USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1876 to 1950, Volume II > Part 31
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Cyrille Miette's second wife was Celina (Curson) (Smith) Miette and there was one son Maurice. After the death of Cyrille Miette, the property was owned by his son and wife, Maurice and Louisanna Miette. It was inherited, in turn, then by their son Raymond of Northbridge. Raymond Miette served in the Army in World War II.
The property was afterwards in the names of two other persons and a Savings Bank. Truman Pierce, the present owner, bought the house through the Vet- erans' Administration, in 1951. Mr. Pierce is employed at the Hayward Schuster Co., in East Douglas and is a veteran of World War II.
The house above the home of Truman Pierce, or the old Miette home, is now occupied by E. Ernest and Mary Plante. Mr. Plante came into possession of the property in 1936. The previous owner was Dunbar George Plante, father of Ernest. Before Dunbar Plante, the owner was David Letendre. The present house was built for him in 1884. The Letendre family was one of the very first to settle in Manchaug and they were residents for many years. The Letendre chil- dren were: Roseanna, who married S. Fortier and went to Rhode Island; David, who married Aglezina Dubuque; Marie, who married Dunbar Plante; Edward, who married Rose Carrier; Delia, who married Trefflis Donais; Philoman, who married John Lariviere; Melvina, who married Zenon Goulet; Joseph, who mar- ried Sarah Beliveau; Charles, who married Eva Landry and Sophie (deceased.)
The house has been modernized and improved. An interesting feature of this place is the stone wall at the back, where there is a steep incline. Dunbar Plante built the strong and substantial wall still seen there. George E. Plante went from this home into the Army in World War I.
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On the left, going south on Mumford Road, beyond Ernest Plante's house, we find the old Dubuque home. It sets back from the main highway, and appears to be on the highest point of Mumford Hill. The view here is magnificent, show- ing a wide horizon. The house, itself, is very old, of brick construction, and the story goes that it was once a schoolhouse. One owner states that from his deeds the property had been in the Dubuque family since 1865. From Town records, a Francis Dubuque was taxed for forty-eight to fifty acres, which would appear to be this property, for over fifty years. It was called the "Adelard Dubuque property," also. It is interesting to know that much of the land in the vicinity once belonged to the Dubuque family. Albert DeJong came into possession in 1940. He was a foundry worker in Whitinsville. In 1943, Leo J. and Elva M. Besaw bought the place. They made extensive repairs; all new windows, new roof and a new extension toward the west. The interior was also greatly improved.
The Besaw children are: Robert (1930), who married Patricia Cimochowski; Frederick Aime (1934); Dennis Leo (1936); Paul Henry (1937); Ralph James (1945) and Rosalie. The Besaws moved to Worcester and sold their holdings to Howell and Ruth Greene. Their children are James (1943), Ellen (1951) and Joel (1952). Mr. Greene is employed at the David Clark Co. of Worcester.
Facts contributed by Oliver Fontaine:
The next home on the left, going south, almost opposite the old Dubuque house, is now owned and occupied by Oliver and Olivine Fontaine. The land was purchased in 1885 by Antoine Fontaine, a foreman in the B.B. and R. Knight mills and the house was built in 1886. This new dwelling, the home of Antoine and Delina Fontaine, located on almost the crest of Mumford Hill, became a curiosity because of the steep pitch of its roof. Several additions have been made and the original one-family house is now a three-family unit and the steep roof has long been gone. In the Antoine Fontaine family there were four children, Rose, Zoe, Mary Louise and Oliver. In 1924, Oliver, son of Antoine and his wife Olivine, came into possession of the property. Their children are, Henrietta, now Mrs. Waldo Forsythe, Cecilia, Mrs. Masterson, Anita, Mrs. Her- vieux, Theresa, Mrs. Calman and Sylvia. One daughter died here.
