USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Old-time Fairhaven; erstwhile Eastern New Bedford, Volume I > Part 28
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Dr. Courtland DeN. Fairchild died in December, 1916, in his .55th year. The funeral of Dr. Isaac Fairchild, his father, was held on Sunday, May 16, 1880. Nearly every physician of New Bed- ford was present. This service was Episcopal, Rev. George A. Strong of Grace Church officiating. Emma M., widow of Dr. Isaac Fair- child, died in June 1899, aged 68.
In a recent book, entitled, "Whale Ships and Whaling," by Albert Cook Church, is a full page representation of "Last of the Shipsmiths, Maker of Whalecraft, Edward R. Cole, at the Old Forge in Fairhaven, Mass." Maria Louise Cole, wife of E. R. Cole, died in March 1930, aged 63. Ella E. Cole, his sister, died in December 1916. Luther Cole, his father, died in January, 1902, in his 80th year, and Sarah R., his mother, died in November, 1902, aged 78. Luther Cole was married to Miss Sarah R. Carsley, of Fairhaven, in April, 1847.
The writer was relating recently that Miss Ella Day (who became Mrs. George L. Bauldry, in 1887) when returning from New Bed- ford in the year 1880, attempted to walk upon the trusses of the old Fairhaven draw, with the result that she sustained a fractured collar bone and dislocated ribs, when to his surprise the auditor remarked, "I was with her." That person was Mrs. Edgar C. Taber, daughter of Anselmn D. and Sarah H. Bourne. Mrs. Lizzie A. (Edgar C.) Taber, died on November 21, 1945, aged 87. In 1880, her brother, Ansel G., succeeded William S. Bryden at the Tack Works where he served as bookkeeper. He died in January, 1885, in his 32d year. William S. Bryden died in December, 1923, at the age of 66. Adelaide S., his widow died in December, 1936. In 1879, Mr. Anselmn D. Bourne advertised in the STAR as follows: "Anyone Wishing Black Hamburg Grapes can find them for sale at the corner of Main and Lafayette streets." In August, 1885, after the abandonment of the Center Street Grammar and Primary School building, due to the erection of the Rogers School, Mr. Bourne was engaged to trans- port the furniture to the Oxford and the Sconticut Neck school- houses. Mr. Edgar C. Taber was 2d assistant foreman of Relief . Engine Company of Oxford Village in 1879, and, in 1885, he was clerk for Elisha S. Whiting at 42 Center street. Edgar C., son of
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John S. and Mary A. Taber, died in February, 1889, in his 33d year. (Edgar L., son of Leonard Taber, died in March, 1888, in his 30th year.) Capt. John S. Taber died in February, 1891, aged 80. His widow, Mary A., died in 1907, aged 89.
In 1891, Benjamin F. Tripp was foreman at Bauldry's stable. Mr. Tripp had previously worked at the American Tack Works. He died in March, 1912, in his 60th year. In October, 1891, Lyman C. Bauldry entered the employ of the Pairpoint Manufacturing Com- pany of New Bedford, his brother George continuing in the stable business until March, 1895, when he sold out and removed to Mil- ton. In January, 1892, Mr. Bauldry furnished horses to draw up vessels at Gifford's Marine Railway.
It was in April, 1885, that Mr. Thomas A. Tripp was appointed superintendent of the Pairpoint Company in place of Mr. Pairpoint who resigned. In April, 1892, Lyman Bauldry married Julia Etta Cahoon. George died in May, 1915. His widow, the former Ella Day, friend of Mrs. Edgar C. Taber, previously mentioned, died in December, 1931, aged 72.
The next building on the same side of the street was a very lively place for a long period. Here we have watched the horses and oxen shod, the latter entering the blacksmith shop from the enclosed yard on the west, whence they were ushered, one by one, into a particular niche or stall, equipped with leather understraps, chains, and horizon- tal windlass, and hoisted just high enough to prevent the horned quadruped from delivering a bestial kick during the process of shoe- ing. The sparks flew from anvils and forges, George Wilson King at one and Lorenzo Warren Braley at the other, each with his long, leather apron, the regular regalia of the mighty smith. These were the days of the old-fashioned hand bellows that quickly transformed the iron foot-wear into red-hot material capable of being hammered by the expert farrier into the desired shape to fit the hoof.
Long before our recollection, this shop existed. Seth A. Mit- chell, who established this blacksmith shop, died in November, 1893, aged 88, (Seth H. Mitchell was proprietor of the Centennial boat shop on Fish Island 70 years ago.) The next proprietor of the blacksmith shop was Isaac Terry who carried on the business for a period of 32 years. Mr. Terry lived on the west side of Walnut street, near the corner of Spring street. Mr. King entered the employ of Mr. Terry in 1867, at the age of 20, purchasing the business two years later and continuing until 1906 when he sold to Robert N. Doran. Mr. Terry died in July, 1883, in his 68th year.
