History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 30

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 30

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The town supports a High School, eighteen graded, and three ungraded schools ; also evening schools to answer the requirements of the " Illiterate Minor Bill" of June, 1887, are established.

"The May enrolment of the children of school age gave 1515, an increase of 96 over the previous enrollment. The public schools have enrolled 999, which is 111 more than last year. The parochial school reports 625 as the number enrolled, with an average attendance of 490. Allowing for those over 15, and for the duplicate enrollment of the few who have attended both the parochial and the public schools a part of the year, the result indicates that there are very few children of school age in town who have not attended school a part of the year."

The total expenditures of the town, less the perma- nent repairs, for the year was $14,608.15.

A High School was established in 1841, and main- tained by private contribution until appropriations were made by the town beginning in 1854. A room in the upper story of the old town-house was occu- pied by the High School until that building was taken down in 1887. Very fine accommodations in the lower story of the new Town Hall-High School building combined will be furnished at an early day.

propriated. At first the books were kept in Whit- ford's Block, but on the 1st of January, 1872, the col- lection was removed to the commodious rooms in Ammidown Block, designed expressly for the pur- pose.

By the report of March 1, 1888, the library at that time contained 12,141 books and 1557 pamphlets and periodicals unbonnd. During the year the total number of books consulted at the library was 3199; total number of volumes taken for home nse, 14,949. A reading-room is connected with the library, which is also supplied with current periodicals. A museum, containing natural curiosities and antiquities, is in the same building. Miss A. J. Comins is the libra- rian, and Miss J. S. Smith, assistant.

SOCIETIES .- There are two Masonie Lodges, viz., the Quinebang Lodge, F. and A. M., and Doric Chapter, R. A. M., meet at Masonic Hall, Main, corner of Hamilton Streets ; Phoenix Council, No. 333, Royal Arcanum, meets in their hall in Ammi- down Block, Main Street; Southbridge Lodge, No. 47, I. O. O. F., meets at Odd Fellows' Hall, Savings Bank Building; Ancient Order of Hibernians, organ- ized in 1873; St. Jean Baptiste Society, meets at Me- morial Block, Main Street; St. Mary's Total Absti- nence Society, meets at their room in Chapin's Block, Hamilton, corner of Crane Street ; and many more of a social, literary, musical or benevolent character. The Good Samaritan and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union Societies have done good work ; also the Young Women's Christian Temperance Union, which still exists.

A Young Men's Christian Association was organ- ized in 1882, and started off very auspicionsly. A Star Course of Lectures has been instituted, and kept up each winter season. Their rooms, in Edwards' Block, are open every week-day evening until ten o'clock. The association has purchased an elegible site, corner of Main and Elm Streets, now occupied by the "Columbian " building, where they contem- plate erecting, at some future time, a suitable edifice for the prosecution of their work. President, George W. Wells; Vice-Presidents, F. W. Eaton and B. U. Bugbee; Executive Secretary, C. D. Munroe; Clerk, F. C. Hill; Treasurer, E. A. Wells.

BANKS .- The Southbridge Bank was incorporated in 1836; capital, one hundred thousand dollars. This bank was anthorized to increase its capital stock fifty thousand dollars in 1854, which sum was subscribed and paid in the same year. It was converted into a National Banking Association under the act of Con- gress of June, 1864, and commenced business as such April 1, 1865, with a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The presidents of the Sonthbridge Bank and Southbridge National Bank have been as follows : Samnel A. Hitchcock, 1836-52; Jacob Ed- wards, Jr., 1852-62; Samuel M. Lane, 1862; Jacob Edwards. The cashiers have been : Samuel M. Lane,

The Southbridge Public Library was established by vote of the town March, 1870, at which time one thousand dollars and the dog fund, $176.17, was ap- 1836-62; Henry D. Lane, 1862-67; Francis L.

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Chapin, 1867 to the present time. Southbridge Sav- ings Bank, incorporated by an act of the Legislature, approved April 28, 1848, and commenced business in June following. Ebenezer D. Ammidown, Esq., was elected the first president, in 1848, and continued till 1849; he having resigned, Dr. Samuel Hartwell was elected his successor in 1850. Manning Leonard, Esq., was chosen the first secretary, and Samuel M. Lane, Esq., treasurer. The present officers are : President, Robert H. Cole; Treasurer, C. D. Mun- roe; Vice-Presidents, S. Dresser, C. A. Paige and C. A. Dresser ; Secretary, C. D. Munroe.

