USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Narrative history of South Scituate-Norwell, Massachusetts > Part 9
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Scituate > Narrative history of South Scituate-Norwell, Massachusetts > Part 9
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John Foster, son of Deacon Hatherly Foster, kept a public house across the way from Eugene Langdon's place on Main street. This house was one of the oldest in town, built in 1697, and was the center of much local history. It was used as a tavern, a store was also stocked and dur- ing the Revolution, and even later, town meetings were sometimes held in the hall on the second story. It was in the "Foster" family for about 150 years and was torn down in 1898 by James Green, who owned the property at that time.
About 1680 Job Randall, who lived on River Street, where several generations of the Torrey family have since resided, just opposite the way leading to the shipyard, now known as the "Chittenden" yard, but at that time the property of Randall, who built several vessels there,
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ANCIENT FOSTER HOUSE,
Main Street. Torn down 1898. Said to have been built in 1697. Was tavern, store and residence.
HOTELS, INNS AND TAVERNS
used also to keep a public house or tavern for the accom- modation of travelers. There is a tradition that no less a personage than Judge Sewall was his guest at one time.
Historia, a little magazine of local history, published in Norwell some 40 years ago, had this item in its Feb. 1899, issue :
JOB RANDALL
(Mr. Randall lived at or near the spot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Harriet Torrey, River Street, Norwell.)
Mass. Historical Society Boston, Dec. 13, 1898
Dear Mr. Turner
Perhaps the following extract from Judge Sewall's diary may interest you. (Judge Sewall was the noted jurist, who pronounced sentence upon persons accused of witchcraft, and lived to do penance for his act).
April 17, 1708-Col. Hathorne, Mr. Corwin and myself set out for Scituate. Lodged at Job Randall's on April 18, heard Mr. James Gardener of Marshfield.
I presume that the Job Randall here mentioned is the one who name appears on the third page of "Historia." Again Sewall writes under date of April 25, 1719, that he "set out for Scituate and got to Mr. Randall's about 5 o'clock."
SAMUEL A. GREEN
The farm is now owned and occupied by the family of James Liddell.
Paul Clapp's Tavern
In the old Colonial mansion of George E. Judd, Paul Clapp conducted a tavern from about 1836 to 1842. This house was for many years the home of Rev. Samuel Deane, a minister of the Second church of Scituate, and it was here that most of Deane's history of Scituate was written. About 1844 the family of Samuel Hart, a retired naval constructor and a son of Edward Hart, who was
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HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE- NORWELL
master builder of the Frigate Constitution at Boston, purchased the place and it was occupied by the family un- til about 1900. Joseph T. Hart, a son, and his wife, Nellie (Brownell) Hart, with their son Joseph, being the last to occupy it. Dr. Hayward W. Cushing, George Whitcomb and Arthur Coombs were among the later owners.
Snow Bryant's Tavern
In the Mount Blue section, Snow Bryant ran a tavern for some time in the early 30's. The place was later owned by Henry F. Ford and was used by himself and his successors as a general country store. The Mt. Blue postoffice was located here until it was supplanted by the rural free delivery from Cohasset. In Bryant's day a large swinging sign with a black horse announced to the traveling public "Entertainment for Man and Beast," and the members of the local company of militia quenched their thirst after strenuous drills in the field opposite.
Half Way House
One of the most important taverns of the last century was the "Old Half Way House" on Washington Street, across from its junction with High street. In the early stage coach days it was known as "Leonard's Tavern," being built by Eliphalet Leonard about the year 1800, and was a regular stopping place for the "Cape" and Plymouth stages on the road to Boston. William Smith, the Whittens and others were early proprietors. In Civil War times it was under the management of the "Kimballs," father and son, Oliver succeeding his father. Later Charles E. Brewster came up from Duxbury and ran it for several years. John Welch of Boston, Prescott Shaw of Rockland and "Landlord" Smith of Rhode Island followed. There was a bowling alley and livery stable connected with the hotel and it was a favorite gathering place for the sporting men of those times; also for the traders and farmers to swap both lies and horses. It burned down forty years ago and was not rebuilt.
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OLD HALF-WAY HOUSE Where the Plymouth-Boston stages halted. A well- known tavern. Burned on July 12, 1885. (Cut loaned by Chief Justice Cushing Chapter D. A. R.)
