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 23
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
1828. The town accepted a road, May 5, from the southwest corner of the town, near Mr. Forbush's, leading north by east, to the turnpike going from Templeton to Fitzwilliam, by the Gibson corner, 402 rods, on condition that the town " be indemnified from paying any damages for said road, and have four years to make it in, by paying $30 per year in highway work, in addition to the highway district's proportion of high- way money in which said road is situated." This road was built in two or three years, after several delays, and by it a good route was opened to South Royalston.
SECTION 6 .- A SECTIONAL STRUGGLE.
About this time-1828-the town was agitated by a sectional strug- gle, which, after several fluctuations, finally settled in favor of the Vil- lage, and as a consequence, secured its lead in town affairs, and helped to its rising prosperity. There was an effort to run two roads through the town, neither of them to touch the Common, but north and south ofit. Oliver Far and others petitioned for one from S. Bowker's in Roy- alston, through Winchendon Village and Ashburnham to Fitchburg. The town voted against this-12 yeas to 17 nays,-and chose D. Hen- shaw, Esq., and Col. B. Adams to meet the Commissioners, and oppose the project. The other road was asked for by Joseph Estabrooks and others, to start from near Bowker's, go through the south of the town, Gardner and Westminster. The town voted in favor of this route. The object of the town was to prevent, so to speak, a disturbance of its equi- librium. A road through the south part of the town would be of scarce any benefit to the town, and of none at all to the Centre ; but a road through the Village, which was now quite a nucleus of business, would tend to its increase. This raised visions of the removal of the meeting- house, and the place of holding town-meetings, which it was painful to the people of the central and southern parts of the town to contemplate.
In April, 1829, the town granted $200 to be laid out on the old turn- pike, below the Village ; that is, on the way towards the Hale tavern, and so to Ashburnham, by one branch, and Westminster, by another. The town could vote for this, because it would thus head off a new pro- ject for a road direct to Ashburnham, near the river. On the 4th of May, the north rallied, and the town chose Isaac Morse an agent to wait on the Commissioners and " request them to postpone laying out a road through the south part of Winchendon, for the present." This was the
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
most that could be secured. The town had declared in favor of the southern route, but was willing to have it postponed " for the present." At the same time, it was voted to lay out $150 on the old turnpike above the Village, under the superintendence of Capt Forristall.
The south road was not " postponed," and the town was called on to build it. On the 7th of September, a committee of five,-Jacob Wales, Col. Adams, Capt. B. Wilder, Capt. Levi Greenwood, and Jacob Wood- bury-were chosen " to lot out and let out the road" through the south part of the town. The road was built, and perhaps other towns have derived some benefit from it, in former times. To this town it was sim- ply a bill of expense.
At the same meeting it was resolved, that the town are opposed to the laying out of a new road in the north part of the town. D. Hen- shaw, Esq., Capt. Benj. Wilder, and Messrs. William Brown, M. M. Reed, and Stephen Tolman,-all living south of the Centre or on the old turnpike-were chosen a committee " to use all reasonable means to oppose the laying out of said road," and to meet the Commissioners for that purpose. It should be said, in this connection, that a few in the north section joined the opposition. Those whose houses were on the old turnpike, and whose farms would be cut in the rear by the new county road, did not see any advantage to themselves in the proposed measure, and voted with the south section. But in spite of this persist- ent opposition, the Commissioners laid the road. In consequence, the town was soon called upon to furnish the means. A meeting was held on the 31st of October, at which it was voted to choose a committee of five " to lot out, and let out, and superintend the making of the road." Chose Isaac Morse, Israel Whitcomb, Benjamin Adams, John Forris- tall and Amasa Whitney. Two of these lived in the Village, one at the extreme north, one at the extreme south and one in the centre of the town.
For nearly twenty years, the annual grant for highways had been $1000; but in 1830, May 5, there was an increase. There was the usual grant of $1000, and a part of the $1700 for expenses of the town, was to be devoted to the making of the two new roads. In ad- dition, a subscription had been made for the purpose of aiding the north road. In 1839, $1250 were granted for highways, and $2000 for new roads and other necessary charges. As $1000 was about the
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
sum usually granted yearly for roads before this time, it will be seen that the two new roads required quite an outlay of money.
