The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-23
Letter from Cherryfield.

To the Editor Of the Press:
This is one of the most active, stirring bust
ness places I have found east of the Penob-
scot. The southern portion of it was once
part of Harrington, and was owned mainly oy
w. Freeman Esq, who is native OF Portland,
and we'll known by the older men OF that city
as a high minded, able and honorable lawyer
"a true man in every sense of the word, and
an honor to the profession as we'll as to the
race. He removed from Portland to Cherry
field about SO years ago to take charge of his
large estate, consisting of two large townships
now constituting the towns of Steuben, Har-
rington and Millbridge, and part of Cherry
field. With the selfshness that has charac-
terized the operations of many land owners he
might have been a millionaire, but liberal
policy has secured the esteem and confidence
OF the community rather than large dividends.
All the benevolent enterprises of the day, es-
pecially the Temperance and Anti-Slavery
cause have secured his hearty support A
large number of lectures and poems he had writ
ten were in the hands of publisher in your
city at the time of the great fire ana were des-
troyed, the loss of which he deeply feels as at
his present age it can hardly be expected that
he can reproduce them.
NUMBERING BUSINESS.
Among the early operators in 'umber here,
were the Campbell brothers who were natives
of the town and have carried ON an extensive
business. They have recently given up to
their sons the lumber manufact turing, leasing
the mills and selling stumpage. The largest
manufactures are G. r. Campbell & Co.
Lewis & Godfrey, j. w. Coffin & Co., j. o..
Nickels & SonJ ohm H. Nickels, Samuel Camp
bell, and d. & A. B. Wiley. A sash and
blind factory is carried on by Mr.. George
Wingate, and Mr.. David Tucker is building a
steam single mill. About 25,OOO,OOO feet of
long lumber and 10000 900 feet of short lumber
are turned out in year.
A FINE RESIDENCE.
The first thing that strikes the eye of per-
sons approaching Cherryfield from any direc-
ton is the residence of WmI freeman Jr, Esq,
ON the bank of the Narraguagus, about quar-
ter of mile below the village. This building
taking into consideration it's site and the beau
tiful grounds surrounding it, which have been
laid out with exquisite taste, is probably the
finest residence in Eastern Maine.
PRODUCTIVE PLAINS.
There is in the northern section of this
and other adjoining towns, large tract
of lands called the "barrens," which has never
been considered worth cultivating and yet it is
the most productive of any land in the vicini-
ty Persons for miles around have been &C
customed, from time immemorial, to gather at
this place and pick blueberries during the
month of August. All ages, sexes and COM
plexions, with carriages of every description
are wont to resort there, some ofwhom gather
hundreds of bushels of these berries which
sell at the landing at from four to six cents
per quart. 1t is estimated that an income of
$4,000 is derived from this source besides the
large quantity obtained by families for their
own consumption.
TEMPEST AND THUNDERSTORM.
The tempest at Sullivan was terrific, the
rain falling in torrents, carrying away bridges,
undermining buildings and washing out roads.
The damage done to roads in that town will
be nearly $1,000. At Machias the house of
Mr.. I. Chase was struck, doing considerable
damage. The Georgia Minstrels were giving
a concert in the hall near the house of Mr..
Chase when the lightning struck. Some of
Gu0uu, Surprising tLo HILL Was It tp6u
off the platform and it was several minutes be-
fore they were fully satisfied that it had not
been struck by something more dangerous
than new idea. The tempest passed over
the length and breadth of the State, as learn
from different sources, being more disastrous
in some sections than in others. l have not
heard as yet of a single person being killed,
although several were struck down and more
or less injured.
POLITICS.
The question that more Immediately inter-
ests the voters of this representative district
is, who is to be the successor of Hon. F. Pike,
in the next Congress Among the prominent
candidates are Col. Eugene Hale of Ellsworth,
Capt. W. McGilvery of Searsport, Hon. f.
Pike Calais, and Hon. N. A. Farwell of Rock
land. The names of Seth Milliken Esq. of
Rockland, Gen. Caldwell of Ellsworth 81 nd
Hon. j. A. Milliken of Cherryfed are also
maintained -~~-----~+;--- with the nnmina-
ton. u.