USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 24
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 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
Old-Time Fires .- February 27, 1829, a fire broke out at the corner of Commerce and Front streets, in the store of James C. Tallman, and spread north through the stores of Elbridge G. Sprague, Clark & Sewall, John Bosworth, and James H. Mclellan, to the large store of General Mclellan. At that time all stores con- tained groceries, hardware, wooden ware, dry goods, salt, flour, and liquors of all kinds. The utmost exertion was required to prevent the fire from crossing the street to the west. The old-fashioned hand tubs were the only things provided to fight fire with, and as it was low water, lines had to be formed across the flats to pass the water from the river to them.
282
HISTORY OF BATH.
December 12, 1829, another fire occurred greater than the other. It commenced on the west side of Front street, directly opposite Ferry street, and spread south; and to the north to Elm street, and was stayed at the store of Edmund Freeman ; on the west it took a number of small buildings. The buildings burned were owned by Charles Clapp, Thomas Haley, James Foster, John Hodgkins, and Charles Crooker. The tide was out, as at the former fire, and a storm prevailed which interfered much with the work of saving goods.
The Great Fire of 1837 .- The winter of 1837 was one of terrible severity, and on one of the coldest nights of that cold win- ter a fire broke out in a building on the north-west corner of Front street, corner of Ferry street, on the evening of Feb. 5th, originating in the boot and shoe store of Samuel Foote. The wind caused it to spread to the west side of Front street, sweeping everything before it. The fire machines consisted of two old-fashioned hand tubs, which had to be supplied by a long line of buckets, passing from hand to hand; and such a freezing night as that to pass the water. The wind blowing from the north-east, almost a gale, nothing could stay the progress of the flames. They spread in every direction, carrying destruction and misery in their path. Thirty stores and houses were burned to ashes, including Parsons Smith, Hartley Gove, Ammi R. Mitchell, William M. Rogers, Otis Kimball, Mrs. Swazey, Mr. Ferrin, Mr. Larrabee, Mr. Haley and his son, Mr. Foote, Mr. Hogan, R. R. Smith, Davis Hatch, Mr. Bovey, John : Hayden, Mr. Stevens, Converse Owen, the two Barbers, John Beals' tavern, Samuel Anderson, Mr. Donnell's watch-maker's shop, Jacob Robinson's store, Mrs. Brown, and others.
"'The fire took the adjoining buildings and crossed the street, taking all the buildings on the west side from the store of what is now Walter S. Russell's to the store now occupied by Charles A. Harriman, the high brick wall, extending above the roof covered with slate, with copper gutters, and no perforations for sky lights, sufficed to arrest the progress of the flames. About eight inches of snow fell that night and the mercury showed four degrees below
٠
283
HISTORY OF BATH.
zero. The goods in the stores and shops were taken out and scat- tered in every direction in the snow. A large part of what was taken from the burning buildings was lost in the snow. It was past four o'clock before active exertion ceased. The sun rose bright and beautiful the next morning to shed its rays on a heap of ruins. The old tubs were all we had and they soon froze up and were useless. But for that brick wall, nearly all the houses and stores to the south would probably have been destroyed as far down as Winnegance. With the exception of the Elliot House and a three story building nearly all the buildings were two stories in height. A very singular circumstance occurred at this fire. Among the goods saved, a great many odd boots and shoes were found with no mates to match them. Of course they were valueless, the underwriters pay- ing for them as for a total loss. The loser soon after took another shop and opened a good assortment of boots and shoes, apparently as large as he had before the fire, although no one knew of his going anywhere to get them."-Hayden.
It was felt at the time to be a great blow to the industry and capi- tal of Bath, as there was little insurance on either stores or stocks. The work of rebuilding was, however, begun while the ashes of the fire were still warm, and better buildings than those burned were soon completed on the devastated district.
In the winter of 1838, Kelley's block on Center street, nearly opposite the present City Hall, was burned. In it were the town of Bath record books, which were entirely destroyed.
