The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-13
BRIDGTON ACADEMY.
Celebration of It's 18th Anniver-
sary.
ADDRESSES BEFORE THE ALUMNI


This has been gala day for Bridgton, for
hundreds who studied in tho famous old acad-
emy and were graduated there, gathered this
morning on the beautiful grassy slope in front
of the Academy to listen to the addresses. A
platform had been built for the speakers. The
Hon. Geo. Pierce, who has lived SO years up to
date, presided. The address of welcome was
given by G. f. Farnsworth. The historical ad-
dress, by Mr.. Kimball, was full of facts and
statistics, interesting and valuable to graduates
of the school and entertaining to others. Mr.
Kimball said:
MR.. KIMBALL's ADDRESS.
AS early as 1906, subscription papers were in
circulation for the purpose of raising funds for
the establishment of an academy in the town
of Bridgton. The General Court of the Com
mouwealth of Massachusetts had generally re.
quired in such cases that the inhabitants should
raise money to aid in the enterprise. AT this
time three men of considerable wealth resided
in Bridgton, Samuel Andrews at North Bridg-
ton, long and familiarly known as Merchant
Andrews, Samuel Farnsworth at Bridgton
Centre, and Enoch Perley at South Bridgton,
all public spirited men; and it can be said of
each, that they were moved by commendable
spirit of local pride, and each one desired to
have the academy located in his particular sec
tion of the town.
These three gentlemen took paper in hand
and each headed it with personal subscription
of $500, and starte out, in all three cases se-
curing sum sufficient TO meet the usual re-
quirement of the General Court. The amount
raised in the different localities, was very near
ly equal. So excited was the feeling in regard
to the location, that a general meeting of the
inhabitants of the town wes called, on the Sd
lnr- af ,1Nou to 6afa thln
tion. The prospect was, for a time that the
meeting would break up in general disorder,
SO anxious were the friends of each party to
triumph in securing the academy. At length
order was brought out of chaos, by motion to
refer the matter to three disinterested trustees
of Gorham, Fryeburg, and Hebron academies,
and Lothrop Lewis of Gorham, Judah Dana of
Fryeburg, and Albion K. Paris of Hebron
academies, were selected, and it is related that
when they met there was a division of senti-
ment. Mr.. Dana favoring North Bridgton, Mr..
Lewis one of the other localities SO that Judge,
afterward Governor, Paris was called upon
to decide the question, which he did, remark
ing that in looking over the ground he had no
hesitation in deciding with his friend, Judge
Dana, for the natural beauty OF the seem
cry was SO great, that it seemed that nature
itself had designed that there should be a
school here.
Thus was the vexed question of the location
forever settled in an amicable manner. Immed-
lately after, on December rs, 1906, we find
Samuel Andrews and seventy-five others ask
ing the General Court to establish the academy
by legislative enactment at North Bridgton,
under the corporate name of the Bridgton
academy association, with such privileges as
are usually granted to such Cc,ieties. In an
swer to the prayer OF the petition an act OF IN
corporation was passed March s. 1903, estab-
fishing the academy. and naming as the first
board of trustees, Samuel Andrews, Robert
Andrews, Aaron Beaman, Stephen Chase, Rev.
Nathan Church, David Clark, DR.. Ezra Dean,
Samuel Farnsworth, Benjamin Kimbal,
Enoch Perley and Seba Smith, Sr,, of Bridg-
ton; Rev. Samuel Gould of Bethel; Rev. Lin
coin Ripley and Jonathan Barnard Of Water
ford; and Nathaniel Burnham of Harrison; fif-
teen in number.
There was granted to the academy town
ship six miles square of the unappropriated
lands in the district of Maine. The territory
is what is now known as the town of Maxfeld.
A small portion OF the grant is still owned by
the academy.
The first meeting of the trustees was held IN
Samuel Andrews Hall, in this village Sept
ember 1st, 1905 Rev. Nathan Church was
chosen president, Stephen Chase, secretary,
and Samuel Andrews, treasurer. Mr.. Church
continued to hold the Office of president of the
board of trustees till October 30th, 1927, when
Hon. Nathaniel Howe was elected. Mr.. Church
was pastor of the Congregational church at the
Centre. He was a graduate OF Dartmouth,
aud died in 1925, aged 81. Mr. Howe did not
serve but one year es president He was a
lawyer and what was called a strong man.
Rev. John A. Douglass of Waterford, was
elected president, upon the retirement of Mr..
