USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 29
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Taunton was the largest town in Bristol county in 1800, when the first stage lines began to pass through here, connecting Boston and New Bed-
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ford, all lines then changing horses here. In 1808 a line was established connecting Boston and Newport, the highest point of whose popularity was attained in 1826, when mail and accommodation stages were being run daily to and from Boston. Stage lines were also established at that time to nearby towns, such as Middleboro and Wareham. Jesse Smith was the best known of the stage owners and drivers in this section, he having suc- ceeded a Mr. Russell, who had established the first line from Boston to New Bedford. Jesse Smith built the Bristol county house, that stood on the site of the present Taunton Inn, for the accommodation of the stage- coach travelers, and he also erected a large building for stages and drivers, that stood on the site of the present Taylor block. These lines all pros- pered up to the advent of the steam railroad, when they gradually gave way to that road, the death stroke of the stagecoach business taking place when the first train was run to New Bedford, July 2, 1840. The story of the railroads is told in the Bristol county sections of this work. The pres- ent Central railroad station was built in 1865, it having been preceded by a wooden station constructed in 1840. The present stone building has served the New Bedford and Taunton railroad, the Taunton Branch rail- road, the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg railroad, and the Old Colony rail- road. In 1922 extensive improvements were begun in the depot and about the grounds. The Dean street railroad station was built in 1876.
CHAPTER XVII.
TAUNTON BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS
The open door to the heart of the city is found not only through its churches but, also by means of institutions of State, county and city pro- vision for the general and special relief of suffering. Taunton has kept pace with all her requirements in such matters, the following-named or- ganizations working along for the common good:
Taunton State Hospital .- Taunton State Hospital, with its average of 1400 inmates and 250 officials and employes in 1923, had established a place for itself second to none other in the State. The institution was started May 24, 1851, the first of the buildings that form the present plant being built that year under an act of Legislature, the State appropriating the sum of $100,000 for the launching of the enterprise of benevolence. The commission into whose hands was placed the instituting of the work con- sisted of James D. Thompson, George N. Briggs and John W. Graves, who decided to locate the hospital in Taunton after having examined many other proposed situations for the plant in this county. The sum of $13,000 was placed in the hands of the commissioners by vote of the inhabitants of the town and by means of voluntary contributions, and the present site at Whittenton was made the permanent one for the proposed hospital, Governor Marcus Morton and Samuel L. Crocker, both prominent Taunton townsmen, being most active in securing the institution for this location, one mile from the center of the city. The first board of trustees was ap- pointed in July, 1853. and the commissioners placed the buildings and
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property into their hands February 2, 1854. It was in April, 1854, that the hospital was opened for the reception of patients, the accommodations at that time being for but 250. Dr. George S. Choate, the first superin- tendent, was appointed in October, 1853, and he resigned in April, 1870, to open a private asylum at Pleasantville, New York. Dr. W. W. Godding succeeded him, and in July, 1877, Dr. Godding resigned to take charge of the government hospital for the insane at Washington, D. C.
In 1893 the buildings of the State Hospital consisted of the central building ; an east wing, now known as East Choate and East Godding; a west wing, now known as West Choate and West Godding, and two in- firmaries, the Howland Infirmary for female patients and the Brown In- firmary for male patients. Two members of the board of trustees were residents of Taunton-William C. Lovering, for whom the colony for female patients at Davis street is now named, and Susan E. Learoyd. The superintendent was Dr. John T. Brown.
In 1895 a training school for nurses was established, and instruction was given by some of the supervisors and members of the medical staff. In 1897 the position of pathologist was created. In 1899 Miss Linda A. J. Richards was appointed superintendent of the training school for nurses. She is still (1923) superintendent of nurses emerita, she having completely reorganized the school. Also in 1899 the Briggs farm in Raynham was purchased and made into a colony for male patients, now known as the Simeon Borden Sr. Colony. In 1901 a home for female nurses, now named the Learoyd building, was built. In 1903 the home for male nurses was built and named the Murray building. These two buildings were so named in honor of trustees who had given long and faithful service to the hospital. In 1903 Miss Richards resigned as superintendent of the training school and Miss Harriet M. Seavey was appointed in her place. On January 4, 1904, the third story and roof of the female division were burned; fortu- nately, no person was injured and no life lost. In November, 1906, Dr. Brown resigned, after twenty-eight years as superintendent. He was characterized by Dr. Goss in his first report as superintendent as "one of the last of the old school and one of the first of the new."
