Albion Howe School

At the April monthly meeting of the board of the Standish

Historical Society, by unanimous vote, the board voted to

pursue the acquisition of the Albion Howe School from

the owner, PATCO. The parcel was sold recently and then

acquired by PATCO, less the old fire barn (on the left side).

We do not know what is intended for that lot, however, on

the right side of the old school, a NAPA Auto Supply will

be built. We have been offered the right to purchase the

school.

The lot was originally owned by Dr. Ebenezer Howe,

the second doctor of Standish, who purchased it from John

Spring. He built his “Mansion” there. It passed to his sons,

Marshall and Albion. It was sold in 1897, shortly after

Albions Death to Kate Clement, who was the

granddaughter of Dr. Howe, and purchased by William

Delancey Howe, son of Albion, in 1900. He sold the land to

the Town of Standish in 1949. The Albion Howe School

was built in 1916. It replaced the one room schoolhouse in

Standish village that was located on Bonny Eagle Road, just

a short distance down the hill from the light. From there,

well, there are a lot of people in town that know much more

than I. This information came from a quick search of the

Cumberland County Deed Registry.

Suffice it to say, the acquisition of this building will be

momentous for the Historical Society. It will allow us to

have a year round presence in Standish and house our

Archives, both paper and textile, clearing space in the Old

Red Church Museum for more displays. There are lots of

possibilities, but there is much of work to be done.

We will be soliciting your expertise, your help and

donations to accomplish the task of acquiring and working

on the building. Needless to say we will need a major

fundraising initiative.