History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 183

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 183

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).

A. Johnson successively served the church. In 1854 Summer street was abandoned for the present location at the corner of Union and Clinton streets, where a neat frame building was put up, partly under the pastorate of Rev. J. C. Prince. It was dedicated November 15, 1855, with sermon by the Rev. William F. Farrington. The entire cost of the edifice was $15,000, the ladies of the church furnishing the organ. A portion of its roll of pastors since is constituted of the Revs. J. P. French, William T. Jewell, William F. Farrington, B. F. Tefft, D. D., Benjamin Foster, T. B. Tupper, B. S. Arey, B. A. Chase, W. W. Marsh, Cyrus Stone, and G. N. Eld- ridge, the present pastor (1881).

UNIVERSALIST.

This society in Bangor was organized about 1841, and so has lived through a generation. In 1844 a church building was erected for it, upon the same site, on Park street, near Centre, now occupied by the church. This building was used for more than eighteen years, or until the present edifice, begun in 1860, was completed and ready for occupation. It was dedicated in Decem- ber, 1862.

The first pastor of this church was the Rev. D. J. Mandell, who came to it in 1838 and served it about one year. Rev. L. L. Saddler was the next pastor, begin- ning in January, 1840, and continuing about two years. For about the same period the society was without a pastor, when the Rev. H. R. Nye was settled, and re- mained until June, 1850. The pastors since have been Rev. Amory Battles, January 1851 to March 1872-by far the largest pastorate the church has had; Rev. S. Goodenough, November 1872; and Rev. W. H. Jewell, the pastor now in charge.

OTHER CHURCHES.

The early history of St. John's Episcopal church is given in several places in the later chapters of Judge Godfrey's Annals, and the origin of the Second Baptist is noticed above in this chapter. No additional informa- tion has been afforded in answer to our inquiries.

The remaining religious societies of the place are the Christian and the Advent Christian churches. We re- gret that we have been unable to obtain any historical data whatever concerning them.

-----

733

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

CHAPTER XXXIII. THE PUBLIC CHARITIES OF BANGOR.

The Female Orphan Asylum-Its Establishment in 1839-First Officers -The Original Society-Change to the Children's Home-Growth and Success of the Home-Its Plans and Policy-Who are the In- mates-Health of the Children-Sources of Income-Laying of the Corner Stone-Address of Rev. George W. Field-Subsequent His- tory of the Home-The Home for Aged Women-Preliminary Steps for its Organization-The Appeal-List of Donors-Charter-The Home Opened-Subsequent History-Officers-Inmates.

The charitable institutions of this city, although not numerous, are of very excellent character, and eminently creditable to the intelligence and practical philanthropy of its people. Some historical facts concerning the City Farm or Almshouse-enough for the purposes of this work-are embraced in the preceding chapters. The oldest of the other charities is the Bangor Female Orphan Asylum, now

THE CHILDREN'S HOME.

The establishment of this asylum by act of Legisla- ture occurred in March, 1839. The corporation was made up of ladies who arranged for its support by each one pledging to it the sum of one dollar yearly. A consti- tution was adopted and laws framed, after which a Board of Managers, numbering fifteen ladies, were chosen, whose duty it should be to care for the institution and for- ward all plans for its growth as rapidly as their means would allow.

The first officers chosen were: Mrs. William D. Wil- liamson, President; Mrs. Judge Preston, Vice-President; Mrs. Frederick Hobbs, Secretary, and Miss Caroline Webster, Treasurer. The Managers were: Mrs. William B. Reed, Mrs. Samuel Farrar, Mrs. Nicholas G. Norcross, Mrs. Charles K. Miller, Mrs. Benjamin Plummer, Jr., Mrs. Amos Davis, Mrs. C. J. W. Haynes, Mrs. George W. Merrill, Mrs. E. B. Lincoln, Mrs. P. H. Coombs, Mrs. E. P. Baldwin, and Mrs. John Bradbury.

