USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fall River > Centennial history of Fall River, Mass. : comprising a record of its corporate progress from 1656 to 1876, with sketches of its manufacturing industries, local and general characteristics, valuable statistical tables, etc. > Part 25
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In 1860 the Supreme Court appointed engineers, with instructions to measure and mark a described line which should be the true boundary between the two States, the decree to take effect in March, 1862. The full claim of neither State was granted, but such a boundary fixed as to give an undivided jurisdiction to densely-populated districts, without infringing on
217
THE GREAT FIRE, JULY 2, 1843.
the rights of any. By this change of boundary, Massachusetts acquired a territory comprising about 1 1 square miles. Of this, about 9 square miles, with a population of nearly 3600 and a taxable property of some $2,000,000, were embraced within the limits of the city of Fall River.
THE GREAT FIRE, JULY 2, 1843.
A distinct point of departure in Fall River chronology is the devastating conflagration which in 1843 swept away in a few hours the accumulations of years of industrious enterprise. Few fires have wrought a more wholesale destruction than this. The community, which has builded a strong, robust city upon the ruins of the burned village, retains a very vivid memory of the scourge that levelled its best streets thirty-four years ago. Among these sad recollections there are, moreover, not wanting those that are pleasant, hap- piest of all being a cherished memory of the demonstrations of sympathy and material aid its desolation called out from all parts of the land, New Orleans and Savannah joining with New York and Boston in their contribu- tions to the suffering people.
About three o'clock on the afternoon of Sunday, while the church-going part of the community were wending their way to the several houses of wor- ship, an alarm of fire was heard. The crowd of citizens who hurried towards the locality of the danger most feared in manufacturing neighborhoods, dis- covered a small carpenter's shop on the north side of Borden Street, near the corner of Main, entirely enveloped in flames and the fiery element already threatening adjoining buildings. The early summer of 1843 was an unusually hot and dry period. The water in the stream was very low, and the flume, which was then undergoing repairs, was entirely empty. The time, moreover, was years anterior to the introduction of steamers, and the sole defence of Fall River against serious conflagrations consisted in a few small hand-engines, worked by volunteer firemen, and the improvised bucket brigade of house- owners.
Operating such poor agencies as best they could, and relying almost des- perately upon their natural dependence, the half-depleted stream, for water, the citizens worked manfully in their fight against the terrible element. A strong, fresh wind from the south was blowing at the inception of the fire, and its fierce impulse hurled danger and ruin directly into the heart of the city. No rain having descended for weeks, the thickly populated quarter- largely constructed of wood, its roofs and cornices dried to the consistency of tinder by the prolonged summer heat-offered but the slightest resistance to
218
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
the flying cmbers. At one moment more than a score of dwellings and stores were in flames, and but an instant's embracc of the raging element sccmcd sufficient to reduce the stateliest victim. For seven hours the devastation continucd. Meanwhile, the sympathizing people of Bristol, ten miles dis- tant, had hurricd to the scene of disaster, the same gale that impelled the flames speeding their white-winged craft, with the fire-engine on board, through the ferry and up the bay. The scene was truly heart-rending-a thriving community absolutely in the grasp of a relentless enemy, with hardly a weapon of defence in its possession.
Strong men still living shudder at the remembrance of that sad Sabbath afternoon. Before the most hopeful vision, no hope seemed to rise. Hap- pily, however, a merciful Providence intervened at last to save a portion of the town. Guided by His wise order who rules the powers of that nature which he created and governs, the wind suddenly changed its course, blew in an opposite direction from the district still untouched, and finally sub- sided.
The destruction had been very large, comparatively enormous. The area burned over covered twenty acres in the heart of the village, extending from Borden Street, on the south, to Franklin Street, on the north. All the stores in the place, except six or eight in the remote suburbs, were in ruins.
The occasion of the fire, as finally discovered, was the thoughtless mis- chief of a few Sabbath-breaking boys, who were amusing themselves with a small cannon, a burning wad from which inflamed a dry heap of wood- shavings that had accumulated under the floor of the carpenter's shop. Near the close of the conflagration, preparations were made to blow up with gun- powder several structures that stood as helpers to its progress, but the sub- sidence of the gale rendered such continued procedure unnecessary.
