NORMAN H. FAY of Abott & Dexter, Maine Sprague's Journal of Maine History No. II Vol. VII AUG. SEPT. OCT 1919 pages 86-88 NORMAN H. FAY. By the Editor Do you believe in visions and the visionary? This is a true recital of a young man's vision in Maine years ago and what come of it. The writer broke into the world a very verdant young attorney at law, at a pretty spot on the River Piscataquis that was locally know as "Abbot lower village", but apparent to the world at large through the U.S. postoffice department as Abbot Village, Maine. At about the same time a young man from Massachusetts was residing there temporarily with Mr. and Mrs. George West, parents of the young lady who had recently become his wife. The Wests lived on a small farm on the cross road leading from the "west road" up by the farm of a good old friend--long since passed to the beyond-- "Taff" Race. The Wests were a family of intelligence, culture and respectability, thrifty but not wealthy as I now recall the facts. This young man and myself were of about the same age. He was a reader and lover of books and we soon became congenial spirits in many ways and spent pleasant hours together discussing Napoleon and other great world characters. I recall that he was considerable of a a student of Napoleon and much more familiar with the literature of the subject than I. Regarding the current politics of our country we were also in full accord. Rather ill health was, as it now occurs to me, the principal reason for his remaining there unoccupied for so long a period. He told me of his trade which was that of a machinist and confided to me some of his hopes for the future. His aim was to begin a small business in his line somewhere in Maine. He felt that it was a much better place for one with little capital, depending largely upon his own labor with which to make a start than was his own state. He had a high opinion of Maine and liked the state and its people, thus having an exalted appreciation of the whole state as well as one of its fair daughters. Soon I learned of his locating at Dexter, occasionally met him and as the years passed watched his progress in the industrial world with keen interest. On June 15, 1919, I attended his funeral. It seemed as though all the inhabitants of Dexter had turned out to do honor to his memory. The large Universalist Church building was filled to its utmost capacity. Three hundred and sixty or more of his employees, the Masonic fraternity of the town, the governor of the state, the speaker of the Maine House of Representative, the president of the Maine Senate, Ex-Congressman Frank E. Guernsey, and many other eminent men and state officials, including the surviving members of the executive council of which body he was a member when stricken by death, were present to pay man's last homage to his fellow man. All in that long procession of his workmen who followed his remains to their last resting place were sincere mourners, some of whom had been with him from the first. Among such were the two "Fassett boys" -- known in the days gone by when all were young as "Cal" and "Addie" -- who went with him for Abbot Village to Dexter as helpers when he made his humble beginning as a leading iron worker of Maine. Many years had flown away since I had last seen them -- seen them as merry, laughing lads. I knew them instantly despite the finger marks that the touch of time had left upon them and they reminded me of the old days. Looking into their saddened eyes, I saw the Norman Fay of forty and more years ago. He was a likable fellow, even the cynics liked him, yet bespoke ill luck for him. They said he had only a vision and they were nearly right. But his vision was not of finding riches in city streets, not of wealth from mines of gold or silver or copper glittering in the shade of far western mountains, not of spouting oil fields, not of stocks common or preferred. It was only a Massachusetts boy's vision of the field of opportunity for boys in Maine. He followed the beckoning of that vision. Its trail led to wonderful success, and the story of his following it is a romance in the annals of industrial activities in Maine. It is a bit of Maine "History of Our Own Time" that I know of and myself observed. No history ancient or modern had been or ever can be of value, except as it is used as guide posts in directing humans down the avenues of time. Boys of today may be guided to success and prosperity by heeding this story of Norman Fay of Dexter, Maine; for the field for the opportunity for the boys in Maine is broader, richer and better now than it was when he first beheld his vision of it while resting in that quiet little Piscataquis village, near a half century ago. Selections for Maine Newspapers: Norman H. Fay of Dexter died suddenly at his home on Free street early Friday forenoon, June 13, 1919, after but ten minutes acute illness. Mr. Fay was born in Upton, Mass, March 8, 1852. He attended school, including the high school in his native town and later went to Friends' boarding school in Providence R. I. He attended Wilbraham Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., for some time and at 17 started to learn the business in the boot and shoe factory of his father, W. B. Fay. Several years later he went to Hopedale to learn the machinist's trade in the Hopedale Works. He then went back and became associated with his father who was in business in Worcester. In 1872 Mr. Fay married Miss Ada E. West of Garland and four years later as he was in poor health they moved onto a farm in Abbott, remaining there three years. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Fay came to Dexter for the N. Dustin Col. and in 1881 he went into partnership with Walter Scott. They started the business in a room 27 by 70 leased of the Dustin Company. In 1884 the lease expired and the site of the present Fay & Scott plant was purchased. In August of that year they moved into the new buildings the shops being 40 by 80 and the foundry 30 to 100. And from that beginning has been built up the great business of manufacturing machinery which is sold in every part of the world. In 1897, Walter Scott sold his share of the business to Mr. Fay. In 1900 the business was incorporated with Mr. Fay as president and up to the time of his death he was active in the administration of its affairs. *** The name of Norman H. Fay has long been linked in the minds of people, his town and his section with every good movement, with every ideal of high citizenship, with generosity, uprightness and fine character. Though a man of quiet disposition, reserved, dignified, he was yet a man who won lasting friendships, one whose mind and heart seemed ever ready to accept real friendship and to give it in return. *** Able, energetic a business man deeply engrossed in the success of his work, Mr. Fay a lways found time to give his community. He served in the legislature from 1891 to 1892 and again from 1915 to 1916. In 1917 he was elected to the governor's council, served in 1917 and 1918 and was re-elected for the term of 1919-20. He was associated with the Dexter Trust and Banking Company and with the Dexter Loan and Building Association, being president of both associations. Las year Mr. Fay, finding that the youth of Dexter had not the proper facilities for obtaining an education, he made the cause his own and Dexter became the owner of a fine high school building, through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Fay. At the time of his death he was chairman of the board of selectmen of Dexter. Mr. Fay as a fraternal society man, had a very wide acquaintance, being not only a 32d degree Mason, but a Shriner, an Odd Fellow and known in both orders over a large territory. He was one of the most prominent members of the Dexter club, and as organizer and during its life one of the most active members of the Elkenstown club, one of the principal factors in the development of the summer live on Lake Wassookeag, on the shore of which he has maintained a commodious cottage for many years. Mr. Fay attended and was ever a strong supporter of the Universalist church. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.