Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-23
ANCIENT COPY OF
JOURNAL OF 1928
OF MUCH INTEREST

An ancient copy of the Kennebec
Journal dated April IS, 1928, was
brought into the Waterville office yes
terday by Charles A. Allen, Jr., of Oak
street. Mr.. Allen. who recently pur-
cha sed the old Butterfield homestead at
East Vassalboro, found the paper after
he and Mrs. Allen had taken possession
Of the building. They also found sew
eral other copies of the Journal which
were dated from 1925 to 1929, and sew
eral ancient bills. Two of the bills
were rs years old, being dated Nov. 30
and Nov. Is. 1S4S. They were receipt
ed and owned by Zachariah Butterfield,
who ran a general store at that time
and evidently had merchandise shipped
TO him by boat UP the Wennebec river.
The bills We're. inscribed ITO Steam
Boat w. J. Pease Dr." and to Steam
boat kennebec Dr.
The Journal, of course, was the most
interesting of any of the relics found.
It's discolored paper was quite firm in
spite of the 96 years in which 1t had
laid in the old house and the penned
words "Wm. Smiley Jr" on one corner,
denoting the subscriber, were very
very distinct. 1t was dated Friday
evening, April IS. 1928. The journal at
that time was printed once each week
and covered news of world happenings.
legislative reports, local events and
editorials.
An editorial on the first page criti-
cisinG an act of President Jackson is
rather interesting. 1t starts as fol-
lows:
The shooting Of six militiamen at
Mobile in 1915 under the sentence of a
courtmartial with the appreciation of
,s a,,I, h.
DRY of many who knew the facts and
circumstances at the time they oc-
CURED, but the popular applause be-
slowed upon the general about that
lime for his victory at New Orleans
suppressed everv other feeling but adj
miration and gratitude. and this unfor-
tunate and unlawful waste of human
life. in putting these men to death,
might have been passed over and have
found no place in the history of the
country had not the successful soldier
aspired to the highest civil office"
The Journal supported Republican
candidates strongly, for at the head of
the editorial page the statement
United States, Republican Nomina-
ton: For president, John Quincy
Adams of Massachusetts,: for vice.
president, Richard Bush of Pennsyl-
vania," appeared above all articles.
The paper consisted of one sheet,
folded so as to make four pages. Each
page contained five columns Of writ
ter and, taken all together, there was
about one page of advertising. The
advertisements. ranging from public
notices to real estate transactions,
we're the easiest and most attractive
part of the paper. Some Of the lads"
If seen in one CT the modern newspa-
pers would attract considerable atten-
ton IL they began as follows:
Rum. Brandy. Gin. Coffee, &c.
20 Hhds. w. India Rum
Pipes Cog. Brandy
do. Holland Gin
4 do. American Gin
: Bills. Old Columbia Whiskey
90 Or. casks Malaga, Lisbon & S. N.
Wines"
These. with a long list of coffees and
other groceries, were advertised to
have just been received and to be
about to be put on sale" at the Most
Reasonable prices" by White and Will
liams of Augusta.
Another advertisement, which may
be remembered by older citizens ,as
quite common, reads: "Eben Fuller has
just received a supply of Winter and
Summer strained Sperm Oil of a supe-
rior quality"