USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Manchester > History of the town of Manchester, Essex County, Massachusetts, 1645-1895 > Part 22
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 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Brick-making, of which there are early traces, has lately assumed considerable importance; one hundred and six thousand brick having been shipped from the yard on Summer street in the month of August, 1894.
Ice-cutting employs in the season about 30 men, and keeps quite a force of men and teams employed in the summer. The business has been built up by the energy of Mr. Amos F. Bennett, who has invested in it $9,000, in buildings, machinery, etc. The ice is cut from artificial ponds, and great care is taken to secure purity in the water supply.
With the failure or departure of its native industries - its fishery, its ship-building, its cabinet-making - the town was somewhat in the position of Dominie Samp- son, who had " fallen to the leeward in the voayge of life," when it was grappled to by the smart summer resident, and brought up to the wind. Since that time, by the application of new steering apparatus, change of rig and restowing of cargo, it has gained seaway, and now presents a brave sight among its sister craft along
358
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
shore, albeit its build is somewhat old-fashioned and its top-hamper partly ancient and partly modern. With a good wind on the quarter, the old ship may still lift her bows to the sea, after the strain and storms of two hundred and fifty years. Her children can say with our much-loved poet :
" Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea! Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o'er our fears, Are all with thee, - are all with thee!"
SHIPWRECKS. - Taking into account the rocky nature of the coast, it is surprising that so few vessels have been lost in this vicinity. It is probably due to the fact that a good offing is usually kept from Eastern Point to Baker's Island. On Nov. 28, 1878, at an early hour in the morning, the schooner " Charlie Cobb," of and from Rockland, Me., for Providence, R. I., loaded with lime, came ashore on "Singing Beach." The ves- sel took fire and burned to the water's edge. The mate, a Norwegian, was knocked overboard by the main boom and was drowned before the vessel was beached, his body afterwards washing ashore. On Jan. 6, 1892, the U. S. Revenue Cutter, " Gallatin," was wrecked in a thick snow-storm on " Boo-loo Ledge," about two miles from "Eagle Head." One seaman, a Dane, was struck by the falling smoke-stack, knocked into the water and drowned; the rest of the crew, with the officers, all landed safely on the beach near the summer residence of Mrs. Bullard, and after being cared for by the town authorities were forwarded by the late afternoon train to Boston.
NAMES OF PERSONS LOST AT SEA.
In order to secure as full a list as possible of those who have been lost at sea, a request for information was published in Salem, Gloucester and Boston papers as well as in the Manchester Cricket. As the result of this
359
APPENDIX L.
inquiry the following list is appended, which is probably as complete as can now be made. Special thanks are due to John T. Hassam, Esq., of Boston, for valuable assistance, also to William H. Tappan, Esq. A Ium- ber of names have been furnished by the Church Records, as kept by Rev. Benjamin Tappan, 1745-1790; others have been gathered from various sources.
1717. John Peirce, drowned in the harbor.
1719. Ezekiel Knowlton, drowned at Sable Island.
1748. Benjamin Allen, William Hassam.
1749 or '50. Benjamin Hassam, on a voyage to Lisbon. William Lee, Isaac Presson, on a voyage to Lisbon.
1752. Ezekiel Allen, Mallaca Allen, Azariah Allen, Joseph Allen, Jonathan Hassam.
1754. Amos Allen, John Tarring, Robert Safty, Joseph Safty, Thomas Hoole, coming from Virginia.
1756. Ambrose Allen, Moses Trask, Jacob Lee, Daniel David- son, William Ireland, John Ayers, coming from Lisbon.
James Allen, died at sea.
1757. Daniel Leach, Israel Morgan, died in England (?).
1758. Joseph Allen, John Day, Simeon Wilson, John Driver, Richard Lee, Jun., John Dennis, Josiah Lee, John Sears, Samuel Morgan, Jun., Joseph Lee.1
1759. Jolin Hassam, drowned at Louisburg.
Lewis Degan,
John Badcock, died near Louisburg.
Moses Bennet, " Isle of Orleans.
