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 9
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An event of great importance to the business history of Waterville was the securing of the locomotive and car shops of the Maine Central Railroad for this city. There was sharp com- petition and Portland seemed to have the preference. Waterville, however, voted exemption from taxation (practically for twenty years) and raised $7,500 for the purchase of a site. Mr. G. A. Phillips was active in the matter. Mr. W. B. Arnold and Mr. C. E. Gray raised a subscription among the citizens. As a result the shops, among the best in the country, were built in Waterville to the mutual satisfaction of the company and the town. This brought in an industry of the first order, a large number of very desirable citizens, is building up a fine quarter of the city and contributed not a little to the making of Waterville as a railroad center. January 4, 1885, Ex-Gov. Abner Coburn died at Skow- hegan, the greatest of our Maine philanthropists. His interest in Waterville and its educational work was proved by the
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$100,000 which he gave to Coburn Classical Institute and the $200,000 which he gave with much of personal attention and labor on its board of trustees, to Colby College.
The question of water supply was considered in 1886. A committee consisting of Reuben Foster, Moses Lyford, F. A. Waldron, S. S. Brown, W. T. Haines, Geo. E. Shores and C. G. Carleton reported against the making of a contract with a private corporation and in favor of assuming the charter of the Water- ville Water Company. This was voted but was afterward recon- sidered and a contract was signed with the Water Company in May, 1887, to run for twenty years.
Watervill began her career as a city by the acceptance, January 23, 1888, of the amended city charter, which had been granted by the Maine Legislature. March 4, 1887,1 the vote on acceptance stood 543 in favor, 432 in opposition. March 9th, Hon. Reuben Foster was elected mayor by a vote of 734; S. J. Abbott having 651. Charles F. Johnson was elected city clerk. The beautiful north grammar school building had been erected under the direction of G. A. Phillips, J. D. Hayden, N. G. H. Pulsifer, M. C. Foster, W. T. Haines and the school committee at a cost of $20,000. It was dedicated February 28, 1888. Prof. A. W. Small read a poem "The Building of the School House" by Mrs. Martha Baker Dunn.
Early in March the parochial school of the St. Francis de Sales church, through whose doors such a multitude of children were to pass was opened. The death of Edwin Noyes March 23, 1888, at Young's Hotel, Boston, removed a man long prominent in railroad and business circles. The citizens have never become quite reconciled to having the Noyes mansion, in the very heart of the city, closed. September 1, 1888, died Gen. Franklin Smith, son of Abijah Smith and grandson of Dr. Obadiah Williams. He was prominent in business circles, not only of the town but of the State. September 9, 1889, Hon. Reuben B. Dunn died at his residence on College street. He had been a leader in the development of the great manufacturing industries at Oakland, the building of the Somerset Railroad, the establish- ment of the Lockwood Company and was its only president until his death. Dr. David N. Sheldon died October 4, 1889. He
1. City charter. Chapter Historical Documents.
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as pastor of churches, president of the College, author, member of the school board and a most kindly citizen, had exercised large influence in the community.
A representative of an earlier day, Daniel Moor, died February 14, 1890. As merchant, manufacturer and ship builder he had contributed not a little to the early prosperity of the town. Major Samuel Appleton, son of Dr. Moses Appleton and one of the most prominent citizens of the town and also Dr. Nathaniel R. Boutelle, son of Hon. Timothy Boutelle, and long eminent in his profession, died during 1890. Evidently the old order was changing. The men of the town who had given it character and success were passing away, but the men of the new era were at hand.
The Waterville Board of Trade had been organized in 1889 with Mayor Nathaniel Meader as president. This board with its successive presidents, M. C. Foster, Frank Redington and Dr. J. Frederick Hill, has done much for the business interests of the town and has had large influence in such important matters as the building of the new city hall, the Waterville and Wiscasset Railroad, etc.
