USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Warwick > Warwick, Massachusetts; biography of a town, 1763-1963 > Part 20
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Mrs. Sarah R. Drury of Troy, Ohio, the daughter of Rev- erend Preserved Smith, left a bequest of $1000 in 1901 in mem- ory of her father, the interest of which was to aid the library.
Mrs. Alice M. Hastings succeeded Miss Jones as librarian and served until 1918.
Mrs. E. C. Sibley, daughter of Lemuel Wheelock, died in 1884. She left her property in trust to her son, with the provision that
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after his death one-half of the estate was to go to the Warwick Free Public Library, the income to be expended for books. This sum, amounting to $5000, was received in 1915. Other funds had been restricted in a similar manner and the library quarters were overcrowded. The trustees decided to seek permission from the courts to use part of this fund to enlarge the quarters or to erect a library building.
With the dwindling population the members of the Baptist Church had found their members so reduced that they had dis- continued services. In 1917 the treasurer, Deacon Ludwig Nord- stedt, and Mrs. Baxter Worden secured the consent of the remaining members of the society to offer the church building to the town for a library building. This generous offer was grate- fully accepted and the Supreme Court now allowed $3000 of the Sibley Fund to be used to make the necessary alterations in the building.
The building was ready for occupancy in 1919. Ten years later electricity was installed, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Stevens. Today the beautiful, attractive old building, kept in the best condition possible, provides ample accommodations for a well-stocked library that is the envy of many larger towns.
Mrs. Mary C. Cole served as librarian for 33 years, from 1919 to 1952. Mrs. Eleanor Morris succeeded her and continued to serve until her death in 1957. Since that time Mrs. Grace C. Morse has been the librarian.
Mrs. John D. Stevens of Baldwinsville gave a fund of $500 in memory of her husband in 1935, the interest to be used for nonfiction.
A legacy of $1000 was received by the library in 1959 from Miss Florence Windom, the income to be used to purchase books. Miss Windom was the granddaughter of the Reverend Roger Hatch, who was the Congregational minster in Warwick from 1835 to 1853. He continued to reside in Warwick until his death in 1868. His daughter Ellen was married here in 1856 to William Windom, who later served as Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Benjamin Harrison and James Garfield. The Honorable William Windom with his wife and family were fre-
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quent visitors to the town until his death in 1891, and the children have continued their interest in Warwick.
The latest gift received by the library was a fund of $500 from Albert J. Morris in memory of Mrs. Eleanor Morris, his wife, the interest of which is to be used for books of poetry.
And so we close the story of our library from its early days to the present, confident that it will continue to serve the town in the future as well as it has in the past. To the many able and dedicated trustees who are responsible for its success, especially in furthering the education of our youth, we give our heartfelt thanks. Their services, given without monetary reward, deserve more but their main reward should be the satisfaction derived from a task well done.
The present board is composed of Mrs. Bessie Thoren, chair- man, Henry Nordstedt, Elizabeth S. Earle, Mrs. Helen Jay, Joseph A. Stevens and Olin L. Bowers.
19 CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES Fire Department
PRIOR TO 1950 the responsibility of protecting the town against the ravages of fire had been placed in the hands of a Forest Warden appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The office of Fire Warden is first mentioned in the town records in 1889 when three were chosen by election. From 1893 one to three were appointed annually until 1906. After 1906 the title was changed from Fire Warden to Forest Warden, but all fire fighting was under his direction. Frank W. Webster held the office for the 20 years preceding 1950.
Under the leadership of Forest Warden C. A. Williams the town bought a horsedrawn wagon equipped with ladders and tools useful in fire fighting. This was prior to obtaining the loan of a Model-T Ford truck designed for the fighting of forest fires from the State about 1923. In 1942 this was superseded by a secondhand truck which Oscar N. Ohlson, Fred R. Lincoln and
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B. I. Knudtson converted into fire apparatus by mounting the pump salvaged from the old truck and adding another portable pump with 1500 feet of hose. When this piece of equipment seemed to be nearing the end of useful service in 1948, the town voted that a committee of five investigate the cost of replacing it. The committee was to investigate also the possibility of provid- ing a storage tank or water-hole in the center of the town for fire protection. Howard A. Anderson, John Wallock, E. A. Gillespie, Gordon S. Anderson and Violet M. Edson were appointed for this purpose.
