History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 39

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 39

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TRADERS IN ATHOL (1888)-Athol Centre .- Fay & Fay, grocers ; Stevens & Co., grocers ; A. P. Wheeler, painters' supplies ; J. E. Goodnow, meat market; W. N. Ward, meat market ; Highland Bakery, bakers; Cyrus Smith, tinware and stoves; F. G. Amsden, clothier ; George W. Rickey, jewelry ; J. A. Holton, boots and shoes ; Frost & Whitcomb, stoves and tinware ; T. W. Savage, dry goods ; H. M. Humphrey, apothecary; Samuel Lee, hardware; E. E. Kelton, groceries ; Miss Ryan, milliner.

Athol .- C. H. Tyler, groceries ; C. F. Gage, variety store ; George Woodbury, meat market; F. G. Lovel, footwear; L. A. Smith, tailor ; E. Deney, dry goods ; 11. R. Barber, harnesses ; C. F. Paige, hardware ; H.

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Arsenault & Co., apothecaries ; Parmenter & Ken- dall, clothing; Boston Millinery Store, millinery ; Amsden Brothers, clothing ; Geo. O. Faye & Son, jewelry ; John Glennon, groceries ; Parmenter & Tower, dry goods ; E. W. Train & Co., stoves and tinware; J. D. Holbrook, dry goods ; O. T. Brooks & Co., groceries ; Henry Cook, furniture ; A. V. Fletcher, stoves and tinware ; Albert Ellsworth, baker ; T. S. Estabrook, drugs and medicines ; G. M. Ainsworth, plumber ; J. B. Cardany, furniture ; P. J. Talbot, tailor ; W. A. Beamau, bicycles and guns ; Athol Fruit Store, fruits ; C. M. Lee, stoves and tin- ware; J. W. White, groceries ; M. Lehrberg, mil- linery ; Converse Ward, apothecary ; W. W. Norton, dry goods ; F. W. Lord, apothecary ; J. L. Balcom, footwear ; Lucien Lord, books, stationery, etc .; C. A. Carruth, clothier ; Johnson & Whittemore, groceries ; Miss Ward, millinery ; A. S. Davis, footwear ; C. R. Chandler, millinery ; S. N. Follansbee, jewelry ; L. S. Rich, millinery ; L. C. Parmenter, millinery ; Geo. H. Cleveland, footwear.

CEMETERIES .- So far as can be ascertained, no complete and reliable record of the deaths in Athol has been preserved. During the long pastorates of the early ministers they kept a record of the funerals which they attended, and of the deaths of some others, as was the custom in those days, but for the last fifty years little or nothing has been done to combine the old with the more recent records, and make the list complete.

The oldest cemetery was laid out in 1741 on a lot of eight acres, situated on the north bank of Mill Brook, about sixty rods southeast of the railroad station. For years before 1859 this "Old Burying-Ground " had been wholly neglected and was almost forgotten, being held as private property. In that year, through the efforts of Colonel Thomas Townsend and Messrs. George Sprague and Amos L. Cheney, the town ob- tained a legal title to a lot eight rods long and four rods wide (which contained nearly all the graves that could then be distinguished), fenced the same, and reconsecrated it with religious services July 4, 1859, erecting, at the same time, a suitable granite monument. The proceedings on that day were soon printed in two editions, under the title, "The Home of the Ancient Dead Restored." The lot was given to the town by Messrs. Ethan Lord and Amos L. Cheney. In 1859 about forty graves could be dis- tinctly traced, but no marks upon the rough stones gave any indication of the names of the occupants. Five children of Ephraim Stockwell were buried there, and five graves, side by side, are seen, answer- ing in length to the recorded ages of the children.

The second cemetery laid out was what has long been known as the Village Burying-ground, just be- yond the covered bridge on the road to Orange. This appears to have been opened as early as 1746.

The third was the ancient burying-ground, a little off from Pleasant Street in the Upper Village, just I should be so sadly neglected.

back of the house owned by Mr. Eliezer Judd. This is sometimes called "The First Church Cemetery." The interments in this cemetery were almost wholly between 1773 and 1846.

The fourth cemetery (sometimes called " the Main Street Burying-ground") was opened in the south part of the Upper Village in 1843. The remains of many of the leading men of the town repose there, and the town makes an annual appropriation to keep it in order.

The cemetery on Chestnut Hill is probably older than the one just noticed, but it is not known when it was opened.

