USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Beautiful Newton the garden city of Massachusetts > Part 2
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versary of a day made memorable in the annals of our country by the heroic struggle on Bunker's Hill, where New- ton was well represented, and two weeks before the Declaration of Indepen- dence, our forefathers in this busy season of the year left their fields and quiet homes, and gathered in town meet- ing to discuss and pass upon a matter of vital importance to them, their pos- terity and the world. At this town meeting, where Captain John Wood- ward was moderator, the second article in the warrant was: "That in case the
BRAY'S BLOCK, NEWTON CENTRE
himself at the battle of Bunker's Hill, where he served as aid-de-camp to Gen- eral Artemas Ward.
Soon after these earlier battles two companies were raised in Newton. In March following, these companies with others took possession of Dorchester Heights, which proved a short service, as on the seventeenth of that month the British evacuated Boston, much to the joy of the good people of that town.
Soon after, one of these companies joined in an expedition to Canada. On the 17th of June, 1776, the first anni-
honorable Continental Congress should, for the safety of the American colo- nies, declare them independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, whether the inhabitants of this town will solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to support them in the measure." After debate, the question was put, and the vote passed unanimously.
These bold and memorable words meant the sacrifice of comfort, fortune, home, friends and life, if need be, for the right to govern themselves and en- . joy the privileges of freemen. In win-
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ter's snows and summer's heats the men of Newton, old and young, able and dis- abled, were found filling the ranks of the little Ameriean army. They formed a part of nearly every expedition, and were found on nearly every field, from the opening battles of Lexington and Concord to the final surrender of Corn- wallis at Yorktown.
Newton, then a little country town with only about 1,400 inhabitants, en- tered upon the War of the Revolution with great vigor and spirit. Contribut- ing liberally both men and means, as
of men who signed the Deelaration of independence,- Roger Sherman, - a name embalmed in the hearts of his countrymen as well as on the pages of history.
Of the part Newton took in the War of 1812 little is known, but it is no doubt true that the sons of such worthy sires were not found wanting when the eoun- try was in need.
Let us briefly consider Newton in the war of the Great Rebellion. From the opening gun fired on Sumpter April 12, 1861, until the elose of the rebellion
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HYDE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, NEWTON HIGHLANDS
she always has done and always will do when her country ealls, no town in Massachusetts ean show a more honor- able record. It is said by the historian that nearly every man in Newton served in the army some time during the war.
The history of the world scarcely affords a parallel to all our fathers did and suffered during the long struggle they endured in the sacred cause of lib- erty. Let us not forget that Newton enjoys the honor of having been the birthplace of one of the immortal band
Newton has nobly performed her part.
She furnished at least thirty-six com- missioned offieers, two generals, and 1,129 soldiers who formed a part of thirty regiments.
These men gave themselves to their country in the hour of her need, and went forth in her defence.
Where duty called, they were found, - whether amid the malaria of south- ern swamps, on the march, leading a forlorn hope against the enemy, or in vile prison pens,- the mention of whose
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names brings a thrill of horror to all hearts.
who cheerfully gave his life at Gettys- burg.
They fell by the way on the long and Our ancestors early recognized the importance of education, and all through the two centuries that have passed since its incorporation Newton has made the most liberal appropria- tions for its public schools, thus stand- ing in the front ranks among the many cities and towns of the Commonwealth. tedious marches, they died of homesick- ness or wounds in the hospitals, they went down before the rush of the enemy and were killed or reported missing, and never again heard from. They en- dured privations and hardships such as we cannot comprehend; and they did it all without murmur or complaint for In addition to all this it has within its borders a Theological Seminary of world-wide reputation, a seminary for the love and respect they had for the heroes of '76, and their regard for the liberty and good name of their country, young ladies, and an English and class-
FARLOW PARK, NEWTON
for their homes and firesides, and the still more tender regard for the dear ones in those homes whose prayers and good wishes never ceased to follow them amid all their sufferings.
They loved their homes and firesides as we do ours, but loved their country more.
