USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Northampton > The Northampton book; chapters from 300 years in the life of a New England town, 1654-1954 > Part 16
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he passed on from stage to stage. The sheriff came and seized his property, his wife was taken to the Alms House. Then the jail, the pardon and reform, all depicted in a most natural way. There were several other characters, among them one Tom, an old drunkard, he was quite facetious. But the pleadings of the wife and children were most affecting. They were enough to draw tears from many a one and I presume they did from some. That girl was the most lovely girl I ever saw. As she clasped her hands in prayer, and two young girls came and bent over her, it was quite affecting. They were accom- panied by a band of four musicians who played extremely well. They played as the curtain fell while they were shifting the scenes. This drama was claimed by one of the performers as his own writing, it was very well written and the scenery some of his first attempts at paint- ing, all executed very well. It was well worth the ninepence. It was first started in Meriden N.H. at the instance of some of their friends. I can see nothing immoral in their drama. I think it may be do much good. The house was full. They have been well received at other places and come well recommended.
Mr. Trumbull does not state where in Northampton this per- formance took place.
The old Town Hall at the corner of King and Main Streets from 1814 to 1872 was used for any attraction that came along. However there was little to vary the routine of political gather- ings, recitals, lectures, and temperance meetings. This building was a small wooden structure designed by Isaac Damons with a seating capacity of about 300.
The old Town Hall closed its professional career in a burst of glory. On April 23, 24, and 25, 1850, there was on display Lang- ley's Grand Sacred Panorama of the Antediluvian World and Palestine. After the completion of the new Town Hall in that year local officials decided to alter the old building for the use of a military company and the Fire Department. In 1872 this structure was demolished.
It is difficult to realize now that the second floor of the City Hall was Northampton's theatre for 27 years. Its first event took place May 15, 1850, when a Mr. Ossian Dodge gave a concert. On another occasion he was reported as giving "chaste, unique, and fashionable entertainments." On June 11 Campbell's Min- strels appeared. Two concerts were given in August, on the 15th and 2 Ist respectively by the New Orleans Serenaders and the Alleghanians.
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One, Signor De Voto, brought his "100 Learned Performing Canary Birds and Java Sparrows" to the new Town Hall, Decem- ber 10-11. "The concurrent testimony of the thousands who have witnessed this wonderful exhibition unite in the expression that it is the wonder and admiration of the age." So ran the advertise- ment. The Gazette had no comment to make.
Negro minstrelsy was the form of professional theatre enter- tainment which came in first from the outside world to attract Northampton audiences. Plays presented by professional com- panies had not appeared and most offerings were either of the concert or exhibition type. The minstrel show originated in New York in 1843, according to Frank Dumont, historian and notable practitioner of the art. Apparently the first performance in Northampton took place on April 18, 1849, when the Kimberley Operatic Troupe combined with Campbell Minstrels appeared at the old Town Hall in a program of "new and popular Songs, Glees, Choruses, Dances, etc." On June 11, 1850, the troupe came around again, this time to the New Town Hall. Another per- formance on September 5 featured Messrs. Luke West, A. H. Peel, and J. Murphy, the first featured minstrel performers here.
During these years, the "Family" groups predominated in the entertainment field. The Kendalls, Bakers, Peaks, Hutchinsons, and others traveled extensively, particularly throughout New England, delivering their highly moral programs. Edward B. Marks, the song publisher, in his book, They All Had Glamour, gives an account of some of these families and lists musical num- bers. For instance, the Bakers included on their programs, "Where Can the Soul Find Rest?", "Inebriate's Lament," "Hurray for the Sea Boys," "Mountaineers Fairwell," and "Baker's Quick March."
At the Town Hall in 1851, a concert was given on January 8, by Mr. Dempster, composer and singer of "new and popular songs," and on April 10, Ossian Dodge was around again with his "unique" entertainment. May 8 brought a real treat, the Swiss Bell Ringers in native costumes and with a "new chime of bells just received from Europe." The faithful Campbells re-appeared on June 19 and 24. The Hutchinson family gave a concert Oc- tober 27 and a Mr. Spencer performed feats of magic on Novem- ber 18.
