History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 106

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652

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At the municipal election in 1896, the mayoralty candidates were William D. Swart, 1,754; Jason E. Tolles, 2,318. Mayor Tolles' administration (1897 and 1898) dedicated the school house built by the preceding administration. It is in the midst of putting into practice reforms demanded by taxpayers, and promises economy in expenditures, which, by reason of the demands of a growing city, could not be made by his predecessors in office and still keep the municipality abreast of a progressive age. That Mayor Tolles, and his successors in the office of chief magistrate of Nashua, will do all that in them is to proclaim to the world that the gate city of New Hampshire is to continue in growth and prosperity and maintain her proud position as one of the leading commercial and industrial centres of New England need not be emphasized here. Nashua is to have a pros- perous future.

Mayors : 1853 and 1854, Josephus Baldwin; 1855 and 1856, Freeman S. Rogers; 1857, Thomas W. Gillis ; 1858 and 1859, Albin Beard ; 1860, Aaron W. Sawyer; 1861 and 1868, George Bowers; 1862 and 1863, Hiram T. Morrill; 1864, Edward Spalding; 1865, Virgil C. Gilman; 1866 and 1867, Gilman Scripture; 1869 and 1870, Jotham D. Otterson; 1871, Dana Sargent ; 1872, Seth D. Chandler ; 1873 and 1874, Frank A. Mckean; 1875, George H. Whitney; 1876 and 1877, Charles Williams; 1878, William H. Cook; 1879 and 1880, Charles Holman ; 1881 and 1882, Benjamin Fletcher, Jr .; 1883 and 1884, Alfred M. Norton; 1885, John A. Spalding ; 1886, 1887 and 1888, James H. Tolles ; 1889 and 1890, Charles H. Burke; 1891 and 1892, William H. Beasom ; 1893, Williams Hall; 1894, Thomas Sands; 1895 and 1896, Joseph W. Howard; 1897, Jason E. Tolles.

Presidents of the common councils: 1853 and 1854, Aaron F. Sawyer; 1855 and 1856, David A. G. Warner; 1857, Ivory Harmon; 1858, George L. White; 1859 and 1860, Josiah M. Fletcher; 1861, Jonathan Parkhurst ; 1862, Jacob D. March; 1863, Theodore H. Wood; 1864, Henry Holt; 1865, Mark R. Buxton ; 1866, George Turner (resigned), James E. Kent ; 1867, Charles D. Copp (resigned), John M. Flanders; 1868, William P. Buel; 1868, Benjamin Fletcher, Jr .; 1870, Eugene F. Whitney ; 1871, Eugene W. Johnson; 1872, Thomas H. Pinkham; 1873, Loring Farnsworth ; 1874, Timothy B. Crowley ; 1875, Edgar B. Burke; 1876, James H. Dunlap; 1877, Alfred Chase ; 1878, Frank D. Cook ; 1879, James A. Merrill ; 1880 and 1881, Charles W. Stevens ; 1882, Guy W. Latham (resigned), Joshua W. Hunt ; 1883, Isaac C. Johnson ; 1884, Charles E. Cummings ; 1885, Charles R. McQues- ten ; 1886, Albert H. Bailey ; 1889, Henry P. Whitney ; 1890, Frank P. Rideout; 1891, Fletcher W. Burnham ; 1892, Lester F. Thurber ; 1893, Frank L. Kimball; 1894, William D. Swart; 1895 and 1896, Charles J. Hamblett ; 1897, Edward H. Wason.

City clerks : 1853 to 1857, Edward P. Emerson ; 1857 to 1863, Isaac H. Marshall; 1863 to 1867, John G. Kimball; 1867 to 1874, George H. Taggard ; 1874, Ralph A. Arnold ; 1875, George H. Tag- gard ; 1876, Ralph A. Arnold ; 1877, George H. Hatch (resigned), Eugene M. Bowman ; 1878, Randolph W. Farley ; 1879 to 1884, Eugene M. Bowman ; 1884, Ralph A. Arnold ; 1885 to 1889,

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Eugene M. Bowman ; 1889 and 1890, Charles S. Bussell; 1891 to 1896, Eugene M. Bowman, to whom the writer of this chapter acknowledges his indebtedness for many courtesies, and also for time spent in assisting him in searching records ; 1896 and 1897, George F. Smith.