Howe. on the 29th of October, 1928 He con-
tinued to hold that office till August 29th,
1S43. Mr.. Douglass was succeeded in the of
flee of president, by the Rev. Joseph P. Fes-
senden, who WIS, for long time pastor OF the
church st South Bridgton. DIR. Moses Gould
of this village was then elected, but disliking
the duties he served but one term, from Aug
ust 7th, 1860, to August 18th, 1861. Mr.. Doug
lass was again chosen and continued president
of the board till August 4th, 1874, when the
present president, the Hon. George Pierce was
chosen.
Samuel Andrews the first treasurer, held the
office ten years. AT that time, when funds
were mach needed to bring the school into no
tice this position was attended with difficulties
the treasurer being freque ntly obliged to make
temporary advances from his private resources.
In this the trustees were wise in the selection
of Mr.. Andrews, man OF great energy, and
indomitable will. When he had once started,
for the purpose of accomplishing any desired
object, he seldom faltered or turned aside till
he secured the wished for result, hence the
name of s'Iron Andrews" which attached to
him for many years, indicating that tenacity of
purpose which ever characterized his course in
life. To him, more than to any other man,
we are indebted for this institution.
Robert And rews was the next treasurer, but
he served but one year, when DIR. Samuel
Farnsworth was elected in 1919. DR.. Farms
worth resigned and moved to Portland in 1874,
and Granville Blake filed the office. he sery-
ed but one year, when, DR.. Farnsworth having
returned, he he was again elected and served
one year. when Aaron Beaman was chosen.
After one years service he resigned, when DIR.
Farnsworth was chosen and remained treasur-
er of the board till August 28th, 1888. Then
followed Solomon Andrews for six years, and
Philip Eastman for three years. Mr.. Eastman,
the author of the Digest which bears his name,
was too well known in Maine, and especially to
the profession of which he was an able and
honorable member, to need more than pass
ing notice. Mr.. Eastman was succeeded by
Harrison Blake. After two years service Mr..
Blake retired, and the Hon. Marshall Cram
was elected and served till August 7th, 1860.
He subsequently moved to Brunswick, served
in the Legislature and was treasurer of Bow
doin College for some time. Levi Cram was
then elected, but was succeeded by DR.. Moses
Gould on the 4th of August, 1865, and he in
turn by our present efficient treasurer, the
Hon. Philander Tolman, who was elected Au-
gust 4tb, 1874.
Stephen Chase, the first secretary, served
from Sept LIST, 1908, to Oct. ID, 1910. Benja.
min Kimball from Oct. I'd, 1910, to Oct. 4th,
1876; then the Hon Nathaniel Howe, from
Oct. 4th, 1916, to Oct. 7th, 1917; when Jona-
than Barnard was elected and continued in
office till Oct. 4tb, 1925, at which time DR..
SamuelF arnsworth was elected, but served but
one year when Jonathan Barnard was again
chosen, bat declined to serve after one year.
DR. Moses Gould was then elected, and held
the position from Oct. 30th, 1927, till Aug.
10th, 1858, when the Hon. Thomas I'll. Mead
was elected and continued in office till Aug
I'd, 1881, when he was succeeded by the pres
ent secretary, Hon. George e. Chadbourne
Notwithstanding the feeling ofrivalry which
was exhibited in locating the school, when the
question was finally decided, all opposition
seems to have disappeared, for both Samuel
Farnsworth and Enoch Perley were placed up
on the board of trustees with Samuel Andrews
their more successful competitor, and were
ever after the firm friends and supporters OF
the academy, although none of the original
Bridgton Centre or So. Bridgton transferred
their subscription for the benefit of this locali-
ty. Immediately after the organization, COM
mittees were chosen to draft bylaws and all
necessary regulations for the government oi
the academy, which were adopted at subse-
quent meeting, but have been changed from
time to time, as the exgencies of the occasion
seemed to require.
We find, at the very first meeting, Septem-
Der 1st, 1908, they were watchful OF the inter-
ests of the institution, for a committee of three
was chosen, to advise the secretary in case oi
danger of loss of property, or any other emer-
gency, whose duty it was to propose any meas
ure for the benefit of the corporation, which
being adopted by the secretary, was binding
upon the trustees. They were called COM
mittee of safety, and were elected annually
thereafter for many years. The first commit
tee were Aaron Beaman, Samuel Farnsworth,
and David Clark. AT meeting holden Octo
bnr o1 1910 tho first in, aio+;o =