USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 27
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TAVERNS.
The vast amount of stage-coach business, and the extensive conveyance of freight along the " great roads " or main thoroughfares in part occasioned the establishment of the old- time taverns. These places of " entertainment for man and beast " formed an important feature in the history of the town a half century ago and earlier, and were objects around which clustered associations, both of a social and moral character, that it has taken years of new customs and methods to even partially efface. In external appearance there was no peculiarity about them ; there was no typical building in which they were kept. The inn may have originated in a farm house, and the landlord may at the outset have been a plain farmer of enterprise, who, in order to increase his scanty income, and support the large family of those old-fashioned days, petitioned the court for a license to keep a public house. An increase of business may have led him to enlarge his domicile by the addition of a leanto on the rear, the projection of an L at the side, and the luxury of a porch on the front. But the inside of each well-kept ordinary had the unmistakable characteristics by which it was easily distinguishable from any other house. It had its large kitchen and ample dining- room, and sometimes a dance-hall ; but the prominent feature was the bar-room. This was a purely democratic place, and the village squire or the itinerant tramp, "traveler," as he was called, found welcome there, and had their claims allowed, so long as the pennies held out. It was a place for the preliminary parish meeting, or for the outline business of a political caucus. The bar-room gossip might turn the result of a militia election or the decis- ion of the county commissioners. Merry were the motley groups of story tellers as, gathered from various places and on a variety of errands, they sat about the bar-room fireplace, with its broad, blazing hearth, and talked into the night's small hours, or beguiled the monotony of a cold, wet day. Some of these taverns were provided with large stabling capacity. Besides the barns that were furnished with numerous stalls, there were usually adjoining sheds supplied with feed troughs. The barns were provided with driveways, under which the wagon could be driven for shelter.
The landlords were usually men of consequence, and sometimes were local celebrities. Three of the innholders of the town are known to have been deacons in the church. John
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
Parmenter, Sr., who in 1653 or 1654 was licensed to keep a house of common entertainment, was second deacon in the Sudbury church, and one of the town's selectmen. "Squire Jake," the last landlord of the ancient hostelry known as " Reeves' Tavern," was also a deacon, and for many years a representative to the General Court, and Dea. Sewall Baldwin built the Baldwin Tavern. Other names, as those of Curtis, Stone, Bent, Heard and Rice, are of old families of the town.
With the decline of staging and heavy teaming, and the inauguration and development of the temperance reformation, the tavern business began to decline also, and to be less and less popular and profitable. One by one the old inns were discontinued, until not one is left on the central highway through the town.
But. althoughi the taverns have disappeared. the localities and sites of some of them are still known, and the following facts, additional to what have been presented in the historic narrative, are given relative to then.
"THE CORNER TAVERN."
About 1765 an im was opened at " Wayland and Weston Corner" by Nathaniel Reeves, in a house that had been moved there, and on which alterations and additions were made from time to time. It was the first public house where a change was made in the horses employed on the stage route from Boston to Worcester, and in 1820, it was the largest one in town, in point of size. It had large stabling capacity, and a large dancing hall. As accessions to this hostelry, were a harness shop, carriage and paint shop, blacksmith's shop, and a grocery store with a dry goods department connected with it. In 1822, Gen. M. M. Rutter built a commodious stable at the corner, the dimensions of which were thirty-six by seventy-two feet. The following persons were Mr. Reeves' successors as proprietors : John Flagg, John T. Macomber, Leonard Wood, and Thomas J. Thompson. It was closed as a public house about 1850.
"THE PEQUOD HOUSE."
The next tavern on the Boston and Worcester road through Wayland, passing westerly, was at the centre, and long known as the " Pequod House." It was kept open as an inn, until recently. since 1771, which date was long seen upon its sign. It was built by Elijah Bent, and in 1825 it was altered and repaired ; a story was added to the main building, and a long L, which was furnished with a hall. In 1887 it was again somewhat changed, and put in condition to receive summer boarders. Of late it has been still further improved by Willard Bullard, its present owner. The following are persons who have been owners or occupants of this inn: Elijah Bent, Elijah Bent, Jr., Col. David Curtis, John Stone, Edward Walcott, Joshua Walcott. Daniel Leonard, Heard & Reeves, Asa Wheeler, Peter Rice, Samuel G. Fessenden, Miranda Page, William Parker, Samuel Carruth, Thomas Simpson, - Davis, Orin Loker.
