USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Augusta > Historical notes on Augusta, Maine > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
Western Avenue crosses. . .
No. 171 State Street - Jose's Garage.
This building was completed in 1945. An old home said to be the residence of M. M. Swan, jeweler in post Civil War days, stood near this site. It was converted into stores and a rooming house before its demolition in the 1930's.
No. 173 State Street - Filling Station.
A large brick house on this site was the residence of Deane Pray in 1871 through 1884. His clothing store was burned in the Water Street Fire of 1865. In the 1890's it was the home of Frank E. Southard, Augusta attorney, who was born in Exeter in 1854 and died in 1904. He was the father of Frank E. Southard, Sr., former Judge of the Municipal Court in Augusta, practicing since 1914. He, in turn, is the father of Frank E. Southard, Jr., the present Judge of the Municipal Court. Dr. Will S. Thompson, Bowdoin
114
1875, graduate of the Homeopathic College in Cleveland, Ohio, who for many years practiced locally, made his home here until his death in 1924. He had two sons, Fred of Augusta and George of Belfast, and two daughters, Mrs. Sewall Webster and Mrs. Helen Furbish of Augusta.
No. 177 to No. 179 State Street, Corner Glendon - Service Station.
No. 177 State Street was the site of the residence of B. Earle Bither, a druggist who operated the old Kinsman Pharmacy before and after the First World War. He afterwards moved to Dexter where he died a few years ago. No. 179 was the site of Shirley's Filling Station.
No. 181 Pineland Diner.
This building was moved from a point north when the Traffic Circle was installed about 1950.
No. 183 State Street - State Street News.
A house is shown on this spot on the 1838 map, marked J. Reed. On the 1875 map it is designated the home of Eliza Morton, widow of C. B. Morton. For many years afterwards it was the residence of S. T. Cannon, nurseryman, and his two daughters, the Misses Grace and Gertrude. After his death they conducted a private boarding house there. Subsequently it was made into apartments. The present owner is John C. Foss, who has recently opened a modern news store on the first floor.
No. 185 State Street - Residence of Mrs. Albert Poulin.
This place is said to have been built by Dr. Marcus Hamilton, an eye, ear and throat specialist, about forty years ago. He after- wards moved to California and the house was sold to Adelbert Gordon who was the resident in 1924. It was occupied by Mrs. Irene Daigle who conducted a beauty parlor there for several years. The house stands on the site of the Mann homestead which is shown on the 1875 map. Daniel Mann is listed as a worker in the Augusta Gas House, which was situated at the foot of Gas House Hill, near Bond Street. The Augusta Gas Company was formed in 1853 and the works were completed that year at a cost of $50,000. For many years the smell of illuminating gas permeated the locality. The city was first lighted with gas on October 26, 1853 and the
115
streets were lighted in 1859, the city having erected twenty lamps at an expense of $387.50. The gas light company was absorbed by the Kennebec Light and Heat Company in 1887. This was taken over by the Central Maine Power Company, which continued to furnish gas until the late 1940's, when the gas mains were discon- tinued and the plant dismantled. The business is now conducted by the Augusta Gas Company which supplies bottled gas.
No. 187 State Street - Offices.
This old mansion, lately occupied by Robert Carnes, is said to have been shown on a painting of the original State House which hangs in the State Library. In 1850 it was the home of Daniel Pike, who was Treasurer of Kennebec County from 1838 to 1868, also Cashier of the Freeman's National Bank and one time Alderman. He died in 1868 at the age of 66. Mrs. Sarah Weston, widow of W. K. Weston, Augusta merchant, is shown living here in 1871 as well as 1879. The name of Colonel Enoch C. Farrington, who was on the Governor's staff, appears as the resident in 1892 directory. He was Clerk of the Railroad Commission from 1889 until his death in 1909. His granddaughter, Margaret Livingston, daughter of the Rev. W. F. Livingston, an Episcopal clergyman and Assistant State Librari- an, lived here at one time. She married Howard Donovan and lives in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Frederika Foster, daughter of the late Fred R. Fife, is a relative of the Farringtons. Afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fox lived here. Mr. Fox was a post office clerk and Mrs. Fox will be remembered as a teacher of dancing. Their son, Leo, a Cornell graduate, was a Commander in the U. S. Navy during World War Two and was subsequently in the State Department. He died in 1956. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Titcomb made their home here. Samuel Titcomb was the son of Lendall Titcomb, one time Mayor and the grandson of Samuel Titcomb of Summer Street. Like his father and grandfather before him, he was a member of the legal profession. Born in 1885, he was educated at Cony High School, Exeter Academy, Harvard Col- lege and Law School. He was a member of S. and L. Titcomb, Lawyers, and was manager of the Titcomb Real Estate Association. In 1925 he married Lura E. Smith in Washington, D. C. They had a son Caldwell and a daughter Camilla, both living in Massachusetts. Mr. Titcomb died in 1950 while a resident of this house.
