USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Dictionary of Worcester (Massachusetts) and its vicinity, 1893 > Part 17
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"in ye center of ye south half of ye Town." Action, however, appears to have been de- ferred until 1739, when it was voted "that ye school house be built or set up between ye court house and the Bridg below ye fulling mill." This spot was in the present Lincoln square, about where the iron railing of Court Hill ends. It was in this building that John Adams, afterwards famous as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and vice-presi- dent and president of the United States taught future "Colossus" of the Revolution penned the following in his journal : "But I have no books, no time, no funds. I must therefore be contented to live. and die an ignorant, obscure fellow !"
The evening schools are maintained yearly from November I to March I. The last re- port of the supervisor for the term ending It is the intention to erect a monument on the site of this first school house. March 1, 1892, shows an average attendance of 471 at a cost to the city of $7,300. "The In 1728 Benjamin Flagg was employed as schoolmaster. He was succeeded by Richard Rogers, who continued to instruct the youth of the town for eight years. The town was early divided into quarters or squadrons, synonymous to the modern school districts, and in 1740 £100 was granted for the support large immigration of foreign workmen of dif- ferent nationalities and language, who with their families are becoming citizens, creates a greater need for this kind of schools than would exist with a homogeneous population. But beyond this need, these schools are highly useful for those boys and girls who are of schools, one-half to be appropriated for the obliged to leave school at an early age in centre and the other half divided among the order to contribute to the family support by quarters, "provided the body of the town their work. There are many cases of a keep a grammar school the whole year, and save the town "from presentment, and the er," and sometimes a husband and wife. skirts do in the whole have twelve months' schooling of a writing master." father and daughter, or son, attending togeth- "The Legislature of 1888 passed an act com- pelling the attendance of all minors who are
In 1766 the representative to the General unable to read and write in English." Of Court was instructed to endeavor that the law foreign nationalities, the Swedes supplied the requiring a Latin Grammar school be repealed, largest number of pupils in the evening and that not more than one such school be schools-221; Canadians, 173; Hebrews, 88; Armenians, 86; Irish, 79. Of the 245 born in the United States more or less were of foreign blood.
kept in a county." . After the Revolution, in 1785 to 1788, the town was presented by the grand jury for the neglect of its grammar school, and when it was maintained, it ap- pears to have traveled around the centre, in came stationary.
On the 4th of April, 1726, the selectmen of Worcester covenanted and agreed "with Mr. the circle of districts, until 1808, when it be- Jonas Rice to be ye Schoole master for sd Town of Worcester and teach such children In 1800 school houses were built in the & youth as any of ye Inhabitants shall send to several districts under the direction of a com- him to read and write as ye law directs." mittee, one in each quarter, as follows: In Tatnuck and Jones' quarter at an expense of $270 each; in Burbank's and Baird's quarters This is the first record of the employment of a schoolmaster in Worcester. In 1731 it was "voted that a suitable number of Schoole and at Fiske's corner and Burncoat Plain, at Dames, not exceeding five, be provided by ye $247 each; in Gates' quarter at $225; and in Thaxter's quarter at $202. Selectmen at ye charge of ye Town for ye teaching of small Childrin to read." In 1730 The school tax at different periods is given
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below: 1727, £16 Ios .; 1730, {25; 1740, improvement in school work and management, £100; 1750, 646 IOS .; 1760, 675; 1770, £76 16s .; 1780, £3,000 in Continental mon- ey. In 1835, the amount raised for schools by tax was $5,500.
The names of some of the early school- masters were James Wyman, 1732; Samuel Boutelle, Nathaniel Williams, 1733; Samuel Marsh, 1738; James Durant, 1739; James Varney, 1744; Henry Gardner, 1752; John Young, 1757; William Crawford, 1758; Mi- cah Lawrence, 1760. Eunice Day was the schoolma'am of her time, officiating for some fifty years in that capacity. She died in 1828.
In later years several distinguished names appear on the roll of Worcester teachers, among them Thaddeus M. Harris, Jacob Bigelow, Jonathan Going, Calvin Park and others.
