USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Ware > History of Ware, Massachusetts > Part 15
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This is of interest. It seems to imply that the mill-pond that figured so largely in the Manour had been allowed to drain off, and that the mill had wholly disappeared. The old dam was several rods north of the modern dam destroyed in 1907.
1795 - Commonwealth of Mass. vs Inhabitants of Town of Ware. For suffering the Bridge on the post-road in sd town of Ware over the South East parte of Swift River to be dangerous to pass and to be out of repair.
At the Supreme Judicial Court held at Northampton, a true bill was found against the Town of Ware.
The bridge being repaired, I will prosecute on this bill no further.
James Sullivan Attorney General.
Town charged with costs amounting to $5.55.
1826 - From Ware Factory north-westerly to Enfield.
Many alterations in the county roads are recorded, but are not of sufficient interest to be given here.
The old road from the Centre to Magoon's Mills is that one, now discontinued, leading from Doane's to West Main Street, just west of Muddy Brook Bridge. This is shown on the map of 1795. A more southerly road from the Centre led a little way down the brook in front of the meeting-house, then crossed the brook (the old abutments now support a farm bridge), and ran up the hill past McManus' house. The stone walls bounding the road are still in place. From the top of the hill the road appears to have borne northerly until it joined the road from Doane's. The present travelled road from the Centre to the Village, long known as the new road, was built not far from seventy five years ago.
A large part of the old Warren road has been rebuilt by Mr. E. H. Gilbert as a pleasure drive. The remainder, crossing the hill, may be readily followed.
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173
ROADS AND BRIDGES
Besides the roads laid out and maintained by the county, the town was continually extending its highway system.
1753 - Voted and alowed a Rode from Hardwick line, as it now goes, thrue Ebenezer Spooner's Land, with gate to the Mills colled Judah Marsh's.
Voted and alowed a rode from Jacob Cumming's to the Cap. Omstead's mills,1 and so to the meeting house.
Voted and alowed a rode from Samuel Davies' to the mills colled Cap. Omstead's.
1762 - Voted to Except the Highway from the Meten Hous to the Line of this District above Samuel Blackemors.
The Blackmore farms were in the south-east corner of the town.
Voted to Except of the High Way from the meten hous to Mr. Thayer's, and from there to the old mil on[e] bever brook, from there to the County road.
This is the road running west from Ware Centre past the foot of Brimstone Hill, at which spot Rev. Mr. Thayer's farm was situated.
Voted to Except of the Highway from the Meten Hous Southerly by marked trees to Daved Pulsefuss'.
Voted to Except the Highway from the Meten Hous to Hardwick Lane, beginning at Benjmen Ramon's [Damon's].
This road was on the east side of Flat Brook, crossing the brook about a mile above the meeting-house.
Voted to Except the Highway from James McMichel's Easterly to the Rod from Breckenridge's to the meting hous, which is to be a bridl Rod, with Gats and bars, at present.
1763 - Voted to Imploy Cap. Dwight a surver [sur- veyor] to prambelat the Lin with Grenwich.
Voted to alow a highway from Ebenezar Gilbard's to the County road.
This was on the east side of Ware River.
Voted to Except the roode from Nahum Davis' to ye Bridg at Magun's.
1 The Omstead mills were later the Magoon mills.
174
HISTORY OF WARE
Voted to have a highway laid out from Ben Cumming's by Isaac Magoon's to Palmer.
The road west of Flat Brook. This was accepted in the following year and described as "the highway from Palmer by Isael Magon to the meten hous as it is laid."
1764 - Voted to Except of the highway from Joseph Paterson's to the Meten house.
1765 - Voted to Except of the road from Doc. Damon's to the mill; also from Doc. Damon's to the Meten hous; also from Jeremiah Andrson's to James McMichel's meting road.
It is impossible to state when the first bridge was built across the river below the Omstead-Magoon mills where the South Street Bridge now stands. It was probably built by the Omsteads at the time the mills were constructed, for their own convenience. The earliest unquestionable refer- ence to it is in a deed of Jabez Omstead to his son Israel in 1743.
In 1768 it was voted to raise £40 in labor to build a bridge over the river at the mills, and a committee was appointed to take charge of the work. £2 was voted "to provid Rumb for the raiesing the bridge." Sometime in the winter the work was completed, and in the following March accounts were allowed for "Bred met and Sider at the Brdg."
In 1778 an article was placed in the warrant "to see what way the town will Com in to Conserning repairing the Bridge by Magoon's mill, as we look upon it Dangris to have it lie so any longer." It was voted to repair the bridge at town cost. Again in 1783 it was voted to rebuild the bridge where it formerly stood, at a cost of £70.
