USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Augusta > Historical notes on Augusta, Maine > Part 4
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mansion. His son Harry occupied the place for some time. Sub- sequently the place was acquired by Frank Robbins, brother of Mrs. Alice Young of this city. He conducted a florist business there for many years. Afterwards the business was carried on by Albion and Clarence Patterson under the name of Patterson's Greenhouses. The Butler twins have lately taken over the business. A familiar sight before World War One was Frank Robbins chugging up the hill in his Overland Touring Car which rattled and shook, creeping along, but which finally made it.
Forest Grove and St. Mary's Cemeteries.
In 1835 the Forest Grove Cemetery Association was incorporated and was composed of prominent citizens of the time. Three acres of land were bought from Barthelomew Nason nearly opposite the old Mount Vernon Cemetery which was outgrown and established the present beautiful grounds. St. Mary's Cemetery, adjoining east- erly, was appropriated as a Catholic burial ground ten years later.
John Davis Mansion. Above Forest Grove Cemetery.
This mansion, no longer in existence, stood, it is believed, on the hill top just above Forest Grove Cemetery. There were old cellars at the turn of the century which it is believed marked the spot where John Davis, Clerk of Courts from 1800 to 1822, built his mansion house. About 1810 he bought a large tract of land on the south side of Winthrop Street and according to North erected a stately mansion on the brow of Burnt Hill" and landscaped the area. This house may be seen on the map of Augusta, sketched by Cyrus Searle, which is the frontispiece of North's History of Augusta. On page 445 it is written that "the high land on the right is Burnt Hill, crowned by the Davis House." The sketch is thought to have been made in 1830. Davis had a brilliant personality and many tales are told of his activities. After his sojourn in Augusta he went to Wayne and from there to Washington, D. C. where he had a government clerkship. He died at the age of 79. He sold the man- sion house and land to Barthelomew Nason in 1826 who cultivated the farm for some years and then sold it to a company for $26,000 during a land speculation. It was burned in 1843. B. Nason was born in Boston in 1784 and came to Augusta in 1806 and was an early trader on Water Street. He moved to Hallowell after selling the Davis place and died there in 1858. His son Edward was born in Augusta
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in 1809 and was a merchant on Water Street for many years. He lived at No. 12 Summer Street, where Frank Carpenter and his sisters, Laura and Doris, reside. Edward Nason was a Deacon of the Congregational Church. It is related as a boy in the winter time he used to slide from his father's place on "Burnt Hill" to State Street. He died in 1889.
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Western Avenue - North Side
No. 1 Gasoline Filling Station
This station, erected on the site of a tennis court since World War One, was the location of an old tavern, the Central House, which faced State Street and occupied with its barns and outbuildings the better part of the territory covered by No. 9 and No. 11 Western Avenue. In 1881 Governor Burleigh bought the Central House property from the heirs of Levi Johnson and the hotel building was ultimately removed to the corner of Capitol and Grove Streets where it was an apartment house until its demolition. The Depositors Trust Company Drive-In Branch now occupies this site.
No. 9 Commercial Establishment - Jerry Pooler.
This was the Lewis A. Burleigh, Senior, residence and was built about 1897. He was the son of Governor E. C. Burleigh and was a lawyer, educated at Cony High School, graduate of Bowdoin Col- lege in 1891 and from Harvard Law School. He was a member of Williamson and Burleigh. His law partner, Joseph Williamson, was his brother-in-law. He was also associated with Burleigh and Flynt, erstwhile publishers of the Kennebec Journal. He was City Clerk from 1894 to 1900 inclusive, U. S. Commissioner, and active in fra- ternal affairs. He died in 1929. His son, Lewis A. Jr., also graduated from Cony and was a graduate of Bowdoin, Class of 1919, and from Harvard Law School. In his high school days he was interested in wireless and radio. It was said that he had one of the first wireless sets in the city and the first radio telephone in Augusta, about 1914. During the First World War he was an Ensign in Naval Aviation. Upon graduation he entered into partnership with his cousin, Robert B. Williamson. At the time of his death in 1949 he was in the legal department of the Central Maine Power Company.
No. 11 Apartment House - Williams Realty.
This old residence, formerly the home of Byron Boyd, who mar- ried Lucy Burleigh, daughter of Governor Burleigh, was built about 1897. Byron Boyd was born in New Brunswick and graduated from
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Colby College in 1886 and was Principal of Bar Harbor High School. Subsequently he entered the employ of the State and was Secretary of State from 1895 to 1905. He was Republican State Chairman for many years, before the First World War. Afterwards he was en- gaged in the lumber business. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd had five children: Dorothy (Mrs. Clifford Brown of Augusta), now deceased; Robert, accidentally killed while still a boy; Mary, now Mrs. Walter Hawkins of Augusta; Richard, of Springfield, Massachusetts, who married Lucille Purinton of Augusta; Burleigh of Augusta, who married Nancy Hanks of this city. Some years ago the home was converted into apartments.
