Other resource materials on the history of Clinton, Maine Clinton IndustriesClinton Disasters Clinton Organization Clinton Historical Society To return

Other resource materials on the history of Clinton, Maine

Clinton Industries

Clinton Disasters

Clinton Organization

Clinton Historical SocietyClinton Historical Society

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Clinton Geography

Clinton Schools

The Brown Memorial Library on Railroad Street in Clinton, Maine has many resource materials for people researching the history of our town:

The History Of Clinton Maine (By Major General Carlton Edward Fisher)

An in depth history of the town from its early settlers to 1970.

Clinton Maine Vital Records (By Major General Carlton Edward Fisher)

The births, marriages, and deaths from Clinton records up to 1892

The Clinton Advertiser, a local newspaper published from 1877 to 1909A small, weekly newspaper all bound in hard covered books

Illustrated History of Kennebec County, Maine (by Henry D. Kingsbury, & Simeon L. Deyo)

This is a book about the whole county published in 1892, with a section on just Clinton

There are many small booklets written for events held in Clinton over the years available at the Library or from the Clinton Historical Society.

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Spaulding

Clinton Woolen

Davis

F.E. Whitman

Besse Tannery

Runnels

Maine Cascade

Cooper Weymouth

Canning Factory

The Clinton Historical Society plans to make a history of the canning factory available in the future

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SPAULDING MANUFACTURING COMPANY The Spaulding Mfg. Co. was a manufacturer of wooden ware specialties. C. W. Spaulding, the proprietor, was in business by himself several years and for five years prior to that was associated with J. B. Davis under the firm name of Spaulding & Davis. The factory of the Spaulding Manufacturing Co. was 36 x 60 feet and two stories. The equipment included buzz planer, moulder, saw benches, boring machine amid laud saw. Among the specialties manufactured were clothes dryers, wall bars, paper racks, clothes sticks, bread boards, cutting boards, clothes horses, extension step ladders, ironing tables, sleeve boards, wash benches, and wall racks. These goods were sold through canvassing agents and had a large sale not only throughout New England but also in New York and Pennsylvania. In the manufacture of these articles large amounts of hardwood and bass wood were consumed, and native wood largely used.


The Clinton Historical Society plans to make a history of the Clinton WoolenMill available in the future.


DAVIS MANUFACTURING COMPANY

The Davis Manufacturing Co. had an extensive plant in which woodenware novelties for the household were manufactured. J.B. Davis, the sole proprietor, was for a period of years the partner of C. W. Spaulding under the name of Spaulding & Davis. The plant included a mill and an addition 100 feet long and two stories; stock room 100 ft; two store houses each 100 feet; and a store house 20 x 25 feet. The machinery included a double surface planer, eight inch outside moulder, swing cut off saw, multiple bearing machine, irregular moulder, buzz planer, three dowel machines, tenon machine, double cut off saw, wood turning lathe, iron lathe, emery grinder and three saw benches. The product was sold by canvassing agents and was distributed over a wide area. Among the specialties were ironing tables, sleeve boards, extension step ladders, clothes reels, wash benches, curtain stretchers, broom holders, cake boards, wall racks and clothes dryers.


F. E. WHITMAN’S REFRIGERATOR FACTORY Prominent among Clinton’s industries was the manufacture of refrigerators and store fixtures by F. E. Whitman. Learning the business in Worcester, Mass., Mr. Whitman was engaged in manufacturing for three years in Boston and established himself in Clinton in 1905. A large and steadily expanding business was developed and the output of the plant had a wide distribution. The factory was about 120 x 28 feet and was two stories and a half. The machinery equipment included a band saw, cylinder planer, buzz planer, irregular moulder, cutting off saws, dowel machines and turning lathes. Storage refrigerators were made for markets, grocers, restaurants and florists and sectional refrigerators of all kinds were built to order. Mr. Whitman made for a Rumford market a storage refrigerator 20 ft. long, 14 feet wide and 12 ft. high with a capacity of a car load of beef. He built for Davis & Robinson of Waterville, who were erecting a new block, a cold storage refrigerator 38 ft. long, 14 ft. wide and 9ft. high. Other products manufactured were meat tables, blocks, fish chests and ice cream cabinets. All kinds of store fixtures were also made and also counters and shelves. A specialty was also made in the line of candle pins for bowling. Mr. Whitman reported his business doubled every year for the first five years. The plant originally was powered by an eighteen horse power gasoline engine but soon was converted to electric power when Clinton Water and Electric was able to serve them. The firm, having only made ice box refrigeration, went out of business in 1935 when the trend to use electric refrigeration came into being.


FRANK L. BESSE’S TANNERY

Clinton’s leading industry was the tannery of Frank L. Besse. The plant was located in the immediate vicinity of the Maine Central Railroad station. The business was inaugurated in Albion and was transferred to Clinton in 1890. At the time this industry was removed to Clinton the firm name was J. B. Besse & Son but the father did not long survive the transfer of the business from Albion and the son, Frank L. Besse, became the sole proprietor. The main tannery was 80 x 40 feet, three stories, with an addition on the side. The cold air drying lofts were 120 feet, with two floors; 100 feet with two floors, and 60 feet with three floors. The bark mill was 60 x 30 feet and the boiler house 24 x l6 feet. The capacity of the plant was from 200 to 250 dozen sheep skins daily. During the winter months the tannery usually ran at full capacity, while the remainder of the year from 150 to 175 dozen skins were daily tanned. The product of the establishment was sheepskin russet leather and this was shipped all over the country largely for the western trade. The skins tanned come largely from across the water. From eighteen to forty hands were employed throughout its existence. In tanning, hemlock bark was largely used in the early years. Mr. Besse was at the head of the wholesale leather house of Besse, Osborn & OdelI with headquarters at 51 South St., Boston.


