History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix, Part 57

Author: Sumner, William H. (William Hyslop), 1780-1861. cn
Publication date: 1858
Publisher: Boston, J. E. Tilton
Number of Pages: 883


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 57
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 57


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HISTORY.


[1839.


occurred; in this respect, the East Boston Company were pecu- liarly fortunate. Experience at a fire, which broke out in a building used for the manufacture of turpentine, in August, 1838, proved that the engine was wholly unserviceable ; and great dissatisfaction was manifested toward the city govern- ment for not furnishing a better one. Frequent meetings of the company were held, votes to disband were often passed and as often rescinded, until at length Capt. Barnicoat, then chief engineer, put an end to the affairs of the company by placing a padlock on the door of the engine-house. The citizens then took the matter seriously in hand, and presented a petition for a new engine, which was granted. The new engine, built by Hunneman, called " Maverick," and numbered eleven, was placed in the house in February, 1839, and the new company was organized on the 28th of the same month, with Eleazer Johnson as foreman. This company received the same salary as the department in the city proper, and they turned out at all the alarms in the city, but did not go over, unless the fire was in sight and appeared to be large. Says a humorous news- paper writer in the Fireman's Advocate : " This company was composed of three styles of men. 'The first were old men, with excellent judgment regarding distances of a fire; the second were middle-aged cripples, exceedingly smart, and wanted to go to every fire; the third were young men, but uncommonly lazy. At every alarm the engine was taken out and carried to the corner of Paris and Sumner streets. At that time the southerly side of Sumner street was high-water mark, and as there was but one wharf built out from the street, the view of Boston was but very little obstructed. After having stepped on the above-named corner, the three parties would take their respective stations ; then came the tug of argument. The old ones would immediately argue that the fire was either in Charlestown or Cambridge, if in that direction; or, if in the other, it was in Roxbury or Dorchester, in their opinion, coupled with the remark that ' fire is awful deceptive.' The cripples would contend that the fire was near the ferry, and stick to it until the young ones would join the old ones, and give it as their opinion that they had all better go into Kendall's, take a drink, and then take the tub home, to which all parties would


639


THE "MAVERICK" ENGINE COMPANY ..


1840-41.]


agree, and immediately repair to the bar-room and take some- thing, after which they housed the engine.


" It was always a noticeable fact, that there were more mem- bers present at roll-call than at any other time during an alarm.


" This company chose officers at every quarterly meeting ; and it was almost a sure thing that Eleazer Johnson would be unanimously reelected, notwithstanding the assertion of more than one half of the company that they would not vote for him on any account."


On the 11th of March, 1840, the city government passed an order which gave perfect satisfaction. By it the salary of the company was reduced to one half the sum paid to the compa- nies in the city proper, and they were not required to come out at alarms in Boston, except in case of a large fire and by order of an engineer.


At a meeting of the company on the 7th of September, 1840, John N. Devereux was chosen foreman, and nothing transpired worthy of note until January, 1841, when the following order was received from Capt. Barnicoat.


" Engineer's Office, City Hall, Jan. 19, 1841. " To the Officers of Engine Company No. 11.


" GENTS., - You are hereby notified to give notice to your company, that, in case of an alarm of fire in the city, they must assemble at the engine-house, and, should you see a light or fire that in your opinion would warrant your coming, you will pro- ceed with all possible despatch; but in no case to leave after eleven o'clock, P. M., unless sent for by an engineer. You will also have the roll called at all alarms. WM. BARNICOAT,


" Chief Engineer Boston Fire Department."


By this order, the duties of the company were restored to what they originally were, but the remuneration was but one half the amount previously received. The company naturally objected to this, and, after having become satisfied that it was impossible to have the pay restored to its former amount, dis- banded, on the 26th of May, 1841, and delivered the engine to the board of engineers.


It was with considerable difficulty that another company


640


HISTORY.


