Donna Yeaton's beloved journal handwritten appears below. Special thanks to her friend, Ruth Freeman, for sharing this 1981 photo of Donna, on her 90th Birthday.
We are deeply grateful to the Yeaton Family for sharing Donna's "Chronicle of Sorts" with us. The richness of the family story unfolds…
A Chronicle of Sorts
compiled by Donna L. Yeaton, the great-granddaughter of Paul Yeaton, a veteran of the War of the Revolution, who having been given a grant of land by the newly formed of Congress of the United States, in lieu of a soldier's bonus, walked here from his ome in Somersworth, New Hampshire in the spring of 1794 and spent the summer clear as much land as he could and living in a log cabin which he built on the north side of was later was called tthe Dunn Road, about a mile from the house which his son Paul, my grandfather, built, the house in which I was born, and am living now at the age of 86+.
In the Fall he walked back to Somersworth repeating the yearly round trip thru what must have been a wilderness until in 1796 he dared to bring a wife, Mary Hussey and settle down in a log cabin, a short distance from the commodious house on the West Road where I now live.
I can just remember seeing that house when it was in the last stages of disrepair. There is a picture of it here in the house taken by by one of his grandchildren.
In this (log cabin) house he and his Mary raised their family of seven children.
Their eldest, Andrew was evidently born in Somersworth and was brought here as an infant (1795) and died in 1804, and not included in the following list of seven.
Ruben: 1794–1864
Richard: 1799 – 1882
Paul Jr.: 1803-1893
Zechariah: 1805–1887
Andrew II: 1808 – 1893
Henry: 1810 –1895
Mary: 1813 – 1897
Great-grandather's dates
(This would be the Paul Yeaton who fought in the Revolutionary War): 1762 – 1856
Great-grandmother's dates: 1770 – 1849
To write what I can of Paul's ancestors, —
There were 3 brothers who came from England in the mid 1600's and settled on the Isles of Shoals a few miles off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Which of these brothers was the ancestor of our branch of the family, I do not know, nor do we know any of the names:
But it can be assumed that all the Yeatons in America must be descended from one or another of these pioneers, and so from a common ancestor in England (or Scotland as the story goes that they were of Scotch-English origin!)
There has been considerable publicity in the past few years about Hopley Yeaton who was the first man to be given command of a Coast Guard vessel, being commissioned by George Washington.
It would be interesting to know exactly how he was related to our line, but so far, the facts are obscured.
The farthest back we can go is that Richard was the father of our great-grandfather and that he, too, fought (and died) in the Revolutionary War. There were 17 Yeaton from New Hampshire in that war, according to the State records.
In Hopley's later life, he moved to Lubec, Maine, died and was buried there.
But after the Coast Guard Academy was established in New London, Connecticut, and one of the buildings was named Yeaton Hall in his honor, it was thought proper to have his remains exhumed and brought thence to the Coast Guard Campus.
This was done — and his remains now rest in a beautiful memorial on the campus.
(2004 Note: We believe that Hopley's remains have been moved to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.)
There were several hundred Yeatons who came from across the country, including several of my family, to attend the ceremonies.
The history of the 3 brothers who settled on Star Island, is practically unknown and we have no knowledge of when they moved to the main land — and how they supported themselves for a hundred years or more.
To return now to great-grandfather, Paul —
Since there is no uncertainly about the date of the first Andrew's birth, it being recorded as 1795 in the Family Bible, it would indicate that he was not born here, but in Somersworth and brought here as a tender infant and apparently soon succumbed to the rigors to which he was exposed. That explains the giving of the same name to one of the younger children.
Not long after Paul's coming here to stay, two brothers, Philip and Joshua followed him, and settled near him on the West Road.
I shall not attempt to include in this narrative, the history of their families but confine myself to Paul — and especially to his son Paul, Jr. who built this house with such incredible skill and vision.
I cannot but wonder how a young man in his early 20's could have had the courage to embark upon such an enterprise with nothing but primitive tools — (hand-made), to work with, and which first involved going into the forest, hewing out 8 foot by 10 foot timbers and hauling them out with oxen.
I don't know when it was first started, but I am sure it was not in the space of time with which houses are thrown together today. It was framed in 1826 when my grandfather was 23 years-old. He had a mason to do all the brick work — of which there was plenty. There are six firexplaces in the house, — one in the kitchen, fronted by an iron fire frame — to throw the heat farther into the room, and beside that fireplace is a brick oven where all the baking had to be done.
