Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 26

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648

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209

EAST MACHIAS.

age of ninety years. The next clearing is said to have been made in the easterly part of the town about 1780, by a Mr. Gravy, and a third made about the same time on the east bank of the Androscoggin River, at what is now Strickland's Ferry. The first settler at what is now the village of Livermore Falls was probably Mr. Samuel Richardson. The grist and saw mills built at the falls in 1791, were the first in town. They were constructed under the direction of Elijah Liver- more, an original proprietor, and one of the first settlers upon the west side of the river. There is here a natural fall of fourteen feet. There are on these falls at present, a grist-mill, three saw-mills, a factory for novelty wood-turning, a leather-board factory, and the Umbagog Paper Fibre Mills. In the village there are also various small manufactures without water-power. The Indian name of the locality is Rokomeko, signifying, it is said, " great corn land." The town yields good crops and is excellent grazing-land. It has also been noted for its fine cattle.

The town furnished for the war of the Rebellion 68 citizens and 9 others, a total of 77, at an expense to the town of $10,654. The town has one Baptist church, one Free Baptist, and two Methodist. There is a small circulating library at Livermore Falls; and lectures are occasionally given at the various churches. The town has seven schoolhouses, valued at $3,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $388,680. In 1880 it was $344,092. The population at the first date was 1,004. In 1880 it was 1,082.

East Machias lies about midway of the southern shore of Washington County. It is bounded on the east by Marion and Whit- ing, south by Machiasport, west by Marshfield, and north by an un- named township. Gardner's Lake lies on a portion of the eastern boundary, and Machias River forms the southern line. Hadley Lake extends from south of the centre of the town Into the township on the north. Its outlet constitutes East Machias River, and furnishes four excellent powers, all within two miles of tide-water. The descent from the pond to tide-water-a distance of three miles-is 47 feet. On Chace's Stream, the outlet of Gardner's Lake, are two excellent powers, occupied by two saw, two lath, and one shingle-mill. This pond covers 8} square miles, and would afford power equal to 840 horse, or sufficient to run 33,600 spindles. The power on the river from Had- ley's Lake to the tide might be made equal to 1,600 horse, or sufficient for 64,000 spindles. Gardner's Lake, though scarcely a mile above the tide, is 60 feet above sea-level, The number of saw-mills of all kinds in the town is nine, of which two are double, and one runs a gang of saws. Other manufactories are two grist-mills, a tannery, four ship- yards, etc. The village is chiefly at the head of the tide in the south- ern part of the town, but extends on both sides of this river and Chace's Stream to the bay. Jacksonville Village is situated one and a half miles north of East Machias post-office. East Machias is 4 miles north-east of Machias. It is on the stage-line from Cherryfield to East- port, and is the terminus of the stage-lines to Lubec, Cutler, and Township No. 14. It was set off from Machias and incorporated Jan. 24, 1826. Samuel Scott was the first settler, being followed in 1768 by Col. Benj. Foster, W. Foster, J. Seavy, D. Fogg, J. Mansur, and others. At the latter date or earlier, Colonel Foster and his neighbors, assisted

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

by Capt. Ichabod Jones, of Boston (father of Hon. John C. Jones), "erected a double saw-mill against the west shore of the east branch or river, about 100 rods above the head of the tide, where the founda- tion was laid of the eastern village." [Williamson's Hist. of Maine, Vol. II., p. 509.] Rev. James Lyon, a Presbyterian, was the first min- ister. He commenced his labors in the place in 1771, and a church was organized in 1781. The first meeting-house built in the town is now used for a store. He remained here until his death in 1794.

Washington Academy was established in 1823, and had for its first Principal, Solomon Adams. Among the natives of East Machias who received their academical training at this institution should be men- tioned, Samuel Harris, D.D., of Yale College; Prof. Roswell D. Hitch- cock, Union Theological Seminary ; William C. Talbot, San Francisco, capitalist ; Andrew J. Pope, of the same city, who died in January, 1879, leaving an estate valued at $3,000,000; Frederic Talbot, New

LOWER FALLS, EAST MACHIAS, ME.

York ; Charles II. Talbot, Providence ; P. Foster Folsom, Boston ; Rev. M. J. Talbot, D.D .; Rev. Henry L. Talbot ; Thomas H. Talbot, Brookline, Mass .; Hon. Geo. F. Talbot ; Hon. John C. Talbot ; Leonard Scott, of the L. Scott Publishing Company, New York ; Hon. Stephen C. Foster, member of Congress from Maine, two terms; Stephen C. and Lowell Talbot, New York, and others, if space would allow.

