USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > Some annals of Nahant, Massachusetts > Part 30
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In 1892 he married Charlotte, daughter of Edward C. John- son, a long-time summer resident living on the shore at the northeast end of Pleasant Street, which runs through to the water between this estate and the Agassiz place. Guild went to the Spanish War in 1898. He was Lieuten- ant-Governor of Massachusetts from 1903 to 1905, and Governor from 1906 to 1908, inclusive. In 1910 he went to Mexico for the Federal government, and in 1911 began two years' service as Ambassador to Russia. He died in 1915. Because of his official position Nahant saw some famous people whom he entertained. Other sources of information easily reached make it unnecessary to write in more detail about this distinguished man. His hearty cordiality will be remembered by all who knew him, and his high qualities as a public speaker are known to a far larger number. Perhaps Nahanters remember best his appearance with Senator Lodge in the old Town Hall during the free silver campaign of the 90's; and again these two men, whom Nahanters were so fortunate to have among them, were together on the plat- form as speakers at the semi-centennial celebration in 1903.
It would be difficult to name all the bright lights among people who came to Nahant for a season or two. Such a list is sure to be far from complete. A little recollection would result in a few authors of note, or others high in their profes- sion, such as De Forest Brush, who lived in the Edmund Johnson house on Central Street in the 90's, while he was painting his "Mother and Child," now in the Boston Art Museum. Fortunately this avenue of investigation is not important. Nahant attracted many such people who, be- cause of their short stay, were little identified with any town activity or influence.
This period of the 90's saw many and familiar summer residents growing older and going to a final reward. In some cases the splitting up of estates among several children found none of them able to carry on here. Another factor was the trend toward greater acreage, even to farm-size places, than is possible in Nahant. These things led to the sale into other
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hands of fine estates that had been identified with one family for a generation or more. The town has been mostly for- tunate in these transfers, for usually the new owners have bought for single occupancy and have continued the places as they were. The breaking up into small lots with small houses, if carried to too great an extent, would be unfortunate for the town, considered municipally. It is pointed out else- where that houses paying taxes of under a hundred dollars do not pay their share, and if the town were filled with such, increasing taxes and heavy retrenchments in expenditures would become necessary. The greater costs of maintenance of houses and grounds, which since 1914 have mounted like everything else, have borne heavily upon people living on incomes from investments. They were justified in spending about all of it, and this class of income has increased only slightly. The result is a necessary economy which shows, in some cases, in less well kept places. While still handsome and still a valuable asset to community beauty, they may lack that last spick-and-span touch of perfection which was possible when money bought more.
The town report dated 1897 contains an exhaustive report by a special committee on underground wiring and municipal electric light plant. The committee was Fred A. Wilson, George E. Poland and Ellerton James. To get poles and wires out of sight is always desirable, and had been discussed in town for several years. This report set out the cost of such . an undertaking, which was so great that the town never went further with the project. This was the period when municipal ownership of public service plants was much in mind, and the committee report was in sufficient detail to show clearly that no advantage would accrue to Nahant from any such undertaking. The committee had the assistance in their investigations of expert service from the well-known firm of Stone & Webster of Boston.
The year 1897 saw the retirement of Joseph T. Wilson from the public library trustees and the school committee, after a generation of service on both boards. It was particu-
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larly hard for him to leave the latter, especially after a large petition from the school children urged him to continue.
At the annual town meeting for 1894 the town voted to adopt the so-called Australian ballot system of voting, now so familiar everywhere, but then fairly novel. Previously voting was by ballots prepared by the candidates, some of whom furnished sheets containing an entire slate for all offices. Two or three of these were obtainable outside the polls, while "stickers" for use over any printed name were widely circulated. A voter usually took every ballot and sticker that was offered to him, and then more or less surrep- titiously crumpled what he did not use into his pocket, and folded up one and voted it. Of course, it was not such a secret ballot as the present system, which was, according to law, used for State elections for a short time before its adop- tion for local voting. The "new" method is now such a fixed part of election practice that anything else would seem strange, and indeed a person must be past middle age to remember these old ways. One curious feature of town elec- tions is the repeated attempts of candidates strong enough to be sure of their own election to carry one or more others into office. Instances of this are spread over the last thirty years or more, since more and more men have built up a personal following. The efforts seem almost uniformly unsuc- cessful. It would appear that it is one thing to secure a personal vote at the polls, and quite a different and far more difficult matter to get that same following to vote for another.
