USA > Maine > Waldo County > Stockton Springs > The story of Stockton Springs, Maine > Part 14
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There was an old tide-mill on the shore at Sandy Point near where Capt. Parker Hall's house stood later. That mill was run by Isaac Berry. Later, Mr. Berry moved to a new mill site on Cape Jellison. He built a tide-mill there about 1790. His partner was William Clewley. The mill was always called the "Tide-Mill." It was owned later by Joseph Thompson, Mudgett, Libby and Griffin. About 1880, it was bought by Albert Kelley.
The Tide-Mill had two stories, a trussed roof with dormer windows, a sail loft, and a moulding loft. It was burned in the 1800's.
In the town records there is an agreement recorded which was made between Joseph Thompson, Mudgett, Libby, Griffin, William Griffin and Hezekiah Harriman-all pro- prietors of the mill-and the inhabitants of the town of Stock- ton. The agreement was signed on March 1, 1869 and con- tained the requirements of rebuilding the dam and bridge.
The town voted to pay the owners of the mill $1000 within ten years for the material used for rebuilding the bridge, but the mill owners agreed to pay for all repairs connected with the dam. The town inhabitants agreed to pay for all future repairs to the bridge. The mill owners agreed to maintain a right-of- way over the bridge and to keep it open at all times. At the town meeting which was held on March 9, 1876, it was voted to exempt the Tide-Mill property from taxation for ten years.
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Miss Faustina Hichborn states:"Early in 1843, N. G. Hich- born erected a store for general merchandise at the juncture of the county roads-one running east and west, between Belfast and Bucksport, and the other north to Bangor-the angle being long designated as 'Hichborn's Corner.' Hichborn's Block stood where Denslow Hall Block now stands." Miss Hichborn also said, "This business venture marked the be- ginning of the village proper, only scattered farms occupying the territory previously." In 1850, Giles C. Grant went into business with Mr. Hichborn and after a short time he took com- plete charge of the store until his death in 1853. After Mr. Grant died, Jonatham Clifford became business manager for Mr. Hichborn. He managed the business for two years. In 1855, Mr. Clifford left Stockton and settled in Minnesota. Mr. Clifford was replaced by Barney M. Roberts of Brooks.
Barnabus Myrick Roberts was born October 17, 1818. He was the son of Dr. Jacob and Huldah (Moulton) Roberts. He died at Stockton on December 20, 1896. He married Emeline Rich, daughter of Joseph Rich. His home is now owned by Walter F. Trundy. Mr. Roberts was a successful merchant; a member of the Maine Senate during the Civil War; a repre- sentative to the State Legislature ;the local postmaster; and at one time the collector of customs at Belfast.
In 1857, J. B. Frye moved his family from Belfast to Stock- ton. He was a contracting mason and brick-layer in town for many years.
In 1849, a hotel was opened by Stephen Cleaves. He bought a building that was owned by Crawford Fletcher. It was a small, four roomed house. Mr. Cleaves raised the roof of the building and added upstairs rooms. Other additions were made from time to time. Mr. Cleaves called his hotel "The Prospect" but later renamed it "The Cleaves House." He ran a strictly temperance house. Mr. Cleaves also ran a livery stable.
Later, the following managers ran the "Hotel": Fred Nichols, Thomas Norton and Frank Brown.
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In 1891, F. H. Cousens took over the management of the hotel. He called it the "Stockton Springs Hotel."
About 1906, Willard Berry and Edward Doyle took over the management and renamed the hotel "The Stockton." Also, they ran a livery stable, known as Berry's Stable. They man- aged the hotel for about a year but they continued in the livery business until they dissolved partnership in 1909. Mr. Doyle went to work for the Great Northern Paper Company and Mr. Berry carried on the business of the livery stable.
In August 1907, the Worcester Brothers took over the man- agement of the hotel and managed it for a few years. About the time that it was leased to the Worcester Brothers, F. W. Collins of Bucksport bought the place and had it remodeled.
By 1910, the management had been taken over by John Mclaughlin. In 1916, Mr. Collins leased the house to F. S. Huniston.
