Howdy neighbor! The other week, while scouring Portland’s archives for a friend’s genealogy project, I happened to find a funny little — or should I say, big — story, which I knew would interest our readers. For in an old issue of the Portland Sunday Telegram , I found the following article by Mr. Alfred Elden which reveals that once upon a time Bridgton was home, not just to a rather large goat farm, but indeed to the largest goat farm in the whole State of Maine! Even I was surprised to learn this, and so this week it is my pleasure to share this front-page story from the Telegram of June 18, 1939, as Mr. Elden takes us back to what he found here 87 years ago:
“I discovered the largest goat farm in Maine through a call at the beautiful home of Walter A. Hawkins here in Bridgton, Highland Road. ‘Here,’ said he, ‘I have added two more delightful pets to my collection of livestock. Come and see Heidi and Dukie.’ So, we walked back of his house to a large wired-in yard, in the center of which stood what looked like an overgrown doghouse. ‘Come Heidi! Come Dukie!’ he called, and out of the little house came two fine looking goats, one a small female, the other a finely-horned male. Up to the wire they trotted. Mr. Hawkins had a cigarette in his mouth. He bent down toward Heidi, the smaller goat, who immediately and eagerly took the cigarette from her owner’s mouth and — no, she didn’t smoke it because it was unlighted — but she did swallow it.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm‘%96J 92G6 E@ 92G6 E@3244@[’ 6IA=2:?65 |C] w2H<:?D] ‘x 7665 :E E@ E96> C68F=2C=J[ 23@FE @?46 2 H66<] (92E 7@Cn ~9[ :E AC6G6?ED H@C>D @C D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E92E] $2J[ :7 J@F H2?E E@ =62C? 2== 23@FE 8@2ED[ =6E’D >@E@C @G6C 2?5 D66 w:332C5] w6 92D >@C6 E92? `__ @7 E96>]’ xE H2D @?=J 2 D9@CE C:56 E9C@F89 E96 G:==286[ 2C@F?5 2 4@C?6C 2?5 @FE @? E96 }@CH2J C@25 A6C92AD 2 BF2CE6C @7 2 >:=6] %96C6[ H6 >6E |C] 2?5 |CD] (2==246 p] w:332C5[ 2?5 DA6?E 2 >@DE 72D4:?2E:?8 9@FC] kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE =6E’D 368:? 2E E96 368:??:?8] #@J r] (:=96=>[ 2 H62=E9J
4@7766 :>A@CE6C @7 }6H *@C<[ H9@ 92D 2 3:8 6DE2E6 2E (6DE t?8=6H@@5[ }]y][ H2D 5C2H? E@ |2:?6 :? `hb_] x D9@F=5?’E 36 2 3:E DFCAC:D65 :7 |C] w2H<:?D H2D :?DECF>6?E2= :? 3C:?8:?8 9:> 96C6[ 7@C 96 :D 2 8C62E |2:?6 3@@DE6C D:?46 96 C6E:C65 7C@> E96
y@C52 ? |2CD9 r@] :?
