Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-12

tains and at that time there were IS
ships, 80 briggs, barks and schooners
under the command of Searsport mas
tcrS
| There is said to be but one Sears
port in the world, q most unusual
thing A well-known retired ship
master, who has sailed the seas over
recently remarked this to the Cores
poEdent of the Journal, adding ION
one occasion when in Singapore, 1 had
to cable home and said to the clerk in
the cable office, send this to Searsport,
! L. S. A" Is there no other address,
he asked. mo, there is but one Sears
port in the world" The, message thus
| sent in that far oft land was received
| liz the lttle town way down on the
| coast Of Maine. In later years many
| Searsnort captains have been associ
aztec with steam ships and at present
seven arc in command of steamers in
| the service of the Amercan-Haw
Steamship Co.. running between New
York, San Francisco and Honolulu.
This town is something Of q summer
resort although it is mostly visited
by former residents o. their connec-
tons ard has not in any way become
what many OF the Maine towns have.
| the playground OF rich outsiders. The
" Summer visitor" is most often an
old friend and everybody extends
hospitality for which the town is noted.
| The advent of the Il. & j. railroad
| a few years ago gave an impetus to
| business ard two large fertilizer plants
| have been erected along the shores OF
| the harhor q large coal pocket and
storage at Mack's Point and the town
| will doubtless become the southern
terminal OF The Bangor & Aroostook
r. +. Co.
A Board of Trade was organized
about year ago and is doing rnuch to
| advance the prosperity OF the town.
Senator Benjamin Frarklil Colcord.
a retired ship-master is president OF
| tho board
SO much for the present history of
the town on this the 65th anniversary
it is interesting, however, to lock
hack to its beginning, and the follow
ing interesting account of the first
town meeting was furnished through
the courtesy of Judge j. w. Black
post master Of the town and one we'll
vecsed in its history.
The town of Searsport was set off
from Prospect. and became incorpor-
lated Feb. l3. 1915. having been known
up to that time as West Prospect The
first town meeting was held in the
Methodist church. The warrant for it
had been posted Feb. DIST, 1S45, by
Constable W. p. Burrill. one in the
store of Smart &. Cole. one in DodgeS
. Tavern and one in each of the school
! houses in districts one and two, call
ing the meeting in the Methodist
vestry.
The meeting was called to order by
- u. Dickerson, ]. P. by petition OF
- II. w. Havener. Ebenezcr Curtis, AL
!. bert Carver, Nelson Smart. Amos II.
y Ellis John Gilmore, Henry O. Smith,
=. sherman. Jr.. Samuel Matthews.
:. Phillip, Gilkey. Jr.. Jeremiah Merri-
s, thew. Ephram Colson. Jr.. Isaac Gil
: key. J. r. Cole. Richard Smart. David
b Nickcls, Isaac Carver Joseph Field,
4 Reuben Dyer. Jr.. and BENJAMIN Place.
J. (Of the petitioners rot one is living
3 today)
!. Joseph p. Pendleton was chosen
!, moderator and Amos H. Ellis cler.
|. Roy. Samuel Thurston was chosen
a chaplain ard offered prayer.
!: There had. previous to the meeting,
!, teen received 4 letter from David
9 Sears of Boston, summer resident
!. of the town, for whose ancestors il
: had been decided to name the town
Z and the following is a copy of the
, original letter.
Boston, Feb %. 1916.
Gentlemen
\ I respectfully acknowledge the hon
= or you have conferred by adopting as
st the name of your town, that of its
y ancient proprietor In consideration OF
!. the compliment and for the perputuity
r of the name of Searsport, 1 tender to
: yonr acceptance one thousand dollars
: to be expended in the erection of q
! town hall for municipal purposes.
If this should be agreeable to you
a record of the fact together witt
this communication, will be entered
upon the towr books in testimony OF
the friendly disposition which exists
between us. My estate of Brigadier's
Island lies within the boundary OF
SaarSpnrf