The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-12-20
Items of Interest of Many Years Ago

Feb. Is. 186S-Our village was Wis
tied with a severe fire on Friday
night, the 7th inst. 1t broke out at
11.30 In a three story wooden build
ing known as the Excelsior Factory,
and owned exclusively by M. Willis
and occupied by w. C. Houghton &
Co., millwright, loss, $500; C. F.
Douglas, architect and builder, loss,
800: Brown and Barker, carving
knife maker, loss, $500; M. Willis,
slate grinding mill, loss, $500; Alya
Abbott, planning mill, loss $4,000 (sec-
ond time within months). The
building was totally destroyed, and
In connection with the slate mill the
loss OF Mr.. Willis could not have been
less than $4,000 in this building, nei-
Their of the parties were insured. On
account of the intense cold, one OF
the engines did not work well and
partly in consequence of this, the ma
chine shop just across the street took
fire and was totally destroyed. The
building and machinery was owned
by S. l.. Gould & Co. and valued at
over $500 and insured for $4,000.
damaged, insured. Half of the bridge
from the Island was also burned.
The loss bears heavily on those burn
ed out as all of their machinery and
much of their capital was lost; but
with particular severity upon Mr..
Willis, who has recently left good
business in North Bridgewater,
Mass, and invested the proceeds of
years Industrious labor and business
In this place. Beside the loss Of
the Excelsior building, he owned a
third of the machine shop. We are
glad to learn that the losers are pre-
pairing to Immediately rebuild, in fact
have already begun. Messrs. Gould
G. Co. will soon have their machine
shop In operation in another build
Ing.
Feb. Is, 1S68-Rev. Wolster Wood
bury is expected to preach In the
Congregational church next Sabbath.
Feb. 10, 1868-At the annual meet
ing of the Somerset Central Agricul-
tural Society held in Engine Hall the
list inst, the following officers were
chosen for the ensuing year. Alex
ander Crawford, president; Isaac
Rowell, vice president; John Watson,
secretary; J. H. Dinsmore, treasurer;
Alex. Crawford, John Weston, Daniel
Snow, s. w. Coburn, B. s. Eaton,
trustees.
Feb. 15, 1S6S-A Madison lady, from
two cows, each having calves five or
six weeks old, made "a pounds of
butter. excellent quality, from the
goth to 28th of January. All the
extra feed was ten quarts of boiled
oats and barley per day.
Marriages and deaths of February
Is, 186S--In this place, 8th inst, by
Rev. N. J. Wheeler Mr.. Earl M.
Norton, Jr., of Scion and Mrs. Caro-
line Benson of Madison, In Norridge-
wock; by the Rev. DR.. Tappan, Mr..
Frank Bodfish to Miss Sarah Amelie
Moore, both of North Arson. Died
In Skowhegan, Addie, daughter of
Calvin and Abby Stinchheld. aged 2
years and 6 months; in this place,
31st VT. Isaac Fletcher! aged SO
years; suddenly at Chicago, on the
22nd uf., of paralysis, Oramandel
D. Merrick, Esq, of Palmyra in this
county.
Feb. %, 1S6S-Business in Skowhe-
gan. The following figures furnish
ed us by B. F. Eaton, Esq. station
agent, will afford soEe idea OF the
business done in this section. Dur
ing the potato season" last year
there were shipped from the station
here, 555 carloads, estimated at 49,
900 bushels. This was the crop of
1866. In our Price Current, it will
be seen that 1880 bushels of the
crop of 1857 have already been ship
ped. There are also large quanti-
ties of hay, butter, lumber and other
products of the farm. BY reference
to the last report of K. & P. Railroad
1t will be seen that there has been
shipped from Skowhegan, 2O,S59 tons,
6,192 tons more than Gardiner, the
next in amount of freight, which gives
1867. At the Bath station, 1883
has been shipped; at Augusta, 1885;
Kendall's Mills, 9,166; Somerset
Mills, 1913; Pishon's Ferry, 2,976.
Although there Is the usual complaint
of hard times, our streets wear a
business-like appearance, and every
road leading to the village shows in
dications of activity. There is work
enough to employ mechanics and all
others who are willing to earn fair
wages.
Feb. 20, 1S6S-At the meeting In
Engine Hall on Saturday evening
last, for the purpose OF forming q
Grant Club, 1t was proposed to &C
into a Temporary organization. Col
"A. w. Wildes was chosen chairman;
A r. Bixhv, secretary; j. B. Das-
comb, A. W. Wildes, Osgood Sawyer
w. F. Baker. c. X. Turner, S. d. Ar
mold. were chosen committee to