USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine, Volume II, 1875-1900 > Part 28
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The prettiest feature of the occasion was the thirteen young ladies, dressed in costume to represent the thirteen original colonies, cach bearing a name on her belt. They attended the tables in a very satisfactory manner. The list is as follows: Annie Abbot, New Hampshire; Belle Knowlton, Massachusetts; Ellen Pierce, Rhode Island; Mary Sleeper, Connecticut; Lulu Dicker- son, New York; Pamelia Wadlin, New Jersey; Mary Caldwell, Delaware; Annie White, Maryland; Addie Chase, Pennsylvania;
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Sadie Harriman, Virginia; Minnie Hilton, North Carolina; Alice Wales, South Carolina; Mary Johnson, Georgia.
1875, October 17. Maggie Mitchell acted in "Fanchon."
1876, February 11. The ladies of the Unitarian Society gave a Dickens Party, at which over one hundred characters were re- presented in costume.
1876, July 6. Murray's circus exhibited.
1876, July 20. Miss Clara A. Nickels, of Searsport, assisted by Miss Annie Louise Cary, gave a concert.
1877, February 28. An Old Folks' Concert for the benefit of the poor was given. About one hundred vocalists and musicians participated, dressed in the costume of ancient days. Powdered wigs, knee-breeches and long waistcoats abounded, as did also, among ladies, the marvellous hair-dressing and wonderful gar- ments of the days of yore. The programme was headed as follows: -
YE OLD FOLKS' CONCERTE
To be attended at Hayford Halle, wh is sette downe on Churche Streete, on ye Peter Rowe lotte, near ye Haye Scayles; Wednefday Eveg, Feby, ye 28th, at Early Candle Light.
1877, July 20. J. P. Addams, an old-time actor, made his last appearance in Belfast.
1878, June 3-5. Charlotte Thompson appeared in the plays of "Jane Eyre," "Miss Mullen," and "East Lynne."
1878, June 14. Barnum's "Great Show" exhibited. So many people were never in Belfast at one time before.
1880, June 27. The Boston Museum Company, with William Warren and others, presented the comedy of the "Silver Spoon."
1881. The celebrated Madam Janauschek appeared one even- ing at Hayford Hall.
1882. Roller-skating was introduced, and two rinks, one at Hayford Hall, the other at Peirce's Hall, at whose sessions both sexes were represented, were established in November.
1883. Hayford Hall was named the Belfast Opera House. At a ball given by the Palestine Commandery, December 20, a covered bridge across Church Street connected it with Peirce's Hall.
1883. The Baseball Nine played nine games with different clubs and won six.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST
1884, March 5. A skating-rink, erected by Robert Hudson Coombs, between High and Union streets, east of the Frothing- ham lot, was opened. The building was one hundred by seventy feet, on the ground, and thirty four feet high, with a hip roof.
1884. On Christmas evening, the dedication of a rink in the hall of the new Coliseum Building took place. The skating floor was one hundred and thirty by sixty feet, encircled by a gallery of five hundred seats.
1884. The Baseball Club had a successful season this year. A wood-cut of its members appeared in the "New York Dramatic and Sporting Journal" of September 20.
1885, January 1. The "Progressive Age" mentions that two skating-rinks, three billiard saloons, and two theatre and dance halls were profitably running.
1885, February 24. A reception to Gov. Frederick Robie and a ball were given by the XII Club.
1885, March. Margaret Mather played with a company.
1885, April 12. A bowling-alley, having four alleys seventy feet long, was opened in the basement of the Coliseum.
1885, July 2. Barnum's "Greatest Show on Earth" pitched its tents upon the Monroe lot, near the Muck Pond, in the midst of a rainstorm. Over eight thousand persons were in the streets. On the grounds the mud was ankle-deep, and no evening per- formance took place.
1885. During the summer a portion of the Allyn Field was occupied by the Baseball Club. John L. Sullivan, the notorious prize-fighter, umpired a game on the 21st of August. (See p. 288.)
1887, December 3. Madam Janauschek, with a strong sup- porting company, appeared as Meg Merrilies, in "Guy Man- nering."
1888. In April, twenty young men owned bicycles, and formed a wheelmen's club.
1888. On the last night of the year, the Opera House was lighted for the first time by electricity.
1889, August 8. The Forepaugh Circus was visited by ten thousand people.
1890, May 30. The most notable social event of the year was the Trades Carnival held July 31, at Coombs's Skating-Rink, by the Universalist Church Society. Fifty-five young ladies in beau- tiful costumes, representing as many business firms, marched,
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and performed difficult evolutions. The evening ended with a dance.
