USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Natick > The story of Natick > Part 2
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In 1797 the General Court of Massachusetts required the town of Needham to deed the Leg to Natick. In return, Needham was given the strip of land along the eastern Natick boundary, now including the Hunnewell estates. The new boundary adjustment crystallized the need for a more centrally located meeting house and assembly place and in 1799 a meeting house was finally erected in the present Natick center where the Congregational Church stands today. In those days the new meet- ing house was the center, the center itself being no more than a crossroads-and a compromise.
No important concentration of homes took place in Natick center, as we know it, until the invention of the steam railroad determined the direction of the town's growth. In 1835 a railroad between Boston and Worcester was built, establishing the route of the present Boston and Albany line, and the first Natick railroad station was the local result. Formerly, a projected canal from Norwich, Connecticut, to Boston, that would have used the natural Charles River waterway in part, had led some to believe that South Natick would become the trading center. 711 Railroads, however, superseded canal transportation, the new Natick center grew rapidly and South Natick remains today, hap- pily for lovers of the old and beautiful, very much the same peaceful village that Harriet Beecher Stowe presented to a de- lighted world as "Oldtown" in her Oldtown Folks.
Eliot Church, South Natick. Built in 1828, this was the fifth church erected on precisely the site that John Eliot selected for his meeting house in 1651. This picture, taken some years ago, shows the famous oak tree under which Eliot first preached, at the right and somewhat beyond the church. This tree died several years ago. In the rear of the church can be seen the gate to the old burying ground in which lie many of the leaders familiar in early Natick history. (Photo made in 1895.)
Oldtown Folks is far more than a novel. Mrs. Stowe gathered material for it while living in the
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house that still stands on Pleasant Street. She drew all of the atmosphere, many of the incidents, and almost all of a vivid cast of characters from the memories of FTHỊ her husband, Professor Calvin Stowe, a born-and-bred Natick man. In her pages, Stephen Badger and his picturesque Tory lady come to life again as "Parson and Lady Lothrop"; the beloved ne'er-do-well philosopher, Sam Lawton, wears the thin- nest of all possible disguises as "Sam First Meeting House in Natick center, built 1799 on the site of the present Congrega- tional Church. Lawson"; contemporaries recognized bust- ling tavern-keeper Eliakim Morrill in 'Uncle Fly Sheril," and many more real persons sat for Mrs. Stowe's talented prose portraits. Her Natick in-laws are called "Holyoke" in the book, "Horace Holyoke," the narrator of the story, being Calvin Stowe himself.
But for us of succeeding generations, Oldtown Folks has a value beyond that of a portrait gallery. Mrs. Stowe wrote down all that her husband could tell her of the life of Natick in the early nineteenth century: what was eaten, what was worn, what was read, what was discussed, what was admired, and what was disparaged. Farm and shop, meeting house and tavern, stiff parlor and comfortable kitchen, she captured the life of them all and she had the gift of making her researches enter- taining. In 1869, when her book appeared in the first of its numerous editions, many were still living who could testify to the truth of her descriptions and interpretation.
The growing up of Calvin Stowe, who made this charming book possible, was in many respects typical of that of Natick's ambitious and independent boys. His mother was widowed when he was only four and it was not many years later that he was apprenticed to a South Natick paper mill to learn a trade. But, as far as we can tell, no Natick youngster ever held poverty a disgrace or a deterrent to achieve- ment. Young Calvin's uncle, "Billy" Biglow, was a Harvard graduate, a former principal of the Boston Latin School, and widely known as a poet, satirist, writer, historian, and encyclopedia of general knowledge. To his nephew, such a man could not fail to bring stimulating impressions of the wide world of books, ideas, and people. Calvin's first earnings were spent on text books and, when means per- mitted, he attended the academies at Bradford and Gorham to prepare for college. Later he was one of the most brilliant and popular students at Bowdoin-no mean accomplishment, for this village-bred youth was the classmate and associate of such men as Longfellow, Hawthorne, Horatio Bridges, John P. Hale, and the future Presi- dent Franklin Pierce. In after life he proved his abilities as a minister, writer, editor,
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"As We Were" Actual Natick Scenes with names used in Mrs. Stowe's Oldtown Folks, 1869
1. (Center) "Parson Lothrop's" (Reverend Stephen Badger) house and the Friendship Elms which the Indians planted in 1753. The house still stands on Eliot Street.
