USA > Maine > Waldo County > Unity > History of Unity, Maine > Part 2
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History of Unity, Maine
6. The Woods house, which was repaired and refitted.
7. The Ayer house, which was discontinued.
8. The Clark house, which was burned. The scholars in these districts are conveyed to the nearest schools.
9. Worth house, originally built by Elisha Mosh- er, which was repaired at a cost of $311.70. The first teacher was Alonzo Roberts of Brooks.
10. Farwell's Corner school. The first building was sold and moved to a location near the Hussey bridge. The present building has been repaired and refitted.
11. The Crosby house.
12. The Adams house. The two latter buildings have been torn down and the children are conveyed to the village school.
13. The Reynolds house, which was sold to Eu- gene Reynolds. The scholars are conveyed to the village.
At this date there are four houses occupied outside of the village. Here a standard high school is main- tained for scholars from all parts of the town. There are also primary, intermediate and grammar schools in the same building.
CHURCHES
The first church built in Unity was a Methodist church, built in 1826 in the south part of the town, near the home of the late Peter W. Ayer. It was built by Benj. Ayer and others. Benj. Ayer settled on the P. W. Ayer place afterward, and died on the Thos. Ayer place. I have the information from his grand- son, Joseph Ayer.
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History of Unity, Maine
The next church was the Friends' church, built, as stated above, in 1827. Benj. R. Stevens and Clement Rackliff were the builders.
In 1837 the Congregationalists built a church on the northeast corner of land belonging to Josiah Murch, adjoining the land of B. B. Stevens. The Murch farm is now owned by E. M. Jones. This church was built by Ephraim Murch, Elisha Parkhurst, David Vickery and Jonathan Stone. The ministry was largely sup- ported by contributions from the village, and it result- ed in moving the building to the village. The princi- pal contributors from the village were Thomas Snell, John L. Seavy, Hiram Whitehouse and Nelson Dingley. It was through the influence of these men that the move to the village was made. The building was placed near Dr. E. M. Soule's residence. The steeple was put in place by Edwin S. Stevens, Chas. E. Taber, Howard Carter and Archelaus Hunt. After services were suspended in it, it was sold to Albert F. Watson. Asa Stevens, his administrator, sold it to Thomas B. Cook, who took it down, moved it to the station, and made it into a store. He then sold it to S. S. & R. M. Berry, who carried on a grain business and dealt in potatoes. They rented it to William Rand. It was burned later.
UNION CHURCH
Union church was built in the village in 1840-41. It was built by Hale Parkhurst, Rufus Burnham, M. D., and Samuel Kelley, for the Universalist Society. Failing to receive the necessary support, it was sold by them to whomsoever wished to own a pew, regard- less of the religious society to which they belonged; neither did it matter if they did not belong to any. The name was changed to Union church. The steeple was put in place by Jacob Taber, Jefferson Bartlett,
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History of Unity, Maine
Hezekiah Rackliff and Noah Linscott. In the sixties it was repaired and a bell purchased. Nelson Dingley, Jr., presented the present pulpit, Sprague and James Adams of Bangor the chandelier. Within a few years the building has been shingled and a weather vane has been placed upon the spire. It has been painted inside and out, a furnace has been placed in the basement, seats furnished with new cushions, floors carpeted, and several memorial windows added. These improve- ments have largely been accomplished by the efforts of the Ladies' Aid Society, to whom the credit should be given.
Unity, Me., Oct. 5, 1900. To Paul F. Foss, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Waldo, State of Maine:
The undersigned, who are all of lawful age and owners of pews in Union church, in Unity village, being desirous of calling a legal meeting of said own- ers, in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Statutes, Chap. 12, Sec. 34, request you to issue your warrant to one of them, directing him to notify the other applicants to meet at some proper place, to be expressed in said warrant, on the 27th day of October, 1900, for the purpose of reorganizing said Union church, by choosing a clerk and other needful parish officers, and performing any business that may lawfully come before said meeting.
