USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 72
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W. O. Faxon, M. D., Stoughton,
N. C. King, Campello,
S. V. A. Hunter, Newton Centre, “
Albert W. Mullen, Somerville,
POST-OFFICE.
INTERESTING REMINISCENCES OF ITS KEEPERS AND ITS MUTATIONS FROM 1816 TO 1894.
The recent important changes in the post- office in this city, involv- ing the establishment of the office in new and handsome quarters, with improved facilities for handling the mails, and under conditions which are not likely to be materially changed for many years, make timely and interesting a sketch of the history of the post-office business of this town and city, and its growth from a very insignificant beginning to its present great proportions
Previous to the year 1816, the date of the first establishment of a post-office in the old town of North Bridgewater, and in fact for several years after that time, the letters and what few newspapers people had in those days were brought to town by post-riders, and by market wagons and other private conveyances from Boston. The mails, if mails they can be called, were very few and far between, and the most promi- nent men in town rarely received a letter oftener than once a month. When an important document of this sort came to hand it was an event which was talked over and discussed for many days by the recipient and his immediate friends and neighbors. A letter was at that time almost the only means of communication to be had with the outside world, and as it was common in writing one to mention all the interesting news of the day, its contents, if arranged and classified would have formed a sort of embryo newspaper. In 1816 the mail matter which came to this town had increased to such an extent that it was thought necessary for the convenience of the citizens that a post-office should be established. This was accordingly done and Charles Packard, who was appointed by President James Madison, was installed as the first postmaster. Mr. Packard was an old fashioned Whig and was one of the numerous line of Packards who have since sprung up to perpetuate the name and
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
enjoy the distinction of belonging to a family whose members in this city exceed the Smiths in numbers and whose only rivals are the Howards. The individual to whom tradition accords the name of Howard Packard must indeed have been a happy man.
At the time of his appointment, Postmaster Packard was the pro- prietor of a country store, which he kept in an old building a short dis- tance north of the site of the Gazette building, owned then by Silas Packard, and afterwards the property of David Cobb and later of D. Herbert Cobb. The letters and other mail matter were then kept in a drawer under the counter in one corner of the store, and had to be all looked over every time a person inquired if there was anything for him. About 1820 the facilities for the transmission of news were increased by the establishment of a stage route, of which Silas Packard of North Bridgewater, Seth Allen of Halifax, Capt. N. H. Cross of East Bridge- water and Capt. Asa Pratt of South Bridgewater were part owners. The stage was a two-horse carriage, formerly the property of Governor Phillips. It started from Bridgewater and ran to Boston three times a week. This coach line changed hands several times during the next few years, and finally came into the possession of Messrs. Newton Hodges and Nathaniel Blake, who were for a long time the sole owners of the concern. In 1822 Col. Nathan Jones of North Bridgewater started a two horse coach, running from that place to Boston on Mon- days, Wednesdays and Saturdays of each week, making the round trip in one day. He soon afterward went into partnership with John Mad- den of Randolph, and for two years their coach made regular trips to the "Hub." At the end of that time an arrangement was effected with Messrs. Hodges and Blake by which the residents of the Bridge- waters enjoyed daily communication with Boston. After a time Col. Jones purchased the whole business and afterward sold it to John Long, who continued to run the stage until the opening of the railroad.
When Andrew Jackson was called to the big chair at the White House in 1829, he removed Mr. Packard and appointed Nathaniel H. Cross as postmaster. Mr. Cross took the position on the first of July succeeding the election of President Jackson. He was an old-style Jeffersonian Democrat and an ardent admirer of the famous old warrior who appointed him. Postmaster Cross changed the location of the
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POST-OFFICE.
post- office to the " old green store," which for many years stood at the corner of Main and Belmont streets, and was one of the landmarks of the place. It was during his term of office that post-offices boxes were first introduced. There were about forty of them, but not over one- half this number were rented. It cost money to send letters in those days. The postage was six cents to Boston, 1834 cents to New York, 24 cents to Baltimore, and a correspondingly high figure to other places. The annual income of the North Bridgewater office was then only about $80, and the postmaster made only about $40 a year out of his official position. Not a very "soft snap" certainly. The late well-known citizen, Tyler Cobb, whose memory reached away back to 1820 or thereabouts, was in the habit of helping Mr. Cross at odd times about his duties and frequently ran of errands and performed other services for him.