NEWSPAPERS .- Beginning in 1828, when there were but two other papers in this county, Pierpont Edwards Bates Botham started the Reformer and Moralist, a four-page paper, nineteen by thirteen inches, advocating firmly the cause of temperance, upon the total abstinence principle. The name of the paper, after the first year, was changed to The Moralist and General Intelligencer. It was located in the old brick house opposite the residence of the late Dr. Hartwell. Mr. Botham failed, and the prop- erty passed into the hands of Moses Plimpton, who sold it to Josiah Snow, of Providence. Under the direction of L. H. Goland the Southbridge Register appeared in February, 1829. In 1832 Mr. Snow sold the property to Joslin & Tiffany, who, on the 7th of February 1832, issued the first number of The Vil- luge Courier. Edwin D. Tiffany wishing to conduct a political paper in the interest of the Whig party, bought out Milton Joslin, and hung out the Henry Clay flag in August following ; while an opposition paper, called the True Republican, supporting An- drew Jackson, was started by H. G. O. Parks, and continued until the close of the campaign. The last issue of the Courier was No. 52, on the 31st of Janu- ary, 1833. In 1830 the Ladies' Mirror was started. Each number contained eight pages, nine by eleven inches. One volume and a few numbers of the sec- ond were issued, George W. H. Fiske, Josiah Snow and W. W. Sherman successively publishing it. We have no account of any printing in this town from that time until 1853, in October, when W. F. Brown, of Brookfield, and W. L. Greene started the South- bridge Press in a house ou the site of the C. A. Dresser house. Nine numbers only of this paper were issued by the above firm. They sold the paper to Sidney Clarke, who, in January, 1854, recommenced the publication of the Press. Later he associated Clarke Jillson with him, and the paper was issued by them until 1856, when Mr. Clarke was again alone, con- tinuing until 1857, when E. A. Denny bought and published it until 1858. Then Mr. Charles L. New- hall started the Saturday Morning News, which, in turn, in 1860, gave way to the Quinebaug Item, of O. D. Haven.

The Southbridge Journal superseded the above paper in 1861, and was issued by Henry C. Gray until August 17, 1868. William B. Morse became proprie-

tor and editor and conducted the business till Decem- ber, 1871, when George M. Whitaker became his asso- ciate. Mr. Whitaker became sole proprietor and edi- tor, 1874, in January. Under the able management of Mr. Whitaker, the journal has been brought to rank among the best, and its influence in favor of edu- cation, temperance and good morals is outspoken and decided. In 1887 Mr. Maitland P. Foster became sole proprietor and editor of the journal.

The Enterprise was started in 1874, by Charles L. Newhall and P. L. Schriftgiesser. The Journal office was burned out in December of '74, and the outfit of the Enterprise was sold to Mr. Whitaker, of the former paper.

In 1878 Mr. William W. Corbin started the Tran- script, which did not live a year.

The Southbridge Herald, started by Mr. W. W. Corbin in 1881, was a success, and gained a firm foot- hold in the community before the death of Mr. Cor- bin in 1884. The present editor and proprietor, Mr. William T. Robinson, took the management in 1886, and by his enterprise and ability has brought the Herald to be one of the best of country locals.

A paper in the French language, called the L'Etoile de l' Est, was started in 1872 by C. Desmarais ; but the portion of the community even then, who could not read the English papers was too small to give it ade- quate support, and it was discontinued.

MUTUAL GAS-LIGHT COMPANY .- President, Hiram C. Wells; Treasurer, C. A. Dresser ; Directors, C. A. Dresser, Hiram C. Wells, Andrew Hall, I. P. Hyde, J. M. Cochran.

SOUTHBRIDGE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY .- In- corporated in 1887 with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars. President, Chester A. Dresser ; Treasurer, Hiram C. Wells; Directors, C. A. Dresser, Andrew Hall, E. I. Garfield, H. A. Pattison, Thos. T. Robin- son ; Clerk, J. M. Cochran.

AQUEDUCTS .- The first aqueduct company in South- bridge was organized in the year 1825. The principal object was the introduction of water to the new hotel, built that year on the site where the Edwards house now stands. The proprietors were Luther, Larkin, Oliver and Holmes Ammidown, owners of the hotel, and Elisha Cole.

The Southbridge Aqueduct Company was organized June 22, 1831. It was originated by Holmes Ammi- down for the purpose of introducing water to his dwelling-house, erected in the year 1830, and with that view the water was conducted to a reservoir near the house. From that point, now the residence of Mr. C. A. Paige, the water was distributed to the shareholders, about fourteen in number, comprising nearly all the dwelling-houses at that time in the village.

