USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Conway > History of Conway (Massachusetts) 1767-1917 > Part 10
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Phineas Bartlett was a harness maker and ran a shop in Pumpkin Hollow for many years. He lived in a house which stood where Mrs. William Wilder's house now stands and the shop was a separate building standing in the yard. About 1850 he retired and his son, Theodore Bartlett, took the shop. A year or two later Theodore Bartlett built the house now occupied by Gordon H. Johnson and the shop was moved to a front room in this building. In 1869 Theodore Bartlett built the house next to the Methodist church and moved the shop there. After his death, in 1890, his son, William M. Bartlett, conducted the business until his death in 1910.
David Lyons ran a cabinet making and undertaking shop on Main Street. He was followed by Benjamin Cloyes and afterward Emerson Foote conducted the shop for many years until the building was burned in 1898.
The first tavern keeper in town was Thomas French. His house stood on Baptist Hill a little way up the road toward the Tichenor place. Here the first town meeting was held, in 1767. It is probable that he kept tavern there some time previous to that date. Landlord French was a great man in those days and his house a place of popular resort. He was also a great landowner and it was his boast that he could walk to Deerfield without stepping off his own broad acres. Reverses overtook
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him later in life and he died a pauper. Another tavern for many years was in what has since been known as the Kearns house on Baptist Hill and of which only a pile of rubbish remains.
Col. Jabez Newhall was another famous innkeeper. He ran a tavern in Conway for forty-five years, first for a few years at the place where Dwight Weston now lives and afterward in Pumpkin Hollow at the place now occupied by his grandson, Harry T. Newhall.
The hotel building on Main Street was built by Franklin Childs some time before 1850 and many landlords have come and gone in the years that have elapsed. One of the first was Mr. Aiken, followed by Mr. Barrus. Then came Amos Stetson, who was landlord in 1867, and provided the Centennial dinner for a thousand people in a tent back of the town hall. Succeeding him came William Baker, William Orcutt, Horace & Gilbert Arms, Jerome Talmadge, E. E. Lyman, A. C. Guilford from 1879 to 1898, Joseph Lachapelle, Joshua King, Joseph Lachapelle again, W. F. Brown, and from 1908 the present landlord, William J. Stack.
Conway was the possessor, in 1798 and 1799, of a village newspaper, called the Farmers' Register, published weekly by Theodore Leonard. It was printed first on Baptist Hill and later in Pumpkin Hollow, and on its title page proclaimed its fearless independence in the following couplet :- ยท
"Here truth unlicensed reigns, and dares accost Even Kings themselves, or rulers of the free."
Both truth and error must in fact have "reigned" without license or other control, in Mr. Leonard's paper. He had no editorial sentiments, and published with a looseness whatever came to his hand, on all sides. Advertisements were few and news generally mildewed with age when printed in the Register, although it would sometimes get Washington news only three weeks old and London news in about sixty to ninety days. Mr. Leonard also printed a hymn book compiled by "Elder" Josiah Goddard, an early pastor of the Baptist church.
Conway was without a newspaper from that time until 1885 when for about two years Horace E. Miller printed a weekly paper called the Conway Banner.
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
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The first post office in Conway was situated on Baptist Hill in a hatter's shop where the barn of Mrs. Mary Stearns now stands. Christopher Arms was the first postmaster. Two men were killed by lightning in the doorway of this building in 1824. The post office was afterwards moved to the place now occupied by the barn of A. C. Guilford. This building was burned in 1856. The office was next moved to the building now occupied by Hassell's store, and then for a short time was in the building now the home of Gordon H. Johnson. It was next moved to the Lawrence block and afterward to the Foote block. Both these buildings were burned in 1898. The post office was moved to its present location in the Masonic building in August, 1896.
The following persons have served as postmasters: Chris- topher Arms, Gen. James S. Whitney, Anson Shepard, Gurdon Edgerton, Thomas S. Dickinson, 1853 to 1861; Richard Tucker, 1861 to 1875; Harvey Townsend, 1875 to 1886; Daniel Eldridge, 1886 to 1889; Charles C. Burdette, 1889 to 1893; Austin Stearns from 1893.
Many attempts had been made to secure a railway into Conway, but the ever-present hills about her had successfully barred the way until the advent of electricity. Meanwhile, the town, like others around her, had declined steadily in population until in the decade from 1885 to 1895 she lost four hundred and eighty-three of her population and one eighth of her valuation.
