USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > Fitchburg, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 13
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SECRET AND BENEVOLENT.
The large number of beneficial, secret and similar socie- ties that are in successful operation in Fitchburg indicate a very social and philanthropic spirit on the part of the people.
Masonry is represented by four bodies. AURORA LODGE, F. and A. M., the oldest, instituted June 9, 1801, at Leom- inster, and removed to Fitchburg, March 17, 1845. Regular communications are held the first Monday of each month ; annual communication in September.
CHARLES W. MOORE LODGE, F. and A. M., instituted Oct. 9, 1856. Regular communications third Tuesday of each month ; annual communication in September.
THOMAS ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER, instituted Dec. 21, 1821, at Princeton ; removed to Fitchburg, Nov. 13, 1847. Regular convocation second Wednesday of each month ; an- nual convocation in September.
JERUSALEM COMMANDERY, K. T., instituted Oct. 13, I865. Regular conclaves third Thursday of each month ; annual conclave in September.
The Masonic Hall is in the upper stories of the Fitchburg Savings Bank building, and comprises some of the finest rooms in the state.
The Odd Fellows' organizations are also four in number. MT. ROULSTONE LODGE No. 98, I. O. O. F., instituted Dec. 12, 1845. Regular meetings on Friday evenings.
PEARL HILL DEGREE LODGE NO. 47, D. of R., I. O. O. F. Meetings first and third Tuesdays of each month.
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ORGANIZATIONS.
KING DAVID ENCAMPMENT NO. 42. I. O. O. F. Reg- ular meetings second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
GRAND CANTON HEBRON NO. 4, PATRIARCHS MILI- TANT. Regular Cantonment first Thursday evening of each month.
The Odd Fellows' rooms are in the upper story of the Rollstone Bank block, 129 Main street.
The Knights of Pythias are represented by two bodies. ALPINE LODGE NO. 35, K. OF P., instituted March 12, I879. Meetings Thursday evening in each week.
RED CROSS DIVISION, UNIFORM RANK, K. OF P., in- stituted January, 1887. Meetings every other Monday evening. The Knights of Pythias rooms are in Crocker block, 234 Main street.
OTHIER ORDERS.
Fitchburg Lodge No. 797, Knights of Honor : Roumania No. 312, Knights and Ladies of Honor; Overlook Council No. 972, American Legion of Honor ; Castle Fitchburg No. 195, Knights and Ladies of the Golden Rule ; Local Branch No. 390, Order of the Iron Hall ; Council No. 777, Royal Arcanum ; Shakespeare Lodge No. 121, Sons of St. George ; Wachusett Council No. 21, O. U. A. M. ; Fitchburg Asso- ciates No. 22, N. M. R. A. ; Wachusett Division No. 191. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; Guard Lafayette ; George Lodge No. 538, German Order of Harugari ; W. A. Foster Lodge No. 216, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen ; Railroad Men's Relief Association ; Fitchburg Lodge No. I. Brotherhood of Section Masters; Firemen's Relief Associa- tion ; E. A. Smith Division No. 146, Order of Railway Con- ductors ; Ancient Order of Hibernians: Societe St. Jean Baptiste de Fitchburg ; Ancient Order of Red Men ; Rail- road Men's Christian Association ; Fitchburg Woman's Suf- frage League.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
Fitchburg Reform Club ; St. Bernard's Total Abstinence and Mutual Aid Society ; Wendell Phillips Division Sons of
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Temperance ; Monadnock Temple of Honor No. 17 ; Aqua- rius Council No. 10, Select Templars ; Silver Spray Temple of Honor No. 3: Falulah Lodge No. II, I. O. of G. T. : Henry A. Reynolds Lodge No. SI, I. O. of G. T .; The Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; The Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; Unity Temperance Society.
WORCESTER NORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
(Incorporated in 1852.)
Including the city of Fitchburg, towns of Leominster, Sterling, West Boylston, Princeton, Lunenburg, Ashburn- ham, Westminster, Gardner, Templeton and Royalston in Worcester county, with Ashby in Middlesex, though persons from any part of the state may become members.
The annual exhibition is held on the grounds of the Park Company on Summer street, on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of September, in each year. These grounds comprise about thirty acres of land, well fitted up with half mile track, stable, cattle sheds and a large building contain- ing two halls for exhibition purposes and the annual dinner, with several smaller rooms for other purposes. The annual meeting and election of officers takes place on the first Fri- day in December. The present board of officers are : Presi- dent, J. A. Battles, Fitchburg ; Vice Presidents-L. C. Albee, Fitchburg, George Cruickshanks, Lunenburg ; Sec- retary, C. S. Keith, Fitchburg ; Treasurer, F. C. Currier, Fitchburg. Delegate to state board of agriculture, George Cruickshanks, Fitchburg.
The board of trustees from each of the towns is made up as follows : Ashburnham, three : Ashby, two; Leominster, seven ; Lunenburg, five; Princeton, five; Westminster, three ; one from each of the towns of Greenville, N. H., Oakdale, Sterling, Templeton, Winchendon, Groton ; and twenty-five from Fitchburg.
JOSEPH A. BATTLES, president of the society, is a native of Fitchburg, where he was born April 5, 1835, on a farm at the foot of Monoosnoc mountain. His early days were spent
JOSEPH A BATTLES.
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ORGANIZATIONS.
on the farm, remaining there until he was twenty-five years of age, when he entered the employ of P. Smith & Co .. bakers, and was afterwards admitted to partnership.
In 1866 he started in the livery business at the Rollstone barn with only three horses and the necessary outfit : after- wards removed to Oliver street, and in the spring of 1869 to Day street, where for a few months he was associated with Mr. L. M. Wheeler, in the firm of Battles & Wheeler, and since carrying on the business alone until in the spring of the present year, when he decided to go out of business perma- nently, selling his livery property at public auction : finding, however, that he needed some active employment to take up his mind he has gradually worked into his accustomed busi- ness, although not so extensively as before.
Mr. Battles began with very little capital, but his genial ways and accommodating spirit insured popularity, and prosperity as well. He was the first owner of a hack in Fitchburg, and anticipated the needs of the public by adding hacks and barges as they were needed, until his investment in livery property, after twenty years in business, amounted to twenty-five thousand dollars.
THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.
This organization. the outgrowth of the "crusade work" in Ohio, begun by christian women, who felt they could no longer keep still under the terrible burden which the liquor traffic was laying upon them and upon the whole nation.
The first meeting of the Fitchburg W. C. T. U. was held the third Tuesday in January, 1875. The first practical work was the circulation of the pledge throughout the town. a work in which a large number of ladies were engaged. thus bringing this question very plainly before many, who had given it but little thought before. Since then petitions to the legislature have been presented, again and again, to the people for signature. with other Unions of the state, to secure better legislation on this subject. Conventions have been held, almost as many as years have gone by. A large
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
number of public meetings and the best lectures that could be secured, have been given to the people to influence public sentiment. For the same purpose thousands of pages of lit- erature have been distributed in public places, as well as given quietly by the visiting committee.
Early in the work an invitation was extended to Dr. Reynolds to visit the Union, and through his influence the Reform Club was formed, and for some time meetings were held with the Club.
The treasury of the Union has never, with one exception, lacked the funds necessary to meet the obligations at the close of the year, and then was only two or three dollars lacking. Some fifteen hundred dollars have passed through the hands of the treasurer during this time, aside from that used by the relief department.
The watchword of the organization has been "Prayer," but working has gone hand in hand with praying, and the time, thought, patience and faith expended have brought forth fruit none the less real and lasting because of the quiet, unostentatious methods employed.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
as now existing had its origin among the young men of the First Baptist church, in the fall of 1886. Two preliminary meetings were held at this church by a number of young men. A third meeting resulted in the organization of the Association in October, 1886, with George Winch as presi- dent.
