USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > History of the town of Holden, Massachusetts, 1667-1941 > Part 4
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
four towns. Mr. Jones served until 1908, and since that time the following have been elected to the office :
Charles L. Randall, 1908-1914.
Robert I. Bramhall, 1914-1917.
James R. Childs, 1917-
Gradually, the real need for a High School began to be felt. The school committee mentioned this in their report in 1879.
"The spirit of aspiration pervading our schools, the increasing number of good scholars in town, and the fact that there have just closed a number of successful private schools, are among the arguments in favor of a higher grade than we now have."
In their annual report for the year ending March I, 1880, the school committee recommended the estab- lishment of a High School, and the town accordingly authorized it.
School house No. I, in the center was repaired and made ready to be used for that purpose.
The school was opened in the spring of 1880 with Miss Cornelia M. Thurston as principal for one term.
In September, 1880, Mr. Alonzo K. Learned began his duties as principal, which position he held for thir- ty years, giving himself whole heartedly to his great task of character building.
He also manifested his keen interest in the town by sharing in the responsibilitiesanizations, making for the betterment of the town and its people.
The report of the school committee for the year 1880- 81 states that the town appropriated $4,000 for its schools that year.
The first class to graduate from the High School was in 1884, when seven pupils received diplomas.
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They were: Harry C. Bascom, Nellie M. Bascom, Leila S. Boyden, Edith H. Davis, Mary F. McLaugh- lin, Sadie I. Packard, Alice E. Stone.
With increased yearly enrollment the need of larger quarters was felt, and in September, 1888, the High School was removed to the rooms which had been pre- pared for its occupancy on the second floor of the beau- tiful new Damon Memorial Building.
That year the number of pupils enrolled was 37.
June 6, 1910, the school committee received the res- ignation of Mr. Learned and a set of resolutions were at once drawn up voicing the sentiments of the com- mittee and townspeople. One of these was, "Resolved, that the Schools of Holden and the town of Holden owe to him a debt which can hardly be estimated."
After a time the space occupied by the High School in the Damon Memorial Building became inadequate as the number of students increased, year by year, and in 1923 the town appointed a committee to investigate in regard to additional High School accomodations.
February 2, 1925, the town voted to erect a new High School and voted that the committee on accomodations be continued as a building committee. The building committee was as follows: William S. Piper, Chair- man, Nason H. Arnold, George C. Bond, Frank E. Cook, Dennis W. Harrington, Charlie B. Jordan, Aaron L. Potter.
The "Rogers Lot" was acquired and used in addition to the site of the old Grammar School thus giving the school lot an area of about four acres.
Work on the new building was begun early in May, 1925, and it was accepted and dedicated Monday eve- ning, June 21, 1926 with the following
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Since its establishment in 1880 the following prin- cipals have served the school :
Alonzo K. Learned, 1880-1910 Herbert C. Collar, 1910-191I Howard A. Newton, 1911-1915 Claude A. Gray, 1915-1918 Edwin A. Richardson, 1918-1925
Raleigh B. Bubar, 1925-
In 1938 two teachers, Mrs. Annie B. Delano, and Mrs. Ethel M. White, resigned, having taught in the school, sixteen and ten years respectively.
The first mention of a school house in Holden is found in the town records of the year 1752.
An article in the warrant at a town meeting held December 5th of that year was-"first to see if the Town are of the mind to Erect or Build a School- House in the Center of the Town or near the Meeting House both to Keep school in and also to accomodate the remote Inhabitants to warm at in the Intermition on ye Sabath days."
The methodical numbering of the school districts and their early names still cling to some sections of the town, others, but for the careful study and record- ing of early records by Town Clerk Samuel W. Arm- ington, assisted by Miss Helen C. Johnson, might be most difficult to locate.
NUMBER ONE The Center-Margery A. Rice School
The first building in the center was on the north side of Main Street, 136 rods west from the meeting house, and was built in 1800.
ABBOTT TAVERN 1763-1941
ABBOTT TAVERN
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
The second, built about 1824, now used as a dwell- ing, was at first a one room, afterwards made into a two room school house. It occupies the lot on the northwest corner of Main Street and the present high school drive. This building was long the home of Artemas D. Bascom and family, and is still owned by his daughters Mary C. and Carrie E. Bascom, who now occupy the house on the southwest corner of Main Street and Holt Road, which was built by Mr. Bascom in 1905. Carrie was a teacher in the Holden schools and Mary taught in Everett, Massachusetts. Another sister, Marion A. was assistant principal at Holden High School.
