The Portland daily press., 1889-01-01
PLEA FOR THE DeERINo FARM,
And the Safety to People Travelling
the Ancient Highway.

To the Editor Of the Press:
see by the papers that it is proposed 70
further disfgure the fine old Deering farm
by an extension of the Portland g. Rochester
railroad. When this road was built in 1S49-
30, Mr.. James Deering was alive His home
farm with its noble trees was his idol. Dur
ing the first five years of this century, he
obtained by purchase the ancient Anthony
Bracket farm, which had been dismembered
by will and deed, but he restored 1t and added
to 1t. Those noble old oaks were spared
trees of the forest primeval, as their size
prove. The form of the trees, having q
great spread of low branches is evidence that
their fellows of other days had been cut
away and the land cleared at an early peri
cd of the settlement at Casco.
Undoubtedly many of these trees looked
down upon that hasty breakfa of fish,
which the French and Indians ate on the
memorable morning of October 6, 1859.
Their canoes were seen crossing the bay
the night previous, and they hid ON the
western shore of Back Cove. Col. Church,
who arrived the next morning from Massa-
chusetts, and who commanded our forces,
says in his account of the battle, that their
WhcIedDouts were ulscoVereu early In tne
morning by twelve frings." Historical
commentators have supposed that this ex-
preston of the commander meant the report
OF twelve muskets; but 1t is not probable
that they were wasting ammunition that they
would soon need in the attack Twelve
nrings" was then the proper description of
twelve mess fires over which they were
cooking the fish they had taken for the pur-
pose the previous day Some of these mon
strous loaks of today were then undoubtedly
saplings and not only witnessed the cooking
and eating the breakfast of fish, but served
to cover the enemy's ignoble retreat If
this superstition is correct, are not these
trees and this old manor worthy of better
fate than that of being cut up by railroad
to save a little distance in construction and
thereby forming dangerous crossing of the
ancient highway out of town which is now
the only one free from railroad crossing.
At the time of the building of the present P.
d X. X. r., In 1849-50, an energetic man with
capital was Indispensable to carry the enter
prise through. f. o. j. Smith, then supposed
to be wealthy, consented to act as president
II he should be allowed to fix the location
from Wcodford's Corner to town. The direct
ors consented to his proposition. He directed
the engineer to lay the road across a much
travelled highway. at dangerous angle, and
through the entire length of fine field, and
crossing twice another road at grade over
which Mr.. Deering had to pass daily on his
way to town. When Smiths proposed route
became apparent, Mr.. Deering offered the
directors to give them the land near the shore
Of the cove if they would go there. This
would avoid three bad crossings, save the
valuable field, and not disturb the quietness
OF the Deering home; but Smith would not
consent to this route. Mr.. Smiths enmity
against Mr.. Deering reached back to The
time when he lived with his father who kept
tavern at Woodford's corner.
Mr.. Deerng had been seated here in
landed dignity for half a century, and prided
himself in the possession of the finest lawn,
park, and trees in so near proximity to any
city In New England, and hoped to enjoy
them to the end, but Smiths success in run
ming his railroad unpleasantly near the
mansion, destroyed the quietness of his
home and shortened his days-he died a wear
or two after lamenting to the last the disfip-
uring of his estate.
There may be necessity for the proposed
route of the extension which is not apparent.
but 1t would seem that the proprietors. past
and present, of this historic old farm had
been sufficiently t0rmented and ought now
to be allowed to possess in peace
That beautiful lawn where George Bram-
nall and ten others were slain while in the
defense of their homes. will be needed to
complete the symmetry of the park given by
these same Deerlng heirs. and may by the
same spirit of generous pride of the family
fall to the city. If it does, the, gallantrv of
the early townsmen in 1859 should be COM
memorated in the name Battle Park. The
name of the adjoining town win perpetuate
the honored name of Deering. w. q.