Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-01
Building in the city the mast year.

| forward, and the capacity Of the city in regard
to dwellings for the people thereby increased.
We have from time to time made a note OF
the extensive operations of the Messrs
| Sprague at the Kennebec dam, where although
the principal work has been beneath the sur
! face Of the earth in clearing away rubbish,
making excavations, laying foundations anu
building raceways, the walls of a large factory
have commenced to rise, which will be-
finished in the spring and filled with the most
| improved machinery. Workshops have beel
erected for the convenience of mechanics III
the employ of the company, and all the pre-
lminary steps taken for an extensive i'm
provement of our immense water-powel,
which, under the "let-aloue" policy OF othe.
years, has been running to waste. Tho
boarding houses of the company have under
gone needed improvements and cnlargements
and provisions been made for erecting new Ones
in the spring. In fact, all the operations of tn,
Messrs. Sprague are calculated to inspire
confidence in their plans and operations toi
the future. Those who were disturbed III
their naturally quiet ways by the munifcence
of the city in inviting capital and enterprise
here, have become quoted by the experienc,
Of the past year and those who scotied are
now constrained to praise.
! On the east side Of the river, the most ex-
tensive work in building has been the erection
of the new wing TO the Insane Hospital This
has already been fully described in the col
/ 4 L 4
| place to say here that the foundation was laid
about the 10th of June and completed in one
month. The work of laying the asher for
! the first story was commenced about the l4th
of July. and the last stone to complete the
structure was laid on the 10th OF November.
Messrs. Soule & Norcross of this city fur
nished the bricks, Messrs. Lancey Smith
| the lumber. Messrs. j. +. Wyman & Son the
windows, and Messrs. Savage & Young the
| granite Mr.. VIM. NJ. Clark had charge of
the masonry, and Mr.. Alvan Fogg the carpen-
ter work. The cost of the wing in its present
condtion-as it is not entirely inished-has
been S2s, 5000. Several fine dwelling houses
have also been built on the east side. james
I
| Wellington Smith has erected a two-story
house on Eastern avenue. On Cony street,
James Merrill has built story and halt
house. There has been general ''brush-
| ing up" throughout the streets, houses have
been remodled, painted and repaired in vari-
Gus ways. and this beautiful part of the city
made still more attractive.
All of our citizens are not aware of the
growth of the little village that is extending
itself over Cushnoc heights. There are sew
eral fine stores with good trade, and some
very handsome dwelling houses have recently
been built Those who own property and
| have pleasant houses on the heights are en-
gagged in business in all parts of the city, and
in the future growth of the place it may be
necessary TO grade the hill and establish a
line of horse cars for the accommodation OF
those living on the heights
No new stores have been erected this sea-
Mr.. George Cony's new hotel on Water
street opposite Meonian Hall, has been fin
ished and is soon to be opened. 1t occupies
the two stories over Mr.. Cony's stores and
has French roof surmounted by cupola.
| There are entrances both Water and
Commercial streets. The house contains
fifty rooms besides Office, dining hail. kitchen,
sample room, etc. The contractor for the
new school house on State street, Mr. John Is.
Shaw, has completed the outside work and is
now engaged in finishing the inside. None
Of our citizens need be ashamed of this struc-
ture. Few will recognize any of the features
of the old calamity in the comely edifice tina,
has been reared. About fifty feet has been
| added TO the front of the former house, afford
ing space for large, convenient and much
needed recitation rooms. The grammar
school will occupy the first story and the
high school the second. There will be seat,
in each for about one hundred and sixty
scholars. The entrance to the high school
grammar from Pleasant street. The entire
building will be ready for occupancy in tn,
spring. Freeman Barker has done good
work in providing six tcnements for small
families in the old Universalst church or
Court street. They are now being completed
and made ready for occupancy.
The remainder of the new buildings thai
have been erected the past season mus
be enumerated in brief F.. W. Webb ha,
erected two-story house on State street
near the State House; W. X. Lancy, a two
story house on State street, near Bridg,
street, and one on Bridge street, near tn,
engine house; Luther T. Swift, cottage oil
Prospect street; Chester Wcbber cottage OF
Weston street; A. G. Watson, two-story
house on Melville street; Levi l.. LiRxoln
two-st story house on Scwall street; Luthe
Mitchell, cottage on same street; J. NJ. San
born, two-story house on Green street; Rev
s. G. Sargent, two-story house on SAM
street: Elisha F. Pinkham, two-story hous,
on same street; Pinkham & Wyman. two
story house on same street; A. Cowee, two
story house near same street; q. q. Stacy
several houses on Western avenue; V. ID