The third, built about 1854, occupied the site where the present High School now stands.
This was used until the erection of the Rice School in 19II.
The building was sold in 1924, to Dr. Frank H. Washburn, and it was eventually moved to its present location on Boyden Road, where it is now used as an office building, the first floor being used by the mem- bers of the Holden Clinic.
May 17, 1910, the town voted to acquire the "Phil- lips" and the "Carr" lots located on Phillips Road as a site on which to erect a four room school house, and an appropriation of $20,000 was made for that pur- pose.
The building committee was Peter Carr, William J. Powers, and Emory Rogers.
The contract for building was awarded to John J. Power, of Worcester, the contract price being $16,840. Heating contract was awarded to M. D. Holmes & Sons, Worcester, for $2,211.
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Work was begun in October, 1910 and completed August 1, 1911, and the building dedicated August 24, 1911.
The Program of Dedication was as follows :
Invocation-
Rev. John F. Lee
Music-
Apollo Quartette
Remarks-
Supt. Charles L. Randall, President of the Day Reading of Scripture- Rev. Simeon Spidle, Ph.D.
Music- Apollo Quartette
Presentation of Building-
Mr. Peter Carr, Chairman, Building Committee Addresses-
Julius E. Warren, Agent of Board of Education Hon. Robert M. Washburn
Music-
Apollo Quartette
Dedicatory Address-
Dr. David Snedden, Commissioner of Education
Dedicatory Prayer-
Rev. Thomas E. Babb
Music- Apollo Quartette
Benediction-
Rev. Thomas E. Babb
In 1922 a four room addition to this school was built at a cost of $30,540.08.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
In 1930 it was given the name of the Marjery A. Rice School. Miss Dagny C. Lindgren was principal from 1911 until her resignation in 1927.
In 1934 Mr. Frank J. Knowlton presented to the town the lot on the corner of Woodland and Phillips Roads adjoining the school lot, adding much to the value of the property.
NUMBER Two The Estabrook's-Unionville
This brick school-house in the easterly part of the town was built on land granted to the town at a very early date.
When it was closed in 1929 it was the last of the one- room school-houses.
The building was purchased by Mrs. Katharine A. Prue, and yearly re-unions were held there by fifty or more former teachers and pupils.
One of the guests at the fifth re-union was Mr. Charles Garfield of Boylston, who had attended the school fifty-two years ago.
The building was destroyed by fire in 1935.
NUMBER THREE
Dr. Chenery's-Sodom-Chaffinsville-Chaffins
Tradition states that the first school house in the east part of the town was near the "Old Bullard Place."
The next location was between Doyle and Shrews- bury Streets. In 1878 this building was sold to J. Al- bert Newell and a new one erected that year a short distance from the site of the old one at a cost of $1,000.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
In 1898 the building was turned one quarter way round, raised three feet, and made into a two room school.
This school house was sold to James G. Handy in 1923 when the increased population of Chaffins made a larger building necessary. This new 3 room school was built in 1923 on the west side of Holden Street, near the junction of Shrewsbury Street, at a cost of $17,486.84. The architect was H. L. Meacham, and the builder Raffaele Zottoli.
During the summer of 1925 another room was added.
In 1930 the town purchased 13/4 acres of land for a four room addition to the house. Ground was broken for this in October and the work was completed Jan- uary 5, 1931. The contractor was James Miles & Sons.
NUMBER FOUR The Flagg's-South Part
This was located on the north side of Reservoir Street, between the Asnebumskit and Howard Hill Roads.
This was taken by the city of Worcester in 1890 for reservoir purposes, and the school district merged with No. II.
NUMBER FIVE
Captain Broads'-Eagleville-Brick City-Jefferson
The first known location of this school was on the north side of what is now High Street. This two room house built in 1873, at a cost of about $4,000 was sold to Merrick and Morse and moved away.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
The next building was built about the year 1844 on the North side of Main Street between Causeway Street and Mount Pleasant Avenue. This was sold to Peter Wissell.
The next location was on the South side of Main Street, opposite Mount Pleasant Avenue, on land taken from the estate of Alfred Morse.
The four room house erected in 1885 at an expense of $4,312.48 was destroyed by fire June 4, 1891.
