The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-02-18
PETIT MANAN AGAIN.
John M. kilgore of Worcester. Mass Now
Sole Proprietor.


John NJ. kilgore of Worcester, Mass. Now
Sole Proprietor
The Machias Republican recently made an
announcement of some local interest. especiallv
to investors in Petit Manan. Nutr;ola Cream
Publishing Co., Eastern Importing g. Breeding
Go. Belgian hares) etc. The Republican saws:
The people of this section will, no doubt. be
laueh Peaseo 70 learn that Mr.. John M. Kill
gore OF Worcester, Mass has recently COM
pieted negotiations and had papers recorded
whereby ne has become the sole owner of the
entire peninsula known as Petit Manan Point
in the town of Steuben, Maine.
Ihls property was first acquired by a CORPORA
tlon known as Petit Manan Land Company,
which later was succeeded by the Petit Ma
nan Land and Improvement Companv with +.
+. Hanson as president, and in which Isaac C.
Atkinson of Portland and W.. F. P. Fopp of
Wiscasset were prominent. They had an
office in Opera House block, where tvpe writ
ers were banged day and night In the adver-
tlslng matter put out at that time it was said
OF this company: "The capital is $2,5OO 600
The dividend per cent quarterly, and the
value of the capital stock is forever secured
by real estate" Yet when petition was
filed little later for receiver it was said
that the liabilities of the company exceeded
100000. Later the Maine Coast Club was
incorporated to handle the property, with
capital stock of 100000 and the membership
Limited to 70O." The officers we're announced
as follows: President, ]. w. Paul of Philadel-
phia; vice president, w. s. Mitchell of Boston;
treasurer, E. F. Hanson of Belfast; directors,
Joseph w. Paul, Philadelphia, Pa, j. Madison
Taylor, Philadelphia, Pa, William F. Owens
and Z. Vey Holman, New York city: W. S.
Mitchell, Brookline, Mass, John M. Kilgore,
Brookline, Mass, E. F. Hanson, Belfast, Me-
The usual literature followed this organiza-
ton. There was to be an electric road. and
instead OF steel bridge, dam to form
swimming pool, deer park, etc, etc. In an
other write-up of this corporation the capital
stock is given as s375,oOo and the membership
limit as ESQ. Like discrepancies have been
noted in later reading notices. of this class.
What became of this third company we cannot
say; but it started out with great flourish.
For example it was said that a condemned
steamer 300 feet long had been bought and
would be grounded at the head of the artifi-
cial swimming pool and fitted up as pavilion,
cafe and hotel,' and that "the entire furnishings
of the steamer have been purchased with the
hull. This unique hotel will accommodate $50
guests" And this concerning the deer pre-
serve: Some 700 acres of wild land were en-
closed some years ago, and were stocked with
New Brunswick deer. 1t is estimated that
from 200 to 300 deer are now roaming about in
this enclosure as wild and wary as their
brothers in the northern forests. The COM
pany proposes to turn small herd of Shetland
or Welsh ponies into the same corral later"
Among the prospective builders" was men,
toned the New York Yacht Club, of which it
was said, "it is underst Jod the members think
strongly of erecting house before another
season." A Boston man was reported as buy
ing lot and stating that he will expend
half million in building and improvements"
This was in 1895, and it was announced that:
EARLY in November the company will open an
office in Boston in charge of Mr. Fogg, for the
issuing of 100000 worth of stock. Shares
will be placed at par, $40, and 2 per cent
quarterly dividend is guaranteed the stock
holders. The stock is secured by real estate"
We have never heard that dividends were
paid on this on previous issues of stock
At one time in the history of Petit Manan
more or less successful effort was made to ex-
Maine newspapers. One editor in the western
part of the State acquired lot in this way on
which he paid taxes until year or two ago,
when he abandoned it. The same editor had
the Belgian hare fever, but from that he long
since recovered As Mr.. kilgore is now said
to be "sole owner" other owners of cottage
lots must have abandoned their purchases; but
what becomes of the holders of stock on which
two per cent interest quarterly was ''guaran-
teed."
According to The Republican Mr.. Kilgore
has been in possession since 1901 and has had a
telephone line constructed connecting with
the office at Milbridge, ten miles away COM
pleted the Casino finished the "Club House"
and 'Annex," and developed the farm on the
property so that "They now raise on the prop
erty all of heir vegetables, mutton, lamb,
chicken, eggs, milk and cream; in fact they
produce on the property, and its immediate
surroundings, everything necessary for the
tables of the Club House and cottages except
the ordinay groceries purchased of the grocer"
The Republican looks for Petit Manan to
boom and realize the expectations of its early
promoters, under the management of Mr..
Kilgore.
Secret Societies.