USA > Maine > York County > Kennebunk > Kennebunk history : not a history of Kennebunk but a few items in addition to and a sequel to "The village of Kennebunk, Maine" (revised to 1939) : a description of a few more old homes, a few biographical sketches > Part 3
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The next house was built by Henry E. Bennett, later owned by his son, John H. Bennett, a railroad engineer. His wife was Alice G. Milliken of Saco. He died August 3, 1929. It is now owned and occupied by his widow.
The Hubbard house, one of the oldest now standing in the Village, was built about 1750 by Capt. James Hubbard. It was two story in front with a long roof on the back side to one story. Capt. Hubbard died in the army at Cambridge in 1776. His son,
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Diamond, succeeded him. He had a daughter, Mary, who mar- ried another Capt. James Hubbard, a master mariner. He died September 20, 1854. This one also had a son Diamond, and a daughter who married Nathaniel Downs. Their son, Wm. H. Downs, has been mentioned as living opposite. The house was sold about 1873 to John T. Ward who lived there until about 1893, when he bought the Wise estate. It is now owned by Percy F. Googins, express agent.
B. F. Emery of the Lower Village had a side track, coal yard, lime and cement store between the Hubbard house and the railroad, built about 1939.
Boston and Maine R. R. Bridge
Bridge was raised and new abutments built in 1932. The electric railway was built in 1898 and a waiting room station built at the northeastern side of the bridge. Charles Shepard was the agent and transferred baggage from the electrics to the B. & M. R. R. and vice versa. He lived in the next house above which was built by Sylvester Chick about 1889 and he sold to Shepard who died September 1, 1924. It is now owned by his widow.
Ralph Andrews' house next. He built about 1906. He is a lawyer and is also the register of probate of York County. He is a son of Emery Andrews. His wife was Agnes Little of Ken- nebunkport.
The next house, built by Elliot Rogers about 1906, is now owned by Alfred Pearson.
George L. Little built the next house in 1875. He was born in Kennebunk but lived and was in business in Fort Wayne, Ind., for many years, returning to Kennebunk about 1874. He was the son of David and grandson of Rev. Daniel Little. His first wife was Elizabeth McCulloch, sister of Hugh, U. S. Treasurer. His second wife was Elinor P. Bailey of Fort Wayne. He died October 11, 1900, aged 80 years. The house is now owned by his daughter, Carrie (Mrs. Frank C. Webb).
Capt. Moses C. Maling bought a lot from the Capt. Joseph Hatch estate and built a house in 1862-3, coming here from Ken- nebunkport. He was for many years a master mariner, later in the coal business with Almon J. Smith. His first wife was Olive, daughter of Capt. Chadbourne. His second wife was Mrs. Fol- som, a sister of Mrs. E. E. Bourne, Jr. He died October 6, 1893, aged 73 years. The estate is now owned by his daughter, Susan,
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wife of Dr. George W. Bourne of Washington, D. C., and Ken- nebunk.
Capt. Joseph Hatch bought about 45 acres of land of Jede diah Wakefield in 1800 and built a house the same year; from this farm many lots have been sold on which handsome houses ' have been erected. He was a master mariner, one of the select- men of Kennebunk 1821-27, inclusive. His wife was Hannah,' daughter of Maj. Daniel Littlefield, who was killed at the battle of Bagaduce at the mouth of the Penobscot river in July, 1779. He died January 13, 1854, aged 87 years. He left two sons and . several daughters. The daughters inherited the house and re- sided there during their lives. The last of the Hatch family in . the house was Miss Charlotte, daughter of Capt. Joseph, Jr. After her death and about 1905 it was sold to Charles W. Good- now. He razed the house and erected the present handsome man- sion the same year. Mr. Goodnow was the son of John B. Goodnow of South Sudbury, Mass. He came to Kennebunk in 1876 as clerk for the Mousam Manf. Co. (Leatherboard). He remained with this company and the Leatheroid until 1910 when' he retired. He was president of the Kennebunk Savings Bank about 20 years, and a director of the Ocean National Bank. His' wife was Frances M. Hastings of South Framingham, Mass. They had two children, Mary, who married Lincoln Morton, and Charles H., of Washington, D. C. He died October 10, 1934. His wife was seriously ill at the time and died a few weeks later not knowing of his death. The estate was sold in 1935 to Col. Chas. E. Gow, former postmaster of Boston, Mass.
