USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > The history of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; > Part 18
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As a reminiscence of the days, only about 75 years ago, I copy a few bills paid on account of the militia, and other items from the treasurer's account.
"To the Hon. Board Selectmen or Assessors of the town of Wilbraham.
"This may certify that the within named persons have done Military Duty in the Springfield Artilery the past year as * Required by law.
Edward W. Chaffe Almond Wood
Isaac Brewer Sydny Moore
Jackson W. Stebbins Springfield Oct. 24th 1837
Capt David Loyde."
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
"$25.00 Luther Brewer Treasurer of the town of Wilbraham pay Highland Cleaveland, Benjamin Ellis, Sidney Moore, Isaac Brewer, Edward W. Chaffee the sum of Five Dollars each they having done Military duty as the law requires the year past as certd by their commanding Officer-
Stephen Stebbins
"Dec. 6, 1838 Wm. V. Sessions
Selectmen of Wilbraham"
"To the Selectmen of the town of Wilbraham
"This certifies that Benjamin Ellis has done military duty in the company of light infantry in Longmeadow the season past according to law he will therefore have a claim of Five Dollars on your treasury for his services.
W. Lathrop, Captain"
"To the Selectmen of Wilbraham
"Gentlemen this certifies that Jonah Alden 3ª of Wilbraham has done Military duty in the Independent Company of Militia in the town of Ludlow the past season according to law for which he is entitled to five dollars out of the Treasury of Wil- braham.
5
Ludlow Oct. 19, 1842 Charles D. Champlin 1 Commander of said Co."
Training day was a great event in those days. All men between the ages of 18 and 45 were enrolled in the militia and were required to assemble at stated times, organize into com- panies, choose officers and do a certain amount of drilling each year. How they got their dinners on training days, I have not yet learned. But I have learned from one who was there, that the beverage they consumed was not all drawn from the tavern well, near which they generally assembled. New England rum was cheap (about 60 cents a gallon) and on that day it was plenty and free for every militiaman. The expense was paid by the officers, the non-commissioned officers being assessed about 25 cents each, and the commissioned officers paying larger sums, according to their rank, but the "grog" was free, and we may well believe the reports of those days, that some of the men drank more of it than was for their good. I have been informed that at the last training of the Wilbraham company,
r
214
THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
they marched to North Wilbraham and then along the roadbed of the Great Western Railroad, as the Boston and Albany was then called, which had been graded, but the ties and rails had not been laid. That must have been about 1838. Philip P. Potter was the last captain of the Wilbraham company, and Col. Benjamin Butler the last colonel of the regiment, which must have been composed of companies from several towns. They both retained their titles while they lived, being familiarly spoken of as Colonel Butler and Captain Potter.
It appears, from a study of the treasurer's accounts of the town, that the bills were not always paid during the year that there were incurred. I find the following:
"1834, Apr. 9, To paying Selectmen's order to William S. Burt dated May 10, 1830 marked No. 1 Letter A. $88.38 Interest on the same 20.81."
On one page of the account for 1831, I find that interest was paid on eight different orders given in 1829 and 1830. The largest being $23.00, and the smallest $1.65. There are many similar charges of interest paid.
On the same page I find that the treasurer credits himself "Depreciated money $3.00."
In 1827, I find the treasurer charges himself, "By Cash of William Knight Esq. being one half of a fine collected of Erasmus Glover for Profane Swearing .50."
Also, "Mar. 20, 1832, Paid Aaron Bliss for Surveying the Town $62.90." A copy of this survey has now been secured for the town.
RAILROADS IN THIS VICINITY
"The road from Boston to Worcester was opened for traffic July 4th, 1835.
"Passenger trains were run from Boston to Springfield, Oct. 1st, 1839.
"In Oct., 1841, the road was finished to the N. Y. State line and on Dec. 24, 1841, trains began running between Boston and Albany, on the longest continuous line of railway then in operation in the United States."
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
The line was then owned by three corporations, which were consolidated under the name of the Boston and Albany on December 1st, 1867. The road from Springfield to Hartford and New Haven was opened in 1844. The road from Spring- field to Northampton and beyond, was put in operation about 1847. In 1847, a company was incorporated to build a line from New London to Springfield, but the route was changed to Palmer, and was opened September 20, 1850.
