The collection of “shorts” below was found in the May 30, 1895, Edition of the RANGELEY LAKES newspaper and begins with some references to the Mooselookmeguntic House which once stood adjacent to the Dunn property at Haines Landing. If you enjoy Rangeley history, I suggest you visit the Historical Society and purchase the book entitled “A Chronological History of the Rangeley Lakes” by Edward Ellis. I found some of the following information in this great little book: The Mooselookmeguntic House was once a crude hut built around 1850 by James Huey. In 1874 Major E.J. Gilkey of Strong Maine and Charles Soule built a more substantial log camp. This was then “greatly enlarged” and the original log camp became a stable. The  book shares there were also “three log cottages built.” Could these be part of the row that still stands there today? The property was managed by Theodore L. Page who also owned Lake Point Cottage on Eagle Point in Oquossoc Cove. Page was also the proprietor of the United States Senate Restaurant, and he managed the Mooselookmeguntic House in the summer. The Mooselookmeguntic House was expanded a short time later, and Ed Whorff became the proprietor. Enjoy what follows about the “Big Lake” from late May1895 and be sure to get out and make some great Rangeley History of your own!

(Pierce’s commentary shared in italics, otherwise the copy has been reprinted below just as it was in 1895).

Out On the Big Lake

Haines Landing, May 29 —The fishing here was never better than it has been since the ice went out this spring. Everyone is happy. The good fishing holds the fishermen and makes ’em happy and their satisfaction makes Landlord Whorff (proprietor of the Mooselookmeguntic House) happy Since May 10th a remarkable number of splendid catches have been made. Nearly all of the best fish of the season have been hooked within sight of the Mooselookmeguntic House, some of them but a few rods away. Here is one of the best: Miss Grace E. Hobart, daughter of Mr. Henry Hobart, of East Bridgewater, Mass., has made a record which is “equaled by none and excelled by few.” Her first afternoon on the lake, in fact her first trout fishing of any kind, she captured a 6 pounder, 3lbs. 2-3/4 lbs., 1-1/2 lbs. all in two hours’ fishing! Since then, Miss Hobart and her father have taken many more good fish and, thorough sportsman as he is, Mr. Hobart admits that “my daughter, sir, has beaten me all out and out.” In one afternoon, they took 14 fish divided as follows: Miss H., 10; Mr. H., 4. Nate Ellis is guiding them.

Geo. W. Wheeler, of Farmington, took a handsome pair near the Mooselookmeguntic House, Thursday. In the forenoon he caught a 4-pound salmon and in the afternoon a 6-pound trout. He went home satisfied. F. C. Porter guided him.

On Mooselookmeguntic, Tuesday, Mrs. A. A. Sargent of Haverhill, Mass., took a 7 lb. trout and at the same time Mr. Sargent took two at once (presumedly with two flies on his line) which together weighed 10 lbs. Sylvester Hinkley and Joe Wilbur were guides. Seventeen pounds of fish at once, ought to convince people that the Rangeley fishing hasn’t gone to the damnation of the bow-wows. (“Gone to the dogs”).

The road from Phillips to Rangeley is in very fine condition and a very pleasant drive as well. Sheriff Esty, Saturday morning, seized, at the express office, a jug full of the forbidden liquid.

The term “drive” is of course referring to driving a team of horses.

Henry Tibbetts is laying the sills for a new shop 26×60, two stories, near his present location. He is to occupy one half the lower part for blacksmith work and the other is to be devoted to wood working, to be carried on by his son Florin. C. W. Barrett is to have the upper part for his boat manufacturing business.

Miss C. T. Crosby, just back from the sportsmen’s exposition, (In New York’s Madison Square Garden) is again flitting about the Rangeleys, fly-rod in hand. “Had a delightful time and the whole affair was a huge success,” is the way she sums up the exposition. During her week in New York, Miss Crosby was the recipient of over $500 worth of presents.

It is important to note that the publisher of the RANGELEY LAKES, Harry P. Dill was not happy about the fact that Miss Fly Rod, as a paid writer for the competing paper the PHILLIPS PHONOGRAPH and also in charge of the Maine exhibit at the show, had done her best to keep the 10,000 copies of the special edition of the RANGELEY LAKES out of the venue. Mr. Dill was insinuating that perhaps the gifts FRC had received in NYC were in fact compensation to do so. We’ll never know.

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