USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 70
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For many years Mr. Hurd was associated with his father, Jacob Hurd,
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in the hotel business, managing the Hurd house, which formerly stood on the old Sparta turnpike, in the rear of Warren street, near where Gardner's livery stables are now (1911) located. At this time Dover is described as being a hamlet, rough, rugged, and tough. Mr. Hurd lived to see his native hamlet of a hundred or two inhabitants grow into a thrifty town of about 8,000.
The old Hurd House was one of the most popular hostelries between Pennsylvania and New York. It was a favorite stopping place for the farmer carting produce from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Newark and New York markets. Upon his retirement from the hotel business Mr. Hurd devoted his efforts to farming and conducted the Hurd farm, which is now the Baker tract at the western gateway of Dover.
In February of this year Mr. Hurd presented the six-acre tract of land opposite his home to the town. The only restrictions were that certain bubbling springs must not be destroyed and the site must be used for park purposes only, and to be known as Hurd Park.
One of the most picturesque glens in this part of the State is the glen just above Hurd Park on Jackson's Brook, now commonly known as Granny's Brook. At the head of the glen are the Indian Falls, a notable feature of beauty in this region. The following verses were written in this glen one winter's day, just about the time that the gift of Hurd Park was first announced :
THE SENTINELS.
By Charles D. Platt.
O Laurel, prized for thy rare leaf That doth withstand the season's change, When snowbanks hold the world in fief And robe the hills in garments strange Thy head is reared to crown with green The white shroud of the woodland scene.
Then sun looks down from heaven to seek Some lingering trace of that glad life He late inspired : Earth's pallid cheek Seems robbed of joy : the Frost King's knife Has stabbed her to the heart: she lies Silent, as when a loved one dies.
On the gray, mossgrown rock-pray, look! A patch of Fern, curled up with cold, Lulled by the music of the brook, Still wears its colors, calmly bold, And with its evergreen ally, The Laurel, dares King Frost defy.
A Hemlock, here and there, uplifts Its fadeless pennant to the sky :
What though the blizzard pile its drifts Of all-entombing snowflakes high ! These staunch defenders of the faith, Flinch not before chill Winter's wraith.
All is not lost : a chosen band,
Of dauntless hearts still holds its own : These, when all else have fled, make stand And stem the rout of glories flown : At their brave rallying cry the dead Shall rise, new-born, from Winter's bed.
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Even as I speak, low at my feet A clump of clustering leaves I spy, Half hidden by the snow : they greet The noonday sun with buds so shy ! The Arbutus green-so shy, so bold, Presage of verdure manifold !
So may a good man's memory live And bloom again from year to year,
Blessed with perennial power to give Courage and faith to those who fear The thralldom that would cast its blight
O'er all the radiant sons of light.
Granny's Brook, Dover, New Jersey.
BICENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
D. H. S. Commencement, June, 1913-Committees :
I. The Stone Age and The Iron Age: Teachers-Miss Downs, Miss Freeman, Mr. Wilder. Seniors-F. Anderson, E. Biennajone, R. Hill, B. Hosking, W. McDavit, H. Moyer, L. Smith, V. Smith, M. Mayberry, H. Cramer.
II. The Quakers: Teachers-Miss Freeman, Miss Richards, Mrs. Cummins, Mr. Shuster. Seniors-L. Call, P. Courage, R. Gallagher, M. Lynd, E. Pfalzer, H. Rinehart, E. Babo, W. Sturzennegger.
III. The Revolution : Teachers-Miss Freeman, Miss Richards, Miss Clark, Mrs. Cummins. Seniors-M. Cyphers, L. Doney, M. Ely, J. Jenkins, O. Larsen, C. Osborne, P. House, J. Lyon, E. Swackhamer.
IV. Early Days in Dover; Dover Schools: Teachers-Mr. Platt, Miss Hedden. Seniors-E. Ely, M. Oram, R. Pearce, H. Pedrick, E. Redman, J. Searing, M. Cooper, E. Newcombe.
Stage Manager-Supt. W. V. Singer.
