Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-26
HlisfflIanf0ns.
TIE OLp.rIME STAGE COACH.
A TRIP ALONG THE SHORES OF THE
KENNEBEC WORD ABOUT THE OLD
TowN OF VAssALBoROUGH.
Continued from Yesterday. }

SCODtlnueO IIOm yesterusSl
Twas gratified to learn. in a recent visit
to your city that the old stage line had
been re established on the route through
Vassalborough-m my native town = and
after a ride of more than a thousand miles
by rail, it was great pleasure TO embark
in one of these old-,ime vehicles and jour
new along the banks of the kennebec
through to Wa rville. The party was
composed Of some six or eight ladies and
gentlemen, all unaccustomed to this new.
or rather old, mode Of travel. The day
was a delightful one. The cool breezes
swept over the hill and through the we'll
ripened harvest ..elds. imparting new
strength and vigor boh to mind and body.
The driver was one of those warm-hearted.
genial fellows who evidently I'M
bibed the spirit of his passengers. and
the journey seemed all too short when we
arrived at our destination. At Getchell
Corner the stage halted in front OF the no.
tel and the driver graciously allowed the
passengers half hour to look about the
little village. The genial host OF the
hotel, Mr.. Gibson. greeted every one with
a smile and kind word, and took the
party through his well-selected and val
nable museum Of rare curiosities gathered
from all parts of the world. Mr.. Gibson
ia one the oldest and most
respected citizens of the town.
Years ago he was extensively engaged in
the manufacture OF ready-made clothing.
and did thriving and profitable business.
The garments were shipped to him from
the clearinghouse of Dean Pray of Au-
pusta. and Mr.. Gibson gave steady en-
plovment to scores and hundreds OF wO-
men in all sections of the town, who took
the work to their own homes and returned
il after the garments were finished.
For a number OF years. however, MIR. Glib.
son and his son George. have had control
of the village hotel-a place eminently
fitted for a man of his genial nature and
cordial manner. In his younger days
Mr.. Gibson was exceedingly popular win
the young people, and in his advancing
wears he has lost none of his popularity,
both among the young and old. lie Is a
capital story teller, (and we make this
last statement advisedly) he can tell a
story and tell it better than any other man
in town; but he never allows his
warns to partake OF the vulgar or
profane. This was what gave him
his early popularity, and which he
still maintains. The hotel was formerly
kept bv Benjamin Wing. and was known
As wings Tavern" The old house has
been the scene of many joyous occasions:
Years ago. and before the railroad passed
through the town it was well pafronlzed
by the travelling public. The travel
between Augusta and the eastern cities
and towns nearly passed through this
little village. which gave it thriving
and busness-like appearance, all the year
through. A large number of manufactures
were formerly doing good business
here, but of late years they have nearly
all disappeared At one time number
of establishments were engaged in the
manufacture of boots and shoes, and three
or four extensive tanneries did thriving
and prosperous business, but late years
they have all fallen into disuse, and today
the village is almost wholly barren OF
manufactures of any kind. 1t is not an
easy matter to assign reasonable cause
for this great change, for the people OF
the village at the present time are as pub
lic-spirited and as enterprising as they
were a quarter o. century ago. The
village is now closely connected by rail
with the great business centres OF New
England, and just why it should have
abandoned its manufactures for the more
arduous and less profitable pursuits OF
tilling the soil, is a question not easily an
swered, at least by the outside world.
But it must not be inferred that, because
the good people of the village have al
lowed their manufacturing industries to
docl;na and practically mass awav that
they have become indolent and lost their
public spirit and enterprise. IN the con-
trary, the village still has an air of thrift
which is only to be seen in wide-awake
New England town. There are no evil
dences of delapidation and decay so prev
alent in the south and southwest. The farm
houses and village residences are we'll kept,
and an air of prosperity everywhere
sbounds. If the people cannot boast of
large manufacturing establishments they
can point with pride to their handsome
dwellings and well cultivated lands. If
they are happy and contented under the
new regime, no one should complain
They are free f ON the cares and perplexi-
ties incident to mercantile and commercial
life, and if they are not rapidly accumu-
lating large fortunes they have, at least.
the consciousness of living in peace with
mankind and rearing their children in the
paths of honesty, industry and integrity
Perhaps with the revival of the old time
stage-coach. business may find new foot
hold on the sacred soil of old Vassal-
borough So mote it be! r. G. G.
Washington, ID. c., August IS, 1882.