Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-02-06

which the luggage is hauled by team,
while the fisherman fools it. and you are
at the Middle Camp Dam, which is about
the middle OF the western shore OF We
nebacook, whence access is easy to
Molechunkemunk and Moo selucmagun-
tic.
Or a shorter, and in other respects o
preferable route, is 20 stop at Bryant S
Pond, whence stages run three times
week-MondaY. Wednesday and Friday
to Andover, eighteen miles distant.
There at the Greig House you will find
in Charley" Cushm an guide, phi'os-
opher and friend" who will not only give
all necessary Information as TO the &C
commodations for fishermen upon the
lower lakes, but in an emergency, as |
can bear most cheerful witness, will see
you safely to your destination. and make
it certain that you are well provided for.
To reach the "Arm" twelve-mile ride
on blackboard over difficult road must
be undergone, and thence by small
steamer the Middle or Upper Dam may
be reached. Communication by either
of these routes, however, is not so regu-
lar, sure or easy as by way OF Farming
toH or Phillips, and as this Is the direct
route to the camp of the Oquossoc An
Cling Association, which is by far the
best managed organic .lion OF its kind in
this region, the tourist or sportsman will
generally give it the preference. Leaving
Portland little after one o'clock. you
arrive at Pennington about six. There
"Uncle John" Pickeus takes charge oil
all your traps" and slows them with
conscientious care in the boot of his ca
pscious Concord coach. \ supper at the
Forest House forIihes you for an eighteen
mile ride 10 Phillips, and this is materially
shortened by Uncle johns famous "bear
story" and other characteristic narratives.
Stopping overnight at the b arden House.
or at The Elmwood House. kept by Mr..
Prescott. you take an early start the next
morning, aud after a stage ride OF twenty
miles reach kimba.l's Hotel, at the head
of Rangeley Lake. by noon. Taking
disner here, and after il the "Molly-
chuak.e .e-munk. " one OF the little steamers
which have recently invaded the sanctily
Of these lakes, yoa are in an hour and =
halt landed at the foot Of Rangeiey.- -
Here there has just been erected a hotel
known as the Mountain View House,
which IS open to all comers, and near it
is the private camp of Theodore l..
page,-Lake Point Cottage.
In comparison with the unpronounce-
able Indian names which the contiguous
lakes bear, that OF RangeleY appears
singularly commonplace aud civilized,
Dut formerly it was quite as we'll off as
its neighbors. Originally it was known
as OluosScc Lake, but abou, fifty years
ago wealthy English squire, R4ngeley
by name, having wearied Of the civilized
tameuess of his Virginia estate, decided
to settle in this northern wilderness. He
cleared broad tract at the outlet OF
Rangeley Lake, built dam scross the
stream, erected extensive saw and grist
mills, and expended large sums OF money
10 other improvements. HIS supplies OF
all kinds were transported from Phillips
or Pennington. a distance Of thirty TO
fl.y miles, and be was compelled to haul
his lumber a hundred miles to iind mar
ket. For twenty years Squire RsngeleY
lived here, pushing his business enter
prises with great energy and more or
less success. and enjoying the field sports,
OF which he was psssionateiy fond
Moose, caribou, deer. bears and wolves
were his constant neighbors; ducks.
geese, partridge and smaller game were
SO abundant that shooting them could
hardly De called sport; and brook trout
weighing six seven, eight or nine pounds
could be taken By the score from the
stream which ran past his front door.
When Squire Rlngeley, for reasons
which tradition does not record, gave uT
the enterprise which be had pushed for 8
time with so much energy, his mills and
buildings were all abandoned, and the
c.earings which he had made were rap
idly seeded down by the hand OF nature
pines. spruces, juniper and fir springing
up everywhere in place OF the ancient
monarchs oil the primeval forest which
he had cleared away at the cost OF SO
much labor. Ten years ago, the frame
and roof OF the massive old mill were
still standing, but in 1866 these were
pulled down and the solid pine timbers
of the structure were incorporated in the
new dam which was then built for the
p1rpose OF floating logs through the outlet
in the early spring Oi the old home
stead, which occupied commanding site
on q beautiful knoll, only the decayed
foundation timbers remain. Enough oi
the Potash" building still stands to give
passable shelter 10 the benighted angler
With these exceptions. Squire RangeIey':
Improvements" have ali disappeared
The township which he once owned
however, still bears his name. Nearly