1891. The sixth annual meet of the League of American Wheelmen was held herc. A street parade, clambake, and ball took place.
1892, December 6. The first representation of Living Whist was given. It was in aid of the Military Band, which during the summer had furnished several evening concerts on the Common.
1892. In August, Captain Robert Coombs's Skating-Rink was sold to Frank Bowdoin Mathews.
1893, June 30. An evening with Sir Roger de Coverley, in which all the familiar characters appeared in costume, was given by the ladies of the Unitarian Society at Memorial Hall.
1893. Through the winter the Cinderella and Central Club Assemblies were well attended. Progressive whist parties were popular. In the summer months baseball continued to be played, and football was first introduced by the High School boys. The band gave several concerts, in one of which W. H. Whiddon, of Boston, took part. At a banquet tendered Colonel Gilman Pin- gree Lombard, in honor of his appointment on Governor Cleaves's staff, a sword appropriate to his rank was presented.
1894. The band gave the usual number of open-air concerts; there were several lawn parties; and the Gun Club had several shooting-matches. For the first time young ladies appeared in Belfast on bicycles.
1895. The band had several excursions during the year and gave the usual outdoor concerts. A promenade concert was given in the Belfast Opera House August 9, and a benefit supper and concert November 1.
1895. New ground on Congress Street for the Baseball Club was obtained, and although the City appropriated forty dollars to put it in order, but few games were played. There was an increased interest in bicycle riding. An organization called "The Belfast Whist Club" was originated. The annual tournament of the Gun Club took place in September, and a silver cup was won by William A. Decrow. Football was engaged in to a limited extent.
1896, May 21. The comedy "Me and Otis," written by Rev. Charles Henry Wells, of the Universalist Church, when in college, was successfully performed.
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1897. In June, a field four hundred by three hundred and fifty feet, on Congress and James streets, for playing baseball, was graded, fenced, and furnished with a grand-stand sixty feet long. An association was formed to maintain a team in the Maine League.
1898. The social events of the year included the Washington Hose Company Ball, January 20; the Knights of Pythias Ball, February 21; the Old Folks' Dance, March 4; Bachelor Maids' tea, March 9; the Harvest Festival by the North Church, Octo- ber 28; and the usual whist and cotillion parties.
1899, March 31. An Old Folks' Dance at the Opera House was largely attended. Ephraim A. Pitcher, aged nearly ninety- four, and Charles Read, aged ninety, participated. Professor Jeremiah C. Whitten furnished the music.
1899. The local Baseball Nine played twenty-four games, winning seventeen.
1900, March 22. A third Old Folks' Dance, under the manage- ment of Fred William Pote, was successful. Ninety-six couples were in the grand march, headed by Mr. and Mrs. David H. Libby. Charles Read, the oldest man in Belfast, attended. The ushers appeared in Continental costumes, with small-clothes and powdered wigs. As usual, the proceeds were given to deserving families.
BELFAST BASEBALL CLUB
Belfast had a baseball team during the season of 1900, and it proved a winner, starting with all local players except the pitcher, but several college men and other outsiders were taken on as the season progressed. It met some of the strongest teams in Maine and some from Massachusetts, and won a large majority of the games played.
The following facts relative to the club have been prepared for this volume by Mr. George I. Keating, the club's official scorer:
The original Belfast Baseball Club, of which Dilworth and Knowlton were the famous battery, was organized in 1883. The players in that year were: W. E. Dilworth, pitcher; H. E. Knowl- ton, catcher; J. A. McKeen, 1st base; A. Colburn, 2d base, and captain; F. E. Cottrell, 3d base; F. V. Cottrell, shortstop; A. W. Thompson, left field; E. L. Warren, centre field; F. R. Woodcock, William Ross, right field. The team played six games, winning
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four, and losing two. Two games were played with the Bangor Club, each team winning onc.
In 1884, the team was made up as follows: W. E. Dilworth, pitcher; H. E. Knowlton, catcher; W. R. Howard, Ist base; A. Colburn, 2d base, and captain; F. E. Cottrell, 3d base; F. V. Cot- trell, shortstop; A. W. Thompson, left field; J. A. McKeen, centre field; I. M. Cottrell, right field. Seventeen games were played, the Belfast team winning twelve and losing five. The two games played with the Bangor Club were both won by the Belfast Nine.
In 1885, the Club played sixteen games, winning ten and losing six. The members of the team were: W. E. Dilworth, pitcher; H. E. Knowlton, catcher; W. R. Howard, 1st base; H. M. Moul- ton, E. L. Warren, 2d base; F. E. Cottrell, 3d base ; F. V. Cottrell, shortstop; A. W. Thompson, left field; A. Colburn, centre field and 2d base, and captain; I. M. Cottrell, right field. The Nine played eight games with the Bangor Club, winning five and losing three.
