USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Berlin > History of the town of Berlin, Worcester County, Mass. from 1784 to 1959 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Mr. Ira G. Dudley was assigned as Master of the School when it was opened in November of 1895, and Mrs. Sarah H. Dudley
58
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
as Teacher. They remained here for forty-two years, retiring in 1937. During these years more than 1800 boys passed through Mrs. Dudley's classes. Many of them, years after leaving the school, returned to make a friendly call, and thus acknowledge the loving care they had received.
The Berlin Branch of the Lyman School for Boys closed on May first of 1942, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Staples, with the twenty boys of their charge, were transferred to the Westboro Lyman School. The property remained idle, in possession of the State, until sold to John P. McGrail in 1950.
Library
When Berlin was set off as a District in 1784, her interest in a library remained attached to the mother-town of Bolton. On March 9, 1791, the proprietors belonging to Bolton, Stow and Berlin, subscribers for a proposed library, met at the house of Mr. Silas Holman, innholder in Bolton, and voted to "Choose a person in each town to receive the Subscription for Sd Library and pay in the same to the Treasurer." The Committee consisted of Silas Holman for Bolton, Samuel Gates for Stow, and Dr. Benjamin Nourse (our "Old Family Doctor" 1784-1804) for Berlin. Through their efforts, the Social Library in the Town of Bolton was organized, and in January of 1801 they drew up a code of by-laws to regulate the transaction of the Library.
The Berlin proprietors asked leave to withdraw in March of 1801. Apparently there was considerable hard feeling over the division of books, but the claims were finally settled the follow- ing summer. Berlin's share, "with additions, was kept alive dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. Reuben Puffer" (1781-1829).
Prior to 1891 there was no central library collection in Berlin. The few books turned over from Bolton had been distributed to different sections of the town. South Berlin, especially, enlarged their collection and established the Union Library Association.
By the acts of the General Court in 1890, a Free Public Library Commission was appointed with authority to aid towns of low assessment valuation to establish free public libraries. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Berlin, by an article in the war- rant of March 2, 1891, elected a Board of three Library Trustees.
59
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
These succeeded in organizing a Free Public Library, which was ready for public distribution on July 11, 1891. In 1895 the Library contained 858 volumes.
The nucleus of 190 books has increased, by public and private contributions, to a capacity of 10,593 volumes, with a circulation of 4,585 in the year 1952. The circulation has decreased some- what since the Memorial School has established a school library.
The original appropriation of $50.00 in 1891 has been increased from time to time until the report of 1952 showed the sum of $1,746.59 in available funds for library purposes. This includes the Town appropriation of $850.00, dog tax of $422.38, and the income from nine trust funds of $474.21.
The housing of the Library was a problem which gave the committee a great deal of concern. At first, a location was secured in a private home at the Center, then in one corner of the Selectmen's Room in the Town Hall, and later to enlarged quarters in the room across from the Selectmen's Room. But as the number of books gradually increased, and the shelves were loaded, a plea was made for some "noble benefactor" to make possible a "memorial temple" for the Library. Bolton has her "Whitney Memorial Library," and Boylston the "Sawyer Memorial Library," but Berlin must be content to be more democratic and allow the "people" the privilege of building a suitable public library.
Seeing this ultimatum, certain public spirited citizens be- came enthusiastic and busied themselves in creating a suitable public sentiment towards erecting such a building. It was at a meeting of the Tuesday Club on October 28, 1902, that Mrs. Catherine L. Lasselle gave the first silver dollar to start a build- ing fund for a public library. This was supported by pledges from several other members of the Club. Through this move public interest was aroused to such an extent that at the March Town Meeting of 1906 $1,000 was appropriated from the treasury to be set aside for library purposes.
An opportunity was given during the Centennial Celebration of August in 1912 to bring this before the public by having in the parade a float bearing a replica of the proposed building. Over nineteen thousand dollars, accumulated during a period of
60
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
more than twenty years, was secured from gifts, plays, and en- tertainments presented by various persons and groups.
The first public action was taken in the Town Meeting of February 1926 when, under Article 19, a committee was ap- pointed to see about a library building. From then until 1929 the committee was busy laying plans for the building and collecting funds for the payment of the same. On December 6, 1928, the books were moved into the new Library and on Saturday, De- cember 8th, the new Library was opened to the public.
The Library is open to the public every Wednesday afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. and on Friday from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
The following rules have been adopted to aid in the care and preservation of the books:
(1) Books may be kept for two weeks and may be renewed once for the same period, except seven day books and magazines.
(2) A fine of two cents a week will be charged on each book which is not returned according to the above rule. No book will be issued to any person incurring such a fine, until it has been paid.
