USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
1877
Henry C. Ricker
The Treasurers have been Sullivan C. Andrews, James H. DeCoster, Nahum Moore, George D. Bisbee; Josiah W. Whitten, Richard S. Dorman, Isaac W. Shaw, Benjamin Spaulding, Thomas S. Bridgham and Henry H. Nulty. The Secretaries have been James H. DeCoster, three years; Salathiel Tilton, two years : Cyrus C. Spaulding, one year : Charles R. Whitten, five years : Jason Farrar, one year, and . Alfred Cole, twenty-four years.
436
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
During its organization of thirty-six years Evening Star Lodge has been a well established institution, extending its kindly aid to its members in need and exercising a broad influ- ence for good in the community. It has had no rapid growth, but has maintained harmonious associations and quietly advanced in stability. Its total membership has been one hundred and sixty-six from which seventy-seven have been lost by death, dimit and other causes.
JUNIOR ORDER OF UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS
Eagle Council, No. 40, of this order was organized in the village, Nov. 16, 1899, with the following charter members :
Preston C. Heald
William A. Mitchell
Wilson H. Conant
Carl M. Heald
Ernest M. Atwood
Frank Washburn
William C. Bisbee
Arlington Damon
John D. Gerrish
Harry M. Heald
Stephen J. Spaulding
Charles B. Damon
Honorary members: Joseph B. De mon and James F. Packard. The first officers were:
Ernest M. Atwood, Councilor.
Frank Washburn Vice Councilor.
Harry M. Heald, Recording Secretary.
James F. Packard, Treasurer.
The election of officers occurs semi-annually in January and July. This order occupies the old Masonic Hall over J. A. Rawson's drug store. It has won a good degree of prosperity.
WOMAN'S SOCIETIES.
The women of Buckfield have always been active in the pro- motion of the social interests of the community. From the earliest days of the town, all its progressive and reformatory movements have been largely indebted to their efforts for suc- cess and permanence, especially in temperance and church affairs. Formerly their labors were mostly auxiliary to established organizations, but of late years, while continuing their co-opera- tive work, they have also kept pace with the tendency of the times through organizations for independent action in the fields of mutual improvement and public reform.
The Buckfield Literary Club was organized April 1, 1895, and at first was limited to twenty-five members ; but this restric- tion was subsequently removed, and the club is now open to all.
437
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
The club entered upon a course of reading and study, holding fortnightly meetings for discussion and presentation of original essays and papers on literary topics. It was a success from the start and now numbers thirty-eight members.
The Nezinscot History Club was organized March 9, 1897, with thirteen members. This club was in no sense a rival of the former one, but the outgrowth of increasing interest in literary matters, which sought membership beyond the limit of the earlier organization. As indicated by its name the scope of its work is largely on historic lines. It has been steadily prosperous and acquired thirty-two members.
These two clubs have worked in harmony, with elevating results, and taken a permanent place in the community in which they have exercised broad educational influence.
A branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized here Aug. 25, 1899, and has received large patronage. It has held several large and interesting public meetings and has been active in works of charity and reform.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Mountain Grange, No. 164, was organized under a dispensa- tion dated May 15, 1875, and its charter is dated July 9th of that year. It was organized in West Buckfield, with Alvin S. Bessey as its first master. Its original membership was drawn largely from that part of the town, but it acquired several mem- bers from the vicinity of the village and a few from Paris. Meetings were held several years in the schoolhouses and farm- houses and later at the village in the hall of Hotel Long The members acted in co-operation, for a time, in the purchase and distribution of household supplies, but this arrangement con- tinued but a short time. Although the organization had no rapid growth, yet for several years it had well attended and interesting meetings, and its field of advancement was promising; but unfortunately controversies crept into the ranks, which disturbed its harmonious associations until its meetings were discontinued, and its functions as a society wholly ceased. With no live organization of their own in town, many Buckfield farmers united with granges in other towns, and no further activity in the interest of the home grange was manifested until the summer
438
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
of 1901, when a revival of interest occurred, which resulted in its organization June 17, 1901, in Grand Army Hall. under the old name and charter, with Henry Parsons, Master. Soon after Nezinscot Hall was leased in which the meetings have since been held. The organization at once enlisted the interest of farmers and soon grew into favor with the general public, acquiring in less than two years' time a membership of more than one hundred. With its largely attended meetings, its public lectures and entertainments this grange has acquired an important place in the social interests of the community.
