History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 179

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 179

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The amount of lumber shipped from the port of Ban- gor during the decade ending with this year, for the sev- eral years, was as follows: 1859, 178,046,440 feet; 1860, 201,349,527; 1861, 131,091,210; 1862, 160,062,983; 1863, 190,672,269; 1864, 174,436,272; 1865, 169,881,- 023; 1866, 237, 147,606; 1867, 206,483,358; 1868, 220,- 794,766. About half a million feet of the lumber shipped during the last four years had been subjected to the process known as "Burnettizing." The estimate of short lumber shipped in 1868 was: Shingles, 152,703,- ooo; laths, 112,458,000; clapboards, 5, 144,000; pickets, 3,678,000.

1869. Another great fire occurred on New Year's Day at the West Market Square, which burned all night, and destroyed the stores of Conner & Fuller, of Hay- ward & Co. (who lost $57,916), George W. Ladd (loss $28,000), Emery Wing & Co. ($20,000), F. F. Farring- ton ($12,000), Fogg & Bridges ($16,619), and Thomas A. Taylor ($9,500). The aggregate loss was $200,963.67, of which $137,597.67 was insured.

On Thanksgiving Day Miss Deborah B. Hersey died of consumption. She had been for twenty years a teach- er in the public schools, and for twelve years in the select school for girls, on Abbott Square.

This year ten vessels, with a tonnage of 2,332, were built at Bangor. The next year but 1,230 tons, or a lit- tle more than half of the tonnage of 1869, were built.

The Bangor Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was organized in April. President, Joseph Carr; Vice-Presidents, Joseph S. Wheelwright, Samuel D. Thurston, George K. Jewett, Joseph C. White, Isaac R. Clark; Treasurer, Ebenezer T. Fox ; Secretary, (). H. Ingalls ; Directors, P. B. Mills, S. P. Bradbury, George Stetson, William P. Wingate, E. F. Duren.

The amount of long lumber shipped from Bangor this year was 190,840,908 feet.

The building for the Children's Home, on Thomas's Hill, was erected this year.

The Penobscot Savings Bank dates from February of 1869.

1870. The long lumber shipped from the port this year amounted to 202,014,192 feet, of which about 4,000,000 were " Burnettized."

The Jameson Guards, a local military organization, (Company G, Maine Volunteer Militia) was organized

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

this year. Captain, Daniel White ; First Lieutenant, James A. Dean ; Second Lieutenant, George F. Gold- thwait.

The National Insurance Company, of Bangor, was organized July 25th, with a cash capital of $200,000. The Merchants' Marine Insurance Company, capital $150,000, was incorporated the same year.

Clark & Bowman's block was partly burned this year. The building was damaged to the amount of $4,800, and goods therein $3,000; insurance $6,800.

1871. The new county jail was finished, with the county workshop.

The European & North American Railroad was opened to Vanceboro. President Grant and many other digni- taries from the States and Provinces were present, and went to the terminus. The President was very hand- somely received there and at Bangor.

A fire occured at Pickering Square, by which E. P. Baldwin and others lost about $9,000, mostly insured.

The amount of long lumber shipped this year was 227,491,975 feet.

1872. The Bangor Insurance Company was incor- porated in February, with a capital of $200,000.

On the Ioth of October spontaneous combustion caused a fire in Michael Swartz's block on West Market Square, which caused him a loss of $37,000 on the build- ing and $92,000 on stock in trade; insurance $70,000. Messrs. Fogg & Bridges lost $25,000, Webster Treat $6,600, William E. Mann $3,000, O. F. Knowles $1,- 500, W. H. Adams $1,000, and others smaller sums.

The corner-stone of the St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) church was laid September 15, the Right Rev. Bishop Bacon officiating.

The session of the Maine Educational Society was held in Bangor the latter part of the same month, and awakened much interest.

The Home for Aged Women was incorporated.

Norombega Lodge, No. 5, Knights of Pythias, was chartered April 24, 1872.

The amount of long lumber shipped this year was the largest ever known, being 246,453,649 feet. The following is a detailed statement of the lumber sold in 1872:

Pine, 37,750,000.

$ 658,718.00

Spruce, 176,933,649.

2,353,217.53

Hemlock, 23,370,000.

222,015.00

Total sales of long lumber

$3,233,950.00

Clapboards, 3,643,000

$ 94,718.00

Laths, 150,677,000

263,684.75

Pickets

25,680.00

Shingles, 121,264,000

363.792.00

Staves, 798,000.

7,980.00

Total sales short lumber.

