USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Orange > History of North Orange, Massachusetts : including leading events from the first organization of Orange, 1781-1924. > Part 5
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The fine water power thus afforded proved an attraction in a business way.
TWENTY-FOUR
WHERE "TULLY" CASTS ITS SHADOW DOWN
The first business mentioned to me as having been located at Tully was a black - smith shop which was situated near where the Stowell and Worrick shop now stands, about the year 1831. This shop was owned by a man named Jillson,* who had a trip-hammer for forging iron there which was run by water power. Mr. Jillson was an extra fine workman. In the corner above the blacksmith shop was a foundry, which was in charge of Nathan Mayo, Ashael Harrington and others. Some very fine work was done there and people from all about the country went there to get castings made. One of them was Baxter Whitney of Winchendon, now 92 years of age. He used to walk from Winchendon to Tully, bringing with him patterns to get castings made from. The foundry business was purchased by Levi Goddard, who added to the buildings and mach- inery and manufactured doors, sash and blinds. After a time he sold out to Joseph Pierce and H. R. Stowell became his partner. Later on Mr. Stowell conducted the business for years in his own name, but for a number of years past the firm name has been Stowell and Worrick, Mr. Stowell having taken Frank C. Worrick as a partner. The firm of Pierce and Stowell was one that suffered great loss by fire, the old factory having been burned in 1865, together with a large lot of lumber and Mr. Stowell's barn. After the fire the business was removed to its present location.
A man by the name of Hale owned what was known as the Packard shop, which stood where the old ice-house was and was for a time used as a distillery, cider brandy being made there. Then Asa Piper of Royalston bought out Mr. Hale's right and made furniture, the first furniture shop in the place. Tables, light stands and wash stands were made there and were sent to Boston to be set up. The business was next owned by Noah Packard, Deacon Job Fry and a Mr. Mann and was later owned by Mr. Packard alone, he having purchased the shares of his partners. After a time Joseph Pierce of Pepperell came to town and used the factory for repairing old furniture and making new, having Daniel Mayo as a partner, who later sold out to Caleb Mayo, who finally bought out
* "Jonas Jillson."
Mr. Pierce's share of the business, Mr. Pierce removing to Athol. Newell Holman of Royalston was afterwards Mr. Mayo's partner. The shop was burned in October 1865.
Near where the factory of C. H. Gale is now located there was, at one time, a fulling mill where wool was transformed into rolls ready for spinning and weaving at home. Coloring was also done there. At first this business was in charge of a man named Hale, but afterwards it was owned by Daniel Sabin and George Martin. This shop was sold to Bill & Taylor, and pails were made there for a time, afterwards pine furniture. It was burned in May, 1872, also an up and down saw mill, that was located in a part of the factory. The resi- dence of Jonathan Flagg was also burned at that time and the fire swept over a large territory of land beyond the house. A grist mill was formerly located nearby, the business being conducted by Calvin Mayo. Power was furnished by a water wheel fifty feet in diameter.
F. G. Holden erected a small building on the site of the old Bill & Taylor shop and match cards were made there for a while. Later on the buildings were purchased by C. H. Gale, enlarged and added to and at present a flourish- ing box business is conducted there. Mr. Gale also owns a modern sawmill, the machinery for which occupies a part of the building.
The name of the village was changed from The Plains to Furnace Village at the time the foundry was established and from Furnace Village to Tully about 18 years ago, at the time the postoffice was first established. For 22 years a village store has been located on its present site and for all that time it has been conducted by Frank B. Knowland until his death, a few weeks ago. Previous to that time a small grocery business was conducted by Sumner God- dard and others and was located in parts of private residences.
THE WOODWARD PLACE
TWENTY-FIVE
THE FRENCH FAMILY HOME
This paper would be far from complete without special mention of the serviceable hand fire engine, which was so greatly admired by the writer when a child. Tully engine was purchased in the spring of 1864. The company was organized at the same time. The first captain or foreman was Joseph Pierce. The present one is Alonzo W. Martin. Thirty-four men are enlisted as members of the company at the present time. The Tully engine has done gallant service in many a fire and is still capable of splendid work. It is still housed in its first village home, although the building where it is located has twice been enlarged. The old part of the building was a part of a storehouse owned by Joseph Pierce. One of the most faithful firemen for many years was my father. He never missed a business meeting and did faithful work at many a fire. How well I remember the importance he attached to the "engine meeting" and how anxious he was to be "on time," often sitting with his hat on for quite a while, waiting for the time to start for the village. Finally he became incapacitated for service and his resignation was asked for. Even then he insisted that he "could pump as well as any of them" and for a long time he refused to give up his uniform.
