USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Westerly > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 25
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Charlestown > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 25
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Hopkinton > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 25
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Richmond > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 25
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The house has been conducted by Mr. Alvin Peavy, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. A. S. Plimpton. The following notice appeared in the Providence Journal : -
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THE DIXON HOUSE, WESTERLY, R. I.
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PUBLIC-HOUSES.
" The Dixon House, at Westerly, is not only the best hotel in the State, but is one of the very best in the country, one of the best anywhere. It will accommodate 300 persons, as comfortably, as elegantly as any hotel in New York; and in the completeness of its furnishing, it is probably not equaled by any of them. Such a house is, doubtless, too large for the present needs of the enterprising and flourishing village in which it is erected; but the village will grow to it, and the house will aid the growth of the village, and will aid it in the kind of growth that is most desirable. Messrs. Babcock and Moss, who have done for Westerly, what all our rich men together have failed to do for Providence, have entitled themselves to the thanks of their fellow-citizens. The Dixon House will remain a monu- ment of enlightened liberality, which, going beyond the narrow view of the most profitable immediate return for an investment, saw the future wants of the community, the great advantage which it would derive from such an accommodation, and had the courage to provide it. It will bring to Westerly, every summer, people of wealth and leisure, and of that class whose presence is always desirable, and always contributes to the substantial benefit of a community. And as soon as its facilities and attractions become known, it will be sure of as many guests, in the watering season, as its ele- gant and spacious rooms can accommodate."
Westerly has now a wide reputation for the attractions of her sea-shore, where annually even thousands flock in pursuit of health and pleasure. For ocean scenery, for bathing, for fishing, for quiet, for health, Watch Hill has no superior on our coast. The large hotels now open here are, the Watch Hill House, the Atlantic House, the Plimpton House, the Ocean House, the Narragansett House, the Larkin House, and the Bay View House.
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CHAPTER XLIII.
ACADEMIES.
IN a preceding chapter some mention was made of the common schools and school-houses of the town. We now present a brief record of the schools of a higher grade.
Through the public spirit and sacrifices of a number of citizens, a small academy building was erected in 1814, on the knoll in the centre of the village of Westerly.
The first teacher in this edifice was Mr. Charles P. Otis, who served with remarkable success from 1814 to 1824, and of whom we gave some record in our chapter on the Union Meeting-house. He was followed by Isaac Morrell (author of a grammar), Sands Cole, Ebenezer Denison, Elias Palmer, Tideman H. Gorton, Mrs. M. F. Frost.
By the liberality of a company of citizens, who became incor- porated, a second institution, called the Pawcatuck Academy, was erected in 1837. This building was constantly occupied, some- times by different grades of the public schools, and sometimes by private select schools, of much merit. Select schools have also been opened, at different times, in halls and private dwellings. The teachers in the Pawcatuck Academy, as remembered, have been .C. A. Johnson, Solomon Carpenter (afterwards missionary to China), John E. Goodwin (since Speaker in the House of Repre- sentatives, Massachusetts), Phineas M. Randall, S. N. Stratton, A. J. Foster, William Woodbridge, Samuel G. Stone.
At present a large and commodious grammar school building has been erected on School Street, by authority of School District No. 1. The schools in the district are graded, and this new house contains a High School. The district has now two school-buildings, the one on School Street and one on Pleasant Street.
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THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING,
WESTERLY, R. I.
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CHAPTER XLIV.
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AMUSEMENTS.
ALIKE in savage and in civilized society, we find in mankind a natural desire for playful recreations and occasional amusements. The passion, sometimes partly suppressed, but more frequently carried to the extreme of indulgence, manifests itself always accord- ing to the character and culture of a people. In the plays and amusements of a nation, a thoughtful philosopher may read, as in a mirror, the nation's life. A dull and nerveless people, or a people of extreme and morbid conscientiousness, may frown upon hilarities and playful relaxations, but a healthy, cultured, and prospered race must find exercise for the whole circle of human impulses and desires. Man is the only animal that can laugh.
The first yeomen of New England, constantly engaged in sub- duing the forests and vanquishing wild beasts, on account of the romance of their surroundings and the variety of their toils, felt but little inclination, as they had but little necessity, to devote any of their time to mere amusements. Their social enjoyments consisted chiefly in visiting their distant neighbors, in conversing upon the great and novel events of their times, and in assembling for desired worship.
