Radio Script #732

Little Talks on Common Things

May 28, 1967

Through the nineteen years of this radio program of Little Talks certain dates stand out more prominently than others. One year has especially intrigued me, the year 1888. I first became attracted to it because it was the year when Bert Drummond graduated from Colby College. Many a program in this series has owed its origin to Bert and Josephine Drummond, in whose home I was a frequent visitor, and from whose lips I heard first-hand accounts of events three-quarters of a century ago. After their death Mr. and Mrs. Drummond’s daughter, Mrs. Katherine Taylor, supplied me with a wealth of information from manuscripts and documents in the Drummond home.

So it was with delight that I recently encountered a volume published in 1888, entitled “Leading Business Men”. The book is divided into 22 sections, each covering business establishments in a different Maine community between Freeport and Dexter. Included are Waterville, Fairfield and Oakland. It is interesting to note who were the people doing business in those three Kennebec towns in 1888.

At that time what we later knew as the Crescent Hotel at the head of the rotary at the Waterville end of Ticonic Bridge was called the Dunn Block, and it housed on the first floor a business called Presby’s Emporium. About that firm the book tells us: “An establishment of which every resident of Waterville can be proud is that conducted by L.A. Presby & Co. in Dunn Block. The business was begun in 1884, and its rapid growth to its present imposing dimensions shows how well it is appreciated by the public. The firm consists of Mr. Presby, a native of Boston, and Mr. Reuben W. Dunn, a graduate of Colby who has spent most of his life in Waterville. They do both wholesale and retail business, occupying six stores in the big block. They handle everything in the dry goods line, also furnishings and small wares, boots, shoes and rubber goods. They employ eight clerks.”

In 1888 the drug store in the Phoenix Block on Main Street — the store later run for many years by Jim Allen, and whose last proprietor was Bob Dexter — in 1888 that store was operated by George Dorr. The book heralded him as druggist and apothecary, also carrying a full line of fancy goods and cigars. Dorr had been in business on that same site for 38 years, for he had founded the business in 1850. After extolling in glowing terms Dorr’s skill and integrity, the book referred to some of his special products: “DorrIs Wild Cherry Bitters, DorrIs Fragrant Odozone for the Teeth, Dorr’s Compound Syrup of Tar for Coughs, and Dorr’s Instantaneous Cleanser to knock the spots out of all kinds of Goods.”

A business still in Waterville today had in 1888 the name of Dolloff and Dunham. Soon afterward it would become H.R. Dunham and Company. Dolloff had come from Mt. Vernon and Dunham from West Paris. Their partnership in the clothing business had begun only a year before the book was published. Already they had a reputation that has continued with the firm down through the years — a reputation for excellence of quality, the Brooks Brothers of Central Maine. The 1888 book said: “There is a certain feeling that accompanies being well dressed, and Dolloff and Dunham are doing all in their power to encourage the wearing of well made, fashionable apparel for men. They make a speciality of English novelties.”

Fifty-five years ago, when I was a student at Colby, one of the local establishments we knew well was Ottenls Bakery on Temple Street. It had then long been in existence and was well known long before I was born, because the year 1888 was several years before I came upon the scene. The book tells us: “Mr. Otten has built up a big business in bread, cake and pastry. He started the bakery in 1883, soon after his arrival here from Cologne, his native city on the Rhine. The business occupies two floors, each 22 x 70 feet, fully equipped with the latest devices for large scale baking.”

Through the last quarter of the 19th century Waterville had several tobacco dealers, most of whom were skilled makers of cigars. One such was George Stackpole who had started his business on Main Street in 1871. The book informs us that Stackpole was a native of Waterville. Indeed he was descended from the town’s first merchant, James Stackpole, whose store had stood below the falls near the later site of the Lockwood Mills.

It was appropriate that the book should give space to the Waterville Water Company, whose pipes had just begun to supply water to patrons in town including the dormitories on the old campus of Colby College. In view of later developments when pollution of that very supply caused an epidemic of typhoid in Waterville, it is interesting to note how mistaken was the glowing account of that water in 1888.

It said: “The water comes from the famous Messalonskee Lake at Crommett’s Mills and is forced by steam pump into a capacious earth reservoir two miles west of the Kennebec at an elevation of 225 feet. The introduction of this system causes rejoicing in Waterville, because it will be a powerful influence in the prevention of disease. Without wholesome drinking water no community can be healthy. Water poisoned by organic and refuse matter is a flagrant cause of disease. The Waterville Water Company has spared no expense to give pure water to its patrons.”

