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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The 150... t h A· nnlversary•. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ of ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Bucksport, Maine ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~une~ J . 25. , 19-4· 2 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ G-CCCc- .. ~ ~ . VV~~\,~~~'L~"" ~ ~ (; ~",:~", ",~/(?\, ~ ~ (;I}/\\ I' L~0(jt.L' "t., \' ~ U . '" .'- L' \'I ~ ~ lJ "". ',),\ ~ ~ u, ~~.,-, () ~ ~ ~ l." :"c (J Ul:\\' ,', /i ~ ~ v;;.f~;":" .... ,.. ,<\.~';01) ~ ~ vJ'j{ 0C: \:~~;:; ~ ~ ~~~J ~ ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Published and Printed bv ~

~ .. ~ ~ The Bucksport Free Press, Bucksport, Maine ~ ~. ~ ~ Bernard Pooler, Publisher ~ ,..'!-' ~ ~ I'~~ ~ August, 1942 ~ ~~i' ~ ~

'{I' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .':.., l:'.~ .. oj t. ~. Ii I~ I' Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 3 if t' i; The Sesqui.. centennial Celebration I":,,, " by Bernard Pooler I ./. " Thursday, June 2:5, 1942, was a in itself has ne~~~ heene.J;:ceeded, memor8ible and a historical day for especially the inter~$ting' parade. the citizens of Bucksport. It was the first time in,;the an­ It was memor8ible because 150 nals of the community that Mari­ years ago, June 25. 1792, what was time cadets paraded its streets and then Township No. 1 was incor­ such can be said of the appearance porated as Buckstown. (This name of the mechanized war equipment. was changed to Bucksport in 1817.) In the harbor of Bucksport was the June 25, 1942, was historical be­ Maine Maritirile Academy training cause on this day the 150th anni­ ship. which was the first appear­ versary of this incorporation was ance of such a type of vessel for ceI.elbrated with a series of public such apu'blic purpose. The dedi­ events which adde(i to an already cation of the Pre-Revolutionary long and colorful story of Bucks­ War era millstones, which were port. On this day more people used in the first mill of Bucks.port gathered in the town than on any in the 1700's, was ,another out­ previous public celebration, which standing historical event. This

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i' Ii; I I· ht ~ Some of today's folks in yesterday's costume·s who rode in the old t buggies of the 1800's. ,Left to right: Miss Ida Rosen, Gene Huf­ neagle, Alexander Davis, Second ·Lieut. Joshua Montgomery, Walter t Brown and his two daughters Joan and Ruth. The picture on the opposite page shows the winning float of the interesting parade. The entry was sponsored by the Maine Seaboard Paper Company and shows posed on the platform William Trecartin as the Minuteman, Ensign Georg>e Jewett, Jr. of the Navy air force. Second Lieut. Joshua Montgomery of the air corps in the l'ight back­ ground. Red, white and blue was the color scheme of the beautifully decorated float. I~' i I" Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 5

anniversary was obserrved at a Each member did his duty well, but period in the world's history when swecial mention must be made of the universe was battling the the excellent work of Roy 'Stairs world's biggest confiict of aggres­ who organized and promoted a sion. program that goes down in ,Bucks­ The 150th Anniversary program port's history as the best one yet was planned and organized by the in the memories of the older in­ Bucksport Civic Club at the last habitants. meeting of the first year of the Many Excellent Exhibits club. ·Committees were appointtd and assigned a part of the pro­ Throughout the day, ""(June 25, gram. The committee comprised 1942) many people found the many the following local citizens: exhibits in the storie windows and Rev. Alfred Hempstead, Richard at the rBuck Memorial Library ex­ Nason, Arthur Kimball, Harold ceptionally interesting. Gushing, Roland Harriman, Roy There were countless articles of Stairs, Halvor Prescott, Rubert the Revolutionary War period and Reynolds, Food Forsyth, George of later years on ,e,xhibition. Some D. Bearce, Paul Gay, Frederic W. of these were priceless and were Smith, Paul Brown, Mrs. Frank handed down directly from Jona­ M. Pierce, Bernard Pooler, Hervey than 'Buck, the founder of Bucks­ R. Emery, Mrs. Percy ,sargent, port. Among the many things Mrs. Arthur Buck, Mrs. Alexander were the Memorandum Book of Davis, Mrs. Harold Morse, Mrs. G. Jonathan Buck, the Penobscot Lawrence BIodget, Mrs. Delia Book Ledger, a copy of memorials Wentworth and Mrs. Annie Gilkey. to the General 'Court of Mass. in

The OctO'ber !Club float which won second prize.

The picture on the opposite page showing the covered wagonfioat sponsored by the Pulp and Sulphite Auxiliary drew much attention and praise. Even the oxen appear to 'e,njoy their errand; and can they keep time? Just note the positions of their feet--plenty of unison. ,....•.....: ~!t Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 7

1775, begging for ammunition and The Mill Stones food, the Town Record Book No. At seven o'dock the dedication 1 containing the article of incor­ of the old and first mill stones pora.tion 1792,a report of the first was witnessed by hundreds of people. These stones were used town meeting, a window display of in the first mills of Bucksport; and ancient firearms, a display of old in late years had become private handiwork and glassware, old property. The owners gave the prints of ships, buildings, and por­ stones which are now embedded in traits of desoond'!nts of Jonathan the lawn of the Buck Memorial Buck, old silverware, rugs, lamps, Library. The presentation of the hand-made dolls, old kitchen. ware, stones was made ;by Rev. Alfred furniture, an old steeple clock, a Hempstead and they were ac·cepted music book written in ink, map of by Benjamin Blodget as a memor­ old Bucksport, old school books, ial to Jonathan Buck, the founder a painting of Hannah . Gale Buck, of Bucksport and erector of the widow of Jonathan Bu-ck, an excel­ first mill in the then township. lent display of Admiral 'Peary's Participating in the dedkation expedition to the North Pole, and were descendants of Jonathan hundreds of other interestillg Bu-ck, namely: Mrs. Arthur Buck, articles. Frederick Forsyth, Mrs. Henry Previous to the evening pro­ Buck, Joseph and Frank 'Buck, Mrs. gram, the Ladies Canteen of the Charles Homer, Mrs. Walter Gard­ Civilian DefenSoe served a buffet ner, Miss Evelyn Hall, Miss Nettie lunch at the Congregational Par­ Swazey, Thomas 'Swazey, Emmett ish House to the visiting Cadets Swazey. Mrs. Albert 'Swazey, Mrs. and Soldiers. Edward Bennett, Miss Winifred

The training ship of the Maine Mechanized war equipment in the Maritime Academy, Castine, shown parade was the first such appearance in Bucksport's harbor was the first in Bucitsport. time that such a type of vessel anchored at the local port.

The ,picture on the opposite page shows the dedication of the mill stones, with the stones to the left and right of the standing repre­ sentatives, who are left to right, George:D. ,Bearce, Rev. Alfred Hempstead and Benjamin Blodget. The ceremony took place at the Buck MeffiorialLibrary which is the structure in the background. Descendants of Jonathan Buck, founder of the town, are seated. , t I: Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 9 !~ I Jones, Arthur ,swazey, Mrs. War­ gion Color ·Bearers, lCadets from ren Kennedy, Mrs. John MacDon­ the Maine Maritime Academy of ald, Gerard Kennedy, Mrs. Walter Castine, the Bucks.port ,High School Brewster, and Mrs. 'Gerard Jilson. band, oxen and horse-drawn vehi­ I Remarks were made by George cles of the 1800's manned 'by ladies D. Bearce, general manager of the and gentlemen dressed in,Colon1al \ Maine Seabord Paper ·Company; costumes, the Girls and Boys ! and by Judge Raymond Fellows Scouts, Paper Makers Union and i of Bangor, a native of IBucksport. Auxiliary, Civilian Defense Units. Motor ,Corys unit from Bangor Congressman Frank Fellows at Air Base, Veterans of F'oreign Washington, D. ,C., a native of Wars Kiltie Hand"of >Bangor, and Bucksport, sent this message of beautiful floats. remembrance: The patriotic float sponsored by "Bucksport is home to me, and the Maine ,Seaboard Paper Com­ the word 'home' suggests every' pany decorated in red, white and decent, fine, unselfish thing in a blue. crepe paper won the first man's life. ] recall .swazey's pas­ prize. Posed on the float as a ture: The ball team we called the Miuuteman was William Trecart­ \. Dandelion Diggers the old semi­ in, Ensign 'George Jewett. Jr., and nary and the steamboat wharf, the Second Lieut. Joshua Montgomery tannery whistle: the Robinson of the, air force representing their House porch with its summer vis­ respective type of the armed forces. itors: my schoolmates who with me The October Club float won the took part in ,celebrating the Fourth second prize. Other beautiful to the consternation of constitute.d floats were sponsored by the 'Cub authority: the swimming ho:e in Scouts, the Verona IGrange, tlie SilveriLake meadow: mother's Blodgett Tanning Co., and Pulp garden out back of the house on and 'Sulphite Auxiliary. Franklin street, school teacher,; The judges of the parade were with great patience: long absent Mrs. Douglas Dismukes of Castine, but still well remembered faces. I and Judge and Mrs. Raymond Fel­ love its every rock, trEe and bush. lows of Bangor. lIn the reviewing I congratulate myself that fot stand were Rear Admiral Douglas more than fifty years ,I have known Dismukes, superintendent of the and loved Bucksport and its people. Maine Maritime Academy, Rev. I honor those Who in its one hun­ Alfred G. Hempstead and Roy dred ,fifty years have contributed Stairs. to its history and he'lped to make The climax of the celebration it that landmark and depository occurred in the late hours of the of cherished memories for all who evening when a street dance was have known it and inevitably love:! held in front of the Verona Grange it. To reflect upon 0Ui.· home town building which was well patronized is to hold an a:biding faith in the and watched by hundreds of peo­ ultimate triumph of the deceucy ple. of this world. I sincerely reg-ret It was a late hour when the I cannot be present at the ,celebra­ celebration came to an end. But the tion." memorial and historical features Frank Fellows. of the event shall never die. They will live long in the memories of Best Parade in History those who witnessed the occasion Following the dedication thous­ to be passed down to the grand­ ands of people gathered to see, the children and theirs. June 25th, best parade in the history of tLe 1942 was a proud. a glorious, a town.. The parade was 111arshaled happy day for every man, for by James ISpratt, 'first selectman every woman, for every child liv­ 01 Bucks·port, followed by the Le- ing in Bucks·port.

The picture on the opposite page shows Cadets of the Maine Mari­ time Academy of Castine which added 'prestige and dignity to the line of march. Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 11 Early History of Bucksport by ALICE F. BUCK

Above shows the old grist mill on the left bank of the mill stream and on the right bank is. the old carding mill. A board walk spans the st,'eam to connect the two mills.

