The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-01-06


was very largely attended. DR. Elmer
Small was commissioned Colonel and
Assistant Comissary General of the Uni
form Rank, X of P. Ralph H Howes was
commissioned as Major of the Patriarchs
Militant. The Belfast Rebekahs present
ed Mrs Hannah Dyer with a "Fifteen Year
Rebekah Veteran Jewel" Canton Pallas
changed its night of meeting to the first
Thursday of each month. Past Grand
Master Samuel Adams and wife attended
The meeting of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows at Spring
field, ILL.,, in September. The Knights Of
Pythias and Red Men had an unusual
growth during the year, and the two Ma
sonic lodges and Chapter had frequent
meetings for work. The several societies
had special services of more or less i'm
portance, the dates of which are given in
our "Diary of Events
THE VETERANS AND THEIR HELPERS.
Thomas H. Marshall Post, G.. A. r.
secured for ornamentation of the grounds
of Memorial building two 80 pound can
non, and they were placed on the Church
street side, with the old Castine cannon,
which had been there several years. Me-
mortal Day was observed as usual. The
Relief Corps and Sons of Veterans were
active during the year, and young la
dies branch, known as the Ladies' Aid
Society, was organized. The Union Vet
erans Union increased in membership
and influence.
SPORTING MATTERS.
An association was formed early in the
season to maintain base ball team in the
oin i Rannn
enced base ball man, was engaged as man
ager and team was put into the field. A
field in the rear of Congress street was
leased, the grounds graded, fenced and a
grandstand built, and all arrangements
made for an active base ball campaign.
Early in the season many of the games
were interrupted by rain, and the season
proved Improbable for the whole league.
The final game was played July 5th, the
Belfast team being the last to quit.
A few games were played outside the
league series, both by the league team and
amateurs.
The High school boys organized foot
ball team and after some practice with
local players played game with the
Thomaston High school eleven.
THE FREE LIBRARY.
The Belfast Free Library continued to
grow in public favor, and the additions
made to the books during the year make
it more valuable to the reading public
than before. Extensive improvements
were made in the building and in the ar
rangement of the interior, and are highly
appreciated by the patrons.
BUILDING AND REPAIRS.
A number of new dwelling houses are
to be credited to 1897, as follows: by
Frank Whtcomb and j. G. Aborn on
Cedar street, II. c. Marden on Elm
street, A. S. Redman on Miller street, and
Fred A. Tibbetts on Waldo avenue. Adj
ditions and improvements have been made
to large number of dwelling houses and
other buildings, including the residences
of Joseph Tyler, Miss Emily FL. Alden,
Mrs Margaret Frost, r. B. Stephenson, S.
H. Mathews, the greenhouse of Willis E.
Hamilton, the Lang orthy building"
''Noyes house, on Church street, the J
L. Hall house on Miller street, the Court
House, Belfast Opera House and Equity
Grange Hall. Summer cottages were built
by Coombs 4 Riggs and I. S. Pitcher on
the Battery lot south of the city.
THE SOCIAL SEASON.
The social events of the year included,
besides the usual tiremen S and X. of P. S
balls, a number Of Interesting occasions.
There was one church wedding, Mr.. Henry
Hoyt Hilton OF Chicago and Miss Char
iutte Thorndike Sihey of Belfast al the
North church Oct. L. 1he various
churches ana societie> held their annual
fairs with a variety ot entertainments of
a literary or social nature.
TIE WEATHER..
While the severe and disastrous storms
that characterized 1896 were Rot repeated,
1897 goes on record as a very Improbable
year for farmers because 1t the cold aud
wet weather. The summer was the cold
est for many years. In seven months the
mean temperature was below the average
for the corresponding month for 3S years
past. and June was the coolest recorded
in that time. Against this October gave
the highest temperature recorded here for
that month IN So years. At 2.30 p. m.
Oct. 10th the thermometer stood at 80.
The first snow of the season was Nov.
18th, and the first zero weather, Nov.
9th. There was d distinct shock of
earthquake Sept. 18th.
Following is summary of the weather
for the wear;