USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > Fitchburg, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 4
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SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
E. E. Farrar.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
William H. Goodwin.
BOARD OF HEALTHI.
The Mayor and Aldermen.
The names of those who have served the city as Alder- men previous to 1887 are :
1873. Ward I, Elijah M. Dickinson ; 2, Charles T. Crocker ; 3, William H. Vose; 4, Ezra B. Rockwood ; 5, Benjamin Snow ; 6, John Q. Wright.
1874. Ward I, James Goodrich ; 2, Edwin D. Works ; 3, William H. Vose; 4, Ezra B. Rockwood ; 5, Benjamin Snow ; 6, Festus C. Currier.
1875. Ward I, James Goodrich ; 2, Edwin D. Works ; 3, Leander Sprague ; 4. Alfred R. Ordway ; 5, Andrew B. Sherman ; 6, Festus C. Currier.
1876. Ward I, James Goodrich ; 2, Daniel R. Streeter ; 3, Leander Sprague ; 4, George Robbins ; 5, Andrew B. Sherman ; 6, Isaac C. Wright.
1877. Ward I, Charles F. Putnam ; 2, Harrington Sib- ley ; 3, Charles T. Crocker ; 4, John W. Kimball ; 5, Eli Culley ; 6, Sylvanus Sawyer.
IS78. Ward I, Charles F. Putnam ; 2, Harrington Sib- ley ; 3, Francis Sheldon ; 4, George Robbins ; 5, Eli Culley ; 6, S. A. Webber.
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CITY GOVERNMENT.
1879. Ward I, William A. Foster : 2, Harrington Sib- ley : 3. Francis Sheldon : 4, Lucius Aldrich ; 5, Asa S. Lawton ; 6, E. A. Goodrich.
ISSO. Ward I, Henry L. Rice ; 2, George F. Fay ; 3, Alonzo Davis ; 4, James L. Chapman ; 5, Asa S. Lawton ; 6, Scott A. Webber.
ISSI. Ward I, Salmon W. Putnam : 2, George F. Fay : 3, Alonzo Davis ; 4, Lucius Aldrich ; 5, Asa S. Lawton ; 6, Festus C. Currier.
1882. Ward I, Salmon W. Putnam ; 2, John F. Bruce : 3, Alonzo Davis ; 4, Lucius Aldrich ; 5, Jacob H. Fair- banks ; 6. A. B. Lawrence.
1883. Ward I, Henry O. Putnam ; 2, George E. Waite : 3, William E. Wallace; 4, James L. Chapman ; 5, Joel Joel ; 6, A. B. Lawrence.
1884. Ward I, Henry O. Putnam ; 2, George E. Waite ; 3. Gardner Farrar ; 4, John Burney ; 5, Joel Joel ; 6, Henry G. Morse.
1885. Ward I, Henry O. Putnam : 2, George E. Waite ; 3. Gardner Farrar ; 4, John Burney; 5, Joseph S. Wilson ; 6, Henry G. Morse.
ISS6. Ward I, L. H. Goodnow : 2, David M. Dillon : 3. John Parkhill ; 4, James F. D. Garfield ; 5, Henry M. Choate ; 6. Henry G. Morse.
The names of the Common Councilmen previous to 1887 are as follows, president of Common Council in small capitals :
I873. Ward I, Henry J. Colburn, Harrington Sibley, Franklin Lyon ; 2, Cornelius Bogart, Samuel D. Sheldon, Daniel R. Streeter ; 3, Samuel E. Crocker, Francis Sheldon, Leander Sprague : 4, HENRY A. WILLIS, Thomas C. Upton, Charles H. Brown : 5, Winchester Wyman, James A. Ferson, H. B. Rice ; 6, Charles L. Fairbanks, John Barnes, Henry McGrath.