The program was as follows:
I. Music-"On to the Battle, On !" from Joan of Arc, Gaul; Chorus of seventy- five voices.
II. The Stone Age and the Iron Age in Dover: Essay-Dover as affected by its Topography, Henrietta Moyer; Essay-Indian Tradtions and Customs, Lucy Smith; Recitation-An Indian Lament, Elizabeth Biennajone; Essay-The Effect of the Iron Industry on the Development of Dover, Vernon Smith.
A Scene From Indian Life: David Brainerd, the Missionary, 1744, represented by Hattie Cramer, Lucy Smith, Elizabeth Biennajone, Fred Anderson, Vernon Smith, Benjamin Hosking, Henrietta Moyer, assisted by Edwin Lynch, Clyde Cook, Robert Williams, Nicholas Cutter, Gertrude Appleby, Harriet Parker, Evelyn Toye, Frederica Hosking, Vencent Murray, Arthur Murray, Ronald Crater, Jack Richards, Abe Bacon, Gustav Heller; and eight little Indians from Miss Edna Kanouse's Room : Paul Maloney, Frank Chamberlain, Peter Drury, Guy Ham, Richard Maloney, James Small, Paul Newman, Norman Friedland.
III. Music-Barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffman," Offenbach; chorus of seventy- five voices.
IV. The Quakers in Dover and Vicinity: A Quaker Quilting Party of the Olden time. Acted by Elizabeth Pfalzer, Marjorie Lynd, Elizabeth Babo, Louise Call and Rose Gallagher.
A Quaker Meeting-Tableau-First Meeting House near Dover, 1748. Eliza- beth Pfalzer, Marjorie Lynd, Elizabeth Babo, Louise Call, Rose Gallagher, Peter Courage, William Sturzennegger, John Lyon, Fred Anderson, Ralph Pearce, Benjamin Hosking.
V. The Revolutionary Period in Dover and Vicinity :
Essay-General Winds, written by Jessie Jenkins, read by Clifford Osborne.
The Stamp Act Scene-Dramatized by Peter Courage, Clifford Osborne and John Lyon.
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General Winds and the Quaker Woman; acted by Peter Courage, Louise Call, Elizabeth Pfalzer.
A Ballad-"General Winds of Rockaway," 1776-77, recited by Mary Ely.
In 1750 William Winds bought a farm in East Dover. He attended the Pres- byterian church in Rockaway, as other Dover people did at that time.
VI. Music-A May Morning, Denza, solo by Louise Call.
VII. Early Days in Dover-Dover Schools: Essay, written by Jeannette Sear- ing; read by Millie E. Cooper, whose grandfather was a notable teacher in the Dover Public Schools, 1864-68.
A letter from Miss Harriet A. Breese, who attended the Dover Public School under Mr. W. Irving Harvey in 1856. Read by H. Erna Redman.
Two samples of work done in the Dover Schools long ago: I. A Copy Book written by Phebe H. Baker in 1828 in the old Dover School; she is now living in Bloomfield, in her 99th year. 2. A Sampler worked by Maria F. Minton in 1831, under the instruction of Miss Harriet Ives, in the old Stone Academy, which was built in 1829. Maria Minton was five years old when she worked this Sampler, and lived in the house now occupied by Killgore & White's drug store.
A Yankee Doodle Pantomime as given in Dover, 1872-Howard Pedrick, Peg- ging Shoes; Ethelia Newcombe, Making Pie Crust; Marion Oram, Trotting a Doll; Millie E. Cooper, Ironing; Ernestine Ely, Sewing; Ralph Pearce, Sawing Wood; Jeannette Searing, Sweeping; Erna Redman, Churning.
An Old Song-Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party. Sung by Howard Pedrick, Stephen Pedrick, Lowell Riley, William Ryan. Poem-The Old School Bell. Recited by Marion Oram.
VIII. "Goodnight, Goodnight, Beloved," Pinsuti, chorusl of the graduating class.
IX. The Dover of Today: Address and presentation of Diplomas, Rev. Dr. A. B. Fitzgerald.
The Class of 1913 was as follows: Classical Course-Harjorie Louise Lynd, Clifford Pierson Osborne.
