USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Hallowell > Historic Hallowell > Part 6
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Coe- Webber - Tenney- Goodale
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McLean - Beane - Page
This house was built between 1800 and 1810 by Rufus Page, an early settler and the first Mayor of Hallowell. Mr. Page was a partner of Commodore Vanderbilt in the Kennebec Ice Business. Mr. Vanderbilt was a frequent visitor here, and the northeast bedroom is still known as his.
A particularly beautiful hallway with circular staircase and circular door beneath it are outstanding features of this stately house which is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Powers McLean.
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Beane lived here for 21 years and they purchased the place from the heirs of Rufus Page. Mr. Beane was noted for his interest in town affairs and for his large collection of clocks. This house was called one of Hallo- well's finest homes. It has brick on the north and south sides, and is clapboarded on the others. It has an unusually large front door with leaded glass in the fan light.
This fine brick house with its beautifully kept lawns stands on part of the original Peter Clark grant. It was built in the early Nineteenth century of brick which is said to have been brought from England. Originally a square house with central hall and four rooms on the ground floor of the main house in the manner of the time, the cupola, bay windows and front were added by later occupants. Probably built by Artemus Leonard, merchant, it was more recently owned by Richardson Johnson of the Johnson Brothers Shoe Company and now by his daughter, Mrs. Ralph Smith. Legend says that each man who owned it had some connection with shoes at some time --- either in selling or manufacturing.
Smith - Johnson - Sanborn - Leonard
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1,
Okey- Wilson - Warner - Dwight
Those familiar with the 1855 map of Hallowell will recog- nize this as "Oak Cottage," home of Joseph C. Dwight. Prob- ably built between 1826 and 1829 it has two different treat- ments architecturally. First, the single oversize dormer, cen- ter front, encompasses an entire small bedroom. Secondly, the bedroom walls are curved rather than angular as is cus- tomary in a story and a half house. This house has been oc- cupied by many families among whom are those of George B. Warner, dry goods merchant and Nathaniel Wilson, vice presi- dent and general counsel for Central Maine Power Company and prominent civic leader of Hallowell. Mr. Wilson and family lived here for over twenty years. The house is now the home of Dr. Charles Okey, director of the State Depart- ment of Health and Welfare Diagnostic Laboratory.
This house was built prior to 1826, probably by George Carr, a member of one of the earlier families settling in Hallowell. Architecturally it features a pergola leading from house to barn, fan lights over the front and back doors, an outstanding kitchen cooking fireplace with original Dutch baking oven and Franklin fireplace in the dining room.
There have been many owners, the first being Stevens Everett who in 1826 was the Pastor of the then flourishing Unitarian Church. Over one hundred years later it belonged to Mr. and Mrs. John Everett who lived there for more than 30 years.
In 1872 it was conveyed to the Congregational Church and belonged to them for 40 years. It is thought to have been the parsonage during that period.
Other owners included Stephen French, Margaret Keene, Stephen Davenport, Mary Titcomb, Charles and Ellie Spauld- ing, Charles Dummer. In 1961 Mr. and Mrs. Donald Huff became the owners and under their care the house is assuming its old atmosphere.
Huff- Everett
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Hendrickson - Stinchfield - Butler - Page
Built between 1796 and 1803. It is said that two Spanish artisans sent here to work at the Granite Quarry painted the interesting murals on the walls of the stairway which ascends directly from the front door.
It was owned by the Page family and subsequently by How- ard Butler, Charles Pierce, Dr. and Mrs. Allen Stinchfield and presently by Dr. Lars Hendrickson.
This gracious house, with its mullioned windows at the front door, was the hospitable home, starting in the early 1800's, of a most remarkable man, Dr. John Hubbard, who interrupted his medical career to be Senator and later Governor, of Maine. He and the following generations of his family have been the benefactors of Hallowell, and the Hubbard Free Library is the evidence of their generosity.
The story and a half house with several separate buildings, including Dr. Hubbard's office, still occupy a sightly spot of many acres on one of Hallowell's oldest streets. It is sur- rounded by a picket fence and boasts a famous lilac hedge. The present dining room has a very interesting old cooking fireplace.
The house is still owned and occupied by members of the Hubbard family - Mrs. Sybil Darlington and Mr. Joseph Darlington.