2. (Upper right) "Deacon Badger's" (Biglow) grist mill, no longer standing but, in Mrs. Stowe's day still on Pleasant Street.
.
Bonson Your House.
" I'mole 1
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Sounds stand. Hudella
. The crust Chemin 1753-20
3. (Top center) "Tina's" kittens which appear in the story.
4. (Top left) Another view of "Parson Lothrop's" home and elms.
5. (Center right) A 1900 view of the Eliot Street the Stowes knew.
6. (Center left) "Uncle Fly's" (Morrill) Old Tavern, now gone.
7. (Lower right) "Deacon Badger's" (Biglow) house site.
8. (Lower center) The Jewell House, long a Natick landmark.
9. (Lower center) The Eliot Church. "Oldtown's" and ours.
10. (Lower left) "Lady Lothrop's" wed. ding gown, now in Bacon Museum.
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professor of ancient and sacred languages, educator, lecturer, and as the helpful husband of a distinguished woman, Harriet Beecher Stowe. Mrs. Stowe used to say of her husband, "Whenever I don't know the answer to something, I just go to Calvin. He knows everything!"
Of such men, Natick can always be proud. It has been her tradition to give "success stories" in the form of original and energetic minds to the wider world. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the books of Horatio Alger Jr., son of a Natick minister, repeat the theme of adversities overcome by character, transposed to a big city setting. Surely no other writer of boys' stories Harriet Beecher Stowe has so shaped the ideals and ambitions of American youth. Even today Ragged Dick, Phil the Fiddler, Tattered Tom, Mark the Match Boy and others of his many books are well remembered, for they taught the basic virtues of character that have made America great. Horatio Alger died in 1899 at the home of his sister, Mrs. O. Augusta Cheney. His funeral was held in the Eliot Church where his father was long the pastor. His grave is in Glenwood Cemetery, South Natick.
Outstanding among Natick men who made their mark on our national life was Henry Wilson. This was his adopted name, taken in place of his baptismal name, Jeremiah Jones Colbath. Born into circumstances of extreme poverty in Farmington, New Hampshire, he came into Natick as a young laborer recruit of the then-flourish- ing shoe business. The kindly interest of certain citizens, in particular the Reverend Mr. Erasmus D. Moore and Deacon William Coolidge of the First Congregational Church, encouraged young Wilson in his quest for self-improvement. He became a founder of the first Natick Debating Club and there and at the "Lyceum" he learned to express himself vigorously and easily in public. His education was necessarily spasmodic, his financial disappointments were many and discouraging, but his achieve- ments at the time of his death in 1875, at the relatively early age of sixty-four, include school-teaching, the establishment of his own shoe factory, a brigadier- generalship in the state militia, a term as Natick representative in the General Court, three consecutive terms as United States senator and, under President Grant, the office of Vice-President of the United States. During the Civil War he was Colonel of the Twenty-Second Regiment and later, an aide-de-camp with General McClellan and the Army of the Potomac.
Wilson was nationally honored as a liberal and as a Republican who never hesi- tated to put principles before party when the two conflicted, but most especially he
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Henry Wilson
Shop at the corner of West Central and Mill Streets in Natick where Henry Wilson learned the craft of shoe- making as an apprentice. Although this was only one phase in the versatile career of this able and public-spirited political leader, all his utterances were nationally hailed with affection as the words of "The Natick Cobbler" and the tiny building where he earned this title is preserved today as a shrine to his memory and as an inspiration to other poor but industrious young men.
