USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > History of Athol, Massachusetts > Part 44
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Quarters were provided for the Post in our Memorial Build- ing, and some other special privileges were granted it, all of which seem to have been duly appreciated, but as time went on and the membership seemed to demand more than just a lodge room for formal meetings, the Post began a search for a home of its own.
Eventually, in January, 1945, it purchased the buildings with some four acres of land first developed by Mr. Charles L. Morse in the last years of the nineteenth century. Succeeding Mr. Morse had come Mr. Levi B. Fay, a Civil War veteran and it was his daughter, Kate L. Fay who deeded the property to the Legion members.
Material alterations in this home and its adjoining stable
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have made it an ideal Legion Home where it has gladly ad- mitted into its membership many of the veterans of World War II.
Several of its outstanding members have been called to fill various offices in our town but the Legion has throughout the years refrained from partisan politics. But in non-political matters it has been most helpful. Among the times when especial help has been forthcoming was during the flood and hurricane period of 1938 and during the World War II years when its members organized the Legion Police, doing par- ticularly valuable service in augmenting our regular police force which was seriously crippled by army enlistments.
While it rates Armistice Day as its especial obligation, yet as the Grand Army has passed away and the Sons of Veterans have become few in numbers, it has taken on many of the duties incident to Memorial Day.
In recent years the Post has provided a Christmas party for the children of Athol, this event being held in Memorial Hall and attended by upwards of 1200 children. The members have done much towards public entertainment, while their Sick and Relief Committee has been most active.
Organized in 1928 the Drum Corps was exceedingly active until it disbanded prior to World War II. In 1930 at the National Convention in Boston it made a percentage of 76.56 in which eighty drum corps from all over the country partici- pated.
Daughters of the American Revolution
In the early months of 1920 Mrs. Anne Oliver Kendrick, daughter of Dr. James Oliver, became interested in forming a local chapter of the D.A.R. She was aided in this by Mrs. Edna Proctor Roberts who was then a member of Johanna Aspinwall Chapter in Boston.
A meeting was called at the Pequoig Hotel. The aims, ob- jects, and achievements of the organization were explained, and a goodly number of ladies expressed a desire to become charter members of an Athol Chapter. They adopted the name of Margery Morton, the first white female born in Athol. Mrs. Kendrick was the first Regent.
The organization has continued to attract to itself eligible descendants of Revolutionary soldiers and has been a consid- erable factor in the social life of Athol. A few years after its organization it induced the town to make an appropriation to
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mark all the known graves of Revolutionary soldiers in our town and they followed it through to the end that markers were placed on each of these graves.
The Chapter is in a flourishing condition and is one of the respected units in the State.
Disabled War Veterans
Organized on May 2, 1934 with Irwin L. Fuller as Com- mander, this less numerous group of veterans of World Wars I and II is another unit of our former soldier citizens.
For a time it occupied the rooms in Memorial Building vacated by Phillips Post, but recently it has acquired the former Hebrew Synagogue at No. 47 Pine Street.
As its name indicates its first care is for the disabled veteran but beyond that it participates in many veterans' activities.
Grand Army of the Republic
Parker Union No. 9 Parker Post Hubbard V. Smith Post
In these days of many veterans' organizations one wonders
PARKER POST, G.A.R. MAY 29, 1884
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
that it was not until the close of the War Between the States that any veteran's organization, except the limited membership of the Cincinnati, was ever effected. However, the returning soldiers of 1861-65 seem to have desired strongly to hold their ranks together by some fraternal union.
Apparently the first thought was to effect a so-called Vet- erans Union and in conformity with that thought Parker Union No. 9 was opened here on October 25, 1866. But ere long, the bulk of the veterans flocked to the Grand Army of the Republic and conforming to the tendency of the times our veterans seem to have abandoned their Union or merged it into Parker Post which was organized June 8, 1870, previous to which a few veterans had affiliated with Gen. Sedgwick Post at Orange.
Parker Post met for some years in a block now demolished at 1616 Main Street, taking over the old Masonic Hall in Ful- ler's Block soon after the Grange left it in 1899, and remaining there until 1923 when it moved downtown to Memorial Hall.
