USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > A chronology of municipal history and election statistics, Waterville, Maine, 1771-1908 > Part 11
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This was the first public move towards the erection and com- pletion of the city's present splendid million dollar water plant. The plan was originated and carried to a successful completion principally through the efforts of one of the city's most respected citizens, Harvey D. Eaton. Mr. Eaton worked early and late in his efforts to secure for the city the permission to carry the pure water of China Lake into its homes. He promulgated the char- ter, originated the idea of a water district, secured the necessary legislation to warrant its success, and finding that owing to the new class of corporation he had organized that it was necessary to have laws provided so that savings institutions might legally invest their funds in water district bonds, he went ahead and was instrumental in not only obtaining the needed legislation in Maine but in Massachusetts as well. He bought the pipe, was in con- tinuous consultation with engineers, secured contracts, inspected the work, guarded the district's interests everywhere, and finally sold the district bonds at a successful figure. Mr. Eaton was not all alone, however, in contributing to the success of the plant. Un- der the terms of the charter the City of Waterville was to appoint two members of a board of trustees, the town of Fairfield two, and the County Commissioners one. Waterville appointed Frederick C. Thayer and Walter S. Wyman, Fairfield appointed Stephen A. Nye and Virgil R. Connor, the County Commissioners appointed Ira E. Getchell of Winslow. The first meeting of the board was held April 13, 1899. Frederick C. Thayer was elected president, George K. Boutelle, clerk, and Harvey D. Eaton, counsel. Mr. Connor was elected as a member of the board for one year, Mr. Wyman for two years, Mr. Getchell for three years, Mr. Nye for four years and Dr. Thayer for five years. All these gentlemen were untiring in their labors to secure the successful introduction of pure water for the district's needs and purposes.
167
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
The district is composed of Waterville, the village of Fairfield, and the towns of Winslow and Benton. The board of trustees for 1907 are Frederick C. Thayer, Stephen A. Nye, Virgil R. Connor, George L. Learned and Charles E. Warren.
The cost of acquisition of the old plant from the Maine Water Co. was $556,814.52. The total cost of the plant, prop- erty, and franchise April 30, 1906, $931,779.53.
FINANCIAL TABLE
Cost of acquisition,
$556,814 52
Betterments.
Building, and Fixtures,
$ 523 75
Dams, Hydrants, etc.,
1,173 60
Steam Plant,
39 35
Station, Machinery, etc.,
2,092 03
Street Mains,
102,464 36
City Hydrants,
1,036 01
Meters,
163 13
New Sewers,
571 03
New Supply,
267,408 43
Total betterments,
375,471 69
Total,
$932,286 21
Deductions,
506 68
$931,779 53
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CHRONOLOGY
1900
Population, 9477.
Polls, 2414. Estates, $5,657,198. Population Kennebec County, 59,117
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Mckinley and Roosevelt, Rep., 870 Bryan and Stevenson, Dem., 558 Scattering, 37
Andrew L. McFadden elected sheriff of Kennebec County for the third term.
1901
Frederick E. Boothhby elected mayor of Portland.
William T. Haines a member of the Governor's Council. Mr. Haines occupied this position until the election of his successor in 1905.
.On August 4 the corner stone of the new city hall was laid. The services were conducted by the Masonic bodies.
On Sept. 19 memorial services were held at Monument Park, commemorating the death of President Mckinley. Business was suspended and a large concourse of people attended the ceremonies. Hon. Charles F. Johnson presided. Prayer was offered by Rev. A. G. Pettengill. Addresses were made by President Charles L. White of Colby College, Rev. Edward L. Marsh, and Rev. Father Charland. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Dr. Pepper.
CITY BUILDING
The time having arrived when the financial condition of the city would permit the building of a city hall, a public meeting was called and the members of the city government were authorized
169
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
and instructed to proceed with the building. A public building committee, composed of members of the city government, was ap- pointed as follows: Gedeon Picher, E. C. Wardwell, H. R. Mitch- ell, and E. E. Decker. Plans were immediately made whereby the work was commenced. The contract was awarded to Horace Pur- inton & Co .; George D. Adams was the architect. The building was completed in 1902 and dedicated at the centennial celebra- tion. The building committee for 1902 was Mayor Blaisdell, Al- dermen E. C. Wardwell and George L., Learned, Councilmen James Greaney, William King and Leslie P. Loud.