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figures as an eloquent leader of every Congressional step that was taken for the bene- fit of the colored race, those measures that were brought to a triumphant culmination when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. To this remarkable man, Natick was always "home." His house on West Central Street still stands and his body is in Dell Park Cemetery near Lake Cochituate.
When Henry Wilson spoke to the country at large, opposing the spread of slav- ery and the inherent evils of a social system based on slavery, he expressed convic- tions that his Natick neighbors had long shared. They felt that he spoke for them when he attacked any oppression, especially oppression which was established on the irrational ground of race. The traditional passion for justice and fair play rose to crusading fervor during the Civil War when Natick could claim the highest per capita ratio of Union Army volunteers of any section in the entire North. Nor has any such national emergency found Natick slow with the gift of her men. In every war they have contributed heavily to the victory and the town's honor rolls tell a long proud story.
The years have inevitably brought many changes to Natick. Ten public schools and one parochial school have replaced the one-room building that stood on William Boden's gift of land. In a town that disputed for seventy years over a meeting house location, there are now fourteen different churches, representing almost as many varieties of faith, and the congregations live at peace with each other. At the time of the American Revolution it will be recalled that the Natick population totaled five hundred and thirty-three; today the number is nearer nineteen thousand and there
Sam Lawson House
So named in "Oldtown Folks," it was really the home of Samuel Lawton. It was built about 1798 and is situated on the west side of Eliot Street, South Natick. Samuel Lawton originally main- tained his blacksmith shop in the basement.
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are over four thousand dwellings. The Indians have vanished for- ever, but the ideals upon which John Eliot founded the town- equality of opportunity and re- sponsibility, fair dealing, and industry-still live.
To the sports world the name Natick immediately brings to mind numerous outstanding ath- letes. Remembered with pride are Dinso Donovan who ran fifty miles in five hours, a national Boyhood home of Professor Calvin Stowe, husband of Harriet Beecher Stowe. The second-floor chamber in the corner at the left was her workshop, in which she gathered the material for "Oldtown Folks." In the book. Professor Stowe is depicted as Horace Holyoke. Near South Natick square. record that stood for years, and his nephew, Piper Donovan, who in 1895 set up a new world's record for the hundred yard dash. Charles H. Hoey invented the art of Indian club swinging and later won the national championship in a match at the Howard Atheneum. It was Natick's hook and ladder team that made a world's record in 1898, connecting and running hose two hundred and twenty yards in fifty- eight seconds. Baseball fans will recall that the first "drop ball" and "jump ball," curves that broke sharply downward and upward respectively, were pitched by Elmer M. Bent of Cochituate and Natick in a game back in 1885 when the local team beat the otherwise undefeated Harvard College by 3 to 1. The Harwood baseball factory was the first and for many years the largest in the world. Famous football players from Natick have included Eddie Mahan, Eddie Casey, Billy Murray, and Chick Burke. The dean of baseball umpires, Tom Connolly, will always be recalled as the gift of Natick, as also will the famous college coaches, Mike Murphy, Keane Fitzpatrick and Pooch Donovan. These are by no means all who should be mentioned, but they alone would be enough to mark their home town high in the nation's sports history.
W'illard Bacon house on Eliot Street. South Natick, built in the early 1700's. Horace Mann, in a paper read to the South Natick Historical Society in 1882. said : "The house, with its wide fireplace, its rough beams. its handmade clapboards and wrought iron nails, is a specimen of the skill and handicraft of a race who wrought earnestly and well. .
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In the preparation of this story, the major task has been that of condensing the vast amount of material at hand. Much of importance has had to be left out or barely mentioned. Fortunately, however, the sources of the story are available to those who would like to read further.
