USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Templeton > The story of Templeton > Part 10
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Fish was very plentiful in all the ponds. During the year of 1881, Charles Whipple caught 300 pickerel from one pond; while three lads caught 181 in one forenoon. For a number of years, Charles Whipple and A. Fales carried on a business of shipping shiners to Boston.
At one time there were two livery stables in East Temple- ton: Jackson and Brock had one in the Fales barn; and H. J. Wright had another. Later he bought out the former concern, combining the two businesses.
In 1882, C. C. Merritt, Esq., of Springfield - formerly of East Templeton - placed in the town hall a marble tablet containing the names of Captain Ezekiel Knowlton's com- pany which marched from here to Cambridge to defend the Massachusetts Colony.
The "ministerial lot" in Southeast Plantation was on the north side of Mill-Brooks. Amos Gay, before 1776, bought a portion of this lot and built a house upon it. The lot was set aside for the benefit of the First Church, and in 1813, the remaining land was sold at public auction. Thomas Fisher, Moses Wright, Adams Jones, Timothy Parker and David
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Cobleigh were elected by the inhabitants, in a legal meeting, on the 5th day of April, 1813, to sell all the ministerial land in the town. The last lot went to Joel Fales for $35.00. This was the west part of Lot No. 1.
The Bay State Engine Company was about the first fire apparatus in East Templeton. Then came Rough and Ready, a large machine with more power, being pumped by hand. The latter remained here in the village until 1898, when a steamer was purchased and Rough and Ready was assigned to Templeton. For many years, it was used as a sporting feature at state musters.
About 1825, Newell Day, who made chairs at the shop near the present causeway, sold his property to Jonathan Whitney, after winning a lottery prize of a few thousand dollars. He then bought the stage route from Templeton to Worcester, making the trip once a week to carry the mail, papers and, passengers. Later he moved to Royalston.
Captain V. P. Parkhurst, who served in the Civil War, also manufactured chairs in the village. Later, he went to Jamaica where he studied the plant life of the region, making a col- lection of specimens. However, he contracted a fever on the return trip and died before reaching home.
Mrs. Polly French was the oldest person to live in East Templeton. She died at the age of 101 at the home of her son, Fitch Sargeant. She was a native of Vermont.
About 1910, through the efforts of Herbert Lowell of this village, an agent for H. B. Rust Company, Providence, R. I., an agreement was made to install electric lights in the town.
STORY OF THE EELS
Many years ago, the manufacturing was all done by water power; and the shops were often obliged to shut down for one reason or another. At the upper shop, where the water was
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highest, there was an eight-foot fall. At low water, the fall would be hardly four feet. Then the eels would sometimes get into the turbine water wheel, completely choking off the water flow. When this happened, a man had to go into the wheel and cut the eels out. There was just enough room' between the penstock and the wall for a man to walk down from the inlet gate to the water wheel. Sometimes he would cut out many bushels of the eels.
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FIRST FRAME HOUSE
Old Houses of Templeton by
EDITH GRAY HINDS
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OLD HOUSES OF TEMPLETON
A T the time of the incorporation of the town in 1762, there were about fifty families scattered through the township. the greatest number in the southern and western sections of the town, the latter being a part of Phillipston.
These families lived in log cabins and crude shelters. There was only one frame house in the town, what is now' known as the Dolbear house, which was built in 1760 by Zaccheus Barrett at the foot of Dolbear hill, about a mile south of the center of the town.
We have an interesting description of this house written several years later: It is two stories in front and one story in the back with the long lean-to roof. The eaves hang low over the back side, characteristic of the architecture of that day. The timbers are massive and strong, some of them being a foot square. At the time it was built, the walls were un- plastered, the beams and joists being left uncovered. The floors and ceilings were unpainted, but thoroughly scoured. The chimney occupied a space in the center of the house large enough for a room of moderate size. There was also the brick oven and large fireplaces in every room.