As the planters multiplied, and came into greater proximity as families, and the demands of toil were less exacting, other and varied forms of social enjoyment were gradually introduced. Be- sides the merry-making of holidays, bush-cuttings, house-raisings, . huskings, wall bees, spinning bees, quiltings, and friendly parties came into vogue, and interested specially the young. In most of these engagements labor was the dignified usher of enjoyment ; the utilitarian introduced the social and hilarious. As many as seventy rods of stone-wall were laid in a single afternoon by a wall bce. The women meantime, in-doors, were knitting and waiting for the evening enjoyments ; whether they talked at all the annalist will leave to the imagination.
Weddings were always occasions of gladness, and were accom- panied by innocent indulgences of sport and general hilarity ; tricks and jokes were born of wit and wine ; nor was it at always deemed
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sinful to close the scene with song and dance. The regular meet- ings, and especially the elections, of the "train bands," or colonial militia, were made a kind of holiday, and were largely given to public entertainment. Such as were elected to commissions were always expected to "treat " their comrades, and to distribute the cheering beverage as well to the applauding spectators.
Near the middle of the last century, the eastern part of Westerly, being a part of the famous Narragansett country, was interested in raising and training horses, particularly the celebrated Narragansett pacers. Naturally, therefore, the large and ambitious farmers indulged somewhat in the excitement of horse-racing; a plumed hat was his who owned the swiftest pacer. On these swift-footed beasts then rested the rank and honors now held by telegraphs, expresses, and locomotives. The fame of the Narragansett pacers went over all the colonies.
Soon after the opening of the present century, the village of Pawcatuck boasted of its popular race-course on what was then the farm of Mr. Luke Palmer. The tracks, for there were two, side by side, were eighty rods long, extending from West Broad Street, nearly paralled with the present Mechanic Street, to the point where the sand knoll mects the river bank. This course was for running horses, not for pacers. Hundreds would here assemble to witness the races ; sometimes the running would continue for a number of days. As might have been expected, these coarse sports consumed rum, money, time, and character. Some traces of the old tracks still remain.
Hunting held a prominent place and rank among the people till the close of the last century. Among the first settlers, hounds and horns and heavy English muskets were the defense of their homes. The trophies of the sturdy yoemen were bears, wolves, moose, deer, and foxes. A splendid set of moose horns or antlers still hang in the house once occupied by King Tom, in Charlestown.
On the disappearance of the wild beasts, and the decline of the early military spirit, and the increase of wealth and population, recreations and amusements assumed new forms. Fishing was an imperfect substitute for hunting; the Pawcatuck was never very prolific of clam-bakes, and its narrow, tortuous channel and sickle- shaped bay never encouraged boat-racing by canvas.
Annual reviews of regiments and brigades were formerly marked occasions, though they gradually introduced most unhappy customs of drinking ; military treats and dinners had a tendency to vitiate the habits of young men.
The parties and hilarious excursions of the present century finally became sources of mental dissipation and moral corruption, and at last necessitated the protest of all lovers of good order and stain- less character. Intemperance for a time came in like a devastating
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wave; whole estates were sometimes squandered at groceries and taverns. The crying needs of the time gave birth to the noble tein- perance reform. Of the too common type of recreations and amusements, we may give an idea by relating the story of a certain
FOOT-RACE.
