USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Berlin > History of the town of Berlin, Worcester County, Mass. from 1784 to 1959 > Part 16
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lowance of fifteen cents, enjoyed the festive collection of ad- vertising cards, popcorn, ice cream and prizes. It was a gloomy day for the boys and girls when the curtain ran down on the Berlin Cattle Show. (From a paper presented before the Berlin Tuesday Club by Mrs. E. Hope Puffer).
The Berlin Grange, No. 134 Patrons of Husbandry, organized on May 11, 1886, embraces the principles of fraternity, practical education, and social advancement. By its application of these principles, it gradually supplanted the Farmers' and Mechanics' Club. It continues to the present time, fulfilling these functions of society and co-operating with other organizations to supply the public with the most modern forms of social life.
While the Berlin Lyceum was pondering over the question as to whether women were of equal intellectual capacity to men, the Berlin women were breaking the shell of prejudice; and, in 1898, the Berlin Tuesday Club was organized with Miss Mary J. Keyes as President. The object of the Club is educational, philanthropic, and social; the motto is "The aim, if reached or not, makes great the life." Regular meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month (October through April) at 2:30 P.M., in Central Hall of the First Parish Church. The subject of the speaker on the annual guest night of October 29, 1957 was "Men are What Women Make Them." Their programs cover a large field of activities, including: American Home, Art, Community Service, Drama, Education and Literature, Flowers, Hospital Service, International Relations, Music, Preservation of Antiques, Religion, Veterans' Service, Civil Defense, and Girl Scouts. These programs are coordinated with the respective groups.
The present membership (1957) is 101. The following persons have been President of the Berlin Tuesday Club.
Miss Mary J. Keyes 1898-1900
Mrs. Adele B. Wilson
1900-1902
Mrs. Sarah H. Dudley 1902-1904
Mrs. Clara M. Hubbard
1904-1905
Mrs. Ida J. Sawyer
1905-1907
Mrs. Harriet B. Allen 1907-1909
Mrs. Adelaide Parmenter 1909-1911
Mrs. Nellie F. Wheeler 1911-1912
Miss Lucinda H. Hartshorn 1912-1914
Mrs. Edith R. S. Sawyer
1914-1917
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Mrs. Emma Littlefield 1917-1919
Mrs. Clara L. S. Eager
1919-1921
Mrs. M. Grace Sawyer
1921-1924
Mrs. Edith R. S. Sawyer 1924-1927
Mrs. Carrie W. Hoxie 1927-1929
Mrs. Hazel I. Wheeler 1929-1931
Mrs. Florence B. Brewer
1931-1933
Mrs. Ruth L. Brooks
1933-1935
Mrs. Mildred A. Bartlett
1935-1937
Mrs. Iva M. Popp 1937-1939
Mrs. Marjorie L. Coldwell 1939-1941
Mrs. Jeanette C. Andrews
1941-1943
Mrs. Eula H. Krackhardt
1943-1945
Mrs. Laura G. Nutting
1945-1947
Mrs. Catherine W. Davis
1947-1949
Mrs. Doris C. Eager 1949-1951
Mrs. Evelyn H. Wheeler
1951-1953
Mrs. Mildred A. Bartlett
1953-1955
Mrs. Barbara E. Lapan
1955-1957
Mrs. Harriet H. Field
1957-1959
Mrs. Louise F. Lockhart
1959
Village Improvement Society
At the turning of the century a group of pulchritude-minded citizens responded to the urge to landscape the center of the village. Thereupon the Berlin Village Improvement Society was formed and they held their first meeting in September of 1900. From that time until it disbanded in April of 1917, it contributed much to the well-being, safety, and attractiveness of the Town. A notation of the effects of their efforts appeared in the Clinton Daily Item of April 1902, which we quote: "A town man who recently had occasion to drive through Berlin was much im- pressed with the care which had been given the little common of the town, the edges of the road side, the plots of ground sur- rounding the public buildings, in fact all the little touches that only a village improvement society, with genuine interest and authority to go ahead and accomplish what seems best for general appearance and betterment can bring about."
