Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-06
Two weddings in time separated

the lapse of one hundred years and in
space by the distance between two
towns, were linked in association by
the two wedding journeys having been
made to Pittston, Maine, where the
first came to make their permanent
home and the latter to spend awhile
beside the beautiful Kennebec shore in
possession of the bungalow built upon
wooded hillside belonging to the
homestead where the first couple lived
many years, reared their family and
passed away many years before the
latter couple came to this world.
The wedding of the first was in Bux-
ton. Maine, in 1916. the date known In
history as the date without sum-
mer" The latter in Hallowell, Maine,
in 1916, and this too has been a sum-
mer of unusual atmospheric condi-
tons, unknown since that summer
which it resembles but in lesser de-
gree.
The wedding of the twentieth CEN
fury was solemnized by Rev. William
Farrand Livingston of the Episcopal
church and Rev. Langdon Quimby. for
a quarter century pastor of the Con-
gregational church, Gardiner, an uncle
of the groom To the altar of flower
and fern decorated st. Matthews the
bridal party marched to the strains OF
the "Lohengrin" Wedding March by or
gan and violin and retired to the music
of Mendelssohn's Bridal Chorus. To
think that these musical compositions
were unwritten and their future COM
posers were but little boys at the time
of that nineteenth century wedding,
makes the time between seem long.
The early wedding was at the home
of the brides parents. 1t was Solemn
lied by the venerable Pioneer Con-
gregationa Minister in Name Kew.
Paul Coffin. A graduate OF Harvard,
born and educated in polished society,"
he left the scholarly halls of Cam
bridge in 1851 and came to a settle
ment of less than 80 families occupy
ing log houses. Narraganset Planta-
ton. afterward Buxton. Here he was
ordained and here labored for 60 years,
during which he travelled over all the
settled portions of this State as a
missionary, carried on his farm ana
reared his family of IA children, be-
side preaching the Gospel under the
sounding board of his own pulpit.
There is no account of flowers and
music at this wedding but the mousse
which later became ancient and ms
toric. had about it some unique fea-
lures.
The brides father was postmaster
and had the postoffice in his home. he
was a school teacher and here was MS
schoolroom But the town owned one
schoolhouse 1t was made SO that 1t
was hauled around on winter SHOWS
from district to district to accommo-
date different sections of Buxton. The
house was also his office as hlgh
sheriff and Justice of peace.
1t is regretted that the descendants
Of the Buxton bride know nothing OF
her wedding attire. There were no
daily papers to give the details as Civ
en- of the gowns of the Hallowell bride
and her matron of homo, bridesmaids
and flower girl. But not one "ord
concerning the attire of the groom. 1t
is known that the groom OF the BuX-
ton wedding wore a dainty waist
coat" of white with a delicate pattern
of blue interviewer. This was made OF
flax raised on the ancestral acres
swingled by hand on the threshlng
floor and carded. spun and woven by
the hands of SISTER Judith, noted for
her proficiency in weaving fancy pat
terms.
The Hallowell young people after
reception at the home of the BRIDE
parents, eluded the party OF TRENDS
who were awaiting them at the rail-
road station to perform modern rites
with confetti and left by automobile
for parts unknown
The Buxton people were accom-
panied on their wedding journey by a
party of friends 'as far as the tav-
ern." To them the word automobile
was a name unknown. Their two
wheeled vehicle was the fashion OF that
in Holmes verses The Deacon's Mas
terpiece" and though it did not IKE
that run a 100 years to day yet
this Deacons "one boss shay ran
many years so that it is familiar 10 the
present generation through descrlp-
ton of those who have Travelled In II.
After arriving in Pittston the nome
letters from Buxton had not the mail
facilities of the present day. Steam
boat and railroad train had not then
arrived to the kennebec. Some or
them vet preserved are written with
quill pens on three pages OF foolscap
size They are folded so that the
blank fourth page FORMS the envelope,
sealed with red wax, the post mark
and date written by the postmaster
and his name below the word Free
is in his handwriting put in place OF a
postage stamp, postmasters then hav-
ing privilege of ranking. This. be 1t
remembered, being before the lnven-
ton of stamps, envelopes and elliot
pens.
One of these letters, August, 1916.
includes:
Il eagerly and hastily broke the seal
and it gave me great satisfaction to
hear from You. Oh. it seems as If
four weeks had been four months since
you left here for | am so lonesome.
Oh that l had the wings of
dove would fly to your abode. l have
heard it remarked that absence served