Following the organization a parlor conference was held at the residence of J. Parkhill. Twenty-three of the leading business men of the city were present, and the conference was conducted by Russell Sturgis, Jr., of Boston, and R. M. Armstrong, state secretary. A citizens' committee was ap- pointed to solicit funds for the year's work, in union with the finance committee of the Association. The citizens' commit- tee consisted of Dr. George Jewett, J. H. Daniels, H. M. Francis, Dr. C. H. Rice, and E. N. Choate. The sum of
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ORGANIZATIONS.
$1,425 was raised. Two rooms in Twichell's block were opened, Dec. 27, 1886, and four others added in July, 1887. The Association is now, (November, 1887,) in possession of a reading room well equipped, a comfortable parlor, a game and recreation room, a room for boys, and a hall for social and religious gatherings. The membership is nearly two hundred and fifty and is constantly growing. A course of entertainments of high order, practical and medical talks, educational classes, boarding-house register, employment bureau and many other privileges are open to members, though most of these privileges are free to any young man.
The work is mainly dependent for support from the busi- ness men-$2,000 will be raised for the year 1887-SS.
On July 25, 1887, William P. Taylor, a graduate of Yale University, entered upon his duties as general secretary of the Association, and under his charge the work has shown a rapid increase in growth and usefulness. The publication of a monthly organ, "Beacon Light," has been one of the re- cent additions to the work.
THE FITCHBURG BENEVOLENT UNION
was organized as a society, March 6, 1876, and incorporated Feb. 10, ISS6. Its object is to have one comprehensive, un- sectarian organization, which, as far as possible, shall distribute charity wisely and endeavor to help the poor to help themselves. The board of managers are: President, Ebenezer Bailey ; Vice-Presidents-Rodney Wallace, Mrs. A. Crocker, Sen., Lewis H. Bradford.
Exceutive Committee-Mrs. George D. Colony, Miss Mattie D. Tolman, Mrs. B. D. Dwinnell, Mrs. S. W. Put- nam, Miss Anna S. Haskell, Amasa Norcross, James Phillips, Jr., Dr. Thomas S. Blood, Mial Davis, Dr. D. B. Whittier.
Secretary, Rev. J. M. R. Eaton ; Assistant Secretary, Mrs. B. F. Wallis : Treasurer, Albert C. Brown.
Life Members-Amasa Norcross, Benjamin Snow, C. T. Crocker, Rodney Wallace, Mrs. William B. Wood, Mrs. G.
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
S. Burbank, Mrs. James Phillips, Jr., Mrs. C. T. Crocker, Mrs. Rodney Wallace, Mrs. A. Crocker, Sen., David Bou- telle (deceased), Gardner S. Burbank, George F. Fay, Miss Eleanor A. Norcross.
Annual meeting last Monday in September. Meetings of the board of managers on last Monday in December, March and June. Meeting of relief committee second Mon- day of each month, at 4 P. M. Headquarters of the Union in the office of Mrs. A. Crocker, Sen.
THE FITCHBURG AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION,
Chapter No. 48 of the National Association, was formed in January, 1886, by the consolidation of four chapters of the Agassiz Association and the Young American Industrial Society. It is doing much to promote the personal study of nature by the young people of the city. The officers are : President, W. G. Farrar ; Vice-President, George B. Hitch- cock : Recording Secretary, William B. Page ; Correspond- ing Secretary, Frank A. Marble ; Treasurer, E. Adams Hartwell ; curator, C. E. Burnap.
Executive Committee-W. G. Farrar, George B. Hitch- cock, G. V. Upton, H. C. Patch, C. E. Burnap, Nellie M. Silsby, Mary L. Garfield, Cora P. Blanchard.
THE FITCHBURG HOME FOR OLD LADIES.
Incorporated Sept. 4, 1883.
