USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 53
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water of the purest kind. The building of dams and huge retaining walls created great reservoirs in Walden, Breed's and Birch Ponds, and in 1893 a greater supply of water was obtained from Saugus river. In 1913, the construction of a thirty-six inch main from the Ipswich river was begun and pushed to completion. This assures Lynn a sufficient water supply for many years to come. There are now over 140 miles of main pipe from four to thirty-six inches in size. There are many more miles of service and court pipe; fifteen thousand services and nine thou- sand meters ; twelve hundred fire hydrants on main pipes. The rates for water are reasonable. The present meter rate to consumers using less than 10,000 gallons daily is fifteen cents per hundred cubic feet (700 gallons), while the flat rate runs as low as $4 per year.
The Lynn Fire Department was orginally formed in 1797, with Relief Company No. 1, organized and supplied with a hand-tub and tools such as were then used in fighting fires. Then came the Despatch No. 2, in 1806; Reliance No. 3, in the same year; Perseverance No. 4, in 1807. The city's first steam fire engine arrived in September, 1863, and the change from hand power to steam apparatus was completely brought about in 1886. The first motor apparatus was used in the city in July, 1910, after which the faithful horses of the department were set aside for the good they had done. The present department has twenty-four pieces of motor-apparatus and three "chief cars." These modern ap- pliances were more than paid for in two fires soon after the change was made.
During 1920 the department responded to 1,064 calls, including 259 bell alarms, 45 telephone calls, 196 automatic and 114 still alarms. The number of actual fires were 738, of which 582 were extinguished by chemicals. Hydrant streams were used at 89, engine streams at 6 and other means at 61. There were two two-alarm fires in the year. The property loss was $252,748.86. The value of property where fires oc- curred was $7,789,848. Insurance carried on same, $6,983,940. Insur- ance loss, $221,036.51. Loss on uninsured property, $31,712.35.
Lynn now has a $100,000 automatic and box-alarm system in use. There are sixteen fire companies, with 173 permanent members. The apparatus includes six fire engines, four ladder trucks, six chemicals, one combination chemical and hose engine ; five hose wagons, two motor pump engines. There is also an extra chemical engine, in case of emergency. The present amount of workable hose is twenty-one thousand feet. Of late, the department has an automobile mechanic and a woman clerk at the general offices. With the city water supply so great, and 1500 hy- drants, the city is well protected from the ravages from sweeping fires.
Among the later fire-chiefs or city engineers of this department have been A. C. Moody, who went out of office in 1890; C. H. Downing, who served from 1890 to 1900; Thomas A. Harris, from 1905 to 1912; present chief, Edward E. Chase, who took the position in 1912, but who has been
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connected with the department since March 10, 1885, when he went in as a substitute fireman. Of the fifty-five active firemen who served through the great fire of 1889, only twenty-four still survive. With the return of the anniversary of that never-to-be-forgotten fire (November 26, 1889) the survivors hold their annual reunion and banquet, which has come to be a very interesting affair to the firemen of the community.
The present roster of the fire department includes the following: Edward E. Chase, chief engineer; William F. Welch, deputy chief ; John H. Roberts, district chief ; Herbert W. Robinson, district chief; Henry A. Brannan, district chief; Charles A. Harraden, district chief; Miss Mary J. Scanlon, clerk of the department.
It appears that for the first three years after the settlement of Lynn there was no regular minister settled as pastor of a parish, but doubtless religious services were held on the Lord's Day, at least.
What was known as the First Church later became known as the First Congregational Church (Trinitarian). Founded in 1632, it was the fifth in the Bay Colony, and "was gathered" in 1632. There was said of it, more than forty years ago, that it was one of the three or four of the early church organizations to preserve their fidelity to the ancient Puritanic faith. Nearly all of the other churches departed from the faith of their fathers, and became either Unitarian or Universalist. As a matter of fact, this church was not organized after the regular manner, but such irregularities were finally overcome. The founder was Rev. Stephen Bacheler, who, with his family, arrived from England in June, 1632. The chief inducement that brought him hither was that he had a daughter residing here, the wife of Christopher Hussey. With him came six other persons,. who had belonged to his church in England. He commenced to minis- ter to their spiritual wants, without regular installation. He was then about seventy-one years of age. Serious trouble arose between him and his little flock, and after a number of scandals, and when three years had passed, he found it for his best interest to move, which he did, first to Newbury and to Hampton later. He returned to England in 1651, aged about ninety years. He married a fourth wife, his third wife still living here. Rev. Bacheler died in London in 1660 in the one hundredth year of his age. It is affirmed that no less personages than Hon. Daniel Webster and J. G. Whittier traced their ancestry back to the lines of this family.
