USA > Maine > Waldo County > Stockton Springs > The story of Stockton Springs, Maine > Part 17
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The Castine Alumni Camp was established in 1875. The Alumni was first organized by Granville T. Fletcher (at that time principal of the Castine Normal School) and his assistant, Miss Coffin. The first and second encampments were held at Islesboro in 1875 and 1876. The alumni camped out in tents. The third encampment was held at Deep Gully Brook in Brooksville, Maine in 1877; the fourth encampment was held at the Punch Bowl in Sedgwick; the fifth and sixth encamp- ments were held at North Point in Camden in 1879 and 1880. From 1881 until 1889, the camp was held at Sherman's Point in Camden. In 1890, the camp was established at Sandy Point and has been held there annually.
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Land was purchased on French's Point in Sandy Point and a building was erected in 1889. The main building has a living- room with a fireplace on the first floor and a dormitory on the second floor. Devotional services are held every morning in room and sings and other social activities are held there in the evening.
Later, Mrs. Charles DeLaittre of Aiken, Minn. raised money for a thirteen-room lodge.
Mrs. Edward Libby has been the cook at this camp for many years.
In 1919, the camp was held at the Normal School buildings in Castine because the government had taken over the Alumni Camp buildings in Sandy Point. They controlled the build- ings during World War 1.
In 1885, the Universalist Society of Bangor purchased land on French's Point, in Sandy Point, and built a spacious and beautiful building. This building, called the Hershey Retreat, had many large, pleasant rooms-including a playroom which had a victrola, piano and a large fireplace. The fine beach which went with the property was excellent for clam-bakes, swimming and picnics.
The first party came to the Hershey Retreat in 1884. Since that time ten thousand members of the Universalist Sunday School in Bangor have enjoyed outings at this attractive place.
The late Rev. Henry T. Atwood, pastor of the Universalist Church in Bangor arranged for the children at the Children's Home in Bangor to have an annual outing of two weeks at the Retreat. For the last several years, about fifty of these child- ren enjoy the outing each year.
The Retreat was a gift from Samuel Freeman Hershey. Mr. Hershey left one tenth of his eastern property to the Universa- list Society of Bangor, to be used for the purchase of an island in Penobscot Bay or a lot on the mainland-upon which should be erected a suitable building-to be called Hersey Retreat.
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Members of the Universalist Sunday School of Bangor and their attendants should be entertained there for one week a year free of expense.
Samuel Freeman Hersey was born in Oxford County, Maine in 1812. Several of his ancestors were Revolutionary soldiers. He came to the Penobscot valley in 1832. At first, he lived at Lincoln, Maine; later, he lived at Milford, Maine. In 1884, he settled in Bangor, which was his home until his death in February, 1875. He was a prominent member of the Uni- versalist Society of Bangor. He was active in the Sunday School where he taught a class of young men and where he was the assistant superintendent.
Mr. Hersey loved young people and each year went on an excursion with the Sunday School.
The Retreat burned in 1908 but was rebuilt.
The Current Events Club was organized June 27, 1895. The first officers were: president, Mrs. C. S. Griffin; vice-president, Miss Alice Hichborn; secretary, Mrs. Lillias Staples Emery. The first recorded meeting was held on August 22, 1895.
At first, the dues were twenty-five cents a year and a col- lection was taken up at each meeting to which the members contributed five cents each. In 1920, the dues were raised to one dollar a year and no collections were taken up in the meet- ings.
For nine months of the year the club met every other Thurs- day in the homes of the members. In 1900, the meeting day was changed from Thursday to Wednesday. After the Com- munity House was built, the club met in that building. They had their library, which had been housed in various stores, moved to the Community House. The library had been started in 1898.
The club joined the Federation of Women's Clubs, October 11, 1899. The club continued as a branch of the Federation until about 1941.
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The club held an annual field day each summer and an annual mid-winter dinner. The first recorded field day was a picnic at Fort Knox, June 27, 1920.
The club was active in helping to establish and maintain many community projects. The club helped raise the money which was used to grade the "Park" and build the band-stand. Also, the members purchased the flag for the band-stand and contributed to the upkeep of the project. The club helped to raise the paint fund for the church in 1898. At various times the club assisted poor families of the community. They gave aid to the Girls' Home in Belfast.