"THE STREET TAVERN."
A tavern was once kept at the bend of the road beyond the Lydia Maria Child place (C. A. Cutting's). It was of some importance, and was kept at one time by Asahel Good- now. Afterward it was kept by Nathan Bent and Rufus Bent, about 1775. It has been called the " Street Tavern."
"THE BALDWIN TAVERN."
The Baldwin Tavern stood a little southeasterly of the present William Baldwin place, and about an eighth of a mile from the "Town Bridge." It was built in 1745 by Dea.
1
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
Sewall Baldwin, and was kept as an inn by his son, Col. William Baldwin. The building was destroyed by fire in 1836, and the cellar walls may still be seen to the right of the road going westerly.
There was a tavern at the west end of the "Long Causeway," in the territory now Wayland, which was built about 1820. It was mainly for the accommodation of the stage route, and was kept by a Mr. Peck. Soon after the opening of the Boston & Albany Railroad, the building was taken down, and moved to the head of " Waltham Plain," where it was reconstructed; but it was soon after destroyed by fire. Other persons who have kept tavern near the "Gravel Pit" are Caleb Wheeler, Abel Cutler, - Carter. The "Caleb Wheeler" Tavern was kept by Mr. Wheeler during the Revolutionary War, and the building used was more recently known as the Thomas B. Battles place. It was destroyed by fire a few years ago. Without doubt the patronage of this tavern was increased by the activity in the vicinity occasioned by the "government storehouses " at "Sand Hill." Heavy teaming to and fro, and the coming and going of those who guarded these stores, or had official charge of them, would naturally make the hamlet at the " Gravel Pit " a lively place.
Other taverns were kept in various parts of the town. One called the "Moulton Tavern," was for several years kept in the locality called "Happy Hollow." About the middle of the eighteenth century the proprietor was Caleb Moulton, who was succeeded by his son. Caleb Moulton, Sr., is probably the same one who is mentioned as captain in the war of the Revo- lution.
An inn called the "Noyes House " was kept, as is supposed, about 1790, in what is now Cochituate Village. The house stood on the corner, until the building of the A. B. Lyon house, and at the spot in front of Mr. Lyon's residence. The landlord was Nathaniel Reeves.
" THE REEVES TAVERN."
The Reeves Tavern (see p. 56) was kept by Jacob Reeves, Esq., from about 1783 to 1820, and among his predecessors was Jacob Reeves, Sr., Jackson, and Hasey. A present occupant and owner is Charles W. Reeves.
(For the "Parmenter Tavern," or the " Parmenter Ordinary," see p. 55.)
A tavern many years ago was kept in the northerly part of the town, near the Lincoln and Wayland boundary line ; also easterly of the L. M. Child place, near the junction of the south street and that running northerly by the Gleasons.
A tavern called the " Bent Tavern " was kept in 1710 by Hopestill Bent, at what has been known as the Lewis Jones place.
The taverns were to an extent under the control of the town officials, as is indicated in a record of Oct. 4, 1684, when it was ordered that upon the " uncomfortable representations and reports concerning the miscarriage of things at the ordinary three or four of the select- men, in the name of the rest, do particularly inquire into all matters relating thereto." The licenses were granted by the court, and laws existed relating to the rights of both landlord and guest. The following rates were established by the town in 1779 for innholders ; they were in depreciated currency, which was worth in the ratio of twenty shillings in paper to one shilling in silver : "A good dinner 20. Common dinner 12. Best Supper and Break- fast 15. Each common do. 12. Lodgings 4. Horse keeping 24 hours on hay 15, on grass 10. A yoke of oxen over night 15."
" West India Rum per gallon 6-9. Mugg West India Phlip 15. New England do. 12. Toddy in proportion."
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
TEMPERANCE.
About the time that staging and heavy teaming began to decline, the temperance reform set in ; and as this also has affected the innholders' business, it may be proper in this con- nection to give a few faets concerning it.
