USA > Maine > Knox County > Matinicus Isle > Matinicus Isle, its story and its people > Part 5
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a truly wonderful assortment of goods. An acetylene gas light plant once supplied the illumination for the store, but this has been discarded. An up-to-date electric light plant has taken its place. In addition to the structures already enumerated, are the "oil-house," the "salt house" and a large shed on the wharf which are used by the fish company, and also four gasoline tanks with a storage capacity of 7,500 gallons, and a 2,000-gallon kerosene tank. The past winter a substantial and commodious ice house has been erected on the shore of the pond, and has been filled with ice of excellent quality.
In January, 1893, Harry Young and W. Scott Young, sons of the "Squire," were admitted to the business, in a partnership of three equal shares. In July, 1912, the partnership was dissolved. Its founder retired to private life. Harry disposed of his share to his brother, Scott, and removed to Southboro, Mass., and has since carried on a successful business in that town. W. Scott Young is now the sole owner of the business, which still operates under the name of Henry Young & Co. Lack of space forbids the enumeration of the articles dealt in by this firm. Its stock in trade would compare favorably with a Chicago mail order house.
In the preceding century, other traders, doing business in a small way, were Otis Abbott, William Crie, Jonathan Ginn and Mark Young. For some years David Babson bought fish livers and sounds and did quite an extensive business in the rendering of oil and curing of sounds. The building in which he operated is now situated next to the "salt house" and is known as the "oil house." "Cod Liver Oil" is no longer extracted by means of artificial heat. The livers are now thrown into hogsheads and barrels where they are exposed to the sun's rays, and nature does the rest.
For many years J. Thomas Hall operated a general store, and was also engaged in the manufacture of a superior quality of oiled clothing. He also invented a process for the rapid and economical manufacture of wire funnel-hoops which have largely taken the place of wooden ones originally used by the lobstermen. Some years before his death, which occurred in 1923, Mr. Hall discontinued his line of
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oiled clothing. His store and stock of goods came into possession of L. L. Young, who still does some business.
Isaac E. Philbrook buys lobsters and sells gasoline, oils and lobstermen's and fishermen's gear.
George Ring sells groceries, cigars, tobacco, soda, ice cream, etc.
During the spring, summer and autumn months Miss Flora Young dispenses ice cream and makes pies, cakes, doughnuts, biscuits, etc., which find a ready sale among the fishermen and others.
ON THE WAYS
The grocery store of Arthur Gray and its entire contents were destroyed by fire the winter of 1925-6.
Large quantities of provisions and supplies of all kinds are brought by the lobster smacks from Portland and Rock- land. The people do considerable trading with various firms in Rockland, and since the advent of the parcel post system, a large volume of business is transacted by the numerous mail order houses.
While there never has been any regular boat-building establishment here, many of the men have been proficient
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in the art, and many fine craft have been built in the different shops.
There has generally been plenty of resident carpenters, painters and other artisans necessary for the construction and upkeep of the various buildings, and the importation of labor for this purpose has seldom been found necessary.
For nearly one hundred and fifty years the industrial life of the community was handicapped by the lack of proper protection on the north-east side of the harbor. Easterly and north-easterly gales were productive of much damage to the wharves and to the fishing fleet. Finally, through the in- fluence of Congressmen Littlefield and Swasey, the United States appropriated the sum of $13,000 for the construction of a suitable breakwater. The contract for building this breakwater was awarded to P. H. Doyen & Co. of Portland, who began work July 20, 1911, and finished September 23, of the same year. Nine thousand tons of stone from Stonington and Hurricane were used in its construction. It is 650 feet long, 57 feet wide at the base and 10 feet wide on top. Its elevation is 15 feet at mean low water, and six feet above mean high water.
At present, during a wild nor'easter, the seas rage furiously outside and the surf breaks in great volume over the top, but within, the sea is comparatively calm, and the fishermen need worry no longer for the safety of their boats moored snugly in the harbor.
A few years after the construction of the breakwater, Oliver G. Perry built and operated a small marine railway. For some reason or other, this venture did not prove suc- cessful. The plant was afterwards dismantled and removed to Rockland.
George Belcher, a machinist, formerly of Winthrop, Mass., does a thriving business in the repairing of engines, etc., saving the boat owners much time and money which would otherwise be necessarily spent in frequent trips to the mainland.
