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caption:
Good Deed
Top photo: Eagle Scout candidate Nils Lee, center, stands with part of his crew, taking a break from painting the boathouse at Roseland Park in Woodstock. Left to right: Sam Fontaine (hat), David Violette (ladder), Nils, his father Lonny Lee, Brian Fontaine, Allen Violette. Upper left: Lonny Lee works on the outside of the boathouse. Left: Part of the inside of the boathouse, painted. Linda Lemmon photos.
Scout and
friends
revive park's
boathouse
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
WOODSTOCK --- After years of visits to the Roseland Park Nils Lee knew exactly what he wanted to do when it came time to pick his Eagle Scout project: Paint the boathouse at the park.
Father Lonny Lee said initially the trustees at the park had said they would love to have more benches. "I was all for that. Benches are much easier," Lonny said. But his son Nils was "set on" bringing the boathouse back to its original golden splendor.
Lee, a member of Boy Scout Troop 30 of Quinebaug, said he'd seen the boathouse for a long time and decided it would be a good project. He worked for months, writing up a formal proposal for the project for his Eagle Scout acceptance program, then raising money, gathering supplies and volunteers and more volunteers.
The rain June 11 didn't even dent the enthusiasm of the volunteers. They went to work, about 25 of them, painting the boathouse a light yellow. Lee said one of the trustees of the park's board told him that the original building, in the 1800s, was yellow. That original building was washed away in the Flood of 1955, Lee said, and the replacement building was painted pink and then "adorned" by vandals.
"Getting everything together took a few months, but it was so worth it," Lee said.
Because many local business donated supplies that Lee anticipated having to pay for, he said he has about $300 left over. He said the park's caretaker offered to remove the broken glass transom windows and help Lee install Plexiglass replacement windows. Lee believes the $300 will cover the cost of the Plexiglass.
The boathouse may or may not need new doors. In addition, according to board members, many projects await donations, including the barn. Donations, made out to the Trustees of Roseland Park, may be mailed to P.O. Box 155, South Woodstock, CT 06267.
Community help came from: Bardell's Decorating – Paint; Chace Building Supply - Paint; ABCO - (Helium for balloons); Convenient Graphics - balloons; Stop & Shop – Cash Donation; Price Chopper – Cash Donation; Dunkin' Donuts – Cash Donation; American Self Storage & Rentals - Generator; Xtramart Convenience Stores – Grill, Popcorn Machine, Smart Car and Helium Installers; Garden Gate Florist – Cash Donation; Yankee Sales & Services – Cash Donation; Dumas Decorating – Cash Donation; and Kelly Tire- Cash Donation.