Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-16

French explorer is found reference
to this island, as a desert mountain
and thus it received it's name: Inc
earliest permanent settlement IN TINS
vicinity was at Pemaquid. thought
to have been settled as early as lol4'
and known to have been IN lolo.
The Kennebec valley possesses
| fascinating history. The first grant
, Of land was made by King James IN
1906 and renewed in 1920 to the Ply
mouth colony and in 1925 certain
, having a goodly cargo of corn to the
| indians for 700 pounds OF valuable
| fur. Here they saw an opportunity
| to become rich, and petitioned the
king for the grant of the exclusive
rights to hunt, fish and barter with
| the Indians. This being granted
they prospered for nearly thirty
! years. Many famous men OF the
Plymouth colony visited the place,
among them, Myles Standish, John
Alden and others famed in history.
Here the speaker stated that we dld
not emphasize enough the import
ance of this early settlement. In
, 1860 came the French and Indian
wars and there was little activity IN
settling about that time.
In 1853 the descendants OF the pro-
prietors formed a new company, the
proprietors of the Kennebec pur-
chase. and made plans to build tort
at Dresden. This was done in 1904
and in the same year Fort Western
was built at Augusta, and Fort HAN
fax at Waterville. Prominent among
these proprietors We're a Ben1anllh
Hallowell and DR.. Sylvester Gardner,
the latter perhaps the most ln1luen-
tial and wealthy man among them.
oly I'd Ian1o rod TINT sew
eral respects the history of Gardiner
was unique. There is no other IN
stance in New England where the
descendants of the founders are sun
living upon the original land, as are
the GARDENERS. He outlined the his
tory Of Gardiner, telling of its pros
perity and how the outbreak or the
revolution DR.. Gardiner returned 10
England, returning after the war TO
America, but never to his estates on
the Kennebec. AS is we'll known ne
willed his Cobbosseecontee estates 10
| his grandson, Robert HalloWeli' on
conditions that when ne reached the
age Of 81 he would assume the name
! of Gardiner, and by an act Oh .ne
Massachusetts legislature this was
done. Robert Hallowell Gardiner
coming here in 1908. The speaker
declared that it was not necessary
to make any mention Of the Gardiner
family. because they had made an
| indelible impress upon the city. He
smoke of the endowment to the Epis-
copal church, also told OF Beneolct
Arnold's expedition up the kenne-
bec. commenting upon the hardshlps
he must have faced on his journey
to Quebec.
The early social days In kennebec
County were best told of by the Kew
John Ingraham. whose account the
speaker read giving vivid picture
of old time hospitality. In closing
Mr.. Packard told OF a contest that
! was recently held in the netghborng
] town of Bowdoinham when a public
| spirited citizen offered s25 in prizes
! to be awarded to the student who
should most correctly answer list
of 100 questions concerning the his
| tory and geography OF that town:
Considerable Interest was manifested
I and many facts brought out that
! otherwise might not have become
. known. He stated that Hon. josiah
8. Maxcy of this city had told MIN
| that he contemplated Offering such a
prize here in Gardiner. andsthat ne
expected assistance from Hon. .. b.
Clasen and other prominent citizens
| in making out the list. He express
| ed the hope that 1t would be possible
! to do this as it is an excellent way
| to inspire interest in local history.
| Following Mr.. Packard's talk Miss
[ Martha Bartlett, librarian at the
| Gardiner public library gave brief
but very interesting and instructive
talk on children's magazines, oner-
| ing some valuable suggestions as to
children's reading matter. The mat
| ter of reviewing the question box
| was discussed and this will be tried
out again at the future meetings OF
the Association. The meeting was
presided over by the President. Mrs.
Frank Maxcy, and after the reading
! of the secretary's report by Mrs.
Ralph Stone, Mrs. harles Gray re-
ported on the subscriptions for the
! fatherless children of the Near East,
! saying that funds sufficient to clothe,
feed and educate six children for the
period of one year had been given by
| individuals and that the Parent
| Teacher Association had raised
| enough to do this for one child. and
| contributed largely to the support of
another The matter of having
| Mothers circle in the various schools
| was discussed, and 1t was requested
! that the heads of the various schools
meet at Mr.. Gerrish's Office this Fri
! day afternoon at 4:30 to formulate
plans for this project. Mrs. Bussell's
room in the Junior high school was
found to have the largest percentage
| of parents present, and the handsome
silk flag awarded to that room for
this month. Refreshments were serv-
in the Domestic Science rooms at the
conclusion of this most interesting
meeting.