After seven years' service, Mr. Cross resigned his position and Ed- ward Southworth, jr., was appointed, September 16, 1836, by President Jackson, that being one of the latter's last official acts before his term of office expired. Mr. Southworth at that time kept a country store in what is now known as the Gazette building, opposite the First Congre- gational Church site.
Thither he moved the post-office soon after his appointment. In one corner of his establishment he fitted up a little office over which the late Franklin Ames, then his clerk, presided. About a year after Mr. South- worth's appointment, another coach line between North Bridgewater and Boston was established by Jabez Gould, and was continued until the "Stoughton branch railroad" was built, when the coach was taken off the old line and run in connection with the cars. The existence of the line terminated in 1846, when the Fall River branch of the Old Col- ony railroad was built. Another line of coaches passed through the " West Shares," now Brockton Heights, on the old turnpike from Taun- ton to Boston. Jesse Smith of Taunton was for many years the pro- prietor.
Mr. Southworth's term of office extended through a period of seven- teen years. At the time of his appointment he was an old line Demo- crat, but about 1835 his political views underwent a decided change and he soon afterward joined the Whig party, This did not operate to his
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON ..
favor so far as the post-office was concerned, and when Franklin Pierce took the presidential chair in 1853 he appointed Aaron B. Drake, a thorough-going Democrat, to fill the place. Postmaster Drake's com- mission was received July 20, 1853, four months after Mr. Pierce was elected. He at once moved the office to a small building which stood where Clark's block has since been built. The accommodations proved inadequate there, however, and he again changed the location of the office to a room in Tyler Cobb's block which would not accommodate more than half a dozen people at a time, that was the North Bridgewater post-office of thirty years ago. Mr. Drake, who was then the proprie- tor of the Salisbury house at Campello, devoted the most of his time to the hotel business and left the office in care of Franklin Ames, whoni he engaged as clerk on account of the experience he had gained in that direction while employed in the same capacity by Mr. Southworth.
Mr. Ames was as ardent a Whig as the postmaster was a Democrat, and it appears that this fact bred dissatisfaction among some of the old liners, who, after a time petitioned for Mr. Drake's removal for this and kindred reasons. Mr. Drake's resignation took effeet December II, 1855, when the late Dr. Abel W. Kingman was appointed to fill the vacancy. At that time Dr. Kingman was a true-blue Democrat. After the breaking out of the war, however, he became a Republican and re- mained one until his death, which occurred during the early part of the year 1883. In those days the doctor, who was a popular member of the medical profession, enjoyed a large practice in this and neighbor- ing towns and could not on that account give his personal attention to the new duties which devolved upon him. He, therefore, engaged Da- vid L. Cowell to take charge of the office . He also made various im- provements about the office and built a new set of boxes. He held the position six years.
During Postmaster Drake's term of office still another coach line was established by S. D. Butler, who ran a coach from the Salisbury House, Campello, to connect with the Stoughton cars. The line did not pay and was continued for a short time only. In 1857 A. S. Porter ran a tri-weekly coach to Boston and shortly afterward changed it to a daily line, which was maintained for some time. There was also a line of stages connecting at Bridgewater with a coach for New Bedford owned
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POST-OFFICE.
by Pelatiah Gould, which ran through North Bridgewater to Boston about the same time.
On the accession of President Lincoln in 1861, in accordance with the request of a large number of representative citizens, Capt. Henry French was appointed postmaster. He re engaged Mr. Cowell, who became a Republican at the opening of the war, as assistant, and was aided by him in that capacity during his twelve years of service. The office was moved soon after his appointment to a building erected by him where H. P. Lewis's store was located. There the accommodations were greatly enlarged and improved. The old boxes belonging to Franklin Ames were at first purchased, but 300 new ones, including twenty-five lock boxes, were afterward added and were much more conveniently arranged than formerly. Not over six or eight of the lock boxes were rented at first and 100 of the call boxes lay idle for a long time. As business increased however, the demand for more boxes be- came so general that an addition was erected to the building, and the accommodations thereby considerably enlarged. The office was grow- ing very rapidly, however, and during the last few years of Capt. French's service 500 boxes hardly supplied the public needs. The most Captain French ever received for box rent was eighty cents a year.
