The Making of A Soul

The story here is one of interest pertaining to all who have lived during and through a period of developments like no other time in history. To grow up as a boy in rural America, Ernie saw changes in the world that advanced from the beginning life of true freedom and hard knocks, through technical advances for an easier life. With the advances of social caring and political correctness, lives have been improved upon with wonderful results. However, often times with the improvements, we find it is with a loss of some individual freedoms and personal ingenuity.

With the invention of the automobile near the turn of the century, it was the year 1900 when Ernie's father, Merrill O. Fogg, was born. The world began to speed into the 20th century. The invention of the flying machine soon after in 1903, brought civilization to a front of unthinkable travel. It was unimaginable that 60 years later, men would walk on the moon.

The Town of Freeport, Maine, though very rural, would see it's parallel of this advancement. Originally a farming, fishing and shipbuilding town, it soon became a hub of new ideas. Mr. L. L. Bean founded his sporting goods store soon after the beginning of the century. Over all these years, members of the Fogg family have worked for the company during it's advancement. Many shoe factories

sprung up in the town during this period, giving the people in town and surrounding communities another means of livelihood.

Ernie worked for the L. L. Bean Co., himself for a time while attending high school. Retrieving goods and merchandise from the warehouse, he and other boys would supply the packers with the items to be shipped all over the world. The packers, as remembered, were positioned around an opening, containing a conveyer that carried the prepared packages to the floor below, the Freeport's U S Post Office. The company was a big influence in Ernie's life, beginning with respect for the way in which it helped the townspeople during the hard times of depression and beyond. One of Ernie's most memorable gifts was the pair of leather top hunting boots and warm white stockings, given by L. L. Bean. At age 3 or 4 years, when the family, at best, could find hand-me-downs to clothe the children, it was a wonderfully generous act for a company to contribute.

Later, while attending Bentley School of Accounting and Finance, Ernie's instructor surprised him by relating to the L. L. Bean Co. for it's successful business and ethical accounting practices. Then again, after beginning his career with National Cash Register Co., Ernie had the opportunity to repair the L L Bean's one checkout cash register. It sat on the counter for the customer to check out before leaving and proceeding down the squeaky stairway of their original sales room. Ernie's pride still whelms as does that of his wife, Carol (Coffin) Fogg, when seeing the L L Bean logo as it is observed being worn throughout the world.

Carol is the daughter of Ned (James Edward) Coffin, who worked as did Mr. Bean, in earlier times, in helping to build a better life for the people of Freeport. Ned wrote the articles appearing in the weekly paper, called "The River Bottom Philosopher" under the title of "The Eel Skinner", and later he served Maine and the community as State Senator.

The early beginnings were the motivating force which led to a greater appreciation of communities and the people of this country. Hopefully, this story relates to all who grew up in this same period; the people who have experienced the changes of times and to the men and women with whom it was Ernie's privilege to work and to serve. Most heartily too, I hope it is a story of interest to generations following and that it will relate to the values and morals of the people and forebares who dedicated their l