USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Ashfield > History of the town of Ashfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts from its settlement in 1742 to 1910 > Part 22
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It seems that there were some objections raised against this meeting on alleged technicalities, for December 3, another meeting was called when it was "Voted, that the town purchase the land and buildings formerly owned by the first parish, pro- vided they will throw in the bell and the four stoves connected with the building." There was then much opposition, the vote was doubtful and the house being divided it was declared a vote, 94 in favor and 63 against. The offer was accepted by the parish and the deed of the parish made to the treasurer of the town of Ashfield.
The same year, the building was shingled and other repairs made, costing about $300. In 1874, the selectmen's room and kitchen were partitioned off with other changes at a cost of $340. In 1884, $500 was expended on the upper hall. In 1894, the building was thoroughly painted and slated at a cost of over $500. In 1897, lightning damaged the front of the building to the extent of $115 which was paid by the insurance companies. To repair this and for other purposes $250 was expended on the building. The next year the underpinning was made secure, the granite steps placed in front, and so forth, at a cost of about $590. The expense of the safety vault for the preservation of record books, papers, and so forth, in 1902, was $637. In 1905, the addition was made in the rear costing $1,056. In 1907, the new floor and seats in the upper hall cost $884, and in 1908, $390
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was spent in carrying out the state inspector's orders, and $66 in painting and papering.
Although considerable money has been spent on the building, it would now seem that it has been well laid out. The hall, town officers' room, the law and document room, the large vault, the ladies' kitchen, with the spacious hall above, esteemed so highly as an audience room, also by those who "trip the light fantastic toe," all make it a building with which any town should be satisfied. Its exterior also, with its unique tower and steeple, said to have only one duplicate in the state, is admired by visitors. E. C. Gardner, Springfield's esteemed architect and a native of Ashfield, says, "I have always felt that the tower and steeple of the town hall was one of the finest examples of a very interesting class of New England architecture of which, unfortu- nately, the existing specimens are becoming fewer and fewer."
The church in Northboro, Mass., built by Colonel Ames four years before he built the church in Ashfield had a similar steeple. Colonel Ames evidently borrowed his design from the Sir Christopher Wren churches built over one hundred years before. That of our town hall is very much like some of the towers on St. Paul's Cathedral and of other churches in England designed by Wren before 1700.
A photograph of the Northboro church (now the Unitarian) shows that with a slight difference in the pillars around the bell deck, the exterior of the building is the same as ours. Rev. Mr. Kent, the historian of the Northboro church at its centennial in 1908, says of its builder :
Col. Ames or Eames was born in Marlboro, Mass., in 1767; he was a carpenter, cabinet maker and contractor. He built a church in Marlboro in 1805, in Northboro 1808, a steeple or church in Shrewsbury and several churches in the western part of the state.
TOWER AND STEEPLE OF ASHFIELD TOWN HALL
CHAPTER XVI
PROVISION FOR THE POOR
That "The poor ye have always with you," the frequent town votes respecting them testify. They were at first left in care of the selectmen by vote, then later a sum of money was annually raised for support of the poor. In the time of the Revolutionary war, and after the war, in the financial stress, the families of the soldiers and of those imprisoned for private debts or for non- payment of taxes were aided by the town. Later, unfortunate persons were provided for in various ways,-in many instances "boarded out."
In 1815, it was voted to raise $100 for support of the poor. In 1818, several children were auctioned off to the lowest bidder, to be bound out until 21 years of age. Several years the poor were bid off at "public vendue" in open town meeting to the lowest bidder. In cases when it was thought they were abused, the selectmen were instructed to investigate.
In 1819, a special committee reported that the care of the poor had cost the town $700 and recommended building a poor house 30 x 14 with a cellar and oven-this probably to supply the needy with bread as they might apply for it. It appears that such a structure was built. Different cases were disposed of in different ways. In 1813, it was "Voted, that the selectmen be authorized to put up a log hut on the town land formerly owned by Mr. Jenkins for Tim Warren to move on and oversee him and see that he gets a living for himself and family." This log hut was built in the northwest part of the town, south of where the T. P. Smith house was burned on the lot west of the road just down the hill from the end of the two rows of maples.
