The Republican journal., 1901-10-10
rRAcMrNrs OF NoRrHpoRr HISTORY.
WESLEYAN GROVE CAMP GROUND.

occupied by the Methodists of Maine
for their campmeetings for more than
half century, and has grown from a
simple grove, where they assembled
once year to worship in Goods first
temple" to resort at which thousands
spend the summer months every year,
and where the annual outings of numer-
Gus educational, religious and temper
ance societies are held. In 1S4s the
East Maine Methodist Campmeeting
Association bought 25 acres of land for
5000, and in August the next year held
the first campmeeting there. For near
ly twenty years the Camp Ground was
occupied but one week each year, but
event which must not be missed Men,
women and children flocked to the
Camp Ground by hundreds. Some
came the Saturday before campmeeting,
ed during the week. Others came later
ard stopped few days. but everybody
must be there Thursday. On that day
the grounds were crowded. Tents were
pitched in the grove from the shore to
the road; teams were hitched in every
available place; the shore was lined
with row boats, and large fleet of
We ssels and sail boats was anchored
near by.
But with the growing fashion for
spending summer vacations at the sea-
side, the attention of the people in this
section of the State was turned towards
Northport, as desirable place for sum-
mer residences. The Pioneer Cottage. !.
was built in 1869 by l. Cunningham of
Union. L. A. Knowlton of Belfast
was the next to build, followed by Capt.
Nickerson and Hon. Hiram Ruggles.
In ls73 an additional strip of land con-
tanning about - acres was purchased;
$500 was paid The sale of building lots
began il 1870, at prices ranging from
81 to SD. In 1874 fine wharf was
built at the expense of $4,000. The
following year the Wesleyan Grove
IlOuSt W dS Uulll dl q NOoU VI dUOuu 3D.
600 including furnishing. In 1876 a
further purchase of II acres of land
was made for 81, 300, maxim, a total of
80 acres. New cottages were built each
year, and the cottage register published
i'll the sea Breeze July 81, 1880, contain
ed a list of 125 substantial family cot
tages besides the Society Cottages of
Rockport, Carmel, South Thomaston,
OrTington, Monroe, Warren, Brewer
and Bangor. OF the family cottages
% were on South Shore and on North
Shore. There were also about 25 wood
Ell frames with the sides partially or
wholly boarded for GOV vering with can
vas when needed. The resident popula-
ton July 1st of that year was nearly
1000. The number of cottages built
that season was IL, of which 10 were on
South Shore.
The Sea Breeze, Northport's seaside
journal, was established in 1879 by
Charles j. Burgess of Belfast and ]. L.
Williams of Lewiston. 1t was a >
column folio, and devoted to the inter-
ests of the Camp Ground. Geo. E
Bracket became the publisher the next
season and still continues, although for
a few years past he has only issued
occasional numbers.
The Wesleyan Grove House was burn
ed May s, 1883, with $4,000 worth of
furniture. The building cost $4,000
and was insured for $1,000; there was
an insurance of 81 600 on the furniture.
1t was afterwards rebuilt and is now
called The Northport Hotel
In July, 1898, the Northport Noun
tain Spring Company was incorporated,
with a capital stock of $4,000, all paid
in. Tie directors were c. B. Hall,
Belfast, B. P Kidder, n E. Bragg,
Bangor, F. S. Walls, Vinalhave9. c.
b. Hall was president and J. c. Dur
ham of Belfast, treasurer. Before this
time Pitchers pond had been consider
ed as the most available source of
right under its charter to supply water to
the Camp Ground The company at
first took its supply from spring on the
farm of Abram knowlton, mile and a
quarter away, and at an elevation of
170 feet above tide water. A reservoir
was built on the bill just at the rear of
the grounds, and the water was run to
and from it by gravity. After a few
years the demand for water on the
grounds exceeded this supply and an ar
tesian we'll 100 feet deep was sunk in
1900. An Otto pumping engine of 3 IS
horsepower and with pumping capac-
ity of 1900 gallons per hour was put in
in 1901, and although at times worked
to its full capacity, it has not been able
to exhaust the supply.
The Camp Ground has an ample sewer
system, which is being added to as the
demand increases.
There are three ample parks, the Mer-
ithew Park near the north entrance,
the Ruggles Park in front of the hotel
and Bay View Park near the southern