History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 27

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The northern course of this valley, of about a mile in length, is ended by a rocky bluff, causing an angle in the river, near which the line between this town and Sturbridge runs north, leaving the eastward flow wholly in the former town. Down a rocky gorge, a precipitous cliff on the left and a more rounded hill sloping up to the southward on the right, rushes the Quinebang of the Indians. Now this entire space is occupied by a pond ; the water being held by what is commonly called the "Big Dam," a magnificent structure across just where the river leaves the com- panionship of these hills.

The Quinebang is held, bitted and harnessed and

made to work the will of man, not only here, but all along its winding way below, for miles; it encounters structures of similar intent and purpose. Here, years ago, small industries were started with cheaper struc- tures. A population was collected to control, direct and make a useful servant of the never-ceasing power, brought into subjection by capital and skill. Money was earned, resulting in increased facilities for manu- facturing or the starting up of new industries. Ex- change of commodities necessitated the trade class and middle men. The exercise of the various occu- pations was created by the demands or needs of the community. Thus a symmetrical growth was estab- lished ; and a steady and unvarying prosperity has been the rule in this place.

Below the big dam, the course of the Quinebaug, in a winding way, tends eastward across the opening of the valley of Mckinstry Brook, which tributary it receives from the north, and then strikes another hill or cliff, which rises abruptly upon the north side of the river. Cliff Street passes over along the height, and here one obtains a view of remarkable variety and interest. The Cliff is distant about a third or half a mile eastward from the big dam, and that por- tion of the river is occupied by the factories of the Hamilton Woolen Company. Four large mills and more smaller factories and buildings used in their business are in view. The lower mill is opposite the Cliff, and from this height one looks down upon the very bell-tower, the massive building and the pigmy people below.

The course of the Quinebaug from this point is in a southeastward direction. The site and ruins of the Dresser Manufacturing Company's factory is beneath the Cliff, and beyond, a fourth of a mile, is the large establishment of the Central Mills Company. Next, is the large and many-lighted building of the Ameri- can Optical Company, about three-fourths of a mile farther down the river ; close by which is Plimpton's laundry, J. & L. D. Clemence's lumber-working es- tablishment and I. P. Hyde & Co.'s cutlery works. Beyond, is the large brick building recently erected by the American Optical Company, in which they are commencing the extensive manufacture of lenses. This plant is on the site of the old Columbian Mill, and the locality is now called Lensdale.

Saundersdale, about a mile fartber down the river, is hidden from view. It is there that the plant occupied by the Southbridge Printing Company is located.

The Cliff, or the Clemence Hill, back of it, affords the visitor a fine panoramic view of a large portion of the villages of Southbridge Centre and Globe Vil- lage. Immediately in front the view takes in a broad and not high swell of land, not long ago de- voted wholly to forest and agricultural purposes, and appeared to form a separation between Globe Vil- lage and the Centre. This is now cut up into streets, and largely occupied by the homes of the industrious

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and the finer residences of the wealthy. The rail- road depot, freight-house and the odd-shaped build- ing containing the " stalls " for the "iron horses," are just over the river from the Cliff.

To the right is the denser population of Globe Vil- lage, extending up the far slope to the southward, and northward crowding up the Mckinstry Valley.

To the left of the ridge that has been mentioned as being in the centre of our view, and looking as the needle points nearly south, the tops of the large business blocks and the public buildings are seen, around which we also have a perspective view of a portion of the main village.

All about among the distant hills and valleys are farm-houses, fields and woodlands-it is the combina- tion that produces the effect, and the visitor on a pleasant day can but exclaim with delight.

The central portion of the main village is fast taking the appearance of a city. The industrious town has expended for new roads and streets since 1870, a period of eighteen years-exclusive of gen- eral appropriations for repairing highways and bridges, which is generally from $3000 to $5000 an- nually-$53,682.

Aggregate expenditures on sidewalks in the same length of time has been $54,700. For the erection of new school-houses $20,700 has been expended within the last eighteen years.

The total expenses of the free public library have been $31,397. The town is now erecting a town hall, high school and memorial hall building, for which an appropriation has been voted of $65,000. The town's valuation for 1868 was $2,200,500; for 1887, $3,158,210. The population is now about 7000. But above all, Southbridge is justly proud of its large number of homes which its working people and business men have made for themselves. Also in having the larg- est Young Men's Christian Association in the world in proportion to the number of its inhabitants.

