WILLOW CREEK — With three years remaining before the 100th anniversary of the Homan’s Pond Ice-Out, a newly formed centennial tourism planning committee convened for the first time Tuesday evening at the Carnegie Library.
The committee, appointed by the Board of Selectmen, brings together town officials, business owners, and longtime residents to coordinate what organizers hope will be the largest tourism event in Willow Creek history.
“We’re not just planning a party. We’re planning a statement about what this town is becoming,” said Eleanor Vance, selectwoman and committee chair. “The Ice-Out has always been our community’s heartbeat. The 100th is our chance to show the state what Willow Creek has to offer.”
The 2027 centennial is projected to draw thousands of visitors to Aroostook County, with preliminary discussions including a weeklong festival, historical exhibits, and partnerships with Maine tourism bureaus.
Jed Thorne, 79, the town historian, presented archival materials including photographs and weather logs. “The Boucher family records go back to the very first Ice-Out in 1927,” Thorne said. “Albert Boucher — Randy’s great-uncle — was one of the mill workers who started this tradition. He never imagined people would travel here to watch ice melt. But he’d be proud to see the town coming together like this.”
The committee will meet monthly. Subcommittees for marketing, logistics, and heritage programming are now forming.