New Portland: Bridging the Past to the Future

Text by Marilyn Gorman & Dianne Pease

Images from New Portland Historical Society

Many people think that North New Portland is the town, as it is listed on many maps, but it is one of the thee villages in the town of New Portland, ME., Somerset County. It was first called Gilman Stream Rips and is located about twenty miles Northwest from Skowhegan. The North Village is located on Gilman Stream, which is about two miles from it's junction with the Carrabassett River. Gilman Stream rises in Lexington and provided good water power.

The first record of a mill in the North Village was recorded in an old diary of Elias Hutchin's father and confirmed by Abel Davis in an oration that he delivered in 1883. Mr. Hutchins attended a bee at the North Village July 4, 1828 and helped raise a mill for Henry Norton, Norton soon said his rights to the Bartletts and Plummers who were in business for many years at the North. Mr. Davis also stated that a John Bartlett came to the West Village in the year 1812 and felled trees and started a carding mill, hauling the machinery from Lisbon by the way of Strong. Bartlett and Plummer turned out large quantities of long and short lumber. The hardwood flooring in Chase Memorial Hall was sawed in this mill.

The grist mill had the first right to the power and John. B. Franklin, Bartlett and Hiram Plummer bought the rest of the power.

Charles H. Bartlett and Gene Jenkins started a salt box factory and manufactured boxes that would fit inside each other for ease of shipping. Later Mr. Bartlett bought out Mr. Jenkins and Jenkins went to Kingfield and built another mill. “Down under the hill,” as the town folks referred to the ill district were many different businesses, such as a sawmill, grist mill, salt box factory, starch factory, wagon shop, novelty mill, carding factory, dye house, fulling mill, clover mill, and shovel handle factory.

On June 17, 1912 this mill district burned and a stock company was formed and Mr. C.H. Bartlett soon rebuilt a modern wood turning plant. A new water wheel with metal penstock and housing was installed which was rated for 150 horse power. This business furnished employment for many and gave a ready market for birch timber.

The first house built in the North Village was known as the Sawyer house, this building was near what is now the corner of the Bog Road and the Long Falls Dam Road. The next was directly across the street beside the Kimball Block (Kennison's Drugstore). This building that was built by Dennis was later taken down. In 1860, there were two hotels in town, one was known as S. G. Wethern's Hotel and the other was called Jenkin's Carrabassett House. In 1883 the Quint brothers maintained a hotel on the corner called the Dirigo House. This building was made of brick and burned in 1891. The Quint brothers soon built a new and modern building which did considerable business for a while, but then it was closed for many years. The last of it being used as a hotel, the brothers operated a grocery store in one end of the hotel, Thomas Teague was proprietor until it burned.

Another old landmark, “the old watering trough” sat in the square at the North Village, it was made by Charles Harris and maintained by Warren Clarke, head of the water company. Many children have spent hours playing in this water.

Charles B. Clark came from Industry, ME and settled on the Bog Road (Rt. 16) on the farm known as part of the Cold Spring Ranch. Clark Brook was named for this family. A good brickyard was located near the Clark homestead and the brick school house was built in 1845 with bricks from this yard.

Herbert W. Kennison, a tailor, postmaster, and druggist in the North Village manufactured a patented garment hanger that he invented. Many of these items were sold in the Eastern part of the country. The New Portland Historical has two of these hangers. Mr. Kennison was also very interested in music and took part in the town's musical activities. There were several musical organizations, the first group of organized musicians that is recorded was in the late 1800s. Hiram Plummer was the leader and the band played for the 1883 Centennial. Warren Dalton was the next leader and took over in 1893. This band broke up in 1900, and there were no more organized bands until the late 1940s. Music was taught in the High School by then and a school band was formed.

There have been many orchestras in New Portland, the first was directed by Dr. Spear of the West Village, the next was Millay's Orchestra, which played for the dedication of the new hall. Mercurias Orchestra was next, followed by Foss' Dance Orchestra, then came the Fine Black Aces. New Portland seems to have a rich musical history. Most of the members of these bands and orchestras lived in the North Village.

The North Village has had two fires that burned much of the main street twice. The first fire was November 1, 1890 (or 1891), the loss from this fire was more than $50,000. The second fire was April 28, 1919, 18 houses and a school house burned, there was about a $30,000 loss, partly recovered by insurance.

