USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Bridgewater > History of Bridgewater, Maine > Part 12
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
This was the second large fire in the town inside of a year, and both of them caused heavy losses to Mr. Collins.
Blacksmiths
The first blacksmith of which there is a record was Nathaniel Ride- out, who came here in 1845. He had a shop on his farm on the Corner Road where he pounded out a living for his eighteen children.
133
The first one at the Center was George Loudon, better known as London, who came to Bunker Hill in 1844. He later moved his shop to the Center on the location of the Gard Weeks house.
Albion Huntington had a shop at the Corner, which miraculously escaped the fire in '94. It is still standing at a rakish angle in a very dilapidated state. Moses Cluff also had a shop at the Corner.
Thomas Huntington had a shop at the Center between 1880-90 in the building that is today the home of Charles Murphy.
Nelson Day had a shop at the Center about the same time. It was here that George Davidson came in August 1902.
George Davidson's father was born in Aberdeen, Scotland; Mr. Andrew Davidson worked on a farm in Scotland. At that time he could not buy a farm there for the land was owned by landed gentry. Hearing of the wonderful opportunities in Canada, Andrew decided to try his luck in a new land, so he, with his wife and five children, the youngest only ten days old, set sail for their adopted land. He finally reached Kincardine, N. B., in August 1873, obtained a piece of land which he started in to clear to make a farm. It was here that George was born, February 24, 1875.
When George grew up he went to Hartland and there worked eight years at the blacksmith trade. He then came to Bridgewater and worked for a time with Mr. Day. The shop was what is now the barn owned by Mrs. Sadie Sharp. When Mr. Day sold his shop, George rented a shop that sat just below the Ray Yerxa place for five dollars a month. In April 1904 he bought the shop in the center of town. It was twenty-four by thirty-four feet. He built an addition on the back for a woodworking shop. Ben McDonald worked in the wood- working shop for him for twenty years. Wilbur Burlock was his assis- tant blacksmith for five years. He remained here until 1939. In that year he moved to a shop below the so-called Asa Bradstreet store. Here his equipment still is and he hopes to return to work again in the near future.
Mr. Davidson was very popular, and day after day the shop would be filled with men and boys waiting to have their horses shod, in the meantime spinning yarns. How different today when horses are so few!
He married Mrs. Ida McIntyre. To them were born nine girls and one boy. The boy died when less than a year old. Six of the girls are still living in town: Margaret (Lilley), Kathleen (Landers), Phyllis (Trecartin), Myrtle (Foster), Frances (Murphy), and Alta. He also has four step children, two of them living in town: Gladys (McIlroy) and Walter McIntyre.
134
He is a kind and loving father, caring for his children and grand- children, sheltering all who come by or are in need. He is an ardent worker in the church, becoming a member in 1918.
He has been a blacksmith in the town for fifty years, and worked eight years before coming here, and hopes to continue. His old shop is torn down and a garage now takes its place.
The only blacksmith shops in town today are owned by Mr. David- son, another one is owned by Murry Foster below the Joe Smith farm.
Druggists
The first druggist in town was William Thistle who came from Ashland, Maine, in 1906. He rented part of the Freeman block for his store. Here he carried on his business, in this small store, for twenty years.
In 1916 he and J. Howard Farley built the concrete block in the center of town where he had the south half for his new store. He was in this new location only about five years when failing health caused him to retire. He then sold the business to Carlton Hutchins who re- mained about five years, then moved to a larger field, Mars Hill.
Tom Nickerson, a local boy who had completed his course of phar- macy at a school in Boston, took over Mr. Hutchins' business. Tom was an excellent druggist and very popular, but with no resident physician the trade was growing less, so after a few years Tom closed out his business and moved to Mars Hill where he worked for a time with Mr. Hutchins, but the work was too confining and his health became impaired, so he turned to outside work. His death in May 1953 came as a shock to his many friends in the town. The town, for many years now, has been without a drugstore. That part of the store is now used as the post office.
