The Republican journal., 1913-05-15


and that only so far as the last named
was concerned.
The Academy went into operation inn
mediately under the charge of Mr.. James
Porter, the orator referred to above.
He was brother of Zaccheus Porter,
ESQ.,. Counsellor at law, who came here
to reside in 18l3 and died in 1924; and
who was the father of Mrs. Conner,
widow of our highly esteemed and late
ly deceased fellow citizen, William H.
Conner. Mr.. Porter did not long con-
tinue as Preceptor; he became a clergy
man, and afterwards resided in Pomfret,
Conn, where he died. He was succeed
ed by George Downes, afterwards Hon.
George Downes of Calais; he also is
dead. His successor was John Bulfinch,
ESQ.,, who is still living, in Waldo
borough.
1t was the original design of the trus-
tees to preserve The square, near the
center of which the building was erect
ed, as a public park, to be ornamented
with trees, in due time, perhaps, with
statuary, making it in appearance at
least an academic grove" To that de
sign they adhered with laudable peril
nacity; it is to be regretted that they
were not permitted to carry it out.
When Church street was located, in 1919,
its southern terminus was north of the
Academy Square, the intention being to
connect it ultimately with High street by
a street running at right angle, leaving
the square intact; but the aesthetic was
doomed to yield to the practical, and at
later date Church street was located
as it now runs, through the square to
High street. At the town-meeting call
ed to act on the matter the trustees pre-
sented a very elaborate protest, replete
with arguments against the proposed
continuation, which in these days would
have been regarded conclusive; it was of
no avail, and the street was accepted and
built. A suit was subsequently brought
by the trustees to test the legality of the
proceedings, but the decision of the
Court was adverse to them. With that
event commenced the decadence of the
institution as an academy.
While the British were in possession
of this place in 1914, it was occupied as
barrack by portion of their troops.
After that time and before the Unitarian
Westinghouse was built, it was occupied
occasionally for public religious services.
In the summer of 1929 1t was occupied
for awhile by troop of strolling play
actors, who succeeded admirably we'll in
numbering Shakespeare and victimizing
all who were indiscreet enough to give
them credit For a while after that,
until 1886, it was left to take care of it.
self; It's door open day and night, tanta-
mount to an invitation to all tramps and
night-walkers to enter and take posses
sion; the haunt of the muses. was no
longer "classic ground" After that it
was occupied from time to time by pub
lie and private schools until December
II, 1912, when it was destroyed by fire.
| A vote was passed December "a, 1916,
to rebuild, and to raise the funds for that
purpose by mortgage or sale of the
lands granted by the Commonwealth;
and in 1857 the present brick building
was erected.
In 1911 the Baptist Society, which had
been for some years gradually increas-
ing in numbers and strength, was incor-
porated. The old Court of Common
Pleas was abolished, and the Circuit
Court of Common Pleas was estab-
! lished; the counties of Hancock ard
Washington constituted the Third East
ern Circuit, and Hon. William Crosby
of this place was appointed Chief
Justice. Under the last censu s
there had been a new apportionment of
Representatives to Congress; by this ap-
portionment seven were allowed to
Maine, and Hon. John Wilson of this
place was elected to represent the Fifth
District, embracing the counties of Han
cock and Washington. This year the
Durham house, on Wilson's Hill, opposite
the house then occupied by Mr.. Wilson,
more recently by Hon. A. G. Jewett, was
built.
On the fourth day of March, died
James Nesmith, ESQ.,, in the forty
seventh year of his age. He was one of
the most prominent and worthy mem
bers of this little community, and his
death was deeply deplored. He had been
for many years the only Notary Public,
and was emphatically the magistrate Of
the place; the one before whom all ac-
tions within the jurisdiction OF Justice
of the Peace were brought. He possess
ed in remarkable degree the confidence
of the entire community, and his de-
cisions were almost uniformly acquiesced
in. He was the first one who opened a
store in town for the sale of merchandise.
Commencing trade at Little River, he
REAPING Benefit