Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-29
AT COBBOSSEE.
The Fair Proportions of Our
Beautiful Lake.
A Delightful Excuision-|sIand Park
and Its New Hotel.
The South lsland-News and Lively
Gossip.
Manchester, Me, June q, 1908.

Manchester, Me-, June q, 1903.
Dear Journal: find that many per-
sons who live in the vicinity of our
wonderful lake, are unacquainted with
its makeup and fair proportions, Lake
CObbOsseecOntee, or the Big Mar
rows" as the Indians were accustomed
to call it, is nine miles in length and
two miles wide at the widest point. Its
waters wash the shores of the towns of
Manchester, Winthrop, Monmouth,
Iitchfield and West Gardiner. While
it's water sheds are over virgin and un-
contaminated SOIL it is fed principally
by internal springs. So entirely pure
and transparent are these waters, on il
clear and calm day the pebbly bottom
of the lake can be seen at n great depth.
Had the Augusta Water Company adj
hered to its original purpose, and taken
it's supply from this lake. the stock
holders might have continued drawing
their dividends unmolested, and been
spared their recent crushing and hu-
initiating defeat. The city of Gardiner
receives its water supply from this
source, through the Cobbossee stream
that carries off the surplus to the Ken
nehec, and thence to the sea.
There are some 80 islands in the lake,
the largest of which Is Hodgdon's,
three miles from Hammond's grove.
slipping down to the shores of the lake
are either finely cultivated farms. or
groves of pine and cedar and a hard
wood growth. The great country viii
| lagos of East Winthrop and Winthrop
Center crown the hillsides, while
Monks hill, from whose elevated top d
different lakes may be counted, stands
| az a sentinel at the northern gateway.
AS the summer resident enjoys his
cigar Cor newspaper) or the veranda Of
| his cottage, the mellow notes Of the
village church bell come floating over
| the water, Just as the sun goes down."
or perhaps the tinkling COW bells in the
distant pasture tell you that
! THE lowing herd winds slowly DER the
| lea"
The various points projecting into the
lake. as we'll as the regular shores, are
| all attractive and nearly quarter of
n century ago, the first cottage was
| built upon the shores of Manchester
bay, by Mr.. Hammond, the owner of
| Hammond's grove. From that small
| beginning the present colonies on the
| shores of the lake, as well as on the is
lands thereof, have sprung, so that now
there are some 1875 cottages. For fur
| Their information concerning our lake, J
take pleasure in referring to ''The Cob
| bOsseecOntee Pilot" and chart accom-
panying, published in 1900, by y. e..
| Robinson, and for sale by ]. Frank
| Pierce, Augusta.
| On Friday afternOOn-the first really
beautiful day Of the season-Mr. Will
liam Fl. Reid, with his proverbial hos
pitality, had the pleasure of filing his
elegant naphtha launch with a happy
company, who explored the wonders of
| the lake, under his skillful manage
ment All the conditions were just
perfect, and emphatic and sincere We're
the praises of those who participated.
In the company were Mr.. C. II. Dear
born, wife and brother, a. l.. Dearborn
| of Boston, and their mother, Mrs. f. NJ.
| Dearborn. They are stopping at their
summer cottage at Southport, and
came to Augusta, last Wednesday, on
their elegant yacht Nereid. 1t is 42 feet
in length . foot beam, has an 1S-hOrse
power gasoline engine. and has sleeping
| accommodation for eight persons.
They will make trips all along the
coast. making calls at Portland Bar
| Harbor, and other points along the
coast. Mr.. c. H. Dearborn is proprie
tor of Hotel Royal in Boston, while mis-
brother, A. L., IS an electrician.
| Last years experience taught the
managers of the Electric Railroad that
it would not do to bring crowds Of peo-
pie here, and dump them upon the cot
tagcrs: that they must have an objec-
tive point or people would cease to
come-a place fitted up with facilities
| for reasonable vacation and amuse-
ment. Accordingly they did a wise
thing by purchasing Hcrsoy's island.
composed of seven acres Of Forest ard
lcultivatcd land, lying right alongside Of
the track. which is now known as Is
land park. and which is the limit of the
10-cent fare from Augusta. The head
Icarponter of the Railroad Company.
Mr.. q. f. Mitchell. is just completing
a monster pavilion, near the entranc"
| to the park, which will be free to the
use of all who patronize the line. 1t is
| 50 by IS feet, has hin roof: the sides
will be open, and steps around the en-
| tire building, so that one can enter
from any point. a stand for speakers
and a band will be erected in one end,
and I have no doubt that largo meet
ingS, political or otherwise will be held
there. besides first-class dances. Seats
tables, etc, will be provided. This
building will be ready for the painters
in the course of a week.
Besides the building named. the Rail-
road Co. has provided in the midst of
its beautiful groves and on its green
lawns. swings, settces, little bowers of
beauty, barrels OF ice water, and many
other appliances of pleasure. which are
free to all. Next year. | am assured, will
see an open air theatre. A tower 81 feet
high, bears up water tank 10 feet high.
into which water is pumped from the
lake by an electric motor. and from this
an ample supply of water is obtained,
which is also distributed to the hotel
nearby. The park is under the care and
supervision of Mr.. Charles Graham.
On the east shore of the park. Warren
c.. Harlow leased of the Railroad Co. Il
lot of land so by 100 feet, and has erected
thereon a commodious summer hotel,
which with n large veranda running
around three sides of 1t, is 81 by g feet.
Tho 1orea dining room, is ~ nv foot