History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 172

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 172

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WALTHAM HOSPITAL .- The " Waltham Hospi- tal " was chartered in 1886. No definite steps tow- ards active organization were taken till 1888, when the promoters of a small private hospital, which was now becoming able to serve the purpose for which the Waltham Hospital was incorporated, were elected to membership in the latter, thus giving to the hospital de facto the advantage of being de legis a corporation capable of receiving gifts large or small.

The president of the trustees is Hon. F. M. Stone ; the attending physicians are J. W. Willis, M.D., E.

R. Cutler, M.D., C. J. McCormick, M.D., W. F. Jarvis, M.D., A. Worcester, M.D., H. A.Wood, M.D.

Consulting physicians and surgeons, M. H. Rich- ardson, M.D., Boston ; J. W. Elliot, M.D., Boston ; Addie S. Whitney, M.D., Boston ; J. A. Mead, M.D., pathologist, Watertown ; matron, Miss May Hackett.

The nursing service is furnished by the Waltham Training-School for Nurses, although the two cor- porations are entirely distinct.

WALTHAM TRAINING-SCHOOL FOR NURSES -The physicians of Waltham, like many others of their pro- fessional brethren, had long felt the need of better nursing service. The great majority of the old-time nurses-although with many notable and honorable exceptions-had taken up their business simply be- cause they did not know what else to do with them- selves. Considerations of fitness or preparation for their work had small place.

Up to this time training-schools for nurses only ex- isted in connection with hospitals, and the service of a trained graduate nurse was difficult and expensive to obtain. Consequently only the wealthy outside of hospitals could command it. Considerations like these impelled the members of the Massachusetts Medical Society, resident in Waltham, and working harmoniously together, to attempt the establishment of such a school without the aid of a hospital.

Such a thing had not before been done, but that had little deterring influence. Had not Waltham been the first to take cotton in its natural state from the field, and, under one roof, by machinery, produce cotton cloth ? Had not the American Waltham Watch Company produced the first watch ever made by machinery ? The foundation ideas were that nurses could be trained in private practice, that in many respects would be better prepared for their sub- sequent work than those who had merely hospital training, and while receiving such training could ren- der excellent nursing service under their instructors.

The plan was acted upon in February, 1885. Pub- lic interest was easily aroused, for the public as well as the doctors had felt the need. A small guaranty fund was readily subscribed. A committee of three ladies, in connection with the doctors, undertook the business management. A class of seven young women was formed, for a pupilage of two years, who were to receive their board, a portion of their ward- robe, about one hundred dollars for the first, and one hundred and fifty for their second year, instruction by lectures and at the bedside from their medical teach- ers, and at the end of two years a certificate or di- ploma of graduation. The scheme was a success from the start. It almost immediately became self- sustaining ; the guarantors were called on for very little. Constantly larger classes have been formed each succeeding year, and the demand for service of graduates of the school is greater than the supply.1

1 For further information seo " A New Way of Training Nurses, " by .A. Worcester, M.D., published by Cupples & llurd, Boston.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS .- George Russell, M.D., Harvard Medical College, commenced to prac- tice here about 1840. In 1848 removed to Boston, but still retained a good share of his business here. He was succeeded by Thomas Wales, M.D., Harvard Medical College, who remained here but about a year ; and was followed in 1853 by Charles F. Adams, M.D. (place of graduation unknown). He continued here until 1858, and was succeeded by Charles F. Saun- ders, M.D. (place of graduation unknown). He re- mained until 1860, and was succeeded by Edward Worcester, M.D., University of New York, who is still in practice.

Irving S. Hall, M.D., Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, came here in 1874; is still in practice.

J. F. Hadley, M.D., Boston University Medical College, located here in 1885; is still in practice.

A. C. Reed, M.D., Boston University Medical Col- lege, came in 1889, and still remains.

CHAPTER XLVIII. WALTHAM-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY-BANKS.

BY ALEXANDER STARBUCK.

CHURCHES .- A by no means to be overlooked cause of Waltham's secession from the parent town was the location of the meeting-house. In olden times, when the meeting-house might be an extra three or four miles off and attendance at service a not to be deferred duty, the location was a matter of serious im- portance. The first site was selected with a view to accommodate those by whom it was to be used. In a large township, such as Watertown originally was, the centre of population was liable to change to a very marked degree, and the meeting-house, which once was centrally located, prove on the outskirts of popu- lation. A readjustment was sought, and if satisfac- tion was not obtained a new meeting-house would often be authorized with a new centre of population, which often proved the nucleus of another town. So it was with the Farmers' Preciuct, or Weston, and so it was with the Middle, afterwards the West Precinct, or Waltham.

