History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix, Part 59

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 59
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 59


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In June, 1854, Rev. Luman Boyden, then most pleasantly situated as pastor over a flourishing society (Methodist Epis- copal) in the beautiful village of Waltham, was invited by the trustees to take charge of this enterprise; at the same time he received a commission from the City Missionary Society. At first hesitating, he finally concluded to accept the invitation, and, on the first Sabbath in July, entered this important field of labor.


On the first Sabbath, but forty were present in the forenoon, including children ; in the afternoon sixty, and about one hun- dred, including teachers, in the sabbath school. For several months the congregation was discouragingly small. But the congregation and sabbath school at length gradually increased, and in a few months the prospect was quite encouraging.


In December, 1854, by the unexpected failure of a large manufacturing establishment, many who worshipped in the chapel were deprived of employment. Quite a number of them had saved of their hard earnings enough to ercct con- venient houses, and were expecting to spend their days on that section in East Boston. They lingered for a season, but necessity at length compelled one after another to leave, and during the years 1855 and 1856 about sixty families


56


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HISTORY.


connected with the Union chapel left the city in consequence of that failure and the general depression in business. This loss has been severely felt, especially as many who removed were some of the most active and devoted members. But other families removed to that vicinity ; quite a number be- came connected with the Union chapel, and at present the congregation and sabbath school are greater than at any former period.


The largest number that has been present in the sabbath school at one time is 170. Mr. Hiram A. Stephens, a member of the Central square Baptist church, is the superintendent, which office he has filled most acceptably for more than three years. His predecessors were Mr. John Atkins, Methodist, and Deacon Wilder, Baptist. The teachers and officers of the school are connected with different evangelical churches, the majority of them being members of the Orthodox church. Messrs. Ivory Harlow, Gilbert Stephens, and Miss Armeda Gibbs, all of whom are members of the Orthodox Congregational church, have had classes from the time the school was organized.


From this brief sketch it will be seen that trials have been endured, and sometimes disappointment realized. But in the darkest hours the laborers on the field had much to encourage them. Every candid, intelligent person, acquainted with the past and present, will cheerfully acknowledge that the necessary arrests by the police, considering the increase of population, are less numerous ; that there is much less open, outrageous vio- lation of the Sabbath; that the morals of those who attend public worship at the chapel will compare favorably with the other religious congregations in the city, and that there has been a great improvement in the morals of the community generally.


PRESBYTERIAN.


Second Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. - The First Associate Reformed Presbyterian church in Boston was re- organized November 26, 1846. The Rev. Alexander Blaikic, the pastor, was installed July 18, 1847. Their place of wor- ship is in Central Hall, 19 Milk street. The Second Asso- ciate Reformed Presbyterian place of worship was opened, in


663


SABBATH SCHOOLS.


the Webster street church, which had been erected by the Universalists in 1842, on the Sabbath, April 3, 1853, under the charge of Rev. David A. Wallace, as assistant of Mr. Blaikie. Mr. Wallace was installed pastor on the 15th of November, 1854; the church was organized in August, 1854, and very soon after removed to a new edifice erected on Meridian street, where they at present worship.


Mr. Wallace having assumed the charge of a western col- lege, the Rev. H. H. Johnson, who now ministers to the soci- ety, became his successor. 158 members have been received since the church was established, and at present it is in a pros- perous condition.


SABBATH SCHOOLS.


The account of the different churches which immediately precedes naturally embraces many points connected with the sabbath schools ; it has, however, been thought best to speak of each school separately.


The first sabbath school efforts were made on the 13th of July, 1834. Two ladies, Mrs. Haynes and a niece of Mrs. Dr. Jeffries, gathered the children of the Irish laborers on the island into a house on Webster street, and there taught them the Scriptures. The children were very destitute. Some came without shoes, some without hats, and some with hardly any clothing. The travelled path from the third section to Webster street was then by the way of the beach at the west end of Maverick street, and at high tides this method of communica- tion was cut off. The school was subsequently removed to the " boarding-house," on Maverick street, and was continued until cold weather.


