The 1891 Bethel Journal

Part One

Posted: March 16, 2007

January 1891

Mason: The New Year is before us and we shall grope our way blindly on hoping, fearing, certain of nothing save the ever present now. If breaking roads is fun, we have had enough for one month.

North Albany: The snow is 3 feet deep, almost too much for lumbermen in the woods. There was a Christmas tree at the Town House on New Year’s Eve but not many present on account of storm and bad roads.

1-6-1891: Democrat:

Bethel: The ball at the new Odd Fellows’ Hall last Wednesday evening was largely attended. Some forty couples danced. Chases Orchestra of Dixfield furnished music very satisfactorily. Miss Alice Skillings left last week for Bridgton where she will have a large class in music. She has had a large class in Bethel during the last season. She has been under the instruction of Ketaschenar of Portland for some time and is one of the best musicians this section.

Master Ted Skillings, who is attending school in Boston, spent the holidays at his home in Bethel (in 2005, his home is known as the Chapman Inn). J.G. Rich, Esq., who for the last two months has been living in this village in the Hammons house, has moved back to his home in Greenwood. City life did not agree with friend Rich, we think. A.E. Herrick, Esq., representative elect, from this district, and family started Monday for Augusta. His family will spend part of the winter in Portland and Boston.

A most satisfactory change has been made in out mail service recently and much credit is due to our postmaster, Mr. G.P. Bean, for his efforts to bring it about in answer to the desires and wishes of the patrons of this office. By this change we now have a mail on the 3:30 express to Portland and places east. This greatly increases our mail facilities and will be much appreciated by all, and especially by the businessmen.

Mr. J. M. Bartlett has just finished hauling some 50,000 feet of pine timber for Eben s. Kilborn. This timber was cut on Mr. Kilborn’s land and hauled to his mill in this village. Large quantities of wood are being hauled into the village but the weather and depth of the snow has caused some delay.

East Bethel: December’s extremely cold weather continued right to the close but New Years Day brought a change and it is now warm and raining. C.C. Bean has sold his farm and is now boarding at H.H. Bean’s. Mr. Charles White of New Hampshire has recently canvassed this community for White’s Portable Sap Evaporator.

West Bethel: “Never saw such a cold December is a common remark of our oldest people.” The New Year was ushered in with a reading of 12 degrees below zero. Three requisites for this winter – a good wood pile, a large haymow and a live highway surveyor. The offices of the Pleasant Valley Grange for the New Year will be installed next Saturday. The grange has lately been incorporated so it can now hold the title to its own property. Pleasant River Lodge I.O.G.T. is to enjoy an oyster supper next Wednesday evening. Shaw and Grover are to send a carload of apples to Boston next week.

Mason: The New Year is before us and we shall grope our way blindly on hoping, fearing, certain of nothing save the ever present now. If breaking roads is fun, we have had enough for one month.

North Albany: The snow is 3 feet deep, almost too much for lumbermen in the woods. There was a Christmas tree at the Town House on New Year’s eve but not many present on account of storm and bad roads.

Newry: December has been a month of cold and snow, nearly four feet of snow, say the woodsmen. The breaking teams have been out in full force and have had a hard time of it lately. The school at Newry Corner commenced one week ago Monday, Rev. Mr. Bryant, the minister in charge of the circuit, is the teacher.

1-13-1891 Democrat:

Bethel: Miss Grace Ames who has been spending her vacation at her home in Bethel has returned to Smith College. Miss Ames completes her course this year. Sammy Gibson returned last week to Worcester, Mass., where is attending the Highland Military School. Judge Foster returned to Belfast where he still holds court. J.G. Rich has recently received an order for fifty rabbits from Nantucket, R.I. He raises rabbits as a pastime. Large quantities of ice are being put in by various parties in this village from the Androscoggin and other places.

The Brown Post G.A.R. and Ladies Relief held a reunion and sociable at the Bethel House last Tuesday. There was a supper and whist at the hotel in the early evening and afterwards dancing at Ideal Hall. Eben S. Kilborn has his house on Chapman Street nearly completed.

