Memories of Big Rock

by Reba (Reed) Bean

    In 1906 mother took me on the stage to visit my Aunt May and Uncle William Remington at Big Rock. The stage was a horse drawn buggy carrying mail and passengers to and from Lewiston. The stage route went through forest and by homesteaded acres cleared for farming. At one place on the road a corduroy bridge spanned a small lake. The logs bobbed up and down as the buggy went over them. The lake was near the Big Rock church.

    It was exciting to see Aunt May and Uncle Will and their house, store and big red barn. Most of all was to climb on the huge rock and wonder about the deer, bear and footprints on top.  A mystery? 

    When Big Rocks population increased a Post Office was granted. Aunt May served as postmistress for many years. The Post Office was part of the store, there were mail boxes on the wall. Postage was 2 cents for letters and 1 cent for cards. There were yard goods on a shelf. A small safe behind a glassed in counter that displayed sewing supplies and penny candy, this was Aunt May's corner.

    A large wood burning stove for heat, four kerosene lamps hung from the ceiling for light. A long dark brown counter at the rear of the store held a big red coffee grinder, scales and a keg of molasses. Most dry food came in bulk, tea, coffee beans, sugar white and brown, crackers crackers in a barrel. Behind the counter was a butchers block and an ice box. Ice was cut at Remington Lake in the winter and stored in the icehouse. A barrel of vinegar and a barrel of salt pork in brine sat by the icebox. Other merchandise had their places in the store.

    Some men from near by camps came on Saturday night wit musical instruments for an evenings entertainment, sitting on benches around the store.

    Just east of the store a little creek bubbled along coming down from the timber covered hills. A friend of mothers, Till Cooper, lived in a log house by the creek. At a distance a sawmill was cutting logs into boards. After the trees were harvested the little creek and the lake near the church disappeared.

    A well was dug up on the hill behind the store in 1915. Water was pumped into a big tank, then going through a pipe to the house and the barn. When a trench four feet deep was being dug beside the big rock and extra two feet was dug but the bottom of the rock was not found. Through the years the hill had washed down around the rock.

   The Big Rock baseball team played in a field across from the Big Rock church. Beyond the field was a picnic grove. Community and church annual picnics were held there until the trees were harvested. Then the picnics were moved to a grove across from the Marlatt farm west of the store.

   One of the outstanding picnics was held in 1921 to honor pioneers Mr. and Mrs. Moses Beltz on their 50th wedding anniversary. People came from far and near for the celebration. This was the first 50th in Montmorency County. Music by the Hillman Band was enjoyed. Tables of good food added to the celebration.

    The above was written by Reba Bean in May 1998. She passed away about four years later at the age of 100 years.