USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Holden > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 9
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Eddington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 9
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Orrington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 9
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Brewer > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 9
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Organizations which are active in the parish are: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Women's Sodality Council, Holy Name Society, Parent-Teachers Association, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Boy Scouts.
The Rev. James H. Sullivan served the spiritual needs of the parish from 1951 to April 1959 when he was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Houlihan, who is the present pastor.
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church of Brewer, was founded on the 7th of January, 1926. The Rev. Thomas H. Moriarty, who will celebrate his Golden Jubilee Anniversary of his priestly ordination on the 21st of June of this year, was the first pastor, and continues to service the parish at present.
The Rev. Thomas H. Moriarty was born in Danvers, Massa- chusetts, seventy-eight year ago, the son of Patrick H. and Ellen (Cunney) Moriarty. Father Moriarty was educated in the schools of Danvers and attended Boston College Preparatory School. He was graduated from St. Laurent College in Montreal.
He took up his religious studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, and was graduated from that school. He was ordained June 21, 1912, by the late James Cardinal Gibbons, in the Cathedral in Baltimore. He celebrated his first Mass in Assumption Church in Danvers, Massachusetts, and offered his
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second High Mass in St. John's Catholic Church in Bangor. Father Moriarty was a curate in St. John's Church for five years and nine months before being assigned as pastor of St. James, the Greater, of Woodland. He served there for seven years and nine months. His next assignment was St. Joseph's Church in Brewer on January 7th, 1926.
Father Moriarty built St. Joseph's Church on its present site and the same year supervised the purchase of the present rectory. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in the Parish Hall in Penobscot Square from January 7, 1926, to the last Sunday in October that year when the new church was completed and blessed on the Feast of Christ the King, by the Most Reverend John G. Murray, Bishop of Portland.
Father Moriarty had his residence in the house next to the church, known today as the Penobscot Valley Hospital, until the present Rectory was obtained. It was in this first rectory that the Most Reverend John G. Murray, Bishop of Portland, and the Reverend Fathers present at the dedication and blessings of the new church, were served the dinner which was prepared by Mrs. Annie Kelley, Mrs. Cathleen Mann, and Mrs. Flynn of Wood- land. The future Right Reverend Thomas Nelligan, then pastor of St. John's Church, was present at this auspicious occasion.
Some of the early Catholic families settling in Brewer were the following: Michael and Hannah Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. Thain, Mr. and Mrs. Sheedy, High Street; Mr. and Mrs. Doyle, Mr. and Mrs. Rooney, Mr. and Mrs. Haggerty, and Mr. and Mrs. Fleming, of Burr Street; Mr. and Mrs. Brown of South Main Street; Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien and Mr. and Mrs. Dunn of Maple Street (formerly called Brick Street); Mr. and Mrs. Gerrity of Spring Street; Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Mutty: Mr. & Mrs. James Dougherty; Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gibbons: Mr. & Mrs. Harry Churchell Blake Street; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lynch and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Milan of Parker Street; Mr. and Mrs. Toole, Mr. and Mrs. Clisham, Mr. and Mrs. Hartery, Mr. and Mrs. Hardiman, Mr. and Mrs. Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. Mullen, Mr. and Mrs. Welch, of State Street; Mr. and Mrs. Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Curran, Mr. and Mrs. Smith of Fields Pond; Mr. and Mrs. Nelligan, Pierce Road; Mrs. Annie Dougherty, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Dougherty, Mr. and Mrs. Igoe, Mr. and Mrs. John Cannon, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Maloney,
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Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fahey, Mr. and Mrs. James McDonough, of Chamberlain Street; Mr. and Mrs. John Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Walsh, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. James Cowan, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Shannon of Harlow Street; Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. James Silk, Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzgerald of Silk Street; and Mr. and Mrs. Murray of Gilmore Street, and Mr. Charles Kennedy of North Main Street. These, as well as other Catholic families, attended religious services at St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Bangor, prior to the founding of St. Joseph's Church in Brewer.
The Ladies Guild under Miss Margaret Kelley was formed in 1925 by a group of women in the parish on the occasion of their learning that the new parish, St. Josph's was to be formed. The first duty performed by these women was the task of making altar cloths and other linens for the new church. After many years of activity a new group, the Altar Rosary Society, was organized in September, 1947, with seventy Charter members. The first president was Mrs. Kathleen Cowan. She was followed in office by Mrs. Bertha Wedge, Miss Annie Connick, Mrs. Margaret Mc- Pherson, and the present president, Mrs. Mary Law. The primary function of this group is to provide for all the needs of the altar including the vestments. The members also help to keep the altar clean and decorated with flowers. Over the years this has been done under the leadership of Miss Margaret Kelley, Mrs. Frederick Redmond, and currently, Mrs. Bertha Wedge. The monthly spiritual exercises for the society are held the first Tues- day of every month in the Church, with Rosary, Sermon, and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. This is followed by a brief business meeting and social hour in the Parish Hall, Penobscot Square.