The present six room building was erected in 1891- 2 at a cost of $9,438.40. In 1935 Mr. Francis Coe gave for a playground 114 acres of land in the rear of the school building and adjoining the school lot.
Miss Mary M. Donahue served as principal of this school from March, 1918 until her resignation in 1932.
NUMBER SIX The Chaffins-Dawson's
On the westerly side of Salisbury Street, about a mile south of the former village of Dawson stood the one room school house built about 1847. This school was closed in 1926 and that fall the building was destroyed by fire.
Old residents mention a former school building which occupied the same site. The lot was said to have been given by Captain Jonathan Chaffin and Tilla Chaffin.
In the nineties the young people in this district or- ganized debating and Shakespeare Clubs which flour- ished for some years.
In 1912 the former members of these clubs held a re- union, and these have been continued yearly to the
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
present time under the name of the Number Six Re- union Club. Original members now living are : Milton I. Dunn, Porter L. Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. T. Walter Howe, Charlie B. Jordan, Mrs. George A. Larkin, Mrs. Gilbert E. Moore, Miss Harriet C. Moore, Reu- ben H. Moore, Albert F. Newell, Alvah B. Newell, Walter P. Newell, Mrs. Frank C. Parker, Mrs. Wil- laim E. Prouty, Albert F. Whitman.
NUMBER SEVEN The Rice's-Squantum
In the northerly part of Holden. The first location was on a road leading to East Princeton. A new house which was built south of this on the same road was burned December 22, 1871. In 1872 it was rebuilt. In 1885 it was merged with Number Twelve. It was again re-opened and finally closed in 1918.
NUMBER EIGHT Capt. James Davis'-Butt End
This was first located at the foot of a hill on a road leading from Causeway Street to Rutland. It was later moved to the intersection of this road and Causeway Street. The district was later merged with Number Five. The school closed in 1880 or 1881, and the building sold to William J. Prendergast, who moved it away.
NUMBER NINE
Lemuel Fiske's-Ruralville-North Woods
In the northerly part of the town. Its first location was at the foot of Estabrook Hill, at a place where
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
three roads meet. The second location was on Cobb Street, between Princeton and Whitney Street, near North Woods Village. It was built about 1848, and was closed in 1918. The building was sold to Thomas McCarthy who had it moved to the junction of Wachu- sett and Elmwood Streets, where it is now in use as a residence.
NUMBER TEN Capt. Manning's-New State-Springdale
In the northeast part of town. Its first and second locations were on what was called in that district "the north road."
In 1883 it was removed to a site on Manning Street. It was closed in 1922 and was sold in 1927 to James E. Welsh.
NUMBER ELEVEN Jonathan Howe's-South
In the the southwest part of town. This school had two locations on the Paxton Road, a short distance apart. The second building was erected about 1852. This school was closed in 1926 and was sold to Walter B. Starbard in 1927.
NUMBER TWELVE Lieut. Samuel W. Hubbard's-French Woods Quinapoxet
In the northerly part of town, its first known loca- tion was on a bridle road which ran from the east to the west Princeton roads.
The next building built in 1881, and was in the vil- lage on Wachusett Street. This was burned in 1930.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
NUMBER THIRTEEN Capt. David Smith's
In the northwest part of the town in the neighbor- hood of Muschopauge Street. Probably no school- house was built.
NUMBER FOURTEEN Tilla Mirick's
To the west and south of Kendall and Pine Hill reservoirs, also that part of the town which was set off to Paxton.
No school house was known to have been built.
In 1900 the town expended $9,652.71 for schools and in 1920, $35,085.93, and in 1940 the appropriation was $75,300.
ALONZO KNAPP LEARNED
Alonzo Knapp Learned, son of John Knapp and Maria Miller Learned, was born in Westminster, April 15, 1844. He attended the common schools of his native town, Westminster Academy and Nichols Academy. He learned the trade of a blacksmith. At an early age he began teaching in Westminster, and upon reaching his maturity was elected a member of the school committee and served thus until his re- moval from the town.
He taught in Princeton, Gardner, Rutland, and was for seven years principal of the Grammar School in Hubbardston.
In 1880 he was elected principal of the High School in Holden, and taught there for thirty years. After
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
his retirement he resided in Worcester until his death May 4, 1920.
It is a source of keen satisfaction to all who remem- ber Mr. Learned, that the new High School building should be named in honor of him, whose life was so entirely devoted to the service of school and town.
