USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > History of the town of Douglas, (Massachusetts,) from the earliest period to the close of 1878 > Part 20
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287
INCIDENTS.
ple's father then kept the hotel in Douglas. He was asked by the Marquis if he could let him have two fresh horses in exchange for his tired Bayards.
" I have but one suitable for your Excellency," said Jonathan Whipple ; " but our minister (we think it was Rev. Mr. Day) has a good horse. I will borrow that." And the minister's and land- lord's horses were hitched together, and bore the gallant Marquis to the " land of steady habits." He guaranteed that the horses should be returned within a certain number of days, and a gener- ous sum was to be paid for their use.
The limited time expired, and week after week went by, but the horses of Messrs. Whipple and Day were not returned. The clergyman was sorely vexed. His favorite nag was considered indispensable to the faithful performance of his pastoral duties. The sick were to be visited, the impatient were to be married, and the dead were to be buried. 'T is true other horses were to be had, but they were not orthodox! How could a " Presbyterian, true blue," ride a heterodoxical horse? Parson Day might
" Prove his doctrine orthodox By apostolic bows and knocks,"
but he could not do justice to himself and his parishioners without that horse. He worried Jonathan Whipple, and Jonathan Whip- ple worried himself concerning the horses and the French Marquis. Finally Mr. Whipple heard that Lafayette was again in Boston. Taking the great mail coach he rode to the tri-mountain city, and anxiously sought an interview with Lafayette. He found him.
" Please, what does Monsieur want?" inquired the polite French- man.
" I want my horse," said Mr. Whipple.
" Excuse, Monsieur, but I don't know either you or your horse."
" Well, does your Excellency remember borrowing two horses in Douglas ?"
"Exactly, Monsieur ; but the horses were returned."
"No, no !" exclaimed Jonathan Whipple, a little excited ; " the horses have never come back."
"Le diable !" exclaimed Lafayette, and he at once called his sec- retary.
It turned out that this functionary had failed to order the return of the horses, as directed by Lafayette. The matter was explained
288
HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
to Mr. Whipple, with many apologies, and he was given a generous sum in gold to cover his expenses to and from Boston, and to pay for the use of the horses. The animals were soon after returned to Douglas, to the great delight of their owners.
DUEL.
In the year 1820 a number of persons arrived at Dudley's tavern, coming by way of Worcester, and meeting an equal num- ber who came by way of the old Boston and Hartford turnpike. They spent the entire night in playing cards. Very early in the morning the teams were ordered, and the party proceeded in com- pany to Rhode Island, first inquiring of the landlord the direction they were to take, and ascertaining from him how far they should drive before reaching the boundary line between the two States. They stopped in a valley surrounded by dense woods in the town of Burrillville, about half a mile west of what is now known as " Cripple Corner," and two miles from the Massachusetts line. A small brook crossed the road near this place. One of the principals was named Babbitt, a Lieutenant in the navy, belonging in Brook- field, but the other was unknown to our informant. Both of them were attended by surgeons, and Dr. Batcheller of Douglas, was called upon to attend and offer such services as might be needed of him.
The particulars of the duel are not known, but pistols were used, and the Lieutenant's opponent was badly wounded. A board covered with blood was found near the brook. When the carriages returned to Dudley's tavern one of them bore unmis- takable evidence of a bloody encounter. Both parties left on the following day, leaving the honest people. of the place in a state of amazement and wonder.
Among the first men who represented the town in the General Court was Lovell Pulsipher, a genuine backwoodsman, rough in manners and dress, but possessing many elements of statesman- ship, including an ambition for political distinction. At that time the town was considerably in debt, and no way could be seen to clear it off except by an abatement of the Province tax. This Mr. Pulsipher pledged himself to accomplish, and, accoutered in an old leather apron that had seen much service at the work-bench
289
INCIDENTS.
and forge, he made the journey to Boston. He experienced some difficulty in gaining admission at the court-house, owing to his shabby appearance, and to the fact that he, neglected to provide himself with proper credentials, but he succeeded finally in gain- ing his seat, and entered at once upon his mission. He plead for the town well, and succeeded in getting the Province tax abated.