It was in this house that Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk, the second minister was ordained. The house remained in Mr. Barrett's family for three generations; the last members of
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the family to occupy it being the Dolbear sisters, grand- daughters of Mr. Barrett. Through their lifetime it remained practically as it was built, but during the last fifty years it has undergone many changes, through various owners, and occu- pants. It is still standing and in a very good state of preserva- tion. The original shape of the house has been retained but the inside has been materially changed. It is now owned and occupied by George Couillard.
Mr. Barrett built a similar house on the hill about opposite the Dolbear house, which was taken down many years ago.
After the incorporation of the town the log cabins were gradually replaced by more substantial buildings.
The second house in the township was built on what is now Templeton Common about where the well in front of the present parsonage is located. The Common at that time was a forest.
The house was known as the Joshua Wright Tavern and was erected in 1763. It was a large square house with a pitch roof, another type of architecture common in those early days. Later it was moved to its present site, beside the library and was owned and occupied by Benjamin Hawkes. The house has hand hewn beams and beautiful pine paneling. The brick oven was one of the largest in town and back of it there is a secret door which leads to an open space beside the huge chimney, large enough to conceal a man. Doubtless it was constructed as a hiding place against the Indian raids. It has had several owners but was finally purchased by Charles H. Flood of Brookline who restored many of its original features, making it one of the most interesting houses in the center of the town. It is now owned by Charles Dewey.
The third frame house was built by the town's second minister, Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk and was occupied by him
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as a parsonage during his many years of service. After his death it was purchased by his successor, Dr. Charles Welling- ton, who in turn occupied the house for over fifty years. It remained in the Wellington family for several years after his death and was familiarly known as the Wellington House. It is of the square two-story type with a two-story ell and stands at the end of what is now known as the Wellington Road. Its present owner is Herbert Maynard. This old house which stands "somewhat back from the village street" has two beautiful elm trees which throw their shadows "across its antique portico".
The house brings up many happy memories. As stated, it was the residence of two ministers of long pastorate, compris- ing nearly 100 years. It was in front of that house that the big load of wood was delivered. All through that eventful century and for many years after that time the house has been the setting for gracious hospitality. Young and old were ever welcome. Little children loved to go there and play around the roots of the elm trees and on rainy days investigate the attic treasures, play on the old spinet, dress up in quaint costumes and gay hats, and eat butternuts that came from the tree at the south of the house. Sugar cookies were sometimes given them for refreshments as well as peppermint candy sticks.
These two ministers had many children and grandchildren, who were always given a warm welcome, when they came to visit at the parsonage.
In 1770, Silas Stone, a cousin of Leonard Stone, who was one of the early settlers of Otter River, built the only brick dwelling in what is now the center of the town, the brick having been imported from England.
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It was at one time known as the Joseph Upham Tavern, but later was used as a private high school. The last prin- cipal of the school was Sylvester Judd, who was well known as the author of "Margaret". The school was suspended in 1837. The house has been the home at different times of two of our physicians, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Tobin.
It is a square, two-story house with a hip roof; and there is a two-story ell built of wood. This ell was evidently added at a later date for the convenience of the school, as the number and arrangement of the rooms would indicate. The house is now owned and occupied by Miss Elsa W. Stone (1946).
Between the years 1770 and 1800 a number of frame houses were erected. Several were located in the center of the town in close proximity to the church and a goodly number on the farms or claims in the outlying areas.
Two houses on the Athol road, now standing were built in 1775 and 1776. The house so long owned and occupied by Lucien Hadley was erected by Eben Goodrich, and was once the home of Sarah Goodrich, the miniature painter, and her brother William, the organ builder. The large frame house on the opposite side of the road was built by Benjamin Read. This house was later occupied for many years by J. P. Sibley who owned and operated a tannery near by.
At Baptist Common, north of the center, the house now occupied by Louis M. Brown and which has been in the Brown family for several generations, was built by Silas Cutler in 1780. Like so many of the houses in the early days, it was used as a tavern when Baptist Common was a thriving busi- ness center. In that house the Baptists assembled for their Sunday services before the church was erected.
