USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > History of the town of Holden, Massachusetts, 1667-1941 > Part 10
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First National Store
In 1923, Joseph J. Raymond erected a store build- ing on Main Street across from Laurelwood Road.
This was occupied at once by a First National Store, which did business until 1939.
The store was in charge of James Gleason during that time.
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Holden Pharmacy
In 1925, Mr. Raymond built an addition to his store for the accomodation of a drug store, and on August of that year, a modern, up-to-date drug store was open- ed there by James G. Elkind.
Harry A. Jolly, Registered Pharmacist, has been clerk there since 1928.
Casey's Store
In 1925, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker opened a store on Highland Street near the top of Temple Hill.
This they continued until 1929, when it was taken over by Thomas Kennedy. After his death, Mrs. Ken- nedy continued on until her marriage four years ago to John F. Casey, when Mr. Casey became a partner in the business. This has been enlarged to include meat and general store supplies.
Red and White Store
In 1927, Louis N. Tuckwell opened a store on Hol- den Street, near the Worcester line. This he contin- ued for a number of years selling to Leland G. Wilcox who operated it for a time and then opened a Red and White Store, September 17, 1928, on the opposite side of the street, his present location.
Ellis' Market
In May, 1929, Roy A. Ellis opened a store on South Main Street, between Salisbury Street and Bailey Road.
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Patronage increased steadily and in 1937, the build- ing was enlarged to accommodate a full line of gro- ceries and other equipment necessary to fulfill the re- quirements of a general store.
Holden Hardware Company
November 24, 1934, Louis A. Baker and George E. Allen, both of Holden, organized the above company and opened, in the Warren Building, a splendidly equipped hardware store, which has been in operation since that time.
Clover Farm Store
Since August, 1939, Mr. Adelard Belec has con- ducted a grocery store in the Raymond store, formerly occupied by the First National.
Hashey's Store
A grocery store has been conducted by Frank C. Hashey for sixteen years at the junction of Wachusett and Manning Streets.
JEFFERSON
In 1838, the store at the "West Village" was offered for sale by Eunice A. White. It was later occupied by several members of the Davis family.
In 1856, it was in the hands of Alfred Morse, who sold to Edward W. Merrick.
In 1882, it was purchased by James F. Putnam, who carried on the store until his death in 1890, after which it was continued by his widow, Mrs. Sophia Putnam.
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Other store owners in Jefferson were: J. W. Wheel- er, Stephen T. Cole and Stillman F. Morse, who in the '90's ran a general store near the corner of High Street, opposite the Eagle Lake House.
In former days, at this place, the Hubbardston and Barre stage stopped to change horses before continuing its journey. Mr. Morse served the town on the board of selectmen, overseers of the poor, and as auditor, and was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1892.
The Morse home was the house at the junction of North Main and Causeway Streets, today owned by William J. Nawn.
Harrington's Market
This store on the corner of Princeton and Quina- poxet Streets in Jefferson, was built by Thomas Pren- dergast and Frank Marsh in 1870. In 1873, Mr. Pren- dergast sold his interest to Charles Marsh and it was run as Marsh Brothers for five years.
Following this, for four years, it was operated by Charles Carter.
In 1883, the market was taken over by Dennis W. Harrington, who while operating the store, also went from house to house selling meat from his butcher's cart. For five years he slaughtered his own cattle at the Marsh slaughter house in Jefferson. Mr. Harring- ton peddled meat for 41 years without missing a day.
Mr. Patrick Dowd, a clerk with Mr. Harrington for 40 years, is still serving customers at the store.
Since 1932, a grocery store has been maintained in addition to the meat market.
CHURCH
MRS. HOLDEN, MAY 4TH CELEBRATION
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Mr. Harrington died in 1941, and the business is now owned and operated by his son, Raymond J. Harrington.
Harrington's Market is the oldest established busi- ness in Holden, and the oldest meat market in Wor- cester County.
In addition to his business activities, Mr. Harring- ton held town offices and took an active part in town affairs.
G. S. & J. A. Holden -L. G. Petts & Co. - Rivers Bros.
In May, 1875, Gustavus S. Holden opened a general store on Princeton Street, just above the Jefferson mill, in a building erected for that purpose by Howe and Jefferson.
Five years later he was joined by his brother, James A. and the firm name of G. S. and J. A. Holden was taken.
From 1891 to 1897, it was run by Lyman G. Petts and Company.
In 1899, it was taken over by Edward H. and Fred C. Rivers, who, under the name of Rivers Bros., ran a grocery and dry goods store there until 1927, when Fred C. withdrew and the business was continued by Edward H. until 1931.