The building is of brick with sandstone and granite trim- mings, is nicely located facing a beautiful little park, its style of architecture is very pleasing and the whole is a source of justifi- able pride. It contains offices for all the officers of the various city departments, and an opera house with a seating capacity of eleven hundred and ninety-four. The opera house is nicely ap- pointed and splendidly arranged which adds considerable to the pleasure of its patrons. Mr. Cornelius B. Kelleher is the present manager of the opera house and is furnishing a fine line of enter- tainments, which are well attended and highly appreciated.
1902
Frederick E. Boothby re-elected mayor of Portland.
The Legislature in making a new apportionment and redistrict- ing the representative classes of the State increased Waterville's representation in the House of Representatives to two.
THE CARNEGIE GIFT
Andrew Carnegie, the millionaire philanthropist, presented the city with a gift of twenty thousand dollars to be used for the erection of a building for the use of a free public library. He imposed conditions, that he has made in all similar bequests, that
170
CHRONOLOGY
the city should provide a suitable site and appropriate a sum each year for the uses of the library, equal to one-tenth of the amount presented. The city council accepted the gift with the provision that they should appropriate two thousand dollars each year. A site was secured, a parcel of land taken by right of public domain from the Noyes estate on Elm street for which the commission allowed the estate the sum of thirty-three hundred dollars. Plans were made to build as soon as arrangements could be made and the contract was let to Horace Purinton & Co., a Waterville con- tracting firm.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
June 22, 23, 24, 1902, Waterville celebrated its one hun- dredth birthday with an elaborately planned and successful three days' celebration. Fine weather contributed towards the pleasure of the occasion and the largest gathering of people that ever con- gregated in the city was present. The railroads sold twenty thou- sand tickets to Waterville during the three days, and it has been estimated that at least five thousand people arrived in the city by other means of transportation, making a total of twenty-five thou- sand people to be entertained and provided for in addition to the home population. This great task was nicely accomplished and the throng of visitors returned to their homes enthusiastic in their praises of the hospitality of the city and its people, and happy in the thoughts of the pleasures they had participated in and the beau- tiful and inspiring scenes they had witnessed.
The people of the city took up the matter of the celebration several years before the event and it was an object of discussion and pleasant anticipation for some time, but it remained for the board of trade to start the movement.
At a meeting of the board held in September, 1901, arrange- ments were made for calling a public meeting Oct. 9 for the pur- pose of ascertaining the sentiment of the citizens in regard to how
171
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
and when the city's anniversary should be celebrated. Simon S. Brown called the meeting to order. Frederick C. Thayer was elected chairman and Fred W. Clair, secretary. The result of the meeting was the appointment of a committee of one hundred to arrange for the celebration. Oct. 18 the Committee of One Hun- dred met at the Ware Parlors and organized as follows: Chair- man, Frederick C. Thayer ; Secretary, Fred W. Clair; Treasurer, F. A. Knauff; Executive Committee, Frederick C. Thayer, Fred W. Clair, F. A. Knauff, Mayor Martin Blaisdell, William T. Haines, Warren C. Philbrook, Simon S. Brown, Frank Redington, Edgar L. Jones, George F. Davies, Edwin C. Whittemore, Bert P. Wells, Henry E. Judkins, E. L. Marsh, Carroll W. Abbott, J. Frederick Hill, Willard M. Dunn, E. R. Drummond, E. C. Wardwell, Elwood T. Wyman, R. W. Dunn. Sub committees were appointed to ar- range for the minor details. Numerous meetings were held by the various committees and the programme and all the incidentals necessary to have it successfully carried out were carefully planned.
In the meantime the committee appointed for that purpose re- ported that the dates decided upon for the celebration were Sun- day, Monday and Tuesday, June 22, 23, and 24. The finance com- mittee was instructed to raise five thousand dollars and the city appropriated twenty-five hundred dollars.
The celebration commenced on Sunday with religious services in all the churches. Monday the 23rd, Waterville's birthday, the programme opened with a salute of a hundred guns, and the pro- gramme for the day included among many other things the dedica- tion of the new city building, and a splendid oration by Warren C. Philbrook. A brilliant reception was held in the new opera house in the evening which was attended by Governor and Mrs. John F. Hill. Hundreds of former citizens of the city passed be- fore the receiving line in which Mayor Blaisdell held the post of honor. Gov. Hill was on his right and many of the most prominent citizens and their ladies assisted the Mayor in the most pleasing.
172
Fred W. Clair
CHRONOLOGY
duties of extending a glad welcome to the many sons and daughters of Waterville who lived abroad, and exchanging congratulations with the folks at home.
