USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Monson > History of Monson, Massachusetts > Part 12
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Dana Stebbins 1860
Ariel Rogers
Alfred Wallace 1878
Arthur Brewer 1852 John Bogan 1895
Daniel Foskit
L. John Borgeson
Ariel Rogers 1854 1895
Presently owned by Alfred W. Borgeson, Chestnut Street, and is lived in by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Maynard.
Capt. Hitchcock House
The home of Mrs. Charles Thomas, 15 Me- chanic Street. Mrs. Thomas acquired it from her mother, Mrs. Angelina Stiles, who had earlier received it from her father, George Wilson; Henry Miller, Sr., purchased from Timothy and Phoebe Hinsdale Brown. It is thought that it may have been built around middle 1700s.
Phoebe Hinsdale Brown wrote hymns --- the most famous being "I love to steal awhile away, from every'cumbering care."
Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of Samuel Robbins Brown, one of the first mis- sionaries to Ceylon, India. He was also a mis- sionary to both China and Japan. He brought to Monson, students from both countries; some of whom are buried in Hillside ceme- tery.
The most famous of the students was Yung Wing, a Chinese, and a graduate of Yale, and often a visitor at the Brown home.
KEEP HOMESTEAD - ELY ROAD
John and Lucy Smith sold to Alfred Ely in 1809 who sold to Holton Olmsted in 1843. Marcus Chapin purchased it in 1854 and he conveyed the property to Edward Keep in 1856. Charles C. Keep bought the homestead from his father in 1893, and the property passed to his two daughters, Marion P. Keep and Mira Keep Moulton in 1947.
This was the home of the Reverend Alfred Ely during his active ministry in the First Church in Monson. He conducted the farm and ran a cider mill, to help meet living ex- penses, as he received only $300 salary. An account book shows that he supplied many people of the village with vinegar.
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Marcus Chapin was married in 1830 and went there to live. It was owned later by Lt. George M. Severy, Civil War veteran. Frank Severy, his son, was born here and was, for many years until retirement, manager of the A.&.P. store. A Mr. Johnson sold to Elmer Pease in 1908; he sold to Mr. Alheusen and it is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Spear.
Several generations of the Rogers' family have lived here, Grandfather Eli Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rogers and now it is in pos- session of their son Wilfred Rogers and is occupied by his daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Nothe. Mrs. Juliette Sikes, sis- ter of Edson Walker, spent the latter years of her life there, and lived to be 102 years old.
Built around 1820-1830 and now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Davis. According to the 1855 map J. Hitchcock lived there, then Morris Hitchcock, and Fred Hitchcock. Fred Davis, possessor of the gold headed cane as the oldest man in town, and who on June 7, 1960 passed away, bought it from Seth Brad- way in 1915, and has lived there since.
Home of Mrs. Alma Lunden built around 1790
James Duncan lived there and Mrs. Win- nie Duncan Bradway was born there. It was also the home of Ed Harris at one time.
Arthur Berube purchased home from Phil- ias Vandal in 1932. 1870 map shows Brad- way Bros., Frank, J. Henry and Seth. 1855 map shows A (Abner Bennett) and deeds mention Bela Bennett heirs.
Absalom Shaw married Esther Patten in 1788 and they went to the Edgar Shaw place to live. From Absalom, to son Lucius, who conveyed it to Eli M. Shaw in 1858, who in turn conveyed it to Edgar Shaw in 1894.
His son Clifford sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Battige. Thus it passed from the Shaw family who had possessed it for over one hundred and twenty-five years.
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Home of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Harrington
1808-1822-Joshua Shaw
1822-1836-Absalom Shaw
1836-1875-Azariah Butler
1875 Daniel Mixter
1875 Azuriah Butler heirs, Janette Butler, Amelia and Henry Stim- son
1875 Eleazer Bradway
1875-1879-Delia Lull
1879-1900 Seth C. Bradway
1900-1914-William and Emma Spender
1914-1957-Christian and Alma Christine Hansen
1957
Leonard Harrington
This is the home of Herbert Battige, But- ler Road. He recalls that there was a shoe- maker that lived in the ell part that was torn down. Other names recalled are Hazard, Eugenia Leigh, the Burleigh family, and Les- lie Moulton. According to map of 1855 E. Bennett lived there and in 1870 a Miss Switz- er.
