The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-07
Portland.
The Natural and Historical Attractions of
This Old City.

Nj. f. G. Chlds of the Boston Saturday
Times has been visiting this city and has the
following pleasant words to say about Port
land:
No New England city is more replete with
interest, and at the same time rich with So
cial and scenic attractions than Portland
It's name is surrounded by memories of those
famous in the annals of national history, lit
era'ure and art; and its scenic attractions,
beginning il the very heart of the town, ra-
date to all points of the compass. 1t would
seem almost unnecessary TO refer in detail
to the points of interest, or the historical
memories, of Portland; and yet 1t is sur
prising to see how many strangers come
here, from Boston and other parts of New
England, who know almost nothing of these
things, and whogo away without ever dream
ing that they are in the midst of much that
is beautiful and of interest The observa-
tory on Munjoy hill attracts many visitors.
1t is on an eminence one hundred and fifty
feet above the sea, and for small fee one
can look through The large telescope and See
panorama rarely equalled, never excelled
or forgotten. Thirty miles Of the Atlantic
stretch before the spectator, with long line
of the island-dotted, rocky coast on either
side; while by moving the glass half round
| the circle we have the grandeur of Mt.
| Washington and its foothills. Portland is
| splendid place for travellers; it Is always
| cool and never without an ocean breeze.
| The visitor is within a days ride of the
| White Mountains, and the best beaches of a
| shore rich in such resorts. Over the Port
| land and Ogdensburg road one eau visit Sc
| bago river and lake, and Pleasant Mountain,
the route being one of the most romantic In
/ New England. One can spend day at
| Fryeburg, so popular with artists, or at
| North Conway, acknowledged TO command
the best view of the picturesque valley of
the Saco river; or, better still, make the en-
tire trip through the most remarkable natu-
| raj feature of the White Mountains, the
| Crawford Notch, ON the observation car.
| Either of these trips can be made in day,
| returning at night to the comforts of the
| city. On the other hand are the sea attrac-
| tons, not TO mention the harbor, Prout's
| Neck, Pine Point, favorite picnic ground),
| and Old Orchard, with It's seven miles of
hard, smooth beach, one of the most popular
| resorts in the country There are also Bid
| deford Pool, Scarboro, one of the best places
i Aol SuuuiuS, rciIy DtdCu anu, u ilttic idl-
Their to the east, and equally easy of access,
are Mount Desert and Fort Point, and other
well-known resorts. Among the historical
| spots in Portland are Longfellow's birth
place and the old Preble mansion. The lat
ter fronts on Congress street, in the very
heart of the city. easy of access to visitors
and convenient to every point of interest.
| This house is closely identified with the
| city's history. 1t was built by the famous
| Commodore Edward Preble, in 1906, plans
being drawn by an Italian architect, and
the original structure being about one-third
| o. its present size. In its youth, 1t stood
alone, facing Preble street, with a large gar
| den on Congress, and was one of the most
palatial residences in the city. Although
built under the direction of Commodore
Preble, he died before his family occupied
it. The garden was shaded by many beau
tiful trees, and four tall graceful elms still
| stand in front of the house. When the land
fever seized Portland, the late General Shop
ley, who was afterwards United States jadge,
and Mr.. I'll. N. jose, both remembered
among the ablest business men that Portland
has ever produced, seeing the prospects of a
successful hotel scheme in the location of
the Prebe mansion, leased the estate and
enlarged the house, giving visitors to Port
land the present hotel, which, both inside
and out, still bears witness to the eminent
| responsibility of its past