USA > Maine > Waldo County > Unity > History of Unity, Maine > Part 3
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TREES
The large elm trees standing upon the sides of our main street were set out by Jefferson Bartlett, Russell Reynolds and Isaac Childs. Lawyer William Weeks set those on the west and north sides of the Whitmore cemetery, near G. L. Whitten's residence. Edwin E. Stevens set those on both sides of the trotting park, also those on the north side of the road leading east from Thomas Watton's place to Farwell's Corner. The maples in front of James R. Taber's main house were set by William Taber in 1876, those in front of the rest of the residence by James Taber in 1880. The trees belonging to Mrs. G. W. Fuller were set by her husband, Dr. W. G. Fuller. Those in front of Mrs. J. W. Harmon's house, she caused to be set, as did Mr. C. E. Stevens and Mr. W. S. Merrick those on their respective lawns.
The oak tree in front of Thomas Carll's place was planted by his father, Robert Carll, one hundred years ago. The great willow on the opposite side of the road grew from a twig used by Robert Carll as a walk- ing stick on a day's journey.
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History of Unity, Maine
HOTELS
The first hotel-at that time called a tavern-was kept by Benj. Rackliff. It was situated due south of the old poor farm, near the north line of D, E. Love- land's farm. Here the occasional traveller of the olden times might find food and lodging. -
In the village the first hotel was kept by Thomas Chandler. After his death, the house was carried on by Mrs. Chandler and her son, Benjamin. The house was near the center of the village, where Mrs. Chas. E. Stevens' house now stands. It was conducted as a temperance house.
The Hale Parkhurst house, now owned by L. P. Foster; the Jesse Whitmore house, now owned by H. B. Rice; the Rufus Burnham house, now owned by J. R. Taber; the Amos Webb house, now owned by Mrs. Mantie Gregg; and the Stone house, afterward burned, were at different times used as hotels, but when the Central House was built, these were discontinued, ex- cept the Chandler House. For years the Central House has been the town's only hotel.
The Central House was built by Elijah Winslow. It was at first a small one-story house, to which he made a two-story addition. He sold the building to John L. Seavey, who afterward sold to Fred Burrill, he to Daniel Dummer, he to T. J. Whitehouse and G. A. Hunt. It was burned at this time. Mr. White- house then purchased Mr. Hunt's interest and built the present Central House in 1878. It is now owned by Mr. F. A. Whitehouse. This hotel was situated half way between Augusta and Bangor, on the old stage road-hence its name. 1
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History of Unity, Maine
STAGE LINES L ..
:" As we pass the Central House today, we see drawn up before it auto trucks, touring cars, limousines, and we realize that our little town is in the. clutch of the modern life. "All this makes for convenience and speed, it is necessary, but with its coming we have lost the quaint picturesque quality of the earlier days.
There are but few people alive who can recall when V. D. Pinkham of Augusta owned the stage line from Augusta to Bangor, but those of us who can, remember well the thrill of excitement that ran through the vil- lage when the great stage coach, drawing near, blew its horn to announce to the townspeople that the mail was about to arrive. The Concord coach, resplendent with paint and varnish, drawn by four horses, caused a stir as it rolled through the town loaded with passen- gers for Bangor, often followed by a second four-horse coach equally loaded. Among the "Knights of the Whip" in those good old days, we distinctly remember Isaac Holmes, Wm. Nason, Davis Crocker and Mr. Flannigan,
. :-- Landlord John L. Seavey did a flourishing business in those days, this being the halfway place between Augusta and Bangor. Mr. Seavey had two large sta- bles in which was kept a relay of horses.
When the Pinkham line was discontinued, a one- horse stage was run from China to Bangor, owned by the Brown boys. Later the route was shortened to run from. Unity to Dixmont Center, and now it runs from Unity to Troy and is called a Star Route.
.: After the train ran from Augusta to Fairfield, the western: mail for Unity came by stage from Fairfield to Unity via East Benton, daily leaving Unity at 6.15 A. M. and returning at 8.45 P. M. This was continued until the railroad from Burnham to Belfast was built.
