USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Woburn > The history of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. from the grant of its territory to Charlestown, in 1640, to the year 1680 > Part 48
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
operation in Woburn twenty-one tanning and currying estab- lishments, which tanned and curried leather to the value of $1,723,450, and employed five hundred and fifty-four hands. There were also four establishments for making patent and enamelled leather, estimated at $285,550, and finding employ for fifty-eight hands. At the same time, there were manufac- tured in the town 758 pairs of boots of all kinds, and of shoes of all kinds 160,145 pairs, the making of which boots and shoes employed two hundred and three males and one hundred and five females, and the total value of which was estimated to be $254,190. And although in this latter branch of business, -the manufacturing of boots and shoes, - Woburn was excelled in 1865 by two or three towns in Middlesex County, as Holliston and Hopkinton, yet there was no town in the county which then equalled it in the extent and value of its tanning and currying.7
WEALTH. - An almost uninterrupted increase of the popula- tion and business of the town, since the present century com- menced, has vastly increased its wealthı. Some judgment of this increase may be formed by comparing the taxes of 1800 and of 1865. In 1800, the sum assessed for town purposes was only $2,205, and for State and county taxes, $613.50, making a total of $2,818.50.8 But in 1865, the sum total assessed for all pur- poses, State, county and town, was $87,432.37.9
Again, in 1865, the personal property assessed in Woburn was
The real estate - -
$2,068,021 00
3,144,455 00
Total valnation - $5,212,476 00
Whereas the total valuation in 1860, was - 4,504,341 00
Showing a gain in five years, of $708,135 00
WOBURN BRANCH RAILROAD. - Another great improvement made in the condition of Woburn during the present century
7 Industry of Massachusetts, May 1, 1865, p. 419.
8 Town Records, Vol. XIII., pp. 26, 29, 30.
9 Town Report, 1866, p. 51.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
has resulted from the establishment of the Woburn Branch Railroad. This road was chartered in 1843, and was opened for travel December 30, 1844. And it has unquestionably been the means of greatly enlarging both the business and the wealth of the town. Such are the facilities it affords for the speedy transportation both of persons and of freight, that gentlemen of Woburn who have business in Boston, or goods to be conveyed to or from there, may, by means of the cars, go to the city in the morning, transact their business, and return to Woburn at noon or night, if they please; and thus may share in the advantages of Boston for trade, combined with the almost uninterrupted enjoyment of domestic intercourse and the comforts of home.
The following estimate, kindly furnished me by Mr. Alvah Wood, ticket-master on this road, of the business and travel done upon it for one year between Woburn and Boston, or between Woburn and some or other of the towns between, shows that the citizens of Woburn have not been slow to per- ceive and improve the privileges which this road afforded them.
" The amount received at Woburn Centre for tickets, for the year 1866, was - - - $21,185 46
" The amount received for local freight - 19,486 11
" through freight - 70,952 14 "
" Total collections for 1866 - - $111,623 71 " The above amount is exclusive of commutation tickets, of which there are about 130, which at $72 per year, would add to the total $9,360.
" Number of passengers [in 1866 ?] from Woburn Centre, 136,000."
BUILDINGS. - Since the present century came in, the vast increase of wealth in Woburn has effected a marked improve- 'ment in its buildings of every description. In 1800, the only considerable public edifice was the church on the training-field; and that, though then capacious enough to accommodate the people in their weekly worship, was erected close to the road from Wilmington to Medford, was without porch, without steeple,
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
and had nothing of elegance to recommend it. And as to the private dwelling-houses of the town at that period, though, generally speaking, they were substantially built, neat and con- venient, yet (if we may except the Baldwin mansion) there was nothing beautiful or attractive about them. But now we sec scattered in all parts of the town, and quite thickly in the centre, large and costly dwelling-houses, beautiful to look to, and some even approaching magnificence. We see a convenient town-house, instead of a contracted school-house, or a small chamber over the church porch, to hold town meetings in. We see a Lyceum Hall, intended for large gatherings of the people on secular occasions, unsurpassed in capaciousness and elegance by few if any buildings in the neighborhood, of the like design. We sce a lofty High School House, which is an ornament and an honor to the town; and we see four houses for public worship, all of them highly respectable in appearance, and well adapted to their intended use; and two of them in particular, stately, imposing (as well as costly) structures, calculated in a measure to excite in a spectator from abroad those sentiments of pious awe, which the exercises within are professedly designed to cherish and promote. And ere many months have passed away, an additional church to the above four may be expected to be seen in Woburn, viz: a new Catholic church, which is now in process of erection, and which promises to be an elegant house of worship, and sufficiently large to accommodate the numerous worshippers of that denomination in the town.