But, notwithstanding the sympathy of his fellow members was enlisted in behalf of his cause, they could not resist the opportu- nity for a little fun at his expense. In the course of the investi- gation Pulsipher was asked if there were accommodations in his town for a committee who might find it necessary to go there and inquire more carefully into the matter.
" W-a-1," he replied, in a peculiar drawling tone, " there 's a leetle rye straw down there ye can sleep on !"
" Are there no smarter men in Douglas than you?" asked a bantering member.
" Yes," was the reply, " there's plenty o' men to home smarter 'n I be, but they hain't got no close fit tu wear tu the Gineral Court !"
These arguments were sufficient to convince the body that the town was really unable to pay the tax imposed.
Keziah R- and Sybil W -, while visiting an acquaintance in the village, became enthusiastic in praising the fertility of their lands. Keziah boasted that two kinds of mint grew on her farm - spearmint and peppermint.
" Pooh !" said Sybil, " there 's three kinds of mint growin' on our'n - spearmint, peppermint, and - yarrer !"
19
CHAPTER XX.
THE CENTENNIAL FOURTH OF JULY IN EAST DOUGLAS.
NDIVIDUAL birth- days, as they come and go, will doubt- less never lose their interest among any thoughtful people, and the more there .... is of thoughtful- ness characteriz- ing men the more precious become these annual returns of the natal day, for they are recognized as marking the beginnings of lives invested with the most wonderful of human possibilities. And since, as a matter of fact, these lives are found, in the vast majority of instances, to have been attended with the most thrilling actualities, it is safe to accept the all-prevailing and touching custom of their formal observance as one entirely coinciding with the best of the instinctive convictions of our race. An anonymous writer in the London Magazine in the following lines thus beautifully apostrophizes this event of mortal birth : -
" A life has just begun! Another soul has won ,The glorious spark of being. . Pilgrim of life, all hail!
He who at first called forth From nothingness the earth, - Who piled the mighty hills and dug the sea,- Who gave the stars to gem Night like a diadem, Oh, blessed child, made thee, fair creature of the earth, Heir of immortal life! Hail! all hail! "
291
THE CENTENNIAL FOURTH OF JULY.
If what we have said be true in reference to an individual among the millions of beings composing the human race, of whom only an almost insignificant fraction are known outside their family circle, how grand in comparison becomes the birthday of a nation ! So thought our fathers from the first, and naturally " Independence Day " has been the synonym for the wildest and most jubilant ovations in its honor throughout the land, the popular inclination on its annual return being well nigh emancipated from all the usual restraints put upon the demonstrative and boisterous natures of old and young.
But the one-hundredth anniversary of this event is at hand - what shall be done properly to observe the nation's first centennial, was the query among the many in Douglas who felt that they could never have the opportunity to repeat the devoutly patriotic cele- bration they were planning for this. The question seemed to thrill simultaneously all hearts, and became more emphatic as the mind tried to take in the events transpiring during the hundred years of testing that had intervened. Our nation's twice-repeated victory, made possible by the unnatural attitude of the mother country, stands out sharply in the memory of the aged ones ; the matchless career of prosperity in the history of nations vouchsafed to us by a kind Providence equally challenges the admiration of all - even of the most far-seeing among foreigners ; and the mournful recollection of our people's fratricidal struggle, so recently ended in triumph, in which so many millions of their hard-earned treasure were lost, with many hundreds of thousands of lives as the darkest feature in the melancholy review, - these and kindred thoughts conspired only to intensify the conviction that some specially appropriate service should mark the Centennial Fourth.
And so, by common consent, the good people of Douglas re- solved that July 4, 1876, should be really a red-letter day in the history of the town. Indeed, had it been otherwise we should feel that a good portion of the record we have made in these pages touching the loyalty of our fathers must needs be expunged. So general and spontaneous was the interest cherished on this subject by the citizens of all classes that the advent of the day was fore- stalled by a general illumination of the public and private build- ings, and also by a torchlight procession and band concert on the preceding evening. But for the seeming invidiousness, we should
292
HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
yield to our inclination to specify some of the residences and grounds which were more profusely arranged for this occasion, the degree to which it was carried being generally in keeping with the ability of the individual proprietors.
