History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 171

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 171

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THE HOTELS OF LEXINGTON .- Three-fourths of a century ago, when the travel was by stage-coaches and all transportation of freight by teams, the taverns of this town were numerous and well patronized. The principal thoroughfares were liberally planted with them, and elderly people call to mind no less than twelve, where good cheer was provided for man and beast. In all these, of course, spirituous liquors were sold, and also at the grocery-stores, numbering five or six. But the old taverns were obliged to pull down their signs and close their doors soon after the whistle of the locomotive was beard in our land.

Lexington now has but four places of public enter- tainment, viz. : the Willard House, in East Lexing- ton, and the Russell House, the Massachusetts House and the Monument House in the centre village. Three of these,- the Willard, the Russell and the Mas- sachusetts House-are chiefly patronized by summer visitors, of whom there are considerable numbers dur- ing the season. They are well kept, and families from the city often come here for a quiet country home many years iu succession. People in feeble health, or exhausted by over-work, find the atmosphere pure and bracing, and a residence of a few weeks often proves wonderfully invigorating. To sickly children especially the Lexington air and life is stimulating and healthful. Thus the hotels are generally well patronized, and are sometimes filled to overflowing with guests. The Massachusetts House receives that name from the fact that it is the identical building erected by the State at Philadelphia for the accom- modation of ils officials and people at the Centennial. It was purchased of the State by Mr. Muzzy, taken down and brought to this place, where it was re-

erected and fitted up as a hotel. It remains, however, very much as it was originally, both without and within, and with an adjoining house affords pleasant rooms for many guests. If the old taverns have dis- appeared, so also have many of the old customs asso- ciated with them. Spirituous liquors are no longer sold under the protection of law in Lexington. A strong public sentiment is in favor of no license, and at the last municipal election it gave the emphatic majority of 200 votes.

LEXINGTON SAVINGS BANK .- This institution was incorporated iu 1871. It began in a small way and has been steadily gaining in favor among all classes of people. The management, from the start has been of the most economical and conservative character. Its officers have served the depositors for the most part without compensation. Mr. George W. Robinson, the president from the beginning, has devoted much time to its affairs and always declined to accept any compensation. The treasurer has been paid a small salary, but the whole cost of management for 1889 barely reached $500, with 785 open accounts and de- posits, including the guarantee fund of $200,000. The institution has paid two and one-half per cent. semi- annual dividends for many years, besides steadily adding to the guarantee fund. The investments are chiefly in mortgages on real estate in this and neigh- boring towns. Many of the depositors are laboring men and girls at service in families. As a means of encouraging habits of industry and forethought, the savings bank has had a most salutary influence. In this way it has done much in helping laborers to buy land and make pleasant homes for themselves. A large proportion of the workingmen of the town pos- sess such homes, and are sober, prosperous, respect- able people. The savings bank occupies a room in the town building and is open on the afternoons of Wednesday and Saturday in each week.

WATER-WORKS .- Town water is supplied by the Lexington Water Company, a private enterprise, in- corporated in 1881. About five miles of mains have been laid in the streets running through Main Street nearly to the Arlington line. The water is taken from wells in a meadow at the foot of Concord Hill, half a mile southwest of the central village. In addi- tion to two large wells dng for the purpose, an arte- sian well has recently been drilled to the depth of 185 teet, of which 175 feet is in solid rock. This has a diameter of six inches and has been tested by forty - eight hours' consecutive pumping, which drew a large number of gallons per minute without exhausting the supply. From these wells the water is pumped info a stand-pipe having a capacity of upwards of 60,000 gallons, and standing at an elevation of 143 feet above the pumping station, and giving a pressure of sixty cubic feet per square inch at the town hall, half a mile distant. The town is supplied with fifty-one hydrants for fire purposes under contract with the company, at an annual cost of about $1400. The water is taken

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by about 250 consumers and 75,000 gallons are sup- plied daily. It has been pronounced by the State Board of Health to be of excellent quality, and stands near the top of their list for purity. The supply has been largely increased by the artesian well, and is now considered ample for the wants of the town for many years to come.

