schoolalbums - Madison Avenue


Hotel Coburn

Hotel Coburn
Item 8170   info
Skowhegan History House

Hotel Coburn on the corner of Madison Avenue and Elm Street. Pedestrian, Skowhegan Public Library, Parlin Mansion, Bethany Baptist Church and storefronts pictured in background.

Bethany Baptist Church, 1901

Bethany Baptist Church, 1901
Item 8248   info
Skowhegan History House

Bethany Baptist Church, April 13. 1901. Corner of Madison Avenue and Pleasant Street.

Heywood Tavern, Skowhegan, ca. 1836

Heywood Tavern, Skowhegan, ca. 1836
Item 10765   info
Skowhegan History House

Quoted from "Skowhegan on the Kennebec" by Louise Helen Coburn, pg. 312-314, Chapter XVIII Skowhegan Hotels

"Of Heywood's Tavern and the Elm House the former takes precedence. The ground of these had a common early history, since their sites were part of a 48-acre tract, purchased in 1822 by Josiah Parlin, and covering land lying between Madison and Court St., running north from what was then called Norridgewock road, the present Russell St., about to the top of the hill. The eastern portion of the south section of this tract, beginning 12 rods est of the Madison road corner and running north as far as High St., was immediately sold by him to Eben H. Heil. This lay opposite Neil's store lot and furnished him room for the pot-ash, which at that time was a necessary annex to the general store. Josiah Parlin sold the western end, as strip six rods wide,extending along Madison road from Norridgewock road to the road past Eben H. Neil's, the present High St., to Amos F. Parlin in 1833. A tavern was already in operation on Madison road not far from High Street, conducted by Dudley Heywood. How much earlier Heywood commenced tavern-keeping, or if Josiah Parlin may have run the first inn on this spot, is not evident. Josiah seems to have erected the building on the lot he owned, and he may, of course, have been landlord for a while, but he had his own dwelling round the corner. We may reasonably assume that Josian Parlin built the inn about 1830 or a year or two earlier, and that Heywood was inn-keeper from the beginning.

The picturesque old house with interesting window-frames and doorway is still standing, and is the third building south of High St. It was seperated from Washington Hall by Mrs. Betsey W. Bosworth's boarding-house. Heywood's Tavern in its early years was the most commodious and attractive of the north-side public houses. Heywood's Hall was an important feature of the tavern and was used for social occasions and many kinds of meetings.

In 1839, at the time of the disturbance known as the "Aroostook War," the regiment of militia of Skowhegan and neighboring towns was ordered to rendez-vous, for the purpose of marching to Bangor, at the "Inn of Dudley Heywood in Skowhegan." The order, however, was countermanded and the regiment was not mobilized.

In 1834 Amos F. Parlin sold to Shepherd Heald the lot on which the tavern stood, and in 1836 Heald sold the same tract to Dudley Heywood, who owned the tavern only two years, at the end of which time one-half interest passed to John Ware of Athens and one-half interest passed to William Moore of Anson. A few years later Moore sold his interest to Ware, and the latter made purchases of considerable land running east of the hotel and of the lot south of it. Heywood was succeeded as landlord before 1843 by H. A. Moore.

Landlord Heywood was not a descendent of Peter the pioneer, but was related to his family. He married Mary, daughter of Asa Wyman, first newspaper publisher. He removed to Wisconsin in the early 1840's. His wife died in Skowhegan of consumption Oct. 11, 1845.

In 1847 J. Parker Boies, son of John, Revolutionary veteran, took the management of the tavern and advertised it under the name of Maine Hotel, and as "strictly temperate." This seems to have been the first time a public house in Skowhegan was conducted on a non-alcoholic basis.

About 1850 Capt. Albert G. Manley took over the hotel, calling it the Manley House, although he never owned it. He went to California in search of gold in 1853, and after a short suspension of business Mrs. Manley reopened the house. The Clarion remarked:
This Hotel is ably conducted and in an orderly manner by the enterprising landlady. We bespeak for Mrs. Manley a liberal share of public patronage.

Mrs. Manley was a sister of Greenleaf Hill and daughter of the "old officer." The Captain returned to Skowhegan in 1864, but did not again take the hotel, which is said to have been finally closed about 1858. The Manleys took up their abode on Water St., where the E. N. Merrill house afterwards stood.

