USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 70
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The Belfast Lodge, No. 30, Independent Order of Good Tem- plars, was instituted March 29, 1865, at Johnson's Hall. It was reorganized in 1874, and at the close of the year had two hundred members.
In 1867, a vote on certain proposed amendments to the liquor law stood fifty-three yeas, and one hundred and six nays.
At the commencement of 1868, there were three temperance organizations here : viz., the Belfast Lodge of Good Templars, the Crystal Gem Lodge, on the east side of the river ; and the Reform Lodge, and Phoenix Division of the Sons of Temperance, at the Head of the Tide. The charter of the Crystal Gem Lodge was surrendered during the year. The society at the Head of
1 See Chapter XXVI. for an account of the assault made upon Major Timothy Chase, who had liquor warrants for service.
2 See chapter on "Law and Lawyers."
760
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
the Tide was superseded by Greenwood Lodge, No. 317, organ- ized Nov. 17, 1873, now numbering forty members.
An address upon temperance was delivered by Marshall Davis, on the 13th of May, 1870, and afterwards appeared in the " Age."
A reform club was organized in May, 1872, and over three hundred signatures to the pledge were obtained. The Belfast Ladies' Temperance Association, organized Jan. 22, 1874, held meetings during the summer at the railroad depot, and in the open air. The efforts of this society have been productive of much good.
761
AMUSEMENTS.
CHAPTER XLVI.
AMUSEMENTS.
Horace Greeley denies that the Pioneers of Londonderry were morose or ascetic. - Corn- huskings and other Festivities. - Social Gatherings in Belfast. - House-raisings. - Afternoon Calls of the Ladies. - Merry-meetings reverted to by Mrs. Durham. - First School Exhibition. - "David and Goliah " performed. - Dancing. - Assem- blies. - British Officers from Castine give a Ball. - Major Jack Douglas. - First Bowling-alley. - Ten-pins a Lost Amusement here. - Ball-playing. - By-law restrict- ing it. - Base Ball Clubs. - Billiard Saloons. - Concerts and Musical Entertain- ments. - Dramatic Representations. - First Elephant here .- Menageries .- Circuses. - Fairs and Levees. - Readings. - Panoramas. - Miscellaneous Exhibitions. - In- crease of Itinerant Performances. - Their Unprofitable Character. - Public Halls.
TN his "Recollections of a Busy Life," Horace Greeley remarks of the pioneers of Londonderry, that the current notion that, like the Puritans, they were "a sour, morose, ascetic people, - ob- jecting, as Macaulay says, to bear-baiting, not that it gave pain to the bear, but that it gave pleasure to the spectators, -is not justi- fied by recollection or tradition. There was never a people who loved play better, or gave it more attention than they. House- raisings, corn-huskings, and all manner of excuses for festive merry- making, were frequent and generally enjoyed ; and games requiring strength rather than skill, especially wrestling, were favorite pastimes. There was more humor, more sport, more fun, more merriment in that Presbyterian community, than can be found anywhere in this anxious, plodding age."1 The same may be truly said of their descendants, who constituted the first settlers of Belfast. Although no minute account of their early amuse- ments has been preserved, enough is known to warrant the con- clusion that they were frequent, and eagerly participated in. House-raisings always attracted a good-natured company. At the raising of James Miller's house, in 1791, all the male inhabitants were present, from far and near. After the frame was fairly in place, it was customary for the master-workman to dash a bottle of rum upon the structure, and "name it," as the ceremony was
1 Greeley's Recollections.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
called. Two of the parties engaged would bestride the ridge-pole, one at each end : one of them would say, -
" Here is a fine frame, Without any name, And what shall we call it ?"
to which the other would reply in equally poetical language, but without answering the main question. After passing numerous questions and answers of the same character, the frame would be "named." Three cheers were then given, a parting cup taken, and that was the end of the ceremony. In the raising of a frame, all services were rendered gratuitously. The use of spirits, on such occasions, was customary for many years.
