Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 95

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 95

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Dr. Barrett's professional interests were never limited to the narrow sphere of local practice. He was deeply concerned with the elevation of the standards of dentistry generally and was active in many dental organizations. For fourteen years he was president of the Dental Educational Council of America. He also served as president of the National Association of Dental Examiners and was a prominent figure in the New England Associa- tion of Dental Examiners, the New England Den- tal Association, the American Academy of Dental Surgeons, the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society and the Central Dis- trict Dental Society. He was a Fellow of the American College of Dentistry and of the Royal Dental Academy and made a further important contribution to the cause of dental training' by arranging a classification of American colleges hav- ing courses in dentistry for the Carnegie Founda- tion for the Advancement of Teaching.

Apart from his professional connections, Dr. Barrett was a founder, trustee and vice-president of the Bay State Savings Bank and a director of the Park Trust Company. After the merger of this latter corporation with the Merchants National Bank, now the Worcester County National Bank, he continued on the new directorate. He was pro- foundly interested in Worcester institutions and was frequently called upon to assume responsibil- ities in worthy civic enterprises. These requests he never refused. He served on numerous munic- ipal committees, was treasurer of the Worcester Free Library and president of its board of trus- tees; and over a long period was a trustee of St. Vincent's Hospital. Dr. Barrett served for two terms, 1908-09, as a member of the city board of

alderman, representing Ward Seven, a Republican stronghold. He himself was a staunch Democrat and was twice the Democratic candidate for mayor of Worcester. He was strongly influential in coun- cils of his party both in the city and county and was a respected figure among Democratic leaders of the State. His direction of the "Smith for President" campaign in Worcester in 1928 was notable.

Dr. Barrett was also much interested in educa- tion, particularly the colleges and universities of the Catholic faith. In 1916 Holy Cross College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Mas- ter of Arts in recognition of his services to the institution and his distinguished career. In 1926 he also received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Loyola University of Chicago. Dr. Barrett was a fourth degree member of Worces- ter Council, Knights of Columbus, and was a founder of Worcester Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He was president of the Worcester City Government Alumni, a member of the Jefferson Society of Massachusetts, the Worces- ter County Holy Cross Association, the Worcester Economic Club and the Worcester Country Club. He was long a leading member of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church.

On June 5, 1900, Dr. Thomas James Barrett married Ellen Mary Kidney of New York, who died in 1920. They were the parents of four chil- dren: I. Thomas W., who married Rhea Chestnut. They have three children, Thomas, Elizabeth Ann and Patricia. 2. Alice M., residing at home. 3. Eileen, married Philip C. O'Connell and has one daughter, Eileen. 4. Mary Christine.

On January 9, 1923, to celebrate the completion of his thirtieth year as a member of the Massa- chusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry, a testimonial dinner was tendered Dr. Barrett, at which two hundred persons were present, drawn from all walks of life. As a memento of the occa- sion, a hall clock was presented him with this inscription :

To Thomas James Barrett, D. D. S., A. M., F. A. C. D .- Skillful dental surgeon, Faithful public servant, Staunch friend. In appreciation of his long and unusual service to his profession.

The Central District Dental Society, Worcester, Massachusetts, January 8, 1923.

Dr. Barrett died at Worcester on December 20, 1930, in his sixty-sixth year. A friend wrote of him:

He held an outstanding place in the professional, the social and the business world. He was tall and commanding in appearance, striking in features, affable in demeanor and charming in his friendli- ness.

He was loyal to the core to all of those who had gained his confidence, and no one doubted on which side of a question he stood. He was true to his convictions at all times, and while he tempered his attitude with tolerance, there was no swaying him from his position when once he had taken a stand. His memory will be cherished and his achievements form an interesting part of the his- tory of Worcester.

CAPTAIN EARLE SMITH-Born at Worces- ter, on February 9, 1895, Mr. Smith is a son of Frank Bulkeley and Nancy Hacker (Earle) Smith, both of whom were born in this State. His father was a lawyer and manufacturer, being a member of the law firm of Smith, Gage and Dresser at Worcester. He died in 1918 and his wife passed

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away the same year. They were the parents of the following children: I. Bulkeley. 2. Willard, a major of the 9th Regiment of the Regular Army, who was killed in action on September 12, 1918, during the battle of St. Mihiel in France and is buried in the American Military Cemetery there. 3. Earle, of whom further. 4. Nancy Earle, wife of George Crompton, Jr. 5. Frank Grosvenor.

