The Portland daily press., 1874-09-09
New Gloucester.
Celebration Of the Centennial Anniversary

ton. Over every hill land New Gloucester is
every description, from the capaclous carryall
filled with the whole family, down to the two
wheel 'shay," relic of Eye olden time,"
with its antquated and simple minded driver,
Young America came down over the long hills
at furious pace, and the debris of several
buggies scattered in the road attested his reck-
lessness A coach loaded with the Mechanic
Falls band drove up and down the main road,
adding to the liveliness of an already lively
scene The trains came in loaded with the
sons and daughters of New Hampshire, re-
turned to do her homage on her hundredth
birthday.
As the people arrived they sought the spacious
tent which had been erected specially for the
ceremonies. The youthful portion of the town
fairly got possession of the seats before the
elderly citizens had hardly got inside. AS a
ruse to dispossess the boys and girls the band
was started up the road, playing lively air.
The plan was success, and tho tent was par
TALLY cleared. A procession was then formed,
headed by the band and composed of the citi-
zers of the town, guests and orator of the day.
The line of march was short, and soon the
procession was inside the tent. There the
prominent citizens, guests from other towns
and cities, and officers of the day took seats
assigned them upon raised platform. Among
the prominent gentlemen seated there were
Hons. w. w. Thomas, senior and junior, and
Hon. Geo. w. Woodman of Portland, HI. c. l..
Haskell, Hon. John j. Babson and John s.
Vol Of Maccachu of q,
and several others, besides the orator IF the
occasion, T. H. Haskell, Esq, of Portland
Hon. Thomas B. Reed and G. H. Haskell, ESQ.,,
of Portland were also in attendance on the
ceremonies. The Mechanic Falls band was
stationed upon the platform and also choir
composed of ladies and gentlemen of the town.
In the centre Of the tent, extending from
end to end, was a table loaded down with
doughnuts, pies of divers kinds, cake, and
numberless other edbles which are nameless
outside of pastry cooks vocabulary. Men
and women were industriously Juggling in pots
of baked beans and: depositing them upon the
already overloaded tables. Small children
were especially active about the tables, and
maternal relative seized one extremely
active among the bean pots with the ejacula.
ton: ''For the Lord 5 sake don't fall into that
pot"
1t was both entertaining and instructive to
sit upon the platform and contemplate the
motley and pleasing assemblage, and conjure
up in ones mind the different motives which
had brought it together. There was Young
America seduced from the farm simply by the
prospect OF holiday and general good time
this class was entirely bound up in the present
The older residents gathered, no doubt, to re-
call the scenes of their childhood and to con-
template the wondrous changes which a century
had wrought. 1t was natural enough at this
season of the year that the eye should rest
upon an occasional individual with political
expectations, who thought centennial good
occasion on which to consult his country con-
stituency and revise, if need be, his principles
to suit their peculiar views The mercantile
man of course advised all the rising generation
of New Gloucester to stick to the farm, put
away ambition, and not encounter the mael-
strom of city temptations, which he dilates
upon IN a manner that excites the deepest
admiration, not to say awe, at his wonderful
skill in navigating safely through this whirl-
pool The ladies, of course, were giving especial
attention to the tables, and didn't notice any
thing or anybody for the time being.
At about half-past 10 the audience was called
to order by Mr.. Cross, the President of the
Day, who welcomed the assemblage in appropri-
ate words.
Mrs. Rowe, a lady 90 years of age, who was
seated on the platform, remarked to the audi
dence that she recollected that eighty years
before she had heard a sermon from the text:
"Instead of the fathers shall rise up the
children"
The choir then sang the ''Oje on Science"
and Rev. Mr.. Cross of Orono offered prayer,
Haskell, Esq, of Portland, was introduced.
His history of the town was very instructive
and elected warm applause. The following is
an abstract:
On the 9th of March, 1876, the general court
of His Majesty's Province of Massachusetts
Bay, granted to sixty inhabitants of Gloucester
in that province township six miles square
in the eastern part, where it could best be
spared, reserving one sixty-third for the first
settled learned Orthodox minister, one for the
ministry, and one for the support of schools
The grantees first located where Gorham ard
Gray now are, but finding the land pre- empted
SeleCleu lue SrOuuu ABOVE NOFCn 4armOuGQ,
the same being confirmed to them July 9th,
1877. In that year road was pushed out from
Cousins river to the township, and one division
Of lots laid out. Lot No. "A (where Mr. Fox
croft now lives) was set apart for the first set
tied minister. Those who drew lots l. 9 q and
% were required to give bonds to build saw
mill Within two years, and saw lumber at the
halves for seven years. The township now re-
ceved its name, and John Millet was sent to
make good way from Cousins river to the new
meeting house. The road and bridge (now
Woodman's bridge) were finished in 1879.
the first clearing was begun by Jones Ma
son (who afterward settled at North Yarmouthl
at the spot now known as the Washburn Place,
During the years 1879 and lao the settlers were
provided with provisions from the old home in
Gloucester. Their main dependenceIin the new
settlement was the moose, whose flesh supplied
their tables, and whose hide shod their feet.
In 1742 the settlers brought their families to
the place.
In 1743 Capt. Isaac Eveleth was employed to
build way from the great bridge suitable for
cartng. From time to time pecuniary induce
ments were offered to settlers. Twelve miles of
road with nineteen bridges had been built, and
nineteen frames of houses been put up, when
the French and Indian war broke out and the
settlers were obliged to flee. For five years the
new settlement was deserted. In 1749 John
Roberts was sent to repair the road, and in 1852
the settlement was begun anew. In 1853 the
grant was renewed and meeting house built,
and DOCK or garrison house, armed with two
swivel guns, put up.
In1755 the Indians made an attack on the
block house, but were repulsed with severe loss
after having captured two men AID killed a
third. In 1758 grist mill was completed, on
Stevens brook. In 1760 the return of peace
lead to the dsmantling of the garrison house,
and the settlers fell to making clearings and
cultivating farms. A second division of lots
was laid out, the mills were moved to the Great
Falls on Royals river, and road laid out to
New Boston (now Gray. In 1851 John Wood
man and Isaac Parsons came to town.
On the 22nd of November, 1868, the first
meeting of the proprletors was held in the
block house. Samuel Merrill was chosen mod
orator, Isaac Parsons clerk, Nathaniel Eveleth
collector, VIM. Harris surveyor and Jonathan
Tyler, David Merrill and William Harris, as
SCISSORS.
In 1894 school house was built and school
started. The Rev. Thomas Foxcroft, gradu-
ate of Harvard, was settled as minister upon a
salary of so pounds, and settlement of 100
pounds. The ordination took place January
16, 1865, and was described by an old-time
chronIcler as "a jolly ordination at which thew
lost sight of decorum." The church members
were John Tufts, Jabez True, Daniel Merrill,
Moses Woodbury., VIM. Stevens, Eben Mason,
and Peeg Chandler.
In 1866 the third and fourth division of lots
were laid out. The meadows were common
property. A meeting was called in hay time,
at which it was usually voted that seventeen