USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Warwick > Warwick, Massachusetts; biography of a town, 1763-1963 > Part 22
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Thus Root and Lesure Company's pond is now Harris swamp, Collier's Pond is Black Swamp, N. G. Stevens' Pond is Stevens' Swamp and Fay and Moore's Pond is Bass Swamp. These with Josiah Conant's Pond were the only ones large enough to be designated by having a name placed on the map. Josiah Conant's Pond now called Gale's Pond is the only one shown in 1830 that remains today. The dam at Gale Pond was partially destroyed in the winter of 1962, but Harry C. Earle, the present owner, had it restored and thus saved the pond for future generations.
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However we do have other artificial ponds today which were not in existence then. These include Sheomet Pond, Wheeler's Pond and Richards' Pond and Reservoir. Sheomet Pond was built in the opening days of the Civil War. Wheeler's Pond was enlarged to its present size about the same time. Richards' Pond and Reservoir was the site of Scott and Ayres saw and grist mills pond. Apparently their dam had been destroyed, but it was replaced before 1856 as the pond is shown on the map of that year.
The two small ponds on Gales Brook at the foot of Barber Hill were classed as artificial ponds by Blake. Probably one or both were built by Benjamin Tuel who had a mill in this location during the Revolution. One or more mills continued to operate on these ponds for over a century. Wilber F. Webster was the last to run a mill, giving up the business about 1900.
John Henderson of Orange erected a large icehouse on the shore of the largest pond in 1935 and each winter ice was cut and stored to supply his trade in Orange for about ten years. Electric refrigeration proved the downfall of the ice business and the ice- house was dismantled in 1954. Eventually the dams on these ponds deteriorated, and today but little semblance of a pond remains.
Zilpha Smith
At the foot of the eastern slope of Mount Grace, Mountain Brook flows north draining both sides of the valley. Between this beautiful winding stream and the highway to Winchester, New Hampshire, lies a grove of pine trees and here the State has developed a picnic area with many fireplaces and tables for the use of the public. Close to the road at the southern end is found the remains of what was once the cellar of a house. Ash and maple trees now grow within the four stone walls, and their size shows that no house has stood here for many years.
This cellar hole is the sole remains of the house of a pathetic figure who spent her entire life within a radius of a few miles from this spot. Zilpha Smith was an only child of a poor and simple couple. She grew up and blossomed into womanhood,
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and was considered an extremely pretty girl with a pleasant lovable nature. Eventually she fell in love with a dashing young man who was considered the "catch" of the town. When her betrothal was announced she was the envy of the other girls and her joy knew no bounds.
And then on the eve of her wedding, Zilpha was told that her lover had been involved with another girl and had married her suddenly. Heartbroken and with her pride sorely wounded, Zil- pha became a recluse and never left the vicinity of her home until the death of her parents forced her to do so. She would walk to North Orange, avoiding all her old acquaintances, to trade the palm leaf hats she wove for the few necessities of life.
When her house burned down she moved the few possessions she had been able to save into a corner of her small barn and prepared to continue her existence. The selectmen insisted that she accept a small portable cabin, and she lived in this until ill health caused the selectmen to place her in the town poor farm where she died in 1885.
No monument was ever erected on her grave, but the outdoor fireplace erected in the picnic area beside her cellar hole bears a bronze plaque with the inscription "Aunt Zilpha."
Joanna Gibson
Deep in the woods between the Old Winchester Road and the Richmond road, and about half a mile east of the home of Oscar Doane (senior), an occasional hunter might stumble on an old cellar hole. Tradition tells us that William Dorrel, a deserter from the army of General Burgoyne in 1777, lived here about 1780. He moved to Northfield in 1783, and later to Leyden where he founded a religious sect known as the Dorrelites.
Ephraim Robbins was the owner in 1784, and he and his son continued to live there until about 1848. Eventually the place became abandoned and the large empty house stood alone in the deep woods for many years. Then one rainy day dense smoke aroused the town to the fact that the old house was burning. It was obvious that the fire was of incendiary origin, but it appeared to be a hopeless task to determine the culprit.
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And then someone recalled that Joanna Gibson, a feeble- minded woman who lived with a family in the area, had been picking berries in the vicinity. When questioned Joanna readily told how she had taken refuge from the rain in the house. She built a fire in the fireplace to dry her wet clothes and then she lay down on the floor to rest in front of the open fire. Suddenly the Devil appeared in the doorway. He was entirely red from head to foot and had a long tail hanging behind him. He went to the fireplace, put his tail in the fire, and swished the fire about the room while Joanna fled from the house.