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EDUCATIONAL
It has been a noticeable feature of all pioneer settlements in the United States that the education of the children soon became one of the paramount considerations of the community. And so it was on Matinicus. No sooner had the first few families become well established than means were sought for the instruction of the youth of the island, in the necessary fundamentals. In those days the cur- riculum of the country school was not so extensive as at present. A little geography, some spelling, and a ground- ing in the three r's-"readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic"-were all that were considered necessary.
It is not known for a certainty just when the first school- house was built. The first of which there is any definite record was probably erected not far from the year 1800 It was situated nearly opposite where the church now stands. Like many another, it has served its purpose, and gone the way of all things, but there are some people still living, who attended that institution for a few of their earliest school years, and this experience is among the most vivid of their childhood recollections.
The following copy of a bill of sale, the original of which is in the possession of S. T. Kimball of Rockland, would seem to indicate that the building was owned collectively by certain of the inhabitants, and that each "share" was of some intrinsic value.
(COPY)
To all People To Whoom this preasant Bill of Sale Shall Come: Know ye that I the said Benjamin Condon of Matinicus Island for in Consideration of the sum of four and a half Dollars to me in hand well and truly Paid at or before the ensealing and delivery of these Presents By Seth Condon of Matinicus Isl.
The receipt Where of I do hereby acknowledge and I therewith fully and entirely satisfied and Content have granted Bargained and Sold and by these presents do grant gargain (sic) and sell unto the said Seth Condon one twelth (sic) part of the school House on the Island of Matinicus.
To Have and to hold the said granted and Bargained School House unto the said Seth Condon and his heirs executors administors (sic) or assigns to his only proper use benefit and behoof forever,
March 7,11 and I the said Benj. Condon do avouch my Self to be the true and lawful owner of the said one twelth Part of the 1833 School House and have in my full Power good right and lawful authority to dispose of one twelth part of the school House
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*
SCHOOL-HOUSE, MATINICUS
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in a manner as affore said, and farther more I the said Benj. Condon do here By Covenant and agree to warrant and defend the said school House against the claims and demands of all persons What- soever unt (sic) the school House shal Come:
In Witness Wheirof I the said Benjamin Condon have hereunt set my yand and seald (sic) the seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and thirty three.
Signed, sealed and delivered in Presents of us
(Signed) Benj. Condon (Seal)
(Signed) Freeman Hall.
In the earliest days, the necessary expenses of the school were met by subscription, the length of the term depending upon the amount of money that the inhabitants were able, or willing, to provide for the purpose. In "fat" years it is to be presumed that the people responded more heartily than in "lean" ones, and that the school profited thereby. Later the school expenses were provided by assessment, each family paying according to the number of scholars in the family, and the number of days attendance. From an old school bill which is not dated, it is learned that twenty-four families were assessed for amounts ranging from $1.10 to $4.09 each, the total expenses amounting to $77.00.
The teacher was "boarded 'round" among the different families, each household doing the honors for a longer or shorter period, according to the number of children of school age that each household contained. The teacher was an honored guest, and all strove for her (or his) entertain- ment and comfort.
As the colony prospered, and the population increased, in like ratio did the number of children increase. The old school-house became dilapidated and far too small for the accommodation of the growing generation. After several years of agitation, the plantation voted the necessary funds for a new building, which was constructed in 1859-60. This building is now in use. Notwithstanding the enlarged accommodations, the capacity of the house was strained to its utmost during the period between the years 1860 and 1880, when the population of the island was at its height. Those were the days of large families. "Birth control" and "race suicide" were terms then unknown, and children were the principal crop. During the winter term as many as sixty or seventy scholars would combine to make life miserable for the teacher.
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The history of this school is the history of all country schools of that period. Some chidren attended for the pur- pose of absorbing what knowledge the tutor had to offer, and was capable of imparting ; others went to school simply because they were obliged to; and still others went for the sole purpose of "baiting" the teacher. This latter element. was particularly numerous in the winter, and the larger boys-indeed, some of them were young men-were the culprits. They have caused many a poor creature, toiling for a totally inadequate wage, to long ardently for death,- if not for their own, at least for that of their persecutors. Occasionally, however, the tables would be turned, a master would be engaged who was entirely capable of taking care of himself. After a few "lickin's" the school bullies would find their education suddenly completed and retire from the scene, or else would quiet down and make at least a pretense at study. We live now in an enlightened age. Thrashings in school are the exception, rather than the rule. For many years the atmosphere of the public schools has shown a steady and a great improvement, but-we have not yet. reached the millennium.