Locke House, 152 South Street (1885)
A. L. Williston House, Round Hill ( 1880)
U.S. Senator Isaac Chapman Bates, a portrait by Chester Harding
Charles C. Burleigh, first teacher of the Free Con- gregational Society of Florence, a portrait by his
son
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Of course the great event of this year was the concert by Jenny Lind on July 3, at the First Church. To quote the Gazette:
JENNY LIND AT NORTHAMPTON
The concert of Jenny Lind at Northampton on Thursday evening last, was everything that could have been anticipated. The spacious old church was crowded with a brilliant audience, and Jenny poured forth her richest notes. There was but one draw back, and that was the weather. About six o'clock a storm commenced, and the rain fell copiously all the evening. This rendered it unpleasant getting to and from the church, and the pattering drops, marred, to some extent, the performances of the evening. The storm also disappointed large num- bers who were calculating to catch the melody of the nightingale as outside listeners.
But notwithstanding the storm, which slightly dampened the en- thusiasm of the audience in the early part of the evening, and rend- ered singing more difficult, the concert was a complete triumph of the songstress, and of those who invited her here.
We are happy to know that Jenny was highly pleased with her reception here. Indeed, we are able to say, that the concert at North- ampton afforded her more satisfaction than any concert she had previously given in America. She and her attendants came with their minds prejudiced against Northampton. They were told that we had no suitable place to sing in, that they couldn't get an audience, that all who would attend a concert here would go to Springfield, etc.
The Swedish songstress, therefore, must have been agreeably sur- prised to find a larger house and a larger audience than she had in Springfield.
Persons were present from almost every town within a circle of twenty miles, and large parties came from Amherst, Easthampton, Williamsburg and Greenfield. Some also came from Brattleboro, and from towns on the line of the Vt. and Mass. Railroad.
At 8 o'clock, the performances were commenced. The first piece was a solo on the violin by Mr. Burke, which was beautifully exe- cuted, as was also the succeeding song by Belletti. Then came Jenny. Her first appearance was not greeted with that enthusiasm which it would have been, had the thermometer of feeling not been depressed by the storm; and in the first song-"I know that my Redeemer liveth" -she did not seem to get that hold upon the audience which was an- ticipated. But "Casta Diva" was received with great applause, and was enthusiastically encored. This established her power, and gave her full control of the audience. The "Bird Song"-a wild, Bird-like melody, that nobody but Jenny could sing-was loudly encored, as
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was also "Home Sweet Home," and both were repeated. The Scotch Melody, "Coming through the Rye," and the "Echo Song" were also rapturously encored, but she declined to repeat them. The latter closed the programme. At the conclusion of almost every song, bou- quets were showered upon the stage-at some times, we thought, rather too profusely.
Uncle Tom's Cabin was performed at the Town Hall during the week beginning Monday, October 30, 1854. The Gazette gave no further information. However, the Nichols and Aiken Dramatic Company had appeared in Springfield the previous week and were announced to go from there to Chicopee and then to Holyoke. It is reasonable to assume that this company gave a performance here. Uncle Tom's Cabin was in their repertory with "Little Frances Nichols" as Eva. This would seem to be the first professional performance of a play in Northampton, except for Mr. Bernard's presentation of "The Benevolent Jew" in 1814. George L. Aiken of this Nichols and Aiken Company dramatized Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel in 1852.
On January 10, 1860 Mr. Lingham and company of comedians came up from Springfield for the day. A lecture had interrupted their schedule in that city. The company confined itself to "the best class of fine, genteel comedies" which they presented "in a most exquisite manner." These "genteel" comedies were, unfor- tunately, not identified. Mrs. Macready gave readings on the 30th. The program included: The Angel's Story, The Origin of Kiss- ing, The Taming of the Shrew (Act 1), The Search Warrant, and The Widow Bedott. On February 18 and again on April 25 Grace Greenwood lectured. Two native Indians, Maungwudaus and Mazhau-kee-yau-si-gay, of the Chippewa tribe, gave an entertain- ment on March 27. They then took up residence in Room 19, Warner's Hotel for two weeks and sold medicines guaranteed to cure a wide variety of ailments. Wood's Minstrels from Wood's Marble Temple of Minstrelsy, 561-563 Broadway, New York City, appeared on April 27. Henry Ward Beecher lectured at the First Church on May 1. The subject was "How to Save the Union." The Campbell Minstrels were back on June 7. On July 4, the New York Star Dramatic company gave a program of choice selections. Further information was withheld. Miss Susan Denier and the Denier Brothers made appearances on July 11-12. "One of the company walked on a rope stretched from Haugh-
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ton's stove store to the roof of Town Hall." This was the meager information concerning the Deniers except that their regular per- formance inside the Town Hall "elicited the warm applause of the audience."