Earle Smith received his education in the Ban- croft School and at Berkshire School, Great Bar- rington, from which he was graduated in 1916. In the fall of the same year he entered Harvard University as a member of the class of 1920, but following the entry of the United States into the World War he enlisted on April 13, 1917, as a member of Battery C, Massachusetts National Guard Field Artillery. With these troops he went overseas on October 6, 1917, was transferred to the 30Ist Tank Brigade on June 3, 1918, and on July 1, 1918, was assigned to detached service with the Motorcycle Dispatch Corps. On October 28, 1918, he was gassed in action and evacuated to Neufchâteau Base Hospital. Mr. Smith saw ac- tive service in the Chemin des Dames sector, the La Reine Sector at St. Mihiel and in the Meuse- Argonne offensive. He returned to the United States on April 20, 1919, and forthwith received his honorable discharge.

During his active business career Mr. Smith has been connected with the manufacturing and pro- duction departments of the Baldwin Chain and Manufacturing Company and the Wickwire Spen- cer Steel Company. He also served as assistant treasurer and general manager of the Langford Sales Audit Machine Company of Boston. He has always maintained a deep interest in veterans' affairs and, in addition to serving by appointment as chairman for Massachusetts of the American Veterans Association, is an active member of Ray- stone Post of Shrewsbury, American Legion, and of Homer Gage Post, also of Shrewsbury, of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is also affiliated with Matthew Whittall Lodge of Shrewsbury and Quinsigamond Lodge of Worcester of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he is a mem- ber of various higher bodies, including Worces- ter County Commandery, Knights Templar. Mr. Smith is very fond of cruising and yachting and is a member of the Cruising Club of America and the New Bedford Yacht Club. In 1919-20 he was a member of the Worcester Common Council, representing Ward One of that city. He is now chairman of the school board at Shrewsbury, where he maintains a beautiful home.

On May 15, 1920, Earle Smith married Mar- garet Harding Lasell. They are the parents of three children: I. Nancy Earle, born in March, 1921. 2. Earle, Jr., born in March, 1923. 3. Josiah Lasell, born in January, 1925.

ALEXANDER LINDSAY-In his native Scotland, cradle of the game of golf, Alexander Lindsay learned the art of club making and the various other duties of the golf professional. Ex- cept for the war years, in which he served with distinction in the British Army, he has devoted the greater part of his life to this sport and is now professional at the Tatnuck Country Club in Worcester.

Mr. Lindsay was born at Edinburgh, on May 8, 1889, a son of Robert and Catherine (McCrea)

Lindsay, both of Scottish birth. He was educated in the James Gillespie School in his native city and at Daniel Stuart College, but while still a boy he became intensely fond of the game of golf and served an apprenticeship as club maker and instruc- tor, or, as we would say in this country, golf pro- fessional. His marked ability in the sport soon led to his choice as club maker and professional at the Presson Field Country Club. This was in 1907. He remained there until the outbreak of the World War, when he mobilized with his troop of Territorials for cavalry service, a body of troops similar to the National Guards regiments in the United States. This troop, consisting of twenty- five men, was mobilized with the Lothians and Border Horse Regiment and went overseas in 1915. Mr. Lindsay saw active service with his regiment until 1917, when he was transferred to The Royal Scots Regiments, famous infantry troops and the oldest military regiment in the world. Subse- quently he was commissioned and transferred again, this time, to the Royal Flying Corps, in which he served, with the rank of flight lieutenant, until the war was over. He was attached to the British Navy and was placed in charge of one of the sea- plane stations at the Naval Base in Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands, and is probably the only man in America today who witnessed the scuttling of the German fleet there after the Armistice. It was he who received the parole of Rear-Admiral Von Reuter of the German Naval forces at that time. Mr. Lindsay took part in all the important engagements of the war on the Western Front. His military record was one of great distinction. He was several times mentioned in dispatches for gallantry and received the Mons Medal, the Allied Service Medal, the Victory Medal, the Imperial Service Medal and several Territorial decorations.