NEW HIGH SCHOOL Built 1936-37. On land of former Brooks farm, Main Street. Dedicated June, 1937 (Photo by Elwin Gould)
HOTELS, INNS AND TAVERNS
Ridge Hill House
Soon after the Half Way House was burned, the Dex- ter Wilcutt shoe shop, later the Gideon Swan shop, was remodeled and Landlord Smith of the Half Way House set up a tavern there. Following Smith, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Wilder were in charge. Otis H. Perry and John Benson also ran the place for a number of years. It is the last one of the old time taverns still used as a public house and was later known as the Bay Path Inn.
Turner House
About the year 1880, Edwin A. Turner, a native of South Scituate, who had been conducting a store business in Greenbush for the past twelve years, returned to South Scituate and built a hotel on the "Hill." From time to time he added to the original building and for many years he and his wife, Eliza H. Turner, conducted one of the best known old time hotels in this section. Traveling people, the itenerant showmen, actors and lecturers of those times all put up there. William T. (Comical) Brown, Professor Bateman the phrenologist, "Yankee Glunn," Kimball with his panorama, the movies of those days; Dunbar the singer; Edward Emerson the impersonator; the Perkins, colored singers; were all their patrons year after year when they showed in town. So were the prominent orchestras of the times. J. How- ard Richardson of Boston; Knowlton and Allen of Na- tick; the Fadettes of Boston; when they played for Thanksgiving and February 22nd dances that some of the local organizations always gave on those nights. When the telephone first came through the town the local ex- change was established there with Mr. Turner as man- ager. Dr. Harry J. Little had his office there for many years and later Dr. Handy for a time. After the deaths of both Mr. and Mrs. Turner, the building ceased to be used as a hotel, it being owned and occupied for a time by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holland, and later in 1924 it was purchased by Mrs. Theresa Bruno, who changed it to an
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HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE-NORWELL
apartment house. It was destroyed late in November, 1926, when the store building on the property caught fire and burned.
7
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CHAPTER XXI
THE NORTH RIVER BOAT CLUB
FARLY in the '90s the young people living near the North River in the town of Norwell and Marshfield become very much interested in boating and canoeing. The river in those days was very different from what it is today. The tide, owing to the bar which had formed near the mouth rose and fell very slightly, so that it was seldom, except in extreme high course, that it overflow- ed the banks very much, neither did it ebb so low as it does now. Gundelowing was still in vogue and in the summer months the meadows were alive with men getting the hay.
Many of the young men owned either a sailboat, row- boat or canoe, and although the river was too narrow and crooked to allow real good sailing, yet time being not so important in those days and knowing nothing of the swift- er automobile and motor boat, they managed to get a great deal of enjoyment from them.
Summer people were beginning to come into town and they also took up the sport. Finally it was proposed that a club be formed and a boat house built. A meeting of all interested was called and on September 4, 1893, the North River Boat Club was organized. The first officers chosen were: President, Horace T. Fogg; vice-presidents, Henry Norwell, and Charles E. Lincoln; secretary, Arth- ur L. Power; treasurer, Henry J. Corthell.
Building and finance committee, Samuel Turner, Eb- enezer T. Fogg, Frank Thomas, Arthur L. Power, George Cushing, Henry Norwell and Henry J. Corthell. An en- tertainment committee, Dr. Henry J. Little, Walter R. Torrey, Henry J. Corthell and Joseph F. Merritt were en-
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HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE - NORWELL
trusted with the task of arranging entertainments to pro- cure funds for a building.
During the winter entertainments and dances added a substantial sum to the treasury, and were very pleasant affairs.
A piece of land adjoining the town landing at Union Bridge was leased of Mrs. Julia R. Thomas and a house built, Nathaniel Phillips of Marshfield having the con- tract. This house was 24x30 ft. with a platform in front 10 feet wide and a narrower one along the sides. The front platform was covered with an awning and a run led to a float moored in the river. Over the building the club burgee of blue and white, the club colors, and the National Flag were flown. The house was stained a ter- ra cotta with white trim and was very attractive. The building was dedicated June 18, 1894, with speaking, boat racing, tub races and fireworks and dancing in the eve- ning. The records state that the club furnished nothing stronger than lemonade for the occasion. During the next few years affairs of the club were very satis- factory. Minstrel shows, dances and entertainments were given during the winters and in the summers races and dances at the club house, so that it gradually came about that much of the social life of the village centered around the activities of the club.