Even the veterans were not immune from village rancor. Thus we find those residing downtown seeking a post of their own. Hubbard V. Smith Post, G.A.R., was organized in Starr Hall on February 22, 1882. George H. Cooke soon prepared a hall for it in the Stillmen Knowlton property on Main Street
GRAND ARMY VETERANS MARCHING EAST ON MAIN STREET JUST WEST OF POST OFFICE
From Left to Right: Lyman B. Hastings, George McRea, W. H. Foster (then of Orange), Chas. E. Taft, -? - George D. Marsh, C. V. Goddard
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which he had just bought and there it met until it too moved to Memorial Hall in 1923.
Depleted in membership, Parker Post disbanded on July 27, 1933, but H. V. Smith Post carried on until its last member, Almond L. Jillson, died on June 14, 1934.
I give herewith a picture of Parker Post in 1884 drawn up in front of the Dr. Oliver Place fronting on Phillips Park and also one of the members of both Posts parading on Lower Main Street about 1918.
Grand Army Auxiliaries
Sons of Veterans, General W. T. Sherman Camp No. 65 Matrons of the Republic Hubbard V. Smith Corps
As the Civil War veterans approached middle age they thought of perpetuating the ideals for which they stood by the organization of their male offspring.
General W. T. Sherman Camp No. 65, Sons of Veterans, was organized on May 26, 1886. It was composed of sons of mem- bers of both local posts as well as those whose parents had no affiliations here. As the veterans grew older the worth of this organization became more and more apparent and it is these sons and their descendants who still carry on the traditions of both Grand Army Posts.
Long previous to the forming of Sherman Camp a group of the female relatives of the Parker Post membership effected an organization. They became allied with an embryo State and possibly National group, using the name Matrons of the Re- public. They were allotted Number 3 by that body when they were organized on May 3, 1878. The State and National bodies have long since disbanded but Hoyt Post carried on until 1953 when it disbanded.
Nine years later when the recognized ladies' auxiliary of the Grand Army was the Women's Relief Corps, a group of ladies organized Hubbard V. Smith Corps on February 22, 1887. Many were attracted to its membership and for a time it was the outstanding women's society of Athol.
Its first president was Clare Hoyt Burleigh who soon achieved higher honors. In February, 1894 she became State President of that order and when she retired from that office at the end of her term she became Superintendent of the National
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Home of the Order at Madison, Ohio where she served effi- ciently for several years.
CLAIRE HOYT BURLEIGH 1833 - 1901
Another Past President of the local Corps, M. Eunice Coolidge, was State President in 1920.
For years this group of ladies was a powerful supporter of the aging veterans, until 1943 when it surrendered its charter.
Massachusetts State Guard
Athol's D Company, 18th Infantry, Massachusetts State Guard, organized in 1917 as a war measure, become one of the best companies in the State, under the leadership of Capt. Frank P. Hall. By December 31, 1918 it had a full quota of sixty-eight men ready for any emergency.
While at camp in Framingham in August, 1918 this com- pany was rated as an A-1 outfit and was used as a model. Even the Governor, when he reviewed the regiment at camp, singled out the Athol Company as the best drilled in line.
The service which this Company performed during the war and in the Boston Police Strike of September, 1919 was a tremendous asset to our community.
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Again during World War II the State Guard became active. Following the removal of the National Guard in 1941 from the communities in Massachusetts, arrangements were made by the State authorities for the recruiting of State Guard Com- panies to act in any emergency within the Commonwealth for the duration of the then impending crisis.
On February 11, 1941 Lt. Parker B. Kimball was assigned Commander of F Company, 22nd Regiment, MSG, and a week later began recruiting at the local Y.M.C.A. for sixty members to form this newly organized Athol unit, with the result that by April 8, 1941 the Company had reached capacity mem- bership and was honored by official recognition as a State Guard Unit.
Company F was intensely active throughout the war: holding weekly drills, studying methods of power line defense in the field, practice guarding of railroad trestles and defense plants, participating in battalion maneuvers at Deerfield, studying guerrilla warfare, giving a twenty weeks' course of basic instruc- tion in army service to all local men between the ages of 15 and 55, and engaging in rifle competitions.
Company F went into action on April 13, 1942 when a permanent 24-hour guard of its headquarters, the Armory Building in Orange, became effective. Paid by the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, the guard operated on a three eight- hour relief with three members on duty at a time.