Mr. Fontaine relates that when his father and mother built their house, they set up two street lights of the style then in use, on the roadside. Every night they lighted a kerosene lamp in each one, thereby helping the passers-by to see the road on the dark nights. Later, Mr. Fontaine heard that electricity, a very new convenience, had been put into the hotel. He and many neighbors went down to observe the wonder and he was so captivated by the resulting illumina- tion and its easy maintenance, that he felt he must, and later, did, have it put into his own home. Mr. Fontaine states that when the electric light company found out that his father had kept the kerosene lamps lighted for others' con- venience as well as his own, they erected a pole in front of the house and gave a standing order for an electric street lamp to be maintained there indefinitely. The Fontaine house, therefore, was the first home in Manchaug to be wired for electric lights.
Two servicemen in World War II came from this house, Richard Masterson, husband of Cecilia Fontaine and Joseph Hervieux, husband of Anita Fontaine.
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Just beyond the Fontaine house, on the same side of the street, is the home of Frank and Delima Lesage. This cottage sets back from the highway and com- mands a very fine view of the valley. The house was built by Antoine Toupin, but has had rooms added since that time, besides several modern conveniences. A garage has also been built. Aimé Fagnant followed Antoine Toupin, then Mrs. Marie Mercier and, later, Arthur Senecal, who sold the property to Frank and Delima Lesage in 1919.
There were two Lesage children, Jeanne (deceased) and Hervé, who married Alice Boudreau. Hervé served in the Navy in World War II.
The house above the Lesage property, going south on Mumford Road, is now owned by Mrs. William Conway. For a long period this property was owned by David Letendre Jr., who married Aglezina Dubuque. The original Letendre family was one of the oldest to settle in Manchaug. There were six children in the David Letendre Jr. family; Oliva, who married Edward Arbour, Albertine, who married John Gagnon, Wilfred, Delia, who married George Dostie, Oliver and Delina, a nun, Sister of Presentation, Ste. Gemma, stationed in Linwood. The family moved to Augusta, Maine and the next owner, about 1921, was Steve and Mary Pazik. In 1941, William and Mary Conway bought the property. Mr. Conway died in 1950. There are two sons; William Noel (1924), who married Helen Salminen and John (1927), who married Alice Miniak. William Noel served in the Marines in World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. John served in the Army in World War II. Mrs. Conway states that her husband, William Conway, served with the English forces in 1914, and his feet were badly frostbitten. She also states that he received the Mons Star for service in World War I.
Just above the Conway house on the same side, almost opposite Duval Road, we find the unfinished home of Waldo and Henrietta Forsythe. They have com- pleted the lower part of their house, on land formerly owned by Oliver Fontaine, and are making their temporary home there with their two children, Waldo III and Rochelle.
At the southeast corner of the intersection of Mumford and Duval Roads are two small owner-built houses, which are the property of John Lozier. John and Elizabeth Lozier live in the one near Mumford Road, and the one in the rear, facing Duval Road, has been occupied by Dennis Gauthier. Two of the Lozier children lived in the Lozier house; Irene, who married Charles Plouffe, and Frances, who married Everett Towle. Mr. Lozier states that he bought the property from Joseph Conley. This section was laid out as Lafayette Park some years ago.
The next house on Mumford Road is occupied by J. A. Nelson, but is only partly in Sutton and the rest in Douglas.
The next house beyond Lozier's small house on Duval Road, going west, is the home of Albert and Elise Fougère. Mrs. Fougère was the former Elise Auger. They bought the property about eight years ago, in 1944. It was formerly owned by Mr. and Mrs. Zepherin Duval. Mr. and Mrs. Duval both lived to be over ninety years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Calixte Daziel were in possession later. Jerry Duval married Flora Belville and they bought the property and lived here with their daughter Doris, who married Romeo Gauthier. Albert Fougère Jr. has served in the U. S. Army.