In 1837, the United States having acquired from the sale of public lands and from other sources a large surplus fund, and not having caught the present fever of immense ironclads, and great public improvements, decided to divide it among the different towns in the country, if they would accept it on the
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condition that if it should be needed by the country again it should be paid back. Ashfield's share amounted to $3,578.56 and it was accepted by the town under the conditions. Under a committee this sum was loaned out to individuals on interest, with two good signers as security, in sums varying from $200 to $500 each. The interest was voted for the use of the common schools.
In 1838, a committee was chosen to confer with other towns as to the best method of supporting the poor. In February, 1839, the committee reported in favor of taking the surplus revenue money and buying a farm on which to support the poor and that the Lyman Lilly farm of 115 acres with 36 acres ad- joining, belonging to Theodore Leonard, be bought for that pur- pose. This was the place where Mr. Geo. Chapin now lives. The report of the committee was accepted and $1,000 was appropriated by the town for the purchase of stock, tools, and so forth, and the paupers who were able were moved to the farm. There were thirteen inmates the first year and Mr. Alvan Cross was the first superintendent. Subsequent superintendents were Luther Severance, Lorenzo Wait, Willard Clark, Dwight Collins, Orrin Knowlton, Elijah Field, W. F. Guilford, Hart Hillman, W. A. Thompson, Frank Ward, George Dennison and Wallace Ward.
Alvan Cross occupied the place seven years and was con- sidered a very capable and humane superintendent.
In 1874, the old town farm was sold and the present farm was bought for $2,350, the old one selling for about the same. That year the selectmen reported that there were five inmates, and that the cost of support was a little above $2 each per week. The present superintendent is Mr. Wallace Ward with only one pauper inmate.
Among the dependent children helped by the town was one Salmon Miller, born in 1787, who was "boarded out" when a child and finally "bound out" to John Mantor until he was 21 years old. After coming of age it is said he repaid the town the $100 they had paid Mr. Mantor for his indenture, and after- wards being frugal and industrious he bought what is now the
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Bird farm in South Ashfield, married, and settled upon it. He always remembered how the town of Ashfield had cared for him when a child and often feelingly alluded to it. He died in 1863 and his wife in 1877. They left their property by will to the town of Ashfield, the income to be used in aiding the poor of the town under the direction of the overseers of the poor. This sum is called the Miller fund, and is now in the hands of Mr. L. F. Gray, trustee, the income subject to orders from the over- seers of the poor. It was originally between $5,000 and $6,000, but now amounts to about $7,000. Mr. Charles A. Hall in an interesting paper on the fund and its donors read before the Grange, says:
If any one in Ashfield begins to be in want, through sickness or any other adversity, before his neighbors put their hands very deeply into their pockets to help him some one of them is likely to ask if he cannot have some help from the Miller fund-and this is certainly a wise thing to ask, for a great number of people within the last twenty-five years have received most timely and valuable help from this fund. Many a poor old woman or needy old man, many a struggling widow working to the utmost to support her children and finding the effort too great for her, many an overworked, discouraged man with sickness in his family, have had their troubles lessened and their burdens some- what lightened by gifts from this beneficent source.
The Miller Fund is the gift of Salmon Miller and his wife. His will provided that at his wife's death, all his property except his lot in the burying ground should be sold and the proceeds of such sale be used and applied under the direction of the over- seers of the poor for the town of Ashfield, for the comfort, benefit and assistance of any persons who are inhabitants of the town of Ashfield, and who may, in the judgment of the overseers of the poor, be in need of such assistance-trusting to the discre- tion of said overseers of the poor to apply said amounts in such sums, and at such times, and under such circumstances as will be likely to be most productive of present comfort and benefit to the recipients, and at the same time produce the most lasting benefits intended to be conferred by this bequest.
The idea that the people to be helped must be "worthy poor" comes from the will of Mrs. Miller made many years after Mr. Miller's death. The bounty of Salmon Miller falls like the gentle rain from heaven alike upon the just and the unjust. He
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makes no inquiry as to the reasons of their need and offers no reproof for what may have been wrong or foolish in their lives. It is enough for him to know that they are suffering and in want, then they are to receive such sums and at such times, and under such circumstances as seem likely to be most productive of present and future comfort and benefit.
