USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Old-time Fairhaven; erstwhile Eastern New Bedford, Volume I > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
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William N. Alden bought the estate of Levi Jenney, corner of Main and Washington streets, in April, 1871. It was on November 17, 1864, that William N. Alden of Waldo, Oregon and Ruth A. Keith of Fairhaven, were married. Ruth Ann, wife of William N. Alden, died in Fairhaven on April 1, 1875, aged 36.
Both Sides of Main street. - The next building, north of Nye's grocery, on the east side of Main street, was the livery stable, erected about the middle of the 19th century, purchased of Henry Vincent, and conducted under the firm name of Rufus A. Dunham & Com- ·pany. Mr. Dunham was a tailor by trade, and was in the stable business more than 35 years. A decade or more previous to the opening of the Main street stable, he was engaged in the livery business with his father on Middle street. Frank A. Stackpole, born in 1827, was associated with Mr. Dunham in the livery stable busi- ness on Main street. Upon the death of Mr. Dunham, who died in June 1888, at the age of 68, Mr. Stackpole sold his interest to Mrs. Hannah Dunham, widow of Rufus Dunham, in 1889, and the business was continued under the management of her son, Charles S. Dunham, who died in October 1941. In 1892, Charles F. Brownell bought the business, and at 10 A. M., June 17, 1913, the stable and equipment was sold at auction, Mr. Brownell having died in January, 1913, at the age of 56. Clifford E. Hackett worked at Mr. Brownell's stable in 1900, William Chase also worked for Mr. Brownell.
After Mr. Stackpole sold his interest, he entered the employ of Bauldry's stable on Spring street. Mr. Stackpole at one time lived in the house that stands at the southeast corner of Main and Union streets. In 1881, he was living at 42 William street. At this number, Miss Carrie D. Stackpole, daughter of Frank Stackpole, advertised in the Star of 1881 - "Miss Carrie D. Stackpole, Piano Lessons- 42 William Street."
"In Taunton, 26th inst. (Feb. 1852) Mr. Francis A. Stackpole, of Fairhaven, to Miss Jane Drew of New Bedford."
"In Fairhaven, 22d inst. (February, 1876) Jane, wife of Francis A. Stackpole, and daughter of James and the late Caroline P. Drew of New Bedford, aged 47. Funeral at 42 William street, Fairhaven."
As we stand on Main street, facing Dunham's stable, we dis- cern the shed on the right of the main structure, and the door lead- ing to the office. A gentle slope takes us within through the double
doors. On the right, near the front, was the office and adjoining the
office on the east was the harness room. On either side of the main floor was the space for the carriages. Stepping east, still within the
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building, about 50 feet, we ascend the wide brow. On the right we see the trough or tub, and pump where the horses quenched their thirst, and in this part of the stable the horses were stalled. Near the water supply was the carriage wash-stand. Just opposite, on the north side, was located the sawdust bin. A doorway on the south gave a view of the old lockup or watchhouse, as it was called.
Lest we forget, let us go back to the very entrance from Main street. Here we view the doors and sides of the office, and harness room, placarded with immense circus bills, depicting the huge tents, the wild animals from all parts of the globe, the performance of the. wonderful stunts on the trapeze, the chariot races and the clowns. This was next to going to the circus itself, and was just before the period when we were old enough to sally forth to New Bedford in the wee early hours to see the circus come in, unload and hitch up, previous to the street parade with the steam calliope, followed by the afternoon and evening performances. And the circus was on Pope's Island. Moreover, in 1887, who was agent of Barnum and Bailey's circus in these parts but Mr. Enos F. Joseph of Fairhaven ! Our parents and grandparents had the thrill of the circus, too. In 1853, this enterprise was conducted by Messrs. Mann, Moore & Co., on the lot on Hillman street, New Bedford. In May of that year, Mr. Enos Joseph was married to Miss Mary Myers.
