USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 2 > Part 20
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The present library building was opened Monday, November 11, 1907. The cost of the building, $80,000, was secured by public subscription, and the lot was donated by Joseph L. Sweet. Miss Tyrie, the librarian, resigned in April, 1907, on account of ill health, and Miss Eugenia H. Henry suc- ceeded her. In 1908, Major Everett S. Horton, president of the library board from the time of its organization, resigned, and in May that year the library became a member of the Library Art Club.
Miss Helen M. Claflin, a graduate of the New York State Library School, was chosen librarian in 1915, and this year marked the beginning of the organization of the high school library, under public library direction. The department of the picture collection was begun at the library this year. The library's bit during the World War far exceeded its quota of $900 for the establishment of camp libraries in cantonments; and the institution constantly acted as an agency for the government throughout the war. The new children's room was opened in the spring of 1917. In 1918 Miss Claflin resigned as librarian, and Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford, assistant librarian at the Somerville Public Library, was appointed to the position ..
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In 1923 the library, with six funds to assist in its maintenance, and with more than 25,000 books upon its shelves, had a circulation of above 126,000, the city's appropriation for that department being $14,500. The circulation through the children's room was close to 39,000. Branch libraries are main- tained at the high school, at Hebronville and Dodgeville. The library trustees in 1923: Joseph L. Sweet, chairman; Thomas E. McCaffrey, Eliza- beth J. Wilmarth, Eleanor A. Carpenter, William L. King, Raymond M. Horton, Edith L. Claflin, Caroline S. Holden, Edwin F. Peach secretary.
The Press .- The first newspaper in the Attleboros was the Attleboro Bulletin, published at North Attleboro by J. M. Stewart. Later it was bought by Robert Sherman of Pawtucket, who changed the name to the Bristol County News. In 1872 the Attleboro Chronicle was issued by Walter Phillips of Providence from a little office near the present Park hotel in Attleboro. Later this was moved to North Attleboro and sold to Dunbar & Quinn. A number of changes occurred in the firm, and in 1884 it became a semi-weekly. In 1890 it became a daily in North Attleboro, and now continues under the able management of Ex-Senator Joseph W. Martin, Jr., with Charles Martin as editor.
In 1875 T. S. Pratt started the Attleboro Advocate, and associated with him was David S. Lowe. A steam power press was installed in 1879 by Mr. Lowe, who had purchased the business. In 1881 E. H. and N. J. Sweet bought the paper, and in 1887, when E. H. Sweet left town on a health trip, his interest was purchased by William A. Sturdy of Chartley. The firm then became Sweet & Sturdy. Job B. Savery was the first editor, and those to follow were a Mr. Carpenter, C. M. Barrows, N. A. Mowton and George Randall, the last named retiring in 1888 and Mr. Mowton returning.
In 1889 it was decided to issue a daily paper, and on September 3 of that year the first issue of the Attleboro Sun appeared. In the first year the circulation averaged 2205 daily. Mr. Sweet left the partnership in 1891, and two months later Mr. Mowton took control. The venture into one-cent journalism took courage as well as capital. The Woonsocket Re- porter, which called itself the daddy of one-cent papers in these parts and which has since been consolidated with its lively neighbor, the Call, viewed the step with distrust and croaked solemnly of the wrecks that strewed the one-cent path. Only a little while before, such a daily in North Attleboro came to an untimely end. In spite of dismal predictions and with faith in the field, the publishers essayed the feat. The Tuesday after Labor Day was chosen for the birth. Their daily was a four-page, six-column affair, and it served Attleboro, North Attleboro, Mansfield and Norton. News in the first issue was not of startling nature, but the traditions of the district were served by presenting nearly two columns of baseball on page one. Attleboro was then leading a four-club league and there were reports of a 10-10 tie with Taunton in 11 innings, of a game forfeited by the locals to Whittenton and one forfeited by Whittenton to Attleboro, and of a 16-4 victory by Attleboro over the Wamsuttas. Of the advertisers in the first issue, G. A. Sweeney's store, George A. Monroe and E. A. Fuller are still in business, and the legal card of F. I. Babcock places him also as among the first advertisers.
