Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-14
THE OLD TOWN HOUSE.
An Interesting Chat on a Historic Az
qusta Structure.
Editors kcnnebec Journal:

account OF HlIlttfS III ~ -
good Observation-Disclosures by bitth OF
residence For instance: IN your issu'
o; February IA. mot seen by me lii
some time after its~late, there was an
article on the; history OF the building
which originally, as believe. served as
the first meeting house OF the Norti
Parish of Hallowell afterwards set OIL
and Incorporated as Harrington, Dut
later renamed iAugusta.)
The question of building this house
Was debated I'M town meetings for sew
ci-al years. and its construction began
i'll 1882. Several years more were
s!.ent in completing the work. and, ac-
cording TO North's history of Augusta.
il was not finally completed until 1873.
when the Rev. Mr.. Stone was ordained
over what was named the South Par
ish Society The building stood III
" hat is Euw Market Square. and was
used for public meetings as well as i"r
religious services. but finall! became $"
Uiapilated that the society buiit 10Y
THEMSELVES 4 new church, which stool
rear the top Of Bridge HILL ara WIS
some years since destroyed by fire be-
ing succeeded by Il handsome stone
cdificc. At that time State street had
not been laid out.
The old meeting house having be
come Il nuisance. the town meeting in
May. 1910. ordered that il should be
ii: .troyci and a new Town House built.
au the lot at the west corner Of Elm
and Winthrop streets. the location now
occupied by the house built by, Joseph
F,n or
the Old meeting house was utilized for
the new Town House, Uhey had good
tiinb,r in those days. and as North
says, in speaking of the Lyccum lee
lures in Winthrop Hall. Its walls
which near the close. of the last CEN
trir:-. when standngf'on the intervale
near the river Market Square
echoed to the elouucnre of the pulpit
bench and bar of those days. now re-
sounded To the strains Of a Wiilet
Stone. Chaplin. Beecher. Benton, Ever
cit and others forming ard directing
minds OF the present century.
The Town House was first occupied
10y the town December -, 1911. From
that date il was occupied for town pur-
poses until ;S+S. at which time it was
Elm ST, to the East corner. where for
mcrly stood the blacksmith shop Of
Nyman & Thoms There were several
rooms on the first floor of the Town
House, long used for school purposes
and where the writer specially remen-
bers the school kept by Miss Sarah
HEATH, i'm 1882. This was before the
time of graded schools. but it would
probably rank as an upper grade of
primary schools. In the rear north
east room. the Free Will Baptists. then
Il small body. held their meetings, and
'Parson" Eason. the old colored man
who lived in "Slab City" now North
street. was a prominent member |
remember seeing aud climbing upon
the town pound which stood on the lot
North Of the Town House. but cannot
tell time of its removal AS the Town
house stood we'll back from Winthrop
Street there was a fine play ground in
front for the scholars.
Among other uses the old Town Hail.
during the winter of 1S45-46, was Oc-
cupied by a theatrical company under
the management of ]. r. Addams,-
"Yankee Adams The patronage was
good enough. or the persistency of the
Th"spi;;ns strong enough. to fill out Il
season of some two months. The next
year Adams and his company occu-
pied Weeks Hall. Corner of State and
Winthrop Streets. which was fitted up
Toy theatrical purposes. According to
my recollection the season WAS not
very profitable. A benefit night for the
printer. at which | acted as treasurer.
by 10 means cleared the account for
printing.
After removal Mr. Staples consider
ably enlarged the building By an adj
diticn OF some twenty feet on the back
side. and made Il hall some sixty feet
deep and twelve feet high. 1t WAS then
named, Winthrop Hall and for some
yc,rs gave the citizenssasmuch needed
place for public meetings and enter
tainnl"nts. At that time The i.ycenm
Was in its glory. and such eminent
SPEAKERS as Bcechcr. Everett. Greely.
Benton AMI many others spoke to
crowded auGiances. In 1854. the build
i'm: WAS again enlarged by an addition
OF thirty feet making hall 5oX?t feet.
ana renamed Waverly Hall. During
the rebellion it was used for some two
years as Il hospital for United States
troops encamped in Augusta
The erection of the Meonian Building
on Water street. 1850. and the furnish
in" Of an up-to-date hall. practically
ended the public use of Waverly Hall.
ard il was once mere removed. to the
present location on Winthrop street top
of Jail Hill. Since that time ii has
bceu in use for business purposes.
Writing these few "reminiscences. I
alu reminded of the loss Augusta has
experienced in the premature death OF
Capt. Charles +. Nash. AS you are
aware. he had practically completed.
50 far as gathering data was concerned.
Il History of Augusta. which. from per-
SouAl know ledge. I believe to be of
great historical value. Before his
death he had put in type and printed
nearly one-half of the book. which will
make the volumes of some 1900 pages
q: more The material for the second
volume, which Isl strictly relating IL
Augusta. needed only 70; be put in prop
or shape for the printer-all the facts
and particularly The genealogical part
being me,hodnally. arranged. Is it not
possible that some one can be found