The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-09-24
OBITUARY.

Miss Esther Catherine Frye, the dean of
Belfast's many able school teachers, passed
away at her home in the Frye block on Court
street, Friday, Sept 18th. She was born in
Northport, April g. 1929, the daughter of Jona-
than and Mercy Frye. Her father was a native
of Pembroke, N. H., and her mother of Dur
ham, Me. She came to Belfast at the age of 9
years, and had lived nearly all that long period
in her late home. She had the unusual record
Of so years teaching. Her first school was
taught at Beech Hill in Northport when she
was 16 years old. From there she taught in
nearly every town in the county, SO that many
in Waldo county as well as in Belfast will be
interested in this sketch. Three generations
of her own family have been under her tuition.
The Frye schoolhouse," whose exterior and
interior alike are familiar to at least two gen.
erations of Belfasters was moved in the spring
of 1906 from its old situation in the rear of the
Frye block, to Mayo street, where it was turn
ed into dwelling house. The house was orgi-
nally built by James P. White for his sister,
Susan Jane White, who taught school in it
when it was situated on the lot back of the
Bean house on the corner of Pearl and Court
streets. Miss Lydia Wetherbee, afterward
Mrs Nickerson, also taught there, as did sew
eral others. Miss Frye's father bought the
school building and moved it to the site it oc
cupied for so many years, enlarging it some
what. Miss Frye had no written record of the
many pupils before 1864, but up to that time
many Belfast young people went to school to
her and benefited by her instruction, as did
their children in their turn. A list of those who
went to the little school, learned the we'll
remembered songs, spoke pieces and ate ice
cream and candy on the ''last day." brought
home "merit-cards' to exchange for gorgeous
picture card later on, and played "horse" and
"tag" in the yard at recess time, was published
in The Journal of April 19 and 26, 1906, and at
tracted the attention of many in other States,
1t was one of the pleasures of Miss Frye's later
life that so many of her former pupils, includ-
ing gray haired men and women, remembered
her with letters, gifts and tokens of all kinds
From early life she was member Of the
Methodist church and was actively interested
in temperance. She was the last of her family
and is survived by two nieces and two nephews:
Mrs. Fannie A. Burrill of Lynn, Mass, Mrs.
Fannie S. Bridges of Stockton Springs Joseph
F. Frye of New York city and Charles w. Frye
of Scituate, Mass. She had been in failing
health for some time and recent attack of
acute bronchitis induced slight shock which
proved fatal Her sister, Mrs. Lucy A. Bennett,
died last February and Miss Frye desired that
her own funeral, which took place at l o'clock
Sunday, should be conducted like her sisters.
Her pastor, Rev. Albert E. Luce, conducted
i, the services and Messrs. N E. Keen, c. A.
Hubbard, George A. Quimby and Charles F.
Swift acted as bearers. There an abund-
ance of beautiful flowers from neighbors,
friends and former pupils. The burial was in
the family lot in Grove Cemetery.
The death of Mary Lydia, widow of the
late Henry E. Colby, who died at Corey hill,
Brookline, about 13 years ago, occurred quite
suddenly on Sept. 1st at her home on Oaklelgh
road in the s7th year of her age. The deceased
was noted for her loyalty and devotion to her
home and family, and a large circle of friends
will remember her a sweet, cheery-faced,
motherly little body, always striving for the
happiness and comfort of others and never
remembering an ache pain of her own,-
an oldfashioned cultured, beautiful personality
of type too rapidly disappearing from the
busy social world of today. daughter of
Deacon Edward Haskell of Deer Isle, Maine,
man known throughout that locality for his
sterling qualities of head and heart, the son OF
a CONGREGATIONAL minister, she was one of
family of 10 children, and her death was the
first of three sisters, all of whom are past 10
She was the mother of IL children, all but
three of whom survive her. Her six daughters
are Mrs. James F. Pressey, formerly well
known here, now of Los Angeles; Misses L. F.
and Flora A. Colby, residing here; Mrs. M. e.
Little of Brookine Mrs. Howard j. thompson
of Newton Highlands, and Mrs Sarah E. Schaf-
fer of Boston. The sons are Edward II. OF
Deer Isle, Maine; Wilbur c. of Belfast, Maine;
Franklin S. of Cambridge, and Theodore P.
Colby of Dorchester. There are 27 grand
children living and 13 great grandchildren.
Two sisters, Mrs. Lucretia Spofford of Cam
bridge and Mrs. Martha Haskell of Deer Isle,
Maine, and two brothers, Bestus of Deer Isle
and Courtney Haskell of Norwich, Connecticut,
a we'll known publisher, also survive her. The
body of the deceased was taken to Deer Isle,
where funeral services were held in the chapel,
and the interment was in Mt. Adams, the new
cemetery there-The Newton Centre (Mass.)
Circuit Sept. 11th.
Mrs. Colby was formerly a resident of Bel
fast most of her children attended school here,
and her youngest daughter ''was born IN dear
old Belfast" to quote from the note accom-
: panying the above obituary.
Lovina Walton, widow of the late John H.
Poor of this city, died at her home in Provi-
dence, R. l., Sept 18th. Mr.. Poor died at his
home on Cedar street in this city March Is,
1904. after brief illness. Soon after his death
the deceased moved to Providence, R. l., which
had since been her horne. Mrs. Poor was born
in Waldo Aug 81, 1s45, the daughter of the
late James and Catherine Vickery, and Sept
II. 1869, she was married to Mr.. Poor and made
her home in this city at Sc Cedar street for
many wears. She is survived by daughter
and son, Miss Edith W. and Percy J. Poor, beth
of Providence, and one brother and three sis
ters: John F. Vickery of Morrill,, Mrs. Elizabeth
Payson of Brooks, Mrs. Catherine Weymouth
of Morrill, and Mrs. Olive j. McKenna of Provi-
dence. The deceased endured long and trying
illness and had been in critical condition since
last December While resident of this city
she was an attendant of the Universalist church,
and Rev. Ashley A. Smith, pastor, attended the
| services at the grave in Grove Cemetery in this
| city Tuesday morning after the arrival of the
| remains Mrs. McKenna, Miss Edith and Percy
| came to Belfast to attend the services apd left
| on the Boston boat Tuesday night. Their many
| Belfast friends extend sympathy in the loss OF
! fret inta in life for