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 36
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3 00
H. M. Heywood,
2 00
Elisha Beaman,
5 00
S. A. Parker,
1 00
Grover S. Whitney,
2 00
Walter Conant,
1 00
Franklin Heywood,
2 00
Amos Knowlton,
2 00
John Hyde,
1 00
Harvey Wyman,
5 00
The design of the organization, which was styled " The Winchendon Scientific and Literary Association," included more than the gathering of a library. The Constitution provided for Discussions, Lectures, and Evening Schools for young men. This last part of the design was nev- er carried out. The discussions which took place in the town hall dur- ing the winter months for several years, are still remembered with in- terest by many who attended them. They were conducted with ability and courtesy. Several courses of lectures were provided by the exec- utive committee. The tickets sometimes more than paid the expenses, though not in every instance. Besides lectures from several citizens of the town, quite a number were delivered by distinguished speakers from abroad. Among these may be mentioned Messrs. Beecher, Em- erson, Whipple, Holmes, Bp. Clark, Alger, Starr King, Parker, Phillips, Richardson of Worcester, and Dr. Jackson of Boston, who gave a course on Geology. Some of the lectures were strictly scientific, as on Astronomy, Geology, &c., but the larger part were on literary or his- torical subjects, or topics of the day.
The library however was what gave permanent value to the Associ- ation, and great care was used in selecting the books. The following General Rules in relation to the library, were adopted by the Associa- tion, in accordance with the recommendation of the library committee.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
" 1st. The design is not to form a complete library in any of its depart- ments immediately ; but to lay the foundations of a good one in the various departments of History, Biography, Poetry, Essays, Travels, &c. The in- tention of the founders must be filled out by periodical additions.
2d. It is considered important to exclude all sectarian works, and all those which openly or covertly attempt to undermine the principles of Christian mo- rality and religion.
3d. The Constitution provides that no book shall be purchased, or received as a gift, for the use of the library, unless it is approved by a majority of the whole committee."
The money was spent in purchasing books, and a book case, and the library was opened, first in the " Barracks," and then in a room over the store of Amasa Whitney, Jr. D. L. Morrill. Esq., was the first librarian. He was succeeded by Mr. Whitney, and by Dr. A. B. Hoyt. The books then passed into the care of Mrs. Calista P. Fair- banks, who was librarian for a term of five years. The library was kept in her parlor. In 1862, Mr. George S. Dodge was appointed librarian, and he kept the books in a room at the rear of his apotheca- 's store in the Union block. r
The library was enlarged, from time to time, by judicious selections, and as means were provided by gifts, fines, assessments and fairs. In the meantime an Agricultural Library had been formed by subscription. This contained about one hundred and thirty volumes of standard works in that department. In the year 1865, an arrangement was made by which these volumes were added to the library of the Association. At a meeting held on the 16th of January, 1867, it was voted " to present the library to the town at the next March meeting, provided the town will provide for its maintenance and enlargement and proper keeping for the accommodation of the readers of the town." This was done ac- cordingly, and the library passed into the possession of the town. And as the town is authorized, by a special law, to appropriate money for the purpose of founding and enlarging public libraries, it is to be hoped that the library established by the Association, will become more val- uable and useful than it could be while in private hands. In commen- cing a library, the town is authorized to appropriate one dollar for every ratable poll, and in continuing it, half a dollar for every ratable poll, annually. The library of the town now contains more than fifteen hundred volumes, the greater number of which are works of permanent value. The Trustees of the library, chosen annually by the town, are
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in 1868, Messrs. Isaac M. Murdock, William Pentecost, Windsor N. White, George S. Dodge and George A. Litchfield. Mrs. Wheeler Doland is the librarian.
SECTION 3 .- OTHER LIBRARIES.
The NORTH CONGREGATIONAL PARISH LIBRARY was begun in the year 1847. It originated in a proposition made by the pastor to his congregation on a Sabbath when preparations were making for the an- nual contribution for benevolent objects. His suggestion was, that at every annual subscription for benevolent societies, in the month of May, there should be a column for the Parish Library. Each one was to give as he might feel at the time. The library was to be in the pas- tor's study, and though any member of the congregation might use the books, it was expected that the parish would derive its chief advantage from them through the mind and heart of the minister. The sugges- tion was favorably received, and from that date, every year has added a few choice volumes to the parish library. It contains the works of the chief New England divines, with those of Calvin, Turretin, Robert Hall, and Neander, and those of other distinguished authors in the old world. Milton's prose writings, Robinson's Palestine, Story on the Con- stitution, and Morell on the History of Philosophy, enrich the collection. By judicious nursing it may grow to be a very valuable library, just such a one as would draw hither a man earnest to feed his people with knowledge of divine things.
