USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892 > Part 67
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On March 13, 1888, a grand miscellaneous concert was given in the Opera House, with the assistance of the Schubert Club (male voices), Choral Association Orchestra, and the following solo artists: Miss Edith Estelle Torrey, soprano; Miss Lilian Carllsmith, contralto ; J. Aldrich Libbey, baritone; Wulf Fries, cellist ; A. W. Swan, conductor ; Lucy C. Milliken, pianist ; Geo. Needham, leader of orchestra.
December 19, 1888, the association gave J. E. Trowbridge's oratorio, " Emanuel," in the Opera House, with the following soloists : Mrs. E. Humphrey Allen, soprano; Miss Elinor M. Teear, contralto; Messrs. T. H. Norris, tenor, and H. L. Cornell, bass. A miscellaneous pro- gramme followed the oratorio.
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
On the 26th of February, 1889, the association gave " Christoforous," by Rheinberger, under the direction of Mr. Swan. The second part of the programme was made up of popular numbers.
January 20, 1891, under the auspices of the New Bedford Lyceum, the association performed the oratorio of "The Creation," in the Opera House, with Carl Zerrahn, conductor, and A. W. Swan, pianist ; soloists, Mrs. Jennie Patrick Walker, soprano; James H. Ricketson, tenor, and Eric S. Bushnell, bass.
On the 7th of April, 1891, under the auspices of the New Bedford Lyceum, the association gave a concert in the Opera House, the pro- gramme including "Erl King's Daughter," by N. W. Gade, and Rossini's Stabat Mater. Carl Zerrahn, conductor ; Allen W. Swan, associate conductor and pianist ; Miss Elizabeth Hamlin, soprano; Mrs. Ella C. Fenderson, contralto; James H. Ricketson, tenor ; Heinrich Meyn, bass. Assisted by the Germania Orchestra.
For the season of 1891-2 rehearsals were begun on "The Messiah," with the intention of giving it in January, 1892, in the North Christian Church. This plan was abandoned, and the work of the association culminated in arrangements for a grand three days' musical festival in April. The principal features of the festival were an engagement with the Boston Festival Orchestra, under G. W. Stewart; the performance on the first evening of Max Bruch's oratorio of " Armenius," the rendi- tion of Gade's " Crusaders," followed by a miscellaneous programme on the second afternoon ; the performance of the " Messiah " on the third and last evening Besides these events public rehearsals were given each morning. The soloists who assisted the association were as fol- lows: Miss Olive Fernstadt, contralto; Whitney Mockridge, tenor ; Max Heinrich, baritone; Mrs. E. Humphrey Allen, soprano; Miss Elizabeth Hamlin, soprano; Miss Lena Little, alto; Herbert Johnson, tenor ; Myron W. Whitney, bass; H. Winifred Goff, bass. The chorus consisted of 250 voices, and the orchestra of thirty-two performers. The festival was directed by Carl Zerrahn, with A. W. Swan, pianist, and was by far the most noted and successful musical event that ever oc- curred in New Bedford. The season's work was closed by the perform- ance of "Armenius" in Tremont Temple, Boston, Monday evening, May 9, by invitation of G. WV. Stewart, manager of the orchestra.
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THE POLICE FORCE.
The officers of the Choral Association for 1892 are as follows: Chas. F. Shaw, president ; Dr. C. C. Cundall, A. M. Goodspeed, vice-presi- dents; Leslie A. Bly, treasurer ; Thomas B. Akin, secretary ; J. S. Ma- comber, librarian ; William Gordon, assistant librarian ; Miss Mary K. Taber, Mrs. Horace K. Nye, Mrs. H. M. Knowlton, Mrs. H. P. Burt, James D. D. Comey, Walter Wood.
The Rheinburger Club, a vocal organization conducted by F. L. Diman, commenced rehearsals in 1886. It gave one or more concerts every season, and established a fine reputation for its excellent perform- ances. It was permanently organized early in 1891 with the following officers: President, C. T. Bonney, jr .; vice-president, H. W. Goff : treasurer, J. S. Kelley, jr .; secretary, Mrs. Geo. S. Taber ; librarian, B. F. Jenney ; assistant librarian, W. Gordon; musical director, F. L. Diman ; board of directors, president, vice-president, treasurer, secre- tary, musical director as above, with Mrs. A. F. Wyman, Mrs. J. I. Paulding, E. B. Tinkham, Ellis L. Howland.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
VARIOUS PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The Police Force -- Post-office -- City Alms-house - Public Amusements - Ceme- teries - Police Department, Military, etc., etc.
