The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-09-18

to the cascade leads off to the right.
There is nothing to mark 1t. You
won't find 1t unless you go with
someone that has been there before.
This waterfall with its ledgy banks
and basin. completely surrounded by
forest growth, is very charming
There is another one quite similar on
Michael Stream, in Solon.
OF course there are many other
beauty spots in Somerset County, es-
p~ecially the views from Pleasant
Pond. Moxie, Bigelow and Coburn Mt.
Pond, Moxie. Bigelow and Coburn
Mountains. Then there is the view of
the Moose River valley from Owls
Head. | have stood there with those
who have seen about everything this
terrestrial globe offers for scenic
beauty and heard them declare, after
a few moments of almost rexerent
contemplation, that there was Moth
ing superior in the whole wide world.
grew up in Monson as the patient
readers of this paper must have long
ago discovered. There is a body OF
water there, something like three
miles long and one mile wide. 1t
Is called Lake Hebron. The outlet
is at the easterly end and the village
is crowded around the lake shore at
his point. Monsoon. itself includ-
ing Lake Hebron has a considerable
elevation above sea level. From the
north shore on the lake. the land
slopes upward sharply and terminates
in a peak known as Homer Hill.
There is a big valley toward the east
and south traversed Ivy the Wilson
t. w.t. 1000 - H. ~,,A1aR
of Wilson Pond. located near the
southerly end of Moosehead Lake. The
n~ortherly end of this Wilson Stream
valley is crowded with mountains and
the most prominent of which are
Borestone, Barren, Benson and Green
wood. In these mountain valleys
are Lake Onawa, eleven miles long.
three Greenwood ponds, W Benson
Ponds, also Spectacle, Bear, Grind
stone and Monson ponds and other
bodies of water which / have forgot
ten. From the top of Homer Hill,
Lake Hebron, Monson Pond and the
village of Monsoon are in the near
view, While beyond them is spread out
a panorama comprising everything
which could delight the eye. Of
course this view from Homer Hill is
sacred to the memory of my boyhood.
| have just been there again and am
sure nothing | have elsewhere seen
can equal it.
Perhaps ten years ago | heard of
Devils Head located somewhere
around Great Moose Lake. | then had
a chauffeur by the name OF Jesse
Russell, who formerly lived in Hart
land. He claimed to know all about
1t. He started OFF with my family
one day to go to Devils Head. They
wandered around oyer Hartland, Har-
mony and st. Adams and didn't find
it. Since then | have arranged sew
eral trips to that spot but never got
there until Sunday, July 9th. There
were three cars of us, about fifteen
people in the party, and We were
under the guidance of Senator Clyde
II. Smith who was born in Harmony.
within six miles of Devils Head. The
spot may be reached either by way of
Harmony or Hartland. but the easiest
route to follow and perhaps the best
road is by way of Harmony and
Mainstream. Soon after crossing a
concrete bridge at Mainstream, you
turn off the main travelled highway
toward the right and proceed up the
hill for about Two miles. 1t isn't
very good road, but there is nothing
dangerous or impossible on this ride
through the woods. 1t is all very
pleasant.
Just at the highest point, where
the road passes a fairly level place
for a few rods. on the top of the
ridge, before dipping down toward
the south, you strike a place where
lodges are spread out all about you.
Here the trail leads off toward the
east. There isn't anything to in
dictate it but If you make a careful
search, you will observe a pathway
leading in among the trees.
It is somewhat open at first, with
a few scattered trees and her the
forest growth increases. About five
hundred feet from the roadway you
come out on a cliff to which someone,
long years ago, gave the name of
Devils Head. | have a disposition
to quarrel a little with that name.
Its mental suggestion has nothing in
keeping with the place. yet perhaps
| had better hold my peace. Though
| have thought and thought. | can
not suggest a really appropriate
name. The prominent thing. of
course, in the big valley to the south
and west, is Great Moose Lake, nine
miles long, It's shores are very ir-
regular and there are many islands.
Devils Head descends in a precipice
for a hundred feet or so and then in
a series of foothills to the lake shore. !
Somewhere in there, no doubt. is the
location of the Hartland branch of
the Maine Central Railroad. but there
is no break in the tree tops or other
sign Of its presence. The view is
n almost untouched by the hand of
man. There are a very few farms in
sight and now and then a motorboat
or other craft appears al a tiny
speck on the surface of the lake. but
the whole scene is one OF nature rath-
err than civilization. l have been
wondering whether the glimpse of a
small village with a church spire
would add anything. CANT quite
make up my mind but rather think
it is more charming as it is. You
know that the villages of Hartland
and st. Adams are behind the hills.
YDU are also certain that tho Wild