USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 1 > Part 38
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September 24, 1864, Mr. Lyman's name appears alone as proprietor, and in April, 1867, the paper was somewhat enlarged and adopted a different style heading, with the characteristic dam as a feature. With the dawning of the 70's the Transcript gave evidence of the mercantile and industrial growth of Holyoke, in the increased and diversified advertising patronage, and the local news columns showed marked expansion, the newer spirit having- taken hold. With the issue of February 11, 1871, the Transcript appears with the names of Lyman & Kirtland as publishers, Mr. E. L. Kirtland having been taken into partnership. The Tran- script had now taken on the eight page form.
Holyoke's first daily paper appeared October 9, 1882, in a daily edition of the Transcript in four page form, six columns to the page, with Loomis & Dwight as publishers, and the growth of the paper since that time has been continuous, keeping well up in the journalistic procession, with modern mechanical equipment, and able editing. January 1, 1888, Mr. Dwight became sole pro- prietor, and has conducted the paper alone, at the stand so long occupied by it on High street.
Since the birth of journalism in Holyoke, there have been many new ventures in the way of newspapers, which have been started to fill "a long felt want," or to boom the causes of this or that political party or clique, unable otherwise to reach the public mind, and obtain an audience for the promulgation of certain
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ideas. These papers have lived for a time, sailing more or less against the tide, but eventually have sunk, and aside from the long established Transcript, which is itself the survivor of a long line that has had succession from Holyoke's first paper, all have proved short-lived.
Holyoke's other daily, the Evening Telegram, which has its office in the Senior building on High street, was established June 11, 1898, and is a one cent democratic paper, with a modern plant. The organizer and first editor of the Telegram was P. J. Kennedy, and the original office of publication was in the Whitcomb build- ing on Dwight street, he being succeeded by E. H. McPhee, and he, in turn followed by George F. Jenks. During the first year or more of its existence, the Telegram had as a rival, besides the old-established Transcript, another young daily, the Evening Globe, which gave up the fight in February, 1900. On Monday evening, June 11, 1900, the Telegram issued an anniversary num- ber, which was fully up to the standard of such efforts, and in which is given a review of the city's progress during the few years of the paper's existence. Like most modern papers, the Telegram has a department devoted to the spicy paragraphing of the events of the hour, the one in this case being headed "Obser- vations."
With the large foreign population, drawn into Holyoke by its varied industries, it is but natural that they should have a journal printed in their native tongue, and so we find as the representative paper of the Germans, of whom there are 7,000, or about one-sixth of Holyoke's population, the New England Rund- schau, semi-weekly, published by the German-American Publish- ing Co. from their office on South Main street, Holyoke, in the center of the German population. This is the oldest paper in the Paper City, aside from the Transcript, having been established in July, 1882. Besides the Holyoke issue, there are editions printed for circulation in Springfield, Rockville, and for the towns of Berkshire county.
Another paper to share the Teutonic journalistic honors, though on a more modest scale is Die Biene (the Bee), which has its office on Sargeant street, within a stone's throw of the office
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of its contemporary above mentioned. Die Biene was established in 1893, and has for its publisher August Lehmann. It is pub- lished on Wednesdays. A special edition under the heading "Vorwarts" (Forward), is issued for circulation in Springfield. One finding himself in the German quarter of Holyoke, with the tongue of the Fatherland spoken on all sides, and especially as he sees issuing from the press the newspapers with their quaint Ger- man characters, may readily imagine himself in the land of the Kaiser. When Holyoke, by the enterprise of the early mill pros- pectors, left its early state of villagehood and merged into a man- ufacturing community, the question of securing operatives be- came important, and though for a time the native New England- ers, and later, the families of the Irish laborers who had been imported to work on the dam, sufficed as "hands" in the mills, it was not long before an exodus set in from Canada to Holyoke, where hundreds of families have found a home and positions as operatives in the various industries, growing up, and improving socially, until now, the French population of the Paper City is in itself important, and not a few among them, by thrift, and through the opportunities offered by the rapid growth of the city, have become wealthy. Churches, schools, benevolent societies and clubs abound, adhering to and fostering the language and traditions of their people.
