The South Bridgton Church History
(This is an excerpt from the book, “Bridgton Maine-1768 – 1968” by the Bridgton Historical Society)
After services in the Peabody home were discontinued about 1790, the South Bridgton people became active in promoting a building far public worship. Enoch Perley and wife, John Peabody and wife, and David Hale and wife were among the 17 charter members of the First Church of Bridgton. However, the building of a new church at the center did not progress very fast. Some did not approve of the town owning a· building which had been started for a church, nor did they want it used for other community purposes. Enoch Perley and Robert Andrews had each given $1,000 to start a church fund, but with the provision that if a church were built south of the 19th Range, this money would revert to that church.
In 1826 a church was built at South Bridgton on the site of the present Perley Memorial Library. This first church building was eventually sold to Albert Kilborn and moved to a point opposite his house on the Burnham Road, where it was converted into a barn. In August 1917 it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The writer has a receipt for $45 signed by John Peabody to her great-grandfather Daniel Barnard, dated May 16, 1719. for Pew No. 26. This was after the town had taken over the Meeting House in an unfinished condition. His son, Daniel Barnard Junior, paid $14 for Pew 24, July 4, 1829, and his son paid $9 for Pew 27 in the new church.
At first no move was made to separate from the First Church in the Center, but on Nov. 19, 1829, six members from South Bridgton headed by Enoch Perley, "respectfully and affectionately" petitioned the First Church at the Center for dismissal in order to form a church body at South Bridgton. This was refused. A second petition, dated December 16 the same year, was likewise denied. A week later Enoch Perley died. He bequeathed $2,000 to the South Bridgton Church, and on his deathbed directed his sons, John and Thomas, to add a sum sufficient to bring the fund to $55,000. A council was called at the home of Dr. Jonathan Fessenden with Reverend Carlton Hurd as Scribe, and the South Bridgton Church was duly organized. Reverend Joseph Fessenden, son of the Reverend William Fessenden, first pastor of the Fryeburg church, accepted a call to the church, and served as minister for over 30 years
As a result of the transfer of funds to South Bridgton, bitter words were said on both sides. Reverend T. M. Davies, in his address on the 100th Anniversary of the Bridgton First Church, says, “A sharp controversy existed for years between the two churches, - a controversy which failed to be adjusted save by the tight grip of the civil law." Robert Andrews, in his desire for harmony, gave Bridgton Center church $1,000 to replace his first contribution and always retained his membership in the First Church.
In 1835 the Union Association of area churches was organized in the Fessenden house. The Association meetings used to last two days. Four meals and a night's lodging were given the delegates and visitors. The occasion was eagerly awaited by church members, for to many these two days were their only outing of the year.
The chief excitement during the 70's was completion of the present church, and its dedication in 1871. The "Ladies Circle" was organized to work on furnishing the new building. Colonel “Put” Perley and his cousin Samuel, then the owner of the Perley place in Naples, agreed to make up any difference between the amount raised and the actual cost. It is difficult to compare the costs then with present rates but the labor and materials came to $8,000, paid to the Knapps; the organ was $800; the entire expense under $10,000. These same Perleys had previously bought the Charles Barker house on top of the hill for a parsonage, and this was eventually given to the church.
The Ladies Circle held a fair in the newly-finished, three-story building on the Perley farm, which the family called the "pig palace," and others the "hog house," as the first floor was to be used for just that purpose! This was the first sale of its kind to be held in town and was a huge success. There was a supper rolls and butter, coffee and a piece of cake at five cents each - within reach of all comers. Strawberries with sugar and heavy cream were sold separately: Charles Gibbs bought nine dishes! Then there was a "Witches' Caldron" where grabs were fished out by the children; three oracles who told fortunes; a fancy handiwork table; a stage with a patchwork curtain where scenes of the past were shown in tableaux. One was the large Peabody sleigh with three seats full of children and parents sitting straight and stern. As a result of their efforts, the Circle was able to purchase a church carpet for $325: it was in use until recently, having been turned once at the time of Ethel Knight Abbott's wedding. Various past members of the church helped with other furnishings, including Mrs. Mary Cram of Portland; Mrs. Sarah Cram of Brunswick; Mrs. Sophia Barnard Alley of Lynn; Edward Staples of Bridgton. To help furnish the Vestry, the young people formed a dramatic society and put on some thrilling dramas. Rev. Addison Blanchard, a native of Cumberland, was called to be pastor, and under his leadership a period of unusual harmony and cooperation developed.