Just north of Dunham's stable stood the little house, almost on a line with the sidewalk, where lived John H. Mills, the genial and expert whitewasher. It was no doubt a temptation to some to tap on the windows as they passed on the sidewalk. This was done too vigorously by two individuals, old enough to know better, and in November, 1888, they were found guilty of breaking his windows, and were fined $2.00 and costs. Mr. Mills died in April, 1891, aged 42, and Frances I., his widow, died in October, 1893. One of the window breakers died in February, 1912, in his 56th year. The whereabouts of the other is unknown. Mr. Mill's grave is at Wood- side.
We have now come to the large vacant lot on the west side of Main street between the land of William N. Alden and that of Hattie Palmer. Afterwards, the building north was erected, and in November, 1913, Thomas W. Whitfield opened a new stable, which, within two months, he sold to George L. Hiller, Jr.
Upon this open lot, we lads played ball, with the old candle factory as backstop. This two-story stone structure was built about 1835 for the purpose of carrying on therein the manufacture of sperm candles. In this building hams were cured, schools kept,
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and many remember that Jabez Delano had a picture frame shop here, afterwards going to Spring street. Jabez Delano, son of Capt. Jabez Delano, was born in the old homestead on Middle street, which became, in 1852, the property of the Fairchilds, and died in Novem- ber, 1922, in his 79th year. In 1881, an auction, at 44 Spring street, closed the business of frame making. Capt. Jabez Delano built the stone house on East Washington street (about 1850); which afterwards became the property of Temple S. Corson of New Bed- ford. Mr. Corson died in October, 1898, aged 68.
The stone candle factory was torn down in September, 1896, and the stone used to rebuild the Delano wharf at the foot of Washington street. The STAR suggested years before, that this stone might be used to bridge the brook to Privilege street.
As one looked from Middle street north, toward the head of the street, the stone building could be plainly seen from Center street, extending across' the road, the front door being in the middle of the street, with a window above, with 24 panes of glass. In fact there were four windows on the west side of the door, and as many on the east side of the doorway which had a large stepping stone. The building had a door on the west, also four windows, two on each side of the doorway, one on each floor. The roof was hip. The southwest corner of the building stood about 30 feet from the old Proctor house stone boundary post which is still in place.
Circuit Completed. - We have now come to the last part of our journey around the square, and find ourselves looking at the build- ing that, in December, 1887, was begun by Frank M. Bates, as a shoe factory. In April of that year, Mr. Bates built the James P. Terry house on Middle street. He died in January, 1927, aged 77.
The firm, managing the shoe factory that began operation in 1888, consisted of Mr. J. B. Paulding and his two sons, Herbert R. and John I. Paulding, under the name of J. B. Paulding & Company. The plan was to employ local residents as far as pos- sible. In May, 1888, the factory was turning out between 300 and 400 pairs of ladies' shoes weekly.
Assignment of the shoe factory soon took place. In April, 1889, a capital stock of $12,000 was raised for continuing the business, and reorganization ensued. In December, 1891, the stockholders of the shoe company finally assigned the property of the corporation, to be most advantageously disposed of. Herbert R. Paulding died in No- vember, 1931, in his 79th year.
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The building thereafter was used for various purposes. In March, 1895, Robert H. Taber moved into the lower part, the sec- ond floor being occupied by William C. Card. In August, 1895, the town, due to the crowded condition of the school department, par- titioned off a room on the upper floor for a school room. Here were assigned 30 pupils under the care of Miss Mattie Norris as teacher, and the school opened in September of that year. The schoolroom was on the south side, running east and west. In 1899 Clarence F. Delano removed to the shoe factory building, conducting business on the first floor with living quarters upstairs.
Stated chronologically, without consulting Mr. Delano, the remem- bered events surrounding him are as follows: - On Sunday evening, December 7, 1884, Clarence, then a trifle more than 15 years of age, was lustily singing in the chorus of the Star of Promise at the Meth- odist Church. In May, 1887, his sister, Annie Mabel Delano, died in her 12th year. In May, 1894, Mr. Delano started in the plumbing business at 8 South Main street, and in September, 1895, he was mar- ried to our schoolmate Miss Mary Jane Dunn. In February, 1897, he was granted a Master Plumber's license and in 1899, went to the shoe factory building. In July, 1898, his father, William Baxter Delano, died at the age of 63. In December, 1902, his mother, Mercy Delano, died in her 65th year. William Baxter Delano and Mercy Caswell were married on June 20, 1862. In March, 1905, his brother, George H. Delano, died at the age of 41. It was George who conducted, with Charles G. Nye, the meat market in the north annex to Phoenix Block in 1887. In June, 1932, Mary Jane, wife of Clarence F. Delano, died in her 61st year. Clarence F. Delano, born in 1869, died on Wednesday, December 12th, 1945, in his 77th year.