Among the earliest, most important and most expensive per- manent improvements made by the city was the construction at a cost of about $100,000, of an admirable system of sewers. The facts of the new business era in Waterville must be reviewed briefly. The Hollingsworth and Whitney pulp and paper mills were established on the east side of the Kennebec in 1892 and have steadily increased to their present immense plant. Though in Winslow, these mills are nearer to the Waterville business center than are the car shops and they are practically a part of the Waterville business resources. Their pay roll of $360,000 annually is in itself sufficient for the maintenance of quite a city. It soon became appar- ent to the merchants that the day of larger business opportunities had come and they enlarged stores and stocks accordingly. The Waterville and Fairfield Railway and Light Company bound Waterville and Fairfield into close connection and brought much business to the city. This company began running electric cars in 1892 one of the first companies in the State so to do. The same company began to furnish power for manufacturing pur-
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poses. The Gamewell Fire Alarm System was installed Septem- ber, 1892, at cost of $2,300. Later Mr. Frank Chase bought the old Webber and Philbrick water privilege on the Messalonskee and erected a fine stone dam for electric power. This was sold to the Union Gas and Electric Company and is now connected with the older company. Yet later the Messalonskee Electric Company was formed, Harvey D. Eaton and Walter S. Wyman constituting the company. This company now lights our streets and soon will have large increase of facilities through utilization of the famous cascade at Oakland. This distribution of electric power at cheap rates has greatly increased the business of the city. The Riverview Worsted Mills built under the manage- ment of Mr. Thomas Sampson, the Whittemore Furniture Company, the Sawyer Publishing Company, etc., mean much to the business prosperity of the city. This development has come largely through the efforts of certain public spirited professional and business men among whom are Dr. F. C. Thayer, Frank Chase, I. C. Libby, Frank Redington, William T. Haines, Thomas Sampson, Harvey D. Eaton, Cyrus W. Davis, W. B. Arnold, Geo. K. Boutelle, G. F. Terry and others.
Other events of the decade though fresh in memory should have some record here. Early in 1893 the Waterville Trust Company began business in Masonic Block. This company with its ample capital and its enterprising and progressive manage- ment has been a large factor in the development of the city. The death of Dr. James H. Hanson, who with characteristic energy toiled to the very last, carried personal sorrow to the citizens of Waterville and to the students throughout the nation who had enjoyed the high privilege of his instruction. Of his half cen- tury of teaching he had given forty-two years to Waterville and the Institute is his memorial as well as that of his friends whose name it bears. Associated with him in the work and in the honor of its success is his wife Mrs. Mary Hanson.
In 1895 the College celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of its founding as a college with an oration by Dr. Nathaniel Butler of Chicago, his subject being "The College Ideal and American Life." Judge W. P. Whitehouse at the same com- mencement delivered the oration before the Delta Kappa Epsilon
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Fraternity at their fiftieth anniversary. Dr. Butler became president of the College the same year. On Saturday, February 29, 1896, the first public meeting was held in the interests of the public library. Forty volumes had already been given and placed in the office of Harvey D. Eaton, Esq. The library began its work with Mrs. M. B. Johnson as librarian on Saturday, August 22, 1896. She has continued in efficient service to the present time. The library has had abundant patronage and the gift by Hon. Andrew Carnegie of $20,000 for a building makes the centennial year a signal one in the history of the library.
The new city hall appears first in a call for a meeting May 18, 1896 "To see if the voters of the city will instruct the city council to build a city hall and opera house this season."
