USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Holden > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 10
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Eddington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 10
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Orrington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 10
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Brewer > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 10
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Graduated Dropped Total
Artisan group (manual labor)
9
56
65
Commercial group
19
40
59
Homemakers' group
12
24
36
Teaching group
10
10
College group
14
14
Music group
7
1
8
Nursing group
4
4
Deceased and Unknown group
3
3
Mr. Harry M. Bickford was the first supervisor of physical training. He was a graudate of Bates College in 1910. He taught in the high school in the forenoon and supervised physical train- ing in the elementary schools in the afternoon.
A trip to Washington, D. C. was taken by the graduating class of 1911. This trip replaced the customary commencement exer- cises. In 1912, the high school orchestra was organized under the direction of the principal, Walter E. Sullivan. By 1917, nine high school students had entered the armed forces. This year for the first time the orchestra was composed wholly of high school students as it needed no outside help to carry on its musical activities.
The New England College Entrance Board again placed the high school on the approved list of college preparatory schools in 1918. This same year, through the cooperation of Miss Hale of the State Department of Education, a training course for teachers was offered to the girls of the senior class.
The first annual school play was presented in April of 1913. This production netted the school over $80.00, which was used to buy baseball equipment and uniforms. Under good management the athletic teams, on the whole, were quite successful. Accord- ing to Principal Sullivan, the strict adherence to scholarship regu- lations sometimes resulted in weakening the teams; but the mem- bers could see the justice of the requirements and the results proved to be satisfactory. The first Junior Speaking program was held in June 1914, and the same year the "Trident" was revived and two issues published.
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In 1915, coaching duties were quite well distributed throughout the school system. Superintendent Fred Burrill coached the high school baseball team and Submaster Earl Clifford, the football team. The high school chorus sang at the Teachers' Convention in October of that year.
In the report of the high school principal for 1916-17 there is mentioned the possibility of the establishment of a high school Parent-Teacher Association. On February 21, 1921, a P.T.A. was organized, selecting for its watchword, "New High School for Brewer." The City Council of that year planned to locate the new school on the lot which was occupied by the old one, and purchased the adjacent property on South Main Street. These plans were altered, however, and the new school, which was completed and occupied for the first time in the fall of 1926, was on Somerset Street, the building which is presently housing the Brewer Junior High School. At the time of its opening and for many years thereafter, the seventh and eighth grades were in attendance in the high school building.
Mr. Sullivan had been untiring in his efforts to bring about the new school. In remarking on the new building in his report, he stated, "The most important event in the history of education in recent years in Brewer happened when the pupils assembled for work in the new building on Somerset Street at the beginning of the fall term, September 13, 1926. The struggle to obtain the edifice after the school had long since outgrown its old plant need not be told in a report of this kind. Suffice it is to say that we find ourselves in possession of a building second to none of its kind in the state and at this date nearly equipped in all its departments except the library and that soon to be undertaken by the wide awake members of the M. P. M. Club."
In 1927, the grounds around the new building were graded by the newly formed Brewer Beautiful Association. The Daniel E. Geagan Post, American Legion, donated and set the flag poles on the lawn in front of the school. A fund was contributed by the M.P.M. Club for the furnishings of school library.
The high school band had its beginning in 1928, under the direction of Mr. Alton L. Robinson. That same fall the new athletic field was opened by the Brewer Community and School Improvement Association. The athletic field was later given the name "Doyle Field" in memory of "Dicky" Doyle, long time fire chief and always loyal friend to all the youngsters of Brewer.
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The University of Maine Freshmen Scholarship cup was awarded to Brewer High School in February, 1936. According to a letter received by Principal Eugene B. Gordon from Presi- dent Arthur A. Hauck of the University, "This cup is awarded each year to the secondary school in Maine having three or more of its graduates in full standing in the Freshman class, whose freshmen representatives as a group have attained the highest scholastic standing for the fall semester preceding."