Within the memory of " the oldest inhabitant," a company of gentlemen, of kindred spirits, chiefly citizens of Westerly, visited their friend, the old and faithful light-keeper at Watch Hill, to enjoy a day of recreation, and breathe the bracing airs of the sea. "Mine host " spread his board with his broad, characteristic hospitality. The desired reunion was marked with every possible feature of the social, agreeable, and generous. In accordance with the general cus- tom of the times, full provision had been made for anticipated thirsts incident to a summer day and hearty companionship. Stories of the olden time, anecdotes, and the free recital of personal adventures were duly indorsed with toasts and pledges of health. What with the hearty viands, the spicy sentiments, and the oft-recurring attacks of thirst, on a day so favorable to good-will, rendered the occasion eminently spirited. For the sake of variety and the pre- vention of possible surfeit, it was finally proposed that the company should test the muscular abilities, of which some had largely boasted, by a foot-race on the beach. In age, most of the gentlemen had scored fifty, some much more; but it was argued, " Age is nothing; blood will tell." True, the chosen arena was soft and yielding to the feet ; but this would only the better test the strength and skill of the runners, and the disadvantage, whatever it might be, would act equally upon all. The course being agreed upon, the time-keeper and scorer took their stands. After suitable exercises in rhetoric, and a duplication of exhilarants, common to like occasions, the racers straightened themselves for the outset. It was difficult to con- form the physical to the ideal. Practice diverged from theory. The material man was less buoyant than the spiritual, though it was evident that the flesh was subject to the spirit. As with voyagers on the sea, while the rules of navigation deal with the direct lines, directness is unattainable in practice on account of the flowing ele- ments ; so to the toiling runners, observations and reckonings were jostled, for the wavy motions of the ocean seemed to have been sympathetically transferred to the beach. Moreover, the deceitful sand betrayed the ardent feet ; and its varying softness, with other too evident causes, occasioned zigzags and disturbing curves in the runners' courses. The race was exciting. Some utterly failed in the struggle, despairing of the goal. Some averred that they were tripped by the wavy sand or by concealed kelp. These accidents of the strife were followed by emphatic protests and objurgations none too religious. Of the few who persevered to the end, the scorer
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awarded the victory to Major I. Champlin, who, though counting nigh sixty years, and weighing about two hundred pounds, had a physique well fitted by habit for such spirited trials. The protracted affair finally closed with a general and hearty treat befitting the occa- . sion, and which effectually put to silence and obliterated all envies and jealousies that rivalry had provoked on the arena.
A stranger, spending a few days at Watch Hill for the sake of quiet and the sea-breezes, was a witness of the race, and, having a vein for the humorous, penned a carefully written article on the contest for the New York Herald. To give the account proper zest, he represented the major's time as a number of seconds less than any in which the distance named had ever been run. As was intended, the article attracted the attention of the sporting world. In a few weeks the major, who kept a little store in the village, on East Broad Street, received a call from a prim, polite man, who inquired, " Can you tell me where Major Champlin lives ?" The merchant replied, " I suppose I am the man, sir."
" Well, sir, happy to meet you; came on purpose to form your acquaintance ; read the remarkable account of you in the New York IIerald."
"Indeed ; well, sir, I am pleased to see you. Won't you take something to drink ? "
" Yes, sir, thank you; but, sir, I am a professional runner, and have come on to measure distances with you, at your pleasure."
" Ah!" said the major; "well, let us talk the matter over a little."
Now, the major was alike courteous and sagacious, and never liked to spoil a good thing. He pleasantly and shrewdly met the issue.
" Just now," said he, "I am necessarily engaged in my store ; it would n't do to leave it. And to run well, you know, one must diet and practice a little beforehand. I attribute the success awarded to me in the Herald to these qualifying antecedents. Under the circum- stances, therefore, I see but one way of meeting your expectations satisfactorily, and to the reputation of us both. There, sir, is my time, given in the paper : now you can run against that ; when you beat it, I will make another trial."
It is needless to add that the major retained his laurels.
Among the popular athletes of this region should be mentioned Capt. Samuel Thompson, the hospitable keeper of the inn at the west end of the bridge. A survivor of the old days tells us that Captain Thompson, in his prime, could, and did, before many spec- tators, place nine empty hogsheads, with one head out, in a line, upon the head ends, and beginning at the end of the row, leaped into the first, then into the second, then into the third, and so on through the whole nine.
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THE LEGAL POTATO HOLE.
Near the beginning of the present century, a farmer, of broken fortunes, came into Westerly, and hired certain lands for cultivation, giving a proportion of the products for the use of the lands. He planted potatoes, and secured an unusual crop. Not having store- room of his own, he obtained consent of a land-holder, and deposited his share of the potatoes in what the farmers call a " potato hole "; that is, an excavation in the earth into which the potatoes were placed and covered with straw and earth in the form of a pyramid. On going out of the town into Connecticut, one of his creditors seized the opportunity, procured a writ, and attached the "potato hole." Whereupon another creditor, who was studying how to secure his dues, consulted with John Cross, Esq., and inquired as to what could be done. The shrewdness of the legal profession at once suggested an open door. Mr. Cross made the proposition, and proceeded to carry it into effect. A writ was issued by which an attachment was made, " not upon the 'potato hole,' but upon the 'potatoes' in the ' potato hole,'" specifying that the " potato hole " should be left upon the land where it was found. The plan was a success ; and the first creditor came upon the stage only to find a few potatoes in his hill.