116
No. 189 State Street - Residence of George A. Merrill.
This was the Charles Hewins residence in the 1884 directory. He was Sheriff of Kennebec County from 1867 to 1871. He died in 1884 and the home was bought by Fred D. Hoyt, agent for Hoyt's Express. In 1892, J. Albert Chapman, listed as a master mariner, is shown as the resident and in the same year Frank Gaslin, a livery stable keeper and agent for the New England Dispatch Company, another express agency, bought from Flora Hoyt Chap- man. He sold the premises to S. H. Morrell in 1905 and the place was again sold to Colonel Martin Van Buren Chase in 1906. He was President of the Augusta Savings Bank and a veteran of the Civil War. He married Helen A. Waite of Sidney in 1860. They had a son Fred, and a daughter Fannie. Fred Chase was a govern- ment clerk in Washington, D. C. and he had a daughter, Mrs. Helen Chase Cox, now resident in Washington. Mr. Merrill bought the place in 1939 from the Chase estate.
No. 193 State Street - Residence of Ernest A. McLean.
This fine old brick mansion has been the McLean home since 1917. Ernest A. McLean was born in Alexander, the son of Joseph and Mary McLean. He was educated at Cony High School, gradu- ated from Bates College in 1902 and from Boston University Law School in 1907. He joined the law firm of Williamson, Burleigh and McLean in 1908. He was City Solicitor and later Mayor of Augusta in 1922 and 1924 and prominent in civic organizations. He was a candidate for Governor on the Democratic ticket in 1928. He mar- ried Myra H. Powers in 1909. They had a daughter Angela, now Mrs. George Hunt, and a son, Powers M., of Hallowell. In 1835 Captain Isaac Gage bought the site of this house from James Child and the map of 1838 shows a brick house which was conveyed to Sylvanus Caldwell, Jr. in 1862 by Joanna Gage. S. Caldwell came to Augusta from Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1827 and was a member of Lunt and Caldwell. Later he had a clothing store which was burned out in the Water Street Fire of 1865. He was Mayor of Augusta for several terms during the Civil War period. After the Water Street Fire he went into the office of his brother William who was State Treasurer for many years. William Caldwell lived at No. 66 Stone Street, now occupied by members of the Titcomb family. He mar- ried in 1836, Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Daniel Stone of Augusta, and their daughter, Lydia Stone, married Lendall Titcomb, Esq.
117
Sylvanus Caldwell married Harriet Buckminster of Saco, who was a descendant of Edmund Rice who was also an ancestor of Judge Richard Rice. They had a son Charles, who was born in 1846 and was in the Treasurer's Office for many years. The McLeans acquired the property from the Caldwell estate and it is said added the wooden porches.
Capitol Street crosses.
State Park.
This beautiful old park was the scene of much activity during the Civil War. Maine regiments mustered for the front camped here and nearby Capitol Park was used for cavalry regiments, large stables being erected there. The tomb of Enoch Lincoln, the fifth Governor of Maine, is at the extreme eastern end of the Park. Governor Lincoln was born in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1749 and educated at Harvard. He read law with his brother Levi in Worcester, Mas- sachusetts. He went to Fryeburg and was U. S. District Attorney. He was elected Governor in 1826 when he was 38 years of age, re-elected in 1827 and in 1828. It was through his influence that Augusta was selected as the seat of the State Government and the site of the Capitol Building was chosen on a spot known locally as " Weston's Hill". He declined to be a candidate for a third term. Although in feeble health he was persuaded to go from his farm in Scarborough where he had retired, to deliver an oration on the oc- casion of laying the cornerstone of the Capitol Building. The strain of the journey was too much for him and he died on October 8, 1829. He was buried with great public honors on the State grounds. Later his remains were placed in a granite tomb, erected by the State in 1842.
118
Green Street - North Side
Parking Lot, Central Maine Power Company, Corner of Green Street and Rines Hill.
A house stood in this vicinity, numbered No. 1 Green Street. When Rines Hill was widened in the 1930's this house, at the time the residence of Judge William R. Pattangall, was removed. It ap- peared on the 1838 map as the residence of a Dr. Hatch. In 1871 it was the home of Henry W. Bradbury, son of James W. Bradbury. H. W. Bradbury was a partner of Parrot, Bradbury and Company and died in 1884. Afterwards it was the home of George F. Law- rence, who was an official of the Haynes and DeWitt Ice Company. Mr. Pattangall is shown living there in 1924.
