LB2010.8.122151

LB2010.8.122151

Very large house with mansard roof, three stories, attached to a smaller house behind. Second floor porch with railing, dormer windows on first and second floor. Large barn behind the smaller house section. JONATHON PITCHER HOUSE The tenement house at 108 High Street had proud beginnings with its owners over the years playing a prominent part in the history of Belfast. It was originally numbered 102 High Street and changed before 1894 to 108 High Street. The owners were Jonathon pitcher, brick maker and builder; Judge Alfred Johnson, son of Reverend Alfred Johnson the second minister to come to Belfast; Ann Sarah Monroe, daughter of Judge Johnson and wife of Dr. Nahum P. Monroe; Samuel G. Ellis, his son Alfred Ellis; Alfred Ellis's family; Giambatista Marsano, his son Alton and Lowell Keene. Jonathon Pitcher was one of four brothers who came to Belfast. He married Elizabeth Stephenson, a daughter of Jerome Stephenson who opened the "Black Horse Tavern" on the east side in 1800. Two of her sisters had married William & Elijah Morrill and were already living on High Street near the streets now named John and Pierce Streets when Jonathon Pitcher purchased, in September 1806, from Thomas Whittier, Jr. part of Lot 35, the most northerly of the First Division lots drawn on the west side of Belfast (Passagassawakeag) River. Thomas Whittier, Jr. was a nephew of the Thomas Whittier of "Whittier's Tavern". Conflicting Claims The first volume of the History of Belfast called this house the earliest brick building in Belfast. This statement is referred to in the Johnson Genealogy where it also states that "Judge Johnson had lived in the second on the left , on upper High Street after passing Primrose Street." It appears from the records that Jonathon's brother William Pitcher, also a brick maker, built the first brick building in Belfast, 114 High Street. Jonathon Pitcher's deed begins with a boundary "five rods south" of what was formerly William Pitcher's house now belong to David Peirce. William's house was already in existence before January 21, 1805. The David Peirce mentioned was "Captain" David Peirce, who first lived at 114 High Street, then moved to the brick building on the east side of High Street. His son, David, built the residence converted to the Waldo County General hospital which burned in November, 1974. His father's house was eventually used as a nurses home William Pitcher's house predated Jonathon's by at least a year and possibly , as much as 14 year. The Jonathon Pitcher house was not completed until he complied with the terms of his lease given to Judge Alfred Johnson on December 18, 1819. Jonathon agreed to dig, or caused to be dug, a well on the premises and near the brick house, and stone the same all in such a manner as may be best calculated to ensure a sufficient and wholesome supply of water with proper gear for drawing of water. He stated "that I will finish said brick house in a handsome and proper manner with paper and paint and whatever else may be necessary to complete the wood, brick or other work, the whole to be well finished and the front rooms to be made neat and elegant with folding blinds in the northerly front room, that I will build a front fence to said house suitable to the house, that I will put green blinds upon the same..." He also agreed to remove or cause to be removed the house on the premises in which one Samuel Burkmar now lives. Samuel Berkmar made the blinds for the Ralph C. Johnson (Pratt) house. Joint Construction Efforts Buildings were a joint venture in the early history of Belfast. Crosby's Annals, chapter X, gives a good description of a house raising. some of the craftsmen in Belfast in the early 1800's were Apollos, Silas and Darius Alden, George Hopkins, Jabez Prescott, Samuel Jackson, John Huse and John Merriam, house wrights and/or joiners; Samuel Peck and Samuel Peirce, cabinet makers, Jonathon and William Pitcher, brick makers. Judge Johnson had been married only two years when he leased the house at 108 High Street, purchasing it in 1829 some ten years later. It was his home until sometime in 1840 when he moved to 76 Church Street on Primrose Hill which he had purchased late in 1839. He was living in the upper High Street house in the summer of 1840 when the census was taken. Albert Bingham, son-in-law of Daniel Lane had not yet moved from the Church Street house. Judge Johnson lived only 12 years at the Homestead on Church Street where he died in March, 1852. The High Street property was willed to his daughter Ann Sarah Monroe, wife of Dr. Nahum P. Monroe, a prominent physician in the area. She continued to rent the house until its sale in 1873 to Samuel G. Ellis. The house was occupied as a single family residence during these years , although the census records do not pinpoint the actual families there. Samuel G. Ellisand his family were well known in the city. Samuel was a grocer. At an early date he was a member of the firm of Harding & Ellis, grocers, later of S. C. Ellis & Son. The last partnership was dissolved Aug. 3, 1874 and the business continued by his son Alfred G. Ellis, and his son-in-law Charles Ginn. Eventually, the firm became Ginn & Field, Ben D. Field and last Field & Ames. Ellis had a grist mill at the Head of the Tide below the "Old Mill House" at the foot of the lower falls. On December 10, 1874, the Republican journal announced "The bridge across Goose River built by Samuel G. Ellis, is nearly completed, and will be open to the public the latter part of this week. The bridge is 380 feet long, 25 feet high, with a roadway 20 feet in width. It is built upon the old bridge..." First Apartments In the 1880 census of Belfast, Samuel G. Ellis was living at 108 High Street. His occupation was given as "Watchman and Police" . He had rented two apartments in the building, one to Carrie Mathews, grandmother of Horace Coombs, and her sister with their families, and the other to Lorenzo D. Fogg. Carrie Mathews lived in the Ellis house on two different occasions. The Republican Journal of December 16, 1875 had a notice under the "News of the City and County" as follows: S. G. Ellis has placed a French roof upon his house just over Primrose Hill which much improves its appearance." On Dec. 30, 1875 the Journal published a list of the manes of the persons who have built new houses this year, with their estimated costs. Samuel G. Ellis built a double tenement with an estimated cost of $1,800. The last building, no doubt, was the wood frame house now numbered 110 High Street, as the families of Alfred G. Ellis and Charles Ginn lived there according to the 1880 census. Eventually, Alfred Ellis acquired 108 High Street and Charles F. Ginn, 110 High Street. Alfred died in 1892 and his widow and children continued to live at 108 High Street until the building was sold in 1913. For about seven years the Ellis sisters operated a millinery business on Main Street. Ellis' widow rented to a teacher, Charlotte O. Staples and to a hairdresser, Charles A. Davis in 1900. In 1907 Ralph Ames late of Field & Ames, Hiram Hoffses , Goldie Bridges and Carrie Woodbury all lived at 108 High Street the official number in 1900. The 108 High Street property was sold to Giambatista Marsano in August 1913. He had come to Belfast from Salem, Mass. around 1898 and opened a fruit stand on Phoenix Row, operated the fruit and confectionery business from his store on Phoenix Row until 1913 when he moved the business to 75 Main Street. In 1907 Marsano built the two story four tenement wood block at the corner High and miller Streets. After Marsano purchased the tenement at 108 High Street, his son Charles Marsano lived there along with other tenants. On the death of Giambatista Marsano in 1956, the house passed to his son, Alton Marsano, who sold it to Lowell Keene in 1965. Keene's home at the northwest corner of Swan lake Avenue and U. S. Route 1 on the east side was the homestead of James Durham, son of Deacon Tolford and grandson of John Durham, one of the original proprietors of Belfast. OWNERSHIP SUMMARY Judge Alfred Johnson, son of Reverend Alfred Johnson Ann Sarah Monroe, daughter of judge Johnson and wife of Dr. Nahum P. Monroe Samuel G. Ellis Alfred Ellis, son of Samuel Ellis Alfred Ellis's family Giambatista Marsano, fruit store owner Alton Marsano, his son, restaurateur Lowell Keene