Other proprietors at different times were: Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Hunting, Mr. and Mrs. Eben Libby and Mrs. Jennie Dockham.
The present owner is Ralph Stowell who bought the property several years ago and remodeled the hotel into apartments. It is still referred to as the "Hotel."
When the town was incorporated as Stockton in 1859, the following people were in business here:
Dr. D. S. Woodman was the physician in town. He lived where the Berry house now stands at the corner of West Main Street and Morse Avenue. N. G. Hichborn was a merchant and ship builder. His store was where the Denslow Hall Block now stands and his home was where Hopkins Block now stands. Later, he built the house that is now owned by Dr. Clarence E. Partch. Henry McGilvery was a merchant and ship- builder. His store was where Stowell's Drug Store is today. His house stood near the site of Mrs. Alta Brockway's house. Wilson Hichborn was a merchant and ship builder. He lived
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in the house now called Tue Vue. C. S. Fletcher was a merch- ant and ship builder. He lived where Mrs. Alice Doe lives now. Oliver Fletcher was a merchant and ship builder. He lived in the house now owned by Nicholas Ginn. Alexander Black was a merchant and ship builder. Ship carpenters were: J. C. Good- hue, C. A. Harris, A. Berry and T. Green. House joiners were: C. W. Crooker and L. Treat. Joiners were: Isaac George, J. E. Partridge and James Marden. James Marden lived where Arnold Standish lives today. House and ship joiners were: S. W. Lewis, H. Overlock and John Libby. John G. Libby lived in the house now owned by Ernest Trundy. Master builders were: W. H. Brown, J. Goodwin, William G. Moulton, Sebra Crooker, Hiriam Crooker and A. P. Goodhue. W. H. Brown lived where Lester Bragg's house now stands. William G. Moulton lived where Mrs. Myron Clark lives now. He built his house in October of 1857. Sebra Crooker lived where Mrs. Grace Gardner lives now. Hiriam Crooker lived in a house which stood where Miss Gertrude Lancaster's house now stands. Ship masters were: William Berry, Peleg Staples, Emery Berry, Stephen Ellis, Jr., N. B. Ellis, M. Staples, William Clewley, Jr., J. E. Ellis, James Staples, Jr., Thomas Shute, John Ginn, Albert Staples, William Staples, W. D. Colcord, D. G. Ames, Thomas Merrill Hichborn, Robert Hichborn, F. Kelley, Alexander Griffin, Isaac Lampher, N. G. Clifford, H. M. Ellis, G. W. Staples, A. Segars, Ralph Morse, J. A. Colcord, J. F. Hichborn, J. R. French, H. W. French, Josiah French, B. F. French, Everett French, W. S. Fletcher and Joseph French. Albert Staples lived in the house now owned by Miss Lulu Black. William Berry lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Nellie Merrithew. Emery Berry lived in the house now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Merrill C. Ellis, Sr. William Staples lived in the house now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Edmund J. Littlefield. This house has always been owned by members of Capt. Staples' family. W. D. Colcord built the house now owned by Mrs. Evelyn Shute. D. G. Ames lived in the house now owned by Capt. Frank Butler. Thomas Merrill Hichborn lived in the house that was later the Alvah Treat house. Robert
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Hichborn lived in the big house now owned by Dexter Avery. F. Kelley lived in a house that stood near the site of Sanborn's Store. Later, the McGilvery Block stood near the site. Alex- ander Griffin lived where Mrs. Ina Sherwood lives now. Isaac Lampher lived in the house now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pres- ton Nutting. N. G. Clifford's home was on Fletcher's Hill. G. W. Staples lived in the house now owned by John Seekins. J. A. Colcord lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Hortense Heath. Everett French lived in the house now owned by Percy Haley. Joseph French lived in the house now owned by Giles Rosengrin. Stone cutters were: E. M. Perkins, O. P. Clark and F. J. Watts. Mr. Watts cut the stone for Fort Knox. Merch- ants were: Alonzo D. and R. B. Ames, Edward Partridge, Levi Staples (Sandy Point), Staples and Griffin, J. Griffin, Wil- lard Mudgett, J. Frye, Jane Lambert, E. M. Ellis, B. M. Rob- erts, and Mudgett and Dickey. Alonzo