not THE Crystal Lake

Happy Friday the 13th! With the release of the new Jason Voorhees movie this week, I wanted to celebrate the day with a little research (because I am just that weird). In this vein, I discovered that Maine not only has its own Crystal Lake, it in fact has TWO of them, one in Gray, and one in Harrison. One of them was formerly named "Anonymous Pond." Why does this make me laugh? I don't know, but there it is.

According to Maine's Lakes Environmental Organization, one Crystal Lake "is the only lake completely within the borders of Harrison. Mill Stream, which is the outlet of the lake, provided early village settlers with power to run both a grist and saw mill." [Source] The second Crystal Lake is has its own Crystal Lake Association, formed in 1970, whose website has some beautiful photos.

Back in 1963, the New Yorker, of all sources, reported on how Anonymous Pond (now Crystal Lake in Harrison) was about to lose its anonymity: "Incidental Intelligence: In Cumberland County, Maine, there is a body of water that has the arresting name of Anonymous Pond. Now some spoilsports are trying to have it officially called Crystal Lake, and it may become anonymous." [Source: John McCarten, Incidental Intelligence, The New Yorker, March 2, 1963, p. 24, read abstract here]

Anonymous Pond, though quiet in recent years, has a lively history, including one of Maine's first alligator captures. Yes, I said alligator! To quote Chris Dunham, over at All Things Maine, "The first [recorded alligator in Maine] was probably the one shot in Owlsley Cove, Anonymous Pond (Crystal Lake) in Harrison in November of 1895." You can read a full account here, but I will tantalize you with this tidbit: "The alligator was first seen by W. M. Shaw of South Paris. In company with other members of the Owlsley club he was returning from Harrison with a load of provisions when he noticed a large black object floating on the sunlit waters of the quiet little cove, near which the camp of the Owlsley club is situated. ... During Friday and Saturday the mysterious creature was occasionally seen by various persons, and shot at several times without apparent effect."

A Cold Shoulder for Gator Owner

Who knew? Up here in the frosty North (and I mean way, way upstate), there is room for alligators. WCSH has the story. Thanks to the New England Anomaly for the tipoff.

Wardens Confiscate Alligator
POSTED: 11:57 pm EST February 22, 2008

MONTICELLO, Maine -- In the dead of winter, the northern Maine town of Monticello may be among the last places anyone might expect to find an alligator.

Maine wardens announced that they confiscated a 3-foot alligator this week after its owner, Justin Barry, 20, failed to produce a permit for it.

Wardens secured the aligator's mouth and transported it to an animal rescue facility in Winslow. Warden Josh Smith said the alligator was angry at being removed from its terrarium but eventually calmed down.

Wardens visited Barry's home on Route 1 after receiving a tip from someone who saw pictures of the alligator on the Internet. It's illegal to keep wildlife in captivity and to bring it into the state without a permit. Barry was issued summonses and is scheduled to appear March 4 in Houlton District Court.
[Source]