1760. William Bennett, Aaron Dennis, Robert Leach, died at sea in the West Indies.
1765. William Edwards, Samuel Carter, Samuel Jones, drowned in the harbor.
1767. Benjamin Allen, Thomas Ayer, Benjamin Allen, Ezra Allen, John Leach, Richard Kitchin, Timothy Don- naway, Joseph Easty, John Marshall, Josiah Hassam. 1768. Benjamin Andrews, Charles Leach, Daniel Foster, com- ing from West Indies.
1770. Amos Allen, Thomas Allen, Bartholomew Allen, Jacob Allen, Crispin Joynt, Jacob Lee.
1772. Daniel Edwards, Samuel Edwards, Samuel Perry, Frank Silva, Benjamin Hilton, coming from the West Indies.
1 There is some confusion in names this year.
360
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
1773. Edward Lee and "five others." 1
1774. Benjamin Masters Allen, Charles Hill, Moses Bennett, John Easty, John Morse, Edward Lee, Amos Morgan, Samuel Lee.
1776.
Daniel Morgan, Daniel Ober, Nicholas Babcock, James Pittman, John Allen, John Carter, - Tucker, Amos Allen, Daniel Brown, Jacob Lendall, Simeon Webber, Azarialı Allen, James Morgan, Andrew Brown, Dr. Joseph Whipple, lost with Privateer " Gloucester."
Andrew Leach, and "ten others," with Privateer " Barrington."
1777. Captain Jeremiah Hibbert, in command of Privateer "Civil Usage," lost near Portland. ?
John Allen, Azariah Allen.
1780. Jacob Allen.
1781. Samuel Edwards.
1783. Amos Hilton.
1787. Thomas Allen, died at sea. Malachi Allen.
1793. Arthur Allen.
1796. Amos Hilton.
1798. Luther Allen, Jacob Perry.
1801. John Lee.
1803. Isaac Allen, William Hassam.
1821. John Hooper.
1823. Capt. William Babcock. 3
1824. Daniel Allen.
1827. (Sept.) - Hassam, " age 28." 4
1829. Josiah Hassam, drowned at Boston.
1830. Joseph Killam, on a voyage to the West Indies.
1838. John W. G. Allen.
1843. John Cheever, Rufus Cheever, Hillard Morse, David Hall, Nathaniel Morgan, Merritt Lennon.
1844. Horatio Allen.
1852. George F. Allen.
1 Perhaps this and the list for 1774 are the same.
2 Capt. Hibbert had previously commanded the Privateer " Hawke."
3 Murdered at sea by pirates ; p. 113.
4 This is from the Church Records: " Josiah Hassam b. Aug. 19, 1797, died Sept. 1824 at City Point, Va." They may have been the same.
361
APPENDIX L.
1877. Edward L. Wheaton, Charles Allen. 1
1894. Edward W. Leach.
Vincent R. Burgess, lost overboard in the Indian Ocean.
The above list gives nearly or quite 130 between the years 1717 and 1894. How many names are lacking appears from the record made by Rev. Benjamin Tap- pan, November, 1774: "N. B. About 97 have been lost at sea and buried in distant ports since I came to town " (1745).
1 On voyage to India, on ship " Iceland," one of three ships built for the India trade, the others named the "Iceberg" and the " Ice King." The "Iceland" was spoken a few days out from port, and never again heard from.
-
APPENDIX M.
THE WATER WORKS.
AMONG the great works of art of the old world, rival- ling its Pyramids and Temples, are its Aqueducts, the ruins of which still challenge admiration for their solid- ity, costliness and engineering skill. The " water ques- tion " presents one of the great problems of our modern civilization. Happily, it seems to be solved in Man- chester, at least for the present generation. And there is no reason to doubt that the supply will prove adequate to meet all reasonable demands upon it, so long as the springs run among the hills.
