USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume IV > Part 30
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BRADFORD JUNIOR COLLEGE-As a valuable contribution to the history of Haverhill and Essex County, the following review of the annals of the Bradford Junior College is, for the most part, reprinted from material supplied by Virginia Kramer, libra- rian, of Bradford, Haverhill, Massachusetts.
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As a sub-title the phrase, "The Evolution of a New England Academy" would be both descriptive and enlightening.
In the spring of 1803, thirty men in the parish of Bradford agreed to found a school for the education of their children. So prompt was their action that in three months, on the first of June, a building had been erected, a preceptor and a preceptress had been engaged, and a school of fifty-one pupils had been assembled. Of the thirty- seven girls and fourteen boys, many came from neighboring towns. Such was the beginning of Bradford Academy, the first incorporated academy in New England which was destined to become a school for the higher education of young women.
To trace the development of Bradford Academy is to follow trails leading to com- mon highways of our present educational system. The unusual advantages which at- tracted students throughout New England in the early days have won, for many dec- ades, a national patronage. As early as 1815, during the administration of Abigail Hasseltine and Benjamin Greenleaf, stu- dents began to enroll from the territory outside New England, although the stage- coach was the only public means of travel. Mr. Greenleaf, who became well known as the author of texts in mathematics, and Miss Hasseltine, who was eager to create opportunities for girls, were pioneers in the field of higher education. Miss Hasseltine was so successful in her endeavors that in 1828 a separate boarding-house for her girls was erected. This segregation virtually created a separate school for women, which in 1836 attained complete independence through the resignation of Mr. Greenleaf and the withdrawal of the boys.
Thus, within a few months of the found- ing of Mount Holyoke Seminary, Miss Has- seltine became principal of Bradford Acad-
emy, in charge of one hundred and fifty girls. Her vigorous protest against the apathy of the world towards the educa- tional needs of women was expressed in the catalogue for 1836.
It was this indomitable spirit, together with the united efforts of friends of Brad- ford, which made possible a second and more suitable building in 1841. At the close of the following year, the first regular graduating class of seven members received diplomas upon completing a course in the usual subjects taught in the college of that period. The embroidery and painting of an earlier day had already given place to Latin, French, history and metaphysics. A teacher of elocution was employed as early as 1845, and a teacher of gymnastics in 1864. From the beginning of its development as a school for girls, Bradford has been a leader in the introduction of advanced subjects and meth- ods of teaching.
During the administration of Abby John- son, the main part of the present build- ing was erected. Its dedication was made notable in 1870 by the address of the Rev. Phillips Brooks. John Lord, the historian ; Henry Hudson, the Shakespearean scholar, and Charles Young, professor of Astronomy, soon were engaged as lecturers to supple- ment and broaden the curriculum. The department of music, which had been intro- duced very early, became one of the most important in the school.
It was in 1902, during the principalship of Laura A. Knott, that a course of study definitely designated for high school grad- uates was differentiated from the older "general course" and from the strictly col- lege preparatory course. This was the natu- ral foundation for Bradford Junior College. An enlargement of the equipment for physi- cal education by the building of the gym- nasium, the addition of a large athletic field
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and an increase of outdoor sports met the needs of the students for healthful recrea- tion.
The material equipment was further im- proved during the principalship of Marion Coats from 1918 to 1927. An addition to the gymnasium, including a stage and a swimming pool, and a new infirmary were acquisitions. A separate house of residence for many of the faculty was also acquired. In 1920 the two-year program of studies for high school graduates was revised to meet the requirements of a junior college.
In 1927 Dr. Katharine M. Denworth, a professionally trained administrator and supervisor of junior college and secondary schools, became president of Bradford. She reorganized both the Junior College and the Academy in accordance with policies ap- proved by nationally recognized educators, strengthened the faculty and improved the physical facilities. Through her efforts Brad- ford became the first Junior College to meet the standards set by the New England Asso- ciation of College and Secondary Schools.
From the beginning, instruction beyond the high-school level has been offered at Bradford Academy, and for more than thirty years there have been given courses equiva- lent to those of the freshman and sophomore years of four-year colleges. It was there- fore deemed advisable in 1932 to alter the corporate name to Bradford Junior College. In 1934 the trustees decided to discontinue the Preparatory School in June, 1935, in order to concentrate all Bradford's resources and energies upon the development of a junior college of the highest type and quality.