Signed by Charles Taylor, H. B. Rice, J. R. Taber, C. E. Mitchell, A. R. Myrick, W. H. Rolfe, and J. E. Cook, M. D.
State of Maine, Waldo Co., S.S. L.S.
W. H. ROLFE,
GREETING :
Persuant to the foregoing application, you are here- by directed in the name of the State of Maine to notify
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History of Unity, Maine
the persons whose names appear thereon as applicants to meet at the said Union church in Unity, in said county of Waldo, on the 27th day of October, A. D. 1900, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose mentioned, made a part of this warrant, on the outer door of said Union church, and in the postoffice in said Unity, and to publish in some newspaper published in said county of Waldo, three weeks at least before said meeting. Hereof, fail not and make your return of your doing thereon. Given under my hand and seal this 5th day of October, 1900.
PAUL F. Foss, Justice of the Peace.
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of appli- cation, warrant, and notice of said meeting is hereby given. W. H. ROLFE.
Waldo, ss. Personally appeared the above named W. H. Rolfe and made oath to the above certificate by me made. PAUL F. Foss, Justice of the Peace.
Pursuant to the said warrant, said applicants met at time and place and proceeded to elect officers. Elected James R. Taber, president; Andrew R. My- rick, clerk; James R. Taber, Charles Taylor, William H. Rolfe, Charles Parsons and Jesse E. Cook, M. D., trustees; said trustees to act as custodians of said church. Voted to add two more trustees to the above board; elected John M. Thompson and Andrew R. Myrick.
Voted to elect a committee to draw and make a code of by-laws suitable to govern said organization ; elected W. H. Rolfe and J. R. Taber as said committee. Voted that the above chosen officers serve in their respective places until new ones are chosen to fill their places.
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History of Unity, Maine
Voted that the president and clerk be appointed to grant permission to whom they may think proper persons or parties to occupy said church.
Voted to adjourn.
A. R. MYRICK, Clerk.
March 20th, 1904. Meeting called to order by the president. Voted to choose a select committee of ladies and gentlemen on repairs; elected Mrs. E. D. Chase, Mrs. C. E. Mitchell, Mrs. Willis Giles, Mrs. Charles Taylor, Mrs. Fannie Bartlett, Mrs. Fred A. Whitten, Henry A. Bacon, E. S. Stevens and F. A. Whitten, who shall spend the money on repairs as they think best. Voted to construct steps at the out- side doors instead of a platform. Voted to adjourn subject to call.
A. R. MYRICK, Clerk.
May 4th, 1912. Met according to call. A. R. Myrick not being present, E. D. Chase was elected clerk and treasurer. Adjourned.
E. D. CHASE, Clerk.
At a meeting called in 1915, no quorum appeared.
THE METHODIST PARSONAGE
This property was purchased from Nelson Ding- ley, senior, by members of the Methodist church for six hundred dollars. A. M. Green of Troy, father of the late Lyman Green, gave two hundred dollars. Elijah Ware, Luther Mitchell, Josiah Harmon, Steph- en, Harrison and John Chase, Col. Seth Thompson and others gave liberally.
The house was built by Hiram Whitehouse and sold by him to Nelson Dingley. It was here that Frank L. Dingley, present editor of the Lewiston Journal, was born. Within recent years this building has been enlarged and put into good condition, for which credit should be given the Ladies' Aid.
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History of Unity, Maine
CEMETERIES
April 30th, 1821. At a town meeting held this day, the following report on cemeteries was made:
Gentlemen : The committee appointed by the town at their last meeting, to provide one or more suitable places for graveyards, having attended to the duty assigned them, report:
That Lemuel Bartlett and Hezekiah Chase will make a donation and deed of gift to the town of one- half acre of ground where they and others have in- terred on their land, and Amos Jones will sell for fifteen dollars per acre any quantity for the above use where the burying ground now is, near his house (now called the Farwell yard), and Daniel Whitmore will also convey by deed to the town one-half acre of his field near the liberty pole for seventeen dollars.
Respectively submitted, Isaac Adams, Joseph Stevens, Jacob Truworthy, committee.
