Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-08-19

(continued d from page 81

loves 10 See el8uv OF INDUSTRY, viewed
from the adjacent heights the village
with its surroundings is q scene Of sur
passing beauty. The lake with it's
borders, studded with yerdure-clad
islands which are looking their best at
this season, the bridge stream, 4
steepled church standing sentinei-like
at either extremity, the rows Of big
naples bordering and shading its
main street. In combination. form
subject of artistic interest.
One of the curiosities Of the town
that seems SO attractive to the visitor,
is the Dead river that connects the
Androscoggin lake with the river of the
same name. A Rise In the lake viii set
the river to flowing toward the river,
while a rise In the river will cause the
current to turn. and the waters will
pour into the lake from the river. Al
times during the rainy season, the
river Is as wild as q mountain torrent.
The Indian name for the town was
Pocasset, a name that Is now cherished
and used for many purposes. There is
a P0casset lake, 4 Pocasset House and
Pocasset Lodge OF United Workmen.
Captain Job Fuller was the frat
Willie SellleT OL wayne, winch WAS IN
its early years called New Sandwich.
In honor of the home of Fuller which
was Sandwich, Massachusetts,. on Cape
Cod He located In New Sandwich in
1913 building a log cabin near the head
of Wilson pond, near where the Ever
green cemetery Ia now situated.
Fuller had not lived in the town long
before many of his old neighqors came
to the place and settled about him.
Among them were the Wings tho
Washburns, Sturtevants. Norrises.
Winslows. Jennings, Maxims. Isaac
Dexter, Reuben Besse. John Bowles
and. Asa Lawrence. The descenda,;ts
of these people are now living in tho
town, the names mentioned being very
prominent.
In December of 1897. the inhabitants
of the town petitioned the Legislature
of Massachusetts for a certificate of in
corporation, and the town was incor-
pOrated in 1898 on February II. The
name of Wayne was given II in honor
of General Anthony Wayne. a hero of
the Revolution, At the time OF the
incorporation nearly 100 families were
settled in the town.
Since that date the town has seen it's
ups and downs. and the population Ia,
varied greatly. In 1850 the population
was 1876. and il has gradually. through
all these years. been decreasing. unti,
now II is but little over 700
Deeds make men. Manufactures
make towns Az men are know bv
their deeds so are towns known NV
their manufactures. In this resnect
few towns can boast of a wider reputa-
ton than Wayne. From the shops of
WAYNE have gone edge tool products to
every mart of the 9lobe. Scvthes for
the wheat fields of Australia. ayes r.
the negroes of Africa and the Indians
of South America. And in those ter
rible days of the Civil War when axas
and scythes were. forgotten 10 OOO If
the finest swords were sent from thesa
shops for the coun4rv's service
A like reputation has tho shovel
handle factory of the town No lose
has its local reputa ation been enhanced
by the numerous saw mills cardinr
and fulling mills. and rrist mills.
Manufactures began in wavne al
most coincident to the first settlemen,.
The earliest business noted ia the saw
and prist mil, opera+ed NV .Joh Fuller
in 1880 The shovel handle factory was
built in 1857. 1t was burned hut WAS
rebuilt in 1863. A woolen industry was
established in 1928. A match factory
was operated several wears after 1S4S
The first marble and granite industry
was established in 1860. and has since
been one of the well known industries.
after 1910 a tannery and shoe shop
were operated for several years after.
A lime kiln and granite quarry have
been important factors in the history Of
the towns industries. The first iron
foundry was built on the lower dam in
1872 by Nathaniel Pike, who carried on
the business several years, when he
abandoned it.
The scythc business which made the
town famous was begun in 1888 ami
was continued to 1870, when the new
owners abandoned it. The present
North Wayne Tool Company was es-
tablished in 1879, and though destroyed
twice by fire 1t is now doing a good
business under the supervision Of
Williston Jennings. A corn canning
business was opened in 1883 by the
Jennings ! brothers, at present do
ing a good business. The United
States Flag and Awning Company are
now doing a great business. having