Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-18
LETTER FROM WALDOBORO.
o the Editor Of the Kennebec Journal:

Geographers,. as general thing, rarely
designate by name navigable river in
Maine named the Mcdomak, pronounced
Me-dom-ak). This river has its source in
the town of Washington, Knox county,
and flows through a beautiful valley well
studded with rich, cultivated farms, and
enters the ocean nearly abreast of Mon
hogan island. From its source to Waldo
boro' village, a distance of about twelve
miles, it is but an insignificant stream,
but at Waldoboro'. although narrow, it is
favored with tides which enable ships of
the largest size to be launched and sent to
sea. About two miles below Waldoboro'
the river suddenly widens and from thence
to the ocean is known as Broad Bay. 1t
was upon the banks of this bay, or river,
that the first settlement was made by Ger
man emigrants in this State.
The town of Waldoboro' is pleasantly
situated on both banks of this river ten
miles from the ocean, and was settled by
German emigrants (not Dutch) under the
leadership Of Brig. Gen. Samuel Waldo,
in September 1853. 1t is now, or has been,
Il place of some Importance as ship-build-
ing town, and contains some fifty stores
on two business streets, three churches,
denominationally Congregationalist, Bap-
fist, and Methodist, two banks, custom
house. post office and hotel. Two tele-
graph lines connect the place with the
world, and railroad (the Knox & Lin
coln) now in course of construction, will
soon be in operation. The German ele-
ment predominates, the community being
largely composed of persons of German
descent. Politically the town is strongly
Democratic The people, as whole, are
transformations. thrifty, hospitable. and
wealthy. 1t gives no one uneasiness here,
or yet creates surprise, to see man worth
$50 900 or $500, 900 wearing hat rather
the worse for wear or a coat that in some
places would be sent to a secondhand
clothing store.
The place has been twice visited by de-
s.ructive fire. each time sweeping the en-
tire business portion of the town. Com
paratively speaking. both fires were as de-
structive in the amount of property de-
stroyed as We're the Augusta and Portland
fires The first fire occurred Oct. 10th '46,
and the last Aug. 25th, "a. have been
told, but cannot vouch for its truth, that
the last fire had its origin in rum-that
through the carelessness Of some Baccha-
nalian jewellers, once busy mart, with
beautiful blocks and dwellings, reared by
industry and labor, became in IL few short
hours heap of ruins-a blackened char
red mass of rubbish and ashes. But the
lire monied men of the place soon recov-
cred from the shock, and now may be
found reared upon its ashes some as fine
blocks as can be found anywhere in
Maine.
Ship-building is the main-stay of the
place. In the good old year 1854, a year
that ship builders and ship artisans through
out the State will long remember, and the
same year that the devasting fire occur
ships of different capacities of tonnage.
Since then, ship building has materially
declined. and now only few crafts are
built annually. The question then arises,
what will keep the place from running to
grass? The answer is, its water power.
Judiciously improved and managed there
are no better facilities for manufacturing
corporations the water facilities at Dam
ariscVta Mills excepted,) in this section
of the State There are already two
dams and a natural fall within stones
throw of each other, and these are only
running mills of an inferior order. If
capitalists at home will but give up the
temporary advantages accruing from ship
building. and invest their capital in manu-
featuring stock, which is permanent. there
is no telling of the immense benefit it may
be to themselves, as well as to the COM
munity at large.
Waldoboro' furnishes some brain to
help run the State machinery. The Hon.
Isaac Reed, member of the House, and
well known as Democratic "gun," is
from this place. Hiram Bliss, Jr., the
member from Washington. who made
noise in the House in regard to the Pea
body reception, is one Of our Waldoboro'
boys, and:S. S. Marble, Esq, recently
appointed U. S. Marshal, we also claim
as one Of our respected citizens. -
DIR. N. I. True is giving course of
five lectures on geology in this place the
present week Judging from the first
nights attendance, should say that the
Doctor will not make a "big speck."
However, attendance or no attendance,
he is secured certain amount by respon-
sible parties. The lectures are well
worthy the attendance and attention Of
every one. RHION.
1anm pUtir Npm6.