USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > A history of Norway, Maine : from the earliest settlement to the close of the year 1922 > Part 28
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The Municipal Court is presided over by Judge Wm. F. Jones, who has recently received his fourth appointment.
The Public Library is well patronized, and is a very popular insti- tution. Miss Helen H. Holmes is librarian.
The Victor Amusement Company has its moving picture shows in the Rex Theatre, on Cottage street.
The Norway Advertiser is a large newspaper plant, established on a sound business. It is equipped with all the modern and up-to- date appliances. The weekly circulation is some 3000 copies. Some dozen hands are employed. Fred W. Sanborn is the owner and editor, ably assisted by his nephew, Ralph S. Osgood.
The Beal's Inn is one of the largest and best conducted public houses in New England. It has long been a famous hostelry. F. Robert Seavey is the landlord and owner.
The Norway Building Association owns the opera house block in which is the town hall, used for shows, exhibitions, plays, etc., an armory, town and corporation assessors' office, the National Bank
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FRANK P. STONE
DR. FRED E. DRAKE
EUGENE N. SWETT
VIVIAN W. AKERS
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rooms and several stores. Judge Jones is general manager of the affairs of the association.
Norway has two of the largest dry goods establishments to be found in Western Maine. Mr. Zeb. L. Merchant came here from Ver- mont in 1911, and purchased the business of S. B. & Z. S. Prince, and shortly after the "Abbott Block," in which the store was located. The first floor and basement are used in the business, and the second and third floors have been elegantly fitted up for the residence of Mr. Merchant and his wife, who assists her husband in the store. Mr. Merchant has been wonderfully successful in business since coming to Norway-both he and his wife being very popular with all classes of our people. From seven to twelve clerks are employed.
RAYMOND H. EASTMAN
Brown, Buck & Co., the other dry goods establishment, does a large business on the first floor and basement of Odd Fellows Block on Main Street. Both Fred S. Brown and Albion L. Buck, the prin- cipal members of the company, are Norway boys, educated in our schools and acquiring their commercial education in the employment and stores of Mr. Thomas Smiley, who for many years was in success- ful business here and now has a very large establishment in Port- land and stores in other places in Maine. He is also financially in- terested in the store here. The firm of Brown, Buck & Co., was formed in 1916. Two years later Mr. Brown moved to Portland to take a position in Mr. Smiley's store there, leaving Mr. Buck in charge of the business here. This is a real tribute to Mr. Buck's ability and integrity and more than any commendation of the writer. Eight hands are employed. In the holiday season and special sales days-some dozen clerks.
There are two ready-made clothing and gent's furnishing estab- lishments in the place. The Lee M. Smith Co. store' rooms are in
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Opera House block. The business was started on the same spot when the first block was built, and there have since been several owners. Mr. Lee M. Smith commenced business there as a clerk in Henry B. Foster's store and later purchased the concern which he has con- ducted for many years. It is one of the largest establishments in the county.
The Blue Store, situated near the Beal's Inn, was opened for the same branch of business many years ago by Theodore L. Webb; later it came into the chief possession of Frank H. Noyes, who spent the best years of his life in enlarging and developing the business. L. Fred Pike was taken into the store as clerk. He acquired an interest in the business, a branch store was located at South Paris, he became the owner of the largest interest, and it is now run under the title of L. Fred Pike Co.
The large house furnishing establishment in the Masonic block, which for several years was under the management of Herman L. Horne, is now owned and conducted by Raymond H. Eastman, who for several years was clerk and teller in the National Bank, and while there was a candidate for register of probate.
There are three boot and shoe stores. The largest is that of E. N. Swett Co. in the Opera House block. Mr. Swett came here from South Paris many years ago and entered the same store as clerk and later became the chief owner and general manager. It is one of the very largest concerns of the kind outside of the cities. Mr. Eu- gene N. Swett served for many years as town treasurer, and is a deacon of the Congregational Church society. A cobbler's shop is connected with the store. Mr. Swett took into partnership a year ago, R. C. Andrews of South Paris-the firm name remaining the same.
Miss Edith M. Smith runs the boot and shoe store and manages the business established by her father, the late James Smith, in the old Noyes block. She is a very capable business woman.
The third boot and shoe store is located in the little building near the bridge over the old tannery brook. It is run by A. W. Ramsdell. A cobbler's shop, established by the late E. M. Thomas, near With- erell Park, is owned and operated by Victor L. Partridge.
The village has two millinery and dressmaking establishments. One is owned and operated by Miss Henrietta M. Taylor in the Noyes Drug Store block. The other, in the Opera House block, is owned and conducted by Miss Hazel F. Bicknell.
