USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Winchendon > History of the town of Winchendon (Worcester County, Mass.) from the grant of Ipswich Canada, in 1735, to the present time > Part 19
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1813, May 1. Voted that the town clerk procure a case to keep his books in, and establish his office where he thinks proper.
1814, November 7. Voted to make up to the detached soldiers from this town, including what the General Government gives them, 813.33 per month.
1815, September 11. Voted that the Selectmen "dispose of the prop- erty left by Rebecca Goodridge, to the best advantage of the town, all except the gold nubs which is to be given to the widow Goodridge, moth- er of the deceased."
1815, November 7. Col. Benjamin Adams was allowed to move some of the horse sheds that stood in the way of his building a house. He was to move them as far south of his barn as the town pound, on condition that he should do it at his own cost, and erect a convenient stone horse-block, and give the town two dollars annually, and remove them back when the town should think proper.
1817, March 3. An article to see if the town will grant any assist- ance to the town of Fitzwilliam towards building a meeting-house. Passed over.
Voted that the Assessors, the present year, take a valuation in the town of Winchendon, of the real and personal estate, by going to cach taxable person in said town ; to begin the first day of May. The As- sessors were Isaac Morse, Jacob Woodbury and Moses Hale, Esq.
May 26, A committee was appointed to see about the boundaries of
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the Common, with the idea that certain persons were encroaching on it at the southeast part. The following is their report.
" They find by the Proprietors' Book, that in the year 1762, the Proprie- tors voted a lot of five acres from the northwest corner of lot No. 1, in the south division, for a Meeting House, Training Field and Burying Ground, be- ginning at the northwest corner of said lot, thence southerly with the line of said lot, 48 rods ; thence easterly, 16} rods ; thence northerly on a parallel line with the west line, 48 rods ; thence westerly to the place of beginning."
The supposed encroachments were found to be next to nothing. The stone post for a leading corner was erected in the northwest corner. The report was not accepted, for some reason, but the boundaries arc. correct.
1818, November 2. Voted that the town cause a book-case or drawers to be procured, to keep the town books and records of said town. Also two books to record the valuation and standards of taxes.
1819, May 10. Voted to give a bounty of one dollar for each. wild- cat that may be killed within the limits of the town of Winchendon, and brought whole to the Treasurer of said town.
1823, April 7. Reconsidered the vote passed March 2, 1772, re- specting building horse sheds on the meeting-house Common.
1825, March 7. Voted to request the Court of Sessions, to cause a survey of the county to be made giving the county and turnpike roads, &c.
April 21, Voted that the Selectmen be a committee to procure a new hearse and harness.
1826, March 6. For the first time since the organization of the town, no appropriation was made at the annual meeting, for the support of the gospel. The first Congregational church was now connected with an independent parish, which assumed the duty of maintaining public wor- ship in the meeting-house on the Common.
. 1827, April 2. Voted that the Assessors take a new valuation the present year.
This and other valuations were destroyed when the Assessors' books were burned.
1828, April 7. On the question of dividing the county, the votes were, yeas, 32; nays, 34.
1830, May 3. Voted that the Selectmen carry out the Resolve of the Legislature requiring towns to make survey of their territory.
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They appointed Elias Whitney, Surveyor, by whom the work was done. His map is considered tolerably correct as to distances and loca- tions, but is full of errors in respect to names of persons and places.
November 16, Voted toinstruct our Representative, [William Brown] to vote not to appropriate any of our public money for the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument.
1831, April 4. Voted to pay all the soldiers their poll tax, that are entitled to it by law.
1831, November 14. Voted that the town Treasurer be author- ized to pay three dollars a head for every wild-cat that is killed in the town of Winchendon.
1833, March 7. Voted that the Selectmen procure a hearse.
1837, May 1. Voted that individuals may build horse sheds on the Common in any place that the Selectmen shall direct.
1838, June 18. Chose a committee with reference to building a tomb for a depository of the dead in winter.
August 20, Authorized the Selectmen to build a tomb, provided they . can get one built for what they consider a reasonable sum.
1839, April 1. Voted that the town pay the sexton's bills for bury- ing all the dead in the public burying grounds in the town.
