USA > Maine > York County > Kennebunk > The village of Kennebunk, Maine : interesting facts from old documents and maps, and observations by the author > Part 2
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There is a vacant lot next. The next building was erected by Col. Enoch Hardy in 1810 and used for many years as a tobacco factory. The front part was used as a store. The Post Office was here at one time. In this building was the first telegraph office in Kennebunk. George W. Hardy, son of Col. Enoch, was the operator. The first message was received Dec. 28, 1854. The wires connected with the wires at Kennebunk Depot. The build- ing was sold to Andrew Walker in April, 1856. It is now his furniture store.
The Brick Block on the next lot was built by Mr. William Lord in 1825 and was used by him several years as a country store, then by Isaac Furbush, Sr., the present occupant. . There is a large wheel and windlass in the attic, large trap door on each floor and it is used for hoisting hogsheads of molasses, barrels of flour and other heavy goods which are kept in a grocery store. In the second story are the Lodge rooms of Mousam Lodge, No. 26, I. O. O. F.
The next building was erected by Nathaniel Frost about 1793 and first used as a country store. The second story was used as a hall until 1809 when it was leased to James K. Remich for a printing office and as such used until 1850. In 1831 Mr. Remich opened a store on the first floor for the sale of books, stationery and wall paper, wholesale and retail. This part was taken over by his son, Daniel, in 1842 and he now has it. The next store was built by Palmer Walker in 1818. It is used as a saddlers' and harness shop and salesroom. In 1825 Abial Kelley, Jr., built a long, one-story building back of the Walker store, fitted with stalls and tie-ups for teams. It was afterward used as a nine- pin alley for a few years, long since razed.
Green Street was laid out about 1800 by Wm. Taylor. The three-story brick block was erected about 1818 by Abial Kelley and Alexander Warren. It was known for several years as the Exchange. The cellar was used for the accommodation of team- sters from the back towns. The store has had many different tenants. At the present time, Wm. Downing, dry goods, west end; Dr. L. Richards, apothecary, east end. In the second story
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is an insurance office; in the third, York Lodge of Masons. Be- yond this block is a store-house and tenement. Engine House moved there in 1855 and several other tenements, owners and oc- cupants unknown.
Back to Mousam River Bridge
The first building on the site of the saw mill of 1790 is called the Warp Mill and will be described in the Chapter on Manufac- turing. Next is the store and tenement of Ivory Cousens and the paint shop of Nathan Cook in the rear. On the corner of Main and Storer Streets is the country store of John Cousens with a tenement in the second story. I have seen a large quantity of poultry shipped from here the week-ends before Thanksgiving to the Boston Markets.
Main, Storer, Garden Streets and the Triangle .- On the west- ern end Joseph Storer built a store which was removed to High Street about 1830 and with additions was the dwelling house of Capt. Joseph Hatch, Jr. Tobias Lord built on the eastern end a store which was moved across Main Street as described. The lot on which Mr. Dresser's now is, had a store built about 1790 by Jesse and James Larrabee, occupied by various tenants until 1823 when it was purchased by James Ross and moved to Pleas- ant Street where with additions it is occupied by Samuel Kimball. Thomas Boothby built a' store about 1795. Richard Gillpatrick also built a store in which he traded; later his son, Col. William Gillpatrick also traded in it. Capt. John Low built the store now occupied by Joseph Getchell.
June 10, 1858, fire destroyed the stores of Samuel Clark, Chas. L. Dresser, Shadrach L. Bragdon on Main Street and the carpen- ter shop of Benaiah Littlefield with a hall in the second story on Garden Street. I don't know the exact ownership and date of building of these stores. Mr. Dresser rebuilt on the same site. The western end is vacant except hay scales. On the eastern end is a well dug, pump installed and paid for by subscription. Dresser, Col. William L. Thompson and Getchell are all that there are on the Triangle now.
On Garden Street is the terraced lawn of Capt. Wm. Lord, Jr. This will be described under Old Houses. Dr. Orren Ross lives on Garden Street. Mr. Remich says in his History that the house was built about 1800 by Col. Wm. Gillpatrick. (This must be an error as Col. William was not born until 1796.)
On the corner of the lane John Cobby built a small store which he occupies. On the other corner is a building erected by Joseph Parsons as early as 1797 in which Miss Julia Webber now sells millinery. On the next corner was formerly a store which was
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moved back and made a tenement. In 1842 Ralph Curtis moved a building from his lane to this site and was fitted up as a store and tenement. The date, 1842, on the front is the date of re- moval, not of building. This store is occupied by William Fair- field.
