USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Ware > History of Ware, Massachusetts > Part 20
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The handsome and commodious High School building on Church Street was erected in 1893.
The new South Street building was constructed in 1901.
THE LIBRARY
The first library in our town dates from 1796.2 On'September 5 of that year "The Subscribers for a Librarian Society " met at the schoolhouse near the meeting-house. They chose Rev. Reuben Moss chairman and Isaac Pepper clerk, and appointed these two men, with Daniel Gould, a com- mittee "to draw up articles of rules and regulations for said society." One dollar was contributed by each subscriber for the purchase of books.
1 This addition provided accommodations for the High School, which was kept here for twenty years.
2 The Proprietors' Record Book, just brought to light, furnishes authentic infor- mation concerning this interesting matter.
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HISTORY OF WARE
In November Rev. Mr. Moss was chosen librarian, and about fifty volumes were purchased. Sermons, histories, and philosophical essays predominated. The fiction was represented by "The Mysteries of Udolpho," "Pilgrim's Progress " and "The Hermit."
Among the regulations we find the following:
In order that the property of the Society may be pre- served the following fines shall be imposed in case of delin- quency whilst a book is in the possession of any proprietor. For every leaf that appears to have been turned down, three cents. For every drop of grease from a candle, lamp or any other way, from six to twenty-five cents at the esti- mation of the Librarian or the committee of inspection. For effacing a book with dirty hands or any other way, from eight to twenty-five cents. For tearing a leaf or injur- ing the cover not less than five cents, and as much more as the Librarian or the committee of inspection shall deter- mine.
Books could be drawn any day except Sunday.
The Society continued, and its members attended to de- tails of business, up to 1808. Meetings were held at the schoolhouse, at Joshua Crowell's tavern, or at private houses. Occasional assessments of from 25 to 3712 cents were made, and new books were added to the collection. The matter of fines was carefully looked after.
Voted to remit one-half of Stephen Pepper's fine (viz) Seven cents. Voted to remit Wm. Patrick's fine if he pay eleven cents. Voted to remit one-half of Doc. King's fine if he pay twelve cents.
In January, 1808, the number of proprietors was 47. In this year the Society was incorporated in accordance with an act of the Legislature, and a Constitution and By-laws were adopted. The name was changed to "The Proprietors of the Social Library in the Town of Ware." The twelfth article of the Constitution provided that when the common stock should amount to a certain number of volumes (number not yet determined upon), the citizens at large should have access to the library on condition of a small payment. An inter- esting item of the by-laws provided that new books should
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be put up at public vendue "to see who will bid and pay upon the spot most for the first, second, third, etc. reading." Bids are thereafter recorded of from one to six cents for such privileges. In 1812 the premium for a first reading was as high as twenty-four cents.
The library flourished for many years, and the names of the best citizens of the town are recorded as officers and pro- prietors. Suddenly, without any apparent warning, the whole thing comes to an end. On Dec. 30, 1822, a legal meeting of the Society was held. Wm. Bowdoin was mod- erator, Leonard Gould clerk, Eli Snow librarian, James Breakenridge, Jr., collector, John Gardner treasurer, Amasa Anderson, Wm. Bowdoin and Rev. Samuel Ware standing committee. It was voted that the tax of 50 cents levied at the last annual meeting "be disannulled," and that the books of the Society be sold at auction, the proceeds to be divided among the several shareholders. Here the records come to an end.
Two years later, when manufacturing first began in Ware Village in 1824, the "Mechanics' and Manufacturers' Library " was organized, and with a good collection of books was maintained for many years. The books were moved from place to place, and interest in the library fluctuated. In 1844 it was unanimously voted "that the library is in a deplorable condition." It was somewhat revived by S. J. Wethrell in 1850, and again in 1853 by A. L. Devens, the agent of the Manufacturing Co. In 1861 the Proprietors placed the books in the care of the "Ware Natural History Society," where they remained for ten years. On March 30, 1871, "The Young Men's Debating Society " was organized with twenty-one members, the avowed object being self-cul- ture, as stated in the Constitution. Meetings were held once a week, the exercises consisting of debates, orations, parlia- mentary practice and the reading of papers by members of the club. A room was secured in Sandford's Block and effort was put forth to make the meetings profitable.