We have been told that the militia used to train in Mr. Whitmore's field, now owned by H. B. Rice, which accounts for reference to the flag pole. Saturday afternoon before starting for California, Lawyer Wm. Weeks set out the elm trees on the west side of the Whitmore yard. He said it was for him to be remem- bered by.
THE FOWLER YARD
This yard was from Thomas Fowler, father of the late Hon. Crosby Fowler.
FRIENDS' YARD
The Friends' burial ground was purchased from Asa Jones in 1828. In this yard, Sarah Pattie, aged 97 years, was buried. A small slate stone marked
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History of Unity, Maine
S. P. was placed at her grave by James H. Cook. This was the first stone set in this yard. She was a sister of James Mitchell's mother.
The towns of Unity and Freedom own a yard to- gether near the residence of the late P. W. Ayer. The town also owns a small yard on the Freedom road near Unity's south line.
VILLAGE CEMETERY
This cemetery is located on a section of land some- what withdrawn from the village, and overlooking Lake Windemere. The old section of the yard is that which was originally donated to the town by Lemuel Bartlett and Hezekiah Chase. In this yard are two slate stones of interest. That of Stephen Chase has been set 95 years; that of his wife, Hannah, 71 years. Additions to this yard have been made on the east and west sides. On the opposite side of the street a sec- tion of land has been purchased from F. A. Whitten for burial purposes.
MILLS
The first mill of which I find any record was built by John Mitchell in 1782, just above the Moulton Mills. It was a rude affair, the water being conduct- ed through a hollow log onto an overshot wheel. Mr. Mitchell lived on the lot now owned by Archie Tozier, near the Moulton Mill.
Henry Farwell built a sawmill about one-half mile from the junction of the Half Moon and Sandy Streams, on the latter, which he afterwards sold to Benj. R. Stevens. Pettie & Farwell built a grist mill at the junction of the above named streams, then sold it to Benj. R. Stevens, who sold it to his son, Benj. Stevens. He sold to his brother, Otis F. Stevens, he
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History of Unity, Maine
to his brother, Joseph Stevens, his heirs to Joseph Farwell. John Stewart heired it from Joseph Far- well and sold it to the Pendletons.
In 1810, Richard Cornforth built at Farwell's Mills a wool carding and cloth mill, said to be the first in the state. The machinery came from England. Mr. Cornforth sold to Benj. Nickerson and Hall Scribner, they to Abner Young, he to Benj. Stevens, he to his brother, Otis F. Stevens, he to his brother, Joseph Stevens, his heirs to Joseph Farwell.
In 1831, a Mr. Pingrey of Salem, Mass., erected a large tannery at the village. Mr. Joseph Larrabee superintended the building, and Thomas Snell took charge of the business. His office and store were in the first story of the building now owned by Frank Fairbanks. Mr. Southwick of Vassalboro became the owner. For several years it was a prosperous venture. In time, the supply of bark failing, the business was abandoned, the buildings soon became valueless, and were consumed by fire in the late 50's.
Col. James Conner and Lemuel Bartlett built the grist mill at the village in 1840. Later, Bartlett sold his interest to Conner. Mr. Conner built a mill on the west side of the grist mill for threshing grain, which was taken down in a few years. Mr. Chase built a carding mill on the north end of the dam, which was swept away in a freshet.
HUSSEY MILL AND FOUNDRY
About seventy-five years ago, Thomas B. Hussey built a small mill for sawing short lumber, also a foundry on the Sandy Stream, near Walter Hurd's farm, and manufactured plows, stoves, and many farm implements.
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History of Unity, Maine
MITCHELL'S MILLS
Isaac Mitchell built a gristmill and sawmill near Silas W. Bither's place, known as Mitchell's Mills. He also built the house where Mr. Bither lives.
SINCLAIR'S MILLS
Jefferson Sinclair built a fine grist and sawmill 1. where the Moulton Mills now stand. Weeks & Ames were the carpenters. It was afterward owned by Samuel Hall. It was burned, rebuilt, and afterward owned by Eben F. Thompson and O. J. Whitten. The present mill was built by W. H. J. Moulton & Sons.
