USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Holden > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 14
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Eddington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 14
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Orrington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 14
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Brewer > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 14
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The new quarters provided the first central communications center. This center is called a dispatching room and is operated by three regular dispatchers and one part time dispatcher. They keep the records of the department and answer all telephone and radio calls.
There are also in the new building a new court room and a judge's chamber which rank among the finest in the state. A garage offers protection for the police cars. The cell block in- cludes three single and two double cells. An interrogation and identification room are also part of the set-up. These quarters are a far cry from the first one, and then two rooms previously occupied by the department in the city hall; and we should judge, a great deal farther from the first, "Town House of Cor- rection."
FIRES AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Bucket Brigades were probably the only method of fighting fires during the early years of our town's growth. We have to assume that the neighborly spirit, the genuine friendliness, and the helpfulness of the settlers, came to the front when trouble came; and that family members and neighbors did their best to take care of emergencies as they arose.
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There was a big forest fire in Brewer in 1825. It covered the area from Whiting Hill to Brewer Pond (Hine's Pond and later Brewer Lake). Manly Hardy tells us of picking blueberries from the bushes that came into the burned over area.
It is apparent that at times Bangor was called to assist as in 1864 one hundred and fifty dollars was paid to Chief Engineer James W. Williams of Bangor for services of the department at a fire in Brewer. But Brewer itself was not without equipment at this time as there is also an item that in 1865 the town paid F. F. Brewer five dollars for repairs on the ladders and ladder house; also that in 1870 there were sixty members in the department who received five dollars a year each.
There is no record of organized fire protection until 1889, when the fire department was organized at the time that Brewer was in- corporated as a city. There was, however, an article in the war- rant for the 1873 town meeting "to see if the town will purchase a chemical fire engine to be located at Brewer Village." Another record in 1874 states that the town paid S. A. Nye two hundred seventy dollars for a hook and ladder house. This indicates that even in the years before Brewer became a city the idea of fire prevention and protection had been considered serious enough for the town meetings to take action on the problem.
With the organization of the Bangor Fire Department there was a source of help which could be called upon when it was badly needed.
When the Brewer department was organized the records state that it had only hand tubs; but in 1900 drop harnesses and wagons were purchased. The first year of the department's history saw 29 hydrants installed for fire protection. That this protection was needed at that time is shown in the record of a fire at the home of H. O'Brien on Maple Street, when his house and stable were burned with a loss of $1000. This was the largest fire loss that year and was caused by upsetting a kerosene lamp on a bed. During the entire year five fires were reported.
Winter brought hazardous traveling and snowy roads which necessitated the presence of runners in order to get about the city efficiently. A newspaper item for March 22, 1900 states that "the city's fire apparatus has been placed on wheels."
The members of the fire department were on a volunteer basis until 1892 when the city voted to pay the firemen, although ac-
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cording to a former record some of them had been paid as early as 1870. The 1892 vote stated that the Chief was to receive fifty dollars per year and the members of the hook and ladder com- panies, five dollars per year. In 1893 the city purchased a sled for winter use by the department.
By 1895 there were in the city four hose companies and two hook and ladder companies. They were Excelsior, Deluge, Dirigo, and Eagle Hose Companies, and Eclipse and Rescue Hook and Ladder Companies. At this time the city purchased a new steam fire engine at a cost of $3,000.
The fire alarm was a large bell on the city hall. This was not completely satisfactory as it could not be clearly heard in all parts of the city. But in this matter as in others, progress con- tinued and in 1901 an electric telegraph fire alarm system was established with ten boxes installed. This alarm was the whistle type rather than the bell which had heretofore proved to be unsatisfactory.
A new hose house for the Dirigo Hose Company was built in 1898. This was located on South Main Street at the site of Rolnick's Auto Supply Store. Water reservoirs were built for additional protection; one on Summer Street and one on North Main Street. In 1900 a hose tower was constructed at the Central Fire Station and at the same time sleds were purchased for the Dirigo and Deluge Hose Companies. Deluge Company was located on Chamberlain Street. In 1901 a combination ladder and hose carriage was bought for the department. One fire which we find record of in this year was the burning of the car barn at South Brewer. In 1907 the members of the fire department were resplendent in new uniforms.