From early times the principle and practice of total abstinence lias had some few advo- cates in most or all of the New England towns, but towards the middle of the present cen- tury it was brought to the front, and rapidly gained adherents. Temperance socicties were formed ; cold water bands, pledges and badges, were made use of, and the subject was dis- coursed upon and discussed in the pulpit, on the platform, and by the fireside. Previous to this time it was the eustom for almost everybody who could get spirituous liquors to drink it to some extent. It was not considered a disgrace to drink, if one did not get drunk ; and the drunkard, not the moderate drinker, was held up as an example to be shunned. On public occasions alcoholic liquor was always provided. It was used at dedications, ordina- tions, and funerals ; and whether the event to be observed was one of gladness or sadness, strong drink was supposed to be indispensable. The grocer kept it as a common commodity, and the farmer went to the store for his supply of New England or West India rum as regu- larly as for other articles of household use. In the old records strong drink is mentioned as an item of expense, to be met by the town, when it was used in connection with public service. In 1729 there is a record of payment, "To David Baldwin for frame of Bridge 37 pounds ; to twelve men to raise said bridge who went into ye water 3 pounds, for drink &c 5s-1d." In 1759 the following record is made in the town book : " To Caleb Moulton for material for new bridge and 5 quarts Rum 2-11-3." In 1747 there is the record of pay- ment, "To Mathew Gibbs for rum and for raising Lanham Bridge 12 shillings." Besides the use of distilled liquors, malt beverages were also used, and repeated mention of malt is found on the early records. There were malt houses at various points, to which the farmers carried their barley to be malted. Within the recollection of the writer one of these build- ings was still standing in South Sudbury, though in a very dilapidated condition. When, in 1688, Dea. John Haines made a contraet with the town to build a meeting house, he was to receive malt, among other articles, for payment. (See p. 47.)
Another of the milder forms of spirituous liquor in common use was cider. Only a few years ago cider mills were common. As a large share of the apple trees were ungrafted, cider was supposed to be about the only use to which the fruit could be put ; and hence the farmer relied upon it very much, and vast quantities were manufactured at these mills. It is stated that New England families, one hundred years ago, would use two hun- dred, and sometimes as many as four hundred, or even more, gallons of eider yearly. The mug was generally on the table at meal time, and always on the sideboard, or at hand ready for use. When a caller came in, it was offered as the usual drink; and if it was unusually sour, or " hard," as the term was, and the quality was suggested to the guest, it was custom- ary to make the polite response, " It is harder where there is none." The common price charged the farmer for the use of a mill was eight cents per barrel of the eider made. The market priee per barrel for cider was from one to four dollars.
When the temperance movement was fairly inaugurated, a change began to be wrought in the drinking habits of the people. Many signed the total abstinence pledge, and the masses of the average community of Middlesex County began to look with disfavor upon even the moderate use of intoxicating beverages. Soon public sentiment found expression in resolutions and open enactments. Nov. 12, 1833, the following was subscribed to by ninety-eight citizens of East Sudbury : -
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
Resolved, That it is becoming every person in a moral and religious community entirely to abstain from the nse of spiritnous liqnors, and to use his influenee by his own example and advice to recommend like abstinence to others.
Resolved, That it is expedient, and that it is the duty of every good citizen, to discountenanee the sale of ardent spirits, and to give encouragement and support as far as practicable to those groeers and innholders who do not sell spirituons liqnors.
By 1843 the town had so far progressed in the direction of the great reform, that in that year approbations for " license to sell intoxicating liquors were first refused by the town of Wayland." At the present time, as has been the case for years, " licenses " to liquor dealers are withheld. In the great struggle of 1889 for an amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor, the town of Wayland voted "yes," thus putting itself on record as being of the progressive element in the great cause of temperance refor- mation.
1
BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND MEADOWS OF THE
SUDBURY RIVER.
1
From a Photograph by AA. W. Cutting.
THE OLD TOWN BRIDGE.
The first " cart bridge" in Sudbury over the river was built at this spot about 1643, and the strneture then erected is said to have been the first frame bridge in Middlesex County.
The settlers came ; they spanned the stream With quaint old bridge of massive beam ; And through the years that since have rolled, A bridge has cast its shadow cold From bank to bank, where dark and slow The Musketahquid's waters flow,
Home Melodies.
BRIDGES. CAUSEWAYS, AND RIVER MEADOWS.
Although mention has repeatedly been made in the historic narrative of the river and its bridges, causeways, meadows, &c. (see pp. 1, 7-8, 34, 59-60, 72-3), we give the following additional facts and features relative to these subjects.
CAUSEWAYS.
