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NEWTON WAR
MEMORIAL
3 1323 00401 8056
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/newtonwarmemoria00brim
NEWTON WAR MEMORIAL
"Lest we forget Lest we forget"
Published by THE NEWTON GRAPHIC
FREE 1 NOV 1 6 1983
Y 940.373 B77N 1930
FOREWORD
The part that Newton took in the World War, thru its men and women and in particular by its youth, deserves the pen of an experienced historian, for it is a record of which all of us can be justly proud.
In the multiplicity of important events which crowded each other so closely during the strenuous months of the World War, it is difficult to rank them correctly and if, in the following pages, we have failed to give due credit to any branch of the service, we assure our readers that it is not done intentionally.
Newton was among the first cities in the Common- wealth to organize a committee on Public Safety, and which served as a central force of many of the war activities in which this city engaged. Its slogan was "Help Win the War" and it engaged in food produc- tion, food conservation, recruiting for military service. offering advice and assistance to draftees and their families and in many other ways performing effective service.
The wonderful work done by the women of the city deserves ample space and shows a high degree of patriotism and efficiency.
The operation of the Selective Service Act, touch- ing the lives and fortunes of nearly three thousand of our young men, needs the pen of a Dickens to ade- quately describe it.
The part Newton played in financing the war ought not to be forgotten. The four Liberty Loans and the
final Victory Loan found our people alive to the needs of the Federal Government, and our record in that di- rection is one of which every citizen can well be proud. The Red Cross. Y. M. C. A., United War Work and other drives were most successful, and liberal contribu- tions were made of socks, sweaters and other articles of clothing.
Our people turned their lawns into vegetable gardens, our high school boys spent the summer months in farm production, our people observed the rules and regula- tions of the Food Control Act, purchasing substitutes for flour and fuel, accepting the restrictions on the use of sugar, going without heat on Heatless Mondays. and refraining from using automobiles on Gasless Sundays.
And finally what shall we say of those who gave the "Last full measure of devotion." Nearly a hundred of our young men, who left our fair city with hearts aflame with patriotism never returned and the vacant chair brings cherished memories in the minds and hearts of loved ones, which are sacred to the home and fireside. We do not wish to recall the sadness of those memories, but we are proud that our young men were not afraid of the Grim Reaper and that the splendid record they made shall be preserved as an example to coming generations.
It is to these boys that we dedicate this Memorial of their service overseas and of our service here at home.
J. C. BRIMBLECOM.
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WAR-TIME ACTIVITIES IN NEWTON
While the larger details of the life in this city dur- ing the World War are fairly easy to picture and are covered in special chapters in this volume, there were many small but important factors which are hard to adequately chronicle.
The attitude of our people all through the war period, was to heartily support and to co-operate with all agencies which were working for a successful ter- mination of the conflict. The sinking of the Lusitania and the stories of German atrocities, stirred everyone to a white heat and long before the actual entrance of the United States into the war, preparations were being quietly made for what was believed to be the ultimate outcome.
With such a background, the requests and orders of the State and Federal authorities were received in a most cheerful spirit and given prompt attention.
Newton is so closely allied to Boston, that many of our people took more interest in the war work of that city than they did of their home town.
The following Newton residents served on the com- mittees of the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety :
Finance, Daniel G. Wing ; Industrial Survey, Edwin P. Brown : Transportation, Howard M. Biscoe, Charles P. Hall; Hygiene, Louis K. Liggett ; Federal and State Legislation, James P. Richardson; State Protection, Henry I. Harriman; Military Equipment and Sup- plies, Edward J. Frost, Louis K. Liggett, James L. Richards ; Emergency Help and Equipment, Morton G. Tuttle; Military and Concentration Camps, Col. William B. Emery; Recruiting. George S. Smith ; Home Economics, George H. Ellis; Educational Di- rectors and Publicity Agents, Grace M. Burt.
The attitude of the city toward the war was clearly shown by a postal card canvass made of 8204 voters. Two questions were asked : First, favorable or opposed to the war; second, relative to compulsory military training and service. Two thousand, one hundred and ninety-three cards were returned on the first question, 1261 favorable and 892 opposed to war. On the second question 2147 replies were received of which 1662 were in favor and 485 opposed.
