History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 84

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 84

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In March, 1866, the committee appointed Solon F. Whitney, then first assistant in the Bridgewater Normal School, principal of the High School, and in September, Miss Mary F. Porter, of one of the Cam- bridge schools, assistant. Mr. Whitney served until the fall of 1871, when the new committee reinstated Mr. Dwelley in the school. Mr. Whitney was soon appointed a teacher in the Cambridge High School, where he taught nearly fourteen years, although con- tinning to reside in town. Miss Porter, after three years' very acceptable service, went to the Dorchester Iligh School, and Miss Charlotte E. Wheeler, from the New Bedford High School, took her place. In

1870, Miss Susan Porter was appointed a second as- sistant, but after winning the confidence of all by her devotion and ability, she, in April, 1871, was obliged from ill health to resign, and Miss Ellen M. Crafts was transferred from a grammar school to fill her place. In October, 1871, Caroline S. Cushing be- came first assistant, followed in September, 1873, by Alice Worcester.

The High School building was, during the sum- mer and autumn of 1873, remodeled, so that for three months or more the school was kept in the town hall.

In 1874, Mr. Dwelley resigned the second time, and Mr. Groce, of Peabody, was elected master, and in September, 1875, Prof. George I. Dippold, first assist- ant. Mis Anna M. Gregory had been elected teacher of drawing in all the schools in 1871, and Mr. Ileury G. Carey, teacher of music.

In 1877, the committee declared all positions of teachers vacant at the close of the year, and invited all who wished to retain the same " to make applica- tion," with the understanding that those who " should pass an examination, such as the law of the Common- wealth contemplated," might be appointed. All ap- plied but one. Three did not pass, and the commit- tee were in doubt about eight others.

Mr. Groce, master of the High School, did not ap- ply, and Prof. Selah Howell, of Union College, N. Y., was appointed to the position. Mr. Groce has taught in one ofthe Boston high schools most of the time since. B. F. Nutting, an artist, long resident in Watertown, was employed in 1878 to teach drawing in the High School. In 1879 Miss Anna M. Gregory was employed at a smaller salary, and she continued to teach with success for several years, until her res- ignation in 1882. In September, 1877, Miss Ellen M. Crafts was made first assistant. In April, 1878, Miss Lilla Frost was appointed second assistant. She was followed in 1879 by Miss Almira P. Goss, in 1822 by Mr. Elmer E. Wentworth, in 1883, Mr. Sum- ner Coolidge, in 1884, by Miss Alice G. Patton, and in 1887 by Anton Marquardt, Ph.D. In September, 1888, Wm. K. Norton was appointed teacher of science. Ile was followed in September, 1889, by Wm. M. Newton.

The present (1890) teachers of the High School are : Geo. R. Dwelley, of Arlington, principal; Ellen M. Crafts, first assistant ; Dr. Anton Marquardt, modern languages ; Joseph Coolidge, sciences, etc .; Miss Blanch I. George, drawing for part of the time; S. Henry Hadley, music, for part of the time.

In 1881 a superintendent, Mr. John F. Prince, of Waltham, was appointed, who made the position a necessity by the new views of its usefulness, which he exemplified in his treatment of the schools and by his able reports. This position he occupied for three years, until appointed an agent of the State Board of Education, since which time, the master of the High School has been called on to perform the duties of the office.

357

WATERTOWN.

Watertown was complained of about 1690, to the County Court, for deficiency in schools; in 1696 was fined for not having a school, not being willing to repair the school-honse and pay the person asked"to teach, the £20 a year which he demanded. Bond gives a long list of Harvard graduates who taught in town for very short periods, the salaries offered be- ing small, and the amount of training received in col- lege probably not much in excess of that given in our high schools of the present time, and probably with no idea of teaching as a science or an art. Young men were willing to teach a short time while prepar- ing for a profession.