Hubbard
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Gray- Tuck
Outstanding feature of this house is its situation on a high knoll above Winthrop Street looking out over Hallowell. It is post-Colonial four square design, with a handsome doorway showing the Greek influence.
Starting in 1840, Madison Tuck, trader and cabinet maker, lived here for many years. Miss Hattie Tuck, his daughter, later owned the place as did Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sands and Fred Jewett.
The present owners are Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Gray.
THE GRANITE HOUSE
This house is unique in that it is built of granite blocks which are at least a foot thick, 3 feet long and a foot and a half high. The roof timbers are put together with wooden pegs. Hand cut nails are used in the construction also. The house is owned by Maurice Hayes whose father owned it before him, having purchased it in 1901. The old deeds refer to it as the "stone house lot" prior to 1855.
Hayes
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Babbitt - Atherton - Haines
This handsome red and white clapboard house was built in 1806 by Jonathan Haines who ran a general store and a quarry. Situated on the old Coos Road which was the main road run- ning from the Kennebec River into the interior, the house was used as a tavern. At that time Hallowell was a trading center for the area and there were many teams carrying freight and coaches carrying passengers.
Peter Atherton came to Hallowell in 1834 and bought a farm. In 1846 he exchanged farms with Captain Levi Thing. The place which he acquired in this exchange was the Haines farm.
William P. Atherton, son of Peter, turned fifteen acres into apple orchards which became famous for their choice yield.
The house is noted for its ample hallway which runs through from the front to the back door. Large square rooms each with its fireplace, are on the first floor and on the second floor there is a spring floor which was used for dancing in the tavern days.
It was purchased in 1946 by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Babbitt who restored the house and grounds.
The Worster House
THE WORSTER HOUSE was originally known as the Hallowell House, and under that name it be- came known as one of Maine's better hotels. It has been in operation for one hundred and thirty years.
Its construction began in the winter of 1832-33 after a group of Hallowell citizens formed a company for the purpose of building a hotel that would compare favorably with accommodations offered by Augusta. Rivalry between the two communities over possible lo- cation of the new state capitol was then at its peak.
John D. Lord of Hallowell was selected as architect and builder. He was well known throughout the area for his work, which included supervision of the con- struction of the original State House, and later a part of the Augusta State Hospital. The hotel was com- pleted in 1834 and was opened on November 12 of that year.
It has changed hands many times in its 130 years, some of its more famous hosts being G. W. Hodges in 1841, H. Q. Blake from 1873 to 1898, O. A. Kneeland from 1900 to 1908, and the Worster family from 1915 to 1919 and from 1925 to 1959. At one time, its base- ment rooms housed the Post Office and the Northern Bank. It has been well-known as a temperance house at various points in its history, the most notable being the period around 1841-42 and during the Worster family's management from 1925 to 1959.
The basement story of the hotel is constructed of Hallowell granite, and the three upper stories are of brick. It has still retained its old-time atmosphere with fireplaces in every room, high ceilings and winding staircases.
The hotel's famous name, good food and fine hospi- tality brought famous people from all over the world through its doors. Several presidents of the United States, after hearing of this famous hostelry, insisted upon stopping there, as well as men like Henry Wads- worth Longfellow, Daniel Webster and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
-From pamphlet written by Christine Crandall
HASTAEL ROUSE
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STREET SCENES
ICE
Second Street looking north from Shoe Factory
Railroad Crossing looking north from Lower Second Street
Corner Union and Second Streets
Minard Roberts Dry Goods Store
A former Post Office location
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"Weather Flags" on Water Street
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NCLOTHIERS
ALLOWELL.
Left to right: Howard Andrews, Jerry Pettingill, Charles Morton, F. Edwin Blake, Will Niles driving
Site of First Tavern in Hallowell - now Boynton's Market
Left to right: H. Pierce, S. Hayes, E. Blanchard in 1900
Looking West on Lincoln Street
Hiram Fuller House on Winthrop Street
SCHOOLS Past and Present -
By Katherine H. Snell
July 1, 1771 - "5. Fifthly-voted to have eight pounds raised towards schooling." From this second meeting after its incorporation to the present time Hallowell has provided education for its youth. Few towns have this record of continuous support.
