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 35
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The first number was issued December II, 1828, and was the same size as the Intelligencer, except that the columns were a little wider. This paper, "a political, literary and miscellaneous journal of the times" was started by Mr. Hastings partly as an experiment and partly to keep the office employed during the closing up of the old business. The Watchman had but a small list of subscribers and lived only fifty-six weeks, the last number being issued Wednesday, December 30, 1829. Mr. Hastings then removed his office to Augusta, where he ran a job office for several years.
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
THE TIMES.
A Whig paper, called The Times, was the next one in the field, the first number appearing in June, 1831. It was published by Mr. John Burleigh, James Stackpole, Jr., being the political editor. The paper lived about two years and three months.
THE WATERVILLE JOURNAL.
The next paper to appear was The Waterville Journal, also published by Mr. Burleigh. This was a non-sectarian, religious paper of eight pages. Its publication was commenced in Decem- ber, 1833, at the instance of the officers and friends of Waterville College, and with promise of assistance in the editorial depart- ment from some of the older students, and also in securing sub- scribers, but these promises not being fully met, the paper was discontinued at the end of the first volume. This was the first paper in Waterville on which composition rollers were used, the others having been printed with the old-fashioned ink balls.
A manual labor department having been established at the college, the old Ramage press of Mr. Burleigh, with his other printing material, was purchased and set up in one of the work- shops on the ground. Some friend of the institution in Massa- chusetts contributed an iron hand-press, and perhaps some type. Job printing in a small way was done for a while in this office by Mr. Edgar H. Gray, a graduate of the class of '38, who had entered college a practical printer. An old catalogue of the col- lege library bears his imprint. This office, with the exception of the old Ramage press, was soon sold to Geo. V. Edes, and taken to Dover.
THE NORTH AMERICAN GALAXY.
Saturday, March 15, 1834, appeared the first number of "The North American Galaxy, or Watervillonian Revived." F. B. Wells and W. Mathews, editors ; Daniel R. Wing, printer. This was a four-page semi-monthly journal, devoted to "tales, essays, music, biography, poetry, anecdotes, etc." and lasted for four issues. As its title indicated, it succeeded a little sheet called The Watervillonian, spoken of in another paragraph.
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THE WATERVILLONIAN.
After a lapse of about eight years, The Watervillonian, a quarto of eight pages, followed The Journal, the first number appearing May 29, 1841. This was a literary and family journal, published by William Mathews, (now of Boston, and distin- guished in the field of literature) and Daniel R. Wing, and was published one year. In a letter to the writer Prof. William Mathews gives the following brief history of the The Water- villonian :
"It began with four hundred subscribers ; a list which, by fill- ing its columns to a large extent with elegant extracts from old and modern English writers, from Chaucer to Carlyle, the editor succeeded in cutting down in twelve months to two hundred and fifty. With the exception of the commendation of the students in the college and a few men of literary tastes, the first assurance the publishers received that the paper was giving satisfaction to its readers was a general outburst of praise when, from a sheer lack of pure literature, a full account of Colt's murder in New York was published in its columns. To the great surprise of the publishers they found at the year's end that, as a reward for their labors, there was the sum of $600 to be divided between them."
The Watervillonian was published in the third story of Boutelle block, Main street, and took its name from a boyish venture of Messrs. Mathews and Wing in 1832, when they pub- lished for eight issues a little four-page sheet under the same title.
THE YANKEE BLADE.
In June, 1842, The Watervillonian, which had been printed on an old Ramage press bought of Waterville College for twelve dollars, was succeeded by a handsome folio, The Yankee Blade, printed from new type on a fine Tufts press. William Mathews was editor and proprietor, and Mr. Wing became foreman of the printing department. Edward Mathews, (afterward murdered by Dr. Coolidge) was soon taken into partnership by his brother and the paper published one year in Waterville by W. and E. Mathews at the southwest corner of Main and Silver streets, in a large two-story building, which had been built for a dwelling
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FIREMAN'S MUSTER, 1855.
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house by Col. Jabez Mathews. In the same building a book store was kept by Mr. Mathews, also a law office. In August, 1843, the interest of the junior partner was purchased by Moses Stevens of Hallowell, and the establishment moved to Gardiner. Four years later the paper went to Boston, and was merged with "The Portfolio."
