History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 27

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881 > Part 27

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).

215

GENERAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Frank A. Hill, to 1870.

Silas W. Hale, 66 1871.

1871.

Mary B. Smith.

1871.

Lucy M. Wilber.

Anna M. Bancroft.

Lydia B. Godfrey.

signed June 24, 1880.) Herbert W. Lull, Sept., 1880. Frank B. Sherburne, Sub-Master. Anna M. Bancroft, Assistant. Mary A. Parkhurst, Assistant.

GENERAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

According to our town records, Milford chose no General School Committee until March 3, 1795, - nearly fifteen years after incorpora- tion. It then elected six, who stood till 1798. Since that date, with one or two exceptions, such a committee has been annually chosen, consisting of from three to eight members. The following is a list of their names, and the years for which they were elected to serve : -

Elijah Thayer, 1795, '96, '97. James Mellen, Col., 1795, '96, '97.

Dr. Elias Parkman, 1795, '96, '97, 1806.

Ebenezer Read, 1795, '96, '97.

James Perry, 1795, '96, '97.

Oliver Daniell, 1795, '96, '97.

Samuel Jones, Col. and Esq., 1795, '98, '99, 1801, '02, '03, '04, '06, '07, '08. Dea. Edmund Bowker, 1795, '96, '97, 1812.

David Stearns, 1798, '99, 1811.

Dea. Robert Sanders, jun., 1798, '99, 1802, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08.

Ichabod Thayer, Col., 1801.

Ziba Holbrook, 1802.

Samuel Penniman, jun., Maj., 1801, '03, '04, '08, '12, '13, '15, '24.

Pearley Hunt, Maj. and Esq., 1803, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '12, '13, '14, '16, '17, '18, '21, '22, '23, '24, '35. Adams Chapin, Esq., 1803, '04.

Dea. Ithiel Parkhurst, 1805, '25.

Samuel Daniell, 1803, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '11, '12, '15, '21, '22, '23, '24, '27, '28, '30, '34. David Jones, 1805, '06. Ichabod Corbett, 1805. Dea. Amos Chapin, 1807, '08, '12, '15, '16, '20, '26.

Joel Hayward, 1807. Newell Nelson, Esq., 1809, '23, '24.

Dea. Seth Nelson, jun., 1810, '11. John Claflin, Maj. and Esq., 1810, '21, '22.

1871. 1871.

(Re-

1881.

Carrie M. Clapp.

Clara M. Howard.

216

HISTORY OF MILFORD.

Jonathan Thayer, Esq., 1811.

William Godfrey, 1811, '23, '26, '31.

Samuel Nelson, Col., 1811.

Elijah Legg, 1812, '13, '14, '15, '16, '18.

Simeon Nelson, 1813.

Dr. Gustavus D. Peck, 1813, '14, '17, '18, '25, '26, '28, '30, '31, '32, '33. Arial Bragg, Col., 1813.

Arteman Hill, 1814.

Otis Albee, 1814.

Henry Nelson, Capt., 1814, '15, '21, '22, '24.

Nahum Legg, 1815, '16, '17, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '32.

Joel Holbrook, 1816, '20.

Samuel Warfield, jun., 1816.

Artemas Thayer, 1820.

Ellis Sumner, Esq., 1820.

Samuel Leeds, 1820, '21, '22.

Samuel L. Scammell, Col., Esq., 1825.

Isaac Davenport, Esq., 1823, '25, '26, '28, '29, '30, '31, '32, '33, '35, 36, '38, '39, '40, '48. Jonathan Whitney, 1825. Joseph Webb, 1825.

Rev. David Long, 1826, '27, '28, '29, '30, '31, '32, '33, '34, '35, '36, '37, '38, '39, '40, '41, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, '47, '48.

Rev. Thomas W. Tucker, 1827.

Lee Claflin, Hon., 1827, '29.

Henry Chapin, 1827, '29, '33, '51, '52, '53.

Rufus Thayer, Capt., 1828.

Dr. Albert J. Bellows, 1829.

Adin Ballou, 1830, '31.

Charles Thurber, A.M., 1832.

William R. Thayer, 1833, '34, '36.

Dr. Addison S. Peck, 1834, '35, '36.

James M. Nelson, 1835.

Reuel A. Cleveland, 1836.

Dr. Allen C. Fay, 1837, '57, '58.

Andrew J. Sumner, Esq., 1837, '38, '39, '40, '44.

Rev. William Bell, 1842.

