USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston : formerly Dorchester Neck, now ward XII of the city of Boston > Part 12
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Rev. Edward Squire was installed in November, 1852, and left the next April.
Jan. 28, 1855, the Church suspended operations.
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.
The corner stone of this massive Church was laid in 1844. It was designed to accommodate the in- creasing number of Catholics in South Boston. The Church, as originally built, was sixty-one and a half feet in front, and one hundred and six feet deep. It was designed by Gridley J. F. Bryant, Esq., and was a fine specimen of architecture. The interior was ornamented in the most beautiful manner. The wax figure, the " Dead Christ," which excited much
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admiration previously when on exhibition in Boston, was purchased by the Church and placed over the altar. A magnificent organ, valued at $3000, was also purchased by the Society and used in the devo- tional exercises.
On the night of the 7th of September, 1848, flames were discovered issuing from the tower of this splen- did Church. At the time, there was a large fire in Sea street, which occupied the attention of the fire- men, and before they could return, the Church was in a full blaze. Nothing could be done to save the edifice, and in three hours the building was a mass of smouldering ruins, nothing remaining but the bare walls. Soon after the fire commenced, a portion of the tower fell into the building, leaving the remain- der in such a position that it was thought it must soon fall. The firemen and spectators were there- fore obliged to keep at some distance while the fire lasted. When the roof fell in, a shower of sparks rose in every direction, with burning firebrands in great profusion. Nearly every house between A and B streets took fire on the roof, while the steeple of the Orthodox Church was badly burned.
The cause of this fire was never ascertained. It is supposed, however, to have been caused by sponta- neous combustion.
Since that time the Church has been rebuilt in the form of a T, and is capable of seating six hundred more persons than before. Rev. P. F. Lyndon is Priest.
Payson Church.
This Church was organized in July, 1845. The place of worship is in " Broadway Hall," at the cor- ner of Broadway and B street. The Rev. Joy H.
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Fairchild, formerly pastor of the Church in Exeter. N. H., was installed pastor on the 19th of November, 1845, and still retains that office.
Free Will Baptist Church.
About the year 1838, a clergyman named Jackson, from Nova Scotia, visited South Boston and preached as a candidate before the South Baptist Church, which was then destitute of a settled pastor. The Church seemed at first much united in his favor, but soon some dissatisfaction arose, as already mention- ed, and in three months the feeling ran so high that when the proprietors of pews voted not to give him a call, those in favor of his settlement decided to withdraw from the Church and form a new one under his charge. This was donc, and an Independent Cal- vinistic Baptist Church was founded, having for its pastor Rev. Mr. Jackson, an Englishman by birth, and belonging to no Association.
The meetings of the new Church were held in Harding's Hall, on Turnpike street ; but by a united effort, the society erected the meeting-house on the corner of C and Fourth streets, familiarly known as the "White Pines." This was dedicated in 1838, on which occasion Mr. Jackson, who was a man of singular speech and manner, preached a sermon, tak- ing for his text the Declaration of Independence, and announcing that it might be found in Faneuil Hall.
After a few months, Mr. Jackson disavowed Cal- vinistic Baptist principles, and became a Universal- ist. He preached in the pulpits of several of the churches of this denomination in the vicinity, and then becoming unpopular, he removed to Philadel- phia, where he became an Episcopal Methodist. His " life," which was published about the time of his
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residence in South Boston, is a unique affair, and shows the character of the man.
After the apostacy of Mr. Jackson from the Bap- tist creed, a portion of his Church returned to the old Society, while the remainder formed the first Free Will Baptist Church in South Boston. Mr. Jackson was never a Free Will Baptist, and yet the dissension which resulted from the attempt to settle him in South Boston caused the formation of a Soci- ety of that persuasion.
The Rev. S. Robbins, in 1839, came from Charles- town, and organized the newly-formed Church. Rev. R. W. Reed was settled as their pastor, and remain- ed until September, 1842. This was during the "Second Advent " excitement,-and that doctrine gained so far on Mr. Reed and his Church, that those who still retained their former views thought proper to withdraw, and were organized into a Church Sep- tember 20, 1842, hiring Brooks's Hall, Broadway, for a chapel, and employed a Mr. Charles Morgan (a licentiate), as their pastor, until April, 1843. From this time until November, of the same year, they were supplied with preaching by transient preachers, such as could be the most readily obtain- ed. In November, 1843, Rev. W. H. Littlefield was called to be their pastor. He accepted the call, and was soon after ordained. He did not remain quite a year with them. At the time he was settled, the Society hired the Chapel on C and Fourth streets- and continued to worship in it until April, 1846.
