USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. I > Part 34
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In 1860 the West Cambridge Five Cents Savings Bank was incorporated. In 1861 the town took a patriotic stand in the War of the Rebellion. At a town-meeting, April 29, the sum of $ 10,000 was appropriated for the support of those families whose husbands, fathers, or brothers belonging to this town had enlisted, or might thereafter eulist, in the military service of their country. This ac- tion was largely instigated by a public meeting in the town-hall on Sunday evening, April 21, 1861, at which the inhabitants of West Cambridge and many from Belmont had assembled, and passed resolutions referring to the distracted condition of the country, and applauding those young men of the town who had been the first to enlist in a military corps. A company of infantry had been raised, numbering eighty-two men, under Albert S. Ingalls, of West Cambridge, as captain, which, at the end of several weeks, went to Brooklyn, N. Y., - the quota of Massachusetts being full, - with the expectation of joining a regiment. They were dis- appointed, and returned ; but thirty-two members of this company, with their captain, immediately
revisited New York and were incorporated into the 40th, or Mozart, Regiment of New York Volunteers. Four citizens of the town were connected with the 5th regiment of Massachusetts militia, and accom- panied that regiment into immediate service.
At a town-meeting July 22, 1862, resolves were passed tendering the kindest sympathy of the town to Major Albert S. Ingalls, then in hospital at Annapolis, Maryland, who had recently lost a limb on the field of battle before Richmond ; and also of greeting to Lieutenant Francis Gould, Lieutenant John Locke, Lieutenant Charles H. Graves, and others, "our friends and neighbors, now resting on their laurels near the field of battle before Ricli- mond." Major Albert S. Ingalls, of the 40th New York regiment, lost a leg from a wound received in battle before Richmond, June 30, 1862, and died in hospital at Annapolis, August 11, 1862.
A public meeting was held in the town February 22, 1862, in response to the proclamation of the President of the United States, to listen to the read- ing of Washington's Farewell Address. The town filled quotas of thirty-three, fifty-four, and twenty- six men for three years' and for nine months' United States service in 1862. July 1, 1863, a draft of forty-four men from the town was made. The ten who were accepted commuted by paying $ 300 each. Sixty-four men were furnished for the war in February and March, 1861, the cost being defrayed by subscription by the citizens of the town.
The town-hall was illuminated on the evening of April 3, 1865, in honor of the news of the cap- ture of Richmond. From July 18, 1864, to March 1, 1865, the number of men called for the war was fifty-three; but the town exceeded the call, and furnished sixty-four.
The following summary shows the amounts con- tributed by the town during the war ; ---
Paid by the town for bounties . $26,386.00
citizens' collections . 25,156.10
individually 7,500.00
State Aid 12,016.63
Collected by the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society 4,314.26
$75,372.99
In 1864 the town voted to establish a high school, and purchased of the proprietors of the Cotting Academy their building, furniture, and land for that purpose.
The name of the town was changed from West Cambridge to Arlington, April 13, 1867. A pre- liminary celebration of the change of name was held May 1, 1867; and June 17, 1867, a grand celebration in honor of the event occurred, in which
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the governor of the state, the legislature, and many distinguished persons participated. . 1 large procession of guests and visiting military, with the local masonic organizations, the soldiers of 1812, and of the late war, the children of the public schools, with a representation of trades and a cav- alcade, passed through the principal streets, and afterward partook of collations, - the prominent guests in a tent on Pleasant Street, and the children of the schools in a tent on the Common. Speeches were made by Governor Bullock, Hon. Charles Sumner, Richard H. Dana, General Foster, Com- modore Rodgers, and others. Mr. J. T. Trow- bridge of Arlington, well known as an author, wrote a poem for the oeeasion. The exercises elosed with a regatta of Harvard students on the lake.
Charles Sumner's remarks on this occasion were partly as follows : ---
" In coming here to take part in this interesting celebration, I am not insensible to the kindness of good friends among you, through whom the invi- tation was received. But I confess a neighborly interest in your festival. Born in Boston, and edu- cated in Cambridge, I am one of your neighbors. Accept, then, if you please, the sympathies of a neighbor on this oceasion.
