USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Stoneham > History of Stoneham, Massachusetts > Part 14
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It was finally decided to take a new lease of life, and the following were elected officers : President, Jason B. Sanborn ; Vice Presidents, A. H. Cow- drey, M. D., W. N. Gray, W. C. Whitcher; Secretary, R. W. Barnstead ;
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Treasurer, R. L. Bowser; Executive Committee, W. D. Byron, S. G. Chauncey, Frank W. Spencer, Wm. H. Sprague, A. S. Hovey, S. A. Hill, and the President and Vice President.
March 11, 1889, L. D. Hawkins was invited to address the Board on a proposition to build an electric railroad. Gentlemen stood ready, he said, to take half the capital stock on a guarantee of six per cent. interest. This road would run on the easterly side of Spot Pond, passing the Hotel Langwood.
After a debate a committee of three members of the Board and three citi- zens, consisting of the following gentlemen, was appointed to take the whole matter of better railroad facilities under consideration and report at a future meeting of the Board : Members of Board, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey, W. C. Whitcher and Wm. H. Sprague ; Citizens, L. D. Hawkins, J. W. MacDonald and Wm. B. Stevens, Esq.
At a meeting March 27, 1889, composed of members of the Board of Trade and citizens, this committee reported a scheme for a surface steam railroad to connect with the Boston and Maine R. R. at Fells Station. This would cost $100,000.
After a long discussion, many prominent gentlemen speaking earnestly in favor of such a railroad, a committee of three consisting of Wm. B. Stevens, Esq., Dr. A. H. Cowdrey and J. W. MacDonald, was chosen to petition the Selectmen to call a town meeting to see if the town would appropriate two per cent. of its valuation towards stock in the proposed road.
L. D. Hawkins, W. Ward Child and C. H. Drew were appointed a com- mittee to make a complete survey and ascertain probable land damages, and report to the Board.
O. H. Marston, Sidney A. Hill and J. K. Foster were appointed a com- mittee to arrange for the formation of a stock company.
Several other meetings were held and the tenor of all the discussions seemed to be that the railroad ought to be pushed, and that if Stoneham was to have such a road the citizens must assist to build it, and that it would be of inestimable benefit to the town when completed.
At a meeting April 8, 1889, a committee consisting of J. W. MacDonald, S. P. Finnegan, Frank W. Spencer and W. N. Gray was appointed to join with the survey committee chosen at the March 27th meeting.
Pending a solution of the railroad problem by the several committees ap- pointed the meetings of the Board were thinly attended for more than a year, and at a meeting November 19, 1890, only President Sanborn, Secretary Barnstead and Frank W. Spencer of the Executive Committee, were present. The matter of making no further attempt to keep up the organization was seriously considered, but it was finally decided to make up a new list of offi- cers, elect them, and see if new life could not be infused into the organiza- tion. These three men then proceeded to elect the following: President, W. C. Whitcher; Vice Presidents, A. H. Cowdrey, M. D., O. H. Marston
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, and Joseph Theobald ; Secretary, Frank W. Spencer ; Treasurer, Sidney A. Hill ..
Early in the present year it was reported that the railroad committee had made a favorable arrangement with the B. & M. R. R. and a call for a meet- ing of members of the Board and citizens was issued. It was held on the evening of March 16, 1891, and was a notable one, about 150 citizens being present. President Whitcher presided and Wm. B. Stevens, Esq., chair- man of the railroad committee, was called upon to make a report.
He said that after two years work they had made a proposition to the B. & M. R. R. by which it was agreed that the branch road from the centre to Fells Station, a distance of about three miles, should be built if the town would take $50,000 of the stock and sell it to the railroad at a nominal price.
The company agreed to go to work just as soon as the town raised the money and the committee finished bonding necessary land, and would build a double track road from Fells Station to Gould street, and connect with the Stoneham Branch of the Lowell Division, thereby making a circuit road. This proposition met with the greatest favor at the meeting and it was the unanimous opinion that the best thing the town could do would be to accept the offer, and it was voted to have a town meeting called for the purpose.
This was done, the meeting was held, the Town Hall was crowded, and many were unable to gain admission, so great was the interest. A yea and nay vote was taken, and the check-list showed that just 700 had voted in favor of the town appropriating $50,000 and only five against. It was con- sidered the most interesting and important town meeting ever held in Stone- ham.
