USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > Fitchburg, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 5
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The waiting room, which is separated from the entrance hall by swinging doors, is finished in oak and frescoed in neutral tints, and around the sides, for the use of persons waiting to receive books, are placed oak seats upholstered in brown leather.
The delivery counter is directly beneath the arch which opens into the main room for books. This book room is twenty-six feet by seventy feet, and sixteen feet in height, and
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at either end are larger fireplaces of brick, sandstone and marble. Connected with the main book room at one corner is a small room with wash bowl, etc., for the use of the librarian, and next to the librarian's room is the elevator which runs from the basement to the upper story.
On the left of the waiting room is the room for books of reference. The book cases, chairs, table, and mantel in this room are of oak and there is at one side a large fireplace for wood.
On the right of the waiting room is the reading room for magazines. The ceiling of this room is panelled with heavy carved oak cornices and beams, and the ceiling, frieze and walls are frescoed. There is also a heavy oak mantel with a plate glass mirror over it. The room is furnished with two large tables and a reading desk and chairs, all of oak. This room contains a fireplace.
In the basement there is a public reading room in which a large number of daily and weekly newspapers will be kept on file. Here are also the boiler room, and two large rooms which are to be used for work rooms and for storage purposes.
The upper vestibule is large and high. The style of the room is varied, being Gothic, German and Italian. The arched ceiling is frescoed in sombre hues with a frieze of subdued gold and in the cove above are paintings of natural flowers upon a dark background, while the flat surface has the same design as the hall below. Directly over the stairway is a large panel in blue with oak branches interwoven across.
This vestibule is lighted by a magnificent chandelier of eight burners made of brass, copper and oxidized silver. On the right of this room is the Trustees' room, which is beauti- fully frescoed, carpeted and finished in mahogany, and heated by an open fireplace. The furniture consists of a mahogany table and chairs of the same wood. Next to it is a toilet room for the use of the trustees. From the vestibule a door leads directly into the Art Gallery.
The Art Gallery is thirty-three feet by forty-four feet, and thirty-two feet in height, and is lighted entirely from above by corrugated glass panels in the ceiling, and windows of the
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same glass on the four sides of the monitor roof; the wood work of the ceiling is frescoed in dark olive and bronze. The fresco painting of this room is remarkably rich and harmo- nious in color effect, the style being the pure German Renais- sance. The dado is a dark olive relieved by a band of gilt : the walls for the pictures, a Pompeian red, surmounted by a frieze of rich design and color, representing conventional pomegranate leaves and fruit.
The general effect of the cove is a gold scroll upon a light blue background. In the cove are four large paintings, one upon each side of the room. There is one, "Arts and Sci- ences," directly opposite the main entrance. It represents Vulcan at his forge-Apollo as God of Music surrounded by the Muses representing painting, poetry, music, astronomy, history, etc. Above the main entrance, directly opposite "Arts and Sciences" is "Apollo Musagetes," in which Apollo is rep- resented as driving his chariot through the clouds, while he is surrounded by the Muses and pursued by the Fates. At one end of the room is a smaller painting called "Old Masters." In this picture a child is seen standing upon the edge of a staging, in an old cathedral, swinging a burning censer, out of the smoke of which arises the nude form of a woman, and over the woman an artist is bending with the palette and brushes in his hand. The conception of the picture is, that the old masters received their inspiration from the church, the child with the censer representing the Catholic church.
The picture at the other end of the room, a companion painting to "Old Masters," is called "Modern Art," and rep- resents a female artist painting from a living model, the idea being that modern artists paint directly from nature.
Around the Art Gallery are four small rooms, each twelve by twenty-three feet. All the wood floors in the building are of southern hard pine, and all the finish, with few excep- ceptions, is of oak. The doors are all made of oak and are heavy and substantial.
The works of Art which are now in the Art Gallery, as well as the collections of engravings, photographs and relics in the adjoining rooms, are a source of much profit and
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enjoyment to our citizens, and a great attraction to strangers who may be sojourning in our city.
