USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Berlin > History of the town of Berlin, Worcester county, Mass., from 1784 to 1895 > Part 6
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In 1843 the road from Calvin Smith's (Newsome's) to Northboro line, was laid out, diverting the travel from the old road by the Hal. Bailey place.
In 1851 the road from West Berlin to Clinton was completed.
In 1852 the road from Oliver Fosgate's to New Worcester was made, and extended to the depot in 1868.
In 1853 the road from South Berlin, by Wheeler's mills, was built.
In 1868-9 the straight road from the south part, and also the Jones road (so called), both leading to the depot, were made.
In 1869 the Barnes' hill road was laid out from the bridge to near L. Bruce's.
In 1871 the way west of Carterville to the hotel was built by the Massachusetts Central Railroad Company, in place of the old road north of the rail- road ; also, at same time, the railroad company built a road extending west of the hotel to the Rand place, including a part of the old county road.
In 1881 the straight road on the south side of the railroad, extending from the hotel to the Rand place, was built by the railroad company. This was made to avoid two crossings of the railroad. The road from L. W. Brewer's to M. R. Tyler's was built 1885 ..
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
We have thirty-nine miles and forty-seven rods of roads in town, with an annual appropriation of about $1,000 for repairs. No other roads are apparently needed for many years to come, unless some electric road courses our streets, necessitating a change of location at certain points.
BRIDGES.
The iron bridge over the Assabet, east of the Aaron Morse place, was built 1888.
Of those over North brook three are of stone, the rest are plank.
HOUSE FOR THE POOR.
In 1802 the town bought of Samuel Spofford a small one-story house and about one-half acre of land "for the accommodation of poor persons." This was the only house at the time in Carterville. The town sold it in 1825 to Joel Gage, a tanner. Later the house was remodeled and enlarged by Samuel M. Fuller. This house was on land originally of An- drew McElwain. Moses Goddard and others lived there awhile, previously.
THE TOWN FARM.
The farm formerly known as the Meriam farm, later called the Ellis place, was bought by the town in 1855 at auction. The same was sold by the town, in lots, 1857, reserving about six acres for a new cemetery. This was sold later, as the ground was found to be too wet for burial purposes. Cost of farm April 1, 1855, $3,605; sold April 1, 1857, for $5,025.31 : 6. acres unsold; leaving a surplus of $1,203.50, plus 6 acres, after paying interest, taxes, etc.
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HISTORY OF THE
ROAD BOUNDS, 1850.
The bounds of the roads throughout the town were renewed this year. The survey was made by Levi Bigelow, Jr., Esq., who lived at the time on the Elisha Bassett farm.
1852.
Hon. Henry Wilson of Natick was chosen by this town a delegate to the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of this state. He resigned, and Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell was chosen in his stead, May 27, 1853.
RAILROADS, AGRICULTURAL BRANCH, 1868.
The first railroad to penetrate the town was the Agricultural Branch, which began running its regu- lar passenger cars July 2, 1866. This road had run up to Northboro for seven years, but was extended to Pratt's Junction at this time. The depot at the west part was then established and Silas R. Carter had charge of the same. This corporation was merged into the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Rail- road Company, and after other changes passed into the hands of the Old Colony Railroad Company, and now is controlled by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Company.
The central station on this road was located at the Captain Paul Brigham place, 1868. There was con- siderable contention between the Centre and south part in relation to the location of this depot. The Centre contended for the corner near Martin Flagg's, while the south part were in favor of the Brigham
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place. The latter was finally selected as the better point for the accommodation of both villages and all the people.
MASSACHUSETTS CENTRAL.
