USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Millbury > Centennial history of the town of Millbury, Massachusetts, including vital statistics, 1850-1899 > Part 15
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 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
June 12. The selectmen were authorized to contract with the Massachusetts Highway commission for the construction of a section of state road in Millbury, from the Sutton line, on the Sutton Road, to Beach Street. Millbury people were to be given the preference in sub- letting the contract.
219
ANNALS 1891-1913
1907
March 18. Two hundred and twenty-five dollars were appropriated for parks.
The road near the premises of J. W. Pope was macadam- ized.
It was voted that the selectmen be authorized, with the commissioners of cemeteries, to sell a parcel of land to the Worcester and Blackstone Valley Street Railway Co.
August 19. Thirty-five hundred dollars were appro- priated to construct a re-enforced concrete bridge over the Blackstone River on South Main Street.
September 24. David Atwood, first treasurer of the Millbury Savings Bank and prominent in town affairs for many years, died at the home of his daughter in Los Angeles, Cal. (See independent sketch.)
1908
March 16. Two hundred dollars were appropriated for a school physician.
June 1. At an adjourned meeting it was voted that suitable persons be licensed to buy, sell, and barter in junk, and that books be kept by persons so licensed.
November 19. At an adjourned town meeting two hundred dollars were voted to experiment in exterminating gipsy moths.
1909
March 15. The town voted "No" on licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors.
March 27. A committee, appointed to consider the purchase of the plant of the Millbury Water Co., reported that the company's price was $242,000.00. Three propo- sitions were embodied in the report of the committee: 1st, to let conditions remain as they are; 2d, to have the selectmen apply to the court to fix the water rates for five years; 3d, to purchase the water works if they could be bought at a fair price. The report was accepted.
220
HISTORY OF MILLBURY
April 10. It was voted that the selectmen and ten citizens be chosen as a committee to employ counsel and to consider the entire relations and rights of the town and the water company and to report at a later meeting.
May 1. The selectmen made a contract with the Mill- bury Electric Company.
It was voted to appropriate four thousand dollars which the selectmen might use to make a contract with the Water company.
1910
March 21. It was voted "to lease for one dollar the room now used as a Post Office to the George A. Custer Post, G. A. R., for ten years, reserving the vault in the said room."
It was "voted to appropriate two thousand dollars to macadamize West Main Street from the Sutton Road, near the West End Thread Mill, to Mayo Mill, No. 2."
It was voted that the moderator appoint two persons to fill vacancies on the committee on town history. Henry A. Phillips and Henry W. Carter were appointed.
June 18. At a meeting of the selectmen and two remaining assessors William A. Walsh was elected assessor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles H. Shaw.
October 6. At a meeting of the selectmen and the school committee James M. Cronin was chosen a member of the school committee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Robert Booth.
There is published in the Town Records for 1910 a copy of "An Act to provide a water supply for the Town of Millbury." A special meeting was called for July 16, 1910, when the Legislative act of 1910 was accepted, and, in accordance with this act, on August 12, 1910, the Mill- bury Water Company filed with the Town Clerk a list of its property.
December 30. At a special meeting Charles B. Perry, Esq., was chosen as a member of the water committee in place of A. S. Winter, deceased.
HARDWARE
OURHINCHAN & SON
TS.CAPS
RANDALL BLOCK, 1894
DESY M.D
-
THE CUNNINGHAM BLOCK
221
ANNALS 1891-1913
1911
January 21. At a special meeting it was voted to proceed to vote on the water question, viz .: "Shall the Town of Millbury purchase the property of the Millbury Water Company? " The Town voted "No."
March 20. Seven hundred and fifty dollars were voted to exterminate the gipsy moths and the brown tail moths in town and two hundred dollars were voted to exterminate the elm beetles.
Three thousand dollars were voted for constructing a macadam road from the Town Hall toward Bramanville, the same to be used with the money to be furnished by the state.
