USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Barre > Barre : illustrated with pen and camera > Part 1
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ARRE
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Barre Town Library Barre, Massachusetts
Presented by
Mr. and Mrs.
Henry W. Blake, Jr.
#BARRE .
Illustrated with Pen and Camera BY CHARLES W. EDDY, WARE, MASS, 1887 54115
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BARRE.
ARRE was incorporated as a Town in 1774, by the name of Hutchinson, the name was changed to Barre in 1776, in honor of Colonel Isaac Barre, a friend of the American Colonies, in the British Parliament ; it is pleasantly located upon high ground in the north-west part of Worcester County. The climate and soil are as good as any in the State. The roads are in good condition and the drives about the town are magnificent.
The village is located on both sides of beautiful parks. filled with fine shade trees, flowers, and shrubbery ; it has fine gravel and concrete walks, all of which are under the superintendence of the Barre Village Improvement Society.
The business of the town is largely farming, its stock and produce being widely known and of high repute ; there are two cheese factories, an extensive manufactory of agricultural implements, furnace and machine shops, a cotton mill making sheetings, an important industry in the manufacture and finishing of straw and palm leaf hats, and more than a local business in tin and copper ware.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/barreillustrated00eddy
LIBRARY BUILDING.
HE "Woods Memorial Library Building" was erected in [886, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars, by Henry Woods, (a son of Harding P. Woods, an old resident), and has been donated by him to the Barre Library Association, for the use of the Town Library and other purposes. The building is finely arranged, not only for a Library, but for a Museum, Reading Room, and a Hall for Lectures, with a seating capacity of about three hundred.
Mr. Woods has also given five thousand dollars to the Association, to be known as the " Edwin Woods Fund." The Association also has a fund of about two thousand seven hundred dollars.
The Town possesses a Library of three thousand one hundred volumes, which is to be removed to this building, and has a Library Fund of seventeen hundreed dollars.
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TOWN HALL, ETC.
HE Town Hall was built in 1838, first Town Meeting was held here the year following ; it has a seating capacity of about five hundred. The High School is held in the second story, and there is also a small Hall ; above are the Halls of the Grand Army Republic and Good Templars ; in the basement is the lock-up and Engine House.
The Store next the Hall was built about 1837, and is occupied by Stores and Offices ; in the upper story is the Hall of Mount Zion Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons, which was incorporated in 1800, being one of the oldest in the State, it now has a membership of about one hundred, and is in a flourishing condition.
The adjoining block was moved to its present site in 1838, and has always been occupied by stores.
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DRUGS & MEDICINES.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
HE Congregational Church was organized in 1827. This building was erected about 1847; the society worshiping at what was known as the " Brick Church on the Hill." The society is in a most prosperous condition, with a church membership of about one hundred. It has a very nice organ and an excellent choir. The present pastor is Rev. J. F. Gaylord.
This beautiful Soldiers' Monument was erected in 1866, at a cost of about eight thousand dollars, is of marble with granite base, and bears the names of sixty of those who lost their lives in the war. It stands in the north park. The Eagle at the summit looking to the south, watching vigilantly the cause of liberty.
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UNITARIAN CHURCH AND BANK,
HE Unitarian Church organization is the oldest in town. The past generation, as well as the older members of the present one, will associate this church with the name of Dr. James Thompson, who was its pastor for over fifty years. This building was erected about 1847 ; the church has now a good membership ; the present pastor is Rev. A. F. Bailey.
The Bank building was erected in 1862 and is now occupied by the First National Bank of Barre, which has a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The Barre Savings Bank is also located here, incorporated 1869, the deposits amounting to about two hundred and eighty thousand dollars. In the second story is the Gazette office ; this paper was established in 1834, by C. C. P. Thompson ; it is now, as well as the extensive job printing establishment, conducted by H. H. Cook ; the paper has a large circulation in Western Worcester County. In the upper story is the Grange Hall, and a photograph room.
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METHODIST CHURCH.
HE Methodist Church was built by the Universalists, in 1838, one of the first pastors being, Rev. B. V. Stevenson, now of Ware. It was sold to the Methodists, in 1851, who have occupied it ever since.