Mulberry Tree at home of Herbert Battige
The map of 1855 shows that O. Pease lived there, and the house may have been built cir- ca 1820-1830. In 1879 it gives the name of H. Pease which may have been the son of O. Pease. Later Charles Fisher lived there.
It was bought and restored and the porch removed by Archer Bennett, Lower Hamp- den Road.
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This Cape Cod house was built around 1788-1790.
Gideon Pease conveyed to Salmon Pease and he to his son Calvin. In 1869 the family moved to the village. Other occupants have been Squire Ballard, Coomes, Turnbull and at present Mr. and Mrs. John Storm.
This house was built by Ralph Fuller, who conveyed it to his older daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband Alanson Chaffee. Alanson sold to Mr. and Mrs. George Ellis 1865. Mr. Ellis died and passed the property to Mrs. Ellis who completed the mortgage.
She married John Henry Bradway, May 7, 1871. After their death, Elsie Bradway Chaf- fee, their daughter, became the owner. She sold to Dr. C. Evans Sawyer, May 1960.
Believed to have been built around 1830- 1835
1855 map shows it as belonging to R. Pease. Later owned by J. L. Bradway and when the home of the J. C. Bradway family burned, they moved to this one. It is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Lecour.
This is the "Old Cider Mill" on the proper- ty now belonging to the Springfield Sports- man's Club. It was earlier owned by J. C. Bradway. It has been recalled that Mrs. J. C. Bradway, as a bride of sixteen years, went there to live and then the house was a hun- dred years old. It burned in 1938.
This shows the wooden gears used to de- velop power for using the press gears. The mill seems to be still intact.
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Home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sanderson In 1795, Lieutenant Benjamin Fuller built the house, now called "Bonnie Biel," occu- pied by his great, great grand nephew.
The late Frank Nelson of Ely Road was a great grandson of Mr. Fuller's.
A son built a house nearby and together they operated a cider mill on the small brook at the back of the property. It was hinted that they also made cider brandy. Large ap- ple orchards extended to the Hoar Farm and to that part of West hill formerly known as Noble's Hill.
An itinerant carpenter went through this section of town building most of the houses and using the same plan for all. Bonnie Biel and the Alonzo Beebe house have the same plans or similar plans but in reverse.
In 1762 the town laid out a road going from Brimfield to Hampden. It passed the Fuller places and the Colton Tavern before dipping into Colton Hollow. Coaches coming from Connecticut stopped at the old Tavern for rest and refreshment.
Charles Stacy and a Mr. Noyes at one time lived in this house.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Supernaw who pur- chased the house in 1944, give names of pre- vious owners as William Remington, Lyman Flynt and it may be that earlier than that it was one of the Colton places, possibly that of William.
This is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Alex- ander Mushenko and family and was built around 1795 to 1800. John Barry purchased 34 Acres from Haynes in 1858; in 1865 twenty-eight acres were added from Fuller. In 1894, Geo. H. Foskit, guardian of the Bar- ry heirs who were Mary Fitzgerald and Ann Barry, sold to Johnson. In 1902 12 acres purchased from Carew.
1912-Mayers
1919-Lemieux
1920-Lieson
1921-Whitten
1922-Cherwick (Charwick) In 1922 sold three times :
March-Whitten to Warner
July-Warner to Morin July-Morin to Charwick
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The home of Mr. and Mrs. James Trombly, Hampden Road
The square hip-roof house shows features of a "Carter" house, therefore built around 1800.
Mr. Converse-a gentleman farmer, Mr. Guilford and Mr. Lavidiere are names of owners recalled as is that of Mr. Green.
