Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-02

for z numbe:. uf years Then it -
cam" out of repair ami rninpns in 1p-
pc&rance, anG the parish having Il new
abodr in 1869. entirely deserted it, 1t
was an incunbrancr on the street, and
In 1AlG was taken down and removed
IL Winthrop ct, where il was used
as Il town house. It's location was at
the corn"t nf Elm ana Winthrop
streets. the Site now &c cupied bv the
large house built by Joseph Anthony
in 1S49. During the almost 40 yeas
that the building occupied this site. it
was used continuously as a town house
and for nuhlic gatherings of all kinds
The south parish which abandoned it
before its .-moval had built a larger
ana better church in 1909 upon the ste
of the present Congregational church.
This church was occupied until 1854
when it was struck by lightning and
burned being succeeded by the present
beautiful granite church.
la 1913 the town voted to abandon the
old town house and ut that time it Vas
sold to Al Staples who moved the
building to its present location and en-
larged il. The enlargement was in the
form Of an addition OF about 20 feet on
oi'N sue, iIiothiIiS ~ nan iDput W
lect in length. and for many years this
CAV" the people of Augusta a much
needed place for public meetings and
entertainments. At that time the old
Augusta LyccIIn. organized in 1898
was in its glory and such eminent
Sneakers as I'cechcr. Everett. Benton
ana others OF national fame spoke here
to crowded audiences. At this time
= l.-Fx
location in fact. ii was frequently used
for dramatic entertainments. II is re-
called that in the winter Of 1SfJ-4C
Yankee Adams and his company of
actors occupied ii for two whole months
playing to large audiences ali Of
that time l. is also q matter of MIS-
IJric interest that in this old building
the first meetings of the Free VIII Bap-
fist society were held when it was or
ganiZed in 1894 with a membership OF
seven persons.
In 1854 the building was again en-
larGnd this time by an addition of %
feet making Il hall 5ox9: feet. and it
was renamed Waverlv hall. Among
TIE old time dramatic clubs which used
- furnish entertainment for the people
OF the city. the Augusta Dialectic Club
has an hnnored place. and Melville w.
Fuller. now chief justice of the United
Statcs was at one time president Of
his, organization and assisted in enter
tainncntS III this hall. rThcn there is
assrriatcd with The hall the name of p.
T. Rarnum. the immortal circus king.
vino here pr, scented General and Mrs.
Tom Thumb to an admiring audience
Of Aurustans. During the Civil War
The building was used fcr time for
hospital purposes ana here many OF
the bows in blue received treatment
and many died within its shelterins
walls.
With the bidding of Moonian hall
block in 1856. the use of Waverly hall
for public meetings and entertainments
,rac,iclIly ceased. and in the half CEN
turs. since that time it has been used
for a great variety of business par
noses. II was here, for instance. IN
1874 that the late p. Q. Nickcry began
his publishing business which has de-
yalorca into the great plant of the
Nickeyy & Hill Publishing Co. Mary
industries. mercantil" and manufacture
ing. have in turn occupied il for Il bret
tIir. and a cunSidera BILE part of tn" ia
mons old building is still in use.