The Southbridge Water Supply Company was or- ganized in 1881. President, F. L. Chapin ; treasurer, F. W. Eaton. This company entered upon the work of furnishing the more copious supply of water,

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

which was the pressing need of the village. A

reservoir was made on elevated land southwest of the village, and the laying of pipes has progressed from year to year. In 1888 a new reservoir was con- structed, on the same stream, of larger dimensions, and in the most thorough and scientific manner. This reservoir is of an average depth of sixteen feet, and has a surface of four acres.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- The manual force consists of a chief and four assistants, two steamer companies of fifteen men each, and two hook-and-ladder companies of ten men each; also eleven horses subject to the call of the department. Chief, Calvin Claflin; first assistant, A. H. Cozzens; second assistant, B. C. Stone; third assistant, J. W. Robinson ; fourth as- sistant and clerk, Michael Egan.

RAILROAD .- A road from Southbridge to Black- stone, about thirty-four miles, was chartered May I, 1849. The completion of this road, so anxiously looked for by the people of this town, was not ac- complished until 1866. Other sections making a through connection with Boston, having been pre- viously completed, the entire line to the depot in Southbridge was finished by putting down the last rail at 53 o'clock P.M., November 9, 1866, when the first train of cars, the same evening, having run from Boston over the whole line, entered the depot grounds.

This point is now the terminus of the "South- bridge Branch " of the New York and New England Railroad.

The road furnishes the convenience of outside communication and of freight transportation, which has made possible the recent remarkable growth of the town.

DISTRICT COURT .- The First District Court of Southern Worcester was established by an act of the Legislature, approved May 26, 1871, to take ef- fect the first day of August following. The jurisdic- tion of this court embraces a district composed of the towns of Sturbridge, Southbridge, Charlton, Dudley, Oxford and Webster. This court consists of one standing justice and of two special justices. Hon. Clark Jillson, the first appointed standing jus- tice now (1888) holds that office. Frederick W. Bot- ham, Esq., of Southbridge, one of the two first ap- pointed special justices is deceased, and Elisha M. Phillips, Esq., of Southbridge, has that position. These courts are held for criminal offenses on Mon- day, Wednesday and Friday at Southbridge, and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Webster, in each weck, except legal holidays; and for civil business in Southbridge on Monday, and at Webster on Tues- day of each week, and at such other times as may be fixed according to law.

AGRICULTURE .- The soil of this town is usually good ; some tracts may be called excellent.

Several good farms have remained in the families of the early settlers ; more proportionally, perhaps,

than is usual. In the southeast part of the town Mr. Daniel Pratt lives, where his ancestor, Ilenry Pratt, settled on lot No. 42, second division, surveyed in 1733, and drawn to the original right of Ephraim Partridge. Next north of Mr. Pratt is Mr. W. Morse, who lives where his ancestor, Daniel Morse, settled on lot No. 41. In the sontherly central part of the town Mr. A. H. Morse lives where his great- great-grandfather settled before 1738, on two lots : No. 17, originally the minister's right, Rev. Caleb Rice; No. 18, drawn to the original right of John Shearman, who sold his shares, in 1735, to Ezekiel Upham.

The next farm north of the last-named is that of James H. Mason, on lot No. 16, drawn to the origi- nal right of Ichabod Harding; has been in the fam- ily since 1738, when Jonathan Mason bought of David Morse.

The Clark place, on the road to Lebanon Hill, has been in the family since 1744. It was lot No. 33, originally drawn to the right of Joshua Morse.

In the north part of the town Provostus and W. F. Mckinstry occupy lands upon which their ances- tor, William Mckinstry, settled, as mentioned in an- other place.

The farms above mentioned, to which may be added, in the southeast part, those of Hiram and Manson Morse, A. Haskell, Lucien and the late L. A. Lyon; in the southwest, the farms of the late Lewis Morse, A. J. Plimpton and A. Marcy ; north of the river, the late T. N. Harding, Nathan McKin- stry and others in various parts of the town, little, if any, less worthy of mention, afford examples of thorough and successful farming in the conservative style, new methods being adopted to some extent. The well-known farms of Dr. L. W. Curtis, George L. Clemence and W. H. H. Cheney furnish fine ex- amples of progressive agriculture.

As reported in the census of Massachusetts of 1885, there are 2108 acres under cultivation, including grass land and orcharding, and 3965 acres in perma- nent pasture in the town. This amount of land is divided into 77 farms of sizes ranging from less than 2 to over 500 acres ; about half of the number con- taining between 100 and 300 acres.

