davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
Mrs. Daniel Mullen

Mrs. Rose Mullen. wife of Daniel
Mullen, passed away Saturday at her
home on Leavitt street following a
lingering illness. On Monday prior
to her death she sustained severe
shock from which she failed to rally.
The deceased was born in Embden,
Dec 6, 1858, the daughter of Temple
and Dorcas (Delling) Ireland. Thirty
nine years ago she was married to Mr..
Mullen and of that union there are
two sons and one daughter surviving,
They are George Mullen of Embden; ;
Fred Mullen of Skowhegan and Mrs.
Lester Backwith of Skowhegan. The
family came to Skowhegan about
eight years ago and both the deceas-
ed and her husband are very we'll
known here.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17

Randall II Nye house. Water street
incendiary. loss S1575; May %. ruins
OF Nye house smoadering; May 2S
chimney fire at First Baptist parson-
age. no damage. May 80. false alarm
at 8 p. m; June L. Clara Brown
home, incendiarv. loss $500; June s.
paint shop of William Fowler, Russell
street. from oil heater, loss $40, June
80. Dunlap block. Water street, over
heated dry rooms of laundry. loss
$500; July Il, barn on James Brooks
farm. Middle road, struck by lightn-
ing loss $500. August 6. fire at resi-
dence of Dr. L. P Geoffrion, 1900:
August 9, residence of David Lewis
on High street. no damage; Septem-
her - Carl Ashorne. North street
loss $96; Sept Il in home OF Minnie
Green. East Front street. $40; Octo-
ber 3. Octave Vigue home owned by
Butler & Butler. loss $3.50; October
II. Catholic church slightly damaged
by chimney fire. October Is, Ira A.
Norton house on Court street. chin
ney fire. no damage; October %, chin
ney fire in home OF Charles Jones
Madison avenue. no damage; Noyem-
ber 10, grass fire near Town Farm. no
damage; Nov. u. George II Weston
farm. River Road. defective furnace
loss $1,000. Nov -, chimney fire in
home OF Dr l. Z Geofrion, no dam
age. Noy %. chimney fire in home
occupied by Thomas Leon and owned
by Butler 4 Butler. no damage. Dec
-, home occupied by Herbert HUFF on
North avenue. no damage; Dec $
overheated furnace at Office OF Maine
Tel y Tel Go. na damage pee is
chimney fire III home Of Y u. Green
Pine street; no damage Dec ~
SkoNhegan Garage. cause unknown
probable loss $4,000; Jan l. 1917.
chimney FIRE in George 3 Fairgrieve
block. Madison avenue no damage
Jau /. responded to call for assist
auce from Hinckley. Jan s. chimney
fire in home Of William Fowler uo
damage
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
A MODEL GARAGE WILL
RISE FROM RUINS
According to Present Plans Tuttle
Brothers VIII Build of Stone

1t now appears that from the ruins
of the former Skowhegan House Ga
rage will rise a structure of stone,
wholly fire-proof and a model of its
kind. W. Fl. Tuttle of the Skowhegan
House and part owner of the building
recently destroyed. stated that the
new building as proposed, will be one
story high, lis feet long and SO feet
wide Estimates are now being taken
by j. Baird Kenchington of Bangor,
who proposes, If his bid Is accepted,
to erect building of cast stone This
will be built on the site of the former
garage and will be occupied by the
Skowhegan Garage Co, consisting of
Loren Sanborn, Ralph Tibbetts and
Mrs Ralph Tibbetts.
Tuttle Brothers will build priv
ate garage for their personal use ad-
jacent to the main building. This
will be of the same material, 38x25
feet Building will begin in the
Spring and Mr. Kenchington has stat
ed that he can erect the same in one
month, using the cast stone which Is
in the form of blocks
Since the fire, crews of men have
been busy removing the wrecked ma
chimes and other debris from the
scene of the fire. 1t was found that
the car of DR. A. b. Borden was only
slightly damaged and that of Sherman
Bean, while the top was burned off,
was in running order when taken
from the ruins All the other cars
have been removed and found to be
practically worthless. James Brooks
of the Middle road is taking charge of
clearing up the debris.
Warren Tuttle was asked regarding
his loss and stated that he was out of
pocket about $4,000 because of the fire.
Other losses, he said, were about as
stated in a recent issue OF the Re
porter.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
Admits Theft OF s13