Since the days of Horace Mann, more attention has been given to the art of teaching, schools have been vastly improved, and it is hoped that the time may sometime come when all citizens of the town may have such complete confidence in the excellence of her schools that none will feel willing to tax them- selves doubly to find better ones outside her limits for their children, or think of helping to support private schools within her borders. To show the character of the schools and the intent of the town to have the best, we can do no better than give a list of the per- sons who have served on the School Committee of the town since 1849, when the district school system began to be abolished (abolished in 1853) :

Rev. Charles K. Colver, 1849. Horace Bird, 1849.

Rev. J. Augustus Adams, 1849. Rev. Hasbrouck Davis, 1850.

D. T. Huckius, 1850-53, '55-57, '65-68.

Jesse Wheeler, 1850.

Rev. H. C. Vose, 1850. Joshua Coollidge, Jr., 1850, '53-57, '68.

B. A. Edwards, 1851-52. Rev. M. Dwight, 1851.

Marshall Kingman, 1852-54. Nathaniel Whiting, 1853-54, '56- 57, '63. Moses Stone, 1853-54. William Lathrop, 1853. Oliver Edwards, 1853-54. George Frazar, 1854. Charles J. Barry, 1854-58, '59-64. Joseph Crafts, 1855-56, '58,'59, 66- 69.

James Sharp, 1856. Rev. War. L. Browo, 1856-57. Rev. S. R. Denneu, 1856-58.

John Sylvester, 1857. James G. Fuller, 1858. Isaac Watts, 1858.

Rev. George M. Steele, 1859. Wro. G. Lincoln, 1859-63. E. S. Rowse, 1859-61. Ivers J. Austin, 1860, '62. Wm. M. Tobey, 1860-62. Edward Benga, 1860. Rev. Arthur B. Fuller, 1861. Rev. H. E. Ilempstead, 1861. John B. Goodrich, 1862-61. Rev. A. S. Patton, 1862-63. Rev. John Weiss, 1863-65, '67-68. Dr. L. B. Moree, 1864-67, '78. A. F. Fleming, 1864, '65.

Rev. L. T. Towneend, 1864-65, '69-70.

Dr. Alfred Hosmer, 1865-70.

L. D. Sawyer, 1866. Geo. F. Meacham, 1866.

George K. Snow, 1868-71.

George E l'riest, 1869.

Charles Brigham, 1869, '71-73, '77> '84.

N. J. Edwards, 1870-75.

A L. Richards, 1870-72, 175, '79- 85. Abiel Abbott, 1870.

Charles W. Stone, 1871-74, '76, '78, '82-90.

Jobu Coolidge, Jr., 1871-75, '79- '82.

Rev. Nathl. Fellowe, 1872.

Rev. M. M. Green, 1873-77.

Corneline Walker, 1873, '74.

T. G. Abbott, 1874.

F. H. Rice, 1875.

D. B. Fliut, 1875.

John Murray, 1876-78.

Anu M. Hapgood, 1876.

Wm. H. Daduman, 1876.

Rev. T. W. Bishop, 1877-78. Jesse F. Wheeler, 1877-79.

Rev. I. F. Loveriog, 1877-78. C. F. Fitz, 1877, June to March.

J. J. Sullivan, 1878-80. A. II. Bailey, 1879-82. Geo. L. Noyes, 1879-82. Rev. E. A. Capeo, 1880.

Rev. Heory Lummis, 1881.

Rev. Robert P. Stack, 1881-85. Rev. T. B. Smith, 1883. A. G. Fitch, 1884-85.

Joshua C. Stone, 1884-89. Dr. Julian A. Mead, 1885-90. Dr. L. S. Smith, 1886.

Dr. M. J. Kelley, 1886-88.

C. S. Ensigo, 1886-90.

Jas. D. Monaban, 1887-90.

Mrs. Ruth Bradford, 1889-90. Miss H. A. Coolidge, 1890.

PRINCIPALS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.

William Webster, 1864-61.

Solon F. Whitney, 1866-71. Byron Groce, 1874-77. Selah Howell, 1877-81.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE PUBLIO SCHOOLS.

John T. Prince, 1881-83. ! George R. Dwelley, 1883-

LIBRARIES.

