The Republican journal., 1916-08-24
Belfast to Duck Trap.

ly ornamental We're given much atten-
ton. Comfort and thrift were the ends
sought-and attained. Inside the front
yard fences were found syringas, snow
balls, the old-fashioned flowers and vines,
but outside the fences was wilderness
of weeds and rubbish. Many had cher
ries, damsons and greengages-the only
plums known in those days-the big Eng
lish and the smaller gooseberries, cur
rants, pears and apples; and in the
kitchen garden all the common vege-
tables, with rhubarb, horse radish, etc.
In every barn, with the family horse,
COW and pig, the hens, if not in evidence,
were perhaps engaged in scratching up
neighbors garden. Our beautiful bay
was utilized to float the ships launched
from the busy yards to carry the Stars
and Stripes to ports far and near. Its
waters abounded in Holsters, cod and
paddock, to say nothing of the lesser
fish and the mackerel which "struck in"
every season; and of course we had
CLANS OF which was written
Camden for beauty,
Northport for pride,
Had it not been for clans
Belfast would have died
One thing the early settlers had to
contend with was the forests. Cearings
had to be made for their dwellir gs and
to enable them to cultivate the land, and
although the trees furnished material
for the log cabins and for many of the
rude implements of those days, to say
nothing of fuel, there seemed to have
been created an enmity to trees which
manifested itself in later days. We re-
call one neighbor who cut down some
cherry trees because they obstructed the
view of the road from his kitchen win
dow, and another who laid low many
| beautiful shade trees, which were not
the least il his way, but spared some IN
| slightly hackmatacks, too close together
to grow symetrically, because they We're
''sot out" Many elms which came up
along the stone walls on Northport
avenue were cut down in comparatively
recent years, with many other trees
that had furnished a cooling shade in
summer and in the winter prevented
snowdrlfts, alternating with bare spots.
1t is, therefore, surprising that the early
residents should have set out along the
city streets the elms and other shade
trees that are now the glory and pride of
Belfast-a pride that was not fully awak-
| ened until the advent of summer visit
ors. Until then few realized the attrac-
lions of our little city and it's environ
ments, and since there has been a grow
ing tendency to enhance the attractions
with which nature had so literally en-
lowed US, not only in setting out tire es,
shrubs and vines but in the care of build
ings and grounds.
| A recent visitor, in expressing his ad-
miration for Belfast. was told that the
surroundings were no less attractive;
that taking any road leading out of Bel
fast he would find beautiful views. A
gentleman who has travelled far and
wide III foreign lands in taking the writ
er to see one of his favorite views
overlooking Knight pond with the North
port hills in the background-said he had
never seen anything finer in the Old
World. Many such views are to be seen
within the city limits and adjacent ter
ritory, and for longer rides take that to
Bangor via Swan Lake and Monroe
or via Searsport, Frankfort, etc or to
Camden by the shore roao or turnpike;
or to Liberty and Georges Lake, one Of
the prettiest sheets of water in Maine.
But to enumerate the nearby attrac-
tons and those within easy reach would
require too much space, and what has al
ready been written is merely prelude
to an auto ride from Belfast to Duck
Trap.
vited to take an auto ride on recent
afternoon; destination unknown. 1t was
beautiful day, an oasis of delight in a
season which had given US an undue pro-
pOFllOl Ol ulSdSEeedDle NedlueT. Inc |
air was real Maine air, pure and bracing,
to inhale which made life seem worth
living. The waters of the bay were
never bluer, the grass greener or the
foliage more attractive. The owner and
driver of the car believes in comfort,
and be the roads good or bad rarely ex-
ceeds speed of 20 miles an hour, so that
while you sit at ease you may enjoy the
familiar or unfamiliar scenes through
which you pass. Our route was down
Northport avenue, for very many years
we'll known thoroughfare to the writer
as in boyhood days he many times walk
ed down to Little River with Charles
Burd to spend the day at the Burd place
and fish from the bridge; later travers
ing it daily for score or more of years.
Where the residence of Charles Brad
bury stands was the pound" and the
remainder of the "Allyn field" was pas
ture Of buildings beyond only the old
Read house is recalled and that is hardly
|