Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-31

Cleaned On I Journal Reporters Visit to
The orphans Home"
He Interviews Prominent People OF
That Vicinity and Endsavors to Mako
an Impartial Investigation.

Ii. Wilson and Il. A. Wyman, who purpor
ed to be connected with the Lake Vie
Mission for Orphan Boys" at South Chin
in this county, were engaged in crooked ira,
sActions in securing money for the support q
an institution that did not exist Journal n
porter visited the locality yesterday and mad
q thorough investigation of the Mission. i,
founders and the methods of management.
l South China 10 situated twelve mile
northeast Of this city, on the stage road Z
Belfast, and is . typical farming town
That its residents are prosperous, well-to d
farmers is evidenced by the thrifty farm
and tasty dwellnes which are clustere
about the post office, which 10 in one of tn
two stores at the "eorner," so called. A
one approaches the place from augusta. on,
of the most prominent buildings AMI on,
which is sure to attract the eye, is a lsrg
two story house with roomy ell attached
which fronts tie road on the left han,
side and but q few rods distant from
the post office. Pictures of a simi
lar house have been published il
the Journal and one Immediately recognize,
the place as the building of the Lake View
Mission for Orphan Boys" Our inquiry a
a neighboring house confirms the opinion.
The reporter alighted from the team aud
passing the ribbons into the hands of the gen
ial proprietor of the hotel, Mr.. j. r. Cros
ma, makes tour of inspection of tn,
grounds and buildings. As has been ascer.
tanned the principal, Prof. G. A. Wyman, il
absent from the place and the house il
4 locked up. In exterior appearAn e the
house is neat, fairly well painted in white
| vii nd il xr,t hal
able place A broad piazza extends alonl
| the front of the ell at the south side of tn,
| house and gravel walks are laid out arount
the building.
A peep in at the half curtained windows
on the ground floor shows the rooms to be
well papered and painted but wiehout any
furnishings. Beyond this nothng would
indicate that the ten or dozen boys which
the institution is capable of accommo ating
were in the immediate vicinity The halls
are quiet and deserted. the gates of the
neighboring fences still swing on their hinges,
the windows of neighbofing barns have =
full complement of glass and other surround
ings would not give one the impression that
| a dozen boys were within miles Of the place,
Following these investi CATIONS the reporter
starts on tour of inquiry in the neighbor
hood and visits and converses with the fol
lowing residents of the place regarding the
circumstances attendant upon the foundation
of the Mission and its present condition,
Mr. VIM. Jones, Mrs. C. W. Kendall. Mrs.
Theodore jackson, Miss Mabel Coolidge
Mrs. Samuel Starkey. Mr.. l.. II. jenkins
Mr. Chas. Briggs. Mr.. Samuel Starkey, Mr.
J. X. Crosman, Mr.. Theodore Jackson, Mr..
Chss. Whittier and others.
The general statements made bv the people
were alike and in substance are given below
Prof. G. A. Wyman. the man who is con
| sidered as founder of the institution is a
native of the eastern part of VsssAlboro. and
| has always been well known in the vicinity
He is about sixty years of age and is very
smooth, pleasant-spoken man. The place
where the Mission building stands wa,
originally the property of Mr.. Wyman's
mother, and during the last few years Mr.
G. W. Wyman, her son, has lived at the
place and has spent considerable time ant
money in improving the buildings and
grounds.
The lot upon which the Mission stand,
c ntains about six or seven acres of land
AT the time Of the death of Mrs. Wymsn
about year and a half ago, the building and
lot came into the possession Of the Wymsn
heirs and finally into the hands of Mr.
N n, but owing to domestic trouble, which
rs stated by one of the men, sros,
from hi. forging check on hi,
wife's father, for which, it is under
stood, he served a term in prison, III,
family was broken up. his wife leaving hin
and taking the two boys with her one o
whom has since died. She is now living
with relatives in Dayton, Ohio. and has no
been East since the separation which occurred
some twenty years ago. Since that time
Wyman has been engaged in delivering lect
ures on religious matters, whi h he
illustrates by stereopticon views, {
calling which he still pursues il
connection with his Miss on schoo
work. Some five years ago he became IL
terested in the idea of establishing n schoo
for feeble-minded children but nothing def
mite came of the scheme and it finally gav,
| place to the idea Of the Lake View Mission
for Orphan Boys" He worked vig0rousl,
on his new scheme for two years and finally
made the statement that the school would b,
ready for opening in the spring of 1886.
Spring time arrived and the date of open
ing, owing to lack of sufficient funds, wa
postponed and this postpOnement has occur
red at six months intervals ever since then
until now the people have but little conf
dence in the man or his statements concern
ing the school. At times during the pas
few years loads Of bedding and furniture
have been brought to the house. but for al
this there are now but two finished room
in the house and both these were fitted b,
Portland firms. The people in the immeIi
ate vicinity OF the Home would give nothini
until they saw boys there under instructio,
and the Mission an established fact. In tn
spring of 1889 Elder J. II. Wilson, wife an
sixieen-year-oldd daughter of Lowell, Mass.
arrived and furnished the lower part of tn
house, and circulars were Issued bearin
Wyman's name As that of principal Wilson
as assistant principal, Mrs. Wilson as matro
and Miss Wilson as assistant. The circula
set forth in glowing colors the possibilitie
of the institution. and closed with an advei
tsement for six healthy or ohan boys for III
home. In the body part Of it was also a
earnest plea for contributions of money an
eloth.ng for boys from to ~ years of ags
and upon the front page was view Of tn
Mission.
/ These circulars were widely distribute
throughou. the State and New England an
letters of inquiry and containing funds ver
received in goodly numbers. 1t was pro
posed to instruct the boys in q practical wa
and last spring small workshop was stsrte
where Wymaa claimed he vas going to teacl
them all the trades BY actual practice
Wilson stsid at tae place with his famil
until September and then, no boys appeal
ing. he took his family and lef, for Water
vile where he leased house and at preser
resides. The people have iown for som
} time that both Wilson and Wyman were co
! iecting money to furnish and run the HON
, but ~hat has become Of the money no or
, knows. Both gentlemen are always we
supplied with il and always pay all bills il
: Cured promptly and regularly. A book
I kept where every dollar paid in is recorde
with the name Of the givef and an sccouI
, is also kept Of all expenditures.
By many Wyman is believed to be fs,hs
E cranky on religious and mission matters an
, breaches much on these subjects. but II
E people say that his own life is hardly
) keeping with his exhortations to others II
} is said to be law abiding citizen and whi
. he is not popular in the least receives VIII
( are apparently bis just dues from his neisi
bors. He 10 now on the road in the interes
Of the school which he now promises sba
be ready for business by June 1880 and the
!. are one or two gentlemen who fully b-iie'
that he fully intends TO do what he b.