" Yours is not a large town, nor has it any eon- siderable history. But what it wants in size and history, it makes up in beauty. Yours is a beau- tiful town. I know nothing among the exquisite surroundings of Boston more eharming than these slopes and meadows, with the background of hills and the gleam of water. The elements of beauty are all here. Hills are always beautiful ; so is wa- ter. I remember hearing Mrs. Fanny Kemble say more than once that water in a landscape is ' like eyes in the human eountenanee,' without which the countenance is lifeless. But you have water in abundance, gleaming, shining, sparkling, in your landscape. The water-nymphs might find a home here. You have gardens also, beautiful to the eye and beautiful in their nonrishing and luseious sup- plies. Surely it may be said of those who live here, that their lines have fallen in a pleasant place.
" I go far when I suggest that you are without a history. West Cambridge was a part of that historic Cambridge which was so early famous in our country, the seat of learning and the home of patriotism. The honor of Cambridge is yours."
After allusion to the times of the Revolution, Mr. Sumner continued : -
" Many years ago, when I first read the account
of this period by one of the early biographers of Washington, Rev. Dr. Bancroft of Worcester, the father of our distinguished historian, I was struck by the statement that ' in case of attack and defeat, the Welsh Mountains in Cambridge and the rear of the lines in Roxbury were appointed as places of rendezvous.' 'The Welsh Mountains ' are the hills which skirt your peaceful valley. Since then I have never looked upon these hills, even at a dis- tance, - I have never thought of them, - without feeling that they are monumental. They testify to that perfeet prudence which made our commander- in-chief so great. In those hours, when undisei- plined patriots were preparing for conflict with the trained soldiers of England, the eareful eye of Washington ealmly surveyed the whole horizon, and selected your hills as the breastwork behind which he was to retrieve the day. The hills still stand, firm and everlasting as when he looked upon them, but smiling now with fertility and peace."
In 1871 - 72 the Arlington Water-Works were constructed ; eost of construction to the town, over $300,000. In 1872 the Arlington Publie Library was established, to which was transferred the Juvenile Library, which had been in existence since 1835. About this time a weekly newspaper was started, called the Arlington Advocate. In 1872, also, the steeples of two meeting-houses in the place were rebuilt, which had been destroyed by a gale in 1871. The town erected the large brick Russell School-House during 1872-73, at a cost of $57,911.04, to replace the former one, which was burned.
An association, mostly of persons doing business in Boston, purchased several hundred aeres of land on Arlington Heights, in 1872, with a view to build up a village as a place of residence for them- selves and others. Under the auspices of the association, notwithstanding an enormous deprecia- tion in value of real estate, about sixty houses have now been built, many of them after the best models of exterior beauty and interior comfort. The vil- lage numbers some two hundred and fifty inhabi- tants. The principal highway, eighty feet in width, called Park Avenue, built by the association, from the Lexington and Arlington Railroad to the top of the hill, was, in 1874, extended by the county commissioners to Belmont, and made a county road. The Heights, formerly known as Cirele Hill, are noted for the magnificent prospeet, from the summit, of the city and harbor of Boston, and the numerous towns and cities adjoining.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
The town made preparation for the celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the battle of the 19th of April, 1775. The day in 1875 was ac- cordingly observed hy the citizens, and delegates endeavored to attend celebrations elsewhere. The throngs passing through the place on the way to the towns of Lexington and Concord were immense.
In 1875 the town received a bequest of $25,000 from Nathan Pratt, Esq., for a public library, the high school, and the poor widows' fund.
In 1877 the town voted to erect stones to mark localities of interest connected with the Battle of April 19, 1775, and several, with appropriate in- scriptions, were erected.
The stream flowing through the town from Lex- ington into Mystic Pond has been the seat of a number of mill-privileges which are interesting for their antiquity. The oldest one was established about 1637 by Captain George Cooke, whose suc- cessors, since his death in 1652, were his daughters in England till 1670; John Rolfe, from 1670 to 1681; John Rolfe, Jr., 1681 to 1685; William Cutter, 1685 to 1725; Cutter's four sons, 1725 to 1731 and 1732; Cutters two sons, 1732 to 1756; John Cutter (a son) and Jonathan Cutter (a grandson), 1756 to 1768; Ammi Cutter (a grandson), 1768 to 1795 ; Ephraim Cutter (son of Ammi), 1795 to 1841 ; Benjamin and Samuel L. Cutter (sons of Ephraim), 1841 to 1850; and Benjamin Cutter alone in 1850, the premises being now occupied by his son-in-law, Samuel A. Fowle.
