USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Georgetown > Georgetown: story of one hundred years, 1838-1938 > Part 10
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The fire department was headed by Chief Alton B. Cook and Deputies George N. Moffit and Edward Mooney, followed by Captain William A. Illsley and Lieutenants George J. Maguire, Charles A. Timmons, S. Gile Williams, Fred M. Morse and Louis M. Holt. There followed the personnel of the Central Fire Company and of the Erie Associa- tion, headed by President Walter P. Hardy, First Vice-President Herbert MacDonald; Second Vice-President Albert Shute; Secretary and Treasurer Ernest Brown and Engineer Edward Mooney.
The Erie No. 4 handtub, a type of fire apparatus so familiar to the preceding generation and which furnished so much good-natured rivalry at the many tournaments held in town, led the apparatus of the combined departments. It was followed by a more modern relic of the good old days, the Georgetown steam fire engine, purchased in 1875 after the disastrous fire, drawn by two horses and with Fred Morse holding the reins. This apparatus, superseded by the Maxim truck purchased following the fire which destroyed Little's Block and other buildings, was sold by the town several years ago and is being preserved by the owner.
Page Seventy-eight
The Erie pumper, driven by Mr. MacDonald, and the Erie Combination fol- lowed. Then came the Maxim pumper, driven by John J. Sweetser; the Central Company's Combination Forest Fire Truck, a Ford rebuilt by the Company and presented to the town, driven by Kenneth Poole; Engine No: 2. the new Ford V8 pumping engine, driven by Basil Kinson, and Combination No. 1, Ladder and Hose, purchased last year and driven by Albert Tidd. Ridiculous in comparison, of course, but most interesting, was a miniature handtub from Byfield made by Frank Witham from parts of lawn mowers, machine parts and relics of the automobile junk yard. This unique apparatus later demonstrated its power to throw water.
Next in line was the Odd Fellows' display, comprising the Scottish bagpipers from Camp Fadda, Lynn; a float trimmed in red, white and blue, with members depicting a scene of David appearing before King Saul; and a marching group of about 100 members, including a body of armored warriors. The guards were Arthur Russell, Leslie L. Green- leaf, Richard Greenleaf, Charles McIntosh, William C. Stetson, Arthur F. Burns, Ken- neth Ross, and Albert P. Marston. The characters on the float were portrayed by Benjamin Dresser, Bainbridge L. Poole, Chester W. Holt, Chester A. Brown and Charles E. Woodcock. . .
Then came the float of the Erie Auxiliary Association, President Mrs. Jessie Fos- ter; Vice-president Mrs. Eva Floyd; Secretary and Treasurer Mrs. Zella Minchin, and Col- lector Miss Ruth Brown. This exhibit, more than a month in the making, was featured by a decorative motif of white, pink and green rosettes, in the form of a festive table upon which rested a mammoth birthday cake with one hundred candles, with the inscrip- tion, "1838-1938." In both artistry and significance this float would have reflected credit on professionals.
The float of the Bethany Rebekah Lodge, decorated in the lodge colors of pink and green, exhibited a tableau in which the emblems of the lodge were used, with Mrs. Gertrude E. Newcombe as an angel; Mrs. Iva M. Burns as Rebekah; Mrs. David D. Hemeon, holding the dove of peace; Mrs. Viola E. Gagnon and Mrs. Eleanor Newcombe, representing industry. Walking in front were Mrs. Winnette Buckmaster, noble grand, and Miss Doris E. Spaulding, attired in regalia.
The Boy Scouts, who had given the citizens a most interesting demonstration on the first day of the celebration, presented a large float representing a camping scene. In the center of the green shrubbery was a fireplace with Scouts preparing an evening meal. Armond Soucy was the driver and the other boys taking part were Merton Roberts, Jr., and Raymond Farnell.
Sons of the American Legion, headed by Frank and Albert Noyes on horseback, an organization of twenty or more members, sponsored by the American Legion, were dressed in their jaunty hats and white trousers with blue stripes on the side.
