History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 46

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 46

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until such time as the said town shall have erected a new building for its High School. At such time the increase of said sum by accumulation and a portion of the principal not exceeding two thousand dollars shall be expended in the purchase of engravings, books of engravings illustrative of science, art, bis-

tory and biography, books of reference, philosophical apparatus, all for the use and benefit of the pupils of said school, and to be placed or kept in a suitable apartment in the High School building. The unex- pended portion of said principal sum shall remain in- vested and the income thereof be expended for the purposes above named and expressed, and also in procuring special instruction to the pupils of said school by lectures. Said sum and income shall be expended in the manner foregoing under the direc- tion of the School Committee of said town." A board of five trustees was appointed by the town to manage and invest Mr. Prat:'s bequests.

The income of the bequest of ten thousand dollars for the Public Library was available at once. In 1870 it was first voted that the proceeds of the dog- tax be devoted to the support of the Library, accord- ing to the statute provision directing that this tax must be used for public libraries or schools. In 1872 a vote was passed that the Juvenile Library, as it was still called, should be known as the Arlington Public Library. Its board of managers remained as before- the selectmen, ministers and physicians continuing to act. As a smaller committee seemed desirable, the town in 1878 provided that a board of three trustees, elected by the town, should have charge of the library. Its subsequent history may be briefly told. It has increased in size and in use. After being moved from one room to another in the Town House, it was in 1884 transferred to its present location in Swans' Hall. The increase of room thus acquired al- lowed the establishment of a reading-room, a valuable adjunct for which the former cramped quarters af- forded no space. The library now contains four times as many volumes as it did twenty years ago, and the use made of it by book-borrowers is more than five times as great; while the whole number of per- sons who then used the library was less than the number added now in a single year. In 1889 a be- quest of $5000 was made to the library by the will of the late Deacon Henry Mott. A fine building is now (1890) being erected for the use of the library by Mrs. Maria C. Robbins of Brooklyn, N. Y.

The public schools have also increased with the growing population. In 1866 a new building-the Adams school-house -- was erected, to accommodate the primary scholars in the Russell District. But even with the additional room afforded by this build- ing, it soon became evident that more would have to be done to prevent overcrowding in the schools at the Centre. The question was decisively, if unpleasant- ly, settled by the accidental burning of the Russell school-house in the summer of 1872. The town voted to build a large brick school-house on the site of the old building, and the present Russell school-house -- a steam-heated brick structure-was ready for occu- pany in the fall of 1873. It originally contained ten rooms and a ball which has since been converted into two additional rooms. In 1878 the Locke School at

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Arlington Heights was built. Originally a primary school for the neighborhood, then taking some of the classes of the Cutter School, it now contains four schools, which form an independent grammar school system. There has been for many years no serious change in the general plan of the schools, except that their number has become greater and the grading more complete as the school population has increased.

The Soldiers' Monnment was dedicated June 17, 1887. The movement to erect a permanent memorial to the men of the town who fell in the war for the Union began in 1865, with the gift of $500 for that purpose from the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society. A committee of citizens then set to work and began to collect money. It was, however, found impossible to proceed far at that time. In 1869 the town appropri- ated $4000 and there appeared to be a good prospect of building the monument, but there was difficulty in obtaining a suitable site, the appropriation reverted to the town treasury and the project lapsed for many ycars. In 1885 a vigorous and successful effort was made to complete the work. The money already col- lected, with accumulated interest, amonnted to about $1800, the town added $2500 and the citizens sub- scribed $7689. The monument and its site cost al- together more than $11,000. It stands at the junction of Arlington Avenue and Broadway-the old Concord and Charlestown roads. It is a granite shaft forty-two feet high, surmounted by the figure of an eagle, and bearing upon panels inscriptions denoting its purpose and the names of the soldiers to whose memory it was raised. At its dedication appropriate exercises were held. A procession, in great part made up of sol- diers of the civil war, including the survivors of the Mozart Regiment, passed through the principal streets. Buildings were suitably decorated. The monument was dedicated according to the ritual of the Grand Army of the Republic, the services being conducted by the Arlington post of that order-Fran- cis Gould Post 36. A poem was read by Mr. John T. Trowbridge, and an oration delivered by Lieuten- ant-Governor John Q. A. Brackett, the present Gov- ernor of the Commonwealth. Both orator and poet are residents of the town.