BACON'S MILLS
Levi Bacon built a sawmill on the Bacon brook, which was carried away. He built another, and at different times had four brickyards. James Banks had a tannery on this brook, which he sold to Mr. Bacon.
BARTLETT & CHASE'S MILL
Bartlett & Chase bought from Mathew Pendleton a small mill at the station, which they enlarged, fitting it up with steam and installing up-to-date machinery. This mill is used for sawing lumber, spool bars a specialty.
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STEVENS & LIBBY'S MILL
Charles E. Stevens, Ira P. Libby and Melzor Stev- ens built the steam mill opposite Frank Kelley's, in 1911. It is now owned by Ira P. Libby.
FAIRBANKS' MILL
F. M. Fairbanks built his mill in 1911. This was burned. He rebuilt near the site of the Snell tannery. He now uses electric power.
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History of Unity, Maine
WOODS' MILL
John Woods built his gasoline mill in 1914, upon land purchased from J. R. Taber. He also uses electricity.
TRAFTON'S MILL
Ira Trafton built a sawmill on the spot where John Shirley's sawmill stood, directly south from E. B. Hunt's residence. This was burned.
WOODS' MILL
Amaziah T. Woods had a small mill on the Mc- Kenney brook, afterwards taken down.
JONES' MILL
Duncan M. Jones built a sawmill on his place in 1915. This farm was originally settled by Clement Rackliff, who sold to William Taber. Mr. Jones pur- chased from E. A. Hussey.
TOZIER'S MILL
Elijah Tozier built a mill on the Fowler brook, afterwards owned by different parties.
FOWLER & CLARK'S MILL
In 1915 this firm built a mill for getting out lum- ber for making boxes.
MANUFACTORIES
In early times, Samuel G. Otis owned a carriage shop situated in front of the residence of G. T. Whit- aker, and there manufactured carriages. The build- ing is now used for a barn on the J. L. Ames place. Mr. Otis' blacksmith shop stood a little to the south, near the burial ground.
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History of Unity, Maine
Thomas Chandler made furniture at one time in what is now Guy Morse's stable.
James Myrick owned the N. C. Knights tinshop, and made boots and shoes. The original shop, a one- story building about half the size of the present, was moved from the road in front of L. P. Foster's, leading to the poor farm.
At different times, R. B. Stone, Nathaniel Rice, Benj. Fogg, Bryant and Ames Moore, Otis and Daniel Starkey, Joseph Small and John Chase were engaged in the making of boots and shoes. Mr. Chase induced Mr. Woodsum to come here to manufacture morocco shoes.
George E. Linkfield and Stephen Dyer purchased from Henry Kelley the store that stood where the Taber store now stands, and there manufactured straw goods. Mrs. Linkfield carried on a millinery business. Mr. Dyer sold to Mr. Linkfield, who later sold the store and millinery business to James R. Taber.
The Unity cheese factory was built in 1874, upon ground now occupied by the Portland Packing Com- pany. It did business but a short time, when it passed into the hands of James R. Taber, who sold the ma- chinery for use in a cheese factory in Aroostook county. The building was sold to Russell Reynolds, who built the house now owned by Leon Bagley out of the lumber taken from it.
The Portland Packing Company built the corn factory in 1887. W. H. Rolfe was foreman for several years. He was succeeded by Albert Bacon. The Unity Canning Company sold their plant to the Port- land Packing Company.
The Crystal Spring Creamery was built in 1891, on land purchased from F. A. Bartlett. The property
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History of Unity, Maine
passed into the hands of the Hon. Joseph Farwell. Charles Smith of Newport was manager. It was pur- chased from the heirs of Mr. Farwell by H. P. Hood & Sons, who have built additions and greatly improved it. R. F. Jaynes was manager for some time and was succeeded by E. G. Roberts.