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In 1906 the company was reorganized with John H. Vallette as presi- dent and manager, and Charles C. Cain, Jr., as editor. One of the first steps was a move into larger quarters, and the Railroad avenue office was transferred to the ground floor of Odd Fellows' block on Bank street. A new duplex press was installed in 1907 to meet the growth. In 1905 the circulation was 2,740, by 1909 it was 3,840, and by 1912 it had reached 5,039. Issues as large as 36 pages; special editions in 1909, 1914 and 1919 were issued; a charter study fostered by the Sun beginning in 1908 cul- minated in the adoption of a city charter in 1914, and each year of its history has been marked with enterprise and success. In 1914 a new press and stereotyping outfit were installed, and a Goss press that can turn out 20,000 sixteen-page papers in an hour, now serves the readers. In addition to a leased wire of the International News Service, the Sun has also an Associated Press wire but, despite all this service, it places heavy emphasis upon local news. A disastrous fire entirely wiped out its Bank street plant in March, 1918, but the Sun enterprise produced a paper in Pawtucket in less than twelve hours after the fire started, and not one issue was lost. The circulation now (1923) exceeds 5,600, though the Sun was forced by rising material costs to increase to a two-cent price in 1916.
John H. Vallette is president of the company and general manager ; Charles C. Cain, Jr., is vice-president and editor, and A. A. Penney, super- intendent of the plant, constitutes the other director. Recently the Sun purchased its present home on South Main street, and it is busy with plans for enlarging its single story building which houses the newspaper and job plant.
Ancient Buildings .- John Woodcock's public house on the Bay road, and fortified as a garrison, was licensed as an ordinary in 1670, oldest of the inns in this section, this garrison being known as one in a chain of fortifications extending from Boston to Rhode Island. It was a convenient public house for travelers, and a well-known station during King Philip's war. In turn, John Devotion, John Daggett, Alexander Maxcy, Josiah Maxcy and Colonel Israel Hatch were the proprietors. Many illustrious people stopped there, such as Washington and Lafayette, John Quincy Adams, Commodore Hull, Commodore Bainbridge, General Winfield Scott, President Monroe, Daniel Webster. The old building was torn down in 1806, and a new inn, the "Steam Boat Hotel," so-called, erected on the site, which was kept as a tavern by Israel Hatch, the son of the former owner, until the year 1840. Other taverns and inns of years ago were the Wilmarth, the Daggett, the Nevill and the Barrows taverns.
The old Powder House, long a famous landmark, had its beginnings in 1768. It was on September 12 that year, that the town voted to have the building erected on land donated by Jacob Newell, for the purpose of keep- ing the town's stock of ammunition. The building, circular in shape, nearly twelve feet in diameter and with a cone-shaped roof, was built of six thousand brick in October and November, 1768. It was used as a store- house for "materials of war" both during the days of the Revolution and the War of 1812, and powder was kept there even to recent times.
Banking Institutions .- The Attleboro First National Bank was incor- porated in 1875, the first board of directors being Colonel Willard Blackin-"
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HISTORY OF ATTLEBORO
ton, Joseph M. Bates, James H. Sturdy, George Asa Dean, Frank S. Draper, Benjamin S. Freeman, George C. Eliot, Shepard W. Carpenter, Charles E. Hayward, Gideon M. Horton, William M. Fisher, Homer M. Daggett. Colonel Blackinton was chosen president; Charles E. Hayward, vice-presi- dent; George Asa Dean, clerk; cashier, Homer M. Daggett. The bank's capital at the time was $100,000. Colonel Blackinton died January 1, 1877, and he was succeeded by J. M. Bates as president. The latter died in 1905, and Clarence L. Watson became president, September 18, 1905. Vice- President Charles E. Hayward was succeeded by David E. Makepeace, January 9, 1906, the latter having been elected to the board January 23, 1900. Frederick G. Mason succeeded Homer W. Daggett as cashier in 1903, and he was appointed vice-president January 11, 1922. George L. Seekell was chosen assistant cashier in January, 1923. The present board of directors : Clarence L. Watson. Harvey E. Clap, Samuel M. Einstein, Edward L. Gowen, Joseph L. Sweet, Michael F. Dooley, David E. Makepeace, Oscar Wolfenden. George F. Sawyer, William L. King, Fred E. Briggs, Frederick S. Peck, Raymond M. Horton, Harold E. Sweet, George F. Lilley.
