The Republican journal., 1913-06-26
# Belfast for Half a
Century.
BY AN OLD SETTLER
(Hon. VIM. G. Crosby.)
CHAPTER Xxx. (lS26-7.1

1926, OF public character was the pub
lie Installation of the officers elect of
Belfast Lodge at the Unitarian Meeting
house on the 18th of February. An adj
dress was delivered by Hiram O. Alden,
Esq, five hundred copies of which were
printed for distribution among the Fra
ternity. The officers installed were
Samuel Tyler, W. NJ, Benz. Kelley, S.
w, Oshea Page, G. W., Robert Emery,
Treasurer, Simeon Foss, Sec, Samuel
Haynes, S. D., j. I. Quimby, j. D,
Luther Gannett, S. S., Joseph Bray, j s.,
William Holt, Tyler, Manasseh Sleeper,
Marshal. The orator on the occasion is
the sole survivor OF the parties most i'm
mediately connected with it.
The first fire of the year occurred on
the first day of the same month; at
O'Clock in the morning the mercury was
at twenty four degrees below zero Mr.
Luther Gannett, living on the east side
of the river, during the night preceding
became the happy proprietor of large
litter of pigs. To protect them from
the extreme cold number of bricks
were heated and placed III the stye; the
straw in it took fire, the fire was COM
muricated to the BAN, the barn and a
horse and COW in it were burned, and
there was very perceptible odor of
roast pig about the premises.
On the 2lst of June the last number of
the Hancock Gazette and Penobscot Pa
triot was issued. it berg the completion
of its sixth volume, and on the 18th it re-
appeared as the Belfast Gazette.
The anniversary of John the Baptist,
the Oath, was celebrated by the Masonic
Fraternity. Delegations from the sew
eral Lodges in the county were present
and an Address was delivered by Rev.
William A. Drew, now of Augusta, who
was at that time pastor of the Universal
list society in this place.
Fourth of july was ushered in with
the usual bell-ringing, accompanied by
tin horns and India-crackers, and a
party, not large but hilarious, dined at
the Eagle Hotel; the other services of
the day were of rather unique character.
A. eight clock in the morning sermon
was preached at the Methodist Chapel
by Bishop George of the Methodist Epis-
copal Connection. At 10 an Grafton was
delivered at the Unitarian meeting house
by Mr. Wales Of the Bangor Theological
=, ,,nl, &c al1
contribution was taken in aid of the
American Colonization Society In the
afternoon a sermon was preached at the
Conference-room.
There was a public celebration at
Searsmont which was numerously at
tended by people from this and neighbour
ing towns. The Declaration of hide
pendence was read by Hon. John Wilson,
and an GRAFTON delivered by Hon. Alfred
johnson, Jr. There was public dinner
and latter tie cloth was removed the
usual exercises followed. There was a
celebration also at Brooks, in whic h
many Of our townsmen participated.
The Declaration was read by Phneas
Ashuun, Esq, Grafton by Rev, Jesse
Briggs. There was a dinner, followed
by the regular 49, the only sentiment
volunteered possessed the rare II crit of
originality and savored strongly Of the
shop: Enemies to Liberty may they be
latheret with aqua forts and shaved
with handsaw." Palermo and Mont
Vile celebrated the afternoon with hail
storm, which swept over territory about
two m les in length and one in width scat
tering halstones the size of bullets, and
demoli shing most Of the window glass
within its path. Taking the exercises of
the day in this section as a whole, Their e
certalrly was no lack of variety.
Immediately following the Fourth came
Cook kimball from Halowell' and S.
tablished the first book bindery we ev err
had here. He was good workman, but
there vas little work for him to do
specimens of his workmanship n y be
met with occasionally in some of our old
libraries; half bound in sheep with lea tn
er corners was the prevailing style.
During a portion of this year the
Steamer Patent, Captain Cram, was
plying between Bath and Eastport, touch
ing at this place; her first trip to the
east was made early in June, her last to
the West about the middle of November.
She came very near making her last trip
for all time on the 23d of August She
arrived here on that day from Eastport
and left for the west about eight o'clock
in the evening with fifty passengers.
She had reached point near the Bluff
when size came in collision with the
steam-brig New York, Capt. Harrod,
bound hither. One of her wheels was
smashed, her mainmast broken into
three pieces, two of which fell on deck,
and she was in other points severely in
jured. A number of the passengers
were on deck at the time Of the COLI ion,
but no one seriously injured; some OF
them were knocked overheard, but were
rescued without suffering any great
detriment from their involuntary salt
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