USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Augusta > Historical notes on Augusta, Maine > Part 3
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
This is an old house and is shown on the 1867 directory as the home of Dr. James North, Jr. He was the son of James W. North, lawyer and Mayor of Augusta from 1857 to 1860, who is best known for his authorship of "The History of Augusta, Maine," published in 1870. This work of nearly a thousand pages tells in chronological order in great detail of the events occurring in Augusta and vicinity from 1604 to 1870. Dr. James W. North was educated at Bowdoin and Bowdoin Medical College. He served in a colored regiment in the Civil War and after the war he commenced practice in Augusta in 1866, was City Physician in 1867 and removed to Jefferson in 1868 and practiced in the vicinity for many years. In 1871 the house was shown as the home of Arthur D. Locke, who had a boot and shoe business at 156 Water Street. In the 1884 directory he is shown living in the same house, now a shoe clerk, and in the 1892 directory he is a shoe cutter. In 1906 the house is shown as the residence of George Searles, an insurance agent. Ben Shaw, artist and cartoonist for the Kennebec Journal, is shown rooming there. W. D. Hutchins, well known old time realtor, occupied the house in the 1915 directory. Subsequently it was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred R. Lord and after them Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brown lived there. Charles Brown came from Bath, was a State House official for many years. He led the drive for Colby College when the College moved its site from the railroad tracks in Waterville to Mayflower Hill. After his retirement he was well known for his activities at the Augusta General Hospital. He died in 1959 in his late seventies. In 1934 the place was purchased by Willard Ellis who converted the front part into a restaurant. From files in the Kennebec Register of Deeds it is believed that the property was owned by the Belcher family of Farmington for many years pre- ceding the 1900's.
No. 56 Residence of Charles Kinsman, Jr.
This old home, "the one with the portholes in it," is shown on the 1856 map marked "J. W. C." In the 1867 directory it is given as the residence of John S. Cushing, who was Treasurer of the Port- land and Kennebec Railroad, now the Maine Central. Mr. Cushing died in 1891. It is said that Dr. James Tuell, brother of Attorney Orrin Tuell (a partner in Heath and Tuell), lived there for several years. Miss Sarah Tuell of this city is the daughter of Orrin Tuell,
22
Esq. who married Elizabeth Gardiner. The Reverend Edward Spencer of the Unitarian Church was shown living here in 1906. Subsequently the house was purchased by Royal S. Bodwell, who was a graduate of Bowdoin and a member of the Bowdoin football team. He was a very heavy man, weighing, it is said, 350 pounds and one old friend has said that he was practically the whole team. Mr. Bodwell purchased and removed the home of Jesse Johnson which stood between his house and the Pioneer House. Jesse John- son at one time had a shoe store on Water Street, but during the latter part of his life he was a clerk in the Post Office. After the death of Mr. Bodwell the home was purchased by Charles Kinsman, Jr., son of the late Charles Kinsman, Sr., who was with his father, Dr. F. G. Kinsman, in the Capitol Drug Company.
No. 58 Apartment House.
This old home was known as the Lithgow House before Treby Johnson made it his residence in 1879. Treby Johnson was the son of William Treby Johnson, who lived at No. 107 Winthrop Street. He was born in 1850, graduated from Harvard College and Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He was stenographer for Secretary of the Treasury Lot M. Morrill under President Grant and continued to serve under President Hayes. He entered banking in the late seventies and succeeded his father as Cashier of the Granite National Bank, was elected President afterwards and served until his death in 1915. He married Amie Barbour of Salmon Falls, New Hampshire and Lewiston. Their son was the late William T. Johnson of Augusta and their daughters, Alice Harlow Johnson; Susan, who married Frank Elisha Barrows of Glen Ridge, New Jersey; Barbara, who married the late Colonel Arthur Merrill of Augusta; Mary, who married the late Donald Burleigh; Helen of Augusta and Adeline Johnson, deceased. In 1923 the home was sold to Gilbert and Grace Picard who enlarged the building into the present apart- ment house.