The following summary of buildings destroyed and trades temporarily dispossessed was published soon after the fire:
Number of families residing within the burnt district at the time of the fire. 225
Banks.
2
Cabinet warehouses.
3
Persons belonging to those families. 1,334
Marble factory. T
Tannery.
I
Livery stables. 4
Dry-goods establishments destroyed. 17
II
Number of buildings burned, not including the smaller ones
196
Grocery and provision establishments, in- cluding 3 or 4 crockery stores connected. . 2.1
Boot and shoe stores destroyed.
6
2 Hat and cap "
3
Churches (Methodist and Christian Union).
3
Book and periodical stores destroyed. 3
Cotton factory (Old Bridge Mill) ..
I Hardware 3
Carriage factories.
2 Milliners' shops destroyed. II
Persons in addition, employed or doing busi- ness in the burnt district, but living out, about. 600
Clothing
Of which there were used as dwelling-houses, and occupied by one or more families each Hotels
95
219
POPULATION-VALUATION, ETC.
Mantua-makers' shops destroyed.
5
School-house destroyed.
I
Apothecaries' 66
6
School-rooms besides destroyed.
3
Jewellers'
3
Athenæum
T
Harness-makers'
3
Custom-house
I
Stove and tinware
3
Post-office
I
Brass foundries destroyed. ..
2
Auction-room
T
Blacksmiths' shops destroyed.
Counting-rooms
7
Machine
2
Dentists'
2
Carpenters'
8
Stage office
I
Reed-maker's shop
I
Printing offices
$ 4
3
Shoe-makers' shops
7
Lawyers'
4 4
5
Plane-maker's shop 66
Physicians' "
5
Roll-coverer's “
I
Barbers' shops
3
Turner's
I
Whole amount of loss on buildings.
$264,470
Butchers'
4
= other property. . . 262,015
Soap-boiler's shop
I
$526,485
Cigar factory
I
Whole amount of insurance.
175,475
Restaurants
66
7
Bake-houses
2
Excess of loss.
$351,010
POPULATION-1810-1875. POPULATION OF FALL RIVER AT VARIOUS TIMES.
18IO.
1,296 1849.
. 11,003 1858.
12,815 1867
21 174
1820.
1,594 1850.
II, 170 1859.
. 12,524 1868
. 23,023
I830.
4,159 1851.
10,786 1860
13,240 1869.
.25,099
1810.
6,738 1852.
II,605 1861.
14,026 1870. .27, 19I
18.44.
9,054 1853.
12,285 1862*
17,461 1871.
28,29I
1845.
10,290 1854.
12,700 1863
15,495 1872.
34,835
1846 ..
11, 174 1855.
12,680 1864.
17, 114 1873.
38.464
1847.
11,646 1856.
12,926 1865.
. 17,525 1874.
. 43,289
1848.
10,922 1857.
12.395 1866.
19,262 1875.
45,160
* The increase in population in 1862 was owing to the annexation of the town of Fall River, R. I., which contained a population of about 3,590.
VALUATION, ETC., 1854-1875. VALUATION, TAX, ETC., FOR THE LAST TWENTY-TWO YEARS.
Year.
Valuation.
Tax.
Amount raised by Taxation.
No. Polls.
Year.
Valuation.
Tax.
Amount raised by Taxation.
No. Polls.
1854.
$8,939,215
$5 80
$56,523 70
3,117
I865.
$12,134,990 $16 50
$209,272 20
4,461
1855.
9,768,420
5 60
59,425 15
3,148
I866.
12,762,534
17 50
232,827 62
4,740
1856.
9,888,070
6 20
66,078 26
3,18 I
I867.
15,220,628
17 00
269,020 95
5,135
1857.
10,041,610
7 40
83, 161 61
3,241
I868.
17,919,192
14 00
262,872 74
6,002
1858
9,923,495
7 20
77,929 35
3,208
I869.
21,398,525
15 60
346,310 99
6,247
1859.
10,700,250
7 00
79,583 25
3,12I
1870.
