USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, Volume I > Part 50
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"E. G. PORTER. "C. A. STAPLES."
At this first meeting, Mr. George O. Whiting was chosen temporary Chairman, and Mr. Herbert G. Locke, temporary Secretary.
The project was discussed by Rev. Carlton A. Staples, Rev. Edward G. Porter, Rev. George W. Porter, Messrs. H. G. Locke, William A. Tower, A. E. Scott, M. H. Merriam, and others. Upon motion of Mr. Herbert G. Locke, it was voted unanimously that a society be formed in accordance with the purposes set forth in the circular latter dated March 1, 1886.
Eighty-four names were subscribed as members, and a com- mittee chosen to draft a constitution and by-laws. March 23, 1886, a constitution was adopted, and on April 13, 1886, officers were elected as follows: -
President, Vice-Presidents,
Augustus E. Scott.
Mary E. Hudson, Matthew H. Mer- riam, Herbert G. Locke, William A. Tower, and Katharine Whitman.
Treasurer,
Leonard A. Saville.
Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Edward G. Porter.
Recording Secretary, Alonzo E. Locke.
Historian, Rev. Carlton A. Staples.
Custodian, Dr. Robert M. Lawrence.
1 This account has been prepared by Dr. Fred S. Piper, of the Committee. Ed.
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CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
Article II of the By-Laws reads as follows: -
"The objects of this Society shall be the study of the history of Lexington and of individuals and families identified with it; the preservation of such knowledge and of such relics as illustrate its history; and the commemoration by fitting public services of the event which has rendered the town forever memorable in the annals of our country."
At this meeting, seven valuable relics from Mr. Frederick Hassam were presented, and a committee of nine members was appointed "to consider and treat with Mr. Henry Sand- ham for the purchase of his painting, The Battle of Lexing- ton."
July 20, 1886. Voted: That the Council cause a corporation to be formed of as many of their number as is convenient; that the organization and by-laws conform as nearly as pos- sible to the present organization and constitution of the So- ciety; and that the by-laws provide that all members of the Society shall become members of the Corporation.
July 28, 1886. A corporation to be known as "Lexington Historical Society" was duly effected, by-laws adopted, and the same officers elected as previously chosen by the Society.
August 11, 1886. Voted: To transfer all money and pro- perty belonging to the Society to the Corporation and to dis- continue further meetings of the Society.
A special meeting was held in the Town Hall August 11, 1886, for the reception and unveiling of Sandham's painting, The Dawn of Liberty.
The picture was presented by Mr. Matthew H. Merriam on behalf of the Picture Committee, and was received by the President in the name of the Society. Over thirty-one hun- dred dollars had been raised by subscriptions and contributed to the purchase of this picture in the first six months' exist- ence of the Society. The painting, representing the conflict on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775, is on a canvas six by ten feet, and remains where it was first hung in Lexington Town Hall. Mr. Sandham, the painter, was born in Montreal, Can- ada, 1842, and died in London, England, June 21, 1910.
October 12, 1886. Fourteen new members were elected and two papers were read by members of the Society.
December 14, 1886. Sixteen new members were elected and three papers were read, all by members of the Society.
490
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
April 10, 1888. Rev. Carlton A. Staples read a paper on the Hancock-Clarke House and made a plea for its preservation.
At the meeting of March 12, 1891, Carlton A. Staples, Charles M. Parker, and James S. Munroe were chosen a com- mittee to purchase the Old Belfry (then on the Parker estate) and restore it to a suitable location near its original position.
On March 24, 1891, the Society voted to place the Old Belfry on the New (Hancock) School grounds.
April 14, 1891. Voted : To hold dedicatory service relative to the restoration of the Old Belfry, on Saturday, April 18, 1891, at 4 P.M. [Badly decayed and beyond repair, the Old Belfry was destroyed by a gale June 20, 1909, and repro- duced by the Society in March, 1910.]
April 14, 1892. Voted : To hold two meetings, the coming year, in the "Stone Building," and on December 12, 1892, a meeting was held there.
A course of five public lectures was held in 1893 and 1894 and another course in 1894 and 1895.
March 20, 1894. A resolution was adopted favoring the change of the name of Main Street to Massachusetts Avenue.
March 10, 1896. Rev. C. A. Staples urged the Society to take action to preserve the Hancock-Clarke House, as the owner proposed to tear it down soon; and the Society voted to appoint a committee to consider the matter.
October 24, 1896. This committee reported to the Society; whereupon it was voted to purchase the Hancock-Clarke House and procure a new location for it on Hancock Street, inasmuch as the owner positively refused to allow it to re- main on the original lot where it was built, about 1698.
