Name/Title
Trescott Hall | Boynton Street, Eastport, Maine | Built 1831, Burned 1881Description
From William H. Kilby, Eastport and Passamaquoddy (1888), pp. 272-273:
Eastport, like many places similarly situated, has felt the effect of this state of affairs ; and, if one were called upon to point out the period when the social and intellectual life of the place had been at its best, if familiar with its past, I think he would select the years of the thirties, about half a century ago. Trescott Hall was built in 1831, and in its school-rooms was established what was called the Eastport Academy (two schools, one for boys and the other for girls), where the higher branches were taught by graduates of Bowdoin College, some of whom have since made their mark in the pulpit and at the bar. The hall above was the home of the Eastport Lyceum, with its valuable and well-sustained courses of public lectures ; and here not unfrequently were held balls and other entertainments. The solid as well as the lighter literature of the Eastport Athenaeum found many readers, and people were not so overrun with newspapers and illustrated magazines as not to have time for the North American and foreign quarterlies
From Eastport Sentinel, April 6, 1881, p.2,c.1:
Trescott Hall Burned.
—
A fire on Friday night of last week destroyed one of the old land marks of the town. At about eleven o’clock Friday night the alarm of fire was given, and persons who reached the scene of the fire earliest found the southern part of Trescott Hall building on fire. The engines Eureka and Torrent were promptly at work and did good service. The fire was a very stubborn one, and the engines were kept constantly at work from about eleven o’clock until five o'clock the following morning. The building is completely destroymd although the walls are standing. It was insured in the Etna office for two thousand dollars.
Trescott Hall was built by Danied Low for a corporation called “The Eastport Academy,” in the year 1831, for the sum of twenty-five hundred and fifty dollars. We have before us the original agreement between Jonathan Buck, Darius Pearce, and William M. Brooks, a Committee of the Eastport Academy corporation, and Daniel Low, Smith Tinkham and Nathan Bucknam were Mr. Low’s sureties in the agreement. The lot of land inclosed all the land covered by Trescott Hall, Brooks School house and Memorial Hall, and was bought of William Dana. We have often listened to an account of the first ball in the Hall on the occasion of its dedication.
The lower story of the Hall was fitted for a high school, and was divided into two rooms, one for males and the other for females. When the Boynton school was established in 1847 the town rented the school rooms under Trescott Hall for an Intermediate School, and the two rooms into which it was divided probably occasioned a division of the Intermediate school into a male and female department, which arrangement still continues.
In 1848 the writer of this came and took charge on the boys’ department of the Intermediate school. The building then stood near the centre of the lot. In 1852 the town bought Trescott Hall and the lot of land of the proprietors, paying therefore three thousand dollars.
Subsequently the Brooks school house was built to accommodate the Intermediate School, and in honor of Rev. Kendall Brooks, pastor of the Washington Street Baptist Church, who took a deep interest in the school of the town, and did more perhaps than any one else to have the school graded, the school was named the Brooks school. Trescott Hall was then moved to the spot it occupied when burned, and the lower story was used for a primary school, to which use it has since been devoted.
From Eastport Sentinel, April 6, 1881, p.3,c.2:
“The wish is generally expressed that Memorial Hall might be moved back upon the site of Trescott Hall. The only objection is that it would be an expensive job. The vacant lot where Trescott Hall stood will be left for a play ground for the school children.”
From Eastport Sentinel, April 6, 1881, p.3,c.2: “There is no doubt that the Trescott Hall fire was incendiary. There had been no fire in the building for several days and those who first arrived at the fire found the door at the rear of the hall broken in, and a brisk fire raging in the lower part which filled the hall full of smoke. The selectmen have offered a reward of $500 for the discovery and conviction of the person or persons who set the fire.”
From Eastport Sentinel, April 13, 1881, p.3,c.2: “One of our readers says it must have been Spencer and not Smith Tinkham whose name was on the contract for building Trescott Hall in 1831. The latter had just entered his teens then.”
From Eastport Sentinel, March 9, 1870, p.2:
C0RROESP0NDENCE .