Dr. Arthur V. Goss, who had come to the Taunton State Hospital from the Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1892, was appointed to succeed Dr. Brown. In 1910 Miss Harriet M. Seavey, superintendent of the training school, died. Her place was taken temporarily by Miss Linda Richards until the appointment of Miss Rebecca G. Cameron, of the class of 1904, who took office in 1911. In 1911, also, were finished two additions to the hospital buildings, named East Extension and West Extension, con- taining, both in the male and female divisions, a congregated dining room, a ward for tubercular patients, and a receiving ward. In 1911 the training school was affiliated with the Boston City Hospital. The term of service was, first, six months, with three months in the Bellevue Hospital of New York City. This was later changed to ten months in the Boston City Hospital, without the necessity of going to the Bellevue Hospital. This term is at present one year. A social service worker was added to the staff in 1911. In 1913, Dr. Abraham Myerson was appointed pathologist. Dr. Myerson published during his tenure of this office several notable con- tributions to mental hygiene. In 1914, Charles C. Cain, of Taunton, was
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appointed to the board of trustees. In this year, also, the William C. Lovering colony for female patients was opened, the office of assistant su- perintendent was established, and Dr. Horace G. Ripley was appointed. In 1917, Dr. Myerson resigned to accept a position on the faculty of the Tufts Medical School. In this year the hospital, in cooperation with the local branch of the Red Cross, sent out 2815 different articles of war relief. Since the beginning of the European war, in 1914, 49 employees of the hos- pital entered the service either of the United States or of the Allies. The year 1918 was noted for the influenza epidemic throughout the country. It was particularly severe in the hospital, with 373 cases and 57 deaths. The city of Taunton urgently called for help. Two pupil nurses of the hospital, who had just completed their training and were about to go to the Boston City Hospital, volunteered their services-Miss Janie Flynn and Miss Annie A. Hall. Miss Flynn was stricken down while serving the city, and made the supreme sacrifice. Miss Annie A. Hall was also stricken, was desperately ill, but eventually recovered. She is now, 1923, assistant su- perintendent of nurses. In 1918 Miss R. G. Cameron resigned as superin- tendent of nurses, to enter the United States Federal Service. After serv- ing in Virginia, Texas, Missouri and the Philippines, she was given the Distinguished Service Medal in 1923. The position of superintendent of nurses was not filled until 1920, when Mrs. Ella A. Averill was appointed. In 1920 Dr. Ripley resigned as assistant superintendent. In September, 1922, Dr. Goss resigned. He was succeeded by Dr. Ransom A. Green, and Dr. Ripley was succeeded by Dr. Roderick B. Dexter.
Morton Hospital .- The name of Silas Dean Presbrey, M. D., will al- ways be mentioned with respect, as will the names of the local physicians who, with Dr. Presbrey, constituted a group of far-sighted practitioners, and, organizing the Taunton Hospital Company in 1897, eventually brought to pass the Morton Hospital, that to the present is the successful public hospital of Taunton; and the gift of Mrs. Susan Tillinghast Morton Kim- ball of the mansion of Governor Marcus Morton, has become a part of the life and needs of the city itself. It was during the year 1897 that a num- ber of the physicians of this city, with Dr. Presbrey at their head, became impressed with the fact that the city was calling for an institution of this kind, where care and medical attention might be given the sick and the injured. Dr. Presbrey gave a practical start towards the institution, when he drew up the paper that called for pledges of ten dollars a year for five years, for the beginnings of the hospital. As a result, nearly two hundred pledges came in, which gave promise of nearly two thousand dollars an- nually for five years, the pledges being made within a very short time. As an added encouragement to the project, and one that assured immediate housing of the plans and work of the founders, Mrs. Kimball, daughter of Governor Morton, generously gave the mansion, with its grounds.
The hospital was dedicated January 1, 1889, the principal address for the occasion being given by Dr. Silas D. Presbrey. Dr. Presbrey was the first president of the corporation; William H. Bent, vice-president; Orville A. Barker, secretary; Miss Martha Perry, clerk. The first superintendent of nurses was Miss Elizabeth Fanning, and she was succeeded in 1890 by Miss Ella Sears, during which year a nurses' dormitory was built at a cost of $3000. Once established, the hospital joined the march of improvement,
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and up to the year 1892 more than ten thousand dollars was expended on building and furnishings, the school for nurses was instituted, and there were six pupil nurses there. The Hospital Aid Association began its work in the fall of 1896, at the suggestion of William H. Bent, vice-president of the corporation; and it was during that year, also, that Hospital Sunday and Donation Day were started. One after another, individuals and or- ganizations furnished rooms and provided funds for their furnishing and maintenance in the hospital, and that beneficent work has continued to the present day. The new operating building and surgical annex was opened in 1900, by bequest of Robert C. Billings and through other gifts. The first public graduation of nurses took place in 1906. At the death of Miss Ella Sears, in 1910, Mrs. Jennie S. Berry, R. N., was appointed superin- tendent of nurses. In 1912 Robert M. Leach was appointed treasurer, in place of Orville M. Barker, who died February 12, that year.
