USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sterling > One hundredth fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Sterling, Massachusetts; exercises in the First parish church > Part 2
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set out in the petition just summarized are not controverted in either of those remonstrances. Therefore, it seems that they may fairly be accepted as true. The grounds urged against the division were that the second precinct was "2000 acres larger" with much good land un- improved and "far more wealthy" than the first precinct and that the support of bridges by it in the event of division would be an insup- portable burden. The conclusion of the whole controversy was that the division of Lancaster was made and that the new town was in- corporated on April 25, 1781, by St. 1780, c. 27, enacted at the first session of the General Court held after the adoption of the Constitu- tion. Despite the slight dissimilarity in orthog- raphy, the new municipality was named for Lord Stirling, the general famous in the Revolution, under whom it is supposed that some of the veterans of that war resident in the town had served. There are said to be muni- cipalities of the same name in eighteen other States of the Union, but it is my impression that our town is the oldest of these. As is well known, an admirable portrait of Lord Stirling in the rich military uniform of his time was
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
presented to the town in 1919 through the generosity of Miss Mary E. Butterick and adorns the Town Hall.
Thus complete civil and religious inde- pendence had been achieved in about sixty years from the first permanent settlement of the town. It is hard to visualize at this distance the qualities which must have been possessed by the early settlers to accomplish such results in three decades. They had felled the forests, built their houses and barns, dug their wells, cleared the fields and plowed the hard, stony and unyielding soil. They had utilized for their primitive needs the small water powers. They had erected the church and schoolhouse side by side, and taken care that spiritual and educa- tional needs were met. They had fought in one long, hard war with savage and civilized foes to the north. The Revolutionary War was just drawing to an end. The surrender of Cornwallis took place about six months after the act of incorporation was approved. Those men and women must have been strong, industrious, determined, persistent, wise. They had the characteristics essential to pioneers. They were no different from the others who settled and
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populated New England. But they were of tough fibre, physically, intellectually, morally. As they stood on the threshold of the new municipal existence, the prospect had some threatening features. The distress incident to the close of the Revolution was impending. The business depression of the present is hardly to be compared with the economic emergency which confronted them. They wasted no time in vain apprehensions. They faced the future with a hope that never blanched, with a de- termination that never flinched, with a courage that never quailed. Their own resourcefulness and energy and sagacity were their sure and steadfast reliance. That has persisted and brought the town through its every crisis to the present.
The civic spirit and the practical wisdom of the inhabitants of the new town is demon- strated by two events by which they were speedily brought to a severe test. The unrest of the times soon found expression in Shay's Rebellion. Although it was soon put down, that insurrection for a brief period assumed alarming aspects. It had no adherents in this town. It cannot be thought that the suffering accompany-
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
ing the close of the Revolution was less keen and poignant here than in Pelham, Petersham and other towns in which that movement had its origin and large accessions. Notwithstanding the contagion natural to such an uprising, Sterling stood steadfast for law and order. In 1788, the convention met in this Common- wealth to consider whether the Constitution of the United States should be ratified. Captain Ephraim Wilder was elected the delegate from this town. He had also been a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780, and numerous of his descendants still live here. He was one of the three delegates from this county who voted in favor of ratification, thus contributing to the narrow majority of nineteen by which that great charter of our national government was accepted by Massachusetts and the Union established. It is difficult to imagine what would have been the fate of this country if the vote of that convention had been adverse instead of favorable to the adoption of the Federal Constitution. In 1801, the first town house was built. It is commonly said that this was the first building erected in the county
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chiefly for the holding of town meetings. It was the custom at that time to use the meeting- house for all gatherings of the people, whether for civic business or religious worship. Thus there was recognition of the primary importance of the town meeting as an instrument of self- government. That building was replaced in 1835 by the present structure, which was substantially enlarged in 1893 through the beneficence of Mrs. Jane R. Kilburn.
In 1799, the first meetinghouse had both fallen into decay and become too small for the growing town. A new house of worship was erected and dedicated on the first Sunday in January, 1800. Its dimensions, according to the recorded vote, were required to be not more than seventy-five nor less than seventy feet in length, and not more than sixty nor less than fifty-five feet in width. It cost $8500, a large sum for those days. At the time, it was said to be the most elegant and important structure of its kind in the county. It was ornate both within and without. Its pulpit was high, reached by a considerable flight of stairs, and over it was a sounding board suspended from above and held by a hand protruding from the ceiling.
