The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-25
SUGGESTED BY HOME WEEK
"Reminiscences of Our City by One of
the First Carriers ofthe Press.
70 the Editor Of the Press:

70 the Editor Of the Press:
Well do 1 remember that morning,
June 23rd, 1862 when at O'Clock sharp
I reported to the "Press Room" in Fox
Block, corner of Exchange and Middle
streets (entrance on Exchange,) to re-
ceiye in my hands for the first time rs CO.
pies Of the paper, and a list of the sub
scribers.
My route took In everything south OF
Congress street from Exchange to India
streets, down Exchange to Middle, up
Middle to TEN pie and Union streets,
down Plum to and including Widgery' IS
Wharf. For this work was paid so cents
per week by the book-keeper, Prentiss
Loring, Esq. I didn't think in those
days, he would live to be the active bust
ness man he has been, and now is, as his
health was then very much impaired
While taking in Tuesday and Wednes-
day, Old Home Week at Portland,
trayersed this old route again, and what
changesi On Exchange street, Fox the
grocer, Marks Bros. the cutters DIR.
Hersey the seventh son of a seventh son,
international Hotel built by f. o. j.
Smith, Esq, on the corner Of Congress,
DR.. Il. G. Loring, and Katie Cush-
man s candy store are no more. Coles
Jelly tarts and hop beer cannot be bought,
or Billy Aliens Havana oranges At
the foot of the street, GiII's restaurant
has disappeared, On Widgery's Wharf
no hogsheads of molasses to tempt the
boys to stop for "Iob, 2 and Hosea Rob
inson's boxes of Havana sugar are no
more in place at Portland pier. On
Long, Commercial and Custom House
wharyes most everything has changed
In both looks and ownership. On the
laUter wharf thought of Felix" the
boatman who was a terror to boys and
men.
OF the carriers OF those days Nate
Fessenden, Clint Chesley and myself are
all, I think, now living. They carried
the Argus and PRESS on the 'SWamE
Ward route" and got tbs most money for
the Carriers Address at New Years from
the Browns, Herseys etc.
John Fairfield Rich, who I remem Der
at school called himself ''poet of the
Boys High school, - wrote several of our
addresses. OF course other things than
my O40 paper LOtAO5 luU6EGbU6u lie QuI1U2
my visit, but still the old friends, old
houses and old Fairgrounds teefned ahead
of all the new.
Billy HustOn's team, the "pig sticker, -
old MugfOrd' S yoke OF white COWS, TripI
with his goad stick, "Coot Moody and
Seth Hilborn's in "Huckster's Row, .
where we boys could buy cents worth
OF honey served on brown paper (bees
thrown in), all came before me, as they
no doubt Will to others who, like me,
visited dear old Portland and thought
of those HAPPY days of yore. ="
Who, of POrtland's old boys, did not
recall 'Colonel Hanson" of the High
school, Jack Taylor 1.-TWO O'Clock train
of the North grammar, and Wentworth
and Staples of the Centre street.
Time has dealt kindly with many of us,
and all who were spared to take part in
Home Week viii, if living, do so every
year spared them in the the future.
Thank God for Gov. Rollins of New
Hampshire, the originator, and Gov.
Powers, who was ready to "touch elbows
with him so promptly, and give Maine s
sons and daughters this delightful season
to meet on their "natiye heath. -
But short stories are soonest read, so,
hoping to live and read the Portland
Daily PRESS until eyedsight fails, ]
subscribe myself
Yours Truly,
GOLD CARRIER
AuO TX 1000