USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > History of Athol, Massachusetts > Part 5
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And now the township is formed and Murray, a resident of Rutland, is no longer a voter here. He holds his proprietory rights, however, and makes the most of them, driving many a shrewd bargain with the inhabitants.
During the succeeding twelve years we know very little of Murray, except that he continued to represent Rutland at Boston, and it is said that he took no chances of defeat on elec- tion day, but saw to it that all of his supporters were at the polls and were provided with all the refreshment they could consume. Many a man has gone to his home on election eve, his legs very unsteady because of John Murray's hospitality.
All of this time Murray has his eye on larger political fields and loses no chance to impress upon the representatives of the Crown his patriotism and loyalty to England's unpopular sover- eign. At length the coveted prize is in sight and he is notified early in 1774 that he has been appointed a Mandamus Coun- cillor by King George III.
But loyalty to the King is no longer a standard of eminence in the Bay Colony and John Murray finds himself odious in the eyes of his associates, both at home and in the Legislative Halls. His house is surrounded by a crowd of five hundred angry patriots who demand his resignation from office.
Finding himself almost in an instant plunged from a position of nobleman to the plight of a political refugee, he fled his house in Rutland on August 25, 1774 and took refuge with the British troops at Boston. Here he remained by the Royal Army until that army was compelled to flee the country, when he with several hundred other Royalists, most of whom had been the object of especial royal favor, took passage with the troops for Halifax. After a time, being convinced that return to the states was impossible, he built himself a house on Prince Wil-
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
liam Street in St. John, New Brunswick, and there he ended his days. He was allowed to move his personal effects from Rut- land to Boston and thence with him to the loyal provinces in Canada.
Col. Murray's real estate and all he possessed remaining under Massachusetts jurisdiction, was confiscated by the State government on April 30, 1779. The next day his citizenship was declared forfeit and he became an outcast forever. This confiscation included several hundred acres of land in Athol, disposition of which was given to the Worcester Probate Court. His son, Alexander, did not follow his father in loyalty to the King, but cast his lot with the revolutionists and became a sol- dier in the Continental Army. Out of his father's estates he was given a sizable farm in Rutland in recognition of his patriotism.
The picture of Murray on our town seal is taken from a painting by Copley, which was removed with the family effects to the provinces and when copied was in the possession of his great-grandson, Hon. J. D. Hazen, in St. John. This picture was all but ruined by the pillagers who ransacked the Murray house in Rutland early in the demonstration of hostility against the King and his loyal subjects.
Four times married, Col. Murray had twelve children, ten by the second wife, one by the third, and one by the fourth. Six of these children fled with their father to St. John. His first wife died during the journey to America, the others in Rutland. The inscription on the Murray mausoleum in the rural ceme- tery at St. John states that John Murray was born on November 22, 1720 and died in St. John on August 30, 1794.
Col. Murray was a neighbor and associate in Rutland of the patriotic Rufus Putnam, founder of the State of Ohio. Years later, when Ohio was building her state capitol and wished to do especial honor to Putnam's memory, she sent to Rutland for the doors of his house that they might be given a prominent place in the new building, but it is said that through some mis- take the doors of John Murray's house were sent in their place.
Upwards of twelve years after Athol's incorporation, peace and quiet reigned here and the population increased rapidly. Farms were cleared, houses erected, a new meeting house built, streams were harnessed by additional mills, and evidences of growth and prosperity were on every hand.
Chestnut Hill did not come into prominence until Athol be- came incorporated though it was one of the first localities
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HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME
established after the initial settlement was made on "Athol Street." High on this hill with a magnificent view of the surrounding country the Youngs, the Drurys, the Lords, the Kendalls, the Goddards, the Hills, and the Havens built up a prosperous, thriving, and cultured community. In 1762 when the town needed capable and trusty men for public office, it looked quite naturally to Chestnut Hill for them.
Deacon John Haven, the pioneer from Framingham, was made the first town clerk in 1762, a member of the first Board of Selectmen, and years later the first representative of the town to the Great and General Court. Much older than most of the settlers, he was looked to for counsel. He settled on the farm now owned by his great-great-great-granddaughter, Evelyn Merrifield, and died there on July 12, 1807 at the age of 81. Tradition tells us that the early cooking for the family was done on a large rock which stood near the cabin door. This rock still bears the marks of its use and stands as a monument of truthfulness to this story.
