Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-09
IN OLD KNOX.
The Story Of the Maine Press
Outing Of 1903.
The Hospitality Of the Rickers at the
Beautiful Samoset.
A Pleasant Week in RockIand, Camden
and Thomaston. +

its annual meeting in January, decided
to make its summer pilgrimage along
the shore of it's native State, with
Rockland as it's objective point, the
Messrs. Kicker, whose reputation is
known over both continents as ideal
hosts of the Poland Spring House, alta
Poland, and the Samoset at the break
water, and Mr.. Judd of the Samoset,
invited the members and their ladies to
become their guests for the week of
the 22d at the magnificent Samoset,
and the invitation was generally ac-
cepted. All knew full we'll that no
pains or expense would be spared to
make the Press outing the pleasantest
in the history of It's organization.
Colonel Boothby, the genial passenger
agent of the Maine Central whose
Hospitality had been tested in the past,
and never found wanting, kindly placed
a special car at the disposal of the
parties over the shore division which
was fully appreciated. In fact every
body, both in and out of Knox county,
who could in any way add to our COM
| fort, did their utmost to make our pill
grimage one round of pleasure.
The party arrived by rail and boat,
the afternoon of Monday the 22d, and
was met by Messrs. Stearns and Ogier
of the local committee, who, with the
assistance of the courteous attendants
| from the Samoset, looked after all the
| little details of our transfer from the
station and wharf to our home on Bay
| Point. The SamOset Is the ideal sum-
mer home on the Maine coast. The
location Is all that could be desired.
Nature has done much and the Kicker
Hotel Company has done the rest. 1t
IFS situated some two miles from the
station, near enough to the LIMERICK
City to have all the city conveniences,
and just far enough remote to be free
from all it's annoyances and disad-
vantages. The peninsular where the
Samoset stands extends far out into
the bay, and forms part of the north
shore Of Rockland Harbor. This
lpeninsular in former years was known
as Jameson Point. 1t is rich in historic
traditions, and many is the old Indian
legend handed down from generation
to generation of how the dusky
iaborigines used to congregate on this
point, and settled their little differences
with their pale-faced brothers, and
when the committee on entertainment
failed to provide sufficient amount of
IgOOd, healthy, harmless amusement,
they used to go out into the byWays
land hedges and catch an OVer-Zealous
missionary and with the aid of moral
,suasion and club induced him to join
in their sports and pastimes, and when
the game Jagged a little, for want OF
Interest on his part, they used to
lfriraSsCe him and serve him hot with
lcapcrs, but all this is changed now,
and the dusky aborigines have been
|gathered to their fathers, and the point
is the pleasure ground of the wealth
land fashion of the nation.
The Samoset was formerly the Bay
Point, but one would hardly recognize
lin the new modern Samoset any re-
lsemblance to the Bay Point of years
lago. The Transformation has been
complete. The hotel stands on an
elevation of some IS feet, directly back
from the waterfront. In architectural
design, it Is distinctly original 1t
does not follow any set architectural
lage. 1t is neither Colonial, Queen
Anne, or Gothic, but is more COM
lposite. It's lines are graceful, and in
lperfece harmony and good taste. The
high turrets and towers can be seen for
lmiles and miles, and when brilliantly
lighted by electricity at night, stands
Ioue in bold relief, shedding it's light
lover the bay and harbor.
The hotel is so situated that every
room commands good view of Penob-
Iscot bay, and its surroundings, the
lmOst beautiful scenery of Names
rugged coast. Across the stretch of
water, some two miles to the south
ward, is the highlands, that formed the
lcoast-line of the harbor, terminating
lin the high bold bluff of Owls Head,
Iwhere the government maintains sta
tionary light, n guardian of the outer
lharbor. Part way across the harbor
from the hotel grounds to the souther-
ly shore. of the harbor, the govern
ment has erected a stone breakwater,
lextending out into the harbor for
lnearly a mile in length and costing
some million and a half dollars. AT
the extreme point of the sea-wall, rest
ing upon solid granite foundation. is
the government building, with its
conical tower, immense whistle and re-
lvolving light, welcome sight to the
navigator who is making Rockland
harbor at night. Inside the break
water, the water is as smooth and calm
as mill pond, making a safe anchor
lage for small crafts of all descriptions,
from the tiny rowboats to the white
winged ndjammer, or the more pre-
tentious steam yacht Respondent with
polished brass and glitter.
| Considerable attention has been paid
to the laying out of the immense
grounds of the company, money has
been expended with lavish nand, and
the landscape artist is beautifying the
Park and lawns evidently had carte
blanche orders. The ground slopes
gently eastward to the water of the bay
Across the bay is North Haven, one of
| the Vinalhaven group of islands. just
north of this is Eggemoggin Reach, the
thoroughfare to Mount Desert and the
eastward. Still further to the East be-
yond Deer Island can be seen the Blue
hills of Mount Desert. The background
to this pretty marine view, come the
hills of Camden. Having pretty
Thoroughly boxed the compass, we will
now turn our attention to the hotel
proper. The interior of the motel is in
keeping with the entire project. The