USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 51
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The first Temperance Society formed in this town, - upon the principle of Total Abstinence from intoxicating liquors, - was organized on the 5th of February, 1828, under the name of The Society for the promotion of Temperance in Haverhill and vicinity. The circumstances attending its formation were as follows : -
In the summer of 1827, a Rev. Mr. Hewit delivered a discourse on the subject of intemperance, to a large audience, in the "First Congrega- tional " (First Parish) meeting-house in this town. This discourse excited considerable interest and enquiry concerning the proposed plan of refor- mation. In the December following, the Rev. Dr. Edwards preached in the same place and on the same subject ; and added much to the feeling that had been previously elicited. Not long after, two individuals, Isaac R. How, Esq., and William Savory, incidentally held a conversation on the evils which this part of the community was suffering in consequence of drinking ardent spirits, and finally concluded that it was best to make an attempt to form a Temperance Society in the town and vicinity. After some consideration, they decided to have a meeting called on the next Sabbath evening, at the large chamber of Mr. Jonathan K. Smith, (the usual place for the evening religious meetings of the Baptist Church) pro- vided the latter could be obtained for that purpose. Mr. Smith readily granted the request. Mr. How then wrote a notice, the purport of which was, that all those in Haverhill and vicinity, who might be disposed to adopt some measures for the promotion of temperance, were requested to meet in Mr. Smith's chamber, on Sabbath evening, December 23d, 1827. This notice Mr. Savory carried to the editor of the Gazette, A. W. Thayer, Esq., who readily consented to insert it in his paper for two weeks in suc-
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cession. The proposition appeared to be well received. Rev. Mr. Keely, the pastor of the Baptist church, advised his church to attend the pro- posed meeting, and gave notice that it would supercede the usual evening meeting.
When the appointed time came, gentlemen assembled from Haverhill and Bradford; and, at a proper time, the Rev. Mr. Perry, of Bradford, was called to the chair, and Mr. Thayer was appointed secretary. After an interchange of opinions, a variety of resolutions were adopted, among which was one declaring that it was expedient to form a temperance society. A committee was thereupon appointed to report a constitution at a subsequent meeting, and an adjournment was made for one week. At the next meeting a constitution was reported and adopted, and the first Tuesday in February was fixed upon as the time when the constitution should be signed and the society organized. Rev. Mr. Perry was invited to prepare an Address for the occasion. When the time arrived, all then present who desired to do so, (some fifteen or twenty) signed the constitu- tion, and the following board of officers were then chosen : ---
Rev. Gardner B. Perry, President ; Rev. Dudley Phelps, Vice Presi- dent; Mr. Abijah W. Thayer, Secretary and Treasurer; Deacon Caleb B. Le Bosquet, Mr. Benjamin Emerson, 2d, Mr. Isaac Morse, and Eliphalet Kimball, Esq., Council; and Captain Ezekiel Hale, Jr., and Mr. Andrew W. Hammond, Auditors.
After the choice of officers, they repaired to the Baptist Church, where Rev. Mr. Perry delivered his address. Nineteen persons signed the pledge the same evening.
The first Anniversary Address before the Society, was delivered by Rev. Mr. Phelps, February 8, 1829, and the second, by Charles Otis Kimball, February 7, 1830.º
The formation of this society, and the discussions and inquiries which followed its operations, caused no little interest, and even excitement, in the town; and aroused a vigorous opposition to the movement. In conse- quence of the bold and uncompromising stand taken by the secretary, Mr. Thayer, in his Gazette, the circulation of that paper rapidly fell from one thousand down to six hundred copies weekly. But still the work went on.
March 24, 1831, the " Youth's Temperance Association of Haverhill and Bradford," was organized, and thirty-seven signed the constitution the same evening. Elias T. Ingalls was chosen President, and Moses H. Whittier, Secretary.
" A society was formed upon the same plan in the easterly part of the town, January 24, 1830, upon "which occasion Rev. Mr. Phelps delivered an address in the Second Baptist Church.
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In 1833, the friends of the temperance movement nominated a list of town officers, and by printing the votes on blue paper, literally compelled every voter to " show his colors " at the polls.
