USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dover > Narrative history : a history of Dover, Massachusetts, as a precinct, parish, district, and town > Part 17
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One of the workmen was killed, and others injured. After much deliberation the town voted to commence again, and put the work in the hands of the selectmen, Capt. John Humphrey, Barnabas Paine, and Asa Tal- bot. The town sustained a loss of nineteen hundred and twenty-six dollars and eighty-five cents in the destruction of the first building. Another appropria- tion was made. The committee made arrangements with the contractor of the first building, Herbert Moseley, of Needham, to erect the new one.
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CIVIL HISTORY
The committee chose another site on the same avenue, and decided to build a one-story hall with basement, after plans made by Thomas W. Silloway, of Boston. The building has good appointments, with several ante-rooms besides its main room, seating four hundred, with ample stage facilities. It is finished in hard wood and handsomely frescoed. The tower, which rises from the ground, is surmounted with a flag-staff. The building, when completed and furnished, cost four thousand four hundred and ninety-nine dollars and four cents.
The town relinquished in 1889 all rights and title to the old town hall. The whole property now belongs to the First Parish.
The town hall was dedicated June 17, 1880. John C. Coombs was president of the day. The report of the building committee was read by the chairman, Capt. John Humphrey. The dedicatory prayer was offered by the Rev. Horatio Alger, of South Natick. The address was delivered by Frank Smith. Short ad- dresses were made by many friends ; and the exercises closed with the singing of the following ode, composed for the occasion by the Rev. Charles C. Sewell, of Medfield : - -
The paths of knowledge to pursue, To store the mind with truth, Employment give to highest powers, Life's duty teach to youth ;
To gather from historic page The story of the past, And trace the lines on Nature's face No human hand e'er cast,-
---
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HISTORY OF DOVER
These are the ends at which we aim, And to them consecrate The house we build with liberal hand, And now we dedicate.
In moral good, pure social joys Which leave no sting behind, The spirit, worn by daily toil, Refreshment here shall find.
The citizen shall quickened be To seek the public good, The public feeling elevate, And right make understood.
Let voice of passion ne'er ring here, Nor din of strife be heard ; Nor principle give place to wrong, No enmity be stored.
Sacred the rights of each be held, To be maintained by all ; And all for common good alone Echo each other's call.
Lord, hear our heartfelt, earnest prayer, And grant thy blessing here, That hence for wisdom, virtue, peace, This place to all be dear.
There was an immense attendance, and the hall was beautifully decorated with potted plants. Appropriate music was rendered by an orchestra and quartette. With the growth of orders and the establishment of a public library, the town hall was found to be inadequate ; and in the spring of 1893 the town appointed Eben Higgins, Barnabas Paine, and Benjamin N. Sawin a committee to consider the improvement of the building.
0+
N
-
TOWN HALL.
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CIVIL HISTORY
The committee presented several plans, but suggested the raising of the building and putting underneath a story eleven feet high. The report of the committee was accepted, and the town voted to raise the building. The work was completed during the fall of 1893 at a cost of three thousand five hundred and ninety-four dollars and twenty-eight cents. The present propor- tions of the town hall are forty feet by sixty, with thirty-foot posts. A fine banquet hall, library, kitchen, toilet and town officers' rooms were provided, with a fireproof vault for the protection of town records.
The citizens placed a beautiful piano in the town hall in 1887, which was manufactured by a native of the town, Samuel G. Chickering, of Boston. The piano was dedicated on the evening of March 29 with a fine musical and literary programme. Later the instrument was presented to the town.
Noanet's Hall was situated at Charles River Village, and was owned by Josiah Newell. Here for more than half a century were held the social gatherings of the neighborhood and often of the town. Here was organ- ized in 1818 the first Sunday-school. In this hall were held the public religious services which led in 1881 to the organization of the Union Congregational Society. Finally the building was destroyed by fire.
The Rev. Dr. Sanger, who had done so much to cul- tivate the reading habit of the people, first in the circu- lation of books from his own library and later in the care of the Proprietors' Library through many years, saw the importance of establishing a public library, as has already been shown, which would be free from the limitations of a church or a proprietors' library. In
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HISTORY OF DOVER
1859 Dr. Sanger made a proposition to the town in reference to establishing a free library, offering to give his right in the Proprietors' Library to the town. This offer was accepted; but the library was never established, although the subject was several times con- sidered in town-meeting. The matter was finally dropped, a committee of the town having reported against it. In 1891 an effort was made to accept the provisions of the General Statutes, by which small towns are aided in the establishment of free public libraries. This effort likewise failed, but two years later it was accepted. At the annual March meeting in 1894 Walter Storrs Bigelow, John C. Coombs, and George L. Howe were chosen trustees. A room was fitted up in the town hall at an expense of three hun- dred dollars ; and a library of more than five hundred volumes was opened for the distribution of books, De- cember 22, 1894. The books were catalogued in the most thorough manner, and the library was selected with great care. It now numbers eleven hundred volumes.
