History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 61

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 61

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With this very brief resume of the history of Hud-

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son's incorporation, a history which contains many novel features and reflects great credit upon all of its citizens in general and the committees having it in charge in particular, it will be necessary to take leave of this branch of the story. For the present it is sufficient to say that the new town, after the act of 1868 including the Bolton territory within its limits, had all the elements of a successful township, a suffi- ciently wide extent of territory, a larger population than is usually found in new towns, its citizens very intelligent and actively engaged in mercantile and manufacturing pursuits, its voters wide awake and imbued with a spirit of progress in all things which prophesied the future growth and success of the town. To give the names of all those who have successively held public otlice and been honored by its citizens for their ability and devotion is not neces- sary here, as they can all be found in any collection of the town's annual reports, and space here forbids any mention of public acts except those connected with the greatest advance or change in the town's welfare.

EDUCATIONAL .- In the matter of education the town has always been active, and occupies a fair position in this respect among the other towns of the State. The first school-house was built in 1812. 1ts history is a fair sample of the energy of her sons. At the beginning of the present century there was only one school-house on their territory. This was two miles from the " mills," and there was no direct road between the two places. The people believed they should have better accommodations for their children, and began the struggle in a town-meeting. In 1812 they succeeded in getting a new district formed and a new school-house voted. There was much opposition manifested after the meeting, and it seemed very probable that the vote would be rescinded at the adjourned meeting, but before the day of ad- journment came the people had cut down trees, sawed them into timber, aud had the house completed and ready for occupancy. This was situated on what is now Washington Street, where Mrs. Ada T. Woods' house stands. This sufficed until 1855, when there were demands for a larger and better building. This time the citizens of Feltonville couldn't agree among themselves on which side of the river it should be placed. Finally a site was selected by measuring from each man's door-yard to get a geographical centre. This centre was located on the south side of the river, and a building was erected which is now known as the School Street Building. This was the only school building in the village at the time of the incorporation, though there were two in the outlying districts.

The new town immediately set at work upon a new building in the centre and one in the westerly part, which were completed in 1867 at an expense of over $13,000. In 1878 another building was erected on Green Street, and in 1882 a handsome and commodious

brick building was erected on Felton Street for the use of the High and Grammar schools at an expense of some $15,000. Twenty teachers are now employed, some of whom have been in the service of the town for many years. Appropriations have increased from $3,000 in 1866, to over $10,000 in 1890.

It has kept pace with its buildings in the course of study and grading of schools. At the date of in- corporation the schools were rather of the "district" order. The first committee set at work to better the condition, and easy but gradual advancement was made until the system was completely graded and up to the standard of the State. This first School Com- mittee consisted of George S. Rawson, David B. Good- ale and H. G. Dugan. Two years later Dr. James L. Harriman was elected a member, and has served con- tinnously to the present time. Of the male teachers, Mr. Lucius Brown, the grammar school master, has been in service ever since 1878.

When the town was incorporated there was a High Grammar school out of which grew the present Higli School. There have been seven principals, as fol- lows: W. C. Ficket, 1866-69; E. P. Gerry, 1869-71 ; E. R. Coburn, 1871-73; Albert Stetson, George B. Towle, 1873-74; Frank T. Beede, 1874-79; Walter H. Small, 1879-

For the first seven years it was not graded, had no well-defined course of study and no assistant. A course was arranged in 1873, and an assistant engaged. There have been nine assistants : Miss S. F. Litch- field, 1873-75; Miss E. P. Parsons, 1875-76; Miss Mary L. Locke, 1876-77; Miss M. E. Manning, 1877-78; Miss Belle Copp, 1878, one term ; Miss F. C. Foote, 1878-80; Miss R. H. Davies, 1880-82 ; Miss E. C. Atkinson, 1882-83 ; Miss C. Belle Gleason. 1883.

Miss W. May Crook was added as a second assistant in 1890.

Three buildings have been used : School Street building, 1866-67; High Street building, 1867-83; Felton Street building, 1883 -.

The number of pupils has varied from thirteen in 1869 to eighty-five in 1889.