The strip of highway extending from the " Old Town Bridge " to the western upland, in the direction of the "Gravel Pit," was early called the "Long Causeway." This was the first artificial crossing over the broad meadow land, and is probably almost or quite as old as the bridge itself.
In 1645 it was ordered "that £20 should be alowed ye town of Sudbury toward ye build- ing of their bridge and way at ye end of it to be paid ym when they shall have made ye way passable for loaden horses, so it be done wth in a twelve month." (Col. Rec., Vol. II., p. 102.)
In 1653 speedy measures were to be taken by the town to repair the causeway and high- ways.
In 1710 the town voted to petition the General Court to make the long causeway a county road.
In 1714-15 it was requested " to see what method the town will take for mending and raising the causeway from the Town Bridge to Lieut. Daniel Haynes."
June, 1720, "it was requested to see if the town will raise the causeway from the Gravel Pit as far as Capt. Haynes'es old place, proportioned to the aforesaid Long Causeway when mended."
In 1756 a proposition was suggested of raising money by means of a lottery to repair the "long causeway from the town bridge to Lieut. Benjamin Estabrook's." It then " passed in the negative ; " but in 1758 the proposition came before the town to " raise and repair the long causeway and two short ones toward Lieutenant Estabrooks," and to do it by means of a lottery. A formal remonstrance was made, in which it was stated that the raising of the causeway would damage the meadow, by causing the water to flow back; and that there was a "good bridge over the river where people may travel at all seasons of the year from Boston to Marlboro," and that there is not "one foot of fall in said river for twenty-five or thirty miles." But the remonstrance did not avail to defeat the project; for in 1758 the town voted to petition the Court for leave to repair and raise the causeway by lottery, and chose Col. John Noyes, William Baldwin, and Col. Josiah Brown a committee to attend to the work. The Court gave its consent, and the conditions upon which the lottery should pro- ceed. One of these was that the drawing was not to continue over fifteen days, exclusive of Sunday. There is in the State Archives a manuscript of several pages relating to this lottery scheme. The town took tickets, and lost by the venture ; and at a town meeting in 1761 it " granted £27 : 12s ; Lawful money to defray the loss sustained to the town by the tickets."
As the years have advanced, this memorable piece of highway has received the attention of Sudbury, East Sudbury, and Wayland ; yet, notwithstanding repeated repairs and better- ments, it is still sometimes partially submerged by the high river floods.
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
"OLD TOWN BRIDGE."
(For early facts concerning this ancient structure see pp. 7, 8.) In 1661 it is supposed that Peter Bent, son of Jolin Bent, erected a new " cart bridge " at this spot. At that time he made a contract to build a bridge across Sudbury River, " for horse and man and laden earts to pass over." The bridge to be built by Mr. Bent at that time, and in accordance with this contract, was evidently at the site of the "Old Town Bridge," or of the "New Bridge," or "Stone's Bridge " as it has in recent years been called. As, however, no " cart bridge" was erected at the latter spot until 1674, when Samnel How, of Lanham (Sudbury), erected a "cart bridge " there (see sketch of " New " or "Stone's " bridge), it is evident that the bridge erected for " horse and man and laden carts to pass over " was at the site of the "Old Town Bridge." In 1717-18 the town voted to have "a New bridge built over Sudbury river where the old bridge now stands at the end of the long Causeway." In 1729 the town voted to build a new bridge at the cast end of the "Long Causeway; " and in connection with this record we have the two following of about the same date : The first is, that "part of the effects of the old meeting house " were to be paid towards the building of the bridge over Sudbury River; the other is the report of the committee appointed by the town to build a bridge at the eastern end of the long causeway -" To David Baldwin 37 pounds," for bridge frame. In 1733 two men were to repair the bridge at the east side of the causeway, "so as ye said butments may not be washed down or be carried away by ye floods as in times past." In 1735 new plank was provided "for the great bridg at the East End of the Long Causewa." The bridge was rebuilt in 1791. The present bridge was constructed by William Russell, with stone arches, at a cost of $500.
In former times boats passed from Boston, through the old Middlesex Canal, to Concord River. Within the present century iron ore that was dug in Sudbury was laden in boats at the " Town Bridge," and conveyed to Chelmsford. Near the bridge, on the east bank. pieces of the ore could recently be found. The original bridge at this spot is said to be the first frame bridge in Middlesex County.
