USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Gardner > History of the town of Gardner, Worcester County, Mass., from the incorporation, June 27, 1785, to the present time > Part 23
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RULES FOR ALARMS OF FIRE.
After an alarm of fire has been sounded in either village, if assistance is needed from the other, a second alarm must be sounded.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
If, after a second alarm has been sounded, it is found that no assistance is required, a third alarm signal of four short whistles to be followed by four more in about half a minute, should be given.
September 5th, 1877, there was a Firemen's Muster, in this town, at which were assembled nineteen machines, from various parts of this state and New Hampshire. The companies, in their march about town, made a fine appearance. Mr. Ezra Osgood acted as chief marshal with Messrs. S. W. A. Stevens and L. L. Sawin as aids. The playing took place on Pine Street. Four hundred and twenty-five dollars were offered as prizes. The following is a list of the successful companies, with the sum of money taken by each, as a prize : First prize, $200, Volunteer No. 4 of Peabody ; second, $100, Excelsior No. 1 of Wilton, N. H. ; third, $75, Phoenix No 6, of Brattleboro', Vt. ; fourth, $50, Bay State No. 1 of East Templeton.
GARDNER DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION.
" There's something in a flying horse, There's something in a huge balloon." " A horse ! a horse ! my kingdom for a horse !" " I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot."
This Park is situated in the northern part of the town, about two miles from the Centre, and is enclosed on all sides by a high fence. It is said, by experts, to be the best half-mile track in all the region. This association was organized June 2d, 1875, with a paid up capital of $1,250; authorized capital, $3,000. The first officers of this association were as follows : R. F. Andrews, M. D., President ; Charles Heywood, Vice President ; John D. Edgell, Secretary and Treasurer; W. P. Allen, R. F. Andrews, M. D., L. L. Sawin, Charles Heywood, John D. Edgell, Directors. The best time ever made, in any race, on this track was one mile, in two minutes and forty-three seconds. Present officers : Charles Heywood, President ; R. F. Andrews, M. D., Vice President ; V. W. Howe, Secretary and Treasurer.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
GARDNER RIFLE CLUB.
" A straight line is the shortest distance between two points."
This elub was organized September 1st, 1875. The object of it is expressed in the following terms: "We, the un- dersigned, agree to form a Rifle Club, for the purpose of practicing off-hand shooting and for our mutual benefit and pleasure." The range of the club, is upon the farm of Mr. Seneca Partridge, in the southeast part of the town, where the members of this club practice, every Saturday, during the summer. The membership is limited to twenty-five. Fee
for admission, two dollars. Annual tax, one dollar. The following are the present officers : H. C. Knowlton, Presi- dent ; C. O. Bent, Vice President ; Frank E. Nichols, Seere- tary and Treasurer.
CRYSTAL LAKE STEAMBOAT COMPANY.
" Multum in parvo."
This company was organized, in the summer of 1875, with the following officers : G. W. Garland, M. D., President ; J. . J. Dunn, Secretary and Treasurer; G. W. Garland, M. D., H. C. Knowlton, J. W. Hill, Directors. July 1st, 1875, this company purchased a small screw steamer, called the " Little Favorite," capable of seating thirty persons and costing $650. This steamer is in great demand, by the numerous excursion parties, which gather at Crystal Lake Grove, during the sum- mer months, as well as by private parties, on Saturday after- noons and pleasant evenings of the week, the trip around the lake costing only ten cents.
SOVEREIGNS OF INDUSTRY.
" Providence has so contrived that our daily food is not to be procured without much pains and labor. - Addison."
The Gardner Council, No. 33, of the order of Sovereigns of Industry, was organized by Deputy J. H. Sampson, of the National Council, at the Grand Army Hall, on Thursday even-
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ing, Feb. 26th, 1874, with twenty-two charter members, viz. : A. L. Greenwood, A. B. Minott, Frank E. Nichols, L. C. Lynde, H. P. Coleman, J. N. Adams, E. P. Noyes, J. W. Clapp, G. C. Cor- nish, C. H. Eaton, A. C. Kendall, H. S. Coleman, G. R. Pratt, Edmund Coleman, Joel Nichols, Jonas Joslin, A. H. Howard, B. Barrett, George S. Talcott, Asa P. Whitney, D. O. Rem- ington and O. C. Jillson. The organization was completed by the choice of the following officers : A. B. Minott, H. M. ; E. P. Noyes, Secretary ; O. C. Jillson, Overseer ; J. W. Spring, Treasurer ; J. W. Clapp, Lecturer; G. R. Pratt, Steward ; Asa P. Whitney, Inside Guard ; L. C. Lynde, Outside Guard ; Aaron L. Greenwood, George S, Talcott and J. W. Spring, Investigating Committee. This council has had a membership of four hundred, since its organization, and is, at the present time, in a prosperous condition. The store belonging to this council, is situated near the depots. Its meetings are held at the G. A. R. Hall every Saturday evening.
