Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-04-17
II Wne1IRH AlAIDR.
Qotee Of Two Hisaosic Towns

Of the present town Of kennebunk. John
Lsrsabee vas one Of the nrss real g. itisrs
ard With ave compsniors maintained
. garrison house here ~ early ~ l7ls
X. nnebunk has been the scene of
many cor ficss with the Indians In early
days. and IL local history. which has been
% we'll preserved in the pages OF the late
Judge Boufne's admirable history 10 rich
and startling. kennsbunspess 10 the Cape
Porpoise Of early history, under hieh name
il vas made town - early 1853 BY the
Massachusetts, Commissioners. These
towns have slvays been largely interested
in chipping and q one town dfty vessels
we're owned on kennebuIk river In
thee two towns alone. After the
var. which proved 90 diststerous to
the shipping and coasting interests, the
business Of ship building received . severe
Get back. which resulted in great stsgnasion
to these towns. But in more recent years
they have beer gradually assuming greater
importance, chiefly on account Of their
neasness to Boston, and the attractive feat
ures OF the coast mere - places of summer
residence. There are several hne
bunkport. aud the number Of charm
ing residences all along the coves
and bluffs Of il picturesque coast Is in
crsasins every year. Among those Who
have summer residents here are Mrs. Mar
saset Delland. author Of John Ward,
Preacher" Mr.. J. r. Trowbridge and DR..
James b. Bell distinguished Boston ply
stefan formerly . resident Of this city.
Kennebunk 10 . busy. prosperous town,
which 10 nov making . slow but sure growth
from it, old. time quietude. into the modern
summer resort town. II has numerous
beautiful drives, and all summer the town
10 filled With bOarders. and every day
secs many turn outs Of fine teams and
buek. board parties passing through the
town from the Beaches to the interior on
pleasure drives and ''outinvs.' A new shoe
factory was built here last season and the
Boston and Maine ran spur track TO its
plant nesrly = fourth of = mile distant.
Leather board and leather-od works are
running A. full capacity and furnish em-
ployment to many operatives. The town
10 In short come elton with Boston, only
about three hours, with such spie ndid train
service that it is every summer coming
more and more into notice A. = pleasure re-
sort and place Of residence. Business men
can reach Boston from here at 10 o'clock in
the morning. do . good days business there
and be back home at o'clock in the even
ing. Few towns in Maine are thus sdvan-
iageously situated.
Kennebunk 10 town of magnificent trees
Never in any part Of the State have we
seen more beautiful elms and naples than
are to be found all along the streets Of this
old village, unless it be in some equally old
town like Alfred, Norridsewock, Scsrbor-
ough, and In some localities which escaped
the great Portland FIRE in 1866. Some Of
the most notable are those in the grounds
Of the Charles Parsons place the Little
Geld place on Storrer street; the trees on
on the Fletcher place; on the late Judge
Bourne place the rows Of Naples on Me-
chanic street and the magnificent elms
opposite the present residence OF Mr.
Nathan Dane. These latter were much
injured BY the great March lice storm"
Of few yesrs since, but they are recover
ing from its i'll effects aud begin to show
again their almost perfect proportions. We
venture to say that in this town can be
seen the only instance Of 4 building built
through and around tree rather than to
have it cut down. This occurs on the
old Homestead Of Mr.. Charles
Parsons. Some years ago the sable was
rebuilt and as large elm tree stood at the
end Of the stable the addition to which was
built around it, and today the trunk Of the
tree stands within the stable with the top
projecting from the roof. Near by isa
magnificent elm which 10 enclosed within .
fence, and its branches supported by heavy
iron rode and cables. This tree 10 so large
that its top throws . shadow over nearly
two scres Of ground.
Speaking Of the old Parsons home
stead calls to mind come Of the eminent
men Who are native snd former residents Of
Kennebunk. Amorg these have been the
late Hon. Edward E. Bourne, historian Of
the town; Hon. Nathan Dane. who WAS
State Treasurer in 1860; Hon. James NJ
Stone, Speaker Of the House of Repre-
sentstives; Hon. Joseph Titcomb; Hon.
Hugh McCulloch Mr.. George C. Lord.
President Of the Boston and Maine Rail
road, and the brothers William and Charles
Parsons, eminent railway magnates.
Hugh McCulloch 10 one Of the most dis.
tinguished Of the many eminent sons
Of Kennebunk; and the house in
which he was born and lived for many
years 10 nov standing on the Port
road. an admirable type Of the old Colonial
style Of architecture. Mr.. McCulloch vas
appointed Comptro ller Of the Currency in
1858. and the force Of his gigantic intellect
was given to the work Of putting into oper-
alton our new national banking sysem 10
1855 he ~as appointed Secretary Of the Trsa.-
ury BY President Lincoln, at time when
the nation was in great financial embarrass-
ment. and his masterly administration of
the finances Of the nation vas such that the
shoft-time obligations Of the county
amounting to 81 600. 000,0 900 was con
verted into . funded indebtedness,
and 10 little more than two years the
whole debt Of the country vas put
into satisfactory shape, and the business If
the nation placed on . secure fouuda-
ton. Mr. McCulloch vas again Secretary
Of the Treasury under President Arthur
this being the only instance in the history Of
the United States ~here the same man has
twice held this important ofice.
Mr.. Charles Parsons 10 one of the most
celebrated railroad managers in the coun
try. and 10 nov president Of the Rome,
watertovn and Ogdensbu-g railroad. He
has dne summer residence ct the Port
and his family arrived here for few days
visit on Monday last. in Mr.. Parsons pri.
vste Wager parlor car. "wanderer.r This
car il very pain outside, being painted
dead black, devoid of ornament, but within
il 10 luxurious and artistic. Ii has several
rooms. including paflor. dining room and
builsi's department, and 10 Offered by q
full force Of colored attendants and porters.
Magnificent styie this, for . Ken
uehsnk boy Who began life with nothing
but HE hands in which to make his periodi-
cal visits to his chilihooi's home. But be
10 not the only Keunsbuak boy who has
reached this Distinction; Mr. Georgs c.
Lord, former President Of the Boston and
Maine Railroad also visiting his native town
in his ovn private car. Probably similar
instance cannot be found in the history Of
another Maine town, or in the lives of two
other Maine men natives Of the came town
One OF the moe. .-.sresting and enter.
tniaing gentle men TO meet. and some THAT
unique rerse mage vithal. 10 Capt Abram
Hill. Who 10 nov living in independent re-
drement in the village Of Kennebunk
Capt Hill 10 retired SEQ captain. and il 40
ineasessiug type Of that old school Of gen
tls0anly and courteous Ship Masters,
whom vs love 70 read about in the
old ~ tales. but whom one sell
don encounter nowadays in real life
CAPT Hill made his first voyage from Bos
~ = Defnuda, end thence to Rassia when
eely fsafeesn yeaRs Of sgs. and during his |
aesavs easssf ~ made ferry three voyages
ae1oo ~ Atlantic, besides numerous q.