USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > Historical reminiscences of the early times in Marlborough, Massachusetts : and prominent events from 1860 to 1910, including brief allusions to many individuals and an account of the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
"These grand old hills echoed the savage yell Bourne on the breeze through wood and dell, As down from Marlboro' swept King Philip's band. Leaving behind a ruined and desolate land. Fiendish, revengefully, onward still they passed,
Obedient to their haughty King's behest, Until they reached this town and mnade attack. But gallant Wadsworth soon was on their track. You know the rest-how each man fought for home. On yonder monument go read their doom, And then with hearts uplifted, thank kind heaven For homes so blessed-through such fierce struggles given.
The portrait of King Philip we copy from Lossings Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution. The author writes: "I copied this and the annexed marks of Philip's chief captains from an original mortgage given by the Sachem to Constant Southworth on land four miles square lying south of Taunton. The mortgage is dated Oct. 1, 1672. It was acknowledged before and signed by John Alden the Puritan. This interesting document passed into the hands of that intelligent antiquary S. G. Drake, Esq. of Boston.
Holy Trinity parish owes its existence largely to St. Mark's parish, Southboro'. A memorable service was that held by Rev. J. I. Coolidge, D. D., rector of St. Mark's church and headmaster of St. Mark's school, in the Unitarian church of Marlborough, about thirty-eight or forty years ago. When Rev. F. L. Bush was resident of Southborough he conducted
100
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.
services regularly each week in an upper room in Marlborough Block. After him came Rev. P. Williams, D. D., who for a while used to live in Southborough and would walk to Marlborough for one service and then to Westborough for another. As time went on, the congregation grew in numbers, and such spirit and good will was shown that Mr. and Mrs. J. Montgomery Sears, of Southborough, offered to build a church if the people would secure the ground. This was accomplished and the above church built at corner of Main Street and Cotting Ave. and consecrated Nov. 17, 1887. At this time, wishing to have a settled minister, the Rev. George S. Pine assistant minister to St. John's Church Boston High- lands was called to the rectorship in Marlborough. Here he has remained for 23 years; in point of residence at the present time, the oldest of any Pastor in town. On June 1891, the late Rev. Phillips Brooks, D. D., then Bishop elect of the Diocese opened the new parish rooms adjoining the church, built at the expense of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Sears. Through the energy of the Woman's Missionary Guild and the co-operation of two generous laymen a house on East Main St. was purchased for a Rectory and opened with form on the fourth anniversary of the consecration of the church.
IOI
COTTING TAVERN IN YE OLDEN TIME.
Nearly opposite the Union Church was this old Tavern which was a conspicuous landmark in Marlborough more than one hundred years ago. Here was the old dance hall whose walls could tell of cotillion parties, and balls, town meetings and church services held at different times. When Rev. Chas. Forbush was the minister of one of the ortho- dox societies in the center of the town which had seceded from the old Spring Hill church, they held their services on the Sabbath in the old John Cotting Tavern. Mrs. Sarah or " Aunt Sally, " together with her good husband who had given up store-keeping, set up hotel-keeping in the above long rambling building, remembered to this day as formerly surrounded by sheds, stables and outbuildings.
As tavern keepers the twain were very successful, making their hostelry one of the highest in repute of all the region about. This repu- tation was largely won for the tavern by the toil and skill of the landlady whose dinners and suppers were so satisfactory as to leave the most agreeable memory with each patron. Those who came to the hostelry in all these years were legion and included besides the regular public travelling by highway, a great number of sleighing and cotillion parties which made the tavern a merry place. Both landlord and landlady were popular by reason of their personal qualities. He died in 1870 and she continued at the old tavern, refusing to leave it for an apparently more
102
comfortable home close by offered by her son, John F. Cotting, [now the property and residence of Mr. Eugene O. Brigham] who speaking of the old times and the parties said : "There is a vast difference between the sleighing parties of today and those of olden times. Farmers then had but one sleigh, a square box-like structure painted yellow, with the back higher than one's head and over which a coverlet was thrown. The sleigh was so heavy that two horses generally were required to draw it. Frequently there was good sleighing for a couple of months and sleighing parties were then the order of the day. The farm wagon body was placed on runners of the woodsled, and a lot of straw was placed at the bottom for the young men and women or the 'girls and boys' to seat themselves. The 'fiddler' always accompanied the party. Then they would drive to some tavern where the first thing in order was to call for ' flip.' This beverage was simply cream beer which was served in large mugs or glasses. Every landlord had an iron rod about two feet long with a ball on the end about the size of a walnut which was heated red hot and run into every glass of beer which heated it and made it foam. This was called 'flip' which after drinking, the music struck up and there was a dance ; those not wishing to dance playing games of different kinds. "
The taverns of John Cotting and Captain Sullivan Thayer across the road, had sumptuous entertainment for man and beast so bountifully displayed that few could withstand the temptationto stop and tarry with the jolly throng. Taverns situated but a short distance from each other on the main travelled roads were as indispensable in those days as the school house or church. The old swinging sign boards projecting from those old hostelries promised a welcome and a home for all. These taverns were the resorts of all classes ; the news related and public affairs of grave importance discussed, and where all events of interest were celebrated. At that time intoxicating liquor was sold as freely at the bar to the travel- ing public and the lounging townsmen as the oats and corn fodder for the beasts in the stall.
