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

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 168

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It was not uncommon for people in identifying themselves as new citizens of a town, to have the fact publicly known and to be formally accepted as suchı. In 1793, Christopher Gore was received as a citizen, in accordance with his own request, expressed in writing. He was a distinguished lawyer of Boston, and afterwards rose to high political prominence as

diplomatist, Governor and United States Senator. He bought large tracts of land, and built an elegant home. His residence and surrounding estate are to- day among the most attractive of the State. The grand imposing mansion, not ornate but substantial, the spacious grounds and beautiful old trees, and the extensive fields under high cultivation, show the accumulated taste and care of nearly a century. A place of the same character, which has been celebra- ted for about as long a time, is the Lyman estate, with its mansion-house, lawns and gardens, its farm- houses and fields. Both of these places have been quite historical as examples of American estates pre- served for some generations in their original and ideal grandeur and proportions.

Uutil 1796 the finances of the town were conducted in the tables of pounds, shillings and pence, but after that time dollars and cents came into universal use.

In the War of 1812 Waltham manifested a spirit of generosity to her soldiers, paying them liberally, in addition to the stipend allowed by the government. The military company was called into service, but the service was of the bloodless character which apper- tained to guard duty, or the watching against the attack of an enemy which never came. Party spirit ran high, and opposition to the war and criticism of its management were carried into town-meetings and elections, social gatherings, and even into the church. Rev. Mr. Ripley in one of his sermons gave vehement and independent expressions to his views, which raised a great feeling. Some of his congregation left the church, and the town took up the matter in a town-meeting, but after much discussion and a close vote, the meeting decided to take no further action.

About this time the character of the town for the future took a decided change. Hitherto Waltham had been quite exclusively an agricultural commu- nity, and had followed the uneventful and tranquil life of such a condition. Two or three mills had been established on its streams. A small woolen-mill had been operated on the east bank of Beaver Brook, or Clematis Brook as now called, and a paper-mill stood near where the mills of the Boston Manufac- turing Company now stand, but they were too insig- nificant to establish for the town any reputation for manufacturing industries, or to give employment to many people. In 1813 the Boston Manufacturing Company was organized by Francis C. Lowell, Na- than Appleton, Patrick T. Jackson and others, for the manufacture of cotton cloth by the newly-invented power-loom, and Waltham was selected as a site for the operation. Boyce's paper-mill was bought with its water privilege, and additional privileges were purchased of some mills in Watertown. The new enterprise was started originally for the purpose of weaving cloth, the spinning to be done elsewhere, as was common in England and other countries at that day. Some mills in Rhode Island were at that time making cloth by the same process. But the plan of

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the Waltham Mills was changed before completion, so as to embrace spinning as well as weaving, and thus the Waltham factories were the first in America where cotton was taken in its raw state and made into cloth in one establishment and under one roof. The sketch of the manufacturing industries elsewhere precludes the necessity of giving but a mere cursory and briefly historical review of this enterprise; but even the most general description of Waltham would be incomplete without special reference to this manu- factory, which has been so closely identified with the history of the town, with its growth and progress, and the material welfare of the people. Leaving out its industrial feature, it has been a potent element in the development of the town and of the country, far- reaching beyond the mere operation of mechanical appliances for material interests. There is a moral and intellectual as well as mechanical side to the origin and successful inception of this adventure in American manufacturing which brings it within the domain of history in its highest sense.

Lowell was the soul of the new undertaking, the inventive genins and inspired projector. On a visit to England, just before the War of 1812, he observed and studied the source of her greatness on sea and land. He saw that it lay in her commerce and manu- factures. He burned with patriotic devotion to trans- fer some of that power to his native land. He gave his mind and hand to the work, and studied practi- cally and theoretically on forms of machinery to im- prove those he had seen abroad. With prophetic eye he saw that our streams, running idly to the sea, the cotton and wool grown upon our soil, the faculties of the American race could all be utilized and com- bined in a system of manufacturing industries to give the country wealth and prosperity and greater inde- pendence and importance among the nations of the world. Of his associates, Appleton was the man of means, the capitalist, the broad-minded, far-seeing man of affairs; Jackson was the executive manager, the treasurer and agent, who looked after the details of management. With them there was afterwards associated Paul Moody, a skillful, practical mechanic, whose knowledge and experience could adapt the in- genious devices of Lowell. To these men is due the credit and honor for transcending that of starting and successfully developing a new work of industry. They seemed actuated by the highest moral and patriotic impulses. Lowell and Appleton had observed in England the ignorance, poverty and degradation of the factory operatives. They determined that their operatives should be kept ou a higher plane and have the advantages of the better influence of life. With the factories, a church was established and a school- house was built, and the treasurer consented to be the local committee-man of the school. Good boarding- houses were erected and maintained with due regard to the purposes for which they were built. A library was purchased and a lyceum was fostered. Thus

every opportunity was given for the employed to feel the dignified and ennobling influence of labor.

