USA > Maine > Washington County > Milltown > Annals of Calais, Maine, and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; including the village of Milltown, Me., and the present town of Milltown, N.B. > Part 10
USA > Maine > Washington County > Calais > Annals of Calais, Maine, and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; including the village of Milltown, Me., and the present town of Milltown, N.B. > Part 10
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH,-MILLTOWN & CALAIS.
rop of Calais, and the pastor. Thus once more the So- ciety was in good working condition, and the prospect seemed brighter and more hopeful than ever. Dr. George continued to perform the arduous but not con- flicting duties of pastor and physician till Dec. 1858 ; when, to the surprise and regret of all his friends, he resigned, and sought a less toilsome and more profitable field of labor.
The parish lost no time in hearing candidates. Its next pastor, Rev. H. A. Philbrook began Dec. 19, 1858. He was young, agreeable, talented and energetic. Both the matter and manner of his sermons were pleasing, and his congregation soon equalled the capacity of the church. No prospect could be more brilliant, for the day of triumph had at last arrived. The success was so great that the Unitarians of Calais earnestly desired to participate in the blessing. Accordingly after due pre- liminaries, the Universalist Society voted, April 17, 1859, "that Br. H. A. Philbrook be permitted to preach one sermon in the Unitarian church in Calais, each Sun- day, for a year ;- the Calais Society paying one half his salary." It was done ; and thus without apparent in- tention on either side, commenced that fusion of the two parishes, which was destined ultimately to make them forever, one and indivisible.
The records of the Church having been consumed with the meeting-house, and its organization lost, at the request of the pastor, a reorganization was effected in the Spring of 1859. The persons that affiliated were Wm. Duren, Benj. Young, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Har- mon, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Todd, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Whitney, Mrs. Robert Todd, Mrs. Sophia Sawyer, Mrs. Seth M. Todd, Mrs.
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH,-MILLTOWN & CALAIS. £ John Dutch, Mrs. Sarah Lowell, and Miss Laura Hill. Again the Ordinances were observed, and the Lord wor- shipped in the beauty of holiness.
When the war of the Rebellion broke out, the young pastor so warmed up with patriotism and so longed to be in the strife, that Mar. 23, 1862, the parish voted him leave of absence for three months, to enable him to accept the Chaplaincy of the 8th Maine Regiment of Volunteers. He went to the war ; and during his ab- sence and subsequent illness, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. S. B. Rawson, recently Prof. of Ancient Languages in St. Lawrence University,-a learned and excellent man. But permanency is not an attribute of things material. Slowly but inevitably the Milltown Society experienced a disheartening change. Some of the active members died ; some lost their religious inter- est ; some moved down to "salt water;" and few new members came in to fill up the vacancies. The congre- gation was growing smaller. Mr. Philbrook's army campaign had broadened his views and excited his am- bition ; and after mature deliberation, he wisely resolv- ed to inaugurate a new Society in Calais.
To test the feasibility of the project, he began in May, 1866, to preach one half of each Sunday in City Hall, Calais, spending the other half of the day in the Milltown church. The result exceeded his sanguine hope. The Calais meeting was a novelty that drew at- tention, and the seats in the Hall were free. He spake freely, and the people liked both his style and senti- ments. If he did not attract many from other Societies, he gathered not a few who had no religious home. The prospect soon became so encouraging that an organi- zation was deemed needful ; and "The First Independ-
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH,-MILLTOWN & CALAIS.
ent Universalist Society in Calais," sprang into actual and consequential existence. Literally the Universal- ists "pitched their tent on new ground" and found it safe and pleasant.
But as the new Society increased, the old one de- creased. The audience became quite small, the pastor moved to Calais, and the few that remained, were dis- couraged. Yet there stood their handsome meeting- house, not fourteen years old ; and what to do with it, became more and more a puzzling problem. To use it or desert it, seemed equally unsatisfactory. A Pro- vidential interference solved the difficult question in a moment. By the terrific storm of Oct. 5, 1869, the meeting-house was blown down and completely demol- ished. The end of the Society started by Mr. Clark, and incorporated Mar. 26, 1857, by the "Lieutenant Governor, Legislative Council and Assembly of New Brunswick," had come. Its last meeting was held Oct. 23, 1869 ; and it then voted to adjourn sine die. Sever- al of its members still reside in Milltown, but they have no religious meetings and no hope of any reorganization for some time to come.