Social visiting was never neglected, notwithstanding that wide distances often intervened between dwellings. In early days, the neighbor's door was always hospitably open. It was no unusual thing, and it was considered by them a pleasure, for our grand- mothers to row a skiff cross-handed across the river, to see their neighbors ; a thing, which, now-a-days, would be heralded abroad as an exploit extraordinary. Their afternoon " calls" were not à la Lady Partington's of the present day, where for lack of work they dilated upon their neighbors' foibles, and retailed the unim- portant gossip of the day; but you would almost invariably see them either with their knitting or needle-work, and thus pru- dently and sweetly enjoying the social hour. Those who received the visit would be either plying the needle or weaving at the loom, thus being worthy exemplars for their posterity.1
In her old age, Mrs. Tolford Durham often reverted with pleas- ure to the merry-meetings of the infant settlement.
The first public exhibition was that of the village school, in 1811. It took place during the forenoon, in the west meeting- house. The sacred drama of " David and Goliah " was performed. William Quimby personated the Philistine champion. Since then, similar exhibitions have been common, both in school-rooms and in halls.
Dancing was a popular amusement here early in the present century. Assemblies were held in the old Huse tavern, at the corner of Main and High Streets, in 1806, the usual attendance being about thirty couples. The following is the programme for a series of balls which took place at Cunninghamn's hotel, in 1808-9.
1 Locke's Sketches.
763
AMUSEMENTS.
SOCIAL SUBSCRIPTION BALLS.
BELFAST, 9th Dec., 1808.
The committee to whom was referred the subject of four Balls, the ensuing season, beg leave to submit the following report : -
First, the Company shall be composed of those who shall sub- scribe to defray an equal share of the whole expense for the sea- son, being elected by ballot, out of the list herewith submitted, by three-fourths of the original subscribers, and any member may propose a new member, to be balloted for in the same manner.
The ladies named in said list are to have a general invitation. Secondly, that we shall have one musician.
Thirdly, that the bill of fare shall consist of crackers, milk- biscuit and buns, ham, cheese, brandy, wine, &c., at an expense of one dollar and twenty-five cents for each subscriber each night, including music.
Fourthly, that the hours of dancing shall be from six to twelve o'clock P.M., that each gentleman may introduce a friend, for whose conduct he will be responsible ; shall dance in shoes, with white gloves, and, for the purpose of more perfect enjoyment and hilarity, cards are to be excluded from the Balls.
Fifthly, subscribers will pay one night's expense in advance, and tickets for admission to strangers will be sold at $1.25.
Sixthly, no gentleman, constantly residing in town, shall be admitted unless he subscribe, and, if he subscribe, shall be held to pay an equal share of the expense for the season.
We hereby assent to the foregoing regulations, and will govern ourselves accordingly : -
PHINEAS ASHMUN.
WILLIAM CROSBY.
NATHAN READ.
BENJAMIN PALMER.
WILLIAM MOODY.
WILLIAM SALMOND.
JOHN WILSON. WILLIAM ALLEN, JR.
JONATHAN WILSON.
JOHN HUSE.
BOHAN P. FIELD.
SAMUEL JACKSON.
WARREN A. FIELD.
DAVID WHITTIER.
BENJAMIN WHITTIER. BENJAMIN EELLS.
THOMAS JOHNSON. JOSH. ELWELL.
FRANCIS ANDERSON.
ANDREW LEACH, JR.
BENJAMIN MEAD.
GEORGE WATSON.
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM, 2d.
CHARLES HALL.1
JACOB EAMES.
1 Found among the papers of the late William Moody, and communicated by Frank W. Patterson. The first dancing-school here was kept by a teacher who came from
764
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
After peace was declared, in the spring of 1815, a party of Brit- ish officers, accompanied by a military band, came from Castine, and gave a ball at Whittier's hotel, now known as the Alfred Johnson house. The following year, Academy Hall was used for assemblies. Major Jack Douglas furnished the music, and the expense was fifty cents each night.1 Dancing has since been so common as to require no further mention in this history.
