The Republican journal., 1921-06-23


Mrs G. Renfrew Wilson, Mrs. Sidney
Weber, Miss Mabel Griffin, Miss Lucy
Sargent, Miss Faustina Harding.
The 81st birthday, anniversary of Mr..
James B. Sweetser, one of the towns
oldest residents and Civil War veteran;
one of the four Searsport men now living
who served in tie War of the Rebellion,
was celebrated Thursday, June 9th, at
his home on Nichols street. Among
those present were Mr.. Sweetser's dauah-
ter, Mrs. C. B. Richards of Bucksport,
Mrs. Thompson of Bangor, Mr.. and Mrs.
Amos Lord and family of Camden and
Mr.. and Mrs. Alex Sweetser of Sears
port. A delicious supper was served and
the host received many valuable gifts.
One guest in presenting her gift read the
following original verses:
Eighty-one years ago, in Searsport near
Our brother and friend first saw the day.
So we have gathered with wishes good
AS everyone who has known him should.
Now let us rehearse the good old times,
Eat, drink and be merry" though not
with wines.
And many returns of this day, say l,
AS give to you this silken tie.
On page three in this issue of The
Journal is a legal advertisement of a
change to be made in matchmaking the
Searsport National Bank (organized in
1889 and the Searsport Savings Bank
incorporated in 1874.
In the year 1858, there was organized
in Searsport State bank under the then
existing State banking law, which per-
mitted issuing of bills; these bills passing
current in the nearby towns but being of
doubtful value at any great distance
from the place of issuance.
The organizers were Jeremiah Merri-
thew, Isaac Carver, A. j. Ross, Nathan
G. Hichborn, William McGilvery, John
Carver, William Williams, Clark Mich
OILS, Samuel Curtis. The first board of
directors consisted of jeremiah Merri-
thew, A. j. Ross, John Carver, Isaac
Carver, Henry McGilvery and Samuel
Curtis. The capital stock was $50, 900,
afterwards increased to $1o0.OOO The
committee chosen to prepare the design
for the bills was John Carver, A. j. Ross
and jeremiah Merrithew. In the early
seventies this bank, with all the others
of its kind. closed up it's affairs, follow
ing the repeal of the law authorizing
them.
In 1874, the citizens of the town, feel
ing the need of a repository for their
savings, incorporated the Searsport Saw
ings Bank.
The incorporators were William Nc
Gilvery, James G. Pendleton. Phineas
son, John P. Nichols, Robert Porter, D.
dali ri
Clement, Charles E. Adams, A, L.
Trundy and Samuel Sargent. March 80,
1874, at meeting of the incorporates it
was voted that the following named per-
sons should act as trustees for the ensu-
ing year: William McGilvery, Benjamin
Merrithew, James G. Pendleton. j. A.
Clement, Robert Porter, R. E. Patterson
and B. F. Pendleton. Charles Gordon
was chosed treasurer. Voted to COM
mence business April l, 1874.
After few years the savings bank did
not meet the needs of the community, as
it could not loan on personal notes, or
carry checking account for it's custom
ers, and 1882 the Sears port National
Bank was organized under the national
banking law. This was one of the most
important banking laws ever enacted by
any country. 1t has been sneered at
many times, but it has stood the acid test
for about so years, and today the bills of
these banks, no matter how small they
may be, or where located, are good for
their face value.
The organization of the Searsport Ma
tional Bank was completed Feb. Z, 1882.
The first directors were James G. Pendle-
ton, B. F. Pendleton, j. G. Nickels, Al
bert B. Ferguson and j. H. Lane. James
G. Pendleton was chosen president ard
Charles F, Gordon, cashier. Capital
stock of said bank to be $4,000.
At the time that the Searsport Nation
al Bank was established it was not the
custom for national banks to pay inter-
est on deposits, SO that the savings bank
still continued in business, but at the
present time national banks and trust
companies have savings department,
the trustees of the Searsport Savings
Bank feel that two banks in one small
town are unnecessary, and on the 3lst
day of May, 1921, voted to amalgamate
with the Searsport National Bank, A
copy of that vote will be sent to all de-
positors of the Searsport Savings Bank, it
being one of the formalities of the pro-
cedings of the amalgamation.
The graduating exercises of the Class
of 1921, Searsport High School, were
held in Union Hall Friday evening, June
18th at o'clock, an attentive and appre-
ciative audience filling the hall. Never
did the stage look more attractive.
Much taste was displayed in the decora-
tons, which were carried out in the class
coloIs, green and yellow. A particularly
arrangement of festoons of green
and yellow crepe paper adorned the body
of the hall, and the back and wings of
the stage were in panels of alternating
green and yellow. Below this, fir boughs
formed solid background of green upon
which yellow lilies were caught at inter-
walls. Evergreen trees banked the wings
and lower end of the hall. In the rear of
the stage appeared the figures "l9el,"
and above the stage front the class motto.
"Carry the Message to Garcia" in yellow
letters upon green background. Jar
dinieres holding attractively arranged
punches of yellow roses, double butter
cups and yellow lilies, were on small
tables on the stage, where were seated
Rev. N. F. Atwood, Rev. Harold LeMay,
Miss Lillian G. Runnells, principal; Miss
Frances Abbott, assistant; the members
of the class; F. l. Mortland, VIM. Smart
and r. N. Porter, school committee; and
Superintendent Edward E. Roderick. The
program: