Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-06

changed to Windsor through the in
fiuence of Esq. Anthony Coombs, who
lived on what Is now called Ridgeway
farm.
The town was originally covered
with heavy forests on pine. hemlock.
spruce and hard wood. and it was in
the southern part of the town that
the spars of the frigate constitution
"Old Ironside" were cut and hauled
to tide water by OK teams over roads
cut for the purpose through the for
ests and lowlands. Thousands of loads
of wood, bark and lumber were haul
ed to Augusta and Gardiner with
oxen, the land cleared, and the chief
occupation has been farming.
Several mills were erected in diff
ferent parts of the town, saw and
single mills, gristmills, also card
ing and fulling mill, located on land
now owned by c. I. York, was in OPP
Grafton a long term of years. Sew
eral tanneries were built, and during
the Civil war a successful business
in the preparation of shoe leather
was done.
A brick yard was established at the
foot of Dearborn hill and it was there
the bricks were burned for the first
brick building at the Soldiers Home.
About the year 1919, a Methodist
Episcopal church was erected near
Windsor Corner with high box pews,
galleries, an elevated pulpit. and a
sounding board. 1t was burned in
1888 and the one now standing was
built in 1889. The North Meeting
house" or Union church on the Neck
was built in 1927 for the Congrega-
tional and Free Will Baptists. In
1887, the Baptist church at North
Windsor was built and in 1884 the
Methodist Episcopal chapel was built
at Tyler's Corner.
Town meetings were first held In
private houses until 1919. The first
one was held in Rev. Job Chadwick s
house. For the next five years they
were held in the school house or
Methodist Episcopal church. From
1924 until 1S47 they were held in
barns in different parts of the town.
In 1S45, the town voted to build a
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this building which was to be finish
ed by June, 1916. The first town
meeting was held there in 1S47. In
dividuals were allowed to add a sec
ond story to be used for school pur-
poses
From a handful Of settlers in 1890
the population rapidly increased until
in 1850 the census gave the minutes
as 1898 and the assessed valuation
was given as $4,000. From that time
the number decreased until in 1920
the population was about 600, and
the valuation was approximately
s350,000. thus it will be seen that the
per capita is more than times the
valuation per capita in 1850.
The first printed town report was
issued in 1851 and comparison of
the cost Of supporting schools of
1852 and 1921 will be of interest The
number of pupils of school age in
1852 was 74S and in 1921 the number
was 125 pupils. The amount of
money appropriated by the town in
1882 for schools was $500, amount re-
ceived from the State was $107; total
of 1907.
The amount appropriated in 1921
for schools was $2,4OO. Amount re-
ccived from State about, $500, total
of $500.
In early years the mail was
brought to this town from Augusta
on foot or horse back, possibly once
week by anyone who was willing
to accommodate his neighbor. The
first postmaster of which there is
any record, received his appointment
in 1922, 600 years ago. and the
post office was kept in a grocery
store.
Later years the old four horse
stage coach came into use for trans
portation Of passengers and mail
carrying across the country from
Augusta to Belfast, making the
round trip every two days. It's ar
rival from Augusta, which was due
in early evening, was an important
event and was always greeted by a
crowd of men and boys who gathered
to learn the news. hear the reading
off of the mail and receive their own.
Other post offices were established
at South Windsor in 1888, West
Windsor in 1873 and North Windsor
in 1884. In 1896 the Narrow Gauge
railroad was built and the mail came
to the post offices daily. Since then
Uncle Sam has given us the r. F. D.
and our mail is brought daily to the
door in autos.
In the World War Windsor was
among the most loyal of towns, 60
ing over the top in the drive for Red
Cross. Y. M. c. A. and others, and in
the call for the several bond issues
more than ) 2 times the qouta was
readily subscribed, winning the ban
ner with the three bars. A distinc-
ton gained by only few towns in
Maine. In the Thrift and War
Stamp drive the quota was exceeded
by nearly $1,000.
Something of the military history
Of the town. In the war of 1912
Malta furnished 81 privates and ID
officers and at the first call to arms
in 1861. 81 men enlisted and 1914 citi-
zens of this town were engaged in
the Civil War. In the World War
our line of defense against the Ger
mans consisted of one young lady
and "a of as brave boys as were sent
by any town and they have shown
in common with other American
boys that in the words of Gen.
Pershing, Their courage and energy
were as fit for the tasks of war as
for the pursuits of peace. They
have justly won unstinted praise
from our allies and the eternal gra-
tftude Of our country men," Their