The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-24

live the fond memories of the boyhood he
had spent among the hills of Maine and
SO when he died, now twenty or thirty
years ago, he bequeathed large part of
his estate to found an academy in his
native town. Today the citizens of
Sebago gathered by the hundred in a
pretty building erected on hillside over
looking the pretty village of Sebago
Centre. This is the new Potter Academy
built by the citizens of the town for the
accommodation of the school established
by means of the fund left the town by
the late Di. Joseph Fitch Potter Of Gin
cinnati. The bequest did not become
available until four or five years ago as
by the terms of the will it was not pay
able to the town until after the death of
the testator's wife. Then there came
litigation, an attempt being made to
break the will, but the town, which was
represented by Judge Walker of Bridgton
as counsel made good its claim and re-
ceived between $34, 600 and $35, 900. OF
this 50, 600 is set apart as a Sunday school
fund, the income being divided among
the schools in proportion to the number
of their pupils. The fund of $32, 900 is
invested as capital, ON which to run the
school, The building, which has cost
about $6, 500 above the land, is paid for by
the town. The schoolhouse is two story
structure of pleasing design, built in
accordance with plans drawn by Mr.. +.
H. NFassett. the Portland architect. There
are three large and we'll lighted recitation
rooms on the first floor and on the floor
above two large assembly rooms which
may be made into one hall by opening
the double doors. There are also dressing
ways are broad, the building is piped for
water and for steam heating and is in
every way we'll equipped schoolhouse.
1t was something like family reunion
which took place at the new school today,
for the several hundred visitors were all
friends and many of them neighbors.
Some who have gone abroad into the
Others of the absent children of the town
sent letters of congratuation. The Messrs.
Douglass, natives Of the town and now
merchants in Boston, had come home
again to share in the exercises and were
warmly greeted by the town people. The
residents of Sebago came in such goodly
numbers that their horses and carriages
gave the woods back of the school building
the appearance of the outskirts of q
campmeeting and every stall in the near
by stables had it's occupant.
THE EXERCISES BEGAN
with a flag raising at noon, which was
announced by the ringing of the bell in
the tower. The bell is the gift of Mr..
Oren Douglass and it speaks we'll for
him, too, it's clear notes being audible a
long distance. The flag which was
raised while the people sang, "The Star
Spangled Banner" is the gift of DR.. R.
q. Brown of Massachusetts,, a native of
the town. Mr. J. M. Douglass gave the
flag staff Another son of Sebago, who
has sent gift, Is the principal of the
Castine Normal School, Prof. A. E.
Richardson. 1t is fine clock and has
been hung on the wall of the assembly
hall.
After the breeze had caught the folds Of
Old Glory and the flag was waving
proudly aloft. the people went into
dinner, to dinner Of cold meats and
delicious pies and cakes baked by the
ladies of the town. The dinner was
spread in the large halls and it covered
many long tables, all of which were
surrounded by the hungry visitors. The
rooms were deooratea with hnntin1 and