RIDGEWAY SCHOOL

Addison, Maine

December 16 1884

Machias Union Paper

Leonard Tibbetts papers

The Ridgeway School on Addison Ridge is flourishing and is an institution that the citizens of Addison should be very thankful for. It places in the reach of all an opportunity for a first class education

The principal and proprietor of the school is Mr. Stephen Nash who has had long experience as principal of one of the first schools in New York City. With his own money, he has built and furnished a fine house, hired assistants and he has classes in all the higher branches of study including languages and music both vocal and instrumental.

The tuition is $3.00 a year. It is merely sufficient to warm and heat the building. Even this is not a necessary requisite for admission as all who are too poor to pay are as welcome as those who pay. He also has an evening school which meets once a week. Its members are pledged to abstain from profanity, intoxicants and tobacco in all forms. This, under the skillful management of Mr. Nash has become a very interesting feature of the glorious future.

December 30, 1884

The RIDGEWAY school closed its first term on Dec. 24^th. Mr. S. S. Nash, principal and proprietor, intends to go to New York for the winter. The second term will begin the first Monday in January (1885) with Mrs. J. B. Alline in charge.

Note: This is my home that I live in today.

Found at the Registry of Deeds: in book 221 Page 489 from Jerome B Alline ( A part of Alline’s Homestead) to Stephen S. Nash (A part of Alline’s Homestead - Nov 17, 1883 ( Recorded Sept 18, 1896.)

I also found in the Tax books at the Addison Town Office that in 1892- Non Resident

Stephen S Nash as a non resident proprietor had a value of 250 on a school building and stable for 20. Total value 270.

The Tax books at the Addison Town Office that in 1893 SS Nash – District #6 School House Tax Real Estate value 320.

In 1894 Taxes on School Building and stable – total value R. E. -326.

1895 School Building and stable – total value of personal and R.
E. - 1326

Stephen S. Nash died February 28, 1896. SS Nash Est. - total valuation of Personal and Real Estate – 1275.

1904 ----Support of School found: building New School House 500, Free High School 190, Interest on School Fund 45.

1890 the town of Addison voted money for a Free High School, named for its benefactor, Steven Smith Nash.

Owners:

Property prior to Stephen Nash

180? Isaiah Nash owned

Then to Oliver Nash

1876-Adkins Nash to Jerome B Alline

1883 – Jerome B Alline to Stephen S. Nash

1886 – Stephen S Nash died

1901 the executor of Stephen S Nash will - Harrison Nash transferred to Montanus K. Nash

1902 -From Montanus K. Nash to Irving L. Nash

1945 – From Helen W. McKinley (daughter of Irving Nash) to Harry W Nash (Son of Irving Nash).

1949 -Harry W. Nash to Oscar H. Dunbar. (Lawyer)

1949- Oscar H Dunbar (Lawyer) to Harry W Nash and Anna G Nash same day.

1978- Harry Guy Lewis quit claim deed to one half undivided interest to Alice G. Lewis

1979- Alice G Lewis and daughter Anne Roberta Lewis to James and Ellen Norton

1982- Foreclosing mortgagees back to the above Lewis’s.

1983 – Strout’s Rented house from Anne and Anne Lewis

1995 – Anne Lewis to Carroll and Ronie Strout