USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Old-time Fairhaven; erstwhile Eastern New Bedford, Volume I > Part 24
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I888
Dr. George Atwood, president Library Association since 1860, died.
I888 1889
Rogers School Hall dedicated, February 7th.
The Australian voting system was employed.
1889
Construction began on Bauldry's stable.
1889
Houses lighted by electricity.
Three graduates at the High School.
1889 1889 George H. Tripp purchased the Peleg Gifford house.
1 889
Thomas S. Dahl becomes business partner of E. M. Dean.
1890 The office of Supt. of Streets created.
1890
"Milk. Five cents a quart, at house, Laurel street. N. S. Taber."
1890 Marine Railway established south of Handy's wharf.
1890 Linden Park purchased from Hawes' estate.
1890 Population 2,906
1890 The Coggeshall Street bridge opened to travel on September 22d.
I891 Cornerstone of The Millicent Library laid.
1891 Herman H. Hathaway's paint shop erected over the Mill Pond.
1891 Green street from Spring street to Bridge street laid out.
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OLD - TIME FAIRHAVEN
1891 Atlas Tack Corporation formed.
1892 Coggeshall Street bridge completed.
1892 Cornerstone of Town Hall building laid.
1892 "Contest" engine house moved from Walnut street to Main street ; then, in 1894, to Spring street.
1892 Four hundred skaters on the Mill Pond, December 28th.
1893 The flagging in front of Town Hall removed.
1893 Fairhaven Water Company began construction.
1893 The foundry removed to Granite wharf.
1893 Uncle Ned passed away.
1894
Glass Factory moved to Fairhaven.
1894 Mr. Rogers' summer home burned.
.Two graduates at the High School.
I894 1894 Enrollment at High School 40.
1894
Alms House erected.
1895 Electric cars entered Fairhaven.
1895 Burial Hill graded, and monument erected, a memorial to John Cooke.
1896 Old candle works, head of Middle street, demolished.
1896 Congregational sheds destroyed by fire ; two' horses perish.
1896 Lewis L. Sawin sells bakery to Edward M. Dunn.
1896 New ferryboat "Fairhaven" was launched in February. Made first trip on February 24th.
1897 First Episcopal service, in Fairhaven, held on Sunday, July 18th.
1898 Fire alarm system installed.
1899 Fire at Forrest and Long's store at 71 Main street.
1899 Fred L. Breed opened pharmacy at 58 Main street in July.
1900 The bath houses of the Improvement Association moved from Pease street to Fort Phoenix.
1900 The gambrel-roofed house on northwest corner of Main and Center streets demolished to make way for Masonic Block.
1900 The selectmen of Fairhaven ordered the constables to "arrest everyone seen riding on the sidewalks."
I90I Rural Free Delivery began, September 2d.
190I Masonic building presented to the Free Masons by Henry H. Rogers. .
190I Water tower collapsed in November.
1902 Old Unitarian church building goes to the town - remodelled for schoolhouse.
CHAPTER XXII
Birthplace of Henry H. Rogers
It has been quite a jolt to many to have it said that Fairhaven was not the birthplace of Henry Huttleston Rogers, especially since the most of us would at any time be ready to take an oath that he was a native son. Let us present for future reference the statements of some of the believers of his Fairhaven nativity. . I. In "A Brief History of the Town of Fairhaven," Chapter V, page 95, Mr. George H. Tripp whose topic was "Educational History," wrote as follows: - "The schools of Fairhaven received a fresh inspi- ration, and all educational interests were quickened into new and lasting activities by the erection in 1885 of the Rogers School build- ing, a gift to the town of his birth by Mr. Henry H. Rogers." Mr. Tripp was born in the year 1853. The History was written in the year 1903. Mr. Tripp therefore, was 50 years of age at the time . he made that statement. Henry Rogers was 13 years of age at the time of Mr. Tripp's birth. It is evident that Mr. Tripp, through youth and middle age, accepted as an established fact the general impression that Fairhaven was Mr. Rogers' birthplace.