Quite appropriate and of general interest was the covered wagon of pioneer days, bearing the date 1838, sponsored by the fire company and driven by Amos O. Sherburne. This wagon may not have been of the exact type which the pioneers of the West used, but it was close to it. It was filled with household utensils and driven by Mr. Sherburne who conceived the idea. His son rode a horse.
The Girls Club, one of the latest organizations in town, which is sponsored by the Georgetown Women's Club, presented a float which won admiration all along the line. It was decorated in two shades of blue, the Club colors, and contained an arch with the words, "The Open Gate," signifying friendship and hospitality. Members walked on either side, dressed in light blue uniforms, each holding a streamer attached to the float. The club comprises forty-six members, and its co-directors are Mrs. Harriet S. Poole and Mrs. Alfred E. Tidd. Its slogan is, "What Is Worth Doing at All, Is Worth Doing Well."
Page Seventy-nine
The Georgetown Legion unit was headed by Vice-Commander George E. Colby and its float was an exemplification of the spirit of the Legion, "For God and Country." Two Legion members presided over the machine guns and a Red Cross nurse formed the background.
Another of Georgetown's latest organizations, the Cycle Club, comprising about fifty members, which is encouraging worthwhile diversions, rode their gaily decorated bicycles, led by John Eaton. They were followed by a delegation from Camp Denison, Baldpate Pond, whose directors had offered their co-operation from the first. The group was headed by a drummer and bugler and carried a banner with the words, "We Are Happy to Be in Georgetown."
Hope Council, D. of A. Camp Kenoza members on bicycles, the Boy Scouts of Troop 1, Byfield, riding in an old cab, preceded the famous cannon, "Old Nancy," guarded by soldiers and sailors, and "Old Nancy's" duplicate, the wooden cannon, which figured in the visit of Georgetowners to Rowley in 1876. This cannon was guarded by two boys, Frank Maguire and Paul Wilmarth.
Buggies were the popular vehicles of pleasure in 1838 and one was exhibited by Edward Ritter and Miriam Ritter, cousins, who dressed it up in carnival style and exhibited a placard reading "When You and I Were Young, Maggie."
Another unclassified exhibit was that furnished by William Marshall, Jr., who was dressed as a Scottish lad and rode a pony. He was followed by a group which had figured in the pageant of Sunday afternoon, all wearing the old costumes then provided. Next in line was a one-horse shay more than a hundred years old, containing Mr. and Mrs. H. Nelson Pingree and their daughter, Alice Elizabeth, dressed in clothes of 1838, and another feature provided by Myrtle Graves, dressed as a man, and Waneta Brown, as the woman, pushing an old-fashioned baby carriage.
The Industrial Division was headed by the Andover Brass Band featuring its drum major, Miss Arlene Archambault, clever baton twirler. First of the business floats was that of the Cambro Poultry Farm. There followed in order the floats of the George- town Pharmacy, decorated in red and white, with mortar and pestle occupying the center of the float; the Riverside Dairy, with its huge milk bottle; the Minchin's Art Service, a strikingly decorated automobile; and the cars and trucks of M. A. Winthrop, C. S. Picker- ing, and Elliott Bros., with an air-conditioned refrigerator on one truck and their children dressed as pickaninnies in another truck,
The local Telephone Exchange presented a large float trimmed in blue and white · crepe paper, with a mammoth bell on top, with "Number, Please?" written in front and "Thank You" in back.
Representing the Georgetown Bowling Alleys was an interesting truck decorated with roses and fir boughs, with an inscription, "Bowling on the Green." A young man in old-time costume sat on the grass contemplating the pyramid of pins, and the pin boy appeared ready to play his part. Malcolm Morse and John Bateman were in Colonial costume.
There followed Leslie P. Merrill's radio service automobile, the Marston Com- pany's float, representing a skating scene with Miss Ivanelle Steeves, in a beautiful skating costume impersonating Sonja Henie, sitting on the edge of the rink, and Frank Nally's truck.
