Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-10

adapted to horticulture. The invest !
ment, however, was not presented as
profit-makins propositions health and
recreation were to be the inducc ments.
About this time the worlds fair
was closing. The buildings must be '
torn down and removed from Forest
park. A number of these state build
ings were destroyed by fire. The /,
Maine building, which cost s., 900, was
too beautiful to be cut up into common !
lumber. so. fortunately for Missouri, q,
thought C. H. Hrttig, president of the
Third national bank. W. B. Wells, vice
president Third national bank. and J.
f. Smith, Vice president Simmons
Hardware company, and they pur-
chased the building, intending to have
it moved to some desirable location
convenient to St. Louis and used for
club house.
The transaction appealed to Willard
P. Heath, who was organizing the
fancy county club, as matter for CO.
operation. believing the location on
White river was the most desirable
location in all Missouri for this ideal
Maine house.
After due consideration, the agree
ment was made, the 200-acre farm on
White river was purchased, the build
ing was taken apart and the logs had
another transportation, further west,
into a country as wild and more bro
ken, as abuntantly watered, as is the
stalwart state in the east.
The winter and spring of 1905 were
unfavorable for moving and railroad
building, and there were many delays
by floods and bad roads in the NOV
ing and rebuilding. BransUn was then
the terminus Of the White River RAIL
road The river was 50 high that
| twenty three car loads of logs had 10
be loaded on wagons and ferried across
| it and then hauled three miles over
muddy roads to the selected site. But
the men between the difficulties and
successes, like Rosseau, knew no such
| word as impossible" The moving
| was finally accomplished, solid founda-
tons we're. constructed, and one by one
| the logs were replaced in their old pos
| itions Three great chmneys rose to
| their former height and the perfect log
palace of the universal exposition stood
on another and faircr portion Of tho
Louisiana purchase. This time the logs
are bolted together, for they are not
to be moved again.
| Yes, this house will stand, and when
| the 20Oth anniversary of the Jefferson
Napoleon land deal is celebrated del
egates from Maine and Missouri will
| meet here and drink to the prosperity
and friendship of the two states. The
| roof will have to be renewed. but the
| logs, the chimneys, the furnishings, the
| art treasures, will be in place. Records
of ban0uetS, of receptions, rolls of
membership, Incidents of boating and
fishing trips, will be in the library.
| The Maine club will cooperate with
| the citizens in preserving the game and
fish. 1t is safe to say there will be as
| good fishing in thu White river 100
years hence as now, for the government
will literally stock the streams and
citizens will observe. all laws for the
protection of finny life.
This river will flow and wind about
the bluffs as clear and strong 100 years
hence IS it did 100 years ago, when
only Il few treasure hunting Spaniards
and Frcnchmen had crossed it. and it
will be known in song and story, since
| there is more to iSpire in these SUI
| roundings than in many of the worlds
| historic resorts.
| While the house was under erection
men and teams were at work on the
| land. An orchard was planted, a Vine
yard. berry plants, roots in the garden.
| One hundred acres were thus converted
! into an orchard and now the 1900 pear
| trees near the house make fine show
ing. Further away The 1900 apple trees
200 peach trees, 200 cherry and plum
trees, and 1900 grape vines give evil
dence of income. While the members
rs has been intmated, had not thought
of securing financial profit from this
| Investment, not one will think less of
| it if it's trees and vines shall pay the
expense of maintenance of the club
The suggestion of putting the cleared
land into fruit was made by those who
knew the county excelled in horticul-
tural possibilities. In doing the plant
| ing the club has set an example that
will bring great profit to the immedi-
ate section and to the state, for many
farmers. seeing the growth of the trees,
and noting the rnfaling yield of wild
fruits, have decided to make fruit
| growing their Min business. A re-
markable thing has happened. More
|
miles of the club house than in any
other county in the state. This is Il
| great record for sixteen months, and
| the influence is not at it's fulness yet.
! George w. Perry of St. Louis. after
visiting the club property last October.
bought an adjoining farm of 237 acres
and this spring set out 120 acres to
pears, peaches. apples and grapes. He
has sixty acres in Kieffer pears, the
largest pear orchard in the West.
Other large pear orchards We're plant
cd this season Many others will grow
pears Thus will great results follow
the Maine clubs initiative in one en-
! terprise.
Ir selecting a name for the new or
| ganization the Maine building and the
location of the grounds on the margin
of the river famous for fishing. in q
county of virgin forests. naturally the
decision was the Maine Fishing and
Hunting club. The Missouri Pacific
railroad had a station mile and a
quarter from the club property. and in
| compliment to the club named it Maine
Orchard The postoffice is HOLSTER