No. 60 Residence.
This house appears on the 1838 map. For many years it was the home of Ellery Folsom who was a barber. It is said that he was in the local barber shops for forty years or so. He was one of the barbers in the famous "Lon" Chadbourne shop which was at 216 Water Street. This shop operated in the early part of this
23
century and was a favorite with business men who kept shaving mugs with their names inscribed on hand for the barber of their choice to use. A familiar sight on Winthrop Street Sunday mornings was Mr. and Mrs. Folsom starting their walk to the Green Street Methodist Church where they were constant attendants for many years.
No. 64 Apartments.
This old house is likewise shown on the 1838 map. The Misses Noble, one of whom is listed as artist, the other a portrait painter, lived here in 1892. It is said by an old resident that they kept a small shop across the street.
Chapel Street begins. . . .
No. 66 Residence of Clarence Frye.
This home was built in the 1890's by Charles S. Hichborn, well known banker who was Mayor in 1905. He came from Stockton Springs and in 1884 he is listed as a clerk in the First National Bank. By 1892 he was Cashier and in a few years he was President. It was said that as a young man he was a bookkeeper at the Hallowell Granite Quarry at a salary of $5.00 a week and he left to go into the bank as a three-dollar-a-week clerk. He married Annie S. Sprague and they had two sons, Harold and Alden (" Booky "). Harold mar- ried Bertha Batcheldor and they had two sons, Robert of Hallowell and John of Dallas, Texas. A widower, he married Audrey Milliken, widow of H. Perley Milliken. Mr. Hichborn was very aggressive and one of Augusta's prominent civic leaders. It is said that due to his efforts the State Capitol building remained here. He was ap- pointed by Governor Bert M. Fernald to take the responsibility of enlarging the Capitol which was done with an outlay of $350,000 in 1909. Also Mr. Hichborn took it upon himself to rebuild the Au- gusta House so that ample accommodations for legislators could be obtained. This matter of accommodations for legislators was long an argument for the removal of the Capitol to Portland. In physical appearance Charles Hichborn was of medium height and always impeccably dressed. He wore a beard which was always kept well groomed. He was a forceful speaker and spoke at all public gather- ings giving freely of his advice. He was fond of writing obituaries. It was said that one friend whose virtues he had extolled in anticipa- tion of his passing, written before his death, survived him and read
24
his own obituary which was found in Mr. Hichborn's papers after his death in 1940.
Between No. 66 and No. 70 Winthrop Street stood the Enright House, once the home of O. C. Whitehouse of O. C. Whitehouse and Company, dry goods, on Water Street many years ago. After the Whitehouses left, the place was the home of Thomas Enright of the Augusta Post Office and his sister, Miss Harriet, teacher in the City schools for many years. After the First World War the place was bought by Charles S. Hichborn who tore it down.
No. 72 Residence of Willard Ellis.
This fine old brick home, shown on the 1838 map of the City, has an interesting history. In 1835 there was a lot conveyed to Henry Winslow by Nathan Weston which answers the general de- scription of this location. Henry Winslow was the brother of Stephen Winslow, master builder, who it is believed built the house at No. 81 Winthrop Street, now occupied by Everett Maxcy, Esq. In the 1850 census Henry Winslow was worth $6,000. It is believed that he built the other brick houses in the vicinity. At one time, it is said, there was a brickyard in what is now known as Royal Park near Mount Vernon Avenue. The brick was carried up an inclined rail- road to a point near the Kinsman Furniture Store, on Bridge Street. In 1867 this brickyard is noted as being operated by Pike and Saunders. In 1867 this house is given as the residence of Colonel George Stanley, at that time President of the First National Bank. Colonel Stanley had a long and colorful career as sheriff, legislator, hotelman and bank president. He was born in Winthrop in 1800, came to Augusta as a young man, was Sheriff at the time of the last hanging in Maine, that of Richard Sager in 1835. He was a member of the Legislature and it is believed that he built the Stanley House on Water Street, which stood near where Chernowsky's Store is now. It was burned in the Great Fire of 1865 which wiped out Water Street from Market Square to Bridge Street. Stanley was a Democrat and a friend of President Franklin Pierce, who made him U. S. Marshal of Maine. Colonel Stanley had a forceful per- sonality and at the time of the famous Augusta Bank Robbery in 1849 when thieves broke open the safe and took nearly $30,000 he obtained a confession from one of the robbers. Subsequently the house was occupied by Harriet Lambard, widow of Thomas Lambard, and Mrs. Audrey Milliken, widow of H. Perley Milliken. Mrs. Mil-
25
liken married Charles Hichborn after the death of his first wife. Later Melville Sawtelle, Augusta attorney, bought the house and lived there until his death a few years ago. Willard Ellis, one time Post- master, now owns the place.
