USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Old-time Fairhaven; erstwhile Eastern New Bedford, Volume I > Part 11
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
Our Fairhaven Branch Railroad, of approximately fifteen miles, took us to Tremont, and on to Boston. Under the date of Satur- day, August 24, 1867, we read: - "A STATION WITH TWO NAMES. The railroad station at the junction of the Cape Cod and Fairhaven Branch Railroad is, for the perplexity of travellers, named West Wareham on one side and TREMONT on the other. The tickets and advertisements of each road are printed according to its own ideas of a suitable name for the place."
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On Thursday evening, October 15, 1868, 14 years after the completion of the Road, the locomotive, when about one mile this side of Marion, ran into a herd of cows, killing two and breaking the legs of two others, proving conclusively that track pasturage was extremely hazardous.
On Friday, July 15, 1870, Church Holmes, watchman at the Fairhaven depot, was presented with the sum of $96 by his Fair- haven friends, to replace a cow killed by the locomotive the preceding week. Mr. Seth H. Keith made the presentation speech.
In 1858, Leonard Briggs was working for Paulding's Fairhaven Branch Railroad Express. In 1872, Mr. Briggs became freight hand- ler. He was drowned on Sunday, September 29th of that year, aged 41. Mr. George A. Jenney who married Sarah F. Pierce in 1873, became freight handler in 1874, serving in that capacity for
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more than thirty-five years. Mrs. Jenney died in May, 1889, in her 37th year. Mr. Jenney died in August 1913, aged 63.
The telegraph office at the depot of the Fairhaven Branch Rail- road was ready for business on February 28, 1879, with Mr. Jotham Goodnow as telegrapher, followed by Mary Butler in the following year.
In June, 1879, the gates at the Main street crossing were erected. In July, five years before, the railroad gates were placed at the New Bedford bridge crossing.
Gasoline-propelled passenger cars were operated on the Fair- haven Branch in January 1922.
More Fatalities. - Several tragic accidents have occurred on the Fairhaven Branch. Omitting those of recent years, we men- tion that of Nathan Millett, brakeman, who was knocked from the train at the Sconticut Neck bridge on November 28th, and died on December 5, 1867. On Sunday, May 25, 1873, Mr. Alexander Bannon was injured by the handcar which passed over him on the Fairhaven Branch. He died the following Saturday night. In July 1889, Benjamin F. Shurtleff, aged about 36, met his death in a railroad accident at Mattapoisett. Mr. Shurtleff and Gertrude E. Bentley were married in October, 1885.
In the spring of 1879, the Relief Engine Company of Oxford Village organized with the following officials: Foreman, Joseph C. Omey; 1st Assistant, Henry T. Willcox; 2d Assistant, Edgar C. Taber ; Clerk, Benjamin F. Drew. On July 7, 1872, a special meet- ing of Relief Engine Company, No. 5 was held and resolutions adopt- ed on the death of one of their members, Joseph Eldredge, the notice of the meeting being signed by A. G. Bourne, Clerk. Ansel G. Bourne, bookkeeper at the Tack Works, died in January 1885, the only son of Anselmn D. and Sarah H. Bourne, aged 31.