Bridgewater Grange No. 332
On June 25, 1896, a group of men and women living on the Snow Road met and organized the Grange. Their first meeting was held in the schoolhouse in that district.
135
The fifteen charter members were Elisha Bessie Jr., Robert Burns, Annabelle Burns, J. Norman Durgin, Rosalie Durgin, G. Wilmot Hartley, Edmund Hayes, May Parsons, Howard Sargent, Phillip Smith, Mrs. Phillip Smith, A. M. Stackpole Sr., Mrs. A. M. Stack- pole Sr., Jerry Turner, Mrs. Jerry Turner.
The Master of Aroostook Pomona and the Secretary of Pomona, Ezra McGlauflin and Ernest F. McGlauflin were present to organize the Grange.
The following were elected to office:
Master G. Wilmot Hartley
Assistant Stewart Jerry Turner
Overseer Elisha Bessie
Gate Keeper Phillip Smith
Chaplain Edmund Hayes
Ceres Mrs. Phillip Smith
Lecturer Robert Burns Pomona Mrs. A. M. Stackpole Sr.
Secretary J. Norman Durgin Flora Mrs. Jerry Turner
Treasurer A. M. Stackpole Sr. Lady Asst. Stewart Rosalie Durgin
Stewart Howard Sargent
Ins. Agent A. M. Stackpole Sr.
After the officers were installed, the charter members were obligated and instructed in the four degrees. They paid their dues and the Charter fee of $20.00, receiving the Charter in October of the same year.
Only a few meetings were held in the schoolhouse, then they rented the Town Hall where they held meetings about a year, then they rented the Odd Fellows' Hall, which was over the Town Hall.
The first four Masters were G. Wilmot Hartley, Elisha Bessie Jr., Martin S. Rideout, and Charles Ackerson. Others who served as Master were John Kimball Sr., Guy Allen, Phoebe Carmichael, Forest Bradstreet, Alton Fullerton. There must have been others but the old Secretary's book cannot be found. The last Secretary's book is in the possession of Mrs. Hilda Morse who supplied the following list of Masters:
1932-33 Scholey Kingsbury
1934 Clara Hartley
1935-38 Victor Ketchum
1939 Vera Fullerton
1940 Alletta Smith
1941 Sam Hartley
The Grange surrendered its Charter, November 23, 1942. What a pity it couldn't have kept on until 1946 to celebrate the fiftieth anni-
136
versary and award one Golden Sheaf Certificate, to Howard Sargent, the only living member.
It is interesting to note that G. Wilmot Hartley was the first Master; forty-six years later his nephew, Sam Hartley, was the last Master.
Crescent Rebekah Lodge No. 121
Crescent Rebekah Lodge No. 121 was instituted, May 16, 1907, with the following charter members:
Charles Ackersont
Alice Monteith
Doris B. Ackersont
Barbara Morton
George Capent
Fannie Scottt
Fred Estabrook
Frances Simonson
James H. Farleyt
Annie Slippt
Totford Greggt
Alletta C. Smith
Hiram Kimball+
Priscilla Welcht
Eugene Monteith
Eliza J. Westt
Edwin B. Mortont
Minnie Peters
Robert Scottt
Idella M. Ackerson
Fleetwood Simonsont
Eliza Jamisont
John H. Slippt
Victoria A. Parkst
Joseph Smith
Mary Rosst
Joseph Welcht
Amber Slipp
Edward L. Westt
Geneva B. Slipp
Victor Peters
Charles Coxt
Eldora Ackersont
George A. Kimballt
Maggie M. Ackersont
Walter Londont
Mary Capen
Grover McCluskeyt
Clara Estabrookt
Almon McIntyret
Annie Farley
Martin S. Rideoutt
Sadie C. Greggt
Harris G. Stackpolet
Camilla Kimball
Deceased memberst
Of these forty-five charter members there are only two that are in good standing today-Annie Farley and Frances Simonson.
