USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > Eastham, Massachusetts, 1651-1951 > Part 10
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baskets of groceries and loads of winter fuel supplies having been distributed. The elderly and the shut-ins are always re- membered at Christmas time. The Grange financed the build- ing of the bandstand on the Town Hall grounds which has been used extensively for concerts by the Junior Community Band under the direction of Thomas Nassi, school supervisor of music. It also sponsors the local troops of Cubs and Boy Scouts. During the Second World War this organization kept a complete record of the boys in the service including their locations and ratings. Journals were sent them periodically and gifts each Christmas.
Eastham was the first town on Cape Cod to sanction of- ficially the holding of adult vocational or handicraft classes sponsored by the State. Many have taken advantage of the in- struction in food buying and nutrition, dressmaking and tailor- ing, slip-cover making, braiding and hooking rugs, and the re- finishing of furniture.
OLD HOUSES OF EASTHAM
The northeast section of Eastham has always been called by the old name, Nauset. To many, this is the most pictures- que part of the town. There, beneath the scrub oaks and the gnarly pines which grow between the moors and the sea, the lovely pink flowers of the trailing arbutus peep forth in the early spring, and on the moors, the wild roses blossom in the summertime, and along the shore, the pale blue marsh flowers in the fall. There nestled beneath the hillsides, away from the winter wind, but placed to catch glimpses of the dunes and the blue sea, were the ancient homesteads of the Doane family. For that was the land that was granted to Deacon John Doane, and it is there that markers show the location of his rooftree.
Following are a few notes on some of Eastham's old houses :
The old houses that stood opposite the Abaelino Doane farm were last occupied by the Hon. Barnabas Freeman and the Kinney families.
3741
1741-1951-The old Cape Codder here pictured is a near perfect speciman of the type, low, beauti- tifully proportioned, with large central chimney. Nathaniel Swift, brother of Gustavus P. Swift, founder of the meat packing firm, once occupied it. Note the 1951 touch-the television aerial. Now residence of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Daley.
On Fort Hill, Nauset Moors Farm was owned by Seth Knowles, and the Dr. Katwinkle estate by Sylvanus Knowles.
Clayton Horton's house was built by the carpenter El- kanah Paine and later occupied by his son Thomas K. Paine.
Nathan Clark owns the house built by Henry and Thank- ful Rich, and later occupied as a summer home by the Krog- mans and the Alexander Cutlers.
The Anderson house was the old Deacon Joshua Paine homestead.
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The house now owned by Frank Cobb was the property of Captain Freeman Dill.
Ralph Eaton now lives in the old Roland Cobb place, later owned by Will Forrest.
The George Dill house was owned by Timothy and Tem- perance Mayo.
Mrs. Arthur Stone owns the Captain Lombard place.
Raymond Daley owns the Nathaniel Swift house, since occupied by Snow Y. Higgins.
Mrs. William Rodd owns the Elijah Knowles place, later used as a summer residence by Stillman P. Doane.
Mrs. Charles Stone owns the James Penniman place, later occupied by the Whitman Howes.
The Sullivan house was the Beniah Higgins homestead.
The John Sparrow house was owned by George Seabury, whose daughter Loisa married Timothy Sparrow. Another daughter, Deborah, married Roland Doane, who owned the Harvey Moore house at its original location.
The Salt Pond House was owned many years ago by Elisha Cobb, and later by George Moore.
The square house diagonally across was the old Joshua Atwood place.
The house owned by the late Austin Cole was the home of his grandfather, Thomas Cobb, and originally owned by the Rev. Philander Shaw.
"Crossways" was owned by Henry Knowles and later by Captain James Savage, who had formerly owned the house now belonging to George Wiley.
THREE OLD CAPE CODDERS
TOP: Once the noted Crosby Tavern, this old house on Bridge road is now owned by Prince Hurd. CENTER: Built by Sylvanus Doane, this old house on Nauset road is now owned by Ralph A. Chase. LOWER: The Thomas Gill house, on Nauset road.
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Opposite is the old house once owned by Knowles Doane, and later Simeon Perry and recently by the late Martha Atwood Baker.
