USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Monson > History of Monson, Massachusetts > Part 5
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1958 Report of Highway Dept.
COST OF MAINTAINING ROADS - 1958
Highways and Bridges
$14,999.66
Snow and Ice Removal
30,089.42
Sidewalks
159.34
Chapter 81
36,774.72
Chapter 90 Construction, 1955 & 1956 accounts
11,516.57
Chapter 90 Construction, 1957 account
469.60
Chapter 90 Construction, 1958 account
24,799.88
Chapter 90 Maintenance
1,499.17
Purchase of Bituminous Material
4,000.00
Road Machinery Fund
11,233.24
Chapter 718 - Maxwell Road
4,174.68
Stream Clearance - Chicopee Brook
1,997.90
Stream Clearance - Mill Street Brook
1,200.00
Purchase of Sand Spreader
1,660.00
Purchase of Pick-up Truck
1,562.00
Total Expenditures
$146,136.18
Reimbursement from the State
$19,274.33
Reimbursement from the County
9,401.24
Road Machinery Earnings
12,538.20
Total Reimbursements
$41,213.77
Cost to the Town
$104,922.41
161900
Spring 1932
The change from district surveyors to a Road Superintendent was made in 1920 when the Legislature, acting under Chapter 155, voted $50 per mile toward maintenance of town roads which had the approval of the State Department of Public Works. In 1922 this was revised and became known as Chapter 81. The state raised its contribu- tion to $75, the town contributing $100 per mile.
In 1926 the state increased its aid to $100 per mile. By 1934, the payment was $150 per mile, the town appropriating $75 per mile. By act of 1946, the Massachusetts towns received $225 per mile. In 1949 the state's share was increased to $250 and in
Early Highway Truck
1950 it was again increased to $275 per mile. The money appropriated by the state for this purpose is derived from the tax on gasoline. The increase in number of auto- mobiles and the demands of the taxpayers who use the roads, has resulted in a con- tinual rise in the cost of maintaining our highways.
In 1924, Chapter 90 became effective. Under this new Chapter, the state, county, and town shared the cost of rebuilding roads. At the start the state appropriation was $1000; the county, $500; and the town $500.
Hard-surfaced roads were unknown in Monson until after 1900 when the state took control of the road from one-tenth of a mile north of Chestnut Street (state marker) to the railroad crossing at North Monson. This was our first water-bound macadam road. The first tar road was from Harrison Avenue to the foot of Academy Hill, hard- ened in 1916. The state constructed Route 32 from King Avenue to the Stafford line in 1926 and from North Main Street to Fay's Bridge in 1927.
There are several abandoned roads which are shown on the 1960 road map by 00000. These are well-known by the hunt- ers, woodsmen, and "Old Timers".
One abandoned road deserves special mention. Researchers have been puzzled when. they read deeds of land stating-"on the Meeting House Road," yet they knew the property was situated in the western part of the town far from the Main Street Meeting
Page 43
HISTORY OF MONSON
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1960 Road Map
House. Records show that many people came from Stafford to attend services at the Baptist Meeting House in Colton Hol- low. The road referred to in these deeds went from this Meeting House up Zuell Road, across Meacham Meadows (12), cross- ing the Hampden Road, continuing past the William Newland place, skirting the moun-
MONSON
WAY DE
1960 Highway Department
1960 Highway Department: Left to right: Joseph Merceri, Albert Kane, Harold Anderson, Paul Costa, Carl Scott, Frederick Sullivan, James Toner, Walter Nothe, Robert Welch.
Watering Cart
Martin Nelson driving Eugene Foskit's street watering cart. Both a morning and afternoon trip over the dirt-packed, down-town streets was made to "lay the dust."
tain, coming onto the Herredeen Road and thence to the Butler Road. From here it turned onto the old Longmeadow Path to May Hill Road, then followed the now abandoned road past Peaked Mountain, the Bradway Pond --- which it crossed over the dam - and then continued south across the
PALMER
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WALLS RO
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HISTORY OF MONSON
State (Colony) line.
At present there are one hundred six different streets and roads totaling 105.39 miles, truly a tremendous task to keep in repair. Frederick J. Sullivan, Jr., the pre- sent Highway Surveyor, has held this posi- tion since 1949. He is ably assisted by Paul Costa, Albert Kane, Sr., Albert Kane, Jr., Carl Scott, James Toner, Robert Welch, Har- old Anderson, Walter Nothe, Joseph Mer- ceri, and Raymond Corish. The motorized equipment of the Highway Department con- sists of four dump trucks, a Diesel grader, a pick-up truck, and plows and sand spread- ers for winter use.