The last decade has been uneventful in town affairs. Apart from the matters already mentioned, the town has been called upon to consider few subjects outside of the ordinary course. Questions of the establish- ment of new streets, of the sale of cemetery lots- matters of this sort, together with the usual reports and appropriations for the different departments, have made the substance of the business of town- meetings. Few events of general interest or import- ance have occurred. The town has been growing steadily and of late rapidly. What might almost be termed a separate village has grown up at the eastern end of the town, and the opening of several large estates near the centre of the town has given an im- petus to building there.

The history of the churches in Arlington may be briefly given. Rev. Charles C. Salter was succeeded in the pastorate of the First Parish hy Rev. George W. Cutter, who remained until 1877. Rev. William J. Parrot became minister in 1878 and resigned in 1881. Rev. John P. Forbes held the position from 1882 to 1887. Rev. Augustns M. Lord, was installed in 1887, and remained until September, 1890. This parish held services Oct. 9, 1889, commemorative of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the estab- lishment of the church.

Rev. Dr. Cady closed a pastorate of more than twenty-one years over the Pleasant Street Congrega- tional Society in 1877. He removed to Westboro, where he had been settled as minister many years he- fore, and died there in 1879. Dr. Cady took a deep interest in all good causes in the town, and his retire- ment from his work here was much regretted. Rev. J. Lewis Merrill succeeded him in 1878. His lament- ed death occurred in 1880. Rev. Edward B. Mason, D.D., became minister March 9, 1882, and resigned his charge April 2, 1889. Rev. S. C. Bushnell was installed Feb. 6, 1890. Alterations and improvements were made in the church building in 1882, and it was rededicated Feb. 25, 1883. Dr. Mason preached a sermon on the occasion commemorative of the fortieth anniversary of the foundation of the church.

The Baptist church continued under the charge of Rev. Amos Harris until 1875. Rev. Charles N. Spaulding succeeded him in 1876 and remained until 1880. The present pastor, Rev. Charles H. Watson, was settled in 1881. The meeting-house was exten- sively repaired in 1871. While the work was in pro- gress, considerable injury was done to the building by the gale in August of that year, causing added delay and expense.

Rev. J. W. Keyes resigned the pastorate of the Universalist Society October 1, 1869. Rev. William H. Rider was minister from July, 1871, to June 30, 1873. Rev. William F. Potter had charge of the parish from June, 1875, to January 1, 1882. Rev. E. L. Houghton became pastor April 1, 1885, and re- mained until March 31, 1886. Rev. Francis A. Gray was minister from September 1, 1886, to May 12, 1889. Rev. Irving C. Tomlinson became pastor September 1, 1889.

To the four existing Protestant societies there was added in 1869 a Catholic parish. Before that time the Catholics living in Arlington had had no church nearer than Cambridge. A church building was erected in Arlington, on Medford Street, and first used in 1870. Rev. M. P. Dougherty, the pastor of St. Peter's Church, in Cambridge, who had been mucli interested in the new parish, remained in charge of it until 1873, when Rev. Joseph M. Finotti took his place. Fr. Finotti was a man of learning and a writer on ecclesiastical subjects. He remained in Arlington until 1876. His successor was Rev. Mat- thew Harkins, now Bishop of Providence. He was

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pastor of the parish until 1884, and had the respect and confidence of the community. The present pastor, Rev. Thomas Shahan, has been in charge since 1884. The church has received the name of St. Małachy. A parochial school was opened in 1888 in a building erected for its use near the church.

A Methodist Episcopal church was organized nearly twenty years ago. Services were held from time to time as occasion permitted, but the society was not strong enough to make it prudent to erect a church building, and public exercises have been for a long time discontinued.

A Protestant Episcopal parish, knowu as St. John's, was organized January 19, 1876. A chapel was built at the corner of Academy and Maple Streets, in which services were first held January 21, 1877. Rev. D. G. Ilaskins, of Cambridge, had charge ot the par- ish until 1880. Rev. Charles M. Addison was the first rector resident in Arlington, remaining from September, 1882, to April 6, 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles J. Ketchum, who held the position from July 8, 1885, to April 22, 1889. Rev. Thomas Bell was rector from July 5, 1889, to March 10, 1890. He was followed by the present rector, Rev. Fred- erick Pember.