Some of the early members were: Mrs. Ralph Morse, Mrs. Levi Griffin, Mrs. Horace Griffin, Mrs. Sarah Clifford, Mrs. Crawford Griffin, Mrs. Nettie Zelling, Mrs. Augusta Dever- eaux, Mrs. Edward Lafolley, Mrs. Josephine Overlock, Miss Alice Hichborn, Mrs. Lillie Moulton, Mrs. Henry Staples, Mrs. C. S. Rendell, Mrs. E. A. Hichborn, Miss Mary Hich- born, Mrs. Abbie Hichborn, Miss Maria Griffin, Mrs. Ada Hopkins, Mrs. Annie Park, Mrs. Lilly Thompson, Mrs. Maria Hichborn, Miss Emily Overlock, Mrs. Alice May Hichborn, and Mrs. Caddie Cousins.
Presidents from 1898-1908 were: Mrs. Maria Hichborn, Mrs. Almeda Rendell, Mrs. Annie Park, Mrs. Lillias Emery, Miss Mary Hichborn, Mrs. Josephine Overlock, Mrs. Alice M. Hichborn, Miss Maria Griffin, and Miss Alice Hichborn. Mrs. Estelle Crosby was elected president in 1909.
February 2, 1899, a gavel was presented to the club by Mrs. Maria Hichborn. In later years, a gavel, made from wood from the hull of the "Old Constitution," was presented to the club by Mrs. Estelle Crosby.
June 13, 1900, it was voted that all members who had reached the age of seventy should become honorary members.
At each meeting one member presented a paper on some interesting subject-also, current events were discussed.
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The last meeting of the club was held on June 26, 1946.
A band was organized in 1907. B. J. Cox was the band leader; Bert Drinkwater of Belfast was the band instructor and Wellman Hanson was the drum major. Later, Frank Nye of Searsport was the instructor.
Some of the members of the band were: Clyde Merrithew, Minard Ellis, Arthur Colcord, Everett Fayle, Alfred Fayle, Frank Jackson, Irving Littlefield, Isaac Littlefield, Edmund Littlefield, Leonard LaFurley, Elden Shute, George Hopkins, Edward Hunting, Frank Cousins, Lewis Hackey, Arthur Harrison, Albert Larrabee, Worth Larrabee and Allan Ellis.
In 1907, Judge Lambert of New York organized a Yacht Club at Fort Point. Judge Lambert was the brother of Mrs. Charles Sanford.
The Wassaumkeag Club was formed November 25, 1907. It was a men's club which was formed for social purposes. The first Club rooms were on the first floor of the Sprague Block. There was a pool room, a reading room, and a general assembly room. Later, the club rooms were moved to the LaFurley Block. They used the rooms now used by the Bayview Re- bekah Lodge. The charter members of the club were: Ed- ward Britto, M. D., Frank L. Marston, W. J. Creamer, L. A. Gardner, E. L. Overlock, W. F. Trundy, O. M. Noble, J. G. Lambert, H. L. Hopkins, and L. P. Lawton. No gambling, drinking of liquor or profanity was allowed in the club rooms. Every two weeks, Ladies' Night was observed. The wives and daughters of the members were invited to a social evening.
In 1909, a tent of the Knights of Maccabees was established in town. It was a fraternal insurance order. There was a Good Templars Lodge in town many years ago. At one time there was a grange here. The records of those organizations have been lost.
About 1918, a group of Camp Fire Girls was organized in town. The leader was Mrs. Gladys Richards. That group
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was organized only a few months. In 1923, Mrs. Harold Hawes organized the Owaissa Camp Fire Girls. That group was taken over by Mrs. A. Earl Trundy early in 1923. It was active until 1926. In August 1935, Miss Pearl Landry* or- ganized the Tatpochon Camp Fire Girls. Her assistant was Mrs. Merrill C. Ellis, Sr. Miss Landry was guardian of the group for two years. In 1937, Mrs. Ellis became the guardian. Her assistant was Miss Helen Barrett .* That group was active until 1943. During 1943, there was no active group. In 1944, the Tatapochon Camp Fire received a new charter. Mrs. Ellis and Miss Barrett continued as leaders. That group was active for five years. In December 1954, the Chesk-cha- may Camp Fire was organized. Mrs. George Tsetsilas is the guardian of the group and her assistant is Mrs. Charles Knee- land.