We now cross another lane. There are several small houses in the two lanes. Nearly in front of the latter and crossing Main Street diagonally is Scotchman's Brook enclosed now in a stone culvert, where once was a log bridge near the water. There is no trace of the brook from the street. On the eastern corner is a house built by Capt. George Perkins probably in the early 1800's. It is enclosed like all of the houses with a fence at the corner of which for many years has been a cannon, muzzle in the ground. It was brought from sea by Capt. Wm. Lord, Jr. The house has been used part of the time by two families, then one side was used for a store. Capt. Wm. Lord Jr., purchased it about 1855 and it was again changed for two tenements. Capt. Israel Durrell has the west side and Christopher Littlefield the east side. Next is the carpenter shop of Benaiah Littlefield and his sons, built after the fire of June 10, 1858. The next building was moved there many years ago by Joseph Moody from the Sea Road. It was occupied by Palmer and Andrew Walker in part- nership, from about 1835 to 1844, then by Andrew Walker until 1856. The Post Office was moved here about 1857 from Colonel Thompson's store on the Triangle. Evat Willard was Postmaster then, Wm. Fairfield is now.
The two-tenement house of John Cousens occupied by him and Simon L. Whitten was formerly the store of Joseph Moody and stood opposite the house of James Titcomb. It was moved here (date unknown). The Sewall field, enclosed with a neat hedge, extends to the residence of Wm. B. Sewall. It was built by John U. Parsons in 1814. He sold in 1816 to Daniel Sewall. At his death in 1842 it came into the possession of the present owner. In this lane is also the house of Loammi H. Kimball, moved from the site of the Baptist Church.
The house on the east corner on Main Street was built by Ste- phen Furbush in 1797. It was bought by Capt. John Hill in 1858. It is now two tenements, Capt. Hill has the east and Andrew Walker the west end. Joseph Porter bought a lot on Main Street in 1802 and the next year erected a building, one half of which he used for a tin shop, the other half for a dwelling. A few years later he removed to Summer Street. The building was sawed in two and made into two dwellings. One was occupied by his son, Horace until he built his present house in 1848, now occupied by
-
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his heirs. (His old one was removed to Brown Street.) The other part was moved a few rods east and was occupied a few years by Joshua Tolford, a jeweler. It was then sold to Palmer Walker and was destroyed by fire Aug. 3, 1824. On its site Mr. Walker in 1826 built a larger house which he now occupies.
John H. Bartlett bought the next lot in 1804. He was a farmer with a farm just outside the village. He built a house, barn and other buildings. Fire started in his barn Aug. 3, 1824, and burned all of his buildings. He rebuilt the next year, sold in 1852 to Dr. E. G. Stevens and he in 1859 to Capt. Edward Nason who now occupies it.
The next lot was purchased of the Storers in 1807 by Daniel Hodsdon and Jamin Savage. They erected a three-story building which they used as a warehouse and cabinet maker's shop. Sav- age retired and Edward White took his place. This building was also burned Aug. 3. Oliver Bartlett built a dwelling and bake- house on the same site. He sold to Oliver Raitt and he to Mrs. Martha Hartwell in 1858. She enlarged and occupies it. The bank block was built by Waterston and Pray in 1806. They sold in 1817 to John U. Parsons & Co. The inside was badly damaged by the fire of Aug. 3, but the walls left standing in a fair con- dition. Soon after the fire it was sold to Isaac Lord of Effing- ham, N. H., who repaired the buuilding. The eastern end, first story, was occupied by his sons, James and Isaac Lord, general merchandise, succeeded by Edwin C. Frost who now occupies it. The western end was occupied by Major Barnabas Palmer, who also kept the Post Office there. He was succeeded by the Misses L. K. and J. Wells, millinery. They now occupy it. On the sec- ond floor were the law offices of Edw. E. Bourne and William B. Sewall. When the Ocean Bank was organized, May 25, 1854, Mr. Sewall removed his office to his house and the bank occupied the west corner room. There is an outside stairway and entrance. Joseph Titcomb is president and Christopher Littlefield cashier. Mr. Bourne was succeeded in his office by his son, E. E. Bourne, Jr., and James M. Stone. The third floor is Mousam Hall, known at one time as Union Hall. It was used for various purposes un- til May 8, 1845, when Mousam Lodge, I. O. O. F., was organized. It was their lodge room until 1858 when they removed to the block of Mr. William Lord. After the block was repaired it was known for several years as the Phoenix Building.