These high principles on the part of the originators of the mills, and the policy pursued for a long series of years, gave evidence of the firm basis on which American cotton factories were established. They are bright lights in the history of manufactures, and the lapse of time gives them even greater lustre and importance. It is an interesting fact that for three- quarters of a century, during which the factory has been continuously in operation, no strike or estrange- ment between employers and employees has ever occurred.

In 1819 the company purchased the mills of the Waltham Cotton and Wool Factory Company, an es- tablishment erected in 1812 on the banks of the river in the southeast part of the town, and proceeded to build additional mills and a bleachery, where cloth could be bleached by chemical process. This location has since been known as the Lower Place, and its in- terests have been principally identified with those of the main corporation. The street which connected them by the banks of the river was long one of the most heautiful in town, extending amid groves of forest-trees surrounding some beautiful estates; but these groves have lately disappeared, and the man- sions are turned into tenement-houses under the on- ward march of progress, and the shaded seclusion of road and adjacent lands have necessarily been sacri- ficed to the requirements of business advancement.

Before this time the town had somewhat outgrown the spirit of unity, and the local feelings and jeal- ousies of a scattered community had begun to mani- fest themselves to a degree. A sectional division in church matters had created and developed a schism which followed local rather than religious lines. The origin of this difficulty is said to have been a sleigh- ride, which was gotten up in the parish, and to which several were not invited who thought they were en- titled to such recognition. Explanations were given, apologies were made, but all to no purpose. The social compact which bound the different parts of the town together was hopelessly broken. The agitation extended to the utmost borders, and discordance took the place of harmony, and faction of unity. The residents of the hills entertained a hostile feeling to those of the plains. The only semblance of a village was still near Beaver Brook. The coming of the factories would increase the power and population in the southern section of the town, by the river and on the broad area of the plain, still but sparsely settled, and move the populous part of the village in that di- rection. The farmers of the north part did not re- gard the advent of manufactories, their artisans and operatives, with any considerable degree of satisfac- tion. They opposed the factory people in town-meet- ings and in church, and with a natural conservatism looked upon the new-comers as temporary sojourners not permanently interested in the affairs of the town.

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But a few years chauged these feelings. Those en- gaged in the mills actively participated in the affairs of the town for the general good ; the spirit of good citizenship prevailed, and the American rule of obedience to the will of the majority reconciled any differences on the score of occupation or locality. The manufacturing corporations provided church services in the school-house for a number of years, until the congregation was large enough and able to erect an edifice. With the growth of population, and the varying shades of religious belief, other churches have arisen from time to time, so that one or two places of worship of each of the prevailing denomi- nations of New England are well sustained in the city.

Another institution which the manufacturing com- pany fostered and encouraged by financial assistance, as well as by moral recognition, was the library and lyceum. The Rumford Institute of Mutual Instruc- tion, founded in 1826, was largely composed of those working in the factory. It was one of the earliest and most useful institutions of its kind in this part of the country, and its history has been honorably and notably connected with that of the town. It origin- ally started as a debating club, with evening studies on subjects of the day, generally of a scientific na- ture.

Public lectures were given, often by its own members and distinguished persons from abroad. A library was a special feature from the inception, and the com- pany generously donated a collection of books it purchased for its operatives, called the Manufacturers' Library, and contributed for many years funds for the purchase of new books. It erected a building with a hall for lectures and rooms for a library, which it rented to the institute free, on condition that it de- voted sixty dollars a year to the purchase of books. This building, called the Rumford Building, was sold to the town in 1854, and, with alterations and en- largements, is the present City Hall. The library was given to the town by the institute in 1865, and was the nucleus of the present.

Another illustration of a minor character of the encouraging care for education is the fact that the factory bell rang every morning at quarter of nine o'clock to call the children to school. For upwards of half a century, as regularly as it summoned opera- tives to and from their daily toil, its peals summoned children to their lessons.

The schools of Waltham have always been kept up to a high standard of excellence, and have ranked with the best in the State. It has been noted already that one of the causes of the separation of the town from Watertown was the insufficiency of school ac- commodations, and hence the principle and practice so strongly contended for have ever been sustained by the descendants of the seceding fathers. Appropria- tions have always been made with no niggardly hand, and the people have generously taxed themselves to

provide for the education of the youth. In the year 1833 the first town or high school was established. This was located in the first story of the new town- hall erected at that time. Previous to that tinre all public schools had been in the common single grade district school, and the town had held its meetings in the church. The town-house, which stood on the site of the present North Grammar Schonl, at the cor- ner of Lexington and School Streets, was devoted ex- clusively to school purposes in 1849, for both the high and grammar schools, and in 1869 was abandoned for the purpose and sold for removal.

