USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 19
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1892. - Robert Fred Dyer, Salutatory; Milton Herbert Doug- lass, Essay, The Columbian Exposition; Charles Dearborn McDon- ald, Declamation, The First Predicted Eclipse, Gen. O. M. Mitchell; Edith Langdon Palmer, Reading, Herve Riel, Robert Browning; Mary Louise Dodge, Essay, The Mississippi and the Nile; Grace Thompson Humphreys, Reading, from the French, Des Djinns, Victor Hugo; Herbert Fayne Harris, Essay, William Ewart Glad- stone; Belle Dunning Williams, Essay, Women as Educators; Harry
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William Dunton, Declamation, The Crisis at Waterloo, Victor Hugo; William Sanford Shorey, Essay, The Immigration Problem; Mildred Clara Palmer, Reading, The Death of Charles IX., Maud Moore; Percy Elmer Barbour, Class Oration, Maine's Great Men; Lillian May Bryant, Class History; Hattie Ellen Reed, Class Prophecy; Henry Wilson Owen, Jr., Valedictory.
1893. - Charles Day Moulton, Salutatory; Florence Ella Don- nell, Essay, A Visit to Starland; Grace Duncan, Essay, The Secret of Genius; William Garvie McPhail, Declamation, Reply to Walpole, Chatham; Alice Gertrude Shorey, French Composition, Histoire d' une Sonnette d' Ecole; Aramede Lemont Lowell, Essay, Twilight; Carlotta Blair McDonough, Reading, King Robert of Sicily, Long- fellow; Ida Maria Dunning, Essay, Life in Colonial Times; Nellie Maria Ward, Essay, "Learn to Labor and to Wait "; Adelbert Wes- ley Bailey, Address to the Soldiers, Latin Version from the Greek of Xenophon; Katherine Fulton Patten, Essay, Oliver Goldsmith; Ella Sarah Cameron, Essay, An Ideal Life; Alice Mayo Morse, Reading, Scotland's Maiden Martyr, Anon .; Martha Ella Hooper, Essay, Amusements; Mabel Florence Lewis, Essay, The Elements of Success; John Hinckley Morse, Class Oration, Notoriety not Fame; Ellen Ridley Turner, Class History; Nellie Pomeroy Clark, Class Prophecy; Fred Elmer Taylor, Oration, The Columbian Year, with Valedictory.
The full names of some of those who have been principals of the High school are: J. L. Newton, Jonas Burnham, J. T. Huston, Albert B. Wiggin, Galen Allen, A. G. Ham, L. Dutton, George E. Hughes, H. E. Cole. The city records do not give the full names of other principals. Some omissions of titles of themes of graduates have been occasioned for want of records of them.
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LIBRARIES.
The first library known to have existed in Bath was a small "cir- culating library " that was kept in a case or closet in the apothecary store of Dr. Nathaniel Weld on Center street. Tradition carries the date back to 1826, with the probability that books were kept there prior to that time. In the collection were all the volumes of the old English Encyclopedia. Books were loaned to be retained three weeks. It is not known what became of this library.
In 1836 the MECHANIC ASSOCIATION established a library, the members contributing books from their own collections or by pur- chase.
Henry Hyde kept a "circulating library" in his bookstore on Front, head of Center street, on the corner immediately opposite Lincoln Bank.
Ammi R. White also kept a library for the loan of books in his store on the west side of Front street, where now is the Granite block. The books were chietly those of fiction. Mr. White kept dry goods at the north side of his store and books and stationery at the south side.
Later, Thomas H. Knight kept a book and stationery store in Bank block, in which he had a circulating library comprising some one thousand volumes. When he closed out his business the library ceased to exist and the books became scattered.
