Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-13
OUT Nv OCTOBER.
POPLAR HOTEL DC

POPLAR HOTEL, Oct. g. 1877.
To the Editor of the Hennebec Journal;
Our party left Andover yesterday noon, and ar
rived at North Newry, up Bear river, by an easy
ride. The day was clear but somewhat windy
The horses, after rest of some twenty four hours
we're fresh, and went of themselves without div
ing. The ride down Ellis river, along the An
droscoggin. and up Bear river, was charmng
one, Hspked by mountains and meadows, forests
and farms, in rapid succession.
Bartlett has made great improvements In and
about his hotel since we were there last. 1t Is now
q building of two stories, of good height, and
with versnda in front. The inside accommoda
tons are largely Increased. He says he had some
fifteen or twenty boarders during the season, from
Portland, Boston and elsewhere. Besides the
wild scenery surrounding the locality, there is
abundant sport for fishermen and hunters. There
ale several branches of Bear river, where trout
may be caught, sometimes by the hundred.
Other improvements may be noticed in this vi
cinity. In place of the dilapidated and disgrace
FOL old school house of former times, new one of
modern style has been built, and furnished with
all needful convenences. Meetings are held
/
farm buildings have been improved with repairs
and psiut, and the farms along the two valleys of
the Bear river and East Branch appear we'll cult
waited and productive. Even the apple famine
does not much affect this neighborhood. There
are many orchards with fair growth of fruit, and
some trees were loaded almost to the ground
Elsewhere we have seen but few apples, but in
this little spot, shut in by the mountains around
it, there is apparently no scarcity.
The walks and rides about here are very pleas
ant and attractive. The roads are in very good
ing lnnber, extends well up towards the top of
Puzzle Mountain. The shortness Of our stay did
not admit Of our climbing to the summit, although
the weather was quite favorable for making the
ascent. =
We could not resist the temptation to take
ride up the river through Grafton Notch, and re-
visit the natural curiosties along the route.
Screw Augur Falls, twisted and tortuous cleft
in the solid rock, more than forty feet deep.
through which Bear river runs appears 10 greater
advantage since the old saw mill was burned.
The cave called the Jail, having the appearance
almost of work Of art, built by stone mason
with blocks Of solid granite, looked as curious as
ever. The ravine at the foot Of the high wall or
cliff on the north side Of the Notch, which is
ca lad Moose Cave. 40 feet deep, with stream of
water at the bottom, still puzzles the beholder
with the query how it came there, and what force
split the granite ledge, and parted the side walls
so rs to admit the stream to pass through. The
scenery is set off by the variegated and beautiful
autumn foliage, which exhibits almost every hue.
one shading into the other. The two walls of the
Notch, 1900 or 1000 feet in height never appeared
more grand and majestic than on the present oc-
casion. 1t was voted unanimously that this wild
and magnificent scenery was worth ride of IS
miles to view it every year.
Whilst going up to the Notch and returning,
speckled Mountain seemed to be close to our path
on the south side, and one could with difficulty
realize that its summit is almost or quite 1000 feet
in height 1t is thought by some to be the high
est elevation in the State except Katahdin.
Some of our party had once clambered up its
steep sides, and did not feel tempted to repeat the
effort. On the opposite side is the Great Ledge, a
stupendous pile of rock, the crown of which is en-.
tirely bare ofvegetation.
PEN HOLDER