The hose houses named above were located at strategic points throughout the community. Companies were made up of volun- teers at first and later as paid members of the groups. One of the important duties of these men was to "run out the hose" in the event of a fire. The hose houses in each district were small buildings, usually with a tower as a distinctive feature. As children we thought these buildings must have had some relationship with churches, hence the tower; but we later learned that these additions were for the practical purpose of drying out the hose.
Running out the hose was a serious job and required much practice in order that a well synchronized action might be
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achieved. Members of the various running teams were extremely proud of their ability to run out the hose in a minimum of time. In this matter of coordination and speed there was a strong rivalry between the different companies, and indeed, the hose companies of the surrounding communities.
Competition grew so strong between these teams that "meets" were held with the running teams from the towns in the Penobscot River Valley competing for top honors in the speed with which each could run out a hose. Traditional days for holding these meets were the Fourth of July and Labor Day. The equipment and men were loaded behind horses and hauled, possibly to Bucksport or some other nearby town, and the men strained to the utmost to bring home the coveted honor of being the champion running team. The Dirigo Running Team had a drum corps to beat out the rhythm as the team marched in parade or prepared to accomplish its assigned task.
A picture of the Dirigo Running Team in 1895, lists the fol- lowing names: Gross, Dooey, Mayo, Weeks, Gerry, Kelly, Walker, Wood, Getchell, Snow, Libhart, Davis, Kelley, Small, Morrison, Mutty, Davis, Rooney, and Rooney.
One year the Deluge Team attended the Bangor Fair. On the second day they were in competition with a group from Massachusetts. The Brewer Team walked off with the coveted honors.
Early records of the hose companies show a fine sense of responsibility for duty. Regular meetings were held. Men being absent from meetings or failing to attend fires paid fines. When it became necessary for a man to resign from the company another was immediately secured to replace him that the essential amount of protection would not be found lacking.
A fair amount of fun must have been mixed with duty and responsibility during those early days, for we find reference to clam bakes and balls. On one occasion refreshments for a Fourth of July celebration included "one-half a bbl. of beer, fifty B.F.A. cigars, and a quart of whiskey."
One important fire, not too long after the founding of the department, was the burning of some ice houses along the river front, as well as the homes of "Happytown" which had been built by the Eastern Manufacturing Company to house their employees. This occurred somewhere around 1900.
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In 1917 wind destroyed the city store house at the city farm and one was built upon the Dirigo lot in Ward Four. This one served nearly up to the present for one purpose or another. The same year, 1917, the Dirigo Hose House was thoroughly over- hauled and repaired.
About 1913 the city held the first of its "clean-up" days. This was planned as a day but it turned out to be several as the city teams collected rubbish from all within the fire districts. This was the first forerunner of our present rubbish collection service.
Fire did a great deal of damage to the Central Fire Station in 1916 and the work of repair and remodelling was carried on efficiently under the direction of the Committee on Fire and Public Property. Construction was started on the fire house in Ward Five in 1920.
Rules and regulations for firemen were printed and dis- tributed after their adoption in 1921. In 1922 the auto combina- tion pumping engine was purchased and in 1926 the Reo com- bination truck was added to the equipment of the department, and the Central Fire Station was moved from Parker Street to South Main Street. The Old Brimmer School Building had been made over into a fire station. This year the Brewer Beautiful Association was organized and worked to clean up the city, their work being commended by our much loved fire chief for many years, Irving "Dicky" Doyle.
On January 15, 1946, the City Highway Department building and garage was destroyed by fire. Our water supply at this time came from Chemo Pond and was owned by the Penobscot Water Company. Several bad fires at about this time proved the inadequacy of the water system and steps were taken to inquire into ways in which this problem might be solved. Dur- ing this year a new 1,000 gallon a minute fire truck was ordered to replace the one which had been in service for twenty years.
A reduction in the insurance rates on the highway department garage was affected in 1951 by the installation of a sprinkler system in the building.
The Bar Harbor fire of 1947 proved to be one of the worst fire disasters in some years in this area. The Brewer Fire Department answered a call to Bar Harbor. The pumper stayed there for about a week in order to cover the town.
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As part of a continuing program to keep our fire apparatus up to date, a new fire truck was bought in 1949. This truck has a five hundred gallon water tank and a five hundred gallon per minute pump. It was put into service at a cost of $8,045, replacing the Chevrolet service truck.
