USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Old Town > Sketches of the town of Old Town, Penobscot County, Maine from its earliest settlement, to 1879; with biographical sketches > Part 3
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37
MILL PROPERTY.
GODFREY BLOCK,
This was another block of mills built by the Orono Com- pany in 1834, outside of the Washburn Block, and obtained its name from the architect who built it. It contained six saws under one roof. The privilege was not a favorable one, and from that cause, was the first mill upon the river to go out of use.
The Company carried on this mill until 1841, when there was a change of ownership, since which time, there has been frequent changes of proprietorship, and amongst them, will be found Hersey & Co., Gullifer & Co., Moses Buck, Ayer & Dyer, William H. Smith, Timothy Walker, R. B. Austin, P. B. & J. M. Davis, W. T. & H. Pierce, William Cousens, and others, who carried on the mill up to 1866, when it became so dilapidated as to be unfit for use. It laid idle for several years, some of its timbers furnishing fire-wood for the neigh- borhood, until it was consumed by fire in 1875, thus putting an end to the depredations.
COOPER MILLS.
J. N. & A. Cooper erected a block of saw mills at Pushaw village, in 1835, containing one gang and three single saws, with machinery for the manufacture of the various kinds of short lumber. This company continued to run the mills until 1852, then sold to Spencer, Gilman & Co., who carried them on until 1858, when the property passed into the hands of George K. Jewett, who, in 1861, sold the property to Samuel B. Gilman, the present owner (1879.) The erection of these mills started up a smart little village of some dozen houses, and for many years its precincts were merry with the busy hum of industry and enterprise ; but of late years, with the depression in the lumber business, there has not been
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
sufficient inducement, in the shape of profits from the invest- ment, to keep up the repairs upon the mill and dam ; and in 1877, the whole of the main dam was carried away, and the expense of repairing the mill, and rebuilding the dam, would be more than the property is worth, more especially as the canal by the falls at Upper Stillwater, through which the lumber was run to market, has been closed up for want of support.
STEAM MILL.
1n 1836, Samuel Godfrey built a steam mill on the front of lot No. 21, just below Grass Island, and the spot has ever since retained the name of " Steam Mill Point." It had the capacity of two saws, and from its location had the promise of doing a good business, but in the fall of 1837, it was burned down, so crippling the owner's capital, that it was not rebuilt.
SHAD RIPS.
In 1839, Edward and Samuel Smith, erected a mill at Shad Rips, on the east side of Treat & Webster's Island, with three saws. One peculiarity of its construction, was the method taken to obtain power, which was by a water wheel, extended across a sluice, outside of the mill, so con- structed that it could be raised or lowered, to accommodate any pitch of water, and was turned by the current, as it flowed under the wheel. It was a novelty, and never did much business. In 1842, it went into the ownership of Samuel L. Hunt, and in that year it was destroyed by fire. PORTER'S MILL.
In 1843, Cyrus Moore, having an interest in a large tract of land in the north part of the town, with intent to enhance its value, built a mill on Pushaw stream, near the north line
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MILL PROPERTY.
of the town, containing two saws, and continued to operate the mill until 1846, when it went into the hands of the Mar- ket Bank, which, in 1848, sold to Pierson, Fletcher & Co., who carried it on some five years, and in 1853 sold to Richard S. Porter, who (1879) is the present owner.
There were large quantities of lumber of various kinds, on the stream above the mill, and about Pushaw lake, but it has been mostly cut off, and on that account, and the great length of the dam to be kept in repair, the tendency alto- gether is to make the property of little value.
STEAM MILL-UPPER STILLWATER.
C. F. Hamblen, Geo. Lancaster, and others, in 1870-'71, erected an extensive steam mill at Upper Stillwater, costing more than sixty thousand dollars, containing one gang and three single saws, with other machinery for the manufacture of various kinds of short lumber. It was constructed with a great deal of care, and for a saw mill is a model of architect- ure ; it was run but a few weeks, and since that time has laid idle.
The ownership is now in the hands of the Hinckley & Egery Iron Company, and they have been in expectation of taking it down, and reconstructing it in some more favorable locality.
The E. & N. A. R'y Company ran a branch track to the mill, to take the lumber to market, but as the mill has done nothing, the track has been taken up.
CHAPMAN STEAM MILL.
