USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Hallowell > Historic Hallowell > Part 5
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Signed: Shubael West
Hallowell, Maine June 17, 1818
Sworn to before: Ariel Mann, Justice of the Peace Kennebec County
Printed in the AMERICAN ADVOCATE June 27, 1818
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LOGGING DAYS
THE Hallowell Steam and Boom Company was incorporated on March 29, 1836; and it was owned by Ira Crocker, Charles Blanchard, and S. K. Gilman. The state allocated them the use of the river between the ferry way and Hussey's Landing. This operation continued for nearly ninety years.
The log-driving companies ran all the Kennebec logs from the tributary rivers and streams to Moosehead Lake, where the logs of all the mill owners were as- sembled, ready to be run down river to the many sorting booms. The great sorting boom for down-river mills was in Hallowell.
At the height of this operation, between three and four hundred men would be working at the boom. These men who worked on the boom were a different breed from the log-drivers who brought the logs to them. They were known as pickers, sorters and raftsmen. They were housed in 21/2-story bunkhouses with adjoining cook and mess shacks. These were erected on rafts which were anchored on the Chelsea side of the river. In the fall, these rafts with houses would be towed into the cove below Vaughan's Point.
These men made up rafts of logs for the several owners by laying them cross- wise of the raft, driving oak pins into the opposite ends of every sixth or eighth log with two quick strokes of a tiny axe, and then running lines the whole length of the raft with a clove hitch over each pin. Each log was supposed to have an identifying mark or brand, and it was in this way that the sorters and pickers were able to identify the logs which were to be made into rafts going to different mills. A sample of some of the marks used in 1864 is depicted on this page.
One of the pictures shows a typical crew making up a raft, and it is interesting to note the cook who posed with them. 'He is second from the left. The other picture shows a part of the Warren Sawyer crew.
Raftsmen, often in red shirts, stood on little platforms at either end of the raft as they drifted with the tide, smoking their pipes or sculling violently with single fourteen-foot wide-bladed oars to keep the raft straight. Later motor boats and tugs were used for this purpose.
Drift logs were a boom to dwellers along the river banks, who got a fixed price from the owners according to the distance below Hallowell at which they were caught. These prices were paid for marked logs, but it was "finder's keepers" for "scalliwags" or unmarked logs when caught by the squatters with pickpole and ropes in their flat-bottomed skiffs. - Vincent P. Ledew
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Identifiable in picture: (back row) Wafer Pooler (at left), Charles Grady (4th from left); (front row) Frank Hassan (2nd from left), Warren Sawyer (Boss), Bozo Inman.
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PICKING CREW
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HALLOWELL HOMES
Y/RITING the paragraphs about the Hallowell houses has been a pleasure for me. Though the time was too short to do real justice, all names and de- scriptions have been checked and rechecked. There may be errors and for any, I apologize. Almost every house had its titles searched either by the owner or by Mrs. Burrill Snell. All relevant material was gathered from Library Scrapbooks, Old Hallowell on the Ken- nebec by Emma H. Nason, Doors of Hallowell by C. A. Wight, Hallowell Memories by William Warren Vaughan, A. B. C. of American Architecture and Architecture in America by J. E. Talmadge, Kennebec County History by Kingsbury, papers and brochures on file in the State Library. A qualified architect was in- vited to choose each house, either for its age or its architectural interest.
No two architects exactly agree about Colonial houses or when the periods overlap. Many houses are New England Post-Colonial - some with Georgian in- fluence and many with the Greek influence, i.e., side doors, pilasters, pillars, pediments on the door, etc. The entrances and walks with large, beautifully milled pieces of granite could be present so often only because of our nearness to the quarry.
Our population has had cycles, our industries have come and gone, but our old houses, many of which are outstanding and the number of which is unusual for a town our size, plus the many new attractive houses where whole new streets have opened, point to the fact that the houses and families of Hallowell are its most important asset .-- Marguerite M. Bearce
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Elm Hill Farm
The Merrick Cottage was designed by Charles Vaughan in 1799 for his sister Rebecca, who married John Merrick. Mr. Merrick came here from England as tutor to the children of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Vaughan. He came from a long line of scholars and his contribution to the intellectual life of early Hallowell was great. His eldest son, Samuel Vaughan Merrick, became the first President of the Pennsylvania Railroad and founder of the Franklin Institute.