Clifton Lucy Of Harmony is now
an inmate of the county jail his lodge
ment there being the result of an al
legged confession in which he admitted
he was the man who recently broke
into the postoffice and store of r. E.
Gould Of Harmony and made away
with S13
Lucy was brought to Skowhegan
last Friday by deputy sheriff w B.
Bemis of Harmony The break caus-
ed something of sensation in that
town. at the time, and for several
days the officers In that vicinity. be-
ing suspicious of the actions of Lucy,
finally put the question to him. The
confession followed. Without doubt
his case will be considered at the
present term of s J. Court which
conyenes next week
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17

If sugar or anything else. This man
.lso said that he didn't mind much
ID the fighting men of the United
States would soon romp into Berlin.
We are going to whip the Germans
but we're not going to romp into Ber-
lin by any means 1t means a fight
and a hard fight which can be won
only by the united efforts of all'
While Mr.. Mooers was speaking of
these things he certainly appeared
convinced of all he said.
In closing he made an earnest ap-
peal for the Red Cross and declared
that when he thought of getting home
he would forget about the war but
when he came back and found that
many of his schoolmates and fellows
he knew were now over there he felt
it his duty to aid in every way posi-
BILE and knew no better way than do
ing his part for the Red Cross.
Following his address the Liberty
Glee Club rendered another selection
and an evening we'll and profitably
spent closed with the singing of
America" by the audience
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
BUTLER's BAKERY MAY CLOSE
Sugar Situation is Proving Handicap
to SkOwhegan Business

1t is barely possible that Buffers
Bakery. situated on Winter street in
this village, may close in the near fu-
ture owing to the scarcity of sugar.
Mrs. George F. Butler, proprietor OF
the bakery stated that she had only
sugar enough for few days and
would have to close if some was not
received very soon. She has been in
communication with the Maine Food
Administrator, Leon S Merrill, who
gave her a little encouragement.
Such facts as this one show just
how serious the situation is beginning
to be For several weeks the house
wife has been obliged to use molasses
in her cooking and sugar on the table
has been an unknown quantity. Res
tauraats are making molasses dough
nuts wholly and sweetening their pies
with molasses. Sugar is not to be
had in any appreCiable quantity Some
local dealers receive small allot-
ment every little while but it is said
and rather grouchily by some, that
al least one dealer will sell sugar
only to his regular customers.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
Maine Agricultural Fairs Annual
Meeting

The annual meeting of the Maine
Agricultural Fairs is to be held at
Waterville on Wednesday, Jan %.
The session will open at 1870 a. m.
at the City Council Rooms. city Build
ing and at this time the annual cleo
ton of directors Will be held and re
ports of officers will be read. All
other business which may legally
come before the meeting will be dis
posed of
1t is expected that representative
of the Maine Central Railroad Com
pany will be present to take up the
matter of free transportation of live
stock to and from home ports to the
various Fairs in the State. This Is a
vital question to the life of our Fairs
at this time and 1t is necessary that
all should give the matter careful
thought and be ready to present argu-
ment at the time the matter comes
up for discussion. Representatives
of various booking houses for free at
fractions will be present to solicit
business
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
Candidate for County Commissioner

The citizens of Northern Somerset
County not having been represented
on the Board of County Commission
ers for the past forty years, feel that
they should now furnish a member,
and will present the name of Simeon
J. Whitney of Bingham as a candidate
for the Republican nomination In the
June Primaries.
Mr.. Whitney was born in Moscow
in 1875, and educated in the schools
OF Bingham At twenty years of age
he entered the hardware business to
which he applied himself with such
energy and ability that he was soon
advanced to managing partner of the
firm. Six years ago the partner
ship was dissolved and he establish
ed himself in the same business with
the most extensive line in the County,
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
NEARLY 100000 EXPENDED DURING PAST
YEAR ON BUILDING PROJECTS
Number of New Homes Built is Small, But MANY
Properties Have Undergone improvements