ODD FELLOWS.
This fraternal order, as an organization in Buckfield, is of comparatively recent date. Previous to 1883 its only representa- tives here were a few members of distant lodges, having no lodge privileges of convenient access. Early in that year five citizens of the village were initiated into the order in Abou Ben Adhem Lodge at Auburn. These five brothers, with three resident representatives of other distant lodges, united in a petition to the Grand Lodge for an organization of their own, and a charter, under date of Aug. 14. 1883, designating the organization as Nezinscot Lodge, No. 104. which was readily granted, naming the following charter members :
Fremont L. Irish Charles C. Withington
Jennet A. Rawson Albion P. Bonney
Thomas S. Bridgham Granville A. Harlow Converse S. Childs Zenas C. Holmes
Previous to the date of the charter a dispensation was granted under authority of which the lodge was instituted May 11, 1883. by Grand Master Silas W. Cook, with the following officers : Albion P. Bonney, Noble Grand, Fremont L Irish, Vice-Grand, and Thomas S. Bridgham, Secretary. The lodge was organized in Masonic Hall, which was occupied for meetings till suitable rooms were provided in the hall of the Long house, where meet- ings were held about seven years. Though starting with few members and with slight resources, the new lodge soon grew into favor and prosperity. Meetings were held every Saturday evening with increasing work and interest, and a good member- ship was soon acquired from Buckfield and neighboring towns.
439
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
As the lodge continued to increase in numbers and financial strength, a more commodious place of meeting appeared neces- sary, and after considerable investigation and debate. it was decided to erect a new building. The site on which the Hanson shoe factory formerly stood was secured, plans were accepted for a two-story building, thirty by seventy two feet, which was erected in the season of IS90, at a cost of about twenty-five hundred dollars for foundation, building and furnishings. This building was named Nezinscot Hall. The upper floor is used for lodge purposes and the lower part as a public hall, in which large public meetings, concerts and social entertainments are usually held. It was used as a Town Hall five years, dating from March, 1801.
The first lodge meeting in the new hall was held Nov. 29. 1890, and the dedicatory exercises occurred Feb. 12, 1891, with the presence of the Grand Master and a large attendance. Since that time many improvements have been made and several acquisitions added to the property, including stable rooms, furniture and a degree staff outfit, purchased in 1899, at a cost of four hundred dollars.
From its small beginnings to the present time the lodge has been generally prosperous. It has lost eight members by death, and, in 1885. ten members withdrew to institute a lodge at Tur- ner. Membership, one hundred and twenty-six. The lodge has acquired valuable and finely equipped lodge property, is free from debt, and has funds in the treasury. Its associative interests have been broad, including several installations and other meet- ings in its public functions. Its calls for fraternal aid have been frequent, which have always been met with promptness and liberality.
Previous to 1803 the election of officers occurred every six months, but at that date the official term was extended to one year, with annual meetings regulated to the last Saturday in December and installations to the first Saturday in January. The officers of the lodge have been as follows:
N. G .: Albion P. Bonney, Fremont L. Irish, Zenas C. Holmes, Homer N. Chase, Thomas S. Bridgham. Jerome B. Irish, E. Herbert Cole, Walter H. Purkis, Converse S. Chills, Winslow H. Allen, John F. DeCoster, Fred H. Atwood. Arth.ir E. Cole, Daniel J. Russell, Charles C. Withington, Cyras M.
440
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Irish, Rozalvo Crockett, Horace A. Irish, Henry A. Bicknell. Alfred S. Holland, George A. Holmes, Eugene L. Gardner, Alfred T. Cole, Lewis C. Mason, Benjamin E. Gerrish, Roscoe G. Stephens, Bethuel Cary, Edwin Maxim, Ezra Keene and Adelbert Parsons.
Secretaries : Thomas S. Bridgham, Fred A. Robinson, James M. Allen, Oscar H. Hersey, Winslow H. Allen, Charles C. Withington, Albion P. Bonney, Fred H. Atwood, Arthur E. Cole and James E. Warren.
Treasurers : Granville A. Harlow, Converse S. Childs. Wilson Shaw, George D. Bisbee, Timothy H. Lunt, Cyrus M. Irish, John F. DeCoster, Daniel J. Russell, Albion P. Bonney, W. H. Purkis, Alphonso F. Warren, Charles T. Bowen, Benjamin Spaulding, Jr., C. S. Childs and Alphonso F. Warren.
DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH
Good Faith Rebekah Lodge, No. 40, was instituted Jan. 6, 1892, with regular meetings assigned to the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. It has been a popular and successful institution, and a valuable adjunct to Nezinscot Lodge.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Zadoc Long Free Library was a gift of love to Buckfield from her most distinguished son, John Davis Long, and a fitting memorial to his father and mother, Zadoc Long and Julia Temple Davis. Its history reflects a happy unity of public senti- ment with the kindly motives of its donor and is of deep and lasting interest to the town's people, who had long been desirous, though hardly expectant, of such an institution.
For several years Mr. Long had cherished thoughts of pro- viding a Public Library for the people of his native town. He is a man of strong local attachments and love for old friends and associations, and. during his years as Secretary of the Navy, his annual sojourns here at his midsummer home, with its charm- ing prospects of stately hills and green valleys, were sweetened with the charming quietude of country life and the haunting memories of boyhood days. Under the inspiration of these associations his first thought was to utilize the mechanics shop of Gilbert Tilton, formerly the old schoolhouse on Loring's Hill,
In ZADO TEN
......
Public Library
7
T
443
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
in which he took his first educational steps as a barefooted boy. His plan was to move this old building to a suitable lot and transform it into a library, preserving, as far as possible, its original features, but this project was found to be impracticable, and plans for a new building by Architect John Calvin Stevens of Portland were adopted. A desirable building lot was given by Mrs. Josephine Thomes, and the town voted an appropriation of five hundred dollars for the foundation, which was laid in the fall of 1900 by A. W. Libby, and in the spring following work was commenced on the building, which was completed in mid- stimmer and dedicated at Union Chapel on Buckfield's Old Home Week day, Aug. 17, 1901. The occasion was largely attended by citizens and home-comers, and was one of rare social enjoyment and abiding interest. The library was presented to the town by Secretary Long through a deed of trust, naming the follow- ing trustees :
Alfred Cole, Charles H. Prince, Thomas S. Bridgham, Benja- min Spaulding and Ardelia H. Prince.
As measured with millionaire libraries this building is neither spacious nor expensive, but it is of ample dimensions for this community. It is characterized with painstaking neatness and architectural simplicity in accord with the donor's tastes. It is a one-story wood building, 40x25 feet, with porch, the whole resting on a massive foundation of native granite and under- pinning of rubble stones, selected from the fields and streams. The building occupies an ideal site for a village library. It stands on an elevated, terraced green, fronting the village square, and is shaded with beautiful elms, a guardian tree, near the porch standing on either side of the entrance walk. This plot of ground is known as the old Parris lot and holds a historic place in the associations of the town.
On it was erected one of the first houses in Buckfield, in which our earliest trader, Mark Andrews, kept a store, supply- ing the early settlers with corn and other necessities. Here lived and died Capt. Josiah Parris of Revolutionary fame. and here was born Hon. Virgil D. Parris, long prominently associated with local and public affairs. The older residents of the town often recall the old house, with its primrose enclosure, as it stood for many years in desertion and decay, with an old weather- worn gaideboard on its walls dimly pointing the way to Augusta.
444
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
The interior of the library, with its soft, harmonizing tints, its pictures and tablets, its open fireplace and bright, cheery outlook, is pleasing in its neat simplicity and homelike atmos- phere, and is admirably arranged for convenience and cosiness. The furniture of the library was provided by Mr. Long, as were also its liberal supply of books, with his children, Margaret, Helen and Peirce, and his nephews, Joseph Nelson White, Zadoc Long White, Charles Davis White, Stephen Long Bartlett and Charles Strout Long, as associate donors. The cost of the library above the foundation, with its books and furniture, was five thousand dollars, and the value of its lot, foundation and other accessories would increase the amount to more than six thousand dollars. This noble tribute of the heart was bestowed upon the people of the town as a free gift without any exacting pledges.
Other donors, whose gifts have been honored with com- memorative tablets, are as follows :
Mrs. Josephine Thomes, the lot of land on which the build- ing stands.
Mrs. John Calvin Stevens, the pictures in the reading room in memorial of her parents, Howard Douglass Waldron and Caroline Howard Baker.