Dr. F. C. Thayer was chairman of the meeting which was largely attended. The call seemed to be with reason. The old city hall, the east meetinghouse of 1796 with sundry remodel- lings, was no longer on a plane with the dignity or the demands of the city. The meeting voted in favor of a building to cost $75,000. Of course the citizens were not unanimous as to the wisdom or necessity of such a course. May 4, 1897, the city voted in favor of the special enabling act to incorporate the City Building Commission, 526 to 404. Plans were accepted, the old hall was moved back, contracts were signed and the foundation of the new hall was partly laid when at the instance of conserva- tive or as some said reactionary Waterville an injunction was issued and the work stopped. Certainly the completion of the hall would have carried the debt of the city beyond the constitu- tional limit. Nothing more was done for some time though the Board of Trade and especially its president, Mr. Frank Reding- ton, did not give up the enterprise. Early in 1901 public meet- ings were held and it was ascertained that the sentiment of the citizens was in favor of the erection of the hall. Mayor Martin Blaisdell favored the enterprise. It was decided by the city council to erect the hall and to raise the amount necessary to pay for it by taxation, the amount to be distributed over a term of years. The building committee consisted of Mayor Blaisdell, Aldermen Gedeon Picher and E. C. Wardwell and Councilmen H. R. Mitchell and E. E. Decker. Modified plans by the archi- tect, Geo. D. Adams, were adopted and the contract to erect and
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cover the building was let to Horace Purinton and Company. During 1901 $22,500 were raised by direct taxation and with the transfer of funds saved from other amounts $29,800 was paid on city hall. Contracts for the completion of the hall were let to Horace Purinton & Co. The building committee for 1902 con- sisted of Mayor Blaisdell and Aldermen E. C. Wardwell and G. L. Learned with Councilmen Greaney, Wm. King and Leslie P. Loud. The total cost of the hall will be about $70,000. Mayor Blaisdell through the whole enterprise has given himself without reserve to the work. He has been careful in his con- tracts, constant in his oversight and has rendered an important and permanent service to the city. The builders have given a construction which is a credit both to themselves and to the city. Waterville at last has a city hall of which she may well be proud.
Turning again to the year 1896 we note the sudden death, December 19, of F. A. Waldron, Esq., city solicitor, respected and beloved for his ability and high character.
Rev. B. F. Shaw, D. D., died March 1, 1897. He had been the eminently successful pastor of the Baptist church, a trustee of the College and was honored in his denomination for his ability and unselfish ministration. He was the father of Judge Frank K. Shaw of the municipal court.
Two events of importance in the temperance history of the city and State marked the year 1897. March 21, a mass temper- ance meeting filled city hall and a petition containing 1,227 names was presented to Mayor Redington requesting him to enforce the law against the rum traffic in Waterville. March 29, the Christian Civic League of Maine was organized with Principal G. C. Purington of Farmington as president ; Rev. W. F. Berry of Waterville, secretary, and Horace Purinton of Waterville, treasurer. This work has been carried on with great vigor and with encouraging and increasing success.
A mass meeting under the auspices of the Board of Trade was held in City Hall April 1, 1897, at which the relations between the city and the College were discussed. President Butler spoke at length and several of the leading business men followed. The result was a closer sympathy between city and College than had existed before and a generous subscription in the city to the new chemical building.
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The fine Myrtle street schoolhouse thoroughly built by Con- tractor S. F. Brann, under the supervision of J. D. Hayden, was dedicated December 17, 1897. The building committee were Aldermen F. D. Lunt and Geo. K. Boutelle, Councilmen H. C. Prince and S. F. Merrill with S. S. Brown and A. L. Lane of the school board.
That gallant soldier of the Civil War, Col. Francis E. Heath, died December 20, 1897. He was worthily honored not only as a soldier but as a public spirited citizen. He introduced the manufacture of wood pulp into Maine, building the first mill for that purpose at Benton Falls.
October 19, 1898, Hon. Reuben Foster, first mayor of Water- ville, long a prominent lawyer, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and President of the Senate died at his home on Park street.
Hon. Edmund F. Webb, the last of the older lawyers of Waterville, died suddenly at the Revere House, Boston, Decem- ber 7, 1898. He also had been mayor of Waterville, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, President of the Senate, trustee of Colby, Republican elector and delegate to national conventions.
The year 1898 marks an epoch in the history of the United States and of the world through the new position in world poli- tics assumed by this government. The devastation of Cuba by Spain, the destruction of the U. S. Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, and the failure of diplomacy to secure satisfaction from Spain led to the President's message of April 14, 1898, in which he said, "In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us the right and the duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop."1
1. At its annual meeting March 28, 1898, the Waterville Board of Trade, Frank Redington, President, had passed the following resolutions:
"We, the Waterville Board of Trade, fully recognizing and understanding the gravity of the conditions existing between this country and Spain, do hereby adopt the following resolutions :
RESOLVED, That we heartily commend the action of the President of the United States in his conservative yet manly and courageous action in the crisis pending with Spain.
That we deprecate war and will do all in our power to preserve peace with honor, but we demand the vindication of the nation's honor even though war should be the alternative.
