Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-13

! organizationIwas realized. The land
was divided into lots one mile wide
along the kennebec and extending
five miles into the country. Five
of these lots represent the present
town of Richmond.
Although we were speedily in
creasing in population, until 1910 it
was not considered Of sufficient i'm
portance and population to be put
under the protection of any organ
lied body. In 1779 owing to the
financial affairs and a scarcity of
currency products were very high.
| TO begin with one dollar in specie
Was worth forty dollars in currency.
Tea was worth $1,000 per pound !;
corn. $500 per bushel: molasses,
$1,000 per gallon; coffee, $500 per
pound: wheat, $500 per bushel;
salt, $500 per bushel; and hay,
$4,000 a ton. These are just a few
examples of the cost of products.
/ In this same year we were an
ncXcd to the town of Bowdoinham.
Five years later the town was divid-
ed into four districts. District No.
l included the present town of Rich
mOnd, for whose maintenance of
which the sum of eighteen shillings
and three pence or (S4. 30 in Ameri-
can money! was appropriated. This
vas the embryo system which is in
striking contrast with the excellent
facilities OF today.
The first town road in Richmond
was the County Road from Itch
field line or the bog" to the Ken
nebec river. The Mcscrvc Road was
first known as the Langdon Road.
The Pitts Road was laid out across
section No. s belonging to James
Pitts. 1t was originally laid out five
miles long and four rods wide and
so remains to this day. The town
road from Gardiner line to Pards
Ferry was laid in 1911. passing oyer
Wclmore's Creek. 1t is now known
as the River and is much travelled.
The Post Road ran from Gardiner
to Brunswick parallel with the Cob
bcsseccontee stream. These roads
were so wisely laid out that few
changes have been made in the sue
ceeding generations to improve
them.
The vicinity of Richmond Corner
was the business center of the early
town. Here was established the first
post office. Gradually whites
Landing" was found to be better
situated as q commercial center by
river and later by rail and here is
located the village of today.
Tho 1nno1i{N- Iyn
mond Village was first named
Whites Landing" in honor of Bra
zclle White who settled here in the
beginning of the 10Th century. His
house now stands on White street
in the rear of the Southland Block.
This stout old dwelling was built in
1906 and is the oldest house in
Richmond Village.
In ISIS the eastern portion of the
town WAS burned over destroying
thousands of acres of forest. AL
though a great loss was felt it af-
fordcd a fine opportunity for clear
ing the heavy wooded district. The
people were not slow to grasp the
advantage and from that time on
Whites Landing" began to grow
and prosper.
We, like most small towns that
are annexed to others wished to be-
come an independent village After
much controversy which covered a
period of ten years we finally ac-
complished our object. On Feb. 10,
1873 by an act of legislature we were
incorporated as town.
The first town meeting was held
on March TO- 1923 at the school
house near Joseph L. Wheeler's
Samuel Woodland was chosen mod
orator; Mr.. Fletcher. clerk; Joseph
Langdon, Enoch Libby, BENZ. Shaw,
selectmen and assessors; Ebenezer
Hatch. treasurer dnd John Southland
constable.
This meeting was adjourned until
April I. when the remaining neces-
sary town officers were chosen, ap-
preparations made and other meas
ures passed. This meeting was held
in a school house near VIM. Will
sons on the Post Road. Until 1897
meetings were held in different
schoolhouses throughout the town.
For ten years they were held in the
old academy.
The growth of Richmond was not
rapid until after the year 1926.
In lS47 the Town House was con-
structed in the Village where until
lately town meetings were held.
The early industries of Richmond
were practically the same as they
are today with the addition of n
number of saw mills which passed