USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > Dedham tercentenary 1636-1936 > Part 12
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CITIZENS. Aye-(Wild applause) MODERATOR. It becomes our duty next to appoint delegates to the Provincial Congress. Nominations are now in order.
IST CITIZEN. I nominate Abner Ellis.
2ND CITIZEN. I nominate Rev. Samuel Dexter.
3RD CITIZEN. I move the nominations be closed and these two be voted delegates by acclamation.
You have heard the motion. What will you do with it? Those in favor make it known by saying aye.
CITIZENS. Aye-
LIEUT. WOODWARD. It will be necessary to defend these resolutions which we have just heard. I move, Mr. Moderator, that the town of Dedham raise a detached company of minute men to be at command in a moment's notice, when the summons comes to defend our liberties.
CITIZENS. Aye, Aye, --
SCENE 6.
Village Green, April 19, 1775, 9 a. m. "Lexington Rider" on foaming steed shouts the new's of the British attack. Citizens gather at the call.
JOSEPH GUILD. What news is this?
RIDER. (reining borse ) The red coats are on the march-by land-toward Lex- ington. All minute men are called. Proceed to Cambridge.
GUILD. Go men, to every door. Assemble the minute men here.
(The cry is carried from door to door, and soon 100 men are on the village green.)
GUILD. The orders are for Cambridge. Keep your powder dry. Fall in! (He leads the way and the company marches out.)
SCENE 7.
Through a woods road. The Dedham company of 100 minute men meet a citizen who shouts-
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CITIZEN. What! Capt. Guild? Where be ye goin'?
GUILD. To Cambridge, John, have ye not heard the call of the Lexington Rider? CITIZEN. I heard the bellowing of an ox,-'tis a false alarm, I tell ye. There is no battle. Why take these men from their fields?
GUILD. Your alarm is false !- Here, stop that bray. (Guild gags the citizen.) Stephen, lead this man home and guard him. See that his foul report goes no further.
SCENES 8 AND 9.
Residence of Samuel Dexter. Arrival of George Washington, April 4, 1776
SCENES 10 AND 11.
Village Green.
Couriers bear the news of the surrender of Yorktown, 1781. The Stars and Stripes are seen here for the first time.
The French army arrives and strikes camp on its return from Yorktown in 1782.
ACT V.
1789-1836, THE BUILDERS.
Historical Notes-Once more a half century of peace and industry. The inhabi- tants of Dedham are said to have been in sympathy with Shays' Rebellion in 1786. Also in the War of 1812 the Dedham Light Infantry, with Abner Guild as captain, served for some months in South Boston. Willard Gay in West Dedham packed large quanti- ties of beef and pork which were taken to New York and Philadelphia by ox-team, with James Petter, Sam French and Colburn Ellis as drivers. There is nothing else of military note.
The first important event of this period is the act of the General Court, March 26, 1793, incorporating the County of Norfolk, including all the towns of Suffolk, except Boston and Chelsea, and making Dedham the shire town.
Fisher Ames was at the time our representative in the National Congress. Elected in 1788, he served during the whole of Washington's administration. He was a Fed- eralist of the school of Hamilton and Jay. In 1793 he returned to Dedham to live, and in 1795 he built a house on the corner of Ames and High streets, just easterly of the Woodward Tavern, where he was born, on the easterly part of the site now occupied by the Registry of Deeds. The house, remodelled, is now owned by Hon. Frederick J. Stimson, and is beautifully placed back of the Registry where it was moved in its present condition many years ago.
In 1795 the wooden court house and jail were finished.
1796-The first newspaper, Columbian-Minerva, was published.
1798-Edward Dowse, a retired business man of Boston, bought lands on High street and built the house, about 1802, later known as the Quincy House.
1800-A new brick schoolhouse was built near the meetinghouse in the place of its predecessor, on the site of the schoolhouse built in 1649.
1801 --- Fire engine purchased by subscription and presented to the town. Twelve men were appointed to take charge of it.
1802-A second fire engine was bought, and 18 men were delegated to care for it. 1802 -- Building of Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike, from Boston toward Providence as far as Dedham Village. Fisher Ames, president.
1803-Rev. Joshua Bates was installed as minister of the First Church and Parish in Dedham. He was the grandfather of Katharine Lee Bates, author of "America the Beautiful."
1804-Fisher Ames chosen President of Harvard University, but declined the honor. (He died in 1808.)
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1807-The Norfolk Cotton Manufactory was organized by Samuel Lowder, Jona- than Avery, Ruben Guild, Calvin Guild, Pliny Bingham, Wm. Howe and others.
