USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Notes on Wenham history, 1643-1943 > Part 11
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LIBRARY
When the new schoolhouse was completed, the large room in the Town Hall occupied by the grammar school was left vacant. This room, long coveted for a library, now became available. At the town meeting March, 1907, a general remodeling of the first floor of the town room was agreed upon, and a sum not exceeding $2500 was appropriated for this purpose.
The committee appointed, cleaned and painted the old school room and installed book stacks and library furni- ture ready to receive the books.
The general alterations commenced in October when the library was closed, and the books removed to the new quar- ters. All that winter there was a group of volunteer work- ers who worked with a cataloguer supplied by the State, preparatory to publishing a catalogue of the library, as well as making a card catalogue.
Established in these new quarters, with reading room and properly arranged book stacks accessible to the pub- lic, the library became of greater value to the town and the trustees continued to adopt new methods to meet the needs of the public.
Neighborhood Book Service was established first in the East school, on petition of Addison Williams, for a weekly distribution of books through an agent for the neighbor- hood. This was adopted by the other more remote dis- tricts of the town at a nominal cost of $10 yearly for each district. The boxes in which the books were packed were made by the manual training class in the schools. Miss Wilkins was in charge of the Neck distribution, Mr. Addi- son Williams of the East district and Mr. George Bowden of the West district. This service was maintained for some years and greatly increased the circulation by bring- ing the library to those living in the distant parts of the town.
Instruction in the Use of the Library. A new field of work was started in 1915, when a trained instructor was employed to teach the children of the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades how to use the library, and do their own li- brary work. This correlation of school and library work
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was a great stimulus, and greatly increased the usefulness of the library.
World War I Service. Wenham, through the efforts of the trustees, contributed a large number of books and the sum of $90.27 to provide libraries for the National Guard camps.
Mr. Benjamin H. Conant, who had served the library as librarian for thirty-seven years, died in 1921. The resolutions of the trustees at that time testify to the appre- ciation of his work, quoting in part, "the passing of Mr. Conant leaves a memory of fidelity, interest and simpli- city ; and the library has lost not only its librarian, but its parent and conservator. Mr. Conant's love for books and devotion to their care dominated his whole life. He had almost an intuitive knowledge of the books most worth while; a remarkable memory empowered him to give a most unique type of service to library patrons."
Miss Mary Batchelder, after a course in library train- ing, became the successor of Mr. Conant. The library was then in very good condition, both in the condition of the books and its classification and catalogue.
After the withdrawal of Miss Batchelder to accept a better position, there followed a period when there was no permanent trained librarian to coordinate the work.
Mrs. Frank Burton in 1928 was chosen to take charge of the library. She brought to the position the experience of a successful teacher and a desire to take advantage of all specialized library conferences to fit her for specialized library technique. With the assistance of the State in supplying a trained worker, in a few months the library again became systemized and an increasingly pleasant room to visit. The disorder, which from time to time had been a library problem, was corrected.
Story telling, which was conducted for some time by Helen (Aylward) Page, was of necessity confined to the nearby children and so in order to make it possible for the children living at a distance to enjoy this privilege, the story hour was transferred to the school and ceased to exist as a library service.
Inter-Library Loan. The resources of the library have been enlarged for several years by the benefit of the inter- library loan system. This service enables people working
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on a special subject to obtain additional material to help them in their work by drawing from the resources of the large libraries.
Circulation. The average circulation for the last few years has been approximately 12,000. A lack in increase in the circulation is due to two factors: the giving up of the district distribution and the increase of books in the school library. During this year (1943) it is interesting to notice the call from the families of people in the armed forces who are eager to read books about the countries where our troops are serving.
Wenham Library Service has, throughout its whole his- tory of sixty years, been a story of devoted volunteer ser- vice. The Boards of Trustees have often been working boards, adding to the efficiency of the library by their con- tributions of thought and work and material.
Funds. The library has also been the recipient of three trust funds.