The most valuable af"the docu­ subsequent approbation of King ments exhibited at the library on George III, and in April Samuel June 25th in cele,bration of Bucks­ Livermore, Esq. had ibeenchosen by port's sesquicentennial was "Jona­ a major p.art of the votes '. of the than Buck his Memorandum Book", two houses to inspect the,flll.rvey­ a tiny log of the Sloop Sally's first ors in laying out the several town­ voyage up the Penobscot. ships. The first figure to emerge from In accordance with the arrange­ the memoJ.1andum book is Deacon ment made with Deacon Marsh, the David Marsh of Haverhill, who, on Sally was stored with "one cadg the 14th of June 1762 "put in pay of tobacco, one barrel of -bread, the Sloop Sally to go on the Penob­ one-half barrel of powder, 3 water scot to carry down the committee barrels, 2 flour barrels, 2 meat tubs, .and stores in order to layout the and 3 barrels to put fish in." township." She &ailed from Haverhill on the These townships, between the 16th of June carrying eight mem­ P.enobscot and Nova Scotia, had bers of the committee of surveyors been granted in February of the besides Jonathan Buck, her owner same year to David Marsh and 352 and navigator, 'and his fourteen other citizens of M·assachusetts and year old son, Jonathan, Jr. New Hampshire by the General The next day she "got down to Court of Massachusetts with the Newbury." Being.a craft of only

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Kiltie Band of Bangor shown on page 10 and the Bucksport High School Band furnished the music for the marchers. Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 13

20 tons the Sally was obliged to mitteemen with Jooothan Buck cling close to the shore ,and to re­ "east a lot for their six townships main in some friendiy hal"bor when and th€l lot fell to the west of weather conditions made her course Mount Desert River." difficult or dangero\j:s. So now for two days she was heLd at Newbury Planning The Township by .adverse winds and on the next Sprague's Journal of Maine His­ daY; by ,a superstition current tory says: "The ,plan for laying out an:lOng sea captains that no voyage the townships granted to David could be successful if it were Ibegun M.ansh and, his fellow petitioners on the Sahbath. On the 21st she was to erect six townships of the sailed .again and got into Casco first class so ealled and six of the Bay at 9 o'clock in the forenoon of second. When Livermore and his surveyors came to run out the lines it was found that the "River of Mount Desert" was the dividing line hetween the two. With some little ceremony, which included the breaking of a bottle of "Old Med­ ford" and other observances pe­ culiar to p'ast times, the river was christened the Union River. The townships of the first class included the present towns though not so divided, of Bucksport, Orland, Pe­ nobscot, Oastine, Brooksville, ISedg­ wick, Bropklin, Bluehill, Surry, and a part of Ellsworth. As an indi­ cation of the extent of the town­ ships of the second cl.ass it may be added that they' comprised what are now Trenton, Lamoine, Han­ The Old Dam on The Mill Stream cock, Sullivan, Gouldsboro, Steu­ ben, Cherryfield, Harrington, Mill­ the 22nd, picked up a pilot, and bridge and Addison." sailed at 1 o'clock same day. In To return to theniemorandum the morning of the 23rd she sailed book-On June 30th the Sally sail­ by Monheg.an and at midnight an­ ed for Mount Desert River, about chored above the Fox Islands five leagues, and anchored in the (Vinalhaven and North Haven). bay on the west side, "12 f'athom, On June 24th, eight days out oozy bottom, small current." On from Newbury, the S.aIly arrived following days the committeemen at Fort Pown-al (Fort Point) at 2 with Jonathan 'Buck "reviewed" o'clock in the day. Esq. Livermore the Mount Desert River, 'Surry Bay, arrived at 4 o'clock and in the Blue Boay, and "Magibiguyduce". evening the whole committee met It was on July 21st that the 'Sally and agreed to send "12 men up the got down to the real business of f,alls to review the land." sailing up the Penobscot "to the A long rain storm interrupted fishing place" (off Indian Point progress at this point, but on the where the paper mill now stands) 28th the 12 men,.among them Jon­ and six miles a;bove. "Going athan ,Buck and his ,son, sailed to ashore .at the fishing place through Naskeag, 10 leagues. They got the woods as we walked there is a there at 2 o'clock to find 7 sail in pond bears about N. E.~ine the hal"bor. The next day the com- fishing for salmon and good lands."

On the opposite ,page shows Bucksport in 1850. with the residence of Dr. Pond (right) which is now the site of the Merrill Trust Building, next building is the Jed ,Prouty Tavern. The two larger buildings were built by the Bradley brothers. These business blocks are still prominent on the Main 'StreE't. Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 15

Three days were given to the re­ of the tree. The survey of No. 1 view of this particular l·and and re­ began on July 6th. sulted in its selection as the site of Township No.1, now Sucksport. The Memorandum Book On her return voyage to Newbury Hardly less interesting than the Sally was 'becalmed off Mussel th-eo "Memorandum Book" is "The Ridge and her luckless passengers Penobscott Book", an account were forced to the hot work of row­ book kept by Jonathan Buck from ing all one afternoon. "A sm.all 1763 to 1775. In it -a'ppear the wind" rewarded them and they names of the men and women who, came safe to port on August 1 at by their courage, industry, and 8 o'clock in the forenoon, all in perseverance, made the settlement health." of Township No. 1 a success, and In June 1763 the Sally again through its pages runs an amaz­ came up the Penobscot bringing ingly complete story of their daily committeemen to settle the bound;;: lives. between the townships,and begin Activity in the settlement n-iltur­ the survey of the lots in each town­ ally ,centered ,at lfirst in the sawmill ship. E'ach boundry when settled built in 1764 on the river's edge was marked by the first letters of at the foot of the mill stream. the committee's names on a con­ There were turned out boards, venient tree and ·8 heap of stones st:J.ves, shingles, clapboards - piled for a monument at the foot everything needed for the settlers'

Pictured on' the opposite page is the old fire engine house dedicated July 4, 1856 and destroyed by fire in the early 19O'O's and which was replaced in 1911 by the present engine house. The building on the left is the old meeting house erected on Oak Hill in 1813 from which location it was moved minus the steeple and the front ,entry to Franklin street. This building also was burned. This old structure served various purposes. In front of the building was the town jail,' a hall upstairs and town office down stairs.

The old wooden bridge which connected ,Bucksport and Verona, show­ ingfish camp, draw bridge in the center with the pier. This bridge was replaced by the IState with another wooden bridge, which in turn w.as later replaced by a concrete structure. The sign on the post read "No f'aster them a walk." Verona in the background. if) Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 ======~= Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 17 ===== easily accessible by w.ater. Be­ building and much for sale in whole colony is in 'and we your Boston and more -distant ports. side hay the land along Orland The first year of the Revolution River furnished an abundance of found the settlers along the Penob­ Petitioners more especially from Activity about the mill soon be­ scot doubly distressed by failure of a number of vessels now lying in gan to hum 'as busily as did the fine oak which was either Mfted down the river and around the crops and a British blockade at the Bay at Long Island (,IleS'boro) mill itself with work on the upper the mouth of the river. Before the the mouth of the Penobscot River dam, the middle dam, the lower thoroughfare to the mill landing or brought around on logging summer was ov'e,r it had become all who have made prizes of numbers dam, >and on a ibridge at the saw­ too apparent that, if the settle­ of vessels bound in 'here for our mill, with the building of houses, boats. Beyond the landings anchored ments were to survive, they must relief and if said vessels continue barns,a trading house near the have help from the outside. Ac­ there our distress will be increased. river, a house for smoking fish, and the sloops coming in from New­ bury to discharge passengers and cordingly the Committees of Safety And that your petitioners are in a a bl,acksmith shop across the from the different settlements met very defenseless state respecting stre!llm from the &awmill, where unload cargoes. Occasion.ally they brought new settlers with their and framed the following petition: ammunition-your petitioners hulU­ shoes for oxen, irons for plows, bly pr·ay that your honours would and spring's for traps were fash­ families and household goods-now "To the Honorable the Council of and then a cow and a swine, a the Hous'e, of Representatives of tak-0 our case into your considera­ ioned over a fire fed hom a tion and in your great wisdom "chaldron of sea coals". coop of hens or ducks, once a horse the Colony of the Massachusetts and twice "dogge ,poppes". Sup­ Bay in General Court assembled: would point out and direct us in a The year 1770-71 saw the build­ method that we may be supplied plies they ,always brought, clothing "The humble petition of us the ing of the SO-ton schooner H-:tn­ sometimes, and sometImes such with ammunition and provisions of nah, the first of many vessels to committee of S.afety for P.enobscot bre.ad. And your petiUoners as in luxuries as snuff and pigtail to­ River for and in behalf of our con­ be -built in Bucksport shipyards. bacco. duty bound shall ever pray --­ The shore of the township was stituents the settlers and inhabi­ Penobscot River, October 31, 1775 dotted with landings near which The Penobscot Book tants of said Penobscot River which contains one hundred and fifty Signed: Jonathan Buck the owners' fleets were llloored­ All the accounts in the Penoh­ families and upwards being the Joshua Treat fleets made up of boats to meet the scott Book are rich in good things eastward parts of your said pro­ Jonathan Lowder settlers' varied needs, gondolas, to eat .and drink, a surfeit of moose vince and a young and infant settle­ Josiah Brewer bateaux, whale boats and wherries, meat, bear meat, salmon and shad, ment. Sensible that winter is ap­ Eben Haynes hay boats and logging boats, floats pigeons and ducks, a constantly in­ proaching and that we have been iHenry McLasky and canoes. Hay boats were kept creasing crop of gl'ains and vege­ depriv-0d of any succor from the Samuel Hays busy all the year round bringing tables, such an abundance that it is Western Towns for neelr three Samuel Keyes in hay from the meadow at Duck difficult to realize that 1775 was to months past occasioned :by the Jonathan Lowder, ,Clerk" Cove and the Winterport Marsh, bring the settlers close to starva­ pres'e,nt distressed situation the A copy of this memori·al together both boons to the settlers because tion. (The l·ast entries in the book they needed no clearing and weriJ were made in 1775.)

Bucksport was a thriving river port for many y.ears ·and shipping The present bridge connecting 'Bucksport and Verona Island. This was a profitable business. Shownalbove is the Ransom B. Fuller in structure was built by the State and completed in 1932. sarly 1900, leaving the Bucksport wharf for Bangor, on its regular Boston to Bangor run. 18 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 19 with instructions given to William Majesty's ships lying in the har­ cIphering only to the boys. In the latter 'part of the mgl1- Crawford, Esq. with the request bor, for 'Williamson in his history The first record of r-aising money teenth century the New England 1:hat he prefer the petition to the of Maine says that the assemibly for the schools was in 1794 when Primer was used for exercises in General ·Court were among the recommended that 200 or 300 30 L was raised ,and the selectmen reading and writing. In addition to documents exMbited at the library bushels of corn be sent to :Penob­ were deleg.ated to see that the these the boys were taught cipher­ on June 25th. scot .and sold to the inhllIbitants at money was properly rucpended. In ing. All pupils read from the Bible tErvidently WBliam CraWiford a moderate price taking wood and this year a school was heLd in a and Psalter after completing work succeeded in ·sailing safely ,past his lumber for pay. building at the foot of the hill (now in ·primer. Arithmetic was re­ known as 'First Street) near the stricted by law to reasona:ble com­ river. This school was taught by putations only. The pupils were Mrs. Putney, wife of Jonathan Put­ obliged to le-arn three hundred .and ney. She had fourteeu scholars sixty-two rules which were needed Early Education In Bucksport which were all the children in the in ordinary ,business transactions. First District. In 1799 the selectmen were given authority "to divide the town in as By Miss Abbie Reed servoo in each· township for the support of schools, and the follow­ many districts 'as they think prop­ The early settlers thought th.at ing year ,another law w.as enacted er." The town was divided into educational training was next in requiring that every town having four districts ·by the river, each importance to religious tl'aining. fifty families must furnish an­ district being required to build its As early as 1642 the General Court nually six months schooling which own schoolhouse. The expense of of Mass-achusetts passed an 'act might be in one or more schools. the school was paid by sums of which required every child to re­ In 1780 the power of taxing people money raised at town meetings. ceive the benefits of an education. for support of schools was given This was Massachusetts' and and .authority granted for !buying Maine's first ,compulsory education 1and ·andbuilding schoolhouses at law. Five years l.ater in 1647 a public e~pense. Towns were then new law was enacted which be­ divided into districts. came the basis of the common The first school in Buckstown as school sylstem in Massachusetts it was then called was held in a log and Maine, .and it remained almost cabin near the river not far from unchanged for nearly one hundred the Orland town line. This school years. Not until after the Revolu­ consisted of six boys and three tionary War was much attention girls. The tuition was 2/6 d per given to schools. In 1788 a l.aw week. Eliakim Darling·-was the was enacted providing th.at there toocher. He taught reading and should be a lot of 320 acres re- writing to the boys and girls but

RUFUS BUCK Rufus 'Buck was a descendant of Col. Jonathan Buck and was born in 'Bucksport, January 22, 1797, and died here May 12, 1878. He was a man prominent in public affairs, at one time being collector of customs and a representative at the Legislature. He was a member of the church for more than 60 Mrs. Richard Buck, who with her years, and was superintendent of daughter Emeline, gave in 1887 the the Sunday ISchool for 20 years. The West and North Sections of Bucksport as it looks today. Buck Memorial Library in memory Being very fond of singing he led of her hus,band, Richard. the church choir for 30 years. 20 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 BU'cksport's'Sesqui-centennial, 1942 ~1

