Skip to main content

Full text of "Fitchburg, Massachusetts, past and present"

See other formats


Gc 

974.402 
F555e 
1242345 


GENEALOGY  COLLATION 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  01095  5182 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Allen  County  Public  Library  Genealogy  Center 


http://www.archive.org/details/fitchburgmassachOOinemer 


^^^s 


ALVAH   CROCKER. 


(L 


RlTGHBaRfi, 


MASSACHUSETTS 


PasTa^b  Present 


BY  WILLIAM  A.  EMERSON 

AUTHOR   OF    EMERSON'S    HAND-BOOK  OF    WOOD    ENGRAVING, 

AND    HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN  OF  DOUGLAS, 

MASS  A  CHUSE  TTS. 


ILLUSTRATED 


FITCHBURG: 

TRESS   OF   BLAKCHARD   &  I'.UOWX 

1SS7. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Descriptive.  Location — Situation  and  extent — Boundaries — Attractive 
features — Natural  and  other  advantages — Churches  and  schools — 
Fitchburg  as  a  railroad  center.  .....  17-21 

CHAPTER    II. 

Fitchburg  of  the  Past.  Its  appearance  in  1S30 — In  1835 — Main  street 
in  1S00 — Description  of  the  town  in  1764 — Early  settlers — Capture 
of  the  Fitch  family  by  the  Indians — Their  ransom — Question  of  the 
town  being  named  for  John  Fitch  settled — Earliest  Indian  episode — 
Mrs.  Rowlandson's  account.  .....  22-29 

CHAPTER    III. 

City  Government.  Administration  of  municipal  affairs — Present  officers 
— Sketches  of  mayors — Sketches  of  present  officers — Police  depart- 
ment— Fire  department — Highway  department — Poor  department — 
List  of  aldermen  and  common  councilmen  from  the  time  the  city 
was  incorporated.       .......  S^S^ 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Educational.  Schools — School  committee — Teachers — High  School  as- 
sociation— Principals  of  the  High  School — Superintendent  of  schools 
— History  of  the  Fitchburg  Public  Library — Description  of  the 
Wallace  Library  and  Art  Building.  ....  59—75 

CHAPTER    V. 

Professional.     Sketches    of    Fitchburg    doctors,    past    and     present — 

Sketches  of  present  lawyers — Medical  organizations.  .  .         76-96 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Literary  and  Artistic.     Sketches  of  Fitchburg  authors  and  artists.  97-1  iS 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Military.  History  of  the  Fitchburg  Fusiliers — Washington  Guards — 
Sixth  Regiment  Infantry,  M.  V.  M. — Fitchburg  in  the  Rebellion — 
Incidents — In  rebel  prisons — Close  of  the  war — Soldiers'  Monu- 
ment. .  .  .  .  .  •  ■  1 19-152 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

Organizations.  Fitchburg  Military  Band — Edwin  V.  Sumner  Post  19, 
G.  A.  R. — E.  V.  Sumner  Relief  Corps,  No.  1 — Clark  S.  Simonds 
Camp,  No.  28,  S.  of  V. — E.  V.  Sumner  Building  Association — 
Sketches  of  past  commanders  Post  19,  and  department  commanders 
— Taylor  Union,  No.  1 — Secret  and  benevolent  societies — Other 
orders — Temperance  societies — Worcester  North  Agricultural  So- 
ciety—W.  C.  T.  U  —  Y.  M.  C.  A.— Benevolent  Union— Agassiz 
Association — Home  for  Old  Ladies — Union  Aid  Hospital — Fitch- 
burg Clubs.  .......  153-180 


XII 


CONTENTS. 


Paper  Making.     Crocke 

wright  and  Falulah  Paper  Mills. 


CHAPTER    IX. 
Burbank    &    Co. — Rodney 


Wallace — Whcel- 


181-19; 


CHAPTER  X. 

Manufacturing.  The  Parkhill,  Cleghorn  and  Orswell  Mills — Fitchburg 
Cotton  Mill— Fitchburg  Duck  Mill — Berwick  and  Baltic  Mills— The 
Wachusett,  Fitchburg  Worsted  and  Star  Worsted  Mills — Shoe 
and  Shoe  Tip  manufacturing — Walter  Heywood  Chair  Manufactur- 
ing Co. — Fitchburg  Carbonized  Stone  and  Pipe  Co. — E.  A.  Good- 
rich Brick  yard.       ....... 


193-205 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Iron  Industries.  Putnam  Machine  Co. — Fitchburg  Machine  Co. — Geo. 
F.  Simonds,  Simonds  Manufacturing  Co.  and  Simonds  Rolling-Ma- 
chine Co. — Fitchburg  Steam  Engine  Co. — C.  H.  Brown  &  Co. — 
Burleigh  Rock  Drill  Co. — R.  A.  Leonard— D.  M.  Dillon— Heywood, 
Wilson  &  Co.'s  Foundry — Rollstone  Iron  Foundry — M.  J.  Perault's 
Iron  Foundry — William  A.  Hardy's  Brass  Foundry — Fitchburg 
Manufacturing  Co. — Other  Fitchburg  inventors  and  machinery 
manufacturers.         ....... 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Commercial.  National  Banks  and  Savings  Institutions  of  Fitchburg — 
Post-Office — Insurance  Companies — Fitchburg  Gas  Co. — Wachusett 
Electric  Eight  Co. — Fitchburg  Street  Railway  Co. — Board  of  Trade 
— Grain  Mills — Opera  House — Business  houses. 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

Journalism  in  Fitchrurg.  A  history  of  newspapers  and  magazines 
that  have  been  published  in  Fitchburg.    .... 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Biographical.  Sketch  of  Ivers  Phillips — Stephen  Sheplev — Goldsmith 
F.  Bailey— C.  H.  B.  Snow— L.  II.  Bradford— Charles  A.  Priest. 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Churches  and  Homes.  History  of  Fitchburg  churches  and  sketches  of 
their  pastors — Homes  of  Fitchburg.         .... 


206-2: 


!2S-259 


260-279 


:So-2S9 


290-31: 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 
portraits. 


Alvah  Crocker. 

Fron 

tispiece 

Amasa  Norcross, 

opposite 

page  31 

Eugene  T.  Miles, 

" 

"    32 

Hiram  A.  Blood, 

" 

"     34 

David  H.  Merriam, 

" 

"     36 

William  H.  Vose, 

it 

"     36 

Eli  Culley, 

" 

"     36 

Alonzo  Davis, 

" 

"     36 

Frederick  Fosdick, 

" 

"     39 

Frank  A.  Wood, 

" 

"     40 

David  M.  Dillon, 

(1 

"     40 

John  Parkhill, 

" 

"     40 

James  F.  D.  <  Garfield, 

" 

"     40 

Henry  M.  Choate, 

" 

"     40 

Horace  M.  Kendall, 

Henry  A.  Willis, 

Henrv  Jackson,  " 

Walter  A.  Davis,  " 

Chas.  H.  D.  Stockbridge,  " 

John  D.  Kielty,  " 

Edward  P.  Pierce,  " 

Henry  F.  Rockwell, 

John  E.  Kellogg,  " 

David  W.  Tinsley,  " 

S.  S.  Holton, 

John  J.  Sheehan,  " 

Aaron  F.  Whitney,  " 

Mrs.  Caroline  A.  Mason,   " 


opposite  page  40 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 

5- 
52 
5- 
52 
52 
52 
9S 


PORTRAITS. 


XIII 


Col.  A.J.  H.  Duganne,  opposite  page 

Col.  Henry  G.  Greene,  " 

Surgeon  Chas.  H.  Rice,  " 

Maj.  Thos.  H.  Shea, 

Capt.  Tristram  W.  Sheldon, 

ist  Lieut.  Walter  F.  Page, 

2d  Lieut.  Frank  A.  Greer, 

Col.  Edwin  Upton,  " 

Capt.  John  B.  Proctor,  " 

Capt.  J.  H.  Kirbv, 

Rev.  G.  R.  W.  Scott,  D.D., 

Fitchburg  Military  Band, 

Charles  H.  Foss,  " 

T.  L.  Barker, 

Walter  A.  Eames,  " 

R.  ().  Houghton, 

Edward  B.  Macy,  " 

S.  B.  Farmer,  " 

Geo.  E.  Goodrich,  " 

Sidney  Sibley,  " 

John  F.  Bruce,  " 

James  Cuthbert,  " 

Ira  G.  Wilkins, 

Edward  P.  Loring,  " 

John  W.  Kimball, 

Daniel  C.  Putnam,  " 

J.  A.  Battles,  " 

Dr.  A.  W.  Sidney,  " 

Rodney  Wallace,  " 

E.  M.  Dickinson,  " 
Walter  Hey  wood,  " 
Salmon  W.  Putnam,  " 
George  F.  Simonds,  " 
C.  H.  Brown,  " 
C.  H.  Brown,  Jr.,  " 

F.  E.  Brown,  " 
J.  F.  Brown, 

Charles  Burleigh,  " 

Ebenezer  Torrey,  " 

Henry  Allison,  " 

O.  H.  Lawrence,  " 


page  1 06 

Fred  A.  Currier,         opposite  pi 

ige  239 

"     127 

Albert  S.  Pierce,              "             ' 

'       240 

"     127 

George  M.  Bowker,         "             ' 

'       240 

"     127 

Patrick  B.  Purtill,             " 

'       240 

"     127 

Charles  E.  Wallace,        " 

'       240 

"     127 

John  F.  Shea,                    "              ' 

'       240 

"     127 

Eugene  Forest,                 " 

'       240 

■'     127 

Charles  F.  Lamb,             "             ' 

'       240 

«     127 

Frank  J.  Dwyer,               "             ' 

'       240 

127 

Festus  C.  Currier,           "             ' 

'       244 

"     128 

Dr.  George  Jewett,          "             ' 

'       246 

"     154 

Joseph  dishing,               "             ' 

'       24S 

«     160 

Henry  A.  Goodrich,         "             ' 

'       250 

"     160 

L.  J.  Brown,                       "             ' 

'       253 

"     160 

Col.  Ivers  Phillips,          "             ' 

'       280 

"     160 

Nathaniel  Wood,             "             ' 

<       2S6 

"     160 

Goldsmith  F.  Bailey,      "             ' 

'       286 

"     160 

Stephen  Shepley,              "             ' 

'       286 

"     160 

Dr.  Peter  B.  Snow,          "             ' 

2S6 

"     160 

Dr.  Alfred  Hitchcock,    "             ' 

'       2S6 

"     160 

Rev.  George  Trask,        "             ' 

'       286 

"     160 

C.  H.  B.  Snow,                "             ' 

'       286 

"     160 

L.  H.  Bradford, 

'       286 

"     160 

Charles  Mason,                "             ' 

'       286 

"     167 

John  Lowe,                        "             ' 

'       2S6 

"     168 

George  Keed,                   "             ' 

'       2S6 

"     172 

Samuel  Burnap,               "             ' 

'       2S6 

«     176 

Charles  A.  Priest,           " 

'       2S8 

"     1 88 

Rev.  W.  H.  Piersor.,       " 

'       294 

"     201 

Rev.  S.  L.  Blake,  D.  D.,  " 

'       294 

"     202 

Rev.  Frank  Rector,         "             ' 

'       294 

"     206 

Rev.  W.  W.  Colburn,     " 

'       294 

"     213 

Rev.  P.  J.  Garrigan,        "             ' 

'       294 

"     219 

Rev.  F.  O.  Hall, 

'       294 

"     219 

Rev.  H.  L.  Jones,            "             ' 

'       294 

"     219 

Rev.  C.  S.  Brooks,          "             ' 

'       294 

"     219 

Rev.  F.  T.  Pomerov,       "             ' 

'       294 

"     220 

Rev.  W.  W.  Baldwin,     " 

'       294 

"     229 

Rev.  J.  L.  Tarpev,           "            ' 

'       294 

"     230 

Rev.  C.  Beaudoin,           "             ' 

'       294 

"     232 

VIEWS. 


Residence  of  O.  H.  Lawrence, 

The  Boulder,  Rollstone  Hill, 

Monoosnoc  Brook, 

Residence  of  Rodney  Wallace, 

Residence  of  James  Phillips,  Jr., 

Union  Passenger  Depot, 

Map  of  Fitchburg  in  1830, 

Location  of  the  four  roads, 

Garrison  of  David  Page, 

Reuben  Gibson  House, 

Joseph  Spofford  House, 

Fitch  Monument,  Ashby,     . 

Inscription  on  the  Fitch  Monument, 

Elevation  of  City  Water  Works, 

Old  Academy  Building, 

High  street  High  and  Grammar  Schools, 


17 
18 
18 
19 
19 
20 

23 

25 
25 
26 
26 

27 
27 

51 
62 

63 


XIV 


VIEWS. 


Wallace  Library  and  Art  Building, 

Interiors,  Wallace  Library  and  Art  Building, 

Group  of  Relics,  .... 

Residence  of  Charles  T.  Crocker,  . 

Residence  of  Mrs.  Salmon  W.  Putnam, 

Residence  of  Charles  Mason, 

Badge  of  Co.  F,  25th  Regiment, 

The  Court  House,    ..... 

Monument  Square,  .... 

Christ  Church,  ..... 

Grand  Army  Badge,        .... 

Grand  Army  Cottage,  .... 

Home  for  Old  Ladies,    .... 

Office  of  Crocker,  Burbank  cS:  Co., 

Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.'s  Brick  Mill, 

Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.'s  Stone  Mill, 

Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.'s  Hanna  Mill, 

Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.'s  Lyon  &  Whitney  Mill, 

Fitchburg  Paper  Co.'s  Mills,     . 

Parkhill  Manufacturing  Co.'s  Mills,  Circle  street, 

Parkhill  Manufacturing  Co.'s  Mills,  Factory  Square, 

Cleghorn  Mills,  .... 

Orswell  Mills,      ..... 

Fitchburg  Worsted  Co.'s  Mill, 

E.  M.  Dickinson's  Shoe  Factory, 

Works  of  Putnam  Machine  Co., 

Works  of  Fitchburg  Machine  Co., 

Works  of  Simonds  Manufacturing  Co., 

Works  of  C.  H.  Brown  &  Co., 

Rollstone  Iron  Foundry, 

Crocker  Block,    ..... 

Fitchburg  Savings  Bank  Block, 

Board  of  Trade  Seal,      .... 

Cushing  Mill,  .... 

Washburn  &  Woodward's  Mill, 

Interior  of  H.  A.  Goodrich  &  Co.'s  Store, 

Stiles'  Block,       ..... 

L.  J.  Brown  Block,    .... 

Webber's  Block,  .... 

Proctor's  Block,        .... 

Emory's  Block,    .  ... 

Fitchburg  Hotel  and  Printing  Office, 

Sentinel  Building,  .... 

First  Baptist  Church,  , 

New  Methodist  Church, 

New  Universalist  Church,  . 

Rollstone  Congregational  Church, 

Residence  of  Mrs.  Eugene  T.  Miles, 

Residence  of  John  Parkhill,  (Vose  estate,) 

J.  Holland's  Residence,  1S40, 

Residence  of  Henry  A.  Goodrich, 

Residence  of  Dr.  Thomas  Palmer, 

Residence  of  Henry  Allison,     . 

Residence  of  Dr.  A.  W.  Sidney, 

Residence  of  Dr.  Charles  H.  Rice, 

Cottage  of  E.  E.  Howard,    . 

Twin  Cottages,  Charles  street, 


09 

70 

72 

90 

90 

100 

L14 

151 

IS' 

I5£ 
156 

158 

177 
182 


185 
186 
191 
194 

195 
196 
197 
199 
200 
208 
21 1 
214 
21S 
224 
231 

233 
246 
248 
248 
251 
252 
254 
257 

259 
259 
261 
269 

293 
296 

299 
302 
306 
306 

3°7 
308 

3°9 
310 
310 
310 
3" 
3" 


TO  THE  READER. 


It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  mention  of  present  time 
refers  to  the  fall  of  1887,  at  which  time  the  manuscript  was 
revised  and  ready  for  publication. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  volume  the  compiler  has  relied 
to  some  extent  upon  previous  publications,  and  in  addition  to 
the  acknowledgment  of  their  use  would  mention  the  Fitch- 
burg  Sentinel,  the  files  of  which  have  furnished,  editorially 
or  otherwise,  what  are  believed  to  be  reliable  and  impartial 
statements  relating  to  the  varied  interests  of  the  city  and  its 
representative  men.  His  labor  has  been  also  very  materi- 
ally lightened  by  the  cheerful  and  ready  assistance  of  per- 
sonal friends,  and  by  having  free  access  to  the  Public  Li- 
brary at  all  times,  through  the  kindness  of  the  librarian, 
P.  C.  Rice,  and  his  assistants.  In  this  connection  he  would 
also  refer  with  pleasure  to  Edmund  Barton,  librarian  of  the 
American  Antiquarian  Society,  Worcester  ;  to  James  F.  D. 
Garfield,  who  furnished  the  chapter  on  journalism  entire;  and 
to  Lewis  H.  Bradford,  Henry  A.  Willis,  Joseph  G.  Edgerly, 
Frederick  A.  Currier,  Eben  Bailey  and  John  W.  Kimball, 
who  have  in  various  ways  rendered  him  most  valuable  ser- 
vice. 

To  these  and  all  others  who  have  in  any  way  contributed 
to  the  advancement  of  the  work,  he  would  tender  his  grate- 
ful acknowledgments,  and  in  conclusion  would  say  that  an 
honest  effort  has  been  made  to  obtain  information  from  au- 
thentic sources,  and  to  give  without  partiality  or  favoritism 
the  part  that  each  in  his  own  way  and  jn  his  own  special 
department  has  contributed  to  the  general  prosperity  and 
wealth  of  the  community. 


h- 

LLi 
UJ 

cc 

\- 

GO 

cc 

Ul 


UJ 

u 


UJ 

cc 


X 

o 
u. 
o 

UJ 

o 


CO 

UJ 

cc 


CHAPTER  I. 


DESCRIPTIVE. 


HE  city  of  Fitchburg  is  situated  in  the 
north-eastern  part  ot  Worcester  county, 
on  a  branch  of  the  Nashua  River  and  at 
the  junction  of  the  Fitchburg,  Cheshire, 
Fitchburg"  &  Worcester,  and  Old  Colony 
Railroads.  It  is  about  forty-seven  miles 
north-west  from  Boston,  twenty-four  north 
from  Worcester,  and  thirty  west  from 
Lowell.  The  township  is  in  form  almost  a  parallelogram, 
being  about  six  and  one-half  miles  long  by  four  and  one-half 
miles  broad,  and  contains  a  little  less  than  eighteen  thousand 
acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Ashby,  east  by  Lunen- 
burg and  Leominster,  south  by  Leominster,  and  Westminster, 
and  west  by  Westminster  and  Ashburnham. 

The  general  surface  of  the  township  is  extremely  uneven, 
there  are  spurs  of  hills  running  in  all  directions,  seemingly 
thrown  up  at  random  by  the  hand  of  nature,  many  of  which 
are  very  abrupt  and  of  considerable  magnitude.  These  hills 
and  corresponding  valleys  afford  much  picturesque  scenery 
to  the  observer  from  the  highlands. 

The  finest  view  of  the  city  and  surrounding  country  can 
be   obtained    from   the    top  of    "Rollstone,"   a   hill    of    solid 


18 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


granite    rising    three   hundred    feet    above    the    river    to    the 

south-west ;  on  the  very  summit 
of  this  hill,  standing  out  in  bold  re- 
j|  lief  against  the  sky,  is  the  boulder, 
a  round  mass  of  rock  forty-five 
feet  in  circumference.  The  view 
from  the  top  of  Rollstone  is  well 
worth  the  trouble  taken  in  making 
the  ascent ;  at  the  feet  of  the 
observer  lies  the  city,  forming  almost  a  semi-circle,  wooded 
hills  arise  on  all  sides,  Wachusett  seven  miles  distant  rears 
its  imposing  pile  in  the  south-west,  while  big  Watatic  over- 
tops its  brethren  in  the  north-west.  Nearly  opposite 
Rollstone  is  Pearl  Hill,  a  very  considerable  elevation,  one 
side  of  which  rises  abruptly  in  the  form  of  a  precipice. 
The  Pearl  Hill  road  furnishes  one  of  the  many  pleasant 
drives  around  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  and  is  thoroughly 
appreciated  by  citizens  and  visitors. 

Whitman's  River  and  Nookagee  Brook  enter  the  town  of 
Fitchburg  from  the  west,  but  soon  unite  and  form  the 
Nashua  River,  which  winds  through  a  rocky  valley,  flanked 
by  steep  and  rugged  eminences,  to  the  city,  and  then  by  a 
southerly  course  leaves  the  city  near  its  south-eastern  corner. 
Monoosnoc  Brook  in  the  southern  borders  of  the  town, 
with  its  cascades  and  falls,  swollen  by  the  spring  rains,  pre- 
sents an  appearance  both 
wild  and  picturesque. 
The  farms  of  Fitchburg 
are  most  of  them  located 
on  the  outlying  hills, 
and  although  there  are 
scarcely  any  meadow 
lands  to  be  found  in  the 
limits  of  the  town,  yet 
there  is  very  little  poor  or 
waste  land.  In  general 
the  soil  is  excellent,  both 
for    tilla<*xj    and    grazing. 


RESIDENCE  OF  RODNEY  WALLACE,   PROSPECT  ST. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JAMES   PHILLIPS,  JR.,   MAIN   ST. 


DESCRIPTIVE.  19 

The  most  level  land  is  alongside  the  Nashua  River,  which 
runs  through  the  thickly  settled  portion  of  the  city,  and 
upon  which  its  principal  manufacturing  establishments  are 
located. 

The  city  is  well  and  compactly  built  on  or  in  the  vicinity 
of  one  principal  street  or  thoroughfare  extending  along  the 
valley  of  the  Nashua  River,  and  called  Main  street.  The 
city  tends  to  increase  along  the  course  of  the  valley  mainly, 
although  now  the  surrounding  slopes  are  fast  becoming  cov- 
ered with  dwellings.  There  are  man}'  handsome  residences 
and  fine  estates  in  and  around  the  city,  a  few  of  which  are 
represented  in  the  concluding  chapter. 

In  the  heart  of  the  city  are  three  parks,  the  upper  and 
lower  commons,  with  their  band  stands  for  evening  concerts 
during  the  summer  months,  and  Monument  Park,  directly 
opposite  the  Wallace  Library  and  Art  Building,  in  the  centre 
of  which  stands  the  handsome  monument  dedicated  to  the 
fallen  heroes  of  the  Rebellion.  In  the  outskirts  of  the  city, 
at  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  horse  railroad,  are  the  fair 
grounds  and  adjacent  land,  recently  bought  by  the  Park 
Company,  to  be  improved  and  beautified  as  a  public  park. 

Fitchburg  is  fortunate  not  only  in  natural  location  and 
surroundings,  but  is  kept  inviting  and  healthy.  Its  streets 
are  well  lined  with  shade-trees,  the  water  supply  is  pure  and 
abundant,  the  police  force  prompt  and  efficient  in  enforcing 
the  laws  under  a  prohibitory  city  government,  and  the  fire 
department  thoroughly  organized,  and  supplemented  by  the 
fire  alarm  telegraph  and  telephone  furnish  protection  to 
property.  The  streets  are  well  lighted  with  electric  lights 
and  gas.  The  letter-carrier  system  is  in  operation,  and  con- 
venient means  of  transit  to  the  extreme  limits  of  the  city  is 
furnished  by  the  street  railway.  The  churches  and  schools 
are  numerous  and  flourishing. 

In  addition  to  its  local  advantages,  Fitchburg  is  an  im- 
portant railroad  centre,  and  is  located  on  the  Hoosac  Tunnel 
Line.  More  than  fifty  passenger  trains  daily  arrive  at  the 
union  depot,  and  the  traveler  who  desires  to  reach  New 
York,  Boston,  Providence,  Fall  River  and  New  Bedford,  or 


20 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


local  stations  between  the  points,  may  take  trains  almost  any 
hour  in  the  clay.  The  Fitchburg  railroad  runs  eleven  pas- 
senger trains  to  Boston  every  week-day,  and  five  to  Green- 
field and  North  Adams.  Through  trains  leave  Boston  via 
Fitchburg  and  North  Adams  for  Saratoga  Springs,  this  route- 
being  twenty-five  miles  shorter  from  the  "Hub"  to  the 
famous  Spa  than  any  other  route.  Fast  through  trains  are 
also  operated  by  this  line  to  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  and  all 
points  West.       The  Cheshire  Railroad    is  operated  between 


UNION    PASSENGER    DEPOT. 


Fitchburg  and  Bellows  Falls,  Vt.,  and  in  connection  with 
the  Fitchburg  and  Central  Vermont  offers  a  through  line  to 
all  Canadian  points  and  all  points  in  Vermont,  and  is  the 
shortest  line  from  Boston  to  Lake  George.  The  Northern 
Division  of  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  terminates  at  Fitchburg, 
and  furnishes  four  daily  trains  to  Boston  and  also  to  the 
principal  cities  of  Southern  Massachusetts.  The  Fitchburg 
and  Worcester  Division  affords  ample  means  of  communica- 
tion between  the  shire  towns  of  the  county. 


DESCRIPTIVE.  21 

The  union  passenger  station  used  by  all  these  roads  in 
common  is  a  commodious  building"  and  an  ornament  to  the 
city. 

Among  the  other  public  buildings  may  be  mentioned  the 
City  Hall,  a  large  brick  structure,  the  whole  upper  story  of 
which  is  devoted  to  a  hall — the  largest  in  the  city,  the  first 
floor  to  the  city  offices  and  the  basement  story  to  the  .police 
station  ;  the  county  Court  House,  a  stone  building  of  noble 
proportions,  in  the  rear  of  Monument  Square,  built  in  187 1  : 
the  American  House,  opposite  the  depot :  the  Fitchburg 
Hotel  and  Rollstone  House,  are  prominent  landmarks  on 
Main  street :  Whitney's  Opera  House,  the  only  theatre  in 
town  ;  the  county  Jail  in  South  Fitchburg  ;  the  High  School 
on  High  street,  built  in  1S69  ;  the  Post-Office  building,  a 
neat  and  substantial  brick  edifice,  opposite  the  Baptist 
church,  the  post-office  occupying  the  lower  floor  and  the 
upper  portion  devoted  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  Park  Club,  and 
offices.  The  finest  public  edifice  in  the  city  is  the  Wallace 
Library  and  Art  Building,  the  gift  of  Hon.  Rodney  Wal- 
lace to  the  city  ;  it  occupies  one  of  the  best  locations  on  Main 
street,  looking  out  upon  Monument  Park. 

The  principal  business  buildings  are  the  Fitchburg  Sav- 
ings Bank  Block,  Rollstone  National  Bank  Building,  Wa- 
chusett  National  Bank  Building,  the  L.  J.  Brown,  Coggs- 
hall  &  Carpenters,  Belding's,  Dickinson's,  Holgate's, 
Cushing's,  Hatch's,  Crocker's,  Knights  of  Honor,  Wixon's, 
Stiles's,  Emory's  and  Proctor's  all  on  Main  street,  and  Union, 
Goodrich's  and  the  new  dishing  block  (not  yet  completed) 
on  Dav  street. 


CHAPTER  II. 


FITCHBURG    OF    THE    PAST. 


AVING  given  a  verbal  description  of 
the  citv  of  Fitchburg  in  1887,  let  us 
for  a  moment  glance  at  the  village  as 
it  appeared  but  a  little  more  than  fifty 
years  ago.  No  better  idea  of  its 
transformation  since  that  time  can  be 
conveyed  than  that  given  by  Eben 
Bailey  in  his  pen  picture  of  the  village 
of  Fitchburg  in  1830,  which  appeared 
in  the  "Worcester  County  History,"  in 
which  he  says,  "There  were  quite  a 
number  of  houses  on  West  and  Mechanic  streets,  but  not  a 
single  house  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street,  between  a 
point  just  below  the  present  residence  of  Ebenezer  Torrey 
and  the  house  owned  by  Oliver  Fox,  Esquire,  near  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Prichard  streets  (this  latter  not  then 
being  laid  out).  There  were  at  that  time  in  Fitchburg  325 
dwelling  houses,  two  meeting  houses,  one  academy,  twelve 
school  houses,  one  printing  office,  two  woolen  mills,  four 
cotton  mills,  one  scythe  manufactory,  two  paper  mills,  four 
grist  mills,  ten  saw  mills,  three  taverns,  two  hat  manufacto- 
ries, one  bellows  manufactory,  two  tanneries,  two  window- 
blind  manufactories,  and  one  chair  manufactory." 

"In  1835  tne  appearance  of  the  village  was  somewhat  as 
follows  :  We  should  find  a  store  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
River  streets,  and  further  down,  not  far  from  the  common, 
the  Baptist  church,  in  the  basement  of  which  was  a  book- 


FITCHBURG    OF    THE    PAST.  23 

store  and  bindery.  Near  the  head  of  the  common  was  the 
Unitarian  church,  used  for  town  meetings  and  public  pur- 
poses. On  the  corner  of  Main  and  Rollstone  streets  was 
the  orthodox  church,  and  just  below  a  grocery  store,  over 
which  was  the  tailor  shop  of  Daniel  Cross,  while  further 
down  was  the  tavern,  situated  on  the  site  of  the  Fitchburg 
Hotel.  Just  beyond  the  tavern  was  a  store  and  in  the  rear  of 
it  the  printing  office.  On  the  other  side  of  the  street,  where 
the  store  of  E.  M.  Read  now  is,  was  the  store  of  Benjamin 
Snow  &  Son,   and   just   above,  in  the  building  where  is  now 


the  barber  shop  of  D.  W.  Hilton,  was  a  hardware  store. 
Above  was  the  Fitchburg  Bank  and  a  tavern  on  the  present 
site  of  the  Rollstone  House.  There  were  perhaps  forty 
dwellings  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  village.  There  was  a 
cotton  mill  where  is  now  the  mill  of  B.  M.  Pitts  and  the 
woolen  mill  in  Factory  square  was  substantially  the  same  as 
is  the  present  factorv  of  the  Fitchburg  woolen  mill  company 
(recently  sold  to  the  Parkhill  manufacturing  company).  In 
Newton  Lane  there  was  a  cotton  factory.  In  the  Old  City 
there    was  a  store  in  the  rear  of  the  present  store  of  I.   C. 