The sons of Thomas Chase, a fine Magee heating apparatus. Other gifts have been a full supply of library lamps from the Buckfield Ladies' Dramatic Club, fireplace equipments from William C. Spaulding, reference bookcase from the Nezinscot History Club, many valuable books from Mrs. Stephen L. Bartlett and many other books and useful articles from various sources. A fine oil portrait of Mr. Long has also been added to the reading room, filling a wall space specially reserved for it. The library is now well supplied with all needed useful and ornamental appurtenances, and contains about four thousand volumes of well-selected books. in excellent editions, and well balanced in the various departments of literature.
The library was opened for the distribution of books Sept. 7, 1901, with Miss Lizzie L. Allen as librarian. It at once came into public favor and appreciation and became the town's center of literary interest to which all visitors and home-comers are attracted. It is an enduring monument of honor to its donor and blessing to the community, through its broadening educa- tional beneficence and elevating social influences.
445
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
CHAPTER XXXI.
RAILROADS.
The construction of the Buckfield Branch Railroad, the original of the present railroad system, through the eastern part of Oxford County, was a great undertaking for a small country town, and a striking indication of the energy and enter- prise of its citizens at a date when the building of railroads was in its infancy. When the project of connecting Montreal, Canada, by rail with Portland, Maine, was first agitated, the business men of Buckfield and other towns in the Androscoggin Valley held a meeting at Buckfield, July 10, 1835, for the pur- pose of securing the location through that section of the county. An organization was effected by the choice of John Briggs, Esq., of Sumner, as President, and Samuel F. Brown, Esq., of Buck- field, Secretary. AAppropriate resolutions were passed and a committee consisting of William Lowell, Virgil D. Parris, with the president and secretary, was selected to represent the Oxford County towns through which the railroad might be built, before any incorporated body was authorized to construct it. A com- mittee composed of Col. Aaron Parsons, Luther Bridgham and Adam Knight was chosen to make a survey for the road from Dixfield Village to Gray Corner. Nothing, however, came from these proceedings, but in March, 1845, the year in which the Atlantic & St. Lawrence R. R. Company was incorporated, a meeting was held at Buckfield Village and the effort was renewed to obtain its construction through the towns in eastern Oxford County, and a committee was chosen to survey a route from Mechanic Falls to Rumford Point. When it had finally been determined to construct the road through Oxford, Paris and Woodstock in the Little Androscoggin Valley, instead of through Hebron and Buckfield, it was determined by the business men of Buckfield and others interested with them, to build a road from the village to Mechanic Falls to connect with the Atlantic & St. Lawrence railroad, and northward from Backfield to Canton and Rumford as soon as circumstances would permit.
Hon. Virgil D. Parris took the lead in this enterprise, and on the 22d day of July, 1847, he, with 36 others, nearly all citizens of Buckfield, obtained a charter to construct the "Buck-
446
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
field Branch Railroad." Mr. Parris was chosen President and Washington Long, Treasurer, of the company. Sufficient stock having been subscribed, ground was broken for the road at Buckfield Village, with appropriate exercises on the 31st day of October, 1848, amid a great concourse of people, from Buckfield and adjoining towns. The address was made by Hon. Virgil D. Parris. Rev. Nathaniel Chase, the first settled minister and a soldier of the Revolution, then 87 years old, invoked the divine blessing, and Jonathan Record, 93 years old, also a soldier in the War for Independence, who had assisted in bushing out a path for the first settlers as they came into town, threw the first shoverful of earth into a wheelbarrow and Capt. Josiah Parris, still another Revolutionary War soldier, wheeled it away. In the procession were five other Revolutionary veterans.