Edwin Dodge Hawkins (1841-1897), eldest son of Benj. F. and Eliza A. (Dodge) Hawkins, was born in Wenham (according to his statement in the brick house on the corner of Larch and County Roads). He attended the public schools and learned the trade of a shoe maker. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was living in Tamworth, N. H., where he enlisted in the 3rd N. H. Vol- unteers. An invalid the last ten years of his life, he al- ways took a lively interest in the affairs of his native town, and beside the bequest to the Public Library, he be- queathed a similar amount to the Congregational Sunday School for its library.
Mary Woodbury Neilson Fund. This fund of $3000 was a bequest from the daughter of Isaac Woodbury, the hymn writer, who formerly lived in the Tirrell house (site of present Philip Horton Smith house). After mov- ing from Wenham, Mrs. Neilson continued her interest in the town, sending each year a fine selection of contempo- rary non-fiction books, and at her death she provided for this fund with which to purchase yearly non-fiction books.
Judson Dodge Fund. By the will of Elmer Dodge of Danvers, this fund was left in memory of his father, Jud- son Dodge, who was the son of Adoniram Dodge, in whose shop was kept the first District Library.
FIRE PROTECTION
There is no record that Wenham had a bucket brigade, characteristic of the larger towns, neither have any leather buckets, used by those brigades, been found in the town.
In 1821 the town ordered the Selectmen to procure six ladders and three fire-hooks. It may have been at this time that the houses for these ladders were built. Lad- der houses were in the three districts of the town for many years and were taken down in 1924.
The first fire company was organized in 1835; an en- gine was purchased by subscription, costing $200. This engine was very small, and was filled by hand. The town voted to build an engine house. This first company was kept together for a few years only, and then disbanded, and sold the engine.
Another company was organized in 1849 and a new engine "Enon"1 was purchased by the town for $900. This engine was built by E. Leslie of Newburyport, and for it the town built another engine house. This com- pany consisted of forty-eight members, and Wenham people showed their appreciation for this effort to give fire protection by staging a gay holiday at the Lake. At this time the company was presented with a silver trum- pet and the ladies of the town presented a banner.2
In 1887 another company was formed, this time of forty members, with Otis Brewer as forman. This com- pany has continued to the present time, and made an honorable record in service to the town for more than half a century. The names of Ivory Quimby, Frank Tarr, Horace Kilham and the present chief, Frank Sar- gent, are recalled as enthusiastic members of the company.
In 1918 the town realized the necessity of more mod-
1 Enon is now permanently housed in the "Barn" on the Historical grounds.
2 This banner is preserved and shown in the "Barn."
3 Material for early history of Fire Department, from Secy. book .- W. H. Col., Vol. 33, 34.
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LADDER-HOUSE AT WENHAM NECK Removed in 1924
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ern equipment as the valuation of the town increased, and purchased a Ford triple combination for $2700. In suc- ceeding years, additional equipment has been purchased, giving adequate machinery to fight fires. To supplement the lack of water, twenty-seven cisterns have been built in different sections of the town. The average number of calls for the department yearly is sixty, largely grass fires.4
4 Listing of important fires in town .- W. H. Col., Vol. 21.
POSTAL SERVICE
It is difficult today to understand the conditions under which postal service was carried on before 1840. Postage was seldom prepaid; the usual rule was to send "Collect on delivery." This entailed much work done by the post- office for no remuneration, as many letters were refused on account of the large amount of postage due. Stamps were not used by the government until 1847.
Local stamps, "Private Dispatch Post," had a limited use in 1842, and "Postmasters Provisionsal" for con- venience.
These notes on the Wenham Postoffice are from the Wellington Poole Collection :
HISTORY OF THE WENHAM POST OFFICE Established in 1809
The names of the Post Masters, with the date of ap- pointment, was obtained from A. E. Stevenson, First Assistant Post Master General, under date of January 11th, 1887, in answer to a letter by Wellington Poole addressed to the Post Master General, asking for the information. The location of the early offices was added by Mr. Poole. Post Masters.
Thomas Barnes, appointed April 21st, 1809. Office in the old tavern, corner Main and Arbor Streets.
Uzzial Dodge, July 6th, 1812. Lived in the old tav- ern, but don't know where he kept the Post Office.
John T. Dodge, March 20th, 1818. At the old tavern.
