The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-04-17
Annals of Belfast for Half a
Century.
BY AN OLD SETTLER
(Hon. VIM. G. Crosby.)
CHAPTER l.. (1S05.)


volume relating to the history of Bel
fast occupied forty-two pages. In his
preface to this little volume the author
remarks that should this sketch pre-
serve single incident, or material, suit
able to be used hereafter when the his
tory of the State shall be written, this
essay i'll not have been altogether in
vain" The compiler of these annals
has no higher object in view.
The history of Belfast is yet to be
written. The preparation of that work
is already in able hands; its appearance
is anxiousy awaited by all who cherish a
laudabe pride in the past and present OF
the home of their nativity or adoption.
The History of Maine, from the date of
its discovery, A. d. 1902, to the date of
its separation from Massachusetts, A.
D. 1920, written by Hon. William D.
Williamson, published in 1882, has stood
the test of criticism for forty years, and
is still recognized as authority, and as
one, to say the least, of the abiest and
most accurate State Histories that have
ever issued from the press; we are fortu-
nate in having for the future historian
of Belfast the nephew of the historian
of Maine.
The compiler of these annals was born
in Belfast in 1905, and with tie excep-
ton of occasional temporary absences
this has always been his home. He
thinks that under this state of facts he
may, without subjecting himself to the
imputation of vanity, rightfully make
..iaim to the title he assumes, that of
s'An Old Settler" There are but few
left who can show better title to the ap-
pellation. The generation to which he
belongs is rapidly joining
1.-The innumerable caravan which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall
take
His chamber in the silent halls of DEATH
In few years there will be few left
who can write or speak from personal
recollection of the events that transpired
in this place during the first two decades
Of the current century; that those events
may become matter Of local history, not
left to float in fragments on the dim,
misty sea of tradition, is the ruling mo-
tive of the compiler in undertaking this
work. To the generation now immersed
in the business cares of life, and the
generation not yet entered upon them.
the object may seem hardly worth the
trouble. 1t will be otherwise with both
as the time draws near when the curtain
shall fall that hides forever from mental
qision the shadowy Past, and the sad
next rises it will be upon the limitless
Future.
The compiler will not undertake to
speak with entire confidence, from per
sonal recollection, of the condition of
things or the events that occurred in Bel
East during the year 1906; for during the
portion of that year that elapsed after he
assumed the burthen and responsibilities
of citizenship the larger portion of his
time was devoted to cultivating the ac-
s3uaintance of his mother and making the
BEST use he could for his physical develop
ment of the weapons which God and ma
ture had put into his hands," Even of
that year, however, he does not speak
without authority; for he is able to call
to his aid tae memory of his earliest
friend-next to his father and mother
our own highly esteemed and venerable
fellow citizen. Mr.. William Quimby, who
still hale ard vigorous, mind and body, |
although he has lived through his four
score years does not fird "their strength,
labor and SORROW" notwithstanding the |
prediction of the Pisa lmist to the con-
trary. He was born ir Lebanon, N. H.,
IN 1892, came to Belfast in 1904, and dur
Ang all that time his home has been here.
IN 1906. the year after Mr.. Quimby
came to Belfast, the year with which
these annals commence, the entire popu-
Lation of the town was about 900; it was
245 in 1850. eta in 1900, and 1859 in 1910,
according to the census taken in those
several years. The whole number of
buildings, houses, barns, shops included,
within the limits Of the village, was AZ;
of this number, 80 were dwelling houses.
By the FERN village is meant the terri
tory bounded by Fields Hill on the
north, he Miller, or rockingham lot
81 che south, Wilson, Hill on the west,
AND the river on the east. With the ex-
.eption of the cleared land in the vi
cinity OF the corner, Nesmith's Corner
it was called, the point where High and
Main streets intersect, and the further
exception of strip of land bordering on
The river on it's eastern side, and an oc-
SEASONAL "clearing" of few acres on
the roads leading through and from the
village, the entire territory of the town
was covered by the original, unbroken
forest. On that portion through which |
Church street now passes and on a strip
of land lying on each side of Main street
as far westerly as Wilson's Hill, al
though the forest trees had been felled
and the land partially cleared up, the
:stumps of the trees were still remain