USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > Fitchburg, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 22
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CHURCHES AND HOMES.
CHIRIST CHURCH (EPISCOPAL).
This church and society was organized Oct. 7, 1863, with the Rev. H. L. Jones, of New York city, as the first rector. Their church, which is a fine stone building, was built in 1867, and consecrated in April, 1868. It is situated on Main street, between Hartwell and Fox streets, and ad- jacent to Monument Square, (as shown in the view of Monu- ment Square in the military chapter.)
In February, 1875, the Rev. H. L. Jones was succeeded by the Rev. T. Logan Murphy. of Newport, R. I., who re- signed Nov. 9, 1876. The Rev. Emilius W. Smith, of Mc- Keesport, Penn., accepted the invitation of the church in August, 1877, and resigned June 2, 1884 ; from this time the parish was supplied by the Rev. G. W. Porter, D. D., until June 1885, when the present Rector was settled.
The officers of the church and Sunday school are : Rector, Rev. Charles Morris Addison ; wardens, Dennis Fay, George D. Colony ; vestry, George F. Fay, John Upton, James L. Chapman, Charles T. Crocker, Henry T. Page, A. B. Haskell, Alvah Crocker, C. A. Cross, Eli Culley, J. W. Ogden ; treasurer, George F. Fay ; clerk, James L. Chapman ; organist, William H. Gerrish ; sexton, William Wood. Sunday school held in the church.
Charles Morris Addison, the present Rector of Christ church, was born in Charlestown, Mass., July 16, 1856. His early life was passed in Washington, D. C., where he was educated at the Preparatory Department of Columbia College. He was prepared by tutor for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., where he studied civil engineering. In 1878 he went to Cambridge, Mass., and prepared at Harvard College and the Episcopal Theological School for the ministry. Graduating in 1882, he was called to the Rectorship of St. John's church, Arlington, Mass., and appointed missionary at Winchester. In 1885 he was called to his present parish and assumed charge June 1, 1885.
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
ROLLSTONE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In 1868, owing to the insufficiency of the Calvinistic church to accommodate the increased congregations, and the evident need of a church in the easterly section of the village, a division took place, and the Rollstone church and society was formed.
ROLLSTONE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Rev. Leverett W. Spring, a graduate of Williams Col- lege and of Hartford Theological Seminary was engaged as pastoral supply for one year. The first public services were held in the hall of the American House, March 8, 1868.
303
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
The church was organized on the sixteenth of the following month, comprising 150 members. Oliver Ellis and J. A. Conn were appointed deacons pro tempore. On the same day Mr. Spring was ordained. and installed as pastor. Soon after this the society was incorporated, and steps were imme- diately taken to raise funds for building a church. A site was secured at the intersection of Main and Snow streets, ground was broken for the foundation in August, 1868, and the corner stone laid Oct. 5, of the same year. The church was dedicated Feb. 24, 1870. The first deacons of the church were Samuel Burnap, Oliver Ellis, John A. Conn, S. Newell Weston, David Boutelle, William L. Bullock. The pastors have been Rev. Leverett W. Spring. from April, 1868, to March, 1875. The Rev. G. R. W. Scott, D. D., entered upon his duties as pastor in the fall of 1875, continu- ing in active service until December 1885, when he was obliged to give up his work for a time and seek needed rest. In the winter of 1886 he went abroad, the Rev. W. S. Alex- ander, D. D., supplying in his absence. Dr. Scott finding that his health would not warrant his return, the people of his charge reluctantly accepted his resignation, and May II, 1887, his successor, the present pastor, was installed.
Charles S. Brooks. the present pastor of the Rollstone Congregational church, was born in New Braintree, Mass., Jan. 19, 1840. He graduated at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, in 1858, and at Amherst College in 1863. After engaging in teaching over two years as principal of the high and grammar school in Rockland, Mass .. he pursued a course of theological study at Andover Seminary, from which he graduated in 1869. He was pastor of the Congregational church in Tyngsboro, Mass., from September, 1869, to August, 1872 : of the Congregational church, South Deer- field, Mass., from January, 1873, to April, 1877 ; of the Sec- ond Congregational church in Putnam, Conn., from May, 1877, to February, 1887. He was installed pastor of the Rollstone church, May 11, 1887.
The present officers of the church, society and Sunday school are: Pastor, Rev. C. S. Brooks ; church committee,
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
in addition to pastor and deacons-Ezra B. Rockwood, R. R. Conn, Dr. D. B. Whittier, Charles W. Wilder, S. N. Weston, D. C. Harrington ; church clerk, S. Newell Weston ; church treasurer, W. E. Clifford ; executive parish committee-R. R. Conn., S. N. Weston, C. H. Doten ; par- ish clerk, Frank E. Fairbanks; parish treasurer, E. R. Farnsworth ; sexton, T. R. Lawrence; Deacons-J. C. Moulton, Frederick Fosdick, Cyrus S. Tolman, H. S. Hitch- cock, C. H. Doten, F. E. Fairbanks. Superintendent of Sunday school, J. C. Moulton ; assistant superintendent, D. C. Harrington ; organist, Lucy Conn Potter ; chorister, J. H. Potter.
