Article about Capt. Ben Willard, who was born at Simonton's Cove in what is now

Source

Down East

Date

7-1-1994

Pages

47, 72-74

Abstract

Article about Capt. Ben Willard, who was born at Simonton's Cove in what is now South Portland on Oct. 30, 1828. Capt. Willard earned his living variously as a fisherman, stevedore, master mariner, pilot and harbor master. Willard was also known as a practical jokester. This article profiles his life and particularly remembers him for the 1873 Fourth of July prank he pulled in Portland. He was behind a newspaper announcement that certain unspecified public-spirited benefactors would sponsor a Fourth of July concert in Lincoln Park to be performed by a Boston band composed of the best Italian and German talent. What the concert goers were actually treated to was a cacophony of twenty organ grinders spread throughout the park, each playing a different tune.

Subjects

Holidays Fourth of July, Willard, Ben

Full text is not available here. Please contact the Library for a copy of the article.

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