The Republican journal., 1914-12-03

| was the regular CrdVelleu fouIe " Ia"
gor, coming out on the old Staples road
to Mason's Mills. One can still drive
some distance over its grass-grown
length. The land on which is the old
cellar was owned in those early days by
Jacob Eames, the grandfather of the
late Mr.. George Holmes, and was sold by
him to Capt William Ryan, the grand
father of the late Capt. George F. Ryan.
Capt Ryan occupied the house. the Gel
lar of which recently aroused our curlos-
ity, until the family removed to the
homestead of Mrs. Ryan's father, Eph-
rain McKeen, which still stands oppo-
site the Osborne home.
The old house on the hill, which was
two stories on the front, sloped down to
one story at the back and commanded
view of Belfast, the bay and the sur
rounding country, which anyone VINO
may visit the site upon which it stood
will admit is one of the most beautiful in
this vicinity. Mrs. Osborne when child
was often at the house, which was then
occupied by the family of Harry Chap
man. She was a young girl when the
house was burned, the fire having been
set by brand from the burning house
of Horatio Spicer, which stood below 1t
on the hill, The house of William Pat
terson, which still stands and is known
as the old Patterson house, was the
scene of the first wedding in Belfast, for
in it William Patterson was married to
Marv Mitchell. From this house one gets
the finest view to be had from any house
now standing on the hill, and the road
over Patterson Hill is known as one OF
most beautiful walks or drive near the
CITY. The land once owned by Jacob
Eames and by Capt. VIM. Ryan is now
owned by Capt. Osborne and the Patter-
shall heirs. Mrs. Osborne was the
daughter of Capt. Doan Pattershall and
was married to Capt. Osborne fifty -four
wears ago. She can remember when the
Upper Bridge, in the days of the late Sa-
lathiel Nickerson, ]. Y. McClintock and
others, was a stirring place of shipyards
and ship building. Many vessels were
launched there, sometimes two In one
day, Dozens of vessels in week sailed
up the river to Citypoint. On one OF
the new vessels, The Abigail, which was
built for Mrs. Osborne's father, and
which was launched with all sails set,
she, then little girl, was launched and
made the trip to Citypoint On the re-
turn trip she was set ashore at Beaver
Tail, then high promontory, and walk
ed over home. very proud and happy
child.
Other anecdotes and bits of informa-
tion were given me by these kind friends,
and hope to use these in another artl-
Gle at some future time. Retur ing
home filled with thoughts of these old
days of shipbuilding and prosperity along
the picturesque banks of the river, am
reminded that, impossible as it seems,
there were vessels built and launched at
about this same time on the now shallow
river between Citypoint and the Head OF
the Tide. AS far up as Marsh Creek the
old wharves are still to be seen, and the
late Capt. Phineas Pendleton of Sears
mort has himself told US that he was the
first to launch vessel at this place.
In an old deed from Daniel Clary to
John Russ, dated 1907, we find the fol-
lowing description of part of the road
between Citypoint and the Head of the
Tide, which is the road still in use. In
the deed Mr.. Clary relinquishes all
other privileges belonging to the prem
ises excepting two roads. one OF which
is thus described: "Also one other road
running westerly four rods wide, from
said Russ house until it strikes the
water. which roads are to be forever
kept free for public use." This road be-
gins at our residence on the corner,
which was the old Russ homestead, and
| ''strikes the water" at Marsh Creek.
These shipbuilding days were, of course,
before the railroad and carriage road
bridges were constructed across the Pas
sagassawaukeag river here-and also be-
fore the capital "P'' was removed from
! City Point. In former days the village
has been known as Clary's Point, Russ
Point and City Point-but always until
the present time it has maintained its
dignity and its capital ''P."
IT. NEWELL.