USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1876 to 1950, Volume II > Part 26
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
Although Camp Fire had sole use of the property, Mrs. Goddard maintained ownership, because of the fact that Camp Fire was not a corporate organization. After Camp Fire was incorporated in 1929, a deed dated March 29, 1929 trans- ferred the property from G. Grace Goddard to Camp Fire Girls of Worcester, Inc.
The building known as "Goddard Lodge" was moved from the Goddard estate in Auburn to Marion's Camp in Sutton. Over a period of years, addi- tional buildings have been built at the camp. Six cabins, two wash houses, and, most recently, a nature house have been added. One of the wash houses was a
236
HISTORY of SUTTON
-
"SUNSWEPT", HOME OF CARL E. SUNDQUIST
237
HOMES of SUTTON
contribution of the Alethia Grotto; the Worcester Woman's Club contributed $500 towards the construction of the Nature House.
The nature house was dedicated during the 1948 camping season. From names submitted by all of the campers, that of "Nature Nest" was selected as the most appropriate. It so happened that two Sutton girls, Alice McLaren and Charmion Fisher, suggested this name.
Marion's Camp has many traditions-Sutton Night-when the citizens of Sutton come once every summer to visit camp, meet the campers and the staff, and take part in a brief entertainment ;- Christmas-on July 25th; the Birthday Banquet-in memory of Marion W. Goddard; camper and staff attendance at the worship service on Sunday morning in Sutton; and Council Fires near the shore of the lake.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Sundquist built a new brick house on Singletary Ave- nue, adjoining the Sundquist family home, in 1951. They live there with their little daughter Ann Esther, born June 16, 1951.
North of the Carl Sundquist home is the house, built by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Schonning of Worcester, on land purchased from Mr. C. Gustaf Sundquist in 1924. Mrs. Gustaf Sundquist and Mrs. Schonning were sisters. They used it as a summer home, renting it at other seasons. Their son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Holger Schonning, and daughter, Carol Coulter, lived here a few years before his mother's death in 1951, when they returned to Worcester. A son, John Alfred, was born while they lived here. It is used now as a summer home.
Next along Singletary Avenue is the attractive cottage built in 1947 by Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Salmonsen. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and the gardens show their great love of flowers. Mrs. Salmonsen died in 1952. Mr. Salmonsen owns and operates the Victoria Dairy in Worcester
Standing back from the street is the house owned by Mr. Kelley. At one time he operated "Rainbow Gardens" on Canterbury Street in Worcester.
In 1949, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Obara of Grafton bought land from Mrs. Sharp, formerly the Lombard land, and erected the brick ranch-type house, which overlooks Lake Singletary. Mr. Obara is employed at the Paul Whitin Mfg. Co. in Northbridge.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Dexter Brigham, in 1950, built the next house, Cape Cod in style, and live there with their young son Mark Dexter, born Nov. 18, 1950. Mrs. Brigham was Miss Carolyn Carlson, a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools. Mr. Brigham is a Television Technician. He has been Town Assessor since 1950.
During World War II, J. Dexter Brigham was Radar Man, 2nd Class, in the Coast Guard. He had two years of intensive service in the Pacific Area with Battle Stars from eleven engagements. Later he served six months in Hawaii.
Mr. Fred Hudson Woodward was Treasurer of the New England Confec- tionery Co. of Boston, Mass. He purchased the lower half of the Lombard farm on Singletary Ave. from his cousin Henry F. Lombard about 1890. Later he bought land bordering Lake Singletary from George N. Perry-also land from George Dewey, Mr. Harwood and Mr. Stratford, bringing his estate, "Wynd- swept," to about thirty-five acres.
In 1901, he built the first house, which he used as a summer home, until his death in 1914. In 1909, he built another house on the property, which was also
238
HISTORY of SUTTON
used as a summer home by his daughter, Louise Woodward Briel and family. A large garage with apartment over it was built in 1912. The three buildings are now standing.
At the death of his widow, Mrs. Ida R. Woodward, in 1931, the property was inherited by his daughters, Mrs. Alice Woodward Sawyer and Mrs. Louise Woodward Briel, both of Boston. In 1936 and 1937, Mrs. Briel and Mrs. Sawyer, respectively, took up permanent residence in Sutton.
The old road from Sutton to Millbury ran through the lakeside land; the road can be seen today. The present road was built on the higher level.
Mr. and Mrs. Christian Schaaf Briel had four children: Lois Woodward, who was married to Roscoe Danforth Fisher; Fred Woodward of Tucson, Arizona; Christian S. Jr., a traveling salesman and Karl Lombard of Sutton and Millbury. Mr. Briel died Mar. 8, 1950.