The SABBATH SCHOOL LIBRARIES belonging to the several churches in the town, are quite large, and many of the books have more than a transient value. These libraries are in a constant process of change. After the volumes are read, they are generally given to Sabbath Schools in other places. The number of the volumes in the various Sabbath School libraries cannot be given, but probably it is not less than fifteen hundred.
A COMMON SCHOOL library was kept in Spring Village, several years, but was finally scattered.
In addition it may be said, that of the buying of " many books there is no end." Besides the libraries of professional men,-ministers, law- yers and doctors-which contain the works necessary in the professions, most of our houses are supplied, in different measure, with useful or en- tertaining works.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XXVII .- THE VILLAGES.
"Sweet was the sound when oft at evening's close, Up yonder hill the village murmur rose ; There, as I passed with careless steps and slow, The mingling notes came softened from below." GOLDSMITH.
THIE CENTRE OR COMMON.
For fifty years after the incorporation of the town, there was no vil- lage within its bounds except at the Centre. The fact that it was the central point in the town, and the location of the meeting-house, secured a small collection of dwellings. The minister, the traders, one or more, at different times, the tavern keeper, the blacksmith and the doctor, with three or four farmers, made up the little settlement. There are now eight or ten houses on or near the Common. Probably there has not been a less number at any time during the last eighty years. In the days when numerous teams wended their way over the hill, and the tavern was haunted by the quidnuncs of the town, as well as by trav- elers ; when two stores attracted purchasers, and all the cattle and hor- ses were taken by turn to the blacksmith ; when the room of the Jus- tice of the Peace was thronged by the crowd who often met at the trial of some petty malefactor, and the doctor and minister, and even the lawyer, were sought by those needing advice and counsel, the old Cen- tre was quite a busy place. But this is all changed now, and the quiet of a perpetual Sabbath reigns there. Yet it is a pleasant, healthful spot, and the time may come when men doing business in the villages will choose it for their home, and as a suitable place for the rearing of their children.
1
THE VILLAGE, OR WINCHENDON.
What has in past times been known as Morse's, or Winchendon, or North Village, is now styled either the Village, or Winchendon. The
.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
latter is the proper designation, as it contains half the population of the town, has the only Post Office, all the stores and places of business but one or two, and is the real centre of the town. On the map accompa- nying this volume, it is styled WINCHENDON.
The first step in the history of this Village was the erection of a mill about one hundred and eight years ago. It was voted on the 30th of November, 1758, by the Proprietors, " that for encouragement, two dollars be granted on each original right, to any person or persons that shall undertake to build a grist-mill in said township, for ten years, and one hundred acres of land with the stream." Mr. Bartholomew Pear- son or Parsons, father of Richard Parsons, put up the mill, where now stands the establishment of Goodspeed & Wyman. The dam was be- low the present site, the road crossed the dam, and the mill was not far from the shop of the Messrs. Loud. This was done between 1758 and 1762, because in June of the latter year, it was voted that " sixty days highways' work shall be done in building a bridge over the river by Mr. Parsons' mill-place." The work was " highway work ;" in oth- er words, carting earth on to the dam till it became wide enough for a road.
At the same time it was voted to build a road from Mr. Darling's place,-now Henry Keith's-and from the Boynton place,-now the Jed. Morse farm-to the mill ; and also from the mill to the county road, or to the south end of the Common. Thus this mill was the nucleus of the Village. A dwelling house was erected where the paint shop now stands, close by the pond, on the east side of the road and the north side of the pond. From this starting point in 1760, we come down some forty-five years, and find seven houses in this neighborhood. 1. Where the former counting-room, now Weston's paint shop, stands ; 2. Near Horace Wyman's; 3. Where the Congregational Church now stands ; 4. Where the " Old Barracks" stood, now covered in part by A. B. Smith's store ; 5. Where Mrs. Caswell lives, corner of Central and Spring streets, and two others, one of them at Dea. Hyde's. In 1831, there were sixteen houses, including that of Seth Tucker, Sen. The road to Mr. Tucker's was very winding, bending half-way down tow- ards B. D. Whitney's works, then curving up by Mr. Tucker's, and go- ing north, it took a lurch westward as far as thirty rods into the Hon. Elisha Murdock's lot ; thence making for Mr. Nutting's. The road from Dea. Hyde's or Paul Boynton's, came as far as William Beaman's,
South Side View.
