USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II > Part 55
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The inhabitants of the town had long felt that they were inadequately supplied with proper means of protecting themselves against conflagration. From about the year 1838 they had relied upon the little tub-engine " Mystic," but there was no regularly organized fire-company till 1850. No- vember 12, 1849, the selectmen were authorized by the town to purchase " a good and sufficient fire- engine and a hose-carriage." On the arrival of the engine, styled Somerville No. I, it was voted in the board of selectmen, January 7, 1850, to appoint five engineers, and Messrs. Gardner T. Ring, Na- than Tufts, Jr., George O. Brastow, John B. Os- good, and Abram Welch were thereupon appointed. January 8, Mr. Welch declining to serve, Hiram Allen was appointed to fill the vacancy. The en- gineers met, and organized by the choice of Nathan
Tufts, Jr., as chief and George O. Brastow as clerk. The first fire after the organization of the department was the barn of Jotham Johnson, on the Ireland range-way. The following is the list of engineers and the periods of their service : Nathan Tufts, Jr., from 1850 to 1852 ; Abram Welch, from 1852 to 1855; R. A. Vinal, from 1855 to 1858; John Runey, from 1858 to 1861; S. H. Gooding, from 1861 to 1865 ; D. A. Sanborn, Jr., from 1865 to 1872 ; J. R. Hopkins, from 1872 to the present time. More than fifty members enrolled themselves in the new company, but becoming dissatisfied, they disbanded March 2, 1853, and surrendered the engine and other property belonging to the town to the engineers. December 5, 1854, a meeting was held to form another company, which was duly organized, and two hundred members connected themselves with the department between December 6, 1854, and March 30, 1866, when the volunteer system was abolished. On the 26th of May of the latter year a costly and efficient steam fire-engine was purchased and the department reorganized. A working force of engineers, drivers, and firemen were permanently employed. In 1871 a fine building was erected on Highland Avenue, nearly in the geographical centre of the town, for the steam-engine, and the old house was fitted up for a hose-carriage and a hook-and-ladder truck. In 1873 two more hose-houses were built.
The department was again reorganized, in accord- ance with an act of legislature, April 24, 1874, and June 17 a fire-alarm telegraph was established through the instance of the present chief. In 1872, through the exertions of Mr. D. A. Sanborn, Jr., the Charitable Association of the Somerville Fire Department was organized, and has now a fund of $1,100 for the relief of sick and disabled firemen.
In May, 1877, an ordinance was passed reducing the working force of the department. The depart- ment now consists of one steamer and hose-car- riage, four hose-carriages, and one hook-and-ladder truck, all drawn by horses. The city has an abun- dant supply of water for extinguishing fires, fur- nished from the Mystic Water - Works to two hundred and seventy-five fire-hydrants.
In 1851 the first directory was published by Edmund Tufts; it was a duodecimo of thirty-two pages, and contained principally the heads of fami- lies in town, five hundred and ninety in number.
A considerable interest had been manifested for several years upon the subject of a high school, the statutes requiring that such an institution shall
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be established in all towns numbering five hundred families. But the grave factor of economy entered into a consideration of the subject. The town had already expended large sums for school-buildings, and was unwilling to make any further consider- able outlay ; but, finally becoming convinced of the necessity of the demand, April 7, 1851, they ordered the erection of the present eity hall building, a plain structure, but sufficiently adapted to the wants of the school for the following twenty years. The corner- stone was laid September 9, and the building dedi- cated with appropriate exercises on the 28th of April, 1852. It was designed for one hundred pupils. On the following Monday the school was opened, under the charge of Mr. Robert Bickford. Sixty-six pupils were received under a lower grade of scholar- ship than was deemed fitting for such a school, and in August twenty-two more were admitted on a slightly higher standard. One principal and one assistant were employed till 1854 ; after this time, till 1858, there were generally two assistants. All the instructors having resigned in 1858, a new principal was appointed, and a sub-master to take the place of the two assistants. The high school had never met the full approbation of the citizens, because it was believed that the institution did not exhibit results proportionate to the amount of money expended upon it. This was due in part to the constant changes in teachers and board of school committee, and in part to the general apathy of the community.