In connection with the opening of the Boston and Albany Railroad, the following letter from Delos D. Merrick to his brother Wm. W. Merrick, both of this town, may be of interest. (Delos D. Merrick went to Wellfleet to teach school.)
"Wellfleet Mass. Dec. 22nd 1834
"Dear Brother -. let me tell you about my journey. I arrived here the next sabbath after I started. We arrived at Ware about 8 o'clock, left there about seven the next morning. Arrived at Worcester about 12 same day which was Friday, left there 1212, arrived at Westboro in season to take the railroad for Boston we drove 7 miles from there with a horse fastened to the car to a place called Hopkinton where we waited till 20 minutes before 5 we then started with steam and with such rapidity that I was astonished for I must say that I never rode as fast as that before, they go at the rate of 20 miles per hour we soon arrived at Boston . Permit me to tell you one thing, censure me not for you know I wanted to see all I could by way of improvement. I visited the Theatre I did not have any idea of it it was beautiful"
(Left Boston Sunday morning by boat, reached Wellfleet same day. Two friends of his who sailed from Boston on Friday reached there at same time.)
When the "Great Western Railroad" (now Boston & Albany) was built in 1839, a station was established near the northwest part of our town, about forty or sixty rods east of where our present West Street runs under the railroad, and about mid- way between the two houses now standing there. Elisha Fuller kept a tavern, located a few rods north of the station, on the north side of the present highway and just west of the branch road that runs down towards the Chicopee River. In the
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
days before the Connecticut River Railroad was built, a stage ran daily between that station and Northampton. About 1840 to 1845, a family from the South had come to Northampton to visit friends, bringing with them a colored nurse-girl, who was a slave. It was against the sentiment of the community in those days for a slave to tread the sacred soil of Massachu- setts. Probably some rabid abolitionist must have given the information to the society in Boston that a slave was there, for two men came from Boston and compelled her to go with them. She came in the stage with them to Mr. Fuller's tavern, and broken-hearted told her story to him. When those men ordered dinner for themselves, and said that she could eat afterwards or with the servants of the house, Mr. Fuller was very indignant, and told them, "If they had dinner there, they would all eat at the same table, and at the same time." She was taken to Boston, told she was free, and could take care of herself. In a few weeks, only a month I think, she was back, on her way to Northampton, and trying to find her friends, from whom she was so cruelly separated. This incident of the old abolition days was told me by a daughter of Mr Fuller, who though only a child at the time, remembers it very well.
This railroad station was moved in 1851, to what is now called "Oak Street" Station, and the tavern soon followed. Both being moved on Sunday, by the railroad, on four plat- form cars, two on each track, and the tavern was set on its foundation without even disturbing a glass of water, full to the brim, setting on a shelf in the dining room. About 1859, Mr. Fuller moved to Springfield, and conducted the Hampden Hotel, in the block now occupied by Smith & Murray's store.
The present station at North Wilbraham was established about 1852.
The Athol branch, now operated by the Boston & Albany, was built from Barrett's Junction to Springfield in 1873, and a station established in Ludlow, just across the Chicopee River from our north village, which was named "Collins," in honor of the first station agent at North Wilbraham, which was once called "Collins' Depot."
WARREN COLLINS. First Station. Agent, also First Postmaster at North Wilbraham.
MRS. WARREN COLLINS.
WARREN LEVI COLLINS. Proprietor of the Stage Line between North Wilbraham and Wilbraham for many years.
MRS. WARREN LEVI COLLINS.
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
THIS WAS THE HOME OF WARREN COLLINS. And the first Railroad Station at North Wilbraham. The building is now standing a little east of "Collins Inn."
THE WILBRAHAM AQUEDUCT COMPANY
Somewhere about 1854 or 1855, a stock company was formed here for the purpose of supplying our center village with water. A reservoir was made on the west side of, and about half way up the mountain, and an aqueduct of pine logs was laid to the Main Street and for about half a mile in the street. I well remember, when a boy, of seeing the long auger, run by steam power, eating its way lengthwise through those logs and the bushels of chips which rolled out of the end of the log where the auger entered. The boring was done in a lot on the east side of the Main Street, directly in front of the south end of the present boarding house of Wilbraham Academy. The specifica- tions required that the logs should be eight inches in diameter at the small end. They bored a hole four inches in diameter through each log, leaving at the best only two inches of sappy green wood around the hole, and as I have been told, when the water was turned on the logs began to burst before the water
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
got down into the village. The broken places were patched up, and the water was kept running after a fashion for a few years, but at such an expense for repairs that after a short time the system was abandoned, and the reservoir sold later to Wil- braham Academy, and about thirty-five years ago an iron pipe was pushed through the hole in the old logs for part of the way, and now serves to convey water to their boarding house from what is called the "Upper Reservoir."