Bowling Alleys. The first one was built by Francis Anderson, in 1805. John Huse had the next, in 1810. It was connected with his hotel. For several years, Reuben Kimball, and after him Major David G. Ames, maintained a single alley on the north side of Main Street, below Washington Street. About 1834, there was one in the rear of the Eagle Hotel; and, in 1839, a small one in the rear of where the City Hall Block now stands. David S. Whittaker erected an alley near his house on the upper bridge road, in 1848. The next year, William Tilden built a two-story building on Washington Street, afterwards used as a manufactory, which contained six alleys, and was quite elegantly fitted up by Willard W. Byram and Frank L. McGowen. Washington Hall on High Street was enlarged and converted into a bowling saloon, in 1850, by George W. Moulton. It was afterwards used for other purposes. Since 1858, the amusement of "rolling ten-pins " has been obsolete in Belfast.
Ball-playing seems to have been extensively practised in 1820. At the town meeting of that year, it was voted "that the game of ball, and the pitching of quoits, within the following limits, - viz., in Main Street, from opposite R. B. Eastman's house 2 to the beach, and on High Street, from Peter H. Smith's to opposite Josiah Bean's,8 - be prohibited." High Street, at Hopkins's Cor- ner, was the favorite battle-ground for ball-players, as early as 1805.
Base ball became a popular amusement here soon after the
Peterboro'. N. H. The second and third teachers came from the same place. It seemed as if Peterboro' was destined to be the source from which all our dancing-masters for successive generations were to be derived. When the first elepliant ever here was ex- hihited, her keeper was accustomed to put her through a clumsy performance which he called dancing. He was engaged in that performance, when John Angier went in to look at her. "What is she doing?" he asked a bystander. "Dancing," was the re- ply. "Dancing, is it?" said he. "Oh ! I see. Came from Peterboro', didn't she?" - Crosby's Annals.
1 Major Douglas, long and favorably known as the chief musician of this vicinity, died March 6, 1859. His last appearance here was in 1850.
2 Where Peirce's Block now stands.
8 From the North Church to Miller Street.
765
AMUSEMENTS.
Rebellion terminated. In 1869, there were five clubs, the Pas- sagassawakeag, Mazeppa, Pioneers, Cherokee, and King Philip.
The year 1827 opened with a declaration of war by the staid pedestrians on our streets against the boys and their hand-sleds. A violent snow-storm followed by rain gave a coating of ice to the hills, which afforded excellent "coasting." A manifesto signed by "the selectmen and one hundred and sixty others" announced through the "Gazette " and by handbills "that they bad associated themselves for mutual protection, and pledging themselves to indemnify and hold harmless any person who should 'demolish the sled or other vehicle ' belonging to or in the posses- sion of 'any boy found coasting in the streets or highways.' There are no statistics showing the number of 'sleds or other vehicles' destroyed, but the fact is well authenticated that the boys abandoned coasting when the ground was dry enough for them to play ball." 1
Sliding has been repeatedly prohibited by municipal regula- tions. In 1862, certain streets were designated for the amuse- ment, but the ordinances of this nature have never been strictly observed.
Billiard Tables. The first here was in the building now occu- pied by the Belfast Livery Company, about 1825. William Til- den had one table in the Babel, in 1831: it was afterwards removed to a room over the Nesmith store. There were three billiard saloons maintained in 1874.
Concerts and musical entertainments have been frequent, at least during the last half century. No complete record is pre- served.
1823, May 1. Miss Plympton, " the young Columbian vocalist from Boston," gave an instrumental and vocal concert at Dr. Hubbard's Hall.
1828, May 16. The Belfast Musical Library Society gave a concert of sacred music at the First Parish Church.
1830, March 26. A free concert of sacred and social music at the Unitarian Church.
1831, July 13. Mr. Blisse, the Tyrolese vocalist, gave a con- cert at Phoenix Hall.
1832, Aug. 6. A concert of vocal music by " Miss Clark, from Virginia, who is twenty-nine years old, three feet and three inches high, and well proportioned."
1 Crosby's Annals.
766
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
1835, Sept. 4. The " Wandering Piper," as he was styled, piped at the court-house.
1840, June 3. A concert at Phoenix Hall, by the " Little Foxes." Aug. 17, the Belfast Glee Club gave a concert. Oct. 16, an amateur concert by Archer H. Townley, pianist, assisted by Colonel J. W. Webster and H. N. Lancaster, took place at Phoenix Hall.