U NTIL 1847, when New Bedford received its city charter, law and order had been enforced by town police These were supple- mented by the night watch. The present department is the outgrowth of a system of marshals and night watchmen, perfected with the corpo- ration of the city. Timothy Ingraham was the first to hold the position of city marshal, and his assistants were William O. Russell and Samuel G. Edwards. The first city watch was composed of Otis H. Horton, Willard Gifford, John B. Chase, Sylvanus Allen, John Terry, Lewis G. Allen, John Allen, James M. Sampson, Thomas Albert, Ichabod Cogge- shall, Calvin Hervey, Winthrop Adams, John C. Banker, William H.
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Skiff, Joseph Hammond, Henry C Kelley 2d, Daniel P. Lewis and Daniel Murphy. Five additional assistant marshals were appointed in 1852, making a total of six, not including Jacob L. Porter, who was that year appointed city marshal. The assistants were Shubael G. Ed- wards, Joshua P. Dunbar, Eliphalet Robbins, Daniel Ripley, Lewis G. Allen and Charles W. Underwood. In 1853 six police officers were appointed as follows : Charles D. Burt, salary, $1,000 per year ; Charles W Underwood, $600 ; Andrew B. Grinnell, $600 ; Francis W. Hatch, $556 92 ; John Valentine, jr., $553.63 ; Nathaniel Corey, $553.63. It became apparent that the expenses of the city were increasing at a rate incompatible with a good financial footing, and in 1854 the police offi- cers were again known as marshals and assistant marshals and their sal- aries considerably reduced. In 1855 the city watch included during the year thirty-nine men, and their aggregate salaries amounted to $9,- 636.25. Some, however, did but little service, the pay for which in some cases was as low as $7.50 for the entire year. The highest salary paid was $540, to George R. Hurlbut. In 1857 and in 1858 two new police stations were established, one on South Water street near the foot of Griffin, known as No 2, and one on Willis street near Purchase, known as No. 3. The central police station was located in the old town hall on South Second street, as at present. The main watch house was at the central station, but the branch stations were also used for this purpose. The night watch were, while on duty, under the im- mediate charge of the captain of the watch, whose compensation was fixed at $45 per month. The pay of the others was $1.25 per night.
The office of chief of police was created in 1876, under the mayoralty of Alanson Borden, and Henry C. Hathaway was promoted to that po- sition from that of officer of the night watch. At the same time the office of assistant chief of police was established, and Jethro C. Brock appointed to the position. Captains of police were also appointed, James L. Wilbur and Daniel A. Butler, and two lieutenants, Luther M. Dayton and William E. Macomber. The regular force was constituted of twenty-six officers, and the special police numbered eighty-three men. In 1877 the police system was altered somewhat, the office of assistant chief being abolished and special police being designated for different parts of the city, such as Wamsutta and other mills, the ceme-
711
THE CITY GUARDS.
teries, the churches, schools and theaters. The city at present main- tains an efficient department, with branch stations at the north, south and west portions of the city, and a central station on Second street. Mr. Butler resigned his position as chief of police in November, 1891, and the office is now filled by Ezekiel C. Gardiner, who has held it since January 9, 1892. The captains are Luther M. Dayton and James L. Wilbur, and the lieutenants Lemuel D. Adams, Timothy C. Allen, Seth E. Bryant, Frederick Hussey, Ellery Pierce and Thomas Taft; there are besides these forty-five patrolmen and five house officers. Henry M. West is clerk of the police department.
The city marshals and their terms of office have been :
Timothy Ingraham, 1847-51; Jacob L. Porter, 1852-56; Timothy Ingraham, 1857; William S. Cobb, 1858; Elias Terry, 1859-63; Oliver M. Brownell, 1864-68; Orrick Smalley, 1869-71; John W. Nickerson, 1872; Joshua W. Frost, 1873; John W. Nick- erson, 1874-75. The chiefs of police and their years of service have been : Henry C. Hathaway, 1876 ; Jethro C. Brock, 1877 ; Thomas L. Allen, 1878-79; Isaac B. Tomp- kins, 1880-85; James L. Wilbur (acting) 1886; John Corey, 1887 ; Daniel A. Butler, 1888-91. The captains of the night watch have been: Joseph Hammond, 1847-51 ; Daniel P. Lewis, 1852; Edward P. Spooner, 1853 ; Francis C. Stimpson, 1854; George R. Hurlbnt, 1855-56; Nathan Barker, 1857-62; Oliver M. Brownell, 1863 ; Thomas A. Howland, 1864-65; George R. Hurlbnt, 1866-68; Samuel C. Perry, 1869-71 ; James L. Wilbur, 1872; Samuel C. Perry. 1873 ; Henry C. Hathaway, 1874-75. Cap- tains of police : James L. Wilbur and Daniel A. Butler, 1876; James L. Wilbur, 1877; Luther M. Dayton and William E. Macomber. 1878-79; Luther M. Dayton and James L. Wilbur. 1880-91.