1769 - "Excepted the Highway from Mr. Jinkens to the meteing hows: Beginning at Mr. Thoms Jenken's hows, from there up the Valey . . . thence in the road to Gren- wich . .. thenc Westely across the plain to the popler Bridg." Also the highway from "Benjemen Cumming's hows . . . Northerly . .. to the line between Alexander Magon and Phineahes Hupom . .. to the New Bridg."
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si teslova formigas to stige as Mal ophiad
MOISTORY OF WANT
This nas số
1718
THE SOUTH STREET BRIDGE This bridge replaced the old covered wooden bridge built, in spite of universal protest, in 1844-5. In the distance is seen St. William's Church, standing on Prospect Hill.
Le pole
ILapota
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.
1
1
175
ROADS AND BRIDGES
This road is readily identified as South Street.
A full account of road changes and developments would fill a sizable volume. Many were accepted by the town which were of little or no permanent value and could hardly be identified today, the landmarks by which they were de- scribed having disappeared. Changes were made from year to year to meet the needs. It is interesting to note that as in ancient days "all roads led to Rome," so in our early years they led to the meeting-house, with only an occasional vari- ation to some mill. Bread must be had; but Bread of Heaven came first.
A few of the more important developments in the nine- teenth century may be briefly noted.
1807 - Evidently a year of heavy floods. Voted in March to rebuild the bridge below Magoon's. Also a com- mittee appointed to confer with Belchertown concerning a bridge over Swift River.
Voted to choose a committee to look up and convey back what timber can be found which was carried away by the flood from the bridge near Seth Lamberton's.
Also voted to repair the bridge near John Andrews's.
1811 - A bridge over Ware River near Aaron Andrews's ordered rebuilt. These two items refer to the bridge about half way between Ware and Gilbertville. The old Andrews farm was just west of the bridge. The "Red Bridge," re- cently replaced by an iron one, is well remembered. William Snell, who owned the land when the first bridge was built, sold to John Andrews in 1796.
1815 - Voted to repair one half of the bridge and one abutment over Swift River near John Tisdale's. This is the bridge at West Ware. A new bridge was built here in 1834.
1818 - Voted to rebuild the two bridges over Ware River where they have been swept away by the flood.
1824 - Pleasant Street and Church Street laid out, each 50 feet wide.
1834 - The town was divided into 19 Highway Districts.
176
HISTORY OF WARE
"Chose a committee to superintend the construction of a Bridge over Swift River near Lewis' Mills."
1836 - A road was laid out from "Calvin Morses across the river near the north end of the new cotton factory . . . near the furnace." $330 was appropriated for the construc- tion of road and bridge. This is the upper bridge in the village, and was for many years known as the Furnace Bridge. This first bridge was of wood. It was replaced by a stone bridge in 1851. The latter was badly damaged in the flood of October, 1869, which wrecked the old stone grist-mill, after which the present bridge was constructed.
In 1844 a committee was appointed by the town to re- build the bridge "near Gilbert and Stevens' factory." It was to be of wood, and it was optional with the committee whether it should be covered or not. A petition, preserved at the library, that the bridge be not covered, was ineffec- tual. This bridge was paid for in 1845 from the "Surplus Revenue."
In 1844 a change of far-reaching importance was made in the heart of the village. Among the assets of the Hamp- shire Manufacturing Company, which failed in 1837, was the large tract of land known as the Common, lying between Main and Water Streets, extending east to the street ad- joining the Otis Company's office, and west to Palmer Road. The intention of the Hampshire Company to preserve this large open space was frustrated by their neglect to transfer the tract in question to the town or to suitable trustees. There was nothing, therefore, for the receivers of the Com- pany to do but to sell the land. Thus in 1844 it was divided into thirty-four building lots, all of which were sold with the exception of a portion of the east end of the tract which, left open, developed into Nenameseck Square. It may be noted that Main Street was then called Front Street, West Main was the Town Road, North Street was called West Street, West Street was the County Road, Water Street was Common Street.
The survey of the plot was made by S. J. Wethrill.1
1 Northampton Registry, Vol. 105, p. 545.
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" THE COMMON"
PLAN OF LAND IN WARE KNOWN AS
WEST ST. HOTEL
J.RICE
BANK ST.
BAXX.
FRONT ST.
TOWN ROAD
COUNTY ROAD
Connor ST.
y
Surveyed. Nov. 18, 1844. By S.J. Wethrill.
