USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Bolton > History of Bolton, 1738-1938 > Part 13
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
am ready I want to go - now if our custom is worth any thing to you - you must run Stages on this road unless in deep Snows or Some other trouble on the road. as I cant come up hear and Spend half my time run after the Stages or not know when or how I can get home there is no difference in length or road, and if the Staging dont come this way I Shall take it for granted you dont want our custom. and Shall never Say any more about it, if you Se fit to Send for me I am yours affectionately William Parker
As General Holman was a very shrewd and diplomatic per- son, the differences were gradually ironed out satisfactorily.
Passenger fares changed frequently and without notice but in 1833 the rate was about three cents a mile, making the fare from Bolton to Boston $1.00 and from Bolton to Brattleboro $3.17. Waybills have been found which merely state whether the passenger was a lady or gentleman. They were frequently listed as "Miss Lady," "Gent," "Mr. Baby," etc. Evidently the name and address was of very little importance. A "babe-in-arms" was charged for one-third of a fare, but if it was old enough to occupy a seat, the parents paid for half of a fare. Each passenger was allowed forty pounds of luggage; if he had more, he was obliged to pay for another seat.
It is said because of crowded schedules the rate of speed was at least ten miles an hour, making it necessary to change the horses every twelve miles.
About 1838, there was considerable talk about a railroad being built which would run from Boston to Keene through Bolton. Naturally, General Holman was very much con- cerned about this and it is said he went to Washington to protest. No record has been found which tells of the out- come but it is reasonable to assume that he at least suc- ceeded in preventing the road from going through Bolton.
19I
THE STAGECOACH
In 1840, however, a railroad line was established from Worcester to Keene, via Fitchburg, which greatly detracted from General Holman's route from Fitchburg northward. From that time on the business gradually dwindled down to almost nothing. A few years later, in 1858, all the Holman property was offered for sale at an auction. Everything was sold except the homestead, now "The Country Manor," and the Holmans continued to live there until the early years of the twentieth century, when it passed out of the family.
XVIII
POST OFFICE
Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed round.
UNITED STATES POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
BEFORE the Revolution a postal system, established by Royal authority, had been in operation. It included only the largest towns, delivery being once a week, once in two weeks, or in some cases only once a month. At the out- break of the Revolution, the system ceased to operate.
The service was re-established in July, 1775, under the direction of Benjamin Franklin, the first Postmaster Gen- eral. It should be borne in mind that in 1776 there were only twenty-eight post offices in the whole country. These, of course, were far apart and a regular system of mail routes was just beginning to function. For twenty years Bolton's nearest post office was Cambridge.
At this time, the mail was carried from one post office to another by news-carriers or post-riders, who usually had a weekly route. Letters addressed to people living far from post offices were delivered by the courtesy of the news-carrier or by some friendly neighbor. As Bolton was situated on the regular route from Boston to Northampton, it probably received better service than many of the small towns. In the absence of a post office, letters were usually left at the tavern, the tavern keeper endeavoring to see that the proper addressee finally received them. Months must have elapsed
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POST OFFICE
many times between the writing and the reading of a letter. The news-carrier performed other duties besides that of delivering letters. He carried such newspapers as were printed in those days, and probably dispensed much word- of-mouth news. The following is an advertisement of the Boston to Deerfield (via Bolton, Lancaster, etc.) news- carrier in the New England Chronicle for October 19- October 26, 1775 :
- SILENT WILDE --
NEWS-CARRIER TO DEERFIELD &C.
BEGS Leave to inform his Customers that the Time of his last Engagement ends on the 9th Day of November next, when he earnestly hopes for punctual Payment at the usual Places of receiving their Papers. He likewise earnestly desires hereby to give Publick Notice, that he proposes, on suitable Encourage- ment to ride weekly, his usual Road for the term of six months next ensuing the said 9th Day of November and to supply each subscriber with one of the publick News-Papers at One Dollar each, provided each Subscriber shall at the beginning of the said six Months pay the one Half of said Dollar. He would likewise take this Opportunity to call upon those who are in arrears with them for the past services, kindly to Consider that he stands in great Need of what is due to him.
Shutesbury, October 16, 1775.
There was no public conveyance for travelers until some years later. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, however, numerous stage routes were in existence. The Boston to Brattleboro stage passed through Bolton four times a week, on Thursday and Saturday from Boston and on Monday and Wednesday from Brattleboro.