No action resulted from this investigation but enthusiasm was aroused and a movement began to form a volunteer fire depart- ment. A committee composed of Albert Stoddard as chairman, Edwin Gillespie, Oscar Ohlson, Leo Martin and Gordon S. Anderson drew up a constitution and by-laws for the Warwick Volunteer Firemen's Association. During May, 1950 the organi- zation was completed with the election of the following officers: Oscar N. Ohlson, Chief; Albert H. Stoddard, Secretary; Gordon S. Anderson, Treasurer.
The following December at the instigation of the Association the town voted to buy another secondhand forest fire truck, form- erly used by the State, for $1000. This purchase revived agitation for the construction of a suitable fire station to keep the equipment readily available during all seasons. So the Association volun- teered to erect a fire house, furnishing all the labor and most of the materials gratis to the town.
The town jumped at this offer and at the annual town meeting February 5, 1951 selected a site on the west side of the Orange road, near the junction of the Hastings Pond road. They also gave permission to the Association to cut timber on town land to be sawed into lumber for the fire station. Later the site chosen was changed to the east side of the Orange road.
Gordon S. Anderson was elected to supervise the construction of the building. The heating plant was paid for by the town, plus an appropriation of $500, but aside from that the building was a gift to the town by the Association assisted by many friends in and out of town who donated labor, materials and equipment.
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The fire station is an attractive two-story building with a gambrel roof. The ground floor houses the two fire trucks plus heating and toilet facilities. The second floor is designed for an assembly hall with facilities that make it an excellent meeting place for town organizations.
A second truck was obtained at this time and a 600-gallon tank mounted upon the chassis, thus providing a supply of water for fire fighting so necessary in rural areas. This was replaced in 1956 by a more recent model tank truck, but still a secondhand one.
About this time a great advance in the fire protection afforded the small towns of this area was made in the creation of the Tri- State Mutual Aid System. This System was composed of most of the towns in a radius of approximately thirty miles, around Greenfield, and includes towns in Vermont and New Hampshire. When a serious fire breaks out beyond the ability of the town concerned to cope with, aid is requested from the headquarters in Greenfield. Proper equipment is sent to assist from neighbor- ing towns and the vacancy thus created is filled by moving more distant equipment into the void, until the crisis is over and the apparatus has returned to its home town.
Warwick entered into this cooperative association in 1952. Now, finding that its old secondhand equipment again needed replacing and also desiring to hold up its end in the association, a campaign began for a new fire truck. An article appeared in the warrant for the annual town meeting in 1957. As a result the town voted that a committee of five be appointed to "look into the matter of purchasing a new fire truck, new hose and fire fighting equipment," also the construction of two 25,000-gallon underground water tanks in the village. The committee chosen was Olin Bowers, chairman; Oscar N. Ohlson, Howard A. Anderson, Paul O. Hadsel and Edwin Gillespie.
Bowers declined to act as chairman, and Gillespie replaced him. After a long search the committee recommended the pur- chase of a new truck at the cost of $12,000. This was turned down by the town by a vote of 49 to 41. At the same time it was voted to build one underground concrete water tank on the How-
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ard property owned by the town, and $2500 was appropriated for this purpose. This tank was built in 1958, and while the construction of the tank was done by a contractor the site was cleared, graded and landscaped by volunteer labor.
A second attempt was made to buy a new truck at a town meeting held on June 16, 1959, and this time the town voted favorably. Purchase of the new truck, acquisition of a larger siren on the building and the installation of a "Red" telephone network to summon members of the department together quickly resulted in the Board of Insurance Underwriters' reduction of the classification for dwellings within three miles of the station from Class F to Class E. This meant a reduction in the rate paid on fire insurance policies.
During recent years many fire departments have organized what are known as muster teams and during the summer season musters are held at various places. Here the towns compete with each other in stunts designed to demonstrate their skill as firemen. Under the leadership of Robert Smart, Charles Lincoln, Jr., Donald Lincoln and Maurice Underwood Warwick's team has more than held its own in these competitions.
