What follows appeared in the August 1, 1957, edition of the RANGELEY HIGHLANDER. We begin with a appears to be a well-researched article by Zelpha Nile on the original homestead of Squire James Rangeley. Zelpha, a name not used much anymore, grew up in a portion of the original structure. The article included the original properties chain of ownership up to what was the present day in 1957. It includes a few names that many of you may recognize.

(Contemporary commentary shared in Italics, otherwise reprinted just as it was in 1957).

A Story of The Squire Rangeley Place

By Mrs. Zelpha Nile

The Squire Rangeley house was a large house of twelve rooms. It was cut in two and Abner Toothaker had half and Jesse Ross the other half. After a few years, Jesse Ross sold it to Elmon Ellis who married Mr. Ross*’ daughter. He lived there for a few years and then sold it to George Ross and Clara Ross. They lived on it for some forty years, then sold it to Harry Proctor from Massachusetts. After Mr. Proctor died his mother sold it to Mrs. Wheatland and later, she sold it to a Dr. Taylor. It was resold to another party and finally Mr. (Sheldon) Noyes got It.

The floor in the ell was a hewed pine floor. It was three inches thick and fastened down with wooden pins. Mr. Abner J Toothaker was a great grandfather to the Pillsburys — Vern, Earl, John, Lena, Lurlene, Don, Dan, Ralph, Ella, Mattie, and Phil who died while he was studying in Orono. I was born in the old Rangeley Place and lived there until I was eighteen. That was the time that father sold it, moving to Kimball place, which was the next oldest house in Rangeley, the Rangeley Place being the oldest. Dexter Quimby and another man dug the well which is forty-two feet deep, and you can go there today and dip up a drink of water, as the well has never been filled up. I have a cupboard which came out of the part of the Rangeley Place that Abner had. It is over a hundred years old, and anyone who wishes to see it can come to our house on the corner of Oquossoc Ave. and Pleasant St. The place where the house sits now is not where it was when I lived there. It had a large rock basement and a large barn. The location where it sits now is not so pretty as when it sat in the old place.

(The first dwellings are long gone, and the Squire Rangeley property is now the home of Mr. & Mrs. Lee Libby. I find it quite an affirmation of how special the region’s history is that the Highlander and other regional publications often printed the history and reminiscences of the past as we still do in this column today).

(The following editorial also appeared in this issue. It seems that some very bored local kids had broken into a few summer camps and partied during the previous winter. A crime wave of “juvenile delinquency” by Rangeley standards, I guess. Oh, how the adults of that time would be completely floored by the seriousness and frequency of the crimes that juvenile delinquents commit today! NOT in Rangeley of course, but just south of here!)

1950’s paperback cover highlighting the plague of juvenile delinquency.

Symptoms, Causes and Cures

All through our country there is a problem known as juvenile delinquency. There are those who place all the blame on the youth of our nation, but there are others who say that the trouble lies not with the children but with their parents and have coined the phrase “adult delinquency” or “parent delinquency.” The Rangeley Region, like other sections of the country, has had its share of the “delinquency” problem. Various remedies have been suggested, according to the speakers view as to whether we are discussing a “cause” or a “symptom,” when we mention “juvenile delinquency.” The police officer might suggest a different remedy from that of the minister the rabbi or priest though in recent years the experienced police officer has often taken the religious view. The growth of Police sponsored Boys Clubs across the nation has effectively dealt with juvenile problem that would pale the Rangeley one to insignificance. More and more it is becoming understood that when you deal with children in the same way you do adults you make adult criminals out of them. Help, sympathy and understanding, on the other hand, usually results in a co-operative and creative attitude on the part of the young people. The Rangeley Region in wintertime is extraordinarily lacking in wholesome, guided leisure activity (Saddleback and Bald Mt. ski areas had yet to be established, and given this last statement, it looks like the rope tows at Hunter Cove or Ellis Farm had not yet been installed either. The editorial continues…). This is the time when much of the trouble occurs. It is a real question as to whether an additional constable would be able .to prevent a recurrence of last winter’s trouble. It depends a lot on the constable. It might be a mistake to hire a policeman when what is needed is a youth counselor. If a constable could be found for the job who was more friend than detective he would be almost as good a supervised recreation center for young people. This is not to say that the hiring of an additional constable is the least feasible. We are saying it may not solve the problem.

(Time marches on, but whether the history be recent, or from decades or ages before… there are always lessons to be learned and as they say, “some things never change.” Until next time, be sure to get out and make some great Rangeley History of your own and please… keep it legal)!