Previous to our formal entry in the war, patriotic meetings were held in various parts of the city, the first on March 14, 1917, at Bray Hall, Newton Centre, at which Frank H. Stewart presided and Prof. William R. Thayer, Godfrey Cabot and Dr. Morton Prince were the speakers. On March 29 another enthusiastic meeting was held in the State Armory, at which Wil- liam F. Garcelon presided and the speakers included Senator John W. Weeks, Mayor Edwin O. Childs, Hon. John A. Keliher, Rev. Edward T. Sullivan, Congressman William H. Carter, and Captain Henry D. Cormerais.
The pacifists were also active and held a meeting in Bray Hall on March 22, at which the speakers were Rev. A. J. Muste, Brent D. Allinson and Prof. Manley O. Hudson.
On Sunday, March 25, impressive services were held in St. John's Church, Newtonville, and Eliot Church, Newton, at which national flags were presented and dedicated. Similar exercises were held in Central Church, Newtonville, on Sunday, April 22.
The declaration of war by Congress was the occasion for raising of flags all over the city, and for meetings for patriotic purposes.
The first appeal for funds for war purposes was made on May 4, 1917 when $10,000 was asked to support Y. M. C. A. huts in the war zone.
Fifty-eight Newton young men were successful in their applications for commissions in the army and were ordered to the Officers' Training Corps at Platts- burg, N. Y., on May 12 and 14.
On June 1, 1917, John R. Simpson of this city was appointed purchasing agent for the United States with rank of major and left at once for Washington.
Company C, 5th Regiment, was mobilized for active service on July 25th and went into camp on Claflin Field. They were given a farewell banquet on the Field and a dance later in the State Armory on August Sth. This was followed by a farewell parade on August 10th. On August 7th the Company was merged into the Federal service and became Co. C of the 101st Regiment of the National Guard. They left for camp at Framingham on August 17th and sailed for France on September 7, leaving a small detail in camp at Framingham. Later this detail was sent to Camp Greene, North Carolina.
In September, M. W. Murray, master of the Voca- tional High School, was given leave of absence by the school committee to accept a position as superintendent of the work of vocational training of maimed and wounded soldiers at Washington.
Rev. Oscar B. Hawes, minister of the Newton Cen- tre Unitarian Church, was given a leave of absence for a year for work abroad and was given a farewell ban- quet on November 28th. Later in January Rev. G. Charles Gray, pastor of the Newton M. E. Church was commissioned as chaplain in the 353rd Infantry, N. G., and left for Camp Funston in Kansas.
While the need of enonomy in the use of coal as fuel had been stressed all through the fall of 1917, it was not until the winter of 1917-18 that more stringent measures were deemed necessary by the Fuel Administration of the government. On January 18, orders were given to all manufacturers to close down production for a period of five days and in conse- quence 2000 persons were out of work in this city. The order also required all store keepers to curtail lights in windows and prohibited certain kinds of business from using window lights altogether. This was also followed by orders to curtail the use of heat on Mondays of each week. Later, in the fall of 1918, orders were issued prohibiting the sale or use of gaso- line on Sundays.
To further economize in the use of coal, many of the Protestant churches held union services.
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The Food Administration also issued drastic orders regarding the use, sale and hoarding of wheat flour and sugar. Wheat flour could not be sold without the purchase of pound for pound of substitutes, such as rice flour, corn meal or barley. One order in force for a short period required the purchase of a bushel of potatoes with every bag of wheat flour. Hoarding was prohibited and every householder having more than 30 pounds of flour on hand on May 4, 1918, was re- quired to report it.
The price of sugar rapidly increased as the shortage became serious, running as high as 24 to 26 cents per pound. On January 1, 1918, sugar rations were es- tablished, each family being limited to three pounds per person per month. Maple and corn syrup and honey were some of the substitutes.
All through the early months of 1918, drives were instituted in the different villages for funds to sup- ply the women's organizations with material for war work and for other similar purposes. The drive in Newtonville vielded $17,700; in Newton Corner, $17,000; in Newton Highlands, $10,187, and a sub- stantial amount in West Newton.
Many of the churches had wooden tablets prepared containing the names of the young men of that parish who were in active service. These tablets were placed in front of the church doors and in many cases were dedicated with impressive ceremonies. One of the outstanding events of this character was that of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Newton Centre on June 16th, 1917. Another interesting service was the unveiling of a tablet at the Newton High School con- taining the names of 460 pupils of that school in service.