There was a particular reason for summoning the members to a special meeting, unknown to most of Fairhaven's citizenry. On Wednesday evening, January 31, 1872, a new locomotive of 27 tons, for the Fairhaven branch, arrived in Fairhaven with "Charles L. Wood" neatly painted on the cab. It was also known as No. 385. On the morning of Saturday, July 6, 1872, this same loco- motive with eleven flat cars, two box cars, one baggage car and two passenger cars slowly left the Fairhaven depot bound for Matta- poisett and stations beyond. It arrived at Mattapoisett without mis- hap, and left that station for Marion, but about three quarters of a
%
William P. Jenney House - Faced Union Street, Northwest Corner of Green Street
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mile the other side of Mattapoisett the train ran into a herd of eleven cows. The engine was thrown from the tracks, tipped over on its side, and the forward end of the boiler penetrated the bank. The tender was thrown completely over the engine. Eight flat cars were hurled from the track and piled upon and around the engine. The freight and passenger cars and occupants were uninjured. As soon as possible the passengers rushed to the immediate scene of the disaster, finding the engineer, Henry Waldron, and the fireman, Joseph Eld- redge, covered with debris. Mr. Eldredge, who had nearly every bone in his body broken, it was said, showed faint signs of life, but Mr. Waldron had been scalded to death. Both lived in Fairhaven and Mr. Waldron had been on the road, which opened in 1854, for . 15 years. Five cows were killed. The jury for the inquest was made up of I. F. Terry, James S. Robinson, James I. Church, Tucker Damon, Jr., and Bartholomew Taber.
The flag of the Relief Engine Company was placed at half- mast, as was the one on Eureka Lodge, and the one on the ferryboat "Union." Mr. Waldron was in his 56th year and Mr. Eldredge was only 30 years of age. The loss to the company was estimated to be $8,000.
Ferryboats. - "Acushnet," "Fairhaven," "Union," "Agnes," "Weetamoe," "Zephyr," "Fairhaven" (1896), "Yvonne," and "Wini- fred." - Under the date of May 6, 1833 the Mercury carried the following: - "NOTICE. The sloop boat Helen, Capt. Benjamin Kempton, will commence running this day, (Monday, May 6, 1833) as a regular Ferryboat, between New Bedford and Fairhaven, every morning at sunrise, and continue to run through the day until 8 o'clock P. M., stopping 10 minutes on each side of the river. Fare 61/4 cents." In another column this is added: - "Ferryboat. It will be seen by an advertisement that a ferryboat for passengers has commenced running between New Bedford and Fairhaven. The undertaking promises to be of public advantage in facilitating the intercourse between the two places, and we doubt not will meet with liberal encouragement. We learn that the fullest confidence may be placed in the skill of those to whose management the enterprise has been entrusted."
The first ferryboat, as we understand the term, that plied be- tween Fairhaven and New Bedford, was called the Acushnet. This was in the early thirties. The precise facts are these: - "The Ac- ushnet, a fine vessel of about 70 tons, intended as a steamboat for the transportation of passengers, etc., between New Bedford and
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Fairhaven was launched on Friday, May 24, 1833, at noon, from the ship yard of Messrs, Fish and Delano in Fairhaven."
The next ferryboat was the FAIRHAVEN, advertised as fol- lows: - "NEW STEAM BOAT FAIRHAVEN. The steamboat Fairhaven will commence her regular trips between New Bedford and Fairhaven tomorrow (Tuesday, June 23, 1835), leaving Fair- haven at 4:30 o'clock A. M. and will leave Fairhaven for the last time at half past 7 o'clock P. M. (Signed) Daniel Montague, Agent." This new ferryboat, Fairhaven, which was built in Phila- delphia, arrived on Sunday, June 21, 1835. It was further an- nounced by the Company that the steam ferryboat, Fairhaven, would run every day from sunrise until a few minutes after sunset, except on Sunday and Thursday, when the boat would run until 9 P. M., if fair weather, for the accommodation of those who wish to enjoy the evening breezes from the water.
The Center street wharf, once the terminus of Center street, was a lively place before the advent of the Fairhaven Branch Rail- road with its boat transportation to New Bedford. "FAIRHAVEN FERRY COMPANY. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the New Bedford and Fairhaven Ferry was held last Saturday (Feb- ruary, 7, 1852), and the following persons chosen directors :- E. Sawin, F. R. Whitwell, W. R. Rodman, I. H. Bartlett, I. H. Bartlett, Jr. Ivory was the first name of the Bartletts. The Fairhaven starting point of the ferry at that time was the "Old Ferry Wharf" or later "Center Wharf." The old ferry wharf was sold to I. H. Bartlett of New Bedford for $2,900 in July 1856.
