Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-27

stored In some safe place and properly
cared for in the interest of the city.
Among the things he had found was
some notes made by the late Mr.. Skim
ner, who was planning to write his
tory of the city before his death. Wal
lace b. Smith, he found. has mass of
papers and other things of historical
interest that collected in the town
clerks Office Then there are the
Stackpole diaries that are valuable. He
had no doubt that there was much
more in the city and in the possession
of former citizens that was equally
valuable. Many of the owners would
doubtless be glad to turn this over to
a historical society If one should be
formed, either giving it outright or
turning it over to be cared for.
One of the objects of the society he
thought should be to collect all this
historical matter and havefi properly
sorted and labelled for easy reference
and stored in some safe place; another
would be the collection Of relics of his
torical interest; another the obtaining
of "reminiscences from old citizens now
living of the earlier days Of the town
zens who have remained here or gone
| to other places; another would be the
collection and arranging of newspaper
accounts of current events; another
papers by men who have taken prom
inent share in some industry in the
city and all things of this sort.
A custodian should be appointed to
have charge of this and collectors
might be appointed to gather what
] they could that would be of interest
! He thought that the society might have
| charge of all such work as this, hovine
occasional meetings when papers OF
historical interest might be read. The
| object of the society. in short. would be
| to collect and care for all that nigh,
| be connected with the history of the
| city and to chronicle In convenient
| form current events.
f. Il. Drummon heartily favored the
plan, explaining that he had had occa-
sion many times to look up some event
| in the history of the city and ha'
thought of making a collection of rec
oris himself, but had been prevented
| from time to time. He thought that q
| society could do this admirably and
| was hea rtily in favor of the plan.
Hon. S. S. Brown heartily concurre6
| in what was said and was in favor Of
| organizing such a society. w. E. Ar.
| mold was pleased with the idea and said
| that ne would be glad to assist in any
way he could. Mayor Blaisdell was al
so pleased and hoped it would succeed
| Harvey D. Eaton was much pleased
| and thought that when the public Ii
| brary is built that there should prop
er vault provided for the storage of the
| collections made by the society.
A committee consisting of Rev. f. c
| Whittemore, F.. r. DrummOnd. anl
Hon. S. S. Brown was then appointed t
| prepare a constitution and bylaws fo
the society. There was then consider
| able discussion as to whether that wa:
enough for the first meeting. Some
were in favor of letting it go at tina
| while others wanted to go ahead ant
| organize at once This gave rise to con
| siderable good-natured repartee unit
finally Mr.. Wyman drew up simpl,
agreement to organize and passed i
over to DIR. Thayer, who prompt,
| signed it and passed it along and thi:
is how the Is signers happened to re
| SUIT. IL was only a preliminary SteI
| to organization, taken in order to maxi
| a beginning in some way and ge
| things moving.
A committee of three consisting o
| Rev z. c. Whittemore, Harvey D. Ea
ton and DR.. ]. F. Hill, was appointed t,
| select board of officers.
The meeting then adjourned for tive
weeks or until Jan. 8. 1903. Judging
| from the interest manifested at tn,
| start the society will be a success anC
| will be able to accomplish work tina
| will be of great interest and value t.
| all loyal residents.