USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > The Worcester book : a diary of noteworthy events in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1657 to 1883 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
73 1861. Concert by Stigelli and Carlotta Patti.
February 8.
74 1834. First Methodist Society formed.
Thirteen individuals met in the Town Hall and were organized as a "Methodist Episcopal Society in the town of Worcester." They wor- shiped in the Town Hall for three years. and first occupied a church at the corner of Exchange and Union streets in 1837. See under date February 19.
75
1856. Bay State House opened.
The Bay State Hotel was erected by a company incorporated in 1853. The house and out-buildings occupy 30.000 square feet of land : the lot cost $38.000; the building $100.000; and the stable $5,000. $15, 000 worth of furniture was supplied by the corporation, the remainder by the lessees. Warner Clifford and A. H. Foster were the first lessees.
76 1862. Lecture by Charles F. Browne, or Artemas Ward. Subject : "Children in the Wood."
77
1874. Death of John Milton Earle.
He was born in Leicester in 1794; came to Worcester in 1818. and with Anthony Chase, his brother-in-law, opened a store for the sale of general merchandise. He was connected with the Spy from 1823 to 1858, for many years as editor; and was prominent in the anti-slavery movement. One of the founders of the Horticultural Society; and a member of the Society of Friends. Postmaster from 1861 to 1866.
20
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
February 9.
78 1853. Thomas F. Meager in Worcester.
He was born in Waterford, Ireland, August 3, 1823. As one of lead- ers of the "Young Ireland" party, he was sentenced to banishment for life to Van Dieman's Land; but escaped to the United States in 1852. In the Rebellion he served with distinction, and was commissioned a Brigadier General. He was appointed Secretary of Montana; and was Acting Governor at the time of his death, which was occasioned by a fall from the deck of a steamer, at Fort Benton, July 1, 1867.
79 1856. Great Meeting in behalf of Kansas : Gen. Samuel C. Pomeroy spoke.
80
1857. Piper's Theatre opened.
The first lessee was Wyzeman Marshall. A large audience attended on the opening night. An address written by A. Wallace Thaxter was spoken by Miss Mary Hill. The play was Ingomar, followed by the farce of My Husband's Mirror. This theatre would seat 1200. It was closed in 1866 or 7, and the interior remodeled. It is now the Front Street Exchange.
February 10.
8I 1857. Dr. Isaac I. Hayes lectured on Life in the Arctic Regions.
February II.
82 1770. "In memory of Capt. Palmer Goulding senior, who died at Holden Febry ye IIth A. D. 1770, in ye 75th year of his age. He Commanded a Company at ye Reduction of Louisburg June ye 17th A. D. 1745.
Representative to the General Court, 1741. Selectman six years. Just previous to the organization of the town, he built the house long occu- pied by Gouldings, which stood on Front street, east of the Common." -Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
83 1823. Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance Co. incorporated.
February 12.
84 1677. Second Indian Deed signed.
·
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
2I
"The right of Pannasunet, a sagamore who had, not subscribed to the former instrument of conveyance. [see under date July 13.] was pur- chased of his heirs and relatives."-Lincoln's History.
1840. Democratic celebration of the election of Marcus Morton, by one vote Governor of Massachusetts.
At Brinley Hall. Isaac Davis was chairman, and Dr. Henry Bigelow, secretary. Addresses were made by George Bancroft and Benjamin F. Hallett of Boston; and Pliny Merrick of Worcester.
Marcus Morton became Governor by the action of one honest Whig on the returning board. namely : Charles Allen of Worcester.
1868. "Distinguished visitors. The Superior (criminal) Court was honored yesterday morning by the presence of Maj. Gen. Sickles and Gen. Cochrane of his staff. The Court took a recess for half an hour, and the members of the bar were presented to the visitors by Judge Devens."-Spy, Feb- ruary 13, 1868.
February 13.
1783. Highway Robbery.
Mr. Jonathan Lynde of Petersham, while on his way to Worcester, was robbed in a most daring manner by a footpad, within a mile of the meeting house, on the road to Paxton. The amount taken was $90.
