USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Everett > Everett souvenir. 1870-1893 > Part 3
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It was voted "that the Committee Shall hire Such a Master and when they think best for the Benifit of the Children." It was also voted "that the fifty Dollars that Belonged to the Proprietors of the old Schoolhouse ly on Interest and that the Interest of it be anually Laid out for the Benifit of Schooling of the youth of the South District."
In 18c2, Uriah Oakes, whose de- scendants to the fourth generation are still living in town, appears as Treas- urer. The last entry in the handwrit- ing of Ezra Sargent is under date of March 12, 1804. Ile was succeeded as clerk April 12, 1805, by Winslow Sargent.
From April, 1808, to March 4, 1819, there is no record of any meeting of the South District known to exist. At the meeting held on the latter date, Cap- tain Ebenezer Nichols appears as Mod- erator; Isaac Parker, Clerk; Nathan Lynde, Treasurer ; Captain Eben Nich- ols, Captain Nathan Nichols, and Isaac Parker were chosen a committee to purchase land for the District at their discretion.
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At a meeting held March 25, 1820, it was voted to remove the school- house, and Captain Nathan Nichols, Captain Ebenezer Nichols, Captain Uriah Oakes, Captain Thomas Oakes and Thaddeus Peirce were chosen a committee for the purpose. June 14, 1823, Captain Nathan Nichols was chosen clerk, and from that date to 1830 the records are very neatly kept in his handwriting. He was for many years a prominent citizen of Malden and a man of sound business qualifica- tions, and grandfather of our present city treasurer. On the twelfth of March, 1830, Solomon Corey was chosen clerk, and so continued until 1834.
Solomon Corey.
Solomon Corey was born near Windsor, in Bertie County, North Carolina, November 4, 1791. After the death of his parents, a kind providence found him a friend and guardian in Captain Peter Windsor, who brought him to Kingston, Mass., where he found a home in the family of his warm-hearted protector. The kind care which the almost friendless boy received was always remembered by him with emotions of gratitude and love. He married at Kingston, 21 June, 1812, Charlotte Delano, born 16 March, 1795, only daughter of Peter and Charlotte (Delano) Windsor, and a grand-daughter of Samuel Winsor, the ancestor of the Winsors of Duxbury. The greater part of his life was spent upon the sea; and, as master of the brig "Cazenove," it is said he made the voyage from Boston to Smyrna in twenty-seven days, which is one of the quickest passages on record. He retired from active life about 1840, to his home in South Malden, whither he had removed with his family in 1828, where, in the quiet and kindly exercise of his duties as neighbor and friend, he enjoyed the esteem of all about him. His last sickness, unusually severe and painful, was marked by a patient resignation that was eminently characteristic of his whole life. His widow, Charlotte D. Corey, died August 19, 1861. Mr. Corey was the local justice of the peace, and as such drew a large proportion of the deeds, mortgages, wills, and other legal documents, for the inhabitants of South Malden. He was, for several years, clerk of the South, and later, of the South-west School District, and was the first post- master of South Malden. Solomon and Charlotte D. Corey had eleven children, three of whom, Thomas S., Benjamin and Columbus, have been prominent citizens of Everett.
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
Nathan Lynde was Treasurer of the South District from March 4, 1819, to March 21, 1835, a period of sixteen years. From the year 1820 the names of William Peirce, Thaddeus Peirce, father of the late Thaddeus, Thomas Oakes, Captain Henry Rich, Elisha Webb, David Faulkner, Daniel A. Perkins, Leavitt Corbett, Alfred Os- good, and Seth Grammer frequently appear in the proceedings of the South District.
At a meeting held March 27, 1837, measures were taken for establishing a primary school, which was subsequent- ly opened in Webb's Hall, so called, in the house now owned and occupied by Deacon Calvin Hosmer. By a report of the financial concerns of the South District for the year 1839, the cash re- ceipts are stated at $641.52.