There are many people now living in Ashfield who remember Mr. Miller towards the end of his life. He is said to have been a man slightly under the medium height, spare and thin, and towards the last part of his life quite stooping. He had keen eyes, overhung by bushy eyebrows and he habitually kept one eye closed. Claiming to be a Quaker, he always wore a broad- brimmed hat, he dressed carelessly in butternut colored clothing with heavy cowhide shoes, and he walked without haste, putting his feet down with great precision and evenness. I cannot learn that he ever went to attend Quaker meetings, but when, as sometimes happened he went to church at the Universalist Church in South Ashfield, he kept his hat on through the ser- vices. He observed the seventh day as the Sabbath, and worked on Sunday or first day as he always called it. Sometimes on Sunday he took his saw and went and worked on the woodpile of a poor widow or a sick neighbor. He did not like ministers and had a good deal to say about people who were priest ridden.
One Sunday he was fishing in the Chapel Falls brook. It was when the chapel was used for holding services and he got along to the chapel with his string of fish just as the services were about closing. The preacher was a shouting Methodist and when some of the brethren took occasion to reprove Mr. Miller for fishing there at such a time he said he would not do it again for the preacher made such a noise he scared the fish.
He was a very industrious man, thrifty and very saving but honest and upright and a very good neighbor. Mr. Joshua Knowlton says that soon after he was born his mother (Mrs. Knowlton) was very sick with a fever and Mr. Miller's folks took him and kept him till he was six months old.
It is a great pleasure to think of these good people-pleasant, good natured, neighborly folks-who had themselves felt the pinch of poverty-working early and late, saving and denying themselves to lay up money, and then freely sharing their hard earned savings with their neighbors who needed help.
"The threshold of their door Was worn by the poor Who thither came and freely got Kind words and meat."
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Without children of their own, they cared for other people's children and, dying, made provision that the good work should be carried on with the money which their hard work and self denial had slowly accumulated, and which shall be paid out in such sums and at such times and under such circumstances as seem likely to be most productive of present comfort and benefit to the recipient, and at the same time produce the most lasting benefit.
Dr. Shepard speaks of intemperance and the common use of liquor, in his sketch. In an old assessor's book giving a kind of agricultural census for the year 1821, one of the questions asked is, "How many barrels of cider can be made from your orchard?" as though this were an important product. The answers ranged from three to sixty. Dr. Shepard also speaks of the large number of distilleries in town where it was so easy for the farmers to get their cider made into brandy. The stores sold different kinds of spirits very freely. In 1793, Selah Norton, whose store was on the corner in the house now occupied by Mrs. Rosa Ranney, advertises in the Hampshire Gazette, "all sorts of dry goods, also old Jamaica spirits, N. E. Rum, French Brandy, &c. Will pay 8 pence a lb. for butter."
In an old account book kept at one of the village stores from 1815 to 1819, rum seems to have been sold to a large share of the people of the town in quantities from one pint to three gallons, almost as freely as molasses and other commodities. Prices were sometimes as low as 1212c. per pint or $1.00 per gallon. It was also evidently sold by the glass over the counter, as there are charges for 1 glass of spirits 6c., 1 of grog 5c., and sling at from 1212c. to 17c. per mug. On one page is an account for July, 1819, with one of the habitues of the village who lived near. He is charged with "a half pint of Rum 5c., 1 Blue Devil 4c., 1 Morning Devil 6c., 1 qt. Rum 6c., 1/2 a Devil 4c., 1/2 pint of Rum and 1/2 lb. Sugar 17c., 1/2 pint of Rum or Big N. Devil 8c., 5 lbs. of Flower 30c., 12 a Devil 4c., 3 gills of Bitters 121/2c., 2 oz. Tea 16c., 1 Demi Devil 4c., 1 mug 10c., 1 Double Devil sweetened 10c., &c." There was credit in the month for Cash 50c. and three fourpences.
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In 1826, a Temperance Society was started in Boston and the reform gradually spread over the state. Dr. Shepard evidently started the first temperance society here, as the constitution in his handwriting with the signatures of those joining was pre- served among his papers and has been kindly furnished for us by his daughter. We deem it of sufficient importance to copy a part of the paper with the signatures.
