USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Stoneham > History of Stoneham, Massachusetts > Part 13
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" Upper Primary,-Olive J. Gerry, 1886.
" Lower Primary,-Sec. A, Lilian V. Boothby, 1886. " -Sec. B, Susan J. Cochran, 1890.
These four being in the South School Building on Gerry Street.
East Intermediate,-Augusta J. McCarty, 1884.
Upper Primary,-Lizzie S. Brown, 1886.
Lower Primary,-Sec. A, Nellie R. Wilson, 1884.
66 Primary,-Sec. B, Alma Johonnot, 1886.
These four being in the East School Building on Spring Street, corner of Washington Street.
Central Upper Primary,-Fannie F. Curtis, 1885.
Lower Primary,-Sec. A, Eva G. Jones, 1884.
" Primary,-Sec. B, Lizzie S. Parker, 1871.
These three being in the Town Hall Building.
Wyoming School,-Susan D. Richardson, 1863, on Pond Street, near Spot Pond.
North Street School,-Nellie B. Cutter, 1889, on North Street, in the extreme north part of the town.
It will be seen by the above record that nine of the teachers have served for ten or more years, viz :
Susan D. Richardson, 28 years.
Eva F. Hard, 26 years. Elected first in 1859, served to 1866; then elected 1872 and served to the present time.
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Mary V. R. Williams, 23 years.
Lizzie S. Parker, 20 years.
Cora' E. Green, 15 years.
J. W. MacDonald, 15 years.
Mary C. Chauncey, 14 years.
Mary L. Lincoln, 13 years. Ermina Dike, 10 years.
Ephraim Cutter, Jr., the efficient music teacher in the schools, and whose resignation in the Spring was felt to be a great loss to the town, was in ser- vice for nine years successively, and brought this department of study up to a high standard of proficiency. He has been succeeded by H. C. Slack, of Boston.
In the report of the School Committee for 1890 is the following, which is worthy of record in these pages as an interesting matter of history :
"The patriotic feeling which is gratified in seeing the national flag float above the school-houses, took possession of the citizens two years ago, and it has kept its hold, until at the present time, every school building in town, except the Wyoming, is adorned with the stars and stripes. Five flags have been thrown to the breeze within the past year. The first was raised over the North school house, on Washington's birthday, 1890, and was the gift of Mr. Walter S. Keene; that at the South school house was presented by Mr. Myron J. Ferren. The schools in the Town House are indebted to Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. M., for their flag, and the North street school to Master William Tidd, a member of the school. The flag of the East school was obtained by subscriptions among the citizens, solicited by the children."
The School Committee now having supervision of the schools is composed of James B. Hawkins, elected 1879; Amos Hill, elected 1887; Sarah A. Lynde, elected 1876.
TOWN HALL, ETC.
There are two halls in the town used for purposes of public meetings, ex- hibitions, balls and other occasions, viz : The Town Hall and Armory.
The Town Hall is situated on Central and Tidd streets, fronting toward the former, and there is a large common ground between the Town House and Central Street. The building is about 40x100 feet, and the hall, which is on the second floor, is about 40x80 feet. The seating capacity, including the gallery in one end, is nearly 600. The front of the hall is at the rear end of the building, and has a platform extending the full width of the room, while at the opposite end, at the entrance, are dressing rooms and closets. The hall is comfortable, and a few years ago was made quite attractive by being newly frescoed.
TOWN HALL.
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
It answers its purpose fairly well, although for town meetings the town has wholly outgrown its capacity, as was thoroughly proven at the town meeting when the new railroad question was considered, to which many were unable to gain entrance. However, it is hoped it will not be far in the future be- fore this building will be displaced by a new one, as a committee of leading citizens was appointed at the annual town meeting in March last, to take into consideration the question of erecting a new Town Hall, and it is be- lieved they will report a plan for a large and commodious building, which will provide for the Town Library, town offices, a large hall for public and town meetings, fire-proof vaults in which to protect the archives of the town, and other purposes.
The committee consists of Amos Hill, Onslow Gilmore, John W. Spencer, Isaac F. Hersam, W. Ward Child, William H. Sprague and Francis K. Sweetser, and the names of these gentlemen are a sufficient guarantee that the interests of the town will be looked after in the matter, and that a new hall will be built as soon as circumstances will permit.
The present building would then, doubtless, be wholly occupied for school purposes, there being three schools now on the first floor.
In the basement is the lockup, Hook and Ladder Truck House, Hose No. 2 House and the Boiler Room, where steam is generated for heating the school rooms and hall.
