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The Bethel Journals The 1891 Journal Part One Posted: January 8,
2009 |
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January 1891 Mason: The
New Year is before us and we shall grope our way blindly on hoping, fearing,
certain of nothing save the ever present now. If breaking roads is fun, we
have had enough for one month. Master Ted
Skillings, who is attending school in A most
satisfactory change has been made in out mail service recently and much
credit is due to our postmaster, Mr. G.P. Bean, for his efforts to bring it
about in answer to the desires and wishes of the patrons of this office. By
this change we now have a mail on the Mr. J. M.
Bartlett has just finished hauling some 50,000 feet of pine timber for Eben
s. Kilborn. This timber was cut on Mr. Kilborn’s land and hauled to his mill
in this village. Large quantities of wood are being hauled into the village
but the weather and depth of the snow has caused some delay. Mason: The New Year is
before us and we shall grope our way blindly on hoping, fearing, certain of
nothing save the ever present now. If breaking roads is fun, we have had
enough for one month. Newry: December has been a month of cold and snow,
nearly four feet of snow, say the woodsmen. The breaking teams have been out
in full force and have had a hard time of it lately. The school at Newry
Corner commenced one week ago Monday, Rev. Mr. Bryant, the minister in charge
of the circuit, is the teacher. The Brown Post
G.A.R. and Ladies Relief held a reunion and sociable at the Bethel House last
Tuesday. There was a supper and whist at the hotel in the early evening and
afterwards dancing at Ideal Hall. Eben S. Kilborn has his house on State Senator Nutting made a short visit
here. Mr. Nutting, it will be remembered by some of the older residents of William Jackson of Bridgton and family has
recently moved into the Sanderson house in Kimball Park. He has worked at the
Bethel Chair Factory for the past year but his family has just arrived. A.E.
Morrison, insurance agent from Mason: Some of our people were
hauling potatoes to Newry: Walter Foster is hauling ash
and maple to J.A. Thurston’s mill at the Corner. Amos Frost has bought a
stand in the village at Bethel Hill. Friday evening the Hanover Dramatic Club
gave entertainment at Newry Corner. “Bread upon the Waters” and other pieces
played to a full house. Virgil Foster had his finger crushed in a dowel lathe
last week working at J.A. Thurston’s mill. Mason: Our birch
haulers report the snow three and a half feet deep in the vicinity of pluckily held
onto the reins and escaped without serious injury although one horse was cut. |
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February
1891 John M. Philbrook
and Henry E. Bartlett have been drawn traverse jurors for our February term
of court from this town. The Universalist Society met with Mr. And Mrs. S.D.
Philbrook last Wednesday evening. The principal subject under consideration
was Miss Grace Carter has been assisting in the
post office during Miss Locke’s absence.
Judge Foster, W.E. Skillings and wife, Ceylon Rowe and G.A. Hastings
were at Middle Intervale: A very interesting
social meeting was held January 26th at Calvin Sanborn’s home.
Aunt Nancy with a large group of young people was present. Such assemblies
should be more frequent at houses in this vicinity. The Ladies Aid met on
January 29th with Mrs. H. Bean. A.M. (Gus) Carter is away at Newry: Amos Frost has taken unto
himself a wife, a Newry: The weather has been good
enough lately to satisfy even the most inveterate grumbler. The snow has
settled with these thaws in the open land but not in the woods. Amos Frost is about to move to Bethel Hill
with his new bride. E.B. Knapp and his brother from Mason: Teaming is good on the main
roads but hard breaking in the woods. R.K. Morrill of Norway went up to
(passing through Mason) Wild River Monday with his horse team to work for
D.R. Hastings & Company hauling sawed timber to Gilead station. A.G.
Lovejoy is hauling birch and spruce to Locke Mills: The spool mill was burned to the ground Sunday night, February 8th.
It is supposed to have caught in the engine room. It is a loss to the company
and throws about fifty men out of employment. All that saved the village was
the quantity of snow on the buildings and around them. |
In
photo above, the arrow points to Tebbetts’ mill that burned during night of
February 8 and 9, 1891. Right, map illustration shows mill location
relative to Locke’s Mills village center.
