Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-15
THE ORIGINAL OLD JED.
His Name Was Briggs and He Kept the
HiVer House.

Going up the Penobscot river by WA
ter the first settlement of any conse-
quence which comes beneath the gaze
is Budhsport. AS the steamboat sail
ing vessel or pleasure craft. as the case
may be, makes in past Fort Point, by
Odoms ledge and Sandy Point. the
gray walls and green swarded case
ments of grim old Fort Knox come into
! view. growing more and more distinct
as you proceed up the river and then,
just)as it seems as though your ship
is to Pillow into the foot of the fort
walls you make a sharp swing, around
the point and there is Bucksport be-
fore you. 1t is one of the most charm
ing places to be found in Maine an
ideal spot for summer resort, the
home of some very nice people, and
famous for two things-"Old Jed Prou-
ty" and the murder Sof Sarah Ware.
or the last this story has nothing to do,
for it deals With the first.
But few theatre-g oers there are in
New England who have not seen odd
jed and enjoyed his quaint humor and
his honest Christian disposition, for in
every way Jed is q charming person.
age. 1t can be truthfully said. as we'll
that there are but few who have not
heard the story of the original OF Rich
ard Goiden's famous character, or, at
least, a version of it,
AS n matter of fact. unless the good
people of Bucksport are in complete
ignorance of what they talk, the YER
sion which has always been told is in
correct. The favorite story of the orig
inAl of this character is that the tavern
which WAS the original Prouty
Tavern now stands and is known
AS the Robinson House and that
it's proprietor. for many years, james
Noses, WAS the one who furnished Mir.
Golden with the idea of Uncle Jed"
It is Il fact that the Robinson House
still stands in Bucksport and that it is
doing a good business; also that its
proprietor for many years was Mr..
Moses, but there the facts in the case
failed to parallel the story of Prouty.
Mr.. Moses was in many ways q char
acter at the same time he was nothing
at all like Prouty. He was d gentle
man of the Old school and before going
to Bucksport lived for many years in
Boston being Il member Of the famous
Ancient and Honorable Artillery. To-
day may be seen his uniform and frock
coat, which he always wore, with its
brass buttons, hanging upon the wall,
outside his room door on the landing
OF the second floor of the hotel, Where
he hung Thorn whore he last removed
them from his person. That they will
continue there for many years to come
seems certain, for the present owner
of the property, Pearl WardWell, lived
for years with Mir. Moses and loved
him as n father and would no sooner
remove the clothes than he would take
mis- own life.
\ prominent resident of Bucksport
who has passed his entire life in
Hurksport. told a Journal reporter, who
was in the town not long ago, That the
| man. around whom Dick Golden built
| his famous play, was not Mr.. Moses
| but y man, whose name was Briggs.
| This T2riggs Kept a small tavern, down
near the river side, about where the
present railroad station in the town is
| located. which VAS known rs the River
| House Briggs was Just such q char
acter as is "Old Jed" Mr. Golden was
| Il small boy around Bucksport during
the latter days of Briggs life and SO
| came to know his peculiarities, ard
| used them to good advantage in the
| DAVIS when be wrote tho famous play
| which will be seen here next Tuesday
| evening