Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-24
The Towns along the Line of the Honda
Rich Country opened mr-The Vet TO be.


Wednesday was the grandest day Of the winter.
gotten up apparently especially for the celebration
Of an interesting event, the opening of the Somer-
set Railroad to North Arson The elfsacrfcing
people of that locality have borne upon their shout
dors for years the interests of this road to them it
has been darling project; they have labored for
it unweariedly, subscribing to its stock, motgag-
ing the property of the several municipalities, and
working in every honorable way to secure the
coveted pr zc, and now that the non horse snolts
on its way up the valley of the Calabassett, on
Wednesday last they invited their friends and
neighbors to come TO the feast that they had
spread.
A goodly number were in attendance from this
city, among them Col. Dewitt, President of the
Messaonskee & Kennebec Railroad, +. F. Pills
bury, Esq, one of the Directors of the road, Cot
Osgood, Managing Agent of the Eastern Express
Co., Levi l.. Lincoln of the Boston 4 Maine COL
J. Manchester Haynes, and J. Z. Wyman Of the
Lewiston 4 Augusta Railroad. There were
present also John Aver, President of the Somerset
road, Edwin Noyes, Solicitor of the Maine Cen
trail, F. w. Hill, Director Of the Maine Central,
VIM. Atkinson, Esq. of Emblem, to whose efforts
the friends of the enterprise greatly indebted
Hon. w. II. Stevens and others.
Frank Farrar's double team took four Of the
party to West Wateryille, in one hour and thirty
five minutes. Pinkham had six horse team,
horses decorated with plumcs, the American flag
flying, and an engine bell mounted to wake the
echoes. This team was well filed and was said
10 be the first train the Nlessalonskee < Ken
nebec Railroad. The slcehng was excellent, and
the party gliding up on smooth runners, and under
clear, sunny sky, greatly enjoyed The ride.
Others went in private teams.
The Somerset road extends from West Water
vile through Norridgewock, Arson, and Madison,
10 North Arson, distance OF twenty-five miles.
The project for building TIE road was started
some thirty years ago. The first passenger train
Of cars was over il on the Goth Of January,
1874, the road then extending to Norridgewock, a
distance Of IA miles from West Wateryille. Here
the enterprise encountered many discourage
ments. Grading was resumed and pushed fer
ward, until last winter, the road reached point
in the wilderness six miles from the place it has
now reached Work resumed in the carly
spring, and the remaining siy miles completed
until last week witnessed the driving Of the last
spike. followed by the welcome sound Of the To-
comotve's whistle reveiberating through this val
ley. The route Of the road is through smooth
country, with no deep cuts to make, or
vines TO be filed. Itcrosses the Eennebec at Nor
riegewock, where is q substantial wooden bridge
$50 feet in length, and recrosses at Aladon
where there is wooden b,dge 80 feet long. 1t
is the general opinion that the road should have
passed up on the east side cf the river saving two
costly bridges, and that it could have been extend
ed to Scion with the same expense that has
brought it thus far with the bridges The corI-
pletion Of the road is an occasion Of great jcy TO
the people here. who for thirty years have been
looking forward anHiouslv TO the cominr Of this
cay.
The opening WAS celebrated Gu Wedne day bya
grand excursion from West Watcrville to North
Arson. At half past orc o'clock in the afternoon
five well filed cars left the depot at West Water
Vile. where the station Of The Maine Central is
used, The new road having no pas :erger station Of
its own here. We ride in q fine passenger car
costing $1,000, presented to the road by the late
Joel Gray Of Boston, formerly Of Somerset comfy
and deeply interested in the enterprise \ bag
gage, mail and express GER, elegantly constructed
and in every way convenient, was manufactured
by ID. kuowlon X Son, at their extensive car
works in Camden. The hox cars on the road are
from the works OF Thomas I.aubard. in Augusta,
and be surpassed for neatness and strength
The company has two fine locomotives others
will be procured a. the business OF the new route
developes.
The ride from West Wateryille 10 Nouidge-
wock, is for the most part through uninvit-
ing section of the countv--hpt the ptnepect sG@]s
changes as the river is struck at that place. and ,Eo
traveller finds himself in the very garden Of
Maine. In Fairfield the Dodn granite quarry,
living just alongside the road, containing immense
resources of granite, unsurpassed in the State in
quality and extent, will one of these days contrib
ute 10 the freighting business of the road. Bear
Hill in the same place, has an interest as being the
home in former years of n family named York.
The old man and woman were both thieves, prey
ing upon the sheep folds, wood piles and pork bar
rels of the neighbolhood. They raised family
of sixteen boys and two girls All the boys served
an apprenticeship in the State Prison, and the hus
bands of the girls foand employment IN the same
instution
The road strikes the kennebcc al south
Norridgewock. where the river takes a sud-.
den turn. The town is famous for being the To-
cality OF The Eaton school, and whoever saw
paragraph in print relating to the town without a
mention of the school In this place is the depot
lust before crossing the river to Noridgcwock
proper, which was formerly the shire town Of the
county. This is grand old town, noted for its
wealth and high social position. Here men have
been raised and here still reside some of the
wealthy and aristocratic families that have given
character to the place. Here ia the home Of
sophie May" the author of ''Dotty Dmplc," and
other charming stories for the children, whose
characters are so real. She associates much with
children studying diligently their ways of express
sion, and noticing them at their play. Among the
old families of this venerable town may be men
toned the Danforth, from which Judge Danforh
of the Supreme Bench, sprang, that of Chief JUS
tce Tenney, VIM. Allen, the father of Charles and
Stephen, to both of whose names has been attach
ed sd. d., the Seldens, Adams, Sawtelles, and
Others In fact the town has been built up by its
culture and has furnished to the State and nation
more public men and more college graduates than