USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Rowley > The tercentenary celebration of the town of Rowley, 1639-1939 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 R79rt 1987583
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
V
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 8517
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019
https://archive.org/details/tercentenarycele00unse
1639
1939
The
Tercentenary Celebration
Of The
Town of Rowley, Mas.
1639-1939
ON
CHI:
ROW LEY" INCORPORATED "4 -7 MO .. 1639" MASS .
SHALBEE CALLED
'MR.
*
August 24-25-26-27 1939
Compiled and printed, by vote of the Town, direction of Clerk of the Tercentenary Committee FEBRUARY, 1942
1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1987583
PAGE
First Town Meeting action for Tercentenary Celebration
9
Program of 1839 Celebration 12
Various Celebration Committees
Opening Exercises, Town Hall, August 24, 1939
20 27
Historical Episodes on Rowley Common
Garden Party at Rowley Historical Grounds
Baseball Game, Rowley Common
Band Concert by Salem Cadet Band
Planting Tercentenary Tree, Rowley Common
Center School Grounds, Tree Planting
Planting Tree, Ezekiel Rogers School Grounds
Tablet Dedication, Center School Grounds
Dedication of Tablet, Rowley Common
Dedication of Memorial Tablet, Lesslie Road Burying Ground
Colonial Ball in Tent, Rowley Common
9
Demonstration of Old and Modern Fire Fighting Methods
Tercentenary Parade
109 125
First Congregational Church Service
141 159
Letters to and from the Parish Clerk, Rowley, England
Report of the Rowley Historical Society 169
Float, "The Country's Wonder" 175
187
The Passing of the Old School House
192
Interesting Facts of Rowley History
195
Places of Interest in Rowley
196
History of the First Press
198
From Writings of the Simple Cobbler of Agawam 199
Conclusion 206
0
Sports Program, Rowley Common
109
Tercentenary Banquet and Exercises, Rowley Common
Nancy, the Old Rowley Cannon
44 65 67 68 70 72 74 77 80 92 105 108
5
21 LI-GITTE 7AT 00.0/$
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Rowley Common Pavilion used for 200th Anniversary Celebration, 1839 13
Electrically illuminated sign constructed by Town
Light Department, 1939 19
Town Hall, Town Offices and Free Public Library Building, erected 1904 26
The First Settlers, Rowley's First Pageant Episode, August 24, 1939 47
John Spofford Family leaving for New Rowley, Georgetown's First Episode 51
Lieut. Thomas Perley and Wife giving food and drink, Boxford Episode 61
Platts-Bradstreet House, Home of Rowley Historical Society . 66 Rowley Common, showing Civil War Monument, erected in 1914. .. 70
Tablet, Center School Grounds, near site of first three Meeting Houses 77
Tablet on Rowley Common, site of early Training Field 80
Tablet, Lesslie Road Burying Ground, Linebrook Parish 100
Country's Wonder, Bow and Stern views, Rowley Prize Parade Feature Float 114
Shoe Industry, Georgetown's First Prize Parade Float 117
Replica of Paul Revere Bell, Groveland's Outstanding Parade Float. . 121
Tent on Rowley Common, used for Tercentenary Ball and Banquet, August 25, 26, 1939 125
First Congregational Church, Rowley, erected 1842.
Their fourth Church building 141
St. Peter's Church, Rowley, Yorkshire, England, the Mother Church 147 Marble Monument in Cemetery, erected in Memory
of Rowley's First Ministers 161
Fire Station, Home of Rowley Volunteer Fire Protection Co., Hammond Street 172
Rowley's Famous Cannon, the Original "Old Nancy" 187
Old Tan House, location of one of the old-time industries and Boat Building 184
Old Town Hall and School Building, stood near
present site of Center School 192
Facsimile of Map in "Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts". Insert
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
PREFACE
T' HIS publication recounting the events in connection with Rowley's Tercentenary celebration is published by vote of the Town, having in mind the preservation of the happenings of that noteworthy occasion, August 24, 25, 26, 27, 1939, for future generations.
Carrying out vote of the Town the object has been to give as complete a history as possible of what occurred with addresses and exercises, in substance a word picture of the most outstanding ob- servance in Rowley's three hundred years of existence as a township.
It is hoped the publication may prove worthy of the Town so dear to us all beside giving proper credit to those who did so much to make the celebration a success.