In Barber's " Historical Collections " we find the following picture and these lines written in 1840 : "Marlborough is one of the best agricultural towns in the county. Very little of what is called good land lies level, but is intersected in various directions by hills, declivities and
103
-
-
-
South-eastern viem of Marlborough.
valleys. There are four churches : one Restorationist, one Orthodox, one Universalist, one Methodist." The above is a southeastern view of some of the principal buildings in the central part of Marlborough. The most prominent building on the left is the Universalist church. This was on the corner of the now known Ames Court. In this locality in times past lived Deacon James Woods who married Dorothy Barnes, and at her death m. Hepzibah Eager, daughter of Uriah Eager. In the list of early pew holders in the old Spring Hill church, we find his name, and in the Spring Hill burying ground we find stones marked for Dorothy, Hepzibah and for James, under whose name are the lines :
"Passing with melancholy state By all these solemn heaps of fate O think ! as soft and sad you tread Above the venerable Dead, Time was like you, we life possess'd, And Time shall be when you shall rest. "
James Woods was Representative to General Court in 1750, was elected Deacon 1741 and was Selectman 1741-49-55-57. At the end of Ames Place lived at a later day Mr. Stillman B. Pratt and family.
" "Tis to the pen and press we mortals owe All we believe and almost all we know. "
Journalism in Marlborough started with the first paper, "The Marl-
104
borough Mirror, " issued November 1859 by Stillman B. Pratt, son of Rev. Stillman Pratt, who was born at Orleans, Mass., in 1836, and who learned his trade at his father's Middleboro Gazette office. In the Fall of 1859, Edwin Rice, son of Abel Rice, who was in the stationery busi- ness at Forest Hall, purchased an amateur printing office and in August 1860 issued the first number of the "Shenstone Laurel, " a monthly paper, 16x32 inches, edited by Hon. O. W. Albee and Mrs. Charles F. Morse. The Marlborough Journal was first issued December 1860 by George Mills Joy and Edwin Rice, their office being at first in Forest Hall Block.
In 1861 the Marlborough Mirror was sold to J. M. Farwell, son of Richard Farwell, and the same week the two papers were united under the name of Marlborough Journal. Before many months Mr. Joy enlisted and went into the Union Army and the Journal was carried on in a gradually failing condition by Mr. Farwell, until about 1864 when he gave the paper up, declaring if anybody thought they could make any money at the printing business in Marlborough they were welcome to try their hand. For some time Marlborough had no local paper. Finally the type and presses were bought by C. A. Wood, who had learned his trade of Stillman B. Pratt, and he removed the material to Hudson and established the Hudson Pioneer February 12, 1865. C. A. Wood also printed for a few months at his Hudson office a paper for Marlborough called the Marlborough Star.
In the Fall of 1865, William W. Wood, a cousin of C. A. Wood, gave up the publication of the Stoughton Sentinel and removed his equipments to Marlborough and re-established the Marlborough Mirror. On September 26, 1867, he bought the Hudson Pioneer office. For four months in 1869 these papers were edited by Rev. W. A. Start and from November 6, 1869, W. W. Wood, George Stearns and A. A. Wright were the proprietors under the firm name of Wood, Stearns & Co., who carried on the business until May 6, 1871, when Stillman B. and Thomas S. Pratt, under the firm name of Pratt Brothers, purchased both the Marlborough Mirror and Hudson Pioneer offices.
January 1, 1873, the Marlborough Journal was revived and published for three years as an eight page Saturday paper, while the Marlborough Mirror during the same time, was a four page Wednesday paper. October 1, 1873, T. S. Pratt sold his interest in these papers to Stillman B. Pratt, and January 1, 1876, the two papers were consolidated and became the Marlborough Mirror-Journal published on Saturdays.