At the time the Art Gallery was opened to the public, the main room was set apart for oil paintings, the west side room for photographs, the east side room for engravings and water colors, the south-east corner room for "relics," and the south- west corner room for exhibition of art work from the schools or such as might be required. The library was already in pos- session of a valuable collection of photographic copies of works of art in the galleries of Europe which were properly arranged, and to which some additions have been made by gift and purchase.
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A very good number of oil paintings have been received and also several large, fine steel engravings and photographs. The following is a list of the various pictures and articles thus far represented :
Oil Painting, "Headwaters of Owens River," artist, W. Keith ; presented by Thomas Mack.
Water Color, "Gathering Sea Weed, Pacific Coast," artist, F. A. McClure ; presented by D. B. Whittier.
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EDUCATIONAL.
Oil Painting, "Sentinel Rock," artist, G. Andrews : pre- sented by H. F. Coggshall.
India Ink Portrait of Anson Marshall, artist, J. C. Moulton : presented by H. A. Goodrich.
Oil Painting, "Gleams of Sunshine." artist. R. M. Shurt- leff : presented by H. I. Wallace.
Oil Painting, "A Quiet Nook," artist, J. Appleton Brown : presented by H. A. Willis.
Oil Portrait of Charles Sumner, artist, Edgar Parker : pre- sented by James Phillips, Jr.
Oil Portrait of Alvah Crocker, artist. Edgar Parker ; pre- sented by the family.
Engraving, "Haydn returning from England," presented by George F. Simonds.
Engraving. "The Jersey Beauties." presented by Henry Hale.
Engraving, "Departure of the Mayflower," presented by Rodney Wallace.
Engraving, "First Sunday in America," companion to "Departure of the Mayflower," presented by Rodney Wal- lace.
Oil Painting, "The Christening," artist. A. Bodenmuller ; presented by Rodney Wallace.
Four large and twelve small photographs of Colorado scenery, presented by Ivers Phillips.
Four extra large photographs of "St. Peters," "The Coli- seum," "The Forum," and "The Castle of St. Angelo," pre- sented by Rodney Wallace.
Fifty photographic copies of works of art in the Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C., presented by the Corcoran Art Gallery.
Oil Painting, "Thunder Storm in the Rocky Mountains," artist, W. G. Beaman ; presented by the artist.
Oil Painting, "On the banks of the Seine," artist, Jules Scalbert ; presented by Robert Graves.
Oleograph, "Henry III. and his Court;" presented by John Parkhill.
Engraving. "The Bathers ;" presented by John A. Lowell.
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Oil painting, "Twilight," and fifteen etchings ; artist, R. Lovewell ; presented by the artist.
Etching, "Courtship of Miles Standish," artist, C. G. Turner ; presented by H. C. Howells.
Oil portrait of Rodney Wallace, artist F. P. Vinton ; pre- sented by the trustees of 1885.
Oil painting, "Sunrise in the Rocky Mountains," artist, W. L. Sountag ; presented by Thomas Mack.
Pastel, "Woodland Solitude," artist, E. H. Rogers ; pre- sented by Rodney Wallace.
The value of the reference and reading room of the Li- brary cannot be computed : it is certainly one of the most im- portant features of the institution as an educator not only of the general public, but of the rising generation. For the benefit of those who are not yet aware of the peculiar advan- tages it affords, the practical and timely remarks of Superin- tendent Edgerly are here quoted. Speaking of the reference room in particular, he says :-
"This collection of books is growing in public favor every day, because the people are learning more and more how to use it. Persons from all parts of our city, and from the ad- joining towns, and sometimes from distant localities, come here to consult these books, which they cannot find in places nearer their homes.
" In some libraries, none under eighteen years of age are allowed free access to the reference room. With us, the pupils of the grammar schools are freely admitted and as far as time can be so assigned, assistance is given to them in their search for required information relating to their studies.
"Many of our teachers at the present time are receiving valuable aid from the library. A teacher is allowed to take nine books for use in the school. There are to be found in the library many books containing information bearing di- rectly upon the subjects concerning which certain schools are studying. Here is an opportunity to teach the pupils the value of a public library, to encourage them to make a care- ful study of good Books. This plan tends to bring the public school and the public library into close relation. The pupil
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needs to be impressed with the thought that he can have free access to the library after his school life is ended, that the library is to be a help to him in all the relations of life. Our young people need aid in the choice of reading matter. They should be taught not only how to read, but what to read. A catalogue-like the one now in use-carefully examined at home or in school renders efficient aid to the pupils in the selection of books. An interesting article in a magazine con- taining allusions to the works of certain authors frequently in- duces a person to read more of those authors.