Realizing the seriousness of this condition and believing that only improved transportation facilities and better connection with the outside world would stem the tide and enable the town to maintain its prosperity and industrial life, several of her citizens started the project of an electric railway. Surveys were made and the route to Conway Station on the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad selected. After strenuous efforts the money was raised and the road built. The first trip was made March 29, 1895. It soon became evident that the road to be a success must be extended across the Deerfield River and connect with the Fitchburg division of the Boston & Maine railroad. This meant raising a great deal more money, but the battle was taken up and, after some delays, the Deerfield was bridged and the extension finished to South River Station, which was built for the accommodation of the electric road.
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In 1906 Dr. J. B. Laidley, the president of the road, suc- ceeded in interesting the directors of the Fitchburg railroad in the development of the water powers on South River, and an arrangement was entered into for the purchase by the Fitch- burg railroad of the control of the electric road. Permission, however, had to be first obtained from the Legislature, and this entailed a tremendous struggle which took most of the session of 1907, and the echoes of which have hardly yet died away. A great antagonism was encountered because of the suspicion entertained by many that this inoffensive looking act was an opening wedge by which the railroads would obtain control of the electric roads of the state, but all opposition was finally overcome and the measure passed. The agreement was then carried out and the electric road has since been con- trolled by the Fitchburg railroad. The new management has spent large sums in improving the condition of the road and its equipment. In 1909 the new concrete dam at Wildwood was built at an expense of about $35,000.
The road carries passengers, mail, express, and freight and was the first electric railway in Massachusetts to obtain a charter for hauling freight. With side tracks to each of the mills for the easy handling of freight and rates just half the former rates for hauling freight by team, it at once became an important factor in the town's economic development. It arrested the decline in the growth of the town and justified its existence and the hopes and foresight of its builders, and stands as a monument to their courage and enterprise.
The original officers of the Conway Electric Street Railway Co. were: Carlos Batchelder, president; William G. Avery, treasurer; Arthur M. Cook, auditor; John B. Laidley, clerk; Arthur C. Guilford, superintendent; Carlos Batchelder, John B. Packard, Emory Brown, Charles Parsons, Arthur P. Delabarre, Franklin Pease, and Fred A. Delabarre, directors. The officers at present are: J. H. Hustis, president; A. P. Delabarre, vice- president; W. M. Alden, superintendent.
The Conway Electric Light & Power Company was organ- ized in 1896. The company acquired about one hundred acres of land on South River adjacent to and including Wildwood Park. The following year the first dam and power house were
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
built. The dam was of timber and stone crib construction, fifty-five feet high, giving a ninety-foot head at the wheels two hundred feet below and capable of developing three hundred to five hundred horse power. After the completion of the plant, power was sold to the Conway Electric Street Railway and the electric road discontinued the use of their steam plant except for emergencies. In 1900 the electric lighting plant was added, transmission lines constructed, and the town wired for lights. The current was turned on and the town lighted by electricity for the first time in November, 1900. In 1904 this company was dissolved, having transferred its dam, water power, and electrical plant to the Conway Electric Street Railway Com- pany, and a new company was formed under the name of the Deerfield River Electric Light Company for the distribution of electricity in Conway. The officers of the company were: John B. Packard, president; Fred A. Delabarre, clerk and treasurer; John B. Packard, Arthur P. Delabarre, Emory Brown, John B. Laidley, Fred A. Delabarre, directors. By 1916 the Street Railway Company found that its own requirements for electric current were at times sufficient to use all that could be produced at this plant. The demand for current for light and power had also constantly increased until it became neces- sary to provide a new source of supply, and the franchises, property, and business of the Deerfield River Electric Light Company were sold to the Greenfield Electric Light and Power Company. The latter company has entirely rebuilt the dis- tribution lines, and with its unlimited power and resources will be able to supply any demand which may be made upon it.
The Conway Mutual Insurance Company was organized in 1849 and in 1854 changed to the Conway Stock and Mutual Insurance Company. In 1860 it transferred its stock depart- ment to Boston and in 1876 went out of business. Dr. E. D. Hamilton was president and H. W. Billings, treasurer. For a time the company did an extensive business.