June 20. It was voted "that the school committee be allowed to use temporarily such a portion of the Town Hall building as may be necessary for school purposes."
1912
January 11. It was voted "that three thousand dollars become available when assurance is received from the (state) highway commission, that the sum of fifteen hun- dred dollars shall be appropriated (by the state) for the same purpose," i. e., to build a section of macadam road from the Town Hall on the southerly side of Elm Street to a spot near the bridge; and also a section of road on West Main Street from near Elmwood Street to Burbank Square.
March 18. The town voted to accept the following report:
"The committee that was appointed a few years ago to con- sider the subject of a Town History submits the following report: Two members of the original committee are gone, for the Rev. George A. Putnam has resigned, having removed from the town, and Mr. George W. Mallalieu has died. Those vacancies were subsequently filled by other persons and your committee is of the opinion that there is much material relating to the history of Mill- bury that should be preserved in book form.
222
HISTORY OF MILLBURY
The Committee therefore recommend that a history of Mill- bury be published.
Respectfully submitted,
George F. Chase Henry A. Philips
John C. Crane Henry W. Carter
Henry W. Aiken Ira N. Goddard
Committee
It was voted that the town raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for the proper observance of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the incorporation of the town and that the historical committee have said sum for its use if needed.
It was also voted that the historical committee, now in office, act with the selectmen in carrying out the provisions of Article 36 (on celebrating the town's anniversary) and that it have power to add to its number so as to make six (on the committee) in addition to the selectmen.
The town accepted the laws which authorized certain towns to appropriate money for watering their public streets.
On the question of buying the property of the Millbury Water Company the town voted "No."
March 30. The town voted to discharge the water committee, with thanks.
It was voted that the selectmen enter into a contract with the Millbury Water Co. for hydrant service on the best terms to be had, the sum not to exceed fifty-five dollars per hydrant.
July 7. Peter E. Gover, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delos Gover, Railroad Avenue, 21 years of age, was drowned in Dorothy pond while swimming near the ice house. Mr. Gover was born in Millbury and had always lived here.
September 30. At a special meeting, the town passed the following vote: "Voted, that the town build a new High School Building, and that fifty thousand dollars be appropriated therefor; that for the purpose of providing the money for erecting said building and for furnishing the same, the town treasurer is hereby authorized, with
223
ANNALS 1891-1913
the approval of the selectmen, to borrow the sum of $50,000, and to issue notes or bonds of the town therefor; such notes or bonds shall be payable in twenty annual payments of $2,500 each, the first payment to be made one year after the date of said loan. Said notes or bonds shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent per annum, and the amount required to pay the interest and the principal sums, as they become due, shall be raised by taxation, in the manner in which the other expenses of the town are met.
" Voted, that the Building Committee for the New High School consist of the School Committee and Damien Ducharme, Fred W. Moore, George F. Chase, and Fred H. Rice."
December 27. Clara LeMay, fourteen-year-old daugh- ter of Mrs. Victoria LeMay, was shot dead at the Cordis mills at an early hour in the morning, just as the help were beginning to go in for the day's work, by Charles Adams, fifteen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Adams, also of Millbury. She was a member of the Baptist Church.
1913
March 17. It was voted to appropriate twenty-two hundred and fifty dollars for publishing a history of the town.
It was voted to sell the town farm and the personal property connected therewith.
It was voted to appropriate fifty-five hundred dollars to purchase a motor truck for the fire department.
April 8. Millbury's fight against Worcester over the pollution of the Blackstone river, begun almost eighteen years ago in the Supreme Court, and one of the most notable litigations in Worcester county in years, the title of the case being L. L. Whitney, et alii, selectmen of Millbury, vs. city of Worcester, was ordered by Supreme Court Justice Henry K. Braley to be dismissed without prejudice, no move in it having been made for a long time.
224
HISTORY OF MILLBURY
It involved the claim that the city of Worcester had polluted the Blackstone river. It was filed in the Supreme Court, Sept. 26, 1895.