E
CHURCH ST.
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IX LATER RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
THE EAST PARISH
WITH the development of the water-power a great change had come over the population of the town. Ware Factory Village, as it was called, had sprung up almost in a night, creating the need of another parish and place of worship.
On March 8, 1825, the first meeting of the East Society was held in the schoolhouse, at which time a clerk and treasurer were chosen, and a committee appointed to supply the society "with some suitable person or persons as a preacher for the year ensuing, and to regulate the said East Society in all other respects as according to law."
At an adjourned meeting held on the first Tuesday in April following, a committee was appointed "to report what sum ought to be raised to defray the expenses of said society the current year." The committee reported that the sum of $300 was needed, and assessors were chosen to assess that amount on the property holders of the parish. The amount was paid to four different ministers that year.
The society was so far purely voluntary, and the town "Voted to assess and collect the minister's tax of the mem- bers of the East Society, so called." At a later meeting, however, the town ordered that the East Society be paid its share of the tax, amounting to $88.26.
Early in 1826 there came to Ware the most interesting and remarkable man that was ever connected with the town, - Mr. Sampson V. S. Wilder, one of the merchant-princes of the first half of the nineteenth century. Mr. Wilder was born in 1780, and began his successful business career in 1802, from which time he was concerned with important transactions on both sides of the Atlantic, enjoying confi- dential relations with great men both in Europe and America. On the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, for whom he entertained
178
HISTORY OF WARE
a high regard, Mr. Wilder formed the plan of bringing the Emperor to America on one of the ships under his direction. The plan, which, however, was abandoned, was to con- ceal Napoleon in a large cask 1 with a false compartment from which water was constantly to drip. Arrived in Amer- ica Mr. Wilder proposed further to entertain the Emperor for at least six months at his country residence at Bolton, Massachusetts.
In 1825 Mr. Wilder became president of the manufac- turing company having its works in Ware, and he was selected by the directors and principal stockholders to take charge of the establishment. As an inducement to his ac- ceptance, the stockholders proposed a grant of $3,000 toward building a church at the village, on condition that the good people of the neighborhood raise $3,000 in addi- tion; Mr. Wilder to be invested with full powers to superin- tend the erection of said house and of settling a pastor. Regarding this as "an obvious call of Providence," Mr. Wilder assented to the arrangement.
The rare volume containing Mr. Wilder's records, pub- lished in 1865, gives in his own words a curious and enter- taining picture of our town as it appeared to him in 1826. As the History of Ware would not be complete without Mr. Wilder's pungent and vigorous characterization, it is here quoted without comment.
I soon ascertained that our head-machinist and agent were uncompromising Unitarians, and that they had placed as overseers in all the departments either Unitarians or Universalists; that most of the workmen, consisting of about two hundred in one machinist establishment, were of the same persuasions; that they attended no church or reg- ular preaching, and that on each Sunday some hundred or more young men and women were in the habit of going on board the company's scows and rowing up the large pond of the establishment for a mile or two out of town, and hav- ing at a groggery what they called a jollification, thus dese- crating the holy Sabbath. I also found that the old inhabi- tants, who were located from one to two miles around the
1 "Elba and the Hundred Days," Imbert de St. Armand. Also "Records of S. V. S. Wilder."
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179
LATER RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
village, and who were mostly orthodox, stood entirely aloof from associating with the establishment in any religious exercises.
On arriving at Ware, it seems that the news had already reached the village of the decisions of the Boston company, and in walking through the various workshops and factories on the afternoon of my arrival, I think I never beheld so many sorrowful and wry faces. On the following evening I assembled all the old inhabitants of the neighbor- hood, who gave me a most cordial reception, made known to them the object of my mission, and stated to them that I had brought with me $3,000 towards building a meeting- house, on condition that a similar sum should be raised among themselves for its completion.
In addition to this sum, I was authorized to select a spot on the company's lands for the location of the house. A subscription paper was immediately drawn up, and by heading the paper with $500 on my own account, I had the satisfaction of seeing subscribed that very evening $2,700, and in three days the $300 additional was made up. In ten days I had my plans for the house drawn out, and a contract for building it completed.
There were, however, two parties, one of which wished the house to be located on the hill,1 and the other in the valley nearer the centre of the village. Foreseeing that it would require $500 more to complete the house according to my views, I gave out that whichever party would first sub- scribe the requisite $500 in addition to their former sub- scriptions, the house should be located in conformity to their wishes. The hill party having raised this sum, the house was located on the hill.
