History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 118

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 118

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There had been other libraries of a public nature in the town, before the library known as the Woburn public library had been thought of. A social library, founded in 1789, existed for quite a period. A char- itable religious library, founded in 1807, and now but little used, is still preserved intact. A young men's library, founded about 1835, was in use for a while, but has been for the most part incorporated with the present public library. . This library was remarkable in one respect, that it contained no religious works or novels. Other libraries of minor importance might he mentioned if it were necessary. But all these were subscription libraries, and not open free to all comers.

1 From the New England Magazine for Feb., 1890.

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In 1853, the Hon. Jonathau Bowers Winn was a member of the convention for the revision of the constitution of the state of Massachusetts, and at a town-meeting in Woburn in November, 1854, he, having informally introduced the subject of a free public library, offered to give for that object the money he had received as a member of the state con- vention, provided the town itself would appropriate a like sum for the same purpose. The project met with a favorable reception, the offer was accepted by the town in an informal vote, and thanks were presented to Mr. Winn for his gift. The offer was formally ac- cepted in March, 1855, and the sum of $300 was ap- propriated to be added to his donation, to be expended for books. Thus a library was started, which was opened for the first time on August 20, 1856.

No other important sum was given to the library by the Hon. Jonathan B. Winn till the year 1875, when he and his brother, Timothy Winn, devised together the sum of $5500. In 1875 the late Charles Bowers Winn, son of the Hon. Jonathan B. Winn, . made his munificent bequest to the people of Woburn in behalf of her public library, which was at ouce appreciated as an endowment of the richest and most permanent kind. This bequest was accepted by the town on February 17, 1876, and its provisions were immediately carried into effect by a committee, composed of John Johnson, Parker L. Converse and Edward D. Hayden, the executors of the will. A period of about two years was taken to erect and fur- nish a suitable building, to purchase the number of volumes needed to open a library of the grade con- templated, and to prepare a catalogne necessary to point out the stores of knowledge in all branches that it was expected to cover. The amount received as an immediate legacy was $140,000 ; the value of the pic- tures left by Mr. Winn being added, raised the amount to $153,000. As residuary legatee the town received still further amounts expended on the li- brary, till the sum amounted to $227,000. Of this amount about $80,000 was expended for "one of the most exquisitely designed and harmoniously arranged buildings modern architecture has produced." About $15,000 was expended immediately for books, many of them of costly character, and about $50,000 more was reserved as a permanent fund, the income of which was to be applied to needful improvements and the purchase of current books. The building was opened for use without formal ceremony on May 1, 1879. The library was originally organized under the general law allowing towns to establish and main- tain free public libraries, and continued under the same law till 1885, when a special act of incorporation was secured from the Legislature more especially suited to its own peculiar case.

Before entering upon a description of the building, a few facts in relation to Charles Bowers Winn may be of interest. He was at one time a student in Harvard University with other young men from Wo-

burn, but his health, never strong, would not admit of his staying there. He then made a voyage to the Mediterranean, and after that time spent most of his years in travel, finding a change of scene and climate a partial relief from pain. In consequence of his prolonged absence, he was personally but little known to the citizens of Woburu. In his journeying he visited every habitable portion of the globe, and the accounts of his wanderings, to those who had the pleasure of his intimate acquaintance, are said to have been intensely interesting. He seldom visited a place twice, avoided companionship, and preferred to pursue his solitary way undisturbed by any one's caprice but his own. He was, however, a broad man, but opposed to parade of any kind. For nearly a year before his death he was confined by illness to his house. During the American civil war he sent a sub- stitute, paid liberally for raising men for the town's quota, and finally went himself, joining the Eleventh Massachusetts light battery, while that command was at the front near Petersburg, Virginia, during the last year of the war, and serving honorably with the battery till the close of its term of service. He would accept no commission, even though it was offered, but served his term as a private from the beginning to the close of his service. His modesty was remarkable. He was loyal to his father's name, and his extraordinary gift of a public library to Wo- burn was accompanied by a desire that the father who accumulated the fortune, rather than the son who bestowed it, should be honored, and the credit due to such an extensive expenditure should be the father's forever. Thus the inscription prepared by the son, and placed in the porch, reads thus : "This building was erected in memory of Jonathan Bowers Winn, from funds bequeathed by his son, for the use, benefit, and improvement of the people of Wo- burn."

