City of Melrose annual report 1862-1879, Part 49

Author: Melrose (Mass.)
Publication date: 1862
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1032

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HISTORICAL ADDRESS.

thing of their Treasure." So strong, forcible, and eloquent was this address, that Chief Justice Marshall thought it worthy of quotation in his "Life of Washington."

A little over a year ago an article was published in the Melrose Journal, by Mr. Barrett, entitled "Melrose in the Concord Fight." In this was given the roll of Capt. Ben- jamin Blaney's company of Malden men, which, on the 19th of April, went "to resist the ministerial troops." The names of the Melrose men in the company were as follows : Ser- geant Jabez Lynde, Nathan Eaton, Joseph Lynde, Jr., Ezra Howard, John Vinton, Benjamin Lynde, William Upham, Ezra Upham, John Grover ye 3d, Unite Cox, Joseph Bar- rett, Jr., Phineas Sprague, John Grover, Jr., John Gould, Phineas Sprague, Joseph Lynde, and John Pratt. Here we have nearly all the old family names represented. There was hardly a man living here at the time, who was able to bear arms, who did not start as a "minute-man," when the alarm was sounded. The two Spragues mentioned above were father and son; the father living on Foster Street and the son on Porter Street. The father died in 1805, aged 80. Mr. Barrett says of the three brothers, Thomas, Timothy and Ezra Vinton, who lived at the Highlands and went in Capt. Samuel Sprague's company from Stoneham ; "After the men had left for Concord, the women, fearing that they might suffer for the want of food, filled some saddle-bags full of provision, put them upon an old horse owned by Phineas Sprague, and Israel Cook mounted the horse and started for Concord. When near the place, fearing that he might meet the British on their return, he turned into a by-road to avoid them. They soon came in sight, and dis- covered him. One of the soldiers left the ranks, crossed the field, shot at Cook and killed the horse, and then hastened back to the ranks. Cook, nothing daunted, shouldered the saddle-bags, and trudged on till he met the men who were sadly in want of something to eat."

After the Revolution the quiet farm life, with the little of the shoe manufacturing element which has been referred to, went on, nearly up to the time when the Boston and Maine Railroad was built, which was opened through here

TOWN OF MELROSE.

July 4, 1845. After this a new impetus was given to immi- gration. Some of the old farms were. sold to be cut up into house-lots, and people began to come and abide with us.

FIRST TOWN MEETING.

Our town was incorporated May 3, 1850. The first Town Meeting was held May 10, in "Academy Hall ;" The warrant had two articles, viz .: "To choose a moderator ; to choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing." The first principal officers then elected were as follows : Elbridge Green, Town Clerk. Jeremiah Martin, Isaac Emerson, Jr. and Artemas Barrett, Selectmen. Aaron Green, S. L. Taylor and William J. Farnsworth, Assessors. Isaac Emerson, Treasurer and Collector. Henry A. Norris, Caleb Howard and Elbridge Green, School Committee. James Howard, Highway Surveyor. Six only of this number are with us now.

The citizens of to-day receive a somewhat bulky pam- phlet containing the annual reports of the various town officers. Not so at the end of our first year, in the spring of 1851. The report then made is something of a curiosity; and, as such, I now hold it up before you. It is a broadside, 10 × 12 inches. It is headed, "Report of the Financial Concerns of the Town of Melrose, From May 20, 1850, to April 1, 1851," and is signed by Jonathan Cochran, Josialı W. Talbot, and John Blake, Financial Committee. The venerable Deacon Cochran, 86 years of age, is the only one of these three with us to-day. A few of the items on this first report are worth noticing. It was the day of small things and small expenses when compared with our present labors and outlays. "Jeremiah Martin, for Serv. as Selectman, $4- Running town lines, $10- Examining Dix Pond, Railing and Culverts, $2-Cash paid for Printing, 14.25 - Laying out Streets, $12- Letting and Superintending Vinton. Street, $4-Cash paid for Jury Box, and for Stationery, $5.90, $52.15. "Artemas Barrett, for Services as Selectman, $32. " Isaac Emerson, Jr., Services as Selectman, &c., $34.88." Elbridge Green and Caleb Howard, School Committee, were paid $12 and $10 respectively. " Elbridge Green, for Ser-

HISTORICAL ADDRESS.

vices as Town Clerk, Express Bills, &c., $9.50." "Isaac Emerson, for services as Treasurer and for Blank Book,$9.13." S. L. Taylor, Aaron Green and Wm. J. Farnsworth, Asses- sors, were paid respectively, $13.75, $15 and $17.25.