The house was purchased and presented to the Society by Mrs. Helen L. Ware Greene, a great-grand-daughter of Rev. Jonas Clarke. The necessary funds for purchasing a new lo- cation, moving and repairing the building were contributed by patriotic societies and public-spirited citizens, and the Hancock-Clarke House was moved from the site it had occu- pied for almost two hundred years to its present location on the opposite side of Hancock Street, late in the fall of 1896. The total expense assumed by the Society in purchasing, mov- ing, and restoring the house and the purchase of the new lot was approximately thirty-two hundred dollars.1
In the fall of 1902 an addition was built in the rear of the 1 See Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. III, p. 138. Ed.
491
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
house as a shelter for a commodious fireproof vault which has been provided for the more valuable possessions.
The Hancock-Clarke House is kept open every day in the year and no admission fee is charged to visitors. For the suc- cessful management and good care of the house the Society is indebted to Mrs. Ellen B. Lane, who has devoted herself to the task for the past ten years.
Thus within the first ten years of the Society's existence, it had raised and expended for public purposes more than six thousand dollars.
In 1896 the Society was instrumental in securing action by the town for the preservation, by a process of placing the pages between sheets of silk, of the original Town Records, at a cost to the town of about five hundred dollars; and in 1898 the publication by the town of its Vital Statistics (8vo, Cloth, 484 pp.), Robert P. Clapp, Carlton A. Staples, and George O. Smith, Committee.
Bequests. October 11, 1904, the Society received a bequest of three thousand dollars from the estate of the late Robert Charles Billings, through Mr. Thomas Minns, surviving ex- ecutor. The principal is invested as the Robert Charles Bil- lings Fund, and the income is used for the general purposes of the Society.
January 18, 1905, a gift - not a trust - of one hundred dollars was received from the estate of Elvira M. Harrington.
In 1905 and 1906 a bequest of ten thousand dollars was received from the estate of Mr. George Orlando Smith, a past president of the Society. This bequest is invested, and the income, for a period of fifteen years, must be expended for specific purposes, after which time the income may be used for the general purposes of the Society. The uses to which this income must be put for the first fifteen years are "his- torical research for matter pertaining to the efforts of citizens or natives of the town of Lexington in the Revolutionary period for the freedom and independence or for the advance- ment and welfare of the people of the United States of Amer- ica, and for the publication of the same."1
Mr. Smith also left a generous sum of money to the town of Lexington for educational purposes, with some restrictions as to its uses.2
1 See Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. III, p. 165. Ed.
2 See Chapter XXVI, infra, p. 521. Ed.
492
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
The notice for the regular meeting of the Society in Feb- ruary, 1911, reads as follows: -
"The February meeting of the Society will be held in the Han- cock-Clarke House on Tuesday, February 14, at 7.30 P.M.
"The Society will take action at this time upon the bequest of our late fellow member, Mr. James S. Munroe. The fourth clause in Mr. Munroe's will is as follows: -
"'Fourth: - Believing that those landmarks in our country's history, which have become identified as monuments of great social and political events, ought to be preserved to posterity, not alone for their intrinsic interest but more especially for their power in bringing to the minds and hearts of that posterity a realization of the courage, self-sacrifice and loyal devotion of our forefathers, - I make the following bequest: - I give, devise and bequeath unto the Lexington Historical Society, a corpor- ation organized under the laws of this Commonwealth, that portion of my real estate known as the Munroe Tavern. The estate herein devised is bounded northerly by Massachusetts Avenue, easterly, southerly and westerly by the driveways lying nearest to the Tavern Building. This devise is made upon the express condition that said Historical Society shall keep the premises in good repair and forever maintain the same in sub- stantially their present or original condition, - shall pay all taxes and other municipal charges and assessments, if any, which may be levied thereon, - shall appoint a suitable custodian to have charge thereof, and shall at stated and suitable times open the house for the inspection of the public. Said Society shall make such reasonable rules and regulations for the care of said Munroe Tavern as it may deem expedient, and shall have the right to charge a reasonable admission fee. If, however, said Society shall refuse to accept this devise, or in case of such acceptance, shall cease to exist, or shall fail to comply with the conditions herein set forth, I give, devise and bequeath said real estate to the Town of Lexington upon the same conditions; but if said Town shall refuse to accept said devise, or having accepted said devise, shall not comply with the conditions herein set forth, I devise said real estate to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts upon the same terms and conditions as above set forth, but if said Com- monwealth shall refuse said gift, then I devise said real estate to my heirs at law. I direct my executors in case the aforesaid devise shall be accepted as aforesaid, to erect within said Munroe Tavern in some suitable place, a bronze tablet reciting in appropriate language that the aforesaid devise is the gift of my late brother, William H. Munroe, and myself. I further authorize and empower my executors in their discretion to give to said Historical Society, or to said Town or Commonwealth to be placed in said Tavern, such pieces of furniture or other articles of household furnishing, belonging to my estate as have an historical interest.'
