USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 38
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 38
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 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
On Nov. 10, 1892, Camden village sustained the most disastrous conflagration in its history. The fire started at one o'clock A. M., in the lofty wooden block of Geo. H. Cleveland, located on the east side of Main street where Mr. Cleveland's one story block now stands, and had made considerable headway before the alarm could be given, and when the fire department arrived the water pressure at the hydrants was inadequate and later almost wholly gave out. Driven by a fierce easterly wind from the bay, the flames communicated with the other buildings on the east side of Main street, leaped across to the west side, quickly destroying the stores on that side, crossed Mechanic street to the large Knight brick block which in a few moments went down, burned the row of stores on the northerly side of Elm street, crossed Washington street to Megunticook Hall, which also went down before them, burned the old brick "Estabrook house " and were finally subdued, with the help of the Rockland steamer, in the old "Jones house" owned by Dr. S. Tibbetts.
493
THE GREAT FIRE
When the flames were gotten under control in the early morning the following buildings with their contents had been destroyed : the Cleveland block, grist-mill and store adjoining, the Burd- Hodgman, Arau and Alden blocks on the east side of Main street ; the whole of the section lying between Main street, Mechanic street and Megunticook river, containing about ten business blocks and one dwelling house; the section between Mechanic street and the river east of the "Bakery bridge," containing four or five shops ; the space enclosed by Mechanic, Elm and Wash- ington streets, containing some eight business blocks, one dwelling house, the Methodist Episcopal church and chapel, and the engine house ; also Megunticook Hall and the Estabrook house on Elm street. The Jones house was partially destroyed and was re-built. The fire was a grand spectacle, the flames soaring high into the air and pieces of paper and burned shingles were carried by the gale beyond Simonton's Corner. A snow squall coming shortly after the fire began, which covered the roofs of the buildings in the westerly part of the village with a: coating of snow, prevented the town from suffering a much greater loss. The cause of the fire was never discovered although a fire inquest was immediately held. It was generally supposed that it caught from the heating apparatus in the basement of the Cleveland block, thence running up through the elevator shaft and bursting out at the roof. In the fire some fifty places of business were destroyed, the fine Masonic and Odd Fellow's halls, the rooms of the Business Men's Association and various other societies, but fortunately but few families lost their homes and none of the large manufacturing establishments of the town were destroyed. The loss of buildings and goods mounted into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the owners of both buildings and stocks were fortunately exceedingly well insured, only one small building being without any insurance whatever.
Several town meetings were called immediately after the fire to consider matters relative thereto, the principal results of which
494
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
were the adoption of a new by law forbidding the erection of per- manent wooden buildings in the business center of the village, and authorizing the purchase of the excellent steam fire engine now owned by the town.
This year the publication of the Rockport News, a weekly local newspaper was begun at Rockport village by E. B. Thorn- dike. Mr. Thorndike shortly sold his interest to John W. Thomas
-
A Rockport Village Home Residence of Hon. H. L. Shepherd
who continued its publication for about two years when it was discontinued and Mr. Thomas became a member of the staff of the Rockland Courier-Gazette.
The Rockport Opera House was built this year by a private corporation. It is a fine wooden structure, and contains a large auditorium, with galleries and boxes and a fine stage. As the old Union Hall has lately been used for business purposes, the Opera
495
THE GREAT FIRE
House became a necessity to the village people and is well suited for holding town and large public meetings.
In 1892, Rockport and Camden each lost an old and prom- inent business man, viz : Samuel D. Carlton, who died May 4, and David Knowlton, who died December 9.
