Needham's bicentennial celebration; a record of the exercises and a memorial of the celebration at Needham, Massachusetts, on the two hundredth anniversary of it's incorporation. Pub. by the Celebration committee;, Part 8

Author: Needham (Mass.); Sutton, Thomas. comp. cn
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Needham, Printed by G. W. and W. M. Southworth
Number of Pages: 316


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Needham > Needham's bicentennial celebration; a record of the exercises and a memorial of the celebration at Needham, Massachusetts, on the two hundredth anniversary of it's incorporation. Pub. by the Celebration committee; > Part 8


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In the seventy years of contest between Great Britain and France for supremacy on this continent, men who lived on this soil, although their homes were far from the scenes of conflict, shared with the vic- tories and defeats of the British generals, some of whom were ill adapted to commands in the wilderness. It is true that there were but few officers among our men, but the soldiers suffered much in those northern cam- paigns, and found there their training school for the war of the American Revolution.


The story of the later wars is long, and fills many pages in our history. The soldiers of the American Revolution and of the great Civil War did credit to this town, and their deeds will be commemorated as long as patriotism appeals to men.


It is an interesting fact that no prisoners of war have been billeted, or placed in Needham for one hun- dred and fifty years. The reason why no prisoners were sent here during the War of the Revolution is not clear, but perhaps because there were but few paroled officers in Massachusetts, and the privates were not sent to the smaller towns.


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I feel that I have a remote association with the Battle of Lexington, for in my childhood I was often taken to call upon a very ancient blind lady, Miss Agnes Austin, who was born in Charlestown and lived there for many years, and who delighted to tell her visitors that she saw the British troops under Earl Percy and Lieutenant-Colonel Smith on their return at the close of the memorable nineteenth of April, 1775. A considerable number of the soldiers had thrown away their red coats, and much of their equipment. The first legacy that I ever received was under the will of this venerable lady, who was a distant connection of my family.


The annals of Needham also record honorable achievements in peace, of which we may justly be proud. In the years of poverty following the War of the Revo- lution our town began to maintain its schools from thirty to thirty-six weeks each year, and continued this custom, although until within forty years of the present day many prosperous towns in this Common- wealth provided for their children only two terms of twelve weeks each, the winter and the summer term. Our citizens have never refused to tax themselves in the cause of education, and have given the schools prominence and efficiency for many years. It should not be forgotten that for six years Wellesley College was one of our institutions, and the story of its founding, and of its rapid growth is a part of our history. To some here present the time seems not so far away when we went to the town-farm to attend the meetings of the town, and to vote at State and Federal elections. Then our citizens came from the villages of Wellesley, and Grantville, and the Lower Falls, and they were not merely friends and neighbors, but were Needham men. Those who live in the Town of Wellesley take pride in its prosperity, and its beautiful homes, but our history is their history, and will ever remain so.


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NEEDHAM'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION


During the first one hundred and fifty years Need- ham had interesting and varied industries,-faggots, paper, glue, hats, shoes, silk, cotton and woolen goods, hinges, doors, blinds, machinery, iron implements, and paints, with the usual complement of sawmills, grist- mills and cider-mills, but of them all only the paper- mills at the Lower Falls gave continuous employment to any considerable number of persons. Fifty years ago the manufacture of knit-goods began to be of consequence, and to-day is by far our largest industry, and the product of our factories is widely and favorably known.


A century ago the community consisted chiefly of farmers, and as late as 1848 this was an agricultural town, although West Needham had been somewhat changed by the building of the Boston and Worcester Railroad. Even in those days Needham was esteemed a healthy town, and invalids were sent here by noted physicians. To-day Needham is one of the suburbs of Boston, the business interests of many of its people are largely there, and agriculture as a calling is of the past. The reputation as a health resort, which our town enjoyed sixty years since, not only has not been diminished by the presence of a comparatively large, and constantly growing population, but has been in- creased by its fine town water, and its freedom from epidemic diseases. The light and dry soil may not have been an unmixed blessing to the farmers of the olden time, but it is a source of health and comfort to the people of to-day.


