USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1876 to 1950, Volume II > Part 13
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Mr. and Mrs. Eric Jacobson, who own the next place, have entirely remodelled the house and made many improvements, besides making the grounds attractive, since the farm was inherited by Mrs. Jacobson at her father's death in 1940. Mr. Jacobson carried on a poultry business for some years also has greenhouses for plant raising. He has served on the Finance Board of the town.
This place was known for many years as the Prescott Putnam farm, since he purchased it in 1842 and he and Mrs. Putnam spent their lives here. He died in 1892. Mrs. Putnam, who was Mary Marble, survived her husband and died in 1903, aged 93. In their later years they were cared for by Mrs. Putnam's neice, Abbie (Locke) Putnam and her husband, Henry Wellington Putnam, who came to live here and inherited the property at their deaths. Henry W. Putnam was one of the last survivors of the Civil War in Sutton. He was a genial man with a ready wit. Mrs. Putnam was a very bright woman, much interested in the history of the town, a charter member of Gen. Rufus Putnam Chapter D. A. R. She was a flower lover and devoted much time to her gardens. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam had three sons, Edwin, Joseph Harry, and Ernest.
Edwin lived in Millbury for some years and was proprietor of a store there. He and his wife, who was Miss Maude Gurney of Millbury, had one son, Herbert, who lives on Long Island.
Ernest was a well-known and much-loved citizen of Sutton. He ran the Sutton store for some years. He died in 1924. His wife, who was Miss Marion Gurney, a sister of Maude Gurney, ran the Cole-Woodbury tea room for some years.
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HISTORY of SUTTON
"Joseph Harry Putnam was born in Oxford in 1872, but came with his parents to Sutton when a boy. He graduated from Sutton High School in 1890; from Mass. Agricultural College and Boston University, 1894. He was awarded Certificate of Distinguished Service National Association of County Agents, 1939; given Honorary Degree Master of Agriculture Mass. State College 1944. He was Superintendent, Horticultural Dept. and Asst. Horticulturalist, Mass. Agricultural College for three years; Supt. Fernwood Farm, Litchfield, Conn. seventeen years and County Agent, Franklin County Extension service, for twenty-seven years. He was recognized for his work as County Agent, as a successful breeder of Jersey cattle and poultry and a a fruit grower, especially for work in developing the cultivated blueberry and beach plum. He has been an active worker and officer in many agricultural associations, including Lecturer of the Conn. State Grange, President of the Conn. Pomological Society and President of the Cape Cod Farm Bureau."
He married first, in 1898, Miss Kate M. Taylor of Amherst by whom he had six children. She died in 1927 and he married for his second wife Miss Vera Smith in 1928. They had one child.
Mr. Putnam has made it the chief object of his life to give all of his children a college education. The youngest son Joseph graduated in June 1951 from University of Mass. The oldest son Ernest is a graduate of Mass. State College, was in aviation in World War I, taught in Mass. and Conn. The next child Amy, graduated from Middlebury College with Post-graduate work in Cornell, taught in N. Y. Ruth graduated from Mass. State College. Catherine graduated from Mt. Holyoke College, Master's degree from Trinity College-a teacher. Richard E. graduated from Deerfield Academy and Springfield College and was in World War II and is now a high school teacher. Paul (deceased) graduated from Mass. State College. Joseph has already been mentioned.
The Putnam home remained vacant for some time. In April 1928, on a windy day, the barn caught fire from grass burning near by and burned to the ground. The heirs sold the property later, in 1928, to Mr. and Mrs. William Corbett. Mr. Corbett died here in March 1933. Mrs. Corbett sold in May 1933 to Vernon Anderson of Worcester and went to Webster. At Mr. Anderson's death it passed to his daughter, Mrs. Jacobson.