The torchlight procession was a marked feature of the occasion, one lindred brilliant torches casting their lurid glare on the build- ings and shrubbery along the streets through which the procession moved, while a number of transparencies conspired to heighten very materially the pleasing effect of the novel pageant. The mirth-provoking items in this latter feature of the evening's enter- tainment were entirely original in their conception. They were admirably carried out as well as planned, being the result of the combined efforts of several local artists. The Calithumpians took up the programme where the torchlights left it, making the balance of the night as redolent of the more demonstrative kind of patriot- ism as the procession had rendered it enjoyable to all.
The morning's dawn was signalized by the usual sunrise salvo of artillery, mingled with the ringing of the church bells through the town. This over, and the matutinal meal scarcely finished, the festivities were resumed by the introduction of an item not down on the bills of an old-time Fourth, which was, in the opinion of our sires and grandsires, entirely too serious an occasion, and asso- ciated with altogether too momentous questions of public polity to admit of much that was either jocose or farcical. But the lovers of fun must have a part in rendering the occasion memorable, so the " Horribles and Antiques" join the trades' turn-out, which commeneed forming at the early hour of 8 o'clock, under the com- mand of Wm. H. Moore, as Chief Marshal, who was aided by As- sistant Marshals Wm. A. Emerson and Chas. J. Batcheller.
The line was formed at the junction of Main and Cemetery Streets, in order as follows : -
Chief Marshal and Aids.
Douglas Brass Band-E. F. Darcey, leader ; W. E. Cooke, Drum Major. Jean Baptiste Society-Joseph Lemay, President. Horribles, Antiques, etc. - Austin Packard, Captain. Trades' Procession. Citizens in Carriages.
RESIDENCE OF L. S. WHIPPLE, EAST DOUGLAS.
RESIDENCE OF EDWIN MOORE, EAST DOUGLAS.
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HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
The procession made a most imposing appearance, and was greeted by the heartiest demonstrations during its passage through the streets. The whole affair was pronounced the best of anything of the kind, and altogether the most satisfactory ever witnessed in the history of the town. Nearly all the traders were most credita- bly represented in the procession. Mechanics' Block, with its varied departments of industry, made an excellent and appropriate show on one large wagon. Williams & Hanson displayed their clothing establishment to the best advantage.
The printing office of Charles J. Batcheller, seemingly forgetful of its newly-acquired itinerating character, was throwing off sheets along the route as nicely as if at home. The tinsmithery of W. S. Martin, tired or ashamed of forever waiting at its ordinary place of business for its patrons, was going about town to show how it was done. Harness-making was in full tide of successful operation by Hugh Greene. W. A. Willis started and well nigh " topped out" a brick chimney while keeping up with the rest of his fellow trades- men in the pleasing panorama. Dealers in fish and meats did everything but " catching" and " killing ;" and so we might go through the list of representative artisans who took this "lively" way of showing how they appreciated the day, and were willing to do their part towards making the celebration a grand success.
The Antiques and Horribles we must be excused from at- tempting to portray, since the main effort of the participants evi- dently was to bid defiance to the pen or pencil of any one but a Hogarth to give them so much even as a fifth-rate setting out. They must needs have been seen to be either appreciated or - identified. One of the best things in the display, however, was the comical affair so ingeniously devised by Henry Hutchins, in the shape of an engine, under the management of the Douglas Fire Department, which afforded an immense amount of amusement to the throng gathered on the Common.
A committee on prizes (Messrs. Wm. Abbott, A. F. Jones and Fenner Batcheller) went through the process of inspecting the gro- tesque crowd which so well represented Falstaff's regiment, and as the result of their discriminating labors awarded three prizes, of five, three and two dollars respectively, Larry Desmody taking the first, " Douglas Fire Department" the second, and Miller Hindon the third, when the procession was formally dismissed.
295
THE CENTENNIAL FOURTH OF JULY.
At 11 o'clock the public exercises were held in the Congre- gational church, in the following order : -
Music by the large choir. Prayer by Rev. William D. Bridge.
Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Rev. William T. Briggs. Music by the Band. Historical Address by A. F. Brown. Music by the choir. Oration by William H. Briggs. Music by the choir.