88
1815. "When the news of PEACE reached this town, on Monday last, it was received by all with the utmost transports of joy. The high degree of public gratification was immediately demonstrated by a salute of eighteen guns in each quarter of the town, and the ringing of bells."-Spy, Wednesday, Febru- ary 15, 1815.
February 14.
89
1861. Ebenezer Mower died, aged 100 yrs. and 4 ms. "Mr. Mower was a remarkable man to remember events; he could recollect the raising of the Old South Church in 1763, when he was but a little more than three years old. He recollected the marching of the minute-men under Capt. Bigelow in 1775, and his death in 1790. As his father was a loyalist, he never engaged in the struggle of the Rev- olution, although it was his wish to do so. In the election of President
D
85 86 87
22
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
the November before his death, and when he was past 100, he attend- ed meeting and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln."-Hersey's History.
February 15.
90 1816. Fire at Adams Square.
House, wheelwright's shop and barn of Nathaniel Flagg, 2d, and Jon- athan Knight's store were burned. Loss $2,000.
February 16.
91
1858. Benefit to Arbuckle.
Fiske's Cornet Band gave a concert for the benefit of the leader, M. Arbuckle.
Matthew Arbuckle, the distinguished cornet player, was a musician in a British regiment stationed in Canada; and deserted to the United States in 1854. He came to Worcester in 1857, and was leader of the band here for two or three years. He died in 1883.
92 1860. Lecture by Mrs. Sara J. Lippincott, otherwise Grace Greenwood.
93 1873. William A. Wheeler died, aged 74.
Mr. Wheeler came to Worcester from Brookfield more than forty years before. and began a business which developed the extensive foundry and machine shops on Thomas street, the first of the kind in the city. He was the first president and a benefactor of the Mechanics' Associa- tion.
February 17.
94 1846. County Peace Convention in Brinley Hall.
February 18.
95
1815. Destructive Fire.
The house, store and merchandise of Samuel Brazer; the office of Re- joice Newton; The houses of Sewall Hamilton and Maj. Enoch Flagg; and the bake house of Enoch and Elisha Flagg were all consumed. These buildings were on the west side of Main street, opposite the present location of the Bay State House and Waldo Block. The loss was $10,000. The inhabitants subscribed $2,700, and $1,800 was raised elsewhere for the relief of the sufferers.
23
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
February 19.
96
1831. Worcester County Historical Society incorporated. This society was formed "for the purpose of collecting and preserving all materials necessary for compiling a full account of the history, stat- istics and geography of the county." Hon. John Davis was president. This society was short-lived, and left few results.
97
1844. Methodist Church burned.
On the corner of Exchange and Union streets. This was the first Meth- odist church erected in Worcester.
98 1861. Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, Vice-President elect, passed through Worcester on his way to Washington.
About 4000 persons assembled at the Western railroad station to greet Mr. Hamlin as he passed through on the 10 A. M. train. He made a brief address in response to their calls.
99 1861. B. P. Shillaber, author of Mrs. Partington, read a poem entitled "Life's Bright Side," in Washburn Hall.
February 20.
100
1879. Genevieve Ward appeared in the historical drama of Fane Shore.
February 21.
IOI
1842. Elihu Burritt delivered the first lecture ever given before the Mechanics' Association.
IO2
Stephen S. Foster's farm sold for non-payment of taxes.
Mr. Foster refused to pay his taxes because his wife was not allowed to vote. The property comprised 65 acres of land and buildings. and was sold to Osgood Plummer for $100, and afterwards redeemed.
The sale was first advertised to take place on the 20th, at which time the Smith sisters. of Glastonbury, Conn., were present.
February 22.
1800. Funeral honors to Washington. 103
At II A. M. a procession numbering 700. including 250 school boys from 8 to 18. was formed at the Court House and marched to the Old South Meeting House, the pulpit of which was draped with black broad- cloth. An impressive oration was delivered by the Rev. Aaron Ban- croft.