On December 5, 1808, the first post office was established here with the local physician, Dr. Amos Parker, as Post- master. The office was in the ell of Dr. Parker's house.
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
This house is now owned by the Baptist Society and is used as the parsonage. The ell was removed many years ago.
Although Dr. Parker probably handled less mail in a year than the post office now handles in a week, it would seem that he was, to say the least, not overpaid for his services. He received the sum of $24.35 for the year 1825. A country doctor of one hundred years ago evidently did not despise even so small an amount as twenty-four dollars, as Dr. Parker kept the office for forty-two years, until 1850, when Abraham Holman was appointed.
Although the stage went through Bolton four times a week, the mail contract called for delivery only once weekly. The route in 1815, 1816, 1817 is described as follows : from Boston by Charlestown, West Cambridge, Stow, Bolton, Lancaster, Westminster, Templeton, Gerry, Athol, Orange, Warwick, Winchester, Hinsdale, to Brattleboro. The contractor at this time was Thomas Peabody.
The stage left Boston at five A.M. and arrived in Bolton before noon and continued on to Westminster, where the night was spent. It arrived in Brattleboro the next day. On the return trip it left Brattleboro at four A.M., arriving in Westminster at eight P.M. It reached Boston the next night at eight P.M., in all a distance of ninety-six miles.
The postage rates in effect at the time the Bolton office was established were as follows : for every letter composed of a single sheet of paper, conveyed not exceeding 40 miles, 8 cents; over 40 and not exceeding 90 miles, 10 cents ; over 90 and not exceeding 150 miles, 122 cents; over 150 miles and not exceeding 300, 17 cents; over 300 and not exceeding 500 miles, 25 cents ; and every double letter, or two pieces of paper, double said rates ; every triple letter, or three pieces of paper, triple rates ; and for every packet
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POST OFFICE
composed of four or more pieces of paper, or other things, and weighing one ounce avoirdupois, quadruple said rates, and in that proportion for any greater weight. The postage was usually not prepaid but was collected on delivery.
By 1835, the Boston, Lancaster, and Fitchburg Accom- modation Stage, owned in part by General Holman, was in operation. This gave Bolton more frequent mail service, as the stage left Boston three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday ; and left Fitchburg on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Their starting time was 5 A.M., the stage from Boston arriving in Bolton about IO A.M. The stage from Fitchburg arrived somewhat earlier but brought only a small amount of mail. These stages also carried passengers ; the fare from Boston to Fitchburg was $2.12}, from Boston to Bolton, $1.222.
The stage routes were discontinued after railroads came into common use. Bolton, however, because it was not on a railroad, continued to receive mail by stage for many years. During part of this time the point of supply was Feltonville (Hudson), and for a number of years the mail came to Bolton Station. William Dow operated a stage line for many years, carrying passengers and freight. He was awarded the mail contract in 1905, and every four years thereafter until he retired in 1921. Only once in all these years did he fail to "get the mail through."
In 1921, the contract was awarded to John L. Smith who put a motor vehicle on the route for the first time. Mr. Smith carried the mail for four years until 1925, when the contract was awarded to Arthur S. Felton, who has had it since.
The rural route was established on January 16, 1905. Mr. Albert Syze was appointed from a field of ten who took
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
the Civil Service Examination. The route was twenty-four miles in length, most of it being over unimproved roads. Mr. Syze served his route faithfully for nearly twenty-eight years and was retired on November 30, 1932, having reached compulsory retirement age. Edwin M. Popp succeeded him, appointed by transfer from the Clinton Post Office.
In 1915, the Stow route was discontinued, and three miles were added to the Bolton route. On February 1, 1933, upon the retirement of the Berlin rural carrier, a consoli- dation was effected, whereby one carrier serves both Berlin and Bolton, his headquarters being Bolton. Several small additions have been made to the route at various times and it is now forty-three miles in length.
For a number of years between 1855 and 1873, Miss Rosina (Siney) Bell worked in the post office and was usually referred to as "the Postmistress." Although the records of the Post Office Department do not show this, it is almost certain that "Siney" Bell's father, James Bell, was Post- master at some time during that period. Mr. Bell's grand- daughter, now living in Egypt, Massachusetts, states that he was Postmaster and that "Aunt Siney" ran the office. The following certificate taken from the town records would seem to bear out this statement, although it is interesting for other reasons :
May 23, 1855
This is to certify that James Bell has been duly appointed and authorized as Agent of the Town of Bolton to purchase intoxicating liquors and sell same for medicinal, chemical, and mechanical purposes, or to be used in the arts and no other. Said liquors to be sold from the building now occupied as Post Office in the center of Bolton.
