USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > Waban, early days, 1681-1918 > Part 12
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there was the street
between them.
Apr. 19, 1904 Waban. Mass.,
There was a
race over to the Comonwelth Ave. Lewis went over there before I
did, be- cause I wanted to wa- it for May. {Our maid. ] She said she would
get dressed and go too. So May and Roger and and Lewis and I got ready and started but it began to rain so we went on, Lewis and I did and whe n we got there it was all over. The race was men
runing. Mam- ma is pretty well to-night.
Your loving daughter. Jane Bacon.
(Age nine years. Education by Roger Walcott School!)
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
DR. FANNY M. MCGEE
Early Waban residents attended services at various New- ton churches; the Collins and Gould families driving to church at Newton Center, the Lockes to Upper Falls and the Strongs to the Highlands. As the town grew, the lack of church privileges was keenly felt. In 1894, under the auspices of the Improvement Society and "The Waban Christian Union," which was the name of the first religious society formed in Waban, efforts were made to remedy this condition. Waban Hall was the center of all the early activities of the town, and there were held the first divine services which are such an in-
THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD (Taken about the time it was built; Moffatt Hill in rear) Courtesy of ( Mrs.) Della Conant Stanley
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
herent necessity to all New England communities. Clergymen in Newton and vicinity were hired to preach on Sunday after- noons. It was the task of Lawrence Strong to drive them from their homes to Waban and back. These were of all denomina- tions, and included the beloved Dr. Sullivan. The Society pur- chased seats, tables, a piano and other furnishings for the hall. (These were eventually sold and the proceeds turned over to the Playground Fund.) The services were well attended at first, but after a time it became apparent that if they were to be continued, a church building and a settled pastor were needed.
On October 16, 1896, a meeting of the Improvement Society and the Waban Christian Union was held. Mr. Strong reported for their committee, "that they had decided unan- imously that an organization should be formed for building a chapel in Waban for the services at present of the Protestant Episcopal Church and that the committee also recommend that an edifice be built that should be an ornament to the village and one large enough for the rapid growth of the place. . .. After a full discussion, in which nearly all joined, it was voted at this meeting by a large majority of those present to have the Episcopal form of services as planned by the committee for the present."
On April 22, 1896, the Waban Church Corporation was formed, under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, for the purpose "of establishing and maintaining the pub- lic worship of God in Waban." Money was pledged by twenty- nine people for the new building, and Messrs. Harlow, Webster, Goodwin, and Mrs. Gould, Mrs. Cloutman and Miss Strong were chosen as a building committee. The following are the names of the Charter Members: Charlotte G. and Alexander Davidson, John Edward Heymer, John W. Robin- son, Carrie R. and Charles V. Campbell, Albert Preston Locke, Bertram S. Cloutman, Marion E. R. and William Saville, Elizabeth Cushman, Nellie R. and Charles E. Fish, William F.
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WABAN - EARLY DAYS
Goodwin, Fannie T. C. and Charles J. Buffum, Thatcher R. Raymond, Julia C. and Louis K. Harlow, Arthur B. Harlow, Lewis H. Bacon, Charles J. Page, James E. Morse and Arthur W. Vose.
The land was a gift, jointly, of Mr. W. C. Strong and the city of Newton. The church was erected at a cost of $5,678 with a mortgage of $3,000. During the building of the church, someone donated a stone wall to use towards the foundation and the workmen removed a stone wall-but demolished the wrong stone wall! On December 13, 1896, a public meeting of the residents of Waban was called, and a parish organization was formed. The name of the "Church of the Good Shepherd" was adopted. Reverend William Hall Williams was engaged as the rector. The first service was held on Christmas Day, 1896. Following is a report of that service in the Newton Graphic:
THE CHOIR OF THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD WITH REV. WILLIAM HALL. WILLIAMS AND MRS. FLINT Courtesy of Rev. Stanley W. Ellis
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
"The services were impressive and solemn, after the Epis- copal form. The service was conducted by the rector, Rev. William Hall Williams. Professor Drown of the Theological Seminary, Cambridge, delivered the address. Singing by the congregation mostly, led by Mr. A. T. Raymond, in the absence of Mr. C. J. Buffum. Miss Florence Wood sang the anthem 'Glory to Heaven's Eternal King.' The organ was played by Mrs. Flint. The building belongs to the Waban Church Cor- poration. The architect was Mr. W. F. Goodwin. Mr. W. C. Strong and the city of Newton gave the land and Mr. Goodwin his services.
