I AM a Native of this area. First, let me say this does not allow me any great privileges at all. I am no better than some others who just moved into town. On the other side of that coin, I am of no less value either. You see my grandfather was born in Langtown.  My mothers place of birth was also listed as Langtown. They were born in a special place some folks referred to as Boobytown. There is a story that this was so named because of the Bubiers that lived there. This is just sort of a cover up. You see there were other families living there also. Lets set the stage and date. This was late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Rangeley was beginning to become a destination for a certain type of folks. There were sections that were referred to as “Millionaire’s Row”.  It was normal for people to have servants. As we all know many of them were thought of as second class people. That was the way things were in those days. Native Americans that used to be called Indians were considered less that that. My Grandmothers were Native Americans.  Folks working in the woods were also considered second class folks. They did after all live in tar paper shacks and worked with horses the most of their lives. We should stop a moment to think just how they had to live. The majority of the time they were in a hastily built log cabin. A one room building with no fancy amenities. No such thing as a flushing toilet or running water in the sink. They did not even have a sink. They probably smelled like the woods or the animals they worked with. When they came into town to buy supplies, there was no need to dress fancy. They just did not have fancy to wear. Somewhere along the line, someone called them a booby. If you were to look up the definition, it means a stupid, foolish person. This was by no means a term of endearment to label someone. They were folks just trying to survive and make a life for their children. They did what they had to just to make it through that first winter. Times were tough and going to get worse. World wars and depressions were coming their way. Some of the elite folks just did not consider what these folks were going through. They were not considered an asset to the area. Even today, some folks consider this place and these  people as a blight upon the history of Rangeley. There was a lot of shame placed upon these hard working folks. Many of them changed their names as soon as they moved out of the area.Now, I am a fruit from that tree. Some consider me a rotten fruit and others just kinda smile. I will admit I have been around the barn a couple of times. I have been over the barn, under the barn and through the barn. Yes, I even got some education out behind the barn. (Those were the fun times). But during this process, I developed a thick skin. It was quite necessary to survive the arrows being thrown at us. We were “those folks that lived at the end of the road.”  LOL  I still live at the end of the road. Many times I have a sharp tongue. It was part of our armor we had to develop. In our life, black was black and white was white. There was very little gray areas to consider. You were good, or bad. You were rich or poor. There was very little in-between in our world. You were indeed judged by others who considered you a lower class. But as a native, I saw the true worth of a lot of folks. One learned quickly or got burned badly for not seeing the true character of the one standing next to you. This is where a lot of natives of Rangeley fall short. There are indeed some folks that do still have a tender heart. Their desire to help and improve things are quite often turned away by a sharp tongue or a resisting attitude. I think about Rangeley in the 50’s and look at it now. The changes are many and our grandchildren will be healthier because of that change. It is sad to see some of the old times slip on by. Progress has a way of doing that. Is it wrong that Main Street Market no longer exists?  No more getting feed or meat from the Oakes store. The list goes on and on but it is a change that became necessary. Those of us that worked with horses and buck saws swapped to using a chain saw and tractor. Harvesting wood with saws and skidders for a living slowly fell by the way. Rangeley needs those tender hearts. Those stick in the mud folks need to begin to step aside and encourage these fresh ideas. You either move forward or stand still and stagnate.

On that thought, guess I had better get on the move. Standing still and stagnating does not fit my character.   Peace on Folks

Ken White mountainman COB