The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-15
THE rRorr CASE.
a Sketch of the Case from the
Beginning.

Mrs. Trott's house was moved some 500
feet yesterday and brought to final resting
place among the frs on land of Joseph A.
Locke. The greater part of the way was
through the Sterling pasture and across a
stubble field, soft and quilted by rain and
full Of boulders. That the house was not
turned over and smashed dozen times dur
ing the day speaks volumes for the skill of
the mover. AS it was, Mrs. Trott was able
10 stop aboard" during the entire proceed
Ing, and to hurl forth maledictions which
nave lost much of their crispness and point,
without any inconvenience whatever. The
workmen thought that the main house would
De moved easier than the ell was but others
were OF the impression that the house was
so old that it would fall to pieces at the first
yaRk.
The history of this case may not be known
to some of our citizens who do not follow city
government proceedings very closely. In
November, 1883. Mrs. Jane Trott petitioned
he city government to have her house re-
moved to some place by the city government.
and then put in good condition, Her rea-
sons were, that in 1881 the city laid out ISL
and avenue on Peaks Island, on which ave-
Due her house is located; that she had re-
ctived the land on which she erected her
house from her father, Abraham Sterling in
1864, but her father had not given her deed
of the property, and 80. when the city took
the land for the avenue, Mr.. Sterling re-
ceived from the city the land damages and
she received nothing. Such was Mrs. Trott's
petition made year ago through her lawyer
Mr.. George M. Seiders.
1t seems that in 1881, when the avenue was
laid out the city ordered all distractions re-
moved and among them was this house of
Mrs. Trotts, which the authorities ascer-
tanned stood on MIR. Sterling's land, as ap-
pears ia Mrs. Trott's petition. and on the
real estate records. All distractions were
removed according to the city order except
Mrs. Trott's house. The avenue was laid
out and built, and there stands this house in
the street, the gutter making small water
canal under the house. This was the condition
of things when this city administration came
in. May 9th the aldermen ordered Marshal
Green to remove the house, but in order that
no harsh measures should be taken, if they
could be avoided, the counsel for Mrs. Trott
wac oCSu, WIN ouucdNUIcu W StCuT6 ITOm
Mr.. Sterling permission for Mrs. Trott to
remove the house on to some of his land, a
distance only the width of the house, but
this permission he refused Then, in order
to make the removal as easy as possible for
Mrs. Trott they secured from Hon. j. A.
Locke, agent for the property holder on the
island. permission to put the house where 1t
is now being moved to. Only six weeks ago
Mrs Trott interviewed both both Mayor
Melcher and City Clerk Burgess and begged
them to move the house before cold weather,
and they told her it would be done as quickly
as possible.
The authorities have shown great sympa-
thy and desire to do all possible for Mrs.
Trott. more evidently than her own family.
Business is one thing, sentiment another.
Mr.. Sterling has received the city's money
for damages for removing the house and the
land taken by the street, with the UNDER
standing that it was the amount lof damage.
The house will be removed at the city's ex-
pense for $3.50, not $500 as lately stated. If
the city should make precedent in this case
and pay double damages, paying both Mr..
Sterling and Mrs. Trott there would be no
reason why other city governments should
not follow the example. 1t is ha-d for Mrs.
Trott to have the house moved and yet she
herself has urged the removal to take place
before cold weather.