The second pastor was Rev. Samuel Whiting, installed in Nov- ember, 1636. He had taken orders in the Church of England, and became a non-Conformist, by reason of which he had to resign, after which he settled in Lynn. He came from a family of note, and his descendants have made a brilliant record in America, as an example, Hon. William Whiting of Boston.
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The subjoined list of names comprises the various pastors in this church to date: Stephen Bacheler, installed, or rather began to minis- ter, 1632; Samuel Whiting, 1636; Thomas Corbet (colleague), 1680; Jeremiah Shepard, 1680; Joseph Whiting (colleague), 1680; Nathaniel Henchman, 1720; John Treadwell, 1763; Obediah Parsons, 1784; Thomas C. Thatcher, 1794; Isaac Hurd, 1813; Otis Rockwood, 1818; David Peabody, 1832; Parsons Cooke, 1836; James M. Whiton, 1865; Stephen R. Dennen, 1872; Walter Barton, 1876; Frank J. Mundy, 1885; James B. Dunn, Sept., 1889-July 24, 1892; John O. Harvig, 1893-95; William G. Merrill, 1896-1902; George W. Owen, July 1, 1903-Dec. 27, 1910; Watson Woodruff, Nov. 7, 1911, still pastor.
The first real meeting-house was the "Old Tunnel," so called. It was erected in 1682, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Shepard. It will be remembered that in those days the church and state were so closely allied that a church building could not be built unless the town so voted; nor could changes in the building or its fixtures be made without a permit from the town authorities, as will be observed by the following: Town Meeting, 1692. "January 8. It was voted that Lieutenant Blighe should have liberty to set up a pew in the north- east corner of the meeting-house, by Mr. King's pew, and he to main- tain the windows against it."
The pulpit of the "Old Tunnel" was capacious enough to con- tain ten persons. A small bell swung in the little tower, and in the northeast corner of the gallery was a "negro pew," quite elevated and well boarded near the top. The colored brothers and sisters were required to sit there, where they might hear, but neither see nor be seen. It is not now practicable to enter into further detail about church buildings. It may be added, however, that June 8, 1882, this church celebrated its 250th anniversary, at its edifice on South Common street, when an historical address was made by Rev. Walter Barton, pastor. The present (1921) total membership of this church is 477, and of the Sunday school 282.
The Unitarian Church, for nearly ninety-seven years known as the Second Congregational Society in Lynn, when by legislative en- actment (March 5, 1919.) the name was changed to the Unitarian Church of Lynn, was founded in 1822. Its promoters, restive under the shackles of the Calvinistic doctrine, and no longer disposed to as- sent to its principles, withdrew from the old First Church. On Feb- ruary 13, in the year above named, a meeting for the purpose of form- ing a new society was held at the home of William Badger. He acted as moderator, while James Homer was chosen secretary. The others present were Joseph Lye, William Chadwell, Benjamin Clifford, James Phillips, Jr., and Edward Rhodes. A week later, at the ad- journed meeting, it was formally voted to form a new society. Wil- liam Chadwell, William Badger and James Homer were appointed a
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committee to "draw up a declaration, setting forth our separation from the established societies of this town and the reason of our forming a new society." On February 28th the committee reported, at which time the declaration then submitted to the little band was unanimously accepted. At the period in question, religious controver- sies were taking on a highly-spirited phase (mildly to express con- ditions), not only in various parts of New England, but also in other sections of the country. In Eastern Massachusetts the new move- ment, generally referred to as "liberal Christianity," was decidedly active. Because of the peculiar conditions then existing in respect of religious beliefs, as well as of the consequent defence of reason and private judgment by repudiators of the Calvinism of the day, extracts from the declaration in question will not be without significance to readers in this second decade of the twentieth century. After declar- ing, in the preamble, that "God has endowed every man with the right of worshipping Him in such a manner as shall best suit the dictates of his own conscience," protests against the Calvinistic scheme, along with affirmation of new principles, took form as follows:
The dictates of our consciences will not let us join with the established societies, for we can not from all the knowledge that we have been able to obtain from Scripture, nature and reason, conceive that there is more than one Supreme God, who is omnipotent, unchangeable, all-wise, all-good, all-merciful . We can not acquiesce in the doctrine of total depravity, which, if true, would teach us to shun mankind as wretches, and which, we trust, is refuted by every-day experience. . We can not believe in the doctrine of predestin- ation, which makes our Maker the author of sin, and which, if true, would take away that accountability that every man ought to feel for his conduct .. . We must also protest against the doctrine of election and reprobation, which is repulsive to every feeling of justice and equity. .. And there are many other doctrines with which we can not join-doctrines which we conceive are a libel upon the wisdom and goodness of God. We therefore do hereby form our- selves into a society by the name of the Second Congregational Society of Lynn. ... In forming this society, we shall endeavor to do it in a manner that is consistent with Christian charity and forbearance. Sensible that good men may differ in their belief, we shall always endeavor to treat all other societies with that respect and charity with which we should wish to be treated. As we claim for ourselves the right of private judgment, so shall we be willing that all others may enjoy the same privileges; as we acknowledge no one's right to dictate to us, so neither, shall we presume to dictate to others.