1874. Ward I, HENRY J. COLBURN, Charles Mason, Henry L. Rice ; 2, Cornelius Bogart, Samuel D. Sheldon,
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Daniel R. Streeter : 3, Samuel E. Crocker, Francis Shel- don, Leander Sprague : 4, Lyman Patch, Thomas C. Upton, Charles II. Brown : 5, John R. Farnum, A. B. Sherman, Lorenzo Barker; 6, John J. Sheehan, Edward Dwyer, E. P. Young.
1875. Ward I, William A. Hardy, Harrington Sibley Henry L. Rice : 2, Cornelius Bogart, Stephen W. Dole, Daniel R. Streeter : 3, Charles Brigham, Francis Sheldon, Gardner Farrar: 4, Lyman Patch, Z. F. Young, E. A. Brown : 5, ELI CULLEY, J. A. Ferson, Lorenzo Barker : 6, John J. Sheehan, John Barnes. S. W. Putnam.
1876. Ward I, H. L. RICE, E. P. Kittredge, Samuel Stevens ; 2, Cornelius Bogart, Samuel A. Wheeler, Jr., John Phillips : 3, Gardner Farrar, Charles Brigham, Francis Sheldon ; 4, E. A. Brown, George D. Colony, J. R. Has- kell ; 5, J. A. Ferson, John Lowe, G. H. Kellogg ; 6, Ed- ward Dwyer, Edward Knapp, James B. Sargent.
1877. Ward I, E. P. Kittredge, William A. Hardy, F. A. Wood ; 2, Cornelius Bogart, William M. Pride, William Woodbury ; 3, Francis Sheldon, S. A. Wheeler, Jr., MOSES G. LYON: 4, George D. Colony, Lucius Aldrich, L. D. Bartlett ; 5, George H. Kellogg, Asa S. Lawton, Joel Joel ; 6, Edward Dwyer, Scott A. Webber, John J. Sheehan.
1878. Ward I, B. D. Dwinnell, Daniel A. Chaney, James Daley ; 2, William Woodbury, William Baldwin, Jr., J. F. Bruce ; 3, MOSES G. LYON, Richard A. Leonard, Alonzo Davis ; 4, Lucius Aldrich, Jonathan R. Haskell, 'Joseph A. Tufts : 5. George H. Kellogg, Joel Joel, Asa S. Lawton ; 6, John J. Sheehan, John Linnehan, P. B. Purtill. 1879. Ward I, M. F. Sweeney, M. W. Cummings, N. B. Sleeper : 2. Wm. Woodbury, Wm. Baldwin, Jr., John F. Bruce : 3, R. A. Leonard, Alonzo Davis, H. E. Huntley ; 4. J. A. Tufts, E. FOSTER BAILEY, Charles A. Priest : 5, Joel Joel, Albert N. Lowe, E. B. Macy ; 6, Edward Dwyer ; G. N. Green, M. J. Sparks.
ISSO. Ward I, M. F. Sweeney, Henry O. Putnam, Joseph T. Battles ; 2, John F. Bruce, Cornelius Bogart,
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CITY GOVERNMENT.
John Q. Peabody : 3. Richard A. Leonard. Francis F. Farrar, W. E. Wallace : 4. E. F. Bailey, John Burney, En- WARD P. LORING : 5, Joel Joel. Edward B. Macy, George H. Wheelock : 6, Edward Dwyer, M. J. Sparks, William L. Bartlett.
ISSI. Ward I. Henry O. Putnam, James B. Shannon. A. Cuthbertson ; 2. Cornelius Bogart. John Q. Peabody, Joseph Butler : 3, Henry G. Morse. William E. Wallace, Charles Brigham ; 4. E. F. Bailey, FREDERICK FOSDICK, Charles A. Priest ; 5, Henry M. Choate, Alvin O. Stickney, George H. Kellogg : 6, John J. Sheehan, Edward Dwyer. George N. Green.
1882. Ward I. James B. Shannon. Alexander Cuthbert- son, William A. Hardy ; 2. John Q. Peabody. James Pearce, John McNamara : 3. William E. Wallace. George B. Wood- ward. R. A. Leonard : 4, FREDERICK FOSDICK, Charles A. Priest, John Burney : 5. Henry M. Choate, John H. Parker, Albert A. Buxton ; 6, Charles Smith, Winchester Wyman, Horace M. Kendall.
