USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > Tale of a Dedham tavern; history of the Norfolk hotel, Dedham, Massachusetts > Part 8
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1 "Echoes of the Past"; Dedham Transcript, November 22, 1902.
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youth by a chance piece of steel while working at the trade of blacksmith. Yet the penetrating power of two eyes seemed centred in that one good eye.
"In the stable of Uncle Bates, near the hotel and run in connection therewith, we boys were wont to play circus and have negro minstrel shows; and while doing so, should Uncle Bates steal in upon the scene, the show would instantly be over, and the performers scatter like rats hunting their holes. I, just to see him get a 'going over,' reporting the intrusion of Uncle Bates to my mother, who with her dander up, would administer to him her accus- tomed dose in the lecture line, which to us boys was joy sublime and fully paid us for the temporary 'break up' of our show. Once on a time when Uncle Bates hired me to pick up nails that had been drawn from a lot of old boards, and for so doing he agreed to pay me the sum of 5 cents, but which I never . got because, as he said, I only half did the job. He also forgot me in his will, nor did my mother fare any better.1. .
"In the old Norfolk House there was a bar over which liquor was publicly sold and in the broad daylight, to any and all customers; but I remember for some reason all of a sudden this public traffic in liquor was stopped, and they who wished to im- bibe the article were forced to descend a flight of stairs into a dismal and dimly lighted room in the basement of the hotel. My parents at the time
1 Dedham Transcript, August 23, 1902.
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lived in the hotel, and I with them. I was cognizant of the fact of a change of the location of the bar, and thought it strange. It was to evade the law.
"Oh, if the walls of that old Norfolk House could speak and would, they might tell a tale that would surprise the folks now living in Dedham. At the time when is laid the date of my story, ascending the main stairs of the Norfolk House to the second floor, in the first room to the right of the hallway under the then ball room, was congregated many a night Uncle Bates and his chums. . . In this room, many a night and when the meeting was in full blast, could also be heard the click of the glasses and the sharp knock of the knuckles upon the table, as if to give emphasis to the card that was being played. In this room it was rumored that gambling went on, but how large the stakes only its inmates knew. Thus we see among those outwardly ap- parently staid men in those days the game at cards was in vogue the same as now, but not so openly.
"For some time before we left for the West my father as landlord, kept the old Norfolk House."1
Ezra Jones succeeded McIntire as landlord April 6, 1843. William Ames first mentions him in his Diary of that date: "Our new landlord, Mr. Jones, has begun to keep the Hotel to-day."
Theliquor laws had now come to bepretty strictly enforced and some of the later landlords of the Nor-
1 Dedham Transcript, August 30, 1902.
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folk Hotel under Bates, beginning with Jones, were haled into Court where they found it unpro- fitable to conduct their business in violation of the law. The house gradually waned in popularity, finally falling into positive disfavor, if not disre- pute, all to the advantage of its rival, the Phoenix; so that this period, 1843-1866, may be said to mark the decline of the Norfolk Hotel as a tavern, as the period 1828-1840, under the management of Fran- cis Alden, marked the zenith of its fame.
The two preceding landlords, Haseltine and Mc- Intire, kept up the good reputation of the Norfolk Hotel, but under Jones the Tavern began to run downhill, he himself later coming to grief for vi- olating the liquor laws. The Phoenix now became known as the Temperance hotel of Dedham, and the best class of patrons went there. William Ames, a very temperate man himself, cast longing eyes towards the Phoenix, and three years later took up his abode there. He thus refers to the Phoenix:
"April 25, 1843, Almost all the lawyers stopt at the Phoenix Hotel because it is a Temperance House."
"May 16, 1843, the Temperance men and women marched with their music and banners to the Phoenix Temperance Hotel to dine. None of them stopt at Jones' and I am glad they did not."