Jn 1692 the old meeting-house was located opposite the old graveyard, just southwest of Mount Auburn. An effort was made to remove it where it would be more convenient for the people. After much ill-feeling a new building was put considerably farther west, at a locality known as Commodore's Corner. The pastor, Rev. Henry Gibbs, refused to recognize the new order of things and continued to preach in the old building, and Rev. Samuel Angier was called to the pastorate of the new society. Mis Angier's church, being the

one recognized by the authorities, was, therefore, the original church.

November 4, 1712, the General Court ordered that as the ministers of the Middle Precinct had been sup- ported by voluntary subscription it was voted that each congregation bear the charges for its minister and repairs of its meeting-house. Furthermore, that both precincts bear the expense of removing the mid- dle meeting-house to such a site as that precinct should determine. The majority of the town treated this order with contempt.

May 13, 1715, the town voted to "build a meeting- house for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the most westerly part of the town." This was the present Waltham, Weston or the Farmers' Precinct having been previously set off. This vote was never carried out. In 1719 Rev. Mr. Angier died and was buried in the burial-ground set off to the precinct, now Grove Hill Cemetery.

In November, 1720, inhabitants of both precincts prayed for a division line in order that assessments might be properly apportioned in accordance with the order of the Court of November 4, 1712. The line was laid out starting from the Charles River, running "on a north course forty-nine degrees east," and end- ing at the southwestern bounds of what is now Arling- ton. The report of the committee of the General Court further recommended the removal of the West Meeting-house within two years to a spot about twenty rods west of Nathaniel Livermore's house, and that the old meeting· house be removed or a new one built on School-house Hill, the West Precinct to bear its part of the expense of the removal or rebuilding of the east house. This report was concurred in by the Court, and April 24, 1721, the town voted to comply with the recommendations. This practically settled the ecclesiastical differences, but gave nuclei around which could cluster the inhabitants, who were ulti- mately to form two townships.

After the death of Mr. Angier no pastor was regu- larly settled for quite a period. Rev. Hezekiah Gold, Rev. Timothy Minuet and Rev. Mr. Gibson were among those who preached to the people. Mr. Francis names Robert Sturgeon also as one of the pastors, but this must be an error, since the General Court, in November, 1722, accuses him of having been privately ordained to a "pretended middle church." The report says he had been rebuked by two councils and recommends that he be prosecuted hy the Attor- ney-General if he persists in his course. This report, which also recommends the demolition of the Middle meeting-house when the new West one was built, was agreed to. Rev. Warham Williams was finally or- dained pastor June 11, 1723.

At the time of Waltham's incorporation the people were worshiping in a meeting-house which stood near the present entrance to the Lyman estate. Rev. War- ham Williams died in 1751, and in 1752 Rev. Jacob Cushing, of Shrewsbury, was ordained as pastor. In

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1767 the old church was abandoned and a new church huilt on the triangular lot nearly opposite the en- trance to the Lyman estate. This building stood until it was torn down in 1741. Mr. Cushing died in 1809, and was succeded by Rev. Samuel Ripley. During the War of 1812 some of the society not ap- proving the anti-war stand adopted by Mr. Ripley, engaged Rev. Elisha Williams to preach for them in a school-house then situated east of the old burying- ground, and afterwards in the hall of the Kimball tavern. The society reunited again after the war, but in 1820 fresh trouble arose and the Second Relig- ious Society was formed.

The first society continued under Mr. Ripley's charge 'until 1841, and then became extinct. The other societies receive attention under their respec- tive heads.

Christ Church, Episcopal .- This church was organ- ized A. D. 1848, under the ministry of the Rev. A. C. Patterson, who was then officiating in the vicinity of Boston, for the purpose of planting the Episcopal Church in places where it had not been established. Services were first held in Rumford Hall, which cou- tinued to be used by the parish as their place of wor- ship for about one year. In the mean time the pres- ent church, on Central Street, was erected. The Rev. Thomas F. Fales was called to be the first rec- tor, and entered upon his duties in November, 1849. In 1890 Mr. Fales retired, and was made pastor Emeritus. Rev. H. N. Cunningham, of Watertown, Conn., has accepted a call to the pastorate. The church has been once enlarged since its erection, adding about one-third to the number of its sittings.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- About the year 1820 the nucleus of the Methodist Episcopal Church be- gan to form in the shape of class- meetings, a class of twenty-four being gathered, with Charles Barnes as leader. The class met regularly until 1825, when, a majority of the members removing to Lowell, it was discontinued. Circuit-preaching was occasionally bad and small appropriations were allowed for its support.

