USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. II > Part 47
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. II > Part 47
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Plymouth, Norfolk and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts, Vol. II > Part 47
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Witches and Indians-The main part of the town was burned by the Indians in 1676. One of the houses standing at that time on the main road leading to Dedham, one-third of a mile eastward from the central vil- lage, remained until a few years ago, the last house of its kind in the country. The dimensions were twenty-four feet long, fourteen and
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a half feet wide, and twenty-two feet from the ground to the ridge pole. The eaves were ten feet above the underpinning. A small entry, one living room and a pantry were on the ground floor, two chambers on the second floor and a narrow attic on the third floor.
Why the Indians did not burn this house with the others does not appear in the records. The story of that Indian attack is included in an historical sermon, preached at Medfield, in 1817, by Rev. Dr. Daniel C. Saunders, pastor of the old parish church.
Concerning witches, it is stated in Dr. Saunders' "Historical Ser- mon," that the Rev. Mr. Baxter went to reprove Goody Lincoln for the sin of practicing witchcraft, and felt a strange pain in his leg on his return, which was attributed to her ill influence.
The following account of attack of the Indians is taken from Dr. Saunders' "Historical Sermon," preached at Medfield, in 1817, page 17:
Having arrived in a vast body at Wachusett mountain, in Princeton, they (the Indians) divided for more extensive mischiefs into two parties. One proceeded to- ward Concord, Chelmsford, Woburn, and Haverhill; the other burnt Lancaster, Marlborough, and Sudbury, and soon reached Medfield.
The Sunday before the assault, they were seen on the heights of Mount Nebo and Noonhill, as the people came out from public worship. There were then four garrisons in town. Nearly 300 soldiers had arrived for its defence; but these had been billeted out upon the inhabitants in every direction. The Rev. Mr. Wilson had charged his flock to be vigilant against surprise and guarded against dangers.
Monday morning, 21st February, 1676, was the fatal period. During the night preceding, the Indians had spread themselves over every part of the town, skulking beside every fence and building. At the first dawn of day, about 50 buildings were set into a blaze at the same instant. Many of the inhabitants, through great perils, were able to reach the garrisons; others were shot down as they rushed out of their houses, and one was burnt in his own dwelling. At length, the savages were compelled to retire over a bridge in the southwest part of the town. Burning the bridge in order to cut off pursuit, they retired to a savage feast on the top of the nearest hill, in view of the ruins they had occasioned.
Philip had been seen, riding upon a black horse, leaping over fences and ex- ulting in the havoc he was making. Though he could neither read nor write, yet he caused a paper to be left, threatening to visit them every year for twenty years to come. He did not live to fulfill this promise.
The destruction commenced at the east part of the town. Most of the houses and barns were consumed between the meeting-house and the bridge leading to Medway. Nearly 50 buildings and two mills were destroyed. The best houses and all the garrisons escaped. The damages were estimated at about 9,000 dol- lars. It was supposed that there were 500 Indians in this engagement. Their dread of cannon hastened them away. Soon after, they carried destruction to Rehoboth, Pawtucket, and Providence. Here, John Fussell, aged about 100, was burnt in his house. Eight inhabitants were killed, four were mortally wounded, besides three soldiers who fell, amounting in all to fifteen.
On the 6th of May following, the Indians met with a notorious repulse at the stone-house near Medfield, in the northeast corner of Medway. On the 2d of
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July, there was near this a new conflict in the woods, and more execution was done upon the enemy. Among the captives recovered, a slave gave information of an intended attack upon Taunton with 200 savages, which information proved the preservation of that town by timely auxiliaries sent to their protection. July 25th, 30 of our men and 90 Christian Indians from Dedham and Medfield pursued the savages and captivated about 50 of them, among whom was Pomham, the great sachem of the Narragansetts. Soon after, the savages retired from this part of the country, to carry new distresses into more distant regions.