Now the revelation in this all too glowing account is in the sentence describing the pumping station’s location. Let me repeat it: “The water is taken from the Messalonskee Lake at Cranmett’ s Mills. ” Of course Crommett’ s Mills was not on the lake at all, but was located two-thirds of the way down the Messalonskee Stream, the outlet of the lake into the Kennebec River. Between the lake itself and Crommett’s Mills several factories in 1888 were already pouring their refuse into the stream.

Nevertheless that Messalonskee water was a big advance over the old wells that had been the town’s only previous water supply. Furthermore it was the very emphasis upon the dangers of pollution, so forcefully expressed in that 1888 account that led later to the new supply from China Lake, that has remained pure and uncontaminated to this day.

Of course a prominent line of business in 1888 was the livery stable of which Waterville had several. One was operated by George Jewell at the Elmwood Hotel and he also ran a second stable on Silver Street. The book said: “The enterprise was begun in 1858. and never before in its history has it been more prosperous and never has Captain Jewell been better prepared to serve his many patrons. His two establishments are well equipped with horses, carriages and their appurtenances. He has hacks for all public occasions such as funerals, weddings and parties. His equipment is all in such first-class condition that the most fastidious customer can have no cause for complaint.”

Although not actually one of Waterville’s businesses. Colby had its place in that 1888 book. In part the account ran: “From the landing of the Puritans to the present day. New England has always provided the best educational facilities. One of the best of those institutions is located in Waterville and is known as Colby University. Its president, the Rev. G.O.B. Pepper, ranks with the best known educators in the country. We could present a long list of distinguished graduates of Colby, but must refrain for lack of space. There are eight buildings and about 120 students in attendance.”

Concerning the Star Laundry, conducted by Low Brothers on Main Street, the book found it necessary to make detailed explanation. In those days something was suspicious about any family that did not have all washing and ironing done at home or at the very worst, sent out to a washerwoman. It was the era of plentiful, lowpaid servants. At about that time on Temple Street, Mrs. Edwin Noyes was employing six servants, and at least one of them must have attended to the family laundry.

So listen to what the 1888 book had to say about the Star Laundry: “The public has at last discovered the untruth of the cock and bull stories circulated in our midst, giving the impression that goods cannot be intrusted to a public laundry. The Star Laundry employs no ingredients and no machines that can possibly harm articles sent to them.”

Now let us see what the book tells us about Fairfield in 1888. It says: “Though not one of the largest, Fairfield is certainly one of the most enterprising towns in Maine. Among its chief enterprises are those of lumber, furniture, frames, carriages, boxes and canned goods.”

Of course not all businesses are included in that old book. It is probable that only those who paid for an insertion got into the volume. Yet it is significant that of more than 50 establishments listed in the Waterville section, not a single one was concerned with lumber or wood products of any kind. On the other hand the book lists eight different saw mills in Fairfield. There was, for instance, N. Totman and Sons, dealers in all kinds of pine and spruce lumber, clapboards, shingles, laths and pickets. The account went on to say: “As vast as are the lumber interests of this state, there are certain firms of peculiar distinction. Especially is this true of N. Totman and Sons, successors to the big firm of E. and E. Totman, founded in 1835. The present establishment markets annually more than five million feet of lumber.”

Another mill in Fairfield was that of Stephen A. Nye, whose plant produced 8 million feet of long lumber, five million shingles, 800,000 clapboards, and 4 million other items. Another mill was that of A.H. and C.E. Duren, whose specialties were clapboards and shingles.

A lot of furniture was made in Fairfield in the 1880’s. The Fairfield Furniture Co. made so much pine, ash and maple furniture, that they had a salesroom in Boston. Another firm, J.A. Gilley & Co., was heralded as one of the first to adapt machinery to furniture manufacture.

On this program I have saved until last mention of a firm that gives us new information about a subject discussed some time ago on this program. I told you how a winter home for Thomas A. Edison in Florida had been pre-fabricated by the Kennebec Framing and Lumber Co at Fairfield, Maine. At that time I was unable to tell you much about that company. Now, thanks to the 1888 publication, I can tell you more. The account says: “So accurate is their framing for a large building that it can be shipped hundreds of miles and can be put together with the certainty that the pieces will join as perfectly as though shaped on the spot by the most skilled labor. The business was begun in 1873 by Smith and Meade. The name was changed to the Kennebec Framing Co. in 1887. Three mills are operated, covering an acre of ground, and 70 men are employed. Motive power is not water, but a 125 horse power Corless steam engine. At present the officers are Pres. J.M. lassell, Treas. G.l. Briggs and Agent l.l. Parsons.”

With that reference to the Fairfield company that prefabricated Edison’s winter home in Florida, we must say goodbye until next week.

Year: 1967