Thomas M. Chapman, in 1865, erected a steam mill which is still in existence and under his management. It is supplied with machinery for doing all kinds of iron work except some
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
of the heavier pieces. There is connected with the mill a shingle machine, planer, stave dressing machine, and all the appliances of a machine shop. Mr. Chapman has invented several machines which are worthy of notice. His saw filing machine, patented in 1872, is yet without a successful rival, and the hundreds of them manufactured by him, are not only in use in all the states of the Union, but also in Canada, South America, England, and in far off Australia ; and the demand for them is without limit, except by the number of mills which need them. His stave dressing machine is a wonderful production of mechanical skill and inventive gen- ius, and meets a want long labored under, but heretofore un- satisfied. It consists of simple machinery so arranged as to. make the bevel upon the edge of the stave, whether wide or narrow, an exact radius from the centre of the barrel; and the middle and ends of the stave are so varied as to conform with the necessary radius, and do not require planing, but make a perfect joint from end to end of the stave when set up.
CHAPTER IX.
RIVER STEAMERS-TANNERY-UNION ACADEMY.
RIVER STEAMERS.
One of the most interesting reminiscences is connected with the little stern wheel steamers which used to ply so bus- ily between Old Town and Winn, adding so much to the convenience of doing business upon the river, taking up or landing passengers at any point along the shores where busi- ness or pleasure called them; and it really seemed some- times, as though they put themselves in the most inaccessible out of the way places, on purpose to try the skill of the pilot, or the patience of the captain. No method of trans- portation has been so much missed by the Penobscot people as this ; it was so completely suited to the lumbering business, putting men and freight just when and where they were wanted. The first steamer was built in the winter of 1847-'8, and the author had the pleasure of coming on her from the boom, on her trial trip, and well remembers that John God- dard was aboard, and claimed the privilege, and was allowed to exhibit his skill as pilot part of the way. She was named the " Gov. Neptune," in honor of John Neptune, governor of the Penobscot tribe of Indians. Some little Indians, desiring to take a pleasure trip up the river, when called
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
upon to pay their fare, pointing to the name upon the steamer, replied, " He my grandfather." This boat was built under a charter from the legislature of the State of Maine, to Wyman B. S. Moore, and William Mcore, giving them the exclusive right of navigating the Penobscot river, between Old Town and Mattawamkeag, for twenty-five years, condi- tioned and requiring certain improvements to be made upon the river, to facilitate the navigation.
In 1849, General Veazie, under the impression that the corporators had forfeited their exclusive privilege, by not making the required improvements, built a steamer of larger size, and more power, and put her on the river in opposition. She was named the " Gov. Dana," in honor of the Governor of the state. She ran through the season. The corporators sued Veazie for an infringement of their charter, and the court held that the charter was valid, and that the Company had twenty-five years in which to make the required improve- ments.
The " Gov. Dana " was taken into pieces, put on board the barque " Rio Grande," sent around Cape Horn to California, rebuilt at San Francisco, adding twenty feet to the length, and run for years upon the Sacramento river, and continued to run, until, like the boy's jack-knife, from continual changes and repairs, not a particle of the original structure remained. Perhaps the sign board should be excepted, and that had been repainted several times, and the cylinders.
The Moores built, as the increasing business and natural decay of the older boats required, three other boats, named respectively in the order of structure, the " Mattanawcook," " Sam Houston," and " Wm. N. Ray," and continued to run their boats until 1858, when they sold their property and
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TANNERY-UNION ACADEMY.
franchise to William H. Smith and others. The new owners in course of time, built two more boats, the "John A. Peters," and the " Lizzie Smith." The latter being a boat of smaller dimension.
In 1867, the European and North American Railway Com- pany bought out the interest of the Steamboat Company, to save the opposition to their road, and took the steamers off from the route below the Mattawamkeag. Since that time some of the tanneries above that point have continued to run a boat part of each season, for the purpose of transporting bark and other supplies.
TANNERY.
William Jameson came here in 1825, and bought a tannery previously erected by Abner Dearborn, on Brunswick street, opposite the Wadleigh House. He carried it on some seven years, and sold out to Jacob Merrill, who kept it for a few years, when it went down for want of support or the right kind of energy. The building up of large tanneries has been the death blow to the small tanneries which used to dot the land in almost every town of the state. For several years the building stood unoccupied, when about 1845, the people of the village pretending to be apprehensive of fire, took it up- on themselves, in the form of a lawless mob, to tear it down, and thus ended the only tannery enterprise in Old Town.
UNION ACADEMY.