1814-The Dedham Bank was formed. Willard Gay, President; Jabez Chickering, Cashier.
1818-Rev. Joshua Bates resigned as minister of the First Church and Parish to accept presidency of Middlebury College. Rev. Alvan Lamson was called by the Parish to follow Dr. Bates as minister.
The church did not concur in the call, and a division arose between Church and Parish as to which body should call the minister. This led to the withdrawal of a number of the Church members with two Deacons and the property which they held in trust. The remaining Church members supported the call of the Parish. Then followed the famous trial to regain the property, and the Court's decision declaring the remaining Church and Deacons to be the legal owners. This court decision is said by the historian, Erastus Worthington, to be the most significant single event in the history of Dedham.
Those who withdrew from the Church (1818) formed "The New Meetinghouse Society," now known as the Allin Congregational Church. They worshipped in the remodelled parsonage in the meantime, and in 1820 called Rev. Ebenezer Burgess to be their minister. Mr. Lamson was ordained and installed as minister of the First Church and Parish in Dedham in 1818, and served until 1860.
The Congregational building was erected in 1821, its southern line being on that of the old parsonage. This, with the history of the other churches of Dedham, will be presented in a separate scenario.
1819-George Bird became owner of the paper mills.
1823-Mr. Horace Mann came to Dedham, was soon elected to the school com- mittee, then to the board of selectmen, and in 1827 to the Legislature. He was born in Franklin, Mass., and as a member of the Dedham school committee arrived at some of the fundamental ideas regarding education which were later put into effect through- out the entire country.
1824-The Marquis de Lafayette paused for one hour, on August 23, from 10:30 to 11:30 p. m., on his way to Boston as the Nation's guest. School children had waited since three in the afternoon to see him, and there is a tradition that he planted a willow on the riverbank near the highway as he passed.
1825-The corner stone of the present court house was laid. The building was dedicated in 1827.
1825-Norfolk Mutual Fire Insurance Company was formed with John Endicott as President and Erastus Worthington, Vice President.
1829-A new Town House was built on Bullard Street serving in place of the Meetinghouse which had been the Town meeting house since 1638.
1831-Inspired by Rev. Alvan Lamson, Jonathan Holmes Cobb, a young attorney, interested some lending citizens in founding the Dedham Institute for Savings. Rev. Ebenezer Burgess was the first President and Mr. Cobb the first Treasurer, with the banking room in the easterly end of his own house on Norfolk street.
1833-Friday, June 21, General Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, passed through Dedham on his way to Boston, in a barouch and four, accompanied by Vice President Martin Van Buren; Governor Cass, Secretary of War; Governor Wood- bury, Secretary of the Navy; Governor Marcy of New York; General Williams of Mississippi and others. The party arrived at about twelve, announced by a salute of Walpole artillery (24 guns).
Citizens assembled at southern entrance to the village, where an address was de- livered by Hon. James Richardson. Party was then conveyed to Church Green where it was saluted by Colonel Easton's regiment, thence to Norfolk Hotel for dinner. Presi- dent appeared in the portico and made a short address. Left at one.
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1836-Dedham celebrated its second eentennial. Bells were rung at sunrise and salute of 100 guns fired. At 10:30 a procession was formed under the eseort of the Dedham Light Infantry, commanded by Capt. William Pedrick, with the Boston Brass Band, to the First Parish Church, where His Excellency, Edward Everett, the Governor of Massachusetts, attended services. The address was by Samuel F. Haven of Worcester, great grandson of Rev. Samuel Dexter and grandson of Rev. Jason, both ministers of the Dedham Church. Governor Everett was a descendant of Richard Everard, one of the first settlers of Dedham.
SCENE 1
Time About 1800
The sunken garden back of Haven House. Samuel Haven poking about his shrubs. Fisher Ames, Samuel and Edward Dowse in conversation. Boys playing about.
AMES. Of course, Dedham is a country town; all the better. Life is rieher in these villages. DOWSE. Glad to hear you say that, Ames. My wife and I came out here a few years ago and liked it so well that we are building.
HAVEN. One thing; the roads are so rough that onee a person arrives here he never wants to endure the torture of getting out.
AMES. We do need roads. I've been talking it up among the men along the line and we propose to organize a company to build a turnpike from Boston to Providence.
DOWSE. Fire protection is what this town needs more than anything else. I say we ought to take up a subseription and present the town an up-to-date fire engine.
