Appleton Register, 1903 ~ Maine

Appleton was originally a plantation. Was in the state of Massachusetts till, the formation of the district of Maine in 1820. Was incorporated as a town, January 28, 1829. The first records of the plantation are dated 1812, giving account of the meetings at the school house in Dist. No. 2, on Appleton ridge, "near Abiatha Richardson's."

The first town meeting was held April 13, 1829. February 20, 1843, a portion of the town of Hope was annexed to it, which was about 5½ miles long, 2¼ miles wide on Union line and 1¾ miles wide on Searsmont line, and included the villages of McLain's and Packard's Mills.

The old Hope-Appleton line was about half way from the river to the ridge road and run nearly parallel to it.

In the spring of 1844 the inhabitants built a town house on land purchased of Willis Fish, and the first meeting was held in it June 25, 1844. It is supposed that the first settlement was in 1775.

The village of Appleton formerly called McLain's Mills was settled by Fergus and Archibald McLain brothers who came from the town of Bristol, bought land of Gen. Henry Knox, Washington's Secretary of War, and built mills on the river. Fergus had a large amount of land on the west side and Archibald on the east side of the stream. Fergus was a "representative in the legislature at Boston eight years and fit Portland five years. Was one of the framers of the Constitution of Maine, was first of the selectmen 22 successive years, when he declined further service but always participated in public affairs till the time of his death." Archibald gave the land for a burying ground, provided the citizens would build a wall around it.

Search the Register
Search Death Index

The village of Appleton formerly known as Packard's Mills was settled by Reuben Packard, who built mills on the western side of the stream. This village was afterward known as Smith's Mills. Burkettville is the western part of the town formerly called Burkett's Corner from one of its prominent citizens, Mr. Andrew Burkett, who built two mills on the Medomak River. Mr. Burkett was prominent in town affairs, representative to legislature, etc. The town was named in honor of a wealthy merchant of Boston, who gave a bell which is in the steeple of the Baptist church.

The Friends meeting house, which stood in what is called the Quaker burying ground, was built in the early part of the century. The Friends met in silence for many years, but owing to lack of members finally discontinued. In 1868 the meeting house was moved and is now a part of the dwelling house of Mr. David Cummings.

In 1845 to 1848 the Georges canal was built through this valley from Thomaston to Searsmont. Freshets in spring, droughts in summer and ice in winter contributed to its downfall, but in spite of all these it did considerable business for several years. The first post office in town was at Pease's Corner, now known as Pitman's Corner, with Geo. Pease, Esq., P. M.

Later history we will omit as most of our readers arc familiar with it.

Directory

Post Offices and Postmasters

Appleton, F. L. Davidson
No. Appleton, A. Wentworth
West Appleton, S. O. Bartlett
Burkettville, George A. Miller
Elmwood, Mrs. E. A. Lamson

Hotel

Valley House, A. E. Fish, Proprietor

Town Officers

Selectmen, J. T. McCorrison, V. O. Keller, G. W. Gushee.
Town Clerk, B. H. Keller
Treasurer, Harry C. Pease
Collector, Jesse L. Wentworth
Supt. Schools, Stephen J. Gushee
School Committee George F. Fogg 1 year, Stephen Miller 2 years, Isaac Hall 3 years

Societies and Night of Meeting

Appleton
I. O. O. F., Appleton Lodge, No. 75, Friday
D. of R., Golden Rod Lodge, No. 31, 2nd and 4th Wednesday
P. of H., Georges Valley Grange, No. 96, Saturday
G. A. R., David Esancy Post, No. 69, Saturday p. m.
Almond Gushee Relief Corps, No. 19, Saturday p. m.
W. C. T. U., 1st and 3rd Friday

North Appleton
I. O. G. T., Georges Valley Lodge, No. 162, Saturday

Burkettville
I. O. G. T., Pine Plains Lodge, No. 150, Tuesday
P. of H., Medomac Valley Grange, No. 175, Saturday

Trial Justice, M. F. Hanly
Deputy Sheriff, G. W. Gushee
Attorney at Law, M. F. Hanly

Merchants
Appleton. S. J. Gushee, H. C. Pease & Son, F. L. Davidson, L. M. Gushee, Dry Goods and Groceries.
Lottie P. Young, Millinery and Fancy Goods.

North Appleton, A. Wentworth. Jas. H. Dixon, Dry Goods and Groceries.

Burkettville. A. K. Burkett, George A. Miller, Dry Goods and Groceries.

West Appleton Colby R. Bartlett, Dry Goods and Groceries.

Manufacturers

Appleton
G. H. Page, carriages;
S. J. Gushee, lumber;
V. O. Keller, Elden Dyer, blacksmiths;
G. H. Page, carriage painting;
Willard Sherman, J. F. Edgecomb, stave mills;
Annie McLain, Lottie P. Young. Mrs. E. E. Ripley, dressmakers;
E. E. Ripley, mason;
H. N. Titus, wood worker;
F. A. Wentworth, watch and clock repairing.

North Appleton
R. S. Keene, saw, planing and grist mill;
Joseph A. Ames, stave mill;
Bessie D. Keene, dressmaker.

Burkettville
S. J. Gushee, saw and stave mill;
George Millay, saw and stave mill and coiled hoops;
A. M. Dow, blacksmith and general repairing.

Telephones
N. E. T. & T. Co.
Union Telephone Co.
S. J. Gushee, Agent
H. C. Pease, Agent

Appleton Register | Appleton Death Register | AHGP Maine

Source: Appleton Register, 1903, by Harry C. Pease, 1903