History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 168

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 168

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In the formation of the State constitution, Lexing- ton took an active interest through Rev. Mr. Clarke, her delegate in the convention. It was not altogether satisfactory to him, and when submitted to the town for approval, he proposed several amendments, which were unanimously adopted. He thought the rights of the people were not sufficiently guarded by that instrument, and also that Protestantism should be recognized as the religion of the State. Happily, his fears proved groundless, and all semblance of a State religion ultimately disappeared from the laws of the Commonwealth.

THE WAR OF 1812 with Great Britain was nnpopu- lar in New England, and especially in Massachusetts, where it was generally regarded as a needless one. . And the fact that peace was made without even men- tioning the matter which caused it, would seem to prove that it was wholly unnecessary. Party spirit ran high. Lexington was strongly opposed to the policy of the administration, but she did not fail to support the Government. Bounties were readily granted for soldiers, and an earnest purpose was mani- fest to bear her portion of the burdens and sacrifices of the war. Patriotism was stronger than party spirit, and the sons of the men who fought the battles of the Revolution were not wanting in the valor of their fathers. Sc it proved also half a century later in the great Rebellion.

WAR OF THE REBELLION .- The record of the town in that long and desperate conflict is a most credita- ble one. The old heroic spirit was here which in the earlier struggle dared all things for freedom and right. The town expended nearly $30,000 in furnishing men for the army and in supporting their families. Every call of the President was promptly answered from the first to the last. Lexington's quota was always full, and at the close of the war she had nine more men in the field than were required of her. During the war 244 men were enlisted from this town in the army and navy, of whom twenty were killed in battle, or died from wounds, or from disease contracted in the ser- vice. Lexington men may be traced in all the great battles and marches, doing their duty nobly, bearing the hardships and sacrifices of war patiently and he- roically. Some of them, alas ! learned what it was to face the horrors of Southern prisons and die in South-

ern hospitals. But wherever the fortunes of war car- ried them, the town had no cause to be ashamed of the men who represented her in the field. They made a brave and worthy record, and every patriotic heart delights to do them honor. Truly the record of 1775 is not dishonored by that of 1861, and the sires might well be proud of the sons.

Nor was the devotion of Lexington to the cause of the Union confined to the men in the field, or the men at home who faithfully supported them. The women of the town were just as earnest and as self- sacrificing, so far as it lay in their power. They toiled nobly to supply clothing and comfort for the sick and wounded in the hospitals. Efficient organi- zations existed in the churches for aiding the men in the field, and many boxes of stockings and mittens and underclothing were sent from the town to cheer their brothers on picket duty, on weary marches and in the trenches of besieged towns where they were pressing on to victory. After every great battle they promptly gathered, bringing their stores to alleviate the awful suffering and do all that could be done to save the precious lives of the wounded men. Some left their peaceful homes and went into the hospitals bearing light and comfort and making those dreary places brighter by their gentle ministries. Truly the heroism in that tremendous contest was not all on the side of the men in the service; the hardships and suf- fering were not all on the long marches or in malarial camps, or the terrible scenes of Southern prisons. The wives, mothers and sisters at home had things to bear that were quite as trying, and they bore them just as bravely and cheerfully. They did their part with equal fidelity and enthusiasm. All honor to the brave men who faced death in so many forms for union and freedom; all honor likewise to the noble women who bore the awful anxieties and losses of the war so patiently and toiled so faithfully to sustain their husbands, sons and brothers in the field. Lex- ington had her full share of both. She opened the bloody drama of freedom in 1775, and she did her part in the final scene of 1861.

