USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Somerville, past and present : an illustrated historical souvenir commemorative of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the city government of Somerville, Massachusetts > Part 20
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One of the first and most important steps taken by the society was the establishing of a day known as Hospital Sunday, when each church in the city takes a collection, which in the first year amounted to over twelve hun- dred dollars, the money passing directly into the hands of Mr. John F. Cole, treasurer of the hospital.
Dr. Anna Taylor Cole and Dr. Emma J. Peasley have each given a course of lectures, and two receptions, a concert and an opera have been given under the direction of the association, the proceeds of which, with the funds collected by the members, and donations, have netted many dollars for the work. This with the annual dues is used as the association ap- proves, either to buy furnishings for the building, or it is presented to the treasurer of the hospital to be used by the trustees at their discretion.
EMMA J. PEASLEY, M. D.
ANNA B. TAYLOR-COLE, M. D.
EUGENIE M. PHILLIPS, M. D.
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The members assisted at the dedication of the building, and at all the social gatherings at the hospital. Two members of the board of directors in turn visit the inmates and supply the needs of the hospital as far as pos- sible, twice a week for a month.
The president for 1896 is Mrs. Harrison Aldrich ; secretary, Miss Sarah A. Stone, 9 Central street ; treasurer, Miss Bertha Knapp, 28 School street.
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES OF SOMERVILLE.
BY EMMA S. KEYES.
The Associated Charities of Somerville was formed on December 14, 1893. The organizing of Associated Charities had occasionally been talked of and desired by a few in different parts of the city, but it was not until the hard times of '93 actually forced the need of organized effort upon the at- tention of a large number that this society was at last formed.
Springing up suddenly though it did, the chief organizers gave many hours at a time to the consideration of the principles and methods that like societies of long experience had found to be the wisest and most practical. The foundation of a permanent charitable organization was thus laid upon thoroughly tested principles.
The objects of the society are: "To secure the concurrent and har- monious action of the different charities in Somerville in order to raise the needy above the need of relief, prevent begging and imposition, and dimin- ish pauperism ; to encourage thrift, self-dependence and industry through friendly intercourse, and to aid the poor to help themselves; to prevent children from growing up as paupers ; and to aid in the diffusion of knowledge on subjects connected with the relief of the poor."
In the heart of winter, and in the midst of a season of financial distress and acute poverty, the new organization found itself, with inexperienced helpers, untried methods and an empty treasury, suddenly overwhelmed by calls for aid and action. The urgency of the situation helped to solve itself. The citizens cordially adopted the new organization as their agent, and gave it their complete confidence.
The work was organized by distributing it among ward committees. Each of these considered calls for aid in its own district, and found help for deserving and needy cases. It held meetings monthly or, as occasion re- quired, even more frequently, provided for a force of friendly visitors, opened an office in its limits, and secured, free of charge, the services of a secretary to give certain hours at the office, have immediate charge of af- fairs and keep the records of the ward.
These ward committees combined form the central board of manage- ment, to which all doubtful and difficult cases are referred, and which has general supervision of the work. The office in ward three, in the Citizen Building, Gilman square, was made the central office, and its secretary, general agent of the Charities.
Up to September 1, 1896, the number of cases of need reported to and
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investigated by this society is 387. Of these 292 have been assisted, 38 proved to have given false addresses, and the rest were mostly in need of employment alone, as were also many others. About one-half of these peo- ple are Americans, the other half represents eleven nationalities. Special work has been done in 54 cases, such as furnishing legal and medical assistance, finding homes for children, new homes for families, board in the country for the overworked, etc. By far the greater proportion were found to be worthy, respectable people, anxious to help themselves, suffering through no apparent fault of their own, but through misfortune, sickness, or want of employment. Fully two-thirds had never before received help.
Efforts to stop begging have in many instances been effectual, and public exposure of impostors has materially lessened the number in the city, though in one instance even arrest and six months' confinement have not been sufficient to deter other members of the same family from begging and using the name of this society the better to impose upon the credulous.
A complete system of registration enables the agent at the central office to exchange information with charitable bodies at home and in other cities, and is of great value especially in the handling of those chronic and re- curring cases which drift from place to place, and besiege successively different charitable societies and individuals.
All records are private, and their information is given only to those who will use them for charitable purposes.
