Landowner Profile: Barbara and Linnie Curtis

Text and photo by Cloe Chunn

Barbara and Linnie Curtis live in Waldo on Moosehead Trail (Route 7).  We met them when a group of us starting the trail bushwhacked our way from Belfast, hoping to get to Frye Mountain, which we eventually did after a few years. We got lost that first day and didn’t know how to return to where we had parked. Finally, we saw a house and a man working in the yard. We asked him, “Where are we?”

Linnie (Linwood) asked us about the dream of the trail and jumped right in, not only inviting us to bring the trail over their land but guiding us back over hills, gullies and brooks to where we had parked. It was the beginning of the section between Belfast and Frye Mountain, and the beginning of a friendship.

Linnie Curtis is a man of the land. From many careers, one of which was caretaker of Frye Mountain, Linnie is now retired and working on his own land every day. “The trail is the answer to my prayer to meet people and invite them to walk here,” says the 86-year-old orchardist, landscaper, trail steward and hunter, who built their home over 50 years ago. There, Linnie has built a parking lot for hikers and maintains a trail section on his land and beyond. A large kiosk stands at the mouth of their driveway on Route 7.

Whenever I visit the Curtises, Linnie gives me a big smile and a slip of paper with a handwritten “truth of God’s word.” He shares more than thoughts, usually coming up with a few wildlife encounters since I’ve last seen him.

Barbara and Linnie are friendly and welcoming. You’ll probably find Linnie working in his orchard along the trail, where he loves to meet and chat with visitors.