Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-17
CAPITAL GRANGE.
A Pleasant Field Day at Halo
we'll Saturday.
n. and AfS. ". P. AtheftOn Entertain
the Company Most Hospitality.
The Governor and Ms. Burleish are
Among the Quests.

Grange, enjoyed one of the mo.
agreeable of red letter days in its history
on the occasion of its excursion and field Ia
at Granite Hill Farm in Hallo~ell, the hom,
of W. 7. Atherton, Esq, one of the lesiin
members of the grange and widely knowl
farmer. Teams conveying the member
left Augusta sboat so A. NJ. The lsrg-
barge Phil Sheridan" carried twenty eight
and others went by private conveyance, max
ing about farty-seven, prominent among
whom were Gov. Barleigh, Mrs. Burleigl
and daughter.
| Arriving al the farm. the visitors received
cordial welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Ath.
erton and family. For two or three hours
they enjoyed the freedom of the house
grounds and farm in an informal manner
Groups visited the fields and orchards, en-
joyed the hammock and the swing in the
large barns or went on little tours ID the
qu,rries or other points in the vicinity from
which fine views of the beautiful scenery of
the neghborhood could be obtained.
With the visitors also came large, well
iilled lunch baskets, for the grsngers never
forget the wants of the Inner man" and a
good dinner or supper is sure to be no insig
niiicant part of any grange entertainment or
outing About noon there began TO be signs
of activity in the subsistence department.
The younger visitors familiar with the use
of saw, axe and hammer. quickly made a
very substantial table under the grateful
shade of the large elms upon the lawn, the
prscticed eye of Bro, Piukham being given
TO making things "level," while the sturdy
''whacks' of Bros. Cottle, leaton and others
drove the table legs well into the turf and
made strong the cross works of the supports.
When the table was pronounced safe, the
young lady members of the grange took
charge of laying the cloths and spreading the
festive board with the requisites of real
granger feast. 1t was quickl, arranged
Plates were laid for forty four In the cen
tire of the table was n large vase of wild
flowers The bill of fare included the regu.
lsiion grange indispebsibes beans.
cold meats and coffee. Then there was a
literal burden of minor "fixings" including
bread, cakes, doughnuts, straw berries,
pickles, pies, butter, cheese, cream bananas,
etc, so that when the tin pan gong announc-
ed the feast was ready, the table and its
merry party in the spacious dining room of
the Creator. the grateful breeze playing un-
der the branches of fine elms and imparting
refreshing glow to the system-it formed
most joyous scene, and one, the recollection
of which will for long time bring up pleas
ant memories.
Gov. Burleigh aud wife occupied seats at
the centre of the table. Mr.. and Mrs Ather-
ton opposite; while Master House and Hon
J. s. Hobbs, chaplain of the Grange were
seated at the head of the table Grace was
invoked by the chaplain. At the close of
. tha in n, rsf,t frn
the Master, Gov. Burleigh made few re-
marks, during which he was frequently in
terrupted by generous applause. What he
said was in good taste. and most appropriate,
as beiitted the occasion, The occasion was
the assembling of a company of farmers and
plain people in friendly and fraternal way,
devoid of all formalitv or attempt at display.
This, said the Governor, suited him best of
anything. for he was with them in response
to an invitation from the host, and because
he believed in the farmers of the State had
deep interest in their business, and was i'm
pressed with the usefulness AMI good work
of the order to which those present belong
ed. lie himself had been farmer till
within a comparatively recent period and he
realized fully the position Of the farmers of
he State, their hard work, as well a. their
many pleasures and solid enj njoyments. IIav-
ing been deprived of the advantages of such
an education as he hoped to give his children,
and as many of those present had given, and
were giving theirs, he had not been trained
to speech-making; but could sincerely say
that it was a source of great personal enjoy
ment to be in attendance on an occasion like
this.
While the tables were being cleared the
company enjoyed themselves upon the lawn
in the most social informal manner. For
every body present Mr.. and Mrs. Burleigh
had pleasant words, and the spirit of the
party was that of familiarity and common
feeling. For the time being the Governor
was a real granger" and all recognized in
him not only the high citizen, but the friend
ly neighbor.
tour of the fields and orchards of Gran
lite Hill Farm next in order; and
notwithstanding these have been several
times described, few facts concerning them
cannot well be omitted from an account of
the afternoons programme Under the
guidance Of Mr.. Atherton, the Governor and
wife. and Mr. Boardman of the Journal were
driven through the several fields and orchards
of this model farm IL. full extent is one
hundred and sixty acres and it has been in
Mr.. Atherton's family for more than forty
years While its fine orchard has given it
great prominence as one Of the lesdieg fruit
farms of the State. its fields of short gras.
and good crops Of potatoes and grain also
shov that in other lines of farming there i.
equally as good management as that which
has given it note as the foremost orchard
farm of kennebec county. From the old
orchard of half century ago to the orchard
Of two hundred trees set two years since.
there are in all Eve different orcha rds upon
this place compri ing total of about thir-
/ teen hundred trees, not to mention family
! orchard of apples, pears, plums and cher
/ ries comprising about one hundred trees. As
we drove about the orchards it was very easy
/ to observe that Mr.. Atbertou knew the par
ticular history of each individual tree; he
J had made each a study. and tree, field, gar
| den and crop were all familiar to him in theii
fullest detail Hi. choice Of varieties Of
apples. for his locality at least, was given IN
this order Bald rin, X. 7. Greening, Bell
flower. Northern Spy and RoIbury Russet
| The annual crop from these orchards is from
sir hundred to one thousand barrels Of fruit
which will be largely increased az with
maturity the young orchards come into
heavier bearing. Especially noticeable a.
se passed through the field. <as one piece
Of potatoes. the tops Of which nearly covered
the ground. and already 40 we'll advanced a.
to be nearly in the blow. The sight Of tn.
yell drained gras. fields was most pleasing
the grass stout ard heavy, remarkably free
from weeds or foul grasses. and giviDi
proni.e Of large yield.
Having made the circuit of this beautifu
farm, from some poiuts upon which extend
Cd and charming views Of kenDebec rura
scenery are to be obtained our next vis
was TO the quarries Of the Hailowell Granit'
Company in the immediate vicinity of Mr.
Atherton's farm. AT present th. re are abou
l75 sorkmen employed at the qusrrles in th'
different departments Of quarrying and hn
shing. +; was interesting to see the steam
derricks and steam drills at york and observi
this creative industry 10 all its processes o
fitting huge blocks Of granite into SHAPED
and artistic forms for monuments and splen
did architecture. At present stone for tn
Bank Of Commerce and Keystone Bsni
buildings of Philadelphia ~ili keep the fore
of hands employed for some time. At th
quarr.es ye met B. J. Richards, Esq. tn
very efficient superintendent Of the work,
Who has been in charge here for the pa,
thirteen years, but whose experience as
quarry man extends over q period of twenty
two years. Nearly all of this time. ve b
iieve, vas spent with the late Gov. Bodvel
here and at the Islands, although Mr.. Rict
ards began his operations at the Mt Waid
Quarries several years previous TO snsagin
With the HalIovell company. From Nj
. Richards ue obtained many interest sting fac