No. 15 Offices of Dr. Stephen Karvelas.
This fine old residence was built by Lyman B. Weaver in 1898, according to the present owner. It stands on the site of a house shown as the home of Lewis C. Johnson in the 1867 and 1871 directories. In 1898 a conveyance is listed of this property to Addie Weaver. Lyman B. Weaver was the owner and operator of a large restaurant on Water Street, just north of the Depositors Trust Build- ing, which was known as Weaver's Restaurant and which was cele- brated for years for its fine cuisine and service. The house was later occupied by Mrs. Sarah Burleigh, widow of Clarence Burleigh of Burleigh and Flynt, former publishers of the Kennebec Journal. Mr. Burleigh was the son of Governor Burleigh and the brother of Lewis A. Burleigh, Sr. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1887 and in 1900 he wrote a book entitled "Bowdoin '87", a history of under- graduate days, which is a good picture of college life of those days. He also wrote a story, "Smugglers of Chestnut". He was President of the Maine Press Association, and interested in civic and fraternal affairs. He married Sarah Quimby of Sandwich, Massachusetts and they had two sons, both Bowdoin graduates, Edwin Clarence of Gardiner and Donald Quimby, since deceased, who was Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in Augusta. He wrote in 1937 "The Kristiana Killers ", a story of Northern Maine. He married Mary, daughter of Treby Johnson of this city. In the 1935 directory the name of Stephen J. Hegarty appears as the resident. Living with him were his nieces, the Misses Katherine, Mary and Margaret Dailey. Mr. Hegarty in early life was a telegraph operator, later became associated with Sherbourne and Dailey who operated a large clothing store at 228-232 Water Street. Afterwards he became in-
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terested in banking and was Treasurer of the Augusta Loan and Building Association. The house was bought subsequently by the late Governor Clinton A. Clauson, at that time Collector of Internal Revenue. It was sold to Dr. Karvelas in 1954.
Chapel Street crosses.
No. 21 Western Avenue Drug Store and Professional Building.
This building was first occupied as a drug store and for physi- cians' offices in 1952. It was originally a part of No. 66 Chapel Street and is shown on the 1851 map. In 1867 it was the home of J. J. Fuller, grocer on Water Street. His son, James Fuller, was the grandfather of J. Fuller, Horace and Howard Ingraham, all of Augusta, whose father was Thomas C. Ingraham, well known busi- nessman and Treasurer of the Fuller Holway Company. Later the place was occupied by R. W. Soule, "The Hustler", who was in the furniture business on Water Street at the turn of the century. It was said that he was the owner of the first commercially produced automobile in Augusta, a "Tea Kettle" steamer. Later the place was occupied by George W. Quimby, who managed Quimby's Art Store on Water Street. His son Morris now lives in Massachusetts. In 1935 the house was the home of Edwin H. Ingraham, well known tailor and brother of Thomas C. Ingraham. His sons are Ralph, Myron and Owen of this city and Earle of Scranton, Rhode Island, and a daughter, Mrs. Lillian Baldwin, also of Augusta.
No. 23 Williams Realty - Offices.
This was the home of Andrew Ward, hardware merchant on Water Street who built the place in the 1890's. Mr. Ward had a fine singing voice and was much in evidence as a church and fra- ternal singer. He and his wife, Cora B., are shown living there in the 1925 directory. After his death the house was occupied by the late Howard E. Hammond who was City Auditor in the administra- tion of Mayor Levi P. Williams in 1943. Afterwards the house was made into apartments. Williams Realty acquired the place in 1952.
Melville Street crosses. . . .
No. 31 Dirigo Medical Clinic.
