USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1630, to the present time, 1855 > Part 32
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" JOHN BRADSHAW, & Select- THOMAS TUFTS, men.
JOHN WILLIS.
JOHN RICHARDSON. BENJAMIN WILLIS.
BENJAMIN PARKER.
JOHN BRADSHAW, jun.
NATHANIEL HALL. JOHN GRATTAN. JONATHAN BRADSHAW. PETER SECCOMBE.
JOHN HALL.
THOMAS WILLIS. PETER TUFTS."
This difference of opinion, running longitudinally east and west, destroyed not the harmony of the town in other things ; but served only to postpone action, and wait the leadings of Providence. More than two years elapsed before we find the following vote : "To place the new meeting-house either on the north or south side of the country road, on a piece of land 'belonging to John Bradshaw, jun." This spot was afterwards rejected. More unanimity began now to prevail in this matter ; and a committee was chosen whose wisdom and impartiality harmonized every thing. The spot selected was on the south side of the country road, near " Marble Brook," four or five rods south-east of the bridge now across that stream, which afterwards took the name of " Meeting- house Brook," and retains it to this day. The land was owned by that.self-made and thrifty farmer, Mr. John Albree ; and on the 10th of January, 1726, the town voted to give fifty-five pounds for one acre, and to appropriate three hun- dred and sixty pounds for the building of the house. The committee appointed to determine the size and shape of the house were "Thomas Tufts, Esq., Captain Ebenezer Brooks, Mr. Peter Seccombe, Mr. John Richardson, Captain Samuel Brooks, Mr. John Willis, Mr. William Willis, Lieutenant Stephen Hall, Mr. John Francis, Mr. Benjamin Parker, and Mr. John Whitmore." They reported that "it would be proper for this town to build a meeting-house fifty-two feet large, thirty-eight feet wide, and thirty-three feet posts." This report was accepted, and the same committee empowercd to build the house.
Every thing now went on harmoniously ; and we can easily imagine the appearance of the new house, -more than twice as
333
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
high as its predecessor, and about twice as large. The steeple, rising from the centre of the four-faced roof, gave to the structure an appearance like that of the old meeting-house now standing in Hingham, Mass., which was built in 1680. Some of us remember the old meeting-house in Lynn, built about the same time, after the same model.
Aug. 24, 1727 : " Voted to meet in the new meeting-house sabbath-day after next." Accordingly, on Sunday, Sept. 3, 1727, the inhabitants of Medford met for the first time in their new house ; and Rev. Mr. Turell preached an appro- priate sermon from Psalm lxxxiv. 1: " How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts !" Any special dedicatory ser- vices would have been distasteful to a people who had not forgotten the superstitions of Popery, or the persecutions of the English church.
Here was a new fortress for keeping the truth, and also for assailing the "ten idols:" 1. The surplice and Popish wardrobe. 2. The sign of the cross in baptism. 3. Kneel- ing at the Lord's Supper. 4. Setting the communion-table altar-wise. 5. Bowing at the name of Jesus. 6. Popish holidays. 7. Consecrating churches. 8. Organs and cathe- dral-music. 9. The Book of Common Prayer. 10. A church government by bishops.
Our Puritan forefathers having procured their second house for public worship of a size commensurate with their num- bers, and at a cost proportionate to their wealth, their first care was for their pastor's family ; and they passed the follow- ing vote : " That the town will build a ministerial pew in the meeting-house, in the place where the Rev. Mr. Turell shall choose."
As no pews were built, the people were to sit on long, un- cushioned seats, wherever the "seating committee " should designate. This custom became less and less agreeable ; and, by degrees, the just, pacific, and convenient fashion of sepa- rated pews crept in. Various expedients were devised, and many of them abandoned ; but, Oct. 23, 1727, it was voted " that certain lots for pews should be sold, but that each person must build his pew at his own cost ; and if he moved out of town, his pew became the town's, the town paying therefor." Subsequently it was voted to build twenty-seven pews, and then let the committee determine who should have a right to build. The requisites were age, dignity, parentage, usefulness, and the charges which persons had paid to the
334
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
town and to the meeting-house. Here was a wide door open for jealousy and discontent. The next year, 1728, the com- mittee determine " to build twenty-eight. pews," to be placed next the wall, all round the house. Each pew had its price assessed by the committee, and, when paid for, was gua- ranteed to its owner as regular real estate. Some had no doors, and therefore must be entered through a contiguous pew ! The right of choice was now given to twenty-five gentlemen ; and here follows the eventful catalogue in the order fixed according to the supposed social rank of each :-
" Mr. John Francis, sen., Mr. John Bradshaw, Captain Ebenezer Brooks, Captain Samuel Brooks, Lieutenant Stephen Hall, Mr. Peter Seccombe, Thomas Tufts, Esq., Captain Samuel Wade, Francis Whitmore, John Willis, Mr. John Whitmore, Mr. John Richardson, William Willis, Mr. Jonathan Hall, Mr. Peter Tufts, Deacon Thomas Hall, Mr. Benjamin Willis, Mr. Benjamin Porter, Mr. Thomas Oaks, Dr. Simon Tufts, Mr. John Albree, Mr. Joseph Tufts, Mr. William Patten, Mr. John Bradshaw, jun., and Mr. John Hall."
