USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > Sketches of Framingham > Part 8
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From his grandfather he heard at first hand stories of wars and of Indians, reaching back to rev- olutionary times. His knowledge of local history thus begun and aided by a retentive memory, helped to make his conduct of the offices he held later of greater value to the public.
As trustee of the Town Library, School Commit- teeman, Selectman, Town Counsel, member of many important committees and representative in the General Court, he rendered important services to the Town.
He was for many years a vestryman and war- den of St. John's Church and a constant attendant of its services. His knowledge of Church History and his acquaintance with interesting churchmen, lay and clerical, was wide and intimate. Phillips Brooks had been Mrs. Adams' pastor in Philadel- phia and was very much at home at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Adams when, twice during this brief Episcopate, Bishop Brooks visited St. John's. 'Mr. Brooks' was much interested in Mr. Adams' remark- able library, - and said he was coming sometime to spend a week in it. As he left the house the morn-
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SKETCHES OF FRAMINGHAM
ing after his second visitation he asked to be taken past the Baptist Church which he had seen and greatly admired.
Mr. Adams was a well-read and able lawyer; his earlier professional contacts made him well ac- quainted with leading attorneys in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Later he settled into a practice largely local and became an Associate Judge of the District Court of So. Middlesex. He was known as a strictly upright lawyer and as an impartial but kindly judge. He will be best and most affectionate- ly remembered, however, for the kindly and delicate assistance he was always ready to render to the poor people, widows and orphans, who went to him, sometimes with dread, but whom he never refused to help."
I also recall my very pleasant association of many years with John H. Temple, the Treasurer of our Committee. He was the son of Rev. Josiah H. Temple, the town historian whose history of 1887 will be read as long as there is a Framingham. John Temple was active all through the period of preparation for the Exercises and continued as Chairman of the Committee to collect, edit and publish the proceedings. And their work was well done, as the "Memorial of Framingham Bicenten- nial 1900" proves.
Another incident I remember with much pleasure, a special trip with Dr. Frederick E. Emrich, the be- loved pastor of Grace Congregational Church, to the home of Senator George F. Hoar in Worcester (I had been his private secretary) to invite him to come to our Literary Exercises at Mount Wayte. He accepted our invitation and came as an unannounced visitor with
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FIFTY YEARS MORE
a seat on the platform. There he was seen and was asked by Theodore O. Hurd, the orator to share his time with him. He replied with this impromptu address:
"I had congratulated myself on my own shrewd- ness in selecting for my visit to Framingham an hour when I could safely listen to other men and escape any demand on myself. But I am glad, and feel highly honored by your cordial salutation. Certainly, there is no other more interesting occa- sion than this; there is nothing like it on the face of the earth, - the celebration of the birthday of a New England town. Other lands have fair cities and ancient towns, each with its own honorable his- tory. But the towns and cities of other lands are the work, the product, of but a few hands and a few brains.
A New England town, a Massachusetts town, a Middlesex town, is the work of almost every man and woman within its borders. As you recall the wonderful growth of Framingham, as you recall her honorable and stainless history, each of you has a right to say when you think of yourself and your ancestry, It is I, it is I, who have helped to build up this fair structure.
Now, fellow-citizens, the keynote of this occasion is not after all, memory or retrospect; it is hope. Our friend, the Orator of the Day, wisely and wittily told you what had been wrought by 22,500 Eng- lish men and women 'at compound interest,' as he expressed it. What do you think is to be wrought for humanity, righteousness, liberty and America in the next 200 years by the 12,000 men and women of beautiful Framingham, when they are put out at compound interest.
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SKETCHES OF FRAMINGHAM
I am an old man: my life, short as it seems when I look over it, extends over considerably more than a third of the life of this ancient town. Yet, if I know myself, the one single passion which dwells in my bosom is the great Christian virtue of Hope, which includes Charity and Faith, which the great Apostle places as the centre of that great trium- virate, that mighty group which are forever to abide.
I am full of hope for America, Massachusetts and humanity."
