Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 90

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933
Publication date: 1934
Publisher: New York, American historical Society
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 90

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tion to his connection with the M. J. Whittall Associates, Ltd., and the Worcester Airport, Inc., he is a member of the board of directors of the St. Pierre Chain and Tire Corporation, giving freely of his natural business ability to all of these enterprises. Like his father and grandfather he is also active in fraternal circles, being member of Isaiah Thomas Lodge and Matthew John Whit- tall Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and in this order also a member of many higher bodies, includ- ing Eureka Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hiram Council, Royal and Select Masters; Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar; also the following bodies in the Scottish Rite: Goddard Council, Princes of Jerusalem; Worcester Lodge of Perfection; Lawrence Chapter, Rose Croix; Massachusetts Consistory; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Whittall is also a member of Prince Consort Lodge, Sons of St. George; the United States Officers Reserve Association and the Ama- teur Air Pilots Association; and is greatly inter- ested in the work of the Worcester Area Boy Scouts of America. He has contributed gener- ously to the support of this and other local causes. His clubs are the Worcester Club, the Tatnuck Country Club and the Aviation Country Club. His religious affiliation is with St. Matthew's Episcopal Church at Worcester, in which all members of the Whittall family have been interested since the grandfather's time.

On June 7, 1930, at Ipswich, Massachusetts, James Paget Whittall married Milicent Ewell, of Worcester, daughter of Arthur Woolsey and Jane (Estabrook) Ewell. Mr. and Mrs. Whittall have two children: I. Edgeworth Paget Whittall, born April 17, 1931. 2. James Paget Whittall, Jr., born July 15, 1932.

JOHN H. ERESIAN-The record of John H. Eresian covers much more than his association with mercantile establishments. He has developed tracts of land in his adopted city of Worcester and raised the realty values by many thousands of dollars, building homes, reclaiming useless areas, and in other ways contributing to the community advance. In business life he is associated with B. F. Arnold and Company as buyer of meats.

Born in Harpoot, Turkish Armenia, August 20, 1890, Mr. Eresian came with his mother to Amer- ica in January, 1900, having been preceded by his father by a few years. They settled in Worcester, where the elder Mr. Eresian was employed as a wire drawer at the North Works of the American Steel Wire Company. He is now retired. The son, John H., at once entered the public schools, learning English and other subjects, and completed a course that generally covers nine years in seven years' time. He was unable to pursue his studies further and left school to aid his parents in the support of the family.

His first employment was in the capacity of a clerk for John Eakins at the Belmont Market. Here he made a steady advance and eventually was promoted to buyer and manager of the meat department. In 1912 he entered the employ of J. A. Mansfield, proprietor of a market on Main Street. He opened the Lincoln Cash-Market and operated this department of the Mansfield estab- lishment until 1915, and it was leased to the Worcester Market Company. He stayed with

Mansfield until he was called into the military service of the United States during the World War and was assigned to the 42d Regulars until the Armistice, at which time he received his honor- ary discharge. Returning then to Worcester, he opened two markets, which he operated until 1925, in which year he disposed of them and began to engage in his real estate ventures.

His first attempt was ambitious. He bought the tract of land known as "Salisbury Gables" on Salisbury Street and on it at once engineered a development program which completely changed the face of the property. By building residences and selling them and by disposing of house lots, he finally moved the entire property in parcels to other owners. This was a profit-returning invest- ment, and thus he was enabled to go forward in a similar direction on another project. He pur- chased six acres of swamp land of the old Mckay farm and proceeded to reclaim the tract, which was little better than a wilderness. When he had the land in readiness, he erected two houses; one of these he retained as his own home. This spot is now declared to be one of the showplaces of the city. What once was nothing but worthless swamp, he has changed into a beautiful landscaped area. His own home place has on it a fishpond stocked with trout, a swimming pool eighty-five feet in diameter and five feet in depth, and a natural setting of rock-gardens artistically arranged about pond and pool and at other attractive points. The Eresian estate proper covers about three acres. Much deserved credit has been given to the orig- inator and developer of this charming place by those who observed the fruits of his energy, initia- tive and artistic sense. In the realty line as in mercantile operations he has shown himself a successful business leader. In November, 1929, his services were solicited by B. F. Arnold and Company and he has since been associated with this firm, having complete charge of the meat department and acting as buyer for the same.