All three sons were in World War II. Major F. Woodward Briel, on grad- uating from Riverside Military Academy, became a Reserve Officer in the United States Army. At the beginning of the war in 1942, he was called to duty and was sent to England and the invasion of France, landing on Omaha Beach. After crossing France, Belgium and Luxemburg with the 5th Armored Division, and pushing seventy miles into Germany, he was severely wounded in September 1944. Hospitalized in France, England and in the United States, he underwent many operations before being able to resume business. He received the Croix de Guerre from Belgium and many U. S. Army Citations.
Christian S. Briel, Jr. was Staff Sergeant in the U. S. Army Air Force, on the Operations Staff, having two years' service in Africa and one in Italy. His group received the Presidential Citation for the low-level flying attack on the Ploesti Oil Fields in Rumania.
Major Karl L. Briel joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940, where after a year and a half of training, he received the rank of Pilot Officer. At the beginning of our war with Germany and Japan, he asked for a transfer into the United States Army Air Forces. He became pilot of a B29 and flew to India and China, from which countries he flew the first bombing raid by B29s on Japan. After two years he was transferred to Tinian in the Pacific, and at the end of the war he had completed forty-eight bombing raids over Japan and twenty mis- sions "over the Hump." He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and 7 Battle Stars. He now is Manager of the Warren Harris Insurance Agency in Millbury.
The property at the corner of Singletary Avenue and Winwood Road was owned by Isaac Varney. He had two sons, Delos, who died in Wilkinsonville and Louis, a ball player on the old Fisherville Ball Club. Others who lived in the house were Peter Repos and Otis Hoyle.
The place was bought by Mr. Dewey in 1918 and later by Mr. Fred Wood- ward, who had the small house taken down. It is now owned by Mr. W. W. Windle.
The home of W. W. Windle on Winwood Avenue was formerly part of the H. A. Kendrick estate. Mr. Kendrick was a man of force and of great integrity. His two sons were doctors: Dr. Ford Kendrick practised medicine in Saunders- ville; Dr. Frank Kendrick, a dentist, had offices in Worcester for many years. He had two daughters; Grace, wife of Charles Hutchinson; Mary, wife of
239
HOMES of SUTTON
Walter Harris. Mr. Harris died in 1888, leaving his wife with two young chil- dren, Henry and Ford. After her husband's death, she made her home with her father until his death, April 27, 1894.
The Kendrick house was occupied by John Barnes at the time of its purchase by Atty. and Mrs. Hervey Lucius Woodward from Warren A. Harris in April 1909. The Woodwards came here from Holden. They had two daughters, Laura and Marion, who attended the local schools. Both are graduates of Elmira College in New York. They are married and living in New York State. Lawyer Woodward died May 10, 1927. His widow is living in Worcester.
The following account contributed by Winfred W. Windle:
For the benefit of my old friend, Fred Batcheller, this is a history of our living here in Sutton.
It starts with the transfer of this property to me by my father in 1925. For- merly my uncle, Mr. Hervey D. Woodard, lived here from about 1910 until that date, then he died suddenly of pneumonia. It is quite interesting to note that his daughter remarks every time returning to her former home, how the trees around Lake Singletary have grown up. When she was a young girl here, the fields ran to the water's edge and no trees were allowed to grow on this farm at least. The countryside was quite open to the waters of Singletary.
In the summer of 1932, Betty Bauer and I were married in Springfield, Ohio, and immediately after our honeymoon, moved into this New England farm- house of rambling "L's." Records show it was built around 1797 and was finally destroyed by fire February 26, 1939. It might be well, and of interest, to note that the house caught fire at about 3:30 in the morning. The temperature out- side was five below zero and we had three feet of snow on the level. It was entirely consumed in about two and one half hours, inasmuch as there was no water available. Due to lack of insurance on household furnishings and valuable antiques, a large monetary loss was suffered. The writer slipped on a red ski hat band of his wife's, a formal black dress coat, plaid pajamas, a cashmere sweater, striped pants and fur slippers. When the fire was finally over, he had to shop in Worcester in this outfit.
Town records do not show a previous building on this site, but on excavation for the present new home, built in 1941, definite signs were found of both clothing and burnt timber at about a three-foot level under the present charred foundations. This seemed to indicate that a building was here previously and was partly destroyed by a fire, upon which they were fortunate enough to put some water, shown by the charred condition of clothes and timber, still left buried in the ground.