After the removal of The Blade, Waterville was without a printing office until the fall of 1844, when John S. Carter, a Ban- gor publisher, came in and occupied the field with a job office until the excitement preliminary to the building of the Andros- coggin and Kennebec Railroad seemed to demand a paper once more.
THE WATERVILLE UNION.
In April, 1847, Charles F. Hathaway began the publication of The Waterville Union, now the Waterville Mail. This was a well-printed sheet, neutral in politics, but owing mainly to the stringent rules adopted and enforced regarding the payment of subscriptions and for advertisements, was not well sustained by the public, and Mr. Hathaway gave up the enterprise after a trial of fourteen weeks.
THE WATERVILLE MAIL.
Ephraim Maxham, who had had journalistic experience in Massachusetts and Vermont, then purchased The Union plant, changed the name of the paper and July 19, 1847, issued from the third story of Boutelle block the first number of The Eastern Mail, the title of which was changed September 4, 1863, to the more distinctive local name that it bears to-day, The Waterville Mail.
Mr. Maxham was not only a ready writer, who kept his paper a clean local journal, but a practical printer and The Eastern Mail began a vigorous growth.
The original inventory of the office as made out by Mr. Hath- away, is in possession of the present proprietors of The Mail, and shows that the plant cost $571.47, and was sold to Mr. Maxham for $475.00. New material to the amount of $89.50 was added during the next two years, at the end of which time, Daniel R. Wing, who had been employed on the paper and who had been connected in some capacity with every paper published
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in Waterville, except The Union, purchased a half interest, and the firm of Maxham & Wing, from that date, played an import- ant part in the history and development of Waterville.
Mr. Wing had a warm love for Waterville, and one of the secrets of the success of his paper was his interest in its citizens and the graduates of college and academy, and the vigilance with which he watched and informed his readers of every one's change of residence, and of every indication of his success and pros- perity. He was an antiquarian, and his local sketches made a valuable feature of the paper.
The paper took no party position until the presidential contest of 1856, when it advocated the election of Gen. Fremont. It was "independent in politics" for many years, but later endorsed the principles of the Republican party which political faith it retains at the present time.
The Waterville Mail, under Maxham & Wing, was an earnest advocate of everything that promised to be of aid to the town, whether materially or morally. Mr. Maxham was a man of strong individuality, and independence of character, eager to help every good cause. He was one of the old-fashioned printers and used to stand at the case and put in type his articles without tak- ing the trouble to write them. The historical articles which Mr. Wing compiled in the later years of his life, have proved very valuable to those looking up the history of Waterville. These were two of the most useful citizens the town ever had.
Messrs. Maxham & Wing ran the paper until the death of Mr. Wing, December 2, 1885. Mr. Maxham continued the business, although feeble from illness, until January 1, 1886, when the plant was purchased by Charles G. Wing and Daniel F. Wing, who took the firm name of Wing & Wing.
The plant was at once enlarged and brought up to date by the purchase of new type and material and a fine cylinder press, the first one to be set up in Waterville. The paper was enlarged and improved typographically, and in its news features, and became one of the best local weeklies in the State.
The junior partner, Daniel F. Wing, died March 21, 1891, and Charles G. Wing published the paper until April 17 of the same year, when it was purchased by Henry C. Prince of Buckfield,
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and Elwood T. Wyman of Sidney, who did business under the firm name of Prince & Wyman, until the incorporation of The Mail Publishing Company, February 26, 1896. Charles B. Davis acquired an interest in the business at this time, but severed his connection two years later to accept the position of city marshal.
Early in the year 1896, the form of The Mail was changed from a nine-column folio to a six-column quarto, and the day of publication made Wednesday instead of Friday.
THE WATERVILLE SENTINEL.
In 1880 The Mail had its first competitor in The Waterville Sentinel, the first number of which appeared from the third story of the building of which Wardwell Brothers now occupy the ground floor, Wednesday, December I. This was a seven column folio published by M. A. Leger and E. O. Robinson. In their "Greeting" the publishers said, "We do not propose to crowd others out by crowding ourselves in, but to find a place or make one." That these gentlemen had complete faith in the growth and prosperity of Waterville, is shown by this extract from their first editorial: "Without claiming any prophetic power we see in the near future our beautiful village, with its magnificent water power, energetic business men, its unrivalled educational institutions and other elements of success, outgrow its present limits and develop into city proportions and dignities. We desire to share its growth and aid as far as possible." In February, 1881, the publication day was changed to Friday.
