The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-06-19

The moving Was done in the spring
Having passed the winter in the soft
wood growth, for the most part in
the valleys, the family would set out
in March for the hardwood growth
back on the hill. Here they would
stay during the sap and sugar max
ing season.
Speaking of the Indian squaw as a
beast of burden, | can we'll recall
seeing one whose name remember as
McssoinWai, carry two sacks of -four
from the store down to her canoe.
These sacks weighed one hundred
twenty pounds each. She piled
them up cross wise with her carry
ing strap underneath Then she
kneeled down in front OF the bags
and drew the strap, which was as
broad as your hand, up around. her
forehead. She then struggled to
her feet and stagger of with this
two HUNDRED forty pound load
watched her go down to the river
where she stepped into her canoe be
fore she put her load down. Those
Of Us who know what canoe is will
perhaps understand how we'll She
must have known her business and
how careful she must have been of
her step
This reminds me that | have seen
The Indians making canoes on the
bank OF the Chippewa River. Of
course they could have made them,
and probably did, back in the woods
but tile river shore and river bank
seemed to be their fayorite location
for this work. They would first
drive down some stakes in just the
outline OF the canoe. Then they'd
press the bark down inside. This
bark WAS from the great big white
birches just such as we used to have
in Maine Then they'd fiji the Stats
and framework inside the bark and
stitch everything together. The
sewing was done with snew which
WAS usually obtained from the hind
quarters of deer and consisted OF
the small muscles or tendons. After
leaving the canoe to set and dry.
they'd take il out OF the stakes and
put the pitch to il Il was then
ready for Use. 1t is interesting to
remember that the canoes made at
Watervillc and over al Old Town and
Orono are copies OF the old Indian
-+5irch canoe and follow very closely
the lines OF the original model.
After five or six years in Wisconsin.
having had steady work at what then
was called good wages and having
saved a part of my earnings ! got "a
longing for New England again and
set out for Maine went into the
general store business i'm Industry.
A "a q e
years During this period dealt
quite extensively in livestock and re-
call that | handled over 1000 sheep,
many OF them were of the grade
known as Gamers. this was supposed
ia be an animal which for some rCa-
son or other had gotten run down.
and we bought them and. ot course.
sold them for a very little price The
pelt Wis the main thing We had iu
mind in dealing in this sort of sheep.
Ny shipping MAS always done from
Pennington and tho sheep just re-
TERED 10 went 10 the Portland Pack
ing Company
In ~ | moved 10 hnson and hired
tho old Fletcher store of Verne Gil
man. re=embarkinE i'm the general
store business Three years later.
/ built my own store, the building
NOW occupied by r. + Gould After
seven years sold The stock to nay
son. Ruel d. Norton. My son after
seven years sold the stock to a man
named Willis, who came from Massa-
chusetts. and Mr.. Willis after a like
period sold to the present owner, r.
E Gould.
(Note Il is interesting to note !