USA > Maine > York County > Eliot > History of the centennial of the incorporation of the town of Eliot, Maine, August 7th-13, 1910 > Part 2
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The old school house, of District No. I, from which so many of the inhabitants graduated, now stands near this house, used as a woodshed, awaking memories of study
Mrs. Mary A. Butler
Pleasant St., By the River.
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Old Shapleigh House
15.
FIRST DAY.
and punishment ; for the birch and ferule were considered as necessary as book and quill, in the days of the old School House.
A near neighbor to this is the old house occupied by Miss Paulina Emery,-the last of a large family.
With its low ceiling, its quaint windows, and its old cupboard in the corner, it carries the mind back to old times.
It was the residence of a shoemaker who tanned the leather he used. I well remember how intently I watched the horse as he wearily travelled round and round, grind- ing the bark for tanning, in the old mill.
A very large ancient Bible, with its pictures, was one of the attractions of the old house in the days of my childhood.
The old Shapleigh house, torn down a number of years ago, was one of the oldest houses in town. It stood near the school house in district No. I.
With its hip roof, its quaint windows, and big old fashioned chimney, it was an object of interest to all who passed it. Around it stood old poplars and lilacs. No one knows its age ; but it is known that an earthquake in 1755 damaged the house and shook down the chimney which was rebuilt on a smaller scale.
This house was the home of Nicholas Gowen, father of Capt. and later, Hon. James Gowen, a quite prominent man in his time,
Near the old Shapleigh house, between it and the road, stood another house, the home of James G. Shapleigh, afterwards removed, and is now owned and occupied by Elbridge Goodwin.
On the top of the Rocky Hills once stood a little old dwelling house, owned by Joshua Johnson. But few now living remember it. A family of children grew to maturity here, and went their several ways.
A once much used road, known as Johnson's Lane, now abandoned, ran from the Brixham road near Otis Sillsbee's to the Goodwin road, near my own home.
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ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
A short distance below the school house, and about half way between the road and Rocky Hills, were three old houses. All were on land now owned by Mr. Albert Lord, but then owned as three farms. The first the Jenkins house ; afterwards hauled away, and ended its days on the spot where Mr. C. R. Hooper now lives, and was the house owned and occupied by the late Capt. William Bartlett.
The next, the old Lord house, and the next the Butland house. The only thing left to mark their site is the old well of the Butlands.
The old Tide Mill at Sturgeon Creek should be remem- bered here :
Grinding only at high water, it was frequently an annoyance to the farmers who depended on it for grinding their corn, to find they were five minutes late ; for the tide had gone down, or many were there before them,-and perhaps several days would elapse before their grist would be ready for them.
I have thought the modern farmers would be likely to be impatient at such proceedings ; but we are writing of a time when people had not learned to harness the light- ning and imitate the birds of the air in their flight.
We boast of our free mail delivery service; but more than sixty years ago, we of East Eliot, had an R. F. D. Our postmaster, Esq. James Goodwin, who lived near the church, took with him each Sabbath Morning, the mail for all who attended church; and distributed it as one after another arrived at the door. The postage was charged to the receiver then; but as there were only two mails per week, the bills were not extravagant.
Many other places might be mentioned of equal interest ; but we will close with lines,-by one who was many years away from her native state :-
I've looked today on the dear old hills,-
The dear old hills of my early home ;
I've looked with eyes that were dim with tears
That came with the thought of former years,
When knowing no sorrow, and bearing no pain,
Old Mill at Sturgeon Creek
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Joseph H. Dixon
17.
ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
I just looked out on the hills of Maine. I've walked today in the dear old woods,- The dear old woods that my father loved ; I've pressed my feet on the mossy sod, The very same that my mother trod ; I've picked the berries so ripe and sweet, I've breathed the pine trees fragrant breath ; And the fairy fountain once again Has filled my cup in the woods of Maine.
I've stood today by the lonely graves, Where rest the friends my childhood knew ; The breeze stole out of the quivering fir, The wild bird sought its hidden nest ; The myrtle wreathed the tangled path ; And blinding tears fell down like rain,
As I bowed my head o'er the graves in Maine.
O glorious hills of Maine !
O beautiful woods of Maine !
O lakes with wealth of shimmering waves !
O silent spot of the silent graves ! Though absent long I've wandered far, And smiled and wept 'neath other skies ; Through every change does my heart retain Its early love for dear old Maine !
THE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES OF ELIOT.
BY JOSEPH H. DIXON.