"Constant use is made of the reference room. It is not always desirable nor convenient to carry from the library the volumes that a person wishes to consult in order to obtain in- formation upon certain topics, but books can be consulted in the reference room and much valuable time gained thereby."
CHAPTER V.
PROFESSIONAL.
O one class of our citizens are more highly esteemed and honored by the community than our family physicians, not only those in active service, but those who have passed off the stage, have endeared themselves to many now living to whom these brief sketches will be interesting. In response to this sen- timent of the people, and the desire also on the part of resident physicians for an extended sketch of Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, a considerable portion of this chapter is devoted to the preservation of the names and labors of Fitchburg doctors. We are indebted to the late Dea. L. H. Bradford for sketches of the early physicians. In the re- maining portion of the chapter are given brief sketches of present members of the legal profession.
DOCTORS.
A few years previous to the Revolutionary war, a young man, Dr. Thaddeus McCarty of Worcester, the first settled physician, supposed, came to this town. He married the daughter of Landlord Thomas Cowdin, the ancestor of some of our best citizens, and to whose memory the Hon. John Cowdin of Boston, has erected a fine granite monument on the brow of Mount Laurel cemetery in this city. Dr. Mc- Carty gained great skill as a physician and previous to his death removed from town.
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DR. JONAS MARSHALL, grandfather of Abel Marshall, settled here after the revolution, in the east part of the town, on the identical farm now occupied by his grandson. He continued practice and died here venerable in years and hon- ored as a physician.
DR. PETER SNOW, one of the earliest physicians in Fitch- burg, came here in 1782 from Lunenburg, having studied medicine with Dr. Abraham Haskell in that town. Dr. Snow succeeded Dr. Thaddeus McCarty, who had removed the pre- vious year to Worcester. He located in the Gen. James Reed house situated on the lot now occupied by the city hall. He was the principal magistrate and also the leading physician in the town for over forty years. From ISO1 to ISOS and from 1817 to 1820 he was a member of the board of selectmen of Fitchburg, and from 1817 to 1824 he was town clerk. He died Nov. 22, 1824, aged 65 years.
DR. PETER STEARNS SNOW, the eldest son of the above, was a licentiate of the Massachusetts Medical Society and commenced practice in connection with his father in 1815, and at his father's death was chosen to succeed him as town clerk from 1824 to 1829. He continued the practice of his profession until 1831, when on account of poor health, he re- tired from active practice. For many years he was a val- uable member of the school committee, and up to a late period was secretary of the board. He died Nov. 25, 1884, aged 91 years and II months.
DR. CHARLES SNOW, the youngest son of Dr. Peter Snow, graduated in Brunswick, Me., in 1824, and practiced in this town with his brother, Dr. Peter Stearns Snow, two years ; he then removed to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to join his broth- ers, Henry and Boylston, who had established themselves in mercantile business there. He continued to reside there until his death, which occurred January 15, 1884, aged So years.
DR. CHESTER J. FREELAND graduated at the Berkshire Medical College in Pittsfield in 1825; he practiced in the towns of Becket and Worthington 25 years. He came to this town in 1855, and from that time until his death, April
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Ioth, 1860, practiced as a homeopathic physician in Fitch- burg.
DR. JAMES C. FREELAND, homeopathic physician, son of the last named, graduated at the Cleveland Homeopathic College in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1851, settled in Fitchburg in I855, and died April 23, 1871, aged 39 years.
DR. WILLIAM B. CHAMBERLAIN came to this town in May, 1863, and formed a co-partnership with Dr. James C. Freeland ; he left Fitchburg in November, 1864.
DR. CHARLES WELLINGTON WILDER, son of Dr. Charles Woodward Wilder, graduated at the Medical Department of Dartmouth College in 1849: he commenced the practice of medicine in December of that year in the dwelling house on Main street, lately removed from the lot on which the Wal- lace Library and Art Building is erected ; he died at the in- sane hospital at Worcester.
