USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Lakeville > History of the town of Lakeville, Massachusetts, 1852-1952; one hundredth anniversary of the town of Lakeville > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
SERVICEMEN
CADET NURSES
Arleen V. Corayer Eileen A. Murdock
Faith E. Williams
* Killed in action. § Died while at camp.
THE KOREAN CONFLICT
Ralph W. Baker, Jr.
Raphael Mello
Richard Baker
Gordon Oliver
Richard Buttermore
Lester Richmond
John A. Black, Jr.
Richard Reynolds
William Colvin
Robert Staples
Robert Corti
Frederick Staples
Donald DeMoranville
William Shing
Anna E. Gola
Richard Strautman
William Gomes
Leonard Belben
Robert Hayden
Alton H. Linton Antonio E. Roy
Eugene Kennedy
Charles Thomas
Peter Leonard
Richard Turner
Roland Mills
Sheldon V. Vigers
Stanley Mills. Jr.
William Wall
Gordon Mills
Page 235
James C. Hargraves
DID YOU KNOW -
In the spring of 1950, Vernon Vigers while walking in the woods less than half-a-mile from his home found a turtle with the initials, "E.R.V.," and the date, "1939". The initials were those of his brother, who had carved them on the turtle eleven years before.
In 1949 a dead man was elected to office at the Annual Town Meeting. The man was John Kelly, who had died April 19, 1948.
In 1886 - 1887 there being no schoolhouse in the Beechwoods or Parris Hill district, a room was hired in a private house and three terms were taught there. It was at the home of Moses Parris. This school was kept in the northwest front room of what is now the home of Mrs. Eliza Chase. Moses Parris was the grandfather of Mrs. Chase.
Miller Sampson's mother, Zilpha Shaw, brought the sugar maples, which are on the old road, off Main Street, from Maine in a chaise. She had been visiting up there.
-
. ... ... .... .
CHAPTER XIV
ROADS
T
HE roads in Lakeville, like many subjects in this book, have interesting historical backgrounds. The records could well be a book in themselves, but limited space consolidates them to only a few pages. The early roads will be remembered as having many curves, perhaps because they followed Indian paths, thereby avoiding deep water and other natural obstructions.
Rhode Island Road was one of the old Indian paths. Probably starting originally near the wading-place at the Star Mills in Middleboro, and then to Main Street, it goes through the Haskins neighborhood and continues on through Myricks to Narragansett Bay.
The Acushnet path and the Dartmouth path, both of which headed New Bedford way, were not far apart. They started at Muttock in Middleboro and followed the line of the old road to New Bedford. This was the old Indian trail which was fre- quently followed by the Indians when going for supplies of shell fish.
These trails were used by the settlers first as bridle-paths, then as stagecoach roads. There were two main carriage-roads from New Bedford to Boston, passing through Lakeville: one was County Road and the other, Bedford Street. Bedford Street was first known as the Turnpike, because of the toll gates. It was laid out in 1804 in almost a straight line from the Town House to Bridgewater, and from there on through Abington and Wey- mouth to Boston. Old records reveal that the road was not a financial success, the tolls being very high for those days, charg- ing 12 cents for every 10 miles. The stagecoach passed over the road in both directions daily and there was also a baggage wagon which transported freight purchased in Boston or New Bedford.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LAKEVILLE
Bedford Street Near Highland Road
In 1853, when the town of Lakeville was incorporated, it was divided into eleven highway districts, each having a surveyor. Some of the early surveyors were:
A. T. Winslow
John Allen
Silas Pickens
N. M. Sampson
C. T. Westgate
D. L. F. Swift
Frederick Leonard
Davis Pickens
C. E. Jenney
Franklin Haskins
Hiram Elmes
Francis S. Shaw
John Dean
Orrin E. Haskins
S. S. Stetson
William Barney
Eli W. Williams
Sidney McCully
S. T. Wilson
Benjamin Horr
G. G. Anderson Horatio I. Caswell
David Ashley
Fred J. Clarke
Dennis Tinkham
Joseph DeMaranville
John W. Sears
Orin S. Robbins
B. H. Reed James Dean
Lyman Mason
Leonard Washburn
John Williams
John E. Ashley
J. P. Peirce
Silas P. Ashley
H. L. Caswell
Charles G. Davis
