Radio Script #1016

Little Talks on Common Things
June 2, 1974

I recently chanced to see the issue of Zion’s Advocate, the official weekly of Maine Baptists, for October 1, 1913. That date was only three weeks after I had started on my first teaching job. I had graduated from Colby in June and had begun teaching English at Hebron Academy in September.

Hebron was then listed as one of Maine’s five Baptist academies, along with Coburn, Higgins, Ricker, and Maine Central Institute. I was interested to note how some of the Baptist schools were advertised in that state Baptist paper 60 years ago.

Shortest of the ads was that for Colby College, then considered a Baptist institution, although it had already taken long steps toward freedom from any denominational connection, the status that it maintains today.

During my four years as a Colby student, and for more than ten years afterward, the head of Colby was Arthur J. Roberts, and he was indeed a true head. He was not only president, but bursar, dean of men, director of admissions, dispenser of financial aid, and head janitor. Not the tiniest detail of college operation escaped his attention. So it was quite in keeping with things at Colby in 1913 to have Roberts’ name appear in this Zion’s Advocate ad. That ad was indeed very short, and it said: “Colby College. Co-ordinate divisions for men and women, for liberal arts studies. The library contains 40,000 volumes. For catalogue write to A. J. Roberts, Waterville, Maine.”

The ad for Hebron stated that that school had been founded in 1804, actually nine years earlier than the Colby charter. It said: “The school is located in a rural town noted for its healthfulness and morality, surrounded by magnificent scenery, well endowed as one of Colby’s fitting schools, provided with a new school building, Sturtevant Hall, and a new dormitory, Sturtevant House, the finest and most modern girls’ dormitory in New England; a new boys’ dormitory, Atwood Hall, with all the modern appliances, steam heat, electric lights, and bath room on every floor. The gymnasium is furnished with modern apparatus, a baseball cage, and shower baths. Hebron offers rare opportunity to young men and women preparing for college, or to obtain a general education at the smallest cost under Christian influence. Instruction the entire year in Biblical literature and in Elocution according to Swedish and Delsart Methods, without extra charge. For catalogue address W. E. Sargent, Hebron, Maine.”

Of course, Coburn advertised in Zion’s Advocate. Its ad said: “Coburn Classical Institute, Waterville, Maine. A preparatory school for young men and women. Prepares for the best colleges and higher schools, and offers excellent courses for those not planning to attend college. Coburn has the privilege of certifying its graduates to all colleges that admit by certificate. The school is well equipped. The science laboratories have all necessary apparatus. There is a fine, new athletic field. The school aims to develop strong manly and womanly character. The standards of scholarship are high. For catalogue address Drew T. Harthorn, Principal.”

Another school, not Baptist in affiliation, advertised in Zion’s Advocate. That school was Nasson Institute in Springvale, now Nasson College. Its ad said: “Nasson is located in the center of Springvale, a part of the town of Sanford, Maine’s largest town. It is at the terminus of the Atlantic Shore Line Railway and is on Worcester, Nashua and Portland Railroad, 26 miles from Portland, The buildings are of modern construction, finely lighted and well ventilated. The equipment is modern and adequate. Graduates of high schools and academies are accepted without examination. There are two departments: household arts and secretarial studies. Full, two-year programs are offered in each department. Courses are cookery, sewing, household management, household sciences, English, hygiene, history, shortland, typing, commercial law, and business methods. Tuition $50 a year. For catalogue, address Dean Louise Pryor.”

The paper also carried ads for three Baptist seminaries and two of the denominational training schools. The seminaries were Newton in Massachusetts, where the president was the well known New England divine, George E. Hoar, Crozier in Pennsylvania, and Colgate in New York. The training schools were the Baptist Institute for Christian Workers in Philadelphia and the Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago.

A big ad with a photograph was for a place well known and well patronized 60 years ago, but now nearly forgotten. It was the Pine Tree Sanitorium, called a rest cure home, in Wells, Maine. It was actually located in the little hamlet at the west end of the town of Wells, then known as Wells Depot, but now called High Pine. The sanitarium, operated by the Van Dyke-bearded Dr. T.S. Pitt, was less than a quarter of a mile from the home in which I was married 57 years ago, and I came to know the doctor well.