Samuel D. Carleton was the son of William Carleton and was born in the old homestead, July 27, 1816. He received his education at the town schools and at China and Warren Academies. In 1838 he entered his father's store as clerk continuing in that capacity until November, 1840, when his father retired and Mr. Carleton formed a partnership with Joshua G. Norwood and con- tinued the business under the firm name of Carleton & Norwood. In 1849, Mr. Carleton's brother Philander J., was admitted to the firm which then became Carleton, Norwood & Co. and by that name it has ever since been known. The firm engaged extensive- ly in ship-building, lime manufacturing and general trading, giving steady and profitable employment to a large number of men. The foundation and development of the prosperous village of Rockport was, to a large extent, the result of the firm's business career, which in addition to other things began to develop the Jacobs' quarries at about the year 1867. Mr. Carleton was the leading spirit in this great and prosperous concern and was for years well and favorably known in commercial circles in all parts of the world. Mr. Carleton was President of the Camden Savings Bank from its organization. In politics he was a life-long Democrat and served the town in the Legislature. He never sought office, however, preferring to devote his time and atten- tion to his great business interests. One of the last acts of his business life was the erection by his firm of the fine brick block on Central street, Rockport, now owned by the S. E. & H. L. Shepherd Co. Mr. Carleton was kind hearted and generous, carefully avoiding in his acts of charity anything that savored of display or ostentation. Mr. Carleton was twice married. His first wife was the widow of Capt. William Verrill, and his second
e
1 3
:
-
496
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
wife was Mrs. Harriet N. Eastman, widow of Capt. Eben Eastman and daughter of Rev. Job Washburn. The children of his first marriage were William D., Adelia C., (who married Capt. Henry Talpey of Dorchester, Mass.,) and Eliza U., (who married Capt. W. H. Luce of South Thomaston. )
David Knowlton was born in Liberty, Maine, and was 73 years of age at the time of his death. He was widely known as a manufacturer and inventor of ship machinery. He learned the machinist's trade in Worcester, Mass., and afterwards erected a grist and saw mill in Liberty. In 1854 he came to Camden and had a machine shop where C. M. Barstow's shop now is, and later went into the foundry and machine shop business with Henry Knight. Afterwards he was in the business with Horatio Alden and Cyrus G. Bachelder. In 1861 the plant was destroyed by fire, uninsured, but was re-built and the business continued until 1869, when the D. Knowlton Co. was organized, which company continued until 1880 when it was succeeded by the present firm of Knowlton Bros., composed of Mr. Knowlton's four sons. During all the period of his active life Mr. Knowlton was con- tinually bringing out some new invention pertaining to ship machinery, among them being the "Improved Patent Power Windlass Beam " and the "Power Capstan." While at the head of the D. Knowlton Co., Mr. Knowlton became a maunfacturer of cars, car wheels and granite polishing machines. He made freight cars for the Knox & Lincoln, Portland & Rochester, Somerset and European & North American railroads, and two handsome passen- ger cars for the Boston & Maine and Eastern roads. The passen- ger cars were hauled to Rockland by twenty-one yoke of oxen. In addition to his great energy as a business man Mr. Knowlton took great interest in public matters. One of his endeavors was the placing of the town clock in the Baptist steeple for which he started the subscription. He was one of the organizers of the Camden Savings Bank. Mr. Knowlton married Susan M. French. Their children : Viola C., (who married Charles A. Bucklin), Alonzo
497
THE GREAT FIRE
J. Q., John D., E. Frank, Willis D., George W., Mary E., and Susan E.
Another prominent Rockport man dying this year was Capt. James Magune, who was born in Calais, Maine, but became a resident of Rockport village prior to the breaking out of the rebellion. When President Lincoln called for 75,000 men, he offered his services to the navy, and was appointed an Acting Master, Aug. 14, 1861, and was ordered to report to the Com- mandant of the New York Navy Yard, for passage in the S. S. Connecticut to join the Powhatan of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Oct. 29, 1861, he was detached from the Powhatan and ordered to the S. S. South Carolina as Executive Officer. He received great praise from Capt. (afterwards Admiral) Almy, on account of his skill as Executive Officer and Navigator, and on July 5, 1863, was placed in command of the South Carolina, and his vessel as one of Porter's fleet took an active part at the front. Feb. 16, 1864, Capt. Magune was ordered to the command of the Mohawk at Port Royal, S. C., and on July 19th of the same year was ordered to the command of the Thistle (name afterwards changed to Dunbarton.) On July 25th he was detached from the Thistle and ordered to Cairo, Ill., to take command of the double- turreted Monitor, Milwaukee. On Aug. 17, following, for meritorious service he was promoted to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant, and on Nov. 22, by order of Admiral Farragut he was detached from the Monitor and given command of the S. S. Sciota, for service in Mobile Bay. There, as has already been stated, he took part in the bombardment and surrender of Mobile. In April, 1865, the Sciota was sunk by a Rebel torpedo, six men being killed and four wounded. Capt. Magune and his son, James Edward, who was his clerk, were badly shaken up, and for several weeks were in the hospital at Mobile. In May, 1865, he raised the Sciota and took her to New York, where she went out of commission. On Nov. 25, 1865, the war being ended, Capt. Magune was honorably discharged from the navy. After leaving
1
:
p
of je
et
ne ed
498
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
the service he returned to his former occupatiou of following the sea, which he continued for many years, a part of the time acting as Coast Pilot for the United States and piloting many warships to the various ports on the Atlantic coast. At the death of his wife, his injuries received at Mobile having troubled him for some time, he retired from active work, making his home in Rockport, where he died at the age of 63 years, and was buried with Masonic honors. Capt. Magune married Alice Cameron. They had six children, viz : Oriana, (who married Joseph Hoyt), Alice, (who married Hosea Gordon), Algernon H., James Edward, Sarah, (who married Oris Levensaler) and Clarence.
