USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 23
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 23
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 23
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There was no observance of the occasion in Harpswell, the citizens of that town attending the exercises in Brunswick.
The first observance in this vicinity, of the anniversary of the Declaration of National Independence, took place in Topsham, in 1805. Samuel Willard, then a tutor in Bowdoin College, delivered an oration " at the request of the Federal Republicans of Brunswick and Topsham."
The following year, 1806, the Reverend Jonathan Ellis delivered an oration at the Court House, before the members of the same political organization.
No account has been found of any other celebration of this day prior to 1825, although it is known with tolerable certainty that such
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celebrations were had almost every year during the first quarter of the century. In the year 1825 the citizens assembled on July 4, at one o'clock. P. M., at the "Falstaff Inn," Brunswick. Here Charles Pack- ard, Esquire, delivered " an appropriate and very interesting address," and concluded by reading the Declaration of Independence. A pub- lic dinner. enlivened with a variety of toasts, was then partaken of.
March 4, 1829. the inauguration at Washington of General Jackson as President of the United States, was duly celebrated in Brunswick. " Father" Stetson writes in his diary, on this day, " Great parading in our wide street, guns fired. bells rung, boys mustered."
July 4, 1830, was celebrated by a procession of young men, escorted by the Light Infantry Company. An oration was delivered at the meeting-house on the hill, by Mr. Webster Kelly, of Topsham. . It was followed by a dinner at the Tontine Hotel, furnished by Mr. Elijah P. Pike. The festivities of the day were marred by a fatal accident. The boys in their patriotic zeal had obtained a swivel abont eight inches in length. This they had filled with paper wadding, but without any bullet. The force of its discharge was sufficient, how- ever, to cause the death of Mr. Theophilus Miller, who was accident- ally hit by the wadding.
On July 4, 1836. the members of the Young Men's Temperance Society, of Brunswick, together with other friends of temperance, assembled at Stone's Hall, and formed a procession under the escort of the Mechanic Volunteers. The procession embraced a large num- ber of the temperance people from different parts of the town, includ- ing a portion of the Temperance Society of Bowdoin College. A company of youth, named the "Juvenile Guards," formed the rear rank. At half past ten A. M., the procession moved up Maine Street to the Congregational Church, where the following exercises were held : --
"National Hymn, by the choir. Prayer, by Reverend Asahel Moore.1 117th Psalm ; tune, Old Hundred. A Declaration of Independence, written for the occasion by Mr. Alonzo Garcelon,2 inember of the Senior Class of Bowdoin College. Address, by Mr. Andrew Dunning. Temperance hymn. Benediction. 'The services were interesting and the audience was large and attentive.'"
The Fourth of July, 1842, was celebrated in Brunswick with unnsnal eclat. At ten o'clock, A. M., a procession formed near Wash- ington Hall, under the direction of Colonel Estabrook, marshal of the
1 Methodist. - Bordoin, Class of 1835.
2 Now a physician in Lewiston.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
day, marched through the various streets, and entered the Congre- gational Church at eleven o'clock. The escort was formed by the Mechanic Volunteers. The order of exercises at the church was as follows : -
A voluntary on the organ ; singing by the choir ; reading of Scrip- ture by Reverend Doctor Adams ; reading of the 136th Psalm, with responses by the audience ; prayer ; reading of the Declaration of In- dependence, by George C. Swallow ; singing by choir and congrega- tion ; oration by Washington Gilbert ; benediction. After the bene- diction, the audience separated, and, the procession being re-formed, they proceeded to the grove near the town-house, where a collation had been provided under the superintendence of Mr. William R. Field, Senior. The band enlivened the scene with appropriate music, and all seemed to enjoy the festival.
In the course of the afternoon, the young ladies of Brunswick received their friends in the Tontine Hall. The younger misses assembled at the house of Ebenezer Everett, Esquire, and passed the afternoon in a pleasant manner. In the evening there was a display of fire-works.
In 1843 the Young Men's Temperance Society of Brunswick cele- brated the return of the anniversary of National Independence by a procession. of which Captain John A. Cleaveland was the chief mar- shal. Public exercises were had at the church on the hill. There was music by the band, a prayer, an original ode sung by the choir, and an oration delivered by Reverend George Knox, of Topsham, which was followed by more music, a poem by Mr. Albert W. Knight, and an original ode was sung by the choir.
In 1845 the day was celebrated in Topsham by the Temperance Society. The procession marched to the Unitarian Meeting-House, where an address was delivered by M. B. Goodwin, of the Senior Class of Bowdoin College. After the exercises, there was a dinner at the Washingtonian House.