SECTION 7 .- VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
The Gardner road, on which scarcely anybody lived, was up again for repair. A complaint had been made to the grand jury. The town chose an agent, August 2, 1830, to repair the road under the inspection of the Selectmen, and granted 8100 for the purpose. Nothing was done however till the next spring, when Capt. Forristall was chosen a special agent to lay out the money, on the road " between the Common and Gardner line." In 1830, the Selectmen were authorized to build a new bridge by Poor's mill, if thought necessary. It was voted also. to build a bridge of wood over the river by Amasa Whitney's mill. This was delayed four or five years, as repairs at the north end, made the bridge safe.
In 1832, measures were taken to repair the old turnpike from the Village to Fitzwilliam. This was the turnpike by Robbinsville. It was. by this time, given up by the Turnpike Co., and the gates were removed. The causeway west of the New Boston meeting-house was repaired. On the 27th of October, it was voted, almost unanimously, to oppose the proposed road from Royalston Factory to the Village.
Probably this scheme, and another which came up the next year. 1833. were thought to be for the benefit of Waterville rather than the Village. The other proposed road was to go from Waterville, over Prentice and Benjamin hills to Capt. Adams', now Mr. Fisher's. It was, probably. a new and improved route, by which the Waterville people could get to the Centre without going through the Village. Both attempts failed.
In 1833, March 7, the town voted to lay out a road from Levi Pren- tiss',-near the present house of Harvey Wyman,-to the county road. where William Brown 2d now resides, 22 rods ; and discontinue the old road from the said Prentiss' to Luke Heywood's. This old road went by Mr. Sumner Wyman's and Mrs. Connors' to the old Brooks house. On the 21st of September, the town "accepted the doings of the Select- men in laying the road by the ledge, near Lewis Robbins' house." The ledge was near the present house of William Woodcock, and the road went from R. Stuart's to Robbins', and thence up to the hill to Levi Priest's, 69 rods.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
A road was needed from Spring Village to Rindge, but the town voted, in March, 1834, not to accept one. The roads in Waterville were slightly altered, but the changes were not important. On the 10th of Novem- ber, the town accepted a road made by Amasa Whitney, leading east from Seth Tucker's to the Gibson house, 24 rods. Also a road 58 rods long, from Charles Tolman's-just west of the Methodist parsonage- to the county road ; that is, to the east corner of the Academy lot. This was probably an alteration of the old road.
In 1835, March meeting, Joseph Robbins, was forbidden to flow the road, in two places, by his dams. On the 25th of September it was voted to build a bridge by Amasa Whitney's mill. On the 9th of No- vember, the town was called upon to build the road from Spring Vil- lage, northward ; and it accordingly chose a committee to " lay out and let the building of the road ordered by the County Commissioners from Spring Village to Rindge line. Chose John Forristall, James McEl- wain, and Henry Greenwood.
An important move was made in 1837, to bring the Village and Waterville into more easy communication. On the 1st of May, it was voted to accept the river road from Waterville to the Village, 279 rods and 6 links in length. Damages awarded to Job Hyde, $30; to Esq. Murdock, $60. November 13, an alteration was made in the road leading from Baldwin's to the Estey school-house. The change was from the new county road to Ashburnham, across the river, southerly, to the road from Butler's mill to the school-house. Also, an alteration in the road, from the Spring crossing, north by east, towards Spring Village, 57 rods, 7 links.
In 1838, the road from Waterville to No. 9 school-house was ac- cepted ; 162 rods. Also, a road was accepted from Joseph Robbins', north by east, to the State line, 157 rods. March 4, 1839, a road from near No. 6 school-house, to the new county road to Gardner, about 131 rods, was accepted. On the third of June, this was authorized as a private way. There was to be a gate at each end.
The grant for highways, in 1834, was $1600 .; in 1835, $1200; in 1836, $1600; the same sum the next three years ; in 1839, $1800; the same sum in 1840.
In this last year, September 14, the town directed the Selectmen to meet the County Commissioners, and oppose, if expedient, the Chesh- ire Railroad Company's laying their road across town ways at grade.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
În 1841, May 3, the road from Spring Village to Richard Whitney's -now Capt. E. Murdock's farm-249 rods, was accepted.