In 1841 the increasing population of the South District, and the local jeal- ousies of its different sections, led to an agitation for a division, and on March 19, 1842, Captain Jonathan Oakes, William Peirce, Stephen Stimpson, Benjamin Nichols, Benjamin S. Shute, and Solomon Shute were chosen a com- mittee to report on a proper division line between the two districts. This committee reported March 21, 1842, in favor of a line running across the hill so as to leave Daniel A. Perkins, Jona- than Baldwin, Jr., and William Whit- temore on the west side of the line, the east side to keep the schoolhouse and land for their own. At a town meet- ing held April 18, 1842, it was voted that the South District be divided ac-
Zera Estes,
Believed to be the oldest native of Malden still living among us, was born January 9, 1805, in a house which stood on the lot occupied by the residence of Miss Susan Clapp. His father was Samuel Gardner Estes, a brickmaker, who was born at Salem, and came to Malden when about twelve years of age, and died in 1837. Zera Estes has passed the eighty-eight years of his life in Malden, following the occupation first of a shoe- maker and later of a farmer. He married, April 10, 1831, Lydia Vinning. Both still reside on Ferry Street, near the Malden line, in the house built by Mr. Estes in 1837, having enjoyed sixty- two years of wedded life. They have several children. Mr. Estes enjoys the kind regard of all who know him. He is still in the possession of his faculties, with a remarkable memory of former events and old residents in Malden. He took pains to procure, in 1878, from Charles D. Adams, last Clerk of the South School District, the old record book of the South Parish and South School District, a most valuable repository of historical information, now the property of the City of Everett. To Mr. Estes we are indebted for many facts of interest in the history.
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Residence of Deacon Calvin Hosmer.
Built by Captain Thomas Oakes, about 1805, or a little later. From 1816 to 1825 it was the home of Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Malden. From 1830 to 1840 owned and occupied by Elisha Webb. At the latter date it passed into the hands of Dea. Calvin Hosmer.
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cording to the above line, and all the inhabitants southwest of said line were set off as a new district by the name of the Southwest School District. At this time there were in South Malden SS houses and 105 families, represent- ing, probably, 525 inhabitants, as com- pared with 52 houses in 1828.
Thaddeus Peirce
Was the son of Thaddeus Peirce, who is men- tioned as one of the clerks of the South School District. The second Thaddeus Peirce was born August 17, 1814 in Chelsea. In the spring of 1815, his parents moved to South Malden and settled on the farm on Ferry Street, which was his home for seventy-seven years. He married April 10, 1851, and his son, Franklin Peirce, is a prominent member of the Congregational Church and the Everett Y. M. C. A. Thaddeus Peirce followed the occupation of a farmer. During his long life, his land advanced very much in value and he disposed of a large share of it at a good price. He was prominently identified with the establishment of the Glendale Union Christian Society, of which he was a member up to the time of his death, January 9, 1892, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of those with whom he was associated.
The South School District continued in existence until 1853, and the old schoolhouse was, in August following the division, removed to the present Glendale Schoolhouse lot on Ferry Street, which the South District pur- chased of Mary Polleys for the sum of $300, originally containing about two acres, of which an acre and three quar- ters were sold. The old schoolhouse was repaired, and continued to be used until 1854, when it was replaced by a new building which continued in use until 1885, when it was in turn replaced by the present Glendale schoolhouse. This was enlarged in 1891.
John Cutter, Jr .. was chosen clerk of the South District, June IS, 1842, and served until March 7, 1849, when he was succeeded by Charles D. Adams, who continued in office until the aboli- tion of the district system.
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
VII.
THE SOUTHWEST SCHOOL DISTRCT.
The Southwest District, as the new district was called, embraced the larger portion of the population and wealth of the former South District. It held its first meeting on May 12, 1842. William Peirce was chosen Moderator ; William Johnson, the last clerk of the South District before the division, and for many years a prominent citizen of Malden and Everett, Assessor, Town Treasurer, Representative to the Gen- eral Court in 1851 and 1881, was chosen Clerk ; Stephen Stimpson, Pru- dential Committee. A Building Com- mittee was chosen consisting of Jona- than Oakes, Stephen Stimpson, George Winslow, Uriah Oakes, Charles Bald- win, Henry Van Voorhis, and William Peirce. This Committee was author- ized to select and purchase a lot of land as a site for the schoolhouse, and to borrow not exceeding $1500 for build- ing the same, in addition to $500 to be raised by taxation, making a total of $2000 placed at the disposal of the Building Committee, later increased to $2400.
James M. Cutter
Is the son of John and Abigail K. Cutter and brother of John Cutter, Jr., lived about forty years in South Malden, removing to Brighton in 1867 and returning to Everett, in which he still resides upwards of twenty years later. When he bought, with his father, the property in Glendale, Uriah Oakes said to him: "Young man, you have more money than brains." The investment, however, proved to be a good one for Mr. Cutter.
