Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-26

held at the dwelling house OF Natnaf
Longfellow. Jr., and for some year:
after that at the schoolhouse neal
Jesse Crowelrs.
Religious Worship.
Previous to 1888 Balltown was nj
favored with stated preaching but was
visited occasionally by Elders james
Potter, Isaac Case and others. The
following is a copy Of the record o.
the Balltown church:
Jan. 3, 1889.
I have met with a number of tn,
brothers and sisters in Balltown ant
by their request proceed to embOdA
them into a church. After commutua
conference with them l found then
sound in the faith of the Gospel o
Christ and appearing to be under.
standingly led to join in covenant to
gether as a body or Church of Chris
for the carrying on the Worship of AM
service of God. l found it my duty t,
give them fellowship as one branch
of the Baptist Church. AS witness mi
hand. JOBE MACUMBER,
Pastor of the Church in Bodinham.
The names of the members embodie.
in church fellowship:
FEMALES-Jennie Potter Ann,
Heath, Anne Palmer. Mercy Bale.
Lydia Peasley, Rachel Bartlett, DIV
Vining. Anne Glidden, Priscilla Beld
ing. Since: Dole Woodbridge, Char
ty Jones. Betsey Heath.
MALES-Solomon Potter Deacon
John Bailey, Samuel Palmer, james.
Murphy. Nathan Bailey. Since embed
ing, Jonathan Heath.
This was the only church in Balltow,
for about 20 years when church i;
Jefferson was organized. In 1896 Rev
Joseph Bailey became pastor of thh
church and was it's pastor until hi
death. They doubtless held their ser
vices in private houses until 1906 whe
the Balltown church was built. Thi
building stood where the Fowle:
now stands and was acci.
dentally burned in 1864.
In 1904 this church numbered 10
members. large number for thinl,
settled community. In 1909 severa
withdrew from this church to form the
second church in Whitefield which wa,
organized at the house of Joseph Prebl.
with nine members. In 1872 more O
the members of the first church with
drew to unite with others in formin.
the third church in Whitefield at King:
Mills. This church in the followin,
year built house of worship nea,
where the Cyrus Blum house stands
The present church building was bull
in 1870 and the old building torn down
William Pool was ordained pastor o
this church in 1880 and continued hi:
labors with his church many wears
The fourth church in Whitefield wa
organized at N. Whitefield in 1892 wit,
20 members.
The South Whitefield church wa
organized in 1S43 with Is members fror
the third church. The church at Coop,
ers Mills was organized later.
Schools.
The first action taken by the town il
regard to schooling was at the frs
town meeting after the incorporation
OF the town, May II, 1910, when it wa.
voted to raise and eypend in buildin;
school houses one thousand dollars.
Voted for each school district t,
superintend the building of the sal,
schoolhouses.
The following were chosen: Contra
district, Samuel Carleton, Jr; South
west, David Pottle; Pinhook, Ichabo
Partridge; Hunts Meadow, Samue
kyes; Poor Hill, jeremiah Norris
North East, Levi B. Erskine: Meeting
house, John Philbrick; Catholic, Josep,
Norris.
Voted to raise $500 for schools.
Thus you will see there were eigh
districts located as follows:
The Central district was at King
Mills and the schoolhouse stood nea
where the schoolhouse now stands.
The Southwest district was what w
call the Plains school and the school
house stood on the same spot as tn
present one.
The PinhoOk district was probable
What was later known as the Partridg
Or Northly school. The name Pinhool
in the old records seems to apply to tn
western branch of Sheepscot river an
he territory near it.
The Hunts Meadow district accom-
Of the town and was located in tn
vicinity of Kyes' corner.
The Poor Hill district was what |
known as the Choate school. TIL
schoolhouse stood in the corner acros
the road from Abram Choate's house
The scholars from Pleasant pond at
tended this school. Poor's Hill wa
ormerly known as Growers Hill an
alter as Jones hill
The Northeast district was late
known as the Patten district.
The Westinghouse district was wha
we know as the Fowles school. TIL
schcolhouse stood near where Oake
Tan now lives.
The schoolhouse in the Catholic dis
.rict stood near where E. D. Tibbetts
house now stands.
|. Prior to 1910 the schools were doub,
less held in private houses and sur
ported by private parties as there 1
10 record of appropriations nv +h
'hantation for that purpose. Augusta
Bailey tells me that his father, Re,
Joseph Bailey told him of attendin
school in the forenoon of his father
house. I have also been told of
school being held in the Nichola
Turner house
The people Of Whitefield have al
ways taken an active interest in tn
schools and our schools have been