In the latter part of 1919 he was attached to the United States Navy on the Northern Patrol and at the time of his discharge from the military forces of his country was appointed to the civil service. He soon tired of his duties in that ca- pacity, however, and returned to his first love, golf. After spending some time at his old club, Mr. Lindsay came to the United States and became professional at the Amoskeag Country Club, Man- chester, New Hampshire. In 1926 he was ap- pointed professional at the Tatnuck Country Club, one of the beauty spots of Worcester, and came to this city. His activities have since centered at that club. He is well known throughout this section and has earned the respect of all who come in contact with him, both for his ability as an instruc- tor and club maker and for his fine sportsman- ship. Mr. Lindsay is not engaged in competitive golf. Apart from his duties as a professional, he has written many articles on golf instruction and golf courses, some of which have been syndicated in newspapers throughout the country.

Mr. Lindsay is a member of The Royal Scots Club of Edinburgh, the Ex-British Officers' Club of Boston and the United Service Club. He is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons and in this order is a member of the Blue Lodge, of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and of several Scottish Rite bodies. His hobby is horsemanship, but he is fond of other sports and particularly enjoys watching ice hockey games.

On September 6, 1918, he married Gertrude Goodall Barry, of Scotland, who also served in

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her country's cause during the Great War with the V. A. D. Section of the Red Cross. They have one son, Graeme Crawford, now attending Sever Street Preparatory School in Worcester.

JAMES A. MCDERMOTT-For many years James A. McDermott was well known in Worces- ter and vicinity as one of the successful builders and contractors of the city who had erected many of the largest and most important public buildings of the city and many of its residences.

Henry McDermott, father of James A. McDer- mott, was born in Dublin, Ireland, May 28, 1828, son of Andrew, of Ballurgan, County Louth, Ire- land, and Elizabeth McDermott, of Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. Andrew and Elizabeth McDer- mott resided in Dublin for three years, and then, with their two-year old son, Henry, and their infant daughter, Mary, they removed to Ballurgan, County Louth, and settled on the homestead farm which had been in the possession of the McDer- mott family for several generations. Thus Henry McDermott grew up on the farm on which his father was born. Here, too, three more children were born to Andrew and Elizabeth McDermott, James, Fannie, and Peter, making five children in all. Of these, James, adventurous and enterpris- ing, came to America as a very young man and settled first at Leicester, Massachusetts, a year later removing to Auburn, Massachusetts, where he was employed on the farm of Elbridge and John Warren. His letters encouraged his older brother, Henry, to come to America, and with his bride Henry McDermott landed in New York City in July, 1853. A few days later they went to Providence by boat, and, leaving his wife in Prov- idence, Henry McDermott went to the Warren farm in Auburn, where he found his brother. Re- turning to Providence for his wife, he brought her to Auburn, where they began housekeeping. A year or so later he secured steady employment with the firm of Elbridge and John Warren, who oper- ated a tan yard on their farm. About two years later Henry and his brother, James, bought a farm. On this they later built a house, in which they lived until 1889, when Henry McDermott with his family removed to Worcester and located at No. 17 Jefferson Street, where James A., by then a contractor and builder, had erected a house for his father. Here Henry McDermott lived during the remainder of his life. In the summer of 1905, six years after removing to Worcester, Henry McDermott with his son, James A., and his daugh- ter, Margaret, went to Ireland and visited the old homestead at Ballurgan, where his brother Peter was then farming. The fifty-two years of Henry McDermott's absence had left some things un- changed, and Mr. McDermott took great delight in renewing acquaintance with the old clock on which he had learned to "tell time" and with the mahogany table from which he had eaten as a child. In Dunkald he greeted joyfully the old wheelwright and other friends of his boyhood.

Henry McDermott married Bridget Hagan, of Faughart, County Louth, who was born in 1830 and died in Worcester, Massachusetts, June 27, 1904, daughter of Peter and Mary (Sands) Hagan, and they became the parents of seven children: I. James A., of further mention. 2. Mary A., who died April 10, 1899. 3. Eliza J. 4. Margaret E.

