The Bethel Journals

The 1890 Journal

Part II – April - June

 
 

Posted:  May 3, 2007
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


April

 

4/1/1890 Democrat:

 Bethel: Ladies Club Benefit at Congregational Church vestry – readings, music, etc.

Gould Academy: The new library and reading room at the academy is now open.  Pupils and visitors had two Boston daily newspapers, two Oxford County newspapers, Harper’s Weekly, education, literary and scientific journals. Students will give another “crazy supper” and entertainment to benefit the library on April 10th.

West Bethel: Mr. and Mrs. Francis Barker, both ill. The pine grove near the rail depot has been purchased by Mr. T.A. Chapman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the grove will be preserved from the lumberman’s ax.  Our farmers have purchased over 300 bushels of feed from C.B. Cummings and Sons, Norway. It is landed at our depot. Mellon Mason in Gilead lost his blacksmith shop and tool shed to a fire.

Newry: Joe Ramsey at work in Riley as a teamster for George Ramsey was severely injured or fatally injured. Mrs. A.N. Stowe died; M.L. Thurston, mill shaft broke closing mill.

East Bethel: J.S. Hutchins closed a private school with a public examination. Mrs. Emily Newell, Kennebunk, now here with mother, Mrs. Maria Stiles. Mrs. Irene Needham is visiting form West Bethel; Mrs. Sophia Swan caring for sick at Eugene Bean’s; Miss Helen Bartlett is dressmaking in Hanover; Mrs. M. S. Kimball, returned from Paris; D.B. Grant sick.

Mason: Names in this week’s news: A.G. Love, Miss Nellie Bean, S.O. Grover, and N.G. Mills. Bert Littlefield and Mrs. M.M. Barker. 4/4/1890: Advertiser:

 Newry: Report that the Bethel town farm superintendent, T. Jewett, and family will be leaving and Charles Bryant from Greenwood will take the farm this year.  (Part of the Bethel town farm lies in Newry. In Bethel’s 1890 town report listed T.H. Jewett as having served as superintendent from April 6, 1889 to February 15, 1890. He received $279.63.)

 

 4/8/1890 Democrat:

Bethel:  Postmaster George H. Brown died. He was buried with the rites of the Odd Fellows and Masons. J.G. Rich was employed by the Forestry Commissioners of New York to take four deer purchased on Hastings in Bethel and to be taken and placed in New York state parks. Other mentioned: Eben S. Kilborn and Hiram Wiles.

West Bethel: News names: Arthur Mason and A.W. Grover.

Newry: Still good sledding on Bear River. Other people mentioned: Mrs. J.A. Thurston, A.W. Powers wants to sell farm; A.L. Farrar, A. Tyler and C.A. Baker.

South Bethel:  L.A. Cushman making fine syrup using an evaporator. Names: C.E. Abbott, R.J. Virgin, E.F. Cushman.

Albany: Names: Henry P. Coolidge, Joseph Rand, A.G. Bean & Son, Hiram Robbins and Deacon Lovejoy.

 

4/11/1890

 Albany: Today, April 8th, we hear of the misfortune of Isaac Morrill of Bethel, formerly of Albany, in the loss of his steam mill at Swan’s Corner by fire on Sunday night, a loss of between $2,000 and $3,000 – no insurance.

 Bethel: Gould Academy. Last week the students celebrated ‘all fools day’ by a sugar party at one of the sugar camps near the village. All enjoyed the fine coasting and the fun of stirring of the wax  The boys have adorned the ‘sky parlor’ with flags and bunting for the crazy supper. Committee on arrangements wish to extend thanks in this effort to raise money for our library. Edward P. Lyon is at present engaged in G.P. Bean’s store. Isaac Morrill’s mill was burned April 5th; about 200,000 feet of lung and 300 cords of birch, etc., remained unsawed.

 

4/11/1890:

 Bethel: Our photographer, York, is branching out. He will spend the first week of every month in West Paris and his wife will manage the bethel office. Misses Abbot and Locke conduct the Bethel Post Office now and business is correctly and promptly done. Ceylon Rowe has returned from Boston with lots of ladies new goods. He say he has found the place to buy after so long a time. Ice left the Androscoggin April 14th.

Gould Academy: Interest in athletics has increased at the Academy. This week they organized the Gould Academy Athletic Association.

 Albany: They are surveying poplar pulp wood today to go down the Crooked River.  Between two-thousand and three-thousand cords will go out of Albany.   J.J. McAlister and 380 cords, Hasting and Thomas has a thousand cords, D.A. Cummings has about 300 cords besides 1,500 cords gone by rail (via Bethel depot). C. Bryant of Bethel was in town April 14th looking for beef and veal calves. John P. Mason has brought in 17 crow heads for the state bounty.

