History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 138

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 138

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A plan prepared by A. Benjamin was presented and it was voted to make the building two stories high, and thirty by forty feet in size on the ground. The committee were authorized to expend not exceeding $2400 for this building. The Prudential Committee were authorized to employ such teachers as they judged proper, and a school was opened in a small house on School Street, while the new building was in process of erection. By a report of the Building Committee, presented at a meeting held August 22, 1842, it appears that the contractor, Mr. Elisha B. Loring, received for labor and material furnished $1581.89. The cost of the land, which was purchased of Jonathan Oakes, now worth probably $5000 or more, was $150. The chairs for the building cost $108, and the furnace $149.44. These and various other items brought the total cost up to $2595.11. A vote of thanks to the Building Committee was adopted and the Prudential Committee was directed to employ a male teacher.

The upper story was not at first used for school purposes, hut continued to be used as a hall, and the Building Committee were authorized to furnish the same with seats. The Prudential Committee were also at the same meeting authorized to let the school- house hall for all religions worship, lyceums and sing- ing-schools, but not to allow dancing or drilling.

At the annual meeting of the district held March 21, 1842, Solomon Corey was chosen clerk and con- tinued to hold that office until the abolition of the (listriet system in 1853. A school district library was established in 1842 and rules were adopted for the regulation thereof on March 21, 1843. David N. Bad- ger was chosen as the first librarian at the same meeting.

584

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Schools were opened in the new school building in the fall of 1842. From the report of the Prudential Committee March, 1843, it appears that the number of school children in the Southwest School District, be- tween the ages of four and sixteen years, was 119, and that the amount paid for teachers' services from the organization of the district was $306, male teachers receiving thirty dollars and female teachers sixteen dollars per month, and other incidental expenses brought up the total expenditures to $347.67. The district continued to prosper and was steadily reduc- ing its debt when, on Friday, the 27th day of Febru- ary, 1846, at about one o'clock in the morning, the new school building took fire and was totally de- stroyed with its contents, including apparatus and library. The loss was estimated at $2700; the insur- ance was only $1200. The examination of the schools was to have taken place the same day.

On the 12th day of March the district met and voted to build a new school-house larger than the first, and chose as a Building Committee, George Winslow, Stephen Stimpson, Samuel H. Clapp, Capt. Jonathan Oakes, William Peirce, James 11. Dix, Charles Baldwin and David N. Badger. From a re- port of the treasurer at the same meeting it appears that the total expenditure for schools was $497.02 for the preceding year. It was voted that the new school-house be fifty-five feet long, forty-two feet wide, two stories high ; the first story to be fitted up immediately for school purposes, the second to be used as a public hall until needed for use as a school- room. It was also voted to raise $500 for the build- ing by taxation this year. An attempt to reconsider this action March 24th, was defeated by a vote of forty- two to twenty-five, but the width of the building was reduced to thirty-six feet instead of forty-two, and the expenditure was limited to $3300, which was considerably exceeded. The new building, like the old, was erected by our late esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr. E. B. Loring, with that thoroughness which was characteristic of his work. It continued to be used for school purposes by Malden and Everett for forty- three years, and after being remodeled in 1871, and partially burned in 1875, was abandoned for school purposes in the fall of 1889. Transformed into an engine-house during the year 1890, it promises to serve out a further extended term of usefulness. The final report of the Financial Committee, sub- mitted March 18, 1847, shows a total expenditure on the building of $3642.32, of which the contractor, Mr. E. B. Loring, received $2903.33, including extras.

The whole number of scholars in the district, May 1, 18-16, between the ages of four and sixteen years was 166. On the 30th day of October, 1847, it was voted to let the school-house hall free for Sabbath- schools. A committee consisting of Jonathan Oakes, Solomon Corey and Daniel A. Perkins was chosen at the same meeting to petition the Legislature for leave to assess and collect their own district taxes. This

movement developed into an effort to have South Malden set off and incorporated as the town of " Winthrop," and a petition for this purpose, headed by Jonathan Oakes, was presented to the General Court, February 2, 1848, by Mr. Bowker, of Boston, and referred to the Committee on Towns, which, on April 13, 1848, reported "leave to withdraw" and the matter was referred to the next General Court, April 17, 1848. At the next session, on January 11, 1849, the petition was taken from the files of the previous year and referred to the Committee on Towns, which again reported leave to withdraw March 19, 1849, which report was accepted March 29th. At the follow- ing session redoubled efforts were made for separation, and numerous petitions were preseuted from South Malden, beginning with one headed by James H. Dix, presented by Mr. Brewster, of Boston, January 16, 1850. Other petitions followed, headed respectively by Miss Joanna T. Oliver and Willard Sears.