At the first district mooting held In 1831, the town voted to adopt course of study offered had now January twenty-fifth 1802 at tHe the following "Resolve, Viz. That increased and in 1838, included house of Jonathan Buck, Esq. the it be the duty of the Superintend­ writing, history of .commerce, As­ sum of $370 was voted to build a ing School Committee to prepare tronomy, Philosophy, History, Geo­ schoolhouse, 'and the following ye·ar bl,anks for the several instructors, gmphy, Gr-ammar, Arithmetic, Sur­ it w.as voted that the second school each to l'epresent the st·ate of his veying and Bookkeeping. district be given the liberty to set school to be reported at the next In the following years school­ their school on the parsonage lot, annual meeting. 2nd, That it be houses were built in the different and later it was voted th.at each the duty of each Agent to notily districts. In [District #10, $25 was district in the town provide their the Parents in his district at the raised for the fencing in lana own school masters with the ap­ beginning and close of the ·school around the s·choolhouse and repairs propriation of the selectmen. In term to visit the s-ame. on same. The paying to Wiiliu,n 1811 it was voted that money raised kbout this time a fashionable Simp.son 11 shillings for a cord ot for the support of schools be divid­ boarding and day school for girls wood to be housed by' September is ed equally among the districts was opened by Mr. and Mrs. ,Sam­ recorded and Nehemiah Bassett according to the number of child­ uel Little. The school became very boards the mistress for 75c a week. ren in each district. The following pOPular .and students came from In 1845, $250 was raised for the ye.:u it was voted that the interest Bangor, Boston and other places as arising from the s'chool land be well as Bucksport to attend it. Mr. added to the principal (if the legis­ Little was a quiet man highly re­ lature will permit it) annually for spected and evidently exerted -an the pre,sent and that the trustees excellent influence in tire school and of the Buckstown school petition community. the General ,Court for liberty to In 1825 "The Universal Precept­ appropri.ate it for the further in­ or" was used as a text. This small crease of said fund. book contained lessons in thirty A school was held in ·a two story different subjects. Passages from building on what is now known as "Pamdise Lost" was used for pars­ the corner of Franklin and ,school ing. This year Bucksport estab­ streets where the Barnard house lished its ,first two teacher school (now owned by Mr. Bearce) now in a iarge two-story wooden build­ sbands. The Proprietor's Hall where ing, surmounted by a belfry and the Masons held their meetings was R,EV. EDWIN AUGUSTUS BUCK heated by fire places. on the second floor. Later the town A d··scendant of Col. Jonathan The first high school was kept bought the hall. After the building Buck, was born in Bucksport, May in the Methodist parsonaage and was' moved to the corner of Buck 31, 1824. He graduated from Phil­ taught by a Mr. Wakefield. Only and Mill streets and made into a lips Academy, Andover, Mass., in ordinary studies were taught hel't! two f.amily house now known as the 1845, and from Yale 'College in but many of the boys received a Estes house. 1849, also graduated from the Ban­ higher education by clubbing and ,Eight years ·after Maine was IT,or Theological Seminary in 1852. hiring at their own expense a separated from Massachusetts and Was ordained and settled over the teacher "who was versed in the became a separate state,an im­ Congregational ,Church at 'Bethel, higher studies." In the Fall of portant law was enacted directing Maine. In 1859 called to the Con­ 1835 Mr. Stephen Allen came to that twenty townships of the public gregational Church at Slatersville, the village of Bucksport for a land Ibe sold ·and the proceeds go R. I. and in 1867 was called to take year's residence having been en­ to forma permanent school fund, charge of the missionary work con­ gaged to take charge of the Bucks· the interest from which to be dis­ nected with the Central 'Church of port high school an institution su::>­ tdbuted .among the several towns Fall River, Mass. This work cover­ tained without aid from the state for the support of common sc·hools. ed a period of more than 30 years. by the ·people of the village. The This was the beginning of the state Throughout the city he was beloved school was held in the house built school fund now avaHlIJble for towns and known as Father Buck. When for that purpose, later used for the The school code adopted by thc he resigned the church made him Grammar school. One toocher only FREDERICK R. SWAZEY first legislature .provided that r·iIissionary Emerifus and continued was employed. He was expected to every town raise and expend for the give instruction in all branches Frederick R. Swazey was born his salary. He died March 9, 1903 in Bucksport August 10, 1821, the support of schools not less than at Fall River. usually taught in high schools, in· 40c .annually for each inhabitant cludingFrench and the studies son of John N. and Sarah Buck and the money to 'be divided among preparatory for college. About Swazey. He graduated from Yale the school districts according to defined the qualifications of those thirty pupils -attended this school, in 1855 and practiced medicine in the number of persons between employed as te-achers and enumer­ mostly village pupils. Eldridge Ellsworth one year, returned to ,ages. of 4 and 21 years. It also ated the subjects to be taught in­ Carpenter followed Mr. Allen as Bucksport and continued his prac­ provided for the elections of a cluding morality, sobriety and in­ princiopal. His school consisted of tice until his death in May, 1875 at superintending school committee, dustry. 20 males and 15 females. The the age of only 44 years. Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 23 22 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 building of a schoolhouse on the lot be allowed 1 cent each. where Ja,mes Eldridge's house is. In 1853 the town appropriated It was voted tlrat the agents of the $2000 for the support of schools, school districts were to ascertain and in 1854 it voted that a sum of and report to the town clerk all not exceeding $300 be appropriated strangers that may move into Town from the money voted to be I'aised within their respective districts and for the support of schools for pur­ that compensation to the agents c'hasing of outline maps and globes for such services be 2 cents for for the use of public schools. each person reported and the clerk Brief History of E. M. C. s.

by Bernard Pooler The school was co-educational .3.nd at pre-civil war days was the In 1845 a group of Methodists leading fitting school in l<:ast,~1'll considered the need of an educa­ Maine. tional institution for their child­ E. M. C. S. was governed by Chase Hall of The Former E. M. C. s. ren, and as a result of this con­ leading educators, and· mention is ference the East Maine Conference made of the splendid leadership of Seminary was founded as an insti­ Frederick Bragdon during thp. dhased by the Franco-American The faculty for the first year at tution in 1848. Bucksport was e.::trly nineteen hundred. E. M. C. Oblate Fathers of Lowell, Mass. to the .oblate Seminary was as fol­ chosen ,as the seat because h was S. grew from an annual enrollment train young men for priests in the lows: Rev. Gaston LeHoullier Su­ a busy seafaring port. The sum of 27 pupils to over 300. However, missionary field. perior, Rev. Arthur Salvas, Rev. of $2,500 was donated that year by as all good things come to a sad Much renovation was done by Leo Uesmarais, Rev. Armand the citizens of Bucksport as was ending so did the existence of this the Oblate Fathers and the interior Tremblay, Rev. Louis Desruis­ the land known as Zion's Hill. In 82 year-old school; and in .June, of the old buildings completely re­ seaux, Rev. Armand :Morissette, 1850 the charter was obtained. In 1933 the doors of E. M. C. S. were built. Classes began in September Relv. Paul Gote, Rev. Real Labrie. 1851 the first building, WJlson closed forever as E·::tst Maine Con­ 1941; and plans for next season Rev. Marcel GeuTeux, Rev. LeC' Hall, was erected and the first ference Seminary under the direc­ ·are expected to call for 100 young Monette, ,Bro. J. Violette and Bro. class held with 13 males and ] 4 tion of the Maine Conference (·f men to study at this private junior R. Beliveau. females as members of E. M. C. S. Methodist ,Episcopal Churche~. college. with the Rev. Loren L. Knox as Outstanding obligations of over president. $90,000 and threats of foreclosUl'e During 1853-54 Chase Hall was forced the 'albandonment of the built, and so named for Professor school. The Maine Seaboard Paper Co. Chase. In 1912, Oak Hall was On July 1, 1933, the town of erected. Unfortunately this build. Bucksport loosed the admini.strl!­ ing with its equipment and many tion building to house the town Industrially, Bucksport has been del' the management of Fred Bag­ valuo!liblepapers were compietely high school students while a new up and down. 'For many ye.ars ship­ ley with Frank Silver as superin­ destroyed by fire in 1923, In the High School building was bdng ping, ship-building, the Salmon t~ndent. In 1933-34 Arthur Hast­ fall of that year, Morris Hall, at built. In September 1936 this new Point Tannery, fishing and lumber­ ings repl.aced Mr. 'Bagley, and Mr. a cost of $80,000 was erected. town school was occupied. Thus ing kept the town very actve. But Hastings was replaced in 1934 by Morris Hall was so named for Pro­ the E. M. C. S. property on Decem­ time and these activities passed on, George D. 'Bearce, who is general fessor Morris. ber 16, 1937 was sold at auction by and the town felt the downward manager of the Maine Sea'board Pa­ Oak Hall so called because the order of the Supreme Court. The trend from the loss of these inaus­ per Go. Theodore Kloss was ap­ building was located on Oak Hill highest bid of $5,850 by Mrs. E. M. tries. pointed superintendent, the posi­ formerly known .as Zion's .. Hill. Chase purchased the propel·ty, However, in 1929 things turned tion held by Frank Silver. Mr. This loc-ation commands a striking which included the three seminary for the better. In this yoor the Kloss is still with the company. view of the beautiful Penobscot buildings, the grounds, athletic construction of the Maine Seaboard The annual output of the Maine river. field, caretaker's house, an artesian Paper ICO. newsprint mill began Seaboard Paper mill is 100,000 tons Thus after years of labor E. M. well and a lot extending 130 feet on the site formerly occupied by the of newsprint, 5,000 tons of special­ C. ,So grew to an institution with a from McDonald street to the Spof­ S'almon Point Tannery mill. This ty products and wI'apping, and financial v,alue. of $300,000, which ford lot. new construction brought to the 7,000 tons of sulphite pulp. This comprised three large buildings, Several parcels of this property town much aid in many ways. output requires the help of approx­ an athletic field, grounds, an arte­ had been sold separately before It was on Nov. 24, 1930, tha.t the imately 425 people in the mill and sian well and a caretaker's home. November, 1940, when the grounds construction of the new mill was about 175 others in various capa­ The well cost $10,000 and it is and buildings of the East M-aine completed and operation started un- cities. said to be 300 feet deep. Conference Seminary were pur- 24 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 25