Soon after incorporating as a plantation the school system was changed. At each annual "town meeting" a sum was appropriated for the support of schools. Among other necessary expenses, this sum was raised by taxation,: and it was augmented by a contribution from state funds, set aside by the commonwealth for distribution pro rata, among the schools of the state.
The teacher was no longer an itinerant boarder, but was. settled in one domicile for the term. At first it was cus- tomary to "auction off" the privilege of boarding the teacher to the lowest bidder, but that custom finally became obsolete, and the school committee procured the necessary lodgings by other means.
At this point a few extracts from the old school records may prove interesting.
December 9, 1849. "Met and accepted the master, Henry Young, to teach the school for the term of three months, at $20 per month."
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March 8, 1858. "Voted to raise 132 dollars for the sup- port of schools, as the law directs, it being sixty cents on every inhabitant according to the last census."
March 21, 1860. "On motion of H. T. Philbrook that the teacher's board be set up at auction and struck off to the lowest bidder-H. Young bid off the 'mistress' for $1.00 and the 'master' for $1.75" (per week).
"On motion of Otis Abbott that the wood be struck off to the lowest bidder, R. Y. Young agreed to furnish good, white birch wood, fitted for the stove and put in the house for $5.00 per cord. Struck off to R. Y. Young."
Compare the prices of then and now.
The earliest school register that has been discovered is that for the winter term commencing December 11, 1848. The length of the term was sixty-six days. The whole number of scholars attending was fifty-two, with an average daily attendance of thirty-seven. Samuel Burgess was the school agent. The name of the teacher was John Young, 2d, and his compensation was eighteen dollars per month. Fol- lowing are the names of the scholars with their ages :
Aurelia J. Young, 14
Benjamin Burgess, 11 Loiza Burgess, 14
Flavilla A. Young, 12
Susan C. Young, 9
John A. Plummer, 11
Cyrus Carver, 10
Charles A. Plummer, 9
Araminta Philbrook, 15
Cyrus L. Plummer, 7
Henry A. Philbrook, 11
Elizabeth Condon, 14
Hanson T. Philbrook, 20 Amanda Hillman, 14
Eldridge Condon, 19
Lenora Young, 12 Mary H. Hall, 14 Freeman J. Hall, 13
Alden Condon, 17
Henry E. Hall, 8
Job Tolman, 11
Tolman Y. Burgess, 15
Isaac Crie, 18
Eben Crie, 20 '
Jesse J. Burgess, 14 Julia A. Burgess, 12 John Young, 21 John Burgess, 18
Seth Condon, 12
Oliver Condon, 20
Rufus Condon, 21
Timothy Young, 16 Mark Young, 13
Hiram Condon, 15
William Young, 21
Lydia Burgess, 11
Hiram Young, 20
Charles H. Abbott, 15
Joseph A. Young, 10
Trafton Abbott, 13
Rufus Young, 10
Henry E. Tolman, 13
Mary Ann Mckellar, 10
Mark Y. Tolman, 11
Ezekiel Burgess, 21
Celestia J. Tolman, 9
Augustus F. Marshall, 20
Henry A. Philbrook, Freeman J. Hall and Henry E. Hall had a perfect record of attendance for the term.
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Nathaniel Condon, 10
David Condon, 8
Luther S. Tolman, 12
Reuben F. Crie, 7
Joshua Condon, 11
Until the advent of the church, and later of the K. of P. Hall, the school-house took the place of both these buildings and was used for many purposes,-for plantation meetings, for a voting place, for entertainments and lectures, for religious meetings, and on very rare occasions, some venturesome "one-hoss show" from the mainland would relieve the monotony of living and furnish an unaccustomed entertainment, which all would attend.
In 1900, the school-house was thoroughly renovated. It was remodelled and refinished inside and out, and equipped with the very latest furnishings and apparatus. Since then it has been kept up to date in every particular. Much
SCHOOL CHILDREN, 1915
money has been expended upon it. The best of teachers are provided at a high salary. At present it is classed with the schools of Thomaston under the charge of Superin- tendent Frank D. Rowe of Warren. It will compare favor- ably with schools of other places of like size. The pupils attain a very satisfactory degree of scholarship, and many of them have sought a higher education in various secondary schools, and colleges, and some in their turn, have become teachers and educators.
Following is a list of Matinicus people who have con- ยท tinued their studies in schools of a higher grade, after finishing here:
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Augusta N. Ames, Farmington Normal.
Henrietta H. Ames, Business Col., Rockland.
Catherine G. Ames, Hebron Academy.