It is recalled that at one of the minstrel shows given by the club, one of the local colored people, a very clever buck and wing dancer, was secured to help out. While the members of the troupe were being blacked up with burnt cork, he looked thoughtful for a few minutes and said, "It's no use our colors don't match. You will have to put some of that stuff on me."
It was the custom at the dances in those days to some- times have a turkey supper, at other times just oyster stew. In this instance the committee decided on the stew. Now there was nothing the matter with the stew because it was "built" by Seth Fitts after years of exper- ience in that line and was all right. The trouble was that
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NORTH RIVER BOAT CLUB HOUSE At Union Bridge. Built 1893. Removed 1899.
THE NORTH RIVER BOAT CLUB
the committee, in their anxiety to swell the building fund, priced the supper on the basis of turkey, rather than oys- ter stew. It was some time before they heard the last of a remark said to have been made by a Rockland man that he found only one oyster in his stew which must have died of lonesomeness and grief at the narrowness of the club.
It was very pleasant of a Sunday afternoon to watch the boats manoeuver, and the evening assemblies, with the building and town landing decorated with Japanese lan- terns and red fire and "White's" orchestra playing the popular airs of those days, were looked forward to by the young folks for miles around.
It became the custom to have an opening day each year similar to the one on which the building was dedicated. An elaborate set of racing rules was adopted and many races took place between the boats of the various mem- bers, the trophy being a silver cup which was presented by the club. This cup went the rounds and is now held by the Power brothers. These races were hotly contest- ed, and the rivalry was very keen. The racing commit- tee were sometimes called on to decide some quite fine points. In the fall of 1895 the club was incorporated. It was represented in the coaching parade, organized by Miss Jenny Cushing, July 5, 1897, by a float.
During 1896 and 1897 two of the members, C. Walter Sparrell and Ebenezer T. Fogg, died.
A glance at the records shows that Charles E. Lincoln, Ernest H. Sparrell, George Cushing and Arthur L. Power successively held the office of President.
Dr. Harry J. Little served as vice president and chair- man of the racing committee. Andrew J. Litchfield, Jr., as vice-president and clerk; James L. Ewell and J. B. Henderson on the House committee.
A list of the members shows the interest that was taken in the club and also the interest that many of the older men took in helping the cause along.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE - NORWELL
Daniel J. Buckley, George Cushing, Joseph H. Corthell, Elliott W. Crowell, Henry J. Corthell, Fred M. Curtis, George S. Corthell, Dr. Hayward W. Cushing, James L. Ewell, J. Warren Foster, Ebenezer T. Fogg, Horace T. Fogg, Thomas Gaffield, Edw. W. Humphrey, John Burton Henderson, Emanuel P. Joseph, Dr. Harry J. Little, An- drew J. Litchfield, Andrew J. Litchfield Jr., William F. Lawrence, Joseph F. Merritt, Henry Norwell, Harry Nor- well, Bruce Norwell, Walter T. Osborn, Edgar F. Power, Arthur L. Power, Percival G. Power, Ashton Sherman, C. Walter Sparrell, Nathaniel Phillips, Ernest H. Sparrell, Charles W. Sparrell, Herbert S. Turner, Willard Torrey, Walter R. Torrey, Frank Thomas, Samuel Turner, Wil- liam D. Turner, Major Samuel K. Williams.
The day after Thanksgiving, November 1898, came the awful storm and tidal wave which caused the sea to break through the beach between the Third and Fourth Cliffs, making a new mouth to the river. One of the club mem- bers John Burton Henderson, his brother, Fred L. Hend- erson, Albert C. Tilden and George Ford, all closely iden- tified with the club, lost their lives while in a camp which was overturned and washed away, all four being drowned.
After the storm a few meetings were held but no social activities. With the new mouth to the river the boat- house floor was flooded at every tide. Interest was gone and it seemed that it would not be possible again to enjoy sailing owing to the changed conditions. A meeting was called September 8, 1899, to see what action the club would take towards raising or disposing of the boat house. It was voted to sell it at public auction. This was done, it being purchased by Walter T. Osborn and moved to his place on Winter street.
On September 16, it was voted that the North River Boat Club be dissolved. It was also voted that the rec- ords be presented to the clerk, Joseph F. Merritt, and that he be requested to preserve them.
Thus ended the North River Boat Club, after an exis-
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THE NORTH RIVER BOAT CLUB
tence of only six years. The old saying, "A short life and a merry one," might well apply.