The present Tully schoolhouse was built in 1863. The first teacher there was Miss Addie Atherton, who died years ago. Previous to the erection of the new building school sessions were held in what was known as the "old school- house," which was located just around the corner of the road to Fryeville. The last teacher there was Henry S. Wood, now residing in Royalston. One of the other teachers there was Mrs. E. B. G. Ballon, who taught school in the summer of 1855 and had alout 40 students. The school was looked after by Rev. Levi Ballou, who afterwards married the young teacher.
I have made a special effort to learn which is the most ancient house now standing within the borders of Tully and so far as I know the oldest one is the
Fred Newton house, opposite Tully cemetery. The first house that was ever built in Tully was probably what was called the Cutting house, afterwards occupied by Jonathan Bryant and others. It was located on land now owned by D. E. Clement on the road to Athol nearly opposite the road leading to Frye- ville. Among the other ancient houses now standing are those known as the J. A. French house, the Simon Harrington house, and the A. W. Martin house, Ansel Harrington house, F. G. Holden house and a number of others. One of the oldest of these is the J. A. French house. This house must have been built at least 100 years ago. Some men named Blodgett lived there for a time and it
was afterwards sold to John Lewis, senior, of Athol. Mr. Lewis formerly lived on the Bearsden road in that town but removed to Tully and made his home there until his death, rearing a large family of children. The house for- merly stood on the opposite side of the road on the hillside a little cast of its present location. On account of the difficulty of securing water there it was finally decided to move the house to its present location which was done some 70 years ago, and the house was enlarged and remodeled. The house was purchased by J. A. French nearly 50 years ago and for over 40 years the family made their home there. It is now owned by George Richardson of Athol.
The beautiful stream that wends its way through meadows for a consid- orable distance is one of the most attractive features of the place. In L. B. Caswell's history of Athol it is stated that, according to tradition, Tully brook (lerived its name from an Indian's dog which, in following a deer. drove the animal over the meadows into these waters and while attempting to seize his prey, was struck by the deer and held under the water until poor Tully was drowned. This was the generally accepted theory until recent years when investigation tends to show that this is not probable, as Tully has been found to be a good old English name instead of an Indian name. As there were per- sons by the name of Tully in Massachusetts and other New England states, it seems more than likely that the brook was named after some of those carly
AT THE HEAD OF THE STREET-THE STORE
TWENTY-SIX
settlers, who in some way became interested in this section, perhaps some sur- veyor, as has been suggested by those who have investigated the matter.
Tully played her full part in furnishing men who were willing to fight for their country, as she sent 12 brave young fellows to the Civil war. The first one to enlist was William H. Mellen, who was then a young lad of 18 years, working for George P. Hawkes of Templeton. Fired by the news of the shooting of Colonel Ellsworth in 1861, when a man came around soliciting volunteers young Mellen lost no time in adding his name to the list of men who had enlisted, then went to his home in Tully. paid his father $100 for his time until he would be 21 and worked allnight and for two days notifying others who had enlisted. He was assigned to Company A, 21st Massachusetts regiment. Converse Mayo and W. A. Flagg, also from Tully, enlisted in the same company, of which MIr. Hawkes was the first colonel.
Others enlisting from Tully in 1862 in the 36th Massachusetts regiment were Henry Mayo, Hiram Woodward, Henry Boyden, J. H. Pierce, Jerome Pierce, Edwin Stevens and Sumner Moore. In the 52d Massachusetts regi- ment : H. R. Stowell and David D. Mellen.