In the summer of 1947, lights were installed at the Doyle Field in order to make night football and baseball possible. These lights were provided at no cost to the taxpayers of the city. The financing was done by the Brewer High School Athletic Associa- tion and underwritten by a group of public-spirited citizens. The Girls' Athletic Association, under the capable leadership of Miss Lura E. Hoit, faculty sponsor and founder of the group, made a substantial contribution to this project. Proceeds from the night games were used to clear the debt.
The Vocational Shop building and gym, constructed on the newly graded area of the Burr lot behind the high school build- ing, was built in 1947, and ready for occupancy in January, 1948.
On November 1, 1950, the final payment of the High School Bond Issue of 1925 was paid to the amount of $9000.
By this time the high school which had been such a fine achievement in 1926, was beginning to bulge at the seams, and the building of another new school loomed as a distinct necessity. This project was accomplished and the fine new, modern build- ing was first used for the classes of the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades in the fall of 1958. Later in the fall there was a program of dedication and open house was held to enable the citizens and friends to visit the various departments of the build- ing.
During 1959, a visiting committee in cooperation with the State Department of Education, evaluated the high school. The committee listed several requirements to be met before the school could be included on the new list of accredited secondary schools in Maine. Most difficult of these requirements was bringing the total of the books in the library to approximately 5000. This aim was realized, however, due to the cooperation of the Parent-Teacher Association of the High School, the Brewer Recreation Organization, and other interested citizens of Brewer.
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Through the action of the Superintending School Committee, the other requirements were satisfied and in 1960, Brewer High School became one of the early schools in Maine to be accredited on the new list.
In 1960, due to the fact that the high school reached a new high in enrollment, the School Committee voted to limit the number of tuition pupils. This action was made necessary because both the School Committee and the City Council felt that it was not good business policy to build more space for tuition pupils. Owing to this decision the people of the nearby towns were faced with the problem of a secondary education for their children of high school age. However, the Legislature passed a bill which would allow 18% building aid to municipalities with high school enrollment of over 700 pupils. After this bill was enacted the Committee and Council reversed their ruling; and in the light of this legislation Brewer will continue to serve the nearby towns in the matter of secondary education.
Principals of the high school during the past thirty-five years, who have contributed greatly to the success of the school and given much of themselves to the community have been: Eugene B. Gordon, Albert E. Pillsbury, Melvin Leighton, Alton Black, and the present principal, Philip R. Mealey.
Succeeding Fred Burrill as superintendent of schools, was Howard R. Houston. Mr. Houston gave many years of service to the Brewer schools and was a valued and much loved member of the community. When he was forced to resign, due to ill health, he was succeeded by Albert E. Pillsbury, who resigned his position as principal of the high school to accept the super- intendency. Many problems of development and expansion arose and were competently handled during Mr. Pillsbury's years as superintendent. During his years in the school system Mr. Pills- bury contributed greatly to life of the community; and since his retirement he has continued to do so. He is currently serving as chairman of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary Com- mittee. Lee V. Hallowell, formerly principal of Fifth Street Junior High School in Bangor, became superintendent upon Mr. Pillsbury's retirement. Mr. Hallowell is currently the head of the school system in Brewer and is handling the problems in a capable and understanding manner.
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Let us return to the question of the development of our elemen- tary school system. The Excelsior School, discontinued for school use when the Washington Street School was opened, was located on the old Holyoke Farm and opposite it on Chamberlain Street was the beginning of the Farrington Farm. We found mention in some notes that the old Coy house on Holyoke Street was formerly a school house and was located at 321 North Main Street. The original of the Mack's Baking Company's buildings was the old Brimmer school house. By the year 1882 there were eleven schoolhouses and one free high school which was located at the ferry village. Fannie Hardy Eckstorm was the first superintendent of schools in Brewer.
A new school building was constructed to replace the old Page School in 1881. This school was considered the best of its size in this part of the state. The last Page School house was erected on the Center Street site in 1907. This was destroyed by fire in 1940.