Clerks of the common council : 1853 and 1854, William P. Ainsworth ; 1855 and 1856, Henry O. Winch ; 1857 to 1860, Charles H. Sackrider (resigned), George Swain; 1861, Theodore H. Wood ; 1862 to 1872, Jacob D. March (died in office), George Swain; 1873, George Swain ; 1874, Henry H. Davis ; 1875, W. F. Pinkham ; 1876 to 1888, John H. Chapman ; 1888 to 1889, George E. Danforth, 1889, now serving .*

The police court, police department, fire department and city library are incidental in the municipal history, but neither have cumulative facts that are of special bearing in the civil government, and therefore are here treated in brief summary.

Prior to the date of the city charter court was held by any justice of the peace who could be induced to sit. Either Isaac Spalding or Israel Hunt, Jr., was usually called. With the charter a regular court was instituted and General Hunt was appointed justice. He served until 1856 and was followed by Thomas Pearson who resigned in 1862. Edward P. Emerson served as justice from 1862 to 1874, Solomon Spalding from 1874 to 1876, James B. Fassett from 1876 till his death in 1889, when

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Charles W. Hoitt, the present justice, was commissioned. The associate justices have been Isaac Spalding, Henry Parkinson, Bernard B. Whittemore, George H. Taylor, Clark M. Langley and William O. Clough, the present incumbent, commissioned in 1878. The clerks have been Augustine F. Long, Charles W. Hoitt, Fred T. Morrill, George E. Conlon, James H. Willoughby and Martin Fitzpatrick, Jr.

A new police department was also organized under the charter. It has experienced many changes and was formerly between the upper and nether mill-stones of politics. Since 1891 it has been controlled by a commission appointed by the governor and council. The list of marshals, (chiefs of the department) is as follows : 1853 to 1855, Ignatius Bagley ; 1855 and a portion of 1856, Isaac Eaton; 1856, William White ; 1857 to 1867-with the exception of 1861, when Samuel Tuck held the office-and again in 1875, Thomas G. Banks ; 1868 to 1871, when he resigned, Charles M. Robinson ; Elbridge P. Brown completed Robinson's unexpired term and held the office in 1874; 1872 and 1873, Salma H. Murdough ; 1876 to 1880, with the exception of seven months in 1878, when Timothy B. Crowley was marshal, William O. Clough ; 1880 to 1884 and in 1885 and 1886, James H. Hunt : 1884 and 1887 to 1891, Willard C. Tolles ; 1891, the present incumbent. The department consists of

* A complete list of city officers from 1853 to the present time, including representatives in the legislature, would make quite a volume of itself and therefore it is deemed inexpedient to publish the same in this connection.

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a marshal, deputy marshal, captain, sergeant, inspector, turnkey, sixteen patrolmen and a reserve force of sixty men.

The fire department, like other departments mentioned, has been through many and radical changes. It has, however, always maintained a good name for efficiency and been officered and manned by the best citizens. Since 1891 it has been "out of politics" and governed by a commis- sion elected by the city councils. Its chiefs under the city charter have been : 1853 to 1855, Josephus Baldwin, the first mayor ; 1855 to 1857, Franklin Munroe ; 1857 to 1858 and 1870 and 1871, Isaac Eaton ; 1868 and 1869, Edgar B. Burke; 1872, 1878 and 1879, Benjamin Fletcher, Jr .; 1873 to 1876, Quincy A. Woodward ; 1876, 1877, 1880 to 1884, Frank A. Barney; 1884 to 1891, Charles H. Whit- ney ; 1891, present chief, George O. Osborne. The department has four steamers, four hose carriages, two hook and ladder trucks, two chemicals, twenty horses and ninety-four men.