There was and had been for several years a small building east of the Brick Block either built or moved there, and it had been used as a store by several different tenants. This also was burned Aug. 3. An annex to the old Brick was built in 1825 by
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Daniel Wise, Jr., the end fronting Main Street was brick, the remainder wood. It was used as a store a few years. The third story was used by the Masons for a lodge room until 1834. The building was sold to Jonathan Stone of Kennebunkport, in 1835, who converted the annex into a public house-the Mousam House. He was here about two years, when he sold to Simon L. Whitten and his father-in-law, Mr. Hinds, who occupied it about two years. They were succeeded by Benj. F. Goodwin. He kept it as a boarding house until 1855 when he hung up a sign, "Mousam House," which it now is. There are hay scales on the eastern corner and a large stable on Fletcher street. Elisha Chadbourne had a blacksmith shop in the rear of the Old Brick with en- trance on Fletcher Street .. This was also burned in the fire of Aug. 3. He sold the lot to Humphrey Chadbourne and Paul Jun- kins who put up a large building for a salesroom and the manu- facture of furniture. They now occupy it.
Fletcher Street was laid out in 1797. On the eastern corner is the store of John Osborn & Co., built about 1815. They have traded here since that time and deal in all kinds of goods, hard or soft, wet or dry. It is a favorite stopping place for the team- sters from the back towns with their loads of ship-timber and lumber for the yards at the Landing and Kennebunkport. They usually stop going and coming. John lives in the house built by his father, James (the village schoolmaster in 1790). The old schoolhouse is in the back end of the Meeting House yard. The lot was bought of Joseph Storer in 1797 by a Syndicate of Citi- zens and the schoolhouse built. It has been the princpal house of the District, and here all school meetings are held, some of them lively ones.
The Church is described in another Chapter. In front at the intersection of the streets is the Town Pump, a flag pole and a sign post inscribed, "Boston 79 miles, Portland 26 miles." Diag- onally across Main Street is the building erected by James Kim- ball and Parker Webster in 1805. The Hall in the second story was first called Webster's Hall, then Assembly Hall, now it is Washington Hall. In this hall was held the first Masonic meet- ing in Wells, Dec. 28, 1812, and here York Lodge was instituted. March 9, 1813. The hall has been used for various purposes- Town Meetings have been held here since 1858. On the corner first story is the jewelry store of Phineas Stevens. There are two other stores which have had many different occupants.
The next house east was built by Dr. Ebenezer Rice prior to 1770. A house beyond, built by Benj. Dighton was removed when the Methodist Church was built in 1858. It was dedicated July
Wy DOWNING
馨認豫酸
Warren Block, formerly on site of present Town Hall
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28, 1858. In the early part of the 19th century there was a burial lot near the Unitarian Church owned by John Low. The first burial in it was that of Mrs. Joseph Storer who died in 1790. In 1816 Mr. Low sold three-fourths of an acre including this lot to a company who organized the Kennebunk Burial Ground, now known as the Old Cemetery, and nearly all who died before 1854 were buried here, except that after Mt. Pleasant was incorpo- rated in 1843 some were buried there, and probably some in pri- vate lots of which there is now no trace. In 1854 Hope Cemetery was incorporated and since then many have been removed from other lots as well as the first burial.
Near the present entrance to Hope Cemetery there used to be a schoolhouse, long since removed, and which after being in sev- eral locations, is now on Brown Street as the dwelling of Mrs. (Taylor) Roberts. Near here was also the blacksmith shop of Benj. Simpson. The Pound was also near here, where stray cat- tle and hogs found in the streets were impounded until bailed out. I suppose that this belonged to the Town, as the pound keeper was a town officer.
Barnard Street was the old road. I do not find the date when the new road was laid out. It was accepted as a County Road in 1850, but I think had been in use many years before that. The Unitarian Society bought a lot for a Parsonage of Horace Porter in 1833. Probably built soon after. They sold it in 1850 to Capt. Thomas Lord who now occupies it. James Osborn, Jr., built a house at the intersection of the Old and New Saco Roads about 1820.
(Advertisement in the Kennebunk Gazette, Apr. 18, 1830.) (Barnard Street)
"Bracy Curtis offers for sale at Auction the Wm. B. Nason Farm (formerly known as the Currier Farm) situated a few rods east of Rev. Mr. Wells Meeting House, containing about 45 acres with Farm Buildings."
(The buildings were torn down a few years later.)