No group of parade judges ever had a more difficult task than Attorney James P. Cleary of Haverhill, chairman; Congressman George J. Bates of Salem; Mayor George E. Dalrymple of Haverhill; Councillor Bayard Tuckerman, Jr., of Hamilton and Mayor Fred J. Manning of Lynn. Each of the judges admitted that for artistry, ingenuity and skill the decorated floats were of highest commendation.
Page Eighty
OUR EARLY NEWSPAPERS
G J EORGETOWN never suffered from lack of newspaper publicity. Those who have copies of the old newspapers count them among their treasures and seldom part. with them. Two complete files of the old Georgetown Advocate are in safekeep- ing, one of them in the Peabody Library, but no complete files of the other papers are known to exist.
The first regularly printed newspaper in Georgetown was "The Watchtower," established originally as a religious paper in Newburyport. Though printed here it relied largely on the nearby city for its support. It was printed in the old Phoenix Building for one or two years, employment being given to ten or more printers. The first issue came out in 1847. Charles Mason, who was connected with one of the Georgetown families by marriage, had charge of the mechanical work, and Dr. Gannet had charge of the editorial work, being succeeded by one Woodman.
A few years after the suspension of the Watchtower, a firm comprising Nelson Dunham and Edward Davis Green, established a printing office in the same building. Their first paper was called "The Georgetown Advertiser." It was a journal of 20 columns, 15 inches wide and 17 inches long. Its issues contained more local material than those of its predecessor. This marked the beginning of real effort to publish accounts of happen- ings in which all classes of citizens might be interested.
But, after all, the town was not publicity minded. The paper did not pay, and after a brief existence the firm was dissolved by the retirement of Mr. Dunham. It re- appeared, however, under the name of "The Reporter," Mr. Green acting as editor-in- chief. The change in management did not disturb the size of the paper or change its character. One sees in it such advertisers as Samuel Plumer, L. H. Bateman, Sr., E. P. Thompson, who was in the boot and shoe business; W. H. Savory, dry goods and groceries; Otis Thompson, deputy sheriff; Dr. William Coggswell, physician. In 1852 the paper had ceased to exist. Mr. Green moved to Newburyport, whence he had come, thence to Lowell. The old hand press was moved to Ipswich, where, even 25 years later, it was being used in the office of The Chronicle.
For twenty years, during the period of Georgetown's greatest prosperity, there was no printing office or weekly paper. Numerous papers were issued as advertising mediums, but they fulfilled none of the local needs of newspaper service. Charles W. Tenney issued a paper, published as he liked to say, "once in a while." During this period C. E. Howe & Company published a paper called "The Star," also an advertising sheet, and it con- tinued its monthly visits for nearly a year. It was spicy, gossipy and interesting. It was printed in Lowell. Sometimes as many as 3000 copies were issued.
In 1867 there appeared The Georgetown Evangelist, published "every other time" by Moses Tenney & Son, merchant millers and edited by "an association of confirmed respectability, whose headquarters may be found at their respectable places of abode any time during office hours, with the exception of the resident editor who is out of town and not expected to return." The public was assured that the advertisers accepted were all worthy of patronage and that "just as soon as one of them gets to promising too much,
Page Eighty-one
we shall strike his name from the list and use our every effort to have him removed to Haverhill, or some other suburban town, where they don't know the difference between right and wrong."
On September 23, 1874, The Georgetown Advocate made its appearance, under the editorship of William B. Hammond who had moved to town from Salem, where he had learned the trade of a printer. He did the work alone for nine months and then Hiram N. Harriman was taken into partnership and the office supplied with a power press which aroused much curiosity. The paper was small at first and enlarged to a blanket sheet, the editors saying: "Our aim will be to emulate and cherish the good, and in following the example of our superiors, to elevate the less fortunate, thus blending together the good obtained from all sources into one channel, conveying and transmitting it alike to the high and the lowly."
There have been a few significant periods in the history of Georgetown, but perhaps none more interesting than that of 1874-75, which not only witnessed the establishment of a local paper, published for more than twenty years, but the abandonment of the Old South Church and the building of a new church; a remarkable boom in business, both manufacturing and over the counter; a similar boom in real estate operations, such as the erection of new homes; a genuine spirit of advancement in community life; the laying out of new streets and sidewalks; and finally, the great fire in the center, which staggered but failed to uproot the confidence and the hopefulness and faith of the citizens.