In 1883 the town purchased a pleasantly-located tract of land containing nearly thirty acres for a new cemetery. It lies upon the north side of Miller's River, and upon the side of the road leading to Orange Furnace. It is called the "Silver Lake Cemetery," as it borders upon the beautiful lake of that name. The grounds have been laid out with good taste, and there is not in all the region a more suitable spot for the resting-place of the dead. The cemetery was dedicated May 10, 1877.

The most ancient tombstone found in the Lower Village Cemetery has this inscription:

Io memory of Mr. Ebenezer Goddard, who died Nov. ye 29th, io ye year 1752, in ye 49th year of his age.

In the ancient Upper Village Cemetery, on Pleas- ant Street, is a gravestone inscribed thus :

MR. CALVIN HUMPHREY, SON OF THE REV. JAMES HUMPHREY AND ESTER, his wife.

He departed this life Nov. 20th, 1773, aged 6 years and 6 m.

Ah, death ! how cruel is thy reign. Thine arrowe make the parents Pain. But faith anticipates the day Wheo thou must yield a Pall thy Prey !

Over this inscription is a large cherub, with ex- panded wings, a favorite device for tombstone orna- mentation during the eighteenth century.

The first pastor of Athol, Rev. James Humphrey, was laid at rest in a tomb in this old cemetery, but there was no inscription upon it in 1850. It is pos- sible, perhaps probable, that this tomb was private property, but the hand of time and, what is infinitely worse, the hands of the lawless, have long since made it a heap of ruins. In the same cemetery was another tomb, perhaps a receiving tomb, which has shared the same fate. A third tomb survives, viz. : that of Joel Morton and family. Depredators broke into this some years since, and took such relics as they could find, but the breach was repaired and the en- trance carefully sealed.

The locality and surroundings of this cemetery are not such as to encourage efforts in the way of ini- provement like the cemeteries that are now used for the interment of the dead ; still it hardly comports with the respect we ought to show to the honored men and women of the past that this ancient burying-ground

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HOTELS .- Mr. Daniel Bigelow (now eighty-eight and a half years of age, and one of the oldest men in town) says he can remember when the Pequoig House was a private dwelling. From other sources it is learned that it was not opened as a hotel until 1830.1 From Mr. Bigelow's statements it appears that the "Factory Boarding-house " was erected in 1811, and that two or three years later it was opened as an inn, and so kept for a number of years. Captain Orcott's tavern was erected very early in the history of the town. It stood just above the centre of Athol, and was the first house on the Templeton road, very near the Fair Grounds. In the old elm-tree opposite, the staple still remains on which the ancient tavern-sign was huug. Probably the oldest tavern in Athol was on "The Street," not far from the present residence of Mr. C. K. Wood. During the Revolutionary War, as already stated, it was supposed to be the head- quarters of a little company of Tories, and was care- fully watched or " inspected," as the term was in those days. Captain William Crosby is said to have kept the same house as an inn. Where, or nearly where the Summit House now stands, Mr. Samuel Sweetser is said to have kept a public-house during the later years of the last century, and Thomas Lord was his successor. Others owned the place and kept the tavern before it came into the possession of Mr. John Brooks, the father of Mrs. Doctor Lynde. Captain Kendall once kept a hotel where Mr. Gilbert Southard now lives. It is certainly singular that so little definite information can now be obtained respecting the old taverns of Athiol, for a century ago the country tavern was a most important institution. Travelers were to be entertained in considerable numbers, horses were to be cared for, the ground in front was the place for military parade, while all, young and old, were wel- come in the bar-room.

It should be added that the landlord of the Summit House at the present time is Mr. George H. Prouty, while Mr. George F. Lord has the charge of the Pequoig House, under a lease given by its owner, Mr. Adolphus Bangs. Mr. Bangs was the keeper of the Pequoig for about nineteen years previous to 1886.

FREE MASONS .- Upon the rolls of some of the older Masonic lodges in the county, and of the lodge in Greenfield, the names of Athol men appear. In 1803 the Harris Lodge was instituted in Athol, and in 1864 a new lodge, the Star Lodge, was organized. This was followed in 1866 by the Union Royal Arch Chap- ter, and later the Athol Commandery of Knights Templar was instituted.

Major Warren Horr, of Athol, is doubtless one of the oldest Masons in Worcester County. His certifi- cate of membership, written in both English and Latin is a curiosity that merits preservation : " Brother

Warren Horr, Jr., to whom we have granted these letters, was admitted to the third degree of Masonry in Golden Rule Lodge, on the 25th day of Oct. A. L. 5825. Distinguished for his virtues and fidelity to the craft, he is recommended to their favor and protection. In testimony whereof we have caused our Brother to write his name in the margin and to these presents and have affixed the Scal of our Lodge. Witness our Master and Wardens at New Salem this 23d day of January A.D., 1826.