Job M. Staples H. L. Williams Leander Winslow
Baylies G. Leonard Cephas Haskins Elijah Horr
Page 238
ROADS
Jirah Winslow Henry Parsons Josiah F. Tinkham Sidney T. Nelson James M. Howland George S. Hoard John Cudworth Bartlett Haskins W. S. Harlow E. G. Baker T. W. Canedy Job M. Godfrey
Francis E. Sampson
Job T. Tobey John Shaw Jones Godfrey Joseph S. Cudworth
George W. Churchill
Leonard Richmond
J. A. Coombs N. H. Vaughan Fred A. Shaw
Thomas F. Hafford
Nathaniel G. Staples
Philander P. Peirce William Hoard
In 1890 the highway surveyors became known as commis- sioners. They were Joseph DeMaranville, Zebulon L. Canedy and Leavitt Caswell. In the 1894 Town Report, records show that James P. Peirce was superintendent of streets. Highway surveyors during the next twelve years were:
George E. Holmes Alton R. Rogers C. P. Swift Edward T. Caswell Frank B. Williams
Ethan A. Peirce
John G. Paun E. V. Washburn
Percy Robbins Henry K. Pratt
Joseph A. Frates Leavitt C. Caswell
In 1907 there were three highway commissioners: Nathaniel G. Staples, E. V. Washburn and F. A. Shaw. For the next few years the highway surveyors were back:
Harry Williams John S. Williams Alton T. Hoard William H. Davis John E. Chase Preston Robbins E. H. Sampson
Walter R. Perkins A. G. Ashley H. A. Manchester Samuel E. Taylor Rufus Norris Samuel E. Stickney Nathaniel F. Washburn
In 1923 it was voted to abolish the system of eight highway surveyors and substitute therefor a superintendent of streets. Zebulon L. Canedy was appointed and held the position until 1933 when S. Elbert Washburn received the appointment. In 1939 the title was again changed to highway surveyor and Mr. Washburn was elected and served until 1944. Since that time, James J. Vigers, Jr., has had charge of Lakeville's roads.
Page 239
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LAKEVILLE
The State highways in Lakeville are Main Street from the Town House to the Middleboro line, laid out by the county commissioners in 1902; Lakeside Avenue, known as the Old Back Road, built in 1877 from Bell School House corner to the Freetown line, with Benjamin E. Horr as agent, receiving three hundred dollars for the work, and accepted as a state highway in 1923; County Road, years ago called the Tobey Road, laid out in 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1924, and Bedford Street (Route 105) from the Middleboro line to Bell School House Corner, first called the Turnpike, accepted as a state road, one part in 1923 and the other in 1931. From Bell School House Corner to the Rochester line, about a mile and three-quarters, Bedford Street is a town road.
Following are the other roads and streets in town, some of which have been laid out by the county commissioners.
Taunton Avenue, formerly Taunton Road, is 1.60 miles long and it leads from Middleboro line to the East Taunton line, having been laid out by the county commissioners.
Long Point Road, from Bedford Street to the Middleboro line, is 1.20 miles and has a county layout.
Peirce Avenue was rightly named for it seems that a Peirce or Pierce family lived in every house on the road years ago. Beginning at John Wilbur's, the Abram Peirce family lived in his house. The Heineck place was the farm of Captain Philip Pierce and, later, his son, James P. Pierce. Philander Peirce's homestead is now the summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Leonard. Enos Peirce's home came next. The John Peirce house is no longer standing, but it was located nearly opposite the Alton T. Hoard farm. Percival Staples and his family occupy the Oliver Peirce place. The Winslow estate was purchased by Chester Peirce, much later by the Hennessey family, its present owners. Last on the road stood the Elbridge Peirce house, which was sold a few years ago, its interior torn out piece by piece and taken to Hanover, there to repair another old house. Peirce Avenue, which runs from County Road to the Myricks line, is 2.35 miles long. At one time it was called the Carroll Pit Road,
Page 240
ROADS
Peirce Avenue Near John Peirce House
because a man by the name of Carroll operated quarries there. Many of the old pits, which are dangerous, are still there.
Precinct Street starts at the Town House and goes to the East Taunton line. It was laid out by the county commissioners in March 22, 1939.
