The Portland daily press., 1881-01-29
OLD PORTLAND
Rambling "reminiscences Of an Old Res
iGent.

Among the papers of the late Charles Ba-
ker was found tho following article
on old Portland written for publication, prob
ably in 1868 but not offered.
Mr.. Editor With your permission I will
furnish you with this and three or four more
numbers OF Old Portland, as it was some forty
or seventy years ago. / shall not pretend to
confne myself to any particular wear. for in
some cases the individuals named were in the
locations have assigned them more than
seventy years, while others not more than
forty, and some even less. No doubt have
irgotten and overlooked many prominent
names and locations that may be recollected
and corrected by Others
Inc undersigned was born in Portland
august y, 1874, and consequently is now 73i
ana anu not ~ as your types told the story in my
hrst communication. What did not know
OF Portland once, was hardly worth knowing
we mad then less than 5000 inhabitants. NV
father and grandfather both having been born
mere, on the neck OF ancient Falmouth
KNOW OF no other case where any one of nv
age can go back and tell the same story, except
our worthy fellow citizen, Captain James
Mountfort, and he is older than the writer
hereof.
L was much pleased and interested in read
ing the communication of 81. HIS a few
days since; the writer must be Deacon Joseph
aarrod, whilom of the "Old jerusalem 1
lind that his "reminiscences of Middle street.
DelOW Fish, now Exchange street. are in GEN.
eral very correct. "A.,' in his article, has
made some important corrections, but the
printers types made rather bad work of it
ID. H. locates the old Episcopal two story
unpainted building, where Mr.. Oxnard used
TO read prayers, upon the Forsaith lot. 1t was
upon the Rackleff lot, west corner of Middle
and Church street, where Allen Haines, Esq.
has put up a good three story brick block
Mr. Brazier*, probably the father of Harrison
B*, lived on the opposite corner. Harrison
hlmself, lived on Church street, next above
the corner. If my memory serves me right,
Judge Freeman's office was on the lower floor.
1 think know something about that, for I
made my debut in the world as a primary
scholar, in the chamber of that same building,
about 6o years ago, Marin Nabby Deake of
"Pnrpooduck," being the mistress.
Ahe house occupied by DR.. Payson was built
by Nathaniel Hodgkins, a sail maker nev-
er knew, as "A" asserts, that said house was
haunted" but the one built by William
freeman, the eldest son of the Judge, still liv-
ing IN Cherryfeld, was, I knooo that for
fact, for l slept there one very windy night
and such an almighty Gathering as I heard ali
night, would convince any one that there were
ghosts" somewhere, although Ilsaw none of
any size. 1t blew gale all night and all the
WINDOW blinds were not little loose. This
mouse was next east of the Second Parish
church, afterwards occupied by DR.. Dorrance,
Low and others.
will now proceed to give you some of my
recollections OF Fish, (now Exchange) street,
beginning with Baker & Bartell's, who kept
a large grocery ON the corner of Fore and Fish
street, next northwest on Fish street, John
Mahan kept hat store; afterwards Charles
Frost, Pep" Frost's son, continued the bus
iness; next above, David Robinson COM
menced the business as confectioner&c. He had
then Just moved here from Newburyport. A
Mr.. Geo. Pearson kept store next, 90 or more
years ago. he was one of the old school aristo-
Gratis and man who prided himself consider
ably upon his dignity: Upon being somewhat
lnsulted. as ne thought, by Matthew Cobb,
then believed to be the richest man in town
and OF the firm of Clapp & Cobb, horsewhip-
ped him publicly on Fish street. think Mr..
P finally died in our Aims House. Next,
Doctor Cox's apothecary shop; Next Samuel
Watson, the tailor, afterwards Moses Smith;
next the Freeman's Friends Office paper
which did not live many years. Next the
Isaac Adams & Stephen Patterns book store,
on the corner of Milk street. A. & j. Shirley
printed the "Old Portland" in the chamber Of
this building. On the next corner of Milk
street, Nathan Nutter carried on the tailoring
business. In this shop L recollect chalking up
a memo of snow storm, June II, 1917.
Next above, Capt. John, and his brother
Joseph Deering lived with their maiden sister;
next, Daniel Poor kept a silver-smith's shop
he was the father of our much respected towns
man, Nathaniel F. Deering, whose name was
altered by special act of the Legislature at
the solicitation of Mrs. Commodore Preble.