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Morningbrook-Home of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Winter, Hampden Rd.
Mr. and Mrs. Winter bought of the George North Estate in 1941. Previous owners Lean- der Patrick, September 10, 1910, Fred Pat- rick, Elizaeth Beebe, Lorenzo Squier. Mr. Squire and family were there for many years. Built Circa: 1835.
This was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Beebe for many years, in fact his ancestors prior to that. According to record of "Bonnie Biel" this building would date back to 1800. There were two children in the Alonzo Beebe family. Dr. Ralph, professor at Amherst Col- lege, and Helen, now Mrs. Corey Mills.
It is now the property of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Moore.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Tidd live in a small house on the site of Daniel Butler's early home. Mr. Daniel Butler was one of the early settlers in Silver Street. Mr. and Mrs. Tidd are now among the older families in the area.
Dating back to 1834, and called the "old Hatch place" this house is now owned and lived in by Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Clarkson. Three casket plates which were found in the house were inscribed as follows: Evelin Hatch 33; Henrietta Fuller-died May 26, 1860, age 18 years; Emeline Fuller-died May 31, 1869-aged 53 yrs.
E martine Grilled
OLD FUNERAL CUSTOMS (from an early news clipping)
"The silver plates in those days were re- moved from the coffins and were afterwards framed, and hung in the parlor under the enlarged picture of the dead. Such a group is recalled where a crepe bow was fastened to the cord on which each picture was suspend- ed."
Shadrack Thayer and son Timothy built this house, a veritable mansion for those days. Early owners of this property: Timo- thy Burr, Amasa Knowlton 1789; Knowlton sold to Shadrach Thayer in 1806, then to Colonel Butler. (Col. by reason of old train- ing days). He deeded to son Lyman. Daniel was father of Col. Benjamin. Mr. Bugbee was an owner and now it is in possession of Dr. Booker.
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This house bought by Stephen Cross, house-wright, from Benj. Butler in 1804. In another place in the records he was listed as a carpenter. It is now in the name of Hazel Rossi.
Owned in 1804 by Lothrop Clark, and for many years by William Thayer and descend- ants.
It has recently been purchased and re- stored by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gallo, Silver St.
Owned by Daniel Butler in 1805, sold to Joseph Warriner in 1805-1849; Elias War- riner 1849-1902; 1902-1957 by Mr. Schmel- singer and Christina and Fred Wright; pur- chased in 1957 by Randall Rogers.
This was the early home of Henry Trum- ble and his grandfather before him, ances- tors of the Harris family living on North Main Street. Mrs. Harris was a Trumble. One member recalls the incident of Grandfa- ther Trumble giving the Indians winter corn for land. It is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller who have enlarged it to meet the needs of a growing family. The lines, even though changed, show evidence of an early date; around 1820.
This was the home of Almon Beebe, and for a while his son lived there. 1820-1830. Dr. Ralph Ober owned it for quite a few years and it is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Wesson and family, on Reimer's Road, in west part of the town.
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At the intersection of the Lower Hampden Road and Elm Street is an old blacksmith shop. It was built around 1800, owned by Horace Moulton, Ralph Moulton, Frank Bliss and John Tobin and has been a landmark for many years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ko- ziol are present occupants of the house.
Owned by Horace Moulton and left to his daughter Flora Moulton Barber, on the Hampden Lower Road.
It may have been at one time part of Asa White's holdings.
In 1849 it was sold to Hampden Cotton Co. In 1879 sold to Cyrus Truesdell and then to Horace Moulton. Dr. and Mrs. Howard Barber now live there.
Esban White first owned the property around 1825. He sold to Austin Fenton in 1858; he to Lucius Shaw in 1861; Lucius and Mercy Shaw conveyed the property to Benjamin Grout Sept. 4, 1871.
His son George Grout, as guardian of his father Benjamin, sold to Peter Hayes, June 2, 1875. He in turn sold to John S. Lynch in 1905.