POOR FARM. - During the latter half of the last century, the question was often agitated in town meeting, What shall be done with the helpless poor, instead of boarding them out in private families ? and resolves were repeatedly passed to build or procure a workhouse, in which the poor might be employed and maintained.1º In particular, it was voted at a general town meeting, April 7, 1794, 1. To have the poor of the town sup- ported in a workhouse; 2. That the selectmen be a committee
10 Town Records, Vol. VII., pp. 56, 59; Vol. VIII., pp. 104, 147 ; Vol. XI., p. 153.
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to procure a house for that purpose. 3. That the selectmen should not support or assist any of the poor, except those who live in the workhouse.11 Nothing effectual however was then done to this end; and the above and other numerous Resolves on this subject all came to nothing. But since 1800, a Poor Farm of suitable extent, with the requisite buildings thereon, has been purchased by the town; and the poor are there com- fortably provided for; and the old matter of discussion and debate on this subject has been put to rest.
CEMETERY .- The original Woburn burying-ground was sit- uate, it is well known, on the hill in the centre of the town. But this revered spot, where the remains of the honored fathers of the town were committed to the dust, having long since been filled, a place for a new burying-ground was purchased not far from the railroad station, about the close of the last century. But this too, in process of time, proving inadequate for the pur- pose intended, a large tract of ground conveniently situated for a public Cemetery for a town like Woburn, has been purchased for this use since 1800. This tract, now enlarged to about twenty- eight or thirty acres, has been securely fenced, and laid out into lots, which have been taken up by a large proportion of the families in the place ; and many of them are now distinguished by suitable ornaments, and exhibit impressive tokens of the respectful re- membrance cherished by the living in Woburn for their honored and beloved dead. And for its future enlargement, the sum of five thousand dollars has been recently left by Mr. Sewell Flagg, a citizen of the Town, who died June 17, 1866.ª
11 Town Records, Vol. XII., p. 141.
a Town Report for 1867, p. 61. The town voted, April 7, 1845, that the selectmen be a committee to purchase, for a burial place, eight or ten acres of Mr. Choate (Hon. Charles Choate?) which had been offered for the purpose, at $75.00 per acre. At the same time, a committee of three was appointed by the chair, to nominate a committee of five, to lay out the new burial ground. Agreeably to its instructions, the committee of five chosen, viz : Gen. Abijah Thompson, Col. Moses F. Winn, Messrs. Oliver C. Rogers, Samuel T. Richardson and Nathaniel A. Richardson, laid out the ground which was purchased by the selectmen, into lots, appraised
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
SCHOOLS .- Since the commencement of the present century, great progress has been made in the public schools in Woburn, and in measures for securing a good education therein. In 1795, the town erected within its then bounds, nine school-houses, build- ings of contracted dimensions and scanty accommodations, at an expense of about £600, or $2,000.12 In 1799, at the incorpo- ration of the Second Parish, as Burlington, five only of those school-houses, estimated as worth £350, or $1,126, were retained by Woburn ; 12 and in each of them was kept a separate school. But in 1865, the town had twelve school-houses, most of them new, large and handsome, and all of them convenient for their intended use ; viz, the High School House, the Central Advanced, and ten others beside, in which are kept twenty-two schools, Primary, Intermediate, Advanced or Mixed,13 and the whole twelve, with their fixtures and the land they stand upon, are valued at $55,500.13
the lots, and advertised them for sale at auction, October 30, 1845. Previ- ously to the auction, however, this burial ground was solemnly conse- crated to its intended use as follows :
"The Order of the Ceremonies at the Consecration of the Woburn Cemetery on Tuesday, October 30, 1845, was as follows, viz :
"1. Invocation by Rev. Webster B. Randolph.
"2. Voluntary by the Marion Band.
"3. Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Silas B. Randall.
"4. An Original Hymn, composed for the occasion, by Mrs. Mary L. Bennett.
"5. Address by Rev. Joseph Bennett.
" 6. Conscerating Prayer, by Rev. Luther Wright.
"7. Old Hundred.
" 8. Benediction by Rev. Silas B. Randall.