Scientific Course-Joseph Fredolf Anderson, Benjamin Harrison Hosking, Ira Vernon Smith, Ralph Waldo Pearce, Harold Whitham Rinehart, William Sturzen- negger.
Normal Course-Elizabeth Biennajone, Louise Carr Call, Hattie May Cramer, Marion Lula Cyphers, Lylla S. A. Doney, Mary Congdon Ely, Ernestine Kaye Ely, Rosabell Pearl House, Jessie Irene Jenkins, Marion Oram, Elizabeth Bertha Pfalzer, Harriet Erna Redman, Lucy Bell Smith, Alice Jeannette Searing.
General Course-Peter Courage, Millie Eugenie Cooper, Ethel Mae Swack- hamer, Howard Pedrick, Rose Francis Gallagher.
Commercial Course-Elizabeth Anna Babo, John Augustus Lyon, Ethelia May Newcombe.
Marjorie Louise Lynd, Valedictorian ; Clifford Pierson Osborne, Salutatorian.
Class Officers-President, Howard Pedrick; Vice President, Mary Ely; Secre- tary, Marjorie Lynd; Treasurer, Clifford Osborne.
Class Colors-Blue and Gold; Class Flower-Daisy; Class Motto-Age quod agis.
The published program contained the following interesting historical notes :
The design on the front cover represents John Reading, a public sur- veyor and a prominent character in New Jersey, at one time President of the "Council" and acting Governor of the State, who in 1713 made a survey of land in Randolph township, and portions were offered for sale. The first purchaser was John Latham, who bought of the proprietors 527 acres. In 1722 he sold this property to John Jackson, who was the first actual settler. It was the magnetic iron ore of this region that attracted Mr. Jack- oufit a forge, and commenced the iron business. The ore which was made into iron in this forge was brought from the famous Succasunna or Dicker- son mine at Ferromonte, about two miles northwest of the forge.
Moses Hurd, the ancestor of the Hurds of this township and vicinity, soon after came from Dover, New Hampshire, and worked in this forge. It is thought that he may have given our town its name, Dover, in place of its original name, Old Tye.
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The design on the cover is the work of Miss Mildred Ghodey, teacher of drawing in the Dover schools, and represents John Reading making the first survey of land in Dover, 1713. The picture of the Dover High School stands for a great change from the time when wild in woods the untutored savage ran.
Mrs. I. D. Condict, of Randolph avenue, is a descendant of the John Jackson who erected the first forge in Dover.
A member of our Board of Education bears the name "Winds" as his middle name.
Speaking of "descendants," Miss Lucy Condict, a pupil in the Dover High School, is a descendant of General Winds, the Revolutionary hero. Another high school pupil, Miss Ella Byram, is a descendant of John and Priscilla Alden, made famous by Longfellow's poem.
Mr. Andrew B. Byram, another descendant of John Alden, has a cannon ball which was fired from General Winds' artillery at the battle of Springfield, June 23, 1780. This ball was cast at Mt. Hope. The original mould is in the Washington Headquarters at Morristown.
Mrs. Emily Byram, née Baker, born in 1824, is the oldest living resi- dent of Dover. She remembers playing on the timbers of the old Stone Academy when it was being built in 1829. Mrs. Phebe H. DeHart, née Baker, is the oldest living person who was educated in the Dover schools, born in 1814. In the High School Auditorium may be seen an interesting exhibit of the handiwork of pupils for the year 1913. How many of these will be in evidence at Dover's Tercentenary in 2013?
David Brainerd, the Missionary to the Indians. An Extract from his Diary, published in 1749 by Jonathan Edwards.
Lord's Day, Sept. 2, 1744. Was enabled to speak to my poor Indians with much Concern and Fervency; and I am perswaded, God enabled me to exercise Faith in him, while I was speaking to them. I perceived, that some of them were afraid to hearken to, and embrace Christianity, lest they should be inchanted and poisoned by some of the Powows; But I was enabled to plead with them not to fear these; and confiding in God for Safety and Deliverance, I bid a Challenge to all these Powers of Darkness, to do their worst upon me first; I told my People, I was a Christian, and asked them why the Powows did not Bewitch and Poison me. I scarcely ever felt more sensible of my own Unworthiness, than in this Action : I saw, that the Honour of God was concerned in the Affair; and I desired to be preserved, not from selfish view, but for a Testimony of the divine Power and Goodness, and of the Truth of Christianity, and that God might be glorified. Afterwards, I found my Soul rejoice in God for his assisting Grace.