is NosauVILLY 773350}
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
and then turned north into the Fitzwilliam road. The greater part of the business in the Village for twenty-five years preceding the above date, was done by three men, viz : Ephraim Murdock, Amasa Whit- ney and Isaac Morse. The latter owned the tannery and the hotel ; Mr. Whitney carried on the woolen business ; Esq. Murdock built hous- es, made sleighs, &c. All of them were large landholders. Their sons were now coming forward to take their places, and accelerate the growth of the place.
In 1843, at which time, the author first saw the Village, there were forty dwellings here, not including two or three which are now on the outskirts. Thus it appears that the increase from 1807 to 1843 had been about one house yearly. During the latter part of the period how- ever the increase had been more rapid. Several houses had been erect- ed which indicated increased attention to convenience and taste. The dwellings of Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., Dr. A. Godding, Hon. Elisha Murdock, and Col. William Murdock, were recent. Mr. C. R. Whit- man's house was built in that year. At that time there was one Church in the Village-the Methodist-one hotel, two mill privileges, one school- room, three or four stores and shops, one piano, two shade trees,-one, the great elm in front of Esq. Murdock's; the other a small maple on Central street,-and the Academy, then in process of building. There were no streets, properly so called, but several roads leading to neigh- boring towns. There was but little shrubbery, and garden flowers were scarce. The yards and windows of four or five houses on Front street, with a few others, here and there, showed signs of taste and the love of natural beauty.
Since then the change has been going on gradually, at the average rate of increase of about eight new houses, though the increase has not been uniform. In some years only a house or two has been put up; in other years, a dozen or more. There are now in the Village, not far from two hundred and fifty dwelling houses, and fifteen hund- red people. There are five houses of worship, one of them elegant and costly ; three, neat and convenient, and the fifth about to give place to a new edifice of larger dimensions. Besides the Academy and the school-house, with two apartments, of the former second district, there are now the large and finely proportioned school-house in the north part of the Village, with space for four rooms, and the new school-house now in building, with four large school-rooms, a fine hall for examinations,
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
a recitation and an apparatus room. There are now three mill dams in place of two, with greatly increased power. There is a bank, and a town hall. There are twenty or more streets besides the old roads ; shade trees, shrubbery, fruit trees, and flowers abound on every side, and the dwellings are becoming yearly more tasteful and elegant .* Then there was a single piano; there are now not less than thirty, besides ser- aphines, cabinet organs and other musical instruments. Some twenty- five stores and shops, including dry goods, groceries, millinery, boots and shoes, hardware, drugs and medicines, clothing, harness, and jewelry, supply in part the wants of the Village and vicinity. Twenty-five years ago, the hill-side below Mr. Doane's slaughter house was a dense tan- gle ; now it is a continuation of one of the most beautiful crescent-shaped slopes to be seen in a summer's travel. Then the whole works and pond of Baxter Whitney, with the exception of the river, was covered with a forest ; now there is a fine sheet of water, and numerous buildings, full of busy industry. Then the houses were neat and well-painted ; now there are several which are superior in architecture and finish. The transformation, though gradual, seems to one who looks back, and takes it in at one view, almost incredible. But there are yet greater changes in the future. The opening of the Cheshire railroad in 1847, gave a new impulse to business. The opening of a cross road, and the connection with the Vermont and Massachusetts road, in the south part of the town, which are inevitable, will cause the Village to enter on a new career of prosperity. And when all the water power of the town shall be made available, there will be no cause but the want of enter- prise on the part of the people, to prevent this place becoming one of the largest, busiest, and most beautiful towns in the Commonwealth.
