USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Tercentenary, 1655-1955, Groton, Massachusetts > Part 6
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About 1807, there was a tri-weekly line of coaches to Boston, and as early as 1820 a daily line, which connected at Groton with others extending into New Hampshire and Vermont. Soon there were two lines to Boston, running in opposition to each other, - one known as the Union and Accommodation Line, and the other as the Telegraph and Despatch. One of the drivers of the latter line was known along the road as "Phin" Harrington. He had orders to take but eight passengers in his coach and the trip was made with remarkable speed for that period. Lines ran to Nashua, Fitchburg, Lowell, Worcester, Amherst and Keene, New Hampshire.
Besides the stage-coaches the carrier wagons added to the business of Groton, and helped largely to support the taverns. The town was situated on one of the main thoroughfares into the northern country. The road, known as Great Road, was traversed by a number of wagons, drawn by four or six horses, carrying to the city the various products of the country such as grain, pork, butter, eggs, venison and hides, and returning with goods found in the city. In some seasons, it was not un- common to see forty such wagons pass through the village in a day.
To pass over this period of stage coaching without saying something about the taverns in town where the stages stopped would be overlooking an important aspect of travel in those days. The earliest tavern in Groton was kept by Samuel Bowers, Jr., during the middle part of the eighteenth century in the house on Hollis Street known as the Champney House. The next tavern of which there is any knowledge was one kept by Capt.
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Jonathan Keep during the latter part of the Revolution in what is now the Groton Inn. Richardson's Tavern, which stood on the present site of the Baptist Church, was noted in its day. From 1815 to 1833 a public house was open on the present location of the Red and White Store, and another hostelry was the Ridge Hill Tavern, situated three miles out of the village on the road to Boston. There were other taverns operated for short periods of time in several places in town, and all accommodated passengers for the various stage lines and people travelling on the high- ways of Groton.
About the middle of the nineteenth century this mode of travel was superseded by the swifter one of the railroad. The nearest train to Groton at first ran through Groton Junction on the Fitchburg Railroad, and a passenger-coach was driven from this village to the station in Groton . Junction.
In 1848, the railroad was laid through Groton and trains ran fre- quently. In the early part of the twentieth century there were ten or a dozen passenger trains a day and many long freights. Every train brought mail, and morning trains took quantities of milk to Boston. Ex- press trains from the State of Maine to New York passed through town daily. Besides the so-called Worcester, Nashua and Portland line through Groton Centre, there was a railway from Ayer to Greenville, which went through West Groton, and is still in existence. There was also a railroad east of West Groton, with a depot named Newell, which stood by the road to Groton. This line ran from Ayer to Milford, New Hampshire, leaving the Greenville branch at Squannacook Junction. A railway known as the Red Line passed through East Groton with a station there near Lake Massapoag, and this ran from Concord Junction, now called West Concord, to Nashua, New Hampshire. The two latter railroads are now gone, with only abandoned road beds to show that they once existed.
The trolley car became a popular conveyance and although Groton had no trolley lines in the village, there was a line through the southeast part of the town running from Ayer to Lowell.
The story of the advent of the automobile and its effect upon these modes of transportation is well known. For a time there were several bus lines in town but these have gradually decreased until now there is only a bus from Nashua to Ayer going through Groton one day a week, and one bus to and from Boston daily. The passenger train has disappeared entirely, and there is but one freight train a day on the two remaining railroads in Groton and West Groton.
Automobiles and trucks are the accepted means of travel now, with the airplane claiming its share. An airport privately owned has been in use in the northwesterly part of the town for about ten years.
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Fifty Years Ago
Fifty years ago Groton, like the rest of the country, was still in the horse and buggy days. There were few telephones, no electric devices, no automobiles and no movies, radio or television. These conveniences and luxuries, which seem indispensable today, were unknown, and a simpler, closer-to-home life was led.
In general, family life was more companionable than today. Each member had daily tasks to do to have the comforts and necessities of life, which today can be accomplished by a flick of a switch. Kerosene lamps were the only light for homes and buildings, and it was the work of the women of each household to keep the wicks trimmed, the lamps filled with oil and the glass chimneys bright. Wood or coal burning stoves and furnaces supplied the heat in homes of that day. It was the duty of the boys of the family to keep the wood box and coal hod full, and to do certain chores in caring for the animals, which most families had. Evenings were spent in reading or games, and occasionally at a dance, or play, or a Luther Blood free lecture in the Town Hall.
