USA > Maine > Somerset County > Solon > A history of Solon, Maine > Part 3
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During the first few years it was served by mission- aries, among whom was Reverend Josiah Poet of Nor- ridgewock and the Reverend Sewall, who was the most frequent preacher. By 1824 Reverend George Fargo became the resident pastor. Because of the weak state of the church, in 1811 it was agreed to form a union with Bingham Church and to meet together in com- munion and discipline, but each church was to retain its own covenant and articles of faity. That union was dissolved in 1819.87
85 Ibid., p. 13.
86 Congregational Church Records for years 1806 and 1820.
87 Ibid., years 1806-1824.
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For many years the services were held at different homes or in school houses. As early as 1835 it was voted to build a house of worship as soon as possible. Finally, in 1837 the Solon Union Meeting House, the present Congregational Church, was erected. On Octo- ber 28, 1837, Elisha Coolidge deeded to the proprietors the land for the church, including part of the burial ground. This building was originally owned jointly by four denominations. There are in existence today some of the old deeds to the pews dating back to 1837.88
Acting on a petition drawn up by Silas Maynard and Timothy Spaulding, an Ecclesiastical Council composed of pastors and delegates from Bingham, Nor- ridgewock, South Solon, Anson, and also Reverend Loring Fargo convened at the home of Silas Maynard in Solon Village and founded the present Congrega- tional Church in Solon. The membership was com- posed of Timothy Spaulding, Silas Maynard, Nancy Spaulding, Lucy Maynard, Sally Varnum, Bathsheba and Dorcas Bosworth. Reverend Cyrus Stone, Pastor of the Bingham Church became first acting pastor and preached in Solon one-fourth of the time.89
The Union Meeting House, as it was called at the time, was built in 1837, with the Methodists owning one-fourth and holding services one-fourth of the time.90 One of the interesting facts about this church building is that at first it was owned by the Baptists,
88 Ibid., years 1835-1837.
89 Ibid., 1837.
90 The Baptists and Universalists owned the other two-quarters of the church, but no records can be found to ascertain when they sold their shares to the Methodists and Congregationalists.
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Congregationalists, Methodists, and Universalists in equal shares.
This building also has the oldest pipe organ in Maine. It was the first pipe organ ever brought into Maine and was originally installed in the Chestnut Street Methodist Church at Portland. In August 1859 it was bought by the Union Church people of Solon for $250. Freight and other expenses brought the total cost to $307.50.91 The organ has been used most of the time all these years, and in the 1920's was reno- vated and repaired and is in use at the present time.
In 1856, in order to paint and repair the church, the pew-holders were taxed $150 each to pay the bills. There were fifty-three pew-holders and anyone not paying his share within six months lost his pew, which was to be sold at public auction.92 Apparently, every- one paid his dues as there is no mention of a public auction. They were the old-fashioned pews with doors that locked on the inside.
When the news of the victory of the Battle of Gettysburg was received in Solon both the bells of the Congregational and Methodist Churches were rung. In trying to outdo each other, evidently the Congrega- tional church's bell became cracked and gave out with a muted tone. They continued to use the bell, a Paul Revere type, until 1890 when it was recast and could once more ring out as of old. In the early 1890's the church was remodeled, at which time the old pews were removed, and new ones installed.93
On February 4, 1899, it was voted to remove the
91 Congregational Church Records for 1859.
92 Ibid., 1856.
93 Ibid., 1863.
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horsesheds which stood near the church, after getting permission from a majority of pewholders. Each hold- er was sent a letter asking his permission either to re- pair or tear them down. One gentleman replied,
I don't know as I care what you do with the sheds, but my advice is by all means repair them. No one can go to meeting and hitch his horse out in the cold and wind. Right them up, shingle them, and put doors to each stall and paint the whole thing. That is the way to do it.94 Evidently his advice was not followed for the sheds were torn down.
It was voted on March 26, 1904, to buy the house and lot across the street from the church, owned by Abner Whipple, for a parsonage at the price of $1,400. Before the building was completely paid for a fire burned it to the ground. With the insurance money of $1,000 and donations, the building was rebuilt. The property was eventually paid for in full.95 This build- ing was sold to a private owner in 1955. The money from this sale has been used for remodeling the church.