During these seasons, Melville T. Marshall was manager of the Club; George I. Keating, official scorer; and S. Aug. Parker, Thomas B. Dinsmore, F. R. Woodcock, and Charles S. Bickford, respectively acting as umpires.
In 1883 and 1884, the games were played at the Trotting Park. In the spring of 1885, however, money was raised by subscrip- tion, and the ground on Northport Avenue (the lots now occupied by the houses of Charles Bradbury and F. E. Smythe), three hundred by four hundred feet, was fenced in, and a grand-stand built. These grounds were opened June 24, 1885, with a game between the Resolutes, of Boston, and the Belfast Team, the game being won by the Belfast Nine, by the score of 13 to 9.
Dilworth and Knowlton undoubtedly formed the greatest battery ever developed in Maine. Dilworth had terrific speed and wonderful endurance. He always pitched bareheaded and in his stocking feet. In a seven-inning game, July 6, 1885, with the Bangor Nine, Dilworth struck out nineteen men out of twenty- one at the bat. It was no uncommon occurrence for him to strike out eighteen or twenty batters in a game. On August 11 and 13, 1885, he pitched for the Belfast Nine in games against the Portland, New England League Team, and was defeated - 6 to 3, and 4 to 3. On August 14, he pitched for the Newbury- port Team against Portland, and defeated the Portland Nine 4
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to 1. The last game pitched by Dilworth for the Belfast Club was on August 25, 1885, in a game with the Mutuals, of Boston, in which the latter did not make a run or a safe hit. Sixteen men were struck out, and but one man was left on base during the entire game. Dilworth joined the Newburyport Team, New England League, and played for several years professionally, in Newburyport and Brockton, Massachusetts; Binghampton, New York; and Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Knowlton's catching was fully up to the pitching record made by Dilworth. At the time the pitcher's box was but forty-five feet from the plate, and for a long while Knowlton caught with bare hands, and never wore any but a small glove. He was not only a remarkable catcher, but by far the best batter on the team; he had no weak points either at the bat or behind it.
On August 21, 1885, John L. Sullivan, the champion prize- fighter, was umpire of a game between the Belfast and Bangor Clubs, played on the Northport Avenue grounds, at which the largest crowd that ever witnessed a game in Belfast was present.
It is scarcely necessary to add that, in spite of Bangor's well- earned reputation as "kickers," no appeal was taken from any of "John L.'s" decisions of "out," or "safc."
It is worthy of note and significant that every player, and the scorer, manager, and five umpires mentioned, covering the years 1883 to 1885, are now alive (January, 1913), thirty years after.
HALLS
Of the public halls Belfast possessed in 1875, four have ceased to exist, as follows; Angier's and Phoenix, both in Phoenix Row, which was burned in 1887; Peirce's, otherwise called Peirce's Parlor Theatre, destroyed by fire in 1899; and Washington, de- molished in 1890, to make room for the Memorial Building.
The following is a list of the present halls (1900) : -
City, or McClintock's, at the corner of Main and High streets. It was elaborately fitted up by the Odd Fellows, and used until the completion of their new building in 1889.
The Coliseum, located in the building by that name on Main Street.
Equity, on Belmont Avenue, one and a half miles out of the City.
Flanders, at the Head of the Tide.
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Grand Army, or Memorial, in Memorial Building. Johnson's, on High Street; now used by the Belfast Band. Knights of Pythias, in Black's Block, Phoenix Row.
McCrillis's, on the East Side of the river. In Volume I it was erroneously called Stevens's Hall.
Masonic, in Masonic Temple. The old hall, in the High School building, has been used as a place of worship by the Roman Catholic Church, and by the Good Templars. It is now a recitation room.
Odd Fellows', in Odd Fellows' Block on Main Street. This is distinct from the smaller hall of the same name, and in the same building, used for balls and concerts.
Opera House, formerly Hayford Hall. Bray & Maxfield became its managers in 1899, and made many improvements. "The Stage," a little paper containing the different evening programmes, was published for a time.
Seaside Grange, on Field Street, between High Street and Waldo Avenue.
Union, in the second story of the school-house at the Head of the Tide.
Rila Kittredge, the champion fine handwriter of the world, and now eighty-seven years old, continues to amuse himself with miniature chirography, which has been his diversion for twenty years. He has repeatedly written the Lord's Prayer eight times in a space no larger than a silver half-dime, and crowded the messages of President Harrison, containing 10,200 words, besides Jefferson's Inaugural, the Declaration of Independence, and other matter, comprising 4700 additional words, upon a single postal card. Mr. Kittredge died 11 March, 1904, aged 92 years.
