Penobscot County ME Archives History .....Sketch Of Bangor, Maine, In The Early Days ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/me/mefiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tina Vickery tsvickery@adelphia.net May 7, 2005, 5:08 pm Book Title: Sketch of Bangor, Maine, in the Early Days Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. 6 August September October 1918 No. 2 page 43-48 Sketch of Bangor, Maine, in the Early Days Written by Charles Gilman of Bangor for the American Magazine published in Boston, and republished in the Maine Monthly Magazine, edited by Mr. Gilman, in its issue of June 1837. Bangor is pleasantly situated on the western bank of the Penob- scot river, at the head of the tide and navigation, thirty miles from its mouth. The Kenduskeag Stream, which here enters the main river at right angles., divides the compact part of the city into nearly equal parts. The land on each side of the stream rises to a consider- able height, and the village, which stretches from it and the Penob- scot in every direction, presents a beautiful and picturesque appear- acne, particularly on approaching it from down the river, when it is gradually disclosed to the view. The scenery viewed from the height of land on the north-west side of the village is delightful. From this point on a clear day, the Katahdin mountain, with its snow-white summit, at a distance of more than seventy miles, cap he distinctly seen. Bangor originally called the Kenduskeag plantation, from the Stream above alluded to, now extends about six miles on the river. It formerly included a considerable portion of what is now Orono, situated ' above, and Hampden, below, and in 1790, contained 567 inhabitants. It then probably contained double the extent of terri- tory now comprised within its limits. According to judge William- son's valuable History of Maine, published about five years since, the first settler came to this plantation with his family in the latter part of 1769. In the ensuing year, several families came to the place; and, in 1772 the settlement contained twelve families. In March, 1787, a public meeting was held for the purpose of taking measures to build a house of public worship, the records of which are said to be the earliest extant. The first clergyman, the Rev. Seth Noble, a whig refugee from the Province of Nova Scotia, who had resided in the plantation about one year, was engaged by the people living on each side of the Penobscot, to officiate for them, and he agreed to remain their pastor so long as they would pay him a salary of four hundred dollars. He continued with them about twelve years. His installa- tion took place under an oak tree. To him was committed the agency of procuring an act of incorporation for the town, which was obtained in February, 1791. The inhabitants of the plantation in public meeting instructed him to have it called Sunbury, which name was probably suggested by the pleasant appearance of the place. Perhaps the reverend gentleman did not coincide with hi,. constituents as regards the doctrine of instruction, and not manifest- ing a disposition to "obey or resign," he assumed the responsibility of substituting the name of Bangor. Some supposed the name might have escaped his recollection, and having a strong partiality for the good old psalm tune, he caused the name to be placed in the act of incorporation. We do not learn that this departure from 'democratic usage' occasioned any unpleasant feelings on the part of his constituents towards him. The first public building in Bangor, the Court House, now the City Hall, was erected in 1812, and occupied by the courts, and for religious and other public meetings till 1822. During the latter year, the first meeting-house was built for the only religious society then existing in Bangor, over which the Rev. Harvey Loomis was settled, who was ordained in 1811. This excellent and universal beloved man preached to this society till January 2d, 1825, when he died suddenly in his pulpit before the commencement of the for noon services. Singular as the fact may appear, be had selected from his text the following passage of scripture 'This year thou shalt surely die.' This meeting-house was consumed by fire five years afterwards, and in 1831 its place was supplied by a very handsome edifice of brick. The Unitarian, Baptist, and Methodist houses of worship were commenced in 1828. and completed in that and the succeeding year. The Hammond Street Church, built by a portion of the Calvinistic society, was completed in 1834. St. John's Church a beautiful edifice intended for the Episcopalian order, was erected during the last season, but has not yet been occupied. At the same time, a large brick church for the Methodist society, and a small old of wood for the Catholics, were commenced, and will probably be completed during the present season. . The whole number of churches will then be eight. A large and commodious Court House of brick, containing the several County offices, and a stone jail were erected in 1832. The Maine Charity School, or Theological Semi- nary, incorporated in 1814, and opened in Hampden in 1816, was afterwards removed to Bangor, and a classical school connected with it. The principal building of brick, four stories high and simi- lar to the usual college edifice, is situated on a commanding emi- nence on a tract of seven acres, the donation of the late Isaac D. Davenport, of Milton, Massachusetts. Another of the same size is in contemplation, as also a large and elegant chapel, and residences for the professors connected with the seminary. There are four professorships, and the funds of the institution amount to about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. It is under the direction of trustees of the Calvinistic denomination. The Bangor House, a more particular description of which may be given hereafter, is a large and splendid hotel, very similar to the Tremont House, in Boston. It was first opened for the reception of company on the first day of January, 1835. It is a building which reflects great credit upon the enterprise of its projectors and proprietors. There are several other large and commodious public houses in the city. There are three bridges across the Kenduskeag stream, two of which are the result of individual enterprise. A large covered bridge is extended across the Penobscot. The first printing office was established in the autumn of 1815, by Peter Edes, now the oldest printer in the Union, who, after an ab- sence of a few years, has returned to Bangor to pass the eve of life in the family of one of his children. He immediately established a weekly newspaper. At the present time, there are five printing offices from which are issued five weekly papers, to which number another is soon to be added, two dailies, and the only monthly