Dates in Bethel, Maine History

1622 to 2006

The Bethel Journals

Compiled by Donald G. Bennett

Posted: March 29, 2007

1622 - England grants the land of Maine and New Hampshire to Ferdinand Gorges and John Mason. Mason and Gorges divide the land; Maine goes to Gorges. Massachusetts buys Maine in 1677 from the heirs of Gorges after his death.

1630 - John Winthrop leads 900 Puritan colonists to Massachusetts Bay; Boston established as the seat of government.

1639 - Sudbury becomes the 19^th incorporated town of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

1676 - (April 21) King Philip’s war; attack at Sudbury results in forty English killed by the Indian attack. King Philip is hunted and killed in August but in New Hampshire and Maine Saco Indians continue to raid settlements.

1689 - William and Mary of Orange assume the English throne.

1690 - King William’s War (1690-1697) begins; in the colonies it is the English against the French and Indians. Indian attacks on towns in New York, New Hampshire and Maine spur calls for retaliation. Sudbury men join militia army for campaign against Quebec. Campaign fails to breech French defenses and return defeated. Meanwhile in Ireland, King William leads the protestant English army to rout James II at the battle of the Boyne.

1691 onwards: Sudbury militia survivors of the march to Quebec start petitions to the Massachusetts General Court for land grants as compensation for military service. Petitions are not answered.

1739 – Brunswick, Maine is founded as a town in the District of Maine, near the mouth of the Androscoggin River’s emergence into Merry Meeting Bay

1756 to 1763 – French and Indian war; Treaty of Paris; France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi except for New Orleans.

1768 - Massachusetts grants Josiah Richardson, representing 76 Sudbury petitioners, a township of land on the Androscoggin River in the District of Maine. Petitioners meet and name their grant, Sudbury Canada.

1768 to 1773 – Captain Joseph Twitchell of Sherborn, Massachusetts ( a neighboring town south of Sudbury) becomes president of the proprietors of Sudbury Canada.

1774 – Captain Joseph Twitchell sends a crew of workmen to Sudbury Canada to construct a saw mill and a grist mill on his Mill Brook property lots.

1775 – English troops are attacked by Minutemen at Lexington and Concord. Battle of Bunker Hill; Washington’s troops occupy Dorchester Heights forcing English to withdraw from Boston.

1775 to 1800 – Water powered saw mill at the Mill Brook site provides sawed lumber for building second generation of Bethel homes; first buildings used whole logs.

1779 – Eleazer Twitchell and his family arrive from Dublin, New Hampshire to settle and assume supervision of his father’s interests, those of Captain Joseph Twitchell, in Sudbury Canada.

1781 - Ten individual settlements divided into upper (today’s Bethel) and lower (East Bethel) groupings have been started along the Androscoggin River’s south intervale lots. (It took two to three years to clear land, build a log house, small barn and establish a pasture plus garden that could sustain a small family for the next year).

1781 - August. Small band of St. Francis River Indians attack and terrorize settlers located from Sunday River west to Gilead and Shelburne, New Hampshire returning to Canada with prisoners after killing four 4 settlers. Petition sent to Boston to send garrison of soldiers.

October. Washington receives Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, Virginia.

1782 – Samuel Barker, a former personal tailor to General Washington, operates the first ferry across the Androscoggin River.

1782 to 1810 – Eleazer Twitchell becomes the “general manager” of log rafting to saw mills in Brunswick of the “stumpage” logs cut by Sudbury Canada settlers. He also becomes the principal buyer and retailer in Sudbury Canada of goods available from the West Indies many sugar and rum.

1783 – England and France agree at Treaty of Paris; this ends our war for independence.

1785 – Flood. This was the first big flood to occur after the early settlers had arrived. Caught unprepared many were forced to abandon their homes near the river. Experience gained caused most to re-build at higher elevations where they could avoid future flooding. Androscoggin River’s water level rose over 35 feet.

1787 - The Constitution of the United States of America is adopted.

1789 - President George Washington takes office in New York City.