In 1849, Samuel Pratt, Silas Stowe, Solomon Moulton, Samuel H. Merrill, Lorenzo Leadbetter, Rufus D. Folsom, E. B. Pierce, William H. Smith, and others, were incorporated under the name of " Union Academy, Old Town," and erect- ed the buildings as seen upon "Science Hill." The corpora-
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
tion received a grant of half a township of land from the State, which sold for four thousand dollars, as an endowment fund. The school was kept going about three years. Thomas Tash was the principal, and although a finished scholar and a successful teacher, was not able to keep the school up to a prosperous condition. Although the price of tuition was as low as at other academies, the price of board here was neces- sarily so much higher than in the country, that persons out of the town could not afford to come here, and the school was thus limited to students residing in the vicinity, who were not sufficiently numerous to sustain it. After Mr. Tash, Mr. Ludden kept a private school about two years, since which time the building has been used by District No. 2, for an Intermediate school. £ In 1873, the property was trans- ferred to School District No. 2, by the trustees, under the free high school act.
CHAPTER X.
ORONO - MUNICIPAL-FINANCIAL-POLITICAL-1806 TO 1839.
Orono was incorporated March 12, 1806, the act of incor- poration being approved by Caleb Strong, then Governor of Massachusetts. Richard Winslow, a Justice of the Peace, living at Old Town village, issued a warrant for the meeting to organize the new town, to be held at the house of Capt. David Reed, in Stillwater village, on the 7th day of April, A. D. 1806.
There is no record of any vote by the town accepting the act of incorporation, but the action of the town was equiva- lent to such a vote. The limits of the town were as follows : "Beginning at the north-east corner of Bangor, on the Pe- nopscot river-thence by the north-east line of Bangor, until it meets the south-east corner of township number one, on the second range ; then north, on the east line of township num- ber one, on Pushaw pond, to the north-east corner of said number one; thence north, to the north-west corner of the second quarter of township four; thence east to Penopscot river, at the north-east corner of the second quarter of town- ship number four ; thence by a line drawn on the middle of the eastern channel of Penopscot river, so as to include the whole of the island called Marsh's Island, to the bound first mentioned."
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
The inhabitants of Orono claimed the east line of the town was in the deepest channel, over the Old Town falls, and that it was east of the small islands near the Milford shore, and the assessors of Orono taxed those islands, in their tax bills of 1831, and after the eight saws were erected in 1833, on the west side of the sluice, taxed them also.
This led to a controversy about the town line, and the inhabitants of Milford, at the October term of the Supreme Judicial Court, 1835, presented a petition, asking the Court to establish the line between the towns.
The Court appointed Thornton McGaw, Jedediah Herrick, and Levi Bradley, as a board of commissioners, to examine and report upon the matter, and their report, so far as the point in controversy, was as follows: "Beginning at the north-easterly corner of Orono, (south-east corner of Ar- gyle,) in the middle of the Penobscot river, thence down the middle of said river, over Jo Pease Falls, to near the foot of Old Town Island; thence down the river, between Shad Island and Johnson Rock, and between Island No. 2, (Goat Island,) and Island No. 3, and down the middle of the river to the south line of Milford."
The report was accepted by the Court, and thus established the line between the towns of Orono (now Old Town,) and Milford.
In these sketches are noticed only those persons elected to office, whose residence was within the present limits of Old Town.
1806. Richard Winslow and Moses Averill were upon the first board of Selectmen.
Raised for contingent expenses, $75; for schools, nothing ; for highways, $1,000, to be paid in labor.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
The vote for Governor was-for James Sullivan, 40; Caleb Strong, 5, William Heath, 1-those names representing the Republican and Federalist parties-Maine always being Re- publican in politics.
1807. April 6. Raised for contingent expenses, $200 ; schools, $200; minister $50; roads, in labor, $1,000.
Accepted Richard Winslow's bill for services, $16.33. Accepted a road from Old Town falls, (Blagden's ferry,) to Andrew Webster's ferry. Accepted a road from Pushaw stream, to the bridge near Francis Wyman.
On the question of separation from Massachusetts-yeas, 37; nay, 1.
For Governor-James Sullivan, 45; Caleb Strong, 5.
1808. April 4. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk.
Raised for contingent expenses, $100; schools, $50 ; roads, to be paid in labor, $750.
For Governor-James Sullivan, 39 ; Christopher Gore, 12.
1809. April 3. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk and Select- man.
Raised for contingent expenses, $150; schools, $200; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,500.
For Governor-Levi Lincoln, 22; Christopher Gore, 22.