The settlers in this colony placed a high value on education, religious and secular. Soon after the incorpor- ation of the town of Kittery, they set apart tracts of land for Meeting Houses and Schools.
The first School Building within the limits of our present town of Eliot, is said to have been a log house,- location unknown. This gave place to a frame building at Sandy Hill, later used as a dwelling house and still in existence.
18.
FIRST DAY.
In 1810, our town's birth year, there were six school houses within our limits ; five of which were in nearly the same locations as at present ; the sixth was the Brick Schoolhouse, which was torn down in 1823; and the houses at the Neck, and the present No. 6 district, were built. Our present No. 4, is the only one of the original houses remaining. In 1841, the 8th district was formed from parts of the 5th and 6th.
Some prominent teachers have been, -Parson Chandler, William Hammond, William Randall, Alpheus Hanscom, and George C. Bartlett. They were paid from fifteen to eighteen dollars a month, with no summer school.
The Academy, established in 1839, and continued thirty- five years under various eminent instructors, exerted a great and favorable influence upon the schools of that period.
To-day we have eight School Houses, with ten school rooms, which, with a well equipped High School Build- ing, afford educational facilities surpassing most of the country towns ol our State of Maine.
Along with the majority of the settlers of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, the most of our ancestors belonged to the Congregational Church,-which might have been aptly styled the Established Church of New England. Of this Church and its successive houses of worship in our town, much has been written :-
The first, a little structure in the wilderness, of which we have so slight a record that even its location cannot be definitely fixed; the next house, built in 1715, with its church of less than twenty members, organized in 1721 .. with its ministry of Rogers, Spring, Chandler, has now become familiar to us; and the next church, erected in 1832, and burned in 1880, in which the society received the labors of Bacon, Peabody, Hall, Holmes and others, is within our personai recollection.
But not all of our ancestry were of the Orthodox faith : -
The first sect of dissenters was that known as Friends, or Quakers.
" The first meeting for worship was established here in
East Eliot Methodist Church.
South Eliot Methodist Church
2nd Advent Church
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ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
1730; it was connected with Dover monthly meeting, - - and stood alone in this state for more than ten years."
The Quaker Meeting House was built in 1769-70, on land of Friend Jenkins, on the site of the house of Charles Goodwin, near Sturgeon Creek. It stood until about the middle of the last century, when it was taken down .- Among those belonging to this sect, we find the names of :
Allen, Davis, Frye, Gould, Hill, Jenkins, Kennard, Morrill, Neal, Witham.
A list of Quakers in Kittery, May 1737, contains the names of twenty-two men, allowed as such by the Selectmen ; which gives us an idea of the probable number of the sect at that time.
But fhe Peace principles of the Friends, seem to have been unadapted to the tumultuous times which followed. Early in the last century they ceased to hold their meet- ings, and there is now but one member of that society in our town.
In the early days of our town, a number of the town's people joined the Baptist churches in Berwick and Kittery, but no society of that faith was ever formed here.
In 1826, the First Methodist Church at East Eliot was built, a class and society organized, which have continued until the present time, under the ministrations of various pastors appointed by the Maine Conference,
About 1844, the Methodists of South Eliot erected a small vestry in which meetings were held ten years, when the present church was built.
The Universalists held meetings in Academy Hall,- about fifteen years from ths time of its erection ; enjoying the occasional ministrations of Ballou, Skinner, King, Cobb, Baker, Willis, Patterson and others ; they had no organized society ; but held a Sunday School of which Capt. Samuel Hanscom was Superintendent.
From about 1810, Elder Mark Fernald, of Kittery, one of the founders of the Christian denomination, assisted by others, held meetings in the Brick School House at the Neck ; and later, in School House No. 7, which succeeded it ; a church was formed, called " The First Christian Church of Eliot." About 1845, they erected a small chapel
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FIRST DAY.
where the Advent Chapel now stands; in which they maintained worship for ten or twelve years ; after which the house was unoccupied for some years, except by transient preachers.
The first Adventist meetings in the town, were held in 1857-8, in the Academy Hall, and in a grove near the house of Hammond Libbey.
In the spring of 1860, Elder F. H. Burbank held a pro- tracted meeting, of four weeks duration, in the vacant Christian Chapel, which resulted in the establishment of regular services at that place. The old chapel being smafl and out of repair, was taken down ; and the present chapel built in 1887. A Church was formed about the same time, of which Elder G. W. Brown is the present pastor.
About 1890, Elder J. P. Goodwin, at the back part of the town, formed a church of the Adventist people on the borders of Eliot and York, with some from Kittery .- They erected a small chapel near his dwelling, where they have since held occasional services.
