USA > Maine > Kennebec County > West Gardiner > West Gardiner's hundred years, Centennial 1850-1950 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
And so ten acres of clay land, well-bushed, was bought from Donald Farrington for $200, cash, being situated handily on the corner of High Street and Spear's Corner Road, so-called, right in the middle of the town, opposite the Town House, and the date of the deed is October 24, 1946, in favor of the Trustees of the Town of West Gardiner School District.
That fall bush-cutting bees were held.
The new year saw the successful launching of a $30,000 bond issue bear- ing two percent interest, payable semi-annually, and to be retired at the rate of $1,000 per year.
60
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
Work started in earnest in July of 1947, when Frank Rossi, West Gard- iner resident, a contractor, donated the services of one of his behemoths, a bulldozer, which excavated a crater large enough to accommodate founda- tions 1051/2 feet long, 60 feet wide and 101/2 feet high.
George Perkins, then resident in town, another contractor, donated the use of a cement mixer, a gasoline pump and some gravel; Selectman Gor- don donated the use of a truck to haul water, and concrete began to pour into the forms for the foundation. A surprising number of men showed up with shovels to dig trenches for pipes, and Andrew Bates, whose farm was near the Town House, donated rocks with which to fill the trenches up again, after the pipes were laid. Almost everyone in town donated something, in- cluding the use of tractors, trucks, labor and, if nothing more, free advice.
The Trustees were cautious buyers. They paid cash and got the short price for materials. They finagled lumber for $45 when the going price was $60. Trustee Earnest Wiles, who had been town treasurer and town clerk for years, made a dicker to get the material for heating and plumbing at wholesale. Walter Thurlow, of South Gardiner, who was in charge of con- struction, helped save money. A flat roof instead of the type called for in the plans was decided upon, because it was just as good, and less expensive.
But even with the best that could be done by way of economizing, it became apparent that the new schoolhouse could not be built and equipped, ready to move into, for the estimated $30,000. Prices had gone up since the estimate was made, and there had been a few changes in the plans here and there, things that might cost a little more in the beginning but which would be more economical in the long run.
It was the spring of 1948, time to start building again, after the winter lay-off.
The $30,000 bond money was gone, or almost gone. It would take an additional $10,000 to complete the job. But no further bond issues could be made, nor debt incurred, without another act of legislature. The legislature would not convene until sometime in January, months too late. The town was without authority to help out.
And yet the new schoolhouse just had to be ready in September, because the old rattletrap schoolhouses scattered over the town simply would not do for one more year, or even a few months, without expensive repairs.
The Trustees of the Town of West Gardiner School District had a full- grown and mighty peeved bear by the tail, and he was dragging them through the thistles, and they didn't see how they could hold on much longer, vet they sure as heck couldn't let go. They were in what is known as a dilemma or, sometimes, as a pretty kettle of fish.
They got out of the soup by putting up their own money, together with that of some other public-spirited citizens.
Five men gave their personal notes for six months, for one thousand dollars each, to raise $5,000 to keep the work going until the legislature convened and amended the district charter to provide for the required funds. The notes were negotiated at the Depositor's Trust Company for cash, and the cash went into the schoolhouse.
61
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
If the legislature authorized a new bond issue these men would get their money back. If it didn't-well, the children could move into their new schoolhouse, anyway.
These men were Vernon O. Beckwith, a local carpenter and builder, Trustees Wiles and Small, and Selectmen Goodwin and Gordon.
And it was because of them that the new schoolhouse opened on schedule, in September of 1948, and the scholars escaped from the housing conditions which had been complained of for almost one hundred years.
Incidentally, they got their notes back, these men did. The Ninety- fourth Legislature increased the borrowing capacity of the Trustees of the Town of West Gardiner School District by $10,000. Bonds to that amount were issued, at three percent interest, to be repaid at the rate of $500 per year until 1955, $1,000 thereafter.
And did the new schoolhouse end the hundred-year-old complaints ?
Well, no-not entirely.
No scholar has to walk very far to school, now, for two new busses run hither and yon and all over town, taking them to school and home again. The school is warm, and clean, and well lighted.
But already there are grumblings about overcrowding. And a Penny Milk and a Federal Hot Lunch Program provide subjects for discussion which the oldsters never even dreamed of.