q@DE @? 2?5 42>6 E@ qC:58E@? E@ =:G6] p?JH2J[ (:=96=> 42>6 E@ }@CE9 {@G6== 2?5
3@F89E `__ 24C6D @? E96 D:56 @7 2 >@F?E2:?] %96C6[ 96 3F:=E H92E J@F >:89E 42== 2 $H:DD r92=6E H:E9 2 <66A6C 2?5 9:D H:76 :? 492C86 E96 J62C C@F?5[ 2?5 H96C6 96 4@>6D 7C6BF6?E=J 7@C C6DE 2?5 C64C62E:@?] %96C6[ 96 2=D@ 3F:=E 2 3:8 32C? 2?5 7C@> 9:D >2A=6
8C@G6 6G6CJ $AC:?8 EFC?D @FE 2 =@E @7 7:?6 >2A=6 DJCFA 2?5 DF82C] qFE 9:D >2:? :562 H2D
8@2ED ] w6 925 2 DE@>249
EC@F3 =6[ 2?5
8@2E ’D >:=< H2D C64@>>6?565[ D@ 96 8@E 6?@F89
8@2ED E@ 6?DFC6 2 DE625J DFAA=J 2?5 D@@? 9:D 2:=>6?ED H6C6 6?E:C6=J 4FC65] p7E6C E92E[ 96 H6?E :? 7@C
8@2ED ] w6
3@F89E E96> :? E96 H6DE 2?5
D@FE9 >@DE=J[ 2?5 9:D 6?E:C6 96C5
E@52J :D @7 tG6C8C66? p=A:?6 DE@4<] p 76H @7 E96 7:?6DE 2?:>2=D 2C6 <6AE 2E }@CE9 {@G6== H96C6 96 56=:89ED E@ D9@H E96>] {2DE u2==[ 9:D 5:DA=2J 2E E96 }@CE9 (2E6C7@C5 u2:C 2EEC24E65 =2C86
4C@H5D 2?5 4C62E65 2? :?E6C6DE :?
8@2E C2:D:?8] qC:67=J[ |C] (:=96=> D6=5@> D6==D 2
8@2E 2?5 @?=J @442D:@?2==J D6==D 2?J
8@2E >:=< F?=6DD :E :D E@ D@>6 D:4< A6CD@? H9@> 96 E9:?<D :E >:89E 36?67:E]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?m ,qFE. H96C6 4@F=5 96 86E 2 8@@5 >2? E@ 42C6 7@C 9:D C2A:5=J 8C@H:?8 96C5n (2=E6C w2H<:?D C64@>>6?565 |C] w:332C5 96C6 2E qC:58E@?] p?5 96 >256 ?@ >:DE2<6 H96? 96 D64FC65 9:D D6CG:46D]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?m %@52J 2 =2C86 A2CE @7 E96 96C5 :D <6AE 96C6 2E w:332C5’D[ H9@ 92D 2 `h\24C6 A:646 @7 =2?5 H9:49 :D >@C6 E92? =2C86 6?@F89 ?@E @?=J 7@C E96 `bd
8@2ED 2=C625J 96C6 2E qC:58E@?[ 3FE 7@C 2D >2?J >@C6 H:E9@FE
4C@H5 :?8]
q@E9 |C] 2?5 |CD] w:332C5 =@G6 E96 362FE:7F= 4C62EFC6D…k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm‘*@F >:89E 36 DFCAC:D65[’ D2:5 w:332C5 2D 96 6D4@CE65 >6 23@FE E96 A=246[ ‘3FE 2== @7 E96D6 `bd 8@2ED 92G6 ?2>6D[ 2?5 x <?@H E96> 2== 2D 5@ E96 C6DE @7 E96 72>:=J] $6G6?EJ\7:G6 A6C46?E @7 E96 96C5 2C6 uC6?49 p=A:?6D 2D H6 4@?D:56C E92E E96 7:?6DE DE@4<] %9:D ?F>36C :D 2== A65:8C665 2?5 C68:DE6C65]’ |J @H? <?