Dr. Silas D. Presbrey, the founder of the hospital, retired from active service as the president of the institution in 1913, and Henry F. Bassett was elected president. Mr. Bent declining reelection, Nathan Newbury was elected vice-president. Mrs. Berry resigning as superintendent of nurses, Mrs. Frances P. West was chosen to that position. By an act of Legislature, the name Morton Hospital became the legal title in 1914. In . 1918, the monthly clinic of physicians began to be held in the wards of the hospital, and that year the orthopedic clinic was established by Dr. Z. B. Adams. Reuben W. Chase was elected treasurer and clerk in 1919. That year, during the epidemic, rules against the admission of patients suffering from contagious diseases were suspended, and the hospital was taxed to the excess of its operating force in caring for patients. A heroic work was performed by doctors and nurses through the fight with the epidemic. The present nurses' home, on Washington street, opposite the hospital, was opened in June, 1920, in which year Miss Ursula G. Noyes was appointed superintendent of nurses, and Chester A. Reid was elected treasurer and clerk. During the year 1922 nearly 1800 patients were ad- mitted to the hospital. The total receipts were $78,587.34, and the total amount of the endowment fund was $107,671.17.
Taunton Old Ladies' Home .- It was at about the close of the 1812 war that a number of charitably inclined women of Taunton began to be aware of the call for an institution that might render aid to persons who were in need of charity, states Mrs. Augusta M. West, secretary of the Taunton Old Ladies' Home. Such persons, who had need but would not appeal to the town for help, consisted of worthy daughters and widows of soldiers in the war, and it was for these that the Taunton Female Benevolent Association was first formed. The subject received frequent discussion, and in 1816 their plans resulted in the formation of a society with thirty-five members, with a printed constitution. For a time, meet- ings were held quarterly, each member paying a certain tax, the plan being to raise a fund, one-half of which should be used each year to give help to the needy, the other half to be placed on interest for future use. In the year 1829 the organization obtained a charter from the Massachusetts Legislature, under the name of the Taunton Female Charitable Association -a corporation "for the purpose of affording relief to such indigent persons as are not paupers or supported by the overseers of the poor of the town,
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but those who are in need of temporary aid." Later the subject of a home for poor and homeless women was discussed.
The charter was amended, giving the founders power to establish and maintain a home for the relief of aged and indigent women, and the movement was started for receiving subscriptions therefor. Such was their success that on December 16, 1870, they were enabled to purchase a house on Franklin street, which, in January, 1871, was opened with eight in- mates. There the Home remained until 1886, when the present Home at 96 Broadway was built, with every convenience for the comfort of the aged. In 1923 there were fourteen inmates. Among those who first be- came interested in the establishment of the Home were: Abigail West, Susanna Brewer, Harriot Leonard, Elizabeth Reed, Ruth Leonard, Sally Richmond, Charlotte Morton, Mary Porter, Nancy Ingell, Betsy Williams. The late Mrs. Morton was one of the original members of the association, and for twenty-three years she presided at its meetings, and the names of the four women who were leaders in the work of the association and its incorporation were Abigail West, Mary B. Bush, Martha B. Richmond, Sarah W. Richmond.
The present structure on Broadway cost $12,000, Henry D. White pur- chasing the old building on Franklin street for $3500. The parlor and hall were furnished by George E. Wilbur, who, with Colonel P. H. Corr, assumed the responsibility of enlarging and beautifying the grounds. The purchase of the latter was made possible through the bequest of Hon. Mar- cus M. Rhodes and Hon. John E. Sanford. The officers for 1922-1923: First directress, Miss Susan A. Bassett; second directress, Mrs. Charles M. Rhodes; secretary, Mrs. Augusta M. West; treasurer, Miss Rachel Morse; board of managers: Miss Harriet B. Monroe, Mrs. George T. Hart- shorn, Mrs. Henry F. Bassett, Mrs. Clinton V. Sanders, Mrs. Lyman Mason, Mrs. George E. Wilbur, Mrs. Edward Lovering; assistant man- agers : Mrs. Ralph E. Barker, Mrs. Oscar G. Thomas, Mrs. J. Lewis Austin, Mrs. Walter N. Smith, Mrs. John A. Hunt, Mrs. George B. Warren, Mrs. Robert M. Leach, Miss Charlotte Colby, Miss C. Amelia Williams, Mrs. Charles E. Foster, Mrs. Howard W. Thomas, Mrs. Alexander M. Fraser, Mrs. William Lawrence, Mrs. Chester S. Godfrey, Mrs. A. Cleveland Bent; board of advisers: Charles M. Rhodes, Frank L. Tinkham, Seth L. Cush- man, Alfred B. Sproat, George W. Read, William J. Davison, Albert Fuller; auditor, Seth L. Cushman.