" The day was fine, and the ceremonies were very interesting. They commenced at one o'clock, P. M., and continued for about an hour. It has been estimated there were above one thousand people present on the occa- sion." - Notice of Nathan Wyman, Jr., town clerk, in Town Records, Vol. XVI., p. 378.
12 Town Records, Vol. XII., pp. 143, 144, 195. By the terms of separation, Woburn was entitled to six of the nine school-houses. But as one which belonged to it stood within the bounds of Burlington, it was either sold to Burlington at auction, according to order of the town, or by some mutual agreement Burlington was allowed to keep it in possession. - Town Records, Vol. XIII., pp. 21, 44, 45.
13 Town Report, 1866, pp. 18, 50.
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HISTORY OF WOBURN.
In 1799, after the separation of Burlington, $300 was voted for the support of schooling in Woburn.14 In 1800, this sum was increased to $350,15 and gradually in subsequent years, to $400, to $500, to $600, etc., etc., and April 20, 1839, the town voted to raise $1,200 for the support of schools. But in 1865, the town was at the cost of $10,500 and upwards, for school purposes ; from which, after deducting $400 paid for the care of school-rooms, there will remain $10,000 and upwards, appro- priated to the compensation of teachers.16
Nor is the progress of the schools in Woburn more conspic- uous than the increased number and accommodations of its school- houses, and in the liberal sums latterly granted by the town for the payment of able teachers therein, than in the increased variety of studies pursued in them, the improved method of taking those studies in orderly succession, and the standard character of some, (at least) of the books that are used.17
The books introduced into the Woburn schools in 1792, by the committee appointed " to recommend some uniform system of instruction," formed by no means a contemptible list.18 At that that day, for instance, " Perry's Spelling Book," and " Child's Friend," were used not only in Woburn, but very extensively and successfully elsewhere, for teaching children to read and spell ; " Pike's Arithmetic" was a text-book in Harvard College, as late as 1800; "Cheever's Accidence" was in such high repute for beginners in Latin, that it passed through twenty editions from the press, - and was still further recommended by the long and eminently successful experience of its venerable author, Master Ezekiel Cheever, who spent nearly seventy years of his life, in teaching at New Haven, Ipswich, Charlestown and Boston, and who died, head master of Boston Latin School, in 1708, aged ninety-three. And as to " Corderius," " Eutropius," and " Cas- talis," they were in general if not universal use, in academies and classical schools, as suitable introductions to Virgil and Cæsar's Commentaries.
14 Town Records, Vol. XII., pp. 353-355.
15 Town Records, Vol. XIII., pp. 13, 40.
16 Town Report, 1866, pp. 18, 21.
17 Town Report, 1866, pp. 43, 44, compared with Town Records, Vol. XII., p. 75.
18 Town Records, Vol. XII., p. 75.
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But what gives the common, public schools of Woburn of the present day the superiority over those which were kept there sixty years ago, is not that all the books used in them now are decidedly preferable to all the school-books of former days; but it is the orderly, thorough system of study now established in them, and by the aid of which, gradual yet sure advances are now made from the lower and easier branches of learning to those which are higher, but more intricate or difficult.