Sixteen classes have been graduated, comprising ninety-six young ladies and forty-five young gentle- men.

The school equipment has grown from a dictionary and atlas to a well-selected library in a reference room, opening from the school rooms; from a single pneumatic trough for chemical experiments to a well-stocked laboratory. The most improved ana- tomical and astronomical charts are used; and the foundation of a geological cabinet has been laid. Philosophical apparatus is also being gradually col- lected.

The school keeps pace with the needs of the town, and offers educational advantages equal to any out- side of the cities.

There have been naturally more frequent changes

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in the list of teachers in the remaining schools, but it is worth while to mention the fact that Miss Mary E. Hall is the senior teacher in point of consecutive service, she having been engaged in different schools in town since 1875, more than fifteen years.

PUBLIC LIBRARY .- To supplement the schools a good public library is a necessity. The Hon. Charles Hudson, after whom, as we have seen, the town was named, recognized this fact, and, in his letter thank- ing the people for the great compliment extended to him, made this proposition : " If the town of Hudson at a legal meeting called for that purpose, vote to establish a free town library for the use of all the in- habitants of the town, and shall appropriate or other- wise secure the sum of five hundred dollars, to be de- voted to that object, they may call upon me, my executors or administrators, for the like sum of five hundred dollars, to be expended in furtherance of that object."

The town voted to accept and voted the necessary five hundred dollars. A committee, consisting of James T. Joslin, David B. Goodale and Luman T. Jefts, was selected to carry the vote into effect. The town received additional donations of $100 from Mrs. Caroline Wood and $25 from Silas F. Manson. In November, 1868, the town voted $200 more. With this the trustees purchased 721 books for general cir- culation and about 200 volumes for reference. The library was opened in the room now known as Coch- ran's drug-store, with Ira B. Goodrich as its first librarian. Its circulation the first year was 5214 vol- umes to 461 different people. In 1871 it was moved into the Savings Bank room, and in 1873 to its per- manent home in the town hall building. During this year it received a bequest from Mrs. Emily Bai- ley of fifty dollars and a gift of twenty-seven volumes from Hon. Charles Hudson, since which time the town has made liberal appropriations yearly, and the library has grown to some 5000 volumes, with a circulation of nearly 17,000. The trustees in their last report say : "The Library is steadily growing in numbers, 350 new books having been added this year, and is as steadily growing in public favor. Considering the few hours per week the Library is open, the demand is an honor to the intelligence of the towu. In two years 383 new names have been added to the list of patrons, and over 4000 more books have been drawn."

The present librarian is Mrs. Grace M. Whittemore and the Board of Trustees consists of W. E. C. Wor- cester, F. O. Welsh and W. H. Small, each of whom has been successively elected to the position, three terms of three years each.

TOWN-HOUSE .- Hudson has always been progres- sive in her public buildings. Five years after incor- poration, after it had laid out and constructed roads, provided for the schools and whatever was deemed necessary for the public prosperity, it was decided to build a town-hall, one which would suffice, not for the present only, but for a prosperous future. A location