After twelve years of faithful service, Capt. French resigned his posi- tion and Augustus T. Jones, Esq., was appointed as his successor in 1873 by General Grant. Mr. Jones soon found that more commodious quar- ters were needed to carry on the business and after looking about for some time secured the lower portion of a building on the north side of Centre street owned by George E. Bryant, and then occupied by Nel- son Cushman's shoe shop. Mr. Bryant raised the building and made such repairs as were necessary for the convenience of the public, after which the office was moved there from Captain French's building and its location was not again changed until the fire of February, 1883. It was during Mr. Jones's term of service that the town voted to adopt the name of Brockton in place of North Bridgewater. Postmaster Jones increased the number of call boxes to over 1,000 and added 100 of the " Yale " lock boxes, which were then a great novelty. Like most of his predecessors, Mr. Jones had private business which occupied the most
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
of his time, and he therefore left the office entirely to the care of his assistant, George H. Fullerton, Esq., who was aided in his duties by his two sisters.
Mr. Jones resigned in 1876 and Mr. Fullerton was at once promoted to the postmastership. He put in some additional lock boxes and in- creased the force of assistants, as he was compelled to do so by the rapid growth of the business. The assistant postmaster was Sumner E. Packard, a young man who had for some years been a elerk in the office and was eminently qualified in every way for the position. Mr. Packard resigned and went into business with his brother, who is of the lithographing firm of Packard, Butler & Partridge, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Joseph M. Hollywood, then the popular ticket agent at the Old Colony station in this city, was offered the position thus made vacant, which he accepted. As soon as he became familiar with his duties he was made acting assistant postmaster and during Postmaster Fullerton's frequent absences from the city was conspicuously faithful in the discharge of his obligations. At the time of the post office fire in February, 1883, Mr. Hollywood showed much tact and judgment in his management of the affair, and the removal of the office to the vestry of the Central Methodist church, necessitated by the damage done by the flames in the old office was accomplished under his direction with great celerity and little inconvenience to the public.
Larger and better accommodations had for some time been desired by the business men of the city and they judged that the conflagration afforded them the opportunity they had long wished for of changing the office to other and more commodious quarters. Petitions were accordingly sent to the department by residents of the north and south ends of the city praying for the much desired change. The north- enders wanted the new office located in Bryant's block, at the corner of Main and Center streets, work on which had just been commenced by the owner. The south-enders thought Washburn's block, then nearly completed, at the corner of Main and School streets, was the most central site in the city. The department decided in favor of Bryant's building, however, and a large and elegant office, especially adapted to Brockton's needs, was fitted up.
For some time past Mr. Fullerton has been connected with large
781
POST-OFFICE.
business interests in Riverside, California, and has been and is one of the prime spirits in the Lugonia fruit- growing company which is scoring a big success in the canning of apricots. He also found by experience that his health was better in the far west than in our variable New England climate. For these and other reasons Mr. Fullerton resigned the position he so ably filled with notable acceptance for seven years, early in November, 1883, and Assistant Postmaster Hollywood was appointed to fill the vacacancy by President Arthur, and has continued to hold the position, through the administration of Cleveland and Har- rison to this time, The office has had the free delivery system since 1885, beginning with five letter carriers, while at the present time there are about twenty.
The Brockton post-office was opened Monday morning, May 7, 1894, in the commodious quarters which the general government leased in the new Whipple-Freeman block, corner of Main and Franklin streets. The office occupies the two large stores in the south end of the block, and has light on three sides.
The office has not only new quarters but new fittings and furniture as well, and Postmaster Hollywood presides over as modern and con- venient an office as there is in this part of the State.
The fittings are of oak, and were made by the Yale & Towne com- pany, of Stamford, Ct., a truly elegant as well as convenient establish- ment.
At this writing there seems to be a prospect of a new government building for the use of the post office department of Brockton.