Although the Board of Trade have credit for the new railroad movement, we think that the scheme was devised before the Board of Trade made the move before noticed. As long ago as when the class of '89 graduated from our High School, they gave an outline map, which was in many respects simi- lar to the present outline for the new road, and in this discussion advanced the idea which has since taken form. It is needless to say that Class '89 gathered their material from a thought suggested by their principal and teacher, J. W. MacDonald, to whom we are satisfied the greatest credit in this movement should be given.
The Board of Trade is now in a flourishing condition, and bids fair to do much more towards the progress of the town, but it may well be proud with the laurels won if the new railroad is pushed forward to completion. It is now actively engaged in endeavoring to get the citizens of the town who do business in Boston to patronize their home post-office that the standard may be raised sufficiently to allow of a free mail delivery.
ALMSHOUSE.
The Old Poor Farm, which was bought of Mrs. Elizabeth Cutler in 1826,
THE ALMSHOUSE.
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was sold to Cornelius Doyle in 1850 or 1851.
Few changes or improvements were made about the Farm during the inter- vening years, as it answered all the purposes of a comfortable home for those who were so unfortunate as to be obliged to be taken care of there by the town. The only new building of any importance was a barn, which was erected in 1841. The old Poor Farm was located in the northeast part of the town in the section which was set off to Wakefield in 1889.
Stoneham has always been solicitous to deal kindly by those within her limits who for any cause have become objects of charity, and in no better way has she shown this than by choosing for many- consecutive years as. Overseers of the Poor, men fitted both in heart and judgment for that trying and important position.
When it was found that the exigencies of the situation required a more commodious almshouse the old house and farm were disposed of and land was purchased, and a new house, the one in present use, was erected in 1852. The building committee were John Hill, Oliver W. Richardson and Amasa Farrier.
About seventeen acres of land were bought at first, but this has been added to until now the Poor Farm is a pleasant tract of about forty acres, situated in the northeast portion of the town, upon which, facing Elm Street, but a little back, stands the almshouse.
Not long after this neat structure was built an L was added and a shop constructed for the shoemakers in the home, and as a sort of general lounging and smoking place, for which latter uses it is at present assigned. Last year the house was again enlarged by the addition of a wing 32x34 feet and cap- able when fully furnished of accommodating about thirty inmates. The superintendent now in charge is Franklin B. Sargent, who is a very efficient man.
The plan of the Overseers is to send to the Almshouse only the older un- fortunates, but not children if it can possibly be avoided.
The present board of Overseers of the Poor consists of W. Ward Child, Henry H. French and Deacon Silas Dean. The Board has been unbroken for over fourteen years, being now in its fifteenth year of continuous service.
In their report for the year 1890 they closed with these words : "We feel safe in saying that the town has as good if not the best accommodations for her poor of any town in Massachusetts."
CEMETERIES.
Stoneham has three public cemeteries. The oldest is the Old Burying Ground on Pleasant Street, opposite junction of William. Its occupancy dates back to the beginning of the town, though the oldest headstone is dated 1728. Here, marked by quaint, old-fashioned stones, are the graves
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.
of those prominent in the early history of Stoneham, whose names have been mentioned on a preceding page of this book.
Covering a pleasant knoll near by is the William Street Cemetery. Neither of these cemeteries are now much used.
Lindenwood Cemetery in the western part of the town, is a beautiful spot. It occupies the southern slope of a gentle elevation facing Montvale Avenue. Near the entrance on Montvale Avenue stands a neat soldiers' monument, and further up on a pretty little knoll on the hillside is a lot dedicated to the unknown heroes of the late war. The cemetery contains besides a number of fine monuments.
It is in charge of a committee known as the Trustees of Lindenwood Cemetery, who have managed it since it first opened, with such taste and judgment as to make it the pride of the town.
It has lately been enlarged by the addition of several acres on the eastern side.
The present Board of Trustees is as follows: W. Ward Child, C. C. Dike, W. B. Stevens, Onslow Gilmore, James Grant.
NEWSPAPERS.