1840, March 2. Voted to allow the account for the expense of the small pox, 8109.19. Allowed the account of Dr. A. Godding for vac- cinating inhabitants, $98.37.
March 2, Voted to repair the bell-deck and belfry.
1844, March 3. Voted to repair the bell. Expense of repairing, $120.96. Voted that the Assessors put the inhabitants upon their oaths as to the truth of their statements in giving their valuation.
1847, November 29. Chose a committee to see about building a new Town House, or fitting up the lower part of the first Congrega- tional Meeting-house.
1848, March 6. Voted not to build a Town Hall, yeas, 78; nays, 145.
November 28, Voted to relinquish all right and title the town may have, (if any,) to the first Congregational Meeting-house, to the first Congregational Society.
1849, January 19. Certain rules were made respecting rabid dogs. They were to be restrained three months. Those running at large werc liable to be killed. Any person for killing a rabid dog was to have a bounty of a dollar.
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March 20, Voted to have the bells on the First and the North Con- gregational churches rung at noon and in the evening.
1850, April 15. Took action respecting guide-boards. Chose a committee with reference to new Town Hall.
April 15, Voted to build a Town House to transact our town busi- ness in. Chose a committee of nine to purchase land, and contract for building Town House, subject to the approval of the town; viz: E. Murdock, Jr., Joseph White, Levi Raymond, Ezra Porter, Seth Tucker, Jr., Levi Parks, C. C. Alger, Levi Greenwood, C. R. Whitman.
May 13, The town meeting was held in Mrs. Lucy Rice's barn. At this time, the old meeting-house was being taken down, that the mate- rials might be used in building a new one.
May 21, The town meeting was held in the basement of the North Congregational Church. The committee on Town Hall reported, and by vote, were discharged after getting deeds and lease executed and recorded. Chose three for a building committee ; viz : Elisha Miur- dock, David Caswell and Sidney Fairbanks.
May 27, Met in the basement of the North Congregational Society's house. Voted that the committee chosen on the 21st inst., called the building committee, be and are hereby instructed to fulfil the contract made by the town with Harrison Harwood, by finishing and completing. the building contemplated in that contract according to the plan pre- sented by the committee on location and place of Town Hall.
November 11, Met in basement, and adjourned to the new Town Hall.
1851, March 18. The question of dividing the county came up again. For it, 35; against it, 46.
1852, January 31. Voted to purchase a Safe for the Books and Papers of the town.
May 4. The Selectmen.to let the Town Hall only to such exhibi- tions as they may think advantageous to the town.
1854, March 6. Chose E. Murdock, Jr., agent to oppose the di- vision of Worcester county.
. 1855, March 25. Laid two dollars tax on dogs for license, annu- ally ; and voted to enforce the law in relation to dogs.
1856, March 3. Again, the question in regard to dividing Wor- caster county came up, and received an emphatic answer. For a di- vision, 50 ; against, 190.
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1860, March 5. Committee on tombstones for Mrs. Tolman, Mrs. Rice, and first minister, reported. Report laid on the table.
March 10, The Selectmen were instructed to put up guide-boards where needed.
June 4, A committee of twenty-five was chosen-one or more in each district-to see that the laws restraining cattle from running at large, are carried out to their fullest extent. The following rules were adopt- ed, and put in force, as the people were much alarmed by the Cattle Discase, or Pleuro-pneumonia.
" No cattle to be in highway, unless at work, or being driven from place to place. Not to be suffered to stop in highway to feed, or for any other purpose.
To use all legal measures to prevent cattle from being driven into or out of town. When cattle are driven, owners on the road to be notified.
No cattle on the line of the road to be allowed to come near them.
The citizens agree to co-operate, and give notice of any violations of law.
Voted that it is desirable that the Legislature now in session, take such ac- tion in reference to the cattle disease, called Pleuro-pneumonia, as to give cities and towns power to forbid neat cattle from entering, leaving, or passing through their bounds. That Selectmen may have power to isolate, kill, or apply rem- edies, (as they may think proper, ) to any cattle within their limits, which may be suspected, or known to have been exposed to said disease."
June 18, The Selectmen issued a notice, in accordance with a spe- cial act of the Legislature, forbidding all neat cattle, coming into or go- ing from the town.