There are three drug stores. Frank P. Stone's, a "Rexall" Store, is in the new Hathaway block, which he now owns. It is one of the largest drug stores in the county. Mr. Stone has been in business here for many years, has been very successful, lives in a fine mansion on Highland Avenue, and is one of the chief pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Noyes Drug Store dates from the fifties of the last century. The business was started by David F. Noyes in the old Noyes block, corner. of Main and Deering streets, where he kept the post office. A. Oscar Noyes was his clerk and when his uncle moved to Lewiston, he took over the business and continued it till his death. After him
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his widow run the store for several years, Kimball & Williamson for a period and Frank Kimball alone for many years, and now (Jan- uary, 1923), the owner and operator is Lester V. Ashton, who was Mr. Kimball's faithful and efficient clerk for 18 years.
The third store is situated on the corner of Main Street and Greenleaf Ave., in the Hobbs block, is owned and operated by Mr. A. L. Clark, who came here from South Paris, established the business and married Mr. George W. Hobbs' daughter, Fannie. He has a branch drug store at Old Orchard where the family spends the sum- mer season.
The jewelry store of Bert L. Hutchins is in the Opera House block. The business was established by Vivian W. Hills who came here in the eighties from central Maine. Mr. Hills is an optician and optometrist and still manages that part of the business.
W. F. Smith has a jewelry store in the Robert Noyes block. He is the successor in the business of the late Fred A. Cole.
The harness business in the Tucker block on Main Street, is owned and run by James Favor. The business was started by Benjamin Tucker, over an hundred years ago. Mr. Tucker's son, Benjamin, con- tinued it after his father's death, then his son, Cyrus S. also to his death, when James Favor, a nephew, succeeded him. It is a rare occurrence in this section of the country where the same business has been in the same family for so long a period and quite likely to continue for several generations to come in Mr. Favor's family and descendants.
The hardware stores number three. The largest is the L. M. Long- ley & Son's store in the Crooker brick block on Main Street. They do an extensive business in plumbing and "tin knocking" in connec- tion with their hardware trade. Mr. Leon M. Longley came here from Waterford, engaged in plumbing and later purchased the business established by the late James O. Crooker. His son, Forrest, is the junior member of the concern.
William C. Leavitt has been here in the same business for many years, in the store on Main Street next between the Crooker block and the Post Office. His son William is now associated with him. The store is run under the name and style of Wm. C. Leavitt & Co.
The third hardware store is on Main Street near the Hobbs block, managed under the name of S. J. Record & Co. After Samuel J. Record's death his son, Arthur N. Record, has run the store and also the Ulmer Installment Co. connected with it.
Frank W. Murdock has a machine shop on Greenleaf Avenue which he has operated for many years. He also does a plumbing business.
Llewellyn Cushman handles the larger part of the coal that is used in the place, and has a large storage elevator for it in the vicinity of the railroad station. He also does the chief part of the trucking business.
Walter H. Cullinan is the village wood dealer. He succeeded to this part of the business of his father, John P. Cullinan, who died a few years ago.
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DENNIS PIKE
EUGENE E. ANDREWS
STUART W. GOODWIN
L. H. CUSHMAN
LEE M. SMITH
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VIVIAN W. HILLS
The gem cutting establishment is run by the Bickford brothers. Henry Knox Bickford is the lapidary and Robert F. Bickford attends to the selling, his office being in the Clark drug store. He is also town treasurer.
Alton L. Curtis is in charge of the express business of the Cana- dian Express Company here, with an office in the Ryerson Hall building. He has been its agent since 1909.
Howard B. Young is an electrician. For many years he was su- perintendent of the Norway and Paris Street Ry., and the power sta- tion at Steep Falls. He is a Norway boy, educated in our schools, who has acquired a good business through systematic efforts and faithful attention to his duties.
A bakery has been established on the corner of Cottage and Main Streets, run by P. W. Twitchell who came here from Oxford.
The laundry is owned and run by Charles E. Bradford. He has been in the business here for many years. His establishment is in the old Hathaway block.
There are two insurance offices: Stuart W. Goodwin coming here from Central Maine, went into the office of Freeland Howe' as his clerk. Mr. Howe had built up a large insurance business through many years of labor, and at his death Mr. Goodwin purchased and has since enlarged it. His office is in the same building that Mr. Howe occupied. Mr. Goodwin served as town clerk and treasurer for many years.
Dennis Pike's insurance office is in Odd Fellows Block. He also does an extensive business in real estate, and is treasurer and general manager of the Norway Water Works Co.
Eugene Andrews came here from Lovell several years ago. He does a large business in real estate. His office is near the railroad station.
