Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-27
WELLS'CELEBRATI0N
Close $3.50 Years Of Corporate
Life Observed.
Part Of Program Postponed, but In.
teresting Exercises Held.
Two congressman Among the Speakers
Sketch Of Town.

Wells, Me-, Aug. 26.-The elaborate
plans for the celebration, today, of the
2o0th anniversary of Wells, the second
Oldest town in the State were not car
ried out in full, owing to Indictment
weather. The, parade and a portion of
the exercises We're postponed until the
i1rst pleasant gay. AS the principal
speakers, congressman Charles E. Lit
tletleld and Amos l.. Allen arrived in
town, the residents gathered and lis
tened to their addresses which were of
much local interest.
The executive committee consisted
of Hon. George Goodwin, president:
Hon. William S. Wells, secretary; Hon.
+. H. Rankin, treasurer; Hon. Trafton
Hatch, William M. Trip, John RAN
kin, w. f. Cousens, E. r. Clark, DR..
j. c. Hall, b. H. Hilton, George II.
l-ittlefield. c. e. Clark, Miss Alice
Mildram, Mrs. L. A. Stevens, Mrs.
Julia F. Maxwell, Mrs. N. A. Avery,
Mrs. Alice Gray, Joseph H. Mildram.
l.. A. Stevens, c. G. Hatch, Woodbury.
Bennett, D. w. Bragdon, Howard
Mason, Mrs. Henry Moulton, Dr.. J. w.
Gordon, N. p. NJ. Jacobs.
Wells is the second oldest town in
Maine. The first settlement was made
in 1910 by Rev. John Wheelright and
Edmund Littletield, who was an exile
from the Massachusetts Bay Colony
and occupied the territory under a
patent from Thomas Gorges, deputy
governor of Maine, and representative
Of his brother, Sir Ferdinando Gorges
Ihere were many dramatic incidents
in the early history of the town, prin-
cIpal OF which was the attack in 1892
on the garrison house built by Joseph
sStorer, by 500 Indians. The red men
were commanded by two French Off
GERS, Generals Portueuf and LaBocree
The battle ragged for three days during
which time General LaBocree and
many Indians were killed. After the
death OF the officers the natives retired.
a church was organized Immediately
after the first settlement by Rev. Mr.
Wheelright. a house was built in
1898 for the minister of the town and
q meeting house was built in 1899.
In 164l, one year after the first set
Element Sir Fcrdinando Georges died
and Massachusetts made claim to the
Gorges territory. The settlers objected
to being governed by Massachusetts
and carried on their own government
for more than ten years, holding court
alternately at Wells and York. Com
nissioncrs from Massachusetts Bay
colony attempted to incorporate the
town in 1851 but were not successful,
only six citizens appearing III response
TO the commissioners summons to ac-
knowledge their allegiance. The sec
end attempt of the commissioners i'll
1858 WAS successful and the town was
incorporated July 5th of that year.
Soon after began the trouble with the
Indians which eliminated in the battle
at the garrison house in 1892. Owing
to the sagacity of Storer and Wheel
right the town was better defended
than any other settlement in the colony.
there being. eight strong garrison
houses
The people of Wells rendered assis-
tance to the Crown when the Area
dams were removed from their homes.
The sloop Progressive of which Capt.
Daniel Bragdon was master, and which
was owned in Wells and York, was used
as Il transport in the expedition to
Nova Scotia.
One of the most notable events in
the history of the town was the visit,
in 1924. of General Lafayette. He
was entertained at the Lindsay Tavern
which is still standing and which in
some respects is unchanged since the
ncbleman's visit. The tavern sign is
unchanged and the same wall paper is
upon the hall.