USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Brookline > History of Brookline, formerly Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with tables of family records and genealogies > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
President, Alonzo Bailey.
Vice-presidents: Captain Franklin McDonald, Capt. Joseph Hall, Joseph Smith, Henry K. Kemp, Major Wilkes W. Corey, Alpheus Shat- tuck, Newton W. Colburn, William J. Smith, Andrew Rockwood, James H. Hall, Joseph Sawtelle, W. G. Shattuck.
Chief Marshal, J. Alonzo Hall.
Aids: --- - Joseph W. Peterson, Nathaniel Hobart, William Wright, Edward T. Hall.
Committee of Reception: Benjamin Gould, Henry B. Stiles, Reuben Baldwin.
Toastmaster, James Clinton Parker.
Secretary, Charles A. Priest.
Town Committee: Alonzo Bailey, James H. Hall, W. W. Corey, Henry K. Kemp, J. Alonzo Hall.
348
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
The assemblage was called to order by the Chief Marshal, who, in a few introductory remarks, introduced Alonzo Bailey, Esq., as president of the day.
Mr. Bailey on taking the chair spoke substantially as follows:
"We have met to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the good old town of Brookline. As children and friends assemble under the paternal roof to commemorate the paternal birthday, so we meet today to celebrate with joy and festivities the one hundredth birthday of our com- mon parent. It affords great pleasure to us who have continued to abide in the old homesteads and linger around the old haunts to welcome back to them the friends and associates of our childhood days; and our pleas- urable feelings are enhanced by the consciousness that our desires for your return are no less strong than are yours to come. You are welcome. Since you wandered away from the old homes, time has wrought many changes in the old town. But the old homes are still here, and the old associations, in memory at least still linger around them. The hills and valleys, the forests, ponds, and streams, substantially unchanged by the flight of years, still invite you. And more than all else, that home love which has ever characterized Brookline people, still glowing in their hearts, welcomes you back as children of a common family.
For the stranger we have no striking natural attractions. But we can show him homes founded in love, and supported by honest toil; worthy fathers and mothers, and sturdy and intelligent sons and daughters.
We have no great manufacturing plants or educational institutions. But we can show many cooper institutes which, in industry, at least, can vie with their New York namesake.
Our farmers are poor; but our farmers are industrious and honest. Our sources of material wealth are few and meager; consequently, we have accumulated but little of this world's goods. But we are rich in our inheritance of the patriotic spirit which sent so many of our fathers into the War of the Revolution, and of their sons into the War of the Rebel- lion; and we cling to our traditions, revere the memory of our ancestors, and honor God; gratefully acknowledging His many mercies and bles- sings upon the town through the hundred years of its exsitence.
Once more, in the name of my townsmen, I extend a welcome to all the sons of Brookline, whether native or adopted, and to all who have come to join their hearts with ours on this occasion."
At the close of Mr. Bailey's address, the Rev. Theophilus P. Sawin, of Manchester, a former pastor of the Congregational Church in this town offered prayer. During the prayer, which was very touching and im-
349
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
pressive, the entire audience rose and remained standing. At its close the choir sang the following ode, written for the occasion by Miss Frances Deverd Parker, a native of this town, and a daughter of James Parker, Esq.
Ode.
By Miss Fannie D. Parker. (Tune, America. )
Hail! Brookline, home to thee, Thy sons with joy we see Return today. From far and near they throng, Friends who've been parted long,
Chanting thy praise with song And joyful lay.
One hundred years have fled Since first our fathers sped Their prayers to heaven,-
Asking that light sublime O'er their dark paths might shine; God heard :- the gift divine To them was given.
Let us, their children, now, In adoration bow To God above. Praising His mighty power, Whose goodness deigned to shower O'er them in danger's hour, Protecting love.
And when an hundred years Again-with hopes and fears, Have passed away. May our descendants here Our memories revere, Who greet with joy sincere This festal day.
Following the singing of the ode, the principal address of the day was delivered by Ithemar B. Sawtelle, Esq., a native of the town, but, at that time, a resident of Townsend, Mass,; of which town he was afterwards the historian. His address on this occasion was historical in its character, dealing chiefly with the early history of the town, and was an able, scholarly
350
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
and eloquent production. From its beginning to its ending it held the closest attention of the audience, by which, at its close, it was enthusi- astically applauded. It was subsequently published and copyrighted by Mr. Sawtelle.