1842, Feb. 13. Messrs. Townley and Burnham gave an instru- mental and vocal concert.
1843, May 17. Kendall's Band, from Boston, gave a concert at the Baptist Church.
1844. Early in the season, the Bath Quartette Club gave a con- cert at the court-house ; still later, the " Congo Melodists " gave two performances at Washington Hall, and, later still, the " Baker Family " gave two at the same place.
1845, Jan. 11. A miscellaneous concert in aid of the poor took place at the Unitarian Church. The receipts were eighty- four dollars. Feb. 7 and 9, musical entertainments at Washing- ton Hall by the Augusta Glee Club, and on the following week by the Harmoncon Family.
1846, Feb. 26. Union concert for the poor, at the Unitarian Church. Receipts, seventy-eight dollars. April 9, the Misses Macomber gave a concert at Washington Hall. Aug. 18 and 21, concerts at the Baptist Church by the Peak Family.
1847, Feb. 4 and 5. The Union Brass Band gave two concerts at the court-house. March 3, the Thomaston Brass Band gave a concert for the benefit of the sufferers from famine in Ireland. May 10 and 11, concerts by the Hammond Family, - Shaker seceders. Advertised as "Great Moral Curiosities." July 15 and 16, the Swiss Bell-ringers gave a concert at the court- house. July 28, Ethiopian concert by " Rice's Company." Nov. 22 and 23, concerts by Canderbeck and Squires.
1848, Jan. 21. A brass band, composed of young men residing, here, gave their first concert at the Unitarian Church. A second one was given in May. June 14, "Grand Olio " by the Wyeete Family. July 26, concert by the Kilmiste Family. Aug. 8, Barne- koy and company gave a concert. Oct. 11, concert by the Har- moneon Family. Oct. 24, concert by Mr. Dempster, a vocalist.
1849, April 28, Thayer's Minstrels gave a concert. May 29, Mr. Howard, the " American Ole Bull," performed at the court- house. June 11, concert at the court-house by the Saxonia
767
AMUSEMENTS.
Band. July 4, the Hutchinson Family gave a concert at the North Church. July 9, entertainment by Mr. Mooney, an Irish vocalist. July 10, two concerts by the Elena brothers, - Italian boys.
1849, Aug. 22. " An Inimitable Concert " by the Riley Family. Oct. 4, Dr. Ness's Oratorio and Concert Company gave an enter- tainment at Washington Hall,
1850, March 28. Musical rehearsal of selections from operas and oratorios at the Unitarian Church, under direction of Colonel J. W. Webster. Sept. 26, the Kilmiste Family gave a concert at Washington Hall. Nov. 7, several concerts by the Harmoneons during the week. Nov. 29, concert at City Hall by the " Ameri- can Ole Bull." Dec. 20, vocal entertainment by Ossian E. Dodge, at City Hall.
1851, July. The " Sable Harmonists " gave two concerts at City Hall. Aug. 21, the Druid Band performed on seventy ox-horns at Washington Hall. Oct. 10, concert by the Waldo County Musical Association.
1851, Oct. 16. The Mendelssohn Quintette. Club gave an artistic concert, entirely superior to any previous entertainment of the kind here.
1852, May 14. Mr. Henri Jungnickel, with violoncello and flute, assisted by Mr. and Miss Wheelock, of Portland, gave an appreciated concert. In November, the Furber Minstrels, and the Harmoneons, gave two concerts.
Theatrical Exhibitions. The first of the kind here was at the Academy Hall, in 1820. In July, 1829, a company from Boston performed at the same place the plays of "George Barnwell," "Pizarro," and others of that class. In 1838, the " Thespian So- ciety," composed of young men of the town, gave exhibitions.
1841, Sept. A respectable company from New York, under the management of W. C. Forbes, gave a series of entertainments at Phoenix Hall, called in the bills " Dramatic Saloon.",; In Novem- ber of that year, the local society above mentioned fitted up the hall with a stage and scenery. The tragedy of " Donglas " was performed on the opening night.