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Mr. King built his house on the southeast corner of Green and Rodman streets in 1876, and Lorenzo Braley built his house in June, 1879, just south of that of Mr. King's, (now one house inter- venes.) Mr. Braley died in February, 1891, aged 40. It was in this month and year that Green street to Bridge was laid out. Before this time the way, north of Spring street, was called Stetson Court. There were at first two houses north of the one at the northeast corner of Spring street and the Court. In the first one lived the Haskins family, Benjamin and Abby Haskins with their children, Lizzie, Charlie and Henry. In the next and last house lived Barney Rahl who died in May, 1902, aged 86. At a later date the house next to the corner was erected.
Mr. Henry Stetson lived on the northwest corner of Spring street, and the Court, afterwards the home of James L. Gillingham, Esq. Diagonally across from the Stetson house was the enclosure where grapes and luscious strawberries, and other fruit grew in abundance.
In March, 1879, Capt. Richard Hathaway who lived at Ox- ford, purchased the grapery and carpenter shop of Henry Stetson, and remodelled the shop into a dwelling.
Another Henry Stetson, who lived on Middle street, was the brother of John H. and Charles Stetson, who died in January, 1892, in his 37th year. This Henry Stetson, of jovial disposition, was in the group that was photographed at the American Tack Works about 1880, and Mr. John H. Stetson was the owner and possessor of the original picture. John H. Stetson died on Sunday, November 8th, 1942, aged 84.
Rev. Mr. Carruthers lived at one time in the Henry Stetson house. He lived also in the house on the west side of Middle street, north of that of E. R. Cole. There were two children near our age, Winnie and Harold. Sixty-eight years ago Mr. Carruthers, with his invited guests, was immensely enjoying his sloop yacht Le Don. Mr. Carruthers died in August, 1905, aged 70. Mary L., his wife, died in February, 1899.
Mr. King died in May, 1927, aged 80. His widow, Clara B., died in May, 1932, in her 85th year. They had one daughter, Jeannie who was married to Dr. E. Franklin Babcock in May, 1890. Capt. Elisha Babcock, his father, died in December, 1888. Eliza A., widow of Capt. Babcock, died in July, 1894.
Miss Jeannie King, when attending high school, then housed in Rooms 5 and 6 of the Rogers School building on Center street,
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won the prize offered by the donor of the building, and announced on December 18, 1885, for selecting the most appropriate quotation from the works of Emerson. "He who does a good deed is instantly ennobled." This framed quotation hung for years on the wall of Room 6.
The well-known pug dog of Mr. King died in December, 1884.
The next building on the north side of Spring street was the barn and carriage house of Isaac Terry. This was completely remodelled into a two-family dwelling, the first occupants being Mr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Bliss on the first floor, and Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Allen on the second floor. Stephen M. Allen and Alamanda G. Nichols were married in July, 1890. Mrs. Allen, prior to her marriage, lived in the upper tenement at the southeast corner of Center and Water streets. She died in March, 1929, in her 86th year. It was in Feb- ruary, 1885, that the tin shop of Charles A. Johnson, followed by I. N. Babbitt, Jr., before he moved to Main street, which took place in October, 1883, was fitted for a two-tenement dwelling. Mr. Johnson died in September, 1889, in his 55th year. Mr. Gustavus Johnson, his father, died in March, 1880, aged 82.
Down stairs lived Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Harris. Mr. Harris, who was blacksmith at the Fairhaven Iron Foundry, died in November, 1898, in his 74th year. They were the parents of Mrs. Horatio (Mary A.) Jenney, and grandparents of George and Charles Jen- ney and also of Hattie Jenney, who married Charles H. Lawton, son of Robert and Jennie Lawton, in June, 1907. Robert T. Lawton, of Boston, and Miss Jennie Pierce, of Fairhaven, were married on December 24, 1883. Mr. Lawton died in December, 1927, aged 71. Mrs. Lawton died in April, 1940, aged 73.
Mr. Asaph Leonard Bliss and Maybelle Dodge Hardy were married on the evening of January 3, 1893. The new house was tastefully decorated with mistletoe and holly by the uncile of the groom, Mr. Samuel F. Waterson. The best man was George, the twin brother of the groom. Had they continued to reside at their first abode, they would have found, by actual measurement, the salt water rising in their apartment to an height of 52 inches on Sep- tember 21, 1938. Referring to the parade of Antiques and Horribles on the morning of July 4, 1888, recalls the tub race that took place later in the day when Frank Gifford won the laurels with A. L. Bliss taking second prize and brother George securing third place.
