USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 24
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SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS .- The most marked fea- ture of the place is its rocks. These give shape and character to the land. Peter Whitney, in his his- tory of the county in 1790, says, "the land here is naturally moist and springy, hilly and rocky, exceed- ingly well adapted to pasturage and the growth of English grass. The soil being rich and very produc- tive, people have every encouragement to settle and cultivate the lands. The growth of wood is oak of the various kinds, chestnut, white ash, beech, black
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birch and maple, together with some butternut and walnut."
ROADS .- On account of the rocks and hills the making of roads has been attended with great hard- ship and difficulty since the first settlement of the town. One of the first steps was to provide by legis- lation a land-tax for this purpose. There was also much trouble in agreeing on the location of roads by marked trees or otherwise, and, as a general thing, the roads were laid out two rods wide. There seemed to be a strong proclivity to lay out roads over the hills rather than on level ground or in the valleys, and when once made, any change was attended with much difficulty. For a hundred years or so, the roads were supported by what was called a "Highway tax," which could beworked out or paid in money, but now a direct appropriation is made for this purpose. The cost of building and taking care of roads has always been a large annual expenditure. On account of the hills and rocks the roads are constantly exposed by storms and drainage to injury, and require frequent repairs. But notwithstanding this great draft of ex- pense and labor, the roads have been kept in remark- ably good condition. Few towns in the State can present such roads, and in very few places can there be found so many pleasant and rural rides. Good roads are not only a great convenience for permanent residents, but are very desirable for strangers or sum- mer company. In several instauces the town has ex- pended large sums of money in the construction and improvement of its roads, particularly upon the road from the centre to the railroad-also upon the one over the western part of Meeting-House Hill and again at the base of Wachusett Mountain.
TOPOGRAPHY .- Few towns are so diversified by hills, both large and small, of every description. In fact, the place is made up of rongh and uneven land, without plains or valleys worthy of notice. It em- braces a range of high lands starting with the White Mountains in New Hampshire, running southward and extending through Worcester County into the State of Connecticut. Wachusett is the highest peak in this range and the most attractive mountain in the State, of which a more particular description will be given in another place. The two next highest peaks are Pine Hill in the east, and Little Wachusett near the centre. The high range of land running north and south through the town constitutes a water-shed, so that the waters falling here divide and flow away by small streams in three directions. It will be seen that as no streams run into the town there can be found no large collections of water or much water-power. Thus, the rain falling in drops on the highest points of land, these immediately separate-a part flow into the Atlantic Ocean and a part into Long Island Sound. As these waters gather at the base of the mountain they are called Wachusett's Brooks-East, South and West-the first entering into the Nashua, the second into the Quinnepoxet Pond, and thence
into the Blackstone River, and the West flows into the Ware River and thence into the Connecticut. There are two small ponds in the town-the Quinne- poxet, in the southern part, on the boundary of Hol- den, and the Wachusett Pond, a part of which is in Westminster. On account of the great number of natural springs in the mountain and hills, the town has for all necessary purposes an abundance of the purest water.