"Upon receipt of the notice of this bequest, the President re- ferred the matter to a committee of five for consideration, with the request that it should report to the Society at this meeting. The President took this action in order to give the matter the most careful and intelligent consideration and to facilitate the business.
493
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
"The Committee appointed to make arrangements for a suitable observance of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of this Society, desires to report that plans are made for a banquet, to be held on the evening of March 16 in the social rooms of the First Parish House. Suitable music and after-dinner speaking will form a part of the programme. Hon. James O. Lyford, of Concord, New Hampshire, Naval Officer at the port of Boston, will be the guest of the Society and make an address."
At the meeting, February 14, 1911, the Committee to whom Mr. Munroe's bequest had been referred, reported in writing in detail, whereupon the Society voted: -
"That the Lexington Historical Society hereby accepts the de- vise made to it by the will of the late James S. Munroe of that por- tion of his real estate known as Munroe Tavern, and that the Society regards and will treat the gift as a sacred trust, receiving, maintaining, and caring for the property agreeably to the express conditions named in the will.
"The Society also records its appreciation of the generosity and public spirit on the part of Mr. Munroe which prompted the be- quest, and directs the Recording Secretary to send to the executors of his will a copy of this vote."
This old hostelry is now in good repair and open daily to visitors in accord with Mr. Munroe's wishes.
Robert Charles Billings, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Cleverly) Billings, was born on Fort Hill in Boston, January 3, 1819, lived all his life in Boston, and died there June 12, 1899.
He came from Colonial stock, his father being of the Billings family of West Roxbury and his mother of the old Nash fam- ily of Weymouth.
He attended Boston public schools, and entered the dry- goods business of Thomas Tarbell & Co., when fourteen years of age.
He filled responsible positions in this firm with ability, was taken into partnership, and after an active and very success- ful business life for sixty-six years in this company, he died its senior member and chief owner.1 He was twice married but left no children.
George Orlando Smith, son of William L. and Hannah Lane Smith, was born in East Lexington, January 5, 1832.
1 Extract from Technology Review, Vol. II, pp. 4-5. Ed.
494
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
His boyhood was in a home where hard work and strict econ- omy taught lessons in industry and self-reliance. His school- ing was limited to the public schools of Lexington, but his education went on as long as he lived, and in his later years he possessed qualities of mind and character typical of the true gentleman above any culture guaranteed by the col- leges.
For a large part of his life he conducted, very success- fully, a cigar-store in Boston, where he accumulated a modest fortune which he bequeathed to public purposes. Mr. Smith never married. He was one of the most interested members and faithful workers in the Lexington Historical Society, of which he was Corresponding Secretary for many years and President in 1902, declining a reelection in 1903.
For the last few years of his life he resided in Somerville, where he died November 16, 1903.1
Miss Elvira Mead Harrington was born in Lexington, near the Common, February 18, 1832.
Her father was Nathan Harrington, son of Nathan, born in Lexington, February 29, 1792, and her mother was Martha I. Mead, born June 6, 1797. During her girlhood Miss Har- rington lived in Lexington, always in sight of the Common, but after the death of her parents, resided elsewhere most of the time.
For many years she was a teacher in the Boston public schools, and later was connected with the Boston Provident Association.
She died in Arlington October 15, 1904, and is buried in the Old Cemetery in Lexington.
Publications. The Society has published four volumes of Proceedings, each octavo, cloth, and one volume octavo, square, cloth, of epitaphs and inscriptions taken from the gravestones of the old cemeteries of the town. It also has in manuscript the inscriptions from all remaining gravestones in town up to 1910.
The several volumes of Proceedings are made up of brief extracts from the records, and of papers read before the So- ciety, - the papers being limited to those only which treat of Lexington history.
1 See Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. III, p. 164. Ed.
495
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
Volume I, pp. 223, was published in 1889;
Volume II, pp. 248, in 1900;
Volume III, pp. 206, in 1905;
Volume IV, pp. 192, in 1912;
Epitaphs, pp. 169, with chart, in 1905.
In 1891, A Handbook of Lexington, freely illustrated and bound in cloth, was prepared by a Committee of the Society, and published. In 1910 a guide-book, prepared by Dr. Fred S. Piper, was purchased from its former publisher, Mr. Irving P. Fox, and re-issued in an edition of three thousand copies by the Society. The volumes of Proceedings have been in demand very extensively all over the United States.
