The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-01-22
Bridge, constituted the wharf jiccommo-

now designate the Beach rs lUdulC DOck
who are aware that II portion of the
premises was once used for docka@c pur-
poses. That portion lying at the foot OIL
the upland was lower than that portion
nearer the river, and in the spring, and
at high tides always. was covered with
water. There was for many years prol
to 1S05-the remains OF it then visible
q dam at the westerly side of the Beach,
between the Smith and Mansrr houses be-
fore described, near where the Engine
House now stands, for the purpose of let
ting in the water at high tide and keeping
it in when the tide fell. Through that dam
there was sluice-way through which ship
and other timber cut up the river and
RATED down was hoated into the dock,
where it lay safe from storm and freshet
until needed for use After the dam
went down the water still continued tc
come in as before, and on that locality the
boys Of 1905, and for years after, found
their best skating ground
Belfast was not, like Rome, built on
seven hills, but she came within two Of it
There We're in 1905, and for years after
five points in the village of such elevation
that they We're called hills On Main St,
there were Wilson's Hill, not called by
that name until Mr. Wilson erected his
house in 1906, Crosby's Hill, on the sum
NIT of which Mr.. Crosby's house stood,
and the Hobbs OF Cremer Hill. where
the Hobbs or Cremer house stood. the To-
cation Of which was given in n previous
chapter There was not then the gradual
descent that there now is. from Wilson'S
Hill to the foot of Main street AT the
foot of that hill, which, steep as it now is,
was then terribly sleeper. after passing
some thirty rods of gradually descending
ground came Crosby Hill, some idea OF
the height of it may be gathered from the
inspection Of the underpinning Of the
house which remains where it was sixty
eight years ago, and, which when laid
was about five feet above the level OF the
street. From that point there was 4 rap
idly descending grade until the Hobbs
house was reached and thence q steep de
scent to the beach. The boys of 1874,
who think that the coasting down the
Wilson Hill Is g irst-ratc," have bu' little
conception Of the luxury Of coasting as
enjoyed by the boys of 1903. who started
their sleds on the top of Wilson's llill.
and with but slight diminution Of speed,
brought up on Sandy Beach; sometimes
in the dock Clear the coast ;" in those
days meant something worth looking out
for.
On High street was Fields Hill, SO
called after. Mr. Field erected his house in
1907, which has now become almost oblit-
Grated from the catalogue Of hills, and
Quimby's Hill, at the summit Of which
stood, and still stands the Quimby housp,
which hill has ceased to exist; yet in 1903,
and for some years later. it was 50 much
Of an elevation that a person standing
midway between the foot of il and Mes
mith's corner, could barely discern The
top of 4 mans hat sitting On horseback in
front Of the house lately occupied hy Cap
tain James Miller. deceased So late rs
1914 it was so much of hill that people
gathered there for better observation of
the British frlgate rs she hove in Sight ON
her way from Castine to Belfast For the
few still left who can remember those hills
as they were more than sixty years acc.
whose eyes have watched them crumbing
away year after wear before the onward
stride Of Improvement, until they are
nearly lost to mortal vision, Their" i Il
melancholy satisfaction in the reflection
that there are ether. hills to which they
can still lift up their eyes the hills
from whence cometh their help
With brief allusion to two other not
able localities on Main street this chapter
will close and with it all further mention
of the streets and buildings standing ON
them in 1903, unless il be incidentally
The land at the corner Of Main and Church
Chase stands, and for several rods in the
rear-of it, and half, at least, Of the width
of that portion Of Church street, was then
q quagmlre on the site OF the Republican
Journal building, in which this goes to
press, grew flags, of the species producing
cat-tails. The water from this qua@mire
oozed off through gridiron bridge across
Main street, the eastern end Of which was
not far from the store now occupied by
Doctor Sylvester. In 1879, when gas
pipes were laid down in the streets of Bel
fast, the pine logs that formed this bridge
were uncovered, at the depth Of four feet.
The author of these annals said good
morning" to them, as old acquaintanccs.
Main street from that point as far mp as
the brick building now owned by the
Belfast Savings Bank was 50 springy and
49, - uiC VI INC cal tlltj lJIl Inuu
it was no unusual occurrence for heavily
laden teams to get stuck in the attempt to
pass over it. There is hardly room for
doubt that some of the logs originally
placed in that locality may still be found
at the depth Of four or five feet below the
present surface of the street.
few years prior to 1905, John Milf
ken, tanner by trade, sunk u few watts
on that part Of the premises occupied by
the late DR.. Monroe, which lies between
the house and driveway on the eastern
side Of it. They We're subsequently taken
up and in their place there was. as late as
1872, quite large pond fed by the nu-
merous springs on the hillside; the sur
plus water from it passed across the street
under log bridge, discharging itself on
the land now occupied by Mr.. Chase,
about midway between his house and
Waldo Avenue. 1t was a lannon's frog
pond in its day. and the Paradise of Pol!i-