USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > The history of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts > Part 39
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February 3, 1893, it was voted:
That the number of selectmen be hereafter five, to be elected annually.
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POLITICAL.
The same year the number of Trustees of the Public Library was changed from five to six, two to be elected annually for three years.
PRECINCTS AND WARDS. At a Town Meeting held April 28, 1893, the Selectmen made a report of their division of the Town into three voting precincts which was adopted. It gave the boundaries with the number of legal voters in each. Pre- cinct No. I was in the northerly part of the Town, and then contained 402 legal voters; No. 2 in the central, with 925 voters, and No. 3 in the southerly portion with 687 voters. This was a total of 2014 legal voters at this date. Each pre- cinct had a Warden, Deputy Warden, Clerk, Deputy Clerk, two or more Inspectors, two or more Deputy Inspectors, and Tellers, who were appointed by the Selectmen each year, until we became a City, when in October 1899, it was again divided by the Selectmen into seven Wards, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter; and these Wards were officered as follows: Warden, Deputy Warden, Clerk, Deputy Clerk, four Inspectors and four Deputy Inspectors.
PARTIES. The two principal political parties, Republican and Democratic, are conducted by the usual party organiza- tions. For several years an annually elected Town Committee, and afterwards the Republican Club-organized in 1887- had the general management of all matters pertaining to the caucuses and conventions of the Republican party, as did the Committees and Club for the Democratic party. But now the management of each party is given over to the City Commit- tees; that of the Republican consisting of 35 members, five from each ward, and that of the Democratic of 21 members, three from each ward; each one being governed by the State caucus law.
Besides the general City Committees, many of the wards have also a separate political organization.
The Prohibition, Socialist Labor and Democratic Socialist parties, although throwing a small vote, has each an organ- ization, and nominates candidates for a portion of the officers at each State election.
During the stirring times previous to the Civil War, another Republican Club was formed in Melrose for the purpose of aiding the election of Lincoln and Hamlin as President and Vice President of the United States. A committee appointed
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
for the purpose submitted the following document setting forth its principals:
The Republicans of Melrose believing that the National Govern- ment should be rescued from the hands of a corrupted Administration, which has prostituted its powers to further the selfish ends of a sec- tional Oligarchy alone; exhausted its treasury to reward its venal partizans and poisoned the sources of government by wholesale cor- ruption and fraud at the ballot box; and that the reins of government should be placed in the hands of honest men who shall guide the course of our country's progress in the paths marked out by the wisdom of the Fathers of the Constitution, and conduct their Adminis- tration with the prudence and purity that characterized the early days of the Republic; and wishing to join our united forces in aid of so glorious an object, hereby organize ourselves for the ensuing political campaign, under the following provisions:
This Association shall be known as the Melrose Wide Awake Club and all Melrose Republicans shall be considered as members on sign- ing the Constitution thereof. Its object is to arouse and sustain the interest of its members and others in the political questions of the day ; to discuss the fundamental principals of free government and their application in the constitution of our country and the doctrines of the Republican Party which are founded thereon ; and by all fair and honorable means in our power to labor for and promote the triumph of these principles, and secure the election of Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for President of these United States, and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine as Vice President of the same, and all regularly nominated Representatives of these principles at the ensuing elections.
The officers of this Association shall be a President, and five Vice Presidents, one of whom shall preside at each meeting; a Recording Secretary, who shall record the proceedings of the Association in a suitable book provided for this especial purpose; a Corresponding Secretary who shall conduct and preserve its correspondence ; a Treas- urer, who shall keep the funds and defray the expenses of the Associa- tion; and an Executive Committee of nine who shall make the necessary arrangements for public meetings, invite speakers, arrange discussions, provide music and manage the business affairs of the Association. The President, Vice Presidents and Corresponding Secretary shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
G. LAMKIN, P. B. HOLMES, J. W. JONES.
The records, giving officers, names and proceedings, have been swept into the oblivion of the past; but it is remembered by many that it was a very active and influential body of our
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POLITICAL.
prominent citizens of that period so freighted with most important consequences. In connection with this Club was a company of mounted Wide Awakes, and both foot and horse appropriately uniformed, took part in the numerous night parades of those exciting times in Boston, our own and the surrounding towns.
