USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 74
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After another performance by the band, the benediction, by Rev. M. B. Chapman, concluded the afternoon exercises.
At six o'clock there was a grand banquet in the upper hall, to which about four hundred persons sat down, Mr. A. A. Currier, of this town,
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being the caterer. Daniel Allen, Esq., presided ; Rev. Francis Smith, of Providence, invoked the Divine blessing. When all had partaken to their satisfaction, the President announced Thomas Winship, Esq., as toast-master. The applause which followed showed that the company considered the nomination "fit to be made." The toasts were as follows : -
The President of the United States. - He seems to be distinguished for great deeds, rather than great speeches. And yet the greatest speech made during the Rebellion - the key-note to his character - was that in which he said : " I propose to fight it out on this line."
Response - " Hail Columbia," by the Band.
Francis Smith was an early settler of this town, whose residence was near where is now the Junction railroad station. He was authorized by the Colony Court, in 1650, to draw wine for earthly travellers, for which he received money and price. To-day, his lineal descendant and namesake of the eighth generation is authorized by a higher Court to offer to heavenly travellers wine and milk withoutj money and without price. .
Response by Rev. Francis Smith, of Providence, R. I.
The State of Massachusetts. - While she encourages education, together with the arts and sciences, she also delights to honor with the highest office in her gift one who is a well-known representative of an important branch of her manufacturing interests.
Response by Hon. Harrison Tweed, a native of this town, and now President of the Taunton Locomotive Works.
The Merchants of Boston. - While they are justly proud of their rep- utation for business sagacity and wealth, let them not despise the day of small things, - since one of their number, who in early life was known only as the son of a Carpenter, is now an enterprising and successful merchant.
Response by George O. Carpenter, Esq., of Boston, recently of this town.
The Clergy. - However much we may have enjoyed the "benefit of clergy " in the past, we associate unalloyed Bliss with the "benefit" which has been arranged for us on this occasion.
Response by Rev. C. R. Bliss.
Our Manufacturing Industries. - Since they profitably employ the wealth of our capitalists, the brains of our mechanics, and the hands of
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the great mass of the people, they should be regarded as the chief source of our material prosperity.
Response by Cyrus Wakefield, Esq.
Dr. S. O. Richardson. - His interest in the "Richardson Light Guard " and Wakefield band, and the material aid he has given to both, together with his liberal donation towards furnishing the rooms in this building, entitle him to the lasting gratitude of our soldiers, musi- cians, and citizens generally.
Response by the Band.
Public Schools. - May those who attempt to "teach the young idea how to shoot," always bear in mind that they will miss the mark, unless their aims are right.
Response by Hon. P. H. Sweetser.
The Farmers of New England .- The general intelligence which they exhibit affords us abundant evidence that their own heads, as well as their cabbage-heads, improve by cultivation ; and we are well assured that one intelligent head will do the head-work of farms better than a hundred head of - block-heads.
Response by Dr. George B. Loring, of Salem.
The State Printer. - An indescribable type of character.
Response by Robert K. Potter, Esq., of Boston.
Though obliged to omit all reports of the responses, we cannot forbear noting the fact that Dr. Loring touched upon the woman's suffrage question ; and as for "woman's rights," said he, " I go for them." Still he thought we did not duly consider the fact that in many respects the women held the men completely in their power. A man could not deed away a rod of land without the consent of his wife. For instance, he noticed that the deed by which the town came into possession of this edifice also contained the name of Eliza A. Wakefield. [Loud applause.] And here the eloquent speaker expatiated on the power as well as the rights of women ; and when he closed, three thundering cheers were given for Mrs. Wakefield.
Remarks were also made by Prof. B. F. Tweed, of Charlestown, Rev. Francis Smith, of Providence, Henry D. Smith, Esq., of Worcester, and others. The mirth-producing tilt of words between Messrs. Allen, Potter, Tweed, and Smith, added zest and interest to the occasion, and could not well have been dispensed with.