II. Leonard Bolles Ellis stated in his "History of New Bed- ford and Its Vicinity," page 394, published in 1892: "Henry Huddleston Rogers was born in Fairhaven, January 29, 1840." Mr. Ellis compiled the genealogy of the Rogers' family in 1891, which gives him the standing of an authority in making this state- ment.
III. In "A Brief History of the Town of Fairhaven," Chapter III, page 48, Mr. Lewis S. Judd, Jr. whose topic was "Religious History," stated in reference to the Memorial Church: "A loving memorial to an honored parent, from one who has evidenced in such distinguished ways his regard for his native town." Mr. Judd's father was born in 1827, 13 years before the birth of Henry Rogers. Mr. Judd, Jr. had never questioned the birthplace of Mr. Rogers. (Lewis S. Judd, Jr. died in March 1928. His father died in April 1898.)
IV. The Bristol County Journal, writing in reference to the iron fence which Mr. Rogers gave to the Unitarian Society in 1880, stated, "It is the gift of Henry H. Rogers who is a native of this fown." This statement may be found in THE FAIRHAVEN
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STAR of Saturday, February 21, 1880. For at least 40 years, there- fore, the birthplace of Mr. Rogers had been recorded as Fairhaven.
V. A pamphlet of 62 pages, commemorative of the 250th anni- versary of the settlement of Dartmouth as a town, was published in 1914. On page 60 we find : "Mr. H. H. Rogers, a native and lover of Fairhaven, has added one gift after another, from the Rogers School in 1885, to the Millicent Library in 1893, to the beautiful Town Hall in 1894, and in 1901 presented the Masons with their building."
VI. In a copy of THE FAIRHAVEN STAR of February 1, 1894, which we have had in our possession since the date of issue, we find this assertion, among other statements, making up a description of the Rogers School: "The generous donation of this building to the town on July 7, 1885 was prompted by Mr. Rogers' wish to promote the education of the youth of his native town, and furnish an enduring token of his interest in the welfare of its in- habitants." The publisher and editor of the STAR, Charles Dean Waldron, (A publisher and editor hears and sifts everything) ap- parently never had a question as to the place of birth of Mr. Rogers. .
VII. In "History of Fairhaven," by Miss Ruth L. Brockle- bank, teacher of History at the Rogers School, 1920-1923, stated in her mimeographed material of 35 pages, on page 24, under the title of "A Tribute to Mr. Henry Huttleston Rogers :" "His interest in his native town has been shown in other practical ways." On page 23, in addition to a remark about his deeds of charity she re- marked, "To his native town he was most generous of all."
VIII. On page 25 of this pamphlet a Grammar school pupil, Norma G. Weeks, who composed and read the tribute to Mr. Rogers, in connection with a pageant held on the lawn of the Rogers School on June 15, 1921, began her essay with these words :- "Henry Huttleston Rogers was born in Fairhaven." This material, it should be remembered, was corrected and offered to the public by the History Department of our public schools.
IX. In The Daily Mercury of January 26, 1883 we find this :- "The people of Fairhaven are under more than the usual obligation to Henry H. Rogers who is to be congratulated on the proposed interest he feels in this, his native town." This was before the erection of the Rogers School. It was in November, 1882 that Mr. Rogers purchased the tract of land east of the foundry.
X. In "History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, published in 1883 compiled under the supervision of D. Hamilton Hurd, we
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find this statement on page 279 :- "Henry Huttleston Rogers was born in Fairhaven, Mass., January 29, 1840."
