USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Berlin > History of the town of Berlin, Worcester county, Mass., from 1784 to 1895 > Part 13
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POST OFFICE CS.WHITE & CU
R. S. HASTINGS' STORE.
TOWN HALL.
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
voted that the Town House be located on the lot of Mr. Artemas Barnes, who had tendered the lot as a free gift to the town for that purpose. The following resolutions, presented by William Bassett, were accepted and adopted, and ordered to be placed upon the records of the town, and a copy be presented to Mr. Barnes :
Resolved, That we, the legal voters of Berlin, in town meet- ing assembled, having under consideration the location for a new Town House, hereby gratefully accept the site generously presented to the town by our former townsman, Artemas Barnes, for the purpose of erecting thereon a Town House, and we tender to him our thanks for the timely gift
Resolved, That these resolutions be entered on the records of the town, that the name of our generous donor, Artemas Barnes, may be held in continued remembrance as a benefactor of the town.
Resolved, That the town clerk be and hereby is instructed to present to Mr. Barnes a copy of these resolutions.
The Town House was dedicated March 2, 1870. The services on the occasion embraced exercises pertaining to the Town hall and Memorial hall, both being in the same building. The proceedings on this occasion were printed in pamphlet, containing the presentation of the house to the town by the Building Committee, the acceptance of the same by the Selectmen, together with interesting remarks from others present. The dedicatory address was delivered by Rev. W. A. Houghton, a large portion of which was devoted to matters pertaining to our soldiers in the late war, and hence was called a memorial address, a copy of which may be found in the archives of the town, as also in many families
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HISTORY OF THE
The cost of the building above the underpinning was $6,000 ; other expenses, as the fitting of the ground, foundations, etc., $446.64; making in all, $6,446.64; the cost of furniture, $952; making entire cost of building and furniture, $7,398.64.
The following extract from poem by Josiah Bride, delivered by him on this occasion, is well worthy of insertion herein.
POEM.
In Doctor Brigham's day we had
Not half as many people; One little store, just one, no more,
A church without a steeple.
No Town House neat in which to meet,
Discuss each public measure,
And there and then select the men
To execute our pleasure. In the house of God, however odd,
It seems, were held all meetings,
Where, without noise, the girls and boys
Exchanged their social greetings. And in the pews all talked of news Profane and sacred matter. Where, sitting down, the entire town Made a tremendous clatter.
In the altar stood our Puffer good,
Though mercury was at zero,
And frozen nose, fingers and toes, Showed heroine and hero.
But the desire to have a fire,
Might then have raised a question, Whether the thought were not inbrought By Satan's vile suggestion.
Having thus wandered through the dear old past
With heartfelt gratitude, we now may cast
Our vision forward, and with faith may see A far more dear, a brighter yet-to-be. Honor the present as the ancient men,
For now true worth inheres in man as then;
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
Hence honor to our citizens, that they Have built the house we dedicate to-day. All honor to the brain that drew the plan, All honor to the workmen, every man, All honor to the man that gave the site, All honor for sweet harmony, all right. May heart to heart be bound with stronger ties, Higher and higher may this people rise, And, mid diversity of mind, God given, No more may social bands be rudely riven.
.
Sadly we consecrate Memorial Hall In honor of the brave men doomed to fall, 'Mid crash of arms and harsh, wild battle cry, Or in the crowded hospital to die. Imperishable as time be every name,
Let none despoil them of their dear bought fame,
But let the hand to infamy be wed That mars the laurels of the martyred dead.
ARTEMAS BARNES' PORTRAIT, 1871.
In the spring of 1871 Mr. Artemas Barnes pre- sented to the town his portrait, painted in oil, to be hung in the Town Hall. The town took action on the matter at a meeting held May 2, 1871, and passed the following vote: "That as citizens of Ber- lin, in town meeting assembled, we gratefully ac- knowledge the good will of our former fellow-citizen, Mr. Artemas Barnes, now of Worcester, in so gener- ously presenting to his native town the very perfect portrait of himself, which now adorns our new hall. In accepting the same, with the most cordial desire for the donor's length of days and future usefulness in society, we would assure Mr. Barnes of our high appreciation of the gift, not only as a work of art, but as preserving to us and our children a true like- ness of one bearing a family name which has been so honorably associated with all the history of Ber-
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HISTORY OF THE
lin." A copy of the foregoing was sent to Mr. Barnes, and the following letter is a reply by Mr. Barnes to the same:
WORCESTER, May 27, 1871. Rev. William A. Houghton :
Dear Sir :- I received your very friendly letter the day it was written and now answer it. The. friendly spirit of your letter and the willingness of the citizens of the town to receive my portrait to be hung in your new Town Hall, awakened in me pleasant recollections. I prize the painting very much as a work of art and hope it will interest the young in what art can accomplish, and to the older inhabitants the recollection of one who has always been a warm friend of the town.
