Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-08-23

II
Why mako rs wheeze?
Why make rs sneexe2
-Tsllfellow.
The Chaplin Parm.
In the edge Of Welchville. where It
trays out against the Oxford Plains, are
two buildings which attract attention.
One 10 church with the steeple gone,
or quite likely It never bad ono, and the
other IL large two or three story build
| ing that once Was tavern or road house
but now 10 farm residence.
The first 10 or was a~church and can
| be used for such purpose now II de-
sired; but its ordinary function 10 that
Of Q town hall. II one listens on ap-
preaching, one can hear the echoes of
town meeting day eloquence any time.
This building was given the town OF OK
ford by the heirs OF one of the proprie-
tors, General Andrew Crsigie, In 1929
for the combined purpose of town hall
and church. Not for any particular
denomination, that 10, II there were Sum-
lays enough. Lack Of Sundays seemed
10 be great trouble when the gift was
accepted. The town made Q division Of
these days In its early existence. On
the first Sunday of q month the building
was given ever to the Congregationalists; !;
tbe second Sunday to the Bsptists; the
third to the Universalists, and the fourth
to the Methodists. II there did happen
to be fifth Sunday In any month why
any old denomination could occupy 1t.
There 10 another peculiar thing about
this building, and that is, 1t stands OK.
actly In the center OF tho town. Not
that the townspeople ever took the
trouble to measure and ascertain this
fact, they had . shorter way. They
made 1t the center by f3at-by legisla-
ton. The town In solemn session on
the first Monday of certain March re-
solved that this building be and Is and
always shall be the center OF the town.
Lo, what wonders can be performed by
legislature? Why doubt that any revo-
Iutionary thing can be accomplished BY
this method?
But It is the other building I would
write about.-the farm buildings and
the land surrounding them.
The land upon which these buildings
were erected was taken up BY Benjamin
Fessepden Perry. When the new coun.
| ty road was built down across the plains
from Norway with stage coaches and
private travelling outfits going by bis
doors, Mr.. Perry conceived the desira-
bility OF tavern to feed these hungry
sojourners, both man and beast. The
latter did not possess the endurance Of
limousine or Ford, 90 service stations
bad to be frequent. OF course Mr.. Per
ry cleared the land adjacent to bis build
ings. Directly around the building 1t 10
sandy plains land, suitable for early
garden stuff and not much else; but .
few rods back of the buildings the land
drops of down steep bank to the river
bottoms, which are very rich. These
bottoms belonging to Mr.. Perry were
| particularly fertile and the Perry inter-
vale has been noted for century.
It'll bard telling whether Mr.. Perry's
principal business was farming or Inn
keeping; but both played important
roles In his life. Shortly after 1850 the
railroad was built through Oxford and
inn keeping received its death blow; but
It was kept up to limited degree dur.
Ing Mr.. Perry's life, and during the
occu pancy of bis successor, Hiram Gil
bert.
During the time 1t was held by Mr..
Gilbert It was known moro especially as
Q road house and was given over to
special parties. In the ell Of the build
ing was hall and stage. In this room
was held many merry dancing parties In
which mine host was expected to furnish
refreshments for the revelers and feed
for the tired horses with which they
came, 90 Mr.. Gilbert's farm product,
found ready sale at his own door. II
might also be said that travelling enter
tainers also gave performances here, and
such persons 90 Comioal Brown and ths
Hutchinson Family, names we'll known
two generations ago, were among the
frequenters.
with the passing Of Nj. Gilbert, inr
keeping ceased to be factor In th'
agricultural operation OF this farm. i
next passed into the hands of 8. A
haven, who had hold claim on th'
land. He had experienced financial re
verses In Chelsea, Mass, where be hat
lived, 90 retired to this land, where hi
lived until bis death.
The farm then was bought by A. Chap
lin of Harrison, who lived here until hi
death, when 1t descended to his SON, A
L. Chaplin, who now occupies II.
Mr., Chaplin engages 10 the dairy bnsl
ness, but he 10 Q lumberman as well
and keeps number Of horses a. we'll o
yoke or two Of oxen sometimes, 30 hi
large hay crop 10 easily disposed Of. b
10 very busy man, for beside thes'
things he 10 the agent Of the local farm
ers' union.
Walkers Fiolsteins Listed.