Bradbury Lane, Formerly Called Green Street Place, crosses. . . No. 6 Residence of Chester S. Bridge.
This house was built by Judge Pattangall in 1937. William Robinson Pattangall was born in Pembroke, June 29, 1865. He at- tended the University of Maine and was admitted to the bar in 1893. He practiced in Waterville, was Mayor of that city from 1911 to 1913 and editor of the Waterville Sentinel for six years. He wrote several political satires, among them "Meddybemps Letters", de- picting the politics of the early part of this century. He was a member of the Maine Legislature for several terms. He was an able jury lawyer and became quite famous as attorney for the defense, where he departed from the bombastic, oratorical style of the day, using a conversational tone by which he gained the confidence of the witnesses. He was State Attorney General for several terms. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court from 1930 to 1935, from which he resigned to re-enter private prac- tice. He died in 1942. He was twice married and had several daughters. After his death, Dr. Carl Hutchinson bought the home and occupied it for several years.
119
No. 6 Bradbury Place - Central Maine Power Company Offices.
This old mansion, situated in the rear of the Central Maine Power Company Office Building, is shown on the 1838 map as the home of Deacon John Means. He came from Saco in 1811 and was successful in the bakery business, afterwards becoming a trader. He was a deacon of the South Parish Church and had several children, among them being George Jarvis, who was born in 1827, graduated from Bowdoin in 1847 and became a Unitarian minister and died in Augusta in 1879. Subsequently the place was acquired by Thomas J. Lynch, Augusta attorney, who was born in Augusta in 1856. He attended public schools, Dirigo Business College and read law with Loring Farr and was admitted in 1885. He was Postmaster from 1894 to 1898, President of the Augusta Loan and Building Associa- tion, Trustee of several banks and a prime mover in the street rail- way system. He died in 1916. The home was occupied by his brother-in-law, Stephen J. Hegarty, and his nieces, Katherine, Mary and Margaret Dailey, who moved to No. 15 Western Avenue when the Central Maine Power Company built.
No. 9 Green Street - General Offices, Central Maine Power Company.
This large building was erected in 1927 and stands on the site of the residence of James Ware Bradbury, famous Augusta attorney, former United States Senator in the pre-Civil War days and called Augusta's Grand Old Man in the Augusta Centennial in 1896. The old mansion, shown on the 1838 map, was bought by Edgar Hussey of the Hussey Hardware Company and the facade now forms the front of the Stanley Hussey summer residence at Ocean Point. Another part is now known as the Bradbury Cottage at Three Mile Pond. James R. Bradbury was born in Parsonfield in 1802 and his career is treated at length in the article on No. 135 State Street. He married in 1834, Eliza Ann, daughter of Captain James Smith who lived at No. 12 Green Street. They had four sons, who grew to manhood, but none survived him. He died in Augusta in 1901.
No. 13 Green Street - Methodist Parsonage.
This residence until lately used as a parsonage was built in the 1890's, replacing a small inadequate building. It is now being used as a center of parish activities, a new home for the minister having been built on outer Winthrop Street.
120
No. 15 Green Street Methodist Church - Rev. Victor P. Musk, Minister.
This venerable building, said to be the oldest church edifice in Augusta, was dedicated November 27, 1828, when the sermon was preached by the celebrated John Newland Maffitt of Portsmouth. The first pastor was the Rev. Daniel R. Randall. The original building was enlarged in 1848 and has been improved from time to time. An account of the early church beginnings is found in the paragraph on No. 7 Elm Street where the activities of Elihu Robinson, one of the pioneers in Methodism, is reviewed.
No. 27 Green Street - Quimby Apartments.
