Gazetteer of the State of Maine With Numerous Illustrations, by Geo. J. Varney
BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY B. B. RUSSELL, 57 CORNHILL. 1882. Public domain image from
HARTFORD. 275
It lies between Bridgeton on fhe west and Otisfield on the east. Naples bounds it on the south, and on the north lie Waterford and Norway, both in Oxford County. Crooked River forms the eastern line for almost the entire length of the town. Long Pond, which separates it from Harrison, furnishes transportation by means of steamer to the station of the Portland and Ogdensburg Railway, at the southern ex- tremity of Lake Sebago. The length of the town from north to south is about ten miles—twice its width.
The business centres are at Harrison Village, on Lake Sebago, and Bolsters Mills* on Crooked River. The former is the northern landing for the steamers and draws the trade from a tvide extent of back country. Separated from Long Pond only by the territory of the village is Anonymous Pond, about a square mile in area, and furnish- ing power for the factory of the Eastern Wire Co., whose product is valued at about $50,000 per annum. Bolsters Mills, the other village, is situated on Crooked River, and nearly midway of the eastern side of the town. There is here a saw-mill and a grist-mill, carding-mill, tannery, etc.
Harrison was incorporated in 1805, deriving its name from Harri- son Gray Otis, of Boston, who was a large proprietor in the township.
Though quite a manufacturing and commercial town, Harrison has many fine farms, and her agricultural product compares well with that of the neighboring towns. The leading denominations have churches in the town or at its border. Harrison has nine schoolhouses, val- ued at $1,800. The estates were valued in 1870 at $304,635. In 1880 their value was set at $315,826. The population at the same date was 1,219. By the census of 1880 it was given at 1,168.
Hartford is situated in the eastern part of Oxford County, 15 miles north-east of Paris. It is bounded on the north by Canton and Peru, west by Sumner, south by Buckfield, and east by Livermore and Turner, in Androscoggin County. The town is about 9 miles long, north and south, and near 5 miles in average width. The west branch of Twenty Mile River forms the boundary line on the west. The surface is quite uneven, except in limited tracts. There are eight considerable hills in the town, among which Holmess Hill, the Pinnacle, Great Bear and Little Bear mountains are the chief. Whitney Pond lies on the north-east line of the town, and Bear Pond on the south-east,— each being about one square mile in area. Others within the town are Bungermuck, Swan, North-east, and Bates ponds. The Rumford Falls and Buckfield Railroad runs through the midst of the town, having a station near East Sumner and one at Hartford Centre. The water-powers are on Bungermuck Stream, at Hartford Centre, and the west branch of Twenty Mile River, near East Sumner. The manu- factures consist of rakes, trunk-cleats, salt-boxes, leather, etc. The 1 principal village is Hartford Centre, where there is a post-office and
railway station. Here are also the town-hall and Atheneum Hall, where profitable entertainments are frequently held. Apple orchards are numerous in the town, and the land is largely devoted to grazing. The buildings in general indicate thrift. ,
The first settlements were made in this town soon after the Revolution, and it was incorporated in 1798. It was previously the yj;: plantation of West Butterfield.
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