Runnels Manufacturing Ralph Benjamin Runnels grew up in Clinton going through Clinton school system and furthering his education at Thomas College in Waterville. He joined the Clinton Board of Trade, and was for several year engaged in trade. Davis Manufacturing on Pleasant Street had just burned, and Ralph had watched Charles Spaulding and John Davis become very successful in the woodenware business. Their goods had been sold through canvassing agents and had a large sale not only throughout New England, but also in New York and Pennsylvania. They were shipping by rail and the Clinton railroad station was making Clinton closer to rest of the United States. Ralph thought his experience in trade and business could help in a venture in the woodenware trade. He bought an old building and moved it behind his house on High Street. With one workman and one salesman in 1922, Ralph started what would become his claim to Clinton fame for the next quarter century. The machinery included a planer, six-inch outside moulder, a multiple boring machine, a dowel machine, emery grinders and bench saws. He now too had his products sold by canvassing agents. The company had sales outlets in Chicago, Boston, New York and High Point, North Carolina. Among their products were ironing tables, sleeve boards, cake boards, wall racks and clothes dryers. A lot of product came from this small shop, though it never employed more than seven or eight men. In the latter part of World War II, they sold carloads of tables, designed by his son Everett, to the Army and Navy. In 1946 Runnels Manufacturing was sold and it burned two years later.


The Clinton Historical Society plans to make a history of the Maine Cascade available in the future.


The Clinton Historical Society plans to make a history of the Cooper Weymouth available in the future.


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Clinton High

Clinton Sports

Elementary

CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS The athletic program at Clinton High School started in 1923 with its first season of both boys' and girls' basketball. The girls played the half court game. Baseball and softball were played at school for many years, but they were not school supported until 1930. It is interesting that an article in the 1924 town report gave an explanation of athletics at the school. Athletics was not to be more important than academics, as was the case in many larger schools. We would never recruit students from out of town for their athletic abilities. The high school colors were white and maroon until changing to black and orange in the late 1920's. Baseball was played behind the school until 1931, when a new ball field with real dugouts was built between Railroad Street and Morrison Avenue. This field was used until sometime in the 1940’s, when play resumed behind the high school. In 1938 Clinton started seventh and eighth grade basketball to keep us competitive in high school ball. As before, both girls' and boys' teams started the same year. In the early 1940’s on the school grounds behind the High School were some clay tennis courts, although it is not known if tennis was ever a part of the school curriculum. The school adopted the tiger as the mascot in 1941. The game of basketball became very popular in the late 1940’s, and in 1950 the stage in the town hall was removed and the floor was extended. The removal of the black iron grate in the center of the floor saved many a skinned knee. The basketball program in the early 1950’s was exciting. Clinton won an Eastern Maine final, and TV sports announcer George Hale still talks about the Bobby Jones years.


Elementary


CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL In 1902, our fathers and grandfathers (women were not voting yet) voted to build their sons and daughters a new school, the place we fondly refer to today as "Dear Old Clinton High School". In February 1903, the first classes were held at this three-story building. The yellow building, sixty-eight feet long by forty-feet wide, had three rooms on the first floor, three rooms on the second floor, and one room on the third floor. There was a privy in a building in the back and to the right of the school. The building remained unchanged until 1917, when Frank L. Besse donated funds to install indoor plumbing and central heat. He also had the building wired for electricity the following year. In 1922 the commercial room on the second floor was divided into two rooms, as the sound of the new typewriters was annoying to the other students. In 1952 the School Improvement Association started the school lunch program. The high school students had to drive or walk from the high school building to the elementary school if they wanted hot lunch. The cost of this meal was twenty cents for many years. The school on Baker Street, though always called the High School, had all twelve grades for the first forty years of its’ existence. Clinton High School had just high school scholars for only six years. Though some would call it progress, while others feared the change, Clinton joined SAD #49, and after graduation in 1966, the high school students were bussed to Fairfield. A fire on July 25, 1975 closed the history on Clinton High School three quarters of a century after the ground had been broken.


