Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-01
HALL0WELL
(contin1ed from Page Three)

Continues from rage 'H'00J
ermore sent out sad and joyous mes
sages and who at his death was the
oldest telegraph operator IN the
country. Among his pupils were
Charley O'Brien. Elmer Douglas,
Steve Hagerty, Al Austin. considered
among the experts at the key, and
the late John Taylor, for long time
connected with the Boston GLOBE.
Opposite was what must have beer
or at least could have been the in
SEPARATION of the ''old curlouslty
shop" fer if there was anything IN
der the sun new or old 1t could be
found at Jack Beeman's.
Then we come to the barber shop
of knight & Libby, experts in theii
line, and also two of the best SONG
and clog dance celebrities in the
State.
Crossing the street again. we en-
ter the drug store of Halves & War
rem, where the famous quartet COM
posed of Messrs. Halves, Snow
Woods and Fuller. used to meet in
the old back room and rehearse
pieces which they sung from one
end of the state to the other.
Upstairs the Hallowel Brass band
had their headquarters and this
too, for a number of years was
ranked among the best in the State.
We recall one member in its last
years of existence who was one OF
the best trombone players 90 on
record. Sherman Dunn Joined the
band took in all the trips and feeds
pushed the old slide in and out but
he never sounded a note.
Charley Hobbs store was always a
mecca for the children, for no store
on the street carried so many penny
specialties as he, and his famous
"Sarsaparilla Soda" could not be
beat, also his ice cream, all OF
which the writer had helped in the
making.
We could recall many incidents of
those good old days, but space will!
not permit, but mention is here
noted that there is only one mer-
chant on the street who is doing
business at the same old stand and
that is Gus Cole. Despite his
more than four score years he is on
the job every day and will put many
of the present youngsters to shame
when it comes to activity.
One place that should not be
overlooked, where you, your moth
err father and even grandparents
were wont to go to get took was
Giant Morse's "fotygraf" studio
Here the giant who was just wee
bit bigger than Tom Thumb would
seat his patients" then stand on a
soap box. adjust the black cloth and
! with a look pleasant please would
, in the course OF time, produce a
likeness.
From a population standpoint
Hallowell. in spite of it's ups and
downs has changed but little. In
1870 the census showed 3O07 and at
present it is about 3OO3. In 1896
when the stone sheds were active il
went to 31S1
Hallowen really began to go back
after the great spring freshet OF
1870, when the bridge was carried
was seated in church on the morn
ing of Sunday. Feb. 20 and Just in
the middle of the sermon Mr.. Bill
Kendall suddenly opened the church
door and shouted Dam has given
away, Hersey &, Hunts store is all
afioat and bridge is floating down
river on the ice" Church was dis
missed and father and l walked
down the railroad track, saw the
draw of the bridge floating away
and all the tenements in lower sec
ton of city crushed by the huge
cakes of ice.
All the above are incidents of half
a century ago. In future article
some of the characters that We're
known far and wide, as well as not
ed men and women of the times then
and now will be referred to.