USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Houlton > History of the town of Houlton, Maine, from 1804 to 1883 > Part 5
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The people being left houseless, many became objects of public charity, for the town was totally destroyed ; but they soon were relieved by the proffered aid, in clothing, provisions, &c., which were brought in ship- loads from England and the States. The drouth pro- ceeding this, was so extreme, having had no rain, but heavy ! dews, for three months in that vicinity, the streams and springs that were never known to be dry; furnished no water; the fire extended through the wil-) derness in theflow lands, where there was much, turf, and burnt the trees down by the roots, leaving the for -; est, in many places, in a state of ruin worse than that of a tornado.4l
The wilderness "of the Miramichi country consisted very much of pine, and for many years had been the theatre of lumber operations which, in a measure, ac- counts for the more' dreadful destruction in that region, both for man and beast. In places the green pine groves' were entirely consumed, leaving the ground a barren waste. There were the fallen 'leaves, dry as tinder, and other combustibles common to the forest-the wind,. which always accompanies a conflagration-the fire catch- ing in the bark and moss of trees, flaming to their tops, scattering broad-cast the flying leaves and cinders ;- no wonder that the fire had the appearance of descend- ing from heaven, amid the atmosphere of smoke. Neither 4
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is it so much a subject of astonishment, that some even thought that the time of the final judgment had com- menced, as that Millerism should so far have fanaticized the people, as to have furnished so many subjects for the Insane hospital. It must have been a time of terror and dismay to the most daring and intrepid.
What rendered the fire more extraordinary was, that on the 7th of October it prevailed simultaneously in the various sections of Maine, as well as in the Province of New Brunswick. On that day a large portion of Fredericton was burned, while the fire was spreading at the Oromucto, and at the same time the inhabitants of Houlton and the adjacent county were suffering more or less from its ravages, especially by the damage done to their woodlands and maple orchards. The valuable tim- ber-lands in the Penobscot region was a scene of confla- gration, which not only consumed a vast amount of pine timber, but ruined the soil, and at the same time was doing its work of destruction at the Piscataquis. For weeks the atmosphere exhibited the dense body of smoke, which obscured the sun as, at times, to produce the darkness of twilight, at noon-day. All eyes were suffused with tears from the sable cloud which pervaded the country, and the poor animals were swollen almost to suffocation.
This, at that time, must have had more the appear- ance of a visitation of the displeasure of the Almighty, than anything of modern history which had transpired ; and that he would presume to isolate the people of Mir- amichi as the lone subjects of providential discipline- no ; far be it from us to pass judgment upon any ; but we have been informed that Miramichi had become no- torious as a lumber depot, and a rendezvous for the profligate, licentious and profane, and that gambling, de- bauchery, and desecration of the Sabbath there prevailed ; we have thought it possible that this severe chastisement
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was signally directed by Him who does not willingly afflict His creatures, but to call us to a sense of our ac- countability to our rightful Sovereign.
But the discussion of this subject may appear foreign to our purpose, and we will not dwell upon the merits or demerits of this extraordinary occurrence.
Perhaps the writer may be considered too general and prolix in the description of this fire, as Houlton was not the theatre of its triumph ; but we feel that the extent and universality of this singular event, may atone for our having so far departed from the limits of our legit- imate sphere.
We have acquainted our readers with the incidents connected with the settlement of this town, and in drawing to a close it seems necessary to state that with the exception of one person, Lysander Putnam, all of the early settlers have gone to their long home. The following is partly a repetition of what has already been stated, but being in a condensed form will be very val- - uable to preserve :
Houlton is the shire town of Aroostook County, is situated on the eastern border of Maine, and is 250 miles from Portland, via the old " Military Road" from Bangor. The Houlton Branch of the N. B. & C. Rail- way was completed in 1870. From here start the stage- routes to Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Linneus, Danforth and Patten, in Maine, and Woodstock, in New Brunswick.