State Senator Nutting made a short visit here. Mr. Nutting, it will be remembered by some of the older residents of Bethel, published the “Bethel Courier” in this village before the war broke out and the Courier “went out” and Mr. Nutting after leaving Bethel went to Aroostook County, enlisted and served in the army.

William Jackson of Bridgton and family has recently moved into the Sanderson house in Kimball Park. He has worked at the Bethel Chair Factory for the past year but his family has just arrived. A.E. Morrison, insurance agent from Norway was in town last week. Mr. Morrison had a good business here. The Dixfield amateurs play “Neighbor Jackwood” at Ideal Hall on Friday.

South Bethel: C.E. Abbott closed a successful term of school on Chandler Hill last Friday. Lyceum at the school house Friday evening January 9^th. Question: Resolved that the secret ballot system should be adopted by our present legislature. Affirmative: H. Hodsdon; negative: C.P. Kimball.

West Bethel: E.B. Shaw and A.W. Grover loaded a car of potatoes and apples this week and sent them to Boston.

Mason: Some of our people were hauling potatoes to West Bethel yesterday, price 75 cents a bushel, E.B. Shaw and A.W. Grover, buyers. N.G. Mills is hauling his peeled poplar from his land to the road. Mr. Mills is almost seventy years old but few younger men can compete with him at work. Asa Prescott has moved into A.S. Bean’s boarding house in Mason.

1-20-1891 Democrat:

Bethel: The Dixfield amateurs presented the popular drama “Neighbor Jackwood” at Ideal Hall. The hall was crowded with people from Bethel and adjoining towns. Chase Orchestra of Dixfield provided excellent music for the occasion. After the drama there was a dance and supper. The village schools have closed and due to the shortness of the winter term a private school has opened for those who wish to attend at the academy and taught by Miss Inez Stewart. A complimentary concert to Mrs. Florence P. King assisted by home talent will be given at Ideal Hall. The programme will consist of solos, duets, trios and quartets. The entertainment given at Ideal Hall for Brown Post, G.A.R. was well attended. S.D. Philbrook has just completed his new house on Church Street.

Newry: Walter Foster is hauling ash and maple to J.A. Thurston’s mill at the Corner. Amos Frost has bought a stand in the village at Bethel Hill. Friday evening the Hanover Dramatic Club gave entertainment at Newry Corner. “Bread upon the Waters” and other pieces played to a full house. Virgil Foster had his finger crushed in a dowel lathe last week working at J.A. Thurston’s mill.

West Bethel: The January thaw has flooded streams and stopped some hauling. Last Wednesday eleven two horse teams of A.S. Bean departed for Albany to haul pulpwood but returned due to an impassable road at the Ira Mason brook. Large quantities of pulpwood are now being shipped from West Bethel station; twenty loaded cars are now standing on the siding.

1-27-1891 (Democrat):

Bethel: Harry C. Chase has purchased a large lot on Vernon Street from Eben S. Kilborn. E. Richardson and Son have started up their steam mill for the manufacture of birch – a large amount of birch is on hand at the mill in this village. The Roberts snowplow is used for the breaking of the streets and is unequalled for treading or pressing the snow down and clearing a fine wide track. Harvey C. Philbrook brought in some fine horses last week. He bought them from a lot being taken through from the west on the (rail) cars. The second of the series of lectures being given at Gould Academy occurred January 19^th. The subject was “Combustion” which was scientifically illustrated. The complimentary concert given to Mrs. King at Ideal Hall last Wednesday was a most pleasing affair to all lovers of music. Miss Ellen F. Gibson return to Bridgton Academy last week – she has been a teacher of elocution there for some time. She is a graduate of the Boston School of Oratory.

East Bethel: A private school is being talked about here. A heavy fall of rain on January 22^nd has settled the snow somewhat.

