Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-10-16
From the Maine Farmer.l
Notes from the Country.
LOCKE's MILLS, Sept. 1871.

LOShh . bhAA<AH't 0tfss 4O''s
This thriving little village is situated
in the north part of the town OF
Greenwood, and on the line OF the Grand
Trunk railway. II is eight miles from
Bethel Hill and sixteen from Paris Court
House. There is a good water-power
here. formed by the overflow OF several
ponds, situated partly in Greenwood and
partly in Woodstock. This stream is
known as Alder River, and from the
place where it leaves the pond TO where
it flows into the Androscoggin near
Bethel Hill, it is about six miles long.
Mills were first erected here by Samuel
b. Locke, then OF Bethel, about the year
1916. 1t was that year that the wood and
timber land in this region was badly
damaged by fire, and q saw mill was
erected here for the purpose OF saving
tho KEGS which had been killed by the
tire, into lumber. Subsequently griSt
mill was added, for the accommodation
OF this, then spsrsely settled region.
Mr.. Locke came to Bethel after q brief
residence in Fryeburg, in 1896. His for
mer place OF residence was Lompsler, n.
Il. he was millwright by trade. and
man OF much energy and perseverance,.
His Oldest son John Locke, born in
LsmpSier in 1892, went 10 Ohio when q
Young mau, studied medicine, became
Professor in the Ohio Medical College.
and devoted most OF his long and useful
lie to science in It's various branches.
Samuel 3. Locke died in 1910, and was
succeeded 10 the ownership OF these
mills by bis son, Samuel b. Locke, Jr.
Soon after the mills were burned. The
son inherited the energy and pluck OF bis
father, and was a first rate mechanic.
He rebuilt them on larger scale, put IN
improved machinery, and the Hour mill
was one OF the best in this part'oi the
country. He also erected large build
ing, which was occupied lew years By
Gillet and Bridges as wooden factory,
but the business did not pay well, and
the machinery was removed elsewhere.
The building was subsequently used as
furniture factory, 10y l.. u l.. w. Russell.
Mr.. Locke sold his interest in the mill
property about the year 1888. and some
years later il came into possession OF the
present owners, Messrs. Tibbetts and
Dearborn, who have occupied tho factory
building fer the manufacture Of spools.
In their business they employ quite
number OF hsnds and use up large guam
titles OF white birch timber. There IL 4
good hotel here and several stores. This
village is the business centre of the north
part OF Greenwood and Woodstock and
the east part OF Bethel, and having Il
good water power, its future IS well as
sured.
The surface OF the town of Greenwood
is much like that OF Woodstock, which
Joins it on the east. There are several
quite high mountains within its limits,
and numerous hills and ridges. The
geological formation, more especially in
the northern part OF the town, Is that de-
nominated driR. and as is always the
case. the S1il is poor and filled with
rounded pebbles In other parts OF the
town the soil is deep and strong, and uu-
der good state OF cultivation. There
is much good grazing land Oh the sunny
slopes OF the mountains and hills.
To day We passed through Greenwood
/ city, little hamlet six mllss from this
place. Ii was once the most active busi-
ness place in town, but since the railway
has diverted the travel aud business into
other channels, its glory has departed.
\ few years ago fire swept through tbs
village, Dc sroyiug the old tavern aud
most OF the other buildings, and they
have never been rebuilt. a small corner
grocery Is now about the only sign OF lie
there. Formerly the people from Bethel,
/ Newry and the towns in Coos COUNT
! Y. H., passed through Greenwood on
\ their way 10 Portland. ard the public
house 1T the city was then well pat
rollzed We well remember Capt. Bill
Moves, the Jolly old landlord. whose
weight could not have been less ioan
eighteen stone. He was full OF fun, and bis
laugh was ike young earthquake. -
Man and beast found substantial fare AZ
Ibis hosiery, and the drinks which be
liked most to dispense were 70, OF thc
temperance kind. But the old landlord
has gone bacs to dust, ana the site oi
the tavern, the scene OF so much we'll
remember festiyi,y, is oyer-grown WIKI
weeds SEC transit, &c.
The town OF Greenwood is made up OF
TWO halt townships, one Of which was
granted to Phillips Academy, and the
other purchased by private parties OF the
State OF Massachusetts. The first set
tiers were William Yates aud Thomas
Furlong, who came in, in 1895, and felied
an opening near the Patch mountain IN
the southwest part OF the town. They
were here some lime before any other
settlers came, bat after the year 1900
others commenced clesriugs, and May ;,
1913, the plantation was organized. Tho
officers chosen at the first meeting, which
vas holden at the house OF Simeon San
born. were the following: Clerk, Paul
WenLworth; Selectmen, Noah TCboy,
Simeon Sanborn aud John Small Treas
urer, Isaac Flint; Collector, Dustin
Patch. The rate OF taxes WAS 10 IL
cents on dollar, aud the number OF polls
was thirty.
March 10, 1916, the town was inc0r-
porated, and the first officers chosen w
der the charter, at a meeting held in the
only school house in town, which stood
near the residence of William 1-tes,
were as follows: Clerk, Paul Went
worth; Selectmen, John Small, Isaac
Flint and Jeremiah Noble; Treasurer,
Frederick Coburn; Collector, James
French; School Commttee, Cyprien
Cole, William Yates, Francis Becklar,
Jonas Stevens. Charles Youn James
French and Paul Wentworth.
The first marriage ceremony performed
in town was June 10, 1914, the contract
ing parties being John Merrill of Bethel
and Hannah Sanborn OF Greenwood.