At the conclusion of the oration, the choir sang the following ode by Mrs. Sarah D. Tarbell, of Mason; a native of Brookline, and a daughter of the Rev. Daniel Goodwin.
Ode.
By Mrs. Sarah D. Tarbell.
(Tune, Autumn. )
Welcome! all-in gladness meeting, Hail we our centennial day! Friends, long absent, joyful greeting Join in our exulting lay. While our voices sweetly blending, Swell the chorus loud and long, May our hearts to heaven ascending Raise our centenary song.
"Hoary heads, with honors laden, Manhood in the flush of pride
Aged matron, blooming maiden, Meet together, side by side." Cheerfully our footsteps gathering, On the soil our fathers trod,
Peaceful blessings now imploring, From our God-our father's God.
Though today we meet in gladness, Back o'er distant years to roam, Many hearts are filled with sadness, Lingering near the early home. But, though death full oft hath taken Well-known faces we have loved, Sweet the memories they awaken, Sweet the thought-they rest above.
The ode was followed by an original poem written for the occasion by Edward E. Parker, a native of Brookline and a graduate that year of Dartmouth College, which was read by the author. But a few weeks prior to this occasion, Mr. Parker had enjoyed the honor, at the class day exercises during Commencement week, of delivering an original poem
-
351
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
written by him for the celebration of Darthmouth's centennial anniver- sary, which occurred that year.
After the poem came the reading of the Chronicles; which had been prepared for the occasion by the Rev. T. P. Sawin, by whom they were read. Written in Scriptural style, and dealing with current events in the past and present history of the town, their pathos, wit and humor made them especially attractive and satisfactory to the audience. But the reader was not allowed to finish his task. For in the midway of his reading, rain, which had for a long time been threatening, commenced to fall, and with its coming the audience, scattering in all directions for shelter, van- ished.
The exercises at the grove, thus abruptly broken up, were not resumed. But the only feature lacking for the complete carrying out of the original programme, was the rendition of an original hymn, prepared for the occasion by Mrs. Sarah B. Lawrence, of Pepperell, Mass .; a native of Brookline. The hymn follows:
Hymn.
By Mrs. Sarah B. Lawrence.
(Tune, Antioch. )
A hundred years ago today, Where wild beasts roamed at will, The brave man's bold and fearless stroke, As towering forests fell, Silenced the savage yell, And on the deep, grand stillness broke.
Rude homes arose, and wilderness fled- The fields with plenty smiled- Blessings of peace distilled like dew, While every man and child With busy hand beguiled A life so simple, free and true.
So year by year new merices crowned Those quiet homes are blest, So one by one in silence passed, To find a sweeter rest, Where toil nor care molest, And noble life is crowned at last.
352
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
Our fathers' memory honored be! While here from far and wide The sons and daughters willing come To laud with honest pride, And view on every side Glad scenes that cheer our natal home.
We boast a river flowing free, In busy service found, Of "Tanapus" so smooth and bright, Where festive scenes abound, And echoing sports resound, Waking the hills to life and light!
At the conclusion of the exercises at the grove, a banquet was served in a large tent which had been hired for the occasion, and pitched on the lot of land (at the present time the site of the Daniels Academy Building) located nearly opposite to the Congregational church, and on the west side of the highway. The banquet was prepared and served by James W. Fessenden. The tables were decorated with flowers and bountifully loaded with food. Seven hundred plates were laid and they were all taken. But before the conclusion of the banquet, the rain, which had con- tinued to fall intermittently, began to descend in torrents. It soon came pouring through the tent roof in streams which reduced the food to un- palatable and uneatable masses of pulp. The guests were deluged in cataracts of water. Umbrellas and parasols were spread by those who were so fortunate as to have them, but with little effect. The toastmaster, James Clinton Parker, made an effort to continue the post-prandial exer- cises, in the form of responses to toasts and the reading of letters from absent citizens and former residents. But his efforts were only partially successful, for the rain, which continued to fall, dampened the spirits of the audience, and checked all attempts at enthusiasm. To prolong the exercises under such circumstances was impossible. The audience finally stampeded from the tent en masse; and thus this part of the day's exer- cises closed prematurely.
