The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-17
THE POSTAL SERVICE IN BATH.
A Paper Read before the Sagadahoc Bis
torical Society.

The following paper was read before the
Sagadahoc Historical Society at its last meet
ing, by the author, Geo. E. Newman, ESQ. =
The earliest record we have Of the establish
ment OF regular mail facilities was about the
Il year 1850, at which time 1t was carried to ana
4 from Portland once fortnight, by Richard
! Kimball on foot. Luke Lambard had previ-
1 ously carried the mail between Boston and the
/ Kennebec, once a fortnight on horseback, for
! a short period only. In 1901, the most eastern
post office In the State was at Wiscasset, TO
which the mail was carried from Portland
through Bath twice week ON horseback; and
in 170S continued from thence to Castine once
q fortnight by man on foot. AT that time
the only highway In the parish was High street.
The only roads leading into the town from the
west were one by the head OF Stevens River,
New Meadows) and the other crossing that
river at Browns Ferry" which was at point
mile or two below Bull Rock Bridge The
old road to Brunswick was laid out in 1883, but
it was not made passable until 1898 II was
decided necessary to build bridge at Whis-
keag on the road leading around the head Oh
the river, and the inhabitants petitioned the
General Court for permission to raise the funds
by lottery, which was refused. The crossing
OF the Kennebec was effected by small fiat
boat or gondola at Days Ferry.
In the year 1862 Samuel Harnden was licen-
sed by the Court Of Sessions to keep and run
this ferry, and II was probably run at much
earlier period even than that. In 1860 IL
cense was granted his son Brigadier Harnden
BY the same court, he having succeeded his
father in the possession of the farm extending
far above and below the ferry on the Woolwioh
side. Licenses were also granted to several
successors OF Earnden, until in 1880 Thos. p.
Stetson applied for and received an act OF in
corporation by the Legislature to run a horse
ferry, under the name OF the bath Horse
Ferry, he having come into possession OF the
grounds and landings on both sides OF the riv-
or. From 1883 it had been called Days Ferry,
from one OF the former owners About the
time OF the establishment OF the horse ferry,
the Bath landing was the terminus of the mail
stages between Bath and Portland, and the
horses were there put up. Passengers contin-
ued their travel eastward in o two-horse coach
on the other side
March It'll, 1884, John Parshley, VIM. NJ.
Rogers, Nathaniel Weld, Asa p almer, Oliver
Moses, Peter Knight, Geo. Kicker. Edward
Hodgkins, VIM. " Moses Richard Nutter and
Jonathan Hyde were incorporated as the Sag
adahoc Ferry Company. A steam ferry boat
was procured, the landings built, and the rum
ming commenced In 1887. Soon after, the road
in Woolwich leading to the upper ferry was
bullt, and subsequently the Dixie, or new road
to Wiscasset, when four-horse teams carried
the mail daily between Bath and Rockland
The eastern mails were thus transported until
the opening OF the Knox u Lincoln railroad In
1871.
appointed by the U. s. government the first
postmaster at Bath, and for a time the office was
Kept at his dwelling house on High street; the
house now standing next north OF the railroad
bridge IL was afterwards removed TO the one
story building, also now standing near the cor
ner OF Front aud Summer streets, reached by
a flight OF stairs from Summer street. Col.
Sewall held the Office about fifteen years.
David Stinson was appointed postmaster
July LIST, 1906. By President Jefferson, which
office he held twenty-seyen years. During his
term IL was removed to the building on the
south corner OF Front and Arch streets, now
occupied by Watson & Gannett, where he re-
sided. There were no private boxes in the
post otfce, and 1t was the custom TO write off a
list OF the letters received by each mail and
hang II Ia the window, so that il could be read
by the people outside. The drivers OF mail
stages were in the habit of blowing a tin horn
when coming into town. The population OF
Bath at the time OF Mr.. Stinson's appointment
was about 1000.
Thomas Eaton, now living, was appointed
by President Jackson, April "A, 1888, aud the
office was removed TO rooms in the old Lincoln
Bank building which stood upon the site now
occupied by the Sagadahock House. Private
boxes were first used here Upon the taking
down OF the bank building in 1913, and the
erection OF the latter house, the office was kept
IN the southeast loom under the Hatch House,
now occupied by George W. Luce. After the
completion OF the Sagadahock, the southwest
corner IN the basement on Center street, was
nicely fitted up with boxes inside the glass
windows, and few drawers below for the
use OF the public, and the office was removed
TO that locality, where it remained until the
custom house building was ready for occu-
pancy.
At this time, aud for several years previous
mails were received daily from the west, and
forwarded thither in two and four-horse
coaches. Upon the completion of the Kenne-
bee and Portland railroad--now Maine Gem
tral-in l549s twice and thrice daily mails
have been transported to and from Bath on
said road
Upon the accession OF Prest. Fillmore, Hon.
VIM. Pitt Fessenden wrote to Messrs. Kendall
q Richardson inquiring II tho wings of Bath
wished to NIL the place wits of their own
party; and AS the result of correspondence that
ensued David Y. Kendall was appointed 70
succeed MIR. Eaton. He held the Office how
ever, bus eight days, from the 18th OF Novem-
Der, 1850, TO the 10Th OF the same month.
Rufus X. Haines, publisher of 1.-THE Mir
ror, was appointed Nov. 20, 1850.
Joseph O. Snow received the appointment
from Prest Pierce April /, 1858.
Charles i. Greenlesf was appointed BY
Prest. Lincoln April 5, 1861
James w. Wakefield was appointed BY
Prest Grant, April g. 1869.
VIM. Il. Hogan, the present incumbent re-
ceived his appointment from Prest. Arthur,
Jan. II, 1882.
During Mr.. Snow Is term OF office, the pres
ent stone editice was built by the u. s. Gov
eminent for the use of Collector of Customs,
and the post office, aud was completed and oc.
cupied in the year 1858. The entire cost OF
the structure was S105, S9i Do sos ,091 % OF
which was for the building alone, and Sl2S 500
for the foundation, grading the lot, etc.
ssewalIs History OF Bath.