The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-04-19
Sunrise on Homer Hill
tBy Roland T. Patten)

| No jury or, other court of inquiry
will ever determine beyond dispute
the most beautiful spot on earth.
/ This distinction is claimed for thous-
ands of places, the patriotism and
sentiment of the individual quite pro-
perly assigning it to his native land.
My own opportunity for observation
has not extended over very wide
area. | know nothing about things
west of the Mississippi, very little
about anything east of the st. John
River. Most of my travels have been
| between the Kennebec and Penobscot,
| and perhaps to speak truly | should
| say between the Kennebec and the
Wesserunsett.
At one time | thought | had found
earths most beautiful spot, a point
on the Canadian highway, about three
miles this side of Jackman, overlook
| ing Attean Pond. AS there seen
| this sheet of water seems to extend
| in among the mountains for an indef-
| mite distance. 1t is beyond question
scene of almost unrivalled beauty.
! In recent years the view has been cut
of somewhat by forest growth, al
though is it still very attractive
| indeed.
L In September 1921 in company with
| friends Il made a hurried visit to my
boyhood home, the town of Monsoon.
| There were two automobiles in the
party conveying perhaps dozen
people. Following my recommends
! ton it was planned to sleep out of
| InDro M f,f
Monson is at the foot of Lake
Hebron, both lake and town being
well up on the side of a considerable
ridge, the Wilmantic and Wilson
valley lying below and eastward AS
one approaches from the south Homer
Hill is seen across the lake, a very
symmetrical emminence with part of
the village at its base, near the lake
shore. There is a good road to the
| farm of Wallace Homer pretty we'll
up on the side. A courageous dri-
yer, familiar with the locality, can
pass by the Homer residence, turn
sharply toward the right and take
II his car nearly to the top of the hill.
| | was the first to arrive, and followed
the course just mentioned. 1t was
gather fuel for a fire, and make other
arrangements for the night. | sought
out Mr.. Homer and got him to go with
me to gather corn from his nearby
| patch This we did in the dusk of
| evening, talking over the days which
we had spent together when we were
| playmates and schoolmates. With a
| good basket of corn | returned to my
| camping party, and we soon had a
very enjoyable meal in preparation.
About this time the other auto party
arrived, welcome to and getting the
benefit of our fire and corn roast.
| This was not tenting excursion.
We simply spread down our blankets
and turned in with the sky for
shelter.
Many times as boy | have camped
out in this fashion-never any trouble
about sleep then. On the occasion
am now relating the ground seemed
pretty hard-such is the change
brought by passing years. Probably
the texture of soil had not modified,
but my bones are a little nearer the
surface and more sensitive. Anyway
l did not sleep much. but was rather
glad of it. l could keep pretty COM
Portable by changing positions, and
| had the wonderful procession of
the stars to watch all night long. and
| toward morning the crescent moon.
And that sunrise; thousands have
tried to tell of such things never
with any sort of success, and | shall
not attempt it, The view took in
| T LII,
around toward the east, Guilford
Pond way down in the valley, and
some other spot of water which | can
not name. Then there were Borestone,
Barren and Benson mountains. In
the valley close by, of course, was the
town of Monsoon, white houses clust-
cred among shade trees with the
farming land stretching away to each
side, altogether a very pretty scene.
There was corn enough for break
| fast, and after that the two automo-
bies set out for Ripogenous Dam.
/ chose to spend the forenoon in Mon
SON | had planned to go to church
! Git was Sunday. Before church
| hour however, | made the circuit of
the town. In my wanderings
| SOuHul Ohl DOII btlnCltlltS anu III
ally walked acress from the South
east to the Abbott road This took
me through what used to be my
! fathers pasture in a part of which
we formerly played baseball. Right
ON the spot where / used to run to
first base, all over the diamond in
fact, was vigorous growth of maple
and birch, some of the trees sixty feet
high 1t seemed so odd to go through
the forest where | used to play ball
and drive the COWS.
My former home was near the
southerly shore of Lake Hebron with
frontage on that body of water.
This Sunday morning | sought out
that strip of lake shore, and here l
found very little change. There were
! the same big bOuders, one in parti-
cular where | used to stand and fish.
| The church building appeared
much as it did in my youth, but in
side there were new seats arranged in
different way, new pulpit and
many other alterations. The choir
loft had formerly been in the rear of
I