We hear a great deal about crowded conditions in our schools today. But this seems to have been a problem for many years back in our history. In 1890, a new school was badly needed at South Brewer and the Brimmer Grammar School was reported as being seriously overcrowded. At this time the Lambert or Day School was discontinued as being too small to be profitably kept up. The wages of teachers this year ranged from $5 to $11 per week. The proponents for a new school evidently won out in South Brewer, for one was built in 1892, at a cost of $3,441.37 including fixtures. The lot, for which the city paid $400, was located on the east side of South Main Street adjourning on the south side the so-called Rosa Mann homestead lot, a corner lot on a proposed road leading back to the Bucksport and Bangor Railroad track.
The pressure of hard times was being felt in 1893 when some consideration was given to the question of cutting the teachers' wages or curtailing the school year. Neither of these was felt to be to the advantage of the city. About this time there was some discussion concerning the advisibility of being annexed to Bangor. One of the stated advantages was better schools.
At Mill Dam, a new school was constructed in 1896 to replace the old brick one. This year six tuition pupils attended school in Brewer, coming from Eddington, Orrington, and Holden.
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The educational standing of teachers was recognized. In the reports for 1898-99, we find that this year Miss Alice Hodgkins received a life teacher's certificate. She scored an unusual num- ber of points and nothing on her certificate was marked below good. Other Brewer teachers holding life certificates were: Eva R. Mutty, Fannie E. Lord, Mabel Washburn, Ethel G. Crocker, Lilla McLeod, and Mary V. Coffin. The continued desire for improvement was shown by the action of the teachers in 1903 when they shared the expense with the city in order that a course in physical culture might be given to them. The purpose was to have a uniform course in this work throughout the school system.
The Maine Legislature passed a bill providing for school boards in 1903 and the first Brewer school board was elected, consisting of: D. A. Sargent, Walter J. Sargent, and Frank H. Nickerson. Mrs. Mertie M. Curtis was made superintendent of schools at this time.
An item in the newspaper for January 8, 1900, states that the Teachers' Club would meet that evening with Miss Alma Higgins of Spring Street. The program for the evening included the reading of Tennyson's Princess. Miss Higgins was a teacher in Brewer for many years.
We found frequent mention in the news columns of the early 1900's of occasions when there was no school because of bad winter weather; but it was not until 1905 that arrangements were made to have No School Storm signals. The signals were to originate with the Smith's Planing Mill and the Pulp Mill at South Brewer.
The South Brewer Grammar School on South Main Street was erected in 1906, and the Page School on Center Street in 1907. New courses were introduced into the curriculum. Miss Emily Merrill served as the first music teacher in the city, and drawing was introduced into the schools as a step towards a manual arts course.
A safe drinking water supply was assured the two largest schools in the city when artesian wells were drilled at the South Brewer and Page Schools.
The Mill Dam School had been closed in 1907 and in 1908, since there seemed to be no practical need for it, the city voted not to reopen it. The Lambert School, which had been closed in 1890 and reopened, was closed. Several families had moved
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and the remainder of the pupils were transported to the Excelsior and Page Schools. The report for 1910-11 shows that the Dirigo School was built at this time at a cost of $23,000. A large room in the basement of this new school provided facilities for manual training. Basement rooms in the High School and the Excelsior School were fitted up for voting places. The school census of 1911 showed a total pupil population of 1,647.
"Every Day Problems in Teaching" by Merrill, was the theme for discussion when the teachers met for a study group during 1912. The meetings were held every two weeks. The problems which were brought out in the book were discussed and criticized.
The upper floor of the Brimmer Building was fitted for Domes- tic Science and the first teacher of this subject was Miss Jennie Brann, a graduate of Nasson Institute. The best results were not obtainable from this program at the time because they were hampered by the scarcity of food stuffs and the high prices. A regular manual training class for boys was started at the Dirigo School in 1913 with Mr. E. M. Heal of Camden in charge. The first full time nurse was secured in 1920 through the efforts of the Brewer Branch of the American Red Cross. A school nurse who will be remembered with great affection by many of us who grew up in the schools of Brewer, is Mrs. Della Russell Keene, who filled that position for many years. When this service was first introduced, the city and Red Cross shared the expense. The year 1921 saw the children working under the first full time physical director, Miss Hilda Coady.