THE MELL OF THE MMNE SEABOARD PAPER ,COMPANY The Jed Prouty Tavern

By Bernard Pooler Prouty" he created something .al­ most as classical as Thompson',; The history of Bucksport would New England farmer of "The Old not be complete without the his­ Homeste,ad" and Neil Burgess' fe­ ,t9ry of Jed Prouty Tavern, ol'igin­ male imperson.ation in the "Coun­ .ally known and called the Rooinsvn tryF'air". The difference was that The (SeaJboard mill is one of the which is cut accorciing to exacting House-a name which still pla­ Golden founded the character on most modern on the North Amer­ specifications and transpoded to c-ards the structure. In relating the an actual person and reproduced ican continent .and is constantly Bucksport by rail, truck and boat. story of Jed Prouty Tavern con­ for his setting a real down-East kept to the highest efficiency. It Ample wood is 'assured since the siderable light is brought out on tavern in ,a real town. For Prouty is Bucksport's largest industry and company owns almost 500,000 acres . the, town's history. was the proprietor of an old hotel one of the largest in New England. of timber lands in E'.lstern Maine. Built in 1783, there have iJeen on the Penobscot river in Bucks­ Along with the mill the company Fresh water, aggregating more little if any changes in the physical port, Maine. built and operates what is known as than fiftee'n million gallons per day, 'appearance. of this hi~toric hotel Originally known as the Robin­ "The Townsite" which 'comprises or enough to supply a city of ap­ "wbile much, historyoonters about son House, it was rechristened about 45 houses ·and acreage. l't proximately 20,000 people, is taken the pl'\l.ce. '.' . , after the .actor Richard Golden also controls the 'Chapin ,athletic from Silver Lake which is a natmal .In the3Jbove two cuts, one can wrote the play, "Old Jed Prouty," field which once was a part of the storage hasin. ,note only minor changes; alsv based on the tavern and its history. E. M. C. S. property. The company Electricity furnished for power noticeable are the two trees which A part time resident. of Bucks­ also o,perates a club house for its comes from Wyman Dam on the still stand, like perpetual sentinels. port, Golden married a girl from employees, supports its sporting Kennebec River at high voltage In the old picture the building at the. town, Dora Wiley. organiz.ations; and its employees and is then transforme,d to 2300 ·and .the right of the tavern w.as the Upon the completion of his play are affiliated with three labor un­ lower voltages for individual mo­ horne of Dr. Pond, now site of the he set to work making up scenery i'Ons. tors. The daily consumption .aver­ .Merrill Trust Company. Howeve:-, for it, copying the tavern office in The annual consumption of pulp­ ages 45,0,000 KW hours, or a quan­ the history of the tav~rn reve>:tls great deal. N ofuing was incorrei!t wood is approximately 125,(}O() tity sufficient to lig-hta city of its own story. or exx-agerated. Desk, chairs, re­ cords (about 400 cords per day) 70,000 people. How Building Was Named gister, and even the doors and latches were reproduced f.aithfully. In the Memorable epoch of Den­ Characters in the play wore even n;ian Thompson, "The Old Home­ the same brand of clothing as resi· stead" and bucolic dmma gener­ dents of 'Bucksport, and smoked ally, Richard Golden, with his the 80ame brand of cigars. Hay ".old Jed 'Prouty," w.asa fixture on usecl in certain scenes was cut the AmerIcan stage. In "Old Jed in Bucksport. Even a Bucksport 26 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 27 pump and 500 gallons of Bucksport number of names notaJble in Ameri­ have required five years for its without interference, ease, co.m­ water was carried ,around the can history. Among these are in­ co.mpletio.n. fo.rt, rest and enjoyment, whether country, as w.as ,a Bucksport fire cluded five Presidents who tarried Daniel Webster Here yQU ,come to. the tavern fo.r a day, a engine. here while in office. The ,Presi­ week, a mQnth, or .a year. The play netted Golden $75,000, dents who. stayed here were Wil­ Daniel Webster was at Bucks­ a huge sum of money in those days, Ham Henry HarrisQn, John Tyler, port frequently before the final Rufus Googins and in honor of 'Golden, the Robin­ Martin Van Buren, Andrew Jack­ co.nsummatio.n of the Webster­ The history o.f the tavern WQuid son House, proprietor, Rufus Goo­ son, -and Millard Fillmore, in Ashburto.n treaty, which settled a nQt be co.mplete witho.ut reference gins, rechristened his house. Maine, nQt fo.r pleasure but on ,I lo.ng and threatening dispute. One to. its genial llro.prietQr, H. Rufus When you come to Bucksport this Qccasions in cQnnection with the of the dates o.n which his name GQo.gins. Mr. Go.o.gins was bQrn in same Rufus Googins will greet Maine-N ew Brunswick Iboundary appears in the o.ld guest bOQk is Buckspo.rt, May 12, 1875, the so.n , August 4, 1842. On No.vember 2, you and tell you fascinating stories dispute, and it was the threat of o.f Fred and Martha Go.ogins. He of the early d.ays. war Qver that which reallY' c.aused 1840, William Henry Harriso.n is gl'aduated fro.m the o.ld East M.aine The tavern itself has changed the erectiQn ofFQrt Knox. registered, and .appended to his Co.nference Seminary in 1893, and but little. 'Certain facilities natur­ Besides these were other not­ n·ame is this legend: "Entertained to.ok a fling at selling papers o.n ally h.ave been added, but in gen­ ables. You find Daniel Webster, by 46,000 freemen." They had New Yo.rk Bo.wery befQre settling eral the house is unchanged. The JQhn C. Calhoun, Stephen L. Doug­ evidently gathered fro.m all oveI' do.wn in· his native to.wn to. ,becQme same beautiful hand finished stair­ las, Ben Butler, Robert Ingerso.ll, New England to. greet "Old Tippe­ Qne o.f its Qldest business men. way, its banister held in place by and curiously enQugh JeffersQn canoo" o.n the eve of electiQn. He started his business Coareer wooden pegs, sti:ll is there. The Davis, who was here in the 'forties. December 29, 1842, records simply with his father who. co.nducted a srune ancient hand wrought iron Ann.a Louise Carey also spent a "General Jackso.n, Hermitage," thriving. livery stable, adjo.ining the hinges hold the dQors in place. summer here and in later years while "Tyler to.o." was here o.n the Jed Pro.uty tavern. In 19{)8, Ru­ The same antique latch bolts the Peary (Admiral Peary) made the tenth Qf the fQIIQwing mo.nth. fus GQQgins purchased the ho.tel dQQr as has been lifted by unCQunt­ tavern his home while his arctic Somewhere 'about that time a from the estate o.f James F. Mo.ses, ed thQusands Qf travelers seeking a vessel the Ro.Qsevelt was being small steamer, the T. F. SecQr, and to. this day has co.nducted the lQdging fQr the night. The tables built on the riverside. operated between Bo.sto.n and Ban­ ho.tel in the ho.spitable m:mner typi­ in the dining rQQm are equipped go.r, .about the only means Qf trans­ cal Qf Mr. Go.Qgins. in part with utensils that were Qld Relics PQrtation. There is, today on the when the Civil War was yQung. The Prouty Tavern is not with­ wall o.f the office of the Tavern, a out its relics. MQreover, the o.ld vivid o.il painting of her. Her decks Housed Five Presidents oak flo.Qring, the winding stair­ are crQwded with dignified perso.n;; In fact, the Prouty tavern, is Qne cases, with their deep wo.rn steps in tall hats and fro.c'k coats, .and it of perhaps 'a half dozen lingering and the hand-hewn rafters, are in is surprising to disco.ver that the coaching houses throug'hout the themseives relics o.f the early days sailors themselves of those days whole New England and it is the o.f the last century, as are the fine were similarly garbed. most famous of them all because o.ldfan-lights Qf the doo.rw.ays. Planks for Flooring on the yellQw pages of its old The entire house is of hand-hewn The very planks o.f the main registers you may come acrQSS a timber co.nstructio.n and is said to flo.or o.f the tavern, wQrn and po.lished to a dark sheen, silently offer their o.wn story. FQrabo.ut 1875 a tall square-rigger was launched .at Buckspo.rt. Her decks were of ho.nest two.-inch hard pine planks, and when the "Jabeoz SnQw" had been decked o.ver, some planks there were unused. These we-re laid in the Jed Pro.uty tavern where they remain to.day . ..1 The "Joa:ooz Sno.w", a glo.ry o.f the to.wering white sails, passed do.wn the Penobscot to the Qcean and set :~ her prQW fQr the distant China. She arrived safely, discharged her cargo. and to.ok o.n .ano.ther. Fro.m that day to. this no wo.rd has been heard o.f her. The tavern o.ffers no frills, but go.od fo.od, hospitality, go.od ro.oms, SQme with bath and so.me witho.ut, companio.nship and convers'atio.n if Dr. Alpheus Page who. came to. yo.u wish it, and privacy if that be Buckspo.rt fro.m Orland .and died your desire. There is friendship here abo.ut 188{). 28 Bucksport's Sesqui-centenniaJ, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 29

tram Coffin wrote of the time when ey had prophetic VlSIon as well witches and pirates had to be as the courage of her convictions. cleared out of Maine and that a He,r indignation about the matter Legends of The Buck Monument witch was burned in Bucksport. is still remembered by the oldel by Rev. A. G. Hempstead, B. D., M. A. Judg.e, Raymond Fellows of the people of the town. Supreme Court of Maine a native According to the Whittemore Pastor of the Franklin Street Methodist Church, Bucksport, of Bucksport, and interested in the version of the legend, Colonel May 1, 1936· June 15, 1942. history of this region, says em­ Buck was Judge and condemned a phatically that no witch was ever witch to be hung. She pronounced a executed in ,Bucks town. curse and prophesied that her foot The legends ofa witch's curse In the September, 1902, issue· of the New England Magazine, was would appear upon his gravestone. that is connected with the mark­ Mr. Whittemore's article closed ings on the ,Buck monument in the printed "The Witch's Curse, A oldest cemetery in ,Bucksport bring legend of an old Maine town" by with .a paragraph worthy of always many curious people to pause in J. O. Whittemore. This was the being attached to the legend. wonder before the monument that first thne that the loose talk about "More practical and matter-or­ honors the memory of the founder the monument got into print. How fact people poohooh the legend and of the town. Unfortunately the shocked were, the towns folk who call attention to the historical monument has cast a shadow upon read the article! Mrs. Frederick discrepancy between the date of the good name of the founder of Swazey was indignant and Mr. the witchcraft era and the regim€ the town. Whittemore was informed by her of Colonel Buck. They say that The grave of the founder of the that he was ,guilty of slandering the tl'acing is entirely accidental, town is visited by the caretaker the name of a good man; that, fol' a fault in the gl'anite which was and once a year a representative fifty dollars, the reputed price that either hidden by the makers or de­ of the American Legion decorate::; he got for the article, he had start­ veloped after the monument was in the grave with flowers and an ed something which he could not place, and that the legend was American flag just before Memor­ stop and that no one knew how made to rfit the foot and not the ialDay. The gravestone of Gol­ far the tale would go. Mrs. Swaz- foot to fulfill the witch's curse." onel Buck has no marking upon it The legend became vivid when that can be made into legends. the imaginative mind of Oscal" Few ,people who have heard about Morrill Heath got to work on it. the witch's curse know that the Mr. He,ath published a book in grave and gravestone of the town's 1913, "'Composts of Traditions: A founder are within fifteen feet of Book of Short Stories dealing with them as they look upon the Buck Traditional (Sex and Domestic Monument. Situations" and "'Dedicated to Hy­ gienic Motherhood." In this book Over the grave of Jonathan Buck The gravestone of CoL Jonathan was the story, "Jonathan ,Buck, is a modest slate gravestone with His Curse." It isa thriller to he the following inscrilption: Buck, beside that of his wife, is with­ in fifteen feet of the monument to read on Halloween by those with In Memory of his memory. No "leg" is to be found steady nerves! Mr. .Heath liked the Hon. Jonathan Buck, Esq. on his gravestone. to - shock people and to make who died March 18, 1795 money. He wrote a genealogly of in the 77 year Jesus Christ that was suppressed of his age gravestone of their noble ancestor in Chicago where he lived. He He was a worthy 'Citizen & was too inconspicuous, erected a boasted that he made money on first settlerin.Buckstown sizeable granite monument in his the book as soon as its sale be­ memory. Their purpose was good came illegal. Jin his wild tale No mortal flesh can e'er withstand but the. result, as it worked out, about the monument, the witch's The power of Death's impartial was unfortunate. A "fault" ap­ fate was that of being burned hand peared in the stone that was a dis­ alive. Her son snatch€d her burn­ But each without resistance must figurement. This marking might ing leg from the fire and hit Receive the stroke and turn to resemble anything, an icicle with Colonel Buck with it, then ran into dust. the bottom bent to one side, until the woods. Later the Colonel, un­ someone saw in it the possibility wittingly adopted the boy. The Beside the grave of Jonathan of a stocking or a leg. Stories leg was miraculously preserved for Buck is that of his wife who died starred. Explanations were given, ten years and after the death of in 1789. based upon fancy not upon fact. the colonel, the 'boy put the leg in In 1852 the great grandchildren These still persist. In his book, t.he casket with the dead man. It of Jonathan Buck, feeling that the "Kennebec", 'Prof. Robert P. Tris- The Leg on Buck's Monument brought the colonel out of the 30 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 31 casket, and empowered him to go was murdered; one leg was miss­ superintendents. For several years down to his monument and with ing from her mutilated body. The he was president of the Bucksport his own blood draw the leg upon authorities ,could not find the Board of Trade. He established it. On returning to his home, he murderer but needed a victim to the first creamery in IBucksport climbed into the casket and utter­ satisfy the aroused populace. They prior to 19.00. He was interested ed his last words. 'IClose the lid, picked upon a half-witted fellow in horticulture. He died here in boy!" who lived in a shack on the edge 1932. No doubt the poem of Prof. of the town and who had neither Coffin "The Foot of Tucksport" family or friends to aid him. He which was published in 1939 in was convicted of the murder ·and 'ICollected Poems" was inspired hanged. He pronounced the curse by the Heath version of the leg­ upon the Judge and prophesied end. Colonel Jonathan J etro Tuck that the marking would appear of Tucksport was a distorted upon the stone. Colonel Buck. The new element The leg on the Buck monument was that of introducing the bride will last as long as the monument of the colonel and investing her itself, and the legends that have with luxuries which the good woman been built around it will be told never was privileged to possess. and retold for generations to Another version of the legend come. A few will recall the pro­ comes from the ·pen of A. Hyatt phe1cy of Mrs. Swazey that the Verrill in his book, "Romantic and reputation of a good man was Historic Maine" (1933). It would sold for the price of a magazine appear to be the romantic phase article but more will remember only the witch's curse. Only the of his writing rather than the his­ discerning will separate the fic­ toric. In this account, a new tion from the facts. character is introduced. A woman