One of the greatest fires that has ever occurred in Bath was that in the yard of the New England Ship-building Company in the fore- noon of July 15, 1887. Fire originated in a building at the north- west corner of the yard, in which was the office of the company, also a paint shop and oakum loft, in the latter of which the fire originated. The wind was blowing strongly from the north-west, sweeping the flames directly upon the yard, which had no fire appa- ratus, and there was delay in the fire-engines arriving upon the ground on account of the horses being employed on a distant street doing city work. Besides the burning of the building named, which was of two stories, there was a dwelling-house with stable, black-
1
1
284
HISTORY OF BATH.
smith shop, a 1,200 and an 800-ton schooner on the stocks, which were being built for outside parties, one valued at $20,000, the other at $5,000, a tug valued at $10,000, a large quantity of ship material in the yard, machinery and appliances damaged, and a vessel on the marine railway caught fire, but was saved by heroic effort, led by a reporter of the Times. The property lost was valued at $150,000.
In June, 1893, this company lost its mill by fire in the day-time, when it was not in operation. Valuable machinery was destroyed, as also chests of tools stored there by workmen off duty. The loss was estimated at $15,000.
In April, :893, the Columbian Opera House and Revere House, on the west side of Forest street between Elm and Summer streets, were burned.
After the great PORTLAND FIRE, July 4, 1866, the city government sent $2,000 in aid of the sufferers, and in addition citizens sent large quantities of provisions and clothing. In October of the same year there was a destructive fire in Wiscasset, and Mr. John Hay- den, then mayor of Bath, raised by subscription $1,000 in money and the people sent quantities of necessary goods.
The Fire Alarm System .- In December, 1891, the city gov- ernment authorized a contract with the Gamewell Company to place its fire alarm system (experimentally for six months) in the city at a cost of $3,500, to comprise thirteen boxes and to include all the machinery necessary for operating the works.
The system can be used in stormy weather to notify schools whether there will be one session or two. The system worked ex- cellently well and was adopted. In June, 1893, an alarm was placed in the Bath Iron Works.
WATER WORKS.
In 1884, the question of water supply became seriously agitated and discussed by business men, resulting in obtaining a charter from the legislature in January, 1885, by a company of citizens of the city. In the spring of 1886, the company instituted a survey of
N
285 .
HISTORY OF BATH.
water sources and of facilities for piping the streets. For the water supply it was decided that that from Thompson's Brook was the purest obtainable. Expert engineers reported that with extensive excavations sufficient good water could be secured from this source, and it was decided to adopt this as the source of supply, and it has proved to be the purest in the state.
In the summer of 1886, a contract for preparing the brook, put- ting in the works and service pipe was awarded to F. B. Darley, of Norwich, Conn. He commenced the work September, 1886, and completed it in September, 1887. The water at Thompson's Brook is at a point in Brunswick near Harding Station, between the line of the Maine Central Railroad and Trotting Park. The pond is from 100 to 150 feet wide and 400 feet long. The water-shed is over six miles square, and the supply has been estimated to be suf- ficient for a city of 10,000 inhabitants. The soil for miles about the pond is sandy. The pipes are of iron; the main pipe crosses the New Meadows River about an eighth of a mile above the rail- road bridge. 'The pumping station is situated within short distance of the brook. It is a fire-proof, brick building. The stand-pipe is situated on Paradise Hill, about a mile and a quarter from the court-house, on the highest ground between the pumping station and the city, and can be seen for miles around. The dimensions of this large reservoir are 75 feet high, 34 feet 62 inches at the bottom, and 33 feet 8 inches at the top, made of refined iron, 50,000 pounds tensil strength. The hydrant system for use in case of fire extends over the principal part of the city from Cowin's store to Pine street, and from Commercial to Lincoln street. There are one hundred and twenty-one in number, four four-nozzle, four three-nozzle, and ninety-two two-nozzle hydrants.
The following are the members and incorporators of the Bath Water Supply Company: Arthur Sewall, Charles Davenport, L. W. Houghton, John S. Elliot, Thomas W. Hyde, John H. Kimball, Franklin Reed, F. H. Patten, Galen C. Moses, Charles H. Mclellan, John W. Mclellan, Frank O. Moses, John W. Marr, F. B. Torrey, John O. Patten, Henry W. Swanton, A. H. Shaw, George Moulton, Jr., Samuel D. Bailey, George H. Nichols.
011
1
286
HISTORY OF BATH.
Following is the official report of the statistics of 1892 of the Water Supply Company: Source, Thompson's Brook, located at Brunswick; system, pumping to stand-pipe; stand-pipe capacity, 550,000 gallons; two Worthington pumps, daily capacity, 2,000,000 gallons; hydrants, 121, Ludlow; pipe, 24 5-8 miles, 12 to 2 inches in diameter; 61 valves; 9 meters, various; quality of water, extra good ; pressure, domestic, 72 to 105 pounds; fire, the same; works owned by Company; cost of construction, $275,000.
