Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1906-08-16
THURSDAY. A UeUsT is. 1906.
PLYMOUTH ROCKS CRACK.
Its Origin Involves Unique and
Ridiculous Bit Of History.


plymouth has been called the era
die OF New England. Ii is on the
coast, thirty-eight miles south of Bos-
ton, and is thriving and prosperous
New England town, with good schools
and churches, and town hall, and shops
OF all kinds, and comfortable homes.
On the fiat strip of land that runs
Tor miles up and down the shore of
the bay, the diminutive white houses
OF the fishermen are crowded close
together. In the centre of the same
nat land-strip, fianked on both sides
oy the fishermen's homes, is a large,
open square forty yards from the
waterfront. Here stands Plymouth
ROCK, the first sight of which gives
one mental shock, for, no doubt.
fancy has pictured an immense boul-
der rising grandly out of the sea; but,
instead. the visitor sees only an OBJ
long, acknowledgement, gray sand
stone rock twelve feet in length and
hve feet in width at the widest point,
and two at the narrowest. Across
one part runs "a large crack which
gives TO Plymouth Rock a highly arti-
ncial appearance. The origin of this
crack is a bit of unique history, and
bears evidence to the early differenc-
es that at times divided the inhabi-
tants into two factions.
For a long time there waged spirit
ed and bitter wrangling between the
opposing parties, and 1t even settled
down upon the much-cherished Ply
mouth Rock, which one party de-
clared ought to be removed to a more
worthy position in the town square
and the other wranglers- protested II
should not be moved an inch from IFS
position, even though they had to
guard 1t with their pixies and guns
Finally, the stronger faction drew
up their forces around Plymouth
Rock, and in attempting to move it up
the hill split it asunder, which seemed
a bad omen for those who had at.
tempted such thing. until an ardent
Wing leader fiourished his sword. and
by an eloquent appeal to the other
Jealous Wings convinced them that
they should not swerve from their
plan OF carrying the rock to a place
in the town square.
The portion that first fell to the
ground belongs to u.s." he cried; "and
that We will transport with all care
and diligence to its proper home"
twenty yoke Of oxen drew the Whig
section OF Plymouth Rock up the hill,
amid the shouts of the throng that
pushed forward around the liberty
pole which was to mark the new site.
The ceremony Of defeating the rock
I'm its new position was very impress
| i've, and the people stood with barred
heads, and in reverent tones chanted
their high-pitched psalms in token OF
thanksgiving.
In the town square this part of
plymouth Rock remained for more
than half century, when a committee
OF the council resolved to move IL
back to its original position, and Join
IL. as best they could, to the other
haIf. Accordingly, in 1884, on the
morning of the Fourth of July. the
Plymouth Rock had been reunited IN
all seriousness to- it's longestranged
portion, and the union made com.
plete by mixture of cement and NOR.
tar.
Today four granite columns support
q canopy Of granite that offers Pig.
mouth Rock an Indifferent protection
against the rain and the sun. and
serves TO keep back, in some measure.
the thousands Of sightseers that come
TO Plymouth with only one object in
| view. namely. TO press up around the
iron bars. and to gaze through them
at the revered rock, on which they
see the single inscription. cut in the
middle Of its face in long, plain fig.
ures. 1920"
The rock is surrounded by a high
iron railing composed of alternate
boat hooks and harpoons, and inscribed
with the illustrious names OF the
forty men who drew up the Pilgrims
compact on board the Mayfiower that
November day as they sighted the
coast that henceforth was to be their
home.-From Cornelia Hickman's ~
Visit to Plymouth Rock" in st. NIcho-
las.