The selectmen claimed that the city had failed so to remove from its sewage, before it was discharged into the river, the offensive and polluting properties and substances, and asked that an injunction be issued ordering the city to remove from its sewage, before it was discharged into the river, the polluting properties. Robert M. Morse, Boston, one of the most widely known attorneys in New England, was counsel for the town. Five years ago the case was referred to James A. Stiles as auditor. Thomas H. Sullivan was also counsel for the town, and Worcester's interests were looked after by its law depart- ment. The case was the first on the general docket of the Supreme Court which was called before Justice Braley and there was no objection to the dismissal of the case.
225
CENTENNIAL
CHAPTER XV
CENTENNIAL
The centennial of the incorporation of Millbury as a town was celebrated by exercises extending over four days and culminating on Wednesday, June 11, 1913, the one hundredth anniversary of the town's separation from Sutton. In the previous year the board of selectmen, consisting of Mr. William W. Windle, Mr. Fred H. Rice, and Mr. Peter C. Paradis, together with the History committee, consisting of Mr. George F. Chase, Henry W. Aiken, Esq., Mr. Henry W. Carter, Mr. John C. Crane, Mr. Ira N. Goddard and Mr. Henry A. Phillips, consti- tuted a committee to make and carry out plans for a suitable celebration of the Centennial of the Town. This committee organized with Mr. Windle as chairman and Mr. Phillips as secretary. For this celebration the town appropriated thirty-two hundred dollars to which the committee added over four hundred dollars that was received from various sources. This general committee was assisted in the arrangement of details by the following Auxiliary Committees, although the executive responsi- bilities remained centered in the general committee.
HISTORY-George F. Chase, John C. Crane, Ira N. Goddard, H. W. Aiken, Esq., Henry A. Phillips, H. W. Carter.
HISTORIC EXHIBIT-Henry A. Phillips, Miss Carolyn C. Waters, Miss Anna M. Sears, Rev. R. W. Dunbar, Prin. John A. Backus, John C. Crane, Charles F. Holman, Thomas H. Sullivan, Esq.
PARADE-D. J. Dempsey, Geo. L. Lacouture, W. E. Horne, G. Burton Stowe, J. R. Greenwood, A. C. Neff.
DECORATIONS-C. L. Undergraves, O. H. Roberts, W. C. Moulton, E. W. Scannell, R. C. Leclare.
15
226
HISTORY OF MILLBURY
HISTORIC SPOTS-John C. Crane, Alvan J. Winter, Henry A. Phillips, F. E. Putnam, H. M. Goddard.
SUNDAY SERVICES-Herbert A. Ryan, Dr. A. G. Hurd, H. M. Goddard, F. C. Wheeler, T. A. Dowd, A. L. Gauthier, L. C. Rice.
BALL GAME-Prin. John A. Backus, Thomas H. Sullivan, Esq. FOOTBALL-James H. Mullen, William Howard, Patrick Gibson.
ILLUMINATIONS-A L. Armsby, Arthur I. Horne, A. A. Hall, W. L. Whitney, Roger A. Montague.
BONFIRE-W. A. Walsh, Wm. D. Horne, Felix Little, John May, Esthen R. Dusthoff.
CONCESSIONS-J. L. Ivory, Dr. A. A. Brown, Dr. Arthur L. V. Sharon, J. Frank McGrath, Wm. F. Cannon.
MORNING SPORTS-H. L. Hooper, A. H. Hyde, David Chase, H. C. Pierce, T. H. Sullivan, Esq., Louis Gabree.
PUBLICITY-Harry W. Gould, E. F. Kinniery, Charles P. Macduff, Charles F. Holman, Wm. R. Power.
INVITATION AND GUESTS-H. W. Aiken, Esq., Dr. Gustave Desy, T. A. Dowd, W. W. Windle, Alvan J. Winter.