In 1960, not to be outdone by the men, the women under the leadership of Betsy Lincoln organized a Ladies' Auxiliary to help the men in many ways.
During the years since the department was organized a great many money-raising projects have been held to buy equipment of all kinds. These include the presentation of shows, entertain- ment and auctions as well as providing refreshments and suppers on many occasions. Recently the Auxiliary, assisted by the Women's Guild, bought a resuscitator for the fire department.
Warwick is proud of its fire department but best of all it likes to show it as proof that community spirit is by no means decadent in our rural towns in New England. In spite of the hustle and bustle of the modern day, people are still willing to give their time for the benefit of their town.
The present officers of the fire department are Oscar N. Ohl- son, Chief; Howard A. Anderson, Deputy Chief; Joseph Stevens, Secretary; and Gordon S. Anderson, Treasurer.
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The Post Office
We have told how William Cobb received the first appoint- ment as Postmaster in 1805 and on September 14 he took the oath of office. Later another post office was to be established at Root and Lesure's store in South Warwick on the Wendell Road, just north of the town line. Here at Root and Lesure's Pond, later called Harris Pond, a thriving little community once existed. Now only the home of Harry Putnam, grandson of Martin Harris, remains. This post office had a short life, lasting from 1829 to 1839, when it was closed for lack of patronage.
Cobb was to remain postmaster in the village until his death in 1853. Quartus M. Morgan succeeded him and served until 1858, when Lemuel Scott obtained the appointment only to die suddenly. Colonel Benjamin Putnam, proprietor of the Warwick Inn, served until Abner Albee was appointed by President Lincoln. He was succeeded in 1885 by Frank E. Stimpson who ran a store connected to the hotel and had the post office there until 1889.
Samuel Hastings and Myron Sampson went into partnership, bought the store in the hotel, and moved it into the empty bootshop. Samuel Hastings was postmaster two years, then sold his interest in the store to Sampson and resigned the postmaster- ship in favor of Sampson. Sampson built the present store in 1894 and moved the postoffice there. In 1896 Sampson knew that a request for a change had been made by people in the town, but according to the newspapers he took no steps to prevent it. Suddenly the announcement was made that Charles H. Morse, a brother of Selectman Gilman Morse, had received the appointment. He announced he would open another store in the McKim cottage just west of the town hall. Young Morse was well spoken of, but the entire situation became highly controver- sial.
A petition was sent to Washington asking for the removal of Morse and the reappointment of Sampson. Before the result could be known Morse was found dead from a gunshot wound, an apparent suicide. The following day a letter from Washington
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confirmed his appointment. The town was much upset and rumors flew thick and fast, but the reason for the act could only be surmised. (Newspaper accounts, Rhoda Cook)
Myron Sampson returned as postmaster but the following year, 1897, he resigned and sold his store to Felton and Wilson. Both George E. Felton and Mrs. Gilman Morse applied for the appointment, and the matter was put up to the Republicans of Warwick to vote upon. Mr. Felton received one more vote than Mrs. Morse. The caucus was not considered to have been con- ducted in a proper manner and a second one was held four weeks later, Felton winning 35 to 31.
In February, 1901, a movement was begun by John E. Darling of New York City, who owned a country home on the Wendell road near the junction with the Hockanum Road, for a rural free delivery mail service. A petition was circulated among the peo- ple to determine how many would like the service. The news- paper account of the action reported that 221 wanted it and only 71 "for reasons best known to themselves" opposed it, with nine uncommitted. It further stated that the driver of the mail route would be allowed by the Government to receive and deliver express packages and do all kinds of errands on his own account, receive and deliver mail, sell stamps and postal cards, register letters and give receipts for money orders, etc. Clearly the writer was in favor of the service.
But there were two sides to the question, and the opposition quickly charged that it would mean the loss of our post office and the daily stage to Orange. The newspaper assumed a "hands off" attitude, but on December 31 Mr. Darling announced the service would begin February 1, 1902, to be known as the Darling Free Delivery. The post office remained unmolested, so we trust everyone soon learned to love it. Three more years were to pass before the residents of the north end of the town were to receive the same service from Winchester, New Hampshire.