MEDWAY
The early history of Medway is the early history of Medfield, since Medway was set off from Medfield and taken over by forty-eight origi- nal founders October 25, 1713. It was the sixty-ninth town in the Massachusetts Colony. The localities which constitute the town were called by the Indians Boggastow and Mucksquirtt. The former is along the west bank of the Charles River and the latter south of Win- throp Pond. This sheet of water was called by the Indians Winne- kenning (The smile of the Great Spirit).
The Medway Branch of the Norfolk County Railroad had its termi- nus in Medway and this railroad, opened to the public in January, 1853, brought the first visit of the iron horse to the town. This branch was discontinued in 1864. Later the New York & New Eng- land Railroad passed through three of the four principal villages of the town.
In 1678 George Fairbanks, Jr., who lived in that part of Medfield now called Medway, gave one shilling and one bushel of Indian corn as his contribution toward the "new college in Cambridge." Joseph Daniell gave two shillings sixpence and two bushels of corn for the same worthy object, as he possessed more of the world's goods than his neighbor Fairbanks. Others showed their interest in Harvard Col- lege and in the early schools of their town. The first high school was opened in Medway in 1830.
The first mill in the town, for grinding corn, was burned by the Indians. It is referred to in early records as the Hinsdell Mill and Gamaliel Hinsdell was appointed by the selectmen to prosecute John Sunchamaug, an Indian, suspected of burning the mill. This was prior to 1685. In addition to the saw and grist-mills, the water powers have been used to turn the wheels of paper and cotton mills. Fine woolen fabrics were manufactured in later years, and boots, shoes, straw bonnets and other straw goods, awls, paper, boxes, lasts, mallets, monuments and bricks have been among the manufactured products.
A church bell foundry was established in East Medway in 1815, by Major George Holbrook. Clocks, church organs and organ pipes have
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also been manufactured. The pipes for the great organ used at the time of the Peace Jubilee in Boston were made in Medway.
The total valuation of assessed property in Medway is approximate- ly $3,000,000. There are about 800 resident property owners and some over 300 non-resident property owners. The number of poll taxpay- ers in 1927 was 915.
The town is defended against fire by one combination hose and lad- der truck, one motor-driven triple combination wagon, one motor driven hose and chemical wagon and 2,650 feet of two and one-half inch hose. Fire extinguishers are located in many places in the town.
The school census of October 15, 1926, showed a total enrollment of 670 pupils. The school appropriation is usually about $45,000. The enrollment at the High School passed the one hundred mark in 1926 for the first time. Physical training is carried on in the school under the management of two students from the Boston School of Physical Education. Sewing in the sixth and seventh grades is under the direction of students in the Household Arts Department of the Framingham Normal School. Additional rooms for High School students are under consideration.
MILLIS
"There is one thing you can' say about Millis and that is that it has more ginger than all the other towns," said the village wise- cracker. Perhaps his statement was literally true, since Millis is the town in which is manufactured an internationally-famous ginger ale. Other manufacturing concerns of large mention make shoes and waterproof paper among other things, which furnish employment for a percentage of the 1,791 persons who make up the population of the town, using the State census figures of 1925. The population has grown substantially in the past decade.
Millis began to walk alone February 24, 1885, parting on that date of its incorporation from Medway. Like so many other towns, it can trace its ancestry back to Dedham, since Medway was until 1713, a part of Medfield, and Medfield was until 1650, included in the old town of Dedham, which had a beginning in 1636, and that is harking back to the Puritans.
There is much that is interesting in a town of about two thousand citizens bent on village improvements, making the town attractive, a good place in which to live and raise a family, win prosperity, but never at the expense of leaving out the educational and spiritual quali- ties which are invariably thought of as the first consideration in the New England scheme of things. Millis is true to the best traditions of the towns from which it sprung.
MILTON HOSPITAL AND CONVALESCENT HOME, MILTON
BUSINESS SECTION ADAMS STREET, SHOWING MASONIC BUILDING, MILTON
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MILTON
Milton grew in population from 9,382 in 1920, to 12,861 in 1925. The population of the town, estimated by the assessors from their records of 1926, was 1,480, an increase of 1,480 for one year. The number of persons liable for military duty is 2,362. There are at present 3,100 dwelling houses. The number of men twenty years and older is about 4,000. The valuation of taxable property in 1926 was $29,988,445.
