USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > The centennial history of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, including the oration, the historical address and the poem presented at the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 23d, 1902 > Part 24
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
THE EPISCOPALIANS.
The first services of the Episcopal church in Waterville were undertaken chiefly through the instrumentality of men who were not of her communion. Deacon John B. Bradbury, of the Con- gregational society of Waterville, was, during the winter of 1875-6, boarding in a family with the Rev. George T. Packard, the newly appointed rector of St. John's church, Bangor. Mr. Charles Follansbee, a nephew of Deacon Bradbury, was a fre- quent visitor, and through his uncle became acquainted with Mr. Packard. From this acquaintance developed the suggestion to hold a service of the Episcopal church in Waterville, and through the influence of these gentlemen the first service here was con- ducted in the Congregational house of worship, presumably by the Rev. Mr. Packard. Such an unexpected interest was mani- fested that the Bishop of Maine, the Rt. Rev. Henry A. Neely, at once undertook to provide a monthly service. Owing to the small number of priests whose services were then at his disposal, it was not always possible to carry out this plan, but during the next few months, services were frequently held, and the Rev. H. L. Yewens of Lewiston and the Rev. Samuel Upjohn of Augusta were among those who officiated.
In June, 1876, the Bishop sent Mr. Henry Jones,-then a can- didate for Holy Orders, and now the senior priest actively engaged in parochial work in Maine,-to Waterville, "with instructions to remain there long enough at least to fairly test the desire of any considerable number to have the services of the church." The result of this experiment was certainly encour- aging, for in December of the same year a petition was forwarded to the bishop for the organization of a mission. On December 22 the organization was completed under the name of St. Mark's church and the mission placed under the care of the Rev. Dr. Upjohn. The bishop appointed the following officers: Mr. J. G. Soule, warden ; Mr. J. F. Percival, treasurer ; Mr. Jones, the lay reader, continued in charge of the services. During Mr. Jones' term of service the mission used the Universalist house of wor- ship part of the time and later occupied the Grangers' hall on Main street. Three persons were baptized and confirmed during the year.
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In June, 1877, the Rev. Edwin F. Small, just ordained Deacon, was given permanent charge of the mission. He found a con- gregation of about sixty ready to accept his ministrations. In the autumn of that year the mission purchased of Mr. Mark Gallert the lot of land on Center street on which the church now stands, and at the same time leased a new store on Main street, belonging to Mr. W. H. Leslie, which was fitted up as a chapel. Attention was then directed to the erection of a church. Plans were secured and most of the money raised, so that by early spring, building operations were begun. The first service was held in the new chapel on the evening of July 6, 1878, the Rev. Edward R. Brown, of the Diocese of Connecticut, being the preacher. The chancel furniture was the gift of the bishop. The communion plate was presented by Mrs. Frank Getchell of Philadelphia. The altar linen was the work and gift of the altar society of St. Mark's church, Philadelphia. Mr. Small resigned, March 1, 1881, to accept the rectorship of Trinity church, Saco. During his ministry twenty-eight persons were baptized, and an equal number were presented to the bishop for the apostolic rite of confirmation.
During the next five years the church had two rectors, the Rev. John M. Bates, who served two years, and the Rev. L. W. Richardson, who remained but a year and a half. For the rest of this period the parish had to be content with such ministra- tions as from time to time could be furnished.
The Rev. Melville Mclaughlin took charge of the parish on the first Sunday in Lent, 1886, and remained until June, 1889. Much in a material way was accomplished during his incum- bency. The house and lot just east of the church was purchased, Mr. Mclaughlin advancing the money, and taking a mortgage on terms very favorable to the mission. This was done before the end of 1886. In 1887 the chapel was painted without and frescoed within, the windows put in, various other improvements made, and the church was duly consecrated on June 9, the money having been raised to make the last payment on the lot. Mr. McLaughlin recorded forty-two baptisms and thirty-four con- firmations.
The Rev. James W. Sparks was appointed rector by Bishop Neely, November 8, 1889, and remained until October 1, 1899, a
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period of ten years, lacking one month. During Mr. Sparks' administration the rectory was partially destroyed by fire, and the improvements that were made at the time of the rebuilding added somewhat to the convenience and the value of the property. The scriptural custom of the weekly eucharist was established at the outset of Mr. Sparks' rectorship and the Saints' Day celebra- tions were also made the rule, in accordance with the prayer- book requirement. Mr. Sparks was particularly active as a mis- sionary, holding services at Madison, Skowhegan and Shawmut, -building at the last named village a beautiful little church at a cost of something over $2,000,-and finding and ministering to communicants also in Vassalboro, Winslow, Oakland, and Norridgewock. Mr. Sparks administered the sacrament of Holy Baptism to one hundred and thirteen persons, and presented forty-six for confirmation.