Another chapter is closed in the story of the river. The day of the sailboat passed with that of the ship- builder, the old packet and gundelow.
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CHAPTER XXII
STORES AND STORE KEEPERS
ROM very early times the country store has always played an important part in the history and develop- ment of towns and communities, and the complete story of them, if it could be told, would be very interesting. They were the clubs and gathering places of the people, politics and town affairs were discussed there, slates were made up for the various town offices, and arguments on local, state and national politics were often very heated. People took their politics and all public questions much more ser- iously in the days preceding and soon after the Civil War, than they do today, and the present generation cannot un- derstand the intense bitterness over, often trivial political differences, between men who were closely associated in business and social affairs. The post office being a polit- ical job was for many years a source of rivalry.
In many of the towns it was the custom for the se- lectmen when working on town business to eat at the expense of the town. One evening the loafers congregat- ed at a certain store were discussing the selectmen in the pleasant way town officials are discussed at about election time and this custom was coming in for a great deal of criticism. One of the men declared that he was going to make a motion at the next town meeting to have it stopped. The man who told me this story, some years ago, said that there was actually a vote taken at the next meeting in regard to the matter.
The late Jonathan Hatch, himself a store keeper and town officer, used to say that when the grocery store orators were in session that it was never safe to leave until the meeting broke up as those who did were sure to
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STORES AND STORE KEEPERS
be "vilified" by those who remained. He said it was safer for all to leave in a body.
In the earliest days the storekeeper was known as a trader and his store was usually a small building attached to his house. There were many of these in what is now Norwell. The Bryant-Cushing house, the Elisha Foster and the Delano house on River Street, each had a store attached and in the case of the Foster house now the property of Edward P. Keefe, the building is still there. Later, stores began to be built at cross roads and advan- tageous points, many of these locations being used for the same purpose today.
In the square at South Scituate, John Nash had a store and postoffice in the '20's. He was the first postmaster in that village, appointed in 1828. The store was on land that was owned by the family for over one hundred years and was one of the more important of the older stores. We are told that many of the local officials congregated there and that much of the business that was transacted at the annual town meetings was first discussed at this place. It was next door to the selectmen's office.
At about the same time Ebenezer T. Fogg had a store near what is now the late residence of his grandson, a President of the Rockland Trust Company. In 1835 with the establishment of the Scituate Institution for Savings, now the South Scituate Savings Bank, he became the first treasurer serving until 1861. He also served two terms in the "House" and was Selectman for a number of years.
His son Ebenezer T. Fogg Jr., followed in the same line and built a store on the land of the First Parish across the way from Mr. Nash's. He also purchased the old "Nash" store and attached it to his new building. Like his fath- er he soon entered the banking business succeeding him as treasurer of the South Scituate Savings Bank serving from 1861 to 1897. He entered politics and, like his father, served two terms in the Senate. He was clerk and treas- urer of the town for many years until his death in 1897. October 5, 1884 the store was burned and was replaced by
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HISTORY OF SOUTH SCITUATE - NORWELL
the present building. Soon after Mr. Fogg sold the busi- ness to his clerks, Andrew J. Litchfield and Fred M. Curtis giving all of his attention to the bank and town business. They continued for a time, being succeeded by A. J. Litch- field and Son. Later by C. S. West and Son, Earl Nash and Son and Elmer E. Josselyn. When the firm of Litchfield and Curtis dissolved, Mr. Curtis went into business for himself. He was succeeded by Curtis and Bates, M. E. Curtis Co., E. H. Sparrell, Joseph Totman and later by Harry S. Merritt. Elmer E. Josselyn is the present occupant.
Thomas Tolman came to this town from Hingham late in the '50's. He had just returned from the California mining region. He first began to manufacture buckets but soon gave this up and built a store on Central Street, just off the "Square". This he ran until a short time before his death. John Nash a grandson of the first postmaster ran it for a time and was followed by E. Clough and Co., with H. S. Turner as agent. Mr. Turner soon after bought the business and moved it to a build- ing of his own on Main Street. This was burned in 1926.