Bradford Junior College is surrounded by a wide sweep of lawn studded by fine old trees. The lawn merges into the grove, a large expanse of natural woodland, inter- sected by winding paths. The campus com- prises an area of thirty-seven acres. In addi-
tion to wide lawns and woodland, there are tennis courts grounds for various games, and an athletic field of twelve acres, used principally for hockey and basketball, favor- ite sports at Bradford. In the midst of the campus grounds and within the grove, nestles beautiful Lake Tupelo, dear to many generations of Bradford girls for its memo- ries of boating and skating.
The main building, a spacious, ivy-covered structure of red brick with a beautiful colo- nial facade, houses the recitation rooms, the laboratories and the students' living quar- ters. The department of science has two laboratories, the botanical laboratory and the chemical laboratory, recently remodeled and reëquipped. A carefully selected library of more than 12,000 books and pamphlets is housed on the third floor of the main building. Through several trust funds, ad- ditions are made at the rate of about five hundred volumes a year. The Haverhill Public Library of 125,000 volumes, is also available to students. There is an art studio, lighted with sky lights, and possessing an extensive collection of casts and other art materials. The gymnasium is large, hav- ing a clear floor space of forty by ninety feet, ample for indoor games, and a well equipped stage for the presentation of plays. A spa- cious swimming pool is also provided. An attractive homelike brick building houses the infirmary, in part the gift of students of the classes from 1925 to 1927, inclusive.
T. FRANCIS KELLEHER-In legal circles of the Boston district T. Francis Kelleher is widely and favorably known. Since 1928 he has been carrying on his pro- fessional practice in the city of Newbury, his birthplace, and because of his activities in community affairs has become widely known.
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Mr. Kelleher was born July 13, 1897, at Newburyport, Massachusetts, son of Daniel F. and Bridget (Quill) Kelleher, both of Newburyport families. His father died in 19II, and his mother in 1898. In the paro- chial schools of his native city, T. Francis Kelleher, of this review, received his first formal education, and later attended Ames- bury High School, in Essex County. Be- coming a student at Suffolk Law School, he received the Bachelor of Laws degree from that institution with the class of 1924, and in the same year was admitted to the bar of this Commonwealth. He began the prac- tice of his profession in Boston, in associa- tion with his partner of four years' stand- ing, Leo J. Halloran, but, in 1928, he came to Newburyport. Since that year he has gone ahead with his practice independently, and has been successful in all his under- takings, professional and otherwise.
Giving his energies to the general wel- fare of his profession, as well as to his own clients, Mr. Kelleher belongs to the New- buryport Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, and the Massachusetts State Bar Association. His abilities have been also engaged in community service, notably as city solicitor in 1928-29-30-31, during the administration of Mayor Andrew J. Gillis. Fraternally Mr. Kelleher is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose, and he has aided worthy civic proj- ects through his active membership in such groups as the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Ould Newbury Golf Club.
At all times Mr. Kelleher has striven to promote the best interests of his fellow- citizens in Newburyport. His fraternal associations are strong, and he especially enjoys the contacts that they give him with men of prominence in different branches of Newburyport life. During the World War,
he enlisted in the Coast Artillery and was assigned to duty at Fort Rodman. Today he is one of the esteemed members and leaders of the local American Legion, being a past vice-commander of the organization here. His church is the parish of the Im- maculate Conception.
In 1928 T. Francis Kelleher married Katherine E. Quirk, of Waltham, Massa- chusetts.
THOMAS GILLISS TODD was born August 21, 1840, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, a son of Seth James and Ellen Maria (Swett) Todd.
Seth James Todd was married to Ellen Maria Swett in July, 1839, and died when his son was one year old. His wife died in 1883.
Thomas Gilliss Todd was educated in the public schools of Washington, District of Columbia, and Newburyport, Massachu- setts, to which city his mother removed. He early determined upon a business career and entered the wholesale dry goods busi- ness in Boston, and later established a business of his own. Subsequently he held for many years responsible positions with R. H. White & Company, Cheney Brothers, the Washington Mills and other large busi- ness establishments of like standing. He was a devout Episcopalian, a lifelong mem- ber of St. Paul's Church in Newburyport and for many years was a vestryman.
