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Finding Aids Special Collections

2015

Johnston Family Papers, 1835-1972

Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library,

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Recommended Citation Special Collections, Raymond H. Fogler Library, University of Maine, "Johnston Family Papers, 1835-1972" (2015). Finding Aids. Number 245. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/findingaids/245

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Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections 5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library University of Maine Orono, ME 04469-5729 URL: http://www.library.umaine.edu/speccoll Johnston Family Papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information ...... 3 Biographical Note ...... 3 Scope and Contents ...... 4 Arrangement ...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 4 Controlled Access Headings ...... 5 Collection Inventory ...... 6 Papers of John Johnston ...... 6 Papers of W. Jasper Johnston ...... 6 Papers of Percy Johnston ...... 7 Papers of Donald Johnston ...... 8 Time and payroll books for workers on dams ...... 9 Miscellaneous ...... 9 Plans and maps ...... 10 Photographs ...... 11 Oversized material ...... 13 Negatives ...... 14

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Summary Information

Repository: Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Title: Johnston Family Papers ID: SpC MS 0267 Date [inclusive]: 1835-1972 Date [bulk]: 1890-1929 (bulk) Physical Description: 5.5 cubic feet (9 boxes) Physical Description: 4 folio folders Language of the English Material:

Preferred Citation

Johnston Family Papers, SpC MS 0267, [Box No.], [Folder No.], Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department, University of Maine, Orono, Maine

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Biographical Note

Jasper Johnston was born in 1844 in Veazie, Maine. He married Clara Jane Whiting in 1867, and the family moved to Bangor in 1874. Starting in the 1860's Jasper Johnston worked on several dams and bridges, including Chesuncook, North Twin, and Ripogenus. He worked for a time as superintendent for H.P. Cummings Construction Company, located in Ware, Massachusetts. His last job, in 1914-1915, was at Riley Dam for International Paper Company. He died in 1918 in Bangor.

Jasper's son Percy was born in 1868 in North Newport, Maine. In his early teens, Percy Johnston began training as a dam builder with his father. He had charge of the West Branch log drive for several years and then was in charge of dam construction and river improvement for Great Northern Paper Company. When concrete began to be used in dam construction, he built many large storage and power dams in Maine.He was superintendent of construction on Aziscohos Dam, erected on the Androscoggin River between 1909-1912, and worked on dams at Madison, Shawmut, Pittsfield and Rumford, Maine. He also worked as vice-president of the H.P. Cummings Construction Company. He died in 1928 in Bangor.

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Donald Percy Johnston was born in 1896 in Bangor. A civil engineer, he attended the Bangor schools, Coburn Classical Academy, and the University of Maine, and graduated in 1921 from Norwich University in Norwich, Vermont. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. While still in high school, he had his first summer job working on Riley Dam with his grandfather. Before joining the Bangor Water Department as assistant superintendent in 1934 he worked as an engineer on various dam, powerhouse, bridge and building construction projects. In 1950 he became superintendent of the Water Department, later the Bangor Water District, retiring in 1963. The Johnston Pumping Station is named for him. Donald Johnston died in 1979.

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Scope and Contents

Personal papers and business records of three generations of the Johnston family, builders of dams and bridges in Maine. Included are materials of William Jasper Johnston; his son, William Percy Johnston; and Percy's son, Donald Percy Johnston. A few items belonging to John Johnston, father of Jasper Johnston are also found in the collection. The collection includes many photographs of dams and other construction projects of the Johnston family. Included are phorographs and negatives, letters, correspondence, newspaper clippings, diaries, and picture postcards.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged in eight sections: papers of John Johnston, papers of W. Jasper Johnston, papers of Percy Johnston, papers of Donald Johnston, time and payroll books for workers on dams, miscellaneous, plans and maps, and photographs.

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Administrative Information

Publication Statement Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections

5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library

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Restrictions on Access Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.

Immediate Source of Acquisition Gift of Elizabeth Johnston Ostroff and Sue Ostroff in September 1998.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Information on literary rights available in the repository.

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Controlled Access Headings

• Dams -- Design and construction -- Maine • Correspondence • Letters (Correspondence) • Financial records • Maps • Clippings • Diaries • Photographs • Negatives (Photographic) • Picture postcards • United States -- Maine • Johnston, John • Johnston, W. Jasper (William Jasper) • Johnston, William Percy • Johnston, Donald Percy • Johnston family • H. P. Cummings Construction Company

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Collection Inventory

Title/Description Instances Johnston family genealogy Box 1 folder 1

Papers of John Johnston Title/Description Instances Tax receipts, 1835-1871 Box 1 folder 2

Photograph of John Johnston Box 1 folder 3

Wallet Box 1 folder 4

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Papers of W. Jasper Johnston Title/Description Instances Daily diary, 1870-1874, 1882, 1893 Box 1 folder 5