We are familiar with the names of the ferryboats, "Fairhaven," "Union" and "Agnes." Fewer, however, remember the one adver- tised as follows: - "THE FERRY. The ferryboat, 'Weetamoe' arrived yesterday and will take the place of the 'Union.' Friday, Oc- tober 10, 1862."
"WEETAMOE. The ferryboat Weetamoe this morning (Mon- day, October 13, 1862) took the place of the 'Union,' and will prob- ably be on the route about a month. This ferryboat was named after "Weetamoe," the wife of Wamsutta.
And still another ferryboat is advertised: - "FERRYBOAT ZEPHYR. The ferryboat Zephyr, Capt. C. W. Coggeshall, will run regularly, twice each hour, every Sunday, between Fairhaven and New Bedford, commencing at 7 a. m. and running until 8 p. m., leaving Fairhaven on the last trip at 8 p. m. Fairhaven, May 18, 1861."
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Old ferry tickets have recently come to light. Before us lie two ferry tickets, one is worded as follows: - "Fairhaven Railroad. Season Ticket. Not transferable. Pass Lucy Damon. Between Fairhaven and New Bedford. From November 1, '65 to Febru- ary 1, 1866. (Signed) Warren Ladd, Supt."
The ferry was discontinued in 1873, then after many years, restored. On the reverse of the second ticket we read: - "This ticket was purchased the first trip of the ferry, February 24, 1896. (Signed) Z. W."
The new ferryboat "Fairhaven" was launched last week (Feb. 1896). For 23 years the ferry had been abolished. A quarter of a century later the "Yvonne," an open boat, succeeded the side- wheeler, and in February, 1921, the "Winifred" went into com- mission making her last trip on March 30, 1929. The ferry became an institution of the past.
CHAPTER IX
Meeting Houses and Churches
The Congregational Meeting House. - This Congregational meeting-house site was purchased one hundred fifty-seven years ago. Four years after the purchase of the land, the structure was raised. This building, forty-five by eighty feet, made attractive by grass plots and trees at regular intervals on the street sides, and having a spacious gallery in the auditorium, faced the south.
The first minister of the local meeting house, established in 1794, was Rev. Isaiah Weston, a man about 24 years of age, who served from 1795 to 1808. Mr. Weston was graduated at Brown University in the class of 1793, having received from that institution, which was founded in 1764, the degrees of A. B. and A. M. He died in 1821, aged about 50.
Discipline was exercised during the initial ministry. Isaac Drew, who purchased, in 1762, the lot at the southeast corner of Main and Center streets, and built the Drew homestead which was demolished in 1903, had duties assigned to him for the Sabbath. At an adjourned church meeting, held on the 11th of April, 1795, it was voted that Isaac Drew be appointed overseer to keep the boys in subjection in the meeting house, during the intermission on Sundays.
On April 9, 1803, it was voted that Mr. Weston be requested to notice any disorderly persons in the time of service in this house (afterwards Phoenix Hall), and that he call such disorderly person or persons by name at the time of their disorderly behavior.
From the time of Mr. Weston's resignation in 1808, to 1813, a period of nearly six years, no regular minister officiated, but in the latter year, Mr. Abraham Wheeler was called. Mr. Wheeler became pastor when he was about 25 years of age, remaining here until 1818. He died in 1857, aged 69.
In 1820 came Rev. Paul Jewett who was then about 40 years of age. He remained in Fairhaven two years. Mr. Jewett received from Brown University the degrees of A. B. and A. M. He was born in 1780, and died in 1841, aged 61.
Rev. William Gould, who began his pastorate in 1823, at the age of 31, in the room afterwards designated as Phoenix Hall, was an active and enterprising individual, serving that church for seventeen
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years, the longest pastorate in the wooden building, during which time it reached its acme of prosperity. Mr. Gould died in 1871, at the age of 78.
