The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-13
A CITY OF THE OLDEN TIME
bangor, from IN Emineuce, Looks Back Upon
her Small Beginpings.

BANGOR, April 5.-This Down East city
Is half q century old rs a municipality.
having been Incorporated as a city on Feb. H.
1894. 1t was first settled by Jacob Boswell. in
September. 1862 although fort was erected
here previous to 1856 by the French and called
Norombega. q name meaning large or noble.
The Penobscot river. when the English OBJ.
tanned control OF all the western part OF Maine
was almost the only thoroughfare for the
French from Canada to the sea. and among tho
throng of travellers which was constantly pass
Ing up and down came some Jesuit priests.
who labored then as they have ever since. to
convert the Indians to Christianity.
From Kenduskeas or Condeskeag plantation
this place came to DO known as Bangor. through
the agency OF the Row. Seth Noble. the first
resident clergyman here. who. being commits
stoned to apply In 1891 to the Massachusetts
General Court for town charter and name.
Bangor. after his favorite hymn tune The
name originally contemplated was Sunbury.
city was christencd with more ,iigniHed naTde
Through the revolution and the war OF 1912.
Bangor struggled along with its backwoods ad-
population. Maine was then Wilderness with
here and there a clearing and village she
in which year she became d separate State and
ss E; e sSd il. fsn sSSs ys
ley attracted many settlers on account Of tho
opportunities offered for q remunerative trade
In lumber. fish. and game. The little town at
the confluence OF kenduskeaR and PenobscOt
felt the influence OF better times. and In 1920
200 people lived on Its sunny slopes. In 1884
thousand, and became ambitious for city's
name. The charter WAS given. and here Ban
gor is to-day. standing at tho noontide OF her
first half century as city!
To-day she has. find from the best sources.
about $4,000 population. $500 to 4; 900 votes.
and u real estate valuation OF about 81, 600 600.
The census shows that the city has lost a mil
lion in valuation In n decade. but everybody
who knows anything here knows that the local
census Is rarely correct and that values are
underestimated.
Bangor has an enviable record as u town and
city. and is gaining fame In each decade MS the
home Of prominent people. She has furnished
q Vice. President and Senators, Congress men
and State Governors without number. and has
poets and eminent professional mon whose
names are familiar In many Statcs sur
rrisingy large percentage Of tho In. ,
dinte vicinity. Military heroes Ike Col. jane
son OF the famous Second Maine Regiment give
lustre to BRngors war record. and sailors from
this port are known the world over.
The half century gone has Witnessed the
where once camped the Tarratine In the shade
| OF the forest primeval. Where once was a
| trackless wood five railroads spread their iron
| arms from Names Queen City. on which thou
sands OF people from far and wido travel in
''WS' When the e lake Megantic Railroad. trunk
| line to the West, is finished. It is expected
| that Bangor will become with its great depth
| of water and convenient shipping facilities. q
| rival OF Portland in the European trade.