Harold E. Ames, Hebron Academy.
Edwin L. Ames, Somerville High School. Austin M. Ames, Somerville High School.
Madeline G. Ames, Rockland High School, and Farmington Normal.
Roland W. Ames, Rockland High School. Louise A. Ames, Rockland High School.
Herbert Baum, Rockland High School.
Pauline Beal, Rockland High School.
Esther Burgess, Business College, Rockland.
Dorothy Cooper, Rockland High School and Gorham Normal.
R. Fred Crie, Bucksport Seminary.
Horatio D. Crie, Bates College.
Frank L. Crie, Business Coll., Rockland, and Dental College.
Marieta Gray, Rockland High School.
Henry E. Hall, Bucksport Seminary.
Freeman J. Hall, Business College, Rockland.
Leonard A. Hall, Islesboro High School.
Henrietta H. Hall, Farmington Normal, University of Kansas, Boston University.
Leila Philbrook, Business College, Portland.
Milton A. Philbrook, Hebron Academy and Colby College.
Merton E. Tolman, Business College, Rockland.
Celestia Tolman, Business College, Boston.
Kenneth Trask, Deering High School.
Rufus Y. Young, Bucksport Seminary.
W. Scott Young, Farmington Normal.
Ada B. Young, Farmington Normal.
Alena W. Young, Rockland High and Farmington Normal.
Harry W. Young, Farmington Normal.
Harriette P. Young, Farmington Normal.
Jennie P. Young, Farmington Normal.
Gladys E. Young, Bridgton Academy.
Horace R. Young, Hebron Academy.
Carl H. Young, Business College, Portland.
Hazel M. Young, Northfield Seminary.
W. Hanscomb Young, Northfield Seminary and North University.
Eastern
Jennie R. Young, Dean Academy.
Linola M. Young, Rockland High School.
Marian A. Young, Farmington Normal.
Julia F. Young, Rockland High School and Gorham Normal.
Ruth Etta Young, Farmington Normal.
Estelle Stanton, St. John's High School, Kansas, and Stuart Hos- pital Training School, Hutchinson, Kan.
For purposes of comparison, the following figures will be of interest: In 1869, with an average daily attendance of sixty-one scholars, there was voted the sum of $276 for the support of schools. In 1925, with an average attend- ance of twenty-two, there was voted the sum of $775 for the support of schools. In addition, there was voted $80 for text-books, $80 for tuition of pupils in secondary schools, and $80 for services of the superintendent.
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M.20
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
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ECCLESIASTICAL BY HENRIETTA H. AMES
Matinicus has no traceable written record of an early church. In the memory of her oldest inhabitants such a church exists as a more or less vague reality, and in the record of the Baptist Church of Rockland, it appears that a branch of that church was organized on Matinicus Island in the year 1808.1 Nor do we know of any resident pastor up to about the year 1850, when the Methodist Home Mis- sionary Society sent one Abram Plummer, who lived and preached here for several years, honored and loved. He was succeeded by one Joel Adams, who served acceptably for a number of years, and he in turn, by one John Plummer, a son of Abram Plummer.
Then again for many years the island was pastorless and without preaching, save as from time to time some journeying preacher might make his way thither.
But during none of these years was God left without witnesses in Matinicus-her "Deacon Crie" and her "Deacon Burgess" are familiar and respected names, and to a later generation the faithfulness of "Uncle Lewis" (Ames) and Mrs. Amanda Howard, particularly in the Sunday school, stands out as a holy and saving influence.
In the year 1889 was organized on Matinicus a Christian Endeavor Society which with the Sunday school, held together the religious life of the island up to the time of the organization of the present church in May, 1904. The inception of the present church may be said to date back to the year 1896. Repeated here is the story of "the white owl," showing as it does how God often uses, directly or indirectly, incidents the most trivial and remote to accom- plish His purpose. In this year the preacher and naturalist, Rev. H. K. Job, called one day at a home in Taunton, Mass., to make inquiry concerning a certain white owl which was known to have its habitat in that vicinity. Visiting at this home, at this same time, was a man from Matinicus-after-
1Williamson's Hist. of Maine, published in 1832, says, "Upon the Island there is a Calvinist Baptist Church of twenty-two members."
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1
ward deacon of our church-so from the quest of the white owl, Mr. Job was led to a quest of the welfare of Matinicus, and he it was who first directed the attention of the M. M. S. to the work here waiting to be done.