The real gala day of the celebration was Tuesday the 24th. The city was profusely decorated, it seemed as if everyone tried to outdo his neighbor in the number of flags or yards of bunting that he could display upon his residence or on his place of business. The crowning feature of the day, in fact of the whole three, was the great parade that started at 10 A. M. Dr. Frederick C. Thayer was Chief Marshal and to him should be given the credit of orga- nizing and starting on the exact minute advertised one of the most elaborate, costly and beautiful local parades that could be organized anywhere. Dr. Thayer carefully arranged the entire affair and his plans were so nicely adjusted that it was not possible for it to be otherwise than the huge success that it was.
The Chief Marshal was assisted by Dana P. Foster, Adjutant and Chief of Staff, and the following aids: Dr. A. Joly, Lowell G. Salisbury, Ernest E. Decker, Cyrus W. Davis, Horatio D. Bates, J. Frederick Hill, Luther G. Bunker, George S. Dolloff, Howard B. Snell, George H. Grondin, Elwood T. Wyman, Hascall S. Hall, and E. E. Goodwin.
The parade was in five divisions and was thirty-eight minutes in passing a given point, there were four bands, thirty-five men on horseback, five hundred and ninety-four men on foot, twenty-two carriages, and ninety-five floats in line.
It would be digressing too much to record all the features of the parade, but although not exactly municipal history and cer- tainly not political history, it seems fitting to mention a special feature that appeared in the third division of the parade. The famous stallion, Nelson, 2.09, champion trotting stallion of the world to a high wheeled sulky, born and bred in Waterville, was driven by his equally famous owner, C. Horace Nelson. The good
173
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
old horse whose trotting victories have carried the names of his owner and the city of his birth to all parts of the country, was certainly entitled to a prominent position in the line, and right well did he deserve the applause he received on every hand.
The historical part of the programme was in charge of a lit- erary committee of which Rev. Edwin C. Whittemore was chair- man. Their part of the celebration was carefully arranged and successful in every detail. In addition to the numerous exercises that were superintended by the committee, they prepared a "cen- tennial history," which has proved to be one of the finest local his- tories published. It covers a large field and although quite hastily prepared is a marvel of correctness and a lasting credit to all who assisted in its production. Rev. Edwin C. Whittemore was the editor-in-chief. The associate editors were Arthur J. Rob- erts, Franklin W. Johnson, Mrs. Martha Baker Dunn, Mrs. Estelle Foster Eaton, and Horatio D. Bates. The earlier history was pre- pared by the editor-in-chief and he was assisted in securing his data by all the associate editors; he also makes special mention of the labors performed by Rev. A. L. Lane, and others.
The chapters are beautifully written, the dates are correct, and all show that great care had been exercised in obtaining the infor- mation required. Numerous chapters, written by the associate editors and others, giving the history of churches, organizations, and members of the bar, and a varied assortment of historical sub- jects, including an admirable military history by General I. S. Bangs, are all very pleasantly produced and a credit to the con- tributors.
1903
The Waterville & Oakland Street Railway Co., commenced running their cars between Waterville and Oakland on July 3.
174
CHRONOLOGY
SOUTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL BUILDING
At a meeting of the city government Mayor Cyrus W. Davis, Aldermen Charles H. Barton, and Walter E. Reid, and Councilmen Geo. A. Priest, Augustus Marshall and Matthew S. Goodrich, on the part of the city government and Adelbert L. Rose, Carroll W. Abbott and Parker W. Hannaford on the part of the school board, were chosen a building committee to superintend the erection and provide the site for a new school building to be erected in the southern part of the city to be known as the South Grammar School Building. The committee held its first meeting on June 10 and organized with Mayor Davis as chairman and Elwood T. Wyman, superintendent of schools, secretary. W. M. Butterfield was chosen as the architect and arrangements were made for the immediate commencement of the construction. The contract was awarded to the Proctor & Bowie Co. and work commenced. The building was completed late in the fall of 1904, and was occupied for the first time Monday, January 16, 1905. The building was of brick, two stories high, containing ten rooms and equipped with modern heating, ventilating, and school apparatus. Following is a table showing the cost in detail :
Building contract,
$17,997 00
Land purchased,
2,800 00
Extras on building,
1,238 58
Plumbing contract,
1,407 78
Heating and ventilating,
5,279 00
Painting,
394 52
Asphalt walks,
1,394 54
Basement work, etc.,
337 95
Wiring, fixtures, etc.,
940 72
Furnishings, desks, etc.,
2,700 40
Insurance,
67 50
$36,110 83
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
Sale of Summer and Redington
St. lots, 3,270 75
$32,840 08
1904
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Roosevelt and Fairbanks, Rep., 915 Parker and Davis, Dem., 543
Scattering, 33
Edgar L. Jones, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee.