The St. Joseph's Men's Club was formed in 1952 at the suggest- ion of Mr. Joseph G. Kelley and with the approval of Father Moriorty, with Mr. Richard Kiah as its first president. The chief purposes of the club are to assist in the spiritual, social, and economical advancement of the parish. Beginning in the fall, they will hold their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of every month with the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 6:00 P.M. followed with their business meeting and social hour held in the parish hall. Since their founding, they are currently spon- soring the activities of the Catholic Youth Organization of the
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boys and girls of grammar school age. Their annual smorgasborg supper in the spring, is the highlight of their yearly events.
. Over the years hundreds of children have received their First Holy Communion from Father Thomas Moriarty. The first First Holy Communion Class was held under the direction of Father Moriarty, Miss Ruth Mann, and Miss Mary Mutty in the Parish Hall, in June 1926. Many hundreds of others have been confirmed by the succeeding Bishops to Bishop Murray. Father Moriarty witnessed and blessed the marriage of hundreds of others.
Until a year ago the religious instruction of the youth of the parish was held in the rooms of the Parish Hall. The enrollment becoming so large it became necessary to move to larger quarters. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Classes are presently being held in the American Legion Hall, and the VFW Hall of the Municipal Auditorium. Outstanding teachers for the years of service in this work are: Miss Margaret Kelley, Mrs. Nellie McCormack, Miss Ruth Mann, Miss Mary Lynch, Miss Mary Mutty, Mrs. Nancy Dandaneau, Miss Eleanor Ford, Miss Annie Connick, and Mrs. Carlene Crossman.
The people of the Parish helped with their pledges and con- tributions to build the John Bapst High School in Bangor, where many of the boys and girls from St. Joseph's are currently en- rolled.
On June 4, 1960, Rev. Ronald LaBarre was appointed curate of St. Joseph's parish. Father LaBarre is a native of Saco, Maine. He attended St. Louis High School, Biddeford; and St. Francis College, Biddeford. He entered the House of Philosophy in Montreal in 1954, and in 1956 he entered the Grand Seminary of Montreal, and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on May 21, 1960 by the Most Reverend Daniel J. Feeney, Bishop of Portland, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland.
On September 10, 1960, the Rev. Richard Patrick Rice was ap- pointed curate at St. Joseph's succeeding Father Labarre on his appointment as curate in St. Mary's Parish in Lewiston Maine. Father Rice was born December 11, 1933, in Biddeford, the son of John Edward and Mary (O'Brien) Rice. He attended St. Mary's Grammar School in Biddeford, Cheverus High School, Portland. His first year at college was spent at Boston College, Newton, Mass .; second year of college at St. Francis College, Biddeford; fol-
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lowing which he entered St. Paul's Seminary of the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, September 10, 1954, to begin his major studies in philosophy and theology for the Sacred Priest- hood. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Art, Philosophy, and Theology. He was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on May 21, 1960, by the Most Reverend Daniel J. Feeney, Bishop of Portland, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port- land. He offered his first Solemn High Mass at St. Mary's Church, Biddeford, May 22, 1960. His first assignment was to St. Joseph's Parish, Portland, Maine from June 4, 1960 to September 10, 1960 when he was appointed to Brewer where he is currently serving.
In the summer of 1961, Father Moriarty directed the purchase of two parcels of land on North Main Street, running parallel with Parkway North, almost to Washington Street. This purchase assures that the growing needs of the parish may be met with further expansion.
Those who have served as efficient and faithful housekeepers at the rectory over the years are: Mrs. Mary Flynn, Miss Mar- garet Kelley and Miss Catherine Kane of Frankford, and Miss Margaret Clark, who is serving at the present time.
Mr. Ralph Fortier, who is well known for his musical talent and ability, served as head organist for a number of years. He was succeeded by Mr. Robert Brimmer, present head organist, with assistant organist, Miss Judy Dudek.
Those who have chosen the vocation of the religious life from the parish are Rev. Fr. John Hodgins, of the Society of Jesus; and Miss Ann Marie Kiah, now Sister Mary David of the Sisters of Mercy, Portland.
The Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the Rev. Thomas H. Moriarty will be celebrated July 11, 1962. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered at 10:30 A. M. and there will be a public reception in the evening in the Brewer Municipal Audi- torium.
BREWER GOSPEL TABERNACLE
The newest member of the family of churches in Brewer is the Brewer Gospel Tabernacle, whose first home in the city was at 26 North Main Street where it opened in July 1946, with Rev. James S. Lounsbury as pastor. The church moved to this city
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from Bangor where it was incorporated in 1939 as the Bangor Gospel Tabernacle. Rev. Lounsbury passed away on July 28, 1947, and Rev. T. Alton Stewart became the pastor.
Under the leadership of Mr. Stewart, the name was legally changed to the Brewer Gospel Tabernacle Incorporated. On February 3, 1957, the first services were held in the newly erected church located at 14 Parkway South.
Rev. Stewart remained until August 6, 1961, when he preached his farewell sermon. His successor was the Rev. George W. Green. A parsonage was acquired at 45 Getchell Street, and it is here that Mr. Green and his family make their home.
Sunday School, Worship, Youth, and Evangelistical Services are held each Sunday and the members meet for prayer and Bible study on Wednesday evenings.
This is the picture of the life of the churches in Brewer. A newcomer to the city will find seven well established churches of several denominations from which to choose. Our city has certainly progressed in its religious growth since that time when people came from miles around on foot and over wilderness trails to attend divine services in the little unpainted church near Oak Grove Spring.
CHAPTER IX
BREWER'S EDUCATIONAL GROWTH
The first money tax which was raised by the town of Orrington for its schools was in 1792, when the sum of thirty pounds was considered a sufficient amount. This amount varied up to $300 in 1812, with an occasional year when no money at all was appropriated. For quite a number of years the children gathered in groups at private dwelling houses and received instruction for the most part from members of the families. The first regular school was held in an unfinished room at the home of Deacon John Farrington. This school was taught by a Mr. John Wilkins. Four years after this the first school house in the Wrentham Settlement was built. It occupied the west corner of the farm of Silas Winchester. Previous to this time the town had been divided
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into school districts. In the original deed received by Moses Knapp and his associates, instructions were given to reserve 280 acres for the use of a grammar school.
On March 4, 1793, the school districts were described as fol- lows: Ward 1, Beginning at the upper end of the town according to plan and to extend sixteen lots down will bring the lower bounds of the first ward to Levi Bradley's south line, which will bring the center near Mr. Orcutt's house. Ward 2, To extend sixteen lots down will bring the lower bound to the south side of Charles Burr's lot, and the center on the south side of Captain Rider's lot; Ward 3, To extend sixteen lots down will bring the lower bounds to the south of David Wiswell's lot and the center will be on the south side of Josiah Brewer's lot. Ward 4, To extend sixteen lots down will bring the lower bound to the south side of Simeon Fowler's lot, and the center will be on the lot formerly occupied by Edward Smith. Ward 5, To extend sixteen lots down will bring the lower bounds on the south side of Bald Hill lot, and the center will be on the south side of Eliphalet Nickerson's lot.
According to the late Miss Alice Farrington, her grandmother Farrington conducted the first school sessions. Reference is later made to a small brick school house near the dam where the enroll- ment was made up of both Indians and white children. As near as we can discover this was the Mill Dam School House. It was lo- cated on the back of the lot now occupied by the residence of Mr. Merle Bowden. The brick building was torn down and a wooden school house was built on the same lot. The wooden building was later moved away and some authorities state that it was moved to the yard of the Excelsior School Building on Cham- berlain Street. When the Bowdens purchased the property the foundation pit of the old school was still on the back lot. We found one record where it stated that Miss Jennie Farrington once taught at the Mill Dam School.
At the first meeting of the town of Brewer, held in March, 1812, it was voted to raise $400 for the support of the schools in the town. This money was to be distributed equally among the various school districts. Equal distribution was to be based on the number of scholars between four and twenty-one years of age in each of the districts. The committees elected at this time to have charge of the schools in the various districts were: #1, Josiah Brewer, Sam-
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uel Sterns, and Josiah Crawford; #2, John Holyoke, Benjamin Snow, and Charles Burr; #3, Lot Rider, Joseph Burr, and George Leonard; #4, John Whiting, James Campbell, and Samuel Call; #5, George Wiswell, Allen Hodge, and William Copeland; #6, John Blake, Solomon Blake, and William Rogers; and #7, Thomas George, David Mann, and Nathan Clark.