In the fall of 1871 it was determined to open a public reading-room. This was hardly in successful operation be- ' fore it was decided to add a library. The sum of $300 was raised among the business men of the town, and the remnant
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HISTORY OF WARE
of the old library - about 400 volumes - was placed in the charge of the Debating Society. The library was opened to the public on Feb. 28, 1872, with 700 volumes. An an- nual fee of two dollars was charged for the privilege of taking books. This arrangement not working well, it was deter- mined to apply for a special act of incorporation which should allow the town, on condition that the library be made free to all the inhabitants, to appropriate money for its support, while allowing the library to remain under the management of the Society. A petition embodying the idea was pre- sented to the proper committee of the Legislature in 1872. In reply the petitioners were informed that, instead of grant- ing a special act, the substance of what was asked for would be recommended as a general law to apply to towns through- out the Commonwealth. The law went into effect in April, 1872, and the Debating Society at once reorganized under the present corporate name of the Young Men's Library Asso- ciation. Its members had the honor of suggesting the law, and were the first to incorporate under it. The library stead- ily increased both in size and usefulness until its quarters in Sandford's Block were wholly inadequate, and it was evident that a special building ought to be provided. In 1879 Mr. Calvin Hitchcock offered the lot at the corner of Main and Church Streets to the Association as a gift, provided ten thousand dollars be raised for the erection of a building. In March, 1880, Hon. William Hyde met Mr. Hitchcock's con- dition with an offer of ten thousand dollars. The building was erected, and was formally dedicated on July 19, 1881. Since that time the number of volumes has increased from less than 4,000 to more than 14,000, and the library has become one of the most important institutions of the town. Two reading-rooms, well supplied with current newspapers and magazines, are maintained in the building, which also serves as a repository for articles of curious and historic interest.
THE TOWN HALL
For a hundred years the meeting-house at the Centre was also the Town Hall, and there all town meetings were held. The law of 1833, making the support of religion voluntary,
PHELPS HOTEL-1854
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raised certain questions in regard to the rights of towns in the use of church property. Nevertheless town meetings continued to be held at the Centre long after public con- venience would have been better served in the village.
In 1843 the meeting-house was remodelled by the Society in its present form, and objection was made to using the auditorium for secular purposes. At the March meeting, 1843, an article appeared in the warrant "to apply the Sur- plus Revenue to building a Town House." The article was, however, passed over. A warrant for a meeting in May of the same year contained an article to see if the town would accept the lower story of the Methodist meeting-house, about to be erected, for a Town Hall, and appropriate part of the Surplus Revenue to furnish the same. This, likewise, was passed over. At a later meeting, May 15, it was voted to accept the lower story of the meeting-house at the Centre for a Town Hall, provided the First Congregational Society give a satisfactory title. From the Surplus Revenue $500 was appropriated to fit up the room. But the inconvenience of the Centre as a meeting-place grew more and more appar- ent, and an article was placed in the warrant for the March meeting of 1846 "to see if the town will build a Town House in the village." The article was passed over, but appeared again a month later, at which time it was voted to choose a committee of five to superintend the building of a Town House. The limit of cost was placed at $2,500, including land, building and fixtures. The committee consisted of Chas. A. Stevens, Joel Rice, Allender Brakenridge, Seth Pierce and Avery Clark. At a town meeting held in May it was decided to build a Grammar Schoolroom in the upper story 1 of the Town House, and $1,000 was added to the original appropriation. In November the work of building was passed over to the selectmen, who in April, 1847, asked for an appropriation of $900 "for heating, lighting and fixtures." Thus the entire cost of the building came under $4,500. The hall was opened with appropriate ex- ercises on March 31, 1847, at which time was delivered the celebrated "Historical Address " by William Hyde, Esq.
1 As a matter of fact, the schoolroom was on the first floor, the hall on the second.
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This address needs no word of commendation from any later historian. It is above all praise, and stands as the one real classic that our town has produced. By formal vote of the citizens a copy of the address was requested for publication. The pamphlet, printed by Merriam and Cooke, of Brook- field, is now extremely rare and is much sought after by col- lectors.
For twenty years the old Town Hall served its double purpose, until, in 1867, it was burned to the ground. A most serious loss was the destruction of a great portion of the public records of the early years. Fortunately the Town Record Books, which contain the minutes of town meet- ings, had been removed from the hall. These, together with a single old account book, are all that have survived.
After the burning of the hall, town meeting was again held for a single session at the Centre, after which "Music Hall" on Bank Street was used until the construction of the new Town Hall on the site of the old one in 1885-86.