In 1908 Fred A. Wilson proposed that salaries for the school committee be abolished, and this met the hearty approval of Otis A. Johnson of the Board, who was instru- mental in making the change. The question had also been raised if it was legal to pay salaries to the school com- mittee. It had been felt for several years that too many men ran for this office merely because of the salary attached to it. It seemed to be a Board which, like the Public Library Trustees, who were never on the salary list, might find its membership among people willing to serve and be sufficiently
The Nahant Church Built 1868
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Village Church Built 1851
St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church Built 1872
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THE NINETIES AND LATER
remunerated by the honor of this service. Men fit for public positions are rarely those attracted only by the pay. The principle may hardly be extended to other town offices, how- ever, for they require more time than is allowed by spare time opportunity. The enthusiastic student of either of the educational branches of the town's efforts does worth-while work regardless of pay. The other branches of the town's work are more like business positions, for which pay is expected, even though there is great opportunity for energy expended beyond usual limits or any thought of money com- pensation. This is the same as in any occupation of life.
It was in 1909, while serving on a committee for better fire protection, that Thomas Motley died. His fellow mem- bers on this committee were Walter H. Southwick and Joseph T. Wilson. Several special committees on fire protection and the fire department have their work spread through the years, and their reports published with the town report, and each has contributed to the efficiency and good condition of this arm of the town's service.
In 1908, following the death of Frederick R. Sears, the State Tax Commissioner directed the assessors of Nahant to assess his estate for a large sum discovered by the executor's returns, under which it appeared further taxes could be col- lected for certain years. The details of this wrangle are not now important. The town was dragged into it, though the final court decisions made it appear that the claims against this estate were justified. Action in various courts occupied several years, until finally the town emerged victorious, though with such large legal fees to pay that for a time it seemed hard to say which lost most, the victor or the van- quished. This is a usual concomitant of every sort of war, even of our recent World War. With the dust finally cleared away, however, after a half dozen years of trouble, the town had money to pay off the balance of a heavy debt incurred by building the new Town Hall and the road over the beaches to the Lynn line. These undertakings found the town at one time owing $85,000.
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In 1908 a change in State laws made a separation of the Boards of Selectmen and Assessors, and provided that the latter be elected one-third each year for a term of three years. The same men could still hold both offices, and for a time this was done, but in late years the personnel of the two boards has been different. There never has been a time, as it happened, without at least one member of the Board of Selectmen serving on the Board of Assessors. Another change, by State law, requiring a separate Board of Regis- trars where the number of voters exceeds 300, came in 1907. The registrars are now appointed by the selectmen under cer- tain restrictions imposed by the law. One of these is that no registrar shall hold any elective town office. For one of this new board the selectmen promptly chose Joseph T. Wilson, who had lately retired from the last elective office he held, but was of long years' experience in the registration of voters. Wilson remained in this service until his death in 1914.
