If you’ve ever been to Ogunquit, it’s likely that you’ve gazed upon water from the Josias River.
Scenic Perkins Cove in Ogunquit is fed fresh water from a waterfall. This waterfall is the end of the 2.7 mile long Josias River, where it flows through the man-made cove on it’s journey towards the Gulf of Maine.
A little further up the river, directly across from Jonathan’s Ogunquit, is where you’ll find the small and quiet Josias River Public Park. You’ve probably driven by the sign hundreds of times and wondered what it was.
The Josias River Public Park is a parcel of land that was donated to the town of Ogunquit for conservation purposes By Phil Cavaretta and Joseph Gallo. In 2006, the park was officially dedicated in memory of Eve Cavaretta.
While more of a ‘resting place’ than a formal park, the acre+ plot of green space is located at a peaceful and serene location where the Josias River makes a bend on it’s journey into the wooded areas behind some Shore Road businesses (including the romantic Hartwell House Inn of Ogunquit) and ultimately into Perkins Cove.
The short path at the entrance to the Josias River Public Park leads to two benches dedicated to Cavaretta’s and Gallo’s mothers – and if it’s a moment of seasonal mindfulness you’re seeking, five minutes spent on either bench listening to the water of the Josias River trickling along and the wind passing through the leaves and branches overhead will help to quiet your mind in appreciation.
You’ll also emerge from the Josias River Public Park with a greater understanding of another section of the lifeblood water which contributes so much to our ‘beautiful place by the sea’.
BONUS TRIVIA DETAIL: Why was the river named the Josias River? The ultimate name arose from the Littlefield family, the first recorded settlers in Wells, which once included Ogunquit. Josiah Littlefield owned considerable property along the river, and he built and operated a saw mill at the falls on the river for several years. This naturally resulted in local residents referring to it as “Josiah’s river”.
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