The place across the street belonged to the Lawson Putnam family for many years. The oldest son, Wilmot, lived near Boston, the next son, Arthur, was a wheelwright in East Douglas. The youngest daughter, Effie Rilla, married Nelson Burhoe of Westboro, a church organist. She was a teacher, a graduate of Wor- cester Normal School. Mr. Burhoe died in 1947 and Mrs. Burhoe now lives in North Grafton. They had five children, three girls and two boys. One son, Sumner, is a professor at Maryland University in the Zoological Department, another son Paul has been pastor of the Allendale Baptist Church in North Providence for more than 25 years. All five children are useful members of society and have descendants, the older ones carrying on as teachers, nurses, ministers; a fine family.
Amasa, the youngest son of Lawson, was a minister, and was for a time con- nected with Shaw University, North Carolina. He afterward lived in Maine where he died.
Sarah Etta, the oldest daughter, never married. After her father's death, she supported her mother and herself by taking care of destitute children for the state. Miss Etta was a shy retiring woman, devoted to her family and her church.
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There are men in town, who still remember her teaching of the class in the West Sutton Baptist Sunday School, known as the "Knights of the Wheel". After her death the place was owned by Amasa and remained unoccupied most of the time. The fire, which burned the barn on the Henry Putnam property in April, 1928, crossed the street in the high wind and in a short time the house and barn were in ashes. The buildings were never replaced. In 1940 Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson purchased the land to add to their farm and erected greenhouses and housing for poultry.
To quote Mr. Waters:
"Miss Etta Putnam is really one of West Sutton's uncanonized saints. She spent many years caring for destitute children. She was a real and loving foster mother to many boys and girls. They will never forget her devotion and faithful care, given during these dependent years of their lives. She lived a life of unselfish devotion to others."
The old house on the west side of the Boston Road, occupied by Mrs. Quinn, was purchased by Franklin Freeland and the buildings torn down in the early 1880's. Mr. Quinn is buried in a small lot across the street.
The farm, known as the Sylvanus Putnam place, on Century Farm Road, was purchased by David Oscar Putnam from Emma and John Putnam in May 1893. His wife was Blanche L. Putnam. They had three sons and two daughters. Only one of the sons survived, David Nelson Putnam, who now lives here. The two daughters are Louise (Mrs. George Clark of Oxford) and Jessie, a teacher in Barrington, R. I.
The farm is known as the Third Century Farmstead, because the present owners are the third century of inhabitants to occupy the house buildings. It is a notable fact that Putnams have always lived in this house. Mrs. David N. Putnam relates the following:
"A great many changes and improvements have been made by Oscar and his son David. At the time of the purchase, one could stand in the front hall and see the huge chimney way to the attic without plaster or partitions. An immense staple in the hall ceiling still remains, that was used to lower barrels of cider for vinegar and farm produce into the cellar through a trap door. The oven, mantel pieces, panel work, iron crane, heavy door, and hinges are all preserved, and the house still maintains its atmosphere of antiquity, which only a home of this type can truly possess."
"David Oscar Putnam was undecided about buying the place and no legal papers were signed, because the property back of the old West Sutton Hotel was put up at auction, and to his surprise bid off to him. J. E. Phelps and Salem Shaw offered to take it off his hands, but he refused and made the necessary arrangements for settlement. David Oscar always drove a horse, and so he hitched up and started to go and tell John Putnam that he did not want his place after all. As he drove along, he looked over sunny southern slopes, all green and beautiful, comparing them with the western slopes of the other place all covered with savin growth. He found John rather out of sorts, for the news had travelled ahead of him; but Oscar Putnam had changed his mind and then and there told him he would buy his place as soon as he could be rid of the other property, which he did.'
David Nelson Putnam and his wife (Daisy Theakston) have four sons and two daughters, David T., Grant, Barry B., Bruce, Pauline (Mrs. Kenneth Shaw) and Joy (Mrs. Leonard Young) .