The following is a copy of an assessment made upon the stockholders, found among the papers left by William W. Merrick.
"Wilbraham June 16th 1856.
"To William W. Merrick Esq. Treasurer of the "Wilbraham Aqueduct Company.
"Sir.
"The Board of Directors of the Company have directed that an instalment of six dollars on each share of the capital stock of said Company be required to be paid into the hands of the Treasurer at the expiration of ten days from the 28th day of May last past. In accordance with this resolution I have placed in the hands of Hiram M. Brewer Collector of the Company the Subjoined bills. It is the wish of the directors that you use all due dilligence to cause the same to be collected and paid into your hands and made subject to the drafts of the Secretary and Auditor.
"L. B. Bliss
4 Shares
24.00
R. Glover
do do
24.00
Geo Bishop
do
do
24.00
Edmund Jones
3
do
18.00
Edwin B. Brewer
2
do
12.00
Roderick Burt
2
do
12.00
Robert R. Wright
2
do
12.00
William E. Brewer
2
do
12.00
James W. Mowry
4
do
24.00
Nelson Mowry
4 do
24.00
Samuel F. Pickering
4 do
24.00
John M. Merrick
20
do
120.00
Ezra White
1 do
6.00
Mrs Lydia Virgin
1
do
6.00
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Hiram M. Brewer 2 Shares 12.00
James Rice (transfered to John M. Merrick) 6.00
Jesse W. Rice 2 do 12.00
William W. Merrick 4 do 24.00
Whole amount 396.00"
None of these stockholders are now living, but I remember all but three of them. They were capable and energetic, and we regret that their venture was not more successful.
HISTORY OF THE WILBRAHAM ACADEMY
The Wesleyan Academy, as it was originally called and, as its name indicates, was closely connected with the Methodist Church. During the first fifty years after the Methodist Church was organized but few efforts were made to found educational institutions. Cokesbury College in Maryland was built, and twice destroyed by fire, but nothing further was done in the cause of education by the Methodist Church until the year 1818, when the Wesleyan Academy was inaugurated and located at Newmarket New Hampshire. The Wesleyan Academy had but very limited success during the entire time of its location at Newmarket, and its founders with other friends of education in the Methodist Church began inquiring for a better location, and proposals were invited. On the 30th of December, 1823, the following vote was passed by the trustees: "Whereas, the Academy under our superintendence has not met with that encouragement which we were induced to expect, Therefore, voted, that we suspend our operations for the present."
The citizens of Wilbraham offered valuable inducements, including subscriptions to the amount of more than $2,000 and the present site of the institution was selected, a board of trustees nominated, and an act of incorporation obtained from the Massachusetts Legislature. The act was approved by the Governor on the 7th of February, 1824, a few days more than a month after operations were suspended at Newmarket. The Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham and the Newmarket
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Wesleyan Academy were therefore one and the same institution with only a change of location and legal authority, and claimed the honor of being the oldest existing literary institution, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America.
On land donated by Wm. Rice, Esq., of Springfield, formerly of Wilbraham, known as the "Academy Lot," with the avails of donations collected by agents who travelled extensively through the Conference, the "Old Academy" building was erected. A farm of sixty acres-one-half of the Warriner homestead, was purchased, and the old house enlarged and fitted for a boarding-house. This house was first built by Wm. Rice for a hotel and had been used for several years by the Warriners for that purpose. As the main tide of travel had moved aside from them, they found business not paying and were ready to sell. For some time the chief profit had been derived from special gatherings for convivial and military purposes which often proved to be "high times." On one occasion, after freely imbibing of the liquors kept within, the revellers rode their horses in at the large front door, through the hall and out the back way. The purchase of this property was a fortunate investment. It removed what would have been a source of constant temptation to the students, and at the same time gave them precisely the property most conven- iently located for the purposes of the school.
The school was opened November 8th, 1825, and the number of students the first day was eight, during the term, thirty- five.