Closely related to a supply of pure water is a sys- tem of drainage. At present the drainage of the cen- tre village is into Vine and North Brooks ; but this is not sufficient or satisfactory. A competent com- mittee has been appointed by the town to consider the subject carefully and report a system of drainage for consideration. This committee have had a thorough survey made and have examined different methods of disposing of sewage. The plans which seem most feasible are two : first, a system of dispos- ing of it at some central point by means of purifica- tion through chemical agency ; the other to make connection with the Mystic Valley sewerage system through Arlington. The first cost of the latter plan will be heavy, but in the end it may be the cheaper, for, when once completed, the annual expense of mainte- nance will be light; whereas the former method, though not very expensive at first, will require a con- siderable annual expenditure. The committee will be able soon to report the method, in their judgment, best fitted to meet the necessities of the case, and the town will be called upon to take final action upon this important matter. There is no doubt but an effi- cient system will be adopted and put in operation as speedily as possible. The subject is one of vital in- terest to a large proportion of the inhabitants.

THE GAS COMPANY .- This company was incorpor- ated in 1874 with a capital of $20,000, taken largely by citizens of the town. The gas is made from crude petroleum by the Henlow process. It gives a gas of great brilliancy and of about thirty candle-power against eighteen candle-power for coal gas. The consumption is small and only about one and a quar- ter million feet are manufactured annually. The company has laid four miles of mains on the princi- pal streets and supplies the Town-Hall, the churches, the stores, the hotels, the railroad station and about 100 families, besides eighty-five street lamps. It has not been a financial success thus far, owing to the fact that the works were once destroyed by fire, and the mains at first laid were of wood, coated with as- phaltum, which proved a failure and had to be re- placed with iron pipe, causing a considerable addi- tional expense. Experiments are now being made to manufacture a gas of less candle power, which can be furnished at less cost to the consumer. The cost at present appears to be high, but owing to its greater illuminating power it is doubtful if the actual cost is more than coal-gas affording the same amount of light.

the Common, or rather in a small room attached to the house and still standing. It remained there aud in the store of the Merriams for a long period. The house being used as a tavern, and near to the meeting- house, made the place convenient for the people of the town. The post-office was open for an hour at noon on Sunday to accommodate people living away from the village. Afterwards Mr. John Davis was appointed postmaster, and he removed the office to his house on Main Street, opposite the railroad sta- tion. Here it remained for nearly twenty-five years, during which time Mr. Davis continued in charge. After his removal Mr. L. G. Babcock was appointed postmaster and has held the office up to the present time, now more than twenty-three years. Mr. Bab- cock was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion and saw hard service in the Western Army. He was se- verely wounded in the battle of Fort Donelson and remained all night on the field, his garments frozen to the ground in his own blood. His administration of the office has been satisfactory to the people, and in the political changes of these twenty years there has been no disposition to seek his removal. The office is now a third-class money-order office, and the business is steadily increasing. The number of pieces of mail matter received per month averages 15,000 through the year, and the number sent out amounts to 12,000 pieces.

THE LEXINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY .- This so- ciety was organized in March, 1886, for the purpose of awakening an interest in local history and pre- serving important matter relating thereto in danger of being lost and forgotten. It has a membership of men and women amounting now to more than 200. Regular meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the months of October, December, January, March and April, and special meetings as business may re- quire, when papers are read by the members on sub- jects pertaining to the history of the town, and to families belonging to the town, with occasional papers of a broader scope. The admission fee is one dollar and the annual due fifty cents. The society has pub- lished a volume of its proceedings and of papers read by some of its members, making a book of 250 pages, with pictures of the first school-house of the town, of the second and third meeting-houses, of the old Mun- roe tavern, and of the old academy building. The papers contain much valuable information concern- iug some of the most prominent events and indi- viduals connected with Lexington history. The large and striking picture of the battle of Lexington in the Town-Hall by Henry Sandham, costing $4000, was purchased and hung there by the society, the money being raised by subscription through the so- licitation of the members. Some valuable relics illus- trating the life of our ancestors and the events of our history have been given to the society and are care- fully preserved ; books also and pamphlets that relate