755.854.75

Total lumber sold .$3,989,805.28

1873. The long lumber shipped this year footed up 179,202,353 feet.

1874. The public libraries were consolidated this year, and the rooms now occupied by the Mechanics' Associa- tion Library, on Kenduskeag Bridge were occupied by the united library.

The Bangor Reform Club, an institution which was one of the outgrowths of the celebrated temper-

ance crusade of this year, was organized September 10, and incorporated December 28, with Dr. H. A. Rey- nolds, the since noted lecturer and "red ribbon" reformer, then of this city, as President; W. A. Longley, J. J. Richardson, James Barnabee, Vice-presidents ; S. L. Stevens, Secretary; G. S. Walker, Financial Secretary; E. Allen, Treasurer. This society still maintains a vig- orous existence, holding public meetings every Sunday, and other meetings frequently.

The Woman's Temperance Crusade was formed as a local society the same year, and has since steadily kept up its work. Its meetings Sabbath afternoons are held jointly with the Reform Club.

The West Bangor Chapel (Congregational) society was organized April 2.

The long lumber shipped from this port in 1874 amounted to 176,786,932 feet.

Two notable fires of this year occurred-one in the station of the European & North American Railway, on Exchange street, which destroyed the roof and attic, costing the company $8,717.16 to replace them; and one April 18, in the row of storehouses in the rear of Ex- change street block. This was an incendiary fire, and caused a loss of more than $70,000, which was largely insured. Messrs. Babb & Lane's loss was $25,000; Kimball & Sanford's $12,000; William P. Hubbard's $10,000; and there were some smaller losses. December 15 another large fire occurred, losing for G. W. Fielding $10,000, Harriman & Carter, $8,000, and others various sums, the total being about $51,000.

1875. June 27 a fire invaded Bragg & Foster's stores, on Pickering Square, causing a loss of $8,350, which was fully insured, and others, also insured, losses of about $8,500.

The fine Grammar School building at the junction of Union and Fourth streets, was built this year, at a total cost of $32,170, except the furnace and heating appa- ratus, which cost $5,700.

The city authorities accepted a trust fund of $25,000 for the Home for Aged Women, paying yearly interest on the same; also $1, 000 from the estate of Dr. McRuer, devised to the Bangor Fuel society.

The Bangor Art Association was organized February II. Dr. Augustus C. Hamlin, President; Clarence L. Dakin, Secretary and Treasurer.

Amount of long lumber shipped from the port of Ban- gor this year, 154,663, 129 feet.

1876. The quantity of long lumber shipped from Bangor this year amounted to 115, 121, 191 feet.

The Bayard Lodge, No. 294, Free and Accepted Ma sons, was instituted May 31.

1877. 'A noble deed of charity was done this year, in the contribution of $10,000 in money and goods in a very few hours, and the dispatching of a train load of food to the sufferers by the great fire at St. John, New Brunswick.

On the night of February 7, Mr. G. W. Merrill's store, on Pickering Square, was burned; loss, $5,582; insured, $5,000. Some others sustained losses.

The city now had a debt of $800,000, and liabilities

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

incurred in aid of railroads to the amount of about $2,- 000,000 more. In 1850 the debt was but $128,000. Hon. Elijah Hamlin, father of Dr. A. C. Hamlin, the Mayor of 1877, was then Mayor of the city.

1878. The Burnettizing Works, engaged in the preser- vation of wood against decay by a peculiar process, were burned on the 3d of April, with a loss of about $18,000. They were situated on the Hampden Road, at the edge of the city, and have never been replaced.

In the winter of this year the ice industry first became important in and near Bangor.

The Bangor Council, Royal Arcanum, was instituted July 18, 1878.

1881. A profound sensation was produced in this city, as elsewhere throughout the country-and, indeed, the civilized world-by the shooting of President Garfield at Washington City, July 2, by the assassin, Charles J. Guiteau. Meetings were held soon after the occurrence and also upon the death of the President, September 19, to express the sense of grief and indignation felt by the community. On the day of the funeral, September 26, obsequies were appropriately observed in the City Hall and the Central Congregational church. All these ser- vices were largely attended. A considerable fund was afterwards subscribed for the Garfield Monumental Fund.

CHAPTER XXXII. THE CHURCHES OF BANGOR.