A free employment-bureau connected with the work of the Associated Charities depends necessarily for success upon the patronage of the citizens. The one great demand is for work, and it is this above all things that the unemployed need to be assisted in obtaining, to save them from pauperism and the demoralizing influence of almsgiving. Employment even at low wages would solve two-thirds of the difficulties of the poor of all classes. In some instances the society has furnished plain sewing, paying a fair price according to the quality of the work done. This is intended to be educational in some cases, as many do not understand the cutting and making of the most simple garments, while others are apt and skillful with the needle. Last spring the stamp-saving system was introduced with the object of encouraging provident habits even among the children. Without expense or any risk of loss one can hereby save from a cent to fifty cents and receive for it a receipt in the form of a stamp placed upon a folding card, which can be redeemed at any time, three dollars entitling one to a bank-book and interest.
The gratitude expressed by nearly all who have been befriended has been hearty and sincere. Statistics cannot register the best that has been accomplished, for the aim of the society is personal rather than material, to help the man as well as to relieve the body, to bring comfort and cheer into home and heart, to maintain self-respect, to stimulate self-support, to restore to work and health persons and families without loss of courage or dignity, and clear of any sense of stain or stigma from their temporary period of dependence.
Residence of NATHAN H. REED, 35 Pearl Street.
--
EMORY L. WHITE, M. D.
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In this effort, notwithstanding many failures, success, as a rule, has been so satisfactory that, could the simple facts be known to the citizens of Somerville, they would feel themselves amply rewarded for all they have expended through the Associated Charities, and would continue to support the organization liberally. The officers for 1896 are : Rev. Charles L. Noyes, president, 29 Albion street ; Rev. L. M. Powers, secretary, 18 Flint street ; Mr. Nathan H. Reed, treasurer, 35 Pearl street; Miss Emma S. Keyes, agent, 154 Central street.
SOMERVILLE SAMARITAN SOCIETY.
BY ELIZABETH ARROWSMITH WATERS.
The Somerville Samaritan Society was organized November 13, 1871, at the home of Elizabeth A. Waters, 132 Perkins street, for the purpose of assisting and relieving the needs of the worthy poor in the town of Somer- ville, and it rounded out its twenty-five years of charitable work November 9, 1896.
The first meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon, November 8, 1871, at which a committee of four ladies (Mary Davis, Carrie Prescott, Mrs. H. P. Hemenway and Julia Warden) were chosen to draw up a constitution to be presented at a meeting to be held on the following Monday evening, November 13.
The first regular meeting was held with Miss Waters, and a constitu- tion for the society was presented and adopted.
The following list of officers was presented and elected : Miss Lizzie A. Waters, president ; Mrs. Geo. H. Crosby, vice-president; Mrs. Chas. H. Buswell, secretary; Miss Helen U. Edgerly, assistant secretary; Mrs. Albert E. Hughes, treasurer. Directresses : Mrs. Chas. Williams, Jr., Mrs. H. P. Hemenway, Mrs. Chas. Crane, Mrs. John F. Cole, Mrs. Wethern, Mrs. P. Ford, Jr., Mrs. David Crane, Misses Kate Fletcher, Anna M. Knight, S. Fannie Gerry, Emily Knowles, Nellie Parker, Carrie Prescott, Belle Dalton, Ella Runey, Emma Brown, Susie Davis. The society was named in courtesy to Mrs. Waters and daughter, who were officers in the Samaritan Society of Boston at the time of their removal to Somerville, and members until the society became the North End Dispensary.
When the Samaritan Society was organized, it was the only social and charitable society in the town, if we may except those connected with the churches. The charity work extended to every part of the city, and the Christmas donations are something pleasant to be remembered, for baskets of stores, and warm clothing, contributed by members and friends, found their way each year to scores of families whose appreciation of them made us feel that it was "more blessed to give than to receive." The form of meetings was sewing until nine o'clock P.M., when the work was gathered up, and the incoming of the gentlemen added much to the pleasure of the evening. Music, singing and games followed with now and then a “Vir- ginia Reel." The meetings were attended by over one hundred members,
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the largest enrolled membership for any one year being 124. If we look about now, we find that organized societies have become legion, but none among them all have yet filled the place of this association, for notwith- standing its depleted membership, and more limited resources, it has gone steadily on with the humane work.
The members of this society both past and present have reason to feel gratified with the report of these many years. The society has received during this period, from entertainments in the form of fairs, suppers, con- certs and lectures, the sum of $4,512.61. The yearly assessments have amounted to $768.24, and the interest on deposits of money $192, making a total of $5,472.85.