In accordance with the provisions of the will, the best known architects of New York and Boston were invited to submit plans for a library building, and five plans from as many different architects were sub- mitted. That of the firm represented by Henry H. Richardson was the one selected. The building as it stands, with a frontage on the street of 1632 feet, set seventy-five feet back from the street, with a lawn entirely surrounding it, is one of the finest and most imposing in its architectural effect to be seen in New England or in the country. Its style is of an original composite nature, resembling its architect's former work in Trinity Church, Boston, though in some re- spects it is more beautiful than Trinity, for the reason that the original designs were not in the least inter- fered with, the genius of the architect being allowed full sway. The contract specified that the material to be used in its construction should be of McGregor stone from the Longmeadow quarries at Springfield, relieved by Ohio cream-colored sandstone trimmings, and the roof to be covered with Akron, Ohio, moulded

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and vitrified tile of a deep red color. The whole was to be completed for the sum of $71,625.50.

The main entrance of the building is crowned by a tower which rises to the height of seventy-eight feet. At its base is a cloistered porch, in which is placed a tablet, above a stone settee, containing the inscrip- tion prepared by Charles B. Winn. From the en- trance a flight of steps in the tower leads to rooms above, while a door opens into the art gallery, in which are hung the fifty or more pictures, princi- pally oil-paintings, bequeathed as a commencement of his collection by Charles Bowers Winn. This room is 22 by 28 feet, with floor of black walnut, and wain- scoting of the same wood. To the right, through an arched passage-way, is the apse used for a museum, containing in cases a scientifically arranged and valuable collection of fossils, minerals and birds, contributed by the uncle of Charles B. Winn-the Hon. John Cummings. This room is about thirty feet across, and polygonal in shape. In the centre is a round table for readers, on which is placed a hand- some chandelier or fixture designed for electric light and gas. To the left of the art gallery is the reading- room proper, 36 by 24 feet, the finish of the wainscot and ceiling being butternut, the floor being ash. Around this room are drawers and shelves for books and statuary. The library is in possession of some eight antique busts and other specimens of statuary imported from Italy, which are placed in this room. From this room leads the wing of the library proper, at the entrance to which is the delivery desk. This room is 67 by 30 feet, and contains fourteen alcoves, seven on each side, in which are now shelved some 27,000 books, with ample capacity for a large number more. The ceiling is of butternut wood, while the floor is of southern pine. The centre ceiling is circu- larly arched, and the columns of butternut finish, supporting the roof and galleries, are surmounted with beautiful capitals, representing leaves, fruit, and flowers, of familiar varieties, exquisitely carved, no two alike, yet all forming a harmonious whole. This peculiar feature in ornamentation is noticeable throughout the building, and especially in the exte- rior decoration.

These are some of the principal architectural effects of the building itself. Of its contents little need be added beyond what has been already said, that it contains many valuable and useful books, and a num- ber of costly ones. This feature it is expected will be added to in full proportion as time goes on. The policy in this respect has of late been somewhat con- servative, the belief being that slow accesslons after careful consideration are the wisest and best. It would be very easy with the funds at command to fill the shelves rapidly, but this certainly would not be prudent, if the value of the works is to be considered.

The place the library has achieved in the intellec- tual lite of the town cannot easily be measured; it is an undoubted and a very high beneficial influence,

the extent of which perhaps could only be adequately realized by its sudden withdrawal. Everything that a reasonable person could ask, in relation to what may be termed an intellectual equipment or intel- lectual tools, is freely and readily furnished.

The total value of the gift of Mr. Winn may be generally summarized in money as follows (to 1881) :

Original legacy from executors $140,000 00

Two thirds of the residne of estate 42,286 16

From pictures . 15,768 50

From interest on investment 15,122 79

From rents, sale of buildings, etc. 7,850 70

Total receipts from all sources (to 1881) ៛221,028 15

Of this amount there had been expended for construction of building, architects, heating apparatus, fixtures, etc. (to 1881) $95,305 24

Paid for real estate

27,638 44

for books 15,281 50

for pictures 13,500 00

for catalogue, stationery, etc. 6,907 20

Discount on U. S. bonds sold 4,138 50

Making the total cost of building and contents (to 1881) $162,770 88 Leaving ao unexpended balance to be invested of $58,257.27.