Monday, Octob. I, 1744. Was engaged this Day in making Preparations for my intended Journey to Susquehanna: Withdrew several Times to the Woods for secret Duties, and endeavored to plead for the divine Presence to go with me to the poor Pagans, to whom I was going to preach the Gospel. Towards Night, rode about four Miles, and met Brother Byram (Note by J. E .- Brother Byram was the Minister at a Place called Rockciticus, about 40 Miles from Mr. Brainerd's Lodgings) who was come, at my Desire, to be my Companion in Travel to the Indians. I rejoiced to see him : and, I trust, God made his Conversation profitable to me: I saw him, as I thought, more dead to the World, it's anxious Cares, and alluring Objects, than I was: and this made me look within my self and gave me greater sense of my Guilt, Ingratitude, and Misery.
Tuesday, Octob. 2. Set out on my Journey, in Company with dear Brother Byram, and my Interpreter, and two chief Indians from the Forks of the Delaware. Travelled about 25 Miles and lodged in one of the last Houses on our Road; after which there was nothing but a hideous and howling Wilderness.
Tuesday, June 26, 1744. Was busy most of the Day in translating Prayers into the Language of the Delaware-Indians: Met with great Difficulty by Reason that my Interpreter was altogether unacquainted with the Business.
The Quaker Quilting Party :
(Three girls seated around the quilt sewing. Aunt Nancy-Rose Gallagher- speaks.)
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The threads our hands in blindness spin No self-determined plan weaves in; The shuttle of the unseen powers Marks out a pattern not as ours ..
Oh! small the choice of him who sings,
What sound shall leave the smitten strings;
Fate holds and guides the hand of art;
The singer's is the servant's part.
(Three talk in a casual way. As is the Quaker custom, they humorously rhyme what some one else has said.)
Elizabeth Pfalzer .- Look at dear Aunt Lizzie.
Elizabeth Babo .- Yes, thee sees she's very busy.
Rose .- Where's Aunt Phoebe? It's long past meeting time.
E. B .- Why, she's been very busy, had visitors to dine.
E. P .- Pass the thread, Nancy, after thee has taken some.
Nancy .- I've quilted so much that my fingers feel quite numb. (Steps are heard outside.)
E. P .- I hear steps in the hall. I'm sure it is Aunt Phoebe.
(Enter Louise Call and Marjorie Lynd. Shake hands with all. Introduced by Rose, niece of Aunt P. Aunt Phoebe takes her work bag, finds her needle, and meantime says : )
I did not think I would get to thy quilting, Nancy. Thee knows I've been having company.
E. B .- Oh! Aunt Phoebe, won't thy niece Ruth tell us how she likes old Randolph? Is thee having a nice time, Ruth?
Marjorie .- (Ruth) I just wrote a long letter to sister Elizabeth last night, telling about my visit. Suppose I just read the letter.
All .- Yes, do! that will be very nice.
(She reads while the others sew.)
Louise ( Phoebe) to E. P .- How is thee, Grace Norton?
E. P .- I am well, thank thee. I did catch a cold coming home in the rain from meeting, last Lord's Day, but I am quite well now, thank thee. Yes, and I've just reminded myself that I must see Patience Warner. Jesse stopped me Lord's Day and said, "Grace Norton, if it wasn't Lord's Day, I would like to tell thee what Patience said about the honey. She heard thee wanted some and said that thee could have it-six pounds, forty cents, and that's dirt cheap, thee knows. But I will see thee about it on second Day.
(Quilters laugh and Aunt Phoebe says : ) I guess thee knew all about the message in spite of its being Lord's Day.