(3) All injuries to books, beyond reasonable wear, and all losses shall be made good to the satisfaction of the Librarian.
(4) Each borrower is held responsible for all books drawn on his card, and for all fines occurring on the same.
This new brick Colonial-type library building was erected upon the lot of land, at the corner of Walnut and Carter Streets, which was given by James D. Tyler to the Town for "Library purposes" in 1915. In addition to the building, the grounds were beautified by the setting out of trees and shrubbery on a well-seeded lawn. Cement walks lead to Walnut and Carter Streets and a protective curbing encloses the grounds.
The Town has been fortunate in having a group of faithful and interested Librarians since its organization on July 11, 1891. The following persons have served in this capacity:
Miss Sarah I. Hastings. July 11, 1891 to 1893 Miss Mary M. Babcock (Wheeler) 1893 - 1903 (1921-1925)
Miss Alice E. Babcock 1903 - 1920
Mrs. Helen M. Sawyer 1925 - 1927
Miss Ethel M. G. Sawyer 1927 - 1946
61
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
Mrs. Hazel L. Sawyer
Mrs. Helen L. Pierce
1946 - 1959 1959 - Date
The transactions of the Berlin Public Library were placed under the management of a Board of three Trustees in 1891 and this arrangement continued until 1902. At the Town Meeting of 1902 it was voted to add three more members to the Board of Library Trustees, making six members, two to be elected each year for a term of three years." Among these there have been some long periods of service. Mary A. Bassett (1900-1917), Nellie C. Carter (1903-1931), Ida J. Sawyer (1905-1929), Sarah H. Dudley (1917-1938), Frances E. Rice (1918-1934), Edith R. S. Sawyer (1919-1945), Marion C. Fromant (1931-1954).
*See list of Library Trustees under Chapter V on Civic Affairs.
CHAPTER IV
MILITARY AFFAIRS
Indian Raids (1675-1676)
Before the settlement of Berlin territory proper, its potential inhabitants were engaged in defending their home country. It is true that the Indians, through their Chief Sholan, sold to a company of white men a tract of eighty square miles, including the Berlin territory, in 1643, with the retaining privileges of their hunting, fishing, and planting grounds. As the settlements in- creased and the lands were being occupied by the white man, the Indians became suspicious of losing these privileges.
So, under the leadership of King Philip, several raids were made upon the inhabitants of Lancaster, with the idea of driving the white settlers out and regaining their former territory. The first of these attacks was on a Sunday afternoon, August 22, 1675, when eight persons were scalped and killed, among whom was a Joseph Wheeler.
The most tragic event occurred on February 10, 1676 (known as the Rowlandson Massacre) when fifty-five persons were af- flicted. Fourteen were killed and the remainder were carried away into captivity, and some of these died on the way. Among those killed were Mrs. Elizabeth Kerley and two sons; John Ball, wife and child; Ephraim Sawyer; Richard Wheeler; Jonas and Joshua Fairbanks. Four children of Lieut. Henry Kerley, and two children of John Ball were carried into captivity.
Descendants of all of these families have settled in Berlin, and it was the concern of these to avenge the injury inflicted upon them during this period. It was thus that Jabez Fairbanks be- came known as "an Indian fighter and a terror to their tribe."
62
63
MILITARY AFFAIRS
French and Indian War (1689-1763) (KING WILLIAM'S WAR)
Starting in 1689, England and France were engaged in a series of wars for mastery in Europe and for commercial and colonial supremacy throughout the world. This series of intermit- tent wars was concluded in the Treaty of Paris in 1763. During this period many attacks were made upon this vicinity by the Indians, spurred on by the French.
The Town of Lancaster had become well fortified, having eight garrisons scattered about the Town. But surprise attacks were made upon them. In July of 1692 a surprise attack was made upon the family of Peter Joslin, when Mrs. Joslin and three young children were killed and, also, Mrs. Hannah Whit- comb. Elizabeth Howe of Marlboro (visiting her sister) was taken captive. She was ransomed after four years and married Thomas Keyes.
On a Sunday, in the autumn of 1695, Abraham Wheeler was mortally wounded while on his way to his home from the Sawyer garrison. About five years later, in September of 1697, the Town was again attacked. The result of this bloody raid and massacre was that nineteen were killed and eight carried into captivity. Among these were ancestors of Berlin families of Hudsons and Fairbanks.
(QUEEN ANNE'S WAR)
This conflict continued during the Queen Anne's War. A force of French and Indians made an onslaught on the George Hill gar- rison of Lancaster on the early morn of July 31, 1704, but were repulsed. Yet Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder was mortally wounded and the dwellings of Ephraim Wilder, Samuel Carter, Thomas Ross, and Philip Goss were burned.
