USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > History of the town of Acton > Part 27
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In 1925 the Merriam brothers reorganized the company to include their sons Harold A. Merriam and Herbert T. Merriam.
Through the years the styles of the product changed; the organ stools, at first very ornate, were followed by the spinning piano stool so often used as merry-go-rounds for young America; then followed the up-to-date piano benches, chairs and radio benches but the com- pany policy never changed and for this there was a price to pay. Public desire had altered under the impact of radio and television and piano playing was no longer counted a cultural asset in the ordinary home. The Merriam Company has felt the impact of the new con- ditions and as of the present the plant is closed.
On June 25th, 1886 the first graduation exercises of the Acton High School were held in the Town Hall. These were the scholars who had started in 1883 and completed the three year course. At that time, and for long afterwards, it was customary for each senior to participate in the exercises by giving an essay, an oration, or some equivalent evidence of competence. There were six graduates and in view of the importance of the occasion the complete program of the evening's exercises is given herewith. Needless to say the Town Hall was crowded to capacity and the citizens of Acton felt justly proud of this milestone in community progress.
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Program
Greeting Song, .. School
Prayer
Salutatory and Essay - "Character", Minnie G. Bassett
History, ..
Marth C. Pratt
Song - "Home Returning", Quartette
Oration - "Education", ..... Eugene L. Hall
Essay - "Over the Alps lies Italy", M. Florence Fletcher
Duet - "Witches Flight", . Minnie G. and Blanche M. Bassett
Oration - "Have a Purpose", Emery W. Clark
Essay - "Conversation as a Fine Art", Carrie L. Shapley Song - "Anniversary"
Essay - "Ever Onward, ever Upward", Martha C. Pratt
Prophecy, .
Eugene L. Hall
Song - (Selected)
Valedictory, Emery W. Clark
Presentation of Diplomas
Address,
George A. Walton
Parting Song, School
Of this group Mr. Hall, who was tendered a birthday party on the afternoon of September 13, 1953, upon the occasion of his eighty fifth birthday, is the sole survivor. Florence Fletcher event- ually taught in the high school and subsequently married Mr. Charles, the principal. Martha Pratt married Dr. Ernest Hosmer, a dentist resident in South Acton for several years. Emery Clark married Marion Hapgood and Mr. Hall mentioned above married Isabel Howard Bent of Sudbury. Minnie Bassett and Carrie Shapley never married.
By sheer good fortune it happens that the photographs of the principal and the graduating class, complete, are in the possession of Mrs. Andrew Torsleff, sister of Emery Clark, and appear in this volume. In addition the valedictory address, in its original form on old fashioned red lined 6 x 8 foolscap, is still in existence in the hand- writing of the above mentioned Emory Clark. Since it was to be delivered orally it is not paragraphed. (The division into para- graphs is for the convience of the reader). The first page is missing. Both because of its historic interest and because it is a creditable piece of composition for a sixteen year old boy of sixty seven years ago it is herewith given in full.
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.. . being the first graduates of the Acton High School, and regret at leaving the scene of our struggle for knowledge and the associations that cluster around it.
We have spent many happy days in our school. So happy indeed, that when we are gone from hence, we will many times wish ourselves back here. We didn't appreciate the advantages of our school system when we were young. But I think that as we grew older and our course became more and more near completion, we realized in a larger measure the benefits to be derived from our schooling and we hope improved our time accordingly.
The last few weeks have sped so rapidly that one can hardly believe they are gone. But if they have passed away rapidly now we may be assured that they will linger long in our memory. We will then think of them as the happiest days of our lives.
As the time draws near to say the parting words, a feeling of sadness creeps over us. We, united before, are now to be parted perhaps forever. Then indeed, our parting should be as cordial as possible. It is, however, no easy task to do this. We have been to the same school, recited in the same classes, and been under the same teacher, so long, that it seems unnatural to part us now. But however painful it may be the farewell words must be spoken - and so - in behalf of my classmates I bid you all, Friends, Teachers, Gentlemen of the Committee, and school - I bid you all farewell.
