Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-12

The Oldest building in Gardiner, or Pitts.
ton, has been removed by H. W. Jewett & Co.,
who have purchased the land belonging TO the
Gay estate at the head of the steamboat wharf
1t was gambrel-roof structure. two stories
in height, and about twenty BY thirty-five fee,
square. 1t was built by DR.. Gardiner in 1853,
and was used as p0stoffice. 1t was sold by
Judge North in 1856 to Mai. Seth Cav. and
was used by Mr.. Gay for a store. i think
the old Gay sign was over the door until
within few years It had not been occupied
since The death of W. r. Gay. cut of the
building may be found in Harrison's history
OF Gardiner, published in 1852, which com
prises historical matter from 1902 TO
1852. . few copies of which arr
found among the oldest inhabitants
The building was in a good state of pres
ervafion. The roof. which was of the best
of shingles, appeared sound. The tim
Der was hewn from the best of pine and the
walls and ceiling were composed of splendid
lumber, some of the boards being twenty
nine inches in width. As the old building
was torn down many old relics were found
papers dating back to Revolutionary DAYS
The nails were made By hand. The writer
remembers selling the late w R. Cav shaved
pinned shingles more than thirty years ago
that were put into the basement of this build
ing. But those days are past! find on
page 20 in this history prices here in I76O as
follows: 'Land was sold for mere song
bnt paper was eight cents sheet; boards
S. per NJ; corn So per bushel: shoes SIS
per pair; butter 81 SO per pound, and other
articles in proportion"
The writer says: 'srhat great evil of social
life was fastened upon the inhabitants of
New England and descended in a great de-
gree to their posterity. When corn was
scarce and provisions expensive, it was
found necessary to have rum in the house al
any price, and this fact explains many a sud-
den death. and the passing away of many q
farm and house. Intemperance was a ban<-
full curse of the first settlers of Kennebec. :"
The old Gardiner, North or Gay mansion is
still standlng-a venerable monument of the
early days. 1t has recently been advertised
for sale.
Before closing this should say the above
named DIR. Gardiner, who was one of the
earliest settlers III the Kennebec valley, was
born in South Kingston, X l., in 1907. was
educated in England and France, and was an
accomplished physician. He accumulated
immense poss essiOns of real estate in Maine
having at one time 100 600 acres of land
He was the grantor of much of the
land in Pittston. When the war of the Rev
olntion broke out he espoused the cause of
Great Britain and left Boston with the Brit
ish army when it was evacuated. OF course
his immense property was left behind and
was confiscated. and all that could be found
was sold at public auction. The estates on
the Kennebec were confiscated but there was
a flaw in the proceedings and new action
was instituted, but before they were brought
Il L. Al
learning of the fact obtained the property
Had there been no flaw in the first snit. the
property would be in other hands than those
of the heirs of DR. Gardiner.
In the Episcopal church at Gardiner is a
slab of black marble eight feet in height
cemented into the wall erected to the memory
of DIR. Gardiner by his grandson Robert Hal
lowell Gardiner.
copy of his last will and testament is
found on page 90 in this old history. 1t fills
six pages. For a considerable time Dr. Gar
diner kept a slave named Hazard, all the one
known to have ever been here. He was SUBJ
sequentlY drowned at Hazards Rips Years
afterwards the town of Hallowell sued the
town of Gardiner for the support of one of
Hazards descendants; but it was proved that
Hazard had all his earnings, and the court
decided he had not gained a residence, as he
was never regularly manumitted 1t is said
that all the colored people in this vicinity by
the name of Lewis, are descendants from
Hazard.
This history is very interesting reading
In note at the bottom of page 80, it is said
that Hazard hung favorite horse of the
Doctors and fred his house, and the neigh
bors became alarmed and insisted that he
should not remain, so he was banished to
Cabassa. s.