Charles F. Johnson, delegate to the Democratic National Con- vention at St. Louis.
Central Maine Fair Association officially opened its first annual exhibition on Sept. 20 at 10 o'clock A. M. The president of the association was Edward P. Mayo, secretary, Elmer E. Smith, treas- urer, C. Guy Hume.
The first issue of the Waterville Morning Sentinel published on March 3.
Fred W. Clair, candidate of the Democratic party for county attorney of Kennebec County.
The corner stone of the Carnegie Library building was laid with appropriate ceremonies on June 8, 1904.
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION
At a Democratic State convention held at City Hall on July 14, 1904, Cyrus W. Davis was nominated a candidate of the party for Governor of Maine. Up to the eve of the convention it had been generally understood that the nomination would be given to Hon. Samuel W. Gould of Skowhegan, the nominee of the party
176
Cyrus W. Davis
CHRONOLOGY
in 1902 and Mr. Davis had heartily supported the candidacy of Mr. Gould, but the delegates to the convention insisted on nom- inating the Waterville gentleman. Mr. Gould did not withdraw from the contest, but the demands of the delegates were so per- sistent that Mr. Davis could not do otherwise than accept the nomination which was tendered with a burst of enthusiasm un- known in Democratic conventions for years. The nomination was made unanimous upon motion of Mr. Gould in an excellent and gracious speech. Mr. Davis was the presiding officer of the conven- tion and performed the duties up to the moment of the nominating speeches, when it became so apparent that he would be nominated by a large majority on the first ballot, that he yielded the gavel to Hon. Simon S. Brown of Waterville, who performed the duties in his usual able manner until the convention adjourned.
Mr. Davis made an excellent campaign. He made numerous speeches discussing State issues almost entirely, and was favorably received wherever he appeared.
Vote of the State:
Whole number of votes,
131,512
William T. Cobb, Rockland, Rep., 76,962
Cyrus W. Davis, Waterville, Dem.,
50,146
Nathan F. Woodbury, Auburn, Pro.,
2,788
Wilbur G. Hapgood, Socialist,
1,590
Scattering,
26
Republican plurality,
26,816
Republican majority,
22,412
Vote of Kennebec County :
William T. Cobb,
6,857
Cyrus W. Davis,
4,902
Vote of the City:
Cyrus W. Davis,
1,089
William T. Cobb,
1,046
Scattering,
12
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
1905
Dr. A. Joly appointed a member of the State Board of Veteri- nary Examiners by Governor Cobb.
Carnegie Library building dedicated on May 12. The build- ing is a notable addition to the city's public institutions. It is built of brick with granite trimmings of unique design, and splen- didly located. The library itself is in a flourishing condition, its reading rooms are nicely lighted and conveniently arranged, and large numbers of people take advantage of the privilege offered. Their wants are carefully attended to by the efficient and genial librarians, and the public is appreciating the efforts of the associa- tion in their endeavor to make the rooms not only a source of pleasure to its patrons, but an institution of learning for the masses, and they welcome everyone to the full use of all the re- sources at their command. Miss Mary Ellen Caswell is librarian, and Miss Jennie M. Smith, assistant librarian. They are ably assisted in their duties by Philip J. Brown, who has full charge of the building.
LOCKWOOD COMPANY TAXES
At a public meeting held at the armory, April 19, 1905, the citizens, by a vote of 162 in favor to 140 opposed, voted favorably upon the following question: "Will the voters of Waterville in- struct the assessors to put a valuation upon the property of the Lockwood Company so that the total tax upon the same shall be commensurate with the changed conditions of cotton manufactur. ing in the North as compared with manufacturing in the South." The following resolution was adopted :
"Voted, That it is the sense of this meeting of the duly quali- fied voters of the city of Waterville, legally called and held in ac- cordance with the charter of said city, that for each year for ten years next hereafter commencing with the year 1905 a tax not
178
1
CHRONOLOGY
exceeding fifteen thousand dollars for Municipal, County and State taxes, be raised upon all real estate and personal property in the city of Waterville, belonging to the Lockwood Company, and that the assessors of said city be, and are hereby directed to comply with this vote, each year during said period, either by a decrease in the valuation for 1904 of the property of said company, or by an abatement of so much of any tax in excess of said sum of fifteen thousand dollars as may be assessed upon said property."
