The Penobscot Centennial ( 1787 - 1987)
Chapter X
At an early hour, on a Wednesday in September of 1887, People began to assemble to attend the 100th
birthday of the Town Of Penobscot. Her roads and lanes were filled with people. By nine o'clock
several hundred had gathered at the bay, the place chosen to celebrate this auspacious occasion. They
not only came from all segments of Penobscot, but spilled over from Brooksville, Blue Hill, Orland and
Bucksport.
Before the program started, relics from ye olden times were on display at Silas Mitchell's Store. Dishes
over 100 years old were on display. A book, said to be the original copy of the first printed in America
was on exhibition. Account books over 120 years old, and the original comission of Col.Jeremiah
Wardwell signed by John Hancock in 1787 were viewed. As the Bucksport Clipper reported, the place
of exhibition was too crowded to obtain a complete listing of all mimorabilia shown.
At ten o'clock the procession was formed. It consisted of a band from Bucksport, soldiers of the
recent Civil War, The Rising Star Lodge of Free Masons, and a carriage which carried residents
between eighty and one hundred years old. There were eight such people. They were Polly Snowman,
Dudley Bridges,
W.L. Hutchins, Cyrus Clough, Capt.H. Roberts, Joel Hutchins, Zebediah Heath, and Capt. Jeff
Devereau. The procession was further made up of Hosea Wardwell, and Job Montgomery, speakers of
the day, and invited guests, consisting of Dr. A.S. Condon form Ogden, Utah; Mrs.B.A.Waite, of
Iowa, Mrs M.B.Patten
and Mrs. Mercy Hutchins, both from Massachussetts.
This lengthy procession, followed by Penobscot Citizens,
and others, marched from the Bay to the Cove in South Penobscot
returning to the Methodist Church at the head of the Bay. The
route of travel was attractively decorated, the most conspicious
of which were Mrs. Abby Condon's store and the Factory and
store of Horace Perkins. The gathering of people at the Methodist
Church was so large that there were three times as many people
outside that were contained within the sanctuary. To make sure
that everyone could hear, a speakers's stand was placed in the
Church door and all speaking took place there.
The pre-slected choir opened the program by singing a
well reshearsed ode. The music was far better in quality than
the ordinary, indicating much work had been accomplished in
rehearsals. Those who sang in the choir were as follows: Bass,
E.G.Snow, C.K.Bridges, Bradbury Leach, Moses Littlefield,
and W.S. Howard. Sopranos, Mrs.Frank Jones, Mrs. Delia
Wardwell, Miss Alice Roberts, Miss Estelle Leach, Miss Julia
Wardwell, Mrs. Minnie Littlefield, Miss.Lena Wardwell and
Miss Nora Grindle. Altos, Mrs. Nellie Palmer, Mrs Rendie
Cushman, Miss Susie Roberts, Mrs.Lenore Thompson, And Miss
Carrie Stafford. Tenors, Charles Leach, Rev.Frank Jones.
Organist. Miss Persis Cushman. Leader, I.B.Goodwin.
An invoctional prayer was then given by the Rev. Nanton. In the prayer, there were reminders that God
had planted and watered this vine, Penobscot, the oldest incorporated town in Maine, east of the
Penobscot river which had a history second only; in age to Jamestown and Plymouth. And, that in spite
of clouds and sunshine, peril and prosperity, war and peace, God had always been there in each hour of
need.
Hosea B. Wardwell was then called upon to review the history of Penobscot throughout the first one
hundred years. In brief, he reviewed those items which this book has attempted to cover in the early
chapters. He mentioned the earliest of settlers before Penobscot became a town, know then only as the
Majorbagaduce territory under the control of Massachusetts. He reviewed Massachusett's intrest in
expanding colonization into the province of eastern Maine and the Act of Incorporation which made
Plantation #3 into a township, called Penobscot. He brought to mind the first town meeting at the home
of Col.Gabriel Johannot, during which time the first selectmen were chosen to govern the town as well as
the first representative to the General Court of Massachussetts, George Thatcher. He explained how the
Commonwealth of Massachussetts lessened the size of Penobscot township by creating the Town of
Castine, in 1796, and the Town of Brooksville, in 1817. With pride he stated that independence was
declared from the Commonwealth of Massachussetts when Maine became a state of the Union in 1820
and that the first representative to the Legislature of Maine was Charles Hutchings Jr. in 1823. Hosea
continued his well organized and delivered speech by reviewing the beginning of schools and churches in
the Penobscot Township, the industries that began to shape the economy, and how important shipping
became to the welfare of all.