CHILDREN'S AMUSEMENTS-Mrs. Thomas A. Dowd, Miss Ger- trude M. Brown, Miss Alice K. Sweetser, Miss Augusta M. Harris, Supt. C. C. Ferguson, Wm. F. Cannon, Prin. John A. Backus.
MUSIC-Joseph H. Tatro, O. C. S. Ziroli, G. B. Stowe, Alvan J. Winter.
HIGH SCHOOL CORNERSTONE AND EXERCISES-Thomas H. Sullivan, Fred W. Moore, Damien Ducharme, E. F. Hull, Dr. Arthur L. V. Sharon.
INFORMATION-Peter C. Paradis, O. H. Roberts, Charles J. E. Bazin, E. C. Putnam, D. J. Dempsey.
HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE-Nathan H. Sears, chairman; Rev. Robert W. Dunbar, secretary; Rufus R. Crane,Damien Ducharme, Mrs. Ira N. Goddard, Mrs. Edwin Hoyle, Miss S. J. Murphy, Samuel C. Nield, Mrs. Henry A. Phillips, George I. Stowe, Miss Delia C. Torrey, Henry W. Davidson, James H. Ferguson, Henry F. Hobart, Jeremiah F. Lyons, Robert E. Molt, Charles B. Perry, Esq., William L. Proctor, Mrs. Jennie M. Thompson, Lyman S. Waters.
ATHLETIC SPORTS-Lawrence A. Whitney, Dr. A. L. V. Sharon, Dr. A. A. Brown, F. L. Eames, Wm. C. Young.
FIREWORKS-Fred H. Rice, G. E. Whitehead, J. H. Ferguson, C. Francis Rice, Fred W. Moore.
227
CENTENNIAL
ENTERTAINMENT-H. W. Carter, Fred H. Rice, H. M. Goddard, Mrs. H. M. Goddard, H. J. Lavallee.
CENTENNIAL BALL-Mrs. Charles B. Perry, Miss Margaret Kinniery, Alvan J. Winter, Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Paradis, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus C. Neff, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Macduff, Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Simmons, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Stockwell, Dr. and Mrs. Gustav A. Desy, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome T. Rutledge, Mr. and Mrs. Hervey C. Pierce, Edgar T. Benjamin, Miss Veronica Branagan, Miss Ida Sharron, Alfred L. Armsby, Charles B. Perry, Esq., David Chase.
The program of the Centennial prepared by the pub- licity committee had on its front cover a picture of the Torrey House, which has been the Millbury place of abode for ex-President William Howard Taft during his visits to the town. The pages of the program, fourteen in number, were devoted to the names of committees, Historic Facts, a notice of the Historic Exhibit, a list of eighty-eight historic spots, and the order of events to be followed in the celebration.
Before the time of the celebration had arrived the town was prettily decorated on its main streets with bunting by day and with electric lights by night. The committee on historic spots had put placards on notable buildings and locations in all parts of the town.
The celebration of the Centennial began on Sunday morning, June 8, with special services in all the churches of the town.
At the First Congregational Church the service was conducted by the pastor, the Rev. William C. Martyn, and the sermon was delivered by the pastor-emeritus, the Rev. George A. Putnam, whose subject was, "What the passing Years have Contributed to the Christian Unity among the Churches."
At the Second Congregational Church, the pastor, the Rev. Robert W. Dunbar, gave a short history of the church, taking as his text, "The Lord, our God, be with
228
HISTORY OF MILLBURY
us, as he was with our fathers, let him not leave us nor forsake us."
At the Baptist Church, the pastor, the Rev. Hamilton E. Chapman, gave a history of the Baptists in Millbury.
At the Methodist Episcopal Church, the pastor, the Rev. Norman H. Flickinger, spoke upon, "Fraternalism and the Centennial Celebration."
At St. Bridget's Church, the Rev. John F. Griffin gave special sermons at the morning masses.
At the Church of the Assumption, the Rev. Louis E. Barry was assisted by the Very Rev. Alexis R. Grolleau, of Spencer, who delivered the sermon, the French societies of the town attending in a body.