The society received a " Bequest " from Mrs. Geo. H. Crosby, Novem- ber 28, 1885, increasing the sum to $5,672.85. Mrs. Crosby was an earnest and interested officer from the formation of the society until called to her "higher " work. Many other gifts received were at once sent to families for whom they were intended.
There has been expended during these years, for groceries, boots and shoes, wood and coal, rents, funeral expenses, and material for clothing, the sum of $5,660.85, leaving a balance in the treasury of $12. For the amount expended there have been given 2,117 orders for poor and needy families to the number of over three hundred, and this does not include the hun- dreds of garments which have found their way into these many homes, con- tributed from all parts of the city, while the influence of this work has gone out far and wide to arouse assistance from other sources.
It has been through the work and experiences of this society that the needs of a children's home and day nurseries were seen to be a necessity, and it is hoped that the future will see these charities well established, and handsomely supported.
Miss Waters remained president three years, Mrs. P. Ford, Jr., suc- ceeding in 1874, one year ; Mrs. James N. Clark, two years, 1875, 1876 ; Mrs. George H. Crosby, two years, 1877, 1878; Mrs. E. B. Wilson, two years, 1879, 1880 ; Mrs. S. C. Lund, one year, 1881 ; Mrs. J. C. Thomas, two years, 1882, 1883 ; Mrs. H. M. Morse, 1884; Mrs. L. Timson, two years, 1885, 1886, when Miss Waters was again chosen to fill the office, and has re- tained it until the present year, with the following officers : vice-president, Mrs. H. M. Burgess; secretary, Miss S. L. Chandler ; treasurer, Mrs. J. C. Thomas; wardrobe keeper, Mrs. E. A. Goodale. Directresses : Mrs. H. W. Burgess, Mrs. B. P. Palmer, Mrs. J. H. Weston, Mrs. L. Bowker, Mrs. E. A. Goodale, Mrs. I. H. Wiley, Mrs. B. G. Chaffee, Mrs. E. L. Davis, Mrs. D. W. Sanborn, Mrs. J. H. Litchfield, Miss A. U. Knight, Mrs. F. Gertrude Porter.
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ELIZABETH A. WATERS.
ALBERT E. HUGHES.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
SOMERVILLE DAY NURSERY.
The existence of this nursery is due to the desire of the Helen Hunt Circle of King's Daughters to establish in Somerville a charity which should protect children left uncared for while their mothers are at work.
For this object they contributed nearly one hundred dollars, and in March, 1893, a number of ladies from different parts of the city met at the house of Mrs. Niles, and organized and, in the following June, opened the nursery with a matron, housekeeper, and five children.
At present the children average from seventeen to twenty-five daily, the number at times rising to thirty. This increase has necessitated the em- ployment of an assistant. The ages of the children vary from seven months to ten years.
This institution is non-sectarian, and is supported by voluntary sub- scriptions of one dollar or more annually, and by donations of wood, coal and provisions. The cost of caring for a child per day is twenty-five cents, of which the mother is required to pay five cents.
The homes of the children are often visited by the matron, and every case carefully investigated. Besides the legitimate work of the nursery, aid is rendered in other cases when necessary, employment by the day found for mothers, and positions secured for young girls.
The house is open from 7 A. M. to 5 P. M. every day, excepting Sundays and holidays. All applications for admission are made to the matron, Ellen E. Mason.
Officers of the Day Nursery : president, Mrs. L. V. Niles; vice-presi- dents, Mrs. G. W. Simpson, Mrs. A. H. Carvill ; treasurer, Mrs. J. A. Clark ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. C. S. Dewing; recording secretary, Miss Helen Tincker ; auditor, Miss F. W. Kaan. Board of directors : Mrs. C. P. Battelle, Mrs. James Brown, Mrs. J. H. Butler, Mrs. A. H. Carvill, Mrs. E. J. Chilson, Mrs. J. A. Clark, Mrs. E. A. Conant, Mrs. H. P. Conant, Mrs. C. S. Dewing, Mrs. H. S. Farnham, Mrs. Edward Foote, Mrs. J. O. Hayden, Mrs. C. M. Howes, Mrs. A. E. Hughes, Mrs. S. E. Gilcrease, Miss F. W. Kaan, Mrs. L. V. Niles, Dr. E. M. Phillips, Mrs. J. L. Potter, Mrs. N. H. Reed, Mrs. G. W. Simpson, Mrs. Arthur Smith, Mrs. F. M. Stodder, Mrs. J. E. Sylvester, Mrs. E. L. Tead, Miss Minnie Tead, Miss Helen Tincker, Mrs. W. E. Weld, Mrs. J. F. Wellington, Mrs. C. A. West, Mrs. E. B. West.