Each family, who could, had their own horse or horses and car- riages. The generous barns and stables, some still seen behind many Groton homes, were a necessity in those days. Travelers and people with- out horses had to depend upon livery service which was comparable to the taxi service of today. Groton had a livery stable on Station Avenue operated by Henry Johnson. Older residents remember Mr. Johnson and picture him sitting erect in his carriage, and holding his reins high as he drove down to the depot to meet every incoming train or as he rode about town transporting his passengers or exercising his horses: His stable was across the street from that part of the Town Hall, where the fire appara- tus was housed. When the church bells rang to give the alarm for a fire, horses were supplied at once from Mr. Johnson's stable, hitched to the fire engine and speeded to the fire. Blacksmith shops were as necessary then as garages are now, and there were three in Groton, on Station Avenue, on Main Street across from Shattuck's Store and in West Groton.
A few of the special conveniences for horses of that day have en- tirely disappeared, and a person of the present day is not aware that they ever existed. Drinking troughs and drive-in watering places were placed on various roads. Drinking troughs were to be found on the Lowell Road at Howard Gilson's, at the top of "Palmer's Hill" across the main road from where Mr. Bascom now lives, on the curve by Donald Priest's house, north of Mr. Eckfeldt's in West Groton and in West Groton square. A handsome new stone trough, which is still standing, stood on the common in front of the wooden bandstand to take the place of the trough and old town pump at the corner of Hollis and Main Streets. Watering places, those drive-ways through brooks beside the road, where horses were driven for refreshing drinks, were located at various brooks throughout the town.
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GROTON
WESTFORD 12 LEXINGTON 26
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WEST GROTON LIBRARY
AIR PHOTO OF GROTON
Although transportation around town was entirely by horse and carriage, the traveller out of town had convenient train service. Daily commuting to Boston was common and made use of by the leading citi- zens. In 1905 there were thirteen passenger trains with two additional ones in summer and twelve freight trains daily. The first little gray station was standing in the present roadway, which circles around from Court Street to Station Avenue, and the railroad track leading up to it from the direction of Ayer made a much deeper curve than now.
Familiar sights in town, which are never seen now, were the droves of cattle that passed through the town headed north each spring. These cows, anywhere from one hundred to five hundred head in a drove, were driven to pasture for the summer in Rindge, New Ipswich, Ashby and other places in that vicinity. They came from farms in Concord, West- ford and the Actons, and sometimes spent the night at a farm pasture in Groton before proceeding to their destination.
The year 1905 was important for certain events. Three of the well known and influential men, George Boutwell, Dr. John Park and Dr. William Warren passed away. The vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Warren was soon filled by two new doctors, Dr. Herbert Priest, who lived and had his office in the house next south of the Congregational Church and Dr. Arthur G. Kilbourn, who occupied the small house next to the library, where Mr. Ferguson now lives. The Sacred Heart Church, which was the first Catholic Church in Groton, was dedicated and the first service held there on Easter Sunday. The biggest event was the cele- brating of the 250th anniversary on July 12. Houses and stores were gaily decorated with bunting, and exercises were held on Shumway Field. Groton's historian, Dr. Samuel A. Green was the orator of the day.
The town officers fifty years ago were Frank A. Torrey, Francis F. Woods, and William H. Whitehill as selectmen, and Appleton A. Torrey as town clerk.
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Organizations
GROTON GRANGE NO. 7, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY
Groton Grange No. 7, Patrons of Husbandry, is the oldest continu- ously active Grange in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the third oldest in the country. This year the Groton Grange has been organ- ized for 82 years.
As the name would indicate, the Grange is an agricultural frater- nity. It is an organization for the entire family and one of the first to admit women on an equal basis to its membership.
Moses Palmer, in his recollections at the 25th anniversary, stated that he was approached by Reuben Lewis, and both believing something could be gained, approached others with the idea. As a result, on October 18, 1873, twenty-three charter members were initiated into the order, and Groton Grange No. 7 was officially born.
Only one charter member, J. N. Potter, is still represented by a direct descendent in the present membership list (Mrs. Pauline Souther Conley ).