1790 – First United States census: Sudbury Canada (Bethel) population: 324.

1796 - Massachusetts grants Sudbury Canada the right to incorporate as the town of Bethel. Charter signed by Governor Samuel Adams on June 10, 1796.

August, 15th. First town meeting held at the home of General Amos Hastings at Middle Interval pursuant to a document issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Eli Twitchell of Bethel in the County of York authorizing him to form a town meeting of qualified voters. Lt. Jonathan Clark (who had escaped from Indians in 1781) was chosen moderator.

1797 – Eleazer Twitchell builds the first frame and clapboarded house on Bethel Hill; it is labeled “The Castle”.

1798 – First school committee appointed with instructions to divide town into districts. At a later meeting it was voted to build three school houses and spend $100 on each.

1799 – George Washington dies at his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

1800 – Second national census: Bethel has 622 residents.

1806 – First church meeting house of the West Parish Congregational Church is built near Barker’s Ferry on the south side of the Androscoggin River (near the main highway bridge location in 2005).

1812 – A road connecting Bethel with Norway was finished. It ran south from Bethel Hill over Paradise Hill. (2)

1812 – July 13^th: a special town meeting was called to take action on the war with Great Britain. A committee of safety was appointed: all men able to bear arms where to equip themselves as soon as possible.

1815 – Bethel is authorized its own post office; the new post office was located at Dr. Moses Mason’s house with Mason as the post master. Mail was received and dispatched weekly. (1)

1816 – Middle Intervale Church built. It is still standing in 2005.

1820 – March 15: Maine is separated from Massachusetts; it is admitted to the United States as the 23rd state as part of the Missouri Compromise, an act to balance the number of free and slave states.

1830 – Although one family sighted wolves near their home that year, this was the last sighting of wolves in the Bethel area. (1)

1832 to 1836 - Plans were considered to build a canal system that would connect the Androscoggin River near Bethel to coastal markets in the Portland vicinity. The plan was known as Dr. Moses Mason’s Canal System; railroad construction in 1851 ended canal building plans.

1833 – Josiah Burbank built the first hotel, named the Bethel House, on Bethel Hill.

1835 – Bethel High School opens; first classes held in the district school house next to the Common; since more space was needed classes were moved to the Bethel House.

1839 – Androscoggin River is bridged for the first time so that Mayville and Bethel Hill are connected; however, it was a short lived bridged that was washed away the following year. Barker’s ferry resumed operation.

1842 – Bethel’s new town house was first used for September elections. Plan for the building was approved in 1841. In 1871, town voted to hire Pattee’s Hall in Bethel Hill village for five years and to sell the old town house to the highest bidder. (In 1880, the building was still standing; click here for map.)

1850 – Indians turn to crafts to make a living; set up camps near summer resorts to sell baskets, beadwork, trinkets and war clubs to tourists.

1851 – The Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railroad (a railroad venture to connect the port of Portland with Montreal, Canada) reached Bethel from Portland. Irish immigrant workers made up much of the construction work force; a number stayed and became Bethel residents.

1853 – The first guide book to Maine was published. It praised Bethel for its scenic beauty, stoking Bethel’s tourist appeal.

1858 – December, 17. The Bethel Courier begins publishing a weekly newspaper with Dr. Nathaniel True edited for 15 months and wrote historical columns as well.

1860 – National census records 2,523 people living in Bethel. The town’s population high water mark has lasted to 2005.

1867 – The Grange (Order of the Patrons of Husbandry) came into being based on the ideas of Oliver Hudson Kelley, a Minnesota farmer. Organized as a fraternal group similar to the Masonic lodge, the grange served causes important to farmers and residents of rural areas, schools, rural mail, farm improvement and social needs.

1863 – The Steam Mill Company and village subdivision was built one mile west of Bethel Hill. Its steam powered mill manufactured dowels and spools starting a Bethel industry that lasted for one hundred and forty years. The mill’s location took advantage of both the railroad for shipping and receiving raw material as well as the river for water.