Two ladies groups which worked hand in hand with church activities were the Ladies Home Circle (Congregational) and the Ladies Aid (Methodist) . The Ladies Home Circle was founded in the 1870's and the Ladies Aid in 1884. These two groups became one when the Congregational and Methodist churches became federated in 1933.96 This ladies organization became known as the ladies Auxiliary. This group, as
94 Ibid., 1899.
95 Ibid., 1904.
96 The two Church groups decided to become federated because they felt that the expense of supporting two ministers and maintaining two parsonages was beyond the financial capabilities of such a small town. The church is now known as the Federated Church of Solon.
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9454 - Winter Scene, Solon, Me,
Winter scene of Solon Village looking down the hill toward Fall Brook ( 1915)
View of village with new Caratunk Inn (now Solon Hotel) on the right (early 1900's )
Three team road scraper driven by Isaac Davis (Author's Father ) on North Main Street (1920's)
Husking Crew, Salon, me,
Picture of the "Husking Crew" at the Solon Corn Shop (early 1900's)
North Somerset Grange Hall, Solon, Maine.
View of North Somerset Grange building constructed in 1909. Located on School Street. ( Picture taken in 1950's)
The only brick house in the town. Built in 19th century. Owned by Asher Davis (Author's Grandfather ) until 1950's.
Caratunk Falls, Solon
View of Caratunk Falls on the Kennebec River. It was here that Benedict Arnold's expedition was forced to portage in 1775. (late 1800's)
View of pulp mill and the Central Maine Railroad bridge at Caratunk Falls (early 1900's )
Solon-Embden ferry boat operated by Allen Rice. Embden Fair was always a day of "congested traffic". (turn of the century )
NEW BRIDGE SOLON ME
The first bridge across the Kennebec to Embden. Built in the same general area that the ferry boat operated. (1910)
Bram
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SECTION
8 SOLON
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The section crew at Solon Station ( early 1900's )
M. E. Church, Solon, Me.
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4058
The Methodist Church which was built in 1859. Located at the corner of Pleasant and School streets. (1920 view)
LM HILL FARM, SOLON, ME
Elm Hill Farm located on land two miles north of the village and over- looking the Kennebec River. Formerly owned by Tilden Davis (Author's Uncle) for many years. (Built in 19th Century )
Congregational Church, S
View of Solon Station in the "heyday" of the railroad. Arra Davis ( Author's Mother ) is standing on the platform (1920's)
The Congregational Church which was built in 1837. Located on North Main Street (1920 view )
High School Building, Solon, Maine.
The first High School built in town. It was located on a site just south of the present location of the Grange Hall. It was destroyed by fire in 1911. (Built in 1899)
The present school building was constructed in 1913. It eventually would serve all grades -- first through twelfth. (Picture taken in 1950's)
Maple Grove Rural School which was built in the early 1800's. Located in eastern part of town. (Picture taken in 1940's)
the two groups from whence it sprang, continues to raise money by various means to help defray the ex- penses of the church. In 1931, before the two ladies groups were merged, Luther Hunnewell left $5,000 to be known as the Luther Hunnewell Fund to the Ladies Aid Society (Methodist). This money was to be in- vested in safe securities and the income used annually as follows:
To pay fifty dollars to the Methodist Church of Solon, Maine, and to use the balance of said in- come annually in the discretion of said Society to further the education of worthy, poor children. 97
This fund is under the direction of a committee from the Methodist Church group. This is the only endea- vor that is singularly retained by either of the two church organizations.
The South Solon Congregational Church
From 1820 to 1841 the South Solon Church group held their meetings in the homes of its deacons or in the schoolhouse. Reverend Fifield Holt and Reverend Josiah Peet served the group until a full-time pastor could be obtained. Mr. Peet came from Norridgewock "in blizzard, sun or mud" to preach, baptize the chil- dren, and advise on church discipline. In 1824 George Fargo became the fulltime pastor. He became known as Elder Fargo, and served the small community until 1843.98
In 1841 a corporation was formed to put up a bond for the building of a meeting house. The bond was put