WEST FITCHBURG M. E. CHURCH,
as an organization, was established Nov. 17, ISSI, with twenty-two members and six probationers. About the time of its organization there was unusual religious interest, and several persons were converted and joined the church. The accommodations of the chapel, which was built in 1874, as a mission chapel, were inadequate for the increasing congrega- tion, and the present church was built, and dedicated May II, 1883.
The first pastor, Rev. F. T. Pomeroy, was returned by the New England Conference, after three years' service, for a fourth year, at the earnest request of the church. This action was rendered possible under the mission rule, there having been no church organization during the first year of Mr. Pomeroy's appointment. The second pastor, Rev. William Wignall, succeeded to the pastorate of the church April, 1884 ; Rev. Elias Hodge April, 1885; and April, 1887, Rev. W. W. Baldwin. The present officers of the church are : Pastor, Rev. W. W. Baldwin ; stewards, James Sheppard, George J. Pethybridge, Charles Taylor, Henry K. Tucker, Edward Pickwick, Hugh Irving, George S. Coggswell, George Pierce, Robert Beer, William H. Craig ; trustees, Charles Taylor, David McTaggart, George S. Coggswell, George J. Pethybridge, Edward Pickwick, Cal- vin Beer, James Sheppard, George Pierce, James Pearce ; sexton, Fred S. Hedenberg.
305
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
The Sunday school has been in existence since Nov. 15, 1874. W. W. Whiting, superintendent, and Moses Coggs- well, assistant, were its first officers. From the time of its organization to April 18, 1875, when it was re-organized, the average attendance was about forty-five. The attendance has gradually increased, and is about 130 at the present time, with an enrolled membership of nearly 200.
The West Fitchburg Social Circle, an auxiliary society, was formed in February, 1876, its object being to bring the people together and help in enlarging the circle of ac- quaintance. It has been a help to the community, socially, and to the church, financially, and still exists as the "Ladies' Sewing Circle."
During the first years of holding meetings, several gen- tlemen having large business interests in that part of the town, by their liberal donations of land and money, provided and furnished a suitable place of worship, and have since generously contributed to the support of public worship. The mission chapel thus erected forms the chapel part of the present church edifice. The church membership is fifty-six. with twelve probationers.
Rev. W. W. Baldwin, at present pastor of the West Fitchburg M. E. church, was born in Blenhiem, N. Y., May 30, 1837. He was educated at Union College under the celebrated Dr. Nott. In June, 1862, he graduated in the- ology from what has since become the School of Theology of Boston University.
He was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal church in August, 1859, at Seward, N. Y. In May, 1862, he joined the Maine Conference, and was sent to mission work in Gorham, Coos County, N. H. He organized the church at that place and built the church edifice during the first year. His fields of labor since then have been in Maine, Colorado, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Three years ago last April he was transferred, without his solicitation, into the New England Conference, to fill the pulpit of the M. E. church in North Andover, which had become vacated. After three years of service there he came to the West Fitch-
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
burg church, in April last. His present efforts are directed toward intensifying the religious life of the church, and gradually placing the church on a surer financial basis. Ir his preaching he intends to be catholic to an extent that peo- ple of all denominations may find themselves benefited, while in his pastoral work he strongly advocates "organized christianity."
CHURCH OF SACRED HEART (CATHOLIC, ) WEST FITCHBURG.
This church was organized in 1878. Its first pastor was the Rev. James Canavan, who was succeeded by Rev. James Donahoe, followed by the Rev. J. L. Tarpey, the present pastor, in June, 1886.
Connected with the church are the Sacred Heart Total Abstinence and Literary Society, for young men ; the Young Ladies' Sacred Heart Sodality ; Society of the Holy Name, for boys ; and Children of Mary, for young girls.
The superintendents of the Sunday school are Michael Lee and Mary O'Brien ; organist of the church, Miss Lizzie McCann.
FRENCH CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1886, with Rev. C. Beau- doin as pastor. In December of the same year 52,000 feet of land and a dwelling-house on Walnut street was purchased and a chapel with basement erected, the house being remod- elled and used as a parsonage and temporary school. It is expected that a church will be built within the next two or three years, when the chapel will be used as a school building.
HOMES OF FITCHBURG.
The changes in Fitchburg are nowhere more noticeable than in the style of building. In the early days of the town the settlers located round on the hills for better protection from the Indians, or for other good and sufficient reasons, and little thought was given to the architecture of their dwellings, which were for the most part rude log houses,
LO.
C.F.JE
VOSE ESTATE, PROSPECT ST., RESIDENCE OF JOHN PARKHILL.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. EUGENE T. MILES, BLOSSOM STREET.