The Archives contain many manuscripts and pamphlets relating to local history, and valuable relics of bygone days.
To mention only a few of its many possessions, the Society owns the Sandham painting; oil portraits of Rev. and Mrs. John Hancock, by Smibert; an oil portrait of Colonel William Munroe, by Greenwood; an oil portrait of Hon. Francis B. Hayes; three original engravings of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, by Doolittle; three badges of honor presented to the late Baroness von Olnhausen, one of which is the Iron Cross presented by the Emperor of Germany (Clara Barton was the only other woman in America to receive this honor); drum and muskets used at the Battle of Lexington; sword of Robert Newman; lantern owned by Paul Revere; rare pam- phlet, Instructions of General Thomas Gage to Captain Brown and Ensign de Bernicre in February, 1775, with Ap- pendix Giving Brief Account of the Happenings of April 19, 1775, published in Boston, in 1779; ink-well and sermon-case and traveling-bag used by Theodore Parker; dress-coat worn by Hon. William Eustis as Minister at the Court of The Hague; stamp of the British Stamp Act, etc. There is a complete card index to the more than thirteen hundred arti- cles now owned by the Lexington Historical Society. The Society maintains a "Committee on Library and Exchange," and makes an annual appropriation for the purchase and pre- servation of books, engravings, and photographs of historical importance.
Public commemoration services have been held annually on the 19th of April for many years, at the expense of the Society and have been addressed by many noted speakers,
496
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
Governors of the Commonwealth, statesmen, and other pub- lic officials.
In October, 1908, largely in recognition of the approaching two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Lexington, the Historical Society voted to revise and re- publish the History of Lexington, by Hon. Charles Hudson, and to make a new and complete genealogy. The following committee was chosen to supervise the work: -
Mr. James P. Munroe, Chairman; Mr. John N. Morse, Secretary; Miss Mary E. Hudson;
Rev. Charles F. Carter; Miss Sarah E. Robinson;
Dr. Fred S. Piper; Mr. Albert S. Parsons.
This work, involving much time, labor, and an expense approximating six thousand dollars, has been the greatest undertaking upon which the Society has entered.
The membership of the Society has averaged about two hundred; at present it exceeds three hundred, and it possesses funds and property to the value of twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars, its trusts being carefully administered.
The following gentlemen have been honored as presidents for the years set against their respective names: -
Augustus E. Scott, 1886-87.
Matthew H. Merriam,
1888-89.
Rev. George W. Porter,
1890-91.
Albert S. Parsons, 1892-93-94.
Robert P. Clapp, 1895-96.
James P. Munroe, 1897 (declined reelection).
Edward P. Nichols,
1898-99.
Rev. Carlton A. Staples,
1900-01.
George Orlando Smith,
1902 (declined reelection).
Rev. Charles F. Carter,
1903-04.
Edward P. Bliss,
1905-06.
George O. Whiting,
1907-08.
Dr. Fred S. Piper, 1909-10.
Alonzo E. Locke.
1911- .
CHAPTER XXV
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 1
S. W. Robinson Lodge, A. F. and A. M. - Old Belfry Club - Lexington Chapter, D. A. R. - Musical Organizations - Dramatic Clubs - Monday Club - Art Class - Tourist Club - Friday Club - Outlook Club-Colonial Club - Waverley Club - Shakespeare Club - Knights of Columbus - Lexington Grange - Equal Suffrage League - Golf Club - Finance Clubs.
SIMON W. ROBINSON LODGE, A. F. and A. M. Lexington possessed a Masonic Lodge in the eighteenth century, Hiram Lodge, A. F. and A. M., having been instituted December 12,1797. For many years its meetings were held in the hall of the Munroe Tavern. Subsequently it was removed to West Cambridge (now Arlington), where its hundredth anniver- sary was duly celebrated in 1897.
In 1870, the Masons of Lexington, because of difficulty in getting to Hiram Lodge, and because of a desire to extend Freemasonry, secured a charter for a lodge in their town. It was named after Simon W. Robinson, a resident of Lexington, who was very prominent in Masonic matters and who had held almost all the high offices in the Grand Lodge of Massa- chusetts. 2
1 For the information contained in this chapter the Committee is under obliga- tion to Mrs. Fred K. Brown, Mrs. Edward H. Crosby, Mrs. Charles C. Goodwin, Miss Mary E. Hudson, Mrs. Frank H. Locke, Mrs. George W. Taylor, Mrs. Sarah Bowman Van Ness, Miss Katharine Whitman, Mrs. H. A. C. Woodward, Messrs. Charles B. Davis, E. M. Mulliken, Albert S. Parsons, Alfred Pierce, James P. Prince, Christopher S. Ryan, Allen C. Smith, and Edward C. Stone. Ed.