CHAPTER XLIII
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
Robert Green Ingersoll - James Gillespie Blaine - Henry Ward Beecher -
Admiral Trenchard - General James Abram Garfield - The Dolphin - Squadron of Evolution, or the White Squadron - Maine Press Association - United States Ship Prairie - Ex-President Cleveland - Battleship Texas - Captain Charles D. Sigsbee.
0 N August 6, 1876, Colonel Robert Green Ingersoll and James Gillespie Blaine addressed a political meeting in the Belfast Opera House.
Henry Ward Beecher was in Belfast on the 16th of January, 1878, and delivered a lecture at the Opera House.
Admiral Stephen D. Trenchard, of the United States Navy, who, in 1865, was stationed in Belfast Harbor as commander of the sloop of war Rhode Island, made a brief visit to Belfast in 1878, where he was pleasantly remembered by many citizens.
General James Abram Garfield, afterwards President of the United States, spoke at a Republican gathering in Belfast on September 6, 1878.
The United States Dispatch-Boat Dolphin, Commander George F. F. Wilde, came to Belfast August 11, 1887, and re- mained four days, being visited by a large number of people. She anchored between the steamboat wharf and the monument. During her stay a reception at Peirce's Parlor Theatre was given by the young men of the city to the officers. Her arrival was a noteworthy event, as no naval vessel had visited the harbor since the Civil War.
SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION, OR THE WHITE SQUADRON
During the summer of 1891, through the influence of Congress- man Seth Llewellyn Milliken, the Squadron of Evolution of the United States Navy, famous as the White Squadron, was ordered to Belfast. A public meeting, held on August 30, made provi- sion for a reception and other entertainments to be given to the officers. Two committees were chosen, one on subscriptions, consisting of Dr. Gilman Pingree Lombard, and Messrs. Frank
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Bowdoin Mathews and James Sumner Harriman, and one on ar- rangements composed of Edward Johnson, Esq., Colonel Horace Eugene McDonald, and Dr. Horatio Huntington Johnson, Jr.
Cumulus clouds of dense black smoke, seen hanging over Cape Rosier, heralded the coming of the Squadron, and late on a per- fect Sunday afternoon in midsummer, the white prows of the fleet, gleaming in the sunlight, were spied as they steamed, one by one, round Turtle Head from the Eastern Bay, having come up through Eggemoggin Reach from Bar Harbor.
Castine was left close aboard on the starboard hand. Since the siege of her historic fortress during the Revolution, so large a naval force had never passed the promontory of Dice's Head, or entered Belfast waters.
Though it was the Sabbath Day, the townspeople were soon thrown into a fever of excitement and expectancy. The residents gathered at the Foot of the Square to watch the fleet approach. In perfect formation it advanced across the beautiful bay. The slanting rays of the setting sun shone full upon the ships, and brought their white sides and yellow decks, masts and top-works into strong relief on the sparkling blue waters, with the green shores of Islesboro in the distant background. Dazzling flashes of light were projected to the town from the men-of-war, even when they were still six miles away, as a stray sunbeam would be occasionally reflected from a polished steel gun or other shining implement of war.
A. D. Groeschner immediately put his yacht, the Guinevere, the only available steamer in port, at the disposal of the Com- mittee of Citizens. With William H. Bray hastily pressed into service as engineer, Alfred Johnson as pilot, and Lieutenant- Commander Leonard Chenery, U.S.N., retired, in charge, and the entire committee, who had quickly assembled, on board, the yacht steamed out of the harbor to meet the Squadron, and to extend the welcome of the City of Belfast to its Admiral and his officers. As soon as the fleet came to anchor, a call was made upon the flagship, the Chicago, and the arrangements for the entertainment of the Squadron were submitted to Admiral Walker. Later cards were left upon the respective captains and their officers.
The fleet anchored between the monument and the western shore of the harbor, and was visited daily by thousands of people,
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in small steamers and the ships' launches, which together proved insufficient to accommodate the crowds. On Monday forenoon a buckboard ride about the city, and to Northport Camp Ground was given to the officers, followed by a reception and lunch at the residence of Edward Johnson, Esq., Primrose Hill; and on Tues- day evening a reception and ball at the Crosby Inn, which was decorated within and without for the occasion. The vessels weighed anchor early Wednesday morning, their destination being Bath and Portland.
