| Chapter Two Early Times |
| These pioneers, and those who settled at later dates had no choice but to read by kerosene or oil lamps and candlelight. They traveled by oxcart, horse and wagon, stage-coach, boat or on foot. They traded at scattered local stores which had no refrigeration, except ice, and little choice of products. They knew very little about what was happening throughout the country except through late newspapers. They diden't have a wide choice of jobs, accepting whatever was available at the time. They worked for whatever wages their employer offered. They depended on a single doctor to tend them when ill, hoping that he would be available when there time of need came. In this bi-centennial year it is difficult to imagine how they lived with any degree of comfort or security. But they did, although their life expectancy was of a much shorter duration than that of present day. Their salvation was based on the fact that they knew nothing about modern day travel, communication, medical advances or job opportunities. Therefore, this lack of knowledge was bliss. And, since they knew no better, they were content to gracefully accept the fact that this was their life. This was the best that life offered. If one had to farm, fish, chop wood, or walk five miles in order to live and meet family obligations, then so be it. After all, this was perhaps better than what they had experienced before. The name of the game was indeed survival. It's safe to say that most settlers survived because of the family "farm". One or two cows supplied the milk and cream from which they made butter. A dozen or more hens supplied the eggs for eating and cooking purposes. A pair of pigs later became smoked ham and bacon. Orchards produced neccessary as well as delicious fruits. Gardens supplied every variety of vegetable which were "put up" for later comsumption. Then, there were the deer, the moose, the rabbit and squirrel for other sources of meat. Of course, money was also neccessary to purchase flour, sugar and other staple products. Cracked corn oats and mash also had to be purchased for the animals. Money was raised, although not easily, in a variety of ways. A healthy starwberry or raspberry crop, surplus eggs, extra butter, a new born calf or a bountiful harvest of apples was sold. If these means diden't provide enough money then father and son would "hire" themselves out to do any job neccessary to generate the extra money needed. This way of life continued for many throughout the nineteenth century and well into the twentieth, and for a few, even today. Diary Records It was customary for many to keep a log of their daily activities in a diary. Hosea Wardwell was one such person and Katie A. Wardwell was another. Hosa lived on Wardwell's Point, born in 1830 and died in 1913. Katie, the wife of Burton Wardwell, lived on the Castine Road (route 199) just beyond Perkins Hill. She was born in 1867 and died in 1959. Although some of their diary recordings are about trivia, much data is significantly related to life as it existed in that era. Perhaps, more importantly, much can be learned about their industrious nature, their independence, their variety of skills, their deep sense of citizenship and their profound and abiding love for God and church. Some interesting exerpts follow; first from the diary of Hosea Wardwell. 1870 William Perkins built a store at Winslow's Cove. David Grindle commenced the manufacture of flower in his grist mill. Dr. Warren located at the Cove. Silas Mitchell opened a store at the bay. Calvin Leach elected to the Legislature. 1873 Early in the morning, took the schooner C.M.Gray bound for Rockland. Was very seasick all the way. Stopped all night at the Thorndike Hotel. 1873 Took the steamer Katahdin from Rockland to Belfast and then the packet Spy from Belfast to Castine where I arrived at 2p.m. Took the stage to Dunbar's Corner. Walked home from there. 1874 There is at present a general stagnation of business throughout the country. Laborers can get no work. Shipping is all hauled up in the harbor idly rotting. 1874 Stephen Goodwin, George Hitchins and a Mr. Mitchell erected a building at Winslow's Cove for a carriage factory. 1875 Bagaduce River frozen over so that horse teams pass from Brooksville right up the river. No water to be seen. 1875 This day William Hooper crossed the bay from Castine to Belfast on the ice with horse and sleigh. The thinnest ice is about 12 inches 1876 An Indian with his squaw and eight children camped on Winslow's Point 1876 A copper mine has been discovered in Penobscot and people are working in it with great zeal. The yield is about $68. to a ton of rock. 1881 Fifteen thousand dozen pairs of mittens have been knit by Mrs. Abby Condon's knitters 1881 Two and one-half million bricks made in four brickyards. Five thousand fish barrels made in five copper shops. Also, there has been 1000 bushels of wheat made into flour and 1500 bushels of corn made into meal here in town. 1885 The steamship Nora commanded by Captain F.W. Kent began to make three trips per week between Penobscot and Belfast. 1889 The traders in Penobscot in this year are: Horace Perkins and Co. Variety Store, Albert Ellery Varnum variety store, Hutchins Bros. variety store, Elisha Bowden provisions and groceries, Mrs.Abby Condon dry and fancy goods, Hutchins and Perkins provisions and groceries, Walter Creamer dry and fancy goods, Phoebe Osgood variety, and H.S. Jones Grocery in North Penobscot. 1889 Schooner Emily Staples commanded by Captain James Sellers, sailed for Boston loaded with Brick. 1890 The second term of the free high school began in the school near Mill Creek. Addison Littlefield is the Teacher. 1890 There have been as many as sixty-five Penobscot men who have signed on for fishing trips to the Grand Banks. 1893 Twenty-two fishing tents on the ice over the channel on the Bagaduce Bay. They are fishing for smelts. Smelts sell from 5 to 10 cents per pound and are shipped to New York. 1893 A dredging outfit and machine arrived to dredge out the channel in Winslow's Cove. A government project. 1893 Today the telephone between Penobscot and Ellsworth was finished and the first communication established. 1894 Alewives abundant in Winslow's Stream. The first of many years. 1896 A terrific thunderstorm. Lightning struck and demolished the steeple of the Methodist Church at the head of the bay. 1897 Four schooners sailed today. Two for Boston loaded with brick. One sailed with wood and the other hoop poles. 1900 Thomas Mitchell and son Fred bought Horace Perkins house and fitted it up for a hotel to be called The Mitchell House. 1903 Rural delivery of mail began in Penobscot today, for which we thank the lord. Lewis Snowman is the carrier. 1909 The first automobile came to our door today. We were taken on a ride around the square by Arch Bridges and wife. |
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| Katie Wardwell, 1920 |
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| A.E. Varnum's Variety |
| S.B. Condon's Sawmill |