The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-08-28
Annals of Belfast tor Half a
Century.
BY AN OLD SETTLER
(Hon. VIM. G. Crosby.)
CHAPTER xxx. (lS34-5.


before day break of January 18th, the
dollhouse on the easterly end of the
east bridge was burned. About ten
O'Clock in the morning of the 22d fire
broke out in the second story of wood
en- building nearly opposite the Eagle
Hotel, occupied by John Dorr, ESQ.,,
publisher of the Working Mems Advo-
cate. The fire was communicated to an
adjoining building occupied by Mess.
White and Rowe, publishers of the Re-
publican journal. in the chambers, and
by Nathaniel Frost on the first floor.
Both buildings We're entirely consumed,
and the contents of the two printing
Offices sadly mixed but partially saved.
The office Of the Advocate was removed
10 chamber IN the old Babel, and the
Belfast Bookstore to a room under it.
The Journal Office was removed to
chamber in the building on High street
now owned by the Belfast Livery Com
pany. Mr. Frost re-opened in the store
now occupied by Robert F. Clark, then
known as Number A. Crosby's Building.
Both the buildings burned We're owned
by Hon. Joseph williamson, father of
Judge W. Before the close of the year
he erected on their site the brick stores
now occupied by Mess. John S. Caldwell
and Henry H. Forbes. The first occu-
pants of the org first named We're John
M. Gould on the first floor and The Re-
publican Journal in the room over it; of
the other. Daniel Lane, Jr., on the first
floor and the Custom House in the room
over it. Col. Lane was Collector at the
time.
Mention has been made of the Belfast
Bookstore In the month following its
removal Mr.. Dorr connected a book
bindery with it under the charge of Mr..
H. G. O. Washburn, who came here from
Hallowel. He subsequently became a
the proprietor of both bookstore and
bindery and kept them for some time in
the old Nesmith store at the corner where
Mr. David Lancaster store stands.
From thence he removed to the brick
store now occupied by Mr. NJ. F. Wood
cock. which he continued to occupy until
his age. leaving a reputation for integ-
rlty without spot or blemish.
The Belfast Screw Dock was complet-
ed and in working order on the first day
of May. 1t was located on the easterly
side of Holt wharf near the westerly
end of the East bridge. Abraham Libby
was its first agent. 1t was maintained
for several years but was not in the end
a successful enterprise; its last annual
dividend of pronts was thirty seven and
halt cents on a share.
At the annual spring meeting Nathan
lei NJ. Lowney, Isaac Allard and Joseph
Eayres were elected Selectmen, David
". Lothrop, Clerk, for the first time,
Samue French, Treasurer, and James
Y. McClintock, for the first time, Collec-
tor of axes. The monies raised We're,
for support of schools $780, Of paupers
$500, for repairing and building high
ways 81 400 in cash, and $4,000 in labor at
81 per day, for payment of debts $1,000,
incidental expenses $500, ringing the
bell $50.
The 2 day of July witnessed the largest
concourse of people in our village which
had ever been seen here; attrac led by
the Men agerie of Waring, Tufts and Co.
which vas on exhibition for that day
only on The Common near the old Court
house. and collection of Wax Figures
on exhibition at Phoenix Hall.
The I'd brought to our wharves the
steamer McDonough from Portland
bound to Bangor with the Portland
Rife Company on board.
The 4th was celebrated as the anniver-
sary of our National Independence and
of the Belfast Light Infantry by ring
ing the bells, firing cannon, an GRAFTON
at the Unitarian Meeting house by Col.
James w. Webster, and public dinner.
We were permitted to look at the new
steamer Bangor on the afternoon of the
14th as she lay off the mouth of our
river for half an hour on her first pas
sage between Bangor and Boston. On
the 26th, and again on her return on the
18th, she actually touched our wharf to
land and receive passengers. She was
under the command of Capt. George
Barker. She did not favor US in the
same way during the summer; our river
was quite too narrow for the steamer,
her captain and his speaking-trumpet to
turn round; it increased in width as pas
sengers from this port increased in num-
bers.
Mr.. Lewis Bean, father of our fellow
citizens Joseph and Lewis Bean, died on
the first day of August, aged fifty-fve
He was native Of old York, and came
here to reside, with his brother Josiah,
father of Captain Andrew D. Bean,
about the year 1909. They commenced
the business of manufacturing hats in
the Babel under the style of L. and j.
Bean. A year or two afterwards he
erected wooden building on Main street