John G. Gilbert, 1843.

Rev. Benjamin H. Davis, 1845.

Lemuel Parkhurst, 1846.

Dr. John H. Hero, 1846.

Rev. Henry E. Hempstead, 1847.

Rev. Preston Pond, 1847, '48, '49.

Rev. Joseph Whitman, 1849, '52. Rev. Henry A. Eaton, 1850.

Rev. George W. Stacy, 1851.

Rev. C. W. Ainsworth, 1851.

FRED. SWASEY, ARCHITECT.

HELIOTYPE PRINTING., BOSTON.

-----

217

GENERAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Otis Parkhurst, jun., Esq., 1851.

Rev. James T. Woodbury, 1853, '54, '55.

Rev. D. H. Plumb, 1854. Albert A. Cook, Hon., 1855, '57, '65, '66, '67.

Rev. Leonard Wakefield, 1855.

Rev. Lyman Maynard, 1856.

Winslow Battles, Hon., 1856, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64. Rev. James R. Johnson, 1857.

Rev. Levi A. Abbott, 1857, '58.

Hamilton B. Staples, Esq., 1858, '59, '60, '61.

John S. Scammell, Esq., 1859.

Leander Holbrook, Esq., 1841, '42, '43, '44, '45, '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '56, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63. George G. Parker, Esq., 1859, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '79, etc.

Herman H. Bowers, 1859, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74, '75. Dea. Hiram Carpenter, 1860, '61, '62.

Amos Holbrook, Esq , 1860, '61.

Rev. George Hill, 1862, '63, '64.

Rev. Joseph Ricker, 1863, '64, '65.

James H. Putnam, 1864, '65, '66.

John S. Mead, Esq., 1865, '66, '67.

George E. Stacy, 1866, '67, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, '78.

Edwin Battles, 1866, '67.

William F. Draper, Gen. and Esq., 1866.

Henry E. Fales, Esq., 1867, '68.

Rev. George G. Jones, 1867. Delano Patrick, 1867, '68.

Dr. Thomas W. Flatley, 1870, '71, '72.

Charles J. Thomson, 1868, '69, '70, '71, '72, "73, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81, etc.

Rev. Gerherdus L. Demarest, 1868, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73.

Mrs. M. J. C. Russell, 1870, '71, '72, '73, '74.

Mrs. A. A. Cook, 1872.

Charles A. Dewey, Esq., 1871, '72, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80. Rev. Merrill Richardson, D.D., 1872, '73.

Charles E. Whitney, 1874, '75, '76, '77. Rev. James T. Canavan, 1874, '75, '76, on to '80. Matthew Callanan, 1875, '76, '77.

Zibeon C. Field, 1878, '79, '80, '81.

George W. Johnson, 1878, '79, '80, '81.

Joseph F. Hickey, 1880, '81, etc.

218

HISTORY OF MILFORD.

IMPROVEMENTS IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT.

Massachusetts may be said to have led the civilized world in the institution and progress of free public schools. Its first distinctive law requiring the establishment and maintenance of such schools dates back to 1647. Its population and wealth were then small indeed, and its methods of educational management correspondingly crude. The march of improvement was naturally very slow for a long time, - certainly for one hundred and fifty years. After emerging from the sufferings, losses, and impoverishment of the Revolution, it experienced marked acceleration. The present century opened auspiciously, and a series of educational advances followed. In 1837 the State Board of Education was established, and soon there- after that great apostle of common-school education, Horace Mann, was made secretary. This was a magnificent upward stride. Thence- forth a salutary succession of improvements was continuously de- veloped in respect to every thing that belonged to the management of our free public schools. This is not the place to specify or enumerate those manifold improvements. It is sufficient to say, that Milford has done itself honor, as well as profit, by a liberal adoption of them. The General School Committee has been conspicuous, for many years, in introducing, recommending, and promoting them; and the town has generously furnished the requisite pecuniary resources. Their published reports bear testimony to these facts. I wish more care and pains had been taken to preserve those reports in a compact form ; for they could not fail to be both interesting and instructive to posterity. Yet I am sorry to say that I have been unable to find a considerable number of the earlier ones. Probably they might be looked up by long and diligent search.