24
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
104 1836. "In Memory of Capt. Simeon Duncan, who died February 22, 1836, aged 80 years.
Was private in Capt. Benjamin Flagg's company, April 19, 1775. Also a private in Capt. William Gates's company, Sept. 4, 1776. Enlisted and was bombardier in Col. Thomas Craft's regiment of artillery. He marched to Hadley on the alarm at Bennington, with Capt. David Chadwick's company, Aug. 28, 1777."-Inscriptions from the Old Bur- ial Grounds.
February 23.
IO5 1817. Death of Hon. Francis Blake.
One of the most distinguished lawyers of his time. He was born in Rutland, Mass., Oct. 14, 1774; graduated at Harvard College in 1789; studied law with Hon. John Sprague of Lancaster, and practised in Rutland; removed to Worcester in 1802. He was a State Senator in 1810-II, and Clerk of the Courts from 1816 to his death. He delivered the 4th of July orations in Worcester in 1796 and 1812, which were printed. Mr. Blake possessed all the qualifications of a true orator. He married Eliza A. Chandler.
IO6 1818. Worcester County Agricultural Society incorporated.
107 1840. Signor Blitz, the distinguished magician and ven- triloquist, gave an entertainment in Brinley Hall.
February 24.
108
1827. Paper mill of Elijah Burbank burned.
At Quinsigamond. The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion of cotton waste. Loss $500.
February 25.
109
1775. Capt. Brown and Ensign De Bernicre in Worcester. "Capt. Brown of the 53d, and Ensign De Bernicre of the 10th regiment were ordered by Gen. Gage [Wednesday, 22 Feb.] to make an expedi- tion, examine the roads, note the distances from town to town. sketch positions of the streams, heights, passes, and posts; and collect such topographical information as would be useful for the advance of a de- tachment. The report of their journey, made by the latter officer, was found after the evacuation of the metropolis. They left Boston dis-
25
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
guised as countrymen, without uniform, and passed through Cambridge, Watertown, and by Framingham to Shrewsbury on the old road."- Lincoln's History.
See 2 Mass. Hist. Coll., iv. 204; History of Worcester by William Lincoln.
IIO 1835. Fire Department established.
The Chief Engineers have been : Isaac Davis, 1835-6; Nathan Heard, 1837-9; Henry W. Miller. 1840-44; Joel Wilder, 1845-9; Erastus N. Holmes, 1850-54; L. W. Sturtevant, 1855-8; Samuel A. Porter, 1859; L. R. Hudson. 1860; Alzirus Brown, 1861-65; A. B. Lovell, 1866-8; R. M. Gould, 1869-71; Simon E. Combs. 1872 to the present time.
February 26.
III 1835. Powder explosion : 4 men killed, 5 injured.
The accident was the result of the premature firing of a blast near the deep cut on the railroad.
II2 1842. First Issue of the "Worcester Waterfall and Wash- ingtonian Delegate."
A paper in the interest of the Washingtonian temperance movement, established by Jesse W. Goodrich. It was united with the "Cataract" in 1843.
February 27.
II3 1849. Laurel Street Methodist Episcopal Church dedi- cated.
II4 1874. Daniel Pratt, the Great American Traveller, "de- livered a brief but impassioned address to a small audience, [at the Western R. R. station] in which he declared his chances for the presidency in 1876 were improving every day."-Spy, Feb. 28.
February 28.
115
1746. Day of fasting and prayer for a minister.
Great difficulty was experienced in procuring a successor to the Rev. Mr. Burr; and considerable time elapsed before a choice was made. A day of fasting and prayer was observed, "to implore the divine di- rection in the church's leading in the choice of a person to be or- dained."
26
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
116 1854. Mad Dog excitement.
A dog supposed to be rabid ran through Main street, biting horses and attacking several persons. It was killed near the City Hall.
II7 1868. Murder of Joseph G. Clark.