The Barnard Tavern, built about 1776, was occupied by him until his death, then by his widow, later by Timothy Frost, now by Col. Wm. L. Thompson. Henry Jordan lives in the house built by Benj. Simpson in 1816. Owen E. Burnham on the Sam- uel Gilpatric farm. He built a new house in 1858. There is a handsome hedge on the north side of the road from the Jordan farm to the top of the hill. This was set out by Major Barnabas Palmer, who bought of the Kimballs'. It is now called the Hedge Farm. Major Palmer sold to Jacob Russell who built the-
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brick house in 1856-7. Joel Larrabee built on the opposite side in 1858. William Patten perhaps operates the sawmill.
The preceding pages partially describe Main Street and Saco Road as it was then called about 1860.
From the address of Mr. Walker and what we learn from the Town Histories, the western side of the river was nearly all a wilderness in 1790. Major William Jefferds had purchased of Dominicus Lord the house which he built in 1783 on the lot that he commenced to clear Apr. 19, 1775, and opened it as a Tavern. He also had a Fulling or Cloth Mill a few rods down the river. His wife was Olive, sister of Richard Gillpatrick, who had a blacksmith shop near the bridge and a small house near Jef- ferds'. There is an iron factory of some sort at the western end of the Lower Dam. This seems to indicate that the dam was built previous to 1790. Dominicus Lord lived in a small house on Pleasant Street, Major Nathaniel Cousens on the hill and Rev. Daniel Little on the Branch, or perhaps it would be better to say Harriseeket Road. This is about all that we know of the west side in 1790. We will mention a few of the events from that time to 1860.
In 1796 the road was laid out by the west side of the Jefferds Tavern to the Sea. (There may have been a path or trail there before.) High Street was laid out soon after 1800. The Turn- pike was built about 1803 and 1804. How far York Street ex- tended before that time I do not know. I do not know why the Turnpike was not built straight to Jefferds' Tavern. The building of it shortened the route to the western part of the Town and diverted the travel from Harriseeket.
Fletcher Street was laid out in 1797.
The Mill property and land of the Mousam Manf. Co. was pur- chased by Mr. Wm. Lord, June 29, 1854.
Brown Street was laid out by the Mousam Manf. Co. through their field in 1843-4-5 and accepted by the Town later. Edw. Pierson removed his Tannery from Curtis Lane to just below the western end of the lower dam in 1811. He erected the buildings now occupied by George Leach's Machine Shop (which was the Grist Mill of Jefferds and Gillpatrick) and the Planing, Sash, Blind and Door Mill of J. H. Ferguson & Co.
Major Jefferds enlarged the Tavern to its present dimensions in the late 1700's or early 1800's. The house of Richard Gillpat- rick was enlarged and made one of the most elegant in Town. He sold to the Factory Company in 1825 and they converted it into two tenements. John Low built a house before 1800 opposite the
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Tavern on High Street. This was sold about 1857 to Rev. J. A. Swan who enlarged and now occupies it.
Dr. Samuel Emerson built a house on Pleasant street in 1798 where he resided until his death in 1851. It was sold in 1855 to Joseph Parsons who occupies it. Alexander G. Fernald lives in the Major Cousens house. The date he bought it is unknown. Nathaniel Cousens, Jr., started a house in 1790 and sold to Joseph Thomas who finished it and lived there until his death in 1830. George Mendum now owns it. Nathaniel Mendum built about 1800. His widow and daughters now occupy it. His daughter, Lydia (Mrs. Putnam Hartshorn) has a private school in an upper room which I and many of that generation attended.
Rev. Nathaniel K. Sargent, an ex-Free Will Baptist preacher, removed to Kennebunk from Wells in 1833. He resides on the corner of High and Cross Streets. He is now a wheelwright and carriage builder. He built the first two hearses used in Kenne- bunk. The house of Capt. Joseph Hatch, Jr., was formerly the store of Joseph Storer. It was moved from the Triangle about 1830.
Soon after 1800 part of the Iron Works Factory at the western end of the lower dam was moved to the intersection of York and High Streets and became the blacksmith shop of Dimon Gillpat- rick (son of Richard). He also built about that time, the large two-story house opposite on High street. He was succeeded in the shop and house by his sons, Daniel and Richard, who now oc- cupy them. In a two-story building, west end near the street, was formerly the private school of Dimon's daughter, Olive Gil- patrick. After the sale of his factory property in 1825, Richard Gillpatrick built a house on Pleasant Street where he resided un- til his death in 1828. It is now occupied by his son-in-law, Judge Edw. E. Bourne. The Dominicus Lord house was long since re- moved.