1883. Ward I, George W. Luke, Alexander Cuthbert- son, Bernard H. Flaherty ; 2, John Q. Peabody. A. II. Proctor, James Pearce ; 3. Francis Sheldon, John Parkhill, A. B. Haskell : 4, Charles A. Priest, JOHN BURNEY, W. A. Macurda ; 5, Charles H. Glazier, Joseph S. Wilson, John H. Parker; 6, Horace M. Kendall, Henry Concannon, Henry McGrath.
1884. Ward I, Bernard H. Flaherty, George W. Luke. Joseph T. Battles : 2, James Pearce, Bela W. Blood, A. H. Proctor ; 3, John Parkhill, John H. Daniel's, Uriah E. Cleve- land ; 4, GEORGE H. SPENCER, William A. Macurda. Carmi M. Parker ; 5. John H. Parker, Charles H. Glazier, M. A. Holton ; 6. H. M. Kendall, Henry McGrath, Henry Concannon.
IS85. Ward I, Patrick Donlan, Bernard HI. Flaherty. Raymond J. Parker ; 2, James Pearce. Bela W. Blood. Augustus H. Proctor ; 3, John H. Daniels, Uriah E. Cleve- land, Harlan P. Tyrrell ; 4, GEORGE H. SPENCER. Carmi
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
M. Parker, William Edwards ; 5, Hiram H. Lamb, Henry A. Hatch, J. Dudley Littlehale ; 6, Henry J. Lewis, Michael J. Hogan, James H. McCarty.
1886. Ward I, Raymond J. Parker, Patrick Donlan, Andrew Connery ; 2, George W. Weymouth, George S. Coggswell, George Wilmott ; 3. Benjamin G. Bagley, Wil- liam H. Goodwin, Henry F. Rockwell ; 4, William Edwards, CHARLES FOSDICK, Willard Dennis ; 5, Hiram H. Lamb, Alvin E. Battles, C. P. Washburn ; 6, James H. McCarty, Henry J. Lewis, Michael J. Hogan.
The following named persons have served as clerk of the common council : 1873, Sullivan W. Huntley : 1874-5, Henry A. Hawley ; 1876-77-78, George E. Clifford ; 1879- 80, Thomas C. Sheldon ; 1880 to present time, J. E. Kel- logg.
CHAPTER IV.
EDUCATIONAL.
S to educational advantages, Fitchburg is equal to the demands of the advanced sentiments of the times. The schools consist of what are denominated the High School, Grammar, Intermediate, Prim- ary and Ungraded Schools. The ar- rangement is designed to furnish a gradation of schools and regular system of instruction. Scholars from all parts of the city possessing the requisite quali- fications are admitted to the High School. This school affords the scholars the means of acquiring a systematic and thor- ough education, or, if they desire it, of fitting themselves for college. There are four grammar schools-one on High street, one on Day street, one on South street, and one in West Fitchburg.
The schools are kept forty weeks in the year, one term of sixteen weeks and two terms of twelve weeks each.
A school committee, composed of three citizens from each ward, is elected by the people, the mayor being ex officio chairman, and the president of the Common Council a mem- ber. A Superintendent of Schools is intrusted with direct supervision.
The present Superintendent of Schools is Joseph G. Ed- gerly. The School Committee for ISS7 are: Ward I- Lyman H. Goodnow, J. Warren White, Henry O. Putnam ; Ward 2-James H. Fairbanks, Charles K. Sawyer, John E. Kellogg ; Ward 3-Herbert I. Wallace, William E. Henry, Edward P. Downe ; Ward 4-James F. D. Garfield, Charles S. Hayden, Charles H. Rice ; Ward 5-Joseph M. R. Eaton,
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Nelson F. Bond, Stillman Haynes ; Ward 6-Peter MeDon- ough, John Gallagher, Edward Lennon.