About forty years ago an agricultural library was organized through the labors of an enterprising pub- lishing-house. The books were not of marked value. They were little read and soon ceased to circulate.
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.
Dedham recognized the Springfield Parish in electing Ebenezer Battle to the General Court in 1781. The district of Dover was united with Medfield in forming a representative district from soon after its incorporation
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CIVIL HISTORY
to the organization of the town in 1836. During this period Dover sent only one resident to the General Court.
The Rev. Dr. Sanger was the first representative after the incorporation of the town. The list is as follows :
Calvin Richards, 1830-31.
Ralph Sanger, 1837, 1845,
1847, 1851, 1854.
Calvin Richards, 2d, 1840, 1852.
Elijah Perry, Jr., 1846.
Constitutional Convention,
1853, Luther Richards.
Henry Horton, 1858.
Theodore Dunn, 1864.
Abner L. Smith, 1869.
Amos W. Shumway, 1871. John Humphrey, 1877. Frank Smith, 1887.
SELECTMEN.
(The final figure stands for number of years of service after first election.)
Fisher Allen, 1786-4
James Chickering, 1871-2
Jared Allen, 1842 William Cleveland, 1853-I
Timothy Allen,
I793-3
Bailey Cobb, 1842-2
Timothy Allen, 2d, 1835-I
Jesse Draper, 1805-10
Aaron Bacon, 1849-2
Luther Eastman, 1837-2
George Battelle, 1888-I
George D. Everett, 1865-3
John Battelle, 1846-3
Samuel Fisher, 1791-6
Sherman Battelle, 1846
Noah Fiske, 1824-4
Ebenezer Battle,
I792-2
Prescott Fiske, 1879
Jonathan Battle, 1 804
John P. Ford, 1849-2
Jonathan Battle, Jr.,
1816-3
Henry Goulding, 1845
Ralph Battle,
1828-4
Joseph Haven, 1785-2
Charles A. Bigelow, 1 863-3
Linus Bliss, 1864
J. W. Higgins,
1890-6
John Burridge, 1805-2
Henry Horton, 1858-3
Simeon Cheney, 1802-5
Albion H. Howe, 1867-2
'George Chickering, 1824
Alonzo Howe, 1847
George E. Chickering, 1869-1
Noah Haven, I796
John Humphrey, 1876-4
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HISTORY OF DOVER
Adam Jones,
1793-4
Richard Richards, 1795-1
Hiram W. Jones,
1836-3
William Richards, 2d, 1828-I
John Jones, 1785
Benj. N. Sawin, 1855-II
Daniel Mann,
1809-17
Warren Sawin, 1874-1
James Mann,
1786-8
Amos W. Shumway,
1847-23
James Mann, Jr.,
1833
A. W. Shumway, 2d,
1895
Simeon Mann,
1817-I
Abner L. Smith,
1863-7
James McGill,
1887-4
Charles H. Smith,
1882-6
Ebenezer Newell,
1785-5
Joseph Smith,
1893-I
Jesse Newell, Jr.,
1837-4
Joseph A. Smith,
1844
Josiah Newell,
1805-13
Lewis Smith,
1808-1
Thomas C. Norton, 1880-I
Walter Stowe,
1833-5
Barnabas Paine,
1873-6
Asa Talbot,
1 869-8
Elijah Perry, Jr.,
1843-3
Henry Tisdale,
1797-I
Jonathan Perry,
1852
James Tisdale,
1822-1
Lowell Perry,
1834-2
Aaron Whiting,
I795-3
John Plympton,
1808
Amos Wight,
I792-4
George Post,
1892-4
Caleb Wight,
1816
Calvin Richards,
1808-13
Ephraim Wilson,
1828-4
Calvin Richards, 2d,
1840-5
Ephraim Wilson, 2d, 1855-5
Luther Richards,
1833-3
Henry Winchinbach,
1876
TOWN-CLERKS.
Hezekiah Allen,
1805
Eben Higgins,
1890-6
Ralph Battelle,
1829-3
John Jones,
1785
Ebenezer Battle,
I792-2
Ebenezer Newell,
1788-3
Jesse Draper,
1803-17
Calvin Richards,
1822-2
Samuel Fisher,
I795-I
Luther Richards,
1833-3
Noah A. Fiske,
1825-24
Abner L. Smith,
1859-17
Joseph Haven,
1786-1
Allen F. Smith,
1889
Noah Haven,
1797-5
Charles H. Smith,
1877-II
CIVIL HISTORY
255
TREASURERS.
