USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1876 to 1950, Volume II > Part 25
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Mrs. Richardson, before selling this property, reserved a portion on which she built a small house. She lived here as long as her health permitted. In 1951, she sold to Mr. and Mrs. Otto Pearson. They have a small son James.
The original land on Singletary Avenue, which now comprises, for the most part, the beautiful and progressive farm known as "The Maples," owned and operated by Norman C. Perry, was originally part of the Ebenezer Daggett estate. This estate also included what is now the James Colton home and property, and the site of the Edmund T. McGovern home. This entire property was transferred from Daggett to Daniel Tenney and Simon Tenney (Tenny on old handwritten deed). From the Tenney's it passed on to Luther Wheelock, who, in turn, sold the house and part of the land to Asahel Newton; and the barn and the rest of the land to William Perry, grandfather of the present owner, Norman C. Perry.
The first deed in the Perry name was recorded December 19, 1856. The land deeded laid on both sides of the main road, which is now called Singletary Avenue. It extended as far as the John Whipple place (now site of the Lesein home), and included the Gabree place.
When William Perry bought this land there were no buildings on it. The Dagget house on the site of what is now McGovern's home, was torn down and part of it used to build the present Perry home. The original barn was moved from the Daniel Tenney farm, then Asahel Newton place, now James Colton place, to build the barn on the Perry farm.
The actual date of the building of the house is unknown. George Nelson Perry, the eighth child of William and Eunice A. (Wheelock), was born here July 21, 1862. The next oldest child, Abbie Idella (Volkmar) was born in Dudley, September 7, 1859. These facts set the construction of the house some- time between 1859 and 1862.
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THE MAPLES
HOME OF NORMAN C. PERRY
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William Perry of Dudley and Eunice A. Wheelock of Sutton were married in Sutton, April 2, 1845. They set up housekeeping in Worcester. There, William, of a mechanical turn of mind, became a machinist and his wife took in boarders to help defray expenses while he was learning the trade. At the time of the Civil War, mills were expanding with government orders and, as a millwright, William set up machines in many parts of New England. A loyal patriot, he had offered his services to the Union side but was refused because of his frail health.
Leaving Worcester, he returned to Dudley and with his brother David oper- ated, for a few years, a stocking mill in Oxford and later one at Perryville in Dudley. His mechanical ability stood him in good stead while in this business. Because of ill health, he sold out to his brother his share in the enterprise and purchased the farm land in Sutton. When they moved to Sutton, the house was built and partially finished.
William Perry was not a novice at farming when he came to Sutton. He had been raised on a large and prosperous farm in Dudley, which, at the time of pur- chase by his great-grandfather in 1774, was located in Thompson, Conn., the line between Massachusetts and Connecticut being relocated afterwards. His wife Eunice, aside from the cares of a large family of children, four boys and five girls, was also a great help in farm management and set about getting the farm into productivity and with success. She was a shrewd judge of farm animals. (It was said William never made a purchase without consulting her. )
After devoting his full time to the farm for some years, Mr. Perry became one of Sutton's most respected and prosperous farmers. He also was a leader in church and town affairs.
To William Perry goes the Town's appreciation for the beautiful maple trees that now distinguish the Perry farm. Seven were planted in front of the house, and seven more along the side. The trees in front were, in time, thinned out. Three are now standing, having withstood ice storms and the hurricane of 1938. One at the side of the house was broken down by high winds. Maple, butternut and walnut trees were also planted by Mr. Perry along the walls that separated the fields on his property. Nearly all of them are now gone.
William Perry's love for trees had a practical side. He set out apple trees with peach trees in-between on the land running down to the lake, and extending, at that time, as far as Winwood Road. These trees bore both beautiful blossoms and delicious fruit. The last of them were cut down about 1948.
From the beginning, the Perry farm was destined to be a show-place in the town, as well as one of its most prosperous farms.
George Nelson Perry, eighth child of William and Eunice, married Miss Mary Clifford, April 3, 1890, and came to live upstairs in the Perry home. The house originally had seven rooms and an ell. In 1890, four rooms were added- two up and two down at the rear of the house on the Lake side, and a long woodshed was built on.
After a year, Mr. and Mrs. George Perry went to live with Calvin and Luther Wheelock, uncles of Mr. Perry, who owned and resided at the farm, now the property of Mrs. Julia Robbins Putnam. Two children were born here; a baby, who died at birth, and in 1895, their only daughter, Eunice Emma Perry.
