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 6
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The Middlesex Bleachery and Dye Works employed in 1845 thirty-seven persons, and in 1855, eighty. Brickmaking in 1845 gave employment to about three hundred and fifty men in the various yards, but in 1855 there were only two hundred and twenty engaged in it.
The Union Glass Works were established about 1854, with a capital of $60,000, the projectors being Amory and Francis Houghton. In 1855 the value of glass ware made was $120,000, and it employed one hundred work- men. The establishment is still in operation, after a life of over forty years.
The American Brass Tube Works were built in or about 1851, for the manufacture of seamless brass tubes, the process being a carefully guarded secret, not patented. Their capital was $100,000, and the product in 1855 was said to be $200.000, and the number of men employed forty.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first attempt to obtain a fire engine for the Somerville district is related in Charlestown records thus : -
" 7th March, 1831." "Voted that the subject of the 8th article, to wit, ' To know whether the Town will purchase an engine to be located at or near the School house, Milk Row, petitioned for by Samuel Kent and others,' be referred to the engineers to consider and report at the adjournment of the present meeting," and the result is shown in the following record. " April 4, 1831." "Under the 8th article, the engineers, among other things re- ported, as on file, that it is inexpedient to purchase an engine to be located at Milk Row; which report being read, thereupon, voted that the same be accepted."
The above location asked for must have been near the cemetery. In 1838, the old Charlestown Co. No. 6 desiring an improved machine, the au- thorities generously donated the old " Mystic No. 6" to Somerville, and at a town meeting on May 7, the following "Article 11" was presented : " To see if
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DANIEL W. SANBORN.
EUGENE D. LACOUNT.
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SOMMERVILLE. PAST AND PRESENT.
the Town will erect a house for Engine No. 6 near Milk Row," whereupon it was " voted " " That the engineers be authorized to erect the house at the place named in the article," and also " voted " "That $400 be raised for the purpose of defraying the expenses of building said house."
The Somervillians of those days were hard to satisfy, for soon a further demand seems to have been made, and on March 27, 1839, it was -
"Voted " " That Messrs. Goodrich and Elliott [T.J.] be a committee to consider of the expediency of erecting a belfry on engine house No. 6, Milk Row ; also to ascertain the probable expense and report to the Board," and on " April 8, 1839, voted, that Nathan Tufts be added to the committee to consider the expediency of erecting a belfry on engine house, Cambridge Road [Milk Row] so called." "The committee subsequently reported that it was expedient to erect the belfry, whereupon, voted, that the committee proceed forthwith to erect the same, provided the cost does not exceed forty dollars."
In 1841 the "Milk Row " Company evidently became dissatisfied with their miniature bucket machine, and asked for a " suction engine," with the customary success, for we find it recorded that, on petition of Hiram Allen, voted, inexpedient to buy a new "suction engine " to replace No. 6 ; and so " Mystic 6" remained eight years longer, the only protection from fire for this section.
In 1849 the new " crack " " Hunneman tub," was purchased by the town and christened " Somerville No. 1," and the poor friendless " Mystic 6" was trundled off to a stable on Broadway near Marshall Street, and four years later was sold for $33.00 as old junk.
In 1850 an Act of the Legislature was passed " to establish a fire depart- ment in the town of Somerville." The department was organized with Nathan Tufts as its first chief engineer. He was followed by Abram Welch, Robert A. Vinal, and John Runy, who was the last chief previous to the war. None of these are now living.
Herein has been outlined only the early history and chief events of Somerville's Fire Department, as elsewhere in this volume their narrative has been more fully written.
MILITARY.
The first indication of martial spirit in Somerville, after the " separa- tion," is shown by an item in her annual expenses for "military bounty," $45.00 paid to John S. Edgerly and eight others. These bounties continued to be paid in varying amounts until 1853, when the Somerville Light Infan- try was organized under command of Captain George O. Brastow, suc- ceeded in 1854 by Captain Francis Tufts. In 1859 Captain Brastow again assumed command. The company's armory and drill room was at first in " Franklin Hall," which on Sundays was used as a church. The hall was in Union Square at the junction of Somerville Avenue and Washington Street. It was owned by Mr. Robert Vinal and has since been destroyed by fire. Upon the completion of the new brick engine house at the corner
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
of Washington and Prospect Streets, its armory was transferred to that building.
The Somerville Light Infantry, at this time, was attached to the 5th regiment as Company " B"; at the commencement of the war in 1861 be- coming Company "I." The honorable record of this organization in the Civil War will be mentioned in a succeeding chapter.