The following are its officers for 1878 : J. H. Minott, Presi- dent ; B. T. JJoslin, Vice President ; A. K. Learned, Secre- tary ; L. A. Wheeler, Assistant Secretary ; J. W. Clapp, Treasurer ; G. R. Pratt, Ellen Holt, Stewards ; M. C. Gould, Inside Guard.
MUSICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
" The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov'd with coneord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils ; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus ; Let no such man be trusted."
-Merchant of Venice, Act V., Scene I.
There is in souls a sympathy with sounds : And as the mind is pitch'd the ear is pleased With melting airs, or martial, brisk, or grave ; Some chord in unison with what we hear
Is touch'd within us, and the heart replies."-Cowper.
Almost from the. date of incorporation, to the present time, the people of Gardner have ever shown a commendable
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
degree of interest in musical culture. At the annual town meeting, March 7th, 1791, the town " Voted, To grant some money to hire a singing master." "Voted, To raise twelve dollars." "Voted, That Samuel Edgell and Jonathan Green- wood be a committee to provide a singing master and lay out this money." Again in 1792, at the annual town meeting, it was " Voted, To raise three pounds, twelve shillings, to hire a singing master, for the present year." "Voted, To choose a committee to lay out this money, to the best advantage for the schools."
BANDS.
In 1855, there were two bands formed in this town ; the one in the Centre was called the Gardner Cornet Band, and was composed of eighteen members. The other, was at South Gardner, and was called the Mechanics' Cornet Band, consisting of nineteen members.
After a time, the Mechanics' Cornet Band ceased to exist. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, several members, of the Gardner Cornet Band, went into the army as musicians, and were with General Sherman in his march to the sea. After the war, this band was reorganized, September 29th, 1865, with seventeen members. The following are their names : O. C. Jillson, Charles Bancroft, A. T. Greenwood, William Putnam, C. A. Manley, Alvin M. Greenwood, Webster Cowee, Alexan- der Priest, J. S. Garner, L. W. Brown, Wilder Merriam, T. P. Connery, E. L. Wright, L. L. Sawin, F. P. Learned, J. W. Spring and F. M. Stanley. O. C. Jillson, Leader and Director.
The present members are, Webster Cowee, Alexander Priest, L. W. Brown, J. W. Spring, J. S. Garner, G. A. Stone, H. C. Boyles, R. A. Twichell, E. H. Spring, H. C. Priest, John Felch, William H. Heywood and O. F. Smith.
Since 1874, this band, while it still continues its organization, has had only a nominal existence. The leaders were : Messrs. Laws, Merriam, Grovner, Rich, Goodale, Richardson, and Russell. This band consisted of eighteen members, and in the days of its greatest efficiency, was regarded as a very
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superior organization, and was in frequent demand upon im- portant public occasions. With numerous other bands, it played, in June, 1867, at the great Masonic celebration, in Boston, at which time Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, was present. This band, with a few others, elicited special mention in the Boston papers, for the superior manner in which it discoursed music, on that occasion.
A few of the members, organized January 1st, 1874, under the name of " The Gardner Serenade Band," with William H. Heywood, Conductor; C. A. Clark, William Putnam, R. A. Twichell, Augustus Warren, Charles J. Day, Wilder Merriam, members. These gentlemen furnish music on various festive occasions, and are highly appreciated for their ability.
WORCESTER COUNTY NORTH MUSICAL ASSOCIATION.
This association was formed September 5th, 1851. The fol- lowing is its preamble and constitution :-
PREAMBLE.