It was originally intended to have the cemetery located on the hill back of the house formerly occupied by Calvin Mayo and one or two bodies were buried there, which were later removed to the cemetery proper. Tully cemetery was laid out in the early 50's and the first body to be laid to rest there was that of Stevens Bliss. Dr. Dean, an accomplished physician, a man who was a favorite with all and who was able to accomplish much good, was soon after laid to rest there. He married Miss Helen Frost, daughter of Daniel Frost. He died in the house now occupied by Mrs. E. B. G. Ballou at North Orange. A white marble shaft marks his resting place on the northeast hillside. At least six ministers are buried there. They are Revs. Levi Ballou, Sumner Ellis, Jonathan Forrester, George Harris, J. H. Garman, O. K. Crosby .* Tributes to the memory of 14 soldiers are paid each year. Five were buried in the South and the bodies of nine have been interred in Tully cemetery. Two of these, Captain Zina Goodell and John Lewis, enlisted for the war of 1812. Other soldiers buried there are the following who served in the Civil War: Sumner Morse, f Osgood Rich, Henry S. Temple, J. Greenleaf, J. E. Forrester, Mensies R. Hartshorn, Benjamin Mayo. Those buried in the South were: David Mellen, Henry H. Mayo, Edmund S. Ward, Amos T. Holden, Augustus E. Bliss.
In former years but little attention was paid to keeping the cemetery neat and clean but my father, Josiah A. French, was appointed sexton one year and he cut the brush, briers, etc., raked them and burned them. He it was who set out the row of pine trees beside the southerly wall that now adds so much to the beauty and comfort of the cemetery and beneath which we laid his body to rest last February. Mr. French's village improvement work has been followed up from year to year until now the beauty of Tully cemetery is the cause of general comment on all sides. The rows of carefully trimmed trees, the neatly kept lots, etc., are worthy of special mention. The latest improvement is the laying of a water pipe from the cemetery to a spring on the side of the mountain furnishing an abundant supply of water for use upon the lots. This spring was was given by the late M. R. Hartshorn, and special votes of thanks for securing this convenience are due to Francis H. Bliss of Orange and Mrs. S. F. Daniels of Tully. Mr. Bliss is a member of the Orange board of cemetery commission- ers and Mrs. Daniels has long worked to obtain the needed water supply. The expenses of pipe, labor, ete., were paid for from the Mrs. A. P. Goddard fund.
* The Rev. W. D. Potter was buried in Tully Cemetery in 1917.
t Sumner Moore.
Fred A. Keyes is the present sexton and does his work faithfully and well. Extra space has lately been given the cemetery by the purchase of a tract of land on the easterly side. A commodious tomb was built in the side of the hill a few years ago.
There has never been a church at Tully, but many of the people have attend- et both the Universalist and Congregational churches on the hill for many vears. Occasional services have been held at Tully, but no special religious interest has been awakened there.
There are few things that played a more important part in the history of Tully some 15 years or more ago than did the old cannon. The history of this old war horse is well worth extended mention, but is so well known that I will touch upon it only briefly. The cannon was a Revolutionary relic which was loaned the town by the United States government and for many years stood upon the common at North Orange. It was frequently used for celebrations and often traveled from place to place and spoke loudly on many occasions. In 1839 a party from what was then the south village of Orange stole the cannon and used it there. After the celebration it was promptly returned. The cannon continued to play its part in history up to the sixties, when the country engaged in Civil war. About that time there was trouble between the democrats and the republicans of the village, both parties being desirous that the cannon should be used only by their particular party. This being the case, secretive methods were employed and for a time the cannon was hidden in hay mows, etc. At the close of the war the excitement subsided and the cannon was kept at Orange until 1886, when the residents of the north part of the town took it to Tully, loaded it heavily with sods, etc. As a consequence the cannon shouted its last shout and parts of it are still at the bottom of Tully pond.
Some 12 or 15 years ago some excellent soapstone was taken from the west- erly side of Tully mountain. This was carefully gotten out with chisels but, so the story runs, a certain Athol man went up there to assist in the work and, thinking to do quicker work, commenced using dynamite, which spoiled the stone and made a cessation of work necessary.
Upon the plain above what is known as the J. A. French house flocks of wild pigeons used to gather, drawn there by what seemed to be quantities of easily gotten food, but which in reality was only bait to attract the birds and get them entangled in a net, after which hundreds of them were shot. These beds were some 10 x 15 feet in size and were covered with nets, corn being scattered around the edges. Pigeon beds were also located in other places and ere long the pigeons were all killed. One of the other so-called "sports" was chicken shooting, which was finally stopped by the authorities.
One of the older residents now gone to his rest whose life is worthy of special mention was "Uncle" Calvin Mayo. His was an original character but he was made of the sturdy old New England stock and his was a most straightforward, upright life. He was of a somewhat visionary nature and was always looking for a valiable mine in Tully mountain or exercising the power of his divining rod to locate water. He it was who insisted that Tully mountain was at one time located where the Lily pond now is, but that some great force of nature took it from there, turned it over and gave it its present location.