The early military matters of Somerville can hardly be referred to with- out mentioning three persons identified prominently with the state militia. They were Colonel Samuel Jaques, spoken of in a former chapter, Captain Henry A. Snow of the Boston Fusileers, identified with that company since 1841, and still its captain ; and Major Caleb Page, commander of the " Fly- ing Artillery," that company whose lightning manœuvres were the admira- tion of all.
SCHOOLS.
Her schools, the pride of Somerville, had humble beginnings. Five little houses, grudgingly built by the Charlestown authorities before the sep- aration, were her entire educational establishment. They were as follows :
" Pound Primary," on Broadway, corner of Franklin Street.
" Winter Hill Primary," west side of Central Street, near Broadway.
" Milk Row Primary," on Somerville Avenue adjoining the cemetery.
" Prospect Hill Primary," on Medford Street, in what is now Central Square.
" Prospect Hill Grammar," adjoining the primary, in Central Square.
Another school was kept for a part of the year 1842, known as the " Primary School in the Russell District," though there was then no school- house in that part of the town.
The teachers of these schools, and their salaries for the term commenc- ing May 1, 1842, and ending February 1, 1843, were as follows, viz. : -
Pound Primary, Mary E. Brown $157.50
Winter Hill Primary, Lucy D. Smith 157.50
Milk Row Primary, Sarah M. Burnham . 1 57.50
Prospect Hill Primary, Eliza P. Whitredge 157.50
Russell District Primary (6 mos.), Clara D. Whittemore 72.00
Prospect Hill Grammar, Wm. E. Graves . 450.00
Total amount paid teachers the first year of the town . $1,152.00
All other school expenses were $135.96, making the total cost of schools. including salaries, for this first year, $1,287.96.
The assessed value of the foregoing schoolhouses in 1843 was : -
Pound School $600.00
Prospect Hill Grammar and Primary
1,400.00
Milk Row
650.00
Winter Hill
500.00
Total value of schoolhouses in Somerville when set off, $3,1 50.00
HENRY F. LOMBARD.
G. LESLIE NICHOLS.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
In 1843 two new schoolhouses were built, one in the "Russell District" on Broadway on land purchased of Charles Tufts at a cost of $100, known afterwards as the Walnut Hill School, and the other as the " Lower Winter Hill School," which probably replaced the " Pound School." These were built by Mr. Jerome Thorp, who is still a resident of the city, and at a cost of $600 and $605 respectively.
New schoolhouses and schools raised the educational expenses of 1843- 1844 to $3,393.88, but in 1844-1845 they fell to $2,761.35. The average of pupils attending school in 1843 was two hundred and fifty-five, and the number of children returned as of school age was three hundred and two.
The first published report of the School Committee was that of April, 1844, covering the year of 1843-1844, and was made by Luther V. Bell, its chairman. This report, in speaking of the two new schoolhouses built the previous year, says, "The edifices are planned externally with much taste, and the internal arrangements made in the most approved mode." They are spoken of as " little temples of learning." The committee also suggest to the parents that "posterity would thank them should they, the present spring, set out as many trees as are needed, in the squares which have been reserved about the schoolhouses," adding that, "The spirit of the age and of the Commonwealth requires that this should be done," which spirit has since materialized in our annual Arbor Day.
During the year 1846-1847 two more school edifices were erected and named, one the "Prescott " grammar and primary, on the corner of Broadway and Franklin Streets, the other the " Franklin " grammar and primary, on Milk Row (now Somerville Avenue) at corner of Kent Street. Thus by the beginning of the year 1847 the five schools had increased to nine, three grammar and six primary. In 1848 the commodious Prospect Hill grammar and primary school was built. It accommodated two hundred and sixty-four pupils, and was opened on December 25. The name of the old " Prospect Hill " was now changed to " Medford Street School." On September 1, 1848, a new school was commenced on Beacon Street, south of Washington Street near the Cambridge line, and called ,the " Harvard Primary." Its house was the old school building removed from the Prescott district, and perhaps the one built there in 1843 as before mentioned.
The School Committee, in their report of March, 1849, speak with pride of the increase in school facilities, and say that "the liberality of the town in providing for its schools has placed it first on the list in the county, and only third in the Commonwealth."