Thus ended one of the most memorable days in the history of the . town of Wakefield, the records of which occasion will be perpetuated to remote generations.
APPENDIX.
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[From report in the "Wakefield Citizen."]
THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE.
For practical interest in education, our town, whether under its old name of South Reading or its newer one of Wakefield, has always borne an honorable reputation. The old South Reading Academy, which for years was the compeer of many of the best seminaries of the land, and sent forth some of our ablest citizens from its halls, was a potent agent in creating that advanced sentiment which caused the establishment by the town of a High School, when possessed of only a degree of the population and property deemed essential in most towns for the formation of so advanced a grade.
The advance of the general standards of education, the upbuilding of the town, and the long insufficient accommodations of the old High School edifice, have for some years forced upon the attention of our citizens the daily increased demand for more adequate provision for prospective and even present needs. An article was introduced into the warrant for the town-meeting of April 3, 1871, by the Hon. P. H. Sweetser, a life-long friend to the educational interests of the town, and for many years the chairman of its School Board, under which action might be taken towards the establishment of a more commodious structure, better fitted in all ways for the purposes of a High School. The action upon the article provided for the appointment of a commit- tee of five to consider the whole subject of the educational needs of the town, and report at a future meeting. This committee, consisting of five of our most esteemed citizens, Messrs. Cyrus Wakefield, Lucius Beebe, Oliver Perkins, Richard Britton, and George Packard, reported at the town-meeting, May 1, 1871, in favor of the immediate purchase of land and the erection of a suitable edifice for the accommodation of the High School. The report of the committee was adopted, and they, as the building committee, proceeded at once to the fulfilment of their duties, the result of which is the very elegant and ample structure situ- ated at the corner of Common and Lafayette Streets, on the site for- merly occupied by the old Prentiss house, long familiar to our older citizens, and which was removed after the purchase of the land for school uses.
The lot purchased has a front upon Common Street, overlooking the old Park, of one hundred and forty-six feet, and upon Lafayette Street of two hundred and four feet, and contains 28,154 square feet, afford-
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ing ample room for the building, and leaving space for ornamentation of the surrounding lawns.
The building consists of a main and an L addition, the former thirty- five feet eight inches, by seventy-four feet six inches, the latter forty- eight feet by fifty-two feet eight inches, and is a blending, in several points, of the various styles of architecture, the porticoes and their ornamentation being beautiful specimens of the Ionic order, while there are delightful croppings out, here and there, of some of the other ancient divisions, with expressions of the modernized lines. The base is of rough granite two and a half feet in height, the steps of ham- mered stone, and the exterior finish is of wood in furrowed sheathing, the front façade on Common Street being relieved by the projection of a tower and portico, and by heavy based pilasters surmounted by Co- rinthian capitals in relief. The corbels and consoles are all fine speci- mens of carved work, and the pediments show a remarkably pleasing effect in the arrangement of their dentels.' The south façade is relieved by a portico rather less pretentious than that on the front, and by similar pilasters. The L addition has along its southern face a piazza, the roof of which is supported by Ionic columns. The rear and northern façades present the same general features as the others. The front has a fine mullioned window over the portico, its general finish being a close approach to the Gothic, and very elaborate in design. The gutters and conductors are of copper, the belt about the roof is sur- mounted by a heavy balustrade, the roof itself being the Mansard pat- tern, slated with the best Welsh slate, and crowned with two ventilators of the Robinson pattern. The workmanship throughout is of the best description and reflects credit upon the artisans. The entrances to the building are four : the large main entrance in front, closed with double doors, their upper panels and the large windows over the doors furnish- ing a portion of light for the main hall ; the southern entrance to the. main building opening into a wing of the main hall, lighted in the same manner as the main hall ; the entrance from the southern piazza to the L of the building ; and another door upon the northern side of the L, intended rather as a special way of exit in case of fire than an ordi- nary avenue of ingress. Passing in at the main entrance from Com- mon Street we enter the main hall, eighteen feet six inches, by twenty- two feet ten inches, from which doors open on either hand, and from the inner end of which the broad double staircase ascends to the second floor.