A general streamlining of the State Guard set-up during the summer of 1942 changed Company F to a new designation as Company C, 29th Infantry. A few weeks later in further re- shuffling for greater mobility and protection in case of emer- gency, Company C became Company O, 21st Infantry. Hence- forth State Guard Companies, with armories, were known as mobile units, subject to call anywhere in the State.
The commendations which our Athol Company received are worthy of record, particularly that by Major Burr G. Jacobsen, then 4th Battalion Commander, MSG, when in April, 1943 he pinned an oral medal on the collective bosoms of Company O members, stating that their morale and spirit were of the highest degree.
Throughout the war Company O worked closely with Athol's Pequoag Guards and in so doing not only intensified its own training and efficiency but also strengthened home defense.
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National Guard
Located at the Armory in Orange, our local National Guard Company with a majority of its personnel being residents of Athol was speedily put upon a war basis at the outbreak of World War II. On January 26, 1941 F Company left for a year's training at Camp Edwards, Cape Cod, and thence to Federal service. But a few weeks elapsed before Athol and other communities of the Commonwealth arranged for pro- tection at home by organizing State Guard Companies.
Pequoag Guards
A year after the creation of the Massachusetts State Guard Reserve, voters of Athol gave their approval on February 16, 1942 for additional protection to our town during World War Il, and in so doing gave the new Company, later to be known as "The Pequoag Guards," the distinction of being among the first of the State Guard Reserve Companies to be formed in Massachusetts.
Under the command of Capt. Parker B. Kimball, the Com- pany's quota was set at forty-five men and three commissioned officers.
Three months after its inception, the Pequoag Guard unit became officially recognized by Adjutant General Erickson. In June, 1942 the Guards were allowed to increase their strength to sixty-one men, with permission to sign up an ad- ditional ten per cent for active service, as well as a reserve group or "waiting list" to fill vacancies as they occurred.
As more guardsmen left for regular army service, member- ship fluctuated and required frequent recruiting drives to bring the ranks to full strength. This situation was not peculiar to Athol alone but was State wide. As a solution Gov. Salton- stall reduced the minimum age requirements for enlistment from eighteen to seventeen years and removed the maximum age limit to fifty. By February, 1944 thirty-six members of the Athol Company were in the service. Hence the task of keeping up Company strength was a continuous one.
When the reorganization of the entire Massachusetts State Guard became effective, the Company dropped its nickname of "Pequoag Guards." From December 12, 1943 the unit be- came known as the 15th Company, 4th Battalion, 29th Infan- try, MSG. At a surprise testimonial dinner given by the Com- pany three days later, Capt. Kimball resigned his command. Lt. William T. Woodrow took over the command of the newly
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designated 15th Company and received his commission as Captain on April 5, 1944.
The Guards underwent a program of intensive training throughout the war. In swift succession followed war maneu- vers involving defense of Athol's industrial plants, specified areas such as a power sub-station, and even of the town itself. Even as V-E Day approached in May, 1945 the Guardsmen were still training. They attended school sessions at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, at the Fitchburg Armory, and a week's encampment at Camp Chase in Hingham, Massachu- setts. Voluntarily in March, 1943 the Guards assumed the twelve midnight to six a.m. morning watch at the Athol District Warning Centre, one man each night to this duty. It had the signal honor of being one of the first security units in the State to possess the "walkie-talkie" radio sets with which to keep up communication in an emergency when other means were not available.
Major General John F. Williams, Acting Chief of the Na- tional Guard, gave our Guards a fine commendation when he wrote in April, 1944 to The Adjutant General of Massachu- setts in Boston:
"1. This Bureau has received a copy of the 1944 Annual Inspection Report of the 15th Company, 29th Infantry Regi- ment, Massachusetts State Guard, Athol, Massachusetts, which contains the following remark:
'This company is sharp and drill is much better than the average company. Also, it will be noted that they are unusually well equipped. In fact each man is armed with a trench knife in addition to other equipment. It was also true that the men seemed to be of somewhat better intelligence and more able to answer questions.'
"2. I am happy to add my commendation of the officers and men of the 15th Company, for their loyalty and hard work towards the development and training of an efficient military force."
There were other letters of congratulations from Major General Sherman Miles, Brig. General William J. Keville, Major General Thomas F. Foley, Col. Walter L. Beaman, and Capt. Charles H. Qualters.
Official disbandment of "Athol's Own Company" was an- nounced on October 31, 1946 by Charles H. Qualters, then Lt. Colonel.
