The Portland daily press., 1888-12-19
NEWS IN THE SUBURBS.
Corham Citizens Want Manufac-
tories In the Village,
And are Planning for a Water Supply
and Shoe Shop.
Items from Saccarappa and Cum
berland Mills.

Derldnd Mills.
There are few prettier villages in the State
than the village of Gorham. The houses
and their surroundings almost without ex-
ception have a very neat and comfortable
appearance. But the wealth of Gorham is in
its farms rather than in the village. The
town ranks among the best hay producing
towns in Maine, and its farmers are as rule
prosperous and many Of them owners of
quite valuable estates. The village of Cor
hap, the fifth station out of Portland on the
Portland & Rochester railroad, is a quiet
place with but few manufactures, there be-
ing but one that employs more than a score
Of village workmen. The time has come,
however, when the citizens Of the village are
beginning to see the need and value of more
manufactures. They are aware of the i'm
portance of manufactures to the growth of
their village, and the subject Of doing some
thing for the welfare of the village is at
present being agitated by the leading busi-
ness men Of the place. They believe a shoe
factory that will furnish employment to from
40 to 60 operatives will do to begin with, and
Colonel Millett is circulating a subscription
paper to see how much money can be raised
for the building Of shoe factory. To begin
with $1,000 is wanted, and already over half
of that sum has been subscribed, and it is
sincerely hoped that public spirited citizens
will contribute the balance within two
weeks, during which time thorough can
vass will be made. If this amount can be
raised the shoe shop will be started at once
in some rented building, and early in the
spring shop will be built es-
pecially for the manufacture of shoes.
1t is proposed to carry on the
business mostly with Gorham capital and
labor. 1t is believed that if a shoe shop can
be established on good basis, the money
necessary for its operation will be forthcom-
ing. Then another thing is wanted in the
village, and that is a good water supply. Sew
eral slight fires Of late have somewhat aroused
the people, and the fact that they are without
the necessary apparatus to protect the vii
lage from fire, and the high rate Of insurance
charged for this reason, have induced them to
take steps toward organizing competent fire
company and obtaining good water supply.
Five hundred feet Of new hose has been
bought for the fire pump, and meeting will
be called at once to organize fire company.
The water supply question came up at citi-
zens' meeting held in Mr. Ridlon's store, and
1t was decided to appoint a committee to
make surveys and examine the different
water sources to see what can be done.
Little River, which is little over a mile
from the village, would furnish the desired
supply, and so would Journeys brook, which
is not over quarter of a mile from the viii
lage. In both cases, however, the water
would have to be pumped into a reservoir on
high ground to make pressure in the village.
1t Is expected that before long Gorham will
have as good water supply as any village
of its size in. the State. These are the ad-
vance steps that the citizens propose to
make at once, and TO enable them to carry
out these projects more speedily they will
ask the next legislature for village char
ter
The largest business in the village is car
ried on by Stephen Hinkley & Co., manufac-
turers OF worsted apron, belt, card, boot and
shoe, and harness leather. They employ at
present 80 men, and will keep as many work
ing all winter. Their tanneIy was estab-
lished in 1927, but the tanning business was
carried on at the same place for many years
before that early date.
Hon. Edward Harding and s. G. Bolton
ployment for large number Of people in
Gorham and surrounding towns. Mr.. Hard
ing has Is men and women at work in his
shop at Gorham, and he sends work to Free
port, and has work done in Westbrook, Scar
boro, Buxton, Sac0, Hollis, WATERFORD,
Limington and Limerick. Farmers wives
and daughters take coats to make, and in
all Mr.. Harding furnishes employment for
some 800 hands outside his shop.
Mr.. Bolton has 10 men and women at work
rrah ne ahf oF,I .t.If ID 1f oh
side. He has two-hOrse team on the road
all the time distributing material and col
lecting coats at the houses in GOrham and
many other towns. He employs some 250
outside hands.
The Methodists have been holding very
pretty fair in the church vestry at Gorh am
Corner. The fair closed last night with a
pleasing entertainment and profitable rates.
The Yorick Banjo Club, composed of Messrs.
b. w. Feeney, leader; Fred Hanson, E. p.
Hanson, Fred w. Harding, Harry Harding
and Fred G. Harding, furnished pleasing
music. This musical club is in great de-
mand at the different entertainments given
in the village. Mr.. II. p. Hanson is business
manager, and makes all engagements for the
club, and Fred w. Harding is secretary and
treasurer The leader, Mr.. Feeney, is the
well known Portland Il Rochester conduc-
tor.
At meeting Of John r. Adams Post, No.
101, G.. A. r., Monday night at Gorham, the
IOllOWlDB Objects were elected.
Commander-StephenP p. Libby.
s.. Commander-L. K. Ridlon.
j. ". Commander-Walter Harding.
Quartermaster- Edward Harding.
Chaplain-John ID. Phinney.
Surgeon--A. W. Lincoln.
Off1cer of the Day-M. G. Sturgs.
Officer Of the Guard A. X. z. MarstOn.
1t was voted to invite the Ladies' Relief
Corps to the next meeting, when the inslal-
lation of officers will occur, and supper be
served.
The trustees of Gorham Normal School
will ask the Legislature for an additional
appropriation for new blackbOards and
drainage improvements at the school build
ing. Ihe school was never SO prosperous as
now, and as training school 1t ranks high,
Prof. Corthell, the principal, being one Of
the best teachers in the country.
The regular meeting of Gorhain Grange
will be held Saturday night. The programme
of entertainment Is a good one.
The Congregationalists will open fair
this afternoon,l which will be continued
Thursday afternoon and evening. Good en-
tertainments will be given.
On the first day of January the annual
meeting of the Cumberland County Agricul-
tural and horticultural Society will be held
at Gorham. Arrangements will be made for
the settlement of all outstanding accounts
against the society, and much other import
ant business will be transacted. The society
will build good exhibition hall at the Cor
ham fair grounds, probably in the spring,
and this, in connection with the excellent
trotting track, will make the Gorham grounds
one Of the best county fair grounds in Maine.
Mr.. Lewis Mcclellan, who has been in Cal
if0rnia for few weeks, has returned home.
Others who lett Gorham tor trip to the
West in search of better place to settle,
have returned, convinced that Maine Is good
enough for them.
Mr.. Henry Stanwood, who has been very
sick. is much better.
sAcCARAPPA AND CUMBERLAND MILLS.
One Of the busiest men in the busy village
of Saccarappa is Mr.. w. X. Dana. Besides
attending to his duties in the mill, which is
run by w. K. Dana Il Co., who employ over
hundred operatives, he is business mana
ger of the Westbrook Electric Light Compa-
ny, Of which he Is member, ). ID. Warren
trio light plant Is situated on small Island
in the river above the upper dam at Sacca-
Kappa, and In a very substantial brick build
ing. The water wheel which moves the ma
chinery, Is very fine, strong one, and all the
machinery is Of the best make. There are
two incandeseent light machines and one arc
light machine that furnish the light for the
village of Saccarappa and Cumberland
Mills. The arc lights are used In both viii
lagos, but the incandescent wires have not
yet been extended from the plant in Sacca-
Kappa TO Cumberland Mills. The company
contracted with the town to furnish 20 arc
lights, but this not being enough Mr.. Dana
put in several other lights of his own ac-
cord. Nearly every store in Saccarappa is
lighted with incandesceDt lights and many