The Calais Society after worshipping awhile in the City Hall, moved into the Congregationalist vestry on Main St., and after that was burned, into the Metho- dist church which was generously opened for them. May 5, 1870, the Society was legally organized and em- powered to hold property, in accordance with the Stat- utes of Maine. It called itself, "The First Universalist Society of Calais ;" and thirty-six persons became mem- bers. A Preamble, Profession of Faith, Constitution and By-Laws were adopted, similar to those drawn up years before by Dr. George for the Milltown parish.
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The manly and Christian spirit of the Preamble, renders it worthy of preservation.
"Whereas, God in his wisdom has bestowed on us the inestimable riches of his Word, and set before us the great examples of Christ to bless and guide us through life, and has called upon us as his servants to labor in extending the spirit and principles of the Gospel among men ; therefore we form ourselves into a society, that we may be helps to each other, and by our united ener- gies be able to work more successfully in the cause of our Divine Master."
The Profession of Faith is the one adopted by all the Universalist Societies in the country. It is as follows :
1. "We believe, that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the char- acter of God, and of the duty, interest, and final desti- nation of mankind.
. 2. "We believe thereis one God, whose nature is love ; revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.
3. "We believe, that holiness and true happiness are inseparably connected ; and that believers ought to main- tain order, and practise good works, for these things are good and profitable unto men."
May 20, 1870, the Society purchased one half of the Unitarian church, and in conjunction with the Uni- tarians, thoroughly remodelled and repaired it at an ex- pense of ten thousand dollars. The Building Committee were Benj. Young, Wm. Duren, J. Phelan and L. L. Wadsworth. It was then named "Union Church" and dedicated Dec. 28, 1870. Rev. H. A. Philbrook preach- ed the sermon, and Rev. Mr. Crafts, of Eastport, offer- ed the prayer,
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH,-MILLTOWN & CALAIS.
Soon after, the two Societies and their Sunday- schools united and worshipped together, Rev. Mr. Philbrook resigned and Rev. I. C. Knowlton was chosen pastor. He commenced June 1st, 1871, and still retains the office ; and the united parish is enjoying a fair share of prosperity.
In May, 1872, an organization was arranged. call- ed the "Church of Christ in the Union Parish, Calais, Maine," and twenty-five persons became members. The following "Statement of Faith and Purpose," re- veals its character.
STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PURPOSE.
"We whose names are hereunto subscribed, believe that "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
We believe that we are the children of the "Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all ;" whom therefore we should love, obey, and trust.
We believe that "the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ;" and that therefore it ought to "be preached to every crea- ture."
We believe that Christ has a Church on the earth, embracing all his disciples ; and that openly acknowl- edging our allegiance to him, and working in his church, is the best way to grow in grace, and to manifest to the world our religious faith and purpose.
We therefore assume the responsibilities and duties incumbent upon members of the Christian Church.
We offer the Right Hand of Fellowship to all who desire to unite with us, and would commend to them
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH,-MILLTOWN & CALAIS.
the Christian rites of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We claim to be a branch of the Church of Christ, in the Union Parish, Calais, Maine.
We propose to elect such officers and adopt such rules and regulations as, from time to time, may be deemed needful ; and we reserve the right to withdraw from this organization, when it shall seem best to us, without question or opposition."
The Universalist Society still retains its name, holds its annual meetings, and seems in no danger of dying ; but practically it is merged in the Union Parish ; and that parish, united as it is in faith and feeling, owning a first class church, with all the needful furni- ture, bell, organ, &c., being free from debt, and being sustained by many of our moral, intelligent, wealthy, and influential citizens, must long remain a power and a blessing on the St. Croix.
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SHIPPING.
XXII.
SHIPPING.
Calais and St. Stephen are located on the opposite banks of the St. Croix river, at the head of the tide, about twelve miles from that magnificent arm of the ocean, St. Andrews Bay. The river has bold and picturesque shores, and varies in width from fifty rods to two hundred. The tide rises and falls twenty-six feet, making the river navigable for large vessels, twice in every twenty-four hours. At low water, however, the river appears like a shallow stream running through a wide and deep valley. The bed of the river, made soft by vast accumulations of mud and sawdust, per- mits vessels of any size to ground without injury.