The Columbian Hall, built about 1875 was lost in the first fire and it's loss was greatly felt as this is where all the activities and and entertainments were held. It was in this hall that the preliminary hearing of the Micah Norton murder trial was held. A smaller hall, known as the Sam Walker Hall was built but this hall and several others weren't adequate. In 1900 definite plans were made to erecct a building to take the place of the Columbian Hall. This hall was known as Chase Memorial Hall and when Mr. O.W. Chase died the building was left to the New Portland Lion's Club.

In 1906 a corporation for a water company was formed. Warren B. Clark, E. F. Pratt, M.D., and Daniel Knowles were the first directors. Many problems developed before the village was to have water, the reservoir fell in and had to be rebuilt, folks didn't have plumbing and this hindered the work. Not much was known about such things in those days. Warren Clark was a consistent and persistent hard worker and the New Portland Water District still serves part of the North Village.

New Portland has had many doctors over the years but the one that comes to mind as being memorable is Dr. Eugene L. Hutchins, he started practicing medicine in North New Portland, October 15, 1916 and remained the North Village doctor until his retirement, September 28, 1955. Dr. Hutchins was both doctor and friend to everyone in the North Village. Although he was born in Lexington, he was always thought of as a New Portlander. He and his wife, Letti, were both very involved in community affairs.

The following is a list of businesses that were in the North Village in 1860:

From an Old North New Portland Directory
Business Card Dated 1860

Abijah Coleman Postmaster
W.H. Marshall Att'y at Law
B. Adams “ “ “
S.A. Bennet Physician & Surgeon
W.H. Stevens “ “ “
J.P. Churchell & Son Merchant
A. Colman “
Smith & Bunker “
B.F. Kimball Trader
Josiah Jenkins Carrabassett House
J.B. & B.F. Bartlett Saw Mill
G. Cross Boot & Shoe Maker
S.H. Webb “ “ “ “
D.S. Bennett Blacksmith
Samuel F. Cutts Axe Maker
D.Butler Millwright & Jointer
A.A. Knowles Trader & Lumberman
Hiram Pease Livestock & Country Producer
John Newell “ “ “ “
Levi Williamson “ “ “ “
Stimans & Webb “ “ “ “
J.S. Greenleaf “ “ “ Drover
J.D. Bartlett “ “ “ “
S.G. Weathern Somerset House
Micha W. Norton Deputy Sheriff
A.D. Willard School Teacher
J.G. Young Painter
Wm. Bentlett Justice of the Peace
Wm. Jacobs Carder & Clothier
J.W. Norton Justice of the Peace

The North Village is a very different place today, we have no store, no doctor, and our Central Elementary School is slated to close at the end of the school year. We have a Presbyterian Church, a post office, a historical society and Ace Electric Company. The Lion's Hall is still here but not used very much. Our bridge is going to be replaced sometime soon. Skiers and campers pass through our village in winter and summer. The North Village is a great place to live, the people are great and always willing to help in time of need. It will probably never be like it was in the 1860s. In the late 30s and 40s, there was a drug store, filling station, a garage and 3 grocery stores on the main street and Lester Henderson had a small grocery store across the river on Route 16. All in all it is a great place to call home.

This research was done by students at Carrabec Community School

The New Portland Fair
by C.L. & B.L.

The date of the first fair is unknown, but the oldest memory dates back to 1875. It began as an Agricultural Fair were people brought animals to auction off and show, while people would bring fruits and veggies from their garden. Ms. Gorman was first introduced to the New Portland Fair in 1933, its location also known as The Trotting Park. It was the most important event to everyone around the area. People who moved away from the area would come to see their friends and family at the fair. The North New Portland Fair was one event that children saved their money for. They would pay 10 cents to get on a ride and the favorite was the swings. Another favorite attraction for Ms. Gorman and her friends was the food. Their favorites were french fries, hot dogs and beans, the man who brought fresh cheese, and a guy from Farmington, Ray Magnum, who brought chocolate covered ice cream on a stick. The night of the fair meant a dance at Chase Memorial Hall. You didn't have to dance, you would just bounce because the place was “just a hoppin'.”

Only one year can be remembered that there was not a fair and that was during World War II. In 1932, the New Portland Lions Club took over running the fair. Using the profits from the fair, the Lions help elderly people by sending fruit baskets at Christmas. They also bought glasses for people who needed them.

As the years progressed, things changed at the fair. Crowds increased because the fair grew from a single midway to a double. The exhibit hall is also in a different place then it was originally. There was also horse pulling and baseball games at the High School. Central School always had a food booth. In later years, junk auctions became popular. These were when people would sell junk that they didn't need anymore. Pig scrambles have been a popular event in the North New Portland Fair for many years. If the people caught the pig, they would keep it. To this day, the fair remains one event everyone in town looks forward to.