Mr. Eresian married, October 12, 1919, Sarah Nemenian, a native of Harpoot, and they have two daughters: Anna and Flora. The family home is at No. 162 Flagg Street, and Mr. Eresian has his business address at No. 36 Front Street, Worcester.

JOSEPH C. PROUT-The profession of in- surance representative has been practiced by Joseph C. Prout with increasing success in the town of Webster for upward of fifteen years. He was engaged in this business in association with his father prior to the latter's death and since has been the sole owner of the agency, which is said to be the largest of any general insurance office carry- ing all lines with the exception of life in Webster and the vicinity.

The family of Prout has been established in Webster for nearly twoscore years and is well and favorably known there. Patrick Prout, late head of the family, was born in Ireland, and after com- ing, when young, with his parents to the United States, lived with them in Grafton, Worcester County. They all later went to Webster to reside, and with this community the Prouts have since been identified. About 1896 Patrick Prout opened an insurance agency in Webster and developed the business until he had the largest office of the kind in this part of the county. He was active in the con-

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duct of the agency until 1928, in which year he died. He at one time occupied the office of tax collector of Webster. He married Alice Condron, a native of Webster.

Joseph C. Prout, son of Patrick and Alice (Con- dron) Prout, was born in Webster, August 2, 1897, and received his early education in the schools of his native town. He graduated from high school and spent two years at Holy Cross College in Worcester. For one and one-half years he worked at the Chase Mills. He joined his father in the insurance agency business in Webster in 1918, and this association resulted in success for the office for the ten years that elapsed until the death of the elder Prout in 1928. The son, Joseph C., has been the proprietor and manager of the agency since the father passed away. Practically all the impor- tant American insurance companies are represented by Mr. Prout through his agency. He does not, however, write any form of life policy. Through his efforts in extending the privileges of various forms of protection he is rendering a distinct service to his clients and the community. A sub- stantial man, of financial ability, he has been elected to the board of trustees of the Webster Savings Bank. He is affiliated with the American Legion, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Columbus, and Fraternal Order of Eagles. He confesses to one hobby, boating, in which he in- dulges as a pastime from his exacting business responsibilities.

DR. HARLAN L. PAINE-Since the appoint- ment of Dr. Harlan L. Paine as superintendent of Grafton State Hospital in 1921, that institution has experienced a period of energetic and effective reconstruction and development.

Dr. Harlan L. Paine was born in Rockland, Massachusetts, November 3, 1884, member of an old Colonial family which has been located there for more than three hundred years. He attended the local public schools and after graduating from high school entered Tufts College, at Boston, from which he was graduated in 1908, receiving at that time the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After graduation he entered Cambridge Hospital as an interne. He had always been deeply interested in mental cases and, after completing one year in the hospital, he went to the Insane Asylum at Danvers, Massachusetts, where he remained for five years, making a careful study of numerous phases of insanity and gaining much experience in the treat- ment of such cases. At the end of that time he went to Gardner, Massachusetts, as a member of the staff of the Gardner State Colony. Gardner State Colony was then taking care of about seven hundred inmates, and while serving as a member of the staff, Dr. Paine also served as assistant superintendent. This was valuable experience, and he made good use of his opportunities. He wished, however, to qualify for the more responsible posi- tion of superintendent, in order that he might more fully put into practice the theories which he was steadily developing. A new regulation required that in order to so qualify a candidate must serve for a time as assistant in the office of the com- missioner of mental diseases in Boston. Thus it was that, after four and a half years of able serv- ice at the Gardner State Colony, Dr. Paine severed his connection with that institution and went to Boston to gain the required experience in the

commissioner's office. During his two years of service there he fully demonstrated his ability and his special fitness for the position he desired. He was chief executive officer, Boston Psychopathic Hospital, 1920-21, and in 1921 was appointed superintendent of the Grafton State Hospital, at North Grafton. He took charge September 15th of that year and at once began a vigorous work of reorganization and reconstruction.