[Correspondence of the Sentinel.]
TRESCOTT HALL.
I judge by the local columns of the Sentinel which is to us the most interesting part of the paper when it comes along, that you are having pretty good times at Eastport. I don’t see that the sheet and pillow-case masquerade has as yet made its appearance, but with lectures, dances, and masquerades of the more brilliant sort, you seem to be having about all there is a going. You must find your new and commodious hall very convenient, and doubtless while you are enjoying its ample and well arranged accommodations, there is a feeling of satisfaction at having got away from the cramped spaces and dingy surroundings of Trescott Hall.
But while others hail the rising sun I wish to turn to him whose course is run. The old hall, like one who has had his day, and done his work, stands modestly back giving place to a successor of larger capacity, better equipped and more fully competent to meet the demands of the times. Yet for nearly forty years it was a centre of influence in the community, and as one of the generation which it helped to educate and to whom it has grown to be associated with so many pleasant memories, I feel that it is entitled to a few words of recognition for past favors, and perhaps others of your readers may sympathize with this sentiment of tender remembrance of an old friend to whom we are indebted for so many good times.
In those days communities were not as liberally disposed as now to make public improvements in their corporate capacity, and Trescott Hall was built by the subscriptions of a few public spirited citizens who never received much return for their investment. Twenty years later when additional school accommodations were needed, the property was purchased by the town, and after the Brooks School House was built on the same lot it was moved back to its present position.
The name of your new Memorial Hall commemorates the young heroes and martyrs of Eastport who served so gallantly and died so gloriously in defence of their country in the late rebellion. The old one was named in honor of Major Samuel Trescott. a brave officer of the Revolution who was afterwards Collector of the District of Passamaquoddy. Its completion was an important local event and probably there was not at that time a more spacious hall in all Eastern Maine. It was dedicated with a ball. I was too small a chap at the time to know much about it, but there are ladies and gentlemen still with you who can tell what a pleasant affair it was. Our late esteemed townsmen Joseph C. Noyes, Jesse Gleason, and Jonathan Buck were the managers. I have heard enthusiastic descriptions of the scene when Mr. Buck led the fair Miss B. the organist of the Unitarian church up the hall to take the head of the first set. She was very brilliantly and becomingly dressed, and in those days the honor of opening a ball was much esteemed by the belles of the hour.
My first introduction into the building was in the room below where the lame school master taught and ruled in his arbitrary way. His pupils were well drilled up to the limits of his own education, yet there are few who remember him with any great affection, and to most he is associated with some particular thrashing, the memory of which still tingles along the nerves. Yet the picture has some comic dashes but only one who was in the seats that day can appreciate the drollery of the scene when thirsty Jim S., afterward, a sturdy sea captain, shouted “may I g’wout sir?” This request though several times repeated was emphatically refused, until at last he broke out in a most dolorous tone. “If you don’t let me g'wout I shall dry to death.” Our scbool was dignified with the title of academy, and following Master L. we had for teachers, several graduates of Bowdoin College; able and thoroughly educated men who with one exception are still living and filling their places in the world with credit.
While below we were educating our minds, above stairs and at later hours some of us were learning to trip our feet. Our first dancing master had a bad habit of crooking his elbow at other times than when handling his bow, but he generally did very well and taught us all the steps up to double toe and heel balance, and some of superior ability in the art, were initiated into the mysteries of the hornpipe. In this a schoolmate whose four initials have for many years graced a sign on Water Street greatly excelled, and I dare say can now cut one of those marvelous pigeon-wings which were the envy of the rest of us. The style of dancing was very vigorous, but round dances were not then in vogue, and our partners did not allow us to come in so close quarters as in later styles. The most of the pupils considered themselves full grown ladies and gentlemen and looked upon us youngsters as intruding before our time, and I suppose we were not very dignified. The master used his fiddle bow freely over the shoulders of frisky boys and I remember once when a couple who were coming “down the middle” with the impetus of a locomotive, by some mishap tripped and fell sprawling upon tho floor. 1 could not help an immoderate outburst of laughter, but was soon brought to my senses by a ringing box in the ear from an indignant female near me. However we enjoyed the school highly. A few years later a sermon against dancing was preached from one of the pulpits in town; instead of convincing the lovers of that recreation, had the opposite effect, and they determined to have a school, but no teacher could be readily found. However the plan must not fail, and a colored gentleman at Calais who was said to understand tho business was applied to and he accepted in a very gracious note with this most original winding up; “Gentlemen I Ain so much yours I scarce my own.” Could Chesterfield himself have invented a term more expressive of polite abasement? I did not attend but remember that Master Brown had a very large, orderly and flourishing school.
