USA > Maine > Somerset County > Bingham > Bingham sesquicentennial history, 1812-1962 > Part 4
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These twenty-two men have served as deacons: Joseph Russell, Ephraim Wood, Allen Baker, Nathan Baker, Gilbert Greenwood, T. F. Houghton, Albert Burke, Sydney T. Goodrich, Edwin S. Baker, Henry O. Chase, Fred P. Saunders, Lewis Baker, Charles A. Foss, Harry Cummings, Elmer Baker, Allen P. Robinson, Ruben H. Crombie, E. Hugh Matheson, Rudolph Quint, and Donald Walker.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CIRCLE
Prior to 1893 there was no women's organization connected with the Church here, but the women of that day were eager to take an active part in the life and work of the Church. The subject of the organization of a ladies group for this purpose was discussed at great length by both the men and women. As a result of this discussion, a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Sidney Goodrich and the MISSION CIRCLE was organized with Mrs. Goodrich as its first president and Mrs. Viola Colby, the first vice-president. The object of this society was to raise money for the Church, for the Maine Missionary Society-from whom this Church was receiving help at the time- and to form a center of social activities for the women of the com- munity.
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About this time the idea was beginning to form of building a new Congregational Church, and to this end, the women of the newly formed organization began working. It was a huge undertaking for this little group and presented a tremendous amount of work. Their first efforts, a Church Bazaar, netted the sum of $250.00, which im- mediately started the fund for the new Church. For the first two years this group was absorbed in raising money for this project. In- numerable sales, suppers, exhibitions, minstrel shows and ice cream
The Old Church and Horseshed Built in 1836.
socials were held, and when the new Church was dedicated in 1895, free from debt, it was certainly due in no small part to this valiant group of women.
Some of the earlier names connected with this group are: Mrs. Viola Colby, Mrs. Julia Colby, Mrs. Dora Goodrich, Mrs. Clara Bray, Mrs. Rose Lander, Mrs. Emily Savage, Mrs. Alice Goodrich, Mrs. Delia Webster, Mrs. Lephe Preble, Mrs. Sarah Milliken, Mrs. Sue Preble, "Aunt" Lydia Russell, and Mrs. Martha Turner. Not all were charter members but joined the group in the early days.
The name of the society was later changed to the CONGREGATIONAL CHURH CIRCLE, which it is today. The object of the organization is the same as when the MISSION CIRCLE was formed-to help the Church in all its endeavors and to aid in all worthwhile projects. A yearly pledge is made to the Church and to the WORLD WIDE MISSION GOAL as well as contributing to many charitable organizations.
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The Circle has played a large part in finishing and furnishing our present Parish House, Sunday School classrooms, needed repairs and furnishings for the Church, equipment of chimes and carillon recordings, an amplyfying system, and repairs and equipment where- ever needed.
Mrs. Hans Hansen is the current president and Mrs. Donald Whitman the vice-president. The CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CIRCLE is still a hard-working group, but much satisfaction and enjoyment is derived withal.
Too much credit cannot be given those early pioneers whose de- votion to a life of service to the Church is an inspiration to those who follow.
- MRS. LINWOOD F. SMITH, a past president
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
From early times there was a small, but faithful, group of Method- ist people who were for some years a part of the Methodist Church in Solon. In 1895 it was divided and Rev. Joseph Moulton became its first pastor. Their services were held in a little upper room in the building which stands just behind the White Cash Market now. The room had previously been furnished for a place of worship by a Baptist group that was in existence here for a few years. In 1897, under Rev. W. T. Chapman, who, I believe, also served the Solon Church, they came into possession of the Old Union Church after the Congregationalists built their new Church on Meadow Street. Their first ten pastors were: Rev. Joseph Moulton, 1895-97; Rev. W. T. Chapman, 1897; Rev. H. G. Hemmas, 1898; R. V. Davis, 1898; Rev. Robert Scott, 1899; Fred McNeil, 1902; Rev. James Renfrew, 1904; O. G. Wyman, 1905; W. C. Beedy, 1907; and Louis Swan, 1911.
In 1905, under Rev. O. G. Wyman, a parsonage was built on the adjoining lot. It is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Woodard. From 1913 through 1916 it was again united with Solon, with Rev. H. C. Glidden supplying.