The first master was Reuben Lewis, who served seven terms. There are now fifteen living past masters. The oldest is James P. Fitch who served in 1902-03.
The organizational meeting was at the home of Daniel Needham. After that the upper part of the present Legion Hall was used as a meet- ing place and called the Grange Hall. For a period during the 80's meetings were held at the homes of the members and later at the Town Hall. Palmer's Block, at the corner of Hollis Street and Willowdale, also provided a meeting place.
The present Grange Hall on Champney Street was acquired by purchase in 1916. It originallly was a paint and carriage shop and was remodelled for Grange use.
Members who maintained membership for over sixty years have been Blanche Brown, Nesbit L. Woods, and James P. Fitch.
The main activities of the grange members have been devoted to the functionings of the Grange itself. At each of the semi-monthly meet- ings, in addition to the routine business, has been that part of the meeting reserved for entertainment and lectures by members and in- vited guests.
The Grange is composed of seven Degrees. A subordinate grange such as Groton is of the 4th Degree. Many of our members have ad- vanced to the 5th (Pomona), 6th (Flora or State), and 7th (Ceres or National) Degrees.
The most recent Grange accomplishment was the formation of the Middlesex-Worcester Past Masters Association, with Past Masters of Groton Grange being most active in its founding.
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In recent years Groton Grange activities in behalf of the commun- ity have included a $100 scholarship, each year, to a graduate of Groton High School; participation in sending delegates to American Legion Boy's State and American Legion Auxiliary Girl's State; support of and leadership in 4-H club work; and annual banquet for Groton High School athletic teams.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
On January 9, 1894, a group of men and women recognizing the importance of collecting and preserving articles and data relating to the history of Groton, invited all persons interested to meet on the 23rd of the same month for the purpose of forming the Groton Historical Society. This meeting was held in the library building and was called to order by Miss Georgianna Boutwell, who was the founder of the Society. It was voted at this meeting to organize.
Soon the Groton Historical Society was incorporated and granted a charter.
Dr. Samuel Abbott Green became the first president and held that office for twenty-five years, although it is not known that he ever pre- sided at a meeting. Francis M. Boutwell was first vice-president and acting president from the founding of the Society until his death in 1910.
Early meetings were held in the lower Town Hall. In 1923 the Public Library and later Odd Fellows Hall became the meeting place. In 1939, the Governor Boutwell House, which had been bequeathed to the Society by Miss Boutwell, daughter of the late governor, was ready for use and the first meeting was held there.
Relics belonging to the Society were stored in Sibley Hall, in the basement of the Library, until the Boutwell House was available. At that time, the House was made use of as a Museum, and the ell was re- modelled into two apartments for renting.
The Boutwell House is now the home of the Groton Historical Society, where meetings are usually held and an historical collection is on display.
I. O. O. F. AT GROTON
Old Groton Lodge, No. 71, was instituted May 28, 1845, and ceased to exist August 2, 1849.
In January of 1908 a new Lodge, No. 95, was instituted at a large gathering. There were 350 present at the afternoon ceremonies and over 400 at the banquet and initiation ceremonies in the evening. Three special trains were employed to convey the visiting Odd Fellows. The names of the twenty-three applicants for the charter were read, the cere- mony of institution performed and Groton Oddfellow's Lodge began its existence.
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Groton Lodge, No. 95, has met at several places in Groton. For a time the rooms were at Randlett Hall on Hollis Street, and much of the equipment was burned when this building was destroyed by fire. Again, later, the Lodge sustained a loss when Palmer's Block, on Hollis Street, burned. After that, meetings were held in Grange Hall on Champney Street; then in 1915 Odd Fellows Hall was built on Station Avenue. In 1940 this building was altered for use as a fire station, and at present the Lodge meetings are held at Lower Town Hall.
MIDDLESEX REBEKAH LODGE
On December 2, 1909, Middlesex Rebekah Lodge No. 176, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the I.O.O.F. of Massachusetts, was instituted at the Odd Fellows Hall, then on Hollis Street opposite the old cemetery.
There were fifteen persons who signed the roll of membership as charter members.
Mrs. Alice Rockwood was installed as the first Noble Grand and Mrs. Janet Wood as Vice Grand.