From these small beginnings the institution was at once encouraged by unexpected success which has continued with more or less variations. To assist indigent students, by making the institution, as far as means would allow, a manual-labor school, a mechanic shop was erected, and incipient arrange- ments were made for an agricultural department. This experi- ment did not prove successful, however, and the mechanic shop was soon enlarged and converted into a laboratory, with recita- tion rooms, museum, and cabinet for the department of Natural Science.
223
THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
Dr. Fisk, the principal, at first lived on the Work's place, a mile down street. This was on the site of the first house south of Federal Lane, on the east side of our Main Street, now owned by Wm. T. Eaton. A house was built for the principal in 1827-28 on the site of the present house and used as the residence of the principals for twenty-eight years, until 1856, when it was removed a short distance to the west and fitted up for students, and the new one was built.
In 1851, the building known as Fisk Hall was erected; and in 1854 the old laboratory was removed and Binney Hall took its place. On the 4th of January, 1856, the boarding-house took fire and was entirely consumed. A substantial brick building was begun in August of that year and completed in 1857, when it was again destroyed by the flames. After nearly two years' delay, another building to take its place was com- menced, and was ready for students at the fall term in 1861, and has been in use since that time. It was named "Rich Hall" in honor of one of the principal donors of the fund for its erection.
In 1896, the Smith Memorial Gymnasium was erected, at a cost of about $45,000, given by Horace Smith, or his estate, for that purpose. In June, 1911, the school was closed as a co-educational institution, and extensive changes and altera- tions were made in Rich Hall, and some improvements in other buildings, and was opened in September, 1912, as a School for Boys. The present principal, or "head master," is Gaylord W. Douglas. We hope the Academy will be as successful in its new field of labor, as it has been in the past.
From a printed catalogue of the Academy I gather some items of interest. The cover page reads:
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
CATALOGUE
Wesleyan Academy
WILBRAHAM, MASS.
SUMMER AND FALL TERMS 1
1836
The catalogue contains the names of 202 males, and 198 females who attended the school, making a total of 400. But, the names of 43 males and 52 females are marked with a dash, to show that they had left the school. Probably some who attended the summer term, did not attend in the fall, and some who attended the fall term, did not attend in the summer.
The place where the students boarded, or roomed is also given.
79 males boarded at "Seminary," as it is called, and 50 females at "Seminary L. A."
74 males and 97 females boarded, or had rooms, in private houses, the names of the places being given. 18 females made their home with Miss Allen, 12 with Mrs. Potter, 8 males and 3 females with Mrs. Moody, 10 males with Rev. E. Otis, and in smaller numbers at other places. In all, the names of 32 places are given where the students boarded, or had rooms; many probably boarded themselves, and that custom was continued down to quite recent times.
The Catalogue continues,
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
"TERMS AND VACATIONS
"The year is divided into four Terms, corresponding as nearly as possible with the four Seasons. The Winter Term will commence on the first Wednesday in December, and the Spring Term on the first Wednesday in March. The Winter and Spring Terms will each be preceded by a vacation of one week.
"BOARD
"The price of board, exclusive of washing, fuel and lights, $1.50 per week. Washing, 25 cts. per doz. Board may be obtained in private families for from $1.50 to $2.00 per week.
"PRICE OF TUITION
"For common English studies, per Term .
$3.00
For each higher branch of Mathematics
.50
Botany
.50
Natural Philosophy
.75
Chemistry
1.00
Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and Italian
1.00
Ornamental Branches
3.00
"In no case, however, shall the charges for regular instruction exceed $5 per Term, except for Music, the Ornamental Branches, and Lectures in Book-Keeping."
In regard to the location of the Academy building, I copy from the History of Wilbraham Academy, published in 1893.
"In the minds of the committee, Calvin Brewer's place, next the store had the preference .- Sixty-five acres in that beautiful locality for $3,500, was not high .- They made further search in the vicinity, coming back each time to this spot. The com- mittee is ordered to close the bargain. The papers are drawn up .- The bargain was nearly closed, the owner thought it was closed, when the committee began to hesitate and inquire. They looked at the Brown farm and the Merrick farm with some longing, only to return to the Brewer place. The board ordered the deeds 'to be executed and placed in the hands of a third party until April when the trustees may have the option of taking them and paying therefor, should they be unable, meantime, to effect a purchase of the Merrick farm.' 'The
226
THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
purchase of the Merrick farm was not effected. The Brewer trade also failed, which proved so great a grief to the owner that he applied to the trustees for damages.
