Dr. Smalls House

Dr. Smalls House

Dr. Elmer Small's House at 36 Miller St. Dr. Elmer Small was Mayor of Belfast (1901-1903) at the time of the Semi-centennial in 1903. This was a challenging time for him, as he presided over the city during the closing of the large Critchett & Sibley shoe manufacturing business. He began his medical practice in Belfast on January 1, 1872 and was part of the first medical staff at the Waldo County Hospital, when it was opened on Primrose Hill on December 1, 1904. He originated the Dalton Sarsaparilla Co. and began manufacturing in 1893, continuing in the business until 1896. The brick house on Miller Street is now partially hidden by large conifers that don't appear at all in this photo. BIOGRAPHY Dr. Small was a highly esteemed physician, surgeon and citizen in Belfast. He is a native of Vassalboro. He was born August 14, 1845, the son of Ezekiel and Sarah (Mooers) Small. Dr. Small traces his ancestry back through seven generations to Francis Small, who came from Truro, Cape Cod, Massachusetts to the Ossippee in western Maine, where he purchased seven townships of an Indian sagamore, Captain Sunday, the date of the deed, which record, dated 1666. The consideration for the tract, including Parsonfield, Shapleigh and Standish was four hundred pounds of lead bullets, ten gallons of rum and a training coat. His great-grandfather, James Small, of Limington came originally from Truro. About the year1754, when returning from the West Indies, he experienced a gale and put in at Pemaquid to repair damages but only to exchange the dangers of the sea for those of the land. They were attacked by the Indians, some of their number killed, the vessel plundered and Captain Small, with those of his companions who were, was marched through the wilderness to Quebec, where he was afterward exchanged. Dr. Small's grandfather, Ezekiel Small, Sr., born July 25, 1777 was a farmer and lumberman. One of his sons, Ansel was a volunteer soldier in the First Heavy Artillery, 18th Maine Regiment and served during the War. He followed the two-fold occupation of farmer and teamster. Ezekiel Small, Jr., Dr. Small's father, was born in Limington June 10, 1817 and married Sarah Mooers in 1843 in Vassalboro where she was residing at the time. Dr. Small spent his boyhood on his father's farm. His elementary education was received in the Vassalboro common schools and at Oak Grove Seminary, a Quaker boarding school. He fitted for college at the Waterville Classical Institute, then an academy, and entered Waterville College, now Colby University, in 1864, class of 1868. He was awarded one of the four Junior parts in the Senior Exhibition, but instead of continuing through the senior yea, he took a year at Dartmouth College, where he was graduated ninth in rank our of a class of thirty-two and was awarded one of the ten commencement parts. His college vacations were spent in medical study in the office of Dr. George E. Brickett in Augusta. After leaving college, he spent a year in the Portland School for Medical Instruction and attended lectures at Brunswick, Me., where he was graduated in 1870. In the summer of that year he set himself up in practice at Manchester, N,H., then went to Melrose Ia., where he remained less than two years, coming to Belfast and opening an office in January, 1872. On December 25, 1869, Dr. Small was joined in marriage with Miss Caroline F. Cobb of Augusta, Me. Mrs. Small was a lady of artistic talent. She was educated at Otisfield and Bangor, making her home in the latter with her aunt. Dr. & Mrs. Small occupied their pleasant but modest home at 36 Miller Street since 1890. In politics Dr. Small was a Republican. He passed through the lower degrees of Masonry and was a member of the Palestine Commandery, No. 17, K. T., in which he is Grand Captain General. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias, on the staff of General Smith with the rank of Colonel and a member of Pallas Canton, I.O.O.F., in which he was a staff officer and had been a Major. He was a member of the County Medical Association; a member of the Board of Pension Examiners during two administrations, one being President Cleveland's first term; and for fifteen years was acting Assistant Surgeon in the United States Marine Hospital Service for the Belfast District. Dr. Small died in 1928