The Day Nursery is located at 144 Washington street.
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Willard C. Kinsley Post,
[5 #|||| 1861-
1861 -VETERAN -186 1 99 8.
No. 139, Department of Mass., G. A. R.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
WILLARD C. KINSLEY POST G. A. R. PREPARED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE POST.
Post 139 G. A. R. was chartered August 16, 1870, and was mustered as a post October 20 of that year, with twenty-eight charter members, eight of whom, viz. : J. H. Dusseault, John Kennedy, Elkanah Crosby, Sanford Hanscom, C. H. Crane, W. H. Thomas, M. C. Parkhurst and J. W. Oliver, are still active members.
In selecting the name of Willard C. Kinsley for the post, the veterans of Somerville felt it a pleasant duty to perpetuate the memory of a soldier who is remembered by his old comrades as one of the bravest and most. popular men who ever led a company.
Mr. Kinsley first enlisted in April, 1861, as a private in Capt. Brastow's company of the Fifth Regiment, and served with honor through the three months' campaign ; he then re-enlisted for three years and was commissioned as second lieutenant of Company E (Somerville Company) of the Thirty- ninth Regiment ; he soon received a merited promotion to the first lieu- tenancy and then to the captaincy, in which position he won and held the love and respect of his men to a degree such as few officers attain ; a perfect leader in the field, he was as one of their own number when off duty, and his kindness and care for the sick and wounded were like those of a brother. He led his men through many battles, and was slightly wounded in the head June 17, 1864. He kept with his company, however, until at almost the close of the war, on March 31, 1865, at Gravelly Run, Va., just prior to Lee's surrender, he fell mortally wounded and died on the following day.
For the first few years of its organization the post grew rapidly and attained a membership of about two hundred; it then gradually declined, as did nearly all posts of the G. A. R., until the year 1882, when, the work being taken up on partially new lines, the increase was again rapid until over three hundred names were enrolled, and the roster continues at about that number at the present time.
The muster-rolls of the post during its twenty-six years of existence have contained the names of men engaged in almost all professions and business pursuits, many of whom have been honored by the political pref- erence of their fellow-citizens in State and city offices. In the list are included four ex-mayors, viz. : Brastow, Bruce, Cummings and Hodgkins, and many of the other members are filling positions of trust with credit to themselves in other lines of employment. The tenets of the order are Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty ; but although the fraternal ties and meet- ings of the veterans are of inestimable value and pleasure to themselves, and they have ever been ready by practice and by the teaching of the principles of loyalty to country and flag to assist in promoting a healthy sentiment among the younger generation which shall tend to perpetuate our free and enlightened government, the chief aim and object of the order is charity,
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which is bestowed not only among its own members, but among all who fought in the Civil War now living in our midst, who, through disease or old age, have become incapacitated from gaining a livelihood; these together with the widows and orphan children of those who have passed away have been assisted, together with others who were needy and destitute. In the conscientious performance of this duty the post is recognized as a prime factor in charitable work in this city, having disbursed over $13,000 in cash, nearly two-thirds of which went to persons outside the membership of the post.
The organization has always assisted other charitable enterprises, not- ably in late years : during the hard times of the winter of 1893-4 it made a donation of $200 to the Associated Charities of Somerville, and later its members assisted in the Hospital Fair, and were enabled to contribute about $225 to the fund for that institution.
In its work the post has been aided very materially by its auxiliary, the Woman's Relief Corps, the membership of which is composed of loyal ladies who are ever ready, as were those in the days of 1861-5, to do all in their power to aid the soldiers ; it has also been greatly assisted by the generous patronage which has been given by the citizens of Somerville to all the enterprises it has gotten up for charitable purposes.