No. 74 Residence of Fred R. Lord.
This house is shown on the 1875 map as the residence of Josiah Wyman, who is mentioned in the 1867 directory as the manufacturer of doors, sash and blinds at Mount Vernon Avenue. Afterward the house was occupied by Winfield S. Choate, lawyer, who was born in Lincoln County in 1850 and was educated at Kents Hill Seminary and Harvard Law School. He married in 1877, Charlotte, daughter of Josiah Wyman. Mr. Choate was Mayor of Augusta in 1896 and 1897. He was Clerk of Courts and also practiced in Augusta for many years. After the death of the Choates, Miss Lucy Wyman, known as "Lilly" Wyman to friends, lived in the house. She was a sister of Mrs. Choate. In the 1923 directory the name of Frank J. Ham, Collector of U. S. Revenue at the time, appears. He was born in Canaan, Maine, went to Belgrade High School, came to Augusta and entered the grocery business, afterwards politics, was Sheriff of Kennebec County and Warden of Maine State Prison at Thomaston. He was married and had a son Miles, recently deceased and a daughter Doris, also deceased. After his demise his widow lived there until her death in 1956. After her death Fred R. Lord bought the home and made extensive improvements.
No. 78 Residence of Willard Purinton.
It is said that one of the Weston families lived in this house before Colonel Darius Alden, who is listed in the 1871 directory as the occupant. He was a business man and was at one time Presi- dent of the Granite National Bank. Following his residence there several lawyers, Herbert S. Heath, Thomas Leigh and Fremont J. C. Little and their families made their homes there. Herbert S. Heath was born in Gardiner in 1853, was graduated from Bowdoin in 1872, read law with Judge Danforth and was admitted to the bar in 1876, and then practiced in Augusta. He was City Solicitor, County Attorney and served in both branches of the Legislature. His children were Gardiner K. Heath, recently deceased, Herbert of Phoenix, Arizona and Gertrude, who married Max Wilder. Thomas Leigh was born in Hallowell in 1862, educated at Hallowell Classi-
26
cal Institute and graduated from Dartmouth in 1885, read law with S. and L. Titcomb of this city and was admitted to the bar in 1888. He was Kennebec County Attorney 1901 to 1907. He left a son, Donald, of Massachusetts and a daughter, Elizabeth, of New York. Fremont J. C. Little, Bowdoin 1889, referee in Bankruptcy, occupied the home with his wife, the former Lillian Blackman, and their son, C. Bryce Little, a veteran of the First World War, and their daughter, Gladys, all now deceased. Mr. Purinton bought the house from the Little estate.
No. 82 Residence of Arthur Labbe.
