The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-05-18
SOMERSET HAS A
VIOLIN MAKER
Henry Harris of Mercer
Only One in Vicinity
Secret Of Good Violin Is In Choosing
the Wood.-His Son, Arthur, a Tai
eEIted ViOlinist, Has One of His
Fathers Make.

people who play the violin as a .pa~
time and for amusement, but there
is only one man in the county VIII
makes violins. He is Henry Harris
of Mercer. He is 70 years old now
and the violins that he has made are
being used daily in various parts
of the world. Some of his instru-
ments have been played before
presidents, lords and distinguished
men of this country. Living in Bos-
ton Is Arthur Harris, son of Mr.. Har-
ris, who plays the violin in the Colo
NAL theatre. For twenty years he
has used violin that was made by
his father. He was visiting one sum-
mer at the farm home in Mercer
when he pulled out from under. the
couch this violin. 1t was covered
with dust but the boy tuned 1t up
and started to play. So fascinated
with it was he that he jumped up and
ran out where his father was and
told him that he must have that vio
lin. He said he had been using be-
fore this a violin that cost him $500.
The boy took the violin home with
him and has used it all in all of his
musical work. He plays for the
Vanderbilts, the Goulds and the
Rockefellers in New York and at
Lakewood, New Jersey.
Mr.. Harris Is genius but rightly
so as his father, Caleb Harris, late
of Monmouth, was considered one of
the ablest men of the State in his
time. He was poet and his verses
are now found in nearly everybodys
scrap book throughout the State and
especially Monmouth and Mercer.
One of his poems that spread through
the State was read and talked about
by many was Chimney Corner
Heroes. or the Braves What Didn't
Go to Madawaska." 1t tells of three
men who lived in Monmouth just be-
fore the Aroostook war. These men
had Dragged how If there should
come a war they would fight for
their country, but when the Aroos-
took war broke out these men hied
themselves to Mexico and hid in a
cave.
Henry Harris made his first violin
when he was IA years old. He had
learned 10 play the violin before this
and wanting one very much he found
that he would have to make one II
he got it. When finished DR.. Holmes,
then editor of the Maine Farmer pro-
nounced it as good sounding violin
as he had ever heard. Soon after
that he began to get orders for these
instruments. He has several on
hand now. On going to his house
Saturday the writer saw violin
laying on the organ, another on the
table, and several hanging on the
walls. In showing the violins, Mr..
Harris pulled two more out from
under the lounge. The last one that
he made was about two years ago.
He was asked If he was going to
make any more and his reply was
mo"
Mr.. Harris considers that in MAX
ing a good violin the judgment of
the maker should be the best in
choosing the right kind of wood. His
violins are made of maple and spruce.
The under part and sides with the
hoop and neck of maple, and the top
of spruce. He plans to choose the
maple from one tree and also the
spruce. 1t Is the hardest work he
says to get good spruce material for
the violin, 1t sometimes taking years
to find the right tree.
Two sons bless Mr.. and Mrs. Har-
ris life in the fullest sense, Arthur
of Boston spends his summers with
his parents. He alone has distin-
guished himself and family, not only
being an expert violinist, but he Is q
composer of music and his. art can
not be surpassed by any amateur ar
| fist in the State. His work In this
consists of oil paintings and In the
home In Mercer one room has been
allotted for this beautiful art work
There is a picture of the White noun
tains In the summer time and an
other one showing the snow capped
mountains and hills in the winter
The whole room speaks of the beau
ties Of nature as portrayed by Mr.
Harris on the canvas.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harris have pleas
ant home about two miles from Mer
Ger village. They live comfortabl,
and alone during the winters ant
carry on their farm. They are nov
looking ahead with pleasure to tn
summer when their children will
come to spend these months wit
them. Though 70 years old strengt
yet marks the steps of this old mar
His fruit fields of strawberries car
ried on with his own hands bring hir
good income each year and in tn,
| u,orly ba hoo shown rem a rkahIa re