At the Unitarian Church, the pastor, the Rev. William T. Hutchins was assisted by the Rev. Lewis G. Wilson of Boston, who delivered the sermon.
At all churches in the morning unusual numbers were in attendance, both of townspeople and visitors,and special music in each church added enrichment to the services.
The out-door exercises of the celebration began at four o'clock Sunday afternoon with a band concert given on the grounds of the First Congregational Church in Bramanville by the American Brass Band of Providence. Sacred, historic, and patriotic music was rendered to a throng of five thousand people. Beautiful weather favored the observance of the day in all its features and, indeed, throughout the celebration nature favored the townspeople and visitors with days rarely beautiful even for June.
Monday, June 9, had no official provision for celebration in the daytime but the hours were spent in visiting friends, in renewing old acquaintances, and in visiting the scenes of former association. Finishing touches were given the decorations and other last things to be done were com- pleted in getting ready for the two following days.
During this day opportunity was given parents, friends, and visitors, to see exhibits of school work in the different
229
CENTENNIAL
school buildings. These exhibits ranked well in practical value with other features of the celebration. Work was shown in each exhibit which illustrated the accomplish- ments of the pupils in all grades. These displays were arranged under the direction of the superintendent of ·schools, Mr. Chauncey C. Ferguson, but each separate exhibit was given under the immediate supervision of the principal in charge of the building. Some of the departments more recently introduced attracted special attention, such as sewing and manual training in the elementary grades and commercial work in the high school. A good attendance at all the schools showed the interest that was taken in the exhibitions.
On Monday evening, a Centennial ball was given in the town hall which was decorated and illuminated for the occasion. At eight o'clock a concert, which was given for an hour by Chaffin's orchestra of Worcester, was greatly enjoyed by many music lovers. At nine o'clock the grand march started, led by Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Perry. Dancing followed through the evening.
Tuesday, June 10, marked the completion of all prep- arations and the opening of the town to neighboring inhabitants who came in by the thousands. A registration bureau was maintained by the hospitality committee, assisted by pupils from the high school. In two days about seventy-five hundred registered, including many former residents of the town, but the number of people at- tending the Centennial exercises exceeded this many times.
On Tuesday morning, at nine o'clock, the Historic Exhibit in Blanchard Hall was opened to the public. The committee had diligently scoured the region for articles illustrative of the times when the town was first set off and of the important developments in its history. The walls of the room were covered with burlap and partitions were erected, dividing the space into sections; festoons were hung about the walls and portraits of many makers of Millbury were hung on all sides.
230
HISTORY OF MILLBURY
Over a thousand articles altogether made up the exhibit. Samplers and other examples of needle-work, some of it of rarely fine texture and handiwork, were displayed in considerable numbers. Rare articles, prized as family heirlooms, were brought together in rich profusion. In protecting cases there were many rare exhibits, among them being original signatures of George Washington, John Hancock, President James Munroe, and President Andrew Jackson.
The general arrangement of the exhibit brought together articles of common association as much as practicable. On the left, an old fashioned kitchen was set off with its massive brick fire-place, old fashioned dining table, high- back settles, churns, old-fashioned chairs, warming-pans, spinning-wheels, and other articles suggestive of the solid comfort of the old New England kitchen.
Across the room, articles used in the parlor were seen including the piano, brought into Millbury in 1833 by Asa Waters (2d), and believed to be the first piano brought into the county.
In an ante-room, the evolution of the bureau was shown, including a chest of drawers, built in 1750, and later modifications in the patterns of 1800 and 1840. On the walls of this room were old maps of the town and pictures of former industrial plants.