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History of Unity, Maine
The mail for Thorndike and Brooks left Unity once a week, on Saturday. It was carried by a Mr. Ham.
In 1902 the rural free delivery was instituted, by which all mail is carried to the door of the man who lives outside of the village. Thus civilization sweeps on, bringing comforts and privileges to the rural sec- tions. Gurney Stevens was appointed as carrier of the rural free delivery and has kept at his post for fourteen years.
THE RAILROAD
In the late sixties, the first excitement concerning a railroad arose. The land was surveyed from Augus- ta to Bangor, passing through Unity, but the project failed to materialize. The farmers, however, were tired of hauling potatoes and other produce to Belfast and Fairfield. They grew restless, capitalists began to get interested, and a survey was made for a road to be known as the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad.
For some time it was a question whether the road should pass through Unity or Troy, and surveys were made through each town, under Col. A. W. Wilds. Before a decision was made, there was much excite- ment. Unity called a town meeting and voted to take thirty thousand dollars' worth of stock if the company would locate a station within one-half mile of the town pump, and sent the company a record of its vote.
Several public-spirited citizens had, prior to this action by the town, signed the following paper :
The undersigned, being desirous of having the Bel- fast and Burnham railroad built through Unity, do agree to pay to Chas. Taylor, treasurer of our railroad association, each subscriber being a member thereof, the sum set against our names, for the purpose of pay-
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History of Unity, Maine
ing for the right of way across the lands of such per- sons in Unity as cannot be persuaded to give and relinquish their damages for the right of crossing their land. Albert F. Watson, $20.00; William Taber, $25.00; George Clark, $25.00; J. R. Taber, $25.00; James Fowler, Jr., $25.00; Chas. Taylor, $20.00; Ruel Mussey, $20.00; John T. Main, M. D., $10.00; Eben Thompson, $20.00; Josiah Harmon, $20.00; Jefferson Bartlett, $20.00; Stephen Dyer, $25.00 and right of way through his land; N. C. Knight, $5.00; Alfred Berry, $10.00; Joseph Chase, $20.00; B. B. Rackliff, $10.00; G. E. Linkfield, $10.00; Jonathan Stone, $10.00; Harrison Chase, $20.00; John Crie, $5.00; Simon Connor, $10.00; E. E. Hall, $5.00; H. B. Rice, $10.00; Daniel Starkey, $5.00; S. S. Coller, $5.00; J. R. Munroe, $5.00; C. E. Mitchell, $20.00; R. M. Mun- roe, $5.00; Shepard Giles, $2.00; Samuel Stevens, $5.00; John Royal, $5.00.
When the town made its offer, this paper was withdrawn.
The railroad company replied that it would not accept the town's offer, and it looked as if we should lose the road. Unity people thought they had made a good offer, and when the company refused to accept it, they immediately called another meeting and re- scinded their vote, in which they had offered to take thirty thousand dollars' worth of stock, and directed the clerk to forward to the company a record of their 1
doings.
It was finally decided to build through Unity, and the company called for the thirty thousand dollars. The town refused to pay, and left the matter with Lawyer Artemus Libby (later associate justice of the Supreme Court). Mr. Libby offered to leave it to the Supreme Court to decide whether the railroad had
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History of Unity, Maine
cause for action or not, to which the company agreed. A verdict was rendered for the town. Consequently, Unity and her people had nothing to pay.
The railroad was opened in 1870.
FIRES
Life in our village has for the most part been quiet and uneventful, with a slow but steady progress tow- ard material success, yet fate has not left us entirely unscathed, for the older men and women can remem- ber four times when the dreaded cry of "Fire!" has rung through the village, calling them out to find the stores in flames. They remember the quick rush of the villagers to the spot, the long, heavy strokes of the church bell calling the townspeople to aid, the dogged, persistent courage with which every man fell to work, handicapped at every move. They remember the great darting flames, which, as they watched, wrapped one store after another, until the quick call came to save the homes if possible, since the rest must go. They recall that the next day they stood over the ruins and planned to build again.
