The independent-reporter., 1909-12-09

OF the Hest Towns In Maine--i.arge
Enough TO be Called city and -
Chock Full OF Grit and Clever Enter
prise. the Waterville Morning Sen
tinel gives the following write-up Of
! the town:
The growth and development of
the hustling town of Skowhegan has
not come by leaps aud bounds but its
growth has been healthy and con-
servatiye one until 1T is today the
second largest village in the State.
Beautifully situated on the historic
Kennebec river. upon a location seem
ingly designed for IL by nature. this
town is destined to become one of the
important cities of Maine.
The town was originally a part of
Canaan, but in the year 1923, 1t was
separated from Canaan and incorpor-
ated under the name of Milburn. This
name 1t bore until 1886 when through
the efforts of the towns people, 1t
was changed to it's present name,
Skowhegan. Skowhegan, pronounced
by the Indians "Skoohegan," signifies
place to watch" 1t was formerly
famous place to catch salmon and
other fish. 1t was a choice spot to
the Kennebec Indians.
Before the works of man had i'm
pressed the scenery, when the island
and rough rocky shores, covered with
woods, were unshorn of their natural
beauty, with the antlered moose gaz-
ing a moment before he fled from the
flashing rapids, and, perhaps, dusky
Indian watching for his finny prey,
the salmon, 1t must have been a glor-
ious view. While the onward march
of civilization has placed it's stamp
upon the landscape, it does not re-
quire a vivid Imagination to see to-
day, in the minds eye, the scenes of
70 years ago.
A large percentage of the inhabi-
tants of Skowhegan are descendants
of those hardy New Englanders to
whom the town owes its existence.
They have listened to many tale of
hardship and suffering of the strng-
giles with the mighty forests. Of he
! lives lost before the mighty Kennebec
was forced to obey the will of man.
/ But they builded better than they
knew little thinking that from their
! little settlement would spring the
magnificent village OF today
The first annual town meeting was
/ held in 1928 and was called to order
by Daniel Steward, Esq, and. the fol-
| lowing gentlemen served as the first
town officers: Moderator, Joseph Pat
ten; town clerk, Samuel Weston;
selectmen and assessors, Samuel Wes-
ton, Benjs min Eaton and joseph Mer-
rll; town treasurer Josiah Parln.
1t is interesting to note the agricul-
tural products for the year 1897 and
compare them with those of today:
Corn, 2919 bushels; wheat 1906; rye,
$40; oats, 1880; beans, 321; peas,
935; barley, 1886; potatoes, 81 S75;
turnips, 715; apples, 1855; wool, a26
pounds; maple sugar, 720; pork, 9O,-
400; beef, 10550; butter, 1866;
cheese, $3.50; hay (English) 2OS4
tons; meadow, II; cider, 22S barrels.
There were 20S horses; Is colts; 145
oxen; 341 cows; 349 other cattle;
1928 sheep and 379 swine.
There were 26 chaises; 7S horse
wagons; one coach; one grist mill;
two saw mills which sawed 10000
feet of boards; one tannery with 10
watts; $15,350 stock in trade; $4,000
money leaned and $1,000 bank stocks.
The first bank was called Skowhe-
gan bank and was situated on the is
land in a small wooden building. 1t
was incorporated March 4, 1888. Capt.
tai, $4,000; discount day, Monday.
/ It's first Officers we're: President, Sam
uel Weston cashier, Samuel Phil
brick; directors, Samuel Weston.
Isaac Farrar, j. G. Neil, Abner Co.
burn, Edmund Pearson, John Ware
and Calvin Selden.
The first school building of note
was Bloomfield academy, incorporated
! in February, 1907. This building was
made of brick and built to accommo-
date 100 pupils. The building today
is in good state of preservation and
still in use as a school building.
The first newspaper was the Som
erset Journal established May 15,
1928 at Norridgewock. In June 1841
/ 1t took the name of 1.-The People s
Press" and in 1845 it was removed to
Skowhegan. In August, 1928, the
Democratic Somerset Republican"
was established at Norridgewock. The
name was changed to The Skowhe-
gan Sentinel" December IL, 1881 and
the office removed to Milburn. In
July, 1871, the Skowhegan Clarion
was commenced by Moses Littlefield.
The Family Physician and Literary
Miscellany" was established in De-
cember, 1S47, by DR.. A. Angler Mann
and it ceased to exist at the end of
one year. In May, 1849, the "Physi-
clan and Down East Screamer' was
established, DR.. A. A. Mann, editor
and publisher. Several other more or
less successful efforts have been made
to establish newspapers in Skowhe-
gan and today she is represented by
The ependent-Reporter," wide
awake weekly of which her citizens
are justly proud.
! The most marked progress made
| by Skowhegan in the way of building
! improvements has been in the past
10 years. She has been seriously