From a statement entered in the record-book of the Southwest District under date of February 1, 1850, the following interesting facts appear in regard to Malden and the proposed new town.

The whole town grant for schools for 910 scholars was $3000, of which the Southwest District with 147 children received $495.35, and the South District with 77 children received $259.49, and both with 224 children, $754.84.

The valuation of the Southwest District was: Real estate, $255,658 ; personal, $70,321. South District : Real estate, $102,843 ; personal, $18,145. Total, $446,967, without including estates of non-residents.

The estimated number of polls in the proposed town of Winthrop was 305; number of inhabitants was 1169. The whole amount of property was stated to be $711,233.

The parent town of Malden, attacked on the north by the petition to incorporate Melrose (which was successful), and on the south by the petition to incor- porate Winthrop, struggled earnestly to preserve its territorial integrity, and succeeded in postponing the incorporation of South Malden for twenty years more. The Committee on Towns reported leave to withdraw as before, and this report was accepted April 29, 1850. The effort for separation was by a petition presented to the Legislature March 25th. The matter was April 18th referred to the next General Court in which the petitions were taken from the files Feb. 14, 1857, and adverse report made April 18th, and accept- ed April 21st.

The last meeting of the Southwest District was held March 16, 1853, at which Solomon Corey was chosen clerk ; Timothy C. Edmester, Prudential Com- mittee; Stephen Stimpson, treasurer; Wm. Pierce, and H. W. Van Voorhis, Finance Committee. Their term of office was short, for at a town-meeting held April 4, 1853, Malden abolished the district system.

As showing the relative importance of South Mal- den, the following figures, giving the school appro-

585

EVERETT.

priations for the whole town and the proportion allotted to South Malden for four years previous to the abolition of the district system, will be of interest :

SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS.

Years. Whole Town.

Portion Allotted Per cent. of Total.

to S. and S. W. Dists.

1849-50, .

. $3000

$754.84

25,16

1850-51,.

3500

897.22

25.6

1851-52,

4000

1,408.27

35.2

1852-53, .

4000

1,186,56

29.6

On the 1st day of May, 1853, the number of tax- payers in the Southwest District was 199, and in the South District, eighty-eight. As indicating the com- parative wealth and taxation of 1853 and 1889, it may be added that there were in the South and Southwest Districts in 1853, only fourteen tax-payers, who were assessed $100 or more each, against 173 in Everett in 1889. After making all due allowance for increased rates, these figures indicate a marked increase in wealth. The names of the tax-payers in South Mal- den paying $100 or more in 1853 were: Eliphalet Kimball, $113.89; Nathan Lynde's heirs, $240.43 ; John Lewis, $161.92 ; Nathan Nichols' heirs, $450,50; Uriah Oakes' widow, $337.31; Wm. and G. W. Pierce, $172.53; Rebecca Perkins, $110.84; Joseph Swan, $189.87 ; Stephen Stimpson, $123.67; Simon Tufts, $273.84; H. W. and J. C. Van Voorhis, $582.94; Geo. Winslow's cstate, $189.18; Leavitt Corbett, $192.15; David Faulkner's widow $135.22.

The abolition of the district system marks the close of another epoch in the history of South Mal- den, and at this point it may be well to note some of the changes which had occurred during the previous fifty-four years since the establishment of the South District.

One of the most important public works belonging to this period was the construction of the Newbury- port Turnpike, which was laid out pursuant to a warrant of the county commissioners dated Septem- ber 22, 1804. The proprietors were incorporated March 8, 1803. The work of laying out this road extended through the years 1804, 1805, 1806. The portion in South Malden was laid out and constructed in the two latter years. This road was laid out four rods wide and has so continued to the present time. It covered in part the location of the county road laid out in 1796 to East Malden. It continued to be operated as a turnpike road until 1852, when it was made a public highway by the county commissioners. In 1856 the boundaries were established by suitable monuments, and it has for more than eighty years constituted one of the important landmarks within our territory, and one of the great arteries of travel. It extends in a straight line northeasterly from Mal- den Bridge to near the northerly boundary of Ev- erett, where it turns slightly to the west just before reaching the Malden line.

