Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-16
HISTORIC WINTHROP HALL.
Continued from pase %

y.
Maine Cavalry. and five light batteries
Measles broke out and for weeks the
hospital was crowded. every available
spot being used. For several weeks l
assisted DIR. Hawkins and We had
tedious time. The hospital was so
crowded that as soon as their measles
turned they would insist on returning
To camp In a majority of cases they
took cold, had pneumonia and were re-
turned to the hospital. There were
many pathetic death-bed scenes there
during that period. Fathers. mothers.
brothers. sisters and lovers, came to
see the sick soldiers; and there We're
times when there We're several deaths
daily. and the scenes l with ssed were
more heartrending than ten times the
number of deaths on the field m battle
we had not then got very fan into The
war. and the loss of life IL the service
seemed much more terrible than after
we became more used to it. The re
mains of most of the dead were carried
home for interment but most of the
so-called unknown graves in Mount
Pleasant Cemetery are tenanted by
those who died at Winthrop hall dur
ing the winter of 1s61-2"
After that the building was used as
a private school, for the girls gram
mar school, ard after being removed
to its present location at the top OF
Jail hill, was occupied by that most
successful publisher Hon. p. O. WICK
cry. and later was used as Il printing
Office by Captain c. E. Nash. OF late
years it has been used for dancing
hall: following which with the over
turning of time. it was the Frlends
chapel Now it is a storehouse,
paint shop and the headquarters OF
Baldwin the roofer.
Soon after the hall was moved to its
present situation the name was
changed to Waverley hall. A great
dispute arose over the method of spell
ing. but on the building were painted
the letters "Waverley Hail." and that
was the accepted method of spelling.
Yet the title Winthrop hall has chung
to the structure in spite of the change.
To some it is now known as Demosra-
hall.
Before closing this paper it nily be
of some interest for me to recoun, two
or three little thirss which may stii
the recollection of many of our read |
ers. The Lyceum Association was one
of the best bodies ever Instituted in this
city. composed of the most distin-
guished men Of the town, whose boas
it was that they were the first gentle
men and scholars in the city. It's in
fluence was widespread and of the
best character Under its auspices for
a number of winters We're held series
of lectures at the moderate cost ot nht
dollar per season ticket The lectGter=
of that day must have been lily pa!i.
for it is certain that the very best
talent in America was engaged. N the |
bright galaxy of names of the lecturers
here in succeeding winters, / End DR..
Storrs. Oliver Wendell Holmes. thomas |
II. Benton, Thomas Starr King, Henry
Ward Beecher, Bayard Taylor, Fl. w.
billiard, Horace Greeley, DR.. 1. I.
Hayes. Donald G. Mitchell. DR.. Chaplin,
Chas. Sumner, Frederick Douglass. \.
T. Banks, John y. Cough, Ralph Wal
do Emerson and above and beyond all,
Edward Everett, who on January II,
1857, before such crowded audience as
scarcely left him room to stand upon
the stage. gave his masterpiece, THE
Character of Washington" To this
lyceum belonged men who We're then,
and others who have since become
peerless statesmen.
No persons were more interested in
the Augusta Lyceum than vur present
venerable neighbor, Hon James w.
Bradbury, who has ever been active in
anything concerning literature in Au>
gusta; and he was ably seconded in
the good work by the late Hon. James
G.. Blaine then young man just come
To Augusta and connected with the
Kennebec Journal. Although what
would be considered as a mere boy at
the time, he had already taken
prominent position in Augusta affairs,
and his natural leadership had assert
ed itself even in the conduct of the
affairs OF this literary union.
The dramatic clubs which flourished
and exhibited in Winthrop hall were
composed of the flower of the young
manhood of Augusta, and the play bills
of that time are filed with the names
of respected members of our COM
munity, and also of those who have
Won fame in other fields A copy of
the programme of a New Years night
eXhlpition given some time in the
i'i'ies VIII be interesting. and is here
Win produced tbrouoh +I,a L