The oldest printed document ever issued by any committee, to my knowledge, bears the following title-page: "Regulations for the District Schools in Milford, Mass. Ballou & Stacy, Printers, 1830-31." It is dated Dec. 13, 1830, and bears the names of David Long, Adin Ballou, Gustavus D. Peck, Samuel Daniell, and Isaac Davenport, school committee. It was dranghted, if I rightly remember, by Rev. Mr. Long, and unanimously adopted by his colleagues, with very slight modifications. The first annual report, according to the town records, ever ordered to be printed, was that of 1840-41. Of that, four hundred copies were issned. I have been unable to find a copy of it. Whether all the annual reports thence- forth were ordered to be printed, I am not certain ; but I think nearly all of them have been. For a long time the duties of the general

219

EDUCATIONAL MISCELLANIES.

committee were much mixed up with those of the district prudential committees. But since the latter ceased, with the abolition of cor- porate school districts in 1854, the former has had the entire control. It soon became one of our most important boards of town officers. Its importance and responsibilities have augmented from that time to the present. I might go into many prominent particulars respecting its regulations, methods, and proceedings, but will content myself with a simple allusion to its recent appointment of a superintendent of public schools. With the sanction of the town, the committee confided a large share of their customary duties, for 1877, etc., to their appointee, Mr. John W. Simonds. His two annual reports, as superintendent, for the year ending Feb. 20, 1878, '79, were duly published. They are clear, able, and suggestive documents. His services commenced Sept. 1, 1877, and continued two years. He was then succeeded by Mr. Jolin W. Allard. Mr. Simonds had the arduous responsibility of a pioneer in this superintendency, in which he must needs bring order out of chaos, and could hardly surmount all the obstacles without incurring some dissent. His successor had the advantage of preceding experiments, as well as large experience elsewhere, and seems to give unexceptionable satisfaction. Mr. Simonds received a salary of twelve hundred dollars. Mr. Allard's is now fifteen hundred dollars. Under both administrations the office has proved not only educationally, but pecuniarily, economical to the town.

MISCELLANIES OF AN EDUCATIONAL NATURE.

Among these it seems proper to notice some of the select seminaries and private schools maintained within our town limits at various peri- ods since 1780. These have been numerous, in different grades, all the way through. Many of them were of an ordinary stamp, - mere district-schools eked out by voluntary contribution, after expenditure of public moneys. Others have been kept in private honses by male and female teachers, sometimes for primary instruction in the rudi- mental branches, and sometimes for the tuition of select classes in the higher branches. I cannot be very ample or accurate under this head ; for I have not made a sufficiently thorough investigation into details. I have been traditionally told much that warrants me to speak as I have in general terms. It is believed that Rev. Ama- riah Frost was at one period accustomed to have select students whom he fitted for college or the professions, or gave them at least a partially academic education. Rev. David Long also received into his house many children or youth for instruction. Rev. Jacob Frieze, the second Universalist minister, kept a small select school for several

220

HISTORY OF MILFORD.

months in the ancient Ebenezer Sumner house, which he tenanted of Esq. Hunt. I presume he taught only the common and higher branches of English scholarship. I officiated in the same way, more or less, for several years, either in my own house or elsewhere. Miss Roxana Rawson, in later times the wife of Dea. Peter Rockwood, has been reported to me as an early private as well as district-school teacher of good success and repute. But one of the most distin- guished teachers of a select school was Miss Abigail Faxon Thayer, from Braintree. She taught her famous little seminary through a series of terms during the years 1819, 1821, and 1822. She taught, all but the close of her last term, at the place now owned by Joseph L. Clark, having some twenty-five to thirty pupils out of the foremost families. From the enthusiastic admiration and affection in which those speak of her who shared in the privileges of her school, among whom my wife, Lucy Hunt Ballou, was one, she must have been, for that time, a very enterprising, competent, and accomplished preceptress. She was alike eminent for dignity, discipline; and versatility of scholar- ship ; teaching not only the higher English branches, and some of the artistic ones, but polite and graceful deportment. She made her mark, as an efficient educator, on her scholars, on their homes, and on the social circles in which she fitted them to appear to better advantage. She returned to her native vicinage, and taught in various places with success and renown. She seems to be remembered by her few sur- viving pupils in this general neighborhood with very high respect and love.