Clinton High School Fire (25-July-1975) Despite a roaring start, local firefighters brought flames whipping through the officially closed, 73-year-old wooden frame Baker Street School here under control within an hour early Friday morning. Visible for miles, the predawn blaze officials say was of suspicious origin was partially kept contained by heavy moisture laden clouds, fog and even occasional light rain after it broke out around 3 am. Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, who is town manager and lives directly across the street from the three-story school, turned In the alarm after hearing a muffled explosion and looking out her front window to see a ball of fire enveloping the upper portion of the structure. The school was closed in June and, since then, was torn apart by vandals ‘who threw heat radiators out its windows, broke other glass panes, tore down part of the entrance, and ripped out water pipes, area residents reported. These acts occurred on an almost nightly basis, they said. Fire Chief Roland Tozier believes flames got their start on the third floor and said several of his 23 who responded to the scene told him there was a strong odor of kerosene at the site. Electrical power shut off some time ago, authorities noted, and the school was scheduled to be torn down later this summer, being replaced by the new Morrison Avenue School addition here. School administrative District 49 turned ownership of the former Clinton High School over to the town just last week with the opening of the new addition elsewhere in town scheduled in, September. Since 1966, the Baker Street School has housed the fifth through seventh grades. The remains of the structure will be burned down later burned by firemen, Tozier stated. The school was constructed in 1902 and its first graduating class of five students got their diplomas four year later is 1906. Until approximately 1940, the building housed all classrooms for the first grade straight through high school levels. The Morrison Avenue School was constructed and absorbed the elementary grades after that time. When Clinton joined Fairfield, Benton and Albion to form SAD 49 in 1966, the school ceased to be a high school because hose students were shifted to Lawrence high In Fairfield. No insurance coverage was kept on the school after it was closed in June due to its age and condition. (from the Morning Sentinel, July 26, 1975)

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Tannery Fire

Flood of 1936

CHS Fire

Canning Factory

Plane Crash

Rest-A-While

The Flood of 1936 Many bridges spanned the Sebasticook on Pleasant Street in Clinton’s first century. Speeding was a problem, even in the days of the horse and buggy. In 1860 the selectmen were authorized to erect signs at each end of the Sebasticook River bridge at the village, which warned: “Three dollars fine for riding or driving on this bridge faster than a walk.” $3500.00 was approved by voters in 1885 for our first iron bridge, 140 feet long with an 18-foot roadway, the height of the trestle in the center to be 24 feet. The Berlin Iron Bridge Company of East Berlin, Connecticut built the bridge; the stonework was done by two men from Augusta. It was opened to traffic in March 1886 after a total cost of about $6,000. Everett Gerald raised the bridge two and one-half feet in 1904 due to nearly losing it in the flood of 1901, but the change was not enough to save the structure in March 1936. The bridge was carried away, while the Hinckley Bridge was heavily damaged as were a number of smaller bridges over the streams. Ralph B. Runnels, first selectman at the time, pushed to get financial help for the town, and a temporary bridge in the village was built, at a cost of nearly $1,500. On 22 August 1936, the selectmen obtained an allotment of federal funds in the amount of $54,500; the state sponsored $4,500 and Clinton $3,000 for the construction of a new bridge. The flood also took out the old Learned Bridge at the end of the road that leads to the sewerage treatment facility. Here in 1891 was built an iron bridge, which is said to have replaced a wooden structure built about 1812. This bridge had two spans of ninety-six feet each, and was built by the towns of Clinton and Burnham and the county of Kennebec. Clinton paid one-half the total cost, which was approximately $6,000. The structure was built by Vermont Construction Company of St. Albans, Vermont, and it was never rebuilt.



Fire At The Rest-A-While

The Rest-A-While restaurant, dance hall, and cabins was located on the north side of the Bangor Road just east of the Clinton/Benton town line. My Grandfather, Roger Stinchfield, owned it. He specialized in chicken dinners. The local girls served them. Henrietta Simonson, Marion Simonson, Hazel Simonson, and Madelyn Harding. He had entertainment on Sunday. There was a bear and monkeys, as well as plane rides for the public with pilot Kermett Hatt from Canaan. One Sunday they threw dummies out of the plane that certainly got everyone’s attention. This was to promote business! He also had Sunday ball games out behind the cabins. It was August 13, 1932. He stayed over night at the restaurant because the Rest-A-While had been recently broken into. Suddenly there was an explosion! The kerosene heater or stove may have been turned up higher rather than off. His daughter-in-law, Pauline, who lived across the road, heard him hollering and ran over. She had to break part of the door to reach the lock. His hands and body were badly burned and he could not unlock the door because his skin stuck to the keys. An ambulance transported him to the hospital where he died the same day. He was 51 years old. My grandfather was born 22 Jan 1881 and died 13 Aug 1932. I, Roger (Babe) Clifford was only 6 years old. One thing that impressed me about my grandfather was the day he set me up on the counter and said “I have something for you”. He gave me my first ice cream cone. It was strawberry.

Roger (Babe) Clifford2 Nov 2001


The Plane Crash Try to imagine yourself in the place of Richard Wadsworth on the morning of August 14 th, 1944. A native of Yorkshire, England, he had trained as an aviator; he was in a foreign land; he had left Maine with $15.00 in his pocket and hitch-hiked across the United States; he had visited Hollywood, meeting some world-famous people; he had returned to Maine, broke but thrilled by a memorable holiday. Sub-Lt. Richard Wadsworth and three other pilots of the British Royal Navy were flying over the northern part of Clinton doing a training exercise. This was done in America because it was safer to fly here than in the air‑space over Europe. It was about 10:30 in the morning, and Maine was experiencing a heat wave, the hottest weather since back before the war began. One plane came up under the other and tore off a wing, causing a loud crash. An explosion, and a second explosion followed this. The sky filled with smoke, and small fragments of the planes filled the air. Floyd Giles helped steady Sub-Lt. Jack Grogan as his parachute carried him into a ditch on the Mutton Lane Road only a few feet from Floyd's home. One of the remaining two planes circled back as Jack and Floyd waved their arms to show that Jack was okay. About three quarters of a mile to the west was the bulk of the wreckage along with the body of Richard Wadsworth, still strapped to his seat. Wadsworth's only sibling, sister Nancy Wadsworth Gingell of Surry, England, came to Clinton in October 1993 to search for the details of her brother's demise. Wadsworth was buried in a naval cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Nancy's mother and father had always wanted to visit their son's grave, but they had never made the journey. Nancy had been there the day before her visit to Clinton. She met with many witnesses of the crash in a meeting at the Methodist church.