Individual ownership began here one hundred and fifty-eight years ago. In going back to note the early settlements, we are necessarily confined wholly to the public records of the town of Sturbridge. The rec- ords of Dudley and Charlton, were they consulted, would shed little light in matters of much impor- tance. The first effort will be to locate some of the old lines, as laid by the first proprietors, upon the por- tion of their lands that may be seen from Clemence Hill.

A section of the old Oxford line is found in the 'west line of Mr. J. T. Mckinstry's house-lot upon the pinnacle of Clemence Hill. From that point running south about four degrees east, it crossed the river just below Hamilton Woolen Company's lower mill, passing near the centre of Chapin's block, corner of Hamilton and Crane Streets, along near the centre of Whitford's block, corner of Hamilton and Main, and to near the centre of the new town hall building.

Lot 20 east, of the proprietor's first division, is south of Mr. W. F. Mckinstry's farm. It was bounded east on Oxford line, and carrying the same length of Mr. Mckinstry's lot westward, extended south to the river. It is that part of the valley of Mckinstry Brook next to the river, and is westward of the Cliff and Clemence Hill. It was drawn to the original right of Abraham Harding.

Over the river there was a tier of four lots between the valley beyond the bend of the river above the Big Pond and the line between the homesteads of the late Deacon Henry Fisk and land formerly owned by Mr. J. J. Oakes. The lines ran from the river, south 40° west, and the long lots abutted on a line running east 40° south, which is believed to be the north bounds of the farm of the late Mr. Palmer Harding. The position of the first line is now marked by a sunken wall in the Hamilton Woolen Company's pasture, the line extending to the river again below the shuttle shop 192 rods, and this lot, No. 61, bounded everywhere else by the river, was drawn to the original right of Samuel Ellis. Lot No. 60, bounded northwest by 61, extended on that line 160 rods, then east 40° south 68 rods, north 40° east 153 rods, striking the river not far from the " Big Dam." Joseph Clark was the original proprietor. Lot No. 62, drawn by James Denison, original proprietor, was parallel, 60 rods wide, extended on the river to a little below Mr. Gleason's store. It was 217 rods on its long or sontheast side. Lot No. 63, drawn by Ezra Bourne, original proprietor, "Begins at the river" (point of termination of lot 62), runs E. 40° S. 64 rds, S. 40° W. 217 rds, West 40° N. 64 rds, N. 40° E. 217 rds to the beginning. Traces of the southeast line of this lot can be seen, as stated above, also between the house-lot of Mr. H. M. Fiske and Mr. Rowley. Lot No. 64 " begins where Oxford line crosses the river, south along the line 116 rds, W. 40º N. 124 rds, N. 40° E. 23 rds, W. 40° N. 64 rds, N. 40° E. 23 rds. W. 40° N. 64 rds to the river, along the river to the be- ginning." Drawn to original right of Ezra Clark. Lot No. 65, drawn to original right of Thomas Learned, of Oxford, was bounded northwest on 63, northeast on 64, east on Oxford line, southwest on undivided land ; begins in the line of 63, runs east 40° south 124 rods to Oxford line (corner of 64), south on Oxford line 104 rods, west 48º north 158 rods, south 40° west 45 rods, west 48º north 33 rods, east 40° south to first corner. This lot, No. 65, was pur- chased by Capt. Moses Marcy ; also all that part of lot No. 64 northward of it, lying eastward of a con- tinuation of the northwest line of 65 to the river. Mr. Marcy, finding an eligible site upon these lots, there established his homestead, building a large house in 1740, which still remains. The noble old house has had good care, and shows no outward signs of decay. It may as well be said here that Mr. Marcy owned four hundred acres adjoining upon the Oxford side of the line. The long lot, No. 63, next

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to Mr. Marcy's, was purchased and probably settled by Moses Clark.