 Newry: The water is up at good pitch in the river and they are putting in their poplar and also starting their long lumber. The church at the Corner is being shingled by the society and friends. Mrs. J.A. Thurston’s mother from Colebrook, N.H. is visiting her but she is having a sick spell.  Celia Thurston and her husband have been visiting at J.B. Littlehale’s also at Howard Thurston’s.

 West Bethel: A.S. Bean’s teams are still hauling long lumber from the bog. Sledding is very thin.

 

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4/25/1890

Newry: Friends and members of the Methodist church had done a good thing in shingling the church (at the Corner) and its looks better.  Cold weather has checked the flow of water and the drive is waiting for rain or the snow to melt.

West Bethel: A.S. Bean is having his new houses painted by Bert Bean and Frank Goodnow.

 Mason: The steam mill of A.S. Bean has shut down for the present and the crews have gone to North Albany where Mr. Bean has a water mill.

 

May

 

5/2/1890:

West Bethel: Two fires in the past week set by the engine of the Grand Trunk Railroad. Both came near doing much damage. The first blistered paint on the Needham place and the other caught near the depot – ran over the graveyard smoking stones and burning fences and would have burned the hearse house if not for the mill boys. The drought was broken on April 26th with five inches of snow.

 

 

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Bethel:  Tuesday evening at a gathering in the Congregational Church vestry the Sunday School Superintendent, Mr. Purington, received a comfortable easy chair for his eleven years of faithful service. Dr. Gehring made the presentation speech. Lawn tennis is a popular game in Bethel this season. The Gould academy Athletic Association has just received $18 worth of tennis good from Boston. The club court is marked out and ready for use.  The Athletic Exhibition Friday evening is for the benefit of the Academy library. The dumb bell drills by 24 girls and boys is costume is a pretty sight. Dancing will follow the exhibition. G.P. Bean takes possession of the Post Office today.           Miss E.E. Burnham is ready to open her stock of spring millinery. Miss Willard, Miss Burnham’s trimmer, has just returned and is full of new ideas and city styles.

 

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5/9/1890:

 Bethel: Mr. Young’s harness shop is one of the best arranged shops. His harnesses range in price from $7.50 to $50.00. Many ornamental trees were set out in the village on Arbor Day.  J.S. Bartlett, A.E. Herrick and J. Rich set Cut Leaf Birch trees from New York.

Gilead: Hastings poplar drive is out. Mr. H has two dowel machines cutting 16,000 a day. Skillings mill will start up in a few days. C.D. Manny was in Boston last week. J.P. Skillings came up (from Bethel) to superintend in his absence.  Prospects are very good that the Grand Trunk Railroad will build a new depot at this place this summer.

 Upton:  Ice is out at Lake Umbagog

 

 5/23/1890: Democrat

Albany:  Sarah A. Marshall died.

West Bethel:  (Democrat) Bean and Mason have been to Boston to purchase goods for their store. A.S. Bean has begun his new barn foundation. Village school has commenced with J.S. Hutchins, teacher. Geneva Conner, returned home; Mrs. L. Ordway, much troubled; Miss Mollie Barker, teaching Dist #6 in Gilead; W.H. Farwell, caring for wife; Fred Ordway, riding hobby team; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Mason, baby; D.A. Farwell, lost cow; A.L. Whitman, from Grover Hill; B.K. Bean, Jr., improve hen yard; Fred Eastman, to Vermont; Linda Bennett, visiting; Millard Mason, home from ; Sewall Walker, moved Needham; Albion Mason, bought; Everett Dresser, moved; Cora Mason, to Boston; Bert Bean, Berlin; Mrs. Gilbert Mills, being visited.

 Mason:  (Democrat)  S.O. Mason, stock to pasture; J.C. Bean, sick cow; Rev. Davis, mentioned; George H. Brown, quite feeble; Mrs. Sarah Mason, sick; Albert Davis, hired by; Fritz Tyler, pony; Mr. Williams, head trouble; Miss Barker, teacher; Horace Hutchinson, to Bethel; Nellie Bean, at Bethel; F.I. Bean, appointed census enumerator for Mason, Stoneham, Gilead, Fryeburg Academy Grant.

 Bethel:  Thursday May 22nd at Ideal Hall the Gould Academy graduation and exhibition will take place. Graduating class: Cora Walton Hastings, Maude Everett Kimball and Bert Lewis Bryant, all were in the classical course.