We know not the exact position of any pew occupied by either of the twenty-five gentlemen, save one; and that is the pew, number one, which was the first on the east side of the broad aisle, nearest the front door, taken by Captain Samuel Brooks. His son Thomas chose the same place in the third new house. The price of these pews varied from twelve to eight pounds.
1729: Voted " to petition the General Court for some relief under present differences and difficulties." The town ap- points " Captain Ebenezer Brooks, Mr. Peter Seecombe, Mr. William Patten, and Jonathan Tomson, as a committee to lay the case before the committee of the House of Representa- tives." A committee of four (Hodijah Savage, Thomas Berry, Joseph Wilder, and William Ward) met at Medford, when all things were explained concerning the discontent and disputes about certain pews in the new meeting-house. The award was drawn up in form, and was final, and it placed three or four persons anew !
June 26, 1740: The town voted to place a bell on the meeting-house ; but, as it was decided to purchase the bell with money which should be raised from the sale of bricks owned by the town, the bell was not bought, because the bricks were not sold. However, this appendage to a meeting- house, so necessary in those days, when watches were not as
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
plenty as they are now, was furnished in 1744 by certain liberal gentlemen of the town ; and five pounds was paid for ringing it a year.
Jan. 15, 1733 : Voted " to repair the steeple of the meeting-house, to put a pulley on the front door, and make a convenient horse- block."
"July 23, 1736: " Voted that John Bradshaw, jun., should have liberty to cut a door-place and make a door at the south end of the meeting-house into his pew."
So near to " Marble Brook " was this house placed, that, on the 3d of December, 1745, the town voted to take all necessary measures " to prevent the water of the brook from washing away the earth near the north-west corner of the meeting-house."
How significant of character are these little details of town legislation, sectional jealousies, mutual concessions, and hereditary rank !
This second meeting-house was in use forty-three years ; during which time there were five thousand one hundred and thirty-four sermons preached, and one thousand two hun- dred and eighteen persons baptized in it. The farewell ser- vice was March 4, 1770.
The house was sold at auction, to John Laithe, for £24 (O.T.) ; its underpinning to Benjamin Hall, for £13. 6s. 8d. The land sold for £197 (O.T.); the old schoolhouse upon it, for £38.
336
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
THIRD MEETING - HOUSE.
Third Meeting-house, 1770.
The increase and prosperity of the town called for a new meeting-house ; but the trying question was, Where shall it be placed ? As the majority of the inhabitants were east of the old meeting-house, it was but right to place the new one nearer the centre of population. In 1768, it was pro- posed to build it " between the Meeting-house Brook, so called, and the widow Mary Greenleaf's." This was aban- doned. April 4 of the same year, it was voted by the town thus : " When the town builds a meeting-house, they will build said house upon the widow Watson's orchard, before her dwelling-house, provided said land can be procured on reasonable terms." This proposition was no more successful than the last. Aug. 22, 1768 : " Voted to build a meeting- house on land bought of Mr. John Bishop ; the house to be of the following dimensions : sixty-six feet long, forty-six feet wide, with forty-eight pews on the floor, and eight in the gallery ; with a tower from the ground, without a spire ; two
337
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
porches ; doors and windows to be painted three times ; leads and pulleys in the windows. The whole cost not to exceed £933. 6s. 8d." This plan was adopted, and the house built on the spot now occupied by the meeting-house of the first church. Another important vote was passed, providing that a subscription should be opened, and the citizen who sub- scribed the most towards building the house should have his first choice of a pew ; and so the rest, in the order of their relative sums. Forty-five gentlemen subscribed. March 13, 1769, voted to have a spire, whose cost should " not exceed £66. 13s. 4d." May 15, 1769, voted "that there may be conducting-rods put upon the steeple, if they cost the town nothing." Price of labor at this time, for a man, 3s. 6d. per day ; for man and team, 6s. 8d.