When the house was built, of course, the fireplaces were the only source of heat — except for the brick oven. The only use made of it in my lifetime was to smoke the hams.
As for the other fireplaces — there was one each in the sitting room and the parlor — one each in the two master bedrooms upstairs — and one in grandfather's shop, under the kitchen.
I don't know when the first stove was purchased — only 2 of the fireplaces are now in use, — those in the sitting room and parlor and those only in the summer months.
(2004 Note: 5 fireplaces are currently in use. The 6th is being prepared for use. The Inn is now warmly-heated by a wood furnace in the Summer Kitchen, the oil burner having been removed due to inefficiency and the cost of oil.)
Since fireplaces were built without dampers in those days — now that we have oil heat, too much of that gold-plated substance is drawn up the chimney and wasted. So when winter approaches, the area is inclosed with a fitted covering of boards. The upstairs ones are covered all the time as they are easy entrance for flies and mosquitos!
The huge chimneys are supported on the south end by beautifully constructed brick arches, — the one on the north end by massive granite blocks.
All the mantels and framework about the fireplaces are beautifully constructed with hand carvings, a different design on each one.
The woodwork thruout the house is lovingly wrought with "cross-and-bible" doors with paneled chair rails.
The big center hall has a noble front door, the exterior of which is surmounted by a fan which our father told us his father told him took a week to construct.
There is no picture of the house in its original form but we know that in later years (date unknown because we didn't have the wit to ask our father these things) the two small bedrooms off the ktchen were extended and a connection made to unite with the house what had originally been a separate stable and woodshed and at the same time there was created a stable chamber and a big dormer window placed over the stable door, which could be removed in summer to the storage of hay either for the feeding of guests' horses — or for our own when weather was too rugged to take them to the barn which is at a distance — and down a hill from the house.
This practice continued within my childhood. I can vividly recall how wonderful that place smelled when it was redolent with hay.
Incidentally, our "privy" was located there until one bathroom was installed in 1947.
It was really a two-story affair as the original prival was on the ground floor of the stable and we used to call them the Gentlemen's Lounge and the Ladies' Lounge!
It could be rugged out there in the witner — but mother tried to comfort us by saying how fortunate we were that we did not have to go out of doors to do our chores!
I do not know when the house was first occupied, but I do know that the first people to do so were grandpa's brother Andrew and his wife Eliza (nee Goodridge) and grandpa boarded with them. The first child was born in 1836.
My grandpa was an "old bach" and not till in 1843 did he finallly succomb to the charms and virtue of a younger sister of his brother's wife and married her. She was 17 years younger than he.
During the early years of their marriage the two couples lived in the same house — but separately grandma using what later became our parlor as her kitchen.
Five of his (brother's and sister's) children were born in this house.
So not strange to say, after my father was born in 1845 they decided that they would like to have the whole house to themselves — and Paul no doubt helped his brother build his house almost across the road from this.
I will digress at this point to tell you a little story that my grandmother told me that seems romantic.
When she was a little girl 10 years old, her mother sent her on an errand from their home on the Dunn Road to Uncle Richard's wife, Aunt Sabrina who lived not far below this house. — This involves cutting "cross-lots" across our fields and coming out near Aunt Sabrina's house — The trees had not grown in the area as then have now — and when she looked in this direction she saw a young man standing in the doorway of the half-finished building — who many years later would become her husband!
My father was exempt from service in the Civil War because of a hernia. Sometime in his young manhood we was employed as a salesman for a firm named Chase Bros. who dealt in fruit trees — and in this capacity travelled quite extensively — and quite successfully I judge, in Maine and beyond. I imagine that it was during this time that he established his own extensive apple orchard which was to be come his prinicipal source of income for many years.
I believe that he retired from the salesman job because he felt that his father was getting old and needed his help with the farm.
In the late 50s or early 60s a telegraph line was installed in Belgrade — following the Railroad which had come some years before.
A young woman named Frances Haskell, of New Gloucester — was engaged as telegraph operator and she and my father fell in love and were married.
In 1870, a daughter, Carolyn, was born to them.
At an early age she displayed unusual musical talent and a piano was purchased for her and a music teacher secured.
A shadow fell over the house and her mother's health declined, a prey to tuberculosis, and she died when Carolyn was 13 years old.