The number of farm laborers was 129, owners and others making up the total of 217 employed in agri- culture. The total value of agricultural products was $102,206.

The first town-house was built in 1837-38, at a total expense, including land, of 83809.78. The town's portion of the United States surplus revenue of 1837 (a part of which was distributed to the States that year) was appropriated to this use. The walls were of brick, two stories in height, and a small cupola on the top of the building. The lower story was fitted up for a town-hall, and the upper for the High School.

When the town decided, in 1887, to erect a new

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building on the same spot, the old town-house was taken down.

The Town Hall-High School building, now being built, is seventy-five feet in width and one hun- dred and nineteen feet in length, and will contain the following rooms, viz. :

In the basement, two play-rooms, laboratory, boiler-room, water -closets, etc.

In the first story, a school-room for the High School, two recitation-rooms, one for a library, one for the superintendent of schools, a small ball, a memorial hall, town clerk's office, etc.

In the second story, a town-hall, with capacity to seat twelve hundred and fifty persons, and four large rooms to be used in connection with it.

The structure bas a granite basement, and above that the materials are bricks, brown-stone and terra- cotta. There will be a tower one hundred and thirty- seven feet in height.

The whole building will be a very substantial structure, and for adaptability to the purposes in- tended and for architectural appearance, it will rank in the first class iu the State.

The corner-stone was " laid by all the rights of the Masonic Order" by the M. W. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. It was just eighty-eight years from the dedication of the first meeting-house in old Honest-town to the laying of the corner-stone of the grandest structure ever erected in Southbridge. These events occurred-as did also the raising of the frame of the old meeting house in 1797-on the 4th of July, and represent epochs in the history of the town.

MANUFACTURES,-EXISTING CORPORATIONS ON THE QUINEBAUG .- Litchfield Shuttle Company, in- corporated in 1878, with a capital of twenty-one thousand dollars. The President is P. T. Litchfield ; Treasurer, John M. Cheney ; Clerk, Frank C. Litch- field. Their plant is located on the Quinebaug, be- tween Westville and Globe Village, where they have one of the largest and finest factories for the manu- facture of shuttles in this country. They produce shuttles and shuttle-irons and are also sole manufac- turers of the Thompson patent adjustable tension eye- shuttle. None but the most thoroughly seasoned stock is used, and their customers number many of the fine, large milis both in New England and the South. Their reputation as manufacturers of a high grade of shuttles is second to none.

The Hamilton Woolen Company, with a corporate capital of two hundred thousand dollars, organized June 29, 1831, as follows: Samuel A. Hitchcock, president ; Willard Sayles, clerk ; Samnel A. Hitch- cock, Willard Sayles and Lorin Norcross, directors. The productive power at this time was five sets of machinery, with the dyeing and finishing apparatus suitable for the manufacture of broad-cloth. There were twenty-eight broad looms, and there were man- ufactured in the first year of their operations forty

thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight and one- half yards of broad-cloths.

The factory buildings were the old "Globe " mill, which gave name to the village, and is now the car- penter's shop standing near the bridge, and the Wolcott brick mill," which bas given place to the larger structures of the " Print works."

To illustrate in a small measure the growth of business at Globe Village, the larger constructions and improvements, with the increase of capital stock, may be briefly mentioned.

The " Big Dam " was raised in height about three feet above its former condition, and greatly strength- ened; the great six-story brick mill was erected and filled with machinery 1836-38. This more than doubled the productive capacity for making broad- clothis. Monthly payment to employés was inaugu- rated, the manufacture of delaines introduced, and the wooden mill near the dam erected in which to make the cotton warp in 1844. An increase of capital stock was granted in 1845 to five hundred thousand dollars. An act for the further increase of the capital of this company to one million dollars was granted by the Legislature and approved February 14, 1846, and in September, 1849, the company voted to issue new stock to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, which increased the paid-in capital to six hundred thousand dollars. The same year the brick mill near the big dam was erected. December 9, 1850, the large six-story brick mill was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in the year 1851, with the addi- tion of the two-story wing.

The lower mill, near the depot and opposite the Cliff, was erected in 1860, and was put in operation in 1864. In 1861 the big dam was greatly strength- ened and made a substantial and durable structure ; also, this year, the print-works were greatly enlarged and improved.

In 1865 the company made a large addition to their reservoir supply of water by the construction of extensive works in the town of Holland, which in- sures a constant supply. The great dam was raised again to the amount of four feet above its former height, about 1872. The whole plant, flowage and all, occupies the river fully a mile, of which the com- pany owns the land on both sides, with numerous tenement houses, business blocks, other building and farm-lands.