Mr. Hammond, on his first visit to the town, was impressed with its charm, its thrift and its activity. Georgetown in 1874 was a town of 2088 inhabitants, larger than at present. Its total tax levy was only $16,496, whereas today it is raising $70,000. The value of real estate was $715,295 and personal estate $296,170. There were 651 poll tax payers and the rate of taxation was 15 mills.
To glance at the business interests in the center of the town sixty-four years ago is to recall to the older residents much of happy memory. They were apparently all advertisers in the Advocate. Mrs. C. A. Hobson advertised "stamping for braiding and embroidery promptly and neatly executed," and the fact that she was "ready to furnish patrons with the new shapes in fall and winter hats and bonnets." Drs. Huse and Root presented their advertising cards, the former living at the residence of Jeremiah P. Jones and with an office in Little's Block during the day. Dr. Huse's marriage was the first marriage to be announced in the Advocate, this event taking place at the residence of the bride's mother, the bride being the eldest daughter of M. C. and the late Hiram N. Noyes and the clergyman being Rev. Charles Beecher. The first birth to be reported in the paper was that of a son to Joseph and Mary L. Johnson.
Stephen Osgood was a merchant tailor in the Masonic Building, apparently out- raged by stories circulated about his workmanship (but that was a mere excuse) for he says: "When people tell you that the reason why Osgood gets up garments so cheap is because he uses cheap trimmings, don't believe a word of it; they must say something and that is the easiest thing they can say. He uses only the best, and the trimming dealers will tell you so."
J. O. Berry was doing business in the Masonic Building and advertised that he had just received direct from the mill 100 barrels of high grade St. Louis flour, "selling low"; H. R. Weitzel, dealer in furniture, feathers, coffins and caskets, of all sizes, advertised to "sell cheaper than at any other place"; Spofford, Kimball & Company informed their customers that having got fairly settled in their new quarters, they were prepared to furnish meat and provisions in good quantity and quality, "and at prices that will defy competition"; Patrick Cole, with a store on Central Street, announced some real bargains in men's, boys', and youth's clothing and furnishing goods; Mrs. R. S. Byron had reopened her store for fall and winter trade in new millinery on Central Street; Harriman's botanic
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drug store was carrying in addition to its usual stock of goods, the "Chinese Fire Balls" for kindling fires, cooking, etc., also a full stock of Lazerus's Brilliant spectacles.
Mr. Tenney was offering "500 bushel No. 1 White Oats with no dust"; L. H. Bateman carrying "all the standard patent medicines, pure drugs and chemicals, soap and perfumery, coarse and fine sponges, pipes and fine-cut tobacco." A column advertisement introduced J. P. Peabody, the Salem merchant, to the Georgetown public, and the editor of the Advocate waxed eloquent in his eulogium of Mr. Peabody and of Salem in general. Samuel Plumer, in Little's Block, warned the public that it was time "to buy an overcoat" and especially invited the public to examine his goods before purchasing elsewhere. A. P. Bateman advertised a new stock of fall and winter dry goods and Joseph P. Folsom indi- cated his pleasure in furnishing lime, coal, cement and boot and shoe boxes.
These were all the advertisers in the first issue of the Advocate. There were other merchants in town and their advertisements were found in succeeding issues.
It cannot be said that the advertisements, though entertaining, were as interesting as the regular printed matter. In the second issue of the paper there was a denunciation of scandal and gossip by George C. Parshley that would be as applicable today as it was in 1874. The paper contained an account of the fifth anniversary of Everett Peabody Post, Commander Solomon Nelson, which included the serving of a clam-chowder by Caterer Winch, a delicacy of such high merit that the printer felt justified in capitalizing the Clam and the Chowder. There was an account of Rev. Charles Beecher's farewell sermon before taking his departure for Florida for the winter and an announcement that the Georgetown Musical Union had formed a class for instruction, with the comment: "We opine that there is not a city or town in Essex County, excepting the week-day schools, where there is such a lively interest manifested as here for the cultivation of music."