The project of establishing a home for aged women in Fitchburg originated in a society of benevolent ladies, who had organized in the autumn of 1879, under the name of the "Ladies' Union Aid Society," chiefly for the purpose of aid- ing young girls, teaching them to sew and kindred employ- ments. The first annual meeting was held Dec. 6, 1883. In January, 1884, the corporation received a generous gift from Dr. A. W. Sidney of a deed of land lying on Marshall street, to be used as the managers might think best for the benefit of the home. Soon after this the society was called
Emerson , Fitchburg
All Sidney
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ORGANIZATIONS.
upon to part with their friend and generous supporter, Mr. L. J. Brown, the first president of the corporation. Whose faithful services and generous support had been most cheer- fully given and to whose unfailing interest and substantial aid the early success of the enterprise was mainly due. Upon the death of Mr. Brown the society elected as his successor Dr. Sidney, who has been spared for active labor in that position until the present time.
In August of 1885 occurred the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Boutelle Robinson, a life member of the corporation, and one who had given her cordial interest to the establishment of the Home. Mrs. Robinson left a legacy to the Home which was amply suffi- cient to warrant the pur- chase and the opening of a Home at an early day. This bequest was a signal assurance of God-speed to the work which had been progressing through two years of corporate - existence. Accordingly, after due consideration, HOME FOR OLD LADIES. and after weighing the relative advantages of several places available, the estate lo- . cated on the corner of Summer and Beacon streets was secured, as best adapted, both for situation and household convenience, to the requirements of the Home. Through the generosity of friends the Home was furnished and ready for opening in June, 1886.
The present officers are : President, Dr. A. W. Sidney; Vice-President, Mrs. C. W. Wilder ; Treasurer, Mr. B. F. Wallis ; Secretary, Miss M. D. Tolman.
Executive Committee-Mr. I. C. Wright, Mr. William M. Leathe, Mr. H. A. Willis, Mrs. I. C. Wright, Mrs. Laban Cushing, Mrs. Lowell M. Miles, Mrs. M. C. Crocker. Matron, Mrs. Z. A. Rich ; Physician, Dr. A. W. Sidney.
12
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
UNION AID HOSPITAL OF FITCHBURG.
The question of the establishment in this city of a hospital for the care of the sick or injured, who are without the means of suitable treatment elsewhere, has been raised from time to time among benevolent and philanthropic persons and the medical profession for several years. Recently such an in- stitution came to be regarded as more and more a necessity and the eighth of January, 1885, a few persons deeply inter- ested in the matter associated themselves together for the purpose of forming a corporation to be known as the Union Aid Hospital of Fitchburg. The first meeting of the sub- seribers was held on the nineteenth of January. At this meeting by-laws were adopted, directors chosen, committees appointed. and all necessary steps taken in compliance with the laws of the state to obtain incorporation.
A certificate of incorporation was issued on the twenty- sixth day of March. Monthly meetings of the board of managers have been held since, and all persons chosen for different positions entered upon the work with a readiness to commence active measures for the achievement of their pur- pose. The object sought to be accomplished, the relief of suffering, especially the distress of the unfortunate, is one that appeals to the noblest instincts of our nature, and one that is entitled to the most cordial sympathy from the com- munity at large.
The officers of the incorporation are : President, Dr. George D. Colony ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Dolly Marble, E. R. Turner, A. F. Whitney : Secretary and Treasurer, S. W. Huntley : Clerk, H. E. M. Young.
Directors-Dr. George D. Colony, E. M. Dickinson, George E. Waite, J. W. Kimball, Dr. F. H. Thompson, Mrs. W. O. Brown, George E. Clifford, Walter A. Fair- banks, Charles F. Putnam, George F. Simonds, Mrs. H. J. Putnam, Mrs. L. O. Allen, W. R. Deering, Dr. C. H. Rice, H. G. Morse.
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ORGANIZATIONS.
THE PARK CLUB
was organized Jan. 1, ISSI : having for its object the promo- tion of social intercourse, the cultivation of a better acquaintance among business men of the city. The officers are : President, Dr. E. P. Miller: Scoretary, Herbert I. Wallace ; Treasurer, C. E. Ware.