The present building contains all necessary offices, dis- trict court-room, etc., besides an ample auditorium.
The clock and Westminster chimes were placed in the tower in 1901 by the heirs of the late John H. Storrs.
THE SURPLUS REVENUE
By the beginning of the year 1835 the national debt of the United States had been paid in full. From that time a surplus began to roll up in the Treasury so rapidly as to alarm financiers, who feared for the result of so large an amount of the nation's money being withdrawn from circulation. This unappropriated fund, the proceeds of extensive land sales and of a high tariff, amounted to $35,000,000 by the beginning of 1836. Congress, after long debate, decided that the money should be distributed to the states pro rata of the population as a loan, though the belief was general that it never would be recalled.
Massachusetts received, in three installments, $1,338,173, and proceeded to distribute the same among the towns of the state in proportion to the population. Ware's share approximated $5,000. The use of the money thus received
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has been a matter of considerable interest. In some states it was largely squandered.1 New York made the best use of it, applying it to the improvement of its educational in- stitutions. Massachusetts stands on middle ground, the Legislature deciding that it might be used for any purpose for which money could be lawfully raised by taxation.
In March, 1837, Ware voted to accept the town's pro- portion of the Surplus Revenue, and to invest it in bank stock. In August of the same year the latter vote, in regard to investment, was revoked, and a committee of the ablest men in town was appointed to take the subject of the Sur- plus Revenue into consideration. The committee in Sep- tember reported that they had discussed the matter with the citizens generally, but found no unanimity of opinion what- ever. "We find the citizens divided on this as on every other subject that is brought before them, . . . some in favor of a pauper establishment, some for loaning in small sums, . . some for dividing it among the inhabitants, while others are in favor of returning it to the State Treasury." The committee really favored the latter, but finally recommended "that $4,000 together with the fourth installment (pro- vided we should receive it) be loaned to the Commonwealth, and the remainder be appropriated for town expenses for the current year." This recommendation was adopted by the town, and the money was eventually loaned to the State, for in the following year it was voted to expend the interest, amounting to two hundred dollars, in repairs upon the high- ways.
In 1839 it was "voted to authorize the Treasurer to draw from the State Treasury sufficient of the Surplus Revenue to repair the road recently ordered by the County Commis- sioners from the hotel in the Village to Hardwick Line." The following year the above vote was confirmed.
In 1842 it was voted to choose a committee to purchase a farm on which to support the paupers of the town, should the committee deem it expedient, and to make use of the Surplus Revenue as far as it is sufficient. Meanwhile the Treasurer was directed to invest the funds to the best ad- vantage. The committee evidently did not favor the poor-
1 E. G. Bourne, "History of the Surplus Revenue of 1837."
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farm project, and took no action. In the following year an article was inserted in the warrant to see if the town would appropriate any portion of the Surplus Revenue to build a town hall. The article was, however, passed over. In the same year, 1843, the lower story of the meeting- house at the Centre was accepted for a town hall, and a committee appointed to fit it up for the purpose. They were authorized to draw not over $500 from the Surplus Revenue for fittings and furnishings. In March, 1844, the former committee having proved delinquent, a new one was appointed and directed "to purchase and stock from the Surplus Revenue if sufficient, and for the want thereof to borrow sufficient to add thereto, and pay for the farm." The committee moved leisurely. In April, 1845, further in- roads on the fund were made when the town voted to pay for building the bridge near the woollen factory from the Surplus Revenue. The poor-farm was bought of Moses Gray, Jr., in 1846 for $2,500 and was stocked according to orders, - at what expense is not stated. The remainder of the Surplus Revenue was used, and in 1847 the town bor- rowed $2,000 to complete the payment.
Ware's use of this interesting windfall was typical of the towns of the State, so far as the history has been traced out.
It may be remarked that the "fourth installment " was never paid. By Jan. 1, 1839, when it was due, the country was in a financial panic, and there was no surplus in the National Treasury. Meanwhile the power to recall the money had been withdrawn from the Treasurer of the United States by Congressional action. It was morally certain that Congress would never vote back the funds, - and it never has.
