USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 2 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
The first Universalist minister to come to New Bedford for regular preaching services was Rev. Alanson St. Claire, who began his work in 1833, and a year later a society was formed. A house of worship was
582
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
erected at Fifth and School street, which was sold in 1848 for an indebted- ness against the property. The church was reorganized in 1851 by Rev. Van Campen. Other ministers served, and in 1855 a church building was dedicated on William street, near Eighth.
Roman Catholic Churches .- The first house of worship built for this denomination in this city was in 1820, on Allen street, Bishop Cheverus, of Boston, dedicating it in 1821. This building served its purpose thirty years until 1849, when the Catholics bought the old Universalist church on Fifth and School streets. The parish of St. Mary was then settled there. In 1866 the society renamed the church after the patron saint of the pastor, St. Lawrence the Martyr. The church edifice was finished and dedicated in 1870.
On January 8, 1888, Rev. Father Smyth, pastor of St. Lawrence Church, announced that a new parish would be formed of those Catholics living south of Madison and Hawthorne streets. First mass was celebrated in the new parish January 15, 1888. A tract of two acres, corner of County and Rockland streets, was soon purchased and a granite church edifice finished, first used May 15, 1892, and named St. James Church.
St. Lawrence Church had general jurisdiction over all New Bedford and vicinity for several . years, but the rapid growth of various foreign people caused other churches to be made independent of the Mother church. The Portuguese and French population demanded communion of their own, hence priests of their nativity had to be provided in the city. Prior to 1869 there were more than eight hundred Portuguese Catholics in New Bedford. Their church is known as St. John the Baptist. A building was dedicated by these people June 27, 1875. It is still a prosperous con- gregation.
The Church of the Sacred Heart was ministered to by French priests following 1870, the parish being largely French Catholic. In August, 1876, the corner-stone of a new church at the corner of Ashland and Robeson streets was laid, and the building dedicated in 1877. Another French parish set off in 1887, comprising at first a hundred families, is known as St. Hyacinthe Church. Other Roman Catholic churches of the city are: Church of Immaculate Conception ; Holy Rosary, Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Anne's, St. Anthony, St. Boniface, St. Hedwig's, St. Joseph's, St. Killians, Church of the Holy Name, Our Lady of the As- sumption.
Other organizations include these: Unity Home, Cannonville Chapel, Church of God, Dennison Memorial Building, Clifford Union Chapel, First Spiritual Harmony Church, Jewish Synagogue, Home Gospel Mission, New Church Society, Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, Free Chapel Associa- tion, Salvation Army Barracks, Salvation Army Industrial Home, Seamen's Bethel, and Shawmut Church.
Organized mission work began here as early as 1826, by the Congrega- tional church. The Seamen's Bethel is a child of the New Bedford Port Society, and both were organized with the welfare of mariners as their main purpose. A chapel was erected in 1831, costing $5,000. Rev. Enoch Mudge, a devoted minister was the first regular chaplain. In 1866 the building was burned and a new one erected in 1867. Since the business of
583
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD
this port of entry has declined and not so many seamen are found here, the society turns its attention to other local needs.
Besides these many religious and charitable institutions in New Bed- ford, may be mentioned the Union of Good Works, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, the Association of the Relief of Aged Women, New Bedford Home for the Aged, Young Men's Christian Association, a very strong society of young and middle-aged men; and the Young Women's Christian Association, all doing their share of good in the city today.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Without going into the detail of the early school history in New Bed- ford, certain facts of which have already been touched upon, it will be the aim of this article to give in brief something concerning the educational institutions of the last decade and of the present time. The name and location of the many public school buildings here follow:
High School buildings-High School, County street, head of Williams street.
Grammar-Parker street, near County street. Middle Street School, Summer street, between Elm and Middle streets. The Allen F. Wood School, corner of Pleasant and Russell streets. Robert C. Ingraham School, Rivet street. James B. Congdon School, corner Hemlock and Thompson streets.
Mixed Schools-Harrington Memorial, corner Court and Tremont streets. Abraham Lincoln School, Bowditch street. Betsey B. Winslow, corner Allen and Brownell streets. John Clifford School, Coggeshall street. Thomas Donaghy School, South street. William H. Taylor School, Brock avenue. Thomas R. Rodman School, Mill street. Jireh Swift School, Acushnet avenue. Katharine School, Katharine street, between Orchard and Bonney streets.
