USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > King's handbook of Springfield, Massachusetts : a series of monographs, historical and descriptive > Part 13
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lishment, a contributor of sketches and verse. L. H. Taylor, formerly of " The Union," a journalist, a humorist, and a newspaper-correspondent. He is the " Miss Ward " of " The Berkshire Courier." Edwin Dwight, " Graph " of "The New-England Homestead," an essayist, poet, and humorist. Albert H. Hardy, a journalist, story-writer, a poet, and a contributor to various peri- odicals and magazines : some of his poetical work has lately appeared in English magazines. Joseph L. Shipley, editor-in-chief and part owner of "The Springfield Union," a journalist, and an essayist on political economy and social science. E. Porter Dyer, the literary editor of "The Union," an essayist, humorist, and poet. Elijah A. Newell of the " Union " reportorial staff, a journalist, an occasional writer of verse, author of several stories, - among them, " Tom Tilden," "Only a Tramp," "My Brother's Wife," " The Son-in-Law," etc. Edward H. Phelps, editor and chief owner of "The New-England Homestead," a journalist, an essayist, a musical critic, and, by occasional avocation, a composer of music. Edward Bellamy, author of " Doctor Heidenhoff's Process," "Six to One," etc .; and Charles J. Bellamy, author of " Breton Mills," " Man of Business," etc., are brothers, - both journalists, novelists, essayists, and poets. The latter is editor, and, with the former, owner, of "The Springfield Daily News." Henry D. Taylor, a writer of stories; George W. Taylor and I. C. Stoddard, humor- ous verse ; William H. Bliss, a story-writer and a poet; Edwin L. Johnson, a satirist and humorist; N. I. West, a contributor of verse; Ezra Wilkins, prose ; Theodore W. Ellis, a retired manufacturer, formerly superintendent of the Glasgow Mills, a prose-writer and poet; Henry M. Burt, editor and owner of the summer newspaper printed on the summit of Mount Washing- ton, called " Among the Clouds."
The literature of medicine has had contributions in Springfield, from Dr. William Tully, who, during his residence here from 1851 to his death in 1859, gave to the medical world his " Materia Medica," and other kindred works. Dr. David P. Smith, professor of surgery and medicine in Yale College, a life resident here, was a frequent contributor of essays and papers to the periodicals and journals of his profession. Stephen W. Bowles, George S. Stebbins, and others of the present resident physicians, are also occasional contributors of medical and surgical essays.
The literature of the law has received contributions from these, among others, of the members of the local bar : Ex-mayor William L. Smith, the author of a work upon "Law and Practice in the Probate Courts," which has passed through several editions, and will soon come from the house of Little, Brown, & Co., in another, revised and adapted to the changes made by legislation up to the present time. Charles H. Barrows, lately Assistant Attorney-General, now of the law firm of Bosworth & Barrows, who is as well an essayist upon political economy and social science, and an occasional
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writer of reviews for " The Literary World," author of several professional essays, among them "The Maxim Res inter alios Acta," which has been republished abroad. While in college he was an editor of " The Harvard Advocate." Edmund P. Kendrick, a member of the legislature, author of "The Ashford Tragedy," "Jack's Speculation," and other stories, and a contributor to " The Waverley Magazine " and "The Yankee Blade ; " author of essays on " Fence Law," "Marriage Settlements," etc. Charles J. Bel- lamy, before mentioned, author of a hand-book entitled "Everybody's
Lawyer." James G. Dunning, a contributor to the law-column of " The Homestead."
The scientific literature is indebted to these local writ- ers : Col. James G. Benton, late Commandant of the United- States Arsenal, who contrib- uted the articles on Military Science to "Johnson's New Universal Encyclopædia," and was the author of numerous other works on military sub- jects, notably of a " Course of Instruction on Ordnance and Gunnery." Col. A. R. Buffing- ton, the present Commandant of the United-States Arsenal, who has contributed largely to the literature of his profession.
Clark W. Bryan.