The First Parish Congregational-Hammond Street Congregational- The Central Congregational-The Independent Congregational ( Uni- tarian)-West Bangor Chapel-Crosbyville Chapel-The First Bap- tist-First Free Baptist-St. John's (Roman Catholic) Parish-St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) Parish-First Methodist Episcopal-Union Street Methodist-Universalist-Other Churches.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This is the pioneer religious society of Bangor. A good part of its earlier history has already been related by Judge Godfrey. By the fall of 1811 it began to be earnestly desired by the few Congregationalists of the place that a church of their faith should be formed here; and, although they were but a feeble band, in point of numbers, they courageously took the matter in hand, and went forward to form what in the fullness of time became a strong, vigorous, and influential organization. These prime movers were Deacon William Boyd, and Messrs. William Hasey and Stephen S. Crosby, who bore letters from the Congregational church of Orrington, and William D. Williamson, the well-known lawyer and historian, who had been a member of the church at Amherst. The decis- ive steps were taken November 26, 1811, when these gen- tlemen agreed to enter into a covenant with each other as

a church, with certain articles of faith almost identical with those adopted at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in 1798. It had been previously agreed to call the Rev. Harvey Loomis, a graduate of Williams College two years before, and a young man of 26, who had been preaching tem- porarily at Norridgewock, to the pastorate of the new - church. His services had been secured, and he was to be installed on the day of organization.

The church was fully constituted on Wednesday, No- vember 27, 1811. Miss Sarah Harrod, who had personal recollections of the day, and herself became a member in 1815, communicated the following, many years after- ward, in a letter to a friend in Bangor :

The day the church was organized was a business meeting; at that time they drew up the articles and signed them. Then came the ordi- nation in that same upper room. A church meeting followed, when the sisters passed examination and were voted in. The next Sabbath was communion. The church meeting was appointed to be attended one month from that time, and continued for four or five years a monthly meeting.

The ministers present at the organization of the soci- ety were the Rev. Messrs. Fisher of Bluehill, Blood of Bucksport, Mason of Castine, Johnson of Belfast, and Gillet of Hallowell. Two other visiting brethren, named Spaulding and Wason, probably laymen from the Bucksport church, seem to have been present; and it is said that two more clergymen, the Rev. Messrs. John Sawyer and H. May, were also in attendance. The number of visitors was thus over twice as great as that of the members of the infant society.

"Father Fisher" was already a man of fifty-six years, and called by this venerable title; but he survived to nearly double that age, dying at last in Bangor at the age of one hundred and three, his funeral being attended at the first church October 24, 1858. He was not only present at the birth of the church, but he successively attended the ordinations of Mr. Pomroy in 1825, and Mr. Little in 1849. In his diary occur the following en- tries :

November 26, 1811. With Mr. Blood, Mason, Spaulding, and Wason, was to Bangor. Arrived opposite Bangor about 3 P. M. On account of ice in the river, left horses in Orrington and crossed in small boats to Bangor. Council formed to gather a church, and prepare the way to ordain Mr. Loomis. Gathered a church of four male members, examined and approved the candidate, and assigned parts.

27th. Met with the Council at Mr. Garland's; procession formed; ordination proceeded. Parts as follows : Singing; prayer by Rev. Jonathan Fisher; singing "Ascension" hymn; sermon by Rev. Mr. Gillet; church instituted; call renewed and accepted; ordaining prayer by Rev. Mr. Sawyer; charge by Rev. A. Johnson; right hand of fellow- ship by Rev. Mr. Blood; concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Mason; exer- cises closed by singing "Denmark."

As the Mr. Garland named does not appear as a mem- ber of the church, it is possible he was keeper of a public house at which the people assembled and the procession was formed. The place of meeting is not mentioned in the old annals; but as Miss Harrod states that the first communion service* was held the next Sabbath, and as this service is known to have been in a school-house then standing near the present corner of Pine and State streets, it is probable that the original meetings were held

*The tradition is that the furniture of this communion service con- sisted of a common crockery pitcher and plate, with the ordinary glass tumblers of the time.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

in the same place. The first meeting entered in the records, however, was held in the "Academy," a building remembered to have stood near the original county Court-house, on Hammond, near Main street.

The recollection of Miss Harrod is that "the sisters passed examination and were voted in" at the church meeting immediately following the ordination; but ac- cording to the church roll they were not received as members until March II, 1812, when Mrs. Hannah Boyd, Mrs. Crosby, and Mrs. Hannah Crosby entered from the church at Orrington. Until then, for a period of about three months and a half, the church seems to have consisted of the original male quartette. Mrs. Eliza Kendrick was added April 8, 1812, from the church at Rochester, and the same date Mrs. Mary Gould was the first member received by profession, or "from the world," as the phrase of the old record is. Then, May 13th, came two male members by profession-Messrs. Stephen Kimball and Samuel E. Dutton; and subse- quently the same year, mostly by letter, Mmes. Exper- ience Harlow, Mary Carr, Mary Allen, Hutchins, Betsey Low, Eunice Dresser, Marcie Dutton, Almira Carr, and Elizabeth Little. The first white child born in Bangor, Mary, wife of Andrew Mayhew, was received November 10, 1813.

