The Republican journal., 1913-05-22
do to keep from starving" "All poor?


not one rich man among your -''Wall
yes; there is one rich man-very rich;
Squire S." "What do you mean by
very rich?" was the inquiry. "Wall,
was the reply, esquire S. can afford to
have pork with his beans every day in
the year."
This year Mr.. johnson (R. C.) erected
the large wooden building, since that
time surrounded by brick wall and now
the Phoenix House. When built the
lower story was finished for stores; Mr..
johnson occupied the southwardly and
Benjamin Whittier the northwardly
store; in the latter the Post Office was
kept for awhile. Judge Johnson's Office
was in the second story; he continued to
occupy the same room until 1929, when
he removed to "Williamson's Fire-proof
Block" the same building, although
materially changed since that time, in
which Hon. Joseph Williamson now has
his office.
This year, for the first time, move
ment was made looking to the separation
of the District of Maine from Massa-
chusetts and the organization of Maine
as sovereign State. The question of
separation was submitted to the people
of the District, and the result was adj
verse to the proposition. The vote in
this place was, in favor of separation
ninety five, against it sixty-five total
vote, one hundred and sixty Alfred
johnson Jr., and John Merriam were
elected delegates to attend Convention
at Brunswick for the purpose of forming
Constitution should the decision prove
to be in favor of separation.
The winter Of 1857 was the severest
which had been experienced for many
years in this locality; the spring succeed
ing was cold and backward Fears of a
coming famine in the land were preva-
lent and strong indications that the
"Ohio Fever would break out with
more than former virulence The month
of July, however, brought the ong-look-
ed for showers and sunshine; the face of
Nature was once more wreathed in
smiles. The rich yield of Autumn fur
nished fresh assurance that the Good
God in the manifold distribution of his
blessings had not forgotten this portion
of his foot-stool. New courage was in
fused into the hearts of the people and a
new impulse given to business of every
description.
This year, 1877, for the first time in
this place, religious services were held
by members of the denomination known
as Friends, or Quakers. Most promi-
nent among those whom the Spirit
moved to speak on the occasion was
Anna Almy, from Providence, R. l.; a
young lady who won all hearts by her
personal charms, by the pure, almost
divine spirituality of her utterances, and
who left behind her many warm friends
''almost persuaded to be Christians" ac-
cording to her pure, peaceful, simple
faith. All were not brought, however,
within the influence of her teachings, for
this was the year of the ''Smuggler's
Fight"
The leaven which had leavened the
whole lump during the late war had not
lost it's virtue. 1mportations from the
British Provinces in violation of the reve-
nue. laws still continued, although in
smaller quantities and at greater hazard
of seizure. Information was commune
Gated to the revenue officer at Castine-
this was before we had Il Custom House
here that quantity of rum in hogs
heads, imported without payment of
duties, was concealed in certain premises
near Puddle Dock, not far from the spot
where the railroad turn-table is now To-
Gated. An officer of the Customs, in
company with some two or three stout,
resolute men as aids-men to whom a
fight was as good as a feast-made their
appearance at one of our wharves one
afternoon in chebacco-boat. Their in
formation was 30 definite as to the place
where the rum was deposited, that there
was no difficulty or delay in finding it;
they found lbut one hogshead. however,
and that was forthwith seized and de.
posted in the hold of the vessel. The
wind having died away there was no
movement made for return to Castine.
Soon after dark a half-dozen men
might have been seen vending their way
in different directions towards the wharf
where the vessel laid. All was quiet on
board when they arrived at the spot, and
the natural inference was that the crew
had gone up.street. The matches were
quietly removed and some of the stray
glers got into the hold while the others
were occupied in making preparationa