This occasion alluded to by William Ames was a grand Temperance celebration in honor of the opening of the Phoenix House as a Temperance
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hotel. Exercises were held in the Rev. Dr. Lam- son's Meeting-House. Mann, in his Diary of the same date, describes the occasion at some length and connects the Norfolk Hotel with the day, par- ticularly with reference to a "flag incident" which served to introduce to Dedham no less a person than Nathaniel P. Banks, afterwards distinguished as a statesman and soldier. Banks roundly abused Jones and his Norfolk Hotel, but it will be observed that Mann disagreed with his sentiments. The Diary reads :
"There are three hotels in this village to each of which is attached a flag-staff, and on all festive days like this celebration, it is customary to hoist the American Stars and Stripes in honor of the oc- casion. It was so done today at the Norfolk Hotel and the Columbian House and no doubt would have been at the Phoenix were it not for the dif- ficulty of lowering the topmast in order to reeve the halliards for hoisting a flag, which had not been done since the new occupant, (Mr. Clark), had taken possession. But whether by accident or de- sign it matters but little, no flag was there. This ac- cidental circumstance was seized upon in the morn- ing by a bright looking youth (Marsh of Roxbury) who got possession of the pulpit and volunteered to denounce smartly the two landlords of the village who had thus dared to raise their flags - accusing them of 'stealing the livery of heaven to serve the devil in' and very kindly cautioned the congrega-
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tion against being lured to their destruction by this device ... The subject thus broached was again deliberately taken up in the afternoon by one of the regularly announced speakers of the day, and the two citizens alluded to abused and pummelled in a. more systematic manner, by authority. The pomp- ous individual, the Waltham Spouter, who made the cowardly attack this afternoon from the pul- pit upon the landlords who had raised flags in honor of the day was announced in the bills as 'N. P. Banks, Esq. of Waltham.' This harlequin per- former deliberately reiterated the accusation of 'stealing' the flags, and displaying them to 'lure the temperance folks to their dens,' their 'hells,' 'rum holes,' 'sinks of infamy' and the like. No temper- ate man, he said, could get into their houses - the stench of alcohol would drive them from the door; and if any had been 'lured' by the flags to put up their horses at the stables they were reprimanded and exhorted from the pulpit to patronize the Phœnix Hotel and no other. An old gentleman (P. W. Miller Esq. of Franklin) interrupted the orator during his harangue by hallooing from the anxious seats that 'he had seen the flags when he first got into the town but HE had not been lured by them!' - thus verifying the old adage that 'it is hard catching old birds with chaff.' My own im- pressions - I must candidly confess that while I listened to such a tirade against my neighbors and friends, esteemed for aught I know as good and as
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worthy citizens as the speaker himself, I was led seriously to doubt whether such furious denuncia- tion, even if the accusations were true, could ad- vance the cause which the celebration today was os- tensibly designed to promote."
Father Mathew, the great Irish Temperance Re- former, spoke in Harrison Grove, August 17, 1849, and was in Dedham.1 Another Temperance ad- vocate, who lectured in Dedham several times, was John B. Gough.2.
"Jones's Hotel" was certainly not a Temperance house during some of the balls given there. Three of them described in Ames's Diary will serve as evi- dence:
"February 3, 1844, a Ball at our Hotel last night, 102 couples were present, they came from Boston, Walpole, Quincy and this town. The attitudes of some of them were like the pictures of a dance in one of Dickens's novels. Many of the young men I was sorry to see drank often at the bar and were quite noisy. They danced till 3 in the morning."
"March 5, 1844, a Ball at our Hotel last night, near 70 couples, many of the young men drank too much, some hollered and stamped."
"March 29, 1844, a Ball at Jones' Hotel. Many of the young men drank at the bar. They were from Boston. Very few of our Dedham folks
1 William Ames's Diary.
2 William Ames's Diary, December 30, 1845; Mann's Diary, April 24, 1845.
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were there. Not far from 45 couples from all the towns."
Ames mentions other balls at "Jones's Hotel," but does not comment on them.1
The following balls are mentioned in the Norfolk Democrat :
January 5, 1844: "Social Ball. At the Norfolk (Jones') Hotel, on Tuesday evening next, a first rate band from Boston is engaged. Violin, Clarionet, Post Horn, Ophecleide, Harp. Tickets $2. includ- ing supper. J. Ellis, Mgr."
January 26, 1844: Notice of another Social Ball at "the Norfolk Hotel (Jones')." Oliver Capen, William H. Mann, Albert Morse, Daniel Parker, J. E. Carter, Marshall Newell, Managers.
March 1, 1844: Notice of a "Grand Ball at Jones' Norfolk Hotel" on March 4. "Anything in the dancing way coupled with the name of Jones is always 'fust rate.' "
The following are references to "Jones's Hotel" on various topics :
William Ames's Diary, May 21, 1843: "Whig Caucus at Jones's." 2
Same, September 7, 1843 : "A company of Militia came out here today in the cars to fire at a target
1 William Ames's Diary, April 3, 1845, January 1, 1846, March 11, 1846.
2 For other Whig meetings see William Ames's Diary, September 2, 1843, March 11 and 13, 1844, April 21, August 24, 1844; October 21, 1845. Norfolk County American, January 23, 1846; Feb. 13, 1846; March 20, 1847; November 22, 1847.
