USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine, Volume II, 1875-1900 > Part 4
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For the first time in 1881 printed reports of the condition of the municipal affairs, as supplemental to the local papers, were distributed. Legally the city was at peace with the world, all the outstanding suits in which it had been involved being settled.
1882. At the spring municipal election the so-called Tax- Payers chose George Edwin Johnson Mayor, by a vote of 697 to 325. (For a biographical sketch of Judge Johnson, see chapter on Lawyers.)
The issues were a readjustment of the railroad dividends, and refunding the public debt at a lower rate of interest by mortgag- ing the railroad stock. The refunding plan was carried out in accordance with the following order passed by the city: -
"That the Mayor and City Treasurer be and are hereby au- thorized and empowered to make a loan for and in behalf of said city for an amount equal to the amount of the present bonded in- debtedness of said city for the purpose of retiring the bonds of said city now outstanding, and for the payment of this loan they shall issue the bonds of the city in such denominations as they may deem advisable, payable at any time after ten years from their date, and within forty years thereof at the option of said city, with semi-annual coupons attached, to pay the interest thereon at four per cent per annum. And said bonds and interest shall be made payable at some place in the city of Boston, or at the Treasurer's office at said Belfast, and shall be registered by the City Clerk of said Belfast in a register of bonds issued, and shall be countersigned by said Clerk and signed by the Mayor and Treasurer in their official capacities, and scaled with the corporate
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY
seal of said Belfast upon the face of said bonds, but the coupons attached shall require only the signature of the Treasurer. And said Mayor and Treasurer are further authorized and empowered to convey by mortgage to Edward Johnson, of Belfast, Josiah H. Drummond, of Portland, and Frederick Robie, of Gorham, all in the State of Maine, all the stock, both preferred and non- preferred, in the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad Com- pany, now owned by said city of Belfast, in trust to secure the payment of said bonds and the interest thereon. Also to execute with said trustees the proper declaration of trust. And said Mayor and Treasurer are further authorized to sell said bonds at not less than their par value and with the proceeds arising from such sale, to purchase said outstanding bonds at their par value, or to exchange any of said bonds for an equal amount of said outstanding bonds. Said Mayor is also authorized to procure the necessary blanks for said bonds, also a register of bonds issued for the use of the City Clerk."
In 1883 and in 1884, Judge George Edwin Johnson was un- animously reelected Mayor. On November 18, 1883, the rail- roads adopted a system of standard time based in New England upon the meridian of Philadelphia, bringing any given hour in Belfast twenty-five minutes and twenty-six seconds later than the local time.
1885. Colonel William Henry Fogler, Republican, was chosen Mayor without opposition, having 499 votes. (See chapter on Lawyers for biographical sketch.)
An ordinance provided that no buildings, the walls of which shall be wholly or in part of wood, shall hereafter be erected within the territory bounded westerly by Church Street, south- erly by Spring Street, easterly by Cross Street and Pleasant Street, and northerly by Market Street, nor upon the westerly side of Church Street from Market Street to Main Street.
It was also voted to adopt an act of the Legislature, giving the city the right to remove dangerous and dilapidated buildings.
1886. This year, unfortunate local difficulties having arisen concerning the railroad dividends, between two classes of citi- zens, styled Tax-Payers and Tax-Reducers, the municipal elec- tion was sharply contested and resulted in the choice of Charles Baker, Tax-Payer, as Mayor, by 2 majority, the whole vote being 1284. (For a biographical sketch of Captain Baker, see
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HISTORY OF BELFAST
Necrology, p. 489.) Each party had two Aldermen. The seat of Charles Wesley Haney, Tax-Payer, as Alderman from Ward 2, was contested, and the Supreme Court decided that he had not been legally chosen. Thomas Whittier Pitcher, Tax-Reducer, was chosen to fill the vacancy.
The cost of maintaining street gas-lights this year was $432.
1887. The municipal election was again close, but resulted in the choice of Albert Cargill Burgess, Tax-Reducer, as Mayor, over Charles Baker, by a majority of 5, the whole number of votes being 1294; 10 more than in 1886.
Mr. Burgess was born in Belfast, in 1840; his father being the late Ezekiel Burgess. He received his education at Westbrook Seminary. From 1863 to 1870, he was of the firm of Barker & Burgess, hardware dealers, a business which he afterwards con- tinued alone. He is one of the corporators of the Savings Bank, was president of the Belfast Machine and Foundry Company, and has been Commander of Palestine Knights Templars.