LITERATURE.

Melrose in literature has reached a standard which is commendable, and of which we may feel well pleased.

We have with us to-day, Samuel Adams Drake, whose busy pen has given us the "Old Landmarks of Boston," " Historic Fields and Mansions of Middlesex," and " Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast ;" besides his " Bun- ker Hill," "Israel Putnam," and other minor publications. The volumes referred to treat of historical subjects in the most pleasant and profitable manner; giving incident, anec- dote and history in a very readable style. May we again and again be favored with his contributions, brimful as they are of historic lore.

Mr. Frederick Kidder has given the world a long array of historical works ; among which are "Eastern Maine and Nova Scotia," "Expedition of Capt. John Lovewell," " The Boston Massacre," "First N. H. Regiment in the Revolu- tion," and, in connection with Dr. A. A. Gould, a " History of New Ipswich, N. H.," his native town, - all valuable works, requiring much research and patient investigation.

For many years Mr. William Frederic Poole was one of our citizens, whose trenchant pen has produced many valuable papers on various historical subjects, the sharpest and best, perhaps, being his witchcraft monograms: "Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft;" "The Witchcraft Delusion of 1692," &c .; the " Battle of the Dictionaries," and other orthographi- cal papers ; "Anti-Slavery Opinions before the year 1800;" and "The Ordinance of 1787, and Dr. Manasseh Cutler," a reprint from the North American Review for April, 1876. The two last were written since he left Melrose.

We have had with us - now, alas ! no more - Mr. Joseph E. Babson, known in newspaper and magazine literature as " Tom Folio." He has written much, and edited some volumes containing rare and interesting papers of the

TOWN OF MELROSE.

English writers ; among them, Charles Lamb, Leigh Hunt and Douglas Jerrold.

Deacon Gilbert Nash, a resident of Melrose many years, gave us, while here, a poetic volume of "Bay Leaves."

And we have the veteran poultry raiser and author, Capt. George P. Burnham, who has written a number of works about fowls, including the " Hen Fever ; " and recently he has told us about the "$100,000 in Gold, and how to make it." Most of us would be perfectly well satisfied if we were told just how to make a hundred thousand dollars in currency !

It is a pleasure to mention our talented towns-woman, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, the eminent lecturer and editor, whose tongue and pen champion every good cause.

The " Melrose Journal " issued its first number Dec. 10, 1870, still lives and flourishes, is a good, well conducted local paper, giving us all the items of news that take place in Melrose, and some that do not. We have also a history of Melrose in the late civil war; * and other books and pam- phlets have been written by our citizens, all of which have given to Melrose a creditable place in literature.

HEALTH.

Much has been said, in times gone by, concerning the health of the town of Melrose. The unfounded prejudices of some, or the unconsidered remarks of a non-resident phy- sician, have been quoted ; and, by and through these wrong opinions and harmful inuendos, Melrose has suffered. I think this to be one of the most healthy communities around Boston, and that facts and figures will substantiate the assertion. When the late historian of Haverhill, George Wingate Chase, was a resident of our town, he was engaged in the Secretary of State's office compiling the census for 1865. His attention having been called to this matter of health, he told me that he took the tables of the Registration Reports for quite a number of years, and made a comparison

* " The Melrose Memorial. The Annals of Melrose, County of Mid- dlesex, Massachusetts, during the Great Rebellion of 1861-5. By Elbridge HI. Goss. Melrose. 1868."

HISTORICAL ADDRESS.

with the other towns, and that Melrose stood number three, by these figures. Dr. E. O. Phinney, long a resident phy- sician, told me, a few years ago, that he also had made an examination of this subject, so far as the figures of the imme- diately adjoining towns were concerned, and that ours stood the best ; and that, from his own experience, he considered it one of the most healthy of towns. And I think from our own observation we can say that ours is a very healthy com- munity. Look at some of the ages to which have lived some of the members of our old families. Capt. Phineas Sprague died in 1869, at the age of 92; Jonathan Lynde, 85: his brother William, now 83, is still living on the old Lynde homestead on Washington Street. Ezra Vinton died at the age of 63, his widow 79; Thomas Vinton 85, his wife 84; and Timothy Vinton 92. These were of the three Vinton homesteads at the Highlands. John Green, of the "John Green house," was 84, and many others of the Greens were very old when they died. William Emerson was 88, and his wife 77; Isaac Emerson 74, his widow 79. These were the grandparents and parents of our present Isaac and George Emerson. The names of many others might be given, and some have been already mentioned, when speaking of the old families, who have attained very advanced ages: the tombstones in our " Village " and "Wyoming Cemetery " attest the same fact, very many of the ages far exceeding the allotted three score and ten ; all of which most assuredly indicates that ours is not an unhealthy town, but, on the contrary, that it is a very healthy town.