By the usual courtesy, the pastor took the first choice, and selected pew No. 27; which thereupon became the "minister's pew," owned by the town.
The pews in the meeting-house were chosen " according to the vote of the town and the tenor of subscription," Feb. ·8, 1770, as follows : -
Thomas Brooks, jun. No. 1
Thomas Seccombe 25
John Bishop
2
Benjamin Hall
26
Stephen Hall
3
Minister's Pew 27
Aaron Hall
Isaac Royal 4
28
Ebenezer Hall
5
Timothy Newhall
29
John Wade
6
Peter Jones
30
Samuel Hall
7
Nathan Tufts, jun. 31
Watts Turner
8
Timothy Hall . 32
33
William Tufts .
10
Thomas Patten
34
Simon Bradshaw
11
Joseph Thompson
35
Samuel Angier
12 Henry Putnam
37
Francis Burns
13
Seth Blodget Willis Hall
38
Jonathan Patten
15
Jacob Hall .
39
E. Hall .
16
John Leathe
40
Nathan Tufts
17
Samuel Jenks .
41
Samuel Tufts, 2d
18
Andrew Hall
42
Benjamin Teal
19
Isaac Warren
43
Timothy Tufts
20
Isaac Greenleaf
44
Henry Fowle .
21
Samuel Kidder
45
James Tufts
22
Simon Tufts
46
Richard Hall
23
Ebenezer Blanchard 47
Isaac Hall .
24
Edward Brooks
48
43
36
Zachary Pool .
14
William Tufts, 3d
9
Hezekiah Blanchard
338
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
It is specially recorded, that, at " the raising " of this ' meeting-house, which took place July 26 and 27, 1769, " there was no one hurt." That such an exemption was remarkable, at that period, may be explained by the fact, that probably our fathers did not put themselves into that condition which generally secures catastrophies. An authentic record from another town, under date of Sept. 13, 1773, may make this matter clear : " Voted to provide one barrel of West India rum, five barrels of New England rum, one barrel of good brown sugar, half a box of good lemons, and two loaves of loaf sugar, for framing and raising the meeting-house." Here a natural consequence followed, - two-thirds of the frame fell : many were hurt, and some fatally.
Thus our fathers procured for themselves their third tem- ple of worship, placed near the centre of population, upon a commanding spot, and exhibiting a most respectable exterior, with a commodious and appropriate interior. It is agreeable to one's mind to contrast the three forms of meeting-houses which obtained in New England up to this time. The first was a one-story, square building, in naked and uncheerful® simplicity, with straw-thatched roof; lighted, not by glass windows, but by the opening of outside shutters ; and had within neither pews nor pulpit. The second was two stories high ; had diamond-glass windows ; a four-sided, sloping roof, of wood, with a turret in its centre for a bell ; and sometimes a portico in front; and, within, a gallery, some pews, a deacon's seat, and a pulpit. The third was two stories high, had window-sashes and square glass, a two-sided roof, with a tower from the ground, and three porches ; while its interior showed galleries round three sides, in which, fronting the pulpit, were seats for twenty-five or fifty singers ; and, on the lower floor, wall-pews, three inches higher than the rest ; two free seats, nearest the pulpit, for deaf old men and women ; a deacon's seat, in front of the pulpit ; and the sacred desk not at the end, as is now the fashion, but in the centre of one of the longest sides of the house, its top from eight to ten feet above the floor, and over it fastened a " sounding-board." The sexton, up to this time, had his post of honor near the preacher ; and his duty was to attend to any wants of the officiating clergyman, and also to turn the hour-glass when its sands had run out. This last operation was doubtless to inform the congregation how much instruc- tion they had received, and to prophesy of the remainder.
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
It is not difficult to imagine the appearance of a congregation in 1650, - the men on one side, and the women on the other, sitting on wooden benches, in January, under a thatched roof, with one or two open window-places, without stoves, singing Sternhold and Hopkins and the New England Psalms, and then listening to a two-hours' service with de- votion !
On Sunday, March 11, 1770, our fathers and mothers, with their entire families, entered, for the first time, their new meeting-house. Unfortunately, their beloved pastor was ill; and the services of the day were performed by Mr. Andrew Elliot, jun., a tutor in Harvard College. The cele- brated George Whitefield preached a dedicatory discourse in this house, Aug. 26, 1770, fron 2 Chron. v. 14. Our fathers had no special services for the dedication of a new house of worship, because they could not tolerate any imitation of the English church ; and we have always had to regret their further indiscretion in banishing, for the same poor reason, the sacred observance of Christmas and Good Friday.
June 11, 1770: " Voted not to grant seats for singers."
