History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 45

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 45

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Whatever the people at home could do was done. The town was liberal in bounties to enlisted men and in aid to their families. The generosity of individ- ual citizens seconded the efforts of the community. The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society did much through- out the war to send help and comfort to the men in the hospitals and at the front. It was found, in 1865, that more than $75,000 had been contributed directly to the Union cause from these various sources. Be- side this amount that is certainly known, much that cannot now be traced was given through private channels.

The town in 1866 received, under the will of Hon. James Russell, a large tract of land to be held for the purposes of a public park. It is now known as Rus- sell Park.

The town ceased to bear the name of West Cam- bridge in 1867. The principal public measures and events during the sixty years that had elapsed since its incorporation have been mentioned. Before pro- ceeding to an account of the town under its new name some other matters remain to be spoken of.

We turn first to the history of the several churches -always an important part of the annals of a New England town. As has been above stated, Rev. Thad- deus Fiske was pastor of the Second Parish in Cam- bridge when it became the First Parish in West Cam- bridge, and he remained in that office for twenty years more. If he makes less of a figure in the com- munity than his predecessor the reason is to be found not so much in the character of the man as in the changed circumstances of the time. His long pastor- ate of forty years covered a period when the old New England church system was powerfully affected by influences from within as well as from without. While the rise of other forms of faith and worship was interfering with the legal and social pre-eminence of the Congregational body, changes of thought and belief were taking place in its own ranks. Such in- fluences were felt in West Cambridge as everywhere else, and in vain Dr. Fiske set himself against the current of events. He was a true successor of the older race of New England divines and looked with little favor upon any departure from the ancient ways. The ideas that afterwards became known as Unitarian

To Dr. Fiske succeeded Rev. Dr. Frederick Henry Hedge, then a young man recently out of college. His pastorate extended from 1829 to 1835. He was the first distinctively Unitarian minister of the First Parish. Then came Rev. David Damon, D.D., who took an active part in the management of the Juvenile Li- brary and of the public schools as well as in matters more strictly appertaining to his own parish. He died suddenly June 25, 1843, and, as the inscription on his monument states, was the first to be buried in the new cemetery, consecrated by him but a few days before his death. Rev. William Ware was the next minister; holding the position for a short time-from December, 1843, to August, 1845. Rev. James F. Brown was minister from 1848 until his early death in 1853. Rev. Samuel Abbot Smith was ordained in 1854 and was minister throughout the important years just before and during the war. At the call of duty he went to Virginia at the close of the conflict to preach the gospel. Stricken with fever, he came home to die. His death occurred May 20, 1865, and was much deplored by the whole community, to whom he was endeared by many acts of kindness and good- will. In 1866 Rev. Charles C. Salter was ordained, and continued in charge of the parish until his resig- nation, January 31, 1869.

The meeting-house in which Dr. Fiske preached has been described. In 1840 it was taken down and a larger building erected on the same site. This stood until January 1, 1856, when it was destroyed by an accidental fire. In the same year the present meet- ing-house was built and was dedicated January 1, 1857.

The early history of the Baptist society has been above given. It was passing through a period of de- pression when West Cambridge became a separate town. Still, those whose hearty were in the cause held together, maintained their organization, held public services when practicable, and trusted that better days would come. In 1816 the society was incorpo- rated and in the following year a church was estab- lished according to the usages of the Baptist denomi- nation. Generous gifts were received from Stephen Cutter, a leading citizen of the town, and, after his death, from his wife, Mary Cutter. It was on land

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given by her that the growing society built its church in 1828. This building became, as time went on, un- suitable, and the present church was built on the same site in 1853.