[1842.


could be found to take charge of the engine after the disbanding of the Maverick engine company; but, on the 17th of June, thirty men having signified their intentions to do fire duty, a company was organized with the choice of Levi Whitcomb as foreman, John Bachelder, assistant, and F. A. Mason, clerk. A new constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the company entered upon their duties under favorable prospects. There were no fires of importance after the organization of this com- pany until the 26th of January, 1842, when the Eastern Railroad Depot was burned. The fire commenced about eleven o'clock in the morning, and the company was not dismissed until six in the evening. Some of the members thought this was too severe service, and, considering that they were receiving only two cents an hour for the labor they rendered the city, quitted the fire, leaving the engine on the wharf. At the next meeting of the company, twenty members were discharged for neglect of duty, leaving the engine at a fire, and insulting the foreman.


It will be new to most of our readers to learn that a statue was ever erected to the memory of Samuel Maverick, yet such is the fact! A brass image of the old royalist was placed on the front of the branch work of the engine, at considerable expense to the company, but one night it was stolen. Great excitement followed; different individuals were accused of the theft, and several search-warrants were issued and served, but the " brazen image " could not be found. Several years after the theft, some boys, who were playing on the third section, found the lost image, the rain having washed the dirt from the place where it had been buried. It never found its way back to the Maverick company, but is now in the possession of a club called the " East Boston Soclers." The company deserve credit for their praiseworthy effort to perpetuate in brass the name of Maverick ; and although their experience has taught them that the image may be lost, yet a record of the life and deeds of the first grantee of Noddle's Island will prove a more enduring monument to his memory than brass or marble.


After the lapse of three months, the company was again full, and on the 7th of March, 1842, a meeting was called for the election of officers for the ensuing six months. ' Thomas French


641


NEW FIRE COMPANIES FORMED.


1842-46.]


was elected on the first ballot, and declined the office; on the next ballot, A. S. Foss was elected, and accepted. Levi Whitcomb, the former foreman, displeased at his rejection, im- mediately took steps to have another engine and company on the Island, and in the following August he procured from the city an engine called the Old North (soon exchanged for Wash- ington, No. III.), which he numbered " I." and proceeded to organize a volunteer company ; of which, says the newspaper writer before quoted, " Levi Whitcomb was chosen foreman, and Levi Whitcomb for assistant, and Levi Whitcomb for clerk, steward, and standing committee." The engine was housed in a building belonging to her officers, located on lot 73, Saratoga street, near Central square.


There were numerous fires during the winter of 1842 and the spring of 1843, and the citizens came to the conclusion that another engine was needed, and that the fire companies should be rewarded for their services. On petition of the company, pay was granted to No. I., and the number changed from I. to XIX., and at the new organization of this company, Samuel Pingree was chosen foreman (1846). Capt. Seaver soon suc- ceeded him, and the company was reorganized by the city.


The increasing number of fires on the Island incited the citi- zens to make exertions to procure additional means of security, and, in aid of the petition of Alfred Holmes and others, they petitioned the city for another engine on the volunteer plan. This was granted, and a small engine called the Eliot, formerly used by No. XV., was sent over, and a new company organized under the name of " Protection, No. IV.," composed principally of old firemen who had previously belonged to different com- panies in the city. They took a great interest in the matter, and soon brought about a manifest improvement in the condition of the fire department of the Island. This was the third engine on the Island. About the same time Capt. William Hunt formed a company, which took charge of the hook and ladder carriage. A new engine-house was built the same autumn on Meridian street, near Central square, and No. XIX. was placed there immediately after the building was finished.


In 1846, it was thought by the city government that an assistant engineer was needed, and Thomas French, a resident


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t d


642


HISTORY.


[1851-58.


of the Island, was appointed. This was an admirable selection, and gave universal satisfaction. Upon the death of Mr. French, Anson Elms succeeded him as engineer. Previous to this appointment he had filled the office vacated by the death of Alfred Holmes.


In 1851, " Hydrant Company, No. VI." was formed from engine company No. IV., and the engine company was dis- banded. This brings the record up to the formation of " Web- ster Engine Company, No. XIII.," Captain Joseph H. Bates, an old and experienced fireman. On the 7th of June, 1855, a new engine took the place of the " Old North." This was called the " Dunbar Engine," in honor of the Assistant En- gineer, Joseph Dunbar.


It is not expedient, in such a work as this, to detail the sub- sequent transactions and changes in the fire department of the Island. These are all of recent date, and of no particular inter- est to the reader. As now organized (1858), the 7th district (East Boston) department is as follows : -


No. 9, Maverick Engine, Sumner street, John P. Somerby, Foreman.