In the early years of the present century public instruction seems to have been neglect- ed, and no regular order or system was ob- served in the maintenance of schools, and particularly in Worcester they fell below the common standard. Several gentlemen inter- ested themselves to bring about a change for the better, foremost among them Hon. Joseph Allen, Rev. Aaron Bancroft, Jonathan Going, Samuel M. Burnside (author of the school law of 1827), Levi Lincoln, Otis Corbett and Samuel Jennison. The recommendations urged by them were adopted, and in 1823 the first Board of Overseers of the Centre District was elected. In 1824 authority was obtained from the Legislature to bring the steady sup- port of taxation to maintain the schools. Ten permanent schools were arranged. in regular gradation and kept through the year. Of the lowest grade, the infant schools were first opened in 1830. Next higher were the North and South Primary schools, the Boys' English schools and the Female School. Highest was the Female high school and the Latin grammar school. An African school for children of color was established in 1828. This was substantially the system that re- mained for the next twenty years. See the article on the High School. Many of the above facts are from Lincoln's History.
and several pamphlets have been printed to elucidate methods of teaching. The super- intendent of schools and the principals of the high and normal schools are honorary members of the club.
School Superintendents .- The ordinance authorizing the School Board to appoint a superintendent of public schools passed the City Council in November, 1856. Previous to this time the School Board had the direct supervision of the schools through its individ- ual members, who were paid one dollar for each visit made; and it was thought that the appointment of a superintendent at a stated salary would save money to the city. In December, 1856, Rev. George Bushnell, who had been pastor of the Salem Street Congre- gational Church, was elected superintendent, and entered upon his duties at the beginning of 1857. Contrary to the general expectation the expenses of the schools that year were considerably increased, and some opposition to the continuance of the office of superin- tendent (in which the mayor, Isaac Davis, joined) was manifested in the committee, and in consequence Mr. Bushnell resigned in May, 1858. After a year, during which the Board again had the direct charge of the schools, Rev. John Davis Edmands Jones, formerly pastor of the First Baptist Church, was elected superintendent, and held the office from May, 1859, to some time in 1865. Samuel V. Stone was acting superintendent for a few months until the election of P. Bernard Chenoweth, who served from 1865 to 1868. He was succeeded by Albert Pres- cott Marble, who has continued in office to the present time. Previous to his service as superintendent Mr. Marble was principal of the Worcester Academy, and master of the Dix street school. In his present position he has gained an extended reputation, and re- ceived high honors. In 1881 the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred on him by Colby University, and in 1888 he was elected president of the National Educational Association. Dr. Marble is the author of various pamphlets, lectures and magazine ar- ticles, mostly on educational topics.
Schoolmasters' Club (The) .- A club composed of the grammar school masters of Scotch .- According to a competent au- the city and Mr. Charles F. Adams, a teacher thority there were in Worcester in 1889 from at the Normal School. Joseph Jackson is five to six hundred natives of Scotland. The president. The purpose of the club is mutual number at present cannot be definitely ascer-
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tained, but the Scotch have undoubtedly in- as Walter Ward of Shrewsbury, a son of Gen. creased as other nationalities. The Sons of Artemas Ward, was sheriff from 1805 to 1824. Scotia is an active social organization which Calvin Willard held the office twenty years to meets at St. George's Hall.
Second Advent Church .- See Adventists.
Secret Societies. - See under the titles Masonic Societies ; Odd Fellows ; Knights of Lincoln served from 1844 to 1851. He was Pythias ; and others in the DICTIONARY.
Senatorial Districts (State) .- There are forty senatorial districts in the Common- wealth. The First Worcester District com- prises Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the city of Worcester. The Fourth Worcester District, Wards 2 and 3 of the city of Worcester, the city of Fitchburg, and the towns of Holden, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Princeton, Sterling, West Boylston and Westminster.
Senators (United States) from Wor- cester .- John Davis was elected a United States senator in 1835 and served till 1841; was reelected in 1845, and retired in 1853. George F. Hoar, elected in 1877, is now serving his third term. Levi Lincoln, governor from 1825 to 1834, would have been chosen a senator in 1827 had he not positively de- clined in favor of Daniel Webster, which action opened to the latter the opportunity to make his famous anti-nullification speech in reply to Hayne.