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In 1895, the George Perrys returned to the William Perry home-to live on the first floor, the William Perrys going upstairs to live. Also in 1895, William and Eunice celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, their nine children attending, all married except one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. George Perry's two sons were born here; Norman Clifford in 1897 and Willis Josiah in 1899.
After the death of William Perry in 1899, George N. Perry bought the farm from his five sisters and three brothers. The deed was recorded on Novem- ber 4, 1903. George continued the pattern set by his father as a successful farmer and good citizen. For ten years he held the office of Town Treasurer. He died in 1921. He was the first child to be born in the old homestead. He was married in the living room and his funeral was also held there.
On September 4, 1918, Norman Clifford Perry married Miss Olive A. Sherman. In the house upstairs, where they have always lived, their three chil- dren were born: Morrice S. in 1919, George N., 1921 and Alden L., 1923. The three sons are married and all reside in Sutton. A son, Dudley Perry, lives at home.
Willis J. Perry married Miss Rhona MacElwain of Gonic, N. H. in 1925. They lived downstairs in the Perry home with his mother, Mrs. Mary C. Perry, until they moved to Florida in 1946. Their children are: William Lee, born in 1925, Robert W., 1930 and Calvin G., 1934. William Lee was graduated from Yale University and has a degree from Harvard University. At present he is teaching in the Menlo School and College for Boys in Menlo Park, California.
After their father's death in 1921, the brothers, Norman and Willis, con- ducted the farm together until 1946, when the George Perry estate was bought by Norman. In 1926, the barn, garage, woodshed and ell of the house were burned. The modern barn and garage, as they are known today, were built in that year. At the same time, when the story-and-half ell was rebuilt, the roof was raised one story, making three additional rooms. In 1938, two more rooms on the first floor were added on the north side of the house. Today there are 18 rooms in all, and the long woodshed.
Until 1932, the farm consisted of seventy-seven acres. There are now 121 acres in all. Norman Perry bought the so-called Malhoit farm (originally Young farm) of 44 acres on the Boston Road. By buying a narrow strip of land from William Davis, and building a road across to the Malhoit property, the entire acreage of the farm is united.
Since 1946, the Perry farm has been operated successfully by Norman Perry. After the honorable discharge from the Coast Guard and the Army of his sons, George Norman and Alden Lewis, respectively, he has had the assistance of these two boys in his business of production and retail delivery of milk.
Through the years, "The Maples" has prospered because its owners have welcomed progress. Norman Perry realizes the advantage of labor-saving farm equipment and has put it into effective use on his farm. It is interesting to note that the dairy room at "The Maples" had a pasteurizing plant before it was compulsory by law.
Despite its 121 acres, "The Maples" is not sufficiently large to keep the sixty to seventy-five milking cows and twenty-five young stock. Mr. Perry at the present time is using the pasture land and hay fields of both the Stephen Ben- jamin and Carl T. Lund farms.
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William Perry, during his working years, had cleared many fields of stone, but there was one eyesore that was finally removed by the present owner, with the aid of tractors, bulldozers, hours of hard work-and at great cost. Many of the boulders were piled against and on the lane wall, the remainder being dumped in a ditch, five feet deep and eight feet wide, running the length of the clearing. Now Norman can view with pride the level expanse of field, which he reclaimed.
Norman C. Perry has just concluded twenty-five consecutive years as Town Treasurer, and is succeeded by his son, Morrice Sherman Perry. His father, George Nelson Perry, was Town Treasurer from 1908 through 1917. Thus members of the family in three generations have held the office.
On February 23, 1952, a testimonial banquet was given to honor Norman at which 300 covers were laid. A gift from the townspeople of a contour chair, also a new Hercolite from the Sutton School Faculty and the Class of 1952 were presented. Letters of congratulation were read from Henry P. Long, Tax Com- missioner of Massachusetts, from Herman B. Dine, Ass't Director of Accounts and from Horace Schermerhorn, Vice President of the National Shawmut Bank of Boston. Among those present were Edgar C. Bailey, Ass't Vice President and Joseph S. Holmes, Ass't Trust Officer of the Shawmut Bank.
Norman Perry has the gold-headed cane, which belonged to his great-grand- father Abner, and which has been handed down to each eldest Perry son ..
Mr. and Mrs. Leon F. Sampson (Bessie Bell Clifford, sister of Mrs. Mary Perry) of Worcester, bought the corner lot on Singletary Ave. and Wheelock Road from George N. Perry, and, in 1912, Vernon S. Johnson built a bungalow for them. They lived there with their son Donald, who was a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. He married Miss Frances Bancroft of Worcester and they had a son, Donald. Donald Sr. died a few years ago. Mrs. Leon Sampson died Oct. 2, 1950. Mr. Sampson is now living in Florida.