Milford Academy was another institution, of much higher rank and pretensions, which must not be forgotten. It originated in the lauda- ble ambition of a few enterprising citizens, mostly belonging to the Congregational parish, who desired to institute facilities for a higher grade of education in their own vicinage, equal, if possible, to those in distant towns whither they had so long been obliged to send their sons and daughters for instruction. The proprietors constituted themselves a joint-stock association, raising their capital in shares of $50. William Godfrey, John Claflin, jun., Nathan Wood, and their associates obtained an act of incorporation from Gen. Ct., Feb. 11, 1828, as the " Milford Academy." The whole number of shares was 33, making a capital stock of $1,650. The institution was opened, I think, in the autumn of 1828, and continued in operation some twelve years. Its succession of preceptors were Ira Cleveland, jun., Henry Mellen Chamberlain, Charles Thurber, a Mr. Morse, a Mr. Gorman, a Mr. Wilmarth, Daniel Perry, a Miss Clark, and Charles R. Train. Not proving so much of a success as hoped, the estab-

221

EEUCATIONAL MISCELLANIES.

lishment was sold in 1841, by its then proprietors, to school district No. 3; for $825 ; i.e., for half the first cost, or $25 per share. In 1854 it was turned over to the town for $1,500. It was superseded by the Claflin Schoolhouse in 1871, and, as we have seen, sold at auction, or at least the buildings, for private use.

In this connection I may properly mention the Hopedale Home School of later date, first under the preceptorship of Mr. Morgan L. Bloom and wife, and much longer under that of Rev. William S. Heywood and wife. This select seminary, in its most successful phases, will be respectfully and pleasantly remembered by most of those who enjoyed the privileges of its tuition. It should be stated also, that the Hopedale community, from 1842 to 1848, maintained almost continnous common schools at their own expense, while being taxed to support those of the town at large. Still later, Hopedale sustained successive select schools of a reputable order, under excel- lent female instructors, besides interluding and prolonging their district school by private contribution for many years. A select private seminary has recently been instituted in Samuel Walker's part of the village, taught originally by Miss Olive Twitchell, who has been succeeded by Miss Carrie N. Potter, and is prospering. In Milford Centre there have nearly always been private schools, of higher or lower grade, which have been well patronized, notwith- standing the seeming amplitude and rising excellence of our public ones. Among these three deserve special mention as now in suc- cessful operation : viz., Mrs. Mary J. Morgan's Kindergarten, Miss Ellen M. Ayres's for ordinary branches, and Miss A. C. Scammell's of last-named grade. Quite lately the Catholic Parochial Seminary has been instituted in the Centre. It is under the general super- vision of Rev. Father Cuddihy, aims chiefly at female education, has competent teachers, is numerously attended, well patronized, and very successful.

Nor should it be forgotten, that, during the whole century of our municipal existence, children and youth, in considerable numbers, have been sent to seminaries, academies, and colleges abroad, for tui- tion. This has always been comparatively expensive ; and doubtless, if we could arrive at the amount of moneys paid out for it, we should be surprised at the formidable aggregate. Many thus educated abroad, some of whom have won distinction, are not on record as college graduates, because either they did not complete the requisite prescribed course of studies, or some technicality excluded them. Such I must pass over, as also our numerous graduates from the State Normal Schools, instituted to qualify teachers. Others must be left

222

HISTORY OF MILFORD.

to the credit of adjacent towns, though parishioners and ch. members here. Perhaps I may be allowed to mention one such case, that of Cornelius Jones, son of John Jones, jun., and grandson of our Eld. John Jones. His father removed to Bellingham, where Cornelius was born. Yet the father still remained a parishioner of our Easterly Pre- cinct, and Cornelius grew up a baptized child and member of Rev. Mr. Frost's ch. Well, he graduated at Harvard University in 1752, studied divinity, and became the first settled minister of a crude town- ship, then known as " No. 3," but which is now the principal portion of Sandisfield. With such cases, however, I will not further meddle ; confining my list of names to persons either born or mainly nurtured on our territory, who have regularly graduated at some college, or received some honorary or scholastic degree from such an institution. It has required considerable pains to ascertain and collect these names ; and I fear that, after all, my list leaves out a few who have escaped my research. If my catalogue seems scanty, it is not my fault.

COLLEGE GRADUATES, ETC.

NAME.

PARENTS.

BORN.

INSTITUTION.

YEAR.

NOTES.

Alexander Scammell

Dr. Samuel L. and Jane Libbey .

1744

Harvard University ·

1769

Adj .- Gen., U. S. Army.

Amariah Frost, jun.

Rev. Amariah and Esther Messenger .

Feb. 5, 1749-50

Harvard University ·

1770

Justice Peace, etc.

Elias Penniman .

Elijah and Sarab Robinson . ·

Jan. 27,1779

Brown University ·

1803

Lawyer, Probate Judge, ete.

