USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 20
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The present imposing Memorial Hall Library was erected in 1872-3, and dedicated at a cost of $40,000. It was founded by John and Peter Smith, but John Dove was also a liberal contributor. The December, 1920, report of the librarian sets forth these facts: "Our circulation dur- ing this last year has been the largest in the history of the library. At the Memorial Hall 37,542 books were issued, an increase over 1919 of 1,937 volumes. At Ballardvale 6,445 were issued, an increase of 139 during the year. This makes a total of 44,398 books borrowed for home use in 1920, which is a large circulation for a town the size of Andover. In 1919, 42,322 volumes were borrowed."
Andover is now a second-class postoffice, with two free delivery rural routes extending into the surrounding country; the routes average about twenty-three miles each. There are also five city mail carriers. The last fiscal year's postal business amounted to $38,200. The post- office has been in its present location since 1918. Connected with this office is a station office at the village of Shawsheen. This was established as a branch office July 1, 1920, and is kept in a leased building.
Since President Grover Cleveland's administration, the postmasters at this postoffice have been William G. Goldsmith, four years; Abraham Marland, four years, under President Harrison; William G. Goldsmith served again four years until the election of President William Mckinley in 1896. Arthur Bliss then became postmaster, and served sixteen years, being succeeded May 1, 1914, by the present postmaster, John H. Mc- Donald.
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In 1920-21 the following list of officers were serving the municipality of Andover, which was originally incorporated May 6, 1646-two hun- dred and seventy-five years ago: Selectmen : Walter S. Donald, Charles Bowman, Andrew McTernen; Assessors: Walter S. Donald, Charles Bowman and Andrew McTernen; Town Clerk, George A. Higgins; Tax Collector, William B. Cheever; Town Treasurer, George A. Higgins; Superintendent of Schools, Henry C. Sanborn; Superintendent of Water Department, Frank L. Cole; Chief of Fire Department, Charles F. Emer- son; Chief of Police, Frank M. Smith; Constables: George W. Mears, Frank M. Smith and Thomas F. Dailey ; Tree Warden, Edward H. Berry; Moderator of Town Meetings, Alfred L. Ripley; Finance Committee: Henry A. Bodwell, Edward V. French, Chester W. Holland, George Ab- bot, George B. Frost, J. Harry Campion, William B. Corliss.
The schedule of town property according to the last report amounts to $1,301,285.78. The assessors' last report shows the following: Num- ber of polls assessed, 2,323; personal and real estate holdings, $10,086,- 766; poll tax, $9,705; tax on personal estate, $50,043; tax on real estate, $197,085.04; rate of taxation per $1,000, $24.50.
Number of horses assessed, 497; cows, 903; sheep, 107; neat cattle, 227; swine, 229; fowls, 11,485; dwellings, 1,787; acres of land, 17,816.
By reason of the three great educational institutions located at Andover for so many years-the Theological Seminary, Abbot's Acad- emy and Phillips Academy for girls-the very atmosphere surrounding the place, figuratively speaking, seems charged with the elements of edu- cation, intelligence and refinement not known in the ordinary town of any section of the country.
As one of the oldest towns in the United States, Andover enjoys universal distinction. Its name has always been coupled with famous historical events. Andover's famous school, Phillips Academy, was founded in 1770 by Samuel Phillips, and was the first incorporated academy in the country. This institution has been greatly aided in its growth by the generous benefactions of the Phillips family, to whose efforts can be attributed much of its great success. The late Bishop Phillips Brooks was a direct descendant of this illustrious family.
Andover is justly proud of its Theological Seminary, and of such men as Professor Calvin E. Stowe and Professor Austin Phelps, who were among its presidents. Thousands upon thousands of young men have been graduated from this Seminary to go out into the world as professionals, in the role of ministers, lawyers, physicians and journal- ists.
Abbot Academy, the first school exclusively for girls in this section of the country, was opened in 1829, through the efforts and bequests of Madam Sarah Abbot.
Simon Bradstreet, well known as magistrate, ambassador, and gov- ernor of Massachusetts, was one of the founders and residents of An-
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dover, and his wife Anne is famous as the first poetess in America. Their descendants, such men as Oliver Wendell Holmes, Wendell Phillips and R. H. Dana, have all earned wide renown, hence Andover can be justly proud of her sons.