Hezekiah Allen, 1786
George D. Everett, 1877-II
Aaron Bacon, I868-8
Joseph Haven, 1785
Ebenezer Battle, 1788
Eben Higgins, 1889-7
Jonathan Battle,
1809-2
Hiram W. Jones, 1864-3
Sherman Battle, 1854-9
Daniel Mann, 1823-6
George Chickering,
1821-21
Josiah Newell,
1806-4
Jesse Chickering, 1800-5
Lowell Perry, 1835-I
Nathaniel Chickering, 1798-12
Lewis Smith, 1811-7
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
Rev. A. E. Battelle, 1868-70. H. Emily Chickering, 1875-76.
Theodore Dunn, 1867.
Martha A. Everett, 1877-84.
Helen M. Jones, 1892.
Edmund B. Otis, 1871-73.
Rev. George Procter, 1865. Frank Smith, 1885-91, 1893- 96.
Joseph A. Smith, 1874.
CHAPTER XIX.
CIVIL HISTORY .- Continued.
HIGHWAYS - FIRST ROAD -- COURT STREET - MEDFIELD ROAD - WALPOLE STREET - LABOR ON HIGHWAYS --- BREAKING ROADS IN WINTER - TRAINING DAYS -
PARKS - COMMON - SPRINGDALE PARK - METROPOLI-
TAN PARK SYSTEM - CHARLES RIVER RAILROAD --- CHARLES RIVER BRANCH RAILROAD-NEW ENGLAND RAILROAD.
"The road the human being travels, That on which blessing comes and goes, doth follow The river's course, the valley's playful windings, Curves round the corn-field and the hill of vines."
The evolution of the highway illustrates the condition of a people. In the early time, when our population was homogeneous and each was neighbor to the other, when all traced their lineage to the early Puritan set- tlers, when it was the fashion to share one another's joys and sorrows, when there was the fullest co-operation among housewives in apple-bees and quilting-parties, when the men exchanged work in clearing fields and in breaking up lots, when in the hour of sickness or death the whole community shared in anxiety or sorrow, the roads were built that the people might have more easy intercourse with one another.
With the change in population and surroundings, the use of the highway has changed. Now only the main
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CIVIL HISTORY
thoroughfares are much used, and during the last half century more miles of roads have been discontinued than have been built. To the student of affairs this marks a change in the habits of the people.
The roads at first were only bridle-paths and " wind- ing, as old roads will."
The first road undoubtedly led from Dedham over Strawberry Hill, along the bank of the Charles River, to the Indian village at South Natick. It was over this road that Governor Endicott rode in the declining hours of a summer's day in 1658, in passing from the Indian settlement to the house of the Rev. Mr. Allen, of Ded- ham, where he passed the night.
County Street, which extends but a short distance in Dover, is another very old road. George Washington passed over this street in 1775, on his journey from Virginia to Cambridge, Mass., to take command of the American army.
A road was early extended across this territory from Medfield to the Indian settlement at Natick. Few if any houses were built on the road, and in later years it was wholly relocated. It extended much to the east of the present street leading from Medfield to South Natick. The chief roadway of the town extended east and west, passing through the center, thence around by Pegan Hill, then westward to Farm Bridge. Along this street were built the happy homes where the early settlers
" Felled the ungracious oak, With hurried toil Dragged from the soil
The thrice-snarled roots and stubborn rock."
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HISTORY OF DOVER
After separation from Dedham steps were taken to build new roads and permanently to improve the high- ways. The main thoroughfares of the town, however, were all built before this period.
The grade of Springdale Avenue was somewhat improved by the lowering of Meeting-house Hill in 1862. After the building of the railroad that part of Springdale Avenue east of the railroad was left in a bad condition. In 1861 the town instructed the selectmen to communicate with the railroad company and have the street put in " passable condition," but all efforts were unavailing. The county commissioners in 1872 took the matter in hand, and laid out a street from the rail- road to Center Street, which was built after their specifications.
Walpole Street was built through several extensions. A part of this street was the first road made after the organization of the parish. It was built from the meet- ing-house to the farm of John Cheney, now owned by Thomas Coughlan. Later the road was extended to the Nathaniel Chickering homestead, and in 1789 was built through to the Hartford turnpike, and later extended on the petition of Billings Tisdale to County Street. Sev- eral new streets followed the introduction of manufact- uring in 1795. Mill Street was laid out and accepted April 3, 1797. An effort was made at this time to build Willow Street, but was not accomplished until five years later, although the street was laid out by the selectmen in 1797.