Respectfully yours, etc.,
ARTEMAS BARNES.
RESOLUTIONS IN MEMORIAM.
The following resolutions in memory of Mr. Artemas Barnes were passed by the town March 5, 1877, presented by Rev. W. A. Houghton :
That we, the legal voters of the town of Berlin, in town meeting assembled, in the death of our late fellow citizen, Artemas Barnes, mourn the loss of a friend and benefactor of the town, who repeatedly manifested his interest in the town of his nativity, even after his removal from our midst, not only by his timely benefactions in years gone by, but by his more recent gifts of highly wrought statues in marble, erected in the old cemetery in memory of the first minister of the town and of the first citizen of Berlin, who died for the liberty and inde- pendence of our country in the Revolutionary war.
Resolved, That while we gratefully accept these testimonials of his good will to the town, we promise to preserve them as sacred mementoes of his high regard for religion, education and patriotism, principles momentous in value, of which we would deeply impress on those that come after us by a fre-
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
quent recurrence to the representation and delineation of those sterling virtues as personified in the speaking marble, made such by the highest art of sculpture.
DIVISION OF WORCESTER COUNTY, 1874.
November 3. The town at this time, as they had on all former occasions, voted unanimously against the proposition for the division of Worcester county, making Fitchburg the shire town of the new county. Berlin was to remain in the old county, it is true, but then taxes may have been increased, so thought the people.
THE MAYNARD LAWSUIT, 1875.
The only lawsuit the town has had of any account since the celebrated Timothy Brooks Wheeler case, grew out of an accident to George Henry Maynard at West Berlin, where the Mass. Central R. R. Co. were putting in an abutment to the great bridge. By advice of counsel, the matter after one trial was compromised in 1875 with Maynard at a cost of SI,490. In 1881 the town sued the railroad com- pany, which was the party in fault, and finally recover- ed in 1887 of the corporation, after paying all expenses, the sum of nearly $1,900. William Bassett, agent for the town; Hon. George F. Hoar, attorney.
FIRE-PROOF SAFES.
The first safe was bought in 1850; cost, $106.29; the second one in 1873; cost, $375; freight, $16.75 ; total, $391.75.
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HISTORY OF THE
GATES' POND LEASED, 1875.
At the April meeting, 1875, the town granted the petition of E. H. Hartshorn and others for the lease of Gates' pond for a term of fifteen years for the "culti- vation of fish." The company organized for the purpose and stocked the pond with "black bass." The sequel of the enterprise has shown that the adventure was not a paying investment.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 4TH OF JULY, 1876.
June 27. The town appropriated $200 for the Centennial celebration of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. The day was appropriately observed by speeches, fireworks and illuminations.
TRAMP HOUSE.
The small brick building in the town pound was built in 1877 especially for the accommodation of tramps. The influx of these was so great during the great depression as to demand additional quarters ; Building Committee: D. H. Carter, Jonas Sawyer and Ruthven Hastings.
DECORATION DAY, 1878.
At the annual meeting March 4 it was voted to pass over the article concerning decoration services. At the adjournment of this meeting March 12, the town passed the following resolution :
Whereas, it is befitting a people to remember with grati- tude the services of those who have been public benefactors and made great sacrifices for the good of the country ; there- fore
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
Resolved, That we, as citizens of the town of Berlin, will observe the coming Memorial day in a way befitting the occa- sion.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The town at the adjournment of the annual meet- ing, 1878, respectfully invited all town officers to re- duce their pay for services, in consequence of the hard times, as appears by the following action :
Whereas, in consequence of the depression of business in the country generally and the consequent low price of labor and the industrial products thereof in our town, it is incum- ยท bent on us to husband our resources that we may pay our debts and taxes ; therefore
Resolved, That we, the inhabitants of the town of Berlin, in town meeting assembled, believing the policy of civil service reform should be applied indiscriminately to all arms of the service, from the general government down to the lowest pre- cinct, therefore we would respectfully invite all town officers, of whatever grade or kind, for the year ensuing to reduce the pay for their services at least one-fifth from last year's prices.
YELLOW DAY, 1881.
