USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Barnstable > Report of proceedings of the tercentenary anniversary of the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts > Part 7
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We have come from the neighboring church service on this Sabbath day to now dedicate these memorials to the founders and all earlier citizens of Centerville. These memo- rials, this boulder and these two English beech trees, were created by Almighty God, as was yonder ocean, which just now, in plain sight, is rolling in upon the nearby shore. May these memorials endure, yes, as long as yonder ocean, and until all these surrounding man-created buildings shall have crumbled into dust.
PART II The Village Weeks
IN ITS 1938 report the Tercentenary Committee remarked: "In planning our celebration we have realized that each vil- lage in the Town has had a growth that is distinctive and important. We have, therefore, asked each village to plan an Old Home Day or Week in which it will emphasize the things in the past and present that give flavor to the life of the town of which it is a vital part."
In every village of our town citizens responded to this suggestion and arranged programs in commemoration not only of the 300th birthday of Barnstable but of the dis- tinctive growth and historic past of their own communities. The historic exhibits arranged at Cotuit, Osterville and West Barnstable were especially notable, bringing to light as they did numerous old paintings, works of early crafts- men and other objects of antiquarian interest telling us of the lives and occupations of our ancestors. In all truth the ceremonies held during the Village Weeks were infinite in variety, engrossing in interest. The Tercentenary Commit- tee owes a debt of gratitude to those numerous citizens, many of them unnamed here, who made the Village Weeks such happy and significant occasions.
We have space only for brief summaries of Village Week exercises. Dedication of the First Fulling Mill tablet, the principal event of Marstons Mills week, of which Dr. J. Haydn Higgins was chairman, will be found in the section on Memorial Tablets, for while these memorial dedications often stood out as principal events of the various Village Weeks, all have been grouped together for unity of sub- ject. On, now, to the accounts of our village celebrations.
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Cotuit Week (July 16 - 23)
TERCENTENARY CHURCH SERVICE
The Federated Church of Cotuit was filled to the over- flowing on Sunday, July 16th, for the Tercentenary serv- ice which opened Cotuit week. So large was the assembly that many stood or sat without the doors to participate in the service. The Rev. Walter R. Kraft, the minister, had arranged a special program of which the principal feature was an historic address by Dr. D. Brewer Eddy, lecturer and educator. William A. Nickerson was soloist and Mrs. Bertram F. Ryder directed the choir, in the musical pro- gram.
DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL TABLET
A gentle breeze tempered the warm sun which shone on the large audience gathered for the impressive ceremonies at the dedication of a granite tablet to the early settlers of Cotuit. The ceremonies were held in front of Freedom Hall, at 4 p.m. Tuesday. It was estimated that nearly 1,000 persons were present. Calvin D. Crawford, chairman of the Cotuit week committee, introduced Congressman Charles L. Gifford, who acted as chairman for the exerises. Mr. Gifford introduced Miss Marion Dottridge, who unveiled the tablet, and Dr. A. Lawrence Lowell, who delivered the dedicatory address. (See section on Memorial Tablets for Dr. Lowell's address. )
HISTORIC EXHIBIT
Immediately after conclusion of the tablet dedication the historic exhibit on display in Freedom Hall was opened to the public. The assembly gathered for the outdoor cere- mony viewed it with pleasure. It was a large exhibit, num- bering more than 300 objects. Both floors of the hall were filled, the upper with marine paintings, the lower with ob- jects of antiquarian interest ranging from the implements used by whalers and old log books, to articles of handicraft and household, all treasures from Cotuit homes. The exhibit was truly a mirror reflecting Cotuit's historic past. It had been planned to keep the hall open Tuesday afternoon and
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Wednesday, but so great was the interest that the exhibit was kept on view through Thursday. The collection was gathered under direction of Mrs. Calvin D. Crawford and a large committee.
