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Bangor Local Postal Guide v.1 1899
Get PDFWay back in the days of 1790 there was a post office established in Wiscasset; that was, at that time, the most easterly office in this section, and Wiscasset was the market-town for all the surrounding country. The courts were held there and about all the business was done in Wiscasset. It was the recognized metropolis of the east. All mail for the eastern district of Maine was sent to Wiscasset. Persons living in Oldtown or Bangor, Hampden, Bucksport or Castine had to go there for their mail. From 1790 to 1797 George Russell was hired by private subscription to carry the mail between Wiscasset and Castine, stopping at Thomaston and Warren. These journeys were made on foot. The mail was carried in an old carpet bag. It generally took about ten days to make the trip.
This publication outlines with precise details and timelines other milestones in the history of a post office in Bangor and surrounding areas. A roster of clerks and carriers, locations of street collection boxes in Bangor, rules for mailing, advertisements for Bangor business, and more round out this insightful pamphlet.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1292/thumbnail.jp
Charles A. Boutelle, Washington, D.C., 1898
No full textCharles A. Boutelle (1839-1901), poses in front of the U.S. Capitol in 1898 when he was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Boutelle was elected to the House in 1882 and became the second longest-serving Maine Representative. Boutelle was so popular that, when he suffered a seizure in late 1899 and was removed to a mental institution in Massachusetts for the rest of his life, he was nonetheless re-elected.
He was a popular figure; using his naval background he was instrumental in modernizing the American navy and in the rise to prominence of the Bath Iron Works. A charismatic writer and speaker, he was noted for speeches defending the foreign policy of President Cleveland.
He resigned from Congress before the session commenced, and, when he was left in financial distress, Congress appointed him to the Naval List, enabling him to draw half-pay for the rest of his life.
Boutelle had been a seaman, served in the Union Navy during the Civil War, and in 1870 became the editor of the conservative Bangor paper, the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier. He bought the paper in 1874.
He was married to Elizabeth Hodsdon.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/spc_bangor_images/1016/thumbnail.jp
1897-98 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
Get PDFhttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/city_ban_directories/1012/thumbnail.jp
A Great Need
Get PDFSample paragraph:
The great need of the Indian situation is the opening of doors by means of which the individual Indian can step out of reservation dependence into United States citizenship and legal existence wheneyer he desires to so.
Mrs. Georgiana Webb Owenhttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1089/thumbnail.jp
Libraries of Bangor
Get PDFProvides a detailed history of libraries in Bangor, Maine, dating from the Bangor Athenaeum in 1816 to the founding in 1883 of the Bangor Public Library. Includes the by-laws and rules of the Bangor Public Library as of 1898.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1205/thumbnail.jp
A Partial History of the Woman\u27s Christian Temperance Crusade of Bangor, Maine
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When first asked to write a record of the work of the Crusade during the twenty-two years of its existence, it seemed almost an impossibility, as I had only been connected with the organization for a few years and felt myself utterly incompetent to attempt it; but throught the kindness of older members, especially the officers who had been connected with it from its first meeting, and the very excellent annual reports of former secretaries, I trust that I have been enabled to give to my readers a partial idea of the work accomplished by the temperance workers of our city and also of some of the obstacles encountered during that work. May the time speedily come when temperance will hold its proper place in the minds of all citizens having the good of the common wealth at heart, and when our fair city shall no longer be disgraced by over two hundred open rum shops, a stumbling block indeed to our fathers, husbands, and sons.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1269/thumbnail.jp
Thomas Hill Standpipe Under Construction Circa 1897
No full textHistory of the Thomas Hill Standpipe, as compiled by the Reference Department at Bangor Public Library:
In June 1883 the Water Board recommended to the City Council the purchase of the Samuel R. Prentiss property on Thomas Hill as the site for a reservoir of 10,000,000 gallons capacity, and caused a survey to be made, and an estimate of the cost. This was placed on file and no further action taken for several years.
In 1895 the purchase of the Prentiss lot was made by the City and Mr. A. B. Towner of Holyoke, Massachusetts, was consulted and plans drawn for a standpipe on Thomas Hill. It was commenced in 1897, completed in 1899 and was capable of furnishing an outlet of 3280 gallons a minute for a town of 50,000 inhabitants. Its cost was $43,334.69. The contract was awarded to the New Jersey Steel & Iron Co., and Bearce & Clifford of Lewiston made the foundation. The construction of the wooden building was let by contract to Major James M. Davis.
The tank itself is 50 feet in diameter and has a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons [much less than initially planned -- see above]. Around this tank is a wooden structure which rests on a stone foundation nine feet above the ground, making the total diameter 75 feet. The standpipe is 97 feet high, the first balcony being 67 feet high.
In 1908 a string of lights was placed on the covered walk which runs about just under the roof. There are 24 lights, each of them 32 candle power and they are placed some 20 feet apart. A second crown of lights, between 300 and 400 was placed in 1912 on the very top of the structure.
In 1933 a topographical map of the country, to be seen at eye level range from the tower, was presented by Mr. Phillip T. Coolidge. In 1935 a water level indicator was installed at the standpipe, with a recording instrument located in the superintendent\u27s office and a direct reading instrument in the pump room.
Early in World War II, the Army requested that the lights on the standpipe be shut off, and the structure painted the olive drab of the army. This was to prevent enemy pilots from using the tower as a guidepost to Dow Field, as American aviators had previously done. These lights were turned on again just before V-J Day, 1945, and the structure repainted white in 1949.
For many years the standpipe was open to the public and many hardy souls climbed the 101 steps to the observation floor for the sake of the view. On a clear day one could see for miles around and amply repaid one for the climb. Tourists from every state in the Union have at some time or other visited this place. A fatal accident to a young visitor caused the closing of the building to sightseers.
Reference Dept. 7/15/1954https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/spc_bangor_images/1136/thumbnail.jp
Public Laws of the State of Maine Relating to Railroads 1897
Get PDFhttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1169/thumbnail.jp
Bangor, Maine (article from New England Magazine, April 1897)
Get PDFBangor is picturesquely located at the head of navigation on the Penobscot, Maine\u27s largest river. The city has had an interesting past; its present is auspicious; and a bright future surely awaits this Down East metropolis.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1237/thumbnail.jp
15th Annual Report of the Temporary Home for Women and Children of Maine
Get PDFAs we review the year since last we met in annual meeting, we see much that encourages, little that casts a shadow over our work. With those who have come under our care the life in the Home has been pleasant and happy. Trials, like April showers have passed over, leaving a bright sunshine behind with the bow of promise in some hearts which means a stronger effort to improve and make the best of the privileges given to them, possibly, for the first time in their lives. As we trace the lives of some of our girls, we see neglect, and temptation from early childhood; no tender mother-love to teach and guide; no father\u27s strong arm to protect them; they have drifted along to young womanhood, when through the love which they have longed for, which should be the crown of woman\u27s life, they have been betrayed, thrown aside, ruined. To us then comes the privilege of lifting them up, helping them outlive the past; to look upward, weaving in new threads of hope, courage, and steadfast purpose.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1010/thumbnail.jp