USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1876 to 1950, Volume II > Part 17
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HOME OF WILLIAM H. GILBERT
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and it passed into the possession of his son Charles N. Woodbury at his death in 1889. His widow lived here until she passed away in 1896. Charles N. Woodbury and his wife, who was Lizzie Stevens, a former Eight Lots school teacher, continued to make this their home until 1904. Their three daughters were born here. Lilla, who was the wife of Eli Vaughn of Holliston, died in 1950. Ethel, who married Wallace King of this town, died in 1941. Marion was formerly the director of nursing service in Great Barrington. The farm was sold to George N. Moore in 1904. Mr. Moore married Grace Davis of this town. He died in the influenza epidemic of 1919. His widow carried on the farm for a number of years and later married Roy Sullivan. One child, Joyce Sullivan, was born here in 1925. Mrs. Sullivan's mother, Mrs. Abbie Davis, lived in a part of the house for some time. In 1930 the farm was sold to a Mr. Nawaxki who sold to George Chrobak in 1932. Mr. and Mrs. Chrobak now occupy the place. Of their children, Albert was in the Navy and lost his life when his ship sank in the Gulf of Mexico in 1951. Stephen and George are also in the Service. Adella married Vincent Simonski in 1946 and lives in Worcester and Karol married Ellen Annesty in 1951. Edward, Francis and daughter Mary are at home.
Coming from the West Millbury-Sutton town line past Ramshorn pond, the property known as the Orrin Johnson place was later incorporated in the Dolan farm of West Millbury. The buildings burned about fifty years ago. After pass- ing the pond, the street at the right is an old road to North Oxford, used for many years, now open only as far as the last farm in Sutton which was owned by Lewis Griggs in 1876. This was sold to Henry Brower in 1900; he tore down the old buildings and built a new house. It passed to his son Albert Brower in 1909, who used it principally as a summer home. He died in 1937 and his heirs sold to Katherine Welsh. She sold in 1946 to Paul Bousquet and his wife (Loretta Delphi), who live here. Since the building of summer cottages on Ramshorn has become so general, a road has been made around the pond com- ing out on the Millbury side and many most attractive homes have been built for summer occupancy.
The next property was long known as the Cullina farm. Here Michael Cullina and his wife brought up a family of thirteen children. Of those now living, Delia (Mrs. W. Kenny), John, Francis, George and Elizabeth live in Worcester and Marion, who married Daniel Donovan, lives in Millbury. Mr. Cullina died in 1896 and Mrs. Cullina in 1919. Their heirs sold the place to Rev. Edward Eells a Worcester minister. He used it for a summer home several years and sold the house and part of the land to Joseph Burroughs in 1929. Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs had two sons, Joseph and Albert, who attended school in Sutton. He sold to the Colin Harts in 1942. They lived here for some time then rented the place to several short-time tenants and sold to Russell Cullina, grandson of the earlier owner, in 1946. A number of summer homes have been built on the shore. Colin Hart is a veteran of World War II.
Returning to the west Millbury road, the first place on the left, as we continue toward the schoolhouse, is owned by William Gilbert and his wife (Lena Moore) Gilbert. In 1876 it was owned by Daniel Bugbee. It then passed to C. P. Bugbee and thence to Sarah A. Holman, who bought it from him in 1880, and lived there with her brother Amos Holman. After his death, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert came there to live in October 1912. Miss Holman lived here until her
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HOME OF THE WELSH FAMILY
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death in 1921 when the farm passed to the Gilberts. Mrs. Gilbert's mother, Mrs. Nellie Moore, a nonagenarian, lives with them as does Mrs. Moore's sister, Mrs. Mabel Malhoit.
Across the street from the Gilbert farm is the place formerly owned by Martin Gondek. The house was built by Charles Bugbee in 1879. At his death he willed it to the Dolan family. In 1914 it passed thru the hands of several owners and was purchased by Martin Gondek in May of that year. His wife Josephine died here in 1918. They had one daughter Mary, now Mrs. Rowland Williamson, of Baltimore, Md. Mr. Gondek married for his second wife, Mary Baier in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. George Popham bought the place in 1945 and make it their home. They have three children, Richard, Barbara, and Ralph. Mr. Popham is a machinist in Worcester.
