As we pass the Central House today, we see drawn up before it auto
trucks, touring cars, limousines, and we realize that our little town
is in the clutch of the modern life. All this makes for convenience and
speed, it is necessary, but with its coming we have lost the quaint
picturesque quality of the earlier days.
There are but few people alive who can recall when V. D. Pinkham of
Augusta owned the stage line from Augusta to Bangor, but those of
us who can, remember well the thrill of excitement that ran through
the village when the great stage coach, drawing near, blew its horn
to announce to the townspeople that the mail was about to arrive.
The Concord coach, resplendent with paint and varnish, drawn by four
horses, caused a stir as it rolled through the town loaded with
passengers for Bangor, often followed by a second four-horse coach
equally loaded. Among the “Knights of the Whip” in those good old days,
we distinctly remember Isaac Holmes, Wm. Nason, Davis Crocker and Mr.
Flannigan.
Landlord John L. Seavey did a flourishing business in those days, this
being the halfway place between Augusta and Bangor. Mr. Seavey had two
large stables in which was kept a relay of horses.
When the Pinkham line was discontinued, a one-horse stage was run from
China to Bangor, owned by the Brown boys. Later the route was shortened
to run from Unity to Dixmont Center, and now it runs from Unity to Troy
and is called a Star Route.
After the train ran from Augusta to Fairfield, the western mail for
Unity came by stage from Fairfield to Unity via East Benton, daily
leaving Unity at 6.15 A. M. and returning at 8.45 P. M. This was
continued until the railroad from Burnham to Belfast was built. The
mail for Thorndike and Brooks left Unity once a week, on Saturday. It
was carried by a Mr. Ham.
In 1902 the rural free delivery was instituted, by which all mail is
carried to the door of the man who lives outside of the village. Thus
civilization sweeps on, bringing comforts and privileges to the rural
sections. Gurney Stevens was appointed as carrier of the rural free
delivery and has kept at his post for fourteen years.