USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > Melrose, Massachusetts, 1900-1950; commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the town of Melrose and the fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Melrose > Part 6
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Alvin E. Bliss Memorial Fund of $37,669.59 and the Katherine E. Beebe Fund of $13,013.66 for special purposes. The total of Memorial Funds in 1948 was $732,040.31.
From the modest beginning of twenty-three patients admitted in 1894, and fourteen out-patients treated, the number rose in the period from October 16, 1947 to September 30, 1948 to four thou- sand forty-one patients admitted and one thousand eighty-eight out-patients treated. Seven hundred seven babies were delivered, including eight sets of twins. The one hundred forty-two employ- ees are now divided into eight departments, and the work of maintaining the Hospital at a modern level continues.
The nursing staff which began with four students in 1893 has grown to fifty-five students in 1948, and fifteen general staff duty nurses. As eighteen of the students are preclinical, not yet ready to take over ward duties, there remain forty-seven nurses giving bedside care and seventeen on administrative duties.
The greatest need of the Hospital in 1949 was for a modern and fully equipped nurses' home. The present four frame dwell- ings accommodate sixty-four nurses, but they are expensive to maintain as compared with a single building, and also offer many inconveniences.
In 1949 Victor A. Friend was president of the Melrose Hos- pital Association and Mrs. Edmund N. Partington of the Melrose Hospital Guild, following the resignation of Mrs. Herbert T. C. Wilson. With an average attendance of sixty-five at the meetings in 1948, five thousand one hundred twenty articles were com- pleted. In addition to the sewing done at these meetings, indi- viduals and groups do a great deal outside.
The Melrose Hospital Nurses' Alumnae Association, of which Mrs. Elizabeth Pomeroy '35 is president, has a membership of three hundred thirty-one, representing 73.2 per cent of the gradu- ates. The Association is active in maintaining the interest of its graduates and the students, and in contributing both to the Hos- pital and allied interests.
The Melrose Hospital is approved as a Grade A institution by the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the American Hospital Association. The Melrose Hospital School of Nursing is registered by the Massachusetts Board of Nurse Exam- iners, and by the Regents of the University of the State of New York as an approved school for teaching student nurses.
The Hospital is fortunate in its professional staff, of which Dr. Willis M. Townsend is senior member. It consists of a con-
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4
COLBY WING, MELROSE HOSPITAL
sulting staff of nineteen specialists, an honorary staff of six, an active staff giving their services for two months of each year, divided into a surgical staff of twelve and a medical staff of nine, an obstetrical service of two and special services of eleven. In addition there is a courtesy staff of thirty-three entitled to use the Hospital for their patients.
The Hospital also provides ward service for ten men, ten women, and eleven children, at the cost of subsistence only, pro- fessional services being furnished free of charge.
As a city of homes, Melrose is fortunate in having a Hospital which operates so efficiently, at such a high standard, and on such a friendly basis both within its own organization and in relation to the public. This requires, of course, the continued support of the public, without which the means for its internal efficiency would be lacking.
In 1902 there were eight cases and four deaths from smallpox in Melrose, and at the same time the disease was prevalent in Boston, so the Melrose Board of Health ordered compulsory vac- cination of the population before February 1, 1903. This brought on a lively controversy from those who questioned the value of vaccination.
When the prevalence of influenza became serious in 1918, the Board of Health closed the churches, schools and theaters on September 27, and on October 6, closed the soda fountains, bowl- ing alleys and poolrooms. Regardless of these measures the epi- demic took a sad toll, but as conditions showed improvement, the restrictions were removed on October 19, 1918.
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THE MORGAN-DODGE HOME, FRANKLIN STREET
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FITCH HOME, LAKE AVENUE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE HOMES
Mrs. Sarah E. Fitch, widow of Reuben H. Fitch, died at her home on Lake Avenue, Melrose, April 15, 1918 and was buried in Manchester, New Hampshire. She was born in Irasburg, Vermont, April 18, 1840, moved to Manchester as a child, where she met her husband, then a young Navy officer in the Civil War. In 1869 they moved to Melrose where her husband died September 30, 1916. They were active members of the First Methodist Church.
Mrs. Fitch left an estate of about $180,000, and after a num- ber of private bequests, the balance of $140,000 was left for a Home for Aged People, with Wallace R. Lovett, Frank M. Hoyt and Edward J. Kitching as trustees. Her residence at 12 Lake Avenue was opened on November 20, 1918, for five residents of Melrose over sixty years of age. Mrs. Alice M. Philips was engaged as matron and Mrs. Annie D. Linton as assistant matron.