SPOT POND WATER.

This blessing to our homes cannot be omitted in enumer- ating our institutions. Not until after a very severe contest did we obtain it; but it is ours to-day, and it would take a large sum of money to purchase the franchise of Melrose. The first action taken towards the introduction of this water into the three towns of Malden, Medford and Melrose, was in 1867, when Messrs. Samuel E. Sewall, Daniel W. Gooch, and George W. Heath of our town, together with three gentlemen from each of the other two towns, were incorpo-

TOWN OF MELROSE.

rated as the "Spot Pond Water Company." Nothing was done by the three towns towards taking the water until 1869, when Melrose, after a series of town meetings, in which the question was thoroughly discussed by those in favor and those against taking it, voted to unite with Malden and Medford in purchasing the franchise of the "Spot-Pond Water Com- pany." This action was duly consummated, the water- works were finished and first used Aug. 26th, 1870 ; since which time, we have been enjoying the luxury of this great boon, of pure, soft water, for beautifying our grounds, and for manufacturing and domestic purposes.

Spot Pond is not only a very beautiful sheet of water, surrounded as it is with wild and magnificent scenery ; but it has a history. It is first mentioned by Governor John Winthrop in his Journal, under date of Feb. 7, 1632. He says : The governour, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Eliot and others, went over Mistick River at Medford, and going N. and by E. among the rocks about two or three miles, they came to a very great pond, having in the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and beech; and the pond had divers small rocks, standing up here and there in it, which they therefore called Spot Pond. They went all about it upon the ice. From thence (towards the N. W. about half a mile,) they came to the top of a very high rock, beneath which, (towards the N.) lies a goodly plain, part open land, and part woody, from whence there is a fair prospect, but it being close and rainy, they could see but a small distance. This place they called Cheese Rock, because, when they went to eat somewhat, they had only cheese (the governour's man forgetting, for haste, to put up some bread)." From that day to this the pond has borne the name then given it. "Spott Pond," with its island, appears on a map of this part of New England, which appeared in William Wood's "New England's Prospect," in 1634. Many very interesting items and incidents of its history might be given did time permit. A thrilling tragedy, the murder of Jacob Gould, occurred Nov. 25th, 1819, in the Gould house, on the Stoneham road, a little way from the northern border of the Pond.

HISTORICAL ADDRESS.

L POND.

I have ever regretted the attempt to change the name of our pretty little sheet of water, "L Pond," to "Crystal Lake." It has been known as L Pond for two and a quarter centuries. As early as 1648, according to the Charlestown Records, " Bros. Robt. Hale and Thomas Lind were ordered to lay out young Thos. Coitmore's two lots by Ell Pond, he to send one to go with them to help them." Here it is spelt Ell. This was nineteen years after Charlestown was settled, and shows us that the territory of Melrose was very early exam- ined, and the pond named. In the inventory of the widow Martha Coitmore's estate, made in 1648, appears the item, " 130 acres land at ell pond;" and in laying out the road from Reading to Chelsea, in 1653, it is called the same. In the Malden records, under date of Apr. 27, 1699, Corp. John Green, Phineas Upham and Joseph Floyd were appointed a Committee to run "ye bounds and renew ye marks between proprietors land : and ye small peece of common land : adjoin- ing to L pond : which was left for convenenc for wattering." It has been called Eel Pond, but old deeds generally give it as a capital L, and its name was undoubtedly given it from its shape. Now here is this pond of ours, a gem in our centre, most appropriately and rightly named. It is a good old name, like those of others round about here, named, by the early settlers, Spot, Mystic, Horn, Spy, Long, Swain's, Smith's, and Humphrey's Ponds ; and, as Savage says, refer- ring to Spot Pond, "succeeding generations have reverenced the first nomination." Our Long and Swain's Ponds were named as early as the year 1660. We have seen when, by whom, and under what circumstances Spot Pond was named ; and who so rash as to wish for an instant to change that name? But somebody, nobody knows who, has given our L Pond a new name, -" Crystal Lake." Crystal Lake, forsooth ! and that when there is another pond within two or three miles, bearing the same name. Whoever wishes may call it "Crystal Lake," or " Cerulean Lake," or "Sylvan Lake," or a lake with any other mellifluous title ; but as for me, give me the old-fashioned, matter-of-fact, reasonable, well-founded name

