Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

National Bank, April o, 1864. The
charter expired in 1884 and the bank
closed up it's business. The fixtures
were sold to the new Augusta Ma
| tional Bank.
| The State Bank was organized In
Augusta, June Z, 1854, with George
w. Stanley, president, and William
| r. Smith. cashier. 1t did business
until 1864 when it surrendered its
charter and closed up it's affairs.
| The First School
Daniel Cony, soldier, scholar.
| physician, legislator and judge, IN
! 1915 founded the Cony Female Acad-
envy. The population of Augusta at
that time was about 1000. Inc nrst
building was erected that year at
the corner of Cony and Bangor
streets. The academy prospered ana
by 1914 the first building had be-
come overcrowded. At that time the
disused Bethlehem church at the
junction of Stone and Cony streets.
built by the Unitarians in 1871, was
purchased and remodeled into q
commodious academy building.
| After half century Of usefulness
! the institution ceased to be self-sup-
F., porting and was closed. The endow-
| ment, however, remained and In ~
years had reached the sum or
$4,000. Ex-Governor Joseph II.
Williams a grandson of the found
er, suggested the idea of devoting
the idle fund to the erection OF a
new institution for educational pur-
poses. The city accepted the propo-
sition and the Cony High School
came into being on the location 1t
now occupies. The original building
was completed for occupancy In Sep
TENDER, 1881. The old academy
building was removed to the Fort
| Western lot, almost opposite CITY
Hall. The first teachers in the new
school were Charles +. Cook, prin-
cipai; Allen Quimby, sub-principal:
Alice s. Reynolds, Ethel Farr, Bessie
Gerrish and Melvina Parker, assist
ants.
| Kennebec Arsenal Established
| The act Establishing an arsenal at
Augusta for, the safe keeping OF
| arms and munitions of the United
States for the northern and eastern
| frontier" passed Congress and be,
! came a law March 3, 1927, just 10
DAYS after Governor Lincoln had
signed the act making the town OF
| Augusta the state capital of Maine.
The lot of 40 acres on the east shore
of the river was secured and on July
IA, 1928, the corner stone of the
main building was laid. Soon I'D
| buildings were erected. 10 of stone,
| all built in a thorough and perma-
nent manner.
! During the Mexican and Civil
Wars it was made the depot of valu-
able military stores, and large guam
; titles of fixed ammunition were pre-
+; pared here and forwarded to the
seat of war Among the command
! ers of the arsenal have been General
/ O. o. Howard and Lieut.. Anderson,
the hero of Fort Sumter. In 1897,
| before the arsenal was dismantled
and the U. S. government decided the
entire property to the State OF Maine
for State hospital purposes, the Au-
gusta State Hospital acquired the
buildings, mainly through the efforts
of Congressman Edwin C. Burleigh.
Fifteen officers and men were sta
toned there, the commander being
| Major John r. McGuiness.
Augusta State Hospital
The insane of the State of Maine,
since 1889, have been cared for at
the great institution at Augusta, di-
rectlv across the river from the State
House. Prior to that time this I'M
fortunate class was confined IN aims
houses or jails or left uncared for.
In 1884 the legislature appropriated
$40 600 for the purpose of building
an asylum If a like sum should be
raised by individual donations with
in one year. Just before the time
limit expired Reuel Williams Of Au-
gusta and Benjamin Brown of Vas
salboro each agreed to contribute
$4,000 for the purpose. Mr.. Brown
proposed to also donate as the site
for the asylum 200 acres of land ly-
ing on the Kennebec in Vassalboro.
but as the Augusta site was deemed
more eligible he authorized the State
to sell the Vassalboro land from
which $4,000 was realized.
Reuel Williams was the first COM
missioner in charge of the erection ,
of the hospital. The general plan of l
the asylum at Worcester. Mass, wasI
Continued on Page Six)