History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 154

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 154

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).

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS .- Lorenzo Sabine, Thirty- second Congress; Charles R. Train, 1859-63; C. C. Esty, 1872-73.

STATE SENATORS,-Captain Josiah Stone, 1780, five years; Jona. Maynard, Esq., 1801, seven years ; Rev. Charles Train, 1829-31; Josiah Adams, Esq., 1811; Joseph Fuller, 1852; Abial S. Lewis, 1856; James W. Clark, 1871; Edward J. Slatterly, 1887.

STATISTICS.

Population.

Polls.

l'alnation.

1699 over

350

1710 nbont

111

1765

1,280

331

£2897 17s. 8d.

1770

1,599

380

1790

1,598

383

£3519

68. 8d.

1800

1,625

350

$11,813

1×10

1,670

395

18,509

1820

2,037

472

22,572

1830

2,313

604,355

1840

3,030

851,350

1850

4,252

965

1,910,613

1800

4,227

1,078

2,208,537

1805

4,665

1,995

2,799,308

1870

4,968

1,167

3,897,847

1875

5,167

1,319

4,363,280

1880

6,292

1,048

4,785,140

1885

8,275

2,164

5,980,200

1889

9,500

2,644

7,173,570

Town Grants-1880, 852,207. Rule on 81000

$10

1884, 60,380.

1888, 107,339.

Sewer Bonds-Issuel 1888

$120,000

Tenen Funds-Eaton Fond, Library

$500.00

Academy Fund, Schools

1,258.94

Centre Common Fund .

450.00

Stone Fund, Poor

8,656.62

Edgell Grovo Cemetery Fund 4,020.00

Phipps Cemetery Fund 500.00

Phipps Poor Fund .

20,000,00

Edgell Library Fund 47,000,00

Howe Cemetery Fund .

250,00

1888,-Vulnation of real estate . $5,431,060.00

Valuation of personal estato . 1,742,510.00

Number of persons assessed .

3,170

Number of persons on property

1,35)

Number of persons on polls only

1,819

Number of dwelling-houses

1,513

Number of horses

977

Number of cows

965

Number of other cattlo

254

Number of sheep

631

Number of swine.

153

Value of buildings

$3,521,400,00

Valuo of land

2,309, 660.00

Town Officers 1889: Clerk, Frank E. Hemenway ; selectmen, Walter Adams, John H. Goodell, Joseph C. Clo yes, George A. Reed, George (). Bent : treasurer, Samuel B. Bird ; collector, Charles J. Frost ; auditor, William A. Brown; assessors, Francis E. Stearns, Eleazer Goulding, Josiah S. Williams ; road commis- sioners, William H. Walsh, Ira L. Dunaven, George P. Metcalf ; overseers of poor, James L. Brophy, William F. Ward, Charles O. Trowbridge ; constable, William C. Wight; School committee, Joseph B. Johnson, Lewis M. Palmer, F. C. Stearns, John W. Allard, John S. Cullen, Walter Adams; board of health, Z. B. Adams, J. J. Boynton, F. H. Sprague ; commissioner of sinking fund, Clifford Folger ; trus- tees of town library, Z. B. Adams, C. A. Humphrey, F. B. Horne, S. A. Phillips, L. F. Fuller, L. R. East- man, Jr., W. F. Hurd, S. B. Bird, J. S. Cullen, Walter Adams, J. W. Allard, J. B. Johnson.

TOWN APPROPRIATIONS, 1889.

Schools . $31,476.23

Superintendent of Schools 1,000.00

Highways, regular 11,000.00

Highways, special 17,150.96

Support of poor . 6,900.21

Contingencies .

