The Republican journal., 1874-01-08
Josiah n White now of the Phoenix House :;
il was burned Anril 81 1880

it was burned April p, 1850.
On the western side of the street op-
posite the house last described stood the
Hobbs house ;.~occuped as tavern in
1905 and for a few years afterwards. i.
1910 it became the property of one Gre.
mer, who lived here two or three wears.
and then left in a brig Of which he was
the owner for q port in some one of the
West India islands. Neither Cremcr or
his brig ever returned. The rlmor of
the day ran that after arriving at his port
of destination, disposing Of his cargo and
taking in new one. aud when all ready
| for sea he became "involved in little
onpleasantness' growing ont of the dis
covery of 4 stolen ''nigger' or two in the
hold Of his brig, and that thereupon, with
out any particular regard to the forms of
law, he was arrested and hung up by the
| heels until, like -Abner Dean in Bret Harris
| ''Society upon the Stanislaus'--
| "The subsequent proceedings interested him no
| The Cremer house subsequently came into
| the possession of Jonathan Wilson, Esq,
father of the late Purser Nathaniel Wilson,
| the generous benetactor of this the place
| of his nativity. There was a large hall in
the building known for many years as
Wilson's Hall, in which the worthy town
folk of those days We're accustomed to I'M
bibe theirpunch and blow off their patriotic
steam on the ''Glorious Fourth: the last
| celebration of the day in that hall was on
the fifth day Of July 1921. the fourth be-
ing Sunday.
Next above the Creme house and in
| close proximity stood the Libby house
Next the Badger house, which stood very
near if not on the Site of the Sanhorn
House Next the Furber house just above
the Shoe Factory. Next, the Anderson
and Russ houses, standing close toget Their
these were removed 4 small distance from
their original site Just before the Morrison
block was built Next. the Hubbard house.
where the store Of Mr.. +. NJ Lancaster
now stands. All these buildings. Cremer
house included. Were destroyed by the
fire of 1860
Crossing Washington street, the next
building was small two story dwelling
owned by Reuben kimball, one Of the
wags Of the day, known as ''IIonest KIM
BALI; he subsequently converted the lower
story into store it was the first store in
town recognized As 4 grocery: the only
sign on it, over the door, was .Groceres :"
4 word which was for some time a sud
puzzler to the uninitated who pronounce
ed it as il peeled Grockeries lie and his
horse ''Pelter' We're notabilities in their
day His humor did not desert him to the
last; during his last sickness he was often
visited by pous friend who labored to
impress on his mind the Importance Of Il
''change of heart before he exchanged
this life for the next, and drew from him
the promise that if he became conscious
of any change he should be sent for Dur
ing the night when he died the watchers
discovered and frankly told him that the
last great change was near at hand. Send
for MOultOnr' he exclaimed Moulton
came II promised YOU said he. 'that
if there was any change in me would
send for you; these men say that there is
and | have sent for YOU according to pro-
mise. Now, what have You got to say
about it - Rousing few moments AFTER
wards from the death-slumber into which
he was rapidly talli"@ l." o."'o;n,"~
..rcll uo,iiard'' an old friend who had
been lying for some time at deaths door,
Tell Goddard 10 take pelter and hurry
up or shall get there before him ,7-and
so Honest kimball passed ON. His friend
Goddard, without the aid OF Palter, soon
overlook, him. Who shall presume to say
what place Honest kimball. tloubter as he
was, hereto perhaps, now occupies in the
Fathers house which hath many mansions.
The kimball house was demolished To
stop the progress of the fire that consum-
ed the "Rabel,' so called, in 1876 il
stood on the site OF the store now occupied
by Mr.. Edward Perry. Between it and
the corner where McClintock's Block
stands, there was one building only; Il
small one occupied as tailor's shop. This
shop was subsequently removed to the
premises on Bridge street formerly owned
by Nicholas Phillips, now by Dr. l.. W.
Pendleton, and converted into u painters
shop. 1t is a noticeable fact that, with the
exception of this shop and The kimball
house, demolished rs before stated, every
building that stood on Main street be-
tween High street and the beach. in 1905,
has at one time and another been destroy
ed by fire; the lesson taught by the fact
is worthy of practical remembrance.