BEVERAGE LEVY.
About two generations back in the history of this town there pre- vailed in the village a singular custom relative to new articles of gentlemen's wearing apparel. For the promotion of social cheer, it was a usage, and a virtual law, that a gentleman, on obtaining a nice hat, or pair of boots, or overcoat, should pay to the maker or merchant, in addition to the proper price of the article, a sum, more or less according to circumstances, to furnish a treat to all per- sons present or within ready call, for which the maker or trader furnished a certificate signed by himself and all present, to prevent any future levy. This certificate was called the " certificate of beverages." In case such certificate was not obtained, the owner of the new apparel, on appearing in public, was liable to a levy at the discretion of his friends, who, if they suspected that he had no certificate, would proceed to offer bids upon the article ; one offer- ing, say, a pint of gin ; another, a bowl of punch ; another, a quart of West India, and so on, at their pleasure, according to their faith that no certificate could be produced. If the wearer of the new apparel could not furnish the certificate, he must pay the whole bids for the benefit of the crowd; if, however, he presented a cer- tificate duly signed, the bidders must each foot his own bill for the cheer of the company.
When John Cross, Esq., of mnuch legal eminence in town, and of generous social rank, obtained a fine new overcoat, he made his first public appearance in his new robe at the public-house kept by
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Mr. Paul Rhodes. The thoughts of his cheerful friends present were immediately turned to the matter of the "certificate of bever- ages." Mr. Cross, on walking around the bar-room, chanced to take from his pocket his handkerchief, in which act a paper was seen to slip from the pocket to the floor. A sharp observer slyly secured the paper, and found it to be a "certificate of beverages." This fact was soon cautiously, joyfully communicated to the friends whose lips were waiting for good cheer. One after another they soon began to approach Mr. Cross, and, stroking the nap of his coat, offered their bids, all naming unusually high bids. Mr. Cross seemed pleased with the sincerity and measure of their faith in his coat, and exhorted them to bid on, and so insure a good time. When the generous bids were all in, Mr. Cross arose and felt in his pocket from which he had taken his handkerchief. He searched earnestly and thoroughly, but no paper was to be found. He mani- fested some solicitude and agitation. His friends broke into gener- ous and boisterous laughter. The call was raised and repeated with gleeful emphasis, "Beverages ! beverages !" " Certificate! certifi- cate !" Meanwhile Mr. Cross was busy in the thorough examination of his pockets. Finally, seizing a little lull in the gale of merriment, he drew out his pocket-book, and opening it with much composure, said, "Gentlemen, the paper that you found upon the floor was my ' certificate of beverages,' but it was only a copy of the original ; here, gentlemen, you have the original paper." The last act in the scene can be imagined.
Each generation has its popular pastimes. Of late the young men of our country have awakened a very warm enthusiasm in forming boat-clubs, and indulging occasionally in rowing matches. The young men of Westerly - athlete clerks and strong-armed mechanics - have had their two organizations of this kind, and their long, light, beautiful boats.
There exists also at present a fashion, which is well-nigh a fever, of ball-playing. Every village has its base-ball club. Westerly did boast of three such companies, duly officered, equipped, and trained, -- the Niantics, the Pawcatuchs, and the Emmets. Among these the spirit of rivalry ran high and constant; the smooth lands around the town were the arenas where they contended for victory, and where crowds of people resorted to witness the contests. A club also existed in White Rock Village. The young ladies, meanwhile, with the less robust and muscular of the male sex, may be seen on many a lawn and quiet house lot, engaged in the popular game of croquet. This amusement, as well as the ball-playing, has been reduced to a sort of science, calling into use text-books, lessons, and uinpires.
