USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Holden > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 24
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Eddington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 24
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Orrington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 24
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Brewer > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
The citizens of Orrington are proud to have been so closely associated with the history of its next door neighbor, the City of Brewer, and they extend their heartiest congratulations to the citizens of Brewer on this occasion of the 150th Anniversary. Their wish is that the progress and growth which has been ex- perienced in the past may continue into a fruitful future. Brewer's past performance indicates that it truly is "The City That's Growing Places."
We wish to express our appreciation to Mrs. Robert McCarver of Orrington who assisted in gathering material for this section of our history.
CHAPTER XVII
EAST BREWER BECOMES HOLDEN
The area comprising the town of Holden since the arrival of the first settlers has successively borne the names of East Wren- tham, Orrington, East Brewer, and lastly the corporate name, Holden.
In April 1786, two years before the incorporation of Orrington, General John Blake surveyed a section of land six miles east of the Penobscot River. Since he was a native of Wrentham, Massa-
269
chusetts, he gave the name of East Wrentham in the District of Maine to the tract. The following year he brought his wife and two children to the log cabin which he had built on Potash Hill on the old road leading from present day Holden Center to Dole Hill. Other settlers soon joined General Blake and first locat- ed on the various hills; Dole, Copeland, Kidder, and Mann.
The history of these early years is included in the history of Brewer. To avoid needless repetition, this account will deal pri- marily with the history of the Town after its incorporation, April 13, 1852. It then became one of the youngest towns in Penobscot County. The population according to the 1860 census was 805.
As to the source of the name Holden, it is generally and logical- ly agreed that it is a namesake of Holden, Massachusetts. The latter town is a suburb of Worcester, Massachusetts, from which came Colonel John Brewer, and early settlers of Brewer.
The ninth annual town report for the year 1860-61, contains in part the following almost unbelievable expenditures: pay of town officials, $156.98; support of the poor, $286.25; schools, (nine district schools), $635.82; and roads, $1012.65. It was esti- mated that, in addition to the usual county and state funds to be received, $1200 must be raised by local taxation for the next fiscal year.
In sharp contrast, approximately one hundred years later, March 1962, it was necessary to raise for these same items: town officials, $4800; support of the poor, $1500; schools, $82,377.60; roads (exclusive of state aid) $7466; total appropriation for the next fiscal year, $102,496.10.
In an age of rapid transportation, it is difficult to believe that Holden pioneers found that a trip for supplies to "Brewer Village" usually involved two days. Gradually roads were extended and improved. The entire maintenance of the roads was administered by the "several surveyors," one assigned to each of the districts. This system of division of the town into from nine to fifteen districts continued for many years.
Some of the peculiar courses of the old roads may be explained by the fact that the surveyors sighted from one hill to another. The original route from Brewer eventually divided at Holden Center. The one branch following the present road over Dole Hill was from time to time extended so that it skirted George's
270
Pond and reached Gilmore's Corner or George's Corner, now East Holden. The other road followed in general the line of the present road from Holden Center via the Fisher Road to Mann Hill from where it continued to join the Air Line. The section from the Fisher Road toward George's Corner was built about 130 years ago and designated the County Road.
The advent of the railroad through Holden in 1884 was an event in the town's history. It furnished an additional outlet to markets, and thus led to a new growth in that section of the town. With the shift in business interests there was at the same time a change in the social life, with the result there developed a second active, energetic, social center which has continued to the present time. With the designation of the railroad stop at Hold- en, the Post Office at East Holden, the old name, George's Corner, became obsolete.
As the roads changed from almost impassable routes to graveled surfaces, so were the log cabins replaced by frame houses. The first such was built in 1796 by John Farrington, located on the site of the present residence of Herbert Dole. This house, ravaged by fire in 1911, met the same fate as did a large percentage of the old houses. At the present time, the oldest occupied house is that of Edwin Kenney on Copeland Hill. It was built in 1802 and still has considerable of the original glass, many wrought iron hinges, hand made bricks, and pumpkin pine panels. Emmons Kingsbury purchased the land in 1801 for $250, and the following year brought his bride, Hannah Rider from Rider's Bluff, to his new home. The house for nearly a hundred years was in the possession of members of the William Jarvis Hart family.