Probably the celebration of the Fourth of July which was attended with the most eclat of any that ever occurred in either of these towns was that in 1854.
At ten A. M. a procession was formed in the following order : -
Marshal.
Bowdoinham Artillery,
Fire Companies of Brunswick, as escort.
Fire Company of Topsham, Band.
Aid -Chief Marshal - Aid.
GENERAL AND SOCIAL. . 231
Marshal - Fire Companies from Abroad. Marshal - Committee of Arrangements. President of the Day and Chaplain. Vice-Presidents. Orator, Poet, and Reader.
Marshal- Selectmen of Brunswick and Topsham. Marshal - Fire Wards.
Marshal - Superintending School Committee of Brunswick and Topsham. Marshal- United States Officers. State Officers. Marshal - Clergy. Members of the Bar.
Town Officers (present and past) of Brunswick and Topsham. Marshal - Officers of Bowdoin College. Students of same.
Marshal- Agent and Overseers of the Cabot Manufacturing Company. Operatives of the same.
Marshal- Schools of Brunswick and Topsham, with their respective Teachers. Marshal - Preceptor and Pupils of Topsham Academy. Marshal -Strangers. Marshal-Citizens of Brunswick and Topsham.
Marshal - FLORAL PROCESSION of the Young Ladies of Brunswick and Topsham, in carriages. Marshal -Juvenile Temperance Watchmen Club.
The procession, after passing through the principal streets, entered the church upon the hill. Here Professor R. D. Hitchcock offered a prayer, and the Declaration of Independence was read by Professor HI. H. Boody, after which Ex-Governor Robert P. Dunlap, the presi- dlent of the day, introduced to the audience Mr. William P. Drew, the orator of the day. The oration was followed by a poem by Rev- erend Elijah Kellogg. In the afternoon a trial of fire-engines for the prize, a silver trumpet, took place at the upper mills. The prize was awarded to Androscoggin No. 2, of Topsham, which played a stream of one hundred and seventy-four feet and some inches. Atlantic Company No. 2, of Portland, was so unfortunate as to burst their hose at each trial. An exhibition of fire-works, which would have been a fine one, was marred by a shower which hurried it to a close. The festivities of the day closed with a ball at the Tontine Hall, under the direction of Protector Engine Company No. 4, of Brunswick.
In 1860 the day was observed in a similar way. William P. Tucker. tntor of Bowdoin College, read the Declaration of Independence ; and Augustus C. Robbins, Esquire, of Brunswick, delivered an oration.
Doubtless the day has been occasionally observed in Harpswell,
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232 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
but no account of any special celebration has been obtained. The day is often chosen for Sabbath-school picnics.
On Monday, August 16, 1858, a public meeting was held at the depot in Brunswick, to celebrate the successful laying of the Atlantic cable. General Abner B. Thompson called the meeting to order. Albert G. Tenney, Esquire, was elected chairman, and Daniel Elliot, secretary. The messages between the Directors of the Atlantic Tele- graph Company, and between the Queen of England and the President of the United States, were then read. A volunteer choir sang an ode, speeches were made by A. G. Tenney, Reverend John S. C. Abbot, Reverend Amos D. Wheeler, D.D., of Topsham, Honorable Charles J. Gilman, Reverend Aaron C. Adams, of Manchester, New Hamp- shire, Honorable Ebenezer Everett, Reverend Doctor Ballard, and Reverend George E. Adams, D. D., and the exercises were concluded by another ode from the choir. The depot and telegraph office were illuminated, as were also the houses of many of the citizens of Bruns- wick and Topsham.
February 22, 1862, the anniversary of Washington's birthday was celebrated in the Congregational Church in Brunswick. Reverend Doctor Wheeler, of Topsham, read the hymn, "My country, 'tis of thee "; Professor Whittlesey read selections from the Scriptures ; Rev- erend Doctor Ballard read the prayers for the occasion, from the . Episcopal Collection. Washington's Farewell Address was then read by Reverend Doctor Adams, a hymn to the tune of "St. Martin's" was then sung by the choir, and the benediction pronounced.
On Saturday, April 15, 1865, upon the reception of the news of the assassination of President Lincoln, a public meeting was held at the church of the First Parish in Brunswick. Honorable Marshall Cram presided. Reverend Doctor Wheeler, of Topsham, made a prayer, which was followed by addresses from Reverend Doctor Ballard, Honorable Charles J. Gilman, Reverend T. J. B. House, Reverend Doctor Adams, A. G. Tenney, President Leonard Woods, Reverend Mr. Baldwin, Professor C. F. Brackett, and Warren Johnson. A resolu- tion was passed expressive of great grief at the calamity which had fallen upon the nation, and of faith in the stability of the government. The pulpit and choir gallery were appropriately draped in mourning, as were also many stores and private residences. All the flags were at half mast.