SOCIAL .- That the early settlers brought books with them when they came, is evident. George Phil- lips was "a prime scholar," " mighty in interpreta- tion."

His widow gave "to son Samnel all the Latin, Greek and Hebrew books now in the house." Yet we have no record of libraries of any magnitude, or of any collections of books for common use for the first century or more.

In 1779 there was formed, in the east part of the town, near where the first settlement was made in 1630, a social library. It was called, at first, “ The Union Library," afterwards the "Union Social Li- brary," of Watertown, The old record-book, still ex- isting-a precious legacy to the present library-be- gins with the following :

" SUBSCRIPTION.

" We, the subscribers, being desirous of promoting learning, do hereby agree to form ourselves into a society for that purpose, and, as it will be needful for to have a sum of money for to purchase the books for a library, we hereby do agree to pay per share a sum not exceeding three lollars, said money to be paid at the time the society bold their first meeting, aod appoint some person or persons to receive it, or a collector that shall be appointed for the purpose of collecting it; suid money to be laid out to purchase such books for our use as the Majority of the society shall egree upon ; we also agree that when twenty shares shall be subscribed for, that come five of them (the subscribers) shall apply to a justice of the peace for a warrant to waru the first meeting for to choose all officers and making such by-laws for the governing said Library as shall then be thought needful."

The following names were appended in the same handwriting as the above :

Christopher Grant,

Peter Clark,

Joshua Grant,

Nathaniel Bright,

James Barnard,

Amine Livermore, Jr., 3 shares,

William Chenery,

Elisha Livermore,

Mosee Chenery,

William Stone,

Elizabeth Bernard,

Jonathno Stone,

Samnel Coolidge,

Leonard Boud,

l'eter llarrington,

David Livermore,

James Simmonde,

Elijah Learded,

Nathaniel R. Whitney,

Simon Whitney,

Jonathan Bird,

Samuel Harrington,

Nathaniel Stone,

Moses Coolidge, 2 ehares,

Joshua Coolidge, with Jur added in different ink.

Thomas Bisco,

Beoj. Hastings,

David Stone,

Samuel Sodin,

Ahijah Stone,

Thomas Clark,

Joelalı Sanderson.

Jonas Bond, 3 ch.,

So far the names seem to have been copied in one hand, with the same ink, from same paper. The fol- lowing may be actual signatures of a later date :

Joseph Bright,

Daniel Whitney, Jr., Francis Bright,

Heory Chase, 1861-62.

Geo. R. Dwelley, 1862-66, '71-74, 81-

558

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

JuNeph Bird.

Larkiu Smith,

Leonard Winchester,

Thomas Livermore, Michael Gay,

('barles Whitney, Hubbard Kussul,

Thomas Learned,

George Sternes,

Nathaniel Ilerrington, Jonathan Stone, Jr., Leonard Stone, John H Clark, I ah, and half, Danlel A. Tuinter,

Charles Stone, Leonard Richardson,

Amus il. Livermore,

Ebenezer Proctor,

Adam Brown, Hepzibah Grant,

Hezekiah Davis, Isaa Stone,

Willinin 31. Pomeroy,

Thomas Richardson, Daniel Learned,

Josiah S. Clarke. 63 in nuoaber.

To omit the next page of the record would be base ingratitude to that painfully-exact and law-abiding spirit which characterized these men, some of them active in that contest which rejected with scorn the rule of their mother country when it conflicted with individual rights, and strove to force by arms tea and taxes upon unrepresented people. Only a score of years had passed when this was penned, yet we see the intent of law-abiding citizens to omit no legal form in starting this little society for "promoting learning." Doubtless the names of the three Water- town members of the Boston Tea Party would have been found here had they not unfortunately all died before this. Here is the record :

" To Amos Bond, Esqr., one of the Justices of the peuce within and for the county of Middlesex :

" We, the subscribers, five of the Subscribers to form a Society to pur- chase Books for a Library in the Town of Watertown, judging a meet- ing of the Subscribers for said Library to be necessary, do hereby request you to issue a Warrant for the calling of u meeting of said Subscribers to be holden at the dwelling-bouse of Jonathan Bird, inholder, in said Watertown, on Monday, the ninth day of December Inst., at six o'clock P.M., to act on the following Articles (viz.) :

" To chose all officers and make such bye-laws as shall then be judged necessary for governing said Library. MOSES COOLIDGE, " Dated ut Watertown the THUSIAS CLARK, second day of December, NATIIL R. WHITNEY, anno Domini, 1799. PETE& CLARK,

SAMUEL COOLIDGE.