He was a professional gambler, and occupied rooms in the third story of Union Block, where the deed was committed. The murderers, Silas and Charles T. James, brothers, were apprehended the next day, and were executed for the crime the 25th of the following September.
February 29.
I18 1848. Worcester incorporated a City.
March I.
119 1736. Bounty for wolves.
"Voted that whosoever Shall Kill any grown wolf within ye Bounds of worcester from ye Tenth Day of march Current to ye Tenth Day of march in ye year 1736-7, Shall be Intitled to a reward of Four pounds, and for a wovls whelp other than Such as Shall be taken out of ye Belly of any Bitch wolf, ye Sum of Twenty Shillings, to be payd by ye Town of worcester, the heads to be proceeded with agreeable to an act of the General Court. page 259 of ye province Law Book."-Early Records of Worcester.
I20
1795. Vice-President John Adams visited Worcester.
John Adams was master of the Latin Grammar School in Worcester from 1755 to 1758, and during this time studied law with the Hon. James Putnam. His diary contains many interesting passages descrip- tive of his life in Worcester, and of some of the persons with whom he became acquainted. On the 24th of April, 1756, the future States- man and President penned the following passage in his journal :
" But I have no books. no time. no funds. I must therefore be con- tented to live and die an ignorant, obscure fellow !"
121 1872. Victoria C. Woodhull delivered a lecture in Mechan- ics Hall, to an audience of 400.
Subject : "The Impending Revolution."
122
1878. "Count Joannes" as Richard III. at the Theatre. A large and enthusiastic audience attended. The entire performance was a farce. Wads of paper, crackers, cabbages and other fruit were thrown upon the stage, and confusion prevailed.
27
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
March 2.
123 1761. "Voted That the Selectmen at the Charge of the Town take proper care for preserving ye growth of ye Trees sett out about the meeting House for Shades by Boxing them & that the Inhabitants be desired not to Tye their Horses to them."-Worcester Town Records.
%
124
1798. First Water Act.
"The Legislature passed 'an Act authorizing Daniel Goulding to con- duct water in subterraneous pipes from a certain spring in his own land, within the Town of Worcester, for the accomodation of himself and some other inhabitants of the said Town.' By the terms of this Act the Selectmen were authorized to take water from these pipes for the ex- tinguishment of fires; and in this small way the first water supply was provided for."-Report of Committee on rebuilding Lynde Brook Dam.
March 3.
I25
1740. "Voted that ye Northrly part of the Town Comonly Called North worcester agreeable to ye Pertition Line former- ly Run be Set of a Distinct & Seperate Township if it be ye pleasure of ye grate & General Court in Consideration of Their grate Distance from ye place of public worship."- Early Rec- ords of Worcester.
This territory was incorporated as the town of Holden.
I26
1740. "worcester, march 3ª. 1740. we ye Subscribers being Inhabitants of ve Town of worcester Protest against ye Proceedings of ye Town meeting now held in ye meeting house in this Town for that the Determination of ye Selectmen of Said Town Concerning Voters in Said meeting is not accord- ing to ye Laws of this Province in that Case made and provided but they have totally Excluded us tho' Qualified according to Law. Joseph Dyar, the mark x of Jezeniah Rice, the mark x of Samuell Dunkin, william Johnson, Danil Dun- kin, Thomas Richardson, Joseph Temple."-Early Records of Worcester.
This is the first of a series of protests entered upon the Records by Jo- seph Dyer, an eccentric character who combined the occupations of
28
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
lawyer and shopkeeper. For twenty years he continued to interpose his objections to the proceedings of the town, refusing to bear his bur- den of taxation, which could only be collected through process of law. Finally, in 1759, he was committed to jail for the non-payment of a fine, where he remained five years, obstinately refusing all offers of accommodation. In 1764 the sum necessary for his liberation was raised by subscription; and he was forcibly ejected from the jail, protesting as he went. While in confinement he compiled a dictionary of the English language, which was afterwards published. For a more ex- tended account of him, see History of Worcester by William Lincoln.