4,000,00

Police

6,500.00

Enforcing liquor law

1,500.00

Fire Department 8,900.00

Electric lights

5,000.00

South Framingham, 1870-78. Those who have re- cently entered the profession here, are Sidney A. Phillips, D. C. 1869; Walter Adams, H. U. 1870; George C. Travis, H. U. 1869; Ira B. Forbes, Charles S. Barker, Fred. M. Esty, Willis A. Kingsbury, H. U. 1873; judge of District Court, John W. Allard, D. C. 1854; John M. Merriam, H. U. 1886; J. L. O'Neill.

653

FRAMINGHAM.

Board of Health

1,000,00

Town Library

3,230,00

Ilydrants .

2,000,00

Fire alarm

1,500,00

G. A. R. 500,00

Decoration Day

200,00

Salaries of lown officers

4,170,00

Abatement of taxrs

1,200,00

Incidentals

2,037.00

CHAPTER XLHI.

FRAMINGHAM-(Continued).

BY C. J. MCPHERSON.

IN attempting to speak of South Framingham, the writer asks the considerate judgment of those of his neighbors who are natives of the town and who, con- sequently, must be better posted upon the condition of things here a quarter of a century ago and more. No attempt is made in this chapter to treat of the earlier days, that portion of the history of the whole town of Framingham being left in the well-qualified hands of the Rev. J. II. Temple. This chapter deals only with the more modern developments, and a pie- ture of the place as it is to-day, and is written by one of her busiest toilers, an adopted son whose love for and pride in the old as well as the new town, is scarcely second to any.

Twenty-five years ago South Framingham had al- ready shown signs of an ambition to be something more than the unpretentious farming village of earl- ier days. The Boston & Worcester (now the Boston & Albany) Railroad had been opened in 1835, the branch to Saxonville in 1846, the branch to Milford in 18-17, the branch to Framingham Centre in 1850. Thus more than ten years before the war the vil- lage had become a point of some size on the railroad map of the State. But it was destined to become at an early day one of the greatest of New England rail- road centres. The value of a railway running north and south, across the several main lines cast and west, was early seen, for such a line would be a great distributing road for ports to the south, like New Bedford, Fall River and Newport, besides being a feeder to the roads with which it intersected. So it was that in 1865 the railroad from South Framingham to Fitchburg was completed ; that from South Framing- ham to Mansfield in 1870; and that from Framing- ham to Lowell in 1871. The last three named roads form a part of the Old Colony system ; the first three named are owned by the Boston & Albany. Still an- other road is projected by the Old Colony Company, this being a direct line from South Framingham to Boston, by way of Dedham or West Roxbury. The last annual meeting of the Old Colony stockholders authorized the directors to proceed with this con- struction. To-day there are living in South Fram- ingham about 250 railroad employees, besides their

families. There are over one hundred trains daily, passenger and freight, arriving and leaving here. The elegant stone Boston & Albany passenger station was built at a cost of over $60,000. The freight-yards of both systems are large ones, that for the Old Col- ony being an especially busy place, as trains are broken and made up here for all Southeastern Mass- achusetts. The Old Colony brick round-house con- tains twelve locomotives, and is already too small for the business here. These unrivaled railroad advan- tages account very largely for the wonderful growth of the place, and promise great things for its future. The Boston & Albany management is now rapidly pushing its four parallel tracks westward from Bos- ton to South Framingham. The agent in charge of the Boston & Albany interests here is C. T. Boynton ; the Old Colony agent is G. F. Amadon.

