USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 62
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By the 10th of August, 954 persons had contributed $1,675, and the contract for the monument had been awarded to Loammi Chamberlain, a Chelmsford contractor, who was the lowest bidder. The monument was to be completed by September 15, and to be of Chelmsford granite.
The contract price for the monument was $1,373.00
For cutting the inscriptions 173.88
80.50
For plans, drawings, printing, &c.
$1,627.38
Balance unappropriated
58.00
Some incidental expenses were expected to require more than this balance. The whole amount received was $1,788.25.
The Association continued to meet annually until 1877, after which occasional meetings were held, the latest being in 1909 to prepare for the observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the Monument.
In 1875, the Association provided a banner to be carried by the Chelmsford minutemen at the centennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown.
In 1893, the Association took charge of the flag and flag-staff on the Common, and in 1894, it was voted that all lineal descend- ants of the original members from this time henceforth forever shall be regarded as bona fide members. Any citizen of Chelmsford may become a member. Mr. J. R. Fletcher was treasurer for 32 years. The present officers are: Joseph E. Warren, president; George O. Spaulding, vice president; G. T. Parkhurst, treasurer; Paul Dutton, secretary; Arthur M. Warren, Ralph Waldo Emer- son, Harry L. Parkhurst, executive committee.
In the Adams Library hangs a large poster (framed), which, at the time, informed the public of the approaching "Inauguration of the Chelmsford Monument," and must have attracted con- siderable attention, as it gave the Order of Exercises with the names of the expected speakers, and announced a dinner, to be
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
served in one of Yale's tents on the Common, by a Boston caterer. Tickets to the dinner were sold at one dollar. Otis Adams was chief marshal. A pigeon pot-pie was cooked in a big pot hung over a fire built on the ground back of the Unitarian church, and everybody had a pigeon and a dumpling.
The four sides of the monument face the cardinal points of the compass.
INSCRIPTIONS ON THE MONUMENT. North Side.
Erected 1859 Let the children Guard What the sires have won.
South side. In Honor of the Townsmen of Chelmsford who served their Country in the War of the Revolution This monument is erected by a Grateful Posterity East side. Lt. Col. Moses Parker and Capt. Benj. Walker wounded at Bunker Hill June 17, 75 Died Prisoners in Boston July 4 & Augt. 75 Lt. Robt. Spalding Died at Milford Ct. 76
West side John Bates Died in army in Cambridge David Spalding Jr. Died in army at Ticonderoga Pelatiah Adams Killed at Cherry Valley Noah Foster Shot at Capture of Burgoyne Henry Fletcher Killed at White Plains
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SLAVES, WITCHES
The Town appropriated $400 for the celebration at the dedication of the Monument.
At the dedication, Dr. Willard Parker of New York made the address. Letters from Ralph Waldo Emerson of Concord, and Benjamin P. Hunt of Philadelphia were read, stating that ill health prevented them from attending. In place of Mr. Emerson, the Hon. J. S. Keyes responded for his fellow townsman, expressing great regret that his friend could not be present.
DEDICATION OF MONUMENT.
A contemporary report says :
Thursday, Sept. 22, 1859, was a great day in this Town, it being celebrated as the 205th anniversary of its settlement, and the day appointed for the dedication of the Monument to the Revolutionary Soldiers. Mr. Beals of Boston had, the evening previous, decorated the neighborhood with a profusion of flags. The morning was stormy, which prevented hundreds from attend- ing. However, it rained but little during the exercises in the meeting house and tent. The procession formed at eleven o'clock at the residence of C. H. Dalton, Esq., which was formerly the home of Col. Simeon Spaulding, who was Colonial Repre- sentative, 1771-1775; Representative to the Provincial Congress, 1775-1778; Chairman, Committee of Safety, 1776; Commissioner to adjust War Act, 1778; Delegate to form New Constitution, 1779. Died, 1785, aged 72. These facts were displayed on a tablet above the door of the house, which was gaily decorated with bunting. The procession moved to the meeting house, where an orchestra of string instruments and a large choir led the people in the singing of "America" as the opening hymn. Hon. H. W. B. Wightman, president of the day, then welcomed the assembled company, making some reference to the history of the Town, and giving Mr. C. H. Dalton the entire credit of the inception and completion of the Monument.
A Prayer was made by the Rev. John Parkhurst, chaplain of the day.
Ode, written by John C. Dalton, Jr.
Mr. Wightman then introduced Dr. Willard Parker of New York.
The band played a short piece, and then Hon. Charles R. Train spoke.
