The Republican journal., 1908-01-02
Memories of MontviIIe.
Frank w. Gowen Writes Another Interest.
ing Letter on the Home Of his Boyhood.

made mention in previous letter
of the old town house at Center Mont
Vile. which is the oldest building still
standing in the town and one of the
Oldest in Waldo County. 1t was erec
ted soon after Maine became a State
and many have been the stirring polltl-
cal. religious and temperance meetings
held in this venerable building. Its
walls have rung with the eloquence OF
some of the most eminent men in the
nation and of the State. Here, many
decades ago, spoke Rev. Elijah LoveJoy,
"Maine's Great Son" and first martyr
for freedom, to further the cause OF
Christ: and in the early days OF our pro-
hibitory law here also spoke Hon. Lot
NJ Morrill, in thunderous oratory, ex-
Governor United States Senator and
Secretary of the Treasury under Presl-
dent Grant and who branded the liquor
traffic on the floor of the United States
Senate as "the gigantic: crime OF
crimes
NV father cast his first vote IN THIS
old town house in 1854 for ex-GoVeF-
nor Arson p. Morrill,, who was cahol-
date for governor on the MAINE La"
and Know Nothing ticket, and also
his first vote in the presidential elec-
tion in 1854 for John c. Fremont. In
the Greenback days came Hon. Scion
Chase, "Maine's grand OLD man.
who stamped his cowhide boots as ne
told the famous story of "Them steers
and who got the hay" In the presl-
dautial campaign of 1880 came ex-
Speaker Thomas B. Reed to speak 1or
Garfield and to assail the Democratic
party with all his sarcasm and Win oil
his wit and how the old town mousse
rang with applause! Hon Eugene
Hale United States Senator, and the
late Congressman Seth l.. Mllilken
have addressed great political meet
inps in this old town house, as well DIS
Hon. A. G. Jewett, Hon. VIM. ii. MIC
T.llan Attorney General OF Maine IN
1879 Ex-Governor Hartman OF Ne"
Hampshire, the eloquent PROT l.. Z.
Rateman and many other pubic men
of note.
Great revival meetings have been
held in this OLD building, as well as 'el'-
nerance meetings, and | am proud in
deed to say that Montvlle was one Vi
the first towns in the State OF Name 10
organize total abstinence society,"
This occurred IN 1888. In the mohth
of March of that year the MontVllle
Free Will Baptist Quarterly meeting
voted to form the Quarterly meetlng
into A temperance society anu Iiley
chose a committee to draft cohsttu-
ton. The pledge of total abstinence
was presented at that meeting ana
signed by 26, and they resolved thaV
thev would work and pray tor temper
aucp The result was they took thelr
decanters of New England rum from
the pulpit and other churches followed
their example.
MANY stories and traditions are told
IN connection with this old building but
I have space in this letter tor only one
incident which comes to my NINA.
Years ago Hon. A. G. Jewett OF Bel
fast whose hard features and bearlsh
aspect we of younger generatloh can
lust remember, addressed large poil1-
zeal meeting there and was obliged to
s'dry up or get his honorable heao
punched. 1t happened in this way.
During Lawyer Jewetts address some
one in the audience politely asked MIN
a question and the speakers reply was
very saucy. Now the Montville people
did not like Lawyer Jewett's saucy an
swer and they told him SO. Good Lord'
did not Old Jewett, as he was called,
get tearing mad! He shook his hist at
them and called them names. Dry
up" he Numbered, 'yes SIT, yes SIT!
s'you are liars, yes sir, yes sir!'' and MS
voice shook with rage. One of the big
men of Montville, physically a giant
among his fellow men and well known
III WALDO County lol Ills ooionS0p' Woo
present at the meeting and he was SO
mad that he jumped up and shaking
his huge fist at the speaker yelled,
Damn, you, dry up yourself or Will
punch YOUR face" l never saw man
dry up as quick as did the honorable
speaker One look at the massive
frame of the Montvile man was
enough for Lawyer Jewett and he was
careful not to use the word liar again
during his speech. l was then but
little boy, but this incident left an i'm
preston on my mind that men who are
quick to call people liars from place
of safety are usually towards at heart.
This famous old town house is used
no more, but it looks beautiful to me
in its decay. fading away among the
rugged New England hills. What a
long line of associations is connected
with it, and what stories its old walls
could tell if they only had tongues to
speak.
Then farewell to the dear old Town House
Tl- yf,,lI ,1A.t ftn