USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Templeton > The story of Templeton > Part 4
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This story does not concern a veteran of the Civil War, but an elderly man who lived on a farm. He had a field that needed to be ploughed and which would require strong oxen and a strong hand to guide the plough. He had the oxen but no strong man. One evening, at supper, he looked at his grand- son, who was a frail lad, and said, "I wish you were strong enough to plough the field". That night the household went to bed, and the next morning when the man went out to the barn to take care of his stock, to his amazement, he found the oxen covered with mud and breathing heavily. He returned to the house and on the way noticed that the field was care-
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fully and evenly ploughed. His grandson not being at the breakfast table, he went upstairs to his room and found the boy all dressed and besprent with mire, stretched across the bed, entirely exhausted. The field had been ploughed in a sleep-walking scene.
In chapter two, we mentioned David Whitcomb, active in the tin business, who once lived in the house now used as the church parsonage. In 1868, he gave the library to the town, which all through the years has meant much to the people. He gave this library in memory of his partner, John Boynton, and requested that it be named for him.
The Templeton Savings Bank was incorporated in 1871 in Baldwinville and continued a useful institution until the time of the merger of the banks decreed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933.
From the very beginning, Templeton has been blessed with men and women of fine calibre. We owe these people of influence sincere gratitude for their interest in the town's development. It is interesting to note that in the early days, the Christian names of the inhabitants were generally Biblical ones, as Ebenezer, Zaccheus, Noah, Benjamin, Jacob, Moses, Daniel, Joshua, Abel, Jonathan, etc .; Esther, Ruth, Rebecca, Sarah and Rachel. In the latter part of this period, simpler names came into use: Charles, William, Henry, George and John; Mary, Jane, Elizabeth, Margaret and Henrietta.
Templeton has always abounded in men of mechanical abil- ity. Eli Bruce, one of the early settlers, living in Baldwinville, was a very ingenious man. He repaired jewelry, constructed pipe organs and made clocks. I have one of his tall grand- father clocks in my home, and it is the most reliable time- keeper in the house. It is well over 100 years old and made by hand. Eli Bruce also invented a machine for making pins out of wire, heading and pointing them. Later, John Nichols in-
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troduced a special form of street lamp, in which the lamp slides down through a hollow post for the convenience of lighting. The draft of air for the lamp was also through the post, so that it burned steadily when the wind blew. These lamps on their posts were placed all over the town, giving to men and boys a most useful and exciting occupation of filling, cleaning and lighting them. For some time, Frank Winch and his brother had the job of caring for them in Templeton Center. They filled the bottom of the lamp bowl with corn to prevent the oil from burning longer than the desired time.
During this period, Orville J. Winch, father of Frank and Mary, was one of Templeton's largest shoe makers. Leander Leland made the shoe pegs for him. On a stream, tributary to the Ware River in the southwest part of the town, was lo- cated the old cider mill; formerly Mr. Leland made the shoe pegs there with an ingenious machine which he invented. These pegs, together with Mr. Winch's shoe maker's outfit, are now on exhibition at the Narragansett Historical Building.
Some time ago, Frank Winch wrote his memories of Tem- pleton, and from his article I quote concerning his father's shop. "Father was a shrewd business man, wise in his buying and honest in his dealings, even to a penny. Once he made an error of seven cents in change which he owed to a customer who lived three miles away. I had to walk those six miles to deliver the pennies.
His early life was one of hard work, he had little time for play. Perhaps that is why he grew up to be a serious minded man. He had some disappointments in his young life.
His Aunt Emma made his clothes after the style prevalent at the time when she was young. Father worked hard one summer to earn money to buy the cloth for a new suit and to pay a tailor for making it. He bought the cloth and took it home and told Aunt Emma not to touch it. But when he
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came home from school one day, he found that Aunt Emma had cut out the suit by the old pattern. She made an extra wide hem on the trousers, so they could be let down, as he grew in stature.
A brighter incident in my father's youth, was when he was 13 years old. He worked out haying - and when the work was done the farmer owed him $14 but had no money to pay the boy and so in exchange gave him an old lounge and a barrel of soft soap.