Work was begun at once and before February of the follow- ing year, one-fourth of the distance to Mechanic Falls had been graded, and contracts for the rails placed. The year 1849 was one of great activity among the business men of the village. A large station or depot as it was then called, was built and an engine house erected, and before the year ended, the rails were laid to Mechanic Falls. The Atlantic & St. Lawrence road was opened to South Paris and on the 11th day of January, 1850, the first train hauled by the little locomotive named the "Path- finder." arrived at the village amid the booming of cannon. Ozen Spaulding, the former stage driver, who had elsewhere been in railroad service, was the first conductor on the train. He continued in this service till the autumn of 1856. The first depot master was Kimball N. Prince. He was succeeded by Simeon Hussey and George H. Bailey,-Dr. Bailey, the well- known veterinary surgeon of Portland. He boarded at the Bridgham Hotel on the present site of the Spaulding store, which was burned on the night of May 13, 1854, and he barely escaped with only the clothing he wore. He was succeeded that year by Jairus Harlow, who remained till after train service was sus- pended and was entrusted with many interests by the company. Moses B. Thomes was one of the early engineers on the train, and took great pride in his engine. Ile ran the first three, the "Pathfinder," "V. D. Parris" and the "Buckfield." The last was the first good machine on the road.
447
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
In 1850 there were 122 Buckfield stockholders of the com- pany, with holdings from one to 21 shares each-320 in all at $100 per share. Dr. William Bridgham owned 21 shares, and Addison G. Cole, Ira Gardner and Capt. James Jewett, 20 shares each. The railroad centralized a large amount of business in the village, stimulating all branches of trade and industry, and greatly increasing its material growth and population, but the building and equipment of the road had proved an expensive affair, and its constant maintenance soon gave rise to many financial embarrassments. In October, 1849, the road had been mortgaged to Hon. Francis O. J. Smith for $35,000. The earn- ings of the road for a short time were sufficient to meet its run- ning expenses. but not enough to pay any of this mortgage. But ere long it began to run behind in its running expenses, and when Smith's mortgage had grown to some $40,000 from accu- mulated interest, an additional debt of an equally large sum had accumulated, and Smith took possession of the road in 1851 under his mortgage. Under the law, the stockholders could be assessed to double the original amount of their stock, and Smith tried to realize money by this method, on those who had property. Some paid in full, some effected settlements through compromise, some conveyed their property away to evade payment, and others resisted in the courts, only to be beaten in the end and subjected 10 additional costs and expense. Thus, in a few years the orig- inal stock of the road became worthless, and this great loss was a shattering blow to many individual fortunes, the effects of which are felt to this day. The people of Buckfield sunk over $50,000 in the road.
In October, 1852, Smith rendered a statement of the business of the road for the year, showing receipts of $10,674 and expen- ditures of $10,800. The mortgage indebtedness then amounted to a sum over $51,000. Meantime, Smith had started the project to extend the road to Canton Point, with the ultimate idea of a further extension to Farmington, and the towns through which the road was to be built were asked to aid the enterprise to the amount of $50,000. The work of grading the road bed was begun and Smith, in March, 1853, brought his family to Buck- field and became a resident of the town. AAmong his schemes was the Utopian plan of running a steamboat up the AAndroscog- gin river from Canton Point to Rumford Falls, and the same
448
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
month he moved to Backfield the Androscoggin Navigation Com- pany was incorporated, of which Hon. Cornelius Holland of Canton was president. In 1854 a steamboat was built at Canton Point by William Robinson of Buckfield with a crew of men and launched, but the numerous shoals of the river rendered its navigation impossible, and the boat was left to decay where it was built.
In 1855 the first railroad bridge across the river at Buckfield Village was built. Smith had a visionary side to his nature which sometimes led him into projects that failed through prac- tical foresight, or lack of financial resources. The Buckfield railroad proved to be one of his ventures of misfortune. He failed to meet the wages of the men he had employed to con- struct the Canton extension, and after a time they quit work. Many vexatious law suits resulted from his failure to pay them. The question of land damages on the extension proved to be a troublesome one. In some cases the land had been given, and where it hadn't, settlement was rightfully demanded, but rarely obtained in accordance with agreements. The claims of Hon. Zadoc Long and others, at Smith's suggestion, were referred to the county commissioners, but before the awards were made known he declined to be bound by them for the alleged reason that the proceedings were not in legal form. Mr. Addison G. Cole, one of the men having such claim, who had lost $4,000 in the original stock, took matters into his own hands, and barricaded the road with large boulders which prevented the passage of trains. Mr. Isaiah Perkins, on his farm near Mechanic Falls on the old portion of the road, his claim not being adjusted, tore up the track, as did also Josiah Perkins of Minot, thus stopping the trains, and the mail and passengers were conveyed by hand cars on either side of the break, till the Post Office Department interfered and terminated its contract with Smith. Then a stage was run from Mechanic Falls to Buckfield.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.