In the language of another, it may be said: "Among the things which alone would make Andover famous are the facts that here Har- riet Beecher Stowe, authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin", made her home for several years, and her house is still standing and known as the Stowe House. The house still stands, also, in which in February, 1832, Samuel F. Smith, then a student at Andover Theological Seminary, wrote the song that was destined to become our national hymn, 'America.'"
Among the interesting objects in Andover pointed out today to the visitor from distant parts of the world is, first: The "Old Oak of An- dover," in the rear of the Seminary building. It has been estimated that at least four thousand students in the last century have been seated or have walked beneath its branches. "Then hail to the oak, the brave old oak, when a hundred years are gone." 1
"Phillips Inn," or the old "Stowe House", built in 1828, of solid stone, still adorns the lot directly opposite the stone chapel of the old Theological Seminary. It is a two-story structure (the original part) and was constructed as a carpenter shop and gymnasium for the semi- nary. It passed into the hands of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1853, and in one of its ground floor rooms she wrote and revised her "Uncle Tom's Cabin" before it was published in book form, it first appearing as a serial. It was also in this building that this celebrated American authoress wrote most of the "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin," as well as the interesting and thrilling work entitled "Dred, or Curse Entailed." In 1887 this house was opened as a hotel, and was known as the Mansion House, and so continued until 1902, when the name was changed to "Phil- lips Inn." It is still conducted for the benefit of visitors, summer board- ers and tourists.
Another historic object is here found in what is styled "Rabbit Rock," an early resort for the students who were fitting themselves for the missionary service in foreign lands. Here the young men used to assemble in a secluded spot, and converse and hold prayer service. The citizens and alumni of the Seminary years ago placed a fine memorial tablet attached to a giant granite boulder, and this is a perpetual me- morial to that noble band of young students possessed of the missionary spirit. It was here that the "Iowa Band," comprising seven young Con- gregational ministers, who banded themselves together, used to meet and lay plans for establishing Congregational churches in the West. Later they all settled in Iowa, and there formed the early churches of this faith.
Among the illustrious dead whose mortal remains rest in a small burying ground plot near the Seminary should be mentioned Professor
STOWE HOUSE, WHERE "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN" WAS WRITTEN
W YORK
LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX DEN FOUNDATIONS
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Calvin Stowe and his wife, Harriet Beecher Stowe; an infant, and their son, who was drowned. This sacred spot is marked only by a plain Scotch granite tombstone with an ornamental cross at its top; but it may be suggested that Harriet Beecher Stowe's greater monument was in her written words, and her achievements as an abolitionist worker and authoress.
Near the edge of this cemetery is to be seen a modest marble tomb- stone marking the resting place of Samuel Harvey Taylor, born 1807, died 1871, while teaching his Bible class. He was at the head of Phillips Academy from 1829 to 1871, during which period there were upwards of six thousand pupils under his faithful care. He was among the foremost earlier American educators in his chosen field.
In conclusion, it may be said that here one sees the home of Dr. Smith, author of " America ;" the Abbot house, oldest in Andover, built in 1690; Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward's residence, the old Latin Com- mons of Phillips Academy, the Elm Arch, Memorial Hall and Public Library, Rabbit's Pond, and the Golf Club grounds.
South Parish of Andover originally embraced the present town of North Andover and all of Lawrence lying south of the Merrimac river. As has been shown, the first settlement was effected at what is now the old center of North Andover. Here the house of worship was erected; here the minister resided, as well as a majority of the voters. In an- other chapter, an account is traced of the bickerings between the two church and town factions in settling the matter of a church site, which at last was determined by the General Court. The meeting house was built and occupied for the first time in January, 1710; £100 were raised to meet the cost of the structure. "Young men and maiden had liberty to build seats round in the galleries on their own charge."
The first minister called was Rev. Samuel Philips, a graduate of Harvard College. October 17, 1711, this church was fully organized, with a charter membership numbering thirty-four, as follows: George Abbot, Dorcas Abbot, John Abbot, Sarah Abbot, Nehemiah Abbot, Abi- gail Abbot, Rebecca Ballard, Hannah Ballard, Hannah Bigsby, Anne Blanchard, William Chandler, Sarah Chandler, Thomas Chandler, Mary Chandler, Francis Dane, Hannah Dane, Mary Russell, Ralph Farnham, Sarah Farnham, William Foster, Hannah Holt, Elizabeth Johnson, Will- iam Johnson, George Johnson, Mary Johnson, Wm. Lovejoy, Mary Love- joy, Mary Lovejoy, Christ. Osgood, Sam Philips, Sarah Preston, John Russ, Deborah Russ, Mary Russell and Phoebe Russell.