This society raised much of the money, supplemented by ap- propriations from the Town, to construct the sidewalks about the Common and the placing of settees to accommodate the
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customers of the trolley and bus service. There was also the im- provement of Powder House Hill Park, with grading and steps to the summit. A nucleus fund for the public library building was raised and encouraged by a model of the proposed building on a float in the parade of the Centennial of 1912.
The Centennial Celebration of 1912
Berlin celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the in- corporation of the Town on August 29, 1912. This celebration was prefaced by a Centennial Union Service held in the Con- gregational Church on Sunday, August the 25th at which Rev. Henry Hyde, a former pastor (1881-1885), was the guest speaker. The congregations of the three churches of the Town attended this service in large numbers, and their respective pastors-the Reverends Frederick T. Mayer-Oakes, Frank R. Gale, and Frederick A. Krackhardt-participated in the program.
In anticipation of this celebration, the Town took action at their Annual Meeting of March 4, 1912, under Article 16. At this time a Centennial Committee, consisting of Frank H. Crossman, Mary A. Bassett, Rev. Frank R. Gale, Arthur Hastings, and Truman P. Felton, was appointed. This committee was placed "in full charge, empowered to appoint the day and make all ar- rangements in relation to the same." The Town appropriated $200 to be raised by taxation for the use of the committee.
On the appointed day 1720 persons signed the guest book. From the arrival of the Leominster Band at 8:30 A.M. to the midnight dance, people from all sections of Massachusetts en- joyed all features of the program. At nine o'clock the parade formed at the Central School yard on Linden Street and pro- ceeded to Central, around Carter to West Street, and thence to the grandstand before the Town Hall where it disbanded. The parade was in charge of Chief-Marshal George H. Carpenter who, with his aides, led the procession, followed by the Leomins- ter Band, then the Selectmen and the Centennial Committee in cars.
The remaining order of the procession, which portrayed many interesting historic and fascinating features, was as follows:
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1. The Old Stage Coach bearing the lettering "Berlin to Hudson."
2. "Farming in 1812" drawn by oxen.
3. Float bearing modern farming tools (these would be outmoded by the modern motorized farm equipment of 1957).
4. Float "Kitchen of 100 Years Ago" drawn by oxen.
5. Float "Modern Kitchen" with latest electrical appliances (again compare with 1957 models).
6. Float model of "Powder House" and soldiers of 1812.
7. Float of the "Grange.'
8. Float of the "G.A.R." and allied societies.
9. Float of "Tuesday Club."
10. Float of "W.C.T.U." with motto "For God, home, and every land."
11. Float of the Berlin Tennis Clubs-Shanondasee, Kequasagansett, and Minne-wa-wa.
12. Float bearing a model of the "Library," the ambition of the Village Improvement Society. This was left standing on the Common for a number of months.
13. Float, The Lyman School for Boys.
The remainder of the procession was floats, carts, and wagons representing the business and industry of the Town. They were: Small and Paine's Wagon, Herman Holder's Milk, three teams of the S. R. Carter Stores, N. H. Fay of South Berlin, float of E. W. Wheeler & Son bearing a small house, and then the wagon of Hale Bros.
Dinner was served in the Town Hall at 12:30 to over 400 people. Rest rooms and lunches were available at the Methodist, Unitarian and Congregational church buildings. After dinner speeches were made by George L. Wright of Boylston, W. E. Parkhurst of Clinton, Hon. Elmer Potter of Worcester, and Rep. William S. Duncan of Clinton.
The historical address, delivered by Frank H. Crossman from the grandstand on the Common, was surcharged with historical data and seasoned with many an anecdote, and presented in a masterful way without script or notes.