Since the war a Grand Army Post, the George G. Meade, No. 119, has been organized in the town, now numbering forty veterans. A Women's Relief Corps is connected with it numbering fifty. Both organiza- tions are well maintained and are in an efficient and flourishing condition. In addition to all which is done by the State for soldiers' families needing as- sistance, the Relief Corps watches over them and sees that they are properly attended in sickness and that nothing required for their comfort is lacking. The object of the corps is not only to give aid in time of need, but sympathy and counsel in the time of trouble, that no man's family who served his country in that awful crisis shall be neglected. These organizations command the hearty respect of the people of the town and anything necessary for their work is cheerfully contributed. The Grand Army Post annually observes

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Decoration Day with appropriate ceremonies. The graves.of their fallen comrades in the cemetery, of which there are nearly twenty, are visited, baskets of flowers and wreaths of ivy placed upon them, while the old flag, in defence of which they died, is waved over their resting-place, and a band of music plays solemn dirges in honor of their memory. In no por- tion of the State are the names of our country's dead heroes more fondly cherished or gratefully remem- bered. When the new town-hall was erected, in 1874, the late Mrs. Maria Hastings Cary, a native of Lex- ington, residing in Brooklyn, N. Y., gave the princely sum of $20,000 towards it on condition that a room should be provided in it for Cary Library and a Me- morial Hall. Accordingly it was so planned and built. Two marble tablets were inserted in the walls of Memorial Hall -- one inscribed with the names of the minute-men who feil on the 19th of April, 1775, and the other with the names of those who perished in the War of the Rebellion. Four marble statues of life-size, were also placed there by the contribu- tions of the citizens commemorative of the men of the Revolution and the soldiers of the Rebellion; that of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, represent- ing the foremost patriots of the earlier conflict, to- gether with a typical minute-man of Captain Parker's company, and that of a typical infantry soldier stand- ing on gaard in the latter conflict. All are statues of artistic merit and fittingly represent the character- istic men of these great epochs of our history.

In the main hall of the town building there is also a large picture, by Henry Sandham, of the battle of Lexington. It represents the scene on the Common in the early morning as the dawn is breaking and at the moment when the firing occurred. On the left is the old Buckman tavern, the rendezvous of the min- ute-men, the smoke rising from the chimney and a candle dimly burning in the chamber; on the right stands the ancient meeting-house, and between them are drawn up the British troops, with Major Pitcairn upon his splendid charger, turning in his saddle and giving the command to fire. In the foreground are the broken ranks of the patriots, some returning the fire, some stooping over their fallen comrades, some standing their ground to reload their pieces and some turning to leave the field. The whole force and spirit of the picture are thrown into the faces and positions of the minute-men. The resolnte, determined pur- pose of resistance speaks in every face and form. Their appearance is full of life and valor, well repre- senting the spirit of the people at that time. While the dull, apathetic, mechanical appearance of the British soldiers in their splendid equipments forms a striking contrast and fittingly expresses the idea that they had no heart for the bloody business. There are also touches of beanty in the picture. The morning light breaking on the gable of the meeting-house and flush- ing the clouds with the coming glory, the wreaths of smoke rising over the British line from the firing, the

pale, innocent face of a mere stripling who has fallen and whose head is held up by an old man bending over him, serve to give a softened beauty and pathos to the scene, which veils something of its horror and invests it with a marvelons fascination. While strongly realistic, depicting much of the actual scene, it is also instinct with the spirit of the time.