At Arlington Heights religious services of an un- denominational character were held at first in a hall and afterwards in a chapel built by subscription mainly of residents. The chapel was dedicated De- cember 30, 1885. Prof. Daniel Dorchester, Jr., of Boston University, resident of the Heights, who had previously conducted the services, continued to preach in the chapel until April, 1887. From April, 1887, to April, 1888, Rev. Bradford K. Pierce, D.D., was in charge, and from April, 1888, to April, 1889, Rev. Alfred Free. Since April, 1889, Prof. G. M. Harmon, of the Tufts Theological School, has been minister of the society.

There are several fraternal and benevolent societies in Arlington, belonging to various orders and associa- tions. The branch of the Masonic order-Hiram Lodge-was first instituted in Lexington in 1797. Afterwards it was transferred to West Cambridge and has since remained established in the town. Bethel Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was established in 1842.

In its politics Arlington has remained on the side of the Republican party. In the election of 1868 the Republican electors received 259 votes ; the Dem- ocratic electors 152. Four years later 306 votes were cast for the Republican ticket and 186 for the opposi- tion. In the election of 1876, IIayes obtained 386 votes and Tilden 343. In 1880 the inequality was greater, the Republican ticket receiving 415 votes, the Democratic, 293. In 1884, 410 votes were cast for Blaine, 371 for Cleveland, 41 for Butler. In the last Presidential election the Republican vote was 499, the Democratic 477. In State and Congressional elections, the Republican candidates have in some

instances failed to gain a majority of the votes of the town, but usually the result in the elections for these offices has been the same as in the Presidential elec- tions; and the ahove figures are enough to give a sufficiently correct comparison of the relative strength of parties in Arlington for the last twenty-two years.

In conclusion a few statistics may be given. The population of Arlington in 1885 was 4673; by the census of 1890 it is 5528. The real estate was valued May 1, 1889, at $4,386,275 and the personal estate at $822,821. The town spends annually in its various departments about $100,000.

Arlington is becoming more and more each year distinctively a place of residence. With the growth of Boston and the consequent pressure of population in the nearer cities and towns, there is a rapidly- growing demand for house-lots, and consequently new streets are opened through old estates, and the process of converting a country town into a thickly- settled suburb goes on. It is not to be supposed, however, that there has been a disappearauce of the other pursuits that have long been carried on here. Farming-the ancient business of the place-con- tinues to flourish and manufactures are by no means discontinued.

Manufacturing is carried on now, as in times past, mainly along Vine Brook. flighest on the brook is the factory of Charles Schwamb, where, since 1862, he has carried on the business of making oval pic- ture frames and straight mouldings. Next below is the factory of Theodore Schwamb. Here he, with his four brothers, began in 1853 the business of turn- ing, sawing and piano-case work. Since 1860 he has carried on piano-case manufacturing. His factory is at the privilege owned a century ago by Gershom Cutter. A short distance farther down the brook is the establishment now used by the Lamson Store Supply Company for printing. Deacon John S. Hobbs long conducted there the manufacture of leather-splitting knives as well as a general machin- ist's business. Below Brattle Street and near the brook is the piano-case factory of the late Jacob Schwamb, whose sons now carry on the business. Next come the sites of what were, a generation ago, the most important manufactories of the town-the Schouler Print Works and Welch & Griffith's saw factory. The former of these was burned and the latter has been for several years unused. The Cutter mill on Mill Street is now used by Samuel A. Fowle. His own mills stand on the site of Ephraim Cutter's, and, as has been said, not far below the place where Col. Cooke built his dam more than two hundred and fifty years ago. They are used, in part, as grist-mills and in part for grinding drugs, dye-woods and other materials.