XI. After the erection of the Rogers School on Center street, the town, at a special meeting held in Phoenix Hall on July 7, 1885, voted that a tablet be placed in the building. It was also voted to accept the wording of the tablet as moved by Hon. Weston Howland. This wording was evidently not quite acceptable to a few of the town fathers so the placement of the tablet was delayed nearly two years, until Tuesday, March 8, 1887. Now it is a safe conjecture that Mr. Henry H. Rogers, in the meantime, was consulted as to the wording. At any rate, the writer who was a pupil of the school at the time the tablet was placed in position and who had copied the wording in 1938, surmising that since so many choice pictures and mottoes had disappeared from the walls of the rooms since con- struction of the building, that the tablet, too, might have taken flight, made another inspection on Friday, October 6th of the following year, finding the inscription :- "This tablet placed here by the citizens of Fairhaven commemorates the noble and enlightened liberality of Henry Huttleston Rogers who erected this building and presented it with the land upon which it stands to his native town of Fairhaven, July 7th A. D. 1885."
XII. The dedication of the Rogers School took place on Sep- tember 3, 1885 at which Mr. Rogers made an address. At its conclusion he directed his words to those who as pupils would in part become the custodians of the property. These words were :- "My young Friends :- "I wanted to do something which would fittingly express my gratitude and the fondness I have for my birthplace with its time-honored family associations."
XIII. Franklyn Howland, author of "History of Acushnet" stated on page 135, in substance, the following :- "In July 1903, after Acushnet voted to build an addition to the Parting Ways school building, Henry H. Rogers, a native of Fairhaven, donated $5,000 to complete the construction."
XIV. In "Little Journeys," Volume 25, Elbert Hubbard wrote : "He (Henry Huddleston Rogers) was born at the village of Fair- haven, Massachusetts in the year eighteen hundred and forty."
CHAPTER XXIII
Graduations and Prize Speaking
Class of 1870. - The high school, which resulted from the action of the town meetings, served the community satisfactorily. Let us note the appreciation of our high school which existed about seventy-seven years ago as given to us by the Evening Standard :- "THE EXHIBITION OF THE FAIRHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL, last evening (Friday, May 25, 1870), was in every way a success. The large and attentive audience, the high order of talent displayed by the speakers and readers, the maturity of thought in the essays of the graduating class, and the fine music, reflect great credit upon the teachers, pupils, and patrons of the school. The prizes for excellence in declamation and readings were awarded, first to A. B. Collins ; second to Frank Burgess; and the third to Clara B. Alden, all members of the fourth class. Several others really deserved a prize. The 'Rival Poets' took down the house. We were surprised to learn that Louis Morse, who so ably sustained his part, was a few years ago a slave in Virginia. In twelve terms he has worked himself from the primer in the primary, to the second class in the high school. After the exhibition, the students made a present of Worcester's Unabridged Dictionary and a copy of Shakespeare's works to the popular and successful assistant teacher, Miss M. E. Minter, who now closes her connection with this school. Much credit is due the new principal, Mr. H. C. Crane for the increased efficiency and order of the school."
Let us see what the colored boy was doing along the educational line a year before this time: - "A SCHOLAR. A colored boy about 16 years of age, who was brought from Virginia by Lieut. James N. Cox of Fairhaven in 1865, and has lived in the family of Capt. James V. Cox since, has evinced studious habits worthy of mention. He did not know the alphabet when he arrived in Fair- haven, but was soon taught it by a child, and in December 1865, entered the primary school. This week he has passed a very creditable examination, and has been admitted to the High School. Thursday, April 15, 1869."
Class of 1873. - Let us read about the graduation exercises which took place on Tuesday, March 25, 1873, twenty-one years after the building opened its doors as was reported by E. I. B.
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"To the Editor of the Standard, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, unto God the things that are God's.' Having taken the liberty through your columns of seeking infor- mation concerning church matters in our little town, I now write to give a little information concerning our High School, and right justly proud was I to have been there on Tuesday afternoon, March 25, 1873. It has been my good fortune to have attended the closing exercises of many schools, of various grades and conditions, but never have I been present where everything pertaining to school life and discipline reflected such admirable credit upon the principal and assistants as in this instance. And, Mr. Editor, he and they rule by love rather than fear, and the fruits of it were seen and felt that day by those assembled in the old Fairhaven High School, a building neither ambitious nor pretentious in external appearance, though a few coats of paint would work wonders with that, a build- ing not possessed of all modern appliances in schoolroom furniture, but over one of the windows hung the motto, 'Upward and Onward,' and the school committee may see fit to adopt it as their motto in the matter of school improvement. Neither is there anything remark- ably picturesque, romantic or poetical, but still it is the old Fairhaven High School, and within its walls on that day were gathered quite a congregation of townsmen and townswomen, and those, too, who by and by will fill the places made vacant by the changes time will bring to every community.
