The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-08-12
Former New Portland Couple Visit
Maine. Make Trip by Automobile
From Tacoma. Washington

The following paragraphs will be
read with interest by many Somerset
County people because they refer tc
Mr.. and Mrs Alfonso wilbur, well
known former residents of North New
Portland. They have been visiting
in Maine for sometime. They made
the trip here partly by automobile
but returned to Washington entirel,
by auto. = 1850
This sketch from a Tacoma pa
per states that Mr.. and Mrs. Al
fonso Wilbur were going to visit
Maine by automobile but had luck
against them as they had the mis-
fortune to break their car just as
they got to Eau Claire, Wis. so
they had to end their journey East
by train. The relatives of AL
fonso surely had the surprise of
their lives when he and his wife
arrived in Maine, just before In
dependence Day. On July 4,
party of thirty-two, brothers. sis
tiers, nieces, nephews, cousins.
and some invited guests, met with
his sister and her husband, Mr..
and Mrs. E. E. Atwood at their
home. Orchard Dale to Welcome
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilbur to his home
town. There were a number of
old land marks Mr.. Wilbur recog-
nized One was the old covered
bridge at East New Portland. ut
looks just the same as it did when
| used to drive team hauling
blocks across it for Uncle David
Elder" The relatives of Mr..
Wilbur were very glad to see Mrs.
Wilbur and to receive her into the
family circle for they had never
met her before as this was her
first visit to Maine. Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilbur started on their homeward
journey this week going to Wash
ington, D. c. then to Eau Claire.
After a short visit with relatives
and friends they will finish their
journey home by automobile. Mr..
and Mrs. Wilbur plan to visit
Maine in two years, but not by
automobile as 1t would make
their visit too short.
"Seventy-year-A lphonso F. Will
bur has been gripped by the wan
der lust and tomorrow he and his
wife will start on 4000-mile trip
back to his boyhood home in Som
erset County, which he last saw
A years ago, when he pack
ed his satchel and came West Mr..
Wilbur, who lives at 1902 South
street. will drive the entire dis
lance himself, although he sur
misses that before they reach Ia
coma again Mrs. Wilbur will take
her place at the steering wheel.
Back to the old farmhouse in
Maine where they grow potatoes
ice. and hoop-poles. my wife and
have planned to 60 and we are
off Monday II we can get through
the pass" Mr. Wilbur declared.
II have driven a car about as far
as any Tacoma man and I guess
I'm not too old to cross the con-
tinent. When superintendent
of the st. Paul & Tacoma Lumber
Company drove an old Packard
1884, 900 miles and in the last five
years I have covered some terri
tory with this REQ.
Just a few OF the places Mr.. and
Mrs. Wilbur will visit on their
trip back East are Boise. Salt
Lake City. Colorado Springs. Kan
sas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis,
| Washington. D. c., Mt Vernon.
New York. Boston, and Augusta,
Maine. They are going as real
campers khaki clad and equipped
with Pullman car Accommodations,
The front seat of the old REQ has
been cut back so that the car pro-
vides spacious berth and they
have tarpaulin which tops the
car and stakes down on either
side to keep out rain and wealth