The first Conway bank was chartered by the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1854, and was one of the pioneers among the financial institutions of Franklin County. The original corporators named in the act creating the bank were Edmund Burke, Charles Parsons, and Austin Rice. Another prime
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mover in its organization was Gen. James S. Whitney. The first officers were Lewis Bodman, president, and William B. Hale, cashier. The institution was uniformly successful during its existence of a little more than a decade and in January, 1865, was reorganized and converted into the Conway National Bank with John D. Todd as first president and Samuel Swan as first cashier. The career of the bank has been prosperous; it has always maintained a high position among its sister institutions of Western Massachusetts and has paid in dividends nearly $400,000.
The following is a statement of the bank's condition, Jan- uary 1, 1917 :-
Loans and Discounts, $48,108.00
U. S. Bonds to Secure Circulation,
50,000.00
Bonds, Securities, etc.
47,538.13
Banking House, .
3,000.00
Furniture and Fixtures,
1,000.00
Due from Banks, .
11,265.71
Due from Federal Reserve Bank,
5,911.28
Cash,
3,838.34
Redemption Fund with U. S. Treasury,.
2,500.00
Total,
$173,161.46
Capital Stock,
$50,000.00
Surplus Fund,
5,025.00
Profit and Loss
452.35
Circulation,
50,000.00
Deposits, .
67,684.11
Total,
$173,161.46
The presidents of the bank have been John D. Todd, E. Darwin Hamilton, Carlos Batchelder, and John B. Packard; cashiers, Samuel Swan, Edwin L. Munn, William D. Luey, William G. Avery, and Edwin T. Cook. The directors are A. P. Delabarre, John B. Packard, A. C. Guilford, Fred A. Delabarre, and Alvin C. Boice.
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
An act of the Legislature approved by his Excellency Oliver Ames, March 10, 1887, constituted Richard Tucker, Edward Delabarre, Carlos Batchelder, John B. Packard, and William G. Avery a corporation by the name of the Conway Savings Bank and the institution was opened for business April 16, 1887. The growth of the bank has been healthy and continuous. At the end of its first year of existence the deposits were $31,318.91. At the present time the deposits are $455,000 with a guarantee fund and surplus of $27,000. The bank has paid 4 per cent interest on deposits annually.
The present officers are: A. P. Delabarre, president; H. D. Pease and Allison Howes, vice-presidents; A. C. Guilford, treasurer; Max Antes, C. L. Boyden, Victor Bardwell, Charles Parsons, A. J. Patterson, C. L. Hassell, C. F. Elmer, and J. B. Packard, trustees.
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Congregational Baptist
Catholic
Methodist
THE CONWAY CHURCHES.
CHAPTER VI. THE CHURCHES.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. BY REV. EDWARD L. CHUTE.
Religious services were held within the limits of the town as early as 1767, but it was not until the following year that a church was organized. On July 14, 1768, thirty-two persons, sixteen men and sixteen women, signed the covenant and thus constituted the First Congregational Church of Conway. Pre- vious to the organization of the church, at an adjourned town meeting held at the house of Capt. Jonathan Whitney, a com- mittee was appointed to fix the center of the town, so that the meeting house would be convenient to the residents of the township. The committee reported that the place selected was "ye nole" about fifteen or twenty rods north of the southeast corner of the Center Street, and upon that spot the house was erected.
The next thing was to choose a "Learned and Orthodox Minister." Rev. Mr. Strong was engaged to preach two months on probation, beginning the middle of April, 1768. For the convenience of those attending worship horse sheds were erected near Mr. Whitney's house, and the people continued to worship there, and at Nathaniel Field's and Joseph Catlin's until the meeting house was ready. In 1769 a committee was chosen to procure a settled minister. April 9 of the same year the Rev. John Emerson preached his first sermon in a barn in the southeastern part of the town on land belonging to Josiah Boyden. The previous Sunday Mr. Emerson had preached in the Brattle Street Church in Boston. In view of the circum- stances there was some truth in the dominie's remark that his sermon in Conway was "John preaching in the wilderness."