Memo book: John Johnston in acct. with P.L.D. Co, 1870 Box 1 folder 6

J.W. Johnston daily diary, 1871-1877

Daily diary, 1889, 1893 Box 1 folder 7

Scrapbook/journal [located physically in Box 4], 1893 Box 1 folder 8

Daily diary;financial accounts, 1896-1899, 1896 Box 1 folder 9

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 10

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 11

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 12

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 13

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 14

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 15

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 16

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 17

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 18

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 19

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 20

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 21 - Page 6- Johnston Family Papers

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 22

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 23

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 24

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 25

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 26

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 27

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1900-1918 Box 1 folder 28

Memorandum books, 1880s-1915 Box 1 folder 29

Memorandum books, 1880s-1915 Box 1 folder 30

Correspondence, 1883-1910; 1913-1918 Box 1 folder 31

Correspondence of Clara Johnston, 1882-1883 Box 1 folder 32

Receipts, 1880s-1915 Box 1 folder 33

Passbook,First National Bank, Bangor, 1900-1908 Box 1 folder 34

Cancelled checks, 1908 Box 1 folder 35

Journal (financial), 1887-1892 Box 1 folder 36

Ledger, 1888 Box 1 folder 37

Ledger, 1889-1916 Box 1 folder 38

List of work done by Jasper Johnston Box 1 folder 39

Engineering notes, Long Lake Dam, 1907 Box 1 folder 40

Contract and specifications for construction of dam at outlet of Box 1 folder 41 Millinocket Lake for Penobscot Log Driving Co, 1909-1910

Daily and unit costs (Sawyer Moulton, Consulting and Designing Box 1 folder 42 Engineers), 1911

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Papers of Percy Johnston Title/Description Instances School notebook, 1883 Box 2 folder 1

News clippings related to Jasper and Percy Johnston Box 2 folder 2

Volume containing entries for logs scaled at Argyle Boom; Box 2 folder 3 unidentified accounts; Percy Johnston expenses, 1859, 1875, 1887

Private accounts, 1900 Box 2 folder 4

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1901, 1906-1908 Box 2 folder 5

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Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1901, 1906-1908 Box 2 folder 6

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1901, 1906-1908 Box 2 folder 7

Pocket calendars, daily diaries, 1901, 1906-1908 Box 2 folder 8

Memo book of jobs done and expenses, 1908-1913 Box 2 folder 9

Daily work diary; memo book of expenses, 1912, undated Box 2 folder 10

Memo book, 1913-1914 Box 2 folder 11

M.L. Hills ledger commenced (used by Percy Johnston as exercise Box 2 folder 12 book?), September 19, 1851

Correspondence and memorabilia, 1878-1900 Box 2 folder 13

Correspondence and memorabilia, 1878-1900 Box 2 folder 14

Correspondence and memorabilia, 1878-1900 Box 2 folder 15

Correspondence, etc, 1923-1926 Box 2 folder 16

Correspondence of Mary E. Johnston, 1930-1945 Box 2 folder 17

Engineering notes Box 2 folder 18

H.P. Cummings Const. Co., Chamberlain Lock Dam, payroll and Box 2 folder 19 expenses, 1923

H.P. Cummings Construction Co. bylaws and profit distribution, Box 2 folder 20 1921

H.P. Cummings annual report, 1922 Box 2 folder 21

H.P. Cummings Construction Co. complete record of fifty years Box 2 folder 22 business, 1879-1929

Penobscot Log Driving Co. charter and bylaws, 1880 Box 2 folder 23

Penobscot Boom Corp., Penobscot Lumbering Assoc. charter and Box 2 folder 24 bylaws, 1885

Dead River Log Driving Co. annual report, 1895 Box 2 folder 25

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Papers of Donald Johnston Title/Description Instances Correspondence, 1921-1929 Box 3 folder 1

Correspondence of Trixie Johnston, 1923, 1927, undated Box 3 folder 2

Correspondence, Penobscot Heritage Museum of Living History, Box 3 folder 3 1970, 1972

Pocket diary and memo book unidentified [Donald?], 1921-1922 Box 3 folder 4

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Memo book, hours worked by men, lumber used, etc, 1921? Box 3 folder 5

Memo book, 1927 Box 3 folder 6

Bangor Water Department, compiled 1954 Box 3 folder 7

History of the Bangor Dam, prepared for Dr. Robert York, Box 3 folder 8 University of Maine, by Martha Butler, January 6, 1959

Draft of act creating Allagash Wilderness Waterway, 1965 Box 3 folder 9

Newspaper clippings, 1960s-1970s Box 3 folder 10

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Time and payroll books for workers on dams Title/Description Instances Time book, 1880-1888 Box 3 folder 11