The other hall is the Armory, located at the corner of Flint Avenue and Main street. This was built some eight years ago for a rink, during the roller skating craze, and was open for skating for about two years when it was leased by the town for an armory for Co. H, 6th Regt., Stoneham Light Infantry, and it makes an excellent hall for drilling and is let for balls, fairs, and such large gatherings as require more room than the Town Hall provides. If necessary from 1,800 to 2,000 seats could be placed in the Armory, and there have been several occasions when 1500 persons or more have been gathered there. The building is about 75 feet wide by 150 feet long. At the entrance end are the officers' room, company room and closet room. The large hall is decorated with flags and bunting, and a good stage has been erected. All the occasions of the company are held here, and it is also used for camp-fires, reunions, &c. At the front is a balcony. In the basement is a fine banquet hall with permanent tables, cooking range, chairs and all other conveniences necessary, and this is also available to the public.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
[ As one of the most interesting and important events in the history of a town is the founding of a free public library, it is believed that the readers of this work will appreciate as full a narrative of the establishment and progress of the Stonehami Public Library as space will permit, and therefore the most important facts are here presented.
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
Previous to the year 1858 the wants of the reading people of Stoneham were largely supplied through several private libraries owned by societies, and. the idea of a free public library was not advanced until the winter of 1858-9, when several gentlemen who were interested in the establishment of such an institution advocated and spread abroad their sentiments in regard to the matter, urging the opinion that a free public library would be of more real value to the community than a half-dozen small enterprises of a private char- acter.
This belief gained ground among the people to such an extent that the supporters of the movement were encouraged to have the following article incorporated into the warrant of the annual town meeting held in March, . 1859: "To see if the town would establish a free public library, and appro- priate any money for the same."
Leading citizens advocated the founding of such an institution, among them being J. Parker Gould, Dr. William H. Heath, Lyman Dike, Amos Hill (2d), John Hill, William Hurd and others.
The movement culminated successfully, it being voted, "That a free pub- lic library be established for the free use of each citizen who shall become a legal voter of Stoneham, and three hundred dollars be granted for that pur- pose."
Trustees were elected to make all necessary arrangements, to purchase books, procure a suitable apartment, and formulate rules and regulations for the proper management of the new library. The following constituted the. Board of Trustees : Lyman Dike, John Hill, William H. Heath, J. Parker Gould and William Hurd, three of whom, Messrs. Dike, Hill and Hurd are. now living.
A nucleus was soon formed by the generous action of a society called "The Social Library Association," which had been established since 1792, which voted to loan its entire collection of nearly six hundred volumes, together with its fund of one hundred dollars to be held in trust.
The desire to assist in forming the new library soon spread to other socie- ties and "The Young Ladies' Circle" presented its entire collection of three hundred volumes to the Trustees at a meeting held March 17, 1859, and at a subsequent meeting "The Philomathean Society," a society connected with the High School, contributed ninety volumes.
To these generous contributions the town and various individuals added about five hundred volumes the first year, and the new institution was an established success, starting on its second year with a collection of 1470 volumes. The union of the smaller libraries and the foundation of the pub- lic library were mainly due to the efforts of Colonel Lyman Dike and Dr. William H. Heath.
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Col. Dike states that the first suggestion of a free public library came from Dr. Heath. They were riding to Salem together in a carriage, to participate in a military parade of the regiment of which Col. Dike was commander, Dr. Heath being surgeon on his staff. On the way, Dr. Heath, who was then Secretary of the Social Library Association, proposed that an at- tempt be made to unite the several private libraries, and found a free public library, and enlist the citizens of the town in the movement. Not long after Col. Dike and Dr. Heath set to work to accomplish this and labored indefatigably until success crowned their efforts.
Col. Dike was chairman and one of the purchasing committee of the Board of Trustees for thirteen years, and Dr. Heath was Secretary of the Board until he went to the war.
The library was established just before the Legislature passed the Act giv- ing permission to towns to tax the citizens for the support of such an insti- tution, and is thought to have been the second free public library founded in this State.
The library was first opened in May, 1859, in a long, narrow room in the building on Main Street, just south of Montvale Avenue, owned by Mr. James A. Green, and in a portion of which Mr. Green resides. The room is situated on the second floor, in the centre of the building, and was built for a connection between what constituted two buildings, as is shown by the two separate pitched roofs. Here Dr. Heath had his office, but removed into adjoining rooms to make way for the new library. These quarters were soon outgrown and became inconvenient, and the trustees cast about for better accommodations, which were secured above the store of Warren Sweet- ser, then located on Main Street on the site of the present Chase Block, on the spot now covered by W. E. Clark's department store. A lease was taken for five years and in the summer of 1862 the library was removed to the new quarters. That building is still standing on the southerly side of Franklin, opposite Fuller street, having been removed there just previous to the erection of the Chase block.