The City Guards .- This is the oldest and most successful military organization of New Bedford. It was organized in 1852, at which time George A. Bourne was the captain. It then passed under the com- mand of Capt. Timothy Ingraham, and was under his captaincy when it enlisted in the armies of the Union. Its career in the United States service has been given in detail in the chapter devoted to that subject in preceding pages. Returning from the war the company was com- manded a few months by Capt. Henry Potter, who was succeeded in 1866 by Capt. D. A. Butler. In 1876 Capt. William Sanders assumed command of the company, which he continued until 1881, and was suc- ceeded by Capt. John K McAfee. In 1883 Capt. William B. Topham took the office, retaining it until 1886, when Captain Sanders was again chosen for the position. He was succeeded in 1889 by Capt. Richard
712
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
H. Morgan for one year, when Capt. Arthur E. Perry succeeded to the office, and now commands the company. William N. Church, jr., is first lieutenant, and Abner Pope second lieutenant. The Guards have an honorary membership, with Edwin Dews as president ; Isaac B. Tompkins, jr,, secretary and treasurer ; E. C. Milliken, William San- ders, F. S. Gifford, executive committee.
The company formerly had its armory in the Mechanics' Hall until it was destroyed by fire. In 1886 a handsome armory was fitted up at 192 Union street. The company has always borne a high reputation for efficiency in drill and discipline, and for the general excellent char- acter of its membership and officers. It stands now as Company E, First Regiment M. V. M.
Besides the City Guards there are several independent military or- ganizations, as follows : The Sheridan Guards, Capt. Thomas F. Brown ; Emmet Guards, Capt. Robert Gillespie ; French Zouaves, Capt. Ulric E. Collette ; Guard of Honor (French), Capt. Joseph Carriere; Hiber- nian Rifles, British American Guards, and Monte Pio Guards. None of these companies belongs to the militia.
The New Bedford Post-office .- A post-office was first established in New Bedford in 1794, and William Tobey appointed postmaster. The office was located in the old Tobey house, a two-story wooden build- ing on the corner of Purchase and Union streets where Lawton's drug store now is. The entrance was on Union street and the methods of dis- tributing and delivering the mail were very primitive. The mails were received and forwarded once a week by stage and consisted only of a few letters of great importance, the postage in those days making it too expensive to forward any but the most urgent matter by regular mail. In 1806 Abraham Smith was appointed postmaster and removed the office to a building on Middle street two doors east of the present corner of Water. The custom house was also kept in the same build- ing, which is still standing ; it is occupied as a paint shop by William F. Sturtevant. The part of the building used for the post- office was one door west of Mr. Sturtevant's place, the present number being 43 Mid- dle street. The entire outfit of the post office was located in a little room, and when the mail arrived on the stage the postmaster would call out the names of those for whom he had letters, and if they were
713
THE POST-OFFICE.
