Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-15

great many. they did not torture their
prisoners. Another popularity of these
Indians is that they We're rather no.
madic. but their wanderingS were con-
fined to the konnebcc valley from the
rivers mouth to its source in Moose
head lake. With the coming of the
whites. especially the missionaries
from Canada. they took an occasional
trip northward to Quebec. These wan
dcrings were more or less seasonal;
that is. in the summer the tribe might
be found near the head of the river
and in the winter they might be found
near the mouth. and vice versa. In
short. they went wherever game could
he found, and game migration was af
fected by the seasons. History states
that the first visit by a white man to
this valley was in 1907 by Captain
Gilbert. who began journey of OK
ploration extending the entire length
of the river
In the year 1749 a corporation was
formed called tho "Proprietors of the
kcnncbcc Purchase" and which pur-
chased along with other tracts a strip
so miles wide with the kCnncbcc river
in the center, extending from Merry
meeting Bay to Norridgewock. This
company was composed of many of the
lltnt'SL ana tDIcSt mon IN the NlcInlIE
of Boston DIR. sylvester Gardiner was
the largest single owner of the COR
poration. In order to make this terri
tory safe for settlers. the company
induced Governor Shirley of Massachu-
sctts to build, in 1914, a fort in the new
territory. Fort Weston in Augusta.
which has recently been rebuilt as a
historic relic. was the result. A few
. years later DIR. Gardiner. accompanied
by % or 30 lahorcrs. came up the river
and founded the present city of Gardi-
ncr. lie built what is now known as
the lower DAM grist mill, and one of
two stores. In 1761 the first white
child was born in the settlement.
In 1875 General Washington issued
an order to Major Reuben Colburn of
GardincrStown. as Gardiner was then
called, to build zoe battoaux to trans
port Arnold'S troops up the river on
lis now famous journey to Quebec.
Upon the arrival of the troops it was
found that there were not enough bat
tCauX. so the army was forced to camp
on the banks Of the river for about
week. During this period Arnold lived
in Major CoIburn's home a few miles
below the present site of Gardiner. in
what is now Pittston. a fine memorial
tablet is row located there to COM
momoratc the occasion.
Less than 80 years after tho town
was settled in 1922. Gardiner was the
proud roSScSsor of one of the first
technical schools in tho country. 1t
was known as tho "G2rdincr I.Nccum.'
DIR. Benjamin Hale was the first prin-
cipal. Tho building was used as the
town high school until it was de-
stroycd by fire in 1869. in 1903 Gar
IL IN, cd town VIII N
n population of 500. In late years it
has grown until it now has nearly
1000 and is considered one of the lead
ing manufacturing towns of the state.
After the salutatory an interesting
essay was given by Francis Mccormick
entitled Tho Electric Furnace and Its
Products" The program included two
other selections by the orchestra,
"Menuctto from Surprise SYMPHONY
and Hungarian Dance No. D
(Brahms), also essays. by Simon Chaser
on our National Debt and by Rlch-
ard Durham on THE L 20 of the Slide
Rule" which were very well presented.
The prophecy and presentation of gifts
were very clcvcrly given by Dorothy
Dcnsmorc end Margaret Marson. The
slams were right up to the minute and
full of pep. each one causing much
laughter from the audience.
/. The Valedictory
Everett Durham. as valedictorian.
gave a Very fine essay on success
and he said in part: Let us agree
with the man who says: To me sue
cess means living each day so that
the setting sun finds me little bet
ter for having served well my coun-
try and my fcllowmen.' Sometimes it
is by accident that men reach sue
cess, just as Goodyear when expert
mcnting with caontchouc, the Juice
of the India rubber tree, in an en-
dcavor to obtain a more durable form
of rubber. accidentally spilled some
sulphur into the dish containing
caoutchouc. Unless one is a great
genius like Shakespeare it is impos-
sble to be successful in certain kinds
of work unless one spends many
years in preparation. Was it not
Abraham Lincoln who said I will
study and be prepared, for my chance
will come He did study, every
minute he could spare. at the end of
row of corn he was hoeing, or at
night by the dim light Of the fire.
place. What was it that led Lincoln
lonely woodchopper, to the Presi-