Three years later, the large rum distillery then owned by Captain Wm. Caldwell, was sold to Alfred Kittredge, Esq., who took possession on the 3d of March, and put out the fires the same night. In 1840, he erected the range of stores known as the " Kittredge Block," on the same site. Nearly all the bricks used in the construction of the entire block of five stores were made, on the spot, from the clay found around the vats of the old distillery. Well might the editor of the Gazette declare that a " great change " had taken place in the public sentiment since the dis- tillery was erected, but a few years before. Two years still later, (1842) strong temperance resolutions were adopted in the annual town meeting; the selectmen were instructed not to grant any licenses for the sale of ardent spirits ; and a special committee of five was chosen to visit all per- sons engaged in the traffic, and endeavor to persuade them to abandon it. If they persisted, prosecution was to follow. Such were some of the rich fruits of the humble movement, set on foot by two humble individuals.
In 1828, the steamer Merrimack, Captain Wm. Haseltine, - the first steamboat on the river, - commenced running between Haverhill and Newburyport. The first trip was made from Haverhill, Tuesday, April 8th, 1828. Fare to Newburyport, fifty cents. The Merrimack was built, and mostly owned in this town; and was fitted with Wadsworth's Safety Steam Engine, the first one of the kind put in any boat. It continued running, though quite irregularly, for several years, when the enterprise was abandoned.
The Merrimack Bridge, connecting the Rocks' Village with West-New- bury, was completed in the fall of 1828. It is built on Towne's system. It is 900 feet in length, and is supported by four stone piers, and two abutments, each extending some distance from the shore. It has four defensive piers, or sterlings, extending some distance above, and a draw. The bridge is built wholly of plank, except the floor timbers, and is, we believe, one of the earliest built upon that plan.
About this time the town found itself without any regular place for holding its meetings. The First Parish, in 1827, had voted to charge the town in future thirty dollars a year for the use of their meeting-house ; but having had the free use of it, and its predecessors, since the Parish was first organized (ninety-eight years) the town refused to pay it, and at the next meeting ordered the selectmen to provide some other place.
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Accordingly, the September meeting (1828) was held in the West Parish meeting-house ; and the November meeting was held in the meeting-house of the East Parish. This " boxing the compass " was not, however, generally satisfactory, and it was voted that all future meetings should be held in the First Parish, provided the selectmen could procure a suitable place. They next met in the Baptist meeting-house, then in the Christian Union chapel, then in the Universalist meeting-house, again in the First Parish, then in Academy Hall, and finally, vibrated between the vestry of the Unitarian (or First Parish) church, and the above-named chapel, until a Town Hall was erected, in 1847.
In 1829, the Haverhill Institution for Savings was organized, and commenced business in October of the same year. For a more particular account of this excellent Institution, see the appendix to this volume.
July 14th, of the same year, the Infant School Society was organized. Mrs. James H. Duncan, Mrs. Rufus Longley, Mrs. Isaac R. How, mana- gers ; and Miss Rebecca Smith, instructress. The object of the society was to provide a suitable place, and instruction, for those too young to be admitted to the then ungraded schools. In this they were successful. A neat and convenient building was erected for their use, where the Town Hall now stands, and the school continued to flourish for many years. It was supported by moderate tuition fees, and private subscriptions.
The Haverhill Lyceum, the first organization of the kind in the town, was formed February 25, 1830, with James H. Duncan, Esq., President, James Gale, Esq., Recording Secretary, and Isaac R. How, Esq., Corre- sponding Secretary. The object of the association was, to provide for an annual course of lectures, upon literary and scientific topics, to be deliv- ered before the members. The courses usually consisted of ten or twelve · lectures each, the expenses of which were defrayed by the sale of tickets of admission. The price of the latter was usually one dollar per course of lectures. The Lyceum was kept up, with but few interruptions, until the organization of the Haverhill Atheneum, in 1852. The latter organ- ization, and its successor, the Haverhill Library Association, have continued to furnish an annual course of popular lectures to the present time.
In March, 1830, John G. Whittier, then editor of the Essex Gazette, in this town, issued proposals to publish a History of Haverhill, in one volume, of two hundred pages, duodecimo, price eighty-seven and one-half cents per copy. If the material swelled the volume above two hundred pages, the price was to be one dollar per copy. Frieud Whittier soon found that the amount of labor required to compile the work, and the
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limited encouragement offered, were too serious obstacles to be easily surmounted, and the project was abandoned.