Citizens of Acton, we thank you for the High School. It has been our privilege to attend this school and although some of our number have been inconvenienced by its rotary character it is perhaps the best arrangement that can be made at present. We know that the school has been regarded as an experiment and that is devolves upon us to prove its success.
Although the accomodations have not been so good as we hope they will be in the near future, we have got along tolerably well and we hope the school will be continued for the benefit of our younger brothers and sisters.
We thank our teacher for all his exertions in our behalf. The care and zeal which he exercised in our instruction and the checking of any unruly spirit that we may have had, and other little attentions unappreciated at the time but for which we are now doubly grateful. I trust that our future lives will show the results of his patient, painstaking labor
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and that our actions will reward him more than any words we can say now.
Schoolmates, you are enjoying the privileges of this school and should improve them to the best of your abilities. You are here for only a few short years. Make the most of them that you can. It is necessary for us to leave but we shall never forget you. As time goes on the advantages of the school will increase. We are only the pioneers who are sent forward to open up a new land, those that follow after will reap the most decided benefits. We wish you all success.
Dear Classmates, we meet tonight for the last time as a class. Today we are united, tomorrow parted. How quick the ties that bind us together as a class are snapped asunder. Some of us will attend other schools and others will go out into the world and seek a foothold there. How much we are prepared to do these will be seen hereafter. We know not what fate has in store for us. But be it what it may, we must do our best, remembering that tenacity of purpose and perseverance will accomplish anything. The world lies before us. Whatever we attain in the way of success will be due mainly to our own efforts. We will be just what we make ourselves. We will be responsible for our own con- dition. If we are not happy and contented it will be owing to some defect in our nature or character. We should seek to discover these defects and eradicate them as soon as possible.
The influence that a person has over those around him is asonishing. One cannot be too careful, then, that this in- fluence is for god. Be kind and polite to everyone.
"To thine ownself be true and it must follow as the day the night that thou canst not be false to any man."
It will be recalled that when the high school was put into operation it was presumed that no congestion would occur for many years. Nevertheless, by 1886 we find Superintendent Rhoades bemoaning the fact that interest had become so pronounced that not only had more than half of the three year scholars signified the intention of continuing the fourth year but that there was reason to suppose that seventy six new prospects would be on hand in the autumn. As a matter of fact the actual number gaining entrance for the fall term was considerably less than anticipated so that it became possible to somehow "make-do" by distributing certain high school scholars among the several grammar schools. This highly unsatisfactory ar- rangement obviously could not long be tolerated and there was acute concern for the future.
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The second class to complete the High School course was graduated in June of 1887. The group consisted of Bertha H. Dupee, Ernest E. Wetherbee, Bertha E. Hosmer, Sadie E. Sawyer, Albertine M. Preston, Susie E. Conant, and Hattie L. Tuttle. The only survivor is Bertha Dupee who subsequently became Mrs. J. Sidney White. The Misses Hosmer, Sawyer and Tuttle never married. Miss Conant married Herman W. Parker and Miss Preston married Hobart Mead.
At this time the number of scholars in the high school was forty seven and the teacher was Mr. A. W. Armstrong. According to those who vividly recall him he was properly named. He was large and powerful and could and would administer corporal punishment with gusto and effect. Each morning it was his custom to open school by reciting from memory a psalm or a chapter from the Bible. This technique, however, did not prove to be entirely successful since living witnesses testify that a small coterie of strapping young lads, who had lukewarm enthusiasm for learning coupled with certain unique notions regarding school deportment, provided the aforesaid Mr. Armstrong with occasional physical exercise. He invariably won but not without realizing rather frequently that he had been in a tussle.
As might be expected the establishment of the high school im- mediately precipitated the question of transportation, since the scholars from two of the villages always had at least two miles to go. The matter came up for action in two town meetings, in April of 1886 and May of 1888, but in each case the article was dismissed. A similar fate befell another attempt in 1891. Any really effectual transportation of high school scholars did not take place for several decades.
The ensuing years constituted an era of peace and quiet. There were no political battles and no major projects in process. The West and South villages thrived industrially and the Centre became more and more a wholly residential community with a considerable degree of isolation.
