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The Bethel Journals Bethel Shopping in 1931 - Ramsell, Bisbee and Rowe The Oxford County Citizen, Special Edition, August
3, 1931 |
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Llewellyn W. Ramsell Co. located at the corner of Main and Church Streets.
Since 1875 this stand has been called Honest Corner and was formerly the site
of the store of Gilman P. Bean. Honest integrity and fair dealing gave it the
name in olden days and it may well be call the same today. This roomy and up to date store carries a complete
line of staple and fancy groceries and a well equipped meat department. L.W. Ramsell was born in South Boston, Mass. He has
lived many years in Bethel and married Miss Addie M. Holt of Albany in 1889.
They have two daughters, Miss Adelaide and Miss Kathryn. The family has a
town house on Broad Street and spend their summers in a modern cottage on the
shores of Songo Pond. Mr. Ramsell has a fine personality and is popular
alike with residents and visitors of the town. He is a member of the Bethel
Lodge F & AM, and Mt Abram Lodge, I.O.O.F. |
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Ernest F. Bisbee was born in Newry, November 14, 1889. His parents
were W.F. and Ellen M. (Frost) Bisbee.
His education was in the common schools, Gould Academy and Bowdoin
College. After his school years Mr. Bisbee was employed in the store of
Ceylon Rowe & Son and at the outbreak of the war (World War I) entered
the Army and was stationed at the Officers Training School at Camp Zachary
Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1919 he united with the firm of L.W. Ramsell Co. and in 1931 was the junior partner of this
successful house (store and commercial building on the corner of Church and
Main Streets). On August
3, 1924 he married Ethel Philbrick of Turner and that year built an
attractive home on Spring Street. Mrs. Bisbee became a most popular teacher
and principal of Bethel’s primary school. Both she and her husband are
eminent in local affairs with many friends. Mr. Bisbee
is a member of Bethel Grange, Purity Chapter, O.E.S. and George Mundt Post.
He is also a Mason and member of the Kora Temple and the Strathglass
Commandery. In 1931 he was assessor of the Bethel Village Corp. |
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Herbert C. Rowe is one of Bethel’s successful
business men and one of her most loyal citizens. He was born in this town on
October 6, 1877, the only child of Ceylon and Mellie (Grover) Rowe. He was educated in town schools and
Gould Academy and fitted for college at Chauncey Hall, Boston. Thirty-five years ago (1896) he
became associated with his father in business in the commodious store
adjoining Bethel Common. The store has a reputation for honesty and fair
dealing which it has enjoyed and deserved since 1865 when it first opened its
doors, then owned by a co-partnership of which Mr. Rowe’s father was the
senior member. Mr. Rowe married Miss Alice Russell
July 5, 1907 and they have two children, Herbert R. and Rosalind M. Mr. Rowe is active in town affairs
and at present is a member of the school board. He belongs to Bethel Grange,
Sudbury Lodge, No. 22, K of P and Bethel Lodge, No. 97, F & AM. He is
allied with Kora Temple and Strathglass Commandery. The Rowe’s have a summer camp on
South Pond at Locke Mills and a hunting lodge in Grafton Notch. The family
home is the old Rowe homestead in Kimball Park which they have occupied since
the death of Mr. Ceylon Rowe in 1922. Mr. Rowe is public spirited and
generous and ever-ready to work for the community’s betterment. |
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Honest
Corner—still a Bethel landmark—the L.W. Ramsell Co. store in 1931 |
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The Bisbee home on Spring Street in Bethel 1931 |
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Store of C. Rowe & Son facing Bethel Common. To the store’s left are the rooms housing the Bethel
Fire Dept—purchased for the Bethel Hose Co. in 1892. Note the fire alarm bell in the building’s cupola. |
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Thomas Brown who is also profiled in this
special edition was “a popular clerk”
in the Ceylon Rowe store for eight years |