 

5/30/1890:

 West Bethel: (Democrat) Mrs. Frank Goodnow , visited by; L. Ordway, visited by; W.A. Farwell,– wife’s illness; Gracie Farwell, to Bethel; W.D. Mills-busy blacksmith; Mr. and Mrs. David Holt-poor health; G.B. Mills, road surveyor; Georgie Merrow, selling papers; rain, a backward spring.  Prof. Hall of Gould Academy was in the village calling on his pupils. Lawrence Allen, new organ; Alice Billings, to teach music in West Bethel and Mason. Sadie Scribner is working; Charles Eastman, visit; Mrs. Herbert Mason. Twelve years ago A.E. Herrick now of Bethel taught a high school here and after a town school he commenced teaching Latin, French and Greek; he gave his scholars his whole time. We have been fortunate to have college students that were willing to teach whatever the scholars wanted in advanced studies since that time we have sent out students to college and graduates from Gould Academy. Seven from this district passed the town teacher’s examination and two from the Flat making nine from this vicinity with three in college at present.

 

June

 

6/6/1890 (Democrat):

 Bethel: A village corporation has been organized at Bethel to supply the village with water from “Uncle Ed’s Brook” getting a fall of 180 feet. Eight inch pipe to be used has already been ordered.  The estimated cost is $30,000 but it is hoped to get the work done inside that estimate possibly for $20,000. The Grand Trunk Railroad offers to pay $600 for water for their use and the village corporation is to pay $800 for hydrants. The estimated cost will require a net income or $1,800 to meet interest. The remainder will be easily raised from private service and also from maintaining the service. A portion of the funds are to be raised by subscription to stock and the balance by issuing bonds. The water will be brought a distance of four miles.          Mrs. C.S. Littlehale, Brown Relief Corps tea; Judge R.A. Frye, to Democratic State Convention; Mrs. Ernest Cross bought William Clark place; J.G. Rich, makes pension application; Andrew Richardson, cancer removed; Fannie Rich Holt, poor health; Frank Rich, gone gold digging; Dr. Tuell (dentist), handsome Boston squash. Holman S. Melcher, mayor of Portland, delivered the Memorial Day address in the Congregational Church. Choirs from the different churches under the direction of Deacon E.P. Grover assisted by the Choral Club presented excellent music – Laura Hall at the organ.

Benjamin Bryant is putting in the new foundation for the Odd Fellows Hall opposite G.J. Hapgood’s store.

 

6/13/1890 (Democrat):

Bethel:  The Bethel Water Company is hard at work. They have surveyed and located the line of pipe also located the dam which gives a head of 200 feet above Bethel Common and 300 feet at the (Bethel) station. The superintendent, John J. Moore of Hingham, Mass., who has complete charge of construction of the works, is already here in the employ of the Water Company. The men will be sent for as soon as the pipe arrives. Teams have also been engaged to distribute the pipe along the whole length of the line, 4 and one-half miles. One vessel load of 200 tons of pipe has sailed from Philadelphia for Portland and is expected there daily. It will require 80 car loads of pipe (to move the shipload to Bethel). The plan of the location has been drafted by A.M. Carter and will be placed on file with the County Commissioners agreeable to the law. The hydrants have already been located. The trustees of Gould Academy have engaged Prof. Hall to take charge of the academy for another year.

West Bethel: The stone masons are doing a good job on the foundation of A.S. Bean’s new barn and have it nearly ready to receive the timbers. The Grangers had a good turnout in Bethel at Pattee’s Hall; farmers are increasing their interest in the Grange due to its principles are “so pleasingly adapted to their calling”. Mrs. W. A. Farwell, home from Twitchell’s at Bethel Hill after illness.

 Mason: F.I. Bean, our census enumerator tried his prentice hand on Gilead. He spent all week in Gilead and Fryeburg Academy’s Grant. J.H. Bean is being visited by his mother, Mrs. Cyrene J. Bean. Daniel Morrill is repairing his barn. June 9th was a fearfully windy day; there was much wind damage to trees and buildings.

Albany:  William Robbins and wife of Birmingham, Conn., visiting relatives; Lyman Johnson visited by George A. Foster of Boxford, Mass. Wind storm of June 9th  also hit here.

Newry:  Heavy frost June 9th – on account of the wind no crop damage. The night crew at Thurston’s mill at the Corner finished last Friday. Selectmen are to meet Saturday at J.B. Smith’s to receive proposals for building the road from Smith’s to the county road.

 East Bethel:  All the crops except grass are looking backward. Patrols of Alder River Grange attended the rally at Bethel June 12th. Misses Katie and Lucretia Howe visited Mrs. H.H. Bean. Eli Swan and wife returned from visiting. Rev. T.S. Records will preach on June 22nd.

North West Bethel:  Herman Skillings is building a line fence; Amy Bean to A.S. Bean; Other names: S.S. Bennett, Sam Perkins; road work A.P. Chapman to T.M. Chapman; Warner Kendall discovered a petrified pine knot at Sylvanus Mason’s farm.