The first Temperance Society in the region was formed at East Machias in 1827. There are now in the town three organized churches, having suitable edifices ; the denominations being Baptist, Congrega- tionalist and Methodist. Washington Academy is still fairly pat- ronized, and its scholarship is sustained. The number of public- schoolhouses is eight; these, with other public-school property, being valued at 86,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $581,547. In

211

EASTPORT.

1880 it was $495,555. The population in 1870 was 2,017. In 1880 it was 1,875.

Easton is on the eastern line of Aroostook County. It is bounded on the north by Fort Fairfield, west by Presque Isle, south by Mars Hill, and east by New Brunswick. The area is 36 square miles. The River DeChute drains the eastern and south-eastern part, and the Presque Isle Stream the western part. On these streams are several water-powers, which are at present occupied by two saw-mills and a grist-mill. The surface of the town is elevated, but is without lofty hills. The soil is strong and yields well of the usual farm crops. Potatoes, which are largely raised, find a ready market at the starch- factories.

Easton is 37 miles north of Houlton, on the stage-route to Fort Fairfield. There is a railroad station in Fort Fairfield, the adjoining town on the north. The town was incorporated in 1864. Previously the settlement was called Fremont Plantation. In the town is a Baptist church and two Christian churches. The town has eight public- schoolhouses. The total school property is valued at $2,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $69,879. In 1880 it was $88,484. The population in 1870 was 522. In 1880 it was 835.

Eastport is a town and island in the south-easterly part of Washington County, in Passamaquoddy Bay. The nearest towns are Perry on the north-west, and Lubec on the south-west. Lubec Bay and its passages separate it from the mainland on the west, and the waters of Passamaquoddy Bay divide it from Campo Bello and Deer islands, which belong to Great Britain. It is connected with Perry by means of a bridge 1,280 feet in length. The greatest length of the town is about 5 miles in a north-western and south-eastern direction ; the greatest width is about 2 miles. The form of the island is ex- tremely irregular, and furnishes several good havens. The village is situated on the south-easterly part of the island, on a spacious harbor never closed by ice. Catching and curing fish has been and is still the principal industry of the town. There are now thirteen sardine fac- tories in full operation in Eastport, employing about 800 hands. These factories run night and day during the season, and turn out about 5,000 cases per week. Some $8,000 per week are paid out weekly to the hands,-men, women and children. The fish-curing houses mark- ing the eastern shore of the town, but numerously clustered along the water's edge at the village, are a very noticeable feature from the harbor. Another feature is the fortified hill in the village, called Fort Sullivan. " The Prince Regent's Redoubt " is the highest eminence in the town, the summit being 183 feet above high-water mark. The view of the bay from this point is very beautiful. The rock is generally trap, and the soil is gravel, loam and clay. Hay and potatoes are the principal crops. There are three excellent tide-powers within the town. The manufactories, other than those engaged in the various preparations of fish, are a steam-mill of 75 horse-power, comprising a grain-mill capable of grinding 400 bushels per day, box and spool machinery, making 2,000 boxes, and using 2,500 feet of spool lumber, and carding machin- ery capable of making into rolls 150 lbs. of wool per day. The village contains about one hundred warehouses and stores. It is prettily laid

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out, and along the streets are many elm, maple, hackmatac, mountain ash and balm of gilead trees ; while everywhere front yards are filled with flowers.

Eastport was incorporated February 24, 1798, and was named East- port from being the most eastern port in the United States. At this date the town included Moose Island (Eastport), Dudley's (Allen's), Frederic (Rice's) Islands, and the territory of the present town of Lubec. The latter with the two last islands were set off in in 1811. The first settlers were fishermen from Newburyport, Mass., and Ports- mouth, N. H., of whom James Cochrane was the first, coming from Newburyport in 1772. Previous to its incorporation, Eastport was known as Moose Island., The chief office of the Passamaquoddy United States Customs District has been located at Eastport almost ever since the incorporation of the town.