Mr. Sampson was an indefatigable worker for the Service Men in World War II. In frequent committee meetings at his home and in mass assemblies at the Town Hall he aroused much interest, so that large sums of money were available for gift-boxes, sent to the Sutton men in all branches of the service, and for a splendid homecoming party at the close of the war.
After his wife's death, Mr. Sampson sold his property to Mr. and Mrs. Edmund T. McGovern (Anna Smith) of Worcester. Their children are, Phyllis M. (Mrs. John Mulcahy) of Auburn, Edmund Jr. and Walter. The new owners have made extensive changes in the house and have drilled an artesian well.
A small house that used to stand on Wheelock Road, at the rear of the Sundquist lawn, was owned by Mr. and Mrs. James Deviney in 1876. They lived there and with them for many years their grandson, Martin.
Six of their younger children lived in Sutton until they were married; Sarah, Nellie, Martha, John, Martin and William. The daughters were remembered as very handsome women. Sarah was married to Freeman Butler of Millbury. Freeman and John Freeland worked together in A. S. Winter's Grocery Store. They became very good friends so that when Freeman's son was born, he was named Freeland after Mr. Freeland. Nellie was married to James Butler, Freeman's brother. Martha married John Dunn. James Butler's children are living in Worcester. Martin had two sons, Martin and George, the latter living
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HOME OF EDMUND T. McGOVERN
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in Millbury. Mr. Deviney died in 1881 and Mrs. Deviney died Jan. 12, 1897 in Worcester.
A child of four years remembered Martin Sr. as having a strong handgrasp. Her absent-minded mother had given this young lady permission to go to Springfield, when a new dress was finished. The little girl left the Center promptly and reached Wheelock Road to meet a tall young man, who, recognizing her dog, asked her destination. "Pingfield." The reply seemed not to satisfy the inquirer, who took her firmly by the hand, turned her about and walked her home, thereby calming a frantic family.
After the Devineys left, Charles Merchant and family lived here. Their children were Adelard, Isaac and Joseph. In 1898 they bought the Wilcox place on Putnam Hill and went there to live. Joseph has since died. Rev. Herbert Lombard then bought back the Deviney property and shortly afterward the buildings burned.
Christopher C. Hall bought a plot of land from Henry F. Lombard and built a house near the Deviney cellar hole. Mr. Hall came originally from Leomin- ster and married William E. Cole's daughter Susan. They had lived in Sutton since 1876 when they had a home on Burbank Hill. Mrs. Hall, for many years, was the leading soprano in the choir of the First Congregational Church. Mr. Hall was interested in gardening and was engaged in preparing for commercial use horse-radish and different kinds of pickles.
There were three children. Ernest Boynton Hall was a veteran of the Spanish War; he lives in Milford and has two sons, Edgar in Fisherville and Leo in Milford. Ray M. Hall married Mary Forsythe and lived on Burbank Hill; he died in 1951. Their three daughters, Ruth, Florence and Grace, all are married and live in Millbury. Annie Louise Hall was married first to Marius M. Hovey, one son, Douglas; her second husband was Mr. Spencer of Auburn. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer now live in SanBernardino, California.
Mr. Hall died in Sutton Feb. 27, 1907. Mrs. Hall died in San Bernardino in the early 1930's. The house, which the Halls had labored so hard to build, burned down when the next occupants, the Kibby family, lived there.
On Wheelock Road, beyond the Deviney property, was the home of Simon Stockwell and his wife, who was Mary F. Delia Burnap. One remembers them as true to old New England traditions. They had one son, Horace Scott. Mr. Stockwell died Nov. 11, 1901, at the age of 85, and Mrs. Stockwell died Aug. 29, 1915, also at the age of 85.
Scott married Miss Carrie Augusta Joslin of Rochdale. She died Dec. 19, 1916. The Stockwell farm was noted for its fine dahlias. After the death of his parents and his wife. Scott sold the home place to Frank Brasiskus and moved to Bridgewater where he conducted a second dahlia farm. He married for his sec- ond wife, Bertha (Wilbur) Gibbs of Bridgewater. He died in June 1941.
Mr. and Mrs. Brasiskus have two children, Jane, born Jan. 14, 1942 and Thomas, born February 4, 1944. Mrs. Agatha Brasiskus, mother of Mr. Brasiskus, lives with them at the farm. The old farmhouse, damaged by fire, has been taken down and the family now live in a new house, which they built, on the opposite side of the street.