The ceremonies were opened by several charming, little selections by Mr. Hill's orchestra, of New Bedford, after which Mr. Nichols made appropriate remarks introductory to the essays.
To Master F. Dunham belongs much praise as his was an exceedingly embarrassing position, that of breaking the ice, and opening the ball for the other graduates. His 'Influence' was felt to be truth, and his words carried weight with them, and he did honor to his instructor, classmates and himself.
With a degree of self-possession quite remarkable, Miss L. Tappan gave her ideas of 'Mental Effort,' and quite sure were her hearers that she believed, as she said, 'that every mind has its own peculiar way of viewing a question,' and, if I mistake not, she will live it.
Next in order, Miss Clara Alden, in well-chosen and poetical phraseology assured us that 'every cloud has a silver lining.' Miss Lilly Clark chose for her subject 'Our Future,' conveying the idea that we make our own future, and that with ourselves rested the
.
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OLD - TIME FAIRHAVEN
responsibility of being and doing honor to our manhood or woman- hood.
Miss Emma Alden very ably treated her subject, 'Things that Cost Nothing,' and in a few questions she gave us older ones, rather confused us in mathematical exchange, for example,
"Tell me in dollars and cents your loss for the magnificence of the early hour, the beauty of the landscape sparkling with dew or lovely in the hush of evening.'.
Appropriately 'Contentment' followed, by Miss Waldron, and she poured oil on the troubled waters of our hearts. From the windows of the schoolroom, mayhap, Miss N. Ellis derived her inspiration to treat upon 'The Beauties of Nature,' looking out as they do on the beautiful harbor of New Bedford, one of the most exquisitely lovely in the country, and though so wholly unappreciated by uneducated eyes who look upon it daily.
Miss H. Tinkham seemed keenly to realize the severing of ties that for four years have bound the class in bonds of sympathy and love. Her text was 'Perseverance.' Miss E. Howard said, to use a western phrase, some stunning things regarding poetry.
Sara, the prophetess, followed, second in the prophetic line of the family of Delano. She kindly prophesied the future of her classmates, and following out the womanly instincts of her nature, married them all, save one, and she, to vary the programme of everyday women aspirations, dared live on in single blessedness, possessing sufficient moral courage to live down the stigma of 'old maid.'
Last, though not least the valedictory was delivered by Master Bertie Collins in a good, solid, substantial manner, full of sugges- tions for old and young.
Miss Clara Alden gave an exceedingly fine dramatic recitation of the 'Polish Boy.' The principal then presented the young ladies with their diplomas. The principal then called upon Hon. John A. Hawes who responded. Mr. F. W. Tappan was then re- quested to lend the music of his voice on this occasion, and very pleasantly he replied.
The motto was 'The end crowns the beginning.' The exercises of the day closed by an entertainment given by the graduating class to their friends in the charming little reception hall of Capt. Hawes who very kindly and generously tendered its use for the evening. (Signed) E. I. B."