Sheriffs .- Following is a list of the sheriffs of Worcester county, from its incorporation in 1731 to the present time :
Daniel Gookin was the first sheriff, and prised the following: Mill Brook, Grove died in office in June, 1743. He was a street to Green street, 9420 in its circuitous grandson of the famous General Gookin. path, or 8,437 feet in a more direct line. Benjamin Flagg held the office from 1743 to This it was calculated would drain 1, 552 175I, and was succeeded by John Chandler, acres in the city; and its water-shed north of who served until 1762. Gardner Chandler Grove street was computed at 5,024 acres. Lincoln Brook, 13,556 in length, rising north of Highland street, and flowing generally south to New Worcester. This is the natural outlet for the sewerage in the western part of the city. Austin Street Brook, about 2,818 was the incumbent until the Revolution began in 1775. Simeon Dwight of Western was sheriff for three years till 1778, and was fol- lowed by William Greenleaf, who in 1788 was impeached and removed for misconduct and maladministration, principally financial feet in length, rising in Clinton street, and delinquencies. His trial was held in Faneuil flowing southeast to Mill Brook below Fox's Hall, Boston. The next in order was John Mills. Hermitage Brook, 5,090 feet in length, Sprague of Lancaster, to 1792. Dwight rising in the northerly part of the city, and flowing parallel with Hanover street to Laurel street, with a water-shed of 400 acres. Pied- Foster of Brookfield, who was afterwards member of Congress and United States sena- tor, served one year, and was succeeded by mont Brook, 4,677 feet in length, rising near Pleasant street, between Piedmont and Sever
William Caldwell of Rutland. The latter resigned in 1805 and died soon after. Thom- streets, and flowing to Mill Brook, below
1844, and resigned, it is said, rather than hang Thomas Barrett, his experience in ex- ecuting the law on Horace Carter in 1825 having unpleasantly affected him. John W.
noted for his strict construction of the law. Col. James Estabrook was the next incum- bent, and was succeeded in 1854 by George W. Richardson. By change of the law, the sheriff after this date was chosen by popular vote, and John S. C. Knowlton was elected in 1856, and continued in office from 1857 until his death in 1871. Augustus B. R. Sprague was Mr. Knowlton's successor, and served to January, 1891. Samuel D. Nye was in office the next two years, and was succeeded by Robert H. Chamberlain in Jan- uary, 1893.
Sewerage .- There were in Worcester at the beginning of 1892 80.94 miles of sewers, which had cost $2,782,296.63. The con- struction of the present system of sewerage was begun in 1867, under powers given by a special act of the Legislature passed in March, 1867, and accepted by vote of the citizens April 16 of the same year. Under this act the city acquired the right to appro- priate certain water courses recommended in a report of a special committee appointed to consider the matter, made to the City Council in Oct., 1866. These "main channels" com-
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Fox's Mills. Pine Meadow Brook, 4,356 appropriated the same year $1,600 towards feet in length, rising near Shrewsbury street, improving Main street, in paving gutters, etc. and entering Mill Brook near Water street. The sidewalks of Worcester are generally The walling of Mill Brook, as the main sewer, of brick, though concrete is used to some was commenced at Green street in May, 1867, extent. On Main and Front streets granite slabs have been placed in front of a few of the modern built blocks, and the space under and was substantially completed to Lincoln square in 1870,-2,238 feet opened and 3,669 feet arched. The first sewers were laid in the the sidewalk excavated and utilized for storing streets in August, 1867. The expense of the coal, etc.
The Worcester city ordinances require that
main sewer was included in the general tax, and the estates of abutters were assessed to snow which ceases to fall before 6 A. M. shall pay for the street sewers, a method that be removed before noon of the same day; and caused much dissatisfaction and grumbling. At first the estates were assessed according to
if it ceases to fall before 4 P. M. it shall be removed within four hours. Neglect subjects the number of square feet, but now the as- the owner or occupant to arrest and fine. sessment is for lineal feet of sewer. The system of sewers has been extended from Single Tax League .- The doctrines of Henry George have received some considera- tion in Worcester, and a Single Tax League has been organized. Thomas J. Hastings, treasurer of the Cooperative Banks, was one of the prime movers, and will undoubtedly give information to inquirers. year to year, over five miles being laid in 1888. Some twelve years ago the pollution of the stream below Quinsigamond Village by the sewage of the city began to cause com- plaint in Millbury and other places on the Blackstone river, and after several years' agitation of the subject, the Legislature in Sinking Fund .- Established by an ordi- nance passed July 24, 1871. The purpose of this fund is to provide for the payment of the city debt; $30,000 is appropriated annually from balances in the treasury, money received from sales of real estate belonging to the city and certain other monies to be applied towards the reduction of the city debt. Amount of the sinking fund Nov. 30, 1892, was $1,407,882.94, leaving the net debt of the city $2,857,718. See City Debt. June, 1886, passed an act requiring the city of Worcester to purify its sewage within four years (by June, 1890) by some method not specified, before discharging it beyond city limits. In 1888 the Joint Standing Committee recommended the construction of an "outfall sewer," from the end of the present sewer at Quinsigamond Village to the land selected for the final treatment of the sewage before passing it into the stream below. The purifi- cation works have attracted much attention, and undoubtedly much of the evil has been remedied, but whether in a degree equal to the large amount of money expended remains to be seen.
