History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 68

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

quarter. Another form of amusement was furnished the same year by J. Tilley, a fancy glass-blower from London, who gave exhibitions every day and evening except Sunday, at 4 o'clock, at Mr. Cory's cof- fee-house, " sign of the swan ;" admission twenty-five cents. An ad- vertisement in the Mercury of 1828 gives an idea of another class of en- tertainments. It reads: " The public of New Bedford and vicinity are informed that a grand selection of sacred music." etc., will be performed at the Rev. Mr. Holmes's meeting-house on Thursday evening, the 20th November, 1823, under the direction of and for the benefit of Mr. Hol- land. Tickets fifty cents each."

The dawn of the circus was heralded by the exhibition of a caravan of wild animals during the first week of December, 1823. The admit- tance was twenty-five cents. Mr. Plimpton, with his son and daughter, gave a concert, consisting of a selection of songs, duets, etc., Wednes- day evening, January 28, 1824, at Colonel Nelson's hotel. There was a "grand exhibition of two Lafayette panharmonicons, music," etc., with moving figures, at Cole's coffee house, September 30, 1825. The Mercury also tells us that two Egyptian mummies were exhibited for two days in the room over Peleg Gray's store in Water street (oppo- site Mr. Cole's hotel), the price of admission being twenty-five cents.

The first regular circus was advertised to appear every evening ex- cept Sunday, on County street, opposite the academy, " with best equestrain company in America," November 14, 1828. A “popular priced " entertainment was the " New England caravan," which exhib- ited at New Bedford on Friday and Saturday, October 28-29, 1830, charging but twelve and a half cents for admission. The Siamese twins exhibited at New Bedford Monday October 24, 1831, at the Mansion House and remained a week, owing to the non-departure of the boat for Nantucket. The admission was twenty-five cents, chil- dren half price. A panorama of the battle of Waterloo was exhibited at the Circus Friday evening, January 10, 1834. Doors were open at 6 o'clock and the admittance was fifty cents. It appears the exhibi - tion was received with much favor and remained in the village two weeks, giving daily exhibits. The celebrated painting, "Opening of the Sixth Seal," by F. Danby, R.A., as described in the book of Revelations, was exhibited in New Bedford for a few days following November 27,

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AMUSEMENTS.

1834. The Mercury speaks in high terms of the picture and its exhi- bition in this place was attended by large audiences. The New York Zoological Exhibition and Columbian Circus performed five days com- mencing May 28, 1835, near the New Bedford line in Dartmouth. They had with them the elephant " Bolivar," which was probably the first elephant ever exhibited in this vicinity. In 1835, and upon several occasions in years prior to that, the sentiment against circuses and trav- eling shows in New Bedford was expressed by a disinclination or refusal on the part of the selectmen to grant licenses. In 1835 a town meet- ing was called to decide whether license should be granted to Messrs Buckley, Weeks & Co., to perform in this place. Upon previous oc- casions circus managers had escaped the edict of the New Bedford offi- cials by holding their exhibitions in Dartmouth, just across the line. The Providence Journal, in 1835, editorially criticises the action of the New Bedford authorities, claiming that the circus was at that time performing in Providence and that among the audiences assembled un- der its canvas were some of the most prominent and highly respected citizens of that place, with their wives and daughters. Two meetings were called in this town and at both it was decided to instruct the se- lectmen to grant the license, which they did, and Buckley, Weeks & Co.'s circus performed at the corner of County and Elm streets for two weeks following December 23, 1835.

A full company of theatrical players, with orchestra and leader, from the Lion Theater, Providence, claiming to be the first company of this kind to present their names to the people of New Bedford, announced a succession of the best dramas, to be given in the building previously oc- cupied as a circus, Monday August 1, 1836. The company consisted of ten gentlemen and four ladies. These plays constituted the first regu- lar theatrical performances ever held in this town by professional players. The prices were, boxes, seventy- five cents ; pit, thirty seven and a half cents ; gallery, twenty-five cents. Among the pieces presented were " Helen Jewett, or the New York murder ;" " Master's Rival, or a Day at Boulogne ;" " Damon and Pythias." "The Young Widow," "William Tell," " Richard III," and others. In 1837 it appears the amusement element in New Bedford had developed into considerable prominence. During the week of March 27, of that year, there were besides the Lion

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Theater, at which were being given nightly performances of popular plays, with a professional company of actors and musicians, lectures at the lyceum on Jerusalem, Egypt, and Palestine by Mr. Catherwood ; the Philharmonic Society gave a concert at the church on Elm street, consisting of two parts and fifteen numbers, and a juvenile class under the direction of Mr. Hamblin gave a concert of music at Grace Church, in two parts and nineteen pieces.