The principal export from Calais and St. Stephen has ever been lumber. The St. Croix is an easy path to the ocean, and for bulky and heavy merchandize, the ocean road is ever the cheapest way to market. Hence, from the first, the lumbermen have required and employ- ed a large number of vessels ; and on account of both the size of the river, and the small cargoes desired by western purchasers, in the coasting line small vessels have generally been preferred. So long as the shippers of lumber were cramped for means, the freighting was done by vessels owned in St. Andrews, St. John, Port-
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SHIPPING.
land, Boston, and elsewhere ; but at an early day, the thrifty operators in the forest resolved to build, own and manage vessels in which to export their manufac- tures. On experiment, this was found to be good poli- cy ; and it was ultimately adopted by all who possessed the means. Seventy-five years ago the registry of new vessels was not attended to so faithfully, at least in this part of the country, as at present ; but the follow- ing is deemed reliable so far as it goes :
In 1797, tradition reports a vessel built in St. Stephen, Alexander Gordon, and sold to Smith & Rob- inson, of St. John. If the story is correct, this was the first vessel launched into the river above St. Andrews. In 1799 and 1800, the schooner Anne was built in St. Stephen, for Joseph Porter. In 1803, Jarius Keene built for an Eastport company, the schooner Liberty, on Kilburn's Point, Calais. This was the first one launch- ed in Calais. About this time, the brig Æolus was built in St. Stephen, for Abner Hill and Aaron Upton ; and the schooner Boyne, in Calais, for Shubael Downes. Probably other vessels were built on each side of the river, previous to 1812, but I have not been able to find their names or owners. The war came ; business was suspended ; hard times followed ; and we hear no more of ship-building until 1818. In that year, Jarius Keene built the schooner Unity, in St. Stephen. He also built in Calais, in 1820, the schooner Boston, and in 1823, the Calais Packet,
For a few years, commencing perhaps about 1818, ship-building in St. Stephen was brisk and profitable, and quite a number of vessels were launched. Among the master-builders were David Eastman and a Mr. God- frey from Steuben, Me .; and among the owners were
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SHIPPING.
William Porter and the Messrs. Clark. The Fingal and Wm. Wallace, the barque Cleopatra, and the ship Heroine,- the first ship ever built in town,-were successfully launched. But in 1823-4, in consequence of the strin- gent money market and financial panic in Europe, the ship-building business became so unprofitable that work in the yards entirely ceased, and several half-built ves- sels in St. Stephen, were abandoned and left to rot on the stocks. But the depression did not last long ; the world needs a large fleet ; and soon, the carpenters were again busily at work.
In 1825, Jarius Keen built brig Zipporah and schoon- er Sarah, in Calais, and brig Keziah, in St. Stephen ; and the same year, O. P. Hinds built in St. Stephen, for James Frink, the schooner Henry. The next year, Mr. Hinds took down two of the rotting hulks, and work- ed over a part of their material into the two new brigs, Mary Porter and Pilgrim. In 1827, Mr. Hinds also built in St. Stephen, barque Cereus and pilot boat John Campbell. In 1829, Mr. Keene built in Calais, the schooner Resolution ; and Mr. Hinds built in St. Stephen, the brig Sampson. After this, the names of some of the vessels built, were, brig Royal William, St. Stephen, 1830 ; brigs, Eliza Ann, Nehemiah, Hester and Sir John Moore, St. Stephen, 1832 : schooner Gov. Robbins, Cal- ais, 1833 ; schooner Caribou, Calais, 1835 ; and soon after, schooner Freeport, brig Hebe and barque Stephen. Considerable building has been going on ever since ; but for the names and dates, the reader must consult the Custom House records.
The following statement of the shipping interests in Calais, for 1874, does not materially differ from the average annual business of the past five years. One
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SHIPPING.
hundred and seventy-six vessels are owned in, or hail from Calais, and some twenty-five, from . St. Stephen. During 1874, the river was open for navigation, 300 days. Arrivals in Calais, 1169 ; clearances, 1177. Vessels built, 12, having a burthen of 2639 tons. Vessels re- paired at docks and railways, 222. Exports as follows : long lumber, 78,000,000 feet ; laths, 64,000,000 ; shin- gles, 35,000,000 ; pickets, 1,500,000 ; spool stuff, 143,- 000 ; staves, 525,000 ; clapboards, 135,000 ; posts and R. R. ties, 41,000 ; ship knees, 60,000 ; spruce poles, 1450 ; cords of wood, 450 ; stone drags, 101 ; bedsteads, 790 ; barrels of plaster, 41,000. Imports as follows : bushels of corn, 150,000 ; barrels of flour, 28,000 ; bar- rels of pork and beef, 3300; tons of coal, 3000; casks of lime, 6,100.
