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 36
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Mr. Davis was succeeded by Mr. Frank B. Philbrick, who for many years has been president, sparing neither time, labor or money for the good of the association. In addition to the relig- ious work of the association, classes have been maintained, those in mechanical drawing under President Philbrick proving espec- ially valuable, enabling some who have attended them to secure good positions.
Since 1900 no general secretary has been employed, the reading room, which is now in Plaisted Block, being in charge of Mr. Edmund W. Foster. For many years efficient and valuable work was done by Mr. Henry L. Tappan as treasurer. The Ladies' Auxiliary has proved loyal and has aided the association in many ways. Even when little work was carried on by the association the auxiliary has persistently labored to furnish money for and to keep up interest in this important work.
THE STEVENS HOSPITAL.
April 16, 1901, Mrs. Anna W. Stevens, wife of Charles Stevens, who for some time had cared for patients at her home, leased the King residence, which afterward had been fitted for a hospital, on Boutelle avenue. She opened it as a home hospital, where patients could have private rooms and home attentions. Having the endorsement of the physicians of the city and the enthusiastic praise of her patients, Mrs. Stevens has made the hospital successful. Nearly one hundred patients have been cared for with the best results. The institution fills an important place in the city. So many people come here to work in the manufacturies, on the railroad, or to attend school, whose homes are far away, there is great need of just such an institution as the Stevens Home Hospital.
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
In the year 1878 the women of Waterville were invited by Mrs. Sarah Girard Crosby to meet in the Congregational vestry to consider the formation of a Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mrs. Crosby's enthusiasm proved contagious and a union was formed, of which Mrs. James H. Hanson became pres- ident and Mrs. S. G. Crosby secretary. Mrs. R. B. Dunn and others interested themselves in the work, which was carried on vigorously for about eight years. Then followed a period of eight years in which the society seemed dormant, though its members did not a little independent work. A third period of eight years began when Mrs. Crosby again called the women together in 1894 for the reorganization of the society. Mrs. Crosby was elected president and has held the office till the pres- ent time. She certainly was well qualified for the work. Of the Girard family of Pennsylvania, her grandfather was a brother of Stephen Girard, who founded Girard College. Mrs. Crosby for fifteen years had been stenographer to the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, being the second woman in America to be appointed to such a position. She had done much reporting for Justices Appleton, Dickerson and Barrows, and reported the last term ever held by each of these celebrated men. For five years she had been stenographer to the Maine Board of Agricul- ture. Among the other workers was Mrs. E. E. Cain, who, as State organizer for Juvenile temples, had accomplished much for temperance.
The union never has had a large membership, but has exerted its influence both independently and in the support of other temperance movements. It entertains the State Convention of the W. C. T. U. in September, 1902. Its present membership is forty-five. Its officers are, Mrs. S. G. Crosby, president ; re- cording secretary, Mrs. Marian H. Leslie, corresponding secre- tary, Mrs. Abbie J. Tubbs ; treasurer, Mrs. L. F. Boothby.
THE KIEST BUSINESS COLLEGE.
This institution is one of the latest additions to the educational equipment of the city, yet already many young men seeking pre- paration for business pursuits have availed themselves of its
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resources. Its predecessors have been the Bliss Business College and the Waterville Business College. November 22, 1899, it was bought by Mr. Keist and the name changed to Kiest Business College. In 1902 it removed to fine quar- ters in the new Flood Block, which it now occupies. It offers different courses in stenography, commercial law and practice, and all matters involved in actual business. Since November, 1899, it has enrolled 243 students.
HALL'S MILITARY BAND.
Very early in the history of Waterville the formalities of Commencement Day and the military exigencies of "muster" and "training" days made a brass band a necessity. That necessity was met as early as 1822, and bands have existed here from that time on. In 1890 Mr. R. B. Hall, who already had taken rank as one of the best cornetists in the State, and was favorably known as a composer of music, came to Waterville. He organized the Waterville Military Band and Hall's Orchestra. These organ- izations were carefully trained and their work was very accepta- ble and popular.
