The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-06-01
Brooks Centennial lSl6-l916.


The town of Brooks, in Waldo county,
Maine, named for Governor John Brooks
of Massachusetts, will in early August
observe the Tooth anniversary OF its IN
corporation. An elaborate program will
be carried out during "Old Home
Week." from August 18th to August
18th, beginning Sunday with an anniver-
sary sermon by Rev. 7. H. Martin.
Monday, the 14th, an historical drama,
1.-The Thorndike Place." will be given,
and those who will take part in it will be
the descendants OF Joseph Roberts, the
first settler of Brooks, who came there
about the year 1899 from Buckfield. He
was married twice, and by each wife had
IL children, and his 134 grandchildren
are now located from Maine to Califor-
MIA. Soon after Joseph came, his broth
ers John and Jonathan arrived. Brooks
was then called the Plantation of Wash
ington, and in 1900 it contained nine set
tiers. In 1901, the towns of jackson.
Brooks and Thorndike, containing about
$4,000 acres, were bought by General
Henry Knox for the small sum of 81, 900,
the original proprietors from Boston be-
ing Thorndike, Sears and Prescott.
Thorndike Place, for which is named the
historical drama to be given on the even.
ing of the 18th, was real building and
is still in existence
Tuesday night, an illustrated historical
lecture will be given in the picture thea
ter, when the history of Brooks will be
depicted on the screen.
Wednesday night will be called Rob-
erts night, when a reunion of all the old
settlers and descendants will take place.
The Hon. Cassius C. Roberts of Chicago
will. without doubt, make the principal
address. Mr.. Roberts has been post
master of Chicago, but is a native son of
Brooks.
Thursday, an all-day program will be
given, with a concert by the Brooks
Band, under the leadership of Mr.. Drew
of Waterville. Athletic sports, parade,
an historical pageant, showing the differ
ence in transportation, lighting and fuel
in the 100 years, also in the mode of ag-
riculture, will be given. 1t is planned to
have every school child that is available
take part in this parade. Away back in
1889, the inhabitants of Brooks came
down to Belfast by means of bride
paths, and carried corn, etc., home on
their backs, and they called it coming
"to the Beach," In the afternoon an
open air address of welcome, the histor-
ical address and the Grafton will be
given; the grafton to be by descendant
of Governor Brooks. The days events
will close with grand ball in the even
ing in Union hall.
The executive committee for arrange
ments for this celebration has organized
with Superintendent of Schools D. G.
Plummer as chairman and Seth W. Nor
wood as secretary, and the chairman and
secretary are members of all the other
committees, ex-officio.
Brooks is one of the most progressive
of the 25 towns and one city which COM
prise Waldo county, and is located in a
fertile valley of farming section which
has almost made it competitor with
Aroostook The town is truly rural
farming section and some of the best re.
suits in potato growing outside of Aroos-
took county have been demonstrated in
this town. There are, however, in the
village number of successful manufac-
turies, one concern alone doing a bust
ness which aggregates 5000, 900 year.
Benjamin Roberts, born in 1904, was
the first white child born in Brooks, and
his son, Charles Roberts, grandson STAN
ley Roberts, and great grandson, Clifton
Roberts, High school boy, are now liv-
ing there. Many native sons of Brooks
have attained distinction in various oc
equations and professions. Judge Wood
bury Davis of the Maine Supreme
Court lived in Brooks, and is now buried
tlIEIS, uuL lie llNtu III btlldSl WueH ne
was State Treasurer. The first lawyer
IN the town, Phineas Ashman, was also
postmaster, justice of the peace and
and agent, but finally died on the town.
The first six houses built in Brooks are
there now; also the first four roads, as
originally laid cut.
The town of Brooks, as stated above.
was named for Gov. Brooks of Massa
chusetts, who served from 1e161822. A
portrait of the Governor is in the SEN
ate reception room of the State House,
Boston, and was painted by Jacob Wagner
from the original by Gilbert Stuart and
presented in 1892 by Shepard Brooks,
Frances Brooks and Peter Brooks. 1t
was necessary to obtain permission from
the State Legislature to have the photo
graph taken from this painting, but it
was finally made by Baldwin Coolidge of
Boston.
Following is a biography of Governor
Brooks: Gov. John Brooks, ninth gov
ernor of Massachusetts, and soldier, was
born in Medford, Middlesex county,
Mass, May 81, 1852. He was the son of