Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-08-16
RocKLAND'S SEMI.cENTENNIAL
Will Be Celebrated, This Year, in Ma
ture of Old Home Week.

Rockland, Me, Aug 15.-Rockland
Portland, Me-. Aug 15.-This is "Old
Home Week. Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday of this week. and the cele-
of a like character I'm Maine. The city
buildings, residences and business
places are gay with flags and bunting,
! and the hotels are crowded in antici-
patton of the big event. Several war
ships were expected, but Boston got
them for the G.. A. II.
Features of the celebration will be
the largest firemens muster seen in
Maine for years, the companies coming
from Bristol, II. J., Gloucester, Mass,
Bangor, Waterville, Old Town, Brewer,
Brunswick, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor and
many other cities and towns. The
prizes for the hose and recoupling con-
tests and hand.tubs are large, and the
liremcn expect to see new worlds rec
Ords made.
There will be 500 of the Maine militia
encampcd at Oakland park, big civic,
military, floral, business and antique
parades. horses, automobile and motor
boat races during the three days,
which will attract thousands to the
city.
Tuesday will be devoter to the recep-
tion of guests in the Carnegie Library
building. and the literary and musical
exercises i'm the UniVcrSalist church at
night, when Mayor J. T.. Rhodes will
make an address of welcome and l.. T..
Starrett will deliver an historical ad-
dress.
| Wednesday morning. will occur the
big parade of militia. firemcn, floral and
business floats and in the afternoon
are the fircmen'S races in the city and
horse trottinE and baseball at the Knox
| Trotting park. Thursday is the fan
tastic parade, horse trOt, etc. Gov. Hill
and members Of his staff and many ex-
Wednesdays parade.
The week will be made also the occa-
sion of several Republican flag rails
/ ings in w. T. Cobb's home town, and a
host of prominent Republican politicians
| are expected to gather here the opening
week of the county and State campaign.
Rockland and its parent town. Thorn
| aston, are historic. In 1177 the region
was incorporated into the town of
Thoma aston. in honor of Gen. Thomas of
Massachusetts. and then contained
about 80 inhabitants and was seven
miles in circumference.
In 1,79 the British invaded the part now
called Rockland. and carried away con-
siderable plundcr. The first tavern was
set up in 1888 by EbcneZer Tolnan. and
in 1875 John Wheaton was appointed the
first postmaster, and the same year a
meeting house was built. Lime. salt and
ship building were the principal industries
and this section of Knox county today
leads the world as a lime producing CEN
! ter. while in ship building it still main
| tains the prestige of over half a century.
| In 1913 Capt William Spear, sailing to
| Boston on the schooner Oliver, was cap
tured by the British. and that year the
British war vessels Bream. Rather and
Fly harraSSed the ROckland coast and vi
| cinity. In 1850 the eastern part of the
| town was changed in name to Rockland.
and in 1851 city charter. the eighth In
| Names history. was obtained. In that
| year the lime business had developed to
500. 900 casks a year.
| The Rockland Water Co. was formed in
| 1851. In 1853 four fires nearly wiped the
place out of existence. the losses sustain
ed amounting to S215.O00 The old fashion
ed buildings gave way to modern ones
The city had 900 scholars in its schools
| in 1854.
| Knott Crockett was the first mayor.
and of the first city government there
survives but two members. Col Elijah
| Walker Of SOmerville. Mass, and Samuel
A. Burpee. now 81. who has been con.
tinuCusly in the furniture business for 66
years and who in his time has buried
over 900 of the city's dead. and who to-
day, can he found at his desk as in the
first days of the city's birth.
| To the Civil war Rockland contributed
Mai. Gen. Hiram G.. Berry, who fell at
Charlottesville aged 3S. the late Gen
| Davis Tillson, Gen. J. p. Cilley. Col: ELL
jah Walker and others of military lame