24  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Wright,  and  there  were  about  a  dozen  dwelling  houses. 
There  was  also  the  stone  cotton  mill  on  Laurel  street,  and  a 
paper  mill  on  Water  street.  There  were  a  number  of  stone 
bridges  and  a  dozen  dams  on  the  Nashua.  There  was  stage 
communication  daily  with  Boston,  Keene  and  Lowell,  and 
stages  left  three  times  a  week  for  Springfield  and  Worcester. 
There  were  mail-stages  which  answered  to  our  express  trains 
and  there  were  also  accommodation  stages  between  Fitch- 
burg  and  Boston.  Those  were  halcyon  days  for  hotel  keep- 
ers and  the  stage  driver  was  a  man  of  importance." 

For  the  following  brief  description  of  Main  street,  as  it 
appeared  in  1800,  we  are  indebted  to  Mrs.  Harriet  Kimball, 
widow  of  Alpheus  Kimball  and  mother  of  A.  P.,  William 
and  Gen.  J.  W.  Kimball,  and  Mrs.  Richard  H.  Torrey. 

Mrs.  Kimball  is  now  in  her  98th  year  and  is  the  oldest 
person  in  Fitchburg,  having  resided  here  about  90  years. 
Her  memory  and  mental  faculties  are  remarkably  well  pre- 
served and  she  remembers  the  location  of  the  buildings  along 
Main  street  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 

She  says,  "at  that  time  the  first  house  on  the  main  road 
west  of  the  Lunenburg  line  was  situated  on  what  is  known 
as  the  Dr.  Palmer  place,  nearly  opposite  the  residence  of  E. 
A.  Goodrich,  on  that  part  of  the  road  which  is  now  called 
Summer  street.  The  next  house  occupied  what  is  now  the 
American  House  corner  and  there  were  no  houses,  now 
standing,  between  that  and  the  Safety  Fund  Bank  (Crocker 
Block).  An  ancient  soap  shop  occupied  the  present  site  of 
Crocker  Block,  and  was  known  as  'Old  Potash.'  West  of 
that  there  were  no  other  buildings  until  near  where  the 
Rollstone  House  now  stands.  The  street  was  unpaved  and 
there  were  no  sidewalks  and  very  little  fence  on  either  side 
of  the  street.'' 

Going  still  further  back  in  the  history  of  the  town  to  the 
time  of  its  incorporation  in  1764,  the  people  subsisted  chiefly 
by  farming,  using  the  crudest  implements  of  husbandry. 
The  population  at  that  time  was  about  250.  The  roads  were 
few  in  number  and  poorly  constructed,  many  of  them  merely 
bridle  paths,  and  most  of  the  travel  was  on  horseback.     The 


FITCIIIiURG    OF    THE    PAST. 


25 


Nashua   river   was  considered    a   curse  to  the   place,  and   the 
valley    through    which    it    run    was    shunned    by    the    early 

settlers.  The  art  of  construct- 
ing durable  bridges  was  not 
understood  in  those  days,  and  it 
was  generally  thought  that 
Fitchburg  could  never  be  a 
nourishing  place  on  account  of 
the  destructive  freshets  and  con- 
sequent expense  of  maintaining 
and  keeping  in  repair  the  roads 
and  bridges.  The  accompany- 
ing engraving  is  given,  showing 
the  location  of  the  four  principal 
streets  leading  through  the  town 
at  that  time.  Following  still 
further  back  to  the  rirst  settle- 
ment of  the  town  we  find  that 
the  rirst  settler  within  the  limits 
of  Fitchburg  was  one  David 
Page,  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Pearl  street.  His  dwell- 
ing was  built  of  logs  and  surrounded  by  a  stockade  of  sticks 
of  timber  driven  closely 
together    as    a    protection  """' 

against    the    incursion    of  I 
savages,  and  to  add  to  its 
convenience  and  safety  in 
case  of  siege   he   made 
covered  channel  by  which 
a    small    brook    was    con- 
ducted   for    quite    a     dis- 
tance   underground     and  -jp 
through  the  garrison,  sup-        ~~^*a§y: 
plying  it  with  pure  water. 

Torrey's  History  refers  to  David  Page  as  one  of  a  large 
family  of  children  of  Governor  Page,  and  states  that  he  after- 
ward removed  to  the  northerly  part  of  Vermont.  An  elderly 
jientleman  of  Lunenburg,  from  whom  the  facts  were  obtained 


26 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


in  1835,  relates  the  following:  "This  Page,  having  a  roving 
disposition  and  a  speculative  cast  of  mind,  took  it  into  his 
head,  when  quite  young,  that  he  could  make  more  money  by 
trading  with  the  Indians,  than  by  cutting  down  forest  trees 
and  cultivating  the  soil.      Accordingly,  he  directed  his  course 

towards  Canada,  and  com- 
menced purchasing  bea- 
ver and  otter  skins  of  the 
ignorant  natives  upon  this 
principle, — that  his  foot 
weighed  just  four  pounds 


jjjjjg  and  his  hand  one  pound. 
This  they  seemed  to  doubt, 
but  were  soon  satisfied  by 
his  making  the  declaration  that  it  was  as  fair  for  one  party  as 
the  other,  since  he  weighed  off  to  them,  by  the  same  weights, 
his  powder,  tobacco,  shot,  etc.  This  grand  field  for  making 
an  honest  living  was,  however,  soon  closed  ;  for  some  other 
traders  coming  that  way,  explained  the  trick  to  the  Indians, 
and  the  Old  Governor's  speculating  son  had  to  decamp  very 
suddenly — weights  and  all — to  save  his  life."' 

Soon  after  Page  located  other  settlers  began  to  come  in, 
until  in  1748,  there  were  at  least  five  other  garrisons  within 
the  present  boundaries  of  Fitchburg.  The  owners  were 
Samuel  Poole,  Samuel  Hunt,  Isaac  Gibson,  Joseph  Spofford, 
and  John  Fitch.  The  latter  lived  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
town,  since  set  off  to  form  a  part  of  the  town  of  Ashby,  and 
it  seems  certain  the  town  of  Fitchburg  was  named  for  him,  as 
he  was  prominent  in  se- 
curing its  incorporation. 
In  1748,  Fitchburg  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  the  In- 
dians and  on  the  5th  ot 
July,  the  garrison  of  John 
Fitch  was  attacked  by 
them.  The  two  soldiers 
who  were  with  him  were 
killed,  but  he   kept  up   the  defence  of  the  garrison   for  some 


FITCHBURG    OF    THE    PAST. 


27 


time,  his  wife  loading  the  guns  and  he  tiring  them.  They 
finally  surrendered,  however,  being  told  that  their  lives  would 
be  spared  if  they  would  do  so,  and  the  family,  consisting 
of  Fitch,  his  wife  and  rive  children,  the  youngest  a  babe, 
were  taken  to  Montreal. 

The    following    day 

Deas.    Goodridge    and 

Amos     Kimball     were 

fired  upon  by  Indians, 

but  escaped  to   Page's 

garrison.       The   alarm 
:1    being    given,     soldiers 

started  in  pursuit  of  the 

Indians,   but  finding  a 

piece  of  bark  stuck  on 

a  tree,  on  which    Fitch 

had  written    a    request 

for  them  not  to  follow 

them  further  as  their 
captors  would  kill  him  if  overtaken, 
they  gave  up  the  pursuit. 

The   following  fall,  the   Fitch   family 
were  ransomed  and  all  returned   safely, 
with   the    exception  of   Mrs.   Fitch,  who 
died  on  her  way  home.     For  years  after 
John  Fitch  was  a   prosperous  and  influ- 
ential   citizen    in    Fitchburg    and     after- 
ward in  Ashby,  where  his  neighborhood 
was  set  off  in    1767    to    form  a  part   of    '  =  =  | z=7=C^r^=M 
that    town.       He    died    April     8,    1795,    ^gajl 
aged  87  years,   at  the    house  of  a  rela- 
tive   in   Ashby,    and   a   monument    com- 
memorating these   events  was  afterward 
erected  to  his  memory.     There  has  been 
a  difference  of  opinion  in  the  past  regarding  the  year  of  the 
Indian  raid  and  also  doubt  expressed  as  to  the  town  of  Fitch- 
burg being  named  in  honor  of  John  Fitch,  but  these  questions 
have  been  set  at  rest  by  the  researches  of  the  late  Stephen 


^<S  FITCHBURG,  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 

Shepley  and  Henry  A.  Willis.  Mr.  Shepley's  investigation 
fixes  the  time  of  the  Indian  raid  in  July,  1748.  This  ac- 
count differs  from  Peter  Whitney,  Rufus  C.  Torrey  and  the 
monument  date,  but  these  last  authorities  differ  from  each 
other  and  are  not  fully  substantiated.  The  statement  made 
at  different  times,  that  the  town  received  its  name  from  a  cer- 
tain large  landholder  by  the  name  of  Fitch,  was  found  (after 
a  thorough  search  of  records  in  Boston  and  Worcester  by 
Mr.  Willis)  to  have  the  slightest  possible  foundation,  the 
person  referred  to  being  a  non-resident  and  having  only  an 
indirect  interest  in  a  small  piece  of  ground. 

The  earliest  account  of  any  visit  of  the  pale  faces  within 
the  limits  of  Fitchbnrg,  as  well  as  the  only  other  Indian  epi- 
sode connected  with  the  history  of  the  town,  dates  back  to 
the  nth  of  Februarv,  1676.  On  the  da}'  previous  the  Indians 
attacked  Lancaster,  destroyed  the  settlement  by  burning  the 
houses,  murdering  many  of  the  people  and  taking  the  rest 
with  them  into  captivity.  Among  the  number  spared  was 
Mrs.  Rowlandson,  wife  of  the  minister  of  the  place,  who  on 
her  return  from  captivity  published  an  account  of  her  jour- 
neyings  through  the  wilderness.  From  her  description  it 
would  seem  that  she  passed  the  night  of  Feb.  11  within 
the  limits  of  Fitchburg  and  on  Rollstone  Hill.  Let  us 
for  a  moment  imagine  the  scene,  surrounded  bv  a  band 
of  merciless  savages,  exulting  over  the  destruction  of  her 
home  and  the  murder  of  those  near  and  dear  to  her. 
Overwhelmed  by  the  loss  of  her  husband  and  children 
and  exposed  to  the  wintry  blasts,  with  a  prospect  of  hope- 
less captivity  in  view,  what  torture  of  mind  and  bod)'  might 
she  not  have  endured.  It  was  but  one  case  of  many 
in  those  days  of  hardship  and  danger.  Mrs.  Rowland- 
son's  description  of  the  massacre  at  Lancaster  and  suc- 
ceeding events  is  as  follows  :  (Forty-two  persons  sought 
shelter  under  her  roof  and  after  a  hot  assault  the  Indians  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  the  house  on  fire.)  "Quickly,*'  Mrs.  Row- 
landson says,  ''it  was  the  dolefullest  day  that  mine  eyes  ever 
saw,  now  the  dreadful  hour  is  come  some  in  our  house  were 
fighting    for    their   lives ;     others    wallowing    in    blood  ;     the 


FITCIir.URG    OF    THE    PAST. 


29 


house  on  fire  over  our  heads  and  the  bloody  heathens  ready 
to  knock  us  on  the  head  if  we  stirred  out.  I  took  mv  chil- 
dren to  go  forth  but  the  Indians  shot  so  thick  that  the  bullets 
rattled  against  the  house  as  if  one  had  thrown  a  handful  of 
stones.  We  had  six  stout  dogs  but  not  one  of  them  would 
stir.  The  bullets  Hying  thick,  one  went  through  my  side 
and  through  my  poor  child  in  my  arms."  The  brutalities  of 
an  Indian  massacre  followed.  Mrs.  Rowlandson  was  taken 
captive  with  one  poor,  wounded  babe.  She  adds,  "Down  I 
must  sit  in  the  snow,  with  my  sick  child,  the  picture  of  death, 
in  my  arms.  Not  the  least  crumb  of  refreshment  came 
within  either  of  our  mouths  from  Wednesday  night  to  Satur- 
day night,  except  a  little  cold  water." 

How  little  do  the  mothers  ot  the  present  day,  surrounded 
by  the  comforts  and  blessings  of  civilization,  know  of  the 
sorrows  of  the  women  of  a  former  generation. 


CHAPTER  III. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT. 


The  administration  of  municipal 
affairs  is  committed  to  the  hands  of 
a  Mayor,  Board  of  Aldermen,  and 
Common  Council.  The  annual 
election  is  held  on  the  first  Tuesday 
in  December  and  the  city  govern- 
ment is  formally  organized  on  the 
first  Monday  of  the  following  Janu- 
ary. Six  Aldermen — one  from  each 
ward — compose  the  Board,  and  the  Common  Council  consists 
of  eighteen  members — three  from  each  ward. 

Meetings  of  the  city  government  are  held  on  the  first  and 
third  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 

The  officers  of  the  city  for  the  present  year  are  as  follows  : 
Mayor:     Frederick  Fosdick. 

Aldermen  :  Ward  i — Frank  A.  Wood  ;  Ward  2 — David 
M.  Dillon  :  Ward  3— John  Parkhill ;  Ward  4— James  F.  D. 
Garfield;  Ward  5— Henry  M.  Choate  ;  Ward  6— Horace  M. 
Kendall.  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen:  Walter  A. 
Davis. 

Common  Councilmen:  Ward  1 — Michael  D.  Crimmins, 
Frederick  Ryan,  Joseph  A.  Fuller;  Ward  2 — George  S. 
Coggswell,  James  Hanna,  Francis  A.  McCauliff ;  Ward  3 — 
William  H.  Goodwin,  Benjamin  G.  Bagley,  Henry  F.  Rock- 
well ;  Ward  4 — Willard  Dennis,  Joseph  C.  Moulton,  William 
Edwards  :  Ward  5 — Alvin  E.  Battles,  Charles  P.  Washburn, 
Clarentine    E.     Ferson ;     Ward    6 — Thomas     H.     Doherty, 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  31 

Michael  Whalon,  James  II.  McCarty.  President  of  the 
Common  Council:  Henry  F.  Rockwell:  Clerk:  J.  E. 
Kellogg,  elected  by  the  Common  Council. 

The  following  named  well  known  citizens  have  filled  the 
office  of  Mayor  since  the  incorporation  of  the  city  : 

Amasa  Norcross,  from  formation  of  the  City  Government 
to  Jan.  1875  :  Eugene  T.  Miles,  from  Jan.  1875  tu  Jan- 
1876;  Hiram  A.  Blood,  from  Jan.  1876  to  Jan.  1877  ;  David 
H.  Merriam,  from  Jan.  1877  to  Jan.  1879:  William  H.  Yose, 
from  Jan.  1879  to  Jan-  1880;  Eli  Culley,  from  Jan.  1880  to 
Jan.  1882  ;  George  Robbins,  from  Jan.  1882  to  Jan.  1883  ; 
Alonzo  Davis,  from  Jan.  1883  to  Jan.  1886,  and  Frederick 
Fosdick,  from  Jan.  1886  to  the  present  time. 

AMASA    NORCROSS, 

first  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  was  born  in  Rindge,  N.  II.,  Jan. 
26,  1824,  he  received  an  excellent  academic  education,  first 
in  the  academv  of  his  native  town  and  subsequently  in  a  sim- 
ilar institution  at  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.  Selecting  the  profes- 
sion of  law  he  became  in  1844  a  student  in  the  office  of  the 
Hon.  Nathaniel  Wood  in  Fitchburg,  and  in  1847  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  since  that  time  he  has  pursued  his 
professional  labors  in  this  city  and  is  to-day  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  Fitchburg  bar.  In  185S-59  and  1862  Mr.  Norcross 
was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  house  of  representatives, 
elected  on  the  republican  ticket,  in  1858  he  was  a  member  of 
the  committee  of  probate  and  chancery  of  which  Gov.  An- 
drew, then  a  member  of  the  house,  was  chairman,  and  in 
1859  and  1862  he  was  a  member  of  the  judiciary  committee. 
In  August  of  the  last  named  vear  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  United  States  assessor  for  the  9th  Congressional 
District  of  Massachusetts,  serving  for  ten  years  and  until  the 
office  was  abolished  bv  act  of  congress.  In  1862  the  authori- 
ties of  Dartmouth  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts.  In  the  session  of  1859  Mr.  Norcross  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  joint  committee  of  the  senate  and  house  ot 
representatives  to  examine  and  amend  the  report  ot    the  com- 


32  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

missioners  appointed  to  codify  the  laws  of  the  state.  Upon 
this  committee  were  several  distinguished  lawyers,  among 
whom  were  Gen.  Caleb  Gushing  and  Gen.  Benjamin  F.  But- 
ler. In  1S74  ^e  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  senate 
and  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee  of  that  body,  also 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  federal  relations.  To  him  was 
assigned  the  honor  of  drafting  the  report  which  recom- 
mended rescinding  the  resolutions  of  censure  upon  Charles 
Sumner  which  had  been  passed  by  the  legislature  of  Massa- 
chusetts. The  rescinding  resolutions  reached  Senator 
Sumner  at  Washington  a  few  days  before  his  death  and 
doubtless  contributed  materially  to  soothe  his  last  hours.  In 
the  fall  of  1876  Mr.  Norcross  was  elected  representative  to 
congress  and  re-elected  in  1878  and  again  in  1880. 

Local  affairs  always  received  a  proportionate  share  of  Mr. 
Norcross'  attention.  On  the  organization  of  the  City  Gov- 
ernment in  1873  he  received  the  honor  of  first  election  to  the 
Mayoralty  of  the  new  city  :  he  was  re-elected  the  following 
year.  With  financial  and  other  public  organizations  he  has 
been  for  many  years  prominently  identified.  He  is  a  director 
in  the  Rollstone  National  Bank,  president  of  the  Worcester 
North  Savings  Institution  and  of  the  Fitchburg  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company.  He  took  an  active  part  in  organizing  the 
Fitchburg  Benevolent  Union,  was  its  first  president  and  is 
now  one  of  its  life  members.  For  fifteen  years  he  has  been  a 
trustee  of  the  Lawrence  Academy  at  Groton  ;  by  an  act  of 
legislature  was  made  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  or- 
ganization  known  as  the  dishing  Academy  at  Ashburnham, 
of  which  he  is  now  a  trustee,  contributing  largely  to  the  or- 
ganizing and  building  up  of  this  now  flourishing  academy. 

EUGENE  T.   MILES, 

second  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  familiarly  known  in  Fitchburg 
as  Captain  Miles,  was  born  in  Framingham,  Aug.  26,  1826. 
His  parents  resided  in  Shrewsbury  but  were  temporarily 
stopping  in  Framingham.  He  was  educated  as  a  business 
man   in  Worcester,  where   he  beu'an   as    clerk    in    Kinnicufs 


^  I 


£^c/ At^t-  y. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  33 

hardware  store.  In  1856  he  came  to  Fitchburg  and  was 
associated  with  A.  G.  Page  in  business  ;  Mr.  Page  sold  his 
interest  to  Mr.  Augustus  Whitman.  The  partnership  with 
Mr.  Whitman  extended  from  1856  until  the  death  of  Capt. 
Miles,  in  1876.  He  was  one  of  the  corporators  of  the  Whit- 
man &  Miles  Manufacturing  Co.,  in  1864,  of  which  company 
he  was  president  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  connected 
with  a  number  of  other  manufacturing  companies  of  this  city 
and  also  at  Akron,  Ohio.  He  was  prominently  connected  with 
the  municipal  affairs  of  Fitchburg  for  many  years,  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  selectmen  in  1864,  '65,  '66  and  1872, 
and  Mayor  of  the  city  in  1875.  He  was  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Fitchburg  National  Bank  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Fitchburg  Savings  Bank.  He  was  also  president  of  the 
Worcester  North  Agricultural  Society,  and  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture  and  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of 
the  Fitchburg  Board  of  Trade  since  its  organization. 

Capt.  Miles  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Union  army 
during  the  late  war,  ever  ready  to  aid  the  soldiers  and  their 
families.  He  finally  concluded  to  go  to  the  front,  but  the 
health  of  his  partner  failed,  which  left  the  sole  management 
of  a  very  extensive  business  entirely  to  his  care,  compelling 
him  to  resign  his  commission  as  captain  of  Company  A,  53d 
Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  before  the  regiment  left 
its  quarters  in  New  York  for  active  service  in  the  field.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  captain  of  the  Fusiliers  one  year. 
He  also  did  a  large  share  of  the  work  of  the  committee  on 
the  soldiers'  monument. 

In  the  very  meridian  of  his  manhood  .and  in  the  midst  of 
usefulness  he  was  called  from  the  scenes  of  this  life.  He 
died  very  suddenly  at  his  residence  on  Blossom  street,  June 
26,  1876. 

Better  known  to  all  of  the  citizens  of  Fitchburg,  both  rich 
and  poor,  than  almost  any  other  man,  and  bound  up  as  lie 
was  with  so  many  of  our  mercantile  interests,  his  loss  was 
severely  felt.  His  characteristics  were  a  devotion  to  the  wel- 
fare of  his  adopted  city,  honesty  of  official  life  as  well  as 
integrity  in  business  affairs  of  every  description,  and  the 
3 


34  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

exercise  of  those  estimable  qualities  that  go  to  make  up  the 
companion  and  friend  ;  and  it  may  be  truly  said  of  him  that 
in  his  death  the  poor  man,  the  soldier,  and  the  soldier's 
family  lost  a  sincere  friend. 

HIRAM  ALBRO  BLOOD, 

third  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  was  born  in  Townsend,  Mass., 
Feb.  3,  1833,  where  he  received  an  academical  education. 

He  was  first  elected  Mayor  by  the  board  of  aldermen  and 
common  council,  Nov.  2,  1875,  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term 
of  Eugene  T.  Miles,  and  at  the  subsequent  annual  election 
in  December  he  was  elected  mayor  by  the  people  and  was 
inaugurated  January,  1876,  and  filled  the  office  of  Mayor  for 
one  year  and  two  months. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  he  entered  the  commission  house  of 
Bliss,  Sutton  &  Co.  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  as  a  clerk  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  in  1854,  at  which  time  he  opened 
a  branch  house  in  Fitchburg,  and  came  here  to  live  and  has 
resided  here  ever  since.  In  1857  he  dissolved  his  connection 
with  Bliss,  Sutton  &  Co.,  and  entered  into  a  co-partnership 
with  William  O.  Brown  of  this  city,  under  the  name  of  Blood 
&  Brown,  which  existed  until  i860,  when  Mr.  Brown  with- 
drew to  enter  the  United  States  Army,  becoming  a  major  of 
the  25th  Regiment,  and  a  new  firm  was  formed  under  the 
name  of  H.  A.  Blood  &  Co.,  which  continued  to  carry  on 
the  business.  In  1865  Mr.  Blood  withdrew  from  all  mercan- 
tile pursuits  and  became  entirely  interested  in  railroads,  to 
the  construction  and  operation  of  which  he  has  ever  since 
oiven  his  time  and  attention. 

CD 

In  1865  he  became  connected  with  the  Fitchburg  and 
Worcester  Railroad  company,  as  a  director,  and  as  its  super- 
intendent and  general  manager.  He  afterwards  built  or  was 
largely  instrumental  in  building,  the  Boston,  Clinton  and 
Fitchburg,  the  Framingham  and  Lowell,  the  Mansfield  and 
Framingham  and  the  Fall  River  railroads,  of  which  he  suc- 
cessively became  superintendent  and  general  manager,  and 
afterwards  united    and    consolidated    them   together  with   the 


tt/    s*l£ 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  35 

New  Bedford  and  Taunton,  and  the  Taunton  Branch  rail- 
roads into  one  system  under  the  name  of  the  Boston,  Clinton, 
Fitchburg  and  New  Bedford  Railroad  Company,  reaching 
from  Fitchburg  and  Lowell  in  the  north,  to  Mansfield,  Taun- 
ton, New  Bedford  and  Fall  River  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
state.  This  system  of  railroads  was  for  a  time  operated  by 
Mr.  Blood  as  general  manager  and  was  afterwards  united  and 
consolidated  with  the  Old  Colony  Railroad  Company,  of 
which  it  now  forms  an  important  part.  In  the  construction 
of  these  railroads,  and  in  their  subsequent  operation  and  con- 
solidations, Mr.  Blood  was  the  moving  and  directing  spirit. 

In  1875  ne  procured  the  Charter  for  the  Wachusett  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Fitchburg,  obtained  all  the  subscriptions  to  its 
capital  stock,  established  the  bank  and  became  its  first  vice- 
president. 

He  is  now  chiefly  interested  in  railroads  in  the  state  of 
Ohio,  being  the  president  of  The  Cleveland  and  Canton  Rail- 
road Company  in  that  state,  which  position  he  has  held  since 
May,  1S84,  but  he  still  retains  his  residence  in  Fitchburg, 
where  he  has  an  office,  as  well  as  an  office  in  Boston,  Mass. 

1242.14.*; 

DAVID    H.   MERRIAM,  *° 

fourth  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  was  born,  July  3,  1820,  at  Essex, 
in  the  county  of  Essex  and  state  of  New  York,  was  one  of 
seven  children  of  Josephus  and  Betsey  Merriam.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  mother  moved  to 
Fitchburg  in  July.  1829,  with  her  seven  children.  Fitchburg 
at  that  time  contained  about  2,000  inhabitants. 

He  carried  on  the  carriage  and  harness  business  five 
years,  from  1842  to  1847,  he  then  commenced  studying  law 
with  Hon.  Nathaniel  Wood  and  Ebenezer  Torrey.  In  1850 
was  appointed  Assistant  Marshal  of  Massachusetts,  by  the 
President,  to  take  the  census  of  this  district.  In  1851  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Worcester,  at  the  April  term  of  the  su- 
preme judicial  court,  and  in  1858  he  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  the  United  States  court  by  the  Hon.  Judge  Sprague  upon 
examination,    he    being    the    first    person    ever    admitted    to 


36  FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

practice  in  the  United  States  court  from  Fitchburg.  In  185 1 
he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  county  of 
Worcester  by  Gov.  George  S.  Boutwell,  which  office  he  has 
held  thirty-six  years.  In  1861  he  represented  the  district,  in 
which  Fitchburg  was  a  part,  in  the  Massachusetts  house  of 
representatives,  and  was  a  member  of  the  judiciary  commit- 
tee, and  a  member  of  a  joint  committee  of  a  special  session  to 
prepare  for  the  families  of  the  soldiers  by  passing  the  state 
aid  laws  and  other  acts  of  like  nature.  Was  one  of  the  se- 
lectmen of  Fitchburg  in  1861.  In  1863  was  appointed 
Provost  Marshal  of  the  9th  District  of  Massachusetts  by 
President  Lincoln  and  held  the  office  during  the  war,  and 
was  honorably  discharged,  Oct.  15,  1865,  having  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  186S  he  was  appointed  Special 
Justice  of  the  police  court  of  Fitchburg  by  his  Excellency 
Alexander  H.  Bullock,  governor,  which  office  he  now  holds. 
He  was  elected  Mayor  of  Fitchburg  in  1877  and  1878,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  Insolvency  for  the 
county  of  Worcester  for  eighteen  years  and  has  practiced 
law  in  Fitchburg  thirty-six  years,  and  holds  a  commission  as 
Notary  Public  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Quorum  tor  the 
Commonwealth. 

WILLIAM    H.  VOSE, 

fifth  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  was  born  in  Leominster,  Nov.  5, 
1808.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm,  but  at  the  age 
of  14  he  entered  a  woolen  mill  to  learn  the  art  of  finishing 
cloth.  In  1828-29  he  was  employed  in  the  Fitchburg  Woolen 
Mill.  At  21  years  of  age  he  went  to  Royalston  and  was  em- 
ployed as  overseer  in  the  mill  of  Rufus  Bullock,  father  of  the 
late  Governor  A.  H.  Bullock,  till  1846,  when  he  moved  to 
Winchendon  and  formed  a  partnership  with  George  S. 
Coffin,  which  continued  about  two  years,  the  firm  being  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods.  In  1848  Mr. 
Vose  bought  an  interest  in  the  Fitchburg  Woolen  Mill  ;  soon 
became  manager  of  the  company  and  continued  in  that  posi- 
tion until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  27,  1884. 


Davicl   H.   Merriam. 


Wm.    H.    V< 


s* 


Eli   Culley. 