Letters from Ralph Waldo Emerson, H. P. Hunt and others were read.
The Brigade Band filled the intervals with sweet music.
Ode, Air: Auld Lang Syne by Mrs. Martha L. Emerson.
At the appointed time, the procession formed at the church and marched round the square. When passing the Monument, three hearty cheers were given. At the large tent in the rear of the church, a sumptuous dinner was served, and toasts were given. The tent was decorated with numerous patriotic mottoes.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Gov. Banks and Ex-President Pierce were not present, nor was Judge Abbott.
Deacon Otis Adams responded to the toast, "The Ladies," but, contrary to his usual gallantry, he forgot the ladies and gave some traditions relating to the men of the Revolution.
S. N. Merrill, Mayor Cook, Thos. P. Parker of Boston, G. S. Curtis, architect, Hon. F. J. Parker of Boston and Hon. Linus Child spoke.
The exercises closed about 5.30 P. M.
Some time ago, Dr. Edward Waldo Emerson kindly supplied the writer with the following notes (since published with Emerson's Journals) which his father, Ralph Waldo Emerson, had written, evidently for his intended address at the dedication of the Monu- ment in Chelmsford in 1859.
"I know well the town in which they lived; the landscape which they saw. I spent an autumn and winter among these hills and plains. I knew where the chestnut first spread its brown harvest on a frosty morning for the boys; where the apples covered the ground with white fruit. I saw the last fires that burned in the old limekiln. I knew the ripples of the Baptist Pond, and the woods that grew where the corn is now ripening.
"Plain homely land, sandy fields which the Merrimack washes, but the sun and stars do not disdain to fill it with magnificence in June, and with sublime lights in autumn. And I can easily believe that the soldiers you celebrate deserved your praise. For I had an acquaintance with the young men and young women who grew up here in a poverty I suppose as severe, with manners as hardy and plain; and I know that their feeling was as tender and their intellect as vigorous as that which opens under softer skies, and in city palaces. I read and conversed with friends here, children of the soil, who showed that force of thought, and that sense of right, which are the warp and woof of which greatness is woven; that curiosity for knowledge and that delight in intellec- tual conversation which is the purest joy of Youth, and the beginning of all national greatness. I suppose it is fair to judge the tree by its fruits, the fathers by the children.
"These people were original authors of liberty, and not plagiarists, not sentimental nations like the Italians, French, and Hungarians and Germans. These all learned it of our people. Our farmers were all orthodox, Calvinists, mighty in the Scriptures, had learned that life was a preparation, and "probation," to use their word. They read no romances, but with the pulpit, on one hand, and poverty and labour on another, they had a third training in the town meeting. They held the fee of their farms; no patron, no ground rents, and great proprietaries, but every man owned his acres.
"We go to Plutarch and Montaigne for our examples of character, but we might as well go to Pliny and Varro for oaks and firs, which grow as well in our own dooryards and cow-pas-
AVISO
ROBIN'S HILL, SHOWING LONE PINE TREE
TOWN HALL, CHELMSFORD CENTRE
No. 35 SCHOOL HOUSES AND TOWN HALL (AT RIGHT), NORTH CHELMSFORD
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tures. Life is always rich, and spontaneous graces and forces elevate life in every domestic circle, which are overlooked, whilst we are reading something less excellent in old authors. I think as I go through the streets, each one of these innumerable houses has its own calendar of saints, its unpublished anecdotes of courage, of patience, of wit, cheerfulness, for the best I know were in the most private corners.
"Everything draws to its kind and frivolous people will not hear of its noble traits; but let any good example of this secret virtue come accidentally to air, like Florence Nightingale, and you will have parallels in every direction.
"From the obscurity and casualty of those examples which I know, I infer the obscurity and casualty of the like balm and consolation and immortality in a thousand homes which I do not know, and all round the world. Let it lie safe in the shade there, from the compliments and praise of foolish society. It is safer so. All it seems to demand is that we know it when we see it. This is no mean reward. If an intelligent and generous witness, passing by, sees our plight and so much as exchanges a searching glance of sympathy, "Well done, brave heart!" it is better than the thunder of theatres, and the world full of newspapers, which only echo each other."
