Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-06
BETHEL.
Its Business, Installations, Men, etc.


back country Of some forty miles 70 sup
olv with the necessities OF lie. aud Is
hence town of shop.keepers. bethei
Hill is one of The largest, il not the
largest village in Oxford County. IL IS
very prettily located upon hill over
looking the Audroscoggin, and the newer
portion OF the village runs TO the Grand
Trunk Il r., toward which all business
is tending. This inclination 10 be near
the grand line OF transportation VIII
eventually leave the upper part oil Bethel
Hill to be occupied by Hotels and private
residences.
One will seldom find, even in orderly
New England, village so we'll and
neatly kept rs Bethel Hill. Even at this
time OF year. when everything is mussy
and sloppy, the houses look as though
they had lust stepped from bandbox,"
so neat and tidy is everything about them.
There is one fault which this. in common
with most country places, has fallen into,
namely, that of building the houses all
two stories high, painting white and fur
nishing with green blinds. A little more
variety in style Of architecture and in
coloring would add much TO the attrac'
tiveness OF Maine villages.
Bethel contains some OF the most solid
men In this County, financially, and Its
immense business is the direc. outgrowth
of the enterprise and lberality OF its cit
liens. The village and suburbs contain
\ vast number OF manufactures aud
business establishments.
Near the depot is the large store Of
Woodbury., Purington x Co. This is one
oil the largest stores in Oxford County.
and has a large wholesale and retail
trade. While the proprieiors keepa well
assorted stock of goods common 10 q
country store, their principal trade is in
corn. meal. flour. lime. etc. The store is
very conveniently arranged with base
ment and corn bins 50 situated that grain
can be vcry easily. and eNpedltiousy
handled. From four 10 five hundred
barrels OF -four vf fifteen dlyHeut grades
are now stored in tie hourro N. Daring
| the past winter over i've thousand bushels
OF corn have been sold by the firm. Last
year they sold twenty six thousand BUSH
sls Of corn and meal. and thirty six tons
oil s.. Louis Shorts The store is also
well stocked with molasses. vinegar and
other wet groceries Hon. Z. w. Wood.
bury. the head OF this firm, is well know
through the County as n man OF great
ability and high integrity. He was
Judge of Probate Tor some years. The
other members of the firm are Mr.. j. IT,.
Putiulon. aud Mr.. Woodbury., son in.law
and son Of Hon. L. W Woodbury.. They
ale both gentlemen OF commercial ability
Directly opposite IS the store of o. II.
/ Mason. hardware dealer. Mr.. Mason is
suffering from chronic rheumatism, and
Is unable TO give his business personal
supervision at present. In connection
with the hardware business is tin shop,
where all kinds of tin and sheet iron
goods are manufactured. from Tin cake.
cutter to sheet iron stove. lie also
keeps a good assortment OF Agricultural
Implements. and is agent for the Buckeye
mower.
Next below IS the store of c. Mason,
who keeps good stock of Ready. made
clothing and other goods. He has a boot
and shoe department. and flour and meal
store rooms.
In "the block" will be found the elegant
store OF c. x ID. c. Rowe. Ii contains a
new stock and is so arranged as 10 display
its goods to excellent advantage. The
ground floor is occupied az grocery and
dry goods department. while the floor
above is arranged for ready made clothing
and crockery. large stock OF both being
constantly kept on hand. The proprietors
are men of much ability and business
tact. and they know how 10 show their
goods TO customers.
Next door we fad Mr.. d. II. Grover.
supported on either hand by his interest
ing wife and daughter. who assist in the
ladies' goods department. Mr. Grover
keeps good stock OF groceries. hard
ware. boots. shoes, crockery, etc, and
nice assortment Of fancy goods. which
his assistants we'll know how to display.
The thIgd and last store In the block is
tina: oil c. 1. Kjmball Mr.. Kimball has
kept large Stock Of dry goods. boots.
shoes. etc but these he is closing out at
very low prices, preparatory TO laying in
stock OF groceries. flour. crockery, etc.
During the winter he has laid in some
sixty tons OF ice. which he will retail il
the weather is ever sufficiently warm 10
cause demand for IT, An extra amount
of labor was required to secure the ice
crop this year; some three feet OF snow
ice lay upon the clear blue water ice.
which is alone tit for market.
Miss Sarah Hall. daughter OF the late
II. B. Hall. and G. R. Wiley. Esq, each
keep fine drug stores. Mr.. Wiley has
good stock OF stationery and fancy goods
His store is very prettily arranged and
lnnt;l,- n.,, a rna,,InL L. l. nnlInx. ora