The next house was built in 1855 by John A. Lord, son of Capt. Ivory Lord. He was for many years superintendent of' Hope cemetery. His wife Lucy Amanda, daughter of Alexander Warren. He died December 7, 1913, aged 86 years. The house is now occupied by his daughter, Miss Kate M. Lord.
Col. Wm. L. Thompson built in 1860-61 on the lower corner of the lane leading to the farm buildings, then owned by his brother, Capt. Nathaniel, afterwards owned by Hartley Lord. Col. Thompson was a trader with store on the triangle, an auc- tioneer and ship builder. He, in partnership with Joseph Titcomb, had a large ship nearly completed in 1878 when the decline in wooden ships came. The house was sold at auction, but bid in by his son, Joseph P. Thompson of Portland,and the family con- tinued to live in it. His wife was Olive, daughter of James
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Mitchell. He died December 30, 1893. After the death of Col. Thompson, the house was sold to the Mousam Water Co. and oc- cupied by their superintendent, North M. West. It is now owned by C. S. Williamson.
Crossing the lane is the house built by Theodore Lyman on Main Street as early as 1775, moved here by Jacob Blaisdell, who was a forge man at the iron works. The next owner was Wm. Taylor, who lived in it until 1804 when his large house was fin- ished. He sold to Joseph Porter, who had several tenants. Mr. Porter sold it about 1825 to Levi P. Hillard, who resided there until his death in 1854; then occupied by his widow and son Levi. ft was sold about 1883 to Hartley Lord, who removed the house; part of it went to Kennebunkport and the main part to Water Street (second building below the wood yard). Mr. Lord graded the lot which was quite low. In 1884-85 he erected the present handsome residence. About 1875 he had erected a stable near the present Hotel Greenleaf intending to build a house on that Jot. This Frable was moved to the rear of the new house. Mr. Lord. in partnership with his brothers, was engaged in the fish net busier's for deep sea fishing. This factory was in Boston. The twine was manufactured by the R. W. Lord Co. mill at West Kennebunk. Several net machines were made for them by J. H. Ferguson & Co. Mr. Hartley Lord was the son of Wm. Lord, born în Kennebunk. He resided for many years at Newton Corner, Mas., returning to Kennebunk about 1885. His first wife was Sarah Hilton; his second, Julia Perkins of Kennebunkport. He died November 6, 1912. The estate is now owned by the heirs of his grandson, Hartley L. Lord of Lewiston and Kennebunk, who died November 4, 1938, aged 63 years.
The next house was built by Wm. Taylor about 1803. He sold to Capt. Charles W. Williams, who resided there until his death in 1360, aged 80 years. The next occupant was his son, Capt. Claudius Williams. He sold about 1873 to Mrs. Sarah Perkins, widow of Capt. Jott S. Perkins and Capt. Charles Barry. She made additions and alterations. After her death, it was owned by her son, Wm. E. Barry, architect. He married Flor- ence W. Hooper. He died June 7, 1932, aged 86 years. It is now owned by his heirs.