An hour or so after the close of the banquet the rain ceased to fall, the clouds cleared away, and for the remainder of the day fair weather prevailed. In the glow of the sunlight, the discomforts of the rain were soon forgotten. The streets once more filled up with happy people. Old scenes were revisited, old friendships renewed, and new ones formed. Family ties were strengthened and new plans for the future developed.
353
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
The day's festivities were brought to a close in the evening by a dis- play of fireworks, and by a grand reunion and reception tendered by the citizens to their guests, the "Home Comers", in the hall of J. A. Hall and Brother.
It would afford the writer great pleasure to be able to reproduce in these pages the letters received from old residents and others in response to invitations for them to be present at the celebration. But diligent search has failed to produce them; and we are forced to the conclusion that they are lost beyond recovery.
Sad Accident on Meeting-house Hill, Sept. 9th.
The programme for the Centennial day exercises included, among other features, the firing of salutes at sunrise and sunset from the summit of meeting-house hill. At the close of the day it was found that a portion of the powder provided for that purpose had been left over. The day following, Sept. 9, a party of the citizens were engaged on the hill's summit in firing salutes with this unexpended powder, when, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, by a premature explosion of a charge in the gun, two of the firing party, Samuel Gilson and Charles A. Gilson, father and son, re- ceived injuries which disabled them for life.
The Cannon-What Became of It .?
As to the cannon used in firing the foregoing salute, it may be record- ed that it disappeared soon after the celebration. Originally, it was the property of the members of the Democratic party in town, by whom it was purchased in 1856 and used in firing salutes during the Presidential campaign of that year. At the time of its disappearance, rumor had it that it had been taken by a self appointed committee of citizens, consist- ing of members of both political parties, and sunk in the depths of Mus- catanipus lake. But up to the present time the rumor has never been verified, and the cannon's whereabouts is still a mystery.
The Cook, Putnam and Company Furniture Factory.
In the fall of 1869, James W. Cook of Reading, Mass., and S. Abbott Putnam of Lynn, Mass., rented of Joseph A. Hall and Joseph W. Peterson, who were then its owners, the sawmill known as "Bailey's upper mill" and located on the east bank of the river a few rods below its outlet from
.
354
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
the pond; and, having installed the necessary machinery, commenced therein the manufacturing of pine chamber sets and walnut lounge frames, under the firm name of Cook, Putnam and Company. The firm continued to carry on the business until 1874, when it was dissolved by the with- drawal from it of Mr. Putnam. July 21, of the same year, Messrs, Hall and Peterson sold the mill and appurtenances to James W. Cook and William H. Hall; who at once entered into partnership and, under the firm name of Cook, Hall and Company, resumed and continued to carry on the business of the old firm until Sept. 14, 1877; at which date Mr. Cook disposed of his entire interest in the plant to his partner, Mr. Hall, who thus became sole owner of the same. William H. Hall continued to oper- ate the plant until Oct. 5, 1877; at which date he sold the same to Nathaniel Hobart and John S. Daniels. Under the firm name of Hobart and Daniels, the new owners of the plant carried on the business until the 7th day of February, 1885; at which date Daniels withdrew from the firm, and sold out his interest in the mill and its appurtenances to David H. Kendall, Henry S. Manning, Charles W. Hughes, and Horace S. Richmond. The new owners of Mr. Daniel's one half part of the plant immediately entered into co-partnership with Nathaniel Hobart, who still continued to own the other half, and, under the firm name of Hobart, Kendall and Company, continued the business.
Hobart, Kendall and Company.
The new firm installed new and improved machinery in the mill, and endeavored by every legitimate means to improve its business. It was so far successful in its efforts that in 1889, four years after its formation. its affairs were in a most prosperous condition, and its outlook for the future excellent.
Up to the year 1879, the company had manufactured pine and walnut furniture only; which was shipped in "the rough" to purchasers. But, in the meantime, the public had been developing a taste for chestnut chamber furniture in place of pine. By the year 1879 this sentiment had grown to the extent that the demand for furniture of the latter description had al- most entirely ceased. Under these circumstances, the firm gave up the use of pine as a factor in its business, and commenced the manufacture of finished chestnut chamber sets only. It met with immediate success in its new enterprise; and its business increased to the extent that it was forced to enlarge its plant by building a finishing and packing shop thirty by seventy-eight feet in its dimensions, and two stories in height; and equip the same with a new engine and new machinery.