It was conveyed to Peter Hayes' nephew Richard N. Hayes in 1908. He sold to Nellie Chapell the same year. She sold to Elmer Pease in 1910 and he to Thomas Murphy in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Murphy and family live there now.
North of the railroad crossing at State line, is a building which is of the Carter House type, which may date it circa 1800- 1804. It is thought to have been used as a tavern. It was owned by Waldo Smith al- though he may not have been the first own- er. Later a Mr. Stimpson lived there and he may have been a direct descendant of the Mr. Stimson, whom it is said, built the C. P. Bradway place at the foot of Peaked Moun- tain.
The front door is a very attractive one, and to the side is another, known as a "Cof- fin Door." Since funerals customarily were held at home, and the area inside of the front door was quite narrow, because many times stairways rose abruptly and reduced avail- able space, there was need for another door, "the Coffin Door."
It is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Paul De- mers.
Smith Bros., Melville and Reuben, built this house around 1820. One brother lived in the small part and the other lived in the larger one. The lumber for the house was "gotten out" with an up and down saw in their own mill. It has remained in the Smith family, the last occupants being Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smith.
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EIEI
On the opposite side of the road was the home of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herbert M. Smith. Mr. Smith was for several years a Selectman. He also conducted an ice-busi- ness, cutting ice from the pond across the way. Their house was also built by the Smith Bros.
In later years Lloyd Moulton helped cut and delivered many tons of ice for use in re- frigerators, and for the Sunday making of the "never to be forgotten" ice-cream.
It is now the home of Paul Meurisse, of Meurrisse Bros. lumber.
The Home of Mrs. Andrew Magill (May Bradway, daughter of Charles P. Bradway)
Found among some old letters, in hand- writing of Aunt Ella Jewett, as she was called by those who knew her well, was one in answer to an inquiry about the history of the place. 'The Old House on the Lawn.'
"It is with some hesitation that my pen complies with the request to write upon the subject of this dear old dwelling .... Al- though on a hill, yet it is situated at the foot of Peaked Mountain, one of the highest in Massachusetts, . .
"It is surrounded by a sawmill which is to the west, a cider mill lies at the southwest, a work shop at the southeast, while at the north the scenery stretches.
I can imagine the old windals (wind- lass ?) at the well, which was perhaps a new fangled notion in those days and perhaps considered a great improvement. Away over trees and fences, hills and valleys away to far horizons.
It must be over a century old and was built about 1760. The building when first erected was owned, it is said, by a man by the name of Stimpson. It is of simple con- struction, with low roof and large stone chimney which gives it a certain air of true antiquity."
Continuing with other facts, Philip Gage owned it until 1851, Charles Hiram Bradway 1851-1892; Ella Bradway Jewett, 1892-1915. Charles P. Bradway and his brother later bought out by Andrew Magill, 1915-1938, Rev. Andrew Magill 1938-1959.
A large bake oven occupied the center of the floor plan but was removed about 100 years ago. No major changes have been made in recent times. The large barns across the road went down in the hurricane of 1938.
Mrs. Arnold's house was built on an exist- ing foundation around 1919. Mrs. Arnold, a friend of Aunt Ella, was the writer of a "Love-lorn" column.
Charles Philip was a manufacturer, as noted. 'Aunt Ella Jewett was a school teach- er as well as farmer. She loved apple trees and obtained samples of all known varieties for her orchards, turning the less saleable varieties into cider in an old horse-operated cider mill which still stands.
Warren Cresswell House
Excerpt from a clipping loaned by the owner.
