USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 46
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The manufacture of salt from sea water was extensively carried on here, especially at or near East bay. We learn that prominent in this industry were Thomas Ames, Seth Goodspeed, Eben. Scudder and George Hinckley. Jacob Lovell had works near O. D. Lovell's boat house, first from the eastward; he used two wind mills to pump the water to the works. Henry Lovell's was next west, then came Deacon Scudder's, then George Lovell's. These shores were covered with vats. The business was at its height in 1812, and gradually declined.
With the building of vessels stores were started. We find Retire Crocker selling the necessaries of life in the building occupied by Freeman L. Scudder, before 1830, when it was a low, one-story build-
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ing. He was succeeded in the same building by Josiah Scudder, brother of Judge Scudder. He was succeeded by his son, Freeman L., and son-in-law, Asa E. Lovell. In 1857 George H. Hinckley, the present merchant and postmaster, purchased the stock. and afterward built his present place of business.
Another early merchant was Daniel Crosby, who was succeeded by his brother Asa, and he in 1866 was succeeded by Israel Crocker, who has now the largest general store in the place. Soon after 1840, Eras- tus Scudder started a store in the building now occupied by Parker and Crocker. These gentlemen, after three years of co-partnership, April 5, 1889, made two stores of the one-the dry goods business being con- tinued by Charles F. Parker, and the grocery by Henry P. Crocker. In 1889 Joseph F. Adams was also in the mercantile business. War- ren Marchant, after he was at Centreville, came here, married, and built a store, which he carried on for a few years.
In 1876 Mr. H. S. Crosby opened the Crosby House at Osterville, and has made it the principal summer resort on the West bay.
A free library was opened here January 21, 1882, by this enterpris- ing people. A sum equal to $3,600 was given, besides 1,209 volumes, exclusive of the bound periodicals. The building and site are owned by the association. A fair for the sale of fancy articles is held each summer, and the proceeds go to the support of the library. Mrs. Eliza P. Lovell was librarian in 1SS9.
The mails were received here by horseback in the earliest days of the post office. An office was established here January 30, 1822, and was kept by Retire Crocker in his store. Josiah Scudder, jr., kept the post office in the same building from July 23, 1825, until August 6, 1850, when Isaiah Crocker was appointed, and removed it to his black- smith shop, serving the public for eight years. In 185S Erastus Scud- der, who was made postmaster, again removed the office to the build- ing now occupied as a store by Charles F. Parker. Isaac Hodges suc- ceeded him in the building now the store of Joseph F. Adams, and in 1862 he was succeeded by Asa Crosby, who removed the office to where Israel Crocker is in business now. In 1865 George H. Hinckley was appointed, and about ten years ago he moved the office to its present quarters, where he faithfully serves the public.
Wianno Beach, near Osterville, has recently become one of the most popular resorts on the south shore. Bursley's line of stages and express connect it with the Old Colony railway at West Barnstable, and the government maintains a post office here during the season, sending a mail pouch from West Barnstable. Jennie L. Hinckley was postmistress in 1889.
HYANNIS .- This growing village on the south shore, four miles from Barnstable village, is the greatest business center of the town.
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The name is a corruption of Iyanough or Yanno-the name of the friendly sachem. It is more compact than the model inland New England village, which indicates a more brisk business. Prior to the opening of the Hyannis branch of the Old Colony railroad, which ter- minates here, packet lines connecting with large cities and vessels of large size touched here. It had formerly extensive fisheries and pack- ing establishments, which were largely instrumental in giving the village its present importance. These industries are still continued, although not so extensively. At Lewis bay, east of the village, ves- sel building was extensively carried on soon after 1800. Abner W. Lovell had fishing vessels built at the foot of Ocean and Sea streets before the war of 1812; Richard Lewis owned the land from the Iya- nough House back to the bay, where he carried on an extensive busi- ness in shipping of every kind, and built and furnished several ves- sels. Gorham Lovell was also engaged in the business. Watson Holmes built sinall vessels on Lewis bay, where M. L. Hinckley's oyster and boat house now stands. Vessels of one hundred tons were built on this bay.
The first house erected here, near Baxter's wharf, was by Edward Coleman, who was admitted as a citizen of Barnstable in October, 1662. The first building erected by the whites here was a store-house, by Nicholas Davis, near where Timothy Baker's store stood. Jona- than Lewis, about 1703, built the second dwelling.