An act of the Legislature having required all the business of cities to be transacted by standard time, on February 17, the town clock was turned backwards twenty-five minutes. The public bell was rung in the evening at half-past eight. The churches and schools adopted the new change, but local time was retained by the principal manufactories, whose whistles were blown at 6.30 and 11.30 A.M., and 12.30 and 5.30 P.M., standard time.
1888. Mayor Albert Cargill Burgess was chosen for a second term without a single opposing vote, the whole number being 280. This was in sharp contrast to previous spring clections. All city ordinances which had been adopted since February 17, 1876, were repeated this year. In March, it was voted that the city bell be rung at half-past eight o'clock, standard time, every evening except Sundays.
1889. No disturbing elements entered into the municipal elec- tion, Lucius Franklin McDonald being chosen for the position of Mayor without a dissenting vote.
Lucius Franklin McDonald, the son of the late George and Sarah McDonald, was born in Belfast, 14 September, 1837. After working at Ellsworth, Augusta, and Boston, for several ycars, and taking an educational course in a business college in Poughkeepsie, New York, he became established at Belfast as
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY
a harness-maker, which occupation he continues. Before being chosen Mayor, he was two years an Alderman.
A division about standard and local time in the city govern- ment prevented any appropriation for bells, and the nine o'clock evening summons, which had prevailed with occasional inter- ruptions for seventy years, ceased, and had not been revived up to 1900. Steam whistles, sounding at 6.30, 11.30, and 5.30, standard time, were substituted, and are continued to the pres- ent time.
1890. Mayor Lucius Franklin McDonald was again unani- mously chosen. The Legislature having created boards of elec- tion registration, the chairman to be appointed by the Gov- ernor, and one by each political party, Dr. John Murray Fletcher, Emery Boardman, and George Edmund Wallace were reëlected from Belfast. An ordinance requiring all dogs to be licensed and numbered was passed. In August, uniforms for the night policemen, the cost not to exceed $20 each, were authorized. The first meeting of the city government in Me- morial Hall was held in September. Subsequently $22,000 from the Wilson Fund was ordered to be invested in notes or bonds of the Memorial Hall Building Association. A sale of 138 shares of the city's railroad stock was authorized this year.
1891. William Pitt Thompson, nominated at a caucus irre- spective of party, was unanimously chosen Mayor, receiving 558 votes. (For a biographical sketch of Mr. Thompson, see chapter on Lawyers.) The Board of Registration to receive and correct the list of voters, a service which had been done before by the Aldermen, held its first session, and determined upon a mode of procedure. For the investment of $22,000 from the Wilson Fund it was voted that bonds of the Memorial Hall Association to run for twenty-five years, at four per cent inter- est, be received.
1892. Mr. William Pitt Thompson received a second term as Mayor, without opposition. In January, a lockup in the base- ment of Memorial Hall was established.
1893. The affairs of the city continued to be managed by a Citizen's Board, and Robert Franklin Dunton was chosen Mayor, receiving every vote thrown. (See chapter on Lawyers for a biographical sketch of Mr. Dunton.)
A new Board of Assessors, consisting of Simon Alphonzo
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HISTORY OF BELFAST
Payson, Daniel C. Toothaker, and Emery Boardman (Lucius Holcombe Murch, from July), was elected. Some radical changes took place, which increased the valuation by about $400,000, and reduced the rate of taxation from .019 to .016.
1894. A Citizens' ticket, headed by Mayor Dunton, was elected without opposition. The valuation varied but little from that of the previous year, but the tax rate increased nine mills. Against this, however, there was a rebate on account of the sale of school property to the city, which averaged six mills, the rate throughout the city being about nineteen mills.1
Exclusive of four Chinamen, the number of male citizens of twenty-one years and over was 1504. Guide-boards were placed on all corners of roads not before supplied. The first street lunch-cart was licensed this year.
1895. Edgar Filmore Hanson was chosen Mayor, a Citizens' prevailing over a Republican ticket by a vote of 674 to 505.
Edgar Filmore Hanson was born in Lincoln, Maine, 11 March, 1853, and is the son of Clark and Nancy (Hatch) Hanson. He attended the public schools, and when a young man fol- lowed the sea for three years. Coming to Belfast, he engaged in the carriage business, and afterwards in company with Kilgore and Wilson, manufactured Dana's Sarsaparilla, being manager of the company. Later he organized the Cream Company for pub- lishing the magazine "Cream," and the Nutriola Company, for the manufacture and sale of patent medicines. He was Mayor, 1895-96. He married (1) Flora E. Nickerson, who died in 1890; and in 1895, he married (2) Georgia Geraldine Lord, daughter of Henry Lunt Lord, of Belfast. Mr. Hanson left Belfast in 1903, returning in 1906, and has since been elected Mayor for seven consecutive terms.
