By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
MARS HILL, Maine — Alton McQuade, who with his late wife, Ann, founded the Mars Hill Country Club, is being remembered as a hardworking visionary. McQuade died Monday at the age of 80.
“He was one of the finest gentlemen I ever knew in my life,” said SAD 42 Superintendent Roger Shaw. “He always had a smile and always had time for you. He was never too busy to stop and chat, even though there probably wasn’t anyone any more busy than he was.”
McQuade founded McQuade Manufacturing, Star Construction, A.E. McQuade & Sons, Inc. and Clipper Snack Foods.
“Alton and his family moved next door to us when I was a child,” said Shaw. “He worked for a farmer, and then he started McQuade Manufacturing from the ground up as a one-man show and built it into a legitimate business. The equipment was red. When you saw the red bulk bodies and conveyors, you knew it was McQuade Manufacturing. Then he started Star Construction and built that into one of the larger construction conglomerates in Maine.”
Shaw said an example of McQuade’s generosity can be seen at the Central Aroostook High School’s soccer field.
“We did a lighting project on the soccer field in 2002,” he said. “A.E. McQuade & Sons, Inc. was a big contractor at that time, and they stepped forward and did all of the groundwork, all of the trenching for the underground wire, and did probably $20,000-$25,000 worth of groundwork and did not charge the district one penny. That project would not have happened had it not been for A.E. McQuade & Sons.”
Shaw, who lives right next to the golf course, said the Mars Hill Country Club, which officially opened in 1991, is McQuade’s greatest gift to the town.
“I remember watching Alton with an M tractor, a rock picker and a harrow. He had a vision and built the golf course. It was wonderful to watch the work in progress because he was just relentless with it,” said Shaw. “From daylight to dark, you could hear the tractor running and you could gradually see the transformation take place. It’s as nice an 18-hole golf course as you’d find anywhere.
“He was an avid golfer, who was left-handed like I am,” he said. “I think a couple of the holes there he built especially for he and I. I’ve lived in Mars Hill all my life and been involved civically and professionally, and if you want to talk about game changers in the town of Mars Hill, Alton McQuade’s name would be at the top of the list for what he’s done for this town.”
Ryan Guerrette grew up with a lot of McQuade’s grandchildren and worked for him at the country club.
“Mr. McQuade was a great guy; a really hard worker. He could make the day look like it had 28 hours in it; he never stopped working,” said Guerrette. “He was always focused and driven on the task at hand. When he got an idea in his head, he really went after it.
“I would say Alton’s legacy in the town of Mars Hill would be the country club. It’s a great tourism asset to the town. I was 13 when it opened. I had never played golf before, but started playing in 1991 and I’ve played ever since. It’s a huge part of my life. I’ve gone on to coach high school and college golf, so the golf course is pretty special to me. It’s great that he had that vision.”
In addition to his charitable giving, McQuade also gave of his time as he was a member of the Mars Hill Rotary Club and served on the Mars Hill Town Council from 2001-07.
Frank “Sam” Mahan Jr. served with McQuade on the council for three years.
“Alton was an honest, good man who did a lot for the town of Mars Hill,” said Mahan. “In addition to building the golf course, he planted a tree by the drugstore with his grandson. I helped him do it.
“As far as the Town Council, Alton worked for the interest of the town,” he said. “He listened to the citizens before he would take any action.”
Mahan said he knew McQuade for more than 30 years.
“We were good friends,” he said, “and I’ll miss him a lot. He was a nice guy. He did a great thing by building the golf course. Look at the people who come here and the money that they spend. It’s a big boost for the town.”
McQuade is survived by his four sons and their wives, A. Blake and Tina McQuade of Houlton, Dana and Alice McQuade, Brian and Allyson McQuade, and Ross and Anne McQuade, all of Mars Hill; 13 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
A complete obituary can be found in the obituary section.