West Bethel: A.S. Bean has put in two carloads of corn. It is selling for 78 cents a bushel. E. Clough, Jr., is canvassing the town for the sweet corn plant for the coming season in the interest of the Wyman Bros. Shaw & Grover lately sent a car of potatoes to the State Industrial School at Lancaster, Mass. J. Hastings Bean went with them. The large amount of snow on buildings needs looking after. G.H. Brown of Mason is distributing quite an amount of flour and feed among the farmers here, freighting it from Norway. The Good Templars are flourishing.

Mason: Our birch haulers report the snow three and a half feet deep in the vicinity of Caribou Mountain. L.H. Tyler is hauling green wood to West Bethel and N.G. Mills is hauling peeled poplar. D.E. Mills and S.O. Grover are hauling from the woods to the road, ready for a better time to get to the station. Don Bean is doing a good business hauling firewood with a pair of white-faced oxen. Newry: North Newry Sewing Society is to meet at Isaac Kilgore’s Thursday night. Thurston’s steam mill at the Corner is to be shut down for a month. Only a few are operating in the birch business this winter on account of the deep snow. Amos Frost and Walter Powers are hauling birch and oak to the Corner for J.S. Allen.

South Bethel: On January 30^th the South Bethel dramatic club will play “Betsy Baker”. School closes next Friday. R.J. Virgin is putting a new water wheel into his dowel mill. The old wheel did not furnish enough power to run his business.

Northwest Bethel: Will some one tell us in the columns of the Democrat what the population of the thirteen colonies at the beginning of the Revolutionary War was? John Arsenel came close to being killed while hauling birch down the mountain above J.L. Chapman’s mill. His snub line broke but he

pluckily held onto the reins and escaped without serious injury although one horse was cut.

Albany: Dexter A. Cummings has sold his blacksmith shop and tools to E.T. Judkins of Norway, who will give his personal attention to the business. Amos L. Bean has gone to North Bridgton to attend another term at Bridgton Academy.

February 1891

2-3-1891 (Democrat):

Bethel: A.T. Kelliher is shipping lumber from Shelburne, NH where he is getting it into the mill for manufacture. Mr. Kelliher will use the lumber in the erection of buildings on Church Street the coming spring on a lot previously purchased from S.D. Philbrook.

John M. Philbrook and Henry E. Bartlett have been drawn traverse jurors for our February term of court from this town. The Universalist Society met with Mr. And Mrs. S.D. Philbrook last Wednesday evening. The principal subject under consideration was Russia. The programme was most instructive and interesting. The subject of the next meeting will be Ireland. There will be papers upon its politics, religion, poets, education, sports, commerce, customs, etc., with music, recitations, etc.

Miss Grace Carter has been assisting in the post office during Miss Locke’s absence. Judge Foster, W.E. Skillings and wife, Ceylon Rowe and G.A. Hastings were at Augusta last week. Col C.S. Edwards, one of the alternates on the Columbian Exposition Commission, and Katy Locke, a lady alternate were in Augusta last week to attend a meeting with the National Commissioner of Maine. Subject of the meeting was to arrange for a fitting Maine representation at the exposition. Miss Grace Carter has been assisting in the post office during Miss Locke’s absence. Mrs. Martha Hammons has been sick with lung trouble but is getting better. Benjamin Kimball is hauling a lot of pine to Kilborn’s mill in this village. The pine comes from a lot Kilborn purchased from Joseph Oliver. J.H. Carter is helping with the hauling.

Middle Intervale: A very interesting social meeting was held January 26^th at Calvin Sanborn’s home. Aunt Nancy with a large group of young people was present. Such assemblies should be more frequent at houses in this vicinity. The Ladies Aid met on January 29^th with Mrs. H. Bean. A.M. (Gus) Carter is away at Augusta. Sleighing very good and business lively.

Newry: Amos Frost has taken unto himself a wife, a Paris lady, Miss Carrie Tuell. A number of people are reported ill.

East Bethel: Another heavy snowstorm. The last lyceum was well attended. The question: “Resolved: that women should be given the right of suffrage” was decided in the affirmative by a vote of 28 to 14. H.E. Bartlett has been drawn juror to attend court in Paris.