About this time they decided to build a new Church nearer the center of the village. The old Union Church was sold to the Kennebec Chapter of the D.A.R., and the smaller building on Meadow Street was built and dedicated June 19, 1917, with Bishop Edwin H. Hughes of Bos- ton leading the dedicatory service. Rev. Charles Berry was the first pastor in the new building. Mrs. Arnold Moore, whose husband was pastor of the Solon Church, supplied the Church in 1922-23. They had been missionaries in India. Rev. Mary Sampson, formerly mis- sionary to South America, was pastor here in 1927-28. About this
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time Mrs. Etta Holt, one of the oldest and most faithful members of the Church, died and other older members having already passed away, the Church again became part of the parish of Solon, and finally passed out of existence. The building reverted to the Conference and was sold and used as a garage until the Church of the Nazarene purchased it in 1956.
BAPTISTS IN BINGHAM
The people in the rural section of the town, particularly in the southeastern part, were organized in a Free Will Baptist Church at one time. There was no Meeting House, services being held in the schoolhouses or in the homes. Quarterly meetings were led by ministers of the denomination from outside. Services were sometimes conducted by local men who were licensed or ordained to preach-sometimes called "Schoolhouse Preachers."
They kept alive the spark of faith needful for a group of people who were more or less isolated from the section of the town and people along the river by the low-lying hills and by the lack of good roads.
A small group of Baptists kept up an organization for a short time in the village, using a room in a building on Baker Street as a place of worship. Another group was organized as a Baptist Church in Moscow for a time.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH
For many years the parish priests of Skowhegan's Notre Dame de Lourdes Church were responsible for the few families living in the Bingham area at that time. When Madison had its first pastor, Bingham became a mission of that town.
A plot of land was given by Mr. John Owens, Sr. to be used as a site of a chapel. Later more land was bought and added to it.
A chapel was built about 1915 or 1916 under the direction of the Rev. Mathew Curran, then pastor of Madison and serving the local mission. It was dedicated by the Most Rev. Louis Walsh, Bishop of Portland, and was given the name of St. Peter the Apostle.
On November 28th, 1920, Rev. John O. Holohan became its first pastor, undertaking also the missions of Solon, North Anson, Caratunk and The Forks. The Catholic population was about thirty- five families.
When the Allen Quimby Veneer Company began operating, the number of communicants increased to the point where more room was necessary. In 1950, under the able direction of Father Madore,
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the Church was enlarged and renovated, with a new sanctuary, sacristy and altar, and new pews. The remodelled Church was blessed by the Most Reverend Daniel J. Feeney, Coadjutator Bishop of Portland, October 15, 1950.
The Church contains memorial windows to some of the earlier families. The windows are in memory of Joseph and Mary B. Pooler, Mary E. McCollar, Philip J. and Mary A. Mahoney, Agnes B. Fitz- morris, Margery D. Cahill, Thomas and Mary A. Donigan, Elizabeth M. Cassidy, George Collins, Michael W. and Margaret F. Donahue, John and Eliza Kelley, and Michael and Julia Curran.
The following list of names are those of the pastors who have served at St. Peter's: Rev. John H. Holohan, Nov. 1920 to Nov. 1922; Rev. James Mullen, Nov. 1922 to Jan. 1923; Rev. Morris Carroll, Jan. 1923 to Jan. 1926; Rev. S. Raemers, Jan. 1926 to June 1926; Rev. Pierre W. Hamel, June 1926 to Oct. 1928; Rev. Philip Dube, Oct. 1928 to Feb. 1936; Rev. Napoleon Madore, Feb. 1936 to Sept. 1952; Rev. Gaston Auger, Sept. 1952 to Mar. 17, 1962. The present pastor is the Rev. Paul Roberge who came March 17th of this year.
THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
The Church of the Nazarene was born in a revival at the begin- ning of the twentieth century. This revival was of the New Testament teachings and ministry of John Wesley during England's eighteenth century. Services of this Church were first held in Bingham during the summer of 1955.
The Bingham services were first held in a tent on a vacant lot. After a short time, the meetings were transferred to the Fraternity Hall where Sunday morning services were conducted. The present pastor, the Rev. Keith E. Smith, came to Bingham in September, 1955, to continue this work. From an attendance of six worshippers on the first Sunday, the growth of the Church has steadily increased. Today there are some one hundred fifty individuals affiliated with the Church. As part of the Church's yearly calendar, special meetings are held twice yearly with visiting evangelists.
On November 20, 1955, the Sunday morning services were moved to the Moscow Elementary School Auditorium. The Nazarene Young People's Society began holding Sunday evening services at this time at the pastor's residence. On the first Easter Sunday, April 8, 1956, there were one hundred thirty-four worshippers in attendance.
