USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Orange > History of North Orange, Massachusetts : including leading events from the first organization of Orange, 1781-1924. > Part 9
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Service was by stage-coach. After the discontinuance of the Brattleboro stage, the contract for transporting mail between Athol and Warwick was given to different individuals at various times. Among the mail team drivers of this period were Warner Bent, Caleb Cook, Melanethon Clark and Wallace Ball who like all drivers had many interesting experiences. Mr. Clark used to tell of once overtaking a woman who was walking between North Orange and Warwick. Seeing that she was barefooted although there was snow on the ground, Mr. Clark stopped his team and, questioning the woman, found that she had walked from her home in Winchester to North Orange with hats she had braided and was now returning. As you may surmise, Mr. Clark took her on board the stage and drove her to Winchester.
FORTY-TWO
Until about 60 years ago this mail team brought North Orange its mail three times a week,-Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Sinee then, North Orange mail has been conveyed between Athol and North Orange by a carrier authorized by Government, At first mail was brought daily, six trips a week being made. July 1, 1901, Government sanctioned two trips daily through four months of the year,-June through September.
Still living here is the veteran carrier of this period, Mr. Adriel White, who in 1862 willingly and loyally served as a defender of the National Government and who in later years, 1905-1918, served with equal fidelity as carrier of the United States mail between Athol and North Orange. With respect and affec- tion we record the name of Mr. White who drove through sunshine and storm, through summer heat and winter cold for 13 years, eovering in his trips 50,000 miles.
November 21, 1823, seven and one-half years after the establishment of a post office here,-a post office was established in South Orange, Thomas Cobb postmaster. July 17, 1845, the titles of the two post offiees were changed; Orange beeame North Orange and South Orange became Orange.
For many years Tully received its mail through the North Orange post office, Tully residents paying the one sent for the mail one cent for every letter delivered and one-half a eent for a paper. In 1890 a post office was established in Tully, Frank Knowland, postmaster.
Along the old turnpike through North Orange cehoes are no longer awakened by the stage-coach's post-horn; the horn of the automobile has taken its place. But there are sections of the United States where stages, and not only stages, but riders on horseback earry the mail even now, for Government still employs every method of mail transportation used in early days besides all the methods of eonveyanee developed in modern times. These various methods are necessary because there are still out-of-the-way sections of our country and because all railroads, all the waters of the United States, all eanals, all public roads and highways, and all mail earrier routes are recognized as established post routes of the United States. And whenever along any one of these routes we find a post office, whether it be in a box car or a blacksmith's shop, in the smaller 4th class office or in the most magnificent Government structure, we feel that the mission of the post office is aptly expressed by the inscription upon the United States Post Office at Washington, D. C:
Messenger of sympathy and love, Servant of parted friends, Consoler of the lonely, Bond of the scattered family, Enlarger of the common life, Carrier of news and knowledge, Instrument of trade and industry, Promoter of mutual acquaintance Of peace and good will Among men and nations.
Written, August 10, 1922.
The Mayo Tavern
This house was built by Nathan Goddard in 1773, before the Declaration of Independenec was signed, for his daughter Dolly, who married Benjamin Mayo, she being but 16 years of age. Her husband lived only 15 years after their marriage, but "Aunt Dolly," as she was called, lived in the same house until her death at a very advaneed age.
THE MAYO TAVERN AS IT LOOKED-NOW THE WHITE HOMESTEAD
The house was used as a tavern a greater part of the time that it was oceu- pied by the Mayos, and was noted for its hospitality. Aunt Dolly was noted for her parties and good cooking. The story is told that at one time a party of soldiers passed through the place and stopped at the house for food, Aunt Dolly had a sheep killed, dressed and cooked for them in short order-they then went on their way.
It was in this house in January, 1781, that the first meeting of the Pioneers was held to make plans for the building of a meeting house, which was built a few months later, and is still standing to-day with a few additions, It was also in this house that the first meeting was for a committee to make plans for forming the town of Orange, this was in August of the same year.
