The Bethel Journals

The 1889 Journal

Compiled by Donald G. Bennett     May 3, 2007

 
 
 

 

 

 


          1889 Journal                     Town Reports            School Reports             Gould academy          Names in 1889      Map - 1889

 

Bethel: the charter for the toll bridge expired Dec 31, 1888.

 

“The first day of January the outside world rejoiced in the privilege of coming to Bethel Hill without being compelled to pay tribute.”.

 

Corn Canning News .

 

4/2/1889: J and E. A. Wyman of Woburn, Mass., have purchased the corn packing business in Bethel from Wolff and Reesing of New York and will carry it on for the present. Their agent, A. M. Carter, Esq., is now signing contracts with farmers for planting. 

 

12/10/1889: At a town meeting held Saturday, it was voted to appropriate $2500 to be used for buying a lot and building a new corn shop thereon. A lot of land has been bargained for of Eli Barker, northerly of the railroad but westerly of and near to the chair factory

 

” Bethel: “The steamer, North Star, built by the Androscoggin Steamboat Company, Charles L. Kimball of Rumford, Pres., J.B. Roberts of Hanover, Secretary and Treasurer, is lying at her pier at the mouth of the Alder River, Bethel.” The boat is 47 feet in length and 10 feet in beam and draws 13 inches of water. It is propelled by a steam wheel six feet in diameter driven by two non condensing engines, 13 horsepower.”

 

 
 
 

 


1889 News at a glance:

Maine’s legislature chartered both the Bethel Village Corporation and the Bethel Water

Bethel: the charter for the toll bridge expired Dec 31, 1888.

 

“The first day of January the outside world rejoiced in the privilege of coming to Bethel Hill without being compelled to pay tribute.”.

 
Company. The Village Corporation’s first mission was water for fire protection; the Water Company was the organization to provide water for fire protection.  In 1889, Bethel’s link between its northern and southern sections, the “double barrel” covered bridge, built in 1869, became toll free. Village correspondents in Albany, Bethel, Gilead, and Newry were impressed throughout the year with the logging and shipping activity anchored to the rail depots; it was the most often reported news in ’89.  One reporter from Bethel is quoted as reporting, “Business is booming around Bethel depot.” 

 

 Bethel’s new chair factory expanded operations to Rialto Hall on Main Street for its sales and finishing departments.  Good news for farmers: the Wyman’s, two brothers from Woburn, Mass., bought the corn canning plant in Bethel, located near the high dam on Mill Brook, from New Yorkers, Wolff and Reesing.  In September, lima beans made the news as a surprisingly profitable crop to sell to the Wyman’s canning factory. For this year anyway, steam powered water travel on the Androscoggin seemed the way to go.  Steam boats from Rumford tied up at Bethel’s Alder River dock in popular demonstrations of steam boat travel feasibility.  At a special town meeting in December, Bethel voters agreed to raise $2,500 for buying land and building a new corn canning factory building near the chair factory property in Bethel’s “rail depot industrial park”.  The Skillings brothers are putting up a telephone line from their mill (Bethel Steam Mill Company) to the Bethel depot.

 

” Bethel: “The steamer, North Star, built by the Androscoggin Steamboat Company, Charles L. Kimball of Rumford, Pres., J.B. Roberts of Hanover, Secretary and Treasurer, is lying at her pier at the mouth of the Alder River, Bethel.” The boat is 47 feet in length and 10 feet in beam and draws 13 inches of water. It is propelled by a steam wheel six feet in diameter driven by two non condensing engines, 13 horsepower.

 

 

The 1889 Journal

 

January

 

1/1/1889:

 Bethel: The Congregational and Methodist churches presented special Christmas time musical programs.  A warm rain has taken the snow away, “Wheels have come into general use.” W. E. Skillings (steam mill) has returned from a hunting trip in New Jersey. 

Albany: George Fernald is doing an excellent thing among horses and colts – filling extracting teeth.

 Newry:  Two more cases of scarlet fever one at J. A. Thurston, Newry Corner the other is the correspondent’s daughter. 

 

1/8/1889:

 Bethel: the charter for the toll bridge expired Dec 31, 1888. “The first day of January the outside world rejoiced in the privilege of coming to Bethel Hill without being compelled to pay tribute.” Warm weather - continued temperatures of 28 – 30; runners gave way to wheels; lumber is piling up in yards.