Stockton Lodge, I. O. O. F. was organized in January, 1918. There were thirty-one charter members. Some of the first officers were: Rev. Harry Hulley, Noble Grand; Willis Young, Conductor; Leo McKeen, Warden; Walter F. Trundy, Secre- tary; and Gerry Harding, Treasurer.
The meetings were held in the Masonic Hall the first winter. The second year, the meetings were held in the Hichborn Hall. After the LaFurley Block was built, the Lodge rooms were on the third floor of that block.
About 1940, the members of Stockton Lodge transferred their memberships to Sears Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 84, in Sears- port.
Bay View Rebekah Lodge, No. 141 was organized at Stock- ton Springs, June 12, 1919. There were sixty charter members. They were: Jennie Harding, Maria Howes, Lillian Lamson, Alice LaFurley Rice, Caro Leach Trundy, Ella McKeen An- drews, Ida M. Merrithew, Elsie Noble, Christy Shannon, Alvesta Trundy, Etta Turner, Jessie Young, Melina Hulley, Agnes Harriman, Malvinia Littlefield, Eva LaFurley, Emma Landry, Emily McKeen Grant, Bell McKeen, Mabel Noble
* Miss Landry married Delmont Brown and lives in Keene, N. H. Miss Barrett married Roland Harrison.
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Simpson, Cora Perkins, Rose Titcomb, Agnes Wardwell, Flora Ames, Luella Andrews McKeen, Mary Brown, Katherine Bagley, Mary Bowden, Helen Barrett, Ethel Colcord, Jessie Cunningham, Elizabeth Dobbins, Amy Coleman Brewer, Hattie Dunham, Susie Grant, Martha Grant, Robert An- drews, Clarence Dobbins, Manley Grant, Gerry Harding, Harry Hully, John Lamson, Isaac Littlefield, W. L. McKeen, J. W. Sargent, M. J. Turner, Clyde Bagley, Willis Young, Albert Ames, Herbert Dunham, Ivan Grant, John Howes, George Wardwell, L. F. Landry, M. R. LaFurley, O. A. Mc- Keen, Lindsey Perkins, Damon Shannon, and Leonard La- Furley. There are twenty-one charter members left.
The first officers of this lodge were: Noble Grand, Mal- vinia Littlefield; Vice-grand, Ella McKeen Andrews; Secretary, Emily McKeen Grant; Treasurer, Elizabeth Dobbins; Warden, Alice LaFurley Rice; Conductor, Ethel Colcord; Inside Guard- ian, Maria Howes; Outside Guardian, Manley Grant; Chaplain, Melina Hulley; R. S. to the Noble Grand, Mary Bowden; L. S. to N. G., Jessie Cunningham; R. S. to V. G., Luella Andrews McKeen; L. S. to V. G., Etta Turner.
This lodge meets regularly on the second and fourth Thurs- days of each month. For more than a decade, this lodge has been active without the support of a Subordinate Lodge. At the present time, there are one hundred members.
In the fall of 1923, Mrs. Jennie G. Harding, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Tupper, Mrs. George H. Hopkins, Mrs. Alfred Fayle and other interested parents and teachers worked to organize a local Parent-Teacher Association. Mr. Richard Libby, from the State Department of Education, came to Stockton and helped with the organization. Mrs. George H. Hopkins was the first president; Mrs. William Morrison, vice-president; and Mrs. Alfred Fayle, secretary and treasurer. Mrs. Fayle served as secretary and treasurer for twenty-three years.
The group established the first noon lunch program for the school which ran for many years before it was discontinued.
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Money was raised, by the P. T. A., for noon lunch kitchen equipment; play-ground equipment; grading of the school- ground, also for a retaining wall on the east side of the grounds. The P. T. A. purchased the first school piano and established the school library.