OF
SEAL
THE
1648
COTUIT
AD
FIRE DISTRICT
OP
1926
1939
T
6
D
JULY
THIS SEAL, designed by Reginald F. Bolles for the Cotuit Fire District, rep- resents the " . . . great Brass Kittle of Seven Spans in Wideness Round about and one broad Howe" given by the Town of Barnstable in 1648 to Paup- mumuck, Sachem of the South Sea, in payment for the lands on which Cotuit was later settled.
PUBLIC MEETING OF TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION
On Wednesday evening the Cotuit community and many guests from without the village gathered in Freedom Hall for a Tercentenary program. The meeting was formally called to order as a fire district meeting, so that the new seal designed by Reginald F. Bolles might formally be pre- sented and accepted. Moderator Peter Campbell of the Fire District presided in that capacity, as chairman of the meet- ing. The seal was presented along with a witty address, by Mr. Bolles. Miss Madeline Harlow and William H. Perry, 3rd, unveiled it. Congressman Charles L. Gifford delivered the principal address of the evening. A special musical pro- gram was presented by the Cape Cod Women's Choral So- ciety and the Cape Cod Men's Singing Club, both under the direction of Clifford Kemp.
ADDRESS OF CONGRESSMAN CHARLES L. GIFFORD AT PUBLIC MEETING OF TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION
It is not so difficult to celebrate one's own birthday. How- ever, the committee has, no doubt, been somewhat puzzled at times to know how to celebrate the birthday of our en- tire community, especially when we claim to be 300 years old and have real difficulty in gaining actual knowledge of those who should be accorded the honor of building the first homes in this particular section. In any event, a birth- day celebration is supposed to be of a joyous character.
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The ringing of bells, pageantry, oratory-including many speeches and toasts-should be the order of the day.
We should make sufficient commotion in recalling the past that any new comer among us will at least be interested enough to pause and ask, "What is it all about ?" Through the medium of our school system and perhaps by other per- suasive measures, all who abide within our borders should have our past and glorious history made available to them. If they have unheeding ears, surely then we will use other methods of bringing it to their attention if they are to re- main with us. We shall have but little patience with those who will not honor the memory of their forefathers, especi- ally when those fathers were of that highest type of man- hood and womanhood ever known among civilized men. They richly deserve our veneration. Our own supreme con- cern should be that 100 years from today we ourselves of this generation, on a similar occasion, shall merit the eulogy of those great grandchildren of ours who, we trust, will on that day recall us in memory. Certainly once in a hundred years this historic record should be brought up to date and made complete and the people's thoughts centered upon their ancestors by celebrations such as the one we are now holding.
On Sunday morning Cotuit was extremely fortunate in having the famous Dr. Eddy bring to us much of the very early history of the town and vicinity, and he made many happy comments on the attitude of those early settlers to- ward public questions. He did not forget, however, to sug- gest that we of these times have our own serious determina- tions of public policy and, I think, strongly suggested a fear that we might not measure up to our forefathers in the proper solution of present day controversies.
During the few moments I have at my disposal, I shall wish to speak of the more immediate past, the present happy conditions and, I trust, express a hopeful and not too pessi- mistic viewpoint as to the future. Cotuit in its natural state was one of the many gems of nature's handiwork. Fortunate beyond description were they who were privileged to dwell here, and especially fortunate are we dwellers of the present moment, for we not only have this gem in its natural state, but we have a vastly improved Cotuit brought about by the contrivances of the hand of man. People of wealth have lavished their money in the building and improvement of beautiful estates. Splendid roads, public utilities, and im- pressive public buildings have made well nigh perfect the
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physical aspects of the community. It is not surprising that any who have dwelt long in this setting should always de- sire to return, and in so many instances they wish to arrange their affairs so that their latter days may be spent happily here. Let us hope that those who are privileged to live with- in the borders of this community realize these fortunate surroundings. Let us hope that it will not be necessary for them to roam and be forced to see for themselves that no other spot could be so truly satisfying as this, their own home port.