Thus has the Century brought toleration to all denom- inations; the bigotted asperities of former days have given place to Christian courtesy ; and we are testing the blessing of dwelling together in unity.
Thus has our town enjoyed the blessings of School and Sanctuary ; these united with our healthy climate and fruitful fields may well cause us to feel that " Our lines have fallen in pleasant places ; we have goodly heritage."
OUR ELIOT. Written by Miss ARA BELLE HAMMOND,
We meet when "good old summer time" In beauty clothes the earth With its joyous robe of living green, On these August days of mirth.
Our Eliot receives to-day ; Her hills and vales are fair ;
She greets you with extended arms, There's welcome in the air.
-
O
Miss Ara Belle Hammond
21.
ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
For you she opens wide her doors, And bids you enter in ; She flings her starry banner out, For all are our own kin. She beckons you from lives of care, From loved homes not a few, To spend a while with friends of yore, And old time scenes review.
You stand to-day on the same ground Your youthful feet did tread ; More sacred now, since passing years Have hallowed memories shed.
On these same paths, now worn and old. Your childhood games were played ; We hope you've kept their memory green Though far from home you've strayed.
And whether now you pass your days In mansion or in cot, We greet you here as school-day friends, Who happiness have brought.
Some have not met for many a day, And almost strangers grown ; We'll give the cordial handshake now, And pass it on and on.
And others whom we sadly miss, Have laid life's armor down ; And for their lives, with good replete, Received the Victor's Crown.
Our Fathers planted well these homes, They guarded them with care ; A bounteous heritage they left,- These lands and dwellings fair.
Then for their lives of sterling worth, And for the love we bear,
22.
FIRST DAY.
Can we forget to tribute pay, While we the fruitage share?
A Century our town has stood With name and honor clear ; Let every loyal heart give praise, On this Centennial Year.
Then ring the bells and fire the guns, And march with torch and flame ! And let Old Eliot's children all Allegiance true proclaim.
Long will our river ebb and flow, Folks come, and people go;
But none be nearer to our hearts Than these friends of long ago.
May this reunion, glad and true, For absence long atone ;
And as years flow may our love grow, For this our childhood's home.
And when the good-byes all are said, May this wish oft return :- To spend another "Old Home Week," In this ancestral town.
Now here's to lives so brave and true, That homage long will last ; Whose deeds historians proud record, When a hundred years have passed !
And may some bard, as yet unknown, With thrilling voice or pen, Recite our virtues loud and long, In Twenty Hundred Ten!
Des. O. Athome
C. Edward Barltett
23.
ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
The Musical Program:
We must not close this account of the First Day, without mentioning the very delightful Musical program rendered :-
The opening selection : Auld Lang Syne,-sung by the combined choirs of the various churches.
Solo,-Feed my Sheep. Mrs. D. C. Clark.
Mid the Clover and the Corn. Chorus. Duet,-Home, Sweet Home,
Misses Edith and Harriet Magee.
Bercease, Violin Solo, Ray G. Edwards.
Old Folks at Home. Chorus.
Solo. Forever with the Lord. Edith Magee.
Pantomime. Nearer my God to Thee. Miss Presbrey.
Old Friends and Old Times. Male Quartet.
Dear Old Home State. Chorus.
America. Chorus and Audience.
The Chorus was made up of the following : Soprano :
Miss Edith Magee, Mrs. D. C. Clark,
Mrs. H. I. Durgin. Alto.
Miss Harriet Magee, Mrs. A. W. Nowell,
Mrs. Cyrus A. Bartlett, Mrs. C. E. Foye.
Miss Winifred Fernald, Miss Cora Emery,
Miss Marjorie Fernald, Miss Edith M. Raitt,
Mrs. Burgess Abbott.
Tenor.
Dr. H. I. Durgin, Prof. John T. Brooks. Base.
Mr. Fred. Wilson, Mr. Albert W. Nowell.
Miss Myrtie A. Ham, Accompanist.
The church was packed from the pulpit to the front steps.
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24.
SECOND DAY.
SECOND DAY, MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1910.
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The interest that began on the Sabbath, was greatly increased on Monday ; and the second day of the Centen- nial became a series of interests and pleasantness.
The forenoon was enlivened by the arrival of many guests, who once were of Eliot families; and the arrange- ments were of especial interest ; designed to make the day attractive and memorable.
At ten A. M. the ladies of the committee held an informal reception, at the William Fogg Library.