She continued with her music and after completing her work in the elementary school here, she was sent to Westbrook Seminary, now the Portland branch of the University of Maine.
While there, she continued her musical education with Harvey Murray, who in 1889 admitted that he could do no more for her and recommended that she go abroad for further study. This she did, going to Germany for a year, which was extended to three.
Coming back she settled in New York City as concert pianist and piano teacher, as well as coaching opera singers.
She married Walderman Kaempffert who was at that time manager of Scientific American — and later became Science Editor of the New York Times, retaining that position in the remaining years of his life. He was fond of music and a gifted pianist himself which brought about their friendship and eventual marriage.
She died without offspring in 1933.
In 1887 my father remarried, his new wife being Lillian Powers of Manchester.
They were brought together at a party at the house of mutual friends and because of a common love and music talent. I rather think it was a case of love at first sight.
My father had a remarkable tenor voice and for years conducted singing schools thruout the town while mother head an angelic soprano and always accompanied him in his singing school trips.
For years and years, whenever there was a death in town — it was taken for granted that they should be asked to sing at the funeral sometimes with another couple who sang alto and bass.
Once when mother was an old lady she told me that one night when she couldn't sleep she counted the funerals at which she had sung. The number was 91 — of that number only one had mentioned pay and only a handful had even thanked them!
Their first child, my brother Paul, was born March 29, 1889. I came next, Donna Lillian July 12, 1891. The Lillian for mother of course, the Donna was suggested by my sister Carne who was in Germany at the time. I used to wish I had a less fanciful name when I was young but now its very common.A third child, Russell Powers, was born June 25 1907(?)
My grandfather and grandmother shared their home until their deaths. My grandfather died of a stroke in 1893 — and my very first memory was of being held in my father's arms — and looking at him in the casket.
I have often wished that I could have known this wonderful man.
My grandmother lived till 1907 when I was in High School so of course I remember her very well — and having many fond memories, — one being of the delicious molasses doughnuts rolled out thin and cut into a diamond shape (no holes) and when they were put into the fat they pulffed up — like little hollow cushions.
Every year until her marriage, my sister Carolyn (Or Carnie as we called her) spent her summers here — and when I was eight years old she started me on the piano.
She was a hard task-master, which of course I didn't appreciate at the time, as I didn't appreciate all the scales and five finger exercises — and all my "pieces," which of course I had to memorize, were easy excerpts from Back, Beethoven et al.
I have realized in later years of course, how fortunate I was!
We children all attended a one-room district school a quarter of a mile from home — and we agree today that there is much to be said in favor of the one room school. We had fine teachers for the most part and being in the same room with people from the upper grades (everything from 1st – 8th grade) and hearing them recite, was all incentive to us to catch up with them and I am sure that some of the problems in the old Greenleaf Arithmetic was way beyond that which is offered to 8th graders today. And as for reading — I couldn't remember when I couldn't read. We always had to read aloud of course.
There was no High School in town at that time and consequently many students stayed on in the 8th grade — faute de meiux when they would otherwise had entered HIgh.
In 1903 a wise Supt of Schools persuaded the town fathers to try an experimental High School for a year and 50 attended. Still a one room school but a big one — and still one teacher. How he ever lived thru it I don't know. But we were all eager and proud to be there. My brother Paul and I were both in the entering class.
While quite a number dropped out after the experimental year it was deemed enough of a success to coninue it the following year on a regular 4-year basis and in 1908 twenty three of us proudly received our diplomas and proof of our well spent time is the fact that several of us succeeded in passing college exams and going directly to college — Paul to Bates: — because only 50 women were taken annually and the quota was filled at Bates I went to Colby the first year but transferred to Bates the following year.
Several others went on to business and normal schools while others were employed at once to teach in the district schools which continued to operate for several years before a central school was built at the Depot which included both Elementary and High School grades.
One more note about our early HIgh School, — For the first two years, it was still a one room school — with on teacher — Mr. Charles Hicks of Bates College — In our Junior year an addition was built on to the old building and another teacher engaged Miss Elizabeth Whittier also a Bates graduate.
Think of the burdens those two wonderful people had to carry — to complete the High School curriculum including four years of Latin and 2 of French! And preparing us to pass the College Board Exams!
In this year of 1979 — there are only 5 of us still living. Incidentally at the risk of seeming boastful, I was valedictorian at that first commencement and Marion Tibbits (by a hair) was Salutatorian. Paul was Class President — and wrote the Class Poem which he set to the music of an old song to serve as our class song.
