The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-04-17

ing. On that portion through which
Cedar, Congress. Miller, indeed all the
streets lying southerly of Main street
and westerly of Court street now run,
the forest was untouched save here and
there where a little firewood had been
cut. The stumps were still standing on
the premises now occupied by the Pest
Office, the Unitarian and Universaist
churches, the brick schoolhouses, and
the buildings standing in their vicinity:
and indeed the list might be enlarged so
as to embrace the front or back yard Of
nearly every dwelling house in the
village. 1t was no unusual occurrence
for the good men, and women also, of
those days ito sit up o'nights to watch
the burning stumps in their door, yards,
regarding it essential for the safety of
their dwellings SO to do.
Mention has been made of Nesmitb's
corner. 1t is the corner where the
wooden store occupied by Mr.. David
Lancaster stands. 1t derived its name
from James Nesmith, ESQ.,, who erect
ed large two story building upon the
premises now occupied by Mr.. Lancaster
and Mr.. ], C. Thompson adjoining, and
occupied it as dwelling and store. He
was the first trader-there were no mer-
chants then-who opened store in Bel
fast; it was in 1899. The building erect
ed by him was destroyed by fire on the
night of December 29th, 1854 The In
surance Company made good the loss
sustained by the owner of the building,
but were SC well satisfied that it was a
case of spontaneous combustion on the
part OF the tenant that they declined to
make good to him the loss sustained in
the destruction of his goods. He never
ventured on a suit to enforce his claim.
On the westerly side of Main street,
opposite Nesmith's corner, on the site
now covered by a portion of McClin-
tocks' Block, there stood in 1905 one
story wooden building occupied as hat
ter's shop; it was removed soon after
wards. Adjoining it was a one story
dwelling house which after passing
through divers changes and being oc-
cupied for divers purposes, some of them
OF rather questionable character, was
finally burned in January 1850.
On the opposite side of High street on
the site now occupied by the Messrs.
HoWes stood dwelling house built by
George Hopkins; some years later it was
occupied as Tavern; mention will be
made of it hereafter The building now
occupied by the Messrs. H. is part of
the original dwelling house. When built
it stood On high bank; some ten or fif-
teen feet higher than the level of the
street in front; the bank was taken away
and the building let down to its present
place several years ago. While it occu-
pied its original position, and the bank
on which it stood afforded a comfortable
reclining place for the loafers and look
ers on and the boys who were always
ready to keep tally" the street in front
of it was the favorlte battle ground of
the ball-players of that day; not the
players of base ball; that game. COM
pared with the game played by the boys
of 1905, is a "modern invention;" not
an improvement on the old one those
boys would say were they here to speak
for themselves; but one after another
they have reached the home-goal and
counted one on Deaths tally; with them
the game of life was long since finished.