Near it stood the armory of the artillery company, and the public flag-staff, and the vacant land around on both sides of the adjacent street was the only public common then owned by the town. In 1854 the town purchased a larger part of the present beautiful common of the Boston Manufacturing Com- pany, which had reserved it from their land for public purposes, and, with a commendable spirit, parted with it only on condition that it should be forever used as a park. Addition and extension on the southern side, made by the city in 1886, have com- pleted its area to just proportions, and furnished the people with a most attractive public square, adorned with trees, in the midst of its busiest life. The original preservation and maintenance of such a park in a place where land has enhanced in value every year and is in demand for the local growth and material prosperity show obviously the character of the people and their sentiment in regard to objects of public use, adornment and recreation. For it is with a strong opposition of a minority when the expense is to be borne from the public treasury, that such a reservation can be made.

During the first half of the present century Walt- ham was a popular resort for military gatherings of the day. Its broad plains and ample hotels furnished facilities for the mustering of the militia forces and their entertainment, without the necessity of camping on the tented field. War and all its associations were more of a tradition than a reality to nearly all but the few surviving Revolutionary soldiers, and the annual muster and May training had something of a picturesque and grotesque character, compared with the military encampments of to-day. Few even of the officers had ever seen any service, and the semblance of actual warfare maintained for a day or two of duty seems to have partaken of the mock-heroic. The gaudy trappings, the variegated uniforms, the indiffer- ent discipline, made of a militia training a picture rivaling the combinations of a kaleidoscope. With the hilarity and lively scenes of such an occasion, all the country round about took an active interest. In the days of compulsory service, the un-uniformed forces presented a contrast to the uniformed and organized companies. The latter, from different towns, often entered into a spirit of rivalry, in the colors and elab- orate details of uniforms and equipments. The shrill

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

fife and rattling drum, with the more pretentious mar- tial music of a country band, added materially to the pomp and circumstance of the muster-field and the annnal training.

A semi-military celebration was the "Cornwallis," held on the 19th of October, the anniversary of the eventful day at Yorktown, and commemorative of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to Washington. There was a strange blending of the sublime and ridiculous on these occasions, with the marshaling of the opposing forces, the mock battle and surrender, and the travesty upon the reality of war. It was one of these autumnal gatherings at Waltham which prompted some descriptive lines of Lowell in his Biglow papers.

But the preservation of the patriotic and military spirit in this way served its purpose when the days of trial came and the spirit and patriotism of the young who witnessed these scenes of imaginary warfare was to be tested in the actual conflict of arms for the sal- vation of the country.

With the establishment of the cotton manufactur- ing industry and its gradual and successful growth, the town had a healthy and steady increase of popu- lation and general prosperity. There were few other important industries for many years. "The corpor- ation," as it was called, and its leading men were the principal features of the town in its municipal and material development. The village extended up the main highway in the direction of the factories, and the centre was permanently located where to-day may be considered the heart of the city, with its principal buildings and offices. With all that was incidental to its progress, there was a well-ordered public senti- ment that all was well for future prosperity. The streets were generally laid out wide and straight, and were kept in excellent repair-in fact, the town was one of the first to adopt the McAdam system in the construction of the principal thoroughfares. And in nearly all town matters, with the exception of some minor affairs which are always exceptional, a liberal policy was pursued to the ultimate welfare of the whole community.

In 1843 the Fitchburg Railroad was built to Wal- tham, and in 1845 it was extended beyond to Fitch- burg. This naturally gave something of an impetus to growth for some years, but the policy of that cor- poration from about 1850 to 1860 was such an anom- aly in railroad management as to check much pro- gress from that source, and to turn the tide of subur- ban travel in other directions. The action of this railroad, in regard to transportation and public ac- commodation, has been considered a great detriment to the town in the past, and has in that regard affect- ed the record of its history. The progressive policy for the past twenty-five years can hardly make amends for former mistakes.

In 1853 the Watertown Branch of the Fitchburg Railroad was extended to Waltham, thus giving the

people the facilities of a separate line of communica- tion with Boston. The low fares and frequent trains on the different roads now furnish the citizens unusual advantages in the way of railway passenger traffic.