1845, March. J. P. Addams, assisted by Wyzeman Marshall, of Boston, and a large corps, opened Washington Hall as a theatre, and continued a fortnight. An original drama, written by a Bel- fast gentleman, was produced. The same manager, better known as " Yankee Addams," gave performances again in November. . 1846, April 1. John C. Myers, a recent resident herc, gave several performances at Washington Hall.
768
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
1846, Dec. 25. The play of " Pizarro " presented at the Academy, by a society called the " K. S. L."
1848, Nov. Theatre of George Goodnow in Washington Hall. 1849, July. Currier & Co.'s dramatic company gave several entertainments.
1852, July. John D. McGowen, with a company, opened at City Hall. In September, the Howard Dramatic Company ap- peared at the same place.
Menageries and Circuses. 1816, June 26. An elephant and a lion were here for several days; the elephant in the stable of the Huse tavern, and the lion in a barn which stood on the site of the Johnson Block.
1823, July 5, 6. The first exhibition here of a large collection of wild animals took place on Spring Street, below Church Street. The admission fee was twenty-five cents; children, half price.
1825, May 30 & 31. A caravan of wild animals is advertised in the "Gazette," to be exhibited at the Eagle Hotel.
1827, May 18. Elephant, caravan, and wax statues exhibited at the Eagle Hotel. " Music on the Jewish Cymbals."
1829. The New York Caravan exhibited "for one day only."
1833, July 23. National Menagerie, from one to six o'clock.
1834, July 2. The menagerie of Waring, Tufts, & Co. exhibited on the Common.
1835, June 5. First appearance of the New York Zoological Institute, having forty-seven wagons, one hundred and twenty gray horses, and sixty men.
1836, June 6. A menagerie and circus combined exhibited here. From this place, it moved eastward and ultimately to the British Provinces. It was on its return to the States on board the " Royal Tar " at the time of her destruction by fire, October 25, near Fox Islands.
1838, June 19. Menagerie of June, Titus, Angevine, & Co., near the Academy.
1838, July 16. American Arena of Turner, Sons, & Co., ex- hibited on "Primrose Hill."
1841, June 30. Menagerie and Equestrian Troupe of June, Titus, Angevine, & Co.
1842, July 14 & 15. Howes and Mabie's equestrian company exhibited.
1843, Sept. 13. Caravan of Raymond & Co. appeared, pre- ceded by a car drawn by four elephants in harness.
769
AMUSEMENTS.
1844, July 12. Rockwell & Stone's " American Olympiad " exhibited.
1845, June 17. Rockwell & Stone's circus, or " American Olympiad," again appeared.
1846, July 18. Rockwell & Stone's circus. Aug. 8, Van Amburgh's caravan exhibited on Waldo Avenue.
1847, July 22 & 23. Stone's circus exhibited. Aug. 2, Sands, Lent, & Co.'s circus.
1848, June 30. June, Titus, & Co.'s circus and caravan.
1849, Aug. 6. R. Sands & Co.'s circus, or " Hippo-feraan Arena," was in town.
1850, July 27. A circus was here, accompanied by an " Ap- pollonicon."
1851, July 27. Spalding & Rogers's circus. Aug. 5, Herr Driesbach's menagerie exhibited on Waldo Avenue.
1852, July 1. Sands & Co.'s and Quick & Co.'s circus and menagerie.
Since Belfast became a city, and with the increased facilities for travelling, exhibitions and amusements have become so numer- ous that an account of them would occupy a space which can be employed to better advantage with other subjects. Were it not for illustrating the customs of a former generation, even the foregoing details, extending only to 1853, would be omitted. Probably no place of its size in Maine is now more frequently visited by moun- tebanks, minstrels, and other itinerant performers than our own. Occasionally, we are favored with musical and vocal talent of a high order ; and our amateur theatrical representations are respect- able and well attended, but the majority of other exhibitions are " weary, stale, flat and unprofitable."
Miscellaneous Amusements. 1827, Dec. 5. A " basking " shark exhibited.
1829, Aug. 26. Exhibition of the great ox, Columbus.
1830, Dec. 20. Illustrations of ventriloquism, by Mr. Nichols.
1831, July 6. Dr. Thomas C. Barker exhibited the effects of laughing gas, at the Town Hall.