The lot on which Heywood's Tavern had stood, with the land adjoining it, was sold in 1863 by John Ware, at the time of Waterville, to Asa G. Emery, who sold the eastern section the same year to the Somerset and Kennebec Railroad, and the remainder in 1877 to Levi Pike of Brighton. Later the old tavern came into the ownership of Albion K. Rowell, who for many years used the horse-sheds for a boarding stable for the care and feeding of horses temporarily brought to town, and carried on in the ell of the main building a small store. After 1924, under the same ownership, the stables were leased for a garagee with offices in the ell, while the house was divided into apartments for rent."

Morris Fruit and Confectionary Store, Skowhegan, ca. 1888

Morris Fruit and Confectionary Store, Skowhegan, ca. 1888
Item 9051   info
Skowhegan History House

"This is on the easterly side of Madison Avenue, the premises now occupied by the Chinese laundry and Vigue's barber shop. Morris, the proprietor, a Greek, stands at the left. The young man with the straw hat is Webb Keyes. Next to him is Richard Collins. The young man with his arms folded is Marshall C. Viles; at his left, partially seated, is Wesley Grover, now of Pleasant Pond. Morris died many years ago. Kyes is still a resident of Skowhegan. Collins' residence is unknown. Marshall C. Viles, long in the plumbing business, lives on Coburn Avenue.

A peanut roaster, now somewhat obsolete, may be seen on the sidewalk at the right of the picture. The frame of photographs indicate a studio, which at the time was carried on upstairs in the next block, unboubedly conducted by W. H. Langley. Circus poster appears in the window, with the date of Friday, August 10. This picure was probably taken in 1888.

West side, Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1900

West side, Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1900
Item 8163   info
Skowhegan History House

"The Fuller drug store, the Albert Fuller dry goods store and the Joel Williams photograph signs are very prominent. William M. E. Brown and his brother, attorneys, had offices on the second floor of one of these structures. The Brewster House shows at extreme right."

~Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929"

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1930

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1930
Item 6285   info
Maine Historical Society

A view of downtown Skowhegan, Maine in the time of the trolley car, circa 1930s.

Company E, Skowhegan, 1917

Company E, Skowhegan, 1917
Item 7322   info
Skowhegan History House

Company E photo taken in April of 1917 in front of the Ordway Block (now Sterns) on Water Street/Madison Avenue near bridge in Skowhegan. Front Row, sitting, left to right, 4th-Brooks Savage

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1900

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1900
Item 8141   info
Skowhegan History House

"This location is now occupied by a brick building, at present utilized for market purposes. Stairway at left led to second floor, which was then the home of Walter Pierce, who kept a restaurant below. Man in picture is undoubtedly Frank P. Hollis, proprietor of the harness shop. It is hoped that the three little girls at the right will sometime be identified."

~Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1870

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1870
Item 8140   info
Skowhegan History House

"This building, somewhat altered, still stands and is referred to as the Williams Block in Number 1 (MMN 8163) and 47 (MMN 8148). J. A. Dealey, whose sign shows above the door at the right, was a merchant tailor here for many years. This is only one of his several locations. His widow, formerly Miss Olive A. Young, lived for many years at the corner of Summer and Pleasant Streets.

The right hand man in the group on the steps is probably William Barbou, known to his friends as Billy. Ivan Merrill sits next to him. The man higher up, wearing a straw hat, is Forest Lawton, whose brother, J. P. Merrill, is mentioned in Number 73. Maple tree grew to generous proportions, but long since died and was removed."

~Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929

Hotel Coburn Corner, Skowhegan 1883

Hotel Coburn Corner, Skowhegan 1883
Item 8165   info
Skowhegan History House

"This shows the building named in the title, in process of construction, indicating that the picture was taken in 1883. Beyond the building just referred to may be seen the Parlin homestead. The Skowhegan Public Library has since been built just this side. At the right, in the foreground, appears a wooden building. This was at one time occupied by E. S. Prescott, already mentioned in connection with Number 79, page 22.

His store faced Madison Avenue. A white line from the Prescott store across toward Madison Avenue incidates the location of a plank crossing. Streets in those days were unpaved and these foot walks offered the only means of getting across without wading, either through dust or mud.

To the right of Hotel Coburn may be seen two or more wooden buildings. The most prominent of these are stables which perhaps escaped destruction at the time of the burning of the Brewster House.

On the Prescott Building will be seen the sign of A. S. Burke. He was located in the Prescott store and for a time served as County Treasurer. He was prominent in the politics of the Greenback Party. Walter H. Poulin, formerly of Monson, and afterward a resident of that town, was employed by him."

~Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929

Williams Block, Skowhegan, ca. 1850

Williams Block, Skowhegan, ca. 1850
Item 8148   info
Skowhegan History House

"Fuller drug store, since succeeded by a brick building, at left. Albert Fuller was a dry goods merchant. His home was on Coburn Avenue. Signs over entrance are of three attorneys, J. D. Brown and W. M. E. Brown, brothers, and James B. Bell. Henry Plummer, dry goods merchant, occupying the location as shown, was afterwards in Coburn Hall block and still later in the Lewis block, on Madison Avenue. Corner store, in the Williams Building, is that of Benjamin R. Flagg. He later moved his military establishment across the street to the Russell Street corner. Littlefield Building, on Elm Street, occupied for many years as a printing office, shows just beyond the Williams Building. Here were published at various times the Democratic Clarion, the Republican Clarion and the Somerset Argus. The Farwell home, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. Woodbury, shows at the extreme right. This is noted as having at one time been the boarding place of Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Brown), famous humorist, who worked in the printing office nearby."

~Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1868

Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, ca. 1868
Item 9071   info
Skowhegan History House

(Shown through the courtesy of Mrs. Rachael P. Webb)
"Party in street, clad in linen duster, is undoubtedly Dr. A. A. Mann. It is supposed that the horse and vehicle at the right have just been left there by him and that he is crossing the street to his office on the left. Many shade trees recently planted show in this picture. Some of them grew to considerable proportions, but all disappeared some years since."

The building which shows on the Hotel Coburn corner was the Brewster House, the third hotel to occupy that location. Its predecessors were the Red Dragon and the Skowhegan House. The Brewster House was built in 1867 and was destroyed by fire in 1872.

The octagon shaped tower (white) which shows above the Williams Block at the left was for photographic purposes. Joel Williams, the builder of the block, occupied the upper floor as a picture establishemnt for some years.

The Fuller Drug Store, formerly a wooden building, but showing brick in this picture, is on the left, near the Williams Block; a mortar, emblematic of the drug business, is shown as a transparency over the street. The peculiar sign projecting from the coping of the wooden building on the right remains to be explained. It looks like a picture of two men with a lady between.

Note wooden shelters on right, which remained there until about 1890.

One of the wooden buildings on the left, in front of which may be noted a post, a little out of plumb, surmounted by an old fashioned street light, was occupied then or subsequently by Elbridge Pierce. Mr. Pierce kept a restaurant and in those days undoubtedly some liquid refreshments as well. Both kinds of entertainment were dispensed there until the liquid refreshment business became unpopular and was discontinued, perhaps in the 1890's

Water Street and Old Covered Bridge, Skowhegan, ca. 1866

Water Street and Old Covered Bridge, Skowhegan, ca. 1866
Item 9065   info
Skowhegan History House

"The small building in center carries the sign, "Skowhegan Bank". This was Skowhegan's first banking institution, established in 1825. It was moved to this building from its first location on the Island. This structure eventually housed also the Skowhegan Savings Bank.

The spire which shows is that of the Congregational Church. It was blown down sometime in the 1890's. It will be observed that the Methodist spire does not show, which indicates that this picture was taken previous to 1868, the year in which the building just mentioned was erected.

On the brick building to the left of the bank may be noted the signs, "C. B. Folsom" and "L. T. Allen". Mr. Folsom was a prominent citizen of Skowhegan, serving the town in various official capacities. Little is known of Mr. Allen.

The name "J. F. Lathrop" appears over the entrance, which undoubtedly housed a stairway to the second floor. Information is also wanting concerning him and his business. It will be noted that the sidewalk is of wood and that of a wooden plank, for the convenience of pedestrians, crosses the street from the Lathrop entrance toward the opposite corner. The street surface at that time was no more than a common highway and the walk just referred to was necessary to keep pedestrians from wading in the mud.

The old covered bridge at the right was one of several such structures which occupied this location. A considerable grade will be observed from the corner down into the bridge.

On the building at the right will be noted a sign, in large letters, "Carpets and Crockery". This store was kept by James Farwell, who was eventually succeeded by by N. C. and H. G. Kendall.

Between the bridge and the bank may be seen a building erected by the Skowhegan Village Corporation, to house its fire fighting equipment. It must have been comparitively new at the time of this picture. Just beyond it the Warren Bacon house may be seen. The land in the distance is beyond the back channel, so-called, and very likely, then or afterwards, was occupied by the residence of John Turner, a well known lumberman.

~Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929"

Henry A. Wyman Collection

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