The church has a seating capacity of about three hundred, and has an active church membership of sixty-eight; it has also a good vestry for social meetings. The church is in a prosperous condition and was organized in 1844, at first occupying the Town Hall, as a place of worship.
The present pastor is Rev. J. A. Day.
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WILLIAMS' STORE.
HIS Store is an old land mark, being the oldest store in town, was owned and kept for years by Harding P. Woods, later by Woods & Field, and then by Sons of Harding P. Woods.
In this building was started the Industry of Palm Leaf Hats ; it was also the center for a large country trade, taking in farm produce and dispensing groceries, etc., in exchange.
In its palmy days, it was not uncommon to see from six to ten, four-and-six-horse teams, starting for Boston with country produce, to return loaded with West India Goods and Groceries.
The store is now kept by A. G. Williams, who sustains its former reputation.
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POST OFFICE AND STREET.
HE Post Office building was formerly erected for a light-house to the " Boston and Barre Turn- pike." The Post Office has been located in this place over twenty-five years.
The adjoining block was built for a drug store, with offices above, by Dr. J. N. Bates.
The next block was built by Lee, Jenkins & Co., for a barn in connection with their store, but about 1856, it was converted into stores and offices.
The other building is occupied by stores, offices and harness shop.
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HATSOCAPS
AMPLIS OWEDICura!
LOLI HING.
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STRAW HAT MANUFACTORY.
ESPER, ROGERS & Co.'s straw hat manufactory was established in 1842. There are employed over one hundred hands, both male and female. The product is Palm, Leghorns, Malaga, India Panama, and Braid ; the factory is equipped with water, and steam, for power ; there are extensive box, and machine shops connected, where the company do their own work; also printing office for tips. etc.
The freight of this company amounts to about one thousand tons per annum ; they have this year finished over two hundred thousand dozen hats.
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MASSASOIT HOUSE,
HIS House was opened as a Hotel about 1835, by Seth Holden and was owned and kept for years by Abel Rice, and later by his two sons. It is now owned by Holden and Brooks, and managed by J. F. Brooks and Son., who keep an excellent house, with a good livery connected.
The house is a summer resort, and the sons and daughters of Barre, return to fill it during the summer months.
„ The prospect from the house is beautiful.
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NAQUOG HOUSE.
HIS Hotel is one of the old land marks of the town. Many years ago it bore the name "A Black, Tavern," Archibald Black, being the proprietor, for some time there was a store in the west part, and the post-office was formerly in this building. In later years it has been known as the " Naquog House," ("Naquog " being the Indian name of Barre). During many years, the only hall in town, was in connection with this house. The property is now owned by a stock company, and no doubt will soon be removed to make place for a more imposing building.
Thus the old land marks are passing away.
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DR. BROWN'S INSTITUTION,
HIS is a private institution for the education of feeble-minded youth. It was established in June 1848, by Dr. H. B. Wilbur, who resigned it in September 1851, to the care of its present senior superintendents, Dr. and Mrs. George Brown. Their son, Dr. George A. Brown, has been associated with them since 1883.
The pupils, patients and officials, are organized in five families, occupying seven houses. The · building represented here, is the south side of the central division, occupied by the senior superinten- dents and a class of boys.
Since its commencement, pupils exhibiting all types of unstable mental condition, have been educated in its schools. Nearly every State of the Union has been represented here-also some of the Canadian Provinces. With objects primarily and chiefly educational, out of its opportunities and philanthropic element has grown up the home department for such as need its care, and can find congenial society within its circle.
For such an Institution, this fine New England Town, with its clear bracing air and quiet incurious refinement has proved a fit setting.
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BAND STAND.
ARRE has always encouraged the musical talent of the town and has for years maintained a good band. This band stand was erected by subscription, in 1884.
The Barre Brass Band now has fifteen members, with Frank W. Hinkley as musical director ; open- air concerts are given from this stand during the summer months, and being centrally located on the common or park, furnishes entertainment for a large number of people.
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MEDICINES
WOODS MEMORIAL LIBRARY 3 7389 0004 7700 4
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