1833, July 11. Display of wax-work at Phoenix Hall, for a week. Figures representing the Salem Murder, the Siamese Twins, and Gibbs and Wansley, two famous pirates, were among the collection.
1834, July 2. Exhibition of wax statuary at Phoenix Hall.
1835, June 5. An omnibus, containing a wax-work show like
49
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770
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
that of the celebrated Mrs. Jarley, arrived in town, and was stationed near Nesmith's Corner.
1836, July 14. Gymnastic performances by Mr. Potter, at Phoenix Hall.
1836, Aug. 23. Mr. O'Connell, a tattooed man, exhibited him- self.
1837, Aug. 21. An old-fashioned horse-race, on the Northport road, between " Sleepy David " and the " Elliot mare," attracted thousands of spectators.
1838, July 13, 14. The Siamese Twins received visitors at the Eagle Hotel.1
1839, May 30. Rand's solar microscope exhibited at the court- house.
1839, June. Dunlap's paintings of " Christ rejected " and " The Crucifixion " displayed at the Unitarian Church.
1843. Representation of "The Last Supper " exhibited at the Town Hall.
1847. Mr. Bird, the " Wizard of the East," gave an exhibition at Washington Hall. About the same time, Scriptural dioramas were exhibited at the same place.
1848, Sept. 8. A copy of Allston's painting of " Belshazzar's Feast " was displayed at the Baptist Church; and at the Unitarian Church, about the same time, a copy of West's painting of " Christ healing the Sick."
1849, April 19. "Trial of Christ," comprising twenty-seven figures of life-size, was opened to the public at Washington Hall.
1849, Sept. Three exhibitions of magic were given by the " Fakir of Ava."
1850, Jan. 3. Exhibition of natural magic.
1850, Jan. 28, 29. Exhibition of Ojibway Indians, at Washing- ton Hall.
1851. Signor Devato exhibited trained birds and white mice at City Hall. In January, Mr. T. D. Baldwin gave an ex- hibition of natural magic ; and, in June, several entertainments were given by Mr. Bird and Mr. Harrington, "professional ven- triloquists."
Fairs and levees for beneficiary and charitable purposes have not been common until within the present generation.
1 They were here a second time, July 4, 1853, and held levees in the store under Peirce's Hall, now occupied as a saloon. They died in 1874.
771
AMUSEMENTS.
1837, Oct. 25. A fair was given at Academy Hall, by the Bel- fast Female Benevolent Society.
1843, Sept. 14. Fair of the Unitarian Sewing Society at the court-house. The receipts were one hundred and four dollars.
1844, Feb. 1, 2. The ladies of the Methodist Society gave a tea-party at the court-house, to obtain funds for repairing the exterior of the church.
1845, July 10. The young ladies' Unitarian Society gave a levee at "the cottage," on the corner of Waldo Avenue and Bridge Street.
1846, July 30. Ladies' picnic at "the cottage," on the corner of Waldo Avenue and Bridge Street.
1849, Dec. 24. Fair by the Ladies' Sewing Circle of the North Church, at Osborn's Hall.
1851, March 27. Fair by the ladies of the Universalist Society, at City Hall. The proceeds, amounting to $260, were applied toward purchasing a bell.
1852, Sept. 7. Ladies' levee to obtain funds for a banner for Hydrant Engine Company, No. 2.
1852, Dec. 24. At a fair at Peirce's Hall, for the purpose, and by the society last named, the sum of $320 was raised.
1853, Jan. 13. Levee at Peirce's Hall, in aid of the poor. The Belfast Glee Club furnished music on the occasion.
Readings. Readings from the works of distinguished authors were rendered popular through the United States, in 1849, by Mrs. Frances Kemble Butler, whose " Evenings with Shakes- peare " attracted large audiences in the principal cities. The first reading here was given at the court-house, Dec. 19, 1850, by Miss Helen A. Upton, of the play of " As You Like It." Professor J. W. Taverner read extracts from the poets, May 22, 1851; and Mrs. Emily P. Lesdernier, Sept. 7, 1851. Miss Upton gave a second Shakespearean reading, July 5, 1851.
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