A real calamity came to the lodge on April 7, 1914 when the I.O.O.F. hall was destroyed by fire, it being practically a total loss to the Rebekah Lodge. Everything was in readiness for conferring the Rebekah Degree that evening. The cause of the fire, which started in a corner of Randlett's barn adjoining the hall, was unknown.
After the fire, meetings were held in the Boy Scout Rooms. Later the lodge met in Odd Fellows Rooms in Palmer's Block until July 1915 when it moved to the newly built Odd Fellows Hall on Station Avenue, which is the present Fire Station. The Grange Hall was the home of the Lodge for several years, and at the present time, the lower Town Hall is the meeting place.
While the Rebekahs are not a beneficiary organization, they are always ready to assist members in need, donating to the Odd Fellows Homes and also to charitable organizations outside their own ranks.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLUB
It was in 1911 that Mrs. Loretta H. Graves and Mrs. Julia K. Smith conceived the idea of banding together the women in their neighborhood by forming a club. There was little social life, here, outside the church circles, and calling was only occasional.
On October 12, Mrs. Smith invited the ladies of the neighborhood to her house to talk over the matter. The idea was accepted and a limit of area set for members of this organization. This area started at Pea- body Street and went the length of the Old Ayer Road taking in both cross roads. It was voted that the club be named the Neighborhood Club,
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that meetings be held on Wednesday every two weeks, and that Mrs. Smith become the first president.
The next year Mrs. Grace Dickerman came into the neighborhood and wrote the Club Song, which is still sung at every meeting.
Soon after, the Groton Woman's Club was formed. There arose the question, should the club do as other clubs were doing, disband and join the Woman's Club? When put to a vote, there was a unanimous "No." So the Neighborhood Club continued.
Besides the social activities of the club, much work has been accom- plished, - sewing for Dr. Grenfell's Mission in Labrador, making slippers for convalescing soldiers in World War 1, mending for the hos- pitals, working for the Red Cross during World War II, sewing for Bald- winsville Hospital, donating penny collections to the lepers, working for the Children's Mission and other causes. After more than forty years the club is still active, meeting for the sake of sociability and for what- ever work is at hand.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
The Boy Scout movement in Groton has been active almost as long as there has been any Scout organization in the country. Through the efforts of Miss Elizabeth Hill and others, Scout troops were formed in Groton under the leadership of Mr. Clark of Lawrence Academy, and in West Groton with Myron Williams of Groton School as Scoutmaster. The appointment of Mr. Williams is dated February 19, 1913, although it is known that the Scout movement was in existence in Groton for several years previously.
In the records of the organizational meeting February 28, 1914 appear the names of Dr. William A. Gobie, Scoutmaster, Harry L. Bruce, Secretary, and Frank A. Torrey, Edward Gray, Dr. E. B. Branigan, Arthur J. Clough, Stephen Sabine, D. Edmunds, Richard Fay, H. K. Richards, and James Hill.
During the years following, the names of Rev. B. E. Tucker, Dr. Arthur G. Kilburn, Rev. Charles B. Ames, Harold Sargent, Leon Smith, Edwin Mason, Harvey Dunn, Julius Dellmuth and A. Lawrence Steven- son appear as Scoutmasters of the Groton Troop.
In the late 1930's the Groton troop was given a woodlot of approxi- mately 15 acres just off the Nathan Nutting Road. This has been used for outdoor work and camping.
In the last fifteen years Cub Scouting has been carried on for the younger boys, and recently an explorer Post has been organized for the older boys under the leadership of Leroy Johnson, Jr. At one time there was a Boy Scout Troop at Groton School.
The meeting place for Groton Troop was originally the Town Hall and sometimes various homes in town. Around 1920 the Scouts started
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meeting in what was formerly the Chaplin School and later Legion Hall, where their meetings are still being held.
The West Groton Troop at first met at the home of Miss Hill, who was their assistant scoutmaster, but more recently has been meeting at Squannacook Hall.
GIRL SCOUTS
Before a Girl Scout Troop was organized in Groton, Scout work was being carried on in both Groton and West Groton under the leader- ship of Miss Elizabeth S. Hill, who after giving up this work, maintained her interest in the Girl Scouts and helped many to earn their badges.
