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 22
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21. Henry Crooks' road extending 52 rods north from David Alger's just west of Miller's river, north of where Mrs. B. Adams now lives.
22. A road from Mr. Dudley Perley's by Moses Hale's to Mr. Benjamin Kidder's, through the Village, 1397 rods, or 4 miles and 117 rods.
23. A road from the last, beginning near said Kidder's, and leading west- erly to John Brooks, through Bullardville, and by Tallow Hill sehool-house, 743 rods, or 2 miles and 103 rods.
24. A road from Royalston line, west of Paul Stuart's, or George Greg- ory's, southeasterly by Albert Brown's, and the Simeon Poland place, to the road from Winchendon to Royalston, east of the Barzillai Martin place, 431 rods, or 1 mile and 111 rods.
25. A road for Capt. Graton, beginning at Seth Tucker'a, going easterly,
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to Capt. Graton's, since J. Hapgood's, now used as a barn by Whitcomb & Fairbank, 92 rods.
26. A road from Asaph Brown's house near the Rindge line, where John Crosby formerly lived, to Fitzwilliam road near Merriam's tavern ; that is from Mr. Brown's to the Village, taking the Rindge road and coming by the Pay- son, or E. Murdock, Jr., and the Boynton farms, 830 rods, or 2 1-2 miles and 30 rods.
27. A road from Esq. Crosby's, or Jarvis Winn's to Gardner line, south of Mr William Whitney's, afterwards Joseph Whitney's, 1074 rods, or 3 miles, 114 rods.
All the roads three rods wide, and the bounds at the angles are heaps of stones."
" March 1, Voted to build a powder house of brick.
May 3, Accepted a road from John Brooks', west by south, to Paul Stu- art's bound. Now out of use."
From this time, changes were made in the old roads, or new roads were opened, as the public convenience required ; but this action of the town marks a new epoch in the means of travel. Bridle roads began to be obsolete, and the families generally lived on the highways.
SECTION 2 .- THROUGH TRAVEL.
An effort was made very early to bring the travel from the west through this place to Boston and the eastern part of the State. We have seen that the Proprietors took measures to cut a road to Earlington, or North- field, and thus open a communication from the valley of the Connecti- cut to that of the Nashua. Not far from the same time, a road was opened to Fitzwilliam and Keene, by which travel from the northwest was turned hitherwards. The tavern-keepers of those days, naturally felt an interest in the opening and improving of roads. An enterpris- ing and energetic man by the name of Levi Nichols, came into the town, probably in the year 1772. " Encouraged by the large travel through the town," says Dr. Whiton, " he erected a tavern establishment, spa- cious for that day, on the spot where Mr. Cromwell Fisher's house now stands." After the Revolution, travel increased, and the tavern was well patronized. " In times of fine sleighing, it was not uncommon to see around his house, thirty or forty two-horse sleighs, loaded with prod- uce for market ; the sleigh-spires turned up, resembled a little forest ; while the large barns were filled with horses, and the house was crowded
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with teamsters, put up for the night, from the towns westward as far as the Green Mountains. Mr. Nichols became extensively known, and his tavern was for many years the most noted locality in Winchendon." He finally moved to Keene, and thence to Springfield, Vt., where he died. Richard Day's house just west of the Common, was used for a while as a public house ; then he set up a log-house tavern in the orch- ard west of the house of Mr. Isaac Cummings, where are the marks of an old cellar ; but very early in our history, a public house was put up on the southeast corner of the Common, where the house of Charles J. Rice now stands. Several names of the keepers of this house have already been mentioned. About the time of Mr. Nichols' removal, James McElwain, of Scotch-Irish descent, came here, and " for many years in the latter part of the last century, was the well-known keeper of the old tavern-stand at the Centre, which had been formerly kept by Matthew Knight. Mr. McElwain was a man of remarkably social dis- position, and had a good share of custom. In cold weather, he had always ready for the traveler a blazing fire, in which lay a red-hot iron poker or flip-dog ; to be plunged into the countless mugs of flip he com- pounded ; that being then the favorite beverage of his customers. Those mugs of sweet-spiced flip, flavored with a cracker, crowned with froth ! alas ! many a man they lured along in the path to intemperance ; but no man at that day suspected that in this state of things there was any- thing wrong."
