Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-30
DAsHER SLEIGHs AND ROLLING
GATES.


Otis Feruald of East Otisfeld writes the
Portland Transcript: ''Who made the first
dasher sleigh in Portland, aud what year was
il made 2 Also, who invented the rolling
gate for the saw mill water wheel, and when
was it brought into practical use Not hsv-
ing seen or heard of an answer to the above
questions, propose to make some remarks
on both questions, hoping to draw out from
others something that will throw light on the
subject. In the autumn Of 1884 the writer
worked in Portland for Messrs. John, Thorn
q. and Freeman Cummings, carpenters.
They had the job to remodel the old CITY
Hall building in Market Square. Charles
Z Clapp. Esq, was agent for the city a.
general superintendent. and Freeman
Cummings had the oversight of the
carpenters and the different parts of
the work. Those large columns at the west
end Of the building wrre made of slaves,
and the writer of this fitted every stave to
the proper level, and sm0othed the flutes and
helped TO set them up he then cut the re-
turns IN the base to compare with the flutes
After the columns were set up there came a
painter, think his name was Moves and a
Young man, an apprentice, and painted the
columns. As cold weather came on the com
pany dismissed part of their hired help
and was one of the number, being one of
the last that hired. Wishing to work a
while longer before returning home, | began
to look for work. and went into Mr. Blake's
carriage shop on Federal street, and while
talking with him. in came Mr.. Nathan Ilslev.
a livery stable keeper on the opposite side Of
the street, who wanted two dasher sieighs
made; he said there was not shop in Port
land where such sleiQhs were made. There
were few dasher sleigh3 at the stables,
brought from other places. / went with him
TO take dimensions of them. and engaged to
make two sleighs, and he was to furnish the
lumber, and we went to the boat builders and
got the oak, and | made one whole sleigh
wood and the bottom frame of another. Now
If any one can give more information on this
subject | would be glad to know il. Ii no
one can substantiate a prior date than 1884
for making the first dssher sleigh in Portland,
the writer will claim to have made it HIM
self.
About the rolling gate, it has been con-
tended by some that it was in practical use
Is early as l775, at what was then Pierce's
Falls. on Crooked River, then in Otsfied,
now Edes Falls, in Naples. don't take any
stock in the story, however. for Mr.. Henry
holden, Sen, late OF Otlsneld, told the writ
er that in 1876, when he was nine years old,
he went to live at Pierce's Falls with George
Pierce, Esq, and lived with him seven years.
and as he told the writer, sit was said there
WAS a saw mill frame raised. but was carried
away by a freshet before it could be fn-
ished." My father Timothy Fernald, worked
in Saccarappa in 1917, and about that time
he came home to Otisield, and with other
news he told Us, he said some one had invent
! ed rolling gate" and as he was mill
builder he had made number of the new
kind OF gate Now, il anyone can give the
| desired information about the rolling gate
the writer and others would be interested in
knowing.