The soap was put to immediate use; the lounge was covered with a green ingrain carpet material and served our family most faithfully for many years. The frame was made of mahogany and cherry wood, a rare specimen of workmanship and today is valued at $1,200.
Father built a large two story house on the south road which until recently has been owned by the Winch family. He built a barn just back of the house and perhaps some of you know that the material used for the underpinnings was taken from the famous sled which held the great 40 cord load of wood taken to Dr. Wellington in 1822. Father first carried on the shoe business in one end of the long building located on the site where the Narragansett Historical Society Building now stands. But in my childhood, he built a shop south of the barn. It was a small one-story structure and was heated by a sheet-iron barrel stove. On the shelves were the shoes. On the counter were kept odds and ends, shoe lacings, button- hooks, blacking, polish, etc. Under the shelf, rubbers, over- shoes or arctics, as they were then called. It was lighted by hanging lamps and at the right of the window by a bracket lamp, with a large reflector, which threw the light down the road and illuminated the sign over the door. This latter was oblong in shape and painted blue, with a gilt shoe one side and the name, J. O. Winch, painted on the other end.
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Shoes were made by hand and all the townspeople, big and little, had their measurements taken for footwear. All women wore button boots, priced $1.50 to $2.25. Some were made of glove kid, soft and long-wearing. These shoes were made without a vamp. For men, were made cowhide boots for winter and brogans of the same material for summer. This was a low shoe coming just over the ankle and held together by a leather strap. After awhile felt boots took the place of cowhide. Then for comfort, after the day's work was done, was worn the carpet slipper made of Brussels carpeting with a leather inner sole, sold for 50 cents a pair.
Father also acted as the village barber and cut hair at 10 cents a cut with 5 cents extra for trimming the beard. He rubbed the head with a little bay rum and oil of bergamont and a trace of bear's oil, to make the unruly hair lie flat." Be- cause of this oily ingredient antimacassars were made and used on the back of the living room chairs. Shoes will always be bought and sold, but none will be more painstakingly and honestly constructed than those made by J. O. Winch in the old town.
Inventors and manufacturers were busy throughout the town giving work and employment to many people. Chair shops brought cane seating into the homes. The women were glad of this work for it gave them extra money to spend. More about the business enterprises will be found in a special chapter on the subject.
But I would like to mention the manufacture of stoves which for many years was an important industry in Otter River, for there is an amusing incident to relate in this con- nection. The business was carried on for many years by Charles Lord and William Stone. They sent out carts with sample stoves, like the tin peddler carts, all over New Eng- land. In this business came the collecting of money from
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the farmers. Ready cash was not always available, and the collector was obliged to take farm products in part payment. Once Mr. Stone took two beautiful peacocks as part of the price for a stove. He put them in a fenced-in field, and for some time they could be seen strutting around, displaying their gorgeous plumage. One day a dog got into the field, chased and killed them, but one was in fairly good condition so the firm had it stuffed and presented it to the Historical Society. Today it can be seen ornamenting the attic in front of the window of the new building.
The Hospital Cottages for children in Baldwinville was organized and incorporated in 1882. It was through the in- fluence of Dr. Lucius W. Baker and his father, deacon Willard Baker, that this worth while institution was started.
Mrs. Ward, wife of Dr. Edwin St. John Ward, who for several years was in charge of this institution, has written an account of this hospital which will be found in the chapter on Baldwinville.
Dr. Edwin St. John Ward was sent to Turkey in 1907, by the American Board of Foreign Missions, and in 1911 became Professor of Surgery at the American University at Beirut. From 1924 to 1931, he was Dean of the Medical School of the University.
His valuable service during World War I in establishing a field hospital in the desert near Hafir under the American Red Cross, with outposts for the wounded near the fighting front, and subsequent work in the Near East, is graphically told in an article found in the large Scrap Book at the Nar- ragansett Historical Building.
Dr. Ward came to the Hospital Cottages for Children in 1933. His services there to the present day (1946) and his assistance in town affairs are invaluable.
Throughout the town, especially during this period, were
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living farseeing and influential men and women, business- men, teachers, doctors, and ministers, all giving their services for the betterment of the community, and it is well for us to pay homage to them.