The Attleboro Savings and Loan Association was organized about the year 1854, as the Attleboro Loan Fund Association, and it so continued about fourteen years. It was reorganized in 1869 under the name of the Attleboro Loan and Fund Association, but in 1876 it was reorganized again and under the present nanie, Attleboro Savings and Loan Association. The first president was Lorenzo Makepeace, and he was succeeded after a year by Willard Blackinton, and he by Joseph W. Capron. The officers in 1923: President, Frank W. Weaver; vice-president, W. L. King; secretary and treasurer, Caleb Slade; attorney, Frank I. Babcock. Directors: Frank W. Weaver, F. I. Babcock; C. S. Holden, W. J. Luther, R. M. Morton, A. M. Dunham, H. K. Richardson, O. Wolfenden, A. S. Ingraham, H. P. Kent, W. L. King, M. L. Carter, J. Finberg, H. E. Clap, A. A. French; trustees : H. P. Kent, and R. M. Horton ; loan committee : F. W. Weaver, H. E. Clap, H. P. Kent, W. L. King. The value of the shares of the bank with interest in 1923, was $2,248,248.01. The amount of the guaranty fund that year was $125.364.38.
The Attleboro Co-operative Bank Corporation was organized in 1892, with Charles Grant as the president of the board of directors, and Frank . W. Carpenter as treasurer. The officers for 1923: President, Solomon B. Jacobs; vice-president, Campbell C. Grant; treasurer, Harry E. Carpenter; board of directors : Millard F. Ashley, Alonzo N. Brownell, Isaac H. Bruce, Harry E. Carpenter. Thomas S. Carpenter, Walter A. Cunningham, Joseph Finberg, Campbell C. Grant, Solomon B. Jacobs, Joseph Kerkhoff, Thomas E. McCaffrey, Walter J. Newman, Edgar A. Remington, Fred L. Torrey, H. E. White. For more than thirty years this bank has been a factor in inculcating thrift and establishing homes in the community. The real estate loans amount to $317,455; the dues capital amount to $207,743.
The Attleboro Trust Company was incorporated November 23, 1910, and started business March 6, 1911, with Charles M. Robbins as president, Albert S. Ingram as vice-president, and W. G. Meader as treasurer. Mr. Ingram was chosen president in 1913, and Mr. Meader, former treasurer, is now vice-president. Victor R. Glencross was appointed secretary and treasurer, May 1, 1919. The board of directors consists of the above-named
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and Charles E. Moore, Charles S. Holden, Amos S. Blackinton, Edwin F. Thayer, George H. Sykes, Harlan A. Allen, William H. Bell, William H. Bannon, Milford E. Bliss, Stephen J. Clulee, Alfred D. Crosby, Everett O. Dexter, Joseph Finberg, Ernest D. Gilmore, George H. Herrick, Albert S. Ingraham, Solomon B. Jacobs, Edgar A. Remington, Daniel C .Richardson, Hugh A. Smith, Frank R. Sweet, Walter I. Tuttle, Frank W. Weaver, Charles C. Wilmarth. The capital stock in 1923 amounted to $200,000. In the savings department the deposits amounted to $1,057,328.56. Christmas Thrift Club deposits at that time were $89,278.67.
The Attleboro Savings Bank Branch is located in the Bates block. The treasurer is James E. Totten, assisted by Misses Ada M. Chadwick, Alice M. Burton and Helen W. Ralph. The bank itself is located at North Attleboro, and the outline of its history is told with that department.