1 In 1894, in accordance with an act of the Legislature abolishing school dis- tricts, the school property previously owned by each district was taken over by the city by the following method: The property of each school district was appraised by the Assessors and an amount equal to the appraised value of all of the school property raised by taxation. The value of the property of each dis- triet was then remitted to the taxpayers of such district in proportion to the amount of their several taxes, thus equalizing the tax raised for purchase of the school property. This increased the rate of taxation six mills nominally, but in reality it all went back to the taxpayers. On account of this important change, our Central School District was, with the other districts, abolishcd, and the $30,000 bequest from Mrs. Dana Southworth, intended for our schools, was lost. (See chapter xv on Schools.) The large amount of work done on the sewers in 1894 was also a factor in the increased tax rate.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY
In September, all city ordinances passed from January 31, 1888, were repealed, and a new code adopted. The latter were published in a pamphlet of seventy-six pages, which contained also all legislative acts relating to the city, and the contract for water. During the year the city government refunded $113,000 of four per cent bonds, secured by a mortgage on the city's rail- road stock by a ten-thirty four per cent city bond, releasing the stock from the mortgage.
1896. By a small vote, but with no opposition, Mayor Hanson was reelected.
1897. Dr. John Murray Fletcher, Republican, candidate for Mayor, received every vote but 4 out of 374 thrown. (For a bio- graphical sketch of Dr. Fletcher, see chapter on Physicians.)
The city charter was amended by the Legislature, making the term of the Assessors three years, one to be elected each year. Under the change, three Assessors were chosen, for one, two, and three years, respectively. A police time-table, with a cen- tral dial at the police station, and nine boxes which the police were to visit at stated intervals during the night, was placed in operation. By request of thirty voters, the municipal officers called a public meeting on the 6th of September, to act upon the question of advising the city government about claims for un- paid taxes against the Belfast Hotel Company. Such a meeting was held, but with no well-defined result. An important action by the city this year was the refunding, at four per cent interest, of the $498,700 six per cent municipal railroad bonds which matured in 1898. The contract was closed, December 16, with Farson, Leach & Co., of New York, which firm bid in the new bonds, at $105.27.
1898. Mayor John Murray Fletcher and most of the members of the City Council for last year were reelected, the whole vote being 253.
1899. The administration of city affairs continued practically the same as in 1898, Clarence Osgood Poor succeeding Mayor John Murray Fletcher, by a vote of 331 to 61 for Captain Sewell B. Fletcher, Citizens' candidate.
Clarence Osgood Poor was born in Belfast, 28 April, 1844, and is the son of William Osgood and Lucretia (Hunter) Poor. Mr. Poor was educated at the Belfast public schools, and when a boy entered the pharmacy of his father, and later succeeded him in
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HISTORY OF BELFAST
the business, which he still carries on. He was Alderman in 1897 and 1898, and Mayor in 1899 and 1900. He served two terms in the Legislature, of two years each, 1903-04 and 1905-06.
A new office, that of Auditor, was created, and Frank Ross Woodcock was elected. The tax rate was slightly reduced this year.
In December, 1900, an ordinance was passed prohibiting child- ren under sixteen years of age from being in any street or pub- lic place, except under certain conditions, after eight o'clock in the evening from November to May, and after nine o'clock during other months.
FORMER MAYORS (OTHER THAN LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS) DECEASED BETWEEN 1875-1900
EX-MAYOR JAMES PATTERSON WHITE, born in Belfast, 2 Sep- tember, 1800, was the son of Robert and Susanna (Patterson) White. Robert White was one of the early settlers who came to Belfast in 1797, from Londonderry, New Hampshire, having been born in Chester, then part of Londonderry, in 1770. He was the son of Colonel William and Mary (Mills) White. Upon coming to Belfast, he purchased Lot No. 41, consisting of one hundred acres running from the shore of the harbor, in a west- erly direction, for upwards of a mile. The tract then comprised farm land, pasturage, and uncleared virgin forest. Upon this "lot" he built a large house in 1801, in which he resided until his death. Subsequently this house was removed and another house built on the site by his son, William Bloomfield White. The original homestead looked across the Passagassawakeag River to that of James Patterson, whose daughter, Susanna, Robert married. Robert White died in Belfast 30 July, 1840, at the age of seventy years, leaving seven children.