DR. JAMES PRESTON CUMMINGS graduated at the Medical Department of Harvard University in 1851, and commenced practice in Leicester ; he removed to this town in 1854. He died August 27, 1858, aged 29 years, and was buried with Masonic honors.
DR. DAVID D. OTIS graduated at the Medical Department of Harvard University in 1856; he also commenced practice in Leicester and came to this town in the autumn of 1852, but soon afterwards removed to Providence, R. I., at which place he died in 1858.
DR. THOMAS W. WADSWORTH graduated at the Medical Department of Dartmouth College in 1851, and that year commenced practice in Fitchburg. During Dr. Hitchcock's absence in Europe, perfecting himself in surgery in the hos- pitals on the continent, Dr. Wadsworth took charge of his patients. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church in this town. He died in Petersham in March, 1854, and was buried here among those to whom he ministered and loved, aged 35 years. On his monument is the quotation : "He wrought all morning and rested at noon."
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DR. WILLIAM W. GODDING, of Winchendon, graduated at the Vermont Medical College in 1857. He was assistant physician in the Asylum for the Insane in Concord, N. H., from 1859 to 1862, and in July of the latter year he removed to Fitchburg, and commenced practice. In 1863 he received the appointment as assistant physician in the United States Hospital for the Insane in Washington, D. C., and accepted the same in September, relinquishing practice here.
DR. OSMYN L. HUNTLEY graduated at the Vermont Med- ical College in 1841, and the next year came to this town and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1853 he purchased the mansion house on Main street previously owned and occupied by Rev. Calvin Lincoln, in which he died in February, 1856, aged 36 years.
DR. JAMES RIPLEY WELLMAN graduated at the Medical Department of Dartmouth College in 1855 and succeeded Dr. Huntley on Main street in 1856. Dr. Wellman was one of the most promising young physicians-modest, scholarly and learned in his chosen profession, and sincerely mourned by his friends when he died in July, 1861, aged 32 years.
DR. ALFRED MILLER graduated at the Vermont Medical College and commenced practice in Ashburnham in 1845. He removed to Fitchburg in 1863 and located at the same place on Main street in which the two last named physicians had resided-the same location on which George F. Fay has lately erected the most costly residence in the city of Fitch- burg. Dr. Miller was one of the most popular physicians in Worcester North, and for several years was a member of the school committee, and a representative in the General Court from this city. He died universally regretted by the citizens of Fitchburg, Nov. 15, 1877, aged 62 years.
DR. JOSIAH NORCROSS graduated at the Medical Depart- ment of Harvard University in 1846; in August of that year he formed a co-partnership with Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle and settled in this town. In 1849 he removed to South Reading and relinquished practice.
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DR. ARTEMAS FARWELL removed to. Fitchburg in 1842 from Providence, R. I. He was in business in that city with Dr. Brown, who was so prominent in the Dorr war, and it was in their office that the incipient stages of the Rhode Island rebellion in 1841 and 1842 were planned.
DR. ELIJAH DARLING, of Westminster, removed to this town in the year 1828, and in 1831 he purchased the business of Dr. Peter S. Snow. After a short time he sold out to Dr. Otis Abercrombie, a graduate of the medical department of Yale College. In 1829, Dr. Abercrombie came to Fitchburg from Ashburnham, having practiced in that town about two years, and was in partnership for a while with Dr. Jonas A. Marshall ; his health failing, he relinquished the business of his profession in 1838 and removed to Lunenburg, and died in that town Jan. 24, 1851, aged 49 years. Dr. Abercrombie came from the well-known family of that name in Deerfield, Mass .. and his own family are now residing in Lunenburg.
DR. CHARLES WOODWARD WILDER, graduated in the medical department of Dartmouth College in the year 1817 and commenced practice in Leominster, in partnership with Dr. Abraham Haskell. Sr. : in 1820, he removed to Templeton, where he remained until 1828, when, in consequence of im- paired health, he sold his business and returned to Leom- inster. In 1830 he removed to Fitchburg, in 1833 he returned to Leominster, changing business with Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle. Dr. Wilder is remembered by many of our citizens for his apt sayings and genial humor, always full of good nature and proverbial kindness. For several years he was a director in the Fitchburg and Worcester railroad com- pany. He died in February, 1851, aged 60 years.