The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Dedication of the Monument took place in the Town hall on September 22, 1909, at 2 o'clock. The programme included a band concert; Selection by the Adams orchestra, and vocal solos by Edward Everett Adams (descendants of Deacon Otis Adams, at whose house the preliminary meeting was held in 1859); Singing by the school children under the direction of Miss Mary B. Raynes; Introductory remarks by the President, Joseph E. Warren; Prayer by Rev. L. L. Greene; Remarks by Josiah Richardson Fletcher, only living member of the original officers; Address by Solon W. Stevens, Esq .; Remarks by invited guests; Singing by audience of Ode written by Mrs. Martha L. Emerson for the Dedicatory Exercises in 1859; and Benediction by Rev. C. H. Ellis.
PRINTING IN CHELMSFORD.
In 1775, Nathaniel Coverly, during the troubled condition of affairs in Boston, removed from that place to Chelmsford, "and set up his printing press in the south part of the Town. Sundry pamphlets and small works were executed at his press dated 'Chelmsford, New England.' "
The Chelmsford Courier, published, from a small one-story building opposite the meeting house in Middlesex Village, by William Baldwin, editor, was, as far as is known, the earliest newspaper, which appeared June 25, 1824. The office having been burned, the name was, next year, changed to the Chelmsford Phoenix, with Rev. Bernard Whitman, the Unitarian minister at
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Middlesex, editor, and William Baldwin, proprietor. In Septem- ber, 1825, E. M. Reinhart became the publisher, and the next year, J. S. C. Knowlton purchased it and changed the name to the Merrimack Journal. It was supposed that the new Town would be called Merrimack, but when it was named Lowell, the paper became the Lowell Journal.
The Ladies' Literary Friend appeared in East Chelmsford, March 23, 1825.
There was a paper called the Globe, published at the General Printing Office, East Chelmsford, by J. H. White, which appeared June 24, 1825, but was printed in Boston, or, possibly, in East Chelmsford. In September of the above year, the Phoenix office was removed to East Chelmsford and occupied the place of the Globe Printing Office.
The Monthly Quarto appeared at North Chelmsford in 1876, published by Merrill and Sargent. One number only was issued. Rev. L. J. Merrill was pastor of the Second Congregational Society. Mr. Sargent was bookkeeper for Silver and Gay, machinists, for forty years.
The Chelmsford Eagle has been published occasionally by the Village Improvement Association: January 1, 1876, December 12, 1877, and December 15, 1883. These three numbers were edited, Vol. I, by H. S. Perham, E. Fitz Gerald, and B. F. Cooley; Vol. II, by H. S. Perham and E. H. Warren; Vol. III, by H. S. Perham.
VILLAGE CLOCK.
A Company or Association was formed January 27, 1877, with Moses C. Wilson, president, E. K. Parkhurst, vice president, Henry S. Perham, secretary, and Joseph Reed, treasurer.
Report of the Treasurer of the Village Clock Company.
Bills Paid
Howard & Co. for the Clock $275.00
Green and Hagerman. 145.02
Mrs. Robinson, for Board 4.00
Cole and Nichols, for weight
20.74
Fiske and Spalding's bill
3.13
E. K. Parkhurst, for freight 3.30
N. P. Dadmun's bill 11.97
$463.16
Amount of money received from all sources
$463.61
Balance in the hands of the Treasurer
.55
Chelmsford, Dec. 24, 1877. Joseph Reed, Treasurer.
Received since the above was made .50
The clock was purchased with money subscribed for that purpose, the amounts ranging from $1 to $25.
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SLAVES, WITCHES
Until 1892, the care of the clock was paid for by subscription. - Since then the Town has made an appropriation for that purpose. The last officers elected were J. Adams Bartlett, president, Joseph E. Warren, vice president, Harry L. Parkhurst, secretary and treasurer.
WATERING TROUGHS.
In Central Square at Chelmsford are two good-sized granite troughs. That on the upper side of the square bears this inscrip- tion :
Presented by N. M. Fletcher 1880 That at the lower side of the square is inscribed thus: A Gift from L. A. Young Aug. 19, 1891.
The granite troughs at South Chelmsford and West Chelms - ford were placed by the Town in 1900.
At the North Village, the granite trough was placed by the Town in 1903.
In the "square" at the North Village is an old cannon which was, according to tradition, purchased by subscription, before the Civil War, 1861-5, and was used on the Fourth of July and other patriotic days.
THE FIRST LUCIFER MATCHES MADE IN AMERICA.
Many of the old contrivances for warmth, comfort and convenience have not been mentioned here-the tin or sheet iron foot-stove, filled with hot coals, and the warming pan, a long- handled, covered pan, in which live coals were put, and run in between the sheets, to warm the beds in freezing cold rooms. We rarely see the pot hooks and trammels which held the kettles hanging from the crane in the fireplace; the wooden door latch with leathern latch-string; the knocker; the iron fire front and Franklin stove, which were like a metal fireplace standing out in the room, superseding the old fireplace and saving much heat (see a fine example in the Bowers house); these things, and many more, were familiar a century ago.
