The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-12
DAILY PRESS.
Wednesday Morning, January l2 1870.
Letter from Somerset Comfy
PCHTLAAND q

Letter from Somerset Comfy.
To the Editors of the Press:
NoRRIDGEwoCK, Jan. s, 1870.
Although Somerset County is situated sway
pack In the eourtry' and is seldom heard from
through the columns of the Press, yet il still
lives, and moves and has its being"
Three times year this beautiful town Is
visited by lawyers, law-breakers and Others
The December Term of the Supreme Judicial
Court, Justice Danforth presiding, has been
in session here three weeks and will probable
hold another week.
There are two villages in this town, each
having postoifice of its own, yet both con-
nected by bridge across the Kennebec,
which, in fact, makes one village of the two.
In the north village are located the county
buildings, consisting of court house, jail
and probate building. There are also on this
side of the river two hotels, two stores, two
lawyers offices, harness shop and black
smiths shop.
On the south side are five country stores,
two boot and shoe stores, hardware store,
two millinery establishments, two harness
shops, an oyster store, three blacksmiths'
shops, several carpenters shops, furniture
warehouse, a saw-Inll, flour mill, an apothe-
cary store, a hotel and two physicians.
There are three churches, Congregational
on the north side, Baptist, occupied one
fourth of the time by Methodists, and Ad-
ventists, on the south side. The Spiritaalists
hold meetings part of the time in Sawtelle's
hall. The Baptists are about settling a pas
tor, the Rev. c. Parker of Canton, to whom
they gave call a number of weeks ago.
The beautiful and substantial structure oc-
cuped by the Eaton School is one of the best
educational buildings in the State, and is an
fn ft,n ntti e 4 IL
gaished town.
The Somerset Railroad, which is to extend
from West Waterville TO Solon, is graded
nearly the entire length, and it is stated by
the directors that the cars will be running to
NOrridgewock next summer.
This lovely town, with all OF its ancient
landmarks, with the culture and liberality of
Its citizens, lacketh one thing YET, "a soldiers
monument. A number of years ago a move
ment was made to erect one, and society or
ganlzed for that purpose, but on the death of
the mover and principal worker, DR.. John
Lynde, good and honored citizen who, by
the way, was the father of the editor of
the Bangor Wing and Courier,E the move
ment died out. Surely, the town so famous
in Indian history, and which furnished the
facts for Whtter's beautiful poem, Mogg Me-
gone, ought not to allow towns of less refine
ment and wealth to outdo her in the COM
memoraton of the heroic deeds of her patriot
dead.
As the telegraph and railroads are motors
of civilization, and as Norridgewock has the
one and is soon to have the other it is posi-.
BILE that she will again take measures, with
more success than before, to preserve, in en-
during granite, the memory so dear to loyal
hearts.
A Masonic Lodge and Lodge of Good
Templars constitute the "secret societies" of
the place.
One other thing deserves mention and that
is this: Norridgewock ought to support
course of lectures. If it could not procure
speakers from abroad it has men at home, in
the various professions, who would speak
most acceptably to any audience. Indeed,
why should not Nonidgewock be a refined
and cultivated place. Three distinguished
authoresses reside here, also, correspondents of
various papers, two distinguished members of
the bar, two OF the most skilliul physician
and surgeons in the county, literally educat-
ed clergymen and school second to none in
the State.
In old Somerset are splendid water powers
which, in the not far distant future will give
employment to many persons. At various
places on the Kennebec, viz: KendalPs Mills,
Skowhegan, Norridgewock about three miles
above the village, at Madison and Anson and
Carratunk Falls, in Solon, are powers, which
when improved, together with the powers at
Waterville and Augusta, will make the valley
of the Kennebec great manufacturing re-
gion while in the other parts of the county
are privileges, where in that day of prosperity
soon to dawn upon Maine, will spring up
large manufacturing villages, if not cities.
The water powerat Hartland is immense
one that will not fail until Moose Lake is dried
up.
Who can fail to see that a great and grand
future for Maine lies before her, which capital
and industry are soon to open up? And who
can fail to see that Maine nOu, with her
healthy climate and bracing atmosphere, of
fers as good inducements to the industrious
classes as any State in the Union? Maine
needs her brains and her capital. Let the
young remain, and by thrift and industry
their homes and fortunes are as certain here
as elsewhere. p