Taking the first door to the right, we find ourselves in the Chemical- Room of the High School, nineteen feet by twenty-six, the only apart
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ment occupied by them, except the cloak rooms, on the first floor. This room is elegantly finished, as is the whole of the interior of the build- ing, in selected ash, the mouldings of which are very heavy, and the windows are fitted with inside ash shutters entirely excluding external light whenever experiments requiring darkness render it desirable. Too much cannot be said in praise of the wonderful beauty of the workman- ship throughout the building, and as every part displays the same degree of excellence we notice it here as applicable to the whole. From this room a doorway gives exit through the janitor's room and one of the cloak rooms of the Grammar School in case of fire, to the escape door, on the north of the building, and the hall-way opening in the south adjoining the Chemical Room, and opening from the hall is the Janitor's Room, which communicates with the cloak-room of the Grammar School, and thence with the western part of the building, and the cellar, thereby giving the Janitor ready admission to all parts of the edifice. On the left of the main hall is the large and finely appointed cloak-room for the young ladies of the High School, communicating with the water-cabinets in the basement, and furnished with a marble- topped stationary wash-bowl and case, supplied with water from a great tank in the tower.
Still farther to the left opens the side wing of the main hall, com- municating with the southern entrance to the main building from which opens the cloak-room for the young gentlemen of the High School, communicating with water-cabinets in the basement, and furnished like the ladies' room.
Ascending by one of the wings of the fine staircase, we find our- selves on the second floor of the building, the whole of which without reservation is devoted to the use of the teachers and scholars of our High School ; and we certainly believe that nowhere are afforded finer . accommodations or greater opportunities for the culture and the refine- ment that tasteful surroundings give. Occupying the whole front of the building on one side of the passage which separates them from the High School room proper, is a range of recitation rooms communicat- ing with each other, and furnished with blackboards and with speaking tubes and bells, communicating with the Principal's room.
A door opens into the High School room at each end of the hall, and at the southerly end of the wall-way is a library room for the school, and at the opposite end a teachers' retiring room, furnished with water-cabinet, set bowl, etc., while the hall itself is supplied with the uniform marble bowl and case before described, at either end. The High School room itself, fifty-two feet by fifty-one feet six inches,
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is without doubt one of the finest in New England, well lighted and ventilated, and having all the new and approved conveniences of school furniture. A low, roomy platform for the teachers occupies the space between the two entrance doors, and convenient to the Principal's chair are speaking tubes and bell-pulls communicating with all the rooms under his charge. In brief, no want seems unprovided for, and under so favorable influences we cannot doubt that new aspirations and in- creased vigor for study will be given to the young ladies and gentlemen who are to occupy these advantages. Arrangements are made for lighting the entire building with gas, and the heating apparatus will be referred to in another connection. Returning to the hall, we pass up a wing of a second double staircase leading to the third story, and find ourselves in the space formed by the Mansard roof, the portion of which immediately above the High School room it is intended to devote to the purpose of an Exhibition Hall, though we doubt the utility of this, from its elevation, its inconvenient arrangement of iron rods which support the floor, from the facts that it cannot be heated by the furnace, and that the High School room is so much better for the purpose. The front part of the roof is occupied by large rooms suita- ble for various uses, and the tank room in the tower, where the water of the roof is collected and thence distributed to the various water- pipes of the building.