TOWN OF MELROSE.

of "L Pond." In this pond both shad and alewives used to be taken in large numbers, giving food to the earlier inhabit- ants. Fish ladders were formerly made at the mill-dams below, to enable the fish to reach the pond ; and when the mill-owners came to make opposition to this method, it is said that the fish were carried to the pond in tubs of water. Wright says, that "much excitement has prevailed at differ- ent periods in the town, since 1695, concerning the passage of alewives from the tide-water up to Ell Pond, in the north part of the town. Much time and money have been expend- ed upon this subject, to little or no purpose." There was once, before the memory of any one now living, I think, a grist-mill near its outlet, which caused, at times, a great flowing back of water, up towards the Highlands. And there are those here to-day that remember very distinctly when all of the north side of the pond was covered with a most dense forest of very large cedar trees: they were not only very large, but very close together. And many of us remember the war of " high and low water," when one party wished the water up, and another down; and the downs prevailed, causing wells to dry, and walls to tumble, and consequent damages to be paid by the town.

MELROSE IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

The story of " Melrose in the Rebellion of 1861-5," has been told in a volume which is in many of your homes. As yet it is the only monument that has been raised by us to the memory of the "Boys in Blue" who went forth to fight the battles for Melrose, or who yielded their all, their lives, for the sacred cause. From the record as there given, I think no one can dispute the fact that her history is a noble one; that she did what she could; that she gave freely and liberally of her men and money. Up to the time that volume was issued, in 1868, twenty-three -two commissioned offi- cers and twenty-one enlisted men-of the two hundred and three citizens of our town who were in the ranks of our armies during the Rebellion, had lain down their lives for their country - for your homes and for mine. Since that time, a number of others who served upon our quotas have

HISTORICAL ADDRESS.

followed their comrades to the land of the hereafter. Nor would we forget, by any means, many others, who, after the war, made their home with us, and have since gone to their re- ward. But recently we placed a wreath upon all their graves ; upon that of the nurse as well as that of the soldier. Those wreaths will wither ; but the memory of their deeds and the service they rendered, never.

Some time ago, in an address delivered by one of our most distinguished orators, eulogistic remarks were made concerning the amount of money given, and the number of men raised for the war, by the town for which he was speaking, which led me to make an examination of the returns as given in the late Gen. Schouler's "History of Massachusetts during the Civil War,"- the volume devoted to the "Towns and Cities." From the comparison then made I am prepared to say, that, so far as this grand old county of Middlesex is concerned, no town or city did better, if as well, as Melrose. She contributed a larger amount according to her valuation, furnished more men according to her population, and had a larger surplus of men over and above her quotas, at the end of the war. Take one or two examples: we furnished over $38,000, 454 men, and a surplus of 73. Cambridge, with ten times the population and fifteen times the valuation of Melrose, furnished $450,000, 3600 men, and had a surplus of 158 ; Charlestown, with nine times the population and valu- ation, $168,000, 4300 men, and a surplus of 111; and our mother town, Malden, with more than double our valuation and population, furnished $60,000, 642 men, and had a surplus of 71 men. Our record is a good one; one that each and all of us, citizen or soldier, may cherish and not be afraid to show.

TEMPERANCE.

Not always, as now, has Melrose been a temperance town. Time was when liquor was sold freely in very many places. At elections, and on other public occasions, drunkenness was a crying evil ; but, thanks be to God ! times have changed, and our town now is a noted temperance one ; and although a license law is on our statutes, we have a temperance

TOWN OF MELROSE.

Board of Selectmen, consequently no licenses are granted. And we now have seven temperance organizations in our town, viz. : the "Independent Order of Good Templars," "Siloam Temple of Honor," "Siloam Social Temple of Honor," "Cadets of Temperance," "Highland Division of the Sons of Temperance," "Loyola Temperance Cadets," and the "Catholic Total Abstinence Society; " all of which are in a sound and flourishing condition.

THEN AND NOW.

