Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-05
NO. / IN JOURNAL SERIES
WATERV|LLE BUSINESS MEN
REDINGTON, Furni-
ture Dealer-Onc of Oldest
in Years of Service on Street
Former Mayor City-Has
Held Many Other Important
Offices-Leading Part in Civ
ic Welfare of City

ic Welfare of City
One of the solid business men of
Waterville is Hon. Frank Redington,
and also one of the oldest in point of
years of service on the street. He
followed his father in the furniture
business, so that the name of Red
ington is one long known and honored
in the history of Waterville.
Frank Redington was born in Wa
terville. December 10, 1858 and was
educated in the public schools of the
city and in Waterville Academy. He
started in the business life of the city
clerking for his father, c. IL. Red
irgton, on lower Main street where
the Watervile Furniture store is now
located, in 1875 after his graduation.
Previous 10 that time the elder Red
ington had been located where l.. T.
LIQUIDS store now stands. ha ing
bought out Emerson and Dow.
AllcI lINc NtlI,, All. lNtuih7toii ~
T. W. Kimball bought out the bus
mess from the formers father and
continued for u year when Mr.. KIM
balls health gave out and he retired.
The firm then became Redington and
CO., the partners being Frank Red
ington and his father, G. III. RediDg-
ton, who bought back into the bus
mess. The elder Mr. Redington died
in 1906 and the business then became
Incorporated under the same name
and was carried on by Frank Red
ington and his brother, Charles A.
Redington. The latter died in 1911
and Mr.. Rcdington has since been
manager and treasurer.
The block now occupied by the
company on silver street was built in
October 1898 and at that time it was
thought that the block was large
enough to accommodate all future
needs. but the business has incrcas-
cd to such an extent that other rooms
have heon leased and a large store
house built on Hayiland street. The
front of the store has been rcmodcled
until now it is one of the best fronts
in New England and has received
special mention in the furniture deal
ers' ma gazine.
Mr.. Remington has always been a
public spirited citizen and has taken
an active and leading part in matters
pertaining to civic welfare. lie was
president of the old Waterville Board
of Trade from 1915 to 1900 and mayor
of the city in 1909-1o. There are three
public projects to which Mr.. Reding-
ton feels that he can point with pride
as having been carried out as a re-
suit of his personal efforts. These
were the building of City hall, the
purchase of the lot and erection of
the High school, the building of a
Federal post office in Watcrville.
1t was during his presidency of the
old board Of trade that Mr.. R'dingtoa
I 1ok up the matter of building city
lan, which was pushed vigorously by
him and others. SO that the foundation
was built at that time. There was an
interesting legal battle in regard to
the building that will never be for
gotten by those who took an active
part The friction lasted seven years
and the whole matter went to the full
bench of the Maine supreme court.
Finally a special enabling act was in
troduccd and passed by the Legisla-
ture. This act was opposed by the
Lockwood company and others and 2
temporary injunction secured. which
The full bench of the supreme court
made a permanent one after il months
Of dclibcration. The city hall was
completed under Mayor Blaisdell in
time for the great centennial cclebra-
ton OF Waterylle in 1902.
Mr.. Redington was also the real
prime mover in securing the appro-
priation from the federal government
for the post office. the Watervllle
Board of Trade asking Congress to APP
propriate $250.000 Tor the purpose.
During his tenn as mayor of the city
the Watervile High school lot was
purchased and the building erected. 4
was in regard to this building that the
moral contract" was en-
tered into that so much newspaper
tdIN w Iiist'tt dDoul III tlost- tti -.
This contract" provided that after
the foundation an the first floor wer"
built, which took the city TO tho lint
Of its Indebtedness. the contractor
should keep on with the building md
the city pay as it could. The con-
tractor was the late Horace rurin:ol
and this was done.
1t was also during Mr.. Redingt3n's
term as mayor that the Lewiston. Au-
gusta & Watorville railway built its
bridge across the kennebec river. ana
Mr. Rcdington drove the golden spike
which was the connecting link be
tween Wateryille and Winslow. There
was n large gathering at the time 4nl
the late Ex-Governor Haines gave an
address.
Mr.. Redington Instituted the pres
ent Chamber of Commerce. had it Ia
by act Of Legislature and
was the first president of the. Water
Chamber OF Commerce,
establishing 1t with a membership of
go at s1e year. He is president Of
the Waterville Building &c Loan As
ISOLATION. trustee of the WatervilIe
public library and a member of the
orc hao I'd nF t.