* In the year 1851, there was a meeting one evening, in the North Congre- gational Church. A lecture on "Village Improvements" was delivered, in which the lecturer set forth the importance of planting shade and fruit trees and shrubbery ; of beautifying the yards and gardens ; and of having a regard for correct taste in architecture. A society was formed to carry out these suggestions, and though the Association never took any farther action, the members and other citizens, caught the spirit of improvement, and immedi- ately began the work. Now the streets are lined, and the yards are filled with trees, and among all our neat, convenient dwellings, there is not one which is odd in shape, or which offends the eye, while several, as those of George Con- verse, Washington Whitney, James Whitman, Orlando Mason and E. Mur- dock, Jr., are fine specimens of village architecture. The latter especially, while elegant and imposing on the exterior, seems within to combine every convenience with cultivated taste.
LIMA
OS AUSTUVW- 1735578
N. D. WILITE. W.H. BMITII.
WM. MANNING.
Spring Village.
JOSEPH WHITE. GEORGE MORRILL ..
JOSEPH WATSON. ATORE.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
SPRING VILLAGE AND WATERVILLE.
The origin of these villages has already been given. They are both capable of considerable increase. There is a plan under consideration for raising the dam of the Monomonauk some ten feet above its present level. This would probably double the power in the dry season of the year. Moreover, if the proposed railroad from Peterborough shall be brought through Spring Village, it will add to its prosperity. Besides the increase of business, the Spring would become a place of resort, since the facilities for promoting the health and enjoyment of visitors, are almost unrivalled.
WATERVILLE has greater capabilities, inasmuch as it receives water from both branches of Miller's river, and including Hydeville, has a greater fall. The river descends some sixty or seventy feet in the course of half a mile, and there are good building spots the whole distance. When the connection between the Village and the railroad in the south part of the town is made, Waterville will take a new start, and its three or four hundred souls will be multiplied.
NEW BOSTON, BULLARDVILLE, and ROBBINS or HARRISVILLE, con- tain each from half a dozen to a dozen houses. Having only a limited water power, there is no probability that either of them will ever in- crease like those situated on Miller's river. Perhaps the future will see a village at the MURDOCK mills, and also at the BUTLER place, as the power is great and easily available.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XXVIII. - NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
" Oh night, And storm, and darkness ! ye are wondrous strong." BYRON.
"Will all Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clear from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making this green one red."
SHAKESPEARE.
" A horrid spectre rises to my sight, Close by my side, and plain and palpable, In all good seeming and close circumstance, As man meets man."
JOANNA BAILLIE.
In this chapter, various events which almost defy classification, will be arranged under the following titles, viz : FROSTS, STORMS and TEM- PESTS ; CASUALTIES ; FIRES ; HOMICIDES ; SUICIDES ; SUPERSTITIONS, &c. Many of the facts are derived from Mr. Hyde ; others from Dr. Whiton, and others still from various sources. Quite a number came under the author's own observation.
SECTION 1 .- FROSTS, STORMS, TEMPESTS.
In 1752, there was a snow-storm in which Joshua Priest was frozen to death.
In 1755, the " great earthquake" shook all New England, and pro- duced an extraordinary effect on the public mind. The few settlers in these woods felt the shock.
In 1774, there was a hurricane, moving from west to east which struck the meeting-house on Ashburnham hill so violently as to move it three or four feet rom its foundations. It was furious in this town, though there is no record of serious damage.
The awful cold winter of 1780-81 has been referred to already.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
On the 17th of May, 1794, there was a severe frost. The spring had been early, and vegetation was forward. Rye was headed, and apples were large as bullets. Everything was killed. This is one of the many facts which confirm the saying, that " all attempts at an early spring here will prove a failure."
In the summer of 1795, there was a violent tempest about sun-set. Dr. Whiton well remembered " the terrors of the scene." A wild com- motion in the clouds, and a roar in the atmosphere, forewarned of its approach ; thickening darkness came on fast; soon the hurricane and hail struck the buildings with great fury. The dwelling of Mr. Thorn- ton Barrett was unroofed, and the furniture in the chamber scattered over adjacent fields ; locks of wool blown from the chamber were found adhering to trees miles distant. Some barns were partially unroofed, sheds blown over, and a multitude of trees prostrated. This was spe- cially severe on the road to Fitzwilliam, where fallen trees bore witness to the fury of the storm, many years afterwards. The following even- ing was of pitchy darkness, save when vivid flashes of lightning revealed for an instant the distant hills and forests. No one was killed, but many were frightened ; some with fear that the day of judgment had come.