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PHOTO. BY F. M.INGALLS,'97

STEAM FIRE ENGINE NUMBER FOUR.

The Nashua public library was founded by Lucy F. and Kate M. Thayer, Mary E. Shepherd, Mary P. Fiske, Hattie E. Richardson, Sarah W. Kendall, Mary E. Hunt, Mary E. Law and their associates. As early as 1830 Rev. Andrew E. Thayer established a circulating library to obtain books from which a fee of from two to four dollars a year was charged. It contained at one time 1,057 volumes. In 1850 there was established a private organization with corporate powers known as the Athenæum. A weekly fee was charged. It had about 1,300 volumes and although its usefulness was conceded by its patrons it did not meet the demands of the increasing inhabitants of the city. This fact was recognized by Orren C. Moore, editor of the Telegraph, who suggested to the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid society-an organization that had done patriotic work during the Civil War-the desir- ability of a levee for the purpose of raising funds with which to establish a free public library. The suggestion was made at a meeting held March 15, 1867, and then and there acted upon affirmatively. On the nineteenth of the following month a levee, under the management of the ladies whose names have been given, was held in the City Hall. A paper called the Volume was printed and sold at a a profit of one hundred and five dollars, and altogether $1,089.18 was realized, besides contributions

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

of eighty-seven volumes of desirable books. To this the Atheneum library was added, and the whole offered as a gift to the city upon condition that $1,000 be expended annually for its support and development. The gift and condition were accepted in July, the same year, seven trustees appointed and the library located in the south room, second story, of the county record building, where it remained until 1892, when it was removed to more commodious quarters in Odd Fellows building, Temple street, where it is now located. The city, much to its credit, has kept faith with the founders, and prominent citizens have shown commendable spirit by donating to it many standard works and miscellaneous publications. Some years ago Daniel Hussey, for many years identified with the manufacturing interests of the city, devised a legacy of $50,000, payable upon the death of his widow, for a library building, which legacy is a consideration of the future. At the present writing the library has a small but convenient reading room, contains about 14,000 books, and is regularly supplied with magazines and the latest publications.

It is a singular coincidence that the civil history of Nashua-at the point where this work necessarily leaves it-ends as in the beginning of Old Dunstable, with a controversy over the location of a public building. In the autumn of 1892 Mary A. Hunt and her daughter, Mary E. Hunt, gave the city $50,000 with which to erect a public building to be known as the "John M. Hunt Memorial Library building." The gift was upon condition that the city purchase a lot of land to be selected by the trustees of the library, acting with a committee of the city councils. The gift was accepted under the conditions named and the joint committee unanimously agreed upon the Greeley lot, so called, at the head of Main street, on Railroad square, at $35,000, made report accordingly and with- drew. The site chosen was satisfactory to the people of the first three wards and unsatisfactory to a majority of the residents of the other six wards. A -heated controversy and discussion followed in which much bad feeling was engendered. The objectors claimed that the location was remote from the center of the population, that the growth of the city was southward, and that sinister motives were shown, while the survivors of 1838-53 declared over and over again that it was an unwarranted revival of the old quarrel that resulted in the township of Nashville. Others stumbled over the cost and not a few inveighed against the proposed building as unnecessary and expensive luxury. Those who favored the scheme were derided as out-spoken in bitter condemnation of the attitude of their dissatisfied fellow-citizens, and as pacificators who would allay public feeling by making it clear by facts and figures that the site was practically the centre of the residences of the patrons of the library. They claimed that justice demanded that at least one ornamental public building should be on the north side of the river, and, moreover, it was the street railway centre. Arguments failed ; the city councils disagreed ; a syndicate purchased the lot and demanded $5,000 more than the price stipu- lated, which amount was pledged by citizens of the north side; the supreme court was appealed to, and when it rendered a decision that the lot must be purchased by the city the councils took the risk of being in contempt by refusing to act. Meantime the donors became disturbed, and, feeling that they had precipitated a controversy and were also uncivilly treated requested, through the court, the annulment of their contract with the city and the return of their gift. The evidence on this feature of the controversy was presented to Chief Justice Doe and Justice Blodgett in June, 1895, and in October, following, a decision was rendered denying the request and ordering the city to procure the lot selected by its authorized committee and proceed to carry out the original contract. Mayor How- ard at once opened negotiations with the syndicate owners, but, being unable to agree upon the purchase price, the lot was legally condemned by the city councils and taken under the law of eminent domain. At the time of this writing, July, 1897, the indications are that there will be a year or more before the John M. Hunt Memorial library building is erected as originally designed by the donors of the funds for that purpose, and that all the bitterness engendered by the controversy will have passed away.