JOHN A. MARSHALL, Clerk
of Town Committee.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE
TOWN OF ROWLEY
At the Annual Town Meeting held on March 7, 1938, the first official action was taken by the Town in regard to the Three Hundredth Anniversary in 1939 of the settlement of Rowley. An article having been inserted in the Warrant at the request of Cornelius F. Haley, said article being to see if the Town will authorize the Moderator to appoint a Committee of seven or more citizens, two of whom shall represent the Rowley Historical Society, to consider the advisability of a proper observance of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the incorporation of the Town. Said Committee shall make a report to the Town at the next Annual Town Meeting with recommendations for such action as the Com- mittee may deem advisable and necessary in order to provide for the Tercentenary observance of the settlement of Rowley.
Mr. Haley advocated the adoption of the Article at the Meeting. He stated that while the Tercentenary year would not come until 1939 he felt that in view of the importance of the event in the history of the Town that ample time should be allowed in order to have the matter considered, proper plans made, and sub- mitted for the consideration of the citizens and should the matter be held in abeyance until the Annual Town Meeting, in March, 1939, it would not allow sufficient time to arrange for the celebra- tion next year as it was of much public interest to the citizens, former residents and general public and warranted action by the Town Meeting this year. Mr. Haley moved the adoption of the Article which was carried and the Moderator appointed the Com- mittee as follows :
Cornelius F. Haley Gertrude W. Carleton
John A. Marshall George E. Pike Harlan C. Foster Marian G. Todd
Ruth L. Cheney
This committee organized with the choice of Hon. Cornelius F. Haley as Chairman and John A. Marshall as Clerk.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
Having in mind that the Rowley of 1639 extended from the Atlantic Ocean on the East to the Merrimac River on the West, South Byfield on the North and Linebrook Parish on the South, and included within the territory in whole or in part what is now Georgetown, 1838; Groveland, 1850; Bradford, 1675 (now Ward 7 of Haverhill), portions of the Boxfords, 1685, and Middleton, 1728, besides the Rowley as it is today, it can be realized in some degree, what the present Rowley had to do, as the mother so to speak of the thriving communities named above which were once included within the territorial limits of our old home town.
Again when it is considered that from our First Congrega- tional Church, established and founded in 1639 by Reverend Ezekiel Rogers, who was its minister and leader for many years, were organized the Churches at Bradford in 1669, Boxford 1st, 1702; South Byfield, 1702; Groveland, 1727; Georgetown 1732; Box- ford 2d Church, 1736, and Linebrook, 1749, it clearly demon- strates the religious influence which grew and spread from the work of the first home church, of which we should justly feel proud.
Taking the above facts into account the committee was deeply impressed with the responsibility placed upon them at the Annual Town Meeting of March 7, 1938, to submit plans and recom- mendations for properly observing such an important event.
With the various phases of the situation as alluded to herein it was the opinion of the Committee that the Town should make proper observance of its Three Hundredth Anniversary, and we so recommend, with a program along somewhat similar lines as herein outlined, to be carried out by a Committee, who must neces- sarily be given discretionary powers.
While the actual incorporation date of Rowley was in Sep- tember, the Committee felt that a larger number of people would be convenienced in and out of Town should the celebration be held during the month of August, and we so recommend.
Numerous meetings of the committee were held, beside many more meetings to which representatives from the local churches, fraternal, civic, community and athletic organizations of the Town were invited, and were well represented, cooperating in a splendid manner with the Town Committee and were of great assistance in arranging and carrying out the program as later presented, which seemed to meet with the hearty approval of the Town's people and all others who witnessed it or participated therein.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
Desiring to have the cooperation and assistance of the Church, the Parish, the Rowley Historical Society and the community as a whole to assist them in their deliberations, it was voted to invite the above organizations to assist the committee, and also to have an open meeting and invite all interested citizens and organizations to come in and discuss the situation with the committee, for to make the event the success it deserved, all should feel that they have a part in it, and be ready and willing to assist in carrying out any plans which would meet the approval of the Town.
An open meeting was held later at the Selectmen's Office when many citizens appeared and expressed ideas well worthy of consideration.
At the Annual Town Meeting of March, 1939, the commit- tee reported as instructed at 1938 meeting: Recommending that the Town observe and celebrate the Tercentenary. In their report ref- erence was made to what comprised the Township of Rowley in 1639 which then included beside what is now the Town of Rowley the portions which were set off as Bradford, now a part of Haver- hill, in 1675 - Boxford, 1685 - a part of Middleton, 1727 - Georgetown, 1838 - Groveland 1850, and that, our First Con- gregational Church, established in 1639, was the mother church either wholly or in part of the churches in Bradford - Boxford 1st - South Byfield - Groveland - Georgetown - Boxford 2nd and Linebrook.
