The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-02-25
HISTORICAL NOTES or
NORTH ANSON
Describing and Picturing Former
Business Section of North Arson,
Which Was Burned

|
Which Was Burned
In continuance of historical notes
and views of North Anson previous to
the conflagration which swept that
town in 1913, a view of Main Street in
that village is presented herewith, to-
gether with "reminiscences of the ear
lier business men.
The first building on the left is on
the corner OF Main and Elm streets,
and it was built by DR.. Beer Bryant
and James Collins, who settled here in
the year of 1900. The lower part was
their store and they rented the upper
part In later years, Hon. Albert
Moore had the second story for d
printing Office whence The Union Ad-
vocate was issued until it was sold to
| The Somerset Reporter. The lower
part of the building was occupied for
many years by Frank Bodfsh as a
drug store, and after his death his son
had charge of it. Later, f. H. Hol
ley bought the drug store. The build
ing was partially burned in 1904 but
was rebuilt and occupied as a shoe
store by W. F. French in 1913.
The T. F. Paine store was built by
Franklin Smith and Daniel Steward.
T. F. Paine traded there As years until
his death in 1902. Later it was bought
by F. w. Bunker, and at the time of
the fire was owned by Gardner Say
age, the Central telephone operator,
who, although blind, stayed at his post
of duty until driven by the flames.
Somerset Hotel, which was nearing
the century mark, had passed through
the hands of several proprietors, be-
fore Brown & Hilton took it and they
were there nearly three decades, until
both died. Somerset Hotel was then
bought by George f. Clark, who sold
in 1901 to F. w. Bunker, and he sold
to N w. Murphy, who was proprietor
at the time of the fire.
! The smaller buildings beyond the
Hotel were built in tie early days Of
the town, the one seen at the foot of
the hill being Elias Cobbs law office,
and is now known as the Parker
Witham house.
The buildings in the center on the
hill were built by Mark Steward in
1869 and are now owned by Wallace
Emery.
The first three blocks on the east
side of the street were not built SO
early, as that side of the street from
the Masonic Hall was swept out in the
fire of 1868 The first block on the
front was built by Theodore Nj. Stew
ard and his father Benjamin Steward,
the latter having been in the jewelry
business in Skowhegan from 1857 to
1870, when he returned to his former
home in this village. The lower part
OF the block was occupied by them in
the jewelry business. T. NJ. Steward.
who was born March PC. 1927. still
works at his business at his shop at
home. and is probably the oldest
jeweler In the State In 1SS6 the up
per part of the block contained the
law Office OF A. H. Ware. and the dem
| tai rooms OF Charles T. Smith. This
block contained the dry and fancy
goods store of W C. simmons at tho
/ time of the IRE.
/ Carrabassett Hall Was haifi in 1865
+ by joel Gray and was burned IN 1859.
at which time the stores V,re occn.
pied by { Fuller Il Co ard Edwin
Collins. and up stairs was u me hall.
and j J Parins law oi'lss Cara
kassctt Hall MAS rebuilt Ia Is93 hy
John Clark. aud burned Ia ~ Tho
stores we're occupied by NJ / french
gents' furnishings and e y Rogers
dry and fancy goods The ue.r part
Was large halt
The next brick block 49, t..it by
q, 81 and \ FLETCHER - thste
sers three stoFes on the Is a"or
In 1855 II vas occupied b. = 81 amin
htnsmore. groceries > y Nsit far.
pltVFs. and " " williams. stoves and
hardware later Il sas bought b,
ihs Odd Fellows. AHd a aas hall was
antshed as%bss. ~th a ainiaK f,-ts1 D..
hss I. y iLaeala. hat unasrtss "a
fusa.s ia ,his sises
geHtsF street FaRa esswssa THIS sHd
ghe NsaoHle Hall The nsat kaltalng