Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-01

Less than thirty five years ago, Connect
cut Yankee, in search of a new home, landed
on what is now called Crocket's Point in the
city of Rockland. Where was then a narrow
pier jutting out from the Point, and answer
ing the purpose of a landing, is now long
wharf where ships and steamers touch daily !;
loose and rickety cart, instead of the 'sfree
hack, gentlemen! awaited the stranger to
carry him to his destination and where is
now a busy thoroughfare, business blocks, and
private residences, was then marsh, brook,
stubble field and stump fence. A few houses
were scattered here and there, and an occa-
sional cleared spot met the strangers view !;
otherwise it had the appearance of wilder
ness, for Rockland was not even then dreamt
of, leastwise not named.
sojourn of few summer months in this
city has given your correspondents chance to
observe and note down few items connected
with the affairs of the place, which, although
perhaps stale and of little Importance to the
local observer, may nevertheless be of more
than ordinary interest to the stranger.
Rockland, for a down east city, has had a
remarkably rapid growth, for, as have al
ready stated, less than thirty-ive years ago
it was comparatively wilderness, a part of
the town of Thomaston, and called by the sur
rounding population, East Thomaston. Cir
cumstances perhaps of situation and fine
barbor favored Rockland, and although Thorn
aston village was then a thriving place, as
well as Camden six miles north, yet was it
destined to become the largest place of the
three, for, like men who pass each other in
the race for wealth, this outstripped its neigh
bors in the struggle for superiority. And so
we find it at the present day the largest and
most important city in this section Of the
State, the shire town of the county of Knox,
the eastern terminus of the Knox & Lincoln
r. R., and the natural centre of large in
land and island trade. It's beautiful harbor,
which in some respects resembles the Bay of
Naples, gives it commercial advantages which
should not be lost sight Of. Here is to be
found the headquarters of the lime trade, for
Rockland lime is known the world over. Its
burning klns, which by the way are novel
sight to the stranger, have undoubtedly made
men wealthy and done much towards bring
ing il to its present prosperous status. Until
v, ~ lately it controlled and monopolized the
lime market, but the business here has cen
tralized itself that it has come into the hands
and in the power of few monied men. Ship
building here as a branch ofindustry receives
considerable attention. Several vessels of
high and low tonnage are built annually.
These vessels, a large portion of which are
schooners carrying three masts, are owned by
Rockand parties, and are designed for the
coast and foreign trade. Factories are scarce
here, but well.built factory looking shoe
mandatory takes the sting off. II / have
been rightly informed it has been \ perfect
success from the first, turning out excellent
wook that finds a ready market and gives en-
pioyment to some two hundred hands. A few
minor industries, such as a small iron foun-
dry, planning mill, a sash and blind shop,
ship carving shop, &C., include all or nearly
all.
Rockland is not handsome city by any
means, l mean architecurally. There are no
handsome public editices, no elegant private
residences Cat least have failed to see any
of unique design, no tasty business blocks,
no parks and beautiful drives, q forgo,
though, there is, by the by, an agricultural
park and yet for al! that, 1t presents q very
pretty appearance from the hsrbor front. This
though, is somewhat marred by the unsightly
line of long, smoky lime sheds. Aside from
this it does indeed present pretty view, as
its white houses and spires dot the land for
miles round crescent shaped shore. 1t is not
built like Augusta, on sloping river banks and
heights, but on a level plain, running back
from the harbor till it abruptly rises into lime
rock hills and q mountain to the north and
west. Territorially it has plenty of room to
spread, and as Rome was not built in day,
Rockland may vet become a handsome city
architecturally. For wooden city, and one
hastily built, it has been very fortunate as re-
CARDS fires, having never yet been scourged
to any extent by the fire fiend indeed in some
localities a fire would be considered a bless
ing, as it would be apt to sweep away build
ings that are anything but ornamental. In
population, Rockland contains about 5000
souls, with slight mixture of nationalities,
but the Yankee predominating. Its churches
are eight in number, nearly all evangelical,
and with As large Sunday attendance, per-
haps, as any city of its SIZE in Maine. A large
and commodious Hail. Farwell & Ames'. meets
the wants of the public in furnishing room for
lecture courses, theatrical entertainments and
horticultural exhibitions. Three good hotels,
convene ntly located, stand ready to meet the
wants of the travelling public, two weekly
papers, the Free Press and Gazette, furnish
the reading public with the news of the day,
a telagranh office two National Ranks and n