About 1790, the tavern stand of Mr. Nichols was bought by Benja- min Hall, a very respectable man from Keene. After a few years, he sold out to Major Sylvester from Hanover, Mass. In time, this house was closed as a tavern, and the house of Mr. McElwain became the great place of resort by the traveling public, as well as by the quidnuncs of the town. There was a tavern also kept by Benjamin Kidder, for many years, where Jason Keith now lives. In those times the road to Tallow Hill branched off at this tavern. Two great barns furnished ac- commodations for teams. A few years subsequently, Dea. Moses Hale opened a public house where Seth Maynard recently lived. This was the most roomy house in town, and being on the road-afterwards a turnpike-going directly from the village to Ashburnham, received the travel which was diverted from the hill or Centre.
Early in 1795, a post-route was established from Boston to Charles- town, N. H., via Leominster, Winchendon and Keene. Jotham John-
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son, of Leominster, informed the public, through the " Columbian In- former," a newspaper published at Keene, dated February 4, 1795, that he " transports the mail from Boston to Charlestown, conveying it in winter in a covered sleigh, carrying passengers at three pence per mile, with fourteen pounds baggage gratis." He carried the mail several years ; in summer on horse-back. One summer he tried the experiment of running a four-horse stage. This was " quite an epoch in Winchendon ; the excitement was hardly less than that attendant on the first running of the cars. The inmates of the houses ran to the doors and windows, to gaze at the stage, and scan the passengers ; but the proprietor found the roads too bad, and the patronage too small, to justify the continuance of the stage." The mail passed from Bos- ton to Leominster, on Wednesday ; from Leominster to Keene on Thurs- day ; Friday, from Keene to Charlestown and back to Walpole ; Sat- urday, from Walpole to Leominster ; and thence, Monday, to Boston. " Johnson's arrival with the Boston mail, was awaited with great im- patience, by the quidnuncs of the day ; they thought themselves for- tunate indeed in having a mail from Boston once every week; it seemed to them all they could wish."
Sixty years ago it was thought " quite a feat" to come from Boston to this place by stage, in a day. About that time,-1805-6-is the date of the completion of the old turnpike road from Fitzwilliam to Winchendon, and on to the East. It was deemed at the time a great achievement, giving promise of a " flood of travel to pass through town." For a time there was a good share of travel upon it ; but rival routes were constructed, which drew away much of the patronage. After some years, the Rindge route was most frequented, and that through Winchendon became comparatively forsaken. To the proprietors it proved a bad investment ; in fourteen or fifteen years, shares of one hundred dollars depreciated down to fifteen or twenty, and soon after- wards became worthless. That day was the age of Turnpikes ; but sooner or later, a similar fate overtook nearly, if not quite all these roads."
The opening of the road by the Hale tavern diverted travel from the hill, and took away custom from the tavern half way up the hill, and from that at the southeast corner of the Common. When the travel began to go through Rindge, the Hale tavern suffered. By opening the new road from the Village to Ashburnham, up the valley of Mil-
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ler's river, travel was brought hither again, and for some years before the railroad was extended through this town, long lines of teams were continually passing through the Village. A team of six, eight, and even nine horses, was not an uncommon sight. At this time, the only hotel much patronized,-indeed the only one in town, except the Cobb tavern in New Boston,-was kept by Mr. Milton S. Morse. A daily stage between Boston and Keene, passed each way. Previous to this, a stage line ran from Worcester, via Templeton, through the Centre of the town, to the north and west. At another period, a stage line passed up and down, through Fitzwilliam, the west part of this town, and Templeton. But since 1830, a vast amount of travel, by road or railway, has passed through the Village.
The Post Office was at the Centre till about 1805, or 1806, when the Turnpike created a sort of necessity for it to be located in the Vil- lage, where, with a brief interval, it has since remained.
SECTION 3 .- NEW ROADS.
It is time to resume the chronological narrative of the progress of road and bridge-making in the town. In 1802, a new line of road for Charles Chase was accepted, and the old discontinued. Both were, long since, abandoned. The people of Royalston wanted a good road towards the east, without the necessity of going over Winchendon hill. In 1802, September 6, the town chose the Selectmen as a committee to oppose a change in the road in the south part of the town, which the people of Royalston were trying to secure. Samuel Crosby was chosen agent to attend the Court, and use his influence, " and all other means 'he shall judge best," in opposition. November 1, it was voted to build over the river, above the oil mill, where the bridge now stands, [near the works of Goodspeed & Wyman] " and take it in shares, if they will make a turnpike road through the town, so as to pass over said bridge." A road was accepted for Col. Woodbury, by James Ray- mond's and north by west to the county road from Esq. Crosby's to Gardner, coming into the latter a little south of where Isaac Cummings formerly lived. It was a miserable road ; two houses were on it, both long since fallen down ; and the road north of Mr. Raymond's has been unknown to any of this generation. Before this time, Mr. Woodbury reached the Common by going south and west, to the Gardner road. The road was 1043 rods, or three miles and 85 rods in length.