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On the wall back of the pulpit were painted two angels, one represented as ascending, sing- ing "Glory to God in the highest"; and the other as descending, singing "On earth peace and goowill to men." It was said by Rev. Dr. Joseph Allen of Northborough in his history of the Worcester County Association: "The great meeting-house in Sterling, with galleries on three sides ... was not too large for the accommodation of those who attended public worship. The whole front gallery was occupied by the choir, which in Sterling," in 1815 to 1819, "was very large and composed of some of the finest voices it has ever been my privilege to hear." Another witness has said that a chorus of forty or fifty voices was not uncommon, accompanied by the violin, bass and double bass viols, clarinet, bassoon and bugle. Above was an alcove furnished with seats where the colored people sat. The director of the choir at one time was Cephas Newhall, who has been described as having a "miracle of voice as a singer and leader." The music of the public worship in those circumstances must have been inspiring. The pews were high and square, and the seats were on hinges so as to turn up for 1158879
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convenience while the people stood during the prayer. The form of worship of those days allotted rather more time to the prayer than at present, and when the amen was pronounced it is said that occasionally the seats would come down with a more or less irreverent clatter and bang. That church was destroyed by fire in 1842 and the edifice in which we are now assembled was built in the same year.
The Sunday School of this parish was organized on the first Sunday of May, 1827, by Rev. Peter Osgood, then the minister, with seventeen teachers for "the older scholars beside many more for the younger scholars." There was great interest. Soon a Bible class was started, which increased to fifty members. An examination of the report of the Worcester Sunday School Society read May 6, 1835, shows the condition of ten Christian societies in Worcester County. It there appears that in the Sunday School of the Sterling Church there were three hundred nineteen scholars and forty- four teachers. The next in point of size was that of the Lancaster Church, with two hundred three scholars and thirty-seven teachers, while that of the Worcester Church had one
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
hundred forty scholars and thirty teachers. This information is gleaned from an un- published and undated paper written by Mrs. Elizabeth G. (widow of John) Butterick.
Diversity of religious convictions among the people led to the organization of a Universalist Church shortly after 1830, and the building now occupied by the Federated Church was erected about 1838. In 1853, the building was sold to the First Evangelical Congregational Society, which had been organized in 1851, and soon after the Universalist society disbanded. In 1837, the Baptist society was organized, and in 1843 a church building was erected on a lot just north of the park. This society federated with the evangelical or orthodox Congrega- tional Church in 1914 and sold its church building, which was taken down in 1924. A mission of the Roman Catholic Church of Oakdale in West Boylston has been established in Sterling and held its first service on July 29, 1929. The Town Hall has opened its hospitable doors to each of these several groups of wor- shipers before separate ecclesiastical buildings have been erected.
The first schoolhouse is said to have been
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built in 1743, and later, two others; so that there were three when the town was incor- porated. In 1789, general authority was granted to the several towns to establish school districts. These districts constituted quasi-corporations, chose their own officers, and selected their own teachers, but otherwise possessed limited powers. This system was abolished by general law in 1869 and the entire administration of the schools was vested in the several towns acting through school committees. That was a step in school centralization, which has extended over many years and which perhaps has not yet ended. This tendency toward cen- tralization has been manifested in recent years in Sterling as well as in many other towns by the grouping of all the schools close together and the transportation of pupils to this group. Therefore, the district school buildings have been for the most part sold or abandoned. In 1798 or 1799, eight new schoolhouses were erected and the town was divided into wards, or districts as they were later called. Their names may be recounted with their derivations as of interest still to those who have dwelt or may hereafter live in those neighborhoods.
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
Justice Hill was named for John Houghton of Lancaster, locally eminent as a justice of the peace and conveyancer, and honored servant of the public in many capacities, who died in 1737. Upper and Lower North Row derived their names from the arrangement of the settle- ments along the road in the northerly part of the town leading from Lancaster to West- minster and doubtless following in a general way the trail by which Mrs. Rowlandson made her way home from Redemption Rock. Red- stone is so called from the color of the ledges on its hill. Squareshire was so designated from a square piece of land near the location of its first schoolhouse. Cookshire perpetuates the name of a cobbler named Cook, who lived on the plain nearby and who was reputed to be able to tell the time of day to a minute by the amount of his labor. Leg brought into Sterling the name borne by it when attached to Shrewsbury, derived from the shape of the gore of land which constituted it. The River district indi- cated by its name proximity to the Stillwater River. Chocksett was conferred about 1815 upon the only district then unnamed, in order to keep alive remembrance of the Indian name
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of the town. Rowley Hill was derived from the town whence came its early settlers about 1730. The location conferred its name on the Center schools. A high school was established in 1883. Recently, however, the ease of transportation has led to the sending of scholars for the last years of the high school course to neighboring cities where superior facilities may be enjoyed at less expense to the town. The support of public schools in Sterling has always been generous and the general interest of the people in them has been keen. They stand the final test of having borne good fruit. They have produced useful citizens, whose predominating ideals have been toward the improvement of man- kind and the general elevation of municipal, state and national standards. Many graduates of our schools have become teachers, and a goodly number have attended colleges and other institutions of higher learning.