In 1903 came the fiftieth anniversary of the town, and a celebration extending over three days honored the event. The March town meeting authorized a committee and made an appropriation for expenses. The following committee was chosen, the first two afterwards elected chairman and secre- tary, respectively: Fred A. Wilson, Albert G. Wilson, Law- rence F. Cusick, Charles B. Goodell, George A. Gove, Samuel Hammond, Winthrop T. Hodges, Arthur S. Johnson, Charles Cabot Johnson, James C. Shaughnessy and Harry C. Wilson. Incidentally it seems unusual to note that the first death among these eleven men was of Albert G. Wilson, twenty- four years later, and almost on the eve of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the town. Two other members, G. A. Gove and C. B. Goodell, have since removed from town, while eight are yet residents of Nahant, with five holding elective town offices. The celebration came on July 12, 13 and 14, the first day being Sunday, when special services were held in the three Nahant churches. Monday forenoon was given to land sports and the afternoon to water sports. Tuesday forenoon saw the parade, and the afternoon was devoted
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to speeches from a stand erected on the Nahant Club grounds near the corner of Ocean Street and Nahant Road. Band concerts were interspersed, to the number of seven, throughout these two latter days. Through the efforts of Senator Lodge a fleet of eight warships lay south of the town, open for inspection. There was a band concert one day from the squadron, and they participated in the water sports, while a large shore party joined in the parade on Tuesday. Samuel Hammond of the committee was chief marshal of the parade, with Thomas S. Bradlee as chief of staff with a corps of fourteen horsemen, a few of whom, horsed for the first time, ended with a declaration that it would be the last. Nothing of this showed outwardly, how- ever, and the grand parade was an impressive scene, moving on time and without a hitch past the reviewing stand on Nahant Road midway of the Nahant Club grounds. On this stand were the notables, town officers, Governor Bates and his staff, Lieutenant-Governor Guild, Senator Lodge, officers from the warships, and some of the town celebration commit- tee, together with officials from neighboring towns and cities. The parade included two battalions and bands from the fleet, the Governor and other guests, the Nahant Life Saving Sta- tion crew and exhibit, the Massachusetts Humane Society boat and crew and the band, several floats and exhibits of a half dozen town departments, and floats or exhibits of various trades in town. After covering the town for three miles or so the line of march ended down Nahant Road easterly beyond Winter Street. The officials alighted at the review- ing stand and saw the rest pass by. Tuesday afternoon was given to speaking exercises. Senator Lodge delivered the principal address, which was later printed by the town in a little monograph done by the Merrymount Press, and there- fore a fine piece of bookmaking. Governor Bates and Lieu- tenant-Governor Guild also spoke. Joseph T. Wilson, as chairman of the selectmen, was presiding officer. Then in the evening came a fine display of fireworks and the last concert. This was in the field, then wholly open, bounded
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by Nahant Road, Pond Street and Spring Road, the streets affording ample opportunity for spectators.
The Hotel Tudor was open throughout Tuesday to invited guests from out of town. The entertainment available there was in part of a sort to lure some kinds of people away from the parade, the speaking and the concerts. In fact, some quite worthy visiting officials stuck close to the hotel for most of the day. So far as was known, however, they were able to return to their respective abodes and constituencies without moral damage to their reputations. How sweet are the uses of opportunity!
Tuesday evening also saw a fine illumination. A majority of the houses in town had been decorated with bunting and flags, and strings of electric lights were everywhere. The searchlights from the fleet played over all, and the last evening of the celebration was an event to be remembered. The day went out in a blaze of glory that was veritable as well as proverbial. The whole town was awakened, enthusiastic and helpful. The various beforehand preparations incited even those who had been slow or careless. Participation was general. A two-day holiday was declared in all town depart- ments, except for the police, which was overworked, as is usual with celebrations and holidays. The total expense to the town was over $4,000, a sum which probably would not be spent in these days when it would add a dollar to the tax rate. But in making good community feeling and a worth- while town spirit it was reckoned money and energy well used. The committee worked hard. It was divided into subcommittees of three, each handling a feature of the events, and getting together often for a general discussion and general approval of subcommittee suggestions. By working through to the end with careful attention to all details, everything appears to have gone smoothly. For the seventy-fifth anni- versary the town is more restricted by law in its expenditures, but it may be hoped that 1928 will see some notable recog- nition which may reawaken a town spirit which will strain forward for best things as a municipality, and not rest content,
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as too many do, to muddle along and condone. The best is not too good as an aim in town welfare, for that way lies progress toward it. Everywhere too many people are saying something should be done, and doing nothing. No town is so good it may not be improved, and indifference means back- wardness. Prayer and perspiration are both necessary to good results.
CHAPTER XXIV
ORGANIZATIONS
IT is an impossible task to trace very much of the organized groups Nahant has had. Doubtless early days, back of the recollections of any now living, had their groups; and even the clubs of recent years, with people now living who were a part of them, have so quickly faded into the haze of the past that accurate data are not available. The churches have always had their assisting societies, active under enthusiastic leadership, or waning when the push of a few was lacking. This is true in any sort of group, even a small temporary committee. Give it an active worker and results follow.