Dramatic criticism of a sort was attempted by the Gazette at this time. The following appeared in the issue of September 4, 1 860.
Allen's Tableaux and Concert Company have been performing at the Town Hall during the week. The selections are good and the pieces well played. The company, taken as a whole, is superior to the majority of traveling performers of its class. There is no clap trap or humbug about them. They are respectable, attend to their own business, play well and present nothing obnoxious to the most fastidi- ous taste. The company has been traveling through Vermont, where they have met with a cordial reception and drew crowded houses nightly. They will remain in town a day or two longer, and we ad- vise all who wish to pass an evening agreeably and pleasantly to go and hear them. Last evening, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was performed to a large audience and in a superior manner. To-night Burton's cele- brated comedy entitled the "Serious Family," will be given and to- morrow night Uncle Tom will be repeated.
Here is a typical season of the 1870's:
Whitmore and Clark's Minstrels. January 22.
The Wilmington Singers' Jubilee Concert. February 16.
Mrs. Ann Eliza Young (Brigham Young's 19th wife) delivered a lecture. February 26.
The Boston Philharmonic Club. February 27.
Camilla Urso and Concert Company. April 15.
Uncle Tom's Cabin with Mary Barker as Topsy and Mabel Leonard as Eva. May 13.
Maryland Jubilee Singers, 10 Former Slaves. June 3.
Victorine Pantomime Troupe, Burlesque and Superior Novelty Co. June 17.
A variety troupe. August 25.
Whitmore and Clark's Minstrels. October 29.
The Black Crook.
The ever popular Snow Brothers, four in number, in three entirely new acts. Billy Wylie, Dutch songs and dances and Irish comicalities. Master Eddie in his plantation songs and dances. Asher Ben Hamyied, the Hindoo Juggler. The Ballet has been selected with great care
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from the handsomest ladies in the profession, forming an unequaled pastime of beauty. Full operatic chorus of trained voices. Two dis- tinct ballet troupes. One composed entirely of Blondes, the other of Brunettes. The entire stage crowded with dancers. November 10.
Theodore Thomas' Orchestra. November 12.
Caroline Richings-Bernard Opera and Concert Company. De- cember 3.
Lecture by Victoria Woodhull: "The True and the False, So- cially." December 10.
This notice of a new opera house appeared in the Gazette for March 31, 1874:
It is proposed to form a stock company for the purpose of building an opera house in town. The plan is to convert the two upper stories of Todd, Lee and Co's block to that purpose. By raising the roof and putting the two stories into one it is thought that a very fine hall could be made.
This project, as proposed, was accomplished and the Opera House opened on October 30, 1877.
OPENING OF THE OPERA HOUSE (Gazette, November 6, 1877)
The Opera House in this town was first opened to the public last Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, when the P. Q.'s presented the play of "Our Boys." On Tuesday about 300 people were present, and on Wednesday there were a few seats unoccupied, the house seat- ing 500. The frescoing of the walls is very attractive and pleasing, and the painting of the scenery, by Artist Burleigh, is such as would be a credit to any city. It does not seem as though there was sufficient slant to the floor of the parquet, but it is very likely that there is all the slant that the length of the room will allow, and architectural proportions retained. The stage has no slope but is like the majority of stages now being built in that respect. .. .
Hayner's orchestra furnished the music on both evenings, and we have no hesitation in saying it was the best they ever played. Persons from abroad spoke highly of the music, and with surprise that North- ampton should have so good an orchestra.
The first professional performance was given by Bloodgood's Minstrel Troupe on November 12. This troupe, it was noted, traveled in teams requiring 10 horses and 20 men.
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Examples of attractions offered in the 14 years' existence of the Opera House are the following:
George Rignold in Henry V, January 22, 1878.
Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore, March 8, 1879.
Mary Anderson in Ingomar, January 8, 1880.
Denman Thompson in The Old Homestead, September 9, 1882. Frank Mayo in Davy Crockett, May 17, 1883.