The teachers are as follows :
IIIGHI SCHOOL.
Herbert W. Kittredge ( Principal), A. Eugene Nolen, E. Adams Hartwell, Martha Keith, Irene C. Cowles, Lizzie A. II. Sleeper, Dora T. Pierce.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
High Street-George H. Hastings ( Principal), Mary B. Johnson, Clara A. Woodbury, Ella F. Caswell, Emma L. Lane, Mary E. Fairbanks.
Day Street-George Winch ( Principal), Mary C. Smith, Harriet Chaffee, Adelaide Goodrich, Mary S. Bingham, Ger- trude L. Davis.
South Street-Clara D. Hosmer ( Principal), Mary A. Barnes, Sara J. Barber.
West Fitchburg-Shelley K. Townend (Principal), Emma J. Bennett, Clara B. Cutler.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
High Street-(A), Clara L. Tenney ; (B), Nellie F. Livermore.
Day Street-(A), vacancy ; (B), Jennie A. Goodrich.
Maverick Street-Mary E. Gallagher.
Rollstone Street-Adeline Damon.
South Street-Jennie M. Hills.
Middle Street-Lizzie M. Nolan.
South Fitchburg-Carrie L. Baldwin.
Clarendon Street-Phebe M. Blanchard.
Rockville-Rose A. Cullen.
Wachusett-Lillian A. Rose.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
School Street-(A), Stella B. Lowe ; (B), Etta F. Willard.
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EDUCATIONAL.
High Street-(AA). M. Lizzie Kimball : (B), Josephine Reynolds : (C), Carrie E. McMaster.
Day Street-(A), Lizzie M. Glazier; (B), Minnie L. Merrill : (C) , vacancy.
Highland Avenue-(A), M. Eldora Jones : (B), Edna A. Spring.
East Street-(A), Kate A. Gallagher; (B), Jennie R. Rice.
Maverick Street-L. Frances Jones.
Rollstone Street-(A), Jeanette Y. Wright : ( B), Minnie E. Bemis ; (C.). Mary A. Connig.
Middle Street-(A), Kate F. O'Brien : (B), Eva M. Barnes : (C). Lizzie A. Daly.
South Fitchburg-Nellie A. Dwyer.
Clarendon Street-(A), Harriet M. Delahanty ; (B).
Lilla M. Marble : (C), Alice E. Welch.
Rockville-Sarah L. Sawver.
Wachusett-Annie M. Bagley.
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
Mt. Elam-Jessie E. Worster.
Woodbury-Helen E. Woodbury.
Kimball-Mary A. Bartley.
Dean Hill-M. Lizzie Sullivan. Page-Annie L. Maynard.
Caswell-Ida M. Austin.
Pearl Hill-Addie M. Corey.
SPECIAL TEACHERS. ,
Laura F. Smith (Singing). William Briggs ( Drawing).
EVENING DRAWING SCHOOL.
William Briggs ( Principal), Julia A. Perkins (Assistant) .
Evening common schools are open each year, generally from November to March. This year there are schools at High Street, Day Street, and West Fitchburg.
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Parochial schools were opened two years ago on Water street and the number of pupils at Middle street and South Fitchburg were diminished thereby to such an extent that two schools at South Fitchburg were closed.
THE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
About 1830 some of the citizens formed an association called the High School Association of Fitchburg, which was an important supplement to the educational powers of the town. The directors were Benjamin Snow, Francis Perkins and Dr. Charles Wilder. Dr. Jonas A. Marshall was secretary and treasurer. A building called the Acad- emy was erected at a cost of $1,200 on land given for the purpose by Capt. Zackariah Sheldon and situated just in front of the present High School. The academy building was rented to individ- uals for school purposes until 1849, when the town voted to establish a public High School, and purchased the academy of the High School Association.
THE OLD ACADEMY
Afterwards the old academy build- ing was used for various purposes. It was here that Mr. E. Butterick started in the business of making shirt pat- terns, was successful, and removed to New York, establish- ing the business of E. Butterick & Co., one of the largest fashion establishments in the world.