5. John B., who became a partner of his brother, James A., in the building and contracting busi- ness; married Jane E. McKenna of Worcester. 6. Frank E., a graduate of Northwestern University, of Chicago, became a dentist in Worcester; mar- ried Fannie Prescott, of Webster. 7. Charles R., a dentist in Worcester, graduate of Philadelphia Dental College; married Della Lawton, of Whitins- ville.

James A. McDermott, son of Henry and Bridget (Hagan) McDermott, was born in Auburn, Worces- ter County, November 22, 1857. He attended the district school of Auburn for fifteen winter terms, and then entered the employ of David Whitney, who owned a farm and was also a carpenter and builder in Auburn. Besides working on Mr. Whit- ney's farm, Mr. McDermott also aided in the building operations and eventually served his ap- prenticeship under Mr. Whitney, learning the car- penter's trade. For some years after completing his apprenticeship he remained with Mr. Whitney, but later he came to Worcester and entered the employ of William Sibley, for whom he worked in Auburn, Oxford and Millbury, following his trade and making himself thoroughly familiar with all kinds of construction work. In 1885 he left the employ of Mr. Sibley and engaged in business for himself, building his first house for his father at No. 17 Jefferson Street, Worcester, the house in which his father and his father's daughters, Eliza and Margaret, were still living in 1907, the mother having died there in 1904. His business as a contracting builder steadily grew, and he admitted to partnership his brother, John B., under the firm name of McDermott Brothers, general building contractors. The brothers continued to enlarge the business until it grew to be one of the largest and best known concerns of its kind in Worcester. In addition to the construction of many dwelling houses, McDermott Brothers also erected many public buildings, including the erection, re- modeling and inside finishing of many of the finest Catholic churches in the Springfield Diocese. Mc- Dermott Brothers erected the Presbytery of St. Stephen's Parish, Grafton Street, for the Rev. Richard Burke, pastor; the Presbytery and stable of St. Anne's Parish, Eastern Avenue, for the Rev. Dennis Scannell, pastor; all the interior finishing and pews of St. Anne's Church on East- ern Avenue, for the Rev. Dennis Scannell; also St. Peter's Church on Main Street, for the Rev. Daniel H. O'Neil, pastor; interior finish of St. John's Parochial School on Winter Street, for the Rev. Msgr. Thomas Griffin; the school build- ing on Midland Street, for the city of Worcester; the Notre Dame Convent on Vernon Street, for the Rev. Msgr. Griffin; the Industrial School Building, St. Joseph's Park Hill, Millbury; shops and stable for the Xaverian Brothers, at Millbury; Sacred Heart Academy on Gage Street, which con- tains sixteen class rooms, two society rooms, and a large assembly room; American Order of Hiber- nians Hall on Trumbull Street; St. Paul's School; St. Stephen's Church; St. Vincent's Hospital, one of the largest and finest in Worcester, and, in 1923, the Nurses' Home of this hospital; the Mary S. Stone School in Auburn; in 1921 the large dormitory, Loyola Hall, and the Dinand Library of Holy Cross College in Worcester; and many of the great buildings of the American Steel and

Wor .-- 24

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Wire Company and its branches. The firm also built the Vernon Hotel on Vernon Square; the Gordon Block, Vernon Square, Worcester; the Martin Block on Green Street; the Thomas Ken- ney Block, corner of Sumner and Exchange; St. Mary's Church and Presbytery on Richland Street; and very many residences and tenement houses in Worcester. Mr. McDermott was a member of the Builders' Exchange, in which he was active for many years, and was a trustee of the Bay State Savings Bank since its incorporation and for many years a member of its board of investment. He had always taken a great interest in this institution, in which he made a deposit on the day of its opening. He was for many years a mem- ber of the Washington Social Club, and was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus. His religious affiliation was with St. Paul's Catholic Church.