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GRADUATION AND PRIZE SPEAKING
The Class of 1877. - A class which graduated seventy years ago consisted of eighteen members. Their full names follow :- Charles Edward Alden, Mauritia Annie Babcock, Myra Armington Barney, Mary Alice Butler, Alice Claire Butman, Emma Louise Church, Henry Alden Delano, Sarah Lewis Ewer, Sarah Elizabeth Fairchild, Carrie Howe Howard, Emma Maxwell Jenney, Edgar Webster Marston, Anna Barstow Robinson, Clara Almy Shaw, Charlotte Holt Stetson, Olive Grey Stetson, Edwina Arlett Stowell, Julia Etta Bradford Swift. The Standard gives us this information : -"The school is very large for a town of the size of Fairhaven. The average attendance the past year having been ninety-six while the population of the town in 1875 was 2,768. In the same pro- portion there would be nearly a thousand scholars in the New Bed- ford high school" The same paper tells us the following :- "FAIRHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL. The exercises of the graduating class of the Fairhaven high school took place in Phoenix Hall last evening (Wednesday, February 28, 1877). The Programme con- sisted of original essays and orations, interspersed with vocal and instrumental music by the school, and occupied about two hours in performance. The class acquitted themselves in a manner which must have been exceedingly gratifying to their parents and friends. The hall was densely crowded in a few moments after the opening of the doors, and hundreds went away unable to gain admission even to the stairway. Among those who had to 'give it up' was a promi- nent member of the school committee and as nobody seemed to have suggested a ladder from the outside, he was thus deprived of the ornamental rights of his office. It was impossible to keep perfect silence in a hall so closely packed but the voice of the persistent Professor, assisted by the arm of the law, succeeded in obtaining that degree of quiet necessary to insure audible rendering of the parts. At the close of the exercises, the chairman of the school committee presented the diplomas to the members of the class in a speech which was doubtless interesting, but could not be sufficiently heard to be reported. After singing the class song, composed by Emma Church, benediction was pronounced and the audience dis- persed."
Class of 1878. - About a quarter of a century after the establishment of the Fairhaven High School in the former Methodist Chapel, a graduation with the annual exhibition, took place in Phoenix Hall. This was at 21/2 o'clock P. M., on February 8, 1878. The schools in town were closed several weeks 'earlier than
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. OLD - TIME FAIRHAVEN
usual, the appropriation made at the annual town meeting in 1877, having been exhausted. The members of this high school graduating class were :- Eben Lloyd Akin, Bessie Louise Allen, Elizabeth Mackie Allen, Otis Bradford Bryant, Alice May Delano, Emma Trafton Delano, Elizabeth Stevens Delano, Emma Lothrop Dun- ham, Ella Clifton Nye, Lizzie Byron Pratt, Addie Sumner Taber, John Huttlestone Taber.
The program of the high school exhibition was as follows :- Piano trio : Misses Taber, Pratt and A. Delano; Essay : Friendship, Bessie Allen; Oration : Our National Wealth, Otis Bryant ; Essay : Recollections, Emma Dunham; Essay : Conversation, Lizzie Allen ; Piano Duet : Misses E. Delano and Pratt; Oration: The Waning Crescent, John Taber ; Essay : Human Faces, Addie Taber ; Reading : Emma Dunham; Essay : Nature, Lizzie Delano; Piano Solo: Addie Taber; Essay: Sisters of Charity, Lizzie Pratt; Oration : Warfare, Lloyd Akin; Essay : Scraps, Alice Delano; Piano Duet : Misses Taber and Pratt ; Essay : Syllables, Emma Delano; Reading : Bessie Allen; Essay with Valedictory: Nowadays, Ella Nye. Then the diplomas were presented by Charles H. Morton, secretary of the school committee, followed by the class song.
The next day the Standard related :- "The high school exhi- bition in Phoenix Hall, yesterday afternoon (Friday, February 8, 1878) was crowded, and many people went away without getting inside the door. The graduates partook of a- class supper at the home of their classmate, Miss Alice, daughter of Moses H. Delano, Esq. At the same place, in the evening, there was a very enjoyable fancy dress party complimentary to the elder daughter of Mr. Delano, the popular and accomplished first assistant in the high school."
Miss Annie H. Delano afterwards became principal of the high school at Mattapoisett. She succeeded Miss Amanda F. Sears as Principal of the Rogers School in 1887. Mrs. Manter afterwards taught school for several years in North Attleboro. She died on June 11, 1941, aged 89.