Highland Road, once known as Assawompsett Road, starts at Bedford Street and goes to County Road, ending at Canedy's Corner. It is 2.65 miles long and was laid out June 9, 1942. The hill on Highland Road has been called Shockley's Hill and Shingle Hill.
Blind Street is one-tenth of a mile in length and goes from Peirce Avenue to the Myricks line.
Bridge Street, seven-tenths of a mile long, runs from Main Street to the bridge at the Nemasket River, the boundry between Lakeville and Middleboro.
Clear Pond Road is a little more than a mile and goes from the Upper Four Corners to Route 79, which is Rhode Island
Page 241
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LAKEVILLE
Precinct Street Near Precinct Church
Road. It was accepted by the county commissioners in 1934. Records show that Isaac Sampson was appointed road commis- sioner in 1881 for Clear Pond Road.
Crooked Lane, a gravel road starting at Main Street, runs through the Wilkie farm and the Bowen place, crosses Bed- ford Street and continues on to Rhode Island Road. It is a little over two miles long.
Barstow Street is gravel and a short cut from Montgomery Street to Precinct Street, about four-tenths of a mile in length.
Highstone Road or North Precinct Street, leading off Taunton Street at Frank Orrall's Store and going through to Rhode Island Road, is 1.15 miles long and has black top for only a short distance.
Hill Street is a gravel road, a mile long, and runs from Pickens Street to Montgomery Street.
Howland Road is three miles long, running from the Free- town line, through Howland Station, and again to the Freetown line.
Kingman Street starts at the foot of the hill by the brick, stone and wood house at Myricks Street and goes to County Street. It
Page 242
ROADS
is over two and one-half miles long and was first known as Sullivan Road.
Lang Street is gravel, a mile long, running from Kingman Street to County Street (Route 140).
Malbone Street is a gravel road, 1.20 miles long, going from Peirce Avenue to Mill Street.
Cross Street, a mile long, runs from Taunton Street to Route 44 (Harding Avenue).
Montgomery Street is all gravel, 1.45 miles long, going from Precinct Street to Kingman Street.
Myricks Street is less than half-a-mile, going from Precinct Street to the Taunton line.
Leonard Street, at first called the New Road, was laid out by the county commissioners in 1952. It goes from Southworth Street to Taunton Street and is less than half-a-mile.
Pickens Street, from Precinct Street to County Road, is three miles long and was laid out in 1944. Like many of the other streets in town, Pickens Street was named for the family living on it. It was once called McGee Road for Andrew and Annie McGee, who lived there years ago and before that was known as the Hunt Road, because a family by the name of Hunt lived there.
The Race Course, from Highland Road to Kingman Street, is less than one-half mile. Years ago this was called the half- mile race course. Horse traders met here to try out and time their trotting horses and to hold races.
Rhode Island Road goes from the Middleboro line at Main Street to Precinct Street, at the Precinct Church. It has recently been made part of Route 79. Part of this road was laid out in 1937 and the rest in 1941.
School Street is only .35 of a mile long and goes from County Road to Peirce Avenue. Earlier it was called Short Street.
Southworth Street is about one and a half miles long, running from Rhode Island Road to Highstone Street.
Page 243
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LAKEVILLE
Stetson Street, going from Main Street to Crooked Lane, is one-half mile long.
Vaughan Street starts at Main Street, at the Upper Four Corners, and goes to Vaughan's Bridge at the Middleboro line. It is a little more than a mile long and was laid out in 1949.
Keith Avenue is a short side street, starting at Main Street and curving to Vaughan Street. It is only one-twelfth of a mile long.
Plymouth Street is another short street off Lakeside Avenue, with a dead end at Long Pond, one-fifteenth of a mile long.
Staples Shore Road, not quite a mile long, starts at Main Street and ends at Lake Assawompsett.
Mill Street, about three-fourths of a mile long, goes from Howland Road to the Freetown line.
Harrison Avenue, less than half a mile long, starts at Rhode Island Road and ends in the woods.
Harding Avenue starts at the Middleboro line on Route 44 and ends at the Raynham linc.