OLD HOMESTEADS-Old Homes of the Early Set- tlers .- There were some peculiarities in the settle- ment of this town which had an effect on the charac- ter of its people. The first settlers came here, not in colonies, nor in the way of relationship or acquaint- ance, but single and alone, and were mostly young men seeking a home of their own. They did not come in large numbers from any place, but came from almost as many different places as there were individuals. It is evident that the leading influences controlling them were of a decidedly religious charac- ter. A few came from places near by, as Lancaster, Shrewsbury and Rutland, but most of them came from a distance, as Sudbury, Medfield, Dedham, Watertown, Cambridge, Boston, Charlestown, Con- cord and Lexington. There was one element that entered largely into the character of these settlers. They must have had some knowledge of the place where they were to make their homes. Here were rocks, hills and forests unequaled at the time. The soil was rich, but required the hardest possible labor for its cultivation. To overcome such obstacles one must have indomitable courage and energy, a self- reliance and a will-power that never tires, and only those who had such qualities would here seek a home. The presumption is that these settlers knew what hardship, toil and self-denial were in their old homes.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS-Meeting-houses .- In the set- tlement of all the New England towns one of the first steps to be taken was the building of a meeting- house. This was sometimes coupled with another question : Where was the centre of the town ? It was generally admitted that their house of worship should stand near the centre of the place. It was not easy to find this spot in Princetou, on account of the hills and the rocks. There was so much difference of opinion on the subject that the voters agreed to sub- mit the question to a committee of three persons, re- siding in other towns ; but being dissatisfied with the report of their committee, they voted, July, 1761, to locate the meeting-house on the highest part of the land given by John and Caleb Mirick for this pur- pose. In 1762 a meeting-house was built, forty by fifty feet, with sufficient height for galleries. It was soon occupied, but not fully completed for several years. The first attempt to settle a minister was in 1765, and the one first settled was Rev. Timo- thy Fuller, in 1767. This house continued to be the place of worship till 1795. In the mean time the population had increased to over one thousand in-
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
habitants, rendering a larger place of worship neces- sary. A new house was built on the same spot, seventy by fifty-five feet, containing seventy-five ground and twenty gallery pews. As this house stood on high ground, and had a tall spire, it was a conspicuous object in the whole region. It continued to be the place of worship till 1838, when it seemed desirable, not only to have a new church, but to change its location-to go south-towards the Wa- chusett Hotel, about half way up on the slope of the hill. This house, bnilt more in the modern style of churches, is still used, though within a few years it has been removed to the eastern side of the road.
Town- Hall .- The business meetings of the town
reception and dining rooms. It is admirably adapted, not only for town business, but for other purposes, such as lectures, concerts, exhibitions, etc.
There is a frequent demand for the hall for such purposes. A very correct view of this building is here presented.
Goodnow Memorial Building .- No town in the county or State can present a public building so conspicuous in position or so beautiful and attractive in its ap- pearance. It is situated in the centre of the town, on the southern slope of what is known as " Meeting- house Hill," with a triangular tower in front, while on the right is the new Town Hall, and on the left stands the Congregationalist Church. We have here,
CQUONOW
BAGG HALL.
GOODNOW MEMORIAL LIBRARY BUILDING. 1
were held in the church from 1762 to 1797, when, upon the building of a new meeting-house, the husi- ness was transferred to a school-house located near by, where it was continued till 1842. At this time a new building was erected for town business, at the foot of the hill, nearly opposite the new church, called " Boylston Hall," from the fact that W. N. Boylston contributed money for its erection. In 1882 this hall was destroyed by fire, and soon steps were taken for building a new town-hall. This was dedi- cated in September, 1887, and presents quite a con- trast with the old hall. It is built of brick, two stories high, having a large hall on each floor, with kitchen,
side by side, in one row, the three representatives or pillars of the highest type of civilization-the church, the free school and library and the hall for town business. These public buildings stand on higher ground than any others of the kind in the State, while from these buildings a magnificent view of the country can be seen south, east and west; at the same time these edifices can be distinctly recognized at great distances in each of these directions. The Goodnow Memorial Building derives its name from Mr. Edward A. Goodnow, a native of Princeton, but for a long time a resident of Worcester. Some years since Mr. Goodnow conceived the idea of doing some-
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thing for the permanent benefit of his native place, and at the same time connect with it a memorial of the loss of two wives-natives of the town-and also the loss of his only child. The beautiful building is the result of this design. This structure is pronounced, from every point of view, the perfection of beauty. No language can adequately describe the building or compute the importance and value of the uses to which it is appropriated.
Its object is education of the people of the town, -schools for the young, and a library and reading- room for all, in the broadest and freest sense.
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS FROM 1760 TO 1852-Town Clerks .~ Dr. Zachariah Harvey, 1760-61 ; Caleb Mi- rick, 1762, '70-71 ; Samuel Woods, 1763; Peter Good- now, 1764, '65, '67; Boaz Moore, 1766; Ephraim Woolson, 1768, '69, '72, '73, '75, '78; William Rich- ardson, 1774; James Mirick, 1776-77; William Dodds, 1779-93, '97-1814; John Dana, 1794-96; Artemas How, 1815-18; Jonas Hartwell, 1819-20; Erasmus D. Goodnow, 1836; Charles Russell, 1821- 35, '37-49; David H. Gregory, 1850-52.