The year 1917 could not properly
be called year Of extensive building
in Skowhegan and it seems that the
same conditions exist in other towns
and cities OF the country There are
several apparent reasons for the scar
city of building projects principal Of
which is the high cost of materials
This with the cost of labor has pre-
from branching out and building one
of his own
Nevertheless the records show that
nearly 100000 has been expended
during the past year for building and
improvements in Skowhegan Con-
siderable of this total is contributed
by the construction of the new Fed
eral building This contract was
taken by w H. Fissell Co of New
York at cost of s57, $50 and work
on the foundation was begun In April,
1917. The excayating had been done
the fall previous.
During the year the L. NJ n. Stew
ems cottage on the Woman's Reforma-
tory site has also been completed
This structure is of brick and is an
excellent building of its kind Geo
II. Wilbur & Son of Bangor had the
contract with figures at $23144 The
foundation was built by Ephraim
Cowett at a cost Of sl5S5. Among the
homes erected that Of Harold ]. Phil
lips Is among the most imposing Mr.
Phillips, a Skowhegan attorney. is
ready to move into a fine bungalow
situated at the corner of West Front
and Pennell streets. Fred Moody has
constructed a bungalow for his oc-
cupancy on Beech street and Will
Moody has had built for him a bunga-
low and a story-and- d-a-half house on
Hanover street Other builders are
Andrew Gobbi a house on the Lake
wood road; house on Russell road
built by George Cox.
Following the fire in the Randall II
Nye house on Water street, this prop
erty was repaired thruout as we'll as
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17

the Parhn block situated at the cor
ner Of Madison avenue and Russell
streets, owned b. " P Ordway. The
house on Elm street owned by the
American Wooden Company and oc-
cupied by the agent, W H Cummings.
has been extensively repaired The
Opera House has been renovated into
motion picture theatre and the Star
Theatre has been converted into
fine furniture store occupied by r. z
Cole The Masonic block has under
gone extensive repairs under the su-
peryision Of Harvey Good win, a local
contractor The building has been
fitted up with club rooms for the Ma
sonic fraternity while the street floor
has been remodeled and is now oc-
cupied by J. II Lancaster as a har-
ness shop and antique furniture
emporium
New Offices have been constructed
for the Maine Telephone & Telegraph
Co. and rest rooms for the operators
have been built at the headquarters
of the local exchange. Repairs on
the brick building occupied by the
Skowhegan Trust Company have been
extensive; a new tar and gravel roof.
new plumbing and new heating ap-
paratus are numbered among the i'm
proyements in this block. Last
spring the brick store, formerly oc-
cupied by Parker & Nay was remodel
ed to accommodate the meat shop OF
Lashon Butler. A tenement house
which formerly stood on the Paro-
chial school grounds has been remov-
ed during the year and the grounds
have been newly laid out The past
year marked the completion of the
now plant of the Savage Manufactur-
ing Co. situated on Mill street This
plant is one OF the best of its kind to
be found in the State and is built
absolutely fireproof. Many slight i'm
provements have been made on yari-
Gus properties but it may be said in
conclusion that building in Skowhe-
gan during 1917 was not as extensive
as in former years
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
Mrs. Elizabeth j. Young

Mrs. Elizabeth J. Young, aged SO,
passed away Friday morning at the
home of Mrs Rose Eaton on East
Leavitt street The deceased had
been In failing health some time prior
to her death She was born in
Brighton, the daughter of Thomas T
and Mrs. Roxina Foss Her hus-
band, w. j. Young passed away sew
eral years ago while the family lived
at their home near the Eddy.
Mrs. Young is survived by two sis
ters and a brother: Mrs. Pauline c
Marsh of Guilford; Mrs. Issie Wood
South Braintree. Mass, and Frederick
Foss of Sabatis Funeral services
were conducted at 1130 Monday from
the Lord & Caswell undertaking par
lors, with Rev. George Merriam of
ficiating.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
Miss Caroline =. Parker

