Alfreds Historic Bells Across Three Eras
Alfred history records three notable bells. The Paul Revere bell, cast in Boston 1822 and read as Revere Boston 1822, was first rung at the Congregational Church in 1834 after removal from the old meetinghouse. A second county bell, gifted by Lyman Congregational Church trustees, was installed in the Alfred courthouse cupola, then manually struck by the janitor. A Shaker bell on the hill once called meetings and Notre Dame Institute masses, illustrating a legacy of bells guiding communities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alfred
Paul Revere
Congregational
Revere
John Holmes
Boston
Willard Foundry
Notre Dame Institute
School of Religious Teaching
Brothers of Christian Instruction
Trading Deeds of 1773 Describe Land and Trade Goods
A Norfolk style record from 1773 shows Capt. Sandy to Fran Small detailing trade goods like blankets rum powder and beads in exchange for 20 miles square between Ossobe rivers. It also documents a Biddeford deed recording two tracts totaling about 57 or 58 acres with references to Saco River landowners and homestead land bought from Capt. John Smith and Benj Emery with July 1773 dating.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Capt
Sandy
Fran Small
Frances Small
Kittery
County of
York
Great Ossobe
Little Ossobe
John Smith Jr
Benj. Stapel
Biddeford
Massachusetts Bay
Benjamin Staple
Taylor
Benj
Saco River
Nicholas Smith
Hooper
Benj. A. Emery
John Smith
Benj. Emery
Fourth of July closings and river excursion plans note
In Biddeford and Saco, dry goods and millinery shops will close all day July 4. The Independent Order of Good Eaters plans its annual river excursion July 3–4. George P. Davis of K W Sutherland’s retail ops bought a $25 sherbert receipt and won’t divulge details.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Biddeford Daily Journal
Biddeford and Saco
Order of Good Eaters
George P. Davis
K.W. Sutherland
Ocean Park
Alfonso Haley
Haley
Dr. Pepper
Foss Street Methodist Church
Arthur Crane
Free Baptist Church
Saco
James H. Fogg
Timber Mills on the Saco River History
Timber and lumber trade dominated the Saco River era with numerous sawmills. By 1772 few navigated to Fryeburg seeking timber. Pre 1800 there were about 17 mills above the falls, a treble mill on Indian Island, springs island mills by Capt Seth Spring and Capt Moses Bradbury in 1794 98, and daily output around 50 000 feet. Grist mills lined both river banks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Saco River
Fryeburg
Indian Island
Springs Island
Seth Spring
Moses Bradbury
Aging Biddeford Trades Highlight 19th Century Commerce
The Biddeford and Saco narrative recalls 1872 figures J Goldsborough and Joseph Hobson as busy local manufacturers and dealers in spinning cylinders stoves and lumber. It notes the decline of knife grinders, the rise of motorized knife grinding, odd town offices, and early colonial land grants to Oldham and Vines tied to Cape Porpoise. The passage ends with Merchant's Carnival decorations on Jefferson Street in the south side.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. Goldsborough
Biddeford
Saco
Also Mentioned on This Page
McArthur Library
Alfred Church
Somesville
Waverly Motel
Fernald Sr
Old Orchard Beach
Entertainment Nightly
Steve Gendron On
IBUS
Valcourt
Auto & Truck Service
R.F.D. 1
Goodwins’s Mills
Pavilion Society
Pythian Hall
Exchange Block
Saco National Bank
Masonic
Odd Fellows
Knights of Pythias
Star of the Sea Total Abstinance Society
Royal Templars of Temperance
Rays of Sunshine
Knights of Honor
United Order of the Golden Cross
Patrons of Husbandry
Ancient Order of Hibernians
Grand Army of the Republic
Sons of Veterans
Improved Order of Red Men
Biddeford Light Infantry
French Canadien Institute
St. John Baptist Benevolent Society
Boys Mutual Improvement Society
Young People’s Lyceum
Saco Societies
Dyer Library Association
York County Agricultural Society
York County Fish and Game Protective Society
Biddeford Pool
Kennebunkport
Cape Porpoise
John Oldham
Richard Vines
Jefferson Street
Main Street
Biddeford, U.S.A
Kth
Happy
Roy Tibbetts
Saco & Arundel
Tampa
Florida
Arundel
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!