At the end of the five years' lease more room was needed and a lease of the present quarters in the Dow building was taken for a term of ten years, and there the library was removed in 1867 and has since remained.
In their report of this removal the trustees said "the library was removed to its present spacious quarters in Dow's building, where there is ample room for years to come. From a cramped and inconvenient room it has passed into the best location which the town can afford for such a purpose, furnishing unsurpassed conveniences to those applying for its benefits." A comparison of the present needs of the patrons of the library with what is. shown by the above statement, gives forceful evidence that the growth among our people of a desire for knowledge and the culture to be obtained from good reading, has kept abreast of the increase in population. The accom-
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
modations are now wholly inadequate for the purposes required, and herein lies an opportunity for some gentleman of wealth to do for Stoneham what Mr. Jonathan B. Winn did for Woburn, present to the town a public library building, and thus immortalize his name and erect an everlasting monument which shall be a memento of his generosity and interest in the publlc wel- are.
At each annual meeting the town has voted an appropriation of from one hundred to five hundred dollars for the purchase of new books; also a sum sufficient to pay the annual expense of maintaining the library.
In 1864 "The Agricultural Library" presented its collection of one hundred and thirty volumes, and in 1865 Hon. John Hill, then one of the trustees, made a generous donation of $230.00 towards the purchase of books.
In 1866 a catalogue of books in the library, then numbering 2,575, was published at an expense of $450.00, and this, with two appendices, served the public until 1878, when the catalogue in present use, compiled by Mr. James Peyton, Secretary of the Board of Trustees for six years, was issued, the sum of five hundred dollars having been appropriated at the annual town meeting in March, 1877, and an additional one hundred dollars at the meet- . ing in March, 1878. A supplementary catalogue was issued in 1887, and as has often as been deemed necessary since that time bulletins have been added.
When the 1878 catalogue was issued there were 5,314 bound volumes in the library, while according to the latest statistics, August 1, 1890, there were 7,629 books and 855 law reports, public documents, magazines, &c. This shows an average of nearly 200 new books added per year during the twelve years preceding that date.
There were 1, 125 persons who had taken out books during the year from August 1, 1889, to August 1, 1890, the number of volumes taken amounting to 22,975, an average of about twenty books each.
The town has been liberal in her appropriations, and has given little cause for complaint in this respect, and in nearly all their annual reports for the past twenty-five years the trustees have expressed their gratitude to the citi- zens for doing so well. Only twice have they made urgent appeals for more money, and their requests were granted.
The first person selected as librarian was Miss Louisa Rhoades, now Mrs. George Trowbridge, who was then a pupil of the High School. She was chosen at a meeting of the trustees held April 5, 1859, and served from the opening of the library, in May, to about the first of January, 1861, when Mr. Henry Poor was chosen and served to July 1, 1861. The succeeding libra- rians have been as follows : July, 1861, to March, 1863, Miss Josie Hazard ; March, 1863, to March, 1864, Miss Imogene A. Rowe; March, 1864, to October, 1865, Mrs. Susan S. Poor; October, 1865, to March, 1866, Mrs. Augusta Sweetser ; March, 1866, to July, 1866, Miss Abbie M. Johnson,
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
(now Mrs. A. Warren Staples) ; July, 1866, to January, 1867, Miss William- ine S. Green, (now Mrs. William B. Stevens) ; January, 1867, to June, 1867, Miss Sarah J. Dike, (now Mrs. Daniel S. Davis, of Boston) ; June, 1867, to September, 1867, Mrs. M. H. Boyce ; September, 1867, to March, 1868, Mrs. Susan S. Poor ; March, 1868, to July, 1868, Mrs. Louise Patten ; July, 1868, to October, 1873, Miss Josephine Hazard ; Miss Hazard is now living in Providence, R. I .; October, 1873, to October, 1874, Miss Mary E. Hill, (now Mrs. James A. Jones) ; October, 1874, to April, 1875, Miss Ab- bie J. Richardson, she having been assistant to Miss Hill; April, 1875, to October, 1876, Mrs. M. Evie Jones, (formerly Miss M. E. Hill) ; October, 1876, to the present time, Mrs. M. H. Boyce, she having been assistant to Mrs. M. E. Jones. Mrs. Boyce has had for assistants Mrs. Silas Dean for eight years or more, 1877 to 1885, Mrs. J. Horace Green for over three years, and Miss Emma Chubbuck, the present assistant, for about three years.