1864- The Oxford Democrat, November 25, 1864. Results of voting in Bethel for President of the United States: Lincoln—268 McClellan—208

1869 – A second attempt to bridge the Androscoggin River between Mayville and Bethel Hill succeeds; “paddleford truss” (arched, longitudinal, laminated) support is used to construct a two lane (called “double barreled”) covered bridge that lasts until 1927. The bridge opened February 19, 1869 and for the next 20 years was a toll bridge.

1872 – Voters approved raising $12,000 through issue of town bonds to construct an industrial building 150 feet by 30 feet for lease to a manufacturing company.

1874 – Bethel celebrated the 100^th year of its first settlers’ arrival with a major festival. Dr. N.T. True, Bethel’s foremost historian, gave the keynote address elaborating on the town’s growth, challenges and progress over the past century.

1879 – Bethel Library Association: a group meets at the Bethel House near the Bethel Common to form a library for the community.

1880 – Census: Albany, 693; Andover, 781; Bethel, 2077; Gilead, 293; Greenwood, 838; Hanover, 203; Mason, Newry, 337; Riley Plantation, 40; Rumford, 1006; Woodstock, 952.

1881 – Centennial celebration of the Indian raid on Sudbury Canada. One of the largest crowds ever seen in the town gathered for this event.

1884 – A company of investors built the Rialto Skating Rink on Main Street. Its dimensions were 84 feet long by 50 feet wide with its floor laid of the very best lumber. The Gorham (N.H.) Band would provide music for its opening.

1885 – April, Wolff and Reessing of New York, packers and importers, signed a five year contract to continue canning and packing sweet corn in Bethel. In addition, the company would spend $4,000 for improved canning equipment.

1886 – Feb 26: Storm of the Century begins – roads blocked for five days, buildings de-roofed and blown down, railroad blocked, derailments.

July 3: Special town meeting approves proposal to build a chair factory building; $5,000 appropriated; James Barrows will occupy new building with his chair manufacturing business then located in West Paris.

September 13: Bethel voting for Governor: Joseph R. Bodwell, Hallowell: 279; Clark S. Edwards, Bethel: 222. Note: Bodwell, a Republican was elected Governor but he died in office on 12-15-1887.

October 10: It was reported that the town had voted to raise $3,000 for the engine, boiler and machinery for the factory.

November 2: The Democrat reported that “the chair factory building is finished outside and is a noble looking building”. Machinery was being installed and a large number of unfinished chairs were being stored in the building. The employment news indicated that about 100 hands would be hired to run the factory.

1887 – Voters at Bethel’s annual town meeting agree to abolish the district school system and adopt the town system of school management.

1888 – The Bethel toll bridge (Androscoggin River covered bridge) charter expired on December 31, 1888. Beginning January 1, 1889, travelers crossed the bridge free of charge. Bad weather in the summer growing months threatens hay crops, rots potatoes and greatly shrinks sweet corn canning production.

The Bethel Chair Company was formed in October. President, James H. Barrows; Treasurer, Hannibal G. Brown – Barrows and Brown had operated a chair manufacturing business in West Paris. Secretary, J.U. Purington, Bethel. Bethel board members of the company included Edwin C. Rowe, Calvin Bisbee and J.U. Purington.

1889 – In the spring, the Bethel Chair Company rented Rialto Hall also known as the “skating rink” (Main Street) for finishing work, office and show room space.

Bethel Lock-Up – turned down by voters in previous years – proposal passes in 1889. Committee chooses lot bordering High Street near Rialto Hall.

Maine chartered the Bethel Village Corporation and the Bethel Water Company. Water Company mission will be to supply the village with pure water and fire protection supplies; fire department, police service and street lighting will be responsibilities of the Village Corporation. All towns report a very busy year at their rail depots. The corn factory in Bethel has a new owner: the Wyman Bros.

1890 – Public water system (Bethel Water Company) was completed with a water main running over four miles from its Chapman Brook reservoir which used the Barker Mountain watershed to its distribution system at Bethel Hill.

