Farmington High School - Laurel Yearbook (Farmington, ME)

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TI-IE LAUREL 21 upon in later years as one of the turning points of our lives. Your presence here tonight is the climax of the constant support you have given to our class throughout its four years of high school. As a slight evidence of our appreci- ation of this support which has meant so much to us, l reiterate that we sincerely welcome you. The Vivid Past Farmington, the shire town of Franklin County, is situated in the valley of the Sandy River. It is naturally divided into two portions by this river. Undoubtedly it was the beauty and fertility of the valley which attracted the explorers and settlers to this river. The explorers who first came to the Sandy River Valley found a small tribe of Indians at Messee Contee Qherring placej, the spot now known as Farmington Falls. It is un- certain when the hrst white man visited this location. Tradition states that a youth by the name of Knights was captured by Indians and brought here. I-Ie escaped and made his way through the wilderness to his home. I-Ie carried such accounts of the luxuriant vegetation of the country through which he had traversed that he induced some of his friends to explore the region. This story, however, is merely tradition, but it is certain that hunters and trappers visited this valley long before any thought of settling it was made. In the autumn of 1779, two hunters from Winthrop came here prepared to spend the winter. They trapped for beaver, otter, mink and sable. In the spring they made a crude boat, and putting their valuable cargo on board, went down the river to the Ken- nebec and thence to their homes. They were the first white men known to have passed a winter in what is now Franklin County. The Hrst settlers were aided greatly by the Indian, Pierpole, who, undismayed by the approach of the white man, remained, the last of a race which had once held undis- puted sway over the hunting grounds. Pierpole is believed to have belonged to the Androscoggin tribe. He and his family were living near the Falls when the first courageous settlers came, but Pierpole soon left and moved to Strong. The last the settlers ever saw of him was as he paddled his canoe down the river. Whether he went to Canadian waters or the ocean, no man knows. The time chosen for the settlements on the shores of the Sandy River was a fortu- nate one. The settlers who came here did not suffer from the Indians nor even the fear of the Indians. The only savage to visit their camp-lifes was Pierpole, their friend and ally. The year of 1781 came and found Stephen Titcomb trapping in Farmington and his family snowbound in Readfield. However, when the storm subsided enough to allow a team to get through, Mr. Titcomb returned to Readiield to bring his family back to the Sandy River Valley. With the families of Titcomb, Brown, and Davis began the first civilized life in the future town of Farm- ington. The growth of the town was compara- tively rapid, for at the end of the first decade the census numbered to 494 inhabitants. Mills were operating, schools were estab- lished and the people were nearly indepen- dent of the outside world. Although no definite mail route was established, a Mr. Willis began to bring newspapers to the township about 1790, and a few years later, a weekly mail line was opened to Hallo- well. Modern people would have found few entertainments existing in those days. There were no churches formed to act as the center of social functions as only a few itinerant preachers found their way to this opening in the wilderness. In this wilderness, however, the town meetings were of serious importance. They were examples of pure democracy, a govern- ment of the people, for the people, and by the people. They acted on articles ranging from the amount of the salary of a minister to the care of straying cattle.