For a few years the property belonged to the Swanton and the Bodwell Families. At one time the Farm was run as a stable for trotting horses, one of whom, "Nelson," had a na- tional reputation.
Architecturally the house has a panelled entrance hall with concealed book cases. This leads into an octagonal dining room with a French paper of historical American scenes.
The house lacks a central staircase but has a narrow enclosed one leading from the kitchen to upstairs rooms.
Mr. and Mrs. William Vaughan and family now occupy the property and it is run as a model farm.
This spacious old home was built by Samuel Grant in 1820. He was a wealthy merchant of Farmingdale and a few years earlier (according to an old account), he had sailed as Master on one of Hallowell's first ships and taken it successfully to Liverpool, England.
Outstanding features of the house are its front door with Adam light above, its spacious and well kept grounds, long drawing-room windows with old glass.
Mrs. Samuel Grant was the former Elizabeth Vaughan. Their daughter, Ellen, married Mr. John Otis, a prominent member of the Whig party and an outstanding lawyer. After his death, she returned to the Graut Home and lived there for 25 years.
It then descended through the Otis lines, Mary, Lizzie, Sam and Elizabeth, to Erma Griffin, and Bertha and Nora Merrick. Through the Vaughan family connections the house remained, except for two years, in the same family from the time it was built until 1928 when Henry Clearwater purchased it. Since 1951 the Misses Katherine, Mary and Margaret Dailey, through extensive landscaping and renovations, have brought back and enhanced this outstanding place.
Dailey- Grant
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The Vaughan Homestead
The situation of this house is the outstanding feature, being placed high ahove an angle of the Kennehec, which gives a three mile view down river and the same up the river. To the west of the house on the edge of a deep wooded ravine, containing a stream with pools and waterfalls, are some of the few remaining Virgin Pines of this part of the State.
The house was huilt in 1794 for Benjamin Vaughan who had heen in active political life in England, and had also taken a medical degree in Edinburgh. He became a member of Parliament and was much interested in the revolutionary ideas of the period, in hoth France and America, which led him to come to Hallowell as lands here had come into the family through his mother who was horn Sarah Hallowell. Like many men of that era, he had a great diversity of inter- ests and sought in many ways to help improve the community, such as importing and sharing horticultural stock, giving medi- cal aid, and starting a Hallowell library. He was reputed to have the largest private library in New England, sharing his books all through this region, and he kept up a constant corre- spondence with leading men in this country and in Europe. He continued to live in Hallowell and died at 86 years of age. His descendants still live in the house.
This house of beauty and simplicity has had but five owners and the first was Parson Eliphalet Gillett who picked out a sightly spot along the Kennebec River and in 1795 huilt the house in which he and his family lived for 32 years. Parson Gillet was a gentleman of the old school and he was the be- loved Pastor of the Old South Church. Here the Maine Mis- sionary Society was started in 1807.
The most striking feature of this house is the main stair- case which forms an irregular "H," with a landing near the top as the crosshar of the letter. Authorities on old houses claim this to be a most unusual construction. The wall of the staircase is ornamented by wainscoting with a long curved edge broken by low pillars. A semblance of spaciousness is gained hy a long and hroad center hall out of which leads six handsome Christian doors, no two exactly alike.
The original house had eight fireplaces, some of which are still in use.
In 1948 the house was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Marvelle Webber from Professor and Mrs. George Milne who had lived there for many years.
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Webber - Milne- Fuller - Gillett
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Hunt- Newton - McLench - DeWitt Smith
This commodious and imposing house was built by Andrew Brown in 1832 or 1833. John Otis was an outstanding lawyer and he married Miss Harriet Vaughan. They lived here from 1837 - 1840.
Later the house belonged to the DeWitt Smiths or his heirs from 1840 - 1885. They were people of wealth and culture. Dr. DeWitt Smith came from Mississippi. He purchased a slave in 1838 and legally freed him in 1842. This family also gave part of the land for the Hallowell Free Library.
The George McLench family lived here from 1885 - 1925. Mr. McLench built the first automobile in Hallowell.
Mr. and Mrs. Jewett Newton bought the house in 1929 and did extensive renovations.
This house above the Kennebec River, with large central hall, double parlors with twin fireplaces, library, and many bedrooms, has seen many large families come and go. The Otis family had 8 children, the McLench family had 4 dangh- ters, the Newton family had 4 daughters and the present own- ers, Attorney and Mrs. George Hunt, have a family of 3 daughters and 2 sons.