Elias Frost

Rev. Amariah and Susanna Dorr

Jan. 10,1782

Brown University ·

1804

Physician, etc.

Stephen Chapin

Stephen and Rachel Rawson

Nov. 4,1778

Harvard University

1804

D.D., President Columbian College.

Amasa Thayer

Elijah and Sarah Robloson .

Aug. 28, 1788

Harvard University ·

1810

Lawyer, Westerloo, N.Y.

Moses Hunt .

April 13, 1788

Harvard University .

1811

Law-student, died 1814.

Lemuel Parkhurst.

Nathaniel and Sarah Brown .

Jan. 2,1788

Brown University

1814

Ezra Hunt

Daniel and Mary Phillips

April 7,1790

Harvard University ·

1815

Lawyer and Judge in Missouri.

Penuel Corbett

Mar.

8,1789

Harvard University

1817

Lifelong Educator.

Zebina Thayer

. Oct. 31, 1794

Yale College .

1817

Drowned in Mississippi River.

Ira Cleveland, jun.

Ira and Mebetabel Battelle . ·

Feb. 1,1802

Brown University

1825

Lawyer, etc., Dedbam.

Addison Sumner Peck .

Dr. John and Lucinda Parkhurst

Mar. 12, 1812

Harvard University ·

1832

Lawyer, State Judge, etc.

Obadiah Wheelock Albee

Moses and Lucretia Howard ·

Mar. 24, 1808

Brown University .

1832

Educator, State Senator, etc.

Otis Parkhurst, jun. ..

Dec. 1,1809

Union College .

1835

Student law; died, 1854.

John Stearns Scammell

May

26,1816

Brown University

1837

Milford's earliest lawyer.

Adin Ballou Underwood

Gen. Orison and Hannab B. Cheney

. May

19, 1828

Brown University ·

1849

Lawyer, General in late war, etc.

Martin Stoddard Howard

Aug. 22, 1829

Amherst College

1855

Congregationalist Clergyman.

Daniel Thurber Nelson

F. Drake and Lydia T. Pond

Sept. 16, 1839

Amherst College

1861

Physician, Chicago, Ill.

Horace Parker

Nathaniel and Martha Rockwood . Gen. Orison and Hannah B. Cheney .

Nov. 16, 1835

Amherst College ·

1861

Congregationalist Clergyman.

Melvin Augustus Underwood William Claflin

Hon. Lee and Sarah Adams .

Jan.

3,1843

Tufts College .

1864

Died early, deeply lamented.

Henry Willard Bragg .

Willard and Hopestill H. Claflin . .

Dec. 11, 1841

Tufts College ·

1859

Lawyer in Boston.

Edwin Silas Tingley ·

Silas and Rosina Hawkins .

Ang. 23, 1834

Bangor Theo. Sem. .

187

Congregationalist Clergyman.

Jerome Wilmarth .

Dec. 10, 1831

1866

Physician in Upton.

George Homer Ball ·

Homer T. and Maria L. Sherman

Sept. 17, 1848

Harvard Univ. Med. . Harvard University .

1869

Lawyer in Worcester.

Dec. 1,1748

Brown University

1774

Physician, etc.

Jonathan Thayer .

Dr. Gustavus D. and Sally Perry

July 9, 1810

Harvard University

1831

Degree M.D., Physician.

Albert Hobart Nelson .

April 17, 1844 Mar. 6,1818

Harvard University ·

1866

Insurance Agent, etc.

1868

Gov., LL.D., Harvard Univ., 1869.

John Henry Claflin .

Isaac S. and Eliza Legg ·

COLLEGE GRADUATES.

223

Daniel and Mary Phillips .

Lawyer, Palmyra, N.Y.

John and Lydia Cheney ·

Seth and Sarah Holbrook

Otis and Sarah Jones .

Col. Samuel L. and Emily Stearns

Jotham and Mary A. White ·

Wesleyan University .

Dr. Butler and Phila Osgood .

Lieut. Samuel and Huldah White

COLLEGE GRADUATES, ETC. - Concluded.

NAME.

PARENTS,

BORN.

INSTITUTION.

YEAR.

NOTES.

Leander Holbrook, jnn.

Leander, Esq., and Elizabeth C. Parkhurst

Dec. 31, 1849

Harvard University .

1872

Lawyer in Milford.

George Henry Young .

Charles and Roxana Batcheler .

Mar. 14, 1841

Meadville Theo. Sem.

1864

Unitarian Clergyman.

Frank Linnaeus Young .