137
Following is the list of Noble Grands and the years they served:
1907 Barbara Morton
1931 Mabel Twitchell
1908 Barbara Morton
1932 Vena Roberts
1909 Alletta Smith
1933 Julia Ewings
1910 Idella Ackerson 1934 Vera Fullerton
1911 Fannie Scottt
1935 Gladys McIlroy
1912 Alletta Smith
1936 Mildred Farleyt
1913 Jennie Sharpt
1937 Gladys McIlroy
1914 Phoebe Carmichaelt
1938 Rena Fletcher
1915 Phoebe Carmichaelt
1939 Alice Everettt
1916 Frances Simonson
1940 Hilda Morse
1917 Mabel Jamisont
1941 Kathleen Landers
1918 Cecelia McNinch
1942 Edna Packard
1919 Annie Farley
1943 Elsie Nickerson
1920 Eliza Jamisont
1944 Bethe McDonald
1922 June Wilsont
1946 Nettie Weeks
1923 Geneva Fletcher
1947 Mertelle Finnemore
1924 Blanche Coatest
1948 Doris Stackpole
1926 Beatrice Barrett
1949 Phyllis Bradbury
1927 Frances Simonson
1950 Freda Jamison
1928 Elizabeth Commins
1951 Thurley Keegan
1929 Clara Hartley
1952 Boyce Bradbury
1930 Clara Hartley
1953
Deceasedt
The Lodge has had six Deputy Presidents of the District. These are appointed by the State President every four years. Phoebe Car- michael was the first to act as Deputy President. For years after that, no one else would serve until Clara Hartley took the office. Since then they have taken their turn. They are Phoebe Carmichael, Clara Hartley, Gladys McIlroy, Mabel Twitchell, Beatrice Barrett, and Vena Roberts.
In 1943 Gladys McIlroy served as Conductor of the Rebekah As- sembly of Maine, being appointed by Marie Clark of Millinocket, State President.
The I.O.O.F. Lodge was organized in 1895. It has been mentioned elsewhere in the book, but briefly. It is with regret that the author has not been able to secure the list of charter members and Past Noble Grands.
138
1921 Georgie Smitht
1945 Betty Packard
1925 Gertie Wood
Bridgewater Garden Club
The Bridgewater Garden Club was organized in July 1938 with Clara Hartley as the first president. The charter members were Clara Hartley, Annie Rideout, Etta Rideout, Alice Everett, Betty Packard, Annie Farley, Hilda Morse, Gladys McIlroy, Edna Packard, and Elsie Nickerson. From these few members it grew in a few years to over twenty-five.
The only requirement for being a member was an interest in gar- dening. The club carried out a number of worthwhile projects. One of them was beautifying the cemetery by planting flowers on vacant lots and making borders along the edges. Several years, during the sum- mer months, the club gave flowers at funerals, gathered from the gardens and arranged into beautiful sprays. Several times they spon- sored flower shows and teas which were very, very successful and showed the townspeople what could be done in a small community. The shows were not limited to club members, but anyone who grew flowers was invited to participate. Other projects have been carried out over the years.
Those who have served as president are:
1938 Clara Hartley
1946 Hilda Morse
1939 Clara Hartley
1947 Doris Stone
1940 Clara Hartley 1948 Vera Fullerton
1941 Betty Packard
1949 Edna Packard
1942 Nettie Weeks
1950 Geneva Fletcher
1943 Betty Packard
1951 Laura Bradbury
1944 Margaret Yerxa
1952 Doris Hartley
1945 Gladys McIlroy
The club joined the Maine Federation of Garden Clubs in 1940, from which they gain a great deal of help. It is hoped this club will continue to grow and encourage the growing of more beautiful flowers and the development of aesthetic tastes.
Bridgewater Women's Club
In 1936 the Bridgewater Women's Club was organized and feder- ated with the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs at the same time.
139
The object of the club is intellectual and social development.
The projects have been varied, but always with the improvement of the community in view, chiefly the schools and the church.
Some of these projects have been: furnishing milk for the lower grades during the winter months for several years; helping needy families at Christmas; purchasing piano, drinking fountain, clock, book- cases, books, and newspapers for the schools.