This modified story and one-half brick home has the un- usually fine brick work exhibited in the few homes built by Timothy Moores. Its situation is one of the finest along Second Street, and it faces an uninterrupted view of the "Hook" of the Kennebec River. It was built around 1840 and in 1870-86 the McLench family lived here. For seventy-five years it belonged to the Quinn and Douglas family and heirs, and in 1960 Mr. and Mrs. John Woodside became the owners.
Woodside - Douglas- Quinn - Moores
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Payne- Watts
This property was originally part of a parcel of land given to the Town by Mr. Charles Vaughan to be used as a burying ground and a meeting house, if wanted. This was the first piece of land formally dedicated as a cemetery at the Hook.
Later, another cemetery was laid out at Hinkley's Plains and the few bodies here were disinterred and with suitable prayers and ceremonies, were again laid to rest in the per- manent cemetery.
The house was built by Captain Samuel Watts in the early 1820's. He was an honored ship Commander of his time and in 1820 travelled to Hong Kong and other Pacific ports. His name is mentioned many times in the maritime history of Hallowell.
The house is a substantial brick structure with 13 inch thick walls. It contains eight large rooms with many fireplaces. The doorway has a fan top and keystone. In the cellar there is a 3 ft. circular brick wall on the top of which kegs and barrels were stored.
Emory Beane, Mayor of Hallowell, lived here as did Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson. Its present owners are Mr. and Mrs. Basil Payne who have brought about many changes and im- provements in the old house.
This modified Cape Cod house was built by Andrew Brown between March 30, 1833 and the time his widow sold in 1838. Alexander Hamilton Howard who was the great-grandson of Captain Howard at Fort Western lived here for many years. He was the Cashier of American Bank of Hallowell and was Trustee for the Hallowell Savings Institution. Subsequently the house passed to the Charles Dinsmores and T. M. Fish; to the Katherine Webb Family, and now Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moriarty have purchased it. (The house has seen many changes but is being restored to its original atmosphere by the Moriartys.)
Moriarty - Webb- Howard
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Bearce- Steeves - Currier
This ivy-covered brick house literally stretches from Second to Summer Street, if one counts summer kitchen, carriage house and barn.
The property, part of the original Hallowell Grant, is di- rectly adjacent to the Peter Clarke lot, and was purchased from Charles Vaughan. The house was built in the early 1830's by Timothy Mooers.
Much of the original hand-made glass is present in the "six over six" windows. Five of the original seven fireplaces are more or less in use ---- one a cooking kitchen fireplace and an- other an English grate. An unusual trellis is over the side front door.
Six previous owners were all outstanding men of merchant and professional life - Noel Steeves and heirs (Jane and Asa Steeves) - Alger Currier, the artist; Samuel Currier, Dr. Fred- erick Allen, Laban Lincoln and Timothy Mooers.
Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Bearce purchased the place in 1945 after it had been vacant for 12 years.
This old house has seen many changes in Hallowell. In 1799 Levi Morgan purchased the land from the heirs of Peter Clarke, son of the first settler. The house was subsequently built and occupied by his daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. George Carr. The Carr family were among the earliest settlers here. Sarah Carr, their daughter, married John Bee- man. He owned several parcels of real estate, was famous for his garden, and ran a store where "Yankee Notions" were sold.
The home stayed in the family for five generations and de- scended through the female line. Mrs. Kate Beeman Berry who lived here until her death in 1944, was noted for her lovely garden with its many choice blooms.
Mrs. Mary Murphy owned the house for several years fol- lowed by Mr. and Mrs. Ermo Scott. They removed part of the porch and made many changes.
Mayor and Mrs. Raymond M. Rideout, Jr., now occupy the home and have brought the front facade back to its original simplicity.
Of architectural interest are its small paned and original windows, its so-called "rum hole" in the cellar, and its austere proportions.
The original ell has been removed and a new one added.
Rideout - Scott- Beeman - Carr
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First of three handsome old houses on Upper Second Street is this brick-ended house. One of its outstanding features is two pairs of twin chimneys, enabling each room to have its own fireplace.
In 1823 it belonged to Alfred Martin, an early settler and a blacksmith, who came from Connecticut in 1788.
Here lived the Andrew Masters family from 1835 for over 50 years. Colonel Masters was an outstanding citizen and for sixty years he was active in all details of the publishing busi- ness. At the time of his death in 1881 he was the oldest printer and publisher in Hallowell.