The first of these great fires was in November, 1871. It was on the west side of the street, and caught in the Mitchell store, occupied then by T. B. Cook. Nothing could be done-the fire swept over the whole block.
The second fire was on March 2, 1878, on the east side of the street. The fire broke out in the shoeshop of Daniel Starkey. Alfred Berry was one of the first on the spot, and he declared that if he had had a pailful of water at that moment he could have put the fire out, but no water was at hand and the fire was soon out of control. It swept up over the hotel store, hall, two stables and the hotel itself, occupied at that time
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History of Unity, Maine
by Thomas Whitehouse. In the opposite direction it destroyed the house and stable of H. B. Rice and the Thomas Snell house and stables, owned by Daniel Harmon.
Within three months, June 9, 1878, fire came again and the startled people fought, this time almost de- spairingly, to save the stores on the west side of the street. They failed and all were burned. Then for twenty-six years fire passed us by, until on January 5, 1904, the stores on the east side burned again, to- gether with the halls where the Odd Fellows and Masons were located.
LIST OF BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN
BURNED
The Randlett store and tannery.
The Lincoln Hussey house near Freedom line.
The John Larrabee house at the Douglass bridge.
The Cudworth Clark buildings.
The barn nearly opposite the Williams place, owned by G. E. Linkfield.
The Jacob Clark buildings.
The Washington Nickless buildings.
The schoolhouse in the Clark district.
Silver Greenleaf's place, near Freedom.
The Hussey foundry.
The Clement Rackliff house, called "The Quaker Hotel."
James Gilkey's house on the south side of the Friends' burial ground.
The Sinclair house, where Chas. S. Cook now lives. The Fowler schoolhouse.
Farm buildings of Chas. C. Fowler.
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History of Unity, Maine
Robert Carll's barn, struck by lightning.
Ansel Stone's farm buildings.
Samuel Kelly's farm buildings, place now owned by heirs of late Edwin Rand.
The Hezekiah Stevens house, on place now owned by Joseph Bacon.
The Levi Bacon buildings, on land now owned by G. A. Stevens.
The Harrison Chase farm buildings.
The William Crosby house, near the old Crosby place.
The James Chase house, where A. R. McManus lives.
The Ira Trafton sawmill, south of E. B. Hunt's place.
The Jacob McKenny place, near the Troy line.
The Chas. Stone hotel, store and stable at the station.
The E. K. Adams house, near the station.
Turner Center Creamery.
The J. S. Bither house and sawmill at Mitchell's Mills.
The Amos Webb house.
Thomas Winter's house, on the road leading from L. P. Foster's to Unity Plantation.
Mill house near Moulton's Mills.
Mills where the Moulton Mills are located.
House built by E. T. Thompson near Moulton's Mills.
House and barn, known as the White place, built by Samuel Hall.
The E. E. Hall place.
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History of Unity, Maine
House of Russell Reynolds, where Thos. B. Cook now lives.
The W. R. Chandler place, now owned by Ira Park- hurst.
Two small houses below Joseph Libby's, owned by the Southwick Tannery Company.
The old Snell tannery, so-called.
The Weed house, where H. L. Truworthy, M. D., now lives.
The Snell house and stables, where George Mosher now lives.
The house and stable of H. B. Rice, north of G. R. Mosher's.
Two small shops at the north end of Adams' store.
The hotel where the Central House now stands, two large stables, shed, and store with hall.
The second fire on this spot burned the store erect- ed by F. A. Whitehouse for manufacturing clothing, Tozier's barber shop, the building occupied by the Karam Clothing Company, and the Odd Fellows' and Masonic halls.
The first framed barn on the Chase place, where F. A. Whitten now lives.
The white, also the brick, schoolhouses.
The first fire on the west side of the street, among the stores, started in the L. H. Mosher store, then owned by Elijah Winslow. This was early in the town's history.