As it became apparent that it would be of advantage to incor- porate the Fitch Home as a charitable trust, rather than continue operating as trustees under the will, a bill was filed with the Massachusetts Legislature and became effective March 5, 1920. The charter, signed by Calvin Coolidge, and the pen with which he signed it, now hang in the living room of the Home.
On April 12, 1920 the Fitch Home, Incorporated, was offi- cially organized, and Rev. Harold Marshall and Robert T. Hay were added to the original board of three trustees. Later, Seth K. Ames and Frederick P. Bowden were added.
On November 27, 1920, the first meeting to organize a sup- porting association was held, but was limited by bad weather. Somewhat later a second meeting was held, and on January 27, 1921, the Fitch Home Association was duly organized with Miss E. Gertrude Copeland as president. By the end of the year one hundred ten members had been obtained, and by 1925 the number had grown to three hundred seventy-three. In 1949 the member- ship was about three hundred, with Mrs. Gladys L. Bennett as president.
In 1921 Mrs. Amy D. Bristol became matron, replacing Mrs. Philips who had become seriously ill. The number of members had increased to fifteen. The third floor had been altered to pro-
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vide more space, and an outside fire escape added. Several mem- bers were also boarded outside.
As space grew more limited, making larger quarters neces- sary, it was decided to acquire the Copeland residence at 75 Lake Avenue, which had been offered by Miss Copeland under favor- able conditions. It included an acre and a quarter of land, terraced to the shore of Ell Pond. A drive for $40,000 was organized, beginning May 19, 1924, and reached its goal in ten days.
Extensive alterations and additions were at once begun, and in May 1925, the Fitch Home family was installed in the new quarters with accommodations for twenty-three members. In 1927 the membership had again increased, making it necessary to build an addition of fourteen rooms, providing for thirty-five members, which was reached in 1931. In 1949 the resident mem- bership was thirty-six.
After serving as matron for fourteen years, Mrs. Bristol resigned on account of illness in 1935, and was succeeded by Mrs. Inez M. Russell, formerly assistant matron. She retired in 1946 and was followed by Mrs. Jane G. Day, with Mrs. Anna E. Coombs and Mrs. Lena Weymouth as assistant matrons.
In 1923 Mrs. Decius Beebe established the Bigelow Fund in memory of her mother to provide a small amount of spending money regularly for the members of the Home, and to this was later added a fund furnished by the will of Miss Lena F. Poole, also a member of the Association.
Mr. Marshall having died in 1932, Mr. Bowden in 1933 and Mr. Ames in 1937, James M. Howard, Dr. Ralph D. Leonard and Ichabod F. Atwood were elected to replace them. Herbert T. C. Wilson died in 1946 and was replaced by George W. Simpson.
In 1946 the adjoining house with an acre and a quarter of land, formerly the residence of Moses F. Page, was acquired for further extension of the Home as necessary, but on July 9, 1949, the property suffered severe damage from fire, and the house was later torn down.
The will of Miss Agnes L. Dodge, former president of the Melrose Highlands Woman's Club, provided, after private bequests, and $6,000 for a free bed in the Melrose Hospital, a balance of about $150,000 to establish a home for aged women in her residence at 265 Franklin Street, to be called The Morgan and Dodge Home for Aged Women, in honor of her aunts, Miss Char- lotte Morgan and Miss Sarepth Morgan, from whom she had inherited her property.
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On December 11, 1933, the Morgan and Dodge Home for Aged Women was opened for four residents, and has so con- tinued. A board of trustees of seven members, with Benjamin F. Felt as president, and a Morgan and Dodge Association with Mrs. Charles M. Cox as first president was organized. Being unable to serve on account of poor health, Mrs. Frank M. Campbell was elected to replace Mrs. Cox. Mrs. F. Edna Hillcoat served as matron until her death in May 1949, and was followed by Mrs. Ella M. Corson.
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PHINEAS UPHAM HOUSE, UPHAM STREET, NOW OWNED BY UPHAM FAMILY SOCIETY
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE SOCIETIES
In a community of homes, such as Melrose, it is natural that there should be a number of societies for social and welfare pur- poses, in addition to the fraternities and the musical, sporting and patriotic societies mentioned elsewhere. But only the older inhabitants will remember many of the societies that existed in 1900, as there have been many changes caused by changed living conditions, the development of the automobile, golf, the movies and other forms of entertainment.
Among these older societies may be mentioned the MOTHER GOOSE CLUB of boys and girls who presented the cantatas com- posed and directed by Miss Georgiana Boardman, and from the proceeds gave an inscribed clock to the Public Library, which now hangs in the Children's Room.
