The History of Greene

Headline of Important Events by Date

1775
Benjamin Ellingwood first man to make a clearing within the borders of the town, and is said to have raised a good corp of corn.

1780-1790

Many veterans of the Revolutionary War took up Lots in Plantation of Lewiston.

1785
First Saw Mill built by Col. William Sprague.

1786
First Public School in town taught by Capt. John Daggett.

1788
Town of Greene incorporated, June 18, from the northern part of Lewiston Plantation.  First town meeting held, Aug. 29, at the dwelling house of Eli and Samuel Herrick.

1790
Town divided into four school districts governed by the four major points of the compass.  About this time Crocker's grist mill, first in town, had been established in North Greene.

1793
Baptist Church organized Aug. 10.

1794
Town meetings began to be held in the New Baptist church situated N. W. from present Grammar School building.

1795
Second Grist Mill erected by Col. William Sprague.

1796
Greene Post Office, the first within the limits of the County, established Apr. 1, Benjamin Merrill, P.M.

1803
Division of town made into eleven school districts.

1805
Four burying grounds laid out in Greene.

1808
Twenty-five lots owned by non-residents first taxed as such.

1814
Stage coach line established by Thomas Longley on the old Post road between Portland and Augusta, via Auburn, Greene and Winthrop.

1816
Cold Season - frosts every month.  Many basic crops a failure.

1819
Luther Robbins, Esq., chosen, Sept. 20, as delegate to the Convention held in Portland in Oct. for the purpose of formulating a State Constitution, and on Dec. 6, the same was unanimously adopted by the Town.

1820
Luther Robbins, Esq., elected first Representative to the new State Legislature at Portland.

1827
Baptist meeting house erected.

1831
Town hearse purchased.

1836
Town house erected.  Limits of the two militia companies established.  Free-Will Baptist church organized, Apr. 7.  Universalist church organized, Sept. 11, meeting house erected the following year.

1840-1841
Dea. Elijah Barrell, Esq., elected State Senator.

1847
Public Sale of Spirituous Liquors for beverage purposes prohibited by local option from this year onward.

1849
Post Office established at Greene Corner, Dea. Elijah Barrell, P.M., Dec. 10.

1850
Orcharding began to be a major industry in town.  Silas Sprague appointed first Depot Master

1851
Post Office established at Greene Depot, William C. Dow, P.M.

1855
Col Augustus Sprague elected State Senator.

1857
Town Farm purchased, Lot No. 133, price $2, 200.

1872
Valley Cemtery enlarged and beautified.

1873
North Greene Post Office established June 18, Hon. Z. Gilbert, P.M.

1878
F. W. Baptist Church building erected and dedicated the following June.

1880
Hon. A. A. Gilbert appointed State Commissioner of Agriculture.

1886
First church bell in town placed in position, Sept. 21.

1887
Clement S. Stetson elected first Supt. of Schools.

1888
Winter traffic blocked by unusually heavy snow storm of several days duration, with high winds and cold weather.  Centennial of the town celebrated on Daggett hill, Aug. 23.

1894
Grange Hall built.

1896
Big freshet.  Greene-Turner bridge went out.

1900
Baptist church steeple struck by lightning and building burned, May 20.  Alta Post Office established July 12, Hon. C. S. Stetson, P.M. Served for 10 years.

1901
New Baptist church dedicated June 5.

1902
R.F.D. Mail routes established, B. A. Coburn taking the west side, R.D. No. 1, and George Works driving on the East Side, R.D. No. 2.

1905
U. S. Government topographical survey made.

1906
Twitchell and Champlin corn shop erected.

1908
Telephone system began general operation.

1914
New Valley cemetery acquired.  Tomb built, $500 being left to town for that purpose by will of E. L. Mower.

1916
Baptist and Free Baptist churches consolidated as Union Baptist Church, Sept. 23.

1921
Electric Lights established March 1.

1933
Service at R. R. depot by agent withdrawn.

1934
Cold Winter.  Thousands of old apple trees, mostly of the Baldwin variety, killed.

1936
Big Freshet.  Greene-Turner bridge again carried away by the ice pack.  Several along the river ready to leave their homes in case of higher water.

1938
Sesquicentennial of the town observed with appropriate exercises.

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Source

Walter L. Mower.  Sesquicentennial History of the Town of Greene, Androscoggin County, Maine 1775 to 1900 With Some Matter Extending to a Later Date.  1938.

 

Pages 125-127