1894 Bethel Journal

The Bethel Journals compiled by Donald G. Bennett

Posted: February 19, 2008

 

1894 Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1894 News Summary

 

In 1893, the town had voted to build a new school in the village.  1894 was the year the new school was built. Horace Purington of Waterville was the contractor  (page 3, May ’94) selected to do the job. Mr. F.A. Thompson of Portland was architect.  Shortly after work started several people complained that the contractor was not following the plans. On meeting on site was called, a survey completed and the contractor was exonerated of the complaints. (page 3).

 

The two schools that would become surplus were the village schools on Broad Street, District No. 15 and  Mechanic Street, District No. 30. The District No. 15 school on Broad Street which later became the Pines guest house of the Bethel Inn.   The District No. 30 school on Mechanic Street was repositioned on the same lot and became a privately owned house although at first it was remodeled into a two unit rent (page 6).

 

The “liberals” of Gilead (May 1, page 3) also hoped to see a graded school and town funded transportation for their students but they were not supported by voters.

 

However, 1894 began with a glum outlook for economic conditions due to the financial panic of 1893. County newspapers may have been guilty of suppressing bad news but some expressions of hard times came through anyway.

 

At the Chair Factory: “It has been found necessary due to the strained condition of business to cut down wages some ten percent, yet men feel themselves fortunate to get employment even at reduced wages, so many mills are shut down and the employees thrown out of work entirely. (page 2)

 

In Rumford Falls by mid year the business outlook here grows bright as the season opens. (page 3, May 29) The steady growth of Rumford Falls which seems to have suffered something of a check when the financial cyclone swept over the country last year is evidently to be resumed this season. Several new enterprises are already assured and considerable new building is going on. In November it was announced that the Rumford Falls Trust Company bank would open by January 1st of 1895 or earlier. It had been chartered by the legislature in 1893. but the business depression of 1893 caused the delay until now.

 

Temperance please.   In January, a meeting was held at Odeon Hall to see if the citizens were willing to furnish a public reading room and gymnasium (in the Cole Block ?) to the young people of Bethel. (pages 2, 3) The question was discussed by Mr. Merriman, Dr. Gehring, Rev. Mr. Beem, Mr. Herrick and Rev.. Fickett. Many others from the audience were called on and expressed favorable ideas. Several committees were chosen to take care of the matter. Mr. Merriman on behalf of the athletic association of the academy proposed to fit up the gymnasium if the people would give them a little help.

 

May 15th, Oxford Democrat headlines:

 Norway Fire:  Swept by Fire – Terrible Conflagration in Norway Village

 It Destroyed Seventy of the Best Buildings – Loss $239,000; Insurance $139,000. Worst Fire Oxford County Ever Saw.

(page 3)

 

Between 2 o’clock and 6, Wednesday afternoon the fire mowed a  wide swath a mile in length through the heart of Norway village, destroying the Opera House block, the large mill of C.B. Cummings &  Sons, the tannery, the high school building, the Congregational church, a number of stores and shops, and over sixty of the finest residences in this place.

 

Twenty-five members of the Bethel Hose Company with 600 feet of hose responded to Norway’s call for help. A sizable number of townspeople went too.

 

In May for the Gould commencement, the Academy published its first “ Herald” , (page 3) not a booklet or magazine but a flyer which listed the commencement week program and advertisements for twenty Bethel businesses. (Up to this time, there was no regular printed media for local business advertising. The next year, Bethel News was published by A. D. Ellingwood. Prior to 1895, few Bethel businesses advertised in the Oxford County weekly newspapers.)

 

1894’s, Memorial Day observance (page 3) was held at Evergreen Cemetery. Ceremonies at the cemetery were carried out by the G.A.R. Relief Corps, Sons of Veterans and the public. Later in the day – speaking in Odeon Hall.

 

Also in May, Bethel readers learned that the Rickers, proprietors of Poland Spring, have bargained for the Maine world’s fair building (page 3) and will remove it to Poland Spring to be used as a library.

 

Another fire disaster occurred at Poland Spring, August 21st: (page 5) The big stable at Poland Spring was burned Tuesday evening and thirty horses lost their lives. The Mansion House almost directly across the road from the stable had a narrow escape as did the cottage of Mr. H.W. Ricker.  Light from the fire was seen as far away as Lewiston and Portland.

 

In Gilead and Hastings, the spread of lumbering and building in Hastings continued, but there was little news other than family visits that appeared in the Oxford Democrat.  The same could be said for Locke Mills activities.

 

The two agricultural co-operatives in town—the Bethel Creamery or butter factory (pages 2,3, & 4) and the corn factory (pages 5 and 6) -operated at a robust rate.  And the selling of livestock for shipment to the Brighton livestock market through the agency of John M. Philbrook continued to make those farmers in the livestock market pleased.

 

In early September, work on a new, high dam on Mill Brook was begun by James Hodgdon with a large crew. (Page 5)

 

The Bethel Agricultural Fair (page 5)  was held September 11—13 in Mayville on the grounds which included the Riverside Trotting Association track. This was the fourth annual fair and it was considered very successful as the summer-fall season’s largest public event. 

 

In October, the Cole Block’s heating system (page 6) was changed from steam to hot air.  No reason was reported. The building had only been open for three years.  Other heating news read:  A boiler and steam heating apparatus are being set up in the Elms Hotel. W.F. Lovejoy & Sons, of the Bethel House, will occupy the Elms, and close the other hotel during the winter.  (There was no information indicating that maybe the Lovejoys had bought the steam plant for the Elms from the Bethel Savings Bank / Cole Block.)

 

Also in October, preparations were underway in Rumford Falls for constructing the planned railway extension (page 6) into the Rangeley Lakes—the Rumford Falls and Rangeley Lakes Railroad.

 

By year’s end the  Bethel Chair Company was back in full operation with a rush of orders for the Christmas season. (page 6)

 

Pages– Home 1 | Jan-Mar 2  |  [Apr-May 3 | Jun  4  | Jul-Sep 5  |  Oct-Dec 6  |  Town Report 7  |  School Report 8  |  Names 9  | Railroad 10

 

Donald G. Bennett, The Bethel Journals, PO Box 763,Bethel, ME 04217

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new brick school house located on the corner of Elm and High Streets: Cost of the school building, desks, heating system, concrete walks and purchase of land came to $13,917.

Photo copied from a 1904 Special Illustrated Edition of The Bethel News.