In connection with the fisheries, the manufacture of salt was natu- rally developed, and the shores at the east and south were white with acres of vats. During the war of 1812 it was a prominent industry. Alvin Snow, Henry and Joshua Hallett had extensive works where is now the Sears lumber yard; A. W. Lovell manufactured near the pres- ent lumber yard of B. F. Crocker & Co. This, like most of the works, was discontinued about 1831. Lot Crocker had works where his de- scendants now reside, and Ebenezer Bacon's were adjoining. Zenas Gage engaged in the manufacture near his wharf; Simeon Freeman had works at Dunbar point, and Zenas D. Bassett and Warren Hallett had their works next west. Other manufacturers were Elnathan Lewis, Warren and David Hinckley, and Gorham Lovell.
That that portion of Barnstable was an important shipping port is evinced by the action of the selectmen, who in 1742 gave to Elisha Lumbert permission to build a wharf at Hyannis; but the inhabitants living there were to be privileged to land their goods and persons without charge. In 1778 the town gave Captain Sturgis Gorham per- mission to build a storehouse thirty by forty feet, and a wharf at Lewis cove. Hyannis harbor is an important one and in 1826 the govern- ment appropriated $10,600 for the erection of a breakwater for its further protection. Storehouses and wharves have been erected
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during the present century, among which the Gage wharf, later Bax- ter, is prominent.
There are no mills here at present, the last being that of Owen Bacon, a wind grist mill, which he ran many years on South street, near the old burying ground.
The mercantile lines of business of this village have been varied and extensive. In 1823 Seth Baker had a small store in the leanto of his house. After this Lewis Thacher had an early store east of the present depot, on the south side of Main street, then the only store here. It was known for years as the old " Red Store." In 1829 Alex- ander Baxter and F. C. Tobey built the Boston store building, then the only one on the east side of Pleasant street, and the only one on the south side of Main street between Lot Hallett's corner and the present railroad track, except the old red store. Baxter & Tobey were succeeded in their business by Alexander Baxter, he by his tenants, Brimhall & Goodspeed, and they by George L. Thacher, who, with various partners, did business here about twenty-five years. In 1882 Eggleston Brothers, as successors of George L. Thacher, gave it the name of Boston store, and they in turn were succeeded in April. 1887, by Prince M. Crowell, who enlarged the business to its present import- ance. After the dissolution of the firm of Baxter & Tobey, Mr. Tobey erected the building on Pleasant street, now the market, which he ran as a general store until his death; he also built the Leonard Chase house.
Another historic old business corner is where the venerable Captain Albert Chase has his store. We have noticed it in con- nection with the post offices. The building was erected in 1820 by Oliver Sampson, a shoemaker who lived where Dr. Pitcher now does, and was occupied as a blacksmith shop by Allen Draudy. Warren Hallett & Sons converted it into a store, and were suc- ceeded by Joseph H. Parker and his brother-in-law, Freeman L. Scudder. Gorham F. Baker was the next merchant at this site, and was succeeded in the fall of 1860 by his brother, Joshua, and Albert Chase, as Chase & Baker. Joshua Baker died in 1885 and the busi- ness passed to Captain Chase.
J. H. Parker built the Hartson Hallett store and commenced in it in 1860 a business which was continued by him and his estate until 1867, when Mr. Hallett purchased it.
A general variety and news store is kept by Henry H. Baker, who was the first news dealer at Hyannis. In 1854 he opened a restaurant at the depot, and in 1876 he built and located in his present business place.
In February, 1860, George J. Miller began the tailoring business here on the site of George B. Lewis' present store; he removed his
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business from Barnstable village after a three years' trial there .. He built in 1873, and removed the building in 1885 to its present site on the northwest corner of Main and Ocean streets, where clothing and furnishing goods have been added to his former business.
The American Clothing House at Hyannis was opened in Novem- ber, 1885, by Louis Arenovski, and is now the best equipped estab- lishment of the kind in the county west of Harwich Port. Coming to the United States in 1881, he began his business on Cape Cod in a small way, and has been very successful.
In 1866 A. G. Cash purchased the store and hardware business of N. O. Bond, who had continued it several years. In July, 1886, Myron G. Bradford became an equal partner, and the business of plumbing and roofing, with that of general hardware, is continued by Cash & Bradford.
The lumber and carriage manufacturing business has become prom- inent very naturally. The carriage business now carried on by C. C. & B. F. Crocker was established in 1849, and since 1851 they have oc- cupied their present site. In 1857 B. F. Crocker and his brother, Charles C., opened the lumber yard of B. F. Crocker & Co., still con- tinuing it; also together manufacturing and painting carriages, and keeping paints and like materials for builders. Later, in 1869, two brothers, J. K. & B. Sears, bought of Samuel Snow the lumber yard at the head of Railroad wharf. In 1881 two sons of B. Sears- Isaiah C. and Henry W .- became partners. creating the present firm of J. K. & B. Sears & Co. Branches from this yard are at Woods Holl and Middleboro.