In all parts of the town there are many houses which are from 125 to 150 years old. The one built by Thomas R. Copeland, now occupied by Mary L. Copeland, was the first to be completed after the town officially became Holden. The house that this replaced, and the barn were moved to the Brewer flats, while in turn the present barn was originally located in the Whiting's Hill area. This is used as an illustration of the tendency of individuals of the past era to move buildings intact or to dismantle and re- assemble them on a new location several miles distant. One house, first built on the so called Strickland place near the present residence of Dr. Frank Gilley and not far from the Channel 5, T. V. tower, was moved to its present location on Parker Street, Brewer. This task was accomplished in 1852 by the work of eight
271
yoke of oxen. Meanwhile the family pursued their regular routine of living; and a neighbor's boy, nine year old Roswell F. Copeland, acted as baby sitter. Obviously his task was to see that none of his several charges escaped in transit!
Nearly every town can boast of its haunted house and Holden is no exception. One such is owned by Edward Hart and is used as a storage building. This structure, when Holden was still a part of Brewer, was used as the Poor Farm. Legend states that an inmate, one Sarah Goodell, became demented, and had on several occasions attempted to escape. One cold night she slipped out, and the next morning her frozen body was found some two miles distant. From that time on, the ghost of Sarah Goodell patrolled the almshouse. Occupants of the building were awakened by sounds of the old woman's voice crying out, "Save me! I'm freezing!" As soon as a search would be made, all distrubance would cease only to recur after the searchers had withdrawn. The result was that the inmates became so panic-stricken that the town sold the farm to Michael Reardon, who occupied it, ghost free, from 1868 to 1885 at which time George Hart purchased the property. The spirit of Sarah Goodell was again seen on dark nights stealing with a lantern about the yard, and the vacant rooms. In the early nineties, Tom Kyah, a Brewer barber, who had a wooden leg, rented the house for one winter. He died the following summer. The night after he was buried he was heard thumping about the house moaning, "Give me back my leg! I'm cold and want to kindle a fire!" Since the story ends at this point, it is not known whether Sarah and Tom still try on cold, dark nights to find warmth in the old building or are comfortable in the land of ghostly spirits.
The house of John Farrington had the distinction not only of being the first frame house in Holden, but also of being the place where the first school and the first church services were held. What was to be known until 1839 as the Second Congrega- tional Church of Brewer, was formed November 11, 1828. The meeting house" was built in 1829 and according to old records was maintained under the auspices of the "East Brewer Meeting House Corporation."
Pews were sold originally to the various families for $82.25. The certificate of ownership granted the "Purchaser and his heirs forever all privileges as aisles, pulpit, and singing loft that are customary in such cases." Delinquent parish taxes were obtain-
272
ed in various ways. In 1854 Captain Russel Hart purchased for $7.20 a pew sold at auction for taxes. In another case in 1831, a swine and musket belonging to Isaac Bates were sold at auction for the same purpose.
The strictness of the observance of the Sabbath is exemplified by the following incident: A member of the church had com- mitted the sin of hauling in hay on Sunday and was obliged to appear before the Church fathers or was "church mauled." After what would appear to have been a sufficient reprimand, he turned and said, "Gentlemen, I am not sorry at heart, but I am sorry to have caused you so much trouble."
The building of the parsonage in 1848 was prompted from the following resolution: "East Brewer, December 20, 1847; We the undersigned being desirous of retaining Rev. J. R. Munsell as our minister agree to form ourselves into a corporation for the pur- pose of building a parsonage house and other buildings such as the corporation shall see fit. Wherein the corporation shall have been formed and we agree to take the number of shares set against our names, each share to be $25. The corporation thus formed was designated "The First Congregational Meeting House Company in Holden."
Thus did Mr. Munsell, who continued to occupy the pulpit of the church, become the first resident pastor, remaining with the church until he had completed twelve years of service in 1856. Prior to Mr. Munsell, ministers in order of services were W. W. Niles, Charles R. Fiske, A. L. Whitman; and those immediately following included among others: F. Southworth, J. S. Cogswell, E. C. Crane, George H. Wilson, and Ira Smith.