Returning to the outer air, we pass around the southerly façade of the main building and enter from the beautiful Ionic piazza the hall of the advanced Grammar School, for which arrangements of equal com- pleteness and beauty with those of the High School have been provided. On the left of the hall as we enter is the first door opening into the school-room proper, and on the right, immediately opposite, is the teachers' retiring room, furnished like those on the second floor, with water-cabinets, marble bowl, and other conveniences, the hall being also provided with the uniform marble-topped bowl and case for the use of the scholars. The second door on the right enters the girls' cloak-room, communicating with water-cabinets in the basement, and the third door to the right enters the boys' coat-room, also communi- cating with water-cabinets below stairs. The fourth door on the right leads to the large recitation room, fourteen feet ten inches, by twenty- two feet, for the Grammar School, provided with all the facilities of the other recitation rooms in the building ; and the fifth and last door upon the right of the hall opens into the small vestibule of the north door, valuable chiefly as a fire escape. The second door on the left of the hall and at its northerly end, directly opposite the entrance to
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the recitation room, enters the school-room proper of the Advanced Grammar School, thirty-five feet by forty-one feet six inches, and equal in all its appointments to the High School room immediately above. Descending to the basement by one of the four flights leading thereto, we find a spacious and well-arranged area for coal bunkers, fuel, and heating apparatus, and separated from this area by brick par- titions, the water-cabinet arrangements for the several schools, also subdivided by brick walls. The materials throughout the building are of the best quality, and of the workmanship enough has already been said. The tower of the edifice beautifully surmounts the whole, and its platform affords a fine view of the surrounding scenery, and we presume will often attract the young star-gazers of our High School with their new telescope.
To this completed and elegant temple of learning there gathered a large and appreciative audience on Thursday afternoon (Oct. Io), to participate in the dedication of the structure to the purposes for which it was designed, and there has rarely occurred in our time a more richly enjoyable occasion of happy expression and retainable merit than was afforded in the exercises of the day and the event. John S. Eaton, Esq., by invitation of the School Board, filled most acceptably the position of Chairman of the day, and among those invited who fa- vored the occasion with their presence were Prof. B. F. Tweed, of Charlestown, Gen. H. K. Oliver, of the Bureau of Statistics of Massa- chusetts, Rev. Dr. J. W. Chickering, Henry D. Smith, Esq., Edward Mansfield, Esq., long connected with the School Board, the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee, and representatives of the press.
The members of the High School occupied seats on the extreme left of the house, and every available foot of space was occupied by the refined and intellectual audience. The Wakefield Orchestra fur- nished acceptable music, their renderings being in fine taste.
The exercises commenced at two o'clock by invocation by Rev .. W. F. Potter, of the Universalist Church, followed by music by the orchestra.
Richard Britton, Esq., acting for the Building Committee, then transferred the charge of the building to the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, John S. Eaton, Esq., in the following brief but compre- hensive address : -
MR. CHAIRMAN : On me unexpectedly devolves to-day, as the rep- resentative of the building committee of the town, charged with the
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construction of this edifice, the pleasant duty of consigning to your hands the care and custody thereof.
The foresight of our citizens which anticipated the demand for in- creased educational facilities, caused by our rapid growth as a town, and which has eventuated in the erection of this beautiful structure, found its earliest public expression in an article introduced into the warrant for the town-meeting of April 3, 1871, by a gentleman whose name has for years been honorably identified with the educa- tional interests of this municipality, the then chairman of the School Board, now gone to his rest, the Hon. P. H. Sweetser. The action upon this article, which contemplated the possible conversion of the old town house to school purposes, resulted in the appointment of a commit- tee of five, who should take into consideration the whole subject-matter of construction, and report at a future meeting. On this committee were appointed Messrs. Cyrus Wakefield, Lucius Beebe, Oliver Perkins, Rich- ard Britton, and George Packard. The report of this committee, after a careful review of the needs of our entire school system, unanimously recommended . the immediate purchase of land and the erection of a commodious edifice for High School purposes, and this report was adopted. The eligible lot on which this building now stands, contain- ing 28,154 square feet, was purchased at a cost of nine thousand eight hundred and fifty-four dollars, and ground was broken for the new enter- prise on the sixteenth day of September, 1871.