Years ago South Framingham was a favorite picnic resort, but with the exception of charming Lakeview, most of its attractive groves have had to give way to modern improvements and growth. To-day the town is one of the most beautiful to be found anywhere. With the exception of the business section, most of its surface is undulating, and through it like great silken threads wind the Sudbury River and its tribu- taries. Nestling within its borders are four beautiful great ponds, named respectively Farm, Waushakum, Learned's and Gleason's. From the first two the city of Boston takes part of its water supply. The town has been as healthful as beautiful. A few years ago the Water Board of the city of Boston, building a conduit across Farm Pond, drained off the pond, leaving the bottom exposed to the sun all summer. The consequence was a small epidemic of malaria, which lasted for two years or so, but with that brief exception good health has been the rule here. This, with the natural attractions of the place, brought many people to reside here, even before the develop- ment of the place as a business centre.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS have been excellent and with excellent supervision, having had a superinten- dent for many years, Dr. O. W. Collins filling that position at present. The School Committee consists of six members, two being elected each year for three years. The number of scholars in town in 1880, be- tween the ages of five and fifteen years, was 1114, and that number has gradually increased from year to year, until for the school year ending April 1, 1800, the number was 2009. The rapid growth of the town the past eight years, consequent upon the establish- ment of several factories here, brought in some who had not had the advantages of an early education, and for these an evening school has been maintained the past three winters, the average attendance nightly being about fifty. In addition to the high schools, the State Normal School at Framingham Centre offers excellent advantages to our young people,

NEW VILLAGES .- With the coming of the new in- dustries came busy little settlements around them.

654

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Hastingsville, just beyond the State muster-field, on the road to Saxonville, taking its name from the Hastings family, who lived and did business there, was one of the older settlements. After the coming of the Pará Rubber Factory came the dwellings in what is known as the Pará District. About a mile away, on the broad acres of Loker Brothers, has grown up, since the beginning of 1884, what is known as Lokerville, with over 100 handsome cottages, a chapel, school-house and store. Just over the Sher- born line, near the " Pará," is Sherbornville, a col- Jection of new houses, accommodating about 300 peo- ple, all on account of the Pará business. Around the boot-factory has grown up a bustling centre, with a school-house and store. This is called Coburnville, named for a member of the boot manufacturing firm, Mr. N. P. Coburn. Around the three new rattan industries is growing up a handsome settlement called Prattville, in compliment to Mr. Wellington N. Pratt, who owned most of the land and is enter- prisingly developing it. Mr. R. M. Everit, of New Haven, Conn., has laid out many acres into handsome streets and house-lots, and so has Mr. T. L. Sturte- vant and Mr. John II. Goodell. The sections owned by them are being rapidly built upon.

South Framingham has gained rapidly in popula- tion and valuation during the last ten or fifteen years. The growth of South Framingham practically meas- ures the growth of the town, for, substantially, the whole of the gain has been in this village. In 1875 the population of the town was 5167; in 1880 it was 6235; in 1885 it was 8275 ; by the census of 1890 it is nearly 10,000, and very few towns in the State are growing faster. By the census of 1885 it was shown that South Framingham's ratio of gain, taken by it- self, would place it at the head of the list of towns in the State in the percentage of gain. In eight years fol- lowing 1880 the ratable polls had increased 1000. The number of cows in town is just about the same as ten years ago, but the gain in horses is 300. The gain in real estate valuation for the past ten years, conse- quent on the great amount of building, has averaged over $250,000 yearly, the gain for the past year being $325,000. The gain in personal property has been nearly $100,000 yearly, making the totat gain in South Framingham for the past ten years about $350,000 yearly. For this time the average of the tax rate is $11.60 on $1000, and this, notwithstanding the build- ing of several new school-houses, a new engine-house, a very complete new Fire Department, new stone- crusher, many new streets and bridges, the grading of streets for the introduction of the street railroad, the introduction of electric street-lights and a hydrant service, evening schools, new police station, etc., all of which have been paid for in full.

The census of 1890 shows Framingham to be, with one exception, the largest town in Middlesex County, only the eight cities in the county being larger. The Legislature of 1890 passed a bill allowing the annex-

ation of a part of Sherborn, bordering on South Fram- ingham, to this town ; but the town, fearing the pos- sibility of a large expense in draining that territory on account of its contiguity to Boston's water supply, declined to accept the act. Had the territory been annexed, Framingham's population would thus have been increased from three hundred to four hundred ; but to all intents and purposes, except for voting, this population is now a part of South Framingham, doing its trading and working here, aud being situated over two miles from Sherborn Village.

