ARTICLES FOUND IN OLD LEDGER OF JAMES F. HOOPER, W. ELLSWORTH, ME, WRITTEN TO ELLSWORTH AMERICAN (ME) (Submitted by Joan Milliken Finn, Great-granddaughter of Annie) © 1999 1931 TALES OF THE SEA A Connecticut Reader Heard From - Tells of Cuban Trip I was very much interested and pleased to read the letter written by Mrs. Byron Trueworthy of Portland. I, too, wish to join the force of old "sea dogs". Mrs Trueworthy was for several years one of my near neighbors, hence the pleasure it gave me to read her fine letter. There is nothing more interesting to me than to read the old sea stories told by those who know them well. I am an ardent lover of sea life and followed it for some time with my uncle. Capt. William Chase of Bluehill, who sailed many years in a large bark called The Brothers and owned by James E. Ward & Co. of New York. I was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and came to live with my grandfather, the late Daniel Milliken, in North Bend, Surry, at the age of 14 years. Soon after that I sailed from Portland with my uncle, aunt and sister, to the West Indies. We were loaded with a general cargo. Our first stop was at Havana, Cuba, where we remained several weeks waiting for a cargo which we finally procured. At that time there were no wharfs, so there was to demurrage to pay. All cargoes were unloaded by lighters. Of course we were at anchor and during our stay in the harbor we drifted some during the time, and were very close to Morro castle, which was in charge of Spanish soldiers. It was a pretty spot upon a high elevation from where they fired down on the old battleship Maine long years after my trip. We left Havana for Cardena, from there to Mantanzas and Key West, where we took on a cargo for New York consisting of sugar, molasses and malardo. It took us nine days to reach New York. We were heavily loaded and made only from eight to nine knots in good weather. Much of the time we were in the trade winds which helped greatly. The bark's best record was eleven knots. She carried eleven men before the mast and there were six of us in the after cabin. It was a very delightful trip for me, and we met many New York friends in each port, who came aboard our ship, where they spent many happy hours, telling old sea stories and playing cards, while my sister and I sang to them. I recall well the vessels loading and leaving Surry bay for different destinations, some to return and some not. One instance is very plain. During my stay Surry, then they were building the vessel called the Joshua Grindle, Mr. Briar would ring the old church bell three times a day, and his wife would come to the door with her broom and say "Pull, Briar, pull." We usually plan to attend Bluehill fair, and always call on Capt. And Mrs. Scott Treworgy and Capt. And Mrs. Charles Coulter, which is a great pleasure to us. I am 72 years old and always look forward to our trip to Surry and Ellsworth. This is a beautiful place, on the top of Avon Mountain, close to the large radio station of WTIC (The Traveller, Hartford, Conn.) Listen in. Hoping that others will add to the interesting "Tales of the Sea," I am Very truly yours, Mrs. Fred D. Hooper, (She that was formerly Annie M. Winton) Avon, Conn. Note: Nannie (Annie Hooper) lived with us on the mountain and these letters were written in 1931 and 1935. To know Nannie, you would never know that prim and proper little lady had ever had such experiences. She is buried in Norridgewock, ME) November 1935 TALES OF THE SEA North Bend Girl Writes of Old Days on Surry Bay I have been greatly interested in Tales of the Sea in the good old Ellsworth American. I have many times wondered who wrote the namesless letter, but read them with interest just the same, some of them coming as they did so close to my old home. I lived at North Bend, Surry, at the home of the late Daniel Milliken, who was my grandfather. With what pleaure I recall the many times I was at Sam Treworgy's, who told me many tales of the vessels that loaded at his wharf. Often he and his two children and I would go aborad and watch far out at sea, and see the outgoing and incoming vessels. I remember that Joseph Wescott, whom I often visited, had sailed to the Grand Banks with others from Surry. His family and the families of others of the crew, were very much worried as days passed with the vessel overdue. All were waiting and watching eagerly for news of them. The radio was unthought of then, and news of vessels at sea travelled slowly. As Joe was a relative of our family, we were all anxious. Several days in succession I walked from North Bend to the bay, hoping to learn something of the overdue vessel. Then one day, as I neared the bay, I saw a vessel slowly making her way up to the wharf. I was told it was the long- overdue craft, and did not wait for more. I guess I ran most of the way back to Joe's house to tell the good news. They were some relieved! Joe came home with a good lot of fish, and the wages he had saved, all were happy again. The worry was soon forgotten. That is the way with the families of men of the sea. Now when I visit Maine and look out over the bay, all I see are a few pleasure boats. The old days ae gone, and to the old-timer it is a sad sight. I hope someone else will tell us some sea stories. I am seventy-six years old, and the dear old Ellsworth American is a most welcome visitor at our home. Mrs. Annie Hooper Avon, Conn. (Submitted by Joan Milliken Finn, Great-granddaughter of Annie) © 1999 NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.