The following is a list of the books used in the grammar schools in 1849 :-
Well's Grammar, Russell's Sequel to Primary Reader, Russell's Intro- duction, American First Class Book, Instructive Reader, Worcester's Dic- tionary, Swan's Spelling Book, Mitchell's Geographies, Emerson's Arith- metic, Parker's Philosophy, Worcester's History, Wreath of School Songs.
In 1850 the " Spring Hill Primary " was erected on Elm Place, and the "Cherry Street Primary " School on the west side of the street, near Elm,
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SOMMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
in 1851. But the event which marked an era in the school history of the town was the founding of the High School.
In recommending the establishment of a High School, the committee, in their report of March, 1851, suggest three ways for its accomplishment. First, to use the Prospect Hill School building for it ; second, vestry of the Unitarian Church ; and third, to build a one-story building on Central Hill. The High School building was finished in 1852. It is the present City Hall, and cost $7,881.38. The school began with sixty-six pupils, Mr. Robert Bickford and Miss E. C. Babcock being its first teachers.
The Forster School on Sycamore Street, named for a prominent citizen, Charles Forster, was built in 1854.
In 1857 the Prescott School was built. It was of brick, and the most costly structure built by the town previous to the war.
The Brastow School was commenced in 1860 and completed in 1861, on the old " pound lot " on Medford Street, where the new steamer house now stands. It was the last school edifice built during the pre-rebellion period.
The town had now (March, 1861) twenty-two schools, and thirty teachers with salaries amounting to $13,050. It began in 1842 with five schools, six teachers and a salary list of $1,152.
CHURCHES.
From its settlement in 1629, until the year 1844, the people of this sec- tion attended public worship probably either in Charlestown or Cambridge, and possibly a few in Medford, listening to the persuasive words of such pastors of early renown as Zachariah Symmes, John Harvard the founder of the University, Thomas Shepard, Simon Bradstreet and Thomas Pren- tice, and other inspired teachers. In the church membership, from earliest to recent times, we find Somerville names; among others for instance, in the earlier years, such as Governor Winthrop and General Gibones, and in later, Nathan Tufts, Samuel Jaques and others. In the early records are also many references to church land and lots here in Somerville, one as early as 1638, and two in 1788, one lot on " Walnut," now College Hill, one lot on "Three Pole Lane " (Cross Street), and one lot "in Rangeway" (Middle Lane, now Highland Avenue). A later record says, "The new church in Somerville now stands upon this lot," which was the first Unita- rian, "thrice destroyed and thrice rebuilded," the last time on a new and the present location.
The first church formed in Somerville was the Congregational Uni- tarian Society just mentioned, organized August 22, 1844, in the old " Milk Row" Engine House. Afterwards it built its church on Highland Avenue, then called Church Street. It has had two edifices destroyed by fire, and one unroofed by the wind, and is now occupying its fourth.
The Perkins Street Baptist Church was the second, organized in 1845, in the residence of Reverend William Stowe, on Pleasant Street, its first church being built the same year.
Then came the First Baptist Church, founded in 1852, whose earlier
N. EVERETT FITZ.
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FRED M. KIMBALL.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
services were held in a chapel, since a schoolhouse on Beach Street, and whose present edifice, on the crown of Spring Hill, was built in 1873.
The fourth was the Franklin Street Congregational, organized in 1853, and which society built their church edifice in 1854.
The fifth was the First Universalist, whose early meetings were in the old Medford Street Schoolhouse. Its first edifice was a chapel on Tufts Street built in 1859, its next was on the corner of Tufts and Cross Streets, on land given by Mr. Charles Tufts, the founder of Tufts College ; this was burned in 1868, and replaced with the present structure, on the same site.
The sixth and last church which was founded during the period treated of in this chapter was the Methodist Episcopal organized in 1855, and which met at first in Franklin Hall, Union Square. The society afterwards built a church building in 1858 or 1859, on Webster Avenue, which has since been remodeled into the Parochial School. Its church is now on Summer near Bow Street.
CHAPTER IX.
THE CIVIL WAR.
SOMERVILLE'S RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S CALLS FOR MEN. - APPROPRIATIONS BY THE TOWN FOR SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. - BOUNTIES OFFERED. - SOMERVILLE LIGHT INFANTRY. - SOMERVILLE GUARD. - VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WAR. - STATE BOUNTIES. - OFFICERS OF SOMERVILLE COMPANIES IN THE WAR. - SERVICE DURING THE WAR OF THE COMPANIES FROM SOMERVILLE. - THE MARTYR ROLL.