Alonzo    Davis 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  37 

For  several  years  Mr.  V^ose  was  a  valued  member  of  the 
directors'  board  of  the  Fitchburg  National  Bank  and  a  trus- 
tee in  the  Fitchburg  Savings  Bank.  He  also  served  on  the 
board  of  selectmen  tor  two  years,  from  April  1862.  He  rep- 
resented the  district  of  which  Fitchburg  formed  a  part  in  the 
legislatures  of  1863  and  '64.  In  1873  and  "74  he  represented 
Ward  3  in  the  board  of  aldermen  and  was  chairman  of  the 
important  committees  on  highways,  water  and  education. 
Those  who  served  with  him  on  those  committees  know  with 
what  fidelity  to  the  best  interests  of  the  whole  city  he  investi- 
gated every  matter  brought  before  the  city  council.  His 
time  and  valuable  business  experience  was  always  freely 
given  to  city  affairs  to  bring  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest 
number.  In  December,  1878,  he  was  elected  Mayor  and 
served  one  year — declining  an  unanimous  renomination. 

In  all  the  relations  of  public  and  private  life  he  was  most 
exemplary  and  few  men  who  have  held  positions  of  trust  en- 
countered so  little  adverse  criticism  as  Mr.  Vose.  His  spot- 
less integrity  and  sincerity  inspired  perfect  confidence  and  it 
seemed  impossible  for  him  to  deceive  or  dissimulate.  He 
weighed  questions  carefully  and  deliberately  and  arrived  at 
conclusions  slowly  but  with  sound  judgment.  He  was 
cheerful  even  under  depressing  circumstances  and  inter- 
course with  his  hopeful  spirit  was  an  excellent  remedy  for 
despondency.  While  freely  expressing  his  convictions  he 
treated  with  uniform  courtesy  all  who  came  in  contact  with 
him  and  was  always  ready  to  listen  and  give  due  weight  to 
the  opinions  of  those  who  differed  from  him.  He  contributed 
in  many  ways  to  the  prosperity  of  the  city,  but  his  most 
valuable  contribution  was  the  influence  of  his  character  and 
example  on  the  rising  generation. 

ELI    CULLEY, 

sixth  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  was  born,  Feb.  4,  1840,  near  the 
city  of  Bath  in  the  west  of  England.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
came  to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Massachusetts.  He 
was  living  in    Boston  at   the  time  of  the  war  and   enlisted   in 


38  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Company  K,  43d  Massachusetts  Regiment.  On  his  return 
from  the  army,  being  in  poor  health,  he  did  not  actively  en- 
gage in  business  for  some  time  ;  but  later  on  began  the  man- 
ufacture of  riles  in  Weymouth,  Mass.  In  the  spring  of  1868 
he  removed  his  file  business  to  Fitchburg,  at  first  occupying 
a  building  near  the  Rollstone  Machine  company's  works  on 
Water  street,  and  later  moving  to  his  present  place  of  busi- 
ness at  Newton  lane.  He  was  president  of  the  Common 
Council  in  1875,  member  of  the  board  of  Aldermen  in  1877 
and  1878,  and  Mayor  in  1880  and  1881,  and  is  the  only 
Mayor  who  has  served  as  president  of  the  Common  Council 
and  on  the  board  of  Aldermen  as  well.  He  was  representa- 
tive to  the  Legislature  in  1880. 

GEORGE    ROBBINS, 

seventh  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  is  a  native  of  Leominster,  where 
he  was  born,  Dec.  5,  1827.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  was 
apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of  plate  and  sheet  iron  worker. 
In  1854  he  came  to  Fitchburg  and  started  in  his  present 
gas  fitting  and  plumbing  business.  He  served  the  town  in 
the  capacity  of  selectman  prior  to  its  incorporation  as  a  city, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  committee  who  drafted  the  city 
charter. 

ALONZO    DAVIS, 

eighth  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  was  born  Nov.  15,  1817,  in 
Gardner,  Mass.,  where  he  learned  the  chair  business.  In 
1845  he  removed  to  Fitchburg  and  in  company  with 
Augustus  Rice  started  a  chair  manufactory  in  "Newton 
Lane,"  continuing  the  chair  business  with  Hiram  Wood, 
John  D.  Pratt,  Henry  T.  Pratt  and  Charles  E.  Pratt,  as 
partners,  at  different  periods  of  time,  until  1855  when  in 
company  with  Henry  T.  Pratt  a  new  brick  factory  was  con- 
structed on  "Tuttle  Flat" — so  called — of  the  following  dimen- 
sions  :  150  feet  long,  40  feet  wide,  four  stories  high,  where 
the  chair  business  was  continued  under  the  firm  name  of  A. 
Davis  &  Co.  until    1864,  when    Mr.   Davis  purchased  of  his 


FREDERICK    FOSDICK 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  39 

partners  their  interests  and  became  sole  owner,  continuing 
the  business  to  1877.  A  little  later  Mr.  Davis  sold  his 
factory  to  the  Parkhill  Manufacturing  Company  and  retired 
from  the  chair  business,  which  he  had  carried  on  for  thirty- 
two  consecutive  years.  Mr.  Davis  served  as  member  of  the 
city  government  for  eight  successive  years,  commencing  in 
1S78 ;  two  years  as  common  councilman ;  three  years  as 
alderman,  and  three  years  as  Mayor. 

FREDERICK    FOSDICK, 

ninth  and  present  Mayor  of  Fitchburg,  was  born  in  Groton, 
Mass.,  April,  1850,  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1870,  and  was  in 
the  office  of  the  Burleigh  Rock  Drill  Company  thirteen 
months,  then  went  to  Pennsylvania  coal  mines  for  the  pur- 
pose of  setting  up  some  pumping  machinery  for  New  Bedford 
parties,  returning  to  Fitchburg  in  1872,  and  taking  the  posi- 
tion of  draughtsman  for  the  Haskins  Machine  Companv. 
Upon  organization  of  the  Fitchburg  Steam  Engine  Company 
took  the  position  of  Treasurer  and  Business  Manager,  which 
he  still  retains.  He  was  three  years  on  the  school  committee 
by  election,  two  years  president  of  common  council  and  ex- 
officio  on  school  committee,  and  two  years  Mayor,  cx-officio 
on  school  committee,  making  seven  years  on  the  school 
board.  He  is  also  a  trustee  in  the  Worcester  North  Savings 
Institution. 

The  other  members  of  the  present  city  government  are  as 
follows  : 

ALDERMEN. 

Frank  A.  Wood,  was  born  in  Westminster,  February, 
1844,  lived  there  until  the  beginning  of  the  war,  when  he  en- 
listed in  Company  A,  36th  Regiment,  at  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service  returned  to  Fitchburgf  and  has  been  in  busi- 
ness  here  most  of  the  time  since  ;  for  the  past  fourteen  years 
has  been  engaged  in  the  provision  business  on  Water  street. 
Was  on  the  city  council  in  1877. 


40  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

David  M.  Dillon,  was  born  in  St.  Johns,  New  Bruns- 
wick, in  1843  ;  went  to  learn  the  boiler  makers  trade  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  ;  left  his  native  city  and  came  to  Boston  in 
1S60,  where  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade.  In  1863  he 
was  employed  by  the  United  States  government  as  a  boiler 
maker  and  stationed  at  Port  Royal,  S.  C,  where  he  re- 
mained for  over  a  year.  Coming  North  he  finally  located  at 
Worcester  where  he  started  the  boiler  business  in  1865,  con- 
tinuing in  the  business  for  four  years.  He  sold  out  in 
Worcester  and   came  to  Fitchburg  in  1870. 

John  Parkiiill,  was  born  near  Glasgow,  in  Scotland  ; 
he  came  to  this  country  and  located  in  the  city  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  in  1848,  where  he  remained  for  three  years. 
From  Providence  he  removed  to  Adams  and  afterwards 
to  North  Adams  and  was  actively  connected  with  the 
manufacturing  of  cotton  goods  in  these  two  places  for  more 
than  twenty-five  years.  He  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1879  an^ 
in  1880  established  the  successful  gingham  industry  which 
bears  his  name  and  of  which  corporation  he  is  president. 

James  F.  D.  Garfield,  is  a  native  of  Langdon,  N.  H., 
where  he  was  born  Aug.  14,  1S28.  He  came  to  Fitchburg 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  from  that  time  till  twenty-one 
worked  at  printing  in  the  office  of  the  Fitchburg  Sentinel — 
attending  school  at  intervals  at  the  Fitchburg  Academy 
and  at  Lawrence  Academy,  Groton.  The  next  three  years 
were  divided  between  school  at  Leicester  Academy  and 
working  at  his  trade  in  Worcester. 

In  September,  1852,  he  returned  to  Fitchburg,  bought 
one-half  interest  in  the  Fitchburg  Sentinel  office,  and  con- 
tinued the  publication  of  that  paper  in  company  with  his 
brother  Elisha  Garfield,  till  October,  i860,  when  he  sold  out, 
his  brother,  the  senior  partner,  taking  the  entire  business. 
After  an  interval  of  one  or  two  years,  which  was  passed  in 
Boston  and  in  Pawtucket,  R.  I..  Mr.  Garfield  in  April,  1864, 
entered  into  partnership  with   John  P.  Sabin,  for  the  purpose 


# 


■an1<    ff^Wood. 


--    . 


James   F   O.   Garfield 


Henry   M .   Choale. 


Horace   M .    Kendall 


BOARD    OF    ALDERMEN. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  41 

of  carrying  on  the  coal  business.  At  the  end  of  one  year 
William  O.  Brown  succeeded  Mr.  Sabin  and  in  April,  1866, 
George  N.  Proctor  purchased  Mr.  Brown's  interest.  From 
that  time  to  the  present  the  firm  has  continued  under  the 
name  of  Garfield  and  Proctor,  doing;  business  at  the  old 
stand,  No.  23  Water  street.  At  the  municipal  election  in 
1881,  Mr.  Garfield  was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  com- 
mittee of  Fitchburg  for  three  years  and  in  1884  received  a  re- 
election for  the  same  length  of  time. 

At  the  city  election  in  December,  18S5,  he  was  chosen 
alderman  from  Ward  4,  and  the  following  year  was  re- 
elected to  the  same  office,  during'  the  latter  term  serving  as 
president  of  the  board.  In  November,  1S86,  he  was  chosen 
to  represent  the  city  of  Fitchburg  in  the  general  court  for  the 
session  of  1887,  his  associate  being  Joseph  S.  Wilson. 

Henry  M.  Choate,  was  born  in  Jamaica,  Vt.,  Nov.  17, 
1836.  Spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm,  until  the  spring  of 
1858,  when  he  removed  to  Baltimore,  Md.  He  was  there 
salesman  in  a  wholesale  bakery  for  one  and  a  half  years. 
In  September,  1859,  ne  came  to  Fitchburg  and  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  with  his  brother  until  Ma}',  1882,  when 
poor  health  compelled  him  to  abandon  the  business,  and  he 
has  engaged  in  no  special  occupation  since  that  time. 
Served  on  the  common  council  two  years,  1881  and  1882. 

Horace  M.  Kendall,  was  born  in  Dunstable,  Mass., 
June  6,  1848.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  at  home  on  the 
farm.  In  October,  1867,  he  went  to  Manchester,  N.  H.,  to 
learn  the  machinist's  trade  at  the  Manchester  Locomotive 
Works  and  worked  there  four  years.  In  November,  187 1, 
moved  to  Fitchburg  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Fitchburg 
Machine  Works  from  that  time  until  April,  1S85.  He  is  at 
present  employed  at  the  Simonds  Rolling  Machine  Com- 
pany's works ;  was  a  member  of  the  common  council  of 
Fitchburg  three  years,  1882-83  and  1884. 


42  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

The  city  clerk  is  the  official  clerk  of  the  board  of  alder- 
men. There  have  been  but  two  city  clerks  since  the 
incorporation  of  the  city,  the  veteran  town  and  City  Clerk 
Henry  Jackson,  who  served  the  town  nearly  six  years  and 
the  city  until  January,  1887,  and  his  successor,  now  in  office. 

CITY    CLERK. 

Walter  A.  Davis,  the  present  city  clerk,  is  a  native  of 
Fitchburg,  the  only  son  of  ex-Mayor  Alonzo  Davis.  He 
fitted  for  college  at  the  high  school  and  entered  Williams  in 
1865,  graduating  four  years  later.  He  was  afterwards  for 
several  years  associated  with  his  father  in  the  chair  business. 
From  1880  to  1887,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Fitchburg 
Railroad  Company,  as  freight  clerk,  night  clerk  and  ticket 
clerk.  His  education  and  experience  in  transacting  business 
with  all  classes  of  people  have  admirably  fitted  him  for  the 
office  he  holds. 

COMMON    COUNCIL. 

Michael  D.  Crimmins,  was  born  June  5,  1847,  in  Ire- 
land, came  to  America  and  located  in  Orange,  Mass.,  in 
i860,  moved  to  Fitchburg  in  1867,  is  an  iron  moulder  by 
trade  and  employed  by  Heywood,  Wilson  &  Co. 

Frederic  Ryan,  was  born  in  Westminster,  Mass.,  1855  ; 
at  the  age  of  five  vears  came  to  Fitchburg  and  has  resided 
here  since  ;  is  a  carpenter  by  trade. 

Joseph  A.  Fuller,  was  born  Sept.  14,  1841,  in  what 
was  then  the  town  of  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  now  Woonsocket. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the  1st 
R.  I.  Cavalry,  Troop  C,  served  during  the  war,  was  slightly 
wounded  twice — a  buck  shot  scalp  wound  and  a  sabre  cut. 
Since  returning  from  the  service  he  has  travelled  over  the 
United  States,  Canada  and  Chili,  South  America,  setting  up 
woolen  machinery.  He  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1881,  and  has 
since  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Putnam  Machine  Company. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  43 

George  S.  Coggswell,  was  born  Jul)'  12,  1857,  at 
Pascoag,  R.  I.,  afterwards  resided  in  Westerly,  R.  I.,  live 
years,  moving  to  West  Fitchburg  about  1873,  i-s  overseer  of 
the  weaving  department  of  the  Fitchburg  Worsted  Company, 
West  Fitchburg. 

James  Hanna,  was  born  Nov.  25,  1858,  in  West  Fitch- 
burg and  with  the  exception  of  eleven  years  in  New  York 
state  has  lived  here  since.  He  was  for  a  long  time  over- 
seer of  spinning  at  the  Fitchburg  Woolen  Company's  mills, 
but  since  the  woolen  business  was  discontinued  has  engaged 
in  the  coal  business  with  Edward  McElroy,  under  the  firm 
name  of  McElroy  &  Hanna. 

Francis  A.  McCauliff,  was  born  January,  1848,  is  a 
native  of  the  Province  of  Quebec  and  came  to  Vermont  in 
1S67.  He  has  resided  in  Fitchburg  about  seventeen  years, 
most  of  the  time  engaged  in  the  granite  business. 

William  H.  Goodwin,  was  born  in  Sterling,  Jan.  2, 
1827.  As  a  contractor  and  builder  has  since  resided  in 
various  places,  Fitchburg,  Bolton,  Clinton  and  Worcester, 
returning  to  Fitchburg  in  1S51.  Since  which  time  he  has 
probably  built  five  hundred  houses  and  public  buildings  in 
this  city,  besides  rebuilding  nearly  every  dam  on  the  Nashua 
within  the  city  limits.     Is  the  present  Inspector  of  Buildings. 

Benjamin  G.  Bagley,  was  born  in  Clinton,  Maine, 
Feb.  16,  1845,  removed  from  that  place  to  Waltham  and 
afterwards  to  Fitchburg,  where  he  has  resided  for  the  past 
ten  years.  Is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  a  member  of  E.  V. 
Sumner  Post  19,  G.  A.  R.,  having  served  in  Co.  F,  Unat- 
tached Maine  Infantry,  during  the  war. 

Henry  F.  Rockwell  (President),  was  born  in  Fitch- 
burg in  1849,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town.  In  1S64  he  went  to  Boston  as  an  appren- 
tice in  the  Pharmacy  of  S.  II.  Woods,  51  Tremont  street, 
and  from  that  time  has  made  the  drug  business  his  occupa- 
tion. He  returned  to  Fitchburg  in  1877  and  engaged  in 
business  at  401  Main  street,  where  he  is  still  located. 


44  FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Willard  Dennis,  a  native  of  Barre,  Mass.,  was  born 
March  30,  1825,  removed  to  Fitchburg  and  was  engaged 
in  manufacturing  and  mercantile  business  here  for  the  past 
thirty  years,  although  he  was  a  printer  by  trade.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  George  Robbins  &  Co.  He  died  Oct. 
9,  1887. 

Joseph  C.  Moulton,  was  born  in  Sandwich,  N.  II., 
Jan.  1,  1824.  Left  home  at  21  years  of  age,  came  to  Massa- 
chusetts in  1848,  and  three  years  later  became  a  resident  of 
Fitchburg,  engaging  in  the  daguerreotype  business,  out  of 
which  has  grown  his  present  extensive  photograph  business  ; 
was  chosen  the  first  president  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  serving 
three  years  and  declining  a  re-election  ;  superintendent  of 
the  Rollstone  Sunday  School  for  thirteen  years. 

Wileiam  Edwards,  is  a  native  of  Wales  where  he  was 
born  Dec.  3,  1846;  came  to  New  York  in  1868;  to  Fitch- 
burg in  1870  to  engage  in  the  business  of  slate  roofing. 
This  is  his  third  year  on  the  common  council. 

Alvin  E.  Battles,  a  native  of  Fitchburg,  was  born 
June  28,  1837,  has  since  resided  in  Fitchburg,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  vears  in  Millbury,  Mass.,  and  Manchester, 
N.  H.  Is  a  moulder  by  trade  ;  has  been  connected  with  the 
Fitchburg  fire  department  for  a  number  of  years. 

Charles  P.  Washburn,  was  born  in  Middleboro, 
Mass.,  Dec.  11,  1856,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  resi- 
dence in  Boston,  lived  there  until  1881,  when  he  engaged  in 
business  and  removed  to  Fitchburg ;  is  at  present  associated 
with  F.  F.  Woodward  in  the  firm  of  Washburn  &  Woodward, 
grain  dealers. 

Clarentine  E.  Ferson,  was  born  May  19,  1845,  in 
Francestown,  N.  H.  His  parents  went  to  Lowell,  Mass., 
when  in  his  infancy  ;  lived  there  until  he  was  thirty  years  of 
age,  with  the  exception  of  three  years'  service  in  the  Union 
Army  and  one  year  in  the  western  country.  In  1875  ne 
went  to  Greenville,  N.  H.,  where  he  resided  four  years,  then 
came  to  Fitchburg,  in  October,  1879,  and  has  lived  here  since. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  45 

His  military  service  was  in  Co.  L,  1st  Regiment  Massachu- 
setts Artillery,  enlisting  as  a  private  at  sixteen  years  of  age, 
and  was  sergeant  at  the  end  of  his  term  of  service. 

Thomas  H.  Doiierty,  was  born  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  Oct. 
26,  1853  ;  has  resided  in  Fitchburg  since  1863  ;  is  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Alderman  F.  A.  Wood,  in  the  provision  business,  on 
Water  street. 

Michael  Whalon,  was  born  August,  1839,  in  Dayville, 
Conn.  He  came  to  Fitchburg  at  the  age  of  seven  and  has 
lived  here  since  ;  is  an  iron  moulder  by  trade. 

James  H.  McCarty,  is  a  native  of  Fitchburg,  was  born, 
July  18,  1862,  is  engaged  in  the  provision  business  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Water  and  First  streets,  where  he  has  always  resided; 
has  represented  his  ward  in  the  common  council  three  years, 
and  was  the  youngest  man  ever  elected  councilman  in  this 
city. 

CLERK    OF    COMMON    COUNCIL. 

John  E.  Kellogg,  clerk  of  the  common  council,  was 
born  at  Amherst,  Mass.,  July  2,  1845  ;  graduated  at  Willis- 
ton  Seminary,  Easthampton,  in  '65,  and  Amherst  College  in 
'69  ;  since  been  engaged  in  journalism — two  years  on  Spring- 
field Republican,  two  years  with  New  York  Associated 
Press,  a  few  months  with  the  Taunton  Gazette,  and  since 
1873  with  the  Fitchburg  Sentinel.  He  has  been  clerk  of  the 
common  council  since  May,  1880,  and  a  member  of  the 
school  committee  since  January,  1887. 

city   auditor. 

Henry  Jacksox,  city  auditor,  is  a  native  of  Leominster, 
Mass.  When  five  years  old  he  removed  to  Fitchburg  where 
he  has  since  resided  most  of  the  time.  He  attended  the 
academy  at  Framingham  and  Fitchburg,  has  been  employed 
as  bookkeeper  in  various  positions  in  this  city,  Aug.  25, 
1866,  was  elected  town  clerk,  acting  as  town  and  city  clerk 
until   January,    1887  ;    clerk    for    the   board    of   selectmen    to 


4(!  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

January,  1873  ;  water  register  from  1872  to  1885  '•>  librarian 
of  the  public  library  from  September  1866  to  January  1873  ; 
member  of  the  auditing  committee  from  1867  to  1873  and 
city  auditor  from  1873  to  the  present  time. 

CITY  TREASURER  AND  COLLECTOR  OF  TAXES. 

Henry  A.  Willis,  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  Nov.  26,  1830  ; 
has  lived  here  the  most  of  his  life,  engaged  in  banking,  and 
is  now  president  of  the  Rollstone  National  Bank.  He  was 
president  of  the  first  common  council  in  1873,  elected  city 
treasurer  and  tax  collector  for  1874  anc^  annually  since  ;  has 
been  a  trustee  of  the  public  library  for  about  twenty  years  ; 
was  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  1866.  He  is  or  has  been 
connected  with  various  Fitchburg  corporations  in  official  ca- 
pacity. Ebenezer  Torrey,  who  was  treasurer  and  tax  col- 
lector the  first  year,  1873,  had  served  the  town  in  the  same 
capacity  for  many  years. 

CITY    SOLICITOR. 

Edward  E.  Pierce,  was  born  in  Templeton,  Mass., 
Dec.  28,  1852;  came  to  Fitchburg  about  i860;  graduated 
at  the  high  school  in  1873  ;  entered  Harvard  University  in 
1873  ;  graduated  at  the  law  school,  Harvard  University,  in 
1877,  with  the  degree  of  L.  L.  B.  ;  is  a  member  of  the  law 
firm  of  Pierce  &  Stiles.  The  following  named  lawyers  have 
filled  the  office  of  city  solicitor:  George  A.  Torrey,  1873; 
David  H.  Merriam,  1874-75-76;  Harris  C.  Hartwell  from 
1877  to  1886. 

CITY    PHYSICIAN. 

John  D.  Kieltv,  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  June  17,  1858, 
educated  in  our  public  schools  and  at  the  dishing  Academy, 
Ashburnham,  Mass.  ;  graduated  from  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians   and    Surgeons,    Boston,  May   24,  1883,    and   from    the 


VValter  A.    Davis. 


C.    H.    D.  Stoekbridge. 


John    D.    Kielty. 


Edward    P.   Pierce 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  47 

Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  city  of  New  York,  Mar. 
13,  1S84  ;   was  appointed  city  physician  January,  1887. 

The  past  city  physicians  are  Charles  H.  Rice,  1873-74- 
75;  Alfred  O.  Hitchcock,  1876;  F.  H.  Thompson,  1877; 
E.  P.  Miller,  1878;  D.  Sidney  Woodworth,  1879-80-81; 
Alfred  O.  Hitchcock,  1882-83  ;  E.  P.  Miller,  1884;  D.  Sid- 
ney Woodworth,  1885-86. 

DEPARTMENTS. 

POLICE    DEPARTMENT. 

There  are  few  cities  in  the  United  States  where  there  is 
greater  safety  to  life  and  property  than  in  Fitchburg.  The 
pleasantest  relations  exist  between  the  different  departments 
of  the  city  government,  and  as  a  consequence,  thev  work  to- 
gether for  the  public  welfare.  The  city  has  been  remarkably 
free  from  crimes  of  a  serious  nature,  and  few  disastrous  tires 
have  occurred.  We  have,  moreover,  been  singularly  blessed 
in  this  age  of  labor  agitation,  by  freedom  from  labor  troubles 
and  strikes,  with  all  their  attendant  miseries,  showing  evi- 
dent consideration  on  the  part  of  employers  and  a  reasonable 
and  contented  spirit  on  the  part  of  the  employed. 

The  police  force  of  Fitchburg  is  not  large  as  compared 
with  the  size  of  its  population.  The  force  at  present  consists 
of  a  chief,  captain,  sergeant  and  thirteen  patrolmen.  It  is  in 
an  excellent  state  of  discipline  and  a  credit  to  the  city. 

The  small  number  of  arrests  for  drunkenness,  disturbance 
of  the  peace  and  other  misdemeanors,  usually  committed  in 
public  places,  is  something  remarkable  when  we  consider  the 
rapid  growth  of  business  and  population  in  our  city.  This 
happy  state  of  things  is  due  in  part  to  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  dutv  by  the  officers  of  this  department  and  in  part  by 
the  law  abiding  character  of  our  citizens. 

The  officers  in  their  endeavors  to  suppress  the  sale  of  in- 
toxicating liquor  have  had  the  support  and  encouragement  oi 
the  city  government,  and  a  pronounced  temperance  senti- 
ment on    the   part  of  the  people,  a  decisive    majority   of  our 


48  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

citizens  having  voted  that  no  licenses  for  the  sale  of  intoxicat- 
ing liquors  shall  be  granted  in  our  city  and  elected  a  mayor 
and  aldermen  in  harmony  with  this  vote. 

The  officers  and  members  of  the  police  department  are 
appointed  by  the  mayor  and  aldermen  in  January,  and  are 
for  the  present  year:  Charles  H.  D.  Stockbridge,  chief; 
Russell  O.  Houghton,  captain;  Thomas  Connor,  sergeant; 
and  Patrolmen  W.  H.  Shattuck,  Benjamin  A.  Young,  John 
Flannagan,  Joseph  T.  Battles,  Joseph  Shepard,  Charles  II. 
May,  Frederick  E.  Raitt,  Michael  M.  Connor,  Milan  G. 
Twichell,  Ephraim  E.  Farrar,  James  F.  Roy,  Charles  A. 
Kendall,  Ira  F.  Legrow. 

Charles  H.  D.  Stockbridge,  the  present  chief  of  po- 
lice, was  appointed  in  January,  1886.  He  is  a  native  of  Dix- 
field,  Me.,  but  came  to  Massachusetts  when  quite  young  and 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Waltham  Watch  Company  until 
1885,  when  he  was  appointed  chief  of  the  Waltham  police  by 
Mayor  Johnson.  Just  before  the  close  of  the  war,'  when  only 
fifteen  years  old,  he  enlisted  in  the  42d  Massachusetts  Regi- 
ment, but  owing  to  the  close  of  the  war  the  regiment  was  not 
called  into  active  service.  He  was  connected  with  the  mili- 
tary for  eight  years  after  the  war,  and  at  one  time  was 
captain  of  Company  F,  5th  Regiment,  M.  V.  M. 

Those  who  have  served  as  chief  of  police  previous  to 
1886  are  R.  O.  Houghton,  1873-74;  A.  P.  Kimball,  1875; 
William  Gilchrist,  1882  ;  Aaron  F.  Whitney,  1876-77-78- 
-79-80-81-83-84-85. 

FIRE    department. 

The  fire  department  is  efficiently  organized  and  is  always 
kept  in  good  working  condition,  ready  for  instant  and  zealous 
service.  It  is  managed  by  a  board  of  engineers  who  have 
charge  of  a  good  set  of  new  and  modern  equipments,  consist- 
ing of  three  steam  lire  engines,  one  hook  and  ladder  com- 
pany, also  hook  and  ladder  truck  manned  by  West  Fitchburg 
hose  company,  and  four  hose  companies,  with  three  hose  car- 
riages in  reserve. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  <1(.> 

The  board  of  engineers  are  chosen  in  November  by  the 
city  council  in  convention  and  are  as  follows  :  D.  W. 
Tinsley,  chief;  G.  H.  Kendall,  ist  assistant ;  B.  Parkhurst, 
2d  assistant;  J.  N.  Whiting,  3d  assistant;  G.  E.  Wellington, 
4th  assistant.  J.  W.  Rand,  superintendent  fire  alarm  tele- 
graph. 

Steamer  Wachusett  No.  1 — is  located  at  zS  Oliver   street. 

Steamer  Rollstone  No.  2 — is  located  at  28  Oliver  street. 
Engineer,  W.  H.  Dow  ;  fireman,  Charles  T.  Cook. 

Steamer  Wanoosnoc  No.  3 — is  located  at  108  Wachusett 
street,  West  Fitchburg.      Engineer,  Thomas  May. 

Franklin  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.  No.  1 — is  located  at  30 
Oliver  street.  Foreman,  George  J  efts ;  clerk,  J.  W. 
Fogarty  :  driver,  H.  H.  Beard  ;   thirteen  men. 

Rollstone  Hose  Co.  No.  1 — is  located  at  Steamer  House, 
28  Oliver  street.  Foreman,  F.  C.  Foster  :  clerk,  J.  T.  Ken- 
dall ;   driver,  S.  Poland;  thirteen  men. 

Wanoosnoc  Hose  Co.  No.  2 — is  located  in  No.  3  Steamer 
House,  108  Wachusett  street,  West  Fitchburg.  Foreman, 
Calvin  Beer ;  clerk,  George  Pethybridge ;  driver,  W.  W. 
Marston  ;   thirteen  men. 

Mazeppa  Hose  Co.  No.  3 — is  located  on  Factory  square. 
Foreman,  W.  A.  Pearce  :  clerk,  F.  P.  Burrington  ;   ten  men. 

Niagara  Hose  Co.  No.  4 — is  located  on  Day  street. 
Foreman,  T.  F.  Murnane  ;   clerk,  J.  II.  Fogarty;   ten  men. 

