USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Florence > The history of Florence, Massachusetts : including a complete account of the Northampton Association of Education and Industry > Part 14
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HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
good measure, but not his eyesight. Rumor has made him the success- ful conductor of many fugitives to a land of freedom. On one occasion, Mr. Seth Hunt and David Ruggles induced Sheriff Ansel Wright, Sr., to bring a slaveholder and a slave girl, whom he had brought into Northampton, before Judge Charles A. Dewey. The judge gave the woman to understand that having been brought by her master into a free state, she was at liberty to leave him if she chose. Through fear of her master, she declined to leave him. The sheriff incurred, in conse- quence, quite offensive threats from the slaveholder.
Another station was kept by Mr. Austin Ross, who harbored a young man about a year and a half in one of his chambers, em- ployment being fur- nished him as a night watchman at Green- ville cotton mill. His name was Wilson, and he must have been the same man whom Mr. Hill de- scribes. Mr. Calvin Fairbanks, who for RESIDENCE OF REV. E. G. COBB. several years was a citizen of Florence, was one of the heroes of this underground railroad, although the scene of his exploits was not in this region. He was the means of securing freedom to forty-seven slaves.
Among the active workers on this railroad was Mr. A. P. Critchlow. He acted in concert with Mr. Hill, Mr. Hammond, and others, and fre- quently gave the fugitives employment in his daguerreotype case fac- tory. Here he did what he could to shield them and prevent recapture. and one case may not be amiss to record. A slave named French made good his escape, and sought rest in Florence. His master, or master's half brother, a Mr. King, came to the water cure while in pursuit of the runaway. Mr. Critchlow stayed with French a few nights at the mill until King, being unable to find any trace of the slave, left Florence to seek him elsewhere.
The details of the assistance rendered by Florence citizens to that unfortunate race in their flight for freedom will never be recorded, but enough is given here to show that Florence was not behind in this good work.
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HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
THE FLORENCE DRAMATIC CLUB.
BY ARTHUR G. HILL ..
AMONG the many institutions of Florence worthy of notice is the Dramatic Club, an organization dating back many years, and showing a record that few amateur theatrical associations can rival. While the tragedies of Shakespeare have not been essayed, and the terpsichorean and nude drama have been across the other border, the range over which the talent of this club has successfully roamed for over a quarter of a century has been so extensive that the individual members of the club have nearly as great a reputation, locally, as the leading actors who have amused and startled the continent during the same period of time.
During the war of the rebellion, enacted in the years 1861-1865, a live, wide-awake Soldiers' Aid Society was maintained here by the loyal, gen- erous hearted women of the village, which received and forwarded the many contributions of clothing, delicacies, comforts, and money to the valiant men at the battle front.
Many entertainments were presented in private houses, small halls, the little old South schoolhouse, and, upon its completion, in the Florence Hall, which existed for a time in the so-called high school building here. The money received by the young people for these exhibitions was used to good effect by the Soldiers' Aid Society in the performance of its mission.
Bare walls were the only scenic effects of the first dramas, and the costumes were very crude. The first beard was made from a por- tion of an old buffalo robe, or formed by a smudge of the easily obtained burnt bottle cork. The first wig, though not the hol- lowed out half of a water melon, was nearly as startling, SOUTH MAIN STREET. being silk waste sewed on cotton cloth, and dipped into a dye vat, which, upon that occasion, held magenta colored dye. A dirty lipped youth then passed for a Romeo, and a magenta pated comedian was the omnipresent Irishman with his carefully planned and clumsily executed blunders.
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HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
A. T. Lilly, E. C. Gardner, and Mrs. F. P. Judd, each wrote little plays which were early placed on the boards. The first real theater plays brought out were the two farces "Box and Cox," and " The Two Buzzards." James J. Kennedy, George T. Cutler, and Arthur G. Hill were the actors in the first one, and the same youths, with Miss Kate B. Judd and Miss Carrie Tayntor, appeared in "The Two Buzzards."
