The Portland daily press., 1868-11-06
Letter from Lewiston.
OPENING OF THE DEWITT HOUSE.
IEWIaTON Nov Z 1869

LEWISTON, Nov. 8, 1868
To the Editor Of the Press:
have already spoken of the enlargement
and renovation of the Dewitt House.. With
the exception of few minor details the work
is now complete, at cost of about $4,000
New furniture throughout-black walnut and
chestnut-has been put in at cost of about
$4,000, making a total expenditure of S35 900.
The Dewitt is now thoroughly equipped and
is the same as new from top to bottom. The
formal opening will occur on Wednesday eve
ming Of next week, when the owners of the
House-they are the Franklin Company, Mr.
A. D. Lockwood, Agent-will give a grand
dinner, an earnest of the good things which
one may always expect to find at the Dewitt.
Though everything is not yet quite in order,
the house was opened to the travelling public
yesterday. The landlords are Messrs. G. g..
Waterhouse and Geo. L. Mellen. Mr.. Water
house was formerly an officer on the Grand
Trunk railway, but during the last ten years
has been proprietor of the Island Pond House.
He will now alternate between his two hotels.
Mr.. Mellen was, for eight years, Mail Agent
on the Maine Central railroad; but during the
last four years he has been the Portland Agent
of the Portland and Rochester railroad. For
the present Mr.. w. L. Baker will act as chief
clerk, assisted by Geo. Williams, who has been
long connected with the house. Mr.. Baker
was late of the Bangor House, Bangor, and is
soon to have the management of the st. Julian
House in Portland, unless prevailed upon to
remain here. Mr.. Henry L. Giebing, late of
the Glen House, is chief cook. @h"
The Dewitt is five stories and has one hun
dred airy, sunny rooms, with ample halls for
locomotion and ventilation. Upon the south
side, fronting the Park, are three balconies
large enough to accommodate one hundred
persons each. A single balcony extends the
entire length of the west side. The house is
painted drab. a.z.,s--.t
The dining hall, which is on the second floor,
is large, beautifully frescoed, sunny, and over
looks the Park. Between the dining hall and
the kitchen is carving room, where the meats
can all be kept warm in iron receivers heated
with steam. And here are the tea and coffee
boilers kept perpetually hot with steam. Next
comes the large and airy kitchen, finely equip
ped with Whitley cooking range, brick oven,
steam apparatus, water, &C., &. No guest
would find his appetite endangered by visiting
this department; nor do I imagine that Lord
Bacon would be strenuous about placing the
Dewitt kitchen in the uppermost story, where
he thought culinary labors should be perform
ed for the avoidance of the odor; for here near
ly everything of that sort escapes before invad-
ing the house.
1t would be hard finding public house any
where in the country more beautifully situat-
ed than the Dewitt, OF better prepared to
make the traveller comfortable. 1t is not gor-
geous; there is nothing for ostentation; but
everything is good, neat, pleasant, inviting to
ease.
ANDRosCoGGIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
The collection of this society has been re-
moved to the hall of the High School, which
the society will occupy in common with the
High School scholars. The collection has al
ready become quite varied, and the scholars
will doubtless profit from constant access to it.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
There is prospect that something will soon
be done for the advancement of the public Ii
brary in this city. 1t has already done good
work with its three or four thousand volumes;
but hardly a new book has been added for four
or five years. With such a state OF things of
course it is impossible for it to continue to
prosper New publications must be had as
they come out, or the library will not be pat
ronized. With q permanent fund for the pur-
chase of new books, the patronage would be
sufficient to pay current expenses. Nothing
more should be expected. BARLOW.