The Delano family lived in the house on South Main street, purchased by Mrs. J. M. Leighton in 1906. In April, 1884, the house on the east side of Middle street, third house from the corner of Middle and Center streets, occupied by Rev. James M. Leighton, was purchased by the Methodist Society, to be used as a parsonage.
Mr. Delano had two brothers, Joseph S. who married Miss Annie T. Ricketson, daughter of William L. Ricketson, in Decem- ber, 1893, and Roland. We recall Miss Ricketson as clerk for Henry L. Card just previous to that date. Sadie Plaisted preceded her in that same capacity, and Sadie Matthewson followed. This was about the time that everybody was buying at H. L. Card's store the popular game of "Pigs in Clover." Miss Helen A. Delano, daughter of Joseph S. and Annie T. Delano, died at the age of 42 on Saturday, January 6, 1940. She served for 12 years as a clerk in the office
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of the tax collector. Joseph S. Delano died on December 15, 1943, aged 78. All this recalls the brother and sister of Mrs. Delano, Charlie and Lena, living as young children at the northwest corner of Spring and Jefferson streets. Charles F. Ricketson and Mabel F. Hambly were married in July, 1902, and Helena E. Ricketson and George Sylvia, of New Bedford were married in November, 1898. In addition to entering the tub race with his brother George on July 12th, 1877, Joseph was an ardent participator in ice sports. While in the process of chasing a skater on the old Mill Pond on Friday, November 26, 1880, Joe received an ugly cut on his foot by the skate of his playmate, and was incapacitated for a week or ten days.
On the Fairhaven map of 1855, the Ricketson house was owned by Charles C. Harris, where his children, Holder, Lucy, and Fred- erick were born. After moving to the Proctor house, Mr. Harris sold the house on Spring street for $650, and purchased the one which was then next north on Jefferson street for $675. This was in De- cember, 1882. In this newly acquired property, the West house, the writer was born more than a decade before, and the rent receipts, signed by. Jane D. West, show that the rent was $4.60 per month. In later years he lived at 33 Middle street, once the "Winter Landing," and the rent receipt signed by Dr. Isaac Fairchild, less than two months before his death, and thereafter by his widow, Emma M., shows that the rent per QUARTER was $25, or $100 per ANNUM. Rent receipts at hand show that from 1873 to 1877 we paid for rent $6.00 per month. Dr. Fairchild bought the house, 33 Middle street, in 1867, of Joseph Marvel.
Although we have made a circuit of the square bounded by Main, Spring, William and Washington streets, we failed to mention the fact that during the hurricane and inundation of September 21, 1938, the water stood' at such a depth that a boat was rowed over the fence, four feet in height, on the north side of Spring street, directly at the foot of William street. Nor did we speak of the residence of Rev. George E. Fuller who lived in the upper part of the John A. Chase house at the time that Mr. Chase lived downstairs. Ministers of those days received comparatively little for their exalted services, Mr. Fuller receiving a yearly stipend of $600.00, plus his house rent which was $9.00 per month. Rev. Mr. Fuller was minister of the Methodist Church from 1880 to 1883. He was also chairman of the school committee. Here at 60 William street, Mr. and Mrs. Fuller received about 125 friends on Wednesday evening, October 26, 188I, to celebrate their wedding anniversary - a linen wedding.
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In April, 1883, a farewell service was extended to Mr. Fuller after three years at Fairhaven. They removed to Fall River. Mr. Fuller died in December, 1889.
The threshold stone of the new building of the Center Meth- odist Church, which took the place of the former church edifice reduced to ruins by fire more than a year before, was dedicated on Sunday, July 20, 1947.
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