There is another feature, uncommon in libraries, namely, an antique kitchen fitted up in one of the rooms in the basement-"an old farm kitchen, the fireplace, corner cabinet of china, wall-mirror, settle and chest of drawers, all placed as though in use." This collection was opened to visitors about ten years ago, for the first time, and has been much visited since. It contains, in the words of a recent writer, "a loom, swifts, spinning-wheels, distaff for spinning flax, the cards for carding wool into rolls, churns which are vividly remembered by old men who, when boys, were reluctantly harnessed to this domestic instrument of torture every week to do the family butter-making. Scattered around are rusty old swords in time-eaten scabbards; specimens of the Queen's Arm with which our ancestors beat back the fierce attacks of the foe; ironware, from the little skillet and shallow spider to the big kettle that held the family wash; a whole series of pewter platters, the pride of matronly hearts ; toasting-irons, piggins, noggins, chests of drawers, settles (settees) of tough wood, sets of andirons, shovels, tongs and iron can- dlesticks to go with them. There are Dutch ovens, bread-shovels, waffle-irons and bellows to set the wood ablaze. The wide, open fireplace of the room has its ancient crane, pot-hooks and trammels ; and there are candle-moulds ; stills that the fair dames of ye olden times brewed their rose leaves in for attar to scent their Sabbath-day handkerchiefs ; queer, straight, stiff-backed chairs; looking-glasses uncertain as to reflection; the warming-pan, whose glow was so grateful when crawling into a cold bed in midwinter ; rare patterns of old crockery-ware; cradles, tables, lightstands, secretaries; the old mortar and pestle still fragrant with rich Thanksgiving spices; choice single samples of rare wares like the 'Washington Plate;' decanters that have graced mauy a festive board ; antique brasses, curious smoking pipes, pew-

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ter buttons that once ornamented the garments of an illustrious ancestry ; sconces, saddle-bags, books printed in ancient type, and innumerable quaint and curious things, relics of bygone days."

After all, what better description of the uses of a library is there than that given in the opening lines of the document containing the signatures of the subscribers to the old Woburn social library at its founding on April 13, 1789: "To advance knowl- edge, to enlarge our ideas and extend our capacities." This is the service which, in a larger way, the new Woburn library is rendering to-day.

NOTE .- THE SOCIAL LIBRARY, founded in 1789. The preamble to its preliminary statement began with the words we have just quoted. It was gathered in 1789. It was a proprietary library, the shares being held by a number of subscribers, who promised to conform to such laws and regulations as the major- ity of the subscribers should make for the good gov- ernment and mental advantage of the whole. Of the original subscribers Loammi Baldwin leads with four shares, Joseph Bartlett foliows with two, Samuel Thompson with one, Zebadiah Wyman with three, and so on, till a large number of the citizens of the town are included, some owning one share, others two, and a few three. John Hastings owned three shares. The names of the subscribers and a sketch of this library, by Nathan Wyman, are published in Our Puper, vol. ii., p.91. Samuel Thompson, in his diary, mentions his going to Boston to buy books for this library in 1789 and 1807, also his attending occa- sional library meetings. Colonel Leonard Thomp- son was probably the last living proprietor. About 1827 the books, some two or three hundred in num- ber, were divided among the proprietors, some being given to a library in Lynn. The books were mostly of history and travel-works of poetry and fiction being very few. Occasionally, at the present time, some book or relic of this library is seen.

THE CHARITABLE RELIGIOUS LIBRARY, founded in 1807. This library is still extant, in the present custody of the First Congregational Church. A little pamphlet of eight pages, containing its constitution and the catalogue of its books, was published at the time of its organization, a few copies of which are yet preserved.1 "This institution," says the pamphlet, . "originated in the congregational Church in Woburn, A.D. 1807, and was carried into effect by a general subscription in the town."2 The constitution begins with the following words: "The Congregational Church in Woburn, sensible of the importance of inoral and religious instructiou to the temporal and eternal happiness of themselves, their neighbors and posterity,' having taken measures to establish

1 Viz. : " Constitution of the Charitable Religious Library in Woburn, and catalogue of books which it contains," 8 pp., 16mo., [1807.]