This old residence was originally the Elias Milliken residence and is shown on the 1875 map. Elias Milliken was in the lumber business and at one time was President of the Augusta National
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Bank. He was the father of Charles Milliken, Mayor of Augusta and the grandfather of Governor Carl E. Milliken. It is shown as the Milliken residence in 1902. After the First World War from 1928 to about 1930 it was the home of Horace E. Sturgis, who was the son of Ira D. Sturgis, a pioneer in Augusta industrial enterprises. Ira Sturgis was born in Vassalboro in 1814 on a farm in Riverside which is still in possession of the Sturgis family. When he was twenty-one, he married Rebecca Goodenow. At the age of thirty he rebuilt the saw mills at Seven Mile Brook and also several sailing vessels on the Kennebec River. When the Augusta Water Power Company built a large saw mill at the Kennebec Dam he went into business there. He continued to enlarge his lumber business in Maine and Nova Scotia. At that time steam mills on the Kennebec proved impractical on account of the cost of creating steam power. Mr. Sturgis started the plan of utilizing sawdust for fuel and feeding it to the furnaces by labor-saving devices. He later entered the ice business and built the first modern ice house in Pittston. He was with the Haynes and DeWitt Ice Company and established ice houses in Washington, Norfolk and Savannah. When the Kennebec Dam went out in 1870 Mr. Sturgis convinced the Sprague Company to rebuild the dam as they contemplated using steam power. This was done in 1871. He was also interested in the construction of log booms on the river. He had two sons and two daughters. The eldest, Angie B., married Professor Thurber of the Boston Latin School; the next Smith, who died at the age of 16; Elizabeth who married J. Manchester Haynes and Horace Randall who was with his father in business. He married Annie Connick and they were the parents of five daughters and one son. The eldest, Mrs. Rebecca Hilton, lives in Portland; Betty who married Charles Kinsman, Jr., of this city; Miss Margaret, well known artist who lives in Florida; Muriel, who married David Soule, Esq. of Woolwich; Hester, who married William B. Williamson, Jr. of Augusta who was killed in action during the Second World War and Horace Russell Sturgis who married Julianna Quimby and lives in North Conway, New Hampshire. Mrs. Horace Sturgis who survived her husband lives in Augusta and Florida. The house was occupied by various tenants for several years and was acquired by the Dirigo Clinic in 1947.
Sewall Street crosses. . . . .
On the corner of Sewall and Western Avenue stands St. Mary's Parochial School which is nearly completed. It will replace an out-
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moded school at No. 31 State Street, below Bridge Street, which stands on the site of the first St. Mary's Church.
St. Mary's Rectory.
This old mansion which fronts Sewall Street was said to have been built by Silas L. Wyman, a member of the firm of Wyman, Webber and Gage, sash and blind manufacturers in the 1870's, and is shown on the 1879 map. He is listed as living there in 1892. In 1906 Frank W. Kinsman, founder of the Capitol Drug Company, appears as the resident. It is said that he was the grandfather of the late Charles Kinsman, Sr. The house was occupied as St. Mary's Rectory in 1921. The front lawn is now used for a part of the new St. Mary's Parochial School.
No. 35 St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Rev. Father Thomas J. O'Dowd, Pastor.
In 1927, after many years of planning and saving, the present St. Mary's Church was erected. It is built of Hallowell granite and was dedicated May 30, 1927. The Right Reverend John G. Murray, Bishop of Portland, performed the Pontifical Mass at the dedica- tion ceremony. Early Catholic missionaries visited the Abnaki Indians and in 1652 maintained a chapel near Fort Western. In 1827 the old Bethlehem Church was bought by the Catholics for a meeting place. In 1847 the original St. Mary's was built on lower State Street. The first pastor of St. Mary's was the Rev. James O'Reilly. Several pastors followed and in 1886 the Rev. Father Charles Doherty came to the parish and remained until his death in 1910. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Thomas Nelligan who founded St. Mary's Paro- chial School and purchased the Kinsman estate. In 1919 Rev. Thomas Mclaughlin became Pastor and bought the Dutton mansion which became the Sister's house and which was torn down for the new school. He died in 1941 and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Father O'Dowd.
No. 39 Apartment House, Alden Merrill and Bertha Lyons, Owners.
This house was the residence of Franklin D. Hartshorn in 1902. He operated a greenhouse on the premises for several years. In 1935 Daniel Cony, since deceased, insurance agent, is shown living here. He was City Clerk in 1922 during the administration of Mayor McLean.
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No. 41 Residence of Mrs. Bertha Merrill Lyons.
This fine home was built by Charles R. Whitten, one time Treas- urer of the Augusta Savings Bank. The place was sold to George R. Leadbetter, Messenger to the Governor for many years. Afterwards it was the home of Eugene Merrill, since deceased, of Merrill Brothers, grocers on Water Street.
South Chestnut Street crosses.
No. 49 Residence of James A. Acheson.