In the fourth issue of the Advocate, October 14, 1874, interest is aroused by an article indicating the thrift and industry of the town. The writer said: "In rambling through the town the sound of the trowel and hammer is heard on every hand." Frank Marden was patching up the old Byfield vestry to rent; H. T. Hoyt was erecting a new stable and carriage house; extensive repairs were being made on the houses of E. S. Sherburne, Darius Hull and the Adams Block; O. B. Tenney had erected a house; Nute & Daniels had added another shop to their boot and shoe factory; Henry P. Chaplin had erected three houses, George W. Boynton a fine stable and carriage house and a new cottage near the cemetery; Daniel Boardman had improved his home and erected a stable.
On North Street Luther P. Palmer had made extensive improvements and Rev. O. S. Butler's house had taken on another story. Daniel W. Hall had built a house and George B. Miller a new shoe factory. On Mill Street, John F. Hoyt had made changes in his house. On Andover Street, Stephen B. Kimball had erected a barn and repaired his other buildings. Mr. Ridley had erected a barn. Moulton Street, recently graded, found Daniel E. Moulton, Joseph Watson and Henry N. Bodwell with foundations laid for new houses. On Railroad Avenue, Mr. Bodwell had built a new stable. Fronting Lincoln Square, Benjamin F. Pickett was having a house and barn erected and John Perley a French-roofed cottage. William B. Dorman had made certain changes in his residence and had laid a concrete sidewalk, perhaps the first in town. John W. Morrill had built a cottage near Pen Brook Avenue. On School Street, Samuel Coffin had erected a house and shop. E. A. Nason had built on High Street. Moulton Street had been opened from Railroad Avenue to Nelson Avenue. Prospect Street had been extended from Pond to Main Street and the Soldiers' Monument had been erected.
In the sixth issue of the Advocate, there was a full account of the disastrous fire of October 26, 1874, which was then regarded as a calamity, but in the next issue it was stated that the fire, "although it will long be deplored, is not without its beneficial results.
Page Eighty-three
It has encouraged a feeling of 'peace on earth and good will to man' that will last the lifetime of those now on the active stage of existence. The fire had not ceased to burn, ere those who had it in their power to render assistance to those who had not a place of shelter for their goods, before the good Samaritans were offering their bounties and saying to the unfortunates, 'we have enough and to spare and whatsoever we have it shall be given you.' "
It was at that time that the first real agitation for a public water system gained headway. There were letters back and forth in the Advocate. The cost was placed at $55,000, and one writer exclaimed that "the water tax alone, to those who took the town water, would be greater than all other town taxes now are." Another opponent asked: "How many are there who would take this water even if they could get it for nothing, when they can get better and purer water at their own well or pump?"
The opponents won the fight, for instead of a water supply the town purchased the Amoskeag engine and built the Middle Street engine house. The Advocate said, "We cannot look upon this action of the town as a prudent one." Eleven years later another disastrous fire again wiped out the business section and the water question was debated anew. Nothing came of it, however. Fifty years later water began to flow through miles of pipe and the town now possesses one of the best systems in the Commonwealth.
Few persons alive today ever heard that the Advocate once obtained a remarkable "beat" over all its contemporaries, whether daily or weekly. There was a report of a tragedy in Byfield in which a son had murdered his mother and attempted to kill his father and two brothers with a shoe knife. It is apparent that the editor of the Advocate was on the scene so early that he could write the story and get out an "extra" before the other papers knew anything about it. The editor announced in black headlines that the job was a remarkable newspaper stunt, and even today we might extend to him our sincere congratulations.
Erie Women's Work of Art
RESTAURANT KE CREAM
Photo by Dwight Minchin
Table spread with a cake of 100 candles, as shown in the Centennial parade Page Eighty-four
"OLD NANCY " - A CANNON
O LD NANCY," though but a worthless cannon, a four-pounder still with a youth- ful kick, is a precious relic in the minds of the younger element of Georgetown. Handed down to us from Revolutionary days, and kept hidden from interested gaze between civic celebrations, it has been a bone of contention between Rowley and Georgetown for many years-and will always be.
