Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-28
HARTFORD
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- fndOcer Items.

Mr.. EDITOR "A few days since Us -. !
was standing on tho Chapman Bridge,
town of Andoyer, viewing ,beauuiui
sheet Of water as it flowed over stone
dam, laid in cement, erected by Col. Ma
than Dresser. and j. l.. Chapman, at
cost of over one thousand dollars, it nat
urally occurred to my mind, how SO great
a water power should be overlooked by
the selectmen in their report, this being
equal if not far superior TO all others IN.
Andover; and rs they failed to notice it,
perhaps it would be partonable in me,
should give you short history OF the
said waterfall and land adjoining
In the early history of Andoyer, and
when but few families had ventured SO
far back into the wilderness, the proprie-
tors. to encourage o more speedy settle
ment of the place, made grant of land
of one mile square. to Col. Thomas Poor,
giving aim the privilege to select the wa
ter power. they TO run out the land SO as
to embrace it; he very wisely selected
the spot Oh which Dresser and Chapman
have built their dam. .5 s.
The first mill in Andoyer was built by
Col. Poor, the grantee. an on the idenu-
cal spot where j. l.. Chapman, last sum
mer erected building 50x30. in which
water wheel is nearly completed, OF
twenty horse power. No machinery has
been put in rs yet. On the opposite side'
Col. Nathan Dresser has now in success
full operation saw mill. shingIe ana
lathe saw. superior to any in town, ana
equal to any in the county.
The owners next after Col. Poor, were,
I learn, first one Ripley, who had
cardiug and clothiers mill then Maj
Robert and DR.. T. Goddard, brothers,
bought about five eighths of the mill-a
square embracing the water power cach
side of the river. DR.. Goddard on the
west side, Mai. Goddard on the south SIDE
In 1911. Abel Chapman bought the bal
ance of the mill square. three eighths, ana
from that time lived on the same land
mill he died in 1861. Ii Is now owned
by his sons, Capt. 5. X. Chapman, anu D.
IL. Chapman. The mill privilege had
passed through many hands, (nearly oil
farmers) before Chapman and Dresser
bought. Chapman purchased the south
side some years since. but made no I'M
movements until Col. Dresser bought the
west side. Propositions were then made
and agreed upon, as learn. by measur-
ing from each bank Glow water mark
and division was made Mt the center OF
the stream, each one building his part OF
dam. This was completed in 1861.
This summer, understand. there VIII
be more improvements made. ColDresser
adds some 80 feet to his mill; Chapman
puts on n wing to his 50x3O.
Daniel Crowley has erected neat little
cottage which is partially finished.
j. S. Loveiry has cellar dug and
stoned. and commenced framing. dwell
ling. stable. &c. on the south side OF the
stream, at what he calls Chapman's cor
ner. two more dwelling houses are to
he erected in the vicinity of the mills
this summer, one by Col. Dresser. on
the west side, and one by j. l. Chap
man, on the south side. When all are
completed it viii make quite village
where three years since there were but
three farm dwellings.
When commenced this, my intention
was only to give description OF water
power.
may give you description of the
great reserv oirs that are and can be con-
trolled for the benefit of Dressers and
Chapman's mills. ELLIS RIVER.