The work of the Newton Free Library deserves especial mention. In the drive for the War Library Fund of 1917, Newton raised $4528, or more than double the quota assigned to the city. Contributions of 5000 books were received and shipped to Camp Wheeler in Georgia and Camp Jackson in South Caro- lina. Mr. Harold T. Dougherty, the librarian, was also granted leave of absence to supervise the New England Branch of the National War Library organ- ization. In 1918 Mr. Dougherty was given a longer leave of absence and built the library at Kelly Field, Texas, and later was transferred to the Dispatch Office at Newport News, Va., where he had charge of the books sent across. Still later Mr. Dougherty went to France for continued library work. Meanwhile, fur- ther contributions of books were received at the main library, making a total of 12,700 volumes, all of which were forwarded to the various camps.
Among some of the other features of interest we might mention the grand military ball in Bray Hall, Newton Centre, by the Mothers' Rest, on December 29, 1917, a grand outdoor rally at Norumbega Park on May 25th, graced by the presence of Lieutenant- Governor Calvin Coolidge and William A. Wellman, the noted aviator, and a patriotic fete on Claflin Field. Newtonville, on June 1st. Our Italian citizens showed their patriotic fervor by staging a patriotic parade followed by a flag raising on West Newton Common on September 21.
Allied to the drives for the Liberty loans was that of the Newton Chapter Branch of the Metropolitan Chapter of the American Red Cross for memberships. With about 1700 members when the Chapter was or-
ganized in April. 1917, as the result of an intensive drive on similar lines to that of the Liberty loans, the membership was increased to 16,626 in December, 1917. Another drive was held in the fall of 1918 and the membership rose to 16,865 on October 1st, when the organization became the Newton Chapter.
The influenza epidemic in the fall of 1918 was a most serious affair. There were 5967 cases reported to the Board of Health, and 195 deaths. The Newton Hospital had 359 cases with 64 deaths and the old Woodland Park hotel, turned into a temporary hospital by the Newton Chapter of the Red Cross, had 170 patients, of whom 26 died. The work done by the Red Cross and the Newton Constabulary in connection with the temporary hospital was highly commended by the authorities. The public schools were not opened that fall until October 21st.
Due to the greatly increased number of workmen employed at the Watertown Arsenal, a committee was appointed under the name of the Charles River Valley Home Building Committee, to provide homes for these workmen. The Newton members of this committee were Hon. Henry E. Bothfeld, chairman, Samuel Hyslop, Charles E. Gibson, John R. Prescott and Percy M. Blake, directors.
On November 1st. 1918, a Board of Curtailment of Non-War Construction was appointed consisting of Alonzo R. Weed, chairman, Walter H. Barker, Alfred MacDonald, Horace W. Orr, A Stuart Pratt, and A. Dudley Dowd. It was the duty of this board to recom- mend to the War Industries Board its approval or dis- approval of all new building construction in Newton.
In common with the rest of the country. Newton welcomed the armistice with unparalled enthusiasm. The ringing of bells, tooting of whistles and joyous chimes told the people in the early morning that the great war was over. Impromptu parade were formed in the early morning at Nonantum and Upper Falls. In the evening, a parade of over 1500 persons was formed in Auburndale. W. J. Spaulding was chief marshal, the Constabulary band furnished music and the Auburndale unit of the Constabulary took part. On arriving at Nye Park, a patriotic meeting was held near the roll of honor with Rev. Dr. George S. Butters and Congressman-elect Robert Luce as speakers.
Another large parade was formed in the afternoon at Upper Falls, with Alderman Harry L. Cook as marshal.
All day Monday and Tuesday, the victory were cele- brated with all kinds of noise and enthusiasm.
On Tuesday night there was a patriotic meeting in Bray Hall, Newton Centre, following an informal parade under the leadership of John C. deMille. Dr. George L. West presided at the meeting and Rev. Edward T. Sullivan was the speaker.
At all the schools special programs of victory were held. Mr. Henry I. Harriman made the address at the Vocational High School, Mr. E. C. Adams at the Classical High School.
A special service of thanksgiving was held Thurs- day afternoon at Grace Church, Newton, and Te Deums were sung in the Catholic churches of the city.