The privilege of the late Cyrus Cutter may pos- sibly date its origin to a liberty granted to the Widow Rolfe in 1681, " to make a dam above the old mill-pond to keep water in," to accommodate the mill with water. This liberty was used by her son-in-law, William Cutter, who made a dam at that place in 1703, to raise a pond for his saw-mill. It was the property of William Cutter till 1725; John Cutter, 1718 to 1776; John Cutter, Jr., 1743 to 1790; Stephen Cutter and his wife Mary, 1790 to 1835 ; Eli Robbins, 1835 to 1836 ; Cyrus Cutter, 1836.
The privilege at the saw-factory originated with Abner Stearns after 1805. ITis successors have been John Tufts, 1808 to 1817; Ezra Trull, 1817 to 1831; Cyrus Cutter, 1831 to 1832; Welch and Griffiths, saw-makers, 1832.
The privilege next above, where Abner Stearns erected a factory in 1811, was sold by Stearns in 1832 to James Schouler, calico-printer, of Lynn.
The privilege now used by J. C. Hobbs, mna-
chinist, was established by Ichabod Fessenden, where he was about to erect a mill, in 1816.
The privilege of Theodore Schwamb was where Gershom Cutter, who died in 1807, had erected a inill for turning and grinding edged-tools, after- ward his son Aaron Cutter's mill, before 1817.
The privilege of Charles Schwamb was that which the heirs of Gershom Cutter, who died in 1777, quitclaimed to their brother, Stephen Cutter, in 1778. The property was Stephen Cutter's till he sold it to Ichabod Fessenden in 1795. Fes- senden sold to John Perry and Stephen Locke in 1809, who carried it on for some years.
In 1837 there were manufactured in this town 500 pairs of boots and 31,000 pairs of shoes. Two mills were pulverizing drugs, medicines, and dye- stuffs. There was one dying and calico-printing establishment, one saw-factory, one wool-card manufactory, and one turning and sawing mill; chairs and cabinet ware were also manufactured in the place.
The earliest mention of a school-house here is in 1693, and in 1733 provision was made for a read- ing and writing school in the precinct. The public school of that date was kept near the meeting- house, on the land which was left for a burying- place. In 1767 it was decided to keep four women's schools in the precinct. In the next year it was voted to keep a grammar school fourteen weeks at the school-house, the remainder of the school- money to be applied to the support of the women's schools. A new school-house was built in 1769, and the old one sold, which had stood probably since 1746. A committee of three in 1774 was added to the standing committee of the parish " to regulate the school." It was voted that this com- inittee receive the money granted for the schools, and employ " a schoolmaster and schoolmistresses . to keep the school or schools, and pay them there- for,"-the first step taken toward having a gen- eral school committee. In 1792 the schools were divided into three wards, and a committee of nine was chosen to take the charge and regulate said schools. In 1807 the town was divided into four school districts, named the South, West, Middle, and Eastern Districts, the number of families in the town being one hundred and sixty-four. Four and a half months schooling for the year was adopted. The selectmen alone acted as the school committee till 1822.
In 1810 the middle or central school-house was removed from its site west of the meeting-house
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to the watercourse in the burying-ground, where it remained till 1841. In 1827 the town first chose a general school committee of three persons. Prudential school committeemen were chosen from 1827 till 1861. In 1836 was constituted the William Cutter School Fund of $ 5,000, the in- come of which was applied to the support of public schools in the town. This was the gift of an humble, childless man, who, from unselfish motives, in order to benefit the schools of his native town, by will, dated March 17, 1823, gave his whole estate, after the death of his wife, as a trust fund for that purpose. In 1835 a legacy of $ 100 from Dr. Ebenezer Learned of Hopkinton, N. II., was left to the town for the purpose of establishing a juvenile library for the free use of the children of the public schools of West Cambridge. This library was increased by donations from various sources, and in 1837 the town voted that $ 30 annually be appropriated to this library, on condition that each family have the privilege of taking books free. The town increased this appropriation to $ 100 in 1860. Dr. Timothy Wellington left a legacy of $ 100 to benefit the Juvenile Library in 1854. It was es- tablished as the Arlington Public Library in 1872.
