The Republican journal., 1885-10-15
An October Outing.
ON THE SHORE OF QUANTEBACOOK. MIR.
WOODCOCK'S NEW ENTERPRISE. WOODBINE
COTTAGE. THE PINES.


stage for Woodbine Cottage at the foot of
Quantebacook Pond. 1t was not one of the
mellow autumnal days with which we are
sometimes favored. The sky was overcast and
the wind was chilling rather than invigorating,
but the landscape was decked in all Its fall
spendors and the ride was a thoroughly enjoy
able one. What the artist thought of the scenery
we cannot say. Only once was he heard to
make an exclamation, and that was prompted
by sight of cabbage patch! As for the Scribe,
who occupied back seat, his views of the
beauties of nature were somewhat circumscribed
by the curtains of the mail wagon, which were
decidedly Opaque. He feels warranted In stat
ing, however, on excellent authority, that the
road to Searsmont takes one through pleasant
country, In which picturesque bits alternate
with well-tlled farms. One mile or more this
side of Searsmont village we leave the stage
and turning into road made for hauling stone
and other material tc the foot Of Quantebacook
Pond soon come upon the dam In course of
construction for Mr.. Woodcock, of which
description was recently given In the journal.
There Is nothing to add to the statistics then
presented, or in the way of general description,
but the thorough manner In which the work Is
done cannot fail to attract attention. The dam
is evidently built to stay, and it is both wise
and economical to so build 1t. Aside from the
fact that the sixty acres of meadow are we'll
adapted for cranberry culture the location has
other advantages. The spiling and most of the
timber used was cut on the shore of the pond
and RATED to the site for the dam, and after
prospecting over the neighborhood, gravel beds
were finally found at each end of the dam, con-
venient for shoveling on cars which are run on
tramways along the dam. Work on the lower
dam was begun Friday This is. comparatively,
a small undertaking. The bottom is harder and
consequently the piles are shorter, while the dam
will be but one hundred and fifty feet long. The
upper dam is about 900 feet long. Probably the
plough will be at work this week, and 1t is intend
ed to have the steam engine which ha. been used
in connection with the pile driver take the place
of horses or oxen. And here may be noted
another favoring circumstance. Mr.. Wood
cocks property includes sand deposit which
will furnish all the sand required in preparing
the bog for the cranberry plants. Indeed, it
would seem that all the elements of success are
here, and if good wishes are of any avail Mr..
w. will have bonanza in his cranberry farm
and Searsmont will have abundant cause to re-
joice over his coming. He is turning waste
place into taxable property, is eXpending this
season thousands of dollars, mainly for labor
ana will continue to give employment to
greater or less number of persons. " hen he
has sixty acres OF cranberry plants in bearing
the harvesting and preparing the berries for
market will be quite an item. His operations
have already brought many persons to Sears
mont and as there is now good hotel at the
village, travel in this direction will be greatly
increased another season.
In buying land for his cranberry plantation
Mr.. Woodcock came into possession of the farm
house, built 81 years ago, on the John Heating
farm, and after renovating and improving the
exterior he christened It Woodbne Cottage
The house stands upon high ground. which de-
Scends by gradual slope to the level of the
stream which flows from the foot of Quanteba-
cook pond. 1t is story and half structure.
and with the broad veranda on the south and
east sides added by the present owner. the flag
flying from the pole on the east gable-a white
burgee with the letter W in red-and the tasteful
combination of colors with which the building
is painted, it presented very attractive appear
ance 10 the Artist and the Scribe as thev climb
ed the hill to enter its hospitabe door, From
the versnda on the south front one overooks
the village of searsmont. Nearer is the future
home of the cranberry and in the foreground
an apple orchard. From the east end there is
fine view of Quantebacook. But our host has
hauled down his flag, for the sun has disappear
ed behind the hills. and we go indoors TO sit
before capacious fire place where large hard
wood logs supported by brass andirons send up
a cheerful blaze. Mr.. Woodcock has made no
changes in the interior save by paper and paint,
retaining the old fashioned woodwork, and the
fire places, and his decorations are in keeping
with them. The sketches on the walls. the
photographs, the quaint china, the relics of for
mer generations. appeal to ones artistic sense,
while easy chairs, sofas and other accessories
show that creature comforts are not disregard
ed This year Mr.. Woodcock has had too much
business on hand to pursue his favorite calling.
but another season a detached building now
used as a workshop Will be transformed into Il
studio. and probably one or more Boston ar
fists will set up their eases here Mr.. Wood
cock bad as guests for a short time this season
Messrs. Wright and Toplihe.
Thursday evening visit was made to The
Pines, Mr.. w. leading the way with lantern,
for The night was dark and in the woods it was
darker than dark. 1t was somewhat OF a sur
prise to find that Albarto Cottage really stands
in growth of stately pines which extends to
the very edge Of the pond. People generally
seem so bent on proving that there is nothing
in a name that when one hears of The Pines, it
is expected that the only trees in the vicinity
are birch or maple. But here we are at the
door. which flies open in response to hail,
and Cur George comes out to welcome u.s. The
party at the Pines was Mr. and Mrs. George A.
Quimby, Miss Mary johnson, Miss Maud Mill
ken, Miss Annie Blodgett and Mr.. Will Quinn
by. 1t goes without the saying that the visitors
had warm reception, and this without refer
ence TO the thermometer, which indicated 90.
The lassies treated us to 'asses candy and at
least one of the callers demonstrated that he
has "a sweet TOOTH The Pines is perhaps
more frequented than any other cottage in this
vicinity. Both winter and summer the cottage
is occupied, and no doubt if the fun had here
could be rolled out to say half an inch thick 1t
would veneer the whole surface Of the globe
Those who have once visited the place pine to
go again and repine that they have not been
there before.
The Artist and the Scribe went fishing bv
proxy, and, with the usual luck OF the latter,
did not get even a nibble. While their repre-
sentatives were tempting the bass of Quanteba-
cook in vain the A. and S. set forth for stroll
to the village. The way led over pleasant,
shady road, carpeted with leaves. Little strip
ed squirrels ran nmbly along the fences and in
| and out of the crevices Of the old stone walls,
while birds twittered overhead in the trees,
and the high north wind was agreeably temper
ed by bright sunshine. Arriving at the village
we turned toward the carriage shops of Mr.
Jsmes Barker, now closed, and meeting Mr. B.
we went through the store houses, in which
are still some of his superior top-buggies and
wagons waiting buyers. In the paint shop we
found Mr.. John 4. Woodcock, who for thir-
teen years has been in MIR. Barker's employ.
As before anpounced ia sho,,