Ezra Lummus, August 19, 1830. At Lummus Tavern, i.e. the brick house, corner Main Street and Larch Row.
Adoniram J. Dodge, March 24th, 1837. Office kept at his wheelwright shop which stood near the western end of the house on Main Street, recently occupied by the late James H. Perkins. The post office (box) may be seen at the Barn.
John A. Putnam, June 25th, 1846. At Putnam's store.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT, 1891
1
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Benjamin C. Putnam, Aug. 3rd, 1857. At Putnam's store, site of the Tea House property.
Nathaniel S. Gould, April 25th, 1862. At Gould's store, formerly the Putnam store.
Elisha P. Chapman, June 2nd, 1866. At Gould's store, kept by E. P. Chapman and Co. (formerly Put- nam's).
William W. Fowler, January 16th, 1867. At Gould's store, kept by W. W. Fowler (formerly the Putnam store).
Henry Hobbs, Sept. 19th, 1870. At his harness shop (next to the Congregational church) for about six months, then at the Union store. John W. Curtis, Asst. Post Master.
John W. Curtis, Sept. 25th, 1878. At The Wenham Co-operative Union Store (built 1870).
Andrew D. Trowt, Nov. 5, 1880. At A. D. & W. F. Trowt's store (formerly the Union store).
Kate M. Kavanagh, Dec. 23, 1885. At the house on Arbor Street, built by Benj. C. Putnam, for one month, then at Procter K. Brown's shop on Main Street.
Fred P. Stanton, Nov. 26, 1886. At A. D. & W. F. Trowt's store.
Andrew D. Trowt, April 7, 1897. At A. D. & W. F. Trowt's store.
William P. Porter, Sept. 10, 1912, at his own store on Main Street (formerly F. P. Stanton's and W. H. Flynn's. )1
Frank J. Lucey at Wm. Porter's store until the fire. May 1, 1937, adjoining building renovated for post office.
NOTE: The old Tavern house mentioned above was torn down in May, 1854 (Moses E. Clark's dairy). The Putnam store was built in 1845 or 46 and the Post Office was kept in this building until it was burnt on Monday morning, May 23, 1870, together with the barn and con- necting shed belonging to the store, and a small dwelling house, large barn and other out buildings on the estate of the late D. John Porter. The fire was discovered about half-past one o'clock A. M. (W. Poole's notes.)
THE CHURCH
For the first two centuries, the history of the town em- braced the history of the church. The town and church body combined in choosing the pastor, and the town appro- priated money for his salary, and the upkeep of the meet- ing-house.
Neither the town or the church records give any indi- cation of the reason that brought to an end this close asso- ciation.
In the year 1833, the town made no appropriation for the support of the pastor, or care of the meeting-house. In this same year, 1833, the church society starts a new book, which begins, "The first annual meeting of the Parish." This seems to indicate this is the time of sepa- ration.
About this period there was a great revival of religion. Was this change brought about because of divisions among the Protestant people, based upon slight differences in theological interpretations ? Was it because of the found- ing1 of the Baptist Church at the Neck, two years before (1831) ? Did this new church indicate that there were people in the town of varying shades of belief who were no longer interested in keeping a particular sect in con- trol of the religious thought of the town ?
During the last hundred years since the separation of church and town, the church affiliations of Wenham people have been varied.
In addition to the two Wenham churches, there have been established at South Hamilton, three denominations which have the support of some Wenham people. A lim- ited number have their church interests in Beverly, Salem and Danvers.
Of the two churches in the town, the Parish of the Con- gregational church, the original church, founded in 1644, has a supporting membership of one hundred fifty-two. Rev. Frederick Vaill, pastor.
1 "Rise of Little Jacob," 1831-1931, by Louis Dodge.
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The Baptist church, 1831-1943, has a supporting mem- bership of sixty-two. Mr. Herbert Leazer has been the non-resident preacher for sixteen years.
Reviewing the story of these two churches, one is im- pressed by the valiant service of the women1 in main- taining the church organizations. To them has fallen the duty, and they have accepted the responsibility of the upkeep of the church property. They have built, equipped and remodelled vestries, they have built and provided improvements for pastors' houses, paid debts, and have ever been the court of last appeal. This has all been accomplished by self-sacrifice and ingenious ways of devising methods of making money.