Shrewsbury .- A town adjoining Worces- ter on the east, and five miles distant. It was incorporated in 1727. There is no rail- road in the town. Population in 1885, 1,450; in 1890, 1,449.
Sidewalks .- The first brick sidewalk in
Small-pox Hospital. - The Small-pox Hospital has for some years been located on the Poor Farm. A new building has recently been erected at a safe distance north of the Almshouse for use as a pest house. There were seven cases of small-pox in Worcester during the year 1888.
Soldiers' Monument .- The first action towards the erection of a Soldiers' Monument was taken by the City Council in 1866, in the
Worcester was laid front of the Blackstone appointment of a committee, which " cooperat- Hotel, corner Main and Thomas streets, by ed with a citizens' committee of 25, chosen at Ezra B. Lovell. In 1828 the owners of real a public meeting held in Mechanics Hall, estate on the east side of Main street agreed Feb. 10, 1867. Hon. James B. Blake, the to lay a brick sidewalk from the jail at Lin- mayor, was made chairman of this committee, coln square to the Town House. One-half and Hon. George W. Richardson, treasurer. was completed by the first of September. The The members actively canvassed the city, and average width was over ten feet, and the in September a fund of $11,242 was reported whole expense was about $4,000. The town as the result of the subscriptions. A new
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committee was chosen to select a site and a Sons of Veterans .- See Grand Army. design, and carry out the purpose in the erec- tion of a monument. Mayor Blake, noted South Ledge .- The granite ledge which for his advocacy of lavish expenditure, favored crops out near Quinsigamond Village. A the acceptance of a design of an arch, pre- quarry is open on Ballard street, and is owned pared by Messrs. Gambril & Richardson of by John S. Ballard & Co. New York, pretentiously set forth as similar South Worcester .- The locality south of the Boston & Albany Railroad, extending from Quinsigamond avenue to New Worcester. The junction is now known as the South Worcester Station. in character to the "Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile, at Paris." The arch was to be placed at the intersection of the principal paths on the Common, or perhaps over Main street, at a cost of $90,000. This proposi- tion was rejected by popular vote in Decem- Sovereigns of Industry .- This order is now practically dead, though in a few locali- ties organizations are nominally in existence. Active work ceased in Worcester several years ago. The Sovereigns' Cooperative Grocery Store (See Co-operation) was estab- lished under the auspices of the order, but of late years had no connection with it. In 1878 the following Councils were active in Worcester : Citizens Council, No. 2; Harmony Council, No. 29, and Webster Square Council, No. 54. See under Co-operation. ber, 1868. Nothing further was done till September, 1871, and in the meantime Mayor Blake died, and Mr. George Crompton was placed at the head of the committee, which proceeded to definite action, and employed Mr. Randolph Rogers to prepare a design for a monument. He in due time offered one which met the approval of the committee, and was accepted by vote of members of the Grand Army Post. This design was for a monument 52 feet in height, of granite and bronze, nearly like the one erected, but the plan was changed somewhat, so that the
Spiritualists .- The Worcester Association monument as it stands is 65 feet high. The of Spiritualists was organized in 1879, and ' funds had by this time accumulated to holds meetings at Continental Hall Sundays, except during July and August. A gymna- sium is maintained by the society. Wood- bury C. Smith is president. $15,000; and the city was asked to appro- priate $35,000 to meet the whole cost, $50,000, which was done. The monument was completed and dedicated July 15, 1874. There are many Spiritualists in Worcester who do not openly avow themselves as such, some of whom occupy a high social position. The belief in Spiritual doctrines appears to have increased in a great measure during the past decade, and has even penetrated into churches of all denominations. Spiritualist meetings were held in Worcester more than thirty years ago. The occasion was appropriately observed by a military celebration, and the procession, under command of Gen. Josiah Pickett, in- cluded the City Government and guests, veterans of the war, nearly all the Grand Army Posts in the county, with numerous societies and lodges, and the Fire Department. The old State Guard paraded for the last time. At the monument addresses were made by George Crompton, Esq., ex-Gov. Bullock, Gen. Devens and Mayor Edward L. Sportsmen's Club .- The Worcester Sportsmen's Club was organized in 1874. Davis; and Hon. Benjamin F. Thomas read an original poem. Vice-President Wilson
Spy (The) .- The Massachusetts Spy was established in Boston in 1770 by Isaiah and Gen. Burnside were present; $7,000 Thomas, and at once became the leading was voted by the City Council to defray the organ of the patriot cause. Just before the expenses of the dedication. The design of battle of Lexington it was removed by the the monument is generally satisfactory, but its proprietor to Worcester, he having the aid of location is unfortunate, planted in the swale Gen. Joseph Warren, Col. Timothy Bigelow at the lower end of the Common. It is, and others in getting his types and press out however, in full view in coming up Front of Boston. After a suspension of three weeks, street, though the Goddess of Peace turns her back to the stranger as he enters the city. The center of the Common would have fur- nished a much better site.