Not very many persons in this city can remember the time when the " West Shares," or Brockton Heights, was the center of the town and when more business was done there in one day than was transacted at this end of the town in a week. Nevertheless, this state of affairs did exist some sixty or seventy years ago, and a post-office there of course became a necessity as well as a convenience. The office was established November 13, 1828, Heman Packard being appointed post- master. After serving a year he resigned in favor of N. H. Cross, who at that time was postmaster of the office in this section of the town and who controlled both offices for about seven months, when finding he could not conveniently attend to the entire business, he gave up the
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
"West Shares" office, which was placed in charge of George Clark February 11, 1831. Mr. Clark was postmaster for nine years, when he was succeeded by Levi French. Business gradually diminished as this section of the town increased in population and about twenty five years ago the office was discontinued.
CAMPELLO.
Previous to the year 1850, the people of Campello had for some time hired the mail for that village brought down to them by a messenger for distribution at " the store " but finding the bulk of mail matter for that section was increasing to such an extent that a separate office seemed to be needed, a petition for its establishment was forwarded to Washington by some of the public spirited South Enders. Their re- quest was granted, and February 12, 1850, Nelson J. Foss was appointed postmaster. The post-office was first located over the only store then in that village in the musical instrument manufactory of Packard, Foss & Co. The office was afterward located on Montello street in an old building owned by the postmaster who at that time was a dealer in flour and grain. The accommodations were limited, but did very well and with a few alterations served the purpose for which they were de- signed for over thirty years. In 1872, Mr. Foss, who was an invalid for many years, resigned on account of ill health and Albert Keith was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Keith purchased the flour and grain business of Mr. Foss and for nearly ten years conducted it in the build- ing above mentioned. About 1881 Postmaster Keith moved away the old structure and erected a new and more modern building on the same site, in which ample provision was made for an office of a size and gen- eral character to correspond with the rapid growth of the South End of the city. The office had 600 boxes and was in charge of Assistant Postmistress Emily Grant the greater part of the time, Mr. Keith hav- ing private business which called him elsewhere. Up to about 1882, the office was a fourth-class one but it is now third-class, the postmaster receiving his commission direct from the president.
Walter L. Keith has the office in charge at the present writing, hav- ing been appointed by President Cleveland. The office is one of large business and is well kept, in the Keith block on Main street, corner of Perkins avenue.
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THE OLD TURNPIKE.
The following are the names of the postmasters, with the dates of their appointments to the Brockton post- office :
Charles Packard November 2, 1816.
Nathaniel HI. Cross .July 1, 1829.
Edward Southworth, Jr
September 16, 1836.
Aaron B. Drake
July 20, 1853.
Abel W. Kingman December 11,1855
Henry French 1861.
Augustus T. Jones
1873.
George H. Fullerton
1876.
Joseph M. Hollywood.
1883,
and is the present efficient incumbent.
A post-office was established in the west part of the town in 1828, called Northwest Bridgewater, with the following appointments :
Heman Packard
November 13, 1828,
Nathaniel H. Cross July 1, 1829.
George Clark
.February 11 1831.
Levi French
September 5, 1840.
Post-office discontinued 1868.
The following are the appointments of the postmasters in Campello :
Nelson J. Foss February 12, 1860.
Albert Keith May 26, 1873.
Walter L. Keith
October 15, 1886.
THE OLD TURNPIKE.
The road known as the old " Taunton Turnpike" extended from South Boston to Taunton, passing through the towns of Raynham, Easton, West Bridgewater, Brockton, Stoughton, Randolph, and Milton. Its location was like most other roads of that day-it was laid out in as near a straight line as could conveniently be done, without regard to hills or valleys, believing the shortest way to be the most expedi- tious.
This road was chartered as a turnpike corporation to Messrs. John Gilmore, Joshua Gilmore, Samuel Bass, and William P. Whiting, and constituted the "Taunton and South Boston Turnpike Corporation," in June, 1806, and was built during 1806 and 1807.
This road ran through the westerly portion of the town, or what is well known as the "West Shares " or North-west Bridgewater, now
784
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Brockton Heights. At one time there was a large amount of travel upon this route, both by stages and heavy baggage teams.
It is, however, of no account as a toll road, the counties through which it passes having taken it into their own hands to repair and use for the public good.