The spirit that actuated them was well illustrated by one who said, "If my country needs my services, I am willing for her sake to make the sac- rifice." This was Charles Ward, a worthy son of one of the first settlers,
ical school, as well as others of lesser note.
Early in the history of Massachusetts slavery was introduced, and it is not surprising that some slaves should have been found in Newton. The records show that at least thirty-six were men- tioned in the inventories of deceased persons, and there were probably others. Slavery is supposed to have re- ceived its death blow in Massachusetts about 1783.
Newton, of course, in its early days was a purely agricultural town, and its
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farmers were prosperous and well-to- do for those times, and built for them- selves here and there over its broad area homes that were comparatively com- fortable, but which would hardly com- pare with many of the palatial residences which we see to-day.
But as early as 1688, the very year of the incorporation of Newton, a mill was built at Upper Falls, where there was a considerable waterfall on Quinobequin or, later, Charles River.
Still later other mills were located
of the town sought tocreate a general interest in regard to it." Later a con- stitution was adopted and the society received the name of the "Newton Friendly Society." This was probably the first local organization of its kind in New England, with one exception. This society afterwards established a library of several hundred volumes; and it also originated the Institution for Savings in the town of Newton, now the well-known and prosperous New- ton Savings Bank. The whole move-
VIEW ON PARK STREET, NEWTON
along the river, some for the manufac- ture of lumber, cloths, nails, cotton goods, paper and other articles, all of which helped to extend the industries of this growing town.
Fifty years ago, two of these manu- facturing villages - Upper Falls and Lower Falls - exerted a controlling in- fluence in town affairs.
The intelligent citizens of Newton early took a deep interest in the cause of temperance, and as early as Dec. 15, 1826, "a meeting was held which took active measures on the subject, and by a circular addressed to the inhabitants
ment was conducted by the best and most influential men of the town.
"In imitation of the churchyards of England, the first cemetery was around the first church," Later burial-grounds were located at West Newton, one near Upper Falls and one at the Lower Falls. Of these resting places of the fathers, many interesting facts could be given, would space permit.
The growing town demanded addi- tional provisions for the burial of its dead, and in 1855 the Newton Ceme- tery Corporation was organized, which has resulted in establishing one of the
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most beautiful rural cemeteries to be found in New England.
An attempt began about 1830 and continued until about 1848-49 to divide this fair domain.
Some of us can well remember the strong feeling that was aroused by the agitation of the subject, so strong as to alienate friends and lead to bitter words. Fortunately, no division was effected; and we have remained a united, pros- perous and happy people to this day.
fire-engine was purchased in 1867, an- other in 1871, and a third in 1873. This was followed by the introduction of the electric fire-alarm.
Fire apparatus of the most modern construction, with all necessary equip- ment, has made our Fire Department noted for its efficiency.
Newton, as a town and city, has al- ways provided generously for its poor. In 1824, John Kenrick, a generous cit- izen, created a fund "to aid the ncedy
RESIDENCE OF EDWIN S. WEBSTER, HAMMOND STREET, CHESTNUT HILL
As early as 1813, this town had a Fire Department, to which many of the prominent citizens belonged.
In 1842, the engines in use being too small, the town voted twenty-four hun- dred dollars for the purchase of four engines, provided each of the villages where the engines were to be located would add two hundred dollars more. A year later, a similar appropriation was made for another village. A steam
industrious poor of the town, especially such widows and orphans as had not fallen under the immediate care of the Overseers of the Poor."
This fund has been faithfully admin- istered from that time to this, and has proved a source of comfort to many.
Before Newton became a city it had taken action looking to the introduction of pure water, and the town was author- ized to take water from Charles River.
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This aet was accepted in 1872. Subse- quent acts enlarged the powers of the city, and it was deeided to put in a sys- tem of waterworks. These were com- pleted in 1876, at large expense; and Newton has enjoyed from that time the luxury of pure water in abundanee.
The system is supplied with ground water obtained from driven wells lo- cated near the Charles River in Need- ham, from which it is pumped directly
of about two million gallons. The cost to date is over two million dollars.