Selectmen .- Peter Goodnow, 1760, '64, '65, '67; Abijah Moore, 1760, '61, '63 ; Dr. Zachariah Harvey, 1760-61; Joseph Gibbs, 1760, '61, '63, '67, '68, '70; Timothy Moseman, 1761-62; Eliphalet How, 1762; Boaz Moore, 1762, '63, '66, '70-72, '78, '81-92 ; Robert Keyes, 1762; Caleb Mirick, 1762, '70, '71, 1808, '09; Ebenezer Jones, 1763, '66-72, '74-76 ; Samuel Woods, 1763; Benjamin Holden, 1764, '69, '73, '80-82, '90,'91; Stephen Brigham, 1764, '65, '68, '71, '75-77; Tilly Littlejohns, 1764; William Muzzey, 1764, '69; Sadey Mason, 1765, '66, '78-91 ; William Thompson, 1765, '66, '72-77 ; Benjamin Taynter, 1765, '67; Robert Cowden, 1766 ; Oliver Davis, 1767; Ephraim Wool- son, 1768, '69, '72, '73, '75, '78; Adonijah Howe, 1768, '76, '77,'79, 1818 ; Joseph Sargent, 1769,'70,'78, '82-85, 1807, '08; James Mirick, 1771, '76, '77; James Phelps, 1772; Paul Mathews, 1773-80; Joseph Eve- leth, 1773, '75, '81, '85, 1809; William Richardson, 1774; Charles Brooks, 1774, '80; Elisha Hobbs, 1777, '79, '94, '95; Samuel Hastings, 1778, 1810-12; Eph- raim Hartwell, 1779; Abraham Gale, 1779; John Mirick, 1780 ; Asa Whitcomb, 1781; William Dodds, 1783-93, '96, 1807 ; Abner How, 1786-89; Ebenezer Parker, 1786-92, '96, '98, 1804, '05; Abijah Harring- ton, 1792, '93, '96, '97 ; Ephraim Mirick, 1792, '93; Isaac Hartwell, 1793-95 ; David Rice, 1793-1800, '04- 07; John Dana, 1794, '95, 1801-09; John Watson, 1794, '95; Jonas Beaman, 1796-99; Andrew Whit- ney, 1798-1800, '04, '06; Samuel Dadman, 1799- 1802; Ephraim Wilson, 1800-03; Amos Meriam, 1801-03, '23-29; Bartholomew Cheever, 1803; Simon Davis, 1803-09; Samuel Stratton, 1808, '09; Joseph Eveleth, 1810-12; Charles Mirick, 1810-12; Benja- min Harrington, 1810; Artemas How, 1810-15; Jonas Brooks, 1811-14; Samuel Stevenson, 1813-17 ; Jonas Hartwell, 1813-20; Samuel Brooks, 1813; Israel How, Jr., 1814, '16, '20-22; William Everett,
1814, '15; Henry Prentiss, 1815; Calvin Bullock, 1716, '17; Azar Maynard, 1816; Jacob W. Watson, 1816-18, '28, '29, '36, '37, '49; Moses Hobbs, 1817, 18 ; Joseph Cutting, 1817, '18; Nahum Wilder, 1818; Israel Howe, 1819, '20; Joshua Temple, 1819; Thomas Wilder, 1819; Moses Bullard, 1819-22; John Mirick, Jr., 1820-21; Clark Mirick, 1820- 22; Joseph Mason, 1821, '27,'30, '36; Ephraim Mir- ick, Jr., 1822-27 ; John H. Brooks, 1823, '29, '36; Moses G. Cheever, 1823, '28, '30-31; Gamaliel Beaman, 1828-29; Ebenezer Parker, Jr., 1829; Rufus Davis, 1830-32; John Whitney, 1830-35; Israel Everett, 1830-33, '40-42; Enoch Brooks, 1831-33; Caleb Dana, 1832-34, '37, '38; Harlow Skinner, 1834-36; Nathan Meriam, 1834-35 ; Joshua T. Everett, 1834-35 ; Daniel Parker, 1835, '45; Alfred Beaman, 1836-37 ; Sewall Mirick, 1837-38; John L. Boylston, 1837-39; William How, 1838-39; John Brooks, 1838, '45, '47, '48 ; Henry Boyles, 1839-41, '49, '50; Jonas Brooks, Jr., 1839-41 ; Edward A. Goodnow, 1840-41; Erasmus D. Goodnow, 1842-43; Alphonso Brooks, 1843, '44, '46, '47; Chas. Russell, 1844-46 ; David H. Gregory, 1846-48; Ebenezer Smith, 1848- 49; Asa H. Goddard, 1850-51; Solon S. Hastings, 1850-51; William H. Brown, 1851-52; Charles A. Mirick, 1852; George O. Skinner, 1852.