The town is bounded on the north by Littleton, south by Hodgdon, west by New Limerick, and east by Rich- mond, in New Brunswick. .. In the northwestern part. of the town are tivo large "Horse-backs;" but the surface generally lies in large swells. The soil is a deep, rich loam, underlaid by: clay and yielding abundantly of: the usual farm crops. The Meduxnekeag river, a branch of the Saint John, flows from southwest to northeast through
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the midst of the town. Bog, Moose, and Cook Brooks, tributaries of the Meduxnekeag, are the other principal streams. The powers on the river are known as the Cary, Page & Madigan, Ham, Logan, Mansur, Cressey and Houlton water powers. The manufacturing is chiefly on the Cary power in the southwestern part of the town, and on the Cressey and Houlton powers, in this. village. There are two cheese factories, two starch factories, a woolen mill, three lumber mills, three flour mills, one tannery, one iron foundry and machine shop, two printing offices, sash, blind and door factory.
Other manufactures are bark extract, harnesses, boots and shoes, carriages, marble-work, etc. Houlton also contains express and telegraph offices, custom house, photographer's saloon, one book-bindery, five hotels, three livery stables, three tailoring establishments, three drug stores, two insurance agencies, one savings bank and one national bank, four saloons, one bakery, two barber-shops, two public halls, six churches, forty-eight stores, one bowling-alley, two billiard rooms and one skating rink. Our fire department consists of one steamer, hand-tub, hook-and-ladder truck, and a chemical engine. This town is also blessed (?) with eight doctors, eight- teen lawyers, and two dentists.
Houlton is the center of trade for the county, and is a busy and thrifty town. The village has many handsome residences, and there are several well-shaded and very attractive streets. The Houlton Savings Bank, in May, 1881, held $60,000 in deposits, from its 500 depositors.
There are two weekly newspapers published in the village, the " Aroostook Pioneer " and the " Aroostook Times." The "Pioneer," the first newspaper in the county, was established in Presque Isle, Dec. 1857, by W. S. Gilman, and was moved to Houlton in 1868. The " Times" was established in 1860, by Theodore Cary.
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The Houlton Academy has done noble service in the . cause of education. Many who have already gone out from its walls have achieved distinction in their callings, and there is every reason to hope that its future work will surpass that of its earlier period. The building is a good one and occupies ample grounds.
In 1868 a telegraph line was stretched from Wood- stock, N. B. to Houlton, through the efforts of W. S. Gilman.
In 1830, a military station was established here by the national government, but the troops were removed in 1847, during the war with Mexico. The barracks occu- pied a position on the outskirts of the village near the railway station, and have long since fallen to decay. The Aroostook County meridian line is established on the eastern side of the parade ground. A soldiers' cem- etery is near by.
The county court-house and jail occupy a central po- sition in the village. Houlton has nine public school- houses ; and the entire public school property in land and buildings is valued at $7000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $681,646. In 1880 it was $725,469. The population in 1870 was 2,850. In 1880 it was 3,228.
APPENDIX.