In the centennial year of the battle, the occasion was observed in Lexington by elaborate and fitting ceremonies. Many of the highest civil and military officials of the State and National Governments, in- cluding President Grant and members of his Cabinet, were present. A vast multitude, numbering it is thought from 50,000 to 75,000, persons from the neigh- boring cities and towns, and from distant portions of our country, including men distinguished in every walk of life, crowded the streets and public grounds, to visit places of historical interest. The services consisted in the unveiling of the statues in Memorial Hall, an oration by Hon. Richard H. Dana, and a banquet followed by a ball in the evening. A tree was planted on the Common by President Grant in commemoration of his visit. The day was cold and blustering, snow covered the ground and much suffer- ing was caused by the crowded condition of the town and the impossibility of providing transportation on the cars for so vast a multitude, or food for their hun - ger and shelter from the cold. These things detracted much from the enjoyment of the people and the suc- cess of the celebration. The town, through its various committees had made systematic arrangements for the observance of the day, and no money or labor were spared to pay fitting honor to the occasion. More than $9000 was expended by the town for this pur- pose. Lexington has never grudged any money needed for patriotic objects or to perpetuate the mem - ory of historic incidents within her borders. In 1884 the sum of $1500 was expended under the direction of a committee appointed by the town in marking places of interest in her history. These included tablets on the Hancock-Clarke house, the Bnekman and Munroe taverns, the home of Jonathan Harring- ton, the last survivor of the battle, and several others ; a huge bonlder was placed on the Common to indicate the line of the minute-men; an appropriate and beautiful monument, on the site of the first three meeting-houses ; a large granite block cut in pyrami- dal form and standing on a heavy base, over the grave of Captain John Parker; a unique stone cannon, on the spot where Earl Percy planted one of his field- pieces to cover the British retreat ; a granite slab at the foot of the hill in the western part of the town, where Lieutenant-Colonel Smith attempted to rally his fleeing troops; also a similar one at the well where young Haywood and the British soldier shot each other ; and one in the wall on Main Street near the Munroe tavern, to indicate the position of another field-piece and the locality where several buildings were burued by the retreating soldiers. These mem-

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orials have added much to the satisfaction of those visiting the town for historic study, and they serve also to preserve a knowledge of many incidents and places in danger of being forgotten by future gener- ations.

In keeping with the marking of historic spots was the improvement of the Common two years later. The old dilapidated fence of stone posts with wooden rails between was removed and a wide gravel walk made around the entire area. The unsightly town scales were taken from the southern point of the Com- mon and put in a more convenient but less conspicu- ous place. Several hundred cubic yards of gravel were excavated and carried away and the space filled in with loam. It was then plowed, re-graded, enriched with fertilizer and seeded and a few additional trees set in vacant places. Thus the Common was made into a beautiful lawn, and it has been carefully kept as such ever since. It is now an attractive and de- lightful spot, surrounded with grand old trees and containing three historic monuments. Hundreds of pilgrims from every State in the Union visit it an- nually, and are pleased to find a spot " sacred to liber- ty and the rights of mankind " (in the words upon the old monument) so faithfully watched over and cared for by the people who possess it. For these improvements the town has expended nearly $2000, and an annual appropriation is made to keep the place bright and clean where the martyrs died. These facts show that the patriotic spirit still burns brightly in the hearts of the Lexington people and that a gen- erous appreciation of brave men and noble deeds ex- ists among them.

CHAPTER XLVI.

LEXINGTON-(Continued).

EDUCATION-SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.

WE have seen that the earliest public school in Lexington was established by vote of the town in 1715. This was a grammar school, probably for boys only, and kept in the school-house erected that year on the Common. It was not altogether free, but a small charge was made each pupil according to the studies he pursued, and in addition to this he was sometimes obliged to furnish two feet of wood annual- ly for the fire. Women schools, or " Dame Schools," as they were called, were established about the same time in different parts of the town, kept in private houses, and free to girls and the younger children. There were as many as five or six of these schools lo- cated in places where they would best accommodate the young children. In the years when the Grammar School was moved from one quarter of the town to another, every two months, it took the place of the Dame Schools, at least for a portion of theschool year.