Provision had to be made even in those days for the care of de- pendent children and we read in the records for May 13, 1814, that four such youngsters were auctioned off to the lowest bidder, who was to be responsible for the children and send them to school for part of the year. Apparently three of the four must have been of school age and it was guaranteed that they should attend school for at least two months.
The financial problem was acute in those days and on March 7, 1814, the town voted not to raise any money for the support of the schools; however, they apparently felt that this vote had been a mistake and they must reconsider it, for the next month they voted to raise $300 for this purpose. The school census at that time counted all children between the ages of 4 and 21; but in 1816, the town voted to count no "schoolars" after they are "maried".
The following schoolhouse tax bills have been carefully copied from the original which is the property of the Brewer Public Library:
Poll Tax
Estate
Total
Adams, Timothy
1.86
6.84
8.70
Byrum, Erastus
1.86
1.86
Burr, Jonathan
1.86
21.06
22.92
Burr, Gerry
1.86
3.04
4.90
Brastow, Deodat
1.86
36.40
38.26
Brastow, Deodat, Jr.
1.86
1.86
Boynton, William
1.86
1.52
3.38
Burr, Edward
1.86
.20
2.06
Burr, Caleb H. H.
1.86
11.82
13.68
Chamberlain, Joshua, Jr.
1.86
12.19
14.05
Clary, Robert
1.86
1.74
3.60
Chadwick, Isaac
1.86
1.86
Doane, David B.
1.86
8.66
10.52
Gragg, Thomas
18.6
5.77
7.63
Gragg, Sylvester
1.86
3.34
5.20
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Howard, Lewis
1.86
6.30
8.16
Holyoke, John
14.47
14.47
Holyoke, John, Jr.
1.82
14.13
15.99
Holyoke, Edward
1.86
13.90
15.76
Holyoke, Charles
1.86
2.52
4.38
Holyoke, Horace
1.86
1.86
Holyoke, Jacob
1.86
2.65
4.51
Haskell, Moses
1.86
1.86
Hilferty, John
1.86
4.78
6.64
Holbrook, Watson
1.86
8.51
10.37
Leonard, George, guardian to S. Burr
3.04
3.04
Philips, Nathan
1.86
3.76
5.62
Pease, Nathaniel
1.86
1.86
Richards, Joseph
1.86
4.49
6.35
Robinson, Widow L.
9.95
9.95
Stickney, Jonathan
1.86
1.52
3.38
Sprague, Ephraim
1.86
1.86
Snow, Benj.
1.86
21.65
23.42
Wilson, John D.
1.86
24.77
26.63
Wilson, John D. for E. Burr
3.80
3.80
Wilson, Joel
1.86
1.52
3.38
Gerry, Theodore
1.86
.30
2.16
Shea, Charles A.
1.86
1.52
3.38
Chamberlain, John
1.86
1.86
Non-residents if known
Valuation
Tax
Whitwell Bond & Co. store, lot, and
wharf near river ferry
$850
12.92
Brimmer, George N., 84 acres
2900
44.08
Unknown, formerly L. French
300
4.56
Hill, Higgins, 6 acres
200
3.04
Wiswell, George 1/3 Burr from
Hannah, Richard and Charles Burr
1100
16.72
Collins, James
300
4.56
Unknown, family A. Rogers Brewer, July 1831
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.91
..
..
George Leonard Wm. Copeland Charles Blake Assessors of Brewer
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The following paragraph preceded the list of names and taxes: Schoolhouse tax bills ( copied from the original)
To Joshua Chamberlain Jr., collector of taxes for the town of Brewer for the year of our Lord, 1831. This book, containing three pages beginning with the name of Timothy Adams and ending with the name of A. Rogers, is a list of assessments upon the Polls and Estates of the Persons therein named, each one his respective portion of the sum of four hundred dollars, being the amount voted and raised by School district #3 in said town at their late District meeting, together with seven dollars and ninety-six cents overlayings on said tax which we hereby committ to you for col- lection and you are to collect and pay over the same to John S. Wilson and the building committee of said District on or before the last day of September next.
George Leonard William Copeland Charles Blake Assessors of Brewer
Brewer, July 20, 1831
In 1837 an agreement was reached whereby a schoolhouse was to be built for $570. with writing benches to be twenty in num- ber.
An item which arouses our curiosity, for we have found no more about it, is the statement that the Octagonal School (so named because of its shape) burned. It had six windows, two doors, and four rows of seats.
