USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 63
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walk which stood on the Northport road, in the Pitcher district ; of rum; and of oakum. The latter was manufactured in a mill built by Edwin C. Kimball, in 1853, which was burnt the same season. James W. Webster manufactured lime about 1836, this side of Pitcher's storehouse; F. A. Lewis, afterwards, at Little River ; and John Carver & Co., in 1853, near the east bridge.
The distillery stood on the bank in rear of the premises now occupied by A. K. P. Moore and Thomas P. Logan, near the water, just northerly of an old brick-yard, the remains of which as well as a portion of the distillery wharf are still visible. It was built by John Slade & Son, of Boston, for Alfred Curtis of that city, and Captain William Barnes of this place, who constituted one of the numerous firms over which Samuel Upton was the presiding genius. It was built of brick, and was one hundred feet in length by fifty in width. It contained forty-two thousand gallon cisterns, with heaters, condensers, and stills of sufficient power and capacity to manufacture five hundred gallons of rum per day. The article manufactured, to use the language of a dis- tinguished jurist of Maine, recently deceased, was " bad stuff, but good rum." It had a high reputation, and from the method of manufacture and the superior quality of the water used was regarded as worth more per gallon than any other rum then manufactured in New England. It was supplied with water from three reservoirs on the hillside just above it. Parties making an excavation recently near the road which runs westerly of its site came across a reservoir about fifteen feet square, substantially built, the origin of which was unknown to the owner of the prem- ises, and was the occasion of no little wonderment to those whose attention was called to it : it was one of the reservoirs which sup- plied the old distillery.
Connected with the distillery was a large storehouse of ca- pacity sufficient to hold five hundred hogsheads : it was used for storing molasses. There was a solid, substantially built wharf, as is apparent from what remains of it, connected with the estab- lishment.
The manufacture of rum in the distillery commenced in Febru- ary, 1825. In the spring of 1827, it was sold by the original pro- prietors to Colonel Daniel Lane, and was continued in operation most of the time, until about 1838. That year the property passed into the hands of Rufus B. Allyn, Esq., and was used for storage purposes until 1842, when the machinery was taken out
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
and the buildings were subsequently demolished, and the material sold.
During the time the distillery was in operation, it was in charge of Mr. Freeman C. Raymond, as superintendent and foreman. He came to this place about 1825 ; in 1834, he commenced business here as a watch-maker and jeweller; and in 1840 he removed to Boston, where he still resides, engaged in the same occupation. He is kindly remembered here by all who knew him.1
Among the many local manufacturing corporations which had no existence other than in name, may be mentioned the Belfast ' Manufacturing Company, chartered in 1844, with a capital of $100,000, which contemplated a woollen or cotton factory; the Waldo Mills Company, in 1846, of $200,000; the City Mills Com- pany, in 1854, with a capital of $100,000 ; the Belfast Edge Tool Factory, in 1855; and the Hiram Dale Manufacturing Company, in 1856.
Connected with manufactures are the various mechanical trades and other manual avocations, which have furnished em- ployment for a useful and respected class of citizens almost since . the first settlement.
Bakers. The first one here was George Merrill, who came from North Yarmouth about 1805, and occupied a building after- wards known as the Farmer's Inn, which stood on the site of the store of L. A. Knowlton & Co., at the foot of Main Street. Heard Milliken, who came from Saco in 1820, succeeded him.2 Next came John Clark, from Newburyport. Captain Nathan Swan at one time occupied a building, where the Sanborn house stands, as a bakery.
Barbers. Samuel Gray, a mulatto, came in 1804, and kept his shop on the lower floor of a wooden building where the Granite Block is. Henry Flagner succeeded him. James Cook, a colored man and a fugitive slave, came in 1820. He first kept on Main
1 Crosby's Annals. "The Devil's Tea-kettle carried off. Being on a visit to Belfast last week," says the "Washingtonian Banner " of Ang. 15, 1842, " near the bridge we met a truck, on which was mounted an old rusty still, which was on its way to Boston to be sold for old copper. At a short distance, we came to a lone, gloomy-looking build- ing, where, in days gone by, the incantations of the distiller were practised, and whence issued the fiery torrent that spread ruin and desolation among the hills and valleys of Waldo. Near the door lay another monstrous boiler tumbled out from the shattered brickwork, and doomed to sbare the fate of its companion."
