William M. Elliott, Sr. Boat Launch dedicated

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The newly-completed William M. Elliot, Sr. Boat Launch was dedicated on Friday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a crowd of seasonal and year-round onlookers, as well as local and county dignitaries. (Times photo by Cherri Crockett)

ROXBURY- The newly-completed boat launch was dedicated on Friday under beautifully sunny skies to William M. Elliott, Sr., the man responsible for seeing that the former dilapidated launch be replaced.
It all began more than two years ago when Elliott was concerned about the state of disrepair of the launch, with potentially harmful spikes sticking up out of the sand waiting for some innocent child to fall onto or a vehicle to back over while having to submerge themselves in the water to get into deep enough water, something had to be done.
Elliott was credited on Friday with making the right contacts and getting the state on board with the idea to replace the outdated ramp.
On Friday, Commissioner Chandler Woodcock, noted, “It’s wonderful to see citizens taking initiative where we (the state) don’t always have eyes to recognize the problem areas. This is a beautiful new launch and I’m pleased the people of Roxbury will now be able to load and unload with more ease.”
The project, funded by state and federal government, to the tune of $170,000, was deemed a necessity by Chief Planner for Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Leon Bucher, who oversaw the project since the beginning.
Ellis Pond has taken on a drastic renewal over the last 18 months, with new buoys to mark the submerged rocks for boaters and the new ramp, the little pond is being breathed new life.