Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-05

1t came about only the other day
while some of us were waiting
around the we'll known grocery es-
adjustment of Calvin A. Cole as
many of us Hallowell folks are wont
to do sometiems when time is drag
ging heavily that Gus" for by that
name only is this genial proprietor
known to the people of this old Ken
nebec community, gave his hearers
some real light on the days when Hal
lowell was in her glory and was at
the head of navigation on the Kenne-
bee and was in fact the seaport for
miles of surrounding country.
1T almost takes me back to the
dark ages" he said, when I recall
the men who manned the steamboats,
that lived here in this city. Only a
few of them, one or two are left. The
first steamer to be placed on the Ken
nebec- Boston route was the steamer
McDonahu in 1884 and was followed
in 1888 by the steamer Huntress, both
of which ran between this city and
the Hub. But the city's real steam
boat days began with the arrival of
the Eastern Queen in the year 1857, "
Referring to a pocket diary that Mr..
Cole has carried over a score of years,
he said this boat was built at New
York City in the same year. 'And
let me tell you she was a beauty. She
sat in the water just like a duck, low
in the middle, and was one of the
! best sea boats that was ever built.
Her commander for a time was Capt.
Alfred Beals, who lived in the house
that is now just opposite the State
school on Winthrop street and he was
killed one day when The walking
beam hit him while he was talking
chute. l remember that well. Why,
l was one of the ones that helped car
ry him up over the hill to his home
and was bearer at his funeral.
| Hallowell men figured rather conspi-
cuously in the make up of the crew
of the Star" from season to season
For a number of years. Hiram Fuller
| was clerk. He was followed by his
son, Charlie Fuller. who served for a
long time in this capacity and WAS a
general favorite with all passengers
ram resigned to accept the local
agency here in Hallowell which he
held until the time of his death.
When Charlie Fuller died in 1883, Jes-
Sc Tuck, another Hallowell boy, be-
came clerk, which position he filled
until his transfer to another boat in
later years. Charles Richards, who
is one of the few remaining of the
crew in those days. was for - years
one of the porters. One day when the
boat was nearing her destination,
Charlie Fuller approached 'Dode,
and asked him if he had taken any
of his 'bitters' In an instant came
the prompt reply, No sir Those days
spirits were sold on board the steara-
ers and it was no crime to be the cu.-
todian of the same. Another porter
was John Ewers. who lived on Acad-
envy street. Patrick Collins, who is
another one of the survivors, was a
deck hand in those days. He was a.
way popular with the younger people
among the clerks in the Office, we
will all remember Charles Green Wall
He ran with Charlie Fuller. They
were great pals. Two other Hallow-
elites were David B. Lowe and John
Sullivan. Dave was one of the stew
ards and I can't just place John but
remember he was one of the bunch.
All. those were great DAYS, those days
of the old Star. In 1889 her name was
changed to 'Sagadahoc,' and she cor,-
tinued on the run with a sister
steamer 'Kennebec.' built in 1889, un-
til some Is years ago, when she was
scId to New York parties and 1 thinK
she is still doing service on the HuG-
son River.
In those days the boat made her
landing at what is known as the
steam mill landing down nearly oppo-
site Milliken's crossing and. believe
me, that end of the town was some
busy in those days. Hallowell then
was the port Of trade. Why. have