The Wheelock house is the next house on the hill, beyond the Brasiskus property. The births of the six Wheelock children are recorded in the first Sutton history. In this second volume of the history are here recorded the dates of their
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deaths. Luther died Apr. 28, 1898, Calvin died Jan. 30, 1898, and Charlotte, wife of Asahel Newton, died Apr. 21, 1898. The two sisters, Maria and Eunice, married brothers. Maria married David Perry of Dudley; Eunice, who married William A. Perry, died Aug. 23, 1901. Luke died in January 1907; he had two children, Henry and Ella.
Luther and Calvin Wheelock deeded the farm to George N. Perry, youngest son of William A. and Eunice A. Perry. George went there to live with his wife, Mary Patterson Clifford. Here their second child, a daughter, Eunice Emma, was born. The two uncles, Luther and Calvin, so used to living alone, decided to buy back the farm. This was done and the George Perrys moved back to the William Perry farm on Singletary Avenue.
The old place remained in the Wheelock name until the year 1898 when both Luther and Calvin died and the property was left to a relative, Ezra W. Marble, Jr. Mr. Marble made repairs on the house and in 1899 moved in with his bride, who was Miss Jennie Putnam, daughter of Marble and Evelyn Putnam. Later Ezra traded the farm for some wood lots to his mother, Mrs. Ezra Marble, Sr., who was Ella, the daughter of Luke Wheelock.
May 19, 1906, Mrs. Ella Marble sold to Willis Robbins, who came to the farm from Worcester for his health. The family consisted of Mr. Robbins, his wife, the former Julia Putnam, a sister of Mrs. Ezra Marble, Jr., son Ralph and daughter Helen. On August 29th of the same year, a son Homer, was born. Ralph married Gladys Richardson, younger daughter of Randsom and Stella Fletcher Richardson. They have one son, O. Randall, who married Julia Maziarka Jan. 1, 1949. Helen Robbins was married to Alden Stone of Shrews- bury. Mr. Robbins died in 1912 and Homer in 1937.
Mrs. Robbins married P. Orrin Putnam for her second husband. She still owns the farm and lives there with Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Robbins. Mr. Robbins has been Sutton's Tree Warden for over 25 years. A tenement upstairs was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Barry Brooks Putnam and their young sons, Bruce Colin and Barry Brooks.
Orrin Randall Robbins is a veteran of World War II. He was Technical Sergeant, 14th Air Force, in the China-Burma-India Theatre of Operations and took part in more than thirty missions. He received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Lombard house and farm were bought in 1830 by Nathan Lombard from John Stockwell. The house, probably, was built a few years earlier, as the first Sutton History states that John Stockwell built the house just before his death. Nathan's son Alanson inherited the property, which later passed to his son, Henry Faulkner, who with his wife came here to live with his parents in 1863.
Mr. Clarence S. Brigham of the American Antiquarian Society in "A Memorial" to Herbert Edwin Lombard gives the following account of the Lombard family and the early days in Sutton:
Early in the 1800's, Nathan Lombard and his wife "moved to Sutton, then one of the three most important towns in Worcester County, where Nathan as a cabinetmaker, a skilled worker in fine woods, could expect a more attractive future. Their eldest son, Alanson Allen (b. Jan. 25, 1803) learned his father's
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trade; and a fine example of the family work may be seen in the high mahogany pulpit of the First Congregational Church in Sutton."
"Life upon a New England farm has never been easy. None of the Lombards were successful farmers. Changed conditions left the shop of the cabinetmaker idle; and Henry's health forbade more than short intervals of return to the practice of his trade. No modern installation of electricity or running water lightened the drudgery of house or barn."
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lombard had two sons, Herbert Edwin and Frank Alanson. Mr. Alanson Lombard died May 25, 1881, at the age of 78; his wife Alexa on Mar. 19, 1880, at the age of 72. Henry Lombard was an influential member of the Farmers Club and for many years a faithful treasurer of the Grange. Mrs. Lombard "was the soul of hospitality, and made much of every cultural contact for her own enjoyment and for the sake of her small boy." Henry Lombard died Jan. 14, 1917, at the age of 82; his wife Nellie, Nov. 15, 1923, also at the age of 82.