Union Church (Methodist). As the community at South Hamilton commenced to grow, at the end of the nineteenth century, Miss Abby Pingree of Wenham be- came concerned by the lack of religious services.
She helped establish a Sunday School for the children, held in private homes. This effort grew into group meet- ings for adults and finally in forming the Peoples Union Society in 1891, and the Peoples Union Church was dedi- cated in1896, which combined four denominations. Later, in 1920, the church was accepted in the Methodist Con- ference, and has so continued to the present. The Society has a sturdy church building and a supporting member- ship of one hundred and twenty.
Christ Church (Episcopal). With a supporting mem- bership of one hundred and seventy. Organized as a Mis- sion in 1912, meetings were held at Smith Hall and the Chase building, until in 1915 a portable building was secured. In 1921 the Bishop approved the change from a Mission to a Parish. The new church was built in 1927. The present rector, Rev. W. F. A. Stride, has been with the Parish for twenty-four years.
St. Paul's Church (Catholic). First started as a Mis- sion from Ipswich in 1905, services held in Smith Hall. In 1912 the present church building was erected. The present supporting membership is between seven and eight hundred. This number includes children, who are always contributors, though in small amounts.
1 W. H. Ms. Col., Vol. 21, "The Ladies So. of Baptist Church" -Ruth Prince.
SPORTS
In the twentieth century the sports in Wenham have ¿ been more confined to group play. These are days of organized and supervised sports, replacing the initiative and ingenuity of the young who want fun. Formerly, the boys found a swimming hole, and taught themselves to swim, made their ice-boats, and raced them on Pleasant Pond. Boys and girls of whatever station in life had duties, chores, and their leisure time was not idle time. Today group play leaves many idle hours, which civic- minded people are ever trying to arrange to have filled.
Tennis. Two hard-surfaced courts have been built and are supported by the Village Improvement Society : Mrs. Frederic Ayer, chairman. These courts give an oppor- tunity for the young to learn tennis under a trained in- structor, and to the older people the opportunity to play in the late afternoon and evening. In addition to these courts there are seven on private estates.
Bowling. The bowling alleys at the Community House made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. George Mandell offer, during the winter season, a con- tinuous round of sport for many groups of players.
Golf. Wenham has two golf courses, one a private course, started by Wenham people in 1900. As Beverly membership increased, the Wenham Golf course, as it was called, was taken over by a Club, formed of mainly Bev- erly people.
The other golf course, the "Lakeview Golf Club," ad- joins the Wenham course, and is on land of Mrs. Ethel Wentworth and conducted by her. This is a public course, over which fifteen thousand people played the past year. This course is free to men in the service.
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TOWN ORGANIZATIONS IN 1943
As the nineteenth century merged into the complex twentieth century and transportation became increasingly easy, we find the Wenham community breaking up into organizations to meet the needs of different groups of people.
Wenham Village Improvement Society. This tercen- tenary year of the town is also marking the half century of the Village Improvement Society. A half century is a noble span of years for the life of a volunteer civic organ- ization now numbering two hundred and six. The forma- tion of these groups, called Village Improvement Soci- eties, spread like an epidemic all over the country during the 80's and 90's. Wenham was in the van of this move- ment when it was organized by Miss Adeline Wilkins, April, 1893. This civic organization seemed to fill a need, as a surprisingly large number of women joined, not previously identified with church or other organiza- tions. The first work undertaken was very modest, dig- ging up the burdocks along the County Road, followed by cleaning up, grading and planting the untidy bits of ground forming the intersections of the streets. These "triangles" as they were called added much to the neat appearance of the town, and were cared for by the Soci- ty for twenty-five years. The coming of the automobile created new problems. The planting of trees and shrubs so obstructed the view that they were cut down and from this time the "triangles" in their chastened condition were cared for by the town. Subsequent projects under- taken were street lights, signboards, browntail and gypsy moth work, summer sewing schools, and manual training and sewing in the schools. Funds to carry on this work were raised by fairs, garden parties, flower shows, and similar devises. When finally the budget called for $1500 yearly, it was evident some more permanent method must be found.