The town had depended for nearly two hundred and fifty years of its history upon the natural water supply by means of wells and cisterns for domestic purposes, and upon reservoirs in case of fire. It was as well pro- vided for, perhaps, as most towns of similar size and population. It had been felt for many years, however, that a larger and purer water supply was demanded. Various plans were discussed, but nothing definite was accomplished until April 23, 1890, when Samuel Knight, T. Jefferson Coolidge, Jr., William Hoare and Roland C. Lincoln were chosen a Committee " to take into con- sideration the expediency of introducing water into the town for general town purposes, to ascertain the best source of supply, the quality of the same, the best method of procedure, and to make an estimate of the probable cost thereof, together with such information as will enable the citizens of the town to act thereon un- derstandingly." This Committee employed Mr. Percy
363
364
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
M. Blake as Engineer, and proceeded at once to make a series of investigations and surveys, resulting in the recommendation to the town in an able and elaborate Report, of the present system of Water Supply, includ- ing driven wells, a large filter-well, a pumping-station and stand-pipe.
The thoroughness of the work of this Committee left little to be done subsequently but the carrying out of the original plan with some slight necessary modifica- tions and enlargements. The town was fortunate at the outset, in the selection of its Committee and its Engi- neer. The finances of the enterprise were also success- fully managed from the start, consisting in the issue of a series of gradually maturing Bonds, so as to distribute the cost of the work over twenty successive years.
The following account of the construction of the Works, and the introduction of water into the town, is little more than a compilation from the admirable Re- ports of the Water Commissioners, Engineer and Super- intendent. These are of necessity the chief, and in some instances the only, source of information.
In pursuance of a vote at a town meeting held Feb. 2, 1891, at which the above-mentioned Report was sub- mitted, the Committee petitioned the Legislature for " an Act to supply the town of Manchester with water." The Act was passed, and was approved by the Gov- ernor, March 20, 1891. The Act was accepted by the town April 4, 1891, by a vote of two hundred to seventy- six. At this meeting the town also voted to take " the waters of Sawmill Brook and its tributaries, and from springs and underground and surface sources adjacent thereto," and to issue bonds to the amount of $125,000, and elected Samuel Knight, Roland C. Lincoln and William Hoare Water Commissioners, for three years, two years and one year respectively.
365
APPENDIX M.
On April 15, operations were begun for the driving of test- wells along the valley of Sawmill Brook, as recommended by the State Board of Health and by Mr. Blake in his report, in order to ascertain more fully the nature of the subsoil and to determine the point of largest yield remote from habitations. No satisfactory results could be reached above the so-called Coolidge Springs, though many wells were sunk to obtain them. Finally, a well, No. 30, was developed near the junc- tion of the Eastern and Northern Valleys, which yielded a remarkable flow; and the large collecting-well was located near it, which presumably receives the water from both valleys.
A retaining gallery, or filter-well was then constructed, thirty-three feet in diameter at the top, and about thirty feet in depth. The ground proved to be clay, here and there slightly mixed with fine gravel and sand.
The progress of the operations was watched with interest by our citizens generally. The excavation was stopped at a depth of twenty-nine feet; and, though a considerable quantity of water was obtained, chiefly from the sides of the well to- ward the Eastern Valley, it was decided to increase the supply by sinking five tubular wells to enter a stratum of water-bear- ing gravel, which was believed to be easily within reach, as indicated by the existence of the neighboring springs. These five tubes, of 23-inch bore, were driven to the further depth of about twenty-four feet, and reached the desired stratum of gravel from which said springs arise. A remarkable and copi- ous flow from these tubular wells was at once established, the jets of water rising to a height of five or six feet above the top of the tubes.
,
The stand-pipe, located on Powder House Hill, is thirty-five feet in diameter and seventy-five feet in height. It is constructed of the best materials, with iron plates and steel rivets, and in the most thorough manner. It was filled with water for the first time, Feb. 22, 1892, and was found to be practically water-tight.
The pumping station consists of a well-proportioned and convenient building containing the pumping-plant,
1
366
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
with coal sheds, and a house for the Superintendent. The pumps were furnished by the Blake Manufactur- ing Company and are described as duplicate pumping engines of the compound condensing type, twelve-inch stroke.
The pipe-laying included specifications for laying 64,696 feet of pipe, seventy valves and seventy hydrants. The work was begun July 13, 1891, and continued under most favorable weather with little interruption, until Jan. 9, 1892.