In November, 1899, the present rector, the Rev. George Bruce Nicholson, came to Waterville, his appointment being almost the last official act of the late Bishop Neely prior to his death. The affairs of the parish were not then in an ideal condition. With- out attempting to fix the responsibility upon anyone, the fact remains that there was much disaffection in the congregation, and considering its numbers and resources the parish was quite heavily in debt. The people, however, seemed quite ready to unite in any effort which might be undertaken to renew the inter- est and strengthen the work. Steps were at once taken to cancel the floating indebtedness of the parish, while in the meantime the rector's attention was given to the re-organization of the various parochial agencies, and the improvement of the character of the services. Friends of the mission here and elsewhere have given various accessories of church worship, so that the Catholic faith, which is taught in its fulness, may have due outward expression in a reverent and appropriate ceremonial, which, while modest and simple in its character, follows so far as it goes the principles of scriptural symbolism and the historic usages of the Catholic church. In the autumn of 1900, the rector pre- sented a plan for the liquidation of the debt resting upon the property, within five years. The plan met with instantaneous approval and response, and more than one-third has already been paid. During the same season an extension was built at the
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south end of the church, providing a choir-room and small chapel, and the chancel was remodeled and furnished to accom- modate the re-organized vested choir, which, after "several months' training by the rector, made its first appearance in the evening of the feast of St. Cecilia. Up to the present time twenty-one have been confirmed. The outlook at the present time is hopeful. The parish is united, the congregations are growing, the few workers are faithful, financial obligations are being faced and discharged, prejudices are in a measure being overcome, and St Mark's church enters upon her second quarter- century in faith, believing that God has a work for her to do in witnessing for a pure Catholicity, and that He will guide her in the accomplishment of His purpose.
The present officers of the mission are: Mr. George S. Dolloff, warden ; Mr. J. Foster Percival, treasurer ; Mr. Lowell G. Salis- bury, clerk. The number of communicants in good standing is not quite one hundred.
THE ADVENTISTS.
Many still living distinctly remember William Miller and his trumpet-toned proclamation throughout New England and the Middle States, that the second coming of Christ and the end of the world were at hand. Who that heard it could forget the rallying cry: "Eighteen hundred forty-three will be the year of jubilee !" Great and widespread was the interest and his fol- lowers in his own lifetime numbered some 50,000. As the event showed, he was at fault as to that date as have been many other attempts to determine the exact time of the Lord's predicted advent. But the conviction that the time is very near at hand has remained and widely extended.
Doubtless there have been in Waterville individuals of this faith ever since the time of Miller. There were certainly some of them here in the sixties who knew exactly what they believed, and who affirmed and defended their faith with ability. No effort toward organization seems to have been made until the fall of 1894. At that time five men and their wives, most of whom were connected with the Charles street mission, reached the decision to establish meetings in harmony with their own
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faith. Accordingly they hired, for this purpose, Golden Cross hall, began their meetings at once, and have ever since continued them there. Different ministers from various parts of the State were for two years engaged from time to time to preach for them. There resulted an increase in attendance. It was therefore decided in 1896 to organize a church. This was effected Octo- ber first with a membership of thirteen and with the following officers : Elder, Fred S. Varney ; deacons, Martin H. Ham and Isaac Varney ; clerk, Miss Myra A. Barker ; financial secretary, C. G. Hapworth; treasurer, Mrs. Almeda Rose. Rev. E. E. Larcell of Fairfield was unanimously called to be pastor, and at the end of his two years of service the membership had increased to fifty. Various preachers supplied the pulpit until December 3, 1899 when Rev. W. M. Strout of Dover, N. H., became pas- tor and served until February of the present year. During his pastorate the membership of the church has been increased, the Sunday school doubled in size, a lot of land on Pearl street, facing Nudd street, on which to erect a church building, bought and paid for, and money secured sufficient to warrant the taking of further steps for its erection. The expectation is that it will be completed and ready for dedication in the fall of the present year. The members of the church, although at present without a pastor, expect one soon, and they regard the prospects of the young church as very bright.