About two years after the completion of the Agri- cultural Branch road, 1866, the subject of building the Massachusetts Central railroad was agitated and discussed here in town with much earnestness and enthusiasm. Although the town was quite well ac- commodated with railroad facilities, having one rail- road running through the town north and south, and of easy access also to the Fitchburg road by the old stage line to Hudson, yet many thought that the in- crease of railroads would necessitate an increase of business and prosperity to the town, hence the sub- ject matter was early brought before the town, and at the November meeting, 1868, "it was voted that the Selectmen be a committee on the part of the town to petition the General Court in behalf of this town in aid of the petition of Edward Denny and others," who were the original petitioners for this road. Subsequently the town was asked to take stock in the road to the amount of five per cent. of its valuation, the limit fixed by law, and at a meet- ing held November 27, 1869, they voted to subscribe for 200 shares of stock, amounting to $20,000. The vote for taking the stock stood: Yeas 37, nays 22. This road in the beginning met with various re- verses, failed before completion, went into the hands of a receiver, was reorganized in new charter as the Central Massachusetts Railroad Company, was sub- sequently leased to the Lowell Railroad Company,
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and now is operated by the Boston & Maine and is apparently doing a thriving business, and may be re- garded as one of the trunk lines out of Boston. It began running passenger trains December 19, 1881.
STAGE COACH AND POST OFFICES, 1828.
An era in Berlin was the establishment of a stage line from Barre to Boston and a Berlin post office. Up to 1826 Berlin letters came to Bolton, newspa- pers came by the market man from Boston or post rider from Worcester once a week. In the War of 1812-15 and the days of Napoleon, our market man, Hugh Bruce, would bring the weekly paper of "Esquire Howe," and many a farmer and cooper would gather to hear the news. The newspaper was opened first of all and often read aloud on the spot. In every country store were adjusted on the sides and on the posts tape lines nailed up for posting letters. There they waited for some passer-by to take them along. For Worcester a man from Berlin going to Northboro would take it so far. It was then on the "great road" and would soon reach its destination. Every store and bar-room became a distributing post office. Why, there was no post office system, even in England, when our fathers came over! Lancaster had none till Berlin was eleven years old. Levi Pease of Shrewsbury, a mile this side of the town between the Ward and Wyman mansions, started the first stage in America. It ran between Boston, Worcester, Hartford and New York, carrying the mail. Pease soon operated as mail distributer throughout New England. He died 1824. In 1794
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the boys and some fathers went several miles to see the first four-horse stage go down from Worcester to Boston on the great road through Shrewsbury, Northboro and on. So here the excitement was considerable when "'Squire Meriam," a leading force here, with Colonel Pope and George E. Manson of Feltonville, started our Berlin stage. It broke Mer- iam down financially; all suffered loss, but a great public good was effected. We got a post office May 2, 1828 : so did Feltonville. J. D. Meriam was post- master here; practically William A. Howe. Then letter postage was 64, 122, 182 and 25 cents. All letters to one town or city were done up in one pack- age. Each single letter to any one town was also done up by itself, with the schedule "paid" or "un- paid ;" this must be registered before sending, and every letter received must be entered in like manner. It was mine to serve as substitute postmaster at times, so I know somewhat. This stage line subsided in 1837 to three trips a week between Berlin and Bos- ton, under charge of Amos Sawyer, Jr. In 1849 Mr. Sawyer began express on the Fitchburg railroad, via South Acton, six times a week. He had succeeded Merrick Houghton as Berlin market man, who had succeeded Hugh Bruce, the first. In all, up to 1865, at his death, Mr. Sawyer had compassed an amount in miles that would have carried him ten times around the globe. John G. Peters was the successor of Mr. Sawyer in the express business, and lastly Warren Howe continued to run the old Berlin coach till February, 1894. The following lines, composed by Phebe A. Holder, are a fit conclusion to the end of the running of that familiar old coach :--
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THE BERLIN COACH.
"Alas, but it can live again only in memory ! Alas, for the days that are gone !" The shades of night were falling fast, As through the streets of Berlin passed A youth who drove through snow and ice, The Coach with the old-time device, The old Stage Coach.