This paper will not be complete unless special mention is made of Henry R. Stowell, who for so many years has been prominent in the business interests of Tully. Mr. Stowell was born in Petersham but went to Tully in 1855 and entered the employ of Pierce & Mayo. In 1869 he entered into partnership with Mr. Pierce and a little later purchased the interest of his partner and conducted the business in his own name for years. When the call for vohin-
TWENTY-SEVEN
teers to serve in the Civil war came, Mr. Stowell enlisted with seven of his em- ployees.
At the close of his term of service, with his surviving comrades, he returned to Tully and resumed business at the factory where it had been left the year before. In 1865 fire destroyed his factory and all his stock of lumber, on which there was no insurance, leaving him heavily in debt. He at onee bar- gained for part of another factory and resumed business. He removed to Athol in 1883 but still looks after mueh business in Tully, but is now assisted in this work by Frank C. Worrick, who entered into partnership with him sev- eral years ago.
Tully Addenda
Since 1909 when the preceding history was written, the years have brought growth and prosperity to Tully industries. Mr. Frank C. Worrick who became Mr. Stowell's partner in September, 1892 has continued the business since 1911 when he bought Mr. Stowell's interest in the firm. In the summer of 1922 the factory was remodeled and a new water wheel put in. F. C. Worriek & Co. employ from 15 to 20 men in the manufacture of pine and chestnut tables which are shipped to the New England, Middle and Southern States.
The Gale factory was bought in 1890 by Mr. Conrad H. Gale who died July 25, 1921. Mr. Gale's two sons, C. David Gale and Henry A. Gale continue the business under the name of Gale Brothers. In the summer of 1923, 2500 square feet of floor space were added and new machines put in. Boxes and box shooks are made, giving employment to about 20 men. The products of the factory are sold through wholesalers, being shipped to New York, Pennsylvania and New England states.
Mr. Frank Knowland, Postmaster and village storekeeper, died in June, 1909. Succeeding him in the same service to the community have been C. W. Reed, August, 1909; W. P. Childs, 1915: Earl J. Curfew, May 1922.
Third Congregational Church
The beginning of the present Congregational ehureh was August 16th, 1843, precisely 74 years ago next Thursday. The meeting-house was a dwelling that had been bought by Mrs. Roxanna Frost and moved to the Frost property.
It stood either on the grounds of the Oliver Ward place, now known as the Overview, or on the grounds of the E. D. Ward place. Mrs. Roxanna Mayo Frost superintended the moving to the Frost land. It is said that the oxen provided for the task of moving the building proved refractory and would not "move on." It was suggested to Mrs. Frost that if some strong drink were furnished for the men they would be able to start the animals. That was a eustom of the time. Possibly a use for alcohol aside from "medieinal purposes" might be termed for "mechanical purposes," when prohibition becomes nation- wide, if this method of starting balky oxen were in vogue today. Daniel Frost was a noted temperanee lecturer and lawyer, and his wife being a strong tee- totaler did not approve this mechanical use of alcohol. However, after repeated vain efforts some liquor was procured from some source and the building con- veyed to its new resting-place. Mrs. Frost superintended the fitting-up of the chapel. Delegates from Orange and Erving and pastors and delegates from Warwiek, Wendell and Athol assembled August 16th, 1843, in the new meeting- house and the "Third Congregational Society of Orange" was organized. The charter members were Emery Woodard, Ursula Woodard, Mary Boyden, Emily
THE ''CONGO" CHAPEL
J. Forrester, Hannah Goddard, Mary I. Goddard, (who became Mrs. Porter), Mrs. Roxanna Frost, Mrs. Dolly Barton, Tyler Briggs, John Cheney and Del- ia Baker.
Rev. Josiah Tucker was the first pastor. December 3, 1843, only four months after its birth, the church signed the pledge card of total abstinence and stipulated that all future admissions to the church should be abstainers and sign the pledge.
The second pastor to serve the church was Rev. Charles Boyter, called in April, 1847. During his brief pastorate of less than a year, the Brattleboro Sunday school contributed $10 for the nucleus of a Sunday school library.