A considerable time has been devoted to the churches and schools of the town. If justification for this were needed, it may be found, expressed with his customary force and clarity by the late Charles W. Eliot, in these words: These institutions, "having no selfish object in view,
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
or purpose of personal gain, they contribute to the welfare of the State. Their function is largely a public function; their work is done primarily, indeed, for individuals, but ulti- mately for the public good . . . They form and mould the public character; and that public character is the foundation of everything which is precious in the State, including even its material prosperity. To develop noble human character is the end for which States themselves exist, and civil liberty is not a good in itself, but only a means to that good end. The work of churches and institutions of education is a direct work upon human character. The ma- terial prosperity of every improving community is a fruit of character; for it is energetic, honest and sensible men that make prosperous business, and not prosperous business that makes men .. they maintain the standards of honor, public duty and public spirit, and diffuse the refine- ment, culture and spirituality without which added wealth would only be added grossness and corruption."
Our town has always acquitted herself with credit when confronted with the supreme ordeal of war. She has illustrated by her conduct the
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value of preparedness. This may have been due in part to the high character and inspiring example of Colonel Asa Whitcomb of Revolu- tionary fame. Beginning in early days, there were local military companies. Records of the so-called South Company exist from 1804 to 1838. In 1882, the Sterling Light Infantry was formed out of two preexisting militia com- panies. Its members (as described by Samuel Osgood) had "elegant uniforms of dark blue cloth, with gilt trimmings and tall black plumes tipped with red . .. in 1826 another finely equipped volunteer company was raised called 'The Sterling Guards.' The uniforms of this company were blue coats with silver trimmings, white pantaloons and tall white plumes tipped with black." An armory was erected long ago on Meetinghouse Hill just above the horse sheds. The land for this was bought by the town of John H. Davis in November, 1845, and sold in April, 1905, to Fred A. Sawyer. The childhood remembrance of many besides myself includes the training days of the local militia company and the sight of the shining barrels of muskets ranged on the walls. It was bought by our town clerk, Jole T.
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
Wilder, in 1907, removed to its present location in 1915, used again as an armory by the town during 1917-18-19, and is now occupied as the post office. A muster of the military organizations of the State was held on Cook- shire plain on August 29 to September 2, 1871, which attracted crowds of observers.
Reference already has been made to participa- tion by residents of this locality in Provincial wars. There is no separate roster of Sterling soldiers in the Revolution. In the military records they are all accredited to the town of Lancaster, because Sterling was not incorporated as a town until that war was nearly ended. To select with accuracy those who lived in that part of Lancaster which is now Sterling would at this distance of time be a labor of great difficulty. Because of his high character, ardent patriotism and advanced military rank, Colonel Asa Whitcomb was the outstanding figure from this parish. His home was on the place known successively as the Amory, Parker, McCollum, Dugan and Rosenthal place, occupied by vari- ous persons within my memory, and now by Frank Akair. Among other veterans of that war were Joel Pratt, Reuben Blood, Nathaniel
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Houghton, David Jewett and Nathaniel Taylor. Love of the nation and determination for its preservation was unstinted among our people in the war between the states. Appreciation of the debt owed them by the community was instant and was manifested in the very year after the martyrdom of Lincoln by the erection and dedication of yonder granite shaft in the park to their honor. The memory of their bravery, a realization of their sacrifices, the inspiration of their example, and the lesson of the incalculable loss to the town have been kept alive and nourished here by the services on every Memorial Day in all the years that have elapsed since it was established.
The experiences of the Great War are too recently burned into our memories to warrant extended reference now to those on the honor roll of Sterling. It is enough to say that, ac- cording to her ability and the need of the nation, our town contributed to that struggle of her best and in full measure.
An important factor in public education is the library. A voluntary association known as the "First Social Library in Sterling" was organized according to its records in 1804. Its
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
books were purchased by contributions and assessments levied upon its members. It flour- ished almost half a century and was dissolved in 1852, when its books were sold at auction. In 1848, the first year when taxation for the purpose was authorized in this Commonwealth, the town purchased a small library of well- selected books for each school district. My earliest memory of reading for edification is of books in one of these libraries in the Redstone district. Such of those volumes as were desired found their way into the free public library of the town, established in 1871. That was opened and maintained for several years in two rooms over the store now kept by Joseph R. Graham. There have been numerous gifts from generous donors for its support. The largest was that of Edwin Conant of Worcester, who among other benefactions for its benefit pro- vided for the erection of the library building as a memorial to his daughter. Mr. Conant was a native of this town and his father set an example of noble generosity by giving to the town a fund the income of which has provided fuel for the aid of widows for almost a century. Sterling has much reason for gratitude to Edwin
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Conant. He gave substantial sums for the support of this the First Church and of the high school; he installed the clock in the steeple of this building and provided for its maintenance; he arranged for an annual course of lectures in this town on scientific subjects, which has necessarily been discontinued through no fault of the town or its officers; and he caused to be incorporated in 1890 the Conant Hotel Com- pany for the purpose of erecting a new hotel to take the place, upon the same site, of the Central Hotel burned in August of that year; and he gave the shares of stock in the corporation to the town. That building in turn was destroyed by fire in December, 1903. The present Sterling Inn was built in 1908 to take the place of a public house on that site (opened after the destruction of the Conant Hotel property), which also burned. Mr. Conant belonged to the class of men of wealth whose intelligent and enlightened study was so to dispose of their property as to promote the public welfare.
