USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, Volume I > Part 52
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Each of the States was taken in the order of its coloniza- tion; its growth, wars, religion, schools, social and industrial condition ; also papers on architecture, furniture, and house- hold arts. The history was carried down to the beginning of the Civil War.
THE WAVERLEY CLUB, under a different name, dates back to 1880, when a group of young women met and organized a Reading Club. Weekly meetings were held and informal readings of travels, literature, and biography were continued for eleven years.
In 1891, a regular course of study was undertaken, an experienced and competent teacher, Mrs. Edwin G. Champ- ney, was secured, and, under the name of the History Class, the members gave four years of thorough and earnest study to English, French, German, and American history.
Since 1895, much time has been given to the reading of Shakespeare's plays, and to the study of the Lake poets, and other modern British and American writers.
In 1896, while deeply engaged in the life and works of Sir
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
Walter Scott, the name of Waverley Club was adopted, and is still retained.
While the membership has not been large, the work done has been thorough and profitable, the association always pleasant, and the Club still retains on its rolls some of the charter members of the Reading Club of 1880. It has had only two presidents, Mrs. Frank C. Childs and Miss Ellen E. Harrington.
SHAKESPEARE CLUB. Many literary and reading clubs have flourished in Lexington, but the Lexington Shakespeare Club, organized February 26, 1898, and continuing its activi- ties for seven years, meeting weekly or fortnightly during the winter months for reading and the study of Shakespeare's plays, deserves special mention. It read every play attributed to Shakespeare, and many of them many times. It promoted frequent public lectures or readings upon them, and gave to the High School Library a fine edition of the works of the great dramatist.
Its founders were: Mr. A. W. Stevens, Mrs. Francis E. Tufts, and Mrs. Albert S. Parsons. Its Presidents were: Mr. A. W. Stevens, Mr. Albert S. Parsons, Rev. Charles F. Carter, James P. Prince, Esq., James R. Carret, Esq., and Mr. Benjamin F. Brown.
LEXINGTON COUNCIL NO. 94, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, was instituted in the Town Hall, July 10, 1894, with twenty-five charter members, Michael F. Collins being Grand Knight.
The present officers are: -
John G. Fitzgerald,
Grand Knight.
Eugene T. Buckley,
Deputy Grand Knight.
Charles J. Dailey,
Chancellor.
William Viano,
Recording Secretary.
Frederick J. Spencer,
Financial Secretary.
B. J. Harrington,
Treasurer.
James S. Montague,
Advocate.
William B. Gorman,
Warden.
James J. Waldron,
Inside Guard.
Outside Guard.
Peter J. Welch, Christopher S. Ryan, Edward H. Mara,
Lecturer.
Joseph P. Ryan,
Board of Trustees.
Dennis H. Collins,
Rev. Michael J. Owens, Chaplain.
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OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The hall of the Council is located at 434 Massachusetts Avenue, and the membership is one hundred.
LEXINGTON GRANGE, NO. 233, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY, was organized by Deputy William T. Herrick on December 3, 1903, with thirty-five charter members. The first Master of the Grange was Clarence H. Cutler, and D. F. Hutchinson was elected Chaplain, which office he has held to the present time. The Grange has at present two hundred and four members (one hundred and seven female and ninety-seven male), and meets the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month at Historic Hall.
THE LEXINGTON GOLF CLUB was organized April 12, 1895, with John B. Thomas as President. The Club established a nine-hole course on the south slope of the hill back of the Munroe Tavern, using the old barn of the Tavern as a club- house, and the course extending from Percy Road across Middle Street.
December 2, 1899, it was voted to lease the Vaille Farm on Hill Street, North Lexington; and on January 17, 1900, the Club was incorporated and the existing club-house on the Hill Street site constructed. The Vaille Farm was purchased for the use of the Club in September, 1906. The site is an un- usually beautiful one, with extensive views of the New Hamp- shire hills; and, in addition to an excellent golf course, the Club has tennis-courts and a swimming-pool supplied from springs.
The present membership is one hundred and fifty.
THE LEXINGTON EQUAL SUFFRAGE LEAGUE was formed November 6, 1900, at a largely attended meeting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George S. Jackson on Oakland Street. There were present several survivors of a society which had been formed for the same purpose in East Lexington, some years previous, in favor of the equal political rights of men and women, and much enthusiasm was shown.