During the embargo of 1809 a fortification named Fort Sullivan was built on the hill at the village. In 1814, Major Perley Putnam, of Salem, was placed in command in this region, having a force of 100 militia, 30 of whom were stationed at Robbinston. On the 5th of July, in this year, a small force of British secretly despatched from Halifax, was joined by a fleet from Bermuda, the whole consisting of the " Ram- illies," a 74 gun ship, the sloop-of-war "Martin," the brigs "Rover" and "Bream," bomb-ship "Terror," and several transports, carrying upwards of 1,000 men, consisting of the 102d infantry and a battalion of artillery. The troops were commanded by Colonel Thomas Pilkington, the whole force being under the command of Commodore Sir Thomas Hardy. These arrived before Eastport on the 11th of July. The force was so strong that it appeared worse than useless to contend, and the place was surrendered. The British claimed the island as being on the British side of the boundary-line settled upon in 1783, and ordered the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance. While some complied with the requirement others evaded it, and many removed to points west- ward. Among the spoil found by the enemy was $9,000 in unfinished United States Treasury notes, lacking only the signature of the col- lector of customs to render them valid ; but threats and artifices failed to induce the officer to sign them. After some time, having appointed a British collector of customs, the fleet departed, but left 800 troops to hold the place. These were continued here for three years after the war closed, on the plea that this island was included in the original limits of New Brunswick.

The town in 1820, two years after the British force removed, con- tained one hundred and twenty-five dwelling-houses, seventy-five stores, sixty wharves, and three meeting-houses, one of which cost $10,500. In 1839 the larger part of the business quarter of the village was burnt, but was soon rebuilt. Eastport furnished 403 men to the Union cause during the war of the Rebellion. There are now in the village a national and a savings-bank, the custom house for the Passa- maquoddy district, a telegraph office, a United States signal- station, a newspaper, and a public library of 1,800 volumes. The Frontier National Bank has a capital of $75,000; the Eastport Savings Bank, at the beginning of 1880, held in deposits and profits the sum of $153,780.34. The " Eastport Sentinel," published by N. B. Nutt, Esq., is a valuable and interesting paper. Here is a port of the International Steamship Line, connecting with Boston, Portland and

213

EDDINGTON.

St. John; and of the St. Croix Steamboat Line, by which it is con- nected with Calais, St. Andrew's and Robbinston. It is the terminus of the daily stage-line to Calais and Machias, from the first of which it is distant 30, and from the last, 40 miles. Among the honored citizens of this town were Hons. Lorenzo Sabine, Joseph C. Noyes, and Esquires Ichabod R. Chadbourne, Daniel T. Granger, Frederick Hobbs, Aaron Hayden, Bion Bradbury and Jonathan D. Weston. There are resident in the town ten persons above ninety years of age, fifteen about eighty, and one who claims to be one hundred and two.

The churches of Eastport number seven, and are Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Unitarian, Christian and Roman Catholic. The Boynton high-school is located in this village. The number of public schoolhouses in the town is seven, valued, with appurtenances, at $12,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $901,686. In 1880 it was $882,892. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 3 per cent. The population in 1870 was 3,736. In 1880 it was 4,006.

Eaton is situated in the north-eastern part of Washington County, 57 miles north-west of Calais. The township was formerly No. 9 of Range 4. It was incorporated in 1873. It is bounded east by Grand Lake, at the head of St. Croix River, south by Jackson Brook, and west by Danforth. The surface of the town is moderately uneven. The rock is generally granitic in character, and the soil gravelly. Hay is the principal crop. Hemlock constitutes the bulk of the forests. Grand Lake Cove, about 4 miles in length, lies in the eastern side of the town. Two or three other small ponds afford some water-power on their outlets.

The Shaw Brothers tannery, located in this town, uses 8,000 cords of bark, and tans 600 tons of leather annually. The nearest railroad connection is at Forest Station, on the European and North American Railway, 8 miles distant. This township furnished 16 men to the Union forces during the war of the Rebellion, of whom 6 were lost.

The Free Baptists and Methodists have preaching here a part of the time. Eaton has three public schoolhouses, and school property .to the value of $1,100. The valuation of estates in 1880 was $88,294. The rate of taxation was 7 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 81. In 1880 it was 314.