The present officers of the organization are: president, Mrs. Edwin Harrison; vice-president, Mrs. Merrill C. Ellis, Sr .; secretary, Mrs. George Leach; and treasurer, Mrs. Medbury Staples.
Rev. Herbert Thompkins organized a Boy Scout Troop in Stockton about 1923. Rev. Thompkins was assisted by Day- ton Bickmore. Later, Ernest Tupper became the scout- master. The troop was active about five years.
In 1926, a Farm Bureau Group was organized in Stockton. Miss Ruth Murchie of Belfast was the Home Demonstration Agent. There were twelve members. The first officers were: Mrs. Margaret E. Nickerson, chairman; Mrs. Minnie Foster, secretary; Mrs. Emma Rand, clothing leader; Mrs. Minnie Gordon, food leader; and Mrs. Isabel Harris, home manage- ment leader. The group was active for several years.
The Stockton Springs Gun Club was organized about 1934. The first officers were: president, Gilbert Ellis; vice-president, Norman Staples; secretary and treasurer, Franklin P. R. Patterson. The club met, at first, in the Hillside Pavillion. In 1935, the club purchased the Congregational Chapel which they converted into a club house.
A Women's Gun Club was organized soon after the men's club was organized. Both clubs are active at the present time.
About 1934, the Universalist Men's Club was organized by Rev. William Ellis Davies. The group was active for a year or two. Members of the club were interested in many church and civic projects which they sponsored or assisted with funds. The first Community Christmas Tree was erected, by that group, in the town square.
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About 1934, the Pownal 4-H Club was organized in town. The first leader was Mrs. Howe Savory. Mrs. Savory had the club about two years, then it was taken over by Mrs. Marion Morrison who had the club for several years.
In the fall of 1946, Col. Eugene Johnson organized a pack of Cub Scouts. The group was active about six months.
In May of 1946, Col. and Mrs. Eugene Johnson opened Tally-Ho Inn. They were assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Lester Merrithew of Morrill. In June, 1949, the Johnsons opened the Tally-Ho Riding Camp.
In 1947, a Boy Scout committee was organized. Howard Johnson was chairman of the committee. Some others on the committee were: Frank Frye, George H. Hopkins, John Seek- ins and Roland Harrison. A Boy Scout Troop No. 30 was organized with Roland Harrison as scoutmaster and George Seekins as assistant scoutmaster, on September 30, 1947. The members were: Earl Trundy, Merrill C. Ellis, Jr., Russell Merrithew, Robert Seekins, Charles Heald, Richard Chase, Robert Bradstreet, Sheldon Smith, Richard Seekins, Giles Berry and Lewis Trundy. The troop was active about a year.
The Jerry W. Dobbins Post, American Legion, No. 157, was organized March 5, 1946. The first officers were: commander, Paul Shaver; 1st. vice-commander, Herman Averill; 2nd vice- commander, Clarence Dobbins; historian, Lloyd Clifford; chaplain, Ernest Trundy; adjutant, William Murphy; sergeant- at-arms, Richard Harriman.
The charter members were: Clarence Murphy, William Murphy, George Murphy, Preston Nutting, Clarence Dobbins, Harry Stimpson, Kenneth Hall, Herbert Barrett, Alexander Milewski, Stephen Chapman, Raymond Morrison, Charles Kneeland, Irvin Merrithew, James Randell, Harry Patterson, Joseph Woos, Paul Shaver, Gordon Thompson, Lloyd Clifford, Herman Averill, Pearl Hawes, Minard Ellis, Arthur Colcord, Robert York, Clarence Stiles, Marshall Shute, Adrian Dobbins and Ernest Trundy.
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The American Legion Auxiliary was organized in 1946. The first officers were: Jeanne Marshall, president; Althea Dob- bins, secretary; Adelma Harriman, 1st vice-president; Louise Conrady, 2nd vice-president; Ruth Trundy, chaplain; Lillian Russell, historian; Lillian Ross, sergeant-at-arms; and Avis Bradstreet, treasurer. The charter members were: Jeanne Marshall, Althea Dobbins, Avis Bradstreet, Elizabeth Dob- bins, Louise Conrady, Ruth Trundy, Alice Tsetsilas, Eleanor Stiles, Adelma Harriman, Lillian Russell and Lillian Ross.
