Saturday, 04 September 2010

Monkey Publishing Gallery
Photograph taken by the G. L. Doe Studio (advertised as opposite the Hotel Burleigh). The identity of the house is unknown. The sign over the door seems to say: "D.M. McManus." From William Tasker's personal collection.

House in Aroostook - Unidentified 		An oldest, old and more recent photos of the H.B. Pratt House on North Main Street was built in 1889 by Nathaniel Stover, a Civil War veteran and Eliza Pratt's third husband. Eliza had purchased the Abram Sawin House across the street. More on that later. Pictures courtesy of Brenda Shaw, author of "Eliza and Menora," via her second cousin, once removed: David Pratt.

H.B. Pratt House on North Main in Caribou 		This picture is from the 1890s and shows the William Duncan family in front of the Albion Stratton/William Duncan House. Photo courtesy of Kris (Chapman) Headley - a descendent. Her father removed the dormers seen on the right side of the main building of the house. Headley relates that the stairway inside the house has been moved three times.

Early Photo of the Albion Stratton House
This picture is labeled on the back as: "Caribou Grammar School Class of 1898 - May 13, 1898. Perhaps someone can help identify the students. From William Tasker's personal collection.

Caribou Grammar School 1898 		The David and Kate (Chapman) Duncan House on what is now Hines Street. David and Kate are on the left. Courtesy of Kris (Chapman) Headley.

The David Duncan House on Hines Street in Washburn 		The Moody House in Perham taken in the mid-1940s. The Moody House is featured in the Pioneer Homes of Washburn: Including Perham, Wade and Crouseville. Image provided by Frank and Anita Moody.

The Moody House
Today's taxes are considerably higher. Courtesy of Peter Jenerette

George Farnsworth's Caribou Tax Bills 		Three generations of the Moody family, one of the original families of Perham. Frank Clifton Moody - Born April 26, 1853 (son of pioneer Robert Moody) Fred Chandler Moody - Born September 12, 1891 (son of Frank) LeRoy Clifton Moody - Born December 7, 1916 (son of Fred) Picture courtesy of Frank and Anita Moody.

Three Moody Generations

Henry Pratt
Inside the Moody House, this photo features the children of Fred Chandler Moody and his wife, Nora Mae (Tupper) Moody: Standing left: Edna Rachel (Moody) Norton Standing right: Virginia Hope (Moody) Briggs Seated left: LeRoy Clifton Moody Seated right: Warren Lewis Moody Photo courtesy of Frank and Anita Moody

Third Generation of the Moody Family of Perham 		Envelope addressed to Mrs. Ellen Knowlton from 1888. The letter is postmarked from Houlton, the previous home town of Ellen and her husband, William.

Envelope from 1883 		Harvest time on the John McElwain farm in Caribou. The people in the photo are unknown. Notice the lone tree on the horizen. Those that cleared the land often left a large, old growth tree as a symbol of the forest that was. From William Tasker's private collection.

Harvest on the John McElwain farm in Caribou
Hugh Munce was born in Ireland in the year 1827. At the age of 22, Hugh emigrated to the United States (1849). Two years later, he obtained citizenship and settled in Bradley Maine. He married Hannah Cram of that town and then raised over a dozen children. By the 1870s, the Munce family had moved to Fort Fairfield where Hugh farmed for many years. The photograph (tin type) below, taken by J.B. Smart of Presque Isle in what seems to be the 1890s, shows five of the Munce sisters. The numbers were on the photograph when the photo was purchased on-line. The numbers correspond to the names listed on the back. The sisters pictured here range from the oldest (#1) born in 1858 to the youngest (# 5) born in 1879! They are: 1. Lizzie (called Jennie in some census records): Born 1858. Never married. School Teacher. 2. Abbie: Born 1868. Married a man named Warren? 3. Minnie: Born 1868. Possibly maried George Marlin of Oregon. 4. Clara: Born 1873: Married William Tozier of Fort Fairfield on April 25, 1895. 5. Amy: Born 1879: Married Herman (Hemon?) Richardson on April 21, 1905.

Five Munce Sisters of Fort Fairfield 		This old house that is sinking into the ground is just over the border in Macwahoc. The name on the Roe and Colby atlas looks like it reads, "Skendreys" but that can't be correct. I'm going to do some research to see whose house it was. Photo by William Tasker

Sad Old House in Macwahoc 		This picture was taken in the early 1990s. The origin of the building is unknown. It might have been Mrs. Coughy's stables. The building was across the street from the Universalist Church and was torn down ten years or so ago to make room for rental trucks.