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1
"THIRD CENTURY FARMSTEAD", HOME OF DAVID N. AND DAVID T. PUTNAM
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David T. Putnam lives in the south side of the house with his wife, who was Ruth Shaw, and children, Penelope and David Jonathan.
On the opposite side of the street, Bruce Putnam built a home in 1950 and occupies it with his wife, (Christine Hunt), and children, Colin and Martin.
Barry Brooks Putnam built a house in 1950 on Rich Road and lives there with his wife, (Albertine Lemay), and children, Barry and Gretel Joy. Barry Putnam was in World War II, serving in Germany as Engineer in 3rd Army Headquarters.
Grant Pershing Putnam served four years in World War II, Warrant Officer in the 15th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division, stationed in Germany. In 1945 he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He is now with the Standard Oil Co. in Plainfield, N. J.
Mrs. Joy Putnam Young was graduated from Clark University in Worcester. She was chief script-writer for the advertising department of the WTAG Radio Station and later became assistant to the manager of advertising in Worcester Federal Savings and Loan Association. She is now in Indiana continuing her radio work. Her husband, Leonard Young, is Commander in the Navy.
Mrs. Daisy Putnam has an unusual collection of dolls, each dressed in native costume, representing many different countries. The group, which began with a few dolls she gave to her high school daughter Joy, now numbers over three hundred and fifty. Some of the most interesting of them were brought to her from Europe by her sons, who had been in Military Service.
Going back to the Turnpike, near the intersection with the West Sutton Road, is the old house built about about 1816, owned by Loren Kenney until it was sold in 1903 to Franklin Plympton and his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Plympton lived here after their retirement from the West Sutton Hotel until their deaths when the place passed to their daughter Annie (Mrs. Frank Humes). Mr. and Mrs. Humes lived here until Mr. Humes' death in 1947 and Mrs. Humes still makes it her home.
There was a large barn opposite, on the north side of the street, which burned in the fall of a year in the 1880's, just after the floor was filled with apples.
The next building, east on the Turnpike, is the house now owned by Richard Nelson. It was for many years the West Sutton School House, built in 1818, according to the old history. It originally stood on the Boston Road, as before mentioned. In 1889, it was moved to the more pleasant location. Because of consolidation of schools the building ceased to be needed as a schoolhouse and it was sold by the Town in 1947 to the Nelsons. They remodeled the building, making it into a desirable home. They have one daughter, Miss Shirley, who lives with them.
It is interesting to note the cost of removal and renovation of the schoolhouse as given in the Town Report of 1890.
Land $ 50
Cellar & Grading 125
Basement work & repairs & fencing 75
Moving schoolhouse 200
$450
Beyond the Nelsons is a small building, erected by Harold Shaw, after selling the home place to Rae Johnson. He and his family live in Texas.
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Continuing on the Central Turnpike, the first place on the left is the roadside stand, built in 1937 or '38 by Charles Phelps and owned by Mr. Phelps and his sister Miss Lucy Phelps. It was called Paine Haven. They managed it several years until war conditions made it necessary to close it. It is now open each season, rented to various managers. The grounds have been improved and the place is known as Phelps' Grove.
Nearly opposite, on the south side of the Turnpike, is the house built in 1951 by Harry Wing and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wing and their two children.
Farther along on the same side, on the corner of Josefson Ave., is the home and stand built by Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Van Twyver in 1945. They live here and run the well-known restaurant, "Doris and Nick's Place."
HOME OF J. FRED HUMES
South on Manchaug Road, the first house on the right, owned by Warren H. Humes and occupied by his father, J. Fred Humes and family, was sold by Fisher Thayer in 1876 to Hannah M. Abbott. She sold to Willard H. Eager in 1881. He was the son of Jacob Eager, brother of Calvin. Jacob and his wife Matilda lived here for a time. They had eight children. Willard Eager's heirs sold to Henry B. Bullard in 1901; he sold to George Gibson in 1903. Mr. Gibson sold in 1909 to Oliver Eager, another son of Jacob, and his wife, Annie L. They used it as a summer home for some years and sold it to the present owner in 1929. The old house, which was small, was used as an ell and the main house was built in 1930-31.