The first town school was on the south corner of Gow's Lane and Water Street. Then in 1803 Simeon Clark transferred land to the Second School District (land which was originally part of Pease Clark's grant from the Plymouth Company of 100 acres in 1762). It was voted by the School District to tax themselves for a building that same year. This was the Sewall Schoolhouse on the Northwest corner of Temple Street (not to be confused with the later Old South Vestry School on the southwest corner). It was in use until 1879-80 when we find the following: "The school house on Second Street near the vestry of the South Church is not adapted to the wants of the school kept there. Recommend that a lot be selected and build- ing put up."
The present Fire Station built in 1828 as a Town House also served as a school for many years until in 1855 a change in the system was requested by the City Council so they might use the building.
This is an early Loudon Hill School, probably about 1880. Girl, fourth from right is Mabel Seavey Arche. Girl at left of teacher is Annie Walker. May Walker Grimes is seventh from left in long line.
Land for the Loudon Hill Schoolhouse was bought from James Atkins in 1837 although school was con- ducted there before that time. The last of the three buildings erected there was built in 1894 and accom- modated 65 pupils. Since the erection of the ele- mentary school in 1953 it has been used as a commu- nity club house and as a school for exceptional chil- dren.
Last School at Loudon Hill
An old newspaper says "There was also a small primary school building in Lincolnville which stood on the ground now occupied by the Henry Norcross house. This school in 1840 was taught by Miss Abby Day, afterwards Mrs. Swain." The Norcross house was the home of the late Wyman Beal at 10 Middle Street. Lincolnville was the name given to the neigh- borhood consisting of the north end of Middle Street and of Lincoln Street. It was so called because Laban Lincoln built so many houses in that area.
Vaughan School land at the intersection of Second and Vaughan Streets was purchased in 1842 for $60.
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The school built here was sold for $21 cash and a new one erected for $1780 in 1876. The record reads as follows, "new school house built for the Vaughan School during the past year, to take the place of the old one, was occupied during the winter term of school and it has gladdened the hearts of between fifty and sixty children." This was sold in 1915 and is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Ledew.
WARREN STREET SCHOOL
In 1848 the land for the Warren Street School was acquired and school continued there until 1915. It is presently the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Aldrich, 10 Warren Street.
First row, left to right: Lottie Bradbury, Lottie Johnson, Amina Neri (Ruga), Clifton Douglas, Harry Clement, un- known, Herbert Blake, Elmer Strickland, Sherm Callahan, Johnny Maloney, Bill Johnson, Harry Knowles. Second row: unknown, unknown, Eddie Doyle, Percy Bradbury. Third row: Estelle Spaulding, Maud Ordway Clark, .. . . Callahan, Waldron, Climehe Neri, Miss Mattie Snow (teacher), Gussie Gatchell (Danforth), Sena Douglas, Eva Coombs, Bee Jones (Gatchel!), Edna Cole, Hallis Alexander.
Mann School at the corner of Middle and Union Streets, commonly spoken of as North Mann and South Mann was built about 1848. It continued until sold in 1905 after the building of Maria Clark to L. Bradstreet who converted it into the residence owned by Mrs. El- win Andrews and Mrs. Vaughn Hatch.
Classes were held in the Baptist Church after that church voted in 1850 the use of its vestry for that pur- pose. This was the first Baptist Church located on Winthrop Street immediately west of the railroad tracks and destroyed by fire in 1868.
In 1853 we had one High, two Grammar and seven Primary schools. Incorporation of three new towns having reduced our territorial limits, the privilege of our graded schools was extended to the whole city. We now find Page and Laughton Schools added.
The Page (also called Wingate) School lot was bought in 1853. One building on this site in 1917 was sold to Barton Manhire and moved to Page Street where it was made into a dwelling. The Bodwell (North Grammar) School built in 1879 which had served on Middle Street on the location of the early high school was then moved to the Page lot. With the building of the Hallowell Elementary School its use was discontinued and it was remodeled into a home by Richard Choate.
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The Laughton School
The Laughton School land was purchased from the Gilmans in 1870 but school had been conducted in that area from 1850 on. We find the third term in 1859 being taught in a room in the Cider House on the Vaughan Road. About 1906 the school was tempo- rarily closed and the children transported until it was reopened in 1910 and continued until about 1942. This brick building is located on the left just before the road swings into Sleepy Hollow from Outer Central Street.
The Atherton School
The School Committee in 1872 recommended a school at Granite Hill and we find the Atherton School added the following year. Audrey S. McGrath is the present owner ... it having been turned over to the city in 1943.