Cemeteries
On March 19, 1755, a petition was pre- sented by the settlers of the western part of the town, humbly showing, "Whereas we living a great Way from town, and soe from ye Present Burying-place, by reason of the
ELIZABETH SIKES MARKER
Badness and length of ye way cannot bury our Dead with that Convenience and Order which such solemnities require, it being no matter to the body where it lies when Dead. Therefore we request the town would be pleased to grant us a burying-place among Ourselves, that we may bury our Dead out of sight with less Difficulty and Trouble." The lot granted was not laid out until 1760. This was the first cemetery according to Jason's History of Brimfield written in 1856. The Book of Surveys shows plot 74 was set aside for a cemetery. This plot was located on the West side of the Town of Brimfield below King's Hill. This land was accepted by the Town of Monson May 13, 1762, as a Town Cemetery. It consists of two acres of land on Bethany Road beside Bethany Cemetery. Old histories say, "the
first man buried therein was Capt. David Hitchcock." The marker is missing locat- ing the exact spot of his burial. One monu-
HER SPIRIT ARISETH
ment which still stands is inscribed, "Mrs. Elizabeth, ye wife of Francis Sikes, died 1774." There are parts of two other slabs which cannot be deciphered. In the memory of some of the older citizens, there once were several rows of wooden slabs which apparently marked the burial places of early
A
In memory of · Capt.
FREEBORN MOULTON
REBEKAAS WALKER
Mar. 7. 171:
Dec. 5, 1867
HISTORY OF MONSON
Page 45
settlers, or as many like to believe, they may have been the graves of Indians. The plot was allowed to grow up to brush, and was in disuse, until the present superintendent found the old records and the Cemetery Commissioners ordered its restoration.
Early town records of cemeteries locat- ed on East Hill, Moulton Hill, State Line, Butler and Colton Hollow districts are not available, but in the History of Connecticut Valley written in 1879 mention is made as to the age of the plots.
The one on East Hill or Brimfield Road is located where the center of the town was first laid out. It is called the Grout Ceme- tery, for the land originally belonged to Dr.
HILLSIDE CEMETERY ARCH
MOULTON
LAI
1
MOULTON LOG MARKER
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LEWIS STUMP TREE
Joseph Grout who lived in the house across the way. It was laid out by vote of the town February 4, 1839, and contains 40 square rods of land. There are six burials all with- in a short time, in 1838 and 1839, making us wonder if there was an epidemic at that time ?
The first date recorded on the markers was that of Lusina Walker who died in 1836, daughter of Anson and Harriet Walker.
Moulton Hill Cemetery was first used as a burying ground about 1779, but was not de- clared a public cemetery until April 4, 1803, when the town voted it as such. Some of the old markers in Moulton Hill Cemetery are weather-worn field stones with no in- scriptions.
CEMETERY BRIDGE
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HISTORY OF MONSON
A man who drove the town hearse re- collects that two such stones mark the graves of unknown itinerants found dead in the 'lock up'. The oldest burials recorded are those of Rebekah Walker, wife of Free- born Moulton, who died in 1802, and Joseph Moulton who died in 1816. A slab was later erected for Capt. Freeborn Moulton who died in 1792, his burial place unknown.
The Cemetery at State Line was called the Gage District Cemetery. It contains an acre of land and was laid out about 1850. In looking through this well-kept spot, one does not wonder at the name for most of the stones bear the name of Gage. The oldest is that of Moses Gage 1837.
Butler district cemetery was presented to the inhabitants of the Town of Monson in 1800 by the Butler family for "As long as
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BURDICK ANVIL
timbers grow and waters run." Ezra Mixture, who served in the Revolutionary War was the first person buried there, according to existing records.
The Colton Hollow burial ground is located on Bennett Road. It was called the Day burying ground; and contains about a quarter of an acre of land. The stones tell of two people dying the same day in the same year. William Snow died July 27, 1812, aged 65. "He lived beloved and died lament- ed." Jerusha Pease, wife of Uriel Lanphear also died July 27, 1812 age 36 years. Her husband lived to the ripe old age of 97 years.
There is a small cemetery on the east side of Main Street next to the High School. The first interment was that of William
Norcross in 1813. The last burial was Mrs. A. D. Norcross on October 7, 1950. A deed has been located which deeded this plot to the inhabitants of the first Parish in Mon- son in 1846.
On the west side of North Main Street is the oldest large public cemetery, laid out in 1760. The first burial was Mrs. Nathaniel Sikes in 1777. This burial ground contains the resting places of many Revolutionary soldiers. One inscribed, "Capt. Chester Con-
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JAPANESE OBELISKS
verse who was suddenly kild by being thrown from a waggon Oct. 24, 1815, aged 61.
