Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-03

the quaint old place of more than pass
ing interest to the travellers eye. but
rather the red roof. the bright paint
and the general summer home" an
pearance that perVades the building
and the grounds in its immediate
vicinity; ana then, as one crosses the
little bridge that spans a short and
narrow stream which connects the TWO
beautiful sheets of water known as
Sand and Shorey ponds. he naturally
looks back and imagines what must
be the view from the windows of the
old house, on the hill which slopes
gently down to the waters edge
The impression which is given by
the first glimpse of the house is borne
out by the fact that it is the summer
home of one of Names ablest and most
Widely-known newspaper men and
editors, Hiram X. Morrell, of Gardiner.
Mr.. Morrell purchased the farm which
embraces some 60 acres, in 1888, and
since that time has passed many happy
hours there during the summer months
with his family and friends. Here too.
when the SHOWS of winter had clothed
the whole landscape in white. used to
gather The Full Moon Club a coterie
professional men, whose doings were
recorded in the Gardiner Home Jour
nal a weekly newspaper which was
until within a few years since pub
lished by Mr.. Morrell. in many columns
of sparkling wit, and which We're en-
joyed by large number of readers.
One can readily conceive what are
the beauties Of the place from the
single word Tacoma, the name
given it by Mr. Morrcll Tacoma is an
Indian word meaning almost Heaven
and certainly, if we can believe in an
earthly paradise, Tacoma is one of the
choicest spots.
No one who has yet visited the place
in summer has failed to be charmed
with it and its surroundings. There
are many beautiful places in Kenncbcc
county. but few of them are as beautl-
full as Tacoma, and none more 50. The
view from the hill or from the WIN
dows of the house is one of which the
eve never tires. The house faces the
south, and from the front windows one
looks out upon the hills of Litchtield
and Monmouth. and across the placid
surface of Sand pond, nesting at
their base. Sand pond is not large
body Of water. but its setting among
the hills produces an effect That IS
charming. The pond is more or less
noted as being the breeding place Of a
family of looms. for these birds have
for wears reared their young. unmo-
Tested along its shores. And IL Is
pheasant to see them. after sunset.
swimming about the pond. and To near
their plaintive. though perhaps trilie
lonely cry.
Westward and northWard from the
house is Shorey pond-a larger sister
of the onr just mentioned. Shorry
rund is about two miles in length and
n4rhaus half Il mile in its widest part
It's shores are not 50 bold as those OF
Sand poud. and are clothed with
Groves. both Of pine ANA Of birch. oak
and maule. 1t finds an outlet through
= winding stream that furnishes power
~ turn the wheels Of pitchforll fac
tn,y in Litchfield. just before losing
itself in the waters Of tobb'sSet'
stream at Purgatory bridge. Shorey
nond teens with bass. perch and pick
| erel and at Tacoma can be found ~
record fish stories of the ilrst haSHi-
| trde. To the north and east OF the
| hnIlSp are the Well-NcOuvu anu 1T ~
| farms Of Litchfieid.
| Tacoma was built in 1,S% or 81, by
| calvin Hall. who came to Lltchhela
| from Narshtield Massachusetts. about
| that time. The house is one story ana
| !, half. with an ell and woodshed
combined. Its exterior appearance Is
| in keeping with many other farm
| bouses built in the earlier days OF our
| history. and with those built at latef
| noriod but the interior is what speaks
,,nre distinctly of the Olden time. on
tbe ground floor are four rooms ana d
small front entry about large enough
| ~ turn around in. With one eXcep-
| tion those rooms cluster around a
oraa+ chimney over II feet square and
d feet high. and which contains bricks
enough TO build a dozen modern CHM
neys. G..
! Three of the rooms contain nre
n1acos big ones of the good old
fasbioned kind. that you can almost
cit right UP into, and in one still hangs
no crane that was put in when the
house was built. If that old crane
nnuId but speak. many would be the
| taIas If could tell of the time when III
Tho kettle suspended from its iron arm
s,i,,mered the porridge that was des-
.i-ad "a stop the clamor of the little
hungry mouths.