USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > Centennial history of Norway, Oxford County, Maine, 1786-1886, including an account of the early grants and purchases, sketches of the grantees, early settlers, and prominent residents, etc., with genealogical registers, and an appendix > Part 36
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The tanning business which has developed into such large propor- tions in this Village, was first started in a small way by the Proprietor of Rustfield, under the immediate direction of William Reed. Jacob Frost afterward had charge of the business, and then came Joseph Shackley who occupied the tanyard house and conducted the business for the Rust family, for many years. Mark P. Smith commenced the tanning business in 1841 with fifteen pits. In 1852, he had increased the number to fifty-six, and the amount of his annual business will be found in another place. He was succeeded by John L. Horne, who has largely increased the business and rendered it one of the most impor- tant industries in the county. Mr. Horne has recently transferred the business to a company, retaining a large interest to himself, and the prospect is that it will be still further increased.
Captain Bailey Bodwell erected the first cloth-dressing establishment in the village, on the same site afterward occupied by Horatio G. Cole. Mr. Noyes says that Mr. Bodwell built the first clothier's works at the Falls, and gives to John Shaw the credit of putting up the first wool- carding establishment at Steep Falls, and the first in this vicinity, in
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which he was succeeded by Samuel Radcliff. Mr. Bodwell erected the first saw-mills at the Steep Falls. Benjamin Witt, who was a nephew of the proprietor of Rustfield, was the first blacksmith at the village, and in the town. His shop was near the saw-mill. He afterward pur- chased the place still occupied by his grandson, where he died. Levi Bartlett was an early blacksmith, and carried on the business on an extensive scale, employing water-power to drive his hammers. Daniel and Moses Holt were blacksmiths in the village, and a multitude of others have succeeded them. James Kettle is entitled to the distinc- tion of having been the first trader in the village. He kept his goods in an apartment in the house of Samuel Ames. Whence he came and whither he went, is unknown to the writer. William Reed was the next store-keeper, occupying for his purpose at first, what was known as the saw-mill house, which stood on the site of Cowen's cabin. This was about the year 1792. Mr. Reed subsequently built a large store, kept the post-office, and was in trade in all, nearly fifty years. A list of Norway traders is given in another place, including those who have done business in the village.
The harness and saddlery business was established in the village in 1802, by Benjamin Tucker, who came here from Worcester, Massachu- setts. He had a long and successful career, transmitted the business to his son, Benjamin Tucker Jr., and the same business is now being carried on in the third generation.
Stephen Greenleaf came here and commenced cabinet-work in 1805, and continued it nearly half a century. Eben Hobbs manufactured the old-fashioned wooden plow, and afterward cast-iron plows, he having a small foundry in which he made his own castings.
Robert Noyes came here from Portland and set up a book-bindery in 1843, and since that time has done a large amount of good work. At one time George L. Beal was his partner.
John B. Brown and Company, including Titus O. Brown Jr., started an iron foundry at the Falls in 1847. Franklin Manning was superin- tendent. They manufactured stoves, fire-frames, ash, oven, and boiler- mouths, agricultural implements, wheel-hubs, butts, hinges, and many other articles.
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GEO . H.WALKER & CO. LITH. OSSTEN.
J. OBrowser.
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
Richard W. Houghton had a gun manufactory at the Falls quite early. He was a superior workman, and skilled in the use of the rifle.
Doctor Asa Danforth built a paper-mill at the Falls in 1848, of which George W. Seaverns was superintendent.
Loren H. Wrisley came from Greenfield, Massachusetts, in 1834, and commenced the manufacture of guns, pistols, and everything in that line. He was a very superior workman.
The pioneers in. the manufacture of boots and shoes for the trade were Solomon S. Hall, Lee Mixer, Mixer & Watson, and Hawkins & Stearns.
Daniel Young and Joseph Gallison were the first hatters in Norway.
The manufacture of potash was an important business in. the early days. The settlers burned vast quantities of wood to warm their dwell- ings, and the ashes became an important item in meeting household expenses. They were bought up by the traders and manufactured into potash. The first potash in the Village was destroyed by fire in 1803. Benjamin Fuller had the only other one in town at that time. The one destroyed by fire at the Village was speedily rebuilt.
In 1843, a freshet carried away Ephraim Brown's grist-mill at the Falls, and also his peg factory.
Samuel Ames was the first wagon-maker here. His vehicles were rudely constructed, but they had the merit of being strong, an impor- tant requisite in those days of rough roads. There were no springs, the body resting directly upon the axles.