The road turning left, after passing the last two farms, is known as Welsh Road. On this road leading to West Sutton Road is the Welsh farm, a property which has been in the Welsh family for many years. The present house was built in 1873 by David Welsh. He died in 1901 and his wife in 1911. Of their eight children, Katherine, David and Elizabeth are living at the farm; John died in 1922; James, a prominent business man of Millbury, died in 1939; Edward died in 1936 and Mary died at the farm in 1948; William and his family live in Worcester. David manages the farm, helped by Anthony Bourbeau, who has worked here for fifty years. The buildings have all been modernized with many improvements. Some land was sold to the State Fish Hatchery.
The following account was published about 1880 in a Worcester paper:
"Standing upon the farm of Mr. David Welsh, near the Eight Lots in this town, is a chestnut tree, one of the largest, if not the largest in Worcester County and perhaps the state. Its age is estimated to be over 300 years and it has the past season yielded its owner a good crop of nuts. Mr. Holman, who lives upon a neighboring farm, says that it has scarcely changed its appearance in 50 years. Its height is about 100 feet, the circumference of the base one foot from the ground is by actual measurement 32 feet. Many limbs are nine feet in circumference; and its bark is from two to three inches thick. Some of its larger limbs are hollow and broken off a few feet from the body, and through these limbs owls gain entrance to the inside of the tree and make their home there. At the foot of the tree bubbles a large spring of pure, cold water. It stands not far from Mr. Welsh's house and will repay any one a visit." (It is no longer standing)
The next and last farm on the West Millbury Road, coming toward the schoolhouse, belonged to Solomon Severy in 1876. It was No. 1 of the original Eight Lots. Solomon Severy died here in 1886; his wife in 1890.
His heirs sold to Edward F. Welsh, son of David, in 1892. He married Ellen Welsh in 1908. He was one of Sutton's thriftiest and most prosperous farmers and much respected. During his ownership a garage and other buildings were added, which much improved the property. This farm was noted for its good apples. The first apple trees in this orchard were set out by Elhanan Batcheller for Benjamin Lincoln Batcheller. Mr. Welsh used to say that he got $1000 a year from his apples, "If the crop is large, the price is low and I get $1000. If the crop is small, the price is up and I still get $1000." Mr. Welsh died in 1936 and Mrs. Welsh sold in 1938 to Ernest MacDonald and his wife (Ruth Danielson) and they live here with their two sons, Howard and Robert. Howard was in World War II.
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The straightening of the West Sutton Road put three farms farther from the main highway. The farm, which was owned by James W. Jackson, was a part of the Jonathan Stockwell estate, the property of Jonas E. Stockwell in 1876. Arthur Goodell bought from the Stockwell heirs in 1878 and his three children grew up here. Fred V. married Miss Anna Slayton in 1901 and lived here at the farm about three years, then moved to Millbury where they now reside. Stella M. married George R. Lincoln in 1897; she died later in the South. Annie L. mar- ried Joseph Gifford in 1898. After her husband's death in 1906, Mrs. Gifford lived on the farm with her three children, Fred L., Bernice I. and Josephine. Mr. Goodell died in 1914 and Mrs. Goodell sold the farm in 1916 to James W. Jackson, and moved with her daughter and family to Millbury where she died in 1939 in her ninetieth year. Mrs. Gifford later married George W. Perkins and resided in Millbury until her death in 1951.
Mr. Jackson was a draughtsman in the American Steel and Wire Co. and came here to live. Mrs. Jackson, who was a Johnson, died here. Mr. Jackson died in 1943 and his daughter Frances still makes her home on the farm.
Mrs. Perkins sent the following interesting history of the place:
"When the farm of Jonathan Stockwell on the west side of Singletary pond became the property of Jonas and Stephen Stockwell, it was divided into two farms. On March 3, 1847, Stephen Stockwell conveyed by deed 59 acres to Jonas Stockwell, who afterward bought land of Edwin E. Hutchinson and Simeon Waters, making his farm larger. The house of Jonathan Stockwell was so large the ell part was taken off and moved down the hill to the land of Jonas Stock- well and used as the main house, and an ell was built on this, making a seven- room cottage. Then a barn and other buildings were built. At that time the only road was from the Hutchinson farm across the old sucker-brook and past the Jonas Stockwell house on through the farm of Stephen Stockwell, coming out near what is now the Patrick McGrath home in West Millbury. There was also a road leading off this one, where the old brick house of Andrew J. Harris stood on the West Millbury road. After the new road was built in 1853-4 from the West Millbury road through the Eight Lots district to West Sutton, these old roads were discontinued. The old one (now called a lane) to West Millbury is still passable; boulders have been put in the other, blocking the way. A new road was built in back of the Jonas Stockwell house, through to the new road, for the convenience of the people living on the three farms in the neighborhood. It was found necessary to build a very high bank wall on this road, with a culvert in it for the cattle to pass through to another pasture and to the pond for water.