2 " Brother Robinson was made a Mason in 1819, in Mount Lebanon Lodge, of which Lodge he was made an honorary member in 1849, for his long and valuable service.
"Having filled the more important chairs in Royal Arch Chapter, also in the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, Grand Scribe of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, Grand King in 1836, Grand High Priest in 1837-8-9, and also filling important offices in the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, he was elected Grand Master in 1840, presiding during his term with marked ability and benefit to the Craft in the oldest Masonic jurisdiction in our country.
"In Templar Masonry he also filled the highest positions, and presided as Grand Commander over the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
"In 1851 he received the 33d degree from the Supreme Council at Boston.
"He was Grand Treasurer of the H. E. in 1859, and Lieutenant Grand Com- mander under the distinguished Brother Raymond in 1861, which office he held until
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
Following is a list of the Worshipful Masters: -
John C. Blasdell, 1870-71 George C. Goodwin, 1891-92
George O. Davis,
1872-73 George W. Sampson, 1893-94
Augustus E. Scott, 1874-75 Charles W. Swan, 1895-96
George O. Davis, 1876 Frank H. Locke, 1897-98
Everett S. Locke,
1877-78
Frank Peabody, John McKay,
1901-02
Quincy Bicknell,
1881-82
George A. Warner,
1903-04
Charles G. Kauffmann, 1883-84
Charles F. Nourse,
1905-06
Quincy Bicknell,
1885-86
William H. Whitaker,
1907-08
Edwin J. Nourse,
1887-88
Arthur D. Stone,
1909-10
Alfred Pierce,
1889-90
Edward C. Stone,
1911-12
Herbert T. Richardson, 1891
The office of treasurer was filled from almost the beginning down to 1900 by Charles C. Goodwin or Walter Wellington (both deceased); from 1900 to 1910, Frank Peabody; 1910 to date, John McKay.
After Leonard G. Babcock gave up the secretaryship, Henry M. Reed was elected. He was followed by George H. Cutter, who in turn was succeeded by Charles W. Swan. When the latter gave it up, Byron C. Earle was elected and still fills the position.
During the first years, the membership was small, and up to 1905, had increased to only about one hundred. In 1911, however, there are one hundred and eighty-five members. The Lodge is prospering, fills an acceptable niche in the town's life, and in a quiet way does much good.
The charter members were: -
John C. Blasdell .*
Warren E. Russell .*
George O. Davis.
Leonard G. Babcock .*
Augustus E. Scott. George S. Butters .*
Josiah Bryant .* Asa Cottrell .*
Chas. C. Goodwin .*
Sergeant C. Whitcher .*
Horace B. Davis .*
Bradley C. Whitcher .*
Geo. D. Harrington. Chas. K. Tucker .*
George E. Muzzey .*
1865, when he became M. P. Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, Ancient Accepted Rite, for the Northern Masonic jurisdiction of the United States, duties which he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to the brethren, until his resignation of that office on the 16th day of May, 1867, being the last official position he held in the Masonic Society, in which he had devoted over forty years."
(From the By-Laws of Simon W. Robinson Lodge.) Ed.
Deceased.
1899-00
James E. Crone,
1879-80
GEORGE W. ROBINSON
BENJAMIN MUZZEY
REV. CALEB STETSON
GEN. SAMUEL CHANDLER
SIMON W. ROBINSON
499
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The first organization, on March 13, 1871, was as follows:
John C. Blasdell,
Worshipful Master.
Geo. O. Davis,
Senior Warden.
Augustus E. Scott,
Junior Warden.
Leonard G. Babcock,
Secretary.
Sergeant C. Whitcher,
Treasurer.
Chas. C. Goodwin,
Senior Deacon.
Chas. K. Tucker,
Junior Deacon.
George E. Muzzey,
Senior Steward.
George F. Jones,
Junior Steward.
Alamander L. Ball, Tyler.
THE OLD BELFRY CLUB was organized on the 13th of June, 1892, at a gathering in Cary Hall, in the Town Hall Building, of some of the prominent citizens as follows: -
Rev. Irving Meredith, Dr. J. O. Tilton, E. K. Houghton, A. M. Redman, John F. Hutchinson, Walter K. Shaw, Frederick O. Vaille, F. Foster Sherburne, Edward P. Bliss, William W. Reed, Theodore P. Robinson, L. E. Bennink, Robert P. Clapp, and W. E. Harmon.
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