PHYSICIANS
The first doctor to settle in the town was Edward Daman,1 who came from Reading, Connecticut. He first settled in Brookfield, soon after removing to Ware. The record of the births of his children begins here in 1735. In 1745 he bought of Paul Thurston a farm of 206 acres between Muddy and
1 This is the spelling on his gravestone.
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Flat Brooks, bordering on Hardwick, and bounded westerly by the Manour. Dr. Daman is frequently mentioned in the Town Records. He died March 16, 1800, at the age of 96. In 1768 Dr. Woods 1 is allowed "for Doctren Uriah Bush £1,,16." In 1772 Dr. Billings's rate is abated, and in 1779 his account is allowed for doctoring Uriah Gilbert. In 1775 Dr. Gilbort is appointed door-keeper for the meeting-house, and Dr. Shubal Winslow's account of 12s. is allowed.
In 1785 Dr. Ketridge is mentioned, and Dr. Bolton. Dr. Elias Bolton came from Mendon about 1780. After him was Dr. Walker, who came from Windham, Connecticut, and re- mained about six years. Among the bills against the estate of Jonathan Rogers, who died in 1784, is one from Dr. Estes How, one from Dr. William Thomas and one from Dr. Stearnes. Dr. How is also mentioned in the Town Records in 1786.
Dr. Rufus King came from Brookfield in 1789, and lived here half a century. He is mentioned several times as re- ceiving fees from the town for doctoring the poor. In 1813 Dr. C. Hutchings receives fees for the same. In 1818 men- tion is made of Dr. Daniel Pierce, and of Dr. Horace Good- rich in 1820. Dr. Goodrich and Dr. Anson Moody, natives of South Hadley, settled here about that time, practising in partnership. Dr. Moody not long after removed to Con- necticut. Dr. Goodrich remained in Ware until 1853, when he also removed to Connecticut. In 1843 Dr. E. C. Rich- ardson came from Watertown, and remained here to the end of his life. Dr. David W. Miner came in 1845, and prac- tised for fifty years. Dr. John Yale studied with Dr. Good- rich, and began practising in Ware in 1846. He was a son of Rev. Cyrus Yale, pastor of the East Church. Dr. Yale's death removed the last of what might be called the old time physicians of the town.
NEWSPAPERS
The first newspaper published in Ware was the Village Gazette. Hemenway & Fisk began its publication July 7,
1 In the Probate Records is found a bill of Dr. Obad' Wood for attending Ben- jamin Bartlett in his last sickness. Bartlett died in 1761.
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HISTORY OF WARE
1847. On March 15, 1848, Mr. Fisk sold his interest to Mr. Hemenway, but continued as editor until Jan. 1, 1849. An examination of the single copy of the paper that has come under the writer's eye shows it to have been an unusual sheet for that period, when newspapers were little concerned with news, particularly with local news. The motto of the Vil- lage Gazette was this:
"A Record of the busy World, Its Clouds and Sunshine, Smiles and tears."
It was published by W. A. Hemenway, G. M. Fisk, editor, at one dollar a year. A notice informs the public that "letters to receive attention must be post paid."
A portion of the sheet was devoted to paragraphs, liter- ary or humorous, and there was also a considerable amount of local and general news. Politics came first in this line, and we find announced "Good news for the Whigs." This number gives the votes cast in town for Presidential electors: Whig, 218. Democrat, 124. Free Soil, 151. There is the usual proportion of patent medicine advertising, and several business cards of neighboring towns. The local advertising - might serve as a business directory for 1848.
Demond & Ruggles, Boots & Shoes, hats & caps.
L. Draper, Stoves.
S. Newbour & Brother have just taken the Old Company Store.
S. F. Pepper, Variety Store. Muffs etc. Wood. Patent Medicines. "Pepper's burning fluid, or chemical oil, 75 cts. per gallon." Daguerreotypes taken.
D. Converse & Co. Groceries.
Jas. Tolman & Son. Fur robes, clothing.
W. S. Brakenridge, Medicines, Fire Insurance.
Hutchinson & Brooks, Bank St. Boot & Shoe Store (under the Baptist Church).
W. DeWitt, Hardware.
A. Randall, Boots & Shoes.
Theodore Field, Dye House.
A. Clark, Millinery etc.
L. Hilton, Oyster Room.
Simpson's Tailoring Establishment.
W. H. Willard, Tailoring.
A. R. Jessup, Dry Goods.
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G. C. Jennison, Boston & Ware Express.
L. Hyland has taken the store recently occupied by J. H. Peters, Cor. Church & Main Streets.
Lightning - The Subscriber has recently set up one of those recently invented batteries for the purpose of Gold and Silver plating. L. Babcock.
