The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-08-10
BROOKS, 1816-1916.

The town of Brooks will celebrate it's cen
tennial next week-August 14th to 18th, in
closlve-and the program and other particu'
lars. with portraits of many of her distin'
gulshed sons will be found on the End page
A Gazetteer of the State of Maine by Geo. j.
Varney. published in 1881. says: 1T is claimed
Tor Brooks that no town of its size has done
more for the cause of freedom and temper.
ance." And Brooks has kept on doing. The
census Of 1910 gives the population of Brooks
as 7O4; but the new school building, its church
edifice and its enterprising business firms en-
title it to be called "tbe biggest little town in
Maine." 1t has never lacked for able leaders.
but without the cooperation of the community
they could not have accomplished what has
been done in giving Brooks an honored place
on the map. To those not familiar with the
town, but who will visit it next week, the fol-
lowing general description from the Gazetteer
will be of interest:
Brooks is situated near the center of Waldo
county. Monroe and Swanville bound it on
the east, Waldo on the south. Jackson on the
north and Knox on the west. The area is
about 25 square miles. The hillness renders
are several fine bluffs and some very beautiful
views. Among the highest elevations may be
mentioned Sprout and Oak Hills, estimated to
be from 500 to 800 feet in height. The ponds
are Passagassawakeag, Half Moon, Carson
and Clements. The first is the largest. having
of about one mile in length and half
mile in width. 1t is the source Of the river of
the same name, which empties into Belfast
bay. The rock is generally mica schist. The
soil is granite gravel loan, and quite fer
tile Hay and potatoes the largest crops
but apple orchards yield well. The forests
comprise variety of trees-maple, birch,
beech, ash. hemlock, spruce, fir, cedar, oak,
bass~ ood, poplar, etc.
And to this may be added the following
from the illustrated Industrial Supplement is
sued by The Journal last year:
Brooks is town of hustling, progressive
business men, who have made their commu-
nifty of the busiest trading and manu-
featuring points in Waldo county, One cor
alone in Brooks does a business that ae-
gregates 100000 a year. Brooks is full Of
business, and surprise awaits who forms
his idea from passing glance. The people
are all enterprising and of the higher class.
The homes are beautifully kept, and many
line homes grace the village.
The Marsh stream which rises in Knox and
receives support from two trbutaries-one
rising in Thorndike-the ,ther in Jackson-is
pretty useful river. There within the viii
lage three falls that furnish good water power
practically all the year.
Brooks, like many other interior towns,
finds its source of wealth in the farms; and
perhaps it is true that the opportunities for
development lie in that direction. Within
the last few years there has been noticeable
increase in the acreage planted; as well as in
the yield per acre.
Hay and potatoes are the principal staples
raised, acd some years as high as 200 loads of
nay have been sent from this station. Also,
upwards of 400 carloads of potatoes, annually
are shipped from here. In addition to hay and
potatoes, the land here is good for corn. wheat
and oats. There are no abandoned farms in
Brooks, but opportunities for getting farms
at reas enable prices are yet good. There
several long and short lumber mills in this
vicinity.
BROOKS, Aug. 9, 1916. Tomorrow, Thursday,
Mr.. A. E. Dennison of the Standard Decorating
Co. of Boston is expected to arrive with assist
ants to have charge of the decoration of busi-
ness places and residences of the town for
the great centennial celebration beginning
Aug. 18th. The Congregational church and
Union hall are to be specially decorated for
the exercises to be held at those places.
Sunday, Aug. 18th, Rev. T. H. Martin will
deliver the anniversary sermon at the church.
Monday evening will be presented the first
historical pageant ever given in Waldo county.
Fifty characters will appear in costumes of the
times, representing some of the historical fea-
lures of Brooks from 1916 to 1916 The cos
tuning is by the Hooker, Howe Co. of Haver-
HILL Mass. Among the various entertaining
features will be quilting, paring and husking
bees, spinning. weaving, and old-time dances.
From the appearance of the first settlers re-
citing their struggles, to that of the Colonial
maids, this entertainment has taken many
weeks of training to prepare the cast and it
will be of the most pleasing features of
the weeks celebration. The citizens of Brooks
should procure their reserve seats at once, as
the outside demand for seats is expected to be
large.
Tuesday evening at Crockett's picture house
the his tory of Brooks will be shown in moving
pictures The expense involved In obtainin e
these slides has been considerable, but the
committee will be able to present Brooks as it
was 100 years ago, and to show from year to
year its various changes. Admission to the
pictures will be the usual price of 10 cents
Wednesday evening will be the reunion OF
descendants of the early settlers, and George
B. Roberts of Brooks will preside at the meet
ing. Several descendants of the Roberts FAM
lily will speak and after an interesting program
there will be social hour and general get-to-
gether meeting. This meeting is open to the
public and no admission fee. Everyone will
! be cordially welcomed to attend.
Brooks now expects the biggest day in it's
history to be Aug. II. 1916. Parade, ball
games, athletic events, band concerts, and the
literary exercises are all free to the public.
and the citizens of Waldo county are especially
invited to come to Brooks on Aug. 17th and
enjoy the big celebration.
The committee on parade had meeting last
Monday night and announce the following
line of parade: All will assemble on the hill
near the Friends church and the line of pa
rade will be down High street to the square in
front of the postofhce, thence to the corner of
Emmons street, returning to the square.
across Marsh river bridge to the quare oppo
site the A. E. Chase Co.. returning to Central
square, down Monroe street to C. O. Varney's
residence. from thence returning to the start
ing point. Every preparation is being made
to have this parade big spectacular feature
Every live merchant in Brooks is to be repre-