In 1849 the town received an addition of territory which ultimately had a great effect upon its growth and prosperity, and widened the area of its industrial facilities. This gain of territory was from the annexa- tion of a part of Newton, adjacent to Charles River, and contiguous to the populous part of Waltham. At that time there was on one portion the works of the Chemical Company, and a few dwellings, but the re- mainder was largely wild land, with some parts given to agriculture. It has developed with almost the phenomenal rapidity of a western town, and has grown into a thrifty and populous part of the city. This smart growth is mainly the result of the estab- lishment of the American Waltham Watch Com- pany's works. Previous to this time some new man- ufacturing enterprises had sprung up-an iron foun- dry ; a manufactory or laboratory where some of the first experiments were made with petroleum in the manufacture of oil, paraffine, etc .; a crayon factory, the original and still quite exclusively the principal manufactory of black-board crayons in the country, the product of the inventive genius of one of the citi- zens. But the inception of watch-making by per- fected machinery, in a manufactory at first organized under Mr. A. L. Dennison, has more than other en- terprises advanced the progress of Waltham, given it a character as a manufacturing centre and extended its name for its fine products over the civilized world.

The ill success of the first enterprise, its restoration and successful development under the executive abil- ity of Mr. Royal E. Robbins, are an interesting and essential feature of the history of local manufactures. But this great establishment, with the liberal and in- telligent spirit of its projectors, the skill and high character of its mechanics and operatives, male and female, the inventive genins displayed in machinery that by delicate and intricate movements performs the part of handiwork, with greatest rapidity and pre- cision, is an important element in the history of the city, apart from its industrial character. In the high- est degree it is representative of American skill and management, and of the moral and intellectual stand- ard of artisans. No better evidence of thrift and social culture is needed than the beautiful and attrac- tive homes, with ample grounds, owned and built by those whose livelihood is derived from this well-or- ganized and successful manufactory.

At an agricultural and industrial fair in 1857, the first of the kind ever held in the town, the local pro- ducts of the field, the home and the workshop were gathered in an exhibition which showed the extent and diversity of the industries of a town of 6000 in- habitants. This fair was held under the auspices of the " Agricultural Library Association," an organiza- tion which, with a change of name after a few years

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to the " Farmers' Club," has done much to foster the interests of the town. Composed not exclusively of farmers, but more generally of those of other occupa- tions, it has, through its weekly meetings in the win- ter and other gatherings, done much for the common welfare in cultivating among those whose business leads in different directions, that social and friendly intercourse upon which a general community of in- terests depends.

In 1859 Waltham sacrificed a portion of its terri- tory, about 429 acres, for the incorporation of the town of Belmont. The part taken was all that east of Clematis Brook, which is now the northeastern boundary of the city. Little opposition was made to the surrender of this area, as in a liberal spirit the people were not averse to contributing to the forma- tion of the beautiful rural town which is now one of its attractive neighboring communities. With what was gained from Newton and lost to Belmont the area of the city is about the same as when first incor- porated.

In 1861, when the Civil War burst upon the land, the citizens of the town displayed the loyalty and patriotic ardor, manifested throughout New England and the North, and by public and private demonstra- tion entered into the spirit of devotion to the Union. Immediately on the firing upon Fort Sumter, a mass- meeting of the citizens was called, patriotic speeches were made and enthusiastic and determined action was taken to support the cause of the Government.

Captain Gardner Banks announced his purpose to raise a company for service and the enlistment rolls were opened and well filled at the meeting.

Flags were displayed on the factories, school- houses, public and private buildings, the common was lively with squads of recruits drilling, and the usual aspect of the village instantly underwent a change.

A town-meeting was held and official action taken to carry out the will of the people, without distinction of party, in vindication of national honor and the in- tegrity of the Union. Money was appropriated for extra pay to soldiers for a specified time, and for sup- port of their families. The women of the town, emu- lating the example of the men, held sewing meetings, and worked upon uniforms and other articles of neces- sity for the comfort and welfare of the soldier. The uniforms of the first company were made almost ex- clusively by their skillful and patriotic efforts. Few then supposed that the war would last more than a few months, but the impressive and serious earnest- ness with which the first, as well as subsequent steps were taken showed the existence of the old spirit of the fathers and of the staying qualities of people who reluctantly, dutifully, and with firm determination took up the gage of battle.

Many enlisted in other companies in and out of the State, and the number offering for service was greater than the demand.

The first company was attached to the Sixteenth Massachusetts Volunteers. Later in the same year, when a call for more troops was issued, the militia company of Light Dragoons formed the nucleus of two cavalry companies which were attached to the First Massachusetts Cavalry. These companies served with distinction throughout their term of service.

In 1862, when the reverses of the Union arms and the power of the rebellion compelled the government to call for still more troops, the town, with equal en- thusiasm and liberality, responded to the demands upon it for more soldiers. And when the draft was made, all quotas were filled without a conscription of but a few men. Private subscriptions, besides the town appropriations, provided liberal bounties and every duty of patriotism was loyally fulfilled.

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

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