A plan prepared by A. Benjamin was presented, and it was voted to make the building two stories high. and thirty by forty feet in size on the ground. The Committee was author- ized to expend not exceeding $2400 for this building. The Prudential Com- mittee was authorized to employ such
Elisha Briggs Loring
Was born July 19, 1813, at Duxbury, Mass. His father, Alden Loring, and his mother, Lucinda (Briggs) Loring, were descended from old Ply- mouth County stock : his grandmother Loring was Alathea Alden, a direct descendent of John Alden, one of the Pilgrim Fathers, made famous by Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish." The limited educational privileges he enjoyed were obtained in the common schools of Pembroke, Mass. His boyhood days were spent on his grandfather Briggs' farm, but as was customary at that time, he was apprenticed to a carpenter and learned the trade thoroughly. In 1837 he came to South Malden to help build the Deacon William Johnson house, now the resi- dence of W. H. Adams, still standing not far from the Everett R. R. Station. He married Lucy Fisher Smith at Canton, Mass., in 1839. Her parents, Luke Smith and Sally (Fisher) Smith, were natives of Mass., living near Bangor, Me., where she was born. Mrs. Loring was a woman of great capability and character, very energetic, and proved a fitting helpmect, in every sense of the world. She died April 21, 1873, 53 years and 4 months old. Their children, all born in South Malden, were Lucy Maria, Elisha Alden, Frank Minot and Emma Sophia; the two sons are still living, the present Inspector of Buildings, Elisha A. Loring, being one. He first lived in the John- son house, from there moved to the "Old Corey House," now owned by the Episcopal Society, erected the house on Broadway, in 1842, residing there till his death, February 21, 1890.
For thirty-three years of the thirty-five, from 1847 to 1882, his name is borne on the records of the towns of Malden and Everett as an official : seven years as an assessor and three as selectman of Malden and five years as selectman of Everett, besides other responsible and minor positions filled by him during all that time. His strong will, strict honesty and scorn of deceit or shan in anything he undertook or did were qualities in- herited in some degree from the stern old Puritan Fathers. A remark he once made to the writer, was that for a long term of years he had held office and during that time never paid a cent nor solicited a vote for himself. The changes he saw in South Malden and Everett seem almost won- derful to look back upon now. Then a trip to Boston must be made by Butler's stage coach, one trip a day, or by walking to Chelsea Ferry, or over Malden toll bridge through Charlestown. Then the canal from Boston to Lowell was in operation, boats passing through the lock, then near the brewery and under the bridge over which the road ran, the basin for canal boats being where they are now filling in for a park. What would the mechanic of the present day think of working in Medford ship yards, did they still exist, and be obliged to walk to and from his work, or to take a short cut across the marsh in warm weather, swimming Malden River, his clothing in a box that was pushed before him to be resumed on
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the farther side? It seems almost absurd even to think we could do such things today. During his long career as a master builder, many of the most substantial structures now standing in Everett, were erected by him, that will for many years to come be monuments to his memory and examples of such solid, faithful, conscientious work as are rarely found now but which might well be copied today. The houses of Hawes Atwood, Esq., and of Mr. R. M. Barnard, are samples of his work. Mr. Loring though blunt and out-spoken, extremely tenacious of his opin- ions when once his mind was made up as to the right or wrong of any question, was very kind- hearted and easily touched; the misfortunes, trials or sufferings of any one appealed to his sympathies at once.
teachers as it judged proper, and a school was opened in a small shop, still standing in the rear of Mr. John Pick- ering's house on School Street, while the new building was in process of erection. By a report of the Building Committee, presented at a meeting held Aug. 22, 1842, it appears that the contractor, Mr. Elisha B. Loring, re- ceived for labor and material furnished $1581.89. The cost of the land, which was purchased of Jonathan Oakes, now . worth probably $5000 or more, was $150. The chairs for the building cost
David N. Badger
Was the son of Thomas Badger, a deacon at Dr. Baldwin's Baptist Church. He was born in Boston, July 16, 1799. Married in 1832, Mary Ann Lewis, the eldest daughter of John Lewis. After serving an apprenticeship, he, when 21 years of age, opened a trunk store on Court Street, where he continued until his store was burned. After his father's decease, his sons succeeded to his grocery business under the style of R. S. & D. N. Badger, at the corner of Prince and Thatcher Streets. After acquiring a competency, he retired to South Malden in 1839. He was the first librarian of the Southwest district, and was twice postmaster of South Malden, one of the founders of the Universalist Society, and one of the first deacons of the Universalist Church and a man of sterling worth. In politics he was a Democrat. With some of the other prominent citizens of this section he was strongly opposed to the division of the town of Malden. He died December 4, 1878, aged 79 years. His wife sur- vived him for several years. He left one son, David Newell Badger, still living; a daughter, Mary Ann Badger (Evans), who died a few years ago.