However, there hasn't yet had to be an item in the town budget for re- pairs to building.
EET
E
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
The new Consolidated School contains four classrooms of 26' x 40', and is so designed that additional rooms may be built on as required. The well is 69 feet deep and has furnished an ample water supply, even through these drought years. Landscaping, yard surfacing and grading of playgrounds are projects for the future. The Parent-Teachers Association is planning a lunchroom.
There is some talk of building a dwelling upon the school lot to house the principal. It has been difficult to hire a principal for the school because of inadequate housing facilities in the town.
Enrollment in the eight grades totalled 185 scholars for the year ending in February, 1950 and, according to Superintendent of Schools Russell Perry, the new system of elementary education "is running more than $2,000 cheaper than the rural school system." The School Committee for the year
62
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
just described was comprised of Nettie Hall, Helen Thompson, Nathan Fel- lows, Frank Merrill.
And what became of the schoolhouses that had weathered so many years of storm ?
Well, the Longfellow School was sold for $1,000, as previously described. F. L. Hescock bought the Stevens School for $500 and Leland Gilman paid $325 for the school on the Neck Road. The High Street and the Milliken Schools were demolished.
Another of the old buildings to join the ancient parade of West Gard- iner buildings will be the Brown's Corner School, which will become a fire- house, beside the Town House. The old Jaquith School on the Pond Road, will be a firehouse and community house.
There were nine schoolhouses in use in town one hundred years ago. Improved roads and methods of transportation had reduced the number to five, by 1948. And now there is only one-the new Central School, so-called.
And that, though by no means the complete story, just about brings the history of West Gardiner schools up to date.
"FIRE!"
Ask any rural dweller what he considers the greatest menace to the life and property of country folk to be and he'll reply in one word and with- out hesitation-"Fire!"
All too many of West Gardiner's old homes have raised their distress signal of black smoke against the sky, and perished because rescue would not come.
Up until very recently there was no local apparatus to respond to the call for help-only neighbors to help carry the furniture out of the doomed house.
For years there had been an arrangement with the City of Gardiner whereby its men and equipment would fight fire in West Gardiner only after the call for help was approved by a local selectman.
This has been hard on West Gardiner families who have had to watch the destruction of everything they owned, while the dicker was being made.
A quarter of a century ago the home of Frank Collins, near the dam of that name, was one of the finest set of buildings in the West Gardiner of its day. It was also the last remaining local enterprise in what had once been the proud and prosperous community known as Collins' Mills. The water power was owned by outsiders, now, and the mills were gone away. The Collinses took summer boarders in their big house.
Fire started in the Collins home, probably from a defective chimney. The flames spread rapidly, for there is always a breeze in this pleasant place where the Cobbossee plunges over the old stone dam to wind through green fields.
The family sent a frantic call for aid. While frenzied attempts were being made to dicker with the Gardiner Fire Department the tall, white house toppled into its own cellar hole, a mass of blackened, smoking ruins. The Gardiner Fire Department arrived in time to spray all that was left- the woodpile. This town paid $100 for the service.
63
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
This is just one result of the enormous stupidity with which the Town of West Gardiner protected or, rather, failed to protect itself from fire for far, far too many years. The same thing happened to other homes-too many other homes. It was not the City of Gardiner's fault. It was our own.
Many, many times an arrangement was proposed whereby the City would send its equipment without waiting for authorization of a West Gardiner selectman. But always the purse-puckered prophets of penny- pinching economy defeated these efforts. Better that half the town should burn than the town be asked to pay for a single unnecessary response by the City fire department, they held.
It was not until about 1938 that the town made an arrangement whereby the city department could respond to an emergency here without authoriza- tion of a West Gardiner selectman.
Often, through the years, attempts had been made to organize a volun- teer fire department, but there wasn't interest, or gumption enough in all the place to make a go of it.
Or perhaps it was just that the time had not yet arrived.
The year 1947 was a terrible one in Maine, when fire destroyed more property than the torches of all the Indians in more than a century of war- fare. The land was parched with drought. High winds exhorted the flames. Whole towns were consumed, and great tracts of forest.