THE CEMETERIES.
Within the limits of this city there are four cemeteries, the largest being Maple Grove and Oak Grove cemeteries. The oldest burying- ground is known as the David Trufant cemetery, at the head of Spring street. It is about an acre in extent and has not been used for nearly half a century. Many head-stones have been blown down and the graves broken. A slate head-stone marks the grave of David Trufant, who was known as " King David " and for whom the grave-yard was named. The inscription on the stone is: "David Trufant, who died Dec. 14, 1813, ÆEt. 72 years, 7 months." The oldest head-stone is dated Nov. 12, 1795.
The next oldest cemetery is at the corner of Dummer and Beacon streets, and is known as the Dummer Sewall burying-ground. In this cemetery lie the remains of Dummer Sewall. According to the inscription on a ten-foot granite monument, he died aged 94 years.
About 1800, the town of Bath purchased of the estate of Hetherly Foster three acres of land for use as a burying-ground. From time to time since, the cemetery has been enlarged by land purchased of William D. Sewall. This cemetery is now known as Maple Grove. About 1854, the city wished to enlarge the ground by purchase of a strip of land on the northern end, but concluded to try elsewhere on account of what the city fathers considered an exorbitant price. Four miles from the city a large tract of land was bought, but it turned out not to be a wise move, as not half a dozen graves were
287
HISTORY OF BATH.
made there by reason of the distance from the city. This cemetery is still owned by Bath and is covered by a dense growth of pine and other trees. The city enlarged Maple Grove cemetery at a later day at less than one-half the price first asked. Maple Grove is kept in excellent condition and is one of the best arranged ceme- teries in the state. In Maple Grove lie the remains of William King, Maine's first governor, who died June 17, 1852, aged 84 years. A large granite monument, erected by the state, marks the spot.
In the north-west part of the city is Oak Grove cemetery, which was formerly known as the Sewall burying-ground, and was pur- chased by the city of heirs of Charles Sewall in 1872. This ceme- tery is well laid out in regular squares, with broad avenues. A large amount of money has been expended in beautifying the grounds, and it can be said that no other place in the state has a more beautiful resting place for the dead. The oldest head-stone in Oak Grove bears date of Jan. 22, 1777.
On the Berry's mill road, a few rods south of "Witch Spring," there is an old cemetery, which is now occasionally used for burials. This cemetery was once owned by Bath, when it was a town, but when a portion of Bath was set off and made the town of West Bath, the cemetery went with it. The oldest head-stone in this cemetery bears date of May Ist, 1760. On one head-stone is cut : "Solomon Page, who was educated at Harvard College. He de- parted this life May 12th, 1788, aged 76 years." He had been a Bath minister.
THE PARK.
For years after the purchase by the city of the Park property from the Peleg Tallman estate, the fences that enclosed it remained in a dilapidated condition; but when Edwin Reed was mayor the fences were removed, which very much improved the appearance of the grounds. Some years previously the city purchased the lot on the south-west corner of Washington and Summer streets and added it to the Park. All the attention the grounds received for a number of years was the annual mowing of the grass, that produced an
,
288
HISTORY OF BATH.
abundant crop, and was looked upon as simply a public common. To make it something more than that and so improve it that it would become a credit and an ornament to the city, an effort was inaugurated in 1883, and by private donations decayed oaks were removed and the pavillion built. A few years subsequently an earnest effort was made to raise a Park improvement fund, which resulted in realizing the amount of $1,463.58. Of this fund the larger donors were: Charles E. Moody, $200; John Patten, $100; Charles E. Patten, $100; Arthur Sewall, $100; John H. Kimball, $100. To the fund was added $155 by the city government, result- ing from a Fourth of July celebration under the management of the mayor, G. H. Nichols.
With this money the PARK was greatly improved; the ledge on the east side was blasted away sixteen feet from the sidewalk on Front street, the ground was graded, trees planted, flowers arranged, running vines cultivated, and rustic baskets placed in artistic posi- tions, all of which changed the open common to a gem of beautiful and picturesque Park grounds. Later a fund was raised by sub- scription for the purpose of making a pond at the south-west end of the grounds, which was completed and a fountain added, using the city water.
PAVING STREETS.