July 28, 1771, Sunday : On this day was used, for the first time, the new pulpit-cushion given by William Peppe- rell, Esq., who imported it from England, at a cost of eleven guineas.
March 5, 1787 : Some inhabitants of taste and public spi- rit propose to plant ornamental trees in front of the meeting- house. The town voted not to have them !
May 10, 1802 : Voted to buy a new bell.
Oct. 5, 1812 : Voted not to have a stove in the meeting- house !
Never was there a house that received fewer repairs. In 1814, they who are first to discover needs, and quickest to relieve them, subscribed one hundred and fifty dollars ; and soon the pulpit wore a new color, showed a new cushion, and rejoiced in new curtains. One gentleman was admitted to participation in this pious offering of the ladies, by present- ing a copy of the Sacred Scriptures in two volumes.
340
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
MY.TA
KILBURN & MALLORY SC
Second Congregational Meeting-house, 1824.
·
-KILBU
Universalist Meeting-house, 1832.
341
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
First Parish Meeting-house?(Unitarian), 1839.
Methodist, Meeting-house, 1844.
1
342
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
KILBURN' - MALLORY SC. BOSTON
Mystic Church (Congregational), 1849.
-
Grace Church (Episcopal), 1850.
343
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
SCHOOLHOUSES.
Where the first schoolhouse stood is not known ; but it was probably near the meeting-house, at the West End.
The second was built according to the following order of the town, Oct. 5, 1730: " Voted to build a new schoolhouse, twenty-four feet long, twenty feet wide, and ten feet stud, on town's land, by the meeting-house." It was near Marble Brook, on the north-west corner of the lot, upon the border of the road.
The third schoolhouse stood very near the street, on land now owned by Samuel Train, Esq., about ten feet east of the house he now occupies ; and, when that mansion-house was first repaired, the schoolhouse was moved, and now makes part of the rear of said dwelling.
The fourth schoolhouse stood as ordered by the following vote : March 11, 1771, " voted to build the schoolhouse upon the land behind the meeting-house, on the north-west corner of the land." This spot is three or four rods north- west of the present meeting-house of the first parish. The building-committee were " Benjamin Hall, Captain Thomas Brooks, and Mr. Willis Hall."
These houses, above noticed, were of wood ; but the town, May 5, 1795, voted to build a brick schoolhouse behind the meeting-house. They agreed to give William Woodbridge two hundred and twenty pounds, and the old schoolhouse, to build it. This was the fifth house built by the town. It con- sisted of one large room, sufficient for sixty or seventy pupils : it was arranged after the newest models, and furnished with green blinds, hung at their tops ! The arrangement within was simple. The master's desk was on a raised platform, in one corner. Undivided seats ran lengthwise through the whole extent of the room. The oldest pupils sat with their backs to the windows, and their desks before them. The younger pupils sat below them, with their backs against the desks of their seniors, and their own desks before them. The small- est children sat below these last, leaning their backs against the desks of their seniors, but having no desks before them. The above arrangement occupied one side of the room; and the other side was exactly like it. Thus the three rows of boys on the north side faced the three rows of girls on the
344
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
south. The area between the two was about six feet wide, where the classes were marshalled to read and spell.
March 7, 1807: The town voted to enlarge the school- house. After this was done, the girls and boys were taught in separate apartments.
As this house was the last in the series of old-fashioned and inconvenient models, it may be worth while to say a word about them. To speak generally, the schoolhouses had been as cheerful-looking objects as the county-jail, and quite as agreeable residences. Their windows were small ; and some sashes had panes just as transparent as pasteboard or a felt-hat, - which substitutes for glass lessened the need of blinds. The outer door had a strong lock upon it, while its two lower panels were in the vocative. The seats and desks being undivided, each pupil was compelled to mount upon the seat, and travel behind his classmates till he came to his place! This operation was a standing trial of patience to those engaged in writing. The heavy tread of a careless boy upon the seat of a writer was not calculated to improve chi- rography or the temper. The smallest children, who had no desks before them, were packed so close together that the uneasiness and pain which nature shoots through young limbs at rest subjected them to frequent admonition and ear- twigging. They who happened to be opposite the great iron stove, which stood in the centre of the room, were almost roasted ; and they literally got their learning by the sweat of their brows. They who sat near this stove through a winter would be proof against any heat to be found in this world. So violent a fire at the centre caused the wind to rush in through the unpatented ventilators, - the cracks in the win- dows ; and a consequence was, that, while the children near- est the stove were sweltering under more than the equatorial heat of the torrid zone, they who were nearest the windows were shivering under the icy blasts of the frozen latitudes. How philosophers would have traced the isothermal lines in such a room, we know not; since, going from the centre to the circumference, one would travel through all the five zones. There was some compensation in the music which the winds made. Every schoolhouse had the true Borean harps ; or, rather, winter's Panharmonicons, played upon by all the blasts in turn. The desks of the pupils became more and more interesting. Once they were wide and smooth ; but, when that time was, few could remember. The adult
345
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
population, when they visited the old schoolhouse, could each one find those -
" Walls on which he tried his graving skill ;
The very name he carved existing still ; The bench on which he sat while deep employed, Though mangled, hacked, and hewed, yet not destroyed."