The Slavery Question
After Maine had become a State, and with improved communication, . there was a great deal of interest in both state and national problems - among them the abolition of slavery. Parson Fessenden was an eloquent speaker who got into considerable trouble by his denunciation of slavery, both in and outside the pulpit. Feeling reached a high pitch when he organized an abolition society, with meetings at the Center and members from all over the Town. At some meetings, non-sympathizers made such a commotion that the meetings had to be adjourned. One such event is described in a letter that Colonel Perley at Gorham Seminary received from his cousin, reading as follows:
"Think then what must be my feelings when with my mouth wide open, swallowing every word of a most solemn prayer made by friend Owen, the door was suddenly thrown open and some 25 or 30 rushed into the room with Fairbrother and Dennett at their head. All at once there was an awful thrash, and as nimble as nimble a fellow as you ever saw was in the middle of the room jumping Jim Crow. It was said by those who saw Jim jump that he was the first rate scholar equal to Jim himself. Such a tumult I guess you never saw; some were bleating, some bellowing and not a few laughing and screaming too. You will judge that the prayer was stopped and the meeting adjourned to Dr. Pease' office. Then there was a doorkeeper and we made out to have a little bit of meeting. I have heard that Ingalls and Littlefield was at the bottom of the Bridgton mob and told their miserable company if we did not retreat in the course of an hour to break down the school house. I guess if we had known it, we should stuck by."
This all finally led to a plan by the hostile group to tar and feather the parson. News of this reached South Bridgton and the parishioners were much agitated for Parson Joe refused to be spirited away. A bodyguard either volunteered, or was appointed, consisting of George Fitch, Washington Chaplin, and Daniel Barnard, Junior. The mob arrived as per schedule and Parson Joe addressed them from his front door. Whether it was due to his eloquence, his doughty defenders, or their own better judgment, the mob finally dispersed and the whole affair came to a tame ending. This outbreak seems to have cleared the air for there were no more disturbances of like nature.
One early store at South Bridgton stood below the Dr. Jonathan Fessenden house and across from the present "Field's Store" building. It had square pillars in front, and a platform with a big wooden settle beside the double entrance doors. A shed for teams was on the lower side. In later years post office service was given in this building. (Before that time it was in the old Fessenden House and William Fessenden was postmaster. He later built the house nearest the church where the Eichles now live). About 1830 the Cram brothers, Ashbel and Marshall, natives of Standish, set up business in the store, and for a quarter of a century carried on a successful and lucrative trade. Marshall Cram married Sara Perley and Ashbel married her sister Mary, both daughters of General Perley. Ashbel died in 1840, and in 1849 his widow married another Cram brother, Rensellear, whose first wife had been Huldah, daughter of Thomas Perley. Rensellear was a merchant in Portland, and his partner was Henry Perley, his brother-in-law, - "Perley and Cram, Central Wharf." He and his wife spent the rest of their lives in Portland.
After the death of Ashbel Cram, Augustine Chaplin, father of Judge Carroll Chaplin, of Portland, went into the store, and when Marshall Cram moved to North Bridgton, E. R. Staples. did business there for some years. He was succeeded in 1869 by Thomas B. Knapp, who around 1890 ran the coat shop which he moved and converted into a store. While Marshall Cram still lived in South Bridgton, he was invited to deliver an address in 1852 at the dedication of the new (and present) Town Hall. This address has remained an invaluable historical source to subsequent researchers.
Another store, and erstwhile post office, had an even more checkered career. The original building, set up at the four corners by Ambrose Powers, antedated 1854. Originally it was known as "The Club Hall;" a young men's club, The Sons of Temperance, held meetings there. When the Sons disbanded, the building was rented as a dance hall. For music there was an orchestra consisting of two violins and a clarinet. Movies were also held in the hall. The Gould family later bought the structure and made their home there for several years. It was then sold to Mr. Frost who moved it to the peak of two roads further toward Denmark, where it was used by Frost's brother, Osgood, a blacksmith. In moving the building, it became stuck in a hollow; the chain broke and Frost declared that he'd make one that wouldn't break! In his shop he forged a huge chain and sent out a call for oxen; he got 50 yoke within the limits of South Bridgton.
Again the building was sold, - this time to Thomas Knapp who used it as a "saleswork shop" where coats were made. Sometime before 1892, it was moved back to the corner and enlarged to a general store. It is said that the building has at one time been a stop for the stagecoach, on its route to Denmark. It was also used as a post office. There was mail three times a week. Thomas Kimball and Charles Staples (the latter Ernest Stevens' grandfather drove to Baldwin on alternate days to get the mail. It continued as a post office until 1955, when the mail service was absorbed by the R.F.D. carrier.