The ice business is and for a long time has been an important industry of the town. William Fletcher, who died in 1853, was, according to the statement on his grave-stone, "the first man that ever carried ice

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

into Boston market for merchandise." Several small ice-houses were built on the shores of Spy Pond about half a century ago to supply the neighborhood. The business was first begun on a large scale, how- ever, in West Cambridge soon after 1840, when Gage, Hittinger & Co. undertook the work. Their first ice- houses stood on the Belmont shore of the pond. Af- terwards they acquired and built at various times other ice-houses on the opposite side. The firm of Gage, Hittinger & Co. was succeeded by that of Gage, Sawyer & Co., and in 1859 by that of Addison Gage & Co., which is still carrying on the business at Spy Pond. Addison Gage, the head of these successive firms, lived in the town from 1852 until his death, in 1868, a public-spirited and respected citizen. The business was from the first, in large part, and finally altogether, a foreign business. The Spy Pond ice went all over the world-to the Southern States of our own country, to the East and West Indies, to China, to India, to South America, even to Australia. Ordinarily from two hundred to two hundred and fifty men were employed in the work in the busy sea- son-about the same number now engaged in a win- ter when a full quantity is cut, as the improved facil- ities for doing the work counterbalance, so far as the employment of labor is concerned, the increased ex- tent of the business. During the war the Southern trade was, of course, stopped, while the foreign trade continued. With peace the business resumed its old channels. About 60,000 tons of ice are ordinarily cut in a favorable year, and employment is given to many men at a time when farming operations have ceased and work is scarce.

In connection with the ice business should be men- tioned the factory where for many years the firm of William T. Wood & Co. has carried on the manufac- ture of ice-tools. The factory stands not far from Spy Pond and its products have a deservedly high reputation.

The history of Arlington for more than two hun- dred and fifty years has now been traced. If the story lacks picturesqueness, it has at least the interest that must always attach to an account of the doings of former generations of men who have lived their lives, and wrought their work on the soil now trodden by us. The past of the town may have been-except for one memorable day-uneventful, but it should not be without honor in the eyes of those who appre- ciate the sober virtues whereby our Puritan forefath- ers built up their little community, and whereby their descendants transmitted it to the keeping of the men of to-day.

CHAPTER XIV.

ARLINGTON-(Continued).

MARKET GARDENING IN ARLINGTON AND

BELMONT. BY WARREN W. RAWSON.

IN preparing this article it will be necessary to date back about forty years, when market gardening be- gan to be a prominent business in these towns, which were at that time called West Cambridge. It was about this time, 1850, that glass was first used for forcing vegetables in the winter and spring, and those who took the lead went ahead and prospered. They studied the business, made use of their instruction, and succeeded, and are to-day noted for their success, and their names stand as landmarks in this industry, which has improved and advanced until the town of Arlington stands first of any town in this country for the amount of production per acre, the quality of the products, and for the personnel of the men engaged in the business. The county of Middlesex is famous for its vegetable productions, and many men are en- gaged in this industry.

Market gardening is very different from farming, and since glass has been extensively used, especially for the last twenty years, it has become a science, and those who studied it were intelligent, and studied the nature of their soils, and the crops best adapted to them. All have been successful, and many have be- come wealthy.

Among the leading market gardeners of forty years ago were : Captain George Pierce, Aaron Dixon, Mr. Sprague, John Fillebrown, Warren Rawson, Albert Winn, Samuel Butterfield, Joseph Butterfield, Josiah Crosby, David Puffer, A. P. and J. P. Wyman, Abbot Allen, Cyrus Cutter, T. P. Pierce, Elbridge Farmer, Benjamin and H. J. Locke, Bowen Russell, William Whittemore, Stephen Scymes, Luke Wyman, Charles Hill, George Hill, Varnum Frost, Warren Frost, Silas Frost, Henry Frost, N. C. Frost, Oliver Wellington, Joseph Hill, Charles Winn, Henry Locke, Henry F. Hill, Amos Hill, Warren Heustis, William Richard- son, David Locke, Lewis Bartlett, Stephen Swan and Abel Pierce. Most of these men have sons who suc- ceeded them.

The leading ones of to-day are : W. W. Rawson, W. H. Allen, Wyman Bros., J. P. Squire, Varnum Frost, J. O. Wellington, John Lyons, H. J. Locke, George P. Winn and D. L. Tappen. Most of these are quite young men and are very successful. We will not try to mention the number of kinds of vegetables grown by these different men, but all have some spec- ialty best adapted to their soil and locality.

These men so managed their business that they have educated the people to a large use of vegetables, which has made the Boston market the best in this country for a fine quality of products.

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A few years ago the Boston Market Gardeners' As- sociation was organized, which has proved a great benefit to the market gardeners of this section. W. W. Rawson was chosen president, and is the present incumbent.