He married in June, 1867, Marianna Cushing, daughter of John Newmarch and Mary Lawrence (Brown) Cushing and niece of the Hon. Caleb Cushing.
Thomas Gilliss Todd died at Newbury- port, December 4, 1896, and Mrs. Todd, two years later. By the example of their lives and sterling characters they gave abund- antly to their city, their neighbors, and their friends.
Ernest Wh Homan LemLe
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Four children were born to them, two Reed and Gamage, both for the remainder boys and two girls. The elder daughter, Mary Lawrence, married William Andros Barron, and they reside in Newburyport and in New Hampshire where she is active in church, civic, and social affairs. Thomas Gilliss, Jr., the elder son, was long engaged in the wholesale shoe business. He mar- ried Florence Andrews of Massachusetts, New Hampshire. John Cushing, the sec- ond son, was a well-known yachtsman and sportsman and died at the early age of 4I years.
The younger daughter, Ellen Gilliss, re- sides in Newburyport where she has long been active in church and philanthropic af- fairs.
WILLIAM T. GAMAGE-Although he is now retired from active life, William T. Gamage continues his residence at Glouces- ter, which has been his home throughout his career and where the family name has long been associated with one of the principal businesses of the city. He was born in Gloucester on March 31, 1878, son of Charles H. and Isabel (McCloud) Gamage, who were also natives of Massachusetts and came in their youth to the city of Glouces- ter with their parents. Charles H. Gamage was a founder of the fish business carried on under the name of Reed and Gamage and was also a member of the city government for several years, serving on the board of aldermen.
William T. Gamage, of this record, re- ceived his preliminary education in the pub- lic schools of Gloucester, where he com- pleted the high school course. Subsequently, he entered Amherst College and in 1900 was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately afterwards he entered the fish business with his father and continued with the firm of
of its independent existence and after its merger with several other Gloucester firms to form one of the largest fisheries in this section. He retired from business a num- ber of years ago and has since devoted him- self to the pursuit of the interests of his leisure. Mr. Gamage is a director of the Gloucester Safe Deposit Trust Company, and a member of the University Club of Boston and the Bass Rock Golf Club. He is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons and in this order is a member of various higher bodies, including Bethlehem Commandery, Knights Templar. His residence is on Grapevine Road, East Gloucester.
On June 5, 1913, William T. Gamage mar- ried Marguerite Hastings, of Lynn, and they are the parents of two children: I. Charles H., born in 1914. 2. Peter, born in 1917.
ERNEST WARREN HOMAN, D. D. S. -Among the dental fraternity and the peo- ple of Lynn and Saugus, Massachusetts, Ernest Warren Homan, D. D. S., holds a place of distinction and high esteem. He returned to the larger city as a very young man and established himself in the practice of dentistry in the Odd Fellows Building. He has never changed the location of his offices over a period of more than three dec- ades, although in their present form they are models of modernity in furnishing and equip- ment, and have departments for children and adults, which have merited description and illustration in the magazine "Dental Sur- gery." Dr. Homan was born October 25, 1880, at Saugus, the son of Arthur B. and Miriam Dow (Adams) Homan. His father, who died in Lynn, in April, 1931, at the age of seventy-eight years was for forty-five years prior to his demise associated with C. H. Moulton of Lynnfield, Massachusetts.
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Mrs. Homan, a native of Lynn, who died in Saugus December, 1929, was the daughter of Alfred Adams, of Lynn, and two of her brothers were Union veterans of the Civil War, as was Benjamin Alfred Homan, grand- father of Dr. Homan. The family is directly descended from Captain Frank Homan, of Revolutionary War note, possibly from John Homan, resident of Salem in 1668.