499
FROM THE ASHES
CHAPTER LVIII.
FROM THE ASHES.
1893. The cold and dismal winter following the great fire, was passed by the people of Camden in making plans for re-building the village which work was begun as soon as the frost left the ground in the spring of 1893, and the new buildings were principally of brick. The first building to be started was that of one of the oldest citizens of the town, Mr. John H. Curtis, who built the fine Curtis block on Elm street. Other buildings begun that spring by individuals were the Carleton, Norwood & Co's block, the W. F. Bisbee block, the W. R. Gill block, and the "French " block on Elm street and the blocks built by E. C. Fletcher, F. E. Russell, H. H. Cleveland's estate, B. F. Adams, Sylvester L. Arau, Geo. Burd and G. T. Hodgman on Main street. The promptness and energy displayed by these men, some of whom were young men with small capitals, showed both their courage and their confidence in the future of their town. The members of the Masonic fraternity were equally courageous and organized the Camden Masonic Temple Association which completed, during the year, the magnificent "Temple " at a cost of about $38,000. Not to be outdone by its individual citizens the Camden Village Corporation itself at once began to lay plans for a fine building to replace "Megunticook Hall." Several corporation meetings were called at which the question of building was discussed and finally it was voted by a good majority to erect the present corpora-
500
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
tion building or "Opera House " at a cost of over $40,000. To do this it became necessary to amend the charter of the corpora- tion, to authorize it to issue bonds to the amount of $30,000. This project met with the active opposition of some of the older and more conservative citizens of the village who sent a remon- strance to the Legislature and appeared before the legislative committee in opposition to the proposed amendment. The Legislature, however, passed the act amending the charter, 1 and the construction of the building was begun when several citizens of the corporation petitioned the Supreme Judicial Court for an injunction restraining the building of the block. A hearing for a temporary injunction was at once held before Judge Enoch Foster at Bath. Judge Foster denied the prayer for an injunction and the "Opera House " was completed. As a result of the building operations of 1893, together with the "Traveller's Inn" block of W. B. Groves and the fine "Huse Block " of the estate of Jonathan Huse, since erected, Camden village can boast of one of the finest business sections of any town in Maine.
This year the annual meeting in Camden was held at the Baptist vestry, March 20. Charles C. Wood was re-elected Town Clerk; Alden Miller, Jr., G. T. Hodgman and Isaac Coombs were elected Selectmen and C. K. Miller, Treasurer. At this meeting the beginning of Camden's excellent sewerage system was provided for, and the sum of $2,000 was appropriated for the building of an engine house.
The Rockport annual meeting was held at the Rockport Opera House (where all the Rockport town meetings have since been held), on March 27, at which Leroy S. Gardiner was elected Town Clerk; G. H. M. Barrett, G. T. Harkness and L. B. Brewster, Selectmen and J. S. Foster, Treasurer.
1. Bonds of the corporation to the amount of $30,000, at 4 per cent. were issued and two years later the charter was again amended to allow the corporation to issue bonds to an additional amount of $5,000. A portion of these bonds have now been refunded at 3 1-2 per cent. For acts amending Village Corporation Charter, see Private and Special Laws of 1893, Page 636 and 1895, Page 90.
501
FROM THE ASHES
Camden Lodge, No. 81, Knights of Pythias was organized at Camden, Jan. 3, 1893, with 21 charter members. The first officers were, Edwin S. Rose, P. C .; Frank H. Wilbur, S. P. C .; John K. Hooper, C. C .; Fred K. Shaw, V. C .; C. C. Phelan, Prelate ; F. A. D. Singhi, M. of E .; Chas. K. Miller, M. of F .; Mark B. Arey, K. of R. S .; Forrest G. Currier, M. at Arms ; Ralph E. Richards, I. G .; and James Bickford, O. G. This Lodge is now a prosperous one having a membership of 104. In 1895 a Lodge known as Beacon Light Lodge, No. 102, was organized at Rockport, which continued a separate existence until 1900, when it consolidated with Camden Lodge.