No. 10, Dunbar Engine, Central square, Joseph Baker,


No. 13, Webster Engine, Chelsea street, Thomas B. Tilton,


No. 2, Washington Hook and Ladder, Paris street, Charles Simmons, Fore- man.


No. 6, Deluge Hose, Paris street, Joseph Barnes, Foreman.


CHAPTER XVII.


CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.


THE existence of a Baptist church at Noddle's Island, from 1665 to 1679, has already been described at length. From the latter period, more than a hundred and fifty years passed away before the new impulse of the plans already delineated brought together a population whose religious wants caused the forma- tion of the churches now existing.


ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONALIST.


Maverick Church. - On July 23, 1835, Rev. George W. Blagden commenced evening religious meetings in East Bos- ton, in a small school-house on Paris street, a little below the end of Hotel, now Henry street.


In the autumn of that year was made the first movement towards the establishment of a church, by the gathering of a few persons for prayer in a private house near the corner of Sumner and Bremen streets; this house was built by Mr. John Peirce, and was the third house erected on the Island. In the spring of 1836, the place of meeting was changed to the house on the corner of Princeton and Meridian streets, where the Rev. William M. Rogers preached the first sermon. Rev. Seth Bliss and other clergymen came over after the afternoon ser- vice, and preached in this house. On the 31st May, 1836, a council met at the house of Aaron Ordway (on Sumner street, between London and Liverpool streets, now numbered 72), and a church was organized, consisting of four males and six fe- males. It was called the "First Congregational Church in East Boston." It was next resolved to build a chapel. The


644


HISTORY.


use of the land was given by one of the members, and in one month the chapel was completed. It was in Maverick street. The late venerable Dr. Woods of Andover, on July 3, 1836, preached the first sermon in the chapel, and administered the communion to the infant church for the first time. Six addi- tional members were then admitted. Christians of other de- nominations attended the services in the chapel, and there was laid the foundation for those feelings of Christian kindness which have ever characterized the different denominations in East Boston.


The chapel being found too small to accommodate the rap- idly increasing society, after much deliberation it was con- cluded to build a church at a cost of about $7,000, and, in December, 1836, the work was commenced. The East Boston Company generously gave 11,000 feet of land for the site of the edifice ; in June of the same year, the superintendent had been authorized to expend $150 towards defraying the expenses of public worship on the Island for that year, without regard to sect. The lot given by the company was on the corner of Porter street and Central square ; this was exchanged with Mr. B. F. Butler for a more convenient lot on the corner of Mave- rick and Havre streets. The church was erected April 13, 1837; and on the 19th of July the house was dedicated, and Rev. William W. Newell was installed as pastor.


The society procured a new organ at a cost of $1,000. At the time of Mr. Newell's installation the church numbered twenty members; his ministry continued four years, during which time fifty-five members were admitted. In 1838 the name of the church was changed to that of the " Maverick Church and Society," in accordance with a vote on the 7th July, 1837. Aside from the fact that Samuel Maverick was an Episco- palian, this name is very appropriate; the compliment to the first settler on the Island is in every respect a worthy one, and the members of the church can look back with pleasure and pride to the sturdy royalist and firm Episcopalian, whose name their flourishing church and society are destined to per- petuate. In 1839, James W. Gerard, Esq., of New York, pre- sented the society with a bell.


On May 9, 1841, Mr. Newell was dismissed at his own re-


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CHURCHES.


quest, on account of ill health; and on March 2, 1842, Rev. Amos A. Phelps was installed as the second pastor. Mr. Phelps was discharged by request in May, 1845, and was never again settled. During his ministry forty-nine members were added to the church. He left on account of sickness, and died in about two years afterward. In the mean time the society had so increased that it became necessary to erect a larger church. Accordingly, at a meeting of the proprietors, January 24, 1844, it was voted to sell their house and land ; a committee, consist- ing of Messrs. Lovejoy, Haynes, and Butler, was appointed, who deeded the house and land to the Catholic bishop, Bene- dict Fenwick, to whom possession was given February 1, 1844. This committee made arrangements with Col. Messinger, of the Maverick House, to hold the meetings of the society in the Maverick hall until a new church could be built. Feeble as the church was, the work was prosecuted with great vigor and with considerable personal effort.