D. and R. B. Ames were stove dealers. Their store stood near where Stowell's Garage stands today. Levi Merrithew had a fish market in that building later. A few years later, the Ames gentlemen moved their store to the Rendell building. Willard Mudgett had his store in the building that was later known as the Ames Insurance Building. Jane Lambert had a dry goods and mil- linery business. E. M. Ellis had a fancy goods business in the Hichborn Block. H. J. Grant was a fish dealer. G. Mitchell was a carpenter and rigger. Isaac Griffin was a carpenter and farmer. N. N. Martin was a painter and school teacher. He lived where Adrian Dobbins lives now. D. M. G. Spencer manufactured tinware. George M. Simmons was a tailor. John Odom was a master mariner and the lighthouse keeper. Robert F. Staples was a mariner. Stephen Cleaves was an inn-keeper. Jonathan Carillonell was a shipwright. Joseph W. Thompson was a contractor and builder. He lived in the house now owned by Miss Ethel Colcord. G. E. Bates was a sail- maker. He lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Alice Frye. J. Avery was a ship-smith. Leonard Shute was a dealer in stock and produce. Rev. Jerome Harris was the pastor. He lived in the house now owned by Maitland LaFurley. The
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Mudgett and Dickey store was in a building that stood where the LaFurley Block stands today.
In the early days, there was a brickyard on Cape Jellison near the Panno house. That house burned a few years ago.
Some other early business concerns were: The Stockton Shoe Factory which stood where Mrs. Iva Pinkham's house now stands. Levi Merrithew was the proprietor. There was a sash and blind company, a fish barrel factory and a lime cask fac- tory but the locations and the owners of those business estab- lishments are unknown.
Capt. David Ames had a store in the ell of his house. The original house was small but the larger part of the house was built on later. A few years later, Mr. Ames moved his store to the small Ames building which was later the Ames Insurance Building.
Alonzo D. Ames moved his stove and tinware shop from its first location at the corner of East Main and Station Streets to the building now owned by Shepard Edwards. In 1860, S. A. Rendell bought out the business from Mr. Ames (who moved to Waterville). Mr. Rendell was in business for forty-seven years. In 1906, Mr. Rendell retired and sold his business to Albion Goodhue of Boston, and L. A. Gardner. They renamed the business and called it Goodhue and Company. They ran a heating and plumbing business. Mr. Goodhue was the first man in Waldo County to obtain a plumber's license from the State of Massachusetts. Goodhue and Company was the first company in this vicinity to introduce the Kewanee water sys- tem. The system was operated by air pressure and enabled householders beyond the town water system to have running water in their homes.
Mrs. Jane D. Lambert and her son ran the J. G. Lambert Co. In 1871, they built the Jane Lambert Block. They had their store on the ground floor. The two upper floors were used as apartments. The Lamberts were in business for over fifty years. They had a dry goods line.
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In the earlier days, Henry Staples built the building which was known for years as the Staples Building. He ran a store there for many years. Later, Capt. Fred Clifford had a store there. His partner was Maitland LaFurley. After the Ma- sonic Block was built, Mr. Clifford moved his business to that block and Mr. LaFurley went into business in the Sprague Block. Elvin Staples took over the store in the Staples Build- ing. He was followed in business at that location by W. J. Creamer who had a dry and fancy goods business. Other people who have been in business in the Staples Building-all of them in the grocery line-were: John Gordon, James Griffin, Nor- man Staples, Irving Merrithew, and Shepard Edwards.
Mr. Edwards recently purchased the old Rendell Block which he rebuilt into a modern, self-service market. The new Edwards Market opened for business March 1, 1955.
In 1850, G. M. Simmons moved to Stockton. For many years he was the proprietor of the only tailor shop in town. His home was on School Street and is now owned by a grand- daughter, Mrs. Frances Brouillette.