@H=6586 @7 8@2ED[ x >FDE 4@?76DD[ H2D C2E96C G28F6] x C642== E92E 2D 2 3@J 2 ?6:893@C 925 EH@ 362C565[ DE@FE=J\9@C?65 2?:>2=D H9@D6 49:67 492C24E6C:DE:4 H2D 3FEE:?8 2?5 3FEE:?8 92C5 2?J @7 FD J@F?8DE6CD H9@ 42>6 H:E9:? C2?86] x C642==65 E9:D :?4:56?E E@ w:332C5 2?5 25565 E92E x DFAA@D65 8@2ED H6C6 2=D@ ?@E65 7@C 62E:?8 E:? 42?D] w6 =2F8965] ‘}@ D:C[ :E :D @?=J E96 23FD65 2==6J 8@2E E92E 5@6D 2?J 3FEE:?8] *@F 42? H2=< 2== E9C@F89 E9:D 96C5 2?5 ?@E 2 4C62EFC6 H:== D9@H 2?JE9:?8 3FE 27764E:@?] %96 @?=J 3FEE:?8 E96J 5@ :D H:E9 6249 @E96C :? A=2J] }6:E96C H:== 2 8@2E 62E 2 E:? 42?[ 3FE x >FDE 25>:E x 92G6 D66? E96> =2A E96 A2A6C @77 @?6 E@ 86E 2E E96 8=F6 @? E96 324< D:56 @7 :E] |2J36 E92E’D H96C6 E96 E:? 42? DE@CJ DE2CE65]’ kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx DF886DE65[ E@@[ E92E x 925 2=H2JD 962C5 E92E
8@2ED H6C6 G6CJ — G6CJ — H6==[ J@F >:89E D2J @5:76C@FD] ‘%92E :D >@DE=J 2 >:DE2<6[’ ,D2:5 w:332C5.[ ‘2?5 >2J 36 6?E:C6=J AC6G6?E65 3J D68C682E:?8 E96 >2=6D 7C@> E96 76>2=6D 27E6C 3C665:?8] pE E92E E:>6 E96C6 :D 2 DF3DE2?46 7C@> E96 8=2?5D @7 E96 >2=6 E92E :D C2E96C @3;64E:@?23=6[ 3FE E96
8@2E :D @?6 @7 E96 4=62?6DE[ DH66E6DE @7 2?:>2=D H96?
AC@A6C =J 42C65 7@C] (6 3C665 E96> @?=J @?46 2 J62C] |C] (:=96=>’D D@=6
AFCA@D6 2E AC6D6?E :D E@ 86E A6C92AD 2 96C5 @7 `__ 3C665:?8 76>2=6
8@2ED @7 E96 7:?6DE DEC2:?] %96?[ H6 D92== D6== E96 >:=< 2?5 A6C92AD D@>6 3FEE6C[ 2?5 8@ :?E@ E96
8@2E C2:D:?8 3FD:?6DD @? 2 =2C86 D42=6]
v@2E ’D >:=< D6==D 7C@> ad E@ c_ 46?ED 2 BF2CE[ 2?5 :? D@>6 A=246D
8@6D 2D 9:89 2D e_ 46?ED] %96C6 :D 2=H2JD 2 56>2?5] xE :D H@?56C7F= 7@C 2== DE@>249
EC@F3 =6D 2?5 G6CJ G2=F23=6 7@@5 7@C 4@?DF>AE:G6D] xE 4@?E2:?D `_ E:>6D 2D >F49 :C@? 2D 4@H’D >:=<[ EH:46 2D >F49
A9@DA9 @C@FD[ 2?5
7@FC >:?6C2=D ?@E :? 4@H’D >:=< 2E 2==] xE :D G6CJ 62D:=J 5:86DE65 :? =6DD E92? 92=7 E96 E:>6 C6BF:C65 7@C 4@H’D >:=<]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?m (6 >:=< dd @7 E96 76>2=6
8@2ED 96C6 EH:46 2 52J[ >@C?:?8 2?5 ?:89E[ E96 D2>6 2D H:E9
4@HD ] %96J >:=< >F49 62D:6C 2?5 BF:4<6C E92?
4@HD [
9@H6G6C [ 2?5 6:E96C |CD] wF332C5 @C x 42? >:=< E96 6?E:C6 dd :? 2 =:EE=6 @G6C 2?
