The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-10-17
Along the Water Front.
What is Going on Today in Contrast with
Olden Times.

DuSineSSs Auu no one expecLS TO see announcer
vessel built here. There are few survivors of
the old ship carpenters. joiners, spar makers
and calkers; and one reason why Mr.. Gilchrest
gave up the railway was the inability to get
men here to do the repair work. This is the
common experience of all the Maine ports in
which shipbuilding was formerly the principal
industry. The sailing ship is thing of the
past, the big coal carrying schooners are being
superseded by steamers, and steamers are do
ing most of the coastwise traffic. While we
who lived in the sailing ship era can but regret
the disappearance of the noble craft that
carried the Stars and Stripes to every civilized
port of the world, with their sturdy command
ers and able crews, a like transition has taken
place on the land. Gone is the old stage
coach, and in its place we have railroads,
trolley lines and automobiles. This by way of
introduction to some notes on the Belfast
water front of today, familiar to the writer
from early boyhood.
| The Coe-Mortimer plant, just above the
lower bridge. includes an old shipyard, and one
vessel built there. the ship Sportsman, is re-
called as she had for figurehead life size
figure of sportsman with his gun and game
bags, carved by Rufus Emery of Bucksport,
who is still living. The Sportsman was under
charter to the government during the Civil
war, and with cargo of powder laid for many
months at the mouth of the Mississippi river.
1t was a very profitable charter for her own
ers. The Coe-Mortimer Co. bought what
improbable piece of land, and are now build
ing an addition to their main building that
will double the capacity of their fertilizer
plant, with a corresponding increase in their
working force. Aside from the benefits to the
community from the establishment here of
this large and growing industry the improve
ment made in heretofore unsightly place
should be considered.
Just below the bridge is the plant of the Lu-
bee Sardine Co., on land, and water, where
formerly was the Holt wharf, place of con-
siderable commercial activity in its day, and
where later for many years, Sam" Holt main
tanned boat landing and built and repaired
boats. Herr we have today another important
and growing industry, that is already cramped
for room. 1t is having an abundant supply of
fish this season and in addition to the usual
brands is putting up some choice goods in
olive oil. The fish are brought from Castine
or Islesboro and canned when only few hours
from the water and in their preparation the
utmost care is used
Near by is Puddledock, now separated from
the upper harbor by the railway embankment,
but in olden days place where vessels were
built and considerable business was DONE The
schooner Jennie Miller was built here about
1900, near where the railroad turntable now
stands. 1t is only question of time-and it
ought to be short time-when Puddledock
will be filled in from the railway embankment
to the shore, as more yard room is needed by
the railroad.
The improvements made by the Consumers
Fuel Co., successors to the Swan & Sibley Co.,
dealers in coal and wood, will be reported later.
At what was formerly the Lane wharf, next
below, there is something doing. Mr.. C. E.
McIntire who has a large fishing station on
Outer Long Island, with other stations in that
vicinity, is getting ready to do wholesale
business here in dry and picked fish, and may
also do some business in fresh fish. He has eX-
tended the wharf so feet into the harbor, with 80
front, and slip near the southern end. On this
extension there will be two story building, 7s
by 49.9 feet, the second story the shore side
projecting feet over the first story. 1t will
be connected from the second story with the
old storehouse, which has been raised and
repaired. This building is 100 by % feet, and
an addition of 80 feet has been built to it,
which will be connected with the boat house
adjoining on the north. All the buildings will
have fiat roofs on which will be flakes for dry
ing fish. speciality will be made of boneless
fish packed in boxes. The building now occu-
pied by Mr.. Titherington as a machine shop
will be fitted up for Offices for Mr. McIntire
and the Consumers Fuel Co,
Mr.. McIntire hopes to interest parties in
running steam er down the Reach, over what
it would seem must prove a paying route.
Leaving Belfast the steamer could land at
Warren's, Islesboro. Bucks Harbor Eggemog-
gin, North Deer Isle, Sargentville, Brooklin
Naskeag, North Swans Island, where there is
an unused steamer wharf, the route ending at
Long Island. This would be a four hours run
for a 12-knot boat, SO that people from these
points could leave for Belfast in the morning
have time to do their trading here and return
home in the evening. With such route es-
tablished business would be brought to Belfast
which now goes elsewhere.
The Duplex Roller Bushing Plant is now
owned by the Waldo Trust Co., and will no
doubt be utilized at an early day. 1t is thought
that the main building may be occupied as
shoe factory and it is understood that there
are negotiations pending for the iron foundry.
There is also brass foundry and galvaniz
ing plant, and it would seem that here is a
good opening for business. At present the
boat shop, which is we'll fitted for work in that
line. with railway in the center. the shed ad-
joining and the blacksmith shop are used by
W. A. Macomber for the storing of gasolene
boats, from the largest cruisers to the little
open launches.
notable improvement on the water front
is the large building erected by Cooper & Co.