2 He carried on the business for several years. His biscuit, stamped with his ini- tials " H. M.," sometimes translated ". His Majesty," became well known. He died at East Bridgewater, Mass., in 1872.
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Street, just below High, and afterwards by his frugality was enabled to purchase a wooden building adjoining the Babel : it was burnt in 1846. The next year he erected a brick store on its site, which he occupied until his decease, April 15, 1865. He was a worthy, unobtrusive, and respected citizen.
Blacksmiths. John Morrison, one of the proprietors, was the first. Deacon John Gilmore, who came after the Revolution, and who died in Searsport, April 16, 1845, aged eighty-four years, was the next one. He lived on the eastern side. Walter Hatch had a shop on that side in 1803. Jonathan Quimby was located the following year on the corner of High and Spring Streets, where L. R. Palmer's house stands ; Ansel Lothrop, on the site of Henry Wyman's store ; and John Moor, on the site of the Belfast Livery Company's stable. The latter removed to Montville. Mr. Lothrop, about 1808, went to Searsmont, where he died in 1834.
Blockmakers. The first, and the only one for many years, was Joshua Adams. He had a shop near the railroad depot, and after- wards in what is now Carter & Co.'s ship-yard.
Brickmakers. Bricks were manufactured here at an early date. Among the town officers elected in 1800, the names of Benjamin and Caleb Smith appear as inspectors of bricks, a position which has long been out of use. At about that date, William Skinner had a small yard near the Sanford Wharf. Jonathan and William Pitcher, brothers, came in 1804 from Stoddard, N. H. The former built the brick house now occupied by Samuel G. Ellis, which was the first brick building here. Their brothers, Fisher A., Luther, and Calvin, arrived about three years afterwards.
Cabinet-makers. Samuel Peck came from Boston in 1804. He built and for many years occupied the house on Main Street owned by John N. Stewart. Ira Burnham was here in 1810, but did not remain long.
Calkers. Hezekiah Flanders, who lived at Northport, worked here in 1793. He called the "Jenny Miller " that year, charg- ing £15. She was the first vessel built in Belfast.
Carriage Manufacturers. One Moore made wagon-wheels in 1826. His stay was short. Charles Treadwell, who came from Portsmouth, N. H., the next year, was the first who carried on the business permanently, remaining in it over forty years.
Coopers. George Hopkins had a shop back of Spring Street from 1800 until his death in 1828.
Harness-makers. Alvan Edmunds was here in 1804. He built
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
the house on Main Street occupied by Rila Kittridge and S. G. Howard, and had his shop in the second story.
Hatters. Oliver Rouse carried on the business in 1804-5, in a small building that stood where Mcclintock's Block is ; and Joseph Gordon, about the same time. Lewis and Josiah Bean, brothers, came from York about 1806. The former built a store on Main Street, which was burnt in the great fire of 1865. Joseph Bean, 2d, his son, formed a copartnership with James P. Furber in the same business, Sept. 30, 1833. The old sign of Furber & Bean 1 remains over the store now occupied by himself and his brother Lewis. Josiah Bean, the father of Captain Andrew Derby Bean, had a shop on High Street, north of Martin P. White's house, which he built.
Housewrights. Several of the early settlers were what would be termed in these days " barn joiners," among them John Mitchell, who has the addition of "joiner " in the deed of Belfast; but the first regular housewright was Reuben Kimball, better known as " Honest Kimball." He lived on Main Street, near Washington Street. Thomas Bartlett came from Concord, N. H., in 1803. John Haraden was here the same year, but did not make this his permanent residence until 1807. George W. Webster and Ben- jamin Joy were well-known joiners in 1805 : the former removed to Bucksport, the latter to Montville.