In 1859 Mr. H. H. Babeoek was appointed prin- cipal, and the course of study was revised. Under the new organization the first regnlar graduation took place in 1862. The school at once became more successful, and at the resignation of Mr. Babcock, in 1867, it was in the first rank of the high schools of the commonwealth. Mr. G. L. Baxter succeeded Mr. Babeoek, and under his man- agement the school retains its high degree of effi- cieney, and contains a larger number of pupils than is usual in proportion to the number of inhabitants. The accommodations of the first building being entirely inadequate for the inereasing wants of the school, a large and beautiful school-house was erected, and the same was dedicated February 27, 1872. The school numbered, in 1878, two hundred and forty-four pupils, and was governed by a corps of two male and four female teachers.
During the first ten years of the town's corpo- rate existenee the population nearly quadrupled, hav- ing been recorded at 3,540 by the census of 1850,
The valuation had increased twofold, and was esti- mated in the same year at $2,102,631. The an- nual outlay for highways had reached $3,000, and for schools $6,000.
The poor were supported at a yearly cost of $1,000, and a few hundred dollars were now regu- larly required for the fire department. But with these increasing expenses eame in 1846 a town debt, which from $9,636.25 had grown to $20,320.49 at the end of the first decade. Seven school-build- ings had been constructed, augmenting the number to eleven, and the school population was registered at four hundred and ninety-seven, with three male and eleven female teachers.
At the end of this era three more ecclesiastical societies were established, - the First Baptist, the Franklin Street Congregational, and the First Uni- versalist. The First Baptist Society was formed in a hall at the corner of Somerville Avenue and Spring Street, December 30, 1852, and the Rev. D. W. Faunce ordained the first pastor, July 14, 1853. The society worshipped in a chapel in Beech Street till the beautiful edifice, erected on the crown of Spring Hill, was dedicated June 12, 1873. The following is the list of the pastors suc- ceeding Mr. Fannce, who ministered until September 1, 1854 : Rev. G. G. Fairbanks, from April 1,1855, to Mareh 31, 1866 ; Rev. L. B. Hibbard, from February, 1867, to -, 1868; Rev. J. D. Sweet, from May, 1868, to August 9, 1869; Rev. Charles M. Smith, from February, 1870, to the present time.
The Franklin Street Orthodox Society had its beginning at the house of Mr. Temple Paul, April 21, 1853. September 15, the society took its pres- ent name, but was not legally organized till April 1, 1855. The corner-stone of the first house was laid in October, 1854, and the church dedicated July 12, 1855. The following is the succession of pastors, with the periods of their ministry : Rev. B. Jndkins, from January 3, 1856, to June 2, 1858; Rev. D. T. Packard, from September 20, 1860, to November 28, 1866 ; Rev. L. R. East- man, Jr., from June 27, 1867, to May 22, 1871; Rev. William S. Hubbell, from February 1, 1871, to the present time. The society lost their church- building by fire, Mareh 15, 1867, but promptly pro- eeeded to rebuild upon the same spot the spacious and elegant structure now standing. The corner- stone was laid August 27, 1867, the vestries opened for worship May 17, 1868, and the church dedicated September 30, 1868.
The First Universalist Society was organized in
.
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February, 1854. For the first five years worship was held in a chapel on Tufts Street. In 1859 a wooden church was erected on the present site. This was destroyed by fire, January 21, 1868. The present house of worship was built the ensuing year. The following are the names of the pastors and the time of succession : Rev. G. H. Emerson, 1854-1859; Rev. D. H. Clark, 1859-1862; Rev. Benjamin K. Russ, 1862-1874; Rev. G. H. Vibbert, 1874- 1876; Rev. W. S. Ralph, 1877 to the present time.
The Somerville Light Infantry was organized October, 1853. In May, 1854, the constitution was approved, and the company was enrolled as Company B, 4th Regiment, 3d Brigade, 2d Divis- ion; but the regiment was afterwards numbered the 5th. George O. Brastow was elected the first captain. He was succeeded by Francis Tufts, June 29, 1854, who served, with an intermission, till April, 1859. Captain Brastow was then re- elected, and continued in office until the close of the company's three months' service, at the begin- ning of the war, when he was succeeded by Cap- tain B. F. Parker, who commanded the company during its nine months' service in North Carolina in 1862 - 63. Later, under command of W. E. Robinson, the company started for the seat of the war, under a hundred days' enlistment, but was recalled. Afterward, under the captaincy of J. N. Coffin, they completed a service of a similar length. In the spring of 1865 G. W. Daniels was elected captain, retaining the position till May 3, 1871, when he was succeeded by Charles F. King. In the former year the company was reorganized. Captain R. Kramer followed Captain King, August, 1874, and resigned June, 1876. The company was then under command of Lieutenant R. T. Blackwell, until it was disbanded, July 6, 1876. At present no military organization exists in Som- erville.