From 1794 to 1818 there appears to have been no settled pastor. Rev. Benjamin C. Grafton was minister of the society from 1818 'until 1823; Rev. John Ormsbee from 1824 to 1827; Rev. Ebenezer Nelson from 1828 to 1834. From 1834 to 1838 Rev. Appleton Morse, and after him Rev. Charles Miller, had charge of the parish. Rev. Timothy G. Tingley was minister for the next seven years and was suc- ceeded by Rev. George J. Carlton, who continued in the position until 1851. Rev. Joseph Barnard, known as an historical writer as well as in more strictly professional fields of labor, came next, remaining for two years. Rev. Samuel B. Swaim, D.D., a man of especial influence in the community, was pastor from 1854 to 1862. Rev. John Duncan followed him in 1863-64, and Rev. Amos Harris became the minister in 1865.

The two parishes already spoken of were for some years the only religious organizations in the town of West Cambridge. The Universalist Society was the next to be established there. If we may judge by the above-quoted obituary notice of Rev. MIr. Cooke, there would seem to have been in his day persons holding tenets similar to those of that denomination. Certain it is, that in the decade preceding 1840, such views were becoming so prevalent as to give serious anxiety to those of the First Parish who held to a different opinion, as to the probability of that ancient society becoming a Universalist church. However, after an informal organization for several years, the First Uni- versalist Society was regularly established in 1840, and proceeded at once to build its meeting-house, which was dedicated January 20, 1841.

Rev. J. C. Waldo was its first pastor, and remained till 1847. After a short term of service by Rev. Wil- lard Spaulding, Rev. George Hill became the minis- ter, and continued to fill that position from 1850 to 1860. Mr. Hill was prominent in town affairs and served in 1854 as representative in the Legislature. For the six succeeding years Rev. William E. Gibbs was minister, and was followed by the Rev. J. W. Keyes.

The establishment of the Universalist Church was soon followed by that of what is now known as the Pleasant Street Congregational Society. The prime mover in the organization was very appropriately a granddaughter of Rev. Mr. Cooke, Miss Anna Brad- shaw, who lived in his former dwelling-house. It was in 1842 that the informal meetings were begun, from which grew the society. On the 14th day of De- cember of that year a church was duly established, the list of members including the name of Rev. Thad- deus Fiske, the retired minister of the old parish. The site on which the meeting-house was built in 1844 is part of the estate that belonged in the last century

to Parson Cooke. The building has since been con- siderably altered and enlarged.

The society had but two ministers during the time of which I am now speaking-Rev. Francis Horton, who occupied the position from 1843 to 1854, and Rev. Daniel R. Cady, D.D., who became pastor in 1856.

It is impossible to do more here than mention the names of the West Cambridge pastors. It is clear, from what is remembered or has been recorded, that they were an earnest body of men, true to the duties of their calling, and active in good causes in the com- munity. We find them, for instance, frequently serv- ing as members of the School Committees. Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, of the Baptist church, received in 1834 the unusual honor of a public vote of thanks from the town for his faithful services in that office.

Throughout the sixty years that followed the incor- poration of West Cambridge, farming continued to be the principal industry of the town. Its character changed somewhat as time went on. At first it was general farming, like that now carried on in the towns farther back in the country. But with the growth of Boston, agriculture here became more spe- cialized to supply the demands of the city. It would be hard to say when market-gardening became the distinctive industry of the town. The products of the West Cambridge farms early gained the high reputa- tion in the markets of Boston which they still hold, and are not likely to lose, if we may judge the future by the past. The subject is elsewhere treated by a writer who may surely speak with authority, and I therefore pass it over without that detailed account which its importance would otherwise call for.

In manufactures the town was not conspicuous. Those that existed in the early part of the century have been above mentioned. Such other factories as were built were generally, like their predecessors, situated on the brook that has furnished water-power for the mills of many generations. The saw-factory of Welch & Griffiths, situated just below what is now Grove Street, was for a long time an important indus- try. In 1855 the value of the saws manufactured was estimated at $40,000, and thirty-five persons found em- ployment in the establishment. In 1832, at about the same time when the saw.factory was started, James Schouler established calico-printing works on the site of Abner Stearns' mill. Here a flourishing industry was carried on for many years. Other manufacturing pursuits were followed-in some cases for a short time only, in other cases for a considerable period. Boots and shoes were made here; so were hats and caps. It was during this time that several existing manufac- tures were begun, which will be spoken of later. The ice business, which makes Spy Pond a scene of ac- tivity in the winter, and gives employment to many scores of men, was begun before 1840.