This society had its beginning four years before in a sewing circle which was called "The Union Female Edu- cation Society." Its object, as given by its Correspond- ing Secretary, Mrs. Benjamin Plummer, in a letter to Richard H. Vose, of Augusta, Maine, was "the elevation and amelioration of the condition of destitute and de- graded women in the city and vicinity." The same letter states that they were hoping for a time when they should have sufficient funds to found a charitable institution which should have for its object the education of the poor and ignorant and the reclaiming of fallen ones. There is a record first of a concert being given with this end in view, and Mrs. Lemon is mentioned as having sung "The Star of Bethlehem " with great feeling. Fol- lowing this, a lecture was given by Mr. Asa Walker, more recently of California, In March, 1836, a fair which realized $1,200 was held at the Bangor House. This amount was placed at interest for the above-mentioned purpose.

After the lapse of a few months, for various reasons, the object of the original association became somewhat modified, and instead of a place of reform for adults, it was thought best to turn attention to the care of female children. In time destitute children of both sexes were

admitted, and the Orphan Asylum became the Children's Home

From the Secretary's Report, dated August 30, 1868, and signed by Emma J. L. Duren, we glean the following statements :

Thirty years having passed away, are the names of Mrs. Hobbs, Mrs. Bradbury, and Mrs. Merrill, still on the list of Managers, and many of the original members of the organization still actively engaged in its support.

By the unremitting industry of the various members of the society, and the willing contributions of not a few of the citizens of Bangor, a sufficient sum was gathered together to purchase the house on Fourth street in which the family have since remained.

The primary object being the instruction and support of destitute female children, its care was principally de- voted to orphans. During 1839, the first year, there were nine such children in the family, under the care of Miss Lawrence, afterwards Mrs. Moses Wingate. Miss Fol- som succeeded Miss Lawrence, and not only filled the position of Matron, but taught the children as well, for the four and a half years that she remained, in a most faithful and efficient manner, thus meriting and securing the commendations of the society for her unselfish devo- tion to her duties. This lady afterward left her charge to marry Deacon Skinner, of Brewer, and Mrs. Quimby had charge for six months. In the year 1844 Mrs. Nor- ton entered the place and was Matron for four years, and since her time the names of Miss Cutter, Miss Newcomb, Miss Quinn, Miss Stewart, Miss Nason, Mrs. Wing, Mrs. Kelton, Mrs. Smith, Miss Wasgatt, and Miss Webber are recorded as filling the position for longer or shorter spaces of time. Of these Matrons, Mrs. Wing was at the post for the longest period, and was proverbial for her great neatness and industry. Two were married in the Asylum, the Managers giving each a little parting at- tention in the shape of a wedding. Miss Cutter became the wife of Mr. Isaiah Cobden, and afterward a resident of Greene, this State. Miss Nason married Mr. Dil- lingham and removed to Hampden. Mrs. Wing became a resident of Newport, Maine.

Previous to 1863 the size of the family had remained not far from its original, but it now became much in- creased and it was necessary to employ an assistant. While Miss L. J. Wasgatt and her sister had the care of the family, during 1865 and 1866, there were from twen- ty to twenty-seven children, which number continued up to 1868, the time of this report. During the stay of these sisters, the Misses Wasgatt, nothing was omitted in their efforts to bring the institution up to a high standard in morals and manners ; but there was not enough help to give the establishment proper care, and, since that date, under Miss L. E. Webber as Matron, a cook and nursery girl have been in constant employ, and at a more recent date a seamstress has been found necessary. These aids, not exclusively devoted to their departments, are all under the direction of the Matron, and, with the assistance of the older children, carry on the household work, which was found to be extremely difficult fomerly, because of the wretched condition of the house.

734

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Since the establishment of the Home, the object of the institution has been ever kept in view, and one hun- dred and eighty-one children have here found protection and loving care, for longer or shorter periods of time. First, there have been those wholly or in part orphans, who have been given to the Asylum. These, being en- tirely under the control of the Managers, have almost invariably been adopted into families, and every possible pains has been taken to secure for them the best of homes. The practice of binding them out for service was long ago given up, and recently there have been more applications for children for actual adoption than the institution can supply. Not a few of them have been restored, in time, to parents or relatives, when it was well ascertained that they had become able to undertake again their care and support.

A second class of children coming under the direction of the Managers of the Asylum are such as have parents who cannot or will not care for them, or who have so ill- treated them as to render their escape from them a ne- cessity. To the last-named the Home has indeed been a haven of refuge.