On Wednesday, April 19, 1865, a union meeting of the different religious societies of Brunswick was held in the Mason Street Church, at 12 M., in commemoration of the death of the late President of the
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United States, Abraham Lincoln, whose funeral services were then being held at Washington, D. C. The exercises were as follows : -
A portion of Scripture was read by Reverend A. D. Wheeler. D. D., a hymn by Reverend J. T. B. House, a prayer by Reverend Doctor Adams ; a second hymn was then read by Reverend Doctor Wheeler, who delivered an appropriate discourse. Prayer was then offered by Reverend Mr. House, a national hymn sung by the choir, and the bene- diction pronounced by Doctor Adams. The church was appropriately draped with mourning.
April 19, 1875, the anniversary of the battles of Concord and Lex- ington was celebrated in Brunswick, by the display of flags, ringing of bells, and a national salute fired by a detachment of the Artillery Company. of Bowdoin College.
Memorial Day has also been observed annually in Brunswick and Topsham by the decoration of the graves of the fallen heroes of the Rebellion, and frequently by a public address.
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
A meeting of the surviving soldiers of the Revolution was held October 5, 1825. Philip Owen was chosen chairman, and John Given secretary. A vote of thanks was passed to Honorable Peleg Sprague of Hallowell, Honorable John Anderson of Portland, and Honorable Edward Everett of Massachusetts, " for their generous and able pleas before the Congress of the United States, in behalf of themselves and companions in the perilous services of the Revolution."
On April 23, 1827, a citizens' meeting was held, " for the relief of the Greeks." Speeches were made by Honorable Robert P. Dunlap and Professor Thomas C. Upham. The amount of one hundred and sixteen dollars was contributed.
In 1833 a meeting of the citizens of Brunswick was held on the third of July, for the purposes of taking measures to extend an invitation to President Jackson to visit the town while on his proposed tour through New England.
The antislavery agitation commenced in this vicinity by the appoint- ment at a public meeting in January, 1838, of Professor William Smyth and David Dunlap, Esquire, of Brunswick, and Reverend Thomas N. Lord and Reverend Edwin R. Warren, of Topsham, as del- egates to the Maine Antislavery Society, to be held in Augusta. At the meeting of this society Professor Smyth was chosen its secretary.
In November, 1838, Mr. Codding, the general agent of the above- named society, delivered several lectures in Brunswick upon the sub-
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
ject of slavery and its abolition. The antislavery cause met with much opposition in Brunswick.
A meeting was held October 27, 1838, " to take into consideration the measures at present pursued by the Abolitionists," at which both the friends and foes of the measures were present.
An attempt was made to introduce some resolutions which had been prepared prior to the meeting by opponents of the cause. This action was warmly opposed by Professor William Smyth, who said they " had not come together to pass resolutions prepared to our hand without deliberation on our part," and that the call for the meeting implied that they were to " deliberate, examine, discuss." Hisses and " Down with him !" were heard in different parts of the house, but he con- cluded his remarks without any regard to them. He was followed and warmly sustained by General John C. Humphreys, and the meeting adjourned without transacting any business, to meet again on the following Tuesday evening.
At the adjourned meeting General A. B. Thompson offered resolu- tions to the following effect : -
Against any interference with slavery by the people of non-slave- holding States. Admitting the right of free discussion, but against the exercise of it and against any unlawful opposition to it. That the opinions expressed in these resolutions were in accordance with the sentiments of the vast majority of the citizens of that community. Mr. Adams spoke in opposition to the resolutions, though his remarks met with frequent interruption. The resolutions were adopted by a vote of one hundred and sixty-three to one hundred and seventeen.
On Wednesday, October 31, the citizens of Brunswick and Tops- liam met at the Congregational Church in Topsham to consider the action of the meeting held the previous evening in Brunswick.
The meeting was opened by a strain of pithy, pungent 'remarks from Doctor James McKeen, in reference to the late meeting in Brunswick. Addresses were also made by John M. O'Brien, Esquire, Mr. Codding, and others. The meeting was highly interesting in its character, and cheering to the friends of free discussion and of equal and impartial liberty. It was agreed to call another meeting of the citizens of the two villages, to assemble in Brunswick on the Friday evening following, and a committee was raised for that purpose.