In its political leanings, as has been said, the town began its career with few Federalists and many Dem- ocrats. The disproportion increased as the Federal

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party in the State moved towards its end, until ordi- narily hardly a score of votes were cast for its candi- dates. During the administrations of John Quincy Adams and the first term of General Jackson the re- sults of elections in the town reflect the chaotic state of parties, and the votes for Congressional and State candidates are hard to reduce to any rule except per- sonal preference. As the Whig party becomes estab- lished, political divisions may again be traced. The town was still Democratic, but the minority was a much larger one than it had been in the Federalist times. For instance, in 1836 the Democratic electors received ninety-three votes, the Whig electors eighty- six. In 1840 the numbers were 152 and 128; in 1844, 182 and 154. Occasionally a popular Whig candi- date carried the town. In 1848 the balance of parties changed, and the Whigs obtained a plurality ; in 1852 the Democrats again carried the election in West Cambridge. In both these years the Free-Soil candidates obtained a considerable vote. The election of 1856 showed a decided change; the new Republi- can party cast 186 votes, the Whigs 147, and the Democrats 130. The loss of West Cambridge to the Democratic party was a permanent one, although, as had previously been the case with their opponents, they now and then gained a temporary success. In the election of 1860 183 votes were cast for Lincoln, 119 for Douglas, eighty-four for Bell and two for Breckenridge. In 1864 the Lincoln electors received 246 votes ; their opponents 133. In State and Congres- sional elections the relative strength of parties was usually about the same as in the Presidential elections. The people were called upon oftener then than now to choose their officials. Until 1831 the election of State officers took place in the spring, instead of in the fall. Congressional elections took place, as now, in November. Until 1855 the law required for a choice, not a mere plurality, but an absolute majority of the votes cast. Consequently when there were more than two candidates, a series of elections some- times had to be held before any result was reached.

Before 1857, when West Cambridge was united with Winchester to form a representative district, the town was entitled to send one representative to the Legis- lature. Occasionally the town voted to send no rep- resentative, probably from motives of economy, as in those days legislators were paid by the towns they represented, and not from the State treasury. Samuel Butterfield was the first representative from the town, serving from 1808 to 1811. His immediate successor, Col. Thomas Russell, had by far the longest term of service of any that have filled the place ; he was con- tinuously a member of the Legislature from 1812 to 1827, with the exception of two years when no one was sent from West Cambridge.

IV. THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON, 1867-90.

In 1867 the name of the town was changed to Arl- ington. The cause of this alteration was in part the 13-iii

practical inconveniences that occasionally arose from the fact that the old name was easily confounded by strangers with North Cambridge or East Cambridge or wasat any rate supposed to stand for a part of Cambridge and not for a separate town. Perhaps an even stronger reason for the change came from a feeling of local pride that desired a name that should signify to all the world that the town was a distinct municipality and not a portion of any other place, however ancient and distinguished. After a good deal of discussion Arlington was chosen as the new name. As has been made evident in the course of time, it is liable to the very objection that its adoption was designed to put an end to, for " Arlington " bears a close resemblance to " Abington," and considerable trouble has been caused the people of both places from the similarity of name.

At a meeting held in April, 1867, it was voted, with but one dissenting voice, to petition the Legislature to change the name of West Cambridge to Arlington. The Legislature took favorable action npon the peti- tion, and the change went into effect April 30th. The event was celebrated May 1st, in a somewhat informal way-with some firing of cannon and making of speeches. The real celebration, however, did not take place until June 17th, and was carried ont with a good deal of enthusiasm. There was a long pro- cession made up of official representatives of the Commonwealth, soldiers of the war of 1812, and of the civil war, school-children, representatives of the principal callings in which the townspeople were engaged, as well as of other citizens. After the pro- cession had passed through the principal streets, the children were treated to a banquet in a tent on the Common by the meeting-house of the First Parish, while the citizens and their guests were entertained in another large tent on the grounds of Mr. J. R. Bailey-now of Mr. Samuel D. Hicks. Here there were after-dinner speeches by Governor Bullock, Senator Sumner and other men of distinction. A poem of our townsman, Mr. John T. Trowbridge, was read. Later the festivities concluded with races on Spy Pond.

