Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-15
1t may be interesting to review the
events which have quite naturally led up
L. -

Brown gave up his New York residence
and became citizen of Paris. The
family usually spend the winter in the
South-sometimes in the Bermudas and
sometimes in Honolulu-but the SUMMER
half of the year is spent in Paris, of which
town Mr.. Brown is public-spirited
citizen. In various ways Mr.. Brown has
benefited the town, but in no way more
than by his aid in establishing the water
system on Paris Hill.
| Two miles east of Paris Hill, and rising
to an altitude some five or six hundred
feet higher, stands what is called Crocker
Hill. 1t is spur of the ridge which
forms backbone separating the towns
of Paris and Buckfeld throughout their
length-as any one who has ever had
occasion to travel from one town to the
other knows full well-and in somewhat
broken condition extends even farther
north.
On the western slope of Croker Hill
were certain springs of water which years
ago attracted the attention of those who
were considering the possibility of hav-
ing good supply of pure water for Paris
Hill. This village, with all its natural
advantages, especially as summer home,
had one drawback in lack of the best
water. The water supply, drawn from
wells, was insufficient in dry time, and
the water was none of it any better than
was desirable, and most of it was very
hard.
Early in 1899 the interest in a water
system was sufficiently developed so
| that company was organized to do the
work. The stock was subscribed for by
local parties, but not to the amount
estimated necessary to put in the system.
When Mr.. Brown arrived in town for the
summer the situation was presented to
him, and his interest in having a supply
of water was such that he at once sub
scribed for the balance of the stock
wanted.
The water system was put in during
the summer and fall of 1899, the water
being turned on about the first of
November. The plan of the work was
somewhat changed from that originally
made, and as the work progressed it was
found that the cost would be more than
at first estimated. 1t was also found
necessary to develop new sources of
supply on the hillside and bring the
water from them into the reservoir.
Mr.. Brown is not one to turn back
after putting his hand to the pillow, and
as the necessity for more money arose,
he met it by taking additional stock,
until in this way he had acquired con-
trolling interest in the company. He had
in the beginning been one of the con-
struction committee in charge of the
work of putting in the system, and all
along manifested not only financial in
terest, but strong personal interest as
well in the success of the enterprise,
giving it great deal of his time, and for
many weeks making daily visits to the
work that was being done.
Incidentally it may be here remarked
that by the completion of this system
Paris Hill secured something which adds
to the comfort of life on that beautiful
hilltop as much as one thing could.
There is an abundant supply of water for
domestic purposes, supplied by gravity
system at high pressure, and the water
is very soft, and remarkable for its pur-
ity. The sources are far above POSSIBLE
ity of contamination, and the water,
which comes from stratum of pin
gravel, is practically the purest of spring
water. Analyses by the state board Of
health and by other chemists have pro-
duced reports which show an almost
phenomenally small amount of solids in
the water. 1t is probably safe to say
that no other village has supply of so
good water, even in the state of Maine,
which is so favored in that respect.
| All this shows the development of the
Paris Hill Water Company; it shows one
form of wealth that exists in Croker
Hill, but it doesn't seem to be related
much to the mining business; still, it is
one step in the development of the story.
The reservoir of the water company,
and the springs which feed it, were in a
large pasture belonging to II. E. and II
d. Hammond, and used for young stock.
The water company had bought no real
estate in fee simple, but the Messrs.
Hammond had decided to the company
all water rights in this pasture. One day
when Mr.. Brown and some members of
his family had driven to the reservoir, a
yearling bull which was in the pasture
manifested so much displeasure at the
presence of the ladies in the party that
they felt obliged to retire with some pre-
cipitancy to place of safety. This was
a little awkward, and meeting the senior
Mr.. Hammond on the street shortly
afterward, Mr.. Brown asked,
"What will you take for that pasture,
SO that can get the cattle out of itP"
A price was named and accepted, and
L ~ 10 AIo bo
pasture ceased to be a pasture, and future
visits to the reservoir and springs were
undisturbed by the hostility of animals.
In this way Mr.. Brown acquired the first
of his holdings of real estate on Croker
Hill.
Being thus in possession of the west
and northwest slopes of the hill, Mr..
Brown had an ambition to own the whole
mountain, and by subsequent purchases
he secured possession of pasture on the
south slope, and another on the east
slope, making in all q parcel OF land
which includes the whole of the peak,
nearly square in shape.
This region is of interest to the min
eralogist. Croker Hill Is about three
quarters of mile northeast of the cele-
brated tourmaline mine at Mount Mica,
though the tourmaline bearing vein does
not extend in the direction of Croker
Hill. Some fine quartz crystals have
been taken out of cavities in the rocks Of
the hill, and the ridge of which 1t forms
la part did not entirely escape the mining
fever which struck Maine quarter of
century ago. About half mile north.
east from the water company's reservoir,
on the east slope of the ridge, some
parties blasted out hole as large as q
small living room, In search for gold
The only trouble with the specks of gold
in the rock was that they were efools
gold," or pyrites, and of course worth
less.
In the work done on the hill after Mr.
Browns purchase of 1t, there was dis
covered in the lodges some distance south
of the water works something which
looked like graphite-and which was II
,, fact graphite, In small quantities. There
,, was also some mineral which appeared
as If 1t might be low grade Of some kline
Iof metallic ore. The indications were
such As to lead the owner to investigate
for his own satisfaction. he bad ample