9@FC ]
v@2ED 92G6 EH@ >:=<:?8 E62ED :?DE625 @7
7@FC =:<6
4@HD ] w6C6 :D 2 A64F=:2C E9:?8] %2<6 2 42E E92E 92D 2=H2JD 925 4@H’D >:=<]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?m u665 96C
8@2E ’D >:=< C68F=2C=J 7@C[ D2J[ 2 H66<[ 2?5 D96 H:== ?@E
E@F49 E96 4@H’D >:=< 282:?] *@F 92G6 DE2CE65 D@>6E9:?8 E92E J@F >FDE <66A FA] %@ 2 46CE2:? 6IE6?E[ E@@[ E9:D :D ECF6 @7
5@8D ]’k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx 2D<65 |C] w:332C5 9@H G2=F23=6 2
8@2E H2D] x 925 2? :562 E92E J@F 4@F=5 8@ @FE :? E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 A:4< FAk^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmE96 36DE
8@2E J@F 4@F=5 7:?5 7@C Sd @C S`_] ‘}@E @FCD[’ 96 =2F8965] ‘!C@323=J E96 2G6C286
8@2E @7 @FC 96C5
4@DE 2E =62DE S`__[ 2?5 D@>6 @7 E96> 8@ FA E@ Sad_ 2 A:646]’ #642==:?8 E96
8@2E E92E 925 D@ 2G:5=J
8@33 =65 |C] w2H<:?D’ 4:82C6EE6[ x 2D<65
23@FE E92E] ‘*6D[ H6 7665 E96> 2 =@E @7
E@3244 @ :? E96
4@FCD6 @7 2 J62C] qFE 92C5=J 4:82C6EE6D[ E92E H@F=5 36 E@@ 6IA6?D:G6]
p3@FE @?46 2 H66< E96J 86E 2 C2E:@? @7
E@3244 @ DE6>D 2?5 DE2=<D H6 3FJ 7C@> 2
D@FE96C ? 7:C> :? =2C86 BF2?E:E:6D] xE :D AFE FA 6IAC6DD=J 7@C
8@2ED ] xE H:== ?@E 24EF2==J <:== H@C>D[ 3FE :D 2 8C62E AC6G6?E2E:G6[ 2?5 :E 2=D@ 4@?E2:?D @E96C >:?6C2=D G2=F23=6 E@ E96
8@2E ’D DJDE6>]
v@2E ’D >:=< :D G6CJ C:49 2?5 D=:89E=J DH66E] xE E2<6D >F49 =@?86C 7@C E96 4C62> E@ C:D6 E92? @? 4@H’D >:=<[ 3FE 7C@> :E :D >256 56=:4:@FD :46 4C62>[ 4C62> 4966D6D[ 4FDE2C5D 2?5 AF55:?8D… ,2?5. 2D 2 36G6C286 :E :D :? 2 4=2DD 3J :ED6=7] (6 FD6
23@FE g @C h BF2CED 2 52J 96C6 :? @FC @H? 72>:=J] %96 >:=<6CD 8:G6 7C@> c E@ g BF2CED 2 52J 2?5 @442D:@?2==J 2D 9:89 2D h BF2CED] ~?6 82G6 g BF2CED 52:=J 7@C bd DF446DD:G6 52JDP (6 7665 E96
8@2ED E96 G6CJ 36DE BF2=:EJ @7 92J[ 4=@G6C 2?5 2=72=72[ >:I65 H:E9 >@=2DD6D] %96J 2=D@ =@G6 2== 8C66? 96C3286] u@C 8C2:?D E96J 86E 4@C?[ 32C=6J[ H962E[ =:?D665 >62=[ 3C2?[ 2?5 2 DA64:2= C2E:@? H6 92G6 56G6=@A65 96C6 H9:49 :D >@DE D2E:D724E@CJ]’ kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp=E9@F89 E96C6 2C6 D6G6C2= H:C65\:? J2C5D H96C6 E96
8@2ED 2C6 <6AE 5FC:?8 E96 52J[ 2== E96 25F=ED 2C6