The town seal was adopted at this time. It bears upon a shield the representation of the two ancient elms that for many years arched the main street at the eastern end of the town, and of which one is stand- ing yet. Between the trees on the face of the shield is the Revolutionary monnment with the date 1775 above it and the village beyond. The shield is surmounted by a plongh and a sheaf of wheat, typical of the main occupation of the people, and by a scroll giving the names and dates of incorporation of West Cam- bridge and Arlington. Underneath is the inscription "Libertatis propugnatio hereditas avita."

For two or three years after the change of name little of importance occurred in town affairs. Then came the introduction of a public water supply. Up to that time no arrangements had existed ou any con-

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siderable scale for the purpose of supplying the town with water. Some families obtained water for do- mestic use from a system of pipes by which water was conducted from springs in the upper part of the town, but this served a comparatively small part of the population. Most people had to rely upon cisterns and wells for the water needed for household and drinking purposes and farmers especially were ex- posed to heavy losses in time of drought. In 1870 the Arlington Lake Water Company was established, and in 1871 the Legislature conferred upon it extensive powers to take land in the Great Meadows of Lexing- ton for a reservoir, to use the waters of certain brooks, to lay pipe, and to sell its property or franchise to the town. The proposition that the town should buy the rights of the corporation and go into the enterprise of supplying its citizens with water was soon brought before the voters. Long and excited debates took place in meeting after meeting held in the summer evenings of 1871, for the scheme was far from meeting with universal approval. The balance of opinion in the end, however, leaned decidedly in favor of the plan, and the town voted to buy out the corporation and itself to build and own its water-works. The plan was to build a reservoir on the border between Arling- ton and Lexington, to be filled by the water coming from the large tract of land known as the Great Meadows. This reservoir would be at such a height above the level of most of the then inhabited part of Arlington, that there would be a sufficient pressure if the water were conducted directly from the reser- voir through the mains and pipes by gravity, without pumping apparatus. Apart from the actual expense of construction, there were two main elements of cost to be considered-the damage to the people whose lands were taken and the damage to the mill-owners on Vine Brook, whose supply might be diminished by the diverting into the reservoir of a large amount of water which might otherwise find its way into the brook.

To those who investigated the matter in 1870, neither element of damage appeared very alarming. It was thought that the land damages would not ex- ceed a few thousand dollars, and that the damage to the mills would amount to little or nothing. The whole cost of putting in the water-works was estimat- ed not to be more than $120,000. With this prospect before it the town began the work. The Legislature, in 1873, confirmed the acts of the town and provided for the management of the water-works. Accord- ingly Water Commissioners were chosen in 1873, and have since been annually elected. The reservoir was built and the pipes laid, and a considerable portion of the town has been from this time supplied with water. But the introduction of water proved to be by no means such a comparatively inexpensive picce of work as had been anticipated at the outset. Some alterations in plans were made; filters had to be con- structed, as the water was, at times, so filled with vegetable matter as to be unfit for domestic use ;

while the damage to land and mills turned out to be very much greater than was expected beforehand. There were long controversies in court and out which dragged along many years, and the settlement of which cost the town a good deal of money. In 1878, $300,000 in water-scrip had been issued. The total expense of the water-works-not counting ordinary repairs-has been more than that amount. This large sum was not raised or borrowed at one time, but has been appropriated from time to time as exigen- cies arose. The towu, having once entered upon a course that involved an expenditure that nobody ex- actly foresaw, has had no escape from paying. If this experience has been unfortunate, it is certainly not unparalleled in the history of public water supply in Massachusetts.