Another organization which was formed during the turmoil of the Civil War, was the Union League, Council No. 87, which had a large membership during its existence, and was largely instrumental in shaping the policy of the Town while in the thrall of those troublous times. It was formed October 21, 1863, and its officers were: Napoleon B. Bryant, President; William F. Poole and Augustus Durant, Vice Presidents; Daniel W. Wilcox, Treasurer; Elbridge H. Goss, Secretary; George F. Stone, Marshal; Thomas W. Chadbourne, Herald; Rev. George Prentice, Chaplain, and Wingate P. Sargent, John Crocker and David A. Alden, Finance Committee.
THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF MELROSE. This was organized October 4, 1897. Its object as stated in its By-Laws, is as follows: "The purpose of the League shall be to secure the nomination and election of proper candidates for municipal offices; to advocate and promote a public service based upon character and capability only; to promote intelligent discus- sion of municipal affairs by the publication and distribution of reliable information in relation thereto; and to procure the punishment of all persons who may be guilty of election frauds, maladministration of office, or misappropriation of public funds." It is officered by a President, three Vice Presi- dents, a Treasurer, Secretary, Auditor and an Executive Com- mittee of fifteen, with the other officers as members ex-officio. Present number of members two hundred.
THE PUBLIC FRANCHISE LEAGUE OF MELROSE. This organi- zation was formed April 23, 1902, with the following officers: President, John G. Robinson; Secretary, Victor A. Friend; Executive Committee, Charles C. Barry, William A. Carrie, Arthur M. Willis, Henry Brown and Edwin S. Small.
The principal object of this League is to take charge and present all the interests pertaining to public franchises; as that is a question that will be before the people for many years to come.
CHAPTER XXXI.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE WIDENING OF MAIN STREET.
T HIS good work began in 1888, when the County Com- missioners ordered Main Street to be widened from Mt. Vernon Street to Malden line. An appropriation was made at the November meeting, and the next year the street was regraded and widened at a cost of $3,770.33, $600 of which was paid by the County Commissioners. At a subse- quent meeting $950 was appropriated to build a sidewalk from Masonic Hall to Malden line. In 1891, a movement was begun to have the widening of Main Street continued through the centre of the town. As it was seen that this would be quite an expensive work, it met with serious opposition; but now that it has been accomplished, everybody is satisfied that it was a very wise and beneficial transaction. The beauty of the street is greatly enhanced, trade is better accommodated and the public buildings seen to much better advantage.
The prime mover in this great public improvement was Sidney H. Buttrick. He drew up, circulated, presented and urged the importance of this matter before the County Com- missioners. The petition was as follows:
To the County Commissioners of the County of Middlesex :
We the undersigned, citizens of the Town of Melrose, do hereby petition your honorable board to widen, straighten and relocate the lines of Main Street in said Town of Melrose from Mt. Vernon Street northerly to its junction with Lebanon and Green Streets.
Sidney H. Buttrick, George W. Bartlett,
Joseph D. Wilde,
William N. Folsom.
Fernando C. Taylor.
John O. Norris,
Washburn Emery. Addison Lane,
George R. Jones,
Julius S. Clark,
George W. White, Clinton White,
William F. Bacall, A. Selwyn Lynde.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
Charles B. Goss,
Henry E. Johnson,
George W. Dew,
Henry Brown,
Oscar F. Frost,
Jesse A. Dill,
Jeremiah L. Hanaford.
George W. Burke,
Charles E. Newhall,
George Newhall,
John Larrabee,
Walter C. Stevens,
Jonathan C. Howes,
Elbridge H. Goss,
M. Frank Eastman,
Charles W. Ellison,
William P. Cook,
Albon W. Parker,
Charles C. Odlin,
Robert Philpot,
Samuel C. Hallett,
William H. Mitchell,
Andrew L. Maclachlan,
George T. Brown,
Henry W. Woodward.
Allen C. Goss,
Julian S. Cutler,
Albert H. Armington,
L. Frank Hinckley,
Charles F. Loring,
Alonzo A. Luce,
William L. Pratt,
Thomas J. Ryder,
Charles M. Field.
Henry G. Fields, Jr.,
Frank L. Washburn.
Fred H. Morse.