The newspapers of a town are among her most important institutions, and the power of the press is a recognized factor in shaping the course of affairs in a community. This was never more recognized than it is today, and never so freely conceded. Being almost universally read, the newspaper of a town is, therefore, almost universal in its influence. When properly con- ducted the newspaper is a progressive force, aiding materially in the mould- ing of public opinion, reflecting the ideas of leading minds. giving the con- sensus of thought on questions of interest, and thus forwarding the march of public progress. The newspaper is of vast importance to the merchant, as through it he can communicate with his customers. It also offers a channel for conveying information to the people on matters pertaining to the town's general welfare which can be furnished in no other way so satisfactorily. The influence of a newspaper is felt not only within but far beyond the borders of the town where published, to an extent which cannot be estimated, and is far from being appreciated. The history of newspaper publication in Stone- ham is largely comprehended within the last quarter of a century. Previous to that period there had been only one paper as far as known.
The first newspaper published in the town was The Regulator and Middle- sex Advertiser, which was established early in January, 1840, and lived from one to two years. It was quite a pretentious paper for that time, being a folio sheet about 18x24 inches, and having five wide columns to the page. It was designed to cover a considerable territory, and its advertising patronage was from surrounding towns and Boston. John Willey was publisher and
ROBERTS SC.
THE FIRST CYLINDER PRESS USED IN STONEHAM, AT THE AMATEUR OFFICE, 1873.
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proprietor, and his printing office was in the basement of the old tavern, now the Central House building, which was then located on the spot where the Dow building now stands, and was faced the same, southerly towards the square. The subscription price of The Regulator was $1.50 per annum, and it was published weekly on Thursday. It was a Whig paper politically and supported Harrison in 1840.
The Stoneham Sentinel was a weekly paper, the publication of which was commenced by John L. Parker in 1864, the first number being issued June 18 of that year. Mr. Parker was at that time publishing the Woburn Towns- man.)
In order to give the Sentinel more of a local influence it was published under the name of E. T. Whittier, who with James Peyton, sent accounts of the happenings in the town to Mr. Parker.
Twelve numbers were issued by Mr. Parker, when he sold out to Edgar Marchant of the Middlesex Journal, published at Woburn. The last number of the Sentinel published by Mr. Farker was dated September 2, 1864, soon after which he went into the army as a volunteer soldier, having enlisted just before disposing of the paper.
After publishing the Sentinel for nearly three years Mr. Marchant sold the plant to H. C. Gray, who continued printing the Sentinel in Woburn until the year 1870, when he removed to Stoneham and increased his plant, loca- ting his office in Hersam's Building, now the Odd Fellows' Building.
The business was afterwards removed to Dow's building, and in 1873, L. S. Metcalf became associated in copartnership with Mr. Gray.
In 1875 Mr. Gray sold his interest in the Sentinel to Mr. Metcalf and re- moved to Malden, where he started the Malden Mirror.
Mr. Metcalf continued the Sentinel until May 1, 1876, when it was sold to G. A. Kimball & Co. of Worcester, Mr. Metcalf going to New York and en- gaging in the publication of a magazine.
The business under the new firm did not prosper as was anticipated, and December 30, 1876, they issued their last number which contained the fol- lowing card :
"We would respectfully give notice to cur patrons that, not having found the printing of a local paper in Stoneham a profitable enterprise, we have decided to discontinue publishing the Sentinel with this issue, December 30, 1876. The subscribers who have paid in advance will be supplied with the National Sovereign until the expiration of the subscription, arrangements having been made with J. M. Winslow to that end."
The Sentinel plant was afterwards removed to Melrose, and the Melrose Journal started, which is still published.
CAMPBELL PRINTIN APRES
& MAG CO.
O
4
NEW YORK & CHICAGO.
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER AND BOOK PRESS.
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The Stoneham Independent had its origin in and is an outgrowth of the Amateur, which was started May 21, 1870, by Edward T. Whittier, who at that time had a well established job printing plant. The first number of the Amateur contained eight small pages, 6x9 inches with two wide columns to the page, and was printed upon a quarter medium Gordon press, two pages at a time. It started off with a good advertising patronage, and for six weeks it was distributed gratis throughout the town. There was a great demand for it and the people were continually asking Mr. Whittier why he did not increase the size of the paper and charge a subscription price for it.