The Patten Library Association. - A paper was signed Oct. 9, 1847, by one hundred and thirty-two leading citizens, headed by George F. Patten and John Patten, agreeing to become subscribers to a " joint stock library." The subscribers met at the office of Dr. Israel Putnam on Nov. 8, 1847. Dr. Putnam presided and E. S. J. Nealley was elected secretary, which office he held until 1876; C. B. Lemont succeeded to the office until his removal from the city, since which time James S. Lowell has been secretary. John Patten,
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Amos Nourse, C. S. Jenks, Reuben Sawyer, Gershom Hyde, and M. F. Gannett were appointed a committee of organization. The subscriptions amounted to $470.00. The institution was named the Patten Library Association, of which George F. Patten was chosen president, which office he held until 1857; Caleb S. Jenks was pres- ident to 1862; Amos Nourse to 1865; S. F. Dike to 1870; Israel Putnam to 1876; E. S. J. Nealley to 1882; John Patten to 1887; Galen C. Moses to date, 1893. The library was located in a room on a second story on Front street, west side, over the " archway"; the room owned by W. V. and O. Moses. On Aug. 6, 1852, the secretary of the association received the following letter :-
" Having purchased the library, cases, maps, and globes which were the property of Gen. King, we present the same to the Patten Library Association of Bath, on the condition that the same revert to the donors should the association ever be dissolved, and on the further condition that a suitable room be procured for the whole library. G. F. and J. PATTEN."
This donation was accepted by the association with suitable thanks. It had been purchased at auction sale for $300.00 The KING LIBRARY was large and well selected for his time. The greater number of the books are such as a public man and statesinan to be well informed would need, containing as they do the proceedings of Congress and the Massachusetts and Maine legislatures. There are many volumes of standard literary works, although he was not a man of culture. There are some works that have been long out of print and of rare merit. The books are all substantially bound and in a good state of preservation. It is an excellent collection of books for reference in certain classes of works.
The legal ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATION was effected at a meeting on Nov. 16, 1852. The available funds of the association were realized by annual assessments, varying from one to two dollars, together with the amounts received from loans of books at $2.50 a year to those not proprietors, and the life membership fees of $25.00 without annual assessments.
At a meeting on Nov. 21, 1857, it was voted to request the presi-
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dent, George F. Patten, to furnish a bust of himself to place in the library room in recognition of his having been " one of the principal founders of the association and for a series of years its presiding officer and liberal patron." But there is no record to show that a favorable response had been made to this proposition.
The Center Street Room. - On May 6, 1879, John Patten executed to the association a deed of trust of a house and lot on Center street, to be occupied for library purposes, with the provision that the property shall be transferred to the city of Bath " whenever said city shall institute a public library and appropriate funds for its support " to be not less than three hundred dollars annually. This trust was accepted by the association May 14, 1879. The associa- tion commenced occupancy of the building early in January, 1880, which was continued until the books were moved into the new Public Library Building in the winter of 1890-1891.
During the last year of the life of JOHN PATTEN he expressed a purpose to give a fee simple title to the association of this library property, but he died before the writings were executed. Subse- quently, his heirs, JOHN O. PATTEN and CLARA PATTEN GOODWIN, conveyed to the association the premises in accordance with the design of their grandfather. The association holds the property for revenue by rentals.
The Patten Free Library.
At a special meeting of the association, Feb. 21, 1837, G. C. Moses delivered to the association a deed of a GIFT of ten thousand dollars " for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and increasing a free library in Bath for the use of its citizens," and providing " that the name of the association be changed to PATTEN FREE LIBRARY," and to utilize this fund it was necessary to secure a suit- able building. For a site the " Torrey property," on the south-east corner of Summer and Front streets, was selected. This was pur- chased at a cost of $3,500, which sum was raised by subscription. The grading cost $1,000, which was also obtained by subscription.
At the solicitation of Mr. Moses, GEORGE E. HARDING, a native of Bath and architect at New York, drew a plan of the building,
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PATTEN FREE LIBRARY. BUHLT 1890.
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the work of which, worth several hundred dollars, he donated to the object. The details of the erection of the building were solely under the direction of Mr. Moses, who paid all the bills, amounting to a much larger sum than originally given by him for the purpose. The edifice is a model in style of architecture, interior arrangement, and finish, and is an ornament to the city. Mr. Moses set apart a room in the library building for the gratuitous use of the Sagadahoc Historical Society, which was finished and fitted in the elegant style of the rest of the structure.
The city government appropriated aid to the library to the extent of fifty cents' assessment as a poll tax yearly. The association voted $500 for the purchase of new books in 1890, and by the efforts of Dr. R. D. Bibber $700 were raised for the same purpose by subscription among citizens of the city. In the fall of 1892, $1,500 were raised for the library by a Kirmess entertainment. MRS. EDWARD K. HARDING made a gift to the building of an oil painting of George Washington by Stuart, that had been the prop- erty of WILLIAM KING.