EVERETT SOUVENIR.
Captain Thomas Oakes Mansion.
This house formerly stood on the site of the present residence of Wilmot R. Evans. It was removed to its present location on Chestnut Street, about 1875. (Now remodeled.)
$108, and the furnace $149.44. These and various other items brought the total cost up to $2595.11. A vote of thanks to the Building Committee was adopted, and the Prudential Committee was directed to employ a male teacher.
The upper story was not at first used for school purposes, but continued to be used as a hall, and the Building Com-
mittee was authorized to furnish the same with seats. The Prudential Com- mittee was also at the same meeting authorized to let the schoolhouse hall for religious worship, lyceums, and singing schools, but not to allow dancing or drilling.
At the annual meeting of the District held March 21, 1843, Solomon Corey
" The Hall."
Remodeled from the Captain Thomas Oakes House.
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EVERETT SOUVENIR.
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KILSUR I'& CROSS-
Former Residence of Nathaniel T. Davis.
Built about 1835, on the site of the former residence of Captain Jonathan Oakes (of Revolutionary fame), off Ferry Street, in the rear of Warren Bettinson's Residence.
William Baldwin
Was the son of Jonathan Baldwin and Mary (Sargent) Baldwin, and was born September 10, 1808, in the house (long ago torn down) for- merly owned and occupied by his father, on the north side of Locust Street, about mid way between Bucknam and Main Streets. He and his brothers, Charles and Samuel, for several years carried on a dyeing establishment on the spot where the factory of the Waters' Governor now is. On the breaking out of the gold fever, he went to California in 1849, and re- mained about two years. Returning he resumed the dyeing business, but this not proving financially profitable, he established a fruit stand in Boston, where he sold grapes and similar articles. His death, which occurred in 1856, resulted from eating grapes, the stones lodging in his stomach. He was twice married, first to Betsey Ward and afterwards to Eliza A. Peirce. He was one of a family of whom our esteemed fellow-citizen, Frederick Baldwin, is the sole survivor.
was chosen Clerk, and continued to hold that office until the abolition of the district system in 1853. A school- district library was established in 1842. and rules were adopted for the regula- tion thereof on March 21. 1843. The late David N. Badger, long a respected citizen of South Malden and Everett, was chosen as the first librarian at the same meeting.
Schools were opened in the new school building in the fall of 1842. From the report of the Prudential Committee, March, 1843, it appears that the number of school children in the Southwest School District between
Samuel H. Clapp
Was the son of Timothy Clapp and Sarah (Waitt) Clapp. He was born in South Malden, Nov. 5, 1813, in a house which formerly stood on the lot at the north corner of Winter and Chelsea Streets, afterwards burped. He was educated in the district schools of Malden, and was a great reader of solid books. As a boy he worked for his father in the brick and tile business, and later succeeded his father in the business. His brick-yard was southwest of Chelsea Street at the foot of Ferry Street. In later years he added the drain tile business in a yard on Spring Street, near Second Street, known as the "Tile Works." This he sold out in 1865. In 1869 he started what became the first Everett Express, now owned by llerbert M. Thurs. ton, Mr. Clapp having sold the route in 1873. He was one of the charter members of the Win- throp Congregational Church with which he was connected through all his transformations. In this he always took a deep interest up to the close of his life. Ile was, in 1846, one of ten building committee of the southwest district school house. He married, November 29, 1835, Susan Peirce, daughter of William Pierce, who with four daughters, Sarah E. Whittier, wife of George; Adaline P. Atkins, wife of Francis W .; Abby F Mann, wife of Jeremiah E., and Har- riet A. Tibbitts, wife of Charles E., survive him. Mr. and Mrs. Clapp lived to celebrate the fifty sixth anniversary of their marriage. Ile died April 5th, 1892, having lived on Chelsea Street all but one year of his life, and in his late residence 44 years. He was an upright man and a good citizen.
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Residence of Charles and William Baldwin.
Built about 1836. Now standing near the corner of Main and Chelsea Streets. (From a photograph in the collection of the late George F. Wallis.)
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EVERETT SOUVENIR.
