The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-12-09

words: I'VE have a good road Tat
leads from Boston to Quebec. There
are about one hundred men going to
work on the road this summer" This
road was first surveyed and laid out
In 1877. Although 1t is difhcult to NJ
the precise date when the entire
length Of this road was made passable
for the use of teams, carriages and
vehicles of all kinds. 1t must have
been somewhere from 1897 to 18+0.
Cant. Samuel Holden was q very reli-
gious man and always ready to enter
tain any preacher who might come in
to the place and early records show
that preachers of several different de-
nominations came occasionally to
hold services. Sunday school was
conducted in the homes and school
house. dating back to 1847. The school
followed closely on the heels or the
early settler. We find record OF Cath
crime. a sister of Mrs. Jane Farms
worth Holden, tecahing here as early
as 1898, presumably In the home. The
first school that We find any record OF
was built of logs on the lot between
the house now owned by John Mcma-
hon and the road that leads to the
Holden cemetery. This WAS about
1849 and the teacher was Miss Rog-
ers. the daughter Of lumberman
called Wheelbarrow Rogers. Mr.. Rog-
ers getting that cognomen thru his
log mark which was wheelbarrow
Later, tere as a school situated In the
basement of the house now owned by
Leo SAWYER, then owned by G. New
ton and on the site of the house owned
by Thomas Kennedy today. Lydia
Newton, teacher. There was also q
frame schoolhouse which set In the
dooryard of the place owned by Syl-
vanns Holden. Thisfbuilding was la
fer moved to Jackman and used as
schoolbuildng there for many years.
School was also kept In building at
tached to the present Holden resi-
dence. Teachers, Carolyn Burns and
Elizabeth Howes. A school was kept
for n short time In building used az
a Custom house and store and situat-
ed on the Otis Holden farm. This
building was later moved across the
road and used as store by Mr.. Abel
Kimball. Teacher of this school, Ade-
line French. In 1873, Moose River
erected a building. the lower part to
be used for a school and the upper
part for a church. Here the first
church of this community was estab-
Used as The Free VIII Baptist church
In 1875. in the Union church. so
called, fourteen members forming the
church roll. In 1855. Capt. Holden in
the absence of minister, ofiiciated at
funerals. The present school building
was built In 1905 and Is fine building.
The first high school was held In
Moose River, being a class b high
school in 1909. Mr.. Day, teacher. This
high school was continued for nine
years. Moose River held It's first
town meeting in 1852. There were on
" four articles In the warrant and no
money raised This meeting was
called by Sullivan Lothrop, one OF
the county commissioners OF Somer-
set County. This meeting was held at
the request Of Christopher Thompson
ESQUIRE and four others, inhabitants
of the various townships demonstrate
ed Moose River Plantation. Capt
Samuel Holden was very active In all
church and town affairs until his
death which took place March 10
1859. His wife Jane Farnsworth Hol-
den died Jan. 10, 1859. They are both
buried in Moose River, Maine. The
first store that there is any record OF
was kept by Capt. Samuel Holden
later Mrs. Lorinda Newton, his daugh-
ter. Kept a candy store, and still lat
er a general store. Was opened by
Mr.. Abel Kimball. The first post Of
fee building was located near the
residence of John Mcmahon. the old
cellar being plainly visible today. The
first postmaster was Capt. Samuel
Holden who served from April IL
1924 to March 25. 1S43. when 1t was
taken by Jacob Lowell. who served
until August 90, 1849. christopher
Thompson was then appointed and
served until Mar. 10. 1854, when II
was taken by Philander M. Colby
whose term lasted until July Is, 1858
1t was then taken by Otis Holden
who served until the present post
mistress Miss Minnie Holden WAS ap,
pointed March %, 1892. The first saw
mill was built before 1874, exact date