"But the arbitrators to whom the matter was referred exonerated the committee of the board."
It is a matter of interest to us today, as to the location of those places. The Merrick farm was about one fourth of a mile south of the present location of the academy. The place is now owned by Mr. M. C. Wade, but was owned by the Merrick family for more than one hundred and fifty years.
The Brewer farm included the land on both sides of Main Street, now occupied by the Methodist parsonage and my own home, on the west side, and by the store and house of F. A. Gurney on the east side. The farm was about 21 rods wide and extended easterly to the "middle road," and westerly to near Pole Bridge Brook. Bounded southerly by Springfield Street, part of the way, and northerly by the north line of the road leading up the mountain.
TOWN LOAN AND SURPLUS REVENUE
I have made a diligent search to find something definite on this subject, but have not succeeded as well as I hoped.
From the Deacon Warriner will, a copy of which will be found on another page, it will be seen that he left a legacy of £200 to the town, the income to be used for the support of schools. There were also two school lots, each containing about 145 acres, which were sold about 1772. The school lots were about half as large as the ministry lots, and probably sold for about $416. There was also some overplus land, the sale of which may have increased this sum.
THE SURPLUS REVENUE
In 1836 the United States had a surplus of money in the treasury, and on June 23, 1836, Congress passed an Act that all money in the treasury above $5,000,000 should be deposited with the states in proportion to their representation in Congress,
III
228
THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
subject to be called for by the United States, under certain specified conditions.
In the Acts of the Massachusetts Legislaturc of 1837, Chapter 109, it was "Provided that the several towns in the State shall receive their proportional share" of the fund, subject to be called back by the State Treasurer, if required by the United States Treasurer. Section 4 provided, "The several towns aforesaid shall apply the money so deposited with them, or the interest upon the same, to those public objects of expenditure for which they may now lawfully raise and appropriate money, and to no other purpose." The Act further provided that "$2,500.00 of the money should be retained by the State and loaned, and the income to be paid annually as follows: The income from $1,000.00, to the treasurer of the District of Marshpee. One half of the income from $1,200.00, to the guardian of the Chappequiddick and Christiantown indians, and one half to the benefit of the indians at Gay Head; And to the treasurer of the Herring Pond indians, the income of $300.00. All of the income to be used for the support of schools in said places." I have copied this last section to show some of the wards the state had seventy-five years ago.
I learn from the office of the Secretary of State, that the State of Massachusetts received, in three payments, the sum of $1,335,673.58.
The State Treasurer informs me that there was paid for the town of Wilbraham as follows: "On May 17, 1837 there was paid to Hon. John Howard $2,965.65." And, "on July 27, 1837, there was paid to C. Sprague Esq. $1,146.10." Making a total of $4,111.75. The State Treasurer says: "It is apparent that in 1837 these checks were drawn to individuals. I assume that Messrs. Howard and Sprague must have been designated by the town to receive this money." I do not find that there were any such men as "Hon. John Howard," or, "C. Sprague Esq.," then living in this town, or in any of the surrounding towns, at that time. But evidently the town received the money. The town treasurer's account for many years, shows that he received "$56.09, interest on the town loan" each year,
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THE HISTORY OF WILBRAHAM
previous to 1838. Which would imply that the fund then was $934.84.
Beginning with 1838, the sum received for interest is much more, sometimes more than $300 in one year. On March 29, 1839, the treasurer credits himself, "Cash paid for Blank Book for Committee on Loans, $1.25."
Probably the several funds were placed with the Loan Com- mittee, and loaned by them to individuals, and when the interest was paid to the committee, it was handed over by them to the town treasurer. The first definite reference in the treasurer's account to the surplus revenue, that I have found is, "Mar. 28, 1838, By Cash Surplus Revenue for Bridge $300.00." Probably this $300 was used in building the bridge over the Chicopee River, called "Red Bridge." For, on April 6, 1837, the town "Voted to unite with the town of Ludlow in rebuilding the bridge over Chicopee river near Jonathan Burr's," and chose "John Carpenter and Abel Bliss a committee to carry the same into effect." The next reference is, "Apr. 2, 1838, Voted that when the town receives the residue of the Surplus Revenue the selectmen be instructed to take $450.00 of the same to pay monies they have borrowed."
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