The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-10
Celebrates Its Hundredth Anniversary
To-Day.
FAIR WEATHER ALL ITS CITIZENS
ASK.
Some Facts About the History of the Old
Town-Spot was Once a Famous Rem
devious for Indians.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1


Bethel, June Elf the clerk of the
weather fails to have the sun shine to-
morrow on the birthday Of the town Of
Bethel he will make an arch enemy Of
every one of its nhabitants, male and
female. young and old, for each ono has
a personal interest in this particulaF
day, and if Old Sol fails to show his
face, Mr.. Cleveland's weather admins
tration need look for no further support
from the hitherto loyal citizcus of the
little burg of Bethel.
Bethel is more fortunate than some of
her sister Maine towns, for tomorrow
will mark the second centennial cele-
bration which her people have particle
pated in. Back in 1874 the town cele-
brated the Tooth anniversa ry of its first
settlement and now gathering inspira-
tion and experience from the first at
tempt will tomorrow with all the en@
thusiasm and loyalty which Maine peo-
pie can muster when they try, the Tooth
mile stone in the life of incorporated
Bethel will be passed end most sppro pri-
ately observed.
no one more characteristic of the pioneer
days than this tale Of old Bethel. 1t has
all the elements Of those thrilling mar
ratives that have suoh charm for child
hood and such interest for the mature
and has been told over and over by
Bethel fresides during the century.
1t is in the town records that Bethel,
or Sudbury Canada, thus named because
the original proprietors were principally
from Sudbury in Massachusetts,, was
favorite stamping ground for Indians
in the early days of the settlement.
Fleets of canoes called frequently, In
dians cam ped near the cabins of the set
tiers and at Powow Point nerr the Mar
rows was cleared space that was fa-
vorite rendezvous for hunters and warri-
ors.
When the first settlers built their homes
they found the remains of an Indian
village on the cultivated intervale.
Twenty cellars were found, along with
gun barrels. brass kettles, axes, knives,
| arrows. and iron hoes. The latter were
used by the settlers several years after
| ward.
Tho first official record that relates to
the present town of Bethel, reads as
follows:
June z, 176S. In General Court of
Massachusetts, Reported, Read and
accepted, and Resolved, That there be
granted to Josiah Richardson and 9TH
ers mentioned in the petition whose an
| cestors where in the expedition against
Canada in 1890, Township of six and
| three-quartors miles, to be laid out in
the unappropriated lands of this Prov
| ince to the eastward of Saco river Pro-
vided the grantees within seven years
settle eighty-three families in said town,
build a house for the Public worship,
and settle learned Protestant minister,
and lay out one eighty third part for
the use Of school in said town, and one
yard College forever. Provided also that
they return a plan thereof into the Sec
retary's office in twelve months for con-
flrmatioN. Sent up for concurrence.
On June 10, 1896 the. Massachusetts
legislation granted papers of incorpora-
tion to the town and it is the anniversary
of this date that will be celebrated to-
morrow.
Let the sun show his smiling oounte-
nance tomorrow, and the fair women
will smile, the bands will play, oratory
will flow and the hills of old Oxford
will resound to the shouts Of the sons Of
this / hundred-year old Maine town.
1t is authoritively stated that @. W.