West Bethel: A large amount of pulpwood is being hauled to the station for shipment; at present much faster than it is carried away. Shaw & Grover ship another car of potatoes to Boston today making the fourth they have loaded this winter. Larger amounts of ice are being put in than usual. The selectmen have already started work on the town report; they remind townsmen that all bills and accounts coming before them should be passed in by February 10^th. Nathan and Arthur Grover are at home but will be returning to Orono next week.

2-10-1891 Democrat:

Bethel: Through the efforts of C.C. Lovejoy we have signal service. The signals (are) being displayed from a staff on the cupola of the Bethel House. Reports are received daily from Washington. A.E. Herrick, Esq., is home for a week from Augusta. The Universalist Literary Club met last Wednesday at Mrs. G. R. Wiley’s house. O.W.R. Hastings has returned from Boston with improved health.

Albany: Miss Anna K. Cummings, Miss Allen Wilbur, Miss Nettie Shedd and Fred Clark are at Portland attending the meeting of the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor. Justice Aspinwall is on the sick list. He is 78 years old. As out mail carrier he has carried the mail from here to Bethel, nine miles, every other day and has lost but one trip until his illness. Mellie Wilbur is with Ceylon Rowe, Bethel Hill, for a few weeks. Ellery Wheeler of Shelburne, NH was in town last week with hay and lumber for sale.

Newry: The weather has been good enough lately to satisfy even the most inveterate grumbler. The snow has settled with these thaws in the open land but not in the woods. Amos Frost is about to move to Bethel Hill with his new bride. E.B. Knapp and his brother from Bethel have gone to Byron on hunting and fishing expedition.

East Bethel: A private school is now in session under the instruction of J.S. Hutchinson. The lyceum was again well attended. The question: Resolved that the farmer is competent to represent the Legislature of the State and the nation was decided in the negative. H.P. Bartlett of Waltham, Mass., was here on the Sabbath. C.H. Kimball has returned from a visit to Massachusetts. West Bethel: A little touch of December weather, the temperature changed 38 degrees in 24 hours. A.S. Bean is still sawing and hauling lumber into his new barn to complete its construction. Edmund Merrill is overseeing the work. Bean shows that it takes a lot of material to complete a large barn in modern style. Pleasant River Lodge I.O. of G.T. installed new officers. E.P. Grover was the installing officer.

Mason: Teaming is good on the main roads but hard breaking in the woods. R.K. Morrill of Norway went up to (passing through Mason) Wild River Monday with his horse team to work for D.R. Hastings & Company hauling sawed timber to Gilead station. A.G. Lovejoy is hauling birch and spruce to West Bethel.

2-17-1891 Democrat:

West Bethel: The annual report of our town officers has gone to the printer and must prove generally a satisfactory document, as the summary of all town expenses is well within the appropriation for the same. A.M. Chase & Co., Bryant’s Pond have the job again and our townsmen may look for an early and neat publication.

East Bethel: The lyceum Tuesday was very interesting. The question: Resolved that Money is more to be desired than Friends was decided in the affirmative. The next lyceum on February 17^th will address the question that Women have more Cares than Men. E.S. Bartlett is attending the private school and boarding at G. Blake’s. G.H. Hastings has been on a hunting trip up Wild River.

Albany: The Ladies Circle met with Mrs. D. Clark. Moses Seavey has sold his stand near the (Hunt’s) Corner to Frank Stiles of Bethel. There is much sickness in this vicinity. The Kimball Brothers have five three horse teams hauling oak logs from Albany to Bethel chair factory.

Locke Mills: The spool mill was burned to the ground Sunday night, February 8^th. It is supposed to have caught in the engine room. It is a loss to the company and throws about fifty men out of employment. All that saved the village was the quantity of snow on the buildings and around them.

In photo above, the arrow points to Tebbetts’ mill that burned during night of February 8 and 9, 1891. Right, map illustration shows mill location relative to Locke’s Mills village center. Buildings L to R: Moses Houghton home, Stowell’s store, mill office, mill, Woodsum’s store, church. Right: map depicts an abbreviated layout of the Locke Mills village area. (Photo was copied from the collection of Stephen T. Seames. Map is based on the Oxford County 1880 maps - also provided by Mr. Seames.)