Perhaps the same Devil had been responsible for the rash of fires which had destroyed several other abandoned houses during the 1880's. However Joanna now lost the freedom to roam at large.
About 50 feet northeast of the corner of the Sheomet Club- house stood a famous pine tree for nearly 80 years. Here young Augustus Bliss hung his scythe and then was called to join his regiment in 1862. He died as the result of fever contracted in Mississippi and the scythe remained unnoticed until the tree grew and enclosed it in its trunk. Here it remained unmolested as a monument to young Bliss, and as a curiosity of nature, until the hurricane of 1938 felled the tree. Since that date frequent attempts have been made to secure the memento for future pre- servation but its possessor still retains it.
For over 140 years people traveling along the Wendell road have seen what appeared to be a gravestone by the side of the road, just a few rods below the southern edge of Moores Pond. A closer examination reveals that this is a monument erected to commemorate a tragedy which took place in 1824. The inscrip- tion tells that James, the three-year-old son of Francis Leonard, was killed here when he fell from a cart and the wheel passed over him.
Here I passed from Earth to Glory In a moment quick as thought; Passing strangers read the story On this consecrated spot.
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Geology and Natural Curiosities
From time immemorial every new area opened for exploration and settlement is soon subjected to a search for precious and semiprecious mineral deposits. Warwick was no exception and the early settlers were successful in finding small quantities of some semiprecious metals or ores. A few feeble attempts were made to develop some of the deposits commercially, but they were found unprofitable and were abandoned.
Jonathan Blake believed that these early indications of iron, lead, copperas and firestone on the surface of the ground indi- cated that some day an inexhaustible supply of these ores would be uncovered. One hundred and fifty years have passed since Blake expressed his belief and if he is correct these ores are still well hidden.
We know that bog-iron ore was found a short distance south of Moores Pond. Several references are found to the fact that a forge was set up and operated there in the latter part of the 18th century. A trip hammer made a variety of tools, but the supply of ore was soon exhausted and the forge ceased to operate.
Iron rock ore was found on the old Johnson farm on the east side of Gale Road near the town line. Sometime in the early part of the last century Blake says that iron ore from that spot was transported by teams to Worcester to be made into emery.
Geologists have been known to spend considerable time on various occasions searching the area for these mineral desposits that could be obtained in quantities to make it a profitable ven- ture. But to date, if there is hidden wealth in these hills, it is still well hidden.
Several interesting mineral deposits have been found and samples have been widely sought by many collectors of minerals. Radiated black tourmaline has been found in several locations on Mount Grace. An excellent specimen is exhibited at the Pea- body Museum at Harvard College.
Another interesting mineral deposit is found west of the Hast- ings Pond road about one quarter of a mile from the village. Here the road crosses a bulge which is noticeable for its unusual
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green and brown color. A path or road leads from the highway to a shallow pit. Here beautiful green crystalline epidote, associated with brown massive garnet, is found in abundance.
Warwick contains within its borders many natural curiosities. It is impossible to walk through the woods for any appreciable distance in any location without running across rock formations or finding huge boulders at high elevations, as if left by some pre- historic glacier. In fact some geologists claim that once a huge lake occupied the Connecticut River valley some 20 miles wide. As the waters receded leaving the river behind, many rocks or boulders were deposited, the presence of which is difficult to ex- plain in any other way.
Deep round holes are found in rock ledges in several locations in Warwick. These holes, two to four feet deep and from one to two feet across, are believed to have been made by whirling action of water. Indians are supposed to have used them to cook by fill- ing them with food placed over preheated stones in the bottom of the holes. They are generally known as Indian Pot Holes. Several of these can be found on the old Stevens farm and on the ridge on the east side of Robbins Road, directly east of the Stevens farm.
Back in 1870, when Hervey Barber completed Blake's History, he mentioned a huge boulder in the extreme northwest corner of Warwick near Hogback Mountain. At that time this rock, weigh- ing about 100 tons, could be rocked with one hand. Tipping Rock is still easily found, but time or the action of some overly curious person has ruined its claim to fame as it can no longer be rocked by hand.
Deacon Barber also described a cave which he located at about 100 rods north of Stevens Millpond and 30 rods east of the North- field town line. He claimed the cave would shelter 500 men. Today this cave is about two miles from the nearest dwelling. It seems fantastic to say a cave of this size could become lost, but recently when an attempt to find it was made it seemed to be a fact. Many elderly people who had lived all their lives in War- wick never had visited it. Finally George Shepardson said he had visited it many years ago and he would lead a party to it.