The subject of granting a license to a theater again came before the board of selectmen in September, 1840, and a town meeting was called September 14, at which it was decided by a count vote of twelve to 566 that the selectmen should be instructed not to grant the license. The subject of theaters was a vexed question among the citizens of New Bedford for many years, and the columns of the Mercury often contained bitter remonstrances and appeals from interested parties on both sides of the subject.

Among the regular places for holding concerts, dances, etc , was the Mechanics' Hall built about 1834, by the Mechanics' Rifle Corps. It was for may years a favorite place for holding all kinds of entertain- ments. It stood on the corner of William and what is now Pleasant street, but what at that time was an open space or court, and after- wards owned by the city. The old building was removed in 1888 and the beautiful brick structure of the Odd Fellows' Society built upon its site. The old Concert Hall on Elm street was another favorite amuse- ment resort. It had formerly been the meeting-house of the North Congregational Church, but when the society built their granite edifice on the corner of Purchase and Elm streets in 1836, the old meeting- house was turned around to face on the latter thoroughfare, and fitted up with a primitive stage and auditorium. The building was partly burned in the big fire of 1859 and was not used as a hall afterwards. Subsequently another hall was fitted up in a building just north of the one now occupied by Lawton's drug store at the corner of Purchase and Union streets. It was also burned. The old meeting-house of the Unitarian Society, at the corner of Purchase and William streets, which was converted into " Liberty Hall" when that society moved to its new church in 1837, was for many years one of the best and most frequently patronized halls in New Bedford. It was burned on the

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STREET LIGHTING.

morning of February 10, 1864 The present Liberty Hall was erected on its site and has served as a place for holding public meetings, lect- ures, concerts, theatricals and various forms of entertainment for nearly thirty years.

Few persons will recognize in the present building on Union street, known as the Grand Opera House, the Grace Church of ten years ago. It was the second church edifice in New Bedford to be remodeled into a hall for the purpose of holding theatrical exhibitions. The lot and building were purchased from the Grace Church Society by Charles W. Clifford, trustee, November 26, 1881. A committee was appointed from among the gentlemen interested, of which Samuel Ivers was the chairman, and steps were at once taken to remodel the church into a theater. Cummings & Sears, architects, of Boston, were employed and under their direction contracts were let to William B. Stinson for the wood- work, and Hart & Akin for the painting and decorating. The work was completed and the first entertainment given in the house March 28, 1882, by the Union Square Theater Company. On March 3, 1882, a corporation was formed known as the New Bedford Opera House Company, with a capital of $50,000, the officers of which were : directors, Charles W. Clifford, A. S. Anthony, Samuel Ivers, Edmund Grinnell and Walter Clifford; treasurer and clerk, Samuel Ivers ; pres- ident, Charles W. Clifford. The present officers are Frederick S. Pot- ter, Moses E. Hatch, Samuel Ivers, Morgan Rotch, Walter Clifford, di- rectors ; president, F. S. Potter ; treasurer, Samuel Ivers. The theater is leased to W. W. Cross, who is the present manager.

Street Lighting .- Gas for illuminating purposes was first introduced into New Bedford in 1853. A State charter and city franchise were ob- tained in 1850, by a company of gentlemen from Philadelphia, asso- ciated with James B. Congdon and Abraham H. Howland, and a cor- poration organized with a capital stock of $50,000. The interests of the Philadelphia parties were soon purchased by local citizens, and a perma- nent organization formed, with Wm. C. Taber as president and James B. Congdon as treasurer. A system of pipes was laid, and the gas first turned on February 14, 1853. The first works, which were located at the foot of Madison street (then called Bush street), occupied the same site as the present plant. They consisted of a brick retort house, a

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

small gas holder, capable of holding 35,000 cubic feet, and an office and coal shed. Extensive enlargements have been made until the area of the works at present is more than three acres, and the storage capacity of the three holders is about 200,000 feet.