Time book, North Twin Dam, 1888 Box 3 folder 12

Payroll accounts, 1887-1889 Box 3 folder 13

Time book, Chesuncook, 1889 Box 3 folder 14

Time books, Percy Johnston, 1890-1914 Box 3 folder 15

Time book, Seboomook Dam, 1905 Box 3 folder 16

Time book, Chamberlain Dam; Grand Lake Dam, 1905, 1909 Box 3 folder 17

Payroll accounts, Middle Dam; Pontocook Dam; Errol Dam, 1910, Box 3 folder 18 1912, 1912

Payroll Accounts Box 3 folder 19

Bills for labor Box 3 folder 20

Time books [Donald Johnston?], 192?, undated Box 3 folder 21

Time book, Moose River Dam, 1927 Box 3 folder 22

Time book, H.P. Cummings Construction Co, 1917-1932 Box 3 folder 23

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Miscellaneous Title/Description Instances Daybook Chesley Johnston, 1885-1889 Box 4 folder 1

C.M. Johnston, pocket calendar, daily diary, 1889 Box 4 folder 2

Journal: O. Rogers; private accts, January 1860, 1860-1874 Box 4 folder 3

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The construction of mill dams, James Leffel Co [belonged to Box 4 folder 4 Percy Johnston], 1874

Construction of masonry dams by Chester W. Smith; Oversized Box 4 folder 5 Scrapbook [From Box 1], 1915, 1893

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Plans and maps Title/Description Instances Aroostook Falls for Maine and New Brunswick Electrical Power Folio Plans/ folder 1 Co, 1905 Maps

Aziscohos Dam, 1910 Folio Plans/ folder 1 Maps

Bangor: Union Iron Works, undated; Public Works Dept, 1952 Folio Plans/ folder 1 Maps

Bar Harbor: proposed fishway for Eagle Lake Folio Plans/ folder 1 Maps

Bethelem, N.H.: repairs to dam, Bethelem Electric Co, 1928 Folio Plans/ folder 1 Maps

Bingham, Me.: Pierce Bridge, 1930 Folio Plans/ folder 1 Maps

Brassura Lake storage dam, Rockwood, Me, 1925 Folio Plans/ folder 1 Maps

East Branch Improvement Co, 1909 Folio Plans/ folder 2 Maps

Plant for Eyre-Johnston Co (for Cable Excavator Co., Fernwood, Folio Plans/ folder 2 Pa.), 1925 Maps

International Paper Co., Woods Falls, 1916 Folio Plans/ folder 2 Maps

Lewiston, Me.: Hill Manufacturing Co, 1921 Folio Plans/ folder 2 Maps

Limestone, Me.: Bridge St. bridge, 1932 Folio Plans/ folder 2 Maps

Lisbon, N.H.: Lisbon Light Power Co, 1929 Folio Plans/ folder 2 Maps

Maidstone, Vt.: Maine Central Railroad, Stevens crossing, 1911 Folio Plans/ folder 3 Maps

Moose River, Nova Scotia: proposed dam and piers, 1927 Folio Plans/ folder 3 Maps

Moosehead Lake Dam, 1899

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Folio Plans/ folder 3 Maps

Riley Dam, 1913 Folio Plans/ folder 3 Maps

Three Rivers, Que.: St. Maurice Lumber Co, 1913 Folio Plans/ folder 3 Maps

West Branch Driving Reservoir Dam Co, 1903 Folio Plans/ folder 3 Maps

Miscellaneous unidentified plans Folio Plans/ folder 3 Maps

Photograph: Hudson River, 1914 Folio Plans/ folder 4 Maps

Photograph: Des Forges Rapids, St. Maurice River, 1916? Folio Plans/ folder 4 Maps

Photograph: Three Rivers, P.Q., saw and cutting up mill, 1916? Folio Plans/ folder 4 Maps

Miscellaneous Maine maps Folio Plans/ folder 4 Maps

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Photographs Title/Description Instances Aziscohos Dam plaque(Percy Johnston, Superintendent of Box 5 folder 1 Construction), 1912

Aziscohos Dam construction, 1910-1911 Box 5 folder 2

Aziscohos Dam, 1941 Box 5 folder 3

Aziscoos Dam (Colebrook, N.H.) Box 5 folder 4

Bangor Dam construction and repair, flood of 1923 Box 5 folder 5

Bangor fishway, 1923 Box 5 folder 6

Bangor water supply survey aerial views, 1930 Box 5 folder 7

Bangor Water Works, 1944, 1950s, undated Box 5 folder 8

Brassua Dam Box 5 folder 9

Chamberlain Dam, covered dam Box 5 folder 10

Chesuncook Dam, 1887 Box 5 folder 11

Chesuncook and Ripogenus Dam project, interior of camp, 1887 Box 5 folder 12

Chesuncook and Ripogenus Dam project, W. Jasper Johnston Box 5 folder 13 doing bookkeeping, 1887