The 7th day of September, 1881, is remembered as presenting a strange phenomenon in nature. The atmosphere was changed to a yellow hue, and all objects assumed an unnatural color. This continued nearly all day. Some thought the world was coming to an end. Saloon keepers in some places refused to minister to their customers, fearing the day of judg- ment was at hand. The phenomenon is supposed to have been caused by the smoke of western fires.
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HISTORY OF THE
THE POWDER HOUSE, 1882.
The old powder house on the hill back of the Town Hall, built 1814 for the safe storage of ammunition, was given to the town with the land adjoining by deed from Rev. W. A. Houghton, for which gener- ous gift the town, May 4, 1882, voted that a vote of thanks be extended to him for his timely and liberal gift.
THE TOWN CLOCK, 1882.
March 7. The clock on the steeple of the Orthodox Church was donated to the town by the will of Mrs. Lydia H. Peters for the use of the inhabitants of the town, and was accepted by the town as a memorial of her late brothers, William A. and Solomon H. Howe.
FIRE APPARATUS, 1883.
In consequence of the numerous fires which had occurred in the middle of the town about this time, the town resolved to procure some apparatus to as- sist in the extinguishment of fires, and instructed the Selectmen to purchase hooks, ladders, buckets, and carriage for transporting the same, in case of fire, but neglected to provide any supply of water, except two old mud holes, of no practical use whatever in a. dry time, when fires are quite likely to occur.
STREET LAMPS, 1883.
Voted to have three in the Centre.
THE TOWN'S CENTENNIAL, 1884.
At the annual town meeting of this year the town voted to celebrate its centennial, and chose Rev. W.
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
A. Houghton, William Bassett. Josiah E. Sawyer, A. A. Bartlett and P. B. Southwick a committee to have entire charge of the matter. At a meeting, August 13. chose in addition to the above commit- tee: Albert Babcock, Horace Bigelow, William W. Wheeler, Chandler Carter, Silas Sawyer, Samuel Wheeler, John D. Merrill, Anthony S. Starkey, E. S. Sawtelle and Winsor Maynard. Voted that the committee do not exceed in expense the sum of $100.
The day of the celebration, September 10, was a very warm day, and the meeting was held out of doors. Rev. W. A. Houghton delivered the address. Ex-Gov. George S. Boutwell, who was our delegate in 1853 to the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution, was present and spoke on topics perti- nent to the occasion. Rev. A. P. Marvin and others from adjoining towns and former residents of the town participated in the festivities of the occasion. As the subject matter of the address may mostly be found in different parts of this work, a repetition of the same would be superfluous here.
BERLIN GRANGE-PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY, 1886.
After several weeks of earnest labor, Dr. Ahaz Bassett, late of Hudson, secured the names of forty- two who agreed to become the charter members of Berlin Grange, No. 134, P. of H. The same was organized on May 11, 1886, by Arthur A. Brigham of Marlboro, with Samuel Wheeler, master; P. B. Southwick, overseer, and H. A. Wheeler, lecturer.
The master's chair has been occupied by Samuel Wheeler, C. D. Eager, H. A. Wheeler, F. H. Cross- man and Walter Cartwright. H. A. Wheeler, Mrs.
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HISTORY OF THE
Addison Keyes, Mrs. L. B. Wheeler, Mrs. S. C. Chamberlain, Miss Lilla Newsome and Mrs. H. A. Wheeler have served as lecturers, while the secretary's post, "the most arduous of all," has been filled by Mrs. Addison Keyes, Miss A. O. Boyce, Mrs. S. C. Chamberlain, P. B. Southwick, Mrs. E. Coulson and Mrs. L. W. Brewer.
The Grange holds semi-monthly meetings on the first and third Wednesdays, which are well attended. Whole number of members January 1, 1895, 145.
STONE WATERING TROUGH, 1887.
March 7. Voted thanks to Mr. Joel Proctor of Bol- ton for the gift of a stone watering trough at the west part.
THE CHANDLER CARTER DONATION, 1887.