Eleven children of soldiers have been included in the family at different times, most of them orphaned during the late war. For them aid has been received from the Sanitary Fund for. Soldiers' Orphans, through the aid of Mr. G. K. Jewett, and also State aid from a fund of which Mr. D. Brastow, of Brewer, is one of the trustees.

Now and then we have had children boarding in the establishment. In such case the mother, by being re- lieved of the care of the child, finds it possible to do nearly all that is necessary for its support. It is thought best to encourage the parent, under such circumstances, in her efforts to retain the guardianship of her off-spring.

A third class - and perhaps concerning these have come up the most perplexing questions - is made up of little girls whose board has long since ceased, and whose parents refuse to sign the papers of adoption that shall forever give them into the hands of the society. The question is constantly before us, Shall these parents con- tinue to impose the care of their children upon us and yet refuse to give us full power for the guidance and dis- posal of the children, that can come alone by our be- coming the legal guardians of the same ? On the other hand, can we dismiss these helpless beings from this tem- porary home, if nothing more, with the certainty before us that only wretchedness and vice can be their lot ? This has many times been a puzzling problem. It has, however, been the unanimous policy of those in charge to keep the children under moral and religious influences as long as was in their power, thus hoping to form a habit of life and a preference for the pure and good that might in after times aid them when under temptation. And it has been a subject of the deepest gratitude that, so far as the subsequent lives of the inmates can be ascertained, they have not disappointed the hopes and expectations entertained for them. Some have yielded - almost nec- essarily, we might say -to hereditary tendencies, but many are leading useful and honorable lives.

The officers of the institution have always tried to feed the children with plain but wholesome diet, to clothe them neatly, with regard to health and comfort, and to train them up to become helpful and self-governing. They were, at first, taught at the Home, but subsequently were sent to the city schools. The Hammond Street church and Sunday-school is the one they have most fre- quently attended, although the institution is in no way a denominational affair. All the religious societies, in fact, do their part in its support.

Concerning the health of the children the Secretary says :

The health of the family has been truly remarkable. For ten years not a death occurred, and the first was that of a child during the preva- lence of the cholera, who was admitted sick and, as it proved, already stricken with that fatal disease. Several other deaths occurred during the sickly season which followed ; and now, since 1860, has been a period of uninterrupted health. Eight little bodies lie in a pleasant lot at Mount Hope; the row of simple headstones, each bearing a dif- ferent family name, often attracting attention, while a beautiful marble scroll lately erected in the center of the lot tells the touching story of "The Children's Home."

This is the most precious property of the Asylum, and was earnestly longed and labored for by one of the man- agers. From the annual report of 1864, we quote the following paragraph in relation to the lot :

The past summer the Mount Hope corporation very generously gave us a burial spot near the soldiers' lot. It has been graded, eight bodies removed, and stones set in granite erected. These expenses have been paid by different gentlemen of the city. This has been accomplished through the influence of one of the managers, Mrs. George W. Merrill, who has performed all the labor of collecting and attending to other business relating to it.

For the constant support of the inmates, the most un- tiring energy and indomitable zeal have been brought into requisition. The most reliable source of income has been the yearly tax of $1.00 upon each member of the society. But this has seldom exceeded $300 a year, and of late the expenses have been not less than $1,500. Sometimes they have reached nearly to $2,000. After the Asylum had become established, one of the Board of Managers, Mrs. Jeremiah Curtis, collected $1,000, which was afterward increased to $1, 150, and placed the amount at interest. Of course the interest was meagre, but even so small a sum, coming in regularly, was better than being dependent entirely on charity. From time to time the so- ciety has given concerts and tableaux, and there have been held fairs, festivals, etc., which have always been enough to cancel all immediate demands. A book, "Voices From the Kenduskeag," was published at one time in its interest, and life-memberships have been solicited, church collections taken up, and every possible method adopted by which there was any hope of gathering in funds or sup- plies for the children. And they have never suffered, though there have been times when every way had been employed, and finally, from some unexpected source, came the much needed supply. Upon Mrs. Curtis re- moving to New York she still remembered the Asylum, and a gift of $100 has been received from her hand.