Having obtained permission from the State to manufacture and sell electricity for light and power, the gas company purchased the plant of the New Bedford Electric Light Company in March, 1888. This com- pany had been furnishing arc lamps to the city from their station at the foot of School street. The new proprietors immediately set to work to enlarge and improve the electric plant, and four Westinghouse incandes- cent dynamos, with a capacity of 2,600 lamps of sixteen candle power were put in within a short time. A new generator for supplying motive power, and a divided arc circuit were installed, and in 1888 a new brick station was erected on the property at the foot of Madison street. In 1890 the gas light company acquired the plant and property of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, whose factory was situated on Middle street, and who had been furnishing electricity for light and power since July, 1886. The gas company now control the entire pro- duction and supply of electricity for light and power throughout the city. The Edison station is maintained on Middle street, and the arc and Westinghouse light station on Water near Coffin street. The former contains eleven Edison dynamos with a combined capacity of 7,500 sixteen candle power lamps, and the latter five Westinghouse incandes- cent dynamos of 5,800 sixteen candle power lamps and 473 full arcs of 2,000 candle power, and 120 divided arcs of 1,200 candle power. There is also a 180 horse power generator for motor service. The Edison station has also two generators for the electric street rail- way power, and has two arc machines of fifty lights. The com- pany has 270,504 feet of wire stretched for incandescent lighting, 63,224 for motors, 106,082 for Edison lights, and 272,740 for arc lights, making a total of 712,650 feet of wire, covering 170,000 feet of streets. In connection with the supply of gas the company opened a store in 1881, at 71 William street and undertook the sale and rental of gas stoves and fixtures, which has proved an exceptional success. The office was removed from the William street quarters to the present office in the Winslow building on Union street in January, 1890. The price

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CEMETERIES.

of gas has been reduced from the first rate of $3.50 net per 1,000 feet to $2.00 gross per 1,000, with a discount of 10 and 25 per cent., gov- erned by the amount of bill. The capital was gradually increased to $225,000 in 1888, then to $300,000, and has since been increased to its present amount, $550,000. Messrs. Taber and Congdon, the first offi - cers, retained their respective positions for a period of over thirty years, but the death of Mr. Congdon in 1886 was followed in a year or two by the resignation of Mr. Taber, and Gilbert Allen was elected to serve in both positions. Gideon Wood had charge of the gas works, as super - intendent for over thirty years. The present officers of the New Bed- ford Gas and Edison Light Company are: President, George R. Stet- son ; clerk and treasurer, Charles R. Price ; directors, George R. Stet- son, William J. Rotch, George F. Kingman, David B. Kempton, Thos. H. Knowles, Samuel C. Hart, Gilbert Allen, Horatio Hathaway, John W. Macomber, Charles R. Price, Charles W. Plummer, Charles H. Gif- ford, Horace Howland.

The Friends' Burying-Ground .- This was the first place of burial in this part of the town, and occupied about an acre of ground a little to the east of the old common burying-ground on Second street. The land was purchased of James Allen, who was then an extensive land-holder in the south part of the town, by William Rotch, jr., in the year 1793. The acre was then conveyed to the Society of Friends for a place of inter- ment. Many old inhabitants will remember its location near the river, at what would now be about the foot of Griffin street, and as late as 1844 it was kept in repair and inclosed by a wooden fence ; but the in- crease in value of that portion of the city as a site for mills, docks, and wharves, became so apparent that in 1853-4 the bodies were removed to the more recent Friends' burying-ground, and the old one converted into wharves and lumber-yards. It is more than probable that many graves were not disturbed when this removal occurred, as no stone had been placed to mark the spot of burial. Even the stones that were erected were small and unostentatious.

Burying-Ground Hill .- A short distance north of the site of the old Friends' burying-ground, there was formerly a promontory jutting into the Acushnet River. Forming a low mound or hillock, it was sufficiently elevated above the marsh to permit the growth upon it of a few bushes.

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

This promontory was once a burial place, although all trace of it has long since disappeared. In this plot of ground were interred those who left no friends behind them to defray the expense of burial in the regular grounds set apart for that purpose. During a conflict which took place in our waters during the War of the Revolution, between the privateer Providence, and a British brig-of-war, many were killed and several died of wounds received in the fight. The latter were buried in this spot. Diah Trafford, one of the three men killed by the British on the county road, was buried on Burying ground Hill, the other two being interred in Dartmouth.