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind, Should auld acquaintance be forgot And days of auld lang syne."
DATES TO REMEMBER
1832
Stage coach days
1843
Colonel Lee set out trees
1845
Rev. Edwin G. Adams came as Assistant Pastor at First Parish
1846
Pony Express rider
1847
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad
1848
Town Hall built
1856
High School established
1857
Celebration of Dr. Wellington's
50th Anniversary
1859
Clock placed in First Parish Church
1860
First Fireman's Muster
1861
Civil War
1868
Library given by David Whitcomb
1869
Ericson Post, G. A. R. established
1871
Savings Bank established
1873
Ware River RR put through
1882
Cottage Hospital established
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CHAPTER IV.
The Coming of Electricity and World War I 1882-1924
'HEN writing the words of "Auld Lang Syne" at the end of the last chapter, it recalled one of the town's important residents, Francis Leland, for this was one of his favorite songs. He was the grandson of Dr. Wellington and lived in Otter River, but all through his life he attended the services at the First Parish. He and his family, as well as the Lords and Stones, drove each Sunday to the church on the hilltop in Templeton Center, three miles away. In winter they rode in open sleighs with hot soapstones at their feet and little stones in the ladies' hand muffs. The men wore fur coats and caps with ear protectors; the women, fur-lined capes with scarves over their bonnets. In summer, they rode in carry- alls and phaetons. They seldom missed a Sunday, and when the minister saw them coming, he knew it was time for him to leave the parsonage and enter the house of worship.
The Lords and the Stones, in turn, held positions in the church as deacons, Sunday school superintendents, and teach- ers. Francis Leland sang in the choir and served as chorister
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for many years, while his sister, Margaret Leland, played the organ. He and his sister were ever ready to assist in church entertainments such as Old Folks' concerts and the like.
At one time, Mr. Leland represented the town in the state legislature. He was a merchant by trade and kept a large store at Otter River, carrying dry goods, groceries and all things needed in the household.
Once a resident of the village went to Worcester to do some shopping and her special errand was to match some material for a dress. She could not find it in the large city, but on her return found a perfect match at Leland's store.
When I was a little girl, I learned the multiplication table from the "Marmaduke Multiplier", a little book which has been presented to the Narragansett Historical Society. Each couplet was illustrated. Imagine my delight when I found a picture of a small girl holding up a book, and under the picture was written: "4 x 11 are 44. I bought this book at Francis' Store"!
In 1883, Mr. Leland built the brick store, with its large hall overhead which has ever been useful for village and town affairs.
Some of the early settlements in the town were made in Otter River. Leonard Stone and Jeremiah Lord were among the first settlers. They were upright and conscientious men, as the following incident, told by Charles Lord, illustrates:
"We had a lot of hay get wet on a Saturday, and my father decided that it was best to remain at home from church and dry the hay. I was a young boy then and worked with him. When I saw coming in sight the faithful Baptists I said: 'Father, had we not better go into the house until they go by?' He made reply: 'I am none of your hypocrites', and kept on with his work. I stayed by him, never doubting his
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assertion, and at the same time accepted the reproof and pro- fited by the lesson."
Mr. Lord once said he was glad he lived in Otter River because it gave him the opportunity to know so well the fine businessmen of that village and of Baldwinville. Through his church connections at the Center he knew well the good men there and those of East Templeton, for many from that village attended the First Parish.
We have mentioned the fact that the minister and doctor went about in the early days in the "one-horse shay", and the open sleigh in winter. These doctors ever gave conscientious service. There were no specialists then; they were all general practitioners, and knew how to treat all kinds of ailments, from a broken bone to a sore throat.
During the first part of this period, Dr. Joseph Batchelder was the physician. He was a very skillful surgeon also, and a public-spirited citizen. He took an active interest in promot- ing the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel, an important link between the East and the West, and during the Civil War was the assistant surgeon of the Twenty-First Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers.