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In 1803, a road 236 rods long, from Levi Brooks' north to the State line, was accepted. It never came into use. At the same time, a road was accepted for Isaac Taylor and others, from Gardner line north by east to another "road already laid out, 104 rods." On the first of November, the town voted to repair the bridge above Amasa Whitney's mill. Accepted a road by the dry bridge near Samuel Hartwell's, 257 rods north by west. The " dry bridge" was west of the Wales or Cobb tavern. When Denison pond was very full, a stream passed from it under this bridge.
In 1804, the town strenuously opposed opening a new road from Capt. Hoar's, in Gardner, to Winchendon Common. In April, it was voted to oppose the road, the old road answering the needs of travel. In July, Lieut. Paul Raymond was chosen agent to oppose the road- before the county authorities-of course. The road was laid out, but in November, the town renewed the opposition. A subscription had been raised by those favoring the road, and the question came up in town meeting, to see if a sum of money should be granted in addition. " No," said the town. The road was made, and in after years, cost the town much money. The town almost always neglected it, and was compelled by the county to make repairs. It was the new county road, nearly in a straight line, regardless of hills, rocks or swamps. There were no houses on the road, and it was of little use to the town. Tav- ern-keepers at either end received some patronage from through travel.
The year 1805 witnessed several attempts at mending or opening roads. There was an alteration in the road from Robert Bradish's, by the burying-yard, to where C. C. Alger lives ; an alteration in William Tolman's road ; a road accepted for Stephen Tolman, 119 rods, and another for Peleg Battles, extending from near John Brooks' house, northwest, 106 rods, to the extreme northwest part of the town. On the 10th of March, $300 were voted to pay the damages incurred on the new county road to Gardner. In May, 8300 were voted to pay for making the new county road to Gardner. On the 3d of Novem- ber, the Selectmen were directed to answer by letter, a complaint from the Grand Jury respecting the old county road from Gardner to Win- chendon, by William Whitney's. The turnpike through the Village, and the causeway over the pond, were made this year.
1807, April 6. Accepted a road for Mr. Wood, from Stephen Tol- man's road to the Mineral Spring, half a mile. This road was the first
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opening to the Spring by a town road. The next year, June 29, it was voted " to lay out $25 on the road to the ' Virtuous Springs.'" This was ancient usage in regard to mineral springs.
In 1808, March 7, a road from Jacob Hale's,-near the Waterville school-house,-to Kilburn's mill, was accepted, for David McElwain and Daniel Farrar. May 2, it was voted to build a bridge near Mr. Ezra Hyde's, and that the abutments be of stone. This was the bridge at Waterville. Grant for bridges, $100. May 26, $300 were voted for the new county road to Gardner; Lieut. Raymond to see to the work.
SECTION 4 .- WORCESTER AND FITZWILLIAM TURNPIKE.
Another source of annoyance and expense to the town, with very little good by way of compensation, came this year, in the new turn- pike, along the western border. On the 7th of November, Lt. Ray- mond, Dea. Halc and Capt. Nathaniel Holman, were chosen to meet the committee of the above company, " to see on what conditions they can agree to build the bridge over Miller's river, near Lieut. John Pierce's." That is, west of Denison Pond. At an adjourned meet- ing, November 21, it was voted, " that if the proprietors of the Wor- cester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike will enter into bonds to the town's acceptance, to clear the town from any further expense for keeping in repair the county road from John R. Golding's, that is, the Gibson or Bagley corner, by John Pierce's, to Templeton line, the town will build a bridge and causeway for the use of the town and said corporation." Chose Lt. Raymond, Dea. Hale and Capt. Graton a committee to in- form the turnpike company. As the turnpike passed over the county road from Fitzwilliam to Templeton, this was perhaps a good arrange- ment for both parties, until finally the gate-fees became an intolerable burden. The above meeting adjourned a week, and then voted " to build the bridge and causeway, stone abutment on west side, logs on east side, forty feet wide for the run. Then east about eleven rods and sluiceway, forty feet wide. Bridge and causeway twenty-four feet wide."