Captain Barnabas Chipman built the house owned by Mrs. Abbot Knowles.
The Myrick Clark house by Depot Pond was later owned by Henry Nickerson.
Prince Hurd owns the old Crosby Tavern, lately occupied by William Nickerson.
The Will Cole house was built by a Bradford.
Farther down the Bridge Road, Harry Collins now owns the old Prince Harding place.
Herbert Nickerson lives in the house of his grandfather, Ruben Nickerson.
The Captain Jonathan Sherman house was occupied many years by Michael Harding, who married Eliza Sherman.
Leonard Brewer owns Absolam Walker home.
At Nauset many of the oldest houses originally belonged to sons of the Doane family. The Isaac Doane homestead be- came the property of Mr. Albert Duncan. The Cavalier Rob- bins house was built by Noah Doane and the Ralph Chase house by Sylvanus Doane.
Prescott Cummings lives in the house originally occupied by a Doane and later by Eldad Higgins.
The Doughty house, lately occupied by Albion F. Rich, was the old John Doane house.
The Winnie Doane homestead was owned by Russell Doane, and Dr. Richardson's old house by Benjamin Doane.
The Harry Collins homestead is still in the Collins family and now occupied summers by Frank Collins, with his old bookshop in one wing. It is believed to be the Eastham house mentioned in Kendall's "Travels."
THREE VENERABLE DWELLINGS
TOP: Peter Higgins house, on Old Kings Highway. CENTER: Harry Collins house, on Nauset road. LOWER: Ella Mayo house, on Nauset road.
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EASTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
Blanche Keefe's house was built by Jesse Brewer for Reuben Brewer.
None of the houses erected by the settlers remain stand- ing today. Large families grew up in those homes and in time sons built on the land allotted to them by their fathers. Those new homes were soon surrounded by their own pastures for sheep and cattle, and rich fields of corn. Years later, several mulberry trees from Japan and China were planted when men returned from long trips at sea; in some dooryards whispering cottonwoods grew from the saplings sent home by families who went to the middle west to live; and at many gateways or door- stones pieces of coral from the South Seas or walrus tusks from the Arctic bleached in the bright sunlight.
Probably the oldest building in the memories of most residents was the large barn which stood for over two centuries on the Abaelino Doane farm, originally the grant of Thomas Prence. It was built in 1732 of timbers hewn in the nearby woodlands. Those staunch oak beams withstood many a storm, but finally collapsed during a gale April 10, 1935. On the same farm a huge pear tree grew and flourished for over 200 years-the ancient pear tree planted by Thomas Prence.
OF THE OLD CEMETERIES
In the ancient cemetery by the Town Cove, the simplicity of the slate slabs is only broken by the engraving of angels' heads and wings or skulls and crossbones. There is a quiet and peaceful solemnity about this little plot where lie the fore- fathers, who were willing to endure severe hardships for the privilege of worshipping God in their own way. It was for such as these that Mrs. Felicia Hemans wrote the lines,
Aye, call it holy ground The soil where first they trod.
Although the inscriptions on many of the stones have been almost entirely obliterated by the hand of Time, most of the oldest families are known to have had lots in this Old Burial
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Ground. Graves have been identified as Atwood, Bangs, Cobb, Doane, Freeman, Harding, Hedge, Higgins, Knowles, Mulford, Paine, Remick and Snow. Here, too, are three monu- ments bearing tablets commemorated to the memory of Richard Sparrow, John Doane and Ralph Smith. The Sparrow family raised a fund in 1876 with which they erected a monument, dedicating it to the memory of Richard and his only son Jona- than, one of the most useful and capable men of the early days. On August 21, 1907, a meeting of the Doane Family Association was held for the purpose of dedicating the me- morial stone and tablet honoring their ancestor, Deacon John Doane, one of the founders of Eastham. In June, 1940, the Association of Descendants of Ralph Smith erected a monu- ment bearing a bronze tablet dedicated to the memory of Ralph Smith, "a pioneer of distinction."