CONSTITUTION
Art. 1. This Society shall be called the "Ashfield Temperance Society, " auxiliary to the American Temperance Society.
Art. 2. Any person subscribing to this constitution shall become a member of this Society and continue so until he shall signify his desire to withdraw, to the Secretary.
Art. 3. The members of this Society, believing that the use of distilled spirits is, for persons in health, not only unnecessary but hurtful; that it is the cause of forming intemperate habits & appetites, and that while it is continued the evils of intem- perance can never be prevented; therefore do agree that we will abstain from the use of ardent spirits except as medicine in case of bodily infirmity, and that we will not allow the use of them in our families, nor provide them for the entertain- ment of our friends, or for persons in our employment, and that in all suitable ways we will discountenance the use of them in the community.
Signatures,
Thomas Shepard Joseph Fuller
Chipman Smith
Lyman Cross
Nehemiah Hathaway
Heman S. Day
Asa Sanderson Enos Smith
Barnabas Howes Jared Bement
James McFarland
Lyman Wood
Daniel Forbes Joshua Welden
Elisha Wing Reuben Bement
Joseph Vincent Ebenezer Forbes
Thomas White Ezra Williams, 2nd
Atherton Clark Thaddeus Rude
Elijah Paine Elias Gray
The movement gradually spread through the town. There was, of course, opposition and in a short time the citizens were arrayed against each other in two strong parties, temperance
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PROVISION FOR THE POOR
and anti-temperance, each having its own candidates for office. It was a great struggle for those who all their lives had been accustomed to the use of ardent spirits to give it up, but it was generally done.
An old, liberally minded man who died a few years since used to say, "I made up my mind that on the whole it was a good thing and I told the help, 'By George, boys, there's something in this temperance business and we've got to get along without the liquor in haying this year, not even for baiting' and we've never had it since."*
At the annual meeting in 1842 the town voted "Not to appro- bate any person to sell ardent spirits."
*Roswell Lesure.
CHAPTER XVII
ASHFIELD CENTENNIAL, 1865*
The celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Incorpora- tion of Ashfield, occurred on Wednesday, the 21st. For two or three months past, preparations had been making for the event and for the last two or three weeks the absent sons and daugh- ters of Ashfield had been coming from every part of the Union and the Canadas, to be present at the home gathering of her children. The day was all that could be wished and was ushered in by the firing of cannon and the ringing of bells. At the east end of the Plain, upon which the village is situated, an arch of evergreens and flowers was suspended over the road, upon the front side of which was "Sons and Daughters of Ashfield, Wel- come Home," and on the reverse side, "Our Country Free; Ashfield Centennial; The Greatest Year of the Age, 1865." "In God we trust." At the west end of the Plain another arch of evergreens and flowers was also erected over the road upon which was the invitation-"Welcome Home Sons and Daugh- ters of Ashfield, " and on the reverse side, "June 21, 1765; June 21, 1865; The year of Jubilee has come; One hundred years old to-day." The star spangled banner floated from a liberty pole and also across the street from Nelson Gardner's to A. E. Brun- son's house. From early morning, the people from the neighbor- ing towns commenced flocking in, until there must have been at 10 o'clock, from 3,000 to 4,000 persons present. At 9 o'clock, O. P. Payne's six horse team, each horse wearing upon his head a beautiful red plume, and the omnibus which they drew, con- taining the Shelburne Falls Brass Band, discoursing beautiful music and followed by a string of carriages half a mile in length, arrived from Shelburne Falls and Buckland.
John Sprague acted as Marshal of the day, assisted by Chaun- cey Bryant, Addison G. Hall, Charles Howes, Edward P. Eld- ridge, Alvan Hall, Jr., and Murray Guilford. About 9 o'clock,
*Report of Greenfield Gazette.