This policy seems to have been continued for three- quarters of a century, or until 1795, when three school-houses were erected, one in the north, one in the east and one in the southwest parts of the town, and permanent schools established in them. At this time $333 was appropriated annually for education. The number of children of school age probably ex- ceeded 150, showing that no more than $2.50 per scholar was expended. In 1804 three additional school-houses were erected, including a new one on the Common, making the third on that site, and more liberal appropriations began to be made for the sup- port of schools. Evidently not much supervision had been exercised over the schools up to the begin- ning of this century. The minister was accustomed to visit them once or twice in the year, as we learn from the diary of Rev. Jonas Clarke, but it was for the purpose of hearing the children recite the Catechism and of giving some moral and religious instruction. In the year 1800 the town voted that teachers must bring certificates of their qualifications, and the select- men were instructed to visit the schools and see that they were properly taught and governed. The first committee chosen to have a general oversight of them appears to have been in 1821. But the appropria- tion for schools did not reach $1000 until nine years later, in 1830. From this period there has been a gradual increase in the expenditure for public educa- tion. The school buildings have been much improved and seven of the schools are now graded. In 1854 a High School was established to furnish a thorough English course of study for graduates of the grammar schools and to prepare pupils for college. At the present time there are twelve schools in the town, in- cluding the High School, with thirteen teachers, besides a teacher of music and of sewing. Of these, four are ungraded schools, in the outlying districts ; two are in the east village, a grammar and a primary ; and five are in the centre village, viz., one grammar, two sub-grammar and two primary schools. The average number in all the schools during 1889 was 401, of which 60 were in the High School under a principal and assistant. The appropriation for schools the last year was $11,500, giving $28 for each scholar, which is certainly a generous expenditure and exceeded by few towns in the State. The man- agement of the schools is under the control of a com- mittee of three persons, one of whom is chosen an- nually to serve three years; and a superintendent who is also principal of the High School, and who receives additional compensation for this service.

A committee appointed by the town is now consid- ering the question of a new school edifice for the cen- tral village. It is proposed to erect a, building of six or eight rooms upon an ample lot, containing all modern improvements in heating, ventilation and drainage, and accommodations for some of the outly- ing schools, should the town decide to consolidate them by providing transportation for the scholars.

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There is a demand on the part of the people for spa- cious, comfortable and convenient school-rooms, and there is no disposition to withhold any appropriation needed to secure them, and to make the means of public education as excellent as possible.

Au academy was established in Lexington in 1822 for a higher education than the public schools afforded. Under the instruction of the late Caleb Stetson it attained a creditable standing among sim- ilar institutions, and drew scholars from other towns and States. It was founded by a number of the town's people, who erected a building for its use on a lot fronting the Common at the northeast corner. It was an incorporated institution, and maintained a school here with varying success for a number of years, but was finally abandoned. Having no en- dowment, the charge l'or tuition was the only means of its support, and the income proved inadequate to maintain it in an efficient condition. In 1839, when the State of Massachusetts took the first steps towards establishing normal schools, the use of the academy building was offered to the Board of Education for that purpose and gladly accepted. It was fitted up and put in a condition to accommodate the Normal School and also an experimental school, where the Normal scholars could receive practical instruction in teaching. The town paid these expenses and do- nated the use of the building withont charge to the State. The school was opened in July, 1839, under the charge of Rev. Cyrus Pierce with but three pupils. The number gradually increased, and the school be- came eminently successful during the five years that it remained in Lexington. Such was the humble be- ginning of the first Normal School in America. In 1844 it was decided to place the school upon a more permanent basis and give it better accommodations. The location was opened to competitive bids, and Lexington was distanced by her more wealthy neigh- bors. It was secured by Newton, and transferred to that place during this year. Subsequently it was re- moved to Framingham, where it still remains, and has become one of the most efficient and popular of our Normal Schools. The old academy building has undergone many changes since it was abandoned for school purposes. For the last twenty years it has been used by the Hancock Congregational Society as a meeting-house, by whom it was purchased and fitted up for purposes of worship on the organization of that society. It must always be an object of pecu- liar interest to the historian as the place where, half a century ago, the experiment of Normal Schools was first made-an experiment from which have come the most beneficial and splendid results. May it long be preserved from the hand of the destroyer as a me- morial of an event which has been fruitful in bless- ings to our country !