Signed by the Selectmen
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POST OFFICE
The building referred to is the same building now in use as the post office. Later, the office was moved to the "Brick Store," during the terms of George B. Newton and James H. Hurlbut. In 1895, upon the appointment of Dr. O. A. Everett, the office again occupied the present building, where it has remained since.
It is interesting to note the increase in business done by the post office as shown in the Postmasters' salaries. Post- master Parker received $24.35 for the year 1825; Post- master Abraham Holman received $113.66 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1853; Samuel Kendal, for nine months July 1-April 14, 1855, received $116.02; Joshua Sawyer received $171.39 for the year 1857; for the year 1867, Ezra Moore received $200 ; in 1875, George B. Newton received $234.01. By 1927, the receipts of the office had increased to such an extent that it was advanced to third-class rating. At that time the international money order business was established here. Domestic money order business had been established at the Bolton office on October 17, 1892.
It is hard to realize the great increase in mail over a com- paratively short space of time. This is due partly to the introduction of new services by the Post Office Department, such as the carrying of newspapers, magazines, parcel post, advertising matter, the registry, insurance, C. O. D. and money order systems, the special delivery service, and the air mail service. It is also due to the great increase in letter writing and card sending on holidays, especially at Christmas time. The sales of stamps in December of two different years will illustrate this clearly. In December, 1892, the stamp sales of the Bolton office totaled $31.91 ; the stamp sales for December, 1937, reached the amount of $497.97.
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
Following is a list of Postmasters of the Bolton Post Office with dates of appointment. This list was furnished through the kindness of Honorable K. P. Aldrich, Chief Inspector of the Post Office Department.
POSTMASTERS
DATE APPOINTED
Amos Parker .
December 5, 1808
Abraham Holman
November 19, 1850
Samuel W. Kendal .
October 11, 1853
Joshua E. Sawyer
April 5, 1855
Ezra S. Moore
January 16, 1866
George B. Newton
March 27, 1873
James H. Hurlbut
January 21, 1888
Oliver A. Everett
December 24, 1895
Mrs. Charlotte M. Everett
May 28, 1919
Edwin C. Pardee (Acting)
May 31, 1930
Mrs. Esther K. Whitcomb (Acting) October 1, 1930
Mrs. Esther K. Whitcomb
December 9, 1930
THE POLLARD-BACON HOUSE
CENTURY MILLS
1
XIX
INDUSTRIES
The creaking old mill is still, . . . Since you and I were young.
G. W. JOHNSON
SAWMILLS AND GRIST MILLS
As far as can be ascertained, the first sawmills and grist mills in Bolton were on the site of the mills known for many years as the Pollard Mills, now called Century Mills and owned by Charles E. Bacon of Boston and Paul V. Bacon of Wellesley. In the will of Joseph Sawyer, dated 1739, he refers to "208 acres of land, on the easterly side of Pine Hill, so called, being near where sd. Sawyer (Thomas) hath built a mill." He also refers to "ye Corne mill and ye saw mill." Joseph's will mentions twenty acres, "near where ye old saw mill stood on Wadaquadock Brook." He bequeathed to his son, Thomas, "29 acres of land where sd. Thomas liveth with house and saw-mill near Pine Hill."
In 1764, the Selectmen laid out a road following the Old Marlborough Road, or Bay Path. In the description of this highway, Century Mills are mentioned. The road passed directly in front of them, over the top of the dam, and circled the mill pond on the opposite side.
Century Mills have been used in fairly recent years. Doctor George A. Bacon bought the property in 1916, and sawed lumber one year. The grist mill was used for a very
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
short time, being operated by Arthur Felton, who was employed by Doctor Bacon.
Sawyer's mills on the Pan, contrary to general belief, were not built by a Sawyer. In 1750, Samuel Baker, called in the deed a tanner, bought from John Osborne twenty acres of land, without buildings. He erected a sawmill, a tan yard, and a house. The sawmill was on the Great Brook, and the owner had the right to flow the meadows from November tenth to May tenth. There are those still living who can remember the huge skating pond formed by the flowing of the meadows and the many skating parties held there.