Mention should be made of the great wind of 1938. It blew a few shingles off the old farmhouse but otherwise no damage was done, inasmuch as the barn sheltered this particular home. We were without electricity for nearly eight weeks and our line was finally put in order by a crew from Flint, Michigan. I do hope that the historians of this period will very thoroughly cover various incidents of the hurricane of that year, inasmuch as it will be of great interest to posterity. Waves on Lake Singletary reached a height of 20 feet.
In the spring of 1941, after finally preparing plans, we started construction on the present building. To the best of our knowledge, it is intended and is fire- proof. It took six months to lay out the foundations, which includes a concrete
240
HISTORY of SUTTON
-
HOME OF WINFRED W. WINDLE
241
HOMES of SUTTON
slab as a first floor. This length of time was mainly due to the intricate work of laying all electrical and plumbing fixtures and all appurtenances to a modern home inside this concrete slab which makes up the floor. Mr. Harold Maclaren, of Sutton, poured it in one day after six months' labor of assembling the forms.
The house was built by William Guertin, of Linwood, Massachusetts. It is probably the first house in Sutton to use hollow brick wall construction, cement slab and steel roof, radiant heating, and steel and concrete construction throughout.
We have a potential voting power in this family of six, four boys and two girls, and I assume that they will vote the same as their father and their grand- father did before them, viz., Republican. It is something one cannot get out of their veins in too short an order.
The writer owns and operates a Wool Scouring and Cleaning plant in Mill- bury, which was established by his father. The last three generations of Windles have been in the wool business. It might be of interest to note that both my grandfather Windle and grandmother Windle were immigrants from England. It is interesting to me that she was a weaver, and he was a wool sorter. Hard work didn't seem to bother that generation, inasmuch as she has told me that when she first came to the United States she started working at 5:30 A.M. and was through at 6:30 P.M., with only a half hour for breakfast and for lunch --- this six days a week.
I would like to record here that the only thing that is really worth while that we can pass on to our children, is the appreciation of good hard work. That you get about what you put into this life and one should strive for good healthy bodies, minds and souls. I hope my offsprings make good citizens in Sutton and some day will in turn be able to write some part of a history of the advancement of this town.
In 1940, Singletary Lake became the first landing area for the town of Sutton and was so recognized on the Coast and Geodetic survey charts. This was due to the instigation of the writer, who directed the operation of a small sea- plane on floats from this lake. In 1946 a commercial operation from this lake was denied to a young veteran, sponsored by the writer, due to the fact that people of Sutton and Millbury felt that flying off of Singletary would create a nuisance.
Mr. Windle has served on the Board of Selectmen and Mrs. Windle has been a member of the School Board since 1949. Their children are Thomas, Jonathan, Terrance, Connie, Tallea and Winstone.
About 1880, Jeremiah Gibree bought land from the Kendrick farm, at the northwest corner of Singletary Avenue and Winwood Street. Later, for the sum of five dollars, he purchased the Old Boston and Albany Freight Station, had it brought up and placed on this pine woodlot and made into a house. It is now the second house from the corner.
Mr. Gibree sold to Mr. and Mrs. William Barr, who lived there with their family. There were six children: Irving; Frank, who married Belle Waters; William, husband of Annie Putnam; Clarence; Annie, wife of Walter Acker, and a daughter, who died at this home.
Mr. and Mrs. William Hunton were the next owners. They both died here.
242
HISTORY of SUTTON
Their son Paul, who married Gladys Donaldson, inherited the property. Their children were: Harold, who married Mildred Stockwell; Phyllis, wife of John Anderson; Priscilla, wife of Elmer Anderson; Paul Kenneth, born Aug. 19, 1923, who married Maryellen Vincent of Voluntown, Conn. and Shirley, born April 12, 1925, who married John Direnzo of Worcester. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hunton sold to W. W. Windle, who now rents the house. The Huntons are living in Grafton.
The house, at the northwest corner of Singletary Avenue and Winwood Road, was built in 1942 by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hunton on land originally owned by his father, Paul Hunton. They live there with their children, Janice, born May 18, 1940 and Bruce, born Oct. 5, 1943.
Henry Jansson from Worcester is building a house, across the street on Singletary Avenue.
Continuing north on Singletary Avenue, the new house owned by J. A. Berthiaume, proprietor of the Boston Store in Millbury, was built by Philip Gosselin in 1926 on the Gibree land, east of the avenue. Mr. Berthiaume, who bought in 1927, resided here with his wife and son, Charles C. Berthiaume, until his death in 1949. Mrs. Berthiaume and her son continue to live here and with them her grandchildren, Diane S., born Nov. 23, 1938 and Ronald C., born Mar. 4, 1942. The children came to the home after the death of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Amedee Berthiaume.