Pupils coming to the High School from small school districts were awed by the spacious beauty of their new surroundings, and the dignity and wisdom of the one whom later they came to recognize as poet, scholar, teacher, friend.
After the death of his friend, Stephen C. Earle, ar- chitect, the following lines appeared in a Worcester newspaper :
STEPHEN C. EARLE A Tribute
He loved the beautiful, the good the true. In humble mood his soul their inner shrine Oft sought, and felt the inspiration fine That animates and fires the soul anew To effort which her glorious past ne'er knew; To struggle, worthy of her birth divine; To bloodless victories, that will ever shine As stars, effulgent stars, in heaven's blue. In glad fidelity he daily wrought Utility and beauty into forms of art That move the emotions of the soul and heart. Obeyed the call his country to befriend. His home and loved ones precious in his thought. Could he have lived and toiled for purer end? -A. K. Learned.
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· A tablet to honor the memory of Mr. Learned was unveiled June 16, 1921 at the Damon Memorial Build- ing. The program of the exercises was as follows:
Address of Welcome, Edwin A. Richardson, prin- cipal of Holden High School; Song, "America the Beautiful," by twelve young ladies of the school; Ad- dress, "A Personal Recollection of Mr. Learned," Thomas E. Babb, Jr., '96; unveiling of the tablet, by Andrew O'Connor,t its sculptor, assisted by Miss Pauline Newell; entrusting of the tablet to the trustees of the Damon Memorial Building, by Peter Gluntz; acceptance of the trust by Waterman L. Williams, president of the board of trustees; reading of memorial of trustees, by William J. Powers, secretary of trustees.
The memorial tablet is the gift of the High School Alumni Association. Beneath the sculptured likeness of Mr. Learned are the words-
"For thirty years principal of the Holden High School.
"In grateful recognition of his devotion as instructor and in appreciation of his character, his pupils have erected this memorial."
A. D. 1921
MARGERY A. RICE
Miss Margery A. Rice, a teacher at the Center grammar school for forty-six years, retired from active service on June 13, 1930.
¡ Mr. O'Connor, world famous sculptor, when living in Holden owned the house on the northeast corner of Bascom Parkway and Highland Street, now the home of Joseph T. D. Henley.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Miss Rice, daughter of Austin C. and Margery A. (Boyden) Rice, natives of Holden, was born in Bliss- field, Michigan, and was graduated from Adrian Col- lege in Ohio.
After teaching a short time in the west she returned to Holden, where, for forty-six years, she was the much beloved teacher of the lower grades in the Center School, and upon her retirement in June 1930, friends and former pupils gathered in the room so filled with associations of other years, and presented her with a purse of gold and many beautiful flowers, and caused to be placed in the school building a bronze tablet bearing the inscription, "This building is named the Margery A. Rice School in grateful appreciation of 46 years of devoted service in the Holden schools. Miss Rice died in Holden, September 3, 1933.
DAMON MEMORIAL AND LIBRARY
When the first High School was opened in the building called "School House No. 1," or "Center School," it was intended to be used only as a tempo- rary location, and each year the need was increasingly felt for larger quarters and better equipment.
At a town meeting in November, 1886, the town ap- pointed a committee, to investigate ways and means by which this end might be accomplished.
The problem had a most happy solution through the generosity of a former teacher in that same "Center School," Mr. Samuel C. Gale and his wife Susan (Damon) Gale.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
At the annual town meeting, March 21, 1887 the following letter was read :
"Minneapolis, March 15, 1887.
Major Isaac Damon,
Holden, Mass. Dear Sir :
"I have delayed sending to you my final decision in the matter of the public building to be erected on the Chenery lot, until I could look up the subject thorough- ly. In accordance with your suggestion, your High School Principal has written a full and satisfactory letter touching the needs of the High School.
"I am now able to say, that, unless prevented by some misfortune, I shall commence the present season to erect upon the Chenery lot a building adapted to both High School and Library purposes. I design to have the walls completed and the roof on before next winter, and have the same fully completed ready for occupancy as early as September, 1888.
"This building and ground, together with some books, which we hope to add, my wife and I will present to the Town of Holden as a free gift, subject to some simple and reasonable conditions as to care and support of the structure and its equipment on the part of the town.
I write this letter now, that the people of the town may have assurance that both School and Library ac- comodations will be provided for without any steps be- ing taken by the town at its coming meeting.
