Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-07
Especial to Kennebec Journal. ]

Maine more beautiful and attractive sun
mer resort can be found than right here ,
Harpswell Point.
stretching out before US is a panoram
upon which one never tires to look and whic
1t would be impossible to describe With
the limits of an ordinary newspaper article
we Will not attempt therefore, to mentio
in detail the thousands of beautiful object
that are spread out before the eyes and {
once attract the attention of those who com
from inland homes and are unfamiliar wit
the magnificent scenery at all points in an
about the grand old Casco Bay
Harpswell is one of the places on tn
Maine coast that never has been doomed.
What it is to-day has come in the natura
course of human events In tn
great tide of tired humanity whicl
is annually swelling and flowing down to tn,
wonderful coast along the Pine Tree State
Harpswell has felt the influence of the ad
yancing flood. II has all the traditions O
the past and was settled very early in tn
history of the country.
The most southerly point on Harpswel
Neck is called
PoTT's PoIsT,
named for Richard Potts, who purchased 4
in 1872, one hundred and four years before
| the Revolution, three years before King
Philips war, and but ffty-two years after
the landing of the Pilgrims. There are now
quite large number Of buildings on the
Point. the most prominent of which is the
Merriconeag Hotel, kept by Mr.. Austin f
Pinkham. of which Mr.. Samuel ID. Owen is
the popular clerk. Mr.. Pinkham is also the
owner of the stage line from Harpswell to
Brunswick, which at this season of the year
is one of the finest drives within the limits
of the State. There are now from fifty to
sixty boarders at the hotel, among whom are
Gen. Lamont, Postmaster of Montreal, and
wife. To the South Of the Point is Has
kells Island, one of the finest on the Maine
coast which has recently been purchased by
Mr.. Pingree of Lewiston.
Some days ago stood upon the site of
the old Block House used by the inhabitants
along the coast during the earliest history
of the country when Indian wars were of
frequent occurrence. In those perilous
along the shore in the day time and came to
the fort for safety at night. The white ash
timber of which this early stronghold was
constructed was more than hundred years ago
converted into a wood shed now part of the
old Slower homestead at present occupied by
Mr.. Daniel r. Slower who was a member OF
the Maine House of Representatives in 1876
and 1877, and his brother Mr.. Norton Slower
and family. One can hardly imagine in
these days of advanced civilization the hard
ships and privations which our ancestors were
Obliged to endure in the early settlement of
this entire region. For some time in the
early days of the Harpswel settlement wood
was transported from here to Boston in YES
sells, and sold to procure the necessities of
life.
Upon the Slower farm and very near the
shore of the bay are the graves of Thomas
McGraw and his wife Susannah two of the
early settlers. Near by can be seen the site
where stood their log cabin. The McGraws
conveyed the premises to others in 1873 and
the original deeds are in possessession of the
Slower family.
East of the Slower farm and across the bay
a 70 Ilrrs and Railey's ards hatween which
the islanders have been for many years try ing
to secure the erection of bridge. The pop
ulation of both islands lie said to be rapidly
increasing. The distance across Wills thor
to be about one thousand feet. Years ago
Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe used to spend her
vacations on Orr's island and there were sug-
&c sted to her the incidents Of the story, THE
named for Deacon Timothy Bailey, one of
of the early settlers, who lived at what
is now known as Goodwin's Point.
South of Bailey's Island is Jaques Island,
which derives its name from Lieut.. Richard
Jacques, an old Indian fighter. Beyond these
islands, plainly in view,is Small FONT and still
further east can be seen at night the brilliant
rays of the Seguin light
One OF the prettiest and pest located Duiid-
ings here is the hotel kept by the brothers
Melvin j. and Edward JARVIS Lawson, sons
of j. Il, Lawson, Esq" q prominent man IN
the town, who moved from Augusta to
Hsrpswell many years ago. Inc Lawson
House has been greatly enlarged within the
last year, about doubling its capacity for
accommodating the pubiic. AT the present
time there are from eighty to ninety board
ers at this hotel.
Near by is the auburn and Lewiston
Colony" composed of residents of those two
cities There are some ~ neat little cot
tages belonging to the colonists, and also in
close proximity larger house in which meals
are served to these summer visitors.
To the west is spread out before US
large part OF the magnificent scenery OF