This old home on the corner of Winthrop and Sewall was first noted in the 1871 directory as the residence of John Mulliken, said to be a lumberman. The next occupant noticed is Henry F. Blan- chard, a lawyer who was born in Rumford in 1838, studied law in New York City and served in the Civil War. After the war he came to Augusta and was in partnership with George E. Weeks as attorney- at-law and claim agent. In 1906 Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson, widow of Gustavus Robinson, and her daughter Josephine are listed as living there. Gustavus Robinson, Mayor of Augusta in 1904, was born in Bethel in 1842, was educated at Gould Academy and began teaching in 1859. In the spring of 1869 he came to Augusta as Superintendent of Schools. In the following autumn he proposed a uniform course of study to cover ten years for the city schools. To secure this result he was elected on the School Board and served until the schools were regraded. He was at one time Principal of Smith Grammar School.
Sewall Street ends. . ..
No. 86 Winthrop Street - Residence of Dr. Joseph Crawford.
This fine old home was the residence of Thomas Lambard, iron founder, in 1867 and for many years afterwards. He was the brother of Allen Lambard, whose life is noticed in the article on St. Mark's home at No. 57 Winthrop Street. Thomas Lambard was a one time President of the Augusta Savings Bank. In 1892 Dr. Fred G. Kins- man appears as the occupant. He was interested in the Capitol Drug Company, which was founded by his family. He married Alice, daughter of the Reverend Charles Penney, for whom the Penney Memorial Church was named. After the demise of Dr. and Mrs. Kinsman, their son Charles occupied the home. He graduated from
27
Cony High School and attended Bowdoin College where he played football. He married Hortense Powers of Houlton. They had a son, Charles, Jr. of Augusta, and a daughter, Mrs. Charles McAllister of New York. Mr. Kinsman was an Alderman, Member of the Legis- lature and Chairman of the Inland Fisheries and Game Commission. He died in 1958.
No. 88 Residence of Mrs. William G. Bunker.
This house appears in the 1867 directory as the Woodbury place and was occupied by that family for many years afterwards. About forty years ago William G. Bunker of the firm of Bunker and Savage, Architects, acquired the place and extensively remodeled it. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker had one son, Theodore, and two daughters, Mrs. Joseph Leavitt of Manchester and Mrs. Roxie Canton of Massachu- setts. Mr. Bunker died in 1957. Bunker and Savage designed many homes, schools and public buildings in the state.
No. 94 Winthrop - Residence of William F. Wyman.
This old time residence appears on the 1838 map with the name "Dutton". It was purchased by Lewis Moore, state and county official, in 1852 and was in the Moore family for many years. It was acquired by Henry Whitman in 1902. Mr. Whitman was a member of Whitman and Adams Dry Goods, now D. W. Adams Company on Water Street. After his retirement he moved to Massachusetts and sold the place to Mr. Wyman in 1939.
No. 98 Residence of Thomas G. Fay, M. D.
This old house is called the Ham place on the 1838 map. In 1875 it is given as the property of the Haskell estate and in 1879 as the residence of Dr. David P. Bolster, who was born in Paris, Maine and was graduated from Bowdoin Medical School in 1852. He served as a Surgeon in the Civil War and practiced in Augusta for many years. In 1924 the place appears as the home of Willis Swift, Mayor of Augusta in 1916-17. Mr. Swift was Treasurer of the Holmes Swift Company and was born in Sidney in 1870. He conducted the crockery business of Swift and Turner on Water Street, which is said was the old Ballard business. He was a member of both branches of the Legislature and was prominent in Republican politics and at one time Chairman of the Governor's Council. Mr. and Mrs. Swift, the former Lillian Holmes, had a son, Raymond, a
28
graduate of Bowdoin and who was in the Army during the First World War, and now deceased, and a daughter, Marjorie, who married Almon Sullivan of this city.
No. 102 Residence of Judge Arthur F. Tiffin.
This old brick house was the Blanchard place in 1838. In 1876 it was the home of William H. Turner, who conducted a monument business at No. 11 Bridge Street, recently torn down. He was the father of the late Dr. Oliver G. Turner, for many years an Eye, Ear and Throat Specialist who had offices on the first floor of the Masonic Building on Water Street. He attended Bowdoin Medical School and studied in Europe, it is said. His brother Horace was in business in Hallowell. Dr. Turner had a son Rodney, who like his father, was an eye, ear and throat specialist. John K. Turner, a practicing attorney of Winthrop, is the son of Horace Turner. A few years ago the name of Oliver G. Turner was found in the casing of the old Universalist Church organ indicating that he might have been employed in pumping the old fashioned instrument. Judge Tiffin bought the place in 1929.