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In 1786, the fourth frame house on the common was built by John Lock. It was occupied for many years by Ephriam Stone, owner of the brick store which is now the Narragansett Historical Building. This was later occupied by Rev. Edwin G. Adams, Dr. Wellington's successor. Mrs. Florence Winch is the present owner. (1946)
On the Baldwinville Road, not far from the common, there still stands one of the fine old homes which has been restored. This is the Cutting house, built in 1790 by Jonathan Cutting, on his farm.
It remained in the Cutting family for three generations, and is now owned by Dr. Edwin St. John Ward. (1946)
This house also has exceptionally beautiful paneling and one of the largest kitchens in town, which contains a huge fire- place. Here friends and neighbors were always welcome and royally entertained. Now, as in old days, the same room re- ceives its callers and refreshments are served around the same large fireplace, though the room is no longer the kitchen, but the living room. A modern kitchen has been built in the rear of the house.
Just beyond the Cutting house is the Cobleigh house. This was built in 1823 by David Cobleigh. It is the large square type with pitch roof and is said to have replaced a little red house on the opposite side of the road.
Returning along the Baldwinville Road, next to Dr. Ward's house will be found one of the oldest houses in town, reported to have been built by John Chamberlin.
Originally it was a one-story house, with two rooms and from the back room a stairway leading to the loft above, with the overhead hand hewn beams supporting the roof of the loft.
Later the house was bought by Deacon Paul Kendall. At the time of the marriage of Charles Parkhurst to Elizabeth Dar-
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row, Mr. Parkhurst built on to the little house what is now the main part and on the western end, built a barn.
Mr. and Mrs. Parkhurst lived there for several years, later moving to the house across the way and renting the little house with its addition. Through the years it has had many different occupants.
In 1914, the house was bought by Elizabeth W. Lord, who is the present owner. (1946)
The Josiah Wilder house off the Barre Road, about two and a half miles from the center, on what is now the Henshaw farm, was built in the closing years of the century. It is the square, two-story type and is said to have replaced a log house, believed by some to be the first dwelling in the township.
About a mile and a half below the Wilder house on what is now the Barre Road was the farm owned by Simeon Gray. The house, of the lean-to type, was built in 1797 by Robert Fitts, Mr. Gray's father-in-law. In 1862, the house was taken down and brought to the center of the town where it was re- built and occupied for many years by John Whittemore, a son- in-law of Mr. Gray.
The "Meadows", which is now just over the Phillipston line, was one of the old frame houses of the town built by Abner Sawyer. It was restored by Charles H. Flood of Brook- line.
In the beginning of the last century, the early eighteen hundreds, many new frame houses were built throughout the town, and it is interesting to compare the different type of architecture with those built at an earlier date. The earliest houses were either of the saltbox type, two stories in front and one (in the rear, like the Dolbear house or of the large, square type with the pitched roof while the later houses were of two stories, either square or rectangular, with the hip roof, and long ells in the rear or at the side. An early example of
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this mansion type is the Winch house on the South Road built about eighteen hundred, by Dr. Josiah Howe. Some of the timbers used in the barn were salvaged from the old sled built to carry the famous load of wood to the minister.
There were several such houses built about this time. On the Baldwinville road is the Parkhurst house, now owned by Mrs. Henry Kirke White, the Abijah Jones house, now owned by his grandaughter, Mrs. Hovey, and the Cobleigh house, built about 1823.
On the Wellington Road, at the corner of the Petersham road, is the large house built by Cyrus Brown in 1807 but long occupied by Dexter Gilbert and known as the Gilbert House; the Cutting house built by Jonas Cutting and the house now owned by Henry Seaver and built by David Van Dorn were also of this period. All of these houses are in a good state of preservation.
In the early years, at the corner of the South Road on the common stood a long, low building which was used for stores and little shops of various kinds. In 1829, Colonel Artemus Lee erected a large house with a long ell and a barn on this site. The standing timber in its construction was given to Colonel Lee, and the house cost $11,000. It was at that time one of the show places of the town. There have always been stores in the building and for several years Colonel Lee oper- ated a store there. The Boynton Public Library was housed in the second story of the ell and the Knights of Honor and the Grange had their halls in the ell also. The main part of the building was used as a residence. In 1870, the buildings and business were sold by Colonel Lee to Percival Blodgett. In 1895, Mr. Blodgett sold the business to Lincoln and Johnson but retained the ownership of the buildings and occupied the residence. The store has been owned and occupied now for
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several years by Frank Johnson or members of his family. The buildings remained in the Blodgett family until 1945, when they were purchased by Leonard Brooks.
