Harry Rufus Pipes was born in Presque Isle on Sept. 8, 1878, at the old Presque Isle House Hotel. His father, William, originally from New Brunswick, had moved to Presque Isle in 1876.
William’s dry goods store was the oldest established business in town and prospered prompting him to eventually partner with his son changing the name of his business to W.R. Pipes and Son.
Harry was truly a member of Presque Isle’s “old guard” working as a merchant, but heavily involved in his town and state. He was a trustee on the Board of State Sanitoriums, President of the Northland Hotel Company (the Northeastland), a board member of the Northern Maine Fair, a member of Trinity Masonic Lodge and a Shriner, and a member of the Mooseleuk Club, the group that brought beloved harness horse John R. Braden to town.
As a well-known amateur actor, he was named the manager of the Perry Opera House in 1916. He was also elected to serve as Presque Isle’s Fire Chief from 1907 until 1927.
At a 1929 town meeting, Pipes was one of two individuals appointed to a committee to investigate whether or not Presque Isle should move to the council/manager form of government. This plan was ultimately adopted in 1933.
In 1933, during a meeting of the Merchants’ Association, a predecessor to today’s chamber of commerce, Harry was appointed to a committee to consider establishing an outdoor swimming pool in Presque Isle for the children to enjoy. The construction of the pool located on south Main Street began in 1935.
Pipes passed away on Nov. 30, 1936. The Star Herald reported on Dec. 3 of that year that the ‘community was shocked and saddened by his sudden death after four days of critical illness of double pneumonia’. The paper further reported there was a ‘great profusion of flowers’ bearing testimony his contributions to the community.
“A blanket of bright red carnations sat on the foot of the casket as was an appropriate tribute to the former Chief of the Fire Company,” the article stated.
Harry Pipes is interred in Fairmount Cemetery.
Kimberly R. Smith is the secretary/treasurer of the Presque Isle Historical Society.