Other Gifts
Mrs. William Saville-the memorial window, The Good Shepherd.
Rev. Mr. Williams and brother-the altar.
Mr. J. C. Heymer-the lectern.
Children of Waban-the pulpit.
Mr. W. A. McKenney-gas and electric fixtures.
Mrs. A. E. Phelps-Communion Service.
Mrs. C. B. McGee-Bible, prayer book and hymnal for the altar.
Mrs. Nellie R. Fish-the carpet.
"To Mr. L. K. Harlow, who from the first has labored persistently that each detail be carried out, is due much of its success and artistic beauty."
The church was attended for some years by all the people in town. There were about one hundred families in Waban at that time. After some years, people of many denominations moved into Waban, and a new society, the Union Church Society, was formed. Some members resigned from the Church of the Good Shepherd. In 1907, at a meeting of the Waban Church Corporation, plans were made to transfer the property to the parish. The next year, under the Reverend James Clement Sharp, who succeeded Mr. Williams in 1905, the
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parish took steps to become a regularly constituted Episcopal Church. In 1908 the parish was received into the Episcopal diocese of Massachusetts. In this year the church building be- came the property of the parish of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Satisfactory financial arrangements were made with the Union Church Society, and the Waban Church Cor- poration was dissolved.
In 1919, Mr. Sharp, beloved by all, resigned after fourteen years of devoted service. He was succeeded by the Reverend William Lawrence Wood, who remained here until 1926. During his rectorship, the church was repaired and enlarged and a large room in the basement was made and furnished for the church school. The parish was also able to secure the historic Strong house on Beacon Street for a rectory. From 1927-29 the rectorship was filled by Bishop Touret. The Reverend Richard Tuttle Loring then became rector and was here from 1929 until 1937. The present rector, the Reverend Stanley W. Ellis, took charge of the parish in 1937. During the years the membership has steadily increased. There is a large church school, well attended.
The first choir was organized in the early days by Mr. John Willis and the first organist was Mrs. Flint. There is now a senior mixed choir, and also a boys' choir. The Altar Guild was organized by Mrs. William Saville, who was its first president. This society and the Woman's Guild have been active in the religious, charitable, and social life of the parish.
During the years many beautiful and valuable gifts and memorials have been placed in the church. Of special note is the series of stained-glass windows, now completed, many of them by the famous Connick studio of Boston. The parish is also well known among local Episcopal churches for the rich- ness of its altar appointments, and for its exquisitely embroid- ered vestments, some of them the work of Mrs. Richard T. Loring, wife of the previous rector.
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Church of the Good Shepherd approaches its fiftieth year with all indebtedness paid off after a successful campaign in 1944, and it looks forward to ever increasing vigor in its service of God and community.
THE REVEREND JAMES CLEMENT SHARP Courtesy of (Mrs.) Jane Bacon MacIntire
THE UNION CHURCH
J. EARLE PARKER EDWARD R. CHAPIN
The Union Church in Waban had its beginning in the fall of 1904. A chance conversation on the street between Mrs. Frederick H. Putnam and Mrs. Joseph Congdon regarding church matters resulted in a meeting with others for further discussion at the home of Mr. Edwin P. Seaver. On December 2 of that year twelve citizens got together in Waban Hall and decided "to provide preaching services to be held in Waban Hall beginning December 11 and continue every Sunday until further notice." Those twelve citizens were
Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Childs, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Congdon, Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Pillsbury, Mr. Edwin P. Seaver, Mr. William C. Strong, Mr. and Mrs. Frederic W. Webster.