"After the death of Jonas Stockwell, the farm came to his son Alonzo E. Stockwell. He sold it to Arthur Goodell of Millbury, who moved to the farm with his family in May 1878.
"Mr. Goodell did a great deal to improve the buildings and land. He built a large hen-house 17 feet by 97 feet, two stories high, and with the other places for hens did quite a poultry business at one time. A fourteen-foot power wind- mill was erected on the barn which was used to churn, saw wood, and run a shredder to cut corn-fodder for the cattle. There was running water in all of the buildings. The water in the house was connected so that by shutting off the cold water, the 30 gallons from the hot-water tank ran through the same pipe to the trough in the barnyard, giving the cattle warm water in winter. Mr.
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Goodell was one of the first to have hot and cold water, a bathroom and steam heat on a farm in Sutton.
"Mr. Goodell was a painter and a paperhanger by trade; he used a small house on the place (once occupied by Alonzo Stockwell and family) for a paint-shop. He employed men and worked papering and painting, when not farming. His son learned the trade, working with his father.
"After the son's marriage in the spring of 1901, the creamery building which stood near the West Millbury corner was bought, razed and lumber carried to the farm. Using this lumber the cottage was remodelled, the roofs raised, and a two tenement house of twelve rooms was made."
John Giffiord told this story of the "Perfect Hired Man."
"Mr. Arthur Goodell besides being a good farmer and good painter was quite mechan- ically minded. Let me tell you as nearly as possible in his own words his account of his 'perfect hired man'. I had a chance to buy at a bargain and in excellent repair, a power windmill. This was attached to the top of the barn where it would get the force of the wind and the power ran to a room where I did considerable work, including the churning in a small barrel-churn. The cream being well-ripened, it was placed in the churn and the power attached. When turning properly, I decided to go up to neighbor De Witt's for a short call. I said to De Witt, "There Ed, I have a perfect hired man; he doesn't need watching but works steadily all the time and he won't strike.' When I thought the churning finished I returned home and opened the door to the work shop. While I was gone the cover of the churn had blown off and the inside of my shop, sides, top and bottom were covered with cream. That's the first time I ever tried to paint a room with cream!"
The other Stockwell farm was occupied by Eddy Stockwell in 1876. S. Eddy Stockwell had three children by his first wife, Jennie (Bemis) Stockwell: Frank, who lived in West Millbury; Reuben, who died in his thirteenth year, and Fred- erick, who died in infancy. His second wife was Lottie Balcom of Douglas. She had one daughter, Jennie Belle, who lives in Detroit. His third wife, Fannie (Barstow) Stockwell, lived in Worcester after her husband's death and died there in 1951. She sold the farm in 1910, after Mr. Stockwell's death, for a Fresh Air Home for Children. This did not prove successful; the place was sold in the spring of 1911 and bought by August Orn. Mr. and Mrs. Orn's children were: Carl; a daughter, Mrs. Ebba Smith; a son Albert, who was in World War I, and Adolph, who lives in Worcester.
In 1929, Mr. Orn sold the farm to Joseph Piatczyc, who lives here with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Piatczyc have a daughter Josephine, who married Richard Novak in 1951 and a son Stanley, who is in High School (1951). This farm had a large frontage on Lake Singletary and Mr. Orn had sold a number of shore lots.
S. Eddy Stockwell was a skilled mechanic, especially noted for constructing the old fashioned "tongue and pin-framed" barns. His son Frank also did this type of work.
According to tradition, the farm owned by Otto Pearson was once an Indian Observation Post for the early settlers because of the high elevation. It over- looked Lake Singletary and is beautifully located. "The cellar hole of the old farm house, built probably 150 years ago or before, is in the northern portion of this farm." The house standing in 1876 was owned by Benjamin DeWitt. He left his estate to his widow and Edgar DeWitt at his death. After the death of Edgar DeWitt in 1901, John Titus came to manage the farm and married the
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widow of Edgar in 1907. Mr. Titus had one son, Fred, who attended school in Sutton. Mrs. Titus died suddenly in 1909. In the fall of 1910 while doing the chores, Mr. Titus dropped the lantern and set the barn on fire. "All the build- ings were burned except a blacksmith shop and portion of the beautiful fence which surrounds the property." This occurred on a Monday morning. Mr. Titus died the next Monday. Madam DeWitt lived on the Goodell farm until it was sold in 1916 when she went to Worcester to live where she died in 1920 on her ninety-fifth birthday. In 1912, Clarence Tupper, an Attorney of Worcester, bought the property and "restored the buildings, as they were formerly, except the house, which was built of stone and equipped with modern conveniences. After coming into possession Mr. Tupper set out 3000 apple trees, 2000 peach trees and 200 apple trees, some of which remain to bear fruit". The farm was sold in 1918 to Otto Pearson; he and his family carry on the place. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have three sons: Otto, born before they came here, who is married and lives in town, and Kenneth and Rudolph, who live at home.