David  W.  Tinsley,  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  lire  de- 
partment for  the  past  three  years.  He  is  a  native  of  Hing- 
ham,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born  Aug.  iS„  1848.  At  the  age 
of  23  he  came  to  Keene,  N.  H.,  and  was  there  for  about  a 
year  connected  with  the  fire  department  as  a  member  of 
Phoenix  Hose  Co.  No.  4.  He  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1872 
and  about  a  year  after  joined  the  Fitchburg  Fire  Depart- 
ment: was  a  member  of  Hose  Company  No.  1,  until  1878; 
was  on  the  board  of  engineers  until  his  election  as  chief  of 
the  department  in  1884. 

Mr.  Tinsley  was  for  nearly  ten  years  foreman  of  the  lum- 
ber, door,  sash  and  blind  manufactory  of  C.  A.  Priest,  but  in 

4 


50  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

March  of  the  present  year,  rinding  his  health  was  being  af- 
fected by  too  close  application  to  business,  gave  up  his 
position,  and  has  since  been  regaining  his  health  ;  working  a 
portion  of  the  time  on  architectural  and  mechanical  drawing 
at  his  residence. 

Those  who  have  served  as  chief  of  the  fire  department, 
since  the  incorporation  of  the  city,  are  Lucius  Aldrich, 
George  H.  Manchester,  A.  J.  Green  and  George  Reed. 

Mr.  Reed,  in  speaking  of  the  fire  department,  refers  with 
pleasure  to  the  temper  of  the  organization  during  all  the  time 
he  was  connected  with  it.  He  joined  the  department  in  1848 
as  a  member  of  Washingtonian  Engine  Co.  No.  2,  which  was 
located  on  Day  street,  and  in  1857  joined  the  only  Hook  and 
Ladder  company  ;  was  on  the  board  of  engineers  twelve 
years,  the  last  seven  of  which  he  was  chief.  He  served 
under  Kilburn  Harwood,  John  H.  Wheeler,  James  B.  Lane, 
A.  P.  Kimball,  Capt.  E.  T.  Miles  and  Francis  Sheldon,  be- 
fore the  incorporation  of  the  city,  and  under  Lucius  Aldrich, 
George  H.  Manchester,  and  A.  J.  Green,  since.  No  one  is 
better  acquainted  witli  the  department  or  would  speak  more 
truthfully  of  its  management,  it  is  therefore  an  uncommon 
tribute  to  such  an  organization  for  their  former  chief  to  refer 
to  his  associates  without  a  single  unpleasant  recollection  and 
without  the  remembrance  of  an  unkind  word  or  act  during 
the  long  time  of  active  service. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  in  this  connection  to  say  there 
exists  a  sincere  friendship  and  respect  for  Mr.  Reed, 
not  only  with  the  entire  department  as  it  is  at  present  organ- 
ized, but  with  all  who  have  ever  been  associated  with  him, 
either  as  his  superior,  equal  or  subordinate  in  rank. 

WATER    DEPARTMENT. 

Every  part  of  the  city  is  supplied  with  an  excellent  quality 
of  water,  abundant  in  quantity  and  furnished  to  the  inhabi- 
tants at  reasonable  rates.  The  first  board  of  water  commis- 
sioners was  appointed  in  1870,  the  town  having  accepted  a 
charter  from  the  legislature.     Full   plans  and  estimates  were 


CITY    GOVERNMENT. 


51 


presented  and   adopted  and  the  works  constructed  in  187 1-2. 
The    water  supply    was  taken    from  Scott  and  Shattuck 

brooks,    tributaries  of  Falulah  brook,    with   four   reservoirs, 

Scott,  Overlook,  Marshall 
and  Falulah.  Water  for 
the  high  service  is  taken 
from  Scott  and  Overlook 
and  for  the  low  service  from 
Marshall  and  Falulah.  The 
tour  reservoirs  have  a  ca- 
pacity of  about  300,000,000 
gallons.  Scott  is  450  feet 
above  the  track  of  the  Fitch- 
burg  railroad,  Overlook  405, 
Marshall  216,  and  Falulah 
236.  The  mode  of  supply 
is  by  gravitation  and  it  is 
gratifying  to  know  that  the 
supply  of  water  for  lire  ser- 
vice, as  well  as  for  do- 
mestic use,  will  doubtless 
prove  sufficient  for  the  next 
ten  years. 

The  water  commissioners 
chosen  in  January,  by  the 
city  council  in  convention, 
are  Charles  II.  Brown, 
Thomas  C.  Lovell,  Samuel 
D.  Sheldon.  Superintend- 
ent of  water  works,  Thomas 
C.  Lovell  ;  water  registrar, 
A.  W.  F.  Brown. 


ssssssssssssssssssssssss^ 


CITY     ENGINEER    AND    SUPERINTENDKNT    OF     WATER    WORKS. 


Thomas  C.  Lovhll,  is  a  native  of  West  Boylston,  born 
March  21,  1846;  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native  town: 
studied  civil  engineering  with  Phineas   Ball    of  Worcester  ; 


52  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

came  to  Fitchburg  in  1869  and  opened  an  office  as  civil  en- 
gineer :  was  elected  superintendent  of  water  works  in  1875, 
as  water  commissioner  in  1879,  an<^  c^y  engineer  in  1880, 
which  position  he  still  holds. 

There  have  been  but  two  city  engineers  previous  to  Mr. 
Lovell,  George  Raymond  in  1873-4,  ant^  Thomas  C.  Shel- 
don 1875-6-7-8-9. 

WATER    REGISTRAR. 

A.  W.  F.  Brown,  was  born  in  Chelsea  in  1864,  April 
j  :  lived  afterwards  in  Greenfield,  Mass.,  and  moved  to 
Fitchburg  in  1872  ;  was  elected  water  registrar  in  Janu- 
ary, 1885. 

HIGHWAY    DEPARTMENT. 

The  highway  department  of  Fitchburg  has  many  obstacles 
to  meet  in  the  faithful  carrying  out  of  its  work,  by  reason  of 
the  demand  for  new  streets,  sidewalks,  etc.,  occasioned  by 
the  marked  growth  of  the  city,  and  the  difficulty  of  making 
effective  and  permanent  work  on  our  hillside  streets. 

Thomas  Larkin,  Jr.,  the  present  superintendent  of 
streets  is  a  native  of  Fitchburg,  where  he  was  born  June  24, 
1852,  and  has  resided  here  since. 

George  W.  Holman  was  superintendent  of  streets  in  1873 
and  1874:  Joel  Davis,  1875-76-77;  F.  W.  Aldrich,  1878- 
79-80-81-82  ;   Abram  G.  Lawrence,  1883-84-85-86. 

POOR     DEPARTMENT. 

The  overseers  of  the  poor  chosen  annually  in  January  by 
the  city  council  in  convention  are,  this  year  the  Mayor 
ex  officio,  (chairman),  S.  S.  Holton,  John  J.  Sheehan, 
Aaron  F.  Whitney  and  the  president  of  the  common  council 
ex  officio. 

S.  S.  Holton,  a  native  of  Northfield,  Mass.,  was  born 
Nov.  16,  1818  ;  represented  his  town  in  the  legislature  one 
year;   removed  to  Montague  in  1857,  and  came  to  Fitchburg 


Henry   F.   Rockwell. 


John   E.    Kellogcj. 


David   W.  Tinsley. 


S.  S.   Holton. 


John  J,  Sheehan. 


Aaron   F.   Whitney. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  53 

in  March  1872  :  elected  an  overseer  of  poor  in  1883,  and  has 
been  an  assistant  assessor  for  several  years. 

John  J.  Sheehan,  was  born  in  Ireland.  Feb.  5,  1844: 
settled  in  Lowell.  Mass.,  in  1848;  has  been  a  resident  of 
Fitchburg  since  July,  1864  ;  served  five  years  on  the  city  gov- 
ernment; placed  on  board  of  overseers  of  poor  in  1S84  :  is  a 
member  of  the  civil  service  examining  board  :  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Sweeney  &  Sheehan  at  238  Water  street. 

Aaron  F.  Whitney,  is  a  native  of  Westminster,  and 
came  to  Fitchburg  in  1852  ;  was  superintendent  of  the  chair 
manufactory  of  Alonzo  Davis  for  twenty  years  previous  to 
1876,  when  he  was  appointed  chief  of  police,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  for  nine  years  :  one  year  under  Mayor 
Blood,  two  under  Mayor  Merriam.  one  under  Mayor  Yose, 
two  under  Mayor  Culley  and  three  under  Mayor  Davis,  after 
which,  in  1886,  he  was  elected  bv  the  common  council  to  his 
present  position  on  the  board  of  overseers  of  the  poor. 

The  poor  farm,  situated  in  South  Fitchburg,  is  a  model 
institution  of  its  kind  and  a  credit  to  the  city  :  it  is  in  charge 
of  N.  B.  Stone,  superintendent,  and  Mrs.  E.  T.  Stone, 
matron. 

Trustees  of  Public  Library,  and  School  Committee,  arc 
given  elsewhere. 

TRUSTEES    OF    PUBLIC    BURIAL    GROUNDS. 

M.  W.  Cu minings,  Joel  Joel,  Daniel  B.  Whitrier. 

ASSESSORS    OF    TAXES.. 

David  F.  Melntire,  Elliot  X.  Choate,  Charles  K. 
Sawyer. 

CIVIL    SERVICE    EXAMINERS. 

John  J.  Sheehan,  Francis  Buttrick,  Walter  A.  Davis. 

BOARD  OF  REGISTRARS  OF  VOTERS. 

Leander  Sprague,  D.  A.  Corey,  Z.  F.  Young,  Walter  A. 
Davis,  clerk. 


54  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

INSPECTOR    OF    MILK. 

C.  H.  D.  Stockbridge. 

INSPECTOR    OF    PETROLEUM. 

Henry  G.   Greene. 

SEALER    OF    WEIGHTS    AND    MEASURES. 

E.   E.  Farrar. 

INSPECTOR    OF    BUILDINGS. 

William  IT.  Goodwin. 

BOARD    OF    HEALTH. 

The  Mayor  and  Aldermen. 

The  names  of  those  who  have  served  the  city  as  Alder- 
men previous  to  1887  are  : 

1873.  Ward  1,  Elijah  M.  Dickinson;  2,  Charles  T. 
Crocker;  3,  William  H.  Vose  ;  4,  Ezra  B.  Rockwood  ;  5, 
Benjamin  Snow  ;  6,  John  C^.  Wright. 

1874.  Ward  1,  James  Goodrich;  2,  Edwin  D.  Works; 
3,  William  H.  Vose;  4,  Ezra  B.  Rockwood;  5,  Benjamin 
Snow  ;  6,  Festus  C.  Currier. 

1875.  Ward  1,  James  Goodrich  ;  2,  Edwin  D.  Works  ; 
3,  Leander  Sprague  ;  4,  Alfred  R.  Ordway  ;  5,  Andrew  B. 
Sherman  ;  6,   Festus  C.  Currier. 

1876.  Ward  1,  James  Goodrich;  2,  Daniel  R.  Streeter ; 
3,  Leander  Sprague;  4,  George  Robbins  ;  5,  Andrew  B. 
Sherman  ;  6,  Isaac  C.  Wright. 

1877.  Ward  1,  Charles  F.  Putnam;  2,  Harrington  Sib- 
ley; 3,  Charles  T.  Crocker;  4,  John  W.  Kimball;  5,  Eli 
Culley  ;  6,   Sylvanus  Sawyer. 

1878.  Ward  1,  Charles  F.  Putnam;  2,  Harrington  Sib- 
ley ;  3,  Francis  Sheldon  ;  4,  George  Robbins  ;  5,  Eli  Culley  ; 
6,  S.  A.  Webber. 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  55 

1S79.  Ward  1,  William  A.  Foster:  2,  Harrington  Sib- 
lev;  3,  Francis  Sheldon;  4,  Lucius  Aldrich  ;  5,  Asa  S. 
Lawton  ;  6,   E.  A.  Goodrich. 

1880.  Ward  1,  Henry  L.  Rice;  2,  George  F.  Fay;  3, 
Alonzo  Davis;  4,  James  L.  Chapman;  5,  Asa  S.  Lawton; 
6,   Scott  A.  Webber. 

1881.  Ward  1,  Salmon  W.  Putnam  :  2,  George  F.  Fay  : 
3,  Alonzo  Davis;  4,  Lucius  Aldrich:  5,  Asa  S.  Lawton; 
6,  Festus  C.  Currier. 

1882.  Ward  1,  Salmon  W.  Putnam:  2,  John  F.  Bruce; 
3,  Alonzo  Davis;  4,  Lucius  Aldrich:  5,  Jacob  II.  Fair- 
banks ;  6,  A.  B.  Lawrence. 

1883.  Ward  1,  Henry  O.  Putnam  ;  2,  George  E.  Waite  ; 
3,  William  E.  Wallace;  4,  James  L.  Chapman;  5,  Joel 
Joel ;  6,  A.  B.  Lawrence. 

1S84.  Ward  1,  Henry  O.  Putnam;  2,  George  E.  Waite; 
3,  Gardner  Farrar ;  4,  John  Burney  ;  5,  Joel  Joel  ;  6,  Henry 
G.  Morse. 

1885.  Ward  1,  Henry  O.  Putnam  ;  2,  George  E.  Waite  ; 
3,  Gardner  Farrar  ;  4,  John  Burney  ;  5,  Joseph  S.  Wilson; 
6,   Henry  G.  Morse. 

1886^  Ward  1,  L.  H.  Goodnow  :  2,  David  M.  Dillon; 
3,  John  Parkhill:  4,  James  F.  D.  Garfield:  5,  Henry  M. 
Choate  ;  6.   Henry  G.  Morse. 

The  names  of  the  Common  Councilmen  previous  to  1SS7 
are  as  follows,  president  of  Common  Council  in  small 
capitals  : 

1873.  Ward  1,  Henry  J.  Colburn,  Harrington  Siblev, 
Franklin  Lvon  ;  2,  Cornelius  Bogart,  Samuel  D.  Sheldon, 
Daniel  R.  Streeter ;  3,  Samuel  E.  Crocker,  Francis  Sheldon, 
Leander  Sprague ;  4,  Henry  A.  Willis,  Thomas  C. 
Upton,  Charles  H.  Brown;  5,  Winchester  Wyman,  James 
A.  Ferson,  II.  B.  Rice:  6,  Charles  L.  Fairbanks,  John 
Barnes,  Henry  McGrath. 

1874.     Ward    1,    Henry  J.   Colburn,     Charles    Mason, 
Henrv   L.  Rice;   2,  Cornelius   Bogart,  Samuel    I).  Sheldon, 


")()  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Daniel  R.  Streeter ;  3,  Samuel  E.  Crocker,  Francis  Shel- 
don, Leander  Spragne  ;  4,  Lyman  Patch,  Thomas  C.  Upton, 
Charles  II.  Brown;  5,  John  R.  Farnum,  A.  B.  Sherman, 
Lorenzo  Barker;  6,  John  J.  Sheehan,  Edward  Dwyer,  E. 
P.  Young. 

1875.  Ward  1,  William  A.  Hardy,  Harrington  Sibley 
Henry  L.  Rice;  2,  Cornelius  Bogart,  Stephen  W.  Dole, 
Daniel  R.  Streeter;  3,  Charles  Brigham,  Francis  Sheldon, 
Gardner  Farrar ;  4,  Lyman  Patch,  Z.  F.  Young,  E.  A. 
Broun;  5,  Eli  Culley,  J.  A.  Ferson,  Lorenzo  Barker; 
6,  John  J.  Sheehan,  John  Barnes,  S.  W.  Putnam. 

1876.  Ward  1,  H.  L.  Rice,  E.  P.  Kittredge,  Samuel 
Stevens  ;  2,  Cornelius  Bogart,  Samuel  A.  Wheeler,  Jr.,  John 
Phillips;  3,  Gardner  Farrar,  Charles  Brigham,  Francis 
Sheldon  ;  4,  E.  A.  Brown,  George  D.  Colony,  J.  R.  Has- 
kell ;  5,  J.  A.  Ferson,  John  Lowe,  G.  H.  Kellogg;  6,  Ed- 
ward Dwver,  Edward  Knapp,  James  B.  Sargent. 

1877.  Ward  1,   E.  P.  Kittredge,  William   A.  Hardy,  F. 

A.  Wood;  2,  Cornelius  Bogart,  William  M.  Pride,  William 
Woodbury  ;  3,  Francis  Sheldon,  S.  A.  Wheeler,  Jr.,  Moses 
G.  Lyon  ;  4,  George  D.  Colony,  Lucius  Aldrich,  L.  D. 
Bartlett;  5,  George  H.  Kellogg,  Asa  S.  Lawton,  Joel  Joel; 
6,  Edward  Dwyer,  Scott  A.  Webber,  John  J.  Sheehan. 

1878.  Ward  1,  B.  D.  Dwinnell,  Daniel  A.  Chaney, 
James  Dalev  ;  2,  William  Woodbury,  William  Baldwin,  Jr., 
J.  F.  Bruce;  3,  Moses  G.  Lyon,  Richard  A.  Leonard, 
Alonzo  Davis ;  4,  Lucius  Aldrich,  Jonathan  R.  Haskell, 
'Joseph  A.  Tufts;  5,  George  H.  Kellogg,   Joel   Joel,  Asa  S. 

Lawton  ;  6,  John  J.  Sheehan,  John  Linnehan,  P.  B.  Purtill. 

1879.  Ward  1,  M.  F.  Sweeney,   M.  W.  Cummings,   N. 

B.  Sleeper;  2,  Wm.  Woodbury,  Wm.  Baldwin,  Jr.,  John  F. 
Bruce;  3,  R.  A.  Leonard,  Alonzo  Davis,  H.  E.  Huntley; 
4,  J.  A.  Tufts,  E.  Foster  Bailey,  Charles  A.  Priest;  5, 
Joel  Joel,  Albert  N.  Lowe,  E.  B.  Macy  ;  6,  Edward  Dwyer; 
G.  N.  Green,  M.J.  Sparks. 

1880.  Ward  1,  M.  F.  Sweeney,  Henry  O.  Putnam, 
Joseph    T.   Battles;    2,   John    F.   Bruce,    Cornelius    Bogart, 


CITY    GOVERNMENT.  57 

John  Q^.  Peabody  :  3,  Richard  A.  Leonard,  Francis  F. 
Farrar,  W.  E.  Wallace  :  4.  E.  F.  Bailey,  John  Burney,  Ed- 
ward P.  Loring  :  5,  Joel  Joel,  Edward  B.  Macy,  George 
H.  Wheelock;  6,  Edward  Dwyer,  M.  J.  Sparks,  William  L. 
Bartlett. 

1SS1.  Ward  1.  Henry  O.  Putnam,  James  B.  Shannon, 
A.  Cuthbertson ;  2.  Cornelias  Bogart,  John  Q^.  Peabody, 
Joseph  Butler;  3,  Henry  G.Morse,  William  E.Wallace, 
Charles  Brig-ham  :  4,  E.  F.  Bailey,  Frederick  Fosdick, 
Charles  A.  Priest:  5.  Henry  M.  Choate,  Alvin  O.  Stickney, 
George  H.  Kellogg:  6,  John  J.  Sheehan,  Edward  Dwyer, 
George  N.  Green. 

1882.  Ward  1,  James  B.  Shannon,  Alexander  Cuthbert- 
son, William  A.  Hardy  ;  2,  John  Q^.  Peabody,  James  Pearce, 
John  McNamara  :  3,  William  E.  Wallace,  George  B.  Wood- 
ward, R.  A.  Leonard  :  4,  Frederick  Fosdick,  Charles  A. 
Priest,  John  Burney:  5,  Henry  M.  Choate,  John  H.  Parker, 
Albert  A.  Buxton ;  6,  Charles  Smith,  Winchester  Wyman, 
Horace  M.  Kendall. 

1883.  Ward  1,  George  W.  Luke,  Alexander  Cuthbert- 
son, Bernard  H.  Flaherty;  2,  John  Q^.  Peabody,  A.  H. 
Proctor,  James  Pearce;  3,  Francis  Sheldon,  John  Parkhill, 
A.  B.  Haskell:  4,  Charles  A.  Priest,  John  Burney,  W.  A. 
Macurda ;  5,  Charles  H.  Glazier,  Joseph  S.  Wilson,  John 
H.  Parker;  6,  Horace  M.  Kendall,  Henry  Concannon, 
Henry  McGrath. 

1884.  Ward  1,  Bernard  H.  Flaherty,  George  W.  Luke, 
Joseph  T.  Battles;  2,  James  Pearce,  Bela  W.  Blood,  A.  H. 
Proctor;  3,  John  Parkhill,  John  H.  Daniels,  Uriah  E.  Cleve- 
land; 4,  George  II.  Spencer,  William  A.  Macurda, 
Carmi  M.  Parker:  5,  John  H.  Parker,  Charles  H.  Glazier, 
M.  A.  Holton;  6,  H.  M.  Kendall,  Henry  McGrath,  Henry 
Concannon. 

1885.  Ward  1,  Patrick  Donlan,  Bernard  II.  Flaherty, 
Raymond  J.  Parker;  2,  James  Pearce,  Bela  W.  Blood, 
Augustus  H.  Proctor;  3,  John  H.  Daniels,  Uriah  E.  Cleve- 
land,  Harlan    P.  Tyrrell  ;  4,  George   II.   Spencer.    Carmi 


58  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

M.  Parker,  William  Edwards;  5,  Hiram  H.  Lamb,  Henry 
A.  Hatch,  J.  Dudley  Littlehale  ;  6,  Henry  J.  Lewis,  Michael 
J.  Hogan,  James  H.  McCarty. 

1886.  Ward  1,  Raymond  J.  Parker,  Patrick  Donlan, 
Andrew  Connery ;  2,  George  W.  Weymouth,  George  S. 
Coggswell,  George  Wilmott ;  3,  Benjamin  G.  Bagley,  Wil- 
liam H.  Goodwin,  Henry  F.  Rockwell  ;  4,  William  Edwards, 
Charles  Fosdick,  Willard  Dennis;  5,  Hiram  H.  Lamb, 
Alvin  E.  Battles,  C.  P.  Washburn;  6,  James  H.  McCarty, 
Henry  J.  Lewis,  Michael  J.  Hogan. 

The  following  named  persons  have  served  as  clerk  of  the 
common  council:  1873,  Sullivan  W.  Huntley;  1874-5, 
Henry  A.  Hawley  ;  1876-77-78,  George  E.  Clifford;  1879- 
80,  Thomas  C.  Sheldon;  1880  to  present  time,  J.  E.  Kel- 
logg. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


EDUCATIONAL. 


l^Ff]  School,   Grammar,  Inter 
\M  ary   and  Ungraded  Schc 


S  to  educational  advantages,  Fitchburg 
is  equal  to  the  demands  of  the  advanced 
sentiments  of  the  times.  The  schools 
consist  of  what  are  denominated  the  High 

rmediate,  Prim- 
:hools.  The  ar- 
rangement is  designed  to  furnish  a 
gradation  of  schools  and  regular  system 
of  instruction.  Scholars  from  all  parts 
of  the  city  possessing  the  requisite  quali- 
fications are  admitted  to  the  Hi^h  School.  This  school  affords 
the  scholars  the  means  of  acquiring  a  systematic  and  thor- 
ough education,  or,  if  they  desire  it,  of  fitting  themselves  for 
college.  There  are  four  grammar  schools — one  on  High 
street,  one  on  Day  street,  one  on  South  street,  and  one  in 
West  Fitchburg. 

The  schools  are  kept  forty  weeks  in  the  year,  one  term  of 
sixteen  weeks  and  two  terms  of  twelve  weeks  each. 

A  school  committee,  composed  of  three  citizens  from  each 
ward,  is  elected  by  the  people,  the  mayor  being  ex  officio 
chairman,  and  the  president  of  the  Common  Council  a  mem- 
ber. A  Superintendent  of  Schools  is  intrusted  with  direct 
supervision. 

The  present  Superintendent  of  Schools  is  Joseph  G.  Ed- 
gerly.  The  School  Committee  for  1887  are  :  Ward  1  — 
Lyman  H.  Goodnow,  J.  Warren  White,  Henry  O.  Putnam  : 
Ward  2 — James  H.  Fairbanks,  Charles  K.  Sawyer,  John  E. 
Kellogg;  Ward  3 — Herbert  I.  Wallace,  William  E.  Henry, 
Edward  P.  Downe  ;  Ward  4 — James  F.  D.  Garfield,  Charles 
S.  Hayden,  Charles  H.  Rice ;  Ward  5— Joseph  M.  R.  Eaton, 


1)0  FITCHBURG,  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 

Nelson  F.  Bond,  Stillman  Haynes ;  Ward  6 — Peter  McDon- 
ough,  John  Gallagher,  Edward  Lennon. 
The  teachers  are  as  follows  : 

HIGH     SCHOOL. 

Herbert  W.  Kittredge  (Principal),  A.  Eugene  Nolen, 
E.  Adams  Hartwell,  Martha  Keith,  Irene  C.  Cowles,  Lizzie 
A.  II.  Sleeper,  Dora  T.  Pierce. 

GRAMMAR    SCHOOLS. 

High  Street — -George  H.  Hastings  (Principal),  Mary  B. 
Johnson,  Clara  A.  Woodbury,  Ella  F.  Caswell,  Emma  L. 
Lane,  Mary  E.  Fairbanks. 

Day  Street — George  Winch  (Principal),  Mary  C.  Smith, 
Harriet  Chaffee,  Adelaide  Goodrich,  Mary  S.  Bingham,  Ger- 
trude L.  Davis. 

South  Street — Clara  D.  Hosmer  (Principal),  Mary  A. 
Barnes,  Sara  J.  Barber. 

West  Fitchburg — Shelley  K.  Townend  (Principal), 
Emma  J.  Bennett,  Clara  B.  Cutler. 

INTERMEDIATE    SCHOOLS. 

High  Street— (A),  Clara  L.  Tenney ;  (B),  Nellie  F. 
Livermore. 

Day  Street — (A),  vacancy;    (B),  Jennie  A.  Goodrich. 

Maverick  Street — Mary  E.  Gallagher. 

Rollstone   Street — Adeline  Damon. 

South  Street — Jennie  M.  Hills. 

Middle  Street — Lizzie  M.  Nolan. 

South   Fitchburg — Carrie  L.  Baldwin. 

Clarendon  Street — Phebe  M.  Blanchard. 

Rockville— Rose  A.  Cullen. 

Wachusett — Lillian  A.  Rose. 

PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

School  Street— (A),  Stella B.  Lowe  ;  (B),EttaF.  Willard. 


EI>1  CATKINAL 


f.l 


High  Street — (A),  M.  Lizzie  Kimball:  (B),  Josephine 
Reynolds:    (C),  Carrie  E.  McMaster. 

Day  Street — (A),  Lizzie  M.  Glazier;  (B),  Minnie  L. 
Merrill;    (C),  vacancy. 

Highland  Avenue — (A),  M.  Eldora Jones;  (B),  Edna  A. 
Spring. 

East  Street — (A),  Kate  A.  Gallagher;  (I)),  Jennie  R. 
Rice. 

Maverick  Street — L.  Frances  Jones. 

Rollstone  Street — (A),  Jeanette  Y.  Wright :  (B),  Minnie 
E.  Bemis ;    (C),  Mary  A.  Connig.  » 

Middle  Street— (A),  Kate  F.  O'Brien;  (B),  Eva  M. 
Barnes;    (C),  Lizzie  A.  Daly. 

South  Fitchburg — Nellie  A.  Dvvyer. 

Clarendon  Street— (A),  Harriet  M.  Qelahanty ;  (B), 
Lilla  M.  Marble;    (C),  Alice  E.  Welch. 

Rockville — Sarah  L.  Sawyer. 

Wachusett — Annie  M.  Bagiey. 

UNGRADED    SCHOOLS. 

Mt.  Elam — Jessie  E.  Worster. 
Woodbury — Helen  E.  Woodbury. 
Kimball— Mary  A.  Bartley. 
Dean  Hill — M.  Lizzie  Sullivan. 
Pau"e — Annie  L.  Maynard. 
Caswell — Ida  M.  Austin. 
Pearl  Hill— Addie  M.  Corey. 

SPECIAL    TEACIIKRS. 

Laura   F.  Smith    (Singing).   William  Briggs  (Drawing). 


EVENING    DRAWING    SCHOOL. 

William  Briggs  (Principal),  Julia  A.  Perkins  (Assistant). 

Evening  common  schools  are  open  each  year,  generally 
from  November  to  March.  This  Near  there  are  schools  at 
High  Street,  Day  Street,  ami  West  Fitchburg. 


G2 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


Parochial  schools  were  opened  two  years  ago  on  Water 
street  and  the  number  of  pupils  at  Middle  street  and  South 
Fitchburg  were  diminished  thereby  to  such  an  extent  that  two 
schools  at  South  Fitchburg  were  closed. 

THE  HIGH  SCHOOL  ASSOCIATION. 

About  1830  some  of  the  citizens  formed  an  association 
called  the  High  School  Association  of  Fitchburg,  which  was 
an  important  supplement  to  the  educational  powers  of  the  town. 
The  directors  were  Benjamin  Snow,  Francis  Perkins  and  Dr. 
Charles  Wilder.  Dr.  Jonas  A.  Marshall  was  secretary  and 
Mas,  treasurer.  A  building  called  the  Acad- 
emy was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,200  on 
land  given  for  the  purpose  by  Capt. 
Zackariah  Sheldon  and  situated  just  in 
front  of  the  present  High  School.  The 
academy  building  was  rented  to  individ- 
uals for  school  purposes  until  1849,  when 
the  town  voted  to  establish  a  public  High 
School,  and  purchased  the  academy  of 
the  High  School  Association. 