Old Building Across From Universalist Church
Many folks have old photos of family gatherings. Unfortunately, nobody can tell who the people in the pictures were. Fortunately, this picture comes with a legend. Courtesy of a desendent.

Family Gathering in Caribou 		Legend

Family Gathering in Caribou (Back) 		The house on the right--located on the Presque Isle Road in Caribou, just beyond the County Quick Stop--still stands and was recently purchased. It dates back to when the Halls settled in Caribou in the mid-1800s. The building has been an inn, a store and a residence. This picture, taken in the 1950s or 1960s shows the farm in its heyday. Photo courtesy of William Tasker

The Hall Farm on the Presque Isle Road in Caribou
Cheaper than cable phone! From William Tasker's personal collection.

1941 Telephone Bill From Fort Fairfield 		Unidentified farm in Caribou. Anyone have any ideas? From William Tasker's personal collection (an unidentified page of an old article selling Aroostook as the last frontier on the east coast. It still is).

Unidentified Old Farm 		An oldest, old and more recent photos of the H.B. Pratt House on North Main Street was built in 1889 by Nathaniel Stover, a Civil War veteran and Eliza Pratt's third husband. Eliza had purchased the Abram Sawin House across the street. More on that later. Pictures courtesy of Brenda Shaw, author of "Eliza and Menora," via her second cousin, once removed: David Pratt.

(Upd)H.B. Pratt House on North Main in Caribou
The original S.W.Collins. Sam Collins, along with his partner, Washington Vaughan, took advantage of the state's land statute and received four lots that comprised all of downtown Caribou today. In exchange for the land, the partners built two mills, a gristmill and a sawmill. Collins was a dominant influence in the early history of Caribou. Senator Susan Collins of Maine is his direct descendent. Photo courtesy of William Tasker

S.W. Collins 		This 1842 document was a message from the President of the United States concerning the boundary dispute with England that almost led to a war in Aroostook County. From William Tasker's personal collection.

1842 Document from the President 		George Doe was an early photographer in Caribou, Maine. His shop was on Sweden Street, one of the earliest businesses there. This photo is of an unknown woman. Unfortunately, people didn't always label the backs of their photographs. The picture is still set in its original Doe photo card. From William Tasker's personal collection.

Unknown Caribou Woman by Doe
The Warren Dwinel House on North Main Street, built by A.M. York in the late 1860s. Photo by William Tasker

The Warren Dwinel House in Caribou 		This picture was in the same article that contained the picture labeled as the unidentified farm. The picture is unique among old pictures of the dam and water works on the Aroostook River in Caribou. Most old postcards of the dam show a landscape that is bald. That is, there are no trees anywhere as all the land was cleared for the potato boom. This picture must be from before the early postcards. The dam was built in 1889 and most postcards in my collection are from the early 1900s. The picture then must be in the early 1890s and gives a unique perspective on the landscape before the big farms.

Caribou Water Works 		Possibly Main Street. I believe these buildings all vanished in the supposed urban renewal of the 1970s Real photograph from William Tasker's personal collection

Downtown Caribou in the 1940s
The old farmsteads are about the only places left in Aroostook to see large lovely trees like this tree found on the Sweden Road in Caribou. Photo by William Tasker

Box Alder on the Doe/Smith Farm 		Few today would realize that the laundromat on South Main Street in Caribou was once a stately home of Earl Lombard. The question still remains if this was the third house built by early pioneer settler, David Adams. Local historian Stella King White states that Adam's store was where the gas station is now and he built his home where the Nylander sits today. He turned that building into a hotel and built a new home just up the street. Was this the home he built? Picture courtesy of the Plourde family.

Lombard House on South Main Street, Caribou 		Another picture.

Lombard House on South Main Street, Caribou
William Knowlton was the first principal of the first high school in Caribou. Edgar Sincock and Newman Doyle were the first two graduates. The Knowltons remained in Caribou until 1895, when they moved to Monson. From William Tasker's personal collection.

William Knowlton - First Principal at Caribou High 		The postcard lists this picture as the Caribou House. There were at least three buildings in Caribou's history that have carried that name. This picture appears to be facing up High Street in the 1890s. That would make this Caribou House, the house originally built by Luther Merrill in 1866. Merrill occupied the house until he sold it in 1874 to a Mr. Sleeper. Sleeper sold the house the same year to John Arnold, who lived there for many years. Arnold eventually moved to Minnesota and the house changed hands many times, eventually becoming a hotel of sorts. The landmark building burned down in 1918. The little knoll that was the site of the house was flattened by the town and it became the town square, located a little below the present police station.