1810. April 2. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk ; Moses Averill and Jackson Davis, Selectmen.
Raised for contingent expenses, $150; for schools, $200; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,500.
For Governor-Elbridge Gerry, 26 ; Christopher Gore, 20. Population, 351.
1811. April 1. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk ; Jackson Davis and Moses Averill, Selectmen.
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
Raised for contingent expenses, $100; schools, nothing ; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000.
For Governor-Elbridge Gerry, 27; Christopher Gore, 21.
1812. March 17. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk ; Moses Averill and Jackson Davis, Selectmen.
Raised for contingent expenses, $150; for schools, $300; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000. .
For Governor-Elbridge Gerry, 27; Caleb Strong, 17.
1813. April 5. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk and Select- man.
Raised for contingent expenses, $350; for schools, $150; roads, to be expended in labor, $1,000.
For Governor-Caleb Strong, 24; Joseph B. Varnum, 23.
1814. April 4. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk and Select- man.
Raised for contingent expenses, #150; for schools, $150; roads, to be paid in labor, $800.
For Governor-Caleb Strong, 14; Samuel Dexter, 21.
Accepted road from Carr Averill's up to the town line.
At this time the British were in possession of the town of Bangor, and had required the citizens to give up their arms and be paroled under the rules of war. A town meeting was held to consider the situation, and it was voted, " That we choose a committee to make enquiry and to find out the in- tentions of the British towards the inhabitants of this town, and if it appears to them that they intend to invade this town, to report the same to the inhabitants, and also to have author- ity to call the inhabitants together at the shortest notice pos- sible, to determine what method shall be taken for the pres- ervation of the persons and property of said town." Chose
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Capt. Eben Webster, William Coburn, Jr., and Samuel White, Esq., committee. There is no record that the committee ever made any report.
For Governor-Caleb Strong, 12; Samuel Dexter, 27.
1815. April 3. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk and Select- man.
Raised for contingent expenses, $150; for schools, $150; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000.
Voted, that Jackson Davis and Eben Webster draw what school money they pay, and appropriate it in a school for their own children.
For Governor-Caleb Strong, 12; Samuel Dexter, 27.
1816. April 1. Raised for contingent expenses, $150 ; schools, $600 ; school house, $150; roads, to be paid in labor, $700.
Voted a discount of 72 per cent. on taxes paid within thirty days.
On the question of separation from Massachusetts-in May, yea, 16; nay, 4. Another vote, in August-yea, 8; nay, 5.
For Governor-Samuel Dexter, 24; John Brooks, 15.
1817. April 7. Raised for contingent expenses, $200; schools, $300 ; roads, to be paid in labor, $750.
For Governor-William Philips, 19; William King, 18.
1818. April 9. Raised for contingent expenses, $400; schools, $300; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000.
Voted a bounty on crows, 25 cents.
For Governor-John Brooks, 12; Benjamin W. Crowning- shield, 19.
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
1819. April 5. Chose Moses Averill, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $200; for schools, $300; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000.
For Governor-John Brooks, 12; B. W. Crowningshield, 23.
On the question of separation from Massachusetts-yea, 4; nay, 19. For delegate to frame constitution, Jackson Davis had 25, all the votes cast. On the question of adopting the constitution-yea, 25; nay, none.
1820. April 3. For the first time, the Constable who posted notices for the annual meeting, is directed "In the name of the State of Maine," to warn, &c.
Chose Moses Averill, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $300; for schools, $300; roads, to be paid in labor, $750.
For Governor-William King, 45; scattering, 3.
Population, 415.
1821. April 2. Chose Moses Averill, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $400; for schools, $250; roads, to be paid in labor, $650.
For Governor-Albion K. Parris, 38; Joshua Wingate, 13; Ezekiel Whitman, 6.
1822. April 1. Chose Moses Averill, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $300; for schools, $250; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000.
For Governor-Albion K. Parris, 18; Ezekiel Whitman, 24.
1823. April 7. Chose Moses Averill, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $325; for schools, $170; breaking roads last two winters, $200; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
For Governor-A. K. Parris, 38; E. Whitman, 12; D. Wilkins, 1.
1824. March 8. Chose Daniel Davis, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $375; schools, $200; pound, $50; road doomed by court, $350; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,000.
Accepted road from Daniel White's to Fall's mill.
Voted to build a town house, but raised no money.
For Governor-William King, 74; Albion K. Parris, 20.
1825. April 4. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk; Thomas Bartlett and Moses Averill, Selectmen.
Raised for contingent expenses, $500; schools, $200; roads, to be paid in labor, $2,000.