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which they did with no great success. The men were stout, wore the old fashioned three cornered hats, had good music, all dined at Jones' hotel."
Same, September 9, 1843: "Whig County Con- vention at Jones' Hotel. Benjamin F. Copeland, Luther Metcalf and Joseph Richards candidates for State Senate."
Mann's Diary, November 24, 1843 : 1 "Company shoot. ... The Company took supper at the Nor- folk Hotel, our landlord, (Jones), beinglucky enough to throw the cost on to Bates' side, by his last shot being most central." Among the shooters were S. C. Mann, M. Bates, A. Richards, O. Capen, J. Chapin, C. C. Cobb, E. W. Sampson, T. T. Kimball, William H. and F. Mann, G. Alden, E. Jones, William Stearns, Dr. Heustis, Abner Alden, and E. Foord.
Same, September 12, 1844: "The Boston Vet- erans arrived in our village this afternoon. . . They were accompanied by a detachment of the Brass Band and appeared with full ranks. After target practice on Village Avenue the batallion pro- ceeded to Jones' Norfolk Hotel where a dinner had been ordered. . .. The veterans wore the cocked hats in vogue during the Revolution, which with the size of the portly looking members, made quite a formidable appearance."
Norfolk Democrat, October 11, 1844: Reference to the "big elm near the Norfolk Hotel."
Same, November 8, 1844: The Winch Family 1 See also Mann's Diary, November 19, 1844.
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announce that they will give a "Concert of Vocal Music at Jones' Hall" on November 15.
William Ames's Diary, March 2, 1845: "My landlord's adopted daughter, a pretty girl about two years old, died suddenly of a fit after being sick. only 12 or 15 hours. She was found by Mr. Jones wrapped up in a blanket on the steps of his Hotel when she was only a few days old. He kept her as his own. Her parents were never known."
Same, March 20, 1845: "An auction sale today at Jones' Hotel of Simpson & Mears horses, wagons, chaises, sleighs, harnesses, etc."
Same, April 9, 1845: "A black man lately es- caped from slavery in Georgia lectured last night in the Town House and slept in our Hotel. He said he was very ill treated by his master."
Jones gave up the Norfolk Hotel in April, 1845, finding it unprofitable to run his tavern contrary to law. In December, 1844, he was fined $20 and costs on a complaint for violating the license laws.1 The Court Record describes this trial:
"Ezra Jones, keeper of the Norfolk Hotel, was brought before Mr. Justice Cobb on complaint of Obed Baker for violation of the License. law.
"Alfred Prescott, on his oath testified that on the 20th of October last he purchased at Mr. Jones' bar four glasses of spirituous liquor, which he drank and paid for.
"The defendant's counsel, J. Richardson Esq.
1 Norfolk Democrat, December 6, 1844.
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thought the witness might have been intoxicated that day. Witness replied that he had been a sea- faring man, and it took more than four glasses to get him drunk.
"Mr. Jones, - Witness, did you not come to my house drunk, and get mad because I refused you liquor.
"Witness, - I never came to your house drunk. I might have come there three sheets in the wind.
"Mr. Jones, - Yes, a good many sheets.
"Justice, - This is rather irrelevant.
"Defendant found guilty and fined twenty dol- lars and costs, and bound over for appearance at the next term Common Pleas."
This was not Jones's first offence.1 The Hotel had become notorious as a liquor-selling establish- ment. Ames himself said "a good deal of spirit is drank at our Hotel, there is none sold at the shops."2 He did not approve of this promiscuous dispensing of liquor by Jones and Martin Bates, and disliked them accordingly as his Diary shows.
A Mr. Chamberlin and his wife next apparently take charge of the Norfolk Hotel. Jones probably left in April, 1845, for the Norfolk Democrat, April 25, 1845, says: "We understand that Mr. Jones has left the Norfolk Hotel, and whether it is to be closed also, we have not inquired - it had far better be than opened again as a rum shop."
1 William Ames's Diary, December 7, 1844.
? William Ames's Diary, January 18, 1844.
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The Chamberlins must soon have succeeded him, for Ames writes in his Diary, May 7, 1845: "Court is in session, my Hotel is full. Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlin have charge of it. Jones & Co have gone and I am glad of it."
The Chamberlins did not remain long. Ames, August 30, 1845, writes of "my landlady," very likely meaning Mrs. Chamberlin.