It is also to be hoped that capable persons interested in the very earliest beginnings of this section will give of their time and make real effort to delve into the past. Personally I much prefer, at the moment, to call to your minds condi- tions of my own early days, clearly remembered by many and easily visualized by the younger generation. The physi- cal changes of our community have been so great that even that picture is hardly recognizable. Especially to be noted- and with great satisfaction-is the general pride of our citizens in making their own homes attractive.
Old Cotuit, now Santuit, was seemingly the more pros- perous section, a half century ago. While there are now more houses in that section than in that earlier day, there is almost entirely lacking the hum of industry and of real agricultural pursuit. Practically all available land was cul- tivated to the highest degree and nearly every home had its quota of farm animals and the feathered tribe. Carefully erected fences surrounding the growing crops spelled much activity along those lines. There was a wheelwright shop, a blacksmith shop, a watch maker's shop, a thriving grocery store and the old mill for the grinding of corn. A full car- load of grain was sold almost bi-weekly. The old church was well attended. The little old schoolhouse was typical of its kind and the one teacher was obliged to instruct in all grades. Each family raised all the produce possible, since ready cash was very scarce. Much trading of work was done in the neighborhood. Labor on hardening the roads at $2 per ten-hour day and the harvesting of cranberries in the fall seemed to be the principal source of cash which could be depended upon. The labor furnished by the cranberry crop enabled the young people, especially, to earn the money for their winter clothing. I can recall that a new pair of shoes was really quite an event. Even bicycles had not made their appearance. The roads in general were so bad that a trip to a point some 6 to 10 miles away, by horse and buggy,
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was an adventure. The courting radius was necessarily limit- ed and acquaintanceship so thorough that few mistakes in matrimony were recorded. We were not unhappy in that we lacked so many of the present day comforts, because we knew nothing of them, and there was no jealousy because other fortunate neighbors were in possession of such things.
The real road to Cotuit Port, so-called, was by the old oyster road leading by the present golf course to the pre- sent High Street in Cotuit, passing through the valley back of the home of Ezra J. Gifford and coming out through the very center of the present Malchman Block to the Town Wharf. As the road branched up the hill by Cotuit Inn, weaving its way to Highground, it can be recalled that the hill was rather steep and so sandy that the loaded wood wagons had much difficulty in making the ascent. The land at Cotuit Port was wholly unadaptable to farming and, as nearly all the homes in this locality represented seafaring folk, there was little planning as to the locations of the houses. Indeed, locations some little distance away from the water seemed to be preferred to those on the waterfront now so highly esteemed and valuable. However, early in the '70's, and perhaps somewhat previous to that, the Coolidges and the Lowells and the Codmans discovered the great beau- ty of our waterfront. It was the beginning of a new era for Cotuit's inhabitants. Not only the building, but the care, of these properties furnished much needed labor for our citizens. We rejoice that citizens of the highest type in the land selected us for their neighbors. The new-comers greatly enjoyed the simplicity of it all. In fact, they enjoyed it so much that they were disposed to look with disfavor on the coming of the telephone and even objected to the building of the macadam roads. While their point of view was well understood, our natives quite naturally demanded these modern improvements. As Cotuit Port grew quite rapidly at that time through the building of homes, several stores were established, chiefly by the retired seafaring captains. It has always been an amazing thing to me that all were apparently prosperous. The grocery store of Captain John Coleman, located on what is now a part of the John T. Cool- idge estate; the store of Aaron Nickerson, located at High- ground on what is now the Whitcomb estate; and the Dan- iel Nickerson store, located on part of the present Bailey property, were all going concerns for many years. At about the same time we recall the shoe store at the junction of the roads, in the building now occupied by Major Cahill.
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The cobbler's shop in the center, carried on by Mr. Cephas Ames, was one of the most interesting gathering places. Captain Alfred Bearse, and later Captain Asa Bearse, ran a thriving livery stable business on the present Cotuit Inn property, and a grocery store was also located there.
The Old White Church, however, was built by the genera- tion preceding my own. The records were well kept and the history of its founders betrays the character of the fore- most citizens of that day. Of course, I can remember well many of those who passed on during my earlier years.