For Sale-The Carpet in Pew No. 101, Congregational Church, 2 hymn books, and various small articles including a mouse trap. Addison Sandford.
The Village Gazette became the Ware Gazette in 1849, and in 1850 the subscription list was sold to J. F. Downing who founded the Ware American, enlarged the paper and published it until the following autumn, when he sold the subscriptions to the Springfield Republican.
There lies before me Vol. 1, No. 1, of the Ware Offering and Factory Girls' Garland, Devoted to Polite Literature, Science, Morals, and the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. It was published in January, 1848, as a monthly, by S. F. Pepper at 3712 cents a year. It contains four pages, twelve by sixteen inches. It is an "improving" sheet wholly without news. The leading article is a lurid story entitled "The Stained Hand, or the Criminal His Own Accuser." There are several poems and short articles on "Dreams," "Popping the Question," "Cleanliness," "The Cause of Meteors," etc. The editor is the only advertiser, and it is announced that "all subscribers may consider themselves contributors." This interesting periodical only reached three or four num- bers.
The Ware Weekly Courier was commenced Jan. 1, 1848, by C. H. & W. F. Brown. It was a reprint of the Worcester Aegis, having a Ware heading and local column. It lived but a few weeks.
The Ware Standard was established here by Gordon Fisk but soon after, the Western Railroad (later called the Boston & Albany) being put through Palmer, Mr. Fisk re- moved his headquarters to that town and founded the Palmer Journal. He continued the issue of the Ware Standard as a reprint until 1897. In like manner the Ware Gazette, an offshoot of the Barre Gazette, was circulated in town for some years.
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HISTORY OF WARE
On Oct. 26, 1887, was issued the first number of the Ware River News, an entirely new publication under the man- agement of R. E. Capron. This weekly is still under the same management, and is the only newspaper published in town.
RAILROADS
The citizens of the town early realized the advantages that would accrue from a railroad connecting Ware with other places. Before the building of the Boston & Albany Railroad the town petitioned the Legislature to carry such a road through Ware. Though the general project was accomplished, our town was left at one side. In 1847 we find a petition of Joseph Hartwell and others for authority to incorporate and power to construct a railroad through Hardwick, Barre, Hubbardston and Gardner, to connect with the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad at or near South Gardner.
In 1851 a company was incorporated to build a road that should follow the course of the Ware River, to be known as the Ware River Railroad. On April 26, 1869, the town au- thorized and directed the selectmen to subscribe for stock in this corporation to the amount of five per cent. of its valua- tion, said subscription not to exceed $70,000. Stock to the value of $50,000 was actually taken by the town, and in 1870 the road was constructed from Palmer to Gilbertville. The original company becoming embarrassed, a new corpora- tion was formed in 1873, retaining the old name. Soon after the road was leased for ninety-nine years by the Boston & Albany Railroad, and became a branch of the latter line.
The Southern Division of the Boston & Maine Railroad, known as the Massachusetts Central, was opened for traffic in 1887. Under date of June 27 of that year we find the following notice:
First Passenger Trains on the Central. A train con- sisting of engine and three handsome passenger coaches arrived at Ware Sunday afternoon on the new Central Massachusetts railroad. The day being fine, 1,000 citizens went from the village to see the new cars. . . Yesterday
MOTORY OF WARS
IN P. M. 1587 ww least the last minute of the Me
RAILROADS
Mer idaces, Before the Toilesie of the Boxlua & Alhaar | the town
Broed through
ou auf Gard
THE HAMPSHIRE MANUFACTURERS' BANK
Lbe W
Built in 1825, and changed to the Ware National Bank in 1864. The Savings Bank occupied the upper story of the building from 1850 to 1881. This building was replaced by the present National Bank Building. of ils qdos
Stvook to s e town, hod 3070 fr n almer to Gilbertval
road wil lard be ninety-the rear ig 14 Borloo Alleny Budouil ul Secajoe a branch of the latter ligt.
FINE 1
Moscousells nul. The day being dire, 1,000 times Bind from the gibyg to see the poor cowa.
SAVINGS
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MISCELLANEOUS TOWN SUBJECTS
morning the first passenger train started at 7:25. Among the passengers were noticed Charles D. Gilbert, George Gould, Perry Cheevers, Harry Prendeville, John Connor, F. N. Hosmer and Joseph Harding. A large number of excursionists from Boston came by the 10 A. M. train and dined at the Hampshire House."
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