On a platform at one end of the hall, an eccentric lathe was installed which was the modern form of the old Blanchard lathe that was perfected in Millbury and has revolutionized many industries because of its ability to turn irregular forms. This lathe was driven by electricity and several gun-stocks were turned out during the two days of the exhibition. It was especially appropriate that a gun stock be turned out as it was for this purpose that the lathe was invented by Mr. Blanchard, who put it into use in the Millbury Armory and in the United States armory at Springfield, soon after the completion of the first machines.
:
-
THE ORIGINAL BLANCHARD LATHE
231
CENTENNIAL
Along the wall at the right of the entrance was an exhibit of relics from the wars in which Millbury has been rep- resented, including a list and many pictures of those who served in the War of the Rebellion. Uniforms of the Mexican war were illustrated from parts of militia equip- ment used in that period. The revolution was made real by some cartridge boxes like those carried by the patriot soldiers of '76 and by some flint-lock arms of the period.
A collection of likenesses that attracted special atten- tion was one that was grouped about the picture of ex- President Taft. This included, also, a bust of Judge Taft, father of the ex-president; a picture of his grand- father, Samuel D. Torrey; and a picture of Mrs. Taft, mother of the ex-president, and a daughter of Mr. Torrey.
Over the door, as one entered, was a large portrait of Peter Willard, colored, who was a Revolutionary soldier; next on the wall were portraits of Gen. Caleb Burbank and his wife. He is reputed to have selected the name "Millbury" for the town. The portrait of the Rev. Joseph Goffe hung next, then that of Elijah Brigham of Westborough, and his wife. He was the first congressman from this district. Next came the portrait of Thomas Blanchard, inventor, after whom the hall was named. The next portraits were those of Dr. and Mrs. William Bowen Moore. He practiced medicine here from 1829 until 1843. On the further wall from the entrance on the left were the portraits of Col. Jonathan Holman, of Revolu- tionary fame, and of his wife, Susan, daughter of Captain Trask. Next was the portrait of Asa Waters (1st), and his wife. He was an extensive land owner and early manufacturer. Next came his son, Asa Waters (2d), and his wife. He was an inventor, a land owner, and manufacturer, who maintained and developed water privileges on the Blackstone river. Next hung a portrait of Col. Asa Holman Waters, land owner and manufacturer, and one of his sister, Miss Sarafina Waters. Beside these there was a portrait of Mrs. Susan Hovey, mother
232
HISTORY OF MILLBURY
of Mrs. Waters. Next was a portrait of Mrs. Adeline Hume Ryan, wife of William Ryan. The next in line was a portrait of Capt. Charles Hale, manufacturer. Next were portraits of Mr. John Ryan and of Caroline Ryan, his wife. On the extreme right in this line of portraits were those of David B. Harrington and his wife, Amy Sophia, former residents of the town.
The hall was continually thronged with visitors, many of whom recognized some family heirloom and illustrated by story the uses and occasions for which the various articles were intended.
At ten o'clock, Tuesday forenoon, a football game (association) together with a band concert at Riverside Park, opposite the Providence Street schoolhouse, drew a large crowd. For its opponents the Millbury players had a team from Whitinsville.
One of the prettiest and most enlivening sights seen in Millbury during the Centennial was the spectacle of children at their games, sports, and play, on the Torrey lot, Tuesday afternoon. A flag drill, a Scotch reel, "Green Sleeves" dance, swing song drill, German clap song, shoemaker's dance, minuet, and folk dances, were given. Then came a half-hour's sleight-of-hand performance, after which followed a flag drill, "Reap the flax" drill, and wand drill. Following these there were races for the different grades, including relay-races of much interest between teams from different schools.
At half-past seven Tuesday evening a band concert was given at Bramanville by the Battery B band of Wor- cester and at its close a mammoth bonfire blazed up from the top of Burbank Hill,closing the events of the day.
Wednesday, June 13, the great day of the celebration, dawned fair and mild, adding another to the beautiful days marked for the Centennial. Salutes from a six-inch gun, brought from the Watertown arsenal through the intervention of congressman Samuel E. Winslow, greeted the townspeople in the early morning. Bells were rung
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.