George E. Felton served as postmaster about eight years. He was followed by Warren P. Shumway who served three years. In 1909 Edward A. Lyman rented the store from W. P. Shum- way and was appointed postmaster. He eventually bought the
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store in 1936 and continued to serve until he retired in 1940. Mrs. Anno S. Earle received the appointment and moved the post office from the store into her home in the village just east of the Warwick Hotel. It had returned to the same building used by William Cobb for so many years. Miss Elizabeth S. Earle, her daughter, succeeded her mother in 1945 until Federal regulations forced her to choose between the office of postmistress and the offices of Town Clerk and Treasurer. She chose to keep the latter offices and resigned in 1950.
John Wallock held the office for one year and then Mrs. Mari- an Copeland received the appointment December 15, 1951. She moved the post office into a small brick building behind the general store and there it continues to serve the public today.
Warwick Veterans Association
Without any doubt Memorial Day has been the most prom- inent day in Warwick from its inception as early as 1874 down through the years to the present day. The records of the War- wick Veterans' Association begin in that year, though it is evident that the organization was already in existence. The memory of the 27 comrades lost in the war was not to be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to return. Many of the survivors left the old home town for more promising fields, but those who remained and those who annually returned for the day banded together to honor their departed comrades.
As we read the record book now placed in the custody of the town library, we are deeply moved as we see the veterans drop one by one from the ranks until in 1916 four feeble old men vote to disband. Henry A. Witherell, the last secretary, closes the records with these words: "It is hoped that the townpeople will continue Memorial Services."
The muffled drums sad roll has beat The soldiers' last tatto; No more on life's parade will meet The brave and fallen few; On fame's immortal camping ground
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Their silent tents are spread, And glory guards with solemn round The bivouac of the dead.
The town now gave the responsibility to the Selectmen, and they were in charge of the exercises until the veterans of the first World War reorganized the Warwick Veterans' Association in 1935.
The exercises have not changed to any great degree. They have been held on a Sunday instead of the official Memorial Day, first because of the great number of nonresidents whose ancestors are buried here and who can come more easily at that time; secondly because the town must rely on outside assistance to provide a band and the military form, beyond the scope of War- wick veterans.
Today the program begins with a concert by the Pioneer Val- ley Regional High School Band at the town park. The parade then forms, composed of the officers' colors, firing squad, veterans and the band, followed by the school children. The first part of the march ends at the church where the school children present a program and an address is given by the speaker of the day. The parade then reforms and marches to the Fellows Memorial Field, where a wreath is placed on the monument to Sergeant Winfred Fellows who gave his life in World War II, then proceeds to the cemetery and halts before the Soldiers' Monument.
Here the exercises are in charge of the Commander. Prayer is given by the Chaplain, followed by Lincoln's Gettysburg Address given by a schoolboy. The Soldiers' Monument is decorated by the veterans, then the school children place a wreath around the flag on each soldier's grave. The salute to the dead is given by the firing squad, followed by Taps. Recall is sounded and the parade returns to the town hall, where refresh- ments are served to those participating. So ends a day of tribute to those we should ever remember with gratitude and honor.
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Physicians
The first reference to the all-important subject of medical services is found in the selectmen's finance accounts shortly after the incorporation of the town in 1763, when the fee charged by Doctor Samuel Matton of Northfield is recorded. This highly respected physician doubtless performed most of these services from 1759 to 1769. Doctor Medad Pomeroy had settled in Northfield in 1762 and began to make his services available. His friendship with Reverend Hedge led him to move to Warwick in 1769, and he continued in medical practice until he returned to Northfield following his unhappy experiences during Shays's Rebellion in 1788. Doctor Pomeroy returned to Warwick in 1807, but did not appear to have resumed his practice to any extent.
Doctor Ezra Conant, Jr. began to practice about 1779. He was elected town clerk in that year and again in 1780. Suddenly he resigned his office and left town only to return in 1787, resume his office as town clerk and probably his medical practice also. He served as late as 1792. About this period a Doctor John Garfield is mentioned as spending some time in town, but we can find nothing definite about him. However a Doctor John Willson appeared on the scene at the same time, and made such an excel- lent impression that the town elected him to the office of select- man from 1797 to 1799. We find evidence that he doctored the "town's poor" as late as 1800. Doctor Benjamin Hazeltine arrived about the same time, 1796, and when the widow of Amos March died in 1804 Hazeltine, assisted by Cobb, performed an autopsy.