At a meeting of the association in the reading room in the new library. building, on Dec. 29, 1890, G. C: Moses, the president of the association, handed over to Mayor Charles E. Patten the trans- fer of the building to the city of Bath. The books in the old library building were removed to the new building and a new catalogue made. On Jan. 1, 1891, the LIBRARY WAS OPENED to the citizens of Bath with a librarian and assistant librarian in charge, the rooms to be kept open every afternoon and evening of week days. There is a large and well lighted reading room, which is equipped with maps, charts, periodicals, and bound volumes of newspapers.
The MEMBERSHIP of the library association is limited to one hun- dred and fifteen, and on Jan. 1, 1891, it consisted of one hundred and thirteen. In January, 1892, the election of officers resulted as follows: Galen C. Moses, President; James S. Lowell, Secretary; M. 1). Newman, Librarian; H. Emmons, Assistant Librarian; John G. Richardson, Superintendent of Library. Charles E. Hyde was elected a trustee for seven years. Dr. R. D. Bibber, Mrs. G. E. R.
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Patten, and Mrs. C. W. Larrabee were chosen a committee to act with the trustees for raising funds for books the ensuing year.
Ex-Mayor Charles E. Patten presented to the association a $1,000 bond as the nucleus of a permanent fund, the income to be used exclusively for the purchase of reading matter. President G. C. Moses promised to give an additional amount, provided the fund could be increased to $5,000. Ex-Mayor Patten then started a subscription list for purchase of books for the ensuing year, giving $20.00. He was followed by George E. Hughes, Ernest F. Kelley, John G. Richardson, Charles E. Hyde, F. H. Twitchell, John O. Shaw, and Joseph W. Trott with subscriptions of $10.00 each. It was voted that the magazines, which it has heretofore been neces- sary to call for, be placed on the table in the reading room for easier access.
From the president's and treasurer's reports the following facts and figures are taken: The old library as moved contained 3,880 volumes. There have been added by gift 519, by purchase 772, making a present total of 5,171, an increase of nearly 333 per cent. The city appropriation for maintaining the library was $1,250. Receipts from other sources have been: Sundry subscriptions collected, $753.85; bequest from Mrs. Charles Clapp, $200; gift by Charles E. Patten, $100; total, $1,053.85, from which has been expended for books $823.05, leaving unexpended $230.80. Received from non-residents, $3.00; from rent of building on Center street, $187.08; from fines and damages, $76.73; from sale of catalogues, $19.10. Total, $576.71. Balance city appropriation unexpended, $38.54. Received from city account, spring of 1892, $200. Total, $755.25 for books and running expenses until the next city appro- priation shall be available.
For 1893, the old board of officers was re-elected. Miss Marion D. Newman resigned her position of librarian, and Miss Veturia Manson was appointed to the place, with Miss M. Foote, assistant.
The number of books composing the library is 7,956, of which 148 were donated in 1892; there has been a total issue of 2, 138 cards since January, 1891; the average number of books taken out
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daily is 98; the total receipts for 1892 were $2,536 and the surplus in the treasury, $1,978.
Other Libraries. - The Winter Street society has a pastor's library comprising 2,500 volumes, each of the churches has a Sunday-school library, and the High school has a library.
THE SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' ORPHANS' HOME.
During the war of the rebellion, soldiers of the several military companies when enlisted for service were tendered pledges that their families should be taken care of. When the war was ended, these pledges were not forgotten, at least by the women of Bath. Consequently, this generous sentiment utilized in the movement, in the spring of 1866, to found a Soldiers' Orphans' Home. Lady members of the religious societies took the initiatory steps by hold- ing a meeting, composed of two ladies from each society, at which they formed a "Soldiers' Orphans' Home Association." Interest in the undertaking became awakened and other towns joined in the movement. An efficient committee of ladies to obtain donations were eminently successful in their efforts, commencing with one thousand dollar donations from John Patten and J. Parker Morse, which was followed by others in smaller sums, some of which came from other portions of the state and in all amounted to $6,686.34. Up to and inclusive of the year 1868, there were twenty-seven men and women who became life members by the payment of twenty-five dollars; three hundred and twenty-one honorary members by the payment of one dollar, and two hundred and twenty-three became enrolled as members by the agreement to pay fifty cents annually.