The Temple Club was organized in Camden in November, 1893 with Capt. Isaac W. Sherman its first President. This is a social organization, somewhat similiar to the Business Men's Association, but without its Board of Trade and Village Improvement Society features. It possesses fine quarters in the Masonic Temple, and has a large membership.
Camden lost two of its oldest and most respected business men in 1893, D. H. Bisbee and Geo. L. Follansbee.
Deplura H. Bisbee was born in Hartford, Maine, in the year 1818. He came to Camden in the early fifties and carried on the manufacture of powder, as one of the firm of Bisbee, Marble & Co. Some fifteen years later he became the sole proprietor of the business which he carried on most successfully until 1892, when he sold out his plant and privilege to the Mt. Battie Mfg. Com- pany but continued in the powder trade until his death. Mr. Bisbee was highly respected by all who knew him, for his busi- ness ability and integrity. He was a careful and reliable financier, a warm-hearted and generous neighbor and public-spirited citizen. He was always young in spirit, fond of hunting and fish- ing, and to the last year of his life, with dog and gun, sought game over the mountains and through the woodlands of this section as eagerly and as actively as might a man of half his age. Mr. Bisbee was twice elected to represent the town in the Legis-
502
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
lature, in 1861 and 1862, serving when James G. Blaine was Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. He was several times First Assessor of Camden Village Corporation, was chairman of the committee that had charge of the building of Megunticook Hall, and was very active in his labors in behalf of the corporation. He was a director of Camden National Bank from its organization, and was its President the last two years of his life. He was also director of the Mt. Battie Mfg. Co. He was a firm believer in the cause of temperance and did all in his power for its promotion. He was Treasurer of Twombly Lodge, I. O. O. F., from its organization. Mr. Bisbee married Lydia B. Heald of Sumner, Maine, and they were the parents of four children, a daughter who died young, and three sons, Columbus W., Fred W., and Walter F. He died Oct. 5, 1893, at the age of 75 years and 2 months.
George L. Follansbee died Oct. 14, 1893, at the age of 70 years. He was the son of Leonard Follansbee, who was
born in Leominster, Mass., in 1796, married Lucy Preston and came to Union, Maine, in 1822. Leonard Follansbee was a paper maker by trade which he carried on for several years in Union, and then - about 1830 - came to Camden where he con- tinued the manufacture of paper, and where he died in 1857. The children of Leonard and Lucy Follansbee were George L., Fisher H., John B., Joseph S., Edward T., Charles W., and Caroline E. The eldest of this family, George L. Follansbee, the subject of this sketch, was born in Union, Maine, Aug. 25, 1823, but came to Camden when seven years of age. In 1838 he became a clerk in George Pendleton's dry goods store where he remained until 1846, when, on account of ill health, he went west and taught school for a year in Ontario. He then returned and acted as clerk in a Belfast dry goods store for two years, and then came to Camden and with H. H. Johnson of Belfast bought out George Pendleton's business. One year later purchased the whole business which he carried on until burned out by the great fire in 1892, although for many years his younger brother,
503
FROM THE ASHES
Mr. C. W. Follansbee, had been his junior partner, the firm name being Follansbee & Co. Mr. Follansbee was a modest, retiring man of intrinsic worth, and while he did not seek office was often called to fill important positions of trust in the community. He was a director of the Camden National Bank from its organization, and its President from 1882 to 1892. He was for fifteen years a director of the Knox Woolen Co. He held various town offices and was the town's Representative to the Legislature in 1863 and 1864. Mr. Follansbee married Cythera M. Howard by whom he had the following children : Carrie E., Georgia P., (who married Oscar A. Knight), Harry L. and Marion H.
1894. The annual town meeting was held in Camden at the new engine house on March 19, 1894. Charles C. Wood was elected Town Clerk ; J. H. Sherman, G. T. Hodgman and E. N. Duffy, Selectmen, and Fred Lewis, Treasurer.
The Rockport annual meeting was held March 26. The Town Clerk and Selectmen elected in 1893 were re-elected and Ralph T. Spear was elected Treasurer.
Henry B. Cleaves, Charles F. Johnson and Luther C. Bate- man, were again the gubernatorial candidates respectively of the Republican, Democratic and Peoples parties, while Ira G. Hersey was nominated by the Prohibitionists. Mr. Cleaves was re-elected by a very large majority.