Between 1828 and 1830 class-meetings were re- sumed, Marshall Livermore being leader, succeeded by Marshal Jones, and he (in 1833) by Dr. Theodore Kittredge. Services were occasionally held in the factory school-house on Elm Street, Smith's Academy on School Street and the Masonic Hall on Main Street. In March, 1837, regular services were com- menced at Masonic Hall, Rev. Ziba B. Dunham, pas- tor. The next year the church then owned by the Second Society and standing on the Common was purchased, and in June, 1838, a regular organization was formed with about forty members. Between 1838 and 1843 Waltham and Watertown were united in one conference, the following pastors being resident here : 1838, Rev. T. Pickering ; 1839, Rev. Edward A. Lyon ; 1840, Rev. H. G. Barrus; 1841, Rev. G. W. Frost; 1842, Rev. B. K. Pierce. In 1843 Waltham

was separated from Watertown. Since then the fol- lowing pastors have been assigned to this society : 1843, Rev. David Kilburn ; 1845, Rev. John Paulson ; 1846, Rev. Moses Webster ; 1848, Rev. Jacob Sanborn, (under Mr. Sanborn the church was raised and a ves- try put in); 1850, Rev. G. W. Bates (Mr. Bates died while in charge) ; 1851, Rev. N. J. Merrill ; 1853, Rev. Luman Boyden ; 1854, Rev. J. S. Barrows ; 1856, Rev. T. W. Lewis; 1858, Rev. E. A. Manning (in the fall of 1859 the church was moved to the site of the pres- ent one, remodeled and dedicated January 25, 1860, the society in the mean time meeting in Rumford Hall. On Sunday night, May 27, 1860, the edifice was entirely destroyed by fire, and again Rumford Hall was called into requisition. The new church was completed and dedicated March 13, 1861). 1861, Rev. S. Kelley ; 1863, Rev. D. K. Merrill ; 1865, Rev. C. L. Eastman ; 1868, Rev. D. E. Chapin ; 1870, Rev. L. J. Hall; 1872, Rev. J. Wagner; 1875, Rev. W. A. Braman; 1876, Rev. W. W. Colburn; 1879, Rev. G. H. Mansfield ; 1880, Rev. I. H. Packard ; 1883, Rev. G. F. Eaton : 1886, Rev. J. M. Avann; 1889, Rev. Charles Tilton. During Mr. Avann's pastorate a branch organization was formed on the south side of the river and in 1888 a church building was erected. In 1890 a separate church organization was created for the South Side body, and it was incorporated as the Immann-El Church. Rev. W. A. Wood has been pastor of the new society since its organization.

Trinitarian Congregational Church .- Sixty-five years ago the only meeting-house in Waltham was located on the triangular lot of land formed hy the three roads near the residence of the late Geo. W. Lyman, Esq. To meet the wants of the growing village, and particularly the operatives of the Boston Manufactur- ing Company, all of whom in that day were Protest- ants, the "Second Religious Society " was formed in 1820. It was agreed that the denominational rela- tions of the church which should be formed should be determined by a majority of the subscribers to the new society. Accordingly it was voted that the church should be Congregational. It was organized in the Congregational way, September 28, 1820. Its original members were eighteen in number. The society built its meeting-honse on Church Street, on the spot now used as the Catholic Cemetery, dedicat- ing it January 16, 1821. Four years later there were found to be great differences in their views of doctrin- al truth between "the Church and the Society." A separation took place. The church unanimously in April, 1825, adhering to their pastor, Rev. Mr. Hard- ing, then took the name of the Trinitarian Congrega- tional Church. A new " Society " was organized and a house of worship was built on Main Street, near Lyman Street. Here the church continued to wor- ship till within twenty years. Their present edifice was dedicated in 1871. The pastors of this church have been :

From 1820 to 1837, Rev. Sewall Harding.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

From 1837 to 1857, Rev. John Whitney. From 1858 to 1864, Rev. R. B. Thurston. From 1865 to 1878, Rev. E. E. Strong. From 1878 to 1881, no settled pastor.

The present pastor, Rev. B. M. Fullerton, took charge of the society in the year 1881.