The earliest deacons were John Abbot and William Lovejoy. The ministry of the beloved pastor continued for almost sixty years, ter- minating in his eighty-second year. The date of his death was June 5, 1771, and his successor was Rev. Jonathan French.
The second house of worship occupied by this society, subsequently erected in 1733-34, was to be "built after the same fashion as the old,
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only larger." This building was opened for public worship in May, 1734. The seating of the house always caused much trouble in New England in those early times. In this case a committee was appointed to "dignify seats and pews according to their judgement, having respect for money and age." This plan lasted twenty-three years, after which it was forever abandoned. The reader will doubtless be interested in the following description of this church, written by Hon. Josiah Quincy in a letter to Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, while he was a student in Phillips Academy :
It was surrounded by horse-blocks innumerable with a disproportionate num- ber of sheds; for the pillion was the ladies' delight, and alone or in pairs, with their husbands or fathers, they seldom fail to come trooping to their devotions. The church itself was a shingled mass, lofty, and, I should think, containing twice the area of its successor. This, however, may be the exaggeration of my boyish fancy, but it had three lofty stories, with three galleries in the interior, always densely filled with apparently pious zeal and earnest listeners. In the left hand gallery sat the ladies, in the right the gentlemen, in the midst of whom and in front sat the tything man, with his white pole three or four cubits in length, the emblem of his dignity and power, and in his right hand a short hazelrod, which, ever and anon, in the midst of the sermon, to the awakening and alarm of the whole congregation, he would, with the whole force of his arm, bring down with a ringing slap on the front of the gallery, shaking it, at the same time with a terrific menace at two or three frightened urchins, who were whispering or playing in a corner. In a square box in front of the pulpit sat the deacons, one of whom had pen, ink and paper, and was carefully taking the heads of the preacher's discourse, preparing documentary evidence, either that the sermon was old, or its doctrines new, or consonant with the orthodox platform. In the front gallery sat Precenter Ames, or Eames, with a pitch-pipe, the token of his authority, with which, as soon as the first line of the Psalm was read, he gave the note to the choir of both sexes- twenty or thirty of each-following the deacon, reading line by line, in an ecstacy of harmony which none but the lovers of music realized. And a mighty congre- gation seemed to realize their felicity, for they joined the choir with a will, realizing or exemplifying the happiness of which they sung. Upon the whole, it was an exciting scene, elevating and solemnizing the mind, by the multitude that took part in it.
The windows of the vast building were of diamond-shaped glass panes, of rhom- boid form, in length about three or four inches, in breadth about two or three. Open- ing like doors outward, these windows were loose and shackling. In the winter, when the north wind shook the vast building with unmistakable power, their rat- tling was a match, and sometimes an over-match, for the voice of the clergyman, while the pious females in the pews, sitting, for the most part, on hard benches, with small muffs, and their feet only comforted with small stoves, or stockings over shoes, or heated bricks, had much ado through their sufferings to keep their at- tention fixed, or the text in memory, and register the infinitesimal heads into which it was divided.
Returning to the various pastors of this church, it may be stated that Rev. French remained as pastor until called by death in 1809, cover- ing a period of thirty-six years and ten months. During this time was fought the Revolutionary War, with all its attending sorrows and anxiety. After Rev. French's death, the church had no pastor for about
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three years. A new church was dedicated December 7, 1788. The next pastor was Rev. Justin Edwards, who remained from 1812 to 1816, dur- ing which time the West Parish was set off, and then he became its pas- tor. In 1827 Milton Badger became the pastor, and he served about eight years, when he was dismissed and made secretary of the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society. During his administration as minister here, the Methodists and Baptists first held public worship in the town. The Methodists drew off a few church members and a much larger num- ber of taxpayers. The Baptist church organized in 1832, and that took some strength from the Congregational church. Next came Rev. Lor- enzo L. Longstroth, for two years, and he was succeeded by the Rev. John Taylor from 1839 to 1852; next was Rev. George Mooar, 1855 to 1861; Rev. Charles Smith, 1861-77 ; James H. Laird, May, 1877-84; John J. Baird, 1884 to 1893; Rev. Frank R. Shipman, 1893 to February 25, 1914, when Rev. E. Victor Bigelow was installed pastor. The present membership of the church is 578, and the Sunday school has an enroll- ment of 550 pupils and teachers. Eugene M. Weeks is superintendent.