Old Penobscot Bay DR. GEORGE H. EMERlS.oN (Dedicated to the clays ,that will never return.) Dr.. Emerson was born in Hamp­ den, Maine, ,and graduated from Did y'ou ever go a'sailing Up the Na>rroWIS with wooded hanks Hampden A'c-ademy. He studied Up old Penobscot Bay, Gorgeous in the morning light. When the morn woo just a'breaking, SmeH the pines and spruces green, two years at the University of And Fort Knox stands at the bend, For a few months he practiced in REV. ALFRIED LORING SKIN­ And the gulls ascreaming hi,gh. Across, Verona's lovely shore. NER W,!1Jh fog horns all ,around you Today a bridge' .of beautious lines, Brooks ,and Penobscot, Maine. He Warning Slhips ,of danger nigh? Spans the swi'fV tide-water o'er. came to Bucksport in 1875 and practiced here for 56 years. He Then 'the sun breaks thru the cloud Bucksport, old Jed Prouty's town, Rev. Alfred Skinner was a de­ Winterport, Hampden Heights, and was noted throughout the state as banks now scendant of Col. Jonathan Buck. Shedding bea.uty far a.nd wide. a specialist in eyes, ear, nose -and He was born in ,Bucksport, Nov. 22, Unveiling Orumden Mounta>ins, We pause for just one long, long look, throat. Like a curtain drawn aside. Backward o'er the stea>mer's bow. 1824. He prepared for college at He also was an optometrist and Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., Up the river in the sun light Green the meadows with marshy grass studied at the New York Polytech­ Rug,ged shores and piney slopes, Wooded hiHs and cedars taiL and graduated from Yale College L~ttle towns and sma11er hrunlets, Rugged rocks and 'towering cliffs, nic Institute. He served on the in 1849 after which he studied three Pure white yachts and little boats. And Heaven',s blue dOme over all. State ,B()oard of Medical Examiners years at Bangor Theological Semi­ for several years, and for many Come we now to dear old Belfast, Oh, there's nothing to ease a homesick nary and one year at Andover Sea I' s port, Northport c'amping heart, years was a United States Pension Seminary. Because of ill health he ground. Like ,a saU up old Penobscot Bay. Examiner, .and also an examiner was una,bIe to accept a settled On we sail thru sparkling waters, When the sun breaks o'er the world for numerous insurance companies. Fort Point lighthOUSe justa.round. IIkegolcl, pastorate, but for a short period And caxes are a hundred mHes away. He served for many years as chair­ supplied pulpits in various parts Florence Parker Brown. man of the Bucksport ISchool .Board of the State until 1859. He was for when the duties of that office con­ some time in government's employ stituted those now performed by as clerk at Fort Knox and the en- 32 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 33 gineer's office in Portland. In 1861 tendent of schools at one time. He Jones. T. M. Nicholson in the rear of he received the appointment of was a constant attendant at the The building ocCupied by the Emery Hall went with the rest. Postmaster at Bucksport, a posi­ Elm street Congregational Church Emery & ,Go. also housed on the The fire made a clean sweep of tion he a;bly filled for 26 years. after he returned to Bucksport and second floor the dental offices of everything as shown in the accom­ Then for. three years he was super­ was devoted to its interests. He Dr. W. H. F'arnham 'and the law paning picture. Help was sum­ intendent and librarian of the Buck was superintendent of the Sunday offices of W. ,C. Conary.The build­ moned from 'Bangor and a steamer Memorial Library at Bucksport. School for a period of Years. He ing was owned 'by J. Robert and auto truck responded. Emery. The store occupied ,by C. and one of the trustees until his always had a kindly smile and a Although not all of these build­ death in 1899. He was superin- friendly greeting for all. B. Richards was owned by the Heywood estate. The family of ings were replaced some have been John Carpenter occupied the sec­ built on the site. Where Emery ond floor. Han stood there is now a brick­ constructed theatre opened in Feb­ Bucksport's Biggest Fire Between the livery sta;ble and ruary 1916 by H. O. Hussey. A Emery Hall were two smaller drug store was 'built, also several buildings owned by A. G. Swazey, other buildings have been erected The biggest fire in Buekslport's burning dwelling· houses of Mrs. one was occupied by Esther Gor­ but the loss in bulidings has never history was on August 25, 1915, Rilla Greenle,af, The Tillock house, ham, fruit and confectionery, with been completely replaced. when Emery Hall and surrounding the Costello house and the Perry apartments on the second floor. buildings were levelled to the House. The other building was that of Another large fire in the town ground in a $75;000 blaze which The .Emery Hall building wIdell Crosby's shoe repairing shop. The was in April; 1923, when Oa:k Hall started in the Old Tillock livery was owned ,by H. O. Hussey. and building on the corner of Mam and of the East Maine Conference stable, burning the Emery Hall C. A. Terrill, included the Patten Mechanic formerly occupied as Lhe Seminary was completely destroyed building, the store of Emery & Co., House, the boot and shoe store of and much valuable contents lost. selectmen's office was vacant on The brick building was erected in store of C. R Richards and several P. E. Dinsmore, drug store of AI~ the first floor while the second residences, making a clean . sweep bert F. p.age. millinery store of floor was occupied Iby Mrs. Nancy 1912-1913 at a cost of $40,000. The from Meehanic street to the lawn Mrs. Mabel ,Robbins, barber shop total damage by fire was OV€T Witham. A large stable owned by $50.000. of the old Darling homestead 011 of T. E. McInnis, Emery Hall with Main street, and also up Elm and all its furnishings, a printing office Merhanic streets for some distance recently established by W.. B.

Emery Hall built in 1876 and destroyed by fire, Aug. 25, 1915. These buildings occupied the site of land now running two stores this side of Elm street to Harriman's Garage. Shown in the picture is Emery Hall, next is the Emery General Store. The building on the extreme right housed the 'Frank Grindle store downstairs, and the offices of Dr. Farnham, Wiley Conary law office, custom house and insurance office of E. L. Warren upstairs. All that was left after the Emery Hall fire. 34 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 35

of the Bucksport National Bank. owned by Havener Webster. This The ibuilding partly showing on was totally destroyed; also a store­ The Fire of 1922 the extreme right was owned Iby house owned by A. C; Swasey, A. C. Swasey and occupied by Mrs. which was a total loss. This fire occurred March 14, There woas nothing saved. This A. A. Kerst as a millinery store. The !fire also did minor damage 1922, and caused a loss of $35,000. building was owned by A. C. The building was totally destroy­ to the Grenge building to the ex­ Help was called from Bangor and Swasey. In previous years this ed. For many previous years this tent of wbout $500, and also to the Brewer. Lack of wind was oa big building housed the millinery Tribou building for a like amount factor in saving the town much building housed the telephone office store of IBetty Trott. of dam.a;ge. These buildings are not greater damage. upstairs, and the grocery store of In the rear of the four story shown in the «bove picture. The buildings destroyed by fire George Wentworth downstairs (as building was the ,blacksmith shop were built before 1870. shown in picture) . The grocery The four story building on the store had previously been run by left was occupied on the lower floor Ed Marks and previously by Fin­ by the Smith Dry Goods store and son oand Brown. the three floors above by Mr. and The next building, which was of Mrs. L. H. Smith. Nothing was thlee stories was owned Iby the saved and the loss placed at East Maine :Conference Seminary $15,000. and woas occupied on the lower Before moving into their present floor by the post office, and on the location the Odd Fellows hoad made second floor by the Bucksport their home in this building before Printing Co., Walter A. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. ISmith occupied the proprietor, and the third floor by upstairs floors after 1911-the year quarters of the ,Bucksport band the Odd Fellows moved across the and the Modern Woodmen of street. Americ-:!. All the mail and fix­ The two and one-half story tures of the post office were saved. building wail occupied by the Cen­ Mr. Smith's loss was a:bout $3,000. tral Maine Power Co., where the The Bucksport band and the Mod­ fire caught on the lower floor; and ern Woodmen saved their fixtures. the second floor by the office of A. About eight years previous to the C. Swasey 'and E. L. Warren. fire the second floor was the home

The First Train In Bucksport Sketch of Bucksport's Railroads By William A. Wheeler New England's first railroad was built 6 years later, in 1835; and From the day its first settler the first rail line in Maine, and the cleared a piece of land and built a second in New England, was the homestead, Eucksport has been a Bangor & Oldtown road, established maritime town. For many years in 1836. It was about this time its trade W·:lS water-borne; and com­ that the project of oa railroad be­ munication with Bangor, 20 mHes tween ,Bangor and Bucksport was away, was by horse-drawn vehicle first proposed; and the plan called and ox-cart. for a line connecting the two towns The first l1ailroad in the United and extending to Milford, princi­ St·ates was ,built in 1828, and at pally to provide a moons for the Early buildin.gs on south side of Main street which were burned in first, the primitive little coaches shipment of lumber in the winter, 1922, and now the sites of Leacb's Garage, the small Swazey building were drawn by horses. In 1829, when the river was closed above oand the vacant lot to the Tribou Block, now occupied by the IBen Frank­ the first steam locomotive was im­ Bucksport. lin store. ported from England, and the Iron It was not until a number of Horse came into its own. years later that a charter was ob- Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 37 36 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 minoo, however, and the plan then the name was changed to "Eastern called for a railroad from Bangor Maine Railway." In 1883, the road Historical Dates of Interest to Bucksport, thence throughPe­ was leased to the Maine Central, nob scot and ,Surry to Ellsworth, and again the g.auge was changed, under the name of the ":Penobscot this time to standard gauge. From the Town Register of 1907 1854, Bucksport Bank organized and Union River Railroad." ,Later The Bucksport branch of the we find the following leading Sept. 18, chartered a National, the name w.as changed to the Maine Central, so-c':111ed, was '1 events of the town. (We have Bank April 8, 1865. The National Bucksport and Bangor Railroad, busy piece of track. With the pod amended in one or two instances) Bank was consolidated with the and a line was actually constructed active, many vessels tying up at its Merrill Trust Company in 1920. between those points. This was ·a busy wharves, the rail connection 1762, David Marsh of Haverhill "broad gauge" line, one of several was important. With the advent granted p!.antation .and the Sloop 1887, Buck Memorial Library such railroads in the State. In of motor vehicles, however, .and the Sally sailed for the Penobscot. erected to the memory of Richard those early days there was no at­ gradual passing of water-borne P. Buck, late of N. Y. tempt .at standardization; track traffic, the picture changed. Pas­ 1764, Jonathan Buck built saw was built according to th~ whim of senger service between the two mill, the first on the Penobscot; 1900, March, Parker Spofford the builders, and every little rail­ towns became thin; so thin that in also several small homes built. Grammar School ac·cepted by the road was necessarily self-sufficient 1934 highway bus service was in­ town, a gift from Mr. Spofford. 1770-71, The 60-ton schooner, -its locomotives and cars were .augurated and .passenger train ser­ 1904-05, "The Roosevelt" built at confined to its own rails. It was vice reduced. Twenty years ago, H.:1nnah, built, w,as the first of not until some years late,r that the two round trips of passenger trains many vessels built in Bucksport Verona. This is the ship which yards. carried Admiral Peary to the North American railroads adopted stand­ were opemted daily and were well Pole. ard gauge, 4 feet 8% inches, and patronized; today there are no 1775, Great suffering for want of commenced standardizing equip­ passenger trains between the two provisions. ment, so that locomotives .and cars points. The bus service, however, could pass freely from one line to is so scheduled as to provide con­ Aug. 1779, British fleet attacks another. nection at Bangor with imporbant and burns the township (now The Bucksport road had, for some main line trains. Bucksport) years, rather a checkered exist­ One of the old-time station ence. In 1874, it was leased to the agents on the Maine Centml, 1786 or 87, Col. Buck rebuilds European .and North American, George D. Crane, was as much a s·aw mill and dwelling houses. with the idea that the exp.ansion of part of Bucksport as he was of the June 25, 1792, Township was in­ the territory first envisioned would r.ailroad, and he will be remember­ corporated as .Buckstown, and or­ be carried out by that company; ed by oIder residents of. the town. ganized Sept 6 of that year. but booause of financial diffi·culties Mr. 'Crane commenced his railroad the plan w.as abandoned. The lease career in 1872, and in 1875 he went 1793, Strong resolutions passed was terminated in 1876. to Bucksport as agent. With the against the formation of Maine into About this time, the gauge of the exception of a short period when he a State. Bucksport road was narrowed to worked in Bangor as a tmin dis­ patcher, he served the r,ailroad and 1795, Rev. John Kenney, first 3 feet-still not standard. preacher in town. At the termination of tha lease the townspeople as the Bucksport to the Europoon and North Ameri­ agent until his retirement from ac­ 1799, Buckstown post office es­ can, the Bucksport road passed into tive life in 1922. He died in Sep­ tablished. the hands of the bond-holders, and tember, 1930. 1803, Rev. Mighill Blood settled pastor. 1804, Gazette of Maine publish­ ed here.' 1806, Penobscot Bank esta:blished, continued six years. 1817, Name of town changed t,) Bucksport. 1819, voted 0\Il selXtration of Maine from Massachusetts, 8 ill favor; 93 against. REV. HENRY K. GRAIG 1821, Portion of Bucksport set pastor of the Elm ,StreefCongrega­ off to Orrington. tional Church, 1855-1866 38 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 39

