172 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY The Sebec Centennial Editor's Note: The town of Sebec in Piscataquis county, Maine, cele- brated its Centennial Anniversary, August 24, 1912. The following was written at the time by G. Smith Stanton of New York, whose summer home has for many years been on the shore of Sebec Lake, and has never before been published. Mr. Stanton is himself an author and wrote one of the most delightful Maine books that we know of, entitled: "Where The Sportsman Loves to Linger." In the Maine woods 150 miles northeast of Portland at the foot of Sebec Lake is the little town of Sebec. It first saw the light of, (lay 100 years ago. On August 24, Sebec celebrated its one hundredth anniversary. Away from the railroad the little picturesque hamlet rests among the hills of Maine. Thousands of logs pass annually through it oil their way to the mills. The only street passes down one side of a mountain across a concrete bridge and up the side of another moun- tain. Along each side of this wide street are stately elms back of which are large old fashioned houses painted white with green blinds. Most inviting are the homes of its 250 inhabitants. Three great epochs have worked the history of Sebec. When it was incor- porated 100, years ago; when it celebrated its 5oth birthday; and its century of yesterday. 100, years ago the Pine Tree State was dense woods from the ocean to the Canadian line and beyond. The only communication over it was the spotted trail. Sebec was on the spotted trail from Portland. Along these trails the trapper packed his furs. A spotted trail was simply a path about two feet wide through the dense wood. "Spotted" means that a strip of bark oil the side of the trees next to the path is sliced off.' Along the trail from Sebec to Portland was an occasional clearing, a hamlet or a farm. Those who incorporated Sebec 100 years ago were the typical frontiersmen, farmers, trappers and hunters often dressed in skins. The first half century of Sebec's existence was the daily life of the usual frontier town. During that half century the virgin forest, in spots gave way to the lumberman and the farmer. The outlet from the lake gives Sebec a splendid water power. In its early his- tory large buildings were erected and wood and wool became the main industry. On account of Sebec's inaccessibility, its.industries (1) Sometimes called a "blazed trail." THE SEBEC CENTENNIAL I73 were unable to compete and one could see yesterday the deserted buildings of those early days through decay ready to slide into the river, and whose window panes had evidently been targets for the boys. In the interests of a lumber company fortune so arranged it that I was in Sebec 50 years ago when they celebrated the second epoch in its history and I have in my possession a daguerreotype of that event. As I sat on the piazza of the hotel at Sebec last Saturday and saw the crowd coming down the lake in steam and motor boats and over the smooth gravel roads in top buggies, surreys and automobiles, I could not help but compare the transformation with that of 50 years ago. Half a century ago they came down the lake in birch bark canoes and rafts. Oxen yoked to wagons bounced their occupants over woods-roads that once were the spotted trails. 50 years ago the farmer, his wife and children, were dressed in "home spun," and leather boots and shoes made at home. Fortunate were they who had a hat. As I remember the gathering simplicity and virtue were there. Yesterday the descendants of these farmers, the youths, passed by in automoblies, the female contingent dressed as stylishly as their city sisters, and singing, instead of the good old songs of their mothers, "Everybodys Doing It." The record of August 24, 18I2, shows that the sun shone brightly on Sebec and the placid waters of the lake rolled smoothly to the sea; the same conditions prevailed on its one hundredth anniversary and 1912 was a counterpart. Twelve o'clock was the hour set to begin the celebration and like all well regulated celebrations the show began with a feast. Any- body who knows anything about the human organization is aware of the fact that if you want to start right and get him or her in a happy frame of mind first satisfy the stomach. With Taylor's band of Dover-Foxcroft in the lead the hungry horde started up the hill for a large tent. What a representative assembly was there. How fortunate it is for Sebec that its birthday comes in August. Then the 150 cottages that line the historic shores of the lake are occupied and the hotels at the head and foot of the lake are full. Down the lake in steamboats, motorboats, sailboats, canoes and row-boats came the crowd. All roads and autos led to Sebec. Under that tent not only every state but every city east of the Alleganies was represented. The school marms of Piscataquis county, who had had experience during the summer at the hotels along