In May 1877, Richard A. Bigelow [son of Alden and Olivia Bige-
105
low] and Charles F. Morse established The Times at Forest Hall, Marlborough. In 1871 The Times was removed to Corey Block, and in 1879 a stock company was formed to carry on the business. The paper was ably edited from the start by Charles F. Morse up to 1891 when he retired, disposing of his stock to Peter B. Murphy, the present very able editor and manager.
January 1, 1878, the Marlborough Advertiser was established and was published for a year by Charles E. Cook and A. E. Townsend from the office in Forest Hall. January 1, 1879, the Advertiser was removed to Franklin Block with Ransom D. Pratt as editor.
The Marlborough Daily Enterprise had its birth in the Marlborough Weekly Enterprise, an off-shoot of the Hudson Weekly Enterprise. The Marlborough weekly was established by John F. Wood of the firm of Woc 1 Brothers, publishers of the Hudson and other town weeklies, doing business under the name Enterprise. Thomas W. Hayden, for years employed by Pratt Brothers, publishers of 40 weeklies and the Daily Mirror, took charge of the new Marlborough paper which saw its first issue in 1889.
September 4, 1889, the Daily was born and from that time until the present day success has been written in nearly all of its endeavors. The plant was removed to the Temple Block in 1892. The office was in the Main street front, but the mechanical part of the plant was built on what might be termed a rock near the corner of Hill and Devens street. The copy was shot through a wooden tube from Main street to the hill and vice versa.
In 1898 the paper passed from the hands of Mr. Wood to new own- ers, E. I. Sawyer, Walter P. Frye, Hon. Walter B. Morse and H. F. Wilder, one of the first employees, the latter acting as manager until June 1909 when he sold his stock in the paper and retired. Mr. Sawyer died in 1909 and his stock passed into the hands of Messrs. Frye and Morse. Mr. Wilder was succeeded by William D. McPherson who had established in Marlborough the News which later on was merged into the Daily Enterprise, of which paper Mr. McPherson, with practical experi- ence for the work, became competent manager. In addition to the Daily Enterprise, the concern prints seven prosperous weeklies combining the neighboring towns.
January 1, 1887, the Marlborough Star was established under the patronage of the late Rev. P. A. McKenna and later edited by him. The paper was devoted to Irish-American and Catholic interests, especially to the advocacy of temperance. After a few years when the
106
object of the paper had been accomplished, he resigned as editor and the paper was discontinued.
In October 1888 " Le Nouvelliste, " a much needed News Giver, was founded by Messieurs A. L. Beauchamp as proprietor and Henri Berger as editor. This paper was printed in the French language and at its decline was succeeded September 12, 1892, by " L'Estafette, " published and edited up to present date by Monsieur A. L. Beauchamp.
Among the various well-known names connected with journalism of Marlborough are to be mentioned R. M. Pratt who remained here until engaged as reporter by the Worcester Telegram ; Thomas Hayden, at whose death succeeded E. V. Spooner, and Thomas L. Walsh, now a well known attorney in Clinton, E. S. Murphy, who has done general reporter's work since 1899 up to present time ; M. M. Multer of The Marlborough Times; ex-Senator J. J. Mitchell, reporter to Boston Herald; Representative Charles F. McCarthy, reporter to Worcester Telegram ; and one whom Marlborough still claims, Representative to General Court from Leominster, Frank H. Pope, reporter to Boston Globe, whose command of ideas and language is equalled by few.
E de Coxpaler
THE LARKIN, OR WINSLOW BRIGHAM HOUSE.
107
This house stood until a year or so ago just to the left of the Corey Estate. Here in 1817 Elizabeth Larkin was married one morning by the Rev. Sylvester F. Bucklin to Winslow Brigham (son of Capt. Daniel and Thankful Brigham) and as time went on returned to live with "Mother Larkin" who had built this house. From this old home- stead their daughter Elizabeth Brigham now a lovable dear lady of 92 years of age, was married to Wallace Witherbee youngest son of Caleb Witherbee whose two first years of married life were spent on the Wesson farm and from there ten years in " Father Caleb Witherbee's" mansion. The children of William Wallace and Elizabeth Brigham Witherbee are Ellen, Frank, Elizabeth, Frederick, Mary, Sarah, Anne, Herbert.
