Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-10-06
Paris Maine.
JUDGE GEORGE A. WILSON.

Snuu1N
JSdss Wilson has contributed to the Sunday
school Star the following description OF our
town.
As the throbbing engine, drawing the
train on the Grand Trunk Railway, which
transports among its passengers those
intending to visit the State Sunday
School Convention, haltS at the station
at South Paris, and such passengers de-
scend from the cars, the first object
which attracts their attention will be
the new and beautiful county buildings of
Oxford County, situated on an elevation
Just opposite the station. Attracted by
the beauty and freshness of the green
lawn and the elegant display of flowers
and shrubs which adorn the well laid
out grounds, they will, without doubt,
ascend to the front of the court house
and look around. They find spread out
before them the neat and attractive vii
lage of South Paris.
The houses are not imposing, but
they are charming and homelike; the
grounds are tastefully arranged and well
kept; everything bearing the mark OF
that prosperity with which the village
has been favored for many years. Orig
inally clustered around the water power
as the center and magnet drawing every
thing else, the village has spread out and
now covers nearly all of the beautiful
plain on the western bank of the river.
MANY of the streets are bordered with
large trees and the village as whole is a
typical New England village, full OF
beautiful homes and bustling with bust
ness enterprise. Near its northern
boundary, lies the extensive plant of the
Paris Manufacturing Company, covering
several acres with its network OF hne
buildings and huge piles of lumber
This concern gives steady employment
to several hundred skilled operatives and
the nature and extent of its output
arouse the admiration and wonder of all
visitors. 1t is the largest manufactur-
ING establishment of its kind in New
England. Just over the elevation back
of the new court house lies the village OF
Norway, with its beautiful lake, Pennies
seewassee. The twin villages OF South
Paris and Norway lie side by side with
their boarders so mingled that a stranger
would be puzzled to draw the line be-
tween them.
Beyond the winding valley of the river
looms up in the near distance the lovely
village of Paris Hill, the home of states
men; for among the names of the present
and former residents of this small ham,
let. YOU will find those of one Vice-Presi-
dent of the United States, one United
States Senator, eight Representatives in
Congress, one Postmaster General OF the
United States, four Governors of the
State of Maine, besides those OF innum-
cradle state and county officials. Truly
a magnificent and unequalled record.
Just beyond Paris Hill, Mount Mica,
world famous for its precious stones,
lifts its modest head. Some of its won
derful gems may be found in the most
valuable collections of jewels known to
world. Paris Hill was the first settled
village in the town. Ii is over eight
hundred feet above the sea level and is
fast becoming famous as place OF sum-
mer resort. The view from near the old
court house, which still stands as land
mark, is magnificent in its sweep and
extent.
Turning to the east, Singepole with its
rough and wooded crest first meets our
view, while beyond and above it, old
streaked rears its barren head. Although
not high mountain, its elevation being
only about seventeen hundred feet, 1t is
so commandingly situated that a wide
arc of land is brought under observation.
The visitor is hardly able to keep back
his explanations of delighted surprise
at the grand and wonderful panorama
spread out before him. The lovely
lakes, set like gems in the vast expanse
within his view, CLEAN like jewels,
leagues on leagues of hill and plain,
rolling back like pillows until they seem
to dash against the mountain ranges
marking the horizon on the west and
north, while to the south, faint glimpses
are caught of beautiful CaSco Bay, stud
ded with islands, and the blue vaulted
ocean beyond with its
"Far or sails which fit before the south wind
free"
The little Androscoggin River flows
through the entire length of the town,
entering at its northwest corner. The
glistening silver thread of this beautiful
stream winds through its valleys and
breaks over its rocky bed. Five miles
north of the station at South Paris on
this stream is Shows Falls, where the
valley narrows and the tumultuous
waters flow through a rocky gorge, a
mere slit as it were in the huge ledge,
and fall forty feet to the valley below.
The stream here is now harnessed TO
machinery and turns the busy wheels
of vast manufacturing enterprise.
This somewhat mars its primitive gran
deur and beauty, but it is still fascinat-
ing and attractive to the eye and when
the water pours and surges through the
narrow channel, it seems trying to burst
its prison walls.
"Far down through the Mat Of the falling river.
Which rises up ike an incense ever,
The splintered points Of the crags are seen,
With water bowling and vexed between;
While the endless whirl of the pool beneath
Seems an open throat with Its granite teeth"