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
United Spanish War Veterans, George A. Brooks Camp
Locally at least two organizations grew out of the War with Spain and the Philippine Expeditions following it, but only one survived and that was George A. Brooks Camp, or- ganized about 1904 under the name of Legion of Spanish War Veterans, with Oscar D. Hapgood as the first Commander.
In 1908 Brooks Camp was merged into a unit of United Spanish War Veterans with Harry L. Doane as first Commander. Since most of the veterans of that era were members of Co. E, Second Massachusetts Infantry and that Company's Armory was at Orange, it is natural that this camp which includes veterans of both towns should be located in Orange.
Though depleted in membership, this organization is still functioning with but a few members still living. They meet in the Memorial Hall in Orange on the second Thursday of each month. Col. Harry L. Doane was Honorary Commander until his death in 1951.
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Roy L. Boyce Post No. 650
On June 6, 1921, some two years after Phillips Post, Ameri- can Legion was formed, a group of its members (most of them remaining in the Legion membership) together with some who had never joined the Legion organized Roy L. Boyce Post No. 650, Veterans of Foreign Wars. They met for a time in Memorial Building and then sought other quarters, locating at No. 55 Exchange Street for a few years and then as their membership increased by the affiliation of many World War II veterans, it bought the Franklin C. Woodward property at 73 Traverse Street where it maintains its headquarters. In 1950- 51 a substantial assembly hall was added to the rear of their building.
It has cooperated with the Legion in many of its public ac- tivities and its personnel seems to find many congenial com- panions among its membership.
In the small grass triangle at the junction of School, Traverse and South Streets, there is a bronze plaque on a granite base which commemorates not only the golden anniversary of the V.F.W. but also is in memory of the men and women of this community who have served in the armed forces in times of war. This Veterans Memorial in Foreign Wars Memorial Park was dedicated on November 5, 1949 with U. S. Senator Leverett Saltonstall as chief speaker. During the colorful cere-
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mony, when Rep. Warren C. Karner and this author both spoke, there was a flight of planes from the Air National Guard of Westfield led by two Athol fliers, Lt. James Romanowicz and Lt. Richard Barrus.
Odd Fellows
Tully Lodge, Independent Order of Fellows
Masonry not proving adequate for the social aspirations of many people, other fraternities began to appeal to our citi- zenry, but it was some years before any of the more generally recognized non-Masonic fraternities found a welcome here.
The first to come was Tully Lodge, Independent Order of Fellows, which was organized here October 15, 1884. The lodge has met in Cardany's Block, in the Millers River Bank Building, and on June 29, 1929 it bought the Academy of Music Building built by Lucien Lord in 1892 where it and most of its associate orders have since met.
Canton Athol No. 60
As a branch of the local Odd Fellows, Canton Athol No. 60 was instituted on July 1, 1889, and Mt. Pleasant Encampment on April 23, 1889.
Daughters of Rebecca, Banner Lodge No. 89 (I.O.O.F.)
A strong support to the Odd Fellows, this affiliate has been in existence since its organization on April 17, 1890.
Millers River Lodge No. 7742
There is also a Manchester Unity Odd Fellows Lodge named Millers River Lodge No. 7742 which was organized June 20, 1902. It has met at various fraternal halls but now has its headquarters in a private home.
Poquaig Club
On Thursday, November 5, 1891 nearly a hundred Athol citizens gathered at Landlord Mowry's new Commercial House (now the Leonard) and organized Poquaig Club.
For more than half a century previous to that time the resi- dents of the "Factory Village," later "Athol Depot," had been wont to gather in the office of the old Pequoig Hotel, which was in the southwest corner of the main building, and there
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around the spacious fireplace discuss important and unimpor- tant affairs of village, town, County, State, and Nation.
This gathering, facetiously called the Pequoig Senate, had been made welcome by succeeding landlords from Newell to Aldrich & Stone, but when these last named gentlemen took over the management in May, 1901 they had other ideas about the usage of their office space and mildly suggested to this group of non-paying habitues that they hold their conferences elsewhere.
Those were prosperous and busy days in Athol and many of our citizens were not averse to arranging for a more spacious location where they could gather in social intercourse during their leisure hours. Although those were truly "horse and buggy" days in our town yet Athol had begun to glimpse a vision of a new era.