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JAMES N. TUBBS
C. A. RICHARDSON
LOUIS J. ROOKS
NORMAN U. GREENLAW
E. B. JACKSON
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A. G. PARRIN
-
ALMON L. COOK
O. M. CUMMINGS
FRED M. DAVIS
CHAS. A. FROST
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There are three barbers in the village. Josiah T. Rowe is the oldest in point of service.
Almon L. Cook came here from Gorham in the eighties of the last century. He first went into Rowe's shop as his assistant, but after two years, set up for himself and has continued the business of hair dressing ever since. His son-in-law, Scott Kilbourn, is his assistant.
A. G. Parrin, a few years ago bought the barber business of Selden C. Foster. His shop is near the Abbott block. He employs an assistant.
Freeland Howe has a music store in his brick block on Main Street.
John H. Fletcher has a confectionery store in the Tubbs building near the Parrin barber shop.
C. G. Verenis, a Greek, has a fruit store in the Howe block.
Mellie W. Sampson, guide and owner of the lake steamer, does a thriving business during the summer season.
George R. Stephenson is a boat builder, a business he has carried on for many years. His shop is located near the steamer landing.
Herbert H. Hosmer is a boat builder and snowshoe maker. His place of business is near his residence at the end of Whitman Street.
Vivian M. Akers has an art studio on Deering Street. He is an artist of uncommon merit. Several of his drawings have been highly praised and taken prizes at exhibitions.
Miss Minnie Libby has long had a studio on Cottage Street. Two assistants are constantly employed.
There are a number of garages in the village. The Norway Buick Company, organized in 1921, is located near the Post Office, with an office in that building. George F. Hill, a graduate of North Bridgton Academy, is general manager. Four men are employed.
The W. F. Knight Company is located on Deering Street. Willis H. Kilgore is general manager. Several hands are employed.
The Norway Auto Company is located on the corner of Main and Tannery Streets. Elon L. Brown is general manager. Three men are constantly employed.
Howard S. Maxim's garage is located on Greenleaf Avenue. He does a large business.
There are many other places, where cars are repaired and let, and gasoline sold.
Frank H. Hurd has a large blacksmith shop on Water Street. He has been in business here for many years.
Frank J. Cook for several years has had a blacksmith shop on Main Street below the old tannery bridge.
The Andrews Sales Stable has long had an established reputation as a desirable place to obtain work or driving horses. The business was built up by Albert F. Andrews and his sons, and is now conducted by Herbert F. Andrews and his sons. Horses are regularly obtained from the Middle West.
Orrington M. Cummings has a livery stable near his residence on Danforth Street. He has been in the business for over half a cen- tury. He was born in Norway on the farm now owned by Harry M. Jackson.
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HOWARD B. YOUNG
1
M. W. SAMPSON
ALTON L. CURTIS
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ROBERT F. BICKFORD
CAPT. WILFORD G. CONERY
ALBERT A. TOWNE
The marble and monument works of J. Freeland Bolster are located on Lynn Street and the undertaking establishment of Leroy Spiller on Main Street.
The Norway Farmers Union has a large grain mill on the old tannery lot. Fred H. Noble is the general manager.
The C. B. Cummings & Sons Company operate a large grain and feed mill near the railroad station and do an extensive business. W. L. Libby is the general manager. This company operates the saw mill at the head of the village and several million feet of boards are annually sawed.
There are a large number of painters and paper hangers, among whom may be mentioned John F. Sampson, John F. Hutchins, Horace P. Sawyer, and William B. Walker. George H. Bennett is a carriage painter-his shop being located on Whitman Street.
There are many carpenters, contractors and builders in town. We note a few of them: Woodbury M. Russell, Horace Kimball, Winfield S. Sloan, Asa D. Frost, Oliver Merrill and Charles A. Frost. The
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last three are natives of Norway. Charles A. Frost was born in the western part of the town, on his father's farm. He early took an interest in the joiner's trade which he has followed with marked success, doing fine work in Massachusetts, Norway and adjoining towns, for half a century.
There are twelve grocery and provision stores in the village-five of which deal in meats and two in fish and other sea food, and in nearly every hamlet in town there is a general store.
Charles A. Richardson, a large dealer in meats as well as provi- sions, is located on the corner of Main and Bridge Streets. He has been in business there for many years.
E. B. Jackson and N. U. Greenlaw, doing an extensive business in provisions, meats, fish, etc., are located in the store on Main Street formerly occupied by Henry J. Bangs. They own the building in which they do business.
Louis J. Brooks, who has long been a groceryman, carries on his large business in the building which he owns near the post office build- ing on Main Street. The old Levi Whitman law office built in 1804, forms a part of the store.