peri- dical in the State. The first bank was incorporated in 1818. There are now nine whose aggregate capital is $900,000. These do not fully supply the wants of the community, a circumstance tending somewhat to show the extent of the business operations. The chief business is the traffic in lumber, which gives rise to a large amount of other business. Intimately connected with it is that of navigation, in which many are exten- sively engaged. This would have been more extended, did not the severity of the winter season occasion obstruction by the ice, between four and five months of the year. During this portion of the year, however, vessels can reach Frankfort, twelve miles below, with perfect safety. A remedy for this interruption is being sought out by means of a railroad between the two places, which will greatly facilitate operations. In this matter of railroads, the Ban- goreans have outdone other citizens in their State. The first rail- road in Maine, from Bangor to Oldtown in Orono, about 12 miles in length, built at an expense of about $250,000, was opened in November last, and has not been obstructed but for a single day, during the interim. It reflects great credit upon the enterprise and public spirit of Messrs. Edward and Samuel Smith, it projectors, who have, in several other instances done much to benefit the city. Bangor was incorporated as a city in the winter of 1833-4, and the charter being accepted in the spring of the latter year, Allen Gilman, Esq., who had resided in the town about thirty-five years, was elected Mayor, and held office for the term of two years. He was succeeded by Edward Kent, Esq., the present incumbent. Both of these gentlemen are natives of New Hampshire, and mem- bers of the legal profession. The want of a City form of govern- ment had been sensibly felt, and the result has shown that it adop- tion has been a very important measure in facilitating the progress of public improvement. Its march has been onward, and its appears to have been the watchword of every citizen. A city market of ample dimensions has been commenced and will probably be com- pleted in the course of this or the coming year,. It will be orna- ment to the city, and another strong proof of the enterprise and public spirit of its citizens. While their attention has been so they have not be unmindful of those who have passed, and are continually passing from among them. A public cemetery at Mount Hope, on the plan of Mount Auburn, was consecrated in July last, in the usual manner. The grounds comprise about thirty acres, twenty of which belong to the city, and the remainder to individuals, having been put into lots and sold. The location is very fine about two miles from the compact part of the city, and said to be in- ferior to no other place of the kind, Mount Auburn excepted, for the advantages of soil, situation, and shrubbery. Connected with it are a beautiful green-house and garden, under the care of a gentle- man who devotes his whole attention to it, and whose labors already have done much to beautify and adorn the place. It will be made one of the most beautiful spots on the Penobscot, and is likely to become, comparatively speaking, a place of quite as much resort as Mount Auburn. On the outskirts of the city, and within its limits, two or three villages are rapidly springing up. Owing to their peculiarly excel- lent location for the purposes of milling and manufacturing, they have fallen into the hands of capitalist, who have a fair prospect of reaping a rich reward for their investments. The principal of this is the village of North Bangor, where are situated the exten- sive works of the Penobscot Mill Dam Company. Thirty saws have already been in operation and their charter allows of a great in- crease, giving, as it does, the privilege of erecting their works for a considerable distance on the banks and falls of the Penobscot. This village is about four miles for the center of business, on the main road to Orono, and three from the Lower Stillwater village, where the Kenduskeag Stream, on which one of these villages is situated, has ample advantages for manufacturing purposes; to further which a company has recently been incorporated. The population of Bangor, within the few last years, has increased with great rapidity. In 1800 the whole number of inhabitants was 277. Seven years previous, the ratable polls were 45; and sixteen years afterwards, 252. In 1810 the whole population amounted to 850; in 1820, 1, 1221; in 1830, 2,828. At the present time the whole number, including foreigners, is estimated at 9,500. This astonish- ing increase is almost with out parallel in this country. Whether it will continue to grow in a corresponding ratio, is very difficult to determine, so fluctuating is the general state of business. One thing however, is certain. Bangor will inevitable "go-ahead" with a strong hand, and if it does not increase for the same length of time to come in a like ratio, its advance will be strong and steady. The following comprehensive extract may well conclude this sketch of the history and progress of Bangor in wealth, population, and business, within the short period of three years -- its facilities and resources for still further increase, warrant us in saying, that at no distant period of time, it is destined to become on of the first cities within the Union. Its local situation is unrivalled in New Eng- land States-at the -head of navigation, on one of the finest rivers in the United States, near the centre of the territory of Maine, sur- rounded by a superior country, rapidly improving, and commanding all the resources of lumber from the head waters of the Penobscot and its tributaries, it presents such encouragement to the farmer, mechanic, and the merchant as perhaps cannot be found in any other place. In the center of a basin of nearly 10,000 square miles, of a soil unsurpassed in fertility-which must eventually become the great depot of its produce, and the great mart of exchange for the eastern portion of the State. The immense tracts of timber lands and the fast settling towns and villages of the interior, to say nothing of our commercial resources, promise an exhaustless supply of material upon which our enterprise may work. Water privileges unrivalled in power and extent, are within the reach of the city, and to the eye of the experienced observer present the germs of many a manufacturing establishment, and the means of employment to thousands. Wherever we look, we find something to aid us in our advance to prosperity, and with these advantages, what shall put us back? Fifty years ago, and this was a wilderness. Fifty years hence, and what will then be? Yet the example of the few past years, and the well known and acknowledged enterprise of our citizens answer.' 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