Our old Freedom Hall was built by that same generation and its records also are available. In contrast to the social activities of today held in this place, those forefathers of ours clung to the old fashioned views of educational facili- ties. In my early twenties I was able to take part in that weekly lyceum of debate carried on here for many, many years. Not only were the immediate topics of the day dis- cussed, but there was offered a great variety of controver- sial questions. These were not only of educational value, but furnished a great deal of real amusement, as well. Books, newspapers, and the tons of propaganda were not available to any great degree. The discussion usually was an expres- sion of the speakers' own reasoned and personal opinions. Sometimes debaters came from some distances, as measured by the horse and buggy days. I am tempted to mention the names of a few of those men who carried on. Perhaps one of the most faithful organizers and constant attendants was Captain Walton Hinckley, who for many years owned and operated a small vessel, carrying hundreds of cords of wood to Nantucket annually. He was a man deliberate in speech and fairly well informed.
Captain Gilbert Crocker, his next door neighbor, was far more brilliant in debate and perhaps should be accord- ed the first place in these discussions. Captain Gilbert was for many, many years the caretaker of the John T. Coolidge estate. This was an important and most exacting position, as the property had to be kept, at all times, in the most immaculate condition. The marked personal friendship dur- ing the long years between Mr. Coolidge and Captain Crocker well deserves to be remembered. In those long eve- nings of discussion held by these two, we can have no doubt that Captain Crocker held his own in arguments with the educated aristocrat.
Mr. Laban Crocker of Forestdale generally attended these lyceum meetings and proved a most interesting and force-
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ful debater. Among those older ones, very prominent were Captain Asa F. Bearse, Captain Richard S. Handy and Cap- tain William B. Crosby. Much should be written of that in- stitution known as the Cotuit Lyceum, which was the great- est means we had of threshing out questions of interest to the community of that day.
Perhaps the most important man of the locality of that particular generation was Mr. Charles C. Bearse, who lived in the house now owned by Mr. Wild. I remember him as carrying on the business of a lumber yard and for a long time as postmaster. He was also a bank director. He repre- sented us well in town meetings, but I cannot recall that he was accustomed to take part in the lyceums. Certainly his abilities would indicate that he must have done so pre- vious to my own attendance. Mr. Bearse had the appear- ance of an austere man, but those who knew him were ex- ceedingly fond of him and many instances of his helpful- ness have been brought to my attention. I recall that my older brother, at about the age of seventeen, desired to en- ter the cooper shop at Santuit. Mr. Bearse loaned him $25. to buy the proper tools, without-of course-any particular security. I believe this was typical of many such accommo- dations granted by him. Let us hope that a long chapter may be written about him before the books of memory are closed against him.
A rather close second to Mr. Bearse in the business affairs of the community was Captain Andrew Lovell who was, indeed, another striking personality. He was a rather stout, pompous individual and I can recall the large collar which usually hung somewhat loosely about his neck. For many years he wrote the insurance policies for this section. He seemed to be the principal conveyancer and the hundreds of deeds on record show evidence that he was frequently called upon in his capacity as Justice of the Peace for the community. He was also the postmaster for many years and later was succeeded in that position by Miss Lizzie Lovell, his daughter. I can remember that he was a very peppery person when annoyed by late comers for their mail. How- ever, he was a most important personage and another chap- ter of Cotuit's history should be given to his life and char- acter.