Staples Shore Road Looking Toward Main Street
Page 244
CHAPTER XV
DID YOU KNOW -
L
EONARD Richman was killed by a horse. The horse kicked him in the head and he lived only a day or so. The horse had on only one shoe but was on the foot with which he did the kicking.
*
At one time high school was kept at the Washburn School and General Ephraim Ward taught it. Calvin Kingman might have been one of the teachers also.
Feast Days were celebrated in April or May years ago. One of the gathering places for these occasions was at the home of Hiram Rogers, Alton Rogers' father, on County Road where John Lang is now living. At these Feast Day celebrations all kinds of games were played, such as greased poles, greased pigs and sack races. There were all kinds of good things to eat. Another of the gath- ering places for these celebrations was at the Town House. Here cannon would be fired in addition to the other events.
Some ancestor of the Misses Hannah and May Nelson built a sled upstairs in their old homestead and when it was completed he could not get it down the stairs, so it had to be taken apart and carried in pieces downstairs and outdoors. Then it had to be put back together again.
At one time cigars were made in North Lakeville on Bedford Street, in the second house south of Taunton Road on the left. This was also a cobbler's shop.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LAKEVILLE
At one of the Town meetings long ago, when the Washburn schoolhouse had been moved to Highland Road, it was found that the townspeople had overlooked the well situation. The school had no water. At that time Silas Deane Pickens made a motion that they move the well, which was at the Town House, to the new location of the school.
Early in the nineteenth century, when war seemed imminent between this country and France, a Yankee captain put a crew aboard a captured French brig. The captain and crew were landed at New Bedford and, because of the feeling against them, they were secretly taken to our famous Sampson Tavern and held there until they could be sent to the French Council in Boston.
Jack and Sall (Sarah) lived in a cave or dug-out at Indian Shore. After living in this cave for many years, the townspeople thought that Jack and Sall should be cared for at the poor house. But after being moved, they both died within two weeks.
*
Before the War of 1812 there was a mill for making cotton batting on what is now Stetson Road, on land which was later owned by General Ephraim Ward.
Active coal pits were in operation at Betty's Neck, near Jeremy's Point, years ago. Stephen Dexter worked there as a watchman. These pits were owned by a concern in Taunton. There were also coal pits off County Road, in back of the Eugene Washburn farm.
The Fall River to Middleboro railroad service, running through Lakeville, was discontinued May 8, 1931. This branch was put into operation in 1845.
Page 246
DID YOU KNOW
Malbone Briggs and his seven sons were all highwaymen and robbed stagecoaches. They were also counterfeiters, hiding the money in the ground by making holes with a crowbar and dropping in the money. They also would steal horses and drive them into the Cedar Swamp near their home. Many of the horses became mired in the mud and died. The swamp is some- times, even today, spoken of as "Dead Horse Swamp".
The property on the shore of Loon Pond was sold to the State organization of Boy Scouts in February 1922, as the site of a permanent camp.
*
Eugene Francis Reynolds, 79, died August 18, 1948, while riding in a car with his housekeeper. She continued to their home with Mr. Reynolds dead on the seat beside her.
A monument was erected to the memory of Captain Job Peirce, who was given up for dead - but he returned. Captain Peirce served in the French and Indian Wars. At the close of his second term, when he was at Halifax, N. S., with members of his outfit, he embarked on a transport headed for Boston. A great storm arose and it was with difficulty that the ship was kept afloat. It drifted for weeks and the crew suffered great hardships. The ship finally made port in the West Indies and they remained there for the winter. A ship was located which was making a home- ward voyage, its port being New Bedford. There Captain Peirce landed and proceeded to his home in Lakeville (at that time Middleboro). It was Sunday and all his family were at church. Captain Peirce entered the church and took a seat in the pew with his family. The quick turn of events that day prompted the officiating minister to toss aside the sermon which he had prepared for the day and preach instead on the verse: "For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
Page 247
1277
Trout Brook
Y
RDemoramills
T
L.Washburn AAshleyæ
IMForest
SAndrews MHaskins
ankham
MHa
TackFactory
D
ODLESON OUGHT
Hapike. Station
N
-
INLaksilleSt
MTSELRond
aBung
CRun
CNeskinsy
NHVaughan Mrs.SThomas
authwody shane B.Staples
DIVI
Mrs EDogget
V
J.Kinsley
W.H.Sovimvorth
C.Southworth LAHuskins
ALL
Mrsvy
H.CPotens
Watshins ALakeritre Mit CHskina
School
Dunhamispu.