In 1760, Jonathan Banks, schoolmaster, built a small one story builling that he sold to Jacob Curtis of Arundel. Ebenezer Rice was hi tenant for a number of years. Judge Clark bought
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this house soon after his marriage in 1789 and in 1804-5 he added a second story. He also built the large part of the present house. In 1800, the collection District of the 'Port and District of Ken- nebunk was established. Judge Jonas Clark was the first collec- tor. His brother, Henry Clark, was deputy. The Custom House was a small building nearly opposite the residence of Joseph Dane. It remained there until 1808 when the lot was sold. The office building was moved to the top of the hill and was the Custom House until the appointment of Joseph Storer, collector, in 1810, when it was removed to his store in the triangle. In 1822, Judge Clark sold the property to Wm. Lord (son of Tobias, and brother of Captains George and Ivory). Judge Clark re- moved to a farm at Wells Branch which was afterwards owned by Arioch Penny, now by Chas. J. Taylor. Judge Clark married Sally Watts of Portland. He died November 8, 1828.
William Lord was a trader. He built the brick block that is now the Water District office. In the attic is a large shiv- wheel and there used to be a large trap door in the floor to allow hoisting of hogsheads of molasses and barrels of other goods, all formerly kept in a general store. Traders used to keep gro- ceries and dry goods and exchanged them for butter, eggs, poul- try and meat. Mr. Lord was a stockholder in the Mousam Manf. Co. and he bought all of the property June 29, 1854, and owned it until December 12, 1863, when he sold to a syndicate composed of Capt. N. L. Thompson, Joseph Dane and Joseph Titcomb. His wife was Sarah Cleaves. He died November 2, 1873, aged 70 years. Soon after Mr. Lord's death his son, Robert W., removed back from West Kennebunk and occupied the house. He and his brother, George W., of the Landing, were proprietors of the Twin- mill, formerly Mitchell's grist and saw mill. Robert W. was Representative to the Legislature and State Senator. He married Mary, daughter of Samuel Mendum. He died February 16, 1923, aged 94 years. After his death it was occupied by his daughter (Elizabeth), Mrs. Archibald Finlayson, and her hus- band. It is now owned by his grandson, Donald Finlayson.
Joseph Dane, Senior, came from Beverly in 1802 and opened a law office. He married Mary, daughter of Judge Clark in 1808 and bought the lot where the Custom House stood. He built a house and barn and resided there until September 25. 1813, when the buildings were destroyed by fire. He then sold the lot to James Kimball and Kimball sold it back to Judge Clark. About
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1875, Hartley Lord bought the lot intending to build there and did build a stable, which stood vacant several years. Afterward he bought and built on the Hillard lot. He moved the stable to the rear of that house and sold the lot back to his brother, Robert W.
About 1933, Mrs. Frances A. Lord, daughter of Robert W. (wife of Rev. Augustus Lord of Providence, R. I.), bought the lot and erected a house a little back of where Mr. Dane built. This they occupy as a summer home.
The next lot was formerly owned by James Kimball. He re- moved his blacksmith shop there when Washington Hall was built. He sold to Samuel Low, who started a house in 1806. The next year he sold the unfinished building to Col. Enoch Hardy, who finished it and resided there until his death July 15, 1849, aged 69 years. The next owner was William Hackett. He occupied it until 1858 when he sold to Capt. William Williams, who enlarged and remodeled it. He was an Englishman, a mas- ter mariner His wife was Miss Aphia Storer of Saco. He was killed November 22, 1869, by falling into the hold of a vessel of which he was superintending the construction at Kennebunkport. His widow resided there until about 1909, when she sold to Dr. Herbert H. Purrington. He sold about 1915 to Perley D. Green- leaf, who altered and enlarged it and then operated it as Hotel Greenleaf. He died September 25, 1937. It is now managed by Mrs. Greenleaf.
William D. Hay bought a lot of Mrs. Williams about 1921 and erected a bungalow in which he resides. He is now postmas- ter.