BaptistChurch

Eastern Star

Extension

Lions Club

Snowmobile Club

Methodist Church

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The Town and Country Trailriders Snowmobile Club Forty-seven enthusiastic snowmobilers met for the first time on March 16, 1971. They met in the old Town Hall banquet room, corner of Main and Railroad Streets. Their goal was to organize snowmobilers, promote safe snowmobiling, and maintain a good relationship with landowners. A committee brought in five names for the newly organized club, and Town and Country Trailriders was decided upon. It became incorporated on September 27, 1971. The original charter club officers were Charles Proctor, President; Manley Gower, Vice President; Fred Pierce, Treasurer; and Sandra Woods, Secretary. On May 23, 1972, a motion was made and it was voted that they build their own clubhouse. They purchased their present clubhouse site on the Mutton Lane Road from Holman Gibson for the meager price of $200. From there on out it was blood, sweat and tears until the land was cleared and a building 28x30 was erected. In 1977 they doubled the size of the building. The club stays 100% Maine Snowmobile Association affiliated. They have MSA representatives that attend monthly meetings to keep up with state snowmobile information. The club stays actively involved in the statewide snowmobiler's fund raiser project for the Pine Tree Camp. They have thank-you suppers each year for the landowners of land that the trails cross. They put on suppers for various organizations in town. They maintain approximately thirty-seven miles of club trails. They have a state of the art dragging machine, and many hours are put into brushing out trails, building bridges, and marking the trails. They encourage anyone, snowmobile owner or not, to join the club and become a member of the snowmobiling family. They have had many club officers over the years, but none stand out more than our twelve year president, A. Keith Hunter. His many years of dedicated service was remembered in 1993, when, at the landowners supper, he was presented with a plaque dedicating the clubhouse in his name. HAPPY SNOWMOBILING. THINK SNOW!!


The Clinton Lions Club The Clinton Lions Club had its beginning in April of 1953. International Organizer Larry Barnes, District Governor George Clements, and Waterville Lion Edmond Longley all assisted Carroll Keene and many local businessmen in its formation. After a few preliminary meetings, a good sized group of men met near the old stage in the Clinton Town Hall and decided to form a Clinton Lions Club. A telegram was sent to Lions International on 21 April 1953 with names of twenty members and announced that a new Lions Club had been formed. It is noted that Dr. Fred Sullivan could not be present on this evening and did not get to sign the charter prior to its framing; therefore, there are only nineteen signers. Meetings were originally held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. That was soon changed to, and remains to date, the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from September to June. Interestingly enough, the first major fund raising project has continued to be the club's major project. In October 1954, the Clinton High School Athletic Fund was $200 in debt for new basketball warm-up suits for its championship team. The Lions planned a "field day" to be held behind the High School on Baker Street to help raise the money. They run a full-fledged State Agricultural Fair today. Ed Knowles brought in the first rides, a Ferris wheel and chair swings, and things started to change. He was followed by Clif Mullens, and in 1968 by Ace Amusements, run by Thomas DeVito. Larry Cushing has provided the midway rides for the last several years. In the fall of 1962, the club purchased six acres of land from Rueben Page. A gravel base was placed in 1964, a 66' by 44' "hot top" base was placed on it, and an outdoor dance was held at the fairgrounds. In 1965, a 40' by 60' clear span pavilion was built by the club. Other improvements since have included a dining room (kitchen, plus roof on posts) in 1967, restrooms in 1968, a refreshment stand in 1970, major renovations to the pulling ring in 1971, a french fry stand in 1973, and in 1977, a fully enclosed 30' by 40' diner was built to replace the original one and a well was drilled by Weeks and Son. The Lion's provided the labor for the horse barn that was built for the riding club, and the Lions use this during the fair. A 12' by 60' annex was added to the pavilion in 1992, and in 1994 the 4-H and Grange exhibition hall was built. A new diner was built in August of 2003 after the previous building was leveled in a wind storm. In the early 1980’s, mechanical pulling became an additional attraction at the fair. Under the direction of Fair Chairman Jon Whitten, Sr., the fair has shown much growth. In the 1970's, the fair expanded to three days - Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, and in 1983 it expanded to Thursday evening also. The club has never lost sight of its goal to help those in need. The club believes now, more than ever, that they follow the Lions motto: WE SERVE