Click photo to enlarge it

North Albany: The Bean brothers are hauling their timber to Walker’s Mills. A report says that M. Inman has let his farm to L. Cummings and the Inman’s are going to Massachusetts for a year or more. The Methodist society is to have an entertainment and box supper at the Town House.

2-24-1891 Democrat

Bethel: W.E. Skillings has been chosen secretary of the American Bobbin, Spool and Shuttle Company and is to reside in Boston where the general office of the company is located. Mrs. Skillings left for Boston last Thursday. Mr. Skillings assumed his duties some days before.

The first annual ball of the Bethel Fire Department was held at the Bethel House last Friday evening.

Leslie H. Mason of Bethel Hill has put 600 cords of poplar on the banks of Stony Brook in Newry this winter. Curtis Abbott of Walker’s Mills is at work for Whitney Bros. Marble Works at their shop in this place. Oliver H. Mason a respected and prominent citizen of the village died Friday morning at nine o’clock; he was 60 years old. He was for many years president of the Bethel Savings Bank and has filled the office of town treasurer for a long time. He was formerly in trade here.

Middle Intervale: Mrs. Clarke Caswell will entertain Ladies Aid. Mr. York, our excellent artist has a new camera for general viewing. D.M. Kimball is getting out material for a hen house and a hog house.

West Bethel: The Good Templars gave a Mother Goose performance at Grange Hall to a full attendance despite the prevailing storm. A number of White’s evaporators are being put in here this season. The woman’s suffrage bill got a black eye before the committee but not by the effort of Representative Herrick, I am glad to see. The D.B. Grover farm is up for sale. He is in California and so much improved in health that he would probably remain there.

Mason: J.C. Bean has purchased a new evaporator for making maple syrup. Should it on trial make good the recommendations of the market it will be a boon to sugar makers. F.I. Bean is hauling spruce timber from his Murphy lot to I.A. Bean’s mill. Gilead: We are on the last half of winter and the weather is growing milder. T.G. Lary has his contract filled and is cutting 100,000 a week. J.W. Bennett and his wife left on the 5:00 PM train today to visit relatives in Michigan.

Newry: The good sledding keeps everyone busy and the gossip is down to its lowest ebb. Potatoes are being freely marketed. They are shipped at Bethel from this section and the price is 75 cents (a bushel). Amos Frost and his bride gave a reception at Thurston Hall. There was a dance and treat with hundred guests present and the occasion was made very enjoyable.

March 1891

3-2-1891

Bethel town meeting minutes: In the annual town meeting, the position of Supervisor of Schools was made as a motion from the floor. Minutes of the meeting show the following: “On a motion of Dr. J.A. Twaddle voted to choose a supervisor of schools. Chose by ballot N.F. Brown Supervisor of Schools” (Nathaniel F. Brown) Town Meeting was moderated by Mr. E. G. Wheeler. Officers elected at the meeting were as follows: C.M. Kimball, first selectman; E.S. Kilborn, second selectman; Henry Farwell, third selectman.

In 1891, the selectmen also held positions as road commissioners which were a new town organization. G.P. Bean was elected Auditor of Bethel. J.U. Purington was elected Treasurer. L.T. Barker was elected town clerk. The new position of supervisor of schools replaced the previous superintending school committee. (See the 1890 School Report which was pointedly critical of Bethel’s public school conditions. The school report for 1891 was submitted by the new supervisor at the end of the school year. This report follows the December news.) The town meeting warrants that laid out new business for 1891 included these articles:

Art. 17th. To see if the town will grant and raise a sum of money for the benefit of West Bethel Public Library Association.

Art. 18th. To see if the town will vote to buy a road machine, and raise a sum of money to pay for the same.

Art. 19th. To see if the town will vote to make any change in system of text books, especially Wheeler's Arithmetic, purchased and introduced by the school committee the past season.

Art. 20th. To see if the town will vote to raise money for repairs on school-houses, and how much.