In accordance with this arrangement, a call was issued on Friday morning, inviting " the friends of free discussion and the right of the people freely to assemble for the purpose of discussing any subject in morals, politics, or religion, in which they feel an interest," to meet
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GENERAL AND SOCIAL.
at the Second Baptist Meeting-House, in Brunswick, on that evening. to give such expression of their sentiments in relation to this right as in existing circumstances might appear suitable and necessary. The house was well filled. Professor William Smyth addressed the meet- ing at some length, reviewing the action of the former meeting, and taking strong ground in favor of free speech. Professor William Smyth, Doctor James McKeen, and Major Nahum Perkins were appointed a committee to prepare business for the meeting. They reported the following resolution : -
" Resolved, That freedom of thought and of speech is the natural right of every human being ; and that our Federal Constitution sacredly guarantees its protection to every citizen of this Republic."
Brief remarks were made by Jolin M. O'Brien, Esquire, in favor of the resolution. He was followed by Mr. Codding, who addressed the meeting at some length. A vote was then taken upon the resolu- tion, which was almost unanimous in its favor. Resolutions were then passed. that while the meeting would express no opinion either for or against the principles and measures of the Abolitionists, that they have a perfect right to hold and utter and defend their senti- ments, and " that as good citizens they should patiently bear with each others' supposed mistakes and errors, not doubting but, in the end, from the collision of mind with mind in open, fair, and manly discussion, the truth on every important subject will shine forth clear as the noonday, commanding the united assent of all."
A public meeting was held October 20, 1853, at the Congregational Vestry, to consider the importance of ornamenting the village with shade trees. Doctor Isaac Lincoln, Charles J. Gilman, John L. Swift, Hugh Mcclellan, George W. Carlton, Joseph McKeen, Jr., Valentine G. Colby, Francis Owen, William M. Hall, and Augustus C. Robbins were chosen a committee to obtain the necessary funds and to superintend the transplanting of trees throughout the village. One hundred and thirty-two dollars and sixty-one cents was raised and paid out for transplanting trees, etc. Thirty cents was the average price paid for the trees.
On Saturday, June 14, 1856, a public meeting of the citizens of Brunswick and Topsham was held, to give expression to the feelings of these communities in regard to the wanton attack on Senator Sumner by Representative Preston C. Brooks in the Senate Chamber in Con- gress. The meeting was called to order by Doctor Isaac Lincoln. Reverend Leonard Woods, D. D., was chosen to preside. Speeches were made by President Leonard Woods, Honorable Charles J. Gil-
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
man, Ebenezer Everett, Esquire, and Reverend Mr. Jaquis. and an address given by Reverend John S. C. Abbott. Spirited resolutions were offered by Professor William Smyth, which were unanimously passed. The meeting was a large and earnest one.
The question of petitioning for a city charter began to be agitated by the citizens of Brunswick in the latter part of the year 1857. On January 7, 1858, a meeting of citizens was held at Mclellan's Hall to consider the matter. The meeting voted that the citizens of the village ought to apply for a charter, and Daniel Elliott, A. G. Tenney, and A. C. Robbins were elected a Committee of Correspond- ence in regard to the matter. Ebenezer Everett, Joseph McKeen, Richard Greenleaf, Benjamin Furbish, and Charles J. Noyes were chosen a committee to draft a charter to be presented to the legislature.
A second meeting was held January 26. A. G. Tenney, Daniel Elliott, Benjamin Furbish, A. B. Thompson, and Thomas Skolfield were elected a committee to obtain signers to a petition. The meet- ing agreed to accept the whole town in the petition for a charter instead of the village, if it was generally desired.
A third meeting was held February 13th, at which it was voted to embrace the whole town in a petition for a charter if the town would so vote.
A charter was granted by the legislature, to take effect if accepted by the whole town at its first meeting. It was not accepted by the town.
From 1861 to 1865 inclusive, nearly all the public meetings held hereabouts had reference to the civil war then going on. The first one of which any record has been preserved was held at White's Hall, in Topsham, on April 23, 1861. It was to encourage the rais- ing of a company of volunteers. Francis Adams, Esquire, was chosen chairman, and Sandford A. Perkins, clerk. Speeches were made by Reverend Amos D. Wheeler, D. D., Reverend George Knox, and others. Captain Edward W. Thompson marched over with his com- pany of Brunswick Volunteers, and addressed the meeting. William Whitten, George A. Rogers, and Francis T. Littlefield were chosen a committee to solicit subscriptions, and two hundred dollars was subscribed on the spot. Some patriotic resolutions were also adopted.
On May 2, a meeting was held in Brunswick, at which a beautiful silk flag was presented to the Brunswick Volunteers by Mrs. Arabella Greenleaf, in behalf of the ladies of the town. Captain Thompson responded for the company.