The next visit of the Indians, with hostile intent, was on October 15, 1705, when Thomas Sawyer, Jr., his son Elias, and John Bigelow were captured at their Deershorn sawmill and carried into Canada. After a miraculous experience, and the building of Canada's first sawmill, they were permitted to return home.
64
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
(KING GEORGE'S WAR)
The French and Indian War proper started in 1754 with the English and French contending for control of the Ohio Valley. During the early years of the war, the French won many victories, the most important being the defeat of General Braddock, in the attack on Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh). Braddock's forces would have been completely destroyed were it not for the skill of one of his Colonial officers, George Washington. Consequently, the English redoubled their efforts in North America. Additional troups were sent to the Colonies, which, together with the Colonial militia, began to turn the tide of battle. The Treaty of Paris (1763) eliminated France as a colonial power in North America.
When the Colonial regiments were released, the men from Lancaster marched through the woods of Vermont, arriving home on December 1, 1759, amid great rejoicing. Among the Bolton soldiers in the French and Indian War, there were sixteen who lived on Berlin territory. They were:
Nathaniel Hastings Peter Larkin
Nathaniel Hastings, Jr. Edmund Larkin
Benjamin Houghton
William Larkin
Joseph Priest
Mathias Larkin
John Pollard
Abraham Bruce
William Pollard
Jabez Fairbanks
Jabez Beers Robert Fosgate
John McBride Joshua Johnson
The next few years were peaceful. The only warlike activity was the drilling of the militia on the village Common. Each town in Worcester County had a company of militia, and Bolton's captain was Samuel Baker (of Berlin). In 1767, a second militia company was organized; but all militia training was abandoned, on order of the County Convention, in 1774.
The American Revolution
Following the Treaty of Paris, the English Government adopted a new policy toward the Colonies. This had three basic objectives:
65
MILITARY AFFAIRS
(1) Reassert English political and economic control over the Colonies;
(2) Restore Colonial respect for English laws;
(3) Compel the Colonies to bear part of the cost of the French and Indian War.
What did the inhabitants of Berlin do about these infringe- ments upon their colonial "freedoms"? Although Berlin was an integral part of Bolton during this period, many of the inhabi- tants living in the southern part of the town did their share in the preparations and defense of their homeland. They were alert; their experience in the French-Indian War qualified them for self-defense.
On July 15, 1773, Samuel Baker and Joshua Johnson were members of a five-man committee which was assigned to meet jointly in Boston with the Committee of Correspondence. The Hon. Samuel Baker was a faithful delegate to the several conven- tions of the Committee of Correspondence held in Worcester during the summer and autumn of 1774, and always registered his vote for the interest of the Colonies. He was also a delegate to the First Provincial Congress, which met in Salem in the autumn of 1774.
Tradition has it "that Land'ord Jones" had a gun in readiness at "Ye Jones' Inn" to give warning of any approaching crisis demand- ing immediate attention. So when, on the morning of April 19, 1775, a courier announced the approach of the British troops on Concord, boom went Jones' gun, and the warning was picked up by William Babcock of Turner Road, who left his plow stand- ing, and hastened with gun and knapsack toward Concord and Lexington. Very soon Samuel Baker, Silas Carley, Joseph Rice, Samuel Spafford and others followed his trail.
On March 2, 1896, it was voted "To see if the town will ap- propriate a sum sufficient to place a marker of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution at the grave of each Revolu- tionary Soldier or Sailor buried in this town." The provisions of this article were realized when, on May 30, 1957, markers and flags were placed at the graves of the Revolutionary War soldiers. (See under acts of E. H. Hartshorn Camp No. 43, for fuller description. )
66
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
On the records of the "Old Cemetery" there are the names of thirty-two men of Berlin who served in the Revolutionary War. The list is as follows:
Name
Died
Age
1. Adam Bartlett
July 22, 1828
74
2. Robert Fife
Apr. 22, 1787 40
3. James Fife
Nov. 21, 1790
31
4. Nathan Johnson
Dec. 23, 1832
84
5. Capt. Edward Johnson
Oct. 29, 1784 70
6. Joshua Johnson
Jan. 25, 1832
86
7. Amos Johnson
July 12, 1825
74
8.
James Ball
Sept. 15, 1784
58
9.
Nathaniel Hastings
1820
82
10.
Eleazer Johnson
July 3, 1791
74
12.
Peter Larkin
Apr. 13, 1815
88
13.