His brow is sad, no sunny glow
Lights up the well-known features now, And like a bell in tolling rung All dismally from faltering tongue. "The last old Coach."
In happy homes, he'd seen the lights Of household fires gleam warm and bright. Above, through clouds the dimmer moon shone, And from his lips escaped a groan. "Good bye, old Coach."
Some traveler's unknowing haste To take the Coach, no time to waste. No Coach, no driver, horses none, Their ancient occupation gone, With old Stage Coach.
"Seek now some other way," he cried, "No more with me in stage you ride." That was the driver's last good night, As he departed from our sight, With good old Coach.
"Its course is run, its errand done." No more we hear at set of sun The rattling wheels, through life we've heard, That have with joy my child heart stirred, The old Stage Coach.
No more with baggage loaded down, The passengers haste to our town. No more the children in the street Run for a ride, with nimble feet, On old Stage Coach.
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
"In summer's heat and winter's cold," The old Stage Coach would we behold, True as the sun along its way At early morn and twilight grey, The faithful Coach.
And O what joy our hearts would fill; E'en now I feel the old-time thrill, When at our door the Coach would stop,
A looked-for friend with us to drop. The good old Coach !
Such chill oppressive in the air, Such sense of goneness everywhere; Like loss of friend, like funeral day, The passing of the Coach away, The dear old Coach.
Thus all things change, thus pass the old, New times our wondering eyes behold; But still amid the changes wrought, \'e give to the regretful thought, O dear old Coach !
And as the days still onward glide, And in electric cars we ride, We'll keep, old Stage Coach, true to thee, A place in tender memory, Dear Berlin Coach !
PHEBE A. HOLDER.
Berlin, February 3, 1894, last trip.
The post office at West Berlin was established soon after the opening of the Boston, Clinton & Fitchburg railroad (Old Colony) May 13, 1868. Silas R. Carter was appointed postmaster, and still holds the position.
The post office at South Berlin was established March 3, 1891, and Charles B. Maynard was ap- pointed postmaster. He was succeeded by H. Er- nest Lasselle, April 21, 1891, who still holds the position.
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HISTORY OF THE
LIST OF POSTMASTERS AT THE CENTRE.
Jonathan D. Meriam, May 2, 1828.
William A. Howe, February JI, 1831.
James E. Woods, February 27, 1839. Haman Hunt, June 4, 1839.
Dexter B. Saunders, October 24, 1844.
Joel Bullard, November 4, 1846.
Rufus S. Hastings, November 22, 1848.
Amory A. Bartlett, May 25, 1874. Ezra S. Moore, June 6, 1881. Christopher White, March 6, 1891.
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
Farming ever has been the leading industry of the town, but since the advent of railroads into the town, more attention has been paid to horticulture and mixed farming. The nearness of large manufactur- ing villages in the vicinity has stimulated truck farming to a considerable extent. Formerly the hop culture was the leading cash product of the farm. This continued to pay quite well from 1800 to 1820. In one year about 6,000 pounds were raised, but times changed and the good times of hop pickers came to grief. Among the "bubbles" which burst in Berlin was the morus multicaulis speculation about 1840-5. This was the raising a kind of mul- berry tree for feeding silk worms. Agriculture here took a new departure about 1855 : a farmers' club was formed, discussions held, essays read, fairs insti- tuted, new methods adopted, and the result was that earlier and lighter products were raised. Milk mak- ing for the Boston market has been a leading busi- ness since 1866, when the first railroad came into
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