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Chesuncook Dam under repair in winter, 1887 Box 5 folder 14

Dead River Dam Box 5 folder 15

Dexter woolen mill Box 5 folder 16

East Outlet, 1900 Box 5 folder 17

Forges Rapids, 1916 Box 5 folder 18

Ft. Fairfield bridge construction, 1930 Box 5 folder 19

Glen Falls, Ft. Edward, N.Y. 1913 Box 5 folder 20

Holob Dam Box 5 folder 21

Howland, Maine: construction of county bridge over Penobscot Box 5 folder 22 River, 1896

Houston building, Portland [Bakery, T.A. Huston Co., Portland], Box 5 folder 23 1920

Livermore Falls, 1915 Box 5 folder 24

Madison, Maine: dam and pulp mill construction Box 5 folder 25

Madison, Maine, 1908-1909 Box 5 folder 26

Madison, Maine: Hollingsworth-Whitney mill, 1910 Box 5 folder 27

Moose River, N.S Box 5 folder 28

Musquacook camps Box 5 folder 29

North Twin Dam woods camp, circa 1989 Box 5 folder 30

North Twin Dam, circa 1890 Box 5 folder 31

Old Town dam, circa 1900 Box 5 folder 32

Orono dam, International Paper Co, 1920 Box 5 folder 33

Penobscot River, Great Works, ca, 1890-1900 Box 5 folder 34

Riley Dam, 1914-1915 Box 5 folder 35

Ripogenus Dam and Falls, 1887 Box 5 folder 36

Ripogenus Dam, 1916-1917 Box 5 folder 37

Rumford, Maine (or Quakish?), head of falls, 1889 Box 5 folder 38

Rumford Falls dam, 1890 Box 5 folder 39

Rumford Falls, 1916-1918 Box 5 folder 40

Rumford Falls dam construction photograph album, 1917 Box 5 folder 41

Photographs removed from Rumford Falls photograph album Box 5 folder 42

Salem dam, 1923 Box 5 folder 43

Sebec dam, 1922 Box 5 folder 44

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Seboomook dam, 1893 Box 5 folder 45

Shawinigan Falls, Que, after 1900 Box 5 folder 46

Shawmut, Maine: construction work on pulp and paper plant, Box 5 folder 47 1910

Temiscaming, Que.: [North] Kipawa Fibre Co., 1918-1919 Box 5 folder 48

Dam at Thorn Brook Box 5 folder 49

Winslow, Maine: Hollingsworth-Whitney pulp mill, 1898 Box 5 folder 50

Wausau, Wis. construction, 1910 Box 5 folder 51

Percy Johnston and dam construction Box 5 folder 52

Unidentified dam, 1883-1900 Box 5 folder 53

Unidentified dams, 1890 Box 5 folder 54

Unidentified dams, 1890 Box 5 folder 55

Unidentified dams Box 5 folder 56

Unidentified dams Box 5 folder 57

Unidentified dams Box 5 folder 58

Unidentified dams Box 5 folder 59

Unidentified dams Box 6 folder 1

Unidentified dams Box 6 folder 2

Unidentified dams Box 6 folder 3

Unidentified dams Box 6 folder 4

Unidentified dams Box 6 folder 5

Photograph album of unidentified dams Box 9

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Oversized material Title/Description Instances Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 6

Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 7

Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 8

Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 9

Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 10

Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 11

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Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 12

Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 13

Oversized photographs of unidentified dams Box 7 folder 14

Johnston family photographs Box 6 folder 15

Johnston family photographs Box 6 folder 16

Johnston family photographs Box 6 folder 17

Johnston family photographs Box 7

Johnston family photographs Box 8 folder 1

Johnston family photographs Box 8 folder 2

Johnston family photographs Box 8 folder 3

Johnston family residences Box 8 folder 4

Miscellaneous Maine locations Box 8 folder 5

YMCA, Bangor, Maine, circa 1890-1900 Box 8 folder 6

Prints : local landmarks (compliments of Merchants National Box 8 folder 7 Bank of Bangor)

Premises of C.G. Sterns Co., Hampden, Maine Box 8 folder 8

Premises of C.G. Sterns Co., Hampden, Maine Box 8 folder 9

Premises of C.G. Sterns Co., Hampden, Maine Box 8 folder 10

Log jam, West Branch of Box 8 folder 11

Postcards, Mohawk Trail, Berkshire Hills, Massachusetts Box 8 folder 12

Miscellaneous postcards Box 8 folder 13

Unidentified negatives Box 9 folder 14

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Negatives Title/Description Instances Negatives Box 9

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