THE FREE BAPTISTS.
The Free Baptist church of Waterville is the latest born of all the churches of the city. It was organized December 31, 1901. Were one to write the history of this church as it "might have been" there would be much of effective work and large achievement to record. Some twenty years ago Rev. James Boyd, agent of the Maine Free Baptist Association, organized in this village a Sunday school and for a while held public preach- ing services. There were living here at the time a goodly num- ber of members of that denomination, some of them persons of not a little social and financial ability and influence, and in religious character also excellent material to go into a new church enterprise and organization. Indeed long before that
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Deacon Hanscom, (deacon of a Free Baptist church ) and all his family, living in the house still occupied by his daughters at the junction of Main street and College avenue, were loyal and downright Free Baptists. Some of the Hills shared very posi- tively the same faith. There were others here with them fifty years ago, after that still others continued to come, among them such families as the Trues and the Purintons. No effort seems to have been made to unite these in a society and church of their own faith and order until the coming of Rev. James Boyd, already noticed. This effort at the first was full of promise and would unquestionably have been richly successful if it had not been for the unfortunate mistakes of management for which the Free Baptists of Waterville were not responsible and which they, at the time, greatly regretted. But the loss to that denomination was gain to the others. The "might have been" which has made them "sad" has made others glad. And yet, in a truer sense, all have together been both sad and glad for we are "all members of one body," and so all share alike the joy and sorrow of each.
The question of separate services and organization was not again effectively raised until 1899. At that time Rev. A. D. Dodge of Clinton, made the acquaintance of his denominational brethren in Waterville, and as the first public result they gath- ered on the 20th of August, 1899, in Forester's hall on Temple street for their first separate preaching service which was in charge of Mr. Dodge. From that day they have held services continuously under his charge and leadership. On the Ist of October, 1900, they moved from Forester's hall to the Grand Army hall, and subsequently into the hall over the Woman's Association. This they have furnished suitably for their own use and at their own expense. On the 31st of December, 1901, they were organized into a church of twenty-four members. They have as pastor, Rev. A. D. Dodge; as deacons, Messrs. A. E. Purinton and J. G. Butler ; as clerk, Mr. George Smith ; Mr. A. E. Purinton is superintendent of the Sunday school and chorister and gives himself to the service of the cause with a cheerful devotion which is shared by the other workers, both men and women. The small number makes heavy the burden
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NORTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL. MYRTLE STREET SCHOOL.
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of support but the State Convention renders aid in the payment of $200 annually toward the pastor's salary. They feel the need of a house of worship and hope in due time to secure one. The constant increase in attendance on all the services of the church, including the Sunday school, makes them hopeful for the future. All congratulate them on their good record and wish them well for the coming years.
Note. The sketch of St. Mark's Episcopal church was written by its Rector, the Rev. George Bruce Nicholson.
CHAPTER IX.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF WATERVILLE
By ELWOOD. T. WYMAN, A. M., Superintendent of Schools.
Seeking after facts concerning the early history of the schools of Waterville is largely groping in the dark, for the records of the period, so far as they relate to schools, are scanty, and its remembrance lies beyond the memory of living men. There is enough written down, however, to show that the settlers of this part of the Kennebec valley brought with them from Massa- chusetts the same high regard for education that made and has kept for that commonwealth the foremost place in the Union. The mother state gave to her daughter Maine no more precious heritage than this strong desire and determination to offer youth as much of elementary learning as limited resources could provide.
It took no little sacrifice at times to keep the lamp of popular education burning, and while Waterville was yet a part of Wins- low there were several occasions when taxes were so grievous a burden that no money was voted at the annual town meeting for the support of schools. In 1778, Winslow voted to hire preach- ing but no schooling ; in 1780 the cause of the gospel suffered alike with that of education, no money being voted for either schooling or preaching. In March, 1787, it was voted to allow Capt. Zimri Haywood four pounds, eight shillings and sixpence, for paying and boarding a schoolmaster one month. This is the first record of a definite sum paid to an individual in connection with the support of schools.
In 1788 and the two following years no money was voted for preaching or schooling. In the last-named year the voters thrice
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evinced their determination to hire no schooling as shown by the record of the town meetings. In 1791 no money was voted for preaching, but fifty pounds were allowed for schooling. That some of the more prosperous of the citizens united in the support of private schools is shown by diary records and such agreements as the following, an exact copy of the original document :
WINSLOW, 28th Dec. 1796.
