The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-01-30
From Far on Oregon

merly OF this town. Mr.. Sturtevant
was born in Milo. in 1860. In his
early years, he was custom taller,
following that occupation in Milo and
in Skowhegan He was at one time
also editor and proprietor of the
Riverside Oracle, his office being To-
Gated on Madison avenue, not far
from the present situation OF the
Charles Folsom Jones Insurance
Agency Mr.. Sturtevant in later
years. has followed farming to some
extent. The greater part Of his life,
however, he was photographer, do
ing business in Portland, Lewiston.
Bath and Skowhegan. He always took
deep interest in Masonry, and was
the 18th Eminent Commander OF De
Molay Commandery
PEN PICTURE OF THE WEST
AS Seen by a Skowhegan Man
Dear Mr.. EDITOR
Nearly 40 years ago in travelling
thru the country looking for place
to locate, I passed thru the town of
Skowhegan one evening just at dusk.
The village looked good to me and
| recalled some anecdotes | once
read of Artemus Ward In connection
with the town. 1t seems Artemus,
with friend put up one night at the
hotel where the Coburn now stands
The house being full, they were con
signed to an attic room. 1t was n
cold night and the one window being
| shy pane OF glass more atmosphere
entered the room than was needed for
ventilation. During the night the
| friend awOke and missing Artemus
called to him and asked him What
he was doing out there in the cold?
Artemus replied "I'm looking for
something to stop up that hole in the
window" do you find anything" he
asked? Eyes" answered Artemus I've
got a couple of old hoopskirts;
guess they'll keep out the thickest OF
| it, Another time. a group OF men
were in a southern hotel and began
telling where each hailed from. A
quiet man in one corner apparently
took no notice OF what was going on,
but after the others had finished they
turned to him and demanded to know
where he came from. Artemus
Strengthened up, and in his inimitable
way drawled out Gentlemen, my
name is Ward and I'm from the Gar
den spot of America. Skowhegan,
Maine" Well thought il the town
/ impressed itself upon Artemus Ward
in that manner 1t was good enough
for me, and thus 1t came about; and
can say that however the good peo-
ple of the town may regard 1t, | have
never been sorry I became a voter in
"The garden spot OF America.
OF the business men of that time
who are still doing business there.
can recall but two or three--J. N. &
l. j. Smith, whose headquarters were
in the store, corner Of Madison and
Elm Streets Charles F. Jones, who
was Librarian and wrote insurance
In an office on the second floor OF
Coburn Hall and I think Charles A.
Ross or the professional men, only
e. N Merrill and the Waltons remain.
Coburn Hall was the only modern
Nnsinoss block and the Gen. r. b.
Shepherd house, now the home OF
Frank w Briggs, was the only i'm
posing residence in town The ponu
lation at that time was around 5000,
now II Is about double that. Soon
after | took up my residence there,
the town was out of debt with com
Portable balance on the right side of
the ledger hut, with the installation
Of water works, sewers. fire deDart
ment. side walks, street improvements
etc. the comfortable margin has
been transferred to the opposite side.
But those improvements were all
necessary ones, and others must fol-
low IL we are to uphold our reputa-
ton of being a progressive town.
Yet. Notwithstanding my allegiance
to Maine and to Skowhegan In partic
ular. have always had strong de-
side to visit other states of our great
republic. that republic which thru
monkey wrench into the cOgs OF the
machine which was to bring about
world domination by the Beast OF
Berlin" and "Gott"--An American
soldier recently asked a German pris-
oner II he still thought Colt" was on
hiq side? Eyes" he said But YOU
fellows are against u.s. But the way
was not opened for me to make such
a pilgrimage till this fall have
brother in Oregon-pronounced Ore
en- who is in poor health and he wrote
me asking II I couldn't arrange to
come for while and look ont for
him. As I didn't seem to he doing
ANYBODY much rood there | decided I
would: so on the morning OF October
4th I left Sl1owhegan with a ticket in
nv pocket which reod Skowheean at
one end and Portland Ore ut the
other end The route took me from
Roeton via BOSTON and Alhanv to AL
hanv. N. Y. CHICAGO BURLINGTON and
Orincv to st. Paul Great Northern to
cnokare Wash Ora"on and Washing
I'm tn Portland; Southern Pacific to
"ornille Ore. at which Mace arrived
-ridav nioht Oct 18th. R,ilro"d
-Htes to this poirt are more than
double v'hnt thew wcrn voar a~o hut
~ foraooino the lrn-v Of P"l'ynan or
'lee~er 7 found 7 could lessen tie ev
,eose 'dorahlv so came oil the
wpv IN the DIV coach took nv
rommisenrv alono ond altho It first
ras hit CIV aho't rsine II 7 soon
-otioad th"t lots % hottor looh'no poo
ME thPn -1veelf we've also co-t~ihut-
ing rotNiro n a"rnN"t the dining car,
n fp't moo c0"----
Whom 'o"' "t-i~n the grass and
r,onv field ~ n.y. were green. and
the same condition prevailed In parts