The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-02-15
The Dead River Reglon-Its Ponds
, and Streams

L ana streams
After the Rangeley country, comes
] the famous Dead River region as
connecting link with the Moosehead
Lake territory. In this region-it
Is literally honey-combed with lakes,
ponds, rivers and streams-the fisher
man has opportunities for the exer-
else of his skill hard to match in the
world, and the hunter is almost equal
ly favored. The waters TEEN with
game fish, the forests shelter humid
reds of agile deer, and the scenery
is all that the lover of rough and
rugged conditions can desire.
The fishing season at Dead River
open little later than that at
Rangeley. Members of the noted
Megantic Club, which maintains
clubhouse in Maine as well as across
the Canadian border, are usually
among the first corners.
At the terminus of the Maine Cen
trial, high on the bluff across emerald
fields, rise the church spires of Farm
ington, a little Athens in the back
woods. In and near the village are
several noted schools, chief of which
is the Little Blue School, occupying
the picturesque estate where Jacob
Abbott dwelt when he wrote those
charming classics of childhood's days,
the RollO books.
All this lovely valley of Sandy
River, with it's ramparts of blue
peaks and its hamlets of sturdy and
intelligent New Englanders, is plea
SAINT rambling-ground for summer
idelers and seekers after. picturesque
variety in life and manners. From
the streets of Pennington. Mount
Blue appears In full majesty in the
near northwest.
Five miles out, in the town of In
dustry, is Clear Water Pond, cover
! ing thousand acres. and girdled
with forests, shadowing cool waters
in which togue are said to attain a
weight of fifteen pounds.
Where Arnold TrOd
Here and there throughout the
Dead River region. you will see relics
of the Inflated expedition against
Quebec. led by Benedict Arnold. Car
! rying Place was the point where
| Arnold's army left the Kennebec and
began it's dreary march through the
Maine wilderness. The guides will
tell you interesting traditions of
Arnold's march. The quaintest of
narrow guage railroads, hardly more
than toy, runs from Pennington.
through Strong and Phillips to
Rangeley, with a branch to Kingfeld
and Bigelow. The guage is twenty
four inches and the little cars have
but a single seat on each side of the
aisle Leaving Pennington. the train
slows up at the pretty village OF
Strong. on the great bend of the
Sandy River, and between two i'm
mense bills. tits citizens claim for it
whether rightly or not) the honor
of having been the birthplace of the
Republican party. Here the King
field Bigeow branch leaves the main
line.
Beyond Strong the track is carried
across the Porter Stream on a long
bridge. and then winds upward along
the hillsides, with lovely views of the
high green peaks across the valley
an dthe nesting glens whore in to
Phillips. a lively town with various
industries and large country trade.
Brook trout abound in the streams
near by. The terminus of the mar
row guage is at Rangeley.
The recognized center of the Dead
River cuontry Is at the village of
Stratton and Eustis. They are
reached by stage. either from Carra-
basset or Bigalow on the Kingfield
branch. or from Dead River station on
the main line OF the Sandy River e
Rangeley Lakes Railroad The stage
route from Carrabasset or Bigelow af-
fords a delightful ride through the
Carrabassett Valley, skirting the foot
of Mount Bigelow.
Travel by Compass
At Eustis and Stratton villages, ex-
cellent guides may be obtained. The
Wilderness Is so unsettled and the
trails and lumber roads so labyrin-
thine and confusing that travelling by
compass Is the only satisfactory me-
thod off the highway or the buck
board road beyond Eustis. Among
the scores of fishing resorts in this
region are Tim Pond with its never
failing treasure store of medium sized
trout. Round Mountain Lake, with
Round Mountain for it's sentinel, Jim
Pond, Blakesley Lake, Spencer
Stream. Deer Pond. King and Bart
lett Lakes, near which are the most
picturesque camps in this entire re-
gion, and Big Spencer, all ideal sum-
mering places among the pines and
snruces. with camp life exemplifying
the log-cabin idea to perfection. In
this region Is some of the best deer
territory to be found in Maine~Lewis-
ton Journal.