Of the numerous incumbants of the pastorate of the Holden Church doubtless Rev. James Henry, on June 3, 1920, performed a marriage ceremony in the most unique location. On that date the wedding of William G. Kirshbaum of New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, and a 1920 graduate of the Bangor Theological Seminary, and Miss Jeanne E. Poitevin, also of New Bedford, took place at sunrise on Rider's Bluff, the present day location of Channel 2 - T. V. tower. The bride, dressed in the traditional white satin, had to be carried over much of the mountain path which was wet with the morning dew. The witnesses were Mrs. William J. Hart and George Adams of Holden.
273
Five years after the building of the parsonage, the members of the First Congregational Meeting House Company in Holden were summoned to meet, November 2, 1853, "to see if the com- pany will vote to repair and paint their meeting house and wharf up around the same." Records show that in 1854 extensive re- pairs were made to both the interior and exterior of the building. Old bills include in part the following items: 213 yards of carpet at 75c a yard, a melodeon piano for $95, 435 feet of pine timber, $5.43; 35 feet of pine boards, 87c; 31 pounds of nails, $1.70 and labor at the rate of $2 per day.
The church school has been maintained since the establishment of the church. The Young People's Christian Endeavor Society was organized in 1885. This is the first mentioned young peoples group, and was the forerunner of the present day Pilgrim Fellow- ship. The history of the Ladies' Home Circle has been concurrent with that of the church. For many years its activities have greatly contributed to the support of the church.
The one hundredth anniversary of the organization of the church was observed on June 23-24, 1928. The program, in which the Rev. Charles A. Moore, D.D., and the Rev. Basil C. Gleason, had important parts, included in addition to church services, the presentation of a religious drama and an anniversary banquet.
The forefathers of Holden used their energy and interest, not only in the development of the spiritual growth of the town, but also in promoting the education of its youth. Approximately fifty years after the first school was held in 1799 at the John Farring- ton homestead, and the first school house was built in 1803, note- worthy progress had been made in the development of the school system. The fifth town report indicates in the year 1856-7, that there were 331 pupils enrolled in eight school districts; namely, Wiswell, Center, South, Rollins, Mann, Clewley, Rowe, and Crawford. Each district had a school agent whose duty it was to handle the money apportioned to his district, hire the teacher, provide for fuel which was furnished by parents in proportion to the number of pupils attending from a family, and arrange for the teacher's "boarding around", that is boarding for a short period first in one household and then in another. The agents on occasion visited the schools, and by oral examination determined the efficiency of the teacher, and the progress of the pupils. Reports of such visitations were made in the annual town reports in which are found such comments as: "the teacher is successful in exciting
274
interest in her pupils;" "the teacher is of good literary qualifica- tions - enthusiastic yet mild;" "had the teacher maintained better order the school would have been more profitable;" and "the teacher's aptitude for teaching did not quite meet the conservative elements in the district."
The first mention of a Supervisor of schools in addition to the district agents is found for the year 1873-4. That position was held by J. Fogg, who in his annual report stated in part: "We think if parents would make a personal inspection of the schools, we should hear less complaint from the scholars and parents. Co- operation of the parents with the teachers and committee will do much to improve the condition of our schools." The combined system of supervision by a Supervisor and district agents was replaced in the early eighteen nineties by a School Superintendent and school committee.
The first school in the East Holden section was located oppo- site the present residence of Manley Sweet. James Graves, pro- prietor of the Graves' Coffee House, was the builder. The cost of labor was $75; and lumber, $200; but since Mr. Graves slightly altered the original plans, he did not receive compensation for two years. At that time children living across the nearby Edding- ton-Holden line were obliged to pay six cents each per week for tuition.
In the fall of 1874, an eleven week term of a Free High School with an enrollment of forty-two was taught by one Mr. John D. King. Records make no reference to the continuance of this school until ten years later. For a time it was continued for a few weeks each year in the Town Hall. The curriculum included Com- mon Higher English, Latin, Natural Sciences, mathematics, and required compositions and declamations.
As early as 1844, there was a local certification of teachers. Their wages per week were one dollar for a woman and for a man, $1.50 in addition to board. By 1875, the weekly pay averaged from $5 to $9.
