The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-01-03
hell Homestead Has Interesting
History
(By r. T. Patten)


call to get out of doors by TAX
my car and driving to the top
Tarbell Hill in Norridgewock. l
no appetite for an automobile
this short trip was taken be-
be | wanted to get into new terri
for my stroll. l have walked
river banks, fields, woods and
lure around Neil Hill until every
of the ground is as familiar as
E1iyipg room. In a way, this con-
htes an additional attraction, for
e is the memory of pleasant com
connected with a good. deal OF
area, altho many times my Walks
strolls have been entirely alone.
teyer, there come days when l
for new sights and scenes anu
particular occasion was one Oh
having my car in the door yard
he old Tarbell homestead, L hrs'
dered off toward the north. There
old orchard and, though 1t was
late. | found few excellent
es which had been overlooked IN
khaEyest On l went thru the
ling field and pasture into the
d lot. A part of the way the
led thru some young wnite
In. to me the most interesting tree
kll the beautiful forest growth we
Re in Maine.
liter satisfying my curiosity IN
direction, l strolled back TO
highway again. A man was COM
along, driving a farm work morse
Concord wagon. He was cour-
his enough to ask me to ride, think
that | was starting out for Nor
kewock or perhaps the Longley
{ehborhood. / did not want to go
twhere but thought l ought to ap-
Sciate his kindness by climbing In
did so. He told me about MS
In home and plans, difficulty OF
hing help, etc, which made a very
asant conversation for a mile or
where I asked to be excused and
raced my steps.
had noted what seemed to be an
binary wood road leading on from
main highway toward the south.
Hacked about one hour OF sunset
7 thought to investigate this un-
bwn pathway. 1t was beautiful
hiking, at first thru hardwood, ana
In a stand of young pine and other
krgreens. Still further on ! came
into pastures and back fields. IL
time I turned around for the
was pretty we'll down to the Ca
han mountains. was full Oh
psity however to see where the
went and kept on. To my sur
- I found il came out at the Tobey
~ on the Norridgewock road, just
ri way between Skowhegan and
tridgewock. 1t was a little rough
Scourse and at points narrow be-
len the trees but it would be en-
kly possible, after dry season, to
ve an automobile through there.
lad never known of the existence
his road but find it has been made
of both summer and winter Tor
GOOD many years. 1t must have
In put through there as many as
wears ago. 1t would be inter-
hing to know the original purpose
4 by whom it was built but l am
able to establish these facts. IL
y of the Observation-Disclosures
kders can give further information
but this road, the old Tarbell home
lad or that locality, l shall be IN
kested to receive it.
1rhe sun was just setting as | turn
Earound and twilight was we'll along
Zen | reached the highway again.
Arrived here just in time to get
knderful glow which we sometimes
ke in the west particularly beauti-
on cool fall evenings. The en-
) mountain range to the northwest
i in view. Mt. Blue, just above
rmington; Saddleback, just to the
Eth; Abram, with Kingfield mot
yiew of course) at its base; Mt.
below. with it's two pairs of peaks,
very high spot still further
th. which l suppose is Coburn
hntain.
igelow is the most interesting OF
range. While you can not see
htton, if familiar with the topo-
phy of that section, you can point
RI exactly where it is at the foot OF
4 westerly pair of Bigelow's four
ks. Between the westerly points
1 Bigelow just referred to and the
r of peaks at the east end, is a
buntain valley five or ten miles long.
Ia uniformed observer will scarce
| credit this. | had looked at 1t
many years before | realized the
|uation. One day, several years
d, climbed Bigelow's highest peak
Ia from that point OF course this
+lley or depression in the top of the
dge was in plain view and its ex-
ht, appreciated. Another way OF
the length OF Mt.
yellow is to note the speedometer
Stance from the Parsons place to
ration, along the north side. The
Arson's place is directly under the
stern peaks, which are the highest
the four Stratton, as above men
bned, is located at the western ex-
|emity, a distance OF about twelve
lies.
|Still further to the north and east,
h. Moxie. $500 feet high, may be
Yen. The distance from Tarbell
ill to the mountain peaks above en-
tnerated is probably from thirty
he to fifty-five miles.
|The old Tarbell homestead itself Is
|Dst interesting. 1t stands to tle
brth of the main highway and COIN
buds. splendid view In all direc-