Primary Schools-Phillips avenue; Cedar Grove; Clark Street School; Merrimac Street School; Mary B. White School; Horatio A. Kempton School; Ann Howland School; Thomas A. Greene School; Acushnet School ; Thompson School; Isaac W. Benjamin School; Dartmouth Street School ; George H. Dunbar School.
Suburban Schools-Plainville, Rockdale, Open Air School. Also nearly a dozen portable schools.
Six years ago there was spent for schools in New Bedford (in 1917) $558,000. This applies to the common school system, and then there were the parochial schools, the Swain Free School of Design, Friends' Academy, New Bedford Textile School, and the New Bedford Industrial School.
'The foregoing facts constitute the framework around which has been built up a wonderfully strong system of public instruction. The following figures were gleaned from the records of the schools in 1916, seven years ago: Number of high schools, 1; Grammar schools, 6; Mixed schools, 9; Primary schools, 14; Suburban schools, 2; Fresh Air Schools, 2; Conserva-
584
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
tion of eyesight school, 1; cooking schools, 3; Manual Training schools, 4. Total number of schools, forty-two. The number of permanent school buildings at the last named date was 34; number of portable schools, 20; total number school buildings in New Bedford, 54. Whole number of teachers employed in 1917, was 538. The various departments had teachers as follows: High school, 47, and one clerk; Elementary schools, 359; Special teachers and assistants, 28; School nurses, 38; Evening High School, 14; Evening Elementary schools, 86. There is now an average daily attend- ance in the various schools of the city about 15,500.
The Friends' Academy, chartered in 1812, was given a building by William Rotch; this served until 1860, when the building was removed. A new building was erected on Morgan street. The school has educated in part or entirely many a man and woman who have gone forth into the busy world of affairs, properly educated for life's duties.
On the wave-washed island of Nantucket, William W. Swain was born in 1793, married in 1818, Lydia Russell, by whom two sons were born; one died very young and the other, Robert, born in 1823, died in Virginia in 1884, an invalid from the age of nine years. Yet he graduated from Harvard and Phillips Exeter Academy. After his death, the parents sought to do the best they could with the property they possessed, so they finally accomplished the founding of the Swain Free School of Design. Mr. Swain died in 1858, and his good companion in 1878, aged eighty-five years. He left property for the founding of a school which in his will is thus de- scribed: "My hope is that the provision herein made will be sufficient for establishing and supporting a school of high character, where the pupils may receive a thorough education upon the most liberal and enlightened principles free from any charge of tuition. My intention is the school shall never be in any form or degree exclusive, either religiously or politically, but open for the admission of all whose good character and condition entitle them to share in its benefits, and of this the trustees are to be sole judges." This school was incorporated March 18, 1891; the recent head of the faculty of this unique school is Harry A. Neyland.
The New Bedford Textile School by legislative enactment was incorpo- rated and commenced operations in 1899, the first class graduating in 1900. At first the regular course was one year, but later it was lengthened and now a three-year course is required in order to obtain a diploma. Since this school started there have been more than ten thousand students in courses of various lengths. Twenty-nine hundred of these students graduated and received certificates.
The city has the advantage of other schools, including the Herrick Institute of Civil Service; Benton's Business School; Kinyon's Commercial School; the Caswell School of Shorthand; Vocational School of New Bed- ford, a trade school supported by the city, and absolutely free; the Com- monwealth aids in the maintenance of this school. This institution was started in 1908 and first opened in the old George L. Brownell carriage works plant. Special evening classes are taught. Here are taught machine power, electrical, paper-hanging, and plumbing departments. Also mil- linery, cooking, home-making, etc. Fine, modern machinery aids the be- ginner in all that he attempts to master. Six years ago this school had in attendance 757 pupils, full or half-time students. The total cost of
585
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD
running this school is about $60,000. It is paid by the State and by non- resident pupils, except about $30,000 which comes out of the city. From this institution are sent out well educated mechanics in carpentry, electricity, power departments, wood carving and that which pertains to telephones and telegraphic work, etc. The girls are here taught cooking, sewing, mil- linery, and the home-care of the sick. Besides these general secular schools are the numerous parochial schools connected with the Catholic churches of the city.