At two o'clock Rev. Percy H. Eples of Worcester delivered the oration of the day in the Congregational Church. From three to seven o'clock sports were the center of attraction. A concert was rendered at the Town Hall at eight o'clock, followed by a dance, which concluded at midnight. The many "old timers" reported having a day long to be remembered. (With due regards to the
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
Worcester Daily Telegram, and records compiled by Frank H. Crossman, the Town Clerk. )
Board of Trade
Following the precedence of the Tuesday Club, the men of Berlin contemplated the formation of a Men's Club. Con- sequently, in the fall of 1914, the Rev. Herman F. Lion, then pastor of the First Unitarian Society, organized a Men's Club within his parish and M. Reed Tyler was chosen President. Within two years it had outgrown this circle and it was decided to make it a community organization. Thereupon, the Berlin Board of Trade was organized on September 25, 1916, with plans to meet in Barnes Hall of the Town Hall on the fourth Monday evening of each month from September through May.
The annual meeting and election of officers was held on the fourth Monday night in May at the John E. Rice Orchards in Marlboro. This system was changed at the meeting of July 22, 1940, when it was voted to amend Article 5 of the Constitution and By-Laws to read: "The Annual Meeting of the organization shall be held on the fourth Monday night of December of each year." Thus the current year now embraces the period from January 1 to December 31, with a recess during the months of June, July, and August. However, special meetings were held during the summer months in the years of 1940 and 1941.
For several years (to 1939) a Program Booklet was published giving the features of each meeting from September to May inclusive. On this program, Berlin was favored with many prominent speakers and entertainers. Among these were: Lieut. Governors Hon. William S. Youngman, Hon. Horace T. Cahill, Robert F. Bradford, and Hon. Sumner G. Whittier; Speakers of the House John C. Hull and Hon. Leverett Saltonstall (later Gov. and U. S. Senator); Representative Hon. Edith Nourse Rogers; Senator Thomas Johnson; Registrar of Motor Vehicles Frank A. Goodwin, George A. Parker, and Rudolph F. King; Sheriffs of Worcester County Albert Richardson and William A. Bennett.
Also, many departments of various interests were represented, such as: A. W. Gilbert, Commissioner of Agriculture, and George
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F. Story, Worcester County Agent of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture; Lewis E. MacBrayne, General Manager Massachusetts Safety Council; Evan F. Richardson, Director of State Bureau of Animal Industry; A. Philpott of the editorial staff of the Boston Globe; William Summers, American League Umpire; Capt. Joseph J. Benoit, Recruiting Officer of Worcester County; and Horace A. Clark of the Boston Salvation Army.
The programs were varied by the presentations of descriptive talks on some of the local industries such as the Greenhouse busi- ness of Charles M. Field & Co., and that of Clifford H. Wheeler; Berlin Mushroom Co., Inc., by Allie E. Bellucci; and Maple Poultry Farm by Lionel Manseau. The interest in many industries in which men of Berlin were employed has been discussed by the members. For instance: the book manufacturing business of the Colonial Press Inc., of Clinton, was given by Leonard Burnett; the manufacture of plastic goods was described by Kenneth M. Pierce; and the insurance business of Tatman & Park by E. Guy Sawyer.
One prominent feature was the Annual Banquet and Ladies' Night held in the Town Hall on the night of their April meeting. The Board of Trade responds to the annual appeal for the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Christmas health seals. They sponsor the Berlin Boy Scouts. The same became a member of the Wachusett Council of Boy Scouts in 1931. Through the committee of the Board of Trade the annual drive is made for their sub- scription to the Council, and arrangements are made to aid some boys to attend Camp Wanocksett. The Board also financed a trip for 4-H boys and girls to Camp Farley.
Many projects in the interest of the community are sponsored by the Board of Trade. On May 24, 1917, a singular flag raising occurred on Powder House Hill when they supplied a new staff with flag, which was accompanied with the following ceremony: "Under the direction of Miss Florence Wilder, the school children sang 'The Star Spangled Banner,' 'Your Flag and My Flag,' and 'America.' The Reverends Charles A. S. Dwight and Daniel M. Welch rendered the devotions and prayer, and Rev. James W. Barter presented the new staff (pole) and flag in the name of the Berlin Board of Trade."