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Tea Houses were just beginning to be talked about, and this seemed the answer. Mrs. Thomas Pingree had be- come president and sponsored the undertaking. Miss Helen Burnham became chairman of the Tea House Com- mittee, and Mrs. Edward Cole of the Woman's Exchange, to open an opportunity of home employment for Wenham women.
The expectation was that passing automobiles would hail with delight the sight of a tea-room, but it did not work that way. The tourist of those days, once he got started, kept moving, satisfied by the feeling of getting on. The customers were friends from nearby towns.
The former harness shop of Henry Hobbs, next the church, was converted into an attractive tea-room, but with the gradual increase in customers, the necessity of larger quarters became apparent. The land of the Tilton place was purchased and when paid for, a commodious house was planned, the nucleus of the present Tea House.
Volunteers. Through all these years of increasing busi- nss, which has necessitated various additions to the origi- nal house, a staunch group of volunteers has given of their time and interest to carry on the work.
Community Work was made possible from the income of this enterprise. A community house is maintained in winter, a skating rink and two tennis courts have been built, a summer playground is maintained, in addition to many minor contributions to the community welfare, thus fulfilling the charter "to make the town a pleasant place in which to live." The third president of the Society, Miss Helen Burnham, has for thirty-five years given of her best in carrying the Society through the problems and anxieties of these years of growth. Mrs. E. L. Mitchell, who has conducted the Exchange for the last ten years with such rare taste and ability, reports some surprising figures at this anniversary period. The Exchange has paid to Wenham people $15,182 for home work and for employment during the past year.
Hamilton and Wenham Grange. An aftermath of the Civil War was the founding of the "Patrons of Industry" to better the conditions of agriculture. The branches of
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this organization are called granges, and represented in Wenham by the Hamilton and Wenham Grange, being a unit of Chebacco Pomona. This local grange has a mem- bership of about thirty and at the present time is largely of a social nature, with instructive programs for monthly meetings.
Girl Scouts were formally organized in 1916, though a skeleton troop was conducted by Miss Mabel Welch be- fore this. There are now approximately thirty members. A troop committee, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Theo- dore Hollander, sponsors the program of the troop under the national organization.
Boy Scouts, organized in 1912 through the interest of the pastor, Rev. Fred Cutler, and has continued an active organization in proportion as active leaders are available to carry on the national program.
Wenham Historical Association, a subsidiary of the Vil- lage Improvement Society, has the responsibility of pre- serving the records of the present and the past. It has purchased and preserved the Claflin-Richards house, print- ed four volumes of Town Records-1642-1787, maintains the house and valuable collections, which include the Doll Museum. It has built a barn in which is incorporated timbers of the old church on Tarr's Hill and timbers of other seventeenth century buildings.
This barn houses tools and relics of the past, and serves as a meeting place for town organizations.
Mapleville Chapel Association, Inc. This Association was started in the West District of the town to make reli- gious services more easily available to the people in that district. At first there was a Sunday School in the school- house. Then, under the leadership of William Morgan, a fund was raised by subscription to purchase land and materials for a building. The labor in building was con- tributed by the neighbors, and the chapel was dedicated Dec. 4, 1889. Mr. Alden White, a native of West Wen- ham, gave the pulpit and three pulpit chairs in memory of his father, Alden White (formerly lived in house now occupied by Roscoe Batchelder).
The preaching was by theological students, and later by Mr. A. D. Gorham, after he finished his long pastorate
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at the Baptist Church. Finally it became impossible to support even the visiting pastors, because of the many old farms which had been sold and combined into large es- tates, and the newcomers had other church affiliations. From this time, at the very beginning of the twentieth century, the Association has been a neighborhood social organization. It is now closed for the duration, and meet- ings are held at private homes at rare intervals.
Norman Prince Post. This Post of the American Le- gion was formed in Wenham in 1919. The name selected was in honor of Lieut. Norman Prince, the only Wenham man to be killed in World War I. Lieut. Norman Prince served in the Lafayette Escadrille. There are twenty- nine active members, and though a small Post, is a very active one. It sponsors the Boy Scouts.
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