How impatiently we awaited his arrival when we were sick! In the winter he would drive up in his open sleigh, tie the horse to the hitching post, cover him with a buffalo robe, take out his medicine case, then walk up the path to the door, stamp his feet to shake off the snow, and enter the house saying: "Well, well, well! What's the matter here?" His very presence made us feel better. He never wore an over- coat, but, like Lincoln, a heavy shawl fastened with a horse blanket pin, a cap with ear protectors and buckled arctics. He gave some of his best service in his latter life. Another much beloved doctor of this period was Dr. Albert Sylvester Tobin.
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Later came Dr. Sewall Greenwood, father of Lucius Green- wood, and Dr. G. R. Johnson, father of Roswell Johnson. These two doctors gave faithful service to the townspeople, driving in all kinds of weather, from morn until well into the night, over hilly country, to relieve those in need.
During the latter part of the nineteenth century the house- wives seldom went out to do marketing. The markets came to them in the form of cart peddlers; the meat cart, the fish cart, the soft-soap peddler, the man who came from over the hills bringing a special kind of sage cheese, the cart with the famous Westminster crackers, and, as we have already mentioned, the tin peddler's cart.
These carts were a great boon to the country people. The children loved them, for sometimes they were given some specialty. When the meat and fish carts arrived, the dogs and cats appeared from all directions ready to receive a bone or the head of a fish.
Throughout this period, several organizations and societies were formed. One of the most important was the Templeton Grange, established in the year 1885, which has ever been one of the leading societies of the town.
TEMPLETON GRANGE
The first meeting of the Templeton Grange was held in Knights of Honor Hall on March 16, 1885, when interested citizens met to hear a lecture by a State Grange Deputy, Stan- ford Cook of Petersham. At the close of the meeting, 35 persons, 18 men and 17 women, paid their fees and signed an application for a charter.
Albert J. Robertson was elected by ballot to be the first Worthy Master; Mrs. Mary H. Dudley, the first Worthy Sec- retary and Mrs. Charles May, the first Worthy Treasurer. Other officers were elected at a later date.
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The record of the early Grange shows that it was a social center for its members and that many pleasant evenings were spent in discussing current events. Farm problems came in for their share of attention, too, and no doubt members pro- fited from this pooling of experiences. In the early days, the Grange appears to have supported a cooperative movement also, as the records show purchases of carloads of grain, coal and flour and unspecified quantities of syrup.
A Grange choir is mentioned, so we gather that the early members enjoyed singing, probably more than we do today. When sickness or other calamity visited the family of a mem- ber, the brother and sister members would go in a body to the home of the stricken one to take gifts and do necessary chores. Also, the early Grangers apparently visited other Granges, but little is said of their mode of transportation. In speaking of a proposed visit to Hubbardston, one of the broth- ers was authorized to secure a conveyance, presumably a team.
In 1897, the Templeton Grange found it desirable to pur- chase a building of its own, the one it still occupies, but which originally was much smaller. The Worthy Secretary, Rachel S. Titterton, under date of April 19, 1898, noted with some pride that the Grange meeting was called to order in "Grange Hall" by the worthy master; and Grange Hall it has been ever since.
With the turn of the century, cattle shows came into great popularity, and the record shows much activity and profit in conducting the same.
In 1910, with Past Master Henry Seaver in the chair, came the celebration of the 25th anniversary. It was voted at a meeting held on February 4, 1910, to have an all-day celebra- tion on May 18th.
On March 19, 1930, with Past Master Walter E. Viner in the chair, Templeton Grange celebrated its 45th anniversary
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with a public gathering at which Past Master Eugene C. Hersey burned the mortgage.
In 1935, with Past Master Oscar B. Nyman in the chair, the 50th anniversary was observed with due ceremony. It was at this gathering that Brother and Sister Hersey were honored with the presentation of the golden certificate and jewel. They were the only charter members who attained the dis- tinction of becoming fifty-year members.
There are at this time (1946) two living members who have received the 50-year jewel - Brother George Howard and Brother Josiah Henshaw whose wife, the late Mary Shaw, likewise enjoyed this distinction.
It is unfortunate but inevitable that in preparing such a short history of our Grange, due credit cannot be given those faithful patrons who have worked so diligently on the fairs, the suppers, the dances, the plays and other activities without which the Grange could not live.