Directors-R. Wallace, James L. Chapman, L. Sprague, G. H. Spencer, O. H. Lawrence,
Executive Committee - Leander Sprague, George H. Spencer, Eli Culley.
THE WINDSOR CLUB
was organized with the same social features as the Park Club, but its membership is principally made up from the younger business men of the city. The officers are : Picsi- dent, J. W. Palmer; Vice-President, W. M. W. Spring ; Secretary, W. E. Sheldon : Treasurer, F. D. Page.
Directors-C. E. Wallace, J. H. Scott, C. A. Hubbell, J. W. M. Brown, O. F. Lord.
Executive Committee-Dr. O. F. Lord, W. M. W. Spring, J. W. M. Brown.
THE CHAPIN CLUB
is a social and literary society connected with the First Universalist church, organized the first of January, 1884.
Its officers are : President, Edward A. Brown; Vice- President, N. B. Stone: Secretary, Mrs. E. A. Brown : Treasurer, H. A. Damon.
Executive Committee-Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Sibley, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Litchfield. H. A. Sargent, Walter Hardy, G. HI. Carter, Mrs. W. L. Humes, Misses Kate Chaffin, Hattie Dudley and Lucy Brown.
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
THE ARLINGTON CLUB
was organized Jan. 1, 1886. Its membership is limited to married men under thirty-seven years of age. It is a bene- ficial as well as a social organization and has a fund from which a benefit of fifty dollars is paid upon the death of a member, or twenty-five dollars upon the death of the wife of a member. Frederick Ryan was instrumental in securing the organization of the Club and was its first president.
The present officers are : President, Thomas H. Doherty, Vice-Presidents, Charles Smith, J. F. Ward; Recording Secretary, William Ryan; Financial Secretary, Joseph Flynn ; Treasurer, Frederick Ryan.
Board of Directors-T. II. Doherty, John Screenan, Bernard H. Flaherty.
Sick Committee-Michael Kennedy, John Mally, Michael Lynch. Sergeant-at-Arms, Michael Kennedy.
THE PINE TREE CLUB
held its first meeting at the office of Colonel E. P. Loring on the evening of Nov. 30, 1886, at which time thirteen per- sons gave in their names for a permanent organization. It was quite a surprise party, as friends and neighbors met that had known each other for years in this city and learned for the first time that they were not strangers in their native state of Maine.
The following persons were present on that occasion : E. P. Loring, Norridgewock ; B. G. Bagley, Clinton ; Mrs. H. M. Francis, Skowhegan ; Dr. Francis B. Joy, Starks; Seth E. Brigham, Bridgeton; Joseph T. Goodwin, Dresden ; William R. Deering, Saco; Sumner E. Bowman, Norridge- wock ; James M. Appleby, Canaan ; John A. Whitcomb, Biddeford : Samuel T. Johnson, Windham; Henry M. Saunders, Wiscassett ; Henry B. Dyer, New Sharon.
CHAPTER IX.
PAPER MAKING.
PIONEER PAPER MA
MAKERS
APER-MAKING, which is one of the most valuable industries of Fitchburg. was commenced in a mill built by Thomas French, on the site of the Rollstone Machine Company's works on Water street, and was owned by Gen. Leonard Burbank. It was after- ward owned by Crocker and Gardner, and later by Alvah Crocker.
The second paper-mill was built by A. Crocker & Co., in West Fitchburg, on the present site of the Rodney Wal- lace middle mill. Being successful, Alvah Crocker began to increase his business and took Gardner S. Burbank into com- pany with him. The firm of Crocker, Burbank & Co. was formed in 1850. They soon began to enlarge their business, building and purchasing new mills until, at the present time, the firm owns six large mills : The Cascade Mill, built in 1847 ; the Upton Mill, on the road to William Woodbury's, built in 1851 ; the Hanna Mill, built in, 1852 ; the Lyon Mill, in Rockville, built in 1853 ; the Whitney Mill, also in Rock- ville, built in 1847 ; and the Stone Mill, below the Snow and Cascade Mills, built in 1854.