The Luther Merrill House 		This covered bridge was on the Grimes Mill Road in Caribou and was built by Aaron Milton York in the late 1800s. From William Tasker's personal collection.

Covered Bridge on Grimes Mill Road
1877 Map of Downtown Caribou

1877 Map of Downtown Caribou 		Menu for the Vaughan House Hotel (Caribou) New Year's celebration - 1938. That's quite a feast for three dollars a person!

Vaughan House Hotel Menu - New Year's, 1938 		Children of Blanche and Garfield Grant - Caribou Ruby: born 1907, died 1990 Leta: born 1918 Lloyd: born 1909, died 1996 Photo probably from around 1920

Children of Blanche and Garfield Grant - Caribou
Unknown house and family in Aroostook. Can anyone identify the house or the family?

Unknown House and Family 		<p> McElwain&#39;s Tourist&#39;s Home - Caribou, Maine. This business card sized &quot;postcard&quot; shows what is probably the McElwain House that now houses the NMDC at the corner of the Presque Isle Road and the West Presque Isle Road. The back of the card lists mileage rates to many destinations. It also reads: &quot;Meals furnished. Car Washed and Lubricated at Lyon&#39;s Service Station&quot; and the phone number listed is Caribou 437. Interesting card from William Tasker&#39;s collection. </p>

McElwain's Tourist's Home - Caribou, Maine 		Old postcard from WT&#39;s collection

View of Caribou from Washburn Street - Old Postcar
<p> This letter from William Tasker&#39;s personal collection was written from Letter H in 1847, very early in Caribou town history. </p> <p> The letter was written by Harvey Ormsby in his own hand. Ormsby was a mysterious character. Found in the 1840 census in Denmark, Maine, Ormsby came to Aroostook around 1842. The Hardison family history mentions that he was in the company of John Pike and stopped at the new home of Ivory Hardison in Letter H while Hardison was finishing up his house. Hardison hired the two men to help him finish the building.<br />  <br /> Local historians mention that he settled in the new township a year or two later. He is listed as Henry Ormsby in the 1850 census in Letter H and he has a wife, Angeline. The census record indicates that he was born around 1804 in New York and his wife was twelve years his junior. He was present in 1847 when Letter H was organized and was elected to the School Committee. This is where the mystery begins. Some time after the 1850 census, Ormsby disappeared. Some said they saw him traveling on the road, but he was never seen again. His wife later presumed him dead and remarried. Where Ormsby went, nobody knows. </p> <p> The letter transcribed below seems to show someone who holds himself as a man of higher standards than his neighbors (whom he throws under the bus in the letter to the land agent). The letter was mailed in Presque Isle and was addressed to the Honarable Levi Bradley, Land Agent, Bangor, Maine. The Bangor was crossed out and Augusta was written instead. </p> <p> Letter H Aroostook River June 21 1847 </p> <p> Dear Sir, Last Spring I wrote you a letter and enclosed in the letter a certificate of Me (?) from Hall and Hardison in relation to a certain bridge. I also asked for some information in regard to obtaining a deed for two lots of my land. As I have received no answer, I have some fears that my letter was not received at the Land office, though I saw my letter safely mailed myself. The information sought is important to me, but it is more especially important to me, to know whether the certificate was received. As I am aware that you have many questions to answer and much tedious and perplexing business in the Land office, nothing but my extreme anxiety for the desired information, could induce me to trouble you at this time. The certificate in my former letter in regard to declaring on lot 73, stated 93 acres well cleared and laid down to grass, the other quarter of an acre contained a few cedar trees valuable for fencing which I did not wish to destroy so I let them stand, and what other cedar trees I found in clearing the piece, I piled up on the same quarter of an acre, to be used hereafter for fencing. I supposed as I was over cleared on the adjoining lot two or three times the amount, that I would answer just as well, but if it is necessary that the other quarter should be cleared in order to get my deed, I can very soon destroy what fencing timber I have upon it. The piece I cleared last year on lot 73, was extremely expensive to clear, yet I laid  it down to grass without getting any crop, (although it is good crop land) because the time allotted for laying down to grass in my land certificate exprired the first of last winter so that I had delayed seeding down until this spring so as to get a crop, I should have been behind my duty in seeding to grass. And now I am clearing on Lot 77, and as the time allotted for laying down to grass expires next fall, I shall again have to lose my crop by seeding the land next fall unless I can be allowed to wait until spring before I put on the grass seed. If there is any provision in law that will help my case in that respect, I hope you will let me know. My neighbors are not particular in these matters. I do not know of one that has come fully up to the conditions of their certificates as to time. Though I grant that their failure is no legal excuse for me, yet when others are allowed those priviledges. I think the difference between putting on grass seed the next fall or next spring, should not in justice deprive me from year to year of raising a crop of grain on my land. It was unfortunate for me that all my certificates were dated in the fall or winter, as is the case. I shall feel very uneasy until I hear from you and know whether you received my letter of last spring containing the certificate of Hall &amp; Hardison. </p> <p> Very Respectfully yours <br /> Harvey Ormsby </p>