Dr. Paine found the institution in a somewhat run-down condition. Both the grounds and the buildings needed attention, and both lacked the attractiveness and beauty which could create the atmosphere that Dr. Paine desired for his patients. He began excavating and building roads, continu- ing the last mentioned work until he had con- structed about four miles of the finest cement road- way and had laid stretches of walks of the finest workmanship. He then began taking out stumps and old and unsightly shrubbery, which he re- placed with new shrubbery, well-placed, and with beautiful flower-beds. Sun porches, fitted with Vita glass were also added to some of the build- ings. Dining rooms and kitchens were connected with electrically lighted tunnels, in order that food might reach the dining-rooms still warm. Keeping steadily in view the welfare of his patients and the desirability of inducing and keeping a calm and contented frame of mind, he installed a department of physical hygiene, which now includes a beauty parlor for the women, giving care to hair, skin, nails, and feet. This department has been a great aid in raising the morale of the inmates of the female wards, increasing both their self-respect and their sense of well-being. A large cannery has been built, in which thousands of cans of fruits and vegetables are put up each year. A new barn has been built, equipped to house twenty-five horses and one hundred and twenty cows; and the milk pro- duction has been raised since he came here from 6,000 pounds to 14,000 pounds per animal.

In 1930 a physiotherapy department was opened for treatment of the female patients, and in 1931 this service was extended to the male patients, under the direction of an expert physiotherapist. Another improvement completed in 1931 is the Chapel-Recreation Hall, in which has been installed apparatus for sound moving pictures and in the basement of which is a recreation room for em- ployees, containing cheerful furnishings, two pool tables, two bowling alleys, and a canteen. As the hospital is eight miles from the nearest city, this room creates an atmosphere of good fellowship and helps to keep employees contented. Moving pictures, dances, and various forms of entertain- ment, both inside and out-of-doors, are held fre- quently during the year, and both Catholic and Protestant clergymen attend faithfully to the spir- itual welfare of the patients. A Hebrew rabbi also comes once a month. Christmas and all other holidays of the year are appropriately observed. Among the many pleasing improvements, which add to the attractiveness of the place, is the painting of the furniture and walls of the dining-rooms and wards in colorful schemes, in which the handiwork of the occupational therapy department figures largely, and beautifully.

During the year ending November 30, 1931, the daily average population of Grafton State Hospital was 1,437 patients. The year began with 1,606 patients, but two hundred and six patients were

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transferred to the new Metropolitan State Hos- pital, thus relieving, to some extent, the conges- tion at Grafton. The patients, both men and women, work under the care of therapy experts at all the various tasks of the shops and of the farm, and for the year mentioned above the farm shows a profit of $47,569.20. The forage crop totaled nine hundred and nine tons; vegetables 673,832 pounds; and potatoes, 261,348 pounds. Seventy thousand three hundred and ninety-three pounds of pork, and 7,458 dozens of eggs were produced. In addition to this an immense amount of vegetables were taken care of in the canning kitchen including nine hundred and twenty-two cans (of No. 21/2) string beans, swisschard and tomatoes; 4,448 No. 10 cans of string beans, spinach, swisschard, tomatoes, and peaches; four hundred and forty-eight quart jars of vegetables, relishes, and jellies; 3,277 two-quart jars of the same; one hundred and ninety-seven glasses of jelly; and 7,500 pounds of pickles and mince meat. Of ice, 1,084.7 tons were harvested. Women, as well as men, assist in harvesting the crops, under the care of therapy aides, and all patients who can be benefited by such activities are kept healthily busy at useful tasks. Four thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine full-size, water-proof cement blocks and nine hundred and seventy-six half-size were made by the patients at the Oaks group during the winter months. One new road has been constructed chiefly by women and treated with taric. A library is very well operated on a systematic basis, by a woman patient, under the supervision of the social worker, and collec- tion of books are sent regularly to the wards of those who cannot make visits to the main library. A systematic plan for the installation of electric refrigerators has been begun to take the place of old ice boxes in the Administration Building and in Maples B kitchens, an improvement calculated to make a large saving in farm labor, formerly used in carrying ice to these units. During the past year, too, the old carriage shed adjoining the main garage was remodelled into twelve garages for rental to employees, and the old, dilapidated horse shed was transformed into garages, with cement blocks made by the patients, to be used as partitions. During the year, too, an important improvement was the completion of a sun porch between Pines C and Pines D, an absolutely fire- proof porch, with cement piers, cement blocks, asphalt roof, floor of Hanotile, silver and Titian red in color, and metal sash containing 4,000 lights of Vita glass. Additional Vita glass windows have also been installed in Pines A, in order that bed patients might have the full benefit of the sunshine. The institution employs one hundred and forty nurses, one hundred and fifty-seven other employees, and seven physicians. In addition to the work in the institution and on the grounds, the hospital management also conducts adjustment clinics in many towns in the county, including Leominster, Belmont, Natick, Lexington and Bed- ford, Bolton, Carlisle, Harvard and Littleton, Lan- caster, and Northbridge. There are conducted with the hope of preventing mental diseases.