WHEN the "long roll" sounded throughout the land, after the fall of Fort Sumter, and President Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand men to quell the rising rebellion, the regiments of Massachusetts promptly re- sponded. Among the earliest was the Fifth, in whose ranks was the Somer- ville Light Infantry, then Company "I." And as promptly the people of the town also responded.
Enthusiastic meetings were held in the public halls, the engine house and the open air.
Subscriptions were raised and committees appointed. One of the first meetings was held in the Town Hall, on April 17, 1861. It was a largely attended and enthusiastic gathering, and a fund of over $4,300 was soon raised for assisting the families of the Somerville Company, which had been ordered immediately to Washington ; this meeting was followed by others. Private subscriptions were prompt and liberal, as were also the appropria- tions of the Town, not only at the beginning, but throughout the whole period of the war. During the four years' contest, Somerville expended for the soldiers and the cause, from its public treasury, one hundred thirty-five thousand five hundred sixty dollars, and from the contributions of its citizens, sixty-five thousand eight hundred twenty-two dollars; in all, two hundred one thousand three hundred eighty-two dollars.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
The Selectmen were then : Benjamin Randall, Captain Henry A. Snow, Captain Thomas Cunningham, Albert Kenneson and Charles H. Guild. They entered with alacrity upon the duties which war had so suddenly placed upon them, and under the instructions of the Town at its April meeting, they at once urge forward the necessary enlistments, and took measures to secure comfort for the soldier in the field and for his family at home. In the performance of these duties, the visits of Captain Cunning- ham, Captain Snow and Mr. Guild to Washington and the camps were frequent.
CALLS FOR TROOPS.
At the first alarm, Captain Brastow had called together the Somerville Light Infantry ; this was on April 17, and on the 19th the Company with its valiant Captain were in camp, and a few days later, on their way to the front, serving more than the term for which they enlisted.
On May 25, 1862, the National Capital being again threatened, Gov- ernor Andrew called out the State Militia, who assembled on Boston Com- mon in readiness for an expected summons from the President. The Somer- ville Company, under Captain W. E. Robinson, answered, but their services were not then required, and they returned home.
On the 28th of June, President Lincoln made his famous call for "three hundred thousand more," under which the quota of Somerville was ninety- two. The Selectmen began immediately to raise a full company which was to be known as the " Somerville Guard."
From this time on recruiting became more difficult. A town meeting was held July 19, and a "committee of sixty" citizens appointed to co- operate with the Selectmen in all matters of enlistment to fill the quota.
Mass meetings, with patriotic addresses and martial music, were again held to promote volunteering, and in August a bounty of one hundred dollars to every recruit was offered, which was increased to one hundred and twenty-five dollars by private subscription.
The Company's camp was on Prospect Hill, where it remained for several weeks. Ultimately it was attached to the 39th regiment, as Com- pany "E," and under command of Captain Fred R. Kinsley it proceeded to the front, where it "proved an honor to the Town and the State."
Very soon came another requisition for troops, a second "three hun- dred thousand more," and the old 5th again responded.
The Somerville Light Infantry, which at its first enlistment was Com- pany " I," now became Company " B," of the same regiment.
Upon the departure of the "Somerville Guard," its camp on Prospect Hill was occupied by this company, now commanded by Captain Benjamin F. Parker. Here it remained until September 6, when it joined the regiment at Washington. On October 22, it left for Newbern, North Caro- lina.
Meanwhile the Town had raised its bounty for volunteers to two hun- dred dollars.
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GEORGE F. STURTEVANT.
ALEXANDER A. SANBORN.
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SOMMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
Under these two "three hundred thousand more" calls, Somerville furnished about five hundred and sixty-eight men, at a net cost for bounties and all other expenses of thirty-two thousand seven hundred and sixty-four dollars, beside which, up to June 1, 1863, the town had expended in aid to two hundred and fifty families, the sum of thirteen thousand and sixty dollars.
At the beginning of the year 1863, there were from Somerville, two full companies in the field, beside about three hundred other officers and men, in various regiments from Massachusetts, and other loyal states.
In June, 1863, the Somerville Light Infantry, whose term of nine months had expired, returned to Somerville, and was heartily welcomed home by the citizens, the company having lost but one man, Samuel G. Tompkins.
In July, 1863, a demand on Somerville was made for one hundred and eighty-six men, and a draft ordered. Of this number one hundred and eighty- three responded promptly, without waiting to be drafted.