This grimy relic of fun and frolic, dissension and tradition, appeared in the Centennial parade and was thus exposed to public view for the first time since the Old Home Week parade of 1909. Where it had been concealed we cannot tell. Where it is now we do not know. Suffice it to remark that its bark proved as thunderous as in former days, and that it was returned to its hiding place (not in the town vault) intact.
Old people are inclined to laugh over the emphasis placed on this old gun in news- paper accounts of the Centennial celebration. An outsider might have been led to think that the cannon was about all that Georgetown had to offer as a reminder of the past. It was photographed (caressed, of course, by the youngsters) until it seemed as if the mystery of its origin and of its identity deepened. It was a picturesque feature of the celebration, as it had been in 1909 when the town took action on the question of its appearance in the parade and on its future custody.
At the Town Meeting in 1909 it was resolved that, as "Old Nancy" had been for forty years in the custody of the aging Stephen Osgood, it was time that its future should be considered. The resolution asked that the gun be placed in the possession of the citizens of the town, and that, as the several celebration committees wanted the use of it, it seemed best to appoint a committee to act for the "good of the town." The committee comprised Stephen Osgood, Walter E. Atkinson, Harold F. Blake and Henry L. Adams, who would serve with the selectmen and the elective trustees of the Peabody Library.
Tradition has it, as Stephen Osgood of Amesbury wrote a few years ago, that "Old Nancy" was stolen from the town of Rowley by a party of young men from Georgetown and for many years was buried in the cellar of the stable of George W. Boynton. When Mr. Boynton disposed of. his business to S. and S. Nelson, the cannon was taken to Mr. Boynton's home and stored in the cellar, there to be forgotten by most of the inhabitants of the town.
During the Centennial year of 1876 the boys of Georgetown, including J. Norris Berry, Charles S. Jewett, D. M. Morrill, R. H. Bessey, D. Herbert Eaton, Charles C. Osgood, Stephen C. Osgood, Clarence Hardy, Charles W. Tenney, Cleaveland Gould, Daniel Hale and others, resurrected the old cannon, on permission of Mrs. Boynton, for a Fourth of July celebration. The gun was in bad condition. It was taken to the carriage factory on School Street where, under the supervison of Major F. M. Edgell, it was put in shape. Daniel Hale and Stephen C. Osgood did the machine work and D. M. Morrill the blacksmithing.
The old gun was mounted on a pair of Samuel Poor's ox-cart wheels, and when the "night before" arrived it was taken out on dress parade and fired on the Corner. The concussion broke many panes of glass. It was not considered advisable to continue the celebration at that point, and the gun was taken to Atwood's Hill where the boys made merry until daybreak. They knew nothing of the story which later appeared, that a party of Rowley boys, having heard of the intention to use the gun, had come to George- town in an attempt to capture it; that they had actually gone to Atwood's Hill where they lost courage, in view of the large group of Georgetown boys assembled. The rumor was heard in town, even on the Fourth, that the gun had been stolen and taken to Rowley.
Page Eighty-five
Mr. Osgood declared that after dismounting the gun it was placed in the cellar of his home. There it remained for years until it was stored elsewhere.
The appearance of "Old Nancy" in the Old Home Week procession in 1909 marked the thirty-third anniversary of the day on which the "Cannon Club" came up from Rowley and had dinner at the Old Pentucket House to celebrate their alleged possession of the real gun. Few persons are now alive who recall that interesting and exciting occasion when the late Charles Boynton presented the historic cannon to the town of Georgetown. He claimed that he had a bill of sale of the cannon from his father, Major Eben Boynton of Rowley. A bill of sale was presented in the presence of practically the entire population of Georgetown assembled in Pentucket Square.