Rev. G. D. Garland succeeded him, and continued pastor of the Church until it had become so reduced in numbers, by removals and otherwise, that it was thought expedient to suspend public worship for a season. The Church, however, continued to hold 16
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weekly evening prayer meetings at the houses of the members until May, 1847, when they again hired Brooks's Hall, and had preaching by such as they could procure from Sabbath to Sabbath, until Sep- tember of the same year, when Rev. E. Tuttle was invited to come amongst them, and accepted the in- vitation .- No public meetings, it is believed, are now held.
City Point Chapel.
It being deemed desirable to have a place of wor- ship at the Point, and where a Sabbath School could be gathered, a movement was made to collect the required funds for the purpose. The South Baptist Church took the lead in the matter, and on August 6th, 1854, a very neat and commodious Chapel was dedicated, Rev. Mr. Bosworth preaching the ser- mon. It is 50 feet long, 31 feet wide, and 30 feet high, and cost $2,300.
CHAPTER XVI.
MATTAPAN LITERARY ASSOCIATION-BLIND ASYLUM- SCHOOL FOR IDIOTS.
THE importance of a Literary Association for the benefit of the young men of South Boston was for many years felt by a portion of our citizens, and several times attempts were made to establish, per- manently, such an institution. These endeavors, however, proved abortive, till the spring of 1848. About this time a young man wrote several articles for the Gazette, on the advantages to be derived
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MATTAPAN LITERARY ASSOCIATION.
from a Literary Association, as also on the feasibility of instituting a society for young men in South Bos- ton. These articles attracted the attention of the community, and so aroused the young men that on the 18th of April, 1848, a few of them met in coun- cil, and decided to call a more general meeting.
Accordingly, on the 15th of May, a preliminary meeting of those favorable to the formation of a so- ciety for literary improvement was held at the counting room of John P. Monks, Esq. A large number responded, and a Committee was chosen to draft a constitution and to call another meeting when they should be prepared to report. On the 23d of May, they met at the Vestry of the Phillips Church to hear the report of the Committee. The Consti- tution proposed by them was adopted, and we give the first two or three articles as showing the design of the society.
" Article I. This Association shall be called the MATTAPAN LITERARY ASSOCIATION.
" Article II. The object of this Association shall be the mutual improvement of its members in lite- rary accomplishments, as Declamation, Composition, and Debate.
" Article III. The government of this Association shall be vested in a President, Vice-President, Trea- surer and five Directors, who together shall consti- tute an Executive Committee."
The names of the original members, at the founda- tion of the Association, are as follows :-
Benjamin Pope, F. H. Jenney, Judah Baker, Jr., Charles H. Loring, J. W. Hildreth, William S. Thatcher, Henry A. Drake, W. H. Colburn, J. Il. Crane, E. J. Whiton, G. S. Dexter, Daniel B. Curtis, S. W. Goodhue, J. W. Blanchard, Jr., F. A. Nicker-
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son, W. R. Barker, Benjamin Thayer, W. A. Brabi- ner, N. P. Mann, Jr., B. E. Corlew, W. J. Monks.
The Association chose the following board of offi- cers for the first year :-
DANIEL B. CURTIS, President.
GEORGE S. DEXTER, Vice-President.
BENJAMIN POPE, Secretary.
STEPHEN W. GOODHUE, Treasurer.
For the better accomplishment of the objects of the society, Sub-Committees are appointed on cach of the exercises, and on them is laid the responsibi- lity of providing contributions for the occasion. The meetings of the Association are held on every Mon- day evening.
