History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 171

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 171

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The principal body of water (natural pond) within its borders is the Whittemore or Moose Pond. It is situated in the centre of the township, and covers about eighty acres of land, is very pure and wholesome water, being fed almost entirely by springs, and yields in the winter a harvest of excellent ice for summer consumption. In winter, also, it is a fine sporting field for persons of piscatorial habits, as it contains hard, luscions pickerel, that sustain a wide reputation. Brooks and Browning Ponds, lying on the north, are quite large bodies of water, but they are principally in the towns of Oakham and North Brookfield. There are two large reservoirs-one the "Sugden," lying wholly in Spencer, and situated near the Upper Wire Village, and the other the "Styles," situated at the southeast corner of the town, and lying one-half in Spencer and one-half in Leicester. Cranberry Meadow and Burntcoat Ponds cover over a considerable terri- tory, the former lying between Spencer and Charlton, and the latter three-fourths in Leicester. The other ponds, or small reservoirs, contain water enough to make them an important auxiliary to steam, and are made fairly remunerative when used in this con- nection.

SOIL .- The soil, when properly cultivated, yields abundant crops of grass, grains, potatoes, &c., and compares favorably with the average farming lands of the county.

SURFACE .- The surface is very irregular, but not abrupt, is diversified by hills and valleys, some of the hills forming the highest points of land between Springfield and Worcester, on the line of the Boston & Albany Railroad, and are very symmetrical in form. They overlook a large extent of country to the north, west and south, and from the summit of some of them the eye takes in an extended sweep of country, dotted with houses, ponds, streams, valleys, other hills and

distant spires, in neighboring towns, all combining to form a scene not to be surpassed in the country.

GEOLOGICAL. - The geological formation of the town consists mostly of gneiss rock ; mica and chlorite slate are found, and the rock is generally unfit for building purposes. The highest ledges retain a hori- zontal position, while in the low river bottoms they are tilted abont one-third, showing that the disturbing force has been a sinking, rather than an uplifting one. Trap prevails to some extent in the north part; the boulders correspond with the native ledges, and scratches of glaciers are found.

THE VILLAGE .- The village spreads out over a very uneven surface. The original streets are crooked and narrow, but in the more modern portions they are laid out with more regularity, wider and more con- venient for travel and business.

RAILROADS .- The railroad accommodations are limited to one line, viz .- the Boston and Albany, which is located two and one-quarter miles from the business centre, the station being at Sonth Spencer. This was a long distance to transport the large number of passengers and amount of freight laid down at this depot, and numerous coaches and heavy teams were constantly employed for this purpose. In 1870 a route was surveyed from the Boston and Albany Railroad at South Spencer to the central part of the village, and in 1872, at a town-meeting, the town was called upon to subscribe to the capital stock in a railroad to con- nect these two points ; but at this meeting it was voted "to pass over the article." Various surveys were now made, covering this and other routes, but the matter was not brought before the town again until April 7, 1877, when the article was again passed over. Several more meetings were held for this purpose, but with like results, until, at a meeting April 3, 1878, the town voted to subscribe to two hundred and fifty shares (twenty-five thousand dollars) of the capital stock in said road, which action caused the road to be forthwith constructed, greatly to the relief of the increasing traffic and to the convenience and comfort of the traveling public.

MEETING-HOUSES. - Congregationalists. - The first care of the settlers here, as elsewhere, was to arrange for such shelter as would meet the wants of their fami- lies ; then, as they invariably carried their religion with them, it became their next duty to provide for a meeting-house aud minister, that their spiritual wants might be properly cared for. April 2, 1739, Samuel Bemis and John Stebbings were chosen a committee by the settlers of the west half to proceed to Boston for the purpose of meeting the proprietors, then and there, "to come into some arrangement about the building of a meeting-house and having the gospel preached to them." At the meeting held for the pur- pose it was voted "to lay a tax of three pence per acre on their lands the following year, and two pence per acre for the next two years. to assist the settlers in building a good, substantial meeting-house, forty-