The last Representative to the State Legislature from this village was Joel C. Clark, who served in 1879. The town has sent a Representativeevery year, but he has always come from one of the other villages. The Hon. Edward J. Slattery was elected to the State Senate from here, serving in 1887 and 1888. The town selectmen elected from this village since 1860 have been : O. W. Livermore, '60-61; Gilman Ful- ler, '62-64, '74-76; Andrew Coolidge, '65-70; Wil- lard Howe, '71-72; E. L. Sturtevant, '73; Eleazar Goulding, '77-81, '83; B. T. Manson, '81-82; B. T. Thompson, '82; George E. Cutler, '84-85; J. H. Goodell, '86-89; C. N. Fuller, '86, '88; A. M. Eames, 187; George O. Bent, '88-89; R. M. French, '90; C. P. Knowlton, '90.

The present Senatorial district comprises the city of Marlboro' and the towns of Framingham, Natick, Hopkinton, Holliston, Ashland, Sherborn, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, Maynard.

The Representative district, entitled to two Repre- sentatives, ineludes the towns of Framingbam, Hol- liston, Wayland, Sherborn.

The town is in the Ninth Congressional District and the Sixth Councilor District. On account of its central location and easy accessibility by railroad, many of the political conventions are held here. The working committees of the two principal political parties in town have usually been large, with sub- committees in the different villages. As a rule, the citizens have not adhered strictly to party lines in their selection of town officials, although occasionally this rule has been departed from. At the present time the Republican and Democratie parties in town are of nearly the same size, while the Prohibitionists have a modest representation. When the State Leg- islature authorized large towns to establish the pre- cinct system of voting in fall elections, Framingham adopted the change in 1886, and found it a most agreeable one. The town has four precinets.

In 1889 the Australian ballot system of voting was first tried, and it proved to be popular at once.

For a number of years a slight effort had been made to abolish the board of three road commissioners, who had full charge of the work upon the roads and bridges of the town, but it was not until the present year-1890-that this movement was successful, and the provisions of the statute enacted by last year's Legislature, allowing the selectmen to appoint a sup-

655

FRAMINGHAM.

erintendent of streets, was accepted and the road commission abolished. The selectmen appointed Mr. William H. Walsh superintendent of streets, he hav- ing been one of the road commissioners for some years past. Within two years the town officers' headquar- ters have gradually been removed to South Framing- ham, and now they are all located here. The time is looked forward to as being not far away when Fram- ingham will apply for a city charter, and many of her most conservative citizens believe that the time has come when that form of government is best adapt- ed to her needs. From time to time the agitation for a division of the county, or the formation of a new county ont of two or three others, has been agi- tated, and Framingham has been designated as the most convenient place for the county-seat. The new county may never materialize, but South Framingham will continue to be the natural centre of many miles of territory in this vicinity.

The property in town exempted from taxation, by the report of the assessor in 1888, is appraised at $125,200. This amount is made up of the churches, grounds of the Camp-Meeting Association, Middlesex South Agricultural Grounds, and Home for the Aged. In addition to this is the property owned by the Com- monwealth, including the State Normal School prop- erty and the State Muster Field.

The property owned by the town, as appraised by the assessors, exclusive of cemeteries, amounts to about $150,000. This does not include the sewerage system, which cost $150,000, and which is bonded. With the exception of the latter, the town is practic- ally free from debt, beside having several funds left by public benefactors. The Col. Moses Edgell fund for the benefit of the Public Library amounts to $47,000, while the Joseph Phipps fund for the worthy poor of the town is $20,000.

Cousiderable attention has been paid to earing for shade-trees on our resident streets, and the result re- pays well the care expended.

The Sherborn Reformatory Prison for Women may be said almost to be one of the institutions of this town, since it is located upon the dividing line be- tween this village and Sherborn, a part of the property being each side of the line. The South Framingham railroad and mail facilities are used, but the institu- tion will probably be referred to at more length by Dr. Blanchard, in his chapter on Sherborn.