355
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
At that time the firm was employing from forty to fifty men; nearly all of whom were skilled mechanics from out of town who brought their families here with them. The churches had good congregations every Sunday and the merchants were prosperous. It was a happy state of affairs for the town and its people. Too good to last.
In a few years the supply of chestnut lumber, at least such as was located within reasonable hauling distance of the mill, had become practi- cally exhausted. Oak, ash and sycamore were substituted in its place. But the additional cost of procuring these woods, together with the ex- pense incurred by the company by hauling its manufactured products to and from Pepperell or Townsend for railroad shipment, and the sharp competition of western furniture manufacturers, finally compelled the firm to go out of business; and, in 1886, it assigned its plant and business to Albert L. Fessenden and John Buffum, to be held by them in trust for the benefit of its creditors.
At the time of the failure, Nathaniel Hobart was the only monied member of the firm. Consequently nearly the whole burden of the firm's indebtedness fell upon his shoulders, and he lost heavily,
The failure of the firm was a severe blow to the town, and one from which it has not recovered even to the present time.
1870 .- Population,-741.
At the March town meeting of this year there was an article in the warrant-"to see if the town would receive the territory included in school district number 8, in the town of Milford."
The territory alluded to in the article was the square mile of land at the northwest corner of Brookline which, having originally been included within its charter limits, was taken from Brookline and included in the territory of Milford at the time of its incorporation in 1794. The above is the first and only record appearing on the town's books of any action on the town's part looking to the restoration to it of said territory, or any part thereof.
1871. March meeting. The town voted-"To let the lower part of the town-house to Cook, Putnam and Co. for a term of four years at a rental of fifty dollars per annum;" and William Wright, Joseph Sawtelle and Wilkes W. Corey were elected as a committee to carry out the terms of the vote; which they did at once. The same year Cook, Putnam and Co,. took possession of the lower part of the house, and having torn down and removed the ancient and ornate pulpit, and also the pews in the
356
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
center of the house, the "Sheep-pens" of the early settlers childhood days, used the same as a store room for the firm's manufactured products in the furniture line. A sacrilege sanctioned by the town which must have caused those same early settlers, figuratively speaking, to, at least, sit up in their graves and take notice.
1872. May 17, the old fire engine house located on the west side and about midway of the village Main street was torn down in the night time by an unknown party of citizens and the engine removed to South Brook- line.
Dec. 26, the sawmill of Deacon Perley L. Pierce in South Brookline was destroyed by fire.
Sept. 8, the Asher Bennett dwelling house on the highway to Mil- ford was burned down.
1873. January 4, the dwelling house of Frederick Wright on the east highway to Milford was destroyed by fire.
September 6, the Pope house,-old Ezekiel Proctor house,-on the north road to Hollis burned down.
Dec. 18, George W. Peabody was accidently killed while at work in the sawmill of his father-in-law, James H. Hall, in the north part of the town.
1874. January 23, the Congregational Church and Society installed a new bell weighing 1819 pounds in its church tower.
1875. For the first time in the town's history, by a vote of its citizens, curfew bells were rung throughout the year; and the practice was continued throughout the following year.
Straightening of Main Street.
1876. The town voted-"To straighten Main street from Bela Cochran's house to Joseph Smiths house"; and instructed the selectmen to attend to the same. The project was opposed by some of the citizens, who finally carried the matter into the court; where, after some little de- lay, a decision was rendered in favor of the town; and in 1877-78 the street was straightened in accordance with the original vote.
Joseph A. Hall represented the town in the Constitutional Conven- tion which convened at Concord this year.
1877. In the matter of the proposed amendments to the State's Constitution which had been agreed upon by the members of the Consti- tutional Convention of 1876, and which were this year submitted to the voters of the state for their approval, or otherwise, Brookline voted to
357
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
strike out the word "Protestant" from the Bill of Rights; in favor of biennial elections of the Governor, counsellors, members of the senate and house of Representatives; in favor of a house of Representatives whose number should be based upon the state's population; and in favor of abolishing the religious test.
March 23, Frank Hobart, a son of David Hobart, while working in the woods, was killed by a falling tree.