In consequence of the lawyer of the village having in- vited his brother-in-law the Rev. Parsons Cooke to preach for a Sabbath or two, I providentially found this orthodox clergyman in the village on my arrival there.
In less than six months this temple was erected and com- pleted, and I trust, by divine grace, has proved none other than the house of God, the very gate of heaven, to hundreds who are now worshipping in that sacred temple above.
The next question was to make choice of a suitable pastor. After hearing the Rev. Parsons Cooke for several Sabbaths, the orthodox members of the church, being the
1 Mr. Wilder's idea was to make the site of the church a civic centre, with a court-house opposite.
180
HISTORY OF WARE
majority, with great unanimity fixed on this clergyman, dis- tinguished for soundness of doctrine, superior abilities, and eminent piety, as their first pastor.
But few months had elapsed before there was a wonderful display of the power and grace of God in that highly favored village, in the conviction and conversion of sinners by the faithful, pungent preaching and parochial visits of the rev- erend pastor and deacons of the church. A glorious revival of religion was the result.
The eighteen months during which Mr. Wilder acted as agent of the Manufacturing Company were stirring times.
Before Dec. 23, 1826, two hundred and fifty-seven per- sons filed certificates with the town clerk as being members of the East Parish, and in the same year an attempt was made to establish a line between the new parish and the old.
Feeling evidently ran high, and neighbors found it hard to live peaceably. In the following year a strong movement arose for dividing the town, together with the Church, and E. H. Bellows and others petitioned the Legislature for such a division. The petition was promptly followed by a re- monstrance led by Aaron Gould. Religion and politics be- came badly mixed. The election of a representative to the Legislature in 1828 hinged upon the division question, and resulted in a tie vote. Finally, however, it was agreed that Muddy Brook should form the dividing line between the parishes, though the right was reserved for individuals to join any religious body they pleased. This plan was sub- mitted to the Legislature, and in 1829 the East Congrega- tional Society was incorporated.1
1 " At a meeting of a respectable number of the inhabitants of Ware Village con- vened at the Mr. Phelps Hotel on the 7th of March 1826 to consult on the propriety of erecting a house for publick worship, the meeting was called to order by S. V. S. Wilder, Esq.
1st. Joseph Cummings Esq. was chosen Chairman.
2nd. Luther Brown Scribe.
3rd. Voted a deputation be sent to those interested who are not present. Col. Anthony Olney Chosen.
4th. Voted that it is the sense of the meeting that a House for public worship should be built in this village on the spot & on the terms proposed by the Agent of the corporation.
5th. Voted there be a building committee consisting of five & that sd committee be nominated from the chair.
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181
LATER RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
So ably and shrewdly was the meeting-house financed that a short description of the plan is worth recording. What today would be called an underwriting syndicate was formed, and one hundred shares at $70 each were put on sale. The Ware Manufacturing Company agreed to furnish the land and $3000, in consideration of which they received fifty shares at a face value of $3500.
The other share-holders were as follows:
S. V. S. Wilder 4 shares
Benjn Paige
2
66
Jedediah Tucker 2
David Tucker 1
Joseph Cummings 2
Calvin Morse
2
2
66
Homer Bartlett Samuel Phelps
2
66
Alpheus Demond 3
2
Jonathan Brown 2
Geo. W. Porter & Co. 2
66
Joel Rice 3
William Snow
1
Horace Goodrich
2
Henry Adkins. 1
Warner Brown
2
66
Allender Brakenridge
1
Alvin Leonard 1
Isaac Magoon.
1
Avery Cary 1
Henry Graves. 1
4
Ansel Kenfield
1
Gideon Gardner 2
98
Assigned to R. Bosworth 12 share to I. Gorham
6th. Voted that Col. Anthony Olney, Mr. Alpheus Demond, Homer Bartlet Esq. & Capt. Joel Rice be on sd committee.
7th. Voted that the Chairman of sd Committee nominate one on sd Committee & Joseph Cummings Esq. was Chosen. 8th. Voted sd Committee be authorized to call a meeting at any time they may think expedient.
9th. Voted that this meeting be forthwith dissolved.
Luther Brown Scribe "
as
er- vers ras the
ard ent nd ich re- be- the nd at the to b- ça-
on- ety
Vol. hip nt
tee
red the rer. ival
S.