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a procession was formed by them, consisting of nine carriages of old style and their occupants dressed in ancient costumc. In one carriage the occupants were busy at the good old occupation of dressing and spinning flax, and upon one old nag were seated a man, wife and child. A car followed, containing thirty-six young ladies dressed in white, wearing red and blue sashes and crowns of evergreens, with a white flag in their hands, representing every State of the Union, with a lady in the center of the group dressed in red, white and blue, carrying the flag of the Union, representing Liberty. Following the car was a wagon with two negroes, one manacled and labeled "Liberty, 1765" and the other erect and free, labeled "Liberty, 1865." An old revolu- tionary hero limped along by their side. After the passage of this procession through the street twice, escorted by the band, a procession was formed about half past ten and proceeded to a beautiful grove on land of Alvin Sanderson's, a few rods north of the west end of the Plain, where a speaker's stand had been erected facing a side hill, which was soon covered with people. At the grove, the audience was called to order by the Marshal and an original hymn sung by the choir under the charge of L. C. Sanderson.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Dr. Thomas Shepard of Bristol, R. I., a former minister of Ashfield. Hon. Henry L. Dawes was then announced as President of the day and delivered the following address:
MR. DAWES' ADDRESS*
BRETHREN AND FRIENDS-In discharging the duty that devolves upon me to-day, little else will be expected of me than the announcement from time to time, of what has been more fittingly assigned to others. There can be no need of a single word from me to insure your undivided attention to what the occasion shall prompt them to say, for it furnishes its own theme, and its spirit must quicken the mind of every son and daughter
*Mr. Dawes was a native of Cummington, taught the Sanderson Acad- emy in 1841, in 1844 married one of his pupils-a daughter of Chester Sanderson, Esq., who lived where Clayton Eldredge now does. He was elected Representative to Congress in 1857, and was U. S. Senator from 1875 to 1893.
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of Ashfield, coming up hither from far or near, to participate in the celebration of this anniversary. None of us has sprung from the ground. Each one of us is bound to this spot by some special bond-some golden chain which grows stronger and brighter as it is lengthened and worn by the passing years. By it each one is drawn back to this beautiful vale to-day-or, what is better, has always been kept within the healthful in- fluences which here abound. Along its glittering links, as we count them backwards, are flashing bright reminiscences and tender memories.
I am charged by the authorities of this town, and by the good people who have here kept the hearth-stone warm in winter, and the groves and lawns fresh and green in summer, gladdening the heart and cheering the eye of every returning wanderer-to welcome back to the old family mansion and homestead, all the children, young and old, who have come up to rejoice with them to-day, in the festivities with which they celebrate this, the one hundredth birthday, of the good old town of their nativity. In their name I welcome you all back to these green hills, which seem to me, to-day, to be bigger than ever, to these babbling brooks, singing on and singing ever, and in their ceaseless music, mocking the fading race of men-to this beautiful lake, as full and overflowing as the bowl of plenty. I welcome you back to the hospitable family board, laden with the "fatted calf" and fullness of the land. More than all, I welcome you back to the homes and hearts of this people, larger than the hills around them, fuller than the streams that glide so merrily at their feet. Here you will greet the welcome face and shake the cordial hand of many an old friend, but you will all the while be missing those of others. And as you visit places of interest, you will not forget the churchyard. It is larger and fuller than when you left, and there will be answered many an inquiry, made as you pass among the scenes of this day. You will rejoice with filial pride, in all that beautifies and adorns your native town. And although an hundred years old, look at her and see how young and beautiful she is this morning, coming forth to meet her numerous and happy children. And how elegantly she has draped herself for her birthday. I think we will all agree with the maid in the spelling book that "green becomes her complexion best." You will rejoice too in her fair fame at home and abroad-in the goodly name her sons have built up for themselves and her, in almost every State in the Union, and have carried to other lands. You will exult with those at home in what she has accomplished in every good work and enterprise. Remember also that she
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has bornc the full share of the burdens brought upon the land, in the great struggle for the nation's life, now triumphantly terminated. Forget not the sacrifices she has offered up for the Union. Bear in mind that all her young men are not here to-day. Into the garland of joy you place upon her brow to-day, weave the cypress in remembrance of those noble young men she has offered up upon the altar of her Country, and pass uncovered by the soldier's grave.
Lastly, thank God, that in the midst of war, with its desola- tion and carnage, this vale has remained in undisturbed repose, and that the peace which now everywhere crowns the arms of the Republic, and perches upon the golden folds of her starry banner, wherever it floats, has ever rested like angels' wings over the home of your fathers and mothers, and brothers and sisters, here in this, your native town.
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