The French press of Holyoke, like its contemporaries of other nationalities, has had its years of varied experience. The journals, like men, have come and gone, but for many years the city has not been long without some form of French newspaper. At present, La Presse, which is published from 20 Main street, with Tesson & Carignan as editors and proprietors, is the organ of the French-Canadian population of Holyoke, issuing as well separate editions as follows : Le Globe, Fitchburg, Mass .; Le Can- adien, Somersworth and Dover, N. H .; Le Canadien-American, Norwich, Ct .; Le Connecticut, Waterbury, Ct. These papers reach a field touched by no other papers, and are therefore im- portant factors in New England journalism.
La Presse was established as a weekly in 1895, and as a semi- weekly in 1898.
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Incidentally, it may be stated that at the office of La Presse, is done the mechanical work on the Holyoke Free Press, which caters, perhaps more than the other papers, to the so-called sensa- tional features of Holyoke's news field. With the German and French papers of the city, an important task in the editorial de- partments, is the translation of "copy," which is handed in by advertisers and the English-writing contributors generally, into the language of the paper, so that it may be conveniently put into type by the compositors, who are above the ordinary of such ar- tisans in that the multitude of special characters, accents, etc., peculiar to the languages, require special knowledge.
Aside from the regular business of newspaper publication, a vast amount of general printing is done in the city, through the requirements of its many and varied industries. Most of the newspapers have job plants connected, and Holyoke has more than a national reputation for the excellence of its special and high class printing, as is attested in the world's leading typo- graphical journals.
THE PRESS OF CHICOPEE
The first newspaper within the limits of Chicopee, was issued in January, 1840, by Thomas D. Blossom, who came from Hing- ham, Mass. The paper was called the Cabotville Chronicle and Chicopee Falls Advertiser. The paper changed hands, and was called the Mechanics' Offering. In August, 1846, a company composed of Messrs. Hervey Russell, Amos W. Stockwell, and James M. Cavanaugh, purchased the paper, and changed the name to the Cabotville Mirror, democratic in politics. The es- tablishment was destroyed by fire in 1848. In November, 1849, the subscription list was transferred to the Springfield Sentinel, which issued it under the head of the Chicopee Mirror, until Feb. 2, 1850. The Chicopee Telegraph was first issued by J. C. Stoever & Co., on February 11th, 1846, and was largely devoted to agricultural and kindred topics, and in May, 1853, J. R. Childs took the paper, and changed its name to the Chicopee Weekly Journal, Whig in politics. Successive proprietors and editors were David B. Potts, James C. Pratt, William G. Brown, J. C.
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Havens and George V. Wheelock. The paper was discontinued Dec. 27, 1862. Mr. Havens was perhaps most prominent among the older editors, being identified with the local life of the place, and postmaster for a time.
The files of the Chicopee papers, preserved in the library of that city, are a most valuable means of tracing the growth of the place, and very interesting articles are printed, even in the earlier issues, bearing on the history of Cabotville. The Chicopee Tele- graph was especially well printed; in fact, its appearance to-day, is in a mechanical sense, far superior to the majority of modern weekly sheets. The advertisements give a synopsis of the busi- ness life of "Merchants Row."
The Chicopee Journal was vigorous and outspoken in its treatment of local affairs; and in the issue of Sept. 2, 1854, dur- ing the cholera epidemic, speaks of "Additional deaths on the 'Patch,' owing to nonsensical fear, swinish filth and miserable liquor. Most of the deaths occur on Mondays, the result of the previous day's rum drinking. Some of the people on the 'Patch' act like double-and-twisted fools, as well as brutes, upon the subject, entirely forsaking the sick."
As a specimen item, relating to the industries of Chicopee, the following is given :
"The Ames company of Chicopee have been engaged for sev- eral months past in manufacturing cannon, bomb-shells and grape shot for His Most Serene Highness, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Of the last named article, two hundred tons have been engaged, and we do not believe that the old, one-legged hum- bug will have killed a hundred men after they are all used up."
With the decadence of some of Chicopee's old industries, and the shifting of population, added to its proximity to Spring- field with an ample news service covering well the Chicopee in- terests, journalism of a local issuance has been almost totally abandoned there, one or two small job offices being all that re- main to represent the printing business.