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The following copies of old documents relating to the early history of Houlton, were kindly furnished us by J. F. Pratt. M. D., of Chelsea, Mass. They are petitions to the great and general court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the incorporation of the Plantation into a town :
To the Honbl. Senate and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled at Boston, Jan. 1810: The Petition of the Subscribers Humbly Shewith : That your Petitioners are situated very remote from any Incopo- rated Towns within this Commonwealth (at least one hundred miles), which makes it very necessary that we should be Incoporated into a Town. Our Infant Set- tlement we hope and expect will rapidly increase pro- vided we can have some small Indulgance of Govern- ment. The Inconveniences which we labor under in our present situation must most clearly be seen by your Honors, but we beg leave to state few particulars. In the first place we beg leave to observe that we were from a country where we were always acustomed to have regular Preaching & Schools regularly established ; which we can never have established here in our Unincoporated State. Nor can we open Roads to any advantage, either to accomodate ourselves or the Publick, and we beg leave further to observe that many things which are mat- ter of Record which happens in any Settlement, such as marriages, intentions of marriage, Berths, Deaths &c.,
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all required by law to be recorded. We are sensible that we have the privilidge of going to the next Inco- porated Town, but when your Honors turn your atten- tion for a moment to our local situation, being one hun- dred and Ten from any Incorporated Town & that thro a Wilderness without Road our advantage dwindles into nothing. We therefore Pray your Honors that we may be Incorporated by the following bounds vis. Begining on the Boundary line of the United States at the South East Corner of a Tract of Land granted to New Salem Academy and thence West 13º North six miles, to the Southwesterly corner of said Grant, thence North 13º East Three miles, Thence East 13º South six miles to the North East Corner of said Grant on the Boundary line, thence on the Boundary line to the first bounds, with all the privilidges that other Towns within this commonwealth Injoy, to be Incorporated by the name of Houlton. We are sensible that it is the usual custom to require an "Order of Notice " before an act of In- corporation is passed, but when our situation is taken into view that our being Incorporated or not being In- corporated, concerns none but ourselves, we hope the usual custom of Notifycation will be dispensed with and an Act of Incorporation Granted. And fully relying on your goodness we as in duty bound shall ever pray. Plantation of Holton, Sept. 5th 1809.
(Signed)
Joseph Houlton, Samuel Cook, James Houlton, John Allen, Joseph Goodnough, Samuel Houlton, Benjamin Marshall.
The following in another hand writing is at bottom of Petition - " 4 famalies Aaron Putnam moved since the Petition was drawn."
In Senate, Jan. 26, 1810. Read and committed to the
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standing committee on Incorporation of Towns and to consider and report.
Sent down for concurrence,
N. G. OTIS, Prest. Read and concurred.
In House of Reps. Jan. 27, 1810.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
The committee of both houses appointed to consider application for the Incorporation of Towns, Districts, etc. On the Petition of Jesse Houlton & others praying to be Incorporated. in a Town, Ask leave to Report that the Petitioners have leave to Withdraw, which is sub- mitted.
SALEM TOWN, per order.
In Senate, Feb. 20, 1810. Read and accepted. Sent down for concurrence.
N. G. OTIS, Prest.
In the House of Reps. Feb. 21, 1810.
Read and concurred.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
To the Honerable Senate and House of Representa- tives of the commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court Assembled. The subscribers hereby respectfully represent that they are inhabitants of a certain tract of land, given by the Legislature to the trustees of New Salem Academy and situated in the North District of the County of Washington. That they are at the dis- tance of nearly one hundred miles from any Incorporated Town in the District aforesaid ; that they also labor un- der many and great inconveniencey from the want of
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authority to raise monies for making and repairing high- ways & bridges within this Plantation, for supporting a school for the instruction of their children & youth and for maintaining the ministry among them, as far as their numbers & correspondent ability may admit, the im- portance of which will be duly appreciated by the Leg- islature. These with many other considerations induce us to solicit the Legislature to grant us an act Incor- porating the Plantation of Houlton so called together with the Half Township Granted to Groton Academy, which is bounded & described as by the Plan thereof in the Land office as will appear into a Town by the name of Houlton with all the powers & privileges possessed by other Incorporated Town in the commonwealth and as in duty bound will ever Pray.
[Signed]
SAMUEL KENDALL,
EDMUND CONE,
JOSEPH HOULTON,
EBEN WARNER,
AARON PUTNAM, JOSHUA G. KENDALL,
JOSEPH KENDALL, MICHAEL O'BRIAN, '
JOSEPH GOODMAN,
SAMUEL HOULTON,
JAMES HOULTON,
JAMES U. TAYLOR,
WILLIAM WILKINS,
EDWARD TOWNSEND,
SAMUEL COOK,
SAMUEL RICE,
AMOS PUTNAM.
Oct. 30, .1818.
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