Since the new turnpike was opened from the Village to Fitzwilliam, the best way to Bullardville was on this road to the corner, by the old May house ; accordingly, the road from the Kidder tavern to the May corner, was discontinued in 1809. On the 10th of April, $300 were granted for the new county road to Gardner. December 28, a road
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from Stephen Weston's to Joseph Robbins' 225 rods was accepted ; by which it appears that the former action had effected nothing.
In 1810 a part of the old road to Gardner was discontinued ; the part extending from near the old Emery or Isaac Cummings place, to the present road from the Poor-farm to the Bigelow place.
On the 9th of April, 1811, a road was accepted for James and Jesse Raymond, from the new Gardner road, east by south to the said Ray- mond's, 248 rods ; no damages to any one to be paid, and no extra money for making. On the 11th of October, it was voted to repair the bridges over Miller's river, by Abel Jones' beyond Waterville, and also by David Alger's, near New Boston, and to build one over the river in the Village. At a meeting, November 4, it was voted " to let the Vil- lage bridge as lotted out by the committee. Total, $100.85."
The new county road to Gardner was always like Oliver Twist, " ask- ing for more." In 1812, May 2, a grant of 8200 was made for re- pairs. On the 6th of April, a change was made in the road from Dea. Amos Heywood's to Rindge line ; a change also in the road from Ste- phen Weston's by Levi Brooks', and the Chase road was given up. On the 10th of August, a bridle way was accepted from Robert Hough- ton's house southerly, to the bars south of Samuel Sargent's house, 130 rods.
In 1814, May 2, the town accepted a road laid out for John Kilburn and others, from near Daniel Stimson's-or rather, near the Kilburn mill southerly, across the plain, to the road extending from the Common to New Boston ; 251 rods in length. Mr. Kilburn and Mr. Reed to pay land damages.
In 1815, September 11, it was voted to repair the old road leading from the turnpike near Joseph Robbins, to the old county road. The old road has long been out of use. John Flagg lived south of the junc- tion of Otter and Miller's rivers, and needed a road and bridge. The town therefore voted to accept a road for the said Flagg, and appoint- ed a committee to confer with him about a bridge across Otter river. The road begins a little south of Jonathan Wyman's house and goes directly west across the river. Mr. Wyman bid off the bridge at 877.
November 4, 1816, the Selectmen were directed to build a bridge near the Robbins mill on the road to Weston's.
Some may be not unwilling to know where the first guide-boards were set up. Here is a list as they were placed in 1817.
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" One board near Capt. Phinehas Whitney's, directing to Worcester, Westminster and Ashburnham.
One board near Esq. Newcomb's, directing to Worcester and Tem- pleton.
One board near James McElwain's, directing to Worcester and Templeton.
One board near John Estey's, directing to Winchendon and Royalston. One board near Isaac Morse's, directing to Worcester and Rindge. One board near Ephraim Murdock's, directing to Royalston.
One board near Mr. Readfield's, directing to Royalston.
One board near Joshua Wyman's, directing to Royalston.
One board near Storr or Stower Beals' directing to Ashburnham."
The annual grant for keeping the highways in repair, grew more lib- eral from the beginning of the century. In 1808 the grant was $1000. The same sum was continued for many years, even down to, and beyond the period to which we have now arrived.
In May, 1820, it was voted to lay out $50 on the Isaac Taylor road.
In 1821 the bit of road from Dea. Hale's tavern, south by west, about forty rods, to the road leading from the Common to Ashburnham was accepted. At the same time, the road from Dea. Hale's to Joseph Whitney's-the old Dudley Perley place -- was discontinued. After- wards-in 1823-it was re-opened. There was a straight road-since discontinued, from Dea. Hale's to the Estey school-house.
1822, May 6, the town accepted the road from David Beaman's to widow Heywood's-since Capt. Forristall's-164 rods in length, on con- dition that the town be indemnified from any charges for the land, or fencing the same, and the north district make the road.
A slight alteration was made in the road from the southwest burying- yard to the turnpike, in 1824.