When their two daughters moved to Fairmount, Winslow Brigham and his wife rented the old home and built the now Charles Morse house to which they moved and enjoyed life there for less than two weeks. At the town's political demonstration Nov. 1st, 1864 when general enthu- siasm prevailed and noted speakers present, Mr. Brigham was standing on the sidewalk, and was knocked down by an unmanageable horse, and never spoke again. Soon the wife joined him in the other life. In the Larkin Home was married Anne Fisher Brigham to Samuel Boyd. The couple boarded first at the Thayer Hotel. Then began housekeeping on Bridge street, and then went to the Draper home just this side of George Morse, (Samuel and Anne's ch. Delia [m. Henry Aldrich] Anna [m. Samuel C. Darling] Florence, Lydda, Carrie, Henry, Fanny.)
At Anne's death, Samuel married Mary Lawrence of Shrewsbury. Samuel Boyd was one of eleven children. The Boyds were an old fam- ily in Marlborough. John Boyd the ancestor came to this country 1636. Wm., the grandfather of Samuel who served in the War of the Revolu- tion came to Marlborough, when he was 12 years of age, and was adopted by Mr. Stratton who owned the farm near So. Marlborough. He afterwards inherited the estate, and married into the Morse family. Of the children of Wm. Boyd, John, the father of Samuel is remembered and described as a " man of quick wit, a noted joker, a man of device and schemes, but with his large family was over burdened and became poor." His wife Sophia Phelps, daughter of Roger Phelps was an excellent woman, a faithful mother and of good family. Samuel Boyd was born on what was generally known as the Hillman Farm at Marlboro Junction, burnt some years ago. At that time a shoe maker's apprentice had to be able to make a boot or shoe entire, and Samuel at 14 was put to trade as currier with Col. Joe Davis of Northboro, brother of "honest" John Davis who was at one time Governor of the State.
108
THE JOSIAH BENNETT HOUSE, MAPLE STREET.
Samuel and his brother Joseph Boyd built for their parents the house called the Josiah Bennett place on the corner of Maple and Bridge streets. Here they went into business, and occupied a room 20x30 feet, employing about 25 hands. They remained here about two years, and then moved to the upper part of the brick block used as a hotel by Sullivan Thayer on Main street, opposite the old Cotting tavern. Soon after, they moved to a small house at head of the common. The next move of Samuel was to build the Morse brick factory on Maple street, a monster and big adventure in those days. Nine years later and Samuel and Thomas Corey built the brick block (Central House) where they employed 300 hands. This led to the mammoth factory on Main street. The school education allowed to Samuel Boyd was a few weeks in winter, and one or two terms at the Marlborough Academy with Mr. O. W. Albee. The business of manufacturing shoes for market was almost new in Marlborough, when he finished his apprenticeship at Northboro. Lynn, Milford and a few other towns had done pioneer work with promise and success. Col. Ephraim Howe had begun here, on a small scale, and here Samuel began manufacturing with his brother Joseph. [The latter m. Mary E. Bridge of Lowell, by whom he had
109
one daughter Caroline. After the death of his first wife he m. his sister- in-law Susan S. Bridge. Joseph retired from business in 1839, and went to St. Louis. Returning in 1846 to take his brother John's place in the firm. ] Samuel and his brother John had gone into partnership, and built the Commons shop in 1843, located nearly south of the Union Church. And so the business went on. Soon others ventured until on every hand they were buying two sides of leather and a simple kit, making shoes by hand in some out building, chamber or kitchen, and hurrying off to Boston to sell their goods, and buying a double quantity of stock they would press into service, some child, wife or hired man to do the same thing over again on a larger scale. At first a shoe-maker's kit was an awl, a knife and hammer, the same man doing all the parts. Then came division of labor, and "making a team" became known. The business grew until for more than half a century did Samuel Boyd stay at home to do his life work, building up his native place until he was characterized the "Father of the City." Credit should be given Samuel Boyd for conceiving the idea of the electric street railway in Marlborough, and he carried his idea into effect by embarking in the enterprise, and building the road at his own expense. Mr. Boyd also identified himself prominently with the steam railroad interests of Marlborough. The Agricultural Branch Railroad to centre of Marl- borough was extended through efforts of Mr. Boyd who guaranteed to raise $15,000 in Marlborough, he himself subscribing largely to the fund.
MARLBOROUGH CITY HOSPITAL.
IIO
The Marlborough City Hospital was incorporated Feb. 27, 1890, by Miss Hannah E. Bigelow, Hon. S. H. Howe, Edward L. Bigelow, Henry O. Russell, James T. Murphy, Dr. James Campbell, Timothy A. Coolidge, W. HI. Fay, Hon. J. W. McDonald, W. S. Frost, Hon. W. N. Davenport, Onesime Lavasseur, Francis C. Curtis, Hon. John O'Connell, Winslow M. Warren, and John E. Curtis.