THE UNION CHURCH OF WABAN, 1923 Courtesy of Mrs. J. Earle Parker
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THE UNION CHURCH
These organizers moved along rapidly and started a Sun- day school of thirty-six pupils the week after with Joseph Congdon as superintendent. Rev. George M. Adams was the first preacher.
Wisely, for a village as small as Waban, the pioneers in this endeavor chose to found their church on the "Union" principle, so that all Waban people, of whatever Protestant denomination, could make it their church home. In March, 1905, the name "Union Church Society of Waban" was formal- ly adopted and by-laws and articles of organization were adopted November 21. All church services and activities dur- ing the early years were carried on in Waban Hall, which was on the second floor of the Page Block, now the Fyfe Block. The Society was incorporated in May, 1908, and in March of the following year the trust agreement was signed by Joseph F. Breck and Charles A. Andrews, first president and treasurer, respectively, for the Society, and by Frederic W. Webster, Frederick H. Putnam and Louis W. Arnold, the three original trustees.
Prior to 1904 there had existed for several years a union church in Waban. The rector of the local Episcopal Boys' School had offered his services as pastor and the movement prospered. However, the rector proved so popular that shortly it was voted to make the organization Episcopal in name and in fact. This was done. Whereupon the members of the Society who demurred at this arrangement banded together and formed the present Union Church Society of Waban. This Society grew as Waban grew until it seemed that it was time to put up a church building.
Realizing the value of the "Union" idea and profiting by past experience, the founders of the Union Church in Waban felt that some means could and should be devised to preserve this idea and to prevent the splitting-up process so common in Protestant communities.
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WABAN - EARLY DAYS
Mr. Andrews was the moving spirit in a committee which drew up the Trust Agreement accepted by the Society. By the terms of this agreement, the title to the real estate owned by the Society was turned over to a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. Said trustees are to hold the church property for the use of the Union Church Society of Waban.
If, as the years pass, the "Union" principle is adhered to the duties of the trustees remain light, but should a movement get under way to make the organization denominational, it would then be the duty of the trustees to point out that though a vote of a majority could indeed tie up the church to its favored denomination, the trustees would in that event be in duty bound to give the use of the church real estate to any group that should continue as a "Union Church."
In December, 1910, a meeting was held to take action on the building of a church and a special committee was appointed to further the matter.
Until 1911 the organization was comprised of two parts, the Society and the Board of Trustees. Is January of that year it was decided to have a church to work in harmony with the Society in conducting the organization's religious affairs. With that addition the Union Church organization consists of:
1. The Board of Trustees in whom the title to church property is vested.
2. The Union Church Society of Waban, a corporation that conducts the business affairs of the organization.
3. The Union Church in Waban that directs church affairs such as the religious services, the choosing of deacons, and the benevolences.
The Society and the Church hold annual meetings and each elects its own officers for the ensuing year.
Since there is no national organization of Union Churches it was deemed best to affiliate the Union Church in Waban with the Congregational national organization. This was done
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THE UNION CHURCH
through membership in the Suffolk West Association in exer- cises at an Ecclesiastical Council held in Waban on January 11, 1911. This ceremony was attended by ministers and delegates from churches in Boston and its many suburbs. It was at this meeting that the eighty-one charter members of Union Church were formally accepted into church membership.
At a meeting of the Society committee held on January 17, 1911, it was announced that William C. Strong had donated a lot containing 21,000 square feet, on which it was proposed to erect a church. By June of the same year enough pledges of funds were received to proceed with plans to build and a special committee was appointed to carry them out. This building committee was made up of F. W. Webster, chairman, F. H. Putnam, L. W. Arnold, J. F. Russell and H. S. Kimball. Mr. James H. Ritchie was the architect. Ground was broken on September 11 of that year and the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremony on November 19. In the corner stone box repose, among other things, the names of the eighty-one charter members, copies of Boston and Newton papers which carried stories of the event, pictures of the Episcopal Church in Waban, the Waban Station, the Brick Block, and a view of Beacon Street.