THE POST-OFFICE .- At first the centre post-office was kept in the Merriam house, on the east side of | to important matters. The society has held memorial

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

services annually on the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, at which the children of the public schools were present and lessons of patriotism incul- cated. On the hundredth anniversary of Washing- ton's visit to Lexington, November 5, 1889, the occa- sion was observed by a hanquet at the Russell House with appropriate songs and speeches. It was an evening of great interest and was heartily enjoyed by a large company. Thus the society has done and is doing an important work in stimulating the study of local history and preserving valuable knowledge and memorials of the past that were likely to be left behind and forgotten.

THE FIELD AND GARDEN CLUB .- This organiza- tion was formed for the purpose of improving the ap- pearance of the town by cultivating a taste for well- kept side-walks, borders, yards and lawns ; planting trees along the highways, and taking care of public grounds. It has a membership of fifty men and wo- men, who pay an annual due for the objects of the society-one dollar for gentlemen and fifty cents for ladies. The members have accomplished a good deal in various directions for village improvement, secur- ing appropriations from the town for concrete walks and street-crossings ; caring for shade-trees along the roads, and inducing people to keep their grounds in order. The care of the Common has been given up to the club by the town and appropriations made an- nually to be expended by them in keeping it in the best possible condition. There has been a great change for the better in the appearance of the town in the last ten years, owing, no doubt, in part to the attention which has been called to these matters by the Field and Garden Club. The road-sides have been improved and much has been done in making concrete walks. A publie taste has been fostered for adorning yards and grounds with flowering plants and shrubs, and this taste is constantly increasing, making the town more beautiful and attractive. The Field and Garden Club has also done a good work by contracting with nurseries for ornamental trees at wholesale rates and disposing of them to the people of the town at cost, thus encouraging the planting of trees by everybody. It has also secured favorable ac- tion from the town in regard to the location of side- walks, so as to leave a border for grass and trees be- tween the walk and the road-bed, adding much to the beauty of the roads. In these and other ways this organization has proved a public benefit.

There are several social and secret societies in the town which appear to be in a fairly prosperous con- dition.

THE HIRAM LODGE OF MASONS was formed more than a century ago and contained some of the leading men of the town. A hall was obtained and fitted up for their use in the old Munroe tavern, where their meetings were held. Owing to the death or removal of many of the members, the lodge became much weakened and was finally transferred to West Cam-

bridge, (now Arlington), where it is active and flour- ishing. Subsequently the SIMON W. ROBINSON LODGE of Masons was organized here and now num- bers about sixty members. It appears to be well sus- tained and is the means of much usefulness in the community.

THE ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN, In- dependence Lodge, No. 45, was chartered in Septem- ber, 1882. This organization has a hall where the meetings are held, in Norris Block, and numbers forty-one members.

THE LEXINGTON YOUNG MEN'S CATHOLIC LY- CEUM has been recently formed for intellectual and moral improvement. They have a hall in a new building lately erected on Main Street, and a mem- bership of thirty. It promises to be an organization of great helpfulness to the members, and has the hearty co-operation of Father Kavanaugh, of the Cath - olic Church.

Besides these societies, there are two or three finan - cial clubs among the young men, whose object is the saving and safe investment of their earnings. These organizations are carefully managed and have been eminently successful in their plans.

There are two book clubs, whose object is the tak- ing of papers and magazines for the use of the mem- bers. A large number of the leading periodicals of this country and of England are subscribed for and passed from house to house each week, thus bringing within the reach of many families the best reading of the time. Women's clubs- for mutual improvement, where books are read and discussed by the members, and lectures upon subjects of literary interest are given, form a striking feature of Lexington society. There are several of these organizations, and an ele- vating and refining influence goes out from them into many homes.

