The Republican journal., 1898-06-02

enough to build a modern two story
| house. The brick were bought in Massa-
chusetts, brought to Belfast by vessel
and hauled over the hills to the farm by
ox-teams. The rooms in the house were
all very large, but we have not the dimen-
sions of the house or the rooms at hand.
There were also three large barns, long
sheep pens, corn houses and numerous
other out buildings. The buildings
were all burned a few years ago
except two Of the barns. When in
its prime the Great Farm was famous
as stock farm Early i'll its existence
the owners bred and raised great many
mules, most Of which were shipped from
Belfast to the West Indies. AS the mule
is said to be a very long lived animal it
has been suggested that perhaps the only
MatanZas-one mule-was one of these
same Great Farm mules. This farm had
the first imported Durham cattle and
Merino sheep ever kept in New England.
In 1885 they had 1900 Spanish merinos.
Later they bred largely in Hereford stock.
The regular help on the farm was men
and their wives, all of whom lived on the
premises. A farrier and blacksmith; a
carpenter and millman were included.
In summer the help was increased to II
men, and in haying and harvesting time
many more. One stone wall on the place
was a mile and half long. The farm
has changed owners many times since the
original settlers sold out, and many good
sized farms have been sold from it. 1t
is still large farm, and the present own
Ell is preparing to rebuild the house, but
on a much smaller scale than formerly.
Although when one reaches the Great
Farm he has had good deal of hill climb
ing to do, the real work in that line has
but just begun. From the Great Farm
one gets a fine view to the east. south and
west, but after passing Jackson Corner
and going up, mp up, he finds himself on
the top of ridge extending east and west
along the southerly line of Newburgh,
Dixmont and Troy nearly to Unity Pond.
Near the summit OF the hills, in fact
above the highest point on the highway,
is a knoll where various parties have
searched at different times for Capt.
! kidd's treasures. A hole 50 feet deep
has been dug in the hillside, but SO far as
is known no treasure has ever been found.
1t is not claimed, we believe, that Kidd
| landed there with his vessels, and what
his object was in going up there, 20 miles
| from the coast and 500 feet in the air to
| bury his stuff must 60 among the mystic
ries along with some Of the alleged moves
of the Spanish war ships in the present
war.
Now we are on "the divide,'' as such a
place would be called in the West, an d i
the day be clear the view we'll repays one
for the journey. The whole of the central
part of Maine lies spread before us like a
/ panorama. The most natural looking OBJ
and by it one can easily locate other points
in Hancock county and along the river.
Directly south is patch of blue water,
which is recognized by the surrounding
! land as portion of Penobscot Bay below
| Saturday Cove. Beyond, a little to the
right, are Mounts Megunticook and Battle
| in Camden, while in the distance, far to
the west, are seen the dim outlines of the
White Mountains in New Hampshire. In
the North the venerable head of katahdin
in seen. Much nearer, and appearing by
comparison to be almost at our feet, al
though Is miles distant, is the beautiful
village of Pittsfield, with the Maine Cen
trail Institute standing out prominent
landmark. A little farther to the east is
Newport Pond, and one acquainted with
the geography of the State, or any one by
use of a good map, can locate many noun
tains, lakes and villages, and trace the
windings of the rivers and of the railroads
for many miles around. The distances to
the principal land marks in this view,
given in round numbers as the crow flies
are as follOWS: Bluehlll, 80 miles; Gen0D-
scot Bay, p miles; Mount Megunticook,
80 miles; White Mountains, 10 miles
katahdin, 80 miles.
After getting all the view time, hunger
and inclination suggest or permit, the
next move is to get rest and refreshments
for man and beast, which can be found a
short distance beyond-and this time
down hill-at Dixmont Corner, where the
, Mountain House, kept by Prescott & Nc
Mahon offers a safe and convenient haven
of refuge. After rest and refreshment
here return home at your leisure.