Mr. Edwin Moore, President of the Day, officiated with the ease and dignity so characteristic of him, and Rev. Mr. Briggs read the Declaration in his usual clear and impressive tone. Of the historical address by Mr. Brown it may be said it was an ad- mirable production, evincing great painstaking by its author in gathering up the interesting and valuable facts it embodied, for which he received the thanks of many as rendering the citizens the most important service yet accomplished towards compiling a history of the town. The oration followed, which was a very fine production indeed- terse, discriminating, and sparkling with brilliant thoughts, and eliciting warmest praise from his deeply- interested auditors. It was loudly applauded at its close. It is not often that a young man, in one year, and that the year of his majority, is admitted to the bar and chosen as the orator of the day on such an occasion by his townsmen, yet just this coinci- dence occurred in the case of Mr. Briggs, and marks an event in his history of which he may well cherish the pleasantest memory.
At 1 o'clock a clam dinner was served in the orchard at the rear of Hayden's boot and shore store, the Band furnishing music while the hungry crowd were devouring the toothsome bivalves. President Moore called the assembly to order at the close of the dinner, and announced Mr. W. D. Jones as the toast-master for the occasion. As the several sentiments were read the following gentlemen responded, much to the delight of their listeners : Dea. A. Butler, Mr. A. F. Brown, Rev. W. W. Dow, Rev. W. D. Bridge, Dr. White, Rev. W. T. Briggs, Mr. W. H. Briggs and the President of the Day.
296
HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
In obedience to the terms of President Grant's proclamation, a union prayer service was held, after the exercises at the dinner- table, in the Methodist vestry, continuing for an hour. This meeting was one of much interest, and drew together those who felt that under God only had we as a people attained the eminence we occupy among the nations on this our hundredth birthday.
The balance of the day was given up to a variety of sports and plans for the diversion of the young and old. At 5 o'clock a tub- race was witnessed from the shores of Hunt's Pond, the banks surrounding which were lined with a large crowd of spectators, who greatly enjoyed the scene ; and at half-past 6 o'clock there were wheel-barrow, sack, potato and running races on the Com- mon, which created a deal of merriment for another large crowd ; and in the evening there was a fine exhibition of fireworks, thus closing up a day replete with interest to the hundreds who were drawn together as witnesses and participants in the rare proceed- ings. It was repeatedly remarked that the very best order pre- vailed throughout the day, and no disturbance of any kind has yet been chronicled as marring the occasion from beginning to end.
CHAPTER XXI.
EDUCATIONAL - ADDENDA.
ROM various records and other authentic sources the material for this chapter has been collated, thus com- pleting the educational history of the town - a portion of which was given in a previous chapter, but bringing it down only to about the year 1800.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
From the town records we learn that at a meeting held on the first Monday in April, 1797, it was " voted to accept of the report of a committee, as far as respects the school Districting, which is as follows, viz .: That there be a district on Wallum Pond Hill, including Aaron Jepherson, the Widow Kelley, and all the inhabitants that live west of them, to be called Wal- lum Pond Hill District.
"And that the Friends' District shall be annihilated, and that they shall be included in the district where they live, and that Thaddeus Thayer District be annihilated, and that Thaddeus Thayer be an- nexed to Benjamin Walker's District, and that there shall be a Dis- trict to be called the South District, to include all the inhabitants that are in Douglas that are east of Wallum Pond Hill District, and that are south and west of the following persons and including them, that is, Simeon Harrendon, Daniel Aldrich, Noah Aldrich, Jun'r., Jacob Aldrich, Israel Thayer and Richard Bolster."
On the first day of May of the same year it was voted to divide the school money among the squadrons according to the number of scholars, and the age of the scholars to be from four years.
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HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
old to twenty-one, and that the return of the scholars shall be made to the Selectmen and assessors by the committee of the squadrons on the first Monday of November annually.
" Mar. 7, 1808, the sum of forty dollars was appropriated by the town to the South School District, for the purpose of enabling them to rebuild their school-house, which had previously been de- stroyed by fire.
" March 10, 1821 .- The town appropriated Two Hundred and Seventy-three dollars for the purpose of defraying the expenses of building a School House in the Wallis District (so-called)."
" Nov. 4 1822 .- Paul Dudley, Aaron Wallis, Benjamin Craggin, George Emerson, Willis Walker, Ebenezer Balcome, Prince Par- ker, and Comfort Martin, Jr., were appointed a committee to define the limits of each school district, which duty they performed to the acceptance of the town."