The Blodgett Tanning Company

The iBlodgett Tanning Company, was formed in April 193() with which is Bucksport's oldest indus­ Frederic S. Blodgett as President. try now operating for 75 years, This Company moved back into had its first mill, The Salmon Point the Franklin Street Tannery, and Tannery, on the river ibank, now is c.arrying on the 'business as a the site of the present Maine Sea­ sheepskin Tannery at the present board Paper ICompany. time. Pickled skins are received from all parts of the world ,and Mr. George Blodgett (father of converted into finished leather for Benjamin P. and Frederic'S.) pur­ the cotton mills of the South, shoe chased same in 1890 from Alfred lining tl'ade, Colors, and Skivers. Swazey. The first and smaller The older, slower process of hem­ buildings had originally been used lock bark tanning is stiU used on .as a steel mill, and had been sold certain lines, but has largely been to Alfred Swazey for ice storage, supplanted by the faster extract but had never !been used for that tannages which speeds the process. pUl'pose. This tannery started The Franklin Street Tannery operations las a sheepskin tannery (or Darling Tannery) was pur­ in 1891. Mr. Ch.arles Homer who chased iby Mr. George Blodgett 'DHiE SALMON POFNT TANNERY lives on Buck Street went to work (father of Benjamin and Frederic as mechanic in 1894. S. Blodgett) in 1872 from Ambrose This tannery was sold to the Hoarriman, being operated at that M:aine ,Seaboard Paper Co. in Nov. time as a sole-leather tannery. 1929 and stopped operation in Itt was completely destroyed by April 1930 under the n.ame of The fire in 1876 and re..ibuilt by Mr. Bucksport Boys In World War I George Blodgett Company. Blodgett as a sheepskin tannery, The Blodgett Tanning Company which it has remoained ever since. The following men from Bucks­ ur E. Gross, Ivory L. -Gross, Frank port were in World War I: Clar­ R. Harrim.an, Parker W. Harriman, ence L. Applebee, Jesse T. Atwood, Horace Z. Homer, Lester E. Homer, Raymond A. Atwood, Richard E. Matthew L. Hooper, "Melvin W. Atwood, Earle P. Baldwin, Rodney Hoxie, 'Chester L. Hutchins, Oren L. M. Beals, Edward C. Bennett, Hil­ Hutchins, Reginald M. Jocylen, lery C. Bennett, Arthur G. Blaisdell, "Clarence L. Jones, Parker S. Ken­ George L. Blodgett, Hugh Y. Blod­ nedy, Leslie G. Kenney, Eugene P. gett, Thurston P. Blodgett, *Har­ Lawrence, Adelbert Leach, Paul A. vey W. 'Bowden, Raymond A. Bow· Leland, Harry A. Little, Antonio den, Archie Hilbert Brey, Raymond LO'bata, Elmer C.Lord, Edwin S. J. Bray, Eugene F. Blidges, George Lowell, Hernon H. Lowell, Alexis F. Bridges, Harry A. Bridges, Rob­ B. Luce, George E. McFarland, Jr., ert L. Bridges, Ralph 1. Brown, Ivo­ Robert -0. McKinnon, Ray V. Mad­ ry A. Carey, *Herbert L. Carley, docks, Willis D. Moore, Walter W. Vasco E. 'Carter, Walter I. Chap­ Mulliss, Foster Newcomb, Freder­ man..!, Stephen V. Chipman, Arthur ick B. Norris, Emerson D. Nye, M. Lilay, Raymond H. Cohoon, Ba­ Edwin Geo. Partlidge, Lester S. sil J. Coombs, Frank O. Cornell, Perkins, Warren Philbrook, Arthur Vincent Courcy, Pearl A. Crosby, S. Phillips, Stephen C. ltankin, El­ Joseph L. Curtis, Arthur E. Cush­ mer W. Rideout, John A. Robshaw, ing, Ronald Dakin, Reginald P. Da­ Walter Sabine, Rodney P. Saun­ vis, James H. Decourcy, Paul De­ ders, James M. Sheehan, Thomas courcy, Thomas H. Delano, *L.aw­ F. Sheehan, Albert W. Smith, ,Roy renee Doiron, Joseph Downey, Leon E. Smith, Edwin F. ,Snow, *Frank V. Eastman, Russell C. Foster, Rus­ R. Snow, Charles E. IStarki~ Fred sell B. Frey, Emmons P. Gray, C. Turner, William J. Turner, 'DHE FRANKLIN STREET TANNERY Freeman -Gray, Ivor -Grindle, Arth- George Tweedie, Andrew J. Watson, 40 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 41

*Richard D. Weblb, John B. Wells, many went to the Civil War than Montgomery, Alex'r Montgomery, Rogers, John H. Richal'dson, Henry John Whitmore 'and Arthur L. to the World War. In 1860, Bucks­ Dennis C. McCabe, Frank B. Mill­ J. Smith, Jas.G. ISmith, Jas. A. W oodibridge. port had 3554 people, which was the er, Edw. W. Moore, Eben S. Moore, Smith, Chas. Smart, Thos. Smart, *Died in the service. (seven) l~rgest in the history of Bucksport; Dan'l Moore, Amos Moulton, John Fred Swett, Amasa P. ISherman, while the 1920 census lists Bucks­ Marsh, Aaron D. Marsh, Arthur JohnE. Sherman, S'am'l D. Small, port as 1906, The 1940 censu~ McGlauthry, John Murphy, Nash Geo. L. Stover, Wellington There were 102 men from Bucks­ finds Bucksport with 2927 people McKay, Benj. McKay, Woa.lter Sprague, Leander S1mpson, John port who were in the F'ederal Ser­ a gain of one thousand during the Murch, Andrew McNeal, Edw. C. H. Simpson, Wm. H. Stevens, Jas. vice during World War One, while P·3.st 20 years. This rise is due to Miners, John McCarthy, Jas. B. C. ISawyer, GeQ. Snowman, Jos. 240 Bucksport men served in the Bucksport's latest industry-tht; McKinely, Geo. Milton, Levi New­ Snowman, Jas. ,Stubbs, Jr., Fred­ Civil War. A few facts on the :Maine Seaboard Paper Co., which ell, Wm. F. Osgood, Wm. H. Orne, erick S. Snow, Chas. True, Lewis census will expl.ain why twice as began operations Nov., 1930. Hiram F. Page, John J. Page, Silas M. Thompson, Wm. Thompson, Page, Lewis M. Page, Rob't P.age, Jeremy Towle, Jr., Henry Tapley, Paris 'Parker, David A. Patten, A!fred Treat, Jesse Treat, Moses S. Amos Patterson, Edw. T. Perkins, Verrill, Greenleaf Webster, Miron Josiah Pinkham, Preston P. Preble, Webster, Adelbert G. Webster, Anthony Prew, Witham Plummer, Francis E. Wardwell, Emery S. Bucksport Boys In The Civil War Major Fmnk Pierce, Leander H. Wardwell, Virgil P. Wardwell, John Pierce, Chas. E. Pillsbury, Wm. A. Webb, Eph'm B. Woodbridge, Quimby, Alfred D. Rand, Thaddeus Hiram E. Woodbridge, Chas. E. The following from Bucksport Dan'l B. Friend, Wm. L. Fogg, A. Rice, P.atrick Ragin, Wm. iRo;b­ Wood, Fred'k Wood, As.a G. Wig­ saw active service during the Civil Ghas. W. Fogg, Hiram E. Fogg, inson, Josiah ,P. Robinson,' Leander gin, ,Sam'l H.W est, Freeman York. W,ar: Jas. S. 'Floyd, Jos. P. French, Geo. Robinson, Edwin Reed, Geo. A. Geo. S. Abbott, Lewis P. Abbott, W. 'Frost, Hiram E. Flagg, Fred­ Orson Abbott, Washington Abbott, erick E. Furbish, Horace A. Fur­ John Angus, Augustus E. Aiken, bish, Thos. C. J. Furbish, John J. Geo. W. Ames, S. P. Lagros, Chas. Frazier, 'Benj. P. Grover, Stover B. Bonzey, Jos. S. Bonzey, Freeman P.Gross, Alfred N. Gross, Wm. H. P. Bridges, Arthur Bridges, Ever­ Gardiner, Haskell H. Gmy, Alfred ettBridges, John H. Bridges, Fmn­ B. Gray, Jas. E. Gray, Alfred R. cis W. Bridges,Geo. F. Bridges, Gray, P. P. Gilmore, Joel K. Grant, Chas. G. Bridges, John C. Blagdon, B. F.Goodwin, Horatio N. Greene, Geo. Blodgett, Benj. Buck, Dennis Greenleaf A. 'Goodale, Amos S. Burkley, Elliot F. Blood, Hiram Goodale, John H. Gill, John M. L. Burton, Nathan E. Burton, Hi­ Houston, Jos. E. Houston, Albert ram Burton, Zeba W. Burrill, John N. Huston, Geo. P. Hooper, Benj. A. Burrill, Thos. A. Benne.tt, Ches­ F. Harriman Luxford S. Harriman, ter D. Bennett, Loring B. Bennett, Wm. P. Harriman, Reuben Harri­ John Bulduck, Thos. Bulduc, Chas. man, W. Parker Harriman, Benj. Barnard, J as. Bennette, Theo. .T. F. Harriman, Wm. H. Haine,s, John Batchelder, Jos. H. Barnes, Jos. F. Haynes, Edwin P. Hill, Sew.all H. Beale, John Beasley, Joshua L. Heywood, Chas. L. Heywood, Bowden, Schuyler A. Cobb, Jos. F. Jas.E. Hall, Freeman S. Hancock. Chadman, Frederick S. Conant, F. General Edw. Winslow Hinks of W. Colson, Edw. L. Colson, Seth Mass., a native of Bucksport, said H. Cole, John B. Craig, Stephen R. to have been the first volunteer to Crosby, Dr. Willard Collins, J. F. the Civil War, Jas. C. 'Hammond, Chadbourne, Jos. F. Chadbourne, Hiram C. H01mes, Chas. A. Humph­ Wm. Carl, John Carroll, 'Sam'l A. rey, Elisha Irvin, Geo. C. Irvin, Jos. C01by,Geo. W. ,Carr, Doane B. James, Rufus Johnson, Emery H. Colcord, Abner A. Clements, Jos. Johnson, Artemus H. Johnson, Wm. N. Curtis, Jarvis Clair, Edw. A. W. Johnson, Chas. F. Jordan, Chas. Crocker, Geo. D. 'Crane, Chas. V. A. J.3ckson, Irving C. Jackson, Geo. Dorr, Reube,n S. Dorr, Chas. P. W. Kenney, John Kennedy, Chas. Dorr, Kenney Depray, Jos. B. P. Kendall, Edw. ,F. Kendall, Josiah Doane, Hillery Daney, Augustus A. Lowell. E.::If.tman, Frank Emerson, Chas. Sam'! Lowell, Edwin Lowell, H. Emerson, Roscoe ,G. Emerson, Richard I. Lowell, Kenney C.Lo­ Levi Eldridge, Jr., Harry L. Ef­ well, Jos. H. Lawrence, Jas. G. dridge, Stephen D. Eldridge, Wil­ Lamprey, Edw. D.Lanpher, Henry Bucksport was once a thriving fishing port. And drying fish on ber H. Eldridge, Geo. E. Fisher, G. Lane, Richard F.Lovell, 'Wm. Nicholson's Wharf was a daily occurence. 42 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 43

The Lynwood built on Verona Island was one, of many boats launch­ ed in the busy ship-building days.