A demand for the extension of water mains continued the work of laying pipes in the summer of 1892; with this was combined the work of service-piping. By spe- cial arrangement, in accordance with a vote of the town, pipes were laid in many private estates. The net cost of the work to March 1, 1893, was $156,472.33. Dur- ing the summer of 1893, the demands upon the well were so great that it became evident to the Board
that it was desirable to afford additional vent to the great press- ure or head of water seeking to enter through the five two-and- a-half inch tubes which had been sunk in the bottom of the well. Accordingly, awaiting the time of least consumption of the town water, the work of increasing the speed and volume of the supply was begun on December 5. Six tubes, each of four-inch diameter, were driven to about the same depth as the smaller tubes extend; and a considerable quantity of broken stone, and then of coarse Plum Island sand, was deposited over the bottom of the well.
The extremely dry summer of 1894 tested the capac- ity of the supply and of the works in an unexpected manner, but there was no failure. On July 13, there were pumped 400,190 gallons, the pumps being in oper- ation seventeen hours.1
1 This seems to show that a failure of supply can be caused only by senseless, and from a moral point of view, criminal waste.
367
APPENDIX M.
The Report of 1894 gave the total cost to date as $163,231.42 (exclusive of land damages), embracing 14.4 miles of piping, 120 hydrants, and 381 service- pipe lines. In closing the Report, the Commissioners say :
We feel that our citizens are to be congratulated that, while many other towns have been obliged to increase their water debt over the original bond issues, Manchester has reduced hers under the plan of her series bonds.
The statistics given below are from the Superintend- ent's Report to the Board of Water Commissioners, March, 1895.
During the year ending March 1, there were pumped 42,030,790 gallons of water as follows :-
March 1,488,420 gal.
September . 4,289,930 gal.
April 1,703,650
October
2,767,050 4
May . 2,879,770 November . 3,074,170
June 4,773,800 December . 4,289,930
July .
7,347,680
January 2,265,620
August
5,338,600
February
1,812,170
The water pumped since the works started is as follows : -
For year ending March 1, 1893
20,374,640 gallons.
" 1894
36,958,560 66
66
" 1895
42,030,790 66
In their annual Report for 1895, the Commissioners niade the following weighty and important suggestions :
It is of the greatest importance that a community should never lose sight of the possibility that it may at some time need more water, and should know where and how it may be obtained, so as to meet the emergency when it comes. The inevitable growth of a town like Manchester will surely repeat the experience of many towns and cities, as shown in the re- ports of their Water Boards. At first we anticipated a maxi- mum consumption of 200,000 gallons a day, allowing sixty gallons per capita; and yet last summer we reached a maxi-
1
368
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
mum of double that amount. We have fifty-eight more takers than a year ago; and new houses and larger demands are every year emphasizing the need of adopting some means of increas- ing our water supply.
Whether we are obtaining the entire yield in summer of the subterranean sources of our well, and getting all the under- ground water available, cannot readily be ascertained without further testing the area of the water-shed or the adjacent ter- ritory by the driving of tubular wells. We believe and ear- nestly recommend that such tests should be made immedi- ately with a view to obtaining a further supply of ground- water; and such wells as are found to yield sufficiently should be connected as far as practicable for the purpose of reënforc- ing our present collecting-well.
For nine months of the year our present supply is, and may be always ample. But, for a town whose population and consump- tion of water are enormously increased during the three sum- mer months, a storage basin may in the end afford the sim- plest, surest and most economical method of providing an in- crease of our supply for summer use. Very likely the reën- forcement of the present supply by a system of connected tubu- lar wells may prove sufficient for some time to come; but there are uncertainties which it is the part of prudence and foresight to recognize.
We would recommend, therefore, that the town authorize its Water Commissioners to have made surveys and maps of the territory and valley of the water-shed above our well, and to present a report thereon at some subsequent town meeting; and that the town appropriate the sum of $1,000 for the pur- pose and such further sum out of the water rates of the com- ing year as the Water Board may find necessary for the proper performance of the work.