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CHURCHIES AND HOMES.
either stockaded or garrisoned, and the interiors furnished with only the plainest articles of necessary use. After this came the one and two story framed farm houses, with their enormous stone chimneys and fireplaces, suggestive of corn bannocks, pumpkin pies and kitchen dances. The timbers in these houses, huge beams of the toughest oak, were well calculated to stand the ravages of time, and it is therefore not at all strange that some of the first of these old landmarks remain with us until the present day. One of them was built by Amos Kimball, on the Samuel Hale farm, and is now a portion of the old house in the rear of the
J. HOLLAND'S RESIDENCE, 1840.
present residence. Later on we find an improvement in the style of building. with a greater variety in outward form and a sensible reduction in the size of chimneys, but with the same unnecessary strength of beams and rafters. A house of this class is now standing on the corner of Charles and Linden streets. It was originally a parsonage, occupied by the Rev. John Payson, and stood on the site of the present residence of Samuel Burnap on South street. Mr. Burnap purchased this house and a large tract of land of Mr. C. Marshall, in 1838, and removed the old house to where it is now located, to make room for his present residence. Then
308
FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
came the more modern houses built according to the taste or fancy of the owner, and with better interior finish and fur- nishing ; among these were the square cottage, plain but homelike, the octagon, and the story and a half cottage, with projecting chamber, supported by turned posts, thus forming a front piazza. The transition from the latter to the more
RESIDENCE OF HENRY A. GOODRICH, HIGHLAND AVENUE.
pretentious structure, the classic mansion, with its heavy columns was most natural. The Mansard roof was popular for a time, as well as the Gothic and Italian style of archi- tecture. Many of these residences, probably more than five hundred in number, were built under the direction of William H. Goodwin. our present inspector of buildings. For the picturesque and attractive architecture of later years, the city is largely indebted to Henry M. Francis. Many of our
309
CHURCHES AND HOMES.
modern public buildings were built from his plans, as well as a large number and variety of private residences. This variety adds greatly to the general appearance of the city and while many costly and elegant dwellings have been con- structed, in many instances the reasonable cost of land and
to:' S.E.BROWN, BOSTON.
DR. THOMAS PALMER'S RESIDENCE, 1848.
building material has induced individuals of moderate means to build, and it is gratifying to know that the great propor- tion of dwellings are being built by individuals as permanent homes, rather than by capitalists for an investment. Such a condition of things indicates a healthy and natural growth,
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
and will serve as a permanent founda- tion for the Fitch- burg of the future. To every young man thinking of settling down, to middle- aged men with fami- lies to bring up, who contemplate making a change and want
RESIDENCE OF HENRY ALLISON.
RESIDENCE OF DR. A. W. SIDNEY.
or intend to own a home of their own, to such Fitchburg offers a stand- ing inducement.
Furthermore a de- scription of the advan- tages and attractions of the community may be supplemented by a refer- ence to the people. You will find them a substan- tial and energetic class,
to find a place where there is good air and pure water, the best of schools and churches, the best society, the fewest rum- shops, not necessarily the most aristocratic town, but the one which is suited to the great middle class, who pay their way as they go and either own
RESIDENCE OF DR. CHARLES H. RICE.
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CHURCHES AND HOMES.
ready to welcome new comers to share the advantages they them- selves enjoy. Many of them are well-to-do mechanics, mostly na- tive born citizens, and generally owners of their homes.
According to the census of 1885 the number of inhabitants was 15,375. and at the present time, judging from the usually accepted bases for calculation, it has reached at least 18.000. In this busy, thriving little city, the seeker for a home will find all
TWIN COTTAGES, CHARLES STREET.
E. E. HOWARD'S COTTAGE, MILK STREET.
the elements vitally essential to its estab- lishment, and may, if he choose, par- ticipate with others. who, having chosen Fitchburg for their abiding place, know the truth through a personal experience.
FITCHBURG.
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. MASON.
Nested among her hills she lies,- The city of our love ! Within her, pleasant homes arise ; And healthful airs and happy skies Float peacefully above.
A sturdy few, 'mid hopes and fears, Her fair foundations set : And looking backward now, through years Of steady gain, how small appears Her old estate !- and yet,
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
She dons no autocratic airs, In scorn of humbler days, But shapes her fortunes and affairs, To match the civic wreath she wears And justify her bays.
4 Honor and Truth her old renown : Conservative of both, The virtues of the little town She holds in legacy, to crown The city's larger growth.
Nor ease nor sloth her strength despoil : Her peaceful farmers till, With patient thrift, th' outlying soil,
Her trained mechanics deftly toil, Her merchants ply their skill ;
Her ponderous engineries supply A thousand waiting needs ; Her wheels revolve, her shuttles fly,- And ever where the prize hangs high, Her foot, unfaltering, leads.
Her sympathies are large and sweet : And when, at Freedom's call, The war flags waved, the war drums beat, She sprang, responsive, to her feet, And freely offered all !
Alert in War, she emulates The Arts of Peace, as well : Religion, Order, guard her gates ;
Wealth, Culture, Thrift, like happy Fates, Her destinies foretell.
So, through the round of years, she keeps Advancing on her past : Her old-time vigor never sleeps,- And even as she sows she reaps. God bless her to the last !
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