Its first officers were its chief promoters: -
President,
Vice-Presidents,
Mr. A. W. Stevens. Mrs. George S. Jackson. Mrs. Hannah McLean Greeley.
.
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer,
Mr. Francis J. Garrison. Mrs. Hannah McLean Greeley. Miss Elizabeth W. Harrington.
Regular meetings were held, first at members' houses, later in the Kindergarten Building, on Forest Street. Public meetings with distinguished speakers from Boston were held in the Town Hall, and a strong society of sixty to seventy members was active in the propaganda for several years.
It interested itself in securing an amendment to the Town By-Laws, requiring that two members of the School Com- mittee of five should be women, and brought out a large vote by women for School Committee, - 293 being registered in 1903, of whom 239 voted.
Mrs. Mary C. Jackson has been President for several years.
There are four clubs in Lexington the purpose of which is to enable the members, by combining their resources, to secure good returns upon sound investments. The earliest of these was THE LEXINGTON ASSOCIATES, organized in 1885. Its officers are : -
President,
Alfred Pierce.
Vice-President,
Robert P. Clapp.
Treasurer,
Charles B. Davis.
Secretary, George E. Stone.
Alfred Pierce.
Trustees,
Robert P. Clapp.
Charles B. Davis.
THE LEXINGTON CLUB was brought together in 1886, and was reorganized, under a declaration of trust, in March, 1892. Its present membership is eighteen, and its officers are: -
President, J. F. Russell.
Vice-President, F. F. Sherburne.
Secretary, E. M. Mulliken.
Treasurer, W. W. Reed.
W. W. Reed.
Trustees,
G. E. Stone.
G. L. Gilmore.
Its assets are mainly in mortgage loans and Boston real estate.
515
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
In 1892 was formed the EAST LEXINGTON FINANCE CLUB, with a membership of twenty-five. Its holdings are in real estate.
April 4, 1906, the LEXINGTON INVESTMENT CLUB organ- ized with twenty members, increased in 1908 to twenty-five. Its present officers are :-
President, Clifford W. Pierce.
Vice-President,
Ed. B. Worthen.
Secretary, ' Allen C. Smith.
Treasurer,
G. I. Tuttle.
Lester T. Redman.
Trustees,
George F. Smith. J. J. Walsh.
CHAPTER XXVI
BENEFACTIONS
Act creating Trustees of Public Trusts - Gammell Legacy - Bridge Gift - Beals Legacy - Gilmor Legacy - Hayes Fountain Fund - Smith Legacy - French Legacy - Residuary Estate of G. O. Smith - Fellowship of Charities - Home for Aged People - Flower Mission.
WHILE, in a town like Lexington, the problems of poverty and relief are not so difficult as in a manufacturing com- munity, no place is free from the questions arising from the old age, orphanage, or mental or physical incapacity of cer- tain of its citizens. As already pointed out by Mr. Hudson,1 Lexington, as was true of other New England towns, was from the beginning extremely careful that no one likely to become a charge upon the town should be permitted to ac- quire rights of domicile. Eloquent, too, of the attitude of the forefathers, as contrasted with modern humanitarianism, is the fact that even Lexington was guilty of stealthily and at night transporting paupers, for whose support it did not feel itself responsible, to the common or other public place of the several towns to which it believed them chargeable, leaving them there as a visible evidence of repudiation.
As a whole, however, Lexington has always been both gen- erous and humane in the treatment of her dependents;2 and, as is indicated by the accounts of the work of philanthropy carried on in the several churches,3 her people have been unusually responsive to the calls of charity. Through the religious and fraternal organizations, as well as through individual giving, sums aggregating large amounts have been provided, not only for the relief of Lexington citizens, but also for the help of good causes everywhere. The charities of Boston and of Massachusetts, the work of home and foreign missions, the needs arising from great disasters, such as the Chicago fire and the San Francisco earthquake, have found
1 Page 63, ante. Ed.
2 It is worthy of note that until quite far into the nineteenth century inmates of the "poor-farm" were compelled to wear a distinctive and rather conspicuous uni- form. Ed.