66
William Paige
66
Luther Brown 1
66
Anthony Olney
dis- an:
182
HISTORY OF WARE
Upon the completion of the house the pews were to be sold at public auction, and the proceeds of the sale paid to the subscribers pro rata, provided only that should the sales produce more than the cost of the house, the overplus should form a fund for the support of the Society. The sale of pews netted $134.41 over and above the liabilities including interest, which sum was in 1835 turned over to a committee for painting and repairing the house. The "underwriters " were reimbursed in full for their cash pay- ments, the Manufacturing Company giving a receipt on Oct. 27, 1831 for $3001.45, signed by "Chris" Colt, Agt. of the Ware Mf. Co. and of the Hampshire Mf. Co."
The church at Ware Factory Village was "constituted " April 12, 1826, the Rev. Alfred Ely of Monson preaching the sermon.
The corner-stone was laid June 21, 1826, with an ad- dress by Rev. Joseph Vaill of Brimfield. On the same day the Rev. Parsons Cooke was ordained "to the pastoral care of the East Evangelical Society in Ware." Rev. John Woodbridge, D.D. of Hadley preached, taking as his sub- ject "The Courageous Minister." Rev. Mr. Ely delivered the charge: "Constituted as you now are, by the will of God, a Bishop in Christ's visible family, we charge you " etc. Rev. Ralph W. Gridley of Williamstown gave the Right Hand of Fellowship.
Mr. Cooke preached at the dedication of the meeting- house on Jan. 24, 1827.
The Rev. Parsons Cooke served the East Parish until the spring of 1835. He was a noted controversialist, and was "in the very forefront of the battle in the conflict with Uni- versalism and every form of error. Well might he be sur- named Boanerges. In the comparative quiet of Ware Village he first learned the use of weapons afterwards wielded by him with great power." 1
In 1832 Mr. Cooke stirred up a hornet's nest by his advo- cacy of an extreme position on the temperance question, the result being that twenty-eight persons withdrew from the East Society to form a third Congregational Society. The
1 " Records of S. V. S. Wilder."
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NTO TO WARE
JE Agt
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MILLS OF OTIS COMPANY -1854 Showing the Old Wooden Mill T
G
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LATER RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES
story is told in a letter of Miss Cornelia Gould's, whose mind was filled with interesting historical lore.
Nov. 29, '88
W. S. Hyde,
Sir,
Your note of the 27th is duly received. Such informa- tion as I can give from memory and tradition, is at your service.
When looking over the papers of the late Seth Gould, I came across the clerk's book of that 3rd Cong. Society: there were but two or three pages of record, do not find it now among my possessions and cannot tell what I did with it. Doubtless you have the exact date in the records you mention.
The occasion of its formation was the opposition aroused to the course of the ministers of the 1st & 2nd churches in regard to the Temperance movement. Rev. Parsons Cooke prepared and preached a very radical sermon according to existing ideas, on moderate drinking and the sale of spirits.
Rev. A. B. Reed invited him to preach it in his pulpit. It offended many in both Soc. As the State law then stood I believe there was compulsory membership to some re- ligious Society. The offended people signed off, as it was called, and formed a 3rd organization: raised 40 doll for preaching, hired a Unitarian minister from Boston, I do not remember his name, who preached 4 Sabbaths, twice in the hall of the old white schoolhouse in the Village, and twice in the hall of the Centre Schoolhouse.
I remember going to the meetings; being brought up in the Tavern I was of course in the thick of the fight, but too young to understand it then.
I believe it was at the next session of the Legislature that the support of preaching was made voluntary and no more was heard of the 3rd Society. The families of these men returned mainly to the old places of worship, and were some- times accused of stealing preaching. In many cases the bitter feelings lived on till the generation were all gone. Mr. Gideon Lamberton is the only one living that I know of who belonged to that Society.
Very Cordially,
Cornelia A. Gould.
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HISTORY OF WARE
In 1835 the Rev. Cyrus Yale became pastor of the church. During his ministry musical instruments were first used in public worship. A double-bass viol was purchased by sub- scription for $60 in 1836.1 Previous to this the pitch-pipe and serpentine had been used. Afterwards other instru- ments, as flute and violin, were introduced. A melodeon was placed in the meeting-house in 1856, and an organ was purchased in 1862. Mr. Yale remained but two years, being succeeded by Rev. J. E. Woodbridge in 1838. In the fall of 1840 Mr. Woodbridge asked a dismission, and in 1842 Rev. Nahum Gale was called to the ministry.
The church building erected in 1826 was old-fashioned, with high pews, and the pulpit was between the doors, reached by a winding stairway. As one entered the church he faced the congregation. In 1846 a movement was made to remodel the building. In order to do this the rights of the Proprietors had to be extinguished, and a sum of money was raised to purchase such pews as were not donated to the society.
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