. Capt. David A. Lyle of the United-States Ordnance Department, lately stationed at the United-States Arsenal, the author of many essays, scientific, military, and hygienic. Professor Charles Mayr, a contributor of essays upon scientific subjects. George Dimmock, Doctor of Philosophy by the grace of Leipsic University, wherein he com- pleted the education begun at Harvard College, now the editor of " Psyche," an entomological journal, author of essays on biology, etc. Ethan S. Chapin, of the firm of M. & E. S. Chapin, of the Massasoit House, the writer of " Conservation of Gravity and Heat," etc. Bradley Horsford, a long-time and devoted student of natural history, and an occasional writer upon the favorite subjects of his study. Bennett Allen, a generation ago one of the ablest servants of science. He constructed telescopes of the largest and most perfect lens-power ever made in this country. The extent to which he contributed to the literature of science is not known, but surely he aided effectually to the reading of nature's works on astronomy.
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Milton Bradley, of the firm of Milton Bradley & Co., the first manu- facturers of kindergarten material in this country, has contributed largely towards the education of children, by the publication of "Paradise of Child- hood, a Practical Guide to Kindergartners," and the manufacture of educational aids and apparatus for illustrating the elements of physics in common schools, and by the vari- ous instructive games which he has invented and published.
It has not been attempted, -in- deed, it would have been impractic- able, -to give, in the limits of this chapter, the names of all of Spring- field's literati. There are, it is grati- fying to believe, many others not mentioned here, who are students, appreciators, and many of them pro- ducers, of literature, whose modesty prevents, or whose opportunity has not come for, publicity ; and the fre- quent contributions of prose and Milton Bradley. verse of merit and promise which appear in the local papers, over pen-names unidentifiable, or anonymously, give assurance that Springfield, though essentially a commercial community, has a large and increasing class of the lovers of literature.
The Libraries of Springfield are not surpassed in number or value of volumes by those of any other city of its size in the country. The earliest public collection of books of which any record can be found was that of The Springfield Library Company, the catalogue of which, published in 1796, gave about 320 titles. The Franklin Library Association was the next. It was composed of workmen in the United-States Armory. It existed as a separate organization until 1844, when its collection was made over to the Young Men's Institute. The Hampden Mechanics' Associa- tion was established in January, 1824. It founded a library called The Apprentices' Library, and maintained for a time a weekly evening school for apprentices, and annual courses of lectures. The catalogue of this library, in 1834, gives 627 titles. This association continued until 1849, but its library was added to that of the Young Men's Institute in 1845. The Young Men's Institute was founded in 1843, "for the improvement of its members." It established a library and reading-room, held meetings for discussion, and, occasionally, courses of literary and scientific lectures
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were given under its auspices. The Young Men's Literary Association was organized in 1854. Its objects were similar to those of the Young Men's Institute. It also established a library and reading-room, had its weekly meetings for debate and intellectual culture, and its occasional lec- ture courses. The libraries of all these various associations were small, aggregating only about 1,500 volumes, and were, it seems, accessible only to their members.
The City Library Association originated in a widely expressed desire for the establishment of an institution that should be of more public benefit than those that have been mentioned, and in 1855 a petition was presented to the City Council asking for the appropriation of two thousand dollars for the establishment of a city library ; but, failing to obtain the aid solicited, the friends of the enterprise set to work to accomplish their purpose by means of a voluntary association, and the help of private subscriptions and contributions. To this end the present association was formed, Nov. 27, 1857. The Young Men's Institute and the Young Men's Literary Asso- ciation were merged in, and their libraries were turned over to, the new association. Subscriptions of money and donations of books were sought by a committee, and obtained to the amount of about $8,000 and a large number of volumes. The collection was removed to rooms in the City Hall (those now occupied by the city assessors, and rooms adjoining). A museum of ethnology and natural history was founded in 1859, under the auspices of this association, in which were gathered collections of interest and value, especially in the department of zoology. The library grew rapidly, and in 1864 the demand for more ample accommodations was imperative. Hon. George Bliss of Springfield met the need of the asso- ciation with the offer to donate the land adjoining his residence, and forming a part of his grounds, for the site of a suitable building. The offer was, of course, accepted. John L. King, then president of the asso- ciation, by request of its directors personally solicited subscriptions for the erection of a building, and in February, 1864, had obtained $77,000. George Hathorne of New York was accepted as the architect, and Amaziah Mayo as the builder of an edifice ; and in the spring of 1871 the present. structure was completed, at a cost of $100,000. It was opened to the public in the autumn of 1871, with a catalogue of 31,400 volumes. The association is now acting under a charter granted in April, 1864; its former charter not allowing it to hold estate sufficient for its purposes. The City Library Building, so-called, stands near the north-east corner of State and Chestnut Streets. It is 100 feet wide upon its State-street front, and 65 feet in depth. It is in the mediæval Renaissance style. Its exterior is chiefly of brick with Ohio free- stone trimmings. The main library-room proper is in the upper story, is domed, and, midway of its height, has a gallery extending completely round
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its walls, accessible by spiral iron staircases. Below the library-room, one entering from State Street finds, on his right, the museum ; on his left, the reading-room, supplied with a good list of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, and reviews, and furnished with every convenience and comfort, for the free use of all persons. The reading-room was established in Octo- ber, 1881, by a committee of citizens, who raised $2,300 for the special pur- pose. The reading-room and the library and museum rooms are adorned by portraits of distinguished men, many of whom have been officers or patrons of the association. At the first landing of the staircase leading to the second or library floor, are clustered, in glass cases, the bat- tle-flags of some of the local regiments of the Rebellion. Among the interesting articles in the museum are the veritable pikes that constituted a part of the armament of the martyr John Brown, who resided and carried on business in Springfield for several years, and was one of the earliest and most practical and energetic of the anti-slavery party, and maintained here, it is said, an important station of the " Underground Railroad," one of the termini of which was in Canada. The library catalogue now shows 49,325 volumes, and Rev. Dr. William Rice more than 5,000 pamphlets. It is rich in every department of literature. In addition to the volumes belonging to the association, the library contains a collection of the public documents of the United States, deposited for reference by the Trustees of the State Library, numbering over 2,000 vol- umes. This is one of the most complete collections of public documents in the United States. The present officers of the association are: Presi- dent, Ephraim W. Bond; vice-president, James M. Thompson ; clerk and librarian, William Rice; treasurer, James D. Safford; directors, Charles Merriam, John B. Stebbins, James Kirkham, Horace Smith, Orick H. Green- leaf, George E. Howard, Samuel Bowles, Azariah B. Harris, William Merrick, and, ex-officio, the mayor of the city, the president of the common council, and the chairman of the school committee. A vacancy was made in this board by the decease of Chester W. Chapin during the present year. Rev.
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Dr. William Rice has been in charge of the library since the foundation of the association, and its excellences are in a great measure due to his assi- duity, taste, and judgment. The library is free to all for use in the rooms, but an annual fee of one dollar is required to entitle one to take bookš away from the building. It is open on Mondays from 12 M. to 9 P.M., on other days from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. The reading-room is open at the same hours, and also on Sundays from I to 6 P.M. The museum is open, free, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from I to 8 P.M.
The Hampden-County Law-Library is in the south-west corner of the second story of the Court House on Elm Street. It was established in 1860, at the request of the bar, by means of an appropriation made by the county commissioners, and is maintained by the county. It contains over 2,000 volumes, including the valuable set of reports donated from his library by the late Hon. William G. Bates of Westfield.
The Indian-Orchard Library was established in 1859, for the use of the inhabitants of that part of Springfield called Indian Orchard, a manufac- turing village. It contains about 1,500 volumes, and has in connection a reading-room supplied with Boston and Springfield daily papers, and with some of the best of the weekly and monthly journals and periodicals. It is maintained wholly by the Indian - Orchard Mills Corporation, but is free to all residents.
The Central Circulating Library is at 115 State Street, and was estab- lished in 1867 by Misses Leavitt, Gillespie, and Gilmore, and maintained by them until 1879, when it passed into the hands of Miss L. A. Gilmore, who is now the owner.
Gill's Circulating Library was established about 1870, by Jennison & Kendall, - two ladies, - from whom it was purchased by James D. Gill, who now owns and maintains it, in connection with his book and art store, on the corner of Main and Bridge Streets. It contains about 1,500 volumes.
Kendall's Circulating Library is in the store of G. F. Kendall, 473 State Street, on Armory Hill, opposite the Armory grounds. It was commenced about 14 years ago by A. J. Newton, who was succeeded by the present pro- prietor in April, 1877. It contains about 1,000 volumes.
Private Libraries, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 in number of volumes, are numerous in Springfield, and among them are several rare and many valu- able collections.
The Railroad-Men's Reading-room is on the north side of the Union Depot. It was opened Aug. 19, 1882, and formally dedicated Oct. 11, 1882. It was established by the International Committee on Reading-rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, whose railroad work was begun in 1872, and is rapidly and widely extending. Railroad companies co-operate heart- ily, and yearly contribute about $50,000 to the work. Similar reading-rooms
..
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THE CITY LIBRARY, READING-ROOM, AND NATURAL-HISTORY MUSEUM
On State Street.
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are established and flourishing in many cities of the North and West. This, at Springfield, was the second one regularly established in New England. Its affairs are managed by an executive committee of railroad-officers, with the assistance of an advisory committee of citizens. The rooms appro- priated for this use are : a reading room, where a supply of periodicals, daily, · weekly, and monthly, may be found ; a smoking and chess room, isolated by partitions from the reading-room, a bath-room, and an ample parlor in the story above the other rooms, comfortably and tastefully furnished with carpet, tables, chairs, and lounges, and a piano. The payment of 25 cents a month admits members to all the privileges of the rooms. Addresses and musical entertainments are given monthly. Instruction in penmanship and in me- chanical drawing is provided for those desiring it; during the present year, in the former by F. P. Frost of the Boston and Albany Railroad Freight Office, and in the latter by C. E. Alger, civil engineer in employ of the Boston and Albany Railroad. The rooms are open daily; on week-days from 8 A.M. to 9.30 P.M .; on Sundays, from 3 to 6 P.M. Religious services are held on Sundays from 5.30 to 6.30 P.M. The secretary is Theodore F. Judd.
The Reading-rooms of the Armory-hill Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation are in the Association's Building on State Street, opposite Winches- ter Park, and are open afternoons and evenings. They are supplied with newspapers and magazines. The secretary is E. H. Byington.
Literary Clubs having conspicuous social features have long been estab- lished here. Among the social house-to-house clubs, the leading one is known simply as " The Club," comprising 16 gentlemen, in professional and business life, who meet fortnightly through the winter, usually on Tues- day evenings, and discuss subjects assigned to members at the beginning of the season. The assignee for the evening prepares an essay which forms the basis of the conversation, which is participated in by turn ; the host calling on the members to give their views informally in suc- cession. A substantial refreshment is served at the beginning of the even- ing. This club is the successor and junior of a similar one which existed for many years, in which leading citizens participated. Timothy M. Brown was the originator of the present club, which has been in active life for about 10 years. The club now comprises the following members: H. W. Bosworth, Dr. S. W. Bowles, E. S. Bradford, T. M. Brown, Col. A. R. Buf- fington, W. W. Colburn, G. A. Denison, Clemens Herschel, Judge M. P. Knowlton, Capt. D. A. Lyle, E. C. Rogers, J. L. Shipley, A. J. Smith, Rev. Dr. E. P. Terhune, W. L. Warren, Judge Gideon Wells. The character of. the papers read and discussed may be judged from the following list of assignments for the present winter, 1883-84: "Organized Philanthropic Effort as a Means of Reform ;" "The Principle of Heredity ;" " Northern
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Pacific Railroad;" "Review of Henry George's 'Progress and Poverty ; '" "The Jury System ; " " Immigration : Its Value and Danger to the Repub- lic; " "The Indian Question ; " " The Negro in History;" "The Proper Disposition of Convict Labor ;" "Modern Italy, politically and socially ;" " Gladstone; " " American Collegiate Education : Should it be reformed ?" "Municipal Government in this Country; " "Mexico: Its Present and its Future ;" "Education in the South : Should National Aid be given it? if so, how?" " Protoplasm and Spontaneous Generation."
The Young Ladies' Literary Club is one of two clubs of some years' standing, and similar character to "The Club," composed exclusively of ladies. It was originated by Mrs. Sallie Bowles Hooker and Mrs. Julia Alexander Phillips in their maiden days, and numbers about 20 members, who meet periodically around the tea-table, and spend the evening discussing assigned topics. Married ladies are not admitted as new members. This club has the honor of having first brought George W. Cable before a Springfield audience.