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Starting by a large rock about one-eighth of a mile north of Stevens Pond we went west, skirting the north edge of the pond. We proceeded slightly more than half a mile, until we came to the edge of a plateau with the ground descending steeply into a valley before us. We then turned north along the edge of the plateau, until we came out on the top of a huge granite rock once nearly 100 feet long.
The best description we can give is to say it was shaped like a long loaf of bread about 20 feet across the top and 25 feet high. One end and one side were imbedded in the top of the embank- ment, with the top of the rock level with the ground. The other side and end faced the valley below. The north end of the loaf was once perhaps five or six feet above the ground and doubtless at one time would have sheltered 500 men. But the tremendous weight of this unsupported end had been too much At some time the long loaf had split across in the middle as cleanly as if cut with a knife. The northern end had fallen forward toward the valley below until its outer edge struck a ridge of rock. At the extreme northern end of this section, a second piece of the bottom of the loaf fell away into the valley below, leaving a projecting roof of rock about four feet thick over an area of about 15 square feet.
There is a passage under this half of the original loaf about 35 feet long. At the southern end a man could stand upright. Then the roof descends gradually until one would crawl out of the northern end on his stomach. Here you would find yourself under the projecting roof of rock open on two sides, but where perhaps 100 people could find shelter. Without doubt Indians and later white men have found refuge from sudden storms here. Bears too have certainly hibernated here during the long winters, but from the evidence found we would say porcupines and other smaller animals take full advantage of the facilities provided by Mother Nature.
Perhaps the best known rock rests on the surface of the ground by the roadside, as if left by some gigantic hand millions of years ago. Lying on the west side of the Hastings Pond road, just a short distance from the village, this granite boulder appears simi-
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lar to a huge egg lying on its side. Originally about 30 feet high and 20 feet in diameter, a large section of the pointed end was split off by human hands many years ago. Possibly it was intended to be used as a building stone, then the idea was abandoned.
The Athol Young Men's Christian Association had a summer camp for boys in the vicinity of the rock in 1916. Adopting the Indian name for Big Rock for their camp they called it Camp Wawbeek. Fred Bergquist, a former granite cutter from Quincy and then a resident of Warwick, cut the name "Wawbeek" in deep letters near the top of the rock. Beneath this name are the words "In the Beginning God." Thus the rock reminds us of the Creator who made our earth with all its awe-inspiring features.
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22 EPILOGUE
Now we have brought our history of Warwick down to the present day. We will add a very brief description of the town at its bicentennial observance as an incorporated town, for the bene- fit of future generations. Life indeed bears little resemblance to that of our forebears. The changes that began with the invention of the steam engine in the early part of the last century exceeded the wildest dreams of those who looked forward to the future. We in turn wonder what the future will bring in the next century and if this will be a better world in which to live.
Today agriculture as a means of earning a livelihood in War- wick is almost nonexistent. Mass production, heavy expensive farm machinery, government regulations have all joined to make it impossible to operate successfully among the rugged rocky hills of our town. Some carry on agricultural activities as a secondary source of income but their primary source is found in some other form of employment, often outside the borders of the town.
There are five dairy farms producing milk commercially. This milk is collected in tank trucks and transported to large dairies where it is processed for the consumer. These farms are owned by Wilfred Benoit on the Orange road, Arthur Bowers at Mayo's Four Corners, Oliver Fellows on the Chase road, Oscar Doane, Jr., on the old Winchester road and Charles E. Lincoln on the Athol road.
Dairy farmers have found it advantageous to organize into societies to protect and advance their industry. The first of these was the North Central Massachusetts Dairymen's Association, Inc., organized in 1954. Oscar Doane, Jr. was one of the founders of this organization and has served as its president from its incep- tion to the present time. Doane also was a founder and director of the Massachusetts Federation of Dairy Associations, Inc., which is composed of five area associations. Arthur L. Bowers and Charles E. Lincoln have served as directors of the local and state associations.
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The raising of poultry for their meat and the production of eggs seems to fluctuate in cycles from a profitable business to one of overexpansion. It is now going through a depression caused by overproduction resulting in low prices. Because of heavy operating expenses many poultry houses are now empty. Among those formerly engaged in this business were Clarence Rhodes, Delbert Rhoades, Russell F. Webster and Oscar Youngman. Today only Gordon S. Anderson makes the poultry industry his major occupation.