Buildings L to R: Moses Houghton home, Stowell’s store, mill office,
mill, Woodsum’s store, church. Right: map depicts an abbreviated layout of the
Locke Mills village area. (Photo
was copied from the collection of Stephen T. Seames. Map is based on the
Oxford County 1880 maps - also provided by Mr. Seames.)
Click
photo to enlarge it
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The first annual
ball of the Bethel Fire Department was held at the Bethel House last Friday
evening. Leslie H. Mason of Bethel Hill has put 600
cords of poplar on the banks of Stony Brook in Newry this winter. Curtis
Abbott of Middle
Intervale: Mrs. Clarke Caswell will entertain Ladies Aid. Mr. York, our
excellent artist has a new camera for general viewing. D.M. Kimball is
getting out material for a hen house and a hog house. Mason: J.C. Bean has purchased a new evaporator
for making maple syrup. Should it on trial make good the recommendations of
the market it will be a boon to sugar makers. F.I. Bean is hauling spruce
timber from his Murphy lot to I.A. Bean’s mill. Newry: The good sledding keeps
everyone busy and the gossip is down to its lowest ebb. Potatoes are being
freely marketed. They are shipped at |
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March 1891 In 1891, the selectmen also held positions
as road commissioners which were a new town organization. G.P. Bean was
elected Auditor of Bethel. J.U. Purington was elected Treasurer. L.T. Barker
was elected town clerk. The new position of supervisor of schools replaced
the previous superintending school committee. (See the 1890 School Report
which was pointedly critical of Art. 17th. To see if the town will grant and raise a
sum of money for the benefit of West
Bethel Public Library Association. Art. 18th. To see if the town will vote to buy a road machine, and raise a sum of money to pay for the same. Art. 19th. To see if the town will vote to make any change in system of text books, especially Wheeler's
Arithmetic, purchased and introduced by the school
committee the past season. Art. 20th. To see if the town will vote to raise
money for repairs on school-houses, and
how much. Art. 21st. To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise for the purchase of school text-books. Art. 22d. To see if the town will vote to raise a sum of money to procure the writing and publication of the history
of the town in accordance with Ch. 3, section 47,
Revised Statutes. Voted to appropriate
$300. Art. 23d. To see if the town will vote to grant and
raise a sum of money, estimated at $500,
to pay the expense of re-shingling the toll bridge, so called. Art. 27th. To see if the town will vote to exempt a
mill or factory and the machinery therein, for the term of ten years which
may be built at Note: the full warrant for the 1891 town
meeting can be found in the town reports section following December news. Newry: New officers
are: Moderator of Town Meeting: N.S. Baker; Clerk and Treasurer: Jacob A.
Thurston; Selectmen: S.R. Widber, J.S. Brown, M.L. Thurston; Collector and
Constable: T.S. Littlehale; Supervisor of Schools: J.S. Brown.
Appropriations: Schools: $200; Support of Poor: $200, town charges: $200,
road machine: $250, labor on highway: $500. Newry:
The
West Bethel Public Library got a donation of $50. The town also voted to
exempt a mill or factory from ten years taxation that might be built here
within one year. We received news of the death of Alonzo J. Grover of Mason: Thanks is due to your Newry: We have had a
snow blockade and a rainstorm but the roads are now in good condition. Anyone
with teaming to do is on the road. Foster and Stearns’s teams are hauling
hardwood to the Corner for dowels. The “toters” are hurrying supplies toward
the lake region in anticipation of the spring breakup. Men are seen on the
road daily heading home from the logging camps. Middle Intervale: Miss Minnie Kimball
entertained Ladies Aid. Dinner was pork and beans, brown bread and doughnuts.