Assessors .- Zachariah Harvey, 1761 ; Abijah Moore, 1761 ; Peter Goodnow, 1761 ; Joseph Eveleth, 1762- 64, '67 ; Boaz Moore, 1762, '63, '70-72, '87; Caleb Mirick, 1762; Samuel Woods, 1763, '64, '67, '70, '72, '73, '75, '76, '78, '79, '83, '84; Thomas Mason, 1764, '66, '68, '69, '71, '73, '76-81, '85, '86, '94-99; Robert Cowden, 1765; William Muzzey, 1765, '66, '68, '69; Adonijah Howe, 1767 ; Ebenezar Jones, 1768 ; Joseph Sargent, 1769-70 ; James Mirick, 1771 ; John Jones, 1772, '74, '75; Benjamin Holden, 1773; Enoch Brooks, 1774-78 ; William Richardson, 1774; William Dodds, 1777, '80-93, '95-1809; James Curtis, 1779- 80; Humphrey Moore, 1781, '88-90; Ephraim Hart- well, 1782; Ebenezar Parker, 1782-93, '96-1805; Michael Gill, 1791; David Rice, 1792, '93, 1806-09, '18, '19; John Dana, 1794, 1802-09; Timothy Fuller, 1794-95; John Roper, 1800-01; John Moore, 1810- 11; Joseph Mason, 1810-13, '21-26, '30; Artemas How, 1810-19; Jonas Hartwell, 1812-20; Samuel Stevenson, 1814-17 ; Moses Hohbs, 1820, '23; Ephraim Mirick, 1820-26; Charles Mirick, 1824; Amos Meriam, 1825-29; Ephraim Mirick, (2d), 1827; John Whitney, 1827-29, '32-35, '37-39, '44, '45; Jacob W. Watson, 1828-29; Moses G. Cheever, 1830, '31, '36; Rufus Davis, 1830-32, '48, '50; Israel Everett, 1832, '33, '37-39, '44, 50; Harlow Skinner, 1833-34; Joshua T. Everett, 1834-35; Nathan Meriam, 1835 ; Hamilton Wilson, 1836-39; William S. Everett, 1836 ; John Brooks, 1840, '41, '50; Joseph Meriam, 1840-43; Caleb Dana, 1840; Charles B. Temple, 1841-41; Joseph Hartwell, 1842-43; Asa H. Goddard, 1845-47; Marshall Meriam, 1845; Caleb S. Mirick, 1846-48; George O. Skinner, 1846-
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
47; Ephraim Beaman, 1847; Phineas E. Gregory, 1848 ; Jonas Brooks, Jr., 1849; Frederick Parker, 1849, '51, '52; William D. Cheever, 1849, '51, '52; Henry Boyles, 1851 ; Joseph Whitcomb, 1852.
Town Treasurers .- Peter Goodnow, 1761; James Mirick, 1762-63; Timothy Keyes, 1764-45; Sadey Mason, 1766 ; Joseph Sargent, 1767, '70, '71; Abner Howe, 1768-69; Joseph Eveleth, 1772-73; Robert Cowden, 1774-77; Charles Brooks, 1778; Joseph Haynes, 1779; Enoch Brooks, 1780-1812, '14-16 ; David Rice, 1813; Benjamin Harrington, 1817-21 ; Thomas Wilder, 1822; Jacob W. Watson, 1823-24 ; Jonas Brooks, 1825,'33; Charles Mirick, 1826, '32; Moses G. Cheever, 1827-30, '42; John Brooks, 1831 ; Jacob W. Watson, 1834-36 ; Joseph Mason, 1837-41 ; Daniel Howe, 1843-44; Alphonso Brooks, 1845-48; Warren Patridge, 1849; Joseph A. Read, 1850-52.