23,612,214
15 30
374,753 22
6,743
1860.
11,522,650
7 40
90,124 61
3,238
1871.
29,141,117
13 00
392,974 15
7,070
I861.
II,261,065
8 60
102,162 04
3,544
1872.
37,841,294
12 00
471,835 53
8,870
I862
12,497,720
II 00
146,045 30
4,288
1873.
47,416,246
13 00
636,451 61
10,020
I863.
12,696, 105
II 50
154,218 76
4,105
1874.
49,995,IIO
12 80
662,486 II
II.119
I864.
11,057,645
18 00
207,731 61
4,304
1875.
51,401,467
14 50
768,464 37
II 57I
.
3
I
Painters' shops
8
In 1840 the number of taxable polls was 1,603. The valuation of real estate was $1,678,603 ; of personal estate, $1,310,865; total, $2,989,468.
ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE,
July 4th, 1876.
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME.
1776.
1876.
GRAND
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE,
4th July, 1876, AT FALL RIVER, MASS.
4.30 A.M.
GRAND SALUTE of One Hundred Guns, on the Park. Raising of the National Flag.
6.30 A.M.
RINGING of ALL the BELLS of the City for half an hour.
9 A.M.
The several divisions of the military and civic pro- cession will form as follows :
First Division on east side of Main Street, right resting on Bedford Street.
Second Division on north side of Pleasant Street, right resting on Main Street, with left of line extend- ing along east side of Second Street.
Third Division on north side of Pleasant Street, right resting on Second Street.
Fourth Division (with the exception of the coal trade) on the north side of Bedford Street, right rest- ing on Main Street. The coal trade to form on south side of Central Street, right resting on Main Street. And at 9.30 A.M., sharp, the procession will move in the following order :
Police Skirmishers. Platoon of Police.
Marshal, Col. BRADFORD D. DAVOL. Chief of Staff, Capt. S. L. BRALEY.
AIDS.
James T. Milne, Wm. E. Dunham,
Nathan D. Chace, Charles C. Buffinton,
Clark Chase, Earl P. Bowen,
Daniel E. Chace, Horatio N. Durfee,
Timothy T. O'Keefe, Alvan C. Seymour,
George H. Borden.
FIRST DIVISION.
Chief of Division, Major JOHN M. DEANE. Aids.
Aids.
Third Regiment Band. Co. B, Third Regiment, M. V. M. Friendly Union Lodge, I. O. O. F. Court of Good Samaritans, 5910. Caledonians.
221
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF 1876.
SECOND DIVISION.
Aids. Chief of Division, GEORGE O'BRIEN. Aids.
St. Mary's Band. St. John's Catholic T. A. and M. R. Society. Young Men's I. A. C. T. A. and B. Society. St. Patrick T. A. and M. R. Society. Sacred Heart T. A. and B. Society. St. Joseph's Society (Cadets), 60 muskets. Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. I. Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. 2. Knights of St. Patrick.
THIRD DIVISION.
FLORAL AND NATIONAL CARS.
Aids.
Chief of Division, R. K. REMINGTON. Aids.
Ist Regiment U. S. Artillery Band.
No. 1 .- FLORAL CAR. No. 2 .- GROTTO.
No. 3 .- FLORAL CAR.
No. 4. - INDIAN SCENE. No. 5 .- 1776.
No. 6 .- DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
No. 7 .- AMERICA.
No. 8 .- ENGLAND.
No. 9 .- IRELAND.
No. 10 .- FRANCE.
No. 11 .- 1876.
FOURTH DIVISION.
TRADES.
Chief of Division, JAMES P. HILLIARD. Aids.
Aids.
American Linen Company. Fiske & Munroe. Covel & Sandford. F. R. Water Works. Davis & Fish.
Martin Wallace.
Cook & Grew.
Fraprie & Watters.
F. R. Laundry. Kinsley's Express. J. D. Flint & Co. D. W. Baldwin. Cobb, Bates & Yerxa. F. R. Plumbing Co. Dailey's Tea Store. Edward Herbert. F. R. Coal Co. J. A. Bowen & Co. M. T. Bennett, Jr., & Co. Wm. Hawes & Co.