At the LEGISLATURE OF 1866, application was made for an act incorporating the Home. This was granted Feb. 23, 1866, of which the following is the first two sections: "John Patten, George F. Patten, Charles Davenport, Oliver Moses, and J. P. Morse, their
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associates, successors, and assigns, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name of the Trustees of Bath Military and Naval Orphan Asylum, for the purpose of rearing and educat- ing gratuitously, in the common branches of learning and ordinary industrial pursuits, the orphans and half orphans of officers and soldiers, seamen and marines, who have entered the service of the government from Maine during the war for the suppression of the rebellion, and have died in said service, or subsequently from wounds received or injuries or disease contracted while in said ser- vice; and shall have all the powers and be subject to all the duties and liabilities of like corporations in this state."
To make this enactment effective, the corporators were to raise twenty thousand dollars within two years; this accomplished, the governor was authorized to draw his warrant on the treasury of the state annually for six thousand dollars in favor of the corporation, and the money was raised as stipulated. THE HOME was opened Nov. 19, 1866.
At the legislature of 1870, an effort was made to obtain an in- creased appropriation for the institution, in which Mrs. Sampson took the lead. This lady took the orphans, then numbering fifteen, to Augusta and introduced them to the members of both houses by the Rev. A. F. Beard, pastor of the Central church. An act appro- priating $15,000 to the Home was passed, the institution was taken in charge by the state, and the next year the same amount was appropriated. When it became under the state authorities, the governor appointed as trustees: John Patten, J. P. Morse, and T. W. Hyde of Bath and N. A. Farwell of Rockland; the association appointed Charles Davenport, Samuel F. Dike, E. S. J. Nealley. The lady managers then were appointed: Mrs. H. F. Gannett, Mrs. A. J. Fuller, Mrs. J. T. Howland, Mrs. S. F. Dike, Mrs. G. C. Goss, Mrs. T. G. Stockbridge, Mrs. James Bailey, Mrs. John O. Shaw, Mrs. J. T. Patten, Mrs. C. A. L. Sampson. Charles Daven- port was appointed treasurer.
In December a FAIR was held from which was realized $2,000.
Having secured sufficient means to enable the association to establish the Home, a house for the purpose was rented on Walker
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street at a low rent, yet of sufficient capacity to accommodate the few at first requiring admission. They were placed under the care of Miss Sarah Farnham. An efficient worker in the cause of the Home was Mrs. Sarah Sampson, who had been in Washington and Virginia at a time during the war, rendering assistance to sick and wounded soldiers. Her husband, Col. C. A. L. Sampson, was in the army from Bath. In a very few years the orphans of the Home had so greatly increased that a larger house became necessary.
The Present Building. - In 1870 a purchase for $10,000 was made of the spacious mansion corner of High and South streets that was built in 1800 by Samuel Davis. The building has since been enlarged to room one hundred children and modern conven- iences added. The grounds are capacious, comprising six acres, well improved and attractive. Fire escapes were put on in 1865. It has the city water, lighted by gas and heated by steam.
By the will of HORATIO WARD of LONDON, who was formerly a citizen of this country, the Home received a legacy of $13,000, which has been placed on interest for the benefit of the institution. The legislature of the state makes an annual appropriation gov- erned by the wants of the institution, averaging about eight thou- sand dollars. There are also occasional individual donations.
MRS. MAYHEW of Rockland became associated with Miss Farn- ham in the management of the children. These ladies were succeeded by MRS. PARTRIDGE, who became the matron Nov. 4, 1875. After many changes of those occupying this position, Mrs. A. Stetson entered upon the duties of the office in 1881, is still in charge of the Home, and according to the annual reports of the Board of Visitors the internal domestic management under Mrs. Stetson has been uniformly well nigh perfect.
Much attention is given by the matron to the instruction of the children in both vocal and instrumental music, in which some of the pupils become quite proficient. The institution has a fine piano, presented by the state Grand Army of the Republic.
The PRESIDENTS have been John Patten, elected in 1868; Nelson Dingley, Jr., in 1872; Nathan A. Farwell, in 1873; William E.
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Payne, in 1874; J. T. Patten, in 1877; J. W. Spaulding, in 1878; F. B. Torrey, in 1880; William G. Haskell, in 1883; Charles B. Merrill in 1884; Seth T. Snipe, in 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893.
The SECRETARIES have been Thomas W. Hyde, to 1875; George E. Morse, to 1882; G. W. Preble, for 1882; W. H. Watson, since 1883.