April 9. A special town meeting was called April 9 to take action in relation to the donation made by Chandler Carter to the town of $20,000, which was the amount due the state of Massachusetts on a loan made to pay for the town's stock in the Massachu- setts Central Railroad. The town gratefully accepted the gift by a unanimous vote, and expressed a wish that a portrait of Mr. Carter might be obtained and placed on the walls of the Town Hall by the side of that of Artemas Barnes. Mr. Carter arose in town meeting and said their desire should be gratified, as he had an oil painting of himself recently made, which he was ready to present to the town. The Selectmen were authorized to receive the portrait, and the following Tuesday was fixed upon for the public reception at the Town Hall, when the gift
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
would be presented and the picture be placed on the walls of the hall. A committee, consisting of Wil- liam Bassett, W. A. Houghton and P. B. Southwick, were chosen to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiment of the town as follows, passed unani- mously:
Resolved, That we, the inhabitants of the town of Berlin, in town meeting assembled, with grateful hearts accept the liberal donation of $20,000 presented to the town by our generous townsman, Chandler Carter, and that his name shall ever be kept in perpetual remembrance as a benefactor of the town.
Resolved, That the best token of regard we can ever hereaf- ter manifest for his memory is so to conduct the business of the town as to be clear of debt, the burden of which is now lightened by his generosity.
Resolved, That we tender our sincere thanks to our most worthy fellow-citizen for the presentation he has this day made to the town, of his excellent portrait recently painted, and that the same be hung on the walls of this hall as a reminder to the town in the transaction of its business, ever to be prudent and careful that no burdensome debt ever hereafter be con- tracted, however plausible the pretext.
Resolved, That we recommend that a public reception be tendered to Mr. Carter for his beneficence, and that the ar- rangement of the time and place and proceedings be left with the Selectmen.
Resolved, That these resolutions be entered on the records of the town, and be published in the local papers, and a copy of them be sent to the donor.
RECEPTION GIVEN TO CHANDLER CARTER, 1887.
April 12. The town having at the meeting of April 9 accepted the gift of Mr. Carter, resolved that
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HISTORY OF THE
a public reception should be given to the town's benefactor on delivery of the donation, and the even- ing of Tuesday, April 12, at the Town Hall, was fixed upon as the time and place for the occasion, and at the same time his portrait was to be hung on the walls of the hall. This was a memorable occa- sion, never to be forgotten by those who participated in the exercises. Our space does not permit of more than a brief epitome of the exercises, but a full report may be found in the Berlin Enterprise of April 16, 1887, from which we make some extracts. The meeting was called to order by Mr. J. D. Tyler, who acted as master of ceremonies. After making some opening remarks he called on Rev. W. A. Houghton to offer prayer. "Following this was a song by the Choral Union, led by Mr. Sawyer." "To E. F. John- son, Esq., of Marlboro, attorney for Mr. Carter, was as- signed the pleasant duty of presenting to the town the gift of $20,000, which he did in his usual graceful and dignified manner." "F. A. Woodward, chairman of the Selectmen, accepted the gift with few and well chosen words, thanking the giver for his noble gen. erosity." "Rev. W. A. Houghton was then intro- duced to the company and occupied the close atten- tion of the audience while he made the speech of the evening." "To James T. Joslin, Esq., of Hudson, was delegated the duty of presenting to the town the life-size oil painting of Mr. Carter, which was hung over the platform and covered with white drapery, and which at the conclusion was unveiled to the audience, who received it with prolonged ap- plause." Following this presentation, Mr. Joslin addressed the citizens of Berlin with some very in-
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
teresting remarks specially pertinent to the occasion.
In behalf of the town William Bassett in response said: Be assured, Mr. Chairman, that this portrait will ever be preserved with reverence and respect for the original through all generations to the latest posterity so far as within us lies, and that we are most thankful for this valuable gift. After singing by the Choral Union, the following poem, by Miss P. A. Holder, was read by Mr. Joslin :
BERLIN'S RESPONSE
FOR THE GENEROUS GIFT OF HER SON, CHANDLER CARTER.
Well hast thou chosen-wisely- To see thy good bestowed,- Thine own right hand to scatter Its blessings on life's road.
The aureole of silver, Years to thy head have brought, Is tinged with golden lustre, This golden deed hath wrought.
We'll write thy name in brightness As with a golden pen, Beside the good Ben Adham's, Who "loved his fellowmen."
The soul that gives is blessed, The life made sweet and bright, --- Bearing the loads of others, Makes our own burdens light.
The Town accepts with gladness, This timely, generous gift, Freed from the long borne burden, Thy hand doth kindly lift.
Onward we go, rejoicing, Where thou hast safely led, Praying that dews of blessing, May fall upon thy head.
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And may the richest portion- The giver's-be thine own, Return in largest measure, With joy thy life to crown.
Berlin-thy childhood's cradle, Receives thy manhood's gifts, And for the princely offering, Her head, rejoicing, lifts.