The Route of March will be as follows : North Main, Locust, Rock, Prospect, Highland Avenue, Winter, Cherry, Linden, Bank, Ford, Bedford, Quarry, Pleasant, Fourth, Morgan, and South Main Streets to the Park, from thence through South Main to the City Hall, where the procession will pass in review before His Honor the Mayor and the City Government and dismiss.
12 O'CLOCK M.
RINGING OF BELLS of the City for half an hour.
12.30 P.M.
TUB RACE on the Ponds for Prizes of $12, $8 and $5.
I P.M.
GRAND YACHT RACE on the River, for Prizes amounting to $150.
2.30 P.M.
CALEDONIAN GAMES on the Park, fifteen in number, and Three Prizes for each game.
Music by the Ist Regiment U. S. Artillery Band.
LIST OF GAMES.
Throwing hammer, $6 $4 $2
Standing high jump,
5
3
I
Sack race over 18-inch hurdles, 5
2
I
Putting stone, .
6
3
2
Mile race, . 3
Hitch and kick,
6
4
2
Highland fling, .
6
3
2
Wheelbarrow race, .
5
2
I
Pole vaulting, .
8
4
2
Boys' race (under 12 years), .
3
2
I
6 Hop, step, and jump, 3
2
Short race, twice around, 6 3
3
5
3
2
Quoits, on natural sod, 6
4
2 Tossing caber, . 5
2 Three-legged race, .
8
6
222
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
Twenty-five cents will be charged from all compet- | Winter to Prospect, Prospect to Rock, Rock to Frank itors for each game.
No person allowed within the ring but the commit- tee, competitors, judges, pipers, and members of the press.
All persons wishing to compete will hand in their names to the committee at least one game ahead of the one they wish to compete for.
The judges to be appointed by the committee, and their decision to be final and indisputable.
The games to be conducted under the Rules of the N.A. U. C. A.
3 P.M.
PARADE OF BATTALION of ANTIQUES and HORRIBLES, which will be one of the finest events of the day.
Aids.
Platoon of Police. Chief Marshal. Aids.
Third Regiment Band. Colonel and Chaplain in Carriages.
Cavalcade.
Staff.
GOVERNOR.
Staff.
Band of Tin. Infantry. St. Mary's Band.
Varieties of all kinds, both Ancient and Modern, representing every thing under the Sun and Moon, going from grave to gay, from civil life to City Hall ; on the earth and under the sea. In fact, comprising all that is laughable or serious on the earth or above it.
ROUTE OF PARADE.
From Torrent Hall to Park, where there will be a grand review ; from Park to Morgan Street, Morgan to Fourth, Fourth to Pleasant, Pleasant to Main, and pass in review before His Honor the Mayor and City Government ; Main to Franklin, Franklin to Winter,
lin, Franklin to Main, Main to Torrent Hall, and dis- miss.
6.30 P.M.
RINGING OF BELLS of City for thirty minutes.
7 P.M.
GRAND SALUTE of One Hundred Guns, on Highland Avenue.
7.30 P.M.
CONCERT ON THE PARK, from 7.30 to 9.30, by St. Mary's Band.
7.30 P.M.
CONCERT at CORNER of HIGHLAND AVE- NUE and PROSPECT STREET, 7.30 to 9.30.
During the evening the Balcony of the City Hall will be illuminated with gas jets, representing a shield, with the word "Liberty " over it, and the fig- ures 1776 and 1876 on either side.
Fireworks of all kinds are prohibited on the route of the processions during their formation or march.
The citizens are requested to decorate their resi- dences during the day and illuminate them at night ; in fact, to unite as a people in making the day one we shall be glad to remember as the Centennial Anni- versary of our Nation.
COMMITTEE.
Mayor JAS. F. DAVENPORT, Chairman,
Alderman HOLDER B. DURFEE,
Alderman BRADFORD D. DAVOL,
Alderman P. R. SULLIVAN,
Councilman WM. E. DUNHAM,
Councilman JOSEPH WATERS,
Councilman PHILIP H. REGAN,
Councilman C. V. S. REMINGTON, Secretary.