During the past decade a new industry has been developed and increased in Warwick and the neighboring towns. The rais- ing of mink to provide fur for milady's adornment has been found to be a profitable enterprise. Robert Kolka on the Wen- dell road, Ferdinand Kuljus and Walter Romelt each has en- gaged in this business on a large scale.
The principal natural asset of Warwick still remains its ever- growing timber. Despite the fact that the many sawmills, which once did such a thriving business, have now been reduced to two permanent mills the production of lumber continues to employ many men. Arthur J. Fournier has a permanent mill on the Orange road which is still active and Oscar Doane, Jr. has a mill on the Winchester road which operates on occasions. Other portable mills are frequently set up on locations where timber is being cut.
Among the men who are engaged in some operation connected with either the manufacture or the transportation of lumber are Roy Barber, Arthur Fournier, Hollis and Kenneth Hubbard, Earl G. Joslin, Fred R. Lincoln, Kenneth Matthews, Stephen Clark and Karl B. Smith.
Warwick has been fortunate in finding one man who had the initiative and skill to establish an enterprise far from the city. Edwin A. Gillespie, a highly trained lithographer, married Miss Adele Carlson and made his home on the old Richmond road. He was the first to begin the raising of mink for their fur pelts, but after a few years he decided it was more profitable to return to his highly specialized trade. The amount of traveling involved in going to and from employment and the belief that he could
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operate a business of his own in the country persuaded him to do So.
Beginning in 1949 he developed a business making color re- productions for the offset printing trade. The original art work as made by the artist in full color is reproduced in four colors which, combined, give an exact reproduction of the original. These color designs are then used on greeting cards, stationery, advertising material and wherever colored illustrations are de- manded.
In 1951 he erected a building near his home and later enlarged it. Today he has ample room for his expensive equipment, which includes a camera 13 feet long, capable of making a negative 24 inches square. He also has a 10 by 15 inch offset printing press and is equipped to make aluminum printing plates for the offset printing trade. Today with his son Edwin, Jr., and other seasonal help, he finds that his location in the country presents no serious handicap and has some advantages in conducting an active busi- ness.
The general store, now under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Shatos, continues to serve the public much as it has always done. Its modern up-to-date appearance bears no resemblance to the olden days when the townspeople gathered around the potbellied stove waiting for the mail to be sorted. The Inn has already been covered at length. A newcomer is the Pullen Manor Club operated by Frederick W. Harris.
Several men are employed by the State Department of Natural Resources on the many acres of state-owned land. The force is augmented during the spring, summer and autumn seasons by several men who supervise and maintain the various picnic areas. The Department has made extensive plans to increase these rec- reational facilities which should, in the near future, make War- wick a mecca for nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
We have enjoyed the reputation of maintaining an excellent highway department for years. Today under the direction of our Superintendent of Streets, Allen Miner, our roads continue to be maintained in first-class condition. With over 56 miles of roads this is no small task to perform.
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And now we must end our story about the past and the present of our little town, and face toward the future. What that future will be in this uncertain age we do not know and we would be presumptuous to predict. This much we can state: there are those who loved Warwick in the bygone days and there are those who love it today. We must face the future optimistically, plan wisely and work diligently so that there may be many who will continue to love the old town and remember us with gratitude for what we have passed on to them.
