Evan W. Plourde

(1938-2009)

As we slowly walk back to the car along the path that follows the Long Falls section of the Dead River, my eye catches a flash of sunshine reflecting from the bottom of a big tree. 

To investigate I had to step off the path only a few feet.

There under the tree was a small makeshift memorial.   There was an iron pipe driven into the ground with a plaque attached to the top that read “Evan W. Plourde, 1938-2009”

Clearly it had been there for some time.  The pipe was rusted and the plaque was tarnished from years of weather.

There were several additions to the memorial that had been added over time.

 A small American flag was perched over the memorial. 

 Measuring only a couple inches, it was still clearly visible and standing guard exactly when it had been placed.

The material was rotting from age and exposure. The flag had slidden down the tiny pole that helped keep it in place. 

Although old and ravaged by time, the flag still flew over the tiny scene.

There were also two crosses that had been brought to the site over the years.

One appeared to be made of bundled sticks on a wire frame that was shaped like a cross.  The wire was badly rusted, but the cross still held together. There was a faded plastic flower and fake ivy wired to the cross. 

Based on the level of fade they had been there many years. 

The final piece that had been added to the site was a small wooden cross.  

It seemed to be made of pressure treated wood as it was holding up better than the others and had the tell tale green hue . It may have been a more recant addition, I am not sure. 

Stapled to this cross was also a faded plastic flower and fern.

As Lisa and I stood there admiring the little site, we speculated the many possible reasons for the memorial.

Had Mr. Plourde’s life ended here on the river while fishing or exploring? 

At 71 years of age he may have taken his final moments in the rugged landscape that surrounds this beautiful location. 

Had his family memorialized the location of his final day? 

 A logical reason for such a fitting memorial for sure.

Or was this memorial placed here due to a deep love of the area by Mr. Plourde after his passing?

 Had this location somehow played a significant role in his life. 

Had he proposed to the love of his life at this beautiful location? 

Was it a favorite fishing hole that a lifetime was spent exploring?  

Was he a military veteran who found solitude and escape in this area when the demons of a war gone by crept into his daily life?

There are any number of possibilities as to why someone erected and continues to maintain this small memorial to Mr. Plourde.

 I may never know the real reason for this memorial in the woods of Western Maine. 

No, I probably never will, but there is one thing for sure.

 It worked!

For a short period of time, on a sunny day in August of 2020.

Two strangers took a moment to think about and in our way, honor Mr. Evan W. Plourde.

Who he was, how he died and most importantly, what that area meant to him, we may never know.

 But for a moment in time, 11 years after his death, two complete strangers hiking in the woods of Maine, gave thought to Mr. Evan W. Plourde.

And now ……………………………………. So have you.