Representatives .- Moses Gill, 1780, '84, '95; Asa Whitcomb, 1783; Ebenezar Parker, 1797, '98, 1800 ; David Rice, 1801, '02, '13-18, '21; John Dana, 1804, '05, '12; William Dodds, 1806, '03-11; Ephraim Mirick, Jr., 1823; Charles Russell, 1826-32; Joshua T. Everett, 1833-35 ; Jonathan Whitney, 1834; John Brooks, 1835-36; John Whitney, 1836; Alphonso Brooks, 1838; Sewall Mirick, 1839-45; Ebenezar Parker, 1840-42; Israel Everett, 1843-44; Caleb S. Mirick, 1847 ; Henry Boyles, 1848; Ebenezar Smith, 1849; Ephraim Beaman, 1850; Luther Crawford, 1851.
LIBRARIES .- One of the first public libraries es- tablished in Worcester County was in Princeton. In 1793 Peter Whitney, in his history of this county, states that in Princeton they have a " very handsome social library established, of the value of seventy pounds," called the "Gill Library," from the fact that he gave ten pounds towards it. This library contained some five hundred volumes, and was owned. by stockholders; and outsiders paid a small tax for the use of books. This library gradually ran down for want of care, patronage and by the loss of books, and was burnt up in 1813.
In 1859 the Ladies' Reading Society started a social library, which steadily increased in numbers and interest until 1884, when they had one thousand one hundred and twenty-six volumes. At this time the Goodnow Memorial Building was completed and its library-room opened. There were two other small libraries in the town at this time,-an Agricul- tural Library of seventy-eight volumes, and a Law Library of four hundred and forty-eight volumes,- these three libraries were united and placed in the hands of a Board of Trustees, constituting the Free Public Library of the town. By a legacy left by Mr. Goodnow, it is stipulated that fifty dollars be paid every year to this Board of Trustees for the benefit of this library, provided the town itself appropriates annually the same amount for this purpose. This library is free to all permanent residents of the town, but a small amount is required of non-residents. The
Board of Trustees are required to make a report every year of their doings and of the condition of the library. A neat catalogue of the library has been published, making a classification of the books into twelve divisions, according to their subjects. This arrangement aids very much in the selection of books, and the report made in February, 1888, represents the whole number of books in the library as two thousand three hundred and forty-seven volumes.
HISTORIES OF PRINCETON .- The first sketch of the town appeared in Rev. Peter Whitney's "History of Worcester County " in 1793, in which all the towns of the county were alike noticed. The first regular " History of Princeton " was published in 1838, writ- ten by Charles Theodore Russell, a native of the place, but for many years a resident of Boston. A careful account of the early history of the town is given, but considerably more than one-half of the work is taken up with its ecclesiastical affairs, parts of which were thought by some to be one-sided, which proved a stimulus for another history of the town. This was written by Rev. Mr. Hannaford and published in 1852. While this history covers the same ground as the other, it is largely given up to the religious history of the place, and in this way incurs the same objection as the other. We find many facts related in one which are not found in the other.
In 1859 a centennial celebration of the incorpora- tion of the town was held, at which many items of great interest were brought out. The principal ad- dress on this occasion was given by Hon. Charles T. Russell, of Boston, followed by a poem from Profes- sor Erasmus Everett, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Speeches were made by a large number of individuals, natives of the town, narrating many interesting facts in the history of the place. There is another medium by which the town has become extensively known to the public. In the course of twenty or thirty years great numbers have made the place a summer resort for a longer or shorter period, and have furnished the press with communications, describing the peculiar- ities and beauties of the town. By this and other means probably no rural town in the State has be- come so well known to the public as Princeton.