On the 5th of April, 1822, the society was formally organized. June 5 following, a petition for an act of incorporation was presented to the General Court, sixty-six signatures being appended thereto. Ten days later the act of incorporation was approved by the governor. In the meantime the new society had been active in preparations for the purchase of a site and the erection of a meeting house. A lot of land on the south side of the Common, South Common street, was purchased of Timothy Alley. On November 5th of the same year
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the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, and on April 30, 1823, the structure was dedicated. The site thus chosen con- tinued to be occupied by the society until the close of 1910, the church edifice, as the decades succeeded one another, undergoing those im- provements and renovations common to the demands of new con- ditions. (Subsequently, the old edifice was sold to the Greek Orthodox Community.) Meanwhile, an agitation had started with reference to the purchase of a new site and the erection of a more commodious church edifice, in keeping with the progress of the society. Land was subsequently purchased at the corner of Atlantic and Baltimore streets. The cornerstone of the present beautiful stone structure was laid October 30, 1909. On December 29, 1910, the formal dedication took place, and January 1, 1911, the society occupied its new home for the first time. The church and parish house, together with appointments, represent an expenditure of approximately $130,000, including the land. Both from the standpoint of architecture and of fitness, the society, the sole local examplar of broad Unitarianism, possesses a splendid property. The present membership is about 300. Miss
Marguerite Emilio is superintendent of the church school, and Miss Elsie Anderson, the secretary-treasurer. At the end of the first month of the 1921 school year, the number of enrolled children was 121. The pulpit has been filled in the following order: James D. Green, 1824-28; David H. Barlow, 1829-33; Samuel D. Robbins, 1833-39; William G. Swett, installed Jan. 1, 1840, died Feb. 15, 1843; John Pierpont, Jr., 1843-46 (during whose pastorate a new church covenant was adopted) ; Charles C. Shackford, 1846-64; Samuel B. Stewart, pastor emeritus, now resident of Schenectady, N. Y., from Oct. 4, 1865, until April 23, 1905, the longest pastorate in the history of the society; Alert Lazenby, 1906-15; Maxwell Savage, 1916-19; and Dud- ley Hays Ferrell, A. M., the present minister, who was installed March 1, 1920. The society has been the recipient of various bequests from sundry parishioners, and these funds are separately invested. There are the usual organizations, all of which are at this writing in a flourishing condition. The board of trustees, as chosen at the annual meeting in the spring of 1921, is composed of the following: Ben- jamin F. Arrington (chairman), C. Fred Smith, Miss Annie L. New- hall, Samuel H. Hollis, Edwin W. Ingalls, Miss Blanche L. Merritt, John C. Clendenin. Secretary of the parish, Fisher Keeler Rice; treasurer, Alfred E. Chase; collector, L. W. Whittredge.
The Second Parish Church was founded in 1720, the year in which Rev. Shepard died, and became the First Church of Lynnfield, and sub- sequently became a Universalist society.
The Third Parish Church was "gathered" in 1732, and later became the First Church of Saugus. Rev. Joseph Roby was settled as pastor here for more than fifty years. He was learned, pious and patriotic,
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having served on the Committee of Safety in Revolutionary times. Like the Lynnfield church, this also went over to the Universalist faith.
Of the Trinitarian Congregational Churches, the "History of Essex County" by Lewis, in 1887, gives the following paragraph: "Of the Trinitarian Congregational-or, as they are usually called, the Ortho- dox-Societies, there are now four, namely: The First Church, already spoken of, and whose present place of worship is a fine brick edifice on South Common street, built in 1872; the Central Congregational, founded in 1850, and whose present house of worship is also a fine brick edifice, on Silsbee street, built in 1868; the Chestnut Street Congregational, com- menced in 1857 as a Congregational-Methodist, and becoming distinctly Calvinistic in 1860, their house of worship being a frame structure on Chestnut street, built in 1857; the North Congregational, founded in 1869, and worshiping in their neat wooden church on Laighton street, built in 1870."