Rev. Jacob Roberts, born in England, came at the age of 28 to assist Mr. Gould. He continued at the old meeting house until the services were transferred to the new structure on the northwest cor- ner of Center and William streets.
The "Brick" Church. - The land for this church over which Mr. Roberts presided until 1855, was purchased in 1844 as shown. by three recorded deeds. It was stated in the journals of the day that on July 8, 1844, the cornerstone of the Congregational church building was laid with appropriate exercises, the newspaper notice being worded as follows: "The Corner Stone of the new church now being erected in Fairhaven by the Rev. Mr. Roberts' Society, will be laid with appropriate services this afternoon at 6 o'clock, Monday, July 8, 1844."
Scores have looked in vain for this stone. Inquiries resulted in obtaining no information leading to its location. We quote: "The Congregational Church comes next. I was at the laying of the corner- stone in 1844, aged six years, and remember the scene very well. (Signed) George H. Richardson, Newport, July, 1895."
With the land purchased, the cornerstone laid and the building erected, the next step was its dedication. This took place on Wed- nesday, September 3, 1845, with appropriate and impressive ex- ercises.
Mr. Roberts was for seventeen years pastor of the First Con- gregational Church in Fairhaven. He died in 1894.
After Mr. Roberts, came the Rev. John Willard at the age of 28, faithfully serving from 1855 to 1867. During his pastorate the beautiful iron fence was erected at a cost of $1,500. Mr. Willard died on December 1, 1913, aged 87. The cost of the church building, including a bell weighing about 1,500 pounds, from the manufactory of H. Harper & Co., of Boston, was approximately $30,000.
Following Mr. Willard, came Rev. Avery S. Walker at the age of 36. During the pastorate of Mr. Walker, who served from 1868 to 1871, the steeple which had towered into the ethereal realms above, for a quarter century, was blown down. Rev. Winfield S. Hawkes followed Mr. Walker and remained three years.
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Rev. William Carruthers came to Fairhaven in 1878, remaining until 1886. Mr. Carruthers was born in Liverpool in 1835. He died in August, 1905.
The ministers following Mr. Carruthers were Rev. Frank H. Kasson, Mr. James M. Lewis who received the Ph.D. degree in 1895, Rev. Harvey B. Greene who remained two years, and Rev. Dorrall Lee. Mr. Lee became pastor in this town July 1, 1893. He removed to Wellfleet in February, 1897. Mr. Lee died in March, 1940, in his 92d year.
The ministers following Mr. Lee were: William H. Broadhead, 1897-1900; Frederick B. Lyman, 1900-1909; James A. Lytle, 1910- 1921; Claude A. Butterfield, 1921-1923; George D. Owens, 1924- 1928; John H. Maddaford, 1929 -.
"A Condensed History of the First Congregational Church" may be found in "The Fairhaven Star" of July 22, 1921.
Lincoln, Garfield, Sheridan, Grant. - We sometimes wonder just how many persons have ever heard the musical sound of the meeting-house bell, the first church bell in Fairhaven, now in the belfry of the Oxford school; the bell that hung in the tower (de- molished in 1940) on the northeast corner of Main and Center streets for nearly a century and a quarter, and has already passed more than thirty years of its existence in the north part of the town; the bell that we found, on climbing to the belfry, bears the following words:
"The Living to the Church I call And to the Grave I summon All."
This is the bell, weighing 756 pounds, installed in the old struc- ture in 1796, that, after proclaiming the above message for nearly half a century, remained silent for nearly three score years and ten except when tolled on the deaths of Abraham Lincoln, President Gar- field and General Sheridan. The Star of 1885 adds :- "Upon Gen- eral Grant's death, the bells of Phoenix Hall and the Congregational church were tolled by representatives of the STAR." Lads, bent on celebrating the Fourth of July, have gently tapped the bell on numer- ous anniversaries.