Chestnut Street crosses. .
No. 104 Residence of General Charles Bartlett.
This house is said to have been built by William E. Gage, of Webber and Gage, sash and blind manufacturers, and brother of Edward Gage who lived at 119 Winthrop Street. Mr. and Mrs. Gage had a son, Conan, now deceased, who was a veteran of the First World War and two daughters, Hazel and Helen. In 1906 the house was the residence of Hiram L. Pishon, President of the Augusta Trust Company, who married Ena Chadbourne, daughter of Alonzo Chadbourne, who kept a well known barber shop on Water Street. They had a daughter, Frances, now Mrs. James Gardiner. In 1937 the place was sold to William Adams Lang, Agent for the Bates Manufacturing Company, Edwards Division. He was a Son of the American Revolution and at one time was on an engineering project in Russia. After his demise the place was sold to General Charles Bartlett, retired. General Bartlett was born in Bangor, graduated from Maine Law School in 1914, was Flight Instructor at Kelley Field during the First World War. He practiced law in Bangor, was a member of the National Guard, was in active service
29
during the Second World War and was connected with Selective Service. He died in 1954.
No. 108 Apartment Building.
This large brick building was built as a schoolhouse in 1855 and was known as the Orchard Street Schoolhouse, as the grounds were at the corner of Winthrop and Orchard, now South Chestnut, Streets. North says that in "1850 two brick schoolhouses were built, one on Grove Street, the other on Crosby Street, at the cost of $3,200 apiece. Duplicates of these were built on Kendall and Orchard Streets, the former in 1853, the latter in 1855." This school is shown on the 1879 map. The late Charles Holt, retired barber of this city who was 86 when he died, remembers going to this school with John Henessey, well known plumber, now deceased, before going to Smith Grammar School. It is said that the Gages bought the school and the entire lot. In 1892 Wm. E. Gage is listed as living on one side of the double house and Anson Morrill Goddard on the other side. He was the son of Judge Charles Goddard of Portland and Rowena Morrill, daughter of Governor Anson P. Morrill, who was President of the Maine Central Railroad. He was graduated from Bowdoin in 1882. He attended Harvard Law School, was admitted to the Bar and engaged in private law practice. He married Eva Glidden, daughter of Jerimiah Glidden, box manufacturer of this city. A story is told of a "hoss" case in which he was engaged as counsel. It seems that the horse in question was alleged to be mis- represented as to his physical condition at the time of sale and the buyer sought remedy at law. The case was before Judge Oliver Hall in the Kennebec County Court. Wallace Prescott, a well known horse dealer at the time, was called as an expert witness as the judge of the value of horseflesh. Mr. Goddard asked Prescott the value of the horse. Mr. Prescott sought to evade the question. Mr. Goddard, a small man wearing a goatee, bristled with impatience as he kept repeating his question. Finally Judge Hall directed Prescott to answer. Prescott drawled, "Well, I dunno; I suppose the horse is worth what any dum fool would pay for him." Judge Hall remarked, "You are excused, Mr. Prescott." Mr. Goddard was retained by William H. Gannett, publisher of "Comfort," as legal counsel and editor for many years. It is said that Mr. Goddard as- sisted Senator Obadiah Gardiner in the preparation of the Rural Free Delivery Bill. During his younger years he was quite active
30
in yachting activities, was a promoter and Commodore of the old " Augusta Yacht Club," which had a clubhouse which stood on the water's edge back of the Post Office. He was one of the few local people to possess a houseboat, which he moored at Swan Island, Richmond.
No. 112 Residence of Frank Holmes.