A Parent-Teacher Association was established by the parents of the Excelsior School in 1926 with Thaxter Church serving as president. January, 1926, saw the beginning of school banking. This has been a regular part of the school program since that time.
Two playgrounds were in operation during the summer of 1946. Contributions included a sixteen foot slide for South Brewer from the Eastern Corporation, gifts of money from the South Brewer P. T. A. and the J. C. Yves, and Charles Prentiss. Part of Mr. Prentiss's gift was used to buy a sixteen foot slide for the athletic field.
The area between State and Parker Streets, known as the Burr Lot, was surveyed, graded, and drained. Fill was obtained from the construction work on State Street, thus increasing the level
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area. This made available an otherwise unusable lot for the location of a new grade school. The architectural firm of Alonzo J. Harriman Inc., was employed to draw plans for a ten room grade school building and a combination shop and gym building, which were subsequently built on the newly graded area. The contract for the construction of the new buildings was awarded to T. W. Cunningham Inc. for the fixed price of $236,608.00.
Construction of the buildings was started immediately and continued rapidly until cement was unavailable due to a strike in the cement industry. Because of this delay the buildings were not finished at the promised date of completion. However, the vocational shop building was completed and turned over to the school department in January, 1948, and the elementary school building was finished during the summer and ready for the open- ing of the 1948 fall term of school.
Even as the completion of these buildings was being announced the citizens were informed that "conditions in other schools are far from satisfactory and are expected to grow continually worse." In December, 1948, thirteen acres of land were purchased on the north side of Washington Street Extension in the Green Acres area. In 1950, the school committee recommended that a 12- room elementary school building be placed on that lot. Plans were drawn up by Alonzo J. Harriman Inc. The contract for the build- ing was awarded to T. W. Cunningham for $195,120.00 and con- struction started at once. After a six weeks' delay waiting for structural steel the work went on rapidly. When this building was completed the old Excelsior School was closed.
An art supervisor was added to the school system in 1955 after some years during which there was none. The enrollment in the schools was increasing rapidly and plans were formulated during this year for the building of a new elementary school in South Brewer. This was to be an eight room building. The year 1958 saw the new building opened under the name of the Pendleton Street School, its opening making it possible to discontinue the Sargent and South Brewer Grammar Schools.
The old high school became a Junior High School housing the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. During the past year it had been necessary to use a room in the municipal auditorium for classes; but with the changes brought about by 1958 it was possible to eliminate this.
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The Brewer schools, in 1958, took part in the Standardization of the Metropolitan Achievement Tests. It was stated in the superintendent's report for that year that the Brewer median of achievement was on or above the national level.
The School Committee recommended at this time that a three room school be built on School Street to supplement the Dirigo School. Another recommendation was the addition of two rooms to the Washington Street School. This last suggestion was fol- lowed through immediately and the rooms were ready for use when the school opened in September, 1959.
A new heating plant was installed in the Junior High School in 1959. At this time it was reported that according to the Sewell Report, the Dirigo School should be discontinued. However, the rapid growth in enrollment and the continued need for new classrooms is such that it is probable this action will be deferred for some time.
In 1960, the three room school on School Street was opened with facilities for the Sub-primary and Grades one and two. This addition provides a room for each grade from the sub-primary through the sixth in the Dirigo School area.
A six week summer school session was held during 1960. This was the first time such a project had been launched. The session was designed to give students an opportunity to make up any deficiency or to explore new fields of endeavor. Over one hundred students took advantage of this.