The introduction of a water supply and the continued growth of the city soon demanded an adequate system of sewerage. This projeet was delayed for some years until the completion of the Charles River Metropolitan sewer provided a suitable outlet, and work was begun on the local sewers in 1891. Up to date over ninety miles of
RESIDENCE OF HENRY B. DAY, CHESTNUT STREET, WEST NEWTON
into the mains. A covered reservoir on top of Waban Hill, one of the most sightly spots in the city, provides the necessary storage, and the water is not exposed to the light until it reaches the consumer.
The system embraees over one hun- dred and thirty-six miles of water mains, with seven thousand services, and has an average daily consumption
sewers have been constructed at a cost of a million and a half of dollars, and nearly the entire city is served.
Among the many advantages enjoyed by Newton are the railroads within its limits. As early as May, 1834, the Bos- ton & Worcester Railroad was opened to Newton, nearly a year before it was completed to Woreester.
This was the first passenger railroad
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in this part of the country. The trains were few, and the accommodations every way limited.
A speed of ten to twelve miles an hour then, instead of forty-five to fifty now. This road was laid out through Angier's Corner,- now Newton,- Hull's Crossing,- now Newtonville,- and Squash End, -- now West Newton.
These villages were very small, and the only ones on that side of the town except Lower Falls, to which a branch railroad was built some years later. Auburndale came into existence after
all passing to and from Boston, there was no easy communication from one side of the city of Newton to the other, and the idea was conceived of building a railroad connecting the two railroads together, forming the Newton Circuit from Newton Highlands to Riverside. The road was opened May 15, 1886, thus connecting by rail nearly all the villages of Newton, and forming a belt line such as is found in few other towns or cities on the continent. Along this connecting link Eliot, Waban and Woodland stations are located.
CANOES ON THE CHARLES RIVER
the main line was built. In the year 1852 the Charles River Branch Rail- road was opened from Brookline to Newton Upper Falls, having stations at Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Oak Hill,- now Newton Highlands. This road under another name was extended to Woonsocket, R. I.
The construction and running of these roads gave an impetus to build- ing, and several of the stations have be- come centres of large and flourishing villages. Though the two railroads already in existence well accommodated
The good people of the town were not unmindful of the advantages of public parks, and among the latest acts of the town before it became a city was to appoint a committee to take into con- sideration the subject of parks and playgrounds for the town. This action led to the establishing of Farlow Park.
The town having outgrown its old form of government and having a pop- ulation sufficient to entitle it to become a city, a town meeting was held April 7, 1873, and by a large vote it was de- cided, after a lengthy debate, to petition
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the General Court, then in session, for a city charter, which was granted. In October following, the voters accepted "An Act to establish the City of New- ton." Under this new form of gov- ernment we have enjoyed increased prosperity. Let us in imagination go back to 1639, when all this territory was a primeval forest; when over these hills and along these valleys roamed the wolf and the deer; when the river and lakes swarmed with fish, and on their unvexed surface the wild fowl rested securely; when the smoke still ascended from the wigwam of the In-
was one of severe toil and hardship. The land must be subdued amid many dangers and brought under cultivation to supply the wants of the growing families of the first settlers and those that were added to their number from time to time.
It is not easy for those reared amid the comforts and luxuries of life to realize what our ancestors endured in their efforts to lay broad and deep the foundations for future towns and cities.
Amid hopes and fears life went on, and in 1688 the growth and progress had been such as to justify the incor-
BIGELOW GRAMMAR SCHOOL, NEWTON
dian on Nonantum Hill, and the sons of the forest as well as the pale-faced settler found their way from point to point along blazed paths, which were later to become bridle-ways and still later town-ways and highways, and fi- nally, as we see them to-day, magnifi- cent and well-kept avenues, lined on either side with beautiful trees, some of which have sheltered the red hunter of the forest, while along these streets are reared the homes of a prosperous and happy people.
poration of a town whose fame was to go sounding down through the cen- turies.