2 A list of the subscribers to " Woburn Charitable Religions Library," not church members, in preserved in the Wyman Coll. MISS., Woburn Public Library, 15 : 133.

charitable religious library, did, on the 7th of April, 1807, unanimously adopt the following articles as its constitution."

The articles referred to are fifteen in number, and from them a few facts are selected to illustrate the purposes and scope of the organization. The first object was to supply the library with the plainest and most practical books on moral and religious subjects. The librarian was to give out and receive books every Monday, P. M., and he could also, wben convenient, accommodate persons at any other time. The library was for the use of all persons regularly residing in the town of Woburn, and also inhabitants of other towns adjacent to Woburn were allowed to use it by the payment of fifty cents annually, and life membership could be obtained by the payment of two dollars. A book could be kept ont two months at one time, and all books were to be returned once each year. A fine of five cents a week was charged for detaining books beyond the legal time. The catalogue appended to these articles contained abont 120 titles, arranged alphabetically by authors. As might be expected, the works were as a rule strictly religious in character, their titles being given in the briefest possible space, and with a general suppres- sion of capital letters. Of some volumes there were a number of copies, in some cases as many as twelve. Another catalogue of the books in this library was published in 1856, and another in IS68.

THE YOUNG MEN'S LIBRARY, founded about 1835. The constitution and catalogue of this library, be- longing to the organization known as the Young Men's Society, was published in 1835, and another catalogue of their books was published in 1852. The Woburn Young Men's Society was founded with a patriotic moral purpose, and for mutual instruction and the general diffusion of knowledge. The age of its members was limited from 14 to 30 years. In the first publication is a list of active and honorary mem- bers of the society, and the rules and regulations of the library. An annual fee of fifty cents was required for its use, outsiders paying the sum of one dollar for the privilege. Books could be kept ont three weeks, and fines for overdue books were 12} cents per week.

The library was composed of books of science and instruction, and of such works only as treat of facts, it being understood that works of fiction and theology should be excluded from it. The works were cla-sed under history, biography, travels and voyages, and scientific and miscellaneous works. The catalogue of 1852 is arranged under the same classification, the subscription being the same amount per year as previously. Miss Ruth Maria Leathe was then the librarian. Other librarians were Capt. Marshall Tidd and Dr. Benjamin Cutter. In 1865 the volumes of this library to the number of 375 were added to the Woburn Public Library, and its existence as a sepa- rate library ccased.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE NORTH WOBURN LIBRARY, founded in 1840.1 The North Woburn Library Association was or- ganized in November, 1840. The labor which re- sulted in this achievement was very largely performed by Benjamin Coolidge, a grandson of Colonel Loam- mi Baldwin. Possessing unusual intelligence, his tireless and almost boundless energy knew no rest till his purpose was accomplished. As a fitting return for his perseverance, the Association chose him for their first President. In accordance with their vote, each male adult member paid one dollar at once, with the understanding that this sum should be given each year. Each female and each minor paid, on the same condition, fifty cents. As there were forty- seven of the former and forty-two of the latter class of original members, the sum of sixty-eight dol- lars was raised in the outset. To this were added six dollars in gifts, making seventy-four dollars as a beginning for the purchase of books. A considerable number of volumes were also given by individuals both in and out of the Association. This nucleus of the proposed library, consisting of 102 volumes, was opened November 21, 1840, for the delivery of books to members.2 By a special gift of twenty-five dollars from James F. Baldwin, Esq., a native of North Wo- burn, then residing in Boston, the number of volumes was soon increased to 132.

From this time on for many years there were essentially the same sources of income and an expen- diture sufficient to secure a gradual, though small, yearly increase in the number of volumes. Accord- ing to a catalogue issued in 1874, there were then 1016 volumes, besides various miscellaneous public documents, reports, etc.

On March 26, 1877, the 124th birthday of Count Rumford, the Rumford Historical Association was organized and subsequently incorporated. As a ma- jority of the Library Association were also members of this, it was thought best that the former should be merged in the latter, and that the library should thenceforth be called the Rumford Library. The old Rumford House having become the property of the Association, it was also voted that the library, then homeless, should be set up in the very room where Benjamin Thompson, the future Scientist and Count, was born. In that historic room it has remained until the present time. Under this new régime, it was decided that it should be a free library, and though still retained in North Woburn for the use

of the people of the village, and under the immediate care and control of the officers of the Rumford His- torical Association, be made, with the consent of the Public Library Committee, an adjunct of the Town Library. The object of this was to make it a con- venient channel for the delivery, on regular specified days, of books from the general library as well as from that of the Association. This arrangement, which continued till recently, gave great satisfaction.