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20 THE LAUREL exist in European countries the glow of dis- contentment which might easily be fanned into the flame of war? 'Why pour forth the prime of American youth to satisfy petty strife and burden future generations with extravagant war debts? But look! the water was changing. Circles of gold and silver appeared against a background of green and faded away in the rippling water. A pano- rama of sights passed. I glimpsed the gaunt, tear-streaked faces of small children as they begged for food in the slums of New York. . . Breadlines. . . The despairing faces of farmers as they learned of the new low on crops. . . The tense strain in Wall Street as stocks and bonds sank to rock bottom. . . The closing of hundreds of factories and mills on which numerous workers were depen- dent. . . Strikes, violence, and the destruction dissatisfied people revolted. of property as All this I saw, and more, before the Waters this time to reveal an old finally cleared, man with a child on his knee, and as I strained to hear, Yes, my boy, the elder said, it's a hard journey to reach success, and many fall by the way. Wars, depressions, and other trials must be survived, but the really worthwhile things in life are those obtained with diffi- culty. I've lived in times of strife when people all about me were in despair, but I never ceased to hope. I knew that depres- sions weren't a novelty to the United States, or even to our toil-worn world. Civilization had survived before, why not again? They sayf' and he chuckled, that we 're in a depression now. Is it a depression of affairs alone or partly of the mind? I'll warrant that business is poor, but isn't it perhaps be- cause so many are afraid? Afraid to buy, to spend, to look forward to times of prosperity? They seem to think we're in an impossible rut. Nonsenseln and he laughed again. The waters cleared now and were filled with myriad colors, like a sunrise, or a rain- bow after a storm. . . ' She,s coming tof' they said as they looked at the girl gasping on the hard planks of the motorboat. I felt a new strength come into my body, a new courage quicken my senses. No matter what might come, I felt I could face the future bravely. I might not reach my goal, yet I knew that I would at least have the satisfaction of knowing I had tried. Members of the Faculty: It is now too late to prove but not to express our true appreci- ation for your help and patience. At times we've been exasperating, but you have en- countered those difficult situations with the sympathetic guidance of a friend and the wise understanding of a counselor. We wish to thank you for all your efforts in our be- half and for the penetrating interest you have shown in each of us. Classmates: The world we face tomorrow is one tinged with gloom. We know that. We realize that jobs are scarce and wages poor. We face dangers caused by hatred, greed, and strife. We cannot reform the world, nor do we wish to. Yet beginning with ourselves, as individuals, let us strive to become more tolerant, wiser, and clearer thinking. May we, the Class of 1938, go forth determined to do our best in the face of all opposition. And now the moment draws near for us to say farewell. I say goodbye to you with regret and express in Long- fellow's words the feeling of you, the mem- bers of our class, for one another: Our hearts, our hopes. are all with thee. Qin' hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith trinniphant o'ei' our fears, Are all with thee,-are all with thee! Constance McLeary '38. err SALUTATCRY Przrcfnts, friczzdx, terlchers and fellow school- 171111855 In behalf of the Class of 1938, I wish to extend a sincere welcome to you on this occasion which means so much to us who are about to venture into a world which is al- most foreign to us. This evening will be one which will be long remembered by us. This is an event which we can look back

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272 THE LAUREL The years passed swiftly for the flourish- ing little town, and then a new need arose. This need was for military organization. Under the state law of that time, each town was obliged to provide its own military stores and equip its own militia. The train- ing of this militia created a new diversion for the people who whole-heartedly supported the proposition. A few years after the militia was formed, a cavalry was organized. This was done only when rumors of a war with England were in the air in 1812. How- ever, when war was Finally declared, so far as can now be ascertained, only two Farm- ington men, David Bump and Elisha Iewett, enlisted in the United States army and per- formed actual service on the Held. The military organizations were maintained and a brigade review was held in 1827 with Governor Lincoln and his staff present. However, a few years later the only material remnant of Farmington's military glory was a few stones on a hill, the remains of a build- ing for storing ammunition built in 1817, and the abstract remnant, its name, Powder House Hill. Before many years had elapsed, churches were established, railroads were chartered, schools were built, and then came the crisis which split the country into two divisions, both embittered by sectional antagonism. Farmington was definitely loyal, meeting all her quotas of soldiers, nursing the wounded, and raising money. However the years fol- lowing the opening of the war were anxious and troublesome times for the town. When the news of the assassination of President Lincoln reached Farmington, it was a signal for mourning throughout the town. The years rolled on with the first public library being built, a Franklin County Sav- ings Bank organized, and then a real dis- aster struck. It was the great fire of 1886. This destructive conliagration started in a stable on Pleasant Street and swept away nearly every building on Main Street down to South Street. It was a calamity that will long be remembered by those who wit- nessed it. Farmington at the present time is deh- nitely an educational center. The Farming- ton State Normal School was established in 1864. The high school was completed in 1906 and has been enlarged since, the last addition was in 1936. The Training School building was built in 1931. Now the town has within its limits an admirable public library, built in 1901 in memory of Nathan Cutler, and the Franklin Memorial Hospital, opened in 1929. The personage of whom Farmington is the proudest is Madame Lillian Nordica, a famous opera singer who was born in this town. Madame Nordica made her debut in Italy and later appeared in London and in the New York Metropolitan Opera House. Her home, which has been kept as nearly as possible as it was when she lived, is one of the most interesting spots in this vicinity. All in all, Farmington is a town of which its citizens may be justly proud. Undoubt- edly, because distance lends enchantment, if Farmington were situated some 30 or 40 miles from here, we would all be anxious to visit itg but because we live in it, we are less likely to realize what a truly beautiful and interesting place it is. Norma Vose 138. TT COURAGE T0 DARE HE interest of the people of today in aviation is increasing by leaps and bounds. The airplane is taking an important place in business and recreation. Because of this, many high-school graduates are planning to make one of its many branches their life work. Such a pilot as Amelia Earhart serves as an inspiring example to American girls. At the age of ten, when at the Iowa State Fair, she saw her First airplane. It was a thing of rusty wire and wood and did not look a bit interesting. No wonder that she was much more absorbed in an absurd hat which she had just purchased. Regardless of what psychologists might have said, in later years she hated hats and would not miss