A short way up River Street nearly opposite the way leading to the "Chittenden" yard, David Torrey had a store with a hall in the second story for dancing. This was in the '40's. Mr. Torrey was the father of Deputy Sheriff Willard Torrey and David Torrey who were in the trunk manufacturing business for many years. Other sons Everett and Charles were in the marble business in Boston, Frank in Italy and his son George Howard suc- ceeded him in the store and also ran a tailoring business. This was discontinued years ago and the building, a typ- ical old style New England store was torn down by his grandson George E. Torrey, about twenty years ago.
Alfred Litchfield had a store at the corner of Central and Summer Street built in 1854. His sons Charles A. and Andrew ran it for a time. The property now belongs to John Whalen's daughter, and has not been used as a store for more than fifty years. Previously in an older
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LANDSCAPE SCENE, CHURCH HILL
(Photograph by Jared Gardner)
STORES AND STORE KEEPERS
building on the same property Mr. Litchfield kept store for some years, succeeding Charles Cole who formerly carried on business there.
Henry F. Ford conducted the store and postoffice at Bryant's Corner, Mt. Blue, for a long time. Later his nephew Atwood, carried it on for a time and since then there have been several owners. It has since been torn down.
Between the residences of E. H. Sparrell and Alexander Black there was a store for some years owned by Parsons Bowker. This was later moved away and made into a house.
Alpheus Damon's store at Assinippi was doing business fifty years ago and was later occupied by J. H. Leary. It has been vacant for some years.
Melvin Little, a native of Marshfield, came to Church Hill in 1867 and set up a store. He was in business con- tinuously to 1932 a period of sixty-five years. He had a fund of anecdotes and was a very interesting man to meet.
A part of his store was at one time used as a school house and is said to be of great age. Mr. Little died in 1933.
Irving Henderson has a store on Main Street, which he built in 1927. He conducts a general store business, and his customers come from a wide area.
Austin Lincoln has a store in the square at Mount Blue. He built here and has been in business since 1917.
John H. Prouty was running a store at the "West End" soon after the close of the Civil War. He later was in Kansas for a time. He returned to Massachusetts and was for years a registrar of voters and in the real estate business. Two of his sons are officials of Norwell.
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CHAPTER XXIII
WILDCAT AND OLD POND
IN the history of Scituate, written by Samuel Deane near- ly one hundred years ago, he speaks of a certain hill which is located on a very little travelled wood road lead- ing from Pleasant to Pine Streets, in what is now Norwell, as "Wild Cat Hill." To the south a large tract of swampy land extending almost to the Hanover line, once the mill pond of the Old Cornet Stetson sawmill, that was burned in the Indian raid of 1676 was referred to as "Old Pond Swamp.
Since that time this section broadly speaking, including Pleasant, Forest, Pine and Circuit streets has come to be known as "Wildcat or Old Pond." While it is now largely grown up to woods and has some of the prettiest roadways in town it was in early times the home of many of the families prominent in the town and some of the largest farms were in this locality.
Here were the homesteads of the Clapp family, Tilden, Stowers, Elijah, John and others. The John Clapp farm was a regular plantation. It stood back from the road- way and included a saw mill and blacksmith shop on the property. Just across the stream in Hanover the farm and mill later owned by Samuel Church were located. The Otises were always priminent residents here, Daniel and his son, John and Ephraim being among the later ones. John's son Joseph C., who died in 1931 was the last representative of the old families left in this locality. Here lived his great, great grandfather Dr. Ephraim Otis whose quaint old army commission signed by the mem- bers of the Colonial Council, in the absence of the Gov- ernor, is still in existence. It bears the date of 1757 and
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WILDCAT AND OLD POND
is on parchment. The site of the old Prince Otis farm on Circuit street has long since grown up to woods and few know where it is located.
The Turners, Albion, Job and Bailey held large tracts here and Albion at one time was largely interested in mills and lumber in other parts of the town. Edward H. Tin- dale now owns most of the Turner holdings and has ex- tensive apple orchards on them.
Back in the Revolutionary days John Hatch was locat- ed here and had a mill on what is now part of the Tindale property. The Winslows, Tolmans, Watermans, Brooks and Gardners, were early located on the southerly side of Old Pond. The Nathaniel Turner farm still stands at the cross roads of Pine and Green Streets, and the overgrown cellars still show where once stood the Barrell, Lapham and other houses.
In very early days it was the general custom for the more well to do of the settlers to hold slaves. The Indians captured in the Indian wars were sold into slavery and African slaves were also kept. Indentured servants were, I believe, not so common here as in some parts of the colonies but the apprentice system was so strict as
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