Finally, we recommend that in case any petition is pre- sented to the legislature for the right to take water from any or all of the Chebacco group of ponds, so called, your Water Commissioners be empowered to appear before the legislature to obtain such legislation as may be necessary or desirable to reserve and secure to the town of Manchester the right at any time to take water from Gravelly Pond in the town of Hamilton.
These recommendations were adopted by the town, March 19, 1895.
369
APPENDIX M.
In the summer of 1892, the Water Works being prac- tically completed and in successful operation, it was decided to have a celebration in commemoration of so signal an event. Arrangements were accordingly made to this effect, and carried out under the direction of a large and efficient Committee, of which Charles A. Prince was Chairman, on Thursday, August 18th. The day was one of the most perfect of the season, and the Celebration was in every way a success, worthy of the town and of the great public enterprise of which it was the fitting conclusion. The entire Programme is given below from the beautiful Souvenirs distributed on this occasion.
· OFFICIAL PROGRAMME ® MANCHESTER WATER CELEBRATION, Thursday, August 18th, 1892. PARADE.
At 2 o'clock P. M., over the following route :
Procession will start on Masconomo St., at junction of Proc- tor St., pass through Masconomo to Beach, Beach to Union, Washington and Summer Sts. to the Row Schoolhouse ; counter- march and return through Washington to North and School, as far as Pleasant St .; countermarch through School, Central and Bridge to Bennet, thence to Central through Union, down Beach St. and dismiss at the Station.
Procession composed of Germania Band, Baldwin's Cadet Band, Gloucester Light Infantry and Beverly Light Infantry Companies, under the command of Major Pew, Allen Post,
370
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
No. 67, G. A. R., Sons of Veterans, Fire Department, Barges with school children, Magnolia Lodge, No. 149, I. O. O. F., Ladies' Relief Corps, coaches and private carriages decorated with flowers and bunting, and teams of the business men of the town.
CIVIC EXERCISES
Will take place on the Common, at 3.30 o'clock, consisting of the following programme.
C. A. PRINCE, Chairman of the Permanent Committee
Presiding.
MUSIC, By the Bands PRAYER, By Rev. Daniel Marrin
SINGING-High School March, By the Children
OFFERING OF RESOLUTIONS TO THE
WATER COMMISSIONERS, . Drawn by the Rev. D. F. Lamson
MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTIONS, . By H. C. Leach
MOTION SECONDED, By A. S. Jewett, Chairman Board of Selectmen RESPONSE, By the Water Commissioners SINGING-An Original Ode,
.
By the Children
ADDRESS,
By R. H. Dana, Esq.
MUSIC,
. By the Band
ADDRESS, By His Excellency, Governor William E. Russell
MUSIC,
. . By the Band
ADDRESS, By His Honor, Mayor Robert S. Rantoul, of Satem SINGING-" Gently Falt the Deus of Ere," . By the Children RECITATION-" Our Treasure from the Flowing Springs,"
By Joseph Proctor (Original Ode, by MRS. L. F. ALLEN.)
DOXOLOGY, Sung by the assembly ted by the bands " Praise God from whom all blessings flow," etc.
EXHIBITION By the Fire Department, at 4.30 o'clock, on the Common.
evening.
RIVER CARNIVAL
To commence at 8 o'clock.
Flotilla of Boats, illuminated with lanterns and lights, to start from near the railroad, go down into the harbor and return.
371
APPENDIX M.
Near the Town Hall will be a temporary fountain which will play during the afternoon, and in the evening the water will be illuminated with colored lights.
BAND CONCERT
During the evening by both bands.
A complete history of the Water Works from their first inception, including Tables of Construction, Cost, Analyses of the Water, etc., is contained in the Reports of the original Committee and those of the Water Com- missioners, seriatim. For fulness, clearness of arrange- ment and general style of execution, these Reports are models of their kind, and leave nothing to be desired.
The efficiency of the Water Service has been tested at fires more than once, especially on Nov. 16, 1894, at the burning of the buildings of Roberts and Hoare on North street, a conflagration which threatened most serious consequences ; and it has been shown that the service is indispensable to the public safety as well as to health and comfort.