As no catalogue of the Rumford Library has been issued since 1874, and, in the mean time, some vol- umes have fallen into disuse, while others, newly re- ceived, have not yet been regularly numbered and arranged, the writer cannot, with exact accuracy, state the number of volumes now in the library. From certain data at hand, however, it seems safe to say that the whole number is between 1500 and 1600 volumes. And there is abundant evidence that it has been and still is very useful.

NOTE .- In 1852 a printed catalogue of 456 books was issued belonging to this library, and another was issued in 1874, and perhaps others earlier. The Wo- burn Public Library itself has not a complete set of its own publications.

The Warren Academy had a library of 300 or more volumes, and an Agricultural Library of 150 volumes was united to the Woburn Public Library collection in 1865-66. The largest private library in Woburn probably is that of the late George R. Baldwin, which numbers some 7000 volumes, and contains many works of unusual value. These libraries, it is ex- pected, will be deposited in the Woburn Public Li- brary, which possesses ample facilities for their safe keeping.

Among the Woburn libraries not already mentioned are the follow- ing, whose catalogues are to be found in the Woburn Public Library : Pippy's Circulating Library, 1857; Grosvenor & Co.'s Circulating Li- brary, 1867 ; First Congregational Sabbath-School Library, 1868 (an- other, no date) ; First Unitarian l'arish, do., 1869, 1875 ; Baptist, do 1870 ; Methodist Episcopal do. (no date).

CHAPTER XXX.

WOBURN-(Continued).

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

COUNT RUMFORD, 3 WOBURN'S MOST EMINENT NATIVE .- Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1753-1814), an eminent man of science, enlightened philanthropist, and sagacious public administrator, was born at Woburn, in Massachusetts, in 1753, and died at Auteuil, near Paris, in 1814. His family had been settled in New England since the middle of the

ISketch by Leander Thompson.

"The paper for signatures was headed as follows : "The undersigned, young men of New Bridge, in the town of Woburn, being desirous of having a greater command of books than each one can conveniently obtain by bis own unaided exertions, have determined to form them- selves into an association for the purpose of securing a library of useful works ; inasmuch as the investigation of truth affords equal pleasure and much greater benefit than the perusal of fiction, it shall be a fun- damental principle in tho constitution this association may form, to exclude novels and light reading generally."-Woburn Journal, Nov. 18, 1881.

8 From Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th ed., vol. xxiii. By Frederick Drummond.

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century preceding his birth, and belonged to the class of moderately wealthy farmers. His father died while Thompson was very young, and his mother speedily married a second time. But he seems to have been well cared for, and his education was so far from neglected that, according to his own state- ment, he was at the age of fourteen, sufficiently ad- vanced "in algebra, geometry, as ronomy, and even the higher mathematics," to calculate a solar eclipse within four seconds of accuracy. In 1766 he was apprenticed to a storekeeper at Salem, in New England, and while in that employment occupied himself in chemical and mechanical experiments, as well as in engraving, in which he attained to some proficiency. The outbreak of the American war put a stop to the trade of his master, and he thereupon left Salem and went to Boston, where he engaged himself as assistant in another store. He afterwards applied himself to the study, with a view to the prac- tice, of medicine, and then (although, as he affirms, for only six weeks and three days) he became a school- teacher-it is believed at Bradford, on the Merrimack. Thompson was at that period between eighteen and nineteen years old ; and at nineteen, he says, " I mar- ried, or rather I was married." His wife was the widow of a Colonel Rolfe, and the daughter of a Mr. Walker, "a highly respectable minister, and one of the first settlers at Rumford," now called Concord, in New Hampshire. His wife was possessed of consid- erable property, and was his senior by fourteen years. This marriage was the foundation of Thompson's success. Within three years of it, however, he left his wife in America to make his way to wealth and distinction in Europe, and, although his only child by her, a daughter, subsequently joined him, he never saw and, so far as anything appears to the contrary, never attempted or desired to see her again.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 118

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034