A lot of land was purchased on the corner of Sumner street and Maverick square; and on August 2, 1844, the corner-stone of the present commodious edifice was laid. On the 10th of November the society began to worship in the vestry of the new church, and the church itself was dedicated February 13, 1845. The cost of the church and land was about $30,000.


On the 1st of January, 1846, a new bell, weighing 2,200 pounds, and the first and only public clock (having four dials), were placed in this church ; the entire cost of the bell and clock, about $1,100, was obtained by private subscriptions, principally through the exertions of Benjamin Lamson, Esq.


After Mr. Phelps left, the church was without a pastor for a year and a half. On the 19th of November, 1846, the. Rev. Robert S. Hitchcock was installed; he was dismissed at his own request, by reason of ill health, November 1, 1850; dur- ing his ministry ninety-two members were added to the church. He was next settled in Baltimore, Maryland.


Rev. Rufus W. Clark was installed December 3, 1851 ; from this time to March, 1855, 183 members were added to the church. The church then numbered 308 members, there having been connected with it from the beginning 416 members. About three hundred families are now connected with the church


646


HISTORY.


and society ; the church, on the 1st of January, 1858, had 377 members, and the congregation numbered eight hundred per- sons. This society has contributed liberally to benevolent objects. In 1849 the contributions amounted to $459; in 1852, to $836; in 1853, to $946; in 1854, to $1,204; in 1855, to $1,578; in 1856, to $1,402.


The Rev. Mr. Clark, to whose efforts this church is much indebted for its great prosperity, was, at his own request, dis- missed, on the 8th of April, 1857, very much to the regret of his church, congregation, and society in general. During his min- istry at East Boston, 275 persons were added to the church. A few days subsequent to his dismission, he was installed in Brooklyn, New York, over the South Congregational church.


UNIVERSALIST.


Webster Street Church. - The first meeting of the Univer- salist society was held in the hall of Mr. Pollard, March 18, 1838. On September 8, 1839, the society removed into the old bath-house, which had become vacant from the Lyman school having taken possession of their new building. Decem- ber 7, 1842, the corner-stone of their church, on the corner of Webster and Orleans streets, was laid; the church was dedi- cated July 6, 1843, Rev. S. Cobb being the pastor. It was occupied by the society for a short time only, and was afterwards used by the Unitarians; it is now occupied by the Universalists again. Financial troubles caused the society to sell their church, and it finally fell into the hands of Stephen Locke, Esq., and is now owned by his widow.


The society removed to Jones's hall, Lewis street, which was appropriately fitted up for the purpose. The Rev. A. St. John Chambre was installed pastor, October 8, 1853. Mr. Chambre remained with the society till June, 1855. His successor, the Rev. J. S. Barry, occupied the pastorate about a year. In April of 1856 the society removed again to the Webster street church, where they now worship under the ministry of Rev. J. W. Talbot.


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CHURCHES.


BAPTIST.


Central Square Church. - The first meeting of this society was on October 22, 1843, in Jones and Lombard's hall, on Lewis street. Public services were immediately commenced, and Rev. Hiram A. Graves was engaged to supply the pulpit for one year. Measures were taken to form a church, and in 1844, August 14, articles of faith and a covenant were adopted, and the church was formerly recognized by a council, Novem- ber 7 of the same year. Mr. H. A. Graves's health being feeble, he was succeeded by his father, Rev. Joseph M. Graves.


The hall, which had been fitted up at an expense of nearly $600, was totally destroyed by fire early on the morning of January 14, 1845. The next Sunday the society worshipped in Maverick Hall, where they remained for four months; in consequence of the demolition of the building, they again re- moved, and were accommodated by the Maverick society with a convenient place of worship for three months, until a new hall was erected on the former site.


Mr. Graves sent in his resignation, June 7, 1847, which was accepted, and he removed to Methuen. For six months there had been no pastor, when Rev. Miles Sanford, recently of Chicago, Illinois, was invited to become such; he was in- stalled December 26, 1847. On August 19, 1849, a new chapel in the Winthrop Block was dedicated. Before the last removal the " free-seat " system had been tried, but without giving sat- isfaction ; on entering the new chapel the usual method of rent- ing the pews was resumed. Mr. Sanford closed his connection with the church in January, 1851, and accepted a call from Gloucester. After an interval of five months, Rev. James M. Sykes, the present pastor, then of Chelsea, accepted the pas- torate of the church, and commenced his labors, July 1, 1851.