The salary of the librarian was $50 the first year, and was increased from time to time until it reached $350, Miss Hazard's salary in 1872-73. Since Mrs. Boyce has held the position she has received $250 per annum. She has been in continuous service for nearly fifteen years as librarian, and for one and a half years preceding as assistant. Her efficiency, faithfulness and excellent care of the books have been commended by the trustees in nearly every annual report.
BANKS.
One good index of the thrift and enterprise of a town is the condition of its banks. Stoneham has three banks, all in a prosperous condition.
The Stoneham Five Cent Savings Bank is the oldest of these, and was in- corporated in 1855, the present number of incorporators being about fifty. Its balance sheet for May 1, 1891, shows as follows :
ASSETS.
Mortgage Notes,
$197,636.73
Personal Notes,
17,450.00
Town, 66
56,000.00
Municipal Bonds,
· 243,000.00
Railroad Bonds,
96,000.00
Real Estate,
· 3,161.10
Bank Stock,
5,000.00
Expense,
1,753.36
Cash,
+
7,790.90
$627,792.09
II
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
LIABILITIES.
Deposits,
$588,436.31
Interest, .
15,514.67
Guaranty Fund,
16,952.12
Profit and Loss,
6,888.99
$627,792.09
So carefully and discreetly has this bank, from the first, been managed that it has never met with any losses, either from poor investments or from dishonesty on the part of its officials.
The officers for the present year are as follows: President, William B. Stevens, Esq. ; Vice Presidents, Wm. G. Fuller, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey; Clerk and Treasurer, Onslow Gilmore ; Trustees, Wm. B. Stevens, Wm. G. Fuller, John Steele, Lyman Dike, Arad Gerry, J. W. Spencer, C. C. Dike, F. E. Nickerson, Amos Hill, A. H. Cowdrey, Elbridge Gerry, Isaac Swasey, On- slow Gilmore, Charles E. Horne, Dexter Bucknam, R. L. Bowser ; Investing Committee, J. W. Spencer, Arad Gerry, A. H. Cowdrey ; Committee to Ex- amine Securities, Wm. B. Stevens, Chas. E. Horne.
The bank regularly declares a semi-annual dividend of two per cent. It has just moved into new and pleasant rooms in Chase's Block.
The Stoneham Co-operative Bank was organized and incorporated Jan. 10, 1887, mainly through the efforts of our young townsman, Wm. B. Snow, who was its first secretary. It has had four years of uninterrupted prosperity.
It has been instrumental in building a considerable number of new houses, besides enabling many of our industrious citizens to purchase homes on con- venient terms.
Its balance sheet for May, 1891, shows as follows :
ASSETS.
Real Estate Loans, .
. $55,250.00
Share Loans,
2,150.00
Unpaid Interest, Premiums and Fines,
37.31
Unpaid Dues,
259.00
*Cash on Hand,
3,647.90
$61,344.21
Assets by last report,
$48,808.81
Gain in Six Months, .
. 12,535.40
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
LIABILITIES.
473 Shares, Series I, at $58.19,
$27,523.87
69
66
2, “ 50.62,
3,492.78
225
66
3, “ 43.22,
9,724.50
89
4, " 36.04,
· 3,207.56
I 47 66 66 5, " 29.05,
4,270.35
I26 66
6, “ 25.62,
· 3,228.12
192
66 7, "
18.91,
3,630.72
247
66 8, “
12.41,
· 3,065.27
387
9, " 6.10,
2,360.70
$60,503.87
Guarantee,
350.83
Forfeited Share Account,
329.13
Surplus,
7.II
Profit and Loss,
III.27
Advance Dues,
42.00
$61,344.21
* At interest, awaiting action of borrowers.
It declares a semi-annual dividend of three and occasionally three and a half per cent.
Its regular meeting is on the first Tuesday of each month.
The following is the present board of officers: J. B. Sanborn. President ; Sidney A. Hill, Vice President ; J. W. MacDonald, Secretary and Treasurer ; Directors, E. W. Byron, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey, Lyman Dike, Fred Davies, Chas. L. Gill, J. B. Hawkins, Amos Hill, W. S. Keene, O. H. Marston, J. A. Moulton, Luther White ; Auditors, R. W. Barnstead, William Kelly, J. A. Stockwell ; Attorney, Amos Hill ; Finance Committee, Ed. W. Byron, Fred Davies, Sidney Hill; Security Committee, A. H. Cowdrey, Amos Hill, O. H. Marston.