Haverly's Minstrels with 40 performers and 10 St. Bernard dogs, October 20, 1886.
Rose Coghlan as Peg Woffington in Masks and Faces, March 17, 1887.
Florine Arnold in Her Husband, a domestic comedy "in which the humorous imparts a happy coloring to the pathetic," Septem- ber 18, 1888.
Dan'l Boone, The Pioneer, March 28, 1889. "A cast of 36 peo- ple, 8 genuine Shawnee Indians, and 6 trained horses."
Margaret Mather in Romeo and Juliet, May 6, 1889.
Connors Corkonian Colleens, Irish Dragon Band and Hibernian Orchestra in The Two Clay Pipes, December 18, 1889.
Arabian Nights. "The world's greatest spectacle, 50 people. 2 carloads of scenery. Actual daily expense $100. All the famous original features: the Doll's Quadrille, the marvelous steam cur- tain, the enchanting music, the bewildering ballets, the wonder- ful transformation." January 17, 1890.
The last performance in the Opera House was given on May 21, 1891, by The Gormans, "America's Elite Minstrel Troupe." Soon after the building, now 160 Main Street, was converted into offices, and the ground floor occupied by the Foster-Farrar Co.
The Academy of Music, the first municipal theatre in America, was presented to the city by Edward H. R. Lyman. Opening ceremonies took place May 24, 1891, with a concert by the Bos- ton Orchestra conducted by Dr. Blodgett of Smith College and a speech by the donor. The first performance in the theatre was a production of The Spanish Gypsy by Smith College students on June 17. The professional season began on September 2, with Charity Ball.
Mr. Lyman managed the theatre for about a year then made the presentation to the city with this statement, quoted in part:
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You are provided with educational institutions, libraries, and art galleries, but you have no suitable building for the presentation of lectures, concerts, operas, and the drama .... We all think today that recreation and entertainment are essential to a true development and have as assured a place as mental and physical labor. That there might be a suitable place I bought the land and erected thereon a building called The Academy of Music. I now donate by the accompanying deed, this land and the building thereon to the City of Northampton.
One of the terms of the gift was that "the care and manage- ment of the granted premises shall be vested solely in a special committee, or board of management, of five persons, who shall exercise a careful and diligent oversight of the property." The Mayor of the City and the President of Smith College were to be members, ex-officio. In 1895, the city assumed financial respon- sibility. The matter of support, particularly during periods of deficits, was of much concern and bitter controversy among the citizens.
For 20 years the theatre was operated as a fairly typical "road show" house. The resident managers were William H. Todd, James R. Gilfillan, and B. L. Potter. A variety of attractions were presented through each season including performances by the foremost actors and actresses. Among the great players who ap- peared during these years were Sarah Bernhardt, Helena Mod- jeska, Julia Marlowe, Joseph Jefferson, Maud Adams, William Gillette, Mrs. Fiske, Richard Mansfield, and Ellen Terry.
A "stock company" policy, with a resident company present- ing a different play each week, was inaugurated in October 1912. Jessie Bonstelle and Bertram Harrison, well-known stage direc- tors, were chosen to guide this undertaking. National fame was achieved for this "first municipal stock company in the United States." Artistic success with financial loss was generally the rule. In 1917, Melville Burke, an experienced and very capable director, took charge for a season of fine plays, very well pro- duced. He was accused of being too high-brow. Public support waned, deficits increased and the fine experiment ended in failure. Members of the stock company, later known to fame in moving pictures, included William Powell and James Rennie.
The policy of occasional stock company seasons combined with road shows and moving pictures, was continued with vary- ing success until 1937. In recent years pictures have been pre-
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sented almost exclusively though the management has occasion- ally been able to offer a stage play. A detailed history from year to year would be interesting and revealing with accounts of man- agerial tribulations and upsets, financial losses and crises, artistic accomplishments, criticism, opposition, and lack of support from the public. It seems, in review, that the townspeople have not been properly grateful to Mr. Lyman. They have not appreciated the privilege and responsibility of maintaining a fine theatre with the best in stage productions.
The first home of "movies" was in a small unadorned store building at 14 Masonic Street named, for this enterprise, The Palace. Pictures were shown from June 1907 until 1916 when a store again occupied the premises. The Lyric on the second floor of 24 Pleasant Street presented "high-class animated pictures" as they were first called, from 1907 to 1917. Then the Plaza, con- verted from a hotel at 79 Pleasant Street opened on March 4, 1912. Moving pictures were presented here for 40 years. Cook's Vaude- ville House at 41 Center Street offered vaudeville from May 1909 and continued for four years. It is now the Elks Home.