" April 5, 1830 .- The Town voted that each School District choose its own Prudential Committee, and in April of the follow- ing year voted that each District have the privilege of choosing them in such manner as they may decide."
The method of conducting the common schools of the town, adopted at the beginning, and known as the "School District System," has been adhered to until the present time, with the exception of the year 1869, at which time the State Legislature passed the following act : -
" CHAPTER 110. - AN ACT TO ABOLISH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SYSTEM.
" Be it enacted, etc., as follows : -
"SECTION 1. The School District System in this Commonwealth is hereby abolished.
" SEC. 2. Each District in which the district system now exists shall forthwith take possession of all the school-houses, land, apparatus and other property owned and used by the several school districts therein, which said districts might lawfully convey, and shall appraise the same, levy a tax therefor, and remit said tax in the manner provided by section third, chapter thirty-nine
RESIDENCE OF JOHN M. RAWSON.
RESIDENCE OF A. M. HILL, DOUGLAS CENTER.
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HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
of the General Statutes ; provided, that the appraisal of the school property in any district, or the amount to be remitted, shall not exceed the sum that has been actually raised by taxation in such district for such property ; and provided further, that any money or property held in trust by virtue of any gift, devise, or bequest for the benefit of any school district now existing, shall hereafter continue to be held and used in the same manner and for the same purpose according to the terms thereof.
" SEC 3. The corporate powers and liabilities of any school district abolished by this act shall continue and remain for the purposes expressed in section six, chapter thirty-nine of the General Statutes.
"SEC. 4. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.
"SEC. 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage." (Ap- proved March 24, 1869.)
The following year another act was passed, allowing any town in which the school district system was abolished to re-establish such districts by a two-thirds vote of the legal voters. By virtue of this last act between fifty and sixty towns, including Douglas, voted to " re-establish the school districts therein."
During that year, for the purpose of convenience, the several schools were known and designated by the corresponding number of the old school district. In March, 1867, by vote of the town, the school committee were directed to provide suitable school accommodation for the school children of East Douglas. In ac- cordance with these instructions, the school-houses in Districts 3 and 9 were repaired so as to make a suitable recitation room in each for the use of an assistant teacher.
In 1875 the school-house in District No. 9 was thoroughly re- paired and reseated, and in 1878 a considerable addition was made to that in District No. 10, besides other necessary repairs, including rescating. The following extracts from the last annual report of the school committee will be invested with some degree of interest from the fact that it shows more fully the condition of the public schools at the present date : -
301
EDUCATIONAL - ADDENDA.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF DOUGLAS FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 1, 1878.
STATISTICS.
The whole number of children in town May 1, 1877, be- tween 5 and 15 years of age, 447
Whole number attending school during the year of all ages, ·
477
Average daily attendance in all the schools, 305+
Whole number attending school under 5 years of age, 6 Whole number attending school over 15 years of age, 41 Aggregate of months all the schools have been kept during the year, 10938
Average number of months the schools have been kept during the entire year, ·
Number of male teachers in district schools,
Average wages paid male teachers in district schools, per month,
$32 00
Number of female teachers in district schools,
15
Average wages paid female teachers in district schools, per month,
$31 12}
Town appropriation for district schools, March, 1877, . $2,500 00
Unexpended balance last year, 792 98
Dog fund, ·
231 68
State school fund, 201 52
Town school fund, interest,
56 48
Total,
$3,782 66
EXPENSE OF DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Wages paid teachers, . $3,163 00
Fuel and care of school-rooms,
286 25
Total,
$3,449 25
Balance unexpended April 1, 1878, . $333 41
The schools in Districts Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5 were under the supervision of A. M. Hill; Nos. 6, 8 and 9 under the supervision
82% 2
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HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
of Levi White, M. D. ; Nos. 3, 7 and 10 under the supervision of A. F. Brown ; the High School under the general supervision of all the Superintending Committee.
The School Committee were :
OLIVER W. ADAMS,
Term expires March, 1879
A. M. InILL,
66
66
66
1879
A. F. BROWN,
1879
J. E. CUMMINGS,
66
66
66 1880
EDWIN ESTEN,
66
1880
LEVI WHITE, M. D.,
66
66 1880
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