One or two minor items appear in the records that are worthy of mention. In April of 1885 the town voted to build a tomb at Mt. Hope Cemetery. This is the first mention of an official name for the west burying ground. If it was so named by the cemetery committee, here, as was the case with Woodlawn, no recorded town action was ever taken to confirm it.
In March of 1888 the town voted that the communion service of the old first church be placed in the care of the town clerk, to be kept by him and his successors as relics of the town.
In April of 1889 a vote was passed to discontinue the use of oxen on road work. It was immediately reconsidered in the same session,
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was brought up again a month later and again failed of a majority. Consequently oxen continued to be used by those who perferred them. To the modern reader this action may appear hopelessly reactionary but back of it lay a deal of sound sense. Oxen to be sure are slow of motion, far slower than horses, but they have their points. Horses are highly nervous and even a well trained and willing pair will not pull for more than a few seconds on a hitch that fails to move. Consequently in clearing stump land, or plowing where stubborn roots prevail, the constant stopping and continued annoyance soon drive them into a frenzied lather. In some cases even though they may survive the first day they will never respond again under similar circumstances.
A lusty pair of willing oxen, on the other hand, particularly if drawing with a Dutch1 yoke, can pull tremendously. They almost never get excited and if the load fails to move they just quietly lay into it and increase the strain for an interminable time, until even the witnesses sometimes wonder how long they will persist. Horses want to do most of the pulling with the leg muscles whereas oxen seem to sense instinctively that the trick is to constantly increase the body angle and let their huge weight do the work. Many of the author's own generation can remember the familiar sight of Mr. Frank Pratt and his pair of Holsteins drawing boulders on a stone drag under conditions that would have driven a pair of horses beyond control. In spite of their deliberateness capable oxen were, in an earlier era, the counterpart of the modern bulldozer.
In 1889 the long burning question of a town library came to a brisk and unexpected climax through the generosity of Mr. William A. Wilde, a native son. The present beautiful brick and brownstone structure was the result of his enduring pride in the place of his birth and his desire to do somethingg tangible for it. On February 27th, 1890 Mr. Wilde addressed to the selectmen the following letter:
Malden, Mass., Feb. 27, 1890
"To the Selectmen of Acton:
Gentlemen, - For a long time past it has been my inten- tion, if ever I was able to do so, to remember my native town by the gift of some memorial to the memory of those brave and patriotic men of Acton who so freely gave their time, strength, and health - and many of them their lives - in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-65.
To carry out this plan in what seemed to me the most
1 The ordinary American yoke lay across the back of the neck and had bows hanging below. The Dutch yoke, on the other hand, was specially designed for rugged service. The beam was lashed to the horns and lay across the foreheads of the oxen. In this hitch there were no bows to choke and no chance to gall the shoulders or neck.
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advantageous and permanent method possible, I have pur- chased the estate of the Rev. James Fletcher, adjacent to the Town House, and erected thereon a Memorial Library, placing upon its shelves some four thousand volumes, more or less, and I beg the privilege of presenting this property to the town as a free gift, only stipulating that it shall for- ever be kept as a Memorial Library, and free to all citizens of the patriotic old town of Acton, which I shall always love and be proud of.
If it shall please the town to accept this gift I shall be glad to pass all necessary papers for the transfer of the property to whom and at such time as the town shall direct.
I am, gentlemen, yours truly,
WILLIAM A. WILDE
This letter was read to the citizens of Acton convened in town meet- ing March 3, 1890 by Mr. Howard B. White, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Thereupon Rev. James Fletcher presented the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted, forwarded to Mr. Wilde, and also inscribed upon the town records.
"WHEREAS a charter of incorporation has passed the Legislature and been signed by his Excellency Gov. J. Q. A. Brackett incorporating the Memorial Library, and Hon. William A. Wilde, a native of Acton - now a resident of Malden - has signified his readiness to deed to the town the Memorial Library Building just completed at his ex- pense, and the land on which it stands, and all the appur- tenances thereof, including books already selected, the Me- morial Room and the town vault for the archives of the town, -
"Resolved 1st, We, the inhabitants of the town of Acton, in town meeting assembled, do accept the trust and author- ize the Selectmen, in behalf of the town, to sign all papers and perform all the acts necessary to complete the transfer of the property to the care of the trustees.