Wandering up the street a moment, we find upon inquiry that on the date of the hurricane the water rose to the height of three feet on the first floor of the home of the late Mrs. Annie G. Lester at
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the north end of Walnut street, and that at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Thrasher, on the south side of Spring street, second house west of Green, the water rose to an height of two feet on the first floor.
Up Spring, East of William Street. - We are now about to turn into William street which was laid out in the year 1833. Up to that time there existed Water, Middle and Main streets. These three went by the appropriate names of Front, Middle, and Back streets. Main street was called East, Third or Back street. As we are on the verge of entering William street, we cast a side glance toward the lot on the north side of Spring street, a little to the east, through which we were accustomed to walk to the Mill Pond. We recognize today few familiar sights. The tall stone post near the street is the only vestige of the past. Here hung the door of generations ago, the top hook of which is still intact. The hinges of the door, which swung on this stone post, are in use today (June, 1947) on the building on the southeast corner of Laurel and Spring streets. They are each four feet long. The old oil shed of whaling days, owned by the Tripp family for their oil storage, later the store house of the American Tack Company, claimed this spot. It was a long, low building with high underpin- ning of stone, with a roof that required 55,000 feet of shingles to make it water tight. A picture of this building shows the wide door on the west. Not many remember that men were here employed in sorting, cleaning, scraping, and stripping the long black and white lengths of whalebone to be used in making the combination of circles to expand the skirts of feminine attire, long since tabood. Before the era of hoop skirts, whalebone was selling for 60 cents per pound, but just after the advent of the hoop skirt style, the price of bone soared to $1.20 per pound (1857).
Mr. Ephraim Gifford, of Oxford Village, is remembered as be- ing employed at this occupation in the vicinity of 85 years ago. Ephraim Gifford died March 19, 1895, in his 78th year. He was the father of Frederick N. Gifford who in October, 1881, married Minnie Babcock, daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth Babcock. In July, 1885, Capt. Babcock purchased of John Wilcox a house on William street, which was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Gifford. Mr. Gifford died in March, 1909, at the age of 56. His wife, Minnie, died in December, 1928, aged 67. Harry, their son, died, at the age of 22, of typhoid fever, in October, 1904. Ephraim Gifford was also the father of Capt. Henry M. Gifford who married Lizzie A. Bab- cock, sister of Minnie, in December 1886. Abbie Louise Babcock
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of Fairhaven was a student at East Greenwich Seminary in July, 1869. She died in Nov., 1875, aged 25. Susan Gifford, once teach- er at the Fairhaven high school, was the granddaughter of Ephraim Gifford.
Then came the change to the metal watch spring skirts, putting out of commission the old Spring street oil and whalebone shed for producing hoop-skirt material. Before me rests "The New Bedford Times," under the date of Saturday, August 11, 1860, in which Waite, Hadley & Company, 38 Purchase street, New Bedford, advertise and illustrate, "Watch Spring Skirts, Misses from 3 to 11 Springs and Ladies from 7 to 32 Springs." These were made of the finest watch spring steel.
Sixty-five years ago last August the passers-by were watching Mr. Joel D. Stetson re-shingling the huge roof. The building at that time belonged to the American Tack Company for which Mr. Stetson had worked since 1867 as a pattern maker. He left the Tack Company, in 1890, to work for the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, where he worked for seven years. It was Mr. Stetson who made for, and presented to, the old library association, with its room on William street, in the rear of the post office, a sign which was placed over the door in 1882. In April, 1881, nearly nine years before the introduction of electric lights, a lantern, burning kerosene, was fastened to a tree in front of the library, making this sign visible on the darkest night. Mr. Stetson, father of Sarah L. Stetson who married Bertram F. Stowell in September, 1896, died in March, 1911, in his 77th year. Mr. and Mrs. Stowell moved into their new house, 79 Green street in July, 1915. Mr. Joel Stetson and Elizabeth Lawton were married on April 2, 1863.
S. W. Corner of Spring and William Streets. - Fortunate, in- deed, it was that the hundreds of kegs of nails and boxes of tacks, stored here for an advance in price, did not encounter the salt water that flowed over this section on September 21, 1938, to the depth of six feet.
In May, 1908, fire damaged somewhat the old stone structure, and on the morning of March 5, 1917, the roof collapsed with a thunderous roar which startled the neighborhood. Thus the old landmark vanished.