97 M. E. Church Committee, Op. cit., p. 21.
98 Mildred H. Cummings, The Story of a Meeting House, (Published by the South Solon Historical Society, 1959) p. 11.
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up through the purchase of shares on the corporation. One church pew was to be considered a share. Many subscribers bought more than one pew as there were more pews than subscribers. The foundation was laid and the beams were raised by men of the congregation. A joiner who contracted to complete the building was a man by the name of John Dore who came from Con- cord, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. Mr. Dore did his job for $475, making the total cost of the building $1,200. The work was completed before Christmas, and on the fourth of January, 1843, the congregation assembled to dedicate the new Meeting House. 99
From 1842, until the end of the nineteenth century, there was little change in the character of the Meeting House or in its congregation. Church services continu- ed with few interruptions until 1904. After 1904, church services in the Meeting House were abandoned. The people began to move away to the industrial towns, the draft for World War I further depleted the population, and the new highways of the 1920's were far away from the South Solon area, therefore, making it difficult to send their produce to market. 100
In 1939 the Meeting House was repaired and serv- ices once again held for the summer of that year. Mr. Willard Cummings, a Maine woolen manufacturer, and his wife Mrs. Helen Cummings settled on a farm in South Solon. Through the interest of Mrs. Cum- mings the idea of restoring the church became a reality. Services were held in the Meeting House each summer until the outbreak of World War II. 101
99 Ibid., p. 12.
100 Ibid., pp. 21-31.
101 Ibid., pp. 35-37.
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A bold turn in the history of the Meeting House evolved in 1950. In a project of five years duration, the interior walls were decorated with fresco paintings. "This painting technique is one in which color is ap- plied to a lime plaster surface while it is wet".102 Stu- dents from the Skowhegan School of Art worked five summers on the project and services held during the summer months since 1950. These efforts have made the "little white church at the crossroads" known throughout the state.
At the present time summer services are held at the South Solon Church. These services are not weekly, but are held about once a month. Attendance is small due to the small population of the area, and the fact that there is no regular pastor. Those attending include the residents of South Solon, a few people from sur- rounding towns, and summer visitors in the area from other states in the Union.
102 Ibid., p. 38.
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TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATIONS
In 1782, when William Hilton located in Solon, the town had nothing but Indian foot trails good only for travel by foot or horseback. As more settlers came to the area it became necessary for better transportation. The Indian trails became widened so ox carts could travel from house to house, or from the homestead to the sawmill. Ditches were sometimes plowed on each side of the road to permit drainage.
Oxen were used for most work around the homes of the early settlers; such work as plowing, hauling logs to the sawmill to be sawed into lumber, and even for the Sunday afternoon ride to the neighbors. The aver- age speed of a pair of oxen was around two and a half miles per hour. This was even too slow for those times. So, slowly, the horse began to replace the ox. The horses' average was a "speedy" five miles per hour. There were two vehicles with which these horses were used: a light wagon known as a buggy, and an- other known as a buckboard. The buggy was used for riding, and the buckboard for transporting light loads as well as for riding.
Until 1809, the year of incorporation, the only roads in Solon were country roads. The first town road to be built was the River Road that started near the Madison town line running eastward by Joseph Matson's place, by Jonas Spaulding's home, until it reached Jewett's Corner in South Solon. Another road built in 1809 was the road beginning near the Buswill house, on the hill just north of the center of town, to the Michael Stream bridge at the foot of Sand Hill about one mile south of town. 103
103 Davis, Op. cit., p. 15.
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By the 1880's, after a hundred years of settlement, the town's population had expanded to nearly a thou- sand, calling for more and better roads. In 1887 the town purchased its first road machine.104 This machine, of course, was drawn by horse.
The Stage and the Railroad
From the early 1800's to the beginning of the twen- tieth century there were stage coaches through Solon. In 1889 there were three different stage routes entering and leaving Solon. One was the stage (two-a-day) from North Anson coming up the Kennebec River from Norridgewock, Madison and Anson. In 1888 the stage fare from North Anson to Solon was fifty cents. Another stage was one coming from Waterville to Skowhegan and on into Solon from a southerly di- rection. It was in Solon that the travelers from the North Anson stage could make connections with the Skowhegan stage and travel northward to Bingham, The Forks, and on to Quebec. The traveling time from Solon to The Forks was slightly more than ten hours; an average of three miles an hour. Another stage ran from Solon to Athens, through Kingsbury, and on to Moosehead Lake in a northeasterly direction. In that same year, 1888, the stage fare from Boston to The Forks, Maine was fourteen dollars for a round trip ticket.105 Many tourists going to Kineo, on Moosehead Lake, rode the stage through Solon in the summer months.
From this brief survey of the stage coach era, we could say that Solon was a minor nerve center for a
104 Ibid.
105 Information from notes taken by Walter Mcdougall, Jr. from the book Summer Vacations at Moosehead Lake by Lucius Hubbard.
