The independent-reporter., 1909-12-09
"HUSTuMG" SKOWHEGAM PR|V|lEO6tD TO
SEE HERSELF As OTHERS SEE HER
Healthy And Conservative Growth of This
Second Largest Village In Maine

I
series OF large fires which have de
stroyed nearly 81 .0oe. 600 OF property
Her people have borne their losses
With a smile and from the ruins have
sprung modern structures which are
N ornamelt TO the town. These
buildings are not OF an imposing type
! as skyscrapers are not needed at pres
ent. but all are modern throughout
and suitable to the needs OF the oecu-
PANTS. The new municipal building
md Opera house is one of the finest
IN Maine. This building was erected
upon the site of the old Heselton ho-
tel which was destroyed by fire sew
eral years ago.
The First National bank block upon
the ruins of the Milburn block, de-
stroyed in the fire of January /, 1909
when completed will be one of the
finest equipped banking institutions
in Maine. Other business blocks re-
Gently erected are, Sampson d Griffin
block. Palmer Merrill block. Ward
and Philbrick, E. n. Merrill, Morrison
and Mcclellan blocks. These are all
constructed of brick and take the
place of old. unsightly wooden build
ings. Hotel Oxford. which was de-
stroyed by fire last January, has been
rebuilt and will be used as an apart
ment hotel The Dunlap block near
| ly opposite the municipal building, is
splendid three story block. In this
building is the home of the several
| Masonic bodies. whose hall is consid-
ed one of the finest in the State. Be
sides these new business blocks,
large number of beautiful residences
have been built in the last few years.
Skowhegan offers special induce
ments to the home builder. Her nat
ural scenery and beautiful drives, the
nearness to many large lake resorts,
the low cost of living as compared
with the larger towns and cities ap-
peal strongly to this class.
| Skowhegan is the natural market
center for the entire county which is
exceedingly rich in agricultural and
lumber products With the extension
of the electric railway lines into these
sections, she will become one of the
most important shipping depots in
central Maine. While the construc-
ton of these electric lines are in the
embryonic stage, they will surely be
built because tfkir existence has be-
come a necessity. Many important
sections are 12 miles from the nearest
shipping point and the only method of
getting their products to market is
by team. This is expensive in both
time and money and the people will
build the roads themselves if they
cannot interest foreign capital
The town has an active board of
trade and every member is hustler
This body has several committees at
work along the line of town develop
ment and their work is already show
ing results. The most important move
made by the board, was in connection
with the development of the natural
water power which Skowhegan pos
sesses. After careful survey by ex-
perienced engineers, it was found
that by the expenditure Of about
$85O000 water power of $4,000
horsepower could be developed. This
would place Skowhegan second to
Lowell, Mass, which has the largest
power in New England. An active
committee has this project in charge
and are pushing matters as fast as
possible. Another special committee
are at work in conjunction with the
local UlpTCHduto upOil iilV coldpiioi
ment of a particular y in each
month to be known as Merchants
Day" when all the merchants of the
town shall make special efforts to at
tract to this town, prospective buyers
from the outlying districts This
matter will soon be settled and the
board of trade will donate a consider
able sum of money for the purpose
of advertising the special day and will
in other ways cooperate with the
merchants.
About 1860 there were in Skowhe
gan 2f0 dwelling houses, 220 barns,
Is stores, shops, etc, and 19 other
buildings Today there are three
large banks, three dry goods stores,
four clothing stores, four drug stores,
nine groceries, five markets, two fur
niture stores, three large hardware
stores, three tobacco and cigar stores,
five boot and shoe stores and two
large crockery stores besides the nu
merous smaller establishments that
20 to make up large town. While
the town boasts of Is lawyers. 1t must
not be understood that Skowhegan is
any worse in its morals than any
town This is the shire town of the
county which accounts for the sur
plusage. There are IL physicians and
four dentists.
The manufacturing industries are
as follows: Skowhegan Lumber COM
pany, Skowhegan Electric Light and
Power company Skowhegan Pulp
company, Page Sash and Blind fac
tory, McQuillan G. Pooler, lumber,
Stewards grist mill, Maine Spinning
company, Maine Valve company,
Skowhegan Casket company, Adams
& Burns, lumber, Hackett & Witham
foundry, American Wooden company,
Noln Manufacturing Company,
Williams Hatchet factory, Thompson
Stopper factory, Savage's pulp mill,
Marston Worsted company. r. l.. Nit
chell, Novelty mill, Commonwealth
Shoe company and Portland Packing
company.
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