Mr. Leger did not stay with the paper long and March 18, 1881, R. O. Robbins became the editor, and in September of that year, a member of the firm, The Waterville Printing Company. On December 30, 1881, the paper was enlarged to eight columns, and February 16, 1883, the form was changed to a five column eight-page paper.
In October of 1883, Mr. Robbins gave up the business and December 5, 1883, Vol. IV, No. I, the paper came out with J. D. Maxfield, editor and proprietor, from room 20, Dunn block. Mr. Maxfield in the following month changed back to the eight- column folio.
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In May, 1884, the plant was purchased by Moore & Moore, who changed the day of publication to Saturday and published their first number Saturday, May 31. O. M. Moore was editor and L. A. Moore business manager. October 16 of the same year, the day was changed to Thursday.
June 17, 1885, L. A. Moore withdrew and the business was continued by his brother until October of the same year, when Arthur W. Hall of Rockland bought a half interest in the busi- ness, the firm being Moore & Hall. Mr. Hall was a first-class job printer and during his connection with the paper made a specialty of that branch of the business.
Moore & Hall dissolved April 12, 1886, Moore's interest going to Hon. O. G. Hall, whose son already had a half-interest. Herbert M. Lord, Colby, '84, became the editor until December of the same year when he purchased an interest in the Rockland Courier-Gazette. O. G. Hall then took the editorial chair where he remained until May, 1890.
In October, 1895, the plant then located in the second story of Gilman block was sold to Samuel Appleton Burleigh, Colby, '94, of Vassalboro. Mr. Burleigh improved the equipment of the office somewhat and with the issue of February 13, 1896, changed the paper to a six-column quarto form which it retains. In December of the same year, Mr. Burleigh changed the paper to a semi-weekly, Tuesdays and Fridays, but soon found that it did not pay and April 16, 1897, the paper was published again as a weekly with Friday as the day of publication. November 12, 1897, a department in French was made a feature of the paper. This was edited and compiled by Dr. A. O. Boulay, but in December of that year was given up.
February 23, 1898, W. M. Ladd of Fairfield bought the plant and November II of the same year, the business was incorporated under the name of W. M. Ladd Company. November 24. the plant was moved to the Haines building on Common street. In December, 1898, the firm began the publication of three country weeklies: The Clinton Herald, The Vassalboro Times, The China Tribune. January 4, 1899, a linotype machine was installed, followed by a second one in December, 1901. A web perfecting press was added to the plant in October, 1899. In
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December, the company were re-organized and the capital stock increased to $100,000. W. M. Ladd, H. C. Ladd and A. J. Ladd hold the stock.
THE KENNEBEC DEMOCRAT.
Waterville's third local paper appeared Wednesday, February 2, 1887, in the shape of a nine-column folio sheet styled The Kennebec Democrat. "Ben" Bunker, as he was familiarly called, was an unique character, and published a paper as unique as himself as the following extracts from his "salutatory" will indi- cate. "Custom has decreed that when a man has become a financial wreck and desires to rid himself of friends, increase the number of his enemies, and advertise his faults to a cold, unfeeling public, by publishing a newspaper, he shall give to his readers his views, politically and otherwise, make the usual promise to behave as well as his depraved nature will allow, give four dollars' worth of reading matter for half the money, confess his hopes and fears, expecting to be greeted with jour- nalistic yelps in the shape of back-handed compliments from his esteemed contemporaries, and be criticized by his very near and dear friends who were not consulted." As a profession of faith the editor stated that "The Kennebec Democrat will be Demo- cratic seven days in the week, hot or cold, sunshine or darkness."
Mr. Bunker then went on to state his belief in the prosperity of Waterville and to prophesy that the handsome village would soon be numbered among the cities of the State. One of the fea- tures of The Democrat were the frequent venomous attacks on various citizens who disagreed with the editor politically, and the use of cuts, whittled out with a jack-knife by Mr. Bunker himself, to caricature his victims. Mr. Bunker ran the paper until his death, March 8, 1894, after which it was run for three months by F. Wilbur Brown, who had been connected with the office for several years, when it was sold to Augusta parties and moved to that city and the name changed to The Maine Democrat.
