Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-31

Augustus main street on Saturday even.
ings wears an almost metropolitan look, and
the observer standing on one Of the street
corners at 8 o'clock witnesses a scene of ac-
tvty which would compare favorably with
many larger cities. The sidewalks are
thronged with people who move rapidly about
from place to place doing errands and attend
ing to business. The young man and his
best girl are usually out for a stroll, and
perchance, if his pocket-book will stand the
strain, he will provide her with n seat at an
ice cream table. The young man of leisure
smokes his cigar and moves about in a care
less sort Of a manner, visiting the Salvation
Army barrack, if time hangs heavily on his
hands when he has change in his pocket to pay
the admittance fee. The young ladies fire.
.quently take a downtown trip early in the
evening, and can be seen gadding to and fro
lodging into the millinery and dry goods
stores. SATURDAY. is usually payday and
when evening comes pater famlias is apt to
visit the shops and provide for the numerous
wants of his family, the dealers driving a
brisk trade. The stores are always found
brilliantly lighted. and the urbane proprietor
with his well-dressed clerks are always pre-
pared to exchange goods for cash or "chsrge
them" if the customer is q reliable one Many
country people drive in from the rural dis
trics and do some trading after the labors
of the week are ended. The arrival of the 8
~. Il. = Al. Al
station and there is always a jam of people
on the platform. At 8 80 o'clock the crowd
begins to thin out and at 8 but few people
comparatively, can be found on the street.
Yesterday the well known Lancey property
on Bridge street was sold at auction by the
Belfast Savings Bank. which held a heavy
mortgage upon it. Asa Fsunce, Esq, of
Belfast, president of the bank, was in attend
snce, together with Mr.. N. F. Houston. The
house lot and stable on the corner Of Bridge
and State streets, the Churchill house and lot
next the engine house excepted, was first sold,
and at o'clock p NJ a group of enterpris-
ing Augusta capitalists was to be found on
the corner, moving about in the drenching
rain, protected by umbrellas and gum coats.
h. W. Whitehouse. Esq, was equipped
with tape line and made measurements of
the land. At 2.25 Sheriff Libby took a
position in the doorway of the stable and an
nounced the property for sale. The bidding
once became general. the starting
price being $1,000. Among the bidders
were Spth Wbi,ahnnsa nr
Orooker, Judge Titcomb Geo. Cony.
ana N. F. Houston. After some ten
minutes of bidding the lot and buildings were
'oid to MIR. Houston for 81 900. Four-fifths
vi The Churchill house, the other fifth being
he property of Columbus Church came
next in order and was also sold to Mr..
houston, at $500. The "Aborp" house. SO
called, north of the block was dis
posed of, the auctioneer standing on
'ne door steps Mr.. Ruben Packard was the
highest bidder, he obtaining the building
ior 500. Last but not least came
ue famous Lancey Block itself. 1t was
started at very low figure, but when $3.50
nao been bid, f. W. Whitehouse announced
enat he was prepared to give $1,000 Judge
i"como made it" STOPS and Mr.. White
mouse followed with slO5O, the Judge '.going"
"io'o' Finally Mr.. Whitehouse raised the
-'eA niger of his right hand as signal that he
"ould make the figure Sll00, after which
''sfe was no further bidding and the property
% disposed of to him at this sum.
mere is about an acre of land connected with
e oiock and it was represented that it
moaid accommodate 81 families. Mr.. Reuben
BUILDING