In 1850, twenty-six years ago, when Melrose was incor- porated, our population was 1260; now it is a little over 4000; it was 3990 by the census of 1875. Then we had 125 dwelling houses ; now 946. (I take the figures of the last Assessors' Report.) Then our valuation, both real and per- sonal estate, was $483,446.00 ; now $4,452,828.10. Then we had one school-house, with three schools; now seven; and there are in these buildings fourteen schools. Then we had three churches; now eight. Then the old-fashioned " well- sweep" and pump; now "Spot Pond Water" running through sixteen miles of our twenty-eight miles of streets. We have the illuminating gas passing through all our prin- cipal streets, and in our public buildings. We have a fine Town House, which was dedicated June 17, 1874, and which, considering its cost, is hard to be excelled in beauty and convenience ; on it is a town clock, the gift of our public-spirited fellow-citizen, DANIEL RUSSELL, Esq. We have a well-selected and growing Public Library, founded in 1871, now containing three thousand volumes, the circu- lation of which is very large and constantly increasing ; a Savings Bank, in which all the inhabitants may deposit their surplus earnings. Of course we have the best list of town officers that it is possible to have, for do we not elect them ourselves ? We have an excellent Fire Department, well organized. The Melrose Orchestra, whose sweet strains we have often enjoyed, we now enjoy; and may it long continue to enliven us with its melodies. The Melrose Mu- sical Association, seven Temperance organizations, a lodge of Odd Fellows, and I don't know how many odd women !

HISTORICAL ADDRESS.

A Masonic body, with any quantity of degrees, chapters and encampments, with a most excellent hall ; a Grand Army Post for the " Boys that were in Blue ;" Battery C and its Armory Hall ; a Lyceum, with its yearly course of lectures and concerts. For literary clubs, we have the " Franklin Fraternity" and the "Round-about Club;" and then we have a Boat Club, Ball Clubs, &c .; also a live local paper with a live local editor. In short, I would be pleased to have you mention anything we have not in this town of ours.

We are but seven miles from Boston, with fine railroad facili- ties, having three depots, Wyoming, Centre, and the High- lands ; and these travelling facilities to be soon increased, if the rumors concerning " narrow-gauge," "Upham Hill," "Swain's Pond," etc., ever become realities. And if there is one thing more than another characteristic of our people, and which prophecies well for our future steady and healthy growth, I think it may be the homogeneousness of our citizens. We do not have, as many towns do, distinctive classes. The interests of all are intertwined. As such is now the case, and we do not have these conflicting elements, let us do all we can to keep this town as it is; and with all these institutions, facil- ities and advantages, I predict for Melrose a gradual but sure growth. With these, nothing can stay our progress ; and that nothing may, is the hearty wish of him who addresses you to-day.

We have one of the most prettily situated towns in all New England, to say the least ; and to judge of this I do not mean for you to take a hasty drive through the town, only, even if you do go through Wyoming Avenue, Ravine Road, Lake Avenue, the Highlands, or other of our fair parts ; but go also to the summit of " Mount Zion " in the east, " Boston Rock " in the south, "Barrett's Mount" in the centre, or " Vinton Hill" or "West Rock " in the north, and tell me if the views are not charming ; especially from this last hill, from whence an extensive range of vision is had, - Mount Wachuset, mountains in New Hampshire, the ocean, and, at your feet, our own Melrose, in peace and beauty, up and down our valley, with its public buildings plainly seen, its

TOWN OF MELROSE.

church spires pointing heavenward, and placid little L Pond in the centre. You that have been there know the truth whereof I speak; and you that have not, go, and then tell me if I speak too enthusiastically.

Fellow citizens: all of these things are ours to enjoy. Such being the case, let us all, each and every one, do what we may to further the interest of this good town of Melrose ; that she may increase in wisdom and wealth; that she may ever foster religion, temperance, morality and education ; that she may deserve God's blessing ; that she may continue, as she now is, a prosperous, happy community ; and so growing, and we so caring for all right and true interests, that he who, at the next Centennial, July 4, 1976, may perform the task I am now closing, may have nothing but good to say of Melrose! In the words of Dickens' Tiny Tim, "GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!"

NOTE. No one realizes better than myself, that there are matters con- cerning our town left unsaid in the foregoing Address, which should have been mentioned; but it was absolutely impossible for the writer, involved as he was with other duties, to do more than he did in the three weeks which elapsed between the time of the request and the occasion. Perhaps, hereafter, this text may be enlarged into a "History of Melrose."

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City of Melrose annual report 1862-1879, Part 49

Author: Melrose (Mass.) Publication date: 1862 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Melrose (Mass.)
Publication date: 1862
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1032