"Old Nancy" was in her glory. A full supply of power was on hand with which to greet the Rowley brethren. Flags were suspended across the street and a cavalcade organized to escort the visitors into town. A regiment known as the "Mulligan Guards" ·was ready for any trouble. A band played patriotic airs. A great shout went up as the Rowley contingent appeared in a barge belonging to S. A. Boynton of Rowley and drawn by six bay horses. One of the banners on the barge announced that the party was return- ing the Georgetown visit after 41 years. Another banner asked the question, "Can anyone tell where the cannon has gone?" The party went immediately into the old hotel and partook of "Cannon Ball Stew," "Powder Biscuit," "Ramrod Pickles," "Nancy Dough- nuts" and other dainties.
It was during the dinner that Mr. Boynton arrived from Gloucester, examined the cannon and pronounced it genuine. He presented it to the town in a happy speech, in which he concluded: "Rowley and Georgetown, one and inseparable." A committee from each town then inspected the cannon, the guards standing at "present arms." Discussion followed. It was said that the Rowley people admitted that it was the Boynton gun, but doubted if it ever was in Rowley.
Failing to arrive at a definite report, the committees decided to lay the matter on the table for one year, to meet at Smith's Hotel, Rowley. The visitors departed for home in good spirits. Fun had pervaded the gathering. The question which had agitated the fathers of those present seemed as fresh as though nearly a century had not elapsed since it had originated. Georgetown had said, "We have the Cannon." Rowley had countered with the remark, "We have the original gun." And that is just how the matter has stood since.
.
For many days after that historic meeting everybody was talking about the cannon. It was stated as a fact in Georgetown that Rowley had a gun and that it had been delivered there by Lewis D. Pickard, who had claimed that it was the original "Nancy." It was also no secret that Pickard had been paid $15 for the gun delivered. As the Rowley clan had not brought their gun to Georgetown for comparison, many of the Georgetown boys were in favor of taking their gun to Rowley. It was finally decided that the Georgetown boys should make the visit, but not take the original gun. Stephen C. Osgood, later of Amesbury, made a full-size drawing of the exact dimensions of the relic and Charles W. Tenney took the drawing to Boston and had the wooden "Nancy" turned out, but it was much too smooth and had to be "roughed up," as Mr. Osgood reported. Ward Tenney and Mr. Osgood worked a couple of days on it, and when the wooden substitute was painted it was hard to tell the wooden gun from the iron one.
The Georgetown visit to Rowley was another historic occasion. The wooden Nancy was mounted on a carriage and put aboard one of J. P. Folsom's two-horse wagons, driven by John Kelley. The wagon was decorated with flags and bunting and guarded by four
Page Eighty-six
men armed with guns to keep inquisitive persons away. There were also guards on horse- back. Wagons and carts of all descriptions followed.
When the Georgetown outfit arrived, the gun that it was claimed Pickard had sold was mounted on the Green and surrounded by the inhabitants. It in no way resembled the true Nancy, the Georgetown men reported. All kinds of arguments and bets were made. The atmosphere became dangerous, especially after a Rowley man, said to have been Joshua Hale, got near enough to the Georgetown gun to verify his suspicions that it was not genuine. It is said in Rowley today (and Georgetown boys later reported it as true) that Hale stuck his knife in the bogus gun. Anyway there was so much hard-feeling that the visitors thought it time to leave and they did so in a hurry. That celebration was on July 27, 1877.
The explosion of the Georgetown secret quite naturally gave Rowley intense con- viction that the original gun was in her possession. That opinion has never wavered. Their gun is in custody of the selectmen and is kept in the town vault.
Page Eighty-seven
SELECTMEN OF GEORGETOWN
1838
John A. Lovering, Sewell Spofford, Gorham P. Tenney.
1839
Joseph Kimball, Gorham P. Tenney, Richmond Dole.
1840 Joseph Kimball, Gorham P. Tenney, Henry P. Hilliard.
1841-42 Henry P. Hilliard, Joseph Kimball, Caleb Tenney.
1843 Henry P. Hilliard, Caleb Tenney, Paul Dole.
1844 Joseph Kimball, Jeremiah Jewett, John Killam.
1845
C. G. Baker, Jeremiah Jewett, John P. Coker.
1846
Samuel Holmes, Henry P. Hilliard, Caleb Tenney.