Whereas Abijah Smith of said Winslow, has agreed to keep a school in Ticonic Village for the term of three months next ensuing the date hereof, and bord himself and find a room con- venient for that purpose. We the subscribers do promise to pay him twenty dollars pr month-two dollars of which is to be paid weekly for his bord-and the remainder to be paid at the expiration of said three months each one to pay in proportion to the number he signs for-also to find and hall to said room, a sufficient quantity of fire-wood for said school.
Nehemiah A. Parker, One John Rogers, Three Benj. Chase, Three Elnathan Sherwin, Two Getchell & Redington, Five Edw'd Piper for two
James M'Kim for three Jona. Clark, Three
Feby 7th, 1797,
Abijah Smith ought certainly to have been able to teach pen- manship and the correct use of his mother tongue, for the first records of the town of Waterville are in his handwriting, beau- tiful to behold even now; and they are so well expressed that they may well have been used as a model for the town clerks that succeeded him.
It is not to be believed that schools, or preaching, were neg- lected for lack of appreciation of the advantages of either, but the people were poor and the depreciated currency of the day was lamentably scarce. So it is not strange that some of the early schoolmasters were glad to receive "pickled herring" in remuneration for their services. In March of 1796, six years before the separation of the two towns, Winslow voted $250 for
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the purpose of schooling, this being the first instance in the town records of the use of the term dollars. The votes previous had named the amount of municipal appropriations in pounds. At the same March meeting, an article "to make such alterations in school districts as may be thought expedient" was "passed over," this also being the first use in the records of the term "school district."
In 1798 family names long familiar in the history of both towns appear in the list of school agents elected at the annual town meeting. On the east side they were Col. Hayden, Eph- raim Town and Moses Wyman; on the west side, Nathaniel Low, Asa Redington, Daniel Carter, Jonathan Combs, David Pattee, Hugh Osborne and Thomas Bates. In 1800, Winslow voted $400 for schools and $1,500 for roads ; how much of these sums was expended for that part of the town lying west of the Kennebec the records do not show.
After Waterville's incorporation as a town, June 23, 1802, little time was lost in setting its school machinery in motion. At the first town meeting, July 26 of that year, the following school agents were elected: Elisha Hallet, Thomas Parker, Nehemiah A. Parker, Nelson Colcord, Asa Soule, Micah Ellis, Isaac Cor- son, John Streeter, Thomas Cook and Samuel Moors. On August 9 the town voted to raise $300 for purposes of schooling.
At the March meeting of 1803, the sum of $400 was voted for schooling and only $50 for preaching. At an adjourned meeting held May 2, it was voted to accept a report presented by the select- men for dividing the town into school districts, which were referred to in the report as Ticonic, Rose's, Ten-lot, Almond Soule's, Tozer's, Low's, Moors's, Asa Soule's, Osborne's, and Crowell's. The selectmen's report also provided for the choice of the several school agents at the annual town meeting, each district to have the liberty of "providing, agreeing with and pay- ing their teachers," subject to the restrictions of the law in such cases made and provided. Discretionary power was granted the selectmen to aid small districts, and Rose's district was advised to join with neighboring families in Fairfield in support of a union school.
At the March meeting of 1805, three agents were elected for Ticonic district, which embraced the village portion of the town.
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They were Nehemiah A. Parker, Asa Redington, Jr., and James Stackpole, Jr. In 1806 the school appropriation was increased to $600, and at a meeting in May a committee consisting of Moses Appleton, Reuben Kidder, Timothy Boutelle, James Stackpole, Jr., and Thomas C. Norris was elected "to inspect schools throughout the town the year ensuing." This committee was of quality suited to the important work assigned it, for two of its members, Dr. Moses Appleton and the Hon. Timothy Boutelle, were graduates of Harvard besides being, like their associates on the committee, men of affairs with ability sufficient to make them leaders of thought and action in any community.
That the boys of those days were not unlike the boys of to-day may be guessed from a vote of the town in April, 1808, by which ball playing and snow-balling within fifteen rods of the meeting- house and schoolhouse were prohibited on penalty of a fine of not more than $4 and not less than fifty cents. Many of the lads at whom that vote was leveled grew to be dignified and dis- tinguished citizens, just as will their grandchildren whom we see playing upon our streets to-day.