Soon after, the Florence Dramatic Club, with regular board of officers, stage manager, consti- tution, and by-laws, was regu- larly launched to prey upon a guileless public. To prevent dissensions so likely to occur in large membership, the club was limited to ten gentlemen as members, with such ladies as should accept invitations to assume characters in the dra- mas. Any lady having once acted with the club was thence- forth a member as long as she THE NOTCH-CHESTNUT STREET WOODS. chose to be so considered.
C. C. Burleigh, Jr., one of the members, became noted as a painter, and died abroad while perfecting himself in the art. The beautiful scenery of the club, and the fine frescoing of Cosmian Hall were the work of his brush. Eugene W. Presby, a member, has been for years a stage manager of the Madison Square Theater of New York. W. L. Wilcox has never appeared on the stage, but his faithful work in many other directions has made him a valuable member.
In nearly every drama, it became necessary, to fill all the characters, to have minor parts filled by others not members of the club. These, however, were not considered as members, and had no voice in the man- agement. Occasionally, as a vacancy occurred in the list, one of these assistant actors who showed talent would be promoted to membership. In no case did an actor receive a cent for his services, but all cash receipts were devoted to charitable objects, or for better scenery, or outfit for the club. Only the legitimate drama received the attention of the club, and this was put upon the stage with all the care and attention to minor details that the experience of the manager and his assistants could sug- gest. The scenic effects were constantly improved upon as the club grew in experience, and many a scene received a round of applause from an appreciative audience for the evident care of its preparation.
The two entertainments, "The Two Buzzards" and " Eileen Oge."
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HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
of this club mark the two extremes of bare walls in the first to the exqui- site landscapes with waterfalls and fountains of real water in the latter, as great a contrast as the barnstorming plays of old England and the "pump and real water " of " Vincent Crummles."
The initials, F. D. C., at the top of the posters was an assurance of a good entertainment, and an election to the corps of actors was always considered an honor, and one never de- F. D. C. clined in a single instance. The following were prominent actors, appearing fre- COSXXXXX HALL FLORENCE, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY EVENINGS. Jan. 20th & 21st, 1875. quently in the dramas : George T. Cutler, George A. Jencks, Joseph C. Martin, Henry H. Bond, Maria L. Bond, William L. Norton, Fred C. Shearn, Arthur G. Hill, Walter S. Jencks, Sarah E. Jencks, Emma Jencks, Kate B. Judd, Kate E. Hill, Julia A. Bartlett, Carrie Haggert, Dwight A. Ross, O. M. Smith, Nannie M. Worth, Josie Ridlon, and Lucy D. Cleveland.
Sheridan's Comedy, School Scamdel
.....
Act. Ist
Lady Sneerwell's Parlor
Sir Peter's Parlor
3d.
Picture Gallery at Chas. Surface.
4th Joseph Surface's Library. Sır Peter's Parlor
5:h
The Costumes are the ones used at the re- ent revival of the play at the Boston Musium.
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Tickets, with Reserved Seals. . 35 Cents.
Doors open at 7 o'clock. Entertainment commences at 7 1-2.
The following among others also ap- peared with credit at various times : James J. Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. George R. Kennedy, Lemoyne and Cecil Burleigh, Carrie Tayntor, Emily K. Hill, Ella How- ard, Mary L. Fuller, Lucy B. Hunt, Mary W. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. William Patt, Edward S. Bottum, John B. Bottum, Miss Kyle, Carrie Clark, Eugene W. Presby, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Henry, E. A. Ells- worth, John Eager, Fred C. Eager, Archi- bald Hugh (an old Scotch actor), John Brown, E. H. Martin, Mrs. Sanford, Mary V. Ross, Charles Huxley, Annie W. Hill, Effie Atkins, Olive Bodman, and Mary E. Sheffeld.