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J. Fred Humes has been for many years a prominent attorney. He and his wife, Susan, have three children; Warren H. an attorney in Hartford, Conn., Raymond, who holds a position with the Schuster Woolen Mills, and Gordon, a Veteran of World War II, who married Doris Putnam of this town.
The house and mill, off Manchaug Road and Aldrich Lane, long occupied by Alphonso Aldrich and his family, gradually fell into disuse and is now gone. Mr. Aldrich, a Lieutenant in the Civil War, was married three times. His first wife and the mother of his six children was Anah (Waters). She died in May 1879. He married later Elizabeth (McDougall) Thompson. After her death he married third, Elizabeth Sayles and they went to Spencer to live. Mrs. Aldrich died in Spencer and Mr. Aldrich lived for a time with a son there, but later came back to Sutton and lived with his daughter, Mrs. Louisa Plummer. He died at her home in 1925. The land on which the buildings stood is now owned by Mr. Andrew Sanborn.
The farm on Manchaug Road, left beyond Mendon Road, known for many years as the Calvin Eager place, is now owned by Ludwig Jansson. Calvin Eager (1823-1911) purchased it in 1846 and he and his wife Dorothy (Titus) (1828- 1910) made this their lifetime home. Having no children of their own, two children of Mr. Eager's brother Sardius Eager, Edward and Caroline, lived with them much of the time. Mr. Eager was a carpenter by trade. He left a will at his death in 1911 leaving all his property to his niece, Caroline. She later died in Providence, R. I.
The place was sold to Raymond and Dominika Opacki in 1913; to John and Anna Buckman and to Joe and Anni Nickolitck, 1915; to Ivar Prince, 1918 and to Mr. Jansson in 1921.
Mr. and Mrs. Jansson lived here for twenty years then moved to Worcester where they now reside. They have four children. The youngest son, Leo Sigurd, was born here. He is a graduate of Sutton High School and is now a chief pharmacist's mate in the Navy, having been in the service since 1939. His two brothers, Henry and Arthur Jansson, were also in World War II. The daughter, Ruth, is now Mrs. Wellesley Hatfield.
A three-room cottage has been made from one of the buildings on the farm. This was occupied by Mrs. Thomas Rousselle (Millie Keith) and her son, Donald. The Paul Lebels live here now. North of the orginal house is the new house finished in 1950, built and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield and their son, Wellesley William Hatfield. Mr. Jansson's brother Mr. Johan Jansson and his wife lived with the Hatfields. Mr. Jansson died in 1949 and Mrs. Christine Jansson lives here with her niece.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin LeBel live in the Eager house. They have one child.
The place on the shore of Manchaug Pond, long known as the Holbrook place, was owned for many years by Palmer Sibley. In his last days, he gave the deed of the place to Mary W. Sibley on condition that she should support him for the rest of his life and pay his funeral expenses. He died not very long after the deed was given and in 1909 Miss Sibley sold to Ella J. (Woodbury) Holbrook. She and her husband Walter Holbrook lived here until his death in 1921. They built up a summer business with picnic grove, boats, etc. The property was sold to Annie and Edward Hofstra (sister and brother) in 1934. In 1939 Mr. Hofstra bought his sister's interest and in 1943 the estate was
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HISTORY of SUTTON
sold to Mr. and Mrs. Allen Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Beasley all of Millbury. In 1944 the Beasleys bought the Smith's share. They, in turn, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Ivar Nelson in 1946.
The Nelsons maintain the recreation center, begun by the Holbrooks. The grove is still known as Holbrook's grove. They have one son, Ivar, Jr., who is director of music in the Quincy, Mass. schools.