directly in the centre of the town was selected, rising gradually from the main street, and on it was erected the large brick structure which stands as a monument to the large-headedness of its projectors, and the lib- erality of the town in her early years. The building is fifty-five by ninety-seven feet with a vestibule seventeen by thirty-four feet. It is built of brick, with granite keystones and trimmings. The lower story is twelve feet high and contains the rooms for the town officers, the public library, the nationat bank and a small hall for cancuses and small gather- ings. The second story is twenty-two feet high, with stage and gallery, finely frescoed, heated by steam and lighted by electricity. The third story is a series of rooms, used by Doric Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and Trinity Commandery. The cost of the building was $48,531, the site and grading cost $10,000 and about $2500 have been spent in ornamenting the grounds. The grounds are made into beautiful lawns, surround- ed by granite curbing. Abundant shade-trees have been planted and all the walks are concreted. Few towns can boast of so thorough and beautiful a hall as this. It was completed and publicly dedicated September 26, 1872. Though the town has more than doubled since then, it still remains large enough for all requirements.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- The first movement towards forming a Fire Department was made January 17, 1842, when there was called " a meeting of the young men of Feltonville to take into consideration the best methods of forming an engine company." Felton- ville Engine Company was formed with a member- ship of twenty-one men, embracing many who were afterwards prominently connected with the growth and mercantile interests of the town. Francis Brig- ham was the first foreman, James Wilson, second foreman, and Francis D. Brigham, clerk and treas- urer. The latter received the munificent salary of two dollars per year for his services. No one could become a member after election by the company until he had been approved by the selectmen. The engine was procured about the middle of the year, and was a veritable "tub," as she had no suction hose and bad to be filled by pails. She was procured mainly through the efforts of Mr. Charles Brigham, and cost about $200. A syndicate was formed, and shares were subscribed for by different people in the village, until a sufficient sum was raised to make the pur- chase. Mr. Brigham is believed to be the only sur- viving member of that first and very original syndi- cate. In a year's time some of the " volunteers " be- came weary of their duties and withdrew ; a new company was formed, but it was not very prosperous, as the close of the year showed only seventy-five cents in the treasury. This company existed until 1847, when a second reformation was made. In 1849 Marlborough voted to furnish Feltonville an engine if the citizens of the village would furnish the engine- house and company. A company of thirty-eight was

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formed and the engine was received July 9th. The name of the engine was " Hydraulicon No. 3." Her first actual service was at a fire in the south part of Bolton, on November 14th. The first muster ever held in the village was on December Ist, when the two engines from the centre came over for a friendly bout.

The records say: "They were received near the house of Charles Brigham, where a column was formed and marched through the principal streets, as far as the house of Mr. Jones, and thence to Stephen Pope's, thence to the left over the bridge, thence to the right on to the spot selected for the trial, near the house of Captain Wood. After several trials No. 2 gave up, their machine being out of order. The line was re- formed, and the companies marched to the square in front of the Mansion House. Members and invited guests moved to the hall, where refreshments were prepared by Landlord Cox in excellent style." Sep- tember 7, 1857, the name was changed to Enreka, a name held and made prominent ever since. The present house was built January, 1860, and duly cele- hrated. The present engine was purchased in May, 1872, and has won many prizes-five first, five second and, one each, third, fourth and fifth ; in all aggre- gating $2360. The most famous match was with the E. P. Walker Engine Company, of Vinalhaven, Me., for a purse of $2000. The trial took place at Portland, Me., October 12, 1875. The Eureka made the grand record of 229 feet 1} inches. Besides this, the oldest company in the history of the town, there is the Bucket Hook-and-Ladder Company, In- dependent Hose, Eureka Hose, H. E. Stowe Hose and the Relief IIook-and-Ladder Companies. These companies, with 100 hydrants to furnish water, afford ample protection against fire, as has been proved in many cases.

The town has not been visited by many disastrous fires, though the records show many smaller confla- grations. The first extensive fire was the piano-shop of Kaler & Shaw, on Broad Street, July 4, 1874. Oc- tober 3, 1880, occurred the fire which consumed the wooden block on Main Street, opposite the town- house, and the Hudson House. September 18, 1882, the brick factory of F. Brigham & Company was burned, at a loss of $60,000. May 9, 1885, Dunn, Green & Co.'s tannery was damaged to the extent of over $30,000. This was the most stubborn fire ever encountered by the firemen, and it seems very evident that the whole business section of the town would have been swept away, had it not been for the new water-works, which at that time had been in opera- tion only a few months, and had not been subjected to a fire test before. Their thorough efficiency was proved, and few carpers against them could be found the next day. They had saved over five times their cost in that one night.

WATER-WORKS .- The sources of Hudson's water supply is from a lake two miles distant, fed wholly

by springs, and furnishing the purest and softest of water. The lake has an area of ninety acres, and is located ahove the town, at an elevation sufficient to furnish the water by gravity, with a good head. More than twelve miles of main have been put in, and the water is almost universally used in town, paying a handsome per cent. on the investment.