The North Congregational Church was founded in 1869 and a build- ing erected on Laighton street, near Washington, in 1870. It has a total membership of 347, with a Sunday school attendance of 324; the pres- ent superintendent is W. Fred Haskell. The church and parsonage, to- gether with the grounds, are valued at $40,000. The following have served as pastors: James W. Whiton, 1869-75; James L. Hill, 1875- 1886; George B. Hatch, 1887-93; Willis A. Hadley, 1893-97; Arthur J. Covell, 1898-1908; Daniel Emory Burtner, 1908, and still serving.
Central Congregational Church (Trinitarian) was founded in 1850. Its first two pastors were Revs. Abijah R. Baker and Jotham Sewall. The beautiful edifice is situated on Broad street. The present member- ship is 417; the Sunday school has an average attendance of about 225. The 1921 superintendent is E. B. Redfield. The church buildings include the present $75,000 stone edifice at 97 Broad street. Two former build- ings on Silsbee street were destroyed by fire, one was of brick and one of wood. The present church was dedicated December 29, 1892. It seats 558, and is centrally located at Washington Square. The pastors have been A. R. Parker, 1850-54; J. B. Sewall, 1855-65; A. H. Currier, 1865-1881; A. W. Moore, 1892-1900; C. F. Weeden, 1901-09; C. Thurs- ton Chase, 1910-1921. The last-named pastor resigned May 14, 1921.
The Friends, or Quakers, commenced worship in Lynn as early as 1677. The strict laws against them which defamed the statute books of Massachusetts, and the story of their rigid enforcement, are all too well recorded in previous histories to here be reiterated. This sect in Lynn has ever embraced some of the most excellent people within the county of Essex. They still worship in a plain, large, well-preserved frame meeting-house, on the corner of Friend and Silsbee streets, the same hav- ing at first stood on Broad street, built in 1816, but in 1853 was removed to its present site. The lot of land upon which' it stands contains the meeting-house and graveyard, besides a large and handsomely-cared-for
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lawn, with a high iron fence surrounding the property. The Friends also have another meeting-house in Lynn, on Eastern avenue, where there is a fair-sized congregation.
The Second Universalist Church was formed in 1837. It worshiped in a wooden structure on South Common street, corner of Commercial, the same that was orginally used by the First Church (Congregational), and subsequently by a small society of another denomination. Some of the material in this building was at first used in the now famous old "Tunnel" building. From 1837 to and including 1863 the pastors were: Revs. Dunbar B. Harris, 1836; Edward N. Harris, 1839; Henry Jewell 1840; John Nichols, 1843; O. H. Tillotson, 1845; John Moore, 1848; J. R. Johnson, 1850; E. Winchester Reynolds, 1852; Henry Jewell, 1858; Wil- liam P. Payne, 1859; N. R. Wright, 1863.
The Christian Church, now known as the First Christian Church of Lynn, was formed in 1835, and is now situated at No. 270 Chestnut street. From 1835 to 1862 the ministers were Revs. Philemon R. Rus- sell, 1835; Josiah Knight, 1841; David Knowlton, 1842; Warren Lin- coln, 1843; Nicholas S. Chadwick, 1851; Seth Hinckley, 1853; William Miller, 1854; John Burden, 1860; Joseph Whitney, 1862; John A. Goss, 1862. The names of the pastors since then have not been furnished the compiler, with other required data.
The Universalists held their first meetings in the Woodend Village, when Rev. Sylvanus Cobb of Malden was invited to deliver lectures on the faith just beginning to be styled "Universalist" by the orthodox de- nominations. The date was October 12, 1831, the place Mechanics' Hall, corner of Chestnut and Mason streets. These lectures were continued both at Swampscott and in Lynn for a year or two. In January, 1833, the meetings were transferred to the Town Hall, and in that historic old building, March 25, 1833, the first Universalist Society was organized for Lynn. The resolutions adopted stated that the society should em- brace those of the faith of the "sect everywhere spoken against." James M. Sargent was elected clerk, George Todd, moderator; Joseph Ander- son, treasurer; Harris Nichols, collector and sexton.