On the next lot opposite Elm Street is the house built by Dr. Fisher soon after 1790 and moved to this location by Hercules H. Chadbourne in 1841, who occupied until about 1854, when he removed to Kennebunkport. He sold to Isaac Kilham, a retired trader from the Landing, who occupied until his death. He had four daughters. Lucy married Robt. Smith, Jr., Olive married Capt. Edw. Stone, Hannah married Capt. Noah Nason, Susan married Capt. John Shannon. Capt. Stone and Capt. Shannon were lost at sea, Capt. Shannon in 1880. After Mr. Kilham's death it was occupied by his widow and by Mrs. Shannon later, and for a few years by Simon L. Whitten. It was then bought by Dr. J. Starr Barker, who occupied it many years. He died Feb. 17, 1936. It was sold in November, 1936, to Andrew J.
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Murphy, coming from the Landing.
James Kimball built the next house or some part of it in 1763. He was a blacksmith with a shop on the site of Washing- ton Hall and in several other locations, as previously described. According to the stone in the cemetery opposite, he was born in 1741 and died in 1833. He had two wives, Elizabeth Gillpatrick, and Eunice Stone. James had a daughter, Sarah, who married Capt. John Lord. Capt. Lord died in early manhood. They had one son, John Clem Lord. He was a master mariner, and served in the U. S. Navy in the Civil War. The last of his life he lived at Sailors' Snug Harbor, Staten Island, N. Y. He married Eliza- beth Mitchell of England. They lived in Kennebunk many years. He died April 11, 1917. They had two children, Arthur and Eliz- abeth V. The house was later ownd by Mrs. Annie J. Crediford. She sold it to the U. S. Government for a site for the Post Office, which was built in 1937, and opened for business in March, 1938.
In 1805, James Kimball and Parker Webster erected a two- story building, 63 ft. long. In the first story were two stores which had many occupants. In the second a hall, first called Webster's, then Assembly hall, and after 1812 Washington Hall. It was used for lectures and entertainments. The first Masonic meeting in Kennebunk was held in this hall, Dec. 28, 1812. The charter is dated March 9, 1813.
In 1823 Webster sold the western part of the building to John Skeele and he sold to Phineas Stevens, who built an annex with a circular window which was his jewelry store. In the second story was the law office of Edw. E. Bourne, and the Se- lectmen's room. After 1858 town meetings were held in this hall. It was destroyed by fire, November 26, 1866. April 27, 1867, the town voted to buy the lot and build a Town Hall. Ar- rangements were made for a two-story building, the first story for town meetings and town business, the second a hall for lec- tures and entertainments. A part of the expense of the second story was paid by subscription and the arrangement between the subscribers and the town may be found in an article written by Mr. Titcomb and printed in the Eastern Star, March 22, 1889. The bricks for the building were made below the Paper mill on the western side of the rivr. It was built in 1867-8 and dedicated in the Fall of 1868 with appropriate ceremonies. In 1892, the town voted to buy the shares of the subscribers and enlarge the building. An addition was built on the southeast end with an
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outside stairway. The stage was enlarged and a horse-shoe shaped gallery built. This was called Mousam Hall, sometimes Mousam Opera House. Town meeings were held in the lower hall and in former years finished the business there with no ad- journment for dinner. In later years, after election of officers, the meeting adjourned until afternoon to the upper hall, and the gallery was open for ladies and school children. (This before women were voters.) The Fire Society and other organizations held their business meetings in the upper hall and suppers in the lower.
March 15, 1893, the largest gathering of Odd Fellows ever held in Kennebunk was in this hall. Every lodge in York County was represented. It was an all night session. I had the honor to preside as Grand Master of Maine.
The building was destroyed by fire March 1, 1920. It would have been rebuilt on the same site, but for the generous gift of Mr. Henry Parsons. The lot is now under the supervision of the Park Commission.
FIRST PARISH (UNITARIAN) CHURCH Built in 1773. Remodeled and Paul Revere bell hung in 1803. Kennebunk Free Library at left.
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CHAPTER III
From the lower end of the Old No. 5 School District to the Sea, through the Landing with a brief description-Schooner Waterboro-The Kingsbury house built by Theodore Lyman and how he named the Town of Lyman-The first shipbuild- ing on the Kennebunk River-The Loss of the Isadore (by Rev. Wm. H. Mitchell)-Lock on the Kennebunk River-Rig- ging Ships at Kennebunkport-The Mitchell Garrison (by W. E. Barry)-Record of John Mitchell Family.