"SAMUEL WOODBURN, Sec'y."

On the sides of the certificate are the names of other officers of the lodge, and then follows an official dec- laration that the lodge in New Salem is in good standing, signed by the Grand Secretary. Mr. Horr is eighty-five years of age.

WATER-WORKS .- The history of these is as fol- lows :

Robert Wiley and S. L. Wiley, co-partners under the firm-name of the " Athol Aqueduct Company," agreed, under seal, with the inhabitants of Athol to furnish them with pure water for fire and domestic purposes, and to provide fifty hydrants at fifty dol- lars each per year, and others, as needed, at the same rate. This agreement was signed by Robert and S. L. Wiley and the selectmen of Athol June 7, 1876, and approved by a vote of the town at a town-meet- ing held June 13, 1876.

The next year, by act of the Legislature, the two Wileys and two citizens of Athol, their associates and successors, were made a corporation by the name of the Athol Water Company (the Wileys being really the corporation), for the purpose of furnishing Athol with pure water, which carried out, so far as it has been carried out, the original agreement re- ferred to above.

Fifty hydrants were furnished, and five or six more have been added. The act of incorporation bears date of April 10, 1877, and the constructed works were accepted by the town July 7, 1877.

The water furnished by this corporation comes from Wellington Brook, in Phillipston, Buckman Brook, in Athol, and a small brook that rises near the residence of Charles H. Barton, in Phillipston. There are three reservoirs for storing and distributing the water. The main one has an area of nineteen acres, and is partly in Phillipston and partly in Athol, with an elevation of five hundred and fifty feet above the Lower Village. This is chiefly for storage. A second reservoir, of about one acre, is a little distance east of the Calvin Kelton homestead, and this supplies the Upper Village or Athol Centre, while a third, of about the same size, situate a little north of the Upper Village Cemetery, supplies the Lower Village.2

From the report of the Water Committee for 1888, to which reference is made in the notice of the Fire

1 In conflict with this opinion is the fact, as stated in the Athol Tran- script's Annual for 1888, that Mrs. Sally Fish had a deed in which the Pequoig House building was described as a taveru more than one hun- dred years ago.

" These facts have been kindly furnished by Judge Charles Field.

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Department, it appears that there is not a little dis- satisfaction with the working of some, at least, of the hydrants.

THE ATHOL GAS-LIGHT COMPANY .- In 1874 this company was organized. Its capital was fixed at forty thousand dollars. What effect the general in- troduction of electric lights will have upon this com- pany's prosperity remains to be seen. This company has recently been incorporated with the Athol Elec- tric Light and Power Company.

The people of Athol may be congratulated upon their miles of excellent brick and concrete side- walks.

The spacious and beautiful Music Hall, erected in Athol Centre, opposite the Summit House, and which was destroyed by fire in 1875, has not been re- built.

NEWSPAPERS .- As has often proved true in other places, the first efforts to establish a good newspaper upon a permanent basis were not successful in Athol, Freedom's Sentinel, started in 1827, and The White Flag, which first appeared in 1850, had but a brief existence. Those of a later date have been more for- tunate, either because they have been better man- aged financially or have better supplied the wants of the community. In 1866, at a meeting of the citi- zens of Athol, called to consider the matter " of offer- ing suitable inducement to a competent person to establish in town an independent weekly paper," a committee was appointed to attend to this business; and, as the result, Mr. R. W. Waterman, publisher of the Worcester West Chronicle, then printed in Barre, was invited to remove his establishment to Athol and issue his paper from this place. Mr. Wa- terman accepted the invitation, and for twenty-three years has edited and published the Chronicle in Athol. He has done good service in procuring, arranging and printing, from time to time, a multitude of facts re- lating to the history of his adopted town. If the Chronicle has a specialty, it is believed to be the col- lection weekly, through correspondents, of the local news from nearly every town in the northwest part of Worcester County, and giving the same to the public.

The Athol Transcript, which is designed to be "a first-class home paper and a popular advertising me- dium," was started, in 1871, by Messrs. Lucian Lord and Edward F. Jones, with Dr. V. O. Taylor as ed- itor. Later, Col. George H. Hoyt was connected with it as owner in part and editor. In 1873 Mr .. W. L. Hill purchased a small interest in it and became its editor, a position which he has held uninterruptedly for the last sixteen years. Mr. Lord and Mr. Hill are now equal owners in the establishment, and the paper is very prosperous. From the first it has been the aim of Mr. Hill to make the Transcript a reliable and outspoken organ of local public opinion and progress, and how well he has accomplished his pur- pose is attested by the esteem and financial support secured. The editorials of few country papers find

their way into city journals as often as do those that first appear in the Transcript.