town. Of late a number have engaged in hot-house culture for raising early vegetables and flowers, car- nation pinks taking the lead. Willis Rice was the first to introduce this industry. The south part of the town is largely engaged in raising asparagus; considerable income is derived from this product. Berlin is said to be second only to Concord in the amount raised of this vegetable in the state. Lewis B. Wheeler and some others make a specialty of raising bulbous roots (gladiolus) for the New York and other markets. Grape culture was profitable a few years ago, but now the business has gone up on account of the low price of western fruit in our mar- kets. The same is true of other products formerly remunerative, now driven to the wall by western competition, notably beef and pork, and hence farm- ers have to adapt themselves to new conditions and raise more small fruits, etc., which will not bear long transportation. The town stands fairly well in com- parison with the early times in the amount of prod- ucts raised. In 1792 the number of families was less than 100. There were 350 acres tilled, thirty yoke of oxen, 100 cows and 4,500 pounds of pork raised. As given in to the Assessors, Samuel Brig- ham had twelve tons of hay on twelve acres of fresh meadow, Stephen Bailey had twelve tons on eight- een acres, Joel Fosgate ten on ten acres, David Tay- lor had sixteen tons on eighteen acres, Nathan John- son had sixteen on twenty, Silas Bailey had twenty on twenty. At this early date and for fifty years af- ter, the farmers raised nearly all the grain they con- sumed, fed none to their stock except to beef cattle, used some for fattening pork and the bulk for the
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HISTORY OF THE
household. No tuberculosis then. How now? Most of the farmers at first marketed their own products, but later marketmen came around and gathered up the surplus, which consisted of beef, pork, veal, poul- try, eggs and butter. The returns from these kept the frugal farmer in a thriving condition. If his in- come was small, his outgoes were likewise so.
There are in town about half a dozen silos. The owners claim that it is a paying investment, and that the corn ensilage fed to milch cows has produced desirable results.
SHOE SHOPS.
THE BIG PARKER SHOE SHOP.
On the site of the Methodist Church once stood the large shoe shop, the pride of the town in the manufac- turing industries. The building was built by a com- pany of the citizens of the town in 1868. The di- mensions were 30 x 100 feet, four stories. It was oc- cupied first by Bickford, Klenart & Co., later by Charles F. Parker & Co., and finally by John H. Parker. The shop was burned February 18, 1882. Loss (shop and machinery), $20,000.
THE PRESENT PARKER SHOE SHOP.
This is the shop on the Clinton road, owned by John H. Parker, and was originally Dr. Hartshorn's laboratory, moved to this spot and enlarged.
Mr. Parker is doing a brisk business in shoes, boots, Arctic socks, etc. The principal line of work is putting leather soles to rubber boots, for which he owns the patent and has the exclusive right to man-
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PRESENT PARKER SHOE SHOP.
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
ufacture. These boots are shipped to all parts of the United States, including Alaska; also largely to Europe.
OTHER SHOE MANUFACTURERS.
Previous to the building of the large shoe shop, there had been a number of others for the manufac- ture of boots and shoes and numerous others scat- tered in various parts of the town for the bottoming of shoes. Among the manufacturers we note the fol- lowing :
Grassie & Hartshorn manufactured boots about 1850-55.
Elisha T. Wheeler made shoes in a shop near his. house (the Otterson place) 1850-60.
Dea. George W. Sawyer and Silas Houghton manufactured children's shoes in the building now Isaac Holbrook's house, about 1850.
Eli Sawyer. Jr., and William T. Babcock, 2d, manufactured shoes in the present John H. Parker shop, 1874.
CUSTOM SHOEMAKERS.
Stephen S. Southwick, Josiah Barnard, Oliver Barnard, Silas Fairbanks were custom shoemakers. Amory A. Bartlett manufactured shoes in the Acad- emy building, 1862-67.
Maynard & Whitney did quite an extensive busi- ness in the manufacture of shoes in the south part, 1855-60.
E. C. Shattuck manufactured shoes in the shop connected with his house, 1855-1865.
George Henry Maynard erected a shop of respect- able dimensions near his former residence and car-
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ried on the business of making shoes for a short time, about 1860-70.
Brigham & Stone were engaged in manufacturing shoes in Carterville about 1858.
Lewis H. Barnard was a manufacturer of shoes in Carterville. He bought out James N. Fry of Bol- ton about 1840. Shop was over John Merrill's store.