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THE PRESS OF PALMER
The history of journalism in Palmer exceeds half a century, the first attempt at newspaper publishing being made by Whitte- more & Tenney, who commenced the Palmer Sentinel in Janu- ary, 1846, and continued it about a year, when it was removed to Springfield. D. F. Ashley started the Palmer Times in 1847, but it began and ended with the first number. The Palmer Journal first appeared April 6, 1850, under the auspices of the "Palmer Publishing Association," with Gordon M. Fiske as edi- tor and manager. Mr. Fiske bought out the plant at the end of
the first year. He was a born journalist, and laid the founda- tion of one of the best conducted country papers of the state. His editorials were strong from the first, and were firm in the advo- cacy of temperance, and anti-slavery, and on the side of reform generally. The body of the paper was made up of good selec- tions and general news. Personals and local news did not then, as now, attract attention. Mr. Fiske was quite a poet, but never
published his effusions over his own name. In 1867, during a prolonged session of the Legislature, he published a poem in the Journal entitled "The wife at home to her husband in the Legis- lature, " being a parody on "Father, Come Home." This was a great hit, and was copied far and wide, but it was not known till years afterwards that Mr. Fiske was the author. In 1860 and 1861, Mr. Fiske was elected to the State Senate and later, he held a position on the visiting committee of the Monson State Institution. Under his management, the Journal had a wide field of influence, and a large circulation. In 1855, A. S. Goff was received as a partner in the Journal printing office. He was succeeded by James McLaughlin in 1862, who was followed a few years later by A. W. Briggs, who gave place to H. J. Law- rence in 1871. Mr. Fiske remained as editor, till his decease in 1879, when he was succeeded by his son, Charles B. Fiske, who enlarged and added many improvements in 1883. In 1885, L. E. Chandler was admitted into the firm, and after a few years, be- came the editor of the paper, but the firm continues to be C. B. Fiske & Co. The paper was again enlarged in 1891. It con-
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tinues to be one of the best made up of country papers, and has a large circulation at home and in other states. Its local news covers a radius of ten miles around Palmer as a center. Of late years, it has frequently been illustrated with cuts of prominent local men and of local scenes and incidents. It has also paid much attention to local history, as well as passing events, which has added much to its popularity. Its managers are wide awake for the interests of its patrons, and spare no pains in making each paper interesting.
The first number of the Palmer Herald appeared June 18, 1891. It was an eight page paper, published by Morse & Cady, and was continued till January 28, 1894, when the plant was destroyed in the burning of Holden's Opera House block, in which it was located. The paper had obtained a good circula- tion, and had won a fair degree of success. After the fire, its interests were purchased by the Palmer Journal, and its publica- tion discontinued.
The Palmer Citizen was published bi-monthly, during the years 1895-6-7. It was edited by Rev. F. E. Jenkins, in the in- terests of no-license, and conducted a strenuous crusade against the liquor traffic in Palmer and surrounding towns, and created a wide spread interest.
CHAPTER XXII
FREE MASONRY BY HENRY L. HINES
Organized Masonry was introduced into Hampden county in 1796, just sixty-three years after its introduction into Massa- chusetts. Previous to this date, however, Masonic meetings were held at the homes of members of the craft, or in rooms set apart for this purpose in the public taverns. At these meetings the lectures would be rehearsed and the brethren were undoubtedly
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as perfect in the work as were those who had the advantage of frequent attendance on regular and special communications of lodges.
Who were the first Masons in the county will never be known, nor can it be learned when the pioneers first began to assemble at the homes of the brethren or in the little upper story rooms in the taverns, to keep alive the interest in the work of the society. That the degrees were conferred upon the pioneers in Boston is practically certain, although some few may have been made Masons in New York. No records are extant that throw light on this, however.
The early brethren never dreamed of the possibilities of the fraternity ! The most enthusiastic Mason of the early years could not have realized the growth which years were to bring to the order, nor the high position it was destined to hold in the esteem of men. Those early craftsmen believed in the teachings of Masonry, they lived up to those teachings, and laid the found- ation on which others should build the magnificent structure which to-day stands a lasting monument to their wisdom and uprightness of life.