The Catholic Society .- The Catholic Society was instituted in Waltham in 1830. At the time the building occupied by the Second Society on Church Street was burned, the sheds belonging to it were saved. The Catholics purchased the lot and these sheds with it, and fitted up a section of the sheds for a church. They used this temporarily, however, and shortly after built a wooden building for this purpose. This was destroyed by fire in June, 1848. Up to 1839 there was no settled pastor, clergymen from Bos- ton conducting the services from time to time. In 1839 Rev. T. Fitzsimmons was appointed pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. M. Lynch, and he in turn by Rev. Luther Strain. Mr. Strain continued pastor until 1847, at which time Rev. Patrick Flood was ap- pointed to succeed him. During the pastorate of Mr. Flood, which continued until his death, in Decem- ber, 1863, the large brick church on School Street was erected. The building was occupied in 1860 and ded- icated in 1877. Upon the death of Rev. Patrick Flood, Rev. Bernard Flood, a nephew, was appointed. He also died, as it were, in the harness, in December, 1876, from sickness brought on by his labor and expo- sure in superintending the remodeling of the church. Rev. Timothy Brosnahan, his successor and the pres- ent pastor, was appointed early in 1877, and under his pastorate the church edifice has been completed and furnished, the grounds laid ont and beautified, and the present parochial residence built (in 1884). So heavy were the labors in this parish, one of the largest in the vicinity of Boston, that it was necessary to have an assistant, and Rev. J. J. Murphy was given that position in 1876. On his appointment to a par- ish in' Weymouth, Massachusetts, Rev. J. S. McKone was appointed to the place. Ile in turn was trans- ferred to a church in East Boston, and was replaced by Rev. Frs. J. J. Mahoney and J. Lally. Fr. Lally died in 1888. Fr. Mahoney was promoted to his po- sition and Rev. John A. Daily was appointed.

First Parish .- The church in which this society holds its services was dedicated February 9, 1839, and Rev. George F. Simmons was installed as pastor Oc- tober 27, 1841, Rev. Samuel Ripley being " associate pastor." Mr. Simmons closed his ministry here, on account of ill health, in April, 1843. Mr. Ripley re- signed his pastorate April 6, 1846, on his removal from town.

During the first thirty years which elapsed after the resignation of Mr. Simmons the parish had but four pastors. Of these the Rev. Thomas Hill was longest settled, having been fifteen years minister of the par- ish, returning here after eight years' absence and re- maining until 1873. The dates of the beginning and

close of the pastorates which have filled these thirty years are as follows :

Ordination of Rev. Thomas Hill, December 24, 1845. Resignation January, 1860. Ordination of Rev. J. C. Parsons, June 6, 1860. Resignation, May, 1864. Installation of Rev. C. McCauley, December 29, 1869. Resignation, December, 1872.

The church edifice was thoroughly repaired and re- modeled in the year 1867, under the superintendence of Mr. Henry W. Hartwell, to whose skill its present attractive appearance does great credit. Rev. Edward C. Guild was installed June 7, 1873, and resigning after about five years' service, was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Edward J. Young.

Baptist Society .- The First Baptist Church in Wal- tham was organized November 4, 1852, with a con- stituent membership of twenty-one-eleven females and ten males. During the first three years of its existence it sustained Sabbath services in Rumford Hall, holding its weekly prayer-meetings at the pri- vate residences of its members. At the expiration of three years its present house of worship was erected, and dedicated February 14, 1855; Rev. Baron Stow, of Boston, preaching the sermon, and Rev. M. B. Anderson, of Roxbury, offering the dedi- catory prayer.

The first pastor was Rev. M. L. Bickford, whose pastorate extended from August, 1853, to June, 1863. The pastoral office was then filled successively by Rev. E. B. Eddy, Rev. A. M. Bacon, Rev. W. H. Shedd, Rev. W. H. Barrows, 1872, and Rev. F. D. Bland, 1875, who retired in 1879. Rev. J. V. Stratton was installed in 1880.

During his pastorate a division occurred in the church, and a new society, the Beth Eden, was organ- ized on the south side of the river, in 1887. The meetings of the new society were begun in the build- ing used for a skating rink, and were afterwards held in Endecott Hall. A new church edifice, begun in 1889, is in process of erection. Rev. George W. Gardner was installed pastor of the new society in November, 1888. On account of ill health he has been compelled to resign his pastorate, his resigna- tion to take effect in November, 1890. Mr. Stratton's pastorate ended in 1887, and the following year he was succeeded by Rev. William M. Mick, the present pastor.

Universalist Society .-- In the spring of 1837 the Uni- versalists in Waltham set up a meeting in the hall of the Waltham Bank building, on Main Street, for regular public worship, and in August of that year Rev. William C. Hanscom, a young man of uncom- mon promise, became their preacher; but rapidly- failing health soon caused him to relinquish his work, and after struggling with that fatal disease, consump- tion, until May, 1838, he passed quietly away in the triumphs of the faith he had so fondly cherished. A humble marble monnment marks the resting-place of his remains upon the summit of our Grove Hill Ceme-

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tery. The late Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, D.D., in the spring of 1838, succeeded him as preacher to that people. Being straitened for room, they obtained permission from the town and removed from the Bank Hall into the Town Hall, in the old grammar-school building on Lexington Street. But the accommodations afforded them in this place, though somewhat better than those they had left, were found to be still insufficient. About this period the First Parish Society erected their present church edifice on Church Street, and it was by invitation of those members of that parish who declined to accompany the main body into their new place of worship, that the Universalists removed from the Town Hall into the old parish meeting- house, then standing near the residence of George W. Lyman, Esq. Up to this time the body had existed only as a voluntary association, but on the 6th of March, 1839, they organized in legal form into a religious society, and took measures to secure an act of incorporation, by the name of the " First Univer- salist Society in Waltham." Encouraged by the proffered assistance of the late Theodore Lyman, Esq., the society proceeded to erect a house of worship upon a lot presented to them by Mr. Lyman, on the corner of Lyman and Summer Streets.

In the spring of 1840, Rev. Mr. Cobb relinquished his charge, and in the autumn of the same year was succeeded by Rev. Edwin A. Eaton, who ministered to the society about three years ; and in the spring of 1844 he was succeeded by Rev. T. G. Farnsworth. He retired from the pastorate in 1848, but continuing his residence in the town, he continued his member- ship also in the society during its existence. From 1848 to 1855 the society had no settled pastor, but by temporary supplies continued, with little interruption, to maintain regular public worship. In 1854 they sold their lot on Lyman Street, and removed their meeting-house to the corner of Main and Spring Streets. Rev. Massena Goodrich was their pastor from the spring of 1855 to 1857. He was succeeded in the fall of 1857 by Rev. Henry A. Eaton, whose ministry with them continued between one and two years, during which time a serious dissension arose in the society, the result of which was, the meeting- house passed out of their hands, and they ceased to exercise the functions of a religious organization. From an early period of its existence there was within the society a church organization and a flour- ishing Sunday-school.

A new society was organized in September, 1865, by the name of "The Universalist Society of Wal- tham," and established regular public worship in Rumford Hall. Rev. Benton Smith, through whose labors, as the missionary of the Massachusetts Uni- versalist Convention, the body was gathered, minis- tered to the society some four years. Rev. Mrs. P. A. Hanaford supplied their desk for one year; and in September, 1871, Rev. M. R. Leonard entered upon the duties of his charge. Mr. Leonard was succeeded

in 1884 by Rev. L. P. Blackford, the present pastor. The present church edifice was erected in 1880.

Waltham Society of the New Jerusalem Church .- It is now more than sixty years since the Heavenly Doc- trines, drawn from the Sacred Scriptures and re- vealed through the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, found interested readers and receivers in Waltham.

Meetings were held at first at the residence of Cap- tain John Clark, and were continued in private rooms until the need of more ample accommodations for the increasing numbers was sensibly felt. This want was fully supplied about thirty years ago by the building of a stone chapel on Lexington Street, in a section of the city known of old as "Piety Corner," and since that time Benj. Worcester has led in pub- lic worship. A part of the building was also used for the " Waltham New Church School," which was removed to the more commodious quarters it now occupies in the brick building near by, built in 1864, expressly for its accommodation.

In December, 1869, nearly everything perishable of the chapel was destroyed by fire, the walls alone standing to mark the spot hallowed by many pleas- ant and sacred associations. In one year from the time of the fire a larger and more beautiful church had arisen on the same site, in which religious ser- vice has since been regularly held.

On Sunday, July 4, 1869, a distinct society of the church was formally organized, the membership numbering twenty-four, to which there have since been some additions. The total number of church-mem- bers resident here, however, is considerably larger than the society represents, many retaining their connection with other societies.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 172

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