Connected with the schools came, in later years, the Parent Teachers Association. This also seemed to flourish for a while, and then interests changed and apathy followed. Some stirring personalities may push it along again, when doubtless it may become the good influence it is intended to be. Of recent origin is the Crocker Chapter, Firemen's Relief Association Auxiliary, named for Francis B. Crocker, so long chief engineer of the Nahant Fire Department. This is a more or less social body aiming to be of value within the circle of the fire department members. There are Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the latter not now strong. There was a Patriotic Forum that functioned in Nahant in 1918 and an organized group was desired to assist the community singing. Miss Olive R. Grover at once started mustering in a group of girls, and it was discovered that a Girl Scouts Council was starting in Boston. Hence Nahant was in at the beginning of Girl Scout work in Massachusetts, organizing in February, 1919. Mrs. Abby May Roland was commissioner, Miss Bertha L. Johnson was secretary-treasurer, Miss Olive R. Grover was captain of
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the Girl Scout Troop and Miss Emma L. Poland was captain of the Brownie Troop. The Boy Scouts depend upon voluntary aid, but if filling a gap in public education, might well be a part of the public school system. The Girls' Community Club, a purely social group, was started in 1923, and kept going for two or three years, apparently filling a need.
All these days have seen others. In the 80's, when roller skating was a fad, five young men were a group who once a week turned the old Town Hall into a skating rink, where all could enjoy or watch. It was well patronized. These men were, if memory serves, Fred Taylor, John Cole, Everett Covell, Otis Johnson and Frank Wilson, all now deceased. Taylor and Cole were drowned when returning from Boston to Nahant in their catboat, the "Zantho," in 1885. It is supposed that the mast slipped out of its step and broke through the side of the boat. Everett Covell was a son of Samuel Covell. These five adopted the initials, printed on the admission tickets, "B. U. F.," the meaning of which was not divulged, but the boys of the time, now mostly gray headed but remembering this, derisively called it "Bust Up Friday" or "Five United Bums." Friday was roller skating night.
Then there was the "Friday Night Club," the "Peninsular Club" and others which met around at the houses of members and read papers or had some other form of entertainment once a fortnight. These were gone before the 90's were over. The "Nahant Magazine Club" circulated magazines, just as is done in other places today. The need for this ceased when the Public Library moved into its new building in the early 90's, and opened its reading rooms with plenty of magazines. Later comes the "Dickens Circle," where a group of Dicken- sians read Dickens, acted Dickens, or, on occasion, dressed to portray his characters. The activities of this group over a decade or so included a float in the parade held July 4, 1919, to celebrate the homecoming of Nahant soldiers from the World War. Only recently has this club seemed also to lan- guish, not because of a lessened interest, but because changing
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times bring other demands for time and energy, and the driving force is directed elsewhere.
Among the men's clubs maintaining club rooms came the "Crescent Club" down on Summer Street, where much whist was played, much tobacco burnt, and stories, grinds and jokes held sway. As is usual in club rooms a few were to be found there almost nightly, while others visited once or twice a week, and some infrequently. Then the Canary Club, down on Willow Road, in the store building owned by D. G. Finnerty, and of which Finnerty was called the patron saint. This was an enthusiastic group, mostly of Finnerty political ad- mirers, and therefore assumed to be a political club. On more than one occasion they marched in celebration of his victories on town meeting day. This club flourished to a zenith com- ing, perhaps, about 1912, and now for many years has been forgotten. In 1912 came the formation of the "Maolis Club," the most pretentious of them all because it at once raised money and built a club house, containing all the usual ap- purtenances of a neighborhood club on a scale suited to the town and its needs. Built near the center of Nahant's pres- ent-day population it aimed from the start to be a social center. But again it has fallen short, part of the time, of those marks which were set for it. The World War hurt by diverting much energy into more important channels. Ris- ing prices gave a more difficult road to travel than it had before. Yet it yields, as it always has, an opportunity for a community center such as any town needs and should de- velop. As in other groups the active, driving leadership is a first requisite, but any work of club officers or committees is much lightened if the response is hearty, and members get what seems to be only a habit, - a habit of participation. Even an electric button has to be pushed. The movie theatre has been a growing distraction, and the automobile has ex- tended the radius of social activities. Both of these factors have yet to prove their value as elements of human welfare.