There being no new landlord available, Martin Bates became landlord himself, running the hotel for about a year. He bitterly opposed the license laws which diminished his profits. The following letter to the Norfolk Democrat 1 discusses his posi- tion on the temperance question :
"Mr. Editor, - In a recent number of your paper you stated that the proprietor of the Norfolk Hotel 'had been a consistent opposer of the Temperance movement forever and a day beyond.' Is this as- sertion strictly true? Did not Mr. Bates, in order to purify the Upper Village from the baneful in- fluence of alcohol, purchase a few years since, all the liquors in the store of N. Clapp, and caused them to be removed to this village. It is reported that he even threatened to break down the business of the store unless the sale of spirits was discon- tinued. Evil minded men say his reason for making the above purchase was purely selfish, viz: to pre- vent his hired man from indulging in its use to his
1 September 5, 1845.
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detriment, 'and one of his neighbors from making too free use of his dexter digits. The old adage, 'give the devil his due,' is founded in justice, and if ever a man does one good action, don't endeavor by impeaching his motives to deprive him of the credit thereof."
In the following year (1846) Bates's disregard of the liquor laws got him into trouble, for we find this entry in Mann's Diary: 1 "Mr. Bates of the Nor- folk Hotel was found guilty of violations of the Li- cense law, on one indictment containing six counts, two of which were nol-prossed, convicted on four counts."
At times the Tavern is referred to as "Bates's Hotel." 2
William Ames makes the following discouraging allusions to his hotel, prophetic of his early change of abode to the Phoenix:
"November 27, 1845, my Hotel looks more de- solate and forlorn than usual. Three of the board- ers have left it - no wonder."
"January 12, 1846, my Hotel is solitary, dull and cold."
On September 19, 1846, he moved to the Phoenix which remained his home for many years. On that
1 September 26, 1846.
? Records of Dedham Thief Detecting Society, January 6, 1846. William Ames's Diary, March 16, 1846; May 14, 1846. Records of the Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves, November 24, 1846.
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date he writes: "I am at the Phoenix Hotel, in Chamber 17."
A few days later 1 he gives this parting shot in his Diary at his late landlord, leaving the name blank: "My late landlord, , having been prosecuted for selling ardent spirit contrary to law, sent his hostler to buy some alcohol of G. Alden, ordering him to say it was wanted to wash the sore leg of his horse. As Alden had a right to sell it for medical purposes he did so and was immediately complained of by - , but the District Attor- ney on finding the truth of the case very properly refused to prosecute. Thus malice, sly and calcu- lating as it was, failed in its attempt."
One Fish seems to be the next landlord, for the Norfolk County American has this editorial: 2 "The Norfolk House, under the management of friend Fish, is meeting that favor and encouragement which its enterprising and courteous landlord would necessarily insure."
Fish soon gave up his lease and by November, 1846, the Tavern is again referred to as "Bates's Hotel." 3
For the year 1847 there seems to be but one event chronicled in connection with the Norfolk Hotel, and that in Mann's Diary, November 22, 1847. On that day there was an election in Dedham
1 September 25, 1846. 2 August 22, 1846.
8 Norfolk County American, November 28, 1846.
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for Representative to the General Court, there having been no choice at the preceding two trials. The Whigs had previously met at the Norfolk Hotel, and although they nominated Edward L. Keyes as their candidate, a considerable portion of the party refused to support him. On November 20, another meeting was held at the Norfolk Hotel by those Whigs friendly to Mr. Keyes and resolu- tions in his favor were unanimously adopted, but, says Mann, "while the meeting was in session a Committee of five gentlemen entered, who stated they were deputated by another meeting then in session in the same house to see if all would unite upon some person." The plan failed and Mr. Keyes then declined to stand as a candidate. The Whigs having no regular candidate, Ezra Wilkinson, the Democratic candidate, was chosen November 22.
A new landlord appears in the person of one Carter, who seems to have been a pretty good sort of a man. The following are references to the Tav- ern under his management:
Norfolk Democrat, February 11, 1848: Notice of a ball to be given at the "Norfolk Hotel." "Mr. Carter - who is second to no landlord - provides supper for the party."
Same, June 23, 1848: Notice of a series of lec- tures to be delivered by the Rev. Henry Giles "at the Hall of the Norfolk Hotel." First lecture on "Womanhood," second on "Robert Burns."
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Same, September 29, 1848: Notice of a meeting of the Freesoil Committee at the "Norfolk Hotel"; F. W. Bird, Chairman.
