The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-03
The Portland Directories.
From Mr.. Beekett,s Sew Directory.

whom scarcely half score now remain with
us. Many of them seem to have suddenly
disappeared from our midst,-we were hardly
aware that they were gone, till the list called
some of their familiar forms TO mind.
Among the advertisements contained in
the book, is one OF Mr.. Oliver Gerrish. Time
has dealt kindly with this gentleman; and ne
still lives, genial, social and prosperous, WIN
fair prospect of long lease OF NE, anu AZ
his attention to business, with his partner,
continues to make the directory medium Oh
advertise g, as our present pages WIN snow
In locking over the names OF tne streets IN
Mr., Thayer's book, we perceive that change
has beea busy here, as well as with almost
avervthing else connected with the town.
g The Ann street of that day is now Park
street: Beaver street Is the part of Brown
now continued from Congress to Free; Court
street, from the Court House to Middle stleet,
has ceased to be courted any longer, and be-
come one with Exchange; Essex street has
joined at Congress with Franklin, and the two
under the name Of the latter run entirely
across the, city from the harbor to lack Bay.
Congress street has swallowed Maine street,
(which, formerly ran from the junction OF
Middle and Federal to Bramhalls Hill and
also Jefferson street, which meandered for the
q. remainder of the way westerly to Libbss Co..
ner, ..., g.. .-.., ...r .......-,.......-,
= Other changes quite as remarkable have ia
hcu place. AIllS SuCCG ID uOW AiAuio ocASSss
Moose Alley, Chatham street; Newbuiy st.,
(irom franklin to India,) is Sumner street.
a bal charge, for half the time the compos-
itor will confound it with Summer street-and
it were better that the whole should be called
Newburr! Olive street has been lost in the
ramifcations of public ways, below Washing
ton, and North of Oxford street; and School
stree, from Congress to Middie,-has been
lost in Pearl street, &C., &c.
-Four years after the publication of Mr..
Thayer's volume, Gin 1879 appeare1a Direc-
tory published by James Adams, Jr., which
IN the preface is spoken of as 1.-THE second
Directory of the town." This comprises an
increase Of names sufficient to constitute to-
tai OF about two thou land, In typographical
appearance, it Is decidedly superior to the
frs; and in regard to iscsliane0us infOrma-
ton goes somewhat farther and into more de.
tail than its predecessor. i5sLs il I
The third volume appeared in 1881, with the
imprint OF wel-known gentleman who for
many years carried on tne printing business
here, and not long deceased, Arthur Shirley.
Portland had in the meantime become city,
the Directory a3pired to q coppef-plate plan,
in Which the different wards were marked off
in green, red and yellow colors. This volume
Wa indeed secen directories in one, for the
residents in each ward were designated sepa-
ralely.
Herein we have upwards of three thousand
names, a brief history Of the town, avariety of
miscellaneous matter closely trenching on the
quantity given in such works at the present
day. Among many other particulars relating
to our city, the then last census is given,
which shows population on the main land
OF 1871; and that the females in the comma
nifty outnumbered the males nearly twelve
per cent. dour last census eniarges the dispari-
ty to fifteen per celt). Wards 2 and then
outnumbered respectively the other wards in
the city.
Again in 1887 Mr. Shirley issued "a volume
OF the Directory, got up very much in the
style OF his previous number; excepting that
1t;'miscellaneous department was cut down to
a mere list of the city oficers-at the head of
which stood the name OF our late respected
townsman Levi Cutter, as mayor. Gut the
advertising department had increased nearly
in the same proportion as the other lad di-
mlniShed. This volume, alas for disastrous
consequences OF the land speculation, showed
decrease in the number OF names OF, some
two hlndred. 1t was No. d in the succession.
In lS4l, appeared edition S, with the name
or our late townsman Harlow Harris, ESQ.,, on
its title page as compiler.
In this the miscellaneous department was
restored; but in other respects, the work re-
semb.ed Its predecessor. The same diminu-
tive form, PIANO., was adhered to, as to typog-
raphy, paper and binding.-though neatly got
up, II was as unpretentious as the previous is
sues. The namber Of names embraced within
its roll of citizens was about S,2OO-the same
as in No. 3. This was likewise printed by Mr..
Shirley, or rather by ga. Shirley & Son.
II La lo44, appeared No. in the succession
This also was compiled by Harlow Harris,
ESD, and the number OF the citizens dwellings
which had been enumerated in the mean time,
were given. But the imprint bore the names
OF Thurston, Ilsley & Co. as printers In tIis
the advertising department was greatly aug.
mented, and the miscellaneous summary was
discarded altogether. The names of adult cit
liens had now increased to about $500. but
the Old size page was adhered to, and the only
Improvement noticeable was tn its topographic
cal execution. IS ~, s.tI.'; - l
In l545, we, the compiler of the present oc-
tavo edition, were induced to embai in the
business 81 directory publishing. With 10 in
crease OF the Size OF the page, our volume did
show an increase in the number of the Dames,
so as to reach an aggregate of 1900; and in
regard to the business interests, prospects and
position OF our city, and matters OF collat-
teral nature, 1t gave all we could hunt up, the
whole between handsome cloth covers. This
was No, z in the series. i1as s.sGnl s. So =
In the latter part of 1S47, we published our
Second volume-No. in the series which
was much like its predecessor, in all respects,
but contained about five hundred more names.
Herein, the names of colored persons. which
had previously been given In separate list,
were Included in the ALTERATION with those of
the whites. We will not pretend that this
led to the war, but the status of the race has
from that time continued to improve, until
now they all are freel 80. io : s..C-it
Following this, in 1850, appeared our third
volume with no increase in the size or the
pages, but with an increase of some fifteen
hundred names, making an aggregate of near
ly six thousand. And in 1852 we published
fourth volume Of like size with no addition of
namS. The firth OF our series, after the mod
el OF its predecessors, appeared in 1855, when
by thorough canvass, the number OF, names !
was augmented to seven thousand.
Our next number, the sixth OF our series,
which was put forth in 1853, was materially
enlarged in exterior proportions. 1t was
printed on fine white paper, and in regard to
typography, was highly creditable to the print
ef, Mr.. Brown ThurSton, whose enterprise in !
tne printing business deserves the success
winch we are glad to believe he is now meet
ing Its miscellaneous department was care
iuily attended to, and much useful sinforma-
tion on the most important interests of our |
city tnereln conveyed. But with the most |
cafetm canvasslng, the number of names |
couia De increased only about five hundred-l
dred. rzy A''-n
Before number seven of our series annear.
GU, the war broke out, and one of its c6nse- |
quences was scarcity OF paper And srcJ
as could be procured, was Of an inferior o,,sI- |
ity. We obtained the best we could. Int co., |
not say that, in regard to external APPEARANCE
the book was an improvement on its immedi,
ate predecessor. This volume was published
in 1868.
We now appear.with our eighth number an
octave volume of $50 pages. Herein, besides
increasing the names to an aggregate of more
than ten thousand, and giving the, fullest ex-
position OF the various business and SOCIAL in.
te,ests of our city ever published, we add
CAREFULLY prepared BUSINESS DIRECTORY,
which viii be found highly serviceable to
traders rom the country, and business men in
the cities South and West, with whom our rap
idly charging trade and commerce. have
drought usinto relation, as well as to our own
citizens. F,,n1 ~ - 0"-