The first deacon of the church was William Boyd, who had already been a deacon in his former church. The next was Stephen S. Crosby. Other deacons in the first thirty years of the church were Eliashib Adams, George W. Brown, Bradford Harlow, Alexander Drummond, Al- bert Titcomb, James Allen, and George A. Thatcher, some of whom, as Deacons Thatcher and Titcomb, are yet living.

Soon after organization, the stated place of meeting of the church, in the absence of convenient public build- ings, became a small room or hall over James Crosby's store, on Exchange street. The next summer an attempt was made, but without success, to secure a sufficient sub- scription to build a meeting-house; and when, early in 1813, the old Court-house, now the City Hall, was so far finished that a part of it could be occupied, the congre- gation removed thither for worship. In 1822 a church building was completed for it - a frame house, standing upon the site still occupied by the society, and the first house of worship erected in Bangor. April 7, 1830, it was burned by an incendiary, who is said to have con- fessed shortly before his death that he did the deed in revenge for the excommunication of his wife. Services were held in the Baptist church until a new and better building, constructed of brick, was put up, and dedicated July 30, 1831. This is the edifice still in honorable and useful service, with important improvements, and the in- troduction of an excellent plan of ventilation, in the lat- ter part of 1859. This also received a severe scorching in a neighboring fire the next year.

In 1815 the society received as a present the first church bell rung in Bangor. The following acknowledg- ment appeared in the Weekly Register a few months after:

In July last Benjamin Bussey, Esq., of Boston, presented to the First Congregational Society in Bangor a Bell for their Meeting-House.

The bell was cast by Colonel Paul Revere [clarum et venerabile no- men !],, weighing 1,095 pounds, and was raised to the Belfry in Bangor in July. Its sound, in favorable weather, distinctly fills a circle of twelve miles in diameter.

Travelers remark that it affords a better sound than is common, and similar to that of bells most approved of.

The Selectmen of Bangor embrace your paper as a medium through which respectfully and publicly to acknowledge the favor done said in- habitants by the generous donor, and to express their gratitude to him for his liberal present.

Bangor, Feb. 15.

The Rev. Harvey Loomis, first pastor of the church, had been a contemporary at Williams College of the cel- ebrated missionary band, including Samuel J. Mills, Gor- don Hall, and James Richards; and his name is inscribed among the five heroes of the haystack prayer-meeting, upon the monument erected at its site near Williamstown, to commemorate the birth of foreign missions in Ameri- ca. He came to his work in Bangor with the influences of that memorable period fresh within him. He served his church with great acceptance and success for more than thirteen years ; and his pastorate had an ending which is one of the most interesting traditions of the community. He had selected as his text for the morn- ing service on the opening Sabbath of 1825 the words of Jeremiah xxviii. 16: "This year thou shalt die." He en- tered his pulpit in wonted health; but, then and there, with bis discourse of warning at hand, and before he had even spoken the opening service of the hour, he was stricken by the death angel. He died at his post, with his armor on. The Historical Sketch of the church, published in 1856, says :-----

The sermons of Mr. Loomis were short, pithy, pointed, direct, aimed at the conscience, and delivered in an interesting and impressive man- ner. While under his pastoral care, 143 persons were added to the church.

It was during his pastorate that a very remarkable re- vival of religion occurred, beginning in November, 1814, and lasting for no less a period than three years.

A manuscript book of historical memoranda, anony- mously prepared, and found among the records of the church, comprises the following concerning the succession of pastors and preachers, and some other matters:

When Mr. Pomroy was first settled, there was but one church. The Seminary professors and students attended all the meetings, and among these Dr. Smith had become very much endeared to the people. Then the excellent and fervent Mr. Gallagher was here for three years, and was a very efficient help. Dr. Hamlin was here three years, and was as wise then as now. Mr. Dole was another valuable worker, like "a vol- cano covered with ice." Mr. Bradford Harlow, Mr. John Barker, and Deacon Adams were all prominent men-Mr. D. Pike too. There was a rapid influx of population which filled up the meeting-house, and which was not checked until 1837.

The following additional notes are extracted from the Historical Sketch before mentioned :

Rev. Swan L. Pomroy was ordained pastor of this church August 31, 1825. Rev. Doct. Payson, of Portland [the celebrated Edward Payson], preached the sermon.