From the re-union of the North and South Par- ishes in 1792, until 1847, there appears to have beeu

no regular places of worship in the south part of Malden, though for a time before the district was di- vided, Miss Lambert, a day-school teacher, main- tained a Sabbath-school in the old red school-house on the hill, where Mr. Evans' house now stands. In 1847, such was the growth in population and wealth, that the religious needs of the community began to require some local religious organization and ser- vice. By the union and co-operation of several mem- bers of the different evangelical churches and other benevolent persons residing in South Malden and Chelsea, a Sabbath-school was opened in the school- house of the Southwest District, on the first Sunday in May, 1847. The first superintendent of this Sun- day-school was Deacon Calvin Hosmer, a member of the Baptist Church in Malden. J. H. Dix was secre- tary and treasurer, and W. C. Barrett librarian. At the first session thirty-six persons were present, and such was the interest manifested that the formation of a church began to be seriously considered. For the purpose of trying the experiment for a few months, the hall in the Southwest District was opened for public worship on December 19, 1847, and Rev. J. A. Benton was engaged to supply the pulpit for the first Sabbath. On the evening of March 8, 1848, a number of persons residing in South Malden, and members of different churches, convened at the house of Mr. Uriah Oakes to consult with reference to the forma- tion of a church, and Uriah Oakes, John Willcutt and Samuel H. Clapp were made a committee to pre- pare articles of faith and make other needed prepara- tory arrangements.

The council met the 16th day of March. Among the facts presented for the consideration of this coun- cil were the following : Within a radius of one mile from the school-house there dwelt a population of 600, steadily increasing. The Sunday-school, which began with 36 members, tben numbered 140, and for the last four Sabbaths the average attendance had been 118. The attendance at the meetings for public worship in the hall had varied from 80 to 240 in the day-time, and from 60 to 200 in the evening, and the increase had been gradual from the beginning, and during the last three Sabbaths the average had been 223. The council voted to proceed with the organi- zation of the church in the evening, the exercises of which were. Reading of results of council; Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Guernsey, of Charlestown ; prayer by Rev. Mr. McClure, of Malden ; sermon by Dr. Blag- den, of Boston ; constituting the church and prayer by Rev. I. P. Langworthy, of Chelsea; fellowship of the churches by Dr. Edward Beecher, of Boston ; and concluding prayer aud benediction by Rev. J. A. Benton.

The names of the original members of the church were as follows : Isaac Clapp, Samuel II. Clapp, Uriah Oakes, Nehemiah M. Rider, Wm. Whittemore, Jr., John Willcutt, Eliza A. Baldwin, Harriet Bat- telle, Elizabeth Blaney, Susan P. Clapp, Rebecca J.

586

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

T. Mansfield, Charlotte Oakes, Sarah Oakes, Elizabeth W. Oliver, Joanna T. Oliver, Lucy B. Oliver, Lucy Pierce, Elizabeth Stimpson, Esther Whittemore, Esther R. Whittemore, Joanna T. Whittemore, Mariah H. Whittemore, Emeline Willcutt, Mary A. Wilson, twenty-four in all. Miss Joanna T. Oliver, whose portrait may be seen in the vestry of the Con- gregational Church, was one of the earliest pioneers as she was one of the most earnest workers in this field.

This little church met almost uniformly for busi- ness, at first at the residence of Mr. Uriah Oakes. March 25, 1848, at the regular business meeting held at the house of Mr. Oakes, it was voted that this church shall be called the " Winthrop Congregational Church," probably in anticipation of the incorpora- tion of South Malden as the proposed new town of Winthrop. Uriah Oakes and John Willcutt were the first deacons. Rev. J. A. Benton was, on July 19, 1848, unanimously called as acting pastor, iu which position he continued to officiate until November, 1848. Though the period of his ministration was short, he deeply influenced the polity of the church, inasmuch as he was the author of the Confession of Faith and By-laws, which, with some changes in 1871 and 1886, still continue in use. After the de- parture of Mr. Benton the church was for about a year without a regular pastor.