Starting at the Millbury line a considerable number of cottages have been built along the lake shore. While many of these are summer camps only, the town has gained a goodly number of citizens who live here permanently. On the lake side of West Sutton Road, the first house used as a permanent home is owned and occupied by John Sandburg and his wife. The land was sold by August Orn in 1922 to Carl Sandburg, who sold it to his son John in 1930 and the house was built in 1937 by John Sandburg.
The next house belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Jarvis who live here with their three children, Helen, Ruth and Fred. Mr. Jarvis purchased the place of Mr. Sandburg in 1948.
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Bjork built their house in 1940 and have since made it their home. They have a son Paul, a senior in High School (1951) and a daughter Marcia also in High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Broggi were early resident on the lake shore. They bought the land from August Orn in 1921 and built their home in 1928 and have lived there ever since. Mrs. Broggi is a graduate nurse.
The next year-round place was bought by Dr. James MacDonald in 1924. He sold to Rev. Daniel M. Tully in 1930. Frank and Lillian Koless bought in 1934 and made it into a permanent home. They sold to Robert Lavallee in 1937, who rents it to others.
Stanley Anderson built his home in 1950 and he and his mother lived here. Mrs. Emma Anderson died in October 1951 and Howard Anderson moved here with his family from his home on the opposite side of the street. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have one daughter Sandra.
Following along the shore, Mr. and Mrs. Arvo Latti converted their camp into a year-round home in 1946. They have three children Alan, Mary Frances, and Arnold. Mr. Laitti conducts a boat-rental and bait business. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jernberg bought their shore lot in 1946 and came here to live permanently in 1950. They have a son Willard in Junior High School and daughter Janice in High School (1951).
The Walter Gustafsons now own the place formerly owned by Clarence Smith. Their daughter Eleanor graduated from Sutton High School and married
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Albert Carter Jr. in 1949. (Their son Robert was a graduate in 1951 and is a student in Worcester Polytechnic Institute. )
Mr. and Mrs. Uttei have made their camp into a home for all time. Mr. and Mrs. Alton Werme bought in 1936 but did not become year-round residents until 1950. They have one daughter Alna in school.
The place, owned and occupied by Mr. George Pierce until his death in 1950, is now owned by Mr. Francis Fisher who lives here.
Mr. and Mrs. Yngve Norlin built their home in 1941. They have one son Richard, born May 3, 1951. The T. J. Gustafsons also are year-round residents. The other homes along the shore are for summer occupancy only, the owners liv- ing elsewhere the rest of the year.
On the opposite side of the street overlooking the lake are a number of attrac- tive cottages, most of them closed except for summer months. However, several are permanent homes. Mr. and Mrs. Allan K. Foster moved into their home in August 1949. They have one son Kenneth Allan. Mr. and Mrs. John B. R. Peterson converted their summer camp into a year-round home and have lived here since 1950. They have three daughters, Misses Shirley, Lillian and Eleanor; also a son, John Warren, who is a senior in High School (1951).
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Loyko moved into their new home in 1950. They have one small son. Mr. Loyko was in World War II.
Continuing on the West Sutton Road, at the corner of Hutchinson Road, formerly stood the Mill House, which was a part of the Stockwell estate and was an attractive old place. The house and barn were rented to various tenants. John Davis and his wife Abbie lived here about seventy years ago and an older son John was born here. The buildings burned more than forty years ago. On the opposite corner stood a gristmill, used in later years by James and Henry Stockwell to ripen cranberries in the fall. It is now gone.
