Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 77

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790

USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 77

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Methodism was first preached in Gardiner by Reverends Comfort C. Smith, of Readfield, and Epaphrus Kibbey, of Massachusetts, in the summer of 1800. Meetings were held at Bowman's point in 1802, and a church was built the next year, just north of Peter Grant's house. It was never finished, but was occasionally used by this society till about 1830, when it was taken down. The early Methodists in Gardiner were Moses Springer, sen., Eleazer Crowell, Ichabod Plaisted, James McCurdy, William Springer, Daniel Plummer, James Miller, Stephen Robinson, Nathan Sweatland and Harlow Harden. During the war with Great Britain, in 1812, some members of this society were such ardent federalists that they found fault with their minister, Sam- uel Hillman, for upholding his government in his pulpit; they.said it was " preaching politics." In 1821 the towns of Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner were called the Hallowell circuit, containing 314 mem- bers.

Previous to 1821 the society used the meeting house at Bowman's point, and the school house near Ichabod Plaisted's, but for the next two years they worshipped in the old church the Episcopalians had used. Mr. Richard Clay built the " Yellow meeting house " at his own expense, and told David Hutchinson, the Methodist minister, that he " had given the house to the Lord and the key to father Plaisted." The services of the church were held there from 1822 to 1828, when the society moved into their new church, which was dedicated the same year, the eloquent John N. Maffitt preaching the sermon. The building cost $3,500, and with the addition of occasional repairs, is the Methodist church on High street, of to-day.

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In 1827 Gardiner was made a separate station, and had 159 church members, with Phineas Crandall pastor. His successors have been: John Atwell, Stephen Waterhouse, Justin Spaulding, R. E. Scher- merhorn, Aaron Sanderson, John B. Husted, John W. Atkins, Moses Hill, Eaton Shaw, Joseph Colby, George Webber, J. C. Aspinwall, Parker Jaques, Daniel B. Randall, Charles Munger, Howell B. Abbott, Charles C. Mason, Charles W. Morse, Pascal E. Brown, W. S. Jones, John F. Hutchins, George D. Lindsay, Israel Luce, Edward C. Bass, George W. Hunt, Ammi S. Ladd and F. C. Haddock, the present pas- tor. The church has a membership of 260 and is in a prosperous con- dition. Benjamin S. Smith is president of the board of trustees.

The Gardiner Village Baptist Church was organized in 1843. Its members were Rev. J. W. Lawton, B. H. Field, L. Parsons, E. Shep- ard, Lucy V. Lawton, Nancy Field, Joan McCurdy, Mary A. Jewett, Pamelia Duganne, Mary White and Margaret Plaisted. Rev. J. W. Lawton was the first preacher, Martin Byrne was the second, J. B. Foster the third, Edwin Dibble the fourth, and M. J. Kelley, who came in 1851, was the fifth. The church building was sold in 1880 to the G. A. R. Post for $1,000, and the society held no regular meetings for eight years. The ministers who preached in the old church were: Reverends E. Nugent, Mr. Tuck, G. P. Mathews, J. M. Follett, F. D. Blake, C. M. Herring and W. O. Thomas. After the interval of eight years spoken of, the present beautiful church was erected at a cost of $10.000, $6,500 of which was furnished by the Baptist convention, who hold a deed of the property. Rev. C. E. Owen, the present pastor, came in 1890. This growing church has eighty-three members.

The Gardiner City Freewill Baptist Church was organized in 1826 by A. Bridges and J. Robinson, with Elder S. Robbins as occasional preacher. After a decline it was reorganized in 1836 by a council from the Windsor quarterly meeting. There were thirteen members, and Elder S. W. Perkins preached two years in the Clay meeting house. There was no steady pastor or preaching till Elder Hermon Stinson came in 1841 and staid three years, and was succeeded by Elder J. Stevens till 1846. The meeting house at the corner of Sum- mer and Winter streets was built that year, costing $3,100, and was dedicated December 30th by Elder J. K. Staples, who preached for two years. Elders C. Phinney, D. Lancaster and P. Folsom each min- istered to the church for a time. A Sabbath school was commenced in 1837 that flourished for fifteen years.

From 1852 to 1892 the ministers of this church have been: Daniel Jackson, Charles E. Blake, Arthur Kavanagh, W. T. Smith, Jason Mar- riner, Samuel Mckeown, S. E. Root, Winfield S. Stockbridge, George H. Child, Orrin Bartlett, S. C. Frost, B. G. Blaisdell, E. Manson, B. Minard, Jeremiah Phillips, G. W. Pierce, C. E. Cook and J. L. Monroe.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

About 1870 this church passed through a severe experience of division and dissension among its members, some forty of them withdrawing and forming the Brunswick Street Church, which had a short, feeble existence and then expired. The meeting house of this church has been raised and turned about, and is being repaired at an expense of about $7,000. It is one of the most attractive church edifices in Gar- diner. Charles Bridge commenced these repairs and paid the bills himself for a time, but received help from unexpected sources.