Masons. James Bicknell, the grandfather of Stephen G. Bick- nell, was here early in the present century. He lived in the house afterwards occupied by Captain John T. Gilman, near Vine Street. His brother John was here for a short time about 1810. John Holmes, who resided in the Robert Miller house, carried on the trade in 1811, as did one Keller, who soon removed to " Three Mile Square," or Waldo.
Painters. The only one in 1804 was Stephen Mitchell, who is believed to have been the earliest.
Printers. Ephraim Fellowes and William R. Simpson brought the first printing-press here in 1820. (See chapter on news- papers.)
Tailors. Ichabod Clark was here in 1797 : he left before 1810. Abel Baker and Elisha Cole had shops on Main Street in 1805.
Shoemakers. In old times, the circuit cobbler paid his annual visit to every farm-house, bringing his "kit," and stopping several days ; long enough, perhaps, to make shoes for the family sufficient
1 The firm name is still retained, and is the oldest one here.
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to last a year. Wiggins Merrill was the first whose calling had a local habitation. He came before 1800, and for several years occupied the house where Dr. Hollis Monroe resided, which he built. Jonathan Basford came about 1800; Stephen Longfellow, four years after.
Tanners. The business of tanning has become almost extinct in Belfast; the only establishment now being that for sheep-skins, by Nathan F. Houston. Two generations ago, the tanner's occu- pation was hardly of sufficient importance to be regarded as one of the great industrial pursuits of the country. In almost every country town, some one united the business with that of agricul- ture. An old abandoned barn, perhaps, was the currying-shop, one or two small vats were ample receptacles for the tanning re- quired, and the fence was large enough to hang the hides upon. It was the custom then for farmers to annually kill one or more of their beef creatures, and take their hides to the local tannery to be made into leather for home consumption. Those were not days of " quick tanning," and it would be about a year before the farmer would get his leather. One-half of each hide only would be re- turned to him, the balance being retained in payment for the labor of tanning.1
John Milliken, a tanner by trade, sunk a few vats on that part of the premises occupied by the late Dr. N. P. Monroe, which lies between the house and the driveway on the eastern side of it.2 They were subsequently removed. Paul Giles founded the old tan-yard now occupied by Mr. Houston. He was succeeded by David G. Ames. William Durham was a tanner here in 1805. Daniel Johnson had a yard at the foot of Main Street. About five years later, Aaron Sawyer established a yard north of where Phoenix Row now stands, the same afterwards owned by the late Hon. Thomas Marshall. From 1840 to 1843, P. R. Southwick maintained a large tannery near the foundery, between City Point and the Head of the Tide : it was last carried on by Hon. S. Sleeper, in 1856. Messrs. J. Gardner & Sons' tannery on the road from the Head of the Tide to Poor's Mills contained twenty-two vats. During the season of 1851, this firm dressed over ten thou- sand sides of leather.
Watch and Clock Makers. Abel B. Eastman was the earliest. He came here in 1806, from Concord, N. H., and occupied a shop at the north-east corner of Main and High Streets, then the house
1 Boston Advertiser, 1871.
2 Crosby's Annals.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
formerly owned by Captain James Douglas, on the site of Peirce's Block. He died in 1821. William Quimby succeeded him. His first place of business was where Dr. Sylvester's store now is, at the corner of Main and Beaver Streets.
Tin-plate Workers. In 1823, Samuel A. Moulton, in connection with William I. Cross, under the firm name of Cross & Moulton, opened a shop on Main Street, just below its junction with Wash- ington Street, where they carried on the business of " tin-plate and sheet-iron working :" it was the first shop of the kind in town. The firm was dissolved in 1824, and Mr. Cross removed to Portland.