Charles F. Ridlon has a large grocery store, crockery ware depart- ment, five, ten and twenty-five cent counters, etc., in the building on Main Street formerly owned and occupied by Alonzo J. Nevers. Mr. Ridlon has been in business here for over 50 years.
Opposite on the other side of the street is the A. & P. store, run by Edwin P. Hood. It has been in operation here for several years.
W. L. Newcomb, a Norway boy, has a meat and provision store in the Danforth block on the corner of Main and Danforth Streets. He is doing a good business.
James N. Tubbs has a large grocery and meat trade in his father's store, corner of Main and Lynn Streets. The store was built and the business established about fifty years ago.
Lewis I. Gilbert has a grocery store on Main Street, near the high school lot. He has been in business nearly 40 years.
Howard L. Drake has a grocery store at Steep Falls where there is also a second place for trade. Mr. Drake has been in business here for many years.
James Pledge and Walter L. Luck have a meat market on Winter Street, a slaughter house, with cement floor, running water and all modern improvements which has recently been constructed by them.
The Norway Company of the National Guard has its headquarters in the Opera House block. Wilford G. Conery was its first captain. Harry Twitchell is now captain of the Co.
The principal town officers for 1922 are Alvin Brown, Arthur H. Robbins and George F. Hathaway, selectmen; Wilford G. Conery, clerk, and Robert F. Bickford, treasurer. Albert A. Towne is Rep. to the Legislature.
The lawyers are Eugene F. Smith, Albert J. Stearns, Wm. F. Jones, M. L. Kimball, Wilford G. Conery and Charles F. Whitman.
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The physicians and surgeons are: Bial F. Bradbury, Herman L. Bartlett and Ivan Staples.
The dentists: Fred E. Drake, of some 50 years of service; Harry P. Jones, a dentist since boyhood, and Arthur W. Easton, who gradu- ated from dental college and began business during the World War, in which he served.
Clergymen :
Rev. O. E. Barnard, Congregational Church.
Rev. T. C. Chapman, Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. G. H. Newton, Baptist Church.
Rev. Fr. J. E. Redden, Catholic Church.
Rev. C. G. Miller, Universalist Church.
At the railroad station several trains arrive and leave daily and a bus runs hourly to South Paris. There is telephone and telegraph service, and from the foregoing it will be seen that there is everything here in the village and town, for their full development, with indus- tries and business sufficient to keep all our citizens employed the year round at good wages, and furnishing substantial profit and in- come for invested capital. Norway should be an ideal place to live in.
W. L. NEWCOMB
HOWARD L. DRAKE
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GEO. F. HATHAWAY
ALVIN BROWN
ARTHUR H. ROBBINS
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HISTORY OF NORWAY
PART II
REV. TIMOTHY J. TENNEY
MRS. IZAH B. P. TENNEY
REV. CHAS. R. TENNEY
DIARY OF REV. T. J. TENNEY
Rev. Timothy J. Tenney, whose biographical sketch appears in the chapter on churches and clergymen, was pastor of the Universalist Society in Norway for six years. He had literary tastes and attain- ments and kept a diary. It is thought that extracts from it during the time he resided in Norway will be of special interest to a large number of many of the old families, with which he was connected, and of sufficient general interest to warrant its publication in this part of the history.
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1840.
Jan. 1-Rode to Hiram to deliver a temperance lecture. In the evening had a small meeting-cold house and but little light. After lecture returned to Br. Paine's in Brownfield.
Jan. 2-Visited I. B. P. G. (his future wife). Glad to find her well or almost well. If I am interested for any one it is for her. May the wisdom of God save her for a long and happy life-for many innumerable blessings to her and those around her.
Jan. 3-Returned to Fryeburg (where he was then located).
Jan. 5-Preached from Isa. 55:1, 2, and Heb. 9:27. Cold and small meeting.
Jan. 8-Rode to Waterford. In the evening Brs. Burr of Portland and Thompson of Westbrook arrived to attend the discussion. Had a conference with Mr. Hotchkiss who was attended by Messrs. Brown and Sawyer.
Jan. 9-About 10 o'clock started for the Wesleyan Chapel, (was this in Norway?) in company of a number of clergymen. Discussion commenced after a brief address to the throne of grace by Mr. Brown, a Methodist, and continued till 1 o'clock P.M. At 1.30 it was re- sumed and continued to 4.30. Br. Thompson closed with prayer. This is the first public controversy I have been engaged in and it may be the last, but I do not find anything to regret, after a careful review of the controversy, and never felt more at ease or had a better command of myself than in the very heat of the discussion. I do not know what others may think of it, but I am fully persuaded, that the doctrine of endless punishment must have abler defenders than Mr. H. (Hotchkiss) or fall forever.