TREASURERS; Charles Davenport, to 1872 ; Gershom H. Palmer, to 1875; Michael F. Gannett, to 1878; H. A. Duncan, to the pres- ent date.
CHIEF MANAGERS. Those who have had the chief management of the institution for many years are S. T. Snipe, W. H. Watson, David R. Wylie, H. A. Duncan, and J. G. Richardson who has supervision of the children's department.
Some of the children are indentured to the institution, while the parents of the others have a right to withdraw their children at any time. The children are received with great care and discrimination, none being admitted who would be a detriment to the discipline of the house.
The average cost of maintaining an inmate of the Home is about $115 annually. The average total expenditures of the institution differ according to the number of its occupants.
When MRS. STETSON became matron there were twenty-five chil- dren in the Home. In that year (1881) a new board of trustees was elected, and under its management the number increased within a year to eighty. There are more children there in the winter than in the summer, as needing more care in the inclement season. Since the present matron has been in charge the highest number in the Home at any one time was eighty; the smallest, twenty-one; the average, sixty-seven. For 1892 there were sixty- two children.
The evening of every NEW YEAR'S DAY is a festive one for the children. In the double parlors are evergreen trees loaded with presents for the little ones. These have been donated by the large dry goods firms of Boston, R. H. White & Co., Jordan & Marsh, MISS S. H. SNOW of Boston, and many generous merchants of
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Bath. On the occasion of the distribution of these gifts, the doors of the Home are thrown wide open and the rooms become filled with an assemblage of the best people of the city and from out of town. They are entertained by recitations, music, and other pleas- ing performances by the children, often followed by brief remarks from distinguished gentlemen present.
All of the children regularly attend CHURCH and Sunday-school, to which they go attended by the matron and her assistants, appearing on the street neatly and appropriately dressed, walking in regular order and with perfect propriety. There are no more be- comingly dressed children nor better behaved anywhere else. At no time are they allowed to play on the streets, but have ample grounds for recreation. Under such salutary discipline are they that no neighbor ever has cause to complain of them. They are well behaved everywhere. The boys are taught industry by helping in the work on the grounds and garden, and the girls in housework and sewing. By the generosity of railway and steamboat managers, they enjoy many excursions by land and water.
As this is eminently a Bath institution, nearly all the business and oversight of the Home are performed year after year by CITI- ZENS OF THIS CITY. In addition to this, the children are accorded the advantages and benefits in common with the children of citizens of all the city schools, and some of the children pass through all the school grades and graduate from the high school. Many of these children as scholars rank with the best in the regular reports of their instructors, and two of the girls have since gradu- ated at colleges.
When the children become of suitable age, places are found for them among farmers and other ways, frequent applications being made by those desiring to adopt them. Care is taken that the disposition of the boys and girls in this particular be judicious, and the results are looked after with solicitude. In some instances the children, at the close of their terms in the institution, are returned to their parents.
Children who have graduated from the Home have in some cases
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become ministers, teachers, book-keepers, civil engineers, machin- ists, ship-masters, farmers without number, and all sorts and grades of employment, there having been very few instances of any turning out bad.
In over one thousand children who have been inmates of the Home in thirteen years, there have been only three deaths, of which two were consumptives who had been admitted while such in order to keep them out of the poor-house.
Mr. J. Green Richardson took charge of the children twelve years since, has had the general management of this department and entire control of the reception and disposal of the children.
Gov. Henry B. Cleaves has publiely said that so well have the children of the Home turned out, that the state has been amply repaid for all the appropriations that it has made for the benefit of this well conducted institution.
THE OLD LADIES' HOME.
The subject of establishing a home for aged and worthy women in this city having interested leading gentlemen and ladies to a sufficient number, a largely attended meeting was held in the City Hall, April 8, 1875, which was presided over by Barnard C. Bailey. An earnest endeavor was inaugurated to take steps for the forma- tion of a society for the purpose in view by the appointment of a committee to report at another meeting the advisability of the pro- posed undertaking, and of the form of organization if the decision should be to proceed.
At a meeting of this committee on the succeeding day, it was resolved to organize a society. Consequently a meeting was called for April 1.2th, which appointed a committee of twelve to take the necessary measures for the incorporation of a society. This com- mittee held a meeting on the 17th, and by petition obtained from
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