James Denison had at first two shares-two-fiftieths of the proprietors' land. Hensdale Clark purchased one of Mr. Denison's shares and in that way came in possession of lot 62, and built his house where Mr. Harvey Newell lives and his barn on the opposite side of the road, farther west on the westward slope of the hill. He subsequently owned all the land to the bend of the river, lots 60 and 61, and when the large estate was divided among his children, other old Clark homesteads were built. Besides Mr. Marcy and Hensdale Clark, the settlers known to have been located within the limits of Southbridge before Stur- bridge was incorporated, were : Jonathan Perry, site of the old homestead of the late Mr. T. N. Harding; James Denison, near the residence of the late Mr. Lewis Morse; Jonathan Mason, now James H. Mason ; Joseph Morse, now Andrew H. Morse, and Daniel Thurston, somewhere southerly of Mr. Marcy.

In March, 1739 (our dating), the first road was laid within the limits of this town. It began at the meeting-house in Sturbridge, past the dwellings of Deacon Isaac Newell, Mr. Rice, Deacon Daniel Fiske, Henry Fiske, Mr. "Martains," Henry Hooker, "thence southerly by the house where Ebenezar Stearns dwells, so on the south end of a hill; then leaving the old path, turning down the river to a white pine, then through the river, then turning up the river to the old path, thence running southerly in the old path till it comes to where the trees are newly marked for a road, still keeping a southerly course to where the southeast corner of lot No. 66 is marked, thence running southward by a line of marked trees, east of a small frame house, thence keeping much the same course to the west of Jonathan Mason's house, thence to the west of Joseph Morse's house. So near the same course to the common land."

It will be understood that the "old path " mentioned here was an old Brookfield and Woodstock road. This first town-way intersected it near the residence of Mrs. F. W. Emmons, at which point there is men- tion of the " path or road leading from Brookfield to Woodstock," entered upon the proprietors' records in 1730, before any settlements were made here. The dwelling of Ebenezer Stearns was upon the place now owned by Mrs. Malcom Ammidown, in Sturbridge, and the above road passed down the slope, by the brick-yard to the river. On Southbridge side of the river, traces of this road (and consequently the ancient path) may be seen in the pasture-land upon the side- hill above the residence of Mr. C. D. Chace.

The second road laid out by the town of Sturbridge within the territory now in Southbridge is dated most four years later, viz., December, 1742. It began at a white "oke" tree beside the old path down the river below the shuttle-shop, and in winding up the side bill it passed a " grate Rock In the old fence," to the " south side of the stock of a chimney," then "south

of a swamp hole," and from this point, near Mr. Manning Plimpton's, the description appears to be identical with the present location of the road and South Street.

There was a line of marked trees to a " white oke" marked "ye north point of a hill," " thence to Hensdale Clark's barn-the road runs the north side of the four last bounds-thence south of sd Clark's now dwelling-house, thence the north side of a heap of stones, on a little ledge, and a white oke tree marked, then to a heap of stones at the line of sd Marcy's land ; sd heap of stones on the south side of the highway by said Marcy's fence." It appears that Mr. Marcy was not at that time ready to have his land cut up with roads. The location of the fence that the town ran against and stopped-carefully avoiding the heap of stones-was in front of the residence of Mr. H. M. Fiske.

March 23, 1744 (our dating), a road was laid out and is described as "Beginning at the south side of the river, on Moses Marcy's land, by a large rock : thence over the river north ; thence turns westerly as near the river as is convenient till it comes to the old road now trod, to a pitch pine tree ; thence to a black oak ; then running a northerly course to a pitch pine near the line between Jabez Harding and Jonathan Perry." The road was described in its continuance by various marks until it "comes into the road that leads from Aaron Martin's to Denison Bridge." Aaron Martin's was where Mr. Horatio Carpenter now lives, on Fisk Hill.

We find here that in 1744 lot No. 20 was owned by Jabez Harding, who was a son of Abraham Hard- ing, original proprietor of that lot. The crossing of the river from the "large rock," in Mr. Marcy's land, was not far from the east end of the Hamilton Woolen Company's lower mill, and near Oxford line. From that point to Cliff Street the road can now be traced along the steep side-hill. The road went north of the pond called Pleasant, by where Dr. L. W. Curtis now resides.

One year later, March 4, 1745, among the town's creditors we find: "Then Mr. Hensdale Clark brought in his account, which was three pounds, twelve shillings, old tenor, for the sawing plank for the bridge." The location of Mr. Clark's saw-mill will be referred to in another place.