All neat cattle turned into the highway, except to work, to be driv- en from place to place, without stopping for any purpose. Appointed twenty-six men to assist in carrying out the law.
Some may think these details have been copied at too great length ; but those who remember the panic caused by the cattle disease, at this time, would not sanction the omission of a full report of the action of the town on the subject. It was, for weeks, the subject of general anx- iety. The alarm was universal. In addition to other precautions, in some cases, the fields were fenced several rods from the highway. That is, an inner fence was put up, to keep the cattle from getting near the road. But the alarm soon subsided.
1862, March meeting. Voted to request the Selectmen to draw an order upon the town Treasurer in favor of Hon. Giles H. Whitney, and present the same to him for his gentlemanly and faithful performance of
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the duties of Moderator at the annual March meeting. The order was for 810.
1863, April 27. The following was moved by E. Murdock, Jr. :
" Inasmuch as Esq. Whitney said to us at the commencement of this meet- ing, that it was probably the last March meeting that he should be with us, he would accept the office of Moderator, and has most faithfully filled that of- fice, I now offer the following resolution : Resolved, that we now express our most sincere thanks to Esq. Whitney for the able, impartial and patient man- ner in which he has presided over this meeting, as also all others when called to the Chair, since he has been with us. And that the Selectmen be request- ed to pay him from the treasury of the town, the sum of twenty dollars. as a small compensation for his services."
1864, April 25. Chose a committee to buy a new hearse-not to exceed 8500. The committee were John H. Fairbanks, G. B. Parker and Isaac M. Murdock.
1865, May 20. The Selectmen together with John H. Fairbanks, were instructed to purchase a suitable Safe for the use of the Town Clerk. The matter of Safes for the use of the Selectmen and Assessors, was left to the same committee.
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CHAPTER XIV. - EDUCATION SINCE THE YEAR 1800.
" Close in the hollow of yon hill The district school-house wins the view, Where jabbering urchins 'gainst their will In swinging rows their tasks pursue. And there's the turf on which they play And tan their open-collared necks ; And there's the brook where every day Their paper barks make sad shipwrecks Of little hopes, that now endure The coming world in miniature." REV. J. H. NICHOLS.
We resume the history of educational progress in the town since the opening of the nineteenth century. As in the former chapter on this subject, notice will be taken of the arrangement of districts, the build- ing of school houses, the appointment of committees, the addition of new branches of learning, the increase of appropriations, and the gen- eral improvement of the schools.
The appropriation for schools, for the year 1800, was £80, or $266, 66. There was a gradual increase in the sum set apart for the pur- pose of education.
On the 7th of March, 1801, the northwest school squadron was " al- lowed to appropriate their part of the school money towards building a school-house, if the squadron can agree to it."
It is the testimony of tradition, supported by the written words of Dr. Whiton, that the cause of education received a great impulse in the beginning of the century, from EDWARD PAYSON, a son of Rev. Dr. Payson, of Rindge, N. H., and a student of Harvard. He taught at the Centre, and wrought with the same energy which afterwards made him so successful as a teacher, and so celebrated as a divine.
SECTION 1 .- THE LINES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
On the 6th of April, of this year, a committee of eight persons was
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chosen " to draw the lines of the school districts." Dea. Moses Hale, James McElwain, Abel Jones, Ebenezer Sherwin, David Goodridge, Paul Raymond, Ezra Hyde and Jacob B. Woodbury were chosen. The vote was re-considered, and then the town re-considered the re-con- sideration. In other words, the committee remained. It is needless to give the exact boundaries, or " lines" of the districts, as they were sixty-four years since, but it may be interesting to some to know where the old school-houses were located. The committee reported on the 4th of May, and their arrangement, which was as follows, substantially, was accepted.
" 1. East district. The school-house was where house No. 5 now stands. 2. South-east district. The house stood where that numbered 6 stood until the district was abolished. 3. South district. The house was near the pres- ent residence of Mr. Carter, south of the pond. 4. South-west district. The house was south of Denison pond, near the corner of the road by Miss Sylvia Howard's. It accommodated all the children of New Boston. 5. West dist- rict. The house was north of the junction of the roads west of the bridge and causeway, beyond the Caswell place ; perhaps half way up to Levi Park's. 6. North-west district. The house was on the Fitzwilliam road, some forty rods north of the present No. 2 school-house. 7. North district. The house was ten or a dozen rods east of Jedediah Morse's farm-bouse, -the old Dan- iel Boynton place. 8. The middle district was the centre of the town. The west district included nearly all of what is now Waterville, reaching to Prem tice hill."
