History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 8

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 8

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Grace Episcopal Church, Newton .- The parish of Grace Church was organized in the parlor of Mr. Stephen Perry, corner of Galen and William Streets, just across the limits of Newton, in Watertown. The services were first held in Union Hall. The corner- stone of the first church building was laid May 28, 1858, and the church erected on the southeast corner of Washington and Hovey Streets. It was Gothic in style, and suited to accommodate 225 hearers. Cost, $4000. The first rector, Rev. John Singleton Copley Greene, erected a parsonage and gave it to the parish. The present stone edifice, on Farlow Park, was first used in December, 1873. The chime of bells was given by Mrs. Elizabeth T. Eldredge, the first chime introduced into Newton. Rectors : Rev. J. S. C. Greene, 1855-64; Rev. P. N. Steenstra, 1864-69; Rev. Henry Mayn, 1870-72; Rev. Joseph II. Jenckes, 1872-74; Rev. George W. Shinn, 1875 -.

Methodist Church, Newton,-The Methodist Epis- copal Church in Newton held its first service in Union Hall in April, 186-4, and the church was recog- nized in the same place. The church building, on Centre and Wesley Streets, was dedicated September 26, 1867. The land where it stands was originally low aud wet, but was raised by filling, forming an

eligible lot, as well for the church and parsonage as for the Methodist Orphans' Home.

The "Church of Our Lady Help of Christians."- This Roman Catholic Church, standing on the eor- ner of Washington and Adams Streets, was com- menced November 1, 1872; the corner stone laid August, 1873, and the first service held in the base- ment, November 1, 1874. The conspicuous lot on which it is erected was a rough gravel bank when the church was ereeted. Until August, 1878, the parish included part of Watertown, Newton Centre and New- tonville.

The Newton and Watertown Universalist Society was incorporated in 1827, and built a meeting-house just across the boundary of Newton, in Watertown, which was dedicated in 1827. A church was formed in 1828. Fourteen ministers in succession supplied the pulpit. The society was dissolved about 1866, and the building utilized as a school-house. The bell was sold to the Second Baptist Society, Newton Upper Falls, and removed thither. The communion service was " a set of silver plate, formerly the property of the First Universalist Church of Boston " (corner of Hanover and Bennett Streets), and "one of the cups was brought from England by Rev. John Murray," who founded the Universalist Church in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and was the first minister of that faith in this country. The communion set is now in the possession of the Universalist Society in Newtonville.

The Evangelical Congregational Church of Auburn- dale was constituted November 14, 1850, with thirty- four members, and religious services were held for several years in the village hall. The church was dedicated July 1, 1857. During a violent storm, March 4, 1862, the steeple was blown down and fell upon the roof, causing much damage to the building. For two or three years the pulpit was supplied by resident clergymen, Rev. Sewall Harding, Rev. J. E. Woodbridge and others. Pastors : Edward W. Clark, 1857-61; Augustus II. Carrier, 1864-66; Calvin Cut- ler, 1867 -.

The Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church of Au- burndale hegan in weekly meetings, held in the house of Mr. John Mero, August, 1860. Afterwards the services were held in a school-house. The first preacher was George W. Mansfield, November 18, 1860. The church at first numbered twelve mem- bers. In July, 1865, the hall where they worshipped was destroyed by fire, and a chapel was soon after built on Central Street, and dedicated May 25, 1867. A new church was dedicated in 1889.

Church of the Messiah of West Newton and Auburn- dale .- Previous to 1858 worship according to the Episcopal form was held in a hall at Auburndale. The hall having been burned, the services, for a season, were suspended, but resumed in the Village Ilall, West Newton, July 16, 1871, and continued thereafter in the hall or the Unitarian Church ; and then, for several months in 1877, in the chapel of

NEWTON.

Lasell Seminary. A church edifice was begun in 1880, on Auburn Street, Auburndale, built of the brown freestone once used in building the Baptist Church in Rowe Street, Boston, which had been taken down and the place of worship transferred to Claren- don Street, on account of the demand for business houses in the original locality. Rectors : Rev. N. G. Allen, Rev. C. S. Lester, 1872-73; Rev. H. W. Fay, 1873-75 ; Rev. F. W. Smith, 1875-77. During a va- cancy Rev. George W. Shinn officiated in addition to his work in Newton. Rev. Henry A. Metcalf is the present rector. In 1888 a commencement was made of an English Gothic church of brown stone, the pres- ent building being utilized as a portion of the new structure.