Here ends the chapter on the civil government of the townships of Dunstable, Old Dunstable, Nashua, Nashville, and the city of Nashua. What the future is to be no man can foretell. It can only be hoped that quarrels and dissensions will cease ; that the mistakes of the past will be avoided : that the good work of developing all its resources may go steadily forward, so that happiness and prosperity may attend the generations yet to be born.

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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS.

BY HENRY A. CUTTER.

T HE societies and clubs of a place are indicative in a way, of the character and tastes of the people. And the influence of such organizations work for the good or bad, and mould the thoughts and actions of communities. The benefits of organizations along the lines of active charities, or in the consideration of abstract moral principles, or in the promotion of good fellowship is obvious. Such, practically, are the purposes of the various associations which have been organized and maintained by our citizens. It is safe to say that Nashua has supported more organizations of the various kinds specified than any other city of its size in the state. At the same time, the home life, which is the most powerful factor of the integrity of any community, has not been neglected, as it is apt to be, whenever the outside influences are as strong as they are, and have been, in a cosmopolitan city like Nashua.

There are numerous organizations, which, being allied to either the church, the military, or to life insurance and other business ventures, will not be presented in the limits of this chapter, which treats mainly of such bodies as are social, or quasi-social in their main characteristics. There have been bodies formed for mere temporary purposes which have not had any effect upon the people, and they can hardly be treated of historically. There have been other associations whose objects have been of a purely private nature, and in which the public generally has no interest.

A survey of our past social condition shows "the club" to be of comparatively late origin. Hitherto we find nothing that is analagous to it. The people formerly, instead of forming clubs, received their friends at their homes, and depended more upon church sociables, and lecture courses for their entertainment. In the dispensation of charity they acted to a greater extent independently of each other. Unity of action seems to be a principle that the last and the present generation have extended into every phase of life. Sociological matters have apparently followed the trend of political power and become more centralized. An article upon this subject portrays a present status solely.