The town of Milton has one town official who holds an unusual of- fice. Ralph E. Forbes is bird warden. He recommends that citizens make an effort to diminish the number of starlings which are becoming more troublesome and are no longer protected by State law. The rec- ommendation reminds one of the Colonial days when freemen were re- quired to kill a certain number of crows and blackbirds or pay a fine.
Milton has several parks and playgrounds which are equipped and supervised in cooperation with the Milton Woman's Club and the Mil- ton Yacht Club. The public library has a circulation of more than 112,000 volumes.
Some of the larger expenditures in the running of the town in recent years have amounted annually to about the following amounts : Police, $71,000; Fire, $65,000; Highway maintenance, $82,000; Schools, $225,- 000; Public Library, $20,000; Parks and Playgrounds, $20,000.
On Big Blue Hill in Milton is located the weather observatory for Boston and Southern New England.
It was just as natural for Milton to become what it has become in- dustrially as for corn to grow in Kansas or a resident of Maine to be a Republican. The natural environment made the suggestion.
There were three stockholders in the company which left England with the charter in 1630 who looked upon the waterfalls in the river, the shipbuilding facilities afforded by tide water, the abundant supply of timber suitable for ship construction and the fertility of the soil. These three men, Israel Stoughton, John Glover and William Hutchin- son, became possessors of large tracts of land in this vicinity. The lat- ter's career in Massachusetts was of short duration, as he was the hus- band of Ann Hutchinson, who was banished from the colony after be- ing adjudged guilty of heresy by a synod held at Cambridge, acting upon charges made largely by the clergy then in vogue and power.
Stoughton and Glover were active public-spirited men, engaging in every movement for the benefit of the colony and taking such part in public affairs as opportunity made most serviceable. Their vision ex- tended to the use of water power for running mills, the possibilities of agriculture, building small vessels by means of which the wealth of the sea might be secured in other useful lines for the new colony growing up in a comparative wilderness. They and their descendants did much
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for the new country. They were typical of the early settlers of the better sort.
The Indian name for Milton was Unquityquissett. It was incorpora- ted in 1662, previous to which it had been a part of Dorchester. It com- tains the range of Blue Hills, the highest hills in this part of the State, 710 feet above high water mark. These figures do not represent a high altitude but, since the ocean is almost literally at the foot of the hills, it gives them much greater prominence than would otherwise appear.
According to Roger Williams the name Massachusetts came from the Indian name for the Blue Hills.
Within the limits of Milton, Rev. John Eliot preached to the Indians and was responsible for holding back many of them from joining King Philip in his war. The passage of the "Suffolk Resolves" took place in the house of Captain Daniel Vose. They were drawn by Joseph War- ren and regarded as the earliest organized demonstration for independ- ence of the colonies.
Milton gave to Harvard College one of its early presidents, Benjamin Wadsworth.
The First Paper Mill Built in New England -- An act to encourage the manufacture of paper in New England was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts on the 13th of September, 1728, and a patent was granted to Daniel Henchman, Gillam Philips, Benjamin Faneuil, Thomas Hancock, and Henry Dering, for the sole manufacture of paper for ten years, on the following conditions: In the first fifteen months to make one hundred and forty reams of brown paper, and sixty reams of printing paper. The second year to make fifty reams of writing paper, in addition to the first-mentioned quantity. The third year and after- wards yearly, to make twenty-five reams of a superior quality of writ- ing paper, in addition to the former mentioned, the total annual produce of the various qualities not to be less than five hundred reams a year.
"The afore-mentioned proprietors erected a small paper-mill in Mil- ton, on a site adjoining Neponset River, near the lower bridge. What number of years the original proprietors carried it on, is not now known; their master-workman's name was Henry Woodman, an Eng- lishman; he married in Milton, and left children, two daughters, Abi- gail and Rebekah. The paper-mill, having been stopped for some time, was eventually sold to Jeremiah Smith, who, for want of workmen, was prevented making any use of it.