The North Evangelical Church, Nonantum, com- menced June 2, 1861, with a Sabbath-school in the railroad depot at Bemis' Crossing, on the Watertown side of the Charles River. A chapel was afterwards erected on Chapel Street, on land given for the pur- pose by Mr. Thomas Dally, at a cost of about $1200; this chapel was afterwards enlarged, as the growth of the society demanded it. The church was organized July 11, 1866. Rev. Samuel E. Lowry, the first pas- tor, was ordained October 21, 1867. The chapel was burned June 2, 1872, and replaced by a stone edifice on the same site, which was dedicated October 16, 1873; the cost, $18,000, was fully paid before the ded- ication. Pastors : Rev. Samuel E. Lowry, who died in office, and Rev. W. J. Lamb.

St. Bernard's Catholic Church, West Newton .- The corner-stone of the church was laid November 12, 1871, and the church dedicated about 1874. Cost, about $38,000. Rev. Bernard Flood was the first offi- ciating priest. Rev. M. T. McManus was pastor from 1876. In 1888 the church was burned, but imme- diately rebuilt and dedicated in 1889.

Newton Highlands Congregational Church .- Meetings were first held in Farnham's Hall in November, 1871, a church and chapel erected in 1872, and after nearly a year the meetings were removed from the hall to the chapel. The church was dedicated in 1875; the land on which it stands was given by Mr. Moses Crafts. The church was organized June 13, 1872, with twenty- seven members, of whom twenty were dismissed for that purpose from the First Church, Newton Centre. The church has had but two pastors : Rev. S. H. Dana, 1871-77; Rev. George G. Phipps, 1877 -.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Newton Highlands .- The church building, a modest structure of wood, built in 1884, stands on Walnut Street. The first rector, Rev. Carlton P. Mills, remained in office till the close of 1889, when he became rector of a church in Kala- mazoo, Mich. Near the close of his period of service he was instrumental in the commencement of an Epis- copal parish at Newton Centre as a mission of St. Paul's, which, after his transferral, was cared for by members of the Episcopal Theological Seminary at Cambridge.

Episcopal Church, Newton Centre .- Worship was first commenced in 1889, Rev. Carlton P. Mills, rector of St. Paul's Church, Newton Highlands, offi- ciating. The services were held in the small hall of the building of the Newton Improvement Associa- tion.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, Newton Centre, be- gan with a weekly meeting in the old engine-house in June, 1875. In January, 1876, a Sabbath-school and preaching services followed. It was regarded at first as a mission station of the Methodist Church at Newton Upper Falis. In October, 1877, provision was made for permanent preaching by a stated supply. The late Marshall S. Rice left by will one thousand dollars to the society for a church edifice. The church was organized in 1879. Hon. Alden Speare, ex-mayor of Newton, purchased the lot of land at the corner of Centre and Station Streets, and presented it to the society for a church, which was dedicated July 7, 1880.

The Unitarian Church, Newton Centre, was begun in the fall of 1877 by residents of Newton Centre and Newton Highlands. The first service was held in a hall in the brick block on Station Street, commencing November 11, 1877. The church was dedicated July 1, 1880. The only pastors have been Rev. Rufus P. Stebbins and Rev. Horace L. Wheeler.

The Central Congregational Church, Newtonville, was recognized by public services September 8, 1868; original members, thirty-six. The Methodist Chapel, corner of Washington and Court Streets, was bought by members of the society, and opened for regular services April 8, 1868. The building has been twice enlarged. Pastors : Rev. Joseph B. Clark, 1868-72; Rev. James R. Danforth, 1873-74; Rev. E. Frank Howe, [876-82; Rev. F. W. Gunsaulus, 1883- 85; Rev. Pleasant W. Hunter, 1886-89; D. Henry Taylor, 1890 -.

The Universalist Society, Newtonville, was the out- growth, in 1870, of the extinction of the Newton and Watertown Universalist Church and a society in Waltham. The first meeting was held in a small hall in Newtonville Square, and later in Tremont Hall. The society was legally organized in 1871, and the church dedicated June 26, 1873. It is built of stone, in the Elizabethan Gothic style, to accommodate 300 hearers. Cost, about $20,000. Rev. J. Coleman Adams, the first pastor, was ordained December 19, 1872. In 1880 he removed to Lynn and afterwards to Chicago. His successors have been Rev. C. E. Nash, 1881-84; and Rev. Rufus A. White.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, Newtonville, began in a Methodist class formed in 1857. The first public meeting was held in a piano-forte wareroom March 24, 1860, and the services were afterwards removed to Tremont Hall. A chapel, since belonging to the Central Congregational Church, built by Hon. William Claflin and Mr. D. Lancey, on the corner of Wash- ington and Court Streets, was hired, and dedicated in

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

April, 1860, in which year the church was formed with twenty-four members. The brick chapel near the railroad station, begun by another society and sold by them before it could be finished, on account of embarrassment owing to the removal of members, was purchased by the Methodist Society, completed, and dedicated in 1863.