He concluded his remarks by mentioning a few "firsts" in Penobscot. The first Mail carrier was John
Grindal in 1795. Mr. Grindal agreed with Postmaster General Joseph Habersham to carry the United
States mail by way of Blue Hill, Trenton, Sullivan, Gouldsboro and Machias to Passamaquody once
every two weeks. For this service he was to receive $84.50 every three months. And, for that each
hour he was late at any offie, one dollar would be deducted from his pay. The first Masonic Lodge in
Penobscot was constituted October 14, 1794. A lodge meeting was held at the homes of Widow
Debrah Oris on November 11, 1794. David Howe was Worshipful Master, Gabriel Johannot, Senior
Warden, and Samuel Woodman, Junior Warden. Hosea then thanked the band and choir for their
splendid music and finally terminated his speech by wishing everyone good health and continued
prosperity as Penobscot entered its two hundredth year.
The band from Bucksport then played again the celebrated Boulanger March which had apparently
pleased everyone immensely during the parade. The Star Spangled Banner then was sung by Mrs.
J.F.Jones, of Penobscot, with good support from the choir. This closed the morning's entertainment
after which dinner was served at a viraety of places, none of which were specifically mentioned.
At two o'clock the people again assembled to listen to the orator of the day. Benjamin Cushman
inrtoduced Mr. Job Montgomery, who was courteously received with applause. According to
representatives of the Bucksport Clipper, Mar. Montgomery spoke without notes and at considerable
length, thus they were not able to capture much of the context of the speech. However they reported that
he began his speech by saying, "We stand today at the close of one hundred years of the corporated
history of this town. Although its whole kown history extends back into the early part of the 17th century
, we propose to deal only with the last century of its existence. Out history has a peculiar interest in
Castine and Brooksville, which once were a parcel and part of this town". Mr. Montgomery then
continued to give a running sketch of incidents and alluded to the earlier settlers, in a manner similar to
the earlier speech given by Hosea Wardwell. It can onl be speculated that there was considerable
reputitious material verbalized.
Following the speech of Mr. Mongomery, the Centinnial was concluded with the reading of a poem
written by the Rev. Harrison Wardwell and read by the Rev. V.P.Wardwell.
birthday of the Town Of Penobscot. Her roads and lanes were filled with people. By nine o'clock
several hundred had gathered at the bay, the place chosen to celebrate this auspacious occasion. They
not only came from all segments of Penobscot, but spilled over from Brooksville, Blue Hill, Orland and
Bucksport.
Before the program started, relics from ye olden times were on display at Silas Mitchell's Store. Dishes
over 100 years old were on display. A book, said to be the original copy of the first printed in America
was on exhibition. Account books over 120 years old, and the original comission of Col.Jeremiah
Wardwell signed by John Hancock in 1787 were viewed. As the Bucksport Clipper reported, the place
of exhibition was too crowded to obtain a complete listing of all mimorabilia shown.
At ten o'clock the procession was formed. It consisted of a band from Bucksport, soldiers of the
recent Civil War, The Rising Star Lodge of Free Masons, and a carriage which carried residents
between eighty and one hundred years old. There were eight such people. They were Polly Snowman,
Dudley Bridges,
W.L. Hutchins, Cyrus Clough, Capt.H. Roberts, Joel Hutchins, Zebediah Heath, and Capt. Jeff
Devereau. The procession was further made up of Hosea Wardwell, and Job Montgomery, speakers of
the day, and invited guests, consisting of Dr. A.S. Condon form Ogden, Utah; Mrs.B.A.Waite, of
Iowa, Mrs M.B.Patten
and Mrs. Mercy Hutchins, both from Massachussetts.
This lengthy procession, followed by Penobscot Citizens,
and others, marched from the Bay to the Cove in South Penobscot
returning to the Methodist Church at the head of the Bay. The
route of travel was attractively decorated, the most conspicious
of which were Mrs. Abby Condon's store and the Factory and
store of Horace Perkins. The gathering of people at the Methodist
Church was so large that there were three times as many people
outside that were contained within the sanctuary. To make sure
that everyone could hear, a speakers's stand was placed in the
Church door and all speaking took place there.