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Already the Board of Trade had passed resolutions pledging support of the President's policy for the maintaining the honor of the United States and the deliverance of Cuba.
On May 2, 1898, Co. H, National Guard State of Maine, seventy-three men, Captain A. T. Shurtleff, left the city to join the regiment at Augusta. The city gave them an overwhelming demonstration of their confidence and patriotic approval. The streets on the line of march were profusely decorated. At the armory Mr. Frank Redington presented the company with a fine flag. Capt. Shurtleff responded. A patriotic address was given by Mr. J. H. McCone. The company was escorted to the station by the Waterville Military Band, Prof. R. B. Hall, leader. Sev- eral fraternal societies, the students of the college, the institute and the high school, and at the right of the line was W. S. Heath Post No. 14, G. A. R., the old soldiers guiding the march of the new. At the platform near the station, prayer was offered by Rev. William H. Spencer, D. D., himself a veteran of the Civil War, who knew what war meant, who in his own body for thirty- five years had felt what it meant. Eloquent addresses were given by President Nathaniel Butler of Colby and by General Isaac S. Bangs, whose heart was thrilled with the spirit of the old days of strife and victory.
As the 2nd Regiment was not needed at the front, the com- panies returned home, May 14. Several of Co. H volunteered and were mustered into the Ist Regiment and the Ist Maine Bat- tery. Later several Waterville men saw service in the Philip- pines and the city fulfilled well her part offering vastly more of service than could be received in the Spanish-American War.
The establishing of the Whittemore Furniture Co. in 1899, and of the Riverview Worsted Mill in 1900, were events of import-
That we can see no way in view of the present state of affairs, knowing that the people are being starved to death not by ones and twos, but by thousands and hundreds of thousands by the action of Spain, except to declare the independence of Cuba and recognize her as a free people.
That as the finding of the Naval Commission declares external explosions as the cause of the destruction of the Maine, we demand all possible reparation from the parties who may be found responsible for loss of life and property.
That we, the merchants, doctors, lawyers, clerks, business and professional men without distinction of party or class uphold the President in his course, and if war be the result we pledge ourselves to do all in our power in defense of the Stars and Stripes."
ALUMNI CHEMICAL HALL, COLBY COLLEGE.
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ance in the business history of the town. Both of these plants have since been enlarged. 1901 saw the erection of the new City Hall, its corner stone was laid with Masonic ceremonies August 4 ; and the departure of President Butler to the University of Chicago. Dr. Butler had shown himself a public spirited and genial citizen as well as the head of the college. The Alumni Chemical Building with its splendid facilities and equipment was the result of his initiative and enthusiastic leadership. A banquet was given in his honor by the Board of Trade at the Elmwood and expression was given of the high esteem in which he was regarded in the city.
The Maine Christian Endeavor Union held its convention in Waterville in September 1901, one of the largest and most suc- cessful in the history of the Union.
The death of President Mckinley was a great shock to the city. A public memorial service was held, September 19th in Monu- ment Park, in which many thousands of the citizens reverently joined. Hon. C. F. Johnson presided. Prayer was offered by Rev. A. G. Pettengill; addresses were given by President Charles L. White, Rev. Edward L. Marsh, Rev. N. Charland, closing with prayer by Rev. Edwin C. Whittemore and bene- diction by Rev. Dr. Pepper who had shared in Waterville's mem- orial service in honor of President Lincoln, thirty-six years before.
A little later the death of Rev. George D. Lindsay, who had been the efficient pastor of the Methodist church for five years and by whose labors the church had greatly prospered, called out an expression of universal regret and sympathy.
On Sunday, December 15, the melting of a great body of snow by a heavy rain caused the rivers of Maine to rise to a higher point than at any other time since 1832. Bridges were carried away, the railroad tracks were undermined for miles, streets were channeled to the depth of many feet by the rushing waters. Homes were swept away and their occupants drowned. In Waterville, however, the principal damage was the carrying away of the iron foot-bridge extending from the foot of Temple street to the Winslow side near the Hollingsworth and Whitney mills. This had been built by the enterprise and at the cost of Hon. Wm. T. Haines and Harvey D. Eaton Esq., and although
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it had been opened for travel but a few days, had proved itself a great convenience.