The house passed to Clara Eveleth, Lucy Bowditch, Ruth Bowditch, Olive McVickar, Ruth Payne and Joseph Owen. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gagne and family now own and occupy the house.
Gagne- Bowditch - Masters
The red clapboard home mounted on terraces on lower Second Street has an outstanding doorway with its pillars crowned with Ionic capitals.
The house was built by Squire Perley in the early 1800's. He was one of the early inhabitants of this town and came to Hallowell in 1794. He represented the town in the General Assembly of Massachusetts in 1804 and was faithful in ad- vancing its interests. He was noted for his wit and charm, and his home was ever known for its hospitality and gracious social life.
Subsequent owners were Jesse Aikens and the Frank and Henry Rollins families, followed by Miss Clara Stinson and Mr. and Mrs. Niles McLeer.
McLeer - Stinson - Perley
Third of the group is the Agry House now belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Maher.
Maher - Agry Outstanding features of the house are its imposing front steps, recessed windows and hall stairway. In the late 1800's the south side of the house was rebuilt and a bay window added. It was first sold to John Agry in 1800. He was a member of a family notable as sea captains and shipbuilders. He was born in Barnstable and settled in Dresden before coming to Hallowell. He and his son, George Agry, who followed him, lived in this home, followed the sea as Masters or owners of their vessels, visited all ports of the world. Both became men of property and importance in the town.
Subsequent owners were Lorenzo Clarke and Mr. and Mrs. John Eveleth and now Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Maher and family.
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Gatchell- Smith - Thing
This is one of the most interesting and unusual houses in Hallowell. Outstanding feature is its architecture which is Greek Revival. It is said that the iron grill work and the house plans were brought from Italy. Two twelve-sided parlors, sep- arated by an arch supported by Ionic pilasters, have fireplaces at the opposite ends. The dining room has a striped floor of black walnut and birch. The center bedroom has an arched ceiling as does the study. In the cellar there is a rum pit.
Sea Captain Abraham Thing bought the lot from James Clarke in 1837. He built the house for himself and his fam- ily but he died tragically and accidentally from inhalation of fumigation gas while he was sleeping in his cabin on his boat in Boston. First to occupy the house was Joseph Barrett, a native of Dresden. In 1854 it was purchased by Joseph Hath- away, a hardware merchant. Mrs. Hathaway, as one of the heirs, lived there for over 20 years.
For a long period it belonged to Joseph Brann and heir, Charles Brann.
In the period of 1926 - 43 it was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Emery Smith who were in the undertaking business, and the north parlor was used for funerals. Later owners were Mrs. Linwood Currier and Irene Daigle.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gatchell purchased the house in 1945. They have made extensive changes.
The outstanding feature of this house, probably built by Laban Lincoln before 1830, is the front door with its fan and side lights.
In 1830 it was owned by Robert Pope. General Samuel Ladd lived here. His son was Principal of Farmington Acad- emy and founded Indian schools. In 1850 Joseph Russell, who was a member of the Old South choir, lived here. His son, Arthur Russell, was an author and editor.
It is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Barrett.
Barrett- Ladd- Russell -
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Lee- Moody
A most striking example of beautiful old doorways is to be seen in this house which was built between 1792 - 1795 by Benjamin Gould, a Sea Captain. He died at sea of Yellow Fever in 1800.
Subsequently the house belonged to Preceptor Moody who was the head of the Hallowell Academy, a much respected and admired gentleman. He wore small clothes, silver buckles on his shoes and on Sunday he powdered his hair and wore it in a queue.
After he resigned from the Academy Mr. Moody became a successful business man and he occupied positions of public trust in the Town. He became one of the delegates who formed the Constitution of the State of Maine.
Steven Lovejoy succeeded Mr. Moody at the Academy and married his daughter Sarah. They lived here many years and were followed by Moses Gilman and Mr. Samuel Cottle as owners.
In 1953 the house was purchased by Gilbert Maxwell and Clifton Langervin. An extensive restoration was accomplished. Panelling, wainscotting and Indian shutters were brought to light. Fireplaces were opened, beams exposed and a stone step from the boarding house at Granite Hill installed. Most im- portant of all a covered front porch was removed and the beauty of the front door was revealed.
The home is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Verne Lee and family.