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
THE EASTERN FARMER.
In September, 1887, The Home Farm establishment was moved from Augusta and the name of the paper changed to The Eastern Farmer, Wing, Burleigh & Co., proprietors, S. L. Board- man, editor. The Farmer was an eight page, six column, agri- cultural paper published monthly at The Mail office. The firm was composed of Hon. Hall C. Burleigh, Charles G. Wing, and Daniel F. Wing. The paper lost money steadily, and April 19, 1888, the list was sold to The Lewiston Journal, only thirty num- bers having been issued.
THE SAWYER PUBLISHING COMPANY.
In May, 1892, George Fred Terry started a publishing busi- ness that in a very few years grew to immense proportions and has very materially increased the business prosperity of Water- ville. The business began with the publication of the Fireside Gem, a monthly paper belonging to the class of what is known as Mail Order papers. Mr. Terry purchased the paper in Port- land and the equipment on the start, according to Mr. Terry was "one room in Masonic block, two tables, and a right to pub- lish "The Fireside Gem.'" The mechanical work was done by outside parties.
In November, 1892, the business was incorporated under the name of The Sawyer Publishing Company and a little later was moved into the upper floor of Hayden block on Temple street and some printing material and atwo-revolution flat-bed press put in. The business grew steadily and in the winter of 1894-1895 the company purchased the subscription list of a paper published in Boston and known as "The American Nation." Shortly after the plant was moved into the lower floor of the Milliken building so-called, on the east side of Main street, next to the Maine Cen- tral railroad crossing. In 1896 the small press was taken out and the first web-perfecting press installed. The following year, IS96, a third paper, "The Home Treasury," was purchased and the whole of the building occupied. This same year the land and buildings on Chaplin street between the Maine Central railroad and Ticonic street were purchased, and the business was moved
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there in the summer of 1898. Two years later the building now occupied was built. The building is 45x90 feet, two stories and a basement, practically amounting to a three-story building, and the whole of it is used for the business, as well as a part of the old building. In the winter of 1900-1901, the present fast per- fecting press was installed. This press has a capacity of 20,000 thirty-two page papers an hour.
The growth of the business in the ten years it has been estab- lished, has been almost marvelous. At present more than 100 people are given regular employment and the pay roll exceeds $50,000 a year. The circulation has grown from 25,000 copies per month to more than 1,600,000 copies per month, a special mail car being dispatched every working day.
THE TURF, FARM AND HOME.
The Turf, Farm and Home was removed to this city from Auburn, where it was established as an organ of the horse breeders of Maine. The first issue to appear in this city was published June 1, 1894, the office being established in the first floor of the Dunn block. Soon after coming here the paper widened its scope and added a department devoted to dairying, employing Otis Meader of Albion as dairy editor, and soon after added a poultry department with Geo. P. Coffin of Freeport, a well-known poultry fancier, as editor of that department. Later a household department was added and all these departments are being energetically maintained so that today the paper is an all round agricultural journal occupying a very important part in the discussion of the leading agricultural topics of the day and its scope of usefulness is constantly being widened. The paper is owned and published by the Turf Publishing Company, Mr. A. R. Cobb of Portland being president and Mr. E. P. Mayo, editor and business manager.
WATERVILLE EVENING MAIL.
In the winter of 1895-96, the proprietors of The Waterville Mail came to the conclusion that the time was ripe for a daily paper in Waterville, and on January 29, 1896, the first number of the Waterville Evening Mail appeared, and it has been. pub-
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lished regularly since. The Evening Mail is a four-page, seven- column sheet and, while giving briefly the news of the worid, makes no pretension to be anything but a local paper for Water- ville and near-by towns.
The proprietors have steadily added to the equipment of the office, this including large quantities of new type and material, an electric motor, a folder, and in 1901, a type-setting machine, with a complete new dress of type. The circulation of the paper has taken no remarkable jumps, but has increased a little every year, and with the excellent advertising patronage, both local and foreign, has put the paper on a solid foundation of prosperity that promises to continue.
