The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-24
Where Leayitt Street Got Its Name

least long enough to ascertain when
they were laid out and how they were
named. Interesting narratives
would be quite certain to be thus
brought to light This can hardly
be done without the cooperation OF
peopfe living along these avenues.
viii not our readers help US in the
natter Find out what you can
about the street you live on. and sub
mil il to us. We will work together
in getting up a history OF your local
itv 10 be published in these columns.
The following story about Leavitt
Street will answer very we'll as
model
In the wear 1876, James A. Leayitt
Esd. was living in a substantial resi-
dence fronting on Madison avenue, a
little south of and opposite to the
Whittier Tannery. He was a prom
inent attorney and an important citi-
zen He was influential in the coun-
ellis of the Democratic party, and
served the community in the legisla-
tnre and in the State Senate. He
owned a good bit OF land back of his
home and was probably also some
thing of farmer. Part OF this area
was called the Leayitt pasture. Some
portions Of it were marshy and wont
to overflow The boys OF that pc
riod were accustomed to skate on the
ice of these overlooked patches in the
late fall months There was a
schoolhouse on Madison avenue lit
tie way above the Leayitt homestead,
and at morning noon and night, the
children used to make use OF the
Leavitt pasture as a playground. The
area then owned by Mr. Leavitt is
that now bounded by Madison avenue
and Leavitt street, North avenue and
Maple street.
In 1857. lawyer Leayitt died, but
members of his family remained on
the estate until about 1870 After
his death his only son James I gave
to the town a strip Of land running
east and west from Madison avenue.
for a public highway This was ac-
copied by the town in the early Sos.
and a thoroughfare was built and
named Leavitt street in honor OF
James A. LeaVitt above named. James
T Leayitt and family afterward NOV
ed to the farm on the NorridgeWock
road which was their home for so
many years His widow Mrs. Clara
b. Leavitt is still living, also four
children: Mrs. Wilson Reed of
Washington, d. e. Mrs Frank l..
Parker of the Beech Hill neighbor-
hood; Mrs Fred l.. Hill of Skowhe-
gan; and Mrs. Hazel (LeavitD Lang
don. an elocutionist and teacher. Mr..
LeaYitt died Oct 5th 1907, under
somewhat tragic circumstances. He
was one of an audience at high
school football game at Fairyiew
Park, his grandson, James Reed, be
ing member of the local eleven. He
was stricken with heart failure and
died within few hours. James
Reed. just mentioned, will be remem-
bered by many of our readers. He
attended the Norridgewoc High
School and later graduated from the
High School at Skowhegan. He went
west 10 or II years ago, and his home
Is now in Pocatello, Idaho.
After the Leayitts moved away
from the Madison avenue home, the
place was occupied by Elbridge Buker
and family. Mr. Buker and his wife
died. long since A brother. Joseph
Buker, is still living in Skowhegan,
There was one daughter in the Buker
family, Miss Annie, who afterwards
became Mrs. Clifton J. Bailey, and
now resides in Portland. The family
just mentioned lived in the Leavitt
street house after it was moved in
1887 to it's present location, just east
OF the f. f. McNeelie residence. The
houselot, which in 1885 and for the
period thereafter indicated by the
above narrative was graced by the
Leavitt residence, is at present occu-
pied by the home Of Mrs. Helen Pull
sifer, which was built in 1904
The Pulsifer residence has just
been mentioned, also the McNeelie
homestead, which is at present &C.
cupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Il.
Greenway. The old Leavitt-Buker
house just east of the McNeelie home
is owned by Frank and Abel Thomp-
son and is occupied by Ernest Rowell
and Irwin Goodwin. The congrega-
tional parsonage, formerly the Estes
place, comes next. and is occupied by
the pastor, c. H mckinney and fam
lily. The next house to the east is
owned by W. T. Seekins. Mr.. and
Mrs. Seekins occupy the lower floor
and the second is the residence of
Register Of Deeds, J. w. Higgins and
wife. 1t is interesting to note, that
the Seekins place, at the corner OF
Leayitt and Court streets is the center
Of population of Skowhegan village.
Next easterly, comes the Leavitt
street school grounds with the Gar
field and Lincoln buildings, and be-
yond them, stands the Goodrich place,
occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich
and Mrs. Abbie Adell. At the corner
over next to North avenue, stands the
Uniyersalist church. Starting at
Madison avenue again, we have the
residence of Mary Rowell. formerly
the G, d. Arnold place, and still
longer ago, the residence of the late
Hiram T. Thing The lot east OF
this, is at present vacant, but it is
owned by Fred Wood. The E. +.
Russell place comes next, now owned
by Bert Harvell and just east of this
is the house occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Herman Rowell and Mr.. and Mrs.
Perley Stevens The house at the
corner of Court street is owned by
Milburn Fowler and occupied by Mr..
and Mrs. Meier Games and by MT.
and Mrs Austin Games. who have
been there for six or eight months.
Across Court street is house owned
by B. W. Page and occupied by Mr..
Nd nai1oc SnanIHinp Mrs