In April, 1848, Rev. Samuel D. Darling of West Yarmouth accepted a call. His salary was $400, half of which was given by the Home Missionary society. Rev. Willard Jones of Northfield, Rev. Benjamin F. Clarke of Rowe and Rev. S. J. M. Lord of Norwich, Vt., held short pastorates and for a period of 12 years the church was without records, from 1854 to 1866. During Mr. Lord's pastorate six of the children of T. R. Ward were baptized. September 11, 1858, however, it is known that Nathaniel F. Blodgett and Loring C. Shaw bought the chapel of the Frost estate and moved it to its present location.
Before the removal to its present location seeular sehools were held in the chapel. The "select school," as it was called eame between the end of the summer term of the district school at the little red school house and the beginning of the winter term. Simple beginnings were made in some subjeets not taught in the distriet school, including drawing, singing and botany. The roomy desk at one end of the long, narrow room stood with two legs resting on the edge of the platform and two longer legs reaching down to the floor in front of the plat- form. This served for teacher's desk or pulpit as occasion required. There
TWENTY-EIGHT
were movable shelves that served for desks for the children. At the end of the week these were let down, the pupils packed their books on the back seats of the chapel and the place was ready for Sunday services and Sunday school. The large stove was in the center of the room and the seats on each side of it, shorter than the rest to allow passage on each side down the center to the front seats. One season there was a writing school taught by O. L. Whittaker.
At another time a juvenile singing school, conducted by George F. Miller of Royalston, met in the chapel. He accompanied the singing with his violin. There was one song that introduced the names of the singers and closed with the refrain, "We're a band of brothers, we're a band of brothers, and in union may we dwell." This song was greeted with applause in the performance given by the school. Another number on their program was a solo sung by one of the girls in Swiss costume. "Come, round me ladies fair, I've ribbons and laces, I've paint and I've perfume, to add to the graces."
So much is recalled by Miss Maria L. Corliss of Providece of the words of this solo, also the fact that the soloist carried toys and ended each verse with the words, "Then buy a little toy of poor Rose of Lucerne." The school was so successful that it was invited to give its musical program in neighboring towns. As this school of music was held in the winter and real flowers were not available they made roses of tissue paper and wreaths of evergreen.
The first musical instrument used in the chapel was a small melodeon purchased by Daniel Frost and Nathaniel Blodgett, who went to Winchester, N. H., to get it. No one knew how to play it, so Mr. Blodgett pasted the letters on the keyboard and by assiduous application was able to play two tunes upon it himself, the next Sunday. The communion set still in use at the chapel was bought mainly through the efforts of the Frost family. The baptismal font was given by Helen Frost Corliss, a daughter of Daniel Frost. The organ that succeeded the little melodeon in 1868 was a pipe organ.
Mrs. Mary Frye Pike remembers going to the chapel when it was on the hill at the Frost place. Mrs. Fannie Daniels and Miss M. L. C. Blodgett remember watching the procession of slowly moving oxen under the guidance of Milton Bliss when the chapel was moved to its present location. Mrs. Daniels, in her younger days, used to slide from the roof of the chapel down the hill of snow and ice that accumulated, to the ground. The building and the land on which it now stands have been decded to the Congregational society by the Blodgett family and Loring Shaw.
At the close of the 12 years mentioned previously when no records were kept, a re-organization was effected. This was October 3rd, 1866. Rev. J. H. Garmon of Lebanon, Maine, was pastor. Delegates from Athol, Orange, Royalston, South Royalston, Phillipston, Templeton, and Wendell participated. Fifteen members entered the church at this time by letter and two by profession. Mrs. Maria Bliss Harnden of Minneapolis, Minn., is the only one still living, of the charter members of this re-organized church of 1866. During the pastorate of Mr. Garmon 14 united with the church by profession of faith. Twenty-five dollars contributed by Mrs. Clarke of Royalston were used in purchasing the present seats of the chapel. Mr. Garmon's pastorate closed in 1881.
He was succeeded by Rev. E. Squires of Warwick, who preached here until 1885. A Dr. Pierce of Phillipston preached for a time.
Rev. W. N. Richardson of the Methodist church, Athol, began to supply the chapel in 1888. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized during his pastorate, June 2, 1889. Through his influence the chapel was remodeled and repaired. He furnished the present windows on condition that the renovating be completed. Mrs. Louisa A. Closson of Plainfield, N. J., sister of Pastor Garmon, gave $100 toward the repairs. The tower was added
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