The St. Stephen people are part owners of many Calais vessels, and their commerce is largely done un- der the American flag. Much of their lumber is ship- ped from the port of Calais, and is therefore included in the above manifest. There are however about sixty arrivals and clearances in a year ; the trade being main- ly with Europe and the West Indies. The value of the annual exports is about $500,000 ; imports. $400,000. The balance is invariably in favor of both St. Stephen and Calais ; and hence they are growing in wealth.
It was long the fond hope and dream of St. An- drews that, aided by railway accommodation, her har- bor would eventually become the main sea-port for all British North America ; but the thrift and growth of the up-river towns, long ago dissipated that pleasant illu- sion. Invariably the inward bound ship seeks the head of the tide ; and her sails are not furled until shoal wa- ter or rapids forbid her progress. The port of Calais
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SHIPPING.
and St. Stephen is the natural, maritime outlet and in- let of a large and rich part of Maine and New Bruns- wick, and through it there must ever flow a large a- mount of commerce ; and when inland, railway communi- cation is perfected, and numerous factories utilize the immense water power of the St. Croix, here will arise the queen city of the East.
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BRIDGES.
XXIII.
BRIDGES.
The first bridge that spanned the St. Croix river, was made of ice. For thousands of years, a solid struct- ure of this material was stretched from shore to shore every Autumn, and broken up and carried away every Spring. In Summer the Red men crossed the water in birch bark canoes, and the early white settlers, in more substantial boats. As the white population and need of transit increased, the boats became more and more nu- merous, until regular ferries were established. The ferry at Milltown was run by Jesse Haycock, and the one at Calais by Isaac Hanson. Neither of them, at any time were large enough to carry teams.
At an early day, the date not remembered, a wood- en bridge was thrown across the river at Baring, and those who wished to drive from Calais to St. Stephen were obliged to go through Baring ; driving eight miles to reach a point only half a mile distant.
At length tired of this round about way, in 1825, the upper bridge at Milltown was built by Amaziah Nash for a Corporation that embraced himself, Salmon Gates, David Wright, Joel Hill, Abner Hill and others. It was not an elegant structure, but it was safe and con- venient ; and great was the public joy at its opening. From the first, it has been a paying investment.
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BRIDGES.
Stimulated by this success, in 1827, the Ferry Point bridge, the lowest on the river, was built by Capt. Seth Emerson for a Company comprising himself, Jo- seph Whitney, Geo. Downes, Nehemiah Marks, Robert Lindsay and others. Mr. Emerson has kept it in ex- cellent repair from that time to the present day ; and it is now a handsome and substantial structure. A very large amount of travel passes over it, and hence it pays a large dividend to the owners.
The lower bridge at Milltown and the Union Mills bridge were built about thirty years ago, mainly for the accommodation of the mill owners in these localities. Neither of the four bridges are free ; and so long as the St. Croix is the boundary of two Governments, it is not probable that either bridge will be made free.
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LITERATURE.
XXIV.
LITERATURE.
The wisdom of the wise, and the knowledge of the learned are preserved in books. Education is obtained mainly by reading. In any society, the more select reading, the higher the tone and culture. At an early day these facts were perceived and acted upon by the wide-awake people of Calais and St. Stephen.
A society called the "Calais Club" was organized in Calais, Apr. 4. 1827, by A. G. Chandler, Geo. Downes, N. D. Shaw, O. L. Bridges, Theodore Jones, T. A. Brewer, Henry Richards and J. S. Cooper. Its object was to establish and maintain a public library. The price of admission to the Club was five dollars ; and the annual tax, five dollars. A room in the second story of a building on Union Wharf, was engaged and fitted for use, thirty or forty more persons joined the Club, books were bought and donated, and the library went into operation. In the course of two or three years, most of the prominent citizens on each side of the river were admitted as members, several hundred volumes were placed on the shelves, and the institution declared a success. The records indicate that the members were negligent about returning books and paying fines ; but there was a large amount of profitable reading.
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LITERATURE.
In May, 1833, the organization was legally incor- porated as the "Calais Library Club." The admission fee was raised to eight dollars, and the annual tax re- duced to four. Fifty-two persons became members un- der the new regime. Lewis Wilson was chosen Presi- dent ; Luthur C. White, Secretary ; Dr. S. S. Whipple, Manly B, Townsend and James S. Pike, Directors. The library was open one afternoon in each week, and at times there were exciting scrambles for some favor- ite book. But on this basis, with occasional ups and downs, the Club continued to enjoy a fair share of prosperity until 1868, when it being in debt, and some of the members desiring to dissolve the Company, a suit was brought against it, and the entire stock of books sold at auction. This was done to open the way for a new and better organization. Immediately a new Company was formed, called the "St. Croix Library Association ;" a subscription was made of over $500, the books bought at the same low price for which they were sold, and the institution reopened on a more hope- ful basis than before. The admission fee was now fix- ed at ten dollars, and the annual tax at four. The Li- brary was open one afternoon in a week.