I27 1862. Rebel Generals Buckner and Tilghman passed through Worcester on their way to Fort Warren, under guard of six soldiers.
Simon Bolivar Buckner was a graduate of West Point, and served with gallantry in the Mexican war. He entered the Confederate ser- vice, and commanded a brigade at Fort Donelson, and after the flight of his superior officers, surrendered that stronghold with 16,000 men to Gen. Grant, Feb. 16, 1862. He was confined in Fort Warren until the following August, when he was exchanged and again entered upon ac- tive duty. He finally surrendered with Kirby Smith's army at New Orleans in 1865.
Lloyd Tilghman was a native of Maryland, born in 1816. He grad- uated at West Point; served in the Mexican war; and became a general in the Confederate army. He commanded at Fort Henry when that post surrendered to Flag-Officer Foote. Feb. 6, 1862. After his ex- change, Tilghman was ordered to Mississippi, and was killed in the battle of Baker's Creek. May 16. 1863.
March 4.
I28
1803. "ADDRESS PRONOUNCED AT WORCESTER, (MASS.) March 4th, 1803. BY LEVI LINCOLN, junior, A. B. Published by the unanimous request of the Company engaged in the Celebration. Printed at Worcester by Sewall Goodridge. 1803."
This address was intensely Republican in sentiment, and severe in its denunciation of Federalism.
I29
1829. First issue of the Worcester County Republican. Established by Jubal Harrington as a Jacksonian Democratic Weekly Journal. It was merged in the Palladium in 1839. Ben : Perley Poore,
29
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
the well known Washington correspondent, was an apprentice in the office of this paper in 1837.
130
1846. Worcester County Medical School opened.
I3I 1861. Blondin performed on the tight-rope at the theatre.
I32 1863. Gen. John E. Wool and Staff arrived from Nashua. They remained in Worcester over night as the guests of Col. John W. . Wetherell.
March 6.
I33
1843. Old Central Exchange burned.
The fire began in the brick building called the York House, on the corner of Main and Market (now Exchange) streets, and extended to the Central Exchange erected by the Worcester Bank about 1804. This building was occupied by the Bank, Post Office, and two print- ing offices.
I34 1853. Third (now the Main Street) Baptist Church or- ganized.
March 7.
I35 · I774. Resolution not to use Tea.
- -"We rest assured, that however attached we have been to that truly Detestable herb, we can firmly resist the Charm, and thereby con- vince our enimys in Great Britain and America, that However artfull and allureing their Snares and gilded the bait. we have wisdom to foersee. and Vertue to resist.
"Therefor Resolved that we will not buy. Sell. use, or any ways be concerned with India Teas of any kind, dutied or undutied imported from Great Britain, Holland or Else where, untill the unrightious act imposing a duty thereon be repealed, the former on account of the aforesaid duty, the Latter because we still maintain such a regard for Great Britain, as to be unwilling to promote the interest of a rival."- Worcester Town Records.
136
1804. Worcester Bank chartered.
March 8.
1762. Voted to build a New Meeting House. I37
The result was the erection, in 1763. of the present Old South Church.
E
30
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
March 9.
138 1869. Music Hall or New Theatre dedicated.
Now the Worcester Theatre. The play on the opening night was The Lady of Lyons, by the Boston Theatre Company.
I39 1878. Col. Robert G. Ingersoll delivered his lecture on "Skulls," in Mechanics Hall.
March 10.
140 1848. The Remains of Ex-President John Quincy Adams passed through Worcester to Boston.
The funeral train made a short stop at Washington square, where some. thousands had assembled. Minute guns were fired and bells tolled. Ex-Governor Levi Lincoln addressed the Congressional Committee in charge of the remains, and the Hon. Isaac E. Holmes, of South Caro- lina, replied in a most beautiful and eloquent strain.
14I 1854. Indignation meeting in consequence of the death of Maj. John H. Knight.
He was formerly station master at the Norwich depot. He received a fatal contusion on the head by falling down stairs, as was alleged, in a saloon at Washington square; but the verdict of the coroner's jury was that his death was caused by a blow from a heavy weapon in the hands of some unknown person. The meeting was called in the interest of temperance. and to take measures to suppress the rum traffic.