The pioneer of organizations which are semi-social in their character is the Masonic lodge, and the oldest Masonic body of Nashua is Rising Sun lodge, number 39, A. F. and A. M., which was instituted on the thirteenth day of June, 1822, under a dispensation from the grand lodge of the state of New Hampshire, Joshua Darling, grand master. Willard Marshall, Ephraim Blanchard, and John Lund were the prime movers in securing its organization. The first meeting was held June 26, 1822, and Ephraim Blanchard was elected its first master. Oct. 15 of that year there was a public consecration in the "meeting-house," and Thomas W. Phillips of Boston delivered the oration. This meeting-house stood near the Harbor burial ground. The following is a list of its senior officers,-the master, with the years of service: Ephraim Blanchard, 1822, 1823; Alfred Greeley, 1824, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1854; Israel Hunt, Jr., 1825, 1826, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1845, 1846; John M. Hunt, 1827; Stephen W. Balcome, 1828; Col. Leonard W. Noyes, 1829; William Boardman, 1830; Luther Ballard, 1831, 1832; Jacob Hall, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842; Dr. Elijah Colburn, 1843, 1844; Thomas Pearson, 1860; George A. Rollins, 1861; William W. Bailey, 1862, 1863; Thomas J. Rockwood, 1864, 1865; Charles E. Paige, 1866; William Barrett, 1867; Edward Parker, 1868; Henry M. Davis, 1869; Frank A. Mckean, 1870; Dr. Oliver A. Woodbury, 1871, 1872; Dr. George W. Currier, 1873, 1876; Henry A. Marsh, 1874, 1875; Mark R. Buxton, 1877, 1878, 1879; John A. Grater, 1880, 1883; Ralph A. Arnold, 1881; Col. William H. D. Cochrane, 1882; Henry A. Cutter, 1884, 1885; George R. Pierce, 1886, 1887; George A. Underhill, 1888, 1889; Warren G. Howe, 1890; John H. Clark, 1891, 1892; James H. Blake, 1893, 1894; Edward H. Wason, 1895, 1896. It will be seen that prominent men of the place, lawyers, doctors, merchants and others have been leaders in this body. During its life of three quarters of a century it has had various lodge rooms; it originally held its meetings in a dwelling at the Harbor. It has since occupied rooms in the old Greeley building, in the old Exchange building, and for over twenty years it occupied the third floor of Nutt's building. Jan. 21, 1890, it held its first meeting in Masonic temple.

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It organized with but few members, and it has grown to be the second largest lodge in the state, with a membership of nearly three hundred. It has maintained a high rank masonically in the state, and some of its members have been the senior officer of the grand lodge of the state of New Hampshire. Frank A. Mckean, George W. Currier and Henry A. Marsh have occupied that position. George W. Currier has also attained a like distinction in the grand chapter, and in the grand commandery of Knight's Templar. The position of eminent grand commander has also been held by Milton A. Taylor, John H. Clark and Henry A. Marsh. The influential and business men of the town and city have been members of Rising Sun lodge. It has a sizable charity fund, which has been well managed and safely invested. Its long life and present condition attests its fitness to its environment, and gives promise of an indefinite period of usefulness amongst us. Judge Charles F. Gove bequeathed to the lodge a tomb in the old Nashua cemetery, in which his remains now repose.

Ancient York lodge, number 89, A. F. and A. M., was first organized under a dispensation granted by the grand lodge, May 19, 1870. May 18, 1871, it acquired a charter. Its charter members were Edward Parker, Dana Sargent, Albert H. Saunders, Benjamin Fletcher, Jr., Martin V. B. Greene, Leonard C. Farwell, and George W. Moore. The following is a list of the masters, with the years of their service: Edward Parker, 1870; Albert H. Saunders, 1871; Martin V. B. Greene, 1872; Herman F. Dane, 1873, 1874; Joshua W. Hunt, 1875; Addison W. Knight, 1876, 1877; George E. Spalding, 1878; George B. Bowler, 1879, 1880; Sidney H. Favor, 1885, 1886; Joseplı Shattuck, 1887; Frank W. Adams, 1888, 1889; Hendrick B. Gordon, 1890, 1891; Edward O. Fifield, 1893, 1894; Edward P. Graham, 1895, 1896. This lodge has a membership of one hundred and sixty-four. The fact that it has attained a membership of large size in a comparatively short time proves its popularity.

In 1827 a dispensation was granted to establish Meridian Sun Royal Arch chapter, number 9, in Nashua, but the charter was not granted until Sept. 1, 1828. This body has had a flourishing existence, and now has a membership of two hundred and twenty-five companions. William Board- man was the first senior officer, and Edward O. Fifield is the present incumbent of that chair.

Israel Hunt council, number 8, R. and S. M., was chartered Feb. 27, 1873, with Daniel R. Marshall, Aaron King, John C. Knowles, John D. Chandler, Oliver H. Phillips, Charles H. Fosdick, Isaac Eaton, William Barrett, Thomas Pearson, William S. Atwood, Silas S. Drew and Artemua Knight, as charter members. The first senior officer was William O. Clough. Its membership is about one hundred and fifty.