The teachers' reception was sponsored by the club each fall for several years.
The largest project accomplished was repairing the organ at the church.
Many teas have been enjoyed, gathering together other women of the town and neighboring towns. The money received from these teas has been used to answer calls from outside the organization.
Each year some need is met and accomplished through this civic- minded group.
Their knowledge of state, national, and international affairs is broadened through study topics at each meeting. Social life and out- standing personalities are also taken up.
The motto of the club is, "Let us be content to work, to do the things we can and not pause to fret because it is little." The club colors are green and gold.
This club started with the following twenty-two charter members:
Mrs. Esther Robinson, first president
Mrs. Viola Nickerson
Mrs. Vera Niles
Mrs. Jessie Bradstreet
Mrs. Jean Simonson
Mrs. Mabel Everett
Mrs. Alta Smith
Mrs. Ida Farley
Mrs. Doris Stackpole
Mrs. Mildred Farleyt
Mrs. Mae Stackpolet
Mrs. Clara Hartley
Mrs. Zelpha Stackpole
Mrs. Mildred Kingsbury
Mrs. Edith Tompkins
Mrs. Gladys McIlroy
Mrs. Mabel Twitchell
Mrs. Agnes Nichols
Mrs. Edith Whited
Mrs. Elsie Nickerson
Deceasedt
In 1939 Mrs. Esther Robinson served as District Director. Today the club has a much larger membership.
140
Mrs. Helen Ackerson
Mrs. Gertrude Sargent
The Blind Storekeeper
In the middle 1800's there came to Bridgewater a young man named Hosea Rideout, who was blind.
He bought a building located on the north side of Bunker Hill (on the present Terrill farm) and across from the old farm of Robert Brown, now owned by Garth Slipp. It was a little one-story building nestled among tall willow trees. Today the house and trees are gone and all is a cleared field.
Here Hosea started keeping store, selling such small articles as needles, pins, thread, baking soda (then called saleratus), beans, and candy. He also had a few bolts of cloth of various colors. If one wanted pink calico, he took down pink; if it was blue that was wanted he took down blue; he never made a mistake. How could he do this? He had an infallible memory as we shall see. When he got in some new cloth some kindly neighbor woman would go in and put it on the shelves, always in the same order as the previous colors. Thus he knew by counting down where each color was. He had a place for each article or commodity in the store and never made a mistake. He could tell the difference between each piece of silver money, but had to trust the honesty of his customers when it came to bills. In those days few bills crossed his counter, for everyone was poor and money was scarce, so his sales were naturally small.
The neighbors were very good to Hosea. He knew the time that each farmer did his nightly milking, so nearly every night he would lock his door, take his cane and a little tin pail, and go to one home one night and another the next until he had made the rounds. The farmer would fill the little tin pail with warm milk while the farmer's wife would give him a loaf of freshly-baked bread, a large piece of gingerbread, a few cookies, or something she had cooked that day. Occasionally he could be persuaded to stay for supper, but he was proud and did not want to accept charity. When he did spend the evening, he would entertain his hosts by singing old songs and hymns in his high nasal voice. He would rock and sing an entire evening and never repeat a song.
Hosea lived alone in a little room back of the store where he cooked his frugal meals. The store and living quarters were exceptionally clean. Wood for his stoves was cut and hauled by the kind-hearted neighbors, but he insisted on sawing it up and splitting it himself.
Hosea was a very friendly person, and loved to visit a day or two with neighbors a few miles from his home. Since business was not
141
very rushing, often on a bright sunny summer morning he would lock the door, take his cane and start walking, and as he enjoyed walking he seldom accepted rides. He would often travel two or three miles to visit his friends, walking along tapping his cane, counting the drive- ways until he reached his destination. Since this was before the days of automobiles, there was no danger of an accident.
In spite of the fact that his trade was small he saved a little money, possibly a few hundred dollars, for his needs were few, because of the kindness of his neighbors. In later years he sold his place to C. E. Lawrence and gave his entire savings to a man in Blaine to care for him for the remainder of his life.