Next, Wyer & Farley's lewelry shop Skin
a shop or two, and we come to Eliphaet
Smith, English and fancy goods; Mrs. Smith
was the principal man of the shop, buying all
her goods in Boston, doing all the travelling
and about all the selling. Mr.. S. was quite
tion, and the people generally called
him Mrs. Smith. She was very capable
woman and possessed of good executive abili-
ties, but in her latter days she became quite
imbecile. Next the Misses Stevens: they
were very excellent women and accomplished
shop-keepers, the youngest of whom, married
Gen. Edward RUSSELL of North Yarmouth
and the eldest, Mr.. Joseph Barbour, "a neigh
boring shop-keepero and moved to Gorham
Me; Gen. Samuel Fessenden#, still living
pital, and Stephen Longfellow had their Of
fees in the chambers of the building next
above. Next, Royal Lincoln, Joseph Barbour
and Webber & Chase, all English goods
Here will introduce small anecdote (and by
the way, shall quite number, before I
get through), with occasionally some
"verses, &c. Samuel Butts, we'll known
old citizen, called in one day to w. & C.'s,
whom he was owing, and said, Gentle
men, have been looking over my affairs and
find that can pay 30 per cent. of my debts
and have called in to make you that offer.'
They answered him THAT they would cheer
fully accept his offer and thank him, too"
His His response esp was, We'll, gentlemen, write
Deering mansion, occupied by James Wingate,
as our post office Ground the corner of Middle
street,, johnson kept English goods in this
building on Exchange street, afterwards David
Gardner who was then considered the best
judge of counterfeit money on the street He |
afterwards died miserably, having "divided
his living between our alms-house and the
piggery of the Boston Steamboat Company.
Next on the corner of Middle, in the 'wart,"
in part kept by our good deacon Harrod. the
writer of ''J. H.
Here crossing over Middle street, we come
to the house of Madame Deering, the widow of
Nathaniel Deering and mother of James ard
Mrs. Preble. This house was occupied by
DAVIS, the danelng-master. and was long after
ward removed to make way for the old Ex-
change. on the site of our new post office, that
is to be. The old Deering homestead was re-
moved to the alms-house road, where it was
used as an ice house for many years, but is now
demolished. Next above, the old Pool house.
the father of James, who is still with us. over
81 years old. The old gentleman kept horses,
carried on trucking, had large chamber in
his house which extended through to Lime,
now MarkeD street. Major Gage and Oliver
for the 'Old jerusalem and the writer Of
this was a humble learner. Next, Mrs. Hedge.
the mother OF the late Capt Geo. T. Hedge.
Joseph Noble married Mary, the only daugh-
ter. Next, the Riggs house, the parents of the
late Jacob r., who made his headquarters. in
his latter years, at Durgin & Rolfes apotheca-
ny store. Next, deacon John Phillips house,
on the corner OF Federal street. Joshua Shir-
ley married his daughter PAMELA and Chas.
Moody married Mary; both still live with us.
- Crossing over Federal ST., to property belong
ing to James Deering, always occupied by good
tenants. Next, the large livery stable which
extended through Lime street. Next the
Paine (stage p property on the corner of
Back street. This house was afterwards occu-
pied by the Lee family, David Pease and 9th
ers, and was finally converted into the Inter
national House, opposite our New City Hail.
and was owned by f. o. J. Smith
We here cross over Back street (formerly
Queen street, now Congress) where John
Plummer kept livery stable. This was the
lot where the citizens of Portland built
building to accommodate the Legislature.
Here was the Senate chamber where the fa-
nous 'eight and eight battle was fought,
Senator Hall presiding, with r. P d. at his
elbow pulling his coat-tail, trying to keep him
right. This was the Eastern part of tie pres
ent City Hall lot. Next, the old Court House,
on the same lot, facing down Court street. The
stone jail was in the rear Of the Court House.
which think was built in '97 and then Kept
by Mr.. Gibbs, deputy sheriff
Now cross over to the west corner of Con-
gress and Court streets and the first building
you come to is Elder Rand's meeting house
the old Court House removed there and q new
house being built on the old spot The meet