3 See Chapter XVI, ante. Ed.
-
-. 1
OLD BELFRY CLUB TOWN HALL
CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY STONE BUILDING
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BENEFACTIONS
in the citizens of Lexington a response much greater and more prompt, it is generally conceded, than from many other towns with far larger financial resources.
Gifts and bequests having been made from time to time to the town, it has seemed good business policy to create a special board to administer them. Therefore, at the request of the town meeting, the Legislature of 1910 passed the following act, which was then accepted by the town: -
"AN ACT to authorize the town of Lexington to borrow money to repay or reimburse its Trust Funds and to provide for the Cus- tody and Management of its Trust Property.
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: -
"SECTION 1. The town of Lexington, for the purpose of repaying or reimbursing certain trust funds received by said town, and sub- sequently paid out and expended by it for the general expenses of the town, is hereby authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding thirty- five thousand dollars, and to issue notes or bonds therefor, payable at periods not exceeding twenty-five years from date of issue; such notes or bonds shall be signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the selectmen, shall bear interest, payable semi-annually, at a rate not exceeding four and one half per cent. per annum and shall be sold or disposed of in such manner, or upon such terms, as the treasurer and selectmen shall determine. At the time of issuing said notes or bonds the town shall provide for the payment thereof in such an- nual payments as shall extinguish the debt within the time pre- scribed within this act, and when a vote to that effect has been passed, the amount required therefor shall be raised annually by taxation in the same manner in which other taxes are raised with- out any further vote or action of the town.
"SECTION 2. The town may at its next annual meeting, or at a special meeting duly called for the purpose, elect by ballot in the same manner as other town officers are elected a board of three citizens who shall serve without compensation and who shall be called Trustees of Public Trusts, one of whom shall serve until the annual meeting in the year 1912, one until the annual meeting in the year 1914, and one until the annual meeting in the year 1916, and at the annual meeting in the year 1912 and biennially there- after the town shall elect one trustee for the term of six years and until his successor is elected and qualified.
"SECTION 3. Unless it shall be otherwise provided or determined by vote of the town, or by the terms of the instrument creating the trust, said Board shall take, hold, manage, invest, reinvest, admin-
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
ister and dispense all the estates and properties, real and personal, and the proceeds thereof, which have already been, or which may hereafter be devised, bequeathed or otherwise given to or conferred upon said town of Lexington, for public or charitable objects, in- cluding the trust funds referred to in Section 1, and also any proper- ties devised, bequeathed or otherwise conferred upon said Board for the benefit of said town or any public or charitable objects therein. Said Board may invest and reinvest all said estates and properties, real and personal, and the proceeds thereof, in such other estates and securities, real and personal, as it may deem safe and proper, having always in mind the security of the principal sums of said trusts.
"SECTION 4. A vacancy in said Board shall be created by the death, the removal for cause by the Supreme Judicial Court, the removal of his legal residence from said town, or the resignation in writing delivered to the selectmen, of any member of the Board, and any vacancy shall be filled by the election of a new member by ballot for the remainder of the term so vacated at a meeting of the voters duly called for the purpose.
"SECTION 5. Said Board shall take, hold, and manage all sums of money deposited with the treasurer of said town for the care and preservation of cemetery lots under the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth, and may invest the same in the Lexington Sav- ings Bank or other savings bank in this Commonwealth in separate accounts with each deposit and shall pay over from the income thereof to the proper persons the sums necessary to carry out the purposes of said deposits.
"SECTION 6. Said Board shall do all acts necessary to or proper to be done for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this act, and shall annually make a full report to said town of the amounts and investments of all property and deposits held by them liereunder and of their doings in relation thereto.
"SECTION 7. Nothing in this act contained shall be construed as restricting, enlarging or in any way changing the terms of the be- quests or donations under which said estates are devised or given. "SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon its acceptance by said town at a legal meeting duly called for the purpose."
The Board thus created administers, in addition to the special funds bequeathed for the care of cemetery lots, the following trusts: -
The Jonas Gammell Legacy. Accepted by the town July 11, 1874: -
"I give and bequeath to the town of Lexington five hundred dol- lars ($500) upon the condition that said town shall receive the same
519
BENEFACTIONS
and keep it safely invested, and expend the income thereof in pur- chasing such luxuries and delicacies for the inmates of the town alms- house as are not usually furnished them and shall tend to promote their health and comfort. Such income shall be expended by the Overseers of the Poor and two ladies, residents of the town, to be annually appointed for that purpose by the Selectmen of the town. This legacy is made upon the express condition that if that part of the town called East Lexington ever be incorporated as a separate town, the same shall be transferred and paid over to such new town, to be held by such new town upon the conditions and for the pur- pose aforesaid."