In Camden the vote for governor was as follows: Cleaves, 272; Johnson, 183; Bateman, 90; Hersey, 11. Edward R. Ogier of Camden was Prohibition candidate for Representative to Congress, and Wilder W. Perry of Camden, candidate of the same party for County Attorney, both of whom received 11 votes in Camden. J. H. Sherman of Camden was Democratic candidate for County Commissioner, and received in Camden 213 votes to 256 for his opponent.
In Rockport the vote for governor was as follows : Cleaves, 232; Johnson, 162; Bateman, 23 and Hersey, 8. Ralph W. Carleton of Rockport was Democratic candidate for senator re-
d
2
D S
0
2
d
504
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
ceiving in his own town 180 votes to 214 for his opponent. Miles S. Leach of Rockport was Prohibition candidate for County Commissioner, receiving 8 votes in Rockport.
The candidates for Representative this year were Camden men. They were Augustine F. Miller, Republican, J. H. Mont- gomery, Democrat, and Charles T. Swan, Peoples. Mr. Miller was elected. The vote stood as follows : Camden, Miller, 252 ; Montgomery, 208; Swan, 69. Rockport, Miller, 241; Mont- gomery, 150; Swan, 20.
This year Knox County went Republican, that party electing its candidates for senator and county officials.
John H. Curtis, son of Capt. Calvin, was born in Camden in 1810, and died Aug. 12, 1894, at the age of nearly 84 years. Mr. Curtis was one of Camden's oldest business men and kept in the harness up to the year of his death. In early life he learned the tanner's trade but later acted as clerk for Joseph Jones and afterwards was clerk in the corner store that stood on the site of Carleton, Pascal & Co's. store. He then purchased the store on Elm street where he traded all his life, at first in the grocery business but later in the hardware business. During the last of his business career he was associated with his son, John C. Curtis. When his store was burned in 1892, Mr. Curtis, although a veteran of 82, vigorously went to work to re-build. He started the first foundation in re-building the town and his fine brick block, which John C. Curtis now occupies, was the first building completed. Mr. Curtis was not a public man, but occasionally held office, being Selectman, etc., and Deputy Sheriff. Mr. Curtis married Mary, daughter of Moses Parker, and the children born to them were, Charles F., Mary J., Lucy E., (who married Geo. L. Mansfield), John C., Moses P., Edward B., William, and Fred L.
Thomas B. Grose died Sept. 10, 1894. Mr. Grose was the son of John Gross, Jr., and the grandson of John Gross, one of the early settlers of the town. John Gross, the first, was born in
505
FROM THE ASHES
England and when a lad of fourteen was "bound " to the captain of a whaling vessel, with whom he continued to go to sea for nine years.1 At the end of that time the vessel being in New York he left and came to Boston where he married, and with $30 in his pocket came to Camden and settled, taking of the "Twenty Associates " the lot next northerly of the Ogier lot, a part of which remained in the family until sold to Mr. W. F. Hooper of Fall River, a few years ago. He was the father of seven daugh- ters and one son, John, Jr., who married Nancy Barrett of Concord, Mass., by whom he had two children, Thomas B., and Sarah W., (who married Capt. Thomas Prince. ) Thomas B. Grose was born on the old place in 1810, but he afterwards settled in Rock- port village where he passed his life. He was a light-house build- er and contracted with the government for building many light- houses along our coast, among them being the Indian Island light-house at Rockport harbor. Mr. Grose was prominent in many ways. He was always a strong Democrat in politics in which he took great interest. He held various town offices, among them being that of Selectman for several years. In 1868 he was elected Sheriff of Knox County and held the office for several terms. He was a Mason and one of the early Odd Fellows of this section being a member and Past Grand of Vesper Lodge of Rockport in the forties. Mr. Grose married Orinda Dailey who died a few months before he did. They had no children who reached mature years. He was 84 years of age at the time of his death.
1895. The Camden annual town meeting was held in the new corporation hall, or "Opera House" (where it has always been held since that day) on March 18. Charles C. Wood and Fred Lewis were again elected respectively, Town Clerk and Treasurer, and J. H. Sherman, E. N. Duffy and E. C. Fletcher were elected Selectmen.
The Rockport annual meeting was held on March 25. John 1. The name was originally spelled "Gross." On the old records at different times it is spelled "Gross," "Groose" and "Grose." The later members of the family apparently settled upon " Grose."
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.