636

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

five foot in length and thirty-five foot in width, and towards the minister's support." As a further assur- ance that the undertaking should be a success, Nathaniel Cunningham, of Cambridge, donated to them by deed, February 26, 1740, two acres of land " for the accommodation of a meeting-house, a train- ing-field and such other public uses as the town shall direct, forever." In all probability they were about erecting this house in the year 1743, although the re- cords do not indicate that such was the case, as on the 30th of November of that year it is recorded that the proprietors held a meeting at which a report of the parties who contracted for the building of the same was considered by them. That the house was occupied when in a very crude condition, the re- cords, further on, give conclusive evidence. It was covered with rough, unplaned boards, having a ground floor and loose flooring for the galleries, the inner walls unfinished, the interior lighted by a few small windows, the glass set in leaden sash. Yet, notwithstanding it was a rude and uninviting struc- ture, it afforded the inhabitants shelter from the sun and storm, and furnished them an altar around which they could gather for religious worship and instruction.

It became necessary now to make some arrange- ments for seats, or pews, and on the 7th of Novem- ber, 1744, a meeting of the inhabitants was called, "to see if they would come into any method in order to build the body of seets," and also " to see what method they will come into to dispose of the pews." The " body of seets" was located in the centre of the house, on either side of the centre aisle. The wall- seats, on the west side of the house, were for the elderly men without pews and those on the east side for the elderly women without pews. The galleries were for the younger people and the sexes were separated in the same manner as below. At the last meeting a " comity " was chosen to build the "body of sects " and to "mark out, Dignify and set a prize on the pew spots." This work having been com- pleted, the following plan was adopted for disposing of the "spots," viz. : "The man that shall be highest in valuation of real-estate shall have the first choice, and the next in succession until the pews are all taken up." According to this plan Samuel Bemis was entitled to the first choice, and it was voted that "he have the Pew Spot on the Rite hand side of the Coming in of the South Doore, prize £5 0s. Od .; Left. Jonathan Lamb shall have the Pew Spot on the easte end of the polpet ajoining thereunto, prize £408. 0d." And so on until twelve spots had been assigned and located. The sum of two pounds was the lowest price paid.

One year later the sum of £25 was voted " to defray the charges of building a polpet, Deacon's seet, body of seets and ministerial pew." For nearly five years the " doors" had been without proper fastenings, and on the 28th of March, 1748, a committee of three, viz. : Lieutenant White, Deacon Worster and Daniel

Knapp, was chosen "to procure a Lock and Key for the meeting-house Doore, at the cost of the Parish."

From this time until March 2, 1767, the subject of finishing the building had been discussed and voted upon at nearly every district meeting held, and small sums of money appropriated to finish or improve some part of the same, and at a meeting held this day it was voted to raise the sum of £50, "to finish the meeting-house decently." This sum, however, was never raised, but four years later, or at a meeting held February 13, 1771, it was decided to build a new house, the size of which should be fifty-six feet in length and forty-seven in width, "and upon the spot where the old one now stands." After the usual pre- liminaries had been arranged and details decided upon, as far as possible, the contract was awarded to Daniel Baldwin, "to build it in a proper manner," for the sum of seven hundred pounds, he taking the old building as part pay. As he declined to take the responsibility of raising the new one, the selectmen were made a committee to attend to it, with authority to expend an amount which had been appropriated for that purpose, and in their report to the town they certify that it was expended for "Liquor, ropes and other things." The house contained sixty-eight pews, forty-six being located on the floor and twenty-two in the galleries, and the same system was adopted for disposing of them as in the previous house. The appraised value of these pews was fixed at five hundred pounds. In 1801 a tower and cupola were added to the house, and three hundred dollars was voted for that purpose. This improvement suggested a bell, and the sum of $426.87 was secured by private sub- scription for one, and in town-meeting it was voted " that the names of the generous subscribers be entered upon the town records."

Up to 1821 no means had been provided for warm- ing the meeting-house, but this year it was decided to introduce stoves, "under the inspection of the selectmen." For two years their experience with this "innovation " was not wholly satisfactory, be- cause of the propensity of these stoves to smoke, and a committee of three was accordingly appointed "to take into consideration the subject of stove-pipe, or funnel, in the meeting-house . . to remedy their smoking." This committee attended to their duty and recommended alterations " at the outlet by carry- ing the funnels out at the east and west windows."