A male chorus, under the direction of a competent leader, has been maintained for several years, and many fine concerts have been given. The town con- tains a large amount of musical talent, both instru- mental and vocal, and the male chorus has done much to develop it and cultivate an appreciation of good music in the community.

MUNICIPAL STATISTICS .- The assessor's valuation of Lexington for 1889 was $3,193,000, and the amount of tax was $42,000, making a rate of $12.70 on a thou- sand. Total number of tax-payers was 1233, of whom 498 paid a poll-tax only. The number of dwelling-houses was 590. Number of horses, 549. Number of cows, 1248. Marriages registered during the year, 16; whole number of births, 50; whole number of deaths, 60.

The town holds some important trust funds for charitable objects. Besides that of Cary Library, already noticed, it has a cemetery fund amounting to nearly $3000, for the perpetual care of burial fots in the town burying-grounds ; the Bridge fund, founded by Samuel Bridge, amounting to $4000, for the assist-

FMC

THE CARY HOMESTEAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COL. WILLIAM MUNROE.

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ance of deserving persons not in the alms-house. Nearly one-half of this fund, however, came from the estate of Mrs. Elizabeth Gerry, daughter of the late Dr. Whitcomb, of this town; there being no relatives near enongh to claim it, the State became the legal heir, but, on the petition of people of the town, it was turned over to Lexington, and given to the Bridge fund. The Gammell fund of $500, bequeathed by the late Jonas Gammell, the income to be used for supplying additional comforts for the sick and aged at the alms-house. These funds are in charge of committees appointed for the purpose, and the in- come is used in accordance with the directions of the donors.

THE OLD FAMILIES OF LEXINGTON .- The Bridge family, long numerous, and very prominent, both in municipal and ecclesiastical affairs, is no longer rep- resented by any male descendant of that name. The Bowman family, which, for several generations, occu- pied a leading position in society, and some of whose members long held the highest offices of the town, has become extinct, and the old homestead has long been in the possession of strangers. The Marrett family, descendants of President Dunster, of Har- vard University, from which have sprung noted min- isters, lawyers and statesmen, have no representative in Lexington to-day, and nothing but a cellar-hole now marks the place where they lived. The Hastings family has no one representing that name, long honored with the confidence of the people, though the old homestead is owned and occupied by Miss Alice B. Cary, daughter of Maria Hastings Cary, who did so much for the improvement of Lexington. The Tidd family was among the earliest settlers, and, for a long period, maintained an honorable position in the town, and rendered good service to the schools and churches, but it has wholly disappeared, and the house which they occupied for 200 years has fallen to decay. The Chandlers were formerly numerous and influential, both in political and military affairs, but only a very few persons hearing the name now re- main among us. Thus, two and a half centuries have witnessed great changes ; many families becoming extinct, and the descendants of others removing to the new States and cities of the West, spreading far and wide throughout the country.

Other families of the early inhabitants are still strongly rooted in the soil, though sending out shoots that have become vigorous and fruitful in distant places. Among these are the Munroes, the Cutlers, the Browns, the Reeds, the Harringtons, the Lockes, the Wellingtons, the Muzzys, the Parkers, the Fiskes, the Smiths and others who, in the two centuries and more of our history, have maintained their position in the town, and are still strong in numbers and vig- orous in activity.

Many new families have come in during the last twenty-five years to make good the places of those who have disappeared, and the intellectual and moral

character of the people has suffered no deterioration by the infusion of new blood into Lexington society ; on the contrary, the enterprise of its people, their interest in learning, their concern for the good name of the town, their devotion to its historic associations, their readiness to reach out the helping hand to those in distress, and their fidelity in the support of civil and religious institutions, were never more earnest and hearty than they are to-day. And we may confi- dently look forward to a future of permanent growth and substantial prosperity. The coming generations are sure to be imbued still more with the spirit of the fathers, and do no discredit to the old historic town.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

COLONEL WILLIAM MUNROE.