JONATHAN AVERY. (entering) When it comes to improvements I wish I could interest you gentlemen in our new industries. We ought to make better use of our water power. Cotton is the big thing now. It grows like weeds down south, but this is the place to make it into eloth,-right here in Dedham. I'd like to see some of these old mills made over.
AMES. Worth doing, Avery. Why don't you organize a company.
AVERY. I think I will.
AMES. But what worries me more is the negleet of our schooling. Here we have a new brick schoolhouse right on the spot where the first free publie sehool in America, supported by general taxation, was built, and our children get little use of it. I tell you this hap-hazard way of keeping sehool whenever the teachers feel like it is a great waste. The town should vote to have school a certain number of months each year.
HAVEN. And see to it that every child attends.
WILLARD GAY. (sauntering in) Good morning, gentlemen,-I see you have an illustrious crew of workers in your garden this morning.
HAVEN. I'm cultivatin' roses; they are cultivatin' faney notions for the good of the town. Ames wants a turnpike, Avery wants to built a cotton mill,-what next?
GAY. If you ask me, I'd say a bank. There is enough business in this town to make it go, and the bank would help business.
AMES. I believe it's coming.
JABEZ CHICKERING. You know what I think would do this town more good than anything else? A newspaper. The people who live here would think a lot more of their town if they knew more about it, and there is nothing to equal the columns of a local newspaper for that.
AMES. Why don't you see Theron Metcalf, Jabez? He is a likely fellow,-good at writing. You might set him up as editor.
HAVEN. Ames, all joking aside, you have seen a lot of the world, and I notice that you always come back to Dedham with some new idea of improvin' the place. I've watched you a long time now, and it's my opinion that if your ideas were carried out Dedham would be the finest town in the country.
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AMES. It's that already, Haven. But to keep ahead it must always grow. Just as your roses and trees must keep growing,-so with the town.
SCENE 2
TEAMSTER. (driving by) I hear ye was goin' to build a turnpike, Senator Ames; suppose I could get a job?
SCENE 3 Business Office (1807)
Samuel Lowder, Jonathan Avery, Reuben Guild, Calvin Guild, Pliny Bingham and Wm. Howe,-organizing the Norfolk Cotton Mfg. Co.
SCENE 4
Business Office (1814)
Willard Gay, Jabez Chickering and others forming the Dedham Bank.
SCENES 5 AND 6 (Aug. 23, 1824) Alden's Tavern, 10:30 p. m. Visit of Lafayette.
SCENE 7
(1827) and others.
Selectmen's room. Horace Mann, John Endicott, Erastus Worthington
ENDICOTT. We have come to congratulate you, Mr. Mann, on your election to the Great and General Court. It is a distinction to any man, to hold the office, but it is a distinction to our town to have you fill it.
WORTHINGTON. . You have done so much for our schools here in Dedham that we hope you can carry your ideas into the legislature.
MANN. I remember with pride' that the town of Dedham was the first to vote for a free school, open to all its citizens, and supported by public taxation. You were the first to give that concrete expression to the desire which was rapidly growing in every town of that day. You gave that ideal to the whole colony,-and it has been taken up by the nation. Today it is the corner stone of our great republic.
WORTHINGTON. But it is far from perfect as we have it today,-or as it was before you served on our school committee.
MANN. There is, indeed, much to be done. You know my ideals,-that all our schools, throughout the country, should be brought up to standard. We ought to have a board of education in every commonwealth. There should be an organized sys- tem of common school education which should become at once thorough and universal.
ENDICOTT. If you can carry it through the Massachusetts Legislature every state in the Union will follow suit.
MANN. I dare to hope so.
LAMSON. (entering) Gentlemen, are you to witness the dedication of our new stone court house. It is the finest in the Commonwealth.
SCENE 8
After the Dedication, group of citizens discovered in conversation.
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SAMUEL HAVEN. I remember when I was much younger, that one fine morning in June, Edward Dowse, Fisher Ames, and a few others of their kind fell to talking about the future of Dedham. Fisher Ames was just about to build his turnpike.
WORTHINGTON. It would have done his soul good to see the dedication of this Court House.
MANN. They tell me he was much interested in education.
ENDICOTT. Harvard College tried to get him for President, but his health was poor, and he declined it.
MANN. It means much to a town to have men of vision thinking always of its future.
HAVEN. And I remember on that June morning in my father's garden each of the men told what he would like to see happen in this town,-turnpike, cotton mills. newspaper; but none of them thought of a railroad.