The writings of Emanuel Swedenborg seem to have been first in- troduced into Maine by John Savels, of Gardiner, as early as 1812. In 1836 the New Jerusalem Church, with sixteen members, was formed here, Reverends Samuel and Henry Worcester being occasional preachers. They were followed by the Rev. Adonis Howard in 1839, who was ordained the pastor in 1841, and preached here till poor health terminated his labors, in 1846. The society built a church on Bruns- wick street, which was afterward sold to the Freewill Baptists, and has recently been converted into dwelling apartments. Summer services are held each year in the Universalist church by Rev. Julian K. Smyth, of Boston Highlands, John Goddard, of Cincinnati, and other ministers. Henry B. Hoskins, Alexander S. Chadwick, William Perkins, Eben F. Byram, Dr. James Parker and wife, and Captain Thomas G. Jewett were among the early members, and Mrs. Mary W. Swanton, Mrs. Worcester and Miss Dorcas Gay represent the present.

The doctrine of universal salvation was preached in the old town house in Gardiner about 1820, by the venerable Hosea Ballou, one of the ablest men of his times. Barzillai Streeter and Elias Smith also preached occasionally in the old school house, and Reverends Sylvanus Cobb, W. A. Drew, Russell Streeter and others preached from time to time previous to 1835, at which time the first Universalist parish was formed. The records of the organization were lost, but it is known that Parker Sheldon, Major Gay, E. McLellan, J. Y. Gray, James Stew- ard, J. G. Donnell and Silas Andrews were among its supporters. April 29, 1840, it was permanently reorganized with eighteen members.

The church edifice, erected in 1842, cost $6,500, and was dedicated February 1, 1843. Rev. James P. Weston was the first resident pastor, the society growing under his ministry, which terminated in 1850. He was succeeded in November of the same year by Rev. John Wes- ley Hanson, who wrote his history of Pittston and Gardiner during his pastorate here, which terminated in 1857. Since then A. R. Ab- bott, Giles Bailey, L. J. Fletcher, J. M. Paine, William W. Nutting, who came in 1871, Charles A. Hayden, Walter S. Vail and Joseph S. Gledhill have been pastors of this church. In 1877 the vestry was built at a cost of $1,100, and the building has from time to time been furnished and repaired at a cost of several thousand dollars. Besides

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ST. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church,- Gurchner. Me.

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the Thomas Searls fund of five hundred dollars, the church has over three hundred dollars in its treasury.

The Church of the Disciples was organized about 1850, largely through the efforts of Elder George Garraty, who came here from St. John's, N. B., and preached in the old Clay meeting house five or six years. He was succeeded by Elders Marquis, Marten and Harney. Benjamin Marston and Marvel Sprague were the first church officers. For the past two years this society has had no stated preacher, but regular meetings are held each Lord's day in the old " Yellow meet- ing house " on Plaisted hill, that Richard Clay built and " gave to the Lord " in 1822. This is the oldest house of worship in the city, with the exception of Christ's Church.

The Advent Church of Gardiner, organized August 23, 1891, with nineteen members, was the result of a series of tent meetings con- ducted by Elder H. P. Seavey, of Mt. Vernon. Elder Elisha S. Newell is the resident licensed preacher, Henry D. Smith and Walter B. Mc- Causland are deacons, and Elta M. Partridge is the secretary. The meetings of this society are held in the school house on North street.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gardiner was built by Rev. Charles Egan in 1858, then resident pastor of St. Mary's Church in Augusta, and was the result of a mission he had established here, and labored in with great zeal and faithfulness. It wasdedicated in 1863 by Bishop Bacon, of Portland. Rev. Father M. C. O'Brien followed Father Egan, and was succeeded by Rev. Eugene M. O'Callaghan. Rev. Raphael Wissel, O. S. B., came in 1876, and was the first resident pastor. He was succeeded in 1880 by Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy, the present pas- tor. The church is in a flourishing condition, having a property worth $12,000, and seating room for five hundred people.

