USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Wiscasset > Wiscasset in Pownalborough; a history of the shire town and the salient historical features of the territory between the Sheepscot and Kennebec rivers > Part 39
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it, clouds of smoke and dust, that defied the rapid approach of aid. We well knew that the late drought had scarcely been equalled in this State."
One elderly woman was burned to death and a lad was killed in attempting to leap a fence. Another woman escaped with her baby by hiding in a well.6 Seven miles of woodland on which this town depended for fuel, ship timber and lumber of every description, with many fields of grain, were reduced to ashes, and this tract, or devastated area, has ever since been called the "Burnt Region."
This fire in which twenty-two houses, twenty-four barns, three tannery buildings, two school-houses, a saw-mill, a grist-mill and three hundred and seven head of stock perished, was started by some men from another state who went fishing in Woolwich and carelessly dropped the end of a lighted cigar.
The next serious fire occurred during the night of October 31, 1837 when the Birch Point mills were wholly consumed.
The Whittier Tavern was destroyed on July 16, 1843. December twenty- eighth of that same year, Clark's Steam Mills on Holbrook's Island burned but were rebuilt in ninety days.
On May 2, 1845, the houses of Mr. Babson and Mr. Peters were burned. They stood at the corner of Main and Middle Streets just back of where Franklin Block now stands.
November 28, 1846, Lincoln Hall, formerly the old court house, moved to the Whittier lot, perished. The town house followed in 1860.
Then came the great fire of 1866. This fire, caused by an overheated stove, started in the upper story of Taylor Block," and laid the business section in ruin. It was low water at the time and a fresh breeze was blowing from the northwest.
1866. - Tuesday, October 9th at 2:30 o'clock A.M. fire was discovered in the upper story of the Taylor block, next adjoining on the south the residence of John Babson on Water Street, which raged until everything on the east side of Middle Street south of Silas Robinson's, and both sides of Water Street (south of Silas Young's store on the east ) and the McCrate building opposite Mr. Young's on the west was completely destroyed including the wharves and buildings thereon. Excepting only the building of Whaleship Wharf, and the storehouse on Johnston's Wharf [now the coal shed of Freeman D.
6. A chest and a feather bed were thrown into the well and on them stood Mrs. Joseph Groves holding in her arms her little year-old son, Washington. Thus protected the flames passed over them and they escaped uninjured. Alfred Lennox Groves is the son of Washington Groves.
7. Diary of E. B. Neal.
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Southard]. Fifty-five buildings were burned and the loss is variously estimated from $100,000 to $200,000.
Wiscasset has never wholly recovered from this devasting conflagration. The railroads had superseded shipping and instead of rebuilding many fami- lies moved away from the town, leaving it to mourn in ashes if not in sackcloth. Boston sent a contribution of $100 for the destitute. Persons were exempt from taxation until they could recover from their losses. Mills were erected, which were also, for the time being, without taxation.
It is gratifying to know that a record has been preserved of the towns which generously sent aid to the fire sufferers of 1823. They were Edgecomb,8 Maine: and Boston, Hingham, Charlestown, Cohasset, Brighton, Dedham, Braintreee, Weymouth and Templeton, Massachusetts. More than $ 1,000 was sent to Wiscasset from Charleston, South Carolina. An individual con- tribution of $ 50 was received from President John Adams.
The old Wiscasset House, then located on the site just north of the present post-office, for many years a popular and picturesque hostelry, together with the fine old homes of the Babsons, McCrates and the Woods, were all swept away and never rebuilt. No pictures of them exist and to us they are just houses of hearsay of a vanished past.
The greatest fire of all occurred on December, 1870. This day was remark- able as the coldest day of the entire season. At sunset the mercury was but twenty degrees above zero and as night came on it fell forty degrees until it stood at twenty degrees below zero. A fierce northwest wind swept the streets, and continued to blow with increasing violence all through the night. At a few minutes after four o'clock on the morning of the sixteenth, the occupants of an adjoining building discovered flames issuing from the store at 15 Main Street, then occupied by Jesse White, Jr., now the location of the store of John South- ard. An alarm was immediately sounded and before the fire had spread be- yond the grocery store in which it originated, Amazon Engine Company No. 2 was on the spot throwing a stream of water into the burning building.