This old home, expanded into apartments some twenty-five years ago, was the home of Daniel True Pike in 1871 who was born in Litchfield, the son of Dr. Jessie Pike, in 1814. He read law and was admitted in 1839 and went to Illinois where he practiced two years. Returning to Augusta he became editor of the " Age", a Democratic newspaper which had been purchased by W. T. Johnson, in 1848. He continued to be editor until 1856, when the paper was sold to B. A. and Melville Fuller, who became Chief Justice of the United States. Later Pike engaged in real estate speculation with Ai Staples, the father of Colonel Henry Staples of Civil War fame. It is recorded that Ai Staples, who lived in a house which stood on the Y. M. C. A. lot, purchased a tract of land, about 48 acres, bounded on the north by the State Park, on the east by the Kennebec River, on the west by State Street, and which extended southerly to the so-called Britts Gully, where a log house reputed to have been built by a Hessian soldier stood until a few years ago. The undivided half of this and other property was sold to D. T. Pike in 1870. The land included a trotting park and an amusement park called Oakwood, extended to a point near the Brooks and Drew Garage. This park was built in the early "trolley car" days, and a menagerie and bandstand were said to have been among its features. The prop- erty from State to Columbia Streets was divided into house lots and Colonel Staples had as his residence the house at No. 241 State Street. Daniel T. Pike died in 1893. His son, Manley Pike, lived in the Green Street house for some time. He was, like his father, the editor of the " Age " from 1881 to 1883, which had been revived and called the "New Age". In the New England Who's Who for 1910 he is mentioned as a prominent journalist, writing for such
121
periodicals as the Youth's Companion, Scribner's and Harper's. He died in 1912. Between this house and the rear of the Dr. Garcelon office building was an old house which was removed at the time Percy Hill built his mansion at No. 114 State Street.
State Street crosses. .
No. 37 Green Street - Residence of Richard Baron.
This old house is shown on the 1838 map as the residence of Judge Asa Redington. He was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and afterwards Court Reporter. In 1842 he sold the residence to Vassal D. Pinkham, Stage Coach Proprietor, for the sum of $2,000.00. This purchase is recorded in the Kennebec County Deeds, Book 177, Page 420. Vassal D. Pinkham died in 1886. The place was sold to Henry Bradbury and his estate passed the title to Mrs. Betsie French. In the early 1900's the property was acquired by the Governor Hill family and in 1909 John E. Liggett, son of Mrs. Laura Hill Liggett, wife of Governor Hill, is shown living here. He was graduated from the Maine Law School in 1911. In 1924 William B. Williamson, brother of Judge Robert Williamson, is shown living here. Arthur D. Hastings is listed as the occupant in 1935.
No. 39 Green Street - Residence of Dr. Howard White.
This house, long occupied by Nathan Weston, retired Augusta merchant, is believed to have been built by A. G. Longfellow of Longfellow and Sanborn, grocers on Water Street, after the Civil War. Mr. Weston came from Manchester and was a letter carrier during the early part of his adult life. He subsequently became interested in the dry goods business and was a partner of William F. Bussell in Bussell and Weston. The firm sold to Whitman and Adams and with the withdrawal of Mr. Whitman, it became the D. W. Adams Company. He was the son of Henry Cheever Weston of Manchester, whose father was Samuel Weston, the son of Captain Nathan Weston of Augusta. The brother of Samuel Weston was Judge Nathan Weston, whose daughter Catherine married Frederic Fuller. Their son was Melville Weston Fuller, who became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (see article on St. Mark's Rectory, Summer Street). Mr. and Mrs. Weston had two sons, Nathan and G. Cony, both residents of Augusta.
122
No. 43 Green Street - Residence of Robert O'Connor, Esq.
On the map of 1838 this house appears as the residence of General Joseph Chandler (see article on the American Legion Home, State Street). His son Marcellus, listed as an accountant, occupied the place for many years and his widow is shown living here in 1892. Mrs. Sumner Wood is listed as the owner in 1902. Subsequently the house was the residence of Norman L. Bassett, Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Court. Judge Bassett was born in Winslow and was graduated in 1885 from Colby College. He came to Au- gusta and was a partner in Cornish and Bassett, with offices at 263 Water Street. He served as Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Court from 1925 to 1930. He died in 1931. In 1935 the house is shown as the residence of Dr. Louis J. Fallon who came here after the First World War. Dr. Fallon was born in Philadelphia in 1891, educated at Haverford College and received his degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1916. Upon graduation he spent sev- eral years as a member of the Dr. Grenfel expedition to Labrador. He served in the U. S. Medical Corps in France during the First World War. He married Ann Elizabeth Burke of Philadelphia and they had four sons: Louis F., Christopher, Dr. Richard and Bernard. He died in 1936.
Chapel Street crosses. . ..
No. 47 Residence of Judge Robert Williamson.