" Middlesex Ss. To Col. Moses Coolidge, one of the Subscribers to purchase Books for a Library in the town of Watertown :

" You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth of Mas- Harhusetts to notify the subscribers to purchase books for a Library in the Town of Watertown in manver as the law directs, to meet at the timo and place and for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing applica- tion. Given under my hand and goal this 2nd of December, A.D. 1779.

" AMOS BOND, " Justice of the peace for the said Conn. of Middlesex.

" In purman'e of the foregoing Warrant to me directed, I do hereby notify the proprietors within named to meet at the time & place men- tioned in the foregoing application, & for the purposes therein expressed. " Dated at Watertown, the second day of December, A. D. 1779.

"MOSES COOLIDGE."

" ACn meeting of the subscribers to purchase books for u Library in the Town of Watertown, duly warned agreeable to law, by a warrant Trum a Justbe of the prace, hell at the house of Mr Jonathan Bird, inn" holder in cold Watertown, on Monday, the ninth day of December, anno Domini om thon and seven hundred and ninety-nine.

"Opened wald menting & proceeded as follows (viz.) :

" Int- Ch so Nath R. Whitney, Esgr., Manlerntor.

" And Samuel elilgo, Clerk,

"And Votel that the Society bu culled & known by the name of tho Enlos Library Society in Watertown,

"4th Chuno Nath' R. Wbltuy, Christopher Grant, Moses Coolidge, Thomas Clark, I tuba Livermore, directors for the ensuing year & di-

rected them to purchase the books for the Library. Also agreed that each subscriber pay three Dollars per share for the use aforesaid.

"5th-Chose Amos Livermore, jr., Librarian & Elisha Livermore the Librariao's assistant for the year ensuing.

" Then adjourned to the School-house in the East-district of ssid Wa- tertowo, there to meet on the second Monday of January next, at six o'clock P. M.

Immediately following this record is a list of sixty books, with their cost prices, ranging from nine dol- lars for Goldsmith's " Animated Nature" to "Sterne's Journey," at seventy-five cents, and the " Life of Col. Gardiner " at sixty-seven cents, on which there was a discount, however, of twelve and one-half per eent. Among these books were " Knox's Essays," "Vicar of Wakefield," "Seneca's Morals," "Cook's Voyages," Robertson's " America" (in three volumes), "The Dignity of Human Nature," "Paley's Evidences," Whiston's "Josephus" (six volumes), "Watts, On the Mind," "Evelina," Minot's "History of Massachu- setts," "Peter Pindar," "Children of the Abbey " (in four volumes), a book on " Cattle " and one on " Far- riery," "Bruce's Travels," Adams' "New England." Among books bought later, were "Washington's Letters," "Rollin's Ancient History," "Boston Ora- tions," "Milton's Works" and the "Life of Washing- ton ; " and still later, "Life of Bonaparte," "Silli- man's Journal," " Pastor's Fireside," " Opie's Tales," "Freeman's Sermons," "Sketch Book," "Life of Alexander the Great," Scott's "Letters on Demon- ology and Witchcraft," "Mary Queen of Scots," "Life of Sir Isaac Newton," "Memoirs of Celebrated Female Sovereigns," "Abercrombie on Intellectual l'owers." "Redgauntlet," " Last of the Mohicans," "The Spy," and "Roxabel," and others, in all, two hundred and thirty-five volumes.

On January 13, 1800, a constitution and code of by-laws were adopted.