present, they would make themselves known and receive their mail. This was many years prior to the advent of the envelope or postage stamp, and the postage was usually paid by the recipient of the letter. The rate to and from Boston was ten cents on letters, and the postage on a weekly paper amounted to about $1.50 a year, for which sum the best of weekly newspapers can be secured to-day with postage paid by the publishers. The rate from New York was eighteen and three- quarters cents and from Philadelphia twenty-five cents. It was in this post- office and custom-house building on Middle street that Captain Isaiah West got his protection papers for his first voyage in May, 1821. The custom of sending letters in care of some friend or citizen who hap- pend to be making a trip by stage or boat was much in vogue in those early days. It is related by an old resident of New Bedford, that in 1838, while he was employed in New York as the representative of a commercial house, he had occasion to send a packet of letters to New Bedford. Going down to the dock from which the boat was to leave, he recognized as one of the passengers a citizen of New Bedford. Stepping up to the gentleman, he kindly asked him if he would be so obliging as to carry a few letters as a matter of accommodation. The gentleman willingly assented and removed his hat, holding it out as a receptacle for the missives. They were deposited in the hat and the young man was tendering his thanks and politely bowing himself toward the shore, when another gentleman stepped briskly up and asked the same favor of the passenger for the firm he represented. The hat was again removed and received an additional cargo of letters. Hardly had this transaction taken place ere the third young man made an appearance and for him, too, the gentleman as willingly agreed to act as common carrier, still holding out the hat, which with its last ac- quisition, was filled to the brim. The utmost good nature prevailed, and this was probably but one of many similar instances, the custom being a matter of courtesy among merchants and townsmen. In the old Commercial Insurance office that stood where the Commercial Bank is now, was a long table, and upon the arrival of the boat the clerk would open out the bundles of letters upon this table. Those who expected mail matter would then step up and if their letters were among the lot, they would help themselves This was as late as 1847
90
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
and '48, and not until the rates of postage began to decline did the car- rying the mail amount to any great importance. The post- office came into the hands of Richard Williams, a son-in-law of Abraham Smith, in 1826 and during Mr. Williams's administration a penny-post system was established. This was inaugurated February 2, 1832, and under its provisions, the recipients of mail matter could have their letters de- livered by the payment of an additional two cents. It was about this time that the post office was removed from the building on Middle street to a little wooden structure on Union street, just east of Tall- man's block. Here it remained until 1836, when the United States custom-house was built, into which it was removed, and a portion of which it has since occupied. When it was first moved into the present building, the entrance was on William street, the door now being used as a carriers' and employees' entrance. The following extract is found in a copy of the American Magazine, published in Boston in 1837, which prints an illustration of the building from a point of view di- agonally opposite, or where the building of the Institution for Savings now stands. In the cut is shown the mansion of George Baker, just to the south, which is now occupied by the Germania Club. The writer says : " Agreeably to an act of Congress, a large building has been lately erected for a custom-house in the enterprising and flourishing town of New Bedford, Mass. The new building for the above purpose is on Second street, and within fifty rods of most of the wharves, and is on ground of about fifty feet elevation above the tide of the harbor or river. The building is fifty feet in front, and fifty-two feet in rear, ex- clusive of projections. The whole building is of the Hallowell granite ; the upper or principal story is partitioned as follows : the hall of the customs is forty-eight feet by eighteen, and the height of the story is sixteen feet To this story is a flight of steps or stairs of freestone, the workmanship of which is not surpassed by any which we have ever seen. There are twenty-two steps. The rooms below are similar to those above. The post- office is now kept in the space be- low the large custom-house room, already described. . The work is composed of the most durable materials, and the building may be justly said to be fire proof."
The inauguration of the Free Delivery Service in this city was under Postmaster Cyrus W. Chapman who was appointed April 16, 1861.
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THE POST-OFFICE.
The old-fashioned penny-post system then prevailed. Postmaster Chap- man being satisfied that the collection of mail from several points in the city would materially benefit the service, on September 2, 1861, placed three black walnut boxes for the collection of the mail in the drug stores of Thronton & Gerrish, corner of Union and Purchase street; William P S. Cadwell, corner of Purchase and William street ; and Elijah H. Chisholm, corner of Purchase and Middle street. The Parker House at this time also had a private box, and all being on the route of the mail messenger to and from the railway station. From these boxes he col- lected the mail at 5.30 A M., and 2 P. M., having keys to the stores for that purpose. This was thought to be quite a risk at that time, fearing he would forget to lock the door when he left the store. This system was continued until July 1, 1863, when the Free Delivery Service was ordered established in this city, but did not go into operation until the first day of the following August. Tin boxes took the place of the wooden ones, and were afterwards placed on the streets on or about April 1, 1866. These were superseded early in 1867 by the iron boxes, some of the old pattern being still in use.
New Bedford has always been a city whose people made great use of the mails in proportion to its population. The efforts of Postmaster Chapman were greatly appreciated. The public and press were loud in his praise. When the change was made to the Free Delivery System David Wood and James F. Tripp, who had been penny-posts, were ap- pointed United States letter carriers. It is said their compensation was so small that for several months it was quite customary for a large num- ber of their old customers to pay the heretofore usual two cents out of a charitable feeling towards them. They always stated that they made no demand for it, but never refused it.
We find that April 1, 1866, the business had increased to five carriers, one of whom collected the tin boxes and also assisted in delivering mails, but the the old-time idea of calling at the office for letters, and the use of boxes there, still prevailed, and many were slow to accept of this now most popular and convenient method of receiving mail at one's door.
