The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-11-16
EARLY HISTORY OF
LARONE
Events of Great Interest
are Related
Notable Incidents of Its First
Inhabitants

Inhabitants
Larone was and still is, quiet lit
tie hamlet, situated in the extreme
northern part of the town of Fair
field, in the fertile valley of the Ken
nebec. and on a tributary of that
river. This tributary, which flows
into the Kennebec at Hinckley, has
it's source within a short distance of
East Lake in Smithfield, and it's ser
pentine course is crossed by bridges
in the highway, no less than ten
times, eight of them being in Fair
field and two in the town of Nor
ridgewock, while Ave or more bridges
are sustained by private parties. On
its smaller branches may be seen the
remains of old beaver dams, showing
plainly that once these industrious
and now very valuable animals, were
plenty in this section. This same
tributary and surrounding country
was, in early years the resort OF In
dams and later of hunters and trap
pers. who found abundance of game
both for their larder and for their
trade, but more especially on the
banks of this creek and in the timber
on the hills did they find large num-
bers of the valuable fur bearing ami
mails, mink beaver and martin. One
of the trappers of these little animals,
was a man by the name of Martin.
who for years trapped along the
banks of this pleasant river, from its
mouth to its source some twenty-five
miles back, and eventually gave to it
his own name in remembrance of the
large number of martins he had
trapped in this vicinity AS the time
Abraham Potter by named, CHANGED
upon that part of Martin Stream now
known by the name of Larone and
here his wanderings ended, and he
forthwith began to clear plot OF
ground for a home. At this time
land could be purchased of the old
mother state Massachusetts, for
mere song. one dollar and twenty-five
cents per acre Mr.. Potter pur-
chased a small lot near what is now
known as the Priest far and build
ing a small house thereC. commenced
farming in rough way, while
brother settled near what is now
known as the Whiting schoolhouse.
Soon a road took the place of the
path and was carried through to Nor
ridgewock passing near Peeka-boo
(the hill so called). About this
time other settlers came in and the
tote road from Augusta to Norridge-
wock was changed to this route and
market was opened for the oyerplus
in produce which was exchanged in
the down river towns for those
things not raised on the farms. Most
of the supplies were toted by Tilly
Emery. who used for team usually
six oxen. Mr. Emery and Asa Whit
ing both bought, cleared and settled,
large tracts of land, the former on
the north side and the latter on the
south side of the creek The rail-
road penetrated to Waterville and
nearer market was established where
all produce was sold or exchanged
for supplies.
After the death of Mr.. Whiting, his
boys took possession, and what is
known as the lower falls attracted
their attention as good location for
a power, and they built across the
head of these rapids log dam and
mill for saving boards, which was
run for a number of years and left
as an unpaying investment. The
mill has long since tumbled in pieces
and passed away, the dam has been
swept away also, until today but few
logs remain on the shore to remind
one of the long ago, when hard and
constant labor, time and patience
were required to build the house that
now could be built in a very short
space of time On these rapids where
the old mill was built, is the finest of
chances for a dam as the banks are
Continued on Page Four)