Afterwards  the  old  academy  build- 
ing was  used  for  various  purposes.  It  was  here  that  Mr. 
E.  Butterick  started  in  the  business  of  making  shirt  pat- 
terns, was  successful,  and  removed  to  New  York,  establish- 
ing the  business  of  E.  Butterick  &  Co.,  one  of  the  largest 
fashion  establishments  in  the  world. 

In  1869  the  academy  was  moved  and  the  present  high 
school  building  was  built.  The  academy  is  now  a  part  of  the 
Rollstone  House. 


PRINCIPALS    OF    HIGH    SCHOOL. 

The  first  principal  of  the  Fitchburg  High  School  was 
Anson  Southard  Marshall,  a  native  of  Lyme,  N.  H., 
where  he  was  born  Dec.  3,  1822.  He  fitted  for  college  at 
Thetford  Academy, Vt.  ;  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  1848  ; 
was  principal  of  the  High  School  1849-51  ;  studied  law  with 


EDUCATIONAL. 


63 


Wood  &  Torrey  and  later  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  with  President 
Franklin  Pierce  and  Hon.  Josiah  Minot;  admitted  to  the  bar 
1S52  :  assistant  clerk  of  the  New  Hampshire  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives 1853  ;  U.  S.  District-Attorney  for  New  Hampshire 
during  Buchanan's  administration  ;  chairman  of  Democratic 
State  Central  Committee  1867  ;  from  1870  clerk  and  counsel 
of  the  Concord  railroad.  On  Jul\'  4,  1874,  vyhile  enjoying  a 
picnic  with  his  family  in  the  grove  near  Pennacook  Lake,  ac- 
cidently  shot  by  a  militia  company  engaged  in  target  practice. 


HIGH    STREET    HIGH    AND    GRAMMAR    SCHOOL    BUILDINGS. 

His  superior  qualities  as  a  teacher  and  his  solicitude  for  the 
welfare  of  those  under  his  charge  are  well'  remembered  by 
those  now  living  who  were  his  pupils. 

Enoch  Gibson  Hook,  A.  B.,  was  principal  in  185 1. 
Martin  Heald  Fiske,  A.  M.,  1852. 
Rev.  Ezekiel  Hale  Barstow,  A.  M.,   1852-53. 
Jonathan  Clarkson  Brown,  A.  B.,  1853-54. 
Rev.  Milan  Hubbard  Hitchcock,  A.  B.,  1854. 
Eli  Andrews  Hubbard,  A.  M.,  1S54-57. 
Hanson  Leland  Read,  A.  M.,  1857-62. 


1)4  fitchburg,   past  and  present. 

Francis  Huntington  Snow,  1862-63. 

Edward  Dorr  Pritchard,  A.  M.,  1863-64. 

Rev.  Walter  Whitney  Hammond,  A.  M.,   1864-1865. 

Ruel  Baxter  Clark,  A.  B.,  1865-1875. 

Ray  Greene  Huling,  A.  M.,  a  native  ot  Providence,  R. 
I. ,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  15,  1847  ;  fitted  for  college  at  Prov- 
idence High  School  and  at  Mowrv  &  Goff\s  English  and 
Classical  High  School  ;  graduated  at  Brown  University  1869  ; 
assistant  in  Fall  River  High  School  1 869-1875  ;  visited  Europe 
in  1875  and  was  principal  of  the  Fitchburg  High  School  from 
1875  until  1SS6,  when  he  accepted  the  position  of  Principal 
of  the  New  Bedford   High  School. 

Herbert   William   Kittredge,  A.  M.,  son  of  Russell 
II.   and   Laura  F.  (Holmes)    Kittredge,  of  Jaffrey,   N.   H.  ; 

born  in  Nelson,  N.  H.,  Nov.  18,  1858;  fitted  for  college  at 
Keene,  N.  H.  ;  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  1879; 
studied  methods  at  Quiney,  Mass.,  fall  of  1879;  Master  of 
Grammar  School,  East  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  1880;  Principal 
of  Brandon  Graded  School,  Brandon,  Ct.,  1880-84;  North 
Brookfield,  Mass.,  High  School,  1884-85;  Dover,  N.  H., 
High  School,  1885-86;  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  High  School  since 
1886:  married  Julv  14,  1885,  Marion  Thatcher;  visited 
Europe  in  1887. 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  SCHOOLS. 

Joseph  Gardner  Edgerly,  son  of  Samuel  J.  and  Eliza 
(Bickford)  Edgerly;  born  Oct.  12,  1838,  in  Barnstead, 
N.  H.  ;  moved  to  Manchester,  N.  H.,  in  1845  ;  worked 
on  a  farm  in  Dunbarton,  N.  H.,  and  in  the  mills  at 
Manchester,  during  his  bovhood,  attending  school  a  part 
of  the  year ;  fitted  for  college  in  the  Manchester  High 
School ;  began  teaching  in  a  district  school  in  New  Boston, 
N.  H.,  in  the  winter  of  1857-58,  "boarding  round"  according 
to  the  custom  in  those  davs :  the  next  winter  taught  in 
one  of  the  suburban  schools  of  Manchester ;  principal  of 
West  Manchester   Grammar   School    from   September,  1859, 


EDUCATIONAL.  65 

to  March,  1862  ;  entered  the  postal  service  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  April,  1862,  but  obliged  to  return  North  in  July  of 
the  same  year  on  account  of  his  health  ;  resumed  teaching 
after  regaining  his  health  ;  principal  of  the  Manchester 
Street  Grammar  School  in  1863  ;  sub-master  Maverick 
School,  East  Boston,  one  term  during  college  course  ;  entered 
the  sophomore  class  of  Dartmouth  College  in  the  fall  of  1864, 
graduating  in  the  class  of  1867  ;  elected  superintendent  of 
schools  in  Manchester  the  day  after  graduation,  and  held  the 
position  eight  years  ;  superintendent  of  schools  in  Fitchbnrg 
since  1875  5  married,  1877,  Mary  J.  Graves,  of  Groton,  Mass. 

HISTORY    OF   THE    FITCHBURG    PUBLIC 
LIBRARY. 

The  history  of  this  library  is  similar  to  that  of  other 
institutions  of  like  character.  Its  growth  has  been  gradual. 
It  has  developed  from  small  beginnings.  The  Fitchburg 
Philosophical  Society  was  organized,  about  the  year  1828, 
for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  lectures  and  debates.  It  was 
before  this  society  that  Hon.  Nathaniel  Wood  delivered  a 
series  of  lectures  on  the  history  of  the  town,  the  manuscript 
of  which  is  now  in  the  public  library.  From  these  lectures 
most  of  the  material  was  obtained  that  was  used  in  the  prep- 
aration of  Rufus  C.  Torrey's  History  of  Fitchburg,  published 
in  1836.  The  society  soon  after  its  organization  purchased 
Rees's  Cyclopedia  in  forty-seven  volumes,  including  six 
volumes  of  plates.  These  books  were  intended  to  be  the 
basis  of  a  library,  but  the  project  was  not  a  successful  one, 
and  in  1838  the  six  volumes  were  transferred  to  the  Fitch- 
burg Library  Association,  the  successor  of  the  Philosophi- 
cal Association.  These  books  are  now  in  the  public  library. 
The  new  organization  was  apparently  more  successful  than 
the  former  one,  and  quite  a  collection  of  books  was  made. 
The  library  of  this  association  was  kept  in  the  store  of  Mr. 
Phineas  A.  Crocker,  in  a  small  building  which  stood  where 
the  Stiles  building  now  stands. 

In   1853    the    Fitchburg  Athenaeum  was    organized,  "to 


66  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

furnish  facilities  for  intellectual,  moral,  and  social  improve- 
ment, bv  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  a  library, 
reading  room,  and  lectures."  The  Fitchburg  Athemeum 
was  not  a  public  institution.  It  loaned  books  to  its  mem- 
bers. 

The  subject  of  establishing  a  public  library  was  dis- 
cussed from  time  to  time  but  no  decisive  action  was  taken 
till  1859.  The  warrant  for  the  town  meeting  of  that  year 
contained  the  following  article:  —  "To  see  if  the  Town  will 
appropriate  the  amount  allowed  by  law  for  the  establishment 
of  a  Free  Town  Library  or  act  anything  thereon."  The 
sentiment  of  the  citizens  seemino-  to  be  in  favor  of  a  free 
library  the  shareholders  of  the  Athenaeum  held  a  special 
meeting  previous  to  the  town  meeting  to  consider  the  ex- 
pediency of  presenting  their  library  to  the  town,  but  after 
some  discussion  it  was  decided,  by  a  vote  of  twenty-five  to 
fourteen,  not  to  make  such  a  disposition  of  the  books  belong- 
ing to  the  association. 

The  town  meeting  that  year  was  held  April  nth,  and  the 
citizens  at  that  time  voted  —  "To  appropriate  the  sum  of 
$1,831  for  the  establishment  of  a  Free  Town  Library."  A 
board  of  trustees  was  chosen  at  this  meeting,  consisting  of 
Goldsmith  F.  Bailey,  J.  W.  Mansur,  James  R.  Wellman, 
Jabez  Fisher,  Thomas  R.  Boutelle,  Thornton  K.  Ware, 
Hanson  L.  Read,  Moses  G.  Lyon,  and  John  J.  Piper. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  shareholders  of  the  Fitchburg 
Athenaeum  occurred  May  10,  1859,  anc^  at  tnat  meeting  it 
was  voted  :  —  "To  instruct  the  president  and  treasurer  to  sell 
all  the  property  of  the  institution,  aside  from  the  money  in 
the  treasury  (about  $75),  to  the  town  of  Fitchburg  for  $400." 
The  town  subsequently  authorized  the  purchase  of  this 
property  and  thus  came  into  possession  of  about  1,600 
volumes. 

There  was  also,  at  that  time,  another  collection  of  books 
in  the  town,  about  200  volumes,  belonging  to  the  Agricul- 
tural Library.  These  books  were  purchased  by  the 
trustees. 

It  was  decided  to  use  for  the   library,  the  room  that  had 


EDUCATIONAL.  67 

been  occupied  by  the  Athenaeum.  This  room,  correspond- 
ing very  nearly  to  the  room  now  used  for  the  mayor's  office, 
was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  the  room  adjoining  in  the 
rear.  The  library  was  opened  for  the  delivery  of  books 
December  i. 

December  23,  after  the  library  had  been  open  three 
weeks  it  was  stated  in  the  Sentinel  that  accounts  had  been 
opened  with  over  1,200  persons,  that  2,775  volumes  had 
been  taken,  and  1.937  volumes  returned.  It  was  also  stated 
that  the  library  hours  as  announced  were  insufficient,  and  it 
was  deemed  advisable,  while  the  urgent  demand  for  books 
continued,  to  keep  open  every  evening  excepting  Sundays 
and   holidays. 

The  library  remained  in  the  rooms  first  occupied  until 
December,  1879,  when  it  was  removed  to  more  commodious 
quarters  in  the  extension  of  the  city  hall  building,  where  it 
remained  till  July,  1885,  at  which  time  it  was  transferred  to 
the  Wallace  Library  and  Art  Building. 

The  librarians  have  been  :  Daniel  Stearns,  appointed 
November,  1859:  B.  P.  Todd,  April,  1861  ;  J.  M.  Graham, 
April,  1862  ;  C.  N.  Fessenden,  April,  1865  ;  Henry  Jack- 
son, September,  1866;   P.  C.  Rice,  January,  1873. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  of  the  public  library  are  : 
Louis  D.  Bartlett,  Lewis  H.  Bradford,  George  D.  Colony, 
Joseph  G.  Edgerly,  Phillip  J.  Garrigan,  George  Jewett, 
James  Phillips,  Jr.,  George  H.  Spencer,  Charles  H.  Rice, 
Herbert  I.  Wallace,  Thornton  K.  Ware,  Henry  A.  Willis. 
Chairman,  Thornton  K.  Ware;  secretary,  Joseph  G. 
Edgerly;  treasurer,  Lewis  H.  Bradford;  committee  on 
books,  Messrs.  Ware,  Bartlett,  Colony,  Edgerly  and  Phil- 
lips ;  committee  on  library,  Messrs.  Garrigan,  Rice,  Spencer 
and  Jewett;  Committee  on  finance,  Messrs.  Bradford,  Phil- 
lips and  Willis  ;  committee  on  art,  Messrs.  Wallace,  Ware 
and  Willis.  Librarian,  Prescott  C.  Rice  :  assistants,  Flor- 
ence Russell  Dwinnell,  George  E.  Nutting. 

The  following  description  of  the  "  Wallace  Library  and 


68  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Art  Building'  will  give  some  idea  of  the  beauty  and  elegance 
of  the  library  apartments  : 

The  spot  selected  for  the  building  is  the  best  possible  for 
the  purpose  in  the  city.  With  Monument  Square,  upon  which 
the  city  has  expended  $75,000,  directly  in  front,  and  the  court 
house  beyond,  the  view  from  the  new  building  is  attractive, 
and  there  is  no  spot  in  the  city  where  tasteful  architecture 
could  have  a  better  effect.  The  location  is  central,  conven- 
ient to  the  post-office,  and  several  of  the  costliest  buildings  in 
the  city  are  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

The  exterior  of  the  building  is  built  of  Trenton  pressed 
brick,  with  brown  sandstone  trimmings  from  the  Kibbie  quarry 
at  Longmeadow  and  is  in  the  Greek  classic  style  of  architec- 
ture. The  foundation  is  dressed  Rollstone  granite  and  the 
basement  is  dimension  ashler.  The  cornices,  gutters  and  hips 
on  the  roof  are  of  copper.  The  roof  is  covered  with  Brown- 
ville  slate. 

The  building  has  a  frontage  of  seventy-four  feet,  and  a 
depth  of  sixty-five  feet,  with  a  central  front  projection  six  by 
twenty-five  feet.  The  front  entrance  is  approached  by  a  walk 
of  pressed  brick  and  a  flight  of  twelve  dressed  granite  steps 
between  ornamental  buttresses  of  the  same  material  as  the 
steps.  The  front  doors  are  placed  in  a  recess  eleven  feet  wide 
and  six  feet  deep.  The  wall  above  the  recess  rests  on  a 
heavy  double  arch,  supported  on  each  side  by  two  columns 
of  polished  red  granite  with  carved  capitals.  Above  the  arch 
are  three  square-headed,  single  light  windows,  and  the  name 
of  the  building  appears  in  raised  letters — the  wrord  "Wallace" 
above  the  middle  window  and  "Library  and  Art  Building" 
just  below  it. 

The  sandstone  trimmings  above  the  two  outside  windows 
of  the  three  are  ornamented  with  fret  work.  Over  these  win- 
dows are  three  circular  windows  set  in  sandstone  and  at  the 
sides  of  each  window  are  round  sandstone  columns  with  carved 
foliage  capitals.  The  whole  is  surmounted  by  a  gable  with 
modillion  and  dentil  cornice,  all  of  copper.  In  the  frieze  of 
this  cornice  the  date  of  erection,  "  1884,"  is  inscribed  with 
scroll  work  each  side  of  the  inscription.  The  pediment  is  of 
brick. 


EDUCATIONAL.  69 

The  second  floor  is  lighted  by  narrow  windows  arranged 
in  groups,  there  being  two  groups  of  five  each  in  front.  On 
each  side  is  a  group  of  eight  windows,  to  the  right  and  left  of 
which  are  double  windows  separated  from  the  group  by  chim- 
ney piers.  The  rear  is  lighted  by  one  group  of  four  windows 
and  three  of  two  windows  each. 

The  basement  is  lighted  by  square-headed  mullion  win- 
dows, four  in  front,  five  on  each  side  and  four  in  the  rear.  The 
windows  of  the  first  floor  which  are  directly  over  those  in  the 
basement  are  circular-headed,  and  are  trimmed  with  heavy 
molded  Voussoirs  with  two  lights  of  plate  glass. 

The  top  of  the  building  is  surmounted  by  a  large  sky-light, 
thirty  by  thirty-nine  feet,  with  side  lights  beneath  this  part  of 
the  building. 

In  the  window  over  the  door  of  the  main  entrance  is  the 
city  seal  upon  a  plate  of  Venetian  and  antique  glass  five  feet 
in  diameter.  In  the  lower  corner  of  this  window  are  panels 
of  glass  emblematic  of  art  and  literature  ;  the  glass  is  of  two 
thicknesses.  Outside  the  building  the  effect  can  be  seen  only 
when  the  hall  is  lighted.  From  this  hall  one  flight  of  marble 
stairs  leads  to  the  rooms  above,  another  flight  to  the  base- 
ment ;  at  the  left  is  a  door  leading  to  the  ladies'  retiring  room 
and  directly  opposite  are  the  large  swinging  doors  leading  to 
the  library  proper.  The  floor  of  the  entrance  hall  is  of  Italian 
marble  and  the  wainscotting  of  Italian,  Knoxville  and  Tennes- 
see marbles,  relieved  by  rosettes  of  French  Red  ;  the  ceiling 
is  frescoed  in  oil,  the  design  being  a  delicate  tracing  upon  a 
gold  background,  and  the  frieze  is  a  scroll  design  in  gold 
upon  a  deep  red  background.  The  hall  is  lighted  by  a  large 
brass  chandelier  with  two  burners. 

The  waiting  room,  which  is  separated  from  the  entrance 
hall  by  swinging  doors,  is  finished  in  oak  and  frescoed  in 
neutral  tints,  and  around  the  sides,  for  the  use  of  persons 
waiting  to  receive  books,  are  placed  oak  seats  upholstered  in 
brown  leather. 

The  delivery  counter  is  directly  beneath  the  arch  which 
opens  into  the  main  room  for  books.  This  book  room  is 
twenty-six  feet  by  seventy  feet,  and  sixteen  feet  in  height,  and 


70  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

at  either  end  are  larger  fireplaces  of  brick,  sandstone  and 
marble.  Connected  with  the  main  book  room  at  one  corner 
is  a  small  room  with  wash  bowl,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  the 
librarian,  and  next  to  the  librarian's  room  is  the  elevator  which 
runs  from  the  basement  to  the  upper  story. 

On  the  left  of  the  waiting  room  is  the  room  for  books  of 
reference.  The  book  cases,  chairs,  table,  and  mantel  in  this 
room  are  of  oak  and  there  is  at  one  side  a  large  fireplace  for 
wood. 

On  the  right  of  the  waiting  room  is  the  readings  room  for 
magazines.  The  ceiling  ot  this  room  is  panelled  with  heavy 
carved  oak  cornices  and  beams,  and  the  ceiling,  frieze  and 
walls  are  frescoed.  There  is  also  a  heavy  oak  mantel  with  a 
plate  glass  mirror  over  it.  The  room  is  furnished  with  two 
large  tables  and  a  reading  desk  and  chairs,  all  of  oak.  This 
room  contains  a  fireplace. 

In  the  basement  there  is  a  public  reading  room  in  which  a 
large  number  of  daily  and  weekly  newspapers  will  be  kept  on 
file.  Here  are  also  the  boiler  room,  and  two  large  rooms 
which  are  to  be  used  for  work  rooms  and  for  storage  purposes. 

The  upper  vestibule  is  large  and  high.  The  style  of  the 
room  is  varied,  being  Gothic,  German  and  Italian.  The 
arched  ceiling  is  frescoed  in  sombre  hues  with  a  frieze  of 
subdued  gold  and  in  the  cove  above  are  paintings  of  natural 
flowers  upon  a  dark  background,  while  the  fiat  surface  has 
the  same  design  as  the  hall  below.  Directly  over  the  stairway 
is  a  large  panel  in  blue  with  oak  branches  interwoven  across. 

This  vestibule  is  lighted  by  a  magnificent  chandelier  of 
eight  burners  made  of  brass,  copper  and  oxidized  silver.  On 
the  right  of  this  room  is  the  Trustees'  room,  which  is  beauti- 
fully frescoed,  carpeted  and  finished  in  mahogany,  and  heated 
by  an  open  fireplace.  The  furniture  consists  of  a  mahogany 
table  and  chairs  of  the  same  wood.  Next  to  it  is  a  toilet  room 
for  the  use  of  the  trustees.  From  the  vestibule  a  door  leads 
directly  into  the  Art  Gallery. 

The  Art  Gallery  is  thirty-three  feet  by  forty-four  feet,  and 
thirty-two  feet  in  height,  and  is  lighted  entirely  from  above 
by  corrugated  glass  panels  in  the  ceiling,  and  windows  of  the 


NTERIORS— WALLACE   LIBRARY  AND  ART   BUILDING. 


EDUCATIONAL.  71 

same  glass  on  the  four  sides  of  the  monitor  roof;  the  wood 
work  of  the  ceiling  is  frescoed  in  dark  olive  and  bronze.  The 
fresco  painting  of  this  room  is  remarkably  rich  and  harmo- 
nious in  color  effect,  the  style  being  the  pure  German  Renais- 
sance. The  dado  is  a  dark  olive  relieved  by  a  band  of  gilt ; 
the  walls  for  the  pictures,  a  Pompeian  red,  surmounted  by  a 
frieze  of  rich  design  and  color,  representing  conventional 
pomegranate  leaves  and  fruit. 

The  general  effect  of  the  cove  is  a  gold  scroll  upon  a  light 
blue  background.  In  the  cove  are  four  large  paintings,  one 
upon  each  side  of  the  room.  There  is  one,  "Arts  and  Sci- 
ences," directly  opposite  the  main  entrance.  It  represents 
Vulcan  at  his  forge — Apollo  as  God  of  Music  surrounded  by 
the  Muses  representing  painting,  poetry,  music,  astronomy, 
history,  etc.  Above  the  main  entrance,  directly  opposite  "Arts 
and  Sciences"  is  "Apollo  Musagetes,"  in  which  Apollo  is  rep- 
resented as  driving  his  chariot  through  the  clouds,  while  he  is 
surrounded  by  the  Muses  and  pursued  by  the  Fates.  At  one 
end  of  the  room  is  a  smaller  painting  called  "Old  Masters." 
In  this  picture  a  child  is  seen  standing  upon  the  edge  of 
a  staging,  in  an  old  cathedral,  swinging  a  burning  censer, 
out  of  the  smoke  of  which  arises  the  nude  form  of  a  woman, 
and  over  the  woman  an  artist  is  bending  with  the  palette  and 
brushes  in  his  hand.  The  conception  of  the  picture  is,  that 
the  old  masters  received  their  inspiration  from  the  church,  the 
child  with  the  censer  representing  the  Catholic  church. 

The  picture  at  the  other  end  of  the  room,  a  companion 
painting  to  "Old  Masters,"  is  called  "Modern  Art,"  and  rep- 
resents a  female  artist  painting  from  a  living  model,  the  idea 
being  that  modern  artists  paint  directly  from  nature. 

Around  the  Art  Gallery  are  four  small  rooms,  each  twelve 
by  twentv-three  feet.  All  the  wood  floors  in  the  building 
are  of  southern  hard  pine,  and  all  the  finish,  with  few  excep- 
ceptions,  is  of  oak.  The  doors  are  all  made  of  oak  and  are 
heavy  and  substantial. 

The  works  of  Art  which  are  now  in  the  Art  Gallery,  as 
well  as  the  collections  of  engravings,  photographs  and  relics 
in    the    adjoining    rooms,    are  a    source    of    much   profit   and 


72 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


enjoyment  to  our  citizens,  and  a  great  attraction  to  strangers 
who  may  be  sojourning  in  our  city. 

At  the  time  the  Art  Gallery  was  opened  to  the  public,  the 
main  room  was  set  apart  for  oil  paintings,  the  west  side  room 
for  photographs,  the  east  side  room  for  engravings  and  water 
colors,  the  south-east  corner  room  for  "relics,"  and  the  south- 
west corner  room  for  exhibition  of  art  work  from  the  schools  or 
such  as  might  be  required.  The  library  was  already  in  pos- 
session of  a  valuable  collection  of  photographic  copies  of 
works  of  art  in  the  galleries  of  Europe  which  were  properly 
arranged,  and  to  which  some  additions  have  been  made  by 
gift  and  purchase.  / 


A  very  good  number  of  oil  paintings  have  been  received 
and  also  several  large,  fine  steel  engravings  and  photographs. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  various  pictures  and  articles 
thus  far  represented  : 

Oil  Painting,  "Headwaters  of  Owens  River,"  artist,  W. 
Keith  ;  presented  by  Thomas  Mack. 

Water  Color,  "Gathering  Sea  Weed,  Pacific  Coast,"  artist, 
F.  A.  McClure;  presented  by  D.  B.  Whittier. 


EDUCATIONAL.  73 

Oil  Painting,  "Sentinel  Rock,"  artist,  G.  Andrews:  pre- 
sented by  H.  F.  Coggshall. 

India  Ink  Portrait  of  Anson  Marshall,  artist,  J.  C.  Monlton  ; 
presented  by  H.  A.  Goodrich. 

Oil  Painting,  ''Gleams  of  Sunshine,''  artist,  R.  M.  Shurt- 
leff ;  presented  by  H.  I.  Wallace. 

Oil  Painting,  "A  Quiet  Nook,"  artist,  J.  Appleton  Brown  : 
presented  by  H.  A.  Willis. 

Oil  Portrait  of  Charles  Sumner,  artist,  Edgar  Parker  ;  pre- 
sented by  James  Phillips,  Jr. 

Oil  Portrait  of  Alvah  Crocker,  artist,  Edgar  Parker;  pre- 
sented by  the  family. 

Engraving,  "  Haydn  returning  from  England,"  presented 
by  George  F.  Simonds. 

Engraving,  "The  Jersey  Beauties,"  presented  bv  Henry 
Hale. 

Engraving,  "Departure  of  the  Mayflower,''  presented  by 
Rodney  Wallace. 

Engraving,  "First  Sunday  in  America,"  companion  to 
"Departure  of  the  Mayflower,"  presented  by  Rodney  Wal- 
lace. 

Oil  Painting,  "The  Christening, "  artist,  A.  Bodenmuller  : 
presented  by  Rodney  Wallace. 

Four  large  and  twelve  small  photographs  of  Colorado 
scenery,  presented  by  Ivers  Phillips. 

Four  extra  large  photographs  of  "St.  Peters,"  "The  Coli- 
seum," "The  Forum,"  and  "The  Castle  of  St.  Angelo,"  pre- 
sented by  Rodney  Wallace. 

Fifty  photographic  copies  of  works  of  art  in  the  Corcoran 
Art  Gallery,  Washington,  D.  C,  presented  by  the  Corcoran 
Art  Gallery. 

Oil  Painting,  "Thunder  Storm  in  the  Rocky  Mountains," 
artist,  W.  G.  Beaman  ;  presented  by  the  artist. 

Oil  Painting,  "On  the  banks  of  the  Seine,"  artist,  Jules 
Scalbert ;  presented  by  Robert  Graves. 

Oleograph,  "Henrv  III.  and  his  Court:"  presented  by 
John  Parkhill. 

Engraving,  "The  Bathers  :"  presented  by  John  A.  Lowell. 


74  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Oil  painting,  "Twilight,"  and  fifteen  etchings;  artist,  R. 
Lovewell ;  presented  by  the  artist. 

Etching,  "Courtship  of  Miles  Standish,"  artist,  C.  G. 
Turner  ;   presented  by  H.  C.  Howells. 

Oil  portrait  of  Rodney  Wallace,  artist  F.  P.  Vinton  ;  pre- 
sented by  the  trustees  of  1885. 

Oil  painting,  "Sunrise  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,"  artist, 
W.  L.  Sountag ;  presented  by  Thomas  Mack. 

Pastel,  "Woodland  Solitude,"  artist,  E.  H.  Rogers;  pre- 
sented by  Rodney  Wallace. 

The  value  of  the  reference  and  reading  room  of  the  Li- 
brary cannot  be  computed  ;  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant features  of  the  institution  as  an  educator  not  only  of 
the  general  public,  but  of  the  rising  generation.  For  the 
benefit  of  those  who  are  not  yet  aware  of  the  peculiar  advan- 
tages it  affords,  the  practical  and  timely  remarks  of  Superin- 
tendent Edgerly  are  here  quoted.  Speaking  of  the  reference 
room  in  particular,  he  says  : — 

"  This  collection  of  books  is  growing  in  public  favor  every 
day,  because  the  people  are  learning  more  and  more  how  to 
use  it.  Persons  from  all  parts  of  our  city,  and  from  the  ad- 
joining towns,  and  sometimes  from  distant  localities,  come 
here  to  consult  these  books,  which  they  cannot  find  in  places 
nearer  their  homes. 

"In  some  libraries,  none  under  eighteen  years  of  age  are 
allowed  free  access  to  the  reference  room.  With  us,  the 
pupils  of  the  grammar  schools  are  freely  admitted  and  as  far 
as  time  can  be  so  assigned,  assistance  is  given  to  them  in  their 
search  for  required  information  relating  to  their  studies. 