In Sept. 1891 the above Sylvester Bucklin house was purchased and preparations made for occupancy. The Institution was opened to the public in 1893, and remained so until Aug. 1894, when on account of non-support the doors were closed for ten years, when there was a revival of interest, and the board of trustees by hard and faithful work secured the necessary amount of funds to place the Hospital in such a financial condition as would allow it to start on a firm foundation. Today the success attending our Hospital has been due to the present able manage- ment, and the harmonious co-operation of the large numbers who have generously responded whenever called upon. The financial burden resting on the trustees has been very materially lightened by the work of the Ladies' Board. We cannot speak too highly of their service, and the City of Marlborough, and many citizens have been generous with their Hospital. While many individuals and various Clubs and Societies have generously contributed, mention may be given only of a few who have donated one hundred dollars and more, towards the support of this much needed institution, the management of which is harmoniously successful, leading to that result which should be accomplished in the near future, a modern and up to date new Hospital building where all necessary requirements may be met.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOSPITAL.
Hannah Bigelow,
$5,000.00
Mrs. Ellen Lane,
$200.00
S. H. Howe,
1,000.00
D. W. Hitchcock,
150,00
Corey Heirs,
500.00
Holy Trinity Church, 120.00
Henry K. Winchester,
500.00
Messrs. Morse & Bigelow, 100.00
Messrs. Rice & Hutchins,'
500.00
William Fay,
100.00
Samuel Boyd,
300.00
George A. Howe, 100.00
Mrs. John A. Frye,
250.00
E. F. Longley,
100.00
John A. Frye, X-Ray Machine
OFFICERS OF MARLBOROUGH HOSPITAL.
President, Dr. C. T. Warner
Treasurer, F. L. Claflin
Vice-President, T. J. Harris
Secretary, R. H. Beaudreau
III
MEDICAL AND SURGICAL STAFF.
Dr. E. G. Hoitt Dr. T. F. McCarthy
Dr. J. T. Buckley
Dr. E. H. Ellis
Dr. C. L. Cutler, Jr. Dr. Delia M. O'Connell
Dr. W. S. Richardson
Dr. O. G. Duhamel
Dr. J. J. Kelley
Dr. C. T. Warner
Dr. R. E. Stevens
Dr. J. A. D. St. Jacques
Dr. C. W. Smith
Before finishing this article we would speak a word in behalf of the girls in white. A trained nurse, it is said, lasts only fifteen years, when she becomes more or less broken in health. The average nurse is con- sidered as a tireless phenomenon rather than as a human being. "Few people begin to realize," Edward Bok writes, " the exacting demands of a sick room-the fearful physical and mental strain. The nurse cannot complain-that would be unprofessional-and so she 'gets along some- how' until she gives out. These trained nurses are fine women, friends ; hard working, self-sacrificing, patient, tender. But they are humans, just as accountable to nature and her demands as is your daughter. They would last longer than fifteen years were we kinder to them. And God bless them, they deserve it, these girls in white. In the hospital or in the home they are indispensable, these women in their white uniforms."
A short distance from the Hospital is Hildreth street. Half a century ago Marlboro was almost an exclusively agricultural district and was widely known for its abundant farming products. The shoemaker, the wheelwright and the blacksmith comprised about all who were then considered the mechanics of the village. The minister's, the lawyer's and doctor's families, embraced what little of aristocracy the little hamlet at that time contained. Benjamin W. Hildreth, Jr., was the eldest son of Dr. Hildreth, the village physician, whose appearance as he rode to and fro among his patients in his high, yellow sulky, was a terror to many youngsters who had more green fruit deposited in their stomachs than the wise Esculapius would think they could digest; for the boys knew he carried in his saddle bags an emetic which brought to light all hidden things. The sad drowning of the son in Boston harbor on the 22d day of July 1830, created universal sympathy for the afflicted family. The military city guards of Boston were ordered to wear the usual badge of mourning for his death, and caused to be recorded that he was a worthy member. All the households were filled in that day with large families of children, and Dr. Hildreth's was one of the largest, embracing fourteen boys and girls. The house, though somewhat abridged from its former
II2
dimensions is still standing. Later in his life the doctor disposed of this village home, the old house on Main street, third house from the now Dr. Cutler house, where the postoffice was located, and devoted himself mostly to cultivating the soil. Younger physicians came on the ground and nearly crowded off the old practitioner. The doctor bought a house and moved onto Hildreth street, from which circumstance the street and school take the name.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.