Dexter High School - Signet Yearbook (Dexter, ME)

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1916 MAIN STREET, DEXTER,

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24 THE SIGNET CHAPTER SIX 1-' HE period following the Civil T War has been one of growth and development for Dexter. With the coming of the rail- road from Newport to Dexter in 1868, the town began to The railroad was built at a cost of S300,000 of which Dexter furnished S225,000. After completion it was leased to the Maine Central R. R. for a term of 30 years and at the end of that time the Maine Central purchased it, assuming the debt. Rv the opening of the railroad Dexter was connected with the commercial world and new and ready markets were opened to her man- ufacturers. Her business men were also given new opportunities to get in touch with the world. A little previous to this time Loring Hayes had built the Exchange hotel and this has been improved and enlarged until it is one of the best hotels in Maine. The Dexter Gazette was iirst pub- lished in 1853 by C. F. Witherell, who in 1869 sold it to Robbins Ka Gallison. In 1882 Dr. Orin Fitzgerald start- ed the Eastern State and in the early nineties these two papers were consoli- dated under the name of the Eastern Gazette. The paper is still known un- der this name and it has become an up- to-date local newspaper. In 1867 the Dexter Savings Bank was organized, followed in 1875 by the First National Bank and in 1898 by a branch of the Waterville Trust Company. For various reasons all these banks have gone out of business and have been re- placed by the Eastern Trust and the boom. Dexter Trust, both banks in the best standing. . The G. A. R. post was organized Oct. 16, 1874 under the name of the H. F. Safford Post No. 8, with H. L. Wood, commander. At one time it numbered 180 members. In this same year, 1874, the school system underwent an important change. Up to this time the town had been divided into school districts, each acting as an independent organization. Now 'these were discontinued and by the new arangement the smallest school was given the same length of term as the largest and every pupil could avail himself of the privilege of at least six months schooling a year. The village schools were graded. Three years later the town voted to supply the pupils with books. The High School building was destroyed by tire and in 1888 the pres- ent building was erected. 'At that time the school buildings were sufficient to accommodate the number of pupils, but now the schools are overcrowded and a new High School building is much need- ed. At the last town meeting it was voted to introduce manual training and domestic science into the schools next year. This will go far toward putting the school system of Dexter upon an equality with the best in the state. In 1880 a town library was establish- ed when the Mercantile Library associa- tion donated its library to the town, provided it was made free to the inhab- itants and 'supported by the town. In 1894 George Abbott offered to furnish the necessary funds for a library build- ing if the town would raise 31,000 by subscription, this was promptly done

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Ll 1 26 THE SIGNET I and the Abbott Memorial Library was erected in the center of the town at a cost of 330,000 This library contains at the present time over 12,000 volumes and through the efficiency and helpful- ness of the librarians is of great beneht to the townspeople in general and to the schools in particular. In 1880 Dexter installed electric lights and in 1904 an excellent system of Waterworks was established under the direction of a special town commit- tee chosen for the purpose. Last sum- mer an improvement in the lighting system in the business section was made, the old poles being removed and ornamental ones substituted. A fire which caused a great loss at the time but which has resulted in a great improvement for Dexter, occurred in the winter of 1907, when a large por- tion of the business blocks on the south side of Main street were swept away. These buildings, which were of Wood, have been replaced by fine-looking, sub- stantial brick structures which greatly improve the appearance of the business section as does also the cement pave- ment which was laid last summer. In the summer of 1912 Haines 8a Wy- man erected a large, up-to-date motion- picture house on Main street. They show the best -class of pictures procur- able and their theatre is one of the best in Maine. ln 1914 Mr. Call moved from his stu- dio on Grove street to his present studio which comprises the entire top floor of the Eastern Trust Block on Main street, His studio ranks first in Eastern Maine and is one of the finest in the New Eng- land states. At the present time the creameries, garages, mills and the Fay Sz Scott ma- chine shop are all doing an increasingly active business and Dexter is one of the most thriving of Maine towns. . The persistent effort, thrift, and loy- alty,which characterized the earlier pe- riods of Dexter's history combine with the business ability, so evident in the present condition of the town, to as- sure for it a most prosperous future. ,af ,Vi Qxviwffmii, 'Ns Q F'z3' ifwgz' sig: ' if as W ' - '3.'1f'i ffl'f2'? W7 gy? Trslw xx, 'ffl .1 QQVQMB 1' . . ' , f' ,Q , . ' N v -il ,5'1ti N :EBQ A A 'math H H? , I 'S f