On the lot adjoining the old Gilbert house, stood formerly the first Town House constructed from the timber used in the first meeting house which was abandoned in 1811, after the erection of the new edifice. When this old Town House gave way to the new one, this timber was used in the construction of the dwelling house which now stands on this lot and is owned by Mrs. Annie Barstow.
Across from the Colonel Lee house was the old Tavern which was built previous to 1829. It was used as a hostelry under several different managements until it burned, in 1888.
Templeton Center was a very busy place during the stage coach days as it was the focal point for several stage lines. This old hotel gave place to the new Templeton Inn, built and given to the Village Improvement Society by Moses W. Richardson in 1900.
The present parsonage on the common is an interesting house. It stands beside the Congregational Church edifice and reminds one very much of the old southern ante-bellum homes with its tall white columns across the front. It was built by John Boynton although never occupied by him. It finally came into the possession of David Whitcomb who made it his home for some time. Later Dr. Shattuck of Boston purchased the house as a home for his two sisters who lived there for many years. After their death, it was given to the Congregational Church for a parsonage and is now used by the Federated Church for the same purpose. It has often been noted that on the second story of this building, facing the street, there is a door which opens into vacancy. One wonders why it was placed there. The story goes that Mr. Boynton intended to build a veranda across the upper
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story. During the construction of the door an inquisitive individual passing by, said to Mr. Boynton, "I should think you would have to build a veranda in front of the door." This so incensed Mr. Boynton that he vowed he never would build the veranda, which he never did, and the door remains an object of wonder.
One of the fine old homes in Templeton that was used as a tavern in the old stage coach days, was the house now owned and occupied by John Brooks. It was probably built by Lisha French before 1830, and was the home of Hon. Lovell Walker for some time.
In 1847, we find it belonged to John W. Work, who resided there for many years. Mr. Work owned at that time all the land east of the common from the Athol road to the foot of Ladder Hill.
Francis Twichell later purchased the farm and house. During the eighties, Mr. Twichell's daughter, Miss Hattie Twichell, and Miss Delia Damon had a millinery shop in one of the front parlors. For nearly fifty years it has been the home of John Brooks and family. The ell of the house has been remodeled making two apartments.
On the Gardner road, about half a mile from the center, there stands on a little hill, commanding an extensive view in all directions, a two-story, slant roof house. A long en- closed shed joins it to one of the barns. Close to the west side of the house stood for many years a well house with a wind- lass and rope for raising and lowering the bucket. Within the house, the main rooms are large and high with many? sunny windows. As in some of the other houses of its period, there was at one time, a dark bedroom off the kitchen; this was lighted only by a small window of painted glass, opening on the front stairway. This stairway led from a large front
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hall, which had no windows except the ground glass in the outside door, but which received considerable light from the upper hall. In the pantry there was, in years past, a cup- board, known as "the cooler", whose shelves were square bars with spaces between, so that the air from the cellar beneath would keep the food in the cupboard cool.
The earliest map of the town in existence, 1831, gives the owner of this property as Ebenezer French, a great-great- grandfather of Grace Blodgett. He probably built the house which originally stood nearer the road.
In 1847, the house was owned by a man named Barrows and at that time contained a museum of rare and beautiful stones and shells, from all parts of the world.
John Work and Frank Twichell at different times owned the property. It was finally purchased by Edwin Sanderson who moved the house back, to its present location.
Leonard Baker was the next owner and lived there with his family from 1881-1897. After his death it was purchased by William Stinson who lived there until he moved to Win- chendon. It has been one of the fine farms in this section of the town. During the last few years it has been a dairy farm.
BROOKSVILLAGE
In the west part of the town known as Brooksvillage, for- merly called Bowkersville, are many interesting old houses still standing.