Jonathan Haven made a settlement in 1763 on the place now owned by Mr. Colson. This belonged to his kindred until 1886. Simon Haven in the same year built his log cabin on the place owned by the J. C. Allen heirs, and the property now belonging to Evelyn Merrifield was settled by John Haven, Jr. in 1777.
In 1762 James Goddard settled on the farm known as the Flint Farm, referred to as the last house on Chestnut Hill. I. Y. Kendall once said that the first party he ever attended was at this homestead and the orders from home were to leave the party at 9 o'clock, but the clock was so accommodating that it remained in the vicinity of nine for some hours.
About the same time as James Goddard made his settlement his cousin Josiah Goddard located on the east side of the road and built h's house on a cellar hole now there. Josiah Goddard was a leading spirit of his day and generation, a Revolutionary patriot, influential in national, state, and town affairs, and for nine years a Representative to the Great and General Court. For many years he presided as moderator of town meetings and was one of the Selectmen. Descendants of Josiah Goddard re- moved from Chestnut Hill at an early date. The dwelling was taken down and fabricated into the "Fuller Block" at 1477 Main Street.
Elijah Goddard, the second son of James Goddard, was born in 1771. At twenty-three he married Mehitable Goodell and
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
came to the Simon Haven place to live. He was no ordinary man, a bold aggressive Calvinist and always ready to give a reason for the faith that was within him. His son, Goodell God- dard, succeeded him on the farm, eventually disposing of the real estate.
The place owned by Harold Drury's heirs was settled in 1765 by John Drury, and for five generations members of the Drury family have lived here.
One of six sons coming from Framingham to Athol, Jonathan Kendall cleared the land and built a log house in 1765 on the place owned by the late Mr. Sessions. On all occasions he was public spirited and a leader among men. His name often ap- pears in the town records as one chosen by his townsmen to perform some public service. His record in the Revolutionary War participating in the capture of Ticonderoga shows him to have been a soldier and a patriot.
Moses Hill in 1765 took a tract of 275 acres and built a house northwest of the George Merrifield place on Townsend Road. This was burned March 11, 1841 and another dwelling erected. That structure likewise was destroyed by fire De- cember 14, 1914, and the present house erected which is still occupied by his descendants.
In 1775 John Hill built the house known as the Prouty place, now occupied by Ralph Allen.
Lieut. Samuel Young in 1770 settled the place owned by Cass Farms. In 1813 Gardiner Lord, youngest child save one of Capt. Thomas Lord, married Lieut. Young's daughter, Nancy, and went to her home to live. He continued on the farm until his death, when Nathaniel Young Lord, his eldest son, assumed the care of it and occupied it until the time of his death.
The pioneer women of Chestnut Hill were hardy souls. Many of them were strong and energetic women, able to do not only the work of their households, but if necessary when their husbands were away could direct and manage their farms. They made all their cloth at home for the times were such they had to make it or go without.
When her husband was at war, it is said that Mrs. Jonathan Kendall got Mr. Young to set the cart in the potato field, for he agreed to carry the potatoes that they dug down cellar. Mrs. Kendall and her six girls went to work, the girls pulling up the vines and picking up potatoes while the mother handled the hoe. Before sundown forty bushels of potatoes were in the cart.
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HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME
A most enjoyable gathering was held in the late summer of 1895 on the Young-Lord place, then owned by B. F. Searle. The thought of such a gathering originated with Mrs. Ellen A. Searle who invited all present and former residents of that old School District to come to her home on the last Thursday of July for a picnic. Enthusiastically the people gathered and before the day was over an association was formed which continued to meet every summer for fifteen years, the last one being held in July, 1909. Fully seventy people attended the Reunion in 1901 at the Kendall Homestead. A feature of the day was the unveiling of a monument at the grave of Jonathan Kendall, with an address by his great-great-grandson, Honorable Howard K. Sanderson of Lynn. The assembly marveled at the rapid trip Hon. Sanderson had made in an automobile from Lynn to Athol - five hours, being obliged to make only 87 stops on the way.