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HISTORY of SUTTON
MANCHAUG ROAD
The first house on Manchaug Road, beyond the Post Office and bridge, was long known as "No. 34." It belonged to B. B. and R. Knight Co. in the early days of the Village.
Many families have lived in this four-tenement house. At present the prop- erty is owned by Alphonse and Minnie Gallant of North Oxford. The tenants are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pouliot, Mr. and Mrs. Miklos Hadis and children, Sandra and Brenda; Dorothy Courtney and Mrs. Irene Bilodeau and children; Francine, Crystal, William and Michael.
The second house beyond the present Post Office Building, which is a part of the No. 2 mill, destroyed by the flood, was owned by the B.B. and R. Knight Co. in 1877. At the auction, in 1927, it was bought by John C. Dudley, who later, in 1931, sold it to Phileas Gendron who, at his death, had lived in Manchaug more than seventy years. His wife, Delia, has lived in the village more than fifty years. They improved the property, adding a sun porch and insulation. Being a four-tenement house, many families have resided here. Among them are those of Arthur Gugière, Arthur Hemingway, Olin Towle, Josephine Lamoureux, Charles Newton, Henry Merchant, Ovila Bordo, John Ledoux, Norman Cloutier, Harry Knight, Everett Bailey, George Holmes, Donald Garand, Fred Briggs, Robert Wilson, Harry Wing and Floriman Gordon.
In 1951 Mr. Gendron died and the property was sold to the manager of the No. 3 mill, Lionel Grice of Ware. The house is vacant at present and is being remodeled by William Hospod of Grafton, who has charge of the poultry busi- ness in No. 3 mill, where they house an average of 65,000 chickens at a time, sometimes many more.
NEW VILLAGE
At the intersection of Reservoir Avenue and Manchaug Road, directly oppo- site No. 3 mill, at the right, is the home of Arne and Fannie Zuidema.
This was formerly the home of David Hammond, brother of Mrs. Zuidema. The Zuidemas came into possession in 1938 and have made many improvements; adding two rooms and remodeling the original house.
There are six Zuidema children; Ernest 1930, James 1931, Ethel 1937, William 1938, Roland 1939 and Harold 1940. James is at present in the Air Force and Ernest, a private in the Army.
On each side of Reservoir Avenue are a few houses, much alike, evidently built by owners of the mill for the workers and their families. This is called "New Village" and is very near a lovely sheet of water known as "Stevens' Pond." In summer, boating and swimming are enjoyed and in winter, skating, fishing and iceboat sports have pleased the young people for years.
At the corner of First Street and Reservoir Avenue, we find the two-tenement house owned, since 1951, by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bruno, who live on the east side with their daughter Susan. Mrs. Oliva Cabana makes her home here also.
For many years the property was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Francis Auger, who purchased it from the B.B. and R. Knight Co. in 1927. Mrs. Auger, later Mrs. Fred Liberty, Mrs. Bruno's aunt, conducted a rest home here until 1949, using the entire house. One of the oldest residents of Manchaug, Mr. A. Dubuque, lived here. His home had been in Manchaug over seventy years. Mrs. George
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Marsh continued the rest home for awhile and since Mrs. Marsh's death, Ger- trude, her daughter, has taken over the responsibility.
The Dunbar G. Plante family lived in this house at one time. There were six children; Laura, who married John Conley, Ida married Edward Bessette, George married Irene Blanchette, Rita married Joseph Conley, Rebecca married Hector Desjourdy and Ernest married May Gilroy.
The second house on First Street is owned by Robert Corriveau, carpenter's helper. He came into possession in 1943. George Corriveau, Sr. was the previous owner and bought the property from B.B. and R. Knight Co. There are three Corriveau children: Rita 1926 married Arthur Rossa, who was in the service in World War II; Elaine 1936 and Virginia 1939 are still at home.