Benevolent Institutions .- A spring of perennial waters, soft and clear, set amidst picturesque wooded hills, determined the site of Attleboro's first hospital, now known as Attleboro Springs. The Blanding farm on "Ridge Hill road" (Park avenue) was purchased by Dr. James M. Solomon, Junior, and in 1894 ground had been cleared and field stone utilized in be- ginning the massive walls of the present building. A handsome park was planned and drives laid out. Financial difficulties ensued, and it was not until 1903, after John M. Fisher, manufacturing jeweller of Attleboro, had given the project his sympathetic backing and financial support, that plans for the building and grounds were completed. "Almost $400,000 has been invested," says the "Attleboro Sun" of April 25, 1903, describing the dedi- cation, which was attended by thousands of Attleboro citizens and dis- tinguished guests. Prominent business men took stock in the corporation which held the property till September; 1918, when Mr. Fisher made a gift of his holdings to the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The few remaining shares were then purchased by the board, grounds enlarged, buildings improved, and the institution incorporated as Attleboro Springs, Inc.
The present object is not profit-making, but in accordance with the wish of the donor to conduct it "as a sanitarium on a philanthropic basis for the largest benefit of humanity." This policy makes possible medical attendance, electro and hydrotherapeutic treatment with room and board at moderate rates. The capacity is one hundred beds. Massage and fomenta- tions are given under the direction of the doctors by nurses specially trained for this work. A well-balanced menu is provided, with special diets when prescribed. Mental or contagious cases are not received. The patronage of Attleboro Springs is largely from two classes: Health-seekers, who need more than medication and ordinary home care. For them the change of scene and relief from work-day surroundings, with the various types of physio-therapy, play an important part in the cure. And health-keepers, who in accordance with the modern theory of preventive medicine come periodically to combine rest and recreation with a "complete physical check- up," and with the light of such physical examination seek advice on how to keep well. While only two miles from railroad, post and telegraph office, yet Attleboro Springs affords complete freedom from the dust and roar of city streets, and the business treadmill. It is preeminently a place for fagged brain, tense muscles and tired nerves. The building is of solid
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HISTORY OF ATTLEBORO
masonry, 276 feet in length. "A great stone castle" travellers from Europe have called it. Passing picturesque, spring-fed lakelets and little hills, one finds it on an eminence in the midst of 187 acres of woodland and meadow. The unique and imposing architecture together with a varied natural park, make this a place of special interest to the sightseer in Bristol county.
By a generous clause in will of Mrs. Ellen A. Winsor, the homestead estate of her father, the late James H. Sturdy, was bequeathed to the town of Attleborough to be used for a general hospital, in memory of James H. and Adah S. Sturdy. In addition to this gracious act, Mrs. Winsor placed her residuary estate in a permanent fund to be known as the Albert W. and Ellen A. Winsor Fund, to be held in trust, the income only thereof to be used to assist in the maintenance of said hospital. The original gift of real estate known as the Sturdy Foundation is valued at $30,000, and the per- sonal property left by Mr. and Mrs. Winsor, known as the Winsor Founda- tion, is valued at $93,000. The location for such an institution was ideal, but to prepare the property for modern hospital work required the expendi- ture of a larger sum of money than the Town officials felt warranted at the time in asking the citizens to appropriate. At this crisis the Attleborough Hospital, a corporation organized under Massachusetts laws, came forward and offered to take the property in trust, reconstruct the home house, build new additions, erect in connection therewith a modern operating wing, equip the whole plant, and open the institution as a general hospital to be known as the Sturdy Memorial Hospital. The town of Attleborough at a special meeting held May 14, 1912, accepted the offer of the Attleborough Hospital, and in due time placed the property in question in trust with said corpora- tion. The work of reconstruction and building new was commenced in July, 1912, and on April 14, 1913, after an expenditure of something over $30,000, the hospital was opened. Again in July, 1914, another addition was made known as the Nurses Home, with provision also for maternity cases, thus making thirty beds as the total capacity of the hospital, being largely possible because of a gift of $10,000 from the late Fannie M. Tappan.