At the southwest corner of Spring and William streets stands a house through which have passed hundreds of individuals who have temporarily called it home. Many years ago it was the residence of
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Simeon Bailey and family. Simeon Bailey and Augustus Mayo were employed in the "pickle" room at the American Tack Works on Fort street, where carboys of acids were used to cleanse and brighten the iron plate preliminary to the process of tack manu- facture. Mr. Bailey afterwards lived on the west side of Water street, north of Cole's blacksmith shop, with Thomas P. Ames and family living upstairs. Simeon Bailey died in February, 1887, aged 59. Frank E., son of Simeon and Emily Bailey, died in March of the same year, in his 18th year. Augustus F. Mayo, who dropped dead as he was entering the Foster Street Advent Church, New ยท Bedford, in March, 1889, in his 55th year, lived on the east side of Main street, south of the Stevens house which is on the southeast corner of Main and Washington streets. In the house previously mentioned, at the corner of Spring and William streets, lived our schoolmates, Lizzie, Louise and Charlie Burgess. Elizabeth M. married Lucien A. Dawes in May, 1892. They have both passed away. Thomas P. Ames was a painter by trade, especially expert in sign painting. Mrs. Eliza S. Ames, his widow, died in February, 1931, in her 76th year. Herbert P., their son, died in November, 1912, in his 33d year.
This house on Water street was owned by Nathaniel S. Taber who also owned the house on the north side of Center street, east of the Methodist Church. A number may recall the destructive fire that took place at this house on July 8, 1888. Mrs. Lydia G. Almy lived down stairs, and Mrs. Ahira Kelley and family upstairs. Mr. Ahira Kelley died in September, 1884. Mrs. Kelley died in November, 1923, aged 68. To this house, 66 Center street, Mrs. John Damon removed in January, 1889, giving up her store in the building east of Phoenix; Block, and continuing her business at her residence. Her stock of millinery goods could be seen by the passers-by through the windows of the room on the southwest corner of the lower tenement. Mr. Taber was of the firm of Taber and Fairchild who sold the drug store to James I. Church in 1855. He died in February, 1904, aged 87.
In this house, at the corner of William and Spring streets, lived at one time Frederick M. Taber and family. Frederick M. Taber and Sarah C. Kenner were married on August 11, 1864. In 1880, Mr. Taber was agent for the Waterbury watch which sold then for $4.00.
Next we come to the former Sawin, or William Street Hall which would never be recognized as such by the members of the community of the early days. Before the change, we entered the
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building on a level with the sidewalk. The tops of the two front windows were on a line with the top of the doorway. The roof was hip, making the building lower than the houses on either side, whereas now we find the building which was raised in July, 1902, about a half century after its original construction, with a changed roof, and added miniature steeple, and elevated steps to the main entrance, giving an appearance wholly unlike the initial structure.
Town meetings were held in several localities previous to the use of Sawin Hall which served for that purpose from 1859 until 1864. This building was the rendez-vous for various occasions, both before and after its use as a church edifice. It was dedicated by the Adventists on November 10, 1866. Sometime previous to this, that denomination used the hall which was on the second floor of the Center Street Grammar and Primary School building that was erected in 1832. In 1859, the Adventists were holding services in Phoenix Hall. In April, 1868, Sawin Hall was the scene of political meetings and a caucus was held on Wednesday, February 26, 1879 when the contest was Caswell vs. Akin, the supporters of the latter withdrawing finally to Phoenix Hall. William Street Hall was, indeed, the arena for social, political and patriotic gatherings for many years.
The house next to and south of the Advent Church on the west side of William street, was that of John A. Chase who came to Fairhaven in 1858. For 21 years he worked as blacksmith for the Fairhaven Branch Railroad, located in the rear of the engine house. Mr. Chase was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School, and led the choir. He died in June, 1912, in his 96th year.
In October, 1860, the Fairhaven Branch Railroad erected a wooden building 44 x 80 feet for the accommodation of shippers of freight to and from New York and Boston, by the propellers "Dawn" and "Daylight." The roof was arched to correspond with the passenger station which was razed in 1929, after a lifetime of nearly three quarters of a century. The old locomotive house was demolished in February, 1916.
The next house south on the same side of the street, was that of John Alden, father of John Alden who owned the buildings at the northeast corner of Spring and Main streets, and son of John Alden who was born in February, 1740, and carried on busi- ness at the foot of Washington street with his office at the corner of Water and Washington streets.
In course of time this William street house became the property of Thomas Baldwin Pratt. A large piazza was built in front of
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the residence in July, 1886. Dr. Dana Pratt, his son, opened a dental office at the residence of Mr. Luce, in Mattapoisett, in 1880. In October, 1881, he was substitute clerk for Levi M. Snow, and later in that same month left town to go into business in Boston, afterwards practicing his profession in New York City. His widow, Katherine, died on December 13, 1939, aged 79. Dr. Pratt died in March, 1922, aged 64.