On the evening of the 17th of January, 1849, the Mattapans gave a public literary entertainment at Lyceum Hall. The Hall was crowded to its utmost capacity, and the gratification expressed by the de- lighted audience could not but prove encouraging to the young men of the society. The exercises con- sisted of Declamation and the reading of Composi- tions. The following was the Programme on the occasion :-
Introductory Address, by James D. Russell. Po- em, by Benjamin Pope. Declamation-Curse of the Doge of Venice, by William A. Brabiner. Compo- sition, Charles W. Dexter. Declamation, Matthew Sprague, Jr. Declamation, Henry A. Drake. Com- position, Samuel H. Jenks, Jr. Declamation, Benja- min E. Cole and Stephen B. Bowles. Composition, Stephen W. Goodhue. Declamation, John W. Blan- chard, Jr. Dialogue, Court Scene, from the Mer- chant of Venice-B. E. Cole, M. Sprague, Jr., J. W. Blanchard, Jr., Charles H. Loring, S. B. Bowles, W. J. Monks, H. A. Drake.
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MATTAPAN LITERARY ASSOCIATION.
The exhibitions have been continued from year to year, and have added much to the reputation and interest of the Association, which is now in a very prosperous condition, and numbers about one hundred and twenty-five young men, many of them persons of excellent talents and sterling worth. The young men of South Boston, those who are soon to bear the burden and heat of the day, may here be seen eager- ly endeavoring to fit themselves for future usefulness. The exercises are well sustained, and the good or- der preserved at the meetings is proverbial. It may not be uninteresting to know the nature of the sub- jects the Association have discussed, and we subjoin a few.
" Ought a man to sustain the laws of his country against his conscience ?"
" Ought capital punishment to be abolished ?"
" Which is the most influential,-the press or the pulpit ?"
" Has our legislature pursued a judicious course in chartering so many rail-roads ?"
" Would the dissolution of the Union hasten the abolition of slavery ?"
All these subjects are matters of great impor- tance, and it cannot but be pleasing to see the young men of South Boston thus engaged in fitting them- selves for the important duties of public life.
The Constitution provides that any young man of good moral character, who has attained the age of sixteen years, upon being recommended by a member of the Association, may become a member, by sub- scribing the Constitution and paying assessments.
The Association has a fine Library of about 2000 volumes, the value of which to the young men cannot be over-estimated.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
The following is a list of the persons who have acted as President of the Association.
From June 1st, 1848, to June 1st, 1849,-DANIEL B. CURTIS.
1849,
1850,- - -GEORGE S. DEXTER.
1850,
1851,
1852,
1853,
1854,-
-HORACE SMITH.
1854,
1855,- -SEWALL C. COBB.
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1855,
1856,- - -LUTHER L. WHITE.
1856,
1857,- BENJAMIN POPE.
1857,
1851,- - -HENRY A. DRAKE.
1852,-
-H. A. DRAKE.
1853,- -BENJAMIN POPE.
DANIEL B. CURTIS.
We cannot close this sketch without mentioning that the person through whose endeavors the Asso- ciation was founded, and who still remains an active member of the society, was Mr. Benjamin Pope. We conclude with an extract from his Poem, on " Self-Conceit," read at the first public Exercise of the Mattapan Literary Association.
" Fair Mattapan, 'tis from yon glorious height We view the treasures of thy varied shore, And gather there the gems of hidden ore That Clio spreads before our mental sight. Thy thirst for science, like thy zeal for right When Freedom waver'd 'mid the battle's roar, Has seen Association nobly soar, To add to Learning, Friendship's sweet delight ! Be this our pride and pleasure, to behold The grasping spirit of the youthful mind Explore those mines of literary gold, That ardent souls by perseverance find. 'Tis then that our time honored Heights shall be The proudest beacons of our liberty."
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INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.
Perkins Institution for the Blind.
In the year 1829, an act incorporating the Trus- tees of the New England Asylum for the Blind was passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts. Soon after the passage of this act, Dr. Samuel G. Howe was despatched to Europe to visit the various insti- tutions for the blind in that part of the world, and to gather from them such information as would be necessary to establish a similar institution in Boston. In 1832, he returned, accompanied by a most accom- plished young blind man, who had been educated at the Paris Institution for the Blind, and who was well versed in the classics, in history, in mathematics, and knew the secret of being able to impart his knowledge to others. A blind mechanic was also procured from Edinburgh, to teach different kinds of work.
Having thus made the most extensive preparations, the experiment was tried in July, 1832. Six blind persons from different parts of the State, varying in age from six to twenty years, were taken at random, and immediately placed under the instruction of the blind teachers. Books with raised letters were printed for their use, and in six months they were able to read correctly with their fingers the volumes that had been prepared. An exhibition of their ac- quirement was made before the Legislature of Mas- sachusetts, and the result was so satisfactory, that an appropriation of $6000 from the funds of the State was immediately made, on condition that twen- ty poor blind persons from Massachusetts should be educated free of cost at the Institution.