The various school districts soon came to be known officially by number although the original family names of them still sur- vive in the local parlance of several communities.
For district No. I, in 1808, there were reported as parents of children of school age -- five to twenty-one-the following per- sons : William Spaulding, Jere. Curtis, Benj. Woodman, Daniel Curtes, Christopher Jakins, George Jakins, James L. Wood, Jona. Clark, Frederick Jakins, Isaac Temple, Edward Piper, Nicholas Coffin, David Nours, Jediah Morrill, Jere. Fairfield, Enoch Plummer, Nathaniel Gilman, Jona. Haywood, Isaac Stevens, James Stackpole, Jr., William Phillips, Hannah Cool, Reuben Kidder, Moses Appleton, Mrs. Lakin, George Dunbar, Moses Dalton, Charles Dingley, Daniel Moore, John Stackpole, Asa Redington, David Getchell, Nehemiah Getchell, Jr., Mrs. Parker, Wm. Haywood, Moses Healey, Wm. Miller, Mrs. Leeman, Elna- than Sherwin, Turner Fish, Thomas C. Norriss, John Wright, Russell Blackwell, Winthrop Watson, Jere. Kidder, Edward Estey, Samuel King, Sally Taylor, Samuel Gilman, Samuel Clark, Christopher Rice, James Crummet, Daniel Loring. Joseph
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Allen, Ebenezer Bacon, Johnson Williams, James Curtis, Richard Clifford.
In the days when the presence of children in the family was more general than now, this list, returned by the hand of James Stackpole, Jr., undoubtedly comprised the greater part of the inhabitants of the village of Waterville as it then existed. The number of pupils for this district was returned as 145. They came from Main, Silver, Mill, College, Water and lower Front streets, as these rough roads were called, leading through an area still largely covered with woods, and used mostly for pasturage. The schoolhouses in which the children worked, and probably sometimes played, were the little old yellow one close by the town hall, and the brick one on College street on what for many years was known as the Milliken lot.
In the year 1812, Moses Appleton and Daniel Cook were chosen "visiting inspectors" to visit each town school at least once during the winter months or as much oftener as they might think convenient ; and in the summer season if they thought proper ; and to prescribe "the most proper mode of instruction to each schoolmaster." The language of the vote would leave us to infer either that there were no female teachers employed at that time, or that they stood less in need of professional advice than did their brethren in the service. At all events the action of the town was significant as a recognition of the importance to public schools of official inspection.
The superintending school committee of 1821 was a distin- guished group composed of Timothy Boutelle, Jeremiah Chaplin, Moses Appleton, Abijah Smith and Asa Redington, Jr. A few years later the committee appears to have been reduced in num- ber to three members, two of whom were Stephen Chapin and Sylvanus Cobb. At the meeting at which they were elected, the town voted to pay them "a reasonable sum for their services." Dr. Appleton was again elected to be a member of the commit- tee in 1826 and at the next March meeting he was voted $6 for his services. The functions of the committee were largely extended by a vote of this meeting when, upon motion of Timo- thy Boutelle, it was decreed as follows :
"That in future it shall be the duty of the superintending school committee to make a written report to the town, at the
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annual meeting in March, describing the state and condition of the several schools in the town, which report shall embrace the following particulars, viz. the name of each school agent, the amount of money apportioned to each school district, the number of scholars as returned to the selectmen, the amount of money expended in each district for instruction-designation how much for masters and how much for mistresses and how much for wood, and the names and wages of the instructors, and how long each one has been employed, the number of scholars present at each examination, the greatest as well as the average num- ber of scholars that have attended each school, the kind of books of every kind used in each school, the number of scholars in each school that have attended to the study of English grammar, arith- metic and geography and each of them, together with such remarks and observations as the committee may be pleased to make on the discipline, progress and appearance of each, whether creditable to the scholars and instructors, or otherwise, whether the money appears to have been faithfully and judiciously expended by the several agents or not, whether the scholars are sufficiently provided with suitable books-with such other facts as the committee may deem interesting and worthy to be com- municated to the town, which report shall be lodged with the town clerk, and preserved in his office." It may be remarked in passing that the early reports made as a result of this action of the town may have been lodged with the town clerk but it is very certain that they were not preserved in his office, or anywhere else.
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