The most noted production of the ʻ Si thamplent at club was probably " The School for Scan- dal," with the beautiful Boston Museum F. D. C. HANDBILL .. costumes adorning the actors. In this play, the talented Henry H. Bond and sister appeared as "Sir Peter" and " Lady Teazle"; E. H. Martin and George T. Cutler enacted the characters of " Charles" and " Joseph Surface," and Mrs. Kate E. Hill well portrayed the gossipy " Mrs. Candor."
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HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
Other well executed presentations of the club were : " She Stoops to Conquer," "The Golden Farmer," "The Country Squire," " The Drum- mer Boy " (with the Northampton Grand Army Post), "Eileen Oge." " The Golden Fetter," "Rose of Ettrickvale," "Peep O' Day Boys," " The Ticket of Leave Man," "Caste," "Heir at Law," and " School." Many other dramas have been produced by the club, but the above were especially fine entertainments.
Pleasant interchanges have from time to time been made with the PQ R S T Club of Northampton, the Easthampton Dramatic Club, and the Casino Dramatic Club of Brightwood.
When Cosmian Hall was built, the construction of the stage and its equipment were placed in the hands of members of this club, who visited several theaters and adopted what they considered the best arrangements then in use. The Grand Army and other local organizations have fre- quently drawn upon the Florence Dramatic Club for talent in the various entertainments, and much of the success upon those occasions was due to the borrowed talent. The club still has an existence, and still hopes again to send forth its F. D. C. posters, its heralds, summoning its many friends to the gatherings where the "mimic world " is portrayed by amateurs who faithfully study to please and instruct.
THE SEWING MACHINE BAND.
BY EDWARD BIRGE. " Sometimes as one who almost grieves, His memory would recall The merrymaking Christmas eves, The frolic, and the ball ; Till his hands would shake like withered leaves. And his pipe go out and fall."
-ALICE CARY.
THE "Florence Serenaders " served the music lovers of the village many years. The dear old friends who "tripped the light fantastic " at their playing, or listened to their voices or violins in the calm moonlight. lovingly recall Sylvester Bosworth, Charles Strong, Nathan Vance, Edson S. Ross, Henry Bottum, Elisha Jenney, George Graves, and Otis Moody.
At the revival of trade and business after the great financial panic of 1857, a young man came to Florence from the old homestead in Hatfield. He was immediately surrounded by a prominent "Serenader," who told him that Godfrey's boarding house was once more established on a firm
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HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
basis, that the " winders " and " doublers " in the Nonotuck mill were rapidly increasing, that something must be done, and now, under the circumstances, what would he take ? The boy replied, "I'll take one of them, a winder, or a doubler, I don't care which." The " Serenader " had to "tack," and naming over the violin, piccolo, flute, bass viol, cornet, and triangle, asked him which instrument he would play. The young man chose the triangle. Limits forbid more than the affirmation that a corpulent alderman of Northampton to-day * owes his still rising prosperity and popularity to that triangle, and to that boarding house.
The Florence Cornet Band, which was organized in the summer of 1858, under the instruction and leadership of Mr. David Shields, was com- posed of the following mem- bers : Mr. Shields, leader, Edward Birge, Andrew Fran- zen, Thomas Bailey, Jerome SEWING MACHINE WORKS, FROM THE WEST, IS75. Mead, John Franzen, Edwin Martin, and Oscar Eldredge. The members, in the order above named, played respectively, Ist E, cornet, 2d E, cornet, B, alto, E› tenor, B, tenor, E, bass, snare drum, and bass drum and cymbals. Mr. Eldredge was treasurer of the band. Each member furnished his own instrument, and shared the other band ex- penses equally. Mr. Shields' services as instructor were without com- pensation. The band room was furnished by the brothers, Israel and Orson Graves, at a very moderate charge.