The FRANKLIN FRATERNITY, organized in 1863 with five mem- bers, had twenty-eight members in 1900, and was active in found- ing the Public Library and in presenting prizes to Melrose High School students for excellence in literature and mathematics.
The Melrose Cycle Club, organized April 16, 1886, later became the MELROSE CLUB, with membership limited to two hundred fifty, was incorporated February 4, 1889, and was the center of social activity for many years. It occupied rooms on the second and third stories of the Eastman Block, 513-523 Main Street, with a bowling alley in the rear of the building. Amateur theatricals were put on by the Club each year and ladies' nights were frequent. On January 22, 1925, the Club merged with the Omicron Delta fraternity and changed its name to the Melrose City Club. On August 24, 1931, the Melrose City Club building was heavily damaged by fire and the Club later died out.
The HIGHLAND CLUB OF MELROSE was organized as the Mel- rose Highlands Club, but was reorganized and changed its name in 1894, and by 1900 had one hundred twenty-five members. The clubhouse was built in 1891 at 14 Chipman Avenue opposite the "Stone Fort" built by George W. Chipman, where the Club organ- ized and where it met while the clubhouse was being built. The Club died out in later years, and the clubhouse was sold to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
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The MENAWARMET CLUB, also organized in the Highlands, had twenty-five members in 1900, but later died out.
The MELROSE DEUTSCHE GENOSSENSCHAFT was organized in June 1901 for the study of German language and literature, had one hundred forty-five members, mainly high school students and alumni, but died out in World War I.
There were also a number of regional societies : the MELROSE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MAINE had one hundred seventy-five members in 1900; the MELROSE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, organized in 1907, the MELROSE CANADIAN SOCIETY, organized in 1915, the DAUGHTERS OF MASSACHUSETTS, organized in 1909, all had their day and have disappeared.
A number of the early societies were based on prohibition. Melrose has been dry ever since the last saloon, opposite the City Hall, was closed in 1865, and while some arrests were made for bootlegging during the national prohibition experiment, pro- posals to allow the sale of alcohol in Melrose have been con- sistently voted down, and Melrose is now the only dry city in Massachusetts.
Among these early prohibition societies were the SILOAM TEMPLE OF HONOR No. 29, organized in 1867, with forty-five members in 1900; its auxiliary, the SILOAM SOCIAL TEMPLE NO. 6, organized in 1866, with sixty-seven members in 1900; the CADETS OF TEMPERANCE and the WIDE AWAKES, associated with these societies; the INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS, Guiding Star Lodge No. 28, organized in 1861 and reorganized in 1900 as Melrose Lodge No. 5 I.O.G.T .; the ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY, organized in 1897, with seventy-three mem- bers in 1900; and the UNITED BOYS' BRIGADE OF AMERICA, organ- ized in 1902 by the Highlands Congregational Church with one hundred fifteen members. All have disappeared.
The one prohibition society which still exists is the MEL- ROSE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, organized June 7, 1882 with fifty members by Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, who was the first president for ten years. By 1900 the membership had grown to three hundred seventy-five. In 1949 the society was still active, with a membership of one hundred fifty-eight and Mrs. Victor A. Friend as president. The society has organized an Allied Youth Post of one hundred twenty members in the High School, and also the Iota Sigma Society for young women.
The MELROSE LYCEUM was first inaugurated in 1865 for the purpose of holding lectures and concerts and flourished for four
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or five years. In 1874 it was revived and continued for twenty-one years, and later, between 1898 and 1900, two courses of six lec- tures each were given under the name of the Lyceum. In 1912 a similar program was organized by Rev. Harold Marshall, who in November issued an invitation to the "Fellow Citizens of Mel- rose" to join in a series of Social Service Mass Meetings to be held in Marshall Hall of the Universalist Church on Sunday afternoons at five o'clock. These Community. Meetings as they were called were transferred to Memorial Hall, and continued until 1920. The committee in charge was headed by Rev. Harold Marshall as chairman, and included John C. Anthony, Victor A. Friend, Rev. John O. Paisley and John C. F. Slayton, with an advisory council of eighteen men. The meetings were held Sunday afternoon at four o'clock, and included many of the outstanding personalities of the day as speakers. On the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Mary A. Livermore (in 1920), the address was given by Calvin Coolidge, then Governor of the Commonwealth.
From August 30 to September 5, 1922, a CHAUTAUQUA CARNI- VAL was held in Melrose, but it was not a financial success.