The road from the lower end of School District, No. 5, to the present Lower Village and Kennebunkport. We have at- tempted to describe Summer Street, its houses and residents. Of the road itself nothing has been said. It is no doubt one of the ancient roads of the village. In the early days perhaps it was a path through the woods, then a few limbs were cut from the trees to allow horseback riding; later as the need came for the passage of ox-teams a few trees were cut and a little grading done.
As this was a benefit to all, this led to the appointment of surveyors of highways and later the road commissioners of the present time. About opposite Elm Street a swamp had to be filled. Opposite Park Street a side hill had to have a bank wall. In 1749 when the church was built at the Landing the congrega- tions went on horseback or walked. In 1773, when the new church was built at the County Road the same conditions existed. From about 1800, when shipbuilding was removed from the Mousam River to the Kennebunk River, to the time that the last vessel passed through the lock in 1867, ox-teams could be seen in the winter from early morning till late at night. Oak ship-tim- ber came from Sanford, Alfred, Lyman, Waterboro, Limerick and perhaps farther back. These teams left home prepared to be gone several days bringing their hay and provisions with them.
There used to be a long building on Green Street fitted with stalls for oxen. There were rooms in the Warren block cellar for teamsters and it was not far from Osborne's where many of them called.
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Schooner Waterboro
In 1819, or 1820, a schooner called the "Waterboro" was built in that town, loaded on sleds and hauled to Kennebunk. It was left over night on Zion's Hill. The teams were put up in the Long building and the teamsters in the Warren block. went on the next morning and was launched just below Durrell's bridge.
There was not much carriage riding until after 1800. Then came the two-wheeled chaise and wagons of all descriptions. By 1850, there were not many who rode horseback. After summer tourists began to come to the beach, in 1870-80, handsome teams were seen. Buckboards carried parties on excursions and bicycles were the fashion at one time.
In 1898, the Sanford and Cape Porpoise Electric Railway laid their rails and for nearly twenty years they carried passen- gers and freight. Soon after 1900 automobiles began to appear and they gradually took the place of horses, as horses had re- placed oxen a few years before. Now automobiles of all kinds and the majority good looking, carry people to work and for pleasure. They carry freight of all kinds, live stock as well. Vans carry furniture for long or short distance hauls. The busses remind one of the old stage coach days, only no stop for dinner.
From the early 1800 days until 1906 house moving was of frequent occurrence. Several houses were moved from the Land- ing, one of them to West Kenntbunk, a few to the Village. Chas Littlefield built a house on Cat Mousam road; about 1869 he moved it to Brown Street, nearly opposite Swan Street.
Freight before the railroad was built came by coasters to the Port, then by ox-team to the Village. After the railroad, it came to West Kennebunk and horse teams transferred it to the Village. Then in 1872 the Boston & Maine R. R. built an extension and it was still nearer.
The Landing in ship-building days was a busy place. It is practically one street, except the lane to the house of Nathaniel Gilpatrick (son of John, Jr.), built about 1810. His shipyard was back of his house. On the lower side of the lane is the house built by Parson Little in 1752 which he occupied until 1790, when he moved to the Sanford Road.
Next is the Wedding Cake house (so called) built in 1826 by George W. Bourne and occupied by him until his death, Dec. 7,
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1856. It is now owned by his grandson, George B. Lord of Mel- rose and Kennebunk.