Rev. Edmund Worth, pastor of the Baptist Church, came to Kennebunk in June, 1856. He lives in a house east of Judge Bourne, built by Edmund Lord, son of Dominicus, on the same site. The house of Timothy Varney on the corner of York and Friend Streets was probably built about 1840. He has a foun- dry and shop for the manufacture of plows and other agricultural implements. George W. Wallingford, Sr., built in 1804. It is oc- cupied by Geo. W. Wallingford, Jr. The small one story building on the east corner of York and Friend Streets, now the office of Dr. N. E. Smart, was formerly the schoolhouse of the east side of the river and was used as such until the building of the Swan Street schoolhouse in 1856. Porter Sands, stage agent, built the
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house on the corner of York and Swan Streets about 1826. He ·died in 1831. It was occupied from 1850 to 1858 by Rev. J. A. Swan, now by Dr. N. E. Smart. Mt. Pleasant burial ground was incorporated in 1843.
The building of the cotton factory in 1830-1-2 or 3 brought many new families into the village and it employed many per- sons. After it was burned in 1850 many of them had to remove to other places. A description of the mill, or what we know of it, will be given under Manufacturing.
The Stage Coach days made lively times in Kennebunk. The first coach was by Josiah Paine in 1810, Portland to Boston in two days. This being a success a company was formed as early. as 1820. The Portland Stage Company was incorporated in 1824. Kennebunk was half way between Portland and Portsmouth and the east and west bound coaches crossed here at noon and stopped at Jefferds' Tavern for dinner and to change horses. Nathaniel M. Towle was then the landlord. Mr. Remich says in his History that twice each secular day both from the east and west coaches drawn by four horses rolled along the streets of the village often followed by one, two, and occasionally three, extras all loaded to the utmost capacity of the vehicle. As the horses were changed here much stable room and blacksmith work was required. I heard Edw. P. Burnham say in an address here, that one could go to Boston by the mail stage in 14 hours. The last coach from Portland to Portsmouth was Jan. 28, 1843.
The building of the P. S. & P. R. R. changed all this. Now there is only the coach to meet the trains, also a local coach daily from here to Saco via Kennebunkport, and one to Portsmouth every second day.
The preceding pages give some idea of what it was in 1860 and what the changes have been since 1790. It is a partial rec- ord of what others have seen. The riding horseback of the early days is now rarely seen. The one-horse-chaise and wagons of all descriptions have taken its place. The stage coaches which made the streets lively for nearly twenty years, have been su- perseded by the railroad train at Kennebunk Depot. Ox teams do nearly all of the teaming although horses are used on the road. Freight which used to come by Coaster to Kennebunkport now comes by train to Kennebunk Depot.
In the directory of 1860, following this chapter, the word "trader" is used. Nearly all of the storekeepers keep what was called a Country Store. They have a few dry goods, crockery, groceries, anything needed that will sell. They go to Boston Spring and Fall, for new goods. There are no traveling sales-
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men. They will exchange barter or trade for butter, eggs, veg- etables, poultry, wood or anything the farmer has to sell. A great many living in the village are farmers in a small way. They have a garden and perhaps a field a little outside which they cultivate. They keep a cow, a flock of hens, raise chickens, keep a pig, which grows by Fall into a hog and some take pride in raising a big one. It is killed when cold weather comes and if you wish, Norris Wiggin will smoke the hams and make you sausages. They get some farmer to come with his ox-team and plow their garden and field, haul out their dressing or fertilizer. If you have a wood lot, he also hauls the wood to your door. If you have a day's work you are expected to invite him to take dinner with you.
If you belong to the Fire Society you are required to have a ladder that will reach the roof, an ash safe in the cellar, two leather buckets and a bag. The inspector will call each year and if your equipment is not in order you are fined. Droves of cat- tle and hogs are seen on Main Street traveling west to the Brighton Market. The drover will trade at any time. The tin peddler will furnish tin ware in exchange for rags and old iron. The soft soap peddler will furnish soap in exchange for wood ashes. Many make their own soap. If you do not own a wood lot you buy your cord wood of the farmer. Saw or hire some one to cut it into stove lengths. There is no coal.
Nearly all houses have two or three fireplaces and a brick oven. Most of the people have stoves but some still use the fire- place and oven. There is no ice. You keep your milk and vege- tables in the cellar. The butcher sells meat from the cart; the milk dealer milk from the can if you do not keep a cow. You get your water from your well or go to your neighbor's. There are no sewers and no bath tubs.
Ox teams break the snow road in winter. You have a high- way tax to work out on the road. Kerosene oil is just coming and will take the place of whale oil, fluid and candles. If you want to talk with your friends, go where they are. There are no telephones. This is a part of what Kennebunk was in 1860 as I saw it and remember it.
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