The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-02
OXFORD BEARS ASSOCIATION.
A Successful Excursion to Fryeburg.
Delightful DAY in the Valley of the
Saco.

Delightful DAY in the Valley of the
| Saco.
The natives of Oxford county, resident in
| Portland and vicinity, observed the fifth an
niversary of their organization as ''The Ok
| ford Bears" by an excursion to the lovely
| and historical village of Fryeburg, famous in
| the early era of Maine as the scene of Love-
wells fight with the Indians, the scene of
Daniel Webster's first ventures in public life
and oratory, and noted for the culture and
prominence of many of its sons and daugh-
tcrs.
The party numbered about one hundred
and forty, and were taken over the 2. & O..
R. r. morning train. The weather was fine,
and there was enough breeze stirring to pre-
vent anything like oppression from heat.
At Fryeburg the visiting bears were well
coined by the prominent citizens and the
music of the Mount Pleasant Band OF East
Fryeburg, the ladies were conveyed in car
riages to the Oxford House and procession
was formed by the men headed by the band
and the stuffed bear presented to- the society
by Professor Bartlett which moved to the
village in fine style. A couple of hours were
spent in a social way in and about the hotel,
strolls, drives, ETC., and the company set
down to an excellent dinner spread by
Messrs. A. P. Gee & Son, proprietors of the
Oxford House. The people of the village
were unbounded in their hospitality. There
were cordial greetings and open houses on all
hands. Over the entrance to the hotel were
the words "Welcome Oxford Bears" and on
Mr.. G. T. Ladd's store was a large picture of
bruin surmounted with the word welcome.
Among the well known people present
were Mayor Chapman, Ex-Mayor Walker,
Gen. j. J. Perry, Hon. Geo. +. Emery, Byron
d. Verrill, Judge Enoch Knight, Col. ]. M.
Adams. DR.. II. P. Merrill, DR.. Evans, Hon.
Mark P. Emery and others.
AT o'clock the visitors and citizens as
sembled in the hall connected with the hotel
and were called to order by A. 0. Pike, Esq,
chairman of the committee on reception,
who introduced Major d. r. Hastings, who
delivered an address of welcome as follows
MAJOR HASTINGS ADDRESS.
''Oxford Bears" who to-day visit their ma
tive country, and meet us here in the Oldest
settled town in ''Old Oxford" | bid you a
most nearly welcome. III Deudll VI tHe cLtl-
zens of Fryeburg, extend to you cordial
and hearty greeting.
aOxford Bears, born and reared midst our
rugged mountains, on our pleasant hill-sides,
on the banks of our own "Great River" so
called, the freshet-brimming Androscoggin,
on the green interyales of the shining and
sweet named Saco, by our lakes and lakelets,
or anywhere within our border, we hold out.
our hands to you this day in brotherly good
will, and ask the Great Father to kindly look
II hoaar
the land of your fathers and mothers and
give you safe return to your adopted homes
far away from us.
How difficult it is for us, in the joyfulness
of this happy visit, amidst the shaking of
hands and brotherly salutations, to express
in fitting words and with graceful methods
our heartfelt pleasure in this meeting. But
let our eyes, our faces, and our cordial greet
ings tell you stronger than words our sincere
joy in this youl visit to the mother town OF
Oxford county.
Allow me to briefly say, how. fitting. it
seems to me that the first formal visit OF the
sons and daughters of Old Oxford, abroad,
should be here.
Fryeburg is the oldest-the first born, set
tied in 1862, under the Indian name OF Pc
quawket, and by soldiers of the French war
that wrested the Canadas from France and
Joined them to the mother country :incorpor-
ated Jan. /, 1777, in the perilous times Of the
Revolutionary war This was more than
quarter of century before our county was
Incorporated, in 1906 our shire town of Paris
was settled II years after Fryeburg, and In
corporated 16 years after our character
/ beg for moment to call attention here to
the wisdom of our fathers, followed as it was
all through our county First, the shelter
for the family; next the clearing for food
supply; next the church and settled ministry
and then the schools and academy. In 1775
you find church here established and a
minister settled, both endowed with lands
for their support.
Schools follow, and an academy, and funds
provided for their support. What has given
prominence to the sons of Oxford county?
The religious teachings and exemplary char
acter Of their fathers; the schools and acad-
emies; and hence / boldly say that our in
land, mountainous county has been more
markedly noted in the council chamber OF
our legislative halls, in our gatherings in
Congress- in the learned professions and
business pursuits than any other in the
State.
/ wish to call to your memory another
incident in this part of your county.
Fryeburg is quasi half shire town OF the
county.
How did it come about?
In the General Court of Massachusetts in
trict records) that "whereas the inhabitants
of that part of the county of York which
lies to the northward of the great Ossipee
river are put to difficulty in getting their
conveyancy OF real estate property recorded
and effecting distribution and settlement
of the estates of deceased persons among
them, as they are in such cases frequently
obliged at great expense and trouble to
travel to York, where alone the Office of
register of deeds, and generally the court of
the Judge of Probate of wills, and for grant
ing of letters of administration for said
county are kept and held" it was enacted
that the towns Of Fryeburg, Bethel and
Waterford and such plantations or lands in
said county of York as lie to the nOrthward
OF the great Ossipee river be constituted a
registry of deeds, etc.
By this enactment of the Massachusetts
Legislature in 1893, six years before oxford
County was incorporated, that part OF Oxford
county, bounded southerly by the great, Os-
sipee river, westerly by New Hampshire,
northerly by Canada and easterly by the
highlands that divide the waters of the Saco
from the Androscoggin and Crooked rivers,
comprising nine of our towns, was made the
western district registry of deeds. and en-
titled to two probate court sessions each
year forever.
But enough of this; and let me close by
saying that we all join in the benediction to
the sons and daughters of Oxford County,
whether within their native borders or in
their adoped homes without; may we ever
keep in mind the primitive habits Of our ia
theirs, their frugal, industrious and useful
lives, their religious teachings and their
manly devotion to duty: We are called clan
nish; think it is true, but no more so than
people of other mountainous regions of the
country. / do not want it to be otherwise
If we find an "Oxford Bear sick and in dis
enemies without, let him raise the old Scot
tiSh slogan, "HighlanderS, shoulder to Shoul-
der" and we will protect him.
We now leave you to take possession of
'.The Seven Lots" You will travel our
shaded streets, notice our conditions of good
drainape Our water SunnlV the hest so far as