Mr. Emerson, however, was far from being a self-seeker or a weakling. For fifty-six and one-half years he labored assidu- ously and faithfully. Perhaps no other name is more honored among the early inhabitants, certainly no other individual did more to build and make secure the educational, moral, and
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
religious foundations of the growing settlement. An extract from Mr. Emerson's letter of acceptance written November 25, 1769, shows his devout spirit as well as a glimpse of the native shrewdness for which he was noted :-
"Notwithstanding by settling in this place I am under a necessity of subjecting myself to several peculiar difficulties, yet considering that the great Head of the church has, as I trust, inclined your hearts to give me so unanimous an invitation, and as there appears a hopeful prospect of usefulness, I hereby manifest my cheerful acceptation, not being insensible at the same time of my unworthiness of the honor as well as unfitness for the important work to which I am devoting myself. With respect to the outward support which you have offered me I indeed expected that in consequence of my being your first minister I should be entitled to an interest in the land which I understand was appropriated to that use, but which now it seems is a matter of some doubt. However, I presume I shall enjoy in addition to the settlement you have offered me, likewise my fire wood, an article which I look upon as necessary to my support. Though not specified in the contract, yet inasmuch as the committee informs me of your readiness to give it I shall depend upon you complying with the same."
Mr. Emerson's ministry was richly blessed of God in respect to its effect upon the religious life of the people. During the last quarter of the eighteenth century the town grew steadily in population; the highest point was reached at about the year 1800 when the number was 2,000. It is worthy of notice that in 1789, Mr. Emerson received 121 new members into the church, 118 of them on profession of faith. Again in 1816 he welcomed 54 more. When he ended his care of the church in 1821 the membership was nearly 300. In July, 1816, the town or society voted to grant a colleague to the pastor although they seem not to have carried out this purpose for the next five years. In June, 1821, Edward Hitchcock was ordained as colleague. Mr., afterwards Dr., Hitchcock remained four years and four months and then accepted the professorship of Chem- istry and Natural History in Amherst College. In 1844 he became president of the college, in which capacity he labored with distinguished success for the ensuing ten years. After
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resigning the presidency he remained on the college faculty as lecturer in the department of Geology and Natural Theology until his death in 1864. Dr. Hitchcock was one of the great men of his time, known and honored at home and abroad. Besides his professional duties he published more than twenty volumes on scientific and kindred subjects. He was a man of God, a friend of youth, and a pioneer and leader in the scien- tific advance of the nineteenth century. The succeeding pastors were: Daniel Crosby, 1827 to 1833; Melancton G. Wheeler, 1834 to 1841; Samuel Harris, 1841 to 1851; George M. Adams, 1851 to 1863; Elijah Cutler, 1863 to 1868; William A. Thomp- son, 1868 to 1872; Arthur Shirley, 1872 to 1881; Albert B. Christy, 1881 to 1884; William A. Thomas, 1886 to 1888; Elias B. Hillard, 1889 to 1893; Caldwell Morrison, 1893 to 1895; Eugene F. Hunt, 1895 to 1904; John T. Berry, 1904 to 1906; Edward L. Chute, 1906 to 1916; F. A. Sanborn, 1916 -. Referring to the list of pastors who have served this church during the century and a half of its existence attention is arrested by the name of Samuel Harris. Mr. Harris began his career as preacher and theologian in Conway, being ordained to the ministry here and serving this church in the pastorate from 1841 to 1851. He resigned to take charge of the South Church of Pittsfield, Mass. Afterwards he became professor of Theology at New Haven, Conn., and later president of Bowdoin College. Whether the sterling qualities of the people made the men or the exceptional men made the people cannot be determined. Perhaps both factors were employed. It is certainly true that the Conway church, at least during its earlier years, enjoyed the ministry of able men who were trained and developed here to become distinguished in later years.
Some reference to the work of the church for children seems appropriate. The long list of baptisms recorded during the first one hundred years shows that 1,633 children received this rite upon the faith of those who exercised parental care over them. For the first fifty years the church had no Sabbath School. July 3, 1818, the school was organized by the following vote: "Voted, to choose a committee consisting of seven persons, four of the church and three of the congregation, to superintend said school, select catechists and provide for its orderly and useful
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operation." Since that time the Sunday School has had a con- tinuous and useful history. During its one hundred and fifty years of life the church has received a large number of persons into its membership. It began with 32. At the end of fifty years 523 had been received. At the centennial year 956 more had been added; at the year 1900, 311 more. The whole number received from the beginning to the year 1917 was 1,860. On the other side of the account we find that at the end of its first century it had dismissed to other churches over 650 of its members, while more than 400 of its members had dropped into the grave here at home. The highest point in membership was reached in the decade between 1850 and 1860. The num- ber then rose to 334. Great fluctuations and inevitable de- crease in membership has been the experience of most rural churches during the past fifty years. This by no means spells failure. Numbers are not all. It is an inspiring thought that this church, in common with many others, has for more than a century been pouring its best blood into the currents of life the world over. It is no disparagement to other churches to say that the First Church of Conway has had a distinguished share in the fruitful work. Men and women in almost every walk of life, many of whom have gained distinction as merchants, bank- ers, lawyers, and teachers, are credited to this ancient church. Not the least of its ministry also has been found in the untitled and uncrowned children who have been trained here to virtue, honesty, and Christian faith and who are still sending forth these abiding qualities to the present and to the future generations.