The Stoneham National Bank, organized and incorporated in March, 1890, through the enterprise of another young townsman, J. A. Stockwell, has been also very successful, and is supplying a long-felt want on the part of our business men. Its rooms are also in Chase's Block.
Its balance sheet for March 21, 1891, the end of its first year, shows as follows :
Loans,
$118,265.00
U. S. Bonds, . 12,500.00
Other Stocks and Bonds,
5,000.00
.
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
Due from Banks,
42,352.53
Premiums,
2,625.00
Furniture,
670.00
Cash, 15,668.09
U. S. 5 per cent. Fund,
562.50
$197,643.12
Capital Stock,
$50,000.00
Surplus,
600.00
Undivided Profits,
3,378.48
Circulation, .
11,250.00
Dividend No. I,
1,250.00
Deposits,
. 131,164.64
$197,643.12
The following are its officers : President, Charles W. Tidd ; Vice Presid- ent, C. H. Drew ; Directors, A. H. Cowdrey, C. H. Brown, C. Fred Buck, W. S. Keene, E. F. Sanborn, Wm. B. Stevens ; Cashier, Chas. A. Bailey ; Clerk, Fred Chase.
STONEHAM BOARD OF TRADE.
The Stoneham Board of Trade is an outcome of the Stoneham Traders' Association, to which it succeeded in November, 1886.
The Traders' Association was formed in 1876 for the purpose of appoint- ing annually in the summer a holiday to be called "Traders' Day." upon which day all the merchants and proprietors of mechanical trades would close their places of business and take an outing at some popular resort.
This Association did not include in its membership the manufacturers and professional men, and in 1886 it was thought best to extend its scope and enlarge its field of usefulness and become of more benefit to the town.
At a meeting of the Association the subject was discussed and the secretary was instructed to issue notices and send to manufacturers, professional men and others inviting them to attend a meeting for the object proposed.
This meeting was held November 11, 1886, in the Company room of the Stoneham Light Infantry, in Dow's building, twenty-six gentlemen being present. Captain John F. Berry presided and it was voted to organize a Board of Trade immediately. The following were elected as the first board of officers : President, James E. Whitcher; Vice Presidents, Joseph Theo- bald, Onslow Gilmore and W. D. Byron; Secretary, R. W. Barnstead ; Treasurer, R. L. Bowser; Executive Committee, Lyman Dike, Edwin A. Vinton, W. Ward Child, S. P. Finnegan, Winthrop F. Stevens, M. D., and
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STONEHAM TO-DAY.
Jason B. Sanborn, with the elective officers. In a short time after its organ- ization the roll book of the Board showed a list of seventy members.
The Traders' Association was at that time dissolved but the Board of Trade continued for several years to perform the function for which it was organized, appointing a "Traders' Day" and making all arrangements for it. Like all associations of the kind the Board of Trade has had its prosperity and adversity, the attendance at the meetings being so small at times as to almost discourage the officers. This caused them, even at the end of the first year, to complain, but it was decided to endeavor to arouse the members to greater activity.
The old board of officers we e re-elected at a meeting in December, and a celebration of the first anniversary was planned. This was carried out the latter part of January, the occasion being a banquet, with speeches and other exercises. Members of the Woburn and Wakefield Boards of Trade and leading citizens of Stoneham were present and the affair was very successful.
The agitation for a new railroad to connect Stoneham with Boston by a shorter and quicker route started in the Board of Trade in February, 1888. The records show that at a meeting held in that month, Secretary Barnstead stated that he had interviewed General Manager Furber of the Boston and Maine R. R., in relation to meeting a committee of the Board of Trade to discuss the matter of better facilities. Mr. Furber had said that he would gladly meet such a committee.
At that meeting of the Board the following were appointed to confer with Mr. Furber : President James E. Whitcher, Secretary R. W. Barnstead, Treasurer R. L. Bowser, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey, Jason B. Sanborn, W. D. Byron and W. N. Gray. The desire was for a loop road through Stoneham to Reading.
In April or May a conference between the committee and Mr. Furber was held at which the latter said he would have the proposed route, which was from Medford through Stoneham to Reading, surveyed.
A committee consisting of Secretary Barnstead, William H. Sprague, S. G. Chauncey and James Forrest was chosen May 14 to go to Medford and interview citizens of that town in regard to the matter.
It was found by survey and estimate that it would not be practicable to build the road to connect at Medford on account of the great expense.
After this the movement slumbered for some time, and there being no other question of importance for the Board to consider, interest in it flagged again, and at a meeting January 14, 1889, the past and future of the Board were discussed, some thinking best to let the organization die.
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