June 20, 1947, the Senior Extension Group was organized. Miss Muriel Beal of Belfast was the Home Demonstration Agent. The first officers were: Mrs. Sara Varney, chairman; Mrs. Hazel Holmes, vice-chairman; Mrs. Nina Szatkowski, treasurer and secretary; Mrs. Dorothy Cunningham, food leader; Mrs. Helen Barrett, clothing leader; Mrs. Glennie Ellis, home management leader.
The charter members were: Mrs. Helen Barrett, Mrs. Dorothy Cunningham, Mrs. Lena Curtis, Mrs. Glennie Ellis, Mrs. Hazel Holmes, Mrs. Mabel Staples, Mrs. Nina Szat- kowski, Mrs. Ivy Brown, Mrs. Bell McKeen, Mrs. Maud Staples, Mrs. Louise Hopkins, Mrs. Nina McKeen, Mrs. Hazel Piper, Mrs. Emma Vose, Mrs. Helen Dunaver, Mrs. Edith Colcord, Mrs. Ethel Clark, Mrs. Carol Gardner, Mrs. Gagie Doliver, Mrs. Minnie Gordon, Mrs. Emma Patterson and Mrs. Ruth Nutting.
The Utopian Club was organized in 1950. It was organized to help the graduating class of 1950 with the graduation ex- penses. The object of the organization was to form a civic club, for people of all ages in the community, who would sup- port projects for the development of the community. The by-laws provided for a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and a board of directors. The board of directors to be composed of two adult men, two adult women, a represent- ative of the high school, a representative of the junior high school, and a representative of the primary grades. The meet-
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ing night was set for the last Wednesday of each month. There were seventy-nine charter members.
The first officers were: Mrs. Alice V. Ellis, president; Mrs. Sabra Baker, vice-president; Irving Merrithew, treasurer; Mrs. Agnes Coose, secretary; Mrs. Agnes Coose, Dr. Ernest W. Stein, Frank W. Frye, by-laws committee; Mrs. Loraine Edwards, Mrs. Clara Colcord, Mrs. Catherine Sanborn, finance committee; George Ross, publicity; Mrs. Mary Winslow, Mrs. Delia West, George G. Smith, Ernest Beam, Merle Rainey, Chalmer West and Miss Anna Avery, board of directors.
The Junior Extension Group was organized November 20, 1953. The first officers were: Mrs. Sara Varney, chairman; Mrs. Pearl Seekins, vice-chairman; Mrs. Jeanne Marshall, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. Shelia Kneeland, home management leader; Mrs. Callie Shaver, assistant home management leader; Mrs. Barbara Small, clothing leader; Mrs. Alice Tsetsilas, assistant clothing leader; Mrs. Ruth Seekins, food leader; Mrs. Lillian Russell, assistant food leader; and Mrs. Catherine Sanborn, Know Your Neighbor chairman.
There were twenty-eight charter members.
A suitable ending for this history is a quotation from the oration of the Rev. Stephen Thurston which he gave in 1859 at the Centennial of the building of Fort Pownal. Rev. Thurs- ton ended his oration thus:
"What another century will develop-what they who shall stand upon this spot in 1959, shall witness-who is sufficiently sagacious to prognosticate or adventurious enough even to guess? Who dares affirm that the present age has reached the highest point of human improvement? Or that the next century will not witness greater improvements than the past? Who can tell that the men of 1959 will not look back upon us with some such commiseration for our darkness, and for the infalicities of our condition, as we now feel for the men of 1759? The march of improvement is onward and rapid. When or where it shall reach its summit, is not for us to know."
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"Be it our concern to act well our part during the brief day of our life. Cherishing a devout gratitude to God that our con- dition in life is so much more desirable than that of the gener- ation a century ago-let us aim to make the conditions of our posterity more elevated and happy than our own.
"Long before another century shall have passed away, we shall have finished our earthly task, and have gone to our award. May we so work while day lasts that we shall meet the approbation of our Maker and Judge, and enter upon a life of endless bliss."
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