Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-10-17
LANDMARKS or SOUTH PARIS.

Il LANDMARKS OF SOUTH PAkiS.
The following list contains the resi-
dences In South Paris as l recall then
when I arrived In 1850. A record Of tn
families which resided there 10 the mid
die Of the century cannot fall to be o
service to the future historian. Oi
Jan. 2 Of that year the nrst trains or
the Atlantic and Sc. Lawrence Railroad
began TO run, and the buildings thel
existing mark the degree OF progres,
which the villsge had made before IL
growth expanded, under the influence o.
its enlarged connection with the gres
world beyond.
| l cannot sfiirm the absolute accurac,
Of this list; give the names OF th'
residents a. they are associated In my
memory with the different houses.
have sought to verify my impression
by comparing them with the memoriei
OF several citizens who then resided IL
the village, and believe the statement
here presented 10 be substantially accu
rate. Names given in parenthesis arr
those Of earlier or subsequent occupants
OF the various houses.
Ny record begins 10 the west, and
gives the names OF the streets ss knew
them. Occasionally a name may indi
cate resident out OF the strict chrome
logical order; In that case IL represents
the family which was most permanently
associated with . given abode, In ms
early memory. The names are given In
order upon each eide Of the street.
West, north side: Mr.. Curtis q. Bridg'
ham, railway station, 8. Blake, Mr.
Sturtevant, Mr.. X. Skillings' carriage
shop, X. Skillings' house, Mr.. Burbank
Methodist church, Mrs. Yates, Mr..
Fuller, r. @. Bridshsm, Isaiah Knights
tin shop (lster A. Barbour's) j. Millett's
cooper's shop, blacksmlth's shop, brick
store then occupied by william Deer
ing.)
South side: The gun shop, Hiram
Cummings, shop (erected by s. Deering,
later occupied by Hainey Blake, John
Holmes store, W. Gsllison, A. Shurtlef,
E. Morse's store occupied as q shoe
store, and later as q tailoring establish
meut kept by Elisha +. Stone), $, New
halI's harness shop, containing on the
south side, p. Morse's drug store, Rust
& Young's drug store, Col. II. X. Par.
sons, L. Thayer, A. Hall, Congregational
church, MsJor J. bennett, Mr.. Pray, Mr..
Durell, bridge.
East side: The Chapman tavern C.
BridRham), +. Bucks store (xfterwsrd
kept BY X. Stevens, now n. ID. Bolster's)
the hotel Originally the residence Of l.
StowelD, 8. NewhAll, academy, p.
Stowell, A. Field, Major Dennett's store,
saw mill.
North High STREET., wes, side: DR..
Bryant, Mr.. Dunn, ID. Jordan, J.
Holmes, Mr.. Caldwell, J. Penley, =.
Durell, j. B. Stowell, s. Deering o..
Dennett), Mr.. Nichols, Mr.. Cannon.
East side: G. Bridgham, c. Knights
shop, G. knight, j. Deering O.. Shurt-
lefrl, Mrs. Sto~ell (N. Crockett), Deer
| ing & Dsle's shop, @. Bemis, c. Porter.
Outside the limits Of the village on the
Rumford road were G. Perry's, Mr..
Prsy's, and Otis Swift's.
Across the bridge, west side: factory
boarding house, \. Morse (slso called
Liter factory boarding house') T..
Morse, II. Perkins Or. Bisbee), Miss
Mary Knight. blscksmith's shop, "yel-
low house" (P. Morse), w. Hersey,
l.. T. Boothby, J. Knight, T. Hill. East
side: Saw and grist mill, factory store,
J. Drnnett's store, j. Hamilton, q. Clark,
j. Clark.
Across the Stony Brook, north and
west: Hersey's storehouse for plows,
school house, Mrs. Barbour, =. Pratt, 8.
Sturteyant, tsnnery, curriers' shop, L.
Morse, J. Cummings, r. Morton, Mr..
Shorey (Thomas). South and East :
foundry, p. Morse's blacksmith shop,
wightman, Royal, J. Pratt, A. King
(Mrs. HalD, G. Shurtleti, Black house,
q. King, A. Holmes, II. Stowell.
This would show that there about one
hundred buildings standing in South
Paris sfty years ago, and about sixty
eight dwelling houses. A few OF the
business blocks had tenements above. IL
we make the usual estimate OF I've TO
family. the population must have been
about $50 at the time mentioned.
Those who are not familiar with the
history Of buildings which are still
standing, may be Interested to know that
the timbers OF the first framed house 10
South Paris, that of the StOwell house
which stood on the site Of the present
Beaman house near the high school, was
incorporated in the william Caldwell
house on High Street.
The frame OF the old black school
house, where so many received their
first and only education, forms part OF
q dwelling house built by Z. Perry just
north Of Richardson's hardware store.
The old "gun shop" the relic OF our
early military organization, Was incor-
porsted In house built by Miss Mary
Ann Ryerson, nearly opposite Mr.. Alva
Shurtlefrs.
Major Dennett's old red store survives
ln Samuel Richards jewelry store.
The old store Of Dea. Prentiss and the
first post Office Ia town, which once
stood near the Rev. Joseph Walkers,
later the residence OF william Rice, con-
stitutes part Of the Crockett Clark
house near the great willow tree south
east Of the village.
Permit me to call attention to the
value which would attach to the forma-
ton Of society for preserving the his
tory of the county. Such Q society
would naturally collect all material
which would throw light upon the local
history of different sections. A library
of historical works might be collected In
connection with the public library. Un-
der the Inspiration Of such society the
pupils 10 the high school might contrib
ute both published and unpublished ma-
terial which is now In danger Of being
irretrievably lost.
In every family there are books and
pamphlets, diaries and personal records,
which, II not history, form the material
Of history. Such documents might be
collected from every possible source and
deposited In . historical slcOve In the
public library. General histories Of the
state, early colonial histories, mono
graphs giving the history Of early ex-
plorations, catalogues Of the former
academies, political pamphlets, dles OF
newspapers, genealogical and family
records, early law books, sermons, mill
tary papers, commissions, etc., etc.,
should be gathered and preserved while
Il 10 possible. Such documents would
throw Q most interesting light upon
early customs, religious history, politics
and education. Political posters, circu-
lars and speeches should be preserved.
The early clergymen, Messrs. Hooper,
walker, Davis, Southworth, Estes and
Wilson, published books and addresses.
A safe should be provided for the secure
custody Of private papers and rare mono
graphs.
In this way facts relating to early
trade, military organizations, churches.
stages, manufactures, the customs OF
marriages, baptisms and funerals might
Be collected. At regular meetings,
papers could be read upon Indian an
Equities, the history Of different local
ties, mountains, school districts and