Although this company rendered most efficient service and nearly suc-
8. The following order and resolve were unanimously voted by the inhabitants of Edgecomb, September 8, 1823, viz: "Ordered that one hundred Dollars of the town's money be appropriated to the relief of the sufferers, by recent fire in the town of Wiscasset and vicinity to be distributed as the Selectmen may direct, and that the Selectmen are hereby authorized to draw their order on the town treasurer accordingly. Also unanimously resolved that the Selectmen be requested to recommend to the inhabitants of all denominations a Public Fast for the benefit of the unfortunate sufferers; agreeably with Isaiah 58, more particularly the 7th verse." (Edgecomb Records, Book 2, page 43.)
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ceeded in getting the fire under control, the water in the town well at the corner of Main and Middle Streets became exhausted, making it necessary, at the crucial moment, to move the engine down on the bridge where water from the Sheepscot River could be freely pumped.
The Nile engine was out of order and unable to render any assistance whatsoever. The time lost in changing this one engine gave the flames such headway that the fire got beyond human control. The Amazon was next taken to Middle Street and did good service in preventing the fire from spreading and crossing to the west side of that street.
The highly inflammable nature of the material of the buildings to lee- ward of the fire and the intensity of the wind soon transformed the whole square south of Main Street, and east of Middle Street as far as the river into a sea of flame. Twenty-six buildings were burned in the business section of the town and fourteen families were rendered homeless. Many of them lost everything, having barely time to escape with their lives.
The new three-masted schooner Isaac Orbeton, which had just been built at Sheepscot Bridge, then loading with hay at Lennox Wharf had a narrow escape. When the fire broke out she was aground, but with the rising tide she floated off and anchored near the narrows, with her rigging somewhat damaged and the loss of her jib and gaff-topsail.
The fire burned with such rapidity that by seven o'clock all of the build- ings were in ashes. Many of the finest old houses and furniture along with records of Wiscasset's early history went down in a winding sheet of flame. In three hours a large part of the town had been consumed. The view from Main Street to the custom house was unobstructed. Stacy's Corner no longer afforded a place to post bills, and Richard's Rock, broken and crumbled by the intense heat, was no longer available for loafers. The paralyzing effect of such destruction on this stricken town was felt for many a year.
Fire-alarms
The first fire-alarms were sounded by beat of drum, or bugle call, or the firing of a gun from the crest of the hill. Each warning voice shouted forth the word of danger, and each settler responded to fight the common foe. The Paul Revere bell, from the time it was hung in the belfry of the First Parish Church, until it was itself melted and destroyed by flames, was used continuously as the town fire-alarm. At the time of its destruction a notice
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was published in the local newspaper warning the townspeople in case of emergency to ring the bell in the Episcopal Church.
In 1931, there was installed in the telephone office an electric siren oper- ated by the telephone operator and tested every day at high noon, and this signal is used as the fire-alarm for Edgecomb and Westport as well as Wiscasset.
The siren was at first placed in the tower of the Methodist Church on Garrison Hill, but its powerful vibration was considered a menace to the steeple, so it was removed to the building on Middle Street where the se- lectmen hold their weekly meetings, and that is its present location.
Notable Fires
1797 April 13th. Ship Three Sisters caught fire and was scuttled.
1822 On Saturday last May I Ith, the dwelling-house of the widow Hannah Boyinton of this town was consumed by fire, together with all of her provisions and a large portion of her furniture and clothing.
1823 September 4th and 5th. Seven miles in length and three miles in breadth. Wood- land destroyed and seventy-nine houses burned.
1825 October 7th. The Miramachi Fire caused a black day in Maine. 6,000 square miles of virgin timber were destroyed; 600 buildings burned and 160 lives were lost, and many vessels.
1835 June 16, Tuesday. The house of Col. Sevey on the old Sevey farm on the Bath road was burned to the ground at noon.
1837 October 3 Ist. The Birch Point Mills were wholly consumed by fire.
1843 July 16th. Sunday morning the Whittier Tavern, built in 1766, entirely destroyed.
1843 December 28th. Clark's Steam Mills on Holbrook's Island burned.
1844 November 17th. Dwelling-house of Moses Foye, on the Augusta Turnpike (Gardiner Road) destroyed by fire at 2 A.M.
1845 May 2nd, Friday. Building on the corner of Maine and Middle Sts., occupied by Silas Robinson and John Kingsbury as a store, and by Amos Tappan as a chair-maker's shop. The store of Henry and Franklin Clark & Co. Dwelling-house of Mrs. Peters. House owned by Mrs. Babson and occupied by Mr. Trevett were all burned. This site is now occupied by Franklin Block.