The personnel of the department in 1951 consisted of a part time Chief who was on call at all times, six full time drivers, and twenty-five call men who answered all alarms.
The Walker Lumber Company Planing Mill burned in 1951.
Equipment at this time included one 1,000 gallon per minute American LaFrance, one 750 gallon American LaFrance pumper, and ladder truck and one 500 gallon per minute American LaFrance pumper. Water for fire protection was supplied by hydrants rented from the Brewer Water District.
One of the most important services rendered by the depart- ment is the annual inspection of businesses, incinerators, chim- neys, homes, and other establishments likely to have serious fires. Property owners have given excellent cooperation in this project.
During 1958 a mutual aid agreement was arranged with Dow Air Force Base. This should prove effective in the event of a major disaster. Eight drills were held during the year, one of them at Dow Base.
A new seventy-five foot Jr. Aerial Ladder Truck was purchased in 1960. It was during this year that the new Safety Building was completed and put into use. In the area allotted to the fire department there is parking space for seven trucks. The second floor includes living space for the firemen, five rooms, an office for the chief, a roomy recreation hall, and a modern kitchen. There is a hose drying tower which will hold 6,000 feet of hose at one time. This enables the drying of the hose much faster and more effectively than has been possible before. The de- partment has a maintenance garage in order to keep the trucks in good working condition.
An Invalid Marker program was instituted in 1960. Over the country this system is most generally used; but the City of Brewer was the first in this state to render this service to residents. A red and black fluorescent marker is placed on the front door of the home and one placed on the window of the
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bedroom occupied by the invalid. This is sponsored by the department and there is no charge for the service.
Captain Lawrence Kiley has conducted a monthly training program for the men of the department at which times all phases of fire fighting have been studied.
Our present department consists of nine regular men and twenty call men under the able leadership of Fire Chief Ray- mond E. Wood. It is significant that for many years, Chief Wood's father, Charles Wood, was a member of the Brewer Fire Department.
We are able to gain some idea as to the time of the origin of the Brewer Firemen's Relief Association when we learn that this group held its 49th annual ball on March 19, of this year.
In referring to the records of the department we find that the fire chiefs since 1910 have been Wellington Parker, Ben Fickett, Charles Hayes, Irving Doyle (1918-1943), Patrick Jordan, Richard Pooler, Bob Reid, Fred Avery, and our present chief, Raymond E. Wood, who took office Jan. 1, 1958.
Important fires during the past twenty-five years have included: the City hall, April 27, 1937; the Page School, March 22, 1941; St. Teresa's Church, November 6, 1945, the city garage, Jan. 15, 1946; the Shoddy Mill, Jan. 26, 1946; and a hotel in South Brewer, Feb. 21, 1946.
The history of Brewer's Fire Protection Service has truly been an exciting and colorful one, from the days of the hand tubs and the running teams to our present efficient, well equipped department of today!
THE POST OFFICE
The formal dedication of Brewer's new Post Office was held Sunday, May 13, 1962. The beautiful new building on Wilson Street marks more than a century and a half of progress in the history of post offices in Brewer.
The first official post office in the town was the Orrington post office, opened officially in 1800 when the whole area was under the name of Orrington, before the separation of the towns. The post office was located in the portion of the town which
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is now South Brewer and Colonel John Brewer was its first postmaster, October 8, 1800.
An unofficial center for the deposit of mail may have existed previous to this date, as notes coming down from some of the older families state that there was a so-called post office in Brewer Village in 1786. We realize that this, of course, could not be called by its official name, as, if it did exist, it had no official status.
When Brewer was separated from Orrington in 1812 the name of the existing post office was changed to Brewer and Col. Brewer continued as post master. A new post office was opened in Orrington that same year, the date of the postmaster's bond being June 1, 1812. The Orrington postmaster was Benjamin Nourse.
In some of the old notes we find the statement that mail was carried to the post office on horseback once a week. There were no post office buildings as such at this time, the post office being in the home of whomever happened to be serving as postmaster.
Colonel Brewer was succeeded by Charles H. Rice in 1818 and the post office was then located at Rice's Ferry. Although at different points the Brewer post office has been in the upper section of the city ever since that time. The small building which served as a chapel for the First Church was sold when the new church was built. It was used for a Post Office and served in this capacity for a number of years until it was burned.