"  Many  of  our  teachers  at  the  present  time  are  receiving 
valuable  aid  from  the  library.  A  teacher  is  allowed  to  take 
nine  books  for  use  in  the  school.  There  are  to  be  found  in 
the  library  many  books  containing  information  bearing  di- 
rectly upon  the  subjects  concerning  which  certain  schools 
are  studying.  Here  is  an  opportunity  to  teach  the  pupils  the 
value  of  a  public  library,  to  encourage  them  to  make  a  care- 
ful study  of  good  Books.  This  plan  tends  to  bring  the  public 
school  and  the  public  library  into  close   relation.     The  pupil 


EDUCATIONAL.  7") 

needs  to  be  impressed  with  the  thought  that  he  can  have  free 
access  to  the  library  after  his  school  life  is  ended,  that  the 
library  is  to  be  a  help  to  him  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  Our 
young  people  need  aid  in  the  choice  of  reading  matter.  The}' 
should  be  taught  not  only  how  to  read,  but  what  to  read.  A 
catalogue — like  the  one  now  in  use — carefully  examined  at 
home  or  in  school  renders  efficient  aid  to  the  pupils  in  the 
selection  of  books.  An  interesting  article  in  a  magazine  con- 
taining allusions  to  the  works  of  certain  authors  frequently  in- 
duces a  person  to  read  more  of  those  authors. 

""Constant  use  is  made  of  the  reference  room.  It  is  not 
always  desirable  nor  convenient  to  carry  from  the  library  the 
volumes  that  a  person  wishes  to  consult  in  order  to  obtain  in- 
formation upon  certain  topics,  but  books  can  be  consulted  in 
the  reference  room  and  much  valuable  time  gained   thereby." 


CHAPTER  \7 


PROFESSIONAL. 


O  one  class  of  our  citizens  are  more 
highly  esteemed  and  honored  by  the 
community  than  our  family  physicians, 
not  only  those  in  active  service,  but 
those  who  have  passed  oft"  the  stage, 
have  endeared  themselves  to  many  now 
livincr  to  whom  these  brief  sketches  will 
be  interesting.  In  response  to  this  sen- 
timent of  the  people,  and  the  desire 
also  on  the  part  of  resident  physicians  for  an  extended  sketch 
of  Dr.  Alfred  Hitchcock,  a  considerable  portion  of  this 
chapter  is  devoted  to  the  preservation  of  the  names  and  labors 
of  Fitchburg  doctors.  We  are  indebted  to  the  late  Dea.  L. 
H.  Bradford  for  sketches  of  the  early  physicians.  In  the  re- 
maining portion  of  the  chapter  are  given  brief  sketches 
of  present  members  of  the  legal  profession. 


DOCTORS. 


A  few  years  previous  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  a  young 
man,  Dr.  Thaddeus  McCarty  of  Worcester,  the  first  settled 
physician,  supposed,  came  to  this  town.  He  married  the 
daughter  of  Landlord  Thomas  Cowdin,  the  ancestor  of  some 
of  our  best  citizens,  and  to  whose  memory  the  Hon.  John 
Cowdin  of  Boston,  has  erected  a  fine  granite  monument  on 
the  brow  of  Mount  Laurel  cemetery  in  this  city.  Dr.  Mc- 
Carty gained  great  skill  as  a  physician  and  previous  to  his 
death  removed  from  town. 


PROFESSIONAL.  77 

Dr.  Jonas  Marshall,  grandfather  of  Abel  Marshall, 
settled  here  after  the  revolution,  in  the  east  part  of  the  town, 
on  the  identical  farm  now  occupied  by  his  grandson.  He 
continued  practice  and  died  here  venerable  in  years  and  hon- 
ored as  a  physician. 

Dr.  Peter  Snow,  one  of  the  earliest  physicians  in  Fitch- 
burg,  came  here  in  1782  from  Lunenburg,  having  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Abraham  Haskell  in  that  town.  Dr.  Snow 
succeeded  Dr.  Thaddeus  McCarty,  who  had  removed  the  pre- 
vious year  to  Worcester.  He  located  in  the  Gen.  James  Reed 
house  situated  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  city  hall.  He 
whs  the  principal  magistrate  and  also  the  leading  physician  in 
the  town  for  over  forty  years.  From  1801  to  1808  and  from 
1817  to  1820  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  selectmen  of 
Fitchburg,  and  from  1817  to  1824  he  was  towrn  clerk.  He 
died  Nov.  22,  1824,  aged  65  years. 

Dr.  Peter  Stearns  Snow,  the  eldest  son  of  the  above, 
was  a  licentiate  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  and 
commenced  practice  in  connection  with  his  father  in  1815, 
and  at  his  father's  death  was  chosen  to  succeed  him  as  town 
clerk  from  1824  to  1829.  He  continued  the  practice  of  his 
profession  until  183 1,  when  on  account  of  poor  health,  he  re- 
tired from  active  practice.  For  many  years  he  was  a  val- 
uable member  of  the  school  committee,  and  up  to  a  late 
period  was  secretary  of  the  board.  He  died  Nov.  25,  1884, 
aged  91  years  and  11  months. 

Dr.  Charles  Snow,  the  youngest  son  of  Dr.  Peter 
Snow,  graduated  in  Brunswick,  Me.,  in  1824,  and  practiced 
in  this  town  with  his  brother,  Dr.  Peter  Stearns  Snow,  two 
years  ;  he  then  removed  to  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  to  join  his  broth- 
ers, Henry  and  Boylston,  who  had  established  themselves  in 
mercantile  business  there.  He  continued  to  reside  there  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  January   15,   1SS4,  aged  So  years. 

Dr.  Chester  J.  Freeland  graduated  at  the  Berkshire 
Medical  College  in  Pittslield  in  1825  ;  he  practiced  in  the 
towns  of  Becket  and  Worthington  25  years.  He  came  to 
this  town  in  1855,    and   from   that   time  until  his  death,    April 


78  FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

ioth,    i860,    practiced  as  a  homceopathic   physician  in  Fitch- 
burg. 

Dr.  James  C.  Freeland,  homoeopathic  physician,  son  of 
the  last  named,  graduated  at  the  Cleveland  Homoeopathic 
College  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  185 1,  settled  in  Fitchburg  in 
1855,  and  died  April  23,  1871,  aged  39  years. 

Dr.  William  B.  Chamberlain  came  to  this  town  in 
May,  1S63,  and  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Dr.  James  C. 
Freeland  ;    he  left  Fitchburg  in  November,  1864. 

Dr.  Charles  Wellington  Wilder,  son  of  Dr.  Charles 
Woodward  W7ilder,  graduated  at  the  Medical  Department  of 
Dartmouth  College  in  1849  ;  he  commenced  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  December  of  that  year  in  the  dwelling  house  on 
Main  street,  latelv  removed  from  the  lot  on  which  the  Wal- 
lace Library  and  Art  Building  is  erected  ;  he  died  at  the  in- 
sane hospital  at  Worcester. 

Dr.  James  Preston  Cummings  graduated  at  the  Medical 
Department  of  Harvard  University  in  1851,  and  commenced 
practice  in  Leicester  ;  he  removed  to  this  town  in  1854.  ^e 
died  August  27,  1858,  aged  29  years,  and  was  buried  with 
Masonic  honors. 

Dr.  David  D.  Otis  graduated  at  the  Medical  Department 
of  Harvard  University  in  1856;  he  also  commenced  practice 
in  Leicester  and  came  to  this  town  in  the  autumn  of  1852, 
but  soon  afterwards  removed  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  at  which 
place  he  died  in  1858. 

Dr.  Thomas  W.  Wadsworth  graduated  at  the  Medical 
Department  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1851,  and  that  year 
commenced  practice  in  Fitchburg.  During  Dr.  Hitchcock's 
absence  in  Europe,  perfecting  himself  in  surgery  in  the  hos- 
pitals on  the  continent,  Dr.  Wadsworth  took  charge  of  his 
patients.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
in  this  town.  He  died  in  Petersham  in  March,  1854,  ar>d 
was  buried  here  among  those  to  whom  he  ministered  and 
loved,  aged  35  years.  On  his  monument  is  the  quotation  : 
"He  wrought  all  morning  and  rested  at  noon." 


PROFESSIONAL.  71) 

Dr.  William  W.  Godding,  of  Winchendon,  graduated 
at  the  Vermont  Medical  College  in  1857.  lie  was  assistant 
physician  in  the  Asylum  for  the  Insane  in  Concord,  N.  H., 
from  1859  to  1862,  and  in  July  of  the  latter  year  he  removed 
to  Fitchburg,  and  commenced  practice.  In  1863  he  received 
the  appointment  as  assistant  physician  in  the  United  States 
Hospital  for  the  Insane  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  accepted 
the  same  in  September,  relinquishing  practice  here. 

Dr.  Osmyn  L.  Huntley  graduated  at  the  Vermont  Med- 
ical College  in  1S41,  and  the  next  year  came  to  this  town 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1853  he 
purchased  the  mansion  house  on  Main  street  previously 
owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Calvin  Lincoln,  in  which  he 
died  in  February,  1856,  aged  36  years. 

Dr.  James  Ripley  Wellman  graduated  at  the  Medical 
Department  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1855  and  succeeded 
Dr.  Huntley  on  Main  street  in  1856.  Dr.  Wellman  was  one 
of  the  most  promising  young  physicians — modest,  scholarly 
and  learned  in  his  chosen  profession,  and  sincerely  mourned 
by  his  friends  when  he  died  in  July,  1861,  aged  32  years. 

Dr.  Alfred  Miller  graduated  at  the  Vermont  Medical 
College  and  commenced  practice  in  Ashburnham  in  1845. 
He  removed  to  Fitchburg  in  1863  and  located  at  the  same 
place  on  Main  street  in  which  the  two  last  named  physicians 
had  resided — the  same  location  on  which  George  F.  Fay  has 
lately  erected  the  most  costly  residence  in  the  citv  of  Fitch- 
burg. Dr.  Miller  was  one  of  the  most  popular  physicians  in 
Worcester  North,  and  for  several  years  was'  a  member  of  the 
school  committee,  and  a  representative  in  the  General  Court 
from  this  city.  He  died  universally  regretted  by  the  citizens 
of  Fitchburg,  Nov.  15,  1877,  aged  62  years. 

Dr.  Josiah  Norcross  graduated  at  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Harvard  University  in  1846  ;  in  August  of  that  year 
he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Dr.  Thomas  R.  Boutelle  and 
settled  in  this  town.  In  1849  he  removed  to  South  Reading 
and  relinquished  practice. 


80  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Dr.  Artemas  Farwell  removed  to.  Fitchburg  in  1842 
from  Providence,  R.  I.  He  was  in  business  in  that  city  with 
Dr.  Brown,  who  was  so  prominent  in  the  Dorr  war,  and  it 
was  in  their  office  that  the  incipient  stages  of  the  Rhode 
Island  rebellion  in  1841  and  1842  were  planned. 

Dr.  Elijah  Darling,  of  Westminster,  removed  to  this 
town  in  the  year  1828,  and  in  1831  he  purchased  the  business 
of  Dr.  Peter  S.  Snow.  After  a  short  time  he  sold  out  to  Dr. 
Otis  Abercrombie,  a  graduate  of  the  medical  department  of 
Yale  College.  In  1829,  Dr.  Abercrombie  came  to  Fitchburg 
from  Ashburnham,  having  practiced  in  that  town  about  two 
years,  and  was  in  partnership  for  a  while  with  Dr.  Jonas  A. 
Marshall ;  his  health  failing,  he  relinquished  the  business  of 
his  profession  in  1838  and  removed  to  Lunenburg,  and  died 
in  that  town  Jan.  24,  185 1,  aged  49  years.  Dr.  Abercrombie 
came  from  the  well-known  family  of  that  name  in  Deerfield, 
Mass.,  and  his  own  family  are  now  residing  in  Lunenburg. 

Dr.  Charles  Woodward  Wilder,  graduated  in  the 
medical  department  of  Dartmouth  College  in  the  year  1S17  and 
commenced  practice  in  Leominster,  in  partnership  with  Dr. 
Abraham  Haskell,  Sr.  ;  in  1820,  he  removed  to  Templeton, 
where  he  remained  until  1828,  when,  in  consequence  of  im- 
paired health,  he  sold  his  business  and  returned  to  Leom- 
inster. In  1830  he  removed  to  Fitchburg,  in  1833  he 
returned  to  Leominster,  changing  business  with  Dr.  Thomas 
R.  Boutelle.  Dr.  Wilder  is  remembered  by  many  of  our 
citizens  for  his  apt  sayings  and  genial  humor,  always  full  of 
good  nature  and  proverbial  kindness.  For  several  years  he 
was  a  director  in  the  Fitchburg  and  Worcester  railroad  com- 
pany.    He  died  in  February,  185 1,  aged  60  years. 

Dr.  Thomas  R.  Boutelle,  graduated  in  the  medical  de- 
partment  of  Yale  College  in  1819  ;  the  same  year  he  settled  in 
New  Braintree  ;  in  1824  he  removed  to  Leominster,  succeed- 
ing to  the  business  of  Dr.  Abraham  Haskell,  Jr.,  and  in  1833 
removed  to  Fitchburg,  changing  business  with  Dr.  Charles 
W.  Wilder.  In  1S53  and  1854,  he  was  president  of  the 
Worcester    District   Medical    Society  ;     in    1856    and    1857, 


PROFESSIONAL 


SI 


president  of  the  Worcester  North  Agricultural  society;  in 
1857  and  1858,  vice-president  of  the  Massachusetts  AJedical 
society:  from  1862  to  1864,  a  member  of  the  board  of  trus- 
ters oi  the  State1  Industrial  School  for  Girls  at  Lancaster:  in 
1864  and  1865,  president  of  the  Worcester  North  District 
Medical  society.  During  the  war  ol  the  rebellion  he  was 
chairman  of  the  relief  committee  of  the  town,  and  their  meet- 
ings were  held  at  his  office  every  Saturday  evening  during 
those  long  dreary  years,  and  his  labors  never  ceased  in 
caring  for  the  comfort  oi  the  families  of  the  soldiers  in  the 
field.     He  died  July  13,  1869,  aged  74. 

Dr.  Alfred  Hitchcock,  in  his  day  by  far  the  most  re- 
markable member  of  the  medical  profession  in  Fitchburg,  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  practice  here  tor  thirty-seven  years. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  Medical  College,  Nov., 
1837,  and  subsequently  received  a  diploma  at  Jefferson  Med- 
ical College,  Philadelphia.  In  December,  1837,  'u'  settled 
in  Ashby,  but  removed  to  Fitchburg  at  the  written  request  of 
main'  of  the  prominent  citi/ens  in  April,  1850.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  overseers  of  Harvard  University  from 

1857    to    1865. 

An  earnest  seeker  after  knowledge  in  whatever  sphere 
he  might  labor,  an  acute  observer,  his  mind  naturally  turned 
to  the  sciences  with  an  interest  which  seemed  to  constantly 
increase  with  his  years.  To  enlarge  his  sphere  of  observa- 
tion in  his  profession,  he  visitc  d  Europe  in  1851-52.  His 
general,  culture,  legal  mind,  sound  judgment  and  scientific 
attainments  eminently  qualified  him  as  a  counsellor  in  his 
profession  :  and  his  medical  brethren  far  and  near  sought  his 
services  in  surgery  and  other  important  cases  of  a  dangerous 
or  doubtful  character.  Governor  Andrew  early  recognized 
his  attainments  and  ability,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  war  ap- 
pointed him  brigade  surgeon  in  Burnside's  expedition,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  finally  declined  tor  other  duties.  During  the 
three  years  of  the  war,  he  spent  one-fifth  of  his  whole  time  in 
the  interest  of  the  sick  and  wounded  of  Massachusetts  soldiers 
in  the  field  and  at  home.  In  1S47  he  first  entered  the  State 
legislature,     and    was    three    times    elected    to    the   executive 


82  FITCH  BURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

council  of  the  State — in  1861-62-63.  His  letter  accepting 
his  renomination  in  1862  is  as  follows  :  "If  the  nomination  is 
again  ratified  at  the  polls,  I  shall  cheerfully  bear  the  incon- 
venience and  sacrifice  which  in  my  own  case  the  office  entails 
in  obedience  to  the  democratic  idea,  that  while  no  man  has  a 
claim  for  public  office,  so  no  man  has  a  right,  especially  in 
time  of  public  calamity,  to  decline  the  responsibilities  of  office 
when  tendered  by  the  public  suffrage.  The  national  life  is 
in  peril  ;  bloody  treason  is  rampant  and  defiant  and  it  is  no 
common  nor  idle  thing  to  lire  to  vote,  or  to  hold  office  in  this 
momentous  era.  I  heartily  deprecate  the  attempts-  in  certain 
quarters  to  fan  the  embers  of  party  strife,  and  even  amid  the 
thunders  of  war  to  stir  the  seething  cauldron  of  party  politics. 
For  myself,  old  party  ties  sit  loosely,  save  only  those  which 
bind  me  to  an  unconditional,  loyal  and  unchanging  support  of 
all  the  war  measures  of  the  State  and  National  governments. 
In  the  coming  State  election,  but  two  classes  will  vote,  and 
whether  consciously  or  unconsciously,  one  will  be  to  sustain 
and  strengthen  the  executive  arm  in  its  efforts  to  preserve  the 
national  life  and  put  down  the  slaveholders'  rebellion,  and  the 
other  to  weaken  or  paralyze  that  arm,  and  thus  give  aid  and 
comfort  to  traitor  foes."  Such  was  his  personal  character  as 
a  citizen,  and  all  of  his  acts  as  a  man  and  a  citizen  entitled 
him  to  the  respect  he  received,  while  his  professional  skill 
was  recognized  not  only  by  his  fellow-townsmen,  but  by  very 
many  persons  throughout  the  State  and  in  other  parts  of  the 
country.  One  of  the  most  eminent  physicians  of  Massa- 
chusetts once  said  that  he  regarded  Dr.  Hitchcock  as  "the 
peer  of  the  best  practitioners  in  the  Commonwealth.''  He 
was  utterly  free  from  dogmatism,  or  the  pride  of  the  schools, 
but  full  of  gentleness,  courtesy,  judgment  and  decision. 
While  he  felt  a  commendable  pride  in  the  triumphs  of  his  art, 
he  was  always  ready  and  indeed  earnest  to  acquire  infor- 
mation from  whatever  source  it  might  come.  He  was  one 
who  never  ceased  to  learn  and  was  constantly  willing  to 
accept  truth  whether  from  the  highest  or  humblest. 

Dr.   Harvey  D.  Jillson  studied  medicine  in  Worcester 
and  at  Harvard  University  and  commenced  practice  as  an 


PROFESSIONAL.  83 

eclectic  physician  in  Leominster  in  i860,  continuing  there 
four  years  ;  he  then  practised  four  years  in  Ashburnham  and 
came  to  Fitchburg  in  1868.  For  two  years  he  was  president 
of  Worcester  North  Eclectic  Medical  society  and  eleven  years 
its  secretary ;  for  one  year  he  was  vice-president  of  the 
National  Eclectic  Medical  Society,  and  died  September  25th, 
1877,  aged  43  years. 

Dr.  James  P.  Foley  studied  at  St.  Mary's  College  in 
Baltimore,  also  at  Holy  Cross  College  in  Worcester  and  the 
St.  Joseph's  Provincial  College  at  Troy,  N.  Y.  He  grad- 
uated at  Dartmouth  College  in  1872,  and  commenced  practice 
in  Fitchburg ;  he  was  a  member  of  the  Worcester  North 
Medical  Society.  He  died  September  18th,  1881,  aged  41 
years. 

Dr.  Andrew  J.  Flagg,  a  native  of  Royalston,  was  a 
graduate  at  the  Philadelphia  Medical  College  and  commenced 
practice  in  Claremont,  N.  H.,  and  a  few  years  previous  to 
his  death  removed  to  this  city  and  made  a  specialty  of  chronic 
diseases.      He  died  January  24,  1883,  aged  49  years. 

Dr.  Jonas  A.  Marshall,  born  March  26th,  1800,  was 
for  over  forty  years  a  practising  physician  in  Fitchburg.  He 
was  chosen  town  clerk  for  twenty-four  years  in  succession. 
He  died  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  February  25th,  1887. 

Dr.  Edward  Liston  Pillsbury,  the  oldest  son  of  Dr. 
Levi  Pillsbury,  was  born  in  Fitchburg  in  1844 ;  lie  grad- 
uated at  the  medical  institution  of  Dartmouth  College  in 
1865,  and  practised  in  Fitchburg  until  ,1868  ;  he  then  re- 
moved to  Boston,  where  he  was  in  active  practice  until  his 
death  in  1880,  aged  36  years. 

Dr.  Levi  Pillsbury  graduated  at  the  medical  institution 
at  Dartmouth  College  in  1842,  settled  in  Fitchburg  Mav  rst, 
1844,  and  is  the  oldest  practising  physician  in  the  city.  Ex- 
cepting for  a  little  more  than  a  year  in  1861  and  1862,  on 
account  of  ill  health,  he  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  for  more  than  forty  years. 


84  FITCHBURG,    PA$T    AND    PRESENT. 

Dr.  George  I).  Colony  graduated  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege in  the  class  of  1843  :  he  studied  medicine  with  the  late 
Dr.  Amos  Twichell,  ofKeene,  N.  II.,  a  prominent  and  well- 
known  surgeon  in  his  day,  and  attended  lectures  at  the  Med- 
ical Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  re- 
ceived his  degree  at  that  institution  in  1S46.  He  commenced 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Athol  the  same  year  and  con- 
tinued in  active  practice  there  until  his  removal  to  Fitchburg 
in  May,  1861. 

Dr.  Jabez  Fisher  graduated  at  the  Medical  Department 
of  Harvard  University  in  1S46  :  he  settled  in  Fitchburg  in 
1851  as  a  hvdropathic  physician  and  surgeon,  and  in  1855 
retired  from  practice  and  engaged  in  horticultural  pursuits, 
on  what  he  named  "Pomoland,"  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town.  He  at  once  took  the  first  rank  in  fruit  culture,  and  is 
authoritv,  especially  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  raising  oi 
grapes.  In  1855  and  1856  he  was  chosen  senator  for  Wor- 
cester Northeast  Senatorial  District.  In  1857  and  1858  he 
was  president  of  Worcester  North  Agricultural  Society. 
From  1857  to  1863  he  was  an  influential  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  and  has  since  filled  several  positions  in 
Fitchburg,  with  credit  to  himself  and  the  city  of  his  adoption. 

Dr.  George  Jewett  graduated  at  the  Berkshire  Med- 
ical College  in  Pittsheld,  Mass.,  in  1847,  at  the  age  ot"  22 
years.  He  continued  his  studies  at  Harvard  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  was  a  pupil  of  the  late  Dr.  Jacob  Bigelow  :  he 
practised  six  years  in  Templeton  and  five  years  in  Gardner, 
and  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1858.  In  January,  1862,  he  en- 
tered the  army  as  assistant  surgeon,  was  soon  promoted  to 
surgeon  ot  the  51st  Regt.,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
with  his  regiment.  He  visited  Europe  in  1867  and  1868  : 
was  president  of  Worcester  North  Medical  Society  in  1876-77  ; 
has  been  examining  surgeon  for  pensions  since  1864.  and  was 
president  of  the  Examining  Board  of  Pensions  in  this  city. 
He  was  also  president  of  Worcester  North  Agricultural  So- 
ciety in  1878  and  1S79,  an^  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of 
Agriculture  from  1881  to  1884.       He,  is  a  trustee  of  the  Public 


PR(  )l  ESSK  >N  \I..  <s-> 

Library,  president  of  the  Hospital  Cottage  corporation, 
Baldwinville,  director  in  the  Fitchburg  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trade,   and   was  councillor  of  the 

Massachusetts  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Hubbard  II.  Brigham,  eclectic  physician,  came  to 
Fitchburg  in  1845  :  he  graduated  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  col- 
lege in  Worcester  in  1855,  and  is  active  in  his  profession  at 
this  time. 

Dr.  Sarah  C.  Brigham,  wile  of  the  above,  graduated 
at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1856, 
and  has  since  been  in  the  practice  of  her  profession  here  in 
connection  with  her  husband. 

Dr.  Daniel  Brainard  Whittier,  was  born  in  GofTs- 
town,  X.  II..  October  21,  1834,  being  oi  Scotch-Irish  descent 
by  his  maternal  parent  and  of  English  by  his  paternal.  He 
pursued  an  academic  course  at  the  New  Hampshire  Confer- 
ence Seminary  receiving  his  medical  education  at  Harvard 
Medical  College  and  at  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Col- 
lege, from  the  latter  of  which  he  graduated  in  March,  1S63. 
Since  that  time  Fitchburg  has  been  his  home  and  place  of 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has  served  the  cite  as  a, 
member  of  the  school  board  :  has  been  president  of  the  State 
Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  as  well  as  the  Worcester 
County  Homoeopathic  Association. 

Dr.  Hollis  K.  Bennett,  was  born  in  Warren,  \'t.. 
in  1838  :  received  a  common  school  education  :  took  his 
medical  degree  at  the  Pennsylvania  Medical  University  : 
began  practice  in  Hartford.  X.  Y..  afterwards  in  Whitehall, 
where  he  was  examining  surgeon  tor  pensions:  came  to 
Fitchburg  in  October,  1872  ;  is  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society,  American  Institute  of 
Homoeopathy  since  1869,  and  a  member  of  the  principal 
Homoeopathic  societies  in  Massachusetts. 

Dr.  A.  W.  Sidney  was  horn  in  Westminster.  Feb.  27. 
1824:  attended  the  public  schools  of  that  town  and  the  West- 
minster Academy  :  graduated  at  Dartmouth  Medical  Col- 
lege;  began  practice  in  Sterling  in  i860;   came  to  Fitchburg 


86  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

in  1866  and  has  been  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  here 
since  ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society, 
the  American  Medical  Association  and  the  Ninth  Interna- 
tional Medical  Congress;  is  also  president  of  the  corporation 
of  the  Home  for  Old  Ladies. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Rice,  was  born  in  Ashburnham, 
Mass.,  in  1843  ;  resided  in  Ashby  from  the  age  of  two  till 
sixteen  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  that  town  ;  entered 
Appleton  Academy  at  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.,  and  graduated 
there  in  1862  ;  studied  medicine  at  Harvard  and  Dartmouth 
Medical  Colleges,  graduating  at  the  former  in  1865  and  the 
latter  in  1866  ;  began  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  in 
Fitchburg  in  the  spring  of  1866,  where  he  still  continues  to 
reside  and  continue  the  practice  of  his  profession  ;  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Worcester  North  Medical  Society  ;  surgeon  of 
the  6th  Regiment  M.  V.  M.  ;  member  of  the  school  commit- 
tee and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  public  library. 

Dr.  F.  H.  Thompson  was  born  in  New  Salem,  Franklin 
county,  Mass.,  Aug.  5,  1844;  educated  at  New  Salem 
Academy,  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  Amherst  College  and 
Harvard  Medical  School ;  graduated  from  the  latter  May 
1870;  began  practice  in  Fitchburg,  May,  1874;  was  c^y 
physician  in  1877,  a  member  of  the  school  committee  from 
1875  to  1878  and  from  1878  to  1881  ;  a  trustee  of  the  public 
library  from  1882  to  1887  ;  is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society,  joining  in  1870;  was  surgeon  on  the  staff  of 
General  Kimball  in  1877-78. 

Dr.  D.  S.  Woodworth,  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Mass., 
Sept.  3,  185 1.  His  parents  moved  West  when  he  was  quite 
small,  and  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  Fremont,  Ohio. 
His  father  having  died  in  Ohio,  the  rest  of  the  family  moved 
East  again  ;  he  going  to  Boston,  where  he  entered  the  employ 
of  C.  F.  Hove}r  &  Co.,  and  remained  with  them  several 
years  ;  came  to  Fitchburg  and  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  H.  H.  Brigham,  Jan.  1,  1873;  graduated  from  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Medical  Department, 
Columbia  College,  New  York,  March  1,  1876;  is  a  member 


PROFESSIONAL.  87 

of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  ;  has  practised  in  Fitch- 
burg  since;  was  city  physician  in  1879-80-81-84-85-86; 
president  Worcester  North  Eclectic  Medical  Society,  1878  ; 
on  school  committee  in  1879-80-81-82  ;  medical  director 
Massachusetts  Mutual  Aid  Society  for  several  years  past ; 
past  master  C.  W.  Moore  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.  ;  past  com- 
mander Jerusalem  Commandery,  K.  T.  ;  past  grand  Roul- 
stone  Lodge  ;  past  chief  patriarch  King  David  Encampment, 
and  Assistant  Surgeon  General  Division  of  the  East  Patriarchs 
Militant,  I.  O.  O.  F.  ;  member  of  O.  U.  A.  M.  and  A.  L.  H.  ; 
past  chancellor  of  Alpine  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  and  is  at  the  pres- 
ent time  grand  chancellor  of  Massachusetts  K.  of  P. 

Dr.  Ernest  P.  Miller,  son  of  Alfred  and  Elsie  L. 
Miller  of  Fitchburg,  was  born  Jan.  4,  1S51,  in  Ashburnham  ; 
fitted  for  college  at  Fitchburg  high  school,  graduating  in 
1868;  a  student  in  Amherst  College,  1868-70;  teacher  in 
Fitchburg,  1870;  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1872; 
teacher  in  Fitchburg  high  school,  1872-4;  graduated  at  Har- 
vard Medical  School,  1876;  medical  examiner  from  1877; 
city  physician,  1880  and  1883. 

Dr.  Herbert  H.  Lyons,  was  born  at  Milford,  Mass., 
Sept.  24,  1855  ;  graduated  from  Milford  high  school,  June, 
1874 '  graduated  from  Boston  College  in  1878  ;  began  the 
study  of  medicine  at  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  Septem- 
ber 1878,  and  graduated  therefrom  in  June,  1881  ;  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Fitchburg,  September,  18S1,  where  he 
still  continues  to  reside  and  practise  medicine  and  surgery. 