Dr. Ernest Warren Homan was graduated from the Saugus grammar and high schools, the latter in 1898, and entered the Boston Dental College, now the Tufts Dental Col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1902, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Sur- gery. That same year he established his dental headquarters in the Odd Fellows Building, Lynn, where it has since been con- tinued. Dr. Homan is a past president of the Lynn Dental Society, and president of the Northeastern Dental Society. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce ; past president and present secretary of the Kiwa- nis Club, and a director of the Morris Plan Bank, all of Lynn. A student of politics and civic affairs he was a member of the Saugus School Board for six years, and its chairman for half of this period; member of the board of fire engineers of Saugus for three years from 1930; chairman and mem- ber of the board of selectmen of Saugus for two years. Fraternally Dr. Homan is affil- iated with Mt. Carmel Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, in Lynn; William Sutton Lodge, Free and Acepted Masons of Sau- gus, and is a Past High Priest of Henry J. Mills Lodge, Royal Arch Masons; member of Olivet Commandery, Knights Templar, Lynn; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Bos- ton. He is a Past Patron of Tontoquan Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, of Sau- gus, and for twenty-eight years has been a member of the West Lynn Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a
member of Ivy Rebekah Lodge, of Lynn, the Lynn Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, Field and Forest Club of Massachu- setts, North Shore Matrons and Patrons As- sociation. The doctor is on the advisory committee of Saugus Assembly, Order of the Rainbow Girls, board of managers for the Lynn Home for Aged Women, and is sec- retary of the board of trustees of Soldiers Home of Massachusetts in Chelsea ; a past commander of H. M. Warren Camp, No. 34, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War of Wakefield, and was department com- mander in 1916 and 1917, commander-in- chief in 1926 and 1927, and vice-president of the Federated Patriotic Society in 1928. He is a Boy Scout committeeman, a mem- ber of the Bosworth Study Club, and of the Boston and Tufts Alumni societies. His religious affiliations are with the Union Church of Saugus, of which he is a trustee and the superintendent of its Sunday school for the past quarter of a century.
On May 28, 1907, Dr. Ernest Warren Homan married Ida Belle Whitford, native of Gardner, Massachusetts, who died in Sau- gus on December 22, 1914, at the age of twenty-eight years. She was the daughter of Clarence and Belle (Gross) Whitford, both deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Homan were the parents of a son, Arthur Lee Homan, born May 16, 1908, graduate of Boston Uni- versity School of Education, class of 1932, with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science, 1933.
ROBERT E. BURKE-Generally re- garded as dean of the legal profession of Newburyport and certainly one of the old- est lawyers in point of service in the city, Robert E. Burke is an outstanding person- ality of the community. Mr. Burke was born on July 1, 1861, at Lawrence, son of Edward Burke, a wool sorter, and Mary (Anson) Burke, natives of Ireland. He
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received his preparatory education in local public schools and then entered Boston University Law School from which he was graduated in 1885 with the degree of Bach- elor of Laws.
Being admitted to the bar in the same year, he began to practice in Newburyport under his own name and later formed a partnership with Edward E. Crawshaw, under the firm name of Burke & Crawshaw, conducting a general law practice. Mr. Burke brought to his profession capabilities especially fitted for broad legal service, having not only a thorough legal prepara- tion but intellectual and spiritual qualities of a high nature. As his ability became evident, an increasing number of individu- als and business firms sought his judgment and counsel and, continuing with Mr. Craw- shaw as his partner, Mr. Burke has engaged in active practice for a half century. Few men, in any field, are as highly respected by his colleagues as is Mr. Burke.
It would be difficult to find another mem- ber of the bar in Essex County who has given broader or more constructive service to the community in which he lives than Mr. Burke has to Newburyport. He has served as Mayor of Newburyport for three terms, from 1910 to 1913, has served on va- rious boards and committees during the World War, and was a "four-minute" speaker for which he received a certificate in recog- nition for his services. He has been identi- fied with all causes that have had for their purpose the bettering of community condi- tions and has been a generous contributor to welfare enterprises. A member of the Massachusetts State and American Bar associations, Mr. Burke has been signally honored for his legal attainments as well as his personal qualities by being elected presi- dent of the Essex County Bar Association, an office he administered with great ability.
He is familiar to banking circles as a trustee of the Newburyport Institution for Savings.
In 1895 he married Mabel Wood Simp- son, who is a native of Newburyport, and they are the parents of a daughter, Eliza- beth Simpson Burke.
