Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-08-23
Portland Press.
OLD FRYEBURG.
IT'S HISTORY AND IT'S LEGENDS.

SIMMER time has come again, and win
n Comes to man a strong desire for change.
He LONGS to steal awhile away nom MS
daily routine of work, that has grown naru
and irksome, and seek renewed strength VI
body and mind at the shrine OF nature, W
hear what the wild waves are saying uown
by the restless, heaving sea, or TO listen 10
the golden speech OF silence amid the qui-
eter beauties of the wooded nils. Az
though. we think, "however Tar we may
roam, there's no place like home, yet IN
attractions for the visitor, few villages eau
surpass Fryeburg, Maine, which Is STU
ated In the Saco valley. Through this
valley, slowly turning In and out, now la
sight, and now hiding itself In the oark
forest shades, winds the Saco river, wnicn
owes its Indian name TO these same crooSeu
turns. Midway on It's course from the noun
tsjus 10 the sea. 1t bears on its right oahK,
this gem of its hamle,s. beautiful Fryeourg.
This village well deserves the highest praise
one can offer, at any season Of the year, out
more especially now when every tree ana
shrub Is robed In the richest green. THOSE
old elms of Main street, meeting III lofty
arches. are far more noble and grand than
the storied columns and transepts OF the
old world. Our ancestors who planted
these builded better monuments than lney
knew and esph passing traveller, rejoicing
In the shade, gratefully honofs thelr mem
DRY A. long as these lfees rreas lHe,r
heads h, avenvard, spring VIII ke'p w
ting memorial day. When she VISITS the
earth, she will la,ishiy decorate theM WIN
wreaths of living green, while among the
branches the little birds will sing q
cheering requiem. Every year, To our
eyes. Frycburg l. more and more beautliul,
vet our mothers growing old already more
/ than ccptury's h, avy weight OF years mas
| bassed o,ei ley head. These years leave
on her brow no flrrov deep batonii aaded
dignity and grace.
Look back down the long vista OF years
/ To 1850, What do we see now: In inc
place OF these happy homes, there Is noun
| ,ps b.. vast uubroken forest, stretching
| far aIi ytde Inc trJS pSGae " s..e s.va 9t
| and the besf. Should we chSRee 20 he on
one of the ncighbor!ng hills, No m,sh' aei
here and there a tiny pond sparkling amonI
the trees. or small opening whence arises
a little smoke, telling whore lives the last
rea.aa. Il he pcduakets.
! some yea1s t''Pt' tHH ~ % ti- a, -.
= ~, --ahlre herded cattle Oh toe 'hs'I.Ne''
where neither gates Nv ' oa's o0"""NV w.
rich pastures. one OF the men was white
tue ..t.er, OF African birth, whose name
was Limbo. lie nved ~ .rgebnrg many
wears. and towards the close OF his HE was
sold TO another for yoke or oxen, hts OLD
master ever afterwards regretting the sale
Though men sold the body they could not
-ell the soul for that was free Indeed lie
now lies buried ia the cemetery IN the up
per part OF the village
About this time this township, In what
was then the District Of Maine, was granted
10 General Joseph Frye, OF Massachusetts
for distinguished civil and military ser
vices. by the government OF that State.
The oil Indian name Pcqiukc,, was chang
cd 10 Ffyebur. in honor of General Frye.
Soon after this. seven settlers, mostly from
Mass achusetts, came to make new houies
for themselves tn the wilderness.
"whAt sought they thus Riars
Bright jewels OF the minc:
Nay. they needed them not for theu men,
not Jewels. were valued most. They marked
ont seven lots of land for their new homes
one near the present Weston's bridge, ana
the Others on Main street which was thru
only q liue OF spotted trees. They soon
built LOG cabins, and llt,lc by little APP
proachcd civilization. The only recrea-
,ions were visiting aud tea parties. IL Is
related OF one lady, Mrs. Ames, who was
the fortunate po>scssor OF the hrSt siINer
spoon, aud china tea-sct in the settlement
,hs. whenever she visited her ueishhoFs
she carried them along with her. when
the supply or fresh meat Eel, short, all iho
men went on bear hunt.
Kindness and mel .hborly courtesy prevail
ed In those primitive times. What one lam
ily had was shared with all the rest. The
whole settlement was only one great iaini-
ly. and In all their dealings with one an
other they were g. straight Is pine 'r'e'
Eyerything about them was solid anu sup
stantl ii no sham whatever was seen nc
Intelligence and the good character or the
people gave this town 4 high rank 10 The
country. Pryeburg by her sons aud daash'
tiers. Is now represented In all parts oil the
CuIon, hut wherever they may be their
heart. of turn back. with fond reeoileetions
10 the homes OF childhood 10 their =" AIN
COlutTlE'