APPENDIX N.
LISTS OF SELECTMEN, TOWN CLERKS, REPRESENTATIVES, ETC. 1645-1895.
SELECTMEN. 1645-1895.
This list, it will be seen, is defective in the earlier years, owing to the loss of the records.
1645. John Sibley, William Allen, John Norman.
1658. Pasco Foote, John Sibley, Robert Leach.
1660. William Bennett, Robert Leach.
1661. John Pickworth, Samuel Friend, Robert Leach.
1668.
Thomas Jones, William Allen, Samuel Friend.
1672.
William Bennett, John Sibley, Samuel Friend.
1676.
William Bennett, Samuel Allen, Samuel Friend.
1680.
Robert Leach, John Lee, Isaac Whitchar.
1684. Robert Leach, John Elithorpe, Thomas West.
1686. Robert Knight, Samuel Leach, John Lee.
1687. John Sibley, John Elithorpe, Robert Leach.
168S. John Sibley, Robert Leach, John Elithorpe.
1689. Aaron Bennett, Thomas Tewksbury.
1690. Samuel Leach, Samuel Allen, John Sibley.
1691. Thomas West, Robert Leach, John Lee.
1692. John Sibley, John Elithorpe, Thomas Tewksbury.
1693. Samuel Allen, Thomas West, Thomas Tewksbury.
1694.
John Sibley, Robert Leach, John Lee, Jolin Elithorpe.
1695. Joseph Woodbury, Thomas West, John Sibley.
1696. Robert Leach, John Lee, Isaac Whitchar.
1697. John Sibley, John Lee, James Pittman.
1698. Robert Leach, George Norton, Thomas West.
1699. John Sibley, Thomas West, Richard Walker.
1700. Robert Leach, Samuel Lee, John Knowlton.
1701. John Sibley, Robert Leach, John Lee.
1702. John Lee, Robert Leach, John Allen.
373
374
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
1705. Aaron Bennett, Robert Leach, John Knowlton.
1707. Samuel Leach, Samuel Lee, John Knowlton.
1708. John Sibley, Robert Leach, John Knowlton.
1714. Samuel Lee, Samuel Leach, Benjamin Allen.
1715. William Hilton, Aaron Bennett, Samuel Lee.
1717. Robert Leach, Thomas Pittman, John Lee, Jun.
1718. John Knowlton, Aaron Bennett, John Lee, Jun.
1719. Samnel Lee, Richard Leach, John Lee, Jun.
1720. John Foster, Aaron Bennett, John Lee, Jun.
1721. Benjamin Allen, John Foster, Samuel Lee.
1722.
Richard Leach, John Foster, John Lee, Jun. Samuel Lee, John Foster, John Lee, Jun.
1724.
William Hooper, John Foster, Jabez Dodge.
1725.
Benjamin Allen, John Foster, John Lee.
1726.
Samuel Lee, John Foster, Aaron Bennett.
1727.
John Foster, Thomas Lee, Samuel Lee.
1728.
John Foster, Nathaniel Marsters, Samuel Lee.
1729. John Foster, Nathaniel Marsters, Samuel Lee.
1730. John Foster, Richard Coy, Samuel Lee.
1731. John Foster, Aaron Bennett, Thomas Lee.
1732. John Foster, Ezekiel Goodell, Thomas Lee.
1733. John Foster, Samuel Lee, Thomas Lee.
1734. Benjamin Allen, Samuel Lee, Richard Coy.
1735. John Foster, Benjamin Allen, Thomas Lee.
1736. John Foster, Samuel Lee, John Lee.
1737. Robert Herrick, Jeremiah Hibbard, Richard Coy.
1738. Richard Coy, John Lee, Robert Herrick.
1739. Richard Coy, John Lee, Samuel Lee.
1740. John Foster, Robert Herrick, Benjamin Presson.
1741. John Lee, Richard Coy, Thomas Lee. 1742. John Lee, Richard Coy, Robert Herrick.
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.