In 1895, Chas. S. Cook fitted up the unused school- house of District one, and there for some years carried on the creamery business.
In 1908 the Turner Center Creamery was built on the E. K. Adams property. It was destroyed by fire, but in the fall of 1900 was rebuilt, at a cost of $10,000. Additions have since been made. Mr. Guy P. Norton is the popular and efficient manager.
STORES --
Chandler Hopkins built the house in which George Murch now lives, in which he kept a store, the first in town.
The first store in the village was owned by Isaac Adams, afterward by Allen Taber. This store was situated where Jack Van Deets now lives.
Elijah Winslow built a store where the L. H. Mosh- er store now stands, and traded there afterwards. Allen Taber traded there, as did Joseph B. Gilkey. It was burned, rebuilt by Josiah Harmon, and sold by his heirs to Mrs. L. H. Mosher, who now owns and conducts the store.
The store where A. R. Myrick now trades was pur- chased by him from Charles Taylor; he purchased it from J. R. Taber, he from Moses Hanson, he from Hiram Whitehouse, who built it. At one time in the late 50's the farmers used it for a union store. Alfred Berry and Moses Hanson were the agents.
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History of Unity, Maine
Thomas Snell conducted a store connected with the tannery where F. M. Fairbanks now lives.
The store now owned by C. Boyce Mitchell, he had from his father, G. E. Mitchell, he from the heirs of Chas. Taylor, Taylor from J. F. Parkhurst, he from Nelson Dingley, who built it in 1852. Mr. Dingley bought the original store from. Daniel Spring, who built it. Dingley and Spring traded in it, also C. Snell, W. R. Chandler, Robert Webb and A. R. Myrick. This early store was sold to A. W. Myrick and moved onto a lot adjoining the place owned by Jack Van Deets. Here it was used as a carriage shop until it was torn down.
The first store on the lot now owned by F. L. Tozier was built by E. D. Williams, sold by him to James G. Patterson, by him to Mrs. Daniel Dummer, by her to J. R. Taber, and was then burned. He built a new store and sold to Josiah and Ansel Kelly, they to Green Carter. This was burned. The lot was then pur- chased by Lucretia Moulton from the Carter heirs. Mrs. Moulton sold to Mrs. H. C. Chandler, she to Mrs. W. G. Fuller, she to J. P. Libby, he to F. L. Tozier, the present owner.
On the lot now owned by Nellie M. and Vivian H. Taber, the first store was built by Henry Kelly, and sold by him to G. E. Linkfield. He sold to Taber & Moulton. This building was burned. The present store, now occupied by E. T. Whitehouse for store and postoffice, was built in 1880. The original store was occupied by H. B. Rice, Henry Baker, O. J. Whitten. The present store was occupied for a long period by J. R. Taber, for short periods by John Van Deets and E. D. Chase.
H. L. Glines had his store from C. D. Connor, he from H. H. Grant, he from J. S. Bither. Mr. Grant
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History of Unity, Maine
moved it to its present location from Bither's Mills. Prior to these transactions, C. E. Mitchell purchased the old store from Nelson Vickery, Vickery bought of Luther Mitchell. Henry Kelly, Webb & Call, Augus- tus Broad, C. E. Mitchell and T. B. Cook traded in it. This store burned and was rebuilt by C. E. Mitchell. It was rented by Asa Howe, and at the time of the fire by L. H. Mosher. The lot is owned by heirs of C. E. Mitchell.
F. A. Whitehouse built the first store where J. A. Adams' store now stands, and used it for a time in company with Albert Bacon for the manufacture of clothing. It was afterward rented by Willard Rand and Robert Cookson, and then sold to J. A. Adams. It was later burned. Adams & Knight, in 1904, built the present store now occupied by J. A. Adams.
Dr. E. M. Soule built his store in The lower part of the building has been used for the mil- linery business by Mrs. E. M. Soule and Mrs. Ethel Whitehouse. On the second floor, Dr. Soule carries on a large and successful dental business.