In 1838 this meeting-house was repaired by turning a quarter around and fronting it to the south, with new inside finish, new pews, etc., making it to con- form, as nearly as possible, "to the meeting-house recently fitted up in Paxton." It was completed and dedicated on the 14th of November of this year. May 1, 1843, during a high wind, the spire of this church was blown off, and passing down through the roof, damaged the ceiling and interior to some extent. On the 1st of January, 1862, it was entirely destroyed

637

SPENCER.

by fire, and from this period, until a new house was erected, religious services were held in the Town Hall. Preparations were at once made to rebuild, and on the 8th of April, 1863, the new edifice was dedicated.

On the ground floor of the new building was the vestry, and on the second floor the audience room. In 1881 this vestry was enlarged, a church parlor and kitchen were fitted up for the convenience of church and society gatherings and other parochial purposes. In 1885 it was generally felt that this building had become inadequate to the growth of the church and society, and it was proposed to enlarge the audience room and change the entire arrangement, providing the alterations could be done without expense to the society. Individuals responded generously by sub- scriptions to carry out the plans suggested, and an addition of twenty feet was made to the north end of the building. The organ and singers' seats were placed in the rear of the pulpit, the pews were re- arranged, the walls beautified by fresco decorations, and gas, public water and steam-heating apparatus were introduced. It was re-dedicated December 22d of this year. These alterations transformed the building into an attractive edifice both inside and out, and by these changes the proportion of the whole structure was greatly improved. The front and steeple are of a mixed order of architecture, bold in outline and projection, and from base to pinnacle the symmetry is well preserved.

The late Isaac Prouty, while living, expressed a desire that the church building might, sooner or later, be remodeled, and that he would subscribe the sum of five thousand dollars towards the payment of the same. The work now having been completed, his heirs, in accordance with his wish, presented this amount to the subscription fund, with a request that it be received as a " memorial of him."

Singing .- From the days of our forefathers, singing has been considered an exercise in the service of the church, next in importance to the "preaching of the Word," and in its rendering was regarded by them as devotional. If, during the last half of the nineteenth century it has become emotional, it certainly is not the fault of the forefathers.

In the early days the deaconing of the hymn or psalm was a necessary custom, as but few, joining in the exercise of song, possessed the hymn or psalm- books; consequently, the service was of a purely con- gregational nature. In 1782 an attempt was made to place singing seats in the gallery of the meeting- house, " that the singers may sit together," but just what time they were allowed to "sit and sing togeth- er" is not recorded. The chorister, in those days, held that position by the united vote of church and congregation, and the first to occupy that position was Dr. Ormes, in 1770. The next was John Muzzy, Jr., in 1775, and, in 1782, Lieutenant Jonas Muzzy, with Mr. Oliver Watson as assistant.

The first hymn-book that came into general use was the " Watts' Psalms and Hymns," adopted in 1769, after an animated controversy of ten years or more, and it remained in use until 1862. It was exchanged for the "Sabbath Hymn-Book," which was used until 1885, when the " Laudes Domini " took its place.

The first instrument introduced into the choir was the bass viol in 1829, and was played by O. S. Worth- ington and others, and the next was the double bass, played by William G. Muzzy. Then followed the violin, flute and other instruments, and, later on, the reed and pipe-organ. In 1863 the latter, a two-bank organ with twenty-eight stops, was purchased of Wil- liam A. Johnson, of Westfield, Mass., the maker of it, and, in 1887, at the remodeling of the church, it was taken down by G. H. Ryder & Co., of Boston, and enlarged by the addition of five new stops, and other- wise improved in power and general appearance. The singing, up to and at the present time, is by a volun- teer choir.

Universalists .- In 1808 the citizens of Spencer were asked to remonstrate against certain towns (including Spencer) being incorporated into a religious society to be called the "Universal Society ; " but in town- meeting they voted "to take no action relating to the subject." Some of the inhabitants were, how- ever, agitating the advisability of a separation from the established church, but no decided move in this direction was taken until 1820. This year David Adams gave notice that he had become a member of the "Second Universalist Society in Brookfield and Charlton," and before the close of 1821 forty-three persons had withdrawn to join this and a Baptist Society about to be formed in this town. This year, also, the town and parish had so far become sepa- rate and distinct bodies, as to cause the making and collecting of the ministerial tax to be done by the Congregational Society.