The matter first came before the town in Article 4 of the warrant for town-meeting, held November 7, 1882, which is as follows :

" To see if the town will choose a committee to take into consideration and investigate the matter of supplying the town with water, and, if considered by them practicable and judicious, to petition the Legislature, in behalf of the town, to grant them leave to take water from Gates Pond in Berlin or any other suitable place or pond in the vicinity of Hudson, or construct a reservoir ou Pope's Hill, so-called, so as to force water into the same for the use and supply of the inhabitants of the town, or do or act anything respecting the same."

The town voted : " That a committee of fifteen be nominated by the Board of Selectmen and reported to the town at this meeting for their acceptance, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the whole subject-matter of this article, and if consid- ered by them advisable, said committee is hereby clothed with full power to carry into effect the full intent and meaning of the same." The town chose as this committee : Benjamin Dearborn, Edmund M. Stowe, William F. Trowbridge, Charles H. Robinson, Luman T. Jefts, George Houghton, Joseph S. Bradley, David B. Goodale, Cyrus D. Munson, Rufus H. Brig- ham, Henry Tower, James T. Joslin, Rufus Howe, A. K. Graves and Daniel W. Stratton.

The committee organized with Charles H. Robin- son, chairman, and D. W. Stratton, secretary, and at once proceeded to investigate the matter very fully. They looked into the cost in other towns, the system used, whence water could be obtained in sufficient supply and purity, and finally recommended that the town appropriate a sufficient sum to pay for a survey and plan for taking water from Gates Pond, and esti- mated cost of construction of the works. In April, 1883, $300 was voted for this purpose. An act had been brought up in the Legislature, and it was passed April 25, 1883. M. M. Tidd was employed as engi- neer. He made a thorough survey and reported : " We find Gates Pond in Berlin to have an area of ninety acres at its present level. It is a natural pond located in a country that appears to possess all of the quali- fications desired.

" It is well removed from settlements, whose drain- age might be injurious. The water-shed is clean with a rocky foundation and is precipitous. The pond is unusually clean ; the water is soft, limpid, agreeable to the taste, and is without doubt large enough to contain nearly all the water which the shed is capa- ble of discharging into it. On account of the steep character of its shed it is probable that something more than fifty per cent. of the water will be collected there. The water-shed contains 141 acres, from which twenty-one inches in depth can be collected annually.

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This would give 80,613,225 gallons per year, or 220,- 858 gallons per day, equals 55.2 gallons per day per head for 4000 inhabitants for 365 days per year. The situation of Gates Pond is such that a dam can, at comparatively small expense, be constructed at the outlet which will hold the water nine feet higher than the present water level, without materially dam- aging any one, thus creating an additional storage capacity of 212,355,000 gallons, which can be drawn upon in case of a long-continued drought.

" In case that no rain at all occurred for an entire year, this amount of water alone, after deducting 42 inches for evaporation, would furnish the town with 581,000 gallons per day for a year. The water in Gates Pond at the present time is at an elevation of 103 feet above the curb-stone in the sidewalk at the post-office, and 112 feet above the sidewalk at the fac- tory of Stowe, Bills & Hawley. This will give at the post-office an 1}-inch fire-stream through 100 feet of 2}-inch hose that will reach 125 feet horizontal, or 87 feet high, and will discharge 197 gallons per minute. This will reach the top of any building in Hudson and I think would be considered a good fire- stream."

The report gives a plan of the proposed works at a cost of a little more than $70,000. The report of the committee of fifteen, embodying the report of the en- gineer, was submitted to the town at a meeting held December 1, 1883, and the Act of the Legislature was accepted by a vote of 191 to 90, eleven more than the necessary two-thirds. The record of this meeting shows the following : Voted, " That the town of Hud- son will introduce water from Gates Pond in Berlin, for the purpose of extinguishing fires, and for domes- tic uses or otherwise, and will proceed to construct the necessary structures and appliances there." Voted, "To elect three persons to act as Board of Water Commissioners." Charles H. Robinson, Edmund'M. Stowe and Benjamin Dearborn were elected and duly qualified in accordance with the provisions of chapter 149, of the Acts of the Legislature, for the year 1883.