Whereas, It is obvious that the singing of church music, as now practiced, has not risen to that degree of excellence which it ought to obtain in this community, and whereas, it is evident from the experience of the past, that without combination, in- dividual effort can never succeed, in elevating the present stand- ard, and in giving to the execution of this science, the beauty and perfection which its claims demand : Therefore, for the purpose of meeting this exigency, and of acquiring a more ele- vated style, as well as improving ourselves in an abstract knowl- edge of the science, we hereby subscribe to the following consti- tution :-
CONSTITUTION.
ART. 1. This society shall be called the Worcester County North Association for Improvement in Sacred Music.
ART. 2. The officers of said association shall consist of a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of seven.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
ART. 3. The President shall preside over all the business sessions of the association.
ART. 4. The Vice President may sustain the President, and in his absence shall preside over the meeting.
ART. 5. The Secretary shall record all the acts of the Asso- ciation.
ART. 6. The Treasurer shall hold the funds, and disburse them at the order of the Executive Committee.
ART. 7. The Executive Committee shall determine the time of holding meetings, make all necessary notices, be the super- visors of the pecuniary concerns of the association, give orders to the Treasurer for disbursements and have a general supervi- sion of the interests of the association.
ART. 8. The annual meeting shall be holden during the month of September, at Gardner.
ART. 9. The officers shall be chosen annually, by ballot, on the evening preceding the last day's session of the convention, unless otherwise ordered.
ART. 10. Individuals may become members of the associa- tion by subscribing to this constitution.
ART. 11. This constitution may be altered or amended, at any session of the annual meeting, designated for the purpose, by a vote of a majority of the members present.
These conventions were gathered from year to year, in differ- ent towns, in the county, receiving the hospitality of, and form- ing pleasant associations with the people of each town. In 1865, it was, however, voted that the constitution be so altered that Gardner should be the place at which the convention should assemble. In 1871, a further change was made, so that the convention should be held alternately at Athol and Gard- ner. The success of this association has been such as to war- rant its continuance. The meetings have been pleasant occa- sions to all lovers of good music, and, as the years go by, we find the places of those made vacant by death, filled with others who enjoy the ministry of song.
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
" I have written unto you young men, because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you."-1 John, 2 : 14.
The Young Men's Christian Association, at the Centre, was formed May 27th, 1868. For several years its membership continually increased, and much efficient service was done, not only in the village, but in the out districts of the town. About 1874, the association began to decline in interest and numbers, the members ceasing to evince anything like an earnest desire and determination to continue their accustomed meetings, till, at the present time, they have altogether ceased to be held, excepting the annual meeting, which occurs upon the first Wednesday in May. Mr. Charles W. Bush, who died in 1872, left to this association a legacy of two thousand dollars, which constitutes its sole fund. This association had a small library and formerly held their meetings in the Bank Building.
There was also a South Gardner Young Men's Christian As- sociation, which continued, for a time, to be flourishing and useful, but for the last few years has been entirely inoperative.
TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
" Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow ?- O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil."
- Othello, Act II., Scene III.
It is a matter of universal acknowledgment, that the control of the sale of intoxicating drinks, is one of the most difficult questions which is constantly demanding the most candid and vigilant attention of our legislators and reformers. Nor is this a new question, in this country ; it is as old as the Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies, some of whose legislation upon this subject, we here introduce, to show how the evils, connected with the sale of intoxicating liquors, troubled the Pilgrim Fath- ers and demanded their highest legislative wisdom to provide
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HISTORY OF GARDNER.
against. As early as 1629, nine years after the landing of the Pilgrims upon Plymouth Rock, in the " second general letter, of the Governor and Deputy of the New England Company, for a Plantation in Massachusetts Bay, to the Governor and Council for London's Plantation, in the Massachusetts Bay, in New England," we have the following petition :-
" We pray you would endeavor, though there be much strong waters sent for sale, yet so to order it, as that the savages may not for our lucre sake, be induced to the excessive use, or rather abuse of it and at any hand take care our people give no ill example ; and if any shall exceed in that inordinate kind of drinking as to become drunk, we hope you will take care his punishment be made exemplary for all others. Let the laws be first published to forbid these disorders, and all others you fear may grow up, whereby they may not pretend ignorance of the one nor privilege to offend, and then fear not to put good laws, made upon good ground and warrant, in due execution. And so recommending you and all your affairs to the protection of the Almighty, we conclude and rest."*
That the founders of these colonies, had a vigorous faith in the practical utility of sumptuary laws, is clearly evinced by their legislation, of which, the following are specimens. At a General Court, holden at Newtown, " it is ordered, that no person that keeps an ordinary, shall take above five pence a meal for a person, and not above one penny for an ale quart of beer, out of meal time, under the penalty of ten shillings per every offence, either of diet or beer. Likewise, that victualers, or keepers of an ordinary, shall not suffer any tobacco to be taken in their houses, under the penalty of five shillings for every offence, to be paid by the vietualer and eleven pence by the party that takes it.