The family of George Patterson lives in the other side of the house. Among the families who have resided here are those of Stanley Kurtyka, George Corri- veau, Sr., Frank Auger, Nere Picard and John Courtney. Mr. Courtney was very successful in raising dahlias and he had some very valuable and rare kinds in his gardens.
Russell Patterson went as a Serviceman from this home and was in the Navy in World War II. The Pattersons have a daughter Ruth.
The next house on First Street towards the school is owned by Mrs. Virginia St. Andre and she lives in the tenement nearest the Avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest StAndre bought the property from James Cranska, who with his family had lived here many years. Benjamin Townley and his family also lived here. After the St. Andres bought the property, in 1928, they added a porch and other improve- ments. In 1938, before Mr. St.Andre's death, in 1942, they rearranged the rooms as they are at present. The St. Andres have had many families as tenants in the other side of the house. Among them are the families of Jerome Daigle, Hubert Bedard, Louis Valcourt and Joseph Pouliot and the Pouliot family are there at present. One Veteran went from this house, Joseph Pouliot, Jr.
The last house on First Street, near the schoolhouse, is owned by Mary E. Roaf. She bought the property, in 1942, from the New England French-American Childrens' Home Corporation. This organization had bought the property from the B.B. and R. Knight Co. and from Mr. Greenwood, a realtor.
Mrs. Roaf has improved the property, adding modern conveniences. Among the families that have lived in the house are those of Eugene Benoit, Jerome Daigle and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Orben. The present tenants are Mr. and Mrs. David Hemingway and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Manyak and son Frank Jr.
This lot was formerly known at "No. 14" on the old plan of Manchaug Village.
The first house on 2nd Street, East, at the corner of Reservoir Avenue, is owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Levi Poirier. They bought it in 1936 from George Plante. He, in turn, had bought it from Mrs. Bridget Carter in 1935. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Carter bought the property from the B.B. and R. Knight Finance Corporation in 1927, at the auction. Mr. Carter was a foreman on the railroad. Mrs. Bridget Carter, now deceased, was a Gold Star Mother. The "Michael J. Carter Legion Post" in East Douglas is named for her son. Among the families who have lived in this house are those of Patrick Carter, Jr., Arthur Hemingway, Fred Mongeon and Jakob Kacur. Jakob and Anne Kacur and daughter Katherine have lived here for several years. Katherine Kacur married
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HISTORY of SUTTON
John O'Brien of Manchaug. John O'Brien was in the Air Force in World War II. Fred Mongeon, who formerly lived in this house, served in the Army in World War I.
The second house on 2nd Street, East, in New Village was bought by Joseph Boucher from the Knight Co. in 1927. It was owned by Joseph Auger in 1932 and in 1945 the property was taxed to Anastesa Auger, Mrs. Joseph Auger.
At the present time the residents are Julius and Virginia Senkarik and children Linda and Karen and Alexander and Norma Beauregard and children Carol and Ida. Formerly, Mr. and Mrs. Emile Carrier and children Alice and Norman and Mr. and Mrs. Florien Carrier and son Albert lived in the house also the families of Alex Beauregard and George Colbert.
The Auger family included Mrs. Olympe Corriveau, Eugene and André Auger. Veterans from this house are Mrs. Virginia Senkarik and Julius Senkarik.
The last house on Second Street, toward the schoolhouse, is owned by Eugene Auger. The Auger family bought it from B.B. and R. Knight Co. in 1927. Eugene and Blanche Auger have lived in the house for many years in the west tenement. Their daughter Vivian (1941) lived there, also. Mr. Auger was a floorman in the woolen mill, East Douglas. The other tenement has been occu- pied by several families. Among them that of Maurice Millette, Henry LaBonne, Harry Bodah and Mrs. Donelda Alexander. Mrs. Alexander still occupies the same apartment. There were three Bodah children; William, Walter and Dor- othy. William Bodah served in World War II and Leonard Cabana, Mrs. Alex- ander's son, went into service from this house. George Corriveau has also lived here for some time.