Clinton Evening ExtensionThe Clinton Junior Extension Association was formed in 1953 under the continuing education division of the University of Maine. In 1956 the name was changed to Clinton Evening Extension. The local unit belongs to a county organization which is run by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Training sessions and programs are offered through these offices. The Cooperative Extension "strives to promote a better way of life for all through fellowship, continuing education and service to provide guidance in our homes and communities for the uniting of people to make the world a better place in which to live." In the early days, through the county program, the group was taught to perform Emergency Feedings in case of local tragedy. Strict guidelines were given on how to feed a large number of people in a short amount of time. Regular drills were held at meetings with the number of people and the time required to feed them reported to the county. Meetings are held once a month in members homes or at the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The programs cover a variety of subjects of interest to the modern woman, from cooking and sewing, to health issues and financial management. Always concerned with the community, the group has long supported the schools, library, 4-H Club, and bible schools, and has equipped the Town Banquet Hall with dishes. Since 1962 members have staffed the Well Baby Clinic. This service provides immunizations and medical evaluations to pre-school children of the town. Everyone enjoys the opportunity to support the Clinton Senior Citizens organization, a well as other seniors in town, with meals and gifts on special occasions. The Evening Extension has supplied the schools with extras such as televisions and VCR's. Funds are provided for incentive programs, scholarships for higher education, and a Girl's State delegate. The group provides Christmas gifts for needy children, aid to fire victims and others with special needs, and supports the Clinton Community Food Bank. During the years, a variety of projects have been tried for raising funds to support community service. In the beginning, plastic parties, craft sales, and suppers were held. The sale of dish cloths has been ongoing since the group formed. Cookbooks have been published in 1964 and again in 1971. Craft sales and Lions Club suppers were the mainstay for years. In the mid 1970's, the group decided to try a Dough Boy booth at the Clinton Lions Club Fair. This booth has grown from a portable one with a canvas roof to a permanent building on the fairgrounds. This effort, along with Clinton Lions Club suppers, provides most of the funds needed to support all activities. The group has become affiliated with the Somerset Extension Service and is looking forward to many more years of community service in Clinton.


Clinton Baptist Church On December 27, 1887 the Waterville Quarterly Meeting met at Oakland, Maine, at which a group of Baptists requested permission to establish a church at Clinton. On February 25, 1888 the Clinton Village Free Baptist Church was organized. Meetings were held at the home of William Lamb, or at the Union Church on Church Street. Rev. Albert Dodge, a Clinton native and William Lamb's son-in-law, was the first pastor, with a salary of $450 per year payable monthly. On August 3, 1888 plans were submitted for a church building, and on August 20th excavation began. Four days later the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, and a box containing various articles was deposited in it by senior deacon Joseph Spearin. The church was finished, except for painting, on Dec. 31, 1888 and used for services, although it wasn't formally dedicated until August 24, 1889. The day of the dedication, fourteen hundred dollars remained unpaid, but before the dedicatory sermon was preached, the unpaid balance was pledged. The total cost was $3,832.41. William Lamb gave the land, labor, and some materials. In those days it was customary for the men to sit on one side of the church or meeting place and the women on the other. At communion the cup was passed from man to man, each taking a sip before passing it on, while the women did the same. Several years ago the church severed its connections with the Quarterly Meeting and became known as the Clinton Baptist Church, which name it still bears. In 1954 the balcony was divided into classrooms and a nursery. A kitchen and Sunday School rooms were constructed in the basement. Beginning in 1966, an addition of 36 x 40 feet was added to the east end of the building. Seven new classrooms were located in the basement, and the main auditorium was lengthened about twenty-five feet, leaving room for a baptistry and Pastor's study to the rear of the pulpit. In January 1977, the church voted to establish Clinton Christian School and the first session opened in September of that year. In 1978 a two-story school building was constructed by men of the church. During the course of operating the school, there were 40 graduates. It was closed by vote of the church as of June 1990. A new parsonage was built on the Horseback Road in Clinton in 1974. Extensive damage occurred when a lightening bolt hit the church steeple in March 1983. Clinton Baptist Church has faithfully proclaimed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for over 100 years - it observed its centennial in February 1988.


Brown Memorial United Methodist Church The well-known evangelist and circuit rider, Jesse Lee, who traveled the area on horseback, introduced Methodist preaching to the people of Clinton in 1794. In 1802, a class was formed with Jonathan Brown as its leader. For 45 years, the meetings were held in the Brown home on upper Main and in two schoolhouses. (One schoolhouse was located on Town House Hill, Bellsqueeze Road; the other was located part way up Gospel Hill, Bangor Road). In 1847, the Union Church was built on a lot across Church Street from the present United Methodist Church, with Congregationalists, Methodists, and Universalists meeting there. It was told by Miss Sarah E. Richardson that her father was present one evening at a Methodist prayer meeting that was held on the front steps of the Union Church. It was held on the steps because the Methodists arrived to find the Church doors locked. They were informed that they were holding too many meetings and were wearing out the carpets too fast. It was at that front-step prayer meeting that the Methodists decided to build their own church! The present church building was completed and dedicated on September 27, 1866. The original building was much smaller than today's structure. Extensive remodeling was undertaken in 1884, when William W. Brown of Portland, son of Jonathan and Betsy Michaels Brown, expended nearly $3,000 in making improvements. The audience room (sanctuary) was cut in two, 12 feet were added, and a vestry was built that opened onto the sanctuary by means of upward sliding partitions of ground glass. Both rooms were beautifully finished in fresco, with a seating capacity of nearly 400. In the upper story of the vestry building, the ladies had a fine parlor, with a kitchen and cloak room. It was dedicated as Brown Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in memory of the original class leader, Jonathan Brown, and his wife, Betsy. A beautiful stained-glass window was installed above the pulpit in their memory. In 1893, the present parsonage was built. In 1937, the old barn was torn down, and a new garage was built at the Parsonage. In 1977-78, the inside of the parsonage was completely renovated and insulated, and a new furnace and combination windows were installed. The United Methodist Women paid for the new windows and papered the rooms. A new chimney was built in 1980 at the parsonage. Major structural repairs were made to the foundation and basement floor in 1992, and a new drainage system, a new oil tank, and a new hot water heater were installed. The fellowship hall was built in 2001, and has enjoyed by the whole community. This is a church with open hearts, open minds and open doors.