Art. 21st. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise for the purchase of school text-books.

Art. 22d. To see if the town will vote to raise a sum of money to procure the writing and publication of the history of the town in accordance with Ch. 3, section 47, Revised Statutes. Voted to appropriate $300.

Art. 23d. To see if the town will vote to grant and raise a sum of money, estimated at $500, to pay the expense of re-shingling the toll bridge, so called.

Art. 27th. To see if the town will vote to exempt a mill or factory and the machinery therein, for the term of ten years which may be built at West Bethel, within one year from this date.

Note: the full warrant for the 1891 town meeting can be found in the town reports section following December news.

3-3-1891 Democrat:

Bethel: Friday evening A.O. Babel, the cowboy pianist, and Miss Babel, the great cornetist, gave an entertainment at Ideal Hall. The couple gave a highly lauded, artistic performance. The winter term of Gould Academy opened last Tuesday. Washington’s Birthday was celebrated at Bethel House. A fair and entertainment at Ideal Hall on March 5^th will be held to benefit and thank our volunteer fire department. The fair will have a variety of fancy items on sale and in the evening dancing will follow the entertainment program.

East Bethel: The last lyceum was interesting and well attended. The question: “Resolved. The ‘west’ offers more inducements to the young man than the east was well discussed and decided in the negative. The next lyceum will be held Tuesday, March 10^th. Question to be discussed will be: “Resolved that a college education is better for a young man at 21 than a common school education and $1000.”

Newry: New officers are: Moderator of Town Meeting: N.S. Baker; Clerk and Treasurer: Jacob A. Thurston; Selectmen: S.R. Widber, J.S. Brown, M.L. Thurston; Collector and Constable: T.S. Littlehale; Supervisor of Schools: J.S. Brown. Appropriations: Schools: $200; Support of Poor: $200, town charges: $200, road machine: $250, labor on highway: $500.

3/10/1891: (Democrat):

Bethel: The $300 voted for town history is to be added to the $300 generously given or guaranteed by T. A. Chapman of Milwaukee, for the purpose of procuring the writing and publication of a town history. (As noted earlier, Chapman had been in Bethel visiting during the previous summer and fall. William Lapham of Augusta published the history in 1891 using this financial support.)

3-10-1891 Democrat:

Bethel: Annual Town meeting votes on key appropriations: Schools, $2000. ; West Bethel Public Library Association, $50. To buy a road machine: $250. For town history: $300. Re-shingle covered bridges: $500. Brown Post, G.A.R. to spend on Memorial Day: $50. Voted that the town highway tax be paid in money and that the selectmen be road commissioners. Hon. Judge Foster is in Farmington holding court. On account of the storm the firemen’s’ benefit will be held next Thursday evening. A.O. Babel and Miss Babel who recently pleased us greatly with a fine concert will present a return concert with an entirely new programme. Those who missed the earlier concert will have another chance to her them.

Newry: C.A. Baker has taken out a part of his teams and will break camp now before many days. The heavy rains of last week followed by the cold snap have made it tedious and difficult getting about in the woods with teams.

Albany: Snowbound. Mr. Fisher who carries garden seeds for Dunlap is blocked in here at the Corner. No mail today. Town meeting passed off quietly. Shoveling snow and breaking roads is the main business of the day.

West Bethel: “The last but not the least” a snow storm of 18 inches last Wednesday. It looks encouraging for six weeks of sledding in March. The spare room (loading area) around the depot is filling faster with poplar pulp than the shipping can take it away. C.B. Kimball and E.S. Kilborn were re-elected selectmen along with a new selectman, Henry Farwell.

The West Bethel Public Library got a donation of $50. The town also voted to exempt a mill or factory from ten years taxation that might be built here within one year. We received news of the death of Alonzo J. Grover of Muscoda, Kansas; he was a native of Bethel.

Mason: Thanks is due to your West Bethel correspondent who gave me a copy of the Bethel town report. It is a valuable document and gives a clear understanding of the town’s financial affairs. Last year the Town of Mason chose road commissioners instead of road surveyors and raised money instead of the usual highway tax. It proved to be a financial success and will be continued another year. H.G. Mason and Leon G. Tyler were chosen commissioners.