By their advice and solicitation he doubled the size at the beginning of the seventh week and made it a four page paper, and announced that it would be sold for thirty-eight cents for the first six months. It leaped into success at once and in a very short time the subscription list numbered over five hundred, nearly 100 of those subscribers still being on the list of The Stone- ham Independent. His son Frank met with much encouragement in can- vassing the town.
The size of the Amateur was increased several times, a column at a time, until it reached seven columns.
The name was changed to The Stoneham Independent in 1876, and since Mr. Whittier's death, which occurred Dec. 9, 1879, its publication has been continued by his sons, F. L. & W. E. Whittier, who were associated with him in the office of the paper while he was living. The paper is now four pages, with nine columns to a page, the subscription price being $1.25 per annum, or four cents per copy.
It is independent in politics and sides with no party or creed, and has a a circulation of nearly 1,400. F. L. Whittier is the editor.
The plant occupies two stories of the L of Whittier's building on the east side of Central Square, equipped with a large assortment of type and material, and has several fast-running presses for book, newspaper and job printing, run by an Otto gas engine. The work turned out from this office is of a high standard, and the facilities are such that this firm can successfully compete with the city offices in every way. For this reason the firm of F. L. & W. E. Whittier is constantly in receipt of orders for work. A special feature of this office is the large amount of society work done and the business and com- mercial printing of the manufacturers.
The success and commendable standing of the Independent is well known.
The Sovereign was an industrial paper, devoted to the interests of the Sovereigns of Industry, an association of the laboring classes. Under the title of the paper was the motto, "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty."
It was a six column, four page paper, 15 1-2 x 22 inches to the page, pub-
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lished weekly, the subscription price being $1.10 per year; single copies, three cents. J. M. Winslow was editor and manager.
At the top of the first column, second page, was the notice: "Published at Stoneham, Mass., by the Sovereign Publishing Company ; Frank A. Met- calf, Clerk, 25 Allston Street, Charlestown, Mass."
The Sovereign was published in Stoneham less than two years, in 1876-77, being printed at first in the Independent office, and afterwards in Charles- town. Its columns were mostly devoted to labor matters, some attention being paid to local news.
The Middlesex Leader was a weekly paper, published for a few months in 1884 by Arthur Fultz. It was printed in the office of the Stoneham Inde- pendent, and was a five column, quarto sheet.
The Eclectic, a bright little sheet, was issued for the first time in March, 1877, and continued weekly until October of that year. It was printed in a room on one of the upper floors of Dow's building. Henry E. Green was the editor and proprietor. After discontinuing the paper, Mr. Green went to Brookline, Mass., to assume a position on the Brookline Chronicle, and was later associated in the editorial department of that paper. He now holds a responsible position in the printing machinery establishment of Golding & Co., Fort Hill Square, Boston.
The Stoneham News, published by R. W. Barnstead, on Franklin Street, was started in 1880, the first copy being issued September eleventh of that year. It was purely a business enterprise, Mr. Barnstead having been at printing and newspaper work for some time previously in Boston and Cam- bridge, and for about seven years in the office of the Amateur and Stoneham Independent. It was at first a six-column folio, was enlarged to seven columns at the end of the first year, and two years later to eight columns, its present size. The subscription price is $1.25 per annum, single copies, three cents. It has always been Republican in politics.
The Stoneham Enterprise was another sporadic publication, which was started in the spring of 1890 by Francis P. Curran, publisher of the Woburn City Press, in which office the enterprise was printed. It survived only a few months, and was discontinued in the fall.
It was a five-column quarto sheet, 13x20 inches to the page. The local news of Stoneham was supplied by Fred Doucette of this town.
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MILITIA. .
In May, 1882, Company H, Sixth Regiment, M. V. M., was transferred from Milbury, Mass., to this town, and has since been called the Stoneham Light Infantry.
At the first meeting for enlistment, held May 13, twenty-two men signed the roll, all of whom belonged in Stoneham.
Capt. George H. Chaffin. of Grafton, was then in command of the com- pany, and retained his commission until September, 1883, when he resigned and First Lieut. John F. Berry was elected and commissioned as Captain.