The Swedenborgian Society, or New Church, Newton- ville, began with services in the dwelling-houses of Mrs. Davis Howard and Mr. T. H. Carter, soon after 1846, and afterwards were continued in the Village Itall. In eleven and a half years the services were held in four different halls. In 1868-69 the chapel now occupied by the society was built on Highland Avenue, the site having been given for the purpose by Mr. T. H. Carter, and dedicated April 11, 1869. A society of twenty-nine members was instituted, and Rev. John Worcester installed December 26, 1869 -. In 1886 a handsome structure of stone was erected in the rear of the chapel for the convenience of social gatherings and other meetings in the interest of the church. The society has been a prosperous one, having more than doubled the number of its original members.

Chestnut Hill Chapel was dedicated in October, 1861. Rev. W. A. Whitwell (Unitarian) was the first pastor, followed by Rev. A. B. Muzzey and Rev. John A. Buckingham. Soon afterwards Unitarian services were dixcontinued, the number of worshipers of that faith having declined.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill, under the charge of Rev. Arthur W. Eaton, commenced services here after the Unitarian worship was discon- tinued, and an Episcopal parish is now (1890) about to be formed, a temporary rector being supplied from the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge.

Thompsonrille Chapel was erected by private sub- seription by members of the First Baptist Church, Newton Centre, and dedicated November 9, 1867, as a locality for a Mission Sabbath-School and other meetings. At the end of eleven years not a Sabbath had passed without a public service. In this part of Newton, in 1750, the New Light excitement began under Mr. Jonathan Ilyde, and after the lapse of a century religious services were again inaugurated.

The First Baptist Church of West Newton is a con- tinuation of the organization which began at Newton- ville October 23, 1853, in Tremont Hall. This was the first church of any denomination in Newtonville. The church was organized with sixteen members, and publicly recognized April 20, 1853. The brick chapel near the railroad station in Newtonville was com- menced by this church, but the subscriptions being insufficient to meet the expense of building, and the society being depleted by the removal of members, the site and structure, as it stood, unfinished, was sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and com- pleted by them for their church edifice. After a tem- porary suspension of services, the members voted,

June 5, 1866, to revive their organization and to hold their meetings thereafter in West Newton, and to take the name of the First Baptist Church in West New- ton. Meetings were held in the Village Hall till their church on Lincoln Park was finished and dedicated August, 1871. Pastors : Rev. B. A. E.lwards, 1851 ; Rev. R. H. Bowles, 1866; Rev. R. S. James, 1869-70; Rev. William Lisle, 1870-75; Rev. T. B. Holland, 1875-78 (died while in office); Rev. O. D. Kimball, 1883-89; Rev. D. W. Faunce, 1890 -.

First Unitarian Church, West Newton .- Meetings were held in the hall of the brick hotel, Washington Street, opposite Centre Street, in the summer of 1844, and again in 1847. In the fall of 1848 Rev. William Orne White was ordained the first pastor and a church organized. The services were held in the Village Hall till 1860. A church edifice was dedicated November 14, 1860, enlarged in 1867 and again in 1879. Pastors: Rev. William Orne White, 1848-50 ; Rev. W. D. Knapp, 1851-53; Rev. Charles E. Hodges, supply for a year; Rev. Washington Gilbert, Joseph H. Allen, two years each ; Rev. W. H. Savary, Rev. J. C. Zachos, Rev. Francis Tiffany, Rev. J. C. Jaynes.

The Myrtle Baptist Church (colored) was organized September, 1874, with twenty members. The first pastor was Rev. Edward Kelly. The chapel was dedi- cated in 1875. The church has often been without a pastor and its pulpit has been dependent on supplies mainly from the Newton Theological Institutiou.

The Church of Yuhveh (Second Advent), at Newton Upper Falls, was organized April 18, 1886.