We hear no more the clanging hoof And the stage coach rattling by, For the steam-king rules the travel world, And the old pike's left to die; The grape creeps o'er the flinty path, And the stealthy daisies steal Where once the stage-horse day by day, Lifted his iron heel.
No more the weary stager dreads The toil of the coming morn ; No more the bustling landlord runs At the sound of the echoing horn ; For the dust lies still upon the road, And the bright-eyed children play Where once the clattering hoof and wheel Rattled along the way.
No more we hear the cracking whip And the strong wheel's rumbling sound; And ah ! the water drives us on, And an iron horse is found ! The coach stands rusting in the yard, The horse has sought the plow ; We have spanned the world with an iron rail, And the steam king rules us now.
The old turnpike is a pike no more, Wide open stands the gate ; We have made us a road for our horse to stride, And we ride at a flying rate ; We have filled the valleys and leveled the hills, And tunneled the mountain side, Around the rough crag's dizzy verge, Fearlessly now we ride.
On, on, on, with a haughty front, A puff, a shriek and a bound ; While the tardy echoes wake too late To echo back the sound ;
785
THE WALES HOME.
And the old pike road is left alone, And the stagers seek the plow ; We have circled the earth with an iron rail And the steam-king rules us now.
THE WALES HOME.
The Ladies' Industrial Circle, to whom the credit for the founding of the home is due, is composed of members of the Odd Ladies.
The corporation, when organized comprised twenty-six members and to these is due the success of the project. From these members were chosen the various sub-committees. The ladies have received generous support outside, and have worked diligently to accomplish their object. The members of the corporation and officers are as follows :
Mrs. N. C. Howard, president ; Mrs. Alvira Willis, vice-president ; Mrs. A. R. Wade, secretary ; Mrs. Enos H. Reynolds, treasurer. The other members are Mrs. B. H. Nash, Mrs. C. L. Reynolds, Mrs. M. J. Leighton, Mrs. M. E. Blodgett, Mrs J. B. Howard, Mrs. John Thomp- son, Mrs. H. L. Howard, Mrs. Frank Howard, Mrs. George H. Acker- man, Mrs. M. H. Dickerman, Mrs. Darius Howard, Mrs. Edwin Howard, Mrs. L. F. Severance, Mrs. Edna Balentine, Mrs. Charles Stone, Mrs. Henry Simmons, Mrs. E. J. Morse, Mrs. A. W. Sears, Mrs. H. H. Bromade, Mrs. N. N. Gurney, Mrs. Albert E. Harvey and Miss Lizzie Jones. The executive committee is composed of Mrs. Edna Balentine, Mrs. L. F. Severance, Mrs. Darius Howard, Mrs. A. W. Sears and Mrs. Morse.
The house now known as the Wales Home on North Main street, was originally built in 1811 by Thomas Wales, father of Mrs. Tyler Cobb, and was occupied by him immediately after his marriage. Mrs. Tyler Cobb, who donated the estate for its present use, was born there and resided in the homestead until she was twenty-one years old, when she was married and left the parental roof.
The framework of the house is solid and substantial, and with the important improvements the home is all that could be desired. It is proposed to have the grounds laid out with shrubs and plants. The location renders the grounds capable of improvements which will make them sightly and attractive.
The hospitable doors of the cheerful home were thrown open Septem-
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
ber 20, 1893, and during the afternoon and evening the house was open to the inspection of visiting hundreds. At 4 P. M. over 200 names had been inscribed upon the visitors' register and during the evening many more were added.
Without passing upon the cosiness and convenience of the home there is one person who deserves special recognition. It is Mrs. Tyler. Cobb, to whose benevolence and generosity the Ladies' Industrial Circle is in- debted for the house and land. Mrs. Cobb was present at the exercises, and her kindly face showed that the reward for her act was being amply paid in the satisfaction of having done a noble act. As she sat in a comfortable chair, in one of the rooms which had been furnished by in- terested friends, she was the recipient of many cordial handshakings and congratulations.
Although the building is not large it promises to become one of the leading institutions of Brockton, and the ladies who have worked so hard and earnestly for its establishment have great reason to rejoice at the result of their labors.
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