The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-09-18
A Trip to Devils Head
.lBY. Il. Patten

10y II. l. allthi
There is a story of ancient Scot
land which | want to tell. by way OF
illustration. 1t seems that a high
land chief, by the name of McGregor
was to entertain a company of some
what unusual Importance. He was
an cratic old fellow and accustomed
quite at yarians with the expected
plan. to seat himself at random any
where about the festal board. His
servants were comforting with him as
to the places of honor to be assigned
various guests and the old chief re-
piled haughtily Where McGregoI
sits is the head of the table" They
gathered from this that. whether their
employer sat at the end or side, his
location established the head of the
board and the seats of honor.
1t is much the same when you try
to pick out the most beautiful spot
in Maine which. if eyer found. will
be accepted without controversy as
the most beautiful of the entire world
Assuming that you are outdoors any
where in Maine. this long sought, most
attractive spot is wherever you hap
pen to be when the subject is being
discussed. If you are on the knoll
at the Rowe Farm, neal Bigelow Hill,
looking into the kennebec Valley,
with Skowhegan. half hidden by shade
trees. in the foreground and the
Bigelow range in the distance. you
won't allow any argument about beau
tiful spots; it's right there. The
same thing a be said for the view
from the Abner Currier farm, .Bige-
low Hill, Eaton Mountain and sew
eral other spots all in Skowhegan.
Going a little further out. we should
include Burrill Hill and Mount Tom
in Norridgewock; Blackwell Hill.
Games Hill, The Thurston place and
the Robins Hill in Madison. This
latter is the outpost of grand views
as one proceeds northerly toward
the uppen Kennebec Valley. 1t is
about tYe, miles from Lakewood. just
a short distance above the Twelve
Corners. r IN the old stage coach
days the h6rses were always rested
az the top of this hill. the passengers
in the meantime getting a little ex-
ira opportunity to take in the valley,
hills and mountains toward the north
and west. Then there is Notch
Mountain which is a part of Corn
= AsbtA NAA6@H I'm ~ III
points on this long hilltop the view
takes in the village of Skowhegan
and its surroundings with, of course,
toward the north. Then there are
Stickney Hill and Bunker Hill In
Athens. Both afford a truly e~ntranc-
ing panorama. There are hills in
Embden and Concord of which | do
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discloses lakes and streams scatter
ed among forest growth in a truly
charming manner.
Old Bluff, which rises several hun
dred feet directly above the west
end of Bingham bridge. is a wonder
full spot, but quite different from
those already enumerated. To reach
it. YOU turf to the right after crossing
the bridge and stop a hundred feet
or so further on where there is a
spring on the left. A fairly we'll de-
fined trail leads up from this point.
The highest peak is in the dense woods
and from IL you a see no landscape
at all. The point to be reached is
a little lower down where you can
look out over the tree tops. Here
You have the bridge and the river
within a stones throw (please don't
throw any stones, however,. Bing-
ham is spread out just across the
river like a map and there is a back
ground of beautiful hills with some
cleared land among the forest.
While we are near Old Bluff, l
ought to speak of the cascade on
Henderson Brook. Starting from
Bingham, you cross the iron bridge
TO the westerly shore of the Kenne-
bee. You turn sharp right and pro-
coed several miles thru a beautifully
shaded road which follows the river
northerly, you then turn 10 the left