First must be mentioned the South Natick Historical Society Museum at the Bacon Memorial Library. Under the able direction of its curator, Miss Mabel A. Parmenter, the visitor there finds innumerable materials for research concerning the beginnings of both our town and our nation. In Natick center the Morse Institute likewise is most helpful, with a large collection of books, documents and pictures of early days. The histories of Natick by William Biglow, 1830, and by Oliver N. Bacon, 1856, are important accounts of the town's founding and development and Mrs. Stowe's Oldtown Folks is a "must" for those who would really like to under- stand the traditions of Natick and of New England itself. The archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society and State Library in Boston, and of the Widener Library at Harvard University, are also rich in Natick lore.
Since the days of its unique beginning, Natick has been a friendly, sociable town. Much of its community life centers in its many churches, but these groups come together in a variety of service and social organizations: Rotary, Kiwanis, Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Columbus, Eagles, Foresters and Grange all have flourishing chapters here. There are also the Natick Women's Club, the Catholic Women's Club, Eastern Star and Rebekahs. Much interest is felt in the various school activities, including athletics, and in all patriotic movements and associations. An additional cultural focus is the famous Walnut Hill School for girls which is located here.
There are many recreational opportunities afforded in Natick. The Sherwood Country Club has an excellent nine-hole golf course and other facilities for sports. Lake Cochituate is just being returned for use as a swimming, fishing and boating
A memorial to the Natick dead of two wars, Natick Common. The inscription reads: "Erected to per- petuate the memory of those who gave up their lives to save our country in the war of 1861." Also engraved are "1867-Honor To The Brave" and "Spanish-American War-1898-1902." The business block seen in the background as well as much sur- rounding property suffered complete destruction dur- ing the fire of 1874 which ravaged Natick center, hence all buildings in this part of town are rebuilt and of comparatively recent date.
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Stephen Bacon house on North Main Street, Natick. It was built by Stephen Bacon in 1704 and may be the oldest house now standing in the town. It was the birthplace of Lt. John Bacon who was killed in the Battle of Lexington. In 1775 this house served as the warning center for the Minute Men of the area. Earlier the first public school classes of the community were held here.
area after serving for a hundred years as part of Boston's water supply. The Coolidge playground with its new grandstand and athletic fields is a center for team sports.
To these many activities the newcomer is cordially welcomed. Natick is a happy place to live and a happy place to come to. It is hoped that every new resident will quickly take his part in the life of the community. Even though the numbers of its popu- lation now are reaching large figures, the town is developing in such a way that it retains the benefits of the neighborly little village that it was in earlier times.
The make-up of Natick's people is typical of the commuting population that represents a thriving suburb. The occupational census taken in 1940 revealed that Natick has a higher percentage of professional people than the state average and a higher than average proportion of skilled craftsmen and business people. It has only about two thirds of the average proportion of factory operatives and farm workers. The proportion of its native born residents is well above the average for the state and more than sixty per cent of the town's five thousand families own their homes. As can be seen from these figures, Natick, although it has never been known as a wealthy town, has a popula- tion which, in the main, is comfortably Home of Robert Jennison, who built it in 1738 and who designed and built most of the Garrison type houses of the period in the Natick, Sherborn and Sudbury areas. The house is on Frost Street, Natick and has been fully restored by the present owner, Mr. Henri Prunaret. situated. Local interests cover the usual wide range with a lively emphasis on sports. The tradition of accomplishment has always stood foremost, as one can
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Four of Natick's ten public schools. Upper left, the High School; upper right, Junior High School; lower left, the West Natick, and lower right, the South Natick elementary schools.
easily imagine after considering the town's history. Individual worth has, from the beginning, been more valued than race or position.
Many new families are now coming to Natick and the rate of home building here exceeds that of almost any Boston suburb. Approximately four hundred and fifty new homes were started during the two years, 1946 and 1947, and current plans indicate that at least three hundred and fifty more will be added during the full year, 1948. Practically all of the new buildings are single-family residences in the medium price bracket.