" Further, it is ordered, that no person shall take tobacco publicly under the penalty of two shillings six pence, nor pri- vately, in his own house, or in the house of another, before
*Records of Massachusetts, vol. I, p. 406.
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strangers, and that two or more shall not take it together any- where, under the aforesaid penalty for every offence."*
If severity of legislative enactment is all that is required, to secure the prevention of the evil of intemperance, the Pilgrim Fathers certainly gave such legislation a fair test. It did not, however, secure the end they so devoutly sought. Further legislation seemed to be required. In 1645, we have the fol- lowing :-
" It is ordered, that no man shall be allowed to keep a public house of entertainment, for strangers or travelers, nor shall any one be a common victualer, innkeeper, or keeper of a cook- shop, vintner, taverner, or public seller of wines, ale, beer, strong water, without allowance in some Quarter Court, in the shire where such do dwell, upon pain of forfeiture of twenty shillings per week, while they continue without the said license ; nor shall any such persons as have public houses of entertain- ment, and have licenses, sell beer for above two shillings an ale quart ; neither shall any such person or persons formerly named suffer any to be drunk, or drink excessively, or continue tip- pling above the space of half an hour, in any of their said houses, under penalty of five shillings for every such offence suffered ; and every person found drunk in the said houses or elsewhere, shall forfeit ten shillings, and for every excessive drinking, he shall forfeit three shillings four pence ; for sitting idle, and continuing drinking above half an hour, two shillings six pence ; and it is declared to be excessive drinking of wine, when above half a pint of wine is allowed at one time, to one person to drink ; provided that it shall be lawful for any stran- gers, or lodgers, or any person or persons, in an orderly way, to continue in such houses of common entertainment during meal times, or upon lawful business, what time their occasions shall require.
And if any person offend in drunkenness, excessive or long drinking, the second time, they shall lay double fines, and if
*Records of Massachusetts, vol. 1, p. 126.
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they fall into the same offence the third time, they shall pay treble fines ; and if the parties be not able to pay the fines, then he that is found drunk shall be punished with ten stripes, and he that offends in excessive or long drinking, he shall be put in the stocks for three hours, when the weather is seasonable, and if they offend the fourth time, they shall be put into prison, and there remain till they put in two sufficient sureties for their good behavior."*
Although frequent legislation, of this sort occurs, in the Records of the Massachusetts Colony, it does not seem to have availed for the extinguishment of the evil. In 1670, with a tone approaching that of despair, the Great and General Court, held at Boston, passed the following additional act, for prevent- ing drunkenness :-
Whereas, This Court hath made several laws and orders for the prevention of the sin of drunkenness and misspending prec- ious time and estate, and yet, notwithstanding, great complaint is made of several persons spending their time and estate by drinking and tippling in taverns and ale houses, to the great dishonor of God and prejudice of their families, for the preven- tion whereof, it is ordered, by this Court and the authority thereof, that the selectmen of each town shall be and are hereby required and empowered to take special care and notice of all and every person and persons transgressing as above said, and thereupon to require of him or them to forbear the frequenting of such houses or taverns ; and if any person shall, after such warning given him, be found in any such house of entertain- ment, and be legally convicted thereof, before any one magis- trate or commissioner, he shall forfeit five shillings, to be paid to the treasurer of that town, for every such offence, or sit in the stocks, as the judges shall see meet ; and it is further ordered that the selectmen shall give notice to the keepers of such houses that they suffer no such noted person in any of their houses, upon the penalty of twenty shillings for every such defect to be paid to the treasurer, as aforesaid."t
*Records of Massachusetts, vol. 2, p. 100.