This is only a partial list of the early industries of Norway Village. The hotel business is described under its proper head. Chapter thir- teen, describing Norway Village in 1852, and the closing part of this chapter, giving a list of Norway industries in 1886, will convey a correct idea of the progress of business in Norway Village since the "days of small things" just described. So far as human foresight is capable of judging, Norway Village has a brilliant future before it. Centrally sit- uated in the midst of an industrious and thrifty people, easy of access to all the towns in central Oxford, having an unfailing water-power, having large industries already established and constantly increasing in impor- tance, having financial institutions, benevolent and charitable associa- tion, flourishing church organizations and good schools, nothing but the
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
mismanagement of its own inhabitants, can prevent a steady, onward movement, and a growth and prosperity unparalleled in its previous history. It is already the most important business center in Oxford County, and there are few if any places in the State possessing the ele- ments of progression in a more marked degree. Honesty of purpose and unity of action, are all that are now required to insure a full meas- ure of success. There should be no local jealousies. The town has reason to be proud of the noble achievements of the Village, and the Village should always cherish a profound respect for the town which has made its growth and prosperity possible, and, as members of one and the same municipality whose interests are one and the same, they should work together in harmony, alive to the fact that in union alone there is strength.
NORWAY VILLAGE CORPORATION.
In 1850, the Village had attained such proportions, and its business had become so varied and important, that something beside the ordinary precautions against ravages by fire was deemed necessary, and as the town could not be expected to furnish the necessary funds for a fire- engine and other apparatus, it was thought best to have an organization which would have the authority to assess and collect them from parties who were most interested. Accordingly, a petition to the Legislature was drawn up, and at the summer session of that year, an act was passed creating the Norway Village Corporation, of which the following is a copy :-
AN ACT CREATING THE NORWAY VILLAGE CORPORATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled : -
SECT. I. The territory embraced within the limits of the two school districts comprising the territory known as Norway Village in the town of Norway, together with the inhabitants thereon, be and the same hereby is created a body politic and corporate by the name of the Norway Village Corporation.
SECT. 2. Said corporation is hereby invested with power at any legal meeting called for the purpose to raise such sums of money as may be sufficient for the repair and preservation of one or more fire engines, engine houses, hose, buckets, ladders or other apparatus for the extinguishment of fire, for the construction of reservoirs and aqueducts, for the procuring of water, and for organizing and maintaining within the limits of said territory an efficient fire department.
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SECT. 3. Any money raised by said corporation for the purposes aforesaid, shall be assessed upon the property and polls within the territory aforesaid by the assessors of said corporation, in the same manner as is provided by law for the assessment of county taxes, and said assessor may copy the last valuation of said property by the assessors of the town of Norway and assess the tax thereon, if said corporation shall so direct, may correct said valuation or make a new valuation thereof according to the principles of the valuation established the present year and assess the same on the valuation.
SECT. 4. Upon a certificate being filed with the assessors of said corporation by the clerk thereof, of the amount of money raised at any meeting for the purposes aforesaid, it shall be the duty of said assessors, as soon as may be, to assess said amount upon the estates and polls of persons residing on the territory aforesaid, and upon the estates of non-resident pro- prietors thereof, and the assessment to certify and deliver to the treasurer or collector of said corporation, whose duty it shall be to collect the same in like manner as county and town taxes are by law collected by towns, and said corporation shall have the same power to direct the mode of collecting said taxes as towns have, in the collection of town taxes. .
SECT. 5. The officers of said corporation, shall consist of a clerk, treasurer, assessors, collector, fire wardens, and such other officers as may be provided for in the by-laws of said corporation, that fire wardens now have or may have, chosen by towns in town-meeting.
SECTION 6. Said corporation at any legal meeting thereof may adopt a code of by-laws for the government of the same and for the efficient management of the fire department aforesaid, provided the same are not repugnant to the laws of the State.
SECT. 7. Elliot Smith, Ezra F. Beal or Moses Bartlett, or either of them are hereby authorized to issue a warrant directed to some member of said corporation, requiring him to notify the members thereof to assemble at some suitable time and place in said Norway Vil- lage by posting up notices in two public places within said village, seven days at least before the time of said meeting.
SECT. 8. This act shall take effect and be in force after the same shall be accepted by a majority of the voters present at a meeting of said corporation called agreeable to the seventh section of this act.
Approved Aug. 28, 1850.
This act was amended June 5th, 1851, in the second line of section two, by the insertion of the word "purchase" after the word "the," and before the word "repair."
