Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-07-27
HAuNTs OF HAWTHORNE
ZANE FURNISHED HIS EARLI-
EST INSPIRATION.
rur HAwTHoENE HOME AT RAYMOND
his FAvoRrTE OCCUPATIONS AS
pLAyMATEs REMEkBER HIM.


From the Letrtsf0u JOURNAL
:, was a charming cross-country trip
..,, the writer recently took in company
-,,,b that sterling guide and philosopher,
~, W. stevens, postmaster .. the village
ssorsv. The cruise was made to Sebago
"a RAYMOND, and from early morning
.r,i, he shadows Of evening commenced
A. Ieng,hen, there was not an idle moment
an incident that was not filed with
human interest,".
:, was amidst the scenes where Ma
.hsniel Hawthorne spent his boyhood
a.vs and where the first inspiration Of
,vr.s scarlet Letter. was received. Here
;stbe Indian image cliff and cave where
The great writer often sat and unused,
and but a few miles distant, in Thomas
rond. was the great ledge which was his
t.yorite fishing ground. Whether on
,,nd or water, every spot in this vicinity
4. ballowed with the deed and memories
~ Americas greatest romance writer.
The stately old mansion which was the
family house still stands In the little
hamlet. but for many years it has served
asa temple OF the living God. Lake and
mountain, river and stream - all are Of
interest in this charming spot. No
wonder that the budding genius OF Haw-
thorne found inspiration for many of
his widest flights Of imagination, and
here many OF his most happy years were
passed.
The start was made from Gray village,
and behind fast nag the miles were
reeled of until the Little Sebago, with
its cluster OF summer cottages, was
reached This place is within the town
limits Of Gray, aud it is fast coming to the
from, as a summer resort. Already score
or more of tasty cottages have been built,
and each year sees an increase In the
number.
The little village OF North windham
proved to be one OF the most charming
spots OF the ride. 1t Is a typical New
England hamlet and once was the scene
OF great business enterprises. In 1851 a
great freshet swept away the dam and all
the mills, and from that blow the village
never fully recovered. 1t Is situated on a
level and sandy plain, the houses and
gardens are neatly kept, and on the whole
may be called one OF the most charming
spots OF its kind in Maine. And then we
passed Raymond village and came to the
isolated spot where stands the stately boy
hood home OF Nathaniel Hawthorne.
COMING OF THE HAwTHoRNEs.
The coming OF Hawthorne to Raymond,
when a child, is surrounded with much
romantic interest. An ancestor named
Richard Manning had been sent here
several years previous, and liking the
situation, he built home for himself and
settled down. Manning had purchased
one-third OF the township from the pro-
prietors. In this transaction he was act
ing simply as an agent for other parties,
but in short time he bought the others
out and came sole possessor OF the great
estate. BY these transactions Manning
became the most important figure in this
section, and this influence he continued to
hold until his death, although he spent
but small portion OF his time in the
place.
Then came his son, Richard Manning, jr.,
and this gentleman built the house which
still stands but q few rods from the
Hawthorne home and out-dates it by
several years. His father had built his
home some three or four miles away, but
the son decided on the spot where the
Manning house still stands. He married
an estimsbie young lady and became even
more important a. citizen than his
father, who had died in Windham on his
way from Salem.
Mrs. Hawthorne, mother OF Nathaniel,
was sister OF Manning, and was living in
a condition Of poverty in Salem. Her
husband had died OF yellow fever on board
ship in full sight OF his own home and
wife, while entering the harbor, and the
widow was left penniless to care for her
children. 1t was then that her brother
built the Hawthorne home in this place,
and invited his sister and nephews to
come here and be cared for by him. The
oner was accepted and the Hawthornes
became part and parcel OF what is now
the town OF Cssco. In those days it was
all Raymond.
While the immediate condition OF Mrs.
hawthorne and her young children was
Deferred by their removal to Raymond,
they were soon doomed to q severe reversal
In the death OF Manning at the compars-
lively early age OF forty-seven years. He
LETT fine property to his wife, Susan,
who was shortly again married, and this
time to Francis Ridesux, musician, who
mad fought with Napoleon Bonaparte at
the battle OF Waterloo. They continued
TO live in the Manning house until the
death OF his wife, and then Rideaux be-
came teacher Of French in Portland and
other cities until age crept on, when he
returned and died with his daughter in
the old Manning home.
Justice has never been done to that
part OF Hawthorne's life that was passed
IN the wilds of Maine. 1t was the forma-
tive period OF his character, and here
amidst these charms OF nature his young
xxa ~.