The Republican journal., 1909-02-04

PIERCE At the outlet of Wescott stream
Joseph H. Kaler established in 1843 a
plaster mill on the site of the saw mill
erected in ITO. The plaster rock was
brought from Nova Scotia and the mar
ket for the product was in Maine, Boston
and the Southern States. The ship Bel
fast was built near Goose river by Wal
ter Hatch in 1911 for western parties.
The tonnage is not given, but ships in
those days were from 300 to 400 tons.
Other vessels were built later in this
yard and within the recollection of many
of our readers vessels were repaired
there, and among others the well known
packet P M. Bonney. The ice business
was long prominent industry on Goose
river. Hiram E. Peirce built a number of
ice houses at the mouth of the river.
with a wharf and chute, and water power
was used to carry the ice into the houses
or send it along the chute to the vessel.
There was no place on the coast where
ice could be handled so cheaply, and the
ice was of the finest quality; but with
many changes of ownership the industry
was allowed to die out and the ice houses
have been torn down and removed. Mr..
Peirce had a grist mill here and near by
Parish L. Strout had a brick yard; but
today there is not a grist mill or brick
yard within the city limits.
While many of the old industries of
East Belfast have gone out, there are
others to take their place. The Kelley
axe factory continues to turn out prod
uct that retains it's high reputation. In
place of paper making we have the Sher-
man leatherboard mills; the water power
at the mouth of Goose river is utilized
by the Belfast Gas & Electric Co., which
has its power station there; and farther
up the stream is the Rankin saw MILL
On the back road to Searsport R. E.
Cottrell has an up-to-date steam saw
mill. A new industry is cigar making, |.
L. Perry having established very sue
cessful business in this line. We expect
ed to have had from Mr.. Perry some
details of this business, but his depart
ure for the south to spend the winter
prevented. His factory, formerly
commodious dwelling, is convenient and
is neatly painted and his residence and
grounds nearby attract the attention of
visitors by their adornments. The water
of Goose river which flows from the
springfield Swan Lake furnishes the
purest of ice, from which our local deal
ers obtain their supplies There are
many excellent farms on this side of the ,
river, which supply early, and late, vege-
tables for the city market; and the hen !
business is another important and grow !
ing industry
The erection Of Trinity Reformed church .
was notable event in the history OF East !
Belfast. In 1903 Rev. William Vaughan |
and family came here from New York |
city and bought what was then the Hurd |
farm Mr.. Vaughan had served fourteen !
years in the Collegiate Reformed Church
of New York city, and i'll health compel
led change of climate and occupation.
He was no sooner settled in his new home !
than he began to plan for the building of
a church of his faith, and in this ambition
was ably seconded by his wife, and soon
had enlisted the cooperation of the neigh
borhood. He gave the land-the site of |
one of the first churches built in Belfast
and ground was broken July 4, 1904,
and the building was dedicated with i'm
posing ceremonies October 9, 1907. These
ceremonies, with detailed description of
this beautiful little church, were fully
reported in The Journal of October 10,
1907, and the accompanying illustration
shows the church as it is today. The
walls are of field rock set in cement and
the interior finish, fittings and furniture,
with the handsome memorial windows,
make it one of the handsomest churches
In Maine today. AS religious and social
center it has done and is doing good work,