The building of Mill Street caused much trouble and litigation, as Lieut. Lemuel Richards was not satisfied with the award made him for land damages. A new
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CIVIL HISTORY
road was laid out in 1814 which united Mill and Willow Streets near Captain Newell's store, and extended to the center of Charles River. This was named the " New Mill Road." The mill company took the con- tract to build Mill and Willow Streets for three hundred and fifty dollars, which was appropriated by the district. The company built the roads without bridges over the sluiceways, which caused much trouble in later years.
Farm Street was originally a part of the road leading from Medfield to South Natick. The location of the road was changed in 1792, commencing near the Med- field line. Wilsondale Street, over Strawberry Hill, was improved by Ephraim Wilson in 1799, the town having given him permission to "turn the road between his house and Mr. Jabez Baker's " and make it passable, free of cost to the district. Other changes were made in the road in 1850 and in 1862.
The street extending through the Cheney estate was laid out in 1804, and some changes afterwards suggested by Mr. Jones were accepted by the town. In 1880 the street was discontinued at the request of Mr. Cheney, who agreed to maintain the road at his own expense.
Smith Street was first laid out by the town in Feb- ruary, 1808, and discontinued the latter part of the same year. Benjamin Guy received one hundred and twenty dollars for damages, agreeing to give Mr. Plympton per- mission to pass through his land " by punctually putting up the bars."
In 1816 the selectmen again laid out the street, which led to much discussion ; but the matter was finally settled by the county commissioners, who laid out the road in 1818.
260
HISTORY OF DOVER
Center Street was completed and made a public way through several extensions. In 1812 the town accepted a road laid out from Jesse Newell's to the Medfield line, and in 1830 the two parts were united by building a link from Moses Draper's to Jesse Newell's.
The road to the new mill was built in 1816 and dis- continued in 1862. The road was built by the New Mill Company, and turned over to the town at an ex- pense of two hundred and fifty dollars, which was appropriated for the purpose. In 1819 permission was given to the company by the town "to place a gate across the road," as it was not much used by the travel- ing public.
Efforts were early made to build a road from Hollis- ton to Boston, passing through this town, but failed, although the matter was several times brought up in different ways. In 1840 a renewed effort was made to build the " Norfolk Turnpike " for the following reasons : " Dover has no direct road to Boston that is passable at all times of the year ; and the road is generally bad, very narrow, and not sufficiently wide for two carriages to pass. We think it is founded on fact that there is not a town in the county that has one quarter part of the tonnage transported to and from Boston annually which the town of Dover has according to its population."
Many changes were proposed in the way of straight- ening parts of Farm Street, but without avail; and the street remains to-day substantially as it was a century ago.
Chapel Street, which was discontinued on the com- pletion of Springdale Park, was laid out in 1835 on condition that it should be built without expense to the
261
CIVIL HISTORY
town. It was accepted on petition of James H. Wight in 1844.
Dover Street was built in 1852, and Church Street in . 1854.
Pleasant Street was laid out on petition of Benja- min N. Sawin, and built in 1854. An effort was made in 1839 to build Glen Street, but failed. In 1855 the matter was taken up again and carried through.
Powisset Street was discontinued in 1884 from Wal- pole Street to the house of Bernhardt Post, and extended south from that point to again meet Walpole Street.
A new street, connecting Glen and Wight Streets, was built in 1895 ; and the part of the old street east of the intersecting point was discontinued. The new street was made a part of Wight Street, and so named.
In 1797 the district voted "to allow twelve and a half cents for each hour's labor for a man on the high- way and the same sum for a team."
There was often much contention over streets that led only to the homes of individuals. In 1795 Josiah Bacon received liberty, by vote of the district, " to fence up the road leading to Esquire Jones's till rye harvest."
Provision for roads was often made in the ancient grants, as in the case of Joseph Chickering, to whom a grant was made in 1750, containing a right of highway. This condition led to much litigation. The appropria- tion for highways was first made in Federal money in 1798, when the district granted five hundred dollars for their maintenance, the amount being two and a half times the sum appropriated for schools.
A road-scraper was first purchased in 1812. Later the town was divided into road-districts, and highway
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HISTORY OF DOVER
surveyors were elected at the annual town-meeting to have charge of the roads. This office was often much sought after, as the surveyors had the privilege of work- ing out the non-residents' tax and such others as wished to pay their highway tax in moncy. The repairing of the roads, except the scraping and gathering of loose stones in the spring, was put off to a convenient time in the early summer, when the whole male population was called out to work on the roads. The district voted in 1798 "that two thirds of the highway tax be worked out in June and the remainder in September."