For several hours there was a continual entrance to the open door of the attractive building,-where the visitors were given an opportunity to register.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, a large company assembled at the Library ; and a tour to the historical localities of Eliot began. To these interesting spots the processions of visitors and town's people were conducted.
Among those visited, were,-
First, -the site of the old Eliot Academy, -a locality that has never lost its interest ; and is dear to the hearts of the old scholars who are still alive; and to younger people also, who frequently ask for its history.
Then came the William Fogg house,-where resided the genealogist of Eliot; and later his son. Dr. John S. H. Fogg, who gave to the town the William Fogg Memorial Library.
The Daniel Fogg estate, now owned by Dr. J. L. M, Willis. This estate once belonged to William Hawthorne -ancestor of the renowned Nathaniel Hawthorne.
The old Kennard Tavern,-famous in Revolutionary days and as the home of Dr. James H. Pierpont, who was a prominent physician.
Kennards Corner
1
On the Old Road
The Old Road, near Charles Jellison's.
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Old Road Near Old Kennard Tavern
4
Neal Garison
G. Everett Hammond
ELIOT ACADEMY 1839
Eliot Academy-A Sketch from Memory
25.
ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
The site of the Second Parish Meeting House.
The home of Honorable Andrew Pepperrell Leighton,- the grandfather of Ex-Governor John F. Hill, of Maine. This was the site of Eliot's first Public Library.
The site of the William Everett tavern,-where the submission of Maine to Massachusetts, in 1652, took place.
The site of the First Quaker Meeting House in Maine ; Gen'l Leighton's; Old Prime's; Ambush rock, where Major Charles Frost, Dennis Downing and Mrs. John Heard, were killed by the Indians.
The home of Noah Emery, the first King's Attorney for Maine.
The home of Squire Joshua Hubbard, friend and associ- ate of General William Pepperrell.
The Neal and Frost Garrison House.
The home of Mary Batchelder, wife of Samuel Batch- elder, said to be the original of Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter.
The monument to the memory of the Rev. John Rogers, who preached in Eliot fifty-four years, the oldest pastorate in Maine ; unveiled in the old Parish burying ground.
The' burying ground of the Hon. John Frost, the first Register of Probate of Maine.
At eight o'clock this Monday evening, the East Eliot Industrial Club gave a Lawn Party, at the G. W. Webber place, on the Hanscom road; there was a fine display of fireworks.
Various addresses, given at localities of historic interest, are included upon following pages; they will aid in memorizing the early names, and the events that will never cease to win thought and observation :-
26
SECOND DAY.
ELIOT ACADEMY.
GEORGE EVERETT HAMMOND.
-
For a number of years prior to 1840, the people of Eliot came to appreciate more and more, the pressing need of some means of benefiting and improving conditions in the community. It became evident that there was imperative need of some central building, where assemblies could be held; and that would be instrumental in advancing the interests of the town.
There seems to have been a wide spread development of a desire for improvement ; and as an outcome of this desire, after more or less canvassing and discussion, something like fifty men of our town, some of whom could ill afford the outlay, became interested share holders in what was stated in the first meeting to be-" A house for public purposes."
This was about February, 1839; and it is noted in pass- ing, that it was not till the shareholders meeting in August of that year, that the new structure was alluded to as The Academy. Up to this latter date, it was mentioned only as "The building."
After the usual difficulties incident to such an under- taking had been overcome, and the time for the actual construction to begin, there evidently was much eagerness to have the erection and completion speedily accomplished.
At a meeting of the shareholders, held February 22, 1839, Mr. Joseph Fogg offered "a lot of land in his field," for the anticipated building. As compensation, he re- quested $40, and five shares in the building. His offer was unanimously accepted.
Immediate arrangements were made for the erection of the building ; and John P. Rogers, Eliot Scammon and William Hammond were chosen as a committee, to be the directors and managers of the construction.
At the same meeting William Fogg was chosen Treas- urer for the shareholders, with the understanding that "one half of the subscription money be paid on the raising
27.
ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
of the building, and the remainder as the directors may direct."
Early in March, 1839, the foundations were laid, and the progress of the work seems to have been satisfactory to all concerned ; and it is evident that during this period of construction, plans had been perfected for a School ;- for at a meeting the first of September, it was voted that the committee be requested "to finish the lower floor as soon as the 20th inst ;" and also, "that the school com- mence as soon as the house is prepared."
On Sept. 29, 1839, the shareholders assembled at the "Eliot Academy," at 7 o'clock, p.m., and it was there voted, "That we, the subscribers and proprietors of the building now being erected in Eliot for public purposes, do agree to associate ourselves under the name of The Eliot Academic Association."