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APPENDIX BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
APPENDIX
Selectmen, 1870-1962
Henry Jillson, 1869-72
James Wheeler, 1867-70
Edward F. Mayo, 1868-71; 1875-76; 1878-79
George A. Witherell, 1902-06; 1914-19
Fred W. Bass, 1906-09; 1912-20
Leslie W. Green, 1909-11
William K. Taylor, 1873-75; 1883-85; 1887-89; 1891-92; 1895
Ludwig Nordstedt, 1910-13 Orville W. Cole, 1915-20
James Stockwell, 1872-74; 1876- Ernest G. Prouty, 1920
78; 1881-83; 1890-95; 1898
William H. Gale, 1874-75; 1880-82
Josiah Joslin, 1921-22
Carl G. Stange, 1921-30
George D. Shepardson, 1921-26
Adriel White, 1876-77
Darius Stone, 1877
Charles A. Williams, 1878-80; 1886
Samuel Hastings, 1879-88; 1896- Lee J. Dresser, 1927-1954 97; 1899-1904; 1907-14
Leslie F. Mansfield, 1935-46
Charles H. Jennings, 1884-85 Hiland Stockwell, 1886
Charles A. Morse, 1940-43 Frederick W. Harris, 1946-50
Albert H. Stoddard, 1950-56 Oscar C. Doane, Jr., 1952-58
Ralph Holbrook, 1954; 1958-61 George D. Shepardson, Jr., 1954-60
Wales M. Ward, 1892-94
Gilman F. Morse, 1895-98; 1904-05
Paul O. Hadsel, 1956-
Robert R. Kolka, 1960-
George Manning, 1898; 1900-03 Gordon S. Anderson, 1961-
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Charles E. Lincoln, 1923; 1931- 40 Frank W. Webster, 1924-35; 1943-52
C. Edward Mayo, 1889-91
James A. Conant, 1887-88
George M. Wheeler, 1889-90; 1899-1900
Edward M. Morgan, 1899-1901 Baxter Worden, 1904-08
Jesse F. Bridge, 1871-73
Population of Warwick
1765-191
1870-769
1776-766
1880-713
1790-1246
1890-565
1800-1233
1900-619
1810-1227
1910 -477
1820-1256
1920-327
1830-1150
1930-367
1840-1071
1940- 444
1850-1021
1950-429
1860-932
1960-426
Town Clerks
James Ball, 1763-74
Amos Marsh, 1775-78
Ezra Conant, 1779-80; 1787-92
Samuel Williams, 1780-82
John Conant, 1783-86; 1793-97
Josiah Pomeroy, Jr., 1798-1801; Arlon S. Atherton, 1868-73 1803-04; 1812-17
William Cobb, Jr., 1802
Jonathan Blake, Jr., 1805-07; 1818-20; 1822-28
William K. Taylor, 1895
George A. Witherell, 1915-21
Asa Thayer, 1821
Josiah Joslin, 1922-33
Dr. Amos Taylor, 1829-37
Orville W. Cole, 1934-35
Lemuel Wheelock, 1838
Joseph Stevens, 1936-41
Abijah Eddy, 1839-45
Charles Chesbro, 1946-48 Ira Draper, 1849-57; 1859-60 Henry Mallard, 1858 Edward F. Mayo, 1861-67; 1874-75
Samuel Hastings, 1876-94; 1896-1914
Elizabeth S. Earle, 1941-
Beginning in 1902 the office of town clerk and that of town treasurer have been held by the same person, although elected separately.
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School Committees, 1895-1962
We give the names and years of service of members of the school committee from 1895, when the number of members was reduced from nine to three:
Etta M. T. Bass, 1895-1906; 1920-21; 1923-31
William E. Blackmer, 1895- 1905
James Stockwell, 1895-1897
Gilbert Maynard, 1898-1900 Frank E. Witherell, 1901 Sherman A. Houghton, 1902- 1904
George A. Witherell, 1905-1907 Adele Gillespie, 1943-1957;
Eugene E. Whipple, 1906-1911 George T. Manning, 1907-1909 Rev. John Graham, 1908-1910 F. S. Delvey, 1910-1912 Rhoda Cook, 1911-1919 Leslie W. Green, 1913-1920 Baxter H. Worden, 1912-1919 Gertrude E. Stange, 1921-1922 Orville W. Cole, 1920
Archie J. Fellows, 1921-1922 Edith P. Lincoln, 1922-1936
Ella F. MacLean, 1923-1926 Julia M. Green, 1927-1939 Cornelia Francis, 1932-1940 Anno S. Earle, 1937-1939 Leo R. Martin, 1940 Caroline Davidson, 1941-1942 Evelyn C. Phillips, 1941-1950 Fannie Fournier, 1941-1942 Emily Wetherbee, 1943-1945
1960-date
Ralph F. Holbrook, 1946-1949 Frederick W. Harris, 1950-1952 Albert H. Stoddard, 1951-1953 Emily L. Benoit, 1953-1958 Arthur Bowers, 1954-1959 Oscar Doane, Jr., 1958-1960 Avis M. Anderson, 1959-1961 John N. Durkee, 1961-date Maurice Underwood, 1962-date
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Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee
This committee consists of three members one of whom is a member of the town school committee. The other members are elected for a three year term. These members have been as fol- lows:
Albert H. Stoddard, 1955- John N. Durkee, 1955-1958 Emily L. Benoit, 1955-1958 Charles A. Morse, 1958-
Superintendent of Schools
The office of Superintendent of Schools was filled by a resident of the town until the school union was formed with Northfield, Gill, Bernardston and Leyden in 1896. Largely responsible for the operation of the schools in the union, we include those who have served to date:
Rev. John Goldsbury, 1872- 1874
Dr. Samuel P. French, 1870- 1871; 1875-1880
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