1847
Caleb Tenney, John Killam, C. D. Spofford.
1848
Henry P. Hilliard, C. G. Tyler, James Peabody.
1849
John Killam, Samuel Holmes, Caleb Tenney.
1850
John Killam, J. P. Jones, Caleb Tenney.
1851
John Killam, William W. Harriman, Moses W. Howe.
1852 Leonard Jewett, John Killam, Harrison B. Spofford.
1853 Joseph Kimball, Stephen Osgood, Haskell Perley.
1854 Joseph Kimball, Isaac Wilson, Caleb Tenney.
1855 Isaac Wilson, Orlando B. Tenney, Caleb Tenney.
1856-57 Orlando B. Tenney, Caleb Tenney, Solomon Nelson.
1858-59-60-61-62 Orlando B. Tenney, Sherman Nelson, George W. Sanborn.
1863-64-65-66-67
Orlando B. Tenney, Sherman Nelson, George W. Sanborn.
1868-69
Orlando B. Tenney, George W. Sanborn, Charles P. Lowe.
1870
Orlando B. Tenney, George W. Sanborn, Joseph M. Clark.
1871-72
Orlando B. Tenney, George W. Sanborn, John Preston. George H. Carleton, George S. Weston, Samuel T. Poor.
1875
Isaac Wilson, Sherman Nelson, George W. Sanborn. Isaac Wilson, Sherman Nelson, G. D. Tenney.
1876 George H. Carleton, Samuel T. Poor, George H. Spofford.
1877-78-79-80-81-82. .
1883.
Sherman Nelson, Samuel T. Poor, Chauncey O. Noyes. Sherman Nelson, Daniel E. Moulton, Roger S. Howe.
1884-85
Sherman Nelson, Samuel T. Poor, George E. Sanborn.
1886
Charles E. Tyler, George E. Sanborn, James Donovan.
1887
Joseph E. Bailey, George E. Sanborn, James Donovan. Joseph E. Bailey, Charles E. Tyler, James Donovan.
1889-90
Sherman Nelson, James Donovan, Brotherton Martin.
1891
Sherman Nelson, James Donovan, William B. Hammond.
1892-93-94 Sherman Nelson, James Donovan, Charles H. Pingree.
1895-96-97-98-99
Sherman Nelson, James Donovan, Henry K. Palmer.
1900
Sherman Nelson, James Donovan, Chauncey O. Noyes.
1901-02 Chauncey O. Noyes, James Donovan, Willard C. Hardy.
1903-04 Chauncey O. Noyes, John A. Riley, James Watson.
1905-06 Chauncey O. Noyes, John A. Riley, Henry P. Poor.
1907-08-09-10-11 Robert F. Metcalf, John A. Riley, Willard C. Hardy.
1912-13 Andrew M. Abbott, Edward A. Chaplin, James Donovan. 1914-15-16-17-18 William Bray, Michael E. Buckley, Elwood T. Wildes. 1919-20-21 William Bray, Jacob Hazen, Martin E. Murphy.
1922-23 Jacob Hazen, Frank T. Maguire, Leon S. Gifford.
1924 Jacob Hazen, Alvin F. Marden, Frank T. Maguire. 1925 Jacob Hazen, Alvin F. Marden, Leon S. Gifford.
1926-27
Jacob Hazen, Herbert Abbott, Robert B. Adams.
1928-29 Jacob Hazen, Leon S. Gifford, Robert B. Adams.
1930 Jacob Hazen, Robert B. Adams, Frank T. Maguire.
1931-32 Edward S. Nelson, Frank T. Maguire, Leon S. Gifford. 1933 Edward S. Nelson, Baker Adams, Charles M. Longley, Jr. 1934
Edward S. Nelson, Frank T. Maguire, Charles M. Longley, Jr.
1935 Edward S. Nelson, John E. Corthell, Alfred E. Tidd.
1936. Edward S. Nelson, Alvin F. Marden, Alfred E. Tidd.
1937.
Edward S. Nelson, Alvin F. Marden, Edward J. Watson.
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1873
1874
1888
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