F. G. Lord at one of the yearly reunions remarked, "Chestnut Hill is the pleasantest place on God's footstool."
Many pages in my scrap books are devoted to clippings of these gatherings. At the third annual reunion the day's activi- ties closed with singing this song to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, composed for the occasion and used at all succeeding anniversaries:
The blessings of the patient toil Of seven score years we sing, As gathered on this sacred soil, Our joyous voices ring.
Chorus: Oh! Chestnut Hill! the name is dear Where e'er thy children roam; They coming now from far and near Do homage at thy throne.
Our parents here privations knew That we scarce realize, As we gather where they did strew, Fruits of their sacrifice.
When Boston was a country town And Worcester scarce explored Our grandsires felled the forest down As hardships they ignored.
They raised the grain to make their bread, The wool to clothe their backs Almighty God their footsteps led And ne'er did they turn back.
Sing praises to our father's God And may his name be dear When we are laid beneath the sod And others gather here.
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
Midway along this Chestnut Hill Road was Bare Hill or Open Hill, which because of some freak of nature had no timber growth upon it when the settlers came here. Thus it was a look- out point for a considerable area. It was said that one hundred years ago some fourteen meeting houses could be seen from its summit, meaning in effect that fourteen villages were visi- ble from there.
The two earliest lists extant of the Heads of Families of the Town are of such interest that I include them in Appendix 4. With these names I have noted their residence so far as I am able to guess with reasonable accuracy. The initial list is a copy of the first valuation of the town in 1771 which I have been able to find. On this list in the original after each name is given the property for which each individual is assessed but space does not permit that detail here. This valuation gives a rather accurate idea of Athol's size. Listed are 129 taxpayers. As at that time the average head of a family represented about five people, we can roughly figure our population as 650.
The second list is the Heads of Families as per the census of 1790. Attached to it in the original is the total number of members in each family with the separation as to males over and under fifteen years, all females, all other free persons, and all slaves. There were no slaves listed in Athol at that time and only five under the head of all other free persons.
Several negro slaves were formerly held in this town. Of these "Old Violet" is well remembered. For many years she was the slave of the first minister. At length she was sold by Mr. Humphrey to Mr. Thomas Stratton, and finally, after the death of Mr. Stratton and the manumission of slaves in this Commonwealth, "Old Violet" was supported by the town until she died in the poor house, at a very advanced age.
Another, a negro boy named Titus, was given to Rev. Mr. Humphrey by Rev. Aaron Whitney of Petersham. He died in Mr. Humphrey's family, November 7, 1773, aged only three years and six months. At his funeral Mr. Humphrey preached a sermon from this text: "The small and the great are there, and the servant is free from his master." Mr. Humphrey it is said had another slave named Moody, who died young.
There is recorded on June 10, 1766 the baptism of one Lois Rumble, upon the account of Capt. Thomas and Leonard Lord, her master and mistress.
Soon eastern Massachusetts was in a turmoil over the Stamp Act and other irksome edicts of the British Crown and
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HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME
Parliament. Isolated Athol seems to have been little perturbed for a time, but the evil days when 224 of our able bodied townsmen must join in the fight for our independence was fast approaching.
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CHAPTER VII EDUCATION
Elementary Schools
W HAT provision the early proprietors of Pequoig made for education of their children we know not except by occa- sional reference and memorials or petitions for assistance from the Colonial Government. From these scant allusions, however, it is evident that the school had a prominent place in their lives.
On March 7, 1763, a year after our town's incorporation, Athol made its first appropriation for schools-£13.6.8. This money was divided "by the river, those that live on the south side to have what they pay towards the sum raised and those that live on the north side to have what they pay towards said sum."
With about thirty-three dollars for the school year budget of each group, Nathan Goddard, Jesse Kendall, and John Oliver set about to hire a school master.