Ezra Marden had a daguerreotype shop which was located between what is now the Doe house and the Masonic Block. Later, the building was moved to School Street and that build- ing is now the home of Mrs. Maurice Patterson.
Sometime after 1859, the John M. Ames Co. was established. It was owned by John M. Ames. The store was located in the building formerly owned by Willard Mudgett. The building is owned now by Ralph Stowell. All kinds of merchandise was sold by that company, such as: groceries, hardware, paints, farm machinery, tobacco, confectionery, flour and grain, musical instruments, sporting goods, trunks, valises, jewelry, clocks, drugs and patent medecines.
Mr. Ames also served as the town undertaker. In those early days, the coffins were made by the undertaker or by local carpenters. The undertaker had no hearse so he hired a local
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wagon to serve as a hearse. Later, the town bought a horse- drawn hearse.
After Mr. Ames died, his business was owned by his son, Albert M. Ames and Simeon Merrithew. Mr. Ames was the president and Mr. Merrithew was the secretary and treasurer of the company. Later, they sold the business to P. L. Hupper who ran it for a few years. then he sold out to Melvin Pinkham who ran the business for several years. Mr. Ames and Mr. Merrithew moved into the next-door building, called the Ames Insurance Building, and conducted an insurance business. They were partners in that business until the death of Mr. Ames in 1937. After Mr. Ames died, Mr. Merrithew carried on the business at his home on Church Street until his death, Dec- ember 15, 1950. The business was then carried on by his son, Irving Merrithew until his death in 1952.
Many years ago, there was a blacksmith shop on School Street. It stood on the plot of land which Myron Clark used as a garden spot in recent years. It was owned by Isaac Phin- ney. He was known as "Uncle Phinney." Enoch Staples also ran that shop at one time.
There was a carpenter shop in the early days which stood on this site. It was later moved across the street and converted into a dwelling house.
In 1868, there was a savings bank in town, called "The Stock- ton Springs Savings Bank." The bank was located in the office of Hon. N. G. Hichborn. The president was John Griffin; vice-president, Alexander Black; treasurer, L. M. Partridge; secretary. L, M. Partridge; trustees, John Griffin, Alexander Black, L. M. Partridge, Joseph W. Thompson, N. G. Hich- born, C. G. Fletcher and Alexander Staples, Jr. The charter to the bank was relinquished in 1876.
Previous to 1881, Simeon Ellis built the store now owned by Melvin Grant. He ran a business there for several years --- then sold the business to Charles Snow. Charles Snow ran the business for several years-then sold it to Mrs. Merilda
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Black. Mrs. Black ran the store for two or three years, then sold the business to her assistant, Melvin Grant in 1903. Mr. Grant has been in business ever since that time. Mr. Grant had a grocery store for several years but for the last few years, he has run a pool-room and a confectionery store.
Simeon Ellis moved to Stockton and for several years had a store in the Sprague Block.
Owen C. Wardwell had a knitting factory over Charles Snow's store. He employed ten or twelve women.
In old records dated 1881, the following business establish- ments were mentioned: J. W. Grant and F. F. Perkins ran a spool stock factory in Sandy Point. Elvin Staples had a jewelry business. B. F. Brown ran a livery stable, which is now the Stowell Garage. Lewis Snell had a general store in the build- ing now called the Ames Insurance Building. Later, he moved his business to the store now run by Walter F. Trundy. F. S. Harriman had a store in Sandy Point where the Victor Gray store is now. He sold dry and fancy goods, confectionery, patent medicines, groceries, millinery, trunks and valises. Mr. Harriman ran the store until 1918. That year he sold his business to Victor Gray who ran a general store there until 1951. Mr. Gray sold the building to Walter Littlefield. It is used as a dwelling house now. L. H. Bowden ran the Belfast and Stockton Express. He lived where Mrs. Eva May Kirk- patrick lives now.
In 1884, Capt. Nathaniel Clifford had a clothing shop. It was located in the McGilvery Block.