A young ladies' seminary was established here by the late Dr. Dio Lewis. For this purpose he pur- chased the Lexington House in 1864, a spacious ho-

tel, and fitted it up for a boarding and day-school. His devotion to the physical training and develop- ment of the pupils, in connection with their studies and the favorable location for health, made the insti- tution widely popular. Nearly 150 pupils were en- rolled in the school during the third year after his occupancy of the Lexington House. But in the vaca- tion following, and just before the opening of the fall term of 1867, the house took fire and was entirely consumed, involving a heavy loss of property and of school advantages to the town. It has never been re- built, and the school was broken up by the misfortune.

Lexington had several libraries before the present public library was founded. A library appears to have been connected with the First Parish sixty or seventy years ago. During the early pastorate of Rev. Charles Briggs, while town and parish were one, the juvenile library was established, designed especially to provide good reading for the children and young people. Ap- propriations were sometimes made by the town for the purchase of new books. This library was kept in the front vestibule of the meeting-house, and on Sun- days between services was opened for returning and giving out books. It was well maintained, and afforded a valuable means of entertainment and improvement for young people before the organization of Sunday- schools. At the same time there was a village library belonging to an association formed for mutual im- provement. By the payment of a small sum annually a person was entitled to the use of the books. And at a later period the Agricultural Library was established in connection with the Farmers' Club. This was de- voted mainly to such books as were of value to the cultivators of the soil. Before any libraries existed in the town, the minister's books were freely loaned to his parishioners, as we learn from the MS. diary of Rev. Jonas Clarke, where a list of borrowers' names is carefully preserved. Among them are Bax- ter's works in four quarto volumes, presented to the Lexington church by the Hon. Samuel Holden, Gov- ernor of the Bank of England, in 1730, the donor of Holden Chapel to Harvard College. The volumes were to be loaned to the people and kept for the use of future generations. They are now to be seen in the public library ; but probably are not often called for.

In 1868 Mrs. Maria Hastings Cary proposed to give $1000 to Lexington to establish a free public library, on condition that a similar sum should be raised in money or in books for the same object. The offer was made as an expression of interest in her native town and in the hope of promoting the welfare of its peo- ple. It was specified in the gift that the selectmen, the School Committee and the settled ministers of the churches for the time being should constitute a board of trustees for the management and control of the library, and that the town should provide a place for it and necessary attendance and care. The proposi- tion was gratefully accepted and the conditions com-

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plied with, by the donation of the other libraries to this object and an appropriation of money by the town. Such was the origin of Cary Library, so named in honor of the original donor. The organization of the board of trustees was soon effected, the books purchased, the other libraries consolidated with it, a place rented for its use, and Cary Library opened to the people of the town. Three years later, in 1871, Mrs. Cary being pleased with the public appreciation and usefulness of the library, gave $5000 towards a permanent endowment. When the new town-hall was erected a room was provided for the library by an additional gift from Mrs. Cary, as previously noticed, where it has remained to the present time. By her will she left the sum of $5000 for its fur- ther endowment, which was received after her death. The town has made generous appropriations annually for its maintenance, and it has been gradually en- larged until it contains between 12,000 and 13,000 vol- umes. It is highly prized by the people and exten- sively used ; more than 25,000 volumes have been drawn from it during the last year. From 500 to 800 new books are added annually. For the most part the library has been carefully selected, and is especially rich in works of history, biography and travel, and in books of reference. It is supplied with a variety of maga- zines and papers and the tables are occupied by inter- ested readers, among whom there is a large proportion of young people and pupils of the public schools. The influence going out from Cary Library into every portion of the town is most encouraging and helpful. No institution among us is more popular, and none is more cheerfully supported. A branch library is maintained in the east village, where a room is open for drawing and returning books through an assist- ant librarian. It is also supplied with magazines and papers. By this means the library is made available to a much larger class of people and a comfortable reading-room provided for their leisure hours. A special appropriation is made annually for the sup- port of the branch.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 168

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