Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-16
Maine Anniversaries in 1908.

lSUc. THIS is a smaller number tiian
for several years past. In 1907, it will
be remembered, seven Maine towns
stepped into their second century Of
corporate existence, and while several
Of them celebrated the centennial with
appropriate exercises there were sew
cal others which unfortunately allowed
the important anniversary to pass
wholly unobserved. Let US hope that
the three Maine towns which were in
corporated by the general court Of
Massachusetts, ir 1908 will -Aot fail to
celebrate their centennial this year in
proper fashion.
They are Pownal, Freeman and New
Portland. Powral is a little agricul-
tural town in Cumberland county
which was set off from Freeport and
INCORPORATED as Names Hist town in
1893. Like many another small Maine
town it has not held its own with the
passing years and it's population of 502
dS SIlONh ny tiic l'Vo census is less
than half its population half a century
earlier The two other towns adjoin
each other. though they are in diff
ferent counties. Freeman being in
Franklin and New Portland in Somer-
set. These two towns were settled at
the same time, 1888. having been grant
ed to sufferers left destitute by the
burning of Portland, then Falmouth,
by the British in October, 1875. This
suggested the name of New Portland
for one of the towns, while the other
was named for Samuel Freeman of
Portland who was one Of the principal
owners at the time of settlement. Goth
Of these towns, like POwnal, have lost
largely in population and valua ton in
the past half century. The census of
1909 gave Freeman 4 population of only
@97 as against 7G2 in 1850. while New
Portland had Il population of only 913
III 1900 as compared with 1854 n genera
ton earlier.
In 1889, which was the Tooth ami
versary of its settlement by people
from Portland. the town of New
Portland had Il grand centennial cele-
bration on July Fourth. That was
quarter of a century ago. however. and
row that the centennial of the actual
Of the town has come
around we hope it's people will have
another celebration appropriate to the
occasion. All three Of these towns
were incorporated by the Massachu-
sets lawmakers in March, 1908, Pownal
on the third Gay of the month. Free
man Oh the fourth and New Portland
on the ninth. but as March is an ex-
Maine country towns. the annivers
aries win more naturally be observed
during the coming su,:lmer months. as
has been the custom on such occasions
with other Maine towns.
Though these are the only Maine
towns whose Centennials fall during the
present year. there are several other
towns which might Appropriately OBJ
serve important anniversaries during
1908. Sc:trborO. for instance, is en-
titled to celebrate it's 250tl: anniversary
during the present year. GEd surely,
having passed quarter Ci 4 thousand
years of life this good Old town should
not fail to observe the anniversary. 1t
1853. Icing the sixth, to2n i'll Maine to
br inCo, In,atcd. Then picturesque
AMI historic Old Harpswrl', famed for
its literary traditions ard for is many
10 summer visitors, win
having been incorporated II l75S as
Main"'s 18th town.
Down at Ia" Harho.' the Catholics
will not fail to take cosni1aace of the
3o0th anniversary Of the fcLrding of
the Jesuit miss ion on Mount Desert Is
land. In 1903 the jesuit Priests Peter
Biard end Encmond Massc estab-
hshed mission on the island. The
exact site is uncertain. but is supposed
To have been on a spot at the foot of
Flying mountain. about two miles
north of the present village of South
west Harbor. They lived and labnred
for five years until the freebooters sent
by Aigall of Virginia invaded the is
land. burned the chapel and mission
desecrlted the holy vessels
and drove the priests to far-off Canada
A magnificent Catholic church is
now in course of erection in Ear Har-
bor on the very ground pressed by the
feet of the devoted priests 600 years
aso The dedication of this church.
coming as it Will on the 300th ami
versary of the founding of the first
mission and the planting of the first
cross on the island. will be an event OF
more than ordinary significance.
important anniversary is to b.
Dat