In conclusion, a few words about the house and its furnishings.
In the main house htere are by the big central hall, — with sitting room and parlor on either side — also the bathroom in what was grandma's old pantry.
In the Ell, the kitchen extending the entire width of it's 13-1/2 x 19-1/2 feet and off of that — an pantry — and the two bedrooms mentioned before. One of them I occupy — and the other was once grandmother's and most recently — after Paul's death — was Beatrice's — Now used only for company.
Upstairs are the two big bedrooms, over parlor and sitting room with walk-in closets in each — and a little bedroom over the front hall.
In the north room there are several interesting pieces of furniture made by grandpa, a fan poster bed of curly maple and a bureau of maple and mahogany veneer. Also two chairs, one a ladderback possibly made by him — The other a black painted Windsor originally from mother's old home in Manchester.
In the South room there are four antique bureaus, but not of grandpa's work. There is one treasure of his, however — a little bedside stand of "tiger" maple which an antique dealer has been begging me for for years. His latest offer was $350 — but I think I have finally convinced him it is not for sale.
In the parlor there is part of grandma's set of mahogony purchased I imagine at about the time when they took over the hole house and changed the room from kitchen to parlor.
There were originally 6 side chairs but two went to Carrie wehn she married and 2 to Russell when he did. The smaller sofa with the green upholstery was originally mother's grandmothers (a Bond) and fell to mother's cousin Alice Bond in New Jersey. She sold it to me for $25 which was what an antique man would have paid her — and was in bad condition. So I had it all done over for $100 — and prize it highly.
In the sitting room there is of course mother's old piano now over 100 years old, a pine settle a reproduction of an antique made by Wallace Nutting and purchased by me, 2 little rockers — one that was Beatrice's mothers — in which she was rocked as a baby. The other, a maple rocker — which has quite a history — Bought at an auction by Freeyseus? Yeaton for 25 cents he told me proudly he had been offered $5 for it. I told him I'd gladly give him $10 when he wanted to sell he. He made no reply — but after his death I learned that the first thing in his will was that I was to have that chair! I had it created and sent to New Jersey where I had all the coats of paint scrpaed off back to the original maple I asked the man how old he thought it was telling him from what I knew of its history it might be 100 yrs — and he said "I think it might be 200 yrs old. I''ve never seen one just like it." So that is one of my treasures!
Another antique, built by our grandfather is the drop-leaf table between the two front windows.
In conclusion, a few more facts about this house and its furnishings.
As beforementioned, the main house consists of a big central hall — with parlor and sitting room opening from it. Above these two rooms are the two master bedrooms and a small bedroom over the hall. In the North room are several interesting examples of our grandfather's skill as a cabinet maker. (1) a bureau of pine with mahogany veneer, (2) a four poster bed of curley maple — equipped originally with rope interlacings instead of springs — and straw tick and feather bed in lieu of mattress. This was much later, modernized by a box spring and mattress — made to order to fit the bed which like all beds of that early era had been made shorter than normal today — where men's height has increased. There are also two antique chairs — one a ladder-back made by grandpa — the other a black-painted Windsor which came from mother's old home in Manchester. In the hall bedroom there is a mate to this chair.
The two bureaus in the south room were not made by grandpa. The larger one on the east wall was brought here by Paul's first wife — (your mother, David). The other was bought by me when I was helping to furnish an apt in Bloomfield.
There is, however, one very choice piece of grandfather's works — the little "tiger" maple bedside stand, which an antique dealer has been trying to buy for years — his latest offer being $350. I think I have made him understand it is not for sale at any price. (I'm sorry this is repetittion.)
Also upstairs over the kitchen and over the whole ell is an unfurnished room — called "the corn-chamber" under the eaves — hot insummer — and icy cold in winter — but there is a window at the western end and space there for a bed — and when the family is all present it is put to use to accommodate the younger generation.
The kitchen's most unusual feature is a set of four drawers of maple set into the wall between the two south windows my grandfather's work of course. Also between those two same windows is a large drop-leaf table — which I believe was the first dining room table. There never was a dining room in the house — and the kitchen now serves as dining room as well.
The wall cabinets on the north and west sides were all made and installed many years later by Paul, who inherited a great deal of his grandfather's skill.