Free Public Library .- In brief, the history of this library is as follows : Instituted August 16, 1852; established March 3, 1853; 170,000 volumes; open from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m .; new Library building occupied December 10, 1910; Branch reading rooms; Branch Library, Weld street; Ward room, Blackmer and South Water streets; over police station, corner Kempton and Cedar streets.
The act of the Massachusetts Legislature passed May 24, 1851, was the authority for starting this library. New Bedford already had its Library Society and its prosperous Social Library, but May 27, 1852, a large peti- tion headed by James B. Congdon was presented the city council, asking that an act be passed authorizing the Free Public Library The request was granted, $1,500 appropriated, and the date of the appropriation bill passed July 20, 1852, fixes the date of the present Library's real founding. In March, 1853, the Library was thrown open to the reading public as a free library. It was one year later than this that Boston had her first free library thrown open to the public.
Having obtained a "library," the next thing was to get a suitable building for the books on hand. August 28, 1856, the corner-stone of the first library building was laid, and it was the first public library which was to be "Free to all the People," ever established in America. Boston came in a year later. In 1888 this library had outgrown its usefulness and larger quarters were needed. A large addition to the old building was made, and that served until the fire of 1901 destroyed much of the old City Hall, after which public sentiment seemed to demand that the ruins be rebuilt and converted into a Library building. After a good-bye meeting in the old building, and after the new had risen from the ashes of the old City Hall, the new library was dedicated, December 3, 1910, with impressive ceremony. An historical address was made by Librarian George H. Tripp, in which he spoke of his predecessor, Robert C. Ingraham, having been the first librarian and that he served almost fifty years. Many donations and endow- ments have been the good fortune of this library, including that large bequest of $250,000 by Mrs. Sarah E. Potter, the interest of which goes annually toward the purchase of books.
CHAPTER XVII. LODGES AND FRATERNAL SOCIETIES
The most ancient of all secret societies or lodges in the world is sup- posed to be the Masonic Order. This was first represented in New Bed- ford, by Star of the East Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, chartered December 10, 1823, with Timothy I. Dyre the first Worshipful Master.
586
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
Eureka Lodge was chartered May 8, 1857, Timothy Ingraham its first mas- ter. Both of these Masonic lodges are still in a prosperous condition.
Capitular Masonry is represented by Adoniram Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, chartered October 4, 1816, at Attleboro, Massachusetts; was moved to Taunton, and the first convocation held July 5, 1825, and on No- vember 23, 1845, New Bedford became its permanent home.
New Bedford Council, Royal and Select Masons, and Sutton Com- mandery, Knights Templar, chartered May 4, 1864, John B. Baylies. This commandery was named in honor of William Sutton, sir knight of Salem, Massachusetts, who presented his namesake with a beautiful templar banner.
The Order of Eastern Star, the Women's auxiliary to Masonry, was first represented in New Bedford by Chapter No. 49, November 20, 1895, and later by Dartmouth Chapter No. 106, constituted April 24, 1907.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is represented by Acushnet Lodge, No. 41, instituted April 11, 1844, with William H. Taylor as noble grand; and by Vesta Lodge, No. 166, instituted February 23, 1874, Charles B. Hillman, noble grand. Anawan Encampment, No. 8, was instituted May 23, 1845, and Canton New Bedford, No. 43, Patriarchs Militant, April 7, 1886. Other degrees of Odd Fellowship are here represented, including the Daughters of Rebekah, who have two lodges, Stella, No. 46, instituted April 1, 1885; and Usher, No. 114.
New Bedford being a live American manufacturing center, naturally has numerous Unions and labor organizations, admitting all sorts of trades- men, and every nationality under the shining sun seems to be well repre- sented in labor and mutual insurance orders, most of which are prosperous at this time. Then there are clubs galore-men's and women's, in and out of the city.