Pliny B. Southwick and Josiah Moore bought out L. H. Barnard, 1848, and continued the business till 1852.
BOTTOMERS.
Previous to the war and before the large estab- lishments were erected, the town was dotted with small shops for bottoming, nearly every other house having one. Only the larger and more important will be noted.
Israel Sawyer did an extensive business in this line in the shop now standing on the old place.
Henry H. Bliss employed a number of hands.
Captain A. A. Powers had a shop in Carterville.
Jonathan F. Wheeler was in the business for awhile.
Lyman Morse had a shop, in which he did a large business till the time of his death.
Edwin Sawyer had a shop near his house.
James M. Hastings has a shop, in which he has worked till recently.
The Cartwright brothers (Thomas and N. H.) have been in the business many years. N. H. is still in.
Marcus M. Goddard, one of the older and more continuous ones for thirty years or more, is still peg- ging away.
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
Edward P. Hastings is now and has been for many years the largest operator in this line of any in town; has a large number of hands and uses water power at the South Part mills.
Henry D. Coburn was a shoe bottomer 1840 to 1860.
John A. Merrill had a shop in Carterville 1856 and another 1864. Employed from ten to fifteen hands.
Silas R. Carter had a shop (the present West Part depot) about 1860-65.
BLACKSMITHS.
In the early time there were numerous black- smiths in various parts of the town. The first of these we have any account of was Joseph Priest, Sr., who settled on the, old place now owned by Rufus R. Wheeler. 1733. The next in point of time was Samuel Rice, son of David, who had a shop in the middle of the town on the spot where A. A. Bart- lett's house now stands; was probably there about 1750. He sold to James Goddard 1778. Silas Moss- man was there 1813, Nathaniel Wilder 1818, and finally Joel Bullard continued in occupancy from about 1831 to 1850. Amos Meriam was a black- smith where Richard Wheeler lives, 1765. Formerly there was a blacksmith shop on the Dea. Job Spof- ford ·place. David Taylor lived with his brother-in- law, Spofford, at the time, 1780 to 1795, and both may have worked at the business. In the north part Marmaduke Southwick had a shop on the David Southwick farm. Daniel Wheeler had a shop near his house. Formerly there was a shop in the west part. It stood near the railroad crossing by the
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HISTORY OF THE
bridge, and was occupied successively by Simeon Bowman, Daniel Holbrook, Riley Smith.
A blacksmith shop once stood near the present residence of Rufus R. Wheeler. In 1788 Cotton Newton lived on the place, later Simeon Bowman about 1800, and still later John Wallis about 1830.
Riley Smith, after working a short time in the shop at the west part, removed to Carterville about 1845. Here he continued until 1875 and was suc- ceeded by Samuel M. Haynes in ownership. Haynes, not being a smith, hired men to do the work. The shop was burned. In 1883 it was rebuilt, and since has been let to various parties. The present occupant is John H. Keating, a man well esteemed and a good workman.
Tilson W. Barker had a blacksmith shop in the south part, near John Q. Maynard's house, 1850. In 1867 it was burned.
The shop on the Dea. Peters place was built by William A. Howe.
Theodore Guertin built his shop on the road to the Old Colony depot in 1877.
COOPERS.
In the early time this was an inviting field for coopers. The abundant supply of oak and chestnut here afforded abundant material for barrels and casks for the Boston market, and shops for the mak- ing of these were once nearly as numerous as in later times were the shoe shops. We find the craft named among the Bruces, Bigelows, Houghtons, Pollards, Sawyers, and many others. It was no mean trade; it took a good mechanic to make a good barrel. Hor- ace Bigelow was the last of the race.
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
CARPENTERS.