SLAVERY .- From the records of Newton it appears that slavery, in a mild form, existed many years ago within its borders. The laws of Massachusetts allowed the sale into slavery in foreign countries of some In- dians, supposed to be loyal to the colonists, but who took part against them in King Philip's War. This prompted John Eliot, the apostle to the Indians, to send a petition to the Governor and Council in 1675, protesting against the measure. In 1703 a duty of £4 was laid on every negro imported into the town of Boston, and the few persons engaged in such traffic took their cargoes into the southern Colonies or the West Indies. The negro trade declined about the period of the Stamp Act, and in 1788 it was prohib- ited by law. The abolition of slavery began to be discussed as early as 1766, and was warmly pursued for several years in pamphlets, speeches and news- paper articles. Slaves in the families were generally treated as kindly as if they were children. During the period from 1681 to 1802 about thirty-seveu slaves were held by about twenty-five owners; one person owned four, two owned three each, five two each, about seventeen one each. Mrs. Fitch, mother of Mrs. Rev. Jonas Meriam, owned a slave woman, whom Mr. Meriam bought of his mother-in-law for $100 ; one day, when he saw her treated unkindly, he im- mediately set her free. The last slave in Newton was

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an incumbrance on the estate of General William Hull, Tillo (Othello) by name, who enjoyed much liberty, apparently working only when he chose to do so. He sleeps in the old cemetery beside his master. Jonathan Jackson had a slave (Pomp) who was in the Revolutionary War, and set free in 1776. He settled afterwards on the banks of " Pomp's Pond," in An- dover. Others of the Jacksons were slave-holders, but the wrong has been nobly retrieved by the sturdy opposition to slavery of Hon. William Jackson, Mr. Francis Jackson, leaders of the Liberty and Free-Soil parties in Massachusetts ; Hon. Horace Mann, a citi- zen of Newton; Mr. John Kenrick, first president of the American Anti-Slavery Society, and many others.

TEMPERANCE .- As the Rev. Mr. Eliot took the lead in protesting against selling human beings into siavery, so, also, he took the lead against the sale of intoxicating drinks. In 1648, about the time of his first preaching to the Indians, he presented a petition to the General Court, begging " that there might be but one ordinary in all Boston who may have liberty to sell wine, strong drink, or any strong liquors unto the Indians; and whoever shall further them in their vicions drinking, for their own base ends, who keep no ordinary, may not be suffered in such a sinne with- ont due punishment." In 1816 it is stated that Dr. James Freeman, of Nonantum Hill, " allowed no rum on his place, but paid his men a dollar a month extra in commutation therefor." December 15, 1826, a meeting was held in Newton which took active meas- ures on the subject of Temperance, and addressed a circular to all the inhabitants of the town to awaken general interest in it. A meeting was held at the school-house in Newton Centre early in January, 1827, to form a temperance society, and twenty-seven members subscribed their names. This is supposed to have been the second town organization of the kind in New England, the first being at Andover. Notwithstanding some opposition, hundreds were added to its ranks. Weekly meetings were held in West Newton, which resulted in the formation of a library for the intellectual improvement of the mem- bers. It was denominated " The Adelphian Library," and was furnished with several hundred volumes. Through this association was originated the Newton Institution for Savings. At the weekly meetings various subjects were presented and discussed, so that the temperance society was substantially a literary society of a high order, and its meetings were numer- ously attended. At the second anniversary, Dr. Gil- bert delivered a discourse on temperance, which was printed and widely distributed. It was one of the first publications advocating the doctrine of total ab- stinence. The town from time to time passed resoln- tions engaging to execute the laws of the State of Massachusetts, regarding the sale of intoxicating liquors. In April, 1850, the selectmen were appointed a committee to prosecute all violators of the liquor law of the town. In 1853 a vote was passed not to 3-jii

license any to sell intoxicating liquors. In 1862 a certificate was issued to a single individual, signed by the whole Board of Selectmen, appointing him sole agent for the sale of intoxicating liquors in New- ton, under the laws of the Commonwealth, for the year ending May 1, 1863. In 1864 the town assumed the responsibility of all such sales through its ap- pointed agent, the stock of liqnors being deposited at the alms-house. In 1870 the town voted "that no person shall be allowed to sell ale, porter, strong beer or lager beer, in the town of Newton." This vote was repealed May, 1871, and from that time the sub- ject of temperance has been left to the laws of the State, magistrates being appointed to execute them, and to the voluntary efforts and influence of the citi- zens.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT .- The Cataract Engine Company, at the Lower Falls, is the oldest fire organi- zatiou in Newton. It was 125 years after the incor- poration of the town before any public provision was made for extinguishing fires. Previously, all build- ings were submitted only to the protection of Provi- dence, or, in case of fire, to the benevolent exertions of the public. In 1813 the Legislature of Massachu- setts granted authority to certain residents of Newton Lower Falls to form a fire-engine company. The ad- mission fee of members was five dollars. The com- pany bought their own engine, fire-buckets and other machinery.