The first house on the south side of Second Street, at the corner of Reservoir Avenue, is owned by Chester A. Flinton, a Specialized Machinist at Whitin Machine Works. His deed is dated in 1947. The house was owned by the Knight Co. and sold at auction in 1927 to Mrs. Victoria Tondreau. She sold it to Mrs. Angeline Roberts and Walter Flinton was the next owner. Like most of the New Village homes it has been greatly improved. Chester A. Flinton was in service in World War II.
The other part of the house is occupied by Charles and Mary Rudick and children Charles, Richard and Patricia. Mr. and Mrs. Ode Roberts also have lived in this house.
The second house on the south side of 2nd Street, toward the school, was also one of the Knight houses. In 1929 it was taxed to Mrs. Virginia Tondreau. In 1938 Fred Small bought the property and in 1939 Walter Flinton became owner. This house, known as "No. 24," was taxed to Walter Flinton in 1945.
At the present time, Anthony and Gloria Yacino and children, Susan, Anthony, Donna and Monica Lee, live in one tenement and the family of George and Josephine Guertin and children, Rosemary and George, occupy the other part of the house.
The third house from Reservoir Avenue, on the south side of 2nd Street, has been known as "Lot 23."
This house, like the rest in New Village, belonged to the Knight Co. The story goes that these houses were built for the workers in No. 3 Mill and that when built in 1869, cost only four hundred dollars apiece to construct.
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HOMES of SUTTON
The Roaf house was bought in 1927 by Edwin Bennett. Mary E. Bennett Roaf was the next owner, in 1932. The Chester and Mary Roaf family has lived here since that time. They have had four children: Eben R. Roaf (1923), decesaed; Chester E. Roaf (1927) and Virginia M. (1939). Recently a garage has been added to the property and other improvements inside the house.
Among the tenants in the other side of the house were the families of Albert Zuidema, Mrs. Henrietta Courtney, Peter Scott and Alfred Ledoux. Mrs. Court- ney's daughter Dorothy was a teacher in West Sutton and Leland Hill Schools. The Courtney son, Charles, now deceased, practised dentistry in Manchaug for a time.
This tenement is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Roaf. Edwin Roaf in the son of Chester Roaf.
The fourth house on the south side of 2nd Street in New Village, counting from Reservoir Avenue, is the home of the Pariseaus. Three generations of this family have lived together here in this house; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pariseau, for whom two rooms were added, Mr. and Mrs. Alphonse Pariseau and the family of Edgar Pariseau, son of Alphonse. Alphonse and Flora Pariseau bought the property from Herbert Greenwood, a Real Estate Dealer, in 1928. Raymond, son of Alphonse, is in the Air Corps and Edgar J. was in World War II. This house has had many improvements and has been modernized in many ways to make a comfortable home. At one time a Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hunt lived in one part of the house.
The last house on the south side of 2nd Street, next to the schoolhouse, was bought in 1927 by Judson Hemingway from B.B. and R. Knight Co. It was called No. 21, at the time. Mr. Hemingway owned the property until recently. After his death, in 1950, the Hemingway family sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Penny. The Hemingway children were David, Nelson, William, Arthur and Sarah.
Among the former residents are: the families of Mr. and Mrs. Phileas Gendron, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Decouteau and children, Marie, Doris, Dorothy, Walter and Rita; the family of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Liberty, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hemingway, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Hemingway, Mr. and Mrs. Olin Towle and children Frank, Agnes and Robert; also Mrs. Florence Orben.
The first house on West Second Street, at the intersection of Reservoir Avenue, was bought by Mrs. Delima McCarthy in 1927 from the B.B. and R. Knight Co., At her death it was bequeathed to her daughters, Floride Picard and Aldea Peterson, and came into their possession in 1940. Axel and Aldea Peterson and son, Donald Robert (1930), lived in one side and Roland and Floride Picard and son, Peter Roland (1946), lived in the other tenement. Donald Peterson saw service in the Pacific Area, on Guam and Korea as a Sergeant, First Class, USA. Roland N. Picard and Edgar McCarthy saw service in World War II.