Truckmen. Long trucks were formerly used for conveying merchandise. They were ponderous and clumsy. Isaac Smith for many years owned the principal teams. The truckmen, dressed in long white frocks, and mounted on their horses, occasionally performed escort duty to public processions on the 4th of July. Jiggers, as they are called, superseded the old-fashioned vehicles, about 1850.
According to White's History, the village afforded in 1827: Apothecaries, 3; Booksellers, 2; Bookbinder, 1; Butchers, 3; Brickmasons, 6; Brickmakers, 2; Blockmaker, 1; Barbers, 2; Clockmakers, 2; Clothiers, 2; Cabinet-makers, 3; Chair-maker, 1; Candle Chandler, 1 ; Housewrights, 11; House-carpenters, 4 ; Jewel- ler, 1; Milliners, 5; Meat shop-man, 1; Meat cart-man, 1; Milk cart-man, 1; Painters, 2; Printers, 2; Saddle and Harness makers, 3; Shoemakers, 10; Ship-carpenters, 15; Sailmaker, 1; Tailors, 3; Tanners and Curriers, 3; Truckmen, 2; Wheelwright, 1.
Gas Companies. The first one was incorporated by the Legis- lature of 1853, with a capital of $50,000, but was never organized. In 1858, Hiram O. Alden and others were organized under a new charter, by the name of the Belfast Gas-light Company, with a capital of $20,000. Works being erected the same year at the corner of Market and Pleasant Streets, gas was first used on the 23d of November. There were ninety consumers. The gas was manufactured from resin, and furnished at seven dollars per thou- sand feet. In the summer of 1862, owing to the Rebellion, no resin could be obtained, and the works were remodelled for manufacturing gas from coal. The number of consumers in 1874 was two hundred and fifty; number of feet of gas made, 2,300,000.
In 1870, under a statute which the Supreme Court has since
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pronounced unconstitutional, the municipal authorities voted to exempt from taxation for ten years all manufacturing establish- ments having a capital of over five thousand dollars, and using water-power. This exemption was subsequently applied to other manufactories.
The principal industrial operations here at the close of 1874, whose motive power was steam or water, were as follows : -
Shoe Factory. Located on Pleasant Street. The building is of wood, 200 feet long, and four stories high. It is owned by the Belfast Manufacturing Company, which was organized under the general law, with a capital of $20,000. The cost of the building, erected in 1872, was $14,000. It is leased to Messrs. Richardson & Critchett, who have expended $25,000 in machinery. The num- ber of hands employed is 150. The motive power is steam.
Mathews Brothers' Sash, Door, and Blind Factory. Erected in 1873, at the corner of Cross and Miller Streets. The main struct- ure, of wood, is 85 by 42 feet, and four stories high. There are other buildings, for store, engine, and drying houses. A steam- engine, of 50-horse power, drives the machinery, and is used for various other purposes. 40 persons are employed in all depart- ments of the factory. Its products are sent to all parts of the United States.
Belfast Paper Company. The manufacture of paper was com- menced here in 1852, by George F. White & Co., who erected a mill that year on Goose River, directly south of where the Bangor road crosses. The proprietors were incorporated, under the name of the Belfast Paper Manufacturing Company, with an authorized capital of $50,000. Another mill was subsequently erected fur- ther up the river, by Kelley, Fuller, & Co., and one below that first named, by Marshall, Kimball, & Co. The three establish- ments were afterwards leased to Messrs. William A. Russell & Co., of Lawrence, Mass., who are the present managers. The fol- lowing statistics of their operations are given in the official report of the wealth and industries of Maine for 1874 : Capital, $125,000; water-power, 250-horse; machines employed, 3; stock used, jute and manilla, 750 tons; valuation, $50,000; chemicals, $10,000; coal, 1,000 tons ; valuation, $7,500; total valuation, $67,500; pro- duction, 500 tons; valuation, $90,000; males employed, 20; females employed, 3; wages during the year, $12,000; average weekly wages, $11; twelve months in operation; market, general. Wrapping-paper is the kind manufactured.