Nathan Goddard was a big factor from the northwesterly part of the town, having removed here from Shrewsbury. By meth- ods unknown to us he acquired large acreages in Athol until he and his kinfolk were the largest landowners in the commu- nity. Jesse Kendall, son of Samuel Kendall of Woburn (who was an original proprietor but who probably never removed here), was from the valley. The miller at the Mills, he lived in front of the Pequoig House. John Oliver, a native of Ireland, had come here as a pioneer in 1736, settling east of Petersham Road about east of the easterly end of Vaughn Road. He repre- sented the southeast part of the town, the Lyon's Hill section contiguous to Pleasant Street.
Presumably David Twichell was the school master hired for in the next year the town "voted to (him) the money that was taken for Fines the last year for Breach of Sabbath."
Three years elapsed before the first school house was built. At this time, March 3, 1766, it is voted to build two school houses-one on West Hill, southeast of Sentinel Elm, the other at about No. 1850 Pleasant Street. These buildings which cost £26.13.4 were but 18 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 61/2 feet stud.
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EDUCATION
Within eight years the town had enlarged its educational facilities to six schools so that each part of the township might enjoy the benefit of the money it paid for schooling. Perhaps this also allowed for more even tax assessment. As far as we know a school was at the south and north ends of Pleasant Street; one in the southwest (possibly at South Athol and Thrower Roads); one on Chestnut Hill (near where Hugh S.
--
THE OLD BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE IN ATHOL (LOWER VILLAGE) Drawn by J. F. Gilman from description from memory by Mrs. Emily A. Ballard and Samuel Lee
Wilson now lives); and one on West Hill. There may have been some question as to the allocation of the school money for in 1774 the town was for the first time divided into School Dis- tricts or "Squadrons." Two districts were designated north of the river, Tully East being their division line, and four districts south of the river.
A school Committee was formed by the town in 1829, the members being Rev. Joseph Estabrook, Horatio Willard and Abel Sweetser. (21)
Over on what we now call South Royalston Road on April 8, 1810 was born to Jabez and Esther (Humphrey) Ward a son
(21) See Appendix 5 for complete list of School Committee members.
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
whom they named Lyman. He attended school at the so-called' Poor Farm School, officially designated as District No. 6, and in early manhood sought to make his career in and around Boston. At the early age of thirty-seven Lyman Ward died in his Roxbury, Massachusetts home. By his will he gave $1000 to School District No. 6 in his native town of Athol, the be- quest to be paid upon the decease of his widow who survived.
DISTRICT SCHOOL HOUSE, DEPOT VILLAGE ABOUT 1856
him forty-three years. Athol school districts had been abolished more than twenty years before this bequest became payable; hence a serious question arose as to the disposition of it. At length it was paid into the town treasury to be invested and the income applied annually to school expenses. When the new school house near the State Police Station was built in 1928, the town named it after this benefactor of ninety years before, it being located nearest of any Athol school to his birthplace in the easterly part of this town.
By 1850 the number of school districts had been increased to thirteen and the annual appropriation for education amounted to sixteen hundred dollars.
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EDUCATION
The first school building in the Lower Village was on the site of the present Main Street building. Built after Main Street was laid out around 1814, it was a one room brick structure. With the advent of the railroad and consequent growth of the "Factory Village," this school house was supplanted by another larger 4-room building, which now stands at 72-74 Main Street. This increase in population would soon require a high school to be maintained according to the laws of the Common- wealth.
"Aunt" Sally Fish, a descendant of Athol's miller of long ago, had much public spirit and in 1857 gave about five acres
LOWER VILLAGE SCHOOL HOUSE 1870 - 1889
of her land to School District No. 7 for a park and playground. To maintain this park the School District kept up its organiza- tion for fifty years after the district system had been abandoned. At last in 1920 it seemed better to disband the district and to add this playground to Athol's Park System. A deed was ob- tained from the Fish Estate to complete the transaction which wiped out several restrictions and gave to the town this lower Common, now known as Fish Park.
At a special town meeting in August, 1887 Atholians voted to buy land of Amos L. Cheney to build the Hapgood School building. The following spring the building was completed and classes opened. Simultaneously with this opening the two schools which had been maintained for some years in the old Maple Street Wallet Shop were closed.