In 1879 a bid was accepted from G. C. McCausland to build a schoolhouse on Middle Street near the resi- dence of J. R. Bodwell for the sum of 1664.98. There was to be a furnace in the new school. This was the building later removed to the Page House lot. It had been referred to as the Bodwell and North Grammar.
Lakeman School with McLean House in background
1882 saw the building of the Lakeman School near the corner of Chestnut on the west side of Middle as a primary school. It was sold in 1905 along with two other schools to Mr. Bradstreet for $1,600. In later years of use it served as the English High or the last grade before high school. Theodore McAllister is the present owner of this house.
Old South Vestry School at the foot of Chestnut Street _ corner of Temple and Second Streets
Need for better and bigger accommodations now forced the purchase of the vestry of the Old South Church at a cost of $800 in 1888. A committee was appointed to make the necessary repairs on this build- ing built in 1854. It was also one of the three schools purchased in 1905 by Mr. Bradstreet and converted into a dwelling owned by Mrs. Celia Pierce.
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Maria Clark School
A bequest in the will of the late Maria Clark of about $6,000 gave substantial help to the city in defraying the expense of a new grammar school large enough to in- corporate the various grades scattered over the city. It was completed in 1903 and named after the benefactor. The builder was L. E. Bradstreet and it is still a good building and in use today. A two room addition was put on in 1947.
June 7, 1915-Voted "That the present Bodwell- Vaughan-Warren-City Hall Schools be transferred to the present High School Building and H. S. trans- ferred to the City Hall at the beginning of the fall term."
In a referendum vote in September 1952 approval was given to the erection of a new elementary school to cost approximately $250,000 to house grades 4, 5 and 6 of Maria Clark plus the grades in Page, Loudon Hill and Middle Street Primary-the three later being closed. Classes began in this location in September 1953 with 483 children enrolled.
Hallowell Academy
While Hallowell Academy was not a public school it is so much a part of the city's past that it cannot be left out of any school history. Many illustrious men obtained their secondary education there under equally notable "masters." It was incorporated March 5th, 1795-one of two granted charters that day to become the first academies in Maine. In 1829 women were admitted. The last building erected in 1841 was the third, the two previous ones having been destroyed by fire. The second building had a Paul Revere bell which eventually was given to the cotton factory. A favorite trick of the students was to turn this bell upside down in the winter and fill it with water which of course froze.
John Apthorp Vaughan, son of Charles Vaughan, established a Female Academy in 1831 on the spot where the office of the Granite Company stood on Cen- tral Street (now the display and sales room of Alfredo Masciadri). Girls were withdrawn from the Academy to attend this school. William Allen states in "Now and Then": "Being in the place on business, he [John Vaughan] took me to see his school; the schoolroom was in the neatest condition, and furnished with all the necessary books and apparatus, and was conducted in an admirable manner." He closed his school in 1832 after two years to take orders in the Episcopal Church.
An early high school was located at the approximate location of the Bodwell School on Middle Street and is mentioned in a story written by Charles A. Curtis in "Legends and Otherwise of Hallowell and Loudon Hill" by E. Norton. It was in this school that Master Locke taught navigation and mathematics to many future sea captains. The building was torn down in 1840 and re- placed by a double brick building.
Do you know . ..
That there was a gun house on Lincoln Street in 1815 which contained 2 brass field pieces of the Hallo- well Artillery?
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Hallowell Classical and Scientific Academy
At the beginning of 1868 the High School and Acad- emy were temporarily united. This arrangement con- tinued for five years until in 1873 the high school scholars attended the Hallowell Classical and Scientific Academy, the City paying the tuition. This new insti- tution established by the Congregational Conference was "designed to provide for the State a College Pre- paratory School of a high order." The building stood on the same site as the present high school. Both sexes were admitted and many came from surrounding towns. The list of students for 1874-5 includes several from New Brunswick and even California and Illinois. The young ladies lived at the school in The Ladies Hall which was "heated by steam, furnished with bathing rooms and abundantly supplied with pure spring water." The gentlemen roomed in private families and also in a large house on the corner of Warren and Winthrop Streets -- now gone. Insufficient funds brought about the closing of this school in 1888.