May 3. Special meeting, "To see if the city will rescind the vote passed on the 19th of April, 1905, relating to the taxation of the Lockwood Company."
In favor of rescinding,
374
Opposed to rescinding,
387
May 17. Special meeting. Vote by wards. "To see if the city will rescind the vote passed on the 19th of April, 1905, relating to the taxation of the Lockwood Company."
WARD
YES
NO
1
158
0
2
120
1
3
93
0
4
82
5
136
6
90
2
7
75
0
754
3
In the last meeting those who favored the resolutions of April 19, did not take part in the proceedings.
1906
Warren C. Philbrook appointed Assistant Attorney General of Maine.
179
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
Edgar L. Jones, chairman of the Democratic State Com- mittee.
Perham S. Heald appointed postmaster by President Roose- velt. He assumed his duties on July 4.
The new South Grammar School building was burned on the night of March 9. The cause of the fire was undetermined, but was supposed to have been caused by electric wires which had been made defective, owing to the severe storm that was raging.
SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE
On the evening of April 20, a mass meeting of the citizens was called by Mayor Edgar L. Jones, for the purpose of ascertaining what steps should be taken toward the relief of the sufferers occa- sioned by an earthquake at San Francisco, April 18. The meet- ing was largely attended. President Charles Lincoln White of Colby College presided. Remarks were made by many citizens and it was voted that a committee be appointed to solicit subscriptions for the purpose. Mayor Edgar L. Jones, Mr. Everett R. Drum- mond, cashier of the Waterville Savings Bank and Dr. J. Frederick Hill were appointed as the committee. They commenced their solicitations, which were hardly necessary, however, with the result that a large sum was collected and forwarded to the proper authori- ties.
REBUILDING OF SOUTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
On March 12, in accordance with a recommendation in the Mayor's inaugural address, the city council passed an order, "That a committee of five be raised to take charge of the building of the proposed new schoolhouse to take the place of the one recently burned, said committee to consist of the following: The Mayor, Alderman Brown, two persons selected by the Board of Education and George Fred Terry." The board of education chose as its
180
CHRONOLOGY
representatives, Parker W. Hannaford and Harry Belliveau. This committee held its first meeting and organized by the choice of Mayor Jones as chairman, and Dennis E. Bowman, secretary. Mr. W. M. Butterfield, an architect of Manchester, N. H., who had drawn the plans of the building burned, was requested to prepare plans similar to the plans of the former building in essential fea- tures. Changes were made on the plans that added four feet to the height of the building which improves the architectural effect and the whole interior was greatly beautified by the character of the finish. The general oversight of the work was placed in the hands of Mr. Butterfield and Augustus Marshall was employed as inspector. The following tabulation shows the cost of the building :
H. T. Winters, building contract,
$22,060 00
Willey & Calhoun, heating and ventilating,
3,220 00
A. L. Franks, electrical contract,
1,442 00
Gedeon Picher, plumbing contract,
1,069 00
Extras,
149 91
Architect and Inspector,
1,974 00
Furnishings, desks, chairs, etc.,
2,448 76
Fuel,
142 65
Insurance,
300 00
Cleaning,
58 50
Miscellaneous, including labor for removing debris,
1,629 62
Total,
$34,494 44
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION
At a Democratic convention held at Bangor June 20, Cyrus W. Davis was nominated as its candidate for Governor. Fred- erick W. Plaisted of Augusta was the presiding officer of the con- vention which was very largely attended and very enthusiastic. Mr. Davis was the only candidate for the nomination and no other name was presented. Every delegate present was enthusiastic in
181
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
his support and his nomination was not only made unanimous by the delegates to the convention, but was seconded by the entire Democratic party in Maine. Mr. Davis made a brilliant cam- paign, discussing State issues entirely and presenting a mass of detail which required much care. His eloquence and his ability as a campaign speaker surprised even his most intimate friends, while his pleasing personality together with his effective presenta- tion of the issues of the campaign made him votes and friends. Mr. Davis is very popular in his home city. Republican and Democrat alike respect his political opinions, confide in his busi- ness ability, vie with each other in expressing their good will, and cherish his friendship.
Mr. Davis succeeded in reducing the Republican plurality to less than eighty-one hundred votes. He carried all the large cities in Maine and the counties of Kennebec, Knox, Androscoggin, and Cumberland.
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