In June, 1831, B. L. Mirick, then a young man employed in the store of Mr. John Dow, as clerk, issued a prospectus for a History of the town. The book was to contain two hundred pages, and the price fixed was one dollar per copy. It was published the following March.
Mirick's History of Haverhill was a small sized octavo volume, of two hundred and twenty-seven pages, embellished with a single engraving, -- a lithographic view of Haverhill-and, although gotten up with evident haste, and under the pressure of other engagements, it was alike creditable to the compiler and the town. It was published by A. W. Thayer, at the office of the Essex Gazette. It is, however, but just to add, that Mirick found a large part of the material used by him, already prepared. Friend Whittier had collected a large amount of valuable matter, which was readily placed in his hands, and the excellent Historical Sketch of Haver- hill, -prepared by Leverett Saltonstall, Esq., for the Massachusetts Historical Society, and published with their proceedings, in 1816, - left him comparatively little to do, except to arrange the material, and super- intend its publication.
Mirick was a man of considerable literary talent, and wrote some excellent poetry. In 1832, he was for a few months editor of the Middlesex Telegraph, at Lowell, after which he engaged in the dry goods business, in Boston, and subsequently in Bangor, Maine.
In 1830, in answer to an order of the General Court, the selectmen were directed to have a correct survey made of the town. This was done the following year, and in 1832, James Gale, Esq., published an excellent lithographic map of the town, from this official survey. The size of the map was eighteen by twenty-nine inches, - being drawn on a scale of " one hundred rods to an inch. It was the first map of the town ever published.
In the summer of 1831, the inhabitants of the town were greatly alarmed on account of the ravages of mad-dogs in the neighboring towns, and other parts of the State. So serious appeared the danger, that a town meeting was called to consider the matter ; but no definite action was taken, and the excitement soon subsided.
The death of Joseph Morse, of this town, which occurred September 26, 1831, under very peculiar circumstances, seems to call for a special notice in this place.
Mr. Morse was a man about thirty-seven years of age, of nervous tem- perament, and rather tender constitution of body. He had for a long
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time been afflicted with palpitation of the heart, which was greatly aggravated by the least excitement, or unusual exercise. For several years he labored under a heavy despondency of mind, - believing that he had "committed the unpardonable sin,"- from which he at last emerged, and for about a year before his death, he was in an exceedingly happy and joyous frame of mind. A short time before his death, he informed his brother that he should live but a short time, and rehearsed the manner in which "it had appeared to him " that he should die. He said that he would be called upon to raise the draw of the bridge," to permit a vessel to pass up, and should bleed to death in the act. Nothing could persuade him that this was only the picture of a disordered imagination. He knew it would be so. Early in the morning of September 26th, a schooner, commanded by Captain Newcomb, of this town, approached the bridge, and sounded a horn, as a signal for the draw to be raised. Mr. Morse was seen to hurry on to the bridge, and make preparations for raising it. But before he had commenced the actual raising, he was heard to say, " I'm dying; " and on looking up, those on board the vessel distinctly saw the blood pouring from his mouth in a large stream. Before assist- ance could reach him, he was dead. In the excitement, he had evidently ruptured one of the larger' blood-vessels, - already, probably, extensively diseased.
In 1832, great alarm was felt in the town, on account of the awful ravages of the cholera in the country. The excitement and anxiety at length became so great, that a special town meeting was held on the 28th of July. At this meeting, a health committee of seven persons was chosen with power to visit places, remove nuisances, establish a hospital if neces- sary, and furnish disinfectants. The latter were to be furnished citizens at cost. If the cholera actually appeared in the town, the committee were authorized to send a physician, at the town's expense, to some place where the plague was, or had been, to learn the best modes of treatment. Resolutions were also passed, urging and requesting all persons to discon- tinue for a time the use of ardent spirits, unless ordered or advised by a physician. Happily the town was passed over by the terrible plague. One or two persons experienced slight attacks, but none died.
In the summer of 1833, President Jackson paid a visit to New England and was everywhere received with the honors that so justly belong to that exalted station. As he was expected to visit Salem, Lowell, Concord, and other places in the vieinity, a strong desire was manifested to secure a
" Mr. Morse was toll-keeper at the Rocks' Bridge.