The farm on the corner of Old Mill Road and Mendon Road, now owned by Peter and Exelina Zuidema, was bought by Hollis and Emily Sherman in 1868. They had five children; Addie (Mrs. J. Patch Stockwell) who died in 1910; Milton who died in 1951; Mary; Newell, who died in 1900, and Lewis H. The three youngest were born in this house. The Shermans sold to Horace C. and Cora M. Batcheller in 1895 when they moved to the brick store building in Sutton Center. The Batchellers had one son Horace C., Jr. who married Bertha McDonald and lives on Putnam Hill. The title passed to J. Fred Humes in 1902 and to Fred C. Hammond in 1903. The Hammonds kept it ten years. They had two sons, Walter and Raymond, when they lived here. They now live in Canaan, N. H., where Mr. Hammond is in the lumber business. The sons are there also. They have another son, born after they left Sutton. Mr. Hammond sold to Alfred Butler, 1913.
Mr. Butler sold to John and Ida Josefson in 1941. They lived here until 1936. They have three daughters, Linnea, Ida and Ellen, the last two being born in town.
In 1937 the place was sold to the present owners, who have five children: Blanche who is Mrs. Bertram Stewart of Manchaug; Fabriola who married Harry Goddard, now in U.S. service; Edmorse, who married Lorraine Pierce of Mill- bury, and was in World War II in the Navy; Kenneth, who also was in World War II and is still in the navy, and Doris who is Mrs. Donald Garand and lives in St. Johnsbury, Vt. The farm is now known as "Zuidema's Strawberry Farm".
Next to the Zuidema farm is a small dwelling where Allison Coon lives. He is a well-known and successful strawberry grower.
The Darius Leonard place was owned by Mr. Leonard until his death in 1913. In 1916, the heirs sold to James and Mary Black. Since then the owner- ship has changed several times. In 1919, it was sold to William and Anna Backman, to Maude Darling, 1923, to Emanuel Nelson, 1924, to John A. and Emma Berglund, April 1928. Mr. Berglund died in December of that year and Mrs. Berglund sold to Rosa A. Chamberlain in 1929.
Mrs. Chamberlain sold to Carl Carlson in 1945 when she and her family moved to the former town farm. The Carlsons are the present owners.
Mr. Bethuel Leonard, father of Darius, also kept his farm until his death in 1882. His will gave the place jointly to his widow Polly and his daughter Lucy. The daughter survived her mother and became sole owner. It has since passed to J. Fred Humes, 1899, to Joseph Gazette, 1906, Paul Potter, July 1909, to James Logan and Harry C. Smith, Oct. 1909, to Frank Donaldson, 1912. He kept the place ten years. In 1922 it was sold to John and Ida Kars. Mr. Kars died in 1928 and Mrs. Kars became sole owner. Her ownership has continued to the present time. She has since married Mr. James Murphy.
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The place, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Smith, was known for years as the Thayer place. The records show that a small house was built here by Asa Thayer, probably about 1866. Mrs. Thayer was a daughter of Bethuel Leonard. The Thayers died soon after Aug. 1872, leaving three children, and on that date Bethuel Leonard deeded the property to the three heirs. Each of the three deeded his or her third differently, but in 1890 Mrs. Eva Maxim obtained a deed of the entire property. She owned it until 1903 when Mary E. Black purchased it and sold to William Schourup of Uxbridge in 1910. From July to December 1912, there were five transfers of this place. In 1914 Matilda Hay bought it, kept it until 1919 when Fred Carlson bought it and sold to Agnes L. Nevill the next year. Miss Nevill later married Charles L. Whaley and in 1926 the property was deeded to Agnes L. Whaley and Mary E. Whaley. They sold to Raymond and Gordon Humes in 1934 and in 1941 the Humes brothers sold to Carl O. P. Carlson and his wife. They sold to Doris VanTwyver in 1945 and the same year Mrs. VanTwyver sold to Stanley Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reside here. They have two children, Maurice and Ronald.
