The Portland daily press., 1883-12-28
THE ANCIENT ROOSTER.
sAis Pedigree, age, and she PecRiiariIies
OF the Species-Let ne "Bresder'' Turn
up EEis Nsse as Him; EEe is Registercd.

Mr.. EDIToR:-I see by your paper that the
venerable county rooster, who for eighty years
and more, surmounted the eupola OF the old
court house, always keeping an eye to the wind
ward, has been placed in the poultry show,
nearly ON the spot whera he formerly kept
watch and ward. The story of human frailty
setting forth st. Peters false testimony and the
growing of the Geek, which caused him to
weep bitterly" for his sin and folly, undoubt-
edly suggested to the county fathers the pro-
priety of surmounting the new temple of JUS
tlce with specimen of that historic bird, as a
caution to the witness, 0hen he entered the
portal, not to deny the truth, whatever might
ba his provocabion from coDtsnding counsel
Probably those who accused Peter in the porch
OF the palace, were young lawyers, male and
female, who were seeking to entrap him. II
this could be established il would greatly miti-
gate his offence. Whatever caused the decis-
lou, the emblem was we'll chosen, and thereby
hangs q tail The bird was the admiration of
the town. He was often coveted by the thrift
~ citizen, who had his garden, aud raised his
own Deets and onions, 1s we'll poultry, for
The reason that any one could see from his Pc
culiar formation, that he would not be incl ned
to "scratch" could be cheaply kept, aud was
always early on his roost. Although from his
elevated position, be was the first to greet the
snn IN his coming, yet unlike the modern i'm
proved breeds, he never disturbed the neigh
borhocd by his boisterous and untimely crow
ing, he has not yet forgoa his good breeding
yon will notice that under the great and ad-
nitted provocation of the playing of the band,
he will not, like the il-bred fowl, open his
throat as soon as the band stops.
The reason for the building of the new court
house was the destructioA in the ccnhagration
OF 1775 Cf court house on the west corner of
Middle and India streets, which had been built
only the year before, and which was the first
built in the county of Cumberland. established
iu 1850. Tor several years after the burning OF
the court house the courts were held at tav-
erDs, aud somstimes at private houses In
1878 Samuel freeman was paid SO for the use
of his great chamber for the court. In 1856
Mrs. Greely, who kept a one-story tavern on
the east corner of Congress and Hampshire
streets, was paid "4 shillings out OF the
county treasury, for the use Of her house and
her trouble for this and a former session."
In 17S5 court house wac commenced where
the City Hall now stands-it was raised in Oc-
tober. 1t was 48 by "a feet in size, with 24-feet
posts. The court ordered "that the roof be so
framed that belfry may be built on it at some
future time" AT court of general sessions
OF the peace (Which was composed of all the
justices of the peace IN the coxnty) holden in
May, 1887, the court ordsled "that the county
treasurer, Joseph Mcclellan, be COMMITTEES to
provide materials for finishing the chamber of
the court house, and cupola, and to see the
work done ia sueh a manner as the court at
shall order"
Daring that summer, no doubt, the weather
cock was put in place on the spire. Benjamin |
Radford, who died few years ago, aged near
~ 80, described to me the process Of the carv- |
Ing OF the rooster. The artist, an Englishman, |
was we'll known to Mr.. Radford, who from his |
trade, cabinet maker, took an interest in |
carving, and watched the mans ingenuity in |
forming a life-like figure. On the end of |
long treadle, which was hung by the middle, |
he fastened living bird, and when he wanted |
to draw sfrom him he put his foot on the near |
end of the treadle, which raised the rooster |
and made him lively. How well he succeeded |
IN his job any one can ses who visits the show. |
The building was used as court house until |
1916, when it was decided to build more con- |
venient one. The old building was sold to |
John Powell and five others, for $500, and was |
This was the largest hauling that |
had ever taken place in town. The building |
was large and very heavily tim mbered. Many |
came from the back towns with their teams OF /
oxen, and the townspeople attended in body. |
The managing man and master carter" was |
James Gowen Of Westbrook. There are few |
citizens remaining who witnessed the hauling |
Tho 1Nto CAPe- ,rhnrnas Warren who could |
well illustrate ai0dicrous scene, and enjoyed |
one, never tired in describing the "hauing
of the old court house, the master carter |
standing in the front door, with hand on each |
post, his prominent stomach covered by long |
Waistcoat with large pocket flaps He never
mad such an audience, aud he gave his orders |
With the voice of q Stentor. There were two |
ong strings of oxen, reaching nearly to Middle
''reet, with teamster to each pair. First l
,ame the order "Carters to your oxen;" then, 7
Are you all ready7" "Strain up;" with the |
one continued uutl the building moved,-the
awing Of the long line of goad sticks, amid
argon OF OK talk. Then the order "Put up
he off string" when all the goads on that side
we're brought TO the thrust, and the patient
,xen were braided" in the flank, occompan-
ed with awful threats and some oaths Next
,ame the word "Wh o-o-ap long drawn out,
snd the hasty and earnest enquiry, in the same
Key, "Where's the committee?" l have prob
IDLY enjoyed my full share of this description,
Is the DrinCinal ACTOR in the hauliu0 WAS nv |
ancestor. During all the moving the rooster,
'erched aloft, was shaking like reed in the
Wind, and turning partly round as if trying to
leep his place with becoming gravity. The
I'D building found a new resting place in bog
n the side of Exchange, above Federal street.
The cenJer OF the second story floor was re-
moved, leaving wide gallery. After its alter
alton, it was used as house of worship by
he Freewill Baptist Society, until they built
he Casco street church in a9out 1927. 1t was
common saying that Elder Rand's rooster al
rays crowed when he heard the Old Jerusalem
ell ring. The old building was again moved
p Federal and Congress streets, to Green
treet, where il was used for a soap and candle
actory, until within few years, when iJ was |
AIKEN down. At the last moving Charles
lerrill was the contractor. He had team
nough to walk off with 1t, the same as with an
rdinary load, after placing two rows OF green
labs to keep the 'shoes" off the ground.
'hese smoked for several minutes after being
assed over, as if they we're on fire. The rooster
ept his place, nodding to the crowd as he
aoved along. Soon after being taken down,
he rooster came into the possession of the pre-
ant owner, whe appreciates other music be-
ides the growing Of cocks.
Doubtless the only reason Why he did not
inter- the bird for premium was the difficulty
obtaining female of the same species TO
match up with him, the rule of the associa-
ion requiring such entries to be in pairs.
hofr Hon nv 1