Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-08
An OLD BRIDGE.
Account Of Theophilus Hambien Of the
Special Committee.

An interesting old document, yellow
with age, and bearing upon the back
the title "Fheophius Hamblens ac-
COUNT which a Journal reporter. was
permitted to examine through the
courtesy of a local attorney, contains
some very important data in connec-
ton with the building of a bridge over
Jones brook, now known as Bond
brook " 800
The account is dated Feb. 16, 1895
and is approved by Benjamin Poor,
William Howard and Elias Craig
selectmen of the town of Halloweil.
The original amount is lat pounds, 8
shillings and Spence, and. after an
order upon the Treasurer of so pounds,
the am61nt due with interest is given
as 97tpoupds, 19sshillings and spence.
FdffSYJhg9 this approval is an order
undasE date offs IdHrch 2 of the same
years by the new board of selectmen,
consisting of Nathaniel Drummer, Elias
Craig and Matthew Haywood, upon
VIM. Howard, Esq, town treasurer Of
the town Of :Haiowell or his sue
cessor' in said office, ito pay to
Theophilus Hamlin and others, a COM
mittee appointed to build bridge
over Jones brook so called, 81 pounds.
10 shillings and Spence, the amount
of this bill in full for said service with
interest to be paid from beginning the
account"
The signature of "TheO. HambIeD,
for himself and the committee APP
pears beneath the entry, Received
payment for the above in town treas
urer's notes."
The approval of the selectmen and
other endorsement are upon the first
page 'of the account, which is con-
tanned upon single sheet of foolscap,
while upon the second and third pages
is contained a detailed statement in
troduced with the words:
THE town of Hallowell to Theoph-
illus Hamben, Ezra Smith & Beriah
Ingraham, committee for building a
bridge over Joneses brook, began Sept
10th and finished Oct. 81, 1884"
Items for labor occupy the greater
part of the first page, in number of
cases to men and oxen, and there are
other items for timber. A dozen en-.
tries for rum and brandy mostly in
gallon lots, follow, also one, for rum
and sugar. Then come the following
entries:
Paid Theo Capen his bill for the
mems dinners while raising. pounds,
II shillings"
Gage and Vose bill for liquor, 10
shillings"
1t is to be presumed that the several
separate items for rum and brandy
refer to the amount of liquid en-
c0llr1 cement that
while the ordinary work was progress
sing on the bridge, and that the last
two items for dinners and liquor were
special expenditures when the frame
work of the bridge was being raised
Augusta was a part of HalloWell
when this bridge was built and re-
manned so until Feb. 20, 1897. Like
committees on many modern piece
of construction the special committe ,
appointed by the town of Hallowell
to build the bridge exceeding it's ap-
preparation by a considerable figure.
At the Hallowell town meeting held
May 5, 1894 it was voted that the sum
of 20 pounds be raised for the express
purpose of building a bridge over
Billiards. . brook, which was still
another. ancient name for Bond brook
In September following the town
selected Theophilus Hamblen, Ezra
Smith and Beriah Ingraham to COM
plete the bridge and if necessary TO
lay out further sum not exceeding
80 pounds.
The bridge thus built was elevated
1 5 feet above the water on stone abut-
ments and stood until replaced in 1S49
by a granite arched bridge.
1t will be noticed in the account that
while Mr.. Hamblin chose the spelling
"Hamblen" for his name the town
officials in endorsing the account saw
fit to spell it ,".Hamlin."