This edition shares three short articles and a few “local paragraphs” that appeared in the October 17, 1895, copy of the RANGELEY LAKES newspaper. We hope you enjoy it.

(Contemporary commentary found in italics).

Caption: Even all the old postcards had it wrong. The original spelling was “Hayne’s Landing” after its first settler, and not after Peter Haines who moved to Rangeley in 1837.

Frank Haynes and Haynes Landing.

To the Editors of Rangeley Lakes: A paragraph in the RANGELEY LAKES of last week reminds me to say that the landing at the north end of Lake Mooselookmeguntic was named for Mr. Frank Haynes, who more than sixty years ago settled on the westerly shore of the lake and made a farm there. He had previously been a sailor, but Dr. Adams of Boston, Haynes’s brother-in-law, induced him to cast anchor in the Rangeley wilderness. I can remember when a neat white and thoroughly furnished house and outbuildings occupied the first clearing. Dr. Adams had a scheme to people the great lake with geese, but the pioneer birds transported there did not multiply and replenish in accordance with his hopes. Haynes married Miss Lydia Oakes, a sister of the late John Oakes, who succeeded Haynes on the lake farm about 50 years ago as the tenant of Daniel Burnham, to whom Haynes had sold for $100. (Can you imagine…a one-hundred-acre farm on the shore there for just a hundred bucks). Haynes died many years ago, leaving a widow and two sons. I believe Mrs. Haynes lives in New Haven, Conn. Her eldest son is a wounded veteran of the civil war. Another occupant of the lake farm after Haynes, was J. G. Rich, the veteran hunter, who afterwards occupied the old Richardson place on the lake below, and who now lives in Bethel. He moved into the Rangeley wilderness nearly half a century ago, from Boston, where he kept a bookstore. Peter Haines, who moved from Phillips to Rangeley in 1837,’ had nothing to do with camp building at “Haynes Landing,” which, by the way, should be spelt with a “y”, as Frank Haynes spelled his name. – Z. T.H.

(And there you have it. The true story behind the original name of a Rangeley landmark location. But will the error ever be corrected? And in that vein, the plaque at Upper Dam commemorating Carrie Stevens, is inaccurate as well. It declares that Carrie caught her prize winning big brookie on her famous Grey Ghost streamer. FALSE! Visit the Outdoor Heritage Museum to see the mounted fish and the “Shang’s Favorite” she also developed and actually caught the fish on. Funny how a story can get twisted into the “truth” over the years).

A CARIBOU SHOT IN PHILLIPS

Thursday Will Davenport, and his father, A. W. Davenport, Esq., were near Thad Barker’s, five miles from Phillips village when they discovered a caribou. Will had a charge of bird shot in his gun but quickly doubled the amount and blazed away, hitting the caribou in the thigh, a second shot finished it.

(The last caribou from a native Maine herd was observed on Mount Katahdin in 1908).

Dead River

The other day a returning sportsman had an old caribou horn. It had nine prongs remaining and must have come from an immense beast. The horn had been gnawed all over by mice or squirrels. Here is proof of what becomes of the horns shed by moose, deer, and caribou. It came from King & Bartlett Ponds.

(And now some informative-at-the-time “Local Paragraph’s.” These were short installments compiled by the RANGELEY LAKES editor Harry P. Dill. I find these observations quaint and amusing in contrast to today’s “priorities and extensive coverage”).

Strawberries and pineapples are in the local market—at reasonable prices, too.

(Can you imagine the journey and effort required to land pineapples in Rangeley Maine in 1895)!

High above the water as is the pilot house on the Irene, the waves frequently send the spray far above the windows.

(The Irene was a passenger and freight steamboat on Rangeley Lake. I personally have seen 4 ft. waves kicked up by violent thunderstorms on these lakes, so this is not surprising).

Isn’t it about time to organize that baseball club? Come in and tell Rangeley Lakes when and where you are to meet, and a good notice will be given.

(Abner Doubleday’s American Pastime was 30 years’ old in 1895 and extremely popular. All the local Rangeley Hotels and surrounding towns had teams and crowds would travel to support them).

Much labor is being done on the roads; dirt is being extensively used to fill the low places in the village streets, and soon Rangeley will have fine roads. Then look out for a bicycle tournament.

(In 1895 those big front wheel bicycles were all the rage, and touring about in one’s carriage was a must).

Chas. Allen doesn’t approve of the size of Rangeley Lakes. He must carry the mail on his shoulder and our out-of-town edition makes a heavy load for him. He would prefer postage stamp size. It would be a fine move if the Post Office Department would give Rangeley a mail service on the P. & R. train (Phillips & Rangeley narrow-gauge train) that arrives in the forenoon and leaves in the afternoon. It would of necessity be a closed mail but the citizens would appreciate it very much.

Rangeley Lakes had a very pleasant call, Thursday last, from Mrs. Lucinda Tibbetts. It was of more than common interest from the fact that Mrs. Tibbets was the first child born in Rangeley, way back in I819. She was married in 1837 and moved to the farm they now live on, in Dallas Plantation. She is very smart and retains her sight and hearing to a remarkable degree.

 (Lucinda was the first Caucasian child born in Rangeley to the first settlers here, the Hoars. She married Timothy Tibbetts and they had a large family. Have a great week everyone and be sure to make some fascinating Rangeley history of your own)!