This old residence was for many years the home of Chief Jus- tice Cornish of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Leslie C. Cornish was born in Winslow in 1854 and was graduated from Colby College in 1875. He read law with Baker and Baker in Augusta and at- tended Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Kennebec Bar in 1880. He practiced law in Augusta in the firm of Cornish and Bassett. He was President of the Augusta Savings Bank, Presi- dent of the Lithgow Library Board of Trustees and a member of the Maine Historical Society. He was first appointed Associate Justice, then Chief Justice, serving from 1917 until his death in 1925. It is recorded that Judge Cornish bought the premises from the heirs of William Stratton in 1885. William R. Stratton was Clerk of Courts in 1871. On the 1838 map the house is shown as the home of Asaph R. Nichols, Postmaster in 1844, who also served as Secretary of State from 1835 to 1840, Town and City Clerk. He married Lucy Lambard and was the father of Dr. Henry Lambard
123
Nichols who removed to California after 1845 where he was Mayor of the City of Sacramento and later Secretary of State of California. Judge Williamson, now Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, acquired the place in 1927.
No. 51 Residence of Mrs. Annie Reardon.
This mansion was built, it is said, in the 1870's and in 1875 was the home of James M. Sanborn, who was the partner of Albert G. Longfellow in the grocery business on Water Street. James Sanborn died in 1881 and in the 1884 directory the name of Charles Nason is shown as the resident. He was born in Hallowell in 1845, the son of Joseph F. Nason, whose ancestor was Richard Nason who emigrated to Kittery in 1647. Mr. Nason conducted a large men's clothing manufactory in the Allen Building, corner of Water and Winthrop Streets. He married Emma Huntingdon, daughter of Samuel Huntingdon of Hallowell, in 1870 and they had a son Arthur, who graduated from Bowdoin and, it is said, became a college professor. Mrs. Nason was born in Hallowell in 1845 and is men- tioned in the New England Who's Who of 1910 as a writer of verse. She also became quite famous for her " Old Hallowell on the Ken- nebec", a well authenticated history of Hallowell, Maine from its earliest times until its incorporation as a city in 1852. She died in 1921. For some time after, the place was used as a Unitarian par- sonage. Mrs. Reardon, the former Annie Curran, is the widow of Jerimiah Timothy Reardon, famous University of Maine football star in World War One days.
No. 57 Green Street - Residence of Frank Nichols, Sr.
This fine old mansion is shown as the residence of Walter Hatch in 1871, who was General Superintendent of the Portland and Ken- nebec Railroad from 1865 to February 1869. His obituary, published in the Kennebec Journal of February 20, 1871, said that he started his career as a baggage man in 1844, worked as a conductor. He died of consumption when he was 41 years of age. He left a wife and family. In the 1884 directory the place is shown as the home of Charles K. Partridge, who conducted a drug store in the Capitol Theater Building at the corner of Water Street and Market Square, which is still known as Partridge's Drug Store. The history of this stand is related in the article of No. 65 State Street. Mr. and Mrs. Partridge, said to be the former Mary Roberts Larrabee of Vassal-
124
boro, had two daughters, Margaret Prescott, who was a clerk in the Post Office for many years, and Winnifred, who was a music teacher and married George C. Danforth. In 1919 the home was sold to the Edwards Manufacturing Company and Milton C. Deane, agent for the Company, occupied the house until his death in 1951. Mr. Nichols acquired the house from the Bates Manufacturing Company several years ago.
Sewall Street crosses. . . .
No. 59 Green Street - Residence of Mrs. Theresa Wadleigh
On the 1879 map this house is given as the residence of Mrs. Abbott; in 1884, as that of Ambrose Abbott. In 1902 it is shown as the residence of George Wadleigh, who operated a grocery store on Water Street and subsequently went into the automobile busi- ness. The house has been in the Wadleigh family ever since, as the present occupant is the widow of John Wadleigh, son of George. John S. Wadleigh graduated from Cony High School in the Class of 1909 and attended the University of Maine. He was President of the Wadleigh Motor Company at 294 State Street and was at one time agent for the Packard Automobiles in the 30's. Later he started the J. S. Wadleigh Oil Company. His wife was the former Theresa Newbert, daughter of Elmer E. Newbert of this city, whose career is reviewed in the paragraph on No. 64 State Street.
No. 63 Green Street - Residence of Judge Emery O. Beane.
For over thirty-five years this has been the home of Emery O. Beane, Judge of Probate for Kennebec County. His father was Fred Emery Beane, former County Attorney and Judge of the Hallowell Municipal Court. His grandfather was Emery O. Beane of Readfield, one time Judge of Probate, who was well known in the legal profession for over fifty years. Emery O. Beane, Jr. is in partnership with his father, thus making four generations of lawyers. He is also serving his second term in the House of Representatives and follows the family tradition of membership in the Democratic Party. In the 1870's this was the house of David Neal, printer, who worked at one time with the Kennebec Journal and later Vickery and Hill. His widow, Mary J., continued to occupy the house after his demise.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.