Graduates of Brewer High School have to look only a short distance for the opportunity of continuing their education. Avail- able in nearby localities are the University of Maine in Orono; Husson College, Bangor; Bangor Theological Seminary, Bangor; Northern Conservatory of Music, Bangor; Maine Maritime Aca- demy, Castine; Beal's Business College, Bangor; and the School of Nursing, at the Eastern Maine General Hospital, Bangor. We found a note in our research which indicates that, had matters turned out a little differently, these students might have been able to continue their college education without leaving Brewer. It is said that when plans began to be formulated for the build- ing of the University of Maine, an attempt was made to purchase the Patten Farm. Due to a disagreement on price this deal fell through. Be that as it may, Orono is easily accessible and many
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students from this city take advantage of this opportunity to further their education.
To round out the picture of the educational system in Brewer let us quote from the Brewer Development Commission; "The city of Brewer points with pride to a public school system second to none in the entire state of Maine. Modern well-staffed school buildings are a symbol of the progressive spirit of the community. Forward - thinking public officials more than a decade ago, anticipated Brewer's present growth rate with an ambitious school building program."
CHAPTER X
HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, AND FERRY SERVICE
Highways
The building and improving of roads was a very gradual matter in the early days of the settlement. Much of the essential travel was carried on by means of the river which was the great highway through the settlements in this part of the country. For the most part the settlements were located on or near the banks of the river.
As would seem natural the first roads were built along the river and later ran out to where other settlements were located. As time went by, cross roads connected these. County roads, as they became necessary, connected Brewer with other towns. In the very earliest days of settlement travel was either by boat or by horseback over narrow trails. Much of the traveling was done by foot.
In 1788, about twelve miles of County Road were laid out, running through the town and nearly parallel with the river. Town roads were mentioned in the report for this year, as was the fact that the sum of sixty pounds was raised for road repair. In the account of Mr. John Farrington's journey through the woods to the so-called Wrentham settlement, the party fol- lowed forest trails for nearly eight miles. Later according to a narrative which was written by a grandson of Mr. Farrington, these forest trails were lengthened and made into roads.
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At the beginning of the 1800's Mr. George Brimmer of Boston owned the land between Center and Maple Streets, fronting on the river and extending back to a point beyond Blake Street. He had this land laid out and gave lots on which to build a church, town house, and school. The first of these three to be built was the church on Meeting House Hill.
Along the river was a juniper swamp. In this section parts were uninhabitable until the swamp was filled and drained. This accounts for the many short and irregular streets found today on the river side of Main Street.
The first sidewalk of planks was on the right hand side of Wilson Street reaching from Main Street to the Dooey residence. This sidewalk was built in 1853. Later another walk was built on Main Street as far as the Carter Block. Planks were used for sidewalks because the ground was so boggy that earth walks were not practical.
As we read through the old municipal reports we find frequent mention of new roads offered for the acceptance of the town. It might be interesting to mention a few of these. On September 25, 1812, the town voted to lay out a road from the head of the front lots to Wm. & C. Rice's store. At this time men working on the highway were paid two dollars a day; and if they supplied oxen for the work, they received one dollar and a half for them. In April, 1814, a road laid out from William Cope- land's house to George Wiswell's house was accepted and in May, 1816, a road laid out from John Robinson's to David Mann's became officially town roads. In April, 1818, a committee re- ported on "examining into the situation of the road leading from J. Chamberlain's Ferry back to the Wrentham settlement (so- called)" This report was accepted. George Wiswell and Nathan Kingsbury were chosen in April, 1825, as a committee to "cause the new County Road leading from Rice's Ferry to the County of Hancock to be made."
On March 2, 1829, the following resolution was passed, "Re- solved that the surveyors of Highways shall not receive ardent spirits as payment for Highway taxes."
It is a little difficult for us to realize that speeding could be a cause for discussion as early as 1833. However, we find the following item, a record of hit and run driving, over which
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someone was very properly indignant, "fast driving was, as it ever will be, until drivers become decent, a cause of complaint." A sleigh drove directly across the path of two ladies who were on their way to church on Sunday and struck one of the ladies - "with such force as to tear in tatters a thick broadcloth cape, cloak, and under silk cape; and then passed on without stopping."
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