The second originated in the C. E. Mitchell store, occupied by T. B. Cook; that, together with the Har- mon store and house, where Ira P. Libby now lives, the J. R. Taber store, then occupied by John Crie, and the Kelly store, owned by Taber & Moulton, were burned.
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History of Unity, Maine
The third fire originated in the Harmon store,, oc- cupied by Asa Howe, and a block of three stores, built by C. E. Mitchell and J. R. Taber, were burned. Mr: Harmon rebuilt. Mr. H. H. Grant moved the Bither store onto the Mitchell lot. Mrs. Lucretia Moulton built the Frank Tozier store, and J. R, Taber built the store now used as a postoffice.
The barn of George Taylor.
The house of James Clifford.
The cottage of Mrs. J. W. Harmon, situated at Win- demere Park.
SECRET SOCIETIES
The Masonic Lodge: It is reported that the first Masonic meetings were held in Richard Cornforth's house. The early records have been destroyed, but as near as I can learn, William McGray was the first worshipful master of Star in the West Lodge, 85. Since its organization the lodge has changed its loca- tion several times, but is now permanently located in a fine hall of its own. G. T. Whitaker is the present worshipful master, and Ruel M. Berry is secretary ......
Antioch Chapter, 163, O. E. S .: Was organized March 26, 1913, constituted October 11, 1913." Cora M. Whitaker, matron; Addie L. "Fogg, assistant ma- tron; Mary W. Mosher, secretary; Chas. L. Gannett, worthy patron.
Sons of Temperance: This society was organized in Chandler's hall in 1851. They built the building for years known as the "Temperance Hall," upon land purchased from Jefferson Bartlett, now:owned by Benj. Fogg. Among the prominent members of this society, we find the names of Jefferson Bartlett, Nelson' Ding- ley, Gorham and Alonzo Hamilton, Adam, Hall' and Washington Myrick, Solomon Hollis and S. S. Coller.
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History of Unity, Maine
Nelson Dingley, Jr., trained the cadets in the upper part of this building.
Glenwood Division, S. of T., 22: Occupied the hall over the, postoffice, where it flourished for a time. John T. Main, M. D., Benj. Williams, M. D., J. E. Stone, J. R. Taber and Frank B. Lane were among its members. -
Then came the Ironclads. In this lodge, John A. Van Deets was the leader. It had an active but short career.
,, The Order of Good Templars was several times or- ganized, the last time in 1899, in Taber's hall; Henry Bacon, C. F.
Grange: The Sandy Stream Grange, P. of H., 72, was organized March 11, 1875, in the Temperance hall. It prospered for many years, but afterward was discontinued because of lack of interest.
Invictus Lodge, 38, I. O. O. F .: The Invictus Lodge was organized July 2, 1882, in Taber's hall. The char- ter members were J. R. Taber, A. R. Myrick, James Craig, M. D., Oakley Giles, Joseph C. Whitney, M. D., Joseph P. Libby, George W. Murch, Albert McManus, Alton. Pilley, Samuel .A. Myrick, Leslie L. Higgins, Marion Blanchard. ;
! .. .
The officers elected at the first meeting were J. R. Taber, N. G .; A. R. Myrick, V. G .; J. C. Whitney; Sec. -
Owing to increased membership, the lodge pur- chased from J. R. Taber, the hall upon the opposite side of the street, and remained there until burned out, January 5, 1904. It then sold its lot to J. R. Taber and purchased another from him, upon which the present hall stands. The building and furnishings cost over $5000.
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History of Unity, Maine
Favori Rebekah Lodge, 98, I. O. O. F .: This was organized Dec. 13, 1900. The officers elected were Fannie Bartlett, N. G .; Jennie A. Frost, V. G .; Grace A. Bartlett, Sec .; Grace M. Cook, Treas .; Clara E. Fuller, Ida P. Libby, Joseph P. Libby, trustees.