In the year 1897, the M. M. S. took up the work and student preachers were sent for several summers, to all of whom the island is indebted for much earnest labor. At about this time, several services were held by an evangelist of the Advent Christian Church, Miss Clapp, afterward Mrs. Quinn of Gray, Me., and the good work accomplished through her efforts made a deep and lasting impression upon the community. Then came a time when there was
ELDER PLUMMER AND WIFE, BETSEY
felt a need of work of a more aggressive character. The church was now crying for its birth while even those wait- ing and expectant had not guessed that its time was so near. The M. M. S. was acquainted with this felt need, and alert to supply it, sent its general missionary, Rev. W. B. Hague, to whose coming under God we largely owe all that we are and have as a church today. He first came to the island March 22, 1904. On May 8 was completed the organization of the church; on May 16 it was constituted a body corporate under the laws of the state; was given formal recognition by a council of the neighboring churches on June 2, and on June 8 was received into the fellow- ship of Lincoln conference.
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The church entered upon its second year bright with hope and promise when Dr. J. M. Greene of Lowell, Mass., volunteering his services to the M. M. S. was assigned to Matinicus. But after a brief space of time, just when all Matinicus had come to reverence him and when the church recognized the possibilities before it under his leadership, God in his mysterious providence said, "His work among you is done."
Simultaneous with the movement toward church organ- ization was a movement toward a church building, and in the autumn of the same year was begun the soliciting of financial aid for this purpose. So heartily came the re- sponse that July 11 of the following year saw begun the foundation of the church building which at the beginning of the new year stood complete.
The church was incorporated as the Congregational Church of Matinicus, the original trustees being I. E. Phil- brook, Miss H. H. Ames, Oliver Condon, Harry W. Young, and Mrs. I. E. Philbrook. The building was dedicated on June 6, 1906. The dedicatory exercises were presided over by Rev. W. B. Hague of Gorham, the representative of the M. M. S. to whose labors the church owes its being. The exercises consisted of the invocation by Rev. E. M. Cousins of Thomaston; responsive reading, led by Rev. I. A. Flint of Warren ; sermon by Rev. W. B. Hague, text John 11, 16, "And they shall become one flock, one shepherd." Theme, "Christian Unity;" dedicatory prayer, Rev. L. D. Evans of Camden; historical and financial statements; addresses by Rev. Charles Harbutt of Portland, secretary of the M. M. S., Rev. J. H. Quint of Rockland and each of the ministers named above. These parts of the services were interspersed with hearty singing and all closed with singing "God be with you till we meet again."
In November, 1906, following the dedication of the church in June, Rev. W. H. McBride became its pastor and served for about a year. In April, 1909, Rev. J. H. Pear- don, who while a student at Bangor Theological Seminary, had preached for the summer of 1897 in the Matinicus school-house under the auspices of the Matinicus Christian Endeavor Society and the M. M. S., was called to the church. He came in April, 1909, and stayed until October, 1912.
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From the autumn of 1915 to the autumn of 1917, Miss Laura B. Sanborn was pastor. Between 1917 and 1920 the church was pastorless. In the fall of 1920, the Sea Coast Mission sent Miss Carrie Teeple for the winter, she being succeeded in the spring by Miss Lucy King, a worker sup- ported by the Sigma Kappa Society, under the direction of the Sea Coast Mission.
Besides the above named ministers, the church has been supplied for longer or shorter periods by Capt. H. E. White, Rev. Mr. Brewster, Rev. W. T. Hawthorne, Rev. John J. Lockett, Burleigh Sylvester and others. When no pastor is available, meetings are still held on each Sunday evening, the members of the church S. S. taking turns at leading. The S. S. has been a perennial institution at Matinicus far beyond the memory of anyone now living, and might justly be considered the island's greatest moral and spiritual asset.
Since its organization in 1904, the church has had four deacons and one deaconess: Alvin Simmons, Harry W. Young, Oliver Condon, Isaac E. Philbrook, Marian A. Young. The clerk, Henrietta H. Ames, has been re-elected each year. Seven resident members have been received and of the eighteen original members, eleven have died.
Following is a description of the church:
It is situated on a lot 100 ft. x 120 ft. in size, upon a sightly elevation almost in the center of the island. It was built and furnished at a price exceeding $3,000. The build- ing is a story and a half in height, with basement. The floor dimensions are 27x39. The foundation is of stone. The exterior is clapboarded on part of the basement and first story, while the upper story, tower and roof are shingled. The tower is surmounted by a vane of copper.
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