The next house was built by Theodore Lyman on the site of one by Waldo Emerson a few years before. He came from York .. and was a clerk in the store of Mr. Emerson. He soon built a store on Main Street, and assisted in setting out what has been since known as the Lexington Elms. He removed to the Landing and about 1784 built what is now known as the Kingsbury house. It is described with a picture in Judge Bourne's history of Wells and Kennebunk, pages 494-95; also by Mr. Barry in these Papers. It still retains its small window panes and wide muntins and a roof of which style the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table says: "Look at a horse's hinder leg-first great angle above the hoof. Gambrel, hence gambrel roof." Mr. Lyman left Wells in 1790. He died in Waltham, Mass. The house and business stand was purchased in 1806 by John Bourne. His daughter Julia Ann married Henry Kingsbury. It is now owned by the Kingsbury heirs. It is said that the road formerly was between the house and river. The shipyard of Bourne and Kingsbury was back of the house.
Coxhall Changed to Lyman
The following story is told of Mr. Lyman: As a trader he did considerable business with the inhabitants of Coxhall (as Ly- man was then called). Mr. Lyman did not like the name, and he made them this proposition, that if they would change the name of the town to Lyman, he would give them a barrel of West In- dia rum and a bell for the first church which had a tower. A town meeting was held and it was voted to change the name. The barrel of rum was sent them and drank, but no church had a tower. Many years after one was built, but it was long after Mr. Lyman's death. Some of the old residents remembered the offer and a committee was appointed to go to Boston and interview his son. They saw him, explained their errand and he gave them a check for $300.00 to procure the bell.
At the lower end of the street on the left was the house of Adam McCulloch. It is now standing and is the summer resi- dence of Mrs. L. C. Marshall of Norwood, Mass., daughter of Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury for President Lincoln.
Just beyond is the site of the first church, 1749-50 to 1773.
From 1800 to 1860, there were part, or all of the time, seven
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shipyards from Nathaniel Gilpatrick's to Durrell's Bridge. There were many houses, stores and shops. The blacksmith, Hke the man who claimed the seat of honor after the building of King Solomon's Temple, was an important man in the shipyard. He made and tempered the broad axe and adze with which the ship carpenter framed and finished the outside of the ship and some of them could do it as smooth as if planed. Also the augur to bore the holes for the trunnels. It is to be regretted that a de- scription was not written by such men as George W. Bourne or George P. Titcomb.
Shipbuilding on the Kennebunk River (Judge Bourne's His- tory, pages 575-76.)
The first vessel was built at Mitchell's wharf in 1755 by John Bourne. She was owned by John Mitchell, Richard and Nat. Kimball, and Robert Elliot of Salem, and was about 80 tons. The first up the river was built by Sam'l Wakefield in 1766, in the yard recently owned by G. & I. Lord. The next year a sloop was built by Richard Kimball. Later there were seven ship- yards between Durrell's bridge and Nat. Gilpatrick's. To those interested in navigation and shipbuilding, Chap. 35, pages 566 to 583, of Judge Bourne's History will afford interesting reading.
Those pages also give an interesting history of the attempt to change the entrance of Mousam river.
Mr. Remich's history is practically the same with a few more details.
THE LOSS OF THE ISADORE
In the summer of 1842, a barque was built in the shipyard of Bourne and Kingsbury called the Isadore. Its history and tragic fate is described by Rev. Wm. H. Mitchell, an Advent min- ister and school teacher of the Lower Village. I give it in full that it may not be lost.
THE ILLFATED ISADORE
Written by Elder Wm. H. Mitchell, Kennebunkport, Maine.
The year 1842 will be ever memorable to me on account of the occurence of a very sad event which brought gloom to many hearts in my native village, Kennebunkport, Maine, and the ad- joining towns.
During the summer and fall a small barque of about 396 tons named the Isadore was built in Kennebunk. Though a small boy
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I well remember the launching. The first effort was a failure for though the barque moved gently on the ways for a short dis- tance she stopped before she reached the water's edge. The next day I went on board to witness the launch. At the appointed time she started gliding into the water amid the loud cheers of the spectators. I was, however, too much terrified to join in the cheering for she careened so much I thought she would capsize. She was, however, taken alongside the wharf and in the course of a few weeks was rigged and ballasted and her crew was shipped for a trip to New Orleans.
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