The Portland daily press., 1895-08-22
THE NEWPORT HOME
A Resting Place for Veterans and
Their Wives.
THE LADIES RELIEF CORPS LAT
EST GOOD WORK.

The Home Will be Dedicated Today and
szs Corporal Tanner VIII speak-What
Camp Benson lis Like-The Seventh
Names Reunion.
rsPECIAL TO THE PRESs.J
Newport, Me-, August 21.-The Grand
Army men who seven years ago conceived
the idea of forming an association so that
they might hold tract of land where
they could meet in summer, probably
hadn't the faintest idea Of the Camp
Benson of today.n They thought OF it as
purely local affair, but the idea found
favor with the old soldiers, and now
veterans from all over Eastern Maine
come here, summers for few days out
ing, to hold regimental reunions and to
renew old friendships. Camp Benson is
large tract of land, almost as smooth as
lawn and sloping gently to the waters OF
Lake Sebasticook. 1t is an ideal parade
ground and around 1T there has grown up
village of cottages owned by individuals
and Grand Army organizations. Once
year there is ten days muster when the
boys who wore the blue thirty years ago
again see camp life and camp organiza-
tion, there being the officers OF the day
and guard regularly appointed, the after
noon dress parade of the various organ1za-
tions, which may be on the ground and
then in the tents, for many OF the
veterans live in canvas houses erected
among the cottages the evening hours
are passed in "reminiscences OF the long
ago and in the stories of the success OF
this or that old comrade who has perhaps
found fame or fortune in far distant
states. Camp Benson is the magnet
which attracts people from miles around
and during the day the fences become
hitching posts for score OF horses while
their drivers see the sights. Danclng IN
the large pavilion on the lake front is a
favorite diversion and the bellies OF the
country side around about and their
swains whirl about to the music OF tho
Newport military band, an organization
which musters eig hteen members 1nclud-
ing drum .major, swho. wears fiery red
coat and a big black shake, which would
do credit to any grenadier.
Camp Benson has grown to such pro-
portions that it is able to do Its part in
providing for old and infirm Grand Army
men, and their wives. So when the
Ladies' Relief Corps and the.~.others in
terested in the establishment OF
HOME FOR vETERAS
and their wives, were looking for a suit
able location, the Camp Benson people
generously came forward and gave the
farm adjoining the camps, and the house
which stands on it, The house is story
and half building built of brick. 1t
stands on the hill by the gate to the camp
ground and from its windows may be
seen the blue waters of the pond and be-
yond the spires and roofs of Newport
Village rising above the trees. The door
way Of the house is in the shade Of several
great trees, and the place is an ideal
abode for those worn out in the struggle
of life The building has been comfort
ably furnished, the rooms being fitted up
by donations b. Fl. Beale GorIs of
Bangor, has furnished thei parlor. The
furniture of the dining room IS the gift
of c. S. Douty Relief Corps OF Dover.
Mrs. Mary c. Weston has furnished an.
other of the rooms and so has the J. w.
Lincoln Relief Corps of Sidney. =
There are many of these veterans
homes in other states. It was MES. -
Mason of Biddeford, who started the
movement for home In Maine and IN
CIOUuC6u uu6 lllt1uuoI w 0AiO esVoSAA ~
the Woman's National Relief Corps, de.
partment of Maine. at the convention
| held in Belfast The Grand Army depart
ment co-operated and Joint committee
was raised. Itwas hoped to secure state
aid. Had this been done, the law pro,
vides for assistance from the national
government, 500 being paid annually for
each Grand Army men who is al inmate
Of home receiving state aid. Under the
lead Of Ool. II. R. Millett Of Gorham, 9
mem Der of the legislature, q good fight
was made. but the law makers failed to
vote the desired aid. The friends OF the
home--were not discour aged by this fall
tion known as the Maine Woman's Relief
| Corns' Home. The association accepted
the gift M Of the farmland buildings from
| the Camp Benson association and have
since raised the money to purchase
additional land Of the Camp Benson
people. Five hundred dollars was given
for this purpose by Portland people. The
has four inmates. It will be dedicated
tomorrow afternoon, with appropriate
exercises, including an address by
CORPORAL TANER
ex-pension commissioner. The officers
Of the Home association are: President,
George B. Stafford of Skowhegan; clerk,
|
Mrs. Ella Jordan Mason, Biddeford 1;
treasurer, H, R. Millett, Gorham. The
other members include department Com
mander Green, G. A. R., ex-officio, the
division colonelsof the Sons of Veterans,
| Col H. H. Burbank of Saco, Passed
Adjutant General Charles +. Jones Of
skowhegan, j. ". Black of searsport,
Department. President Of the Woman s
Relief Corps, Mrs. Antoinete Millett
Gorham, Passed President of the W. R.
c., Mrs. Clara P. Leavitt, Skowhegan,
Passed President W. r. c., Mrs. Grace
e. Howe, Lewiston.
There Q in the town tonight,amo
| otlin lnent in Grand Army and
Rel aides Corporal Tanner, Col.
an. r. Millett of Gorham, MIR
CHI. >, of Skowhegan, Mrs. Ella
J. Masoa. VI Biddeford. Gen. j. P. Cilley
OF Rockland, George M. Young of Port
land, Gen. Cilley and Mr.. Young being