A combined movement in 1840 to build a church in South Gardi- ner, in which Methodists, Free Baptists and Adventists joined with citizens of no denominational proclivities, resulted in the erection of the first building for religious worship in that section. For the ensu- ing forty five years it was in all respects a genuine union meeting house. The first two ministers, David Higgins and John Cumner, were Methodists; George Curtiss and H. F. Wood were Baptists: the fifth, Sanford K. Partridge, was an Adventist, and the next, C. C. Cone, was a Methodist, followed by Hagop H. Acterian, a Turk, Mr. Cushing, Episcopalian, Mr. Harding, Congregationalist, Mr. Bates, Adventist, and Frederick Newport, Congregationalist.

The Congregational Church at South Gardiner was organized in 1883, with eleven members. Frederick Newport, Jacob Horton and Alfred L. Skinner were the first three pastors, succeeded by Silas N. Adams, the present minister, January 15, 1888. The union house of worship mentioned above is occupied by the society, and is still owned by the pewholders. It was repaired and enlarged in 1889 at a cost of

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

$2,500, and now presents an inviting appearance. A most commenda- ble feeling of harmony exists throughout the entire community, with a certainty of additions in the near future to the present membership of fifty-five.

The Freewill Baptists built at South Gardiner a small church about 1842. which was sold to J. W. Lawrence in 1877, and converted into the store he still runs.

The Young Men's Christian Association, with a membership of 153, supports regular religious meetings and publishes a monthly journal.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS .*- Very little is known of the introduction of any system of public education in Gardiner, the records furnishing but slight information upon the subject. Private schools were established early in the history of the town, when it was a part of Pittston. Hanson's history says: " The first teacher was Master Everson, one of the early settlers, who had taught school in Boston, but his methods not being up with the times, he came to Gardinerston, where he taught from house to house when he could find employment." Private schools, an outgrowth of this itinerant system of teaching, were at- tended only by children whose parents were able to pay tuition.

Free public schools were established about 1784. There is evi- dence that the expenditure of public money for free education was at first strongly opposed by the early settlers, for in 1783 the town voted, " not to pay any schooling;" but in 1785 the selectmen were " appointed a Commity to hire a school master and Fix the Wards; who is to teach school and Reed a Sermon over every Sunday," and in 1787, " Voted that £30 be raised for schooling, to be paid in lumber or anything that the school Master will Receive." May 16, 1791, the town "voted to Raise £80 for schooling to hire a person to keep school and preach nine months." It is probable that the town was divided into four wards or sections, each receiving an equal share of the school and preaching fund, for in 1792 a vote was passed as follows: " Eastern River District may lay out the £20 raised for preaching in schooling." This district was what is now known as East Pittston.

The first school house in Gardiner, a rude wooden building, with- out lath, plaster or paint, was above the original stone grist mill that stood at the corner of Water and Bridge streets, on the lots now occu- pied by the stores of C. W. Averill, Atkins & Co., and G. N. Johnson; but earlier than this a man named Hoogs had kept a school in the southeast room of Mr. Gardiner's house. When Gardiner was incor- porated in 1803, the only public school house within the present city limits stood at the corner of Dresden avenue and School street, on the lot where Augustus Bailey's house now stands. This building was burned in 1812, and during the following year another was built on *By James M. Larrabee, secretary of the superintending school committee.

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the lot now occupied by the Lincoln Street school house. During the erection of the new school house the school was kept in the only brick building then in Gardiner. This building, still standing, is the tene- ment house next south of the public library.

There was also a private school held in a building on Dresden avenue, nearly opposite the old parsonage, erected by individual sub- scription. Children of the wealthier families attended here, and among them were Charles and Delia Tudor Stewart, a son and daughter of Commodore Stewart. Miss Stewart afterward became Mrs. Parnell and the mother of the late Charles Stewart Parnell, the great Irish statesman. This building was purchased by the town about 1820 and used for free school purposes. About 1820 a public school house was erected at the junction of Highland avenue and Winter street, and was used until 1840, when a new and larger one was built on Highland avenue, on the lot now occupied by John D. Stephenson's dwelling.

Among the many teachers who wielded the rod in the old school house on the triangle were Dr. Gideon S. Palmer, afterward medical director at Washington, D. C., and Israel W. Woodward, a life-long resident of Gardiner. The first teacher in the new school house on the Stephenson lot was a Mr. Martin, of New Gloucester, Me., who boarded with James Elwell. Mr. Adams, afterward United States consul to the Chinchi Islands, also taught this school in 1843 or 1844.

Prior to 1825 several other buildings for school purposes were erected within the town limits. One was on Summer street, known as No. 10, and another at the north end of the New Mills bridge on land now owned by A. E. Andrews. In 1825 there were in Gardiner, then including West Gardiner, twelve districts, with a school population of 941; $1,500 was appropriated, and six mills on a dollar assessed for school purposes. The average school year in each district was twenty-five weeks. There were no graded schools at that time, and pupils were classified according to size, rather than by educational qualification. But few books were used and without uniformity. Discipline was en- forced by muscular power, and if the teacher lacked this quality the chances were that the larger boys of the school would carry him out of doors and thereby cause his removal.