Charles aud Roxana Batcheler .

Nov. 20, 1852

Brown University

1877

In commerce.

Charles A. Daniels .

Obed and Harriet E. Chapin

Mar. 13, 1834

Harvard University ·

1859

Professional Educator.

Michael Joseph Supple

Adam and Catherine Coughlin.

Feb. 25, 1840

All Hallows College .

1862

Priest, Pastor, Charlestown, Mass.

James Nicholas Supple

Adam and Catherine Coughlin.

Aug. 10, 1856

Harvard Med. Law

1879

M.D., Natick, Mass.

Daniel Webster Moriarty .

John and Mary F. Barry .

Sept. 2, 1857

Boston College

1879

Student Divinity, Quebec.

William Francis O'Callahan

William and Ellen Flynn .

Mar. 27, 1856

Harvard University

1880

Lawyer, New York City.

David Francis McGrath .

Richard and Catherine Davis

June 19, 1851

Holy Cross College .

1876

Asst. Priest, Northampton, Mass.

Patrick Henry Gullen .

. .

Michael and Mary Murphy

. Mar. 17, 1855

St. Bonaventure Coll.

1878

Priest, Springfield, Mass.

John Joseph Cochran . .

John and Mary E. Middleton .

June 24, 1853

Columbia, N.Y. .

1875

M.D., U. S. Army.

Herbert Henry Lyons .

Michael and Honora .

Nov. 5, 1855

Boston College .

1878

Soon graduate M.D.

Samuel Newell Nelson .

Newell N. and Harriet N. Johnson .

May 19, 1856

Harvard University

1878

Soon graduate M.D.

Frank O. Carpenter ·

Hiram and Angusta C. ·

Methodist Clergyman.

William Henry Judson

Andrew W. and Lucy B. Matthews

June 27, 1854

Wesleyan University . Jefferson Med. Coll. .

1878

Physlclan.

Aug. 15, 1845

Holy Cross College

1870

Priest, Pastor, Leicester, Mass.

Michael Joseph Carroll

. ..

Harvard University

George Henry Clark .

John A. and Dorinda Scammell

Oct. 29, 1850

224

HISTORY OF MILFORD.

Vicar, Pastor, Charlestown, Mass.

James Edward Keating

Peter and Mary Darmondy

Jan. 19, 1850

Holy Cross .

Edward and Mary Kearsey

225

TOWN LIBRARY.

Our High School is entitled to the honor of having fitted a large number of its pupils for college, and the professional institutes, and so of starting them into their career of professional usefulness. It will be seen, too, that our Irish-Americans are largely represented in the closing portion of the above catalogue. These are all said to be doing eminently well in their chosen callings, as priests, lawyers, and physicians. I suspect I have failed to obtain the names of several in this class, but not for want of pains. I regret not having been told the positions which most of them occupy in society, so as to specify it better opposite their names. If my readers knew the amount and peculiarity of labor which this list of less than fifty graduates has cost me, they would worthily appreciate it. Yet it seems a small performance.

- THE TOWN LIBRARY.

It remains that I give some account of the public library, which very handsomely surmounts as a dome the structure of our educa- tional instrumentalities. Down to the year 1858, Milford was com- paratively ill supplied with any thing fit to be called a library. A few families had small private libraries, decent perhaps of their grade, but not adaptable to circulation. Whether there ever was a circu- lating library in town worthy of mention, I am not informed. Per- haps there have been a few collections of that nature, but they were of little account. In 1842, or thereabouts, under a law recommended by the State Board of Education, all, or nearly all, onr school dis- tricts taxed themselves to establish libraries within their respective limits ; but these were small, and soon fell into neglect. They quite failed to realize the expectations of their projectors or the people. In 1858 several influential citizens proposed to establish a reputable library on a "stock-company " basis. Mr. Edwin Battles, then an enterprising townsman, with others, urged them to change their plan, and use their influence for a free town library, in accordance with a then recent statute of the State. Nevertheless the joint-stock library was nominally established.1 But Mr. Battles and his sympathizers held a meeting in the police-court room in behalf of a public free library, with such success that their proposition soon prevailed. A committee was appointed, of which Mr. Battles was chairman, to push the matter, petition the selectmen to call a town-meeting, and prepare a series of motions to be submitted to said meeting. The town-meeting was held Ang. 30, 1858, and the propositions moved (draughted by Mr. Battles) were carried with little or no opposition. They were as follows : -

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History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 27

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co. Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328