The Maverick sabbath school commenced on the 3d of July, 1836, with more than forty scholars; in January, 1858, 517 were reported as then belonging to the school, and full statistics show that it is one of the largest of the Orthodox Congrega- tional sabbath schools in Massachusetts. Its largest average for any one month the past year (1857) was 476.


The sabbath school connected with the Baptist church com- menced in October, 1843, in the wooden building on Lewis


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HISTORY.


street, under the superintendence of Deacon R. Barker, with about seventy scholars and eleven teachers, and a library of about two hundred volumes. The school remained in that hall until it was destroyed by fire, in January, 1845. It then occu- pied successively the old hall, the bath house, the brick hall in Lewis street, Winthrop hall, the vestry of the Maverick church, and, finally, the vestry of the new Central Square Baptist church. This school has prospered, and in January, 1858, num- bered 292 members, with a library of 668 volumes.


The "Fourth Section sabbath school," as it is sometimes called, connected with the Union chapel, has already been spo- ken of in the notice of that missionary enterprise. It is in a flourishing condition, and the average attendance during the past year (1857) has been 123, while the largest number reached on any one Sabbath has been 170. The average attendance for the month of January, 1858, has been 149. The school has a library of five hundred volumes.


The Episcopal sabbath school has 116 members enrolled upon its list, having considerably increased since the settlement of Rev. Mr. Evans.


The Presbyterian sabbath school numbers sixty members, and is still increasing.


The sabbath school connected with the First Methodist church (Meridian street) numbers two hundred members; and the number connected with the Second Methodist church (Ben- nington street) is 190.


The Unitarian sabbath school contains two hundred pupils and twenty-seven officers, and additions are constantly made.


The Catholic sabbath school now numbers about seven hun- dred scholars.


The Universalist sabbath school embraces 125 members, and comprehends both the children and as many of the adults of the society as can be induced to attend.


In the sabbath schools of East Boston there is an average attendance of more than 2,400 scholars. The good that is in this manner effected, by moulding the minds and hearts of the children, and by fitting them for future usefulness and happi- ness, cannot be calculated, and certainly it cannot be overesti- mated; and on the successful continuance of such schools


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SCHOOLS.


must depend much of the future morality, religion, and even the worldly prosperity and happiness of this section of the city.


SCHOOLS.


The schools of the Island ward, of course, form a part of the general system of the city of Boston. These are under the care and control of the school committee, consisting of the mayor, the president of the common council, and six members chosen in each of the twelve wards, making seventy-four mem- bers of the board, and a superintendent elected by this body, and acting under their authority, devoting his whole time to advancing the interests of the schools. There are in Boston 205 primary schools, designed for children from four to seven or eight years of age, and containing 12,655 scholars; eighteen grammar-schools, intended for scholars from seven to fifteen years of age, and containing 11,200; three high schools, namely, one Latin or classical school, designed for fitting stu- dents for college ; one English high school, established to pre- pare young men, for business, and one girls' high and normal school, designed to give a finished education to young ladies, and to prepare those who desire it for teaching. These high schools generally contain about two hundred scholars apiece, thus making six hundred pupils in the three, and 24,455 in all the public schools.


This condensed statement of the city arrangement renders it unnecessary to go further into the history of our school system. Its importance, its admirable adaptation to the end in view, and its absolute necessity for the support of our form of govern- ment, are too well understood to need elucidation. A short description of the schools on the Island is all that is necessary.1 The order of dates of the first schools is as follows : -


The first primary school in East Boston was opened on the 4th of January, 1836, in a room in one of the houses of the Malleable Iron Company, on Meridian street, third section.


1 Mr. Guy C. Haynes, whose house was the first built at East Boston, and who is well acquainted with the Island history since the formation of the East Boston Company, furnishes some facts of the early schools.


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HISTORY.


Eliza Pierce, teacher; Guy C. Haynes, committee ; number of scholars of all ages, thirty-eight. The second school com- menced on the 10th of May, 1836; Anna M. Merrill, teacher. The third school was opened on the 25th of January, 1841, in the first section ; Elizabeth Lincoln, teacher. The fourth school commenced on the 26th of April, 1842; Miss Cheever, teacher. The fifth school began on the 9th of May, 1843; Miss L. Osborn, teacher.