To summarize : Bell placed in tower in 1796; Remained in the old meeting-house building for 118 years; Served the meeting-house for 49 years; Remained comparatively silent for 69 years ; A Fair- haven resident, to date, 151 years.
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Center Congregational Church. - A little less than half a cen- tury after the Congregational Meeting House had been erected, that is, during the pastorate of the Rev. William Gould, a second secession experienced by that body, occurred, this time the admirers of Mr. Gould withdrawing and purchasing land for the erection of their meeting-house.
The trustees of the Center Congregational Church, as it was called, were John G. Church, Weston G. Robinson, Roland Fish and Charles Damon. On May 28, 1841, they bought of Francis Rotch et al. (ten in all), for $1,154.44, the land, a deed of which was signed January 26, 1842, and recorded on January 27th of that year.
This land extended from Walnut street to William Rotch's land, that is, to the schoolhouse lot. The land between the present Meth- odist east boundary and the schoolhouse lot was sold by the meeting house trustees, in 1842.
In June, 1841, Mr. Eaton began the construction of the build- ing, to cost $5,600. Six months later the completed building at the northeast corner of Center and Walnut streets was accepted. Here the society worshipped until 1849, when, with a debt of approximately ยท $2,500, it disbanded. They had during their stay at the new building two pastors, Rev. William Gould and Rev. Daniel W. Poor.
The Methodist Chapel. - There are yet in town many who attended high school in the building that stood just north of the present entrance to the Fairhaven end of the bridge. Little did the pupils of those days know that they were moulding their future educational careers within the very walls where former attendants shaped their spiritual welfare years before. Instead of school desks, pews were in evidence; here sermons were expounded, Sunday Schools assembled, church meetings were held, etc.
The Methodist chapel was built, and opened for public worship in June 1830. This was, in its inception, a branch of the New Bed- ford Methodist Society, and so continued until the year 1832.
Before me lies the "Journal of the Board of Stewards and Lead- ers, called the Official Board." In fact, we have the records of the proceedings of the Fairhaven Society from March 20, 1834 until March 1, 1847. Antedating these records, two preachers in turn ser- ved the Station, viz., William Livesey, 1830-1831; Rev. Leonard Griffin, 1831-1832.
Let us look within these long-lost records to ascertain what was taking place before this building was ever considered for a public
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educational institution. Rev. Nathan Paine served as Preacher-in- Charge from 1832 to 1834. At a special meeting of this Board, held on March 20, 1834, at the house of Rev. Nathan Paine, the following members were present : Dennis McCarthy, Joseph B. Morse, George Howland, James W. Dyre, Joseph Millett, Nathan Paine. It was recorded also that "John and Elizabeth Bunker were proposed for baptism and passed." At this meeting it was voted "that a com- mittee of three be raised for the purpose of drawing up rules for the government of the Board of Stewards and Leaders." Dennis McCarthy, James Tripp, 2d and James W. Dyre made up that com- mittee.
At a special meeting of the Board, held on April 2, 1834, the committee, delegated to draw up the rules, made its report, article by article, nine in all, which was accepted. This work was headed "By-laws for the Government of the Board of Stewards and Lead- ers of the Fair Haven Station, adopted April 2, 1834." This word "station," in Methodist usage, designated a single church as a set- tled pastor's sole charge, in contradistinction to a circuit. The term "leader" used above, has the meaning in Methodist circles of a class leader - one who has supervision of a section of a church or . congregation.
It was voted "that it is expedient for the Preacher-in-Charge to present the case of all candidates for baptism for the concurrence of the Board before administering the ordinance to such person or per- sons."
We note by the records dated July 2, 1834 that Rev. Lewis Jan- son was Preacher-in-Charge. Mr. Janson's term was 1834-1835. When rumors were afloat regarding personal delinquencies such as non-payment of debts, business failures, absence from church or board meetings, these were investigated, and the Board decided the fate of the unfortunate either with or without trial. On August 10th and again on December 22d of the year 1834, several persons were scheduled for trial for neglect of Society duties.
