Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-03
(Portand Sunday Press.)

Edwin A. Richardson of 80 Haskell
street, Westbrook, being one of the
leading fathers OF the Paper City, is
somewhat Of an archaeologist. His eX-
tensive collection Of Indian relics will
bear proof Of them.
1t is a well-known fact that archaeo-
logy has done more than any other
science to acquaint the people of mod
ern times with their ancestors or pre-
decessors in the lands which they now
occupy. By the discovery Of utensils
and weapons used by these people of
ancient times, the people Of today
have learned how their predecessors
fought against the elements and SEEM
ingly overwhelming hardships of exist
ence to pave the way for us to enjoy
all the blessings which are now in evil
dence.
Such men as Alderman Richardson
have been and are today the ones to
whom credit is due for knowledge of
the men of old. But, Alderman Rich
ardson is different from most archaeo-
logists. Unlike the millionaires and
learned scientists who got the digging
fever" and who travel to the Far
East or the Palestine lands to appease
their hunger for visions of the dim
past, Mr. Richardson has worked upon
a policy of See America First" and
thus it is that he has taken such an
active interest in Indian relics.
1t was some IA years ago that Mr..
Richardson initiated his hobby for col
| lecting Indian relics, and since his first
step, he has been ardently interested
| in all things which pertain to the
| first and true American race. 1t was
on a small beginning that he started
in to make the collection, which has
grown until he has hundreds of choice
relics.
In the year 1902, Mr.. and Mrs. Rich
ardson left their home in Westbrook to
visit at the home of their daughter,
the wife of Prof Marshall Tyler of
Rhode Island State college, Kingston,
r I. In the course Of the visit there,
long walks were taken through the
picturesque and historic fields about
the college town. One day, while the
Westbrook people were stroliing
through a corn field, they saw some
queer shaped little stones lying upon
the ground. Scrutinizing these stones
carefully, they discovered that they
were shaped like arrowheads and after
inquiry, they were delighted to find
that they were in reality arroWheads
which had been used by Indians CEN
turtles ago.
From the 40 or so arrowheads which
were picked up on that memorable
day. Mr.. Richardson's collection las
grown to great proportions. To the
casual observer, Of course. his coilec-
tion looks like nothing more than
! great nile Of rocks. That is the way
thev looked to me the first time
neered into the showcase; just like the
GOOD. hard rocks / used to pick every
now and then on my fathers farm.
But a second look will convince even
the most ignorant that the purposely
uneven shapes the worn or Clipped
spots signify more than the stones
which the builders rejected Flrs'
there is the net sinker, which can be
found near all great waterways. 1t Is
an oval-shaped rock with groove
trailing around it's entire circumfer-
ence. There are axes. some large ano
some small Some are shaped like the
steel axes OF the present day, and some
look not at all like axes, except for the
groove which girdle their bodies anc
nv which the thong holds the axe tt
the handle.
One of the most interesting relics ir
Mr.. Richardson's collection is small
stone shaped like a turtle. Exactly
through the center Of that little stone
a hole is bored SO smooth and straight
that modern engineering is puzzled
This hole is as clean and straight al
the bore of a new rifle. While it car
not be definitely determined, it il
claimed by psychologists that thes'
} stones and similar ones were used To-
ceremonial stones whenever there wal
demand.
Gouges, long, slender stones with
sharp curved eye, probably used t
hollow out canoes, have been added t.
Mr.. Richardson's collection during hi
trips to Sebago lake and lands Dor
dering other waterways once used b!
the Indians. Postles of several kind
are also in his collection. One wa!
found by Mr.. Richardson at White