REV. HENRY BLODGET Fort Knox Was Built In 1846 He was the eldest son of 'Deacon Bliss Blodget and Mary (Thurston) Blodget and was born in Bucksport JUly 13. 1825. He was a Yale graduate and l'eceived the degree Less than a mile from Bucks­ Inore remote dungeons absolutely of 'D. 'D. from his Alma Mater. He port's business section is Fort de,void of light and containing but studied at the Bangor Theological Knox, a veritable treasure trove for little air. No sensible visitor ever ve,ntures within them without a Seminary and was appointed tutor the explorer. A massive and ex­ good flashlight. tensive structure of gray granite On the regular green slopes of the in Yale. He was ordained as a it was built in 1846 as a result of banks protecting the underground missionary to ,China; was in Shang­ the so-called Aroostook W'ar, in masonry one may rest,philosophize hi then went to Teintsin being the which no shot ever was fired. Cost­ a bit, or just dream. No noise of first Protestant Missionary in U ing nearly la million dollars to the city pene,trates this drowsy build, the fort nevel' was garrison­ retreat, no clouds of dust pollute Province of Chihi. In 1864 he went ed, and there it stands today fUl' the pine-l,~den atr, and nobody pre­ to Peking. He was one of the com­ .all who wish to venture into its sents a bill for the use of the place. mittee to translate the new testa­ damp underground passages. It's open, fre,e of charge to all who ment into the Mandarin and he T,here are long sloping conidors wish to visit. prepared a hymn-book for the use l0~ding to the river bank from the In late years, outdoor fireplaces interior of the fort many rods and picnic tables have been ·~dded of the native Christians. He died away; there are narrow passage­ for the comfort of all visitors. A in Bridgeport, Conn. ways leading to little known recess­ visit to Bucksport is never complete es far under the b·~nk into which the without venturing through the gray fort is built; and there are still walls of Fort Knox. 44 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 45

Histories of Buckport's Churches Congregationalism In Bucksport

gl'egational churches. In 1803 the Congregational Church in Buckstown was "embid­ ied into a church state" and Rev. Mi.ghill mood was called to be­ come its pastor. The six original m"mbers of the church were Rev. Mig-hill Blood, Jonathan ;Buck, Esq., MI'. Josiah rColson, 'Capt. Daniel Buck, Dr. Jotham Moulton, and Mrs. Lydia Harriman. Mr. Blood was ordained in a large house then building :by Oapt. James Ginn (on the lot where rOapt. -Harrison's house now stands) where a tempor­ ary pulpit and seats were fitted up for the occasion. His parish was the whole town and for a number of years he preached aloornately at Mr. James Higgins' house in the upper part of the town, at a schoolhouse in what was called the back settlement, and at the school­ house in this village eve.ry third Sunday. When the village school­ house burned the only chu,ch pr0,J­ erty saved was the pulpit Brble, which is still preserved by the so­ ciety and was used in the. sesqui­ centennial service on June 21st. In 1813 the First Congregational Meeting House was erected on Oak The Elm Street Congregational Hill. There Rev. Mighill ;Blood Church As It Looks Today continued his pastorate, until 1838. when the present Congregational Church on the corner of Elm and In 1793, at the second town meet­ Franklin streets was dedicated. ing after the incorporation of MI'. Blood concluded his pastorate Buckstown, it was voted to raise 18 in 1840. In the century since, he - pounds for th" support of the gos­ has been succeeded by eleven past­ pel. ,Rev. Abraham Cummings was ors, William Breed. JramesWalker, hired to preach in different parts Henry Craig, William Fodsyth, of the town for six months. For Frederick Brown, Edwin Klock, the next ten years missionaries Henry Webb, William Riddough. from the Massachusetts Mission­ Frederic Charrier, Emerson Blod­ ary Society visited the town for gett, and Charles Richmond, the occasional preaching. Most fa­ present pastor. Of these men only mous of thes,er was Rev. Jotham one has rivaled Mr. Blood in the Sewall who was influential in or­ length of his ,pastorate. Rev. Wii­ ganizing many of the early Con- liam Forsyth was ordained in 1870 and resigned in 1906. First Meeting House erected on Oak Hill in 1813 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 46 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 47

mQre's .Island, nQW VerQna, and a for this object). In 1854 Rev. Fr. few years later RQger Kerrigan VirgillintQ, in 1855 Rev. Fr. JQhn came to' the same place, and Pat­ Murphy, in 1856 Rev. Fr. Eugene rick McCQnnell settled in Bucks­ VetromiJ.e, in 1860 ;Rev. Fr. Michael PQrt. The negQtiatiQns by the U. Galligher, and in 1861 Rev. Frs. S. gQvernment in 1840, fQr what Cullen and JQhn Welch Qf the Old is nQW FQrt KnQx, and the subse­ TQwn and EastpQrt missiQn were quent building Qf the same, caused mQre regular in their attendance a large fQrce Qf labQrers to' cQliect UPQn the flQck gatheroo here; and at this PQint, and amQng them in 1862 the EllswQrth parish was were many IIrish ICathQlics and a formed with BucksPQrt as a part few mQre F'rench Canadian Cath­ Qf it, and Rev. IFr. John Madden Qlics were alsO' added to' the num­ was placed in charge, attending ber, and the names QfWalter and to the spiritual wants Qf the peQ­ Peter Clary, JQhn McCarthy, JQhn pIe for fQur years and in 1866 was Hall, James ,Clark, Jerry Sullivan, superseded by Rev. Fr. James Dur­ Matthew ·Cahill, James and Michael nin whO' remained three years, Qr DQherty, Henry McClay, Michael until 1869. when Rev. Fr. 1. Smas­ Hurley, Wm. O'Brien, ThQmas SO' was the pastQr Qne year, and Prew,JQhn March, JQhn BearQr, the Rev. Fr. Eugene Keefe and RQbert Kelly, JQhn and TimQthy Wm. Herbert divided the year CQllins, JQhn Whalen, Martin Ball, 1870, the latter l1e.maining until ThQmas and CQrnelius MUl1phy, relieved by Rev. Fr. John CQffe in JQhn CarrQll, JQhn Griffin, Laugh­ 1873, whO' stayed three years . This picture taken half a century agO' frQm Oak Hill shQWS the lin,JQhn and Charles McInnis, CathQlic Church Qn First street. a sidewheeler just leaving the lQcal AbQut this time Rt. Rev. James port and a number Qf fishing schQQners tied up at IQcal wharfs. Charles and Alden McNeil, James A. Healey, D. D., Bishop Qf PQrt­ Sheehan, AlphQnsQ Jules, ,Charles land, in his piety. zeal and anxiety Healey, JQhn Clish, Pete Mu]Ji,gan, fQr the spiritual welfare Qf thQse GeQrge FQster, JQhn DQnQvan, under his charge, decided to' fQrm JQhn and Daniel ILYQns, Daniel a new parish Qf the towns Qn this The Catholics of Bucksport CQstellQ, ThQmas Wakely, ThQm­ side Qf the 'PenQbscQt, Bucks'PQrt, as F'airclQth, Michael Fahey, Wm. WinterpQrt, FrankfQrt, were cut Miller, Hugh and Duncan McDQn­ Qff frQm the parish Qf Ellsworth, In endeavQring to' trace the his­ knQwledge Qf ,English and fQr aId, Michael, JQhn, and ThQmas Belfast and SearsPQrt, were taken tQry Qf the CathQlics Qf ,BuckSPQrt many years was the interpreter fQr Cullity, James Harrigan and from RQckland, and all formed the and vicinity frQm the first arrival the rest, and thus his given name ThQmas Cavanaugh, are given as present parish Qf Winterport; to' the present day, we ,find Qur­ is fQrgQtten. settling here during the next namely, BucksPQrt, Winterport, selves hampered in many ways. SQme Qf these Canadians were twenty years. FrankfQrt, 'SearsPQrt and Belfast. ThQse whO' first settled here, be­ accQmpanied by their wives and BefQre the year 1850 we can Rev. Fr. Jeremiah MCiCarthy was ing nQt Qnly Qf a PQQr class Qf Qne 'Qf them, Mrs. PQQler, wife Qf learn Qf but twO' prie,sts whO' minis­ apPQinted by the BishQP first peQple but CQmpared with the J Qseph PQQler and knQwn by tra­ tered to' these peQple, and these resident priest Qf WinterpQrt. present age, their educatiQn was ditiQn as 'IBlind PQQler", tQQk nQt at all regularly, there being August 4th, 1877. limited and all Qf them have lQng faithful care that all the children mQnths at a time that nO' service Rev. Fr. JQhn Duddy succeded since passed away, leaving no shQuld learn the catchism, and to' was held, except as SQme Qf the him in the fall Qf 1879, and, pur­ written recQrd; therefQre we m'e this end, fQr years, she had them better educated WQuid call the chased the present parochial resi­ obliged to' trust to' the memQry Qf CQme to' her hQuse Qften fQr that people tQgether, and repeat what dence at WinterpQrt. In NQvem­ their descendants, and to' PrQtest­ purpQse. A number Qf years pass­ had been taught them in their bel', 1882, Rev. Fr. R. W. Phelan ants, frQm whQm we have been ed, and nO' priest came near them. earlier hQmes. These priests were was placed in charge of this par­ able to' gather SQme facts. From Pilgrimag'2>s were made to' Canada Rev. Fl'. O~Sullivan Qf 'St. Mich­ ish and during his ministry erect­ what has thus been gathered. we fQr religiQus purpQses, and at such ael's church, BangQr, and Rev. Fr. ed the church at FrankfQrt. Rev. cQnclude that abQut 1835 a small times, the children frequently ac­ MQQre, alsO' Qf BangQr. FrQm 1850 Fr. P. J. Garrity, was apPQinted party Qf emigra'nts came frQm cQmpanied them fQr ba.ptism. to' 1854,Rev. Frs. JQhnBapst, to' the charge, June 11th, 1888, whO' Canada Qn fQQt and were knQwn AmQng them were Messrs. ThQmas Dunacre and JQhn FQrce, (while at Qnce began to' fQrm plans fQr as "French Canadians." Among and JQhn Bulduc, whO' at the age the fQrmer Qf these three, Rev. the erectiQn Qf churches fQr hiSl them were Zacariah Bulduc, JQs. Qf fQurand twO' years respectively Fr. Bapst, had the care Qf this people thrQughQut his charge, L. RQncQ, Philip Dyer, JQhn, JQ­ went to' Canada with their par­ PQrtiQn Qf the missiQn, he was meeting with opPQsitiQn and dis­ seph and Charles PQQler. Peter ents and received the sacrament building the present 'St. JQhn's cQuragements that WQuid have de­ O'Dette, JQseph Depray, Peter Qf baptism. church Qf BangQr, and the members terred a less determined man. Newell and "Judge" Bushnow, the AbQut this time we ·find that Qne Qf the 'BucksPQrt society helped The earliest place Qf wQrship Qf latter SO' named because Qf his Patrick Hurley settled in Orland very materially by the large CQn­ which there is any account was at better education, having a fair and Dennis CQllins UPQn Whit- tributiQns which they freely made the hQuse Qf "Judge" BushnQw, 48 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 ======Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 49 and the next at Joseph Pooler's, F.ather George E. Dandaneau was then upon Verona at the home of assigned to the pastorate in May, Roger Kerrigan. At this time the 1930. society became strong enough to The 'Church building erected on Methodism In Bucksport hire a hall for worship, and what First Street in 1890 is still the was known as the Charles Swazey home of the .Bucksport Catholics by Alfred G. Hempstead Hall was used for that purpose and throughout the past fifty-two until 1850, when Roger Kerrigan years the maintenance of the moved from Verona and built a church was sadly neglected until larg'e house near the eastern end Fr. Dandaneau took personal in­ terest in the property and in 1940 den, Frankfort, Unity, Hallowell and of the village, in which he fitted on through the western part of the up a room, which was used for the interior of the edifice was re­ Province. worship for a number of years. decorated to command admiration. Then they moved to William Swa­ This same ye,ar marked the 50th I. NORTH BUCKSPORT zey's hall, near the junction of anniversary of the erection of the METHODIST CHURCH Elm and 'School streets, and in building. 1863, the building was burned and Of the faithful work rendered by At North Bucksport, the first Meth­ the conte,nts consumed in the the many pastors, that which was odist meeting house east of the Pe­ flames. Mass was then held for done and continues to be by Fr. nobscot River was erected in 1809. It the next two years in the house of George Dandaneau stands out in had a double entrance, a box pulpit, Daniel Murphy, corner of Main the church's history as the most galleries on three sides and doors to and Third streets, and in 1865 the progressive. the pews. It was repaired and re­ society moved to ,Bradley's hall, In May, 1930, when Fr. Dunda­ dedicated in 1864, and destroyed by continuing there four years, and neau came to Bucksport he did not fire on March 29, 1879. The Maine in 1870 began holding mass at the land in a bed of roses and the Conference of the Methodist Church residence of Martin Ball, from stl'uggle and discouragements did was organized at Gardiner in 1825 there to the Town Hall, then De­ not end, but continued. However, and the following year the Conference luge Engine Hall, and the residence the pastor's efforts have not bee,n met at Bucksport in this church which of Thomas Bulduc. In 1875 they' in vain for in twelve years he has was then a part of the Orrington :lloved to 'Colby's hall where they been directly responsible for the Circuit. Six years later this church remained until Christmas, 1890, growth of the church property was again host to the annual confer­ when their beautiful place of wor­ from a valuation of $3,000 to ence. Following the destruction of ship on First Street, which by the $30,000; and which comprises the the church by fire, there was con­ united e,ffort of themselves and church building, the cemetery and troversy as to the location of the new friends and the untiring zeal and the rectory. building. The first church was on the energy of their pastor, Rev. Fr. The parish rectory was added to old road, east of the present river Garrity, had been built and equip­ the church property in. the fall of road, directly opposite the churches ped in less than two years from the 1937 through money willed by the in Winterport. The new church was time the subjeCt was publicly late John Bulduc (the same John built further north where it is now. spo~e'n of, ground being broken tor Bulduc who years ago went to Though Sunday School has been the same upon the 14th day of July Canada to be baptised,) to be used maintained most of the time, there previous. Christmas was cele­ by the church as seen fit. Father The Franklin Street Methodist have been no regular preaching serv­ brated by a tree on Christmas eve Dandaneau saw the need ill a Church As It Looks Today ices in this church for the last half and holding mass the next morning rectory and with this money pur­ dozen years. in the new church, Dec. 25, 189'0. chased for thechur,ch the property On May 26, 1891, the church was and house situated on the south Methodism came to Bucksport on II. FRANKLIN STREET dedicated as Saint Vincent de Paul side of Franklin street, between horseback, brought by the great cir­ METHODIST CHURCH by the Rt.Rev. J. A. Healey, D. Federal and Central stl'eets. This cuit rider Jesse Lee, the founder of D. Bishop of Portland. building was repaired by money New England Methodism. At the There had been Methodist preach­ The struggle for existence of the left in the will, during the winter New England Conference which was ing in the village and at Duck Cove small parish has continued down of 1937; and the rectory was occu­ held in Lynn, Mass., August 1, 1793, and Gross's (now Leach's) Point, yet the years; and during the past pied in January, 1938. Rev. Jesse Lee was appointed to the no organization was made until 1834. half-century the, following priests Although the history of the "Province of Maine and Lynn." On In 1828 Reverend Charles Baker, the have ministered to a small congre­ Catholic church has been more or September 1 he started on a preach­ presiding elder, lived in the village. gation: Fathers P. A. Garrity, less years of hard work, discour­ ing tour which brought him to Bucks­ Some of the Methodists traveled to Madden, Dunham, Masso, Herbert, agement and a long continuous town a month later. He visited, and the church at North Bucksport and Coffe,Garrity, O'Connor, IFlanna­ financial struggle for its pastors preached in most of the following others worshipped with the Congrega­ g(tn, Gorman, Crowe, George Dulac the impressive pages of its life'~ towns: Saco, Portland, Freeport, Bath, tionalists in the village. The first Peter Hamil and Thomas M. Nelli~ history have nevertheless been Newcastle, Thomaston, Union, Penob­ pastor was appointed to Bucksport gan served as missionaries until fruitful. scot, Baggaduce Neck, Penobscot Village in 1838. The following year (again), Buckstown, Orrington, Hamp- the church was built and dedicated 50 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 Bucksport's Sesqui-centennial, 1942 51