Phoebe .- Grace Norton, thee always hears amusing stories. Suppose we ap- point Grace to tell us a few stories. I know, if a vote was taken, 'twould be unanimous.
Grace N .- Well, last week a caller came to Charity's house. She wasn't a Friend, and Charity was just going to have some milk, bread and honey. Of course, Charity asked the visitor to have some, but she politely said No, thank you. Charity, knowing that Friends usually say what they mean and mean what they say, and not thinking that the visitor just needed a little coaxing, did not ask again. Charity seemed to be enjoying the bread and honey, and the visitor, hungry for the same, finally said, "I guess I will take a little." Of course, Charity wasn't going to have a lie told in her house, so she said: "Thee said thee didn't want any :' now thee cannot have any." Next time that lady visits a Quaker home she will know enough to take things, if she wants them. (All laugh.)
Aunt Phoebe .- Well, what does thee think of that?
E. P .- Did any of you hear the amusing anecdote told of a trick played on General Winds of Dover during the Revolutionary War? (All say No, and shake heads.) The soldiers were quite short of provisions and thought they would try the general's sympathy. So they got a smooth stone, placed it in their camp kettle and set it boiling. By and by Winds came. "Well, men, anything to eat?" he inquired. "Not much, general, was the reply. "What have you in the kettle?" said he, coming up to the fire. "A stone, General, for they say there is strength in stones, if you can only get it out."
"Nonsense! there isn't a bit. Throw it out. You must have something to eat." Thus speaking, he left the place and rode rapidly to the farm house of Hope Taylor. The good woman had just baked a batch of bread.
"Let me buy that bread for my soldiers," said the General. "Thee cannot have it to help thee to fight." "I don't care a fig about "thee's" and "thou's, but I want the bread. Here's the money."
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"I cannot take thy money for such purposes." "Very well," said Winds, "it will be left to buy something else with, but the bread I will have, money or no money !" With that he placed the loaves of bread in a bag and carried them to the camp. Poor Hope had to do her week's baking over again, because all her bread went to those wicked soldiers.
Aunt Phoebe .- Well, what does thee think of that? (All shake heads.) Thee all knows the principle of the Friends, never to use firearms, neither for the chase nor on the battlefield. Once this principle met with a severe test. It was in the fall of the year, when the buckwheat was holding its plump ruddy faces to the sky. No field in the county promised such an abundant crop. But the wild pigeons, which in those days abounded to an incredible extent, daily visited the enclosure and really almost ruined the alluring hopes of plenty for they took off most all the crop.
Already Brother Jonathan's estate was a novelty to travellers, who were amused at the enormous collection of scarecrows, strings, hats on poles, white dimities and flannels, fluttering in the breeze. Still the birds had little fear.
The good Quaker was much annoyed, but although much excited, he remained silent. He knew of an old musket in the attic and it was loaded. How it came into the hands of the Brother we do not know, but with the fowling piece in his hand he stood by the fence. After aim was taken to the center of the flock he stopped up his ears and closed his eyes. A flash was seen and a noise heard by a neighboring Quaker, who instantly came to the rescue, only to find his devoted Quaker friend doing the shooting. But with a calm air the Quaker said to his neighbor, "I took this rusty iron and thought to scare the birds away. If I have hurt any, thee can have them."
The Friend slipped into the field and picked up ninety pigeons. After this, this act was repeated frequently by the good Brother Jonathan, who always closed his eyes and stopped his ears. By this expedient he saved his buckwheat and his conscience. He could not see or hear that he had even injured a bird. (All laugh and Aunt Phoebe repeats, "Well, what does thee think of that?")
Have we time for one more short story? (Gets up, looks out of the window at town clock.) It's rather late, so this will have to be a short story and I'll just tell it to you for an example.
While Brother Jesse, with joy in his heart, was returning from First Day Meeting, he met a man, not a Friend, who, with a sour expression on his face and a mean look, stopped our Brother Jesse. All his conversation was-"This is the worst town I've ever been in; not a decent person in it. I can't wait till I get out of it."
To this our good Brother quietly replied, "My friend, thee will find such people and places wherever thee goes."
Aunt Phoebe .- Good! Now what does thee think of that?