In 1935 the TOWNSEND CLUB No. 1 was organized and by October had over eleven hundred members, but in 1937 it returned its charter to the national organization, following criticism of the national campaign and policy, but continued only a short while as an independent organization.
In order to preserve the records of the early settlement and settlers of Melrose, the MELROSE HISTORICAL SOCIETY was organ- ized in 1913, largely through the efforts of Mrs. Henry E. Johnson, and was incorporated in 1914 with Franklin P. Shumway as presi- dent. The old Phineas Upham house on Upham Street was bought and restored as a place for holding the relics and records of the past, and on June 3, 1915, was opened as a tea room, gift shop and museum. In 1940 the Society turned the care of the Upham House over to the Upham Family Society, but has since continued its organization, with Charles H. Adams as president and Mrs. John B. Rendall as treasurer.
In connection with the Upham House and the long connec- tion of the Upham Family with the history of Melrose, it may be mentioned that James B. Upham, while a member of the edi- torial staff of the Youth's Companion, was credited with the author- ship of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, first published in the Youth's Companion September 8, 1892, and now generally used in the nation's schools and societies. This claim has been challenged
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by the heirs of Francis Bellamy, also a member of the same edi- torial staff at the sametime, and chairmanof a committee that per- suaded Congress to proclaim the four hundredth anniversary of thediscovery of America by Columbus a national holiday on Octo- ber 12, 1892. The United States Flag Association appointed a committee of three professional historians to study the conflicting claims, and they decided in favor of Mr. Bellamy. It would seem probable, as the Pledge underwent some editing in the Youth's Companion office before publication, that both men contributed to its eventual form.
THE KLYMBERS, a social group of young women, organized in 1903, now exists only in the memory of its former members.
The MELROSE WOMAN'S CLUB was organized April 19, 1882 with Mrs. Sarah S. Eddy as first president, and was one of the clubs invited to the meeting of the Sorosis in New York which founded the General Federation of Women's Clubs in May 1890. It also participated in the organization of the Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs and was admitted to the Fed- eration in 1895.
In 1885 a five dollar gift started a fund for a clubhouse, and in 1909 a clubhouse committee was formed. Over the years the fund grew, and in May 1937 the Club purchased the Moorehouse property on West Emerson Street, where, it is said, the first meet- ing of the Club was held. The house was razed, but conditions during and following World War II have so far prevented building.
For many years the Club awarded honorary membership for two years to graduates of the Melrose High School "in recogni- tion of high scholarship and literary attainment." The Student Loan Fund originated as a Scholarship Fund in 1910, and forty girls have been aided in getting all or part of their education by this Fund. It was created by bequests and allotments from the Club treasury, and now exceeds eight thousand dollars. Since 1923 the Club has furnished free milk to school children of Mel- rose upon recommendation of the school principals, and the gift now exceeds two hundred fifty dollars annually. The Club's con- tribution to the Mary A. Livermore Library of Sacred Art has been mentioned in connection with the Public Library. Mrs. Edgar F. Willis was president of the Melrose Woman's Club in 1949, and the membership was about three hundred.
The MELROSE HIGHLANDS WOMAN'S CLUB was organized October 12, 1898 by Mrs. Burke F. Leavitt with one hundred seventy-six charter members, the first president being Mrs. Roberta
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H. Watkins. The Club was State federated in 1901, General Fed- eration in 1916, and incorporated in 1922.
A room was furnished in the Melrose Hospital, four hundred forty-six trees were planted; special interest was given to boys' work under Mrs. Charles M. Cox, and the Highlands Branch of the Public Library established. On October 8, 1919, Mrs. Calvin Coolidge was the guest of the Club. In November 1922 Corinthian Hall was purchased as a clubhouse, and in 1927 an adjacent lot of land, which were fully paid for in April 1934. Besides raising funds for this project, the Club had also contributed over four thousand dollars to charities. During World War II much was contributed to the welfare of service men, and after the war a ceiling projector and microfilm were presented to the Cushing Hospital. The Club carries on its program in civic interests, art, |literature, amateur theatricals and home crafts of various sorts.
The membership had grown to two hundred twenty-five in 1900 and in 1949 was four hundred with a waiting list. Mrs. Benjamin P. Bill was president, with Mrs. Augustus L. Dutton and Mrs. Theo L. Rice as vice-presidents.