3-17-1891 Democrat:

East Bethel: The last lyceum of the season was held Tuesday, March 10^th. The question: “Resolved: That a college education is better for a young man of twenty-one than a common school education and $1000,” was well discussed and decided in the affirmative. J.S. Hutchins closed a term of school here. This is his tenth year and parents and scholars hope that he will continue for another year.

Albany: Many of our people are sick embracing the old and young. Dr. Twaddle was at the Corner Wednesday. Ladies Circle met with Mrs. Wallace Cummings, Thursday. Simon Grover who has been at work in Berlin, NH this winter has come home. Two of his boys remain there; they report wages are very good. J.J. McAllister had one of his oxen cut very badly in the woods. The ox was put in a sling at a blacksmith shop where A.G. Bean sewed up the wound. Lumbermen are doing a good business in the woods. March came in with bluster.

North West Bethel: Leon Verrill and John Tyler are at Burlington, VT attending medical college –here’s to their success. George Stearns and Charlie Verrill went to New Hampshire looking to work in a birch mill there. When almost there they met the crew coming out because the mill was in ashes.

West Bethel: Mild weather of late hinders lumbering interests. As an authority on the matter, A.S. Bean says this has been that this has been the hardest winter for lumbering in fifteen years. Only about half of our Gould Academy students could attend school this week due to prevalent coughs and bad colds. Henry Judkins has moved to Albany. G.H. Brown, Esq., of Mason is handling a large amount of feed and flour from his storeroom in the lower part of the Grange Hall.

Newry: We have had a snow blockade and a rainstorm but the roads are now in good condition. Anyone with teaming to do is on the road. Foster and Stearns’s teams are hauling hardwood to the Corner for dowels. The “toters” are hurrying supplies toward the lake region in anticipation of the spring breakup. Men are seen on the road daily heading home from the logging camps.

Bethel: The firemen’s benefit at Ideal Hall was well attended and $75 was raised from the sale of fancy articles. Hon. E.W. Woodbury is home from his work on the Valuation Commission in Augusta. At the annual meeting of the Village Corporation, the old board of officers was re-elected. The Universalist literary club met last week at the home of Mrs. A.B. Godwin.

Middle Intervale: Miss Minnie Kimball entertained Ladies Aid. Dinner was pork and beans, brown bread and doughnuts. A series of meetings was at the village by Jones and Allen. Several from here attended.

3-24-1891 Democrat:

Bethel: There is much sickness in Bethel of the grippe type. The Bailey praying hand have been holding meetings afternoons and evenings for the last ten days. Sledding is excellent and much wood, bark and long lumber are being hauled to the depot for shipment.

Judge Foster has returned from court at Farmington and will go the Bangor court in April. A.M. Carter remains in Augusta overseeing printing and proofreading the recently finished Valuation Commission Report. He was a valuable addition to the State’s clerical force. Bethel people are looking forward to another evening’s entertainment at Ideal Hall by Texas cowboy pianist, A.O. Babel and Miss Babel. Next Friday we look forward to the operetta “The Seven Old Ladies of Lavender” to be presented at Ideal Hall.

A.T. Kelliher has a large supply of lumber on his Church Street lot in readiness for erecting his house. Eben S. Kilborn has started his sawmill and is manufacturing a large amount of lumber. Thomas & Hastings are shipping lumber from our depot.

Mason: Instead of the prophesized early spring we have grand winter weather with solid roads; teams are busy hauling lumber. Maple sap has run very little yet.

Gilead: Six weeks of sledding in March. T.G. Lary and the Richardson boys have nearly one million of spruce on the river. Wild River Lumber Co. is sending away large amounts of long lumber. Saw them loading six cars at the depot in one day. William Chapman has sixty-two young lambs. J. Bragdon will break camp Friday having cut almost 600,000 of spruce. Newry: North Newry Sewing Society met at E.F. Stearns with a large company present. The young folks stayed until the wee hours.