The Italian colony at Nonantum held a celebration on Sunday and the Italians of West Newton had a parade with flags and bands, and speeches were made by Rev. J. Edgar Park and S. F. Argento.
Members of the Newton Upper Falls Association
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canvassed that village for subscriptions to a fund for a War Memorial and for a Welcome Home celebration. About $1200 was raised and placed in the hands of the Village Improvement Society. With this money a handsome memorial was placed on the grounds of the Emerson School with appropriate exercises, under the direction of a committee consisting of Walter Dug- gan, Arthur D. Colby, James Gormley and Miss Ethel \V. Sabin.
The Welcome Home celebration took the form of a banquet and dance at Lincoln Hall, Newton High- lands, on April 19, 1919.
WELCOMED HOME
A well planned and well executed program to ex- tend a welcome home to the men from Newton who had been in service abroad was successfully carried out on Saturday, June 7, 1919.
Between 900 and 1000 reported at noon at the various village centres, where between 300 and 400 automobiles were furnished to take them about the city.
The automobiles arrived at the vicinity of Lake Street and Commonwealth Avenue about one o'clock, where Captain Henry W. Crowell and a corps of aides assigned them to place in the line, with the machines carrying C Company boys at the head of the parade.
The invited guests included Brigadier General John H. Sherburne, Colonel Edward L. Logan, Colonel G. W. Bunnell, Lieutenant Colonel Philip S. Schuyler, Captain Henry D. Cormerais and Chaplain William J. Farrell, representing the Army, and Captain W. B. Edgar and Commander N. T. Nelson, representing the Navy.
The invited guests were met by Mayor Edwin O. Childs, and President Harriman and Vice-President Cole of the Board of Aldermen, just over the Boston line, and promptly at two o'clock the procession started, with an automobile carrying a beautiful memorial service banner with the number 85 on a gold star to indicate those residents of this city who had given their lives in the great war.
The parade passed through Chestnut Hill, Thomp- sonville, Newton Centre, Newton Highlands, Upper Falls, Waban, Lower Falls, Auburndale, Newtonville, Newton, Nonantum, West Newton and Auburndale again to Norumbega Park.
A free canteen service was established along the line of march at the various points of assembly by the Y. M. C. A. and Red Cross Society to serve the boys before they moved off on parade.
At Lasell, on Woodland Road. Auburndale, the girls were so arranged on the lawn as to form the letter "L" and every girl held a red or white toy balloon, making a pretty picture. Further along on Woodland Road in front of one of the dormitories, the senior class in caps and gowns also formed the letter "L."
The greatest enthusiasm was manifested as the boys passed through Nonantum, the boys being greeted with cheers and the waving of flags. At West New- ton, the City Hall grand stand was filled with the invited guests of the day, the G. A. R. and Spanish War veterans, and members of the city government and a marching salute was given as the machines moved slowly by. The Newton Constabulary band
played at this point, the only music along the line of march.
Nearly every store in the city on the route of the parade carried the national colors in some form or another, many of the decorations, notably those at the Bank Building in Nonantum Square, and the Gas Company building, being quite elaborate. The city buildings were handsomely adorned, the City Hall and reviewing stand in particular. Only a few residences were decorated, other than by the display flags, the parochial residence in Newton being a notable excep- tion, and the home of Mr. Franklin Spooner on Han- cock Street, Auburndale, being particularly attractive with thousands of small flags outlining the grounds and buildings.
The entertainment at Norumbega Park was short, snappy, and good.
President Harriman, chairman of the committee on arrangements, presided. He said the city was in- deed proud of the record made by 3000 of its young men who had loyally served the country and did honor to those who had paid the supreme sacrifice. The great battles in which you have participated will always stand high in American history and we take supreme satisfactory in the quality, skill and bravery in which you have excelled.
Mayor Childs reminded those present that on this very spot 53 years ago the children of Newton wel- comed home the returning soldiers from the Civil War, while today their children welcome home those who have saved civilization. Today we are grateful to God for what you did, for your safety and for your return. You have won our admiration for what you have done, but there still remains something to do. We look out upon a plastic world,-a world ready to be made what we will and we look to you for help in bringing about a better social order.
Brigadier-General John H. Sherburne, the next speaker, bore testimony to the propriety of this re- ception, for he saw Newton men in action time after time. He urged the men to still fight for 100 per cent Americanism, and make themselves felt.