February 23, 1853, by an act of the legislature, the Charlestown Gas Company was authorized to lay pipes in town, and, April 11, a similar author- ity was granted to the Cambridge Gas Company. So generally did the new means of illumination come into use, that, April 13, 1854, the Somer- ville Gaslight Company was incorporated ; but be- fore preparations could be made, the necessity for a further supply of gas had ceased, and the com- pany has never gone into operation.
The establishment of horse-railroads in Somer- ville dates from 1855. . The Middlesex Railroad
Company had been incorporated the previous year, and shortly afterwards constructed a line to Boston from the eastern boundary of the town on Wash- ington Street. In May, 1855, a charter was granted to the Medford and Charlestown Railroad Company, and one to the Somerville Horse Rail- road Company, May 29, 1857 ; and in July, 1858, the roads were finished and put into operation, - the one occupying Main Street and Broadway, the other Washington, Milk, and Elm Streets. By legislative enactment, April 4, 1863, the Somer- ville Horse Railroad Company was allowed to extend its tracks from Union Square through to Somer- ville Avenue to the East Cambridge line. Travel was established to Boston over this extension dur- ing the following year. That part of the Somer- ville Horse Railroad Company upon Elm Street, Somerville Avenue, is under lease to the Union Railroad Company, and the Middlesex Railroad Company rents the line on Washington Street, and also the line on Broadway to Winter Hill.
In 1856, the First Methodist Episcopal Soci- ety was formed, through the labors of the Rev. R. Gerrish of East Cambridge. The first service was held in Franklin Hall, on the site of Holmes' store. The society was organized June 24, 1857, and a house of worship, the corner-stone of which was laid October 5, dedicated March 31 of the following year. Rev. Charles Baker became the first settled pastor in 1859. The needs of the soci- ety having outgrown the first building, the cor- ner-stone of the present costly and spacious edifice was laid July 27, 1874, and another church dedi- cated May 29, 1875. The Rev. W. S. Chad- bourne, the present pastor, is the eleventh since the establishment of the church.
In 1859 the town undertook to readjust her own boundaries and those of private estates, not so much with the hope of restoring the original limits, as to prevent further encroachments. The ancient lines had become obliterated or uncertain, and fences had been erected to suit the convenience of abuttors. No elucidation could be expected from the Charlestown records, whose meaning had become obscure from a constant reference to bounds of a perishable nature. Consequently a survey was ordered, and upon its completion, in 1862, a valuable map was prepared, and an accu- rate record of all lines and limits, and sectional plans of all the streets, were recorded in durable form.
During the second decade of the town's existence
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she made a uniform and rapid progress. The free- ing of the bridges to the metropolis had tended to turn the tide of travel in this direction. Real estate had experieneed an upward tendeney. East Somerville grew more rapidly than any other part of the town. The northern and western districts had received but little impetus as yet. In 1859 there were but three houses in the now thickly populated area bounded by Bow, Walnut, and School streets, and Somerville and Highland avenues. Many new streets had been laid out, increasing their total length to thirty miles. These highways had been kept in a fair condition by the yearly outlay of a sum varying from $3,000 to $10,000. A few reservoirs had been built for better protection against fire, and five sehool-build- ings had been ereeted. The school population - now numbered at 1,707 - had more than tripled. The schools had inereased in number to twenty- four, and were presided over by five male and twenty-six female teachers. A high school and an intermediate grade had been established. The town continued to maintain the previous high rank of its educational establishments. An appropria- tion, fluctuating from $6,000 to $18,000, had been annually expended upon them.
The population had more than doubled, having been registered at 8,025 by the eensus of 1860. There were 1,751 polls, and 1,282 houses. The total valuation of taxable property was $ 5,760,000. The town debt liad inereased to $90,924.
During the period of the war the town under- took few improvements or important measures, feel- ing that any outlay beyond the demands of necessity should rightfully be devoted to the interests of the country. Therefore an account of the soldiers for the four succeeding years is almost the history of the town.