Exhibitions were also made before the public, and they awakened the community to the duty of pro-
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viding a suitable establishment for the education of the Blind. Considerable sums of money were col- lected, and the Institution was immediately placed on a firm basis. Among the most liberal donors was Thomas H. Perkins, who gave his mansion-house in Pearl street, as a residence for the Blind. In one month, fifty thousand dollars were raised, and placed to the credit of the Institution. Exhibitions were afterwards made in all the New England States, and in several of the Middle and Western States, and the appeal in favor of the blind was answered by an appropriation of $1000 per annum for twelve years by the State of Connecticut; $500 by New Hamp- shire, and $1200 for ten years by Vermont.
As music is the field which seems to offer to the blind the fairest competition with clairvoyans, Low- ell Mason, Esq., was engaged to instruct the pupils in the art of using the voice in singing, and also the piano forte and organ. Arithmetic, history and geography occupied the attention of the blind, and they were also taught to make mats, different kinds of basket work, and mattresses.
During the year 1834, a printing press and a com- plete set of types were procured, and during that year the Acts of the Apostles was printed. The next year, the foundation of a band of music was laid, and since that time the male pupils have prac- tised upon the clarionet, flute, horn, violin, violincello and bass viol; and are now enabled to play in a manner which would do credit to any orchestra. The pupils were also instructed in writing, and sent by mail very legible letters to their friends.
In the carly part of the year 1839, the Mount Washington House, in South Boston, built a few years previously at a cost of $110,000 for a hotel, was
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offered to the Trustees in exchange for the estate in Pearl street. This important step was taken after long and careful deliberation, and after obtaining a special vote of the Corporation.
The terms of the transaction were an even ex- change of the land and buildings in Pearl street, for the lot on which the Mount Washington House is situated, with all its buildings, being an inclosure of 55,000 feet, and also a lot situated on the opposite side of Broadway, containing 20,000 feet. The re- moval of the establishment presented an opportunity of connecting the name of Mr. Perkins perpetually with the Institution, and accordingly a vote of the Corporation changed the name to that of the " PER- KINS INSTITUTION AND MASSACHUSETTS ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND." In May, the inmates were removed, and the expense incurred by the removal was paid by several benevolent gentlemen, one of whom, Sam- uel Appleton, contributed one thousand dollars.
At the same time the Institution was presented with an organ valued at three thousand dollars, on condition that the name of the donor should be con- cealed. Accidental circumstances, however, diselos- ed it, and "Presented by George Lee " is engraved on a tablet placed on the front of the organ which stands in the Exhibition Hall.
Since that time the Institution has increased ra- pidly in numbers and usefulness. Various improve- ments have been made in the building, and every thing which could be done to render the establish- ment useful as a place of instruction for those de- prived of the blessing of sight, has been accomplished.
In 1849, an excellent workshop for the use of the Blind was erected directly in front of the Mount Washington House, on the Old Road. This build-
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ing, which cost more than $10,000, is three stories high, and is arranged to accommodate all the differ- ent trades in which those deprived of sight can en- gage. Here are manufactured mattresses of every description, filled with hair, husks, palm-leaf and cotton. Pew cushions, sofas and couches are also stuffed, while vast quantities of mats are made in looms, constructed expressly for this establishment. In the cellar is a steam engine designed to supply steam for the cleansing of feathers. The hair for mattresses is also here taken in its raw state, and prepared for use. These blind workmen likewise manufacture the celebrated fibre mats now so much in use.
Intimately associated with the name of the Asylum for the Blind in South Boston, is that of Laura Bridgman, whose peculiar condition, as regards the loss of bodily senses, has attracted the attention and awakened the sympathy of the humane through the whole civilized world. During the twenty years since she entered the Asylum, most of our citizens have become familiar with her personal appearance, either in the streets or in the exhibition room, and all are acquainted with the fact that she has from earliest childhood been entirely blind, deaf, and dumb, and almost deprived of the sense of smell. They all know, too, the proficiency she has made, under these deprivations, in the different branches of study. It is considered unnecessary, therefore, to record here a particular account of her, further than to present to the reader a few items of her early history, which were recorded by Dr. Howe on her first entrance. In his sixth annual report, published early in 1838, the year after her admission (at the age of eight years), he writes of her as follows :-
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LAURA BRIDGMAN.
