Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-23

to much needed dwelling house, the
other part of the structure being
moved to an uptown lot for use by
the Old Town Wooden Co., as a
storehouse. The singular part of the
whole enterprise is that it is being
done by the use of tractors, two be-
ing employed, where in former times
a vast deal of labor with horses to
warp them along the roads and
quantities of blocking to keep them
moving at a level would have been
required. The buildings are moving
steadily along over the ground to-
ward their destinations, which will be
reached in few days at the present
rate of progress, especially since the
smoother going on the snow covered
highways was attained.
On the road from Rockland to
Hope can be seen a spot of land,
called 1.-THE Old Indian Garden"
writes +. S. p. in the Rockland
Courier Gazette. The early white
settlers told for fact, that when
they first came to that section, that
spot showed plainly: that it had
been used many years as garden.
Wild. grapes were found around
the spot, and even in recent years
bearing vine might be found9 AS
no such thing as a wild grape has
I been known within many, anany
miles of this spot, lit has been, sup
posed that the Indians broughtSsthe
original vine from some point,
south from there, perhaps from
| Massachusetts, as they are found
| there today, in great abundance.
This particular spot can be pointed
o,,t ;e-e {oI to To-.
the so-called Merrifield neighbour
hood. Soon after crossing the bridge,
called Crabtrees Bridge, (going
north) which spans the stream, con
, Meeting Hobbs Pond and Fish's
Ponds, one will pass close by it. OF
. course today it is overgrown with
trees and bushes. 1t must have been
originally a beautiful spot. 1t is
sunny. well protected, and has water
, handy. in abundance. In connection
with this spot, queer story is told
of one of the later. "early settlers"
! He used to drive to "the shore" as
Rockland was then called to dispose
of wood, hay. etc. Starting before
light, in order to get home before
dark, he had to pass this spot while
ii was yet dark. Many wild stories
had been told of holdups, robheries
and ghosts and as he was intensely
superstitious, he rode on the wa
gon tongue, directly behind. and be-
tween the oxen. 1t was safer for
him, he thought. One morning
while passing this spot, his team.
Ga yoke of oxen. with a horse lead
ing). stopped dead still Mr.. Bob
listened but could hear nothing,
neither could he see, as it was dark
er than "Jonah's bed ROOM" Final
lv he crept past the oxen. felt to
find if old Dobhin's harness was all
right, then took his heavy goad-
stick by the top end moved a step
in front of Dobbin. and swung that
stick in a wide circle with all his
strength. at about the right height
to hit man. The butt end of that
stick brought up against some
thing alive. A jump. a crash in the
bushes beside the road. then all was
still Another vicious swing. no.
thing doing. Cautiously he resumed
his seat. and chirruped to the horse.
The team started all right. Arriving
In Rockland he told of the attempted
holdup. Coming back. he passed the
place before sunset. so stopped to see
If he could see any marks of the
strange doingss of the morning.
Looking over the bank into the BUSH
es he discovered a large, beautiful
doe. dead. He soon found she had
hcen killed by a blow upon her head
which had nearly scalped her. Then
he knew his trusty stick had done
the deed. The story may or may not
be true. But THE Indian Garden" is
an undisputed fact