Prominent among the other industries here is the grain and flour business, by the Chase Brothers, near the depot. The father, Heman B., began it in 1848, and was running a packet from Hyannis to New York at the time, loading with fish westward, and returning with goods for merchants and grain for himself. In 1856 David S. Mar- chant became his partner, and they built a store on Railroad wharf, where for a few years they did business and continued the packet line as Chase & Marchant. In 1868, after the decline of freighting by water, Mr. Chase and his sons, Heman B. Chase, jr., and Clarence, engaged in the grain and coal business, near the depot, admitting, in 1874, a third son, Edward L., to the firm of Heman Chase & Sons. The father died in June, 1880, and Clarence in 1884. The remaining members of the firm still continue, the only change being the addi- tion of hay to the list of merchandise.
The only conmission fish business is that of Timothy Crocker & Sons, on Railroad wharf. In 1860 Mr. Crocker started as a shipper of fish, and in 1882 Gideon Hallett became a partner for a short time, adding ice, coal and wood to the business.
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Doctor Doane's office had been regarded as a drug store for some thirty years prior to 1883, when Arthur G. Guyer, who had been educated as a practical druggist, became Doctor Doane's partner, and they, as Doane & Guyer, opened the first regular drug store at Hyan- nis, January 1, 1883. The only other is a store started in 1887 by Dr. E. E. Hawes.
There were, undoubtedly, ancient ordinaries here; but the present Iyanough House, by Thomas H. Soule, jr., is of more interest to the present generation. It was first erected by Captain Charles Good- speed in 1832, and was purchased in 1859 by Evander C. White, who enlarged and beautified it, and called it the White House. The name Iyanough House was adopted in 1874, when the Hyannis Port Land Company controlled it. Mr. Soule purchased it in January, 1888, and has successfully conducted it since. Heis a native of New Bedford, and had managed the Sherburne House, at Nantucket, prior to com- ing here. The Iyanough House, throughout the year, is the princi- pal hotel on the south shore, and entertains a fair proportion of the summer sojourners. The accompanying engraving shows the place in a scene looking toward the sound.
Until within twenty-five years the business men of Hyannis and vicinity did their banking business chiefly at the old Yarmouth Bank; but on the tenth of March, 1865, the First National Bank of Hyannis was chartered as No. 1107, and authorized to begin business May 2d, with a capital not to exceed three hundred thousand dollars. Its busi- ness, however, was not begun until August 16th, and one-third of the authorized capital has been found sufficient. The institution has con- tinually been under the most conservative management and has never passed a dividend. Its board of directors has included the ablest and strongest men of this part of the Cape. The first president was Alex- ander Baxter, who was succeeded at his death in 1870 by S. B. Phin- ney. The present head of the institution is Joseph R. Hall, one of the most conservative and successful financiers in the county. He
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was the first cashier, and on his promotion to the presidency was suc- ceeded by his oldest son, Joseph T. Hall, who had been assistant cash- ier some fourteen years as successor to Frank Thacher, who was book- keeper and assistant cashier until 1874. The president's only other son, Russell D. F. Hall, has been book-keeper since November, 1885.
The Hyannis Savings Bank was chartered by the act of April 28, 1868, with S. B. Phinney, president; Joseph R. Hall, treasurer; and Frank Thacher, secretary. F. G. Kelley was the second president and Frank Thacher succeeded Mr. Hall as treasurer in 1874. The board of trus- tees included such shrewd men as Joshua Baker, Owen Bearse, Charles C. Bearse, F. G. Kelley, S. B. Phinney and Alexander Baxter. The depreciation of real estate had been such that prior to 1880 the affairs of the bank went into the hands of Frank Thacher and Joseph R. Hall as receivers.
The Old Colony Railroad Company has a very pretty depot, with telegraph and other offices on the second floor. Edwin Baker was ap- pointed agent in 1854, and was succeeded for a few years by Obed Baxter until 1870, when Leonard Chase was appointed. On the first of April, 1SS9, the present agent, William F. Ormsby, received the appointment.
