Andeeson Home, Congress St. Belfast, Maine 1949- B143

Andeeson Home, Congress St. Belfast, Maine 1949- B143

"Anderson Home, Congress St. Belfast, Maine 1949- B143" Street Scene, Congress St., Buildings, Residence, Anderson Home, Sherburne Sleeper home The Sherburne Sleeper house at the southeast corner of Franklin and Congress Streets. In the early 1840s Calvin Ryder designed and built at least four Greek Revival houses in the port of Belfast, Maine, the Sherburne Sleeper House (1840), Hiram Alden House (1840), James P. White House (1842), and Joseph Williamson House (1844-45). Sherburne Sleeper was the son of Manasseh Sleeper and was born in Belmont July 4, 1811. In 1814, the family moved to Belfast and occupied the Whittier Tavern, the house then occupied (1888) by Col. Chenery. The family then moved to the Huse tavern, (Howe's Store in 1888) and Mr. Sleeper Senior became the landlord. He opened the hotel July 4, 1820, raised a sign bearing the coat-of-arms of the then new state and gave to the house the name of the Maine Hotel. In 1818 Manasseh Sleeper built the house on Church Street (owned in 1888 by Dr. D. P. Flanders) and moved there when he left the Maine Hotel. When Sherburne was a boy he learned the printer's trade in the office of Fellows & Simpson, who published the Hancock Gazette, and subsequently the Juvenile Magazine, Christian Visitant and the Waldo Democrat. On the death of the latter paper the Republican Journal was started. Mr. Sleeper went to Thomaston where he worked at his trade, but later returned to Belfast and entered the store of Ralph C. Johnson, as clerk. When the store was sold to H. H. Johnson Mr. Sleeper continued with him and became his partner, the firm being Johnson & Sleeper. Later the firm dissolved and Mr. Sleeper opened a dry goods store on the opposite side of the street in what was recently ? 2 engine building. In 1852Mr. McClintock having built the store occupied in 1888 by George W. Burkett, Mr. Sleeper moved there occupying what was in 1888, Mr. Burkett's lower store. About 1887, Mr. T. W. Pitcher bought a half interest and the firm became S. Sleeper & Co. In 1861 Mr. Sleeper sold to his partner and retired from business. About 1865, Mr. Sleeper built the store ? 57, Main Street, and with his son Sherburne, again went into business, the firm being S. Sleeper & Son. In 1870, the son sold to his father and went west. Mr. Sleeper continued in business until about 1885 when he was forced to retire on account of ill health. He had been elected Mayor in 1854, being the second Mayor and in 1858, he was alderman from Ward Two. His first wife was Mary Elizabeth Longfellow , daughter of Samuel Longfellow, of Hallowell. She died September 1, 1871. Of eight children, four are living. Mr. Sleeper's second wife, who survived him, was Sarah McDonald, daughter of the late George McDonald, of Belfast. She had no children. Sherburne Sleeper died August 29, 1888 at the age of 77.