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
This actually was the beginning of a building program of considerable magnitude. For within five years of the vote in 1889 to build the present Main Street School, four new build- ings were erected-Main Street, Highland, High School, and
-
t
HIGHLAND SCHOOL HOUSE, 1881
Lake Park. Lucien Lord was the owner of the land on which the Lake Park School was built in 1894 and the contractor was Charles Burdick. Since much filling was required to grade the lot, material excavated from the School Street under- pass was used.
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EDUCATION
Atop Highland School in 1890 flew the Stars and Stripes, the first school house flag in Athol. It was a thoughtful gift from Arthur F. Tyler, one of our outstanding citizens, whose young children were students there and was in memory of his daughter Carrie D. Tyler who died the previous June. A week later dedication of the High School flag was held at Ellsworth's Skating Rink, the popular assembly hall of the town.
These new buildings marked the passing of those one-room school houses which are cherished in memory by those of us who ever sat in upright awkwardness to learn the fundamental three R's. Pinedale and New Sherborn schools fell into this category when they were sold at public auction on April 24, 1909, and the Poor Farm School building was turned over to the Overseers of the Poor and moved across the road to become a part of the Almshouse equipment.
Athol High School
Athol parents had begun in the early 1800s to see the ne- cessity for higher education and several had sent their sons and daughters to New Salem Academy, Powers Institute, Athol Academy, and other similar schools. Opening at the Town Hall on April 22, 1828, Athol Academy enrolled students at $3.00 per quarter, with Josiah D. Crosby as instructor, but its life was a short one for no trace can be found of it after its first term.
By arrangement with School Districts Nos. 1 and 7, Beriah W. Fay taught a "Select School" at Athol Depot for a number of years before the opening of the High School. Long a resi- dent of New Salem, he was a teacher in our lower grades. This "Select School" issued the first number of its school paper called the Autumnal Garland on October 16, 1853.
The fathers of Athol High School are, in my mind, the three members of the School Committee in 1853 who in their annual report recommended that a High School be established here. Rev. Samuel F. Clarke, pastor of the Old First Church, the pio- neer historian of Athol, and Chairman of the Board, undoubted- ly wrote the report for the Board. Lyman W. Hapgood, who nearly twenty years before had removed here from Barre and long a power with which to be reckoned in Athol, was a man of vision and much public spirit. Dr. George D. Colony, a prac- ticing physician for a generation before his removal to Fitch- burg, resided directly opposite our present post office building and represented the lower or factory village on the Board. A graduate of Dartmouth, he saw the need here for a high school and did not hesitate to speak his mind.
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HISTORY OF ATHOL
Although there was much agitation favorable to the school yet it was not until the state census of 1855 revealed that our population had so increased that statute law required that a High School be established that the town officially took affirma- tive action regarding it, and then a bitter rivalry between the two villages made the selection of a site a difficult one.
Perhaps no single incident in the whole history of the town has caused such bitterness. At five different town meetings this was the principal topic of discussion. It was first voted to
A
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING 1856 - 1894
erect the building on the old Turnpike, now School Street, at a point near where Beacon Street now runs. As this was not satisfactory to the Upper Village, a town meeting was quickly called and the vote rescinded. At the town meeting held May 3, 1856 I have been told that the confusion was so great it was impossible to make accurate count of the votes in the hall, so the voters were marched out onto the vacant lot north of the Town House and lined in opposing rows to be counted. The final vote to locate the building on its present site was 124 to 118, which shows how closely the town was divided in the matter.
Three hundred dollars was paid to Rebecca Kendall for the two acres of land comprising the High School House lot, and the contract was let to Skinner and Bigelow to complete the building for $2,575. Finished in 1857, this building was ultimately removed in 1892 to No. 440 School Street, where it
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EDUCATION
now stands occupied as a dwelling. Evidently the school was not at first supplied with water for in May, 1859 the Town voted that a well be dug on the High School House lot and a pump, put in.
It is hard for us in this day to realize the extreme bitterness that entered into the location of this high school building. Prominent among those in the minority in this matter were four men who felt their defeat most keenly.
John C. Hill, long a leader of the lower village in all its con- troversies, yielded little by little until finally he made the statement that if they would move the building one foot fur- ther west, he would be content, but the majority refused to move an inch and he went down to defeat.
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