Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-11-11


the ancient practice OF the Huron In
dians, tribe that once inhabited the
peninsula, and who were wont to carry
their canoes across at this spot from Union
river bay on the east side to Morgan's
bay on the west. There was time when
the waters OF the two bays quite met
| here, and formed an island Of the penin-
| sula, but that was long ago.
Newbury Neck was settled before the
Revolution by three men-s certain Bates
Beckett and Newbury, and 1t is from
the last of these that it took its name
1t has never been separately incorpo-
rated, but is included in the town OF
Surry. For post Office distinction, 1t is
called South Surry, name not much
fancied by the inha bitants, rs 1t signi-
fies that it Is an appendage and not an
independent, locally controlled settle
| ment.
As l drove past, l noted the Toggins's
prepossessing farm house. and wondered
who lived there. drew rein at the coun-
try store, some distance further down.
But the store, although it had the sign
| OF "post office" above it, was locked, and
the owner absent. 1t was evidently an off
| day for trade, and not the hour for mail.
| drove on down to the peninsula, which
is commonly called Burnt Point, thong
the question "why?" perplexes the oldest
inhabitant. There are no village annals
to dissipate the mystery. Here the road
long since grown grass-ridged and wind
ing in contour like an Indian TRAIL dis
appeared upon green slope that softly
went down to sandy beach, and formed
an eminence that gave an admirable view
OF the bays, islands and mountains.
Burnt Point had once been the scene Of
busy ship-building activity. l remem-
bered that Colonel Coggins, colonel of
the local militia that every village had
then, had built seven vessels-three of
them lofty brigantines-on its southwest
shore in the tiny cove formed by the sand
bar that connects with the small uniquely
| named-Goose island. The colonel named
his seven vessels after his seven daugh-
tiers.
In the early seventies when gold, silver
and copper were discovered in the soil of
Newbury Neck, and the mining fever
became prevalent, most OF this point was
purchased by city syndicate, while
many OF the farms comprising the rest
were bonded and all in all considera bic
excitement had regned, to subside with
a slump at last, for the ore would not pay
for its workdge. The point is still part
ally owned by the syndicate who refuse to
sell and are waiting for some one to start
Il hotel in the vicinity, and thus enhance
the value Of the land; but the rest of the
people are waiting for the syndicate to
build Il hotel or start cottage settlement
to increase the value of their own prop
erty, and thus the matter rests.
But it is Il fine spot-high, With unused
nrable fields, alternating with neglected
but still we'll bearing apple orchards, aud
broad, dense belts OF tail pine woods, 50
still and dark that they seem to keep "A
virgin silence, while around it all, the
shore runs with an ever varied feature
with beaches, some smooth and sandy,
some ridged by lodges that shelve off into
a clean shale on all sides, some look ing
like workshops of quarred boulders, and
others rising straight and sharp with the
dignity OF cliffs. The place is furrowed
here and there by falling brooks that go
ushing along with ghostly gurgle.
saw the old house of Levi Treworgy,
a compatriot OF Colonel Coggins, stand
ing gray and bleak upon site to my left,
called High Head. | turned my horse,
and, by a kind OF logging road, drove up
to it. 1t stood fairly we'll, considering its
age aud desertion, and the strength OF the
winter storms. Its entire south face had
fallen out, showing the Scared white
walls and begrimed old fashioned
hearths. 1t looked desolate and reproach
full, with Il sort of homely grandeur.
There was something sadly pathetic in
the sight OF the exposed family fire.
sides. 1t seemed half sacrilegious to
look at them, for it was as though
the sacred secrets OF household
had been unveiled to the public view.
The slanting light from the afternoon
sun fell from the west side of the house,
making it castia long, stretching shadow.
slight breeze blew my hair against my
cheek, and | caught its lustre-it was
gray-gray and Old like the house. The
house WAS a ruin and so was |; only, as
Victor Hugo says, IAN old man is a think
ing RUM | could think and | could
brood. / turned, and retracing my way,
drove back over the road to the white
farm house that had fanced. Most OF
the farmers, | imagined, would take
boarders, ana intended making my own
choice.
To be continued.