On the 18th of October, 1849, Rev. Francis G. Pratt, of Andover Theological Seminary, pursuant to a call of the church, August 19, 1849, was installed as the first regular pastor of the church, in which position he continued for more than eight years, until April 13, 1858. During his ministry land was pur- chased for a house of worship, and the building which the church still occupies, with a seating capa- city of about 350, was erected in 1852. It was dedi- cated 'December 8, 1848, and the first Sabbath ser- vices were held in the new church on December 12, 1852, previous to which time the meetings had been maintained in the Southwest District School-house. The house and land cost about $12,000. In securing this Dea. Eliphalet Kimball was a prime mover, and Samuel Il. Clapp, James H. Dix, Alonzo H. Evans, Wm. Whittemore, Wm. Baldwin and J. M. Gilford were also prominent in this movement. The pastor- ate of Mr. Pratt was a prosperous one for the church, many members being added during his ministry.

On the 8th of September, 1859, Rev. James Cruik- shanks was installed, pursuant to a call extended to him on the 9th of June, and accepted June 26th. The church was far from unanimous in this call, and during the deliberations of the council there was presented a protest, in behalf of fifty-five members of the church, against the settlement of Mr. Cruik- shanks. Atter listening to both sides, the council decided that the proceedings were regular, and they proceeded with the installation. Thereupon sixteen members, having been denied regular letters of dis-

mission, withdrew under the advice of an ex-parte council, and formed the Chapel Congregational Church of South Malden, of which Rev. L. H. An- gier was pastor. They purchased a lot of land and erected a chapel on the site of the present residence of Mr. George C. Stowers, at the corner of Cottage and Winter Streets, which last street from that fact was for some time called Chapel Street. The new Chapel Congregational Church continued to exist until October, 1861, when, after various negotiations, both that and the Winthrop Congregational Church were disbanded, and reunited in one body as the South Malden Congregational Church, October 31, 1861. Of this council, Rev. Dr. Blagden, pastor of the Old South Church, of Boston, was moderator. The original cause for the disruption had been re- moved in the resignation of Rev. Mr. Cruikshanks, which was tendered June 15, 1859. IIe was dis- missed by council June 29th following. The first deacons of the new church were Uriah Oakes, E. P'. Foster and George Whittemore. The chapel was burned January 2, 1867.

On April 6, 1862, Rev. Oliver Brown, of Quincy, Mass., became acting pastor, in which position he continued until February 26, 1864, having received January 4, 1864, a vote of thanks for his earnest and successful labors in the interest of peace. On Feb- ruary 26, 1864, a call was extended to Rev. David M. Bean to become pastor, which was accepted March 5th, and on June 28th he was duly installed by a council called for that purpose. During his pastorate occurred a powerful revival, as the result of which there were added to the church July 1, 1866, nineteen individuals, besides numerous others in the course of his ministry. On November 24, 1868, Rev. Mr. Bean was dismissed by council. On January 28, 1869, a call was extended by the church to Rev. Albert Bryant, formerly missionary in Turkey, who accepted and was installed March 25, 1869. During his min- istry in 1871, the creed and by-laws were revised, and a young people's prayer-meeting was instituted. Mr. Bryaut's pastorate continued until May 13, 1874, when he was dismissed.

On the 4th of August, 1874, a call was extended to Rev. W. J. Batt, which was declined, and in January following, a call was extended to Rev. Webster Hazlewood, who was installed July 7, 1875, resigned February 10, 1876, and was dismissed by council May 4, 1876. From August 1, 1876, until October 17, 1881, Rev. Wm. II. Bolster served as acting pastor, harmonizing the dissensions growing out of the pre- vious pastorate, and leaving the church in a healthy and prosperous condition. From an able historical sermon delivered by Mr. Bolster, November 11, 1877, many of the foregoing particulars are derived.

On the 26th of April, 1882, Rev. George Y. Wash- burn, a graduate of Andover, who had supplied the pulpit for five months, was ordained and installed. I During his ministry large numbers were added to the

587

EVERETT.

church, which also prospered in other directions. On July 1, 1883, as the result of a revival, thirty-five were added to the church, twenty-four on profession of faith. A debt of $4000, which had existed since the building of the church in 1852, was extinguished. This desirable result was consummated April 26, 1886. The church has since been newly frescoed in a very tasteful manner by Mr. Everett B. Wilson, a graduate of the Everett grammar school. In 1887 and 1888, especially the latter, there were revivals resulting in numerous additions to the church. The Courtland Street Mission was instituted March 29, 1885, and in the same year a chapel was erected there by Captain Samuel J. Sewall, one of the public-spirited citizens of Mystic Village.