Probably three-fourths of the inhabitants of Cotuit Port followed the sea in the summer months and were ashore without any particular occupation during the winter. Those sea captains of ours are deserving of quite complete biog-
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raphies and some capable person with historian tendencies would find real material in their rugged characters and lives filled with real adventure. A multiplicity of laws, especially of conduct, was quite unnecessary in those days. Those men were able to settle their own differences, command good behavior, and, above all, secure honest transactions. Unlike our citizens of today, they did not stand helplessly by and wait for a policeman with a badge to arrive to settle dis- orders. While none of us wish to go back to those days and suffer their hardships and inconveniences, there was much in the character of the people of those times that seems to be sadly lacking in these later days. Education rightly teaches us to be discontented unless we are able to obtain greater comforts, and even luxuries. This education, how- ever, often leads us to attempt to circumvent the proper methods of securing these things. Our older generation built a good foundation for us. With their lamp of experience and the happy inventions at our hand, it should, indeed, be a disgrace to our present generation if we could not build a more attractive physical community and a far greater mental and moral structure than our forefathers could have dreamed. The can opener is now the most important kitch- en utensil. The back-breaking labor to get wood to burn and the struggle with coal ashes are things of the past. We now press a button and all these conveniences respond in- stantly. Such things make it difficult for this generation, however, to realize that real work is still necessary in order to earn the where-with-all to purchase the button that will bring light and warmth for our needs.
The day has not yet arrived when we will not have to render service to others, who are able to employ us. It may be that the time will come when the power of the ballot will simply tax those who "have" and distribute it to those who "have not." It might be well to suggest that such pro- cedure would soon bring about a condition where all would be numbered among the "have nots." Let us cherish the memories of the past, let us carry on and fulfill the demands of the present and look hopefully forward always that our Cotuit will be a better and finer spot for our children who are to come.
We are, perhaps, prone to think that the present popula- tion is lacking in citizens of the type we like to portray as living here in those former days. We are in error. Many present day men and women measure fully to the public stature desired. Many deserve mention, but allow us to re-
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mind ourselves that we have the dynamic, public spirited Calvin Crawford to whom we are, and will be, indebted much.
We have the lovable Reggie Bolles, received in intimate relationship by all classes. His great sympathy for all in distress has endeared him to old and young. His artistic soul revels in the beauty all around him and he surely lives the abundant life, having full knowledge of the haunts of the birds and the fishes, as well as the affection of his neigh- bors.
Again I say it is highly dangerous to specify certain char- acters, as there are, indeed, many of most exceptional quali- fications. However, for some years I have been convinced that we have had no finer citizen than our Ezra J. Gifford, who has now arrived at an age that will qualify him as one of our oldest in the community. His looks and his actions belie the truth of the matter. His forthrightness of speech also belies the kindness of heart. His deeds of helpfulness would fill a considerable record. May he be spared to us for many years and may we demand of him, for recording, those valuable recollections of his early boyhood days.
Another of our oldest residents, who always has enjoyed our highest respect and whose life may well be a pattern, is Wallie F. Harlow. While he is still spared to be with us, let us make known to him our deep respect and express ap- preciation for the example set for right living in this com- munity.
We have been fortunate, indeed, in the many sterling characters who have served us as pastors of our churches. Time does not allow reference to them all. We rejoice at the moment that we have had recently, and still are able to retain the services of, young Mr. Kraft, who has thrown himself completely into the work of making this commun- ity a better place in which to live. Especially has he deter- mined that the utmost shall be done not only for the hap- piness of our young people, but for the upbuilding of their characters as well. Added to all this, his sermons are of constant scholarly quality. The results of his labors among us cannot be measured. We do wish to express our sincere appreciation, which may be his own reward.
Others who should be mentioned will forgive the omis- sions, but it is felt that some illustration should be given that we may more fully realize that we are happily en- dowed not only with physical attractions, but with citizens of the type who give us great joy for a happy future and
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still greater improvement in our economic and ethical exist- ence.
Beautiful Cotuit! Your sons and daughters today pay adoration. You have nurtured us by the bounties gathered from your waters and wrested from your soil. You have been a magnet to those who acquired wealth elsewhere to share their fortunes with us. We have enjoyed acquaintance and fellowship with the great intellectuals of the nation. What more can we desire? A constant increase in educa- tional advantages and undreamed of physical comforts have been lavishly provided. Highly do we resolve that these benefactions pledge us to the preservation of your natural charms and to a higher moral and upright standard of liv- ing. Further do we pledge ourselves to a determined strug- gle to maintain our "liberty under the law" that our chil- dren's children may enjoy the priceless inheritance of lib- erty and freedom so dearly bought in the blood of our fore- fathers.
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