Grant & Whitehouse purchased their store at the station from E. E. McCauslin, he from Frank Rice, who built it. The large storehouse was purchased from E. E. McCauslin, who built it.
The store now occupied by the Farmers' Union was built and for some time occupied by Joseph H. Farwell.
O. J. Whitten moved a shop from the Damon place to the location where H. L. Truworthy's stable now stands, for a shoeshop. It was occupied as a store by N. W. Vickery. F. H. Hunt moved it to the station where the Turner Center Creamery now stands, and traded there for a time. It was later occupied by E. K. Adams and by E. T. Walker, and was afterward burned.
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History of Unity, Maine
At one time there was a store where the Whitehouse garage now stands, occupied by the contractors who were building the railroad, afterward by F. H. Hunt and N. C. Knight. This was burned. A store with two halls above, which for many years were occupied by the Odd Fellows and Masons, was then built, but this shared the same fate. Ed. Tolman, John Van Deets and Asa Howe traded here at different times.
Alfred Clark built a small store at the station, in which L. H. Whitaker traded. It was burned.
Outside of the village there have been several stores -one at Farwell's Mills was owned by Henry Farwell, one at the corner near Esburn Nutts' was owned by Thomas Cornforth, one near L. P. Foster's was owned by J. S. Rollins, and one at Moulton's Mills was owned by Samuel Hall and Mr. Lane. Edwin S. Stevens and his brother, Benjamin, had a small store at one time at Farwell's Mills.
OLD ROADS
I find records of old roads, but the trees and marks have long since passed away. There is a record read- ing like this: "Starting from where John Mitchell lived, called the Sandhill (now owned by Archie Tozier), across land now owned by Eli Moulton and Clarence Brown, to land of Stephen Chase, thence across said Chase land by the burial ground to the house of Lemuel Bartlett (now owned by Mrs. J. W. Harmon), thence northeasterly across said Bartlett land to Woodbridge Webb's house (now owned by F. H. Dutton), thence to the Mayo fall down."
Another old road ran from what is now the Water- ville road, on the south side of Sandy Stream, across land of Joseph A. Bacon to the main road. It can be traced a part of the way today. It is said that this is
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History of Unity, Maine
the trail followed by the early settlers mentioned in R. W. Murch's letter when they went to Winslow to get their corn ground.
There is a record of a road starting from Daniel Whitmore's land, running by Benj. Bartlett's (now owned by G. W. Varney), by the Friends' church, where it intersected a road from 'Squire Hale Park- hurst's (now L. P. Foster's), to Farwell's Corner, thence to Pettie's Mill, thence to John Scribner's, thence following the country road to Hezekiah Chase's place (now owned by E. D. Chase) .
There was also a road starting from near Alonzo Bacon's place and coming out near F. R. Cornforth's. The ruins of a house which was on this road are to be seen near George Taylor's south line.
Still another road started east from near Alonzo Bacon's place, by the Ordway and Truworthy places, intersecting a road to Pettie's mill. The birch trees mentioned have long since passed away.
A road leading from Packard's Corner, near J. Arthur Thompson's, by the Samuel Webb place to D. E. Loveland's, was discontinued when the new road from Loveland's to Jones' Corner was laid out.
Nothing of value is attached to these incomplete records. I mention them only as a matter of "ancient history."
BRIDGES
Sandy Stream rises in Montville, runs through Unity, and is spanned by six bridges, namely: The Douglass, Hussey, Farwell, Village, Moulton, and Out- let bridges. There are several minor bridges over small streams.
The first bridge at the village which the writer can remember was a frame bridge similar to a barn, but
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History of Unity, Maine
without a roof ; the posts were about fifteen feet high, not boarded. After that was a bridge with X-work sides about six feet high, and a partition through the middle.
The iron bridge at the village was built in 1907. The committee in charge of the building consisted of W. H. J. Moulton, Frank Bartlett, George E. Grant, Amander Rackliff, E. T. Reynolds, Jacob L. Ames and D. R. McGray. The abutments were built by John Brown of Benton Station. The cost of the bridge was $3500.00.
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