 Newry: Bear River is clear of ice nearly the whole length.

 

1/15/1889:

Bethel: the snow has all but disappeared from the streets of Bethel – a severe rain storm Wednesday night all but finished the sledding.  Lyman Russell, Jessie Wentworth and Gayton Abbott have organized a company known as the Russell Manufacturing Co. for the making of cribs, cradles, bedsteads and croquet sets at Walkers Mills, Bethel. St. John Hastings has teams operating in Albany where they will put in a steam mill then haul their manufactured lumber to Bethel and take it to market over the Grand Trunk Railroad.

 West Bethel:  Flat land near the village school house is flooded a foot deep over the road for several rods. The Pleasant River Literary Club has formed to meet weekly.

 Wilsons Mills: In the area of the upper Magalloway through Wilsons Mills to Parmachenee Lake there are 43 logging camps of the average of five teams per camp, about 600 men in all – nearly all the timber is being hauled to for the Berlin Mills.

 

1/22/1889:

 Gilead: Still no snow.

 South Bethel: With no immediate prospect of snow lumbermen are getting anxious; farmers are shipping potatoes which are rotting badly.

Newry: Scarlet fever still lingering in the town.

East Bethel: Those that filled their silos last fall are well satisfied with the results. They are satisfied that insulage is a productive feed.

 

1/29/1889:

 Bethel: We had 14 inches of snow on Monday. A large lot of nice lumber is being hauled to the Bethel Chair Factory.  West Bethel: It is estimated that there are 1,000 cords of mixed wood waiting to be hauled from the bog to West Bethel. South Bethel: District 14’s school ended a successful term last Wednesday.

 Gilead: We have 10 inches of snow and business is booming.

 

February

2/5/1889:

Bethel: Snow is plenty and business is lively: Some days ten to a dozen cars are sent from Bethel depot loaded with oak, hogshead shook, long lumber and spool stock. Bethel Chair Factory has hired Rialto Hall and is having it finished for a store and sales room.

 Newry: Mr. Thurston is handling a great deal of grain which he grinds in his own mill. Potatoes have dropped to 35 cents in Bethel. Farmers are not very happy.

Wilsons Mills: John Olson fell on a stump breaking two ribs.

West Bethel: The literary club is prospering – two questions recently decided – the U. S. government is going to be perpetual – a voter to be eligible must know how to read and write. Ten cars are seen on the West Bethel siding at one time loading with different kinds of freight and lumber.

 

2/12/1889:

 Maine News: The committee in charge of the centennial celebration of Washington’s inauguration – to be held April 30th in New York – hope to have Maine largely represented as possible in the parade.

Bethel: The musical talent of Bethel has formed an organization; Deacon E. P. Grover is President. Mrs. Dr. Gehring is vice president for mutual improvement and recreation – about 40 members. They have hired a room at the Elms, heated and lighted, and meet weekly. Mrs. Gehring is director. Bethel Chair Factory has moved into their new hall (Rialto Hall): ground floor for offices and sales, 2d floor for finishing; 3rd floor for a store room.

East Bethel: A representative from the Sagadahoc Fertilizer Company was in town to canvass the Grange and vicinity.

 Gilead: Rob Hastings is doing a large business at his mill in Niggertown. He is sawing out nearly two car loads of lumber a day. It is loaded onto the cars here (Gilead station) thus giving employment to a large crew of men and teams. Also, a room is being fitted over the town hall for oyster suppers, etc. 

Newry: The steam mill started Monday; enough snow now.

 

2/16/1889:

“The Bethel Water Company was chartered by the Legislature, February sixteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine. A leading object was to enable the Village Corporation to carry out its pur­poses in relation to a fire department. The corporators were William E. Skillings, Addison E. Herrick, Enoch Foster, Samuel D. Phil­brook, Enoch W. Woodbury, Gideon A. Hastings, Gilman P. Bean and Ceylon Rowe. Its object as stated in the charter is to supply the village of Bethel Hill with pure water. By its charter the company was authorized to take, detain and use the water of Chapman brook and all streams tributary thereto or running therefrom in the towns of Bethel and Newry, subject to certain conditions, such as liability for damage on account of flowage, etc. The organization of the company was completed February eighteenth, eighteen hun­dred and ninety, by the election of the following officers President, Enoch Foster; Secretary, Addison E. Herrick; Directors, Ceylon Rowe, Gideon A. Hastings, Wm. E. Skillings, Enoch W. Wood-bury and Henry N. Bearce. The works were begun and completed in eighteen hundred and ninety, the water beginning to flow November first. No contract was made, but all labor and material were procured directly by the company. The enterprise is a complete success, and the people of the village wonder how they ever got along without it. The water is abundant and of superior quality. The main pipe is four and one-half miles in length from Common, and the water comes from Chapman brook, away up the moun­tain side above all impurities, the reservoir being one hundred and eighty-five feet above the level of the Common. The analysis of the water by the Secretary of the State Board of Health shows it to be practically pure, and equal to any supply in the State.”

William B. Lapham, History of Bethel, page 414, 1891 and 1981

 

2/19/1889:

 Bethel: Samuel D. Philbrook is foreman of the jury of the current session the Superior Judicial Court in South Paris – the other 11 members are all from different county towns except Paris which has two men from that town on the board. Dr. J. G. Gehring gave a lecture on the subject of “Something About Insects” to a large audience in the vestry of the Congregational Church. Dr. Gehring is married to a daughter of Dr. N. T. True – he is stopping in Bethel for his health; he is connected with a hospital in Cleveland. The Second Congregational Church has lost one of its most valuable members with the dearth of Mrs. S. B. Twitchell, aged 55. Bethel Chair factory has such a large business that its saws are run until 9 PM.

 Gilead: Good winter weather – temperature was 20 below. John Bennett has nearly 2,000 cords of wood still in the woods.

 

2/26/1889:

Newry: the school in the Corner district was closed by the health officer on account of scarlet fever.

 Mason: A. S. Bean’s steam mill is sawing some five thousand feet of spool stock a day. He has put in an elevator so as to run his sawdust in his engine as fuel and prevent having to take it to the river.

Bethel: Hastings and Thomas sold 20 Norway pine trees to Simpson of Portland for masts.  Gould Academy closed the winter term with examinations on Wednesday and Thursday and a reunion at Ideal Hall on Friday. School District 15 closed last Friday.  Sixty students and teachers enjoyed a sociable at Brackett’s Hall. Dexter Cummings of Albany is loading a car a day at Bethel depot with pulp hauled from Albany by six teams. E. S. Kilborn is sending pine boards from Bethel to Lewiston by railroad.

Gilead: John W. Bennett received a car load of oats bought over a month ago.

March

3/5/1889:

Newry: Very cold - wild day Saturday. At town meeting next Monday two very important articles for this year: (1) Empower the supervisor of schools to employ the teachers and (2) to see if the town will adopt the town system of schools.

West Bethel: The literary club is holding very interesting meetings every Friday. The teams are hauling hundred loads of timber per day, of all kinds, to the depot and A. S. Bean’s steam mill. In the month of February there were 70 car loads of freight that went from West Bethel station, the largest showing ever from this station.

Locke Mills: The drama “Among the Breakers” was presented successfully by the town club – many attended from surrounding areas. 

South Bethel:  The lyceums are nearly through for the winter and everyone agrees that they have been more instructive and entertaining than ever before. There is a larger amount of lumber at Virgin’s saw mill than there has been for years.  Gilead:  Now that the crow bill has passed let the boys get out their muskets and go for them when they arrive.

 

3/12/1889:

 Front page: reports on the inauguration of President Benjamin Harrison and Vice President Levi P. Morton. In other front age columns the paper printed short biographies of all members of the new presidential cabinet. James Gillespie Blaine, the new Secretary of State, originally from West Brownsville, Pennsylvania, moved to Augusta, Maine in 1854 “where he has since made his name”.

General news: Rain and melting have stopped all log hauling and roads are posted - crossing the river on ice is suspended.

South Bethel: The floats in the water wheel of the furniture factory broke out last Friday and the factory shut down for two days.

Bethel town meeting results reported by the West Bethel correspondent: It was a pleasant day and business was disposed of promptly. W. E. Skillings was elected moderator. O’N. W. R. Hastings was elected to the school committee for three years. 1. Voted to continue the money system in repairing highways for another year. 2. Voted to build a lock-up and to tax dogs. 3. Voted to open two short pieces of road as laid out by the county commissioners.