After "A somewhat prolonged illness
Caroline s Parker passed away at
the hoe of her brother John Parker
at New Portland Miss Parker, how
ever, had attained ripe age of about
so yea :, and the most of her life had
been 81 nt in active toll. She was
born, Sc 1teAber IA, 1897 at New Port
land. llere she spent her childhood
and in a few years, similar to many
the purpose of obtaining employment
in one of the many mills. At such
work she became quite proficient and
the services were of no small i'm
portance Thus, without any con-
slider. Die interruption or any special
events of marked character, she spent
nearly forty years, the best of her life,
at such work Such steady character
was indication of her whole life. She
was quiet, meditative, and altogether
unassuming
About twenty years ago she return
ed to the place of her birth and has
lived peacefully there since, at the
home of her brother She loved soli
tude and her quiet life was one of
CONN endable character The funer-
al took place from the home and the
interment at the New Portland Gene
terry, January IA.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
DOG" HA|NES OF NORR|DGEWOCK IS
CHARGED WITH CRUELTY To ANIMALS
Officers Found Much Stock Frozen to Death.
Hens We're Roasting on Telephone and Mantle

William Haines of Norridgewock,
better known as DOC" Haines, Is
now confined at the County jail,
charged with cruel and abusive treat
ment of animals This sentence was
pronounced upon him by Judge H. H.
Brazzell at recent session of munic-
ipal court following the gruesome
story of conditions existing at the
home of Mr.. Haines as told by Hiram
X. Walker, State Agent for the pro-
lection of animals. A fine of 1894
was also imposed with an additional
sentence of 80 days in default of pay
ment.
doc" Haines and conditions alleg-
ed to have existed at his farm have
been the source of much comment in
years past. But only recently did
authorities take steps toward remedy
ing these conditions. A visit to the
farm by the officers brought to light
many facts which had never been told
by the 'neighbors'. Conditions were
found to be horrible. No word can
be used to describe the sights which
the officers beheld on that bleak af-
ternoon in January when they went
TO look the place over
Part of the stock was kept in the
barn. One sheep, cow and three
heifers were found frozen to death
and three calves were so badly al
fected by the cold that it was neces-
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
FIRE LOSSES FOR YEAR
NEARLY 100000
Recent Destruction of SkoWhegan
Garage Adds Much to the Total

According to figures compiled by
Charles Elwell of the Skowhegan fire
station, the fire loss in Skowhegan.
from February 1917 up to the present
time, was nearly S107 000 There
have been several small fires and
numbered among the larger ones are
those in the Dunlap block, loss $500 !,
Heselton block in which the loss was
estimated at $4,000; the Parlin block,
loss, $4,000; George H Weston farm,
loss, $1,000 and the Skowhegan Ga
rage, loss, $4,000 During the year
the department has responded to AZ
calls and OF these Is were chimney
fires, with no estimated loss; II were
reported no damage and there were
two false alarms and one assist when
the department went to Hinckley at
the time of the destruction of the de
pot and grain store.
Fires recorded for the year are
March 4, Star Theater overheated
picture machine. damage $1,000, +,
March y, chimney fire in Dugas house
on Bailey street occupied by Sumner
Withee. no damage; March i. Hesel-
ton block. cause unknown, damage.
$500: March Is, Ira A Norton
house Winter street, chimney fire, no
damage, March Il. A X Butler house
caused from oyerheated water pipe.
loss $3.50, March y, false alarm for
fire at Norridgewoek, March -.
Turner house, Turner avenue. occu-
pied by Maurice Tuttle. loss S55
March %. Parlin block. Russell street.
owned by W Z Ordway. cause un-
known, damage $2S0oo: March %.
chimney fire in home of Jacob Gold
herg, no damage. April = hennery
owned by Warren Caldwell. Silver
street, from Incubator lamp. loss
.S20oo, April IN chimney FIRE in home
of Mrs Nellie Brawn, Mt Pleasant
avenue. no damage; April u Maine
Spinning Co. property on South ST.
chimney fire. no damage; April l.,
Jefferson Savage hodse situated be
low Eddy destroyed on the following
day. April ~. house on Milhuru st
occupied by Fred Lessor, no damage
April %. grass FIRE near Standard Oil
tanks, set hy boys. no damage; April
-. chimney fire in home of Charles
Provost. Milburn street, no damage
/ April -. tool house, Madison avenue
cemetery, no damage; May g. Norris
! Cleveland estate. Madison avenue, in
cendiary loss $1,000; May 81, chimney
fire in house occupied by Joe Clukey
! French street. no damage; May 25
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
To the Voters of Somerset County

