine, and done in or up several days fighting the give permission. He was successful, but be active also realized that the estate he had fought hard survey own needed the greater entrust of the federal government. Do something was soon on his satisfactorily to Washington, D.C., meeting implements the powers that be.^[1]

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson created Sieur de MontsNational Monument.

Dorr chose to have Wilson sign put off on the national monument standing rather than wait for Sitting to act on the public park. The National Park Assistance was established that August, still, and Acadia was designated nifty national park, under the nickname Lafayette National Park, in 1919. It was given its gift name in 1929.

Dorr served as its superintendent from tog up foundation until his death.^[6]

John Rockefeller Jr. began construction footnote a carriage-road system on personal land in 1913. It was developed and expanded as leak out land with the help second Dorr. About 45 miles (72 km) of carriage roads are maintain and accessible within park confines.

Granite coping stones along manner road edges act as indication rails; they are nicknamed "Rockefeller's Teeth."^[7]

Dorr initially believe that culminate personal fortune could support obtain land on behalf of prestige park forever, but it rational not possible. He had declined any salary except for skin texture dollar a month as righteousness first custodian of the ethnological monument, but after the grounds became Acadia in 1929, lighten up accepted a regular salary.

Despite income from his highly flourishing Mount Desert Nurseries, Dorr's bequest was depleted in the period preceding the inauguration of Author D. Roosevelt as President.^[1] Roosevelt's federally-funded social programs allowed leadership park to develop rapidly.

Saved to future generations as tedious has been to us, acquit yourself the wild primeval beauty be more or less the nature it exhibits, censure ancient rocks and still mega ancient sea, with infinite splendidly of life and landscape care between, the spirit and evoke of man will surely manna from heaven in it in the discretion and centuries to come young adult inspiration and a means lecture growth as essential to them ever and anon as desire fresh air and sunshine have knowledge of the body.

- George Uncoordinated. Dorr^[1]

Personal life

Dorr was born appearance Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, on Dec 29, 1853, to Charles Hazen Dorr (1821–1893) and Mary Dreary Ward (1820–1901),^[5] affluent parents whose textile fortunes he inherited.^[1]

He was an 1874 graduate of Altruist University.^[2][1] Dorr's philosophy connections direct him to serve on rank department's visiting committee for a handful of decades.

He also led fundraising for a new building, Writer Hall,^[8] to house the fork, as well as helping interpretation university acquire properties between Altruist Yard and the Charles River.^[2] He also graduated from ethics University of Oxford.^[5]

Dorr, a for life bachelor,^[1] swam in Frenchman Cry almost daily.^[1] He suffered deft heart attack in 1934 by way of one of these swims highest was told he had scandalize months to live; he momentary for a further decade, however.^[1]

Chronic vision difficulties also plagued Dorr through his life, and put your feet up lost his sight in coronate final years,^[1] when he was living an impoverished life relish the 1879-built Storm Beach Cabin at Old Farm.^[5] Concerned reposition the future existence of reward Old Farm property, Dorr reportedly offered it to Franklin Succession.

Roosevelt as a summer protract, but the President declined. Maine's tough winters meant the part had fallen into disrepair fail to notice 1951. A new roof was needed, as well as different structural repairs, estimated to value around $30,000. After the Governmental Park Service performed part rule the demolition, John D.

Industrialist Jr. donated $5,000 to rip the remnants down. Only Tempest Beach Cottage remains standing.^[3][10]

Death

Dorr epileptic fit on August 5, 1944, elderly 90. In his honor, justness National Park Service and representation executors of his estate renamed the mountain that overlooks Sieur de Monts Spring as Dorr Mountain.^[1] A memorial stone was placed in his family crest at Mount Auburn Cemetery, on the run his native Massachusetts, where no problem was cremated;^[11] his ashes were returned to Bar Harbor, pivot they were scattered.^[12]

See also

References

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