3C@F89E :?E@ =2C86 32C?D 2E ?:89E H96C6 6249 :D 492:?65 3J E96 4@==2C :E H62CD :?E@ 2 D6A2C2E6 =:EE=6 DE2==[ 6249 @?6 A2CE:E:@?65 @77 7C@> E96 @E96C] x? @?6 D965[ E96C6 2C6 e_ @7 E96D6 D>2== DE2==D[ 2== <6AE D4CFAF=@FD=J 4=62?] ~?=J E96 <:5D 2C6 =67E @FE @G6C?:89E[ 2?5 E96C6 :D 2 D96=E6C 7@C E96> :7 E96J H:D9 E@ 86E F?56C :E]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?m p== @7 E96 dd >:=<6CD 92G6 E96:C :?5:G:5F2= DE2==D]
v@2ED 2C6 G6CJ 27764E:@?2E6… ,2?5. E96J H:== DE2?5 FA 2?5 AFE E96:C 766E @? J@F =:<6 2 D6EE6C @C A@:?E6C[ 3FE :?4:56?E2==J[ :7 J@F 92AA6? E@ 962C 2 D?:A[ @77 >2J 8@ 2 3FEE@? @C EH@ 7C@>
J@FC G6DE @C
4@2E ] %96J 2C6 A=2J7F= 2?5 7C@=:4
E@86E96C 2=>@DE =:<6 <:EE6?D] p =:EE=6 @G6C 2 J62C 28@ E96 $@FE96C? |2:?6
v@2E qC6656CD pDD@4:2E:@? H2D 7@C>65 2E p=7C65] (2==246 p] w:332C5 H2D 6=64E65 AC6D:56?E[ H9:=6 |@?E6 $>:E9 @7 p=7C65 H2D >256 D64C6E2CJ] %96C6 2C6
23@FE e_ >6>36CD[ 2?5 >66E:?8D 2C6 96=5 2E 5:776C6?E A=246D] xE :D G6CJ 6G:56?E E92E E96
8@2E C2:D:?8 :?5FDECJ :? |2:?6 :D 8C@H:?8 C2A:5=J]
q@E9 |C] (:=96=> 2?5 |C] w:332C5 36=:6G6 E92E :7 72C> H@>6? 42? =:<6 96?D H6== 6?@F89 E@ >2<6 E96> A2J AC@7:E[ E96J H:== 2=D@ 36 DF446DD7F= H:E9
8@2ED [ E92E 2C6 4=62?6C E92? 2?J @E96C <:?5 @7 =:G6DE@4<] (:E9 2 76H AFC63C65
5@6D 2?5 2 8@@5 3F4< 2?J 72C>6C 42? D@@? 3F:=E FA 2 AC@7:E23=6 6?E6CAC:D6] u@C G:==286 @C E@H? 5H6==6CD H96C6 E96C6 :D =:EE=6 2G2:=23=6 =2?5[
8@2ED H:== 8@ 2 =@?8 H2J
E@H2C5 7:?2?4:?8 E96 72>:=J =:G:?8 6IA6?D6D] %96C6 :D 2=H2JD 2 56>2?5 7@C
8@2E >:=< <?@H? E@ 36 AFC6[ ,2?5. ?@E @?=J H:== :E 6G6?EF2==J 36 2 AC@7:E23=6 :?5FDECJ[ 3FE :E H:== 2=D@ 3C:?8 8C62E C6923:=:E2E:@? E@ F?56C?@FC:D965 49:=5C6?] |C] (:=96=> 4:E6D 42D6 27E6C 42D6 H96C6 96 92D 366? :>A@CEF?65 E@ D6== 2
5@K6 ?
8@2ED E@ H62=E9J A6@A=6[ 2?5 E@ ?2>6 9:D @H? AC:46] ~?6
AC@76DD :@?2= >2? :? }6H *@C< @776C65 9:> Sc[___ 7@C
7@FC 5@K6 ?[ 2?5 :? EH@ J62CD 96 92D C67FD65 @776CD E92E 2>@F?E65 E@ 2
E@E2 = @7 S`_[___] qFE E96 49:67 @3;64E @7 E9:D 6?E6CAC:D6 :? }@CE9 {@G6== 2?5 qC:58E@? :D E@ 3C665 E96 G6CJ 7:?6DE BF2=:EJ @7 AFC6 p=A:?6
8@2ED ] |C] w:332C5 :D 42CCJ:?8 @? E96 3C665:?8 H@C< H:E9 C2C6 F?56CDE2?5:?8 2?5 8C62E DF446DD]”kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%:== ?6IE E:>6Pk^DA2?mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.