Needham has been the residence of few men of national importance, but it has been the birth-place, or ancestral home, of many whose names are known and honored beyond the bounds of this Commonwealth, as well as within its borders. Of those now living there are several whose life-work has been of benefit to thous-


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EXERCISES IN TOWN HALL-GEORGE K. CLARKE


ands. At different periods authors have dwelt here, both men and women, whose literary productions were esteemed in their day, and in some instances have proved to be of permanent value. West Needham has a longer list of writers than has our present town, and its name is linked with that of Dr. William T. G. Morton, the immortal discover of ether as an anaes- thetic in surgery.


We had hoped that the President of the United States would be here at some time during this Bi- centennial celebration, and if it is true that no President of this Republic has visited us, while in office, since our great first President was here in 1789, it is time that we should have an opportunity to again extend our hospitality to the Chief Magistrate of the United States. Vice-Presidents have come to Needham, but I think not in recent years. In the old days West Needham was on the direct route to the interior of the Province, and the Royal Governors, travelling slowly by coach, or on horseback, and often stopping for re- freshments in our town, knew it well. Before the days of railroads there were stage routes through the town, and several taverns flourished here, some of them well- known for the good cheer and comfort found beneath their roofs. The Washingtonian movement of more than seventy years ago was the first efficient uprising in this State in behalf of temperance in the use of drinks, and doubtless did even more than the coming of the railroad to close the taverns. Probably the earliest tavern in Needham was Mills's at the Lower Falls. Ben- jamin Mills was its landlord in 1705, and his hostelry had the advantage of being on one of the main thorough- fares, and Governor Joseph Dudley, Judge Samuel Sewall and other dignitaries patronized it, so we may infer that it was fairly well kept. There were a number of later taverns in town, but of those within the limits


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NEEDHAM'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION


of the present town the McIntosh Tavern was perhap- the most prominent, and until Mr. Revere built Nehois den Hall, sixty-seven years ago, its large room was the place for public meetings, social gatherings, and dances. Anecdotes have come down to us of good times in this old tavern, and of amusing occurrences there. The building was burned after it had ceased to be a public house.


It is difficult to tell who was the pioneer among the first settlers of Needham, but it was probably either a Mills or a Dewing. It is true that the Fisher family had owned land in what is now Needham as early as 1650, but apparently they did not live here until much later. Captain John Fisher was appointed in 1703 by Governor Dudley to look after the Natick Indians, which he found no easy task, and at that time his home was on the north side of the Charles River. Captain Fisher had been a soldier in King Philip's War, and was the captain of the first company of militia formed in the Town of Needham. Lieutenant Andrew Dewing was in command of the garrison-house near the Charles River, in the Ridge Hill section, during King Philip's War, two hundred and thirty-five years ago, and may have had some of his family with him. The forty petitioners for the incorporation of of Needham represented twenty-one distinct families, but of the twenty-one only Alden, Dewing, Fuller, Kingsbury and Mills, and perhaps Fisher, have des- cendants of the same surname living in Needham in 1911, and of these the ancient Fullers are reduced in number to one young lady. The Town of Wellesley possesses some of the Fullers, and also the Wares, and possibly might add one or two other names to the list. The Woodcocks and Hunttings have disappeared within the recollection of many here present, and for several years there were no Dewings in Needham.


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The older Needham is passing away, the populous suburb, perhaps destined to preserve its identity, but certain to be a part of a metropolis, is already visible to prophetic eyes. May the three hundredth anniver- sary be celebrated by a people as loyal to Needham as those who have done so well their part in this year of Grace nineteen hundred and eleven, even though far greater changes come than have yet been known, or dreamed of."


The closing number of the program was the singing of a selection by the chorus, "Tenting Tonight."


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THE PUMPING STATION- DEDHAM AVENUE


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19


THE PARADE


THE PARADE


One of the most interesting features of the cele- bration, and the one thing to which the multitude had looked forward with the greatest expectation was the Civic and Trades' Parade, which took place in the fore- noon of the 19th.


The formation of the parade was as follows:


Miss Grace Elwell, Alice Elwell and Mary Delvin, mounted, the last on a colt from the stables of E. G. Pond which was broken by the young woman herself


Platoon of Police


Needham Military Band


E. G. Pond, Chief Marshal


E. Wesson Adams and Mr. Singleton, Aids


Sons of Veterans, and the following town officers, guests and prominent citizens occupied the carriages in the parade:


William G. Moseley Henry T. Childs William Probert Austin Potter Edgar H. Bowers George A. Hosley, Senior Vice Commander, Depart- ment of Massachusetts, G.A.R.