"Make every day a ride on the path, And live each day as if it were the last."
CEMETERY FALLS
Page 47
HISTORY OF MONSON
Another interesting story gleaned from the old markers is that of Nicholas Vlasopo- los, a Greek. Born in the Island of Ithaca, January 1806, died in Monson, March 7, 1827. On the back of the red sandstone, pointed shaft is the following explanation. "He came to America June 1826 to obtain an education under the Patronage of the A.B.C. for Foreign Missions." Dr. Frederick W. Ellis left the town a sum of money, the in- terest to be used to care for this old plot.
The town cemetery now in use, was laid out in 1842. The area belonged to the Addi- son Thompson Estate. Later additions were laid out 1863, 1874, and 1902, extending from Mill Street to Thompson Street and North Main nearly to Mechanic Street. It contains about ten acres of land. The first interment in this cemetery was that of a child of Dr. Alvin Smith and the second that of Ben- jamin Fuller in 1842. This cemetery is ap- proached from North Main Street through a beautiful granite arch which was erected and presented to the town by Mrs. Emma Field Page Norcross of Germantown, Penn- sylvania in memory of her mother, Mrs. Nancy M. Field.
BETHANY GATE AND CHAPEL
Some of the unusual monuments within this cemetery are the Converse tomb, the Moulton log-depicting the business of the deceased; the Burdick anvil-designed and chiseled by Mr. Burdick, the village black- smith; the Lewis monument depicting the stump of a tree carved by Justin Grindell, a local stone cutter. There are two identical white obelisks in memory of the two Jap- anese students, Ashiwara-Shiuhsi, died July 21, 1867, and Takinaske-Kenstomo died Sep- tember 20, 1873. The Japanese government
sent representatives here a few years ago to investigate the graves. They were so pleased about the care of them, the Japanese govern- ment placed a trust fund with the town, to pay for their care.
BETHANY CELTIC CROSS
A portion of the Mill Street retaining wall and the interesting Keystone bridge over the Mill brook, were washed away by the 1955 flood. The West end of the ceme- tery received considerable damage as well.
The Cemetery Commissioners are Rob- ert Curtis, Thomas Wallace, and Mrs. Mild- red Lombard. The Superintendent is Ralph Moulton Sr., who is assisted by Paul Davis and Frank Beckwith. The revenue to pay the running expenses is derived from three sources ; income from trust funds which now equal about $68,066; the charge to lot own- ers for yearly care and annual town appro- priations.
Bethany Cemetery, the property of Saint Patrick's Parish, was dedicated Novem- ber 1878. This was the oldest portion on the west side of Bethany Road. In 1923, through the generosity of many parishioners and Father O'Keefe's brother, Reverend Father John O'Keefe, the new part on the east side of Bethany Road was purchased. An at- tractive granite arch was erected, inscribed "Eternal Rest Grant to them O Lord," and a statue of 'Our Lord' overlooking the iron
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HISTORY OF MONSON
gateway. A beautiful gothic chapel, with the Blessed Virgin Mary within a niche over the doorway, was built; a lovely stone fountain, and an imposing celtic stone cross were also put within this section as memor- ials to the faithful departed.
PEASE FAMILY CEMETERY
There are two small private family plots within the town. One, the David Brad- way lot, is located on the farm now owned by Charles Barber on Moulton Hill. The children had small-pox, a dreaded and feared communicable disease. They had to bury the victims as near their home as possible, hence the little burial ground in the woods where Nature reigns supreme. There are two markers, David Bradway died October 5, 1853, age 80; Jerusha his wife died Jan- uary 29, 1832, age 53, and an unmarked stone where the children were buried.
High above the sandbank, nearly oppo- site the Storm home - earlier the Pease place - on the Lower Hampden Road, away back in the woods is the Pease burying ground. One wonders about the reasons for the choice of this secluded spot. Here again Nature had her sway, but through renewed
MONSON CEMETERY COMMISSION
Ralph Moulton, Sr., Frank Beckwith, Paul Davis
interest on the part of the descendants, it has been restored. Here you will find the old hand carved granite posts connected by iron chains. Truly this is one of God's Little Acres.
We can only end with Hon. Joseph Rey- nold's words which he spoke at town meet- ing when it was proposed that a road be laid across the old cemetery at North Main Street :
"Good friend, for Jesus's sake, forebear 'To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves my bones."