The chimney-sweep flourished until 1830 or later.
When hard coal was brought into use, the soot did not accumulate in the chimneys as it did when wood was burned, and chimneys were made much smaller, so that a sweep could not find his way up and down the chimney, as formerly.
"If you from fire secure would be, then have your chimney swept by me," is the old advertisement.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The Indians obtained fire by rubbing two sticks together until the friction caused them to ignite. The early white inhabit- ants used tinder boxes of metal in which punk or charred linen was ignited by a spark from steel striking on flint. Sometimes they would be obliged to borrow live coals from a neighbor's hearth.
Between the tinder-box and the friction match, several inventions came into use. An article in the "Chelmsford Eagle," 1883, probably by H. S. P., says:
One of these was the "instantaneous-light box," which consisted of a small tin box containing a bottle, in which was placed some sulphuric acid, with sufficient fibrous asbestos to soak it up and prevent its spilling out of the bottle, and a supply of properly prepared matches. These consisted of small splints of wood, about two inches long, one end of which was coated with a chemical mixture prepared by mixing chlorate of potash, six parts; powdered loaf sugar, two parts; powdered gum arabic, one part; the whole colored with a little vermilion and made into a thin paste with water. The splints were first dipped into melted sulphur and afterwards into the prepared paste. They were readily inflamed by dipping the prepared ends into sulphuric acid.
There were several disadvantages in this invention, especially those arising from the use of so destructive a material as sulphuric acid, which also had another drawback-its great power of absorb- ing moisture soon rendered it inert by the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere.
The Lucifer match, which succeeded the above, was an English invention. This match was of small strips of wood, and the inflammable mixture was a compound of chlorate of potash and sulphurate of antimony, with enough of powdered gum to render it adhesive when mixed with water and applied over the end of the match, dipped in melted brimstone. These matches were ignited by drawing them through a piece of bent sandpaper. The first Lucifer matches that were made in this country were manufactured at South Chelmsford, in 1835, by Ezekiel Byam, the founder of the house of Byam, Carlton & Co., of Boston, of which his son, E. G. Byam, was afterwards at the head.
These matches were put up in packages containing one hundred, which sold for twenty-five cents a package.
Although this was a great improvement over anything that had preceded it, the expense was too great to bring it rapidly into favor. Very soon, however, this difficulty was overcome by the invention of the present friction match. This was patented by A. D. Phillips, of Springfield, Mass., October 24, 1836. Mr. Byam at once saw the importance of this invention, and, with characteristic enterprise, he purchased, first, the right to manu- facture, and soon after the whole patent, and in 1837, introduced the friction match to the public. The old "match shop," as it was called, stood on the old road leading from South Chelmsford to
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the Centre, a few rods from the house of Mr. Eli P. Parker, on the opposite side. It was a small building, set into the bank, with one story above the basement.
The matches were put up at the Willard Byam house, which stood just beyond the shop on the site of the residence of Mr. E. P. Bean.
After manufacturing here about a year, Mr. Byam removed to Boston, at the corner of Union and Blackstone streets. He returned, however, to Chelmsford about the year 1845, and con- tinued till the spring of 1848, when the business, having outgrown his accommodations, was transferred permanently to Boston.
Most of the old match shop was demolished years ago, but a portion of it was removed to the premises of Mr. N. B. Lapham, and used as a carriage house.
The place in South Chelmsford where the matches were made was called Brimstone Corner. These verses went with the matches all over the country:
"For quickness and sureness the public will find,
These matches will leave all others behind;
Without further remarks we invite you to try 'em, Remember all good that are signed by
E. BYAM."
Ezekiel Byam was born in Chelmsford, October 24, 1796, the son of William and Rebecca. February 15, 1818, he married Charlotte Bateman. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. O. B. Dudley, in Bunker Hill street, Charlestown, August 9, 1863, and was buried in Forefathers' Cemetery, Chelmsford.
NORTH CHELMSFORD FIRE DISTRICT.