His son, HON. JAMES PATTERSON WHITE, the subject of this sketch, was educated at the Belfast common schools, and at an early age entered upon what proved to be a long and successful business career. He was associated in mercantile business at different times with William Avery, Daniel Lanc, and Daniel Faunce. He was one of the organizers of the Belfast Foundry Company, the Marine Railway Company, the Belfast Machine Shop Company, and the Waldo Insurance Company, and with
JAMES PATTERSON WHITE 1800-1879
.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY
his brothers Warren and George White, established a paper mill on Goose River. This mill turned out white paper for books and newspapers, furnishing the paper for "Littell's Living Age," the "Boston Post," etc., and subsequently was devoted to the manu- facture of brown wrapping paper. With his brother Warren, and William Harrison Conner he was for many years extensively engaged in ship-building in their ship-yard at the foot of Allyn Street, and in trade in all parts of the world. He built and occupied the house at the corner of Church and Pearl streets, and in 1840 the house at the junction of Church and High streets, known as the James Patterson White Homestead. He was one of the original board of directors of the Belfast Bank, incorporated in 1836, which adopted the National sys- tem in 1864, and was its president from 1867 until his death. He was mayor from 1861 to 1863, and State Senator in 1862 and 1863. This was in the exciting time of the Rebellion, when it was felt that men of the highest character and soundest standing must be sent to Augusta to represent our interests. But Mr. White never aspired to any public position, and it was only by great exertion on the part of those who needed his public services that he could be made to accept office. In trade, shipping enterprises, manufacturing, and banking, Mr. White accumu- lated a large estate. All his business methods were most honor- able. He was the impersonation of that upright, conscientious integrity which distinguishes the old-time merchant, - one who interwove his faith and accountability with his daily life and business. He was an excellent judge of men, measuring with quickness and accuracy the capacity of those with whom he was brought in contact. Mr. White survived his wife, Mary Ann, daughter of Captain George Clarke, of Waterville. He left seven children: Frances Eleanor; Julia Elizabeth (married Walter B. Alden); Mary Ann; Susan Jane (married Hon. Samuel D. Bailey, of Bath, Maine); James Clarke, M.D., of Boston (see chapter on Physicians); Charles Tallman; Albert Starrett.
On the 25th of March, 1879, Mr. White passed away, aged seventy-eight years. As a mark of respect, the places of business in Belfast were closed at the time of his funeral, and the bell of the Unitarian Church, which he had attended during his whole life, was tolled. Mr. White is still well remembered by the older citizens of the town, which his energy, incessant industry,
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HISTORY OF BELFAST
and unusual capacity for organizing and carrying on business enterprises, were instrumental in building up. A spare figure, quiet and dignified in manner, he was a splendid example of one of the best types of American citizen of the middle of the last century : the eminently successful man of affairs, capable of grasping the details of a much greater variety of enterprises than is usually attempted by any one man in these days of specialization. The Hon. William Bachelder Swan has recently written of him as follows: "The influence of a man like James Patterson White, in the midst of a community like ours, was incalculable. His habits, above reproach, always ready to aid by advice or with money any movement that promised to be a benefit to the city, he went about quietly and unostentatiously helping all with whom he was associated. The writer recalls one instance, among many, where his kind words to a young man have not been forgotten after a lapse of many years."
HON. SHERBURN SLEEPER, son of Manasseh Sleeper, was born in Belmont, 4 July, 1811. In 1814, his father came to Belfast, becoming landlord, successively, of the Whittier and Huse Tav- erns. In early life a printer, Mr. Sleeper became a prosperous merchant; our second Mayor of Belfast, 1854-57, succeeding the Hon. Ralph Cross Johnson; he died, 29 August, 1888.
HON. WILLIAM PITCHER, son of William, was born in Belfast, 1807. He acquired an excellent education, and was early suc- cessful both as teacher and farmer. In 1845, he entered the hay and produce business, having correspondents at all Atlantic and Gulf ports. An alert, keen business man, a wise counselor, and an esteemed and skillful teacher, he was the third Mayor, 1857- 59; Representative to the Legislature, in 1861, and was chosen for 1876. He died 6 November, 1875.