Would the Senator add emphasis to his prediction if he were with us today to review the record of the half- century period during which the method of town gov- ernment has been continued locally, and the Nation has survived catastrophe? We all hope so. Let us do every- thing in our power to justify his hope and achieve accomplishment.
The literary exercises at the Chautauqua auditorium at Mount Wayte were the historic address by Constan- tine C. Esty, the poem by Edna Dean Proctor, and the oration by Theodore C. Hurd. The orator was from a Framingham family, a lawyer who had become Clerk of Courts of Middlesex County, and as such was favor- ably known in Massachusetts. As I re-read his oration I recall the appreciation with which it was received. He concludes:
"Men and women of today, you have beautified and adorned your ancient town. On every hand are monuments of your thrift and enterprise. You
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FIFTY YEARS MORE
have appropriated to your use and comfort the appliances of modern art and science. You have opened wide the doors of schools of every grade. You have gathered a treasury of books on the shelves of your free library. You are liberal in deeds of mercy and charity. You minister through skilled physician and gentle-handed nurse to the sick within the cheerful walls of your hospital.
Peace is at thy wall and prosperity within thy gates.
But across the chasm of two hundred years comes the call of brave men in the wilderness of your her- itage for still higher and nobler works in the vindi- cation of the old idea, the triumph of which shall weave the gospel of faith in God and Love to man into the warp and woof of the life of Framingham."
The poet was a frequent visitor in South Framing- ham, the sister of our neighbor Mrs. Charles W. Cool- idge, who lived nearby in the street now known as Proctor Street, named in her honor. She was a personal friend of Longfellow and Whittier, and has left several volumes of poetry. She begins her poem with these lines:
"Fair, to the Red Man, was Framingham
When deer were plenty, and salmon swam
By Merrimack west to Sudbury river
And the brooks that wind where the tall reeds quiver, -"
The whole word rhyming of Framingham with "sal- mon swam" is evidence of the old time pronunciation of our town name.
The association in the historic address by Judge Esty with our early events, is given personality by introduc- ing Thomas Danforth as present with this introduction:
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SKETCHES OF FRAMINGHAM
"Without Governor Danforth to participate in the ceremonies of this occasion, is to omit Hamlet from the play. Some believe in visions and we will indulge in that illusion at this hour. We present Governor Danforth. He speaks:
'I need no introduction to this place. You are the stranger. I stood on the top of this mountain 230 years ago with my friend, Richard Wayte, and looked down upon the quiet stream flowing at its base, upon the meadows near by and the distant hills, and I then became the purchaser of these woodlands.' "
And then reference is made to the various periods of our history with this concluding paragraph:
"The 'Wilderness' that I possessed has been made to 'bud and blossom as the rose.' Having named the town I trusted to have lived to see its legal establishment. I made plans and hopeful prophe- cies. Through the wisdom of your ancestors they have been carried out and realized. As I witness your thrift, prosperity and progress, and see your well tilled farms and well ordered homes, your shadowy streets and parks, your Public Library, - emblem both of patriotism and learning, - your schools and the churches of various creeds but of one great purpose, and when I view the pioneer noble State institution of instruction, in queenly beauty overlooking the town, and listen today to the joyous ringing of the morning bells in all your churches, my heart in exultant gratitude exclaims:
" 'Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!'
"Hail! and for a half century, Farewell!"
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FIFTY YEARS MORE
And now this further half century is ending, and with the exercises in commemoration, I wish to add a significant exhibit of historic summary written by the late Charles Alexander Esty, recently deceased, and sadly missed, grandson of the Judge Esty of fifty years ago. He had taken great interest in our town affairs, and had served to the time of his death most acceptably as President of our Historical Society. Among his papers is the following summary of our history which he had prepared possibly as an outline for a later book. I know of nothing extant which contains so much by way of historic outline so tersely and expertly expressed, and with the consent of his family wish to add this to these reminiscences, as he left it in his own handwriting.