THE CLIFTON MONTHLY.
This mail order paper was started in July, 1899, by Leo C. Fuller, who sold it in March, 1901, to the Waterville Publishing Company. Mr. Fuller bought back the paper in January, 1902, and now claims a paid-up subscription list of 10,000 to 12,000 names. The size of the paper varies from sixteen to twenty-four pages, according to the season of the year, the larger size being used during the winter months. Mr. Fuller has no printing plant, the mechanical work being done by outside parties.
THE CHRISTIAN CIVIC LEAGUE RECORD.
The first issue of The Christian Civic League Record was published September, 1900. The Record is a monthly paper and is the organ of the Christian Civic League. Its purpose is according to its constitution, "by all the means at our command and by co-operation with other existing agencies, Ist, to educate the people in all that pertains to good citizenship ; 2nd, to arouse and maintain throughout the State a reverence for law; 3d, to secure the enactment of the best possible laws; their impartial execution, and the choice of competent officials to that end." The paper is non-partisan, non-denominational.
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THE ICONOCLAST.
The Iconoclast was the name of a semi-monthly paper of four pages with seven columns to the page, which was started Novem- ber 15, 1900, by Mr. J. H. McCone of this city. The Iconoclast was independent in politics and was one of the first papers to suggest re-submission of the prohibitory constitutional ammend- ment. The paper was given over to the support of license; attacked the methods of the Christian Civic League in the enforce- ment of the prohibitory law ; indulged in editorial comment that was forceful if not elegant and died as its editor expected it would, in its infancy. The circulation of the Iconoclast was chiefly among the enemies of the prohibitory law and politicians and reached 1,000. Mr. McCone started the paper for personal reasons without suggestion from any person and having no financial backing the life of the paper was limited by the amount of cash the proprietor could secure between issues. The Icono- clast closed its career with the seventh number.
COLLEGE AND SCHOOL PAPERS.
The Colby Echo, formerly published monthly, but for the past four years, weekly, is published by the students of Colby college during the school year.
The Coburn Clarion is published twice each term by the stu- dents of Coburn Classical Institute.
The Nautilus is published by the students of the Waterville High school.
The Colby Oracle ought not to be omitted from a list of Waterville publications. It has now made thirty-six annual appearances, and a file of its numbers contains a pretty com- plete record of events of interest in the college years, and that is what a newspaper prints. The Oracle had predecessors in its field, among them the Watervillian, of which a few numbers were printed.
CHAPTER XX.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS.
The Waterville Young Men's Christian Association - The Stevens Hospital-The Woman's Christian Temperance Union - The Kiest Business College-Hall's Military Band-The Cecilia Club-Garfield Camp No. I, Sons of Veterans-Co. H, Second Regiment National Guard, State of Maine- The Waterville Bicycle Club-The Water- ville Gun Club.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The Y. M. C. A. of Waterville was organized May 22, 1867, with Joshua Nye as president ; E. R. Drummond, C. F. Gardner and J. L. Towne, vice-presidents : Z. E. Taylor, corresponding secretary ; G. B. Broad, recording secretary ; William Bodge, treasurer ; A. M. Dunbar, librarian.
About $800 was immediately raised, and rooms in the Boutelle Block were leased, which were dedicated June 19, 1867. The association maintained religious meetings on Sunday and kept open a reading room during the week. At one time an evange- list was employed, and the meetings under his charge proved suc- cessful. After several years the work declined and the associa- tion closed its doors in 1875, having on hand a small balance in money which it finally turned over to its successor.
In 1886 another association was formed, with Cyrus W. Davis as president. Rooms were opened in Boutelle Block as before. A well-stocked reading room was provided, and the religious meetings held were helpful and successful. In 1888 Mr. E. A. Pierce, who had had thorough preparation for his work, was em- ployed as secretary in charge. He remained two years, during which good work was done. A gymnasium was opened which
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proved popular, though it lacked some desirable features. Mr. Pierce resigned in 1889 to accept a more important position, and Mr. Edmund W. Foster, who has served the association in many ways and with great loyalty, became acting secretary. In 1890 Mr. L. N. Tower became secretary. His successors have been G. A. Mathews, A. T. Craig, E. F. Hitchings, F. E. Libby and Rev. Gideon Mayo.
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