Bethel voters received an extensive, critical evaluation of the Bethel school condition written by Superintending School Committee members Dr. John G. Gehring and Horatio Upton.

New corn canning factory in Bethel. Voters approve more town investment for industry -$2,500 plus additional money as needed. Town to construct and rent building by the rail depot to the Wyman Bros., Woburn, Mass. Wyman’s will hire local workers, contract for produce to can sweet corn, apples, lima beans.

1890 Census: Albany, 645; Andover, 740; Bethel, 2209; Gilead, 336; Greenwood, 727; Hanover, ___; Mason,__; Newry, 343; Riley Plantation, __; Rumford,__; Woodstock, 859.

1891 – The American Bobbin, Spool and Shuttle Company of Boston buy the Bethel Steam Mill Co. Civic leader William E. Skillings leaves Bethel for Boston. Gilead booms as Wild River development – logging, mills and railroad – races ahead. There is great fanfare in Mayville as the Riverside Trotting Park and Riverside Agricultural Fair celebrate their inaugural events.

Wild River Railroad – eight miles of track from a clearing next to Wild River called “Nigger Tom’s” (later called Hastings) connected with the Grand Trunk Railroad at Gilead – was in operation at end of October 1891. W.R.R.R. and the Wild River Lumber Company were owned by an investment group from Island Pond, Vermont. The company also ran a telephone line from Gilead depot to their Wild River office.

“History of the Town of Bethel, Maine” is published by William B. Lapham. Besides using most of Dr. True’s research, Lapham portrays detailed accounts of early Bethel including his extensive research in the Massachusetts archives. Lapham’s most valuable work may have been his recording of Bethel family histories.

The Cole Block – Main Street’s “King of Buildings”, a development by the Cole brothers of Washington, DC, opened – Odeon Hall (named circa August 1892, the hall first known as “Coles Hall” was dedicated May 18, 1892) promised to be a center for town meetings, lectures and the town’s first movie theater.

1894 – Bethel Grammar School, a fine brick structure, opened. It had four classrooms, two on each floor and a principal’s office on the second floor. In 2002, Gould Academy’s McLaughlin Science Building opened on this site across from the junction of High and Elm Streets.

1895 – First telephone system installed along Main Street connecting the Dr. Mason’s house on Broad Street. Long distance called started in 1900 and lines to East Bethel were running in 1902. Rural lines ran from Bethel to Errol, New Hampshire and to Rumford Falls.

1900 (circa.) – The Bethel Light Company generated electricity by a gasoline engine to light a few homes and stores on Main Street

1902 – Bethel Hill’s (Bethel Village Corporation) newly constructed sewer system became operational.

1907- Liberty E. Holden, a Gould Academy alumni, donated funds to purchase the former Wiley house (Church Street) so that the house and barn could be converted into a girls and boys dormitory. The project was completed in 1909 and named Holden Hall.

1909 – Expanded lighting system was running with power generated by the Merrill-Springer Mill located near the Route 2 and Route 26 highway bridge over the railroad and the intersection with Railroad Street. Many streets were lighted as well as the town’s library (1911) and Gould Academy (1913).

1911 – March, the Weeks Law passes Congress. This law authorized the Federal government to make land purchases in the east to protect watersheds. This act led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. Drastic, widespread forest fires in the White Mountains had triggered federal action.

William Bingham II and his friend, William Upson, both from Cleveland, Ohio, come to Bethel to attend Dr. Gehring’s clinic.

July 22, The Prospect Hotel located where The Bethel Inn is in 2004 burned with the exception of one wing (the former Elms) but was completely torn down soon after the fire. William Rogers Chapman, Bethel’s “Music Man” quickly announced plans to build a new, elegant hotel on the site and bought the property occupied by the Prospect.

1920 – William Bingham’s first gift of a building to Gould Academy occurred when the Martin House on the corner of Elm Street and High Street purchased and used for a domestic arts program. (2)

1923 – Canada nationalizes the railroads which includes the Grand Trunk Railroad running through Bethel.