The property of the corporation consists of the house and lot on Fourth street ; the lot at Mount Hope cem- etery ; the fund already mentioned, which, invested in United States bonds, has yielded about $90 yearly for the

I Laughton

735

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

current expenses; and a very fine Wheeler & Wilson sew- ing machine, given by Mr. George Stetson, the only article possessing much value in the house.

Of the active and efficient friends of the institution, several have been removed by death. In 1841, Mrs. Amos Davis ; in 1862, Mrs. S. F. Hersey, and in 1865, Mrs. John S. Kimball. The husbands of these ladies have always evinced a strong interest in its welfare, and have contributed nobly to its support.

In the year 1861 the time of the annual meeting was permanently changed from May to the first Tuesday in January.

Affixed to the Secretary's report we read the names of forty-five life members, beginning with two in 1839, and adding nineteen during 1868. (This number has since been increased to more than 250.)

The ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the new Childrens' Home took place on Wednesday afternoon of the 2d of September, 1868. At the laying of the corner- stone a large assembly of people were present, and every- thing passed off as planned, in a most enjoyable and suitable way. The Knights Templars, to the number of forty-five, preceded by the Bangor Cornet Band, escorted the Blue Lodges of Masons to the location of the build- ing, on Thomas's Hill. On the ground a platform had been erected, upon which were seated the Matron and children of the Asylum, assistants, Board of Directors, speakers, etc. The exercises consisted of introductory remarks from General S. F. Hersey, president of the day ; prayer by the Rev. Amory Battles; historical sketch of the institution by the Secretary, Mrs. E. L. Duren, read, by Rev. S. P. Fay; a hymn, "The Children's Greeting," written by Mrs. S. B. Littlefield, and sung by the chil- dren; reading of the contents of the box deposited under the corner-stone; music by the band; laying the corner- stone by the Free Masons, under the direction of D. G. M. Samuel Bradford ; music again by the band; singing by the choir of the Hammond Street church; address by Rev. George W. Field; remarks of Mr. C. P. Roberts, Superintendent of Public Schools, and the benediction by Rev. Dr. Pond.

From the very excellent address of Rev. George W. Field we quote, here and there, a few of his choice ex- pressions :

The munificence of the noble woman and her husband who gave the first impulse to this movement, and the promptness with which the pub- lic responded to their generous proposition, and even went beyond it, may be taken as evidence that our people can be as large-hearted, and I trust always mean to be as large-hearted, in their public works, as they have the credit of being free and even extravagant in their private expenditures. The compliment which an ancient writer conferred upon Rome, that its public buildings, its temples, and its palaces were spacious and magnificent beyond compare, while the private residences were cheap and unadorned, is a compliment which I should not care to have applied, in both of its parts, to our city, or to any other city in which I was interested. And now the first purely charitable edifice of our city is about to be built in a style of which we shall have no occasion to be ashamed, and which shall serve as a hint to all succeeding hospitals and asylums of our city, that because they are charitable institutions they need not therefore be contracted or un- tasteful in their conditions. It is an excellent thing to have made a good beginning, to have established a good precedent. And we trust that this Children's Home, rising in goodly proportions on this conspic- uous site, may be a proof to all coming generations that the citizens of

Bangor propose to carry the same large and open-handed spirit which has been characteristic of them in other relations, into their benevolence also. And for this we are glad, It is well that you should call upon the ministers of Christ to utter the name of their Mas- ter over this corner-stone, and to invoke his blessing upon the work here begun. This structure would not have been but for Him. Such things never were before the time of Christ, and they are to be found now only where his religion has gone. In all ancient Greece and Italy, refined, polished, cultured as they were, in some classes beyond anything which modern society can rival, yet we cannot find traces of one single alms- house, or hospital, or asylum, or refuge of any sort for the suffering poor of either sex or any age. Not one chiseled stone can be found on all those classical plains which speaks of an effort to relieve the suffer- ings and elevate the condition of the humble classes. Splendid ruins can be found, indeed, on every hand, which the beholder never wearies of gazing upon, but none of them the ruins of buildings which were con_ secrated to any benevolent purpose. It is a curious

fact that in the city of Ephesus, where John wrote that sublime defini- tion, "God is Love," was founded the first hospital of which we have any knowledge. An active benevolence was made the corner-stone of the new faith, and gradually developed itself into the numberless charities of Christendom. Upon no class did Christ expend such sympathy and affection as upon the little ones.