In 1922, Joseph L. Sweet, president of the Attleborough Hospital since its beginning, provided for the erection of a $125,000 fireproof addition to be known as the Florence Hayward Sweet Maternity building, and adding twenty-one beds to the capacity of the hospital. This addition was opened in June, 1923. At present the hospital has real and personal property, re- sulting largely from the above mentioned donations, totaling nearly $300,000. Its facilities have been taxed practically to the limit since the opening of the hospital, 260 patients having been admitted in 1914, with a constant increase each year, the number having reached 738 in 1922. The increase in obstetrical cases has been particularly marked, from 14 in 1913 to 151 in 1922. A competent devoted local staff of physicians, superintendent and nurses, a consulting staff of physicians and surgeons of wide repute, an in- terested public, largely represented through the effective help rendered by the women's organization known as the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Aid Association, have resulted in the development of one of the finest hospitals in New England, with a standard of efficiency equivalent to that in many of the larger and well known hospitals. The officers of the hospital are : President, Joseph L. Sweet; vice-president, L. V. G. Mackie, M. D .; treas- urer, Harold E. Sweet; secretary, Randolph E. Bell. The board of man-
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agers consist of: Joseph L. Sweet, chairman; Joseph Finberg, Ernest D. Gilmore, William J. Luther, Harold E. Sweet, Hon. Geo. A. Sweeney, mayor; Howard G. Smith, president of the Municipal Council, ex officio, Frank I. Babcock, city treasurer.
The nucleus and starting-point of the Attleboro League for Girls and Women was the Girls Club that was launched by Attleboro Chapter, D. A. R. in 1914. The League began its cooperative effort in 1918, to include within its scope the Girls Club, the Girl Scouts, the Mothers Club and the Loyalty Sewing Society. It is through the generosity of Mrs. Harold E. Sweet that the League has its excellent headquarters at 47 Bank street, which has become a social and educational centre of the city, and where classes in sewing and millinery are maintained for the membership. Miss Harriet Wilmarth is the president of the League; Mrs. P. J. Callowhill is the secretary; Mrs. S. M. Einstein the treasurer. The working secretary is Miss Catherine Briggs. The membership of the League was four hun- dred in 1923.
On February 18, 1915, the subscribers to membership in the Associated Charities of Attleboro, Inc., met in the vestry of Murray Church and formed a temporary organization as follows: Joseph L. Sweet, who was in- strumental in forming the society and in its incorporation, was chosen tem- porary chairman, and William L. King, clerk; and Lina Coe Bliss, Dr. L. V. G. Mackie, Josephine L. Hammond, Martha C. McRae, Harriet Wilmarth, Hannah Pratt, Alice E. Cook, Joseph L. Sweet, C. J. McClatchey, W. G. Meader, C. C. Wilmarth, Milford E. Bliss, Edgar A. Remington, S. M. Einstein, Joseph Finberg, William L. King, John W. Cody, T. S. Carpenter, E. P. Claflin, A. A. French, and T. T. McCaffrey, directors. The directors met immediately after this meeting, and Clelland J. McClatchey was chosen president; Alice E. Cook, vice-president; C. C. Wilmarth, treasurer; and William L. King, clerk. The society located in the Bronson building. On March 15, 1915, Miss Margaret Todd accepted the position of general secre- tary and served until January, 1920, when Agnes M. Pike was chosen to succeed her. Miss Pike filled the position until December 31, 1921, and, on February 6, 1922, Miss Ruth Hyslop of Providence was chosen as general secretary. The organization has become a vital factor in the social life of the city and is in a flourishing condition. The officers: Milford E. Bliss, president; Martha C. McRae, vice-president; E. H. Brown, treasurer; Wil- liam L. King, clerk; Milford E. Bliss, E. H. Brown, John W. Cody, S. M. Einstein, Joseph L. Sweet, C. C. Wilmarth, Rathburn Willard, A. L. Bot- tomley, S. M. Holman, Jr., Mrs. Lina F. Bliss, Mrs. Geo. H. Crosby, Mrs. A. A. McRae, Mrs. H. P. Kent, Mrs. Joseph Finberg, Mrs. C. A. Mooers, William L. King, directors; Miss Ruth Hyslop, general secretary; Miss Norma Whitmarsh, assistant. The office is located in the Sanford building on Park street.