The public schools now in operation, under the control of the city government, are three, - the Lyman, the Chapman, and the Adams.1


Lyman School. - Established in 1837. Present building erected 1846. Cost, $13,596.27. This school comprises that portion of East Boston lying west of the railroad, and south of a line commencing at the Mystic river, and running easterly through Central square and Porter street, along its continuation to the bay on the east. It was first gathered with forty pupils, kept in a chapel, and was named for the Hon. Theodore Ly- man, fifth mayor of the city, in 1834-5. A handsome library was presented to the school by that gentleman in 1847. The original house was built in 1837, and was destroyed by fire in January, 1846. The present building was erected the same year upon the same site, on the plan of the Brimmer, and will seat 386 pupils in the main rooms. Four rooms on the lowest floor are also occupied, each seating fifty-two pupils, and three rooms in an adjoining building. Albert Bowker, previously usher in the Eliot school, was the only master from the time of its establishment until his resignation, in December, 1845. In March, 1846, Mr. Lincoln, then usher in the Brimmer school, was elected his successor. The school was then reorganized, and from a school for both sexes it was changed to separate schools for each sex. Mr. Lincoln took charge of the boys, and


1 For many of these statistics the writer is happy to acknowledge his indebt- edness to Albert Bowker, Esq:, who has the honor of being the first male teacher upon the Island, and who labored long and successfully in establishing in the new ward that system of discipline and instruction which characterizes its schools.


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SCHOOLS.


Mr. Ordway, usher in the school, took charge of the girls. He was subsequently elected master.


In 1854, the Lyman school was reorganized on the single- headed plan ; the boys' and girls' departments were united, and the whole school was placed under the charge of Mr. Lincoln. The school numbered at that time about seven hundred pupils.


The Adams school, which was organized in 1856, took 363 pupils from the Lyman; Mr. Lincoln was its master, but he was subsequently transferred to the Lyman, of which school he is at present the master. The Lyman school numbers now 648 pupils.


Chapman School. - This school comprises that portion of East Boston lying north of a line commencing at the Mystic river and running easterly through Central square and Porter street, along its prolongation to the bay on the east. Its house is located on Eutaw street. 'The situation is elevated and healthy, commanding an extensive prospect of the harbor and the surrounding country. The building is a finely proportioned brick structure, combining all the modern improvements, and is an ornament to that section of the Island in which it is situ- ated; it was erected in 1850, and cost $28,022.79.


The school was organized April 22, 1850, in two separate departments. Loring Lothrop was appointed master of the girls, and John P. Averill of the boys. The number of pupils at the opening of the school was 425, -220 girls and 205 boys.


In 1852, Mr. Lothrop having been elected master of the nor- mal school in the city proper, John F. Nourse was appointed to fill his place. Mr. Nourse performed the duties of his office, with much credit to himself and profit to his pupils, until he was suddenly removed by death, January 17, 1854, when Per- cival W. Bartlett was placed at the head of the girls' depart- ment. In 1856 the two departments were united, and the whole school placed under the charge of Mr. Averill, Mr. Bartlett hav- ing been transferred to the Adams school.


There are, at the present time, in the Chapman grammar- school, twelve teachers and 645 pupils, - 332 boys and 313 girls. The number of scholars in the primary schools is 778, -381 boys and 397 girls, with twelve teachers.


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HISTORY.