It is very evident that Dr. Paine has a definite, constructive program, which, year by year, is being carried out. The trustees of the hospital in their report for the year closing November 30, 1931, pay the following tribute to Dr. Paine:

It is evident more and more each year that the superintendent, Dr. Paine, devotes his ability and energy toward a better hospital. We feel very fortunate in retaining him and we wish to express our appreciation of his untiring efforts and personal sacrifices to achieve what has been done.

Dr. Paine is a member of the Worcester Dis- trict Medical Society; Massachusetts Medical As- sociation; New England Society of Psychiatry, which he serves as secretary-treasurer; the Amer- ican Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association; Massachusetts Psychiatric Society; and Massachusetts Society for Mental Hygiene. Fraternally, he is identified with the Free and Accepted Masons.

Dr. Harlan L. Paine married, June 10, 1914, Amy M. Yeo, a native of Canada. Dr. and Mrs. Paine have four children: Harlan L., Jr., Dorothy M., Marion Y., and Louis H.

PROFESSOR J. EDWARD BOUVIER, M. A .- As head of the music department of Holy Cross College, Professor J. Edward Bouvier oc- cupies one of the chief posts in the world of col- lege music. His long experience and distinguished record eminently qualify him for its responsible duties and under his guidance the department has become famous as a training school for young musicians. Professor Bouvier is well known in music circles both here and abroad, enjoying the highest professional standing.

Born at Swanzey, New Hampshire, on March 18, 1894, J. Edward Bouvier is a son of Charles Bouvier and a descendant of an old French family whose traditional home is at Bordeaux, France. His father, who was a well-known figure in the life of Swanzey for many years, is now retired and makes his home in the old homestead at Swanzey.

Professor Bouvier received his early education in the public schools of Swanzey and Keene, New Hampshire. Upon the completion of the high school course, he entered the New England Con- servatory of Music to prepare for his life work. To obtain the funds necessary to complete his musical education, he served as a page in the State Legislature of New Hampshire from 1904 to 1906, obtaining this appointment in competition with five hundred other young men. He was reappointed as a page for a third year, but declined the position since he had then begun to teach music. During his service with the Legislature he made many friends, with whom he has since remained in con- tact and who, in later years, have given their warm support to his various projects.

At the New England Conservatory of Music Professor Bouvier received a thorough training in all branches of music and specialized in the study of the organ under Professor J. Vernon Butler. of Worcester, and the great organist, John Her- man Loud, of Boston. After taking his degree, he began to teach in Boston, taking pupils in organ and piano, but after a relatively brief period re- moved to Worcester, where his activities have chiefly centered. In this city he continued his private teaching and also became organist and choir director at the First Universalist Church, a connection he retained for nine years. His first college appointment was at Clark University, Worcester, where he was in charge of the music department for five years. He established and maintained the finest standards and succeeded in developing the department to a high level of merit.