Dr.  Atherton  P.  Mason,  is  the"  son  of  Charles  and 
Caroline  Atherton  (Briggs)  Mason  and  was  born  in  Fitch- 
burg, Sept.  13,  1856.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  city,  graduating  from  the  Fitchburg  high  school  in  the 
class  of  1875.  In  tne  ta^  °f  x875  he  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege, where  he  remained  four  years,  taking  the  degree  of  A. 
B.  at  his  graduation  in  1879.  In  October  of  the  same  year 
he  entered  the  Harvard  Medical  School  and  took  the  full 
medical  course  of  three  years,  graduating  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  in  June,  1882.      He  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston, 


88  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

having  an  office  in  Somerville  and  attending  exercises  in  the 
Boston  City,  and  Massachusetts  General  Hospitals,  until 
February,  1884,  when  he  returned  to  Fitchburg  and  located 
permanently  in  his  native  city.  Dr.  Mason  is  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  and  secretary  of  the 
Worcester  North   District  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  John  D.  Kielty,  (sketch  as  city  physician,  chapter 
III.) 

Dr.  C.  W.  Spring,  was  born  at  Salmon  Falls,  N.  II.  : 
graduated  from  Dartmouth,  1SS0,  and  from  Harvard  Medical 
School  in  1S84  ;  began  the  practice  o'f  his  profession  in 
Fitchburg  in  the  spring  of  1885. 

Dr.  J.  Everett  Luscombe,  received  his  degree  in 
1885  at  the  Boston  University  School  of  Medicine,  and  set- 
tled in  Fitchburg  the  same  year,  where  he  still  continues  the 
practice  of  medicine  and  surgery.  He  is  a  member  ot  the 
Worcester  County  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  II.  W.  Pierson,  a  practicing  physician,  recently  lo- 
cated in  West  Fitchburg. 

LAWYERS. 

Ebenezer  Torrey,  (sketch  as  president  of  the  Fitch- 
burg National   Bank  in  commercial  chapter.) 

Charles  Mason  was  born  in  Dublin,  N.  H.,  June  3, 
1810.  In  1829  he  entered  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  where 
he  was  fitted  for  college;  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1834. 
From  1835  to  1839  he  was  a  tutor  in  the  University  in  the 
Latin  department.  He  read  law'at  the  Dane  Law  School 
and  received  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  in  1839.  In  September, 
1839,  ne  was  admitted  at  Boston  to  practise  law  in  the  courts 
of  the  state  and  in  the  circuit  and  district  courts  of  the  United 
States.  He  remained  in  Boston  till  May,  1841,  when  he 
opened  an  office  in  Lancaster,  Mass.,  and  in  September, 
1842,  moved  to  Fitchburg  where  he  has  since  resided.  In 
June,  0S42,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  standing  commis- 
sioners of  bankruptcy  for  the  Massachusetts  district  under  the 


PRi  (FESSK  INAL. 


89 


United  States  Bankrupt  law;  in  August.  1845,  master  in 
chancery,  an  office  which  at  that  time  had  jurisdiction  in  in- 
solvency proceedings,  and  in  July.  1851,  a  commissioner  oi 
insolvency  for  the  county  of  Worcester.  He  was  a  member 
oi  the  house  ot  representatives  of  Massachusetts  in  1S49  and 
'51.  In  the  hitter  year  was  one  of  the  one  hundred  and 
ninety-three  members  who  succeeded  alter  a  struggle  of  more 
than  three  months  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  ballot  in  electing 
Charles  Sumner  to  the  United  States  senate.  Mr.  Mason 
was  also  a  member  ot  the  constitutional  convention  in  1853. 
He  married.  Aug.  o.  1853,  Caroline  Atherton  Briggs  :  and  in 
1857*  built  the  residence  on  Laurel  Hill  where  the  family  has 
since  resided.  Mr.  Mason  has  always  been  deeply  interested 
in  the  education  ot  the  young,  and  has  had  much  to  do  with 
the  public  schools  ol  Fitchburg,  especially  during  the  earl}' 
portion  ot  his  residence  here.  For  several  years  he  was  an 
active  member  and  chairman  of  the  school  committee  of  the 
town.  lie  also  took  an  active  part  in  getting  up  the  "Fitch- 
burg Athenaeum."  From  1864  to  1869  he  was  secretary  of 
the  Fitchburg  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company.  Since  that 
time  his  health  has  been  impaired,  at  times  so  much  as  to 
compel  him  to  seek  a  change  of  scene,  and  he  has  pursued 
no  stated  business. 

T.  K.  Ware,  a  native  of  Cambridge.  Mass.,  graduated 
at  Harvard  College.  1X42,  and  at  Harvard  Law  School  in 
1845  :  studied  in  Sidney  Bartlett's  office  in  Boston  :  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1X46.  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  oi' 
his  profession  in  Fitchburg  since:  married  Jan.  22,  1852, 
Lucy  A.  A.  Marshall,  daughter  of  the  late  C.  Marshall  of 
Fitchburg:  was  a  member  ot  the  Massachusetts  house  of 
representatives  in  1849  am'  T,^54  an<^  mis  been  justice 
of  the  police  court  since  it  was  established  :  from  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  to  September,  1X75.  was  in  partnership  with 
Charles  II.  B.  Snow  in  the  firm  of  Ware  &  Snow,  which 
was  dissolved  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Snow:  from  Novem- 
ber, 1875,  to  July,  1X70.  was  associated  with  George  A. 
Torrev,    in    the   linn    of  Ware   &   Torrey ;    from     [uly,    1879, 


90  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

to  July,  1887,  it  was  Ware,  Torrey  &  Ware,  by  the 
addition  of  his  son  C.  E.  Ware  as  junior  partner.  The 
firm  is  at  present  T.  K.  &  C.  E.  Ware.  Mr.  Ware  was  con- 
nected with  the  Fitchburg  library  as  trustee  from  the  start, 
and  has  been  chairman  of  the  board  since  the  death  of  its 
first  president,  C.  H.  B.  Snow;  is  president  of  the  Fitchburg 
Savings  Bank  and  a  director  in  the  Fitchburg  National 
Bank. 

Amasa  Norcross,    (sketch  as  Mayor,  Chapter  III.) 
David   H.   Merriam,    (sketch  as  Mayor,  Chapter  III.) 

George  Arnold  Torrey  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  May 
14,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of  Ebenezer  Torrey  and  Sarah 
Arnold  Torrey  ;  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Fitchburg, 
Leicester  Academy  and  Harvard  College,  graduating  from 
the  latter  in  1859.  Mr.  Torrey  received  his  legal  education 
in  Harvard  Law  School,  graduating  in  1861  ;  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  commenced  practice  the  same  year ;  June, 
1861,  was  married  to  Ellen  Malibran  Shirley  of  Boston;  in 
1875  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Ware  &  Torrey,  with 
T.  K.  Ware  for  a  partner  ;  in  1879,  Ware,  Torre}'  &  Ware, 
by  the  addition  of  C.  E.  Ware,  and  July,  1887,  gave  up  prac- 
tice to  become  corporation  counsel  for  the  Fitchburg  Rail- 
road, with  an  office  in  Boston. 

Stillman  Haynes  was  born  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  April 
17,  1833  ;  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza  (Spaulding)  Haynes;  at- 
tended common  and  select  schools  of  his  native  town  and 
afterwards  Leicester  Academy  and  the  Normal  School  at 
Lancaster.  He  was  for  some  time  at  New  Ipswich  Academy 
an  associate  teacher  and  a  student  with  Elisha  F.  Quimby, 
later  professor  of  mathematics  and  civil  engineering  at  Dart- 
mouth College.  Mr.  Haynes  graduated  at  Kimball  Union 
Academy,  Meriden,  N.  H.,  in  1859;  in  1859  ne  entered  the 
law  office  of  Bonney  &  Marshall  at  Lowell  as  a  student  of 
law  ;  was  admitted  to  the  Middlesex  bar  in  1861  ;  commenced 
practice  in  Asburnham  in  1862,  but  in  1863  returned  to  Towns- 
end  and  opened  a  law  office,  remaining  there  till  1868,  when 
he  removed    to    Fitchburg-.       While  in  Townsend    he  was  a 


RESIDENCE  OF  CHARLES  T.  CROCKER,  PROSPECT  STREET. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS  SALMON  W.  PUTNAM,  WALNUT  STREET. 


PROFESSIONAL.  91 

member  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen,  and  for  several  years 
served  on  the  School  Committee  of  the  town.  Since  his 
removal  to  Fitchburg,  he  has  devoted  himself  exclusively 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has  been  elected  for 
several  terms  on  the  School  Board  of  which  he  is  a  member 
at  the  present  time.  Mr.  Haynes  married  October  8,  1863, 
Ilattie  M.  Kimball,  of  Temple,  N.  H. 

Charles  S.  Hayden  was  born  in  Harvard,  Mass.,  Nov. 
10,  1848  ;  son  of  James  G.  and  Lucretia  B.  Hayden.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  the  Groton 
High  School  ;  graduated  at  the  Fitchburg  High  School  in 
the  class  of  1869  ;  read  law  with  Wood  &  Torrey,  and  then 
entered  the  Harvard  Law  School,  where  he  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  LL  .B.  in  1871  ;  admitted  to  the  bar  in  August, 
187 1.  June  13th,  1879,  Mr.  Hayden  was  appointed  Special 
Justice  of  the  Fitchburg  Police  Court.  He  married  January 
23d,  1873,  Miss  Mary  E.  Lawrence,  of  Fitchburg. 

Harris  C.  Hartwell  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  De- 
cember 28,  1847  ;  son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Emma  W. 
Hartwell.  He  graduated  at  Lawrence  Academy  in  1865  and 
then  entered  Harvard  College,  graduating  there  in  1869 ; 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Amasa  Norcross,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1873  ;  in  1874  ne  entered  into  partnership 
with  Mr.  Norcross,  forming  the  well-known  legal  firm  of 
Norcross  &  Hartwell.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts House  of  Representatives  in  1883-84-85,  and  of  the 
Massachusetts  Senate  in  1887.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
judiciary  committee  in  the  House  in  1885  and  of  the  same 
committee  in  the  Senate  in  1887.  For  ten  years  (1877-1886) 
Mr.  Hartwell  was  City  Solicitor  of  Fitchburg.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  As  a  member  of  the 
Fitchburg  Harvard  Club,  he  has  for  some  years  served  most 
acceptably  as  its  president.  He  married,  October  23d,  1877, 
Effie  M.  F.  Needham,  daughter  of  Col.  Daniel  Needham,  of 
Groton. 

Samuel  L.  Graves  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  July 
18th,   1847;   son  of  John  J.  and  Lucy  Graves  ;  graduated  at 


92  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Lawrence  Academy,  Groton,  and  then  entered  Amherst  Col- 
lege, where  he  graduated  in  1870;  then  came  to  Fitchburg 
and  read  law  in  the  office  of  Wood  &  Torrey  for  three  years, 
and  opened  an  office  of  his  own.  Though  often  urged  to  be 
a  candidate  for  public  office,  Mr.  Graves  has  always  refused 
such  offers,  preferring  to  devote  himself  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board  ; 
was  married  in  1878  to  Mary  E.  Lane,  daughter  of  Abbie  E. 
and  the  late  James  B.  Lane,  of  Fitchburg. 

Harrison  Bailey  was  born  in  Fitchburg  July  12th, 
1849;  son  of  E.  Foster  and  Dorothy  S.  Bailey;  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Fitchburg  and  fitted  for  college  at  the 
Fitchburg  High  School  ;  graduated  at  Amherst  College'  in 
1872  ;  Harvard  Law  School  1874:  read  law  with  George  A. 
Torrev  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1874.  He 
immediately  afterwards  opened  an  office  on  his  own  account 
and  has  since  continued  in  the  practice  of  general  law  bus- 
iness :   is  one  of  the  commissioners  to  qualify  civil  officers. 

Charees  F.  Baker  was  born  in  Lunenburg,  Mass., 
Dec.  4,  1850;  son  of  William  and  Olive  R.  (Boutwell) 
Baker;  graduated  from  the  Fitchburg  High  School  in  1868: 
Harvard  College  1872  ;  read  law-  with  Norcross  &  Hartwell  ; 
was  teacher  in  Fitchburg  High  School  1872-74  :  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1875,  and  was  Assistant  District-Attorney  for  Wor- 
cester county  at  one  time  ;  has  been  in  the  office  of  Norcross 
&  Hartwell  since  admission  to  the  bar  and  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Norcross,  Hartwell  &  Baker,  January  1,  1887  ; 
has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board;  married  April  24, 
1879,  Henrietta  Woods,  of  Winchester,  Mass. 

James  II.  McMahon  was  born  in  Tulamore,  Kings 
County,  Ireland,  Feb.  4,  1850;  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Mc- 
Mahon. His  parents  came  to  this  country  a  few-  months 
after  his  birth  and  located  at  Shirley,  Mass.  Mr.  McMahon 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Shirley  and  also  had  private 
instruction  in  Boston.  He  read  law  with  E.  B.  O'Connor,  of 
Boston,  and  later  with  James  M.  Woodbury,  of  Fitchburg.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1877.  In  November, 
1877,    he   opened   an  office   where   he   has  since  continued  in 


PROFESSIONAL 


D3 


the   practice  of  general   law  business.      Mr.    McMahon   has 
been  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 

Edward  P.  Pierce  (sec  sketch  in  the  City  Government 
chapter. ) 

Thomas  F.  Gallagher  was  born  at  Lynn,  Mass..  Dec. 
27,  1855:  son  of  Thomas  and  Anne  N.  Gallagher  :  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Lynn  :  graduated  at  the  University  of 
Notre  Dame,  Indiana,  in  1876;  read  law  with  lion.  William 
1).  Northend  in  Salem  ;  admitted  to  the  bar  in  October,  1878  ; 
had  an  office  in  Lynn  till  December  15,  1881,  when  he  came 
to  Fitchburg  and  opened  an  office,  and  continued  in  bus- 
iness for  himself  till  September.  1886,  when  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  the  late  John   W.  Walsh. 

Charles  E.  Ware  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  July  17,  1853  ; 
son  nf  Thornton  K.  and  Lucy  A.  A.  Ware;  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Fitchburg  during  early  youth  ;  entered  Rox- 
bury  Latin  School,  where  he  graduated  in  1872  :  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1876,  and  Harvard  Law  School  in  1878; 
July  1st.  1879.  the  'aw  m  ni  °f  Ware,  Torrey  &  Ware  was 
founded,  he  being  junior  member  of  it;  July  1,  1887,  the  firm 
became  T.  K.  &  C.  E.  Ware  on  account  of  Mr.  Torrey  be- 
coming corporation  counsel  for  the  Fitchburg  Railroad  Co.. 
and  being  obliged  to  give  up  other  practice.  Mr.  Ware  mar- 
ried June  30.  1881,  Harriet  P.  Long  ofRoxbury. 

James  A.  Stiles  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  Sept.  1,  1855  : 
son  of  fames  F.  and  Ann  M.  (Works)  Stiles.  lie  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools  of  Fitchburg,  graduating  from 
the  High  School  in  the  class  of  1873  ;  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1877  :  read  law  with 
George  A.  Torrey  ami  Harrison  Bailey,  of  Fitchburg,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  August.  1880 ;  in  May.  1882,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Edward  P.  Pierce  and  opened  an 
office  of  the  linn  in  West  Gardner,  Mass.,  where  he  has  since 
continued  :  was  appointed,  May  4,  1884,  Trial  Justice,  and 
June  ir.  1884,  Senior  Special  Justice  of  the  First  District 
Court  of  Northern  Worcester  county.  Mr.  Stiles  married. 
June  0,    1887,    Miss  Mary  L.  Emerson,  of  Claremont,  X.  II. 


(J4  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

John  W.  Walsh  was  born  at  Leominster,  July  22,  i860, 
and  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  ten  children  of  James  and 
Bridget  Walsh.  He  was  an  apt  scholar  and  made  rapid 
progress  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town.  While  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  the  Leominster  High  School  he  com- 
menced reading  law  in  the  office  of  Hamilton  Mayo.  After 
graduating  at  the  high  school  in  1876,  he  entered  Holy  Cross 
College  at  Worcester,  intending  to  take  the  full  course,  but 
about  the  end  of  the  first  year  his  health  was  impaired  by  a 
severe  attack  of  lung  fever.  As  soon  as  his  health  was  suf- 
ficiently restored  he  entered  the  Law  Department  of  Boston 
University,  where  he  graduated  in  1880  ;  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  Suffolk  county  the  same  year,  and  very  soon  after 
he  had  attained  his  majority.  He  came  to  this  city  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  same  year,  and  in  partnership  with  John  W. 
Corcoran,  of  Clinton,  commenced  the  practice  of  law.  The 
partnership  lasted  till  1886,  when,  September  6,  Mr.  Walsh 
and  Thomas  F.  Gallagher  formed  a  copartnership  for  the 
practice  of  law.  Soon  after  he  came  to  Fitchburg  he  de- 
livered an  address  on  Robert  Emmet  which  showed  that 
he  possessed  much  ability  as  an  orator.  In  1882,  he  was 
invited  by  Post  19,  G.  A.  R.,  to  deliver  the  oration  at  St. 
Bernard  cemetery  on  Memorial  Day,  and  performed  the  duty 
so  admirably  that  he  was  invited  to  be  the  orator  at  the  same 
place  on  a  similar  occasion  in  1884  and  again  in  1886.  Mr. 
Walsh  was  always  deeply  interested  in  political  affairs,  and 
frequently  spoke  at  Democratic  campaign  meetings,  both  here 
and  in  other  parts  of  the  State.  He  was  a  candidate  of  his 
party  for  representative  in  1885,  and  led  his  ticket  in  this 
city.  In  1883  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  com- 
mittee from  Ward  2  for  three  years,  and  did  good  service  on 
the  board.  He  was  also  a  leader  and  president  of  the  local 
branch  of  the  National  Land  League,  and  did  much  to  arouse 
the  sympathy  of  his  fellow-citizens  for  Ireland's  cause.  He 
was  also  for  a  time  2d  lieutenant  of  the  Washington  Guards, 
(Co.  D,  6th  regiment)  and  always  took  a  deep  interest  in 
the  success  of  the  company.  Mr.  Walsh  died  Aug.  12,  1887. 
Few  young  men  have  made  so  rapid  progress  in  their  chosen 


PROFESSIONAL.  i>.r) 

profession  as  Mr.  Walsh,  and  few  lives  have  been  so  full  of 
promise  of  usefulness  and  attainment  as  the  one  just  closed. 
He  was  a  very  genial  companion  and  his  social  qualities 
made  acquaintance  friendship. 

David  K.  Stevens  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  August  12, 
i860;  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Stevens;  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Fitchburg,  graduating  from  the  high  school 
in  1877  ;  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Henry  R.  Start,  Bakers- 
field,  Vt.,  at  the  Boston  University  Law  School  and  in  the 
office  of  Bennett  &  Fuller,  Taunton,  Mass.  ;  admitted  to  the 
Bristol  county  bar  in  April,  1882  :  in  1884  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Charles  H.  Blood  and  took  charge  of  the  Boston 
office  of  the  firm,  where  he  has  since  continued.  He  mar- 
ried November  24,  18S4,  Jennie  E.  Waite,  of  Cambridge,  Vt. 

Charles  H.  Blood  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  Dec.  10, 
1857  ;  son  of  Hon.  Hiram  A.  and  Mary  M.  (Person)  Blood; 
educated  in  the  Fitchburg  public  schools  ;  graduated  at  Fitch- 
burg High  School  in  1875,  Harvard  College  1879;  read  law 
with  Attorney-General  Marston,  of  New  Bedford,  and  at- 
tended Boston  University  Law  School  during  1882-3  ; 
admitted  to  the  Bristol  bar  August,  1883  ;  soon  afterwards 
opened  an  office  in  Fitchburg  ;  also  had  an  office  in  Boston. 
In  1884  he  formed  a  partnership  with  David  K.  Stevens,  of 
Fitchburg. 

MEDICAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 

Fitchburg  Society  for  Medical  Improvement. — Or- 
ganized July,  1874.  President — II.  H.  Lyons;  Vice-Presi- 
dent— D.  P.  Richardson;  Secretary  and  Treasurer — J.  D. 
Kielty.  Members — Levi  Pillsbury,  George  Jewett,  Ernest  P. 
Miller,  George  D.  Colony,  Charles  H.  Rice,  Frederick  H. 
Thompson,  Herbert  H.  Lyons,  Austin  W.  Sidney,  Atherton 
P.  Mason,  J.  D.  Kielty,  C.  W.  Spring:  D.  P.  Richardson 
and  E.J.  Cutter,  Leominster;   Dr.  Stimson,  Lunenburg. 

Worcester  North  District  Medical  Society. — Em- 
bracing   Fitchburg    and     towns     in     the     northern     part     of 


96 


FITCHBURG,     PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


Worcester  county.  President — Levi  Pillsbury  ;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, C.  II.  Rice:  Secretary — A.  P.  Mason:  Treasurer, 
E.  P.  Miller;   Librarian — F.  H.  Thompson. 

Worcester  North  Eclectic  .Medical  Society. — Or- 
ganized July,  1861.  Meetings  held  on  the  last  Tuesday  of 
each  month.  Annual  meeting  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  July  ; 
held  in  Fitchburg.  President — Dr.  Gleason,  Townsend, 
Mass.  :  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Dr.  N.  Jewett,  Ashburn- 
ham  :    Councillors — Drs.  II.  II.  Brigham  and  G.  W.  Garland. 

Worcester  County  Homceopathic  Society. — Meet- 
ings held  quarterly  at  Worcester.  Annual  meeting  the  second 
Wednesday     of    November.       President  —  O.    W.  .Roberts, 


Wa 


Lib. 


1 — E.  L.  Melius,  Worcester. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC. 


OMETHING  akin  to  local  pride  may  be 
considered  pardonable  in  the  people  of 
Fitchburg  while  reviewing  the  list  of 
workers  in  the  field  of  literature  and  art, 
who  are,  or  have  been,  closely  identified 
with  the  place  and  in  whom  the  city  feels 
a  peculiar  ownership  ;  for  there  is  scarcely 
a  legend  of  all  the  region  round  that  has 
not  been  woven  into  song,  and  there  are 
very  few  of  the  many  picturesque  or  fa- 
miliar haunts  that  have  not  been  repro- 
■^^>  duced   by  those    who    are    pleased    to    be 

numbered  among  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Fitchburg. 

A  reference  to  the  life  work  of  each,  however  unimportant 
it  may  seem  in  their  own  estimation,  will  be  warmly  wel- 
comed and  cannot  fail  to  be  an  inspiration  and  incentive  to 
others. 


LITERARY. 


Caroline  Atiierton  (Briggs)  Mason,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  though  not  a  native  of  Fitchburg,  has  resided 
here  over  thirty  years  and  has  been  identified,  on  many  occa- 
sions, with  the  recent  history  of  the  place. 

She  was  born  in  the  patriotic  old  seaport  town  of  Marble- 
head,  and  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  Dr.  Calvin  and 
Rebecca  (Monroe)  Briggs,  and  granddaughter  of  Rev.  James 
Briggs  of  Cummington.  Her  grandfather  on  the  maternal 
7 


98  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

side  was  Dr.  Ephraim  Monroe,  born  and  educated  in  Scot- 
land and  a  surgeon  in  the  military  service.  Dr.  Briggs  was 
a  graduate  of  Williams  College  and  received  the  degrees  of 
A.  M.  and  M.  B.  from  Harvard  in  1807,  and  of  M.  D.  in 
181 1,  being  one  of  the  first  to  receive  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
from  Harvard.  He  was  a  physician  of  large  practice  and 
high  standing  in  Marblehead  and  neighboring  towns  and 
cities.  He  died  in  1852,  and  soon  afterward  Mrs.  Briggs 
and  her  family  removed  to  Fitchburp;. 

Marblehead  has  been  considered  by  some  who  have  no 
correct  means  of  judging,  as  altogether  an  illiterate  town. 
Such  is  not  the  fact.  At  one  time  it  was  second  only  to  Bos- 
ton in  wealth  and  population  ;  but  the  Revolutionary  War 
and  the  War  of  181 2,  with  the  embargo  preceding  it,  depopu- 
lated and  reduced  it.  There  were  still  left,  however,  wealthy 
and  aristocratic  residents,  who,  together  with  the  professional 
part  of  the  community  and  other  families  of  standing  and 
education,  made  up  a  society  equal  to  the  best  to  be  found  in 
any  of  our  cities  and  larger  towns.  It  was  under  the  ad- 
vantages of  such  intellectual  and  social  surroundings  that 
Mrs.  Mason  passed  her  early  years.  She,  as  well  as  her  six 
older  sisters,  was  educated  at  Bradford  Academy. 

Before  reaching  the  age  of  twenty  she  had  begun  to  de- 
velop her  poetical  talent.  Under  the  signature  of  "Caro" 
she  contributed  regularly  to  the  Salem  Register,  and  it  was 
under  that  signature  and  in  that  paper  that  appeared  verses 
which  were  soon  known  throughout  all  English  speaking 
countries — the  words  of  the  song  ,rDo  They  Miss  Me  at 
Home?"  These  words  were  set  to  music,  both  in  this  country 
and  in  England,  and  a  hands irae  sum  was  realized  by  certain 
parties  in  the  operation  ;  but  Mrs.  Mason  never  received 
anything — not  even  the  credit  of  the  authorship.  A  few 
years  ago,  however,  there  appeared  in  The  Literary  World 
a  sketch  of  Mrs.  Mason  in  which  her  authorship  of  these 
words  was  affirmed  and  substantiated.  This  sketch  was 
copied  by  numerous  papers  and  one  result  was  that  she  re- 
ceived letters    from  all  parts  of  the  country  asking    for  her 


CAROLINE    A     MASON 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  !»!» 

autograph  together  with  a  stanza  or  two  of  the  song.  Quo- 
tations from  the  sketch  will  be  used  later  by  the  writer  of  the 
present  article. 

Besides  the  Salem  Register  she  early  contributed  to  the 
National  Era,  Anti-Slavery  Standard  and  the  Common- 
wealth; and,  just  previous  to  her  marriage,  she  published, 
through  Phillips,  Sampson  &  Co.,  Boston,  a  volume  of  verses 
to  which  much  favor  was  accorded. 

Soon  after  removing  to  Fitchburg  she  was  married  to 
Charles  Mason,  Esq.  Since  then  they  have  resided  here, 
and  for  the  last  thirty  years  in  their  present  residence, 
Laurel  Hill,  one  of  the  sightliest  and  best  located  situations 
in  town.  They  have  a  son  who  is  a  practising  physician  in 
Fitchburg. 

Mrs.  Mason  has  been  a  welcome  contributor  to  most  of 
the  leading  magazines  and  many  religious  and  secular  papers. 
"Her  work  in  prose  has  been  slight,  embracing  an  anony- 
mous Sunday-school  story,  'Rose  Hamilton,'  published  in 
1859,  a  serial,  'Letty's  Pathway  ;  or  Following  On,'  which 
appeared  in  the  Boston  Recorder  in  1866,  and  occasionally 
short  stories  and  sketches  appearing  in  leading  periodicals. 
But  her  work  in  verse,  which  has  been  graceful  and,  in 
didactic  elements,  true  and  strong,  has  been  considerable. 
Whatever  she  writes  is  inspiring.  Her  poem,  'Waking,' 
which  begins  with 

'I  have  done  at  length  with  dreaming,' 
was  the  means,  early  in  its  career  of  transforming  at  least  one 
young  woman  from  a  butterfly  to  a  thoughtful  character.  Of 
more  recent  productions,  a  touching  bit'  for  mothers,  called 
'Only  Me,'  has  received  the  widest  editorial  favor.  Mrs. 
Mason  has  written  some  of  the  best  hymns  of  this  centurv,  as 
recent  Unitarian  praise-books  and  other  religious  compila- 
tions show.  The  sonnet  form  is  a  favorite  with  her  of  late, 
and  has  been  used  to  fine  purpose,  especially  in  her  series  of 
pieces  on  the  months.'" 

That  her  standing  as  a  poet  is  fully  appreciated  is  amply 
attested  not  only  by  occasional  appreciative  notices   from  the 


100  FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

press,  but  also  by  letters  written  to  her  by  individuals  promi- 
nent in  learning  and  literature.  Among  such  voluntary  evi- 
dences in  her  possession  are  two  which  she  prizes  highly, — 
one,  a  graceful  note  written  by  Alfred  Tennyson,  poet 
laureate  of  England,  thanking  her  for  her  sonnet  entitled 
"Tennvson  and  the  Violets,"  (lines  embellishing  an  incident 
related  by  James  T.  Fields)  ;  the  second,  a  note  from  Charles 
Sumner,  expressing  his  sincere  appreciation  of  a  poem 
written  by  Mrs.  Mason.  This  poem  was  prompted  by  the 
reading  of  that  grand  speech  which  Mr.  Sumner  intended  to 
deliver  in  Faneuil  Hall,  Sept.  3,  1872,  but  which,  owing  to 
his  illness,  was  given  to  the  public  in  print.  In  this  speech 
he  made  a  noble  defence  of  his  fearless,  self-sacrificing  atti- 
tude toward  the  great  questions  of  the  day,  and  re-affirmed 
that  unswerving  fidelity  to  the  principles  of  justice,  truth  and 
right,  for  which  he  was  ever  distinguished, — a  speech  which 
effectually  silenced  the  howling  mob  that  was  endeavoring  to 
pull  him  down  from  his  well-deserved  pinnacle  of  honor  and 
fame.  Another  poem  written  by  Mrs.  Mason  on  the  occasion 
of  his  great  Emancipation  Speech  delivered  at  Worcester  in 
October,  1861,  was  so  highly  esteemed  by  Mr.  Sumner  that 
he  caused  it- to  be  printed  in  connection  with  the  speech,  and 
it  may  be  found  in  his  published  works. 