"In 1700, the business was again revived by James Boies, of Boston, who procured a paper-maker from a British regiment, then stationed in Boston, by the name of Hazelton, who obtained a furlough long enough to set the mill to work, there being an American paper-maker, Abijah
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GIRLS SCHOOL. MILTON ACADEMY. MILTON
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WIGGLESWORTH HALL, MILTON ACADEMY. MILTON
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Smith, then living in Milton, a decent workman, who assisted him, and who continued at the business until an advanced age.
"On the regiment to which Hazelton belonged being ordered to Que- bec, the commander-in-chief would not permit him to remain behind, and he went with the army to Canada, and received a wound on the plains of Abraham, when Wolfe fell, and died a few weeks after.
"After a short time, Richard Clarke, an Englishman, arrived from New York, and again set the mill at work. He was an excellent work- man, and made his own moulds. After a few years he was joined by his son, a young man of 19 or 20 years, who was also considered a first- rate workman. Such is the origin of the first paper-mill built in New England, and probably the first erected this side of Philadelphia, if not the first in America; and such was the commencement of that now in- valuable and extensive branch of New England productive industry, on which so many thousands depend for support."
Shipbuilding has been an important industry, also chocolate manu- facturing, dating back more than a century. There were manufactor- ies of cotton goods many years ago which were flourishing industries and furnished employment for a large number of the inhabitants.
Home Of A Royal Governor-Milton was the summer residence of Governor Hutchinson, the author of the "History of Massachusetts Bay," and the last royal governor but one. He was supposed by many to have forwarded the Stamp Act by letters written on the occasion. After the arrival of the stamps, a mob assaulted his house in Boston, in 1765, and having forced him to retire, out of regard to his personal safety, either destroyed or carried off his plate, his family pictures, most of the furniture, the wearing apparel, about nine hundred pounds ster- ling in money, and the manuscripts and books which he had been thirty years collecting.
In 1772, a number of his letters were found written to the British cabinet, stimulating them to enforce their plans against the liberties of the Americans. The General Court, upon knowledge of this, voted to impeach him, and requested his majesty would remove him from office. Hutchinson, when informed of this, dissolved the assembly. He be- came at length so obnoxious to the province, that he was superseded by Governor Gage in 1774. He died in England, in 1780, aged sixty- nine years.
NEEDHAM
At the annual town meeting of Needham, March 16, 1925, it was "Re- solved, That the Finance Committee should submit to the next annual town meeting a schedule of expenditures for the year which would be
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met by a tax rate of not more than thirty dollars ($30) per thousand, with the committee's recommendations as to this schedule."
This was something new in town meeting history but represented a conviction on the part of the average citizen that his town should be run on the budget plan, much as he is forced to run his own household. There are towns in Norfolk County which attempt to pay as they go and have a definite idea at the beginning of the year where they are going, but there is a question if even the most enthusiastic pro- ponents of the plan would care to live in a town which adhered strictly to a plan agreed upon in advance. Towns are subject to too many variations in weather conditions and effects, to mention just one feat- ure, to make living by a blue-print satisfactory.
There was a certain city in Massachusetts not many years ago, which decided in advance what payments the treasurer should make for va- rious departments, and he had no authority to pay bills beyond the specified appropriations; neither had the city council authority to au- thorize the expenditure of additional funds, owing to legislative limita- tion. The time came when the police department would cease to func- tion, education would be suspended, public health would no longer be safeguarded and ringing a fire alarm would meet with no response, if the instructions were carried out to the letter, with the literal conse- quences. The city treasurer borrowed and expended money illegally and saved the situation, taking the precaution to have the majority of the members of the city council sign notes with him, although this was not the ordinary procedure. When brought before the higher authori- ties for his act and asked why he had the notes signed by city council- men he frankly replied that, in case he went to jail, he would be lone- some without some of his friends near him.
It was not surprising in the case of Needham that the report of the finance committee, on its consideration of the resolution referred to, was that "the best interests of the town will not be served by following it too closely." One reason was the need of determining upon a sound policy for financing a new sewerage system.
Progress costs money and means considerable tax rates, but means a more abundant life and the joy of living.