1924 – December: Professor William Rogers Chapman directed a performance of “The Messiah” at Portland City Hall. (5)

1925 – Bethel Hill’s watershed on the south side of Barker Mountain was purchased by William Bingham II in order to protect the town’s source of water.

June 23^rd. Julius P. Skillings, long time general manager of the Skillingston steam mill (Bethel Steam Mill) died at his home in the mill village.

1927 – October 21, Androscoggin River covered bridge at Mayville closed to traffic – dismantling of the 58 year old two lane bridge begins. Last party to cross on the old bridge was that of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Chapman, Mayville residents.

November 4, severe storm in Vermont and upper Androscoggin River valley – 5 inches of rain in Berlin, NH – three temporary bridges swept away in Bethel – 11 families fled homes – no trains through for five days. Lost bridge over Androscoggin between Bethel village and Mayville required temporary ferry operation - possibly worst flood since 1785.

1931 – First airfield. Clarence (Cad) Bennett provided land for the first reliable airport in Bethel at West Bethel. There were four student flyers (Elmer Bennett, Ray Crockett, Carmen Onofrio, and Harold Lurvey) and one instructor, Dean Cunningham. The airfield was marked WB.

Indian Raid Sesquicentennial celebration aroused the public for a huge celebration in Bethel. Parades, floats, reenactments made the day a very memorable one (now recorded on DVD, at the Bethel Historical Society). The Bethel Oxford County Citizen published a special edition that has become an excellent historical resource.

1936 – Flood. This flood has become known as the 100 year flood because of its high water mark. In Mayville, the flood crested at twenty-seven and one-half feet above the river bank. Bethel village was virtually cut off from other towns until the flood subsided.

1939 – Riverside Farm (Edward Bennett) became the first (and only) local dairy to pasteurize milk delivered to Bethel customers which included Gould Academy and the Bethel Inn. In 1952 a homogenizer was also added to the dairy’s processing equipment and paper cartons were used for the first time.

The new Holden Hall, boys dormitory, Gould Academy was opened and dedicated. Professor Frank E. Hanscom, retired Gould headmaster, delivered the main address. The building was named for Liberty E. Holden, a Gould alumnus, former editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Holden had become the first graduate to make a substantial donation to the school

Gould Academy organized its first ski team coached by faculty member, Wilbur Myers.

1945 - Construction begins on the Bethel Airport (Edwards Airport) on land donated by Henry Boyker and Fred L. Edwards located a few hundred yards northwest of the former fairgrounds barn. (The Bethel Regional Airport, Colonel Dyke Field includes the site of the original airport.) The runway orientation was 12 – 30.

1947 – National Training Laboratory (NTL) began summer sessions in Bethel, hosted initially at Gould Academy, NTL has been a part of the Bethel social science landscape ever since. NTL and its life in Bethel.

The Maine Turnpike opened its first section (Kittery to Portland about 48 miles; by-passing US Route 1). In 1955, the second section with an exit at Gray, Maine opened making auto travel from the Boston area to Bethel, using both the Maine and New Hampshire turnpikes, much smoother.

1948 – Bethel’s Chevrolet automobile dealer, Bennett’s Garage, received new cars by rail. The new models were unloaded from the railroad’s special auto carriers (50 ft box cars with double doors) from the rail siding on Railroad Street next to the former John Swan potato shed. The cars were then fueled and driven to the garage on Main Street.

1940 to 1950 – Bethel’s Main Street businesses reached their zenith: The Specialty Shop, Red and White Grocery, Bosserman’s Pharmacy, Lyon’s Jewelry, Bethel Savings Bank, Casco Bank and Trust, Brown’s Variety Store .Central Service Station, Bowling Alley and Taxi, Bennett’s Garage and Chevrolet Dealership, plus Taxi, Bethel Theater, Bethel Restaurant, D. G. Brooks Hardware, Bethel Spa Ice Cream and Soda, A&P Store, First National Store, Bryant’s IGA Store, Young’s Serv