Charles C. Berthiaume is owner of the Millbury Fuel Co. and of the Boston Store in Millbury.
The next house on the Berthiaume lot is 125 years old, one of the oldest houses in Sutton. It was owned in 1876 by Mr. Cheatem and later by a Mr. Brierley. William Moore's parents lived here until their deaths. Jeremiah Gibree, a stone mason, bought the place in 1883 from Mr. Broadbent, and lived here with his family forty years. He died in a highway accident, Sept. 27, 1915. Mrs. Gibree was Miss Hattie Blanchard. She died Feb. 17, 1934, at the age of eighty- three. Mr. and Mrs. Gibree were natives of Vermont.
The Gibree children were: Frank T. Gibree, born in Grafton; Carrie Gibree Graveline, born in Grafton and died Oct. 29, 1933, at the age of sixty; Mary D. Gibree Pariseau, born in Worcester, and Albert Gibree, born in Sutton.
After the Gibrees, the owners were Mary and Homer Pariseau, Thomas Strat- ford, Philip Gosselin and Almon Jackson, who sold to J. A. Berthiaume.
Mr. and Mrs. Willard Blanchard occupy the house at present with their children, Judith Ann, born Sept. 24, 1942, Alan, Oct. 26, 1945 and Paul, Oct. 31, 1951. They have bought a piece of land, below the former Arthur Putnam place, where they are building a new home.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick O'Shea own the adjoining property. The house was built by Philip Gosselin in 1926 on land purchased from Jeremiah Gibree. It was owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Blanchard, until sold to Mr. and Mrs. O'Shea in 1948. The O'Sheas have two young sons, Daniel Patrick, born Dec. 16, 1945 and Gerald Robert, May 18, 1951.
The house, which used to stand across the street, was built by Richard Whipple on land owned by his father, John Whipple, owner of the Windle farm in 1870. Richard Whipple married Ruth M. Streeter of Leicester. They were the parents of six children: John W. (1871), Hiram S. (1873), Frank M. (1876), Caroline
243
HOMES of SUTTON
Almira (1879), Anna Hall (1882) and Frances B. (1885). Mrs. Whipple died Aug. 28, 1886, at the age of thirty-four, and the two youngest children went away to live-Anna with Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Rice to be a companion for their daughter Alice and Frances with Mrs. Charles E. Hutchinson.
Richard Whipple was a veteran of the Civil War, a member of Co. F, 36th Mass. Inf. He died Sept. 15, 1914. John and Hiram were coal and lumber dealers in Putnam, Conn. John died in 1950 and Hiram in 1931. Anna was an accomplished musician. She was organist at the First Congregational Church and gave piano lessons to the young people of the town. Caroline and Frances (Mrs. Rudolf Meyer) were graduated from Mt. Holyoke College and both taught in the New York State Public Schools. Caroline received public honors for distin- guished work in education. She is the author of a manual on citizenship, recently published by the New York State Education Department, as a handbook for teachers in adult education.
Charles Harwood and his wife, who was Miss Mary Putnam, were the next owners. The house was destroyed by fire and the property was purchased by Foster H. Bordeaux. He erected a bungalow and a large garage where he did some automobile repairing. Mr. and Mrs. Bordeaux lived in the home with their daughter Gladys. Their son, F. Hazen Bordeaux, is manager of the Millbury Motor Co. Inc.
The present occupants are Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Lesein, formerly of Millbury, who bought the estate in 1931. A daughter, Gladys, was married in 1937 to Warren Greenwood of West Millbury. Mr. Lesein is a retired Master Mechanic.
The Furn-Craft Inc. rents the building, formerly the garage, where they conduct their business. The firm repairs and reupholsters furniture, specializing in antique finishing and handwork. Garrett J. Bylsma, the president, has had twenty-five years experience in this work. The firm was organized six years ago.
On the east side of Singletary Avenue, below the Lesein house, is the former Tom Robbins place. It was sold to Frank Barnes, who resold to Charles Harwood in 1888 and he to Mr. and Mrs. Stankaitis of Worcester, who came here to live with three children, Mary, Tessie and George. Three more children were born here, William, James and Nellie. The house burned Jan. 10, 1908 and in 1917 a new one was erected. In the meantime the family lived in a building at the rear, which by degrees was made into a small house.