Framingham an outstanding town Sometimes we don't realize how much we owe for what we have to the men and women who have preceded us and so from that point of view as well as to derive lessons out of the past that may be helpful it is a good thing to citizens turn the pages of history back and high spot some of the more important people, places and happenings.
in natural beau- ty, good water healthful cli-
mate, economic cultural & spiritual oppor- tunities for its
Mass. Bay colonists soon after 1630 settled in Water- town, Sudbury 1638, Marlboro 1656 and founded Townships.
At that time what is now Framingham was known as Wilderness lands. The first known settler within the present Town limits was John Stone 1647. By 1699 Temple states there were 70 families with a total population of about 350 through crown
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SKETCHES OF FRAMINGHAM
grants. 2/3 of the Township was owned by Thomas Danforth, Treasurer of Harvard College and Deputy Governor of the colony and the wilderness land became known as Danforth Farms. He made leases to many individuals, the Mullens, Winch & Frost but the principal disposition was made to Joseph Buckminster of Muddy River and Joseph White of Roxbury in 1699 by a lease running for 999 years.
Wanted a church more conveniently located. Gore map erecting of a church at old Burial Ground on Main St. and petition to Gen. Court for a separate Township.
Town incorporated 1700. John Swift 1st minister settled.
Significance of name Framingham over the church
Church placed there would be of most convenience for the early settlers. School in 1706.
Among the early settlers the principal families in point of numbers & influence were Stones at Stones Mills, Rices at Rices End, Pratts on the Plain at South End, Hemenways in north west section, Eames between Farm and Learneds Pond, Buckminster, Havens, Early settlement in west part of Town refugees from Salem, known as Salem End. Towne, Cloyes, Nourse.
Country Club settled by Caleb Bridges a relative who came to town with the migration.
Roads were crude and streams at first were crossed at fordways. They lead toward the church on Main St.
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FIFTY YEARS MORE
2nd
3rd churches on Center common a compromise location resulting in laying out & beautifying
Common with tree planting. Stores and tavern
sprang up nearby 1800-1840 Golden Age.
Framingham Academy established 1797
Stone building erected 1837 at a cost of $3000 Town Hall 1833
Fram. Bank 1833 Savings Bank in 1846
Town Library 1855 preceded by Social libraries privately organized & maintained by public spirited citizens
Schools around Common district schools
State Normal School Ist in U.S. came to Framingham 1853
High schools Sax & Fram. (Gordon)
R.R to Worcester 1834-1835
Saxonville Branch 1846
Fitchburg
1865
Mansfield 1870
Lowell 1871
Union Ave. St. Railway , B & W
Important men
Gen. John Nixon French & Indian Wars
Revolution Sat in court with George Washington Lawson Buckminster Constitutional Convention his vote for adopting Constitution
Peter Salem slave and patriot
Peter Parker medical missionary
Josiah Adams lawyer
Wheeler Bros. Abner, Benjamin, Eliphalet
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SKETCHES OF FRAMINGHAM
Moses Edgell public benefactor, Library, Cemetery Michael Simpson Saxonville Mills
Charles R. Train
Gen. George Gordon
Historian, Rev. W. Barry J. H. Temple
Athletic Field
old Agricultural Society Grounds
Harmony Grove
Lothrop Wight
Millwood Farm
E. F. Bowditch
owner
Newspapers
Fram Cour 1835
Gazette
1871
Tribune
to be followed by
Fram. News
Thomas Buckminster Tavern
sign probably as
early as 1750
Stop Gentlemen and view the show
The fox above the monkey below
Walk Gentlemen within and see The fox, my wife, the monkey, me.
Bi-centennial
Parades athletic events, orations at Montwait & in churches banquet
Water works Cochituate 1846 Sudbury River & Farm Pond 1872 Hopkinton & Stony Brook 1876
Churches Roman Catholic Sax. 1844-45 Migration Irish in 1840 Italian 1870 on
PUBLIC LIBRARY FORT WAYNE & ALLEN CO., IND.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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