Two " Bugle blasts for Liberty" were notable engagements for the new band the first year ; the one, at an anti-slavery convention in Cum- mington, early in the winter, and the other, the celebration in Florence, of the anniversary of the West India emancipation on the first of August following. Both of these events were successfully carried through by the co-operation of the Free Religious societies in Florence and Cummington, represented officially by Rev. Charles C. Burleigh, and Deacons Hill, Hunt, Kingman, and Abells (giants of the earth in those days).
At five o'clock on a frosty morning of a Sunday in November, 1858, the Florence Cornet Band and Glee Club were snugly stowed away in a band wagon rattling over the hills to Cummington, twenty miles away,
" This article was written in 1892 .- [ EDITOR.
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HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
with Joel Abercrombie, a rare whip, holding the ribbons over four pranc- ing steeds. Deacon Hill had mildly said to Dave that the band should play one or two patriotic marches before leaving our village. Dear. deluded deacon ! Dave would have done that anyway. But in conse- quence of the mild suggestion, the man in the moon heard the serenade. and the little, drowsy hamlet on the earth was aroused and terrified. A better acquaintance with Dave taught the deacon the superfluity of any mild hints. He never urged the band again, although he more than once checked it, generously.
The first of August celebration followed close upon that terrible calamity, the "boiler explosion." Our bass player, John Franzen, being one of the three vic- tims, his place in the band was filled tem- porarily by George Stoddard of North- ampton,
In May, 1860, the generosity of Flor- ence business men enabled the band to purchase new instru- ments and increase its membership. The FORMERLY THE WILLISTON HOUSE. Nichols brothers, Josiah, Edward, and Henry, Edwin Smith, George R. Stetson, Henry Fechter, Messrs. Dodge and Judd, Ira Todd, and Dwight A. Ross were the new members. The Nichols brothers as comedians would " bring down the house " every time. Any one of the brothers would "rhyme you rhymes " by the hour, and Edward was a ventrilo- quist of no mean ability. Memory recalls the dedication, with music. mirth, and dancing, of a new room in the sewing machine works, when one stanza out of a multitude of local hits which rhymed together to the tune of "Axes to grind," was sung by Henry as follows :-
"And there are four Eds who made a great splurge. Ed Martin, Ed Nichols, Ed Smith, and Ed Birge, 'Twould please you to see them, marching the fields. And trying to play music composed by Dave Shields. Ritu di nu." etc.
This referred to our marching practice in Mrs. Bosworth's pasture. . practice to which Dave very properly subjected the boys.
The presidential campaign of that year gave the band, thus enlarged.
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HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
frequent and profitable engagements, extended its reputation and popu- larity, and created in each member a desire to improve his musical ability. With this end in view the band engaged Mr. Solomon Merrill, who gave us a few lessons in the autumn of 1860, the only instruction under a professional bandmaster we ever received. About this time our name was changed to "The Florence Sewing Machine Band."
When the war cry of 1861 rent the hills and valleys of our land, vil- lage bands, as a rule, were broken up. Our band was no exception. The members who- en- listed in the armies are recorded elsewhere in this history. Not again until 1865 was the band suffi- ciently strong for duty in military parades. North- ampton celebrated Inde- pendence Day of that year by a grand welcome home to her "boys in blue." The late Col. Jus- tin Thayer was marshal of the day, and Hon. Lewis J. Dudley was the orator. The feast for WILLIAM P. LATHAM'S RESIDENCE soldiers and citizens was spread in the grove on Round Hill. Our band was on duty that day, the writer having the honor of being its leader.
The changed conditions of trade and manufactures, and the frequent coming and going of mechanics and musicians in consequence of the late war, made our success as a band quite variable until 1868, when our leader, Mr. Shields, after an absence of several years, was again in the sewing machine works, instructing a band class of about twenty young men. This class was the nucleus, under Mr. Shields' enterprise and remarkable executive ability, of a superb musical organization, complete in all appointments, named the "Florence Sewing Machine Military Band and Orchestra." It was from the start received here that our old friend Richard W. Irwin developed a remarkable power for rapid, rattling, clean cornet execution, and our friend A. Frank Hutchins graduated, and later became bandmaster of the Twenty-sixth New York Battalion, a position he retained for eight years.