Mr. Crocker's native place was Leominster, his parents poor, his father being a vatman in the Nichols and Kendall paper-mills, and there at the age of eight years, Alvah was put to work. His habits of industry and economy, and de- sire for knowledge were early manifested, and his plans per- sistently carried out in spite of difficulties. His employer's
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library furnished the first source of book knowledge, and his inquiring turn of mind led him to make the most of his sur- roundings for the acquisition of practical ideas.
At the age of sixteen, he had saved fifty dollars with which he entered Groton Academy, and remained until he was obliged to leave to obtain more money. Not receiving encouragement from his father, he gave up all ideas of get- ting a college education, and made the most of his limited opportunities, managing in one way or another to obtain
C.F.JEWETT =CO.
OFFICE OF CROCKER, BURBANK & CO.
books and continue his studies outside of his regular hours of labor.
In 1820, he went to work in a paper-mill in Franklin, N. H., and in 1823, removed to this city and entered the em- ploy of Gen. Leonard Burbank, the pioneer paper-maker of Fitchburg. 4 Three years later, becoming dissatisfied with working for wages, and impelled by his active and ambitious spirit, we find him embarking in business for himself. Se- lecting a spot of land, in West Fitchburg, he built, with the
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PAPER MAKING.
aid of borrowed capital, his first paper-mill, its location be- ing in a birch swamp, and not easily accessible as the river road was not then built.
In addition to the natural disadvantages of location, soon after starting, changes had to be made from hand labor to machinery, in order to compete successfully with other mills, and to add to his difficulties. the mill building was injured by a freshet. calling for expensive repairs. The times were hard, threatening financial disaster, but through it all he worked on with untiring energy, hopeful and determined.
C.F.JEWETT=CO.
THE "BRICK" MILL.
and finally weathered the storm. Some idea of the obstacles he encountered at this time may be learned from the fact that he then owed twelve thousand dollars on his original invest- ment, and an expenditure of ten thousand dollars had to be made for machinery, beside the amount due his commission agents. Up to this time, he had sent his product to a com- mission house in Boston, as an offset to rags and chemicals used, and the returns made by them showed that some of his paper had been sold, but much of it had not, and they in- formed him "they had concluded not to guarantee," having against him a balance of $4,000 in their favor ; this, although not due, was loudly and unscrupulously called for. There
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
was but one course open for him to pursue. He began to sell his paper directly to consumers, opening accounts, with yearly settlements only, for what stock he wanted, through- out the country, working month after month by day, and frequently taking his product to Boston by night, working incessantly to pay back debt and interest.
In 1834 Mr. Crocker was employed by the town to get a road further up the Nashua river, but meeting with opposi- tion by the landholders, he bought the whole Nashua valley to the Westminster line, gave the land for the road, and by
FWETT & CO
THE "STONE" MILL.
this investment laid the foundation of financial success. All the mills of Crocker, Burbank & Co. have since been located in this valley.
In all of the interests of the city with which Mr. Crocker became identified, he exhibited the same rare business sa- gacity and foresight shown in the management of his private affairs. He saw that whatever would increase the business facilities of the city and build it up would benefit the individ- ual as well, and pay for all the effort necessary to its accom- plishment.
At this time Fitchburg was without railroad communica- tion with the outside world, and Mr. Crocker bent his ener-
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PAPER MAKING.
gies to the securing of a railroad from Boston to Fitchburg. In the prosecution of this work, he went, in 1836, to the leg- islature and began to publicly advocate the measure. His first idea was to secure a branch road either from Lowell or Worcester, but later, in 1842, he came out boldly in favor of a direct line from Boston to Fitchburg, and in spite of all op- position and ridicule, the Fitchburg Railroad was built. March 5th. 1845. Mr. Crocker rode into Fitchburg on the first locomotive, and was the first president of the road. The first (stone) depot was built on land owned by Mr. Crocker.
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