It seems hardly possible that all this took place during the Revolutionary war, and at these meetings the events of the great war with England were talked over and discussed in the same house that exists to-day in a good state of preserva- tion. At the death of Dolly Mayo the house became the property of her daugh- ter who had married a man by the name of Frost. During the time the Frosts lived on the place many changes were made. The ell was built, a new barn was erected and many other improvements made. They lived there until the death of Mrs. Frost. The place was then sold at auction to Benjamin Mayo, who lived on what is now known as the Mayo place, about a mile west of here. He sokl to a man by the name of Bamfield who lived there but a short time, he selling to ? , the late Philbrook Worrick, whom you all remember, in 1861. The Worricks 7- lived there 45 years and made many improvements. The old chimney was removed by him and two small ones put in its place. While Mr. Worrick lived there the house was occupied by two families some of the time.
FORTY-THREE
The place was sold to the Rev. Charles Conklin, who ocenpied it abont four years, part of the time as a summer home. He sold to the present owners, who have lived there 11 years.
The house has been changed more or less by each new owner until the first builders would hardly recognize it, but the same timbers remain that were first used and are perfectly sound. The old house has served as a home for many people for nearly 150 years, and I have no doubt it will continue its good work for another century and a half.
Rollin White, August 9, 1906.
MRS. JOANNA GOODELL AND "OLD SMITH TAVERN" ON BOSTON TO BRATTLEBORO STAGE ROAD, WHICH WAS DESTROYED BY THE TORNADO, SEPT. 14, 1821. LATER REBUILT AND FOR MANY YEARS KNOWN AS THE OTIS BROOKS FARM
The Old Smith Tavern
The Old Smith Tavern was for many years an old and interesting landmark of the town and if we had all the sayings and doings that occurred in and around that place it would fill volumes of a varied character, much that would be inter- esting and entertaining, some that would be ludicrous and droll and very likely some profane, all this because of the kind of people who frequent hotels. As near as I can learn from information at hand the house was built about 1805. Whether it was built by Capt. Moses Smith purposely for a tavern I am unable to say, but that is the supposition.
Capt. Smith was born in Warwick, May 15th, 1781 and his wife, Joanna Goodell Smith was born in Orange, November 12, 1787, date of marriage is un- known but probably about the time the house was built, 1805. Five children were born to them: Orena, the oldest, wife of Levi Mayo and mother of Mrs. Louisa Herriek, now in Orange; Sylvia, wife of Colonel Benjamin Putnam (who assumed the ownership and control of the tavern soon after the death of Capt. Smith in 1842) ; Chandler Smith, a merchant in New York city ever after leaving the farm ; Celista, who was a babe in her mother's arms at the time of the tornado and Moses Warren Smith, a machinist who spent the last years of his life in our own city, Grand Rapids, Mich.
FORTY-FOUR
This tavern, together with a blacksmith shop across the road and nearly opposite the house, were built at the top of a very steep hill as all will remember who are familiar with the place and surroundings, and on the main thoroughfare from Boston to Brattleboro. Necessarily there must have been much heavy trucking and all done with horses as at that time this was the only means of con- veyance. It is said that Capt. Smith kept a pair of horses harnessed all the time to help teams up this steep pitch, probably the steepest hill between the two places above mentioned. Undoubtedly this was a very important place in those days, on account of the variety of service rendered, combining as it did hotel accommodations, blacksmithing and necessary assistance up the hill.
I learn nothing further specially important until 1821, when the place was partially destroyed by a tornado.
The old Smith Tavern was my home for many years from 1859 to 1873 and naturally I became very attached to it.
There were some things about the house that to me were especially interest- ing. The hall, used for parties and daneing, running the whole length of the house with a fire place at each end and built in box seats and steps the whole length on one side with hinge top for storage when occasion required. Then too. the hall and guest room were decorated with hand painted evergreen trees on the wall, which to say the least, were uncommon and very pleasing.
On the lower floor between the bar room, bed room and kitchen was a dark closet, with shelves and numerous cupboards for the storage of bottles, jugs, etc., probably used for concealing the different kinds of strong drink much used in those days.
But the old tavern is no more, only in memory, having burned to the ground I think about 1880, but fortunately I thought enough of the place so that upon my second visit here, I secured the services of a photographer and invited a few relatives to join us and we had photographs taken which were used in decorating the invitation to the gathering this year. So after all I am pleased to have the opportunity to tell of these things, even though you might have been better entertained by others.
A. E. Brooks, August 14, 1919.
Of other early houses, some have disappeared, some have been altered and some have been replaced by new ones. L. P. Cheney's large house, built in 1873 by F. E. Goddard, replaces the building which combined dwelling and store, -- the store kept by George Wheelock, Matthew Cheney, Davis Goddard, Phil- brook Worrick and others.