And so much did he honor the condition of childhood that he said: "Except ye become as little children, ye can in no wise enter into the kingdom of Heaven,"-that is, unless you unlearn your selfishness, your hard ambition, your earthly cunning, your envious rivalries and competition, and become loving and kind, simple and sincere as little children, who have no art and no selfishness, you cannot pass the thresh- old of the spritual life. I have been requested to express the grateful sentiment of this community towards the several . parties whose labors and charities have been instrumental in bringing about the result of this day ... In this circle of benevo-

lent ladies we would especially designate as worthy of honor at this time, her whose name, Mrs. Joseph Kendall, has already been read in your hearing as the one who laid the foundation of this Orphan Asylum in the Sewing Circle, which she originated for the benefit of the poor in the very infancy of the city, and which her tact and perseverance gadu- ally converted into a society for the relief of orphans.

Not least among the benefactors of the Asylum, it seems to me; is he who has bestowed 'upon it the beautiful lot where the building is about his most desirable donation. But most of all do we owe honor and to be erected. Thanks to Mr. James Smith, Jr., for gratitude to the memory of her whose dying benevolence lies at the foundation of this whole monument. . We would pay also our tribute of sincere respect and gratitude to the husband of the deceased, her fitting companion and helper in all her plans of benefi- cence, and especially in the liberality which has brought about the re- sult which to-day we celebrate. It is stated on the plate deposited under the corner-stone that this building is erected from funds placed by Mrs. Sarah Pitcher, daughter of Leonard and Martha L. March, in the hands of her husband, F. W. Pitcher, for religious and benevolent purposes. Our prayer is that the number of such instances may be multiplied, and that the time may come when wealthy families, instead of being gratified by it, will find themselves dishonored to have their members die without leaving something gen- erous for "religious and benevolent purposes." One word more. It is not to be supposed that the deceased or her family would have bestowed so large a sum on this institution if it had not been for the expectation that the citizens of Bangor would put forth corresponding exertions to make the institution what it ought to be-a model institution. In ac- cepting the donation we tacitly pledge ourselves to this-we virtually promise that their expectations shall not be disappointed through any indifference or neglect of ours. And if any motive . still more tender were needed, you might find it in the thought that the dear God accepts what is done in a right spirit for these little ones as a personal favor, and will say at last, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto them, ye did it unto me."

The new building was completed and occupied in Oc- tober, 1869. The next calendar year was begun with thirty-three inmates-twenty-seven girls, six boys. Twen- ty-seven more entered during the year; but the number of the household was maintained nearly uriform by the discharge of twenty-six. Twenty of the inmates were soldiers' orphans. The prevalence of this element at

736

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

the Home during the years after the war brought it pres- ently, and very hopefully, under the paternal eye of the Commonwealth. In his message to the Legislature in July, 1874, Governor Dingley said: "The Bangor Chil- dren's Home is eminently deserving of the contributions of a generous people; and, so far as it cares for indigent orphans of soldiers, it should receive aid from the State." The year before it had an appropriation from the State Treasury of $1,000; in 1874, 1875, and 1876 the grant was $2,000; the next year it fell to the former sum; and in 1880 it was but $750. The Home has been the object of numerous other benefactions; among them, in 1874, $500 were received from the estate of the Hon. Henry E. Prentiss; in 1876 $1,000 under the will of the late Samuel Larrabee; $1,000 from General Samuel F. Hersey, besides a considerable sum to be paid under his will in future; and in 1880 $1,000 from the estate of Mrs. March. Many collections have been taken and entertainments given for its benefit during the years of its history; and there is a constant inflow of vegetables and other contributions in kind for its support. Several lots for burial purposes have been given by the Board of the Mt. Hope Cemetery corporation. At the last report, January 4, 1881, the Home had permanent funds as follow : Loan to the city of Bangor, $40,000; Bangor city bond, $1,000; Maine Central Railroad bond, $1,000; notes, $300; making a total of $42,300. The interest on the invested fund had realized $2,400 the previous year to the Home.

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.

History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 183

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