The first paving in the city was undertaken in the summer of 1891, by the city government. The work extended on Front street from the south corner of Bank block to Arch street, and on Center from Front to Water street. The work was done on contract, using small- sized, brick-formed granite blocks on a gravel foundation. By doing away with water courses the paving widened the available part of the streets and did away with the necessity of cross walks.
In 1892 the paving of Front street was extended to Elm street, requiring the raising of some of the buildings abutting on Front and on Elm streets. In making this improvement the grade of the street had to be raised, necessitating also the raising of buildings occupy- ing the lower portion of the streets.
289
HISTORY OF BATH.
THE OLD CANNON.
According to tradition, the ancient cannon was once a part of the armament of the English frigate Glasgow, but more recently it has been traced to the British man-of-war Somerset, which ship was in Boston harbor at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill, but did not take part in that memorable action. This vessel afterwards sailed for England, and while on her return voyage to this country was wrecked on Cape Cod, in 1777. The gun is a nine-pounder and bears the royal stamp.
This gun was recovered from the lost ship and was one of those mounted on the earth-works of Coxs Head in the war of 1812. After the war the cannon was taken to Hallowell for some unknown reason. Some years since people of Bath succeeded in bringing it down to this city and mounted it on " Meeting-house Hill," a car- riage having been made for it in Boston. This carriage not proving suitable, it was condemned, and Capt. Waterman, a Bath mechanic, constructed one that lasted, with its out-door exposure, for many years. It is now well mounted. It has been used on all occasions requiring salutes by the city.
RINGING OF THE TOWN BELL.
Before there was a bell on the town hall, that of the old North church was used as the town bell, and was rung at one o'clock at noon for dinner and at nine o'clock at night. Mechanics and work- ing men dined at twelve and professional men and merchants went home to dinner at the ringing of the one o'clock bell. Finally the mechanics, of whom large numbers worked in the ship-yards, became dissatisfied with the hour for ringing the noon bell, and a town meeting was called to have a vote taken upon the question of having the bell rung at twelve instead of one o'clock. There was much excitement over the question, both parties rallied all of their forces, and the vote was by ballot. The mechanics won the vote, and the noon bell has made the dinner hour twelve o'clock to this
290
HISTORY OF BATH.
day. The adoption of " standard time," in 1886, revived the agita- tion concerning the noon bell; the mechanics succeeding, however, in continuing to have the noon bell rung on local time, while the town clock was set to standard tinie, until in 1890, when a vote of the city government had the clock set on local time to correspond with the adherence of the working classes to local time. In 1891, it was again changed by vote of the city government to standard time, and the bell rings to correspond.
BATH GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY.
The original Gas Company received its charter Feb. 22, 1853, the incorporators being John Patten, D. C. Magoun, G. W. Kendall, and Oliver Moses. The capital stock was $150,000, of which $70,000 only was paid in. By the charter, the city of Bath was entitled to make a contract for gas for public use for thirty years, and its supply was put on Oct. 1, 1853. After the expiration of the term, the city supply was continued until the Gas Company was consolidated with the Electric Light Company.
The gas house was originally near the foot of North street, which continued in use until 1891, when it was rebuilt on the same site.
The Bath Electric Light and Power Company was organized March 29, 1887. Sept. 23, 1890, this company was reorganized under the name of the Bath Gas and Electric Company, and the old Gas Company and the Electric Company were consolidated about that time.
The works are located on Washington street, immediately south and east of the rope-walk. The plant comprises two 600 fifty-light Westinghouse alternating dynamos, one fifty-light 2,000 candle- power (American machine), one thirty-five-light 200 candle-power (American machine), one thirty-five-light, Thomson-Houston, 1,200 candle-power. Of engines there are two, one of 125 horse-power and one of 250 horse-power (Cross' compound). The 125 horse- power engine has been used for operating the Bath street railway cars since August 19, 1893, and in October following the power of
٠
1
1
291
HISTORY OF BATH.
the plant was increased by the addition of the 250 horse-power engine.
Official statistics for 1892: Capital stock, $125,000; total bonds outstanding, $119,000; process of manufacture, coal; population, 10,000; price of gas in 1892, for light, $2.75; for fuel, $1.66; approximate annual output, 5,000,000; candle-power, 21.
Electrical Department .- Operate American. and Thomson - Houston System of Arc Lights, 110 lights; Westinghouse Alternat- ing System of Incandescent Lights, 1,800 lights. Price of arc lights for public lighting per light, per year, $100. Price of commercial arc lights per light, per year, $100. Total lighting hours per annum, moon scale.