Across the street, the North Orange Hotel built by Mrs. F. E. Goddard in 1888, replaces the home of Oliver Ward. The landlords of this hotel include John Metcalf, F. F. McLean who on Memorial Day, 1895, opened the hotel under the new name of Overview House; A. L. Stone, Mrs. Bedurtha, Mr. Ell- igott and Mr. Gregory who took possession in May, 1907 and who after living there 12 years, sold the house as a private residence to Mr. Estabrooks, the present occupant.
The Common
And here beside the turnpike is another reminder of older things,-the Common, where echoes of early training-days and joyous Fourth of July cele- brations vibrate as we turn the leaves of Memory. For the Common does not come to North Orange as a recent gift. It was the home of the old schoolhouse from which poured forth so many youngsters to play upon the green, the home of the village hayscales, the home of the much-prized old eannon. On the Common
JUST BEYOND LIES CREAMERY HILL
were held those Fourth of July celebrations that contributed so much to the' life of the town, that were so potent to stir the hearts of young and old, as gathered in the meeting-house at 10 o'clock in the morning, they listened to singing, a discourse by some speaker and the reading of the Declaration of Independence,* after which the audience marched in the following order,-music, children, adults, - to a bower on the Common where there were tables filled with various refresh- ments. "Throughout the first hour after partaking of the refreshments, it was chat, chat, chat," says a participant. Then came toasts, after each of which the old cannon boomed to be followed in its turn by music. Thus the hours passed until the afternoon waned and the people dispersed.
Miss French has given us a sketch of the old cannon, but a few more facts in connection with its eventful life, are added here. From the several accounts of its coming to North Orange we have chosen the following given at the 100th anniversary of the town of Orange. "The cannon, a 10-pounder, was cast at Brest and brought from Springfield by Stephen and Caleb Mayo and Perley Barton, they giving their receipt for it to the United States. There was no car- riage with it and when moved, a yoke of oxen with cartwheels served as gun carriage with George Goddard as captain." The date 1778 was inscribed on it. Its calibre was 3 1-2 inches; the walls near the breech were 3 inches thick; near the muzzle 2 1-2 inches thick.
From its home on the Common, the cannon made many trips as Petersham, Athol, South Orange and other places borrowed it to increase by its booming the importance of their celebrations. For a time when political feeling ran high, it was an exile from home, secreted in Nelson Harrington's barn in a haymow until the diminishing haymow threatened exposure; then placed in a box in Mr. Harrington's woodshed from which place it was taken up to a chamber where it reposed for a while. Subsequently it again took part in public affairs and
* In 1847 Rev. Levi Ballou delivered the discourse and Mr. Hillel Baker read[the ; De- claration of Independence.
shared in the centennial celebration of 1876 at South Orange where it remained until ten years later when it spoke for the last time on the shore of Tully pond. For this effort the cannon had been loaded with more zeal than discretion. As the burning fuse reached the powder charge, there was "a mighty roar, a cloud of dust, splashes in Tully pond" and the old cannon was no more. The loss of the cherished cannon was mourned by many.
About 1876 when Franklin E. Goddard bore the expense of grading, curbing and fencing the Common, also the planting of shade trees thereon, the Common received its new name "Goddard Park." The work was done under the direction of A. Nelson Harrington and the stones used came from the Harrington farm.
The well dug in 1902 was covered for a while, but in 1911 a neat well-house was built over it by Mr. Adriel White. The well was pumped out and since then the well's unfailing supply of pure fresh water has been a boon to many, especially in times of drought.