The following " personnel," undoubtedly incorrect, made at this dis-
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HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
tance with unaided memory, represents our band in the height of its power :-
NOTE .- Where the name of more than one instrument follows the member's name, the first instrument refers to the orchestra, and the second to the band. For example, H. Harry Haynor was leader of the orchestra, and played E, alto in the band, and David Shields was solo cornet in the orchestra, and leader of the band .- [EDITOR.
H. Harry Haynor, leader, E, alto ; David Shields, solo cornet, leader ; Anthony Sheffeld, first violin, --; Henry Schadee, clarinet, clarinet ; Edward Cowing, second violin, E, tuba ; Fred Schadee, second violin, Eb tuba ; Charles W. Kinney, flute, piccolo; Fred Shearn, trombone, trombone ; James Laws, clarinet, trombone ; Richard W. Irwin, cornet, solo cornet ; Andrew Franzen, cornet, cornet ; Julius Schadee, contra-
RESIDENCE OF DR. J. B. LEARNED .- FORMERLY A. SHEFFELD'S.
bass, bell tree ; Thomas Irwin, clarinet, clarinet ; Jerome Mead, violin, Eb tenor ; William Norton, piano, solo baritone ; Edwin Martin, snare drum ; James Tayntor, snare drum ; Edward Hammond, E, bass : Dan- iel Franzen, Eb tuba ; Albert Shumway, E' tenor ; E. P. Nichols, bass drum ; Louis Eager, Eb tenor ; Elbert M. Couch, E, cornet ; Fred Smith, cymbals ; James O'Niel, treasurer of band, solo alto : George Gaffney, drum major.
I trust I may be pardoned if I close my poor contribution with a trib- ute to the "Northampton Community," a part of which I was in 1846. the last year of its existence. I remember it as a congregation of fam- ilies of education, refinement, and sturdy common sense, but with no worldly wealth among them. I recall how our assemblies for the enjoy-
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HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
ment of literature, debate, religion, and temperance were devoid of all instrumental aids to the songs which were poured forth by the glad voices of the men, women, and children. Dear, old, beautiful Commu- nity ! I remember thy works and poverty, but thou wast rich in a noble philanthropy, "remembering those in bonds as bound with them " ; rich in a lofty patriotism, which, like that of the Hebrew minstrels, "could not sing the Lord's songs in a strange land " of bondage ; rich in neigh- borly kindness, in the happy laughter of children as I heard the sound of their going to and fro among the mulberry trees ; thou, dear old boy- hood's home, wast an earnest of the Florence of to-day, with her lavish accompaniment of music and her abundant evidences of material pros- perity heard and seen on every hand.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BY CLAYTON E. DAVIS.
FLORENCE has always prided herself on her fire department. Although less than twenty-five years old, it has taken rapid strides and to-day our
engine house con- tains the latest of fire apparatus, and the members of the de- partment are fully versed in the art of fire fighting.
In 1870, at the an- nual town meeting it was voted to pur- chase three new "self-acting fire ex- tinguishers." These were delivered to the city in July, and were to be stationed at Florence. The ENGINE HOUSE-FIRE DEPARTMENT. first company was or- ganized with A. C. Estabrook, foreman, and Nonotuck No. I was chosen for its name. The original members were D. A. Hemenway, George Ballow, Patrick Dady, N. P. Abbott, David Remington, C. Fairbanks, Joseph Huxley, L. B. Askins, W. H. Riley, Nicholas VanSlike, William VanSlike, Cornelius VanSlike, D. A. Ross, L. H. Ranney, and A. C.
HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
177
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X
NONOTUCK FIRE COMPANY-FROM PHOTO TAKEN JULY 31, 1878.
Estabrook. The company met at a small wooden building in the rear of the Congregational chapel.
Soon after a second com- pany was formed which had its headquarters in a small build- ing on Chestnut street, then owned by the Florence Sewing Machine Company. In 1872, hose reels were placed here, which were drawn by hand. In those days when a fire alarm was sounded the firemen had to run to their respective engine houses and drag, oftentimes through the mud or snow, a reel weighing thirteen hundred pounds, and, when the fire was reached, the men were gener- ally ready to drop from ex- haustion.
The present engine house was completed in 1883. the town appropriating $4000 for the ground and building. On the lower floor is stationed a new hose wagon, the Clapp and Jones steamer and the hook and ladder truck. The second floor is devoted to a large re- ception room, which was fur- nished by our citizens, a bed- room and another small room. Within the past year the elec- tric alarm system has been ex- tended to this village, and every alarm throughout the city is now sounded at our engine house.
Florence has been quite free from large fires. One of the
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HISTORY OF FLORENCE.
2.
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2
2.
2'
2
2º
2
2
2'
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FLORENCE HOSE COMPANY, NO. 2-FROM PHOTO TAKEN SEPTEMBER, 1880.
largest was the burning of the tack works on March 16, 1877; $30,000 worth of property was destroyed, but fortunately the company was insured for $23 .- 000. Before the first company was organized the Munde water cure burned, in 1865. A crowd of volunteer firemen and fire- women soon gathered, and the comical scenes which often oc- cur at fires were repeated here. Crockery and furniture were thrown from second story win- dows, and doors and windows were smashed to keep them from burning. The doctor's private wine vault was dis- covered and many a bottle emptied.
Other fires of consequence have been as follows : Decem- ber 7, 1877, the "Pine Street block " of the machine com- pany ; December 30, 1877, Burns' box shop, near the Non- otuck works ; April 4. 1880. the "Center Street block " of the machine company ; Sep- tember 22, 1880, the Williston house on Pine street, and Saw- yer's soap factory, May 8, 1887.
The " Pine Street block " wa's burned through the thoughtlessness of a tenant, who wound rags around a frozen water pipe, and, after saturating them with kerosene, set the mass afire to take out the frost. The attempt was successful, all the frost in the building disappearing.
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HISTORIC REMINISCENCES.
The firemen have had the usual experiences of being called out on false alarms. The most laughable one, perhaps, was a run to Hayden- ville made by one of the companies, dragging the extinguisher, in answer to the call of a new whistle that was being tried at the brass works. The start was made at the suggestion that there was trouble at Leeds.
Accidents to members of the department while on duty have been few. Thomas Rothwell was struck by a brick at a fire at the Center several years ago, and William Rhood was laid up for a month from injuries received at the Howes barn fire. Cornelius VanSlike caught cold at the Congregational chapel fire, which, it is claimed, caused his death.
THE EAGLE BASE BALL CLUB.
BY ONE OF THE PLAYERS.
THE ball players that brought renown to Florence attained their skill in the days of round ball, the game from which the more scientific base ball was evolved, or in the early asso- ciations known as the Florence, Em- mett, Active, and Bay State Clubs.
In the summer of 1865, the Twen- tieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infan- try returned from the war with a glorious record for bravery and en- durance. One of its members who had his home in this neighborhood wrote to a friend here that a nine from the regiment had successfully com- peted with nines from other regiments in adjoining camps, and it claimed the championship of the Army of the Potomac. He challenged his friend to find a nine that could defeat the champions. To accept this challenge, the Eagle Base Ball Club was organ- ized with H. H. Bond as president and E. S. Bottum, secretary. Fred W. FIREMEN TESTING THE LIFE CHULE. Clark, a player of recognized ability, was elected captain, and, while awaiting the return of the regiment, active practice was commenced.
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