With the introduction of water, it became possible to take measures for more adequate protection from fire, and in 1872 two hose-carriages were bought- the " William Penn " and the "Highland." These, with the old " Eureka " and a hook-and-ladder truck, formed the main part of the apparatus of the Fire Department until 1889, when a new hose company, the " Eagle "-at the lower end of the town, was made a regular paid company, and a chemical engine was bought, designed more especially for service at Arlington Heights, which, owing to its elevation above the level of the reservoir, is unprotected by ordinary methods. In the same year a system of electric fire alarm was introduced.

In 1871 the town again suffered from the wind, although to a less extent than from the tornado in 1851. On Sunday, August 27th, there occurred a strong gale, which culminated at about eleven o'clock in the evening in a violent blast that prostrated two steeples-of the First Parish and Pleasant Street Con- gregational churches-and did also much damage in uprooting trees, blowing down chimneys, etc., not to speak of minor injuries to property.

In 1872 a weekly newspaper-The Arlington Advo- cate-was established, and continues to be published by Mr. Charles S. Parker.

In 1872 the Arlington Land Company began its operations at Arlington Heights, which had pre- viousiy had few inhabitants. Buying several hundred acres of land, the corporation started a village of con- siderable size. The hard times that soon came proved a serious hindrance to the growth of the place, but after a time of depression, the village be- gan again to increase, and has since grown steadily and rapidly. There is little local business carried on, most of the residents doing business in Boston. It is distinctively a place of residence, and the people liv- ing there display much interest in seeing to it that their neighborhood is kept attractive.

In 1875 occurred the anniversary of the famous day that saw the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The town rationally made no effort to hold a celebra- tion of its own in imitation or rivalry of those which

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ARLINGTON.

took place in Lexington and Concord. The Legisla- ture authorized Arlington to raise $2000 for the occa- sion, and this amount was sufficient to pay for a proper local observance of the day. The bells were rung, cannons were fired, and plenty of bunting was provided for the decoration of public and private buildings. Few householders were so little moved by the spirit of the time as not at least to show the rational colors, while the fortunate occupants of houses that had witnessed the British retreat proudly displayed inscriptions that told the story of plunder or of blood that had made the buildings memorable. Those who were in Arlington on that day are not likely to forget it. The weather was unusually cold- it was dull and cloudy much of the time, with a chill- ing wind and occasional gusts of snow. The immense number of visitors brought to utter confusion the plans of town committees and of railway managers. The trains slowly made their way through Arlington, crowded to the steps of the platforms and with even their tops covered with human beings. The horse- cars were filled to overflowing. The main street was thronged with a procession of vehicles, all making their way in one direction, while the sidewalks were occupied by those who early came to the sensible con- clusion that the only way to reach their destination was to go on foot. In the afternoon the scenes of the morning were repeated, except that the tide ran the other way ; and streets and railways were again clogg- ed with hungry, shivering and exhausted sight-seers. But in spite of the inevitable discomforts, there was a certain intensity of patriotic passion, that no man could help sharing, about this first of the centennial celebrations of Revolutionary events, which gave to the occasion a dignity and a meaning.

The interest aroused by this anniversary resulted in a determination to mark by permanent monuments the spots where especially noteworthy events had happened on April 19, 1775. Accordingly, in pursu- ance of a vote of the town, stones were placed in June, 1878, to mark the sites of Cooper's Tavern, the Black Horse Tavern, Jason Russell's house, the place of the capture of the convoy, and the spot where Samuel Whittemore made his fight.

In 1875 the town received the sum of $25,000 under the will of Nathan Pratt, who for many years had been a prominent citizen. He gave $10,000 for the support of the Public Library, $5000 to the Poor Widows' Fund, and $10,000 for the benefit of the High School. The terms of the last bequest should be given in full. " I give and bequeath to said town of Arlington the further sum of ten thousand dollars, the same to be invested and allowed to accumulate

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 45

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