Rev. Samuel Treat was buried in this cemetery in March, 1717. The monument at his grave was inscribed, "Here Lyes Ye Body of Ye Late Learned and Rev. Mr. Samuel Treat Ye Pious and Faithfull Pastor of This Church Who After a Very Zealous Discharge Of His Ministry For Ye Space of 45 Years And a Laborious Travel For Ye Souls Of Ye Indian Na- tivs Fell Asleep in Christ March Ye 18-1716 in Ye 69 Year Of His Age." Mr. Treat's memory was cherished by many gener- ations. In the late 1800s, to the great distress of many public spirited people of the town, his gravestone disappeared from its foundation. A new stone to mark the grave of Eastham's beloved preacher was erected by Miss Lucia Knowles who in- cluded the names of her deceased sisters Olive and Mercy in the inscription. They were sisters of William F. Knowles who inherited a part of the old Treat farm on Fort Hill which had been sold by Mr. Treat's widow to their great grandfather Col. John Knowles.
In the cemetery on the Bridge Road where most of the stones are dated in the late 1700s and early 1800s, many quite elaborate inscriptions are found. One of the epitaphs reads, "The remains of Mrs. Dorcas Shaw the amiable and virtuous consort of the Rev. Philander Shaw of this Town, who in the
بيبو
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joyful hope of rising to a glorious immortality died of a lan- guishment July 17, 1797, in the 19th year of her age." An- other reads, "In memory of John Mayo who died Feb. 14, 1816, aged 84. May this long and lingering pain, These tedious days and nights of wo and no relief, When will they be gone. My steady faith in God relies and all is peace of mind."
There, too, the Church is gone and the village moved, leaving the little graveyard alone by the roadside.
During the 1800s when American vessels were engaged in world wide commercial trade, many Eastham men sailed away beyond the horizon never to return. In the Congrega- tional and Methodist cemeteries on the North Eastham road are many family plots in which are tablets inscribed with the sad words "Lost at Sea." In one Cobb lot are two memorial stones erected to the memory of two young sons of Scotter Cobb and Phoebe Knowles. On one stone the inscription reads,
Down in the deep blue sea Our son in death dost rest But on the resurrection morn He'll wake with all the blest.
This stone was in memory of Scotter Cobb who was lost at sea in the schooner Plato in 1837, aged 22. Nearby is the stone erected in memory of his brother, Captain Elijah E. K. Cobb, who was lost off Race Point in the schooner Mail in 1853, aged 23. The grief that attended the placing of such stones was shared by the whole community, it being a common cloud that hung over the family of every seafaring man.
AT THE GRINDSTONE
Some of the authentic flavor of Eastham yesterdays is caught in this study of "Uncle" Thomas Gill, who farmed and fished for a living, and whose old home on Nauset road is now that of Dr. and Mrs. Walter Whitwright.
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EASTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
TOWN HALLS AND TOWN OFFICERS
The first Town Hall was erected in 1851. Up to that time all meetings were held in the churches which were in fact the town's meetinghouses. Myrick C. Horton, Barnabas Doane, Sylvanus Smith and Seymour Bangs were appointed to select a site for a town house in 1851 and Elijah E. Knowles, Barnabas Doane and Myrick Doane were chosen as a building committee. This structure served the town well over the years, a center for social, cultural and civic events. Civil War soldiers for Eastham were recruited in the hall; the Universa- list Church Society was organized here; the Eastham Grange, too, was organized in this town hall. Before building of the Nauset Life Saving Station, volunteer lifesavers used it for a humane station.
Twice the hall served as a schoolhouse, first from about 1869 to building of the Center school, and then in 1902 when three ungraded schools were consolidated into one graded school with Miss Harriet B. Clark as teacher, which arrange- ment continued until 1908. A plan for enlarging it was con- sidered at town meeting in 1902, but not carried. Upon com- pletion of the new town hall, it was sold at public auction in 1913 after 62 years of faithful service, and then bought by John H. Smart, who remodeled it into a dwelling house and named it Wellington for the two-masted schooner J. V. Wellington, of which the owner and master was Barnabas Higgins Chipman, Mrs. Smart's father. It is now the home of Miss Matilda Smart.