Those whose concern was the control of the Holden schools expressed opinions which might have been made today. As ex- amples: "The importance of good schools cannot be estimated." "As we value liberty, peace, and prosperity, so should we educate the youth of our land." "The common school is the cornerstone, the foundation of a free and independent government." "It is
275
needless for us to say that money spent for the schools is well invested."
In the late sixties and early seventies, the question of the location of a town house caused a feud between the sections of the community on each side of Holden Center. The citizens of East Holden and the Hart's Corner area favored the present location, while individuals of the Copeland Hill section as strongly preferred Holden Center. Captain Russel Hart gave away salt pork to win followers for the Hart's Corner location; and thus the group were dubbed "Pork Eaters". Since the other faction gave no such bribery, they were rather inelegantly designated as "Pinch Guts". The name is still applied to a brook near Holden Center, which at that time was a natural boundary between the irate groups.
The dispute, relative to a location, won by the "Pork Eaters", was soon superseded by another bitter diversity of opinions. The question involved whether the structure should be a two story or one and a half story building. The latter was decided on, and again Captain Hart resorted to trickery by managing to have the half story so high that the result was nearly equivalent to two full stories.
The town house discord extended even into the matter of financing the project during construction, the town treasurer re- fused to sign any town orders. As a result Captain Hart obtained personal loans from the banks until he had approximately $2000 invested. That year the tax collector pressed him for payment of his property tax. This he refused to pay until the town had reim- bursed him for the town house which he virtually owned. Need- less to say a settlement was soon made.
The dedication of the Holden Town House was held in 1873. The program included the invocation by Rev. Mr. Wells of Ded- ham; music by a choir; and speeches by Dr. B. F. Tefft, Judge John E. Godfrey, Franklin Wilson, James Dunning, and others.
A structure of the same period quite different in nature and purpose, is the Clark-Copeland tomb at the Holden Center Ceme- tery. Nathan Clark conceived the idea of its construction, and approached other relatives regarding the matter. He is quoted as prefacing his argument with the words, "I don't want dirt thrown in my face." However, he did suffer that indignity, since he died before the tomb was completed and was temporarily buried. Those
276
originally interred here were Lemuel Copeland, his wife, Ascha Hart; their daughter, Caroline Copeland Fogg; Nathan Clark; his wife, Nancy Hart; and George Copeland. The remains of the latter were removed years later to Biddeford. The tomb, permanently sealed, is privately owned and maintained. The deed to the land on which it is located is in the possession of the descendents.
Common interests of the citizens easily led to the organization of various temperance groups. The first such was formed in 1828, and the last to exist for many years was the Holden Sons of Temperance which was organized in 1866. Strangely enough, its first meetings were held at George's Tavern, then in private homes, and lastly, in the Town House.
A grange was established as Union Star Grange #168 on May 15, 1875. About that time a prospective grange group met at the home of Thomas R. Copeland. Whether there is any connection between the two cannot be verified nor is there further informa- tion regarding any grange activities in the Town until June 18, 1921. At that time the present grange was organized through the efforts of George W. Snow and Mrs. Gertrude Pond. The Charter Members were: Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Bemis, Mrs. Mary Carter, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Corey Sr., Mrs. Aimee Dole, H. I. Dole, L. J. Dole, Mrs. Harry Estes, Mrs. W. S. Gilmore, F. L. Gilmore, Mrs. Marion Hart, E. E. Holyoke, R. E. Holyoke, Jay Jilette, Mr. and Mrs. George Mann, Alexander Morrison, Wilda Morrison, Mrs. George Bond, Mr. and Mrs Roy Pond, Mae Savage, Mrs. Alma Smith, Mrs. Robert Smith, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Snow, George A. W. Snow, and Alice Sowers.
An awareness and interest in the historical past of Holden has been manifest on several occasions. "Old Home Week Days" were observed in the years 1904-1905. Former residents, even from British Columbia, Oregon, Florida, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, returned to their native town. The programs consisted of accounts of various phases of the local history, of early families, appropriate original poems, and letters from former citizens unable to attend. The next observation of a historical nature was the already men- tioned Church Centennial in 1928. Twenty-four years later, Octo- ber 11, 1952, the Centennial Observance of the incorporation of the town was observed. The day's activities included a parade, doll carriage parade, baby show, sports, and an exhibition of antiques and old records.