In January, 1892, the County Commissioners, having received this petition, and given the subject due consideration, issued an order to widen and build Main Street from Mt. Vernon to the junction of Lebanon, Porter, Main and Green Streets to the width of sixty feet. The work was done, all claims for damages consequent thereto adjusted and paid, and the total cost to the Town was $15,924.87, and to the County $6,500, as follows:
Land damages,
$15,801.57
Labor,
5,092.97
Counsel fees,
1,250.00
Court fees, 280.33
$22,424.87
Less amount received from the County, 0,500.00
Total cost to the Town,
$15.924.87
THE ELEANOR BROWN TOOTHAKER LUND,
Mrs. Eleanor Brown Toothaker died March 2, 1893, leaving a legacy for " the needy poor of Melrose." Before the exact amount dependent upon the settlement of her estate was ascer- tained, $1,000 was paid over to the Town, by the executor of
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
her will, George Newhall, in 1895; and at a Town Meeting held March 26, 1896, the following vote was passed unanimously:
That the Town express its appreciation of the bequest of Eleanor Brown Toothaker, by rising; and that the one thousand dollars ($1,000) received, and all money which shall be hereafter received under her will, constitute and be named " The Eleanor Brown Tooth- aker Fund," to he kept separate from the poor department appropria- tion; and that the same be expendcd, with any income which may be received on the same, for the needy poor of this Town, by the over- seers of the poor, as provided in her will.
There was afterwards added to this fund when the estate was settled the sum of $922, making a total bequest of $1,922. The income to January 1, 1902, has been $261.98, and there has been expended according to provisions of the will, $764.06; leaving a balance at that date of $1,419.92,
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN was assassinated April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth. United memorial services were held in the Orthodox Congregational Church, April 19, with addresses by Rev. Henry A. Stevens, Rev. Henry Baker and Rev. William S. Barnes; interspersed with music, prayer and Scripture reading. For full account see Melrose Memorial, pp. 210-218.
JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD was shot July 2, 1881, by Charles J. Guiteau, and died September 19, 1881. Under the auspices of the Selectmen, memorial services were held in Town Hall, September 26, when addresses were made by the local pastors, Reverends Robert F. Tolman, William Butler, D. D., Albert G. Bale, Richard Eddy, D. D., John G. Taylor, Father O'Farrell, Charles L. Short, Henry Westcott, Hon. Daniel W. Gooch and Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, with appropriate music, prayer and Scripture reading; also a series of resolu- tions presented by Walter Babb. A full account of these exercises was given in the Melrose Fournal, September 30, 1881, and reprinted twenty years later, with comments, in the Journal of September 27, 1901.
ULYSSES S. GRANT. Another solemn memorial service took place in the Town Hall, August 8, 1885, under the auspices of the Selectmen, on the occasion of the death of General Ulysses S. Grant, who died at Mount Gregor, New York, July 23, 1885.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
The hall was heavily draped. An account of these memorial services is given on pp. 255-6. In addition to what is there stated a hymn, "Low Lies our Captain," written by Mrs. Livermore, was sung by the choir, selected for these services, under the leadership of Samuel S. P'reble, Jr.
A full account of these services was issued in pamphlet form, by the late William L. Williams, the then proprietor of the Melrose Fournal.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY was assassinated September 6, 1901, by Leon Czołgosz, and died September 14, following. Memorial exercises were held under the auspices of the City Government, in the City Hall, September 18th, when there was an address by llis Honor, Mayor John Larrabee, and a eulogy by Hon. Charles J. Noyes. Prayer by Rev. Thomas Sims, D. D., reading of Scripture by Rev. Edwin C. Bolles. D. D., and music by the Melrose High School choir of young ladies. A full account of these services was given in the local papers under date of September 20 and 27. Memorial exercises were held in all of the churches on the Sundays of September 16 and 22, with sermons by the various pastors; exercises were held also by many of the other local organizations.
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
On March 27, 1895, the Legislature passed an act making it obligatory upon the school committees of the several cities and towns, to provide for each schoolhouse in which public schools are maintained,
a United States flag of silk or bunting, not less than four feet in length, and a suitable flagstaff, or other apparatus, whereby such flag may be displayed on the schoolhouse grounds, or schoolhouse build- ing, every school day, when weather will permit, and on the inside on other school days.
Five years before this date, this patriotic movement had been engendered and encouraged, and the project accomplished in Melrose, as will be seen by the following circular, the issuing of which met with a hearty response from our citizens, and flags were provided for all our schoolhouses:
MELROSE, January 8, 1890. MY DEAR SIR: - There is a movement being made just now to
·
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
have placed upon every public school building in Massachusetts the United States flag, as an ever present object lesson to our children. Melrose cannot afford for her own or her children's sake to be behind in this grand movement, and as there are no public funds available for their purchase, you are invited to contribute the sum of $1.00, (or more) towards supplying every school building in Melrose with a flag.
We propose to have a Grand Flag Presentation on Washington's Birthday, at the Town Hall. that shall cause a wave of patriotism, both inspiring and helpful, to roll over our fair town. The movement has the cordial endorsement of the School Committee, who have voted " to erect staffs for all flags presented."