Peter Larkin, Luther Priest, Amory Sawyer, Ed- ward Johnson, Curtis Carter, Silas Sawyer, Hartwell Sawyer, Josiah E. Sawyer, Abram Babcock, A. W. Longley, Amory Carter, Daniel H. Carter, Thomas Pollard, Amory Pollard, Addison Keyes, Eli Sawyer, Jr .. Jabez Goddard, Willard M. Wheeler, D. P. Hart- well. E. C. Shattuck, William G. Hapgood, John Hapgood. Levi Babcock, Francis Babcock, Ebenezer Dailey.
MILLS AND MILL OWNERS.
The first mill built in town was the saw-mill of Philip Larkin, built on the brook west of George H. Barnes, about 1735. Parts of the old dam still re- main.
The mills at the south part were built by William Goddard, the ancestor of the Berlin Goddards, about 1760. This was the most expensive mill in town, on account of the long dam.
The first mill at the west part was built by John Butler 1750. He sold to John Pollard about 1756. It stood some rods above the railroad bridge. Was later rebuilt below the bridge, the present site, by Aaron Pollard. The upper mill was built by Thomas Pollard for his son Stephen. He lived on the Moran place.
Some small shops built at various times in differ- ent parts have disappeared, namely, the Conant shop for the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds, which stood on the Coburn brook, below the road to the west part.
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Amory Carter had a shop for like purpose on the brook below Algernon Cartwright's. Peregrine Wheeler had a shingle mill on the outlet to Gates' pond, just north of Elias Wheeler's, as also on the same stream Amory Sawyer on the present Nathan- iel Wheeler place had a shop for the making of sash and blinds.
Amos Meriam had a grist-mill just south of his house (Richard Wheeler's). John Wheeler had some mills partly. completed at New Worcester (so- called) about 1850.
MILLWRIGHTS.
Josiah Conant and his son Benjamin F. were both excellent millwrights, and had a shop on the Coburn brook. The same is now M. Burke's barn. Willard M. Wheeler is another good millwright and inventor of water wheels.
WHEEL WRIGHTS.
Ziba Keyes was a thorough workman at the craft, and had a shop at the west part. The building now is near the town pound. His sons, Henry F. and John G. Keyes, now of Clinton, had formerly a shop on the Clinton road, near the present Parker shoe shop. Lewis J. Jewett was a maker of vehicles in Carter- ville, 1860-70.
MASONS.
Josiah Wilson was probably the first in town, 1752-70. Later Luther Carter worked at the trade; was the inventor of plastered houses on the outside. Thomas Pollard and Amory Carter worked at the
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TOWN OF BERLIN.
business occasionally. At the present time we have Alonzo F. Green and Adin B. Allen.
WIRE DRAWING.
This industry was carried on by Caleb Houghton and Joel Dakin in the northwest part of the town about 1810. The shop was on the brook back of Houghton's house.
TANNING .*
Just west of Carterville was once a tannery of moderate dimensions.
POTASH.
Samuel Jones, Jr., had a potash kiln in 1795 on the lower corner of the Hudson and Northboro roads.
COMB MAKING.
John Wheeler manufactured combs on the present Thomas Berry place. The first shop was burned about 1828. He built another, which finally was moved and converted into a house for Mrs. Melissa Merrill.
WOOL CARDING.
This industry was carried on by Stephen Shepherd at the upper mill at the west part about 1830.
PATENT MEDICINE AND EXTRACTS.
Dr. E. Hartshorn established the business here about 1855. Removed the business to Boston 1872, where it is still carried on by his son, William H.
HAT MANUFACTORY.
Tyler & Martin made hat bodies at upper mill, west part, 1834.
*This tannery appears to have been built and occupied early in the century by Aaron Barnes. He was succeeded in 1824 by Daniel and John Gage, brothers, and they by Rockwood & Brightman, 1830, and later Reuben Gates and some others were engaged in the business. The leather was of hemlock and oak tannage, and was largely for the retail trade. A little pond is indicated by the part of the dam still remaining above the works.
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