Capt. Charles Rendell operated a vest shop in a house which stood where Russell Seekins' house now stands. Later, he moved his business to the Rendell Block which was built and owned by Samuel Rendell, Sr. The vest shop was on the second and third floors of that building. *
Other people who ran manufacturing shops were: Will Kel- ley and Frank Hichborn. They manufactured men's clothing. Mr. Hichborn's shop was in the Hichborn Block.
* Walter F. Trundy has an interesting old account book in which Capt. Rendell recorded his business letters. It is dated 1884-1895.
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In 1884, the French Brothers, Fred and Frank, started a business called "The Duckery." The business was on the home place which was located on the Perkins Mill Road in Sandy Point. The main house was first owned by Rufus Har- riman, then sold to Hartwell French. It is now owned by Mrs. Carl Drew. After Austin French married Jennie French, who was a sister of Fred and Frank, he joined the company. There were twenty-eight incubators in the house cellar when the business started but as the business expanded two extra build- ings were built. One building housed the picking and feather rooms. The other building housed thirty-two incubators. The breeding stock was bought from the Rankin Company, Long Island, New York. A large duck house was built to house about one thousand ducks. The duck house was heated by big pipes which led from coal burners. The hatching season began in February. The birds were dressed for market when they were ten weeks old. At that age they weighed four pounds. Some seasons as many as 18,000 birds were dressed out for the Boston market. During the winter, the breeding birds were fed grain and cabbage. All of the grain was purchased from Fred White of Belfast. He shipped the grain to Sandy Point by steamer. The cabbages were shipped by scow-loads from Verona Island. Nothing went to waste. The offal was fed to six hogs, which were raised each year for that purpose. They in turn were butchered in the fall and the meat was shipped to the Boston market. The feathers were processed and bagged in the feather room and shipped to Boston. It was necessary to keep five horses to work at the plant. Ernest Blanchard was the hostler. The Frenches employed a foreman, eight pickers and six feeders. Manley Richards was the first foreman. Other foremen who served after Mr. Staples were: Bradford Blanch- ard and Fred Blanchard. The pickers were: Maurice Patter- son, Lesley Shannon, Luther Grant, Carl Grant, Edward Libby, Fred Hartshorn, Maurice Griffin and Arthur French. The feeders were: Fred Shute, Moses Neil, Edgar Heath, Henry Heath, Fred Grant and Sam Staples.
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The feeders were paid $1.50 a day. The pickers were paid 7c per bird. A good picker could pick about thirty-six birds a day.
The Duckery closed in 1905.
Sullivan's Fruit Store was in a small building that stood where Maitland LaFurley's Block stands now.
At one time there was a quarry on Mt. Tuck in Sandy Point. The quarry was operated by a Mr. Galligher. The stone was hauled to the Sandy Point shore and shipped by schooners to New York.
About the time that the Hichborn Block was built in town another large block was built, called the McGilvery Block. It stood on the corner of Church Street and East Main Street, opposite the Hichborn Block. Several business establishments rented rooms in that building.
In 1884, there was a big fire which destroyed the Hichborn Block, the McGilvery Block and a dwelling house which stood where the Hopkins Block stands now. The dwelling house which burned was first owned by N. G. Hichborn but at the time it burned it was owned by William Griffin. Walter F. Trundy lived in the Griffin house at the time it was burned. At that time, he was a very small child. Everything in the house was lost except Silas Trundy's fiddle. The fiddle is owned now by Mrs. Maynard Farnham.
Later, the Sprague Block was built on the site of the Hich- born Block. It was owned by Capt. Calvin A. Sprague. It is now called Denslow Hall Block. Denslow Hall was named for Ellsworth Denslow. Mr. Denslow was interested in the mineral springs in town. He had offices in New York and Boston for a water company. He was also a real estate dealer. His beau- tiful home was called "Leegarden on Penobscot". This house was once one of the most beautiful houses in town. In recent years the house was known as the Harrington house. It is now owned by Mrs. Rose Goan of Jamaica Plain, Massa- chusetts. Mr. Denslow also built a beautiful cottage on Cape Jellison. The cottage was torn down several years ago.