Our fathers builded better than they knew. Over two hundred years have passed since the legal incorporation of Newton, then a small town with a very sparse population, now a city of more than thirty-three thousand inhabitants. Then with a single church, and that a very poor and inexpensive one: now twenty-six or more churches, some of them costing between one and two hun- dred thousand dollars. Then here and
The years went slowly by, and life with our ancestors on these broad acres there a lane or townway: now more
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than one hundred and ninety-eight miles of well-kept streets. Then no schoolhouse on this territory: now those of magnificent proportions, with schools of all grades, with a large and excel- lent corps of teachers, besides private academies and higher institutions of learning. Then only here and there a farm with its low farmhouse: now beautiful villages, costly business blocks, palatial residences, well-kept villas and cosey cottages, all showing enterprise, culture and taste. How
great the change from the scattered town in the wilderness to the rich and flourishing city of to-day!
Standing on the heights at the begin- ning of the twentieth century, and look-
ing back over the long roll of years since Newton began its existence in the "forest primeval," we cannot fail to realize the remarkable progress of the two centuries that have passed. Our hearts swell with emotion as we call to mind the grand characters and heroic deeds of the noble band of men and women who here laid broad and deep the foundations upon which we are building, and who helped to secure for us the rich blessings of civil and re- ligious liberty.
As we contemplate the past and ap- preciate the present, may it stimulate us all to higher aspirations and greater usefulness, that we may prove worthy sons of such noble sires!
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OCRAS
NEWTON BANK BUILDING
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESS
W HILE the natural features of tells the story of this important part "Beautiful Newton" have ex-
isted since time began, and while modest developments were con- stantly being made by our forefathers, it is only within the past quarter of a century that the community has really blossomed into the "Garden City of Massachusetts."
It is true, that previous to this era, the railroad had been laid out and oper- ated, not only on the north side of the city, which is on the main line of the Boston & Albany system, but there was also steam railroad service to the south side villages of Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Highlands and New- ton Upper Falls. It is also true that the "Circuit" branch of this railroad system had been opened in the early eighties, and has been a strong factor in developing a public spirit, which embraces the whole city, and has done a great deal to prevent the growth of provincialism among the different parts of Newton. It is also true that our splendid water system was conceived and constructed for some years prior to the beginning of the last quarter cen- tury, but, in spite of all these important civic enterprises and with a full knowl- edge of all these circumstances, the fact cannot be denied, that the past twenty- five years has witnessed the greatest development in all directions in the en- tire history of Newton.
of our civic life, altho it does not in the least indicate, the almost complete re- construction of our school buildings and the amount of capital the city has in- vested in this manner.
Others will claim that the saving of human life, as well as the time involved in the old method, by the abolition of the former dangerous grade crossings of the public highways and the steam railroad, is of equal, if not greater, value to the community than that of education.
There are some who will point to the network of sewers which have been built and put into use during this pe- riod, as the greatest improvement pos- sible for any community, and others will call attention to the growth of street railways, their operation by elec- tricity instead of by horses, the installa- tion of improved gas and electric street lighting, the great work of building boulevards and dustless streets, the ac- quisition of large areas for public park purposes, the beginnings of a play- ground system, and many other marks of modern progress, which are evident to all who care to observe, and all unite to prove the statement made at the be- ginning of this article, that the past twenty-five years has been the greatest era in the history of the city.
During this period the population of Newton has increased from 19,759 in 1885 to 39,806 in 1910; the real estate valuations have increased from $24,- 132,630 in 1888 to $55,669,650 in 1913, and personal property from $9,146,012
Possibly, the improvement and en- largement of our methods of education will be considered by some as the great- est step taken in the period under consideration. Dr. Spaulding's article to $26,806,390, the total valuations in
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1888 being $33,278,642 and $82,476,040 in 1913.
These figures only give the grossly material side of the wonderful growth of this beautiful city, and give no in- dication of the many fine residences, the well-built streets and the handsome trees which have been made possible by this great prosperity of our citizens.