With this background of history it seemed all the more im- portant that we should observe and celebrate in some fitting man- ner our three hundredth anniversary and arrange a program be- fitting the occasion to include those municipalities once a part of Rowley, and that our border towns of Ipswich and Newbury should at least be with us at parade and banquet; also that the Mother Parish of Rowley, England, should be communicated witha and asked for a message of greeting.
The Town having voted to accept the recommendations of the committee who were appointed in 1938 for the observance of the Three Hundredth Anniversary Celebration in August, the same committee was chosen to serve with the Selectmen, Samuel F. Knowles, Jr., Frank W. Fletcher and Rupert S. Morrill, in arrang- ing for the proper observance of the Tercentenary of the Town and Albert F. Tenney, Amos E. Jewett and Joseph N. Dummer were added to the committee.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
Organization of the committee was then completed by choice of Cornelius F. Haley, chairman; Joseph N. Dummer, vice chair- man ; John A. Marshall, clerk, and Rupert S. Morrill, treasurer.
Amos E. Jewett, Harlan C. Foster and Winfield J. Haley were made a committee for marking houselots of the original settlers, of which there were about eighty.
In the Autobiography published by the late Daniel N. Prime of Rowley in 1873, who was a member of the Committee in charge of the 1839 celebration, the hope was expressed that some portion of the exercises of that event might be included in the program for the celebration of one hundred years hence, 1939, and the Scripture reading for our Tercentenary Church service as well as an original poem from the pen of Mr. Prime used in 1839, was read by one of his descendants at the Church service of August 27, which officially closed the Tercentenary Celebration of 1939.
It seems worthy of notice here to record a bit of history in connection with the Town's observance of its second centennial anniversary. Quoting from the late Daniel N. Prime's Auto- biography published in 1873 we find the following :
"The Town of Rowley, at their annual meeting, April 2d, 1839, voted to set apart some day during the present year for the purpose of celebrating the second centennial anniversary of the settlement of the town, and they appointed the following com- mittee, viz :-
"Rev. Willard Holbrook, Joshua Jewett, Thomas Gage, Thomas Payson, Amos Saunders, Thomas Howe, Daniel N. Prime, Edward Smith, Richard Kimball, Benj. H. Smith, Oliver Blackinton, and Nathaniel Mighill.
"They were instructed to appoint the day and make the neces- sary arrangements for its celebration, and invite the inhabitants of Georgetown, Bradford and Boxford, who were originally a part of Rowley, to unite with us.
"The committee appointed the fifth of September for the cele- bration, it being two hundred years from the passage of the order of the Great and General Court incorporating the Town, which was in this laconic style :- '4th day of 7th month, Mr. Ezekiel Rogers' plantation shall be called Rowley.'
"This was no doubt, so called, from Rowley, in England, from whence Mr. Rogers with about twenty other families of the first settlers came.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
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Rowley Common, laid out by early settlers. Scene of the Two Hun- dredth Anniversary Celebration, showing pavilion used for Centennial Dinner, September 5, 1839.
"The day was celebrated in the following manner :-
"A procession was formed on the common at 11 o'clock A.M. under escort of a volunteer company of young men of Rowley, commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Perley. Music by the Salem Brass Band. Conducted by Brigadier-General Lowe of Boxford, Chief Marshal of the day, and proceeded to the Orthodox Church. The following were the exercises at the church :-
1. Voluntary, by the Band.
2. Anthem, 'Praise the Lord'-Comer.
3. Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Isaac Braman, from a Bible printed in 1611.
4. Singing, by the choir.
A portion of the 107th Psalm as turned into metre and set to a tune in a singing book printed in 1604.
Read, line by line, as by Deacons in days of yore. The reading by Deacon Joshua Jewett.
5. Prayer, by Rev. Willard Holbrook.
6. Original Ode, by Mr. Daniel N. Prime, of Rowley.
7. Ecclesiastical Address, by Rev. James Bradford, of Shef- field.
8. Anthem, 'Glory be to God on High'-Mozart.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
9. Civil Address, by Thomas E. Payson, Esq., of Andover.
10. Original Ode, by Hon. George Lunt of Newburyport.
11. Prayer, by Rev. Benjamin Grafton.
12. Closing Anthem, 'Halleluiah to the Father'-Beethoven.
These exercises were held in the old church built in 1749, a few years previous to its being vacated and demolished.