December 30, 1899, Mr. Cyrus W. Davis, who had shown his interest in the band in many ways, with other citizens who appreciated the value of the band to the city, formed a corpora- tion for "the establishing and maintaining in the city of Water- ville a band and orchestra." The incorporators were: Frank Redington, Dr. J. F. Hill, Cyrus W. Davis, C. F. Johnson, Geo. K. Boutelle, H. E. Judkins, R. B. Hall, F. C. Thayer, G. F. Terry, W. T. Haines and C. B. Stetson. The officers of the corporation were: President, Dr. J. F. Hill; vice-president, Frank Reding- ton ; clerk, Cyrus W. Davis, ; treasurer, Geo. K. Boutelle; man- ager, R. B. Hall. The corporation pays the salary of Prof. Hall and for the services of the members of the band and receives the earnings. It exists, however, not for the purpose of making money, but for the support of a band that will be a credit to the city, as Hall's Military Band and orchestra certainly are. For several years the city has employed the band to give open air con- certs in Monument Park during the summer. The music ren- dered at the school and college commencements is of a high order,
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and that rendered at the Centennial was much appreciated and enjoyed. Prof. Hall's reputation as conductor and composer has constantly widened, and the band has come to be an institution which the city could not well do without.
THE, CECILIAA CLUB.
The Cecilia Club would record not as matter of boasting, but as plain statement of historical fact that it was not organized to join the Maine Festival Chorus, but was already in existence when the festival movement was inaugurated. It owes its existence to the persistent labors of Mrs. George F. Davies and Mrs. Frank B. Hubbard, who secured nineteen persons who were organized as the Cecilia Club, October 15, 1896. The officers elected were : W. C. Philbrook, president ; Elwood T. Wyman, vice-president ; Mrs. George F. Davies, secretary and treasurer. The directors were: Mrs. Frank B. Hubbard, Miss Ella Downer, Miss Susie Fogarty, Mrs. J. H. Knox and Mrs. George A. Kenniston.
The club was small and heroic labors devolved upon its officers, yet such was their success that after joining the Maine Festival Chorus in January, 1897, and careful training under Prof. George Pratt Maxim, with a full chorus of eighty voices it sang in the Bangor Festival in October, 1897. During the same year two successful concerts were given. Prof. Carlton B. Stetson became president of the club in 1898, continuing in efficient leadership until his resignation in 1902. Miss Nellie Webber (now Mrs. Dr. M. L. Eastman) was the first pianist. After her removal from the city, Mrs. Franklin W. Johnson was elected, and has already given three years of work characterized by sympathetic insight as well as accurate and brilliant per- formance. Prof. Maxim conducted the club for three seasons with great fidelity and success. His successor was Prof. Llew- ellyn B. Cain of this city, whose work and ability were such as to secure more flattering offers from Portland and other cities which led to his withdrawal. The present conductor is Dr. Latham True of Portland. The club has participated in each of the Maine Musical Festivals, and has given concerts in the city which have been greatly enjoyed. It has rendered aid on several patriotic occasions and its singing was one of the features of the
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
Centennial celebration. It has been fortunate in its officers and directors. Mrs. Davies who has given so much of thought and labor to its interests served as secretary until 1901 when ill health caused her to resign. A great deal of strength has been contri- buted to the club by its Fairfield members. The present mem- bership of the club is about eighty.
Its officers are : president, vacant : vice-president. Franklin W. Johnson ; secretary, Mr. Joseph T. Murray of Fairfield ; treas- urer, Miss Blanche Smith: conductor, Dr. Latham True pianist, Mrs. Franklin W. Johnson. Directors : Mrs. Frank B. Hubbard, Miss Ella Downer, Mrs. George F. Davis, Miss Eliza- beth Connor of Fairfield and Mrs. Edbert Kelley of Fairfield. The Cecilia club holds high place in the esteem of the people though perhaps it never will attain the popularity possessed by "The singing school kept at Col. Hayden's" in 1795.
GARFIELD CAMP, NO. I, SONS OF VETERANS.
This camp has the distinction of being the first camp of the order organized in New England. It was organized by General Isaac S. Bangs who was the organizer of the New England grand division of the order. Its charter was granted Mar. 20, 1888. Its object was similar to those of the Grand Army and though it cannot look back to comradeship in daysof battle, yet by holding up the same ideals of patriotism, and keeping fresh the memory of those who gave the service of their lives to the Union, it will hold an important place among the patriotic forces of the future.
The first captain of Garfield camp was Dennis M. Bangs, son of General Bangs. His successors have been, Lewis Pollard, Ellery Vose, J. D. Reynolds, E. B. Dunbar, Robert Reny, Joseph C. Colby, who has served several terms, James Coombs, Irving Barnes, Charles Frazier, Geo. B. Jackson and Frank W. Gowan. The present officers are: capt. Frank W. Gowan; Ist lieut., vacant ; 2nd lieut., Belmont Jordan ; chaplain, T. E. Vose ; q. m. sergt., W. J. Leathers ; Ist. sergt., Charles W. Frost ; camp coun- cil, Herbert L. Simpson, Willard Tucker, T. E. Vose. The camp enrolls 51 men. A Ladies Aid society of Garfield camp No. I, society No. 10, was chartered June 10, 1892.