I remember the first ball I ever attended. It was given in January 1838 by the Whigs in honor of the election of Governor Kent, and was one of the largest of the many held in Prescott Hall; but I think some of the less pretentious affairs were more enjoyable and satisfactory. Sometimes Old Roe (there was a legend that he could scull a gundelow against the tide) would come over from Campobello and saw out the music on his fiddle. At others an orchestra would be improvised from among our number. Borrowing a piano at the hospitable house across the street, 1 have often helped Black Dick lug it up the crooked stair way. The fair owner of the instrument was always ready to exercise her musical talent for our pleasure; her present home is on the other side of the Atlantic. One of our violinists is in California; he who played the flute is a Portland merchant, and our enthusiastic tambourinist lives in Illinois, while others are still with you. But in recalling the festivities of those days few will be likely to forget him now no longer among the living, who by general consent was called to superintend the arrangements, and to whose social tact, genial good nature and readiness to serve his friends we were all so much indebted.
The lecture system seems to have lost much of its former popularity and only in the more important centres where audiences can be gathered sufficient to pay the large sums demanded by the best professional lecturers are the courses supported; but twenty and thirty years ago the Lyceum held an important place among the institutions of New England. In its day the Eastport Lyceum was quite successful, the ablest men of the town and vicinity lent their aid, and though not all the lectures were brilliant, they afforded considerable mental stimulus to us who were growing up under them. Starting among the small boys who were wont to cluster about the stove, and in the back seats, not always quiet, I advanced up tho hall to the front seats among the respectabilities who came to listen, and finally on to the platform. The people always showed a kindly sympathy when a young townsman addressed them. The Lyceum was a sort of weekly social exchange. People came early and had a pleasant chat before the hour for commencing; they also required the speaker to give them a recess in the middle of his lecture, and even this unique provision for gossip did not fully satisfy the wants of some of the talkative youth and maidens.
We used also to have some rousing temperance meetings in Trescott Hall, and in those early days besides the inherent moral interest, the lectures and debates had the charm of novelty. But while the sound doctrine and eloquent talk have been forgotten, the humorous incidents are easily remembered, and many will recall that occasion when the shoe dealer who was in the chair, startled the audience with the announcement that “the meeting was open to “the simultaneous remarks of all persons present.”
Remainder next week.
From Eastport Sentinel, March 16, 1870, p.2:
CORRESPONDENCE
[Correspondence of the Sentinel.]
TRESCOTT HALL
(Continued from last week.)
Nor must I forget my military education.The Eastport Light Infantry, of which I had the honor to be a high private at the time when it and the Militia of Maine died a natural death, was wont to assemble here for drill, and from hence we marched forth in all the panoply of war to the tented (General muster) field, or to the arduous duty of escorting the Fourth of July processions. With padded breasts, and pants strapped down to the last extreme of tension, with huge leathern caps, which required much practice to keep on our heads, and tall nodding plumes of while tipped with scarlet, we were indeed a brilliant corps, and as we marched with steady tramp a motley crowd of urchins preceded and followed us through the streets, and both mistress and serving-maid rushed to the windows to greet us with welcome smiles. Before my day there was once nearest we ever came to actual service was in the time of the Aroostook war when the company offered its services to the Government, but we were not needed. In these later days Eastport boys have had experience in soldiering that was not make-believe, and which cost many dear lives; but had the occasion come then, it would doubtless have had similar brave responses from the young men of that day. Three captains, several lieuteuauts, and many who were of the rank and file, are still with you In mature or advanced years, and among them are some of your best citizens. You ought to get the Colonel to repeat the sword speech which he made in Trescott Hall at the time of his first promotion to a commission.