Charles A. Wood, Commander Post 63 of Natick


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NEEDHAM'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION


Edwin A. Taylor, Commander of Galen Orr Post, 181, of Needham


John A. Tilton


Fred Orr of Melrose


Fred Kingsbury of Wellesley


Members of Post 63, Natick


Members of Post 62, Newton


Members of Post 121, Hyde Park


Float-Town Seal, which was one of the great features of the parade, represented by John F. and Sumner B. Mills and George Lyman Kingsbury. The two Mills brothers were dressed in an accurate reproduction of the early woodsmen, and Mr. Kingsbury took the part of the Indian "Nehoiden". The background was a miniature of the familiar scene on the corporate seal. It was particularly fitting that the original transfer of the land to the early settlers should be expressed in tableaux two hundred years later by members of two of the oldest and most prominent families of the town


Miss Nina Aker, with a Shetland pony team


Needham Fire Department


Natick Fire Department Wellesley Fire Department Dedham Fire Department


Needham Water Works Department


Float-Highway Department. with steam drill pulled by the steam roller-representing rock drilling 1711-1911. At one end of the float three men were industriously drilling a small rock, two were striking with sledges on a drill held by the third; while at the other end a modern steam rock drill was steadily drilling through a large boulder by means of steam supplied by a twelve-ton road roller which at the same time fur- nished the motive power for the whole


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THE PARADE


Float-Needham Young People's Association. This float had numerous placards neatly printed, describing the various features of the organization. The entire float was draped with red, white and blue bunting. On the platform of the float, Mr. Caddick gave a demonstration of weight lifting and physical exercise at frequent intervals during the entire course of the parade. After the parade the rooms of the Association were thrown open to the public


A. O. U. W. Degree Team


Boy Scouts


Twenty-seven members of the Carpenters' Union led by the president, Irving R. Stowell, and carrying banners Fife and Drum Corp


PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES OF THE TOWN


Float-William Carter Company, Underwear Manufacturers, with sixteen barges carrying their employees. This exhibit was five miniutes in passing a given point. Lead by an exhibit of modern machinery. Largest feature in the entire parade


Float-Moseley & Company, Knit Goods, drawn by two horses and displaying the various completed products of the mill, as well as showing the yarn from which they are made just as it originally comes into the factory, then the cloth and finally the finished gar- ments. There was a group of six little children dressed in knit caps, sweaters and leggins, and accom- panied by two of the men employees. A sign was shown above the whole with the trade mark, "Tiny Wear." A sign on the side of the float below the platform had the firm name "Moseley & Company, established 1880." Those on the float were-


William H. Jackson, and his three little children Lawrence Jackson


Lewis Jackson Albert Jackson


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Samuel J. Wilson and his three little children George R. Wilson Ruth A. Wilson Robert B. Wilson


Float-George E. Wye Company, Knit Goods. This ex- hibit consisted of two four-horse floats, the first depict- ing a Shaker colony scene composed of five young ladies and the overseer, conveying the idea of the origin of the so-called Shaker sweater. This float bore the title "Ye Knitting of 1711," the imperson- ators being costumed after the old Shaker style. The other float bore the title "Knitting of 1911," it being intended to convey the idea of the modern knitting establishment,-displaying the modern sweater knit- ting machine and power sewing table, together with the modern and common office appliances of the tele- phone and typewriter. Both of these floats were enclosed and ornamented with colored trimmings. On the top of each float was the enlarged trademark of the Company, the first being the letter Y with its accompanying design and the second the Great Dane dog's head with its accompanying lettering, and both bore the following inscription:


Est. 1888 Inc. 1905 GEORGE E. WYE COMPANY Pleasant Street and Dedham Ave. Manufacturers of the GREAT DANE SWEATER BATHING SUITS AND JERSEYS


Float-William Bourne & Son Piano Company, highly decor- ated, with a piano player attachment in full operation during the entire parade


Float-Edward E. Dailey, Paper Box Manufacturer, dec- orated with red, white and blue bunting, drawn by four black horses. Suspended from the saddle of each was a suggestion of the lapse of two hundred