"The Holmes cottage opposite that gentle- man's residence, is undergoing extensive re- pairs, and a sightly tower is being added to the southeast corner. The other day, a work- man discovered a piece of board, hid away in
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a ceiling, on which was written in lead pen- cil the following bit of history :
" 'I, Geo. Newton, now take my pencil to inform whoever hereafter may find this board that this house was built 43 years ago by Luther Carter, who was then a great and accomplished workman of the trade. The house was built by Mr. Russ who owned it until it was sold to Mr. Joel Norcross, whose heirs sold it to the Rev. C. B. Kit- tredge, their present pastor, who was or- dained on Oct. 10th last. The house is now undergoing repair under the supervision of Capt. L. D. Newton for Rev. C. B. Kittredge. This is written by Geo. H. Newton, son of I. F. Newton, May 3, 1847.'"
This, too, is a Carter house, built for his own residence. Circa: 1800. Arthur &/or Jennie Bennett bought it of Nichols in 1897.
Mr. Bennett was rural mail carrier for 22 years. In his early days he used a horse and wagon for delivery, kept three horses and changed often. He cared for cows, garden and chickens. When the house was purchased one of the walls in one room had out-door scenes painted on it.
Addison Thompson's Home: located in the cemetery area and presently under supervis- ion of Cemetery Commissioners. Mr. Charles Stacy and Milton Howe were caretakers and
have lived there. David Broadfoot, the Clarks and Frank Carter families have also lived there. The north and south ends are con- structed of brick and the sides of wood. Built Circa 1800.
This house built around 1800 has for many years been in the Fay family. Four genera- tions having lived here, Rufus Fay, Eli, Wil- liam Eli and Howard. This is close to the site of Fellow's Tavern and the owner believes that in earlier times there was an Indian Vil- lage at that site.
He tells of the Watch and Ward society. There was a rule that on Sunday one could not travel except for a Doctor or to go to Church. Anyone violating this rule was ap- prehended and taken to Rufus Fay's house to spend the night and was released Monday morning.
A cave is thought to be on the mountain in back of this area, and the story is told that if one looked across the ridge-pole of the old Foley barn, a light could be seen. Some have tried to find this but as yet no one has suc- ceeded.
1822-Land bought by John Hooker and sold to Zachariah Thayer.
1834-Levi Bliss
1835-Basiliel Sherman
1837-Chesbro Lewis
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1843-Jesse Leavens, Molla and James Cowles, Jasper Severance formed a business, blinds and window sash.
1847-Cyrus and Peggy Knox
1850-Elijah Valentine built the present house on factory foundation. Finish is black walnut, mural type wall pa- per, still on, and a winding staircase to the cupola.
1854-Samuel Shaw
1859-Jesse Murdock
1864-Deborah Shaw
1865-Edson Sexton
1870-Frances Brown
1871-John Converse
1882-Hiram Wade
1899-Mary Holden. Mr. and Mrs. George Russell, daughter and son-in-law, now reside there.
A Mr. Anderson, brother of Almus, owned this prior to Daniel Watson who was Mrs. Wm. Moulton's father. It has been in the family ever since. Circa 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Moulton this year celebrated their 62nd wed- ding anniversary. Both enjoy traveling. Mr. Moulton keeps up his interest in mills and water wheels.
Mr. Almus Anderson was an early owner of this house. Later it became the property of James Chaffee, Teacher of Music and Tuner of pianos, grandfather of Robert and Charles Chaffee living in town.
The story is told that the front part is around 200 years old and the back part was moved from the Norman Dempsey property to its present place.
Built 1825, date found on the laths in the kitchen ceiling. Federal style Architecture. Previous owners: George Lucier, Quaboag Country Club; Henry Flynt and prior to 1864 it was owned by the Monson-Brimfield Mfg. Co., and was lived in at one time by the Patrick Dalton Family.
This is one of the last remaining houses of the North Monson Village as per Monson- Brimfield Mfg. Co. (Church Mfg. Co.) Re- tains most of its original features, four fire- places, wide floorboards, wainscoting, stair paneling, matchstick or prim, fireplace man- tels. Now the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Fenton.
Early owner known as Harrison Day, called in general "Happy Day." People recall, when they as children went to "Happy" Day's Grist Mill. Later it was owned by Jo- seph Sunter and now by Lucius Young.