It was expected of the surveyor that he would at least keep the road near his own house in good condi- tion.
Many parts of the highway received little or no atten- tion until in the revolution of the office a new resident was elected.
Permission was sometimes given to individuals, by vote of the town, to work out their highway tax on some particular piece of road, as in 1816: "Voted to grant Mr. Draper Smith liberty to work out his high- way tax in the lane leading from his house to the road for the ensuing year."
Little grading was done; and the work consisted largely of clearing out the gutters on either side and throwing the sod and worn-out material back into the road, which was called "rounding it up."
As winter approached, to prevent the steep hills from washing in heavy storms, a series of barriers were made, which turned the water into the gutters, but made the roads very hard to ride upon. In winter after a snow- storm the men in each district turned out with their
263
CIVIL HISTORY
ox-teams, and under the direction of the surveyor broke out the roads, which were often piled high with snow.
As they passed along, teams were frequently added ; and, wherever the train stopped, the cider-mug was brought forward and passed with their jokes from lip to lip. They made their way
" O'er windy hill, through clogged ravine, And woodland paths that wound between Low drooping pine-boughs, winter-weighed."
As a step in the direction of improving the highways, surveyors were appointed by the selectmen instead of being elected at the annual town-meeting. In this way it was possible to choose men of capacity for the work ; but the greatest improvement in the system came in the appointment of a superintendent of streets, who now has the full charge and direction of the highways.
The superintendent has shown excellent judgment in trimming out the roadside growth and in leaving good specimens of various species of trees to grow, although they do not always stand in straight lines. Clumps of barberry, shadbush, black alder, and flower- ing dogwood, which are "conspicuously beautiful," should be left to grow, that the streets may be adorned with shrubs as well as trees and wild-flowers. The willows and alders are always true harbingers of spring.
Oh, these old roads and fields, bounded, divided, and subdivided by the rude stone wall, how they stand as
" Pathetic monuments of vanished men,"
who cleared their fields, and made their walls from the boulders dug from the soil ! Touching on stone walls,
264
HISTORY OF DOVER
Professor Bailey, of Brown, says : A new stone wall, to be sure, is a lovely object ; but then it is rarely seen. Nature claims the recent and the old as hers, and soon subdues with lichens the raw tints of the granite, and conceals all rectilinear outlines with her shrubbery and flowers. The wild plants and the bushes, which the operations of husbandry have driven from the fields, retreat with confidence within the shadow of the walls, assured there of protection and a home. Who could deliberately denude a wall of this its ornamental clothing ?
Truly, " stone walls do not a prison make": to minds innocent and quiet they may, indeed, prove a hermitage. They are our American ruins, and we could ill spare them from the landscape.
Standing on the hill north of the West school- house and looking towards the south, the eye takes in stretches of these stone walls, which would make mile upon mile in the aggregate. How truly the owners of these farms have entered into the labors of others !
The stone walls of New England are eminently appropriate and picturesque. The individual boulders which form them are fine exponents of the law of variety, both in form and color ; while many elements of beauty, of interest, of utility, and appro- priateness dwell within them.
The conditions of prosperity have changed in a half century : manufacturing has ceased, profitable farming has declined, and many expedients are now resorted to to round out farm life. The future prosperity of the town depends upon the development of natural advan- tages in view of our close proximity to city life. Sons
265
CIVIL HISTORY
of Dover engaged in business must be called back to live upon these hills. Strangers should be drawn here to establish homes amid this wealth of natural beauty. In the maintenance of roads the æsthetic side must be considered as well as the economic.
For thirty years strangers have been daily passing through this town on railway trains without ever stop- ping to view its extended beauty. With the advent of the bicycle all has changed, and hundreds of persons from the city and surrounding towns are becoming better acquainted with this region than many of the residents themselves.
They find a charm upon the placid Charles, or as they wheel along our winding streets amid the beauty of forest trees and cultivated fields. The landscape, with magnificent sky effects, presents a picture of great beauty, whether seen from hill or dale, of which the true lover of nature never tires. As a means of draw- ing desirable residents to the town no better invest- ment can be made than the systematic development of picturesque beauty in the roads and in the landscape.
Let us be thankful that our lines are cast in the country amid scenes of which we never tire, and sur- rounded by beauties fresh with each changing and suc- ceeding season. Let us make our town so attractive that when friendships fade, and books grow dull, and the theatres and the opera lose their charm, we may attract men and women to the country, to be interested, instructed, and elevated through the great open page of nature.
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