How many penknives were tried on the benches, desks, and doors of the schoolhouse, arithmetic cannot compute ; but one thing is clear, that, whether the school left its mark on the pupil's mind or not, each pupil felt bound to leave his mark on the house.
The town has taken laudable pride, of late years, in build- ing proper schoolhouses. The following table records the facts : -
When Built.
LOCATION.
BUILDING-COMMITTEE.
MASTER-WORKMEN.
COST.
1835.
Primary, Union Street.
Horatio A. Smith, Galen James, and Milton James.
Caldwell & Wyatt.
$1040.00.
1837.
Primary, Park Street.
Galen James, James W. Brooks, James O. Curtis, & Saml. Joyce.
Oakman Joyce and John Sables.
3454.64.
1840.
High & Grammar, High Street.
Oakman Joyce, D. Lawrence, and James O. Curtis.
Charles Caldwell & Wm. B. Thomas.
7568.77.
1851.
Brooks, Brooks Street.
John B. Hatch and James M. Usher.
George A. Caldwell.
2542.98.
1851.
Primary, Salem Street.
Geo. T. Goodwin, Henry Taylor, and M. E. Knox.
J. J. Beaty and I. H. Bradlee.
3375.41.
1852.
Everett, Salem Street.
Robert L. Ells, Samuel Joyce, and Henry Taylor.
James Pierce.
7166.57.
The town proceeded immediately to the building of a new schoolhouse, on the spot where the Park-street house was burned. April 2, 1855, Messrs. Franklin Patch, Judah Loring, and Charles S. Jacobs were chosen a committee to produce a plan, publish proposals, and carry forward the work, - consulting with the school-committee.
The report of this committee was accepted and adopted : the consequence will be, a plain, substantial schoolhouse, two stories high, and furnished with all the modern conve- niences.
44
346
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
CRN-1GALLOKY
Brooks Schoolhouse, 1851.
TOWN-HALL.
The question concerning the right of the town to use the meeting-house of the first parish for town-meetings having been settled, the inhabitants began to devise measures for building a town-house ; and the subject came up for conside- ration, Dec. 6, 1827 ; but no definite action was had. It en- gaged attention at subsequent meetings ; but nothing final occurred till March 4, 1833, when a committee recommended the building of a town-house, whose dimensions should be " sixty-five feet long, forty wide, and eighteen-feet posts." This report was accepted ; and the land on which the build- ing now stands, on the north-east corner of Main and High Streets, was purchased of the heirs of Mr. Samuel Buel for $3,000. The plan of the building was drawn by Mr. Benjamin, of Boston. The length was extended to seventy feet. The cost of land and building was $10,062.25. The engraving will give an exact idea of its present appearance. It was found commodious, and was used for all public gatherings.
---
FT STUART
A & RAWS N DE.
2 % _ NSON. DAG
MEDFORD QUARE .
347
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
It was let for two dollars per evening, and to a religious so- ciety for two dollars per Sunday. The building-committee were Messrs. John P. Clisby, John Sparrell, and Thomas R. Peck.
The first story is occupied by stores on Main Street, and by the selectmen's room on the west. The hall includes the second story.
Oct. 27, 1839 : Saturday night it was partly destroyed by fire. Nov. 25, the town voted to rebuild on the original model. The insurance of $5,000 was used to pay for the repairs, and nearly covered the whole amount, which was $5,389.89. The south end was built of brick, and the house. made thirteen feet longer than at first. It was again in- sured, at the same office, for $5,000. The building-com- mittee were Messrs. Darius Waite, Milton James, and John P. Clisby.
Oct. 18, 1850 : Saturday night it was again burned in part. The town voted to rebuild ; and, having received from the insurance-office $4,580, this money was used for payment. The building-committee were Messrs. Daniel Lawrence, George T. Goodwin, and Charles S. Jacobs ; the master- builder, Mr. Charles Caldwell. The cost of rebuilding was $5,941.26. Its dimensions now are ninety-two feet ridge, eighty-three feet body, and forty feet width.
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