The Cosmian Club is an association similar to the above, and of nearly equal duration, composed largely of teachers. A series of topics is selected for the winter's work, in regard to which a printed list of questions is issued to the members to guide their reading upon the subject. Miss E. M. Priest is president ; Miss Alma S. Brigham, secretary ; Miss Ella J. Ross, treasurer ; who with Miss E. P. Bigelow and Miss Harriet E. Child constitute the board of managers.
The Springfield Lyceum was organized in 1881. Its special purposes are the acquisition of knowledge of, and practice in, parliamentary law ; the cultivation of its members for controversial discussion, in debate, and otherwise, and general culture, particularly in the direction of affairs of local and general public interest and importance. Any person of good char- acter, and in earnest sympathy with its objects, is welcomed to membership. The initiation fee is 50 cents, which, with a monthly assessment of 25 cents, covers all the pecuniary liability of membership. Honorary membership, conferred by election and subject to the payment of one dollar a year, entitles to all privileges of the association, except those of voting and office. The meetings are held on Wednesday evenings, from October to May or June, each year. The exercises include debates, written criticisms, and essays, with occasional lectures. Its officers, consisting of a president, two vice- presidents, a secretary and treasurer, and an executive committee of three, are chosen every two months. Its assembly-room has been, during the present year, the French Chapel in Bill's Block, 358 Main Street.
The Connecticut-Valley Historical Society was organized April 21, 1876, in Springfield. Its formation was an important movement in the in- terests of historical literature. Its aim is "to procure and preserve what-
His Fort. at Hanken Ferry.
JOHN BROWN.
Pike in Springfild custume
His office desk used in Springfield, bought from by f. H. Taylor Eg. , and still in his porversion.
His Rocking Chain. The property of. Thomas Thomas.
Your Friend John Brown. His autograph
SOME LOCAL RELICS OF JOHN BROWN. (Once a Resident.)
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ever may relate to the natural, civil, military, literary, ecclesiastical, and genealogical history of the country, and especially of the territory included in the Connecticut Valley." Its present officers are : President, Henry Morris ; vice-presidents, Augustus L. Soule, Samuel O. Lamb, L. Clark Seelye; clerk and treasurer, William Rice; executive committee, Samuel G. Buckingham, Ephraim W. Bond, William L. Smith, William S. Shurtleff, John W. Harding, Henry S. Lee. The society has now about 100 members. Its annual meeting is held on the first Monday in April; and quarterly meetings are held on the first Mondays of July, October, and January. Members are chosen by ballot, upon recommendation of the executive committee, the affirmatives of two-thirds of a quorum being necessary to an election. The membership-fee is $3. No further payment is required unless a special assessment therefor is made, and no member can be assessed more than $2 in any one year. The payment of $25 frees a mem- ber from any further payments. In December, 1881, the society published, under the editorship of William L. Smith, William Rice, and William S. Shurtleff, its first volume, entitled " Papers and Proceedings of the Con- necticut-Valley Historical Society ;" containing selections from the essays and papers contributed and read at its quarterly meetings, nearly all of which are of historical and literary value. The volume is published at $2. This society has already drawn the attention of scholars and historiogra- phers to fields for further historical harvesting; and it is confidently expected that its purposes will be aided to accomplishment by the research, and the contributions from pens and pockets, of interested co-operators throughout the Connecticut Valley. Its meetings have been held, hitherto, sometimes in the City Library Building, but generally in the vestry-room of the South Congregational Church; but it is hoped that at no distant date, by the liberality of wealthy well-wishers, it may be provided with a suitable build- ing of its own, wherein to hold its meetings and preserve its library and collections.
The Springfield Botanical Society was organized April 20, 1877. It numbers now about 30 members. Meetings are held weekly at the High- school building on State Street, on Friday afternoons at 43 o'clock, -except during July and August, when assemblies are held at the houses of its members ; and during the winter months, when meetings are temporarily suspended. All persons interested in its objects are welcomed at its meet- ings. It has an herbarium, which now contains specimens of nearly all the ferns to be found in the vicinity, more than 70 species of marine algæ, and numerous flowering-plants, -in all, nearly 1,000 specimens. Papers on botanical subjects are read and discussed at its meetings ; and, occasionally, rambles a-field are taken, and exhibitions of its collections, with contribu- tions, are given to the public. Although its members are few, they are en-
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