In December of the same year it was voted to leave the whole matter of raising the money in the hands of the water commissioners and the town treasurer. The contract for construction was let to Goodhue & Birney for $64,000. Water was let on for town use December 16, 1884. There were 114 water-takers at the time, 8.2 miles of pipe had been laid. A dam was built at the lower end of the pond, enlarging the area, raising the surface of the pond and increasing the head, so that the following results were obtained: At Benjamin llastings a head of 75 feet; at corner of Central and River Streets, 95 feet; at Wood Square, 110 feet, and at Stowe, Bills and Hawley's, 119 feet. Extensions have been made every year until there are 12.81 miles of pipes; January 1, 1890, the water was used by 547 families for domestic purposes, and the town had 99 fire-hydrants. The water loan has

been increased to $125,000. The income from all sources for 1889 was $7602.07, or deducting the hy- drant service, $1500, leaves $6102.07. As the net water debt at that date was less than $90,000, it makes a remarkably good investment for the town, the value of which will increase every year.

COMMUNICATION .- In 1828 a post-office was estab- lished at the "Mills" and the name given it was " Feltonville," from Postmaster Felton, and a mail and passenger stage was put on the road to Boston. The route was over the old Sudbury road. The horses were changed at Wayland. Wagons were driven over the same road for all mill supplies and general merchandise. Mr. Gilman Hapgood, who did much of this business, still survives. After the Fitchburg Railroad was built through South Acton some of the freight and passenger business turned in that direction, but not enough to destroy the old route. In 1847 the present branch of the Fitchburg was laid out, the people generally contributing the land, but the rail- road building the road at their own expense. Owing to a little difficulty with the citizens of Stowe because the line did not pass through the centre of their town, but through that part known as Rockbottom, the line was not pushed to completion until after 1850. When the line came to Feltonville, the engine was housed in George Houghton's factory. In 1853 the line was pushed to Marlborough. A ledge was struck of so formidable proportions that the company were on the point of abandoning the extension, believing that the business would not warrant the expense. Finally, on solicitation of " Uncle " Charles Brigham, the com- pany, then called the Marlborough Branch Railroad Company, agreed to complete it if he would give them a warranty deed of all the land they crossed, belonging to him. This was done, the road was completed, and, as Mr. Brigham says, " I didn't get much out of it." It was of course of great general benefit to the settle- ment, though rather erratic in its movements in its first years. In one of the first winters no train was seen for five days. Its first fare to Boston was one dollar and ten cents, more than the fare for the round trip to-day.

The facilities afforded by the Fitchburg Railroad Company have been increased and improved from year to year with the increase in size and wealth of the company, and a new and excellent passenger sta- tion has but recently been completed in the place for its patrons. Its yard accommodations for handling freight and coal are very extensive and convenient, but there has always been a vital objection to it as a passenger route to Boston on account of its roundabout course, its unnecessary length. Any town's growth is seriously impeded which is at the mercy of a single railroad for passenger and freight rates, and it was al- ways the desire of those farthest sighted to have Hud- son so situated as to be able to command a direct route to Boston by competitive lines.

From the town records it appears that as early as

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November 3, 1868, at a town-meeting held upon that date, the question of a railroad from Northampton to Sudbury was broached. This road was to be called the Massachusetts Central Railroad and was to con- nect with Sudbury and Wayland Railroad, running from Sudbury to Stony Brook Station upon the Fitch- burg line. A vote was passed authorizing the select- men to petition the Legislature for an act of incorpor- ation for such a road, with a capital stock of three millions of dollars. A copy of the petition which was presented to the Legislature is upon record, and a most devious route would have been followed, had the road been put through alt the towns named in it. Those most actively interested in the new route secured from the Legislature of 1869 an act of incor- poration for a road from Williamsburg, Mass., to Sud- bury. This act also allowed the consolidation of the Wayland and Sudbury road with it, so that the eastern terminus would be at Stony Brook as stated. Francis Brigham, of Hudson, is named in this act (chapter 260, Acts of 1869) as one of the corporators, and under its provisions the towns mentioned in it, through which the road miglit pass, had the power to subscribe and incur a debt to an amount not exceeding five per cent. of its assessed valuation for the purchase of the capi- tal stock to assist in building the road.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 61

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