
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
MASARDIS – Harry Hafford learned through experience that you can take a person out of Aroostook County but you can’t take the County out of the person.
One of seven children – four girls and three boys – Harry was born on Aug. 7, 1940, the son of Harry W. and Rena Hafford, of Castle Hill. As with many young men of his era, Hafford joined the Armed Services at an early age and left the area.
“I left in 1956. I served seven years in the Army, making the rank of Spec. 5,” said Hafford. “When I left, I knew I was coming back.”
Following his time in the military, Hafford settled down in Connecticut where he and his first wife, Olive, raised their three children: Harry Jr., Tyrone and Michael. Six grandchildren round out the family.
“I worked in Connecticut for 32 and a half years for General Motors. I worked in a ball bearing factory and served as a union official for a number of years. I also worked with environmental issues – took care of waste products, saw to their disposal,” said Hafford.
Upon his retirement, Hafford returned to Maine in 1995 and returned to the classroom.
“I went back to school after I retired, went to NMTC (now NMCC) and took up building construction but didn’t complete cabinet making. I realized I don’t have the free time. I did three semesters and finished with a 4.0 – at age 55, it wasn’t easy,” said Hafford.
It’s not often a man finds love twice but Hafford said once he was back home, he struck up a relationship with a local woman that, over time, blossomed into something more.
“Harriet (McLellan) and I had dated off and on for several years before deciding to get married in 2002. I lost her in 2005,” said Hafford, grief still visible in his eyes as he spoke of his late wife, who lost her battle with cancer.
Not one to stay idle, Hafford has devoted much of his life to various organizations.
“I’m a life member of several groups: Ashland Fish and Game Club, Presque Isle Fish and Game, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, AMVETs, as well as a member of American Legion Post 15 of Caribou,” said Hafford. “I also worked on the Bear Referendum. That was a big project – supporting the rights of others.”
A hunter and fisherman, Hafford said he enjoyed both sports with his second wife.
“We had a lot in common – enjoyed many of the same activities. She was my partner, my friend. We’d hunt deer and moose. I was a co-permittee on a moose twice – wife had one of them,” said Hafford.
Hafford continues to support the rights of outdoor enthusiasts and has been instrumental in creating access to waterways from Ashland to Oxbow, most recently helping to create a boat launch in Oxbow.
Hafford also likes to fish without a boat. “I look forward to ice fishing, usually near Little Millinocket Lake. In the summertime, I like to fish Grand Lake, the Penobscot River. Bass fishing is so much fun,” he said. “I’m deeply interested in public access to County waterways. I enjoy hunting and fishing and did quite a bit of fishing this past year.”
Lately he’s spent time devoted to raising funds for the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Caribou.
“I’ve been very involved with the Veterans’ Cemetery. I’ve been working with it for nearly eight years, four of which I’ve served as chairman,” he said. “I’ve been very busy raising funds and hope to have the columbarium walls in place by Memorial Day.”
When not spending time in the Great Outdoors, Hafford enjoys keeping up with his favorite sports teams.
“I like sports – football and baseball – and keep up with the Patriots and Red Sox,” he said.
Hafford finds an active lifestyle to his liking, especially when much of his time can be spent in the county he’s proud to call home.
“I keep very busy. I enjoy the time I spend outside – hunting and fishing. This is home to me,” said Hafford. “This is where I want to be.”