The following constitutes the substance of legislative action relating to the Village Corporation and the village interests, since the charter was amended as stated in 1851.
Norway Mutual Fire Insurance Company created by act approved March 14, 1855.
Powers of the same enlarged, approved January 29, 1856.
School District number 7, authorized to assess and collect a tax for the purpose of paying the debt due for the purchase of the school-house, formerly the academy building, also subse- quent taxes for the same purpose, approved April 9, 1856.
Norway Manufacturing Company chartered; corporators, Richard Evans, Asa Danforth, Jeremiah Howe, Ezra F. Beal, Samuel Favor, Otis True, Benjamin Tucker Jr., Ebenezer
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Hobbs, Simon Stevens, Amos F. Noyes and Nathaniel Pike, who were authorized to manu- facture cotton and woolen goods, linen goods, and articles of wood, iron, steel, or any other thing, the manufacture of which was not prohibited by law, in Norway Village, approved March 17, 1854.
Charter amended so as to allow the town to loan its credit to the same, not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, approved March 3, 1869.
Norway and Paris railroad incorporated, act approved February 6, 1869.
County Commissioners authorized to credit and pay the expenses of the pursuit, detection and arrest of Truman F. Young who robbed the Norway Savings Bank.
The John Pike farm owned by Deborah Whitney, Ralph S. Freeman's farm, the John Bird farm, William Young's farm, Cyrus Witt's farm and the Whitney pasture owned by Jonathan Blake, were set off from the Norway Village Corporation, by act approved February 7, 1870.
NORWAY FIRE COMPANY.
Among the improvements that followed the charter of the Village Corporation, and one of the chief objects had in view in effecting such an organization, was the formation of a Fire Company and the purchase of an engine for extinguishing fires. Among the early members of the organization were the following: Chas. P. Kimball, foreman ; Geo. L. Beal, 2d foreman; Geo. Jackson, 3d foreman ; C. L. Francis, clerk ; E. W. Howe, asst. clerk. The standing committee were C. P. Kimball, Geo. W. Seaverns, Robert Noyes, F. H. Whitman, and Thos. Barnard. Suction hosemen were F. H. Whitman, Geo. F. Kimball, S. S. Hall and E. H. Dunn. Leading hoseman were Geo. W. Sholes, Geo. Bernard, E. P. Fitz, and Isaac Bartlett. The company: H. I. Kimball, Thos. G. Beal, J. N. Hall, E. H. Bemis, M. H. Dunnell, Grosvenor Crockett, J. A. Small, J. H. Kemp, R. Hamant, W. A. Parsons, J. S. Greenleaf, S. E. Bates, F. A. Danforth, J. O. Kendall, Ceylon Watson, Z. Starbird, Levi D. Stearns, E. M. Hobbs, T. H. Kelley, J. C. Kimball, J. Howe Jr., Geo. E. Gibson, S. N. Cloudman, F. P. Bolster, G. W. Morse, E. L. Knight, Jona. Blake, M. L. Burr, O. A. Hall, Benj. Tucker 3d, Josiah Danforth, and W. H. Seaverns.
The most substantial citizens of the Village have belonged to the organization and assisted in its work. While a resident of the town, Sylvanus Cobb Jr. was elected and served as foreman.
NORWAY BRASS BAND.
In his History of Norway, written in 1852, Mr. Noyes said : "The Norway Sax Horn Band has been recently organized and bids fair to
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become celebrated for discoursing sweet music. Such an organization is useful as well as ornamental, and is much needed on some occasions." William Wirt Virgin, Esq., was an early instructor of this band. He was a natural musician and under his leadership it became very efficient. In the political excitement incident to the organization of the Republi- can party in Oxford County, the Norway Band had frequent calls and gave good satisfaction.
NORWAY SAVINGS BANK.
The Norway Savings Bank was chartered in 1866, and the charter, as subsequently amended, named the following corporators: Ezra F. Beal, Isaac A. Denison, John Whitmarsh, Lucius Denison, Horatio G. Cole, William Frost 2d, Edwin W. Howe, George E. Gibson, John L. Horne, Willard C. George, Ceylon Watson, and Anthony B. Crockett. The act so amended was approved February 7th, 1865. The bank was organized March 19th, 1866, with the following officers: President, Nathaniel Gunnison ; Vice-president, John Whitmarsh; Secretary, Henry Upton ; Treasurer, Lee Mixer ; Trustees, C. C. Sanderson, Ezra F. Beal, Horatio G. Cole, Ceylon Watson, Isaac A. Denison, Robert Noyes, and Thomas G. Goodwin.