1846 November 28th. Lincoln Hall, formerly the old Lincoln County Court House, burned.
1860 February 8th. The Town House on Hodge Street burned.
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1866 October 9th. Tuesday at 2.30 A.M. fire was discovered in the upper story of Taylor's Block. Nearly all of the business section and many fine old houses perished in the flames.
1867 January. The old wooden gaol then used for the poor house, burned.
1870 December 15th. The Great Fire which destroyed most of the town.
1874 February 13th. Fire broke out on Dole's wharf where the store, dwelling and blacksmith's shop were entirely consumed.
1876 February 12th. Dry goods store of Mrs. Abiel Wood, formerly the law office of Hon. Jeremiah Bailey, burned down.
1881 April 12. Fire destroyed the house of Captain Trask, formerly owned by old Major Sevey, on the old road to Birch Point. This road lay east of the house now occu- pied by Emory Gibbs. It is now overgrown, having been discontinued many years ago.
1891 December 8th. The Timothy Langdon house on the southwest corner of Main and Fort Hill streets was totally destroyed by fire. Many valuable records, ship logs, and the books of the Mariners' Bank were lost.
1892 November 3rd. The old Nathan Smith house north of Wiscasset village [site now occupied by George W. Carleton ] burned at 9 o'clock in the evening. Before mid- night the new grist mill of J. C. Budd caught fire and was destroyed together with a car- load of corn and most of the machinery.
1903 October 8th. The Hilton House which stood on the site of the former Whittier Tavern, the northwest corner of Main and Federal streets was completely destroyed by fire, which was discovered in the attic and made such rapid headway that in an hour and a half it was a ruin.
1907 December 2 Ist. The Congregational Church was burned to the ground and the Paul Revere bell melted.
The Libraries
Wiscasset has two libraries. The Lincoln County Law Library which was founded in 1760, containing fifteen hundred volumes, is lodged in the present court house, with Clarence A. Richards as librarian. The Wiscasset Public Library was established by a board of ten incorporators, in 1921, and at that time was located in the Methodist Church on Garrison Hill. It is the out- growth of and successor to the Wiscasset Social Library which was founded by the townspeople in 1799.
This earlier organization owned thirteen hundred volumes some of which were rare old books, and was maintained by subscription until about 1860, when all interest in it had died out. Prior to 1875 nearly all of the
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shares became forfeited and the number of owners was reduced to ten. The shares were held January 1, 1835, as follows:
Isaac Coffin
William Beals
Samuel E. Smith
John Johnston
Robert McLean
John Stuart
Nathaniel Coffin
Lucius Barnard
Nymphas Stacy heirs
Philip E. Theobald
Moses Shaw
Zebediah Thayer
Freeman Parker
Samuel Johnson
Seth Hobart
Warren Rice
Abiel Wood heirs
Henry M. Hewes
Thomas Brintnall
William Greenleaf
Josiah Stebbins heirs
Edmund Dana
Thomas McCrate
Warren Rice
John Brooks
Nathaniel Coffin
John Anderson
Ebenezer Hilton
Robert McLean
William Hodge
Jotham Parsons
John Erskine
Abiel Wood heirs
Samuel E. Smith
David Payson heirs
Erastus Foote
William M. Boyd
Isaac Coffin
Jeremiah Bailey
James Taylor
Bradford Young heirs
Wilmot Wood
Samuel Holbrook
Samuel Sevey
Alfred G. Lithgow
William Stacy
Henry Roby
Edmund Bridge
John H. Sheppard
Joshua Damon
Jeremiah Bailey
John Stacy
Wyman B. Sevey heirs
Solomon Holbrook
William Babson
Asa Wilkins
J. Bailey, Lib n
Judge Bailey's office was on Middle Street under the great elm, and for many years the books of the Wiscasset Social Library were housed in his office. When the pressure of other duties prevented his continuing as libra- rian, he was succeeded by Samuel Peters Baker.
In 1863, Joseph Wood, with the aid of Hon. Henry Ingalls and others revived this wellnigh defunct library. Mr. Ingalls was chosen president and Joseph Wood was elected to the other offices.
For ten or more years this library prospered under the personal care of Joseph Wood, but when he left Wiscasset, it lapsed and the books were stored in a room on the second floor of the custom house.