THE "NEW BRIDGE."
This bridge is in the southwesterly part of the town, and crosses the river on the road from Wayland to Framingham, and is partly in each of these towns. A bridge built at this spot was probably the second one erected in Sudbury, and doubtless derived its name from this fact. The name clung to it through many years, but latterly it has been called "Stone's Bridge," a name derived from the Stone family, which has lived in this district almost from the settlement of the town. This bridge is built wholly of stone. Like other of the town's bridges, it has had various predecessors. Previous to 1673, the river at this point was crossed by a "horse bridge," mention of which is made in the following record : " At a County Court holden at Charlestown, Dec. 23, 1673, John Stone, Sen. of Sudbury, John Woods of Marlborough, and Thomas Eames of Framingham, together with John Livermore of Watertown (or any two of them) were appointed and impowered to lay out an highway for the use of the country leading from the house of said Livermore to a 'Horse Bridge ' (then being) near the house of Daniel Stone, Jun. and thence the nearest and best way to Quaboag " (Brookfield). The road here referred to was soon constructed, and the return was made to the court, Oct. 6, 1074. The same year a " cart bridge " was made by Samuel How, who lived in the Lanham district of Sudbury. It was for a time a " toll " bridge ; and the following from the county records, with date April 7, 1764, sets forth some circumstances
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
by which it became such : " In answer to the petition of Samuel How, referring to some allowance to be made him for his expense about the bridge he had lately erected upon Sud- bury river above the town, he is allowed of all travellers, for a horse and man, 3d., and for a cart 6d., until there be an orderly settlement of the country highway and some disburse- ment." Since the erection of this first cart bridge, a succession of others have followed in the slow course of years.
The road that this bridge was made to accommodate was one which led off from the " Old Connecticut Path " at Happy Hollow, and extended through the northerly part of Framingham territory towards Nobscot Hill, Sudbury, and, passing northerly, joined the road from Sudbury to Marlboro. According to the record quoted concerning this road, it was the best thoroughfare from Watertown westerly in the seventeenth century. A large portion of the ancient way, in its course from this bridge through Framingham and Sudbury, is now along a quiet and sparsely inhabited tract of country. The route by way of this bridge was perhaps the more valuable in the early times because, being so far up the river, it was less liable to be submerged by flood. Even in modern times, when high water has made other of the town bridges impassable, travelers have found a safe route here. It was across this bridge that the British spies, Captain Brown and Ensign D'Bernicre, passed March 20, 1775. on their way from "Jones's Tavern," Weston, to Worcester, when on their tour of observation previous to the march of the regulars into the country.
" SHERMAN'S BRIDGE."
" Sherman's Bridge " was erected about 1743. At that time a subscription was made for a bridge between the land of " John Haynes on the west side of the river and John Woodward on the east side of the river, and Mr. Edward Sherman and John Woodward agreed, if the subscribers would erect the bridge, to give a good and convenient way two rods wide through their land." In the town division Sherman's Bridge was left partly in each town. This bridge is one hundred feet long, and there are twenty-five rods of cause- way. It crosses the river at the north part of the town on the road from Sudbury to Lincoln, in the old Sherman District. It takes its name from the numerous families by the name of Sherman, who have resided in the vicinity.
THE " CANAL BRIDGE."
This bridge is situated west of the town bridge at a point nearly midway of the meadow land. At what date it was built has not been ascertained, although the records have been carefully examined with a view to making the discovery. The bridge is so named because it crosses that portion of the river which it is supposed flows through an artificial channel. No bridge in that immediate vicinity is mentioned in the earlier records but the " Town Bridge," and the stream formerly passed near the eastern upland, or wholly under the town bridge. The earliest record of which we have any knowledge which has reference to the canal bridge is in 1768, which is a bill for the repairing of the "new bridge nea" Dea. Stone's, Lanham, Sherman's, the Town bridge and the Canal bridge." This shows its existence at that time, but gives no intimation as to when it was made. An artificial opening might not have been made there until after the construction of the bridge. The first waterway may have been a natural one, which only required a small crossing, and may subsequently have been enlarged by the current. In other words, when the causeway was built a small outlet may have been left at this point for the purpose of allowing the water to pass off the meadow more readily in time of a flood. This passage at first may have been an open, shallow ford-
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