In 1867, the same officers were re-elected. In September of this year, the bank was robbed, and the Treasurer declined further responsi- bility. October 26th, Henry M. Bearce was elected Treasurer, and has served in that capacity up to the present time.
In 1868, essentially the same officers were re-elected. This year the bank built its present banking-house. The following trustees, beside those already mentioned, have been elected and served since that time : Lucius Denison, Sumner Burnham, Jonathan Blake, Alva Shurtleff, Mark P. Smith, Loren H. Wrisley, Freeland Howe, William Frost 2d, Henry Howe, A. Oscar Noyes, E. W. Smith, F. E. Crockett, George P. Jones, G. A. Brooks, Cyrus S. Tucker, William H. Whitcomb, Frank A. Dan- forth, I. L. Witherell, H. L. Horne, J. O. Crooker, Edwin W. Howe and F. H. Noyes. When Mr. Gunnison moved from town, Ezra F. Beal was elected President, and served until 1870, when he resigned, and was suc- ceeded by Robert Noyes, who has been re-elected every year since. The following have deceased: Nathaniel Gunnison, Ezra F. Beal, Lee Mixer,
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Henry Howe, William Frost 2d, John Whitmarsh, Loren H. Wrisley, A. Oscar Noyes, E. W. Smith, Horatio G. Cole, Mark P. Smith, Sumner Burnham, and Lucius Denison.
NORWAY NATIONAL BANK.
This, the only bank of discount in Oxford County, was organized April 13th, 1872, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. There were over one hundred original stock-holders, many of them resi- dents of Norway, and most of them of the county. The first board of directors was made up of Sumner Burnham, Freeland Howe, G. G. Phelps, of Paris, Isaac A. Denison, William Frost 2d, Henry M. Bearce, and Adna C. Denison, of Mechanic Falls. Mr. Bearce, the present President of the bank, is the only one of the original board who has been continuously in office. Among the directors who have served have been Hon. Sidney Perham, of Paris, and Hon. Timothy Walker, of Rum- ford. The first cashier was A. E. Denison, who served from the organi- zation of the bank to January, 1875, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Howard D. Smith, the present incumbent. The bank has proved a great convenience to the business men of Norway and vicinity, and has done fully as well financially, as its founders anticipated. During the first year, the deposits were from eighteen thousand dollars to twenty thousand dollars. Since then the amount has steadily increased, until it now averages three or four times the original amount. Sumner Burn- ham, the first President, was an excellent financier, and lived to place the institution upon a good basis. His successors have been equally successful in making the stock a good investment to the holders. Mr. Smith has proved a very faithful and efficient cashier, giving his whole time to the management of the increasing business of the bank. He is courteous to the patrons of the bank, and carries out without question, the plans and instructions of the directors.
NORWAY BRANCH RAILROAD.
A branch railway connecting Norway Village with the Grand Trunk road, was talked about long before active measures were taken to bring the enterprise about. It was thought at one time that a track might be laid and the cars propelled by horse-power but this project did not find
CEO.M. WALKER & CO. LITH . BOSTON
Residence of H.M. BEARCE, EsQ., Pleasant. St. NORWAY ME
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many supporters. The first charter for the Norway Branch Railroad was granted by the Legislature, February 23d, 1873. By a provision of the act, the Village Corporation was authorized to aid in the construc- tion of the road. The corporators were: Henry Upton, George L. Beal, I. N. Small, Henry C. Reed, Daniel W. Beal, D. C. Saunders, Edwin W. Howe, Jesse Howe, Calvin E. Evans, Freeland Howe, Isaac A. Denison, G. A. Cole, Henry M. Bearce, F. S. Oxnard, George P. Jones, George P. Rowe, and Joseph Churchill. An organization was effected under this charter, and several efforts made to carry out its provisions, but there were many obstacles in the way and finally the charter was permitted to expire.