The proceedings under the Rev. Daniel K. Banister who, ac- cording to the Brief History of Fairhaven, served from 1835 to 1836, were not recorded. This same History gives the date of the term of Rev. David Leslie as 1836-1838. The records before me, however, with the caption "Fairhaven Station, July 1, 1835," gives the name of Rev. David Leslie Preacher-in-Charge.
At this time, it was voted "that the Sabbath collections be dis- pensed with," and that "two ladies be appointed to circulate a
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subscription paper, and that Priscilla Swift and Sally Millett be that committee." George Howland applied for a license to exhort but the application was laid on the table. The estimated expenses for the year were $510.90 Ten persons on probation were passed for full membership.
On September 2, 1835, and again on September 30th of that year, classes were examined. On the latter date, one individual, it was voted, be made the subject of pastoral labor in reference to her reformation or expulsion from the church. Cases of alleged breach of discipline were constantly coming up for consideration. Some persons were continued, some discontinued, some dropped, some passed for full membership, some withdrew .. Investigations, in- quiries, admonitions and censure were common. Committees were often appointed to converse with members in relation to their breach of discipline.
At this meeting, it was voted "that a committee be raised to take the singing department under its special supervision." Another step forward was taken at the meeting held on January 4, 1836. It was voted "that it is expedient that we have a Clerk for the church, and that Timothy I. Dyre be Clerk." One committee, appointed to make investigation, was dismissed for neglect of duty.
On April 27, 1836, the committee on one individual's case reported that "his reason for wishing to withdraw is that he is not with us in Doctrine and Discipline." On May 31st, a woman was dismissed without trial from the church for breach of discipline.
On March 15, 1837, there was no preacher, and it was Resolved : "That it is, in the opinion of the Board, expedient that we have a preacher the ensuing Conference year, if it be agreeable to the will of the church." It was also Resolved: "That it is expedient some person should see that our prayer meetings should be opened and closed at a proper time while we remain without a preacher, and that George Howland be chosen for that purpose."
There is no record of the pastorate of Rev. Henry Mayo. Next we find the church under officials as follows :- "Fairhaven Station, August 7, 1839. Rev. Apollos Hale, Preacher-in-Charge." Members of the Official Board were, Rev. Apollos Hale, president; J. B. Morse, secretary; Class Leaders; Joseph Millett, John Bunker, Dennis McCarthy, James Tripp, 2d, J. B. Morse. Trustees and Stewards; Joseph Millett, John Bunker, James Tripp, 2d, Dennis McCarthy, J. B. Morse.
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During the pastorate of Mr. Hale, we find the following re- corded :- "September 2, 1839. Board meeting held this evening in Vestry of Chapel. "Voted that Brother Hale be requested to visit (several) and make known to them the feelings of the church respect- ing their neglect of attending the means of grace, and tell them of the course that will be pursued in case they do not amend." "Sep- tember 5, 1840. The probation of fifteen having expired, they were approved for full membership."
"October 27th. The probation of 28 having expired, they were approved for full membership." "June 4, 1841. The case of members whose probation has expired, it was moved that fifteen be dropped."
Isaac Stoddard was Preacher-in-Charge, 1841-1843, his name being first mentioned under the date of October 8, 1841. Records during his pastorate include the following :- One member left the church under censure for intemperance. "Voted that a committee wait on (man and wife) and others who walk disorderly." "Moved that two women be expelled from church for improper conduct and neglect of duty." Many members were dropped. "Voted that Brother Stoddard be a committee to wait on (several) to admonish or reprove them as their cases may require." "Voted, February 13, 1843, Brother John Alden be door-keeper at the Love Feast." The last date in the records of Mr. Stoddard's pastorate was May 8, 1843.
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