In 1830 a Universalist Society was incorporated with ten members, and in 1833 a meeting-house was erected, in which services were held until 1840. The society, from this time, gradually decreased in num- bers, nntil it ceased to exist, and the house and church property were disposed of.

This building stood upon the west corner of Main and Wall Streets, and twenty years after it was aban- doned for church purposes it was converted into a boot-factory. For many years it retained its original outward appearance, until, finally, such additions were made to it, that it entirely lost its identity. From about 1875 occasional meetings of this denom- ination were held in the town hall, but in 1881 the society was reorganized under the general statute of this State, and at a meeting on the 26th of October of this year they adopted a constitution and by-laws and voted "to purchase land and build a church." This edifice was erected in 1882 and dedicated Feb- ruary 20, 1883, with Rev. F. A. Bisbee as pastor.

Externally, this is an attractive brick structure

638

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

while internally it is very complete in its modern arrangements, which consist of a commodious andi- ence-room, chapel and church parlors upon the ground floor. Upon the basement floor is a spacious room for entertainments and church gatherings, with a kitchen conveniently connected and abundantly supplied with all the conveniences required in this department.

Methodist .- In 1840 a few families, representing the Methodist faith, assembled themselves together and held public religious meetings in the audience-room of the Universalist meeting-house. In 1841 a society was organized in conformity with the rules of this denomination, and made use of the town hall for holding meetings for nearly six years. In 1847, to accommodate their increasing numbers, they pur- chased land and erected a very substantial church building with belfry and spire. It contained a vestry upon the first floor and audience-room upon the sec- ond. In 1872-73 the house was remodeled by mak- ing additions upon either end, repainting and fresco- ing both audience-room and vestry and adding parlors, kitchen and other ante-rooms. It has a large mem- bership.

Baptists .- The formation of the Baptist Society January 30, 1819, resulted from a division of the Bap- tist Society in Liecester, which took place in 1818. Their meeting-house was erected in the northeast part of the town (called North Spencer) in 1820. There was preaching at this house, at intervals, up to 1840, but their membership diminished so rapidly after this date that stated services were wholly abandoned. In 1878 the society was reorganized with twenty-one members, holding services in a small hall in the town- house at first and later in a private hall fitted up for the purpose, until in 1885 a new brick church building was erected. The size of the audience-room, 39 x 49 feet, with a seating capacity of 330; the vestry, 39 x 40 feet ; parlor, 17 x 20; and kitchen, 12 x 17. The ceremony of the laying of the corner-stone was held on the 7th of September, 1885, and on the 21st of June, 1887, the church was formally dedicated.

St. Mary's ( Roman Catholic) .- In 1845 a few scat- tering families of this faith worshipped at rare in- tervals, in .the houses of private individuals. In 1851 this, with several other parishes, was placed un- der the charge of a clergyman, and in 1853 the parish had grown numerically sufficient to warrant the building of a church, and one was completed this year. It was a handsome frame building, with tall spire and bell. In 1855 the parish was attached to an ont-mission to Webster, and so remained until 1857, when it was placed under the charge of the Jesuit Fathers, resident of the Holy Cross College, Worces- ter. This year the Catholic population numbered less than one-fifth the inhabitants of the town, but thirty years later those who affiliated with this church numbered about five-eighths of the whole. In 1871 they were given a resident pastor, in the