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
COMPANY H, 2ND REGIMENT, NATIONAL GUARD, STATE OF MAINE.
Company H was organized Nov. 10, 1880. Capt. A. T. Shurt- leff was a charter member and has remained with the company through its entire history. Many of the men connected with it have become prominent in the civil life and work of the commu- nity. May 2nd, 1898, Co. H answered the first call for troops and went with a full company to Augusta. As the second regi- ment was not sent out Co. H as a company returned home but so many of its members enlisted in the first regiment and in the first Maine artillery that the company was almost disorganized. It has the honor of having sent more men into the Spanish and Philippine wars than did any other company in the State of Maine. Several of the men who enlisted did not reside in Water- ville but they belonged to the Waterville organization. The roll of the men who served in the Spanish war as given by Lieutenant William I. Sterling is as follows :
In the First Maine Infantry-Laus Berg, Fred F. Burgess, George F. Doe, Forrest I. Gilman, Walter Hand, George W. Herrin, Irving R. Hughes, Joseph F. King, Axel Lidstrom, Edward R. Penney, Allen L. Penney, Trefflie Pomerleau, William I. Pooler, Ogra Pooler, Wirt I. Priest, Archie Simpson, Harold A. Sinclair, Elroy W. Thompson, John C. Tripp, Arthur F. Sheaff, John A. Sjogren, Henry L. Winslow.
In the First Maine Artillery-Joseph 'T. Allen, Harley E. Avery, Benj. F. Auchu, Leon A. Bachelder, Alec Barnabee, Ernest A. Barnes, Richard J. Barry, Jr., Nelson Bennet, Joseph Butler, Henry E. Buzzell, Charles L. Cabana, Frank Charity, Mathias Champagne, Augustus Coomb, James J. Conway, Frank B. Crosby, Ralph W. Davis, James W. Dutton, Frank B. Farmer, Harry Fenson, William Ferguson, Ralph H. Foster, Joseph Franconer, Richard E. Furlong, Jr., LaForest E. Graves, Arthur Greenwood, Joseph A. Gurney, Fred E. Hall, Samuel J. Jakins, Charles W. Keniston, Harry P. Lancaster, Frank C. Latlip, Edward Lessor, Llewellyn M. Libby, Howard M. McFarland, William J. Mclellan, Edmund W. Merrill, Albert F. Merrow, Thomas F. Moore, Frank F. Perry, David B. Pooler, Fred E. Pooler, Harry Pooler, Hadley D. Rhodes, Albert G. Ryan, Ardacton Smith, Onesime Soucier, William I. Sterling, Herbert
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A. Taylor, Daniel H. Thing, Albert J. Thomas, Joseph Vigue, Joseph D. Volier, Sargie L. Warren, Edward Willette.
After the Spanish war about fifteen men of Co. H followed the flag in the Philippines.
On the return of the men who had been furloughed to join the battery, the company was reunited and recruited to its full strength in 1899. Its drill has been in Thayer's hall but since the completion of the City hall the base- ment of the old City hall has been fitted up for an armory and drill will be in the main hall. The company was never in better condition than at present (1902). Capt. A. T. Shurtleff is now the senior captain in the National Guard, State of Maine. The other officers are: Ist lieut. Joseph H. White- house ; 2nd lieut. William I. Sterling; Ist sergeant, Charles W. Keniston ; quarter master sergeant, Harry L. Hughes ; 2nd ser- geant, Horace E. Moore ; 3rd sergeant, John P. Sibley ; 4th ser- geant, Percy W. Hawes ; 5th sergeant, William O. Stinson; Ist corporal, Herbert L. Simpson ; 2nd corporal, John L. Swift ; 3rd corporal, Perley A. Emery ; 4th corporal, Harry L. Gordon ; 5th corporal, John A. L. Terrio; 6th corporal, William McKague ; 7th corporal and cook, Charles Cabana ; musicians, Geo. E. Dow, Arthur K. Strout.
Corporal Perley A. Emery and others are already vet- erans of two wars and yet like all the members of Co. H are loyal soldiers of the National Guard. Co. H in 1900 won the first prize in the regimental shoot and thus the championship of the State. In the matter of rounds fired at preliminary practice it is far ahead of the other companies in the State.
THE WATERVILLE BICYCLE CLUB.