Since 1873 the Hamilton Woolen Company have used their reserve funds in the purchase and fitting up of the old Salisbury Mills at Amesbury, Massachu- setts; consequently no further enlargement or im- provement has been made at Globe Village. They are now running at this place 25,632 spindles and 942 looms, giving employment to 1097 hands. The yearly production of worsted dress goods and cassimeres is 12,000,000 yards.

Samuel A. Hitchcock had charge of the works here from the organization of the company until 1836.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Samuel L. Fiske was agent from 1836 to 1846. Joshua Ballard, Jr., succeeded Mr. Fiske as agent, which position he held until elected treasurer of the com- pany in 1865, when his brother, Gayton Ballard, succeeded him as agent.

The present officers in charge of the works at Globe Village are : Mr C. A. Coleman, treasurer ; and Mr: John Tatterson, agent. Mr. Tatterson commenced his agency here in the beginning of the year 1878.

The Central Mills Company .- The corporators of this company were: Chester A. Dresser, of South- bridge, Samuel and William Foster and T. A. Randall, of Providence, R. I.

The manufacturing interests of the company have been successfully managed by Mr. Chester A. Dresser, the resident proprietor, to the present time. Mr. Dresser is now president and treasurer of the com- pany, and his son, Mr. Henry B. Dresser, is the superintendent.

At a regular semi-annual meeting of the company in July, 1888, it was decided to build an addition to the wing on the east side of the mill-the new part to be one hundred and twenty-five feet in length by sixty-five feet in width, and three stories high. This (January, 1889) has been accomplished. The addi- tional room increases the machinery from 6000 spin- dles to about 10,000, and the looms from 150 to above 260; this, with the improvement in machinery and methods, will more than double the productive capacity of ten years ago.

Southbridge Steam Laundry, owned by Mr. William P. Plimpton, is the next on the river.

American Optical Company, Manufacturers of Spec- `tacles and Eye-glasses, in Gold, Silver and Steel .- An examination of the industries of Southbridge reveals the fact that there are several extensive enterprises carried on here which demand special attention at our hands, and which will arouse the interest of the reader, not only by their magnitude, but by the pre- eminence which they have achieved. Foremost among such is the enterprise of the American Optical Company, known throughout the world as manufac- turers of lenses, spectacles and eye-glasses, in gold, silver and steel. The character of the business and the impetus which its prosecution has given to the general thrift of this community make it a fit theme for comment, and entitle it to a prominent place in the pages of this volume. The business was first inaugurated, in 1833, by Mr. William Beecher, who is still an honored resident of Southbridge. About 1842 he disposed of the business to Messrs. Ammidown & Putney, which firm was soon after succeeded by Messrs. Ammidown & Son. In 1856 Mr. Beecher returned to his first love, and, in company with Mr. R. H. Cole, now the president of the company, formed the firm of Beecher & Cole, who conducted it till 1862, when the firm of R. H. Cole & Co. was organized, remaining as proprietors until.1869, when the present company was incorporated. The officers of the com-

pany are Mr. R. H. Cole as president ; G. W. Wells, treasurer ; and H. C. Cady, superintendent. The main factory, used for the manufacture of spectacle and eye-glass frames, is a three-story frame building, with finished brick basement, which was erected in 1872, to which additions were made in 1879, 1882 and 1886, comprising some sixty thousand feet of floor space. The lens factory was built in 1887 and is two stories in height, two hundred and thirty-two feet long, sixty-three feet wide and is specially constructed and adapted to the business of manufacturing lenses, and contains forty thousand feet floor space. This firm employs over six hundred workmen, all proficient in their work and experienced in the art of manufac. turing. The machinery, much of which is extremely ingenious, and a large portion of which was designed by active members of the firm, for the special uses to which it is applied, is operated by water-power, aggregating three hundred horse-power, with steam auxiliary of seventy-five horse-power. The company have invested in the business about six hundred thousand dollars, and their output aggregates over four hundred dozen spectacles and eye-glasses per day (fifty dozen of which are gold), or one million five hundred thousand pairs per year, and much more than the above of lenses. The demand for their goods comes from all parts of the country, and also from many foreign countries. The management has brought the business to a wonderful degree of elabo- ration and system, and they have the satisfaction of knowing that their goods are not excelled by any in the markets of the new or the old world, and that they have the largest and most complete manufactory of the kind in the world. The company melted in the year 1888 two hundred and eighty-eight thousand five hundred dollars of gold and silver, and their pay-roll amounts to over five thousand dollars per week.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 30

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