person of Rev. Julius Casson. He died in July, 1879, and was succeeded by Rev. Thos. D. Beaven, and in 1883 Rev. Bernard S. Conaty came as assis- tant pastor. In November, 1888, Father Beaven was assigned a charge at Holyoke, Mass., and a few weeks later Father Conaty was transferred to Spring- field, Mass. In 1883 they began the building of a new brick church edifice, and dedicated it in 1887, as the Church of the Holy Rosary. The general style is cruciform, and outwardly it is a stately and beautiful exemplar of church architecture. The nave is one hundred and forty-five feet in length, and the transept eighty-eight feet, and the interior decorations are a high order of ecclesiastical art. The windows are a prominent feature in these dec- orations, and the fifteen, in the chancel and aisles, represent the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary. The two large transept windows, thirty by twelve feet, are fine works of art. In 1886 the growth of the church occasioned the separation of the English and French-speaking portions of the parish, and the Old St. Mary's was set apart for the latter, under the charge of Rev. C. R. Veins, pastor, and Rev. J. A. Manceau as assistant. In December, 1888, Rev. G. R. Dolan was transferred from Springfield, Mass., to the charge of the new church.

Ministers .- The fact that the inhabitants of the west half could not easily enjoy the privileges of the sanctuary had an important bearing upon their early efforts in securing for themselves a place of worship and a gospel teacher. About the time the frame of the first meeting-house was erected, the Rev. Joshua Eaton began preaching as a candidate for minister, to be settled over them, and on the 17th of May, 1744, a church was formed and a covenant subscribed to, between himself as pastor and certain of the inhabitants. Shortly after this compact he received an invitation from the church and people "to become our Gospel Minister," which was ac- cepted by him, and on the 7th of November following he was duly ordained as such. The following pastors represented their respective churches at this service, viz., Rev. Mr. Prentice, of Grafton ; Rev. Mr. Hall, of Sutton; Rev. Mr. Cheney, of Brookfield ; Rev. Mr. Goddard, of Leicester ; Rev. Mr. Webb, of Uxbridge, and Rev. Mr. White, of Hardwick. This was then designated as the "Second Church of Christ in Lei- cester." The terms of settlement gave to the minister "all the land-tax, an additional sum by subscription and £150, old tenor" (equal to $66.67), as salary, and this sum was to be increased by £5 each year until it reached £200 annually. As the currency depreciated this sum was increased, until in 1766 it was made about equal to $244, where it remained until his death.

Mr. Eaton was a native of Watertown and a gradu- ate of Harvard University in 1735. After two years of law study he practiced at the bar about five years, then began the study of theology and fitted

Thos D.Beaver

639

SPENCER.

himself for the ministry. He remained in charge of this parish until his death, which occurred April 12, 1772. "He was greatly beloved by his people, tender and sympathetic in his nature, plain and practical in all his preaching," and although the profession of law presented more worldly attractions, yet he felt that the ministry was his calling and that he would not "return to the practice of the law, with its tumult, dissipation and snares that attend court, on any consideration." The parish was now obliged to resort to candidates, and after six Sabbaths' trial, the Rev. Joseph Pope, of Pomfret, Conn., was invited to occupy the pulpit with a view to settle-

ment. His manner and preaching soon won the hearts of the people and they heartily concurred with the church in calling him to become their pastor, and at a meeting, February 15, 1773, the district so expressed themselves. They agreed that his settle- ment should be the sum of £133 6s. 6d., lawful money, and that they would pay one-half at the end of the first year, and the balance at the close of the second year, with a stated salary of £67 ($244) annually, "so long as he shall continue in that office in this place," and his ordination took place the 20th of October following. A committee was chosen " to provide entertainment for the Council, Gentlemen of Liberal Education and Mr. Pope's relatives and friends," but Dr. William Frink, a parishioner, relieved the com- mittee of that duty, as the following note ex- plains :

Gentlemen Freeholders of Spencer, Greeting-Yon are welcome to the entertainment which the council had at my house on the 20th day of Octr. last.

I am your honorable servant,

WILLIAM FRINK.

A vote of thanks was presented to him, by the in- habitants, for " so great a favor."

Mr. Pope's pastorate was one of kindness and brotherly love for all his people, and during the long and wearisome years of the Revolution the attach- ment between pastor and people never abated, but it continued warm and abiding until he was separated from them by death. Whether or not it was the cus- tom of these people that the public meeting should be opened with prayer, the first and only record of that exercise was at an annual meeting held March 5, 1781, when Mr. Pope was sent for "to open the town- meeting with prayer."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 171

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576