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THE PARADE


years, in yellow and white chrysanthemums, 1711- 1911. Arranged as a pryamid were red, white and blue boxes from the top of which floated the American flag. Around the base of the pyramid were seated the employees each dressed in white, wearing hats made box-shaped, trimmed with tri-colored bands, and waving the Bi-centennial pennants. At the front of each hat was a gilt letter arranged to spell the name of the employer. In the rear two girls, one holding a bundle wrapped in paper and tied with twine-1711- the other a box-1911-represented the old and new way of wrapping goods for shipment


Float-The Edison Company, large and decorated, with an exhibit of household articles run by electricity-a most attractive and practical exhibit


Float-New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, large and decorated, with a switchboard in full oper- ation


Adams Express Company, one team driven by William F. Eaton


Bailey's Auto Express


Matthes Express


Float-Wilfred G. Blades, Builder, with a miniature house, accurate to the smallest detail


Alfred Parker, Contractor and Builder, one decorated team The Old Niagara Hand Tub, well-remembered by those who "ran with the old machine." Its picturesqueness was a little injured by having it "manned" by horses


H. S. Locke & Son, Lumber-one four horse decorated wagon loaded with building material. Geo. Palmer, driver


Howard A. Crossman Company, Hay and Grain, represent- ing the old farmer going to grist on horseback in 1711; a single team representing the business in 1886; a six horse gray team representing the method of doing business in 1911


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E. G. Pond, exhibit from Noon Hill-deer, fawn, eagle, a coon and an owl, guarded by a fine terrier


BUSINESS HOUSES Grocers


Adams Brothers, five highly decorated teams


T. J. Crossman's exhibit with Mr. Crossman leading, on horseback. Then five wagons decorated with some of his numerous articles of merchandise. Following came a wagon advertising the tea and coffee depart- ment and driven by Mr. C. M. Donahue, a clerk who had been in his employ fourteen years. Second came a wagon advertising paints, oils and varnishes driven by Mr. J. F. Durbin, also a clerk for fourteen years. Third was one of the finest and most unique of all the teams represented, the cracker team deco- rated by the Sunshine Biscuit Co. and advertising their goods. This was driven by Mr. H. T. Smith. The fourth was trimmed with bunting and decorated with general groceries advertising those on sale at "Crossman's Corner," driven by Mr. C. L. Crossman, father of the proprietor. The fifth was also decorated with flags and advertised general groceries, driven by Mr. A. B. Crossman, son of Mr. T. J. Crossman. The horses were all decorated with plumes and pennants, and altogether with the wagons made a fine appearance


J. J. Whetton, represented by three single grocery delivery wagons, decorated, and driven by employees. Notices called attention to two good looking serviceable horses that had been in the service for twenty-three years, Bill and Bell, twenty-nine and thirty years of age. Two double coal wagons, one loaded with a new burning fuel called Briquetts-Highland Coal Company. One decorated float representing the Cunard Steamship Company of which Mr. J. H. Whetton is agent, manned by persons in uniform of the Steamship Com- pany and carrying the Cunard House flag


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THE PARADE


Samuel Smith, Groceries and Provisions, one decorated wagon driven by Thomas Gambel


Provisions


Thomas Sutton, two newly painted wagons decorated with the national colors, bunting and plumes, the first called a butcher cart, representing an old-fashioned way of supplying provisions in the out-lying districts, drawn by a brown horse, Major, who had been in the service for eighteen years, and driven by James E. Tisdale the past eight years; the second, an order wagon driven by Robert H. Kaymes for ten years, representing the present method of order and delivery in the more thickly populated portions of the town C. W. Woodbury, a wagon decorated with bunting and a display of vegetables


Oliver Crisp, one decorated delivery wagon driven by F. Donald Webb


Dry Goods


C. E. Cushing, a small two-wheeled cart drawn by a Shet- land pony of diminutive proportions. A tower deco- rated with bunting and flags and surmounted by a small rubber boot was built over the cart, which itself was partially covered with signs advertising his goods. In the centre of the tower a large sign reading


"Always there with the Goods"


was shown, reading alike on both sides. Master Ray Gavagan was the driver


Coal and Wood


Pioneer Coal Company, Joseph Willett, Proprietor, was represented by a float drawn by a pair of well-matched black horses. On the float were nine snow-white coal hods filled with "sparkling black diamonds"; also coal shovels painted blue and white; large signs lettered "Established 1872" and "Prompt Delivery"