Yours very Sincerely,
SAMUEL C. GALE"
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The following resolutions were immediately adopt- ed by a rising vote of the town :
"Resolved: That our sincere thanks are hereby ten- dered Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. Gale, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, for their very generous proposal, the ful- fillment of which will be a perpetual memorial of their generosity and thoughtfulness."
"Resolved: That a copy of these Resolutions be sent Mr. and Mrs. Gale, and that they be entered upon the records of the town."
Construction of the building began at once under the supervision of the architect Mr. Stephen C. Earle, of Worcester, and it was completed in August, 1888, at a cost of more than forty-five thousand dollars.
A fact which endears it to townspeople is that all stone used in its construction was taken from the Hol- den. quarry, which was located "on the old Kendall place," later the home of John B. Dodd.
The uncut brown sandstone used for sills, arches and some other parts was brought from Longmeadow.
The south wall has a large sculptured panel, pic- turing the enlightening influence of education, as, shown by a figure bearing in one hand a flaming torch and in the other an open book, with the inscription, "Let there be light," and "Character is destiny."
This panel, five by eight feet, was designed and ex- ecuted by Evans & Toombs, of Boston.
In ground plan the building is nearly square. On the Northeast corner is the Howard clock and the bell tower which rises to a height of sixty-four feet. The bell, whose clear notes could be heard by pupils in nearly all parts of the town, was selected by Mr. Gale himself.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
Over the two arched entrances leading from the porch are cut, respectively, the words "School" and "Library."
Beautiful fireplaces adorn the main school room and the reading room of the library.
The interior is finished in natural oak. The car- penter work was done by Emory Rogers, who had also general charge of the entire work.
The stone work was done by Thomas Hennessey, the brick work and plastering by Peter Carr, and the walls, and ceilings were tinted by Daniel Boyden.
Mr. Gale desired as far as possible to have all ma- terial and labor for the building derived from the town of Holden.
In design and construction it is one of the choicest in the county.
The Presentation and Dedication service program of the Damon Memorial took place August 29, 1888 in the Congregational Church which was filled with towns- people and many visitors from neighboring towns.
After a selection by the Marlboro Brass Band, which furnished the music for the day, Rev. William G. Tuttle offered prayer. Mr. Alonzo K. Learned, the President of the Day, then gave the following Address of Welcome :
"Ladies and Gentlemen :- This morning, so bright and beautiful, is indicative of the welcome we extend to each. We are glad that whether living by the sea, in the city, by the mountains, or on the distant prairie, a common impulse has moved so many of the sons and daughters of Holden to return and join in the festivi- ties of the day-the day of the slowly rolling century in the history of the town. The familiar paths, the old
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homestead and the school house, the village green, this old church though mute, unite with us in cordial salu- tation. Whether participating in the exercises of the day, meeting with friends, renewing old associations, treading with careful step the place-
"Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap," or standing by the memorial raised to the memory of parents, brother, or sister,-may all the hours be filled with pleasure, benediction, and blessing to each of you.
"Welcome to those men and women, distinguished in the walks of life, who are with us today. We feel that the occasion is in unison with the efforts you are put- ting forth to lift man.
" 'To a purer air and a broader view.' May the breath of the hills, the warmth of our hospitality, the spirit pervading these exercises, the bright outlook which generous thought and generous hands have opened to the people of this town, cheer and strenghten you.
"Cordial greeting to the honored official representa- tive of the city of Worcester, to the members of bench and bar, to her accomplished librarian, to her teachers, eminent for learning and ability, to her honored busi- ness men, to all her citizens, whose united life consti- tutes the purity of the life of the 'Heart of the Com- monwealth.'
"To the citizens of adjoining towns, who in response to invitation, or who, moved by neighborly feeling, are present to offer congratulations, we extend the hand of welcome.
"Welcome one and all to this historic ground, given by the Hon. John Hancock to the early settlers for a public common, and a site for a church, where for
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN
many generations, men, in the exercise of the rights of free-men, have met in times of peace and prosperity, in times of danger and alarm, to transact business for the common welfare, or to discern from a common con- sideration the path of duty and of honor.
"Welcome to this historic and hallowed church, within whose walls the generations of the past have met, feeling a common need, humbly praying for a common blessing, and finding it, 'none other than the house of God and the gate of heaven.'
"At a town meeting, the second in the history of the town, held May 19th, 1741, the legal voters first passed the following vote :
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