All money received will be acknowledged with name of contributor, in the Melrose Journal. Kindly reply at once, enclosing your contri- bution in enclosed stamped envelope, and oblige
Truly yours, F. P. SHUMWAY, JR., For Committee.
This was a Citizens' Committee, organized for this purpose, consisting of Mr. Shumway, Moses S. Page and Charles W. Cochrane. The late Major W. Irving Ellis at once donated a handsome flag for our High School; the late Joseph D. Wilde, Hon. William E. Barrett and the U. S. Grant Post 4, G. A. R., each gave one, and popular subscriptions furnished the rest. As indicated in the circular, these flags were presented to the public schools on Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1890. The exercises took place in Town Hall, under the auspices of the Melrose Republican Club, George T. Brown, President, which had contemplated doing by itself, what was afterwards done by the citizens, the Club heartily uniting in the move- ment.
The scholars from the public schools were present. Mr. Shumway made a report for the Citizens' Committee. Music for the occasion was furnished by the Melrose Choral Society. The flags were accepted for the different schools, by John O. Norris, Chairman of the School Committee.
CURFEW BELL.
The good old custom of "ryngging ye curfewe," is being revived throughout the land. Particularly is this the case in many of the towns and cities in the west, where ordinances have been adopted requiring all children under sixteen years
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MISCELLANEOUS.
of age to leave the streets at the ringing of the nine o'clock bell, unless accompanied by parents or guardians, or on errands, in which case they must not loiter. The penalty in the City of Yankton, South Dakota, is: " First offence, return to homes and parents informed. Second, incarceration in calaboose or fine;" and the City Clerk says in a letter dated January 10, 1898: " I have been called on by a number of other cities and towns for copy of the ordinance and think it is destined to become general." City Clerk of Morris, Minn., says: " Moral effect good and public sentiment with it." City Clerk of Anoka, Minn., says: " It has been a success from the start " (1895.)
This same custom is being advocated and adopted in some of our eastern municipalities. The City of Cambridge has passed the law and finds it effectual, lessening crime and promoting morality. This is not a particularly harsh or trying law. It simply provides that children of sixteen years or under shall not be on the streets without a good and sufficient excuse, after half past nine o'clock, P. M. The police are first to notice and warn; then next complain to parents; and lastly, if unheeded, arrest.
In England, this custom has existed since the days of William, the Conqueror. In some towns curfew has been rung for over eight hundred years. In Boston it was rung for over two centuries. The town records of our mother town show that the custom existed in earlier days; " for Ringing the bell " in 1826, $12 was paid ; and the curfew was rung for many years after that, as is remembered by citizens now living. In the town of Newbury, in 1706, it was voted to " take care that the bell be rung at nine o'clock every night, and that the day of the month be every night tolled." Thus was it in many other towns.
It is hoped it may yet ring in Melrose. Several efforts have been made to have it re-established. In our early days it was rung for a number of years. In 1855, the town voted to have the bell on the Protestant Methodist Church rung at nine and also at twelve o'clock; and George F. Boardman was paid $33.33 for same. In 1856, it was continued, being rung not only at nine and twelve, but at seven in the morning; and Learned Lynde was paid Sio, and Jacob M. Ellis $20 for ser- vices. Different votes establishing it have been passed since;
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
but it has met with indifferent success. One, March 12, 1879, to be rung at nine o'clock; repealed Nov. 4, following. One in 1893, was repealed after a while, at the request of the fire- men who made the plea that they could not tell the curfew from the fire alarm. With the new system of striking the alarm fully established, the curfew can be rung without any danger whatever of conflicting with the fire alarm. Now that the custom has something besides sentiment behind it, and is utilized in the interest of morality and for the prevention of crime, why ought not Melrose to adopt it? Not only this; although we have no " lowing herd" that "winds slowly o'er the lea," as "curfew tolls the knell of parting day," still it would be pleasant to hear the pealing of a sweet-toned bell welling out o'er hill and dale, as
" The day is done, and the darkness Falls from the wings of night."
"49ERS."
