The Portland daily press., 1867-07-03
feFnsS Etyht D0tIdrs per annuDs, n. udro9,c..

Der, Nathl. +. .Fosdick was notified of tbs
event by kind friend, Nathaniel Deerinr
ard before sunrise, in the midst of snow
storm, he was on his way to Boston to secure
.he office, which by his vigilance he accom-
plished before the other seekers had well got
their boots on. Mr. FoslILk was gentle
man of education, graduate OF Harvard Col
lege in 1779, and an ardent politician Of a. o
federal school. He was reappointed by Wash
ington on the organizatic OF the govern
ment OF the United States. and held the Of
nee from January l7SS to December 1902,
when he was removed for his obnoxious poll
Tics, by MIR. Jefferson, and Isaac llsley was
appointed in his place.
Mr.. Fosdick kept his office in a one story
building which stood on the South east cor
ner Of the Goldman estate on Middle street
next above the estate Of Commodore Preble
hich Is now occupied by the Casco
Bank. Mr.. Ilsley retained the same building
for two or three years; it was subsequently
and successfully occupied as lawyers Office
by Isaac Parker late Chief Justice of Massa-
chusetts, Chief Justice Mellen of Maine and
Wm. Willis, until 1929, when 1t was remov ed
to give place to the block of granite front
stores erected by VIM. Mcclellan, Charles
Rogers, Oliver D. Dorrance, VIM. Swan aid
Martin Gore, which was destoy yed In the lsts
fire.
Mr.. Fosdick was so offended by his remoy-
al that he refused to give Mr.. Ilslsy the Office
blanks or any aid in the discharge of his un-
familiar duties, and for these and mrther in
struction he was obliged TO 60 to Boston. Mir.
Ilsley was by trade carpenter, but receiving
a wound which disabled his hand, he was
obliged to reiinquish this occupation. In
100 he was chosen Register of deeds, and
held the office until 1904. He retained the
office of Collector twenty seven years, when
General Jackson gave the appointment to
Gen. Chandler in 1922 1t is but just to Mr.,
Ilsley to say that he discharged both of thsss
important Offices with ability, and strict integ-
rity. He superintended the building OF the
custom house on Fore street recently rsmoy-
ed, with the same prudence which he exer,
cised in his own affairs, and entirely within
the limits Of the appropriation, which can
hardly be said oi any other pub lie structure
or public functionary in the country He
was gentleman of the old school, courteous
and punctiiious in his manners, and exacted
the same in return. He required ali persons
doing business at his office to be uncovered
while there. Many sea captains and mer-
chants have been reminded that their hats
were on when in his official presence.
Mr.. Ilsley removed his office In 1904 to the
second stony OF a new brick block erected In
1903 On the western side of Exchange stleet,by
Robert Boyd and the Fire and Marine insurance.
Company, in rooms afterwards occupied Dy
the Bank of Cumberland; and from there
about 1875 IL to the chamber of brick block
built by him on the corner OF Fore ard Plumb
streets. .-.
There it remained until the then new and
excellent custom house on Fore streer. the
nrst structure of the kind owned by the gov
eminent in Portland, was completed. The
appropriation for this building was $4,000.
made in May 1928, for the purpose OF "a Gus
tom house and ware house." The lot was
purchased in October 1928 of the heirs of
Moses Titcomb, 80 feet on Fore street by 2oO
rect deep running up the fats, tor which
$1,000 was paid. The structure was finished
and occupied in $780, an additional appropri-
alton Of s2,1O0 dollars having been made In
March ofthat year, ior finishing, cleaning out
the dock, &c. What a contrast between the
economy of that day and the extravaganza of
this. The building was OF fine hamered gran
tie on the front, with four large monolithic
columns of the Doric order sup porting ped
ment in imitation Of the front of Grecian
temple; the sides and rear were of brick.
This bnilaing was occupied for the office
antil 1S49, when the government purchased
he old exchange building for s15OOOO, and
he Office was then removed to that place
From this they were driven by fire January
3. 1854, which destroyed that beautiful sdifice,
whose noble dome hung with graceful sym
stry over the spacious room used for the bus
ness of the department. After this they re-
turned to the old custom house where they
remained untilthe new structure on Middle
street, the ruins Of which are being removed,
was ready for occupation. They now occupy
temporary quarters which will continue un-
til their new and more elegant temple, dedi-
Gated to commerce and mammon, shall arise
upon the ruins of the devoted and departed
one; and "the glory Of this latter house shall
be greater thanthe former"
We bad expected to have found under the
corner stone of the old building a deposit of
coin, documents and papers illustrative of the
structure and the times. Secretary McCul-
Ioch, at the request of Senator Fessenden,
had kindly presented to the Maine Historical
society such deposit whatever might be-
But to our surprise and great disappointment
nothing has bsan found but single Ameri-
can half dollar Of the coinage OF 1929 and two
cents. -, r... .- ..s.
The succession Of the collectors of this port
who were first called Naval officers has been
as follows, viz:
Moses Pearson, 1890 to 1749, Naval OH,cer.
Epoch Ereemau 17dQ tn TIA