BUSINESS .- The business of the place is almost exclusively agricultural. Whitney, the historian of the county in 1793, says "the land is naturally moist and springy, hilly and rocky, exceedingly well adapted to pasturage and the growth of English grass; hence, the finest of beef is fatted here, and vast quantities of butter and cheese are produced in the town." This statement was made nearly one hundred years ago, and the soil remains the same. Fatting cattle for the market and raising good stock have always been a primary business; but, instead of making butter and cheese in excess for home use, the milk is now disposed of for use in the city. There has never been much manufacturing or me-
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anical business done in the place. In 1750 Oliver vis settled in the western part of the town, and ilt a saw-mill, which was the first application of ter-power in the vicinity to mechanical purposes. grist-mill was soon afterwards built upon the same eam, now called Ware River. A small settlement s grown up in the same place, called "Slab City ;" t the water-power is small and not permanent. In eastern part of the town there started some fifty urs ago quite a business in chair-making, which urished for a while; but the water-power is small, d, with other changes, this business is continued a moderate way. This place has been known as Cast Princeton," and a post-office has been estab- ed there. About a mile south of this village re was built a small cotton factory, which was run a few years by Benthall ; but it was soon discon- ued on account of the water-power being small, nbined with several other causes. There was a ort period when the straw business had quite a 1, and the shoe business also became prominent, t both these industries flourished but a short time. e most important business of the town of late urs has been the entertainment of "Summer Com- ny," which will be described more fully in another ice.
REDEMPTION ROCK .- This rock represents one of , most remarkable incidents that can be found in tory. It will be seen in the narrative that the m " redemption" has here a meaning. In 1676, ncaster, the oldest town in Worcester County, had settlement of fifty families. King Philip, that tinguished Indian chieftain with fifteen hundred lowers, on the 22d of February, early in the morn- ;, assaulted this town, burning most of the houses I killing nearly all the inhabitants. A few women re spared, among whom was a Mrs. Rowlandson, wife of the parish minister. The Indians carried through the forests in a westerly direction, camp- ; a short time at the foot of Wachusett Mountain. a most thrilling narrative Mrs. Rowlandson scribes how she left this region and traveled with Indians in the wilderness as far as the Connecti- ; River amidst sufferings and wanderings; and er spending some two months or so in this way, y returned to Wachusett. It seems the Indians hered here in great numbers with the design of stroying other settlements in the vicinity of Lan- ter. While they probably had several camps in region, Mrs. Rowlandson describes the place ere she was stationed-in a meadow or low ground ar the mountain, and near some water. Tradition s fixed this locality near Everettville, on the west e of the road, between the pond and base of the untain. Here was a gigantic boulder, which has ig been designated as "Redemption Rock," from fact that around this rock the council of Indians s held whereby Mrs. Rowlandson was redeemed m her captivity. Mrs. Rowlandson, in her narra-
tive describing her return from her winter wandering, says : " As we came to Wachusett through a great swamp, up to our knees in mud and water, having indeed my life, but little spirit, Philip came to me and took me by the hand and said, 'Two weeks inore and you will be mistress again.' I asked him if he spoke true; he answered ' Yes, and quickly you shall come to your master again.' " It would seem by this that Philip had some idea of her being redeemed and returned to her friends. Mrs. Rowlandson does not state just how long she remained here, but probably some weeks. The Indians, while she was here, made an attack on Sudbury, as she describes their pow-wow preliminary to the assault. It seems that not far distant from the mountain they built a great wigwam, big enough to hold a hundred Indians, which was done in prepara- tion for a great day of dancing. They came in from all quarters to the merry dancing day. Not only was King Philip present with his captives, but several others of the leading sagamores, and among them Quinnapin, the master of Mrs. Rowlandson, and his wife, the celebrated squaw sachem Matamoo, "Queen of Pocassett," "a severe and proud dame," says Mrs. Rowlandson, "bestowing every day in dressing her- self nearly as much time as any of the gentry of the land, powdering her hair and painting her face." At this time there were certain Indians partially civilized and friendly to the whites passing through the forests between the Indian camps and the English settlements, so that news of Mrs. Rowlandson's return to this region had been communicated to some of the leaders in other settlements.
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