The Brewer Post Office as such continued until Dec. 31, 1900, when both this and the South Brewer office became part of the Bangor office. First known as the Bangor-Brewer Station, a few years later it became the Bangor, Brewer Branch. After many years the office again resumed the name of Brewer, but still remained part of the Bangor office. From the establishment of the Brewer office in 1812 until the latter half of the nineteenth century, the following filled the office of postmaster: Colonel John Brewer, C. H. Rice, Jonathan Burr, Edward H. Burr, Am- brose C. Wilson, Thomas Davis, William Morgan, Otis Gilmore, and H. C. Snow. We were not able to secure a complete list of these men but we found a record that at one time Major Helferty served in this office; also that in 1882, Mr. W. P. Burns was serving in this capacity.
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On February 28, 1900, Mr. Wilbur Sawyer succeeded E. B. Burr as postmaster in Brewer. A number of innovations were made that year. As one important step carrier service was inaugurated. A newspaper note for March 22 stated that one of the most important improvements which had been made in the office for some time was the addition of a window for money orders and registered letters. This change greatly facilitated the work in the office and because of the rearrangement, in- creased the amount of space in the inner office. Plans were announced at this time for the installation of more lock boxes as the number at that time was inadequate. Also in 1900, on April 28, an announcement was made concerning the hours which the office was to be open on Sundays, the new time being from 9:30 to 10:30.
When Colonel Brewer's term of office was ended and the post office was removed to Rice's Ferry, Brewer Village was without an office until 1828, when a new one was established. This office continued under the name of Brewer Village until 1889. At that time it took the name of South Brewer. Within the past several years the South Brewer office has been discontinued.
Serving the latter office from its inauguration until the 1880's were Benjamin Goodwin, William A. Farnsworth, Rufus R. Cush- ing, Galen J. Brewer, G. M. White, J. B. Meservey, C. G. Sterns, C. O. Goodwin, and Daniel Shedd.
Holden was a part of Brewer until 1852, when it became a town in its own right. The post office at Holden has been known by the names of Wrentham, East Brewer, and Brewer Centre. The office at East Holden was originally East Brewer, later Gilmore's Corner, and George's Corner, following which it again took the name of East Brewer.
In October, 1961, the Brewer office ceased being a branch of Bangor and resumed its independent status.
In March, 1962, Brewer was proud to occupy the recently completed office located in the new quarters on Wilson Street. The formal dedication of this post office was held on May 13 of this year. Arranged by the Postmaster Mrs. Madelin Kiah, the program featured addresses by the Honorable Daniel J. Day, Assistant to the Regional Director, United States Post Office Department; and Honorable Paul E. Kelleher, Director Regional Real Estate Office.
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The Committee for the Dedication consisted of the following members: Mrs. Madelin F. Kiah, Postmaster; Mr. A. Lowell Reed, Assistant Postmaster; Mr. O. Lionel Pomeroy, City Man- ager; Mr. Charles Pooler, chairman of the Development Com- mission; Mr. William Jenkins, Mr. Donald Waring, Mr. Anthony Mack, Mr. Paul McKenney, Mr. Rudolph Marcoux, publicity, channel 2; Mr. Albert Pillsbury, chairman of the 150th Anni- versary Committee; Mrs. J. Craig Thayer, publicity, Bangor Daily News; Mr. George Hale, publicity, WABI; Mr. Richard A. Kiah, chairman of the City Council; Mr. Thurston Thompson, chairman of printing.
On the hospitality committee were: Mrs. A. Lowell Reed, chairman; Mrs. William Daly, Mrs. Lawrence Harlow, Mrs. Herbert Bunker, Mrs. John Wedin, Mrs. Donald Tardiff, Mrs. Elmer Gifford, Mrs. Edmond Sprague, and Mrs. George Coleman.
Appropriately enough the new post office was dedicated to Colonel John Brewer, founder of our city and its first postmaster. A portrait of Colonel Brewer, painted by William E. Jenkins, local artist and member of the Brewer Development Commis- sion, was unveiled and hung in the new building at the time of the dedication ceremony.