Among those who participated in the festivities were Senators Eugene Hale of Maine, Don Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and Francis B. Stockbridge, of Michigan, and Hon. Anson G. Mc- Cook, Secretary of the United States Senate, all of whom were guests on the ships; and Congressman Seth Llewellyn Milliken, of Belfast.
With the iron ships of this fleet, our modern Navy may be said to have begun. They marked the turning-point in the transition from the old order to the new -from the lofty frigate, with its sides of oak, to the latest powerful dreadnought of the present day.
The White Squadron visited the principal Atlantic ports, and the interest its new ships aroused did much toward bringing this important branch of our military service to the attention of the people. During the previous decade, the Navy had been allowed to decline, and had become almost a laughing-stock among for- eign nations. From this position it rose rapidly, in strength and efficiency, to the high rank it now holds among the world powers.
The hospitality of our citizens was generously returned by the officers of the Squadron, and friendships were formed during this visit, which have lasted until the present day. As many of the men who were but comparatively junior officers at the time, have, during the twenty-two years which have since elapsed, be- come famous, and won an international reputation, the follow- ing brief remarks on their careers may not be out of place: -
Rear-Admiral John Grimes Walker had already made a splen- did career for himself in the Civil War, and was soon retired.
Lieutenant Ben H. Buckingham developed into a very able and valuable officer, and was recognized by the authorities at Washington as an administrator of unusual ability. He was sent as Naval Attaché to Berlin, Paris, St. Petersburg, and London.
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Lieutenant Sidney A. Stanton was Assistant Chief of Staff during the Spanish War, was an officer of marked ability, and is now retired as a Rear-Admiral.
Captain Joseph N. Miller later became Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard.
Lieutenant Raymond Perry Rodgers was executive officer of the Iowa during the Spanish War, was later sent as Naval Attaché to France and Russia, and at the time of his retirement in 1912 was President of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island; - a scholarly man, the descendant of a long line of naval officers, whose splendid records he upheld with dignity.
Lieutenant John Hubbard became a Rear-Admiral on the Asiatic Station.
Lieutenant William H. Schuetze, now dead, had a remarkable career. He was in charge of the Greely Relief Expedition, was navigator of the Iowa during the Spanish War, and spent two years in Northern Siberia in charge of delivery of presents to rescuers of the Melville Party; - a very resourceful man, and one who, at the same time, won great popularity among his fellow officers and all with whom he came in contact.
Lieutenant Austin M. Knight is now (1912) the Admiral in charge of the Montana and the Tennessee in Turkey.
Ensign Philipp Andrews became the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.
Medical Inspector J. Rufus Tryon was later Surgeon-General of the Navy.
Lieutenant John E. Pillsbury was in command of the Vesuvius off Santiago during the Spanish War. He is the author of the valuable work entitled "Gulf Stream Investigations and Results."
Lieutenant-Commander Henry S. Manney became Chief of the Bureau of Equipment. He took the Massachusetts, drawing twenty-eight feet of water, up Buttermilk Channel and through Hell Gate; likewise into Great Harbor, Culebra; - feats requir- ing not only unusual ability in coastwise navigation, but an iron nerve.
Ensign John B. Bernadou commanded the torpedo boat Wins- low in action at Cardenas during the Spanish War. He has become a powder expert.
First Lieutenant Thomas N. Wood was in the New York off Santiago in the Spanish War.
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Captain C. Wiltse is the officer who hoisted the American flag at Hawaii, an action, which though not approved by President Cleveland, required great courage.
Lieutenant-Commander William T. Swinburne commanded the Helena in the Spanish War and was later the Admiral of the Pacific Station.
Lieutenant Lucien Young is the man who carried the rope ashore when the Huron was wrecked off Nag's Head, North Carolina, - a deed which necessitated not only unusual personal courage, combined with a cool head and quick and efficient ac- tion, but great physical strength and powers of endurance as a swimmer. He commanded the Hist in the Spanish War.
Lieutenant Albert Gleaves commanded the torpedo boat Cushing in the Spanish War; was in charge of the Narragansett Bay Naval Station; and is now (1912) in command of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Ensign Levi C. Bertolette, while in command of the Yorktown died in Guayaquil, Ecuador, of yellow fever.
Paymaster I. Goodwin Hobbs was in the Brooklyn in the Spanish War. Now retired, he resides in Newport, Rhode Island.
Commander Robley Dunglison Evans was at Valparaiso dur- ing the dispute with Chili in 1893. He commanded the Iowa in the Spanish War, and was in command of the fleet that circled the globe in 1907-08. He was later Commander-in-Chief. As "Fighting Bob" Evans he was for years a popular hero. He retired in 1908, and died January 3, 1912.
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