When the California "gold fever " burst upon the world in 1849, there were six residents of North Malden that left for that " El Dorado:"
John Taylor, Greeley Merrill, George P. Fuller, [until recently a citizen of Melrose, but now of Bourne, Mass.] and John McClish [Rev. John McLeish of the Protestant Methodist Church], who went as chaplain, John McClish, Jr., a boy fourteen years old, who went as cabin boy, and a man by the name of Abbott, who went as sailor.1
They sailed with sixty-four others in the Brig " Sea Eagle," on March 8, and arrived in San Francisco, October 28, 1849, after a voyage, via Cape Horn, of 234 days. After a some- what fruitless search for the yellow metal, Mr. Fuller returned to Melrose, June 4, 1851, after a voyage of four months, a portion of which time, fifty-three days, he was obliged to sub- sist each day on "one-half pound of bread, two ounces of pork, and a pint of water. I remember well the stories that were in the papers at the time, one being a yarn about a man finding a piece of gold so big that he could not move it, and sat down on it and offered as high as twenty-seven thousand dollars for a plate of beans."
1 George Priest Fuller's letter in Melrose Reporter, March 11, 1899.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
SLAVERY.
As has been seen in the sketches of the old families of Mel- rose, by extracts from their wills, and copies of documents there given, and items and anecdotes related, particularly in connection with the Lynde, Barrett and Sprague families, slavery once existed on the territory of North Malden, as well as on that of Malden centre. It would seem, however, in this region, to have been in a less harsh form than the slave-driving, family separating state of that institution as it existed in the South. Nevertheless, slaves were sold here, like cattle, or any other chattel, as well as bequeathed by will, and "Slavery was here from the beginning and remained under the protection of the law until after the Revolutionary period."2
The first notice of the existence of slavery on Malden terri- tory is implied in an order of the General Court in relation to a servant of Job Lane, the builder of Malden's second meeting house, said servant having been found guilty of running from his master.
[May 18, 1653] Ebedmelecks ye negros censure. In ansr to the petition of Job Lane, in behalfe of Ebedmeleck, his servant, for the remittment of the rigor of the lawe, &c, the Court judgeth it meete, that the said Ebedmelecke, for his stealing victualls and breaking open a window on the Lord's day, shall, the next lecture day. be whipt with five stripes.3
By the middle of the century [ 18th], a feeling antagonistic to slavery began to work a change in public opinion, and the condition of the slave began to improve. The laws for his protection became more direct, or were better observed; and he was more freely admitted to the enjoyment of Christian rites and privileges. His children might be baptized and he might become a member of the church.
Ginne negro servant to M: Thomas Pratt of Chelsea was baptized in 1750, by the Rev. Aaron Cleaveland of the South Church : [Malden] and there were at least two negroes who were members of the same church, in full communion, before the Revolution. . .. The Green family had several slaves, as had also the Lyndes, the Dexters, and the Bucknams.4
2 Corey, History of Malden, 414.
3 Massachusetts Cotony Records, iv ( t), 137,
+ Corey, History of Malden, 419.
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HISTORY OF MELROSE.
On this subject, the Bi-Centennial Book of Malden, page 131, has the following :
There were formerly a number of persons of African descent held in chains of bondage among us, one or two of whom survived until within a very few years. There is a tradition that one of the old Esquires of this town had a slave who had been in his family until he was about seventy years of age. Perceiving that there was not much more work left in the old man, the Esquire took him one day, and made him a somewhat pompous address to the following effect : " You have been a faithful servant to me and my father before me. I have long been thinking what I should do to reward you for your services. I give you your freedom! You are your own master; you are your own man." Upon this the old negro shook his grizzly head and with a sly glance, showing that he saw through his master's intentions, quietly replied ; "No, no, Massa you eat de meat, and now you must pick de bone."
Another has said:
The names of a few of these sevirtors have come down to us; but the names of Brahma Bucknam and Cato Lynde, of Phyllis Willis and Violet Hills, belong to a day and a condition which have passed away. The comparative value of human flesh in Malden may be known by the inventory of Deacon John Pratt, which was made in 1742, when an " oald negroman " and a cow were valued alike at £10 each. The inventory of the estate of Ezra Green, made in 1768, valued " a Negro man named Jeferre " at £20, while the more youthful "Negro Boy Named Simon " was invoiced at £33. A " Negro Garl Named Violet." increased the inventory only by the amount of £10, 13s. 4d. Several individuals who had been slaves remained in Malden within the last fifty years, the last of whom was Simon Knights, who, with his worthy and industrious wife, is well remembered by many. He had been a slave of Bernard Green, and was a sincere and consistent Christian and a member of the Baptist Church. He lived many years in a small house, as black as himself, which stood in Haskin's Lane, not far from the site of the Unitarian Chapel, and died in July, 1847. His funeral service, which was held in the Baptist Church, was attended by the towns-people as that of a neighbor and friend.5
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