The Samuel J. Bridge Gift. Given 1880. Accepted March 7,1881 :-
"Know all men by these presents, that I, Samuel J. Bridge, hereby give to the inhabitants of the town of Lexington in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, the sum of two thousand dollars, a permanent fund to be called "The Bridge Charitable Fund" to be held in trust by said town, for the purposes and in manner hereafter mentioned, to wit: Said sum of two thou- sand dollars is to be invested in a note of said town of Lexington, or some other town in Massachusetts, or in some safe, good, and reliable security, and two-thirds of the annual income accruing from said fund shall be annually distributed or expended at Christmas or in December or January or other suitable time at the discretion of the Selectmen or the Overseers of the Poor of said town of Lex- ington among the deserving poor of said town of Lexington with- out distinction of sex or religion, and I wish no especial publicity to be given to the names of the parties receiving the benefit from said fund.
"The remaining one-third of the income shall be reserved an- nually and placed at interest in some safe security, until the said one-third reserved shall with accumulated interest thereon, amount to two thousand dollars, then the annual income of said four thou- sand dollars may be distributed or expended on the deserving poor of said town of Lexington in the manner aforesaid."
Eleanor S. Beals Legacy. Accepted by the town June 8, 1891 :-
"I bequeath to town of Lexington the sum of two thousand dol- lars, in trust, the income to be expended for the benefit of worthy, indigent, aged men and women, over sixty years of age, American born, to be called the Beals Fund."
Harriet R. Gilmor Legacy. Accepted March 5, 1894: - "I give to the town of Lexington, in said Massachusetts, the
.
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
sum of five hundred dollars, to be safely invested and held in trust forever, and the income thereof to be expended under the direction of the Overseers of the Poor of said town, for the benefit of poor people in said Lexington, whether the same shall be inmates of the almshouse in said town or otherwise."
Hayes Fountain Fund. Created March 11, 1901: -
"Your committee [on the erection of the fountain] recommend that it [the balance remaining from the bequest of F. B. Hayes] be held by the town and known as 'The Hayes Fountain Trust Fund,' that it be invested in a town note or other security, and the income used for the perpetual care of the fountain, and the grounds im- mediately around it."
George O. Smith Legacy. Accepted October 23, 1905: -
"To the town of Lexington in trust twenty-five hundred dollars, the income thereof to be expended by the 'Field and Garden Club' so long as said 'Field and Garden Club' shall be in existence, and in case said 'Field and Garden Club' shall dissolve or cease its work, the income to be expended by a committee chosen by the citizens for that purpose, to serve without pay, in setting out and keeping in order shade and ornamental trees and shrubs in the streets and highways of said town, or the beautifying of unsightly places in the highways. In case this bequest shall not be accepted by the town, or if the income shall remain unexpended for a longer term than two years in succession, then this my bequest and any unexpended balance of income shall revert to my estate and be appropriated as hereinafter provided."
Charles E. French Legacy. Accepted October 10, 1907: -
"I give to the town of Lexington, Massachusetts, two thousand ($2000) to be invested in the town of Lexington bonds, the annual income thereof to be expended for silver medals for its public gram- mar and high schools, subject to the same conditions, limitations and restrictions as in the medal bequest to the town of Braintree, Massachusetts.
"The conditions, limitations and restrictions contained in the medal bequest to the town of Braintree are as follows: -
"'I give to the town of Braintree two thousand dollars ($2000) in trust, the amount to be invested in town of Braintrec bonds, such part of the annual income of which as may be necessary to be expended in the purchase of three (3) silver medals in each of the public high and grammar schools of said town, to be distributed for the best scholarship (military and mechanic arts not included) of the class graduating from each school, provided, however, that
521
BENEFACTIONS
a sufficient fund shall not (prior to my decease) have been set apart by others for the same purpose. The unexpended income to be added to and remain a part of the fund.'