Of the military orders, one finds the Grand Army of the Republic; William Logan Rodman Post No. 1, organized October 4, 1886; R. A. Pierce Post, No. 190, organized May 28, 1888. The half century since the Civil War has depleted the ranks of the boys who wore the blue from '61 to '65. At one time the two posts in New Bedford mustered about seven hundred Civil War veterans belonging to the Grand Army of the Republic, but today there are less than two hundred left in the two posts. One of the posts lost 216 men by death. A recent history of New Bedford gives the subjoined on the Grand Army Posts of the city :
The "boys in blue" and "the boys in khaki" are words very true, when we use them with reference to those who have fought in their country's wars. It is really true that for the most part it is boys who fight in their country's battles. This is strikingly illustrated by the men who went out with the Third Massachusetts Infantry. The average age of the men in the regiment was only nineteen years, and at its head was Colonel Silas P. Richmond, only thirty years of age. It was this regiment that included a New Bedford drummer-boy who went out in 1862 at the age of thirteen years, and that boy is now Charles G. Allen, of this city, a member of Post No. 190, the youngest veteran in the post, the youngest in Massachusetts, and possibly the youngest veteran now living in New England. Mr. Allen is now (1917) sixty-eight years old, and he can drum today almost as well as he could in 1862. Ever since the days of the Civil War, Mr. Allen has been well known for his ability with the drum, and on many occasions the rat-tat-tat of his drum has been the music for the march- ing feet of the members of the post, as they have made their way through New Bed- ford streets. For years after the Civil War, he played in band organizations upon his
587
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD
drum in this city, but gave this up some time ago. Before the war, when Mr. Allen was a "little shaver," he tapped on the cellar door with chair legs. His inclination towards drumming resulted in his receiving instructions from Israel Smith, the old band leader. Mr. Allen, as the youngest veteran of Post 190, has had a very close competitor for the honor of being the youngest veteran living here, in Nahum F. Nickelson, the youngest veteran of Post No. 1. Mr. Nickelson, now Junior Vice-com- mander of Post 1, went out as a drummer-boy at the age of sixteen years, and he is now sixty-nine years of age.
The two Posts also run a close race for the honor of having the oldest living veteran. Post 1 takes this honor through having as a member, Henry J. Purrington, the oldest man in Mattapoisett, now ninety-two years of age. Mr. Purrington is often an attendant at post meetings. The oldest member of Post No. 190 is Edwin J. McEmons, who is ninety-one years of age. He is able to be about, but not to be at post meetings.
Thomas W. Cook, past commander of Post No. 1, had the honor of having served as post commander longer than any other man in Massa- chusetts and possibly the longest of any post commander in New England. He was commander twenty-one years. Major Cushman, of the Forty- seventh Massachusetts Infantry, who founded Post 1, on October 4, 1866, was also the first department commander of Massachusetts in 1866-67.
The man who enjoys the distinction of having served the longest in any one office in the post (No. 190) was Adjutant George P. Macomber, who first served in this office in 1897, under Commander Henry W. Mason.
During the late World War both Grand Army Posts here showed a willingness to do whatever their strength and age would permit, and so expressing themselves as members and as a body to the President, Gov- ernor, and Mayor.
The two New Bedford Posts bear names of distinguished New Bedford men who fell for the flag of their country. Colonel William Logan Rod- man, for whom Post No. 1 was named, was killed at Port Hudson, when he exposed himself above the parapet. Richard A. Peirce, for whom Post No. 190 was named, went from New Bedford to Fortress Monroe with three months men, and he was afterward designated by Governor Andrew to superintend the transportation of Massachusetts troops to the front. He became a major-general in the service. The post treasures among its mementoes of the war the equipment of General Peirce. Another memento which Post No. 190 prides itself upon is the possession of a drum cap- tured from the British at Bunker Hill by an ancestor of the late Israel Smith, who, when he became a member of the post, presented the drum to the same.
. Men who held high rank in the Union army have been members of one or the other of these posts at New Bedford. The late Philip H. King, of Post 190, stood guard at the door of the McLean house at Appomattox when the terms of surrender were arranged by Grant and Lee. Henry W. Mason was major of the Ninth . New York Cavalry, among the first Union troops to be engaged at Gettysburg. Mr. Mason and the late Nicholas E. Howland were present at Ford's Theatre on the night Lincoln was assassinated. The late William P. Randall was on board the "Cumber- land" when she was sunk by the "Merrimac." He fired the last shot from the sinking ship. Joseph M. Simms was a captain in the navy. William W. Barry was paymaster in the navy, Dr. George W. Winslow was a
588
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
surgeon in the navy, and was later retired as a rear-admiral. Samuel C. Hart became colonel of the Twenty-third Massachusetts Regiment. John A. P. Allen was colonel of a Massachusetts artillery regiment, James F. Chipman was a major. James W. Hervey was captain of Company A, Third Massachusetts Cavalry. Thomas R. Rodman was captain of Com- pany H, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment. Joseph Austin was a captain ; Charles F. Shaw was a major; Rev. Isaac H. Coe was a chaplain ; William G. Davis was a lieutenant; Thomas J. Gifford and Frederick S. Gifford were first lieutenants.
