The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-20
NAMES HONORED.
PR|MA DONNA
Her Fame Reaches The
Ends of the Earth
Pennington IL Ready 10 Honor Her
When She Comes A.yIsltIng.

OF Pennington remembers her best
and likes to speak of her, Lillian Nor
ton, announced In the spring as very
likely to take place last fall was
anticipated with great pleasure by
the townspeople, who at once deter
mined to make 1t one OF the happiest
events of happy year, and that 1t
has not materialzed has been a great
disappointment.
The younger generation knows Nor
dica only from newspaper reports and
the word of-mouth of others, for she
mas not visited her birthplace for
good many years. Many Pennington
people have met her and heard her
sing In Boston and New York in re-
cent years, but the majority of her
old-time acquaintance remember her
as they saw her at her last public APP
pearanee in Pennington. which was
in the winter of 1883 and 1884. when
she delighted an audience of her own
people which filled Music hall to the
doors. This was, the writer believes,
on the occasion of her last visit to
her native town. At that time she
gave the proceeds of her concert
which amounted to several hundred
dollars, to the village for the purchase
of iron street lamp-po5ts, with which
oil lamps were used until electric
lights were installed, and some of
them have been used in localities
where there are no electric lights, in
recent years. This was an act of
generosity which has not yet been
forgotten here.
In her younger days when she was
little known, Lillian Norton sang
in the churches in Pennington and
always charmed her hearers. Then
she went away to be trained for the
operate stage, after that she had
wonderful talent had been discovered.
Her parents took her to Boston, and
there her training was begun in the
New England Conservatory of Music,
under James O'Neil Many people
| in town remember when once, years
afterward, she came home for Wis
it, a portion of her worldwide fame
having then been attained. The gem
eral conference was then in session at
the Methodist church, and she gra-
ciously consented to sing at one of
the evening services, which she did,
to the great delight of her listeners.
This was the first real example of her
developed talent that Pennington had,
and it was all sufficient 30 far as
establishing fame at home was con-
cerned She has not been without
honor in her own town since that
day, If indeed she ever was.
Something like twenty years ago
Alexander Forsaith of New York, a
wealthy diamond broker, purchased
tho farm on the Holley road just
above Beckus corner, and a short two
miles from the village, where Madam
Nordica was born, and until two or
three years ago it was his summer
home. Nearly three years ago Mrs
William Baldwin of Dorchester, Mass.
one of Nordicas elder sisters, pur-
chased the home place and presented
it to her famous sister upon her re-
turn from a European trip. The prim.
ma donna at once decided that the
old home should be preserved as near
ly as possible in its original form ant
to use ii as sort of museum II
which to preserve and exhibit tht
many treasures she has accummu
lated, and to carry out this plan wa'
to have been one of the objects OF th'
visit she hoped to make this year
In the spring Mrs. William f. Bald
win and Mrs. George A. Walker o
Dorchester, Mass, sisters of Nordfca
canE. here and began the work of car
ryfng out NordicaS plans. The oil
home was named Morton WScds,
and a tablet has been erected g1vinI
the name and some facts regarding
IDS history, ruBning water Was pu
On and "a number of other tnproVe
Hnents Eere male. Later i'm the sum
mer these two ladies, aaTompanie'
by their elder sister, Mrs. Emilio de
Castillo OF Ias Angeles, Gal, wer
here completing arrangements for tn
expected Homecoming oil their fam
GUS sister, who has not been her
since she was on her wedding tou
; with her first husband, Frederick AL
len Cover, who was wall known II
/. this section of Maine.
Madam Nordica has been marrie
thuuse times Her first husband wa
Frederick Allen Cover, to whom sh
WIS married in Pairs, France, Jan. ~
1883. A Few years later Mr.. COVE
attempted TO cross the English chan
mel in balloon, and never haVlni
been heard from since he is general
" supposed to have lpst his life a
that time. This has sometimes beef
doubted, and there have been storie
within a year to the effect that h
had been seen alive and we'll in In
dia. by former acquaintances, bu
this is not credited in Harrington b.
those who knew both Nordica an
Mrs. Cover.
May 27. 1896 Madam Nordica wa
married to Zoitan Doeme an operate
singer of note. from which she re
ceiyed a divorce in London In 1914
She was married in August of thu
present year to George w. Young,
wealthy New York banker, who II
said to have accumulated millions
He is several years her junior, having
been born in New Jersey. July l
1864. He Is the head of private
banking firm as well as an Officer
and director of many banks in New
York, where he does business.
Madam Nordica now has millions al
her command, and though she Is
not much given to discussing her
plans for the future, it is believed that
she will soon end her operate career
and rest on her honors as it were
and retire to the enjoyment of pri-
vate life with her husband. Hell
friends feel that she has earned a
long rest, and while they delight in
her talent, they will be glad to see