In 1869 the academy was moved and the present high school building was built. The academy is now a part of the Rollstone House.
PRINCIPALS OF HIGH SCHOOL.
The first principal of the Fitchburg High School was ANSON SOUTHARD MARSHALL, a native of Lyme, N. H., where he was born Dec. 3, 1822. He fitted for college at Thetford Academy, Vt. ; graduated at Dartmouth College 1848 ; was principal of the High School 1849-51 ; studied law with
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EDUCATIONAL.
Wood & Torrey and later in Concord, N. H., with President Franklin Pierce and Hon. Josiah Minot ; admitted to the bar 1852 : assistant clerk of the New Hampshire House of Rep- resentatives 1853 : U. S. District-Attorney for New Hampshire during Buchanan's administration ; chairman of Democratic State Central Committee 1867 : from 1870 clerk and counsel of the Concord railroad. On July 4, 1874, while enjoying a picnic with his family in the grove near Pennacook Lake, ac- cidently shot by a militia company engaged in target practice.
HIGH STREET HIGH AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
His superior qualities as a teacher and his solicitude for the welfare of those under his charge are well remembered by those now living who were his pupils.
ENOCH GIBSON HOOK, A. B., was principal in 1851. MARTIN HEALD FISKE, A. M., 1852. REV. EZEKIEL HALE BARSTOW, A. M., 1852-53. JONATHAN CLARKSON BROWN, A. B., 1853-54. REV. MILAN HUBBARD HITCHCOCK, A. B., 1854. ELI ANDREWS HUBBARD, A. M .. 1854-57. HANSON LELAND READ, A. M., 1857-62.
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
FRANCIS HUNTINGTON SNOW, 1862-63. EDWARD DORR PRITCHARD, A. M., 1863-64. REV. WALTER WHITNEY HAMMOND, A. M., 1864-1865. RUEL BAXTER CLARK, A. B., 1865-1875.
RAY GREENE HULING, A. M., a native of Providence, R. I., where he was born Oct. 15, 1847 ; fitted for college at Prov- idence High School and at Mowry & Goff's English and Classical High School : graduated at Brown University 1869 ; assistant in Fall River High School 1869-1875 : visited Europe in 1875 and was principal of the Fitchburg High School from 1875 until 1886, when he accepted the position of Principal of the New Bedford High School.
HERBERT WILLIAM KITTREDGE, A. M., son of Russell HI. and Laura F. (Holmes) Kittredge, of Jaffrey, N. H. ; born in Nelson, N. H., Nov. 18, 1858: fitted for college at Keene, N. Il .; graduated at Dartmouth College 1879 ; studied methods at Quincy, Mass., fall of 1879; Master of Grammar School, East Bridgewater, Mass., 1880 ; Principal of Brandon Graded School, Brandon, Ct., 1880-84 ; North Brookfield, Mass., High School, 1884-85 ; Dover, N. H., High School, 1885-86 ; Fitchburg, Mass., High School since 1886 : married July 14, 1885, Marion Thatcher; visited Europe in 1887.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
JOSEPH GARDNER EDGERLY, son of Samuel J. and Eliza (Bickford) Edgerly ; born Oct. 12, 1838, in Barnstead, N. H. : moved to Manchester, N. H., in 1845 ; worked on a farm in Dunbarton, N. H., and in the mills at Manchester, during his boyhood, attending school a part of the year; fitted for college in the Manchester High School ; began teaching in a district school in New Boston, N. H., in the winter of 1857-58, "boarding round" according to the custom in those days: the next winter taught in one of the suburban schools of Manchester; principal of West Manchester Grammar School from September, 1859,
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EDUCATIONAL.
to March, 1862; entered the postal service at Fortress Monroe, April, 1862, but obliged to return North in July of the same year on account of his health; resumed teaching after regaining his health; principal of the Manchester Street Grammar School in 1863; sub-master Maverick School, East Boston, one term during college course ; entered the sophomore class of Dartmouth College in the fall of 1864, graduating in the class of 1867; elected superintendent of schools in Manchester the day after graduation, and held the position eight years ; superintendent of schools in Fitchburg since 1875 ; married, 1877, Mary J. Graves, of Groton, Mass.