Though the temperance movement had not yet been inangnrated, except in the formation in Boston of the " Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance," the engine company made stringent rules to prevent the members from the immoderate use of spiritnons liquors. Many of the prominent men of the village and town belonged to the organization. They held monthly meetings at the village inn, be- sides the annual " Enginemen's Supper," which was always regarded as a great occasion. From time to time, at subsequent dates, the town appropriated money to purchase engines and ladders for the several vil- lages, and gradually increased the pay of fireman and the quantity of apparatus, till, in 1878, the amount of property of the Fire Department, in buildings, land and machinery, including the fire-alarm telegraph,

was valued at $148,100. The first fire-warden chosen was Solomon Curtis, of the Lower Falls, in 1818. In 1823 eight fire-wards were chosen, and iu 1824, ten. In 1823 a vote was passed "empowering the select- men to build engine-houses when and where they may deem them necessary, provided that the proprietors of the engine or engines will provide land at their own expense to build said houses upon." In 1824 a vote was passed by the town, offering a reward of $300 for the detection of incendiaries guilty of causing the late fires in the town. In 1825 there were engines at the Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Newton Centre, West Newton and Elliott Factories, and four fire-wards were chosen to each, which were increased in number

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

in 1826 and 1827. In 1835 $1000 were appropriated to put the engines in repair or to purchase new ones. It was part of the duty of the fire-wards to provide refreshments for the enginemen and others who may come from neighboring towns to aid in extinguishing fires, and to present the bills to the selectmen for payment. In 1842-43 $600 were appropriated for fire purposes to each of the villages of the Upper Falls, Lower Falls, West Newton, Newton Centre and Newton Corner. In 1849, by vote of the town, the firemen were allowed five dollars each and the abate- ment of their poll-tax, in compensation for their ser- vices. The Fire Department, however, cansed much anxiety to the wisest of the citizens. It was difficult to decide how much liberty should be granted to the several companies, and yet how they should be kept, so far as was necessary, under the control of the select- men of the town. And the question seems not to have been fully solved until the city government was established, and the whole matter subjected to muni- cipal regulation. In 1867 there were six engines. In May of that year the first steam fire-engine was intro- duced at Newton Corner, and a bell for fire-alarm purposes at West Newton. An appropriation was made for a steam fire-engine at West Newton in 1871, and for Newton Centre in 1872, and shortly after- wards the fire alarm began to strike the noon hour in every part of the city. In 1889 the Fire Department of Newton consisted of three steamers, five hose com- panies and one hook-and-ladder company, with ap- propriate buildings and horses.

ALMSHOUSES .- In 1731, more than forty years after the incorporation of Newton as an independent town, the citizens voted to build a work-house; so they de- nominated the place of shelter and comfort for the poor, probably dreading lest the benevolence of the town might be imposed upon by artful persons, seek- ing to be supported in idleness. In 1734 the first Board of Overseers of the Poor was chosen. In 1763 a vote was again passed to build a work-house, twenty-four feet by twenty-six, and one story high, "on the town's land near Dr. King's, or some other płace," and appropriating fifty pounds for that pur- pose. In 1768 a code of regulations for the work- house was reported to the town by a committee prev- iously appointed, and accepted. These rules indicate a spirit of strietness and severity which, in these days, seems gratuitous, but they may have been justi- fied by the circumstances of the age. In 1818 the house and land formerly belonging to John l'igeon, in Auburndale, were bought for an almshouse, the price paid being $2500; there was also a mortgage on the farm of $1500. This continued to be the locality of the almshouse till it was relinquished by the town, and a lot purchased and the necessary buildings erected near the residence of Mr. Matthias Collins, and in the vicinity of what is now the new village of Waban. It was among the regulations that the poor who were able should regularly attend church. In this last lo-

cation sittings were provided for them in the Method- ist Church at Newton Upper Falls. Forty or fifty years ago, Divine service used to be held in the din- ing-room of the house, and the ministers of the town in rotation preached on Sabbath evenings. When it was Dr. Homer's turn to preach, it is said he always used to preach sitting.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 8

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