The horizon glowed at night and by day the wind brought smoke from burning fields and trees and homes of nearby towns.
West Gardiner was frightened into action. Indian pumps were dis- tributed strategically throughout the town. There was a call for volunteers, and the response was prompt and hearty, and crews were organized to patrol the roads throughout the night, from after dark to dawn. The crews pa- trolled in shifts of two hours, with two men in each car, equipped with In- dian pumps, axes, pails and brooms. If a fire was discovered it was the plan for one man to remain and fight it as best he could, while the other went for help.
The fall rains came and the menace departed, and so did the town's zeal for adequate fire protection.
The following spring the farm home and buildings of Walter Mayo, In- diana Road, burned to the ground.
This was all that was needed to awaken the public opinion which had slumbered so long.
A small group of which Ralph Worthing, town fire warden, was a mem- ber, called a meeting in the Grange Hall April 23, 1948. About one hundred citizens attended and the West Gardiner Volunteer Fire Department was or- ganized, with 84 members pledged to pay dues of $2.00 annually.
Officers elected, that first year, were: Wendell Small, president; Frank Merrill, vice president; Harry Bates, secretary-treasurer; Sidney Harwood, fire chief; Richard Arnold, first assistant chief and Ralph Worthing, second assistant; Board of Directors, Joseph Mooers, chairman, and David Baker, Leslie Hescock, Charles Stone, B. U. Gordon, Harry Farrington, J. Ernest Dunn, members.
64
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
An auxiliary was organized, which very promptly got rolling on the run to raise money to obtain equipment. With beano games, suppers, vegetable auctions and the like the auxiliary raised in the neighborhood of $300 that first year. The Grange backed this public-spirited movement by donating the use of the Grange Hall. It is doubtful whether the volunteer depart- ment could have bought its equipment without the help of the Auxiliary and the Grange.
First officers of the Auxiliary were: Mrs. Peggy Shannon, president; Mrs. Thelma Harwood, vice president; Mrs. Harry Bates, treasurer; Mrs. Minnie Pitts, secretary; Mrs. Edna Howe, chairman refreshment committee.
In May the volunteer company bought a 1938 G. M. C. two-ton truck chassis for $175 and a second hand oil tank for $105 and the members started putting these together into something that would serve as a fire engine. Donation of a pump valued at perhaps $200 by the Randolph Fire Depart- ment was a big boost. There were ladders to buy, and hose, and axes, and sparkplugs and red paint and an astonishing number of items that no one but a fireman knows the name of.
Today this home made engine is kept in the basement of the Central School, ready to roll with 500 gallons of water in its tank, a 32-foot exten- sion ladder and a roof ladder, 1,700 feet of 2" and 11/2" hose, axes, Indian pumps and other gear. It can throw 400 gallons of water per minute, pro- viding the water is available. And it didn't cost the town of West Gardiner one red cent. Labor, material, the know-how to combine them-everything was donated, one way or another.
A second truck was bought from the town of Manchester in January of 1950. The cost was $225, with 250-gallon tank, pump, red paint-everything all ready to roll, with the exception of ladders, hose, and incidentals. This engine is an old timer, but it has given good service at more than one West Gardiner and Litchfield fire. It's built on a 1923 Brockway chassis, has two- wheel brakes and 33 x 5-inch tires. The four-cylinder engine runs on a magneto. A six-volt battery and generator take care of the starter and lights. This engine is kept in the barn of J. E. Dunn, on the Pond Road.
WEST GARDINER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
65
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
The town of West Gardiner has given concrete expression to its grati- tude and pride in the volunteer fire department. In 1949 the town voted $500 to move the old Brown's Corner Schoolhouse to a lot beside the Town House, and to put it into shape to house one of the fire trucks. The lot, 100 x 110 feet was donated to the fire department by Matthew Hunter. The town further voted to retain the old Jaquith Schoolhouse on the Pond Road as a community building and fire house. In 1950 the town voted $500 toward maintenance of fire houses and equipment.
And so today West Gardiner has just about as good fire protection as any town its size, and better than some.
The Gardiner City Fire Department will now respond to West Gardiner calls without delaying for a selectman's approval.
