The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-21
Middle stree. Fifty Year. Ago.

Mr.. EDToR,-I give below the dwellings
and occupants on Middle street from Ex-
change street to King street fifty years ago, as
far as can recolect, hoping if there are any
errors they will be corrected. gHss
The first was the mansion of Madam Deer
ing, two story, of wood. This stood on corner
Middle and Lime streets, facing Middle. On
the opposite corner of Lime was the Watts
house, three story, of wood, occupied by Major
Isaac Gage as genteel boarding house. The
next was owned and occupied by Capt. John
L. Lewis The next was owned and occupied
by Hon. George Bradbury. The next was
owned and occupied by Josiah Cox, Esq; this
was three stories and made the corner of Mid
die and Pearl streets. The lower corner was
owned and occupied by Albert Newhall, Esq.
The next which made the upper corner of
Church street was owned and occupied by
Capt. James Rackliff; this stood back from the
street. The lower corner was owned and oc-
cupied by Thomas Forsaith, Esq. Next came
the Freeman house occupied by the Bryant
family. The next was large three story
house, back from the street, owned and occu-
pied by the Hon. Samuel Freeman, who was
Deacon, Judge and filled most all other offices
in town. Next was an old house on Child's
HILL occupied by two maiden ladies bearing
the same name. This is where the boys slid in
winter, CT course. The next below was large
three story house called the Roundabout, own
ed and occupied by Jonas Mills and Enoch
Moulton. This made the corner of Franklin
street (then Essex street, The lower corner
was three story house occupied by Rev. Ed
ward Payson. The next was occupied by
Nabby Berter. Next came the Engine House,
which made, I think, the corner of Hampshire
street. The other corner was a one st org
house occupied by Christopher Manuel. The
next was owned by Richard Chadwick. The
next was owned by Joseph Gross, Esq. The
next was one story shop which made the
corner Of King street. hiQsl 3 s,l1 39ls
We now cross the street and take the
lower corner. This house was called the
Enoch Ilsley house. The next was owned by
Isaac Gage, Esq, occupied by Mrs. Freeman.
The next was owned and occupied by Mr. Ma
thaniel Cross. The next was the Thomas
Brown house, occupied by Timothy Fletcher.
The next was called the heater and made the
corner of Clay Cove, occupied by VIM. B. Pc
tiers. The other corner was the Tying house.
The next was the Waite house [Capt John
Waite.l The next was one story house
on the corner of Moose Alley, and occupied
by John Leach, Sexton OF the Second Parish.
The next was three story house, stood end to
Middle street, built and first occupied by VIM
Freeman, soc of Deacon Samuel Freeman,
now living at Cherryield, at very advanced
| age. The next was the Second Parish church.
az AZ oPT
The other corner of Deer and Middle streets
was one story house occupied by George
Burns. An anecdote of that day of him is too
good to be lost; he was constable of the night
watch, under the old town regulations. 1t
was his duty to set the watch and give them
their instructions. Before leaving he would
say to them, " Gentlemen you are the guardi-
ans of the night; you are to know none that
you meet, and if you are suspicious of them to
take them to the watch-house." He would
then bid them good night and leave. As soon
as he was gone two of the watch would 60 out
and head him off and stop him. He would
say, Why, am Mr.. Burns, the constable of
the watch. They would answer, our orders
are to take all persons to the watch house after
this hour" then take him there and say, "Why
this is Mr.. Burns" and let him go; then two
others would go out and serve him the same
and if he arrived home at twelve o'clock he
did WELL f e. tr ut
The next was occupied by George Fox. The
next was the Veazie house, gambrel roof &C.
cupied by the widow Shaw. The next was the
Elder house and occupied by Thomas Chad
wick and the widow Elder. built before the
revolution by Judge Bradbury; this made the
corner Of Willow street, the next was a three
story house owned and occupied by the wild
| ow Jewett; this occupied all between Willow
| and Silver street. The next was Deacon James
| Jewett's which made the upper corner of Sill
yer street. The next was occupied by iona.
| McKenney the corner Market street built
| by DR.. Lawthen. The other corner was a
one story shoe shop occupied by Col.
| Wilbur. The next was the Deering house.
which made the corner of Middle ami Ex-
change streets; this was occupied by Joseph
Harrod, dry goods.
This closes what l started for All the
houses that were three story, / have noticed
all the others were two story where I have
not stated otherwise, and all were wood
Newburyport, February, 1868.