The West Parish Congregational church was organized in 1826, and as incorporated comprised a membership of one hundred and seventy persons. The members were largely farmers. The charter members in- cluded nineteen men and thirty-four women. The present membership is one hundred and ninety-four, with a Sunday school of sixty enrolled; Herbert Merrick is superintendent. A stone church building was con- structed in 1826, the same having a wooden spire. With improvements, the same building is in use today. The pastors have included Revs. Samuel Cram Jackson, 1827-50; Charles H. Pierce, 1850-55; James H. Merrill, 1856-79; Austin H. Burr, 1880-85; Frederick Green, 1885, suc- ceeded by Rev. Robert A. McFadden, George O. Andrews, J. Edgar Park, Dean A. Walker and the present pastor, Rev. Newman Matthews.
The origin of the Free Christian Church is memorable in the history of Andover. Its occasion was the protest of its founders against sla- very and intemperance. Their earnest souls rebelled against the in- difference and the apologetic attitude prevalent in the community toward these great evils of the times. They favored active efforts to oppose slavery and the use of intoxicating liquors and wanted greater freedom of utterance and action than the existing churches gave.
Meetings held in private houses for the discussion of these sub- jects led to the organization of a parish on November 24, 1845, and of a church on May 7, 1846. The forty-four Christians who formed the church adopted a simple creed and covenant, and took the name of the Free Christian Church of Andover,-"Free", because they recognized the equal rights of persons of whatever race or color; and "Christian" because of their acceptance of the fundamental teachings of Christ, without sectarian bias. Several of the founders came from the Meth- odist church, which was then disbanding. More came from the two
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Congregational churches, and a few took Christian vows upon themselves for the first time. They excluded from their fellowship "persons who manufacture, sell or use intoxicating drinks as a beverage, slave-holders and apologists for slavery, as not practically honoring Christ." It re- quired strong convictions, Christian courage and self-sacrifice to take a step involving the disapproval of the other churches and such financial and religious responsibilities; but it was taken prayerfully, deliberately and heartily, and the results justified it. The church took on vigorous life at once, has ever since been a positive force for good, and has a present membership (May 1, 1921) of six hundred and five.
Its first pastors all studied at Oberlin, Ohio, and felt the evangelis- tic influence of that institution and of Rev. Charles E. Finney. For ten years the church retained its independent relation to other churches, and then came the fellowship with the Congregational churches of the Andover Association, with which it is still connected. It rented an un- occupied Universalist meeting-house of the town until 1850, when through the generosity of one of its members it came into possession of the unused Methodist house of worship. This was removed from Main street to Railroad street near the station, where, beautified and enlarged, it was the home of the new organization for fifty-eight years. Many of the students of the Theological Seminary gave valuable assistance in the Sunday school in the last half of the nineteenth century and enjoyed the hospitality of the near-by parsonage, which was built in 1855.
The increasing needs of the church having made a new location ad- visable, the entire property was sold to the Boston & Maine railroad company in 1907 and a new location on Elm street, near the town square, was purchased, upon which a new brick meeting-house was dedicated September 19, 1908, well equipped with all modern conveniences for church work. It is of colonial style, to suit the traditions of a town with Andover's history, and its architects were McKim, Mead & White, New York City. At the annual meeting of January 21, 1920, the church voted to become incorporated, and new by-laws and covenant were adopt- ed with the National Council creed of 1913.
In the seventy-four years of its existence it has had eleven pastors with terms as follows: Elijah C. Winchester, 1846-48; Sherlock Bristol, 1848-49; William B. Brown, 1850-55; Caleb E. Fisher, 1855-59; Stephen C. Leonard, 1859-65; James P. Lane, 1866-70; Edwin S. Williams, 1870- 72; G. Frederick Wright, 1872-81; F. Barrows Makepeace, 1881-88; Frederick A. Wilson, 1882-1920; Arthur S. Wheelock, 1920-, pastor at present time.