This is the way the system works, today:
If you are menaced by fire during the day call the City of Gardiner Fire Department. The city department will notify the operator of the West Gardiner telephone exchange, who will give one long ring on the line and notify such West Gardiner Line volunteers as may be at home. The West Gardiner operator will then make individual calls to volunteers on the N. E. Tel. & Tel. lines.
Meanwhile, the Gardiner Department will blow four blasts of the whistle, which is the signal for the city's part time firemen to respond to an out of town call. Then the city equipment will roll. If Gardiner sends its small truck it will bill the Town of West Gardiner $35 for the service. Fee for the large engine, and crew, is $100 per call. The town pays the bill and collects, or tries to, twenty-five percent of it from the owner of the property where the fire occurred.
For night fires, call the local department. The volunteers are home from work, then, and will respond quickly. There is no charge by the volun- teer department, which receives pay only when fighting forest fires under state supervision. The pay, then, is "the going wage," presently seventy- five cents per hour, for the men, and three dollars per hour for the Brock- way and four dollars for the G. M. C.
To date the volunteer department has responded to about 25 calls, and not a house has been totally demolished since the department went into operation.
Most common causes of fires in this town are defective chimneys and brush or grass-burning. Often the volunteers are handicapped by lack of water in the country. There is a proposal to scoop out water reservoirs in various parts of town, as a fire protection. The volunteer department could use some help with this project, in money, men and equipment. The depart- ment could use some more members, too-honorary as well as active. Pres- ent membership is 34 active, three honorary. It seems that the townspeople might back up the volunteers better than this.
Present officers are: James Bowie, president; Jack Wood, vice president; Frank Merrill, treasurer; Harold Thompson, secretary; Joseph Mooers, chief; Ralph Worthing, first assistant chief; Forrest Wakefield, second as- sistant chief; Directors: Wendell Small, chairman; Richard Arnold, David Baker, Roger Goodwin, B. U. Gordon, J. E. Dunn, Rex Orser.
66
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
Auxiliary: Mrs. Minnie Pitts, president; Mrs. Helen Bowie, vice presi- dent; Mrs. Elinor Goodwin, secretary; Mrs. Anna Wakefield, treasurer; Mrs. Helen Thompson, refreshment committee chairman; Mrs. Peggy Shannon, entertainment committee chairman.
CHURCHES
A place of worship was generally the first public building to arise in early New England communities. It was the center of social as well as spiritual life. West Gardiner churches followed this pattern. The first town meeting in West Gardiner was held in the "Free Will Baptist White Meet- ing House."
West Gardiner Friends Meeting House, on the corner of the Collins' Mills and Neck Roads, is the oldest church in West Gardiner. Moses Wads- worth and Noah Farr were prominent in organizing a meeting in 1803 which became an established preparative meeting in 1812. The church was built about 1813 and is still in use. The pastor is the Rev. J. H. Emerson.
Hallowell Road Baptist Church, near Hallowell town line, was built in 1836. It was organized as the First Baptist Church in Gardiner in a school- house at Brown's Corner in 1815. Elders John Robinson and Henry Kendall of the First Baptist Church in Litchfield and others of Litchfield constituted the council. The church convened in the schoolhouse where it was organized for some years, then in a schoolhouse nearer where the church now stands. The Rev. Robert Brackley is now pastor.
.....
-
SPEAR'S CORNER BAPTIST CHURCH
67
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
Spear's Corner Baptist Church, variously known as the Second Free- will Baptist Church in Gardiner, the First Freewill Baptist Church in West Gardiner, and the Freewill Baptist White Meeting House was built on High Street, near the Spear's Corner Road in 1840 and moved to its present site at Spear's Corner in 1889. The church was organized in 1826. Before the building was erected services were held in various schoolhouses. Elders Samuel Hathorn and Josiah Farwell were among the organizers. Present pastor is the Rev. Edward Lemar.
Second Calvinist Baptist Church, organized about 1830, met at school- houses near Spear's Corner for a short time. No records extant. Early preachers were Reverends Bedel, Hooper, Mitchell; teachers, Elias Fairbanks, James Littlefield. (Kingsbury & Deyo)
Second Freewill Baptist Church of West Gardiner, High Street, only brick church in town, built 1841, shared with Methodists and Baptists for- merly attending First Freewill Baptist Church. Building dedicated by Elders John Stevens, Thomas S. Tyler, Samuel Bush, Barnard Goodrich, Mark Getchell, Nathaniel Purrington. Once used by Christian Denomination. No longer a church. See Organizations, High Street Community Club.