Knights of Pythias, 114: This organization was formed June 23, 1914, in Taber's hall. E. T. Rey- nolds, C. C .; J. C. Van Deets, V. C .; W. J. Getchell, K. of R. S .; G. B. Pillsbury, M. of F .; W. S. Libby, M. of E.
Commandery: The Commandery was instituted November 24, 1914. The officers were Carlton Kidder, C. P .; Clare Reynolds, S. W .; D. V. Rollins, H. P .; W. L. Fairbanks, J. W.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
North Waldo Agricultural Society: This was or- ganized in the early sixties. Seth Thompson, presi- dent; Benj. Fogg, vice president; Eli Vickery, treas- urer; H. B. Rice, agent and collector.
Grand Army, Calvin F. Pilley, 35: For years the Grand Army has held its meetings among us, with a reunion each thirteenth of August at Windemere Park.
Ladies' Aid: The women of our town, banded to- gether for service, have for several years proved effi- cient workers. Where they have seen a need, especial- ly in connection with church and parsonage, they have worked seriously and accomplished the end in view.
ODD ITEMS
The following odd items cannot be classified. I jot them down as they came to me, sometimes in full, sometimes in fragments, thinking that here and there a reader may find something of interest.
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History of Unity, Maine
Maine Militia: To Robert Cornforth, you being duly enrolled as a soldier in the company of which Capt. Rufus Berry is commanding officer, are hereby ordered to appear at the usual place of parade of said company, at Lieutenant George Wood's dwelling, in said Unity, on Tuesday, the fourth day of May, 1824, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, armed and equipped as the law directs for military duty and inspection, and there await further orders.
By order of said commanding officer. Dated at Unity, this 20th day of April, 1824. Edmund Murch, Adjutant.
Elizabeth Fowler was the first female born in Unity.
The first juror drawn in town was Daniel Whit- more.
The first orchard was known as the Melvin orchard. It was on the place now owned by John M. and Arthur Thompson. The seeds were planted in a sap trough. One year, it is reported, they raised one thousand bushels of apples.
Dog Hill received its name in this way: Matthew Fowler, known as "Duke," when going to "Antioch," was usually accompanied by his dog. One day this dog attacked a sheep belonging to a Mr. Stevens, who took his gun and shot the dog as he stood by his mas- ter's side. From that time it has always been called Dog Hill.
Choosing a Guardian: Unity, March 3, 1815. Re- member this day a lad by the name of Ben Skiff, belonging to Lincoln, informed me that he had chosen Henry Farwell of Unity, Kennebec County, for his guardian. Abner Knowles, Town Clerk.
Gold: In the seventies there was quite an excite- ment in town, as it was reported that gold had been
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History of Unity, Maine
discovered upon the James Mitchell farm, south of where D. E. Loveland now lives, and opposite the George Webb place. Mining was begun in earnest, a stock company was formed and the blasting of the ledge commenced. Experts were called in, who, alas, reported that "all is not gold that glitters," which caused a fall in the price of stock. The miners retired from work, and the mine remains for future genera- tions to develop. The certificates of stock are held as souvenirs. The property is now owned by George Murch.
Range Lines: Range lines are the old lines between the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers, by which land was formerly located. One of these lines runs between the Rufus Burnham farm, now owned by J. R. Taber, and the Judge Hezekiah Chase farm, now owned by F. A. Whitten. The well on F. A. Bartlett's place (the brick house near the station) is exactly on that line.
Lines: After the first store was burned, where the L. H. Mosher store now stands, a dispute arose with regard to the line, Elijah Winslow wishing to build. It was finally settled that the southeast corner of the foundation where the Mosher store now stands was the legal corner of the main street and the Water- ville road, the Waterville road being a three-rod road like the road leading from the Chandler hotel to Chase's Corner, on the Belfast road.
General Meeting: The Friends' General Meeting was held in Union church, February 22, 1873. Mary Comstock of New York was the principal speaker, assisted by Eli Jones of China, Maine, and Chas. R. Tucker of New Bedford, Mass. A heavy snowstorm prevailed and no trains ran for one week.
