Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-06-23
Paris Lodge Semi.ceuteuuial.

| lor ehe OCCASION, it cOuld not nave been
improved in any one PARTICULAR for the
benefit of Paris Lodge of Masons, which
last Thursday took no;e of the semi
centennial of its institution.
Paris Lodge, No. 81, +. and A. NJ, al
though not chartered until 1859, was in
stituted under dispensation June IS,
1858, and it seemed fitting to the men,
bers to observe the occasion in some not
too elaborate way. 1t was decided, on
invitation of Walter l.. Gray, a past mas
ter of the lodge and for some years its
| secretary, to make the observance in the
form of picnic at the cottage of Mr..
Gray, Gray Birches, on the east shore of
Lake Pennesseewassee.
1t was perfect June day, and q party
of over hundred made up of Masons
and their families, assembled, by various
routes of transportation, at the beautiful
cottage of Mr.. Gray. The moss-carpeted
grove of gray birches on Mr.. Gray's
grounds, and the groves on grounds of
the neighboring owners along the shore,
made an ideal place for the entertain
ment of the party. Mr.. and Mrs. Gray
attended to all present as their personal
guests, and left nothing undone that
could minister to their wants. Capt. F.
G. Tribou, whose summer cottage is
near by, also opened his house, boat
house, billiard hall, ETC., to the visitors,
and spent the afternoon taking out the
picnickers, in detachmentS, in his large
power launch, which carries twenty or
more people, for ride about the lake,
he at the throttle and his daughter, Miss
Reua Tribou, at the tiller.
Charles Sewall 'Penley, of army beans
fame, was the chef of the occasion, and
opened the bean hole at noon. An hour
or more was spent by the groups in the
grove, disposing of the beans aud coffee.
and all other good things, topped off
with Shurtleff's ice cream.
There were no exercises except brief
abstract of the history of the lodge, read
by Silas p. Maxim, one of the oldest
members, and a little informal singing.
1t was day greatly enjoyed by every
one who had the good fortune to be
there, and will not soon be forgotten.
The Jacob Bennett Buildings Burned.
The buildings on the Jacob Bennett
place, about mile and a half north of
South Paris village on High Street, were
entirely detroyed by fire Thursday after
noon. They were occupied at the time
by the family of Guy Fox, who had
moved in there only a short time before.
There were in fact two fires there that
day. The first one started around the
chimney. 1t was discovered about noon
by o. K. Clifford, who was at work on a
piece of land he owns near there. He
saw the smoke and went to the house.
A telephone call was sent to Chief
Engineer Bowker at the village, and he
Immediately started for the place with
three or four men, but before they got
there the fire had been put out with
pals of water by those who had gather
ed there.
Mr.. Bowker remained and looked the
place over until he was satisfied that
there was not spark of fire remaining
in the house, and learning that there
would be people at the place to keep
watch, he returned home, and imme-
diately made out and mailed his report
of the fire to the state insurance COM
missioner.
About O'Clock in the afternoon fire
was discovered in the hay in the barn.
The only satisfactory explanation of it's
origin is that fire had been smouldering
without having been noticed in some of
the bedding which was carried out OF
the house at noon and left outside, and
that this started up and sparks from it
blew into the open door of the barn and
fired the hay. At any rate the blaze
spread through the buildings almost
like lightning, and it was only few
minutes before they were falling in.
The buildings belonged to the heirs of
Jacob Bennett, and were not insured.
The loss is probably 5000 to $500. Mr..
Fox had had his furniture, portion of
which was destroyed, insured for $500
only day or two before the fire.