HISTORY OF THE FITCHBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The history of this library is similar to that of other institutions of like character. Its growth has been gradual. It has developed from small beginnings. The Fitchburg Philosophical Society was organized, about the year 1828, for the purpose of maintaining lectures and debates. It was before this society that Hon. Nathaniel Wood delivered a series of lectures on the history of the town, the manuscript of which is now in the public library. From these lectures most of the material was obtained that was used in the prep- aration of Rufus C. Torrey's History of Fitchburg, published in 1836. The society soon after its organization purchased Rees's Cyclopedia in forty-seven volumes, including six volumes of plates. These books were intended to be the basis of a library, but the project was not a successful one, and in 1838 the six volumes were transferred to the Fitch- burg Library Association, the successor of the Philosophi- cal Association. These books are now in the public library. The new organization was apparently more successful than the former one, and quite a collection of books was made. The library of this association was kept in the store of Mr. Phineas A. Crocker, in a small building which stood where the Stiles building now stands.
In 1853 the Fitchburg Athenaeum was organized, "to
5
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
furnish facilities for intellectual, moral, and social improve- ment, by the establishment and maintenance of a library, reading room, and lectures." The Fitchburg Athenæum was not a public institution. It loaned books to its mem- bers.
The subject of establishing a public library was dis- cussed from time to time but no decisive action was taken till 1859. The warrant for the town meeting of that year contained the following article : - "To see if the Town will appropriate the amount allowed by law for the establishment of a Free Town Library or act anything thereon." The sentiment of the citizens seeming to be in favor of a free library the shareholders of the Atheneum held a special meeting previous to the town meeting to consider the ex- pediency of presenting their library to the town, but after some discussion it was decided, by a vote of twenty-five to fourteen, not to make such a disposition of the books belong- ing to the association.
The town meeting that year was held April 1Ith, and the citizens at that time voted-"To appropriate the sum of $1,831 for the establishment of a Free Town Library." A board of trustees was chosen at this meeting, consisting of Goldsmith F. Bailey, J. W. Mansur, James R. Wellman, Jabez Fisher, Thomas R. Boutelle, Thornton K. Ware, Hanson L. Read, Moses G. Lyon, and John J. Piper.
The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Fitchburg Athenaum occurred May 10, 1859, and at that meeting it was voted : - "To instruct the president and treasurer to sell all the property of the institution, aside from the money in the treasury (about $75), to the town of Fitchburg for $400." The town subsequently authorized the purchase of this property and thus came into possession of about 1,600 volumes.
There was also, at that time, another collection of books in the town, about 200 volumes, belonging to the Agricul- tural Library. These books were purchased by the trustees.
It was decided to use for the library, the room that had
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EDUCATIONAL.
been occupied by the Athenaum. This room, correspond- ing very nearly to the room now used for the mayor's office, was enlarged by the addition of the room adjoining in the rear. The library was opened for the delivery of books December I.
December 23, after the library had been open three weeks it was stated in the Sentinel that accounts had been opened with over 1,200 persons, that 2.775 volumes had been taken. and 1.937 volumes returned. It was also stated that the library hours as announced were insufficient, and it was deemed advisable, while the urgent demand for books continued, to keep open every evening excepting Sundays and holidays.
The library remained in the rooms first occupied until December, 1879, when it was removed to more commodious quarters in the extension of the city hall building, where it remained till July, 1885, at which time it was transferred to the Wallace Library and Art Building.
The librarians have been : Daniel Stearns, appointed November, 1859; B. P. Todd, April, 1861 ; J. M. Graham, April, 1862 ; C. N. Fessenden, April, 1865 ; Henry Jack- son, September, 1866; P. C. Rice, January, 1873.