Perhaps it may not be out of place to briefly sketch the history of the order in this country, as a preface to the history of its introduction and growth in the county. In 1729, twelve years after the revival of Masonry in England, a provincial Grand Master was appointed for New Jersey. It cannot be learned, however, that this official did anything to spread the teachings of the order. There are extant no records of lodges instituted by him, but he may have organized a number in New Jersey and New York. If such were organized they and their records have long since ceased to exist.
In 1733 Lord Viscount Montacute, Grand Master of Eng- land, commisioned Henry Price of Boston, Grand Master of America. Masonry in this country therefore really dates from that appointment, sixteen years after the revival in England.
Worshipful Grand Master Price was a man of action and an enthusiastic Mason. Immediately upon receiving his commis- sion he organized St. John's Grand lodge, the first grand lodge
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in the country. The same year, St. John's Grand lodge granted a charter to St. John's lodge of Boston, the first "Blue" or sub- ordinate lodge in the state, and so far as the records show, the first in America.
In 1752 the Grand lodge of Scotland, claiming equal juris- diction in the new world with the Grand lodge of England, granted a charter to St. Andrew's lodge of Boston. This lodge worked independently of St. John's Grand lodge, to which it owed no allegiance. In 1769, assisted by three traveling lodges in the British army, it organized a grand lodge in Boston, which took the name Grand lodge of Massachusetts. Joseph Warren was elected its first Grand Master.
The result of the new Grand lodge, claiming jurisdiction in the state, was not what its founders had hoped for. Naturally ill feeling was engendered between the subordinate lodges and between the Grand lodges, and the growth of the order was ac- cordingly retarded. After twenty years of rivalry the wise men of the two Grand lodges brought about a union of the two Grand lodges, and the Grand lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the commonwealth of Massachusetts was the result.
With the union came the first marked forward move- ment of the society which has spread to every section of the country. In many of the smaller towns it had been impossible to form lodges for the reason that while there were enough Masons to support a lodge, they did not all own allegiance to the same Grand lodge, and so could not affiliate to the degree neces- sary to organize a lodge. But with the union effected, all were supporters of the same Grand lodge, and could then organize lodges.
The first lodge chartered after the union of the Grand lodges was Morning Star lodge of Worcester, whose charter bears date of 1793, the year following the union. This was the fourth lodge chartered in the state, there being at this time three lodges in Boston. In 1795 Republican lodge of Greenfield was chartered and charters were also granted to lodges in Lee and Great Barrington.
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In 1796, four years after the union of the grand lodges and sixty-three after the organization of the first Grand lodge, twelve Masons living in and near Monson, petitioned the Grand lodge for a charter. The petitioners had all been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Boston, and they were the leaders in the community in which they lived.
Paul Revere, of immortal fame, was at the time Grand Mas- ter of the Grand lodge and his name appears on the charter which was granted to Thomas lodge, and which is preserved with jealous care by the lodge. The charter, the first granted to a lodge in Hampden county, is here given in full because of its historic value :
CHARTER
To all the fraternity to whom these presents shall come, the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, for the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, sends greeting : Whereas, a petition has been presented to us by Samuel Guthrie, David Young, Peter Walbridge, Heze- kiah Fiske, Ephraim Allen, Elisha Woodward, Amasa Stowell, John Moore, David Peck, Zebediah Butler, Jesse Converse and Isaiah Blood, Jun., all Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, praying that they, with such others as shall hereafter join them, may be erected and constituted a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, which petition, appearing to us tending to the advance- ment of Masonry and good of the craft; Know ye therefore, that we, the Grand Lodge aforesaid, reposing special trust and confi- dence in the prudence and fidelity of our beloved brethren above named, have constituted and appointed, and by these presents do constitute and appoint them, the said Samuel Guth- rie, David Young, Peter Walbridge, Hezekiah Fiske, Ephraim Allen, Elisha Woodward, Amasa Stowell, John Moore, David Peck, Zebediah Butler, Jesse Converse and Isaiah Blood, Jun., a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title and designation of Thomas lodge, hereby giving and granting unto them and their successors, full power and authority to convene as Masons within the town of Monson, in the county of Hamp-
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den, and commonwealth aforesaid, to receive and enter appren- tices, pass fellowcrafts, and raise Master Masons upon the pay- ment of such moderate compensation for the same as may be determined by the said lodge; also to make choice of master, warden, and other office bearers, annually or otherwise, as they shall see cause; to receive and collect funds for the relief of poor and distressed brethren, their widows or children, and in gen- eral to transact all matters relating to Masonry which may to them appear to be for the good of the craft, according to the an- cient usages and customs of Masons. And we do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the Grand Lodge at their quarterly communications, and other meetings by their Masters and Wardens, or by proxies, regularly appointed, also to keep a fair and regular record of all their proceedings, and lay them before the Grand Lodge when required. And we do enjoin upon our brethren of the said lodge, that they may be punctual in the quarterly payments of such sums as may be assessed for the sup- port of the Grand Lodge. That they behave themselves respect- fully and obediently to their superiors in office, and in all other respects conduct themselves as good Masons, and we do hereby declare the precedence of the said lodge in the Grand Lodge and elsewhere to commence from the date of these presents.