The first meeting-house owned by this society was built on the lot on Union street, where now stands the East Baptist Church. The con- tract price was $3,775, but before completion the structure had cost $4,- 625. The building was dedicated December 5, 1835; in 1850 it was en- larged, as more audience room was needed. In 1864, in the midst of the Civil War, it was found necessary again to enlarge the church. Many changes were made, and when completed more than $8,500 had been spent before dedication took place. Only four years later there was a demand for a better and larger church building; the question was agi- tated until 1870, when it was decided to build a new church. March 20, 1871, the society sold the old church to the Union Street Free Baptist denomination for $20,000, and later the present East Baptist Church
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society purchased the property. In January, 1871, the William S. Boyce estate on Nahant street was purchased by the Universalists, at a cost of $30,000. Other grounds were subsequently purchased, so that now the beautiful edifice, together with the parish house, is centrally located on Nahant street, at Washington Square. The corner-stone of the present building was laid May 27, 1872. The building was dedicated September 11, 1873. The structure is a handsome brick, trimmed in free-stone. The church, furnishings and land cost about $145,819, including the $90,000 donated by three young business men of the parish-Benjamin F. Doak, Joseph Davis, and Benjamin F. Spinney. Three hundred and eighty-six persons subscribed to this building enterprise. The seventy- fifth anniversary of this church took place March 22, 1908, and its pro- gram was exceptionally interesting in church circles of Lynn.
The substantial parish-house adjoining the church on Nahant Place was the gift of the late Earl A. Mower, the same having been his home. The church now has invested benevolence funds amounting to $34,000. The investment fund income for current expenses is $25,000. There has been a Sunday school connected with this church ever since its organization, and today it has an active membership of about 500 pupils and teachers. The pastor is now acting superintendent. The church has fully maintained its high position in the religious and civic life of the community. The board of management includes Fred H. Nichols (chairman), Harry M. Read, Arthur H. Stiles, Samuel T. Patterson, George H. Ball, Edward F. Breed, Charles E. Rolfe, Samuel L. Fisher, Arthur W. Pinkham, Harrison P. Burrill, clerk. The pastors have been: Revs. Josiah C. Waldo, 1833-38; Lemuel Willis, 1839-42; Horace Gard- ner Smith, 1843-44; Merritt Sanford, 1844-48; Darwin Mott, 1848-50; Eldredge Gerry Brooks, D.D., 1850-59; Sumner Ellis, 1860-62; Charles Wesley Biddle, D.D., 1862-79; John Colman Adams, D.D., 1880-84; James Minton Pullman, D.D., 1885-1903; Henry Blanchard, D.D., 1903- 05; Frederick Williams Perkins, 1905, and still serving as pastor in 1921.
The First Baptist Church was founded in Lynn in 1816. No doubt the interference with State affairs created more opposition to this de- nomination at an early day than did their religious doctrines and teaching. However, that may have been, they were greatly persecuted, as were the Friends of that date. But long before the church was organized in Lynn, persecutions had ceased. They formed their society and erected a good frame church building on North Common street, but not until 1867 was this building completed and worshiped in. On the same spot the church still worships. Among the pastors prior to the Civil War were Revs. George Phippen, 1816; Ebenezer Nelson, Jr., Daniel Chessman, com- menced in 1830; L. Stillman Bollers, came in 1833; Joel S. Bacon in 1837; Hiram A. Graves came in 1840; Thomas Driver in 1843, and Wil- liam C. Richards in 1849. The writer is not in possession of the pastors' names from 1849 to 1884, when Rev. Francis T. Hazelwood came and re-
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mained until 1891; Tillman B. Johnson, 1891-1902; James A. Braker, 1903-11; Addison B. Lorimer, 1912-20; Rev. Eben F. Francis, present pastor. The present membership is 651; the Sunday school attendance is large. The superintendent is W. W. Wass. The present value of the church edifice is estimated at $65,000; value of the parsonage and lot, $10,000.
From this, the parent church of the Baptist denomination in Lynn, has sprung numerous church organizations, including the following: East Baptist Church, of which see later description by the pastor, Rev. Arthur E. Harriman, D.D .; the Essex Street Union Baptist Church, Rev. Thomas Cain, pastor; the Lynnfield Baptist Church, Rev. Lewis Mal- vern, D.D .; the Washington Street Baptist Church, Rev. Chester J. Underhill, and the Zion Baptist Church, at Meadow Park, Rev. Jerome W. Miller, pastor. What was known as the Third Baptist Church was founded in 1858, of which organization Rev. Charles H. Cole was pastor in 1861. The High Street Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in 1858, and had for its first pastors, Revs. J. H. Tilton and Alfred Owen.
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