COBB. Nor a saving's bank. I will take the lead, and I believe we can start a savings bank here ;- do the town as much good as -- DR. BURGESS. As my sermons?
ALVAN LAMSON. Saving grace?
BURGESS. Lamson, if a savings bank is started you shall have the first account in it.
SCENE 9
Interior of the Dedham Institution for Savings. Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, President; Jonathan H. Cobb, Treasurer; Rev. Alvan Lamson making a deposit. 1831)
ACT VI . THE UNION -- 1836-1886
Historical Notes-The events of this period culminate in the Civil War. Items of local history are for the most part overshadowed by the response of Dedham citizens to the call of the Union.
Sept. 20, 1848-Abraham Lincoln visited Dedham on his way to Cambridge. He was speaking in behalf of Taylor and Fillmore, Whig candidates for the Presidency. There were two conventions in Dedham that day. The Eighth District Convention at which Horace Mann was renominated to Congress, and the Norfolk Co. Whig Con- vention at which Lincoln spoke. Hon. James Richardson was elected President of the Whig Convention at its meeting in the Norfolk Hotel.
Lincoln arrived by train, 3:30 p. m. and was escorted on foot by the "Dorchester Band of Musicians," leading a procession of about 100 citizens under the leadership of the Taylor Club. The Roxbury Gazette says Mr. Lincoln was accompanied on the cars by fifty-one persons, among them Hon. George H. Monroe, who escorted Mr. Lincoln from the Tremont House in Boston. The procession went first to "one of the finest private houses in Dedham, -- " (undoubtedly the Haven House,-now the Com- munity House) and later to Temperance Hall where Mr. Lincoln delivered the first part of his address. He was interrupted by the bell of the Boston train and excused himself on the grounds that he must make an address that evening in Cambridge. He was escorted to the station by about 50 men who afterward returned to the hall. He was in a black alpaca coat and turned up his sleeves, also the cuffs of his shirt, then removed his necktie while speaking.
Officers of the Dedham Whig Club included: President Hon. James Richardson; Vice Presidents, Ezra W. Taft; Alvan Fisher; John Gardner; Secretaries, Enos Ford, George H. Monroe; Treasurer, Abiather Richards; Directors, Samuel C. Mann, Stephen Bates, Merrill D. Ellis, John King, George Winslow, William Smith, Oliver Capen, Carmi Richmond, Charles Ellis, Eben S. Fisher.
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1849. The Norfolk Co. Railroad to Blackstone was opened.
1851. Sept. 15, First High School was opened in Masonic Hall with Charles J. Capen first Master. (Served one year and was followed by Carlos Slafter.)
1855. First High School building erected. (Dedicated Dec. 10.)
1861. Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers.
April 23. Ladies of Dedham sent 60 flannel shirts to the Governor for the soldiers. May 6. Town meeting called and voted "to stand by the volunteers and protect their families during the war."
First company of volunteers formed.
Aug. Dedham volunteers mustered into service of the United States as Co. F., Eighteenth Regiment, Mass. Volunteer infantry. Regiment commanded by Col. James Barnes. All commissioned officers and fifty-six men of this company belonged in Ded- ham. Henry Onion, Capt., Chas. W. Carroll, Ist Lieut., Fisher A. Baker, 2nd Lieut. Nine Dedham men were in Co. H of the same regiment.
Aug. 26. Volunteers left for the front.
Oct. 28. Capt. Onion resigned his commission. Chas. W. Carroll was com- missioned captain.
SCENES 1 AND 2
Court Street, Norfolk Hotel and Temperance Hall
(Sept. 20, 1848. A hot day).
Delegates are in convention. Hon. John Richardson elected President. Hon. Horace Mann is renominated to Congress -- (by the eighth District Convention ).
4:30 p. m. Abraham Lincoln, M.C. from Ill., (black alpaca coat), is escorted on foot through the streets by Hon. George H. Monroe, brass band, and about 50 citizens. The procession is to Haven House, where Mr. Lincoln is received by host. Mr. Lin- coln walks over to Temperance Hall, makes an address, but on hearing the bell on the Boston bound train, breaks off his address abruptly and rushes to the train-because he has to speak in Cambridge that evening.
CIVIL WAR PERIOD
SCENE 3 Dedham Common, (Aug. 1861)
Lieuts. Charles W. Carroll and Fisher A. Baker, in command of a company of men, take leave and march-to the front. (Co. F. 18th Reg. M.V.L.)
SCENE 4 Dedham Church Service, (Aug. 31, 1862)
Courier appears with message. Rev. Benjamin H. Bailey reads to the congrega- tion.