Several attractive new developments are being built at the time of this writing, among which are the Sherwood Homes that will occupy most of the large tract between Lake Cochituate and historic Boden Lane. The development surrounds the Sherwood Country Club. In North Natick, on lands first settled by Ebenezer Felch some two and a half centuries ago, is the Stratford development of attractive moderate-priced homes, and a mile or more to the east are Oak Park Manor and Oak Dale, two collections of well designed houses in a beautiful natural setting of New England countryside. On Bacon Street attractive new homes are being built in the Hillside Terrace group.
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Natick Congregational Church
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
Fisk Memorial Methodist Church
This rapid growth in Natick and the surrounding area has long been foreseen as a result of the steadily expanding suburban movement from Boston itself. Demand for homes here has also been augmented by the substantial industrial growth of Framingham. Current esti- mates point to a continued growth at the rate of nearly a thousand residents a year in Natick during the next decade. There is every reason to believe that this estimate will be fulfilled or surpassed, for the town affords some of the most beautiful home sites to be found within the commuting radius of Boston, excellent transportation and municipal planning control that can be relied upon to direct the development along sound lines.
It is interesting that most of the new homes are now being built on that good farming land so highly prized by settlers in the early "Needham Leg" and other farsighted pioneers who set up their
Morse Institute-Public Library
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homesteads hereabouts nearly three hun- dred years ago. In all, the town has more than three thousand acres of land that is, or can be made, suitable for residential use and ultimately will provide space for as many more dwellings as now exist. Acreage to the south and east will eventu- ally be developed in a way similar to the trend in the northern and western sections -a trend designed to preserve the com- fort and freedom of village living amid a fast-growing community.
Here then is something of Natick's past and a hint of the future. "The place of hills" was a good and fruitful place for those who preceded us and it will be good to us now and those who come after us if we remember the ideals, the fore- sight and the courage which were estab- lished here with the first tiny settlement. Both a tradition and a promise are among our possessions and as we honor the one, so we cannot fail to fulfill the other.
Bacon Memorial Public Library
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Natick Unitarian Church
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church
First Baptist Church
LORD'S PRAYER IN THE NATICK INDIAN DIALECT
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed
Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come ; peyaumuutch ;
Nushun kesukqut, quttianatamunach
ktowesuonk; kukketassutamoonk
Thy will be done on earth as in Heaven; give us this day
kuttenantamoonk nen nach ohkeit
neane kesukqut ; asamaiinean yeuyeu kesukod
our food daily and forgive us
our sins as
nummeetsuongash asekesukokish kah ahquontamaunnean nummatcheseongash neane
wicked doers we forgive them ; also lead us not
matchenekuk quengig nutahquontamounnonog; ahque sagkompagunaiinnean en
into temptation ; Oh deliver us from evil; for Thine
qutchhuaonganit; Wehe pohquohwussinnean itut wutch match; newutche kutahtaun
Kingdom and power and glory forever. Amen.
ketassutamoonk kah menuhkesuonk kah sohsumoonk micheme. Amen.
(Arranged from a translation by John Christopher Adelreng from John Eliot's Bible)
Albanian Orthodox Church
Congregational Chapel
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STATION TREE
This famous landmark was used by the earliest surveyors. It marked the northeast corner of the Needham Leg and now shows the boun- dary line between Natick and Weston. The tree is a black oak and is estimated to be at least 500 years old. It stands on Winter Street and can readily be recognized by the Natick-Weston boundary stone, as seen in the photograph.
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:١٤,٠٠٠١٨١
-
Top: Walcott Square and South Main Street, Natick, seventy years ago.
Bottom: Main Street before the fire, 1874. showing Clark's Block and the old fire station which was located about where the Main Street Pharmacy is nou'.
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01 11.
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Air View of Natick center-Photo by Cheyne Aerial Surveys
This old Indian was wont to sit at Bacon's fireplace and eat in the kitchen. He was the oldest Indian remembered. He would shuffle into the farm house and sit silently by the fire, then take his leave without word or ceremony.
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