The town has had a Board of Health for years, al- though that board has had comparatively little to do. Special attention has been paid to vaccination, to drainage, to infectious and contagious diseases that might be spread through the schools, and regulations have been maintained aud circulars issued concerning small-pox, scarlet and typhoid fevers, measles, diph- theria, etc. Until within four months the board for the past few years has consisted of Dr. Z. B. Adams, Dr. J. J. Boynton, F. H. Sprague.

The Western Union Telegraph office is open night

and day, and so is the telephone exchange, as well as on Sunday.

A Free Public Reading-Room is maintained by the town, being located now in Nobscot Block. This is well supplied with magazines and papers, and from it books are distributed from the main Public Library at the Centre Village, which is one of the oldest free public libraries in the world, and which contains about 15,000 volumes.

The town is lighted by electric lights, both arc and incandescent, the latter being deemed the more satis- factory npon streets much shaded by trees.

The public buildings owned by the town are not as a rule conspicuous for size or elegance. Some of the school-houses are well adapted to the demands upon them, as are the enginc-houses. At both the Centre and Saxonville villages there is an old-fashioned town hall, comfortable for ordinary gatherings, but both totally inadequate to accommodate the voters of the town at town-meeting times. From time to time the project of building a large town hall at South Fra- mingham has been discussed, but the wise view has been that it were better to wait a little while longer, when the rapidly increasing population should make a city of the town, for then a city hall will be re- quired-a building altogether different in size and arrangement from a town hall.

BUSINESS BLOCKS .- Waverley Block was built in 1851, and for that time it was an especial credit to the town, containing stores, offices, and a public hall. An addition was afterwards built. The block had a slated pitched roof, with cupola, but in the summer of 1889 fire nearly consumed it, and it was rebuilt with a flat roof. It stands in a conspicuous position, opposite the railroads, on the south side, and on the corner of Irving Square. It is owned by Henry Bullard, of Holliston.

Nobscot Block, a commanding wooden structure, was built in 1871 by P. G. Rice for Wm. A. & George Rice, and is now owned by E. C. Rice, these all being brothers. It is located near the railroads on the north side, contains stores, offices, the District Court- room, and two banking-rooms. During the present year it has been much improved.

Union Block, situated opposite the railway station, on the south side, was built in 1870 by Geo. W. Bige- low and C. C. Esty, principally for the wheel business. It was afterwards let for other purposes, and finished off for stores, offices and other business apartments, in which way it is now occupied.

The Odd Fellows' Building Association set the ex- ample of building with brick when it erected its land- some block on the south side of Irving Square in 1876. Besides the Odd Fellows' apartments, which have also been let to other societies, the block contains stores and offices.

In 1882 Mr. H. Gardner Eames built Elmwood Block, just south of Odd Fellows' Block. This is a wooden structure with stores on the street level, and

656

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the Opera-House overhead. It is now owned by Mr. Wm. H. Trowbridge.

The old Liberty Block was remodeled in 1884 by the owners, Messrs. Cutler, Ranney and Clark, and a handsome new brick annex was built. This is on the north side of the railroad and at present the post- office is located there, besides Pythian Hall, stores, otlices, club-rooms and banking-rooms.

David Eames built Central Block in Irving Square, of wood, in 188 -. It contains stores and offices.

Reardon's Block, on Howard Street, was built of wood in 1884. It has stores below and tenements overhead.

Within a year past a new era in the construction of business blocks has been ushered in, iu the build- ing of some handsome new briek blocks of modern arrangement.

Joshua Smith took the initiative by building the largest block in town, a sustantial four-story brick structure with brown-stone trimmings. It faces the railroads, on the south side, overlooking Irving Square. In it are six large stores, Masonic Hall and banquet hall, club-rooms and offices. It is heated by the hot water system and lighted with gas and electric lights. It has just been finished.