A desperate battle was fought at Bull Run. Many of our gallant boys who left just a year ago have been severely wounded, some, we fear have given up their lives to save the Union. We must meet this tragic news with the same courage that fires the breasts of the boys who are still at the front de- fending us.
Our noble President calls for more volunteers-and for medical supplies-lint, bandages, and whatever your hearts prompt you to send.
SELECTMAN. May I rise to second all that the Rev. Mr. Bailey has said, and to re- mind you that this is the third call for volunteers. I wish you could have been in the town house when we were recruiting for the second call. Old Jordan, whose boy was
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killed in action at the battle of Gaines' Mill, was the first to volunteer. There were 56 men in Co. F. of the 18th who left us a year ago. Charles W. Carroll is now the captain, in place of Capt. Onion who resigned. 69 more left us only ten days ago in Co. I. of the 35th. Now this is the third call and word has just come to me that our President wants 122 more men from Dedham.
REV. MR. BAILEY. You have heard the appeal. We shall meet here this afternoon in the Parish House to prepare bandages. May we close with a benediction. (Congrega- tion rises). May the peace of God which passeth all understanding be with you and abide.
SCENE S
The Dedication of Memorial Hall, (Sept. 29, 1869)
Address by Erastus Worthington.
Keys delivered by Waldo Colburn to Ezra W. Taft, chairman of the selectmen.
Chairman Taft unveils Alvan Fisher's copy of the Stuart equestrian portrait of George Washington.
ACT VII
Historical Notes: The period from 1886 to 1936 witnessed the Spanish War of '98 and the World War from April 16, 1917 to November 11, 1918. Dedham did her share in these as in all previous national emergencies. Our scenario takes account of the World War memorial dedication service which was held May 17, 1931. Music was provided by the Weymouth Post Band and the Dedham High School Glee Club. Rev. Francis Lee Whittemore made the invocation. Daniel R. Beckford, Jr., chairman of the Memorial Committee presided. Commander Albert Werner of the American Legion unveiled the monument, which was presented by Mr. Beckford in behalf of the committee to Mr. Anson H. Smith, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Com- mander John F. Dervan of the Veterans of Foreign Wars placed a wreath of Laurel at the base of the monument. An address was delivered by the Hon. Francis J. Good, past Department Commander of the American Legion. Rev. George P. O'Conor pronounced the benediction, the salute was fired, taps sounded, and the ceremony closed with the Star Spangled Banner by the audience.
The Memorial Committee included Daniel R. Beckford, Jr., John J. Shea, Julius HH. Tuttle, Charles E. Mills, Robert H. Luke, and James F. McGowan.
The social life of the pre-war period attained the distinction of a date name, "The Gay Nineties."
Our Scenario presents only two scenes for Act VII.
SCENE 1
The Grand Ball Room of Alden Tavern.
Period of "The Gay Nineties." Citizens of Dedham in the Grand March, plain quadrille, waltz, schottische, Virginia Reel, and Polka.
SCENE 2
American Legion grounds, May 17, 1931.
Members of Dedham Post 18, American Legion and U. S. S. Jacob Jones Post No. 2017 Veterans of the Foreign Wars, and auxiliary bodies meet to didicate the World War Memorial.
EPILOGUE DEDHAM TODAY
Historical Data: The opening of the year 1936 was notable for the floods, which in March attained a record height. On May 17 the Norfolk County Posts of the American Legion held their memorial service at Stone Park in Dedham. Rev. Lyman V. Rutledge made the address. The following Sunday the various military organiza- tions of Dedham escorted Commander John E. Bronson, veteran of the Civil War, to the First Church Memorial Day services.
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The Fairbanks Family held its annual reunion at the old homestead August 19. Members of the great family gathered from all quarters to form their "Circle of Friendship" around "the oldest frame house now standing in America."
SCENE 1
Charles River basin, showing floods of March, 1936.
SCENE 2
Stone Park, Sunday, May 17, 1936. American Legion Posts of Norfolk County assemble for service of commemoration.
SCENE 3
First Church, Sunday, May 24. Military bodies of Dedham escort Commander John E. Bronson to annual Memorial Day service.
SCENE 4
The "Old Fairbanks House," August 19. Reunion of the Fairbanks Family.
SCENE S
FINALE
NOTE-Pictures of the Tercentenary Parade were made on Sept. 19, and are now included as part of the Tercentenary Film.
VILLAGE LIFE IN A PIONEER VILLAGE
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