ORGANIZATIONS
Cobbosseecontee Grange, P. of H. is the only fraternal organization meeting in West Gardiner today. It was organized in 1875, on the Neck, probably in the old Red School House or in the home of Jeremiah Pinkham, who was its first master. Marshal Giles is present master.
COBB
FONTEE
GRANGE No.100
SALADA EA
SALADA
--
COBBOSSEECONTEE GRANGE
68
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
The Grange established a store in the home of George W. French at French's Corner and in eight years had acquired the capital to buy what was the drying shed for the furniture factory at Collins' Mills and haul it to French's Corner, with sixteen oxen, and put it into shape to serve as a Grange Hall. The store has been operated for the Grange by Albert De- Fratus and Lizzie French and was leased to Frank E. Towle who ran it un- til about the time of his death, in 1949.
Present membership of Cobbosseecontee Grange is approximately 300. The organization has contributed generously toward the welfare of the town.
Cobbosseecontee Parents-Teachers' Association was organized at the consolidated school in 1949. Mrs. Helen Thompson is president. The mem- bership is approximately fifty.
Four-H Clubs, organized 1947 in Neck schoolhouse, total membership 60; Knoisy Knoll Klub, Mrs. Mary Emery, leader, Collins' Mill Road; Busy Beavers, Mrs. Grace Dunn, leader, High Street; Lucky Horseshoe, leader, Mrs. Ida Ware, Spear's Corner Road.
-
COMMUNITY HOUSE
-
High Street Community Club, formerly Second Freewill Baptist Church of West Gardiner, (see Churches), made available as a community club for use of West Gardiner citizens in 1939 by the generosity of Mrs. Melvin Wadsworth. Frank Merrill is president. Membership is 50 active, 20 hon- orary.
69
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
Independent Order of Good Templars, a temperance society of about 1871 which had a membership of 100 at one time, under the chief templar- ship of Herbert Small, ended about 1905.
Ladies' Library Association was organized at French's Corner about 1886 and accumulated a library of one thousand volumes, available for cir- culation at the George W. French house. Officers and organizers included: Mrs. Lizzie W. Buck, Miss Flora Goodwin.
R. H. Spear Post, G. A. R., organized about 1882, disbanded about 1894, named for Richard H. Spear, killed in Civil War action. First commander was John A. Spear. Meetings were held in the West Gardiner Academy Building. Members paraded and decorated soldiers' graves Memorial Day. The Post included a Ladies' Relief Corps.
West Gardiner Agricultural Society, extant about 1875, held exhibi- tions and fairs at Town House.
West Gardiner Farm Bureau: Organized at home of Mrs. Edna Howe, French's Corner in 1946. The first chairman was Mrs. Marion Hinckley, present chairman Mrs. Helen Bowie. Membership is 24.
CEMETERIES
Nine cemeteries can be named in West Gardiner today. Six are public, three are private. Kingsbury and Deyo speak of an old cemetery at Spear's Corner that was disturbed and the remains removed to the Fairbanks Ceme- tery.
Babb Cemetery, public, High Street, sometimes called High Street Ceme- tery, on land purchased from R. H. Gardiner by Simon Nudd in 1810. Prob- ably called Babb Cemetery because Miss Flora Babb was sexton for many years.
Clough Private Cemetery at French's Corner where Clough family, early settlers, are buried.
Fairbanks Cemetery, public, on Spear's Corner Road, located on farm bought from R. H. Gardiner by Elias Fairbanks, 1816.
Friends Cemetery, public, at Friends Meeting House, corner Neck and Collins Mills Roads.
Howard Cemetery, public, on corner opposite Friends Burial Ground, on land of Cyrus Howard, settler in early 1800's.
Knox Cemetery, Pond Road, private, family cemetery of Knox family, early settlers.
Rhoades Cemetery, public, Horseshoe Pond Road. Chester Rhoades pur- chased land from R. H. Gardiner in 1826. Also called Ripps Cemetery.