Sequin's and Coldwell's Stores
In 1904, Napoleon Sequin opened a store on North Main Street, opposite the Eagle Lake House, and this was continued until 1931, most of the time being run under the name of Napoleon Sequin and Son.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Since 1939, a grocery and general store with a meat market has been conducted there by Douglas Cold- well.
Jarvis' Store
In 1932, Almas J. Jarvis opened a store on North Main Street, Jefferson, and up to the present time has continued there the operation of a fully equipped gen- eral store which includes a supply of meats and gro- ceries.
QUINAPOXET
The store at Quinapoxet located on the North corner of Mill and Wachusett Streets, was erected and owned in connection with the factory in that village. It was occupied successively by A. P. Sampson, Cuthbertson and Crawshaw, Ira D. Bates, Johnson Brothers, Court- ney Knapp, A. A. Cobbett, Feeley and Burns, and Gus- taves S. and James A. Holden.
The last named occupied the store in 1887, and ran it for three years in connection with their business at Jefferson.
In 1890, they centered all their interests at Quin- apoxet. In 1903, James A. conducted the business alone, selling in 1904, to William D. Leonard who carried it on until 1917. In 1922, it was being run by Dunker Bros. who continued business here until 1931.
CHAFFINVILLE Chaffins Store
In 1903, August Johnson erected a building at the junction of Wachusett and Shrewsbury Streets and opened a general store there.
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In 1908, the building was enlarged and market goods were added to the stock. Mr. Johnson has operated the store continuously since its opening up to the pres- ent time.
DAWSON
Waite's Store
At Dawson village, Harry G. and Sophia P. Waite opened a general store in 1919, and continued it for ten years after which, the village having been taken over by the Metropolitan Water Commission, . all buildings were razed.
BRICK YARDS
Whitney's History of Worcester County states, "There is a brick yard two miles and a half northeast of the meeting house, where are made annually sixty thousands of bricks." The yard here referred to was in the part of town soon after set off to West Boyl- ston. Bricks were manufactured here for many years. Bricks were also made by Josiah Ball, and later by his son, Israel M. Ball, on the farm which had been oc- cupied by the Ball family for many generations.
BOOTS AND SHOES
In the earlier days another industry in Holden was the making of boots and shoes. "In 1837 five thousand eight hundred pairs of boots and ten thousand pairs of shoes were made here."
About 1840 the building occupied by the Com- munity Store, in 1941, was erected by Ethan Davis, Sr.
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It was soon occupied by Boyden, Goodell & Davis as a boot and shoe manufactory; a few goods of their own make being sold on the premises at retail.
BLACKSMITH SHOPS
A generation or two ago the village smithy held an important place in every town.
Early locations in Holden were in the rear of the "Rogers house" on Boyden Road and on the west cor- ner of Laurelwood Road, on the site where the house of Miss Jennie Hendricks is now located.
In addition to attending to the foot comfort of man's "four footed friends," the blacksmith was called upon to use his skill and ingenuity in a great variety of ways. Household utensils made so painstakingly, thus, were "handed down" from one generation to another.
In 1870, Mr. Amasa Howe ran a blacksmith shop opposite the Damon Memorial Building. A few years later this was acquired by Thomas Cleland who did business there for twenty years.
Mr. Cleland, in his shop, fashioned by hand, the iron fence which enclosed the yard of the house which he built on Maple Street (now the telephone ex- change) and the fence which may be seen today, in front of the house on the west corner of Main Street and Lovell Road.
The elaborate fence surrounding the Cleland lot, and others in Grove Cemetery, were also wrought by him.
The shop of Mr. Artemas Bascom was located near the corner of Main Street and the High School drive, and here he served his patrons for more than forty
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years. After the retirement of Mr. Bascom, Frank H. Stevens continued the business there for many years.
Close by was the wheelwright shop of George Boyden.
Probably the last blacksmith shop doing business in town was that of Frank C. Parker at Dawson.
When the shop closed in 1934 it was in charge of James McDonald.
ICE BUSINESS
The cutting and harvesting of ice from Holden ponds was an important industry in town for more than fifty years.
Many farmers built small ice houses where they stored a supply for their own and neighborhood con- sumption.
As early as 1873 Fred L. Bryant built an ice house on the west side of Bryant's, later Parker's Pond, at the junction of Salisbury and South Main Streets, and began distributing ice in town. This he continued to do for thirty-seven years, selling in 1910 to Frank C. Parker, who enlarged the business so that his route in- cluded parts of Worcester and adjoining towns as well as Holden. Upon Mr. Parker's death in 1933 the business was carried on by his son, Harold C., until the ice houses were demolished by the 1938 hurricane.