Sometime after Hosea was comfortably settled in his new residence, the man decided to move to California and take Hosea with him. When Hosea learned of this plan he was very unhappy, for he did not want to leave his old friends (they often came to see him when in town) and go among strangers.
For several months Hosea tried to solve his problem, praying he might die before the time came to go. One night he ate his supper as usual, then said he felt tired and went to bed. That night his prayers were answered for the Angel of Death visited him while he slept. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the Smith Cemetery in Bridgewater.
Then and Now
The first Town Report was published in 1903-4. Following is a list of the appropriations for the following years:
1903
1925
1951
Total Real Estate
$237,238
$574,867
$ 686,587
Total Personal Est.
72,456
104,280
45,055
Total Valuation
309,694
679,147
731,917
All other Pers. Pro.
38,061
104,280
26,750
Live Stock
34,395
46,265
18,305
1903
1925
1951
Assessments
State Tax
$871.08
$4824.34
$ 6122.12
County Tax
694.73
1433.72
1856.80
Support of Poor
1300.00
3500.00
2000.00
Text Books
150.00
800.00
1845.82
142
Free High School
500.00
3000.00
4000.00
Roads and Bridges
1000.00
3500.00
9000.00
Street Lights
265.00
800.00
Fire Protection
500.00
2800.00
Supt. of Schools
100.00
300.00
900.00
Ist Selectman
100.00
250.00
Town
Mgr. 2305.00
2nd and 3rd Selectmen
30.00 each
60.00 Councillors
50.00
Treasurer
50.00
72.00
125.00
Clerk
20.00
25.00
30.00
Moderator
3.00
5.00
5.00
Tax Rate
.022
.044
.079
Support of Schools
$1100.00
$6500.00
$19,500.00
Teachers' Salaries
1000.00 Approx. 6055.00
19,146.45
The following list is taken from the account book of Martin S. Rideout, for the years 1891 and 1921.
1891
1921
1951
Double Harness
$32.00
Cream Tartar
.20
.60
Butter
.18
.40
Haircut
.25
.35
Bbl. flour
7.50
14.50
Milk
.10
Eggs
.18
.40
Tea
.40
.60
Horseshoeing
.25
Scythe
.75
Overalls
.65
Telephone
1.50
Following are prices of some things he sold:
Bushel of oats
$ .50
50 lbs. pork
3.50
21/2 Cd. Wood
2.50
100# Buckwheat meal
1.50
14 bbl. potatoes
14.00
Compare prices with today.
1
143
Fact and Fancy
The first settler in the town was Nathaniel Bradstreet, who came here in 1827 and built a sawmill at the Boundary in 1829.
The first settler to make a farm in the town was Joseph Ketchum who came in 1831. He sowed the first wheat in town, May 1832.
The first post office in the town was in the hotel of Joseph Ketchum in 1849.
The first bridge across the Prestile Stream was erected in the winter of 1848-49.
Joseph Ketchum hired the first teacher at the Corner, Hannah Oliver, about 1840.
The town was incorporated in 1858.
The first church at the Boundary was built sometime in the late sixties.
The first church at the Center was in 1865.
The first school at the Center was built in 1885.
The Corner was burned May 11, 1894; the mill at the Boundary was burned in December of the same year.
February 7, 1861, was known as Cold Friday.
The first tannery was built in 1875 by G. W. Collins. It was des- troyed by fire in 1884, rebuilt, and destroyed a second time in 1908.
The first resident doctor in the town was W. W. White who came in 1874.
The first starch factory was built in 1875 by George Hibbard.
144
The railroad came into town in 1894. The Town Hall was built the same year.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge was organized in 1895.
The Grange was organized in 1896, it was discontinued in November 1942.
The first street lights were turned on September 12, 1909.
The first permanent hotel was opened in 1841 at the Corner by Joseph Ketchum.
The first store in town was at the Boundary and was run by Moulton Brothers about 1840. The first one at the Corner was opened by C. F. A. Johnson in 1852. The first one at the Center seems to have been operated by Warren Snow sometime before 1880.
