What follows appeared in the September 24, 1914, edition of the MAINE WOODS newspaper. The first article was penned by Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby and shares the news from Kennebago. Fly Rod’s Notebook was a very popular column in this paper. Cornelia was a tireless promoter of the region and personally knew everyone who operated a business. She probably enjoyed more complimentary steamer & train tickets, meals and lodging than anyone in Rangeley’s history! FRC captured all “the skinny” on the comings and goings of the region’s visiting elite!

(Contemporary commentary shared in Italics, otherwise reprinted just as it was in 1914).

Fly Rod’s Note Book  

(Redacted for space reasons)

Kennebago Lake House, Kennebago Lake, Sept. 21

With each camp occupied and this warm weather it does not seem possible that the summer has ended. This has been the best season ever, for more people have been entertained than ever before and more who wanted to come could not be accommodated. Life in the wilderness of Maine with all the comforts, is fast becoming the life the wealthy society people of our cities enjoy. It seems a little strange not to hear the toot- toot of the auto horn, but the whistle of the steamers tells how many have come by train, ten miles away. Just now everybody is tramping the woods after partridges which have been plenty. Dr. and Mrs. S. W. Lambert, Miss Helen, Miss Martha and son Samuel W. Jr., of New York, who were in Europe when the war broke out were happy to reach their “ log cabin home’’ and have a month here this season. Miss Elsie Talbott of Dayton, Ohio, has joined Miss Helen Lambert and with Guy Brooks for guide, and “Sport” the dog, they have tramped miles over the trails and shot over twenty birds already. Today the young ladies with the guide returned from a trip of 96 miles, 37 of which they hiked, going from here to Pleasant Island, then up the Cupsuptic, across by Lincoln Pond to Parmacheenee, back to Mason’s on the Magalloway and home (to Kennebago) across country.

(Truly an impressive hike by any standard, but keep in mind that these ladies were in long skirts, no Spandex or Gortex, hiking shoes or modern packs)!

Photo courtesy of Arthur Guerin

Mr. and Mrs. H. Fougner and son. Lawrence of Larchmont, N.Y. who are for the first season enjoying life at Kennebago, are having a grand time. Mr. Fougner has a 4-pound trout to his credit.

Whitmore Preston, the Boston gentleman, who came May 17 and remains until October, has a fine little cabin on the ridge below the hotel. This gentleman never casts the fly but his pleasure is in cutting trails to the different places of interest and spends most of has time out in the open.

(Mr. Preston was fortunate to enjoy Kennebago for 5 months “out in the open”. I researched him and he was an heir to a fortune accumulated by his father, Charles, who founded the Dorchester Whaling Co. in 1834).

As the private camps close down the steamboat makes runs up and down the lake.

At “Camp 4” on the lake shore, near the foot of the lake, Mr. Charles Southard is adding to his fame as the author of “Trout Fly Fishing in America,” by catching many speckled beauties, but not often does he kill one for the fry pan. Just now Mr. Southard is after the partridges and 22 have fallen to his sure aim and in October he will no doubt shoot one of the deer that are waiting to be taken to New York.

(Charles Zibeon Southard’s fished all over America for 25 years and then wrote “Trout Fly-Fishing in America”.  It is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated work and was considered THE definitive text on the sport at the time. I think it is really cool that the guy “who wrote the book” chose to fish Kennebago when he could fish for trout anywhere. I was fortunate to acquire a copy of this text for the Outdoor Heritage Museum’s collections when I was the director. Check it out next time you drop by. If interested, there is a hard cover, first edition of this definitive work available at Abe Books for just $1400! However, you can read and enjoy a digital copy for Free at Internet Archive).

At “Camp Skedaddler” the flag has been flying all summer. Harry Converse and children, of Boston, and friends have had a most delightful summer. Mr. and Mrs. David Quimby are still in charge of the place. This week the children go home. Mr. Converse comes back next week to remain for the October deer hunting and will entertain a party of guests.

(“Skedaddler” was a term used to describe a Civil War draft dodger. Skedaddaler Cove on Kennebago got its name after the several young men who made their home there in 1863 to avoid being drafted. Harry Converse earned a sizeable fortune as the founder of the famous Converse Rubber Co. Many years later, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would make Converse Allstar basketball sneakers national best sellers).

The Sorest Man

Doubtless the sorest man in t h e United States today is the fellow who dropped his purse, containing $90, while he was robbing a chicken coop, and who is afraid to claim his property. Verily, honesty is the best policy.

(How wonderful! Adjusted for inflation, that chicken thief dropped $2,831 dollars in that coop. Pretty darned expensive bird).

FOR SALE —A gasolene auto boat. 40 feet long, Morris Heights, four-cylinder, 18 horse power engine. Outfit complete. Very fast. Cost, built to order in 1896, $4,500.  Run only during the month of August. Will be sold for less than half price, if sold this month, for cash. Can be seen by applying to Mrs. E. C. Gilman, Rangeley, Me.

(So, in today’s dollars that is approximately $141,000 for a custom built 40-foot lake yacht that has just 18 months of occasional use on her. By comparison, on Boats.com I viewed a 2007 44’ cruiser for sale in Chicago that is bound to have far more than 18 months of wear on her, for just $425,000. Therefore, I’d say that Laker in 1914 was a great deal)!

FOR SALE—Four-cylinder Franklin. Absolutely the best car for the money in the state. Four passenger, top, side curtains, fully equipped with lights, tires in first-class condition. Excellent car for all around business. Price for quick sale $125. Inquire of “Maine Woods.”

(I bought a VW Bug that ran pretty good for $100 bucks in 1976! Have a great week and be sure to make some great Rangeley History of your own)!