In 1939 the land and water rights were purchased by the Metropilitan Water Commission.
In 1887 Charles H. Marsh built an ice house on Eagle Lake and continued business until 1902, when his sons, Harry and Dexter, took it over.
They sold in 1916 to Frank Brigham, who continued it until 1935.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
In 1888 Peter Carr built an ice house on his pond on Princeton Street, formerly known as Maple Spring Pond, and began shipping ice to Brighton.
About 1900 he sold the business to Walker Ice Com- pany of Worcester, who carried on the business for a number of years, until the ice houses were destroyed by fire.
In 1912 Walker Ice Company of Worcester built a large ice house on Quinapoxit Street from which 22,000 tons of ice were shipped yearly to New York State, and they also shipped it to nearly all parts of New England.
Business here was brought to a close with the burn- ing of the ice house in July, 1935.
In 1931 Elmer Dimmick established a route in town, and ran it until June of the present year, obtaining his supply of ice from Walker Service Ice Co.
TANNERIES
The first tannery in town was about half a mile west of the Center, at the foot of "Landlord Davis" hill and in the rear of the present Warren Homestead.
The exact date of its construction is not known. De- cember 23, 1789, the tannery, together with seventeen acres of land, was sold by John Watson to Hemen Richardson. He was succeeded in the management by his son, Edward Richardson, from whom the tannery took the name by which it was often called. There was for many years a small tan yard on the Hall place in the south part of the town.
In 1825, John P. Maynard built a tannery at Eagle- ville across the road from the mill.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
In 1838, this tannery passed into the hands of Water- man G. and Samuel Warren, who came to Holden that year from Ward, later called Auburn. At the end of ten years this partnership was dissolved, the business being continued there for about five years by Samuel Warren.
In 1850, Waterman G. Warren purchased the Rich- ardson Tannery and carried on the business there un- til 1882, the last fifteen years in company with his son, Samuel.
In 1874, Waterman G. Warren, in partnership with his sons, Berthier and Henry W. under the firm name of B. and H. W. Warren and Co. erected a brick tan- nery at Holden center, a short distance north of the railroad station which furnished facilities for turning out its specialty, card leather, which was unsurpassed in the state.
In 1881, Samuel Warren became a partner and the firm name became W. G. Warren and Sons.
After the death of the father in 1886, the business was continued for nearly thirty years more as W. G. Warren's Sons.
The plant was then operated for a short time by A. Gorden and Sons of Boston.
The main buildings were burned to the ground in the early morning of June 19, 1917, thus bringing to an end the activities of one of the town's long estab- lished industries.
The site of the tannery, near the railroad, and so desirable as a business location, became the property of J. Stanley Holt who had the brick walls which still remained standing incorporated in a building which
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today is used for storage in connection with his coal business.
GARAGES AND GAS STATIONS
A new business interest appeared in Holden when Fred F. Taylor began the sale of gasoline in 1909.
He built a garage and "gasoline house" near his newly erected home on the east side of South Main Street, at the junction of Boyden Road, and continued the service for twelve years, selling the real estate and business in 1921 to Ernest W. Hicks who, today, op- erates the service station and garage and a refreshment stand on the opposite side of the street opened in 1934 as Hicks' Dairy. Here, his specialty of fried clams receives more than a local patronage.
With the steadily increasing use of the automobile new garages and gas stations have been established in various sections of the town and today the following locations in Holden provide this service for the public :
Sunnyside Garage
About 1903 Arthur Faucher built a blacksmith shop on North Main Street, near the junction of Sunnyside, and operated it until 1912 when it was taken over by Walter B. Loring, who ran it until about 1920 when it was purchased by Mrs. George Nadeau after which it was run as a garage, George Johnstone being the first to install gas pumps.
Others doing business there have been George and Clayton Nadeau, Daniel W. Harrington, William Converse, Charles D. Hemenway and since 1938 M. H. Clarkson.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Chaffins
In 1922 Raffaele Zottoli erected a garage on the west side of South Main Street, a short distance south of the railroad bridge in Chaffins.
In 1930 the business was moved to its present loca- tion on the opposite side of the street. The service, which now includes dealership and the sale of fuel oil, has been operated by his sons, Joseph N. and Al- bert, since 1922.