Westerly has never given its moral sanction to card-playing or
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billiards. An attempt to open a billiard saloon in 1866 was promptly put down by the public voice ; but in 1867, tables were licensed on the Stonington side. Picnics, secular and religious (con- nected with Sabbath schools), have been in vogue for a generation. Parties visit all localities, but especially Noyes's Beach, Watch Hill, Osbrook Grove, and Lantern Hill.
The town is annually visited by circuses, attended by musicians, singers, and clowns, always drawing around them the lower classes of society, and, while ministering to the amusements of the hour, leaving a train of low and dissipating memories.
Since the opening of public halls in town, various wandering companies, bands, troupes, mostly comic and vulgarly theatrical, are often flaunting their handbills in the streets, and seducing vulgar crowds to attend on their mimicries. Usually the characters of the actors comport with the scenes. Such coarse buffoonery, set off by stale songs and monkey dances, only degrades and corrupts the spectators. Yet every populous town, in these modern times, is afflicted with these imported nuisances under the cloak of amuse- ments.
For some years past the various Sabbath schools in town have had a pleasant and profitable custom of observing Christmas Eve or Christmas evening, decorating their places of meeting, enjoying songs, addresses, and exhibitions of Santa Claus, closing with refreshments and the distribution of gifts. Verily, Puritanism has smoothed its brow in reference to Christmas.
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CHAPTER XLV.
SWINDLES AND SWINDLERS.
UNDER this head we may appropriately mention the experiences and losses of the town from the arts of certain vagrant deceivers. Though towards some of these assailants of good sense and good morals, a few people, of a tender sort, have felt a kind of charity, as if they were conscientious, or at least deluded, we cannot, all things considered, regard them in any other light than cunning per- formers, having in view only their own pecuniary advantage. Some of them certainly were knaves of the most approved school. A remembrance of their operations should be a warning to the people against kindred pretenders in the future.
NEVINS & ROLLINS.
In 1845 a couple of mountebanks, a Mr. Nevins and a Miss Rol- lins, came into the town, and stopped at Mr. Leonard's hotel for about five months to serve the people in the mysteries of the healing art. Miss Rollins interpreted all the symptoms of human ills, real and imaginary, more particularly the latter, by her divine power of spiritual sight while in a mesmeric state. Mr. Nevins stood ready to meet the revealed needs and wants of the patients by suitable medicines. Of course they found patrons, and achieved the end of their supernatural mission, by replenishing their conscienceless pockets. Miss Rollins was the unfortunate dupe of Nevins, and went to her grave a few years after this.
DE BONNEVILLE.
Among the quackeries and delusions in the healing art, brief record may be made of the professed medical mission of a woman known as "Madam De Bonneville," who entered the town near 1849, and remained about four years. For a time she was assisted in her art by her husband. With suavity of manners, volubility of tongue, ease of address, large discernment of human nature, and great shrewdness of purpose, she won the confidence of many intelligent and deserving families. From these, she wisely kept concealed the
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arts she practiced with the vulgar and credulous. Like the ancient priestesses, she pretended to interpret and divine the phases of life's horoscope. She magnetized bottles of water, breathed on weak limbs, practiced mesmerism upon such as would submit to her bland- ishments and power. She was professedly skilled, withal, in the mys- teries of phrenology. By her thorough knowledge of human weak- nesses, she executed well-nigh a magical power. Scarcely any person ever more successfully duped the people. Her husband, in his prac- tice of mesinerism, was finally convicted, at least in public opinion, in Providence, of such unnamable immoralities that he left the State, and finally the country. On her way to California, to bless the dwellers by the Golden Gate, Madam De Bonneville, unable to con- quer a tropical fever, died at Panama.
MANCHESTERS.
Of kindred practice to Nevins & Rollins, a Mr. and Mrs. Man- chester, of Providence, have visited the town perhaps four times since 1840, making their last visit near 1860. They operated by the sublime mysteries of clairvoyance. Mrs. Manchester read, and Mr. Manchester weighed and measured the holy ingredients for human healing. Whatever they did not know, they certainly did know how to hoodwink the credulous and line their own purses. The uninformed and unsuspecting ones flocked around the pretenders, and swallowed their words and nostrums. As in similar instances, the more monstrous the statements and revelations, the more readily they were accepted.
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