RANGELEY – William Krohn, Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Ecology, will speak at the Rangeley Lakes Regional Historical Society annual meeting on July 22, starting at 7 p.m. Krohn will speak on the adventures and accomplishments of local guide Daniel Heywood. His illustrated talk is entitled; “Daniel E. Heywood (1869-1911): His Place in the Tapestry of Wildlife Conservation.”
Heywood was born and raised on a farm carved out of the wilderness on the southwest shore of Umbagog Lake near the Maine/New Hampshire border. While a young boy he developed a deep appreciation of wildlife as he observed swallows building their nests and raising their young in the family’s hay barn. At the same time, he quickly became an accomplished hunter, providing the Harvard ornithologist William Brewster with many rare specimens. As a woodsman who needed to make a living in the wilds, Heywood was a professional guide, hunter, and a trapper. He was a lead guide for John Danforth at Camp Caribou on Parmachenee Lake for some time.
As a primer for Krohn’s presentation, those interested can read an 1880 diary written by Heywood while in Danforth’s employ.
Later in life, Heywood was a photographer and taxidermist in Rangeley. His grave is located in Rangeley’s Evergreen Cemetery.
This promises to be a fascinating presentation and guests will learn more about Heywood and his fascinating life. Learn how the seemingly contradictory roles of woodsman and naturalist helped to shape Heywood into one of region’s (and Maine’s) first wildlife conservationists. This year’s meeting will be held at the Historical Society’s Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum at the corner of Routes 4 & 17, in Oquossoc. The presentation is free and open to the public. All are welcome. For more info please call 864-3091.