In 1880 the number of carriers had increased to seven, and the num- ber of pieces of mail handled was 1,838,635. New Bedford, which had been at a standstill on account of the decline of the whaling business
716
HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
during the last five years prior to 1880, showing a loss of between 2,000 and 3,000, now took a start in manufacturing enterprises, and for the year ending June 30, 1891, there were twenty-one carriers handling 5,875,721 pieces of mail, 107 street letter boxes with fourteen news- paper and package boxes were in position, and ten stamp agencies established at drug stores, well distributed throughout the city.
The Money Order System was first started in this city on November 3, 1864. The first order was issued to Samuel Rodman for the sum of $4.25. The first postal note was issued September, 1883, to Alfred Wilson, for the sum of ten cents. This branch of the service has always been popular, and for the year ending December 31, 1891, there was issued and paid at this office an aggregate of $207,547.86.
The list of postmasters and their terms of office are as follows: Will- iam Tobey, January 1, 1794; Abraham Smith, June 20, 1806; Abra- ham Smith, November 25, 1818; Richard Williams, April 4, 1826; Simeon Bailey, June 20, 1840; Edward W. Green, June 13, 1845 ; Simeon Bailey, June 18, 1849; Thomas Coggeshall, December 30, 1852 ; Joseph C. Kent, June 8, 1853 ; John Fraser, April 6, 1857 ; Cyrus W. Chapman, April 16, 1861 ; Edmund Anthony, February 3, 1870 ; Thomas Coggeshall, March 1, 1876; Thomas Coggeshall, March 17, 1880; Albert H. W. Carpenter, April 9, 1887 ; Charles H. Gifford, May 16, 1889, to date.
City Alms- House .- Steps were taken to erect an alms-house and provide arrangements for caring for the poor of this town, at a town meeting held in May, 1816. A committee was appointed to select a site and make report at the next meeting. It appears that when the report was made, all action on the matter was indefinitely postponed and nothing more is recorded in regard to the subject until 1828 when it was decided to buy not to exceed fifty acres of a farm owned by Perry Russell on Clark's Point The cost of this land was about $4,500 and the cost of the building erected upon it about $2,000. A farm-house had been in use by the town for an alms-house prior to this time, for it is stated in the records that the committee were authorized " to sell the old house." With many additions and improvements this old alms- house served the town until 1847, when upon the eve of the adoption of a city government, the selectmen voted an appropriation of funds to
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CITY ALMSHOUSE-AMUSEMENTS.
build a new alms house. The present stone structure was built during the years 1847-48, upon the site of the old one, and cost about $23,- 000. The total valuation of the poor-farm and alms-house, including farm utensils and furniture in 1848, was placed at $33,322.70. The cost of maintaining the institution for the year 1848, was $9,322 35. The net expense of maintaining it for the year ending March, 1891, was $29,019 47. In 1848 the population of the city was about 16,000, while in 1891 it is upwards of 43,000. The insane poor are maintained at different asylums at the expense of the city. There were forty-one of these subjects remaining at the city's expense at the close of the year 1890, thirty . six of whom were cared for at the Taunton Lunatic Hospital, the remainder being distributed at the Westborough Insane Hospital, Worcester Insane Asylum, Worcester Lunatic Hospital and Massachu- setts School for Feeble-minded. In connection with the alms-house is a workhouse and truant school. The average daily attendance of in- mates of the alms house for 1890 was seventy-five, of the workhouse nine, and of the truant school twelve. The institution is under the supervision of the board of overseers of the poor.
The Jail and House of Correction .- This institution is situated on the east side of Ash street, running through from Court to Union streets. The old jail was built in 1828, and is mentioned in another part of this work. The new prison building, which adjoins it on the west, was com- pleted in 1888 at a cost of over $80,000. It is built upon plans of the most modern architecture and is one of the finest prison buildings in the Commonwealth. In it are 287 cells, which are large and airy, par- ticular attention having been given to a thorough system of ventilation. The long term prisoners are employed in making shoes and a factory has been fitted up for this purpose.
Amusements .- Theearly inhabitants of New Bedford held decided views on the subject of what constituted healthy and intellectual moral amuse- ment. Good reading and occasional social gatherings were considered the safest and best methods of diverting the mind from the cares and worry of every day life. It was not until quite late in the present cent- ury that forms of entertainment were permitted. It must have been a great innovation when Mr Phillips opened a dancing:school at Colonel Nelson's hotel, October 15, 1821, charging five dollars for the
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