In the public schools of Woburn, according to present arrange- ments, there is a regular progressive course of study, calculated to employ each scholar who goes through it, fourteen years; viz, three years in the primary school, till he be eight years old ; three years in the intermediate; four years in the advanced or grammar school, and four years in the high school, where his education is completed. Beginning with the first rudiments of learning in the primary school, he is there taught Sargent's Charts, Primer and First Reader; Robinson's Progressive Pri- mary Arithmetic, and Cornell's Primary Geography; with exer- cises on the slate and black-board. After remaining three years in the primary school, he enters the intermediate school, where he abides three years more, continuing his attention to reading and spelling, in the use of Sargent's Second Reader and Spelling Book; pursues the study of Robinson's Progressive, Intellectual, and Rudiments of Written Arithmetic, and Cornell's Inter- mediate Geography ; and at the same time exercising himself in. writing, singing, and drawing maps, etc., on the slate and black- board. Three years afterwards, he is admitted into the advanced or grammar school, where, in addition to continued attention to reading, spelling and writing, and to Robinson's arithmetics, and to Cornell's Geography, he takes up the study of familiar science, English Grammar, and Lossing's History of the United States. Finally, after being connected four years with the grammar school, he enters the high school, where for four years more he enjoys the privilege of learning Latin or French, and, at the selection of his parents, algebra, geometry, chemistry, or botany ; ancient or modern history ; natural, moral or mental philosophy; astronomy, Constitution of the United
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States; rhetoric, and miscellaneous exercises in arithmetic, surveying, geography, book-keeping, declamation, English lan- guage, reading, composition.19
PUBLIC TOWN LIBRARY .- This important and valuable In- stitution, unknown to the inhabitants of Woburn in the last century, originated in the suggestion of one of the citizens of the town, Jonathan Bowers Winn, Esq., in 1854. At town meeting, in November, that year, he offered to give towards a Free Public Library the money he had received, as a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1853, provided the town would give a like sum for the same purpose. At March Meeting, 1855, the town voted to accept Mr. Winn's offer; and appropriated the sum of three hundred dollars, to be expended, with Mr. Winn's donation, in the purchase of books for a public library. It likewise authorized the Selectmen to draw from the treasury such additional sums as might be found necessary to providing a room for the proposed library, and fitting it up with suitable con- veniences. It also chose a committee of seven persons, and gave them full powers, on the town's behalf, to provide and furnish a room, to purchase books, to appoint a librarian, and to establish all necessary By-Laws, Rules and Regulations for the observance of those who should make use of the library.20
Thus empowered, the Library Committee, consisting of J. B. Winn, Albert H. Nelson, Esq., Joshua P. Convers, Esq., Dr. Truman Rickard, Messrs. Lewis L. Whitney, Josiah Linscott and Albert Thompson, proceeded promptly to fulfil the objects of their appointment. They purchased books, which they had selected with great care, for the library ; they prepared a room in the Town Hall for its reception ; and they successfully exerted their influence to increase their means for enlarging the library, in procuring donations both of money and books. And thus,
19 Town Report, 1866, pp. 43, 44. It is not expected that each scholar in the high school should engage in the study of all the branches of learn- ing here enumerated, but only of such as their respective parents should select, and prefer to have them pursue.
20 Catalogue of 1856, pp. 3, 4.
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within three years from the time that the subject was first men- tioned, they had the satisfaction of publicly announcing that a valuable library of more than 1,700 volumes was open, without cost or charge, to all the resident citizens of the town, whether poor or rich, who were twenty-one years of age, and who would subscribe the By-Laws of the Institution, and conform to their requirements.20
In 1865, the library was removed to a locality more com- modious and desirable than the room which it had occupied hitherto in the Town Hall. There a new library room was fitted up for it, and opened in October ; the books were arranged anew ; an addition was made to them of fifty volumes by purchase ; of three hundred and seventy-five volumes which had once be- longed to the Young Men's Society, but which now, with the consent of the surviving owners, were incorporated with the town library; and of one hundred and fifty volumes more, belonging to the Agricultural Library, which, with the consent of the proprietors, were now deposited in the town library, under the care of the town.21
With these additions, the whole number of books belonging to the town library, according to the catalogue recently prepared, is 3,298 : 21 and to provide for its future increase, a generous legacy of five hundred dollars, bequeathed for its benefit in the Will of the late Hon. Bowen Buckman, Esq., who died November 16, 1864, has been placed in the hands of the Selectmen. This bequest the present Library Committee recommend, should be allowed to remain as a permanent fund, of which the interest only should be annually expended.21
Beside the town library, Woburn has three other institutions of the kind : viz.
1. The Charitable Religious Library, connected with the First Congregational Church, which was founded, 1807, under the auspices of Rev. Mr. Chickering, and which now contains about eight hundred volumes.22