Fireside Chapter #103 (The order of the Eastern Star) Fireside Chapter #103 was instituted February 11, 1904 and constituted June 10, 1904. The Chapter meets on the second Monday of each month (except for July and August) at 7:30 p.m. The Order of the Eastern Star is a social and charitable organization that was founded by the Masons in the mid 1800's. The Order supports many national charities including Heart, Cancer, Arthritis, Diabetes, as well as local charities. It provides social activities that people of all ages enjoy. An ESTARL (Eastern Star Training Award for Religious Leadership) fund at State level provides many scholarships, totaling $10,000 or more, to individuals entering religious fields. Fireside Chapter has contributed to this fund each year since its establishment in the 1950's. Fireside Chapter has been honored by the Grand Chapter of Maine with several appointments. Sister Marjorie Goodwin was elected as Worthy Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Maine, and Brothers Carroll W. Keene and C. Ross Buzzell were each elected as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine. Sisters Lila Watson, Carrie Greenleaf and Margaret Drew served as District Deputy Grand Matrons. Sisters Velma McKenney, Bertha Thrasher, Nancy Locke, and Joyce Rowe have served as Grand Representatives to other Grand Jurisdictions. A Traveling Jewel was presented to the chapter by the late Past Matron, Elizabeth Darling. Sister Barbara Rogers was the first Worthy Matron to wear it. Sister Nancy Locke and Brother Raymond Locke presented the chapter with a Traveling Jewel for the Worthy Patron. These pins are worn with pride as the Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron travel throughout the various jurisdictions. Fireside Chapter is a vital part of the town of Clinton's history, and hopes to do even more in the years ahead to promote peace and prosperity in the community.



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current 1795

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The original shape of Clinton, Massachusetts in 1795 was as follows:North boundary was a straight East to West line at about 10° to the north.East boundary was a straight North to South line perpendicular to the North boundary. South boundary was a line along M-1’s South boundary established by the great lots.West boundary was the center of the Kennebec River.Today Clinton is much smaller.The following slides will show how Clinton got to its current geometry.

Approved 31 January 1814 by the Governor. (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)AN ACT TO SET OFF JONAH CROSBY, JR., AND OTHERS FROM THE TOWN OF CLINTON AND ANNEX THEM TO THE TOWN OF FAIRFAX. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that Jonah Crosby, Jr., Ezra Crosby, and Jonah Crosby 3rd, with a tract of land bounded as follows, to wit: beginning on the north line of the town of Fairfax, one hundred and eighty rods to the eastward of the north-west corner of Fairfax aforesaid; thence running north, twenty-two degrees east, half a mile; thence east-southeast to the east line of the town of Clinton; thence south; twenty-two degrees west, to the north line of Fairfax; thence west-northwest to the first mentioned bounds, be, and are hereby set off from the town of Clinton, in the county of Kennebec, and annexed to the town of Fairfax (now Albion) in the same county.

Removed from Clinton on 31 Jan 1814

18141795

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AN ACT TO SET OFF SHUBAL DIXON AND ALEXANDER POTTER FROM PIITTSFIELD TO CLINTONApproved 7 March 1830. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Legislature assembled, That Shubal Dixon, with his estate, poll and farm, being number one in Letter B, number six on great lot G, containing two hundred acres, according to a plan made by Daniel Stewart, Jr., surveyor, dated the sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, with the land lying between said farm and the east line of the town of Clinton, and Alexander Potter, with his estate, poll and farm, adjoining said Dixon farm, and containing about two hundred acres, be, and hereby are set off from the town of Pittsfield, in the county of Somerset, and annexed to the town of Clinton, in the county of Kennebec: Provided however, That the said Dixon and Potter shall be held to pay all taxes assessed upon them in said town of Pittsfield, prior to the passing of this Act. Section 2. Be it further enacted, That the dividing line between the towns of Pittsfield and Clinton as established by this Act, shall be, and constitute, the dividing line, between the counties of Kennebec and Somerset, so far as the same runs between said counties, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.