1902 has seen the acceptance, on the part of the city, of the offer of that munificent and magnificent giver, Hon. Andrew Carnegie of New York, of $20,000 for the erection of a building for a free public library on condition that the city raise $2,000 per year for its support. Mr. Elwood T. Wyman, superintend- ent of schools had been in correspondence with him as to the use which a library here would have. The committee had invited him to be present at the Centennial and in the letter announcing his gift was an expression of regret that he could not attend the Centennial.
The Centennial. This is the event of 1902. It means much to the city to receive back again so many who have gone out from Waterville to successful and important work in the world. The city is coming by these events into a clearer consciousness of its power and of its possibilities. The century's history has been like that of our New England towns of the first rank, without much that is sensational, but that New England life has leavened the history of the Nation and has done its full share to secure our National progress and present greatness.
The intellectual life of the community, with the college as its center, has been of a high order. Thoroughness rather than show has been the ruling principle and this has sent out a great number of men and women to work, not so much for self as for humanity and for God. Reverently do the thoughts of many turn to-day to the great teachers of the earlier day. Chaplin and Anderson and Keely and Loomis and Hamlin and Champlin and Hanson and Lyford and Foster and to others who still live to carry on important work. Presidents Robbins and Pepper and Small and Whitman and Butler, each did their work and are worthy of their reward. The college and the town have still the advantage of the tried service of professors who have given more than a quarter of a century in far-reaching labors, while younger men with the best equipment of the time are at hand for the enlarging work.
The history of the several churches has been such that their influence in the community has been of the highest order while their missionary consecration has borne fruit to the ends of the
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earth. The religious life of the community has been broad, rational, liberal, not highly emotional but thoroughly reliable and in no time of test or crisis has it been found wanting. It has employed its strength not in sectarian controversy but in the doing of the work of the Kingdom of God. The names of Cushman and S. F. Smith and Adams and Cobb and Park and Gardner and Sheldon and Shaw and Hawes and Pepper and Burrage and Ladd and Seward and Spencer themselves declare the quality of religious life which has characterized the town, and, among a large part of our population, while other names are highly honored, especial honor for his long and increas- ingly useful pastorate will be given to Father Narcisse Charland.
The deacons and office-bearers in the churches have con- tributed in no small degree to the high esteem in which religion is held in this community. The preaching of noble living from the pulpit has had powerful reinforcement from the pew.
The medical profession in Waterville from the time of Dr. Obadiah Williams and Dr. Moses Appleton down to the time of Dr. Thayer has been an honor to the town. It has kept high ideals of professional honor and of the privilege of the profession to render a service to the community, priceless in its helpfulness and Christ-like in its charity. Some members of the profession have attained eminence and wide fame by their success. In the time of war our physicians were there on their errands of mercy, Crosby and Boutelle and West. In the business development of the town our doctors have had large place and the present membership of the profession is worthy of the honor and suc- cess which its leaders have won and to which its junior members will yet attain.
The bar of Waterville has enrolled many men of eminent ability. Few of them have made politics a profession and so they have not risen to high political preferment though we have furnished many leaders to the Maine House and Senate. The old lawyers have come to their graves full of years and of honors, and the young men of to-day have a professional and a political prospect which is unsurpassed.
From the date of the establishment of the Masonic lodge in Waterville, June 27, 1820, until now, with the exception of a few
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years of the Anti-Masonic movement, Waterville Lodge has had honored place and influence in the life of the town. Many of its members have attained very high rank in Masonry, while one who holds a rank attained by no other Mason in the United States, Hon. Josiah H. Drummond, is still a member of Waterville Lodge. In this and in the many orders which since have come in to take their place and work, again and again has the head of the Maine jurisdiction been found in a Waterville man. The orator of the day, Hon. Warren C. Philbrook, was last year Chancellor Commander of the Maine Knights of Pythias, and the present commander of the Department of Maine, G. A. R., is an old soldier of the 19th Maine, James L. Merrick. The list might be largely extended. The many orders for mutual, insurance, protection, relief and improvement are accomplishing a great deal of good in the community, while that devastating flood of all imaginable evil which the anti-secret society men are ever declaring, seems to have passed us by.
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