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Following the entry of the United States into the World War, Professor Bouvier enlisted in the service and was assigned to assist in the devel- opment of musical organizations to furnish rec- reation for the soldiers. He visited sixty-eight cantonments and in each of them organized musical units which were a source of much pleasure and satisfaction to the troops. Subsequently he was recalled to Washington, District of Columbia, and from that point had general control of all the musical activities of the United States Army in the District of Columbia. After the Armistice was signed preparations were made for a gigantic musical festival. This was held on the mall, back of the White House and it was filled at the ap- pointed time by an audience of 250,000 people. A specially trained glee club of college men and the army band were features of the entertainment, and it is estimated that over 200,000 persons in all took part in the choral singing. All were under the direction of Professor Bouvier, who was the mov- ing spirit in the enterprise and who conducted the vast assemblage from a stand fifteen feet high erected in the center of the Mall. At the end of each aisle, subsidiary directors were stationed, who followed Professor Bouvier's beat and led the vari- ous sections. This performance, which took place in December, 1918, is probably unequalled in the musical history of the country. Hundreds of con- gratulatory letters, telegrams and notices in the press bore witness to the success of the undertaking and to the gratitude won by Professor Bouvier for making it possible.

After the war Professor Bouvier returned to Worcester and in 1922 was appointed to direct the musical activities of Holy Cross College. Up to that time there had been no music department in the college and it was necessary for him to build it up from the very foundation. With a full realization of the Herculean task confronting him, he entered upon his new duties with characteristic vigor. At first he organized courses in organ and piano, later added voice culture, and finally founded a complete symphony orchestra of some fifty pieces. At the end of the first year, he, with the college authorities conceived the plan of giving a series of concerts in different cities throughout the coun- try. The first tour met with so much success that they have since continued this program as a part of the regular musical activities of the college. The entire symphony orchestra, together with the vocal chorus of the college, participate in these performances, rendering selections from the stand- ard orchestral and vocal repertory. Complete symphonies by the great masters are played, in addition to shorter orchestral numbers, solo pieces for various instruments and selections for the choral group. About ninety persons comprise the organization, which is one of the most elaborate in college circles and probably the only one of its size traveling in the country. It has received everywhere the widest praise for its efforts and the most generous support of the public. In 1925 Pro- fessor Bouvier received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Holy Cross College.

In addition to his work at Holy Cross College, which now graduates many boys annually from its music department, Professor Bouvier has charge of the musical activities in the Junior High School of Fitchburg. He has served in this capacity for the past ten years and has been instrumental in or-

ganizing the music department of the school on a highly efficient basis. Professor Bouvier has also organized and conducted many important musical affairs in this vicinity and, when the large munic- ipal auditorium of Worcester was dedicated, gave a remarkable concert in which some 1,200 of the best singers in the city participated, including soloists from all the churches. This performance elicited the highest praise from press and public, not only in Worcester, but throughout all the sur- rounding country.

In 1930 Professor Bouvier returned to Europe for the summer months, revisiting the old home of his family in France and sixteen continental colleges and universities. He also attended the great Passion Play at Oberammergau and was entertained during his stay in that little Bavarian village by his friend, Anton Lang, the "Christus" of the play. Anton Lang, Jr., son of the famous "Christus," enrolled at Holy Cross College, where he studied under Professor Bouvier and obtained his degree in 1928.

Few men in the United States are better known in musical circles than Professor Bouvier and none has been more successful in his chosen work. Because of the eminent position he has attained, he has been repeatedly solicited to accept other appointments, including the direction of great opera companies, but on account of his many warm friendships here, he prefers to remain in Massa- chusetts. As one of Worcester's most distin- guished citizens, he has been associated with vari- ous movements and enterprises of the city. He is particularly active in the Rotary Club of Worces- ter and when abroad visited many of the clubs of Europe, bringing the greetings of the Worcester Club into many countries.

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 90

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933 Publication date: 1934 Publisher: New York, American historical Society Number of Pages: 700

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933
Publication date: 1934
Publisher: New York, American historical Society
Number of Pages: 700