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NEEDHAM'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION


The whole surmounted by the firm trademark and draped with the national colors. The driver wore a miner's cap surmounted by the regular mine lamp


Poore & Chadwick, one double team loaded with coal, driven by John Murray


Farm and Produce


Pine Valley Farm, showing the old settler who plodded along with his ox-team load of produce


Webb Farm-Milk


Hillside Farm-Float decorated with bunting, flags and yellow corn, displaying the utensils used in the care of the milk from the stable to the consumer. A well groomed cow with its calf also added to this very in- teresting feature. The second float contained the milkers in white coats and caps. Two milk wagons covered with bunting and flags finished the display from Needham's leading dairy


Jerry Bond-Vegetables, Garden Truck


F. H. Whipple-Distributor fruit and vegetables


D. Simon-Cattle


S. Rosenblatt


David Cohen-Fowl


Frank Marsilli-Vegetables


John H. Fitzgerald, Village Blacksmith, decorated float with a forge in full operation and a pony being shod. Oldest established business under the same management, 1869


Ice


Needham Ice Company, Frank A. McIntosh, Manager


Union Ice Company, Thomas Kilmain, Proprietor


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THE PARADE


Painters and House Decorators


Bemis & Jewett


Frank L. Brown. This float represented a painter of 1711 and two painters of 1911, with advertisements of varn- ishes and lead


F. H. Clews drove a Ford Runabout, Model T auto, to show how it could be used in his business,-painting. He had a box attached where the rumble seat fits on, to carry stock in, and on the sides were two large pla- cards, one telling the fact that he had painted the town hall and gilded the dome for this occasion, the other telling of his success in business using King's best lead and oil. The auto was draped in the national colors


Fruit


Charles Stevens & Son, two teams loaded with fruit and richly decorated


Frank de Fazio


Baker


C. A. Leader had one one-horse bakery wagon dressed in the national colors and driven by Charles A. Leader, Jr.


Teaming and Contracting


John Lawson had a double team driven by Thomas Kenefick with two Italians shoveling on it. It also carried Mr. Lawson himself. A single team next driven by Walter Frederick Lawson with George Menan and a fellow Italian named Pete Tine on it. An Italian named John Marriot drove the third team. On this there were five Italians showing how to use the pick and shovel


S. Goldman


Hardware


L. Hirshberg


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Florists


P. E. Richwagen. A wagon loaded with flowers and foliage plants. Wagon decorated with bunting, horse with flags, driven by his son, P. Burnhardt Richwagen. A second wagon, a light delivery or democrat, decorated with flowers in body of wagon, outside with bunting, horse with flags, driven by his son, Earl W. Richwagen


Denys Zirngiebel


Upholsterer


Wendall Hasenfus-decorated float with three employees showing the process of upholstering furniture


Float-Cold Spring Boat House, which consisted of a two- horse float carrying a modern canvas canoe richly painted and decorated. The canoe was completely furnished with carpet, cushions, back rests and pad- dles, and had a United States flag at the stern and Union Jack with Canadian coat of arms in the bow. The decorated canopy was supported by oars and paddles


Sons of Temperance, Leonard Dawson dressed as Nehoiden for whom the Lodge is named, carrying the iron in- signia of the Order surmounted by the regalia worn by the First Worthy Patriarch of the local division, William N. Ayers, fifty-four years ago


Dedham Wet Wash


Hathaway's Bakery of Waltham,-a concern that has sent teams to Needham for thirty-seven continuous years. One of the two teams was driven by L. F. Kimball, one of the first drivers; the second by the present driver, W. R. West


Waltham Laundry, George Twigg, local agent


Underwood & Company of Natick, furniture and household utensils


John McDowell dressed as a colonial, on a motor cycle


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THE PARADE


Howard A. and Mrs. Crossman, Irving E. Ross, Mrs. Ross and Irving Jr., in auto beautifully decorated with wisteria, representing Japanese family.


Gordon Turner with two automobiles


George E. Wragg and family in decorated auto


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THE VETERANS


SOLDIERS' MONUMENT IN NEEDHAM CEMETERY


THE VETERANS


The Bicentennial Committee made thoughtful provision for the local veterans of the Civil War.




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