The town of Needham raises some over half a million dollars each year by taxation to provide for the 8,977 inhabitants who make their home in the town. In 1926 it had 2,682 young men above the age of twenty years. The total valuation was $17,476,805.
Radical changes in land values in the business district, together with the increase in new buildings and also the increased values of older buildings, resulted in a gain of $1,784,962 in valuation over the previous year, which gives some indication that Needham is a live town. The
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Planning Board is recommending locating and developing additional thoroughfares, so as to lessen congestion at Needham Square, by carry- ing through traffic around the centre. The school committee is asking for additional accommodations to meet the needs of an increasing num- ber of pupils. There were in 1926 a total of 414 scholars in the high school. The total number of pupils in all the schools was 2,174. While the population of Needham increased seventy-nine per cent from 1910 to 1925, the school population increased one hundred and twenty per cent. Like most Massachusetts towns more children are attending school and remain in school a longer period than ever before, which denotes ap- preciation and prosperity.
A notable anniversary in Needham was observed October 30, 1927, when Christ Episcopal Church completed a third of a century of serv- ice and dedicated a new chancel and organ. At the same time Bishop Slattery administered the rite of confirmation on over fifty persons, presented by the rector, Rev. Richard G. Preston.
Thirty-three years before, the first Episcopal service was held in Needham in the Town Hall, under the leadership of Rev. Frederick Pember, who was rector for the first eight years. Later the banquet hall of the Masonic Building was used. The church was incorporated August 18, 1895. The present edifice is located on the main avenue between Needham Centre and Needham Heights, directly across from the public library and the town athletic field.
Needham is another of the group of towns which was once a part of Dedham. It was incorporated in 1711. Before being a part of Ded- ham it was owned by an Indian named William Nehoiden, and the early settlers of Dedham purchased it from him for ten pounds in money, fifty acres of land elsewhere and forty shillings worth of In- dian corn.
Needham is an inland town with a considerable waterfront, being surrounded to the extent of about two-thirds of its limits by the Charles River.
Among the industries of the town many years ago, was the manufac- ture of blind hinges. Galen Orr, a descendant of Honorable Hugh Orr, who was instrumental in introducing cotton machinery into this coun- try, commenced the manufacture of blind hinges and fastenings in Needham, in 1839. Later he made cotton batting and still later tacks and finishing nails. Among other industries of the town should be mentioned paper manufacturing, cotton goods, hats, boots and shoes. Dental and surgical instruments, hosiery, knit garments and dog food.
The town has always shown remarkable interest in educational mat- ters. In 1796 a social library was established in the town. The pres- ent public library building was erected in 1916 and additional room is
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required to properly house the volumes and care for the constantly in- creasing demand from the rapidly growing town. The total circulation of the main library and deposit stations in 1926 was 52,106 books.
NORFOLK
The North Parish of Wrentham was incorporated under the name of Norfolk, and thus became a separate town in 1870, on February 23. Portions of Franklin, Medway and Walpole, were also included in the new town. The Colonial experience and military history through the various wars, including the Civil War, was when the village was identi- fied with the older towns from which it was set apart. The popula- tion of the town in 1925, was 1,213 and the number of voters in 1926 was 475. When the town was incorporated the number of voters was 130
Agriculture has continued to be the principal industry of the town. Shoddy mills, paper mills, felting mills, and grist-mills have been in- cluded in the industries. Paper and cardboard boxes are manufactured to a considerable extent.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is erecting in the town of Nor- folk a new State Prison to replace the old institution at Charlestown. There has been a great deal said about such a move and very little done about it in many years. When Honorable William L. Douglas of Brockton was chief executive of the Commonwealth, he advocated erec- ting a State prison on one of the Elizabeth Islands and there have been other plans.
In the summer of 1927, a huge masonry wall was begun to enclose a forty-acre plot of ground in Norfolk and much of the work was done with convicts as laborers. The wall is eighteen feet high and for sev- eral years it is expected that it will enclose a prison colony, as aban- doning the century and a quarter old prison at Charlestown will take considerable time. Gradually the colony will build itself a new State Prison.
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