In March, 1745, the above-mentioned road was continued : " Beginning at a large rock the south side of the river in Mr. Marcy's land, then runs southeasterly to a small pitch pine tree, then over a small run of water to the end of a rocky knoll ; then turning more south to a great rock with stones upon it the west side of the road; thence near the same course by a fence the east side of the said road till it comes to the corner of said fence ; then turns easterly by said Marcy's house and barn, which are the north side of this road ; then a little more southerly to Ox- ford west line. Then this road begins again in Stur-

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bridge, the west side of Mr. Samuel Freeman's land. Then was laid out the Woodstock road over Lebanon Hill. The record gives the names of three settlers on the line of that road to Woodstock,-Nehemiah Underwood on the location long known as the Clark place, John Ryan just beyond, and where now is Southbridge Panper Asylum was Joseph Hatch.

The road down under the cliff was never a popular way, and why it was located there is hard to under- stand, unless it might have been expected at the time that the town of Oxford would extend it to Mr. Marcy's mills. The people preferred the fordway near Denison's Bridge, and in March, 1750, the town accepted a road " as now trod more easterly through Hensdale Clark's land, instead of the one from the ford up stream to Denison's Bridge." This road can be traced in the Hamilton Woolen Company's pas- ture land along the hill-side above the pond.

In March, 1753, an alteration was made. "From the meeting-house to Moses Marcy's. Beginning in Reuben Ellis's land, the north side of the river, the north end of a knoll, then southerly to and over the river," etc. This road may be described more briefly ; it began opposite the residence of Dr. L. W. Curtis, passed the location of the company's " Big Mill," across the river in Hensdale Clark's land, turned a little east towards the Union Church, then southward into Moses Clark's land; thence over a small run, and up over the hill where it may now be seen in the pine grove on Main Street. This road united with that of 1745, from the Cliff Bridge, which entered South Street near the low house owned by Mr. J. J. Oakes. The old road around by the bridge under the Cliff was then discontinued. Reuben Ellis built his house on that section of the road be- tween Dr. Curtis' residence and the river. That house and property was afterwards owned and occu- pied by Sammel Fiske, Sr., and when the Hamilton Woolen Company made their improvements at the " Brick Village " so called, it was moved to a back street, and there occupied until within a few years.

These roads that have been mentioned comprise all that were laid ont in the part of Sturbridge now included in this town, previous to 1753.

It was about this time that two young men came in, whose descendants have been prominent in various departments of the town's progress and history.

Gershom Plimpton came on foot with his pack, gun, ammunition, etc. He was a clothier by trade, and established that business at what is now Globe Village. He married Martha, daughter of Moses Marcy, and they lived several years in a part of the clothing shop. He bought of his father for "9 pounds lawful money," ten acres of land in Stur- bridge, bounded south on the Quinebaug, west by land of Jonathan Perry, northerly by the highway, and easterly by the land of Reuben Ellis. Deed dated April 21, 1759. Near the east end of this lot, the north side of the river, on a beautiful site, he

built his house. The location is now occupied by Alden's magnificent block. A bridge at this place --- now Main Street Iron Bridge-is mentioned in the town records along in the seventies of last century, and called "Gershom Plimpton's bridge." A more direct road, crossing Pleasant Pond, south of Gershom Plimpton's house, and over the river by the clothier's mill, superseded the one below, which crossed by Reuben Ellis' saw-mill.

William Mckinstry, of Scotch-Irish descent, landed from Ireland in 1741, without capital, except his own innate love of industry and frugality. He settled lot No. 19, next north of 20, where his great-grandson, Mr. William F. Mckinstry, now resides. Mr. Wil- liam Mckinstry married Mary, daughter of Joseph Morse, who, as well as Martha Marcy, had grown up in this new place.

To illustrate the times, the following is copied from Mr. Moses Plimpton's " Historical Lectures," deliv- ered before the Southbridge Lyceum, March, 1836 :

From a person who, some years since, had an interview with the late Capt. Abel Mason, Seo., for the purpose of making ioquiries, I have the following facts: "When Mr. Jonathan Mason first came to this place, hears, wolves and deer were numerous, and made depredations upon the flocks of cattle and sheep and fields of grain.