June 17, the Ephraim L. Hardy house on the east side of the highway to Pepperell, Mass., one mile south of the village, was burned to the ground.
July 6, the dwelling house of Fernando Bailey on the summit of the hill back of the Congregational church was destroyed by fire.
August 7, Daniel S. Wetherbee died of exhaustion resulting from an exposure of 26 days without food or shelter in the woods in the notherly part of the town.
August 17, an infant daughter of William H. French was scalded to death.
September , the cooper shop of J. Alonzo Hall on the east side of the highway to Milford, a few rods north of the Congregational church, was totally destroyed by fire.
Brookline Public Library.
The town's first action relative to the establishment of a public library occurred at the annual March town meeting of this year; when the following vote was passed :- "To appropriate one hundred dollars to establish a town library providing the stock holders of the old library will release all their claims on the old library in favor of the new library." At a subsequent town meeting holden the same year, a vote re-affirming the foregoing vote was passed, and the Rev. Frank D. Sargent, Henry W. Kemp and George W. Bridges were "accepted" as a board of library trustees with authority to draw the money appropriated for the same.
The "old library" alluded to in the foregoing votes was not the Social Library of 1823, but another and later library which, several years prior to this, had been formed by an association of citizens; and which at this time was located in the hall over the store of Kendall and Wright at the south end of the village Main street. The town subsequently purchased its books.
The necessary arrangements for establishing the library were com- pleted within the year following the aforesaid votes; and at the annual March meeting of the following year, the sum of two hundred and fifty
358
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
dollars was appropriated for its use. At the same meeting, George W. Bridges, Luke Baldwin and Charles N. Corey were elected as its first board of trustees.
For a few years after it was established, the library was located in the room on the ground floor in the back part of the store at the present time owned by Everett E. Tarbell, at the west end of the village Main street. But subsequently it was removed from the store into the back part of the village schoolhouse, where it remained until the spring of 1914, when it was removed from the schoolhouse into the Daniels Academy Building; where it is located at the present time.
At the date of its establishment the library contained about two hundred volumes; of which the majority came to it from the Young Men's Library Association. Since then the original number of volumes has been largely increased from time to time by the addition of books purchased ยท by appropriations of money from the town for that purpose, and by gifts of books from citizens and others. At the present time, (1914) it contains 2341 volumes, besides many valuable pamphlets.
Librarians Since Organization.
1877-1878 George W. Bridges, Rev. Frank A. Sargent.
1879 Charles N. Corey.
1889 Mrs. Ella W. Tucker.
1890-1896 Mabel S. Tucker.
1897-1910 Mrs. Ella W. Tucker.
1911-1914 Blanche W. Hall.
Boards of Trustees, 1878 to 1910.
1878; George W. Bridges, Luke Baldwin, Charles N. Corey.
1879; Charles N. Corey, David H. Kendall, Edward C. Tucker.
1880; George E. Stiles, Horace S. Richmond, Henry E. Putnam.
1881; George E. Stiles, Charles F. Pressey, James H. S. Tucker.
George E. Stiles, James H. S. Tucker, Edward T. Hall.
1882; 1883; George E. Stiles, James H. S. Tucker, Edward T. Hall.
1884; George E. Stiles, James H. S. Tucker, Edward T. Hall. 1885; George E. Stiles, James H. S. Tucker, Edward T. Hall.
1886; James H. S. Tucker, George E. Stiles, Edward T. Hall.
1887; James H. S. Tucker, George E. Stiles, Edward T. Hall. 1888; James H. S. Tucker, George E. Stiles, Edward T. Hall.
359
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
1889;
George E. Stiles, Edward T. Hall, James H. S. Tucker.
1890; Charles W. Smith, Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden.
1891; Charles W. Smith, Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden.
1892; Charles W. Smith, Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden.
L. S. Powers, Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden.
1893; 1894; Dr. Charles H. Holcombe, Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden. 1895; Dr. Charles H. Holcombe, Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden.
1896; Dr. Charles H. Holcombe, Ella W. Tucker, Orville D. Fessenden.
1897;
Ella W. Tucker, Dr. Charles H. Holcombe, O. D. Fessenden.
1898; Ella W. Tucker, Dr. Charles H. Holcombe, O. D. Fessenden.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.