Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-09
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
Importance Of Local History.
Bangor Commercially


The holding Of the annual meeting OF
the Bangor historical society 'ne
ent week, calls attention to 'he I'M
portance of collecting and puplisiii''s
all facts relating TO the local history vi
the towns in Maine: especially OF those
famous old historic towns whlch marx
the places of the first settlement in
the several counties, or of those Will
which great historic events are con-
Injected.
There is always much OF interest 10
| those books relating 10 the history ol
cur towns which have been coii'piieo
BY leading residents interested III pre-
sewing the leading Facts OF histor! ana
biography of such towns. beslueS oe-
ing written by natives OF the to"i,
they are often printed in the town ana
| Illustrated from views taken by local
artists Occasionally they are also
bound in the town where printed ana
are therefore a local production Oh
credit aside from the fact OIL native
authorship. Il may be true 'hat Ill
some cases these works may not come
up to all the standards OF ar,ls'ic
taste, but the facts are there ana 10
that extent they are valuable ana pe-
come stOrehouses for the future MS
tCrian of larger and more elaborate
work.
Such book is the Narrative of the
Town of Machias. by George W. Drls-
&C, printed at Machias in 1904. III IS Il
work of nearly 600 pages. from the
press of the Machias Republican ana
contains numerous illustrations. por-
| traits of early settlers and prominent
re sidents. with views of The churches
residences and business blocks. Ma
chiaS is one of the most interesting
of the many historic towns in the
State. A trading post was established
there as early as 1853 by Richard
Vines; it was visited by Gov. Belcher
as early as 1874 and a permanent set
tlement was made in 1863. a military
company was formed there as early
as 1863. and the first naval battle of
the Revolution took place off its har-
Dor. when the brave Capt. jeremiah
O'I;rien captured the British ship of
war, Margaretta. This event and the
exploit of Hannah Weston, in carrying
ammunition through the woods alone
to furnish men who We're defending
the town, have made the town famous.
The early records of the town given in
this book are invaluable while the many
records OF famous old families make it
Il notable contribution to the genealo2i-
cal history OF the State. Mr. DriScO is
one of the veteran authors and long
time editors Of the county and State
and has put q great deal of good work
into the compilation of this important
volume.
The Camden Herald has just COM
menced tho publication of the history
Of the towns of Camden and RockpOrt
in its columns. The author of this
work is Heuel Robinson who has de-
voted 4 great deal of time to its COM
rilaton. A history OF Camden by John
l.. Lock was printed in 1859, upon
which AIR. Robinson bases the earlier
chapters of his history. but he especial
ly desires assistance in compiling the
work between the years 1856 and 1870.
The work is to be published in a VOL
ume after being given asa serial in the
Camden Herald and the author would
like additions or corrections as the
several chapters appear that they may
be complete when ISSUED in book form.
There is a historical society in
Bluehill of which DR.. Otis Littlefield
is president A series of historic pa
pers and family records of Buehill are
now appearing in the columns of. the
Ellsworth American, many of which
are contributed by r. G. +. Candage,
Il native of the town, now Il resident
of Rrookline. Mass, which are of great
value. 1t is to be hoped that these
papers may be republshed i'm perma-
nent form.
Previous to his death. the late
Charles f. Nash of Augusta had spent
many years in compiling Il new his
tory of Augusta. The history of the
town and city Of Augusta by the late
James W. North. was printed in 1870,
but Mr.. Nash planned larger and
more elaborate work. We understand
that one volume of this work had been
printed by Mr.. Nash at his own office
previous to his death; and that the
second volume was nearly completed
in manuscript. Some effort should be
made to have this important work
completed and both volumes printed.
+. f.. Morse, editor ana manager of
the Mllinockct journal. is much inter-
| cst"d in local history. He has within
| the past few years printed in his news
paper histories Of the towns Of Pattcn
and of Island Falls. and is now print
ing the history of Sherman. As ma
t"rials for Il correct history of the
State these local sketches should not
be overlooked.
We may add that the gencalogy Of
the Gerrish family Of Maine is now
being compiled by r. F. Gerrish Of
West Sullivan. while that of the Oak
family is being compiled by Ora oak
| of Cucanonga. California. which will
embrace records of the members of the
family in this State.
All these show the interest in local
and family history, tell what is being
done and indicate what our local his
;0rical societies should do to preserve
| he records of the history of our towns.
According to Il Tien-TSin newSpaDer
an author in Pekin received from n ma