" Laura was born of intelligent and respectable pa- rents, in Hanover, N. H. When a mere infant, she was subject to very painful and dangerous 'fits,' the nature of which does not seem to have been well un- derstood. Until twenty months old, though a pretty and interesting child, she was weak and fragile-a breath would have blown out the flame; but at that age she began to rally; her health seemed firmly established ; her mental faculties rapidly developed themselves, and when she attained her second year she was more intelligent and sprightly than common children ; she could already prattle some words, and had mastered the difference between A and B. But in a month after her sky was again overcast ; she sick- ened and came near unto death ; the disease, however, seemed to be baffled within, and to have fastened upon the external organs of sense, and in five weeks it was perceived that her sight and hearing were forever destroyed. During seven weeks of pain and fever she tasted not a morsel of food; for five months she was obliged to be kept in a darkened room ; it was a year before she could walk unsupported, and two years before she could sit up all day. She was now four years old, and as her health and strength began to be established, she learned to go about the house and manifested a desire to be employed; not by her looks, for she was blind-not by words, for she was dumb. She could, it is true, for a time pronounce the few words she had before learned; but not hear- ing the sound of her own voice, she soon lost the command of her articulation-the sound answered not to the thought-the will lost command of the tongue -and the last articulate word she was ever heard to utter, was 'book !' But she was not only deaf, and dumb, and blind, her isolation was still more
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complete-the sense of smell was so blunted as to be entirely useless, and only affected by pungent odors; of course, half the pleasure of taste was gone, and she manifested indifference about the fla- vor of food.
" It would seem that in this total darkness-this dreary stillness-this isolation from all communica- tion with kindred spirits, the immaterial mind must have remained in infantile imbecility, while the body grew in stature and strength, or have attained a per- ception of its loneliness, only to pine and die at the discovery. But not so; every day she became more active and more cheerful; and she is now (as far as the closest scrutiny can ascertain the state of her mind) not only unrepining, but contented and happy. The sense of touch alone remains, and the sight of this unfortunate girl fills one with admiration, not only of the perfection of the senses, but of the won- derful power of the mind to adapt its operations to any circumstances of its bodily tenement-to put it- self in relation with external things, and to obtain its own stimuli and manifest its own emotions through the most imperfect media.
" There is the strongest evidence of a thirst for knowledge-of an internal, intellectual want which can be gratified only by a new idea. Her greatest pleasure is to learn a new stitch-a new way of knitting or braiding-a new word-or to discover the application and use of any new thing; and her eagerness to learn is only cqualled by the quickness of perception which she manifests.
" There is strong hope that, if her life is spared, the patient and persevering efforts of the humane, aided by the ingenuity and councils of the wise, will succeed in throwing much light into her dreary pri-
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son, and be rewarded not only by the satisfaction of imparting happiness, but by new views of the opera- tions of mind."
It is gratifying to be able to state that the hope here so feelingly expressed has not been disap- pointed. (See Appendix H.)
Massachusetts School for Idiots.
This institution is also located in South Boston, and occupies a large building at City Point.
The. school is under the superintendence of Dr. S. G. Howe, and the house under the immediate su- pervision of Mrs. McDonald and her son. The house contains a reception-room, parlor, dining-room, school- rooms, sleeping-rooms, &c. There are at present in the school 51 scholars, boys and girls, ranging from the ages of 7 to 15 years, all in excellent health, and to all appearances much attached to their teach- ers, who are very attentive to the wants of these unfortunate children. At five o'clock, all the year round, they rise, and retire in winter at 7 o'clock, and in summer at 8 o'clock. The larger boys occupy a room by themselves, and the girls and smaller boys a separate one. Each sleeping-room has an .. ante-room attached to it, in which an attendant. sleeps, and a bathing-room, where the children are bathed every morning. They breakfast at half past six, dine at twelve, and sup at five o'clock. Belong .. ing to the school, in another building, is a spacious gymnasium, where the scholars are exercised every day. The children are in the school-room six hours a day, and are instructed, those who have the power" of speech, in reading and writing-the others in. form, color, size, &c. The girls are also instructed: in needlework.
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