44
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
Between the two upper paper-mills on Goose River are the axe factories of Benjamin Kelley and of Hardy & Sherman. Mr. Kelley has also a fulling-mill.
A few rods from the lower paper-mill, towards the mouth of the stream, Hiram E. Peirce has a grist-mill. The fall here has 15 feet head, equal to 114-horse power, with a stone dam. His dam near the outlet is elsewhere described.
At the outlet of the Wescott stream, Joseph H. Kaler has a plaster-mill, the plaster-rock being shipped from Nova Scotia. According to the report of the wealth and industries of Maine for 1874, the water-power was 30-horse; stock used, stone plaster, 800 tons; valuation, $1,800; production, 800 tons ; men employed, 4; wages during the year, $1,000; average weekly wages, $12; seven months of the year in operation; market, Maine, Boston, and the Southern States. This mill, which was established in 1843, occupies the exact site of the saw-mill which Mitchell erected in 1770.
On the Passagassawakeag River, at Poor's Mills, is the stave- mill of Robert Patterson. Below, on the site of the old Gardner tannery, Richard A. Gurney has a saw-mnill. Between there and the Head of the Tide is the veneering manufactory of George U. White.
A short distance below the Head of the Tide bridge is the Patterson, Wilder, & Co. Foundery, now occupied by the Belfast Foundery Company. The latter corporation was chartered in 1849, with a capital of $25,000, and immediately erected on Front Street a brick building, 90 feet in length by 40 in breadth, three stories high, containing a steam-engine of 35-horse power. That building was burnt June 24, 1851 : another one of the same size, but only two stories high, took its place in the year following. The latter perished in the great fire of 1873. William W. Castle, the owner of nearly all the stock, soon after commenced business temporarily in the present location. The motive power is water and steam. Mr. Castle intends rebuilding on an enlarged scale, and to that end an increase of the capital stock to $100,000 has been anthorized.
Between the Head of the Tide and the Point are also the stave manufactory of Ebenezer Newell, and the grist-mill of Samuel G. Ellis.
Patents and Patent Rights. The more important machines of the Hon. Nathan Read were invented before he became a citizen
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of Belfast, and will be referred to in the sketch of his life. Soon after removing here, he introduced a new mill for grinding hom- iny, which was favorably noticed by the Boston newspapers.1
In 1823, Caleb B. Burnap, an ingenious mechanic, constructed a miniature " wind-boat," the motive power of which was applied to side-wheels, through the agency of sails on deck. While mak- ing a trial in the harbor, the power was sufficient to propel the boat against a head-wind to Isleboro'. It was found by a fisher- man, who approached cautiously, fearing it might be a torpedo.2
A valuable machine for sawing coach-panels and veneer from the circular surface of timber was invented by Job White and P. P. Quimby, in 1829, and with improvements is still successfully used.
J. T. Quimby obtained a patent for a vessel's truss, in 1832.
Captain Samuel Haynes constructed an ingenious machine for cutting shoe leather, in 1833. It was formed of two cylinders rolled together, knives being so placed on one as to cut a side of leather into vamps and quarters as the leather passed through. Its rapid motion did the day's work of twelve men in an hour.8
In 1850, a new apparatus for steering vessels, by means of a screw and a compound lever, was patented by P. P. Quimby, the inventor. It was first applied to the bark "Lillias."
A patent for improved machine for turning prismatic forms was granted to Milton Roberts, in 1854. It was exhibited by Hiram E. Peirce, the assignee, at the World's Fair in Paris.
William H. Houston received a patent for a machine for com- posing and distributing type, in 1857.
Letters-patent issued to Job White, Dec. 2, 1856, for an im- provement in the method of applying steam to and cutting scarfs from wood.
John E. Wilder, the successful manufacturer of patent safes, by which he accumulated a fortune, was a native of Belfast. He died in Chelsea, Mass., Oct. 7, 1859.
In 1861, Ambrose Strout invented an improvement to the com- mon lever hay-press, nearly doubling the power, compressing the hay into almost a solid body. A patent was granted to himself and Axel Hayford.