In 1808, the appropriation for schools was five hundred dollars. This sum was continued till 1819, when five hundred and fifty dollars were granted.
Previous to the year 1809, the town chose annually a committee equal in number to the districts, whose duties were simply prudential. If a teacher was to be examined, or a school to be visited, the duty de- volved on the Congregational minister. He was recognized by law as the proper person to perform this office, and being supported by the town, he made no charge for this service. He was expected, in addi- tion to inspecting the schools, to give religious instruction, catechise the children in regard to the great truths of Christianity, and in gen- eral, to exert the best possible influence over the young.
On the 10th of April, this year, the town chose a committee of three, viz: Dr. William Parkhurst, Mr. Moses Hale, Jr., and Mr Aaron Green-
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wood, " whose duty it shall be, with the assistance of the minister, ex oficio, to inspect the schools at the commencement and termination." In the year 1811, this subject came up again in an article to sce if the town " will choose a committee, whose duty it shall be, with the assist- ance of the minister," to examine teachers and inspect schools. The article was passed over.
On the first of April, it was voted that Robert Houghton have his school-money by his " giving bonds that it shall be laid out for the ben- efit of his children." He lived in the extreme north-east part of the town, as yet without a passable road to the school-house. The same privilege was allowed to him for several years.
This seems to be the proper place to notice one of the few natives of the town who have aspired to authorship. There are those who still remember SAMUEL LITCH, as one of their school-masters. He was a son of the Mr. Litch who took the lead here in the time of Shays. He was quite noted in this vicinity, as a teacher, and contributed his part to enlarge the circle of learning. In 1814, he published a work with the following title : " An Astronomical and Geographical Cate- chism, for the use of Common Schools and Private Persons ; By Sam- uel Litch, Author of a Concise Treatise on Rhetoric," &c. The motto on the title page was in these words : " Geography is necessary to the understanding of that connection which this Globe has with the plan- etary system, and with all the wonderful works of God." The book was printed by Salmon Wilder, of Jaffrey, N. H. It was bound in board, and contained 118 pages, about two inches by four. The work is very comprehensive, treating of " universal, particular, natural, po- litical and astronomical geography." It embraces a description of the " erth," and the " hevenly bodies." Winds, tides; the " atmosfere," magnetism, light, elipses and electricity, are among the topics. In like manner, we read of governments, religions, races, &c. The au- thor defines an " iland," an " istmus," and an " oshun." He quotes the opinions of " wise filosofers," and in short, crowds a vast amount of interesting information into a narrow space. His " noledg" was fully up to the time when he wrote, though his spelling proved the need of Web- ster. He treats of topics which our scholars now find expanded into several volumes, but it is only fair to acknowledge that he deserves credit for his information and his method, as well as for his enterprise
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in attempting to enlarge the field of study. His little book" was doubt- less the cause of much pleasure and improvement to the youth of Win- chendon a half century since.
SECTION 2 .- AN EFFORT TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT.
In 1816, the number of inhabitants had so increased in the region of Waterville, that John Kilburn and others wanted a new school dist- rict. A committee reported in favor of granting their request one year, " so far as receiving their school money is concerned."
A committee was appointed on the 25th of March, consisting of the following persons, viz : Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Dr. William H. Cutler, Jacob Woodbury, William Brown and Moses Hale, Esq., to see " what regulation is necessary in the schools." On the 6th of May, they of- fered the following report, which was doubtless from the pen of Esq. Henshaw.
" The education of the rising generation is an object of the first importance. On this will principally depend the morality of the public, the stability of our republican form of government, and the welfare and prosperity of the com- munity. Wherever knowledge is generally diffused, the people are free from that liability to deception, imposition and error, which is sure to attend them where ignorance prevails. Morality and pure religion too are often found the companions of knowledge and correct education.