In Beatrice's room is another of grandfathers maple and mahogany veneer bureaus , the veneer is very bad condition alas!
The furnace, electricity and bathroom were all installed in 1947.
(Excuse the many mistakes!)
compiled by Donna L. Yeaton, the great-granddaughter of Paul Yeaton, a veteran of the War of the Revolution, who having been given a grant of land by the newly formed of Congress of the United States, in lieu of a soldier's bonus, walked here from his ome in Somersworth, New Hampshire in the spring of 1794 and spent the summer clear as much land as he could and living in a log cabin which he built on the north side of was later was called tthe Dunn Road, about a mile from the house which his son Paul, my grandfather, built, the house in which I was born, and am living now at the age of 86+.
In the Fall he walked back to Somersworth repeating the yearly round trip thru what must have been a wilderness until in 1796 he dared to bring a wife, Mary Hussey and settle down in a log cabin, a short distance from the commodious house on the West Road where I now live.
I can just remember seeing that house when it was in the last stages of disrepair. There is a picture of it here in the house taken by by one of his grandchildren.
In this (log cabin) house he and his Mary raised their family of seven children.
Their eldest, Andrew was evidently born in Somersworth and was brought here as an infant (1795) and died in 1804, and not included in the following list of seven.
Ruben: 1794–1864
Richard: 1799 – 1882
Paul Jr.: 1803-1893
Zechariah: 1805–1887
Andrew II: 1808 – 1893
Henry: 1810 –1895
Mary: 1813 – 1897
Great-grandather's dates
(This would be the Paul Yeaton who fought in the Revolutionary War): 1762 – 1856
Great-grandmother's dates: 1770 – 1849
To write what I can of Paul's ancestors, —
There were 3 brothers who came from England in the mid 1600's and settled on the Isles of Shoals a few miles off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Which of these brothers was the ancestor of our branch of the family, I do not know, nor do we know any of the names:
But it can be assumed that all the Yeatons in America must be descended from one or another of these pioneers, and so from a common ancestor in England (or Scotland as the story goes that they were of Scotch-English origin!)
There has been considerable publicity in the past few years about Hopley Yeaton who was the first man to be given command of a Coast Guard vessel, being commissioned by George Washington.
It would be interesting to know exactly how he was related to our line, but so far, the facts are obscured.
The farthest back we can go is that Richard was the father of our great-grandfather and that he, too, fought (and died) in the Revolutionary War. There were 17 Yeaton from New Hampshire in that war, according to the State records.
In Hopley's later life, he moved to Lubec, Maine, died and was buried there.
But after the Coast Guard Academy was established in New London, Connecticut, and one of the buildings was named Yeaton Hall in his honor, it was thought proper to have his remains exhumed and brought thence to the Coast Guard Campus.
This was done — and his remains now rest in a beautiful memorial on the campus.
(2004 Note: We believe that Hopley's remains have been moved to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.)
There were several hundred Yeatons who came from across the country, including several of my family, to attend the ceremonies.
The history of the 3 brothers who settled on Star Island, is practically unknown and we have no knowledge of when they moved to the main land — and how they supported themselves for a hundred years or more.
To return now to great-grandfather, Paul —
Since there is no uncertainly about the date of the first Andrew's birth, it being recorded as 1795 in the Family Bible, it would indicate that he was not born here, but in Somersworth and brought here as a tender infant and apparently soon succumbed to the rigors to which he was exposed. That explains the giving of the same name to one of the younger children.
Not long after Paul's coming here to stay, two brothers, Philip and Joshua followed him, and settled near him on the West Road.
I shall not attempt to include in this narrative, the history of their families but confine myself to Paul — and especially to his son Paul, Jr. who built this house with such incredible skill and vision.
I cannot but wonder how a young man in his early 20's could have had the courage to embark upon such an enterprise with nothing but primitive tools — (hand-made), to work with, and which first involved going into the forest, hewing out 8 foot by 10 foot timbers and hauling them out with oxen.
I don't know when it was first started, but I am sure it was not in the space of time with which houses are thrown together today. It was framed in 1826 when my grandfather was 23 years-old. He had a mason to do all the brick work — of which there was plenty. There are six firexplaces in the house, — one in the kitchen, fronted by an iron fire frame — to throw the heat farther into the room, and beside that fireplace is a brick oven where all the baking had to be done.
When the house was built, of course, the fireplaces were the only source of heat — except for the brick oven. The only use made of it in my lifetime was to smoke the hams.