Madison, Me, January -, 1918.
/ take this opportunity to announce
to yol my candidacy for the Republi-
can nomination for county attorney at
the June primaries, and to solicit your
support and assistance in that behalf.
Although it should not be necessary
to stlte il at this or any other time, !
pledge myself to the strietest enforce
ment of the prohibitory law as we'll as
any other violation of law, should |
be elected
Many prominent men in the county
have indorsed my candidacy; yet | am
under political obligation to no one,
and shall not be. | have tried to fit
myself to become capable of dispatch
ing the duties of this position and
hope that at the proper time my can
didaey will receive your favorable
consideration
Respectfully yours.
JAMES H. THORNE
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
INCOME TAX MAN IS To
VISIT COUNTY
Net Incomes Over $1,000 or $4,000 VIII
Be Subject TO Tax

Already the income tax man has
arrived in Somerset County and is at
present performing his duties in Oak
land He Will visit various towns
In this section during the following
dates Fairfield, Jan. 1922; Show
hegan, Jan. 23-30; Madison. Jan 81
February q Anson. February As;
Solon, Feb 6; Norridgewock, Feb Z !,
Pittsfield. Feb. SO; Hartland. Feb. Il
The income tax law Is OF vital in
terest to many citizens OF this county
There are many who doubtless would
wish that their incomes were enough
so that they would be considered but
only those unmarried persons with
incomes of $1,000 or over and mar
ried persons with an income of $4,000
or over will be considered. This
amount shall represent the net earn
ings Of the Individual. Under the
new War Revenue Act 1t is made per
fectly plain that 1t is the duty of all
persons to make report to the in
come tax man on forms which are
provided for this purpose. Failure
to do this Is punishable by a fine from
$40 to $1,000 or imprisonment These
reports must be in on or before
March /.
The income tax man will be In
Skowhegan, as before stated, during
the week beginning January 90. 1t
is his duty to give freely any advice
which is sought for by those coming
under the new tax law.
How many income tax payers will
there be in Somerset County?
Somerset Is supposed to be a dis
trict Of considerable wealth but the
man who has yearly net earning
capacity of $4,000 may be considered
we'll off Seth w. Jones, the col
lector of Internal Revenue, has esti-
mated that there will be one income
tax payer out of every thirty people
in the State.
The suggestion is made by the Col
lector that everybody start in now and
figure up his income and expenses so
that he will be ready when the tax
man arrives BY expenses is meant
the amount expended in making
money as. interest, taxes paid, hired
help, amount peid for goods sold, seed
stock bought for feeding, rent Except
for your dwelling). Income includes
about every dollar received.
1t is further made plain that it is
the duty of the individual to make
himself known to the Government and
not the duty of the Government to
hunt up the individual. The tax man
will be here on the week beginning
Jan. % and in other towns as desig
mated above. Look him up.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17

sary to kill them to relieve their suf-
fering. Lying on the cold floor of a
barn that had seen better days were
many hens. 1t was a sight unequal
ed by any other within the expert
ence of those who made the investiga-
tion.
Conditions in the house were even
worse for here were found two old
ladies', both quite i'll from the cold
and they had as their companions sew
eral hens and the dead bodies of two
heifers were found in the living room
ing on the mantle and the telephone
and everywhere were marks of filth.
The living rooms in the house look
ed as tho they had never been
cleaned and here the two old ladies'
have been living for some time. The
Norridgewock Board of Health have
taken them in charge and have pro-
vided them with suitable homes. Doc
Haines was Immediately taken into
custody and brought to Skowhegan.
He did not seem to realize the serious
allegations made against him. The
stock which remained alive has been
sold and for the present the farm is
untenated. Mr. Haines is so years
of age and is said to be a man of
considerable wealth. He has prac-
ticed veterinary surgery practically
all his life.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-17
Card of Thanks

We would not fail to express our
sincere feeling of appreciation for the
sympathy and kindness manifested by
so many friends during the long ILL
ness of our dear mother. now depart
ed Such humanity comes only from
the heart
Alton w. Bush and brothers
and sisters
Athens, Maine, Jan. IA. 1918.