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similar honor for this town. Accordingly, June 20th, a town meeting was called, and Ira Noyes and Edwin Harriman were chosen a committee to extend a formal invitation to the President to include Haverhill in the list of favored places. The selectmen, and twelve others, were made a committee of arrangements for the reception, and six were chosen to assist them. The President accepted the invitation, and the citizens vied with each other in efforts to put their houses and streets in holiday array for the occasion. Triumphal arches were erected, flags and banners prepared, buildings decorated, and everything done that ingenuity could devise, or money secure, that it was thought would add to the interest and attrac- tions of the reception.
Almost at the last hour, and while the whole town were on the tiptoe of pleasant expectation, news came that the President had been taken sud- denly ill at Salem, and had consequently so changed his route, that he could not visit Haverhill ! It was a sad disappointment to the good peo- ple of the town, and it was some time ere they could realize the unwel- come fact that all their pains had been taken for nought.
About this time, the subject of railway communication with Boston began to receive attention. The great importance and convenience of such a communication was obvious. The completion of a railroad from Andover to the Boston and Lowell railroad, at Wilmington, was already made certain, and brought the matter directly home to the capitalists and business men of Haverhill. The first meeting upon the subject, was held at the Eagle House, January 7th, 1834, - Hon. James H. Duncan, Chairman, Alfred Kittredge, Esq., Secretary. The meeting decided that the road ought to be extended from Andover to Haverhill, and a committee was chosen to explore the route, procure a scientific survey, and petition the Legislature for a charter. The enterprise was pushed forward with vigor. In the fall of 1835, the work of grading between Andover and Haverhill commenced ; in August, 1836, the cars commenced running between Andover and Wilmington ; and on the 26th of October, 1837, the road was formally opened to the Merrimack, at Bradford." The latter was an occasion of great rejoicing in this town. It was celebrated by a free ride of the stockholders over the road, and a splendid collation at Academy Hall, followed by the usual variety of lively and interesting sentiments and speeches.+
" The road was opened to East Kingston in December, 1839, aud soon after to Portland.
+ Believing that it will even now be read with interest, and will be found more and more interesting, as time shall multiply its changes and improvements, we give in full the " Stage Register " for Haverhill, as published just previous to the opening of the railroad connecting it with Boston : -
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The first Anti-Slavery Society in this town, was organized April 3d, 1834. Hon. Gilman Parker, President ; A. W. Thayer, Recording Secre- tary ; and John G. Whittier, Corresponding Secretary." This was not long after followed by the organization of a Female Anti-Slavery Society, and, still later, by the organization of similar bodies in other parts of the town. The movement, however, met with considerable opposition, as may be judged from the fact that, in 1835, an anti-slavery mecting was broken up in the town by a mob ! The circumstances were these : -
A Rev. Mr. May, an " Abolitionist Lecturer," occupied the desk of the First Parish society on a Sabbath afternoon, in August, 1835, and, having engaged the Christian Union Chapel for the purpose, was to deliver an anti-slavery lecture at that place in the evening. The evening meeting was entirely broken up, by a mob outside, who threw sand, gravel, and small stones, against the windows, breaking the glass, and by their hoot- ings, and other noises, frightened the female portion of the audience, and led to the fear, on the part of all, that more serious assaults would follow, if the meeting was continued. It was, therefore, summarily dissolved. It was, perhaps, fortunate that the latter course was adopted, as a loaded cannon was then being drawn to the spot, to add its thunderings to the already disgraceful tumults of that otherwise quiet Sabbath evening !
The Fourth of July, 1835, was observed at the Rocks' Village, in a most enthusiastic manner, by the " Democratic Republicans." A proces- sion, escorted by the Haverhill Light Infantry, marched to the Second
"STAGE REGISTER.
" The Haverhill and Boston Accommodation stage. - This stage leaves Haverhill every Monday Wednesday and Friday at 8 o'clock, a. m., and arrives at Boston at 1 o'clock p. m. Returning, leaves the city every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 2 1-2 o'clock p. m., and arrives at Haverhill same evening.
" Boston Mail stage leaves Boston every day in the week, Sunday excepted, at half past seven o'clock a. m., and arrives in Haverhill at 12. Returning, leaves Haverhill every day at 1 o'clock, p. m., and arrives in Boston same evening.