"Ist. That the annual meeting should be held at Jonathan Bird's tavern." This still stands at the corner of Mount Auburn and Belmont Streets, facing Mount Auburn bridge. They defined the duties of each officer. One of the duties of the librarian was "to open the Library to each proprietor the 2d Mon- day of each month for 2 hours, between 6 & 8 o'clock l'. M. ; the Directors should receive all monies from the Librarian, purchase all books, abate fines, except fines for lending books; examine library, call meet- ings on request," etc. There were such other rules as would naturally occur to any one :

"To meet annually the 2nd Monday at Bird's tav- ern, and to have the library open two hours on each 2nd Monday through the year." These were essential to success. I have heard that those annnal meetings, held at six o'clock P. M., at Bird's tavern, were not wholly unpleasant; and that proprietors, or pro- prietors' children, visited the library on its monthly opening of two hours, is well attested by the thumb- marks which some of the books bear to this day,

At the annual meeting in December, 1800, nearly the same officers were chosen, and it was voted that

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WATERTOWN.

each member pay three shillings to purchase addi- tional books, and that the librarian be paid for his services one shilling a night (or month). Evidently, great confidence was felt in the librarian or other officers, for the directors or society seldom met, except at the annual meeting at Bird's tavern.

At the next annual meeting, called with all the formalities of a regular town-meeting, held January 25, 1802, Moses Coolidge was chosen moderator, Samuel Coolidge, clerk ; Thos. Clark, Nathaniel R. Whitney, Nathaniel Stone, David Stone and Thomas Bisco, di- rectors. "Voted, that the money which is not col- lected may be collected & laid out for such books as shall be thought necessary by the Directors. Voted, that the fines arising for not returning the books at the time, the past year, be appropriated for the cover- ing, with leather, such books as the Directors shall think necessary."

So the records run on with some changes of names, with the annual purchase of books, collection of fines and assessments, and it is fair to believe, for after a few years the name of the library was changed to the Union Social Library, with a good social meeting at Mr. Bird's tavern, with such literary discourse as the batch of new books would naturally suggest.

After awhile, about the time of the last war with England, it was decided to pay the librarian for his services (two dollars) and also the clerk for his, and the only records are of the annual meetings which were then held at the house of Samuel Bellows (the same tavern). In the year 1818, Joshua Coolidge gave his share to Joshna Coolidge, Jr .; Col. Moses Coolidge, still chosen moderator nearly every year, is now made librarian ; Joseph Bird is made collector and assistant librarian. The records are very legibly written by Elisha Livermore, clerk.

In 1842, at a legal meeting, the warrant for which was issued by Tyler Bigelow, one of the justices of the peace, a report was received from a committee ap- pointed to report on the state of the library, and pro- posing a union with the North District, was accepted and entered at length on the records.

As this report was prepared with evident care, partly by men who, twenty-six years afterwards, in- terested themselves in the Free Public Library, and as it recommended an immediate union with the North District, thus endorsing the plan of Horace Mann for furnishing the whole State with good read- ing in the District School Libraries, we think it of importance not only to the history of the library in this place, but as showing the results of both of these steps-the society library and the district school library-in the gradual development of a system of free public libraries, probably nowhere excelled in the world, and now quite generally patterned after by England.

We therefore make free extracts from the report, which was signed by Charles Stone, Daniel Learned, Joseph Bird, Jr., Thomas Livermore and Joshua

Coolidge, Jr. They report : "That the subject upon mature consideration seems more feasible and likely to produce good results to most of the proprietors and particularly to the district. A large number of the books are valuable, and only want more attention di- rected to them and also an introduction to a new class of readers to still be permanently useful." They complain that the books are not read ; that the neglect of them even seems to increase; give as a reason that not books enough can be bought to keep up the inter- est ; that personal assessments are too apt to be ne- glected, and the committee deplore the evident result to which all is tending, for several reasons : "First, that this Library, founded by our fathers many years since, should not be destroyed by their children, but continued to our children with increased energy and usefulness. Second, that many of the books could not now be purchased, and which, united with new books, would make a valuable library. Third and more im- portant, that if the library should now be broken up, the taste for reading which is now with us, would lie dormant and perhaps be extinguished, instead of which it needs, by every proper means, encouragement."