In 1842, there was an alteration in the road from Edward Loud's, in Bullardville, westward, 89 rods. And a road was authorized from the house of John Brooks, 139 rods, to Samuel Holman's. It was vo- ted to put up gates at the ends of the road extending from Kilburn's mill northerly to the Royalston road ; then voted to discontinue the road. An effort was made to improve the road from Marvin T. Nash's -then living near the No. 2 school-house-to the Kidder place ; but it failed by a vote of 14 to 76. A few days later, June 6, a commit- tee was chosen to meet the Commissioners, and see if there is not a better route from M. T. Nash's by the J. Bradish place, to the Fitz- william line, and request them not to cause the town to make a new road until it is known whether a railroad is to be made to Fitchburg, or not. The improvement was ordered, and on the 7th of March, 1843, the town chose a committee of five,-E. Murdock, Jr., John Forristall, Isaac Morse, Levi Greenwood and George Alger,-" to lot out and let out, and superintend the building of the road ordered by the County Commissioners." On the 1st of May, 8600 were granted for building the road. On the 5th of June, the Selectmen were authorized to bor- row $1500 for building said road. Voted, also to accept a re-lay of the road from Mr. Nash's to the old road, 129 rods. And the next year a road from the new road to Fitzwilliam to the Nahum Robbins road, was accepted. This new road to the Fitzwilliam line was a great improvement, inasmuch as it avoided two formidable hills on the old turnpike road.
In 1843, March 6, the Selectmen were directed to repair the road to Gardner, and the old road to Ashburnham. June 5, they were au- thorized to repair the road in New Boston-the old Worcester and Fitzwilliam turnpike, the company now being defunct. At the same time, the street in front of the Methodist meeting-house was accepted, 15 rods, 12 links. Also, accepted an improvement of the road this side of Mr. Ball's ; that is, up the sand hill this side of the bridge over Miller's river, by Mr. Ball's. The change extended about 68 rods.
In 1845, March meeting, $150 were granted for the new road to Ashburnham, and $2337.76 for the new road to Fitzwilliam. Here it may be remarked, that from the time when the new road to Ashburn- ham was opened, travel began again to take the route through the Vil-
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
lage, and continued so till the railroad was opened in 1847. On the 30th of June, the road from the Houghton place, eastward 110 rods, to the Ashburnham line, was accepted. No damage awarded. On the 10th of November, that part of Summer street cast of Central street, was accepted. Also, a road from opposite Harvey Wyman's old black- smith shop to the residence of Rev. A. P. Marvin-now Dea. Butler's, -33 1-2 rods.
1846, Baxter D. Whitney was allowed, November 9, to raise the road this side of the Spring crossing, because the elevation of his dam flowed the water over the road.
In 1847, November 29, a road was accepted from S. Tucker's, west, 16 rods ; a part of Maple street.
In 1849, November 12, a road was accepted from the Butler mills, south, across the railroad, to the Ashburnham road, 61 rods ; with the right to carry the water across the road, and to build a railroad track beside the Cheshire railroad, but not to obstruct travel. At the same meeting, the road from the Butler mills, north-cast, about 180 rods to the Houghton road, was accepted. The old road from the Butler mills to David Flint's was discontinued.
At the same time, an effort was made to shut up the old road from Waterville over the Benjamin hill. The motion failed, partly because the road was convenient for some persons to reach their lands, and partly because the road affords many splendid views to those who admire the beauties of nature. Every house formerly on this road has disappeared ; but the time will come when a part of it will be chosen for pleasant residences. At this meet- ing, a few rods of road were discontinued just cast of the No. 9 school- house.
In 1850, November 11, an alteration in the road by Jacob Wood- bury's, 85 rods, was allowed, and $90 damages were awarded to him. Pleasant street, from Front, northerly 76 rods, was accepted. In 1851, an alteration was authorized in the road from where Horace Whitcomb then lived, south by the old burying-yard, and $40 damages awarded.
SECTION S .- THREE NEW ROADS.
At this period there was need of at least four-perhaps five-new roads, for the accommodation of the public. One of them, extending from Waterville school-house, south by west, through the Asa Hyde farm to the corner of the Fry road, 183 rods, and offering a direct
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
route towards New Boston and South Royalston, was accepted on con- ditions. But the road has never been opened.
Another was needed, extending from Bullardville to Waterville, by the Hyde mill, but it had to wait four or five years before the town took favorable action. Three of the needed roads, by strenuous effort, werc opened.