In the summer of 1879, an organization was effected under the gen- eral railroad law of the State which had been enacted since the former charter was granted, and the following directors were chosen : George L. Beal, John L. Horne, Henry M. Bearce, James O. Crooker, and Wm. H. Whitcomb. The route for the proposed road was known to be a very favorable one, for though there is quite a high hill lying between the villages of South Paris and Norway, yet by swinging to the south and west, a practically level route was insured. After carefully looking the field over, the managers who had determined that the road must be built, called a town-meeting in September, to see what action could be taken. At this meeting (see 1879, Annals) it was voted to raise five thousand dollars in aid of the road, and to issue bonds of the town for that amount. The balance of the ten thousand dollars, which it was supposed the road would cost, was to be raised by subscription. Nego- tiations were entered into by the directors with the managers of the Grand Trunk road, which resulted in an agreement by the latter to build the road for seven thousand dollars, the Norway Company to secure and pay for the right of way through the territory through which the road should pass. On the petition of the Norway Branch directors, the County Commissioners of Oxford County went over the route as located, and assessed the land damages in accordance with law. The route for nearly the entire distance is through a sandy plain where very little grading was found necessary. Shortly after crossing Alpine street in Norway a quagmire was reached which in some remote time was doubt- less the bed of a pond. It was grown over with shrubbery, and it was
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thought by some that it would be a difficult job to make a suitable road- bed across it. But it did not prove the bottomless pit that many expected, and a few inches below the surface, the soil was found to be firm and solid. The road-bed was constructed by simply filling in sand and digging trenches at the sides. This stretch is about nine hundred feet in length. Mr. John L. Horne constructed a branch for the accom- modation of his tannery at his own expense. Two acres of land were secured for a yard and upon which to erect suitable buildings, at the Norway end of the road. A depot was built whose dimensions were thirteen and a half by forty-nine feet, and a convenient freighthouse. The entire job was expeditiously and satisfactorily done, and the road was opened for traffic before the close of the year.
On the third day of January, 1880, the road was formally opened and the occasion was one of great interest to the people of Norway. About half-past ten o'clock, a salute was fired, announcing the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway officials, and that the first regular passenger train was about leaving South Paris depot for Norway, bringing the reception committee and invited guests. The forenoon was spent in preparations for the event, and a sumptuous dinner was served at the Beals Hotel. The company was welcomed by General George L. Beal, President of the road, who especially enjoined upon them to extract all the enjoyment possible out of the occasion, during the afternoon and evening. The guests were mainly from Portland, Lewiston, and Auburn, and were accompanied by Chandler's Band. The occasion was a most enjoyable one, and the festivities continued until late into the night. The entire cost of building the road and laying the track was eighteen thousand dollars, and the time occupied in building it, a little short of three months. The road has proved a great convenience and the extent of its business up to this time, fully satisfies the hopes of the most sanguine.
THE SHOE FACTORY.
The matter of a shoe factory in Norway Village begun to be agitated in the autumn of 1872, and culminated in the calling of a town-meeting to consider the subject of town aid. The meeting was held on the 9th day of November of that year, and it was "voted to raise a sum of
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money not to exceed ten thousand dollars to aid in the establishment of a shoe factory at Norway Village." A committee was chosen to super- intend and carry out the project on the part of the town as follows : Henry C. Reed, Charles W. Ryerson, Isaac A. Denison, John L. Horne, A. A. Pottle, Frank A. Danforth, William Frost 2d, George L. Beal, Jonathan Blake, John Gerry, Freeland Howe, Ansel Dinsmore, Albert Sanborn, and George W. Russell. A vote was passed empowering the committee to make all contracts with B. F. Spinney in relation to the occupancy of the building, "to superintend its construction and make ยท contracts with parties to facilitate the execution and completion of the building." It was voted to exempt from taxation for a period of ten years, the business of the shoe-making firm that should occupy the building. The committee met and organized by the choice of Henry C. Reed, Chairman; Freeland Howe, Secretary; and William Frost 2d, Treasurer. At a meeting of the committee, November 14th, B. F. Spin- ney and others of the Lynn firm being present, Blake's lot was unani- mously selected as the place upon which to locate the shoe factory build- ing. It was voted at this meeting to close all contracts by May Ist, 1873, and Spinney and Howe were chosen a committee to draw up writings between the town and the parties.
At a meeting of the committee, November 15th, 1872, an agreement between B. F. Spinney & Company, and the town of Norway, was presented and accepted, and signed by the contracting parties. In sub- stance, omitting preliminaries and formalities, the town was bound by the contract to erect a building forty feet wide and one hundred feet long and four stories high, furnished with a sixty horse-power boiler, and a fifteen horse-power engine, an elevator, piping, etc., and to com- plete the building and have it ready for occupancy, on or before the first day of May, 1873, to bear the expense of keeping the building insured, and at the expiration of ten years, B. F. Spinney & Company should have the privilege of buying the building at an appraised value. B. F. Spinney & Company, on their part, agreed to put in machinery for the manufacture of shoes, and give the business a fair trial, and if successful, to occupy the building for this purpose, for ten years, and to pay to the town an annual rent of ten dollars, and keep the building in repair. It was voted by the committee to let the contract of erecting the building
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