The pre-slected choir opened the program by singing a
well reshearsed ode. The music was far better in quality than
the ordinary, indicating much work had been accomplished in
rehearsals. Those who sang in the choir were as follows: Bass,
E.G.Snow, C.K.Bridges, Bradbury Leach, Moses Littlefield,
and W.S. Howard. Sopranos, Mrs.Frank Jones, Mrs. Delia
Wardwell, Miss Alice Roberts, Miss Estelle Leach, Miss Julia
Wardwell, Mrs. Minnie Littlefield, Miss.Lena Wardwell and
Miss Nora Grindle. Altos, Mrs. Nellie Palmer, Mrs Rendie
Cushman, Miss Susie Roberts, Mrs.Lenore Thompson, And Miss
Carrie Stafford. Tenors, Charles Leach, Rev.Frank Jones.
Organist. Miss Persis Cushman. Leader, I.B.Goodwin.
An invoctional prayer was then given by the Rev. Nanton. In the prayer, there were reminders that God
had planted and watered this vine, Penobscot, the oldest incorporated town in Maine, east of the
Penobscot river which had a history second only; in age to Jamestown and Plymouth. And, that in spite
of clouds and sunshine, peril and prosperity, war and peace, God had always been there in each hour of
need.
Hosea B. Wardwell was then called upon to review the history of Penobscot throughout the first one
hundred years. In brief, he reviewed those items which this book has attempted to cover in the early
chapters. He mentioned the earliest of settlers before Penobscot became a town, know then only as the
Majorbagaduce territory under the control of Massachusetts. He reviewed Massachusett's intrest in
expanding colonization into the province of eastern Maine and the Act of Incorporation which made
Plantation #3 into a township, called Penobscot. He brought to mind the first town meeting at the home
of Col.Gabriel Johannot, during which time the first selectmen were chosen to govern the town as well as
the first representative to the General Court of Massachussetts, George Thatcher. He explained how the
Commonwealth of Massachussetts lessened the size of Penobscot township by creating the Town of
Castine, in 1796, and the Town of Brooksville, in 1817. With pride he stated that independence was
declared from the Commonwealth of Massachussetts when Maine became a state of the Union in 1820
and that the first representative to the Legislature of Maine was Charles Hutchings Jr. in 1823. Hosea
continued his well organized and delivered speech by reviewing the beginning of schools and churches in
the Penobscot Township, the industries that began to shape the economy, and how important shipping
became to the welfare of all.
He concluded his remarks by mentioning a few "firsts" in Penobscot. The first Mail carrier was John
Grindal in 1795. Mr. Grindal agreed with Postmaster General Joseph Habersham to carry the United
States mail by way of Blue Hill, Trenton, Sullivan, Gouldsboro and Machias to Passamaquody once
every two weeks. For this service he was to receive $84.50 every three months. And, for that each
hour he was late at any offie, one dollar would be deducted from his pay. The first Masonic Lodge in
Penobscot was constituted October 14, 1794. A lodge meeting was held at the homes of Widow
Debrah Oris on November 11, 1794. David Howe was Worshipful Master, Gabriel Johannot, Senior
Warden, and Samuel Woodman, Junior Warden. Hosea then thanked the band and choir for their
splendid music and finally terminated his speech by wishing everyone good health and continued
prosperity as Penobscot entered its two hundredth year.
The band from Bucksport then played again the celebrated Boulanger March which had apparently
pleased everyone immensely during the parade. The Star Spangled Banner then was sung by Mrs.
J.F.Jones, of Penobscot, with good support from the choir. This closed the morning's entertainment
after which dinner was served at a viraety of places, none of which were specifically mentioned.
At two o'clock the people again assembled to listen to the orator of the day. Benjamin Cushman
inrtoduced Mr. Job Montgomery, who was courteously received with applause. According to
representatives of the Bucksport Clipper, Mar. Montgomery spoke without notes and at considerable
length, thus they were not able to capture much of the context of the speech. However they reported that
he began his speech by saying, "We stand today at the close of one hundred years of the corporated
history of this town. Although its whole kown history extends back into the early part of the 17th century
, we propose to deal only with the last century of its existence. Out history has a peculiar interest in
Castine and Brooksville, which once were a parcel and part of this town". Mr. Montgomery then
continued to give a running sketch of incidents and alluded to the earlier settlers, in a manner similar to
the earlier speech given by Hosea Wardwell. It can onl be speculated that there was considerable
reputitious material verbalized.
Following the speech of Mr. Mongomery, the Centinnial was concluded with the reading of a poem
written by the Rev. Harrison Wardwell and read by the Rev. V.P.Wardwell.
Main St. South