"Resolved 2nd, In passing this vote we wish to express to Mr. Wilde - in behalf of the present inhabitants of the town; in behalf of all future generations who may be resi- dent here, and participants in the benefits to be enjoyed; in behalf of the soldiers of the War of the Rebellion, whose memory and valor he has so tenderly cherished in the name and arrangement of the structure - our profound apprecia- tion of his generous gift.
"We assure him of our hearty thanks for remembering
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the place of his birth by a memento so enduring and so be- fitting the past history and future needs of the town.
"We assure him of our cordial co-operation in doing what in us lies to perpetuate the intentions and possibilities of the trust.
We tender to him, his companion and his children our best wishes for their life, health and prosperity, and our prayers that the donation, in which they each have a per- sonal share and honor, may contribute to their mutual and lasting enjoyment."
It was further resolved that the whole board of trustees be a com- mittee authorized to make all necessary arrangements for the dedi- cation of the building on the following 19th of April. The date was subsequently changed to May 24th.
The house and barn of the aforementioned Mr. James Fletcher were moved to make way for the library and are now the property of Mr. Winthrop Richmond near the Acton Centre school house. The barn caught fire in the great conflagration of 1862 and a careful look at the interior will reveal the charred portions even today.1
The corporation responsible for the library under the charter consisted of Luther Conant, Adelbert Mead, Moses Taylor, Hiram J. Hapgood, Delette H. Hall, and Daniel Wetherbee. These were constituted trustees for life with power to fill vacancies in case of death or resignation. Three additional trustees were chosen by the town to serve terms of three, two, and one years. William D. Tuttle, James Fletcher, and Howard White were selected for the respective terms.
New England was early noted for the movement which gave to its towns library facilities far in excess of the rest of the nation. By his generous gift Mr. Wilde put Acton well out in front. Very few towns have so beautiful and spacious accomodations. As time has passed the town has lived up to its responsibility. In 1950 there were 20,877 volumes and the average daily circulation was 191.
As may be expected, the dedication exercises were an event of major importance. It was an unusual thing for a town as small as Acton was in 1890 to have such a library to grace its common.2
These exercises were opened by vocal selections by the Adelphi
1 Testimony of Mr. Frank Fiske whose father resided there for many years. So far as is known Mr. Fiske is the only person now living who worked on the library. He and Roswell Tuttle, who lived in the farm house that stands closest to Grassy Pond, hauled the brick and much of the stone from the freight cars at East Acton. A single block of the original red sandstone still rests just beside the wall as one enters Mr. Fiske's yard.
2 Population in 1890 was 1897. The frontispiece is a picture taken just at the time of the dedication. Close inspection will show the temporary scantling fence erected to protect the seeding.
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Quartette followed by an invocation by Rev. Theodore C. Pease at the close of which an address of welcome was made by the President of the Day, Mr. F. C. Nash, which was eloquent and appropriate to the occasion. Mr. Wilde then gave his presentation speech which was brief and modest and appears herewith in detail.
"Let us hope that this building may serve for our soldiers the double purpose of a hall for social uses as well as a memorial for their dead and a library for their use and en- tertainment. Let us hope also that this library will prove of lasting advantage to the town by adding to its means of culture by furnishing to its youth the opportunities to gratify a literary taste, and, perhaps to lay the foundation of a higher education and may also prove a point of attraction to those seeking in the summer months rest and recreation in a country home.
Gentlemen, I now have geat pleasure in presenting to you, as the agents of the town, the keys of the Memorial Library and a deed in fee simple of the land on which it stands, together with all the books and personal property which it contains, subject only to the one condition that it shall be devoted and used forever for the purposes for which it was founded."
When the applause which followed the address had subsided he was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers by Mrs. Charles Pitman on behalf of the ladies of Acton. Miss Zelia A. Cutter also made a floral offering.
The gift of the library was accepted by Howard White, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and in turn was by him made over to the president of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Luther Conant, who, in his characteristic style made forceful and pertinent remarks. The principle address was made by Hon. John D. Long in which was emphasized the beneficence of such a gift as a repository of the world's great minds and of the memorials of the military history of the town. This was followed by a poem by Mrs. Clara Hapgood Nash and brief addresses by Governor Brackett, Rev. Alonzo Ames Miner, former president of Tufts College, and Rev. Alexander Blackburn of Lowell. Rev. Mr. Heath gave the benediction.