2. North Woburn Library, founded November 1840, and con- taining at this present time seven hundred and five volumes.23
21 Town Report of 1866, pp. 55-61.
22 Dr. Ephraim Cutter.
23 Communication of N. Wyman, Esq., town elerk.
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3. Woburn Academy Library, containing three hundred or four hundred volumes.22
To the above excellent institutions, and a few others of a similar character that might be named, which have all originated since the present century commenced, may be added,
1. The Woburn Agricultural and Mechanic Association, incor- porated March 5, 1830 : J. B. Winn, President; John Johnson, Secretary.23
2. The Young Men's Literary Association, organized November 7, 1855 : E. F. Wyer, President; H. A. Carter, Secretary.23
3. Irish Literary Association, organized 1857. Timothy Cor- coran, President ; Patrick Murphy, Secretary.23
4. Natural History Society, organized 1859. John Cummings, Jr., President ; J. F. Frisbie, Secretary.23
SABBATH SCHOOLS .- With this popular and laudable means of imparting and widely diffusing religious instruction among the young, Woburn is well provided. In former days, heads of fam- ilies in this as well as in other towns throughout New England appear to have been very diligent and conscientious in teaching their children the great principles of the Christian religion and morality by frequently exercising them in the catechism then in use. And, accordingly, an aged minister in this vicinity (now I trust in heaven) observed some years ago, in conversing with me upon Sabbath Schools, " Why, the fact is, sir, that in my boy- hood, every family was a Sabbath School." Pastors of churches, too, at that day, were accustomed to consider themselves as under indispensable obligations to hear and examine the chil- dren and youth of their respective charges, at stated times, in the catechism. And hence, when Rev. John Fox, the third minister of Woburn, became totally blind, as he was for several years the latter part of his life, he used, it is said on good authority, 24 to have the young people of his flock come at times to his chamber, and there to catechise them, and address to them
24 Alden's Epitaphs, Vol. I., p. 229, No. 238.
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his pious counsels.ª And on the other hand, one of the charges alleged (with what justice I cannot say) against Rev. Mr. Sar- geant, of Woburn, before the Council that dismissed him in 1798, was, that he had neglected to catechise the children of his people.25 But since the introduction and establishment of Sab- bath Schools in this town, at a period subsequent to the com- mencement of the present century, they seem to have been welcomed here and elsewhere as a means much preferable to the catechism for instructing the young in the knowledge of Christian truth and duty, and to have displaced, in very con- siderable measure at least, the public catechetical exercises of former years.
Woburn contains at the present day (1867) seven distinct Sabbath Schools, viz :
1. Baptist, organized May 1818. No. of Scholars, 33926
2. First Congregational, " June 17, 1818. 66 5 75 27
3. North Woburn Congl., " November 1846. 150 26
4. Methodist, August 1, 1850. 66 141 26
5. Unitarian, 66 May 1853. 66
165 26
6. Protestant Episcopal, June 1866. 40 26
7. Roman Catholic, 200 28
Making a total of 1,610 children and youth, who enjoy the inestimable privilege of weekly instruction in the all-important truths and duties of religion and
a Such too, apparently, was the custom of Rev. Mr. Jackson, junior col- league to Rev. Mr. Fox. He used the Catechism in teaching the children and youth of his congregation the great truths of religion and morality. Prince, a negro slave, (belonging to Rev. Timothy Walker, first minister of Penacook, now Concord, N. H.),a who originated in Woburn, and who eventually returned to Woburn again, and died here in the almshouse, September 6, 1825, aged 115 years, once told Col. Leonard Thompson of this town, that he remembered Mr. Jackson's hearing him repeat his cate- chism.b
" Boutou's History of Concord, N. II., pp. 252, 253. b Col. Leonard Thompson. 25 Address to the Council by the Joint Committee of the Church and Parish. See Parish Records, Vol. III., p. 45.
26 Communication of N. Wyman, Esq., town clerk.
27 Congregational Quarterly, Jannary 1867, page 73.
28 Communication of Rev. Father Qually, May 1867.
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morality, of whom a considerable proportion derive no benefit on these topics from parental teachings and example, and who, destitute of the advantage in these respects which the Sabbath Schools afford them, might be left to grow up in heathenish igno- rance, the pests of civil society, and the grief of any Christian community in which they reside.
Bank .- No public institution for furnishing money upon loan existed in Woburn previously to 1800. The Bank of Woburn was incorporated in 1853, with a capital stock of $100,000. It has since, viz, in January 1865, been changed to "First National Bank" of Woburn, with its capital stock increased to $300,000.29 It is a prosperous institution ; affords a safe and profitable in- vestment for money ; and proves a great accommodation to the business men of the town. Abijah Thompson, President ; E. J. Jenks, Cashier.29
Woburn Five Cents Savings Bank; Incorporated, April 1854 : Amount of deposits, $90,379.57. Abijah Thompson, President ; James N. Dow, Secretary.29
An excellent though recent institution ; affording the poor, the fatherless and the widow, a means of saving a portion of their scanty earnings, which might otherwise have been thoughtlessly wasted and scattered to the winds ; and of gathering in time, by little and little, a sum, which in some unforeseen exigency, may prove a source to them of unspeakable comfort and advantage.
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