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Denslow Hall was incorporated in 1885 by a group of twenty men and women of Stockton. It was used as the town hall and social center of the community during the years when ship- building flourished in the town and also during the days of the railroad boom. However, as years passed the hall fell into dis- repair and it was closed to all gatherings except the town meeting.
The original owners died, moved away or sold their stock until the greater part of the stock was owned by Capt. Melvin Colcord. His stock was passed on to his heirs when he died. The Colcord heirs controlled the hall until 1950 when it was sold to the town. The hall was repaired and redecorated by interested citizens and members of the Utopian Club. The hall was reopened, as a recreation center, January 19, 1951.
The Masonic Block was built in 1884. It was designed and built by Edward H. Lafolley. Mr. Lafolley had worked in the ship building days as a finish carpenter on the cabins of the Stockton-built vessels. Mr. Lafolley had a coffin shop at one time. It was located on the second floor of the Ames Building. At one time Mr. Lafolley had a store in the Colcord building.
Soon after the Masonic Block was built, Capt. Warren F. Griffin established a business in that block, known as W. F. Griffin and Co. He sold hardware, stoves, agricultural imple- ments, boots, shoes, and plumbing supplies,
In 1889, some of the people in business in town were: S. E. Fletcher, Sandy Point, ship and house joiner; H. E .. Shute, ship carpenter; L. S. Ellis, dealer in cottage lots; Robert French, Sandy Point, dealer in cottage lots; W. R. Ginn, Sandy Point, dealer in cottage lots; James D. Hawes, dealer in cottage lots; James L. Treat, dealer in cottage lots; E. H. Crocker, fruit raiser (also raised and sold bees and poultry;) Frank F. Crock- ett, stock raiser and dealer; Capt. J. H. Ginn, sea captain; Capt. J. S. Easton, retired sea captain; J. M. Grant, cattle dealer; C. A. Hartson, Sandy Point, dealer; H. B. Heath, mechanic; Capt. C. W. Parsons, retired sea captain; William
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Smith, stone cutter; William F. Ellis, dealer in groceries; H. W. Herriman, dealer in corn, feed ,flour and groceries (He also did custom grinding of grain); and Robert Erskine, 2nd., joiner.
Quoting Miss Hichborn: "The village blacksmiths have been: Robert McGilvery, John Farnham, Isaac Phinney, Samuel H. West, Frank West, Silas Trundy and Adrian Trundy. James Bunker, Charles Bridges, William Westcott, Davis Chase and Livingston Hall were "ship's carpenters". They worked in various shipyards throughout the town."
Silas D. Trundy was a horseshoer and general jobber. He did all kinds of iron work and repairs on carriages. He shoed horses and filed and extracted their teeth. He was the sole manufacturer of Trundy's Spavin Cure, Dr. Kaddingburg's Rus- sian Heave Cure and Trundy's Liniment. His shop stood next to the Colcord Building, on East Main Street. Later, the busi- ness was run by his son, Adrian Trundy, Adrian Trundy ran the shop until 1940.
At one time the Misses Adella and Lizzie Griffin had a mil- linery shop in town. Mrs. Elmira Harriman also had a mil- linery shop.
Soon after the Sprague Block was built, a Mr. Robinson had a jewelry manufacturing business on the second floor of that block.
The Stockton Springs Telephone Company was incorporated in 1894. There was one line and six subscribers. The owners of the company were: Albert Ames and Simeon Merrithew. Dr. George Stevens was one of the first subscribers. In 1896, the company was bought by Herbert Hopkins and Harry Hichborn. In 1943, the company was purchased by George H. Hopkins. In 1950, Mr. Hopkins installed a modern dial system. The equipment is housed in a cement-block building on Sylvan Street. The dial system was put into operation, July 1, 1950. Mrs. Alice May Hichborn, widow of Harry R. Hichborn, and Mrs. Ada May Hopkins, widow of Herbert L. Hopkins, made the first call. The New England Telephone and
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