March II.
142 1854. Mass Meeting to protest against the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill.
At the City Hall. Speeches were made by Peter C. Bacon, Rev. Elam Smalley, Dwight Foster, Charles Allen, Rev. Horace James, Eli Thayer and Homer B. Sprague.
I43 1860. Samuel Jennison died, aged 72.
He was for thirty years cashier of the Worcester Bank; twenty years treasurer of the Worcester County Institution for savings; and ten years treasurer of the State Lunatic Asylum : also treasurer of the American Antiquarian Society; and of the Corporation of Rural Cemetery. He was an antiquary of some note. His residence was on Pearl Street.
3I
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
March 12.
144 1828. Central Bank incorporated.
145
1830. Worcester County Athenaeum incorporated.
The intention was to form a library for general use. Thirty-four pro- prietors purchased shares at $25 each, and organized with Rev. George Allen as president; Frederick W. Paine as treasurer; and William Lincoln, secretary. Some thousands of volumes were collected; but the association was discontinued after a few years, and the library turned over to the American Antiquarian Society.
146 1868. Concert by Leopold De Meyer, with Madame Gagzaniga, Signor Ardarani, Bernhard Listemann and Samuel Warren.
March 13.
147
1802. Gov. Caleb Strong in Worcester.
He arrived from Boston on Saturday the 13th, remained over Sunday, and departed on Monday for his home in Northampton.
Caleb Strong was Governor of Massachusetts from 1800 to 1807; and from 1812 to 1816. He had previously been a Justice of the Su- preme Court and United States Senator. He was an ultra Federalist, and entered into the wellnigh treasonable actions of his party during the last war with Great Britain. Fortified by a decision of the Chief Justice, he refused to comply with President Madison's requisition for troops, and openly defied the Government at Washington. Practically, this was nullification : the doctrine of secession had previously been proclaimed by a Massachusetts Representative in Congress. Governor Strong died November 7th. 1819, aged 74.
148 1883. Dr. Damrosch and Orchestra, with Teresa Carreno and Isadora Martinez gave a Grand Concert in Mechanics Hall.
The most finished orchestral performance ever listened to in Worcester.
March 14.
149 I737. "Whearas much damige hath been Don by black birds, blew Jays and wood peckers by Taring up Indian Corn & Devouring ye Same in ye fields, &c., therefore
32
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
"Voted that Every person belonging to this Town that Shall from the first Day of april to the last Day of may next Kill any black birds, and for one year next coming who Shall Kill any wood Peckers or blew Jays & bring the heads thereof to ye Town Tresurer, Town Clerk or either of ye Selectmen Shall be Intitled to a Premiam or Reward of three pence for Each head, producing a Certificate thereof, & that ye Same be Consumed to ashes." -Early Records of Worcester.
150 1861. Orson N. Heath lectured in Mechanics Hall on "Success in Life."
Heath kept the Poetical Exchange, a second-hand furniture store, un- der the Bay State House, Exchange street side.
15I 1874. Remains of Charles Sumner passed through Wor- cester.
3000 persons assembled at Washington square. Bells were tolled while the funeral train was within the city limits.
March 15.
1848. Gen. Sam Houston in Worcester.
152
Gen. Houston of Texas arrived from Providence in the afternoon, and remained at the American House about an hour. during which time he was visited by numerous citizens. He left in the evening on the steam- boat train for New York.
153 1867. Dedication of the new Orphans' Home.
-
At the corner of Main and Benefit streets. The old Home, which was given to the Children's Friend Society by John W. Lincoln, was on Shrewsbury street, east of the Pine Meadow settlement.
March 16.
154
1751. Order to build a new Court House.
Dimensions 36 by 40 feet. It was removed on wheels to the present Trumbull square at the lower end of Park street, about 1801, and con- verted into the mansion long occupied by the late George A. Trumbull.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.