Both historical and industrial interest attaches to the mine. Its location is not far to the north of the stream connecting the two Washacum lakes. It is on land originally called the Charles-
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town grant because by act of the General Court assigned to residents of that town even before Sterling was set off. When it was surveyed, the variations of the magnetic needle were so great as to cause special exploration. As a result, a Swede named Christian Angel, perhaps experi- enced in mining and metallurgy in his native land, with the aid of nine or ten men, excavated to the depth of about seventy feet in one place and in another horizontally about fifty-five feet. It is said that this man was in the shaft at the time of the great earthquake of 1755. Whether a vein of iron ore was quickly worked out, whether samples sent to England for analysis were lost with the ship during the war with France, or whether some other cause super- vened, it is certain that the enterprise was never profitably worked and was soon abandoned. Those collecting mineralogical specimens have resorted for many years to the piles of excavated material left near the shaft. In 1834-35, a company from Salem began to work at the mine again and opened up some of its original drains, but the project came to naught and never attracted much public attention. Again in 1870, a spiritualist or clairvoyant doctor
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named B. B. Williams and an associate, George F. Crosby of Fitchburg, leased the mine for five years and expended considerable money in opening ditches to drain the water from the mine. One of the workmen at this time was our fellow-townsman Frederick W. Kendall. He is something more than six feet in height. He assures me that, after the water was drained out, he walked standing upright in the hori- zontal shaft a distance of fifty-eight feet before reaching its end. The scheme of these lessees was given up after a little more than a year without having accomplished any practical results. Since then this excavation has rested in undisturbed quiet save for the casual visitor and the grazing herds of the owner of the land.
Essential factors in the life of any community are its means of transportation for persons and commodities, the transmission of intelligence and all the manifold incidental uses of highways. Reference already has been made to the two trails leading in general east and west across the town. These were supplanted by roads made necessary for the use of the growing settlement. The surveyor, maker of a map of the town in 1830 and always a highly respected
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Town of Sterling, Massachusetts
citizen, Moses Sawyer, in an undated manu- script described the early roads in these words: "The first road located in this town was through Square Shire; from the Moosehorns to Col. Hastings, 1731. The next in 1732-North Row road, from the west side of the Mile near Stephen Houghton's to Ephraim Willards, now Rial Howards (Heywood's?). The third, in 1734, from Jonathan Powers, now Silas Wild- ers, to Jonas Fairbanks near the Moosehorns. In 1737, from Thomas Sawyers to Jonathan Osgoods, now known, by the road from the Cornelius Sawyer place to Browns Pope house. In 1744, a road from Deacon Palmer, through his own land and Capt. Holcomb, by Edward Burpees, to Sterling Meeting House." It is difficult to state with certainty, according to present conditions and residences, just where these ancient roads were. The names of the first two have continued to the present and need no further description. I fancy that the third led from the "Moosehorns" (now commonly called "Deershorns") over or around Redstone Hill; and that the fourth led from the original Sawyer place down Fitch Hill to the house known for a long time as the Dr. Kendall
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place, owned now for many years by J. B. Smith and at the present time being taken down for the straightening of the State road. I am told that this was once known as the Browns Pope house. The fifth is even more uncertain for present identification. It is said that Deacon Palmer owned the farm now of Herbert S. Wilder and that the remains of the Palmer mill are on the stream above the Twin Oaks Coffee Mill on the Wilder land. It is my impression that, a hundred years ago, a James Burpee lived on the road to Rowley Hill. Hence this may have been an old road leading from the North Row Road a considerable distance above Pratts Junction, over Rowley Hill and down Meeting house Hill. The Worcester and Nashua Railroad was opened from Lincoln Square in Worcester through Sterling Junction to Clinton on November 22, 1848. The Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad Company was organized May 30, 1846, and its railroad from Fitchburg to Sterling Junction was opened on February 11, 1850. The Agricultural Branch Railroad, organ- ized in 1847, was extended from North- borough to Pratts Junction and was opened in July, 1866. The two last-named railroads are
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