In 1904 another cannon was placed upon the Park. The Orange Enter- prise and Journal gives the following record of articles placed beneath the cannon:
Records That Will Be Preserved
There are not many who know that under the the big Rodman gun at God- dard park in North Orange there is a collection of relies which in generations to come, should the gun be moved, will provide much interest and wonder to the finders. There are still fewer who are aware of the fact that the various articles were placed there by William W. Weeden of this town seven years ago. Mr. Weeden placed in the foundations a concrete pocket where he put the articles and over this he put a lead cap so that no moisture would get to the papers and thus spoil them. In this pocket he deposited a few emblems, souvenirs consisting of a New York Herald containing full report of the assassination of Abraham
WHERE A LUNCHEON TASTES BETTER THAN A SEVEN COURSE DINNER
FORTY-FIVE
Lincoln; list of officers of the North Orange Universalist Sunday school and church; copy of Athol Transeript containing account of the first North Orange reunion ; the petition for placing the eannon at Goddard park, with the names of the petitioners; Enterprise and Journal containing account of moving the gun from the railroad station to the park; list of officers of the Congregational church and Sunday school; list of officers of Fall Hill Encampment, I. O. O. F., of Orange; copper plate, engraved with names of selectmen of Orange for 1904; a $50 Confed- erate states bill; a three cent U. S. script; one of the first badges worn by the North Orange grange; copy of constitution and by-laws of lodge, No. 182, I. O. O. F. of Orange; by-laws Orange Commandery, Knights Templars; Masonie directory of Orange for 1904; directory Ancient order of United Workmen, Orange; directory of Pequoig tribe of Red Men, Athol; G. A. R. roster, Orange; by-laws Crescent Royal Arch Chapter of Orange; a Connecticut wooden nutmeg; by-laws of Athena Chapter, Eastern Star, Orange; catalog of North Orange branch of Orange town library; sleeve button, design of Boston baked beans, and Orange illustrated publication by Enterprise and Journal. These relies may rest undis- turbed under the center of the granite bloek upon which rests the eannon, per- haps for centuries.
Burying Grounds
In the beginning two burying grounds were provided,-one about an eighth of a mile west of the Meeting-house, and one in the southern part of the Dis- trict for the convenience of the settlers there. By the middle of the last century these two old burying grounds had become inadequate for the requirements of North Orange and a third burying ground was provided at Tully.
The Jones burying ground in the southern part of North Orange, is so named for Jonathan Jones, one of the first settlers, who gave for burial purposes land from his farm. Later this burial ground was enlarged by the annexation of land bought by the town from the Allen family. Here, as in the old burying- ground of North Orange, slumber the forefathers of the town until the angel calls.
A few minutes walk west from the North Orange burying-ground, the oldest one of the town, there has been erected beside the highway, a stone to the memory of Mrs. Sophia Wheelock, killed June 20, 1820, by a fall from a carriage.
Town Industries
A change in name was not followed by immediate change in industries, for with the exception of what was accomplished at gristmill, sawmill and blacksmith shop, the age was still one of home industries when in every house, spinning- wheel, loom and dye-pot, prepared fabrics for household and personal use or materials for clothing,-materials which the village seamstress, going from house to house would convert into coats and pantaloons for the men of the house or dresses and capes for the women. The village was a veritable hive of industry. To the women busy with the usual routine of household duties, Spring brought the annual task of soap-making; Summer, the making of cheese; Fall, helping to take up the bees and divide the honey; Winter the trying of tallow and the making of sausages and apple sauee. Strawberrying, blueberrying and blackberry- ing; gathering herbs for flavoring and medicinal purposes; checkerberry leaves for distilling or sorrel for dying and setting the color, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, braiding hats, weaving and binding Shaker bonnets, all had their turn in the year's program.
mn
EVEN THE FACTORY SITES PRESENT A PICTURE
Directions For Braiding Palm Leaf IIats.
Men's Hats .- No. 2 and 3, must be braided from 6 1-2 to 6 3-4 inches across the Top, 5inch Side, and 4 1-2 inch Brims with two Borders.
Men's Extra .- No. 2, must have 5 inch Brims, with two wide Borders.
Men's No. 4 .- Must have from 4 1-2 to 4 3-4 inch Brim, with two wide Borders. All the above must be braided tight, and firmly bound off, well trimmed, and Brims so widened as to lay flat.
Unless the above directions are complied with, full prices must not be expected.
Martin & Walker.
March 22, 1851.
The farms still produced the necessaries of life and the skins and hides of the slaughtered animals furnished the leather from which was made the foot- gear of the family. Nearly every farmer cut and sawed his wood, was his own carpenter and made repairs of various kinds. The special duties which the months brought to one farmer living in North Orange in the middle of the last century, probably occupied the attention of most North Orange farmers of that period. The tapping of his sugar trees began sometimes by the last of Feb- ruary and sugar-making continued until the last of March in which month a new sled was also made; in April, ploughing began and rye was sown; May was sheep shearing time; in June, the bees were hived; in July, rye was eradled, oats harvested and grass cut; August brought barley-cutting; September, the har- vesting of buckwheat; in October and November, a stone wall was made, one
FORTY-SIX
of the many stone walls, which testify not only to "a million backaches" as one man said, but also to the thrift and industry of the builders.
