Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-06
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vILraH PENIS CorrAdE.

Passing down Chestnut street to point
;nst above Front, the pedestrian Games to
Ietitia street, which is nearly built up
with cotton and wool warehouses, and is
a perfect maze of commerce during the
week, but on Sunday it is perfectly still in
every part, except near Market street, on
the west side, where stands one of the
oldest structures on the continent-the
manor house of William Penn, built ex-
nressly for him and to his order, most of
the materials having been brought here
from England. The old house is now
almost ready to crumble with age, but
with proper care and some UNDERMINING
and snoring up. could be preserved for
several centuries to come. II has been
entirely neglected for many years. and
is at present. occupied as beer saloon
and lowpriced boarding house. 1t is
called the civilian Penn Hotel" and
the sign is surmounted by portrait which
would do as well for Oliver Cromwell
Our reporter entered and looked around
the place, but everything was in such
confusion that very little of The ancient
walls and fittings could oe identified.
In the hack part Of the house there were
a score Of little gamins; some PLAYING.
and others, exhausted, were sleeping on
the floors. literally covered with house
flies and filth. Along the area or side
ward great heaps of rubbish litter up the
Space which was once the garden Of the
founder Of our city. In the saloon dozen
draymen were quafiing their libations and
making the sacred precincts ring again
with rfhald jokes and good cheer, while
the chunky little landlord divided his atten-
ton between taking in cash and sssetting
them up for the boys" Such scenes nat
uraly knocked all poetry out of place, and
the reader will be grateful for digres-
sion toward historical sketch OF the
old building.
This mansion, erected in the middle OF
the seventeenth century. still remains with
us, and with proper care, might be pre-
served u future renown. like the resi-
dences OF Mclancthon or Petrdr-.h in the
old world, Thousands of patriots from
all parts OF our country would seek it out
in 1876, anil be glad to spend a few mo-
ments in the rooms once hallowed by the
presence of the great proprietary of Penn
sylvania. tsss-esas
About the beginning of the eighteenth
century the ground around Penn's man.
sion was divided up into thirty city lots
In 1921 the "governor's lott was present
ed by the grand jury as nuisance. be-
cause of the excessive muddiness.n
Build me house in the middle of the
town which fronteth on the harbor," was
PENIS order to his friend Col. Markham,
who put the structure up as he had been
directed, and lived to occupy it as deputy
governor of the State In 1854 Penn wrote
to James Harrison to '"allow his cousin
Markham to live in his house in PhiIadel-
phia, and that Thomas Llod, the deputy
governor, should have the use of his peri
wigs, and any wines he may have there
lett for the use of strangers"
Many years ago the "Penn cottage
was purchased by the Penn association.
nut il appears that they were never pre-
pared to rent it properly, and it was final
" rented out, and has been used mostly
as q, boarding or public house ever since.
As the old slate-roof Penn mansion. at
Second street and Norris alley, has been
torn down, the Penn cottage is the only
relic left of the great and good Friend S
residence in the city he laid out. Phiia-
deiphid Press