HON. AXEL HAYFORD, born in Windsor, 20 April, 1814, son of Gad and Sally Hayford, resided in Belfast from 1840 to 1883. He was a very active man, closely identified with business and politics. He had had charge of the poor, been Deputy Sheriff, and Collector of Taxes, and built the batteries and barracks in Belfast and in Castine, and Hayford Block, and was interested in mills and shipping. He was Mayor, 1868-71, being then President of the B. & M. L. R. R., whose policy he helped shape. Of a social and generous disposition, he was public-spirited, energetic, and charitable. He died 25 Oct., 1900.
JOSEPH WILLIAMSON HOMESTEAD. LATER, RESIDENCE OF EDWARD SIBLEY BUILT 1845
JAMES PATTERSON WHITE HOMESTEAD. BUILT 1840
CHAPTER III
MUNICIPAL HISTORY (Continued)
Waterworks - Kirby Lake purchased - Vote of City - Contract with Parks & Wheeler - Belfast Water Company - Works established on Little River - Description - Hydrants - Sewer System adopted in 1888 - Progress of the Work - Electric Lights-Electric Company formed -Streets first lighted - Gas-Light Company - Light and Power Company formed - Consolida- tion of the Different Corporations.
WATERWORKS
THE necessity of a water supply for Belfast was agitated in 1875, and resulted in purchasing the Muck Pond, or Kirby Lake, between Lincolnville Avenue and the Stanley Road, 1 advo- cates of the project claiming that it afforded a sufficient quan- tity of water for fire purposes. Two years later, a committee of the city government, assisted by a competent engineer, reported its capacity as too limited, but that the pond might be utilized as a distributing reservoir for water from the Shaw Springs, on the Augusta Road, at an expense of $15,000. This plan did not meet with public approval, and was abandoned. In 1885 and 1886, the matter was again discussed. Insurance rates had in- creased, and some companies declined Belfast risks. A system of waterworks was urged, and surveys of several neighboring ponds and streams were made. After constant discussion by the municipal boards and in public, the question was submitted to the people, on October 26, 1886, with the result of 456 votes for water, and 133 against it. A committee appointed to receive tenders unanimously recommended that of Parks & Wheeler, of Massachusetts, civil engineers, as the most favorable of four propositions received, and a contract with them was at once closed. It provided for an adequate supply of pure water for the extinguishment of fires, and for domestic, manufacturing, and other purposes, of a sufficient head to throw streams to a height of about forty feet on Congress Street; the city to pay $1800 per annum for not over fifty hydrants, during a term of twenty
1 The Stanley Road is now generally considered as a section of Lineolnville Avenue, and the Muck Pond is bounded by that Avenue and Miller Street.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST
years, the rent then to cease, and water to be furnished free. Water for municipal and school purposes, for the library, for six fountains, and for sprinkling streets was to be compensated for by the taxes assessed upon the plant; the agreements and stipula- tions to be confirmed by a legislative charter. Such a charter was granted in 1887 to the contractors and their associates un- der the name of the Belfast Water Company, with a capital of $150,000, and with authority to issue bonds secured by a mort- gage of the franchise and other property.
Little River, about two miles from the city, having been selected as the most advantageous source, work commenced upon the project the following summer. The construction of a dam 175 feet long, near the river's mouth, secured a reservoir covering fifty acres, with an average depth of twenty feet. The contract for laying the pipes through the streets was made with Ferrin & Halliday, of New Jersey, who employed one hundred Italian laborers. These were encamped during the summer months in the old barracks at the Battery.
Excavating was first begun at the corner of Main and High streets in the spring of 1887, and continued during the summer. On the 1st day of December of that year, the works, so far as related to the fire service, were completed, and proved satisfac- tory, upon being tested by the fire department the following afternoon. Large crowds witnessed this exhibition, which took place from over forty hydrants located in the principal streets. Houses were not piped until the next season.
The power house, a brick building of handsome design, is located at the dam on the Belfast side of the river. It con- tains two pumps, with a daily capacity of 1,750,000 gallons. A steam engine furnishes extra power when the reservoir is low, but for nine months in the year the pumping is done by water power. The water is forced to a standpipe, situated on Wilson's Hill, 260 feet above the pumping station. The standpipe is 45 feet high, and holds 263,000 gallons. From it the hydrants and other service are supplied. None of the stock of the corporation is owned here. In November, 1887, a loan of $75,000 in five per cent bonds due after a term of twenty years, secured by mortgage, was taken by the American Loan and Trust Company of Boston.
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