DR. THOMAS R. BOUTELLE, graduated in the medical de-
. partment of Yale College in 1819 ; the same year he settled in New Braintree ; in 1824 he removed to Leominster, succeed- ing to the business of Dr. Abraham Haskell, Jr., and in 1833 removed to Fitchburg, changing business with Dr. Charles W. Wilder. In 1853 and 1854, he was president of the Worcester District Medical Society ; in 1856 and 1857,
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president of the Worcester North Agricultural society : in 1857 and 1858, vice-president of the Massachusetts Medical society : from 1862 to 1864, a member of the board of trus- tees of the State Industrial School for Girls at Lancaster: in 1864 and 1865, president of the Worcester North District Medical society. During the war of the rebellion he was chairman of the relief committee of the town, and their meet- ings were held at his office every Saturday evening during those long dreary years, and his labors never ceased in caring for the comfort of the families of the soldiers in the field. He died July 13, 1869. aged 74.
DR. ALFRED Irrencock, in his day by far the most re- markable member of the medical profession in Fitchburg, was actively engaged in the practice here for thirty-seven years. Hle was a graduate of Dartmouth Medical College. Nov .. 1837, and subsequently received a diploma at Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia. In December, 1837, he settled in Ashby, but removed to Fitchburg at the written request of many of the prominent citizens in April, 1850. He was a member of the board of overseers of Harvard University from 1857 to 1865.
An earnest seeker after knowledge in whatever sphere he might labor, an acute observer, his mind naturally turned to the sciences with an interest which seemed to constantly increase with his years. To enlarge his sphere of observa- tion in his profession, he visited Europe in 1851-52. His general, culture, legal mind, sound judgment and scientific attainments eminently qualified him as a counsellor in his profession ; and his medical brethren far and near sought his services in surgery and other important cases of a dangerous or doubtful character. Governor Andrew early recognized his attainments and ability, and at the opening of the war ap- pointed him brigade surgeon in Burnside's expedition, a posi- tion which he finally declined for other duties. During the three years of the war, he spent one-fifth of his whole time in the interest of the sick and wounded of Massachusetts soldiers in the field and at home. In 1847 he first entered the State legislature, and was three times elected to the executive
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council of the State-in 1861-62-63. Ilis letter accepting his renomination in 1862 is as follows : "If the nomination is again ratified at the polls, I shall cheerfully bear the incon- venience and sacrifice which in my own case the office entails in obedience to the democratic idea, that while no man has a claim for public office, so no man has a right, especially in time of public calamity, to decline the responsibilities of office when tendered by the public suffrage. The national life is in peril : bloody treason is rampant and defiant and it is no common nor idle thing to live to vote, or to hold office in this momentous era. I heartily deprecate the attempts in certain quarters to fan the embers of party strife, and even amid the thunders of war to stir the seething cauldron of party politics. For myself, old party ties sit loosely, save only those which bind me to an unconditional, loyal and unchanging support of all the war measures of the State and National governments. In the coming State election, but two classes will vote, and whether consciously or unconsciously, one will be to sustain and strengthen the executive arm in its efforts to preserve the national life and put down the slaveholders' rebellion, and the other to weaken or paralyze that arm, and thus give aid and comfort to traitor foes." Such was his personal character as a citizen, and all of his acts as a man and a citizen entitled him to the respect he received, while his professional skill was recognized not only by his fellow-townsmen, but by very many persons throughout the State and in other parts of the country. One of the most eminent physicians of Massa- chusetts once said that he regarded Dr. Hitchcock as "the peer of the best practitioners in the Commonwealth." He was utterly free from dogmatism, or the pride of the schools, but full of gentleness, courtesy, judgment and decision. While he felt a commendable pride in the triumphs of his art, he was always ready and indeed earnest to acquire infor- mation from whatever source it might come. He was one who never ceased to learn and was constantly willing to accept truth whether from the highest or humblest.
DR. IIARVEY D. JILLSON studied medicine in Worcester and at Harvard University and commenced practice as an
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