This white clapboard home with its side door was the home for many years of Sea Captain Smith Cox - who returned after a lifetime at sea with the outstanding record of never having lost a vessel. There were gardens and terraces here and many fruit trees which have been partly restored by the Paul Jones family who also were ardent gardeners. The in- terior with many fireplaces and double living rooms has to this day maintained its charm of Old-World living. The house was first sold in 1842 by John Lord. Subsequent owners were the Ebenezer and John Freemans; Paul Jones, and in 1960, Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Staciva became the owners.
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Staciva- Jones - Smith
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Morrison - Tuck- Haines
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Located on the corner of Union and Middle Streets the Morrison house is given individuality by the sharp peak of the shed roof of the ell. Built by David Page it was purchased by Miss Harriet Haines, daughter of Jonathan Haines, in 1851 and occupied by her and by her brother, William S. Haines, for many years. Major Haines was superintendent of burials, undertaker and cabinet maker. The restoration which em- bodies the spirit of the simple, practical home of the early days was done by Mr. and Mrs. Ober Vaughan after they purchased it in 1952. The house is now owned by Mrs. Jacquelyn Mor- rison.
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Beal - West - Marston - Gardiner
The land on which this house was built was part of the original Pease Clarke property. It changed hands many times before the house was built by Henry Getchell in 1822, a Hallo- well business man.
In 1855 D. L. Gardiner occupied it.
One bedroom was called the "Tom Reed room" because he used it frequently when he visited Charles Gardiner, his col- lege friend. Mr. Reed later became the famous Speaker of the House of the National House of Representatives.
Walter Marston, Editor and Publisher of the Hallowell Register, lived here, followed by Harold Wood and Charles West. The home is architecturally unique in that it is one room deep.
Mr. and Mrs. Curt Beal now own and occupy the house.
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Dionne - Wingate- Sanborn - Cooper
Although this house is not as old as many, at the time it was built it created quite a sensation. Built for Captain Henry Cooper by David Page in 1850, today it still stands as a fine example of classic architecture. The next owner was Peter Sanborn and in 1901 it was bought by Frank Wingate, a prom- inent business man of Hallowell. The house is noted for its ornamental fluted columns, and is a fine example of the Greek influence which was present in the architecture of that and earlier periods. This is now the Highlawn Nursing Home.
This handsome Post-Colonial house, with fan light and side lights around its front door, and situated high on Chestnut Street with a view over fields and woods to the west and in the front over the Kennebec Valley, was built in 1828 by James Blish. He was a sea captain and co-owner of a fleet of packets. It is said that he brought here from China the white peacocks to decorate the lawns of what came to be known as the Blish Homestead. The terraces are planted with lilies brought from China.
The home stayed in the Blish Family until 1853, and was subsequently owned by Stacey Lewis, John McDonald, Ben- jamin McDonald, and Mary Kimball. In 1898 the house was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Currier, grandparents of Mrs. Harry Pierce and at the present time Colonel and Mrs. Pierce occupy the house and have returned to Hallowell for their retirement years.
Pierce- Blish
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Mckay- Wells- Wales
This spacious and elegant mansion was built in 1820 by Mr. Benjamin Wales who was leading druggist for many years. He built an extensive and profitable business and was also known for his ardent temperance interests.
The house was afterward occupied by Henry Paine, Thomas Andrews and G. S. Washburn.
Outstanding features of the house are spacious halls, high studded rooms and a beautiful example of circular staircase. The dining room is panelled in cypress and it is said to be an exact copy of a Sea Captain's cabin.
Captain Charles Wells lived and retired here surrounded by many treasures from his world travels. He was a ship master known and honored in all parts of the globe and he was commander of both sail and steam.
When his daughter, Miss Julie Wells, died the house was sold to Mrs. Esther Jones.
Dr. and Mrs Keith Mckay and family bought the house in 1959 and have made extensive renovations.
This brick-ended clapboard Colonial house was built by Mr. Ezekiel Goodale in 1815. He was founder of a publishing business in Hallowell.
The old-time mansion on Chestnut Street is characterized by many large, well proportioned rooms, striped floor, and a fan front door.
It subsequently became the residence of Thomas Leigh who had a long career as a merchant. His daughter married Mr. Ben Tenney who was Mayor of Hallowell, President of Hallo- well Savings Institution, and originator of Hallowell Sand- paper Factory. From Mrs. Tenney the house descended to Leigh Webber, her nephew, who lived there with his family until it was purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Kilborne Coe became the owners in 1959 and have done much to restore it to its original atmosphere.
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