Social Welfare League .- Just the setting down of names and dates and places of meeting can share but very little in recounting the history of the Taunton Social Welfare League. The citing of year-by-year trans- actions of the association that anyone can find in its records, have a cer- tain inspiration in the re-telling; but these are only the scaffolding and the staging about a structure whose masonry has been established and secured by great consecration, self-denial and sacrifice. The complete record of devotion and service cannot be found in the secretary's books or any other place. The Taunton Union Mission was the beginning of the present work of the Social Welfare League. The mission was organized in 1861, under the direction of Deacon Joseph Dean, who in the year 1867 built a chapel for its service on Cedar street, at a cost of $10,000, while the ministry of the following-named men gave impetus to all associated charities effort in
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Taunton : Revs. Joshua A. Stetson, Reuben H. Cobb, George H. Hamlen and S. Hopkins Emery. All these men were efficient builders; but one of the most active, and for years afterwards city missionary and historian, was Rev. S. Hopkins Emery.
It was just twenty years after this organization, or in February, 1881, that the Associated Charities of Taunton was incorporated, the meeting for the purpose having been held at the Winslow Congregational Church. The first officers elected on February 27 were Rev. S. Hopkins Emery, the lead- ing spirit of the change, treasurer; Hon. William C. Lovering, president; Rev. Mortimer Blake, vice-president; Joseph Dean, secretary. The board of managers consisted of Rev. A. B. Hervey, Rev. H. B. DeForest, Henry G. Reed, Hon. Harrison Tweed, Jeremy B. Dennett, James Y. Anthony, A. J. Lawrence, Charles Foster, William H. Merrill, John G. Luscomb, H. I. Merrill, William H. Pleadwell, Rev. W. H. Wolcott.
Then began a long series of annual meetings that also proved features of the social, religious and business life of the city, and few people in any walk of life were absent from such gatherings. Among the prominent speakers throughout those years were Judge William H. Fox, George A. Washburn, Robert Treat Paine, Jr., who was then president of the Boston Associated Charities; Rev. T. H. Milstead, Rev. Charles Learoyd, Rev. A. G. Quint, Bishop Phillips Brooks, Rev. Edward Everett Hale; Miss Zilpha Smith, secretary of the Boston Associated Charities; Rev. F. B. Allen; Frank B. Sanford, of Concord; Professor Wilson, of Brown University; Rev. Samuel V. Cole, D. D .; Mrs. Glendover Evans, for fifteen years with the Boston Associated Charities.
The organization was incorporated in January, 1883, its purpose, as announced, being "to raise the needy, as far as possible, above the need of relief; to prevent street-begging imposition and the existence of a pauper caste; to secure the united action of all the benevolent persons in one har- monious system of wise aid to the poor." These were the new officers of the corporation: President, Hon. Samuel L. Crocker; vice-president, Rev. Mortimer Blake; secretary, Joseph Dean; treasurer, Orville A. Barker; per- manent secretary, Rev. S. Hopkins Emery. Mr. Crocker died February 10, 1883, and Henry Goodwin Reed was chosen president. Miss Charlotte Peckham was elected superintendent of the work in May, 1888; and that year Revs. C. H. Learoyd and John P. Forbes were chosen vice-presidents. Rev. Samuel V. Cole, D. D., now president of Wheaton College, was elected a vice-president in 1890, and Rev. D. MacDougall in 1892, the same year that Rev. Charles Learoyd was chosen president of the association. Rev. A. J. Torsleff was chosen one of the vice-presidents in 1894. In 1895 Rev. Samuel V. Cole was elected president of the association; vice-presidents : Revs. J. P. Forbes and Edward Schofield. In 1897, Rev. T. Clayton Welles was chosen a vice-president, and George F. Pratt auditor. In the year 1898 Judge Frederick S. Hall was chosen president, and E. E. Richards, treasurer; and the next year Rev. A. A. Ross was elected one of the vice- presidents. J. F. Montgomery was appointed president in 1902, and Rev. H. H. Loud, clerk. Rev. E. H. Smith was chosen a vice-president in 1903, and in 1905 Rev. G. H. Johnson. That year Rev. Joel Metcalf was elected clerk.