A revival with the Rev. Mel-Thomas Rothwell led to the official organization of the Church April 22, 1956, with twenty-four charter
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members. At this time, the Rev. Keith E. Smith was appointed pastor by the district superintendent of the New England Church of the Nazarene.
A red letter day for the new Church was June 30, 1956, when the Church mortgage papers and title deeds were signed for the pur- chase of the old Methodist Church building in Bingham, and an adjoining piece of property. A house on this property was to become the parsonage.
Communion was observed on the first Sunday in the new Church, July 8, 1956. At this time, Sunday evening church services were added. The first baptism was held at Wyman Lake during this summer.
During the summer of 1956, the interior of the Church, which had become a blackened shell in recent years, was washed by the young people. Large truck doors behind the pulpit area were replaced with a solid wall. The Church had been built originally in 1915 by the Methodists and was used by them for some fourteen years. After standing idle for a number of years, it was finally sold and turned into a garage, and later into a blacksmith shop.
In 1957, the Nazarenes began a program to restore the Church property. Work done on the Church building this year included new woodwork, plastered walls, a lowered sanctuary ceiling, tiled flooring, repair of the stained glass windows, new pulpit furnishings, an altar, and rest rooms.
A summer vacation Bible school, participation in camp meetings, and a children's summer camp were added to the Church's program.
During the late fall of 1960, the Church's basement dirt floor was cemented and Sunday School department and classrooms, plus a nursery and fellowship hall, were built. The Sunday School became departmentalized. New lighting fixtures were placed throughout the Church.
Church pews were installed and a fence was built to enclose part of the Church's property in 1961. This same year, the parsonage, which was repaired to some degree in 1956, was completely modernized.
During the present year the sanctuary has been re-plastered and the walls painted. A pastor's study and office has been built on the second floor of the Church. An electric two-manual reed organ has been installed.
Dedication of the Church and parsonage is planned for the fall of this Sesquicentennial year.
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Post Offices
IDNEY T. GOODRICH in his Historical Sketch written for the Bingham S Centennial in 1912 said that in 1812 mail was brought on horseback once a week and left at a Post which was someone's house designated by the town. In 1862 the mail was brought from Skowhegan three times a week by the old four-horse mail coach. The Postmaster was Benjamin F. Moore in what is now The Little Shop. In 1912 mail came three times a day by train. The Post Office at that time was located in the building where the White Cash Market is and Fred W. Preble was the Postmaster. In 1962, there were two mails a day by U. S. mail trucks to present location.
According to a letter to Gerard Guay, our present Postmaster, a Post Office was established in Bingham in 1825 with Levi G. Fletcher as Postmaster. The mail may have been kept at his house, which was located on what is now Lawyer Harwood's lawn at the corner of Main and Murray Streets. Fletcher, who has been called the first store-keeper, sold goods from his home previous to building the store on the other side of the street about 1826.
Benjamin Smith, II, was probably located in a small shop which stood nearly where Moore's Drugstore stands. Postmaster December 15, 1838.
March 29, 1839, Washington McIntire had settled on the farm last occupied by Frank Savage and it is not known whether he had mail left at that place or whether he received it in some place in the village.
The name David White, January 4, 1840, is not known to the writer, nor where he received and distributed mail at this time.
William Rowell, July 7, 1841.
Cyrus Hunter, November 28, 1845, lived in the house where the Library is now located and owned a blacksmith shop on the opposite side of the street. He must have cared for the mail at one of these points.
Benjamin Smith, II, April 12, 1847. Whether he still occupied the little shop at the upper end of Main Street or the large two-story house and store where he lived and conducted a store for many years is not known.
Benjamin F. Moore, March 2, 1862, was in "The Little Shop" now owned by Florence Murray.
Simeon Goodrich, November 29, 1865, was in his store which is: now occupied by Clayton Andrews. Apparently his tenure was a long.
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one as the next Postmaster was Willis B. Goodrich, December 5, 1878, his nephew, who succeeded him in the store. The Post Office continued to remain in the same place.
The next Postmaster was Fred C. Dinsmore, February 13, 1886, not known, only that at one time he was located in a store which was built by Joel Colby. It may have been there.
Willis B. Goodrich again received the appointment June 1, 1889. Back to the Goodrich store again where it had been before.