The Picards have recently moved into their new house on Manchaug Road and the George Stiddsen, Jr. family now occupy that tenement. There is one son Mark.
The second house on West Second Street is owned and occupied by Joseph and Dorothy Janczyk and family. There are four Janczyk children; Raymond (1939), William (1941), James (1943) and Carol (1949).
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HISTORY of SUTTON
The house was bought by Joseph Minor of Wilkinsonville at the B.B. and R. Knight auction in 1927. Mr. Minor sold the property to Aldei Boudreau. It was afterwards bought by Romeo and Josephine Petit of Fitchburg, and they sold it to Axel Peterson, who, in turn, sold to Joseph and Dorothy Janczyk in 1946.
Among families that have lived here, are those of Patrick Carter, Francis Fougère and George Rivest. Patrick Carter served in the Army in World War I. The Carter children were Ann and Robert, who is now in the Army in Germany. There were two Fougère children, Barbara and Robert. A Lindstrom family also made this their home. The children were Joyce and William.
The third house, No. 28, on West Second Street is another B.B. and R. Knight House in New Village. At the auction in 1927, it was bought by John C. Dudley of Wilkinsonville. In 1936, Patrick and Bridget Carter bought the property. The children were Katherine (deceased ), Anna Mae and Robert Carter, who served in the Air Corps, World War II.
Later Frederick and Leona Mongeon bought the property and now make it their home, and Mr. and Mrs. William Hemingway live in a part of the house. There are eight Mongeon children: Frederick, Jr., who married Ruby Mongeon; Omer married Lucille Greene and is now in Military Service; Lena married David Hemingway; Pierrette, unmarried; Roland is in Service, in the Army; Jeanette, who is now Mrs. Linder; Irene and-Emil, at home. Frederick Mongeon is a Veteran of World War I. He has made extensive improvements in the house.
At the intersection of Reservoir Avenue and Third Street, East, is the home of Alfred and John Ledoux. This house was sold in 1927 by the B.B. and R. Knight Co. to Herbert Greenwood, who, in turn, sold the property to Romeo and Josephine Petit of Fitchburg. They sold to Alfred Ledoux, who still owns the property and occupies one part of the house. The son, Alfred, Jr., lives in the home. There is one child, Carol. The other side is occupied by the John Ledoux family.
Other families that have lived here are those of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Robert- shaw and children, Norman and Doreen, whose tragic death from polio is still remembered in the village. Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Forget also lived here until 1949 with children Jeannine, Ronald and Susanne.
Alfred Ledoux, Jr. and John Ledoux served in the Army in World War II.
The house on Third Street, West, now owned and occupied by Martin and Irene O'Shea, formerly No. 31, of the B.B. and R. Knight cottages, was bought by Ludger Duval, in 1927, from the Mill owners. Doris Duval, the daughter, later Mrs. Romeo Guertin, and her husband, acquired the property by inheritance. There were two Guertin children, Leo and Doris. Mrs. Pauline Flinton Wunschel bought the house later. At that time the Jerome Daigle family lived there also.
At the present time Mr. and Mrs. O'Shea and children, Martin, Richard and Maureen live in one part of the house and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nedorosick and daughter Catherine live on the other side.
The house beyond that of Martin O'Shea on Third Street is owned and occu- pied by the Nicholas and Alice Mateychuk family. There are two children; William and a daughter Sharon Ann. This house, like most of the New Village houses, was sold at the auction in 1927. "No. 30," as this was called, was bought
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by Mr. and Mrs. James Mateychuk, the father and mother of Nicholas (1919), John (1920), Ann (1926), Veronica (1931) and George (1932). The father, a carpenter, died in 1952. Ann married Wilfred Henderson.
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