The Republican journal., 1915-08-19

EELER BARTLETT.
! as steel" and one of the best drivers in
| the State. With all his attractions, sad
| 10 relate, he was rather wild. He and his
| wife lived in the tenement house called
the Muett Block, which was located
where the Pentagoet now stands. II
The whispers of the neighbors were to
be believed, they did not live in the most
charming state of conjugal happiness.
| She is spoken of as Handsome as pict-
ure, but a regular devil" Rather neat
story is told of John Poland and the way
in which he evaded the law. At one time
a serenade was given in North Castine;
wells were spoiled, fences torn down,
and other mischief done. The owners OF
he damaged property employed the
strong arm of the law to help redress
| their grievances. John was among the
offenders, but he was bright enough to
keep hidden at all times when he was
not driving the stage, for when he was
| mail carrier, he was under government
employ and could not be arrested.
Another we'll remembered Castlne
stage driver was Mr.. John Mclaughlin,
who carried the mail for several years,
always making good time and giving gen.
eral satisfaction to the citizens.
The stage-driver who was considered
by all odds the best ever on the route
was Mr.. Scott Macomber, and he was the
ideal of genial, happy stage-driver. He
kept his passengers in good humor from
the time they started until they reached
their destination by his droll remarks
and his fund of Store, Sd rawn from wide
experience which was quick to see the
comedy of life. Whether it was home
sick schoolgirl, an orthodox divine, or an
absorbed man of business, none could re-
sist the contagious good humor OF this
merry companion. Not only was MIR. Ma
comber jolly stage-driver. but he was
| also an untlring one. Wind and weather
allowing, he was punctuality itself. Often
| in severe storms he would get over the
most impossible roads and bring the mail
to town, even if he was obliged to put
the mail bag over his shoulder and walk.
At one time he pushed through the snow
drifts when it took five hours to go dis
lance of two miles. He drove the stage
for fifteen years in all. He brought the
news of the assassination of Abraham
| Lincoln, and was also driving the stage
when James A. Garfield was assassinat-
ed.
| In all times and lands taverns and
shops have been noted for the quaint
gossip and characters to be found within
| their walls. They are the rendezvous OF
/ those happy individuals who have streak
| of real humor in their composition. In
| olden times our taverns were the nightly
meeting place of personages both great
and small.
The first tavern in Castine of which
there is any record was kent by Josh
Woodman in 1856, unless Baron Castin
condescended to keep an inn. In 1875 a
Mr.. Brewer was landlord of an inn which
was over the ferry in Penobscot, but the
village annals do not mention whether
the beverages he brewed were of any
special merit.
In 1898 the Widow Deborah Orr was
the presiding angel of tavern on the east
side of lower Main street. A year later
coffee house was kept by one Andrew
Woodman on the other side of the street.
The fat and happy Widow Lakeman own
ed boarding house on the site OF Capt.
Browns hardware store. The large
double house just opposite the village
common owned by the late Mr.. Augustus
Perkins was once the Atlantic House
kept by Mr.. John Little. Another tavern
was run by the Widow Perkins in the 10
than Gardner house at the head OF the
common. The lone wilder woman mus
have met with good success in Castine al
a landlady, if the number OF taverns kept
by widows is any proof. There was also {
sailors boarding house on Water street by
the romantic name of the Green Dragon
The Bagaduce House on Main street wa:
kept by Mr.. Nathaniel Hooper. The
house is now owned by his grandsons
Even after the lapse of many year,
strangers ask if the house has not {
story of its own.
The Oldest Castine House was owned
by Benjamin Robinson and is now thu
residence of Mr.. Alfred Adams on MAR
street. The second Castine House wal
on Water street, about opposite Th'
Folly. The proprietor was a certain
, Capt. Horatio Hodgdon, bluff, hearty
old sea-dog, who sailed the antediluviar
packet, the Spy, which piled between
+ here and Belfast. Many anecdotes are
, connected with this tavern under its gen
ial landlord. One individual condemned
, to eat an exceptionally tough steak ask
ed where it came from. The Landlord
replied, "Of the Neck" (meaning of
! the peninsular). The boarder respond
ed, 81 thought so-and mighty near the
horns at that" Proprietor Hodgdor
,. did not understand the new sanitary
IDEAS about fresh napkins and towels
One unlucky man mildly demonstrated
on the color of the roller towel in the
office. He was completely silenced by
being told, Forty persons have wiped
on that towel, and you are the first tt
find any fault" This house was after
wards kept by Capt. Mills, another
pleasant middle-aged sea captain, wht
always ha d rare store of sea stories
with which to pass away the time thai
hung heavily on his guests hands. 1r
1882 this house was rebuilt and renamed
the Ell Dorado. Its owner was dash
ing miner, who had drifted to this coast.
It was not a success as financial ven
ture, and involved several citizens in pc
cuniary loss. In the winter Of 1884 i
burned to the ground. The citizens re
GREETED the loss of one of their old land
marks, especially that of the old fash
toned winding stairway with its deel
we'll, which had been made the subjec
of sketches by several artists.
The third Castine House was abou
where the present one stands. 1t wa