From the interest created by an invitation to the wheelmen of Waterville to participate in the parade on Columbus Day, 1892, sprang the Waterville Wheel club. The club was organized November 19, 1892, in Masonic block with eight charter mem- bers. The officers elected were A. B. Cook, president, F. B. Gardner, vice-president and H. E. Davidson, secretary and treas- urer. Of the charter members, only H. E. Davidson and F. B. Gardner remain, but the club membership has increased slowly but steadily from the first until now with nearly seventy members
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
it can claim to be the largest bicycle club in the State (with pos- sibly one exception). Orange and black were adopted as club colors and the orange and black monogram (W. B. C.) has became familiar to wheelmen all over the State. The club has very pleasant rooms occupying the whole of one floor of Boutelle block corner Main and Temple streets. These rooms are used for club business and social purposes but neither gambling nor liquors ever have been allowed within them. The present officers of the club are Leslie P. Loud, president, John Suttie, vice-presi- dent and captain, A. W. Stevens, secretary and C. F. Miller, treasurer.1
THE WATERVILLE GUN CLUB.
The Waterville gun club was organized in 1892 by a few men who were fond of shooting, the first shoots of the club being held in Burleigh field where dwelling houses are now numerous. A club house was built on land of Frank Chase in the western part of the city the second year, and was later moved to the high hill on Drummond avenue, and later from there to its present location in the southern part of the city.
The five-man team representing the club shot at the state tour- naments with indifferent success until 1897 when at Richmond it won the state championship. The team consisted of Sidney A. Green, Samuel L. Prebble, Walter E. Reid, Elwood T. Wyman and Andrew Merrill. The same team, with the substitution of Wesley Getchell for Merrill, defended the title in 1898, but lost to Auburn in 1899. In 1901, the Waterville team made up of Messrs. Green, Preble, Reid, William H. Stobie and Dana P. Foster, again won the championship of the State.
The club has also furnished the State champion in the indi- vidual match three times, Walter E. Reid having won it once, and Samuel L. Preble twice. No other club in Maine has fur- nished so many shooters of acknowledged skill.
The club officers are Samuel L. Preble, president, Dana P. Foster, secretary, and J. A. Davison, treasurer.
1. The above facts concerning the bicycle club were kindly furnished by Mr. H. B. Holland, for many years a member of the club. EDITORS.
CHAPTER XXI.
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THE PRESENT BUSINESS OF WATERVILLE;
SOME COMPARISONS WITH THE PAST AND
A GLANCE INTO THE FUTURE BUSINESS CONDITIONS.
BY FRANK REDINGTON.
When Waterville became incorporated as a town, she had but few manufactories and not many merchants. Her financial tran- sactions were, of course, very limited. Money in those days was a very scarce article, and barter and exchange were the rule. Here on the banks of the Kennebec had gathered a small colony of people, striving hard to make a living out of the soil and turn an honest penny by felling and clearing the forests, and convert- ing the logs into lumber by means of the very limited processes then known to man.
Here lay one of the most beautiful spots in all the States of the Union. Nature had been lavish of her gifts and seemed to have scattered them about in great profusion for the hand of man to pick up and transform into things of service and of welfare to himself. The beautiful fall of water on the Kennebec river, named by the Indians Ticonic, or Teconnet, came dashing and laughing over the great ledge, and needed only the hand and brain of man to transform it into a means of wealth. It seemed to say : "Here am I. Come and take me ; use me to thy purposes and for thy advancement and elevation. I will add to thy com- fort, to thy wealth, and to thy happiness." And then it quietly sped away to the great mother ocean, leaving a silence broken only by the sound of the woodsman's axe as he toiled to provide a home for himself and family.
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The great forest which then covered the land in all directions dared the pioneer to a contest of endurance and privation. But I will leave the history of this to other hands better prepared than my own to set forth the record of these early days, and will pro- ceed to the consideration of the financial and business standing of the city at the present time, after giving a brief abstract of the rapid growth of the old town since the locating of the Lockwood Cotton Mill on the west bank of the Kennebec.
THE LOCKWOOD COMPANY.
The manufacturing industries of Waterville are of great importance, as can readily be seen by a glance at the statistics given in connection with this article. Thirty years ago, the town lay almost dormant ; a lethargy pervaded all her activities ; a few only of the older industries remained. It looked as if she had reached her limit of greatness and was soon to sink into a slow but sure decay. Then came the change. The Lockwood Cotton Mill, established in 1875, gave a boom to all interests ; the citizens awakened, rubbed their eyes and sat erect; real estate changed hands ; an influx of new energy seemed to vibrate and pulsate through the veins of old Waterville. From that time to the present, she has moved steadily forward, and bids fair to continue upon her onward course for an indefinite period.