A post office was established here in 1821, with Lewis Thacher in charge, with a commission dated December 26th. Otis Loring was made his successor October 26, 1825, and was followed in office by Freeman Scudder, June 23, 1831. In March, 1833, Mr. Loring was again appointed and kept the office in the house now occupied by Mrs. Copeland on Main street. During Mr. Scudder's term it was located where Alexander Hinckley lives, January 14, 1837. In January, 1837, Abner W. Lovell was appointed, serving until April 27, 1852, in the store building since occupied as a clothing store by Louis Arenovski. Mr. Lovell was eighty-six years old in 1889, and tells with boyish glee why he was superseded by Joseph H. Parker, who removed the office to the present store of Albert Chase, where the plain outside letter box is still attached. Mr. Parker soon sold out and went to sea, and Gorham F. Baker was the successor in the same place. This was under the administration of President Pierce and prior to 1856. He was succeeded by Daniel Crowell a short time, and he by Roland S. Hal- lett. In the administration of President Buchanan, George L. Thacher was appointed and held the office until F. C. Tobey was appointed early in the first term of the lamented Abraham Lincoln. He kept the office in his store by the stables of Leonard Chase, Pleasant street. His term was short and he was succeeded by R. S. Pope in the build- ing now used by the library association. In 1871 Theodore F. Bassett was appointed, who removed a private school house to the site and in- augurated the present post office conveniences. The boxes and para-
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phernalia of this office, compared with the nine large and only boxes of the office in 1850, indicate one of the improvements of the pretty village of Hyannis. Charles G. Perry was appointed in 1885, and in June, 1889, the present efficient officer, George W. Hallett, assumed the control under the present administration.
Besides the churches Hyannis supports several lodges and socie: ties. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, years ago, embraced here 112 members; and the Sons of Temperance, also the Daughters, separate organizations, now extinct, once flourished.
Orient Chapter, R. A. M., has a large membership. It was insti- tuted September 9, 1856, and meets in Masonic Hall. Sylvanus Bax- ter was the first H. P. in 1857, succeeded by Rufus S. Pope in 1858, who served until 1865, and again between the years 1868-70 inclusive. Joseph K. Baker served in 1866 and George J. Miller in 1867; Miller was re-elected in 1871, serving to 1875 inclusive, and again in 1881-86; J. W. Chapman was H. P. in 1876-80; George H. Smith, 1887-88; and N. A. Bradford was elected for 1889.
Fraternal Lodge, A. F. and A. M., now at Hyannis, held its meet- ings at Barnstable village until 1854. It was chartered and the first meeting was held July 21, 1801, at the house of Robert Lothrop. Among its antiquities is the bill for its seal receipted by Paul Revere, November 19, 1801. The lodge leased a small hall where the present Masonic Hall is at Barnstable village, and purchased and remodeled it in 1830. After the removal of the place of meeting to Hyannis and the dedication of their fine hall there in 1855, the hall at Barnstable village was sold to the I. O. O. F.
The first principal officers were: Ezra Crowell, W. M .; Robert Lothrop, S. W .; and Thomas D. Young, J. W., who also served in 1802. The succeeding masters have been: Robert Lothrop, to 1805, and again in 1806; Samuel Allyn, in 1805; Job C. Davis, 1807 to 1811; Syl- vester Baker, 1812 to 1815; William Lewis, from 1816 for several years, but how long can not be determined, as the records are deficient to- 1839; Henry Baxter, 1840 to 1842; Davis Crocker, 1843 to 1849; Thomas Holmes, 1850; Sylvester Baxter, 1851; Daniel Bassett, 1852; Hartson Hallett, 1853; Rufus S. Pope, 1854 to 1861; John O. Thayer, 1855; H. W. Rugg, 1858, for four years: Samuel Snow, 1862; George J. Miller, 1863- 64; A. S. Hallett, 1865; Dr. J. Winslow Chapman, 1866-67; Aaron C. Swift, 1868-69; Samtiel Snow, 1870; Charles W. Hinckley, 1871 to 1873; Alexander G. Cash, 1874-75 and 1879; George H. Smith, 1876-78; Henry D. Baxter, 1880; F. A. Bursley, 1881; Robert Lambert, 1882-83; S. F. Letteney, 1884-85; W. L. Hinckley, 1886-87; N. A. Bradford, 1888-89. O. C. Hoxie has been secretary for nearly thirty consecutive years.
The Lodge of Good Templars was organized June 6, 1887, of which Daniel B. Snow was the first W. C., who served until May, 1888, and
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was succeeded by S. A. Putnam, B. F. Tripp, George L. Thacher, jr., John M. Blagden, and O. F. Robinson.