18301814

Added to Clinton on 7 Mar 1830

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AN ACT TO DIVIDE THE TOWN OF CLINTON AND TO INCORPORATE THE TOWN OF SEBASTICOOK Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: Section 1. All that part of the town of Clinton, which lies south and east of the following dividing line viz: beginning on the Kennebec river. In the center line between L 2 and K I, thence east-southeast on said line to the Sebasticook river; thence up said river, in the center thereof, to the east line of Clinton, be, and the same is, hereby incorporated into a town by the name of Sebasticook, with all the privileges and powers, and subject to all the duties of incorporated town in this State; and until another general apportionment, shall be classed with the town of Clinton and Clinton Gore for the choice of representative to the state legislature Section 2. All taxes assessed by authority of the town of Clinton, which remain unpaid at the time of the passage of this act, shall be collected by the several collectors of the town of Clinton, remaining on bills to them committed, agreeably to their several warrants, and pay the same into the respective treasurers of said town of Clinton and Sebasticook, in the proportions in which said assessments were made, on polls and estates pertaining to said towns respectively; and all debts due from said town of Clinton, shall be paid by said towns in said proportions, and all funds and debts, and all personal and real property belonging to said town of Clinton, shall be owned and divided between said towns, in the same proportions, the same to be ascertained by the last valuation of the town of Clinton. Section 3. The town of Sebasticook shall be holden to pay their proportion for the support of all paupers actually chargeable upon the town of Clinton, at the time of the passage of this act, to be ascertained as in the foregoing section.

18421830Removed from Clinton(Sebasticook later Benton) on 16 Mar 1842

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AN ACT TO SET OFF LORENZO GERALD, TOGETHER WITH HIS ESTATE, FROM CLINTON, IN THE COUNTY OF KENNEBEC, TO CANAAN, IN THE COUNTY OF SOMER SET.Approved 24 July 1849.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled:The south part of check lot numbered four, on great lot G, one, and the south parts of lots numbered one and two B, five, on said great lot G, one, in the town of Clinton, in the county of Kennebec, together with the estate of Lorenzo Gerald, who now lives on the south part of said lot number two B, five, be and the same are set off from said town of Clinton, in the county of Kennebec, and annexed to the town of Canaan in the county of Somerset: Provided, however, that said Lorenzo Gerald, and the proprietors of lots set off as aforesaid, shall be holden to pay all taxes legally assessed upon said Gerald and upon said parts of lots hereby set off, prior to the passage of this act. (This act was repealed 8 August 1850 see next slide)

1849

Removed from Clintonon 24 Jul 1849

1842

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THE ACT TO SET OFF LORENZO GERALD, TOGETHER WITH HIS ESTATE, FROM CLINTON, IN THE COUNTY OF KENNEBEC, TO CANAAN, IN THE COUNTY OF SOMER SET.This is the Act that was Approved 24 July 1849.

(This act was repealed 8 August 1850)

1849 1850

Added to Clintonon 8 Jul 1850

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AN ACT TO SET OFF A PORTION OF THE TOWN OF BENTON, AND ANNEX IT TO CLINTON.Approved 24 March 1853Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows:Section 1. The range line between L 2 and K 1, shall be the dividing line between the town of Benton and Clinton, in the county of Kennebec, on the east side of the Sebasticook river, and that part of Benton lying north of said range line be and is hereby set off from Benton and annexed to Clinton.

18531850

Added to Clintonon 24 March 1853

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AN ACT TO DIVIDE CLINTON GORE PLANTATION AND ANNEX THE SAME TO ADJOINING TOWNS. Approved 26 February 1873 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, as follows: Section 1. Clinton Gore plantation in the county of Kennebec shall be divided by the following described line, viz: Beginning at a point in the east line of said plantation at the southeast corner of Luther Means land; thence running westerly on the south line of said Means land, and in the direction of said line to the town of Clinton. And all that part of said plantation lying north of said dividing line, with the inhabitants thereon, shall be annexed to the town of Burnham in the county of Waldo, and shall become a part of said town of Burnham, and be included in said county of Waldo.And all that part of said plantation lying south of said dividing line, with the inhabitants thereon, shall be annexed to the town of Clinton and become a part thereof. And the corporate powers and organization of said plantation shall cease on the passage of this act; except that they shall continue for the period of one year, for the sole purpose of collecting its dues, and paying such debts as may be due when this act takes effect. Section 2. The inhabitants, with the estates so set off and annexed to the said town of Burnham, shall be holden to pay the arrears of all taxes legally assessed upon them, and shall assume and pay all liabilities, and shall be entitled to all the benefits growing out of the issuing of four bonds of five hundred dollars each, voted by said plantation in aid to the Belfast and Moosehead Lake railroad; and shall also pay their proportion of all other corporate debts and liabilities, due or owing from said plantation at the time this act takes effect, (CONTINUED ON NEXT SLIDE)

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1853 1873 Clinton GoreAdded to Clintonon 26 FEB 1873