the coast line, took charge of the culinary department. Delmonico's and the Waldorf I74 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY were not in it. At two o'clock the oratorical lights had the center of the stage. As 1 listened to the illuminating and interesting efforts of the local talent I could not help but think what an opportunity and subject was there for such a brainy orator as a Bourke Cochran. How Bourke could and would have soared. He would likely have passed out of the solar system into some other celestial sphere. Having often seen the New York Giants play the great American game I lost interest in the ball game and visited the school house wherein contained a sample of the ancient implements of our fore- fathers and mothers. A most interesting collection was it all. Six o'clock had arrived. In the public square the band was playing patriotic airs, preparatory to starting again up the hill for feast number two. Again the school teachers showed their skill in domes- tic science. Again everybody left the tent satisfied and happy. After the fire-works the next event was the dance, and it was to commence at "eight sharp." Sebec reads its Bible and believes therein, therefore everybody knew that at 12 o'clock the curtain would be rung down on the festivities. Young couples, who on account of the rush, were unable to dance wandered off in the moon- light to some shady nook and breathed those soft palpitating words that eventually lead to the perpetuity of the race. Everybody anxiously looked forward to the last number on the card, "The Virginia Reel by the old settlers of Sebec." At 11.30 the floor was cleared. Entering from one of the side room to the center of the hall came marching along eight ladies whose ages averaged 76, escorting them were eight men whose ages averaged 79. The old- est of all was "old man Loud." Mr. Loud was 93 and was as frisky as any of the dancers. No one would have believed that he was the same Loud who 75 years ago, with his rifle in one hand and skins in the other, was sneaking on his moccasins along the spotted trail to Portland expecting every minute to meet an Indian or a wild animal. The "caller off" mounted the platform and the band started that old familiar air that no one can forget and the great event of the celebration was on. Windows were smashed, boards torn off to see the sight that no one ever expected to see again. The applause endangered the building. Thrown bouquets interfered with the movements of the dancers, but the dance continued and the "band played on." While the enjoyment was at its height the bell in the little white church on the hillside was tolling the midnight hour. THE SEBEC CENTENNIAL 175 The "caller off" gave orders to slow down, and the most interesting event of the day or in fact for many a day gone by or to come, became a memory. Soon the crowd dispersed. Down between the tall elms I strolled and as I saw the waters of the lake pass over the falls and down the moonlit outlet to the sea I realized that I was witnessing a similar scene to that of one hundred years ago. At the Sebec Centennial, Honorable Charles J. Chase of Sebec, presided. Historical addresses were delivered by Stacy Lampher of Sebec, and John Francis Sprague, President of the Piscataquis Historical Society, of Dover. Honorable Wainwright Cushing read a paper on "Sebec in the Civil War." Other speakers were Charles W. Hayes of Foxcroft, Calvin W. Brown of Dover and Martin L. Durgin of Milo. "Maine in History and Romance" is one of the most valuable and attractive books ever published on Maine historical subjects. This work of 240 pages well bound and beautifully illustrated, has just been issued from the press of the Lewiston journal Company, and is the production of the members of the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs, and is the first book ever published by a federation of women's clubs in the United States. It originated through the publication of a series of articles in competition for prizes offered by the Lewiston journal. It is an honor alike to the Federation and the Publishers. Every son and daughter of the Pine Tree State should be proud of it and give it a cordial welcome. Every article shows wonderfully thorough historical research, and so far as we have been able to examine and compare them with the history of Maine, they are substantially accurate in statement. The Federation is assuredly entitled to state wide congratulation for having made such an interesting and valuable contribution to the highest grade of Maine literature. It is in advance of all others, for no Maine author has ever undertaken anything like it. It is in advance of the school officers and teachers and everybody else, and has set a pace for all to follow. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * 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. 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