Colonel George W. Bunnell said that the Yankee Division stood for what every soldier and sailor stood -country and duty. You men have been through try- ing times and have learned something that makes you different. You must watch and study, fight for the right, justice and fair play, and get into the fight against Bolshevism.
Colonel Edward L. Logan received a warm reception and told how the amalgamation of the old 5th and 9th regiments into the 101st had been successfully accom- plished. His mention of Boughan, Joyce, Hyatt, and Raymond brought forth salvos of applause and he said that these men were the type of men Newton had given to the war, and that they had fought for the people they loved, the homes they cherished and the institutions they revered.
Father William J. Farrell, the chaplain of the 26th Division, received a splendid reception. He made a stirring speech which went right to the hearts of all who heard it, urging the men not to forget the lessons they had learned abroad, and to fight sedition, I. W. W.ism, Bolshevism as they had fought the Hun. Governor Calvin Coolidge came in a little later and spoke briefly, reminding the men that while they were
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away they had not been forgotten. He expressed the gratitude of Massachusetts for what they had done and urged them to use the same courage and same patience in private life-confident that they would perform the same efficient service in peace as in war.
An excellent vaudeville entertainment followed for about an hour and then the guests proceeded to large tents on the ball field where covers had been laid for 1450. Here an excellent dinner of grape fruit, scal- loped fish, cold chicken, lobster and chicken salads and various kinds of ice creams, coffee, cigars and cigar- ettes had been provided. Seventy-five ladies assisted the regular waiters in caring for the diners and the band which had been on duty at the park since three o'clock, provided music while the meal was in progress.
In the evening the State Armory at West Newton was crowded to the doors at a grand ball given the men. Continuous music was furnished by the Con- stabulary band and an orchestra, and ice cream and cake was served in an adjoining tent. Captain Henry D. Cormerais was floor director. and he was assisted by the following aides. Captain Edward Edmunds, Jr .. First Sergeant Wesley Pease, Sergeant A. Leo Taffe, Sergeant John F. Faherty, Sergeant Edward J. Can- non, Corporal Albert J. Considine, and Corporal Thomas Hickey.
The committee on arrangements consisted of Presi- dent Henry I. Harriman, chairman, Mayor Edwin O. Childs, Aldermen Bancroft L. Goodwin, Reuben Fork- nall, Herbert M. Cole, Ilarry L. Cook, Fred MI. Blan- chard, Percy M. Blake, W. J. Spaulding, William L. Allen, with Mr. Fred M. Blanchard, chairman of the parade committee, Representative Bernard Early, chairman of the park and dinner committee, and Gen. James G. White, chairman of the ball committee. Major John C. de Mille was chief marshal. Captain Henry W. Crowell of Co. A. State Guard, was chair- man of the automobile committee.
Great credit is due to all these gentlemen for the successful carrying out of most excellent plans for this day.
The boys were all presented with a handsome sou-
venir badge, which acted as a pass of admission to the festivities of the day.
There was a most gratifying response to the request of the committee that the men appear in uniform, the men in citizen clothes being hardly noticeable.
A pleasing incident of the afternoon was the pre- sentation at the dinner, of a gold watch to Thomas Tredden of Auburndale. The presentation was made by Mayor Childs and was the gift of Auburndale friends of Mr. Tredden, who was the youngest resi- dent of that village to enlist.
As a part of the Welcome Home the city govern- ment authorized the preparation of a handsomely il- luminated scroll to be awarded to every Newton man in the service. The scroll is signed by Mayor Childs, City Clerk Grant and by Aldermen Justin A. McCar- thy, Ernest G. Hapgood and Philip Nichols. It reads as follows :
CITY OF NEWTON MASSACHUSETTS
Pursuant to an order adopted by the Board of Alder- men, December sixteenth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, in recognition of the illustrious service ren- dered to our country by the young men of Newton and in appreciation of the many sacrifices made by them in the righteous cause of Liberty and Justice, with pride in their untarnished record and the undying fame bestowed upon her by their valiant deeds, the City of Newton by these presents, expresses to
JOHN DOE
her heartfelt gratitude for his services in the armed forces of the United States during the Great War, so that it may be known that now, as in former days. the people of this city are not forgetful of the patriotic spirit of her sons who have offered their lives to their country in the hour of need, and have done their part to make it certain that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
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