"It was then in a dilapidated state. It was filled to overflowing, and stagings were erected at the large windows, some of which were removed to accommodate those who could not get into the house.
"Mr. Bradford, who delivered the ecclesiastical address, was a native of Rowley, son of a former minister.
"Thomas E. Payson, Esq., who gave the civil address, was also a native of Rowley.
"The music by the band, and the choir under the lead of Mr. Paul Johnson of Newburyport, was of the highest order.
"The reading from the ancient Bible was by the good and venerable Rev. Isaac Braman of Georgetown.
"The Centennial Dinner, held after the exercises in the Church, was in a tent, or pavilion, one hundred and sixty feet long and twenty-five feet wide, was erected on the common for the occasion, and a dinner was provided by Mr. Edward Smith, of Rowley, and Col. John Savary of Georgetown.
"Nearly four hundred ladies and gentlemen were present and sat around the 'Table spread only once in a hundred years.'
"Thomas Gage, Esq., author of the history of Rowley, was president of the day, assisted by General Lowe, Joshua Jewett and Thomas Payson, vice presidents.
"After the cloth was removed the regular toasts were given by Amory Holbrook, toast-master, and a few volunteer sentiments by a number of individuals.
"Speeches were made by Caleb Cushing, Stephen Phillips, John P. Hale and others. Letters were read from several invited guests not present. One from His Excellency, Edward Everett, Governor of the Commonwealth; one from Hon. Josiah Quincy, President of Harvard College; one from Leverett Saltonstall, of Salem, member of Congress, and several others.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
"On the evening of the next day, Sept. 6th, about one hun- dred and sixty young ladies and gentlemen partook of a supper in the pavilion, provided by the same caterers, and finished up the business of the celebration, not to be renewed until another century shall have rolled away.
"I venture to present my compliments and good wishes to our descendants who may then 'sit around the table spread only once in a hundred years,' most sincerely wishing that they may then have as good a time as we, their ancestors had a hundred years before. May they too, pass down their doings, together with ours, to the then future generations, - tell. it to their children, and they to theirs to the latest period of time.
"Tell how that Rogers with his little band, crossed the wide ocean to this desert land,
And on this spot where late the savage trod, they reared a temple to the living God, Record their deeds on the historic page, - proclaim their virtues to the latest age, - Rehearse the story both in prose and rhyme, through future ages to the end of time."
The committee felt that the Sunday service should be largely under the direction of the Congregational Church which repre- sented the town for the first two hundred years of its history, with the cooperation of the First Baptist and St. Mary's Churches. In this connection it was proposed to have a meeting in the Congre- gational Church on August 27 at 3 P.M. with local and daughter churches participating.
The Rowley Historical Society held open house for four days, August 24-27 inclusive, extending hospitality to visitors, conduct- ing pilgrimages, publishing guide books financed by the Society and later added to this a garden party on the grounds which was a pleasing feature of the opening day.
Another matter arranged by committee was that of putting up large signs at Town boundaries, which was carried out through Mr. H. Gerald Frost and same were placed on Route 1, - Turn- pike at Ipswich and Newbury lines, - Route 1A at Ipswich and Newbury linės, also at Georgetown-Rowley line on Route 133.
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
Working upon a suggestion of Miss Katharine Rafferty, the local Postmaster, the Souvenir Committee for the Tercentenary, which included Milford F. Daniels, Palmer S. Perley and Olle D. Olson, prepared a special Cachet announcing the celebration. This cachet which read :
1639 - VISIT - 1939
ROWLEY, MASS. TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION AUG. 24-27, 1939 ONE OF THE OLDEST TOWNS IN NEW ENGLAND
was stamped on many letters going through the post office to former residents and friends during the period plans were being made for the celebration and it proved to be a splendid means of spreading interest in our town. Many people who received letters with this stamp have kept them for souvenirs.
The First Church, the Parish, Rowley Historical Society, also other religious as well as civic, local and fraternal organizations were invited to assist the committee, all of whom appointed com- mittees and worked with the Town Committee, helping to make the celebration the success the occasion justified.
To do justice to a three hundredth anniversary it seemed to the committee and others that at least three or four days would be needed for that purpose and the dates of August 24, 25, 26 and 27 were decided upon, one of these days was set apart for a special church service with all local and daughter churches participating.