CORPORATE ANNALS
OF
FALL RIVER.
هـ
HOWGAMES BUFFINTON.
lantic Luble loup & Engraving Co New York
SKETCHES OF MAYORS
HON. JAMES BUONIN, FIRST MAYER.
T TON JAMES BUFFINION W ts m " Chaloner Hill," : . Troy,-now Fall River, - -- Mass., March iotn, tiy. Ths pronte removed to Swanzey, near the village of that name, in his infancy, where t , urst year of his childhood were paused, and where he com- menced attending school, but soon the interests of the family caused their return fy huis native village, which henceforward became his home. His earlier years were those of self- Genial and constraint, yet all through his boyhood and youth his promptness in thought and independence in action were indicative of the coming man. His parents were member of the. Society of Friends, his mother being an approved minis .. . that body of thestate to
many years She as careful in the training of her cole ...... the subject of this .frech to ::
frannation tor the princip es Hvit the same
month, until he was cat Whends' boarding-school.
UR angressed satisfactoril, in
in irrepressible nature often led him to the the power and skill he ever showed an ambition to ! The Lady of medicine with the late Dr. Thomas o' nen Successfully to the period when he should
have a und Phishing step to make him a verit ble M. D Failing to obtain the mm estart funda at the proper time satisfactorily to himself. he turned his att to teaclang, and spent two or three years as a preceptor in public and private schools at Wes port and afterwards in Dartmouth, at or near Padanaram, the southern exim nity of tommy lee from constant association with men interested in navigation, his thoughi, wer. turned'n this direction, and he finally shipped for a whaling voyage on board the shift Would Caronhi about to sail fror, that port.
Making a successful voyage, he returned home and cogged in business as a druggist. Subsequently, abandoning this enterprise, he water I the day-goods and millimery trade. About this time, also, he united in marriage with Miss Sarah Perkins.
These changes in his earlier He may seem to same evidences of a weak and vacillatr , mind, while in tact they were only caused by those circumstances which affect most young men der en font upon their own exertion:
During these years he possessed the full congdence of his fellow-townsmen, who aften, by their suffrages, acknowledged his qualifications, electing hint to positions of trist and useful- ness. He was . prominent and efficient member of the Fire Department, and in 1851 was chosen selectman, being re-elected in 1852, and again in 1853.
On the adoption of a city charter, in 1854, he was elected mayor bv a majority over all of 331, in an aggregate bi 126 volts,
This was the year when the city was visited by Asiatic
1
SKETCHES OF MAYORS
HON. JAMES BUFFINTON, FIRST MAYOR.
H ON. JAMES BUFFINTON was born on "Chaloner Hill," in Troy,-now Fall River, - Mass., March 16th, 1817. His parents removed to Swanzey, near the village of that name, in his infancy, where the first years of his childhood were passed, and where he com- menced attending school ; but soon the interests of the family caused their return to his native village, which henceforward became his home. His earlier years were those of self- denial and constraint, yet all through his boyhood and youth his promptness in thought and independence in action were indicative of the coming man. His parents were members of the Society of Friends, his mother being an approved minister of that body of Christians for many years. She was careful in the training of her youngest born-the subject of this sketch -to inculcate in his mind the love of truth and virtue, to lay a foundation for the principles of honesty and uprightness, and to nurture him in a strict regard for the same.
He attended public and private schools a part of each twelvemonth, until he was some fifteen years of age, when he was sent for two or three terms to the Friends' boarding-school, in Providence, R. I., where he made good use of his privileges, and progressed satisfactorily in his studies. Here, as elsewhere, the activity of an irrepressible nature often led him to the front, and in sports and exercises of muscular power and skill he ever showed an ambition to lead. After leaving school, he commenced the study of medicine with the late Dr. Thomas Wilbur, pursuing his investigations in this science successfully to the period when he should have attended medical lectures, as a finishing step to make him a veritable M.D. Failing to obtain the necessary funds at the proper time satisfactorily to himself, he turned his attention to teaching, and spent two or three years as a preceptor in public and private schools at West- port, and afterwards in Dartmouth, at or near Padanaram, the southern extremity of the town. Here, from constant association with men interested in navigation, his thoughts were turned in this direction, and he finally shipped for a whaling voyage on board the ship South Carolina, about to sail from that port.
