Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-22

Kennebec ard of the Androscoggin spring
side by side. Long Pond. which the
road strikes while yet in sight of the first
of the Sandy River Ponds, is The first of
the RaDgeley series. and the "diyiie" be-
tween the two systems scarcely exceeds
tue measure of "biscuit toss" At such
a point as this the moralist will OF course
pause to pluck an illustration.
Passing Long Pond, which the inter-
venng woods mostly conceal from view.
delightful ride of a few miles opens the
first glimpse OF Oquossoc. or Rangeiey
Lake, rs it is now commonly called-at
one time, not very long ago, quite pleas
antly known as The Englishman's
Pond 1t is beautiful sheet of water,
OF irregular shore. its greatest length be-
ing about ten miles, and its greatest
width some three or four. The head Of
the lake at the inlet is not visible from
the road. but it's proximity is marked 10y
"Kimball's." the first "good square"
house TO be seen since leaving Madrid
The situation of the house. which is kept
for the accommodation OF the public. and
is the first hotel on entering the lake
region from this direction, is low aud
hemmed in. giving no hint OF the line
scenery and vary ing attractions to which
il is the gateway. Greenyale is the ter,
mina,ion of the regular stage route. and
"Kimball's" is the well-kept house which
would be expected under the circun-
stances. From the stream few rods be-
low The house the stanch and jaunty little
steamer MONychmIkcmHnk makes her
daily round trip to the foot OF the lake
and back. running in connection with
similar boats upon the other lakes of the
chain. "kimball's thus becomes proper
and convenient place OF transit for those
who are going lin" or coming "out," as
the case may be, ard as such it has
already achieved wide and deserved
popularity among the hundreds OF sports
men and plessure-seekers who are ire
quenting the lakes every season in con-
Stantly increasing numbers.
Leaving "Kimball's," the main road
continues along the eastern arm OF the
lake, rising at once 10 point on the
broad slope which forms the shore sutii-
ciently high TO give really magnificent
view. You are fairly within the limits
of Rsugeley settlement. and the road
trsverses for three miles tier OF well
cleared and productive farms. Below.
70 the lett, stretches the lake. its surface
broken by but one distinguishable island,
hemmed in by bold ranges Of hills. and
hanked at its western extremity by the
picturesque Bald Mountain, which there
rises abruptly from the waters edge
The settlement is confined almost eX-
clusiyelv 10 The northern and eastern
Slopes. The other shores are Tor the
most part covered with dense forests, the
outskirts OF the wilderness that reaches
away to the boundaries of New Hamp-
shire and Canada The horizon line IN
every direction is varied and grand, beng
made ND of distant mountains massed
one against another.
Three miles beyond Greenvale. along
this road, at the northeast arm oil the
lake. where the entering stream from the
Haley and Gull ponds furnishes valua-
BILE water power, is 'R4ngeleY City. a
small but sturdy little hamlet OF a dozen
or twenty buildings, the centre oil the
townships trade. A right smart place"
it is, too. with post-oflice, public ball, an
excellent hotel (Hinkley's "Rangeley
House'), two country stores. two saw
mills Zone run by water. and the other
by steam). boat building shop. two
blacksmiths' shops, q shoemaker's. and
will the reader believe it?-a bakery.
1t is but fair, however. TO explain that
this backwoods bakery is the ingenious
and accommodating device OF MIR. lib
belts. the boat-builder, who, OF Sstur-
day night. cleans out the furnace oil his
steam-engine, and bids his neighoors
bring thither their pots OF brown-oread
and beans for a night of it. Great was
our astonishment, on sitting down to the
traditional Sunday morning breakfast ct
"TIinkley's" on the occasion OF our last
visit, to be told by our host that our
brown-bread "was baked in the bakery.
Mr.. Tibbetts's bakery" is not the only
thing to his credit. His boats have car
ried his tame over all the lakes, and his
shop is place which every sportsman IN
the region makes point of patronizing.
He builds his craft something after the
model OF birch" first framing his
streaks on q mould, and then strengthen
ing the shell by light knee work within
The boat emerges from his hands at
cost OF about Fifty dollars, easily carrying
six men, and easily to be carried by two
or three. They are models Of lightness.
swiftness, and beauty. A large portion
of The village of RaDgeley, including
Tibbetts's bakery, was destroyed by hire
in the fall OF 1876, but when our artist