277
In the evening there was presented in the Town Hall a narra- tion of the history of Holden and a fashion show, depicting the styles of the previous century. A dance following the program completed the day's activities.
The Centennial represented a culmination in the history of a town comprising an area, which since settlement has existed under the administration of two states, two counties, and three towns. Holden has through the years changed with the times in the way of life of its inhabitants. The district schools have been replaced by a ten room consolidated school. The bucket brigade method of fighting fires; by the Volunteer Fire Department. Within the town limits are the towers of Bangor's two television stations and an installation vital to Dow Air Force Base. Originally this was primarily a farming community, in addition to which were such industries as saw mills, ice cutting, a tannery, a steam mill for manufacure of wood products, a firm for turning out car- riages and smith work. Today a limited number of the citizens depend on tilling the soil for their livelihood, and there has been no commercial expansion. On the contrary Holden is largely a residential town from which many connected with Dow Air Force Base, the professionally trained specialists in various fields, and skilled and unskilled laborers daily commute to the Bangor- Brewer area.
This history of the town of Holden, once part of Brewer and now her friendly neighbor, was compiled by Miss Mary Copeland. Our thanks go to her for this fine contribution to the story of our past.
CHAPTER XVIII
OUR NEIGHBOR, EDDINGTON
Colonel Jonathan Eddy, a native of Massachusetts who had migrated to Nova Scotia, returned to join the Continental Army during the War of the American Revolution. For his outstanding services he was given, along with nineteen associates, some 9,000 acres of land. This land, along with part of the tract known as
278
the Jarvis Gore, makes up the town of Eddington. The grant stipulated that the land must be settled within two years.
About 1780, a group of settlers arrived. They built their homes near the Penobscot River in what is known as Eddington Bend. Their main artery of travel was the river and by horse back over forest trails. Their first homes were built of logs hewn from the nearby forest. None of these first homes are standing at the present time.
Colonel Eddy became a person of some importance in the community. He was the representative to the General Court of Massachusetts. It is thought that his influence led to the con- struction of the road between the north line of Eddington and the old Morrison Wharf at Penobscot. This road became the main thoroughfare for the towns on the east side of the river.
In 1800, Captain Samuel Davis with others from Charlton, Massachusetts, arriving on horseback, settled near a lake in the eastern part of the Eddy Grant. The lake, now termed Eddington Pond, was for many years known as Davis Pond. The first dwelling was a log hut on the site of the property of Mrs. Edna Johnson, overlooking the lake.
This tract of land, called Plantation #10, was incorporated as a town on February 22, 1811. The name given it was Eddy's Town, but it was entered on the records of the General Court as Eddington. A monument has since been erected in memory of Colonel Eddy. It stands at Eddington Bend.
During the War of 1812 a company of militia was formed in Eddington. Many of the men participated in the Battle of Hampden.
The first school house was built at the Bend about 1816. The cost of $150. This year, sometimes referred to as “Eighteen Hundred and froze to death", was an extremely cold year. There was either frost or snow every month of the year, wreaking havoc with the crops and bringing hardship and near starvation to the settlers.
In 1823, the southwest portion of Jarvis Gore was annexed to Eddington. In 1824, a rather mysterious event took place. A young man of about 17 years of age, David Mann, started on his way to a cobbler shop in the eastern part of the town, partly by boat and partly on foot through the woods. He evidently
279
reached the cobbler shop for some of the work was found in the boat which was tied to the shore, but David never reached home. An intensive search was carried on for many days to no avail. Indians, wild animals, and the possibility of being lost in the dense woodland were all considered as being ways in which he may have disappeared, but no clues were ever found.
The first church was built in 1832, on the top of a hill near the river, beside the old burying ground where Colonel Eddy is buried. This was a Universalist Church and was later aban- doned and a new one was built at East Eddington. The first services were conducted by Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, D.D. The Methodist Church near the North Brewer-Eddington line was constructed in 1844. This serves the community of North Brewer as well as that section of Eddington.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.