Bethel: Gould Academy opened its spring term Tuesday with 100 scholars – in charge of Professors Dresser and Linscott and Miss Wingate.

 Albany: For the first time Albany’s town meeting appointed a truant officer.

 

3/19/1889:

All areas comment on the nice spring weather.

 State news: The legislature has ended its session. It passed a free text book bill which obliges towns to furnish school books fro the use of scholars in public schools. The act will take effect on August 1, 1890.

 Bethel: Dr. J. G. Gehring and Mrs. Gehring have gone to Boston on a business trip.  The South Paris Dramatic Club presented the popular drama “Marion Moore” at Ideal Hall. Social dancing followed with music by the Bethel Orchestra.

Albany:  Mr. Cobb and his wife of Westbrook were visiting in town. Mr. Cobb is about to publish a weekly paper at Bethel Hill, the “Bethel News”.

         

3/28/1889: 

Bethel: Corn is selling at 55 cents a bushel according to quality, oats retail at 44 cents a bushel; eggs 14 cents a dozen; butter 20 cents a pound. Mason: J. C. Bean and A. H. Wiltham have tapped their sugar orchards.

 West Bethel: Lovejoy is still hauling poplar to the station and A. S. Bean is still hauling from the bog.

Newry: With snow going fast it is feared that much lumber for mill will be stranded in yards.

 Gilead: Rob Hastings has sent to S. B. Twitchell in Bethel the frames and boarding for a large barn.

Albany: Albany as a town is out of debt with about “$500 in the locker” deposited in the Norway National Bank.

 

April

4/2/1889:

Bethel: J and E. A. Wyman of Woburn, Mass., have purchased the corn packing business in Bethel from Wolff and Reesing of New York and will carry it on for the present. Their agent, A. M. Carter, Esq., is now signing contracts with farmers for planting. The river drivers are now waiting for water to start their logs. Dr. J. G. Gehring and wife have returned from Boston with a car load of household furniture.

Newry: Wheeling (wheels instead of runners) in March this year. It has been a long time since this thing has happened before. The logging camps in Ketchum are being deserted. Two million feet of spruce are lying at their landings on the head waters of Sunday River and their branches. The maple is now yielding.

 West Bethel: Lumbering interests are pretty much at a close except for small operations where loads can be handled on wheels.

 

4/9/1889:

Bethel: The new lock-up: Committee to select a lot and superintend the building is A. E. Herrick, Cm. M. Wormell and A. D. Godwin. They have a contract with Gilbert Tuell to do the carpenter work and with Benjamin Bryant to do the foundation. They have purchased a lot from J. B. Chapman near Rialto Hall. Bethel Chair Company is driven on orders sending away large quantities of chairs both finished and in the knock down. E. Richardson and Son are sawing spool strips which the sell to W. E. and J. P. Skillings, the largest spool manufactures in Maine.

South Bethel: R. J. Virgin has moved his shingle machine from his saw mill to his dowel mill. He has a lot of sawing of his own to do before taking on any custom orders. The boys in town are talking of organizing a baseball club soon and doing a little playing this summer.

Gilead: It has snowed everyday since Monday. Richardson and Bennett are making lots of maple sugar. East Bethel: No crossing the river with teams.

 

4/16/1889:

Newry: Parties are throwing pulp wood into Bear River. Prospects look dim for an early drive of logs.

Bethel: Bethel Dramatic Club performed the “Orphan” at Ideal Hall. A party of four ladies took the morning train from Bethel to Portland. 

Gilead: “Gus” Carter, the sweet corn man has been through the town contracting with farmers to plant corn and beans for the Bethel Corn Factory. The dry house and it contents near J. W. Bennett’s mill burned – loss of about $300.

 

4/23/89:

Bethel: The thermometer registered 90 degrees in the shade at Bethel, Friday. Sunday and Bear Rivers are at good driving height and the drivers are improving it. The Bethel Village corporators are notified to meet at Ideal Hall Saturday, the 27th at 2 PM, to see if they will accept the act of incorporation granted by the last legislature.  Isaac Crocker received a new 40 hp engine from Boston and J. F. Eames moved it from the Bethel depot to Newry by a team of 12 oxen.