A series of meetings was at the village by Jones and Allen. Several from here
attended. Judge
Foster has returned from court at A.T. Kelliher has a large supply of lumber
on his Mason: Instead of the prophesized
early spring we have grand winter weather with solid roads; teams are busy
hauling lumber. Maple sap has run very
little yet. |
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April
1891 Mason:
A foot of damp snow came on Friday. S.O. Grover loaded a car of poplar
Saturday. Mr. Witham has managed to make 38 gallons of maple honey in spite
of having a bad cold. A
business college course of exercises is introduced into A very pretty silk crazy quilt is on display
in George Hapgood’s store and will be given away to the best guesser on
beans. Students of Newry: J.A. Thurston has just bought a
nice three year old colt of Warren Small. Don Smith came home from sugaring
last Saturday. He reports less snow in Grover Hill: We understand
that (School) Districts 24 and 28 are to unite this coming summer at District
28. True Brown is working for L. Ordway of Mason:
Nellie Mills has gone home to May 1891 Mason: F.I. Bean is cutting lots of lumber at
his mill. Farmers are planting and plowing their gardens. H.G. Mason has sold
his oxen to H. Hutchinson. Our roads are getting quite passable. Meadows,
roads and intervales have been flooded. Newry: Two of J.A. Thurston’s men start next
Monday for Bethel:
The citizens of Bethel met Tuesday and formed an organization known as The Riverside Park Trotting Association and
chose the following officers: C.M. Wormell, president; J.A. Twaddle, vice
president; E.M. Walker, secretary; E.S. Kilborn, treasurer; trustees, G.P.
Bean, chairman; J.M. Philbrook, H.M. Hastings, Moses A. Mason, O.P.
Farrington, E.C. Rowe. The trustees
have leased the land for ten years and intend to have one of the best tracks
in the state. The location and land are all that could be asked for the
trustees mean business and will spare no pains or money. J.G. Rich and his
wife left on a three weeks vacation in Bryants Pond: Mr. Fernald has
go the stones placed to build the corn shop on and is waiting for his lumber. Mason:
School commenced the 5th, taught by Vesta Bessey of South Bethel: The Ripley
repair shop owned by R.J. Virgin and used as a store house for dowels gave
away last Monday evening and both upper and under floors with two car loads
of dowels went into the cellar making a complete wreck of the inside of the
building. Grover
Hill: Several farmers in this section have improved their orchards by
grafting this spring. School in District 28 commenced this week; Maud Merrow
of Mason: Our new minister came to the charge
Thursday. He moved his goods into the
rental house owned by Charles Abbott. They are arranging to set up housekeeping.
F.I. Bean has returned from attending court. Herbert Whitman and Viola
Bennett joined lives and are keeping house in Bethel Hill. Sewall Walker has
a span of horses and a sulky plow and is doing a lot of plowing for farmers.
Selectman Farwell has been in this part of town looking after road repairs.
A.S. Bean is having his store painted on the outside. G.H. Brown of Mason is in town almost daily
supplying farmers with grain, corn and feed. Octavia Grover is again at work
in the lathe rooms of the mill. A.T. Kelliher as received a patent on a device
for moving logs with a wire rope and one horse, which does the work of four
horses. Work can be done in summer as well as in winter. Commissioners for
the World Columbian Exposition at The
Bethel Water Company has voted to give water to the two public schools in
town and to Newry: J.A. Thurston and family will
visit |
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June 1891 Bethel:
The widow of Hon. David Skillings and her daughter from Winchester, Mass.,
are moving into the house vacated by her son, William E., for the summer. 6-5-1891
Advertiser:
[Written for the Advertiser.] Gould Academy
Alumni Association. For
some time it has been thought by the students of Gould Academy, that it
would be an excellent plan to form an alumni association, in order that
at least once a year, a reunion might be held of those scholars and
classmates, who have gone out from the Academy from year to year. But heretofore, no steps have been taken to carry
out this plan, until at the close of
the last term, when through the efforts of Prof. Hall, the two
classes of ‘90 and ‘91 met at the Elms House and formed such an
association , electing the following officers: President, B.L. Bryant;