Blodgett
In 1923 Verney E. Blodgett opened a gas station and garage in Jefferson on North Main Street, near the junction of Broad Street, and operated it until his death in 1941. Mr. Blodgett served as motorman on the Worcester and Holden trolley-line for twenty-four years.
Harrington's
In 1925 Frank C. Parker built a garage at the junc- tion of Salisbury and South Main Streets on the site of the Bryant planing and cider mill.
This was run by Washburn and Graham, then by Kohlstrom Brothers until in 1931 it was taken over by Daniel J. Harrington, who, in business since 1923, ran the Sunnyside Garage for a short time before opening the garage and sales service station which he now op- erates on South Main Street.
Towle's
Harry E. Oslund erected a gas station and refresh- ment stand in 1925 on the west side of South Main
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Street, about a mile from the city line, and operated it until 1928 when it was taken over by George Joseph. Following him it was carried on by Newell W. Prouty, Clayton H. Adams, John W. Stuart, John Jenson and since 1935 by Frank B. Towle.
Mitchell Shemuth is proprietor of a gas station on South Main Street, nearly opposite Hawthorne Road.
Hachey
The store and filling station today conducted by Frank C. Hachey, at the junction of Wachusett and Manning Streets in Quinapoxet, was established by him in 1925.
Williams
The stone gas station on Wachusett Street, a short distance north from the junction of Manning, has been run by Rose A. Williams since 1929 until her death, the present year.
Holden Center
In 1936 Albert Zottoli erected a filling station on the southeast corner of Main and Reservoir Streets, in front of the Old Abbott Tavern.
February, 1937, he sold to the present owners, Socony-Vacuum Oil Co.
The first person to operate the station was Robert C. Rose, who remained there from December 29, 1936, until December 10, 1940, when he sold to T. Warren Kingdon, the present owner.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Holt Coal Company
In 1917 J. Stanley Holt established a coal business at Dawson which he resumed in 1919 after having served two years in the World War.
In 1923 he purchased the interests of the Marsh Coal Company and moved to his present location near the railroad track on Sunnyside, where he continues this service to local patrons.
Harrington
The business of D. Frank Harrington, of Fairview Avenue, Jefferson, dealer in coal, coke and fuel oils, was established in 1923.
Holden Trap Rock Co.
A new industry was formulated in Holden when a deposit of trap rock was discovered in Jefferson, in 1932, on the farm of Franklin C. Hubbard, by Ed- ward J. O'Connor of Lowell.
This was located near the state road, about two miles from the Rutland town line.
Immediate plans were put into action for the utili- zation of this igneous rock whose formation dates back long periods before the glacier.
Mr. O'Connor purchased forty-five acres of the for- mer "pasture land," installed machinery thereon, and shortly trucks were transporting this finely crushed stone to towns and cities throughout Worcester County.
In 1939, the property was purchased by Hattie M. Gray, of Oldtown, Maine, who now operates the busi- ness under the name of Holden Trap Rock Company.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Holden Lumber and Supply Company
The Holden Lumber and Supply Company on Woodland Road has been conducted by Elmer J. John- son since 1934.
Holden Sand and Gravel Company
This business, located on Union Street, was organ- ized by Edward Migdelaney in 1935 and serves local customers and others throughout Worcester County.
NEWSPAPERS The Holden Enterprise
In 1887, this large four page paper was being pub- lished by Wood Brothers, "every Friday Morning," its Editor and Manager being E. C. Hawkes.
It gave news items of Holden and its villages, and of surrounding towns, with some world happenings, all being interspersed with elaborate advertising of a great variety of subjects.
The Holden Times
September 2, 1922, C. Arthur Pierce, a young man who grew up in Holden, began a weekly publication of The Holden Times, an eight page paper, (6 x 71/2") covering the "news" of the villages of Jefferson, Chaf- fins, Dawsons, and Quinapoxet as well as that of Hol- den Center, each number also containing a local busi- ness directory and local advertisements with a number of items of world interest.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
In 1923 and 1924, it was made a four page paper, size 81/2 X 111/2."
The last issue was September 20, 1924.
Holden District News
On October 20, 1932, Mr. Nason H. Arnold, of Hol- den, established the Holden District News, a paper covering a more extended territory.
Its publication was suspended March 16, 1933.
The Enterprise
This was a four page paper published during 1936- 37, by Frederick W. Hiller of Barre, and covered news of the towns of Holden, Rutland, Paxton, Princeton, West Boylston, and Sterling.
FUNERAL DIRECTORS Frank H. Miles Co.
The Ira Broad estate was purchased by Edwin J. Miles in October, 1884, and in 1896 he established the business which has served the people of Holden since then up to the present day.