Notwithstanding the magnitude of this business, it is moving back from the city, and we predict that within twenty years very few market gardeners will be found in the towns of Arlington and Belmout.

We will now mention the men and location of their places : Captain George Pierce, place located on Arlington Avenue, and extended to Spy Pond. He was the leading market gardener of fifty years ago, and raised large quantities of early apples, using glass to some extent. Mr. Josiah Crosby was in his employ, and afterwards bought a place on Lake Street. The Pierce place, after the death of Mr. Pierce, was leased for a number of years, and recently a part has been sold to Mr. John Lyons.

The Albert Winn place, located between Summer and Mystic Streets, was carried on for a number of years by Mr. Winn, and later by Winn Brothers. Then young Albert died, and George P. Winn leased the place and has conducted it successfully for a num- ber of years, and is the present occupant.

Abbot Allen place, located on Arlington Avenue, was carried on by him a long time, then was conducted by his sons, W. H. and A. Allen. Later W. H. pur- chased his brother's interest and associated his son Abbot with him in the business, and they are among the most successful. The place of John Fillebrown was purchased by Mr. W. H. Allen in 1890.

William Adams' place was located on Arlington Avenue, next to Abbot Allen. It was sold to Mr. Allen, and Adams moved to Winchester.

A. P. and J. P. Wyman's place, located on Arling- ton Avenue and Lake Street, was carried on for a number of years; then divided, the one on Lake Street taken by A. P., and he at one time carried on the largest business in this town. He had, as his as- sistant, E. N. Pierce, who afterwards married one of Mr. Wyman's daughters and moved to Waltham. The place has since been conducted by Wyman Bros. -Frank and Daniel-they building two green-houses and putting in a large water plant for irrigation. Since the death of Mr. A. P. Wyman the place has fallen to the brothers.

Mr. J. P. Wyman's place, located on Arlington Avenue. He carried it on for a number of years after separating from A. P., after which he leased it to John Lyons, and it has been rnn qnite successfully by bim. He has recently bought part of the place owned by Captain Pierce, formerly carried on by Arthur Pitts, and in earlier times, by Crosby & Dickey. John Lyons has two large green-houses.

Mr. Samuel Butterfield-place on Arlington Avenue and Lake Street-was one of the oldest mar- ket gardeners and very successful. He was formerly in business in the Quincy Market. Since his death

his place has been leased to Mr. Irvin Johnson (who was Mr. Butterfield's foreman), and he and his sons are very successful.

Warren Rawson's place is located on Warren Street, extending to Mystic River. He was originally in the employ of Albert Winn and purchased this place while there. His funds were limited and he was obliged to work very hard for a number of years. Ile was one of the first to grow vegetables under glass. Soon after the close of the Rebellion, the business being very successful, his son, Warren W., then seventeen years of age, assumed charge of the help on the place, and, after becoming proficient in the business, purchased his father's entire interest.

Mr. John Fillebrown. Place on Warren Street. He was very successful, but his bealth failed him, and the last few years he was not able to attend to the busi- ness. He died in 1889 and the place was sold to Mr. W. H. Allen.

Josiah Crosby. Place on Lake Street. At one time Mr. Dickey was associated with Mr. Crosby. Mr. Crosby was a fine market gardener, his place always looked tidy, and every crop was set out by line. He was the improver of the Crosby Corn and Egypt- ian beet. Since his death, in 1887, the place has been very successfully managed by his sons, Walter and Charles Crosby.

Davis Locke. Place is located in eastern portion of the town, near Alewife Brook, and is carried on by James Purcell & Sons. Levi Russell bought a portion of the farm of Mr. Locke. Mr. Russell's place is now conducted by his son, Irwin L. Russell. The larger part is located in Somerville.

Chas. Hill. Place situated on Pleasant Street. He is what is called old-fashioned, believing the old way is the hest. He never owned a horse and always cultivated his land with a spade and fork.

Geo. Hill. Place located on Pleasant Street. He was a very intelligent market gardener and one of the leading ones of twenty years ago. A reservoir supplies water for irrigation. He raised large quantities of strawberries and took many premiums at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society exhibitions, both for strawberries and vegetables; his place has two large hot-houses for raising lettuce and cucumbers. He died in 1889. His two sons, George and Arthur, succeeded him, both very capable and intelligent young men.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 46

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