After much agitation of the subject, the society concluded to build a church, and, having raised a subscription of $16,000, on May 18, 1854, the corner-stone of the new church was laid; in September of that year they commenced worship in the base- ment. The house was publicly dedicated on the 4th of April, 1855. It is built in the Lombardic style of architecture, having


648


HISTORY.


its tower apart from the main building, and surmounted by a spire 150 feet high. It contains 118 pews, and is in all re- spects well adapted to the wants of the society. The entire cost of the land, building, and furniture, was about $28,000. It is a very handsome structure, and is situated on Meridian street, near Central square.


METHODISTS.


Methodist Church. - The first meeting of the Methodist So- ciety was in a wardroom of the Lyman school-house, on the 29th of September, 1839, and the first minister was the Rev. Mr. Davenport. The Rev. J. W. Merrill officiated during a part of the year 1841. During the year 1842, a small one-story wooden meeting-house was built on the corner of Meridian and Paris streets, costing, with the land, $2,600. This building, which is now used for a city school-house, was dedicated on the 4th of January, 1843. Rev. Daniel Richards was next appointed by the conference, and labored one year. The next minister was the Rev. David H. Merrill. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph A. Merrill, who remained with the society until 1845. His successor was the Rev. Joseph Whitman, under whose labors a very extensive revival was enjoyed. The society was now increasing very rapidly, and a larger church was needed. During Mr. Whitman's ministrations, which continued two years, the present brick building was erected, at a cost of $18,000. The corner-stone was laid on the 4th of November, 1846, and the church was dedicated on the 26th of May, 1847. It is seventy-three feet long by forty-eight feet wide, with gal- leries, and will seat about seven hundred people. The location is good, being at the junction of Meridian, Havre, and Decatur streets.


Mr: Whitman was succeeded by the Rev. Henry E. Hemp- stead, who was followed by the Rev. James Porter. His suc- cessor was the Rev. C. S. Macreading, who was followed by the Rev. Lorenzo R. Thayer. The present pastor is the Rev. Daniel E. Chapin.


The church is now in a very prosperous condition, numbers


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CHURCHES.


one hundred and sixty-one members, and has a flourishing sab- bath school of two hundred and fifty pupils.


Bennington street Church. - The growth of this part of the city, and the impossibility of accommodating all who desired seats, rendered it expedient to form another congregation. Con- sequently, a second Methodist church and society was organized in May, 1853, principally by individuals who belonged to the Meridian street Church, and is now progressing under favor- able auspices. The Rev. Chester Field was the first pastor ; he continued two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. R. W. Allen. Rev. N. D. George is the present pastor. The church now numbers (May, 1858) about one hundred members ; has a large and flourishing sabbath school, and flattering prospects of success.


They have not yet erected a church edifice, but worship in Central Hall on Bennington street, owned by Gen. Sumner, which they rent at $400 a year.


EPISCOPALIANS.


St. John's Church. - This society was organized on the 25th of November, 1845, and consisted of seven members, two males, (John Watson and William H. Calrow), and five females. They commenced worship in October, 1845, and their first meetings were held in a small store under Ritchie Hall, where they were continued until 1848, when they removed to a more convenient room directly over the hall, which they occupied until June, 1852.


This society has been singularly unfortunate in its church edifices. They laid the corner-stone of a new church on the corner of Paris and Decatur streets, on the 11th of November, 1850; the house was erected soon after, but was blown down on the 23d of December. It was erected the second time about the middle of January, 1851, and, on the 16th of April following, in a violent north-east storm, accompanied by the highest tides ever known at East Boston, it was again blown down. It was in this storm that the iron light-house on Minot's Ledge, off Cohasset, was carried away, and two lives lost. During the


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650


HISTORY.


year the church was put up a third time, and in June, 1852, they commenced worship in the vestry, the upper part being then unfinished.


To remedy some previous informalities, the society was reincorporated on the 23d of June, 1850.




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