This old time mansion was originally occupied by the Honorable John L. Stevens, one time Universalist minister, born in Mount Vernon in 1820. The house is presumably a hundred years old. Mr. Stevens graduated from Kents Hill Seminary and afterwards took a course of theological study with the Rev. Gunniston of Hallowell. He early enlisted in the anti-slavery cause and after several pas- torates was persuaded by his life-long friend, the then Governor Morrill, to come to Augusta and to give up the ministry in favor of the editorial pen. He became editor and publisher of the Kennebec Journal, jointly with James G. Blaine. He was a member of the Legis- lature from 1866 to 1869. While there he introduced a resolve that led directly to the establishment of the State School for Girls in Hallo- well. In 1867 he and Ira D. Sturgis worked to influence the Sprague Manufacturing Company to bring capital to fully develop and utilize the power of the Kennebec Dam. He conceived and advised the policy of municipal aid and encouragement which was such a great factor in the final realization of what is now known as the Edwards Division of the Bates Manufacturing Company.
In 1869 Mr. Stevens was appointed Minister to Uruguay by President Grant. Later he was appointed Minister to Sweden. In 1889 he was chosen by President Harrison to be Minister Resident in Honolulu. He recommended that the United States extend their flag over the Hawaiian Islands, but the idea was disapproved and he returned home. It is a tribute to his judgement and foresight that the Hawaiian Islands finally became one of these United States. He died in 1895.
In 1910 Walter S. Wyman, President of the Central Maine Power Company, purchased the estate and made his home there until his death in 1942. He was born in Oakland in 1874 and educated in Coburn Classical Institute and from there went to Tufts College where he specialized in Electrical Engineering. He entered the
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service of the Waterville and Fairfield Railway and Electric Company and became General Manager. He purchased the electric plant in Oakland and from then on became an advocate of electric power industry and consolidation. At that time hydroelectric plants were few and far between in Maine and in the development of such power Walter Wyman saw a great opportunity. From that idea the great Central Maine Power System has grown to huge proportions, enabling new and old industries to flourish.
No. 57 Residence of John F. Turner.
This old mansion was the home of two governors. It was originally the home of James Bicknell, Postmaster from 1861 to 1870. Afterwards Governor Anson P. Morrill occupied the home. He was born in Sidney and was the brother of Governor Lot M. Morrill, afterwards U. S. Senator and cabinet official. Anson P. Morrill was Governor of Maine in 1855. Subsequently he was President of the Maine Central Railroad and with his friend, John L. Stevens, a great supporter of Blaine for the Presidency. After the death of Governor Morrill the estate was sold to Charles A. Milliken, son of Elias Milliken who lived at 31 Western Avenue. He was in the lumber business with his father. He was Mayor of Augusta in 1894 and 1895. His son, Carl E. Milliken, was Governor of Maine from 1917 to 1920, the first to occupy the Blaine Mansion as governor. Governor Milliken attended Cony High School and graduated from Bates College. He was a member of the House in 1905 to 1908 and the Maine Senate from 1909 to 1912. He was at one time Vice President of the Federal Council of Churches. From Governor he became Collector of the Port of Portland. Since then he has been identified with the motion picture industry. Mr. Turner bought the place from Charles Milliken in 1924.
Atlantic and Pacific Market.
This market stands on what was part of the Milliken estate. The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company was founded by George Huntingdon Hartford, who was born in Augusta in 1835. The Hart- ford family gave the city the Hartford Fire Station at the top of Rines Hill in 1920. Previously the central station was on Bridge Street where the Kinsman Furniture building now is.
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No. 67-68 Apartment House. (Formerly No. 65 Western Avenue).
This old residence once stood on the lot south of the Oblate Fathers' Retreat (the former Governor Hill House) on State Street, where it was the home of Oscar Holway, bank president and whole- sale grocer, noticed in the paragraph of the Oblate Fathers' Retreat in the writer's notes on State Street. The family of Charles Holway, his son, is noticed as living at 65 Western Avenue, presumably this address in the 1923-24 directory. It is said it was moved from State Street about 1915.
Filling Station, Corner of Western Avenue and Cushman Street.
Cushman Street ends. . . .
No. 83 Office Building
This residence, now used as office space, was built by Frank Wellman, contractor and builder before the First World War, for his home. It was next occupied by James Skene, old time automobile agent. He was agent for the Oldsmobile and Ford cars in Lewiston in 1902 and also manufactured steamers of the "buggy" type in the same city. He was Ford Agent in Augusta for many years. Paul D. Sargent, Chief Engineer of the State Highway Department and a graduate of the University of Maine in 1896, also made his home there. He was a pioneer in modern highway building. Until recently this house was the residence of Joseph Kirschner.
No. 85 Residence of Richard and Romeo Main.
