Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08
CELEBRATES 18TH
BIRTHDAY ON
JOURNAL s TOOTH
- hnrn and AuguSta bred.

Augusta born and Augusta bred.
Greenwood c. Flagg. known TO
scores of older Augusta people, TO-
day by coincidence, links the celepra-
ton Of his 18th birthday with the
observance of the Tooth year issue OIL
the Kennebec Journal.
Peculiarly fitting to the day comes
the information that apart from MI.
Flagg's birthday falling upon Jan. .,
his parents were regular SuDScflD-
ers OF the journal since the first Is
sue was struck off the creaking hand
press in 1925. Among Mr.. tlagg
most priced possessions is a care
fully kept assortment of subscription
receipts made out to James F1agg,
lis father, and signed by Luther
Severance, one Of the founders of the
Kennebec Journal. The earliest of
these is dated 1928, 81 vars ago.
Mr.. Flagg was born in 1S47. in
house on what was then called Jail
HILL" and which is now known as
Winthrop street. He was the third
child of James and Mary Jane Flagg,
and he and a younger brother,
George f., of Winslow, are now the
only living members Of the family.
Particularly will he be remember
cd through his long association with
various grocery and meat concerns
VI lIlc 1itS, iitt' MS III - NANN e'iA'
business in the store of John G.. Ad-
ans in 1860, which was situated
where Viewers restaurant now
stands. During the Civil War Mr.
Flagg stated that this store supplied
most of the beef to the troops sta
toned here, of which there were 5000
men in 1862. In the year of the great
fire which swept the Augusta bust
ness district in 1868 Mr.. Flagg was
in the employ of Cony d Farrar. APP
proximately where the store of Mer-
rill Bros. is now situated. 1t was in
the building next to this store that
the conflagration started. His last
place of employment was with Web
Der & Hewitt but a few years ago.
Before that he was employed by
James +. Fuller, the founder of the
present Fuller Holway Co, in a store
near where the Electric Shop now
stands.
He was one OF the fifteen original
members of the Cushnoc No. l Steam
Fire Engine Co.. organized in 1866,
and is now the only living member
of that band. For a number of years
he officiated as foreman of the COM
pany and still has in his possession
the old foreman's fire hat presented
to him by the company. In the pres
ence of the Journal reporter he also
uncovered the replica of the present
ed flannel firemens shirt used on
dress occasions. 1t fairly shiued in
its brilliancy and the Wilderness of
its double row of buttons seemed
untarnished by the passage of years.
Then Mr.. Flagg brought forth a care
fully wrapped bundle containing an
old and weather worn veteran of Au-
gusta's first fire service-a heavy
leather fire bucket used many years
before the Cushnoc engine was
bought by the city. on its side was
the painted inscription, still I'M
Scared:
No. .
S. Winslow
1928
The owner gave it to Mr.. Flagg in
1862. In those days such buckets
We're used to carry water to the old
| hand engine, which in turn, pumped
it to the blaze.
In confirmation of his love of sport
Mr.. flagg brought to light an old
baseball shirt, which he had worn
while q member of the Cushnoc
BaSeNtI Club in 1856. In remenisc-
ing. ~. Flagg remarked that the
late J. Frank Pierce was known as
the Babe Ruth" of the outfit, hav-
ing one or more home runs to his
trcult each game. The team played
in Portland, Brunswick and other
surrounding cities and towns. and
one year defeated the BowGoin col
lego team. The baseball park used
in those DAYS was situated on large
open field between the present Cha
rel and Sewall streets, which was
also known as the old circus grounds.
The vicinity was devoid of houses
then, according to Mr. Flag.
This estimable gentleman. descend
ant Of tn. fleEEs, England. the Flegg
lineage being recorded back to Alger
de FleGg, 1850 A. d., is keen in
his perception Of the worlds doings
and interested in its happenings has
seen Augusta crow up. In his mind
he holds innumcrable interesting bits
of Augusta history that would make
pleasant reading. The Journal on it's
Tooth year birthday this morning ex-
tends to Mr.. F'lagg happy felicita-
lions with the hope Of many more
birthdays to come