HIVIS Historical Events (1936-1984)

Compiled by Pete Signell

• Summer, 1936: The Heron Island Co. owns all of the public facilities on the island. The cottagers must pay the company for use and upkeep of the facilities but the Company makes all decisions and retains title. Alice Gunn, the majority stockholder of the Company, encourages the Company Directors to set up a committee to investigate possibilities and come up with a corporate entity that will provide cottager self-governance. The committee consults legal counsel and decides that the statutory Village Improvement Society form of organization is the most practical. The committee urges the company's stockholders to vote to sell the company's assets to the Improvement Society if and when it is organized, saying that the sale is an essential part of the plan. Mrs. Gunn pays all of the committee's legal fees from her own money to avoid any conflict of interest on the part of the Company. The Cottagers' Association sets up a Committee on Organization that includes two company Directors. After analyzing the implications of the plan for cottagers, the Committee recommends it to the cottagers and tells them that the transfer of assets is expected to be "for nominal compensation." For a more detailed discussion see "Brief History of the Founding of the Society", by C. F. Hale.
• Aug. 28, 1937: HIVIS is incorporated and By-laws are adopted. Clarence Hale is President, Ed Schneider is Secretary, Franklin Browning is Treasurer, Frank W. Jordan is Clerk. Seven Directors are listed.
• July 15, 1939: The first recorded Annual Meeting of HIVIS is held with six people present — the Directors minus the absent Ed Schneider. Those present reelect themselves to the Board of Directors. Immediately after that meeting, the six hold the first recorded meeting of the Board of Directors and they reelect the officers.
• July 20, 1940: The Committee on Organization reports, in a final letter to cottagers, that a minority stockholder has blocked the Heron Island Company from transferring the necessary assets to HIVIS. The Committee recommends that HIVIS lease the facilities from the Company.
• July 20, 1940: The HIVIS Annual Meeting, with four people present, decides to send out A-membership application blanks to all cottage owners.
• Aug. 17, 1940: The Board elects as the first A-members: Caroline Fielitz, Earnest Dodge, Leroy Howland, Jr., Ed Damon, William Bingham, Karl Van Dyke, Linda Graves, E.R. Fellows, Anne Caswell, Floyd Humphries, and William Damon.
• Aug. 17, 1940: HIVIS accepts the Casino/Tennis Court trusteeship from the Casino Association.
• Aug. 25, 1940: HIVIS decides to lease all public facilities from the Heron Island Company at $60/yr. HIVIS thereupon takes over management of the facilities. The first year's charges to cover the costs are set at $30 for A members as well as for non-member owners of cottages.
• Spring, 1942: The first "HIVIS Spring Bulletin" is issued.
• Aug. 8, 1942: In the HIVIS Annual Meeting minutes: "Following a complaint by Mr. Howland about the lack of cunners, F.T. Humphries was appointed a committee of one to improve the situation."
• Aug. 30, 1947: HIVIS authorizes: "Frank Jordan to distribute rat poison around each cottage & along the shore at a cost of $1.00 per cottage."
• Aug. 12, 1949: Anne Bennett's committee produces the first "Island Guide" containing guidelines distributed to each cottage by HIVIS.
• Sept. 3, 1949: Elected to A-membership: Mary F.N. Alexander, daughter of F.N. Thompson and granddaughter of F.M. Thompson who was co-founder of the New England Land Company and of its successor Heron Island Company.
• Sept. 3, 1950: The Board votes "to accept a transfer of the remaining assets of the Heron Island Company prior to the dissolution of the Company."
• July 19, 1951; It is announced that there are 20 A members.
• Aug. 31, 1951: Alice Gunn gives HIVIS the Playground-to-Gazebo land along with a bond, the income from which is to be used for equipment and maintenance of the property.
• Aug 16, 1953: Ken Chipman agrees to be the next island caretaker.
• July 31, 1954: Sarah Burt suggests an Island clambake and gets an "enthusiastic response." She is charged with posting a sign-up sheet on the store and making the arrangements.
• Aug. 7, 1954: John Howland had suggested the purchase of a motor vehicle "to carry loads too heavy for hand wheeling." The HIVIS Board decides to lend Ken $484 to buy a Jeep.
• July 27, 1957: In a HIVIS Meeting, HIVIS is said to own the tennis court.
• July 26, 1958: Arnold Gamage is appointed caretaker. He is offered a loan to buy tools, Jeep, boat.
• July 26, 1958: Ed Damon, Secretary-Treasurer of the Heron Island Company, reports that according to the Attorney General of Maine the Company is "inactive." He and Company President John Howland suggest that stockholders give their certificates to HIVIS.
• Dec. 4, 1959: The Heron Island Company legally turns over all of its assets to HIVIS.
• July 25, 1964: It is announced that a new Jeep has cost $1500 and is the property of HIVIS.
• July 29, 1967: The Board approves Ginny Register's suggestion that B-memberships be activated and sets dues at $25. Hereafter HIVIS minutes refer to both "A members" and "B members."
• Aug. 19, 1967: The first B members are elected: William Stevenson, Clinton Morrill, Harrison Rainie, Ari Hoogenboom, Max Mason II, and Mrs. Ellery Hutchins.
• July 1, 1984: It is announced that there are 24 A members (at last!).

Note: All of the information listed above came from C.F.Hale's "Brief History of the Founding of the Society" and from the minutes of HIVIS meetings.