With the opening of 1888, the Transcript Company prepared and printed for circulation An Annual, which is crowded with historical and other informa- tion of very great and permanent value. Few, per- haps, will appreciate the amount of time and labor expended upon this unpretending work, but whoever shall study it will become familiar with the principal facts regarding Athol's settlement and progress.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- From the last printed re- port of this organization it appears that the appro- priation to maintain it for 1887-88 was $2,100, while the amount actually paid out to meet necessary expenses was $3,261.41. This expensive, but ahso- lutely necessary organization, is an honor to the town.

The two steamers, Athol and Pequoig, the hose companies and the Union Hook-and-Ladder Com- pany, have all efficient men at their head and enougli assistants to do good execution in case of a fire. But serious complaint is made by the water committee re- specting the working of the hydrants, which have been from the beginning, with the entire water-works, private property. And this matter has become of such pressing importance that the water committeee have examined several other sources of supply, and earnestly recommend to the town to take immediate action for the purpose of obtaining the right to take water for domestic and other purposes from a pond, which is large and natural, in the southeast part of Phillipston. The engineers who received compen- sation for the entire year were Charles Gray and J C. Blake, while A. L. Pike was paid for six months. J. L. Dexter, J. H. Hoskins and H. F. Boutelle, for nine months each; and J. A. Carter for twelve months, but by two orders on the treasury.

LOCAL BUILDING IN 1888.1-During the last year an unusual number of dwelling-houses and manufac- turing establishments have been built in Athol. Of the former thirty-six have been erected, while many others have been thoroughly renovated or enlarged to such an extent as to be practically new. The houses erected on the Ridge Hill property are pleas- ant and attractive homes; and the same may be said of nearly all the dwellings recently erected or reno- vated. From year to year the style of dwelling- house architecture in Athol improves, and arrange- ments for family convenience and comfort are mul- tiplied.

Respecting new manufacturing establishments this may be said : The new Hill & Green shoe-shop, which is nearly completed, will cost about $15,000. A new piano-case shop has been erected on Cottage Street, while Bates Bros., wallet manufacturers, have doubled their capacity for work. Mr. J. B. Cardany

1 The facts respecting this matter have been gleaned from a very full and valuable statement, compiled by the Athol Transcript, for its issue January 8, IS89.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

has built a new block, and added to his store on Ex- change Street until he has doubled his room for business, expending $12,000 in those enterprises. The Athol Silk Company and Athol Machine Com- pany have put in much new machinery, while L. S. Starrett's tool business has been augmented by the addition to it of Charles I. Fay's extensive tool indus- try, lately removed from Springfield. L. Morse & Sons have made a large addition to their factory and built new sheds and dry-houses. A. F. Tyler and E. Ellis & Son have made additions to their factories for manufacturing sashes and blinds. For the Soap- stone Works a new building has been erected, and the cabinet works of Scott & Nye have been enlarged. Hapgood & Smith have made very important im- provements in their match-factory. The establish- ment of the Athol Electric Light and Power Com- pany, and its recent consolidation with the Athol Gas Company, show that the town is making progress in industrial matters. It is estimated that during the year 1888 more than $130,000 were invested by the citizens of Athol in building operations.

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY HONORS .- Williams College appears to have been the favorite resort of the young men of Athol who have acquired a collegiate education. The following appear to have graduated from it, viz. :- Jesse Stratton, John Wis- wall Humphrey, John Drury, Jr., William La Roy Haven, for many years an educator in New Jersey, Joel Drury Miller, clergyman, teacher and editor in Leominster, and Frederic Eugene Stratton. Henry H. Sprague, of Boston, and George A. Black gradu- ated from Harvard University. Lewis M. Norton took his degree, Ph.D., at Gottengen, Germany, and is professor of organic and industrial chemistry in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while James P. Lynde is a graduate of that institution. Charles H. Sweetser, a graduate of Amherst College, has been an able editor and is well known as the author of the " History of Amherst College."

. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC has two posts in Athol: viz., Parker Post, No. 123, whose head- quarters are in Masonic Block in Athol Centre. This post holds in memory James C. Parker, who was sexton of the Evangelical Church before going to war. He was killed at the battle of Newbern, N. C., while in the thickest of the fight, his rifle missing fire as often as he attempted to discharge it. Mr. Parker left a widow (since dead) and three children.