The old Rice house, built in the early part of the last cen- tury by Stephen Brooks, great-grandfather of John and Edwin Brooks; the brick house built by John Brooks, Sr., and the old Bowker house now occupied by Lester Pease.
At one time Brooskvillage was a thriving little village with several small industries and three taverns.
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BALDWINVILLE
One of the oldest frame houses in Baldwinville is located at the corner of the Athol and Templeton roads. It is a fine old square house with hip roof, built in 1797 by Eden Baldwin, and is well preserved. It was in this house that Christopher Colum- bus Baldwin, a son of Eden, was born in 1800. Christopher Baldwin became a well-known lawyer and historian of the state.
Between Baldwinville and Otter River, formerly called Jonesville, is the old Fisher farm. The house is a large square building with the customary hip roof. It was built in 1791 by Thomas Fisher. In front of the house is a long row of elm trees on either side of the highway, said to have been planted at the time the house was built, and the farm has always been known as Elm Farm. It is still owned and oper- ated by descendants of the Fisher family.
There were two interesting old homes in Otter River. The house known as the Stone home was built by Leonard Stone in 1780. The first structure was a very small building which is now the ell of the house. The main part of the house was built in the early eighteen hundreds, and is the typical square type with hip roof. This was occupied by the Stone family for many years. It was sold a few years ago.
On the old road between Otter River and Templeton Center known as the Lord Road, near the center of the village of Otter River is the old Kendall Lord Farm. The original house was built about 1778 by Noah Kendall whose daughter mar- ried Jeremiah Lord. The house was burned several years ago, but it was long one of the landmarks of the town.
CHURCH HILL AND NORCROSS HILL
In the northwesterly part of the town are two adjacent hills, known as Church Hill and Norcross Hill where there was a thriving settlement in the early days.
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In recent years, the property on Church Hill has been pur- chased by the state for the Walter E. Fernald State School. There are some interesting old houses located on these hills.
The large square house occupied for many years by I. W. Hutchins, was built about 1771, by Silas Church, for whom the hill was named. It is now on the grounds of the State School. It is a large, well built house, the inside finished in beautiful woodwork with several Christian doors (the panel- ing arranged in the form of a cross) also recessed windows with small panes. Fireplaces are found in all the rooms. In the center of the house is the famous beehive oven and back of this, with an entrance under the winding stairs, is a hideout which was used during the Indian raids. This is the central house in one of the four colonies of the State School.
Probably the first settler on Norcross Hill was Deacon Daniel Norcross, who built the original Norcross house in the seventeen sixties. It is in a good state of preservation. There is an interesting old chimney in the house, large enough at the base for a small room.
For several generations the Norcross family lived on this hill which bore their name. Deacon Daniel had three grand- sons - Asaph, who lived in the old house for many years, and Stillman and Austin who built their own homes.
The Stillman Norcross house was used as a tavern for several years, and was burned later. The Austin Norcross house is still standing.
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Otter River
by
MARY LELAND STONE
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OTTER RIVER
M UCH of the land in the village of Otter River was granted to Simon Stone, an Indian fighter who lived in Groton. In 1690, during an attack by the Indians upon that town, he had been seriously wounded. From Cotton Mather's account of those early days, we learn that "Simon Stone suffered nine serious wounds" and was "left for dead" by the Indians when they were driven away by the Americans. "As the men thought to bury him, he was seen to fetch a gasp", and on being given some "Strong Water", opened his eyes. He recovered and lived to be 85 years old, taking part in many other Indian fights. He was one of the men who left Ded- ham Common in the expedition to drive the Indians from the Narragansett winter quarters or camping grounds. The start was made in a blizzard, and the men were promised a reward of grants of land if they would drive from the country the Indians who were raiding the settlements.
Though the work was well done, it was many years before the allotments were made. But Simon Stone was one of the few who lived long enough to receive the grant in person. As the Indians were threatening to drive the settlers away as late as 1755, none of the new owners cared to locate here for some years. But after 1756, Simon Stone's grandson, Captain Leonard Stone, with his saddle bags strapped to his shoulders, came on foot by blazed-tree trail to the Otter River and fol-
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