Post No. 1 had among its members the late Colonel Silas P. Richmond, who went out at the head of the Third Massachusetts Infantry. Major Austin S. Cushman, of the Forty-seventh Infantry. James Barton was a lieutenant-colonel. Thomas W. Cook was first lieutenant in Massachusetts Artillery. Patrick Cannavan was first lieutenant in Company B, Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry. Jonathan E. Cowan was captain of an unattached troop of Massachusetts cavalry. Albert Braley was a second lieutenant; William A. Allen was first lieutenant; James L. Wilber was first lieu- tenant of Company E, Third Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. Thomas H. Nolan, of Fairhaven, was first lieutenant in various branches of the cavalry service.
The history of Grand Army of the Republic posts at New Bedford is not complete without reference to the now defunct Robert Gould Shaw Post, No. 146, which included the colored veterans of the Civil War. They maintained their organization as long as there were enough veterans alive to keep the charter, and now the few who are left are in the other posts.
The Woman's Relief Corps is represented by William Logan Rodman Post 53, auxiliary to Post No. 1, instituted September 11, 1875, and R. A. Peirce Corps No. 95, auxiliary to Post No. 190, instituted January 13, 1891. There are two camps of Sons of Veterans-John A. Hawes Camp, No. 35, and John H. Clifford Camp. There is also a Ladies' Auxiliary to the John A. Hawes Camp.
CHAPTER XVIII.
FAMOUS MEN, VISITORS AND RESIDENTS
Kings, Presidents, ex-Presidents, Statesmen and Soldiers, have all been welcome guests in New Bedford. President John Quincy Adams visited the place in 1835, and also as ex-President he was the guest in 1843. Abra- ham Lincoln came here in 1848 to talk to a Whig political meeting, but unfortunately no notes were preserved of what he said, save what have been carried in the memory of some who were still living a few years ago, who heard him when they were youths.
General Ulysses S. Grant, when President, spent a few hours in the city in 1874, and his Majesty Kalakaua, King of the Hawaiian Islands, and his staff, visited the city the same year. When President Grant visited New Bedford in 1874, he came from Martha's Vineyard on a steamer. He had visited the camp grounds at Hyannis and Oak Bluffs and also at Nan- tucket. He went from New York to Newport by steamer, and there Mayor
589
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD
Richmond and several members of the reception committee, joined the party to make arrangements for his visit to this city.
One of the earliest ovations given visiting guests in New Bedford was in March, 1813, just at the time of the War of 1812-14. A public dinner was tendered Lieutenant George Parker in honor of his gallant conduct in the action wherein the frigate "Java" (British) surrendered to the "Constitution" (American) off the coast of Brazil, December 29, 1812. The local paper, the "Mercury" of March 12, 1813, said :
Between the hours of two and three o'clock p. m. a large and respectable concourse of citizens, attended by an excellent band of music, and escorted by a part of Captain Stall's artillery company, proceeded from Nelson's Hotel in Main street to the bridge, where they met Lieutenant Parker, accompanied by Lieutenant King. On coming off the bridge, Lieutenant Parker was greeted with repeated cheers and escorted to the lıall of the hotel, where an excellent repast was furnished by Mr. Nelson. The hall was decorated with trophies and devices emblematic of the occasion. The party was very numerous, and hilarity and propriety marked their proceedings.
Among the toasts were "Our Naval Heroes," "Our Gallant Tars," "A Navy to Protect Commerce and Commerce to Protect a Navy," "Our Constitution-may it be as well managed on the land as it has been on the water," "A speedy Peace With England," "Russia rendered truly great by her successful opposition to the destroyer of history."
After Lieutenant Parker retired, this toast was given: "Lieutenant George Parker and his brave associates in arms; may our country reward their services with something more substantial than Praise."
"Hon. A. Lincoln," was the caption of hand-bills and an item in the Mercury in New Bedford during the Whig campaign in 1848, when Zachary Taylor was candidate for President. It was in September, and Mr. Lincoln was thirty-nine years of age, a member of Congress from Illinois, and the rally at which he spoke was in old Liberty Hall. The "Mercury" had as part of its report on the meeting the following :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.