Adams School. - Percival W. Bartlett, Master. - This school comprises that portion of East Boston lying east of the rail- road, and south of a line commencing at the Mystic river and running easterly through Central square and Porter street along its continuation to the bay on the east. The school-house is situated on the corner of Sumner and Lamson streets, nearly opposite Belmont square, and is the largest and best arranged building for the purposes designed, of any in the city. . It was erected in 1856, and cost $57,903.37. Its situation is admira- ble, being on the high ground on the first section, and com- manding a magnificent view of the city, the harbor, rivers, and a dozen towns and villages. It is a brick building, five stories high, and covered with mastic, so as to be perfectly dry at all times. It is divided into eighteen separate rooms, each com- fortably accommodating sixty-four pupils, or eleven hundred and fifty-two in the aggregate. A spacious hall for the accom- modation of the assembled pupils forms an important feature in the internal arrangement of the house. Its situation secures the best possible light, and it is furnished with apparatus for warming the rooms by steam, with the intention of obtaining a moist and luxurious heat without the usual inconvenience of dust and smoke. The ventilation is so perfect that one enter- ing blindfold from the street in school hours would be unable to detect his presence in a crowded room. Every convenience is here found for profitable study : every room contains fifty square yards of blackboard ; and globes, philosophical appara- tus, a library of reference, and thorough teachers, leave nothing to be desired. This house is a credit to the city, and an orna- ment to the Island. Its location, construction, external and internal arrangements, are all in reference to the best interests of the scholars. The basement story is designed for primary, and the other rooms for the various classes in the grammar- schools; and while the schools in the building are for both sexes, the entrances for the boys and girls are by separate doors, and their play-yards are entirely separated from each other. The plan of thus preventing intercourse between the sexes is here carried out with rigor, while in other schools upon the Island no such restriction is made. Each system has its warm partisans; and time, experience, and careful judgment must


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SCHOOLS.


decide which system is best adapted to advance the true inter- ests of schools.


The house was dedicated on the 15th of October, 1856. At the appointed hour the exercises were opened by a beautiful hymn, sung by the children. The Scriptures were then read by the Rev. C. S. Porter, of South Boston. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Chapin, of East Boston. A song was then sung with much taste and spirit by the pupils, conducted by Mr. S. H. Southard. Interesting addresses were made by Rev. Messrs. J. N. Sykes, R. W. Clark, W. H. Cudworth; also by Nathan Bishop, Superintendent of our Public Schools, and Dr. Ephraim Buck. A farewell song was next sung. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Cudworth, and the benediction pronounced by Rev. R. W. Clark.


The school was organized on the 1st September, 1856. It now contains about 622 pupils belonging to the grammar- schools, and about 483 belonging to the primary schools.


The annual reports and published statistics keep the public well informed as to the studies, methods of discipline, and other matters pertaining to the welfare of the schools; there is, therefore, no need of such information here. The changes also as to teachers render entire lists of little value in a work of this kind. It is enough to say that at the present time (1858) Hosea H. Lincoln, John P. Averill, and Percival W. Bartlett are respectively masters of the Lyman, Chapman, and Adams schools; and Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, Edwin Wright, and Rev. James N. Sykes respectively chairmen of committees.


Whatever East Boston owes to the business activity of its founders, its continued and highest prosperity must greatly depend on the institutions described in this chapter. This the projectors have ever had in mind; and, with a wise liberality and foresight, have spared neither labor nor expense in fostering the churches and schools of the Island ward.


CHAPTER XVIII.


INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS.


THE plans which resulted in the formation of the East Bos- ton Company have been described ; the various direct and per- manent improvements made by that company as to ferries, streets, sewers, railroads, and ornament, have also been suffi- ciently explained. It is proper now to record the various indus- trial enterprises, which were either originated by the projectors of the general improvements, or have been attracted by the peculiar advantages of the Island, and which give employ- ment to an enterprising and thrifty population. These will be noticed somewhat in detail.


EAST BOSTON TIMBER COMPANY.


In order to give a new impetus to the business of East Bos- ton, and thus to increase the value of land and property in general, it was proposed, by Mr. Stephen White, to purchase Grand island in Niagara river, which was covered with valuable timber. Upon this island he proposed to build saw-mills, and cut and prepare the timber for transportation; and, bringing it by the Erie Canal to tide water, dock it at East Boston. The landing upon the shores of the young city of such a great sup- ply of lumber would, of necessity, bring thither a great many workmen, and, on account of the convenience of obtaining lumber of all kinds with little or no transportation, manufactur- ing establishments would be erected upon the Island.


Acting upon this belief, the East Boston Company, on the 5th of October, 1833, authorized its superintendent to sell to Stephen White and his associates 80,000 feet of marsh land be-


1834.]