The first of these extends from the Raymond corner to the Estey school-house. More than half a century before, Messrs. James and Jesse Raymond, and Mr. Woodbury applied for a road to the Dudley Perley placc, whereby they could reach the Centre or the Village mill. Their effort failed. Their descendants, Levi and Clark Raymond, and the Woodburys, applied for a road in 1849, and on the 10th of De- cember, it was accepted. This was to extend to the Estey school-house, because it would be more convenient than the route proposed before, and was 359 rods in length. Damages allowed, $305. On the 1st of April, 1850, the former vote was reconsidered by a vote of 75 to 18. In 1853, May 25, the subject came up again, and several votes were taken, but finally the application for the road was rejected. At length the County Commissioners approved of the route, and the road was built in 1855. It is not only a great convenience to the people in the east section of the town, but also to all travelers between the Village and Gardner.
The second of the needed roads which succeeded in the struggle for existence, was what is called the Alger road. The town declined to build it ; an appeal was made to the County Commissioners, who ap- proved it. On the 15th of April, 1850, the town chose a committee to oppose the Alger road before the Commissioners. The route was approved, and the road was built. It extends from the Royalston road, at a point a little east of Mr. Nathaniel Hale's house, southerly to the corner north of Capt. George Alger's, and thus opens all of the 8th district to Waterville, while affording a good road between the Village and Baldwinville.
The third road was called the Kilburn and Gibson road ; more prop- erly, Kilburn and Sibley. On the 21st of February, 1858, the town accepted this road, extending from near the Kilburn mill to the Sibley mill, 332 rods, and allowed $350 for damages. On the 30th of April, this action was reconsidered ; and then the last vote was reconsidered. The subject came up again on the 25th of May, when the result was
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDOR.
in favor of the road. It was built accordingly. On the 30th of August, a short road from Gibson's corner to the flag station on the Vermont & Massachusetts railroad, which had been resisted strongly, was ac- cepted. This was reconsidered, and then again accepted.
At length, the proposed road from Bullardville to Hydeville, and so on to Waterville, was, through the persevering efforts of Mr. Ezra Hyde and others, accepted, in 1854 ; length, 278 rods ; damages, $80. But opposition prevented its being built until 1869, when on the 10th of March, it was agreed to finally, and was to be 343 rods in length.
SECTION 9-NEW BRIDGES.
The great flood in April, 1852, made it necessary to lay out quite a sum of money, without delay, for bridges. Nearly every dam and bridge on the river, from the Ashburnham line to New Boston, was swept away. The waters on the northern branch were held back by the great Mo- nomonauk lake and reservoir, so that no damage was incurred. On the 4th of May a town meeting was held, and a committee of nine chosen to examine the several bridges to be built, and make plans and estimates for rebuilding the same, and report to an adjourned meeting. Also to do all things which they think necessary and proper for forwarding the rebuilding said bridges, before the meeting. On the 15th of May the committee made a report, which was accepted. A committee of three -Oliver Adams, Milton S. Morse, and Ephraim W. Lord, was chosen to lot out, let out, and superintend the building of the bridges.
The appropriations for highways fluctuated from $1000 to $1600, for several years. This included bridges, except those which, on account of their cost, required a special grant. In 1858, the grant for highways was but $1200; but that for town charges was $3,500. In 1854, for the same purpose, $4,000. The next two years, the grant was $5,000 for each year. A part of this went to pay tor the bridges ; but the exact amount is not known.
In May, 1852, the road from Robbins' mill to the bridge, on the Wa- terville road was accepted. At first, when this road was laid out, it crossed the river by the bend between the tannery and the Robbins mill, and followed the east bank of the river. The bridge having been washed away, was not rebuilt, but the road was continued on the west side, some rods beyond the mill, where a new bridge was thrown across the stream.
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HISTORY OF WISCHENDON.
On the 2d of November, a road from the Gardner line to the Greenwood mills, about 44 rods, with $25 damages was accepted.
In 1853, several Village streets were accepted as roads; as parts of Maple, Grove and Pleasant streets. Also an alteration in the road from the Thomas place to Luke Wilder's.
In 1854, the town accepted the following roads: One for William Harris, in the east part of the town. 29 rods ; damages, 825.00 ; another for Luke Rice to C. C. Alger's, 20 rods ; damages, 87.00. In 1855 allowed John Cutter to fill the hollow at the foot of Pillsbury hill, east of Jarvis Winn's. In 1856, a road was accepted from John T. Wood- bury's to the Gardner road, 114 rods; damages. #185.00. Beach street was accepted as a road in 1860, 61 rods ; and other streets at various times.
