The Republican journal., 1911-06-08
A May Day in Maine.

To the poets enquiry What Is 50 rare as a
day in June?" the response might be made
that the May days this season are equally rare.
Despite a long continued drouth the grass
is green everywhere, the young foliage and
the fruit blossoms are seen at their best, and
there is no fairer landscape under the sun
than Maine presents today. A recent ride to
Bangor bv auto added confirmation to life
long belief in the scenic attractions of Maine
and in the tonic value of the ar that comes in
from the sea. ripples the surface of her inland
waters. or is laden with the perfume of spruce
and pine. The route up river was via Sears
port, Stockton Springs. Frankfort and Winter
port, the ride along the shore road atfording
fine views of our beautiful bay and revealing
many charming sites for summer homes on
the east side. Ascending hill on leaving
Stockton village we came upon section of
road where no Injunction to the Chauffeur to go
slow is needed, and that presents a serious
problem to the road builder. At frequent in
tervals the granite which underlies this section
crops out crossing the road nearly at right
angles in veins foot or two in width. The
only remedy would seem to be change in the
location of the road. At Frankfort the ruins
of the recent fire were viewed. Smoke was
coming from the debris of tle store of the
Frankfort Supply Co., of which nothing re-
NAMED but cellar filled with tangled mass
of iron. OF the Treat mansion adjoining moth
ing was left but the cellar walls and the cement
walk leading to the front door. That the fine
house adjoining the store on the south was
saved seemed little less than a miracle. The
sidewalk on the opposite side OF the street
from the store was burned, and it must have
taken good work to save the buildings that
side Passing the clubhouse of the Bangor
yacht club it was noticed that few of the fleet of
| power boat had been put overheard. The scene
of the late fire was visited, but the devastation
caused has been so fully described and illus
trated that further detail at this time is not
needed. The interest of the Belfast visitors
centered in the Universalist church of which
Rev Ashley A. Smith the pastor, and in
the Congregational church of which the Rev.
George w. Field was the pastor for SO many
fruitful years. Little was left of the latter
church, but the two brick towers of the Uni
versaist church were apparently intact and
/ the side walls were standing. Work had be-
gun on the rebuilding of this editice. A stag
/ ing was up at one end and there were piles of
brick that had been taken from the ruins,
cleaned and made ready for use again. On one
street the residences on both sides were burned
clean, only the cellars remaining to show where
the homes had been Here and there in the
burned district were temporary one-story
wooden buildings, and few new residences to
take the place of those burned We're in course
of construction. 1t a sad sight, and the
disaster was one that would appall less enter
prising city than Bangor. After dinner at the
Bangor House, which has been painted bril-
liant red since the writer last saw it. the car was
started for home, taking different route from
that followed in going up, and divarging to OBJ
tam view that compels the admiration of all
who look upon it. From high rounded bluff
that slopes down to the water in front and to
wooded shores on each side you look down up
on Swan Lake, and in the distance, between
the hills at its foot, you have glimpse of the
blue waters of the bay. This is the place re-
Gently mentioned by A. Stinson in write Up
of Swan Lake as sold to Mrs. Steinhart of
/ New York, and who intends building sum-
mer home there. Stakes have already been
driven to mark the dimensions of the build
ing. The ride along the shore of the lake, with
the cottages nestled at the waters edge on one
side and forest growth on the other side, is
most attractive, and soon we are crossing
( the Passagassawaukeag and are at home again.
! May 49, 1911.