South Bethel: The sugar season has closed and all that have tapped their trees feel well repaid.

Newry: The river drivers are sill idle because there is not enough water to float logs.

 

4/30/89: 

General: All areas reported on spring season activities such as orchard trimming, some were starting to plant, dry land was in good condition to work but the river drives were held up due to cold weather and lack of water. 

Newry: Thurston’s drive is hung up for lack of water; the rear (of the drive) is almost two miles from the Androscoggin. Bethel: Mr. S. B. Twitchell is completing the foundation for his new barn. Edmund Merrill has the frame ready as soon as the foundation is complete.

 

May

5/7/1889:

 State News: The commission for the enlargement of the statehouse met in Augusta, April 24th. Full arrangements were made to advertise with a few days for proposals for building the addition.

Gilead:  This week we received a few flakes of snow and a few cold days. “William Chapman received two car loads of lumber and two cars of fertilizer and plaster for his own use.”

 Newry: Bear River is clear of logs. The drive got out last Sunday.  On Sunday River they made good progress a few days but the water is so low now it is slow work running logs.

Bethel: C. H. Cobb (Is this the prospective newspaper Cobb?) has moved into the rent on Main Street vacated by Wentworth.          The citizens of school district 15 and 30 comprising Bethel Hill village met at Ideal Hall, Saturday, April 27th, and voted to accept the charter (for Bethel Village Corporation) granted by the last legislature. On Friday, May 3, they met again to elect officers and adopt a code of by-laws. The road machine goes on to the roads Monday in charge of I. G. Kimball. The town has purchased four oxen from St. John Hastings to work it.

Middle Interval: R. Cummings is in town trying to sell the farm known as the Williamson place.

 

5/14/1889:

County:  Harold B. Chapman of Bethel is on the newly impaneled jury.

 Newry: M.L. Thurston got the last of his logs into the Androscoggin Wednesday. “He treated the boys on candy when they got through.” Miss H. Jewett is teaching at No 2, Newry Corner; Leona Willard at the Branch and Ada Eames at No.1, Sunday River.

 Grafton: The Lakeside coach commenced its first trip of the season last Thursday. It has the same driver as last year, Pearly Wight.

 

5/14/1889:

 Bethel: Six white tents at the mouth of Alder River signaled the presence fo the river drivers. C. F. Aller in charge of Brown and Wilson’s drive and C. W. McPherson with the Androscoggin Water Power Company’s logs have the rear near Bethel village. The water is so low that driving is very difficult. The thermometer has been in the nineties all the week in Bethel. Gilbert Tuell has begun work on the new lock-up. Edwin C. Rowe, our popular trader, has returned from Boston last week with a large lot of new goods. (The next week’s paper repeated basically the same item but reported that Rowe had returned from the “Hub”.)           Bethel Library Association met last week to elect new officers. A large number of new books have been received-more to follow. The library now contains more than one thousand volumes comprising the standard works of history, biography and fiction.

Gilead: William Chapman has put in a four ton hay scales.

 

5/21/1889:

Mason:  Our summer school commenced on Monday, Miss Alsena Kendall, teacher, 27 scholars and not a foreigner among them. Apple trees in full bloom-rains during the week were gratefully received by all areas.

West Bethel: corn will be planted this year from May 10 to June 1. The boys are “spotting” the crows’ nests for a little extra money. Correspondent commented: “Three mowing machine agents and four peddlers in one day.”

Bethel: F. S. Willis of West Paris received at Bethel depot a board machine from Lane Mfg Company of Burlington, Vermont, which he took to his mill in Albany - he can saw lumber in this machine 45 feet in length. The row of elms has been extended from the upper end of the common to the southern end of Broad Street. This fives a double row of trees on the left hand side-29 new trees. It is the work of individual owners.  Village schools opened Monday, May 13. The Broad Street school (District 15) will be taught by Mary Chapman and Mary Eames; the Mechanic Street school (District 30) will be taught by Miss Stewart.