Between the Mill House and Boston Road is the farm owned by the Hutchin- son Family from 1729 or 1730 to 1937, six generations. Edwin Hutchinson was the owner in 1876. At his death it passed to his only son Charles, who was mar- ried to Grace Kendrick. One son, William, survives. Charles Hutchinson was a deacon in the Congregational Church as his father was before him. Deacon Charles Hutchinson was a plain hard-working man, upright in all his dealings. He was one who lived the religion he professed; his were the stern virtues of the early pioneers. He inherited his father's love for music, singing in the choir of which his wife was director. Mrs. Hutchinson was superintendent of the Primary Department of the Sunday School for many years, beloved by the children. She contributed greatly to the different church organizations. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson served their community generously and without ostentation in count- less ways. Mr. Hutchinson died in 1920. Mrs. Hutchinson suffered a stroke one Sunday morning while in the choir and was an invalid several years before her death in 1925.
On a Sunday morning in 1898 the Hutchinson barn caught fire. Word of this was brought to Mr. Hutchinson, sitting in the family pew. Before leaving, he walked quietly to the pulpit and whispered to Mr. Hall, the minister. "Mr. Hutchinson tells me," Mr. Hall began, "that his barn is on fire. It might be well for those able .. . " No one heard more. All the men, able-bodied or otherwise, were out of the church and well on their way, before the sentence was completed. The Sunday quiet was broken. Horses were being
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driven at a gallop down the street, water buckets rattling in some of the wagons. Men worked frantically. The barn burned; the house was saved by a bucket-brigade.
An inquiry came in 1950 from a church authority in Iowa, asking for any information, or, if possible, a portrait of Horace Hutchinson, a brother of Edwin and it was learned that he was the leader of the Iowa Band, so called, a group of young men, who went from Andover Theological Seminary in 1841 as missionaries to that then almost unknown region. He died there in 1846 but his name is still remembered and honored by the lowa residents.
The land bordering on Lake Singletary has been sold to various people who have built summer homes. The farm was sold by the conservators of the estate of William Hutchinson to William Bernier in 1937. Waldo Horne went into com- pany with William Bernier, and they sold the buildings and forty acres of land to Irving Johnson the present owner. He rents the place to Richard Chase and his family.
Going toward the Boston Road, Ralph Currier Jr. and his wife (Eleanor Bates) occupy their newly built home (1950) with their four children, Lynn, Patricia, Stephen and David.
Passing now to Freeland Hill. the first house on the west of Boston Road, after District Three joins District One, is the one which was owned by Franklin Freeland and his wife Caroline (Adams) Freeland, who lived here about forty years. Their six children were born here. James, the oldest son, lived in Worcester for many years and died there in 1926. Fanny married Thomas Pope of Millbury in 1876 and lived in Iowa for years. Mary died in 1875 soon after graduating from Millbury High School. John F., J. Eddy and George F. also grew up here. After Mr. Freeland's death in 1893, the farm was sold to Elisha Brown, an elderly man who lived here for a time. He died from blood-poisoning caused by a keg of cider falling on his foot. His heirs sold to Nettie Smedley who kept it a few months and then sold to Granville K. Hadley in 1897. The farm passed to Mr. Hadley's niece Edna, on her marriage to William Moore in 1902. Mr. Moore made many improvements; building a garage, also a silo. Mr. and Mrs. Moore's three children were born here; Alzia who married John White, Lloyd, who lives in Florida and married Miss Marjorie Murray of Homestead, Fla. and H. Stanley whose wife was Miss Flora Baier. The Stanley Moores live in town with their seven children. The place remained in the possession of the Moores until 1937 when it was purchased by Aronson Bros. of Westboro. They sold in 1940 to Troy Stricklen and his wife, who came to make this their home with their four children, Troy Jr., Warren, Flora and Joan. Troy Jr. gave his life for his country in World War II. The family sold the farm to Zephir Denencourt in 1946, and moved to Worcester. Mrs. Denencourt died in 1951. Their son Paul is in the Navy.
The cottage across the street was built by William Moore for Mr. and Mrs. Granville K. Hadley in 1910, the land being taken from the Moore farm. Mrs. Hadley died here in 1913. Mr. Hadley lived here alone for a time then made his home with his niece until his death in 1918. The house was then sold to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Eaton in 1919. They lived here for several years with their children. They sold to Ralph Morey and his wife whose son Robert was born here. Later, they sold to Sidney Hutchinson, who sold to Fred Gifford and his wife in 1929. Their son, Fred Lincoln, was born while they lived here. It was purchased by Mr. Carl Lund in 1940 who made improvements. It is now occupied by Mr. and
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Mrs. Charles Merrill. Just below this house toward West Sutton is a house, built in 1948 by Mr. Leslie Merrill, a brother of Charles. He and his wife live here. They have one child.
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