" Salem' stage leaves Haverhill for Salem every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 o'clock p. m. Returning, leaves Salem for Haverhill every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 o'clock a. m., and arrives in Haverhill between 11 and 12.
" Newburyport stage leaves Newburyport for Haverhill every day at 9 o'clock a. m., and arrives 1-2 past 11. Returning, leaves Haverhill every day at 1 o'clock, and arrives in Newburyport at 4.
" Lowell and Methuen stage leaves Haverhill every day at 1 o'clock, and arrives at half past 4. Re- turning, leaves Lowell every day at S o'clock a. m. and arrives in Haverhill at half past 11.
" Exeter and Dover stage leaves Haverhill every day at 12 o'clock for Dover and arrives at 6 p. m. Returning, leaves Dover at 7 1-2 o'clock, and arrives in Haverhill at 1 o'clock p. m. every day.
" Concord Stage leaves Haverhill Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12 o'clock, and arrives at Concord same evening. Returning, leaves Concord Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 7 a. m., and arrives in Haverhill at 1 p. m."
The Essex County Anti-Slavery Society was formed June 10th, 1834- Rev. Gardner B. Perry, . President, and John G. Whittier Corresponding Secretary. The American Anti-Slavery Society was organized in May, 1833.
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Baptist meeting-house, where an oration was delivered by J. W. Mansur, of Lowell, followed by a dinner under an arbor near the bank of the beau- tiful Merrimack. In the central village, the occasion was noticed by the " Young Men's Temperance Lyceum." An address was delivered in the First Parish meeting-house, by Erastus Brooks, Esq .. followed by & public dinner.
In the summer of 1835, the brick factory on Winter Street was erected by Ezekiel Hale, Jr., & Son. The building is ninety-five feet in length, by thirty-four feet in breadth, and four stories in height. It was built adjoining the old factory, which was of the same height, and fifty-nine feet in length, by twenty-seven feet in breadth. The whole was intended to run sixteen hundred spindles, turn out six hundred yards of superior scarlet flannel per day, and give employment to about thirty persons. The factory is now owned and operated by Messrs. Stevens & Co., (who pur- chased it in 1855) and employs about forty persons, turning out about eight thousand yards of excellent flannel per week.
In the fall of 1835, the town voted to build a " Work House " at the town farm. It was to be twenty feet square, and two stories in height, with three strong rooms, or eells, (ceiled with three-inch oak plank) on the ground floor, and two rooms in the second story, suitable for workshops. It was erected the following winter, at a cost of $708,80. At the same time, a committee was chosen to petition the General Court for a general or special act, empowering the overseers of the poor to commit to the work- house all persons who receive any assistance from the town, or any of their families. Such an act was passed, and from time to time, persons have been committed in accordance with its provisions. The number of such committals has, however, always been small, and we believe that for sev- eral years past none whatever have been made.
In January, 1836, the First Universalist Society raised their first bell, making the fourth church-bell then in the village. Previous to about this time, the First Parish bell had been regularly rung daily, at twelve o'clock, M., and nine o'clock, P. M. This was an old custom, and, for aught we know, was introduced into New England along with the first church-bell. It is still kept up in very many New England towns and cities. Even in Boston, the familiar tone of the " Old South " bell may still be daily heard above the din of the busy streets, calling the multitude from labor, to their mid-day refreshment. In this town, the daily ringing of the bell was regularly kept up until about the time we have mentioned, after which
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it was done a part of the time only, until, about 1848, it was discontinued altogether, much to the regret of many who cherish the " good old cus- toms of our fathers."
In November, 1836, Summer Street was extended from Kent to Mill Streets; and Webster Street was laid out. Both were accepted by the town.
In the spring of 1837, a census of the town was taken, by the assessors, from which it appears that there was then a population of four thousand seven hundred and twenty-six in the town. The whole number of polls was one thousand four hundred and four. The village contained a popu- lation of two thousand seven hundred and seventy-one, with eight hundred and thirty-one polls; the East Parish six hundred and ninety-seven popu- lation, and one hundred and eighty-one polls; the West Parish a population of seven hundred and seventy-seven, and two hundred and thirty-three polls; and the North Parish a population of four hundred and eighty-one, and one hundred and fifty-nine polls. This was an increase since 1830, of eight hundred and fourteen in population, and four hundred and forty- two polls.
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