EDWARD E. CRAWSHAW-Among those counsellors whose learning and ability worthily maintain the prestige of the legal profession, is Edward E. Crawshaw, of Newburyport, who has been a resident here for more than thirty years and is prominent in legal, civic and social circles. Mr. Craw- shaw was born on March 10, 1881, the son of William Crawshaw, who was born in New Hampshire, and Mary (Burke) Craw- shaw. He obtained his education in the public schools of Lawrence and then, decid- ing upon a career in law, matriculated at Boston University Law School from which he was graduated in 1904 with a Bachelor Laws degree.
He was admitted to the bar in the same year and began to practice in Newburyport where he soon established himself among the successful attorneys of that city. Not long after he began to practice, he formed a partnership with Robert E. Burke, an- other aggressive member of the bar, and as Burke & Crawshaw the firm became one of the foremost legal counsellors in this section, and served a large clientele. Mr. Crawshaw is known among his colleagues for his clear reasoning, intelligence and sin- cerity, which, together with his personal qualities, have made him one of the most respected professional men and leading citi- zens of Newburyport. Aside from his prac- tice, Mr. Crawshaw is actively interested in municipal and civic affairs and has given a generous share of his time and attention to furthering all worthy causes.
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In 1924 he married Alice G. Conway, of Salem, and they are the parents of five chil- dren: I. William R. 2. Edward E. 3. Catherine. 4. John. 5. James.
ALBERT B. BLAISDELL-The career of Albert B. Blaisdell, of Haverhill, is the history of a self-made man. Mr. Blaisdell is now retired from all business interests except banking and corporation director- ates, but he is still identified in the popular mind with the men's clothing business in which he engaged for many years with re- markable success, and in which he won many friends. He was born on June 25, 1865, at Raymond, New Hampshire, the son of Albert, who was a farmer and whose death occurred two months before his son's birth, and Josephine (Beade) Blaisdell, also a native of New Hampshire.
He received his education in the public schools of his birthplace and came to Hav- erhill in 1882. He obtained employment with the firm of George W. Wentworth, a box manufacturer, and continued in this work when the enterprise was taken over by Varney & Hayes, following the death of Mr. Wentworth. Resigning his position some time later, Mr. Blaisdell entered the employ of the Nichols & Morse Clothing Store on Merrimack Street, and as a cloth- ier began a career in which he was to win large success. Possessing an aptitude for this line of business and being of a quick mind and personable, he soon became known to the well-dressed men of the city as an expert in men's dress. This experience broadened his acquaintanceship with rep- resentative business men and social lead- ers and, having set aside a part of his in- come for several years, established his own men's clothing and haberdashery store, be- ginning business in 1903. His establish- ment was located on Merrimack Street in
the Masonic Temple Building, and became one of the leading concerns of its kind in Haverhill, enjoying the patronage of men who demanded quality merchandise. Mr. Blaisdell conducted his business until 1927 when he sold his interest to devote his time to his duties as a director of the Haverhill Trust Company, the Morris Plan Bank and several Haverhill corporations.
In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Blaisdell is active in the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce ; in Masonic affairs as a mem- ber of Merrimack Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; the Lodge of Perfection ; Aleppo Temple, Boston, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and holds also the thirty-second degree; and is a member of the Pentucket Club. Through- out his career he has supported in every way possible all causes bettering com- munity conditions and has aided welfare movements in a most generous manner.
He married, in 1898, Adelaide L. Hayes, a native of Milton, New Hampshire, and the daughter of Charles H. and Nellie M. (Guile) Hayes. Mr. and Mrs. Blaisdell are active in the work of the Universalist Church.
IRVING L. KEITH-No history of the development of the modern self-freezing in- dividual refrigerator could be written with- out the inclusion of the name of Irving L. Keith, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, founder, and for many years the directing and con- trolling force in the Icemaster Company. Nor would the annals of manufacturing in Haverhill, be complete, particularly of the more recent change from the long dominant shoe industry to other lines, without credit being given to Mr. Keith as a pioneer in these newer kinds of manufacturing. What is a most interesting feature of his career is that he was, at the time he branched out
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