The Calvin, managed by an out-of-town organization, the Goldstein Bros. of Springfield, and designed for vaudeville and pictures, commenced April 17, 1924. At first this place was to be called The Mayflower, but the present name honoring Calvin Coolidge was adopted. Vaudeville disappeared from the pro- grams after about three years.
Circuses pitched their tents here almost every year beginning in 1849. However, in recent years this type of entertainment has not proved popular or profitable, so the elephants, the acrobats, and the clowns no longer come to town.
No mention has been made of amateur organizations, Smith College dramatics, or the concerts, recitals, and lectures presented under the auspices of the College. This has been an attempt to record briefly the history of the professional theatre in North- ampton.
Chapter Twenty-One
Early Public and Private Schools
By ANNA GERTRUDE BREWSTER
I N 1647 the General Court of Massachusetts passed what has been called the most important educational law ever passed in this country, the very foundation of our American public school system. It charges "that ould deluder Satan," with keeping men from a knowledge of the Scriptures in former times by keep- ing them in an unknown tongue and latterly by persuading them from the use of that tongue. "That learning may not be buried in the graves of our fathers in the church and commonwealth," it orders that after a town has increased to the number of 50 householders it shall employ someone in the town to teach "such children as shall resort to him" to read and to write. A township of 100 must "set up" a "Grammer" school with a master to "in- struct such youth as are fit for it for the University."
In 1662 the town had 60 householders. In 1664 having been without a school for two years the town engaged a Mr. Cornish, owner of land on the corner of the present Main and Pleasant Streets, to teach six months in the year, {6 being paid by the town. When plowing and planting time came, what can hardly be called vacation began. Schooling was not wholly free, for tuition paid by parents supplemented the small appropriation made by the town. Mr. Cornish kept school in the little log meeting house the site now marked by the boulder on Court House lawn. The only text books were the Bible and Psalter.
In thrifty New England it was the custom, the teacher being paid by the year, to allow girls who paid tuition to have the bene- fit of the master's instruction and the use of the schoolhouse dur- ing the summer. Girls in Northampton did not take advantage of the permission.
It has been suggested that the use of "Mr." before his name may indicate a special respect unusual at a time when school-
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masters stood low in the social scale, like lawyers, pariahs in the colonies until well on in the 18th century.
His successor, Williams Jeames, without the "Mr.", served only a year; then comes a lapse in the records, perhaps in the schools, for in 1671 the town "considering the great need for a schole- master to instruct the children and youth" appointed Mr. Solo- mon Stoddard and Elder John Strong to "treat" with a Mr. Wat- son as "scholemaster." There being no response to the treatment it was voted to pay a master {50 a year "if one could be found" fit to teach children to read and write and to cast accounts "at least."
Later teachers of the 17th century were far from being social pariahs. Mr. Joseph Hawley, father of Major Joseph Hawley, taught here first in 1674 and later for a second period, 11 years in all by his own account. Also of the upper crust was Warham Mather, son of the first minister and the first native college gradu- ate in Northampton.
There was need of good teaching for the town grown to 200 householders now more than met the condition decreed for the establishment of a grammar school.
For 30 years school was held in the meeting house. From time to time there were complaints that the building was misused hav- ing become a gathering place for boys in the evening to the detri- ment of the building and an alarming depletion of the woodpile. Seemingly the ould deluder was at work in the very stronghold of the defense. It is not hard to see the need of the boys for escape from cabins crowded with household necessities, babies, and tire- some oldsters to warmth, companionship, horseplay, and the in- terminable talk so necessary to youth. They probably felt free to take wood which they had no doubt cut, chopped, and hauled.
Since 1687 when a grammar school, grammar meaning Latin grammar, was established Northampton has never lacked oppor- tunity for preparation for college. Early and later historians give no credit for this superiority.
So at the end of the 17th century, 46 years from the founding of the town, schools had been established, the length of the term increased, acts for setting aside lands for the benefit of the schools passed, schooling was free, and we had sent 17 boys to college, one of whom had been appointed schoolmaster.
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