This double house was built by the Creighton family who after- wards moved to Massachusetts. It has been the home of Herbert Locke, Esq., Lucius D. Barrows, former Chief Engineer of the State Highway Commission, and Norman McDonald of the State Health and Welfare Department.
No. 87 Residence.
As can be seen this is an old house and it is said stood on Grove Street before the overpass was built on Rines Hill. Levi Williams, realtor and one-time Mayor, attended an auction at which this house was put up for sale. He bid $80.00, which was accepted. He did not know just what to do with his purchase, but finally made a bargain with Frank Wellman for $500 to build the foundation on a lot which he owned and to move the building there. It is said that
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he first rented it to Nathan Richmond, who was the proprietor of a dry goods store on Water Street for some years. Afterwards Mr. Richmond bought the place and lived there for many years. The Richmonds had a son, Abraham, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Bertha.
No. 89 Residence of Gerard F. Laurin.
This house was built by Thomas Brennan, well known letter carrier for many years and used by him and his family for a home. His son Francis, recently retired from the Post Office, lives in Augusta. Afterwards it was occupied by Dr. Thomas Fay.
No. 91-93 Apartment House.
This two-family house is said to be owned by the Damren family of Portland. No. 91 has been occupied by T. Earl Ducette for the past twenty-five years. No. 93 is now occupied by Clifton Webster.
Pike Street ends. . . .
No. 99 Residence of Charles Canning.
This large home was built by Robert Morang, long identified with the wholesale grocery business on Water Street and at one time Treasurer of the Fuller Holway Company. His daughters, the Misses Aileen and Flora, continued to occupy the house after his demise. They were both active in church and charitable circles.
No. 101 Residence of Henry F. Hill, Jr.
This house was built in 1866. Henry F. Hill, Sr. purchased the property from Charles F. Perry in 1907. Mr. Hill, a civil engineer, was born in Augusta in 1863. He went to Cony High School and was a member of the Class of 1887, Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology. He was with the Geological Survey and with several western railroads. Returning east he was chief and assistant chief engineer for Maine railroads. From 1907 he was in private practice in Augusta and was City Engineer from 1909 to 1930. Mr. Hill was long a familiar sight, wearing a Western style hat and accompanied by his Newfoundland dog, on the city streets. He died in 1954. He was married to the former Abbie Turner of Coopers Mills and they had two sons, Henry F. Jr. and Ansel of Augusta, and four daughters, Mrs. Ruth King, Miss Virginia Hill of Augusta, Mrs. Elizabeth
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Kuestenmacher of Lynnfield, Massachusetts and Dorothy who died at the age of eight years.
No. 111 Residence of Robert Hasey.
This home, modeled after a Swiss Chalet, was built by William H. Gannett before the First World War and used by his gardener, Joseph F. Froberger, who was living there with his family in 1924. The Frobergers had two sons, George A. J., now of Portland, and Waldo C., and a daughter, Barbara C., now married and living in Bangor. In 1950 Dr. R. L. Mitchell was the resident.
Blaine Avenue begins. . . .
No. 119 Residence of Mrs. John Morse.
The late Dr. John Morse was an Eye, Ear and Throat Specialist in Augusta for many years.
Southern Entrance to Camp Keyes. . . .
Camp Keyes or the "Muster Field", as it was locally known, was established in 1862 when barracks were erected for the use of soldiers in the Civil War. It was for many years a training camp for the National Guard and was used during the Spanish American War, the First World War and previous to the Second World War. In the Second World War a number of German prisoners were in- terned there. For the past decade, however, the old parade ground has been utilized as a site for buildings housing the Adjutant General's offices and storage park. For many years the old officers quarters erected before the First World War and since removed were a familiar sight at the extreme southern end as one drove on Western Avenue.
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Western Avenue - South Side
No. 68 Grove Street Cleaning Establishment.
This building stands at the entrance to Western Avenue on the south side, is not listed as being on the avenue but has been con- sidered as being on the avenue. It was recently remodeled from the residence of Charles Harris. His father, Dr. W. H. Harris, bought the place from John Newman, who built the house, it is said, on speculation in 1897. Dr. Harris married Martha J., granddaughter of the historian, James North. Dr. Harris was a well known physi- cian and surgeon and practiced from 1888 until his death in 1934.
No. 10 Western Avenue, Residence of William F. O'Brien.
This house appears on the 1879 map as the Burns house. J. Frank Dyer, member of the hardware firm of Malcolm and Dyer, lived there in 1902. His son, Franklin, and daughter, Helen, live in Massachusetts. At one time Samuel Holway of the Internal Revenue Service was the resident.
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