Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-31

IN my last, which was some time ago lowing
10 circumstances beyond contror we retired
10 our pleasant rooms at the Maple House in
JEFFERSON, after our long ride from Upper
Daruett via. the Notch, Fabyans, Cherry
Netu and jefferson Village. with the inten
.ion 81 lying abed the next morning, lit be-
my my SUNDAY as long as we pleased, and we
iuiiy carried out the intention, with the ex
ceptlon of getting up early enough to take a
reireshlng bath in large rOomy bath tub We
iound In our room, before going down To
breakfast After breakfast we take a stroll
on the PIAZZA, which is on three sides of
sne mouse, and affords some of the finest
views OF mountain scenery that can be
imagined Jefferson is a broad valley
opening to the northward 1t is called
the geographical center of the mountains.
IL Is at a high elevation, and yet owing to the
breadth OF the valley, the mountains seem to
nave iar away look, Except on the east
and distance" truly seems to sslend en-
chantment to the view In clear day the
trains can be seen ascending and defending
MT Washington railway. 1t was our privi-
lege to attend Episcopal service at the Star
Rlng Home, Gust across the street) conduct
ed by Rev. DIR. Ever of New York He de.
cilned preaching sermon. but gave a short
talk on the subject of Eternal Life" which
we thought more effective than many of the
long sermons which are too often dealt out
to .drowsy hearers. The day proved to be
a showery one, and at times cold and squaIly.
Being anxious to make the ascent of MI
Washington the next day. monday if pos
slble, we, at four o'clock, leave the Maple
House for Gorham, distance of seventeen
miles, over Randolph Hill. Beforeawe had
gone three miles we were caught IN the
heaviest shower of the day, obiging US
to seek shelter in large barn,
whose doors stood invtingly open. After a
twenty minutes stay, during which it lust
poured, we again started, only to proceed
some four miles when our carriage broke
down, (first and last trouble of the kind on
the whole trip,) but fortunately it occurred
near house. where we appealed for assist
ance. The inhabitants kindly supplied our
wants, and through the ingenuity of and the
cheerful patience of the ladies, we were after
a long half hours delay again on the road
But the distance such, that it was very
dark when We drove through the one long
main street of Gorham. and as we ascended
the steps of the Alpine House, we felt very
grateful that we had escaped the heavy rains
that the dark and threatening clouds indica-
ted. The Alpine we found to be one of the
model hotels, far the beds and rooms
go, but our breakfast next morning was so
very poor that we decided to change our quar-
tiers, if we could not make the ascent
of Mt Washington that day. Upon making
inquiries, we found that it was almost i'm
possible for us to reach the summit that fore
noon; in fact, the coaches that went up the
night before could not come down till after
noon. cold, raw and strong northwest
wind was blowing but gradually died away
about 10. 80 A. NJ, which was too late for us
to make the ascent. Starting out tour
of inspection. we fell in with gentleman
whom we had met, and shown some favors
to at Old Orchard. whose home was near by,
and to which he very cordially invited us
asking us to make our selves at home, which
we certainly did, and enjoyed to the fullest
extent. Our host being "A part-Owner in the
Mascot Lead mine on Mt Hayes, which is
on the north side of the Androscoggin,
(Which river we now saw for the second
time, our first being at Turner Bridge,) he
invited us to go up to the nine
by the easy carriage road that has
been built to facilitate the operating of
the mine. Taking the ladies and our host,
left the door-yard by pretty lane leading
down to the river. past large spring whose
waters have acquitted some notoriety tor their
medicinal virtues, and crossed the river on
a nice iron bridge which had been erected by
our host for his own convenience in reaching
his pasture land which was mostly on the
south and west slope of the mountain.
L.
tial Group was not named after our temper
ance President. 1t was named after cele
brated lady cook at the Alpine House, num-
Der of wears ago. Reaching the mine after an
easy ascent of two miles, we found that they
were making arrangements TO do their smelt-
ing at the mine. They were Just putting in
position a very heavy boiler. A tunnel had
been dug into the solid rock some 60 feet,
and they were sinking a shaft to meet
N,.,Ha
80 feet above. We entered and followed
the tunnel to its end. 1t was about six and
one half feet high. and on an average of four
feet wide Two hundred tons of the ore TAX
en- from the tunnel were sent away for smelt-
ing, and it assayed seventy-five per cent, lead,
some silver, and little copper. Taking
hurried view of the mines, boarding house,
aud other improvements of the company, we
drive back to Gorham for dinner. after which
we drive up to Berlin Falls, still accompa-
MED by our kind host, whose thorough
acquaintance with Gorham and vicinity,
makes it very pleasant for us. We are en-
tertained with many personal recollections and
"reminiscences of the early days of Gorham
and Berlin Falls. Gorham has grown to
be a thrifty village, whose principal business
is the repair shop of the Grand Trunk RK
located in the center OF the village. Six
miles up the river brings us to Berlin
Falls, which Is noted Tor It's Ihls,
the Androscoggn river for nearly two miles
having cut its wav through the solid rock,
forming some of the finest water powers in
the country, and some very pretty cascades;
in fact, the river is raging torrent nearly
all the way and when the spring freshet Is on
must be a grand sight Another thing for
which Berlin is noted. is the large number of
children to be seen. The inhabitants. mostly
foreigners, seem to have followed Gods COM
mand Ito multiply and replenlsh the earth.
for bv actual count, we saw one hundred ana
foyfv-nine children, who must have been
under Is years of age. in passing through
the one main street of the village. Ihey
fairly swarmed at the doors and windows,
and in some of the houses if there had been
more windows there would have been more
children. On our way back to Gorham we
picked raspberries enough for our supper,
and enjoyed them all the more because we
had had the pleasure of picking them our
selves.
Having made all arrangements for an early
star. for the summit in the morning. ex-
changing our carriage for one with canopy