Lucien Lord had opened Lake Park two years before and Augustus Coolidge had built a half dozen modern houses on River (Crescent) Street. By the active assistance of our aggres- sive Board of Trade, Hill & Green, F. W. Breed, and Goddard and Manning had started new industries here. After a dozen years of litigation and struggle Mr. L. S. Starrett had bought the wooden factory west of the Cotton Factory and was steadily adding to his relatively small number of employees.
An electric dynamo had been installed at the Cotton Factory and strung along our streets were a dozen or more carbon elec- tric lamps giving by night a sputtering and uncertain light.
For five years Athol had agitated macadam roads, but in 1891 not a load of crushed rock had been used and the sur- face of our streets and roads was undiluted Athol mud. Dun- ham and Brown had solicited and procured from both Athol and Orange an electric railway franchise but not a yard of rail had been laid along the contemplated right of way.
The range of amusements was an occasional road show in the Skating Rink or Hi Henry's Minstrels in Starr Hall.
For ten years Athol had had a long distance telephone serv- ice. Still there were but few private telephone boxes installed and these were operated by a crank at the right side of the box turned vigorously to attract the attention of Hattie Sawtelle, the sole telephone operator.
Elisha F. Brown was Station Agent at the Depot and Zepho- rine E. Carter telegraph operator there.
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Webb's Block had been built following the fire of 1890 and Millers River National Bank had moved its old building to the north and erected a new three-story block.
A sewer had been built that year from the watering trough to the iron bridge. Perhaps a dozen buildings along the route had sewer connections and installed crockery toilets so that by pulling a chain all deposits were washed down into the river. Outside of these few aristocrats an old two holer back of the house still served its useful purpose.
Such was the Athol into which Poquaig Club was born. Ben- jamin Harrison was President and the problem of the politicians was how to dispose of the unwieldly surplus which was piling up in the United States Treasury. That progressive young demo- crat, William E. Russell was Governor and George W. Bishop was Chairman of the Selectmen.
Nine days after the organization Mr. Lucien Lord proposed to the club that he would build for it in his contemplated Aca- demy of Music Building, to be erected on Aunt Sally Fish's Garden, quarters adequate for all its needs and forthwith a contract was entered into with him. Millers River Bank offered temporary quarters in the rear of the second floor of its new building at practically the spot where First National Bank Di- rectors hold their meetings today. Much of the equipment for the new Club was produced locally. The piano case was from Goddard & Manning, some of the furniture came from Athol Reed & Rattan Company, while the pool and billard tables were from Goodman's.
The new quarters were dedicated October 25, 1892. Al- though after some seven years the building was seized by Mr. Lord's creditors yet through several ownerships the Club con- tinued to occupy its quarters until in June, 1909 the space was leased for the local telephone exchange and the Club moved into the easterly section of the Pequoig Block, second floor.
There it prospered for a time as never before. Then a busi- ness man was scarcely to be found in our midst whose name was not on the rolls of the Club. But the radio, the auto, and finally the financial crash of 1929 each took their toll of mem- bers.
In 1932 the Club moved again, this time into an apartment at 151 Marble Street, but in 1933 it returned to the bright lights of Main Street, this time into much smaller quarters in the Webb Block. There it existed until early 1952, its member-
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ship reduced to a few who were reluctant to see it disband. The quarters were abandoned on February 1 and the Club dis- banded as of May 1, 1952.
When the hospital drive was on in 1947 the Club offered its rooms to that corporation and there the Hospital had its business office pending completion of its building.
The several Presidents of the Club were Hon. Charles Field, 1891-1908; George D. Bates, 1908-14; Levi B. Fay, 1914- 1930; Parke B. Swift, 1930-32; Simon Mackay, 1932-3; and' William G. Lord, 1933 to 1952.
Townsend Club
In the distressing days following the stock market crash of 1929 and the bank holiday of 1933, Dr. F. E. Townsend of California gained national prominence by his advocate of a monthly payment to all our citizens who had passed the three score and ten milestone of a monthly allowance of two hundred dollars with the stipulation that no part of it should be hoarded® but all spent, thus greatly increasing the volume of money in circulation. All sections of our broad land had many believers in this theory of economical salvation. A Townsend Club was formed here to be followed by another club and great was the enthusiasm for the innovation. Political activities were a factor in a few elections, but failing to get Congressional action and with a substitute Social Security law written into our national code the membership of the clubs has apparently dwindled to the vanishing point.
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