In the great fire of 1870, the building in which the Library was kept, was burned, and many of the books were destroyed. But two years after, the institution again went into operation. A room was hired in St. Croix hall, and by the generosity of F. H. Todd and F. A. Pike, supplied with nice and commodius tables and shelves ; many new books were purchased with the money received for insurance on the volumes burned ; the annual subscription was reduced to two dollars, and the public placed on about an equal footing with stock-
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LITERATURE.
holders, and a librarian secured for every afternoon in the week except Sunday. The Library is now in a more healthy and prosperous condition than ever before. It owns over 2500 books, and has 190 subscribers ; and the number of both books and readers is steadily increasing. There are at present some seventy resident stockholders and as the number is slowly diminishing, and as there is little inducement for any one to purchase stock, it is probable that the city eventually by appropriating one or two hundred dollars annually, will assume its manage- ment and secure its permanent prosperity. The officers for the current year are Edgar Whidden, President ; F. A. Pike, Vice President ; Frank Williams, Treasurer ; Edward Moore, Clerk ; Julia Kimball, Librarian ; E. B. Harvey, W. J. Corthell, C. B. Rounds, A. L. Todd, G. T. Porter, Wm. Todd, L. C. Bailey, Directors.
Cultured by choice and extensive reading, stimu- lated by the bracing air, and inspired by the wild and romantic scenes and scenery of this north-eastern coun- try, many of our citizens have evinced a decided liter- ary taste, and several have won an enviable reputation as authors. In fact, few places of the same size can boast so many intellectual people and respectable writ- ers.
Conspicuous among the best, is the amiable and thoughtful Mrs. F. A. Pike, daughter of the late Dea. E. D. Green of Calais. Her first book, "Ida May," had an extensive sale and millions of delighted readers. Its influence and popularity may be inferred from the fact, that hundreds of daughters, since its publication, have been christened, for its sweet heroine,-Ida May. Her next book, "Caste," though equally well written
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LITERATURE.
and artistically of a higher order, yet being an anti- slavery story and launched in the wake of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," was not so well received. Her third volume was Agnes ; a pleasant story. Since its publication, though occasionally writing an article for the magazines, Mrs. Pike has exchanged the pen for the pencil and brush, and is doing very fine work as a landscape paint- er.
The brilliant Harriet Prescott was also a native of Calais ; her mother being a sister of that able attorney, O. L. Bridges, Esq. She remained here till imbued with the romantic spirit of the place, and then at the age of ten, moved to Newburyport, Mass., where she married Mr. Spofford. She began to attract public notice as an authoress by her arabesque and witching stories in the "Atlantic" magazine. She has since pub- løshed several much read volumes, and is still writing in the full tide of popularity. Among her interesting volumes are, "Amber Gods," "Sir Rohan's Ghost," "A Thief in the Night," and "Azania." Her sister, Mary N. Prescott, also a native of Calais, is the writer of many pretty stories in "Our Young Folks" and other monthlies.
J. S. Pike, Esq., another native of Calais, is wide- ly known as a racy correspondent of the New York Tribune. He has recently published a book,-"The Prostrate State," and although largely engaged in fi- nancial affairs, he still finds time to use his facile and pungent pen.
Hon. J. G. Stevens of St. Stephen has edited and published two volumes of agricultural reports, and an able and highly prized "Digest of New Brunswick Law Reports," and his pen is still busy.
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LITERATURE.
Mrs. F. H. Todd of St. Stephen, has written some · very pretty story books for children. Mrs. B. F. Kel- ley of Calais paints exquisitely beautiful pictures of plants and flowers. Geo. A. Boardman of Milltown, a self taught ornithologist and taxidermist, has gather- ed and with his own hand prepared, one of the finest collections of stuffed birds in the country. It is suppos- ed to contain specimens of all the native birds of Maine and New Brunswick. The pupils of the Calais High School publish a neat monthly paper, written and edit- ed by themselves ; and thus give promise of a bright literary future for their native town.
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