Seth Sweetser Lynde
Was the son of Nathan and Hannah (Sweetser) Lynde. His father was one of the Lynde family which was settled on the northern part of Malden, now Melrose. On his mother's side he was de- scended from the Sweetser family, who were among the early settlers on Mystic-side. He was named for his grandfather Seth Sweetser, from whom his mother inherited the "Lynde farm," so called, which covers a large share of the territory of Mystic Village. After a somewhat varied business career he came back to his birth-place in South Malden, devoting himself mainly to the care of his large landed estates. He died March 29, 1874. He was one of a small but highly, respectable minority which strenuously opposed the separation from Malden and was one of the committee appointed by that town, October 22, 1867, to appear before the legislative committee in opposition. He also headed a remonstrance on which were found such solid names as, Uriah Oakes, David N. Badger, John Lewis, Henry L. Chase, Lewis P. True, Geo. W. Peirce, Samuel, Frederick and Charles Baldwin, and David Dyer, father of Alderman Dyer.
the ages of 4 and 16 years was 119, and that the amount paid for teachers' services from the organization of the District was $306, male teachers re- ceiving $30 and female teachers $16 per month. Other incidental expen- ses brought up the total expenditures to $347.67. The district continued to prosper, and was steadily reducing its debt, when on Friday, the 27th day of February, 1846, at about one o'clock in the morning, the new school building took fire and was totally destroyed, with its contents, including apparatus and library. The loss was estimated at $2700 ; the insurance was only $1200. The examination of the schools was to have taken place the 'same day.
On the twelfth day of March the Dis- trict met and voted to build a new schoolhouse larger than the first, and chose as a Building Committee George Winslow, Stephen Stimpson, Samuel H. Clapp, Capt. Jonathan Oakes, Wil- liam Peirce, James H. Dix, Charles Baldwin, and David N. Badger. From a report of the Treasurer at the same meeting it appears that the total ex-
penditures for schools was $497.02 for the preceding year. It was voted that the new schoolhouse be 55 feet long, 42 feet wide, two stories high ; the first story to be fitted up immedi- ately for school purposes, the second to be used as a public hall until need- ed for use as a schoolroom. It was also voted to raise $500 for the build- ing by taxation this year. An attempt to reconsider this action March 24, was defeated by a vote of 42 to 25, but the width of the building was reduced to 36 fect instead of 42, and the ex- penditure was limited to $3300, which was considerably exceeded. The new building, like the old, was built by our late esteemed fellow-citizen Mr. E. B. Loring, with that thoroughness which was characteristic of all his work. It continued to be used for school pur- poses by Malden and Everett for forty- three years, and after being remodelled
Schools were opened in the lower story of each building in the spring of 1867, the upper stories being left unfinished until some years later. Both of these buildings have since been sokl, the former in 1881, and the latter, with the lot on which it stood, in 1882, In 1 868 a schoolhouse was also erected on l lancock Street, at the corner of Han- son Street, costing for building and land $2165.61. The first school in this building was established in the spring of 1869. This school was dis- continued in November, 1874, and the land and building sold at auction for $1341.17 in 1875. These buildings were supposed to be of ample size to afford accommodations for many years, but the rooms were too small to admit of good ventilation, and within fifteen years from the date of their erection they were all outgrown and discarded as not worth remodelling. There were
The Old Lynde House (on Bow Street). Occupied by Nathan Lynde and his descendants until a few years ago.
in 1871, and partially burned in 1875, was abandoned for school purposes in the fall of 1889. Transformed into an engine house in the spring and summer of 1890, it promises to serve out a fur- ther extended term of usefulness. The final report of the Financial Commit- tee, submitted March IS, 1847, shows a total expenditure on the building of $3642.32, of which the contractor, Mr. E. B. Loring, received $2903.33, in- cluding extras.
The school accommodations in South Malden were further enlarged in 1866 by the erection of two new school- houses one on Thorndike Street and the other on Ferry Street, at a cost of about $8500 finished and furnished.
no other schoolhouses erected in South Malden before its incorporation as a separate town.
VIII.
RENEWAL OF TIIE AGITATION FOR IN- CORPORATION AS A TOWN.
The whole number of scholars in the District May 1, 1846, between the ages of 4 and 16 years was 166. On the thirtieth day of October, 1847, it was voted to let the schoolhouse hall free for Sabbath schools. A commit- tee consisting of Jonathan Oakes, Solo- mon Corey, and Daniel A. Perkins was chosen at the same meeting to pe-
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