The large house was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Stankaitis to Cleophas and Virginia Audette. Mr. Audette died in 1929 and Mrs. Audette sold to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Putnam in 1937. Mrs. Audette then purchased the little house from Mr. Stankaitis and lived there for ten years.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Mathieu now live in this attractive small house, which was bought in 1926 by their daughter, Mrs. Louis Audette, of Concord.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Putnam lived in their home until his death in 1950. Laura Rosebrooks, Mrs. Putnam's daughter, also lived here, leaving shortly after her marriage to Pendleton Havener of Worcester. She attended Mary Washing- ton College in Virginia and Boston University. She taught in the public schools of Holden.
244
HISTORY of SUTTON
Arthur Putnam was a lifelong resident of Sutton and was devoted to the Town and its interests. He served as Town Clerk for over 25 years, from 1925 till his sudden death, Sept. 15, 1950. He was active also in the Grange organ- izations. He was loyal and unassuming, a friend with a happy smile.
Mr. and Mrs. Zygmund A. Stockmal bought the property in June 1951. They came here from Worcester with their son Zygmund A. Jr., born in 1941, and Joann, born in 1944.
On Singletary Avenue, across the street from the Stockmal's, is the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Josephson. They purchased land from A. C. Jackson of Oxford in 1935 on which they built the house. A daughter, Linnea, lives at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Shaw purchased the adjoining property in 1926 from Thomas Stratford. Their daughter Caroline married Allen Armoury in 1937.
Mr. and Mrs. William Carpentier and son were tenants for a few years. The house now is rented by William Stanley and Marie Macjewski. Their sons are Paul and William Jr. Macjewski.
Mrs. Rose Shaw, Mr. Shaw's sister, owns the little house which is back of her brother's and has lived there since 1936.
Across the street is the home of Mrs. Nellie Moore and her son Charles.
Jeremiah Gibree owned the land at the Sutton-Millbury line, west of Singletary Avenue, and sold a section to his daughter and husband, Mary and Homer Pariseau. They built a home there and sold in 1913 to a Mr. Waite of Chicago, Ill. who sold to Mr. DuBois.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Moss purchased the property in 1937 and live there with their children. They have named the farm "Stoney Acres" and have done much to improve the grounds. Their children are: Ronald D., Oct. 20, 1934; Law- rence S., Nov. 4, 1935; James E., May 8, 1937; Isabell M., Aug. 19, 1938; Milton M., Nov. 24, 1939; Fraser A., Jan. 25, 1942; William L., July 7, 1945; Dawn L., Feb. 23, 1947; Alan G., Mar. 19, 1948 and Craig R., Oct. 23, 1951. The two eldest were born when they lived in Millbury.
The following excerpts are taken from Mrs. Bertha Johnson's account of the 1938 hurricane in District No. 4:
September 21, 1938 will be a day, long to be remembered by our town. It dawned like other days and no one dreamed that, before another dawn, the village would look like a battle-torn city.
People went to their work, their trips, both for business or pleasure, little thinking they might not get home again for several days. At the Center, a church meeting was planned for the afternoon and the group gathered at the home of Mrs. Annie Holbrook. The wind blew, but no more than it had hundreds of times before, till mid-afternoon the sky changed to a color that gave everything a queer hue. The rain fell, the trees swayed and leaves, twigs, limbs, shingles and bricks came flying in every direction.
The earth began to crack and loosen at the base of the trees and inch by inch the ground seemed to rise, until in an hour, trees, planted a hundred years ago, were literally pulled from the ground. They fell swiftly; some on roofs, others on barns, across wires and on other trees, uprooted also.
245
HOMES of SUTTON
At Mrs. Holbrooke's, one fell on the roof, breaking a portion of it, and another fell in the yard, blocking the driveway. Watching, the women saw the church steeple sway and fall smashing to the ground. Everywhere people were fright- ened, stunned, but were helpless to prevent the havoc around them. It seemed almost as if we had grown so arrogant and conceited in our man power, that God wanted us to pause and think that there was a power greater than ours.
In the morning such a sight ! As if some mad demon had vented all his rage everywhere. Nearly everyone had from one to five trees in their yard broken or blown down, chimneys gone, roofs off, buildings moved from foundations, tele- phone and electric light wires useless and often wound around trees and lumber.
Queer happenings took place. At the Perry farm, four men were trying to nail boards on a tin roof when the wind lifted men, roof and all, so they had hard work to stay on. At the summer home of A. Duncan Johnson, an ash tree, one hundred and seven years old, fell and in it was found a bullet which had been fired at rifle practice by Mrs. Johnson and her brothers when children. At the Robbins farm, the nails in the clapboards were popped out and one could gather pounds of them from the ground. At one place, a tree pulled up, was blown five hundred feet and bedded deep in the ground.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.