The MELROSE CATHOLIC WOMAN'S CLUB developed from St. Mary's Guild, organized in 1918 for the purpose of aiding families stricken with influenza. With the end of the epidemic, the Guild continued as a charitable group until 1924 when it was reorgan- ized as the Melrose Catholic Woman's Club under the guidance of the pastor, Rev. Francis J. Glynn, with Mrs. John F. Muldoon as the first president. During the years of the depression the Club gave assistance amounting to approximately one thousand dollars annually until public agencies made this less necessary, but wel- fare work continues to be one of the major activities of the Club. In 1934 the unused convent building on Herbert Street was turned over to the Club for a clubhouse, but when the building burned in 1948, meetings were held in G.A.R. Hall. In 1949 the Club had about two hundred members, and Mrs. Leon H. Palmer was president.
The FANEUIL HALL CHAPTER, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized in Wakefield, February 11, 1896 and was chartered by the National Society July 31, 1896, with a membership of about seventy coming from Wakefield, Reading, Everett, Malden and about half from Melrose. It holds meetings at members' homes and has contributed much in matters of patri- Otic interest. Mrs. Mary A. Livermore was a life member. In 1949
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the membership was still about seventy, with Mrs. Ralph B. Nelson as regent.
The DELIVERANCE MUNROE CHAPTER Of the Daughters of the Revolution was organized March 9, 1897, with thirty members living in Malden, Everett and Melrose, meeting at members' homes and contributing to patriotic causes. In 1898 it organized the "Children of the Revolution, Wyoming Society" to foster patriotism among the children. In 1949 it had twenty members and Mrs. Clayton Stoddard of Everett was regent.
The OLD STATE HOUSE CHAPTER, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized in 1911, with all members from Mel- rose, and Mrs. Franklin P. Shumway as regent. In 1949 it had a membership of eighty-five with Mrs. James R. Findlay as regent.
The MELROSE SOCIETY OF ARTS AND CRAFTS began in 1903 and in 1905 rented a carpenter shop on Willow Street and drew up a constitution adopting the Tudor rose as a seal. A room on Main Street was then used until 1909 when the Society moved to quar- ters at 89 West Emerson Street. At that time there were one hun- dred fifty members. In 1915 a gift shop was opened in the old Upham House, upon the invitation of the Melrose Historical Society, and later a gift and tea shop was opened in their Emerson Street quarters. This was later abandoned, and the Society now meets monthly in the Legion Bungalow. It still has one hundred fifty members. Its object is to foster interest and practice in the arts and crafts, and to support such movements as Adult Educa- tion. In 1949 Mrs. Edwin P. Wells was president.
The Amateur Gardeners' Society was organized April 22, 1895 and by 1900 had one hundred members. It held two exhibi- tions annually, a rose show in June and a flower, fruit and vege- table show in the autumn. The Society died out but was revived on November 12, 1924 as the MELROSE GARDEN CLUB by the Woman's Club, with Mrs. Henry T. Secrist as first president. In 1949 it had one hundred twenty-five members, with Mrs. Fred- erick A. Trevor as president.
The MELROSE GARDENERS was organized with five members in 1939, with Mrs. Ralph R. Stratton as first president. In 1949 it had twenty members, with Mrs. Mildred G. Spencer as presi- dent. It is occupied with flowers for the Fort Devens, now the Bedford Veterans Hospital, gardens for the Library and Melrose Hospital, and better gardens for everyone.
PHI THETA XI was organized in 1903 as a high school soror- ity by Wanda Baker, Alice Brigham, Ethel Day, Edith Hillard,
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and Madelon Keedy, with Katherine Vane as first president. It later severed its school connection and continues as a social group, with a membership of about three hundred seventy-five. The 1949-50 president was Mrs. Pauline Easton. In June 1949, the Society presented the Melrose Hospital with a check for $4,100 as proceeds of a fair held on the grounds of the Coolidge School.
KAPPA DELTA PsI was organized in 1903 as a high school sorority by Florence Curry, Lulu Dennis, Helen Stevens, Char- lotte Bullen, with Elizabeth Scott as first president. It severed its school connection in 1910, and is no longer secret or limited in membership, which in 1949 was over four hundred seventy-five. It continues as a social and welfare group, holds an annual Char- ity Ball for the Melrose Hospital, and in 1949 presented the Hos- pital with a check for $1,368.73 for the children's ward. Mrs. Edna Clements Bissell was president in 1949-1950.
The HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS CLUB was organized in 1925 by George A. MacPheters, not as a sorority, but to develop the girls in stronger bonds of friendliness, to instill the spirit of bettering their lives mentally, physically and morally, to urge them to be more dependable and of greater service to the home, school and community. They number about two hundred members each year, and hold weekly meetings. They engage in welfare work, and hold their Twenty-Fifth Anniversary in March 1950.
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