LIVERMORE FALLS — Sarah Delaney thought there should be something to honor the area’s history and heritage in Gateway Park. She also wanted to make the area into a real park, so she took steps to make it happen.

Delaney’s efforts, with the support of the town, created a garden to add color to the area behind the Town of Livermore Falls event sign at Bridge and Main streets.

Bob Berry and the Downtown Betterment Group put up the sign, and Jean Castonguay Excavation Logging and Trucking donated loam for the garden. Plants were donated by Chretien and Sons Greenhouses and Martina Eastman.

Delaney asked Otis Ventures LLC if it had anything that would make a suitable monument. In August, she, Tim DeMillo and a couple of women from the Betterment Group toured what was once the Otis Paper Mill in Livermore Falls.

That mill was one of two founded by Hugh Chisholm in the late 1800s. After the tour, Otis Ventures owners DeMillo and Mary Howes donated a large gear to the town. While no one is sure how old the gear is, Gerard Chretien said it was for one of the dryers. It took six men to change the gear out of the machine.

Delaney asked others in the community for their help. Barry Romano of Romano’s Garage agreed to make a stand to hold the gear shaft upright.

“Jason (Gibbs) had done a great job on the cannon,” Delaney said.

When Delaney asked Jason Gibbs for assistance, he also brought his father, John Gibbs, on board, who donated his pulp truck and time to move the gear.

Jason and Zach Blaisdell of Livermore Concrete Foundation made a foundation for the gear, and Finley Funeral Home donated a stone marker and engraved it. Paris Farmers Union in Jay donated some of the bolts.

“Everything was donated,” Delaney said. “There were no costs involved.” 

The town road crew will soon add four rounded granite curbings to the grassy area. Those curbings can be used as benches for people to sit, watch traffic and enjoy ice cream.

One person suggested holding art in the park.

“It is neat to make a place that was an old building, and later a lawn, into a park,” Delaney said. 

Romano said Kenny Coombs originally had a Gulf gas station on that corner. A 7-Eleven store, a video business and a Chester Fried Chicken shop have also been located there. Billings Inn and Scott’s Barbershop were also located in the background.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net