Burial Ground at Acushnet Village .- This is a very ancient cemetery and was for many years the only place of burial used by the inhabitants of this town. It was a church yard, the old meeting house in which the celebrated Father West, as he was generally called, preached many years, standing on its southern side. Before the division of the town it was within the limits of New Bedford, and was the common place of burial for the entire community, but it is now included in Acushnet territory. The ruins of the old church were removed more than half a century ago and many improvements have been, and are constantly being made to this ancient city of the dead. Lying in this cemetery are the fathers, grandfathers and great- grandfathers of many of the old and well- known families of New Bedford. Dr. West, to whom refer- ence has been made, died at Tiverton, R. I., in 1807, four years after his release from his pastoral duties. He was buried in this spot beside the remains of his wife, who died many years before. The body of his son, who bore his father's name, and who was for many years a highly respected practitioner of medicine in Tiverton, was also brought to the same spot and interred prior to 1844.

The Old Common Burying-ground -The location of this old ceme- tery is familiar to every old resident of New Bedford. It occupies a square piece of ground at the corner of South Water and Griffin streets, and was purchased of James Davis "tanner," in the year 1802. It constituted, for about thirty years, the only place of burial used by the inhabitants of the more thickly populated part of the town. The funds with which it was purchased were raised by subscription, and contrib- uted by those who felt anxious to relieve the inhabitants from the

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CEMETERIES.

great inconvenience attending the necessity of going so far from the center of population for a place of burial. There is nothing to show that any effort was made to secure this new burying-ground by munic- ipal action, and it is doubtful if this would have been possible at that day, as the people of Fairhaven, being on the opposite side of the river, would not have been likely to join in such a movement, and those on this side, living farther to the north, would also feel little interest in it. The amount paid to Mr. Davis for the lot was $500, and one fifth of that sum was paid by William Rotch, jr. The lot was deeded to " Asa Smith, of New Bedford, blacksmith, and Roger Haskell, of said New Bedford , saddler, as agents and trustees for the purchase of a common burying-ground for the common use of the village of New Bedford." Of those that were buried there, many were interred with no stone or mark to designate their resting place, and it is evident that little if any expenditure was ever made upon the ground, beyond that which was absolutely necessary. T' e first body laid in the ground was that of an infant child of Josiah Bliss, a grandchild of William Bliss, an old Revo- lutionary pensioner, who was for many years the sexton of the town. It has not been used for a burial place in many years.

Rural Cemetery .- This cemetery is situated on the north side of Dartmouth street in the southwest portion of the city, and occupies an appropriate and picturesque spot for a modern burial ground Timothy I. Dyre, once a well-known resident of New Bedford, made the first purchase of land for the cemetery, and prepared it for use by clearing off the stone, laying out path and carriage ways, and dividing the en- closure into lots. A large portion of these were soon disposed of, and on April 12, 1837, John Perkins, Isaiah Burgess, and Gideon Allen were incorporated by a special act of the General Court of the Com- monwealth, as the proprietors of the New Bedford Rural Cemetery. The first officers of the corporation were as follows: President, Henry H. Crapo; vice-president. William H. Allen ; secretary, William Howe; treasurer, Jacob Parker ; trustees, Abraham Barker, L Kol- lock, J. R. Ward, Joseph H. Allen, H. Taber, Robert Gibbs, Mark B. Palmer, and William Knights. They were given power to take a deed of gift or purchase in fee simple of a certain lot of land situate in Dart- mouth near the dividing line between that town and New Bedford, for

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

the purpose of establishing and maintaining thereon a burying- ground. It soon became the principal place of burial for the town of New Bed- ford, and many handsome and costly monuments were erected. It was purchased by the city in 1849 from Gideon Allen and Benjamin T. Sanford, at a cost of about $5,000. Under wise and judicious govern- ment it has become celebrated for its beauty and attractiveness. Among the additions to the cemetery, was the purchase by the city in 1868 of seventy acres of land, a portion of which was laid out into lots the same year. Since the introduction of water, mains and hydrants have been introduced and within the past two years, these mains have been laid so as to reach the highest points of ground. During the year 1890 lots to the value of $2,345 were sold in this cemetery.

