Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-15
Story of Newport.

Newport in Penobscot County is 100
years old and was incorporated June
IA, 1914. Preparations for a centen-
NAL celebration Saturday have been
engaging the attention of the leading
citizens for weeks and pleasant wea-
Their Saturday and Sunday Will find
thousands in the town for a genuine
Old Home day and celebration.
A few hardy pioneers had penetrat-
ed the wilderness of central Maine
years before. They had hewed their
way into the forests and started set
Elements. Small mills sprang UP on
the streams, at the falls on the Sa-
basticook that flows through the pres
ent village. In a few years the set
Element had become permanent and
elearings in the forest provided homes
for new corners.
William Martin, Isaac Lawrence,
Nathaniel Burrill, John Whiting, DAN
lei Bicknell, Flam Pratt and John Ire
land were among the first adventur-
ers in the town. going from Bloof-
field which is now a part of Show
hogan. Benjamin Shepard had ac-
quired title to the lands of the tract
and it was called East Pond Planta-
ton about six years.
Newport has always been progress
sive and patriotic. sending its quota
of soldiers to the Union armies during
the Civil War and being a loyal cor-
snunity. Sebasticook Lake, a beauti-
full sheet of water about Is miles In
circumference, is well populated every
summer and Camp Benson is thriv-
ing summer resort. This contributes
ihn,- la nrtt -
munity.
Several small industries have been
located along the river continuously
ever since the small mills were oper-
ated and among the number are a
weolen mill. condensed milk factory.
moccasin factory. as well as wood
working shops and quarrying and cut
ting granite.
Newport gained rapidly In the first
40 years of its career and took on
genuine boom when railroad facilities
were established. 1t is 25 miles from
Bangor on the western margin of Pc
nobscot county, at the junction of the
main line of the Maine Central and
the Sebasticook and Moosehead
branch The main Travelled route from
the central part of the State to thu
| North woods and lakes is through
the town and has been contributing
cause to its prosperity.
The towns population now Is about
1900 and its valuation nearly q mil
lion. There are more than 500 voters
on the list, Its business and residen-
tial sections are well built and we'll
ordered, its citizens are alive and
creditable in all their dealings.
Judge William H. Mitchell is pre-
pairing a comprehensive history of the
town to be established in pamphlet
form which will be ready for distri-
button Saturday. He was a member
of the Legislature from his town In
1913 and has served as Judge of the
Municipal Court.
1t is planned to have a parade,
sports during the day. an Grafton by
Judge Ruel Robinson of Camden and
ball in the evening. Invitations
have been sent out and all former res
idents who can be located, even as
far as the Pacific coast, are invited
to attend the big day. Representa-
tive Guernsey and Senator Johnson
have been invited and will come IL
they can get away from Congress.
Judge Robinson is a native of Pal
myra. an adjoining town, and he was
selected because he is the nearest
kind of neighbor. He was a resi-
dent of the town when boy also.
Among the novelties will be pa
rade of baby carriages at $50 with
more than so entered embodying all
sorts of decorations. The big parade
will begin at $50 and every business
enterprise and store will have some
sort of carriage or float. Prof. Carl
burlington. principal OF the High
school. and Miss Agnes Dow and Miss
Florence Blaisdell. teachers. will ar
range the school parade section and
the floats
Grange floats and historical floats
as we'll are being constructed and Sc
lectmen Edwin R. Leach, Daniel W.
Wheeler and Adelbert L. Gray will
lead the parade. All these vehicles
will be drawn by horses, to be follow
ed by a parade of decorated automo-
biles.
Local baseball teams will play in the
afternoon, and sports will be carried
out on Water street. A parade of IL
Illuminated launches and canoes on
Lake Sebasticook will be an evening
feature as we'll as a ball in Odd Fell
lows hall to end the days festivities.
Among the interesting exhibits win
be a collection OF antique furniture.
dishes and heirlooms of the early days
of the town, priceless in value to the
owners and a contrast to the utensils
of the present day. ~
Following is the list of COMMITTEES
chairmen who have the celebration IN
charge: General committee, Judge w.
H. Mitchell; finance, p. H. Cakes; his
torical. W. H. Mitchell; music, r. II.
Dyer: invitations. e. r. Leach: par
ade, w. M. Stuart; reception, ]. z.
Cakes; printing and advertising. c. e.
Smith; Sunday service. Rev. H. w.
Norton: entertainment and sports, r.
W. Halliday; souvenirs and badges.
H. M Wardweli: decorations, l.. B..
Soper public improvements and util-
tiles E. r. Dow. The North Newport
committee is as follows: General COM
mittee, w. d. Crowell and F. r. CO.
burn; reception committee. Mr., and
r.