Indeed I must say that that particular ad in Zion’s Advocate brings back many memories: memory of trying to cut a field of hay there in Wells with a dull mowing machine drawn by a balky horse; of my first attempt to ride a motorcycle; of the making of Castle Comfort candies; of the quaint country store and its even quainter proprietor; and of walking four miles to Wells Beach and four miles back again. All of that during the summer of 1917, before my wife and I took residence in the north half of the new John D. Long cottage at Hebron Academy.

Naturally on this program I have made frequent references to the Waterville Mail. Recently I happened to be looking at its issue of March 3, 1902, a little more than 72 years ago. Blazoned on the front page is a big headline: “Extra – Election Results.” Since this was a March issue of the Mail, it did not refer to a state election, which came then in September, nor to any national election. Instead it referred to a Waterville Municipal election, as was made clear by the sub-heads: “Sore disappointment to the friends of Mr. Berry. Mayor Blaisdell reelected. He will have a Republican government to sustain his activities.”

It was apparently a hotly contested election. Martin Blaisdell, the incumbent mayor was a candidate for reelection, opposed by Democrat Walter E. Reid. However, there was a third candidate who complicated the situation. Would he take enough votes from Blaisdell to insure the election of Reid? That independent candidate, with strong prohibitionist backing, was Rev. Wilbur Berry, superintendent of the Christian Civic League. At that time Waterville had the reputation of being one of Maine’s wettest towns, and a group of indignant citizens backed the strict enforcement that Berry promised, if elected Mayor. Berry did not win the election. He ran third, but got enough votes to make a respectable showing. To the surprise of everyone, he got many Democratic votes. The final count was Blaisdell 755, Reid 606, Berry 368 – in total the largest turnout of voters Waterville had ever seen up to that time.

The campaign aroused considerable heat. That is shown by a letter to the Mail written by a Waterville insurance man, C. E. Mathews. He wrote: “I hear it stated Mr. W. F. Berry made the statement at City Hall last Saturday evening that I was the only business man in Waterville who favors the sale of rum in this city. As I can recall no word of mine to warrant such an assertion, I claim it to be a misstatement of fact, and I ask Mr. Berry to retract his statement. He may thus set himself right with those people who have always regarded him as a fair-spoken, truthful man. But in this instance he was not truthful. ”

The Mail made the following editorial comment on the election: “We would not argue that it is always wise for party to be forgotten in local affairs. Sometimes, especially when one party is much stronger than the other, it may be well to present a citizens’ ticket, putting up for nomination on it good men from both parties. But in a city as evenly divided as Waterville, there is not much chance for a citizens’ movement to find favor. Nor do we believe such a movement is necessary to secure a high grade of local government. Usually the nominations made by the two regular parties will exceed in quality the nominations made for no party. The incumbent government, under Mayor Blaisdell, was responsible for our new City Hall, and all our people, regardless of party, are pleased with that accomplishment.”

The same issue of the Mail announced the opening of a new store on Main Street. “A very handsome new jewelry store has been opened in the Pulsifer Block by P. P. Hill, formerly of Brunswick. On one wall is a fine display of decorative china; on the other is fine silver ware. The show cases in the center are arranged in the form of the letter U. The rear of the store is fitted for optical work, while at the front is place for watch repair. For sale are costly diamonds and other stones, cut glass, Japanese goods, and everything that goes to make an up-to-date jewelry stock.”

It is difficult to realize that 70 years ago medical doctors advertised in the newspaper. Note these ads in the 1902 issue of the Mail.

“Dr. K. Dwinell, physician and surgeon, 131 Main St. Office hours 8:30 to 9:30 A.M.; 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 P.M. Night calls answered from the office. Telephone 14-4.”

“Drs. Goodrich and Goodrich. 53 Main St. Usual office hours, plus 9 to 10 A.M. Sunday.”

“Drs. A. E. and M. W. Bessey have moved to their permanent office, 142 Main Street, Pulsifer Block.”

And with real nostalgia, note these 1902 prices at the department store of L. H. Soper: Black mercerine petticoats, 89 cents; Flannelette night gowns, 98 cents ; Walking skirts $1.98; Corset covers 19 cents; Umbrellas 79 cents

In those days a dollar would go so far you could throw a silver one across the Kennebec.

Year: 1974