Later in the year the lower portion of the building was completed, and arrangements were made for installing therein a school.
We find that an organization was effected in the latter part of 1839, for the management of the school, with the following named officers, chosen October 3, of that year :- Rev. Elisha Bacon, Chairman.
Isaiah Hanscom, Secretary.
William Fogg, Treasurer.
Prudential Committee : Samuel Hanscom, jr. Alexander Shapleigh, Oliver Libbey.
Examining Committee : Jacob Hayes, James S. Tobey, Oliver Libbey, Elisha Bacon, William Hammond.
Trustees : Charles M. Weeks, M. D. President. William Hammond, Secretary.
Jacob Hayes, M. D., Hon. Mark Dennett, John P. Simes, Esq., George C. Bartlett, Esq., James S. Tobey, Esq., Alpheus Hanscom, Esq., William Fogg, Esq.
We find no record of the employment of the first Precep- tor, but it is thought that without doubt, Israel Kimball of Portsmouth, and his wife, Mrs. Clara P. Kimball, had the honor of organizing and teaching the first school in- stalled in the old Academy ;- the upper part. of the build- ing not being finished at the time.
28.
SECOND DAY.
The Academy was incorparated February 25, 1840 ; and on April 13, the act was accepted by the proprietors.
During all the years that the town had the benefit of the old Academy building, the half in the second story was used for general purposes, and in a variety of ways .- Gatherings oi all kinds were wont to assemble there; for example,-singing schools, religious meetings, courts of law, temperance meetings, balls, school exhibitions, polit- ical assemblages.
The meetings of the Lyceum, as conducted by the people of the last generation, stepping stones as they were towards broader views and expansion of thought, were held in this hall ; as were also the meetings of the town in its corporate capacity.
There does not seem to be a complete list of teachers who succeeded Mr. Kimball, as principal of the school ; but most of them are known. The first to follow was :
Moses G. Farmer ; known in later years as the pioneer electrical inventor.
His successors were : Timothy Senter, Elisha B. Shap- leigh, Miss Mehitable Mood, Horace Parker, Mr. Lane, Ashton Rollins, James Garvin, Mary T. Cutts, Sarah L. Bacon, John H. Moore, Julia A. Lord, Stephen G. Nor- cross, Lydia K. Potter, Mary M. Mitchell, Albert B. Putney Freeman Putney, William B. Bennett, Edmund Fogg.
The school in the old Academy was run through all these years with a varying degree of success. Sometimes with a meagre attendance; but generally with a goodly number of pupils, the largest of which there is a record, was in the fall term of 1867, when the register showed an attendance of 116. This was during the time that Albert B. Putney was the principal.
An interesting fact is revealed by a catalogue published in 1860, that in this Academy was held the earliest sessions of the County Normal School ; and that a class of twenty- seven, took the course.
The organization at this period was as follows :-
George A. Hammond
Dr. L. M. Willis
Prof. Moses G. Farmer
Horace Parker
Mrs. M. Louise Foye, Librarian Wm. Fogg Library
29.
ELIOT CENTENNIAL.
Trustees :
Rev. Otis Holmes, President, George A. Hammond,
Rev. A. Moore, Horace Parker,
Maj. James Shapleigh, B. H. Cram.
The staff of Teachers were :
John H. Moore, A. B. Principal.
Miss Maria L. Patterson, Preceptress.
Miss Annie J. Holmes, Assistant Pupil.
Miss Sarah A. Paul, Assistant Pupil.
Miss L. M. Waterhouse, Teacher of Music.
The influences connected with the Old Academy, were most beneficial to the youth of the community ; and we have heard it remarked by those who have gone out from it, that these influences awoke them from their lethargy, and started them for,-and really were the cause for what- ever success they attained in after life.
The old Academy came to its finality December 21, 1875. Its existence, -if not its memories,-was ended by fire. It was burned to the ground ; but has left chapters in town history which fire cannot destroy ; and influences which will endure for generations.
THE WILLIAM FOGG HOUSE.
MRS. LOUISE FOYE, Librarian William Fogg Library.
As you, friends, have gathered with us in our Library, and have seen the pretty, comfortable homes clustered near it, I think you will like to know a little of the history of this part of Old Eliot.
The pretty, winding road at the entrance of these grounds, is known as the Old Road ; and was once an Indian trail ; and probably the most ancient white man's path in Maine ;- and now something about the settlers along this road :
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