E. P .- But it's most supper time, so we'd better be a-going home. We'll have some more stories next quilting." (They put on shawls and Grace Norton invites all to her quilting next fifth day.)
Written by ELIZABETH B. PFALZER.
Letter written and read by Marjorie Lynd at the Quaker quilting party:
Dover, the 20th day of the sixth month, 1791.
Dear Sister Elizabeth: With a heart full of tenderness I shall now endeavor to endite to you an epistle to let you know that though the great ocean lies between us, still my great love for you and our beloved parents will find a way to my dear English home.
I am now at the home of my Uncle Richard, having arrived safely by the good ship Sea Queen. 'Twas a long and tedious journey from the ship to the home of my Uncle. So wearied was I that I retired to rest immediately upon my ar- rival.
Our Uncle is a severe looking man. In the plain Quaker garb he appears stern and unrelenting, though indeed his true nature belies his appearance. He desires me, while I am with him to dress myself as my Cousin Anne does, so behold me, dear Elizabeth, in a stuff dress of gray, plain in skirt and waist, with a white kerchief folded above my bosom and all my hair, of which our Father is so boastful, hidden away beneath a Quaker bonnet. Alas for all my finery! The new gowns with which I was to amaze the Quaker maids shall never be brought to light, I fear. A sad blow to my vanity! My Uncle's home is as plain as his dress. There is nothing here which does not serve a purpose. All ornaments would be considered vanity, and no one shall say my Uncle's family is vain.
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As yet I have not met many people. Certain household tasks are allotted to me, which, though few and light in comparison with those Aunt Phoebe sets for Cousin Anne, are yet sufficient to keep my hands busy from morn till night. Yet stay; I have not told you of our great dissipation. It occurred on the afternoon of the "third day," as Aunt Phoebe would name it, at the home of Mistress Dorothy Hooker, and the nature of the affair was a quilting bee. My Uncle drove us thither and though we were punctual, we found the ladies already seated at the frame, at work, I took my seat beside my cousin, being somewhat abashed before so many silent strangers. Before I had taken a stitch, I was relieved to find that the severity of these ladies was due entirely to their garb and posture. Their manners were both kindly and courteous. They were interestd in my home, and gently remonstrated with me for the sinfulness of the worldly pleasures in which I indulge at home. "Thee should not do it, Ruth," quoth Mistress Winthrop, "Thee should forget mundane pleasure, and live at peace with the dear God." They reproved me gently for wearing my gold thimble as I sewed. But, dear Elizabeth, I had no other, so they contented themselves with sighing and shaking their heads as they looked upon my sinful self.
Yesterday was the Lord's Day, and we rose early to prepare for the long drive to meeting. It was a very warm, still day, and we drove in a long line of vehicles bound for the same destination. It was a long drive under sunny skies, among meadows starred with daisies, not pink-tipped as are our daisies, but pure white with a center of golden yellow. We passed beneath groves of tall trees, beside silver water courses, while the road stretched on and on before us, like a broad riband, until at last we arrived at the little meeting house. Oh! Elizabeth, if you could but see it! A little wooden house, severely plain, with a small grave- yard about it. Under the trees stand the vehicles in which the congregation have journeyed hither, and a few men stand talking seriously near the door.
We alighted and betook ourselves to the meeting-house. I was a little sur- prised at first to see my Uncle seat himself on one side, while Aunt Phoebe mar- shaled us to a seat at the extreme other side of the house. However, as the room filled, I saw that it was so with every family. Men and women were seated separately.
From the time we entered there had been a profound silence throughout the meeting-house. So still had I sat that I became restless and began to look about for the preacher. I soon perceived, however, that no preacher would appear. The silence grew more intense. I grew restless and longed to be off. At length one man arose and, moved by the Spirit, spoke long and earnestly on the vanity of a worldly Life. After he had reseated himself, all became still once more, until universal handshaking marked the close of the meeting, and with aching limbs I hastened to our carriage. I could not but think, as we drove homeward, that the Father would not have made this world so lovely had he not wished us to love beauty and strive to become beautiful in body and in soul.
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