Sampson Cemetery, public, Hallowell Road at Brown's Corner on land of Captain Thomas B. Sampson family, early settlers.
70
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
Tucker Cemetery, private, burial ground of family of Jesse Tucker. He was buried there in 1846.
ROADS
The roads of West Gardiner were originally spotted trails through the woods. An old account tells of travelling by horseback from Gardiner to Purgatory "over a path that was marked by slashes on the trees" as late as 1805.
The present road mileage in West Gardiner is 31.2 miles. The follow- ing roads or lanes have been discontinued within the past thirty-one years: Monkey Stevens Lane .7 mile; Dr. Small Road 1.2 miles; Ware's Lane .2 mile; Clary's Lane .3 mile. No new roads have been added during this period.
Today's West Gardiner roads are:
Hallowell Road, from Litchfield town line to Farmingdale town line, 3.8 miles.
North Street, from Farmingdale line to Hallowell Road, .6 mile.
Benson Road, from Hallowell Road to Manchester town line, 1.1 miles. Asa Benson was one of the early settlers of Manchester, and a large land- holder.
Collins' Mills Road, from Hallowell Road at French's Corner to Cram's Point, 3.3 miles.
Spear's Corner Road, from French's Corner past Spear's Corner to Wharff Bridge, 3.5 miles.
High Street, from Gardiner line to Brown's Corner, 4.6 miles.
Horseshoe Pond Road, from Gardiner line to Litchfield town line at Babcock's Bridge, 5.1 miles.
Pond Road, from Litchfield line to Horseshoe Pond Road, 3 miles. Some- time known as Pleasant Road, Pleasant Pond Road, Jaquith Road. Abraham Jaquith settled on Litchfield side of Burnham Bridge in 1790.
The ell of the house now occupied by Victor L. Litiere on the Pond Road was originally a part of the house of Barzilla Smith, one of the town's early settlers, and was moved from the stream, with a small barn, when the Pond Road was built. Another house moved up from the stream when the Pond Road was built now forms the ell of the house occupied by Mrs. Ada M. Norton, 73, widow of Edward L. Norton.
Indiana Road, from Spear's Corner Road to Horseshoe Pond Road, 3.2 miles. Several legends purport to explain the origin of this name. One is that a family started from Gardiner for Indiana with their goods in a wagon which broke down at this point, where they settled, and named the road that was later built, "Indiana Road."
71
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
Neck Road, Litchfield line to Manchester line, 2.6 miles. It has been suggested that the Neck got its name because it is a narrow strip of land squeezed between Cobbossee Stream and Cobbosseecontee Lake, like a neck. An old name for it was "The Homely Strip."
Goddard's Lane, from Collins' Mills Road to Neck Road, .4 mile, known as Farr's Lane, and other family names of former or present residents.
BRIDGES
All of the bridges spanning Cobbossee Stream between West Gardiner and Litchfield have been washed out by freshets at one time or another. In this manner have the old wooden structures gone, to be replaced by the con- crete and steel bridges of the present. Three bridges went out in the flood of March, 1936; Collins' Mills Bridge, Wharff Bridge, Burnham Bridge.
Collins' Mills Bridge, at Collins' Mills, originally built by John Collins somewhere near 1854, and named for him.
Tappan Bridge, Hallowell Road, sometimes called Tucker Bridge. Also Purgatory Bridge. Michael Tappan and Jesse Tucker families settled nearby in early 1800's.
Babcock Bridge, Horseshoe Pond Road. Formerly known as Marston Bridge. Nathaniel Marston bought land from R. H. Gardiner about 1806 and was prominent in the early town. Fred Babcock owned farm on Litchfield side now occupied by his son Guy Babcock. John Babcock, Fred Babcock's father, an early resident of Spear's Corner, is said to have owned the first "riding wagon" in West Gardiner.
Wharff Bridge, sometimes spelled Wharf. Joseph Wharff, stone mason built original abutments, lived in house now occupied by Mrs. Clara Jones. His father, Joseph Wharff, a blacksmith, purchased the land from R. H. Gardiner in 1846.