Soon after Gardiner city was incorporated it contained eight dis- tricts. In districts 1 and 2 a graded system was established, each dis- trict having a grammar and three primary schools. Prior to this a new building had been erected at the New Mills, and in this district, No. 3, there was a mixed school. The remaining five districts were in Ward 6. Each district annually elected a school agent, whose duty it was to select teachers and provide for the necessities of the school.

In 1860 there were 1,463 children between the ages of 4 and 21 years; $2,700 was appropriated for school purposes, and $574.44 was received from the state. The schools in the city proper had three

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

terms each of twelve weeks, and the rural schools two terms each. Two male teachers at forty dollars per month, and fifteen female teachers at three dollars per week, were employed.

In 1861 an order was passed by the city council consolidating the districts, abolishing agents and putting the entire management of the schools in the hands of the school committee. This advance movement was accomplished by the influence of Hon. Noah Woods, then mayor, and who for many years had been an efficient member of the superintending school committee in the city. Since that time the graded system has been perfected; new school buildings erected at a cost of $30,000; improved methods of teaching adopted, and school books furnished free to the pupils of the city.

The amount appropriated by the city council for common schools in 1891 was $6,100, and about $3,700 was received from the state. The school year for the eleven graded schools is thirty six weeks, divided into three terms of twelve weeks each. The four rural, or mixed schools, have three terms of ten weeks each. Five teachers are employed in the grammar schools, three in the intermedi- ate, five in the primary, and four in the rural schools. These schools rank among the best in the state, and are a credit to the citizens who so liberally provide for them.

The Gardiner Lyceum, established by R. H. Gardiner in 1822, was designed in all respects to be a college without dead languages. The building was of stone and had an excellent cabinet and chemical and philosophical apparatus. The first principal was Reverend Mr. Hale, rector of Christ's Church. The patronage of the school was small, and in 1848 it was established as an academy, with Dr. G. S. Palmer as principal. Here many of our older citizens werc educated. In 1851 the building was transferred to the city and a free high school was then established, and occupied it until the fall of 1870, when it was burned. The city hall was fitted up and used for the high school for a year or more. In 1871 the present high school building, shown in the above cut, was erected at a cost of $21,000 and dedicated to the use of the school, with appropriate ceremonies.

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THE CITY OF GARDINER.

The appropriation for high school purposes in 1860 was $850, and the amount received for tuition $114. Two teachers were employed, the principal receiving $600 per annum and the assistant $300. The number of pupils registered was 102. In 1891 the appropriation was $2,500; $500 was received from the state and $615.31 for tuition. Four teachers were employed. The principal received a salary of $1,500, and the three assistants $600, $550 and $500 respectively. The num- ber of pupils registered was 156. The graduates of this school have always ranked well in scholarship, and many of them have held prom- inent positions in the city and state.

LIBRARIES .- Since Doctor Gardiner, in 1786, bequeathed his pri- vate collection of books for a public library in Gardiner, the com- munity has been marked by a decided literary taste and habit. After his death his executors finished a small but suitable building to give effect to his generous intent.

The Mechanics' Association, organized in 1841, was a positive edu- cational force in the village, and owned a valuable library which was the nucleus of the present city library.

The Ladies' Library of Gardiner, Farmingdale and Pittston was established some time in the fifties by Mrs. Bishop Burgess, Miss Maria Storrs, Miss Hannah Allen, Miss Lucy Nutting, Miss Hannah Whitmore, Miss Eliza Byram, Miss Fanny Bowman, Miss Lizzie Ad- ams, Mrs. Seth Moore and others. It contained a selection of choice volumes and was carefully managed by the ladies, who donated it to the city after the city had received the Mechanics' Library.

Gardiner Library Association was organized as a corporation Feb- ruary 14, 1881. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, to which 68 names were signed as members. Leveret Bradley was elected president; Philip H. Holmes, vice-president; Treby Johnson, treas- urer, and A. C. Stilphen, secretary. H. K. Morrell, Lizzie Curtis, Laura E. Richards, Clara I. Robinson and Clara. L. Clark were chosen directors. The city council was asked to assist in erecting a building, but declined, and the association proceeded resolutely to the under- taking. After two years of hard work, in which the ladies bore a con- spicuous share, the present excellent building was completed at a cost of $14,000.