From the various plans submitted, that of John Stevens, Esq., one of our citizens, was selected as most nearly meeting the necessities of the case, and according to its provisions the building has been erected at an expense closely approximating forty-three thousand dollars. In addition to ample accommodation for a High School of large numbers, the building contains provision for an advanced Grammar School, an exhibition hall, and every advantage and convenience that the advanced state of culture in school architecture has suggested and found desirable.
It has been suggested that the considerable expense which the com- pletion of this structure has occasioned the town, largely in advance of previous investments in this line, and even of the expectations of our citizens, is ill-considered and unwise ; but far in advance of the considera- tion of cost is to be placed the expectation of return therefrom. The gold that glitters is not to be placed in the scale against the richer worth of the culture and education of mind and heart given by such surroundings as these. Who shall predict what achievements in all that is good and great shall here have their germs planted in the minds of some of the
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most humble of birth by the refinements that here alone shall greet the eye whose home is amid poverty and wretchedness ! To the liberality of heart and hand which makes such agencies of education as this possible, and which resides pre-eminently in our midst, is due the posi- tion of America to-day among the nations ; and the people of this com- munity will doubtless long enjoy, not less the commendation of their own hearts, than the congratulations of all who shall visit us, upon the possession of so glorious a monument to one of our cardinal principles, -the education of the common people.
To the citizens for their liberality and their patience, to the faithful endeavors of the artisans, one and all, to those who have aided in mani- fold ways the labors of your committee, we desire to express our pro- found sense of gratitude ; and it is no, small degree of satisfaction and relief that we feel in witnessing the completion of what must prove in such an undertaking, at best an arduous and trying task.
In discharge of the trust committed to the committee, and in their behalf, I have the honor to surrender to you the keeping of this edifice, and the emblems thereof.
Mr. Eaton, on receiving the keys, responded as follows : -
MR. CHAIRMAN, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE :
To my present official position am I indebted for the honor, as well as the pleasure, of receiving from your hands, on behalf of the town of Wake- field, this magnificent temple of science. Our citizens, never backward in furnishing such educational facilities as from time to time have seemed to be required, for the erection of this school edifice have . poured wealth from their treasury in unusual measure ; and they have watched its construction with peculiar interest and pride, as under skilful hands it has grown into symmetry, with added cornice and col- umn and capital, until it stood completed and commanding.
Appropriately reared upon a site alike historic and venerable, around which cluster cherished memories of ancient worthies and teachers, it reveals its ample and admirable proportions in finished beauty, an ornament and an honor to our town. Its eminent location, flanked by churches, in accordance with the true New England custom, would seem to render it secure from all heretical influences ; and we may readily adopt the familiar lines of Whittier : -
" Nor heed the skeptic's puny hands, While near our school the church-spire stands ; Nor fear the bigot's blinded rule, While near our church-spire stands the school."
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In the years that are yet future, may there go forth from this temple an army of scholars, thorough, earnest, brilliant, for such will ever find full scope for the finest culture in the broadest fields of humanity. May it prove indeed a treasure-house of knowledge, and may the wealth which shall be gathered from within its walls exceed the material wealth which constructed them a thousand fold !
In this place, and on this occasion, we cannot forget those familiar forms which are missing from this assembly, or the voices which are silent to-day. One amidst the snows of winter, and one amidst the fresh- ness and fragrance of June, they both passed serenely on before us to a celestial atmosphere within a grander temple, and to the enjoyment of a knowledge perfect and perpetual.
Them shall no sunshine from the fields of azure, No light of home or hall, No summons sent from crowded marts of treasure, Again to duty call.
And all life's problems and equations, So intricate before, Now solved, amid the infinite creations, Are mysteries no more !
In closing, permit me to express to you, Mr. Chairman, and to the members of the committee whom you represent, on behalf of the citi- zens of Wakefield, their full appreciation of the fidelity which has marked the performance of the duties assigned you, and of the satisfac- tory result of your efforts. And now I shall be pleased to transfer the keys of this new school building to the chairman of the school com- mittee, upon whom its immediate care will devolve, confident that under such guardianship it will ever remain uninjured and beautiful.
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