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network of three stage routes extending to the northern and northeastern parts of Maine, and to Canadian destinations.
Beginning in 1889, when the Somerset Railroad came to Solon, the days of the stage coach were num- bered. By 1888 the Somerset Railroad had extended as far north as North Anson from the towns of Madi- son and Anson following the age-old route up the Kennebec River. By the next year the terminus of the railroad was extended to Embden, across the river from Solon. At this time the town of Solon refused to buy stocks in the Somerset Railroad. Plans were already underway to extend the railroad northward to Bing- ham by 1890, therefore, the railroad crossed the Ken- nebec River at Caratunk Falls, one mile north of Solon village and continued on to Bingham.106 This accounts for the location of Solon Station at Caratunk Falls, and explains why the station wasn't located in the village. Solon later bought stocks in the railroad. Lo- cated in the vicinity of the station, by the early 1900's was a corn canning plant, a pulp and paper mill, and a potato house. Thus, Solon became a regular stop along the Somerset Railroad line. The mail came on the train and was carried to the post office by a horse- drawn stage owned by Bert Gray, owner of the hotel at that time. 107
By the 1890's there were three daily passenger trains traveling the Somerset Railroad lines from Waterville to Kineo, with stops at Oakland, Norridgewock, Madi-
106 From notes by Walter Mcdougall taken from Down the West Branch by Captain Farrar. (The Somerset Railroad was later taken over by Maine Central Raiload. )
107 From a letter in possession of Walter Mcdougall written by Clarence Soper, son of William Soper, station agent at Solon from 1900-21. (Recol- lections of his childhood in Solon. )
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son, Anson, North Anson, Embden, Solon, Bingham, and The Forks. During the summer months this serv- ice was increased to four passenger trains a day. This extra train in the summer was a Pullman for the tour- ists. It was possible to travel a Pullman all the way from New York or Boston to Kineo without chang- ing trains. In addition to the line to Kineo from The Forks, there was also a line extending to Sandy Bay and on into St. Joseph, Quebec.108 All this mileage of track was operated by the Somerset Railroad Com- pany. In 1890 the passenger fare from Solon to Bing- ham, a distance of eight miles, was seventy-five cents; and the fare from Solon to The Forks, a thirty-mile trip, was two dollars and a half.109
By the 1930's the passenger train service of the Somerset Railroad was becoming very unprofitable due to motorized vehicles and the advent of good high- ways, which made it easier and quicker to travel by automobile. It was in 1933 that the last passenger train was run from Bingham to Kineo. And later that year the passenger train service from Oakland to Bing- ham was discontinued.11ยบ This brought to an end the era of the "iron horse", an era lasting well over forty years.
At the present, the freight train service terminates at Bingham. In 1962 the train ran only twice a week, carrying as its freight pulp, railway express parcels, supplies for the few mills in the area, and finished wood products manufactured in the area.
108 Mcdougall, Op. cit., Down the West Branch.
109 From old schedules of Somerset Railroad in possession of Walter Mcdougall.
110 From notes on Somerset Railroad by Walter Mcdougall.
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Ferry Boats and Other Forms of Transportation
In 1809 the Ferry Boat, located just below the pres- ent site of the Solon-Embden Bridge, was operated by a Mr. Bean. By 1830 the town owned this Ferry, but disposed of it the following year. Others to operate this Ferry were: Joshua Grant, Theophelus Hilton, Allen Rice, and Jothan Stevens. This Ferry remained in operation until 1910, when an iron bridge was constructed across the Kennebec.111 This iron bridge was replaced by the modern concrete bridge of today, which was built in 1957.
The first iron bridge across Fall Brook, just north of the village, was built in 1891, and replaced by the pres- ent cement bridge in 1932.
The first automobile in town was purchased by Wil- liam Soper in 1905, who was the station agent at that time. His purchase was a one-cylinder Cadillac.112 Soon after this, gravel-surfaced roads were being built due to heavier loads of goods being hauled by the farmers and merchants of town.
Trucks were coming into use by the 1920's. Pres- ently there are forty miles of roads in Solon which are plowed each winter. Twenty-five miles are gravel- surfaced, and fifteen miles are bituminous-surfaced.