Not many years after the establishing of the manufacturing busi- ness in Ballard Vale, a desire for church privileges arose. Accordingly, March 18, 1850, a number of residents met and formed the Ballard Vale Union Society for the Support of Public Worship. It was called the Union Society, because its members represented several religious sects.
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The services were held in the old schoolhouse. At the first services, Professor Park officiated, and after that theological students from the Seminary conducted the services until September, 1850, when Rev. Henry S. Green began his work here, which continued nearly thirty years and ended only with his removal to his reward above, June 11, 1880.
December 31, 1854, a council convened at the home of Mr. Green and organized the Union Congregational Church. The following were the original members: Henry S. Green, Mary P. A. Green, Matthew Chandler, Dorcas Chandler, Lydia Goldsmith, Ellen Morrison, Mary Holmes, Mary McGinty, Zoa Mann, Mary A. Winning, and Jerusha J. Crane. All but two of these came from the South Church, Andover. In 1876, on account of the inconveniences of meeting in the school house, the present church building was erected. Mr. Green generously do- nated the lot of land on which the church stands, and at his death be- queathed his residence on Marland street to the church as a parsonage. This was subsequently sold and the present convenient parsonage adjoin- ing the church was erected in 1890. The church organ was purchased during the pastorate of Rev. Edwin Smith, chiefly through his ener- getic efforts.
The church has had ten pastors, the present pastorate being the longest since that of Rev. Green. Three young men have entered the ministry from this church, viz: Rev. Hiram H. Appleman, Rev. Sherman Goodwin, and Rev. Arthur M. Shattuck. Since its organization, 374 persons have been connected with the church. The present member- ship is 158. The pastors have been in the following order: Revs. Henry S. Green, 1855-80; J. W. Savage, 1881-82; H. S. Harrison, 1883; Samuel Bowker, 1884-88; Gardner S. Butler, 1888-91; Emel B. Bray, 1891-92; J. C. C. Evans, 1893-96; Arthur L. Golder, 1896-98; Edwin Smith, 1899- 1903; Augustus H. Fuller, 1904-1921, and still serving as pastor.
Christ Church, Episcopal, of Andover, was organized in 1835, the work being started by twenty-three families which left the Congrega- tional church in Andover. There are now 400 members, communicants. The Sunday school has an attendance of 137, with W. D. Yates as its superintendent. The present edifice was erected in 1886, as was also the Parish house, the two properties being valued now at $150,000. The material is brick and stone, the main edifice being solid stone. The origi- nal church burned on the site of the present parish house. This church is a memorial built by John Byers of Andover, in memory of his father and mother, James and Mary Smith Byers.
The following have served as pastors: Revs. Samuel Fuller, D.D., 1837-43; Henry Waterman, 1845-59; Samuel Fuller, D.D., 1849-59; Ben- jamin B. Babbitt, 1860-68; James Thomson, 1869-74; Maholm Douglass, D.D., 1875-84; Leverette Bradley, 1884-88; Frederick Palmer, D.D., 1888-1913; Charles Henry, 1914 -.
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The Universalist Church was organized in the autumn of 1838, or rather a society was then formed, and a little later a church organiza- tion was perfected. From 1846 on, for several years, services were en- tirely suspended in this church. During twenty-five years there was regular preaching usually. The records show that the object and doc- trine of the church and society was "the promotion of truth and morality among its members, and also the world at large, and as the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is calculated above all truth to inspire the heart with the emotions of benevolence and virtue, this society shall deem it one of its main objects to support the preaching of the Gospel accord- ing to the Societies ability, and to aid in spreading a knowledge of it among men." Regular ministers were located in this church to the num- ber of seven, during its entire history, and these included Rev. Varnum Lincoln.
St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church of Andover was formed in 1852 by the Augustine Fathers of Lawrence. The first pastor was Rev. Fr. James O'Donnell, and in succession came Revs. Edward Mullen, O. S.A .; Michael F. Gallagher, O.S.A .; Ambrose A. McMullen, O.S.A .; and J. J. Ryan, who came in the fall of 1887. Since that date the congre- gation has been cared for by various priests.
At present this town has churches as follows: The Congregational; the South Congregational; the West Congregational; the Baptist, or- ganized, 1832; Christ Episcopal; Free Christian (Congregational), or- ganized in 1846; St. Augustine, Roman Catholic; St. Joseph, Roman Catholic; Union Congregational, organized in 1855, and the Methodist Episcopal.
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