This house at one time was the home of E. Herbert Ballard, tin- smith at George Ballard's Crockery Store on Water Street. The names of Charles Ballard, stenographer, and Orrin Ballard, clerk, appear as residents in the 1892 directory. Charles Ballard was later a member of Stevens and Ballard, shoe dealers. After the firm was dissolved, Mr. Ballard went to Los Angeles where he was in Bullock's De- partment Store. Martin Clancy, said to have worked at the Hotel North, is believed to have lived here. Alice Clancy, one of his daughters, was a teacher in the Nash School and her sister Annie a clerk in the State House. In 1902, Willis Swift who at that time conducted Swift and Turner appears as the occupant. Frank Holmes, whose sister Lillian married Willis Swift, has been the occupant since 1914.
Wyman Street begins. . ..
No. 116 Apartments.
George C. Sheldon, member of the law firm of Sheldon and Saw- telle, is shown as the resident in 1906 and 1916. After his death, it is said that the house was made into apartments.
No. 120 Residence of Kinsey Ball.
This house was built by the late Dr. George Patten in 1920. He was born in Sullivan, attended Hebron Academy and graduated from Harvard Dental College in 1911. He took over the practice of Dr. E. Hall. Later his brother, Dr. Harry Patten, who recently retired, was in practice with him. Ray G. Marston, a banker, lived here at one time.
No. 122 Butler Twins Greenhouse.
This old mansion with greenhouses attached is shown on the 1838 map as the property of Judge Fuller. It is believed that it was his residence after the sale of his home on Pleasant Street to Judge
31
Weston in 1832, which he built at the time of his extensive real estate purchase on Winthrop Street, described in the paragraph on State Baptist Headquarters, No. 107 Winthrop Street. Judge (or Colonel as he was sometimes called on account of his commission in the Militia) Henry Weld Fuller was born in Middletown, Connecti- cut, was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1801 where he was a classmate of Daniel Webster, studied law and settled in Augusta in 1803. He was County Attorney and in 1828 he was appointed Judge of Probate, an office which he held until his death in 1841. His son Frederic Augustus, a lawyer, married Catherine, daughter of Judge Weston, in 1830 and was the father of Chief Justice Mel- ville Weston Fuller. On the map of 1852 the name of Joseph Sturdy appears. He was a machinist according to the Maine Register for 1856, manufactured shingle making machinery. It is believed that Edward W. Sturdy, son of Joseph Sturdy, at one time lived in this house. He was Midshipman at Annapolis in 1863; graduated 1867; Ensign 1869; Master 1870; Lieutenant 1871; Lt. Commander 1892 and died June 7, 1898, shortly after the start of the Spanish American War. It was said that he was a Lieutenant on board of the "Baltimore". He was in the Academy at the same time with William Woart, Jr. of this city who was graduated in 1868 and was drowned in San Francisco Bay in 1869. Edward Sturdy and William Woart, Jr. were shipmates and when Sturdy's parents came to visit him in San Francisco young Woart volunteered to take his duty aboard ship. He was drowned, it is said as the result of inefficient handling by the "green " sailors of the liberty boat. His body was recovered and is buried in a local cemetery and decorated every Memorial Day with a set piece of cross and anchor. In 1867 the old mansion is given as the residence of Oliver Gould, of White- house and Gould, wholesale grocers on Water Street. In the 1879 map it is shown as the property of Mrs. Gould. In 1884 William Henry Brooks, a Civil War veteran, is shown living there. He was a nephew of S. S. Brooks who founded the old Brooks Hardware Company. S. S. Brooks was prominent in the town affairs. His daughter, Miss Marguerite (" Daisy ") Brooks, lives in the old home on Spruce Street. William Henry, as he was known, married Mary Leland, daughter of Larkin Leland, a gunsmith who had a shop in the basement of the old Brooks Hardware Store. John Diplock of Augusta has a gun made for his grandfather by Larkin Leland. It is said that William Henry built the greenhouses attached to the
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.