H. V. Smith Post, No. 140, meets in Grand Army Block. This post holds in memory Hubbard V. Smith, one who was among the first to enlist upon the breaking out of the war. In the engagement near Strasburg, Va., a minie ball entered his body just above the right hip, and passed so nearly through him that it was extracted above the left hip. Mr. Smith was taken prisoner, but later was paroled for exchange, and was brought home alive, though a great sufferer.

Of the organizations for the promotion of tem- perance and the various reforms for mutual help in case of disability, to strengthen the social tie, and to improve society in various ways, Athol has a very large number which are in successful operation, one of the most important of which is the one entitled "Sons of Veterans," General Sherman Camp, No. 65.

DEPUTY SHERIFFS .- William Bigelow and Joseph Pierce held this office before 1807. Since that date James Oliver, 1807-28; Flavel Humphrey, Abijah Hill, 1828-38; John H. Partridge, 1838-59; and Gardner Lord (incumbent), 1859, have been Deputy Sheriff's.

MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.1-The follow- ing notices of these are given without any particular regard to chronological order, or to the kind of goods manufactured.

It was very early perceived that the streams aris- ing in and running through this town were sufficient in volume of water and rapidity of descent to furnish power for a great number of mills. Miller's River, Tully Brook (which the historian Whitney said in 1793 should have been called a river), Mill Brook and another stream in the south part of the town all have a permanent and large supply of water for man- ufacturing purposes, and soon after the settlement of the township a number of saw and grist-mills were built upon their banks.

In 1793 there were in Athol four grist-mills, six saw-mills, one fulling-mill and one shop with a trip- hammer, all carried by water-power. These were a necessity in supplying food, building materials, clothing and tools for the resident population. It was a later discovery that Athol might become one of the manufacturing centres for the Commonwealth and country. This business, which has now become of the first importance in the town, has been very gradually developed.

About seventy years ago Mr. Eliphalet Thorpe was manufacturing paper for the general market, as his old mill-book, dated January, 1825, and running about twenty years, shows. The manufacture of cot- ton-cloth was among the earlier industries of Athol, three hundred and sixteen thousand yards having been made at the Athol Cotton-Factory in 1837. This factory was built in 1811, and has had very many owners, not all of whom have been successful. Bennett & Van Vaulkenburg now employ thirty-seven persons in it, and it is understood that they are con- ducting their business with enterprise and with re- munerative profits.

Ethan Lord's Grist- Mill .- This was built between 1757 and 1760, and it then stood opposite Richard- son's machine-shop, and before 1770 it was moved to

1 The facts now given respecting the manufacturing establishments of Athol, as they were forty or fifty years ago, have been kindly furnished by Deputy Sheriff Gardner Lord, and many of them are corroborated by the author's distinct recollection.

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its present site. Later Simeon and Ezra Fish owned and operated this mill, and it was known as "Fish's . Mill." Their successors were William and Augustus Newhall, and Joshua Newhall succeeded them. Joseph Richardson then became the owner, but the entire property is now in the possession of Mr. Ethan Lord.

Sibley Scythe Shop .- Before the close of the last century David Lilley made nails on the site of this shop, but about 1800 sold the premises to Perley Sib- ley and Stephen Hammond, who turned them into a scythe factory. Mr. Hammond died in 1835, and his interest in the shop was purchased by Russell Smith. Mr. Smith having died in 1868, and the Sibley family wishing to give up the business, the whole was bought by Ethan Lord, and is now occupied by the Athol Silk Company.

In the manufacture of footwear, which is the lead- ing industry of Athol, Mr. Charles Milton Lee was early in the field, and has been eminently successful. He is the son of William D. Lee, and in youth was a farmer. In 1850, with about one hundred dollars, he walked to Boston and purchased a small stock of leather. During that year he employed no help, but the goods made and sold by himself brought about six hundred dollars. His business card (now before the writer) represents, not only his large and well-fur- nished factories as they now are, not far from the railroad station, but also the one-story home of his childhood and youth, and the still more nnpretending shop in which he laboriously made his first pairs of boots and shoes for the general market. After this venture he employed help and enlarged his business. In 1858 he formed a partnership with his two brothers -John Howard and Solon W .- which continued for ten years, meanwhile establishing a business honse in Boston for the sale of their goods. In 1869 this partnership was dissolved, Mr. C. M. Lee continuing the mannfacture while his brothers carried on the business in Boston. During the twenty years since 1869 Mr. Lee's business has been constantly increas- ing, and he is now the owner of a group of three large and well-appointed brick factories in Athol, one of which he takes charge of in person, while his two sons, W. Starr and Auburn H., conduct the others.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 39

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