it re-appeared on the 3d of May, 1775, and a copy of the impression of that date in the library of the American Antiquarian Society bears Mr. Thomas's certificate that it was the
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first thing ever printed in Worcester. In after, its supporters fell away, one by one, 1776 Mr. Thomas resigned the paper into the simply through lack of interest, and the paper hands of David Bigelow and William Stearns, was well nigh stranded. Geo. A. Trumbull and the next year they were succeeded by came into possession again Aug. 13, 1823, Anthony Haswell; but the founder of the and soon after a company was formed, or paper resumed its management in 1778. In perhaps its creditors took possession, for in 1786, in consequence of the stamp duty im- November Charles Griffin began to print the
posed on newspapers, the Spy publication was Spy "for the proprietors," and the office was suspended, and the Worcester Magazine, in removed to the brick building opposite the Central Church in June, 1824. John Milton Earle and Anthony Chase with others were 1827 Samuel H. Colton was associated with
octavo form, appeared in its stead until April 3, 1788, when the original form and name lished the paper in 1799, and two or three
were restored. Isaiah Thomas and son pub- interested at this time in the ownership. In years later the senior Thomas retired from the others, and the paper was published by business, and Isaiah Thomas, Jr., was the "S. H. Colton & Co." Pecuniary troubles nominal owner and publisher for the next ten continued to threaten its existence, and in years. William Sheldon, a native of England, 1829 it was advertised for sale by Simeon edited the Spy in 1809-10, and during the Burt, who appears to have been one of the
period of the troubles and war with Great
"proprietors" before mentioned. The office Britain the paper was intensely Federal in was removed to the opposite side of Main tone, and bitterly hostile to the government street in 1831. John Milton Earle took at Washington. In 1810 James Elliott, for- charge of the publication in 1835, and con- merly a member of Congress, and "a Phila- tinued to edit and publish the paper until his delphia lawyer," came to Worcester, and failure in 1858. Thomas Drew was associ- opened an office for the practice of his pro- ated with him as partner from 1850. July 24, 1845, the Daily Spy was first issued, and soon overbalanced the weekly in importance. Mr. Earle was a Quaker, and introduced the
fession. October 17 of that year the Spy was leased to him for a term of years, and his name placed at the head of its columns as editor and proprietor. But his Federalism form of expression in dating the weekly as was of too mild a type to suit this community First Month, Second Month, etc., instead of at that time, and Thomas was induced to January, February, etc. In politics he was a rescind the agreement, taking the paper into Whig, but influenced by the brothers George his own hands again in February, 1811. Isaac and Charles Allen, changed his paper into an Sturtevant published the Spy from Aug. 12, organ of the Free Soil element in 1848, after 1812, and was succeeded by William Man- he had announced his intention of supporting ning in Oct., 1814. The office was then in the Whigs. Probably this course did not Lincoln square (then called the Public contribute to the pecuniary advantage of square ), but in December was removed to the Spy. At all events, it was afterwards its original location on Court Hill. John evident that Mr. Earle was not a successful financier, though a man of the purest princi- ples and high abilities as an editor. In busi- ness management his partner, Mr. Drew, was no better, and matters went from bad to worse, till in 1858 the liabilities of the estab- lishment in excess of its assets compelled a refuge in insolvency. In October of that year the property of the Spy was purchased of the of the publishers of the Woonsocket Patriot in Rhode Island. The office and types were removed from the Butman Block to the "Printers' Exchange," the building which Davis, afterwards governor and U. S. senator, edited the Spy for a short time just after his graduation from college. In 1819 William Manning and George A. Trumbull purchased the Spy property of Isaiah Thomas, senior, and in December, 1820, the office was re- moved to the corner of Main and Thomas streets. In Jan., 1822, Manning and Trum- bull dissolved, and William Manning and his creditors by Foss & Farnum, the former one son, Samuel B., continued until the following July, when the son withdrew. The fortunes of the Spy were now failing, and for a num- ber of years its destiny was uncertain. Fol- lowing the course of its party out of the stands on the west corner of Foster and intensity of Federalism, through the Era of Waldo streets, where the forms were set, and Good Feeling, and into the vacuity that came for a year or more taken daily in a hand-cart
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