The present board of trustees of the public library are : Louis D. Bartlett, Lewis H. Bradford, George D. Colony, Joseph G. Edgerly, Phillip J. Garrigan, George Jewett, James Phillips, Jr., George H. Spencer, Charles H. Rice, Herbert I. Wallace, Thornton K. Ware, Henry A. Willis. Chairman, Thornton K. Ware ; secretary, Joseph G. Edgerly ; treasurer, Lewis H. Bradford; committee on books, Messrs. Ware, Bartlett, Colony, Edgerly and Phil- lips ; committee on library, Messrs. Garrigan, Rice, Spencer and Jewett ; Committee on finance, Messrs. Bradford, Phil- lips and Willis ; committee on art, Messrs. Wallace, Ware and Willis. Librarian, Prescott C. Rice : assistants, Flor- ence Russell Dwinnell, George E. Nutting.
The following description of the " Wallace Library and
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FITCHBURG, PAST AND PRESENT.
Art Building" will give some idea of the beauty and elegance of the library apartments :
The spot selected for the building is the best possible for the purpose in the city. With Monument Square, upon which the city has expended $75,000, directly in front, and the court house beyond, the view from the new building is attractive, and there is no spot in the city where tasteful architecture could have a better effect. The location is central, conven- ient to the post-office, and several of the costliest buildings in the city are in the immediate vicinity .
The exterior of the building is built of Trenton pressed brick, with brown sandstone trimmings from the Kibbie quarry at Longmeadow and is in the Greek classic style of architec- ture. The foundation is dressed Rollstone granite and the basement is dimension ashler. The cornices, gutters and hips on the roof are of copper. The roof is covered with Brown- ville slate.
The building has a frontage of seventy-four feet, and a depth of sixty-five feet, with a central front projection six by twenty-five feet. The front entrance is approached by a walk of pressed brick and a flight of twelve dressed granite steps between ornamental buttresses of the same material as the steps. The front doors are placed in a recess eleven feet wide and six feet deep. The wall above the recess rests on a heavy double arch, supported on each side by two columns of polished red granite with carved capitals. Above the arch are three square-headed, single light windows, and the name of the building appears in raised letters-the word "Wallace" above the middle window and "Library and Art Building" just below it.
The sandstone trimmings above the two outside windows of the three are ornamented with fret work. Over these win- dows are three circular windows set in sandstone and at the sides of each window are round sandstone columns with carved foliage capitals. The whole is surmounted by a gable with modillion and dentil cornice, all of copper. In the frieze of this cornice the date of erection, "1884," is inscribed with scroll work each side of the inscription. The pediment is of brick.
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EDUCATIONAL.
The second floor is lighted by narrow windows arranged in groups, there being two groups of five each in front. On each side is a group of eight windows, to the right and left of which are double windows separated from the group by chim- ney piers. The rear is lighted by one group of four windows and three of two windows each.
The basement is lighted by square-headed mullion win- dows, four in front, five on each side and four in the rear. The windows of the first floor which are directly over those in the basement are circular-headed, and are trimmed with heavy molded Voussoirs with two lights of plate glass.
The top of the building is surmounted by a large sky-light, thirty by thirty-nine feet, with side lights beneath this part of the building.
In the window over the door of the main entrance is the city seal upon a plate of Venetian and antique glass five feet in diameter. In the lower corner of this window are panels of glass emblematic of art and literature ; the glass is of two thicknesses. Outside the building the effect can be seen only when the hall is lighted. From this hall one flight of marble stairs leads to the rooms above, another flight to the base- ment ; at the left is a door leading to the ladies' retiring room and directly opposite are the large swinging doors leading to the library proper. The floor of the entrance hall is of Italian marble and the wainscotting of Italian. Knoxville and Tennes- see marbles, relieved by rosettes of French Red ; the ceiling is frescoed in oil, the design being a delicate tracing upon a gold background, and the frieze is a scroll design in gold upon a deep red background. The hall is lighted by a large brass chandelier with two burners.
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