In the winter of 1798-9, the weather was extremely cold. The snow was very deep. It lay on the ground from the middle of Novem- ber into April ; in the woods, till the middle of May. The stage-sleigh passed through this town eighteen weeks successively.
In 1801, about the 20th of June, a severe frost cut down nearly all the grain, and growing crops.
There was a memorable northeasterly storm in February, 1802. It was furious and driving. The snow was dense like small hail. It fell to the depth of two feet. People thought that if it had been light, the depth would have been as great as in the " great snow-storm" of 1717, that is, six feet.
The spring of 1804 was cold and backward ; hay was scarce, and the cattle were driven to browsing. Trees were felled for that purpose. They scarcely lived till grass grew.
In June, 1806, the total eclipse of the sun filled the inhabitants of Winchendon, in common with all who beheld it, with the profoundest feelings of admiration and awe.
In the same season, on a day when the Cavalry Company, under command of Capt. Phinehas Whitney, paraded in this town, a fearful
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
thunder-storm arose. Some of the Co., while on the way home, took refuge in a tavern in Templeton. The electric fluid came down. Some twelve of them were thrown into a heap in the middle of the room, and two were killed. The points of their swords were melted.
In 1807, on the 30th and 31st of March, and the 1st of April, there was the heaviest fall of snow within memory. Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, and Dr. Whiton, then a young man, struggled through the snow, to the meeting-house, on the Sabbath, sometimes on the top of the wall. ‘No one else was there, and they returned in the same way.
On the 9th of June, 1816, there was a fall of snow. I have heard the late Dea. Raymond say that apples and snow were together on the trees in his father's orchard. There were frosts at unusual times. The whole summer was cold. There was but little fruit, or corn, though English grain was good. It was called "poverty year."
The September gale-on the 16th-of this year, blew down many acres of timber in the westerly part of the town.
The next season was also cold, and but little pork was made. As mackerel were uncommonly abundant, this was styled "mackerel year."
From the last of May to the first of September, 1819, there were thunder-showers as often as every other day. On the afternoon of the Sabbath, August 20, the commotion of the elements was terrific. Clouds arose in all quarters of the heavens, and met together. All the artil- lery of the skies seemed to be in full play. Many buildings were struck by lightning, and consumed. In the evening, fires could be seen in various directions.
In 1821, September 9, there was a fearful hurricane in Athol and towns west of this. Fragments of trees and clothing were borne by the tempest to Winchendon. No damage was done here.
The winter of 1842-3, was noted for snow-storms. The snow came early, and did not go off until the last week in April. There were drifts in the woods in the middle of May. On the 12th of November, 1843, people rode in sleighs to the November election.
On the 22d of April, 1852, there was a great flood in Miller's river. There had been a fall of snow six or eight inches deep; this was fol- lowed by rain till the snow was almost ready to run ; then a warm sun came out, and the water rushed down every hill-side into the small streams, which poured their tribute into the river. It was rapidly swol --
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len above its banks, and roared along its bed with fearful violence. Men watched at the dams that night, and about one o'clock in the morning of the 22d, the ringing of the alarm bell roused the people. Baxter Whitney's dam was beginning to give way. At two the top of the old woolen factory dam went off, and the rush of waters carried off the Robbins, the Aldrich and the Hyde dams. About six P. M., Mr. Whitney's dam, and saw-mill, and the railroad bridge went down with a crash, and the debris borne by the rushing flood, swept away the cause- way and bridge, on Spring street. The causeway was several feet un- der water. Next the bridge and dam by the woolen mill (now Good- speed & Wyman's site) were taken up as a feather, and hurled down stream with frightful velocity. The accumulated waters and broken timbers rushed along, making a clean sweep of all the bridges and dams below. Standing on Prospect street, the writer had a clear view of the memorable scene. Following the rush towards Waterville, he heard the large rocks in the river dashing against each other with a loud noise, as they were bowled along by the flood. At the same time, all the bridges between the Village and the Ashburnham line, and the Butler mill-dam, were destroyed. This was the greatest and most destructive flood within the memory of the most aged inhabitants.
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