Col. Silas Bailey
Oct. 30, 1793
71
14.
Stephen Bailey
Feb. 12, 1815
61
15.
Benjamine Nurse
Apr. 23, 1804
49
16 Samuel Baker
May 4, 1795
73
17.
David Taylor
Aug. 30, 1795
72
18. Joseph Priest
July 31, 1817
85
19. Ichabod Jones
May 14, 1778
43
21.
Jesse Jewett
Feb. 5, 1829
76
22. Samuel Jones
Jan. 23, 1797
76
23. Holman Priest
Jan. 22, 1831
85
24.
Jonathan Merriam
Jan. 5, 1823
81
25.
Levi Merriam
Mar. 19, 1812
56
26.
Capt. Samuel Spafford
Nov. 6, 1809
47
27. James Goddard
Jan. 13, 1815
84
28.
Joel Fosgate
Mar. 24, 1824
73
29.
Thomas Pollard
Oct. 2, 1827
84
30. Job Spofford
Apr. 5, 1840
87
31. Capt. Samuel Jones, Jr.
Sept. 22, 1811
55
32.
Fortunatus Barnes
Nov. 9, 1807
69
20. Lieut. Timothy Jones
July 7, 1822
82
11. John Larkin
Apr. 12, 1841
80
Shay's Rebellion
The cost of a war must be borne by the victor as well as by those defeated. The War of the Revolution was over; the Colo- nists had gained their independence, but its wounds had not been
67
MILITARY AFFAIRS
healed. Grievances developed into the "Shay's Rebellion." Bodies of armed men interrupted sessions of courts in Worcester and Springfield. In January of 1787 Shay led 2,000 men to capture the arsenal at Springfield, but was opposed by the militia under General Shepherd. The prompt action of the State authorities put a speedy check on the insurrection.
It was evidently a precautionary measure that prompted the District of Berlin to vote on March 8, 1786, "that the town stock of arms and ammunition be divided between the Town of Bolton and the District of Berlin, according to the incorporation act."
The records of Berlin are very shady as to what attitude the citizens took toward this insurrection. It is apparent that the District was well divided on the subject. At a special District Meeting of September 18, 1786, they voted to send William Saw- yer to the County Convention to be held in the house of Mr. Snow (Innholder) in Paxton. Mr. Sawyer had previously at- tended a convention in Worcester on August 15th, to formulate a statement of grievances. No report of the action of these con- ventions is recorded, but, according to the vote of the March meeting of 1787, Mr. Sawyer was allowed one pound, ten shillings and six pence for seven days of service at conventions.
At the same March meeting it was voted "To see if the District will make any allowance to the soldiers that went into the service in support of the Government or aided others to find equipment." The trend of public opinion was expressed in the election of April 2, 1787, when James Bowdoin received twelve votes for Governor, while John Hancock (who was supposed to be more in sympathy with the rebellious element) received thirty-three votes.
Judge Samuel Baker was a staunch advocate for the mainte- nance of law and order, and no doubt his influence kept the District from getting into an unpleasant entanglement. Neverthe- less, some of the naughty rebels assaulted Judge Baker at the foot of Randall Road, as he was returning from his duties at the Court in Worcester.
Once again a milestone in the civic life of Berlin coincides with a belligerent period of the nation's history. The Town of Berlin was incorporated on February 6, 1812, and on the following
68
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
eighteenth of June the United States declared war on Great Britain.
The general sentiment of the Town of Berlin in relation to this War was evidently in unison with that of most of the towns of the Commonwealth. That is, while they opposed the policy of the administration, they were ready to support the government by personal service whenever called upon to defend the State from foreign invasion.
In the election for Governor in 1812 Berlin cast ninety-five votes for Caleb Strong and only two for Elbridge Gerry. Gerry was known to be in favor of prosecuting the war, while Strong resolutely refused to comply with the orders of the Secretary of War, which was for Massachusetts to furnish 10,000 men. He proposed, instead, to organize the militia and have them ready on call for the defense of the State, if invaded by the enemy.
The District of Berlin was prompt in taking action against the enforcement of the embargo. At the meeting of February 6th, 1809, it was "voted to petition the Legislature to interpose for our constitutional relief against the late arbitrary and unjust violations of the rights of the people." And a much stronger protest was drafted as of July 4, 1812, and sent to the Legislature with this note: "voted unanimously that the foregoing be adapted as being the sense of the inhabitants of the Town of Berlin."
The records are silent as to who served in this war, but, at the Town Meeting of November 2, 1812, it was voted "To pay the soldiers one dollar and thirty-three cents for mustering at Lan- caster last August"; and, at the meeting of March 1, 1813, it was voted to "add one quarter of a pound of powder to each soldier, in addition to what the law allows."