BUMSTEAD HOME
This house was lived in by Jeremiah Bum- stead, who was Grandfather to Miss Zerfea Bumstead now living on Main Street. Her Grandfather and his brother were connected with the output of iron, in Silver Street. Hor- ace Bumstead, son of Jeremiah, was born in 1839 and the family moved to the Bumstead home on Upper Stafford Rd. around 1840. The builder is unknown but it was built pri- or to Jeremiah going there to live. Circa, 1800.
It is now owned by Ralph Rice from Springfield, Mass.
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"Fourstacks" getting its name from the four chimneys that were on the house. It is said that at one time it was a tavern. It was bought in 1890 by John Carew's parents and it then became his. It is believed to have been built by a Bradway at an early date. There is little information available on this house. Now lived in by Mrs. John Carew.
This house was formerly the home of the Newton family. The design of it leads one to believe that it may have been one built in the early 1800's by Luther Carter. It is now lived in and owned by Mrs. Ida M. Noble.
Home of Orwic and Mrs. Rogers, No. Main St., Monson, Mass. Cape Cod: Hand hewn beams, wooden
pegs and wide 14" and 15" boards in the floor.
Original owner unknown, may have been built around 1800.
Naming some of the owners: Rogers bought from LaRoche, he from North, Flynt Const. Co. Mary Ann Smith 1880, Patrick Connors, Comfort and Lannagan.
This was also property of Flynt Const. Co. more recently owned by the Allen family. This was lived in by various ones, some of the names recalled are Jerry Carter, Moriar- ty, Shea and Mike Connors who was a sec- tion hand when the trolleys were running. It was also called "Castle's Garden." How it got its name or why is not known.
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AGRICULTURE
According to Webster's Dictionary :
"Agriculture is the art or science of cultivating the ground, and raising and har- vesting the crops, often including also, feed- ing, breeding, and management of livestock; tillage and husbandry.
The science and art of the production of plants and animals, useful to man, in- cludes to a variable extent the prepara- tion of these products for man's use and their disposal by marketing or otherwise. In this broad sense it includes farming, horti- culture, forestry, dairying, sugar making etc."
In the 1940 January issue of The Hampden, published by the Hampden County Improvement League and Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, co-operating with Massachusetts State College and United States Department of Agriculture, the fol- lowing appears: "Census year. Do you own three acres of land and did you raise ani- mals, birds or crops worth $250 during 1939? If your answer is yes, you are a farmer according to the Bureau of the Cen- sus of United States Department of Com- merce."
In some of the early records are stories of one of the mill owners making rounds to pick up material for the next day's work. Wool for the industry. Sheep raising was a part of the agricultural picture.
The map of 1877 shows a list of 27 farmers. Many raised cattle for milk and others became cattle dealers. If an animal was beyond usability, end results were 'hides for tannery' and 'beef' to eat. If there was a surplus of milk, it was converted into cottage cheese; butter was made from either sweet or sour cream, and buttermilk was used for making of biscuits, doughnuts, pies and cakes.
A horse drawn, low-down milk cart or wagon, a supply of milk in eight or ten quart cans, made of tin, and using a quart measure, the milkman made his daily trips to deliver to each customer, the amount of milk he desired. Among these were Ralph Carew, John Carew, C. C. Keep, Elmer Pease, and Stebbins farms.
Arthur Howe, Fred Rogers, Edward Sutcliffe and Omer Bradway, Sr., were peddlers of cream and butter. Corn was grown in quantity and grist mills ground it into flours and grains, used for breads and puddings.
Pigs, many times were fed table scraps, skim milk and some grain, even the whey from cottage cheese and sour milk, and 'pig potatoes' (those were the ones too small to use in the house). In turn the pig yielded his skin, feet for pickled pig's feet, sausage, lard, "scraps", roasts, hams and shoulders
Chickens provided eggs and meat. The surplus was sold and the housewife called the profits her "egg money."
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