A telegraphic instrument invented by Charles H. Burd is favor- ably noticed in the " Boston Post," of April 4, 1862.
1 Columbian Centinel.
2 Boston Courier.
8 Journal.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
Frank A. Howard received a patent for improvement in mitre- ing machines, in 1866; and the same year one for wood-sawing machines was granted to Isaac Allard.
Under date of Nov. 15, 1870, a patent for improved vessel hatch was issued to Joshua P. Maddocks.
A patent for the " Palmer stave-jointer" was issned to Lem- uel R. Palmer, Aug. 8, 1871. The "Scientific American," April 6, 1872, has an article descriptive of this machine, illustrated by engravings. Valuable improvements have since been added.
Rufus B. Condon received a patent, in 1872, for boom jack on elevator.
Until the invention of daguerreotypes, portrait and miniature paintings were common. Charles Hall painted portraits in 1823; Mr. Atwood and J. Ritchie, in 1831; A. G. Hoit, at the Eagle Hotel, in 1833; and Samuel Palmer, in 1840. William Stevenson advertised to take miniatures in 1838, and William L. Torrey in 1843. S. V. Homan was a lithographic artist here in 1842.
The first daguerreotypes were taken by E. W. Perkins, in November, 1841, at from three to four dollars each, at rooms opposite the court-house. Two years later, E. Piper advertises photographic miniatures at the house of B. Brown, on Bridge Street.
In March, 1851, a telescope, costing three hundred and fifty dollars, was placed in the cupola of the City Hall. By its aid, the satellites of the planets were visible ; and Bluehill appeared no fur- ther distant than a mile. After a few months, the instrument was removed, injuries to the object glass having occurred.
" Bliss's Standard Time-teller," for ascertaining the true time by the sun, and also for determining the true meridian, with the magnetic variation, was affixed to the south corner of the court- house in 1855. The expense was one hundred dollars, the amount being raised by subscription.
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COMMERCIAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER XLII.
COMMERCIAL HISTORY.
Fort Pownall the Earliest Trading Place. - James Nesmith. - First Store. - Traders in 1805, 1815, 1820, and 1830. - Country Produce. - Effects of the Embargo. - Re- monstrance of the Town. - Memorial concerning Revenue Laws. - Land Specula- tion. - Corporations. - Appellative of Sleepy Hollow. - Custom-house. - District of Belfast. - Collectors and Subordinates. - Locations of the Office. - Government Building. - Description. - Engraving. - Monument. - Commercial Regulations. - Port Warden. - Wharves. - Screw Dock. - Marine Railway. - Banks. - Insurance Companies. - Ship-building. - First Vessel launched. - California Emigration.
P REVIOUS to the abandonment of the town during the Revolution, Fort Pownall was the nearest place resorted to for trade. An extensive traffic with the scattered settlers on the Penobscot, as well as with the Indians, was maintained there for many years. An account-book of the truckmaster, owned by the late Hon. Nathan G. Hichborn, of Stockton, contains various charges of merchandise to John Mitchell, William Patterson, and other inhabitants of Belfast. Although goods were occasionally kept for sale here by James and Robert Miller, no regular store existed until 1796, when James Nesmith opened one at Little River. Rev. Paul Coffin, who that year made a missionary tour in this vicinity, mentions him as " a sensible young man in trade, and has a fine situation." Three years later, Nesmith removed to the place where the City Block now stands, and traded in a small building, afterwards used as a hatter's shop. In 1799, he erected the two-story building on the opposite side of the street, which has since been called "Nesmith's Corner." A description and engraving of this building are given in Chapter XV. He resided and did business there until 1808, his store being the first in the village. The valuation list of 1801 enumerates store buildings of William Crooks, of Drinkwater, and of Moses Varnum ; but it is not known that they were then used for the sale of goods. In 1805, there were eight stores in operation : viz., James Nesmith's ; Benjamin Palmer's, on the site of that now occupied by Frank A.
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