Eddington, in Penobscot County, lies on the eastern bank of the Penobscot, 5 miles E.N.E. of Bangor. It is on the Air Line stage-route to Aurora, in Hancock County. Bradley bounds it on the north, Clifton on the east, Holden on the south and Veazie and Orono on the west, separated by Penobscot River. The town is irregular in form, curving away from the river south-eastward to a distance of about 10 miles, while its width is scarcely 3 miles. The area is about 9,000 acres. The surface is uneven and in some parts broken. A broad-topped hill called Black Cap Mountain in the south-eastern part, is the highest elevation. Holbrook and Davis Ponds, having a broad connecting stream, lie on the western line of the southern portion of the town ; and Nichols Pond lies upon the eastern line near the middle of the town. The two first are about 1 mile square, the last 3 miles. The outlet stream of the two first, connecting with the last, has a total

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

fall of 45 feet in three-fourths of a mile. On this, at East Eddington, are saw, shingle and grist mills, and a clothes-pin, spool and axe fac- tories. Other manufactures of the town are bricks, coopers-ware, car- riages, etc. The nearest market and railway station are at Bangor. Eddington Bend, on the Penobscot, is the other village. Both villages contain many tasteful dwellings, and the streets are numerously set with shade trees.

This township, at the recommendation of Congress, was granted to Jonathan Eddy and nineteen others, in consideration of their services and sufferings in connection with the Revolution. They were resi- dents of Nova Scotia, but fled thence in 1776, on account of the perse- cution of the British. This grant was made in 1785, and the place was immediately settled. The town was incorporated in 1811, taking its name from Col. Eddy, the principal settler.

The Methodists have a neat church at Eddington Bend, and the Universalists, at East Eddington. The number of public schoolhouses in the town is seven, and the total school property is valued at $1,800. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $165,235. In 1880 it was $128,767. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 24 per cent. The popula- tion in 1870 was 776. In 1880 it was 746.

Eden, in Hancock County, occupies the northern and eastern por- tion of Mount Desert Island. It embraces an area of 22,000 acres, about 1,000 of which are covered by water. In the north-west is Western Bay ; in the north is Thomas . Bay, which receives the waters of the largest stream on the island, North-Eastern Brook. North of this are Mount Desert Narrows, separating the island and the mainland. The principal eminences are Newport Mountain (1,060 feet in height), Mc- Farland's Mountain (764 feet), the White Cap (925 feet), Mount Kebo (405 feet), Interlaken Hill (462 feet), Great Hill (748 feet). Dry Monn- tain and Green Mountain (1,522 feet), 4 miles S.S.W. of Bar Harbor, are partly in Eden. "The view from Green Mountain is delightful. No other peak of the same height can be found on the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Lubec to the Rio Grande, nor from any other point of the coast can so fine a view be obtained. The boundless ocean on the one side contrasting with high mountains on the other, and along the shore numerous islands, appearing like gems set in liquid pearl, form the most prominent features in the scene. White sails dotted over the water glide slowly along. We know not what view in nature can be finer than this, where the two grandest objects in nature, high mountains and a limitless ocean, occupy the horizon. The name of Eden is truly appropriate to this beautiful place." Twenty miles out on the ocean is seen Mount Desert Rock, with its light-house beaming a fixed white light. In the west are numerous mountains of the island, with bright lakes interspersed, while the Camden Mountains are seen in the distance. It is claimed that Mount Katahdin, 100 miles to the north, and Mount Washington, 140 miles west, can sometimes be seen from this point. Whittier, in Mogg Megone, has a passage on this locality.

Granite, sometimes porphyritic in its character, is the prevailing rock in town. The soil varies from loam to gravel, with some marsh. Wheat, corn, oats, potatoes and barley are all raised to some extent. There are two saw-mills for long lumber, two shingle and two clap-

215

EDGECOMB.

board mills. Agriculture and the fisheries are both carried on to a considerable extent; but the chief employment of the people is cater- ing to the wants of summer visitors. Bar Harbor, the principal vil- lage, is situated on the east side of the island. It has a fine sea view, extending across Porcupine Island, in Frenchman's Bay, to the rol- ling hills of Goldsborough. There are beaches near the village; and a high rocky islet near by is the summer residence of General Fre- mont. About one and a half miles south of the village is Cromwell's Cove, noted for its bold cliff shores, on one of which is the rock-figure called the Assyrian. The Indian's Foot (a foot print in the rock) and the Pulpit are in this vicinity. Four miles south of Bar Harbor is Schooner Head, a high, wave-washed cliff, with a white formation on its seaward side, which resembles a schooner under sail. It is said to have been cannonaded by a British frigate in the war of 1812. About two and a half miles north of Bar Harbor is the little seaport of Hull's Cove. Here is a neat crescent beach, where the Gregoire's dwelt, the hereditary proprietors of most of the region ; Madame Gregoire being a grand-daughter of the Gascon noble, Condillac, to whom the King of France granted Mount Desert in 1688. About two miles north of this place, across the promontory, is Salisbury Cove, a port for small ves- sels. The Via Mala is a long passage in the neighboring cliffs. A short distance eastward from this on the northern angle of the prom- ontory, is the little hamlet of Sand Cliff ; and near it are the Ovens, a range of caves in the porphyritic cliffs. All over the island are found elm, birch, maple, cedar, and the evergreens, in large tracts and scat- tered groups.