In 1933 railway passenger service to Solon was dis- continued, and this same year saw the first appearance of a regular bus route through town. The mail, which had previously been carried on the train, was delivered to town by the daily bus. This passenger bus service and mail delivery existed until 1949, when the bus
111 Davis, Op. cit., p. 17.
112 Ibid.
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service through town was discontinued. Since 1949 the mail has been delivered by United States Postal trucks. 113
Post Office
The Post Office was established at Solon February 14, 1818. Isaac Rouse was the first postmaster and was succeeded on August 13 of that same year by Asa Buswell. The location of all the buildings that housed the post office before the fire of 1925 are not known. It is known that it was located at many different places in town. After 1925 the post office was moved to the building across from the hotel, where it remained until January of 1962. It is now located in a modern build- ing at the corner of Perry and Main Streets. 114
The South Solon Post Office was established in 1823, with Hezekiah Hall as the first postmaster. This office was discontinued on October 31, 1902.115 The South Solon mail has been sent to Solon Village ever since; then dispatched to South Solon by rural mail carriers.
The first rural mail route in town was established in 1903, with Dudley Healey as carrier at a salary of fifty dollars per month. 116
A second mail route was established in 1912, being carried by Walter Cross. This second route was twenty-four miles in length, while the first, or original route was twenty-seven miles long. When Mr. Cross
113 Information from Aubrey Kelly present postmaster.
114 Ibid.
115 Davis, Op. cit., p. 4 of supplement.
116 Kelley, Op. cit.
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retired in 1933 the two routes were consolidated and Roland Tozier became the carrier serving both routes.117 Mr. Tozier, the present carrier, has served the town for thirty-six years.
Other Developments
By the turn of the century Solon was just beginning to receive the luxuries of life; items which today we accept as necessities. The first telephone was at the old hotel in 1890. Electric lights were installed in the vil- lage in 1909, the power being furnished by the Star- bird Steam Mill Company. Since 1912 this power has been furnished by the Central Maine Power Company, with its hydro-electric plant at Caratunk Falls. Elec- tric power was not extended to the east of the Village until the 1920's. In 1905 concrete sidewalks replaced the wooden planks used in the nineteenth century. And it was in 1925 that the first airplane landed on the property now owned by Everett Meader, just east of the village. 118
Thus, Solon has evolved from the oxen and horse to the automobile and airplane; from the messenger and telegraph to the telephone and television. What next?
117 Ibid.
118 Davis, Op. cit., p. 18.
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ECONOMIC HISTORY
Merchants
The first record of merchants in the history of Solon appears in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Elisha Coolidge from Hallowell, and a Mr. Rouse from Boston were joint proprietors of a general store for almost fifty years. Their place of business was a build- ing located at the present site of the home now owned by George Donahue, locally known as the Pollard place. Another early merchant was Bartholomew Boies, who came from Skowhegan and kept a store and hotel on the property now owned by Hazen Hunne- well. Both of these early places of business were located just north of Fall Brook on the Solon-Bingham road. Silas Tibbetts and Chandler Knights came from Bing- ham and traded at the place on North Main Street now known as the Curtis place.119 All of these businesses were probably well established by 1830. There were many others which followed in the nineteenth cen- tury, but it seems unnecessary to mention them in this work.
The names of Rowell, Buswell, Grover, Gray, Mer- rill, Vittum, Smith, McInters, Jones, Miller, Andrews, Heald, and Cross recall but a few of the successful merchants before the present time. 120
At the present time there are but five merchants in the town of Solon. Albert Baxter operates the grocery store beside the old post office, Roger Heald operates the grocery store on the corner of Pleasant and Main Streets, Bernard Shepardson runs a grocery and hard-
119 Solon-Bingham Register, 1903, pp. 21-22.
120 Ibid., p. 22.
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ware store in the village, Virginia Andrews operates a variety store and filling station on North Main Street.
In addition to these merchants there are two garage operators in town. Paul Russell operates the Esso sta- tion at the corner of Ferry and Main Streets, and Olen Brown operates "Brownie's" garage on South Main Street. The Solon Hotel, located in the center of town is operated by Raymond Faucher. The River View Rest Camps, located at the Solon-Embden bridge, are operated by Fritz Spotholts and Fred Wal- thers, Bell's Cabins are run by Walter Bell, and Moun- tain View Camps, located five miles south of town, are operated by William Partridge.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing history of the town of Solon began at an early date. To induce settlers to the north- ern part of town, the early owners of the territory found it was necessary to provide mills for the manu- facture of lumber and the grinding of grain. As early as 1793 Calvin Pierce built the first lumber mill in town just above the present dam on Fall Brook. This mill had the old-fashioned up and down saw.121
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