The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-10-02
The Charm Of an Abandoned HIghwa,
by 4. T Patfen /

by X. T PattenJ
On the afternoon Of September 2fgt
sunshine and bright skies enticing +
set out from my home for walk
Started up the Norridgewock road and
mad not gone far before | overlook
Harold Danforth. He vas in about
the same state OF mind as was.
Neither Of Us knew where We ware
going, nor did either Of US care 90
We turned up the Beech Hill road and
hnally arrived at Smiths Corner
three miles from Skowhegan. Here
sign board gives the information
that by turning TO the left one may
reach Aorridge~Ock In three and ons-
half miles. | know that road we'll
enough; II goes by George Parker.s
and then over Tarbel Hill into the
Longley neighborhood Out there
beyond the Page places you turn IN
the left and 90 right down into Nor
rldgewock village. the road coming
out almost opposite the bridge. But
we didn't see fit 70 follow that route
Instead. We kept straight on in the
same direction az the Beech Hill road
and on location, in fact. where il
USED 10 continue. No doubt il IL
still public highway. | understand
1t has never been legally discontinued
but II Is far from safe and convent
ent for public travel" For an aft
ernoon stroll. however. 1t is much
better than ii would be II il we're
! suitable for general traffic. By ~
way. | think a car could be driven
through there In a dry time but II
might get scratched a little on the
sides The bushes and branches are
pretty close. There are two or
three culyerts but the tops are caved
J IN However. someone who has been
hauling hay out OF there. has filled
these with logs and limbs. so that 1t
would be possible to get across.
mere Is nothing spectacular about
the scenery but any one who likes To
see shade mixed with sunlight. loves
the smell of the woods and the feel
OF soft ground underfo0t would very
much enjoy this path
1t is perhaps one mile from Smith
Corner TO what | call the Withee road
This last mentioned thoroughfare is
al right angles with the old road lust
mentioned and connects the Russell
road with the Withee neighborhood
We crossed this and kept on the
abandoned highway. Beyond the
junction just referred to it is still
more secluded The old road sur
face is completely covered with
weeds and small bushes. Still the
walking is not bad. BY and bv We
came out to the Burns farm. which
Is probably in Madison. Here the
bushes got so thick as 10 cause us to
turn OF the old road into a moving
held. about the prettiest piece OF
grass land | have seen this year. We
soon reached the Burns road. so call
ed. which runs from the Withee or
, Longley neighborhood north-easterly
and comes into the Russell road at
the Warren Russell place. Al miles
from Skowhegan. My companion told
me that blacksmith shop stood here
until few years ago but there is no
trace of il at present.
We crossed the Burns road and
took rather sandy highway. which
led over hill and past a school
house. This building they told me
was formerly the white schoolhouse
so long a land mark on the Lake
wood road. 1t was moved to its
present situation perhaps five years
ago. Passing this we struck the
Russell road a the Harvey Russell
farm. t5.2 miles from Skowhegani.
BY this time we had had plenty of
exercise and allowed that il any one
offered lis ride we would promptly
accept Our plan was IL we did not
get lift. TO continue on 10 Black
we'll and take a trolley home. We
could see Blackwell hill way across
the valley. it looked to be two miles
away. Just as were We're discussing
this point DR. Charles Eiles came
along with his new sedan He was
thoughtful enough TO ASH us TO ride
and We very graciOusly accepted. At
my request he dropped me on the
Russell road back Of the fair grounds
and I walked through the birches and
across the old |. X l. baseball
ground. passing thence over the hill
by the stand pipe to my home.
BY the way. who knows how that
baseball field happened TO be called
by that nance | can remember hear
ing il SO designated forty-four years
ago. Am of the opinion that there
was a baseball club in those days
which had the name l. Y l. and that
they used 10 play over there. If So.
that must have been forty-five or
more years since, because the club.
as | remember il, was not I'm exis-
tence when ! came 10 Skowhegan in
1874