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The Bethel Journals New Lines of Business
and Utilities Electric Power, Telephone, Radio and Movies |
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BETHEL LIGHT COMPANY Henry P. Austin was born in Michigan in 1878. His parents were Rev.
Henry and Carrie (Maxim) Austin and they moved to South Paris when Mr. Austin
was five years old. He married Miss Ava Hibbard of Shelburne, NH, and the
have two sons, Charles and Maynard. Mr. Austin received his education in the
South Paris schools and for three years work with the Oxford Light Co. in
Norway. He came to Bethel in 1909 and was employed by the Merrill Springer
Co. as an engineer and then as an electrician. The Austins bought the Pingree
house on Vernon Street and have remodeled it with modern equipment. In 1921, when Mr. Springer severed his
relationship with the company Mr. Austin became manager and treasurer of the Bethel Light Co. which he managed successfully for four years. In
1925 when the Central Maine Power Co. purchased the rights and properties of
the Bethel Light Co., Mr.
Austin remained with them as their manager in Bethel. When Bethel first
enjoyed the boon of electric lights in 1909,
Mr. Austin threw the switch on that happy occasion and ever since was the
town’s reliable and expert electrician. He has kept very busy installing
appliances. |
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THE VAN TEL. & TEL. Co. Alphonse Van Den Kerckhoven, President In 1906, Mr. Van Den Kerckhoven organized
the Van Tel. & Tel. Co., and managed it individually until 1921 when the
company incorporated under the same name. The entire stock is
owned by members of the family. Mr.
Van Den Kerckhoven is not a native of Bethel but has lived here more than 30
years and is one of her most loyal adopted sons. He was born in Boston, December 1,
1872, the son of Eugene and Clemence (Dagor) Van Den Kerckhoven. He was educated in the
schools of that city. In
1898 he married Miss Emma Jones of Bethel and they have four children: Eugene
A. associated with his father; Louis A. in the Bethel National Bank; Mrs.
James MacFarlane of Cambridge, Mass., and Miss Lucia, a student at Gould
Academy. Mr.
Van Den Kerckhoven is Secretary of the Telephone Association of Maine and
active in local Masonic circles. He has been treasurer of the Bethel Lodge
for ten years and is a member of the Eastern Star and the Bethel Lions Club. For
several years his family occupied the Dr. Morton homestead in Kimball Park
(and prior to that the Cobblestone Farm on Grover Hill), and about ten years
ago (1921) he built a modern two story house with telephone office adjoining
on Elm Street. An inherent love of the beautiful in Mr. Van’s nature has
prompted him to raise flowers, first as a pastime and later
commercially. His
home is a place of loveliness surrounded by rare and beautiful blooms, and
both he and Mrs. Van find happy diversion in their lovely gardens. |
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RADIOS Ray E. Crockett was born in Bryant’s Pond November
14, 1888, the son of Harry and Mary (Curtis) Crockett. He was educated in the
schools of Bryant’s Pond and married Ethel Maude Billings in 1917. They have
two sons, Richard and Clayton. When 18 years old Mr. Crockett began
work in Herrick’s machine shop and in 1919 opened a garage on Church Street
where he still does business. This is a general garage and service station
and Mr. Crockett has no peer as a machinist. He was a pioneer in selling and
repairing radios and deals in Radiolas. He is a wizard at “tinkering” of any
kind. |
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MOTION PICTURES Capt. Harvey N. Bragdon was born in Sullivan, the son of Capt. Jesse H. and
Elizabeth (Dunn) Bragdon. He was educated in the public schools, at Hancock
and Lamoine High Schools, and attended Bridgton Academy. He served at sea with his father several
years, becoming first mate on a three-masted schooner, and was attending high
school when his father was lost at sea during a hurricane in the West Indies.
He later went on steam vessels,
advancing to the position of pilot and
captain and for several years commanded towing steamers. He located in South
Paris about 20 years ago and engaged
in the motion picture business in around this section of the county and at
one time operated ten or more theatres, including Odeon Hall at Bethel where
he is now located. He has installed the latest talking picture apparatus and
always aims to give clean, interesting and educational entertainment. Five years ago he purchased the property at
Snow Falls Inn and here has made many improvements, including cabins and
interior changes, and the furnishings include many fine specimens of antique
furniture. This place is capably managed and is a
popular resort of local people and tourists. |
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SNOW FALLS INN,
WEST PARIS Harvey N. Bragdon,
Prop. |
