Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-30

One day last week, your correspouden,
dropped into the hoe and fork mandatory Of
+. Piimpton & Sons At North Litchfield.
Sixty-one years ago, Elias Plimpton, the SEN
Tor member of the firm, came from Massa.
chusetta. and. settling here, commenced the
manufacture of hoes and forks on the same
| stream where the works nov stand. The
country was sparsely settled. The pr;mevaI
forest still waved, hardly indenfed by the axe
of the pioneer. The roads were rough and
uneven. Yet, despite these difficulties, Mr.
Plimpton started in business, and BY persever-
ingly manufacturing only the best grade of
goods, it steadily increased. After a while
his two sons were taken into partnership,
while to-day, the firm, having had three score
years of experience, is doing q large and lu-
crative business, employing from 20 to 80
men. Only the best refined steel and the lat
est improved machinery are employed in the
manufacture. which. in conjunction with the
fact that they employ the most intelligent and
skilled workmen to be found accounts for the
standard excellence and reputation of their
implements. Indeed, their hoes. of which
they manufacture twenty dozen in day, are
unexcelled, even the second quality ones be-
ing superior to No. Is of Western manufac-
eotCs uey dlSo Turn Out l6Ikc v8tlcIy Oh
forks. including potato and clam diggers. All
Of these goods possess the genuine trowel
temper which is given by . secret English
process not generally known. The annealing
is done in melted lead, the temperature being
regulated by a thermometer. This is the
only establishment of the kind in the State.
and probably in the Union which carries on
all parts of the business. Most manufacturers
buy their handles ready made, but the Plimp-
tons have a separate department where all
their handles are turned out from white ash
purchased from farmers in the vicinity. Ken
dali & Whitney, of Portland, buy largely of
these goods and have an order At the present
time placed for over 500 dozen Of hoes. Some
idea Of the extent of this firms business
may be gathered from the fact that 500 BUSH
els of charcoal are annually used simply for
the purpose of kindling the fires. After an
entertaining stroll through the works. and 4
pleasant chat with Mr.. Warren Plimpton, one
of the gentlemanly proprietors. we came away
convinced that the pioneer, Elias PlimptOn.
who is still hale and hearty, though far ad-
vanced in years, had hoed his row in thor
Ou0h and workmanlike manner.
Kennebec County Pomona Grunge p. of H..
holds its annual meeting with Winthrop
the first Wednesday in January.
nksgiving eve the reform club at North
Litchield gave an antiquarian supper and
necktie sociable at the Union hall. Overtwo
hundred couples participated. 1t was an en-
joyable occasion.
For many years the i,l-omened name of
''Purgatory" has remorselessly chung to the
quiet little hamlet of No. Litchfeld. Vainly
the inhabitants have endeavored to shake it
of and substitute the more congenial appella-
ton of Pleasant Valley. However, these
people are not so wicked as the name would
seem to indicate and, in common with the rest
of mankind, they yet have an opportunity of
repenting.
Litchfield Grange is prospecting finely with
Charles Metcalf as Master. The members
recently purchased a car load Of shorts on
which they made quite saving.
The True Bros. at Batchelder's tavern. are
two of our most intelligent farmers. They
are engaged in the manufacture of cider vine
gar of which they now have upwards Of 100
bills in their cellar,