Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-11

Tn Nov. 10, 1881, the buildings on % acres
Of the fairest portion of Woodstock, n. B =,
were swept away by fire. One steamer was
unable to cope successfully with conHagra-
ton Of such formidable proportions. A
second steamer has recently been added to
the fire department. The people have shown
much enterprise and industry in rebuilding
the city. Elegant residences and costly
churches now adorn the burnt district. A
new Baptist, Freewill Baptist and Episcopal
church may be mentioned among the number
The Methodist, Catholic and Presbyterian
churches escaped. Carpenters wages from
sl.25 to sl.75 per day.
An early breakfast and good one at the
Gibson House, the best hotel in Wood
stock, and we were ready to start
up the st. John. Hotel charges 80
cents. The railroad above Woodstock
built and equipped at cost of $4,000 per
mile. But it did not answer the purposes of
the large freighting business of northern
AroOstook and the light narrow guage track
has been removed and replaced by another
of the standard guage. The road bed and
rolling stock of this road are in poor condi-
ton, and the station houses are cheap af-
fairs and show the want of care and neat
ness.
The valley Of the St. John is fine farm
ing region and large focks of sheep and cat
tie can be seed on every hand. But the fine
wooled Merino. the Jersey COW, and the Her
,eford steer were nowhere to be seen. The
stock is old fashioned, native stock as the peo-
raised in the days of the wooden pillow, the pod
auger and the flint locked gun.
The weather is cold. The shores and coves
OF the Aroostook and St. John are frozen
over, and men with their teams and logging
supplies are making for the woods. There
has been an inch of snow but it has now all
disappeared.
An iron monument that once marked the
boundry line betw cen the United States and
British America has been thrown down and
is now lying on the south bank of the
Aroostook. To prevent hard feelings it
would be well for the President and Queen
to perambulate this line.
On a gravelly bluff on the south side of
the Aroostook river and 100 feet above the
same is the site of old Fort Fairfield. The
parapet and bomb proof magazine are as dis
tinctly marked as though the fort had been
abandoned but a dozen years. The block
house that once stood within the fertilization
has been removed, and the pine timbers %
inches square have been taken to promote the
arts Of peace.
The old well dug by the troops 90 feet in
depth and timbered up, long since. caved in.
This was waterless well. The officers
barracks are still standing. The general ar
rangcmeut of the building is the same now
that it was when the Regulars left for the
Mexican war The building is one and half
stories high and consists of three tenements.
Each tenement having its own chimney hall
and front door, windows, 20 lights; glass
7X9.
Captain Van Ness in command of this Fort
once occupied one tenement. He afterwards
dropped dead in the street of Portland. His
father was William p. Van Ness, agent and
assistant of Aaron Burr in the fatal deed be-
tween Burr and Alexander Hamilton. He
bore the challenge from Burr to Hamilton.
Another tenement was occupied by Lieut..
Ricketts,, since General Ricketts, of national
notoriety One of the Generals children now
lies buried near the old fort, in the corner of
Dr. +. G. Decker's garden. The third tene
ment was occupied by Sergeant Coolidge.
General Scott was never here. lie came as
far az Houlton and crossed the line and met
Sir John Harvey at Woodstock on the British
side The people Of northern Aroostook are
discussing a division Of the county. The
lawyers want it, but a majority Of the people