William Ames in his Diary 1 speaks well of Carter and his charity towards a poor, sick boarder, a Miss Whitney, who died in the Tavern of consumption.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Lincoln visited Dedham September 20, 1848, for the purpose of aiding the Whig candidates for the Presidency, Taylor and Fillmore. This was a marked day in the history of Dedham. First came the Eighth District Convention when Horace Mann was renominated for Congress. Then fol- lowed the Norfolk County Whig Convention, hold- ing its meeting at the Norfolk Hotel. The Boston Atlas, September 22, 1848, says of this convention :
"Norfolk County Whig Convention
"Pursuant to a call from the County Committee, the Whig delegates from the several towns in the County assembled at the Norfolk Hotel, Dedham (and afterwards at Temperance Hall), for the pur- pose of nominating candidates for the Senate and also for choosing a County Committee for the en- suing year."
At this convention Hon. James Richardson was elected its President.
In the afternoon Lincoln arrived in Dedham and
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spoke in Temperance Hall, Court Street, a few steps from the Norfolk Hotel, where it is not improbable he was entertained for a brief time, not only as the day was very warm, but the Norfolk Hotel seemed to have been the headquarters of the Whigs that day. At this time Lincoln, although a member of Congress, was not very well known. His debate with Douglas, which first brought him fame, had not yet taken place.
It may be interesting to note what the news- papers had to say of Lincoln's reception in Dedham this day. The Norfolk Democrat, an opposition paper, it will be noted, says in an editorial : 1
"Wednesday was a marked day in the calendar of Taylorism in old Norfolk - and if the old Al- manac maker had been alive and present, he would undoubtedly have set it down as a dark day. The day was marked by four phases, or rather by four squares of patchwork - which this quilting party had got together to make themselves a comforter - and the general impression was, 'let them quilt.'
"The first piece of the performance was the District Convention
"The second act in the drama of the day was the County Convention . .
"The third act in the play was the second meet- ing of the Dedham Whig Club at Temperance Hall to listen to an address from the Hon. A. Lincoln, M.C. from Illinois. At four o'clock from 12 to 20
1 September 22, 1848.
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of our citizens went to the depot to meet delega- tions from Roxbury and Dorchester Taylor Clubs and the Hon. Western member of Congress. A pro- cession was formed of about 100, and marched through the streets accompanied by the Dorchester Band of musicians. When opposite the Phoenix House 19 individuals mustered courage enough to tell the procession that they could hurrah three times. We believe the procession was not inter- rupted by cheers again till they arrived at the Hall.
"Mr. Lincoln was received with a good deal of enthusiasm by about a fifth of the audience, who appeared to do all the applause. The speaker was limited as to time and therefore did not recite his whole speech. What he said was in praise of Gen. Taylor and against Mr. Van Buren, saying but very little against Cass except he was worth a million and a half dollars. He said Mr. Van Buren could not carry a majority of votes in any County in the United States, and yet he directed his battery to him exclusively. We did not hear him through, but presume he gave great satisfaction to the Taylorites present. He was escorted to the Depot by the Ded- ham Whig Club and a band of music, and after he had left, 51 men and boys marched back again to the Hall.
"In the evening, as was announced in the bill of the play, came off the fourth piece of patchwork, and this was called the Ratification Meeting."
The officers of the Dedham Whig Club referred
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to were: President, Hon. James Richardson; Vice- Presidents, Ezra W. Taft, Alvan Fisher, John Gardner; Secretaries, Enos Foord, George H. Mon- roe; Treasurer, Abiathar Richards; Directors, Samuel C. Mann, Stephen Bates, Merrill D. Ellis, John King, George Winslow, William Smith, Oliver Capen, Carmi Richmond, Charles Ellis, Eben S. Fisher.1
The Roxbury Gazette, another opposition paper, says : 2
"The friends and supporters of the Slaveholders' Candidate for the Presidency and others held their County and District Convention on Wednesday at Dedham. . . . The Hon. Abraham Lincoln of Illinois came out in the cars at half past three P.M. with fifty-one persons, who, we presume from the posters, were drummed up for a demonstration. The procession, escorted by the Dedham Taylor Club composed of from twelve to fifteen persons, was indeed a melancholy display. But it will ap- pear brilliantly enough in the Atlas. It could not, however, do injury to the cause. That is past hurt. We have no doubt that both Conventions were satisfactory to the parties interested. We only re- gret that they cannot be repeated in every town in this County and District previous to the election."
A Dedham correspondent to the Boston Atlas, says : 3
1 Boston Atlas, September 21, 1848.
2 September 23, 1848.
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