Exercises of 1886 and 1887. - HIGH SCHOOL PRIZE SPEAKING. A large audience assembled in the third story of the Rogers School yesterday afternoon (Friday, July 2, 1886) to listen to declamations by four members from each class in the high school, for a first and second prize offered by the principal. The prizes were the works of Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott. The titles of the recitations follow :- American' Battle Flags, William
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GRADUATION AND PRIZE SPEAKING
M. Allen; The Indian Girl, Annie M. Thompson; The School- master's Visitors, Minnie L Westgate; The Soldier's Reprieve, George B. Luther; The Rising in 1776, Lizzie G. Mackie; The Widow's Light, Grace P. Burgess; The Patriots and the Traitor, James W. Hammond; Massachusetts and South Carolina, Norman M. Paull; Sister and I, Jeannie C. King; Impeachments of Hastings, Frank R. Barrows; Eulogy on Lincoln, Augustus P. Reccord ; Launching of the Ship, Frank S. Alden; Jane Conquest, Lizzie Beetle; The Widow of Glencoe, Lula H. Loomis ; Angels of Buena Vista, Grace B. Gifford; Curfew Must not Ring Tonight, Mattie L. Norris.
The first prize was awarded to Augustus P. Reccorde and the second to Lizzie Beetle. Honorable mention was made of Lizzie Mackie, Frank Alden, Grace Burgess, Mattie Norris, Norman Paull. The Committee on awards were Rev. J. M. Leighton, Rev. W. F. Davis, Col. George L. Montague, Mrs. J. M. Leighton, Miss Annie Delano."
On Friday, March 25, 1887 another school event took place. The exercises at the High School with Mr. Z. Willis Kemp as Princi- pal, consisted of original essays dealing with the various subjects in the school curriculum, together with recitations and music. Among the essays were the following :- "Civil Government," Sumner W. Mackie ; "Chemistry," Lizzie Mackie; "Commercial Arithmetic," Willie E. Alton ; "Latin," George E. Ellis ; "Astronomy," Augustus P. Reccord ; "Trigonometry," with demonstration, Norman M. Paull ; "Algebra," with demonstration, George B. Luther. Recitations were rendered by Mattie L. Norris and Annie Thompson.
Classes of 1888-Grammar and High. - Nearly 60 years ago, on Friday, June 29, 1888, the pupils of the graduating class of the Rogers School, consisting of 23 members, nine girls and fourteen boys, presented their teacher, Miss Annie H. Delano, with a hand- some vase. Master Albert L. Braley made the presentation speech. (Albert was the son of Capt. Loring Braley who was married to Miss Bessie B. Whiting on October 29, 1868.) The closing exer- cises were held in the morning. The graduates were as follows : Amy B. Lavare, Adeline L. Bates, Albert L. Braley, Arthur I. Reccord, Alice M. Tallman, Bertha M. Damon, B. Franklin Tappan, Charles A. Harris, Charles H. Burgess, Clara F. Hathaway, Caroline A. Jenkins, Clarence A. Terry, George P. Taber, George E. Briggs, Henry W. Taber, James G. Card, John M. Hillman, Martha H. Wilbor, Mabel L. Potter, Mary R. Babbitt, Russell Hathaway, Jr.,
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OLD - TIME FAIRHAVEN
Seth J. Besse, William B. Studley. The class motto was "Push Your Pound."
This was the year when the school committee decided to dis- pense with formal graduation from the Rogers School. Previous to the day of graduation, the members of the class were entertained at the home of Miss Mattie Wilbor on Bridge street, on Friday evening, June 15, 1888.
At the high school nearly 60 years ago, (1888) the graduating parts were assigned as follows: Valedictorian, Ethel L. Warren ; Salutatorian, Lizzie G. Mackie; Prophetess, May B. Hathaway ; Historian, Alice P. Coggeshall; English Essay, Lulu H. Loomis : Emily P. Allen and Helen B. Copeland were also members of this class. The age of the oldest member was 20 years, 11 months, 6 days; that of the youngest was 18 years, 1 month, 17 days. The average age was 18 years, 11 months, 21 days.
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