The 90's saw a vigorous "Village Improvement Society." It was founded in 1897 and had as its object the preserva-
Mary C. 1800-1888 Md. Henry Bulfinch
L
Welcome William 1803-1880 Md. Lucy
Charles T. 1838-1893 Md. Elizabeth Edson Evelyn Md. Edwin Welcome 1843- 1912 Md. Mary Crandall. Caleb Hartwell Md. Herbert Md.
Mary Unm. Delia Md. Wade Ellen H. Md. S.Martin Johnson Arthur 1836-1898 Md. Rose Palmer
George L. 1806 - 182 Md. Betsey L. Lydsfon Md. Sarah Osgood Md Louisa M. Osgood
Hervey Hartwell 1838- 1901 Md. Abby Maria Colby Mary Simons 1841 - 1907 Md. George S. Noyes
Clara Ann 1808 - Md. Artemus Murdock
Caleb Johnson 1778-1867 Md. 1798 Olive Hartwell 1777 -1859
Edward Augustus 1810- 1894 Md. Sarah W. Afwell
Cheney Irene 1839-1881 Unm.
Caleb Hervey 1812-1901 Md. Silvia Shepard
Daniel W. 1815-1891 Md. Eliza M.
Olive 1817- Md. Monteville Dimons
Welcome Justin 1840-1912 Md. Lucy Browne Hervey Shepard 1843-1905 Md. Harriet E . Allen Charles Fredk. 1845- Md. Pauline T. Johnson Silvia Olive 1851 - 1908 Md. Charles D. Vary Clara Louise 1853 - Md. Alcoff Pennell
Clara Ann 1837-1914 Md. George G. Jones Adelaide Maria 1845-1898 Md. Aaron F. Stevens. Melville Augustus 1851-1919 Md Julia N. Huggins
William Fredk 1819-1888 Md. Abby Stone Md. Lurancy H. Dexter Md. Annie Wyatt
Charles Warren 1823-1862 Md. Ellen Lewis
Theodore Dexter 1852-1908 Md. Harriet E Johnson Charlotte Gertrude (854- Md. Thomas Ernest Allen Lurancy Dexter 1856-1861 William Fredk 1858- 1859 Norman Fredk 1861-1863 Olive Frances 1885. Wm Fred k 1887-
Olivia Unm. Josephine L. 1842 - 1919
Unm. Everett Md. Ida Eliza 1850-1890 Md. Anthony W. Gibbons Eugene 1855-1890
Md. Frances Md. Guy Florence Unm.
Foster
Children and Grandchildren of Caleb Johnson.
Family of Caleb Johnson
George Weston 1831- 1873 Md. Jeaneffe Sellers Robert Gray 1833 - 1900 Md. Melissa Treadway Jesse Hartwell 1836- Md. Sarah H. Nelson Daniel Russ 1843-1844 Eugene Malcolm 1845 - 1910 Md. Nora J. Browne Md. Edna Newell Bishop Md. Anna Shepard Roof Sarah Elizabeth 1847-1925 Unm Harriet Louisa 1851- Unm.
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ORGANIZATIONS
tion of the natural beauties of the town and the improvement in welfare of the people. It met once a month in summertime, and its first officers were George Abbot James as president and Miss Abby E. Wilson as secretary-treasurer. The latter is a daughter of Joseph T. Wilson. James was succeeded as president by Horatio G. Curtis, and Miss Wilson, on her marriage to David Demarest and removal from Nahant, was succeeded by Mrs. Samuel Hammond. Various committees pursued their work and good results followed. One year the society sponsored a course of lectures in the winter at the Town Hall, a reminder of the old-time lecture courses mentioned elsewhere. This group was also partly responsible for the purchase by the town of Marjoram Hill for a public park.
The meetings, with reports of committees, were sometimes curious. Conflicting ideas were thrashed out, but as usual in such groups, trifles sometimes caused most trouble. They strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel. Then on one oc- casion was a discussion about rubbish barrels for the beaches. One dignified summer resident arose, and with an accent tempered by a recent visit to England, said, "And do you think the trippers would know for what they are?" The last four words were spoken with a rush that carried James, the president, into realms of not understanding, although he was partial to the English pronunciation of certain words. The question was repeated, and given a third tryout, before many knew what was being said. This organization, like so many others everywhere, finally waned from lack of enthusi- asm. The clock ran down and there was no one to rewind it.
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