Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-11-15

4 nsass - Bye Whsss tie Prsssdees
ss>ps Oue Hundred Ysass Age

4 Doass - Bye Whers The Rr~DAdses
sa>ps O.e Bssdr.a Year Age
There = hos . Standing On tho psi road,
"a the village Il Rye. that i A object Il
.pec.d interest. 1t snsiseret President
Washington ~ years ago. On Oct Is. IT'S.
Washington left View York in MS cuach.
drlsn by four Ens horsez, accompanied By
his private and Official secretaries II rss
The b~sinning II that journey 70 Se~ Eng
land shieu tne President desir-d s.SOeld oe
una-t-ntatios,s. but which the peophe Of all
rauas maize an occasion for the sxprsssson q
the sose and reverence they csepiy feft- he
arrive,i in toe village Of Rye. distance Of
tweuty-ix niiie- from Se~ YORK. in the latter
part II ,ne day. and found rezt for the night
~ tie ian kept at that time by Ars Ham
land nans- not uncommon IN the netg boz
hood today Fais Is the note III " as1ing-
tons journal. ~Flttea At the evening aour'
THURSDAY. Oct. Is. i7ss-Afs~r dinner,
through frequent ngnt showers, ne proes-sissi
20 the tavern II q Mr.. Hasiland, al kse,
~ho keep q very neat and decent ina-
Thls Is bis entry cnneeruinS the road ami
ths impression made upon MIN by the co1n-
Try.
The road for the greater part--indsesi, the
~nor ~ay-xas very rough and stony, but
the land strong we'll covered with gras, and
a lnxuriaat erop u Insilan corn The farms
are very ,-i.-e together, and separated, a.
one lnci0sure also IL from another, By fences
Of stone which are inales-d easily male, as
the country /. immensely stony After PASS
ing Horsenecs, SIX miles distant szasti from
Rye the road Is hiily and immensely stony.
aud trying 10 .heeis and carriages
On, hts return. ~1ile -Is-nding the night
=.
In his journal.
The badness Of these roads having s<sn de
.,ribed as went, shah say nothing Of them
now"
How different would be his comments
could he ride over the same road today,
which ha, been macaiaInized beautifully
A few words about this quiet village may
b. Of interest 10 more than local readers. As
one Is carried by the swift trains OF the y.
Y and " II. T. K he is not aware that
be Is passing through q village; much less
that it Is a village Whose history Of more
than ordinary interest. II lies only aboct
two miles from the boundary separating the
states Of New York and Connecticut. The
shore Of the Sound lying not more than a
mile from the center Of the village, was q IA
vorite resort of the Indians, who made an
annual encamprnent or isit long after the
settlement Of the village.
Evidences that the locality Of Rye Beach
vas once inhabited by many Indians abound.
Wariike and domestic implements have fire.
quentiy been unearthed skeletons OF In
dlaiis have been found In various excava
tons; while tradition affords many accounts
Of their presence and habits. But the prox-
unity Of Rye To the state boundary line and
TO the shore Of the Sound rendered the section
debatabie ground, armies and ships being the
arguments employed III turn by the Duteh
the British and the Americans. During the
revolution it lay between the ourposts Of the
opposing forces. Hasty and cruel incursions
were frequent, that at the close Of the war
the dt-~olatea homes and the poverty Of the
people presented a pitIable sight. Need we
wonder then, that the journey OF the Great
Deliverer made the occasion for even the
most extravagant expressions OF gratitude
and reverencef
While neghborlng villages and towns have
been transformed beyond the recognition of
returning inhabitants Of former years, Rye
has remained "a conservative village. 1t has
been improyes1 by the erection OF beautiful
residences, by the laying out of attractive
grounds, and by the building Of excellent
roads, But no manufacturing interests have
invaded Tue ftstlul quiet so inviting 10 the
lien Who retire to their homes from the fever
ish excitement of daily business in the city.
The diversity and beauty Of the country in
the vicinity and TIE evident thriftiness Of the
farmers, add IA delightful and unending zest
To the many drives.
Much more might be added of historic in
terest md of present attractions, but, our
purpose being simply u present one Of the
many places rendered sacred 70 Americans by
the isits Of Washington, we have more than
fulfilled cur intention. Let not one Of these
Old landmarks be forgotten. 1t would be
well If every s'hoolboy might trace at the
distance of hundred years the footprints Of
Washington to the end Of his life. Cor New
York Mail and Express