vice President, Maude Kimball; secretary, Alice Pride; treasurer, Arthur
Wiley. But we find that no accurate account has been kept for the last
twenty years, of the various classes. Partly because of the frequent
changes of teachers, and partly because there has been no organization
upon whom this duty would fall. For this reason we would ask, that all those who
can give us information regard to any of the se classes, of who they were
composed, and as far as possible their business and address at the
present time, not only would confer a great favor upon the present
officers, but would help to carry out a work, which we hope will be of
some use to the institution., and productive of many pleasant gatherings
in the future. Let each one, for the moment, lay aside their many
busy cares, and , in your thoughts wander back to the many pleasant and
profitable hours spend at the Old Academy, and consider , whether or not,
it would be pleasant to meet again, the same boys and the same girls,
only of “older growth,” with whom you enjoyed so many happy days. This is what we are striving to do, and we trust
that we shall not be disappointed, but shall receive the cordial aid of
all the former students. Kindly address all communications to the
president at Bethel. But heretofore,
no steps have been taken to carry out this plan, until at the close of the last term, when through the efforts of
Prof. Hall, the two classes of ‘90 and ‘91 met at the Elms House and formed
such an association , electing the following officers: President, B.L.
Bryant; vice President, Maude Kimball; secretary, Alice Pride; treasurer,
Arthur Wiley. But we find that no accurate account has been kept for the last
twenty years, of the various classes. Partly because of the frequent changes
of teachers, and partly because there has been no organization upon whom this
duty would fall. For this reason
we would ask, that all those who can give us information regard to any of the
se classes, of who they were composed, and as far as possible their business
and address at the present time, not only would confer a great favor upon the
present officers, but would help to carry out a work, which we hope will be
of some use to the institution., and productive of many pleasant gatherings
in the future. Let each one,
for the moment, lay aside their many busy cares, and , in your thoughts
wander back to the many pleasant and profitable hours spend at the Old
Academy, and consider , whether or not, it would be pleasant to meet again,
the same boys and the same girls, only of “older growth,” with whom you
enjoyed so many happy days. This is what we
are striving to do, and we trust that we shall not be disappointed, but shall
receive the cordial aid of all the former students. Kindly address all
communications to the president at Bethel. 6-5-1891
Advertiser: West
Bethel:
The glass gauge broke at Bean’s Mill. A new man on was frightened and blew
the whistle. A crowd gathered thinking a fire had started but were relieved
to find there was no fire. Mrs. E.H. Scribner has made several pretty May
baskets that she sells for 50 cents. I.G. Kimball and Frank Kendall have run
the road machine from Nelson’s Mills house to the Albany line, “a fine piece
of road, which was very much needed”. Gilead: Memorial Day was observed by
J.E. Willis Post of Gorham , our boys are members. Hoisted flags, decorated
graves, speeches and a dinner at the Hall. D. Fleet has moved to Newry on a
farm. George Morrison is soon to move from Nigger Town. N.B. Bean is doing a
rushing business in his new shop. Constable Bemis ordered George Larabee to
leave town Saturday or he would get taken care of. He chose the former. Albany: James Flint who had an extra
flock of sheep has gone out of the business, selling to B. Skillings of
Harrison. The change was caused by a visit from wolves one day last week. Bethel: C.C. Bryant is
putting an addition on his shop at the corner of Main and High Streets. Fred
Farwell is talking of putting in a new vulcanizer for the manufacture of
rubber stamps. Number
of scholars in Bethel: 550; number in the village corporation: 150. The
best place in town to buy all kinds of fresh meat is at C.E. Benson & Co
Also he has choice groceries and fruit. The National Tribune printed in
Washington DC is a soldier’s newspaper, war stories and pension news. J.G.
Rich agent, Bethel, Maine. A pension was allowed Ira A. Clark this week of
$10.00 a month through the pension agency of J.G. Rich. The pension was
originally applied for in 1881; Clark was dying when it was received. Ira A.