For several years they provided the community Christmas tree
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
which adorned the Common at the Center. They also encouraged the Boy Scouts to aid in maintaining the beauty of the Common.
During the summer months of the years 1940 and 1941, the Board of Trade introduced a new unique venture. They sub- scribed fifty dollars to build a bandstand on Sawyer's Field and engaged the Worcester Brass Band to hold band concerts once every two weeks. They also built a shelter house at a cost of $296.96, plus the volunteer labor. This building covered the booths and had a (12 x 12) room for housing the equipment and supplies. The complete building was 24 x 48 feet, with a six-foot overhang.
In addition to the band concerts, there were field days. Such were conducted on July 4th (afternoon and evening) in 1940 and 1941, also on Labor Day in September of 1940. During these energetic years, the membership mounted to 150. The following persons have been president of the Berlin Board of Trade:
M. Reed Tyler
1916-1918
Lester R. Maynard
1918-1919
A. E. Bissell
1919-1921
J. William McCarty
1921-1923
Frank F. Dunfield
1923-1925
Rev. Louis G. Hudson
1925-1931
Lemuel D. Carter
1931-1933
Walter Cole
1933
George R. Spofford
1933-1934
Harris G. Field
1934-1936
Jerry S. LaPorte
1936-1938
Rev. Louis G. Hudson
1938-1940
E. Guy Sawyer
1940-1943
Rev. Louis G. Hudson
1943-1947
Ellsworth G. Sawyer
1947-1948
Earle A. Wheeler
1948-1949
Carl A. Barter
1949-1953
Rev. Louis G. Hudson
1953-1956
Glendon H. Blenkhorn
1956-1958
Arthur E. Chapdelaine
1958-
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scout movement in Berlin germinated from a Boys' Club (the Knights of the Holy Grail) organized in June of 1910 by Rev. Philip A. Goold, then pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
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Church. The original group consisted of sixteen boys, some of whom became Scout Masters in later years. A list of the members follows: Walter Burnham, Raymond Cole, Harold and Robert Taylor, Ernest and Eason Coulson, Ralph, Robert and Arthur Turnbull, Franklin Jacobs, David Tyler, Roy Keizer, Eugene Wilder, Clifford Wheeler, Leon Brewer, Walter Sawtelle, Wallace and Sumner Woodward, and Leland Maynard.
The majority of these boys were in the service of their country during World War I. After a period of readjustment and re- habilitation, the interest in the boys of America was resumed. It was during this period that Arthur E. Bissell, then President of the Berlin Board of Trade (1919-1921), interested a group of boys in the Scout work; and, on motion of Rev. Louis G. Hudson, the Board of Trade became their sponsors.
In the year 1920 Arthur A. Turnbull was chosen Scoutmaster of Berlin Troop 1, Boy Scouts of America, with a group of seventeen boys. Ernest Paquette followed as Scoutmaster from 1925 to 1930, and he was succeeded by Merle Hunt, 1930 to 1932. The Berlin Troop 1 became a member of the Wachusett Council in 1931. Berlin is one of the fourteen towns of the Wachusett Council and is represented by Rev. Louis G. Hudson on the Executive Board. This Wachusett Council is composed of a group of volunteers who are organized to meet the Scouting needs of this area. They elect officers and appoint operating committees to serve this purpose. They provide the adequately equipped and staffed Camp Wanocksett. This camp is located in Dublin, N. H., on Thorndike Pond at the base of Mount Monadnock.
Edmond Hoxie was awarded the Eagle Scout Badge (the highest achievement in Scouting) in 1930; Charles O. Smith in 1937; and Larry White in 1955. At a public Court of Honor held in the Berlin Town Hall on November 16, 1957, Scouts Douglas Campbell, Robert Hawkins and Joel Plastridge received the Eagle Scout award. In addition, awards for Life and Star Scouts were presented to members of Troop 1. At an impressive service in the First Parish Church on Sunday, May 19, 1957, under the direction of Scout Master Norbert Haner, Scouts Clifton Wheeler, Douglas Phipps, and Peter Plastridge were presented with "God and Country" awards by Rev. John W. Linzee.