One of the most prominent changes to be noted in recent years is the great improvement in the construction and convenience of the many school build- ings throughout the city. With its
buildings all over the city, at an expense approximating a million and a half of dollars. The old wooden high school was entirely rebuilt in brick in 1897, at a cost of over $200,000, and a Techni- cal High School was erected in 1910 at a cost of over $350,000.
The school property is valued today by the Assessors, land and buildings, at $1,892,000.
Newton was one of the first cities of the Commonwealth to take the drastic action necessary to abolish grade cross- ings of the streets and steam railroads,
ECHO BRIDGE
widely scattered population and many village centres, Newton cannot con- centrate its school children, and is com- pelled to erect and maintain more school buildings for its people than other communities of equal, if not greater population than ours.
In addition to the necessity for more school buildings, there is also the na- tural feeling that every portion of the city is entitled to equal service in this respect, and this has resulted in the erection during the past twenty years of modern, substantial and commodious
and today there are but two public streets and two private ways which cross the railroad tracks at grade. The tremendous task of abolishing the dan- gerous grade crossings has all been ac- complished during the past twenty years and is one of the most important achievements of the quarter century.
Action looking towards the abolition of the grade crossings on the main line of the Boston & Albany railroad, de- manded by every consideration of safety and convenience, was commenced in 1889, when a state commission rec-
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ommended a partial depression and $800,000 for Washington street. In partial elevation of the railroad tracks. addition, $100,000 was expended for continuing the widening of Washing- ton street, through Nonantum square, and of Park and Tremont streets to the Boston line, and was followed by. a grant of a street railway location from Nonantum square to that point, thus allowing better street railway con- nection with Boston. The importance of this great work cannot be under- estimated, and it stands as a monument to those men whose thought and action have given the city untold benefits in A city commission composed of Messrs. Albert F. Noyes, City Engineer, Charles A. Allen and George S. Rice, recommended in 1893, that the tracks be elevated as far as Auburndale, but the popular outcry against the erection of such a barrier through the city, was so strong that it was abandoned. Some consideration was also given a sugges- tion that the tracks be moved bodily some distance to the north, but it was not pressed very hard.
NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL, NEWTONVILLE
In 1895, Mayor Bothfeld, who had given the matter a great deal of atten- tion during his service in the Board of Aldermen, recommended a partial ele- vation of the streets and partial depres- sion of the railroad tracks, the work to be done in connection with the widening of Washington street for about two miles. This plan, with some minor de- tails, was finally accepted by the city, the state, and the railroad company, and work was begun that year and com- pleted in 1898 at a cost of $2,250,000 for the grade crossing work, and about
matters of safety and public con- venience.
With the completion of the work on the main line, immediate steps were taken to abolish the grade crossings on the south side of the city. This matter was not so expensive, but the railroad corporation, which, under the law, pays sixty-five per cent of the cost, had grade crossing problems in other communities and it was not until 1904 that the neces- sary agreements were signed.
The work on the south side called for the abolition of cight crossings of
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J. WESLEY KIMBALL MAYOR OF NEWTON, 1884-1885-1886-1887-1888
public streets and private ways, and the building of eight overhead bridges. This work was completed in 1909 at a total cost of $847,709.44.
The only remaining grade crossings now in the city limits are at Oak street and Mechanic street at Newton Upper Falls, and Concord street and Pine Grove avenue at Newton Lower Falls.
The growth of the street railway sys- tem has been one of the factors which has done more than any other improve- ment to unite the people of the various villages of Newton, into one com- munity, and this growth has come largely within the past twenty-five years. There was a horse railway be- tween West Newton and Waltham as early as 1866, and another line was started in 1880 between Nonantum square and Cambridge, but it was not until 1887 that the Newton Street Rail- way Company was organized. This company took over the old West New- ton-Waltham line and extended it to Nonantum square, installed the over-
head trolley system of electric power in 1889 and double tracked its location on Washington street in 1896.
The Newton & Boston Street Rail- way Company built a line from New- tonville square to Newton Centre in 1891, extended it to Newton Highlands in 1892 and to Newton Upper Falls and Needham in 1897.
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