In the year 1903 an attempt was made to revive this institution and Andrew Carnegie was approached for assistance. Fifty-five years previously he had come to America in a vessel bearing the name of Wiscasset and this town was her home port. Mr. Carnegie offered the town $4,000 to erect a free public library, but the little hamlet was unable to collect the annual amount sufficient for the maintenance of such an institution which was speci- fied as one of the conditions under which the gift was to be made.
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The original declaration of the shareholders dated January 30, 1863:
Whereas the "Wiscasset Social Library," an institution founded in the year 1799, and comprising a large and valuable collection of books, heretofore, 'till within a few years, kept in good condition, and regularly opened to the shareholders. Has not held its Annual Meeting, for a number of years, and a large portion of the books being scattered among the shareholders and others, and the remainder packed up and stored, for the want of a suit- able place of deposit, and . ...
Whereas, We the undersigned proprietors and shareholders, of the said Library, are de- sirous that it should be reopened and continued, and become a permanent institution of the town. . . . Therefore, be it known. ... That we, the said proprietors, do hereby appoint, Joseph Wood, of Wiscasset, to be Librarian, Treasurer and Collector, of said Library, with the remuneration incident to those offices as established by the present By-laws of the association, and do furthermore agree that he shall have the sole management, and con- trol of the said Library, for the two years next ensuing.
Provided: - He shall keep the Library open, and be in attendance to deliver books, one evening a week from 7 to 9 o'clock, during that time and shall keep it in good order and condition, and strictly enforce all rules and regulations now existing, not conflicting with the above arrangements. . . .
And we do hereby authorize. . . . The said Librarian to procure a suitable place of deposit for the Library, (at an expense of not more than $ 10.00 per year) call in all the books, and have the same therein arranged. And we do agee to be responsible for all necessary expenses, during that time, (i. e. fitting up cases, wood lights etc. ) ....
And do further agree. . . That after the Library shall have been recollected and estab- lished, a meeting of the proprietors shall be called by the Librarian, to arrange for a yearly assessment, to be expended in new books, and attend to all other business, that may legally come before the meeting. . . .
And finally we do agree . . . That this Library shall not be divided, sold or otherwise given up, under six years from this date.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, this thirtieth day of January, in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand, Eight Hundred, and Sixty-three.
Wiscasset Public Library
On October 21, 1920, at the home of Dr. B. A. Bailey on Main Street, the Rev. Henry W. Webb, Messrs. William D. Patterson, Charles S. Sewall and Roy W. Dickinson; Mrs. Alfred H. Lennox, Mrs. Henry van Bergen Nash, Mrs. W. Seaver Warland, Mrs. A. H. Dodge, Miss Helena Bellas, and Miss Frances A. Sortwell met at the request of the host to dis- cuss the possibility of establishing a library at Wiscasset. The contributing
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factors toward starting this undertaking and the shaping of a policy for its maintenance and development are here set forth.
There was at this time, a balance in the hands of the Chautauqua guaran- tors which could be given to some worthy enterprise. Also, during the World War the local Red Cross9 had operated a small library of donated books which had afterward been entrusted to the care of the American Legion. These books were held in custody at their headquarters by this organization for the benefit of the public; but these rooms were about to be given up by the Legion, thus making the books available.
Rev. Henry W. Webb, pastor of the First Congregational Church, who had been in charge of some of the lending libraries of the Maine State Li- brary was particularly desirous of obtaining library privileges for the town and he was likewise instrumental in obtaining them. To his personal effort the existence of the present library is largely due.
Those present at the meeting above stated decided upon a board of ten corporators and the following officers were elected: president, Rev. Henry W. Webb, secretary, Mrs. Alfred H. Lennox; treasurer, Miss Frances A. Sortwell. A committee on location of the proposed library was appointed, consisting of Charles S. Sewall, Roy W. Dickinson and Mrs. A. H. Dodge. The committee on organization was William D. Patterson.
The several steps toward permanent organization and incorporation were taken during the remaining months of the year, with the result that, on the last day of 1920, the articles of incorporation were formally approved and Mrs. Henry W. Webb had been secured to serve as librarian. The lec- ture room of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Fort Hill Street had been leased for use as a library. The library was opened for public inspection, January 27, 1921; and the patrons of the Wiscasset Public Library received their first books two days later.
The Maine State Library sent one of its staff, Miss Theresa Stuart, to instruct the librarian, and to help outline the plan of the library, so that from the beginning approved methods of library management have been pursued. From the nucleus of books and cases given by the Red Cross and the generous gift of books, equipment and financial contributions made by
9. During the war the Lincoln County Chapter of the American Red Cross maintained a small li- brary loaning books at a nominal fee, the proceeds going to the Red Cross treasury. As far as is known, this was the only Red Cross library in the country so operated. The bookcase is now in the Wiscasset Public Library and suitably marked.