The last house on Old Mill Road was sold by the administrator of Daniel Dorr's estate to Martha Aldrich in 1885. Erastus Plummer bought it in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Plummer lived here until 1904 and their two sons, Charles and Everett, were born here. Charles is a well-known and useful citizen of West Sutton and Everett lives in Rockford, Ill. The Plummers sold to Matilda Hay and she sold to Sarah Boyce in 1907. The Boyce family much improved the place during the years they lived here. It was sold after Mr. Boyce's death to the present owner, Henry Dupuis in 1925.
PUTNAM HILL, DISTRICT No. 2
P ROCEEDING southward along the State Road from the Casey farm, we come to Shaw Lane. At the end of the lane is the home of Salem Martin Shaw, known at one time as the Elliott Place. In 1876 the eastern part of this farm was owned by Alvan Putnam, father of Deacon Irving Putnam; the western part by Joseph Wilcox, Jr. The house now standing was built about 1892 by Milton Putnam, son of Alvan. Salem J. Shaw purchased the western part of the farm from Joseph Wilcox, Jr. He sold to Frank Marble, and later he had the farm again in his possession. At this time a barn stood on the western side of the State Road, and west of the present house was a large house, joined to a small one. Emery Putnam lived here. His housekeeper was Mrs. John Plummer, whose son Erastus and daughter Geneva lived with her. Erastus was known for making fine ax handles. He later married Louisa Aldrich. When Milton Putnam built the present residence, the large house was torn down.
Milton Putnam had two sons: Milton A., who resides in Podunk, part of East Brookfield, with his daughter Elizabeth; Clarence S., who married Frances Underwood. Clarence died in 1926; his widow lives in Cambridge with her son Earl and daughter Dorothy.
In 1896, Salem J. Shaw purchased the eastern half of the farm from Milton Putnam. A large barn stood on the crest of the hill, east of the house. This was destroyed by lightning in 1896. In 1932 the small house was taken down.
In 1897, Salem Martin Shaw and his wife, Grace (Elliott) Shaw, came here to live. All but one of their ten children were born here. Ralph S., born Oct. 4, 1896, was drowned on the last day of school in June 1911. Walter B., born March 1, 1898, married Janice B. Gibson of Auburn June 21, 1930, and is now Associate Agent of the Worcester County Extension Service. Dorothy G., born May 27, 1902, was married to Samuel R. Westcott, July 7, 1927, and resides in Williamstown. Kenneth M., born March 18, 1906, married Pauline M. Putnam of this town Sept. 7, 1935, and resides in Sutton; he is a surveyor. Philip B., born Aug. 16, 1907, died April 5, 1923. Elliott R., born March 5, 1910, is at home. Norman L., born May 25, 1912, married Sarah S. Gibson of Salem Oct. 7, 1939; he is employed at the Whitin Machine Shop. Ruth G., born Dec. 14, 1913, married David T. Putnam of the town Dec. 5, 1939, and resides in West Sutton. Phebe E., born March 24, 1915, is married to Harold
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Kilmer and lives in Millbury. Clinton M., born March 21, 1918, died April 14, 1918.
Martin Shaw in 1905 doubled the size of the barn and in 1911 built on a shed and later a milk room. He improved the large fields, removing walls and stone, so placing more of the farm under cultivation. Since his occupation it has been a dairy farm. At one time he conducted a retail milk route in Millbury, and he had a large herd of thoroughbred Holstein cattle. He, at present, whole- sales his milk. He also operates a sawmill in West Sutton. After the barn was destroyed by fire in 1943, he built a large modern barn.
Mr. Shaw has served the town on the Welfare Board two years, twelve years as Selectman and twenty-five years as Fire Chief and Firewarden. His father, Salem J. Shaw, came to live with him in 1900 and died here May 6, 1907. Salem Shaw was a large real estate holder. The Shaw family originally came from Wales, Mass. Mrs. Grace Shaw was born in Nova Scotia.
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