The Tribune Building followed close after the Smith Block, aud is nearly completed at this writing. It is of four stories, of brick with brown-stone trimmings, and overlooks Irving Square. Besides the Tribune newspaper quarters, there are four large stores, the largest public hall in the place, next to the Opera- House, offices, club-rooms, photograph studio and publie bath-rooms. It is heated by steam and lighted by gas and electric lights.

The Manson Building Company is now building on the north side of the railroad, opposite Nobscot Block, a handsome brick block of four stories, also to have brown-stone trimmings. This block will have four large stores, two public or society halls, banking-rooms and offices, one of the features being a first-class fire- proof and burglar-proof vault.

Besides the blocks above enumerated, there are many smaller ones where stores and offices are lo- cated.

PUBLIC HALLS,-Of these there is no lack. Largest in size is the Opera-House, and following in the order of their size comes Union Hall in the Tribune Build- ing, Masonic Hall in Smith Block, Odd Fellows' Hall in Odd Fellows' Block, Pythian Hall in Liberty Block, Hibernian Hall on lIoward Street, the two new halls in the Manson Building, Nobscot Hall, used as the District Court-room, G. A. R. Hall in Irving Block, St. Stephen's Hall in Liberty Block.

HOTELS .- These may be enumerated as follows : Old Colony House, Winthrop House, South Fram- ingham Hotel, Everit House, Coburn House, Procter House, Grant House.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- It was in 1841 that the old Framingham Centre fire-tub was brought to South

Framingham. It was then called "Franklin No. 3." Along in the forties it was exchanged for a new tub of the S. & D. Thayer make, and this new accession was dubbed "Niagara No. 3." This tub was run until 1859, when it was exchanged for another new tub of the Hunneman build, and this was also chris- tened " Niagara No. 3." The company which manned the " Franklin" numbered thirty, but there were forty-five members in the last "Niagara " company. When, in 1885, the street water hydrant service was completed for use, the old Niagara hand-tub was sent to Nobscot (North Framingham), and out of the old company two new companies were organized-one the hose company, the other the hook-and-ladder company, which was named after Willis M. Ranney, one of South Framingham's enterprising citizens. For the hose company a reel-carriage was bought, but this has recently been superseded by the more modern hose-wagon, in which the hose is folded. A handsome and well-equipped hook-and-ladder truck of the Gleason & Bailey make was the next purchase. Since 1885 two handsome steam fire-engines of the Silsby build have been bought for the other villages of the town,-one each for Framingham Centre and Saxonville, the last one arriving in April, 1886,- while a fine new engine-house for the Centre village was dedicated a few months ago. Before the close of 1886 the town was supplied with the Gamewell fire- alarm system. To-day there are twenty-one boxes, and in addition to ringing the bells of the town, a large steam-gong is blown,-this latter being located upon the water company's pumping-station.

THE FRAMINGHAM WATER COMPANY was organ- ized in 1883, after more or less discussion in town as to the benefits to come from street water and the duty of the town to provide it. The corporators were Messrs. Willis M. Ranney, Charles F. Cutler, George E. Cutler, Sidney A. Phillips, William C. MeLellan. The Holly system was the one adopted, the water being drawn from galleries in Farm Pend, one of the sources of the city of Boston's water supply. The water is forced directly through the mains by means of two large pumps, one high pressure and the other a compound pump. While but one of them is used at a time, both are kept ready for instant service. The works were completed ready for use in the early summer of 1885, and an exhibition of their working was given on the occasion of the July 4th celebra- tion of that year. There are now thirteen miles of pipe in the system, and the plant is competent to do twice the volume of business required of it, with the present pumps. Willis M. Ranney is president of the company, George E. Cutler, treasurer, and Sidney A. Phillips, clerk and counsel. Thus far only South Framingham has been piped, but the service is now being extended to certain portions of the Centre, notably the Normal School district. Within the past two years a strong feeling has been expressed in town that the town should itself own and operate the water-

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 154

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