" The people were io the habit of attending meeting at all times when it was possible to go. Mr. Mason and those in his neighborhood had to travel 5 or 6 miles through the woods, and ford the Quinehang in the summer, and they sometimes felled trees across to pass upon, which would remain until carried off by freshets. In winter the olen of one neighborhood assembled early, and, by the aid of snow-shoes, or rackets, beat a track, all going single file. The women and children would fol- low, and mothers often carried young children in their arms." Another incident of the lecturer's grandfather, Gershom Plimpton, is as follows : "Some years after he began, probably about 1756, there was nothing but a foot-path from this place to the old Col. Cheney house, so-called, which was near the place of Larkin Ammidown's factory, Coming from Col. Cheney's in the evening, and when near the place of the Columbiao factory, he heard the howling of wolves not far from him, and he supposed they had seen or smelled him, and were collecting to pursue him. It may be imagined that his speed was soon increased to # maximum, and, being very active and swift of foot, he in a few minutes reached Mr. Freemao's in this village, and the wolves had to make other provision for their supper."

It was under such circumstances that, for more than twenty years, the little children were gathered from the scattered homes to receive the small amount of education which the times allotted to them. The first teacher in that part of Sturbridge now included in this town was Margaret Manning and she gathered her pupils at the house of James Denison, on the site of the homestead of the late Lewis Morse. The first school-house was built about twenty rods west of Mr. Denison's house, in 1754. The first school district was all of Sturbridge, south of the river, that is in- cluded in this town. The school district in the Pratt neighborhood was established in 1770, and the centre district in 1775, the location of the Denison school- house being moved farther south.

The first saw-mill in this town was built by Moses Marcy hefore November, 1733, to which he added a grist-mill before the last of September, 1736. The second saw-mill in this town and the first improve- ment of water-power in Globe Village was Hensdale

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Clark's, built before 1744 and situated on or near the site of a little mill, which (whatever is done in it now) was a grist-mill some twenty- five years ago. It was down the river, not far below Mr. Gleason's store. This early saw-mill was subsequently owned by Reu- ben Ellis.

It will now be appropriate with the design and brevity of this article to pass lightly over a period of about half a century, a period of gradual growth in population and a corresponding change in the appear- ance of the country. New farms were wrought by the second and third generations from the first set- tlers. The whole surface of the town was brought to abont the same general appearance-style of build- ings excepted-as may now be seen in all the rural districts. Along the Quinebang, the Marcy saw and grist-mill; and on the location of Globe Village, Gershom Plimpton's clothing-mill, and later his son's grist-mill, accommodated the agricultural community. Yet, in the midst of this half-century of quiet pro- gress occurred that which formed a great epoch in the world's history - the American Revolution. Strong men went out from these homes to the con- flict and helped to achieve the right of the people to govern themselves. Their names, so far as has been ascertained, are found on the rolls of the Revolution- ary soldiers of the towns of Sturbridge and probably Charlton and Dudley. Some of those who survived the war were no less strong in the affairs of civil gov- ernment, and their names are identified with the early movements that preceded and finally resulted in the establishment of the town of Southbridge.

The thought of a new town existed in the minds of far-seeing men when there were not above five hun- dred inhabitants in all the territory ; and being put in an enduring form by the pen of Joshua Harding, and handed down by Moses Plimpton, is here inserted as an important link in the chain of movements between the early conditions and present develop- ments.

At a meeting of parties interested, in 1796, a com- mittee was appointed, consisting of Oliver Plimp- ton, Daniel Morse, Joshua Harding, Jr., Asa Walker, Inther Ammidown, Eleazer Putney, Jr., and James Dyer, to whom was referred the subject of forming a new town, and who were to report thereon. They re- ported as follows :

The committee to whom was referred the subject of forming a num- her of the inhabitants of the southeast part of Sturbridge, south west part of Charlton and west part of Dudley into a town, have attended that service, and beg leave to report as follows, viz. : The first article of instructions to your committee was to report the most convenient spot for a meeting house. In the public opinion, three spots have been re- ferred to, at a moderate distance from each other. Your committee, having paid particular attention to each of them, are unanimous in their opinion that the central, which is a rising ground on Capt. Mar- cy's land, north of Col. Freeman's baru, concentrates convenience, ele- gance and beauty.

The second article of instruction to your committee was to report the principles on which said house is to be built. As it is natural to expect that in a class of citizens so numerous as is comprised in the proposed new town, there will be different sentiments in regard to

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464