She'll keep within her annals, Upon her roll of fame, Another Son remembered, Another honored name.
The Son in filial homage, The Mother comes to greet, To bring his manhood's tribute, And lay it at her feet.
As Berlin takes the largess From hand of generous Son, She breathes her benediction, With pride she says, " Well done."
And so we twine with gladness, This laurel in thy crown, Glad in the light and blessing With which thy sun goes down.
"Frank H. Pope of the Boston Globe was next in- troduced, and, after a few preliminary remarks, pro- ceeded to render a recitation in his own inimitable and thrilling style, the character of which visibly affected the audience." The remaining portion of the time was taken up in brief remarks by citizens and invited guests. "The collation in the hall be- low, which followed the exercises, did great credit to those having this important part of the programme in charge, the tables being clegantly and beautifully laid."
TOWN OF BERLIN. 209
Thus closed the exercises commemorative of an event the most important perhaps in the history of the town.
ORGAN OR PIANO, 1888.
March 5. The Selectmen instructed to purchase an organ or piano to be used in the Town Hall.
PRESENTATION OF REV. WILLIAM A. HOUGHTON'S PORTRAIT.
November 28, 1890. At a meeting held at this date, a committee chosen at a former meeting for the purpose of procuring a portrait of the Rev. William A. Houghton, reported that they had attended to the duty assigned them and were ready to deliver the picture. The report was signed by William Bassett, E. C. Shattuck and P. B. Southwick. Voted "to ac- cept the report and that they be requested to present the picture. Mr. Bassett, the chairman of the com- mittee, in a few well-chosen words presented the portrait, and Lewis L. Carter of the Board of Select- men accepted the same in behalf of the town." "Listened to a response from Mr. Houghton, after which listened to music from the Berlin Brass Band." Miss Clara Shattuck read the following poem by Miss P. A. Holder :
POEM. REV. WILLIAM A. HOUGHTON.
READ AT THE MEETING FOR PRESENTATION OF HIS PICTURE TO THE TOWN OF BERLIN, NOV. 28, 1890.
'Tis meet within the afterglow Of glad Thanksgiving time, To sing an added song of joy, And "build the lofty rhyme,"
15
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For one whose true, sweet life has been A joy to crown our days, And waken in our loving hearts A canticle of praise.
So now we sing Doxology, Our grateful thoughts in metre, For this glad eventide, to make Thanksgiving joy still sweeter. We joy in all the well-spent years, For duty nobly done, For earnest work, for sterling worth, Gold in thy manhood's crown.
The record of the useful life O'er which we love to look, Is like one of the grand amens From out the Holy Book. The Town upon her walls will keep The picture of her Son,
Feeling an honor in the name, Thy pure, good life has won.
Living epistles of all time Are Calebs ever young; Still helpful to their fellowmen, The life a "grand, sweet song." We thank Thee, Father, for the gift Of such a life to earth, A life of loving ministry, That shows Thy glory forth.
A grateful Town here gives to thee The homage of the heart, Praying that when the day shall come Which calls thee to depart, On all the people still may rest, Descending from above, In double portion, peaceful, pure, The spirit of thy love.
May the rich gifts of Love Divine, Drop in their fullness down, And useful days of peace and joy The added years still crown;
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
The onward way still sweeter grow With sunset gold made bright, The Master's presence guide thy steps, Into the world of light.
After the poem came the following resolutions, presented by William Bassett:
Resolved, That the inhabitants of the town of Berlin, in town meeting assembled, tender to the Rev. William A. Houghton our most sincere thanks for the excellent life-like portrait he has this day presented to the town.
Resolved, That we will guard with watchful care this por- trait, to preserve it from desecration, that it may ever hang on these walls a lasting reminder of one who, by both pre- cept and example, has been a promoter of the highest inter- ests of our citizens and an honor to the town.
Resolved, That this portrait completes the trio-the three the town has especially delighted to honor,-all natives of the town, and all of them important contributors to its welfare and prosperity.
On motion of Charles M. Sawyer the resolutions were unanimously adopted and entered upon the records of the town.
HEALTH, LONGEVITY AND ETHICS OF THE TOWN.
The sanitary condition of the town is worthy of special note. The town nas never been visited with epidemic or contagious diseases to any great extent, which fact is due, no doubt, to its excellent drainage and the purity of its waters. It has no pestilential swamps within its borders breeding malaria and typhus. The healthiness of the town is indicated by the fact that doctors have never found this an in- viting and remunerative field, and have finally aban-
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