The plan of union with the District School Library seems advisable. First, because of the new books added to the library ; second, that the "children, as they are plodding through the dull routine of educa- tion,"-it must have been a dull routine before the days of Horace Mann,-" will be forming a taste for correct reading, which cannot fail to increase their usefulness in society ; and still another reason is that parents also will be able to increase in useful know]- edge and thus be better prepared to educate their children. This is no new idea. Many districts in our State already have libraries, one even in our own town. Of so much importance was it deemed by our Legislature, that it was proposed to form one in every District in the State, and it is probable, but for the pecuniary difficulties of the times, it would have been done." The report goes on to say that the Board of Education have begun to prepare a number of books to be sold as cheap as possible to encourage their adoption. Indeed it would seem that there should be no objection to a plan of this kind if properly man- aged, and they would hope that every one will see the importance of either aiding the present plan or pro- posing a better one. They recommend a union with the North District, the library to be called "The North District Union Social Library." Minute and wise conditions are appended which were substan- tially adopted.

The remnant of this North Distriet Union Social Library, after thirty-six years more of partial useful- ness and natural neglect, came, in 1875, by the hand of Joseph Bird, together with the okl and precious record-book, as a gift to the town, to the care of the Free Public Library, the natural successor to such and all other institutions for the education of the people through books.

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCULATING LIBRARIES .- Before speaking more explicitly of the experiment mentioned as District School Libraries, attention should be given to the work of circulating libraries in the town. Several have existed at different periods, well cared for by their owners, always open to those who were willing to pay the small fee for the daily or weekly use of the books, and furnishing such books as the taste or the selfish interests of their owners dietated. In some cases these books have given an impulse to study, and have laid the foundations of learning.

Such a library was kept by Mrs. Curtis, in the Robbins house, near the Great Bridge. Mrs. Curtis was the daughter of " an intelligent, prominent and much respected citizen of Watertown, Mr. James Robbins, who carried on various branches of manu- facturing," and had also a country store. When he died, in 1810, having been less successful in the latter part of his life, and having left a numerous family, with rather seanty means, this daughter, a person of energy and education, not wishing to be dependent upon friends, opened this library as one means of support. Here her two boys, Benjamin Robbins Cur- tis and George Ticknor Curtis, laid the foundation of their love of books for which the world has since heen richer. We may never know how much good was done by that collection for the mass of its read- ers ; but one grateful son has thrown a little light on the subject which is encouraging to those who, from any motives, are trying to bring good books to the at- tention of those who may be benefited thereby. Of course, "It was chiefly a collection of novels and poetry ; and when I name the period during which my mother kept this library, as from about 1818 to 1825, the reader will see that Scott's novels from ' Waverly ' to ' Redgauntlet,' and all his principal poems; Byron's works; Southey's 'Thalaba' and ' Roderick ;' Irving's 'Sketch-Book,' Bracebridge Hall' and 'Tales of a Traveler ; ' Cooper's 'Spy,' 'Pioneers' and 'Pilot' and many other books, new at that pe- riod, might have been, as in fact they were, included in this collection. The books were much sought for by the surrounding families.

" My aunt's books were not embraced in the circu- lating library ; but she possessed, among others, an excellent edition of Shakespeare-of whose works she was a constant reader-Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' Young's 'Night Thoughts,' Thomson's 'Seasons,' Cowper's ' Poems,' Johnson's ' Rasselas, 'Jeremy Tay- lor's ' Holy Living and Dying,' and the 'Specta- tor.' 1 am quite sure that my brother's first know- ledge of these authors was derived from her books. In a home so furnished with the lighter and some of the more solid materials of intellectual develop- ment, my brother beenme a great reader at an age when most boys care for nothing but their sports. At first he read novels incessantly,"-this young judge! and why should he not ?- "and I can well remember the sorrowful resignation with

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 84

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