He was succeeded by Moses Thompson, March 30, 1893, who occupied the building where the White Cash Market is now. This building was fitted up for a Post Office on the street floor. Miss Belle Clark, a sister of Albert Clark of Caratunk, was assistant Postmaster a part of his term, and succeeded him February 25, 1897. She was followed by her sister, Mary E. Clark, February 17, 1897. On her marriage to Dr. John Piper she was succeeded by Fred W. Preble June 9, 1909.
Albert F. Donigan, who owned and operated the Donigan Clothing & Furniture Store at the corner of Main and Preble Streets, was the next Postmaster, receiving his commission August 1, 1913. It was never in his store, but the building now occupied by Hill's Store and Frances Beauty Shop was built by him to be used as a Post Office and continued to be the Post Office until the Government contracted to lease a building from Mrs. Anna Howes, which was built in the late twenties for the Augusta Trust Company.
A. F. Donigan's term was completed by George L. Baker who served from December, 1916, to September 30, 1929. His term was completed by Fred W. Preble from September 30, 1929 and until March 15, 1930, when the appointment went to Forrest H. Gilman. He was followed July 28, 1934 by Harold Collins. The move to the new quarters took place while he was Postmaster. Mr. Collins died while in office and was succeeded by the present Postmaster, Gerard Guay, who received his appointment May 31, 1957.
From a one-man job in a home or store the continuing growth of population has increased the work of the office, which serves Moscow, Pleasant Ridge and Concord as well as Bingham patrons. Serving with Postmaster Guay at the present time are Wilfred Small, Edward Bray, Mrs. Pearle Chasse and Stanley Hill. During the past year an R. F. D. has been established which delivers mail throughout Moscow.
- MRS. ELIZABETH JORDAN
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Taverns, Hotels, Etc.
THE STAGE HOUSE
IN THE YEAR 1795 Levi Goodrich purchased from William Fletcher a lot of land containing one hundred acres, located in the central part of Bingham Village from east to west, and built a small house near the bank of the Kennebec River approximately where the resi- dence of Archie Kelly now stands. In 1822 Mr. Goodrich built a two-story frame building on the west side of the County Road, con- veniently located for the stage and travelers, which Mr. Goodrich and
VIEW OF MAIN STREET, BINGHAM. A. C. Dinsmore's shop second on the left.
his wife operated as a tavern for many years. This was the first tavern. ever built above Caratunk Falls in Solon, and for many years was the only tavern on the Kennebec to accommodate the traveling public.
About 1835 a stage company began putting up at the tavern with meals at seventeen cents. From this time on the place seems to have been the home for the stage which ran from Bingham to The Forks and back, and for many years gave the house the title of "The Stage. House" which housed woodsmen and river drivers from various lumber camps.
Pickard Goodrich followed his father Levi in proprietorship, tak- ing over the property with the agreement that he was to give them
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a home and care for the remainder of their lives. In the year 1844 Pickard Goodrich sold to Winthrop Eldridge who, with Nate Adams, operated the place. Included in this deed were the following stipula- tions: "Thence East to a bound, reserving a passage between two stables which are to be kept clear at all times so that an ox team can pass and repass. Also a common right to the well at the stable together with Tavern stand and buildings and stables thereon with all provisions thereunto belonging." Dated April 11, 1844. In 1856 it was occupied by Jotham Goodrich. In the late sixties and early seventies it was closed to the public and used as a tenement house for a short time and owned by a Mr. Toby.
Soon after Sewell Dinsmore and George Savage purchased the place, it was remodeled, enlarged and opened to the public with Mr. and Mrs. Savage in charge. Following Mr. Savage it was owned by Mr. Lander, Alonzo Adams, and Henry Fletcher. About 1890 Henry Washburn purchased the property, later bought an ell from the old Bingham Hotel located in the upper part of town, moved it to his lot and it was known as the Hotel Annex which housed his family and an occasional transient from the hotel. After Mr. Wash- burn's death the hotel was managed by Mrs. Lillian Washburn, Mr. and Mrs. John Witham, and about 1914 was sold to Frank Gipson who was proprietor for several years. The place was then known as Bingham Hotel.
Jessie Washburn Hamilton, daughter of the late Henry and Lillian Washburn, sold to Clarence W. Dutton in 1918. At the time of purchase there remained over the office door the sign "Calk Shoes Not Allowed" which was a great mystery to tourists in later years. The purchase included the hotel stables and in 1920 held forty driving horses for hire. This barn was burned in 1929 along with several pair of horses, cattle and pigs, twenty automobiles, many of which were used by employees of the Central Maine Power Company and State Highway Commission, then guests of the hotel.
