The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-08-14
Thorndike has always been a farming

Thorndike has always been farming
community so there is no report to give
of any manufacturing industries other
than those we now have, excepting that
many years ago tannery owned by Benz.
Moulton was located near the home of
Paris Dyer. But that was necessity for
the farmers needed leather to use for
home consumption. Nearly every house,
holder had the boots and shoes for his
family made by shoemaker who came
periodically to look after the substantial
footwear that was worn in those early
days.
Population.
The town increased in population so
that as early as 1882, list of voters num-
bered 1877. There were ten voters on this
list of the name of Coffin, also ten of the
name of Philbrick. Five each of the
name of Higgins, Harmon, Whitcomb
and Gates. Four each of the name of
Moulton, Hall and Gordon. Three each
of the name of Ward, Blethen, Files and
Hanson. Other familiar names were
Palmer, Rich, Parsons, Dyer, Hunt, Pat
terson and Wing. The census of the
year 1850 showed the population of the
town to be 1929. This is the largest num-
Der of inhabitants on record. Since then
the population has gradually decreased in
numbers The census of 1910 shows a
slight increase over 1900. In 1900 the
population was 497, polls 1854. In 1910
,, the population was 525, polls I'll.
Schools.
The schools of Thorndike have been
the usual district schools. The first school
house was built about 1910 and was 10
Gated near tie town house, on the road
that then passed over the Center meeting
house hill and Joined the present road
near the town house. In 1880 the num-
Der of scholars in town was 298 and in
1848 there were 449 scholars
Post Offices
The first post office was at Thos. Hol-
brooks house, which was located north
of the house on the farm recently known
as the Gilliatt farm. Thos. Holbrook
was the first postmaster and was ap-
pointed in 1924. The mails were brought
on horseback from Belfast via Brooks
once a week over what was known as
the Thorndike road. When nearing the
post office the mail carrier announced his
arrival by successive blasts on his horn,
as then required by postal regulations.
Later the post office was located in the
store at the cross roads near Fred Hunts
home. Truman Harmon, Oscar j. Far
we'll and Milton Coffin were postmasters
at various periods. After the railroad was
constructed the post office was moved to
the station.
For many years there was branch
post office at East Thorndike, which was
discontinued few months previous to
the starting of the R. F. D. in July 1902.
The late Jos, Heath was the last post
master and the office was discontinued at
the time of his death in 1902.
The mail was carrid by mail carriers
from the main office to the East Thorn
dixie office. Among the well known mail
carriers was the late Stlllman S. Higgins.
At first he only made one trip week
which was afterwards increased to three
times week Still later daily mails were
carried over this route. Another well
known mail carrier was Henry M. Hlg-
gins. He served at various dates, but IN
all about twenty years.
In closing | wish to speak of the loyalty
of the people of Thorndike during the
worlds war just closed, The town went
lover the top in each of the five Liberty
Loans. Also in the various drives for the
Red Cross and other war organizations
more than the allotment of money re-
CURED was raised
The town sent its quota Of young men
to fight for our country. Deck Stoves,
Clyde H. Cilley and Nathan Ward made
the supreme sacrifice" Deck Stoves
died in France and Clyde H. Cilley and
Nathan Ward at Camp Devens, Mass.
So this town has three gold stars on its
service flag