James A. McDermott married, February 27, 1906, in Worcester, Katherine Lavin, who was born in Worcester, December 27, 1870, daughter of Patrick.and Mary (Kennedy) Lavin. Mr. and Mrs. McDermott became the parents of five chil- dren: I. Louise, born July 9, 1908, attended the schools of Worcester and then entered Merry Mount College, near Tarrytown, New York. After the completion of her college course she entered business and is now manager of the ladies' depart- ment of the Wellesley College branch store of Messrs. Cross and Straus. 2. James A., born November 28, 1909, attended the Worcester Acad- emy, studied for one year at New York University, and is now associated with the contracting and building business established by his father. 3. Kath- erine H., born December 17, 1910, spent one year at Rosemont College in Pennsylvania and is now a student in the University of Alabama. 4. Eliz- abeth C., born February 26, 1912, attended Rose- mont College in Pennsylvania and, with her sister, Katherine, traveled and studied for a year, 1932, in Europe. 5. Charles H., born September 16, 1913, attending St. John's School, Worcester.

James A. McDermott died in June, 1933, at the age of seventy-six years. His had been a long and useful career, one which contributed greatly to the development of the Worcester of the last half century.

ASSUMPTION COLLEGE-The oldest French college of its kind in the United States is Assumption College, of Worcester. Although founded in 1904 and since conducted by the Augus- tinian Fathers of the Assumption, its formal incor- poration by the Commonwealth dates from Feb- ruary 2, 1917, when the right to confer degrees was also granted. A paragraph of the charter of that date is illuminating in making manifest the purpose of the trustees of the institution:

The said corporation is authorized to conduct and maintain the Assumption College in the city of Worcester for the promotion of virtue and piety, and for instruction in such of the languages, and of the liberal and useful arts and sciences as shall be selected from time to time by the corporation ; and the corporation may confer the degree of Bach- elor of Arts.

The college was first established in a small frame house in what is now one of the most beautiful suburbs of Worcester, Glendale. The school filled a genuine need in the higher educational system of New England and expanded with such rapidity

as to require new buildings and additions to older structures in 1907, 1912, 1921 and 1926. The main building, in the form of a "T," serves for the high school department, and a large wing, built in 1926, is given over to the college courses. All of the buildings are modern and have all the latest im- provements. Nothing has been spared, from the hygienic standpoint, to insure the boys' good health and comfort. A gymnasium, measuring a hundred and fifteen feet by fifty-five and one of the best in Worcester, is at the students' disposition. The campus, consisting of about sixty acres, is laid out for various sports. Besides the baseball dia- monds, there are twelve tennis courts, likewise unsurpassed in the city, and twelve handball courts. Three athletic coaches give the boys training in baseball, basketball and tennis. All athletics are under the control and direction of a member of the faculty. A well selected library is provided for the use of the students.

Assumption College aims above all to give a good Christian education. Special care is given to those members of the student body who aspire to the priesthood; but young men who intend to take up a liberal profession, such as law or medicine, also receive the training they need.

During the World War eight members of the faculty and many of the pupils served their coun- try on the battlefields; at the college itself, a detachment of the Students' Army Training Corps, established by the American Army, prepared the younger students for service in case of need. It is the constant endeavor of the Fathers of the As- sumption to develop not only the mind, but the moral faculties. To attain this end, supervision modeled after that which exists in every well- regulated family is exercised at all times. The professors, whose lives are devoted exclusively to the education of youth, live with the students and mingle freely with them. The intimate relation, which arises from this friendly intercourse between students and teachers, is a most powerful factor, both in developing the good qualities and check- ing unworthy tendencies in the young. The col- lege authorities are convinced that without reli- gion there can be no education in the true sense of the word. Special attention is therefore paid to religious instruction.

This is most important for the fostering of vocations to the holy priesthood and will not be found remiss in the other professions. The church gathers her strength from the faith and fidelity of the lay members as well as from the clergy.

The course of studies is of the classical type, comprising four years of high school and four years of college. The subjects studied include philosophy, Latin, Greek, French and English, literature, reli- gion, liturgy, universal history, mathematics, phys- ics, and natural sciences, leading, since 1917, to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The instruction given in the high school of Assumption College, besides being a preparation for college, aims at imparting an education such as is usually given in the best high schools and academies. It comprises four classes corresponding to the four years' classical course of approved high schools. Among the numerous and important college organizations are the literary societies: Franco-American Literary Club, the Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas; the musical organizations: Cecelia Society and the Col- lege Orchestra; and the Assumption Dramatic

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Club, the Assumption College Athletic Association, and the Alumni Association, the purposes of which are readily inferred from their titles.

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 95

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