The second Lockwood Mill was built in 1882, and this more than doubled the number of employes, and consequently gave a renewed impetus to all kinds and classes of financial interests.
At this time, we had but few other manufactories of import- ance. There were several smaller industries, such as the old shank factory, which was located where the one-time paper mill had stood ; and the Webber & Haviland foundry, oldest of Wat- erville's present industries, which had been a landmark for years ; the Crommett's Mills saw mill, and the Furbush sash and blind factory, together with the Ricker tannery and the old match fac- tory. One other industry deserves mention at this time. This is the Hathaway shirt factory. Every old resident of Water- ville will readily bring to mind Charles F. Hathaway and his characteristics, his tract-distributing proclivities and his deeds of charity. The old factory still exists, but has been much enlarged and modernized. It is now in the control of Mr. C. A. Leighton,
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PAPER MILLS OF THE HOLLINGSWORTH & WHITNEY CO.
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who has brought the business up to its present high standard. The old railroad repair shops were at this time located near the Maine Central freight depot, and employed a few good mechan- ics. The neighboring towns of Oakland, Fairfield and North Vassalboro did a renumerative business in a diversity of manu- factures. Oakland employed a large number of people in mak- ing edge tools, Fairfield in the lumber interest, and North Vas- salboro in the woolen industry. These all contributed to Water- ville's mercantile interests and helped to fill the coffers of her thrifty business men.
THE HOLLINGSWORTHI & WHITNEY CO.
Second in order of importance among the present manufactur- ing interests of Waterville is the Hollingsworth & Whitney Pulp Mill, located on the east bank of the Kennebec, in Winslow, oppo- site the college buildings. This is not actually a Waterville industry, but her mercantile interests are subserved by this great plant, employing as it does some 675 hands, largely skilled mechanics, at good wages. It is obvious to all that the distri- bution of money from this source is a great help to Waterville, and it is confidently expected that this plant will soon be much enlarged.
These mills, known as the Taconnet, Mohegan, and Algonquin, are but one plant of several owned and operated by the company ; the others being the Cobhossee and the Aroostook mills at Gar- diner, Maine. The company is everywhere known as one of the oldest, strongest, most conservative, and yet most thoroughly up to date pulp and paper manufacturing corporations in the country. Its officers are : Chas. A. Dean, president ; Edward B. Eaton, treasurer ; Waldo E. Pratt, vice-president; M. L. Mad- den, assistant manager ; H. E. Fales, assistant treasurer ; F. E. Boston, manager of mills ; W. H. Stobie, superintendent of mills ; H. W. Vaughan, New York sales agent ; N. G. Torrey, purchas- ing agent. 'The main office of the company is located in the Dean building at 60 India street, Boston, Mass., and the New York office at 309 Broadway.
The Taconnet and Mohegan mills were erected in 1892, and the Algonquin Sulphite Fibre mill in 1899. The principal build-
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
ings of the plant are of brick, resting upon granite foundations. The product of the Taconnet paper mill is 100 tons of Manila paper daily ; the product of the Mohegan pulp mill is 50 tons of mechanical pulp daily, and the product of the Algonquin Sul- phite Fibre mill 60 tons daily. A. printing plant, with a large number of presses and a stereotyping outfit, is included in the thorough equipment of the establishment, which prints all kinds of wrapping paper for customers.
The shipping facilities of the mills are ample, a double system of spur tracks of the Maine Central railroad running to the doors of the mills and storehouses. Shipments are thus made easily and promptly. The concern sells to dealers in paper only. Both steam and water power are used for running the mills, the Ken- nebec river furnishing about 5,000 h. p., 3,000 h. p. of steam and about 1,000 h. p. of electricity are also employed. The company gives employment at its Winslow plant to about 675 men, the average of whose wages is high, their earnings forming an important part of the money monthly placed in circulation in this vicinity. The average monthly pay-roll of the mills amounts to about $30,000. The company owns large townships of timber land where they cut most of their annual supply of pulp wood. It is said that these townships, regardless of other sources of sup- ply, would furnish the Taconnet mills with pulp wood enough to keep them running for at least fifteen years. The relations exist- ing between the corporation and its employes have always been exceedingly pleasant.
'The new, well equipped Taconnet club house is an example of the interest the Hollingsworth & Whitney Company has always shown in the comfort and pleasure of the people in its employ.
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