LB2010.8.122148

LB2010.8.122148

Looking down Main Street into Post Office Square. Post Office is on the right with Flat Iron Building at mid distance center with the Hayford Block to the right and the Post Office to the far right.. Pedestrians and a pony cart at Church St. BELFAST NATIONAL BANK At the beginning of the 20th century Belfast National Bank, located in the flat iron building at the corner of Main & Beaver Streets, was one of three locally owned and opoerated banks. The bank was chartered in 1857. Shortly after reorganizing as City National Bank in 1909, the bank moved into new headquarters across the street at the former location of Chase's store (razed for the construction of the new bank building). It retained William B. Swan as president and Clement Wescott as head cashier. In 1933 it reorganized as the First National Bank of Belfast, continuing as the last locally owned bank until it merged with the Depositor's Trust Company of Augusta in 1960. Currently (2014) it operates as Key Bank. HAYFORD BLOCK The Hayford Block was built on Church Street 1866-68 by local contractor, Axel Hayford. There were retail stores on the ground level and offices on the second floor. In the back section was Hayford Hall, later renamed as the Opera House, which occupied two upper levels. In her will. wealthy young Belfast resident and owner of the Hayford Block, Emma Lena Peirce provided that on her husband's 55th birthday in 1913, the Hayford Block could be sold and the proceeds would be donated to build sorely needed new schools. Larrabee Brothers (formerly Wright & Larrabee) Plumbing and Heating Appliance Showroom (Hotpoint Appliances) was located on the Beaver Street side of the building at the time of this photo. The plumbing and heating shop was located at the far end of the Church Street side of the building and later became the first tenant in the new Airport Industrial Park in 1988. Thomas W. Lothrop, Jr. DDM had his dentist's office above Larrabee Brothers. Thomas W. Lothrop Jr., D.M.D. (1900-1989) was born in Evansville, Indiana and moved to Belfast in 1907. He attended local schools and graduated from Harvard Medical / Dental School in 1924. He returned to Belfast and practiced dentistry for 41 years. He was a WW2 veteran serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the USNR.Dr. Lothrop was head dentist of the dental clinic at Great Lakes Naval Base in Waukegan, Ill. He was a member of the Anah Temple Shrine and served as President of the Penobscot Dental Society. His wife, Idres died in 2007 at the age of 100. The Opera House was used for a variety of entertainments including plays, operas, fairs, formal dinners, club meetings, public gatherings and dances. Its seating capacity was 1,300 and it had a stage, a large balcony and ample floor space. Roller skating was introduced in 1882 and the first basketball game in Belfast was held there in 1904. VARIOUS BUSINESSES THROUGH THE YEARS Between Dr. Lothrop's office and the Opera House was City Job Print, owned by George Robertson. Robertson ran the Boys Cub and later the Boys Congress from 1928 until his death in 1937. It afforded opportunities for boys too young or unskilled to make a team. He rented rooms next door in the Opera House to provide space where boys could meet and plan hikes and other adventures. "George's Boys" as they were called, climbed Mt. Katahdin, explored local woods and streams and learned about the outdoors. So inspirational was the unassuming Robertson that the city named the Robertson School off Miller Street after him, in 1951. He eventually sold the business to Harold Kelley, one of his employees. POST OFFICE The triangular plot of land bordered by Main Street and Franklin Street was purchased between 1856 and 1857 for the Post Office and Custom House for $5600.00 and construction of the Post Office and Customs House was begun with funds appropriated by the U. S. Congress. The cost of construction was $30,983.26.The building was designed by architect Ammi B. Young of Washington, D.C. and built by Belfast contractor Isaac Allard. It was occupied in 1857, the post office occupying the first floor and the customs office on the second floor. An addition to the rear of the building was completed in 1887 at a cost of nearly $15,000.00. The building was provided with steam heat. An addition to the rear of the building, including the round section at the left rear, was constructed in 1909. The addition may have resulted from increased space required with the advent of Rural Free Delivery in July of 1901. RFD: In 1890, nearly 41 million people - 65 percent of the American population - lived in rural areas. Although many city dwellers had enjoyed free home delivery since 1863, rural citizens had to pick up their mail at the Post Office, leading one farmer to ask: "Why should the cities have fancy mail service and the old colonial system still prevail in the country districts?" John Wanamaker, who served as Postmaster General from 1889 to 1893, was a merchant who became one of the most innovative and energetic people ever to lead the Post Office Department. He thought it made more sense for one person to deliver mail than for 50 people to ride into town to collect their mail. He cited business logic and social philosophy as reasons to give rural dwellers free delivery. Businesses could expand their markets. Rural customers paid the same postage rates as city people. Rural people needed the important information provided by newspapers yet did not always have time to walk or ride to the Post Office. Young people might stay on the farm if correspondence and magazines eased their isolation.