Herbert Edwin Lombard was the first boy to graduate from Sutton High School. His college training was under private tutors; he was graduated from Bangor Seminary in 1896. He was active pastor of the churches in Cherryfield, Maine; Byfield, Newbury, and Webster in Massachusetts. While at Byfield in 1906, he was elected president of the Historical Society of Old Newbury. He supplied in churches in Tatnuck, Worcester, Grafton and Whitinsville. He was chosen Pastor Emeritus at Webster and Honorary Pastor at Sutton. He was a member of the American Antiquarian Society, and identified with several civic and religious organization in Worcester, a Mason and a Knight Templar.
Quoting again, "Mr. Lombard was a great host, a genial entertainer, (his) capacity for friendship was outstanding in his character. A lifelong servant of the Church, Mr. Lombard held her doctrines with a liberal conservatism. He rejoiced in the richness of an 'ordered' worship; he was at home in the pulpit, most happy in prayer, most effective in personal ministry. He made sunshine for others; the shadows were for himself alone." He was interested in the welfare of his native town and of his childhood church and was "ever at their call." He died July 13, 1940.
Frank Alanson Lombard was ordained to the Christian Ministry of Educa- tion in the Sutton Church, Aug. 9, 1900. His work in the Orient has been edu- cational. He writes, "The work of a missionary is that of spiritual cooperation; and my experience taught me the great need of mutual interpretation between the East and West. Resigning my position-professor in Doshisha University, lecturer in the Imperial University-I returned to the United States in 1926. Since then I have given myself to the work of Interpretation, particularly through the Bureau of University Travel, which is an Educational Foundation for the interpretation of foreign culture and have revisited the Far East seven times in the interests of better understanding."
Frank Lombard married Miss Alice Ward of Newton. After their return from Japan, they resided in Wellesley. Mrs. Lombard died in 1943.
The Lombard place was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gustav Sundquist of Worcester in July 1922. Their children were Carl E., Betsey, Ruth and Paul, who was born here. Mrs. Sundquist (Esther Hultman) passed away May 13, 1939, after a long illness. Ruth was married to Oliver Larson. They have a
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"MAPLEHURST", HOME OF CARL G. SUNDQUIST
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son Paul Oliver and a daughter Christine. The property consisted of three acres. The Sundquists used the place as a summer home until 1928 when they made it their permanent home.
On August 9, 1926, the land between William Davis' shore property and the Campfire Girls Estate was purchased by Mr. Sundquist from Napoleon Malhoit. A portion bordering on Lake Singletary has been sold for camps to William Moran, Alfred Norsten, Peter Nyquist and Charles Holm.
In 1951, Alden Perry built a new house, facing Lake Singletary, on the Perry land at the entrance of Tuttle Road. He and his wife ( Anah Johnson ) live there with their children, Judith Ann, born Nov. 3, 1949 and James Lewis, born Oct. 31, 1951. Alden Perry was Corporal in the United States Army during World War II, serving three years in France and Germany.
Mr. and Mrs. Lester Dakin are building a new home on land near Lake Singletary, purchased from William H. Davis.
In 1938, on eight acres of land bordering Lake Singletary, William H. Davis developed a summer park, in the section which was formerly pasture and wood- land, and built two summer cottages. In 1939, two more were built; the next year one more, until by 1942, seven cottages in all were completed. The park is now considered one of the beauty spots on Singletary Lake, with rotary drives and a four-foot high cement wall, which protects the waterfront and makes a good sandy beach for swimming. The cottages are always rented every season and much enjoyed by the summer colony.
July 20, 1898, Rev. and Mrs. John Ellery Tuttle bought a plot of land on the shore of Singletary Lake from Loren C. Howard and erected a cottage. Their daughters were Kathleen (Mrs. Paul Norton) and Margaret Stockbridge Tuttle, a graduate of Wellesley College. Rev. Dr. Tuttle was clergyman at the Chestnut Street Congregational Church in Worcester and later at Lincoln, Nebraska.
The family endeared themselves to the townspeople and were genuinely wel- comed each summer. Though they came for a vacation, they were interested in the activities of the community and contributed much to its social life.
The site that is now Marion's Camp was purchased by Anna S. Tuttle from Loren C. Howard then sold to Adelaide L. Sanderson on May 26, 1922.
Until 1929 Worcester Camp Fire Girls used the Goddard property in Auburn, Hamagrel Farm, now Hillcrest Dairy, for a camp site. As the membership in- creased, there was need for a larger camping area and it was with this in mind that Mrs. Harry W. Goddard purchased the Sanderson property on Sept. 25th, 1928. The new camp was named "Marion's Camp" for Marion W. Goddard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Goddard.
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