PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 14, 2024
John ‘Jack’ Sylvester owns a piece of Barleyfield Point, a 1.45-acre waterfront property on Orr’s Island that has been passed down to an ever-expanding list of shareholders since the 19th century. It’s historically been open to the public for recreation and fishing. But in a legal complaint, Sylvester alleges that the property has deteriorated because it’s “unmanaged and unsecured” with too many owners and “uncontrolled access and use.” In a trial that starts Tuesday, Sylvester is asking the courts to allow him to buy the property from the other 25 owners. The other shareholders are fighting back, saying they fear that Sylvester's purchase could signal the end of another working waterfront in Maine.