Colonel William Munroe was a direct descendant in the fourth generation from the emigrant, William Munroe, who settled in Lexington (then Cambridge Farms) about 1660, and who came to this country from England in 1652. The family was of Scotch origin, and, taking up an extensive tract of land in the eastern portion of the town, where for genera- tions they resided, the district came to be known as Scotland, a name which it retains to this day. Col- onel William was born in 1742, and received .the name of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, a name which has been perpetuated in the Lexing- ton family down to the present time, a period of two hundred and thirty years, by men living within a mile of the original settler's home. Much of the land taken up by the first William still remains in the possession of his descendants, showing how firmly rooted the Munroes have been in Lexington soil. Colonel William was orderly sergeant of Captain Parker's company of minute-men. On the evening of the 18th of April, 1775, he was placed in com- mand of a guard of eight men at the house of Parson Clarke to protect ,Hancock and Adams who were spending the night there. After the alarm of Paul Revere he conducted them to a place of safety about two miles distant and returned in season to form the line of minute-men on the Common before the British attack. He was actively engaged in the subsequent events of the war, at Cambridge on the 17th of June, in the siege of Boston and in the northern army which captured Burgoyne, where he was lieuten- ant in a Lexington company. After the conclusion of peace he became prominent in town affairs, occu- pying the position of selectman for nine years and representing Lexington in the Legislature for two years. He was appointed colonel in the Middlesex Militia, and marched his regiment in pursuit of the rebels during Shays' Insurrection. In 1822 Colonel Muuroe personated Captain Parker in reacting the

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

battle of Lexington, forming the line of minute-men where he formed it on that eventful evening forty- seven years before, and using the words of Captain Parker to the men, which are now inscribed on the boulder placed on the spot where he stood.

Colonel Munroe kept the old Munroe tavern, long known and popular as a place of public entertain- ment. Here General Washington and his attendants were received in November, 1789, while the President was on his northern tour, and provided with a sump- tuous dinner. The venerable house still remains in posession of his descendant, William A. Munroe, a grandson, and is little changed from its appearance a century and a half ago. It was used as a hospital by the retreating British army on the 19th of April, after coming within the lines of Percy's reinforce- ments, and before leaving it they piled up the furni- ture in the bar-room and set it on fire. Happily our men were able to extinguish the fire before much damage was done.

Colonel Munroe lived to the advanced age of eighty- five years, dying October 30, 1827, and leaving an honorable record of service to his native town aud country.

HON. FRANCIS B. HAYES.

Mr. Hayes was a native of South Berwick, Maine, where he was born in 1819, when the State was still a district of Massachusetts. He was the son of Judge Hayes, of the York County Probate Court, a graduate of Dartmouth College and a lawyer of extensive prac- tice in that portion of the State. The family of Judge Hayes consisted of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom lived to adult age. The mother was the danghter of Hon. John Lord, a fam- ily some of whose members were long connected with Dartmouth College. Thus Francis was born and grew up under conditions favorable to literary tastes and social refinement. He attended the academy in his native town, and completed his preparatory stud- ies at Exeter, New Hampshire, entering Harvard at the early age of sixteen and graduating at twenty. He commenced the study of law in his father's office, and after completing the usual course was admitted to the Suffolk County bar of Boston. Here he ac- quired a reputation for industry and ability in his profession and secured an extensive and lucrative practice before reaching his thirtieth year. Being employed to investigate the affairs of an embarrassed railroad, he was so successful in unraveling its difficul- ties and placing it in a sound and prosperous condi- tion that his reputation as a sagacious business man was established and he was much sought after in sim- ilar cases. Great confidence was placed in his judg- ment in railroad building and management. Large enterprises, involving the expenditure of many mil- lions, were placed in his hands. He was wonderfully successful in the construction of new roads in the West, and in reorganizing those which had become

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 171

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