1847 Letter Harvey Ormsby 		Postcard was mailed around 1911. It appears we are looking west down High Street towards Main Street. From WT's collection.

Caribou Postcard - High Street 		This old postcard shows the old bridge across the Aroostook River. Note the rows of potato barns along the river. From WT's collection.

Old Bridge Across the Aroostook - Caribou
Charlotte Grace Porter was the daughter of Robert Porter and his first wife, Mary. The Porter family settled in Wade around 1858. Charlotte was born in 1852 in New Brunswick. She married William Henry Holmes. Submitted by Marion Jane Bugbee Batt Manheim, Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Charlotte Grace Porter 		Mrs. Sarah Ann Phinney Smith Tobin. She was born November 14, 1832 in Westmorland, New Brunswick. Her sister, Jane, married William Smith and lived in Washburn, ME. Sarah was the second wife of William Smith. After Smith's death in 1867, Sarah married John Tobin in 1870. Tobin died six years later. Sarah lived in Washburn until an advanced age in 1922

Sarah Ann Phinney Smith Tobin 		Sarah Ann Phinney Smith Tobin. See her other picture for details of her life. Both pictures submitted by Marion Mannheim.

Sarah Ann Phinney Smith Tobin.
W.T. Ashby farm in Presque Isle (once Maysville). This lovely old home, still owned by descendants of Ashby, has been wonderfully restored. Peter Underwood graciously donated the restoration pictures.

W.T. Ashby Renovations 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations. Courtesy of Peter 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 2. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 2. Courtesy of Pete
W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 3. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 3. Courtesy of Pete 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 4. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 4. Courtesy of Pete 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 5. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 5. Courtesy of Pete
W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 6. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 6. Courtesy of Pete 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 7. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 7. Courtesy of Pete 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 8. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 8. Courtesy of Pete
W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 9. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 9. Courtesy of Pete 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 10. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 10. Courtesy of Pet 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 11. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 11. Courtesy of Pet
W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 12. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 12. Courtesy of Pet 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 13. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 13. Courtesy of Pet 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 14. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 14. Courtesy of Pet
W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 15. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 15. Courtesy of Pet 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 16. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 16. Courtesy of Pet 		W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 17. Courtesy of Peter Underwood.

W.T. Ashby House - Renovations 17. Courtesy of Pet
Merrithew House. The following information and pictures were provided by Jim Carter. They add to and fill in the knowledge given in the Pioneer Homes of Presque Isle: "A.C.T. Wilson purchased the farm from Benjamin Merrithew in the spring of 1902. A member of the board of selectmen and city council of Presque Isle for many years. He served as chairman of the town council and was chairman of the first Presque Isle City Council which was incorporated as a city in 1939. He served two terms in the State House of Representatives, two terms in the State Senate, two years on Gov. Owen Brewster’s executive council and four years on Governor William Tudor Gardiners executive council. He was chairman of the Governor’s Council in 1931 and 1932. He retired at the age of 74 after 30 years of service to his community, country and state. He was very instrumental in gaining for the town and County the Northern Maine Sanitorium which was built over the Governor’s veto, through Mr. Wilson’s hardwork. The large building on the far left in the Sanitorium photo was named in honor of Mr. Wilson. A.C.T. later sold the farm to his son Milton Wilson who farmed into the 1980’s. Milton later sold the farm to Charles Campbell who later sold it to the current owners (Sullivan’s)."

The Merrithew - Wilson Farm House 		The Merrithew - Wilson House taken by plane in 1952. Courtesy of Jim Carter.

Merrithew - Wilson House in 1952 		Another aerial view of the Merrithew - Wilson House, courtesy of Jim Carter.

Aerial View of Merrithew - Wilson House
A.C.T Wilson in the field. Courtesy of Jim Carter.

A.C.T Wilson in the Field 		An old aerial view of the Sanitarium in Presque Isle. The complex is now apartments. Picture courtesy of Jim Carter.

An Old Aerial View of the PI Sanitarium
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