A meeting was held in the depot, in Brunswick, on the afternoon of
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GENERAL AND SOCIAL.
October 17, and another on the evening of the same day, at which speeches were made by Colonel L. D. M. Sweat. and C. C. Woodman, Esquire, of Portland, Honorable Charles J. Gilman, of Brunswick, and J. T. Gilman, of Bath.
On the nineteenth of July, 1862, a meeting was held at the depot in Brunswick, which was opened with a prayer by Reverend George E. Adams. Speeches were made by Professors Whittlesey and Chamber- lain, of Bowdoin College, and by General Oliver O. Howard, U. S. A.
July 25 a meeting was held at Mclellan's Hall, and speeches were made by Honorable Charles J. Gilman, Professors Chamberlain and Whittlesey, Reverend Doctor Ballard, John M. O'Brien, Esquire, and J. T. Magrath, of Bowdoin College.
On the 29th a meeting was also held, at which speeches were made by Reverend Doctor Ballard, J. M. O'Brien, Esquire, Reverend Doctor Tenney, of Ellsworth, Reverend Doctor Adams, A. G. Tenney, and by a Mr. Temple, of Bowdoin College.
Another meeting of the same kind was held August 30, at which speeches were made by John M. O'Brien, Esquire, and A. G. Tenney.
September 1, a meeting was held in the meeting-house at Grows- town, where speeches were made by Honorable Charles J. Gilman and A. G. Tenney.
On the next day two meetings were held, - one in the afternoon, in the Baptist Meeting-House at New Meadows, at which speeches were made by Charlton C. Lewis, of New York, and by Honorable Charles J. Gilman ; the other was held in the evening at Mclellan's Hall, and was addressed by Honorable Josiah H. Drummond, and J. T. Gilman, Esquire, of Portland, and by Reverend Mr. Rugg, of Bath.
On September 8, 1863, there was a public meeting at the Bruns- wick depot, which was addressed by Honorable F. O. J. Smithi, of Portland, on the unconstitutionality of the Conscription Act. This ' could with more propriety be termed an anti-war meeting.
In January, 1864, a meeting of citizens was held at the Congrega- tional Vestry in Brunswick, in favor of giving aid to the freedmen. Several speeches were made, and a committee was appointed to solicit aid. They issued circulars in regard to this object, and reported sub- sequently that they had received and forwarded to the Freedman's Bureau eleven boxes of clothing, the estimated value of which was $1,000.
Several meetings were held in the summer of 1865, in Topsham, for the purpose of taking action in relation to offering inducements to the trustees of the State Agricultural College to locate that institution
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
in Topsham. Sufficient funds were obtained, but the trustees deemed it expedient to locate the college at Orono.
In 1866. some time in July, a meeting of the citizens of Brunswick was held to take measures for furnishing aid to the sufferers by the Portland fire. A relief committee was chosen, and supplies and money were sent by it to the city authorities.
Doubtless many other meetings of the citizens of these towns have been held besides those which are here mentioned. Some others are mentioned in other connections, and there are some, doubtless, of which no record has been found.
That our citizens have always been eminent for their cultivation of the moral and social virtues, no less than for their zeal for improve- ment in knowledge, is evident from the attention they gave to the formation of
ASSOCIATIONS,
The number of which, of various kinds and for various purposes, in Brunswick and vicinity, formed from time to time during the present century, is so large as to admit of but brief mention in these pages.
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATIONS. - The earliest association of this kind was the MECHANICS' ASSOCIATION, of Bruns- wick, which was formed August 8, 1842. The first officers were, James Derby, president ; Benjamin Furbish, vice-president ; Theo- dore S. Mclellan, secretary ; Ezra Drew, treasurer. The object of the society was " the promotion of business and the improvement of intellect."
On April 14, 1854, the SAGADAHOC AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICUL- TURAL SOCIETY was incorporated. Though not a town society, it is mentioned here because all its buildings and grounds are situated in Topsham, and most of its meetings have been held there. The first meeting of this society was held in Bath, at the City Hall, July 1, 1854. At this meeting a code of by-laws was adopted and perma- nent officers elected, and the meeting then adjourned to the tenth of August following. At this latter meeting it was voted to hold a fair that autumn. at such time and place as the executive officers of the society might determine .. Some of the principal officers, however, declined serving, and no fair was held that season. The society held its meetings annually at Bath for several years, but had, at first, a hard struggle for existenee. In 1855 Mr. Francis T. Purinton, of Topsham, was elected its president. Though not nominally, yet in reality, he was the first person to serve in that capacity. In the
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