During the years 1933 to 1938, Oliver E. Smith was the Scout
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Master with Charles E. Nutting as Assistant Scout Master, who took over in 1939. Berlin Scouts began attending the training at Camp Wanocksett during this period, and Charles O. Smith became a delegate to the World Jamboree held in Holland in the summer of 1937, on which he gave an interesting report before the Wachusett Council at their annual banquet and meeting held in Lancaster on December 7, 1937.
During the succeeding few years it seemed to be difficult to find any Berlin men who had the time to supervise the Boy Scouts, so Edward A. Boutillier of Leominster, Scout Executive, took over the situation. Eddie Weston and Edward Ross served as Assistants and Scout Leaders.
The supervision of the Berlin Boy Scouts has continued under the leadership of the following Scout Masters:
A. Eason Coulson 1942-1944
Willard H. Wheeler
1945-1946
Silas H. Bacon 1947-1948
Francis E. Underwood
1949
Lester F. Sarty 1950
Norbert Haner
1951-1957
Bruce A. Maxwell
1957
Ernest O. Wheeler has been an active supporter of the Scout program since coming to Berlin in 1936. So, at the Scouters Rec- ognition Banquet sponsored by the Wachusett Council, held in North Leominster on February 15, 1957, he was presented with a silver Scouter statuette, accompanied by a citation, in recogni- tion of his outstanding service to Berlin Boy Scouts over a period of more than ten years.
The Scouting program consists of three units. The Cub Scout Pack for boys between the ages of eight and ten, directed by Cub Masters, meet on the last Friday of the month at seven P.M. in Parish Hall. The Boy Scout Troop, composed of boys from eleven to thirteen years of age, meet every Wednesday in Parish Hall at seven P.M. under the leadership of the Scoutmaster and his assistants. The Explorer Post for boys between the ages of fourteen and eighteen meets every Monday evening at seven P.M., directed by an Explorer Advisor. Thus, a Scouting program is offered for our youths from eight years of age to eighteen.
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Girls' Clubs
Provision was also made for the social life and practical train- ing of the girls in Berlin. The order of the Camp Fire Girls was started in 1913 by Mrs. George F. Matthews of East Berlin. Then Mrs. Marion C. Fromant conducted the Camp during the years of 1915-1919. During this period the girls went to a camp in Concord, Mass., for two summers. For a time the organization became dormant and its funds were given to the Berlin Library Building Fund. The work was revived in 1924 under the leader- ship of Mrs. Violet Turnbull and Mrs. Jeanette Andrews.
Due to the similarity in their field of endeavor, the Camp Fire Girls was superseded by the Girl Scouts. At a board meeting on March 11, 1947, it was recommended that the Tuesday Club sponsor the Girl Scouts in the Town of Berlin, with Mrs. Kendall Andrews as sponsoring director. The first meeting of the Girl Scouts was held on March 26, 1947. The Tuesday Club made an annual donation toward the support of the local Girl Scout organization. Miss Estelle Liberty became the first leader in October of 1947. She was assisted and followed by Mrs. Louis F. Lapan in 1949.
The Girl Scouts had charge of a meeting on the annual pro- gram of the Tuesday Club. They conducted a cooky sale to procure funds for sending members to Scout camp. From 1952 to 1956 the Girl Scouts held their meetings in a room of the Library building, and held a series of card parties to provide money to improve the room. Owing to the increase in membership (which was twenty members) they transferred to more commodious quarters in the Town Hall. In October of 1953 the Girl Scouts visited the Old Sturbridge Village and reported their trip to the Tuesday Club.
At the December 12th (1950) meeting of the Tuesday Club it was voted to sponsor a "Brownie" group of the Girl Scouts (age 7-10).
Miss Estelle Liberty resigned as leader of the Girl Scouts in November of 1950, and Mrs. Everett S. Walker was chosen leader with Mrs. Lester F. Sarty and Mrs. Laura Nutting as assistants.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
Between the years of 1953 and 1957 there have been the follow- ing leaders and assistants:
Miss Mary Casey, with Mrs. Charles C. Deitmer and Mrs. Carl Phipps assisting.