Lurking still in some dusty remote corners of old Brewer attics may be some of the text books that date back to the list of those used in the public schools of our town in 1847. These were used per order of the Superintending School Committee. They are as follows: The Bible, Devotional Exercises. Webster's Dictionary, Webster's Spelling Book, Swan's series of reading books, (five books ), Parley's Geography, Woodbridge's Geography and Atlas, Colburn's Intellectual Arithmetic, Greenleaf's Introduction to the National Arithmetic, Greenleaf's National Arithmetic, Weld's Grammar and Parsing Book, Comstock's Philosophy, Goodrich's History, and Parley's History.
In 1852, the school districts in Brewer were listed as follows: Bend, Liberty, Mill Dam, Excelsior, Whiting Hill, Page, Brimmer,
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Union, Village, Day, Wiswell, and Clewley, The schools were maintained for a summer and a winter term. Reports show that 44% of the eligible children attended in the summer and 55% in the winter. The larger percentage in the winter is under- standable, for many of the children were called upon to assist at home during the summer term.
A committee, appointed to report on modification of the school system in 1855, recommended that the primary and grammar schools should be in session for at least six months of the year, and that a high school should be established. Composing this committee were: R. K. Cushing, E. H. Burr, D. Brastow, I. Dole, J. L. Chamberlain, H. M. Farrington, and S. Howard.
Before the establishment of a free high school in the town there had been at least one private high school. This institution of learning was located over the Bank on lower Wilson Street and was conducted by Charlotte Johnson. Many of the Brewer stu- dents attended high school in Bangor. In 1852 the town voted to finish the attic story of the Town House in order that it might be used for a high school. At this time the judgment of the town was that the newly finished room should be rented for High Schools or for academical purposes, the rate of rental not to exceed the interest on the amount expended and the insurance. The rent received was to be applied to the general school fund. Again we find reference made to a high school in the records of 1867, when it is stated that in the opinion of the town one high school would suffice for both ends of the town as it would be more economical and more useful.
There was some sort of a high school in the town in 1872, although it may have been private or partly so. The first female teacher hired for high school teaching was hired that year. She was a Mrs. Nickerson and she taught a class which averaged thirty-five students for $15.00 per week. In one set of notes we found the statement that at one time the high school was in East Brewer (Holden) on the Hardy Orchard Road. The building in which it was located was said to have accommodated eighty students. We can find no records of any kind which would authen- ticate this report.
A free high school was established in 1873 with Frank A. Floyd as its first principal. Mr. Floyd held an A.B. degree from Bowdoin College and came highly recommended by President
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Chamberlain of that college. The temporary location of the high school was at the Town Hall. Expenses for keeping up the school that year amounted to $921.22, of which $600 was paid to Princi- pal Floyd. The school year was made up of two terms, each consisting of twelve weeks and the average attendance was about forty students. The school continued to be held at the Town Hall until 1875 when a room was prepared for it at the Brimmer District school house. There was much comment from the citizens that the course of study was "too high". Many Brewer students were still attending Bangor High School.
The first class to graduate from the Brewer Free High School was in June, 1877. There were eight members in the graduating class of whom two went on to college, and three taught school. In 1878, one of the graduates, Miss Annie Chambers, was em- ployed as assistant to the high school teacher. Mr. George F. Pratt, at "small compensation."
The so-called Classical High School of Brewer held the envi- able record of sending nearly fifty percent of its graduates on to college. Despite this fact, in 1879, this high school was abolish- ed by popular vote as an expensive luxury. Not until 1889 was it re-established with the full college course. For a period of time during the interim there was an English High School with a three year course.
At one time during the middle eighties incorporation papers were taken out for "Brewer Academy"; but we have found no record of its ever having been established.
In 1889 Captain John A. Gilman presented the high school with a flag and Alderman Merrill presented a Tremner balance to be used in the Chemistry Department. Brewer High School was placed on the list of Approved College Preparatory Schools in 1904.
The Commercial Department was inaugurated in 1907. At the start the typewriting class had one Underwood machine. In the spring of the following year a Remington was purchased. By the next year the class had grown so large that it was necessary to pur- chase two more machines. The registration of the high school in 1908 was one hundred and nineteen students. Of this total one hundred and three ware residents of Brewer, fourteen were from Orrington, one fom Bradley, and one from Holden. The faculty consisted of the teaching principal and four teachers.
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The first follow-up of the high school students was made in 1908. During the preceding five years, seventy-eight had graduat- ed and one hundred and twenty-one had entered and left without graduating. The result of the study was as follows:
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