Improvements and several additions were made during the thirty years Mr. Dutton was in the hotel, one of which was the purchase of adjoining property north of the hotel, from the heirs of Etta Holt and formerly known as the Benjamin Smith house. A three-story building connecting the two properties was erected in 1929 and 1930. Mr. Dutton conducted the hotel under the name of Dutton Hotel until his death in 1948. After that his wife, Lois B. Dutton, operated the hotel making a home for some twenty-seven regular guests, some of whom were there for twelve and fourteen years, along with many transients.
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This old house could have told of a great deal of hard work, many hilarious times, a few heartaches and much pleasure, finally ending its career with a tragic fire on March 23rd, 1952, taking with it the lives of two guests, two employees and hospitalizing many others.
In the summer of 1952 the lot was sold to Robie Howes who later sold to The Federal Trust Company of Waterville and in 1956 our bank was built approximately where the hotel stood for one hundred and thirty years.
THE OLD BINGHAM HOTEL - HOLBROOK HOUSE
Sewell and Chandler Baker built a tavern known as The Old Bingham Hotel at the north end of the village about 1842, near where the Bingham Post Office is now located. In April, 1855, it burned. After the fire Chandler and Sewell divided the property and Chandler took the tavern and lot, rebuilding. He sold to Frank Jones who sold to Warren Holbrook. This house had a small hall on the second floor which for many years was the only public gathering place for lectures, dances, small traveling shows, etc. At one time a dancing school was conducted by Amon Baker, violinist, and his sister, Isannah Moore, at the organ. Mr. Holbrook sold to Sewell Dinsmore and Henry Washburn who converted it into tenements. It was burned in 1911.
HOTEL CAHILL
Thomas D. Cahill built a colonial type home with high pillars and a wide porch across the front, at the upper end of the village on the east side of Main Street behind where Bingham Post Office is now located. This house was elaborately furnished and contained valuable paintings, statuary and imported rugs and was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Cahill and family during the summer months vacation from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Mr. Cahill was con- nected with the Sphinx Club at Harvard College. About 1922 it was converted into a hotel and, with the assistance of Mrs. Cahill and his sister, Miss Marie Cahill, was opened to the public during the summer. It was burned in 1934, and at that time had not been operated for several years. It was owned by Thomas D. Cahill, Jr .; his sister, Mrs. Eleanor Cahill Wright; and aunt, Miss Marie Cahill.
THE YELLOW BOWL INN
In the year 1919, Mrs. Grace Rollins purchased from Elwin Robinson property adjoining her south line. The house, which was one of the older ones in town, was occupied from 1884 to 1890 by the Rev. T. F. Millett and family. At that time there was no parsonage
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in Bingham. Later, Benjamin Steward, a long-time employee of the Maine Central Railroad, also lived there, and many others.
After extensive renovations and additions, Mrs. Rollins opened the buildings to the public in 1928. In the front yard an old-fashioned iron kettle was placed, painted a brilliant yellow and the place was named the Yellow Bowl Inn. The kettle came from the farm in Concord where Mrs. Rollins was born and was used by her grand- father for making potash.
For several summers part of the buildings were leased to Errold and Harriet Hilton, who conducted a tea room, and was later operated by Mrs. Rollins. Since her death, her daughter, Miss Annie Rollins, has been the proprietress.
TOURIST CAMPS
In 1928 and 1929 Earl Folsom built nine cottages to accommodate some of the increase in population during the building of the Wyman Dam. These cottages were located on the west side of lower Main Street on what is now known as Lander Avenue. Since that time they have been converted into very attractive tourist camps with flowers, shrubbery and well kept lawns and were open to the public during the summer months. Since Mr. Folsom's death in 1952 they are being managed by Mrs. Bessie Folsom.
About one mile below the village was a large farm owned by Hosea Whipple and operated as a milk farm. It was sold to Henry Lane and Vernard Pierce who built two log cabins nearby, renovated the main house and it was opened to the public; later it was purchased by Mont Beane who built more camps along the bank of the Kennebec River and called it Maple Wood Spring Camps. He in turn sold to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stait who operated the camps during the summer for several years then in 1959 sold to Stanton Beane who now occupies it and has made extensive renovations. A sixteen-unit motel is in the process of construction and will be ready for occupancy during the summer. The summer of 1961 the camps were operated by Gerard Guay and family.
Many hotels, tourist homes, rooming and boarding houses have appeared and disappeared in this span of years from 1822 to the present 1962.
- MRS. LOIS B. DUTTON
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