NEW AND OLD TOWN HALLS
First of Eastham's town halls was this frame building dated 1831, on the sandy old main highway. It was replaced in 1913 with a fine brick building, through the generosity of Timothy Smith, Roxbury merchant and a native of the town.
اسبطيــ
TIMOTHY SMITH
The new Town Hall was built in 1912, a gift from Mr. Timothy Smith. Dedication exercises were held May 22, 1913, the presentation address being given by Mr. Smith and the acceptance speech by Mr. Nathan P. Clark, chairman of the board of selectmen. Music was furnished by the Lentz Or- chestra and the Harvard Quartet, both of Boston. Timothy Smith was born in Eastham May 27, 1835, a son of Timothy Smith and Ruth Knowles. For many years he successfully
TOWN HALL WITH ADDITION-Architect's drawing by Walter M. Gaffney of how Town Hall will look when the new addition is completed in 1951.
conducted the large Roxbury department store which still bears his name. Besides the gift of the Town Hall, he also set up a scholarship fund for Eastham students. He died on Easter Sunday, 1917.
Under construction in the winter of 1950-51 is the new addition to Town Hall for an auditorium, at a cost of approxi- mately $70,000.
On August 26, 1916, bronze wall tablets in Town Hall dedicated to the memory of some of the founders of Eastham were presented by the various family associations. At these exercises Lt. Gov. Calvin Coolidge paid tribute to Eastham's pioneer settlers, and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts unveiled the plaque in honor of Governor Thomas Prence.
Eastham's form of government is the old fashioned town meeting. The town seal appropriately bears the head of a
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EASTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
Nauset brave as he appeared in 1620 and the words, "Town of Eastham-Incorporated 1651."
The early town treasurers were:
Edward Bangs
1646
John Paine 1709
Daniel Doane
1666
Edward Knowles 1731
Thomas Paine
1676
Samuel Freeman
1741
Joseph Doane
1703
Jabez Snow
1759
From the last date the town clerk has also acted as the town treasurer. Men who have served as town clerk (and after 1760 as town treasurer also) have been:
Nicholas Snow
1646
Isaac Sparrow
1790
Mark Snow
1663
Elijah Knowles
1793
Daniel Doane
1676
Benjamin Clark
1797
Mark Snow
1693
Ebenezer Paine
1805
Thomas Paine
1695
George Clark
1824
John Paine
1704
Joshua Paine
1830
Joseph Doane
1729
Samuel Knowles
1836
Thomas Knowles
1743
Nathan Knowles
1842
Nathaniel Freeman
1746
David Higgins
1847
Thomas Knowles
1748
Heman Doane
1849
Jabez Snow
1759
Josiah M. Cole
1865
Edward Knowles
1761
Joshua Paine
1866
Gideon Baty
1774
Heman Doane
1874
Richard Knowles
1779
George Clark
1878
Isaac Pepper
1782
George T. Dill
1891
Samuel Higgins
1786
Leslie Chase
1919-
At the present time the Town Clerk acts also as the Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes and Registrar of Voters.
The three selectmen act as the Board of Assessors, Board of Health and the Board of Welfare. That they have done their work well is proven by the fact that the town is free of debt. In 1935 it was found to have cash in its treasury and sufficient assets to give it the highest per capita cash balance and surplus of any town in the state.
A Finance Committee now investigates proposed expendi- tures for the purpose of aiding the townspeople to vote wisely on town meeting day.
HASTH
CHARTER MEMBERS-Shown here is a group of charter members of the Eastham Volunteer Fire- men's Association. Left to right: Alonzo Gill, Frank Fuller, Nathan Clark, Harold Arnold, Deputy Chief Horace Moore, Chief Nathan Nickerson, Sr., Andrew Merrill, Winfred Knowles.
Feeling that the tax payers on "summer property" who do not have the voting privilege should be given an opportunity to be heard, a summer meeting was held at the Town Hall for the first time in August, 1948. It was conducted by Stanley Horton, who invited part time residents to express any criti- cism of existing conditions and to make suggestions they might consider helpful to the town. This gesture met with such en- thusiasm that another meeting was called in August, 1949, at which Winfield Knowles presided.