I have some where seen it stated as a principle, that any people who are able to organize and carry on a town meeting in the New England style are fully competent for self government. The ability to do this is the real test. The town meeting is the school of government with us, and we used to go to it at Trescott Hall. What wonderful debates have been heard there, and I always noticed that the smallest matters made the most noise. The greatest excitement was generally on the choice of Police officer; the articles in reference to schools were quickly passed over; but the debating talent came out strong on the question of taxing dogs, as to whether the town should own or hire its or constables’ watch. And by the way, what an institution that constables’ watch was! It gave us young fellows the opportunity of being the Dogberries of the hour. The arduous labors of keeping watch and ward over the slumbering town, were usually relieved by some comfortable festivities, and on the whole they were considered rather jolly affairs by those who had not too much experience in life; but alas! as we grow older the romance fades, and just now I should not value greatly the privilege of tramping up and down the streets through the long winter night, even with the prospect of a treat of sausages and salt mackerel before a fire of shavings in a cooper’s shop.
The old hall has resounded to a good deal of political campaign speaking of various sorts, and has been the scene of much political jollification as one party or another have been successful in the elections. The Harrison jubilee of 1840 was a grand affair. A miniature log cabin stood at the head of the hall, flanked by a pair of huge rustic candlesticks made from cedar trees, supporting tall lighted candles made for the occasion. A great crowd of happy Whigs filled the place, rejoicing at their success, and indulging in pleasant anticipations of the future,—but alas! in a few short weeks we were marching from the same hall, with mourning badges and reversed arms to listen to an eulogy in memory of our lamented President. In “forty-eight,” after General Taylor’s election, there was another festive celebration, to which came a large Calais delegation with a ringing song about the famous ox-roast.
In the ups and downs of polities the Democrats had their good times when the hall was crowded with the unterrified. Sometimes the gayeties were of the free and easy sort, and we used to hear of an interesting occasion (though I don’t know but it took place at the Gun House) when a noted down-east politician and military man, now a citizen of another State, danced a fore-and-after in his shirt sleeves with a genial old gentleman who used to come down from Massachusetts and always carried his pocket handkerchief in his trousers pocket; though it was said that one year when he was the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the old Bay State, he made an effort to conform with the prevailing fashion for disposing of that useful article.
I remember several occasions when the people were called to Trescott Hall to consult upon some sudden and serious emergency in public affairs, and I think it was on Sunday when a threatened riot between a party of towns people and some soldiers from the garrison had proceeded so far that the authorities found it necessary to call all the citizens together to arrange for the preservation of the public peace. And there was another affair somewhat of the semi-comic style. In one of those panics which then prevailed whenever the small-pox appeared, and at a time when some of the streets were barricaded to shut off travel from an infected neighborhood, the Selectmen found it necessary to take possession of an isolated and unoccupied building at the North End for hospital purposes. This did not at all suit the people of the neighborhood, but while the men confined their opposition to words, the women turned out en masse, and with some rough handling ejected the officer left in charge, and threatened hard usage to any who should attempt to bring the infected patients that way, and the whole town was summoned to Trescott Hall to take action in reference to it. I also remember looking in upon the crowd which filled the hall, when a murder had taken place on board of a vessel at the end of Hobbs’ wharf, and the preliminary examination and trial was held here.
But this gossipy letter has been extended far enough. Memory recalls numerous other scenes, fairs, exhibitions and entertainments we carried on ourselves ; concerts, bear shows and displays of various sorts and kinds, where we sometimes got our money’s worth, and somctimes didn’t, and public occasions of deliberative or festive character, and every reader who has lived for any length of time in Eastport will have his or her store of reminiscences connected with Trescott Hall, which this contribution to the memory of the old place of resort may serve to freshen and recall.
QUODDY.
Boston, February, 1870.