The first English settlement of the town was in 1763, by two fam- ilies named Thomas and Higgins. Eden was taken from Mount Desert and incorporated in 1796. The name was probably adopted in honor of Richard Eden, an early English author. There is also a tradition that its natural beauties suggested its name. [See also Tremont and Mount Desert]. There are Baptist, Episcopal and Union churches in the town. The public library contains about 1,200 volumes. A high school is sustained for a portion of the year. Eden has thirteen public school houses, and its school property is valued at $8,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $196,499. In 1880, it was $177,534. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 16 mills on the dollar. The popula- tion in 1870 was 1,195. In the census of 1880 it was 1,629.

Edes Falls, a post-office and small village in Naples, Cumber- land County.

Edgecomb, in the southern part of Lincoln County, is situ- ated upon the peninsula formed by the Sheepscot and Damariscotta Rivers, having Newcastle on the north and Bootbhay upon the south. At the north-western part it connects with Wiscasset by a bridge seven- eighths of a mile in length, across the Sheepscot. West of the south- ern part is the town of Westport, a long island in the Sheepscot River. The surface of the town is moderately irregular being varied both by alluvial gorges and by hills. The highest of the latter is known as Mount Hunger. Granite is the principal rock. Crystal Pond, near the centre of the town, has an area of about 100 acres ; Matthews Pond, about 40 acres. A mineral spring in this town called the " Rosicrucian Spring," has be-

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

come favorably known in some of our cities. The soil of Edgecomb is sandy loam in the uplands, and clayey in the lowlands. The crops are hay, barley, oats, and potatoes. Ice is a large product, there being two corporations and one or more individuals engaged in the business. The other considerable manufacture is brickmaking, which is carried on in many localities. A stream proceeding southward from a pond near the centre of the town furnishes two or more good powers, where were formerly mills, now fallen into ruins. Folly Island, at the north-west- cra side of the town, sustains the Edgecomb end of the bridge to Wiscas- set; and on its south-western point, commanding the entrances to the harbor, is an octagonal block-house, erected shortly before 1812. At the shore below is Fort Edgecomb, an elaborate work of masonry, constructed in 1808-9. Its aspect, as viewed from the water ap- proaches, is quite formidable. The passage between this island and 'Westport island is known as "Decker's Narrows."

Edgecomb was originally settled in 1744 by Samuel Trask and others, in " several places." After living undisturbed upon their lands for ten years under a possessory claim, three men from Boston appeared and challenged their title to them in virtue of an Indian deed. The new claimants surveyed several lots next the Sheepscot and numbered them. The Indian deed was found to have no definite boundaries, no posses- sion had been taken under it, and the matter savored strongly of spec- ulation. When made acquainted with these facts, a gentleman of the bar in Boston undertook the defence of the settlers without fee or reward, and the three claimants abandoned their claim. In compliment to the lawyer's generosity, the plantation took the name of Freetown, which it retained until it was incorporated as a town in 1774. The name was given by the General Court in honor of Lord Edgecomb, who, at this crisis, was distinguished as a friend to the American Colonies. The Island of Jeremisquam (now Westport), was included in the corpo- ration, but was held by the " Wiscasset Proprietors," who compelled the settlers to purchase of them. The island was set off in 1828. Soon after 1800 there was again difficulty in regard to the squatters' rights, as the lands were supposed to be involved in the "Tappan " claim. [See Newcastle]. But though this town escaped, it was embraced in the Resolve of Feb. 25, 1813, for quieting the squatters, and the lots were surveyed and deeds given the settlers by Jeremiah Bailey and Benja- min Orr, commissioners appointed by the executive for the purpose. By these deeds, the commonwealth quit-claimed its right to the land for 13} cents per acre.

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Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 26

Author: Varney, George J Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Boston Russell Number of Pages: 648

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648