The Bethel Journals are compiled by

Donald G. Bennett

PO Box 763

Bethel, Maine 04217

Email: Donald@thebetheljournals.info

207-824-2094

Modern Times —Chapter 4

1931 New Technology Has Arrived in Bethel

 

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.

 

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.

 

The Bethel Journals