Police Department
Very little information has been record- ed regarding our Police Department. Ex- amination of the earliest records indicates that a constable was included among the elected officials. The notice of the Town Meeting held March 16, 1762, was warned by Constable Jabez Keep. Nicholas Groves was elected in that year to succeed him.
In the year 1768, two constables, Asabel Bush and Simeon Keep, were elected. One was to warn the freeholders on the easterly side of the Chicopee Brook and the other
Herbert Aldrich
Page 49
HISTORY OF MONSON
warned the freeholders on the westerly side. The records do not state what other duties they were expected to perform, nor their salary. It would appear their duties did not cover as wide a field as those of our present police force, for among the papers of the Monson Historical Society is a copy of the Constitution and By-laws of the Thief Detecting Society, dated 1867-8. The object of the society was "To Recover Property Stolen from any MEMBER and to Detect, and bring the Thief or Thieves to Justice." Article Three stated that "any person may become a Life Member by the payment of ONE DOLLAR per year."
The Town Report of 1896-7 tells of the appointment of a Prosecuting Committee consisting of J. H. Thompson, C. C. Keep
TOWN OF MONSON
POLICE
Cruiser and Three Officers, Robert Chaffee, Michael Defoe, John Perry.
and H. Squier. Their duties were to bring erring individuals to task for their misdem- eanors and to conduct raids on establish- ments selling liquor. From the number of articles printed in the newspapers about that time, it would appear that the commit- tee was very conscientious in performing its duties.
According to the figures in the Town Reports, the amount paid to constables was so small up until 1907 that none could have been working on a full-time basis. In that year H. D. Osborne received $349.50 and S. S. Howlett $490.30 for police service. This may have been the beginning of our first Night Police Officers. Herbert Aldrich was appointed Night Police Officer in 1909 and served faithfully and well for forty-two years, retiring in 1951. He passed away in January 1960.
Robert Chaffee was appointed Night Police Officer to succeed Herbert Aldrich. Money for the town's first police cruiser was appropriated at the March 17, 1958, town meeting. With the addition of Michael
Defoe and John Perry in 1959, the Police Force was increased to three men. Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Frederick J. Sullivan, serves as Chief of Police.
Those elected to the office of Constable in 1960 include: Rufus Aldrich, Robert Chaf- fee, Michael Defoe, Harold Dominick, Evert Gustafson and Nisio Uliana.
Fire Department
The first piece of fire apparatus brought into Monson to supplement the bucket bri- gades was a hand-operated, hand-drawn pumper known as the "Old Tub". Nothing appears on the town records concerning such a purchase so it would appear that the ex- pense was borne by private individuals. Timothy Packard is believed to have been one of the owners and the pumper was kept in a shed at the rear of his store. After the acquistion of more modern equipment by the town, the Flynts acquired this pumper for use at the quarry in case of fire. In March, 1897, it was presented to the Veteran Fire- men's Association. About 20 years ago the "Old Tub" was given to the New England Historical Society and placed in a museum in Weymouth.
The "Old Tub" is thought to have been built in Belchertown and was in use here prior to 1833.
It was not until March 1887 that the town voted to form a Fire Department with
Early Fire Fighter
the Selectmen to appoint three engineers. The following month Alvin A. Gage was named Chief and Rufus P. Cushman and Frederick Fay, engineers. In June, 1887, twenty-six men were appointed to form Chemical Companies No. 1 and 2. Fifteen men were appointed in August to form Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.
Page 50
HISTORY OF MONSON
Each company was increased to fifteen men in 1889. Alarms for fires were to be six strokes on the church bells if south of Central Block and four strokes if to the north.
Three Gleason and Bailey hose carts were purchased in 1895. By this time the fire department consisted of three Hose Companies, two Chemical Companies, and a Hook and Ladder Company composed of eight men in each company. There were two fire stations, one at the foot of Fountain Street and the other at the present location on Main Street. The alarm system was
chemical tanks, hose and ladders was added. Four years later the fire alarm system was remodeled by the Gamewell Company and a new compressor, electrically driven, was in- stalled.
The first Maxim truck, a combination 500 gallon pumper and hose carrier was de- livered November 13, 1933. It is still in service having been remodeled by members of the department for use in forest fire fighting particularly, although still available for any duty. In 1934 an addition was built on the rear of the station and the heating system remodeled.
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1
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The Fire Department poses with an early piece of equipment. Back row, left to right: Fernand Strong, John Cantwell, William Brennan, John McQuade, Nick Hughes, Ed Donovan, Gene Howlett, George Adams, John Parker, Chas. Lyons, Chas. Rood. Front Row: N. Hanley, T. Callahan, Herbert Shaw, Chas. Darling, Jerry Lyons, C. Miller, John Grady, Chas. Bradway.
changed to three strokes on the bells if north of Academy Bridge, four strokes if between Academy and Reynolds Bridges and five strokes if to the south.