The high school burned in March 1940.
The Hamilton Farley house at the Boundary is the oldest frame house in town.
Mrs. Cyrus Chandler was a homeopathic doctor, using berries, barks, and herbs which she gathered from fields and swamps.
Jimmie Wade, an Englishman, peddled pins, needles, and small wares. He lived across the stream, opposite the Esty place.
The McMullen store used to be called the Line House because it was built half in Maine and half in Canada. It had a counter mounted on wheels. When the U.S. Federal officers raided the store, the owners were warned beforehand, so the counter was on the Canadian side and the officers could do nothing. When the Canadian officers raided the place the counter was always on the American side. The officers from the two countries never seemed to get together for a joint raid for obvious reasons. Rum in those days flowed freely.
"Split Brook," sometimes called "Gin Brook," was at the foot of the hill beyond where Jacob Morse now lives. It got its name because the men used to buy gin at the "Line" and bring it to this brook to "split" it, or dilute it with water.
The hill just beyond this brook used to be called "Sugar Hill." The story is told that Ezra McGary was going up the hill with a barrel of sugar for J. Howard Farley when he was doing business at the "Line." Ezra had nearly reached the top of the hill when the barrel rolled off the wagon, the head of the barrel broke open as it struck the ground and the sugar spilled out as it rolled down the hill.
145
That part of the road, now between the railroad crossing and the top of the hill on the Corner Road, was called by the people living there "Snarley Flat" because some of them were always in an argument.
One of the early settlers on the West Road was a man named Con- ley; he lived on the farm where Henry Welch lived, now owned by Paul Kilcollins. Here at this farm the men hauling bark for the tannery would stop for the night. They sometimes left old worn-out boots, so Tom, being a thrifty soul, cut off the tops and threw the feet in a cor- ner. When the men stopped for the night they would undress their feet, which were wet and cold, and put on the boot feet. Sometimes Conley would wear the boot feet to town. This story gave the name "Bootfeet" to the road which today has been changed to "Bootfoot." Some say there was a man once lived on the road by the name of Beaufort (but nothing could be found about him) and through the corruption of his name came the name "Bootfoot."
The Monteith Road sometimes used to be called "Snigdom." The reason for this name was that it was a point where a great deal of Canadian goods was smuggled into town across the border. The people said they would "snig" the goods in-thus the name "Snigdom."
The following three items were taken from the clippings of Adelbert Cookson's scrapbook and are dated 1899:
Snowed last Monday which made fine sleighing. The streets are full of teams and business is brisk. We have more and better stores than any town of its size in the County. Travellers are thick as bees around a molasses barrel.
One of our young men made quite an investment last Saturday. Joseph C. Smith, son of Joseph C. Smith Sr. bought four houses and land on B and A Street, north side, from Geo. H. Collins of Presque Isle. Mr. Collins and wife were in town last Saturday to make the transfer.
Al. Chandler planted, cared for and dug more acres of potatoes the past season than any man in Aroostook, over 100 acres. This is just one of his varied busi- nesses. He is a lumberman, and last summer he lost his sawmill, in spite of that he filled all of his lumber orders. He has a steam mill at Three Brooks and a portable mill at Westfield with five crews of men in the woods, 140 men and many horses. He has a starch factory at the Center where he made 200 tons of starch and also has a store.
For a one man business this is something enormous. We don't blame the town for being proud of their Potato King.
Star Herald Reporter.
146
At one time there lived a family by the name of Watkins on the Corner Road. They were simple, kindly people. The young folks often gathered there for an evening of fun and frolic, often playing jokes on the old gentleman.
One day the boys found a dead dog in the neighborhood and decided to give it to the old folks in an unusual way.
On Sunday night while the old lady was cooking supper at the fire- place some of the younger boys arrived. They sat down near the door and began to sing and whistle. In the meantime the older boys had gathered at the back of the house. One climbed up, quietly, on the low roof while the others boosted up the dog which was then dropped down the wide chimney.
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.