Mr. William H. Whipple was the first superin- tendent. Religious services and a Sunday-school have since been maintained there. The whole num- ber in the Sunday-school is 126; average, 80. Near the close of Mr. Washburn's pastorate, the church became interested in the Mystic Side Mission, main- tained by the Malden and Everett Congregational Churches, through the Mystic Side Congregational Union, organized March 28, 1889. Under the au- spices of this association a Sunday-school was opened March 31, 1889, in a room formerly occupied as a grocery-store, at the corner of Main and Woodville Streets, Everett. The membership has increased from 61 to 190, with an average attendance of 130 in the spring of 1890. The Union has purchased 34,000 feet of land on Willis Avenue, with a view to erecting a honse of worship. The superintendent is James M. Morey, of Malden.

Mr. Washburn closed his labors in April, 1889. During his pastorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the re-union of the Winthrop and Chapel Churches was appropriately commemorated, October 31, 1886, on which occasion Mr. Washburn delivered a very interesting historical sermon.

Rev. Eldy T. Pitts was called to the pastorate July 30, 1889, and, having accepted the call, commenced his labors on Sunday, September 1, 1889, and still continues in this position. The membership of the church in October, 1889, was 258, as compared with 145 in 1879. The number in the Sunday-school in April, 1890, was 410, as compared with 230 in 1879. The number of volumes in the Sunday school library in April, 1890, was 374. The receipts of the society dur- ing the year 1889-90 were §3096.14; the expendi- tures $3,080.57.

The account of the Congregational Church has car- ried us far beyond the period under notice at the time of its institution. Returning now to the period prior to the abolition of the district system, a few facts require mention. Some time after the establish- ment of the Fire Department in Malden, an engine was procured and an engine-house built in South Malden in 1847. The first fire-engine was a common hand- engine, named " General Taylor," in honor of the

hero of the Mexican War, then freshly wearing the laurels of victory. This continued in use as the only engine in South Malden and Everett until 1878. The engine-house erected in 1847 was partially destroyed by fire in 1860, when it was sold and removed to the lot next southwest of Whittier's store, where it still stands, remodeled into a dwelling-house. The pres- ent engine-house, about to he abandoned, was erected in 1860, and the engine-house lot was at the same time enlarged.

Woodlawn Cemetery, occupying about one hun- dred acres, in the east part of Everett, besides seventy - six acres more, owned by the corporation, was organ- ized August 31, 1850. The grounds were consecrated July 2, 1851 ; the corporation confirmed and estab- lished April, 1855. The first interment was made on the evening of July Ist, next preceding the consecra- tion. The whole number of interments to Junc 1, 1856, was nine hundred and forty-eight.

The order of exercises at the consecration consist- ed of music, reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. 1. P. Langworthy, prayer by Rev. Wm. I. Buddington, original hymn by Rev. J. H. Clinch, of Boston, ad. dress by Rev. Geo. E. Ellis, of Charletown, hymn by Henry W. Fuller, Esq., prayer and benediction by Levi Fuller.

Mr. Henry W. Fuller was connected with the cemetery from its origin to his death, August 14, 1889, and to make it what it is may be said to have been his life-work, and the cemetery is his most en- during monument.

Woodlawn is one of the most tastefully adorned cemeteries in the suburbs of Boston, and does last- ing honor to the elegant taste of Mr. Fuller. It embraces an area of about one hundred aeres be- tween Elm and Fuller Streets. The corporation has made repeated attempts to procure from the town leave to bury in an adjoining tract of land contain- ing about seventy-six acres, known as the Corbett farm, purchased by the corporation in 1868, but heretofore without success. The number of inter- ments in Woodlawn Cemetery to January 1, 1879, was 11,459, and the total to April 25, 1890, was 19,187.

The town has during the present year laid out a tract of land of about twelve acres between Fuller street and Woodlawn as a burial-ground, to be called Glenwood Cemetery.

A new road to Chelsea, now known as Second Street, was laid out by the county commissioners in 1852, and was built in 1854, at a cost of $5279.89.

A post-office was established in South Malden, and Solomon Corey, father of the late incumbent, was appointed the first postmaster, January 17, 1852. The first post-office was established, and was for several years kept in the store of Mr. Uriah Oakes, at the corner of Chelsea Street and Broadway, now occupied as a fruit store. In 1857, James H. Dix succeeded Mr. Corey, and removed the post-office to

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 138

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278