The story of the Dodgeville Neighborhood House Association, as re- corded by a former secretary, Mrs. William J. Watson, is as follows: The association was organized in April, 1916, under the name of the Dodge- ville Social Centre. The first president was Mrs. S. M. Einstein; secretary, Miss Alice Holden. Mrs. Einstein is still the president, and there have been three secretaries since Miss Holden, namely, Mrs. William J. Watson, Mrs. V. T. Barber and Mrs. Lawrence Baer. The original board was composed
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of delegates from the various women's clubs of the city; but in 1923 it con- sisted of representatives from Dodgeville clubs and delegates-at-large. The first clubhouse was one of the mill tenements, but the company, B. B. and R. Knight, made what was the company store over into a clubhouse, which serves as the social centre of the village. Contained therein are clubs for girls of all ages, as well as a woman's club, a boys' club and a men's club. The association is self-supporting, but the company furnish the building, the heat and the light. The organization was instrumental in establishing a kindergarten and a summer school in the village. . Both were under the supervision of the association until they came in control of the Board of Education.
The Attleboro Woman's Christian Temperance Union was constituted in April, 1876. The first officers were: President, Mrs. C. E. Kuther; vice- president, Mrs. N. M. Daggett; secretary, Mrs. L. B. Sweet; treasurer, Miss C. C. Thatcher. It was through the efforts of Rev. (Mrs.) Ellen C. Gustin that a convention for Bristol county was held at Attleboro, April 20, that year, and thereupon it was decided to organize a local union.
CHAPTER XI.
ATTLEBORO COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP.
The Attleboro Community Fellowship came into being in the year 1916, in response to the sense of the need of social education and together- ness. The Attleboro Chamber of Commerce was the pioneer organization in the movement, and, after hearing an address, obtained from Charles H. Pennoyer, at a meeting on March 21, that year, that organization en- thusiastically voted approval of the matter. A committee, C. H. Penn- oyer, chairman; L. A. Fales, E. D. Gilmore, H. M. Fiske and Samuel Slocomb, was authorized to proceed to organization if the response of other societies warranted doing so. Every society addressed unanimously endorsed the movement and voted to affiliate. When the organization meet- ing was held October 9th over fifty societies had become part of the plan, and since then the total has gone considerably over one hundred.
The affiliated social units have been: besides the Chamber of Com- merce, and its earlier Women's Auxiliary :
Patriotic-Military organizations: D. A. R., G. A. R. and W. R. C., Sons of Vet- erans and Auxiliary, U. S. W. V. and Auxiliary, Legion and Auxiliary, V. F. W. and Auxiliary, Company I, Company M, 14th Regiment, Company A, now Company I, 101st Regiment, and Special Aid Guard.
Church Civic Units: Congregational Sunday Evening Club, Centenary M. E. Men's Club, K. of C. and Daughters of Isabella, St. Joseph's L. C. B. A., Men's Tuesday Evening Episcopal Club, Baraca Baptist Club, Pilgrim Unitarian Men's Club, Murray Universalist Men's Club, Zion A. M. E. and Paul Laurence Dunbar Clubs, Hebronville Men's, Bethany Congregational Civic Community and Men's Club, Spirit- ual Progressive Civic Community, R. L. D. S. Progress Club, Sanitarium Monday and Friday Night Clubs, Seventh Day Advent Young People's Club, Advent Christian Men's Class Club, Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, and Ministers' Social Union.
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