The third call for three hundred thousand came in October, with a requisition on Somerville for ninety-two, the same number as in the first call, which were required by January 5, 1864.
Bounties were now offered by the State. Volunteering being exceed- ingly slow, war meetings were held, and the enrolled men (those liable to military duty) of the Town were called together, which resulted in a liberal financial response, and enabled the " War Committee " to follow the lead of other towns and obtain recruits from wherever they could be procured ; by February 1, the limit having been extended, the town's quota was filled.
Another call for two hundred thousand came, and to it Somerville again promptly responded.
In July, 1864, an assessment of $30,000 was levied upon the citizens, the share charged enrolled men being greater in proportion than to others. Under this measure the town ultimately received and disbursed $15,609.
Between October 17, 1864, and March 1, 1865, five hundred and nine men were asked for from Somerville, and six hundred and twenty furnished, which left one hundred and eleven men to be credited the town upon any future call.
SOMERVILLE TROOPS.
The following is a summary of the Somerville companies during the war, giving their terms of service and names of officers : -
Company I, 5th Regiment. April 19 to July 31, 1861. Captain, George O. Brastow. Ist Lt., William E. Robinson. 2d Lt., Frederick R. Kinsley.
Company B, 5th Regiment. May, 1862. Under command of Captain William E. Robinson. Ordered out by Governor Andrew, but not being needed, returned home.
Company E, 39th Regiment. August 12, 1862, to June 2, 1865. Captain, Frederick R. Kinsley. ist Lt., Joseph J. Giles. 2d Lt., Willard C. Kinsley (promoted to Captain). And the following by promotion - viz. : Captain Melville C. Parkhurst. Ist Lt., John H. Dusseault. 2d Lt., Edwin Mills. 2d Lt., George A. Bodge.
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SOMERVILLE, PAST AND PRESENT.
Company B, 5th Regiment. September 19, 1862, to July 2, 1863. Cap- tain, Benjamin F. Parker. ist Lt., Walter C. Bailey. 2d Lt., John Har- rington.
Company B, 5th Regiment. July 25, 1864, to Nov. 16, 1864. Captain, John N. Coffin. Ist Lt., Charles T. Robinson. 2d Lt., Granville W. Daniels.
The service of these various companies at the front calls for special mention.
COMPANY 1, FIFTH REGIMENT. - THREE MONTHS.
The Somerville Light Infantry, Company I, under command of Cap- tain Brastow, left Boston for Washington on Sunday, April 21, 1861, and arriving there, was quartered with the Regiment in the Treasury Building ; after which it was ordered to Alexandria, to join the command of General Mansfield. On June 14, it was reviewed by President Lincoln and Cabinet, and on July 16, ordered forward to Centreville. On the 21st it had its first experience in battle at the memorable action of Bull Run, in which engage- ment the Somerville Light Infantry faithfully sustained its part and the honor of the Town. This battle was fought after the Regiment's time of service had expired.
Somerville lost one man in the action, Edward F. Hannaford, and an- other, William F. Moore, died at Washington of disease.
COMPANY B, FIFTH REGIMENT. - NINE MONTHS.
As before stated, the Fifth Regiment, in its nine months' campaign, left Boston on October 22, 1862, and, after a five days' voyage, arrived at New Berne, N. C., on the 27th. Here it was attached to the brigade commanded by Colonel Horace C. Lee of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, the department being under command of Major-General Foster.
Even before its muskets had arrived, the Regiment received orders to be in readiness for an expedition, and on October 30 embarked for Wash- ington, N. C., whence, with other forces, it marched for Williamston. After some skirmishing, nothing else important transpiring, it returned to camp, November 13, having marched one hundred and sixty miles. In December it took part in the expedition to Goldsboro, forming the left of the column. The object of the movement was the destruction of the Weldon Railroad. On the 14th it was attacked by the enemy, whom it repulsed and drove in great disorder towards Kinston. On the 16th occurred the battle of Whitehall, near which place the army had bivouacked, in which the Union forces were again victorious. On the 17th the column was again in motion, and reached the railroad about noon. The railroad bridge over the Neuse River was soon destroyed, and wires cut, which work was accom- plished under fire of the enemy.
The destruction completed, the troops returned, the Fifth Regiment acting as rear guard " supporting battery," and encountering and repulsing repeated attacks of the Confederates, and reaching camp on December 31.
After various marches and reconnoissances, on May 22, the Union for-
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