Buffee Landing Bridge, or Buff Landing Bridge, at Indiana Road, con- demned by man, demolished by nature, discontinued, by gosh. Thomas Buf- fee or Bouffee, a German, settled nearby on the Litchfield side in 1790. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
Burnham Bridge, Pond Road, also known as Jaquith Bridge. Thomas Burnham, came to Litchfield in 1828. Later moved across the stream into West Gardiner. Abraham Jaquith settled in Litchfield in 1790.
CORNERS
French's Corner, at Hallowell Road, Spear's Corner Road and Collins' Mills Road junctions. George W. French was postmaster at the corner in 1844 and ran a store in his house in 1876 and served in the town govern- ment. The corner was named for his father, Enoch French, who settled here in 1811.
72
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
-
BROWN'S TAVERN
Brown's Corner, junction of Hallowell Road and High Street. Sewall Brown came to Litchfield from New Hampshire in 1792 and later moved to what is now Brown's Corner. Brown's Tavern here, was operated during stagecoach days. Daily stages ran from Augusta to Portland, past here, in the 1840's. Reuben L. Snowe owned the place when it burned in 1925.
Nudd's Corner, junction of High Street and old Dr. Small Road. Simon Nudd purchased land from R. H. Gardiner in 1810. The Nudd house, built of brick, is now occupied by Maynard Brown.
Spear's Corner, at junction of Spear's Corner Road and Horseshoe Pond Road. Annis Spear purchased land from R. H. Gardiner in 1804 and built on land at the corner. He had many descendants who were active in town af- fairs. He married Sally Hildreth, daughter of Paul Hildreth.
Merrill's Corner, junction of Pond Road and Horseshoe Pond Road. Stephen and William Merrill, brothers, settled here about 1822 on land bought from R. H. Gardiner. There was a brick kiln at the corner. Henry, son of William, built a fair grounds and race track near the stream which was in use as late as the 1920's. A set of buildings with blacksmith shop formerly operated by Walter Merrill, at the corner, burned in 1922. Ernest G. Wiles and his wife, Effie (Merrill) Wiles live in the house which they re- built on this site. Mrs. Wiles is the granddaughter of Stephen Merrill and the daughter of his son, Walter.
And she has sons of her own, she and Mr. Wiles, who have been shown how to rebuild a home that fire has laid low, and to carry on, and try hard and hope for the best; for that is the road the Merrills and the Wiles and the Spears and the Wares and Traftons, the Frenches, Browns and Col- linses, the Farrs and all the others have trudged, the past one hundred years.
And that's all there is to it, or ever was, or, maybe, ever will be. There's good and bad in every one hundred years. And roads have ups and downs-the folk we've just been with know it well.
So thank you all, who've helped us do the best we could. We'd like to have visited longer, for there was much, much more to say.
Goodbye, and may good fortune walk with you through this new one hundred years.
73
WEST GARDINER'S HUNDRED YEARS
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES
General: Harold Goodwin, Basil Gordon, Sidney Gray, Selectmen.
History: Joseph Ware, Bud Martin, Ernest Wiles, A. D. Cole, Karl Collins, Viola Martin, Lloyd Towle, Edward Byron.
Publicity: Minnie Pitts, Beatrice Adams.
Program: Minnie Pitts, Madelyn Linscott, Alice Parsons.
Decorations: Viola Martin, Donald Small, Hazel Jones.
Dance: Margaret Shannon, Geo. Dore.
Sports: Margaret Shannon.
Old Vehicles: Charles Stone, Wendell Small, Minnie Pitts, Hazel Jones.
Band: Elliott Reed.
Floats: Edna Howe.
Popularity Contest: Frank Merrill, Richard Merrill.
Old Costumes Revue: Virginia Curry, Madelyn Linscott, Elinor Goodwin, Susie McCausland.
Horses: Harold Hinckley, Milton Libby, Alfred Brann.
Register: Flora Rossi.
Finance: Ernest Wiles.
Secretary: Helen Thompson.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
History of Kennebec County-Kingsbury & Deyo. History of Gardiner, Pittston & Randolph-Hanson. Maine-Its History, Resources and Government-Starkey. The Maine Book-Dunnack.
History of the Town of Litchfield-Clason. Notes-Lloyd Towle.
HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
-+-1000
JAN 97
Bound -To- Pleas® N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.