In 1879, Lizzie Pratt, the daughter of Thomas, was conduct- ing a private school in the library room in the rear of the old post- office building. In November, 1885, Elizabeth Byron Pratt and James Love Gillingham were married. Mr. Gillingham served the town as Representative, Selectman, and was chosen treasurer of the Millicent Library in November, 1892. He was admitted to the bar in 1880.
In January, 1889, Frank Barrows, of Oxford Village, began studying law at the office of Mr. Gillingham. In July, 1892, Russell Hathaway, Jr. entered the office of Mr. Gillingham. Mrs. Gillingham died in January, 1930. Mr. Gillingham died in December, 1938. Russell Hathaway, Sr. died in March, 1906, in his 82d year. Mrs. Mary Bryden Hathaway, widow of Russell Hathaway, Sr., died in August, 1924.
In September, 1901, four years after his graduation at Brown University, Mr. Russell Hathaway, Jr. and Annetta Carruthers were married. Mr. Hathaway received his early newspaper train- ing on the old Boston Advertiser. He went to the Associated Press in 1904, and was with them until retirement in 1939. Fifteen years of this period, he served as chief of the Albany, New York, bureau which covers all of New York State outside of New York city metropolitan area, and, most important, covers the New York State legislature and political scene regarded by many as the most important outside of Washington.
The Hathaways have one daughter, Rhoda Terry Hathaway who is society editor of The Knickerbocker News. They live in Albany, N. Y.
N. W. Corner of William and Washington. - We have reached the corner of William and Washington streets where now stands a house that in our boyhood days stood very near the old lockup and faced Washington street. Photographs show the exact location of this dwelling. The Cowens lived down stairs, and the Tinkhams lived on the second floor ; Eben E. Tinkham, his wife, Nancy H., and their daughter, Cora Estelle, adopted in 1880. Cora died in
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September, 1885, in her 18th year. Washington street, between Main and William, was closed on account of the serious illness of Mrs. Tinkham who died in May, 1884, in her 34th year. In June, 1892, William G. Cowen of Denver, Colorado, sold to Hannah G. Morton, the land and buildings, corner of Washington and William streets.
East Side of William Street. - Retracing our steps to the southeast corner of Spring and William streets, we view the property of James F. Tripp. Mrs. R. A. Dunham and family removed to the James F. Tripp house on William street in May, 1890. Mr. Tripp was born in 1834, lived here in his youth, and was one of the old-time ship caulkers. Others were William H. Davis, George Davis, Alden Davis, Frank L. Davis, Jesse Sherman, Davis Sher- man, Joshua R. Delano, Joshua Wilkie, Joseph Stowell, Benjamin Stowell, and Moses Stone. Mr. Frank Davis had been a subscriber to the STAR since its first publication, never missing a number. Besides caulkers, there were the ship riggers :- William Water- son, Thomas Butman, Charles C. Harris, Granville Taber, and Frederick Cushman. The ship carpenters of that period were: - Daniel Lewis, James Lewis, Lothrop Lewis, Benjamin Westgate, William Drew, William Hoeg, Albert Gifford and his son Henry B. Moses Delano and George Brown were master builders and at one time had charge of Blackler's ship yard, off Fort street.
Mr. Frank L. Davis and Minnie S. Lawrence were married in January, 1884. Mrs. Davis died in August, 1884, at the age of 27. In December, 1888, Mr. Davis and Lena L. Chase were married.
Long hours and hard work are conducive to longevity, as is shown by the age of the following at time of death: - Davis Sherman, March, 1903, aged 68; Thomas S. Butman, June, 1903, aged 82; Moses H. Delano, October, 1905, aged 85; Charles C. Harris, April, 1906, in his 83d year; William H. Hoeg, December, 1917, aged 84; Jesse Sherman, Jr., March, 1900, aged 63; James A. Lewis, April, 1917, aged 84; Joshua R. Delano, February, 1923, aged 87; Albert Gifford, January, 1903, in his 80th year ; Frank L. Davis died on Tuesday, December 17, 1940, aged 80.
James F. Tripp, a Civil War Veteran, brother of Job C, Tripp, died in January, 1917, aged 82. His brother died in July, of the same year, aged 88. Jennie Tripp, daughter of Job, Mrs. W. H. Barney, died in January, 1913, at the age of 46. William H. Barney and Jennie H. Tripp were married in July, 1892. Lewis
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