Miss Lucy Wright was appointed superintendent in 1903, and it was
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that year when the first systematic card catalogue of case histories of the association was placed in her charge. Miss Bertha J. Southwick was elected to the superintendency of the organization in 1905, and in 1906 Rev. T. W. Illman was appointed a vice-president.
The presidency of Judge Frederick E. Austin began in 1907. No change was made until 1918, when the officers were as follows: President, Rev. F. R. Sturtevant; vice-president, A. Cleveland Bent; general secretary, Miss Bertha J. Southwick; treasurer, Alton H. Ryder; clerk, Miss Florence Davol. That year it was thought best to change the name of the associa- tion to Taunton Social Welfare League. This took place in 1918, at a spe- cial meeting of the corporation. In 1921 Miss Alice T. Fearns came here as general secretary. The work begun by the mission in 1861 is now more than city-wide in its scope. Rev. F. R. Sturtevant was elected president in 1920, and Miss Sybil Williams, clerk. Thomas H. Arden was elected treasurer in 1921, and Rev. Walter R. Tourtellot, clerk. The officers at the present time are as follows: President, A. Cleveland Bent; vice-presi- dent, James P. Whitters; treasurer, Thomas H. Arden; clerk, Albert H. Cochrane; general secretary, Miss Alice T. Fearns.
Eutrapelia Charity Club .- On May 18, 1916, Marie Violet Regan called a meeting of fifteen girls at her home, 134 Broadway, and laid before them a plan, which she had long been contemplating; namely, that, by holding a meeting each week on some appointed night and contributing the sum of five cents each, some charitable act might be performed. No definite charity was to be adopted, but assistance given near at hand; within the city of Taunton or outlying districts. In this way, each member would find her life worth while, and someone would benefit by her existence. The membership was to be limited to no certain class, age or creed, but was to embrace those who had the heart and good will to accomplish the work. The following were present: Marie Violet Regan, Winifred E. Regan, Madeleine Mckeon, Esther Fountain, Margaret Curtin, Jane Mc- Namara, Nellie Burns, Mary Baker, Kathleen Baker, Clare O'Neill, Mar- garet Brady, Mrs. Frank Smith, Minnie Roach, Christine McCarthy, May Rheaume, May McNamara, Nellie Synan, Nellie McHugh.
The first act of charity was performed for the babies of the Bethlehem Home. Through a district nurse, there was brought to the attention of this small band of willing workers, the pitiful case of a poor old invalid in East Taunton, who would gladly welcome a cheery visitor and a little assistance now and then. So a Sunday dinner was purchased for her .. The girls themselves carried it over, and with violin music furnished by Marie Violet Regan and a choir of melodious voices, a pleasant afternoon was afforded her. From that time on, weekly aid was rendered her and frequent visits made by the members until she embarked for the Eternal Shores. The next family to come to the attention of this organization, was one, the father of which was a victim to the pink-eye, and immediate assistance was given and continued until the family was again on its feet. During the few months that had elapsed, the membership had increased to thirty members, and it was decided to give a name to this assembly. Marie Violet Regan suggested that the organization should be known as the Eutrapelia Club. The word "Eutrapelia" was discovered by Aristotle and may be defined "playfulness in good taste." Aristotle himself defines
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it "a chastened love of putting out one's strength upon others." Eutra- pelia is a blend of playfulness and earnestness. Without earnestness,, play- fulness degenerates into frivolity. The following officers then were ap- pointed: president, Marie Violet Regan; secretary, Agnes A. Winston; treasurer, Anna Fraters.
It was decided to have a Donation Day, and December 20, 1916, was designated as a suitable time for it, same to be held at 134 Broadway. Many contributions were received in the line of clothing, food and money, which were in turn distributed among the needy families. The dues were then increased to ten cents each, and it was suggested by Winifred Mckeon that a silent membership be started of those who were interested in the work of the club, even though unable to take an active part, and who would be willing to contribute five cents each week. Before long this membership had reached one hundred. The first Christmas saw seven well-filled baskets donated to worthy families throughout the city and the outlying districts. When a year had lapsed, it was decided to hold a public whist and dance, and on the evening of May 14, 1917, a whist and dance was held in the parlors of the Taunton Inn. Little by little, the noble work increased, and the first year of the Eutrapelia Club's existence found many a burden lightened and many a rough road made smooth.
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