On Easter Sabbath, 1862, the Emmanuel Episco- pal Church had its beginning in a hall in Somer- ville Avenue, near Park Street, under the ministra- tion of Rev. N. G. Allen. In 1865 the present church edifice was ereeted. The present pastor is Rev. N. K. Bishop.
In May, 1863, a Sabbath school was gathered in a chapel in Tufts Street by the efforts of Rev. N. G. Allen, around which was formed the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. In 1868 the Rev. George W. Durell, the present reetor, was installed, and it was largely by his labors that the present church-build- ing was ereeted.
The Broadway Orthodox Congregational Church
also took its rise iu the year 1863, when in the month of August the Sabbath seliool was formed. June 14, 1865, the church was regularly organized, under the pastorship of the Rev. E. Porter Dyer. In January, 1868, a chapel was completed, and in December, 1871, the society removed to its present house of worship. The church is now under the ministry of Rev. William H. Pierson,
In April, 1863, the town voted to illuminate streets at night where the abuttors would place lamp-posts in position, and before the close of the year ninety-two lamps had been provided.
Somerville's war record is highly honorable. For rapidity in filling quotas, for measures taken for the comfort of her soldiers, - by personal sym- pathy, by the visits of the town officers at the seat of the war, in forwarding supplies of money and clothing, - and for the attention given to the sol- diers' families, a duty which did not cease with the war, this city stands in the front rank.
Four times the Somerville Light Infantry went forth from the town for various periods of service, and one full company, the Somerville Guard, went out for the period of three years.
At the first call of President Lincoln for troops, in April, 1861, the Somerville Light Infantry entered the service as Company B of the 5th Regiment. They numbered sixty-eight men with George O. Brastow captain, and W. E. Robinson and F. R. Kinsley lieutenants.
April 17, an enthusiastic meeting of the citizens was held to raise money to aid the departing com- pany and their families, and to give expression to sentiments of loyalty to the government. A sum of $4,323.50 was raised, of which a small purse was given to eael soldier, and a larger sum was placed in the hands of Captain Brastow, with instructions to provide without stint for the comfort of his men. April 20, the company was escorted to Boston, and each member presented with a Testament by his fellow-citizen, Moses H. Sargent. Remaining in Faneuil Hall that night, they started for Washing- ton the next evening. Arriving at the capital on the 27th of the month, they were quartered for four weeks in the Treasury Building, doing guard duty. They were then removed to Virginia, on the Poto- mae, four miles from Washington, where they re- mained one week. From June 2 to July 16 they were eneamped in the vicinity of Alexandria. On the latter day they were given the right, leading a long column to Manassas Junction, and partiei- pated in the ensuing battle of Bull Run. Here
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E. Franklin Hannaford was believed to have been killed. They returned home July 21, leaving comrade W. Frank Moore sick in the hospital at Washington, where he died July 31.
May 25, the Capitol being in danger, the gov- ernor ordered the State Militia to assemble on Bos- ton Common, and the Somerville Light Infantry again came forward under command of Captain Robinson. But the troops proffered by the state were thought by the President not to be needed, and they returned to their homes. This check to the enthusiasm of the volunteers operated unfavor- ably in future calls. Time was given for the first ardor of patriotism to cool, and a calculating and somewhat mercenary spirit to enter into a con- sideration of the subject. Prices had advanced, all branches of industry were in full operation, making a counter-demand upon the services of able- bodied men. Consequently, when on June 28 a eall was made for 300,000 men for a three years' service, recruiting was carried on with a greater and gradually increasing difficulty. The quota of Somerville in this call was ninety-two, but the town voted, July 19, to raise a full company, and pay a bounty to each man. A citizens' committee of sixty was chosen to co-operate with the selectmen iu filling the quota. Mass-meetings were held, and a bounty of $125 was offered. Finally, a com- plement of men was enlisted, and the company styled the " Somerville Guard." August 12, it was mustered into service, and attaelied to the 39th Regiment as Company E. It was allowed the privilege of remaining on Prospect Hill for three weeks, when it joined the camp at Boxford, and was assigned the right of the regiment. Here it remained two days, and on September 6 took the cars for Washington ; it proceeded to Arlington Heights, and, later, went into winter-quarters at Poolesville, Maryland. The season was spent in doing guard and picket duty upon the Potomac. Here the company suffered its first loss in the death of S. P. Rollins. In April, 1863, the regiment was ordered to Washington, and did guard and escort duty till midsummer, when, on July 9, it joined the army of the Potomac, with which it re- mained till the close of the war. It was assigned to the first army corps, and took part in the marches and engagements of the eorps at Bristoe and Rap- pahannock stations, and Mine Run. In one of the movements of the army, the piekets - of whom there were thirteen from Company E-were left exposed by their fires at the front; seven were