Jan. 12-Preached in Portland from I Tim. 5:8, Matt. 6:9, and in the evening from I Sam'l 18:1. Br. Burr preached for me in Lovell.
Jan. 13-Visited Br. Thompson in W.
Jan. 22-Took Izah and rode to Sebago to see Rebecca. From S. to Hiram to visit Br. Spring. Today is my birthday, and I never spent it more pleasantly. Thirty-three, and all these years have passed in single life. I would not have thought it when I was 16. For good reasons I have lived as I have .- This is my confidence but next April a dear object I shall hope will be mine forever.
Jan. 23-Very stormy but rode to D. covered with snow and yet there was not enough of it to cool the warmth of reciprocal affection.
Jan. 26-And I am yet in D. Did not preach but heard a sermon read by Dr. Sawyer.
Jan. 27-Rode home. On my way visited the school in Dist. No. 1.
Jan. 29-In my study, 30, 31.
Feb. 1-Reading and writing. Have been reading two works,- one from the pen of Byron and the other of Mrs. Hemans. That of Byron is very like him-masculine and in many places not very chaste, but hers if I mistake not, comes from a heart that has had its portion of sorrow.
Feb. 2-Preached from Rev. 21:4 and Rom. 6:1, 2. In the Spirit. Feb. 3-Visited the school in the Pike neighborhood.
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Feb. 5, 6, 7, 8-In my study reading and writing. (There are very many such entries in the Diary.)
Feb. 9-Preached in L. from Cor. 2:9, and Matt. 13:37-43. In the evening rode to Sweden.
Feb. 12-Arrived in Norway.
Feb. 16-Preached in Norway. (Br. R. preached for me in Frye- burg), from Rom. 6:1, 2, and I Sam'l 18:1. In the evening rode to Bridgton, where I heard Mr. Hotchkiss on Conditional Salvation, to whose discourse I am to reply on the eve of the 23rd.
Feb. 19-Rode to Br. Poor's in B.
Feb. 20-Continued on to the Corner, (where Miss G. was)-found all well.
Feb. 22-Rode home, found all well.
Feb. 24-Attended the funeral of a little child of Br. Elliot Smith. Text, Mark 10:14, "Suffer little children to come unto Me," etc.
Feb. 26-Reading Bancroft's History of the United States. He is one of the best historians I have ever read.
Feb. 28-At home, sweet home.
Feb. 29-Attended general muster and rode to Fryeburg with Br. T. J. Whitehead.
Mar. 1-Preached in Bridgton from Matt. 6:9, and 5:44. Br. Bartlett preached for me in Fryeburg.
Mar. 3-Rode to Brownfield in company with Izah, who is to spend a few days at Bro. Paine's.
Mar. 5-P.M. walked to Shane Hill.
Mar. 8-Preached in Lovell my farewell sermon there-the last of 3 years, from Gen. 1:3 and Ps. 138:2. Today, too, I am published to Miss Izah B. P. Gibson. God make her and my life a happy one.
Mar. 9-Walked home.
Mar. 11-Walked down to the P. O. expecting to get a letter from Norway and one from Denmark, but alas! alas! I found none. Izah, what has become of you? It is like passing from a warm bath into an ice house, so great is my disappointment.
Mar. 13-Visited in South Chatham and Stow. The day has been spent sane without any uncommon occurrence.
Mar. 15-Preached my farewell sermon-the last of three and a half years.
Mar. 30-Walked to Denmark, and a muddy and rainy walk it was, too, but one who finds such no worse, for so good an object, needs not to be bowed down with sorrow.
Apr. 3-Gave a lecture in D.
Apr. 5-This is the first Sunday I have lost for want of an ap- pointment for a number of years. I have spent the day reading Miller on the end of the world.
Apr. 7-From Harrison at Br. Smith's walked to Norway.
Apr. 8-Rode to Denmark. On the way took in Sam'l F. Gibson.
Apr. 9-Married today by Br. Rand at 9 A.M., and at 11 A.M., left for my boarding place, accompanied by the groomsman and brides- maid as far as Brownfield.
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Apr. 10-Preached from Acts 22:10 and James 1:27. In the eve. rode over to D. after my wife.
Apr. 11-Returned to N., bringing Izah and Rebecca.
Apr. 12-Preached from James 1:27 and Rom. 8:21 to quite a large audience. Returned to Fryeburg in the evening.
Apr. 14-Attended the funeral of Br. Nathan P. Pierce in Hiram. Nathan was a good man.
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