Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-02
CAPITOL ISLAND.
Grand Transformation Scene
Under Its New Owner.
Hotel Being RemodeIled and Enlarged
--New Buildings Going Up.
Many Of Cottages Now Open and Filled with
Summer Residents.


mer visitors who comes to the pic tur-
esque harbor of Roothbay, this season,
to spend his vacation days, cannot fail
to notice and that Is the TRANSFORMED
ton that is going on at Capitol Island.
New buildings are going up, and i'm
provements are being made upon
others that will. when completed, SO
change them that they will in reality
be many times better than they We're
when first constructed. Though the
greater part Of these changes are GEN.
tered at the north end of the island
they aresnot wholly confined to that To-
cality. and the march of improvement
seems to have invaded the entire terri
tory. from the steamboat landing to
Jewett's rock.
Ever since the island came into the
possession of J. w. Lash. the present
owner. that gentleman has been dem
onstrating his expressed intention of
so improving the place that it will rank
with the finest of Names summer re-
sorts, and offer to the vacationists not
only the health giving combination of
rugged rocks. balsam groves and sea
breezes, but also the comforts of home.
To this end he has been busy since
early spring. remodellng his hotel. the
Island house. The improvements are
not yet completed owing to n scarcity
of labor. but they are well advanced,
and the house is open for business. and
in better condition than ever before.
A great improvement is noticed in
the dining room. due to the removal Of
the entire north side of the room,
which opens upon the piazza. and re-
placing it with n window. the upper
sash of which is cathedral glass.
which arrangement adds greatly to the
cheerfulness Of the room.
The Office has been enlarged. and an
ice cream room created by enclosing
a portion OF the west end OF the piazza.
The kitchen. also. has been enlarged
to twice its original size. and fitted
with the most modern conveniences.
The sanitary appliances and water SER
vice in the house are first-class. and in
fact there has been nothing left un-
done that can add to the comfort Of
the patrons.
|. Later. the ell. which is three stored.
will be carried forward To the main
house so that the change will give n
gable end over the piazza. and the
tower. on the roof Of the main house
will be transferred to the new roof.
When these changes are completed the
house will contain 90 excellent rooms.
West Of the hotel. the old building in
which King John Sidney" in the old
days. used 10 sell mysterious concoc-
tions of an alcoholic nature to the
guileless fishermen-and some others
is no more. and in its stead has risen a
two-story structure that will prove n
source of pleasure to all who tarry be-
meath its roof.
The lower floor will be fitted up for
billiard room. n bowling alley and
small store. and above. the entire space
will be utilized for dancing pavilion.
so that the islanders desiring to in
dulge in the varied pleasures offered
beneath its roof. will no longer he
obliged to go to Southport. Boothbay
or Squirrel Island, for the purpose. but
can enjoy themselves on their own soil.
as il were.
And there are rumorS. also, OF ten
mis- court. to be laid out in the grove
near the spring house. The locality
referred to could be easily levelled or.
and by removing few small trees.
would made an ideal court, and there
Is no doubt that such move would be
hailed with joy by the devotees Of the
game.
Capt. John Reed. the veteran skipper
rf - and who
probably has more lady friends than
any man on the island. has built
cottage at the north end of the island.
and will soon occupy it for the season.
IT stands at the head of the little cove
east of the steamboat landing. and is
one of the prettiest on the island
People at the south end are much In
terested in the new plank walk when
IS being built across the beach. At
present there is a section completed.
and though 1t is short one. 1T Is
enough to show what luxury it Will
b., when finished. The path has al
ways been a bugbear to everyone who
traversed it after nightfall and in its
demolished condition, last season, was
particularly bad.
ALTHOUGH tile ius'ih TO-. -
vet commenced, many of the cottages
are open. and all probably will be. by
the end Of this week. People, as
general thing, wait until after the
Fourth before going away for the sum-
mer. and the same is true of Capitol.
as elsewhere.
Among those who are, on the island
NJ present are Mr. and Mrs. f. L.
Danforth Of Gardiner. who have open
ed their cottage on the bluff. and Will
remain for awhile. to enjoy the sea
breezes, and incidentally to allow Mr..
Danforth to indulge his favorite pas
time. that Of digging clans.
The Patten cottage was not open,
Sunday. but the genial ex-mayor Of
Gardiner, and his estimable wife. were
expected to arrive. today.
James A. Proctor of Richmond. has
taken the shutters from his cosy cot
tage nv the cove on the east side OF
the island, and with his family Is get
ting all the enjoyment that there Is in
life by the sea.
H. w. Shugg. with his family and
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