captured, of whom two alone ever returned. J. W. Oliver was paroled at Richmond, and G. W. Bean survived the privations of Andersonville. F. J. Oliver, Washington Lovett, Joseph W. Whitmore, Henry E. Howe, and Richard J. Hyde died from starvation and exposure. When the corps went into winter-quarters at Mitchell's Station, Company E had already lost sixty men by sickness, death, and transfers. The regiment having been assigned the extreme right, the picket duties were very severe, and the company was under arms most of the time. It participated with its regiment in the battle of the Wilderness, and those following in quiek suc- cession. In engagements between May 7 and May 19, Sergeant Palmer, Corporal Felker, Robert Powers, J. H. Roberts, W. M. Herbon, and Cor- poral Harburn were killed, and February 6, 1865, E. B. Hadley. At Gravelly Run, March 30, Cap- tain Willard C. Kinsley and Corporal Moran were mortally wounded. The former entered the service as second lieutenant of the Somerville Guard, but was afterwards promoted to the command of an- other company. He was deeply beloved by all who knew him, not only for his courage and manly qualities, but for his kindness, sympathy, and for- getfulness of self on all occasions of trial and suf- fering. The organization of the Grand Army of the Republic in Somerville has named its post for this gallant young soldier and martyr. The Somer- ville Guard suffered no further losses in battle; but of those taken prisoners, Glines, Allen, Jones, Gor- ham, Horton, Hateh, and Kenrick fell vietims to disease brought on by the inhumanity of Southern prisons.
Quickly succeeding the last call was another for 300,000 troops, and the Somerville Light Infantry, with B. F. Parker captain, and W. C. Bailey and John Harrington lieutenants, again entered the service for nine months.
August 27, a bounty of $125 had been voted by the town, which was increased to $200 Septem- ber 24. The company went into camp on Pros- pect Hill after the departure of the Somerville Guard, remaining till September 16, when it de- parted to Wenham. Leaving camp in October, it was ordered to North Carolina, and remained in the vicinity of Newbern, without participating in any considerable battle, till the expiration of its service.
In July, 1863, one hundred and eighty-six men were taken by draft from Somerville. As a result of this levy, $3,000 in commutation money was
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raised, four substitutes were procured, and one citi- zen personally answered the country's call.
October 17, the President made a further call for three hundred thousand volunteers, and, with some difficulty, the town filled her quota of ninety- two men by March, 1864.
In July, 1864, the Somerville Light Infantry, Captain Coffin, went to the front for one hundred days, but participated in no engagement.
Somerville furnished forty commissioned officers and one thousand and eighty-five men for the war, in all branches of the service, which was a surplus of one hundred and forty-seven above the number required. Ninety-eight were killed, or died of disease incident to the hardships of war, and two hundred and fifty were wounded. The whole amount of money appropriated by the town for war purposes, exclusive of state aid, was $133,039.41, and $65,823.38 was voluntarily contributed by the citizens.
Upon the selectmen and war committees de- volved unusually arduous labors, and to Thomas Cunningham, recruiting officer during the greater part of the war and town treasurer for 1863, 1864, and 1865, the town is especially indebted for his energetic efforts in the various departments of the war business, and for preparing and preserving a careful record of the transactions and expenditures of this period.
The women of Somerville were not less patriotic than the men ; and actively engaged in all possible labors to manifest their sympathy and furnish ma- terial aid. Soldiers' aid societies were formed for making clothing and other articles of comfort for the soldiers in camp or hospital ; many delicacies were prepared for the sick or wounded ; fairs were held for the purpose of raising money ; and all that womanly tenderness or womanly ingenuity could suggest, was cheerfully assumed, and as success- fully accomplished.
In the summer of 1863 a marble monument was erected in the cemetery, to the memory of those from the town who had fallen or were yet to fall in the service of their country. It was erected with the residue of the fund raised for the Somerville Light Infantry at their first going forth. It is a small and simple shaft, standing in the mid- dle of the yard, crowded with names, and it was the first monument erected in Massachusetts to the fallen soldiers and sailors in the War of the Rebellion.
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