The alarm system installed by LeBaron and Johnson was accepted October, 1904. Harry Oldfield sounded the first alarm for a chimney fire at Cushman Hall. The second alarm was sounded on February 7, 1905, when the A. D. Ellis house on Green Street burned.
The department was motorized in 1921 with the purchase of a Clydesdale truck equipped with two chemical tanks and car- rying hydrant hose and ladders. The per- sonnel was reduced to the Engineers and eighteen men. All the old apparatus was dis- posed of and the north station abandoned.
In 1926 a Ford truck equipped with
The hurricane in 1938 wrecked the alarm system. The members of the depart- ment gave freely of their time and effort in the work of rebuilding the entire sys- tem. A Diamond T truck equipped with Buffalo apparatus was added in 1940. A Chevrolet truck especially equipped for forest fire fighting was added to the fleet in 1948, an addition having been built on the north side of the station to make room for it. A Chevrolet panel truck, especially equipped for any emergency, was added in 1950. This truck, which has proved to be of great value, was bought with funds raised by the department personnel and presented to the town.
In 1951, the trucks, the Chief's car and the fire station were equipped with two- way radios, a valuable time-saver in case of emergency.
Page 51
HISTORY OF MONSON
MONSON FIRE DEPT
FIRE-FIGHTING APPARATUS
Several members of the fire department personnel shown with equipment. From left, Harry Dewey, Myron Pease, Rufus Aldrich, Roy LeGrand, Leo Robichaud and Norman Brown.
The members of the fire department rendered a great service to townspeople dur- ing the 1955 flood, assisting wherever need- ed. Many of the men remained on duty for 36 to 48 hours without sleep.
The Monson Rotary Club presented an excellently outfitted ambulance to the town in 1959. This was housed at the fire station and operated by the firemen who are trained
in first aid work and are on call twenty- four hours a day.
In 1957 another addition was built on the rear of the station, a new heating system in- stalled, and the building painted inside and out. The labor on the inside work was do- nated by the department members, who also installed a hot water heater and shower. The second Maxim truck was delivered on Sep- tember 25, 1957.
MONSON FIRE DEPARTMENT -- 1960
Standing L to R: Frank Magrone, Jr., Daniel Kibbe, Edward Manley, David Dewey, Raymond Manley, John Corish, Jr., Frederick Anderson, Norman Brown, Sherwood Corish, Walter Kenerson, Norman Arventos, Rufus Aldrich, Lincoln White, Harry Dewey, Robert Putek, Floyd Davenport, Andrew Piwcio, Alfred Gola, Roswell Reed, Roy LeGrand, Robert DeMaio, Myron Pease. Seated: Charles Medicke, Chester Pease, Elmer Harris, William Birmingham, James Dunn, Lloyd Partelo, Gordon Gould, Evert Gustafson, Lawrence Meacham, Leo Robichaud, Charles Jameson.
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HISTORY OF MONSON
In 1960 the fire department was author- ized to trade-in the 1948 Packard Ambu- lance toward the purchase of a 1954 Cadillac ambulance which was delivered in June.
At the present time the Fire Depart- ment consists of 35 men; four trucks fully equipped with the most modern apparatus, and capable of carrying with them more than 1000 gallons of water; an emergency truck and an ambulance; all ready and will- ing to respond to any emergency at a mo- ment's notice. Rescuing cats from trees, pul- ling cows out of wells, searching for lost children, and assisting neighboring towns -- who in turn help Monson-are some of the calls to which Monson firemen have re- sponded.
The members of the department have, at various times, bought and given to the town an electric generator to furnish emergency light, a portable two-way radio, and addition- al equipment for the emergency truck, as well as donating many spare hours to make needed repairs on equipment.
A FEW OF MONSON'S LARGER FIRES August 14, 1893-Monson Woolen Company, Palmer Road.
November 11, 1893 - Central Block, just south of Main Street Cemetery
April 10, 1895-Day Block and Green's Hall, nearly opposite Soldier's Monument
February 7, 1905-A. D. Ellis house, Green Street
June 28, 1912-Heimann and Lichten Hat Shop, Corner Main and State Streets
January 13, 1914-Flynt's Store, east side of Main Street nearly opposite Fountain Street
April 16, 1928-Anderson's Block, 128 Main Street
August 6, 1928 - Saint Patrick's Church, Green Street
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