Two years have passed since the 60th anniversary of Temple- ton Grange was celebrated. Sister Virginia B. Bockus served as Worthy Master in 1946; and Brother Carter Winslow, who served during 1942, '43 and '44, is again heading the organization.
During World War II, 21 Grange members were in the service. At present the membership numbers around 160, a small segment of the national organization. Members live in Templeton and East Templeton. There is another Grange in Baldwinville which is a separate organization.
N.B. This information was furnished by Christopher H. Evensen.
In 1886, a high school was established in Baldwinville, be- cause of the increase of population in that section, but more concerning this will be found in a special chapter on the schools of Templeton.
On March 11, 1888, came the biggest snow storm ever
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known in Templeton. I was a young girl then and at that time had an interesting experience. In the month of March of the year of the fiftieth anniversary of this storm, I told the story over the air, giving myself the name of Mary Ann. I will insert part of the story here:
The morning before the great storm the sun was shining, but as the day advanced the clouds began to gather and at eventide "the sun was hid from sight before it set". The next day was dark and dreary, and before noon light snow was beginning to fall. It increased steadily throughout the day. When Father came in for supper, he said: "I predict the worst storm of the present season."
"Well", said Mother, "let the storm rage. We have enough to eat. There are lots of good things in the cellar; apples, - celery, turnips and squashes, and all kinds of canned fruits and a good piece of corned beef."
So when evening came, we drew the shades, lighted the oil lamps, and sat around the open fire.
"Shut in from all the world without, We sat the clean winged hearth about, Content to let the north wind roar In baffled rage at pane and door."
Mother sat by the table darning stockings; I was at the other end of the table studying my geography lesson; Aunt sat in the ladder-back chair by the open fire, knitting; Uncle, who was visiting us, and Father sat at the other side talking about affairs of the day; and the tiger cat was curled up on' the braided rug in front of the fire. At ten the clock was wound and the cat put into the barn. We each took a little tin safety lamp and went to bed.
When morning came "we looked upon a world unknown, on nothing we could call our own". I went to the chamber window - nothing but sky and snow and the chimneys and
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rooftops of scattered houses. No horse-drawn sleighs with tinkling bells; no ox teams; not even a snow bird. Snow over everything and we were almost buried in it.
I went downstairs. The snow had drifted nearly to the tops of the windows and, like our supper, breakfast was eaten by the light of the lamp. Fortunately the barn was connected with the house so Father could feed the horse and let in our beautiful tiger cat. But no sound was heard outside, not even the whistle of the oncoming train.
Father and Uncle shoveled the snow from the door and around the windows. My Uncle Kendall lived about a quar- ter of a mile away; we could see the roof of his house from the chamber window. He ran a large dairy farm and sup- plied the village people with milk.
After dinner, Father said: "I am worried about Kendall. I do not see how he can get out to the barn to milk his cows", for the barn was on the other side of the house and some little distance away. He looked at me thoughtfully and then said: "Perhaps you can do it."
"Do what?" said I.
"Go over to Uncle Kendall's and bring back a little milk." "How can I? I haven't any snowshoes."
Father said nothing, but went down cellar and presently appeared with two barrel heads. He cut off a portion on the side of each one, made holes for the heels and two little holes for ropes. It was before the days of bloomers for girls, so Father told me to put on a pair of his trousers. He turned them up at the bottom and tied them up with pieces of rope. Then I put on my heavy coat, knitted hood and red tippet. Father strapped on the barrel heads and helped me to get up on top of the snow. I found I could walk, and was eager to make the venture.
"Be careful," said Father. "I shall go upstairs and watch
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you all the way and shall not leave my post until I see you return."
Even as a child, I felt it was a thrilling experience, walking alone in that wilderness of snow. I found that Uncle Ken- dall had been able to tunnel out to the barn and had done his milking (though it took all the forenoon to accomplish it.) He said I could have all the milk I could carry. I said I could take two cans, one in each hand so they would balance.
On the way back, I left milk at the Youngs and the Walkers. Though Mother thought I should not attempt it, I made an- other trip and carried milk to other houses farther down the street, and I was most welcome at the homes where there were little children.
For two days I did this, and it went down in history how Mary Ann delivered the milk.
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