Before 1946 the Orleans Fire Department was paid a minimum of $75 for services rendered at fires in Eastham. At the Eastham town meeting held February 4, 1946, an article
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proposing $5,000 for the purchase and maintenance of fire apparatus was approved. A fireman's association was or- ganized by a committee composed of Alfred Stowell, Nathan Nickerson and Albion F. Rich, Jr., and out of this has come a capable and efficient volunteer fire department.
The Eastham Volunteer Firemen's Association was orig- inally organized July 18, 1941, and was incorporated February 7, 1945, as a non-profit organization, open to all male voters or property owners in Eastham, and having for its purpose: "to assist in the further prevention and combating of fires, promot- ing drills and instruction in first aid and rescue work, the further- ing of social activities among and between the members of the association and the inhabitants of the community." Its in- come comes from membership dues, donations and the proceeds from community dances, whist parties, dinners, shows and similar activities.
During the ten years of its existence the Firemen's As- sociation has raised and expended about $2,800 on projects beneficial to the town. Among these were: purchase and in- stallation of a town fire signal system with siren, purchase of an auxiliary fire truck and additional fire hose, and participa- tion in the purchase of a combination resuscitator-inhalator- aspirator. At present it is working on installing standpipes for the quick drawing of water at strategic locations. It has also conducted first aid courses and given lectures on fire preven- tion, on volunteer fire departments, and similar subjects. Pres- ent membership of the association is forty-eight, of which
EASTHAM VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION
All in this group gathered in front of the new fire station are members of the association, and those with (F) after their names, and the several chiefs, are all active call firemen. Standing, left to right: Clyde Earle (F), Nathan Clark (F), Manuel Escobar (F), Charles Hollis (F), Eugene Zack, Robert Whiting (F), Anton Escobar, Jr. (F), Gordon Nickerson (F), Winfred Knowles (F), Frank Fuller, Deputy Chief Horace Moore, Deputy Chief James Johnston, Jr., Maurice Moore (F), George Howard, Harold Arnold, Clarence Walker, Elmer Lloyd (F), Henry Clark, Howard N. Walker, Roy French (F), Clarence Doughty (F). Kneeling, left to right: Stanley Horton, James Schofield, Robert Deschamps (F), Chief Nathan Nickerson, Sr., John Grozier (F), Alonzo Gill (F), James Adamson (F), Andrew Merrill (F).
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EASTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
twenty-four are active call firemen. Presidents of the associa- tion since 1941 have been: Winfred Knowles, George Howard (2 years), Maurice Moore (2 years), Winfred Knowles (2 years), Clyde Becker and the present incumbent Clarence Doughty (second year),
At the town meeting on February 4, 1947, it was voted to share the purchase, cost and maintenance of an ambulance jointly with the towns of Orleans and Brewster, the sum of $2,100 being set aside for that purpose.
The 300th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Nauset in 1646 came during a period of very serious world wide trouble. Because of this, it did not seem advisable to hold any special observance to celebrate the occasion and it was decided to postpone the event until 1951, the 300th anniver- sary of the date when Nauset's name was changed to Eastham. Th Pilgrims struck such deep roots in this new land that the 300th anniversary of any town gives us cause to reflect upon the rich traditions and the heritage they left us. Their high ideals of politics and religion were the dominant principles up- on which the communities, the Commonwealth and the Nation were founded.
Eastham is keenly aware of its responsibilities. Although several of the names in the early lists of freemen have disap- peared, and names of many newcomers added, the old com- munity spirit still survives. With the rapidly increasing pop- ulation, there is a desire to preserve the natural character of the old township. At the annual meeting held in February, 1948, an important step was taken, the town voting to support the recommendations of its Planning Board. At that meeting voters approved several building and subdivision regulations, in the hope of preventing any possible exploitation or unre- stricted development here. The Planning Board members were Robert Deschamps, Lewis Collins, Herman Dill and Carl Handel, who studied conditions carefully under the able and untiring chairmanship of Winford Schofield.