For Governor-James Irish, 41 ; Enoch Lincoln, 7; Joshua Cushman, 9; scattering, 5. Three meetings to choose Rep- resentative.
1826. April 3. Chose Moses Averill, Clerk ; Thomas Bartlett, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $500; schools, $300 ; hearse, $120; roads, to be paid in labor; $2,000.
For Governor- Enoch Lincoln, 87 ; Allen Gilman, 1.
1827. Chose Thomas Bartlett, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $800; for schools, $200; roads, to be paid in labor, $2,000.
For Governor-Enoch Lincoln, 73; scattering, 1. Three meetings were held to choose Representative.
1828. Chose Moses Averill and Thomas Bartlett, Select- men.
Raised for contingent expenses, $500; for schools, $700; cemetery, $100 ; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,500; road from Upper Stillwater to Old Town, $400.
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
For Governor-Enoch Lincoln, 64; John Holmes, 17; scattering, 5. For President-John Q. Adams, 107; Andrew Jackson, 44. For Representative-Edward Kent, 107; scat- tering, 1.
1829. Chose Thomas Bartlett, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $500; for schools, $700; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,500.
Bounds of school districts rearranged.
For Governor-J. G. Hunton, 107; Samuel E. Smith, 77; scattering, 1. There were two meetings to choose Repre- sentative.
1830. Chose Thomas Bartlett, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $1,650 ; for schools, $400 ; cemetery at Old Town, $100; roads, to be paid in labor, $1,500.
Voted, that the license board be authorized to grant licenses to retailers of wine, rum, and other spirituous liquors, to be drank in their shops.
A meeting was called in regard to a division of the town. A committee of three was chosen to recommend a plan of di- vision. Being all Stillwater men, they reported :- Begin at the south-east corner of lot No. 6; thence west to the middle of Stillwater river; thence up the river to the north line of the Barker tract ; thence west to the town line.
For Governor-Samuel E. Smith, 183; J. G. Hunton, 103.
Population, 1,473.
1831. Chose Thomas Bartlett, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $700; for schools, $600; roads, to be paid in labor, $2,000. 1
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Laid out and accepted a road from the old County road to the Milford bridge, the bridge corporation giving a bond to build and keep said road in repair, and pay all damages on account of it.
Voted, that the license board grant licenses to retail spirit- uous liquor, same as in 1830.
. For Governor-Samuel E. Smith, 228; Daniel Goodenow, 101; scattering, 1.
1832. Chose Thomas Bartlett, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $700 ; schools, $600; road from Old Town to Upper Stillwater, $600; bridge at Pushaw, $500; roads, to be paid in labor, $2,500.
Accepted a road from Old Town to Upper Stillwater.
Voted, not to grant licenses to sell liquor.
For Governor-Samuel E. Smith, 229: Daniel Goodenow, 133; scattering, 2.
For President-no record.
1833. Chose Moses Averill, Selectman,
Raised for contingent expenses, $700 ; for schools, $1,000; road from Old Town to Upper Stillwater, $300 ; roads, to be paid in labor, $1500.
Voted, not to raise money to build the road from Old Town to Stillwater bridge, (new County road, so called,) as laid out by the County Commissioners in 1832. Subsequent- ly the Court appointed Ira Wadleigh, agent, who let out the work to one McDonald, and the work not being satisfactory, was not accepted. The town, thinking to mend the matter, took some action in 1836, and thus became liable to the con- tractor, and had to pay him. The matter was not settled until after the division of the town.
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SKETCHES OF OLD TOWN.
For Governor-Robert P. Dunlap, 226; Daniel Goodenow, 107; scattering, 22.
1834. Chose Moses Averill and Henry Richardson, Se- lectmen.
Raised for contingent expenses, $900; for schools, $1,500; cemetery at Old Town, $100; roads, to be paid in labor, $2,000.
Support of poor, put up at auction, and bid off at $400.
Voted, that the license board grant licenses to retail rum, brandy, and other spirituous liquors, in their shops.
For Governor-Robert P. Dunlap, 423; Peleg Sprague, 147.
1835. Chose Ira Wadleigh, Selectman.
Raised for contingent expenses, $1,600; for schools, $2,000; roads, to be paid in labor, $2,500.
Voted not to raise money for the new County road, or the Birch Stream road. To accept the road from Eben Webster's to Upper Stillwater. To accept a free bridge across the river at Lower Stillwater.
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