Cranberry bogs covered the Pan meadows in former days, receiving protection from frost by the water that covered them until May tenth. Many an attic still contains one or more of the old wooden cranberry rakes, and a hand- made basket which was used in gathering the cranberries.
The Sawyer mills had several owners before 1791, when Benjamin Sawyer bought the property. He erected the grist mill, which received its water power from West Pond, this insuring a fairly steady supply the year through. In 1827, Benjamin Sawyer deeded the two mills, mentioning especially the water rights, to his son John, who operated them for many years. In 1870, John Sawyer, probably wishing to retire, deeded the mills to his son, John F. Sawyer. The sawmill was seldom used after 1880, and it gradually fell into disrepair. The grist mill was still in running order in 1899, when the heirs of John F. Sawyer sold it to James G. Dow, in whose possession it burned.
Another well-known sawmill was in the center of the town, using as power the water of the mill pond and the reserve pond now used in winter as a skating pond. This mill was
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INDUSTRIES
built between 1831 and 1833, by Joel Sawyer, who had started out in life as a watchmaker. He often boasted that he had made wheels in diameter from one-fourth of an inch to twelve feet. Joel owned the house east of his mill, which he had bought soon after his marriage in 1831. Between his house and the mill pond stood the engine house. This is mentioned in the 1833 deed to the mill property, and was doubtless the earliest "fire house" in Bolton.
Joel Sawyer was also a wheelwright and had erected a blacksmith shop a little to the west of his mill. Coffins were also made in his mill. The selectmen, in 1861, made a contract with Joel Sawyer to furnish coffins for adults at five dollars each, and for children at three dollars each.
S. V. S. Wilder was the owner of two mills, one on Russell's Pond which is directly back of the Wilder Mansion, and the other one half mile farther down the same water-course, probably opposite the house owned by Mr. Beckner. In a letter dated May 21, 1833, to Major Alpheus Moore, who looked after Mr. Wilder's Bolton interests in his absence, these mills are mentioned :
I trust you are making good progress with the Saw-Mill and for certain reasons, which I will hereafter explain, I want you to have the water-wheel & the upper part of the building all completed, so that a Machine may be put in operation in the upper room by the middle of July; this is important for your interest as well as mine. I hope, you will have the timbers in this Mill so large & the frame so well braced, that the upper room will not tremble, when the Saw-Mill is in motion.
You must know, that I am disposing of my lower privilege at the Cream-pot, & that a Mill will be erected there this next fall or winter (not to saw shingles) but to place patent Machinery therein; & if our Mill at the fish-pond can be ready to receive a Machine by the 15 or 20th July, and have it in operation even
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
for one day -- I can secure for you and me the use of one Machine for three years, which in my opinion will greatly add to the advantage of our Saw-Mill, and this one Machine alone will give, I calculate as much profit, as the Saw & Shingle Mill together. --
I have not time for any more, & remain truly yours S. V. S. Wilder
What this patent machinery was, it is impossible to determine. It must have been some sort of machine for sawing, turning, or woodworking, and it was evidently to be run by water power, as Mr. Wilder, in his letter, directs that the water wheel must be completed. Whether the machine mentioned was ever installed, and whether the other patent machinery was ever put into a mill at the "Cream-pot," are mysteries that it is probably impossible to solve at this late date.
There were other mills in various parts of Bolton. The foundation of a sawmill may still be seen on the brook which runs in back of the Gustafson house. Tradition says that the lumber for this house was sawed out at the mill nearby.
A grist mill once stood on the land now owned by John Ibsen, almost in back of Royce Beckner's house. On the brook which runs through the dooryard of the Hicks house, there may be seen what is left of three dams, scarcely two hundred yards apart. It could hardly have been possible to run these three mills at once, as there is not a sufficient flow of water in the brook.
Joel and Joab Barnard, who lived in the house called the "old Hackett place," built a sawmill and turning lathe on the brook to the north of their house. They were also housewrights, and built a large number of houses and barns in this and surrounding towns. Captain Joel drew the
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INDUSTRIES
plans for the Town House which was completed in 1834. In addition to these activities, they made coffins in their mill. For the coffin of such a well-to-do citizen as Sander- son Houghton, the brothers Barnard charged the sum of four dollars. They had a contract with the town, however, for making coffins at the rate of two dollars and twenty-five cents each in 1842.