By this action, and other efforts to keep the town un- spoiled, though always progressive, it may be said that East-
GREAT POND-A peaceful and charming cove of Eastham's Great Pond, largest body of fresh water in the town.
ham's citizens heed well the words that are inscribed in Latin on Governor Bradford's monument at Burial Hill, Plymouth, "Do not basely relinquish what the Fathers with difficulty at- tained."
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The following acknowledgments are gratefully extended:
PHOTOGRAPHS-All photographs by Richard Kelsey, The Kelsey Studio, South Chatham, with these exceptions: Nauset Three Lights, Bill- ingsgate Island and Light, Jeremiah's Gutter, Old Salt Works, Ships Har- oldine, Lilly, Barrett, Albert Miller, and Old Nauset Station, courtesy Henry K. Cummings, Orleans. Nauset Beach in Summer, Town Hall, and Nau- set Light, Ralph A. Chase. Freeman and Lydia Hatch Monument, Old Town House, French Cable Station, and Cable Station Crew, Miss Matilda S. Smart. Blackfish, Donald G. Trayser, Mrs. Philip J. Schwind and Rowena and Gordon Robinson. Dragger Cape Ann, Arthur Alvin, West Bridgewater. Nauset Beach, and Town Cove, Charles B. Shutter, New Haven, Conn. The Outermost House, Mrs. Frank Carstens, East Orange, N. J.
OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS-Thoreau map, photo by Keith Martin, courtesy Trustees of the Concord Free Public Library. Adaptation of 1795 map from State Archives, and 1951 map, Schofield Brothers. Heman Doane, from his own book, 1826. Camp Meeting Scenes, from Gleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion, 1852. Champlain map, from Works, ed. by H. H. Langton and W. F. Ganong. Translation of key to Champlain map, by Ferdinand J. Gallant, Hyannis.
QUOTATIONS-From Cape Cod New and Old, copyright 1918, Agnes Edwards Pratt; from Cape Cod Pilot, by Jeremiah Digges, copy- right 1937 by Poor Richard Associates; from Blue-Water Men and Other Cape Codders, copyright 1946 by Katharine Crosby MacInnis; verse, Lines from a Sampler, from Sand In Their Shoes, by Edith and Frank Shay, copyright 1951.
OTHER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS-For editorial assistance: Frank Collins, Ralph A. Chase, Miss Matilda S. Smart, Albert E. Snow, Gustavus Swift Paine.
Friends of the Eastham Tercentenary
TERCENTENARY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Harry S. Young, General Chairman
Maurice W. Wiley, Honorary Chairman
Mrs. Dorrice M. Mayo, Secretary
Otto E. Nickerson, Treasurer
Ralph A. Chase, Vice-Chairman
Alfred R. Mills
Mrs. Anne Brownell
Joseph H. Putnam
Mrs. Mabel W. Chase
Ralph L. Rogers
Bernard C. Collins, Sr.
Philip J. Schwind
Mrs. Bertha Dill
Mrs. Sophia L. Stone
Mrs. Esther K. Handel
Miss Virginia Stone,
Publicity Director
THE TERCENTENARY AUXILIARY COMMITTEE
Mrs. Mabel W. Chase, Chairman
The Methodist Church
Mrs. Bertha Dill Andrew C. Merrill
The Universalist Church
The Volunteer Firemen's Association .
Maurice A. Moore
The Eastham Grange
Harold L. Arnold
The Eastham Athletic Association
Clarence Doughty
The Junior Circle-W. S. C. S.
Mrs. Esther Turner
The Boy Scouts
Dr. Wm. T. Knowles
The Girl Scouts
Mrs. Harriet Crosby
THE EASTHAM TERCENTENARY COMMITTEE
FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Harry S. Young, General Chairman; Mrs. Dorrice M. Mayo, Secretary; Bernard C. Collins, Sr., Joseph H. Putnam, Mrs. Esther K. Handel, Mrs. Anne P. Brownell, Mrs. Mabel W. Chase, Mrs. Sophia L. Stone, Mrs. Bertha Dill; Miss Vir- ginia Stone, Director of Publicity.
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