Public meetings were held when citizens were invited to at- tend and discuss the matter and offer suggestions.
An open meeting was held at the Selectmen's office with many interested citizens and representatives of various organizations present who gave expression of their ideas of what should be in- cluded in a Tercentenary celebration of the Town.
The Committee voted to send official invitations to such com- munities as have been set apart from Rowley as well as to our neighboring towns of Ipswich and Newbury.
Matter of decoration of town buildings left in charge of orig-
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
inal Town Committee was delegated to Board of Selectmen and Board of School Committee.
Mr. Amos E. Jewett reported that Marker Committee had set eighty-five markers at house lots of early settlers and would attend to setting 1930 signs in place.
Guests to be invited included : Governor and Mrs. Saltonstall ; boards of selectmen of Georgetown, Groveland, Boxford, Middle- ton, Ipswich, Newbury and Mayor of Haverhill; also Presidents of Historical Societies of Ipswich, Old Newbury, Boxford and Haver- hill; Representatives Harland Burke of Ipswich and William F. Runnells of Newburyport; Headmaster and Mrs. Edward W. Eames of Gov. Dummer Academy.
Mr. Amos E. Jewett spoke with reference to Linebrook Church, Pulpit Rock and Ellsworth Road, for which he indicated setting markers.
On matter of concessions, committee went on record as op- posed to granting any to outside agencies, leaving it for local organizations to do as they saw fit on their own premises.
Maynard R. Haley, Municipal Lighting Plant manager, was made a committee on Lighting.
H. L. White of Newmarket, N. H., was made the Official Decorator, in consideration of which he decorated the Town build- ings without charge.
Curtis F. Haley was appointed as Official Photographer.
The decorations on the public buildings, the stores and the many homes gave a festive appearance to the town and also gave evidence to the visitors here of the fine spirit of cooperation which the townspeople showed during this celebration.
The First Congregational Church held open house the greater portion of each day of the celebration.
Boy Scouts from Georgetown, who encamped upon the Town's recently acquired Prescott property, were in charge to show peo- ple about the building as well as to give information about exhibits which included six old communion cups, very rare and of much interest and value, relics of earlier years. The cups are inscribed as follows: "The Gift of Thomas Hale, Esq."; "The Gift of Ezekiel Rogers to the Church of Rowley"; "The Gift of Nathan Barker, 1739"; "The Gift of Nathan Barker, 1739"; also the old Church Weathervane of 1697; "The Gift of S. Phillips to the
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1639-Rowley Tercentenary Celebration-1939
Church of Rowley, 1714," and "E. R." The exhibits also included early church records as well as original vital records beginning with the year 1639, now in fine condition, which have been restored and rebound and are something to which the Town can point with justifiable pleasure and pride.
At the Annual Town Meeting of March 6, 1939, acting under Article 25 of the warrant, the Town voted unanimously to authorize a transfer of $1000.00 from the Electric Light De- partment's operating cash to a Reserve Fund, the whole or any part of said sum to be used to defray the expense of the Rowley Tercentenary Celebration.
In connection with the celebration the Municipal Light De- partment played a large part inasmuch as it was from their treasury, as the result of careful and economical management throughout the years of its existence since 1910 that they were in a position to provide the funds for financing the expense necessary to suc- cessfully carry out the program.
This fact wherein the Town through the Light Depart- ment consumers had built up a surplus of $1000 which could be turned over to the Town for Tercentenary expenses without any added financial burden upon the taxpayers had much to do with the Town's going forward so extensively with the celebration.
And now that the occasion passed off so successfully, a credit to the Town and to those who planned the interesting events of the four days, August 24 to 27 inclusive, we trust all may feel a just sense of pride in what transpired, for all expense incurred was covered in this way without any other sources of revenue from the town.
In addition to providing the necessary funds for Tercentenary expenses, the Light Department officials, including Maynard R. Haley, manager, George O. Kent and John F. Grundstrum with the assistance of Alden J. Kent, constructed without expense to the Town a large sign about +x12 feet in size bearing on each side the wording, "Town of Rowley, 1639 - Aug. 24-27 - 1939." This sign was suspended between the trees at the northerly end of the Common and illuminated each evening for many weeks so that people passing through the town were made aware of the Tercentenary celebration long before it occurred. This required much work in construction besides considerable expense for neces- sary materials used.
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