The Powder-House, built in 1814, was virtually a memorial to the War of 1812. At a Town Meeting held on March 7, 1814, it was "voted to build a powder house for the safe storage of am- munition." Then they voted to choose a Committee, consisting of Captain Henry Powers, Deacon Stephen Bailey, and Captain Solomon Howe, to build the same. They must have felt the serious need of such a storage building, for it set a precedent in speedy construction.
When a group of the Youth Fellowship made a historic visita- tion to the old "Powder-House" in 1950, one of the modern ladies
69
MILITARY AFFAIRS
asked: "What brand of face power did they store up here, and why, in this out-of-the-way place?" "Well," replied one of the young men, "A soldier faces powder, but a lady powders her face." "Ha! Ha!"
The treaty of Ghent, which terminated the War, was signed on December 24, 1814, but the battle of New Orleans was fought fifteen days later, for the news had not reached Washington in time to prevent it. The last survivor of the 1812 War (for Berlin) was John D. Merrill, who died in 1886 at the age of eighty-eight years.
The Militia
Berlin had formed the "Old Militia," which was known as the 9th Co., of the 1st Regiment of Worcester County Division and attached to the 2nd Brigade of the 6th and 7th Divisions of the Infantry arm of the service. Barnabas Maynard was their first Captain, commissioned in 1787. Thirty-three men are listed as members of this militia, with varying ranks-captains, lieutenants and ensigns. John D. Merrill was a Sea Captain; Joseph Parks and Timothy Bailey were attached to the Cavalry, during the War of 1812.
List of the Militia
Captains Barnabas Maynard
Lieutenants
Samuel Baker, Jr.
Josiah Sawyer
Augustus Bigelow
Samuel Jones, Jr.
Ira Sawyer
Job Spofford
John Powers
Manasseh Fairbanks
Albert Babcock
Ephraim Howe Amos Sawyer
William Babcock
Oliver Sawyer
Ensigns Henry Powers
William Newton
Solomon Howe
Aaron Barnes Joseph Wilder
William Barnes Curtis Howe
Theophilus Nourse Benjamin F. Spofford Paul Brigham
Sea Captain (1812) John D. Merrill
70
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BERLIN
John Bartlett Silas B. Fairbank Franklin Sawyer Silas Sawyer
Cavalry Joseph Parks Timothy Bailey
Civil War
Following the agitation and turmoil of the War of 1812, the community of Berlin enjoyed a period of rest and prosperity for almost a half century. The population of the Town had increased from 600 to 1106 in 1860. Industry, as well as agriculture, had developed to a high level.
The nation, as a whole, had enlarged itself in territory, as well as in population. By 1853 the United States of America possessed all the territory which comprises our forty-eight states; and the population in 1860 was 31,443,321.
Prior to 1854 the two major political parties in the United States were the Whigs and the Democrats. In 1854 some Northern Whigs and Democrats, who opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and were determined to continue the fight against the extension of slavery, formed the Republican Party. Its antislavery platform proved popular, and the new party gained many adherents.
At the Democratic Convention in the Spring of 1860, they were divided into two groups over the slavery question. Abraham Lincoln of Illionis, the Republican candidate, was elected on a platform "opposed to the extension of slavery and favoring internal improvements, a protective tariff, and a homestead act" -all of which appealed to the Northern and Western voters. At the start of the Civil War (1861) there were twenty Union States, eleven Confederate States, and two Border States, making a total of thirty-three states.
The people of Berlin were not totally ignorant of what was transpiring in the nation. The first notice that hostilities had commenced was announced by Amos Sawyer (the veteran ex- pressman and stage-driver ) from his coach to the multitude that had assembled at the Post Office. This was on the eve of April 12, 1861, as he read in clear tones from the Boston Liberator the ac- count of the attack on Fort Sumter.
Immediately, Berlin sprang into action; the Selectmen called a
71
MILITARY AFFAIRS
meeting at the Town House on May 6 (1861), and proposed to raise a whole company. Projects for drilling were perfected. The Company assembled and paraded on the Common and then marched to Northboro, under command of Captain C. S. Hast- ings, to show the Northboroans that the Berlineans were alive and ready for action and eager to obtain recruits for the new Company.
The first official action took place on May sixth, when the town appropriated $2,000 for fitting out volunteers for the defense of the government. This action was in response to the President's call for 75,000 men to serve for three months. On July 25, 1862, it was voted to pay $100 to each volunteer who might enlist in the service of the country to constitute the quota for the Town of Berlin for three years' service.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.