Until 1912 the Union Church did not have a resident pastor. Services had been conducted by Rev. George M. Adams and Rev. Joseph B. Seabury and at the time of the erection of the church in 1911 by Dr. Andrew W. Archibald. In October of that year the Church and Society committees held a joint meeting at which it was decided to ask Dr. Charles H. Cutler to come to Waban as pastor of the Union Church. He accepted the following month, took up his duties shortly thereafter and on May 15, 1913, was formally installed. Dr. Cutler served the Union Church as its pastor until November 2, 1925, on which date his resignation was regretfully accepted. During his ministry, Union Church membership had grown from the
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WABAN --- EARLY DAYS
DR. CHARLES H. CUTLER Courtesy of Rev. Joseph C. MacDonald
original 81 to 327. He was made Minister Emeritus, the office he still holds.
Following Dr. Cutler's resignation, the two committees met again in joint session to ask Rev. Joseph C. MacDonald, then in New York City, to become pastor of the Union Church. He accepted and came to Waban to take up his new
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THE UNION CHURCH
work on January 1, 1926. Almost immediately he was en- grossed in labors attendant on the much needed enlargement of the church edifice. Mr. MacDonald is still at the Union Church and under his leadership the membership has grown to around 900. The mortgages on both church and parsonage have been liquidated. All in all, the committee of twelve who met in Waban Hall back in the winter of 1904, decided wisely and well in founding an institution which has been of ines- timable usefulness to the village of Waban from that year to . this.
The ministers, past and present, of the Union Church in Waban are:
George M. Adams. December, 1904 - January, 1906
Joseph B. Seabury. .January, 1906 - June, 1910
Andrew W. Archibald September 1910 - November, 1912
Charles H. Cutler. November, 1912 - November, 1925 Joseph C. MacDonald January, 1926 -
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WABAN - EARLY DAYS
CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE UNION CHURCH
January 11, 1911.
Andrews, Grace E.
Andrews, H. S. (Mrs. C. A.)
Miller, Addie E. (Mrs. F. L.)
Annable, Harrison Winship
Miller, Grace E.
Annable, L. T. (Mrs. H. W.)
Miller, Marion F.
Banton, Chester W.
Parker, Albert K.
Banton, Lucy B. (Mrs. C. W.)
Parker, J. Earle
Batterman, A. E. Virginia
Parker, C. M. B. (Mrs. J. E.)
Bourne, Austin G.
Putnam, Dorothy
Bourne, Ruth (Mrs. A. G.)
Bourne, Philip
Putnam, Frederick H.
Breck, Joseph F.
Putnam, Jeanette H. (Mrs. F. H.)
Breck, Annie H. (Mrs. J. F.)
Breck, Mary Agnes
Brown, M. W. (Mrs. W. E.)
Rane, E. D. (Mrs. F. W.)
Rane, Fannie C.
Buttrick, C. Oscar
Rane, Janet E.
Buttrick, Anna D. (Mrs. C. O.)
Cherrington, M. B. (Mrs.)
Childs, Chester Harold
Childs, Emily Clara
Childs, Edith Marion
Childs, Emily M. (Mrs. F. A.)
Clarke, Effie D. W. (Mrs.)
Clarke, Vivian D.
Congdon, Joseph
Congdon, Alice C. (Mrs. J.)
Cotton, Helen L. (Mrs. L. M.)
Dutch, Dana M.
St. Lawrence, V. (Mrs. C. A.)
Wardwell, Belle M. (Mrs.)
Wardwell, Katherine M. Webster, Anna Eleanor
Greeley, B. W. (Mrs. C. H.)
Webster, Anna I. (Mrs. F. W.)
Hovey, Bertha E. (Mrs. C. L.)
Kellaway, Arthur W.
Whitman, Willard M.
Whitman, A. D. (Mrs. W. M.) Wiley, Helen R. Wiley, Mary C. (Mrs.)