At the close of the dedicatory exercises in the tent there was dinner served to the Isaac Davis Post and the invited guests in the church vestry, after which the Post and guests, seventy five in number, formed in line with Delette H. Hall, Commander, and Isaac Davis drum- corps in full rank furnishing the music, marched to the town hall. There Dr. Isaiah Hutchins, the chief marshal, formed the line with Gov. J. Q. A. Brackett, invited guests, officers of the town and trustees
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of the library and with the Grand Army Post as escort marched down the common and returning to the library building performed the dedicatory services for the tablets on either side of the arched vestibule. Commander Hall, at the conclusion of the simple exercises appointed a guard of honor under Adjutant Samuel R. Guilford and Herbert E. Preston, officer of the guard, who made a stack of arms, surmounted by the national ensign in the vestibule, over which stood as guard a comrade in full uniform armed with musket and fixed bayonet. A passage of scripture was read, the exercises were declared ended and the procession reformed and marched back to the tent.1
Mr. William A. Wilde, the donor of the library, was born in Acton July 11, 1827, at the home of his father Joseph Wilde, who lived in the house that sets in the Y formed by Parker St. and the prolongation of Concord St. that goes out toward Sinking Pond.2 His grandfather lived on the old Deacon Fletcher homestead now the residence of Mr. Jorgen Larson. Mr. Wilde married three times. The first wife was Lois Mace of Pepperell, the second Lydia Jane Bride of Berlin, Mass., and the third Celestina Dona Hoyt of Wentworth, N. H. There were three children by the second marriage and two by the last. Mr. Wilde was a prominent publisher in Boston. Among other items his company issued the Sunday School Quarterlies that were used almost universally in the Congregational churches of New England at that time. He was educated at Groton and Pepperell Academies. He taught school for twelve years, was superintendant of the Malden schools, represented the city for two terms in the legislature, and was chairman of the House Committee on Education. In addition he was a trustee of the Malden library for eight years and was one of the Prison Commissioners of Massachusetts.
The style of architecture is Romanesque and the external appear- ance and the internal arrangements and furnishings are in harmony with this idea. The materials are red brick and brownstone. The extreme length is sixty six feet six inches and the width thirty two feet ten inches. The principal entrance opens toward the south and through a large, solid freestone arch with rich mouldings and carved spandrels. Once through this main arch, the observer finds on either hand two immense slate tablets. On one, under the heading, "OUR HONORED DEAD" are inscribed the names of the twenty nine sons of Acton who lost their lives in the Civil War3 On the other appears the names of those who were fortunate enough to survive. On entering the building, a reading room, sixteen by twenty five feet is found at the left. Directly ahead is a room originally designed for the trustees but now used mostly as a repository for important town relics. The
1 The tent stood between the town hall and Woodbury Lane.
2 Now the home of Mr. Edward Howard.
3 See Appendix XVI.
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stack room, thirty two feet by twenty four, has alcoves on two levels.
The dedication exercises cost the town two hundred and seventy eight dollars, an insignificant sum by present standards, but at that time it encompassed the expenses of the speaker, Hon. John D. Long, his entertainment by Dr. Charles B. Sanders, the rental of a huge tent and the cost of its erection, a drum corps, printing and postage and twelve teams for the transportation of the crowds in attendance.1
Previous to the opening of the library in June of 1890 Miss Hattie E. Tuttle, Miss Susan Conant and Mrs. Frank Fisk assisted in the cataloging and readying the general facilities. Mrs. Fisk still lives just a stone's throw from the scene of her early activities and is an interested and alert student of Actonaria. On the opening day there were 3973 volumes on the shelves. The first librarian was Miss Ida Hale who retired from duty in 1896. She was followed by Miss Viola S. Tuttle until her retirement because of ill health in 1902. Miss Flora Reed then served for several months but did not care to continue in the work and was followed by Mr. Arthur F. Davis who was elected by the trustees in May of 1902.
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