Hallowell High School, 1887
Two years before the closing of the Hallowell Classi- cal and Scientific Academy the city deemed it advisable to establish a high school and in the spring of 1887 orders were passed directing the Superintending School Committee to employ teachers and establish a City High School in the Academy building which had been
purchased in 1879. The first class was graduated in 1888 and the exercises were held in the school building. However conditions became so crowded that the build- ing in 1889 was declared unfit for use. Records dated June 16, 1890 order that "a committee of three be chosen to receive plans and specifications for enlarge- ment of present High School building and procure bids for same ... in no case to exceed four thousand dol- lars." Additional members served on the committee and A. C. Currier was the architect.
Hallowell High School, 1920
The school population continued to grow forcing the moving of the high school classes into the City Hall and the use of the old school as a primary -- the Middle Street Primary. After five or six years M. M. John- son presented a large lot to the city as a site for a new secondary school. The building opened in April 1920. The architect was W. G. Bunker assisted by A. R. Savage -- the cost, $90,000. By the fall of 1962 this now outgrown building will have become a Junior High.
District 16 High School
In July, 1960, Hallowell voted to join with the mu- nicipality of Farmingdale to form a school adminis- trative district. In March 1961, the voters of the two places authorized District 16 to construct a new high school on Maple Street in Farmingdale at a cost not to exceed $740,000. The building is now underway on a 25 acre tract of land which will afford ample oppor- tunity for parking and athletics. It is to have "12 classrooms, two science laboratories, an industrial arts shop, home economics facilities, a cafeteria, an admin- istration suite, and a combination gymnasium and auditorium."-Katherine H. Snell
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HUBBARD FREE LIBRARY
Hallowell Library in the 1890's
THE LIBRARY was first established in 1842 under the name of the Hallowell Social Library and con- sisted in the beginning of 529 books. In 1861, a store and lot on Water St. was presented to the library by Charles Vaughan of Cambridge, Mass. This prop- erty was sold for $1500 and the money was deposited in a local bank.
The hopes and expectations of Mr. Vaughan, whose gift first placed the library upon a practical financial basis were realized when, in 1878, the Library Build- ing Assn. was formed by public spirited women of the city. In 1880, the first library building, the nucleus of the present building, was erected on Central and Second streets. The granite for the structure was donated by Gov. J. R. Bodwell, president of the Hallowell Granite Company, and the iron cresting was given by the Fuller Brothers. The architectural plan was de- signed and presented by A. C. Currier, and funds for the building were contributed by residents and former residents of Hallowell.
In 1893, Gen. Thomas H. Hubbard donated $20,000 for the enlargement of the building and as an endow- ment for the purchase of books. With this sum, an addition was built and a free reading room was opened. At this time, in accordance with Gen. Hubbard's gift, the privileges of the library were made free to all, and the name was changed to the Hubbard Free Library.
Mrs. Eliza Clark Lowell, a direct descendant of Deacon Pease Clark, Hallowell's first settler, gave $10,000 in 1897 for further enlargement of the build- ing, and in 1898 the west wing, or the Lowell Museum, was completed. Mrs. Lowell, then 94, was present at the dedicatory exercises.
The Library contains a valuable "Breeches Bible" printed in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1602. It also pos- sesses many early Hallowell imprints such as "Female Friendship, or the Innocent Sufferer" printed in Hallo- well in 1797 by Howard S. Robinson for Nathaniel Cogswell. This was the earliest bound book printed in what was then the Province of Maine.
- Grace Blake Maxwell
FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY
SINCE 1834
"A T A MEETING of the fire wards of the Town of Hallowell holden December 10, 1834, the Hal- lowell Fire Department for 1835 was organized." At this meeting, the duties of the various companies were outlined and voted upon. S. C. Whittieer was chosen chief engineer; Thomas B. Brooks, assistant engineer; and K. G. Robinson was chosen secretary of the Fire Department. Wardens were chosen for the Hydraulion, later called the Lion. This was the first engine owned by the city which drafted its own water. It was a double-decked tub. A folding shelf allowed six or eight men on each side to man the upper set of brakes. Wardens were also chosen for Engine No. 1 and En- gine No. 2. These were the small bucket-tubs and required the help of the bucket brigade, A double line of men, and sometimes women, connected the well and the machine, full buckets coming up hand to hand to the machine and returning empty. Each house- holder in those days was supposed to have two fire buckets swinging about his house. Wardens were chosen for the hooks and ladders, also wardens to take charge of furniture, merchandise, etc., and a warden of the axe company which consisted of fifteen members.
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