Jan. 16, 1867, Hiram T. Morrill, John M. Sanborn, Oliver H. Phillips, Alfred Greeley, Thomas Pearson, Stillman Chase, Aaron King, Dana Sargent, William S. Atwood, Daniel R. Marshall, William Barrett, George H. Gillis, William H. H. Hinds, and Joa. H. Nottage petitioned the grand commandery of New Hampshire for a dispensation to establish a commandery in Nashua, and in consequence a dispensation was granted and the first conclave of St. George commandery, Knights Templar, was held Feb. 6, 1867. A charter was subsequently granted Sept. 29, 1868. William Barrett was the first eminent commander, and George Frank Hammond is the present eminent commander. This body has had a prosperous existence since its establishment. The men who go to make up the activity of the lower Masonic bodies, to a great extent, are to be credited with the success of this body. It has a membership of about one hundred and seventy-five knights, who are mostly citizens of Nashua. It is one of the most popular societies in our midst.

June 19, 1863, the national grand body of 33d degree Masons granted a charter to Aaron P. Hughes, Aaron King, Oliver H. Phillips, Alfred Greeley, Israel Hunt, William Barrett, Oliver A. Woodbury, Isaac Eaton, Joseph A. Gilmore, Natt Head, and twenty-two others to form a grand consistory for the state of New Hampshire. Aaron P. Hughes was the first senior grand officer. June 7, 1864, charters were granted to form the subordinate bodies, with the following titles: Aaron P. Hughes lodge of Perfection; Oriental council, Princes of Jerusalem; St. George chapter of Rose Croix; Edward A. Raymond consistory. James P. S. Otterson was the first senior officer of the lodge; Henry B. Atherton was the first senior officer of the council; Hiram D. Woods was the first senior officer of the chapter, and William Barrett was the first senior officer of the consistory.

The growth in this branch of Masonry was somewhat slow until about 1883, since which time the membership has increased very rapidly. Nashua, until very recently, has been the only place in

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the state where these degrees were conferred. The membership in the consistory is about five hundred and seventy-five.

Connected with the Masonic bodies, although in the nature of a business enterprise, is the Masonic Building association, which in this chapter it may be well to recognize.

This is a corporation, chartered May 16, 1889. It owes its inception chiefly to Dr. George W. Currier, who conceived the idea, and with the co-operation of such men as W. D. Cadwell, George E. Anderson, George R. Pierce, Dr. George A. Underhill, Joseph Shattuck, George A. Rollins, Rev. Henry B. Smith, Henry A. Cutter, the building was completed. Nearly every Mason in the city responded in taking at least one share of the $50,000 capital. The corner stone was laid Sept. 14, 1889, by the grand lodge of New Hampshire, George W. Currier, M. W. G. M. The organ was purchased by a voluntary subscription amounting to $1,800, which was pledged in a single evening. Mrs. Aaron King, Mrs. John M. Hunt and Mrs. G. Warren Greene added one hundred dollars each to that fund. The building was dedicated Jan. 21, 1891. Rev. E. C. Bolles, D. D., of New York, delivered the oration in the afternoon. A banquet was had in the theatre at six o'clock, J. Tyler Hicks & Co. of Boston being the caterers. At eight o'clock a reception was held. At nine o'clock a musical entertainment took place in the lodge room, the Mendelssohn male quartette, Howard M. Dow, organist, and Miss L. E. Dow, vocalist, being the talent. Afterwards dancing in the banquet hall concluded the day.

All the Masonic bodies occupy the third and fourth floors of the Masonic temple. Each body elects a trustee, and that body of trustees rent the apartments of the Masonic Building association and adjust the rents among the various occupants, and have general charge of the quarters.

Odd Fellowship has had a thriving existence since its first institution in Nashua. The oldest body in the state is found here.

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 106

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company Number of Pages: 652

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652