In 1866, two rather important roads were before the town for action. The first was to bring the Alger road directly into Waterville, without taking the sharp angle at the school-house. This was carried, and now the road inosculates at the Royalston road, east of the house of the late Nathaniel Hale, with the Alger road to Baldwinville. The other was a direct road from Spring Village to the railroad station. After a live- ly and protracted struggle, in 1867, this road was secured, though the County Commissioners were summoned into the field, before the victory wag won.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XVI .- WINCHENDON POLITICS SINCE 1800.
" The greatest glory of a free-born people, Is to transmit that freedom to their children."
ILAVARD.
SECTION 1 .- FEDERALISM.
This town was firmly on the side of the party in power, both in the State and Nation from the inauguration of Washington, in 1789, until 1800 During the term of Mr. Jeferson, it adhered as firmly to Gov. Caleb Strong. On the 2d of April, 1804, Mr. Strong had every vote for Governor.
In 1806, after the attack on the Chesapeake, by a British man-of- war, there was a call for volunteers. This town responded, and the fol- lowing men volunteered. viz : Capt. Timothy Hancock, (he was the old- est captain in the regiment, and by the call, was obliged to respond) ; Jacob Parks, Eliphalet Parks, John Grout, Luther Bowker. None of these were obliged to enter the service. The cavalry company com- manded by Capt. Phinehas Whitney were warned to be in readiness, and paraded, and all volunteered to go ; but they were not called into service.
In 1808, September 5, the town voted to petition the President of .the United States, to suspend the embargo, in whole or in part. Then voted to choose a committee to draft a petition to the President, Mr. Jefferson. The committee consisted of the following persons, viz : Dr. Israel Whiton, Capt. Thomas Graton, Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, Capt. Lemuel Ileywood, and Lieut. Paul Raymond. Adjourned for half an hour. Then met, and accepted the petition drafted by the committee, by a nearly unanimous vote. The Selectmen, with the town Clerk, werc chosen to transmit a copy of the petition to President Jefferson. It was then voted that the Moderator sign the petition with the Selectmen and he Clerk. The Moderator was Col. Woodbury, the Clerk, Samuel
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Prentice, and the Selectmen, Paul Raymond, James Raymond, David Beaman, Isaac Morse and Abijalı Pierce. The following is the petition.
"TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES :
The inhabitants of the Town of Winchendon, in the County of Wor- cester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in legal town meeting, met on Mon- day, the fifth day of September, A. D. 1808, beg leave to represent to your Excellency, that they feel themselves interested in whatever tends to the peace and prosperity of the United States; they also feel themselves under the great- est obligation to subunit to a government of their own choice, yet we, your pe- titioners, now look up to the political ruler of our nation, and ask the mani- festation of his sincere regards, as there has been so great a change of affairs among the European nations of late, that we expect the restraints of our trade cannot have that good effect which was expected by our constituted authority ; and it appears to us that the situation of our Eastern States so far differs from that of the Southern States, that we suffer in a greater degree than they. And as it now appears that the present time is a more favorable one for regaining our losses, and of preventing our farther sinking into ruin ; therefore we hope your Excellency will have the honor and happiness of making glad the hearts of themselves, by the suspension of the embargo, in whole or in part, which is now creating evils which language cannot express. And we now expect that the President is sensible that those laws cannot effect the good intention he be- fore contemplated ; and if your Excellency should doubt of the power vested in you by the Congress of the United States, we will wait patiently for the coming of Congress, to take the subject into consideration ; and we, your pe- titioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray."
The President replied to this Petition, and the answer was read in town meeting on the 7th of November ; but it is not to be found on the Records.
SECTION 2 .- THE LAST WAR WITH ENGLAND.
It is a part of our national history, that the Eastern States, and cs- pecially Massachusetts, were opposed to the war of 1812-15, with Great Britain ; and that, under the lead of Gov. Strong, Josiah Quincy and others, her people were anxious for the return of peace. They believed the war was unnecessary, and that the objects for which it was osten- sibly waged, could be better secured by peaceful means. In these views the inhabitants of Winchendon sympathized. A meeting was held on the 10th of August, 1812, " to take the sense of the town on the alarm- ing situation of public affairs, and use any constitutional method to al-
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