Captain Berry served for three years. In the summer of 1885 he announced his intention of resigning his command on account of business, but was urgently requested not to do so, and a petition asking him to remain was signed by every member of the company and presented to Captain Berry by the hand of First Lieutenant S. A. Lawrence. Thus persuaded he agreed to continue until after the next muster of the regiment, which he not "only did but remained for a year longer, going also to muster in command of the com- pany in 1886. Captain Berry has carefully preserved this unanimous petition from his company not to resign, and prizes it highly. He resigned in Sep- tember, 1886, and First Lieutenant Sylvester A. Lawrence was elected and commissioned to fill his place,
Captain Lawrence served until December 6, 1890, when he resigned and was ยท succeeded by the present commanding officer, Captain Stanwood G. Sweet- ser, who was First Lieutenant when elected.
After the company was transferred to Stoneham in 1882 they met for drill for a short time in G. A. R. Hall, Whittiers' building, while a hall was being put in readiness for them in Dow's Building. In about two months they removed to the upper hall of Dow's Building, now occupied by Wamscott Tribe, Imp. O. R. M. The company room was the one now occupied as a barber shop, on the second floor.
There they remained about three years when the rink building was leased for them by the town and fitted up for an Armory. The accommodations of this, the present Armory of the company, are all that can be desired. The drill hall is as good as any to be found outside of the regular State Armories, and the officers' and company room in front are convenient and well furnished.
The building is lighted by electricity, it being also piped for gas which is always available in case of emergencies. The members of the company are thoroughly pleased with their quarters.
The citizens of the town have even evinced a lively interest in the company and have always visited it in good numbers when in camp, as many as eighty visitors being entertained in one day. A past officer of the company gives the town great credit when he says: "There is not a town that is always ready to take hold and do as much for her military company as the town of Stone-
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ham." The members have shown their appreciation of this by attending muster with as full ranks as possible, and in keeping the company up to a good standard.
The present commissioned officers are : Captain Stanwood G. Sweetser, First Lieutenant Fred F. Green, Second Lieutenant Frank L. Tabbut.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Stoneham has ever been as commendably liberal in the matter of protection against fires as she has in the support of all her other departments and public institutions. As early as 1834 she purchased a fire engine, the old Phoenix, which did some remarkably good work for her time.
The Phoenix was a hand tub having no suction, and the water was supplied to it by buckets or any convenient vessels. The engine would be placed as near the fire as possible and a double line of men and boys would form to the water source and the buckets, pails, etc., were then passed along and emptied into the engine's tub and then returned to be refilled. It was built by a Mr. Thayer, of Roxbury, and was bought of him as a second-hand engine for $250.
B. F. Richardson was the first Captain and Hoseman of the Phoenix En- gine Company and continued as Captain until the town bought a new hand engine, the General Worth.
The Phoenix rendered excellent service for fifteen years or more, and about 1851 to '53 it was taken to pieces by Mr. Richardson and the metal sold. Some of the wood work is still in existence, and Mr. Richard- son has one of the old fire buckets which was bought with the engine. Mr. Richardson left the fire department when he went to California in 1849.
After the hook and ladder truck was built and a company formed to man it, he became an active member of the company, having returned from Cali- fornia several years previously. He was also a Fire Warden, and in 1857, when the Fire Department was more thoroughly organized and a Board of Fire Engineers established, he was appointed the first Chief Engineer.
The Phoenix was succeeded by the General Worth, which was bought in 1849 at a cost of $1,000. This was also a hand tub but was larger than the Phoenix and had a suction pipe. It was built for the town by Hunne- man & Co., of Boston.
The General Worth was a fine engine and answered all the requirements of the town for nearly thirty years, and was continued in service even after the steam fire engine, Col. Gould, was purchased. It was sold to the town of Goffstown, N. H., in 1885, for $185. There are many citizens today who regret that it was disposed of. The first foreman of the Gen. Worth Com- pany was, no doubt, Daniel Gerry, and the last Peter H. Wilkins.
The second piece of apparatus bought by the town was a hook and ladder truck in 1855. This was built by B. F. Richardson and W. Ward Child,
I2
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and was a serviceable carriage for about thirty years. It was given to the builders of the present truck, Pollard & Parker, of Woburn, as part payment. The new truck was built in 1881, and is called the Resolute, which name was also borne by the first truck. It was brought to Stoneham July 2, the very day President Garfield was shot.
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