The advantage of schooling in this country, and especially in this Com- monwealth, and the State of Connecticut, is said to be superior to that of any part of the world, and may be named among the greatest blessings of our common country. But the committee, while impressed with the importance of literature to personal happiness, and the welfare of the community, regret to state that there appears to have been less progress made in the schools in this town than is found in many other places. The causes of which appear to be various. Want of money to procure sufficient instruction may be consid- cred one of the leading causes. The sum of money usually granted by the town, appears to be quite inadequate to the purpose. It requires some length of time for scholars to learn the rules of the school, the mode of instruction, and to become inured to study, before they make much improvement. Hence the latter part of the school is much the most valuable. There are four or five months in the cold season of the year, which to farmers are considered leisure
* The copy before me has been preserved by Mr. Luke Rice more than fifty years.
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months, which cannot be spent by their children in any other way to so great advantage as in schooling. Your committee would suggest the propriety of raising money enough by the town for at least three months schooling in the winter or cold season of the year, and three months in the summer season in every school district.
Another important consideration is the instructor ; and this ought to be a person not only of sufficient learning, but of correct morals. For in vain would it be for a master to attempt to instill into the minds of his pupils good mor- als. while his own life and conduct were at variance with his precepts. This latter important, we might say indispensable requisition, is too little attended to.
Setting up the master's board, to boarding him at a remote part of the dist- rict, is a barbarous practice and ought to be abandoned.
The mode of providing wood is a very great defect attending our schools. It is a vulgar, but very true maxim, that what is everybody's business, is no- body's. Where no one is compelled to do his duty, it is not always the case that all do it. On the contrary it often happens that many neglect it. The school suffers and sometimes stops for the want of wood. As our laws are si- lent on this subject, it is difficult to point out any method of providing wood by the individuals of a district. What seems the most eligible mode is to have the wood provided by an individual, who should bid off the same at the low- est price per cord, and have the same examined and measured by an inspec- tor of wood to be chosen by the district.
To have the same kind of classical books, and one uniform mode of instruc- tion in all the districts, would be a great improvement. The practice of schol- ars reading the Bible at least once a day, cannot be too highly recommended. A reverence for this holy volume, and a belief of the great truths it contains, cannot be too early inculcated and riveted in the tender minds of children. Indeed there is no book which contains such fine specimens of sublimity and eloquence.
The other books usually read in our schools are all good school books, but there appears to be too great a diversity. Were it necessary they would desig- nate the following as the most approved, viz : Murray's English Grammar, Adams' Arithmetic, Scott's Lessons, Art of Reading, and Perry's Spelling Book.
The practice of distributing presents to the most distinguished scholars, has been proved to be a very powerful incentive to study ; and to have every school visited regularly near the beginning and close, by the Selectmen, or by a com- mittee chosen for the purpose, which would perhaps be preferable, would be an advantage. All which is respectfully submitted."
Several of these suggestions were acted upon by the town at once.
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A committee of three was chosen to inspect the schools, for one year; viz : Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Dr. William H. Cutler, and Moses Hale, Esq. At the same time, it was voted that two dollars of the school money in each district be laid out by the committee to inspect the schools, as premiums to encourage the scholars in learning. It was also voted to recommend to the several school committee-men, to purchase the books recommended by the report of the committee for the regulation of schools.
The persons chosen to visit schools in 1817, were Jacob Woodbury, Joseph Jewett and Lowell Goodridge. It should be borne in mind, that the town also chose, annually, a prudential committee-man for each district.
In 1818, at the annual meeting, March 2, a committee of five was chosen " to regulate the school books, and inspect the schools, with the minister, the ensuing year." The committee were Horatio G. New- comb, Esq., Samuel Prentice, Moses Hale, Esq., Daniel Henshaw, Esq., and Jacob Woodbury. At a meeting held on the 6th of April, the fol- lowing step was taken.
" Voted that the school committee be directed to give a certificate in wri- ting to the Selectmen, how much money they have laid out for schooling in cach district, and how much they gave a month for their teachers, and what a week for board; and that the Selectmen shall not give them their orders till they produce said certificate. And that the Selectmen lay said certificate be- fore the town at their annual March meeting, so that the town may know how their school money is expended."
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