Iyanough Lodge, K. of H., No. 1385, was instituted February 14, 1879, and meets in Masonic Hall. The first D. was George J. Miller, who was succeeded by John W. Chapman in 1880; by H. H. Baker in 1881; N. A. Bradford, 1882; Simeon F. Letteney, 1883; Henry W. Gray, 1884; George H. Cash, 1885; O. H. Crowell, 1886; George J. Miller, 1887; N. A. Bradford, 1888-89. It has eighty members, with George W. Hallett, R.
The New England Order of Protection is a mutual life insurance association confined to New England. This branch of the order was organized October 17, 1888, with seventy charter members; only one other Lodge on the Cape had so many charter members, and that was at Chatham. The officers elected to serve until July, 1889, were: Simeon F. Letteney, warden; Alex. B. Chase, V. W .; Joseph T. Hall, treas .; and O. F. Robinson, sec. It numbered ninety-four members in 1889.
The Hyannis Library Association was commenced by subscription, each one subscribing a fixed sum, which entitled him or her to a mem- bership. In 1868 the association was organized. The library has been kept in the building east of the depot for several years, and is open to the public on Saturdays. It is free to members, others paying a small weekly fee for the use of books. The library in 1889 con- tained 959 volumes of well-selected literature.
The Hyannis Cornet Band was organized in 1884, and is a credit to the village. A band stand was erected for its use in 1886, on Main street, near Park.
HYANNIS PORT is a post-hamlet one mile southwest of Hyannis, on the coast, and has every advantage for being one of the best summer resorts along the south shore. The settlement and business of that part of Barnstable commenced here, and this community and Hyannis village are inseparably one, although differing in name somewhat. Schooners and coasters were built here by Crocker Marchant very early, he being owner of the yard and a practical builder. Frederick Scudder, David Hinckley, Dea. James Marchant and Freeman Mar- chant made salt here soon after 1800. The plain, west toward Squaw island, was once active with these industries. The first store here was built by David Scudder, on the corner near the present Tower House. Freeman Marchant and Frederick Scudder succeeded him for several years, and Frederick Scudder closed this store about 1860, a portion of which is still on the site. Previous to the closing of this, he had built a wharf and store at the foot of Sea street, where the fishing and other business was mainly conducted.
Freeman Marchant erected the present Tower House, which was
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run as a hotel for years, and is pleasantly situated. The entire vicinity was laid out by the Hyannis Port Land Company years ago for a vil- lage of much importance, but by some mismanagement or misfortune the undertaking did not succeed. Much of the property is now in possession of the bank at Framingham, where the company was formed. In September, 1872, Gideon Hallett built a hotel here, which was opened to the public in 1873. He added to it in the same year, making a large and convenient house, which is called " Hallett House." In 18SS Mrs. Emily Whelden purchased it and is the present proprie- tress. David Scudder started a post office when he had the store, in which he was succeeded January 2, 1829, by Frederick Scudder. Dan- iel Bassett was postmaster from April 18, 1840, until November 10, 1852, when the office was discontinued. In 1873 W. L. Hinckley re- vived the office and was appointed postmaster. The people receive a daily mail from Hyannis for nine months, and two a day in July, August and September.
CENTREVILLE, the Chequaquet of the Indians, occupies, as the name implies, the central position among the hamlets on the south side. It is one of the most fertile and beautiful portions of the town. In the history of the town this portion was selected for settlement soon after it was purchased from the natives. Of its development prior to 1800 but little can be said, but it became prominent soon after that date as a favored locality for building vessels, in which James Crosby, Jonathan Kelley, Dea. Samuel Crosby and others engaged. Mr. Kelley, as early as 1830, built two a year for several years, and Mr. Crosby continued the business later where the store and house of Enoch Lewis stands. It is said that the last coaster built here was about the middle of the century and was sunk by the rebels while on a trip south during the civil war; Captain Ephraim Crowell was the master. Deacon Crosby built at Centreville wharf the last vessels built in this vicinity.
Soon after 1830 Freeman Marchant built a small store here, now a part of Ferdinand G. Kelley's, in which his sister, Tirzah Marchant, kept the merchandise sold in Centreville. In 1837, after Warren Marchant had succeeded his aunt Tirzah, a company was formed called the Centreville Trading Company, with Warren Marchant agent. In 1841 Jonathan Kelley and son purchased the site and business, and in 1854, the son, Ferdinand G. Kelley, became sole owner and is still in the business. A second store was started in the spring of 1847 by Alvin Crosby and Ansel Lewis, from which Mr. Lewis retired in March, 1868. Mr. Crosby continued the business until April, 1886, when he sold to Nathan H. Bearse and Harrison Phinney, who under the name of Bearse & Phinney continue in trade. The store has been by them given its modern form.
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