The succession of presidents since the first election has been: Philip H. Holmes, P. H. Winslow, W. J. Landers and E. W. Morrell. S. C. Whitmore and O. B. Clason preceded the present secretary, C. O. Wadsworth; and Joshua Gray, John Berry, H. K. Morrell, John T. Richards, William Palmer, James Nash, W. Perkins, M. C. Wads- worth, H. S. Webster, J. D. White, P. H. Holmes, Weston Lewis, S. C. Whitmore, Henry Richards and J. W. Robinson have served as directors.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

OAK GROVE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION .- The initiatory movement which resulted in establishing this association was a public meeting held in Mechanics Hall, Saturday, September 21, 1844. Isaac N. Tucker was chairman and H. B. Hoskins was clerk. The incorporation was com- pleted the 23d, when Parker Sheldon was elected president, Benjamin Shaw, jun., clerk, and Joseph Adams, treasurer. The succeeding presidents have been: George M. Atwood, John Berry, John Webb, Sumner Smiley and James D. White. Ansyl Clark, C. P. Branch, R. M. Smiley and C. O. Wadsworth have served as clerks. The ceme- tery is finely situated on the west bank of the Kennebec, 150 feet above its surface, and south of the public square. It contains twenty acres, bought at different times from Simon Bradstreet and his heirs. The first purchase was five acres, which was dedicated in 1848. The receiving tomb, one of the best and most appropriately constructed in the state, was built in 1892 at a cost of $6,000. The taste and good judgment shown in the arrangement of the grounds and care of the lots, with their many beautiful and durable monuments, are alike an honor to the living and the dead.

SOCIETIES AND LODGES .- Previous to 1820 the only Masonic Lodges in the vicinity of Gardiner were Kennebec, at Hallowell, and Temple, at Winthrop. Belonging to these Lodges there were in 1819 about twenty-five Master Masons residing in Gardiner, Pittston, and that part of Hallowell called Bowman's point, now Farmingdale. Twenty- four of these applied to the Grand Lodge of Maine for a charter to open a Lodge of Master Masons under the name of Hermon Lodge, No. 32, F. & A. M. Their request and charter were granted, the lat- ter bearing date January 23, 1820. Their first meeting was in the second story of a wooden building on Water street, then owned by Kindrick & Gould, next east of, and having a staircase in common with, the Keith House. The charter members were: Gideon W. Olney, John Stone, William Partridge, Thomas Gilpatrick, John Heseltine, David Neal, Robert Gould, Cyrus Kindrick, Joseph Y. Gray, Moses Springer, jun., George Cox, Daniel Nutting, Benjamin Cook, James Tarbox, R. Whittemore, Freeborn Groves, D. Woodward, James Capen, I. Wentworth, James Kidder, C. S. Freeman, Benjamin Shaw and Joshua Lord. The masters for the first fifty years were: Cyrus Kindrick, Thomas Gilpatrick, David Neal, Moses Springer, Benjamin Cook, Ezekiel Holmes, J. B. Walton, Stephen Webber, E. A. Chad- wick, James McCurdy, Thomas Briery, D. C. Palmer, J. M. Colson, J. M. Larrabee, Thomas S. Foster, Augustus Bailey, J. E. Ladd, Charles Osgood and James L. Stoddard. The successive masters since 1869 have been: William Grant, James M. Colson, Martin Horn, Sanford W. Siphers, Henry S. Webster, William J. Landers, George L. Towle, L. W. Goodspeed, George W. Dow, Samuel W. Cutts, Charles O. Turner and Daniel H. Sherman.

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THE CITY OF GARDINER.

The higher degrees of Masonry have been conferred in Gardiner and are now represented here by Chapter, Council and Commandery. The Maine Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 1, the oldest Com- mandery in the state, organized in 1806 and chartered in March, 1821, now has here a membership of 104. Adoniram Council, chartered May 5, 1869, has now a membership of about 40. Lebanon Chapter, No. 18, which began work under a dispensation in November, 1864, was chartered October 4, 1865, and includes in its membership of 140 a large proportion of the active Masons of the city. The official year begins in October. The succession of high priests, with year of elec- tion, includes: James M. Larrabee, elected in 1864; Daniel C. Palmer, 1866; Augustus Bailey, 1868; Daniel C. Palmer, 1869; William Grant, 1870; R. R. Williams, 1872; William C. Palmer, 1874; Martin Horn, 1876; Philip H. Winslow, 1879; George W. Gardiner, 1881; Henry S. Webster, 1882; William J. Landers, 1884; George W. Dow, 1886; An- syl B. Booker, 1888; and Thomas A. Jewett since October, 1890.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 77

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York, Blake Number of Pages: 1790

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790