Sch
aL. Churchill
CCoomosk Tucker
HADASwell
LWACoombs
DL.Swift
ESwfard
JMJCaswel
WHarlow J.Southworth
CAPorter
EJenny
.a. War
E.Cushman
B
ul
Stade
Shoe
Sch
Congo
vosdumSTR
JENelson
J.Thrasher
ML.Caswell
J.Curworth
Cpt. ilgodfrey
Fi. Montgomery
HI.Williams
S LH OHaskin
Town2
L
E.& J.Williams
FL C.Washburn
.
-
E. Craneo school Strobridge Hrs.
WRPark
D.Ptekens
'S U.Sampson
Assowampset Pond
KingPhillips
JPickens
E.D.Sampson EL W.E. Williams
C.S. Hlourd
J.ReedHrs
2.L.J.Shaw
3'an
J.Reed Hrs.
C.Shockley
RBriggs.M.
B. White
Betty's Neck
Arts. Hersey
Manes
PACB.
.S.VIlindes
cranberry
Go Westgate
Pand
I Petroc
W. P. Smith
Barlan's Con
Farnitt
Shop
P. Peing
Wh Ashley
C.T. West gote BorBoard, Shinyle & Long-Round
R.F. Hon
M.E.Lonw
9
J.F. Allen
Granite, E's
Bant. Cher
School
J.Townsend
ilDonovaniille
S.W.Sampson
JJ. Hor
Willow I
W. A. Howland
T. Spooner I .. Nyc
9.7HBriggs
E.Williams
I
N. A.Hont und
cedar
W.Carr
.
J.B.Scott
School
wis
H. Minthing
LT.W.Comedy W.H.Caswell
VIDrincrewville
E.P.Douglass
H. Roger's
Linle
How willbtw,
Quittacas
R
T
E
C
IMHowland
S. Baker
0
C
L
0
T
S
I
R
1
B
ins
School
Peire
Mrs. M. Hoard
.1. Prifte
S.Clark
Grove Chars)
J.T. Toby
1 Alen
Ocem.
Mrs .. J. Keith
I.M. staples
WWW.candy School
& PAshley .. Winslow
R.W.Barrow's :LE.Parry
RHlafford Est.
LE.Parry
EH.Williams
, Cununings
Mrs. F.R.Hussey
Great Quittacas Pond
Mrs. L. Hervey
C.Peirce
Long
Great Island
REEDS
Hoogland Statton
Pond.
E
S
A.T. Hanslow Est.
B
-
E. Prince
P. P.Peirce
L. Pelme PH. Peirce
Staples
Altirre
HarveyE'st.
J.L.Emerson r.w.rturk
C.W.Simples
i, W.Chned
ARE
Pon
SH Sampson
J.Cole
PortarPind
Hlen
E.NIKUrows
POCKSH
M.Parri's
J.P. Petrce i.s.A. Chas
E.Pams
Saw, Roy& Shin de MIL S.Metu
B.F.Cudwerth
G.H. Spooner
Steam-Million
5
Peine
BYTinkham
P.S. Doane School .. Robbins
ER &C.B. Nelse E.G. Cubworth
W.C.Parris
Ender's . Pond
StonyPoint Grove
0
GEThrasher
Grov
CenTO
metery ME
E.Browna.
OND
B.H.Reed
Stable
ZAZPickens
E.Pery
.
Cem,
JIHPickens
Alden' Fill
Bricks sta
F. Rogers
Nelson
E.E. Peite JWinslow Est
M Robbins
States
C
Parsonage
O
C
C.Cannon
S.Caswell
MrsMCRee
L.Sanford.
Cemetery
laStaples
HCoombs
Cem!
askines
ETones
Clashins ,store and
J. Denne
Gi Churchill
Con. JEPrun Panys'd
PHIchit
AShockle umarsql
EVIL
M
and
Union Chavesfans Jackson
-
ISLAND
LAllen
VERron
D).Tinkham
Swamp River
Bad
H. Favor Montgomery
B.H.Strobridg
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.