On the 7th of March, 1825, a road for John Kilburn, was accepted, from his mill, on the west side of Miller's river, north, to the Royals- ton road. This road was made, in course of time, and was used till the woods in the neighborhood were all cut up. The road is now grown over, in spots, with young trees, and entirely out of use. It was 238 rods in length. In May, the Selectmen were directed without expense to the town, to view the roads, see where they were too narrow, and have all three rods wide. Robert Houghton's bridle-path was changed into a road. Cyrus Pierce, who then lived at the Butler mill place,
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had a road from the mill, southerly, 215 rods, to the road leading from the Estey school house to Robert Houghton's ; the point of junction being just west of the bridge over Miller's river.
SECTION 6 .- CONTEST WITH TURNPIKE COMPANIES.
In 1823, the North Branch Turnpike Corporation wanted to set up a toll-gate near the house of Esq. Murdock, in lieu of two gates at other points on the road, with the privilege of charging double toll. The town remonstrated with great spirit ; sent the remonstrance to the General Court, and instructed their representative, Isaac Morse, Esq., to oppose the project.
Two or three years later, the town was troubled by the action of the other Turnpike company, and on the 1st of May, 1826, voted unani- mously to remonstrate against the Worcester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike Corporation erecting a gate near the Denison pond in Winchendon. A remonstrance was drawn up at considerable length, probably by Esq. Henshaw, presenting the objections with great force. It seems that the town, and the inhabitants living on and near the road, were at a great part of the expense and trouble of making the turnpike-road, (besides giving the land,) and making the bridges on the same. The town built the largest bridge at great expense ; and the next largest was built by private inhabitants, without any expense to the corpora- tion, or any benefit to themselves, except the free use of that part of the turnpike lying near them, and within the bounds of Massachusetts. The fifth point of remonstrance is of general interest, as may be seen by reading it in the words following :
" Because in this age, and in this land of liberty, turnpike gates are every- where considered a nuisance, and vexatious to travelers, as well as the turn- pike roads themselves, which are generally the poorest roads over which the traveler passes from one part of the country to another ; it is often the case that people are obliged to travel on a turnpike , and to be obliged to travel on a bad and dangerous road, and to be frequently and forcibly stopped and de- tained, and have draughts made on their purses, and their patience, is con- sidered an infringemont of liberty, a sort of legalized robbery, which is fast be- coming intolerable. Your remonstrants would therefore humbly yet respect- fully suggest the propriety of diminishing this great evil, by improving every legal means to lesse the number of gates, instead of increasing the evil by adding to the number diready erected."
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This remonstrance was unanimously adopted, and sent to the Gen- eral Court.
The next year, December 24, 1827, the town chose a committee of three-David Henshaw, Jacob Wales and Israel Whitcomb-to remon- strate against the Worcester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike Corporation mov- ing their toll gate from where it now is, to near Jacob Wales'. In 1830, this Corporation wished to get rid of its road from the Baptist meeting- house to the Fitzwilliam line. Probably there was no gate between the two points. The town chose a committee to remonstrate against such discontinuance. The idea was this ; that the Turnpike Co. as long as it took toll, should keep its whole line of road in repair.
In 1828, October 13, there was a meeting to act on an article in the warrant, " to see what course the town will pursue as respects the North Branch Turnpike road being laid out as a county road." It was voted to choose a committee of three to meet the county Commissioners ; viz : D. Henshaw, Benjamin Adams, Sen., and Ebenezer Richardson. It was voted that the inhabitants of this town are in favor of the petition of Amory Holman in behalf of the North Branch Turnpike Corpora- tion, for making such turnpike a free road. Several reasons are given. 1. That there must be a road on the route for the convenience of the people. 2. There was no way to compel the Corporation to repair the road. It was thought right also that the county should bear some part of the expense. This was the last of the turnpike " nuisance."
Going back and collecting stray items, we find there was a vote, May 1, 1826, to repair the causeway between Mr. Ball's and Mr. Caswell's, when Luke Parks, John Kilburn and Oliver Lovejoy were chosen to see it done.
The town was indicted for not keeping. the new county road to Gard- ner in repair. On the 18th of August, a grant of $300 was made, to be expended on this road, and the town instructed a committee " to hire the best of hands," &c. An agent was chosen to inform the Court of Common Pleas of this action. The indictment was removed. The next entry is suggestive. On the 11th of September the vote granting $300 for the county road, was reconsidered, and then $100 was granted for the county road, and the other $200 for the Houghton and the Pierce or Butler roads. On the 7th of March, 1827, Capt. John Forristall was chosen agent to put the new county road to Gardner, in good re- pair, from John Woodbury's to the Common.
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