Manufacturing was subsidiary to farming. Some shoe-making was done; Horace Johnson had a wheelwright shop next to his house; kegs and barrels for pork and salt meat were made in Franklin Ward's cooper shop; brooms for sweeping out brick ovens were made by Stephen Mayo who lived on the west side of the Flagg road, a short distance north of Mr. Charles Newton's present residence. A cellar hole in Mr. Newton's pasture marks the location of the Mayo house, an interesting feature of which was the ell, originally the porch over the entrance to the first meeting-house. Rag carpets were woven in several places,-by a woman living in what is now Mr. Cummings' house, by Aunt Resty Lord in a room in the Perry house, and by the mother of Shubal Briggs who had her loom and made carpets in her son's corn house which stood nearly oppo- site Davis Conant's present residence. On the 1879 map of Franklin County a carpet house is located beside Moses Johnson's house. Checkerberry leaves gathered by the women were taken to Tully to be distilled into that old- fashioned, highly-valued lotion,-wintergreen oil, but large quantities of the leaves were sent away by a resident of Tully who with a man to help him used to drive up near the old Coller place (north-west side of Tully mountain) and with a large rake, gather many bags full of leaves.
About the only outside business carried on was the dealing in live stock by Humphrey Smith and Eli Forrester.
The facilities for water power were utilized from the first as is shown by the number of mills erected. A few of these have been named. Some 50 years ago Daniel and Asa Harrington had a furniture factory in Blissville. Tables, bureaus and commodes were made there. Milton Bliss also had a factory where he manufactured crutches. The Tully mills which have fast become the leading industry of North Orange are not enumerated in this chapter as Miss French has previously given their history.
A mile south of Tully is Fryeville where the East Branch of Tully river affords privileges that have been improved by others as well as Silas Fry for whom the place was named. Mr. Fry had a pail factory there many years ago. Later the mill was bought and used for many years by Park and Day. This mill was burned between 50 and 60 years ago. A saw mill here was operated by Mellen and Lamb. Perhaps the saw as it dragged down and then went up sounded to them as it did to someone else, as if it said, "Shall I go or shall I not?" If it did, such indecision was not tolerated, for Messrs. Mellen and Lamb changed the up and down saw for a circular saw. Some other manufacturers at Fryeville were Cardney and Miller, makers of bedsteads, stands and other furniture. Ru- fus Frost who had a shoddy mill and the partners, M. R. Hartshorn, D. Clements and H. P. Paul, who in 1880 began making boxes with locked, or dove-tailed cor- ners. They continued this business about three years.
Among the earliest industries were Nathan Goddard's tannery, a little northwest of the Nathan Johnson house; Asa Lord's brickyard in the Jones district ; Abijah Marble's kiln where "old Joe Southwick" made earthen ware which he peddled in neighboring towns during the winter. People also went to the kiln to buy the ware. The clay used in making the ware was drawn from the brick yard situated two miles south and owned in later years by Adin Smith. John God- dard also had a pottery on what is now the Taylor place. The clay used here was drawn from the Lemuel Whitney "clay pit," the south side of the "clay pit" being owned by Adin Smith's father and the north end by Lemuel Whitney (father of Ami Whitney). By courtesy of Mrs. L. A. Whittemore (daughter of Dr. J. Q. Adams) we are enabled to give this account of the early potteries of North Orange. Not far from the Marble place was the eider mill built about
1827. We have read that Charles Goddard once made pottery on the Amos Goddard place. This being true would account for the three potteries which John D. Flagg said he could remember as located on the street and at one of which he bought his first milkpans when he began housekeeping. On the present Overview place Oliver Ward made potash and in 1799, a "hatter's shop" stood on the east side of what is now Rollin White's front lawn.
The latest industry is that of the North Orange Creamery Association which was organized, August 21, 1895. Many pounds of butter were turned out weekly until the spring of 1908 when the industry was discontinued. On August 19 of that year the factory was sold at auction to H. U. Wakefield. Later the building was bought by Mr. Hauseman and converted into a dwelling- house.
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