As for the other fireplaces — there was one each in the sitting room and the parlor — one each in the two master bedrooms upstairs — and one in grandfather's shop, under the kitchen.
I don't know when the first stove was purchased — only 2 of the fireplaces are now in use, — those in the sitting room and parlor and those only in the summer months.
(2004 Note: 5 fireplaces are currently in use. The 6th is being prepared for use. The Inn is now warmly-heated by a wood furnace in the Summer Kitchen, the oil burner having been removed due to inefficiency and the cost of oil.)
Since fireplaces were built without dampers in those days — now that we have oil heat, too much of that gold-plated substance is drawn up the chimney and wasted. So when winter approaches, the area is inclosed with a fitted covering of boards. The upstairs ones are covered all the time as they are easy entrance for flies and mosquitos!
The huge chimneys are supported on the south end by beautifully constructed brick arches, — the one on the north end by massive granite blocks.
All the mantels and framework about the fireplaces are beautifully constructed with hand carvings, a different design on each one.
The woodwork thruout the house is lovingly wrought with "cross-and-bible" doors with paneled chair rails.
The big center hall has a noble front door, the exterior of which is surmounted by a fan which our father told us his father told him took a week to construct.
There is no picture of the house in its original form but we know that in later years (date unknown because we didn't have the wit to ask our father these things) the two small bedrooms off the ktchen were extended and a connection made to unite with the house what had originally been a separate stable and woodshed and at the same time there was created a stable chamber and a big dormer window placed over the stable door, which could be removed in summer to the storage of hay either for the feeding of guests' horses — or for our own when weather was too rugged to take them to the barn which is at a distance — and down a hill from the house.
This practice continued within my childhood. I can vividly recall how wonderful that place smelled when it was redolent with hay.
Incidentally, our "privy" was located there until one bathroom was installed in 1947.
It was really a two-story affair as the original prival was on the ground floor of the stable and we used to call them the Gentlemen's Lounge and the Ladies' Lounge!
It could be rugged out there in the witner — but mother tried to comfort us by saying how fortunate we were that we did not have to go out of doors to do our chores!
I do not know when the house was first occupied, but I do know that the first people to do so were grandpa's brother Andrew and his wife Eliza (nee Goodridge) and grandpa boarded with them. The first child was born in 1836.
My grandpa was an "old bach" and not till in 1843 did he finallly succomb to the charms and virtue of a younger sister of his brother's wife and married her. She was 17 years younger than he.
During the early years of their marriage the two couples lived in the same house — but separately grandma using what later became our parlor as her kitchen.
Five of his (brother's and sister's) children were born in this house.
So not strange to say, after my father was born in 1845 they decided that they would like to have the whole house to themselves — and Paul no doubt helped his brother build his house almost across the road from this.
I will digress at this point to tell you a little story that my grandmother told me that seems romantic.
When she was a little girl 10 years old, her mother sent her on an errand from their home on the Dunn Road to Uncle Richard's wife, Aunt Sabrina who lived not far below this house. — This involves cutting "cross-lots" across our fields and coming out near Aunt Sabrina's house — The trees had not grown in the area as then have now — and when she looked in this direction she saw a young man standing in the doorway of the half-finished building — who many years later would become her husband!
My father was exempt from service in the Civil War because of a hernia. Sometime in his young manhood we was employed as a salesman for a firm named Chase Bros. who dealt in fruit trees — and in this capacity travelled quite extensively — and quite successfully I judge, in Maine and beyond. I imagine that it was during this time that he established his own extensive apple orchard which was to be come his prinicipal source of income for many years.
I believe that he retired from the salesman job because he felt that his father was getting old and needed his help with the farm.
In the late 50s or early 60s a telegraph line was installed in Belgrade — following the Railroad which had come some years before.
A young woman named Frances Haskell, of New Gloucester — was engaged as telegraph operator and she and my father fell in love and were married.
In 1870, a daughter, Carolyn, was born to them.
At an early age she displayed unusual musical talent and a piano was purchased for her and a music teacher secured.
A shadow fell over the house and her mother's health declined, a prey to tuberculosis, and she died when Carolyn was 13 years old.
She continued with her music and after completing her work in the elementary school here, she was sent to Westbrook Seminary, now the Portland branch of the University of Maine.