The commanders of the post have been : C. F. King, 1870-1 ; H. E. Hill, 1872; J. H. Dusseault, 1873 ; T. J. Buffum, 1874; G. H. Burroughs, 1875; W. W. Woodbury, 1876; W. E. Halladay, 1877; G. B. Clark, 1878; J. H. Soule, 1879 (died in office) ; Dennis Kelley, 1879 (unexpired term) ; John Kennedy, 1880 ; J. M. Woods, 1881 ; Martin Binney, 1882; C. F. King, 1883-4; J. F. Davlin, 1885; M. D. Jones, 1886; Walter Winward, 1887 ; John Kelley, 1888 ; C. H. Colgate, 1889 ; H. B. Sellon, 1890; Henry Rich- ardson, 1891 ; A. C. Stacy, 1892; E. H. Gooding, 1893 ; C. O. Pratt, 1894 ; G. H. Clapp, 1895 ; and G. M. Stevens, 1896. The present place of meeting is in Grand Army Hall, Citizen Building, Gilman square.
MARTIN BINNEY.
JAMES F. DAVLIN.
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WILLARD C. KINSLEY RELIEF CORPS.
BY MARY E. ELLIOT.
That the loyal women of America realized their responsibilities during the Civil War, is a fact interwoven in almost all its history.
On fields of battle, in the hospitals of the North and the South, in halls and churches and in the home they toiled for the Union cause and its brave volunteers.
The highest principles of womanhood and of patriotism were exempli- fied by their efforts, and the statement that "there were heroines as well as heroes in that war," is verified on many pages of its records.
When, soon after peace was declared, the Grand Army of the Republic organized to conduct a work of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, its princi- ples appealed again to the hearts of loyal women. They realized that, though the battlefields were silent, the suffering caused by the war remained.
Societies of women were formed in many cities and towns to co-operate with posts of the Grand Army of the Republic in their beneficent work.
One of the first of these societies to bear the name of a post was or- ganized in Somerville, March 17, 1878, as Willard C. Kinsley Relief Corps.
Much interest was manifested at the regular meetings which were held in Bow Street Hall, and successful entertainments enabled the corps to establish a relief fund of several hundred dollars.
The members were also active in raising funds for the Soldiers' Home Bazaar held in Mechanics Building, Boston, in December, 1881.
A few days previous to the opening of the bazaar, the corps president received a check for $125 from Mr. Henry F. Spencer, on behalf of the trustees of the Columbus Tyler estate, it being the surplus (with interest) remaining in the Somerville war fund of which Mr. Tyler had charge. This amount and the receipts of the corps table gave Somerville the credit of being represented in the efforts to establish a soldiers' home in Massa- chusetts.
In May, 1882, Willard C. Kinsley Corps reorganized on a broader basis and became a branch of the Department of Massachusetts Woman's Relief Corps, a State organization which was formed in Fitchburg in 1879. Mrs. E. Florence Barker, department president, and Mrs. Sarah E. Fuller, de- partment secretary at that time, conducted the institution which was held in Bow Street Hall. They installed the officers in the evening, when promi- nent guests were present representing the clergy and city officials of Somerville, and friends from other sections of the State.
Willard C. Kinsley Post attended the exercises in a body.
The corps was entered upon the roster at department headquarters as No. 21, there having been twenty corps previously organized under the direction of the Department of Massachusetts W. R. C.
There were thirty-six charter members, and they (and all who have sub-
MARY E. ELLIOT.
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sequently taken the obligation) have pledged support to the following ob- jects, which form a part of the rules and regulations of the order : -
"To specially aid and assist the Grand Army of the Republic, and to perpetuate the memory of the heroic dead.
"To assist such Union veterans as need our help and protection, and to extend needful aid to their widows and orphans.
" To find them homes and employment, and assure them of sympathy and friends.
" To cherish and emulate the deeds of our army nurses and of all loyal women who rendered loving service to our country in her hour of peril.
" To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America; to in- culcate lessons of patriotism and love of country among our children and in the communities in which we live ; and to encourage the spread of universal liberty and equal rights to all."
That Corps 21 has been loyal to these objects is fully shown by its rec- ords. Over a thousand dollars have been expended in relief since 1882, but this does not represent the full value of its work in this direction. The in- vestigation of numerous cases, the visits to the sick, and poor but worthy claimants upon our gratitude, the distribution of food and clothing, and other duties have been promptly performed by the relief committee that has served from year to year with great efficiency.
Corps 21 has aided Post 139 in two large fairs, and has co-operated in its plans for the proper observance of Memorial Day.
The two bodies have each a conference committee, "to confer concern- ing matters of mutual interest, in order to strengthen the relations and per- fect the work for which these organizations are mutually pledged."
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