Clark died on May 28thl; he had served as a private in Co I, 29th
Regt of the Mass. Volunteers. Clark was honored during Memorial Day
ceremonies; services for Clark were held in the Congregational church. Brown
Post G.A.R and the Ladies Relief Corps will host a reunion of the Fourth
Maine Battery Association on the 24th of this month. South Bethel:
Virgin’s mill is running overtime. Charles Frost has moved to Albany with
work as a cook for a crew of bark peelers. V.A. Dunn has sold his farm and
timberlands to R.J. Virgin and moved to Sumner. He sold his blacksmith shop and
unfinished house to G.L. Blake. 6-12-1891
Advertiser: Bethel: There were 21 baptized at the
Methodist Church last Sabbath. F.C. Bartlett has three custom made first
class top buggies for sale, two open buggies and two springboards. These carriages
must and will be sold – cheap. Milton Penley has peas in blossom June 5th.
He had to dig away snow to plant them in April. Colonel C. S. Edwards has
invited the officers and men of the old Bethel Company known as Co I, 5th
Maine Regiment to meet with the 4th Maine Battery in Bethel as his
guests. The opening of the Bethel Race Course will occur on June 13th.
The stallion Owoissa, from Mass., with a record of 2:29 on a heavy track will
be shown. George Hapgood’s store was broken into Sunday night. Two tramps
were arrested near the station and put into the lock-up but after searching
them later they were released. The annual meeting of the Bethel Savings Bank
occurred this week. S.D. Philbrook: president; A.E. Herrick: treasurer. The
board of trustees was re-elected. The bank has about $190,000 on deposit. East
Bethel:
Double teams loaded with sportsmen heading for the Lakes are passing daily.
John and Charlie Swan are home from their work at Berlin Falls for a few
days. A springboard dance is announced for June 16th; music by the
Dixfield Orchestra. Mason: Mrs. Cyrene Bean is home on vacation from her job
as house matron at the Industrial School for girls at North West Bethel: Sylvanus and E.S.
Mason trimmed apple trees for George Chapman last week. The ferryboat has
been painted light blue; it was launched last week. North
Newry:
Hattie Littlehale is teaching at District School #6. The Poplar Hotel is
being painted, papered and repaired. It has begun its summer thriving
business. Early guests include five from Boston. One guest, O.B. Dodge
continues to be the champion fisherman of this region. Newry: Fred Bartlett from Sunday
River is at work in the mill and boards with W.N. Powers. Mrs. Lucretia
Bartlett from Sunday River works at the Poplar Hotel in North Newry. West
Bethel:
A.S. Bean has begun laying an aqueduct to his new barn and mill and to his
boarding house. It will require about 250 rods of pipe. He uses galvanized pipe
in three sizes: two inch, one and one-half inch and one inch in diameter.
A.S. Bean’s new hall is nearly done. It is 50 x 25 feet and 13 feet high. It
is finished with hardwood and has two anti-rooms with a gallery. Bean also
has some men painting his new barn. Albany: Nina Brooks from Norway is
teaching school at District #1 at the Corner, which commenced Monday 6-19-1891
Advertiser:
Bethel: C.E. Benson
& Co. has received a shipment of fireworks for the 4th of
July. District 30 (Mechanic Street) is
building a fine bandstand in front of the late Benjamin Foster house. 6-26-1891
Advertiser: Bethel: The great and happy reunion
of comrades from the war of rebellion took place at Colonel Edwards’ house.
C.C. Bryant has discontinued his meat business for two months due to the
shortage of ice. Lucier’s Minstrels will perform June 29th
at Ideal Hall. They have a full Russian uniformed band, comic varieties and
solo orchestra. West Bethel and Bethel people can go to Portland for the K of
P excursion and return for $1.45. C.E. Benson has twelve varieties of plug
tobacco and Blackstone cigars for five and ten cents. Our selectman, E.S.
Kilborn, is making a fine improvement by curbing the west end of the Common
with granite. Grover Hill: Several boarders have arrived at D.M. Grover’s. |