While there, she continued her musical education with Harvey Murray, who in 1889 admitted that he could do no more for her and recommended that she go abroad for further study. This she did, going to Germany for a year, which was extended to three.
Coming back she settled in New York City as concert pianist and piano teacher, as well as coaching opera singers.
She married Walderman Kaempffert who was at that time manager of Scientific American — and later became Science Editor of the New York Times, retaining that position in the remaining years of his life. He was fond of music and a gifted pianist himself which brought about their friendship and eventual marriage.
She died without offspring in 1933.
In 1887 my father remarried, his new wife being Lillian Powers of Manchester.
They were brought together at a party at the house of mutual friends and because of a common love and music talent. I rather think it was a case of love at first sight.
My father had a remarkable tenor voice and for years conducted singing schools thruout the town while mother head an angelic soprano and always accompanied him in his singing school trips.
For years and years, whenever there was a death in town — it was taken for granted that they should be asked to sing at the funeral sometimes with another couple who sang alto and bass.
Once when mother was an old lady she told me that one night when she couldn't sleep she counted the funerals at which she had sung. The number was 91 — of that number only one had mentioned pay and only a handful had even thanked them!
Their first child, my brother Paul, was born March 29, 1889. I came next, Donna Lillian July 12, 1891. The Lillian for mother of course, the Donna was suggested by my sister Carne who was in Germany at the time. I used to wish I had a less fanciful name when I was young but now its very common.A third child, Russell Powers, was born June 25 1907(?)
My grandfather and grandmother shared their home until their deaths. My grandfather died of a stroke in 1893 — and my very first memory was of being held in my father's arms — and looking at him in the casket.
I have often wished that I could have known this wonderful man.
My grandmother lived till 1907 when I was in High School so of course I remember her very well — and having many fond memories, — one being of the delicious molasses doughnuts rolled out thin and cut into a diamond shape (no holes) and when they were put into the fat they pulffed up — like little hollow cushions.
Every year until her marriage, my sister Carolyn (Or Carnie as we called her) spent her summers here — and when I was eight years old she started me on the piano.
She was a hard task-master, which of course I didn't appreciate at the time, as I didn't appreciate all the scales and five finger exercises — and all my "pieces," which of course I had to memorize, were easy excerpts from Back, Beethoven et al.
I have realized in later years of course, how fortunate I was!
We children all attended a one-room district school a quarter of a mile from home — and we agree today that there is much to be said in favor of the one room school. We had fine teachers for the most part and being in the same room with people from the upper grades (everything from 1st – 8th grade) and hearing them recite, was all incentive to us to catch up with them and I am sure that some of the problems in the old Greenleaf Arithmetic was way beyond that which is offered to 8th graders today. And as for reading — I couldn't remember when I couldn't read. We always had to read aloud of course.
There was no High School in town at that time and consequently many students stayed on in the 8th grade — faute de meiux when they would otherwise had entered HIgh.
In 1903 a wise Supt of Schools persuaded the town fathers to try an experimental High School for a year and 50 attended. Still a one room school but a big one — and still one teacher. How he ever lived thru it I don't know. But we were all eager and proud to be there. My brother Paul and I were both in the entering class.
While quite a number dropped out after the experimental year it was deemed enough of a success to coninue it the following year on a regular 4-year basis and in 1908 twenty three of us proudly received our diplomas and proof of our well spent time is the fact that several of us succeeded in passing college exams and going directly to college — Paul to Bates: — because only 50 women were taken annually and the quota was filled at Bates I went to Colby the first year but transferred to Bates the following year.
Several others went on to business and normal schools while others were employed at once to teach in the district schools which continued to operate for several years before a central school was built at the Depot which included both Elementary and High School grades.
One more note about our early HIgh School, — For the first two years, it was still a one room school — with on teacher — Mr. Charles Hicks of Bates College — In our Junior year an addition was built on to the old building and another teacher engaged Miss Elizabeth Whittier also a Bates graduate.
Think of the burdens those two wonderful people had to carry — to complete the High School curriculum including four years of Latin and 2 of French! And preparing us to pass the College Board Exams!
In this year of 1979 — there are only 5 of us still living. Incidentally at the risk of seeming boastful, I was valedictorian at that first commencement and Marion Tibbits (by a hair) was Salutatorian. Paul was Class President — and wrote the Class Poem which he set to the music of an old song to serve as our class song.
In conclusion, a few words about the house and its furnishings.