+Records of Massachusetts, vol. 4, p. 463.
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 273
It is evident, to the attentive student of our colonial and state enactments, that a profuse amount of legislation, concerning the liquor traffic, has not been wanting for the last two hundred years, the general aim of which has been either to control, or entirely to suppress the general sale of intoxicating drinks. But has it ever been effective, in accomplishing the desired end ? And if not, why not?
We have seen that, in the earlier days of the colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts, there were frequent enactments of what was called a stringent license law, with its various modi- fications, as experience, from year to year, might suggest. We are also familiar with the fact, that for nearly thirty years, pre- vious to the year 1875, there was upon our statute books, an enactment concerning the sale of intoxicating drinks, with its various phases, known as the Prohibitory Law. Since April 5th, 1875, an act to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors, more familiarly known as the License Law, has been in opera- tion. Whether license, or prohibition, has been of greater utility, in promoting the cause of temperance, is still a question upon which the sentiment of real, honest lovers of sobriety, industry, good order and temperance, is yet divided.
The legislation of either sort, that of license or prohibition, has seemed to be restrained, heretofore, through a want of hearty co-operation and moral support of those of opposing views ; so that, it is evident, that neither law can accomplish the end for which it was enacted, until the lovers of temperance, irrespective of party lines, or political ends, shall combine for the execution of the law in accordance with the spirit in which it was framed. That there must be legal enactment, as well as moral suasion, in reaching the highest and best results, in all effective temperanec work, is abundantly evident from the expe- rience of the past. When these two forces shall be happily wedded, in our state, we may expect those fruits for which all lovers of temperance are now working.
Towards the close of the last century, when intoxicating drinks, as a beverage, had become hardly less than universal,
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and drunkenness was everywhere common, there began to be awakened in the minds of some who saw, in this evil, a fruitful cause of moral and pecuniary ruin, a desire to inaugurate some movement looking to its suppression. Among these philan- thropists was the celebrated Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, who wrote forcibly, against the free use of intoxicating beverages. There seems, however, to have been no temperance organization established in the country, until the year 1808, when Dr. J. B. Clark of Milton, New York, instituted " The Temperance Society of Milton and Northumberland." The constitution of this society stipulated that " no member shall drink rum, gin, whiskey, wine, or any distilled spirits, or compositions of the same, or any of them, except by the advice of a physician, or in case of actual disease, (also excepting wine at public dinners, ) under penalty of twenty-five cents. Provided, that this article shall not infringe on any religious ordinance. No member shall be intoxicated under penalty of fifty cents. No member shall offer any of said liquors to any other member, or urge any other person to drink thereof, under penalty of twenty-five cents."
In 1813, was formed, the " Massachusetts Society for the suppression of intemperance." This movement did not attain any considerable momentum, until 1824. In 1826, this reform movement had become so potent in its influence, throughout New England, as to warrant the formation of an " American Temperance Union," which was instituted by Rev. Justin Ed- wards, D. D., who was the author of the " Temperance Manual," of which, nearly two hundred thousand copies were printed. Although total abstinence from distilled spirits, except when prescribed as a medicine, was the general requirement, the use of wines, cider, or malt liquors was not interdicted.
GARDNER TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
About the year 1829, the first temperance organization, of which we have any record, was formed in this town, evidently originated by Rev. Sumner Lincoln, who was ordained over the First Congregational Church, in 1824. This organization was
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called the " Gardner Temperance Society." We give below, its constitution and the names of its first signers :-
CONSTITUTION.
We, the subscribers, under a deep sense of the great evil and vice of intemperance, as it exists in our country, and for the purpose of contributing our influence, to its removal, as friends of humanity, virtue and religion, mutually agree to the follow- ing articles :-
ART. 1. This society shall be called the Gardner Temperance Society, auxiliary to the American Temperance Society.
ART. 2. Any person, subscribing this constitution, shall be a member of this society.
ART. 3. With a sacred regard to truth and honor, we pledge ourselves to give, at the annual meeting of this society, a strict and impartial account of what quantity of ardent spirits and wine we ourselves have personally drank, the preceding year, and what it cost. Likewise, to give a true account of what we use in our families and what we give those in our employ, and our families, and the cost of the same.
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