Miss Constance Jacomb started a troop in Groton in 1916, but the first organization was two years later when Miss Margery Peabody be- came Captain of Troop 1, holding this office for eight years. It was in 1922, however, that the charter was obtained and the first Council was formed with Mrs. R. H. L. Andrews as the commissioner. For ten years, beginning in 1928, Miss Gertrude Gerrish and Mrs. A. L. Call were in charge of the troop. A West Groton troop was formed in 1933, and was active for two years under the leadership of Mrs. Haven Wormwood. A Brownie troop was organized in Groton in 1946.
In 1932, the Groton Girl Scouts received a rare honor. Mrs. Call, who had been teaching book binding to a group of Scouts, went as a dele- gate from Groton to the National Girl Scout Convention in Norfolk, Va. There Troop 1 of Groton received first prize for binding a year's issue of the American Girl. Mrs. Call presented the bound volume as a gift to Mrs. Herbert Hoover, who invited Mrs. Call to join a group of Scout officials, stopping at Washington on their way home to have tea with her at the White House.
The Groton Scouts had an excellent war record. Miss Margery Pea- body and five of the girls went overseas, and six joined the service in this country.
About 1945 the Council became a Troop Committee and the title of Commissioner was changed to Chairman of the Troop Committee. The Groton Troop joined the Lowell Council in 1949.
The Girl Scouts are sponsored by the Troop Committee but receive much financial help from contributions and from proceeds of cooky sales, and an annual bridge and tea. For the past eight years, Mr. and Mrs. Neil Barrett have let their home be used for this affair.
Since its beginning thirty-five girls have become first class Scouts, and one Scout, Lynette Bixby, received the award of Golden Eaglet.
At present there are five Brownie troops in town and three inter- mediate Scout Troops.
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THE GROTON WOMAN'S CLUB
The Groton Woman's Club had its inception at a meeting of about ten ladies held at the home of Miss Georgianna A. Boutwell, who sug- gested and promoted the idea. Plans laid at this meeting early in 1913 resulted in the organization of the Club on March 8 with Miss Boutwell as its first president. It became a member of the State Federation soon after.
The Club motto is "Service" and during the past forty-two years it has successfully completed many projects of service to Groton. It spon- sored the first school lunches, the landscaping of the upper common on Hollis Street and the planting of trees as a Memorial to those who died in World War I, the Christmas tree given and placed near the bandstand by Mr. Huebner, and the lighting of it for many years, the redecorating of the Town Hall in 1924 and the purchasing of drop curtains and scenery for the Town Hall in 1928.
The largest project has been the Scholarship Fund, from which $250.00 is given every year to a selected Groton High School graduate to be used for further education. Since the establishment of this fund twenty-eight scholarships have been given, only one of which was not used.
The Club has always had a children's afternoon and now conducts this program at the New Elementary School for the pupils in the first six grades.
It sponsored the first baby clinic which is now called the Well Child Conference, and is still sponsored by the Club under the direction of the Nashoba Health Association.
Its latest project is the Youth Canteen which operates with a Woman's Club chairman, a director and a student council.
THE GROTON PROVISIONAL COMPANY THE GROTON RIFLE CLUB CO. K (20) 19th INFANTRY MASSACHUSETTS STATE GUARD
About a year before the United States entered World War I, the Groton Provisional Company was formed, in an effort to have trained personnel ready when or if the National Guard was called into service. At that time Mr. Lawrence Park presented the Company with a beauti- ful American flag.
Under the leadership of Walter Powers, money was solicited, equip- ment purchased and a company of about one hundred men enlisted. The officers of the Company were Captain Walter Powers, and Lieutenants Harold W. Ayres and Edward B. Branigan.
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Members of the Company joined the Groton Rifle Club, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association, which furnished some rifles and au- thorized the purchase of others and ammunition at a very low cost.
When the National Guard was called into service the Massachusetts State Guard was formed to take its place. Those of the Groton Provisional Company who passed the physical examination were inducted into the State service as Co. K (20) 19th Infantry M. S. G.
Captain Powers, a reserve officer, had left for duty and Dr. Ayres resigned as he was more needed in the community as a physician. The new officers elected were Captain Edward B. Branigan, First Lieutenant Fred H. Torrey, and Second Lieutenant Phineas Parker. Regimental headquarters were in Worcester and battalion headquarters in Concord.
Additional equipment was received from the State and weekly drills were held, either at the Town Hall or in a flood lighted area at the Groton railroad station.
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