At the communion-season in March, 1828, an interesting and power- ful revival of religion commenced, which continued a number of months, and a large number of persons were added to the church.

In March, 1831, there appeared to be an unusual attention to the subject of religion, and a series of meetings were held, continuing six days, with great interest and a manifest blessing.

In the year 1834 there was considerable religious interest in the city and large additions to the church, both by profession and by letter.

During the years 1836 and 1837, there were considerable additions to the church.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

About the commencement of the year 1840 there began a powerful revival of religion, which continued several months. It was deep, thorough, still. More than ninety persons were added to the church dur- ing the year, by profession alone.

In April, 1845, Mr. Pomroy expressed a desire to be released from his labors, for the period of a year or more, for the purpose of improv- ing his health by traveling. To this request the church and parish con_ sented. During the absence of Mr. Pomroy the parish was supplied by Rev. Professor Shepard.

September 22, 1846, Rev. S. L. Pomroy arrived in this city, after an absence of about sixteen months in Europe and Asia, and resumed his pastoral lators.

During the summer of 1848 there was quite an interesting state of feeling in the congregation, particularly among the young, and more than twenty persons expressed a hope in Christ.

September 27, 1848, Rev. Mr. Pomroy, having been elected one of the Secretaries of the Board of Foreign Missions, and having decided to ac- cept that office, communicated his intentions to the church, with a re- quest that a council should be called to advise in the matter. This re- quest was complied with, not without expressions of regret on the part of the church and of attachment to the pastor. A council was accord- ingly called, which at length came to this result, that it was the duty of Mr. Pomroy to accept the appointment. October 15 Mr. Pomroy preached his farewell sermon, having been the pastor of this church more than twenty-three years, during which time nearly six hundred persons were added to the church.

The pulpit was supplied after the dismission of Mr. Pomroy, and until Mr. Little was ordained, by Rev. Professor Smith, of the Theo- logical Seminary. On the 6th of May, 1849, Mr. George B. Little, of Andover Theological Seminary, preached his first sermon to this church with the view of becoming its pastor. On the 26th of the same month the church voted unanimously to extend to him a call to settle over them. On the 21st of June Mr. Little accepted the call of the church, and on the IIth of October was ordained. The ser- mon was preached by Rev. Mr. Thurston, of Searsport.

In the spring of 1852 there was a very interesting revival of religion in the city, the blessings of which this church was permitted, in a good degree, to share, as a result of which nearly fifty persons were added to its membership by profession.

Mr. Little left the pastorate of this church October 21. 1857.

The pastors since have been the Revs. Edward W. Gilman, from January 13, 1859, to October 4, 1863; Lyman S. Rowland, November 16, 1864, to July 9, 1867; Newman Smyth, ordained March 3, 1870, and dismissed April 29, 1875; and S. Lewis B. Spear, June 5, 1879, to May 5, 1881. Many able men have also served the par- ish during the intervals of pastorates, or as occasional preachers.

The total membership of the church, from its organiza- tion to October 1, 1881, numbered 1, 146. At the latter date it had 286 members, with a Sabbath-school of sixty- seven.

The churches of Bangor colonized from this society, in whole or in part, were the Hammond Street, to which forty-seven female and twenty-six male members were dismissed November 28, 1833; the North Bangor, four members, in May, 1838, and the Third, or Central, nine members, March 31, 1847. A secession from the church occurred, in the spring of 1881, and the formation of an independent meeting, by reason of troubles in the pastor- ate and dismission of the Rev. Mr. Spear.

The following interesting notes concerning the early Sabbath-school are contributed by Miss Harrod's letter:

So many children attended it very soon became necessary to remove to the Court-house, and in April, 1815, it commenced there, Deacon Adams the Superintendent. He took charge of the boys below, and I had the girls and some small boys in a room above. For a time all the lessons were given from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The sum- mer that Mr. D. Pike came Deacon Adams resigned to him his office.

The school was then reorganized, divided into classes, and many teach- ers became necessary. The school at its first commencement was at- tended at the close of the afternoon service-which at that time was thought best, as it was given up in the fall and opened again in the spring. Mr. Pike changed the time to the morning, before service, and continued it through one season. The following spring he (Mr. Pike) changed it to noon time (that is, immediately after the forenoon ser- vices), and found many more attended. In 1817 he thought it best to continue it through the whole year. When he came, Bible classes were introduced, and the teachers' meetings, all through his life, were exceedingly interesting and instructive. They (the teachers' meetings) were held weekly, on Friday evenings.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 179

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100