During all these years the church has been in touch with missionary and reform movements. It has always been a giving church. Though affected by the shrinkage of population and the changes which have depleted the number and value of the farms within the township it has stood and still stands for Christian fellowship and for the leadership of Jesus Christ in saving men and building up the kingdom of God.
This sketch may not improperly close with a brief description of the three houses of worship occupied by the church. (Many of the following facts are taken from a sermon by Charles B. Rice, D.D., preached at the dedication of the present building, December 16, 1885.)
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THE CHURCHES.
The first of the buildings referred to was built in the summer and fall of 1769 a few months before the ordination of Rev. John Emerson, the first pastor. It was located on a spot deemed to be the exact center of the town, upon a slight elevation on which the South Center schoolhouse was afterwards placed.' This point continued for more than seventy years to be the municipal center of the town and largely, also, its ecclesiastical and religious center-for the town and parish then were one. The town building committee of this meeting house consisted of Joseph Catlin, Nathaniel Field, Elias Dickinson, Jonathan Whitney, and Thomas French.
The first town meeting held in this house was on the twenty- fifth of September, 1769. Religious meetings began to be held there at about the same time. After about twenty-five years the house was greatly enlarged and improved. It must be remembered, however, that these improvements were not for luxurious ends; for the building was never heated artificially and the pews or "slips" were rude and bare. But these were occupied. This was the period when the town had its largest population, and on a Sunday few if any vacant seats were found within this ancient temple. The final dimensions of the building were 100 feet by 60. There were doors at either end and also a principal door at the middle on the eastern side. From this eastern entrance the main aisle ran to the lofty pulpit on the west. The pews were square and aisles ran round the whole room, distant from the outer wall by the width of a single line of pews. This structure was no doubt well suited to the needs of the times in which it was built.
It was judged necessary, however, at length to replace it with another. The question of location again came up. This was considered of vital importance and many and long were the discussions over the mooted point. By a large addition from Shelburne on the northwest the territorial center of the town had changed materially. Still the old site had its advan- tages through the associations which cluster around a sacred spot.
After long deliberation a compromise was effected and finally upon the narrow edge of the ravine where the present house of worship, stands in the year 1841 the second meeting
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HISTORY OF CONWAY.
house was erected. The building committee were Asa Howland, Joseph Avery, Austin Rice, John Howland, and Gardner Dickin- son.
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE. BUILT 1841. BURNED 1885.
The size was 52 feet by 80 and the cost $7,000. There was a single shapely steeple at the eastern end within which the bell from the former house was put. The town contributed $500 toward the building and it had the use of the hall in the basement for its public meetings. It was dedicated August 31, 1841, Rev. Samuel Harris, the pastor, preaching from the text in I. Cor. 1: 18.
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This house was destroyed by fire February 27, 1885. Meas- ures were taken at once for another edifice. A building com- mittee was appointed consisting of Carlos Batchelder, John B. Packard, Darwin Sanderson, Edwin Cooley, Jabez C. Newhall, and Addison Brown. Daniel Rice, a son of the town and of the church, and a workman also upon the former building, returned to direct the work of construction. The house was placed upon the same spot as that occupied by the preceding structure and when completed was regarded by all as "comely, commodious, and substantial." Many individuals and families contributed to the erection of this house and its furnishing. The Field brothers gave liberally to furnish the large room in the vestry. The family of General Whitney presented a pipe- organ. Fisher Ames and others gave a new bell and the young ladies of Mrs. Perry's school furnished the pulpit with a Bible. Many hands and hearts were united in the enterprise until the entire cost of $12,000 was provided for. The house was dedicated December 16, 1885, Rev. Charles B. Rice, a native of the town, preaching the sermon.
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