"I give to the town of Lexington, Massachusetts, two thousand ($2000) dollars in trust to be invested in town of Lexington bonds, the annual income thereof to be devoted to the care of the older part of the cemetery in which repose the remains of my great-great- great-grandparents Rev. John Hancock and wife. The vault inclos- ing their remains to receive due care."
Besides the legacy mentioned above, and in addition to the generous bequest to the Lexington Historical Society,1 Mr. George O. Smith left two other funds in the following terms: -
"Twelfth. All the residue and remainder of my estate of every kind and nature, and in case of the non-acceptance or non-compli- ance with the conditions of the bequests of $2500 to the town of Lexington and $5000 to the Lexington Historical Society, those amounts are to be added thereto, I give, devise, and bequeath to Albert S. Parsons and Edwin S. Spaulding, the executors herein named, together with Charles A. Wellington (Edward P. Nichols, in codicil, Mr. Wellington having deceased), James P. Munroe and Charles B. Davis, all of Lexington, and their successors, in trust, for the following purposes: One thousand dollars set apart, the income thereof to be annually offered and paid in two prizes to the pupils of either of the Lexington Schools - High or Gram- mar - who shall write the best and second best essay or paper on Patriotic Statesmanship in contrast with Politicalism or Partisan Statesmanship in their effects on National Progress and Prosperity. Three-fifths of said income as a prize for the best, and two-fifths for the second-best essay, the award to be made by a competent com- mittee chosen as judges, who shall not know who the authors are until their decisions have been made, the papers to be read in pub- lic if found to be feasible.
"The balance of this fund I wish devoted to furnishing of a technical education to graduates of the High School in Lexington - who were born in that town - such as may be furnished by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or schools of a similar character or grade - to such graduates as may from the poverty of their parents or other causes or circumstances be unable to pro- cure means for such an education, but being fitted for and worthy of such expenditure, may, by loan or payment of tuition by the Trustees, be furnished with sufficient means to acquire it. A loan would scem preferable, as in that way the student would retain his
1 See Chapter XXIV. Ed.
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
personal independence, and indications would point to a more suc- cessful result. It seems desirable that the income of this fund or a portion at least may be made available at as early a date as pos- sible, but as it is not possible to fix the amount of such income, and as it is my wish to increase the amount to a sum sufficient to give to every worthy applicant the benefit of it, and moreover as I wish to encourage a desire for such education in the pupils of the 'Adams School' and to give an opportunity for one student perpetually from that school, I desire that the first applicant to receive its benefits shall be a graduate of the school now known as the 'Adams School' in East Lexington, and until a graduate from that school applies for a scholarship as a loan or for payment by the Trustees and receives such benefit, the income shall be added to the principal fund. .
"It is my wish that female graduates of the High School shall enjoy equal privileges and benefits of the fund with male graduates. By judicious management and the addition of a portion of the in- come each year, the principal fund will increase in time to an amount of considerable importance. The requirements of the future in mat- ters of education will not stop short of the best, even in Lexing- ton, and the increase in population, sure to come, may demand Technical Schools in this town, in which case - everything being equal as to facilities afforded - it might be wise and practicable to expend the income for tuition in such school. But unless afford- ing first class opportunities for a thorough education in such branches as may be taught at the 'Massachusetts Institute of Technology,' I think it would yield better results if the older institution should be patronized .. If from financial crises or other causes the income at any time be diminished and in the judgment of the Trustees it would be for the interest of the Trust to temporarily suspend the loans for, or the payment of tuitions, to increase the principal amount of the fund so as to afford greater usefulness at a later period, I authorize them to do so.
"The time when additions to the principal fund shall cease, must be left with the Trustees to decide, as the circumstances and requirements of future times may in their judgment dictate, but I hope not before the amount of the fund has increased to One hun- dred thousand dollars at least, which with the low rate of interest and income likely to prevail, will make the income of that sum meagre enough.
"Eighth - To Miss Ellen Dana, Edwin S. Spaulding, Mrs. Davis, wife of George O. Davis, Mrs. Munroe, wife of James P. Munroe and Francis E. Ballard, all of Lexington aforesaid and their survivors and successors, I give one thousand dollars, in trust, for the following purposes - such an amount never to exceed one
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