November 18, 1889. Chaplain David The first piano was purchased for Sunday School of the Congregational pews had been sold, nine rented, 11 Howard· Tribou wrote the following the church in 1889 and was replaced Church, one-third of their school left neither sold nor rented and one re­ description of the church (1918): in 1922 by the Cable piano now in at that time. A record book started turned to the trustees. The repairs "A building committee consisting the vestry. The piano in the audi­ 10 years later and inscribed, • 'S. S. were made by taxing the owners or of Wm. G. Chase, Joseph Bradley torium was received as a gift in 1985. Society of the Methodist Episcopal renters of pews. In 1876 such an and Trueworthy Swazey engaged Extensive repairs, redecorating, re­ Church, Bucksport, Organized April assessment was made that ranged James Goodale as master builder and wiring and new lights were installed 8th A. D. 1847", indicates some from $2.83 to $.81, apparently on the on the 18th of November, 1889, the in the church in 1938-39 in prepara­ change of organization. The Sunday location of the pew. church was dedicated. It was sixty­ tion for the celebration of the hun­ School library for many years was Shortly after the building of the four feet long, forty-four feet wide dredth anniversary of the church. Two an important element in the life of church, the parsonage was acquired, and twenty feet from the sills to the rooms were made, one for the Church the church. and again Doane Brown paid half. eaves; surmounted by a steeple School and one for the Epworth The average membership of the The pastor secured at the time of the ninety-six feet in height. The total League, about this time; they re­ church for ten year periods was 118 building of the church and for some cost was about $4650, including the placed the old kitchen which had in the 1850s, 129 in the 1860s, 119 years afterward was pastor of a Meth-· cost of the lot ($500). Four years been vacated in 1931 and established in the 1870s, 105 in the 1880s, 104 odist Society at Dedham. Sometimes later a clock was placed in the steeple in its ·present location together with in the 1890s, 112 in the 1900s, 144 a student for the ministry at the East through the liberality of Captain toilet facilities. in the 191Os, 119 in the 1920s, 118 Maine Conference Seminary supplied Jabez Snow and other citizens of The Conference Minutes of 1862-67 in the 1980s, or an average member­ the church, occasionally a teacher did. Bucksport. reported a parsonage. for Bucksport, ship since 1850 of 118. At other times the pastor of the "The growth of the society was valued first at $1800 and later at The list of Methodist ministers in church at North Bucksport served such that in 1856 the building was $2000. This was the house built by Bucksport is a long one. From the the church. The parsonage was not enlarged by adding twenty-two pews John Buck and now owned arid time the first church in this town was always occupied and was sometimes (addition of 17 feet made on rear of occupied by Maurice Ames.· The par­ organized until 1864 a Methodist rented. The parsonage was sold some­ the church) at an expense of $1000. sonage was only partially paid for pastor could not remain more than time between 1927 and 1932. No pas­ The church building was satisfactory and owned for a short time only. tor has been appointed for several but the vestry was uninviting and in­ two consecutive years in a church. Individuals owned $450 and the From 1864 to 1888, the limit was years. Eleven members still belong convenient, being a small cellar, ill Sewing Circle $146. In 1871 half of raised to three years, from 1888 to to this church but six of them are lighted, ill ventilated, so that in 1864 the double house (Noah Sparhawk 1900 the limit was five years, and non-resident. the building was raised ten feet, and house) on the .corner of Franklin and since 1900 there has been no limit Methodism in Bucksport Village in the vestry was extended under the McDonald Streets was purchased and upon the length of pastorates. There the past had two factors that were whole space, divided into three used as a parsonage until 1934. Since have been too many pastors with great assets. First, the Presiding rooms, two for meetings and one for that time the "old parsonage," as it short pastorates, since the limitations Elder of the Bucksport District from a parlor, at a cost of about $8500." is called, has been rented and the have been removed. Only once has 1842 to 1918 made his home in In 1876 the presiding elder report­ churcli has provided the use of a a pastor stayed more than four years. Bucksport. Second, the East Maine ed that the "audience room" had been modern house for the minister at 4 Conference Seminary was there from rearranged, newly furnished and Silver •. Street, one of the houses of III. EAST BUCKSPORT 1851 to 1933. Faculty and students beautified at an expense of more than the Maine Seaboard Paper Company. METHODIST CHURCH at the Seminary made a real contribu­ $1600. In 1892-8 while Reverend The second half of the double house tion to the life of the church. Many Elton H. Boynton was pastor, new (Pierce house) of which the old par­ In 1855 the "East Bucksport Meth­ of the students entered the ministry. windows were put in the church, the sonage was a part, was purchased by odist Meeting House Corporation" Trustees' meetings and other special organ which had been installed in the church with trust funds in 1894. was organized and the building com­ occasions brought outstanding Meth­ 1881 in the rear of the church, was The corporate name of the church mittee elected as follows: Doane odists to the town. The annual con­ moved to the present position at the has been changed from time to time. Brown, Joab Harriman and William ference met in Bucksport in 1849, front of the church, the building was It was organized November 30, 1839 Farnham to which committee were 1856, 1864, 1895 and 1913. The completely redecorated, a kitchen as "Franklin Street Church" and on later added M. W. Hewey and Bucksport District is gone, the Semi­ was built under the new organ loft, March 25, 1848, the proprietors voted Reuben Rider. The building was nary is no longer a Methodist Insti­ and a new church bell received as a to change the name to "Franklin completed and dedicated in Novem­ tution and the town is not large gift from James H. Moses, to replace Street Chapel", which gave way to ber of that year. The record of the enough to entertain the annual con­ the old bell which was cracked at the name "Franklin Street Meeting proprietors' meeting held on October ference. However, the membership that time. All pews were made free House" on June 16, 1863. In 1904 20, 1855, shows that they intended to of the church is larger than it has at this time. Most of tht;l old pew the church was incorporated as have the church dedicated on Novem­ ever been before. It has met the deeds were given to the church but "Franklin Street Methodist Episcopal ber 22 and that they invited Rev. changes as they have come with a few had to be purchased. Church". The unification of Meth­ F. S. Soule to preach the dedication courage and looks toward the future Electric lights were installed in odism in 1939 deleted the word sermon. Doane Brown provided half with confidence. 1908, first in the vestry and the fol­ "Episcopal" from the name of the of the cost of building the church lowing year in the auditorium. The church. and the society provided the other organ blower problem was solved in A Sabbath School was organized half, a total of over $3000. Pews 1929 by the installation of the elec­ when the church was built in 1839 were sold or rented. A report dated tric blower. and according to the history of the January 17, 1859, indicates that 80