The Rev. E. Charles Dartnell, pastor of the First Methodist Church, was Master of Ceremonies for the occasion. Honored guests were: United States Senator Margaret Chase Smith; United States Senator Edmund S. Muskie; Congressman Clifford G. McIntyre, and Governor John H. Reed.
Following the invocation, which was given by Mr. Dartnell, Mayor Richard Kiah extended greetings. The honored guests were introduced. Senator Muskie presented the postmaster, Mrs. Kiah, with a new fifty-star flag which had flown over the Na- tion's Capitol and over the Post Office Department in Washing- ton, D. C. Mr. Elmer Hay and Mr. Charles Campbell from the Daniel E. Geagan Post American Legion, and Mr. Winfield Bracy and Mr. Frank Jeffries from the Isaac E. Clewley Post Veterans of Foreign Wars composed the color guard who received the flag and raised it over the post office building to the accompaniment of appropriate music. The Benediction was given by the Rev. Richard P. Rice of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Mrs. Paul Tower was soloist for the occasion and John Gass served as organist.
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Miss Terry Bowden, who in 1961 was awarded the coveted title of Miss Sun Fun, U.S.A., thus bringing reflected glory to Brewer, contributed to the entertainment, and music for the occasion was furnished by the Brewer High School Band under the direction of Mr. Thomas Hardin. Following the program open house was observed at the new building.
This dedication service was first in a series of important events marking the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Brewer and paved the way for those which were to follow.
Although it has been completed for only a short time, the attractive red brick building is already becoming a familiar land- mark in our city. It signifies to our citizens in Brewer another step in the rapid progress which is taking place and the spirit of achievement which has always been exemplified by the people of this city.
CHAPTER XII
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
The first business to be carried on in the valley of the Penob- scot was conducted long before any settlements appeared on the river. There were French trading posts at various points where trade with the Indians took place. These were driven out by the British, before the venturous settlers decided upon this area as an advantageous place to settle. Doubtless also, long before settlement, there were many who plied their way up the Penobscot for the fish which were found in abundance in the waters.
Colonel John Brewer built the first place of business in this community when in 1770 he laid the foundations for his mill at the mouth of Segeunkedunk Stream. One record states that this was probably the first mill in what is now Penobscot County. It is also of interest to us that the Sargent Mill was built almost upon the identical spot of the Brewer Mill. A description of the property producing the water power for this section states that there was a dam at the outlet of Brewer's Pond in Orrington, a distance of about four miles. This dam was 850 feet long and
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included one hundred acres of the adjoining land. The dam was one hundred and five feet above the high water mark in the Penobscot River. There was another dam at the foot of the meadow in East Orrington with the right of flowage of 850 acres of meadow. The saw mill at East Orrington had a fall of sixteen feet. Sargent's Mill also had the privilege of the old Sterns dam in Brewer, upon which a grist mill was built in 1875; with a fall of fourteen feet; and two saw mills at the Cove where there was a further fall of seventeen feet. In a discussion of the waters of the Segeunkedunk in a report on the water powers of Maine, it was stated that the freshets were harmless, but there was a constant supply of water and the mills were in full working condition even when the mills located on the river had to close down due to a shortage of water.
In a Historical Sketch of Brewer by Bacon, written in the latter part of the nineteenth century we find that the mercantile establishments in Brewer were much more extensive than any- one would expect to find them; considering that Bangor, which was one of the leading trade centers of the state, was so close. It also stated that this was probably due to the fact that the merchants were both "able and enterprising" and that they gave very good values; by so doing assuring the people of the com- munity that they could not gain anything by going out of the city for making their purchases.
With the building of roads and the coming of the stage coach to the area a new business sprung up in the form of inns and taverns. Wilson's Tavern was located at the corner of Wilson and North Main Street. There is little information regarding this tavern; but we are told that there was a Liberty Pole in front of it where the flag was flown. In the section of the town which later became Holden, John Gilmore built an Inn in 1826 at Gilmore's Corner. He called this the Jefferson Inn in honor of the President of the United States. A picture of the President was on the swinging sign in front of the inn. Jefferson Davis was a guest at the inn about the middle of the century, prior to the Civil War. He was engaged in surveying timberlands. Another note regarding Mr. Davis says that it was always a question as to why he came. He is reported to have left (or buried) a tin box of papers for which he planned to return, but never came. The papers have never been found.
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