Making a successful voyage, he returned home and engaged in business as a druggist. Subsequently, abandoning this enterprise, he entered the dry-goods and millinery trade. About this time, also, he united in marriage with Miss Sarah Perkins.
These changes in his earlier life may seem to some evidences of a weak and vacillating mind, while in fact they were only caused by those circumstances which affect most young men dependent upon their own exertions.
During these years he possessed the full confidence of his fellow-townsmen, who often, by their suffrages, acknowledged his qualifications, electing him to positions of trust and useful- ness. He was a prominent and efficient member of the Fire Department, and in 1851 was chosen selectman, being re-elected in 1852, and again in 1853.
On the adoption of a city charter, in 1854, he was elected mayor by a majority over all of 331, in an aggregate of 1261 votes. This was the year when the city was visited by Asiatic
226
FALL RIVER AND ITS INDUSTRIES.
cholera, which raged as an epidemic, causing much distress and grief to many of our poorer families and to some of those in higher life. In this emergency he was often called upon for assistance, and in his official capacity met all calls wisely and well, promptly rendering services personally which others would not give for humanity's sake or for adequate reward. He visited the ill and destitute, and ministered to their immediate necessities with his own hands, removed the sick and dying to the hospital provided by the city for their comfort and care, and in several instances prepared the dead for decent burial. His course in these fearful weeks of suffering made him many firm personal friends, who never forgot his self-sacrifice and devotion when others, panic-stricken by the scourge, forsook and neglected them.
At the second city election, in 1855, he was re-elected mayor; but the same autumn, his executive abilities having become more generally known and appreciated, at a convention called to nominate a candidate for Representative in Congress, he was chosen by acclamation, and subsequently elected by a majority of several thousand. Thus was opened to him a wider field for those qualities of mind and heart which nature and culture had given him, and which secured for him a re-election again and again. He was in many respects a model Representa- tive, faithful to duty, watchful over the interests of his own constituents, and eminently loyal to his country. His votes were invariably cast for the right, his voice outspoken for liberty, and his influence always in the interest of the welfare and prosperity of the nation at large. He was a consistent and persistent friend of the slave, losing no opportunity to swell the con- stantly increasing demand for universal freedom. When the rebellion was being inaugurated. his attention in the House was, if possible, increased, and no effort was lost to advance the nation's cause and preserve her life and usefulness. On his return home, early in the spring of 1861, he immediately set influences at work to raise a company of volunteers in person, join- ing the " boys in blue" in their drill, their marches through the street, and in all their pre- parations to become defenders of their country's life and integrity.
In 1864 Mr. Buffinton having declined a re-nomination for Congress, accepted an office in the Internal Revenue Department, tendered him by the United States Government during President Johnson's administration.
The duties of this office-General Treasury Agent-were satisfactorily performed for a year or two, when he was appointed Revenue Collector for the First District of Massachusetts, which office he held until after the death of Mr. Eliot, his successor in Congress, in June, 1870, when he was again elected, by those whom he had so faithfully served in previous years, as their representative in the national councils. He served two terms, and was re-elected for a third, when death intervened. Thus was spent the remainder of his useful life, the last few weeks in distress of body, yet to the last with the same alert mind, anxious to do his whole duty, prompt in his attendance upon each session of the House, and finally dying with the harness on. He remained in his seat, against the wishes of his friends, until the adjournment of Congress, when he came home to die in less than one hour after being welcomed by his be- loved domestic circle, Sabbath morning, March 6th, 1874.
The news of his arrival home, and the sad and startling intelligence of his death, were rapidly spread from lip to ear throughout the city, and many of his devoted friends, political and others, hastened to offer their condolence and sympathy to his bereaved family.
His funeral obsequies were attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends, resi- dents of this and many other towns in the State. Remarks were made by a number of the clergy of the city eulogistic of his manly and honorable course in life, and regretful, yet submissive to the decrees of divine Providence, for his comparatively sudden and unexpected removal from the scenes of earthly labor.
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