In testimony whereof, we, the Grand Master and Grand Wardens, by virtue of the power and authority to us committed, have hereunto set our hands, and caused the seal of the Grand Lodge to be affixed, at Boston, this December, the thirteenth day, Anno Domini MDCCLXXXXVI, and of Masonry 5796.
PAUL REVERE, G. M. SAMUEL DUNN, D. G. M. ISAIAH THOMAS, G. S. W. JOSEPH LAUGHTON, J. W. Attest : DANIEL OLIVER, Grand Secretary.
Thomas lodge adopted the name of the Grand Senior War- den, Isaiah Thomas, who afterward was for a number of years Grand Master. He acknowledged the honor conferred upon him by the lodge by presenting to it a set of jewels for the officers, and he also bequeathed $100 to the lodge which was paid from
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his estate. Thomas lodge secured quarters in the upper rooms of the new tavern which had just been completed by William Norcross, but the lodge rooms were not dedicated until 1800. This place of meeting was occupied by the lodge until 1835, when the charter was surrendered. During the first two years sixty- five were admitted to membership, but the records of the lodge do not cover those years and it is not known how many were made Masons and how many admitted by affiliation.
Dr. Samuel Guthrie was the first master of the lodge and he served until 1802. The year 1819 is an interesting one to the members of the lodge as that year four clergymen, who later in life became very prominent, were made Masons. These were Rev. Alfred Ely and Rev. Dr. Simeon Colton of Monson, and Rev. Dr. Hosea Ballou, 2d, and Rev. Dr. Benjamin M. Hill of Stafford, Conn. Dr. Hill carried Masonic enthusiasm to New Haven when he removed to that city, and he was largely instru- mental in the organization in that city of the commandery of Knights Templar. Dr. Colton became president of Clinton col- lege, and Dr. Ballou became the first president of Tufts college.
Thomas lodge thrived, and from its organization up to 1835 it added 250 names to its membership roll. In that year, the anti-Masonic feeling had become so strong in the town, many members withdrew from the lodge from reasons of policy, and the few faithful deemed it wise to surrender the charter. In January, 1835, thirty members, all that remained of the member- ship, met and sadly wound up the affairs of Thomas lodge.
The Bible and cushions were given to Rev. Dr. Ely, the venerable chaplain, and it was voted that the jewels remain in the possession of the officers last elected to wear them. As there was a balance of $227.55 in the treasury, this was divided into thirty shares, one for each member to use as a charity fund. The charter was surrendered, the lights put out, and what was supposed to be the last meeting of Thomas lodge was closed in form.
But Masonry was not dead ! In 1856, the wave of opposition to the society having subsided, ten former members of Thomas lodge petitioned the Grand lodge to restore its charter, and per-
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mit it to remove to Palmer. The Grand lodge, welcoming the revival of the spirit of Masonry, granted the petition, restored the charter, and authorized the lodge to meet in Palmer. On October 11, 1856, the lodge was reorganized. Joseph L. Rey- nolds, who was master of the lodge at the time of the surrender of the charter, headed the petition for its restoration and occu- pied the chair in the East at the reorganization. In 1896 the lodge celebrated its 100th birthday, the Grand lodge being present to assist and share in its celebration.
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