Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-03
AUGUSTA N"YEOLDBN TINE, .
The Lazy Pole Of Former Days.
The Old School House where Former Ped.
1sosues Held Sway.
Personal Recollections and Rsminis-
cences Of Hiram Reed.

suase uIifef IRE USED TO De ful
of hardship said Mr.. Hiram Reed to tn.
Journal Reporter. " hen he asked the veteran
| about his early experiences on the road. 81
was hard, but there were many pleasant
things connected with it also. Why. drove
for hole year between Augusta and Ban.
gor and never lost DAY. | had some prett,
Tough trips, aud hard experiences I can tel
you. but was tough aud able to stand the
racket then, but can tell you we used to be
glad to get in front of the roaring open FIRE,
at the ~ayside taverns after long ride on a
cold day. Yes, Augusta has changed won
derfully since those days, and / won't say
that mos, of her changes have not been in tn.
right direction. You must excuse me if Id,
"reminiscences appear somewhat disconnected
and rambling, but could furnish you data
enough for almost whole history. well
remember what was always after called the
great freshet."
The Great Freshetf"
yes, you probably thought the one you
had here two or three years ago was pretty
large freshet, but it was nothing compared
with the great freshet of 1892 twas a per
feet torrent 1t rained continuously for tour
days, and at the end of that time the water
had risen so high that the logs in il hit
against the sides of the bridge, which at one
time was in great danger of being Carried
away. The water at one time was within a
few feet of Mr.. Lambard's front steps, ana
was high enough TO flow into the second stor,
windows of the old Farmers Hotel"
What other radical changes do you re-
call, Mr.. Reedi"
"Oh. a great many-too many almost t,
enumerate. Why at one time the plac,
where the Episcopal church now stands and
for long distance around it, was a regula,
swamp, the centre of which was occupied b,
a low pond. Several citizens are now living
who have picked blueberres there. and will
ducks have been shot there. The road
which is now Winthrop street, used to b.
corduroy from the Cushnoc House to III,
foot of Burnt Hill. Another familiar fea
ture of old times in Augusta was the laz,
pole"
The lazy pole"
Yes it Was railing that ran along Water
street near where the new public building anc
Aliens smaller publishing house now stand
This rail formed favor.te roosting place 70
loafers and hence earned the subriquet Tho
lazy pole Augusta is well equipped witt
churches in th'se days, and its citizens ar,
evidently very largely church going people
but imagine they would rebel very strong
If they SHOULD be called upon to pay minis
terial tax as it was formerly levied.
1.-The Ministerial taxi"
Yes every man was obliged by law to pay
a certain amount towards the support of tn,
ministry. If they refused enough property
could be seized from them to make up tn,
amount. noticed you had while ago h
little historical sketch of the different Augusta
bridges"
Wasn't it correct?"
Yes, the facts were accurate
but much of the incident at
tendant upon them has never been told
rhe first bridge was an open one. 1t fell
about IL 30 one Sunday when the peopl,
were nj church Sermons were longer ther
than they are now aud this fact, on that par
ticular occasion, was Il blessing. No on.
was on it at the time and hence no one wa.
ipjurcd. The pier at the west end remained
standing. The next winter | stood on the
zee and saw them clear it away.
notice you had an interview with Mr..
Barton some time since in reference to tn,
building of the Jail. was much interested
in it. 1 recall the building of the court
house very distinctly. 1t was built by John
Berry, the father of President Berry of the
Knox and Lincoln railroad. l can never
help thinking, when l look at
the beautiful building occupied by the
Cony High school, of the school
house that stood very near where the present
one now stands. The present beautiful
but the old school house wouldn't have
brought $40 90, believe, at public auc-
ton. Its roof was four-sided, coming to-
gether in peak at the top. 1t was sorry
apology for school house, but we made the
most of it. Some of its scholars afterwards
attained distinction, and as remember near
ly all of them turned out good citizens.