In 1838 a new school district was formed from the old Centre and Eastern Districts, and called the Union District. In 1842 the income of the Cutter School Fund was expended on the South School, the Union School, and the Northwest School. In 1843 district school libraries were established in the town. In 1849 a new school-house in the East District was erected, and in 1850 the Union School District was divided. The Union Grammar
School District was formed, and the Union Dis- trict divided into three primary school districts in 1852. A school-house for the Centre District was first erected on Medford Street in 1860, and called the Russell School-House. In 1862 the schools of the town were the Northwest grammar, inter- mediate, and primary schools; the Russell grammar, intermediate, and primary schools; and the East District School. In 1863 the first Cutter School- House was erected. The town lost this house by fire in 1866, and also the Russell School-House in 1872. In 1865 a superintendent of schools was appointed. Judge William E. Parmenter has served continuously, since 1856, as one of the school committee.
The old-time military organization in Menotomy was a train-hand, of which Ephraim Frost was captain, William Cutler lieutenant, and Daniel Brown ensign in 1766. The existence of the training hand is mentioned in 1777. About 1807 the militia company in the town was commanded by Captain David Hill. Besides the " old standing militia," the military of West Cambridge at this period was the "Light Horse Company," com- manded by Thomas Russell ; the " Minute-Men " existing at the time of the Embargo scare in 1808 ; the "Light Infantry," organized in 1811; the " Exempts," in 1814.
There is a Baptist society in the place which has had an existence of nearly a century, a Universa- list society, an Orthodox Congregational society, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic so- cieties, beside the Unitarian society, which has been already mentioned as the first.
ASHBY.
BY FRANCIS TINKER.
A SHBY contains 12,283} acres, and forms the northwestern ex- tremity of Middlesex County. It is distant forty-two miles from Boston, and has for its bounds on the north New Ipswich and Mason, in the state of New Hampshire, on the east Town- send and Lunenburg, on the south Fitchburg, on the west Ashburnam, -the dividing line between Ashby and the last-named town passing over the sum- mit of Watatic Mountain, 1,847 feet above the level of the sea. Mr. John Fitch, one of the early settlers of the town, and who was active in securing the incorporation of both Fitchburg and Ashby, always claimed the honor of giving its name to Ashby, because, as he said, "it was a short name, and he liked it." In the mother country Ashby is a favorite name, being borne by no less than fourteen towns or boroughs.
Ashby is well watered by small streams issuing from or near the base of Watatic Mountain. Locke, Trapfall, and Willard brooks flow easterly, and unite in Townsend, forming the Squannacook. The Souhegan takes its rise in the Watatic Pond, and runs through the northwest part of the town, furnishing several valuable mill-seats. The scenery presents a pleasing variety of hill and vale, marked by meandering streams.
Jones Hill, a little west of the centre of the town, is wild and rocky on its south side, but on the north is easy of ascent. Its cave, or " Indian House," as it is often called, is an object of some curiosity, while from the summit of Watatic and Nemoset all of Eastern Massachusetts spreads itself before the eye like a magnificent panorama. The waters of Great and Little Watatic, Neejepojesuc, Waushachum, and other ponds and reservoirs mir- ror their picturesque surroundings. Rivers and brooks, like silvery bands, wind here and there; and a hundred spires, rising through the leafy shades, present a scene of unsurpassed beauty.
The population of Ashby in 1875 was 962, of
which number 76 were between seventy and eighty, 14 between eighty and ninety, and 3 exceeded ninety years of age, -thus attesting the healthful- ness of the place. The inhabitants are noted for their industry, frugality, and hospitality. In 1837 the women and children manufactured 59,989 palmleaf hats, valued at $ 7,751.50; and in 1875 they gathered from the pastures 29,103 quarts of blueberries, returning them $ 2,501 ; and this prob- ably is not in excess of their annual crop of berries. The majority of the citizens are engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, cultivating 2,955 acres of land. The soil is strong, and well repays the husbandman for his toil. In 1839 the town received from the state $ 171.45 as bounty money for its wheat crop, which was awarded to sixty-nine persons; in 1840,$159.20; in 1841, $95.20; and wheat con- tinues to be raised, but in less quantity than for- merly. In 1875 the number of farms containing over ten acres was 167, producing 2,523 tons of hay, 11,905 bushels of potatoes, 2,523 bushels of Indian corn, 1,134 bushels of oats, and about the same quantity of barley, with other grains and vegetables in like proportion. From its orchards the same year were gathered 12,222 bushels of merchantable apples, the remainder yielding 12,729 gallons of cider. The number of milch cows is 585. The dairies yielded 23,394 pounds of butter and 83,628 gallons of milk, valued at $20,284. This does not include what was used - for home consumption. With a total valuation of $485,423, the aggregate amount of all the domestic and agricultural products of the town, as given in the state census of 1875, was $ 138,396. Its manufactories consist of a tub and pail mill, which sends annually to market some $ 12,500 worth of merchandise. One saw and grist mill dis- poses of lumber and meal to the amount of $ 10,000 yearly ; three other saw-mills furnish more or less lumber; and there are also one rope-walk, three blacksmiths' shops, a wheelwright shop, besides sev- eral carpenters' and painters' shops. Two stores abundantly supply the wants of her citizens.