Oak Grove Cemetery .- This cemetery is situated on Parker street, in the northwest portion of the city, and was opened with appropriate ceremonies, and the reading of an address by James B. Congdon, on the 6th of October, 1843. The ground had been purchased by a com- mittee appointed by the selectmen of the town for that purpose, con- sisting of Ephraim Kempton, George Howland, jr., Charles Grinnell, William H. Taylor, Calvin Staples, and James B. Congdon. At that time it contained about eight acres of land, six of which were pur- chased of Alexander Read, and two of Bethuel Pennyman, at a cost of $1,300. Seven hundred and seventy dollars were expended in making a wall around the lot, and $330 for laying out, making carriage ways and paths. Being the property of the town, it of course became the property of the city in 1847 and has been greatly enlarged and im- proved. Among the additions to its area are those of 1868, when fourteen acres were purchased and laid out, and 1887, when a large tract of land was purchased adjoining the cemetery on the north and converted into burial lots. On an average, five men are employed in the cemetery from April to November. During 1890 about four acres of ground was cleared and made ready for sale, and during the same period lots were sold in the cemetery to the amount of $1,345.

Pine Grove Cemetery .- This cemetery was formerly known as Tar- kiln Hill burying-ground and had been used as a place of burial for a number of years prior to its coming into the possession of the city. It was taken in charge by the city government in 1853, when land ad-

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THE FREEMASONS.

joining it was purchased from Philip T. Davis, for $512.50. There was also expended the same year the sum of $1,315.81 in plans, labor, sur- veying, and fencing, making the total original cost of the cemetery $1,828.31. It is situated at the Head-of- the-River and is under the care of the Board of Public Works. The other public cemeteries are under the immediate jurisdiction of the superintendent of burial-grounds.

Besides the public places of burial, already enumerated, there are four private cemeteries in New Bedford, located as follows :

St. Lawrence Cemetery, belonging to the Catholics, is in the west part of the city, on the north side of the Smith Mills road, at the Dartmouth line of 1888.

Sacred Heart Cemetery is in the northwest part of the city, on the west of Mount Pleasant, south of Peckham West Cemetery. It is a Catholic institution.

St. John's Cemetery, also a Catholic institution, is in the southwest part of the city, on the south side of Allen street, near the Dartmouth line of 1888.

Peckham West Cemetery is in the northwest part of the city, on the west side of Mount Pleasant, north of District reservoir.

Free and Accepted Masons .- Star in the East Lodge, F. and A. M .- This lodge was chartered December 10, 1823, and is the oldest Ma- sonic lodge in the city. The charter members were Timothy I. Dyre, Anthony D. Richmond, George Randall, Asa Wood, Allen D. Stod- dard, Jonathan Buttrick, Oliver Swain, Charles Coggeshall, Thomas Cole, Zaccheus Cushman, Samuel Hall, Eastland Babcock, Timothy G. Coffin, Reuben Swift, Joseph E. Melcher, James Maddix, Samuel James, James Mooers, Mendell Ellis, Silvanus Ames, and Edward T. Taylor. This lodge has continued from the first to uphold and ex- exmplify the principles of Free Masonry, and during its existence of nearly seventy years, has welcomed into its membership many of the leading lawyers, doctors, and business men of New Bedford. In con- nection with the anti-Masonic movement which prevailed throughout the land for several years following 1828, and which at one time took the aspect of entirely extinguishing Free Masonry in America, we find the following names, many of them prominent and influential men of New Bedford and Fairhaven, attached to a document, in which they

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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

relinquish all association with Masonry forever, believing it to be of "no further use or value, but at the same time they felt their duty to declare that there was nothing in the character of the institution to justify the fears with regard to it by a portion of the community ": S. Merrihew, C. H. Warren, Timothy I. Dyre, I. H. Bartlett, R. R. Crocker, John Bryant, Enoch Horton, Robert Gibbs, Silvanus Ames, Joseph Grinnell, A. D. Richmond, Zach Hillman, Lemuel Kollock, John Baylies, James Tripp, D. Mack, George T. Baker, Charles Cogge- shall, Richard A. Palmer, William le B. Gibbs, Zaccheus Cushman, Joseph Howland, Isaac Manchester, Peleg Butts, William H. Allen, dated New Bedford, October 10, 1834. The Morgan excitement had a natural death, however, and the lodge continued in a steady and per- manent growth, furnishing later on the charter members of Eureka Lodge of this city, as well as many of those of Concordia Lodge of Fairhaven and Noquochoke Lodge of Westport.

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 68

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170