Mrs. Deitmer, with Mrs. Carl Phipps and Helen Wheeler assisting.
Edith Nutting became leader, then Mrs. Marguerite M. Sallinger, assisted by Mrs. Miriam F. Coldwell.
The present leader (1957) is Mrs. Florence L. Hawkins.
The 4-H Club
The 4-H Club for Boys and Girls operates under a director appointed annually by the Town for promoting the projects of the Worcester County Extension Service in agriculture and home economics. A Berlin 4-H Club was organized in 1914 by Miss Marion C. Copeland (Mrs. Marion C. Fromant). After the adoption of Chapter 128 of the General Laws of 1918, the Town (in Feb. of 1920) appointed Mrs. Marion C. Fromant as Di- rector; and for the next twenty-five years (including 1944) she was annually chosen for this position. Ruth I. Allen served during the year 1945. Mrs. Louise F. Lockhart has been appointed Di- rector, annually, since 1945.
The motto of the 4-H Club is "To Make the Best Better." Their pledge is:
My HEAD to clearer thinking, My HEART to greater loyalty,
My HANDS to larger service and My HEALTH to better living
For my club, my community and my country.
A large field of projects is offered to the boys and girls during the year. These vary over a period of years, but all projects are given with the goal of making better citizens. These cover proj- ects in clothing, sewing, foods, cooking, canning, child-care, home improvement, crafts, woodworking, garden work, feeding, livestock, cows, horses, poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits, and food preservation. There has been a gradual increase in interest and
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the number of pupils has soared from thirty-eight in 1952 to seventy in 1956.
In order to carry on this work, the Director had the assistance of helpers-Miss Alice L. Cole, Mrs. Eleanor T. Plastridge, and Mr. E. O. Wheeler. The program of the 4-H Club has been augmented by the Young American Club which was organized of pupils from the seventh and eighth grades of the Berlin Memorial School by Principal Raymond A. Plotczyk in 1951. In the year 1953 the Superintendent of Schools reported that they were pleased to welcome two part-time teachers, namely, Mrs. Elizabeth Gustafson, who teaches home economics for the girls, and Mr. E. O. Wheeler, who conducts a woodworking class for the boys. Thus the Junior High School program co-ordinates with the 4-H course of projects.
Berlin Youth Council
In order to provide for community activities for the post-Scout group of teenagers (14-18), preferably the high school pupils, a few public-spirited persons considered an organization. The in- ception of the Berlin Youth Council was sponsored by the Parish Men's Club of the First Parish Church. At their meeting of January 13, 1953, they secured Mr. James Sumner, director of the Arlington Boy's Club as their speaker who spoke on the subject "How Can We Meet Our Youth's Needs?"
As a result of this able discussion, many of the men felt that a more concerted effort in this direction was needed in the com- munity. It was then proposed that delegates from other commu- nity organizations should be invited to attend the next meeting of the Men's Club. Mr. Raymond A. Plotczyk, Principal of the Berlin Memorial School, was the speaker, who presented the needs of a unification of our efforts with the youth program, and pointed out the success they were having with the Young Ameri- can Club in the school. Subsequently, the Berlin Youth Council was organized and bylaws approved at the April meeting in 1953. Mr. Plotczyk was chosen President and Rev. Robert W. MacNeill (pastor of the First Parish Church) became Secretary. The membership consisted of representatives from twenty-two local (social, patriotic, civic, and religious ) organizations. The purpose
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of the B.Y.C. was to promote activities which would be beneficial to the youth of the Town.
At a meeting of the Council on July 13, 1953, plans were made for a four-week summer playground program from July 27 to August 22. The program included competitive sports, tourna- ments, and special events. Norman S. Coldwell was elected Treasurer of the Council at this meeting. Several suggested projects were offered to the youth by the Council. Among these was a basketball team under the supervision of a competent instructor. Another group supported dancing and skating parties.
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