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History of Unity, Maine.
Mast of the Constitution: One of the masts of the frigate Constitution was cut on the farm of the Hon. Crosby Fowler. It took twelve yoke of oxen to haul the mast to the river and one to haul the runs. A piece of wood cut from the same stump is in the writer's possession.
Cider Mills: The first cider mill of which I have any knowledge was on the Jacob Truworthy place, now owned by G. W. Varney, nearly opposite the Frank Mussey place. The next one was the Parkhurst mill, now owned by L. P. Foster, which went out of com- mission several years ago. Thomas O. Knight has a modern mill on his place. There is also one near A. J. Harding's, belonging to George Trull.
The Circus: The first circus in town was held on the lawn between the residences of J. A. Adams and J. R. Taber. The ring marks are still to be seen. Joe Pentland's circus was held upon the grounds now occu- pied by the Portland Packing Company. The treas- urer of that company said that they took more money at Unity than at any other place between the Penob- scot and Kennebec rivers.
Kernoclis Bog and Kernoclis Brook: In the south- ern part of the town of Unity there is a bog called Kernoclis Bog, and along the eastern border flows a brook or stream, which is never dry, called Kernoclis Brook. This bog and this brook are both referred to in the ancient deeds, where it is sometimes found spelled Knock-Wallis. The name is derived from the name of an Indian who dwelt in the forest on the borders of the bog when the white men first came to the region. The bog itself in the centre is muddy peat to an unknown depth, covered, except in places, with a thick growth of moss. In places the water shows through the surface and is never dry. A person stand-
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History of Unity, Maine
ing on a mound of this moss can cause the surface of the bog for a long distance around him to wave like the waves of the sea, from which circumstance this part of the bog is called the "Shaking Bog." It con- tains about a thousand acres, and its borders are covered with a dense, dark growth, consisting mainly of spruce, fir and pine. In the winter it is the haunt of deer, as it is very warm, and the surface of the water holes in the "Shaking Bog" never freezes over.
At an election held May 17, 1810, to elect a repre- sentative to the General Court, Lemuel Bartlett re- ceived seventeen votes ; Samuel Kelly, two.
May 11, 1818, Rufus Burnham was elected repre- - sentative to the General Court.
July 6, 1819, the vote to become an independent state stood ninety-eight in favor, five against. -
September 20, 1819, Rufus Burnham, M. D., was chosen to attend the convention at Portland which met to draft a constitution for the state.
April 13, 1820, Hon. William King received seven- ty-two votes for governor.
April 25, 1824, voted to pay each soldier the sum of twenty cents before the General Muster.
March 31, 1828, the support of the poor and all liabilities therefor were sold to Isaac Mitchell for $152.50.
April 26, 1829, the vote for representative to Con- gress stood: Hon. Ruel Williams, 40; Gen. Jesse Robinson, fifteen; Nathan Cutler, eleven; George Evans, one.
Postmaster: J. R. Taber was appointed post- master in 1865 and held the office at three different times. The last appointment was May 31, 1895, resigned September, 1914, age seventy-five years, total
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History of Unity, Maine
service twenty years; succeeded by E. T. Whitehouse, October 27, 1914.
Station Agent: Railroad opened in 1870; Alfred Berry, station agent.
Mail Carriers: Thos. J. Whitehouse was appointed mail carrier in 1870, Fred A. Whitehouse appointed mail carrier in 1889. This service has been in the Whitehouse family since the railroad was built in 1870, with the exception of a short time after the Central House was burned, when it was conducted by J. R. Taber, who entertained the traveling public while the Central House was being rebuilt.
Rural Free Delivery: On October 1, 1902, the rur- al free delivery was established, with Gurney A. Stevens as carrier.
September 14, 1901, William McKinley, President of the United States, was killed. The church bell was tolled for forty-five minutes by Peter Whitney, after which fifty-eight strokes, suggesting the President's age, were made.
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