South Bethel:  Circle met at Mrs. R.J. Virgin’s; Edwin Smith and crew are camping on the Ripley meadow peeling an estimated 200 cords of poplar for R.J. Virgin. A Grange delegation from here attended the lectures in Bethel at Pattee’s Hall.

 

6-17-1890 (Democrat):

          Bethel:  An invoice of pipe has been received and is expected arrive by June 20th. As soon as the pipe is distributed work on the ditches will begin.  The plans and survey have been under the direction of Mr. Morse, the superintendent, and the actual survey was made by A. M. ”Gus” Carter, Esq. The most powerful rain storm of the season occurred last Thursday and Friday. Much of the low land is under water. J.M. Philbrook has sold several valuable horses this week. Reuben Foster of Boston visited T.J. Foster. Pinckney Burnham had a collision with J.B. Smith of Newry in Bethel.

          West Bethel: The stone masons are doing a good job on the foundation of A.S. Bean’s new barn and have it nearly ready to receive the timbers. The Grangers had a food turn out in Bethel at Pattee’s Hall. Farmers are increasing their interest in the Grange due to its principles are “so pleasingly adapted to their calling”.  Mrs. W.A. Farwell is home from Twitchell’s at Bethel Hill after illnesses.

          Mason: F.I. Bean our census enumerator tried his prentice hand on Gilead - all week in Gilead and Fryeburg Academy Grant. Names: J.H. Bean visited by mother, Mrs. Cyrene J. Bean. Daniel Morrill is repairing his barn. On June 9th a fearful wind damaged trees and buildings.

          Albany: William Robbins and wife of Birmingham, Conn., visited relatives. Lyman Johnson visited by George A. Foster of Boxford, Mass. The June 9th windstorm also hit Albany severely.

          Gould Academy: The trustees of Gould Academy have engaged Prof. A.D. Hall to take charge of the academy for another year.

Newry: Heavy frost on June 9th – on account of the wind no crop damage. The night crew at Thurston’s mill at the Corner finished last Friday. Selectmen here to meet Saturday at J.B. Smith’s to receive proposals for building the road from Smith’s to the county road.

          East Bethel:  All the crops except grass are looking backward. Patrons of Alder River Grange attended the rally at Bethel June 12th. Misses Katie and Lucretia Howe visited Mrs. H.H. Bean. Eli Swan and wife returned from visiting. Preaching at the church – Rev. R.S. Records, June 22nd.

          North West Bethel: Herman Skillings – building a line fence – Amy Bean to A.S. Bean. Warner Kendall discovered a petrified pine knot at Sylvanus Mason’s farm.

 

6/24/1890 (Democrat)

 

Bethel: The Water Company has received 24 carloads of pipe that is being distributed all its line. Each piece of eight inch main weighs about 570 pounds. They will use 600 tons of iron. Calvin Bisbee is building a stable in connection with his house near the depot. The Water Company has rented barracks near the bridge across the Androscoggin River to accommodate the workmen. They expect to employ one hundred men in ditching. Ayers Mason was buried Thursday; he died at age 89. Rev. Webster Woodbury of Milford, Mass., is visiting his father.  Ordination service for Frank Eugene Barton at the Universalist Church is planned for June 25th.   Marjorie Skillings, 11 year old daughter of W.E. Skillings fell from the upper piazza of The Elms Hotel 15 feet to the ground. She apparently suffered no serious harm.

Mason:  In the news: J.H. Bean, at the county Republican convention; J.H. Bean, Charles F. Brown and H.G. Mason chosen town committee Republicans in the caucus.  N.G. and D.E. Mills peeling poplar; A.S. Bean: hauling strips and edgings.

East Bethel: The road machine is in the village. Rev. G.B. Hannaford is to preach at the church June 29th; C.H. Kimball and wife entertain Alder River Grange on June 28th.

 Gilead:  Good corn weather this week. The Canton Drive (to mills at Canton) passed here Friday with 45 men and ten horses.  A young man drowned in Gorham a week ago; his body was found above the mouth of Wild River; he was buried here.  E.E. Kimball and Co. has been adding a stock of dry goods to their store.

Albany:  The Oxford Pomona Grange met with the Round Mountain Grange Tuesday. George M. Twitchell and other prominent speakers were present.  There was plenty of food and good cheer; the Grange hall was too strait so the vestry of the Congregational Church next door was thrown open to them and more than 200 enjoyed a picnic supper. Albany people furnished baked beans and coffee. Monday nigh J.F. French’s barn and house were completely burned; cause is unknown. D.A. Cummings has started the cellar hole for his new barn.

 

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