The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-03-13
Interes.ing OLA Rslic.

Many OF our citizens have no doubt noticed
the weather beaten old vane on the spindle
placed high up on the lodges at Yarmouth
Foreside, position it has occupied SO conspi-
cuously for nearly half century.
This old vane which is in the form of a
flaming arrow was removed from the spire of
the cold meeting house by the LEDGE" which
was located In thu triangle at the confluence
OF the roads just to the south of the ledge.
This old meeting house was built for the first
church in North Yarmouth in 1928, and taken
down in 1888, and its timbers which were solid
oak, appropriated for various purposes; the
gallery pillars were used In the Construction
of the counting room of Samuel Harriss' tam
merry at "the falls" and several of the pew
doors served as garden gates in many in
stances in the neighborhooG for years Thu
yane was placed upon an iron spindle and
located high up on the ledge, not only on ac-
count OF the more conspicuous location bnt
also to commemorate the spot where il was
customary in those early days to call the meet
ing by beating the drum up on this high pro-
montory which overlooked SO much of the
town that if the roll of the drum could not be
heard, the drummer could be distinguished In
the performance of the duty A "look outn
was also kept during the hours of meeting
from this point to give timely warning of the
approach of Indians so common then.
Mr.. JOS. e. Gilman of this city, who has
within few years purchased the old parson-
age house OF his ancestor, the Rev. Nicholas
Gilman, who preached in the old meeting
house for many years and as early as 1875. and
has recently thoroughly repaired the old m an
sion, and converted the buildings and grounds
into an attractive summer residence, has also
been granted permission to remove the old
vsne for repairs and it has been brought to this
city TO be Carefully restored to its former style
the ball and spindle having blown down some
ton years ago. The vane is Al feet long and
il inches wide, made of copper, and was orce
gilded, but is now shamefully battered with
stones and shot, and 1t is wonder that it re-
manned in position SO long as it did
One side of the vane has been nearly entire
ty Uovorcd with names and initials soratohed
into the metal, but of course so much defaced
and weather beaten that but few are legible,
| could make out the following: David Hale
1888; George Loring, 1888; 81. D. Whitcomb:
w. q A, 1888; Edw. Moxcey, 1888; Henry
Bacon; G. w. Bacon; VIM. l.. Corliss: ID.
Floyed; Joseph HAYES, 1888.
1t would appear az though the vane must
have been down in 1888, for it would have
been difficult to have placed so many names
there while in position.
Mr.. Gilman now proposes to have the yane
strengthened, and thoroughly repaired and
gilded and placed on top of "Gilman Rock0
just back of the old parsonage, and on a
higher point and but a short distance west
from its former position, and hope when
thus restored that this sacred old relic will be
jealousy guarded by every citizen against
accident or any vicious or thoughtless attacks
from shot-guns er otherwise, as it is yery
rare aud choice relic, coming down through
not less tnan SIX generations. M. N. r.