The town has two churches, with settled pastors :
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Rev. G. S. Shaw over the first parish, and Rev. F. E. Mills over the second. It has nine schools, and raises for their support $1,642.69. The whole number of pupils recorded as belonging to the several schools is 218, with an average attend- ance of 196, thus giving her scholars the first rank in the commonwealth for punctuality, - an honor of which they may well be proud.
Ashby, prior to its incorporation, formed a part of Townsend, Fitchburg, and Ashburnham, and its history is merged in that of the several towns from which it was taken. The date of its first settle- ment is veiled in some obscurity. Townsend was incorporated in 1732, and the first record of any survey of that portion of territory afterwards set off bears date April, 1736, and was recorded in the " Proprietors' Book," December 4, of the same year, in a deed to Amos Whitney.1 In 1739 John Fitch settled in the south part of the town, on ter- ritory at that time belonging to Lunenburg, and Thomas Colman in the north part of the town some years later. A family or two may have made their homes here by the year 1745. Nothing worthy of note occurred till the attack by the Indians, July 5, 1748, on Fitch's Garrison, which was situated on the farm now owned and occupied by Paul Gates, upon the rise of land near the turn of the road leading from Ashby to Ashburnham, and on the old road from Lunenburg to Northfield and the Connecticut valley. The petition of the chief actor and sufferer to his majesty's governor and council contains the only authentic record of that sad event.
" To the Honorable Spencer Phips, Governor-in- chief of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, for the time being; to the Hon- orable, His Majesty's Council, and House of Representatives in General Court assembled :
" John Fitch humbly shows that in the year A. D. 1739 he purchased about one hundred and twenty acres of land, about seven miles and a half above Lunenburg meeting-house, and about three miles and a half above any of the inhabitants, on the road leading from Lunenburg to Northfield, and there by industry built him a house, and im- proved so much land as to raise provision for his growing family, and some to spare; whereby he entertained and refreshed travellers; and being a carpenter was furnished with such tools necessary for that business, and being distant from neigh- bors, was obliged to keep the chief of his tools, 1 Whitney sold in 1749 to James Locke.
and live within himself, and had husbandry utensils and household stuff, and that upon the war break- ing out, although he had no near neighbors to join with him in a garrison, yet divers of the in- habitants of Lunenburg, knowing the great security that a garrison at his place might be, urged him to build one; and many of the inhabitants assisted and helped him in it, after which, the several officers appointed over the soldiers and scouts, ordered a quota to that garrison, and it was a place of resort and refreshment to town scouts and for large scouts from Northfield, Townsend, Ashuelot and other places. And your petitioner received and enter- tained them, and in the year A. D. 1748, the scouts from Lunenburg and Townsend were or- dered to meet there once every week ; and he had four soldiers allowed to keep said garrison, and on the 5th day of July, in the same year, by reason of bodily infirmity, there were but two soldiers with him, although others with the scouts were to come that day. On that day before noon, and before the scouts came, the Indian enemy appeared and shot down one soldier1 upon being discovered, and immediately drove him and the other soldier into the garrison, and after besieging the same about one hour and a half, they killed the other soldier through the port hole in the flanker; and then your petitioner was left alone with his wife and five children, soon after which he surrendered and became a prisoner with his said family, and the enemy took and carried away such things as they pleased, and burnt the house and garrison with the rest, and then we entered into a mel- ancholy captivity with one small child on the mother's breast, and two more became sucking children in the way for want of provisions, which with other hardships brought my dear wife into a bad state of health and languishment, and in our return, being by New York, Rhode Island, and Providence, there in December last she departed this life, and when I with my five children arrived at this province, we were objects of charity for food and raiment, which some charitable people be- stowed upon us. Yet your petitioner's family are dispersed by reason of poverty, and must so remain unless some charitable help may some way or other be bestowed, for your petitioner is utterly unable to put himself again into suitable circumstances,
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