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.