 

5/28/1889: 

Bethel: An unexpected blowing of the steam whistle at the spool mill of W. E. and J. P. Skillings aroused Bethel Hill people at 3 AM on Sunday morning. The whistle went off on its own and it was some time before it was stopped. Bethel Chair Factory has more orders that it has capacity to fill (right away).     “At a meeting of the corporation of the Bethel Water Company Thursday evening, they voted to accept the charter and adopt a code of by-laws. Meeting adjourned until next Monday when necessary officers will be elected and measures adopted to supply the village with pure water.”  Gould Academy closing exercises will occur May 29th. Proceeds from the entertainment after the exercises will be devoted to the (Gould) library.  Correspondent reported that W. L. Whitney of the Bethel Marble Works is doing an increasing business in this section of the county. A load of work was taken to Dixfield where it will be emplaced.

Gilead: William Chapman has received a car load of farm machinery from Milwaukee and some thoroughbred Holstein stock.

June

 

6/4/1889:

Gould Academy: The correspondent notes that Professors Dresser and Linscott as well as Miss Wingate close their year with Gould and it is much to be regretted that they sever their connection with the school. 

Bethel: Brown Post GAR decorated graves of their dead comrades. There were evening speeches at the Congregational church and prayers to commemorate the day and the patriotism of the soldiers from Bethel “and the devotion and sacrifice of her noble women  Cold weather of the past week has killed oak leaves and some pieces of corn and beans. Mr. Farwell is making improvements to his residence which lies on the line of the projected new street which will connect Broad Street with Chapman Street.  A game of baseball between the merchants and the clerk was announced for Memorial Day; the clerks won. Bethel boasts of her fast horses. Each Friday night there is a trial of speed on the flat in Mayville and if the report is true many trotters are being developed.

West Bethel: Decoration opened pleasantly. Details from Brown Post visited all the cemeteries where their comrades were buried and decorated their graves with flags, leaves and flowers, the latter being furnish by ladies of the Relief Corps.

Albany: Reports observing Memorial Day and decorating graves.  E.L. Tebbets of Locke Mills visited in town.

 Newry: S. P. Davis is running a meat cart from Grafton to Newry Corner.

Gilead: Memorial Day was celebrated with church services.

         

6/11/1889:

 Maine News:  It is estimated that the state has paid the bounty of 5,000 crows already und the law which went into effect the first of April. The annual report of the Maine State Insurance Commissioner shows that 1888 was the most favorable year for fire insurance companies in Maine since 1875. Report also notes that life insurance grew during the year.

Bethel: The new steamboat on the Androscoggin running from Rumford Falls to Bethel arrived at Bethel Friday afternoon with 15 passengers. A large number of onlookers were on hand for the landing; several took passage to Kendall’s Ferry (near the mouth of Sunday River) and return home by teams. The vicinity of Pattee’s Hall was the scene of unusual activity last week – Pomona Grange met there.  Dr. Gehring and his wife left for Cleveland last week.

Newry: April showers seem to have arrived in June. A special appropriation of $75 has been expended on Sunday River road above Lewis Eames. Twenty-five dollars was contributed for the same purpose by Thurston and Merrill. 

East Bethel: J.M. and Z.W. Bartlett and their teams are at work for Tebbets Manufacturing Company, Locke Mills. Members of the Alder River Grange attended Pomona Grange at Bethel on June 4th.

 Wilsons Mills: John Olson, Robert Story and F.T. Pennock went to Berlin for supplies and Ernest Bennett went to haul up the new road machine.

 

6/18/1889:

 Maine News: “A certain Augusta lumberman says there are 20,000,000 board feet of logs of the Kennebec drive hung up on the Moose and Dead Rivers and the streams and will not come down this year.” The town of Brunswick celebrated its 150th Anniversary of incorporation. (Brunswick’s importance to Bethel had diminished since its days as Sudbury Canada’s main (only in many cases) trading center.)

Bethel: Your correspondent, Abial Chandler, has a pension of $30 a month and seventeen hundred dollars back pay. (State pension for war of rebellion service?) W.E. and J.P. Skillings are driven with orders at their spool mill. Business is booming around Bethel depot. N.S. Thurston has six horse teams hauling spool strips to Bethel Station depot. Thurston and Merrill have four, four horse teams hauling their spool strips (Sunday River). Jordan, civil engineer, of Portland was in Bethel last week; he was employed by the corporators of the Bethel Water Company and was looking over the plant of the company.  Arrangements have been made to have the vestibule train which is to run between Chicago