We now come to a time when doctors seem to come and go with great rapidity. Cobb, in the diaries, reveals much about them. There was Doctor Bliss in 1803 who fell into debt and Cobb attached his clothes and medicine. He left town shortly after. Doctor Abner Fairchild appears February 24, 1803 "and after some inquiry decides to make a stand." Doctor Peletiah Metcalf located in town in December of that year and the follow- ing July "he attended medical lectures at Hanover College."
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The year 1805 saw the deaths of many children: "Nine chil- dren lay dead this morning in Richmond and the corner of Win- chester, Warwick and Royalston." Perhaps the tremendous mortality rate, especially among children, explains why doctors came and went so quickly.
It was a time when the standards of the medical profession were almost nonexistent. If a young man aspired to be a physi- cian, he might apprentice himself to some well-established doctor with a good medical reputation and serve as his assistant for a year or more. He usually attended lectures at a medical college for a few months and then found a rural town where his services might be in demand. If the town needed the services of a district school teacher, that would help pay his living expenses until his medical reputation was either made or lost.
Such was the case of doctors Fairchild and Metcalf. They left in the fall of 1805 and Doctor Ebenezer Hall arrived about that time. Ebenezer Hall taught the winter school on Flower Hill and when Cobb visited the school in his capacity as committee- man he "was extraordinarily entertained with the good manage- ment and conduct of the school."
At the end of the school term March 10, 1806, "Dr. Hall came to my house wishing to be boarded with the intention to tarry and practice physick." The story of how Hall sold the good peo- ple of Warwick on the lucrative possibilities of glass-making has already been told. He sold his practice to Doctor Joel Burnet in 1812 and, a year later, Doctor Artemus Baker also arrived in town and hung up his shingle. Baker was not a success and during the night of December 16, 1815 he absconded, leaving his debts behind him.
Doctor Benjamin Hazeltine was very popular but he appar- ently moved to Maine before 1812. We know nothing more about Doctor Joel Burnet.
But now at long last a doctor was about to arrive on the scene, who was to be a fixture until his death in 1865. Doctor Amos Taylor came from Northfield and soon secured a firm hold not only as a physician but also as a town official, landowner and a man active in church and social circles. He had studied medicine
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under Doctor Elihu Dwight of South Hadley, then attended Yale Medical College in 1813 and 1814, and came to Warwick in January of 1816, to serve the town half a century.
Doctor George Wright set up practice here in 1832, but he soon found that he could not compete with Doctor Taylor and one year later he moved to Montague. Doctor George Field also tried in 1853 and 1854 but gave up the attempt.
In 1857 Doctor Taylor had reached the age of 72 years. It was logical to assume that the time had arrived for a young man to take his place. And so Doctor Gardner C. Hill was to practice here for the next ten years. By that time the dwindling popula- tion convinced him that Keene, New Hampshire, provided better opportunities. He moved there and became exceptionally prom- inent. However he never lost his love for Warwick and was a frequent visitor on Old Home Days.
After Doctor Hill left Doctor O. J. Barbour made an attempt to practice in 1868 and 1869. He was followed by Doctor Samuel P. French. With the aid of the offices of Superintendent of Schools and Librarian he remained until 1879. Doctor F. A. Babbitt took his place as physician in 1880. He too served as Superintendent of Schools, but in 1885 he was forced to go to work in the bootshop. Shortly after, he moved from town, and Doctor Fred E. Jenkins took over as physician, Superintendent of Schools and teacher, but he gave up the struggle a year later. He was the last resident doctor. From that time down to the present, medical services have been provided from the neighboring towns.
20 SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
Lyceum
THE FIRST Warwick Lyceum which flourished from 1830 to 1840 is described in the history of the public library because it was a predecessor of that institution. When the Lyceum broke up, its private library became the nucleus of the Social Library, which in turn became part of the public library when it was formed in 1870.
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