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THE TIMBER COMPANY.


tween Border and Liverpool streets, at the nominal price of three cents per foot, for establishing a timber and lumber yard and dock. The flats in front, with dirt for filling in a wharf and the flats, were given by the East Boston Company to encourage the undertaking.


The East Boston Timber Company was incorporated on the 28th of March, 1834, " for the purpose of sawing and preparing at East Boston, by steam or water power or otherwise, and of vending ship and other timber, plank, boards, staves, joist, scantling, and all and every other article prepared and manufac- tured from wood." The petitioners for the charter were James W. Paige, Francis J. Oliver, and Gideon Barstow, who, with their associates, were incorporated as a company for the pur- poses just mentioned, and with power to hold and manage real estate to the amount of $75,000, and personal property to the same amount. It will be noticed that the name of Stephen White does not appear among the petitioners, although he was by far the largest stockholder in the new company. His name was included among the associates. A precedent was estab- lished in this case, which was frequently followed in subsequent petitions, that is, to withhold the name of the person or persons most deeply interested, and thus to prevent the impression, which otherwise would be given, that the different plans and improvements were supported by the same individuals.


The principal stockholders were Stephen White, Gen. W. H. Sumner, Francis J. Oliver, L. F. Allen of Buffalo, and Dr. Barstow of Salem ; these gentlemen were also the directors of the company. William Fettyplace was the superintendent, and Seth Brooks, surveyor. The land purchased of the East Bos- ton Company measured 540 feet cach on Liverpool and Border streets, and 160 feet each on Maverick and Decatur streets, and the flats in front. In 1835 the company constructed upon their water lot in front, extending from Border street to the harbor commissioners' line, a wharf 300 feet long and 50 feet wide, the solid part being much wider. They also erected a ware- house three stories high, and formed a timber dock 200 feet square. This wharf, with the stores upon it, is now called Clifton's wharf, and is one of the most valuable in East Bos- ton. It is owned by John Clifton, Esq., formerly a merchant


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HISTORY.


1837-40.


of Salem, but now one of the most enterprising citizens of East Boston.


This was the depot for great quantities of oak timber and plank, which were transported from the Timber Company's mills at Grand island, which was also owned by the company. The supply of the best quality of timber thus brought to the Island exerted a very beneficial effect upon the business and consequent prosperity of East Boston and vicinity, furnishing abundant material for the ship carpenters of the towns engaged in this branch of business.


The company pursued its operations through the stringent years of 1837, 1838, and 1839, until 1840, when it suspended, and the property was sold. Its affairs at this time were in a very complicated condition, owing to its connection with various other companies ; to go into the details of the long course of embarrassment and litigation would of itself fill a volume. In a general way, it can be said, that, by an agreement with the stockholders, a sale of property was made under an execution of the Hancock Bank ; and the New Eng- land Bank, which held the assets of the Fulton Bank, which had discounted the company's notes to the amount of many thou- sand dollars, and was a creditor, levied its execution on the personal estate.


The real estate was first sold to Ozias Goodwin, Esq., of Boston, for $10,000. It included Border street, which was not made, though laid out over the water ; for this reason Mr. Adan, the East Boston Company's solicitor, believed it to be a sala- ble property. Mr. Goodwin offered to take the estate at the price named, if Border street was included in the deed. This it was found the company had no authority to do, as the street was laid out on the plan ; the property, therefore, was divided into lots, which were bought by Messrs. Samuel Hall, Richard Soule, R. B. Forbes, John Clifton, and others ; the greater part, however, was bought by Mr. Hall, to whom it proved a very lucrative speculation.


The water lots include Clifton's wharf and one of Hall's ship yards, the floating dry dock, railway, and timber pens. At the present time the value of the upland, in an unimproved condition, may be estimated at fifty cents per square foot ; and


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THE TIMBER COMPANY.


1837-40.]


the value of the water frontage of 540 feet is not less than one hundred dollars the running foot ; making nearly $100,000 in all. This increase in 23 years from $2,592 to $100,000, con- sidering even the sums spent upon it, is quite remarkable; but is only one of many instances which might be cited to prove the foresight of those who first cherished the idea of making East Boston a valuable part of the city.




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