In the main house htere are by the big central hall, — with sitting room and parlor on either side — also the bathroom in what was grandma's old pantry.
In the Ell, the kitchen extending the entire width of it's 13-1/2 x 19-1/2 feet and off of that — an pantry — and the two bedrooms mentioned before. One of them I occupy — and the other was once grandmother's and most recently — after Paul's death — was Beatrice's — Now used only for company.
Upstairs are the two big bedrooms, over parlor and sitting room with walk-in closets in each — and a little bedroom over the front hall.
In the north room there are several interesting pieces of furniture made by grandpa, a fan poster bed of curly maple and a bureau of maple and mahogany veneer. Also two chairs, one a ladderback possibly made by him — The other a black painted Windsor originally from mother's old home in Manchester.
In the South room there are four antique bureaus, but not of grandpa's work. There is one treasure of his, however — a little bedside stand of "tiger" maple which an antique dealer has been begging me for for years. His latest offer was $350 — but I think I have finally convinced him it is not for sale.
In the parlor there is part of grandma's set of mahogony purchased I imagine at about the time when they took over the hole house and changed the room from kitchen to parlor.
There were originally 6 side chairs but two went to Carrie wehn she married and 2 to Russell when he did. The smaller sofa with the green upholstery was originally mother's grandmothers (a Bond) and fell to mother's cousin Alice Bond in New Jersey. She sold it to me for $25 which was what an antique man would have paid her — and was in bad condition. So I had it all done over for $100 — and prize it highly.
In the sitting room there is of course mother's old piano now over 100 years old, a pine settle a reproduction of an antique made by Wallace Nutting and purchased by me, 2 little rockers — one that was Beatrice's mothers — in which she was rocked as a baby. The other, a maple rocker — which has quite a history — Bought at an auction by Freeyseus? Yeaton for 25 cents he told me proudly he had been offered $5 for it. I told him I'd gladly give him $10 when he wanted to sell he. He made no reply — but after his death I learned that the first thing in his will was that I was to have that chair! I had it created and sent to New Jersey where I had all the coats of paint scrpaed off back to the original maple I asked the man how old he thought it was telling him from what I knew of its history it might be 100 yrs — and he said "I think it might be 200 yrs old. I''ve never seen one just like it." So that is one of my treasures!
Another antique, built by our grandfather is the drop-leaf table between the two front windows.
In conclusion, a few more facts about this house and its furnishings.
As beforementioned, the main house consists of a big central hall — with parlor and sitting room opening from it. Above these two rooms are the two master bedrooms and a small bedroom over the hall. In the North room are several interesting examples of our grandfather's skill as a cabinet maker. (1) a bureau of pine with mahogany veneer, (2) a four poster bed of curley maple — equipped originally with rope interlacings instead of springs — and straw tick and feather bed in lieu of mattress. This was much later, modernized by a box spring and mattress — made to order to fit the bed which like all beds of that early era had been made shorter than normal today — where men's height has increased. There are also two antique chairs — one a ladder-back made by grandpa — the other a black-painted Windsor which came from mother's old home in Manchester. In the hall bedroom there is a mate to this chair.
The two bureaus in the south room were not made by grandpa. The larger one on the east wall was brought here by Paul's first wife — (your mother, David). The other was bought by me when I was helping to furnish an apt in Bloomfield.
There is, however, one very choice piece of grandfather's works — the little "tiger" maple bedside stand, which an antique dealer has been trying to buy for years — his latest offer being $350. I think I have made him understand it is not for sale at any price. (I'm sorry this is repetittion.)
Also upstairs over the kitchen and over the whole ell is an unfurnished room — called "the corn-chamber" under the eaves — hot insummer — and icy cold in winter — but there is a window at the western end and space there for a bed — and when the family is all present it is put to use to accommodate the younger generation.
The kitchen's most unusual feature is a set of four drawers of maple set into the wall between the two south windows my grandfather's work of course. Also between those two same windows is a large drop-leaf table — which I believe was the first dining room table. There never was a dining room in the house — and the kitchen now serves as dining room as well.
The wall cabinets on the north and west sides were all made and installed many years later by Paul, who inherited a great deal of his grandfather's skill.
In Beatrice's room is another of grandfathers maple and mahogany veneer bureaus , the veneer is very bad condition alas!
The furnace, electricity and bathroom were all installed in 1947.
(Excuse the many mistakes!)
