The independent-reporter., 1924-02-28
EDDY ROAD WAS BUILT
BY FRANK FORD IN 1877
Russell Road was Built In 1884 by
Capt. TObey. Growth OF Mae
adam Highways In SkOw.
hegan

The growth of the macadam village
streets in Skowhegan is somewhat IN
4hresting to follow and the Reporter
has learned only this week that the
town purchased its first road machine
in 1880. The late Hiram Gilman was
then road commissioner and continu-
ed to hold that position until 1898.
Skowhegan bought its first stone
crusher in 1891 and it was set up at
the end of the South Channel bridge
where 1t was propelled by water pow
er. That same year the first water
bound macadam was put on to East
Front street from Main street to Ce-
dar street In 1892 and 1898 Mr.
Gilman superintended the laying of
the macadam street from Front street
along Main street to the South Chan
mel bridge, through Island avenue
and down Water street as far as the
railroad crossing. In 1894 and 1888
L. l.. Ford was road commissioner
and in 1895 he built maeadam street
through Madison avenue from Water
street to Leavitt street.
1t was while Mr.. Ford was road
commissioner that he built the extern
sion of Court street from High street
to Winter street, a strip of land be-
ing bought of the Pages and others
This was in 1895 and neeessitated
cutting of trees through that section.
Hiram Gilman was elected road com
missioner in 1895 and remained in Of
flee until 1898 when George Webb sue
ceeded him, and remained in office un-
I'll 1909. Under Mr.. Webb's direc-
tion West Front street, Water street,
from the railroad crossing to the res
idence of f. ~ Merrill, Russell street,
Court street and High street were all
macadamized and some of the streets
built by Mr.. Gilman were rebuilt. A
steam roller was bought in 1907 by
the town.
From 1909 to 1915 r. L. Ford was
road commissioner and during that
time North avenue was macadamized
TO Winter street, East Front street
to Mechanic street and Water street
from e. n. Merrill's residence to the
top of Eddy Hill and Pleasant street.
Water street was rebuilt from the
Merrill residence to the railroad
crossing and Russell and Court streets
were built over
Parker Sanborn assumed the office
OF road commissioner in 1916, remain
ing in office until 1917. He built
Middle street of macadam and also
the extension on East Front street
and the extension on North avenue,
which is now macadamized. In 1919
Ephraim Cowette was road commits
sioner, building short piece on East
Front street In 1920 E. l.. Ford was
again elected to the Office and rebuilt
all water bound macadam streets and
Pleasant street and Madison avenue to
the top of Dyer Hill with bituminus
macadem. In 1921 and 1922 Ephraim
Cowette and +. J. Kimball were the
road commissioners, Mr.. Cowette be-
ing elected to Office in 1923. He built
Madison avenue from the top of Dyer
Till to the residence of c. w. Good
rich OF bituminus macadam In 1928
and likewise the hill on West Front
street.
In connection with the foregoing
figures we learn that Russell road
was built in 1884 under the direction
of Captain Amos Tobey and in 1877
tho road was built from the river
drivers camp around the Great Eddy
by Frank Ford, father of e. l.. Ford,
to do away with the constant use OF
the road over Parkman Hill.