The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-10
AT HIS old HOME
AFTER MANY YEARS
Major Whitcomb, Of This City,
Returns to Portland After an
Absence of Half Century.

The Portland Evening Express says:
Major II. D. Whitcomb. of Richmond,
Va. is visiting Portland, after an alb
sence of fifty-three years. He is stopping
at the Preble House,and is accompanied
by his daughter and her husband. Major
Whitcomb was at one time a resident of
this city. and is one of the engineers
who laid out the old Atlantic and St
Lawrence Railroad, now the Grand
Trunk system. He is a graduate OF
Bowdoin College. and other local institu-
tons.
Major Whitcomb's father was Captain
John Whitcomb, who, for many years.
was connected with the United States
revenue service on this coast, patrolinS
the district between Passport and this
city.
The son was born in Eastport, and re-
NAMED there Until about ten years of
age when he came to this city, and en-
tered the old Richmond Academy, which
was at that time in charge of Rev. G.
D. Hoskirs. He remained there about
three years. and then entered the North
Yarmouth Academy, where he finished
his course. attending that institution
about two years.
LEFT PORTLAND IN 1913.
He left Portland in 1S43, and went to
Brunswick where he entered Bowdoin
College, graduating from there IN 1917.
Among his classmates was judge Ma
than Webb of this city. Major Whit
comb then became one OF the engineers
in surveying the route of the new At
lantic and ST. Lawrence Railroad, which
was building at the time. remaining
with the road until 1S49, when he left
for Richmond Va, where he was to do
some surveying for another line. ana was
then intending to return to this city.
He went to Richmond. stopped the month,
ccntiued to remain in that city, got maj :
ried there and has made 1t his home
ever since.
Major Whitcombs greatest engineer
ing feat was that of surveying the "a
nous Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
He was in entire charge OF TINS WORK.
which was one of the hardest ana NEST
important pieces of railroad surveying
ever attempted In this section of, the
country. After this he was superintead-
ent Of the road, and retired from active
life several years ago. His last visit TO
Portland was in 1852 when he came on
brief visit to his father. Since then he
has never been in Portland until Tues
day evening.
Major Whitcomb arrived on the steamer
Manhattan from New York. He Will re-
main here until this evening, when ne
will leave over the international DiVis-
ion of the Eastern SleaHnS!lp SoiAiPsAiAs
for Fastport where he will make a brle1
visit at his old home. He takes the all
water route, because he is very iona
of the sea, and at Richmond has very
little chance to view the open ocean
ara no chance what4cer 20 see hish
cliffs and lodges, like those tina. nave
made the coast of Maine famous. Nhes-
apeake Bay has for the most part sahoS
beaches.
Major Whitcomb will return to Portland
in a few DAYS, making a very brlef stay
here and will then return to MS nome.
4 SINGULAR COINCIDENCE
nv a singular coinciden &c tie day OF MS
arrival in this city CTuesday) was the
fiftv-third anniversary of his ARRIVAL III
richmond. when he left Portland to &C
cept his months position IN the FORMER
city. He is now seventy-slNth years %
age but looks many years younger; a!tu
is enioying a well-earned rest from i2por,
after many wears of constant service IN
railroad and surveying work. He is, as
has been mentioned. accompanied by ms
daughter and her husband. DIT. ana MRS.
O. N. Taylor. the former a well known
Thvsician of Richmond.
Major Whitcomb says that about the
only things he remembered IN the city
wert, the old observatory on MunJoy Hlli:
the old Clamp house on the corner OF
Congress and Elm Streets. and some OF
tha other of the older buildings Alter
Sightseeing about the city he eNpcGts TO
so out to Yarmouth any see the North
Yarmouth Academy before ne returns.
his father is also buried at Yarmouth.