CIDER MILLS
One of the important industries of our forefathers was cider making. Every family put at least one barrel of cider in the cellar each autumn for vinegar and a quantity was consumed before it reached the vinegar stage. Boiled cider was one of the valued ingredients of the famous mince pies of our grandmothers. Boiled cider applesauce was con- sidered a great delicacy. Cider was thought necessary at haying time and at huskings, raisings, and bees of all kinds.
The earliest mention of a cider mill in Bolton is found in a description of Long Hill Road about 1740. The road was laid out past Whitney's cider mill, which was on the south side of Long Hill, beyond the Barrett farm.
The Houghton brothers, Joseph and Sanderson, who lived on the Green, owned a cider mill. On the death of Joseph, in 1790, the administration of his estate awarded Joseph's half of the "Cyder Mill" to his three minor children, Joseph, Henry, and Mary.
Probably the best-known cider mill in Bolton is still standing. When the estate of Jonathan Forbush was sold at auction, the Hillside Church and land surrounding it went as one item of the sale. The church was remodeled and used for a cider mill, eventually passing into the hands of Michael Butler, whose son still owns the property. The
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HISTORY OF BOLTON
old church was burned in 1900, and a new building was erected, the same foundation being used.
HAT MAKING
One of the earliest industries in Bolton was that of hat making. Beaver hats, which were worn on all dress occa- sions, were made of real beaver fur. At the foot of Blood Hill, on the south side of the road just about opposite the Holman barn, stood the house of Captain Samuel Blood and a little to the east of it was his hat shop. A great deal of business was done here long before the Revolution. Loads of hats were sent to Boston, and many were made to order.
As beaver skins became less plentiful, a new material was invented, still called "beaver" but in reality a sort of plush, from whence came the term "silk hats." It is a tradition that the first silk hats in the colonies were made in Captain Blood's shop.
In the making of hats, the method employed required the soaking of the skins for several days. There was a walled- up pool in the brook south of the hat shop where this soaking was done. For many years the location of this pool was not known ; only recently in an exceptionally dry season it was discovered, the wall having sunk deep into the soft earth.
Several types of hats were made by Captain Samuel Blood and his son, Edmund, according to records found in an old account book which he kept for the years 1799 to 1803. "Knapt hatts" were priced at about £I, though some customers paid as much as £1-6. "Castor hatts" vary in price from £1-4 to £2-2. Felt hats were the cheapest ; the prices range from five shillings for a boy's felt hat to nine shillings or twelve shillings for a man's felt.
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INDUSTRIES
Some of the accounts are very interesting. In May, 1800, Peter Clark paid £1-7 for a "military hat." Under the same date Thaddeus Pollard paid £1-7 for a military hat "del. Ensign Amory," and bought a "Beverett hatt" at £2-2, a "Knapt hatt" at £1, a "boys hatt" at 5 shillings 3 pence, and "two ladies hatts" for £2. In Nov., 1801, Doctor Abraham Moore bought a "light colored beaver Hatt" for £2-8 and had a "hatt dressed for Abraham your son, with buckel" for which he was charged £3-6.
Many of the accounts are for dozen and half dozen lots of hats sold at wholesale prices to out-of-town customers, doubtless storekeepers. The sale of hats to Cranston and Felton of Boston from July to October, 1800, amounted to £73-9-2.
A hundred years ago, and until about 1870, the making of straw hats was a flourishing industry in Bolton. Hat blocks were of plaster-of-paris and the hats, after being sewed by hand, were dampened and shaped on the blocks. The Caswell family sewed hats in their shop on the Pan (where Fred Wetherbee's house now stands) ; Mrs. Ruth Houghton (widow of Jaazaniah) sewed straw for hats; Mrs. Legrand Brigham, now of Hudson, who lived in the house at the corner of the Hudson Road and the Great Road, can remember as a girl sewing hats, sometimes in her own home and sometimes at Mr. Caswell's shop, across the street.
TANNERIES
There was probably a tan-house or tanyard in this terri- tory before it became a town. The many articles, including shoes, which were manufactured of various kinds of leather, made a tanyard almost a necessity. A pit was constructed in which the prepared hides were laid in alternate layers with
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