The first annual report of the North Chelmsford Fire District, in 1907, states that when Shaw's store with the church under which it was located was destroyed by fire in the year 1893, Dr. N. B. Edwards rode his horse bareback to Lowell, and secured the services of the Lowell Fire Department. About three years later, through the influence of George C. Moore and others, some water pipe was laid in the village, and water and power were supplied through the kindness of George C. Moore, and later, of the Moore Spinning Company. A few residences had water piped from the Mill, but it was not fit for drinking. An attempt was made to have water supplied from Lowell, but came to nothing. In 1906, the Legislature passed an Act allowing North Chelmsford to take water from Lowell or build its own system. A fire district was established, and George C. Moore, F. E. Varney, M. D., James P. Dunigan, John E. Hogan and Royal S. Ripley were chosen a committee to select a site for water supply.
Ten 22-inch wells, from 25 to 30 feet deep, were driven near the shore of Newfield Pond, and a standpipe and pumping station
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
were erected. The standpipe is 22 feet in diameter and 125 feet high, with a total capacity of about 354,000 gallons, giving a water pressure of about 75 pounds.
Bonds for $50,000 were issued, and sold for $1,013.25 premium. The whole amount issued is $80,000, $10,000 of which have been paid.
From June, 1914 to May, 1915, inclusive, the total amount of water pumped was 17,877,940 gallons: daily average, 48,980 gallons. The area of the district is about 339 acres. The valuation of the district in 1906 was $1,379,475.00.
The present commissioners are, C. Frank Butterfield, James F. Leahey and David Billson.
THE CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT.
In Chelmsford Centre, the agitation for a water system began some time prior to the establishment of such a system in 1913. In 1911, the Town appointed Arthur M. Warren, George M. Wright and Edwin R. Clark to investigate the matter. A fire district was favored by some, and Charles E. Bartlett, C. George Armstrong, Herbert E. Ellis, Josiah E. Marshall, and William B. Northrop were appointed to make further investigation. The same committee, with the substitution of Harry L. Parkhurst and Edwin R. Clark in the place of the last two, was to take immediate steps towards establishing a water district. This was done by an Act of the Legislature in 1913, which was accepted by the voters of the district.
Bonds for $60,000 were issued, and sold for $1,972.88 premium. There was a later issue of $10,000. The completed plant cost under $70,000. Sixteen wells were driven, and a pumping station was built at the foot of Warren avenue, on River Meadow brook, and a covered circular reservoir of reinforced concrete, twenty feet in height, was constructed on the side of Robin's hill, 217 feet above the pumping station. Its capacity is about 225,000 gallons. The floor is practically solid rock. The pumps will fill the reservoir in five or six hours. The water pressure in Central square is over 90 pounds. The average daily consumption varies at different seasons, being from 21,000 to 40,000 gallons. The present commissioners are: C. G. Armstrong, Winthrop A. Parkhurst, and Edwin R. Clark.
The total cost of the land, about twenty acres, purchased by the district, including surveying, grading, fencing, setting bounds, and so forth, was only $1,572.46, the owners, Darius C. Edwards, George P. Mansfield, E. C. Wright and the estate of Edwin H. Warren, selling at a price much below the assessed value. Justin L. Moore gave the right to lay the main under his land.
The successful completion of this water system is due largely to the skill and efficiency of George F. Bowers, the engineer.
The area of the district is about 1,452 acres.
The valuation of the district is $995,605.00.
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THE TOWN FARM.
The care of the poor has received mention on page 61. Paupers were formerly put out to the lowest bidder to be cared for.
1796. The Town voted to allow Deacon Aaron Chamberlain the sum of four dollars for his bidding off the widow at the Vendue and his trouble in going after her.
March 6, 1732/3, the Town voted "to build a dwelling house for the poor," but, apparently, the project was allowed to drop.
In 1733, Nathaniel Harwood was overseer of the poor, and received £4 for their support. The Town repeatedly thereafter refused to choose overseers of the poor.
According to the Town records, a farm of 120 acres with house and barn was bought of Salathiel Adams in 1823, and constituted as a workhouse, where the poor of the Town should be employed. The price paid was $2,950. The sum of $530.72 was required for repairs. The Town, as was common in those days, borrowed of its citizens, $3,500. The names and amounts were these: Abraham Prescott, $1,500; Abbott and Fletcher, $600; John Butterfield, $426; Henry Adams, $300; Samuel Davis, $274; Zebulon Spaulding, $200; Oliver Parkhurst, $100; Moses Parker, $100.
This house stood on the north side of the Mill road near where the Turnpike crosses it. It was burned in 1871, and for some months the inmates were kept in a house on the opposite side of the road and owned by Benj. F. Hodges. In 1872, the present property was bought by the Town, and became known as the Town Farm or Almshouse.
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