STREET CARS.
Early in 1893, a charter was obtained for the right of way and the laying of tracks for the operating of electric street cars on some of the streets of the city, in June the work was begun, and August 19th three cars commenced regular trips with success, the line running from Winnegance, along the traveled road, to the lower end of the Mccutcheon field, which it crosses diagonally, as also the Hospital. Point field, to the lower end of Lemont street, where it enters Washington street, up which it runs to Center street, to Front, to Linden, to Washington, up which it continues to the apex of the hill immediately south of the bridge that spans the Harward dock. The company is composed of Bath people. Commencing with three cars, the company has now eight cars in its equipment.
In October, 1893, the Bath Street Railway Company purchased the franchise of the Brunswick Company with the purpose of extending the Bath railway to Brunswick and Topsham, a distance of nine miles, using the public road for the purpose. The road will also be extended to Popham and Small Point. The members of the Company are: Galen C. Moses, F. H. Twitchell, A. H. Shaw, of Bath; and A. F. Gerald, of Fairfield.
£
1
292
HISTORY OF BATH.
ANCIENT LAND GRANTS.
Old English Grants .- " Up to the year 1649 there was a doubt- ful contest in the government of Great Britain, between the King and Parliament, which had a very peculiar effect on the purchases from the Indians. The lands had all been granted by the Crown, and a grant had been lately made to several noblemen, of all the lands in North America. If King Charles the First was able to support his contest against Parliament, the Indian titles would become nugatory and held as void; but if the Republican cause should prevail, then the Indian deeds, as opposed to Royal Grants, would be held valid." The Republican Parliament, under Cromwell, won, thus causing Indian titles to hold good. Consequently Crown Grants did not over-ride the claims of the native inhabitants to the country they occupied. They were adjudged to have possessary rights, and their deeds of specific tracts held good over all other pre- sumed conveyances when brought to the test of judicial decisions. The proof of an Indian ,deed before the governor, which was sometimes done, was at once given a sanction to all purchases of that kind, and a complete acknowledgement of the Indians' right to convey. North Bath was thus deeded to Christopher Lamson; South Bath to Alexander Thwaits; Bath to Robert Gutch; Woolwich to John Brown and Edward Bateman; Arrowsic to John Richards ; Georgetown to John Parker; Winnegance to Alexander Thwaits; Phipsburg to the second John Parker.
Indian Titles .- All the land on both sides of the Lower Ken- nebec was deeded by the Sachem, Robin Hood, and native Saga- mores, to the early settlers upon it, and these deeds were often duplicated. It would seem that the natives believed they were con- veying the right of occupancy only, while they reserved to them- selves their natural right to fish, hunt, set traps, and grow corn, which, seemingly, covered all their wants. Consideration for these
ETRAMOS SVARE TEENIOWA
.
293
HISTORY OF BATH.
deeds was merely nominal, usually being a few pumpkins, a little, corn, and some rum annually.
In 1792, there was an enactment by the Massachusetts Legislature which declared that the Indians were not allowed to be dispossessed of their planting grounds and fishing berths, though all territorial purchases of them, followed by five years' quiet possession, accorded to the occupants, especially in Maine, an indisputable title. There was another enactment forbidding the taking of Indian deeds, but not applying to deeds made prior to this enactment.
On the Resettlement, after the peace with the Indians by treaty at Portsmouth, in 1713, the Pejepscot proprietors laid out by survey all the territory from Atkins Bay to Whizgig in tracts of three- quarters of a mile frontage on the Kennebec, extending to the New Meadows River. Their claims, however, were overruled in favor of prior claims of the Plymouth Company, as adjudicated by litigation and compromise, in 1766.
Old Landmarks .- Joseph Heath was surveyor for the Pejepscot Company, taking pay for his services in land. By an original map this tract is definitely located, apparently comprising the Peterson and Harward farms, as it lies exactly opposite "Winslow's Rocks," running from the Sagadahoc to "Stevens Creek" [New Meadows River].
"The land between the two black lines [as is represented on map] contains four hundred acres situated and being on the west side of Long Reach in Sagadahoc River, part of weh Land was Quit claimed and Delivered to the Pejepscot Company by Nicholas Lyddiard and his wife, and the said four hundred acres of Land was exactly sur- veyed and is herein Truly Disscribed. November 18, 1716.
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.