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said proportion to be ascertained by the last valuation of said plantation; and the same shall be assessed by the proper officers of the said town of Burnham as a special tax upon the lands, property and inhabitants of said plantation, so set off, at such times, and in such sums, as the same, or any part thereof, may become due, and collected in the same manner as other town taxes, and paid by the treasurer of said town. And said inhabitants and estates so set off shall not be liable to be taxed in the town of Burnham for any of the indebtedness of said town prior to the passage of this act.Section 3. The inhabitants, with the estates so set off and annexed to the town of Clinton, shall be holden to pay the arrears of all taxes which have been legally assessed upon them, together with their proportion of all corporate debts and liabilities due, or owing from said Clinton Gore plantation, at the time this act takes effect, said proportion to be ascertained as in section two. And the same may be assessed by the proper officers of the town of Clinton as a special tax upon the lands, property and inhabitants of said plantation, so set off, at such times, and in such sums, as the same or any part thereof, may become due, and collected in the same manner of said town. Except that they shall not be holden for any liabilities nor be entitled to any of the benefits growing out of the issuing of any bonds by said plantation in aid of the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad. And the inhabitants and estates so set off and annexed, shall not be liable to be taxed in the town of Clinton for any of the indebtedness of said town incurred prior to the passage of this act; but, in assessing taxes for that purpose, the assessors of Clinton shall omit the lands, property and inhabitants residing on the territory hereby annexed. Section 4. For the purpose of assessing state and county taxes after the passage of this act, there shall be added to the valuation of the town of Burnham, seventeen thousand five hundred and seventy dollars. And to it’s number of polls twenty-six; so that its valuation hereafter shall be one hundred and ninety-two thousand five hundred and seventy-seven dollars. And its number of polls shall be one hundred and ninety-two. And there shall be added to the valuation of the town of Clinton four thousand five hundred and twenty-eight dollars, and to its number of polls nine; so that its valuation hereafter shall be four hundred and thirty-three thousand three hundred and forty dollars. And its number of polis shall be four hundred and twelve. Section 5. Until a new apportionment of the state shall be made the inhabitants of said plantation, so set off and annexed to the town of Burnham, shall vote for state and county officers, representatives to congress, senators and representatives in the state legislature with the inhabitants of the said town of Burnham. And the inhabitants of that part of said plantation set off and annexed to the town of Clinton shall vote for the same officers with the inhabitants of the said town of Clinton. Section 6. This act shall take effect when approved.

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.

Clinton Goreadded to Clintonon 26 Feb 1873

added to Clinton on 7 Mar 1830

removed from Clintonon 24 Jul 1849

added back to Clintonon 8 Aug 1850

removed from Clinton on 16 Mar 1842added back to Clinton24 Mar 1853

removed from Clinton(Sebasticook later Benton) on 16 Mar 1842

removed from Clinton on 31 Jan 1814

So these are the changes that has made Clinton, Maine what it is today.

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NextClinton, the most northeasterly town in Kennebec County is twenty-eight miles north-east of Augusta. It is bounded on the north by Canaan and Skowhegan, on the east by Pittsfield, Burnham, and Unity Plantation, south by Benton, and west by Fairfield. This town was a part of Hancock Plantation prior to 1795, and on 28 February 1795, it was incorporated as the town of Clinton, Massachusetts. In 1820 it became Clinton, Maine when Maine was set off from Massachusetts. It is 138 miles north from the New Hampshire state line at Kittery, Maine on Interstate I95 and is at Exit 138.

Clinton, MaineNorth 44° 38.32’

West 69° 30.15’

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70°west

69°west

44°North

45°NorthState of Maine

County of KennebecTown of Clinton

Kennebec County is between 44° & 45° latitude and between

69° & 70° longitude.

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Town of Clinton

69°west

44°North

45°North

70°west

River R

d

Route 23

Route 100

Horseback R

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Mutton Lane R

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Johnson Flat Rd

Hill R

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Bellsqueeze Rd

Goodrich Rd

Town House Hill Rd

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Clinton Villagesee next slide

Rural roads in Clinton, Maine Return to main menu

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Clinton, Maine VillageReturn to

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Darling AveSilver StreetDiamond Ave

Park Ave

CindyBlodgettDrive

Silver St

Railroad St

Lamb AveSpring St

Winn

Baker St

High ST Pearl ST Holt Rd

McNally RD

Victor Ln

Diamond Ave

Long AveGold St

Channing PL

Maine Central RR

Sebasticook Cir

Seb

astic

ook

Riv

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Church

MorrisionAve

Main St

Water St

St

Ave

PleasantSt

J. Burrell 32

30

31

Stone Range

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K-2

I-1

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J. Malbon 20

E. Chase 9

S

R. Chase 29E. Chase 28

S. Whidden 33

SS

S

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F. Jackins 17

SS

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S. Goodwin 13B. Kendall 12

J. Spearin 16

Winn Reed &Wm. Howard

A. RoundyH. BickfordM. Bickford

N. Spencer

I Spencer

S

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SS

SS

S

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1

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2JohnaCrosby

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M. Chase 25

R. Chase 8

E. Sherwin 5E. Brown 4

D. Spencer

J Phillbrook

S

Thwing

Williams Track

G. Michaels

DOE

W. Richardson

SS

S

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This map is a result of a survey of the great lots by Charles Hayden in 1811.

The next view will enlarge the names of those who owned these lots in 1811.

M-1

M-2

L-1

L-2

K-1

K-2

I-1

I-2

H-1

H-2

G-1

1

1

S. Widden 33J. Burrell 32R. Chase 29E. Chase 28M. Chase 25J. Melbon 20F. Jackins 17J. Spearin 16

S. Goodwin 13B. Kendall 12

E. Chase 9E. Sherwin 5

E. Brown 4

Stone RangeWilliams TrackT.H. WingG. MichaelsW. RichardsonWinn Reed & Wm. Howard

H. BickfordA. Roundy

N. SpencerI. SpencerD. SpencerJ. PhillbrookJohna Crosby

M. Bickford

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Documents

Other resource materials on the history of Clinton, Maine Clinton IndustriesClinton Disasters Clinton Organization Clinton Historical Society To return