Wiley, Ruth L. (Mrs. S. H.)
Zeiss, Earnest L.
Zeiss, E. L. (Mrs. E. L.)
Zeiss, Gertrude
Rice, Emma F. (Mrs.)
Rivinius, George F.
Rivinius, S. S. F. (Mrs. G. F.)
Sanborn, Edson Worthen
Sanborn, Hobart Chamberlain
Sanborn, S. (Mrs. G. P.)
Sleeper, George L.
Sleeper, Alice F. (Mrs. G. L.)
St. Lawrence, Clarence A.
Dutch, Fastnet E. (Mrs. D. M.) Eddy, May H.
Greeley, Clarence H.
Kellaway, M. J. (Mrs. A. W.) Kellaway, Edward T.
Kellaway, F. M. (Mrs. E. T.) Kimball, Herbert S.
Kimball, F. P. (Mrs. H. S.) May, John Birchard May, Abigail W. (Mrs. J. B.)
Miller, Frank L.
Rane, Frank W.
Rhodes, Gordon Henry
Rhodes, Mary P. (Mrs. G. H.)
Bunham, A. A. (Mrs. A. W.)
Putnam, Elinor
Whitcomb, Clara H. (Mrs.)
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
HELEN H. FORTE
There are now three churches in Waban. In 1928 the $80,000 Catholic Church of St. Philip Neri was built. It was at first a mission of the Church of Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton Upper Falls, of which Reverend Dennis H. Dono- van was pastor. In 1934, after the death of Father Donovan, the Waban Church became a Parish with Reverend Eugene A. Twomey, a gentle and scholarly man, as the first pastor. He died in May, 1941. The present leader of the Parish is Father Thomas J. McDonough.
A PLAY AT WABAN HALL Courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Oakes
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EARLY FIRE PROTECTION FOR THE VILLAGE OF WABAN, AND THE CITY IN GENERAL
FIRE CHIEF JOHN L. KEATING
Steps for protection against fire were first taken in that part of Newton known as Newton Lower Falls, which at that time included what is now known as Waban.
In the year 1812 the inhabitants of the Lower Falls pro- vided leather buckets for each home to be employed in the advent of fire. Two lines of bucket passers usually formed from the nearest water supply to the fire, one line passing along the full buckets, and the other line passing them back when empty.
Later, with the developing of the hand tub, a manually drawn hand tub was purchased by the inhabitants of Lower Falls and Waban in 1813, which was the first hand tub pro-
HORSE-DRAWN HOSE WAGON; AROUND 1910 (Newton Lower Falls) Courtesy of Fire Chief John L. Keating
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EARLY FIRE PROTECTION
FIRE ENGINE
Courtesy of Newton Free Library
vided in the city for fire fighting purposes and was known as Cataract No. 1.
A volunteer fire department was formed. Service in the fire company was voluntary and without monetary compensa- tion. Membership in the fire company was decided entirely by election, just as the firemen elected their own foreman and other officers by ballot. After a certain period of service the fire fighter was exempt from jury and military duty.
The first fire boxes were securely locked and the key was in the custody of the nearest family. The first such box was located near the Poor Farm and the key was in the custody of the Home. In 1903 the first motor fire service vehicle in America was purchased in Newton.
Cataract No. 1 was replaced by a horse drawn reel, which was later replaced by a horse drawn hose wagon and located
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WABAN - EARLY DAYS
in a wooden building on Washington Street opposite Wales Street. Later, a new brick station was built on Grove Street and the company transferred to that location.
On April 12, 1914, a motor combination chemical and hose wagon was purchased and placed in service, replacing the horse drawn wagon.
In 1918 the present station at the corner of Beacon and Washington Streets was erected, and on October 30, the company was transferred to its present location.
On May 31, 1929, a triple combination pump, hose and booster pump was purchased and placed in service, replacing the combination hose and chemical wagon. This piece of apparatus has a pumping capacity of 500 gallons of water a minute, carries 1000 feet of 21/2 inch hose, 250 feet of 3/4 inch hose and a 115 gallon water tank. The personnel is composed of two lieutenants and six hosemen permanently employed, working on the two platoon basis.
THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE FIRE VEHICLE IN AMERICA Newton, Massachusetts, 1903. A Stanley Steamer, with Chief Walter B. Randlett. This car carried fire-fighting tools and two extinguishers. Courtesy of Chief J. L. Keating
EARLY POLICE PROTECTION
SERGEANT PHILIP PURCELL
(Some of the data furnished by Frederic W. Mitchell, retired Chief of the Newton Police Department and W aban's first police officer.)
The Newton Police Force was established in 1875. At that time but one man was on duty in the day time in the entire city (or village) of Newton, but at night each section drew one man; that part which later became Waban being covered by the officer in Lower Falls.
HEA
NEWTON POLICE PATROL, 1890 Courtesy of Police Chief F. W. Mitchell, retired
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The first record of police protection particularly for Waban is the order issued by City Marshal Charles F. Richard- son in April, 1890. (From 1886 to 1898 the Chief of Police was called the City Marshall.) This order was to assign to Waban Frederic W. Mitchell. The hours of this first policeman in Waban were from 6 P.M. to 4 A.M. In addition to his other duties Mr. Mitchell was to be on the alert for tramps, and thieves raiding gardens, both of which were problems of those times. He was on duty in Waban for four years; succeeded on June 4, 1894, by Nat Seaver. In 1905 Mr. Mitchell became Chief of Police of the City of Newton, retiring in 1922. Nat Seaver, now retired, says that prior to his time, once or twice a day the officer at Newton Highlands or Lower Falls came up to take a turn around Waban. Nat's beat was from the Lower Falls end of Beacon Street to Eliot. He says that "there were pretty good people around Waban; plenty of work but no trouble."
POLICE CHIEF FREDERIC W. MITCHELL IN BUGGY, 1908 Courtesy of Police Chief F. W. Mitchell, retired
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EARLY POLICE PROTECTION
On July 20, 1890, the patrol wagon and signal system was put into service in the city. From 1894 to 1899 from three to five mounted officers were maintained for the protection of the more sparsely settled districts, of which Waban might be called one. The first automobile police car was acquired in 1910; it was a Ross steamer. Our efficient cruisers and radio service were established in 1932. The horse-drawn patrol wagon was re- placed in 1912 by an automobile combination patrol wagon and ambulance.
Another of Waban's police officers, now retired, is Joseph Reeves, who was in Waban from 1926 to 1934; he lives on Beacon Street. In Waban today there are several officers con- stantly on foot patrol (in addition to the cruising cars with radio). Clem Barry and George Tobin are familiar and popular figures in Waban Square.
Sears
CHIEF MITCHELL IN A ROSS STEAMER, 1910 Courtesy of Police Chief F. W. Mitchell, retired
VEHICLES
In the early days of the village, all traffic was horse drawn, a horse being a four-legged animal now nearly ex- tinct. Before the days of the railroad and trolley lines, barges were used often for trips between villages. These con- sisted of two long settees mounted on wheels; the passengers faced each other; two horses were used. As these strange
WILLIAM SAVILLE BICYCLING ON MOFFATT HILL, 1890 Courtesy of (Mrs.) Margaret Davidson Peabody
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VEHICLES
vehicles had no regular routes, they had to be engaged in ad- vance. They did, however, regularly transport the children to the high school, starting from Upper and Lower Falls and collecting those from the villages which lay between. Miss Mary Hyde says that "Waban walked" - up until the railroad came. In those days, our dirt roads became pools of mud in wet weather and the heavy two-horse drays of the Spring Hay and Grain Company often were mired hub-deep on Beacon Street. There were some very swanky turnouts about the vil- lage. Ned Collins, who lived in "the house with the pillars" on Beacon Street, maintained a uniformed coachman and some fine horses and carriages. There were a number of such fine stables, and in winter, of course, sleighs and pungs.
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