Upon the death of the father, his son, Frank H., took over the business in 1900, and conducted it until his death, when in 1928 it was continued by his widow, Delia T. (O'Day) Miles, who in 1937 formed a part- nership with her son, Adin F. Miles, and this con- tinues under the name of Frank H. Miles Company.
Chapter XII
Hotels
"The first house of public entertainment in town was kept by John Child, near the Bullard Place. For forty years 'Landlord Paul Davis' kept tavern in a building on the summit of the hill overlooking Eagleville. Here was born his son, Paul Davis, Jr., and his twelve chil- dren. Paul Davis, Jr., was connected with the state militia. He succeeded his father in the office of town clerk, which he held for thirty-seven years. He was also treasurer, selectman, assessor, and representative. Too much can't be said of his uprightness, integrity, and faithfulness in every walk of life."
Abbott Tavern
"This famous old building was erected in 1763, and was occupied as a Tavern more than a hundred years. The house was kept by Abbotts of three successive generations, and was all this time kept in the hands of the family, except for two years, when it was leased to Samuel Davis. It has been said, 'It is no exaggeration to state that Abbott's Hotel was known from the Pa- cific to the Atlantic Ocean.' The house was first kept by John Abbott,t from whom it passed to his son, Captain Lemuel Abbott, whose son, Major Chenery
ยก May 20, 1763. "Town voted to Build a new pound of Stone and Voted to set the pound at the south End of Mr. John Abbots shoop or Cole House and Voted ten pounds to Build the Same."
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Abbott, in turn succeeded him in the management of the hotel." In 1843 the estate contained about 60 acres of land which extended as far as the present Bailey Road. One of the giant pine trees cut on the tract yielded 1,000 feet of timber.
"To Colonel Jarvis Abbott Holden is under great and peculiar obligations. In his old age, tree-planting became almost a mania with him, and to this fact, we owe the well grown shade trees which now adorn both the common and the old cemetery, and much more of the foliage which so beautifully embowers the village."
For many years Austin C. Rice was owner of the Abbott Tavern property.
His daughters, Jennie, Isabel and Margery, taught for many years in the Holden public schools.
February 3, 1935, his heirs, Isabel M. Lyon, Nellie E. Sheldon and Silence E. Bush, sold the estate to Al- bert Zottoli.
In 1875 the large brick dwelling on the corner of Maple and Main Streets, built by Lemuel Davis, son of Rev. Joseph Davis, was opened as a hotel, by Amasa Howe, under the name of the Central House. Squire Lemuel, as he was called, served the town as postmas- ter in 1826-27 and as selectman for five years. Among Mr. Howe's successors in the management were Lewis F. Hubbard, John M. Welch, Charles W. Foote and James C. Allen.
It was used as a Community House for a number of years.
In July, 1922, it was purchased by the Holden Ma- sonic Club, now the Holden Trowel Club, who occupy it at the present time.
MAY 4TH CELEBRATION IN HIGH SCHOOL
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Brick City or Eagleville Hotel Eagle Lake House
A hotel was opened many years ago at Eagleville by John P. Maynard. Among others Ethan Davis and Peter S. Winn managed it at different times. Previous to 1865 it was controlled by Dustin Hall who sold to Edward F. Witt. Other owners of the real estate were Martin V. B. Jefferson, Edward F. Merrick and Ly- man G. Petts. The following persons have also been in charge there: George Wright, Myron Kennan, Eli- jah Kennan, Sparrow Crosby, Alfred J. Kirby, Calvin Underwood, A. A. Whitney and W. Muzzy. When purchased by Mr. Petts the name was changed from the Brick City to the Eagleville Hotel.
Later it was called the Eagle Lake Hotel and today its sign reads Eagle Lake House, Est. 1812.
The earliest record found of Mr. Petts' ownership of this hotel was in 1879 and it continued in his name or in that of his wife, Mrs. Maria N. Petts, most of the time until 1907.
From 1909-1912 it was owned by Fred L. Sturtevant. In 1912 it passed into the hands of David S. Doran who ran it until 1926.
In 1928 it was purchased by the present owner, Wil- liam J. Nawn.
Twice it was damaged by fire. March 24, 1939, a disastrous fire occurred which destroyed part of the first floor and sixteen rooms on the upper story.
Three men asleep on the second floor jumped to safety after being aroused by the barking of Duke, Mr. Nawn's valuable pedigreed dog, who lost his life in the fire.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Rebuilt, the attractive building of light colored brick, facing Morse Square, occupies the site of the original structure erected there in 1812.
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