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the citizens and summer visitors, a creditable collection of books has been acquired, now numbering over 10,000 volumes. On September 26, 1923, this library assumed custody of the remnant of the Wiscasset Social Library, which had been founded in 1799, and which for many years past had lapsed into desuetude.
During the time when the library was located on Fort Hill, the librarian was ably assisted by earnest volunteer workers among whom were Miss Alice D. Taylor, Miss Emmeline Weeks, and Mrs. Floyd Proctor.
The library remained in its first location until the purchase in January, 1929, of the building and land at the corner of High and Main Streets, the same which was built in 1805 for the Lincoln & Kennebec Bank. It includes also the lot of land on Main Street formerly the home of John Merrill and later owned and occupied by Elisha J. Taylor. During a century and a quarter of existence, this building has been used for banks, insurance offices, town offices, schools, church meetings and secular purposes, as well as a dwelling-house.
The donors of the land and building which is now the Wiscasset Public Library were: Baroness Branca, Mrs. Alvin F. Sortwell, Mr. Rowe B. Met- calf, Mrs. John H. McGill, Mrs. Walter G. Chase, Mrs. Samuel Dwight Brewster, Mrs. George M. Haushalter, Mrs. Alfred H. Lennox, Mrs. Henry van Bergen Nash, Mrs. W. Seaver Warland, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Theakston, Mr. William Guild Hubbard, Mrs. Mary Grant Rafter, Mrs. Frank Robert Meadowcroft, the Wiscasset Fire Society and Mr. Erastus Foote, who in addition to his contribution to the library made a gift to the endowment fund equal to that given by him for the purchase of the building.
The number of volumes loaned during 1932 was twenty thousand. Books are loaned to the residents of Sheepscot, Edgecomb, Westport, Alna, Cedar Grove, Dresden and Montsweag. Outlying schools and farms are supplied with instruction books and reading matter from this library. It is supported by voluntary contributions, subscribing membership, a stipend from the town, and half of the proceeds of Open House Day, held one day each summer for the benefit of this excellent work and also for the Village Im- provement Society. The trustees of the library have, as tenants at will, the Woman's Club of Wiscasset.
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The Female Charitable Society
The Female Charitable Society of Wiscasset is, so far as is known, the oldest female organization in the country. It has been called the grand- mother of American Women's Clubs and was founded in this town Novem- ber II, 1805, just one hundred and thirteen years before that date attained world-wide fame as Armistice Day. From the date of its organization until the present time its life has been consecutive and it has functioned year after year in assisting impecunious gentlewomen who conducted themselves with propriety. The records show that
"The first meeting of a female Society in Wiscasset was held at Judge Lee's on Mon- day the 18th day of November, 1805. Thirty Ladies were present and admitted as mem- bers for forming a Society for Benevolent purposes and seventy-eight dollars were sub- scribed."
The officers chosen were a "Presidentess," Sally Sayward Barrell Wood, who continued as such until her resignation in 1810; when she was succeed- ed by Mrs. Temperance Lee; a treasurer, Mrs. Mary Packard; a secretary, Miss Sarah Stuart, and six directresses; viz:
Mrs. Rebecca Rice Mrs. Mary Cook Mrs. Margaret Adams Mrs. Susan Follansbee Mrs. Ann Johnston
Mrs. Temperance Lee
At the time when the Female Charitable Society was started, the home of Judge Lee was on the border of the wilderness and most of its members lived either on Main Street or very near the river on Water Street, the rare old Fore Street of long ago. There in the Silvester house lived the Johnston family: Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, who with their three daughters Polly and Betsey and Sally had arrived in Wiscasset on the packet Eliza, Captain But- ler, from Baltimore but two years previously. Among their neighbors in Fore Street were several members from over the sea. Mrs. Sarah Taylor, the wife of William Taylor, who came from Yorkshire in old England about 1796 and is one of the few founders still represented by members of the same family name. A near neighbor of the Taylors was Mrs. Hannah Davis, also an Englishwoman as was Mrs. Ann Stringfellow. Another mem- ber from Fore Street was Mrs. Susannah McCrate, the wife of Thomas McCrate, an emigrant from the city of Waterford, Ireland. Their son John D. McCrate was for many years prominent as a lawyer and politician. A
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