Mrs.  Mason  has,  for  many  years,  promptly  and  willingly 
responded  to  the  numerous  calls  made  upon  her  talent  to  fur- 
nish poems  for  occasions,  both  public  and  private,  in  Fitch- 
burg  ;  and  the  poems  she  has  written  relating  to  Fitchburg 
and  its  citizens  would  almost  make  a  volume. 

She  has  published  none  of  her  poems  in  book  form  since 
the  volume  referred  to  earlier  in  this  sketch,  though  repeat- 
edly urged  to  do  so.  A  volume  of  selections  from  her  later 
productions  would  certainly  be  appreciated,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  such  may  appear  ere  long. 

Among  the  best  of  her  poems  are  :  "The  Lost  Ring,"  an 
unpublished  narrative  poem  of  some  length,  "Eureka,"  "Heir- 
ship," "En  Voyage"  "Be  Like  the  Sun,"  "Waking,"  "We 
Three,"  "Not  Yet,"  "Dernier  Ressort"  "Nature  and  Poet," 
and  "Sonnets  of  the  Months." 


UM$ 


gMBMS 


RESIDENCE    OF   CHARLES    MASON,    ESQ., 

Laurel    Hill. 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  101 

Among  the  most  popular  have  been:  "A  Memory," 
"Waking,"  "Sonnets  of  the  Months,'"  "En  Voyage"  "Only 
Me,"    "Do   They   Miss   Me   at    Home?"    and    "Be   Like   the 

Sun." 

Mary  Caroline  Dickinson  was  born  in  Fitchburg. 
With  no  early  advantages  of  education  except  what  its 
common  schools  afforded,  Mary  C.  Underwood  began  her 
life  as  a  teacher  as  soon  as  she  was  fifteen  years  of  age 
and  continued  it  until  her  twenty-fourth  year  with  no  in- 
terruption except  that  of  her  marriage  to  George  Preston 
Lowe,  whose  early  loss,  which  occurred  during  his  ab- 
sence abroad  while  she  was  yet  in  her  teens,  was  the  great 
shadow  upon  her  early  life.  These  years  of  teaching  proved 
two  things — one  known  to  other  people,  and  one  to  herself. 
The  former  was  the  fact  that  she  possessed  the  true  teacher's 
gift,  which  is  born  and  not  made  ;  the  latter  the  fact  that  her 
so-called  education  had  furnished  no  proper  training  for  the 
work  of  an  educator  ;  hence  those  earlier  years  of  imparting 
knowledge  became  also  the  time  of  real  study.  Without  the 
advantages  she  resolved  to  have  the  acquirements  which,  or- 
dinarily, are  won  through  the  best  schools  and  colleges,  and 
from  that  day  to  this  she  has  not  ceased  to  be  a  student,  keep- 
ing herself  abreast  of  the  most  advanced  movements  in  the 
education  of  women.  From  Fitchburg,  where  few  teachers 
have  been  more  warmly  remembered  by  the  boys  and  girls 
once  under  their  care,  she  passed  to  the  head  assistantship  of 
a  grammar  school  in  Boston,  and  thence  to  the  Hartford  Fe- 
male Seminary. 

From  the  latter  place  she  went  abroad,  hoping  for  oppor- 
tunities to  continue  her  education,  in  which,  however,  she  had 
already  made  such  progress  as  to  be  favorably  considered  for 
assistant  lady  principal  of  Vassar  College,  which  opened 
about  this  date.  She  went  to  Europe  with  the  family 
ol  one  of  her  pupils,  supplementing  her  constant  work  by 
writing  for  the  New  York  Tribune  and  other  journals,  con- 
tributing at  one  time  regularly  to  no  less  than  thirteen  pe- 
riodicals,   and,   aside  from  this    excessive    labor,   continuing 


102  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

her  pursuit  of  studies  denied  her  in  her  youth.  At  the  end  of 
one  year,  her  pupil  having  married,  she  transferred  her  ser- 
vices as  teacher  to  a  family  from  Chicago,  toward  whom  she 
has  ever  since  retained  rather  the  relation  of  daughter  than  a 
friend,  and  with  whom  she  remained  during  their  stay,  return- 
ing with  them  to  this  country  in  the  autumn  of  1867.  A  few 
months  later  saw  her  installed  as  acting  lady  principal  of  the 
Van  Norman  Institute,  at  that  time  one  of  the  most  flourish- 
ing schools  of  New  York  city.  Here  she  remained  until 
her  marriage  with  Mr.  John  B.  Dickinson,  a  prominent 
hanker  of  New  York,  whose  failing  health  took  them  again 
abroad  in  the  winter  of  1871-2,  on  which  occasion  they  re- 
mained away  nearly  three  years,  travelling  in  the  summer, 
and  living  in  Italy  in  the  winter,  with  the  exception  of  the 
winter  of  1872-73,  when  they  passed  three  months  in  their 
Dahabeah  on  the  Nile.  During  this  long  absence  the  pen 
was  not  silent,  but  many  a  bright  sketch  and  tender  poem 
found  its  way  to  the  public,  almost  invariably,  however,  with- 
out the  author's  name.  A  bit  of  verse  called  "If  we  had  but 
a  day,"  written  on  the  Nile  writh  an  overturned  soap  box  for 
a  desk,  drifted  from  Maine  to  Texas  in  the  columns  of 
numerous  journals,  but  it  was  only  one  of  many  that  had 
been  coming  all  along  through  the  years  from  the  time  wdien 
the  teacher  made  amends  for  having  accused  her  of  borrowing 
her  composition  by  having  it  printed  in  the  columns  of  the 
Fitchburg  Sentinel.  Still,  notwithstanding  much  fugitive 
work,  the  writing  was  largely  dropped  until  after  the  death 
of  Mr.  Dickinson  and  the  subsequent  loss  of  fortune  which 
followed  within  two  years  after  this  event. 

All  her  life  lon»-  Mrs.  Dickinson  had  ranked  herself 
among  working  women,  only  laying  down  the  implements  of 
one  line  p{  work  to  take  another  in  social  or  philanthropic 
fields.  Now  she  took  them  up  again  as  a  bread-winner, 
making  no  claim  to  genius  or  even  to  marked  talent,  and  al- 
ways doubting  if  she  had  any  unusual  gifts.  "Talent  uses 
us,"  she  used  to  say  ;  "If  I  had  had  a  spark  of  it,  I  could  not 
have  waited  for  circumstances  to  force  me  to  use  it."  Hence 
she    never   had   any   hope  of  literary  reputation,  but  went  to 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  103 

work  resolved  to  accept  no  task,  however  great,  that  would 
not  do  u'ood,  and  to  turn  away  from  nothing,  however  small 
that  would,  and  never  using  her  name  except  when 
necessary  to  insure  publication.  Yet,  with  this  resolution 
rigidly  kept,  she  soon  drifted  into  regular  lines  of  journalistic 
work.  She  wrote  leaders  for  dailies,  editorials  for  weeklies, 
serials,  short  travels,  poems,  articles  on  education  and  phil- 
anthropy, and  Sunday  School  lessons,  never  free  enough  to 
work  in  any  favorite  line,  hut  always  shaping  her  work  to  suit 
the  demand  of  the  hour.  A  little  collection  of  poems  reprinted 
by  Dodd,  Mead  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  from  the  various  period- 
icals in  which  they  first  appeared,  found  much  favor.  The 
novel  published  by  Carleton  &  Co.,  New  York,  called 
"Among  the  Thorns,"  is  too  well  known  to  need  comment 
here,  and  two  stories,  "The  Amber  Star"  and  "A  Fair  Half 
Dozen,"  first  printed  in  England,  have  been  re-issued  in  this 
countrv  bv  Phillips  &  Hunt,  of  New  York. 

Charming  as  all  this  journalistic  work  is,  showing  in  its 
wide  range  unusual  versatility  and  strength  that  gives  the 
writer  an  undoubted  rank  in  fiction,  it  is  as  a  critical  and 
biographical  essayist  that  Mrs.  Dickinson's  strongest  power 
lies.  Her  reviews  of  the  life  and  work  of  Harriet  Martineau, 
Madame  George  Sand,  Madame  de  la  Rochefoucauld, 
Charles  Kingsley  and  many  others,  are  a  valuable  addition  to 
literature  and  show  a  power  of  analytical  discrimination  that 
has  met  with  cordial  recognition  from  most  critical  minds. 
But  busy  as  has  been  this  "working  woman's"  pen,  she  has 
never  been  weaned  from  her  real  work  as  an  educator.  Soon 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  she  took  charge  of  the  depart- 
ment of  literature  and  composition  in  a  school  in  Brooklyn, 
resigning  in  order  to  give  herself  more  fully  to  private  stu- 
dents, young  and  old,  who  desired  to  place  themselves  under 
her  guidance.  The  simple  little  home  opposite  Central  Park 
is  not  only  a  favorite  spot  with  bus}'  workers  in  every  field, 
but  during  the  morning  hours  of  every  winter  it  is  a  studio  for 
women  who  come  to  be  helped  to  a  finer  culture,  a  wider 
knowledge,  or  larger  possibilities  of  life.  Having  known  the 
double  experience  of  both    how   to  abound  and  how  to  suffer 


104  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

need,  few  women  have  been  better  prepared  to  be  a  strength 
to  other  women,  and  especially  to  those  who  suffer  and  those 
who  toil.  Earnestly  interested  in  every  problem  for  their  ad- 
vancement or  prosperity,  when  she  could  no  longer  give 
money,  she  has  unsparingly  given  herself.  Ample  use 
has  been  found  for  her  best  powers  from  time  to  time,  as 
the  secretary  of  the  Female  Bible  Society,  the  oldest  charity 
of  New  York  city  ;  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the  W.  F. 
Missionary  Society;  National  Superintendent  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Temperance  in  colleges  and  schools  of  higher  educa- 
tion of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  While  in  this  post  she  originated 
the  "Student's  League,"  which  binds  not  onlv  to  Temper- 
ance, but  to  Purity,  and  Chivalry,  and  Truth.  Her  interest 
in  the  cause  of  temperance  made  her  for  two  years  one  of 
the  editors  of  the  National  Reformer. 

In  the  interest  of  the  Shut-in  Society,  she  edits  their  mag- 
azine for  invalids,  called  The  Open  Window,  and  in  the  in- 
terest of  general  philanthropy  she  has  been  associated  with 
Edward  Everett  Hale  in  the  editorship  of  his  magazine.  The 
exactions  of  such  a  life,  of  which  a  sketch  like  this  affords 
only  the  faintest  outline,  have  left  their  marks  upon  health 
and  vigor,  causing  the  abandonment  of  much  work  in  which 
the  worker  would  gladlv  remain  ;  but  she  still  retains  enough 
to  rob  literature  quite  too  largely  of  her  time. 

As  the  general  secretary  of  the  new  order  called  the 
King's  Daughters,  so  rapidly  spreading  over  the  country,  an 
organization  that  binds  every  woman  to  do  some  work  for 
others,  she  finds  ample  opportunity  to  reach  and  inspire 
thousands  of  women,  rich  and  poor,  to  join  the  ranks  of 
workers  and  make  their  lives  a  ministry  of  good  ;  while  as 
the  president  of  the  Women's  National  Indian  Association, 
now  organized  and  at  work  in  two-thirds  of  the  States  in  the 
Union,  she  is  enabled  to  widen  her  circle  of  service  until  it 
includes  also  the  women  and  children  of  the  plains.  In  a 
life  like  this,  literature  must  necessarily  be  an  incident,  but 
her  literary  work  is  of  a  style  so  pure  and  a  character  so  vig- 
orous as  to  make  one  wish  it  might  have  made  the  life  itself. 
Such    as   it  is,  it  keeps  the  flavor  of  the  winds  that  blow  over 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  1<>"> 

the  pine  woods  and  the  granite  hills  of  New  England   and   is 
not  unworthy  of  the  Fitchburg  that  is  to  be. 

Martha  Downe  Tolman,  is  a  native  of  Fitchburg, 
daughter  of  Deacon  Nathan  and  Mary  Downe  Tolman. 
Both  parents  were  of  English  ancestry  traced  to  colonial 
days.  Miss  Tolman  was  educated  in  the  public  and  private 
schools  of  Fitchburg.  Her  first  published  verses  appeared 
in  the  Well  Spring,  a  Sunday  School  paper  published  in 
Boston,  for  which  little  rhyme,  entitled  "Sabbath  Bells,'*  the 
editor  sent  her  three  dollars,  the  first  money  received  for  any 
literary  work,  and  consequently  magnifying  its  value  a 
hundred  fold.  Her  first  book,  entitled  "Fabrics,'"  was  pub- 
lished in  1871,  by  Messrs.  A.  I).  F.  Randolph  &  Co.,  New 
York.  Miss  Tolman  was  exceedingly  unfortunate  in  the 
printing  of  this  book.  Owing  to  the  inability  of  the  publish- 
ers to  attend  to  the  proof  reading  personally  at  that  time,  it 
was  left,  with  three  similar  books,  in  the  hands  of  the 
printers.  Each  book  shared  a  common  fate,  receiving  a 
generous  sprinkling  of  typographical  and  other  errors.  Two 
years  later  a  second  book,  "Finished  or  Not,"  was  published 
in  Boston  by  Messrs.  D.  Lothrop  &  Co.  Other  editions  of 
"Fabrics"  were  also  published  by  this  house,  and  the  book 
was  reprinted  in  London  by  Messrs.  Ward,  Lock  &  Tyler. 
Aside  from  these  books,  Miss  Tolman  has  from  time  to  time 
written  verses  and  articles  in  prose  for  papers  and  magazines. 
In  all  of  her  writings  the  style  is  pure  and  racy,  at  the  same 
time  instructive  and  profitable  ;  it  touches  the  finer  sensibili- 
ties, appeals  to  one's  better  nature,  and  inculcates  the  lesson 
of  loving  and  living  for  others. 

In  "Fabrics"  we  have  her  thoughts  on  great  themes  em- 
bodied in  the  form  of  a  story.  It  impresses  one  in  a  solemn 
yet  pleasant  manner  with  the  great  aim  and  end  of  life  and 
inculcates  those  excellent  moral  precepts  which  all  would  do 
well  to  imitate. 

In  "Finished  or  Not"  the  author  portrays  most  truly  and 
touchingly  what  benevolence  and  culture  may  accomplish 
for  helpless  humanity. 


106  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

The  writer  is  never  feeble  or  doubtful  in  her  moral  teach- 
ing, her  evident  aim  being  to  do  good  to  every  reader  ;  and 
for  thoughtful,  reflective  and  appreciative  young  people, 
these  books  must  have  a  special  charm  and  value.  In  addi- 
tion to  her  literary  work  Miss  Tolman  has  devoted  a  portion 
of  her  time  to  local  philanthropic  work  as  a  member  of  the 
Fitchburg  Benevolent  Union  and  secretary  of  the  corporation 
of  the  Old  Ladies'  Home. 

Colonel  Augustine  J.  II.  Duganne  was  born  in  1823. 
His  father  was  Assistant  Charge  de  Affairs  at  Constantinople, 
Turkey.  His  mother  was  the  only  daughter  of  wealthy  par- 
ents residing  in  France,  where  she  met  this  dashing  young 
officer,  who  obtained  her  consent  to  a  secret  bethrothal  and 
clandestine  marriage.  By  this  act  she  so  wounded  the  pride 
of  her  parents,  that  she  was  disowned  both  as  daughter  and 
heiress. 

Finding  the  parents  unrelenting,  and  seeing  no  prospect 
of  being  recognized  by  them,  she  accompanied  her  husband 
to  Qjiebec,  in  Canada,  he  for  some  unexplained  reason  not 
wishing  to  return  to  Constantinople.  As  a  result  of  this 
union  two  children  were  born  to  them — one  a  daughter,  the 
other  a  son,  Augustine  Joseph  Hickey,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  In  1823,  the  parents  removed  to  Boston,  and  it  is 
supposed  that  Augustine  was  born  on  board  ship  during  the 
passage.  Being  reduced  to  poverty,  the  mercenary  motives 
of  the  husband  became  apparent,  a  separation  took  place, 
followed  soon  after  by  the  death  of  the  mother.  The  children 
were  then  placed  in  an  orphan  asylum,  of  which  Alvan 
Simonds,  a  native  of  Fitchburg  and  cashier  of  the  Merchants' 
National  Bank,  in  South  Boston,  was  a  trustee.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  was  taken  from  this  institution  by  John  Garfield, 
of  Fitchburg,  then  proprietor  of  the  Sentinel,  and  was  duly 
installed  in  his  office  to  learn  the  printing  business. 

It  was  soon  discovered  by  Mr.  Garfield  that  his  protege 
had  a  fondness  for  books,  which  sadly  interfered  with  the 
progress  of  type-setting,  it  being  no  uncommon  occurrence  to 
find    him  on  a  cold  winter's  day  snugly  wrapped  in   a   but- 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  1<>7 

falo  robe  and  completely  absorbed  in  a  book  or  in  some  out- 
of-the-way  corner  remote  from  the  case  engaged  in  scribbling 
verses.  After  the  first  year  in  the  printing  office  he  began 
to  write  for  the  Sentinel.  These  contributions  in  the  early 
numbers,  beginning  in  1839,  were  aU  anonymous,  and  so 
completely  did  he  surround  his  articles  with  mystery  that  not 
more  than  three  or  four  persons,  and  those  his  most  trusted 
friends,  knew  who  wrote  them. 

The  first  of  his  articles  that  attracted  public  attention  was 
"An  Acrostic  to  Education."  This  was  followed  soon  after 
by  a  poem  entitled  "  Slander,"  which  was  prefixed  by  a  Latin 
quotation  and  signed  "Julian."  This  article  had  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  written  by  a  person  of  education,  and 
from  certain  significant  allusions  the  authorship  was  accred- 
ited to  a  teacher  in  the  academy.  About  this  time  one  Pat- 
terson, an  employe  in  the  woolen  mill,  under  the  signature 
of  "Syphax,"  criticised  "Conrad,"  another  local  literary  light, 
for  misquoting  Byron  :  whereupon  ''Julian"  took  a  hand 
in  the  discussion,  creating  an  unusual  interest  for  several 
weeks.  (It  is  exceedingly  unfortunate  that  the  papers  con- 
taining these  early  efforts  are  not  preserved.) 

All  these  communications  were  written  by  young 
Hickev  and  copied  by  his  intimate  friend,  the  late  Goldsmith 
F.  Bailev,  who  took  charge  of  them,  and,  awaiting  his  op- 
portunity, dropped  them  in  the  postoffice  unobserved.  In  this 
way  no  one  in  the  Sentinel  office,  not  even  the  proprietor, 
suspected  the  real  author.  The  late  Charles  H.  B.  Snow 
also  took  a  warm  interest  in  him  and  appreciated  his  genius. 
From  Fitchburg  he  removed  to  Boston,  hired  an  office  where 
he  made  a  business  of  proof-reading,  and  such  literary  work 
as  came  to  hand.  His  hand-book  of  patriotic  poems  and 
songs,  entitled  "  Hand  Poems,"  was  published  at  that  time — 
1844,  he  being  about  twentv-one  years  of  age.  About  this  time 
it  is  related  of  him  that  on  a  cold  winter's  day  he  chanced  to 
come  across  a  little  negro  boy  on  the  street  who  was  crying 
piteously  from  cold  and  hunger.  Without  hesitating  to  con- 
sider how  he  should  provide  for  the  little  waif  in  addition  to 
his   own    maintenance,    he   took    him    to    his    office    and    ted. 


108  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

clothed  and  lodged  him  for  some  time.  This  arrangement 
was,  however,  brought  to  an  abrupt  and  unpleasant  termina- 
tion. It  happened  something  in  this  wise  :  The  little  fellow, 
grateful  beyond  measure  and  aching  to  do  something  to  show 
his  gratitude,  finding  the  family  coal-bin  empty,  generously 
tilled  it  from  the  adjoining  bins  without  the  knowledge  or 
consent  of  his  benefactor,  who  was  soon  called  upon  by  the 
irate  owners  either  to  make  restitution  or  submit  to  arrest. 
From  Boston  he  removed  to  New  York,  and  there  had  his 
name  changed  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  to  Augustine  J.  H. 
Duganne, — in  compliance  with  his  mother's  dying  request 
for  him  to  assume  her  maiden  name, — the  signature  over 
which  his  writings  usually  appeared  thereafter. 

He  soon  became  prominent  in  politics  in  New  York  city, 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  American  Know  Nothing 
party.  He  subsequently  became  a  staunch  republican,  which 
political  faith  he  held  to  the  end  of  his  days.  He  was  at  one 
time  connected  with  the  New  York  Tribune  and  held  official 
positions  under  the  city  government.  His  experience  while 
serving  on  a  committee  for  investigating  the  moral  condition 
of  the  city  furnished  material  for  his  book  "The  Tenant 
Houses  ;  or  Embers  from  Poverty's  Hearth."  His  best  known 
work  was  his  "History  of  Government,"  showing  the  progress 
of  civil  society,  and  the  structure  of  ancient  and  modern 
states.  His  last  was  a  satire  on  Ingersol  called  "Injure  Soul." 
His  contribution  to  our  national  literature  has  been  considera- 
ble both  in  poetry  and  prose  ;  of  the  former  he  published 
"Home  Poesies,"  "The  Iron  Harp,"  "The  Lydian  Queen" 
(a  tragedy  produced  at  the  Walnut  Street  Theatre,  Philadel- 
phia), "MDCCCXLVIII"  or  "The  Year  of  the  People," 
"Parnassus  in  Pillory"  (a  satire) ,  "A  Mission  of  Intellect" 
(delivered  at  Metropolitan  Hall,  New  York,  1852),  "The 
Gospel  of  Labor,"  "The  True  Republic,"  and  "Poetical 
Works,"  the  first  complete  collection  of  his  poems.  Of  his 
prose  writings  a  series  of  critiques  on  contemporary  authors 
appeared  in  Sartains  Magazine,  under  the  title  "Revised 
Leaves."  He  also  wrote  several  dramas  and  twenty  or  thirty 
novelettes  and  romances  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  papers 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  1<>'.> 

upon  a  variety  of  subjects,  under  various  nom  dc  plume  in 
the  different  magazines  and  journals  of  the  day.  During 
this  period  of  his  life,  his  marriage  took  place.  His  wife  was 
the  daughter  of  a  West  India  man  of  great  wealth,  who  re- 
sided in  Philadelphia.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  then 
reigning  belle  of  that  city,  remarkable  for  her  beauty,  and 
as  good  as  she  was  beautiful.  Their  tastes  were  congenial, 
and  with  ample  means  at  command,  nothing  happened  to  dis- 
turb the  happiness  of  their  married  life  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Rebellion,  when  with  patriotic  enthusiasm  Mr. 
Duganne  entered  into  the  work  of  recruiting  soldiers  for  the 
army.  He  succeeded  in  raising  several  regiments  and,  in 
response  to  what  he  considered  an  imperative  duty,  left  the 
pleasant  associations  of  home  and  entered  upon  active  service 
at  the  head  of  the  176th  New  York  Regiment,  accompanying 
it  to  the  front.  In  one  of  the  engagements  in  which  the  regi- 
ment participated,  Colonel  Duganne  was  taken  prisoner  and 
held  for  a  long  time  at  Camp  Ford,  Texas,  in  the  hands  of 
the  rebels,  the  story  of  which  was  rehearsed  in  his  book 
"Camp  and  Prison  ;"  or  "Twenty  Months  in  the  Department 
of  the  Gulf."  "The  Fighting  Quakers,"  a  true  story  of  the 
war  for  the  Union,  was  published  by  authority  of  the  New 
York  Bureau  of  Military  Records.  Another  of  his  books  is 
entitled  "Sound  Literature,*'  the  safeguard  of  our  national 
institutions. 

The  following  criticism  from  the  pen  of  William  H.  Bur- 
leigh is  considered  just  and  impartial,  by  those  who  are  most 
familiar  with  his  works.  He  says :  "Colonel  Duganne's 
lyrical  powers  are  characterized  by  a  nerVous  energy,  a  gen- 
erous sympathy  with  humanity,  a  wonderful  command  of 
language,  and  an  ardent  hatred  of  wrong  and  oppression  in 
all  its  forms.  His  poems  have  a  distinct  character  of  their 
own,  and  are  evidently  the  strong,  unrestrained  and  indignant 
utterances  of  a  bold  spirit,  deeply  penetrated  with  a  love  for 
its  kind  and  intolerant   of  all  despotisms/' 

Any  analysis  of  the  character  of  Colonel  Duganne  would 
fail  of  completeness  were  we  to  omit  what  might  be  termed 
the  imperfect  side  of  his  nature,  a  peculiarity    which  is   often 


110  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

the  accompaniment  of  genius,  but  which  in  the  eves  of  his 
friends  only  served  to  intensify  the  purity  of  his  character, 
and  reveal  to  them  that  childlike  simplicity  which  the 
changes  of  fortune  and  circumstances  were  powerless  to 
effect  or  modify.  From  a  business  point  of  view  he  was  un- 
successful, never  being  able  to  comprehend  the  value  or 
need  of  money.  While  yet  a  young  man  and  struggling 
with  poverty  he  refused  the  ample  fortune  offered  by  his 
mother's  brother,  who  had  inherited  the  estate  of  his  grand- 
parents in  France,  and  would  have  shared  the  inheritance 
with  him,  but  he  could  not  be  induced  to  accept  as  a  present 
what  he  considered  belonged  to  him  by  right.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  Colonel  Duganne  resumed  editorial  and  lit— 
erarv  work  on  The  New  York  Tribune.  April  5,  1869,  he 
delivered  an  oration  on  the  "Heroic  Succession,"  at  Cooper 
Institute,  it  being  the  second  anniversary  of  the  death  of 
Lincoln. 

Upon  the  death  of  his  wife  Colonel  Duganne  arranged 
his  affairs  in  New  York  with  the  intention  of  at  once  return- 
ing to  Fitchburg,  there  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
for  through  all  these  busy  years  he  still  retained  a  strong  at- 
tachment for  his  early  home  and  boyhood  friends.  These 
plans,  however,  were  never  realized.  He  died  at  his  home 
in  New  York,  Oct.  20,  1884,  surviving  his  companion  only  a 
few  months. 

Rev.  William  Gushing,  A.  B.,  a  former  well-known 
resident  of  Fitchburg,  was  born  in  Lunenburg,  May  15, 
181 1,  attended  school  there,  and  fitted  for  college  at  Cam- 
bridge; graduated  at  Harvard  University,  1S32,  and  was  a 
student  in  Harvard  Divinity  School  in  1832-3  ;  removed  to 
Fitchburg  and  was  a  teacher  in  the  Academy  for  seven  terms 
and  was  editor,  for  a  short  time  in  1834,  °f  a  weekly  religious 
paper  called  the  "Christian  Messenger ;"  was  engaged  in 
teaching  in  various  places  until  1837,  when  he  completed  his 
studies  at  the  Harvard  Divinity  School,  graduating  in  1839  ' 
was  ordained  as  an  evangelist,  June  10,  1S40;  was  engaged 
in  preaching  and  teaching  until  1857,  removing  that  year  to 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  1  1  1 

a  farm  in  Clinton,  where  he  remained  ten  years,  occasionally 
supplying  pulpits:  from  thence  he  removed  to  Med  ford,  in 
1867.  and  to  Cambridge,  in  1868,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  was  employed  until  1878,  as  assistant  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege Library,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
literary  work  for  himself.  In  1S78,  he  published  an  "Index 
to  the  North  American  Review,"  and  in  1879,  an  "Index  to 
the  Christian  Examiner."  He  spent  several  years'  work  on 
his  "Century  of  Authors,"  which,  however,  was  not  pub- 
lished. The  material  has  been  purchased  by  Appleton  & 
Co.,  of  New  York,  to  be  used  in  the  preparation  of  their  "Cy- 
clopaedia of  American  Biography." 

His  r  initials  and  Pseudonims,''  a  dictionary  of  literary 
disguises,  comprising  a  collection  of  twelve  thousand  initials 
and  pseudonims  employed  from  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century  to  the  present  time,  with  eight  thousand 
real  names  of  authors,  represents  a  vast  amount  of  labor  in 
their  preparation,  for  Mr.  dishing  does  not  confine  himself 
to  the  bare  bones  of  the  initials  and  pseudonims  which  he  ex- 
plains, but  adds  interesting  notes  explanatory  of  the  writers  ; 
and  in  the  second  part  we  find  the  real  names  of  the  authors 
followed  by  initials  and  pseudonims  and  short  biographical 
notices.  He  is  now  preparing  a  supplement  which  will  be 
ready  for  the  press  in  the  fall,  this  will  contain  six  thousand 
additional  initials  and  pseudonims.  A  companion  volume  to 
these  two  is  the  book  of  "Anonyms,"  comprising  the  titles  of 
some  twenty  thousand  books  and  pamphlets  with  the  names 
of  the  authors,  followed  by  brief  biographical  notices.  The 
"Publishers  Circular,"  London,  ranks  Mr.'  Cushing's  "Initials 
and  Pseudonims"  beside  Allibone's  great  "Dictionary"  and 
Cowden  Clarke's  no  less  famous  "Concordance  to  Shaks- 
peare,"  for  good,  honest  workmanship.  It  is  indeed  difficult 
to  decide  which  of  the  three  books  will  prove  the  most  useful 
to  the  librarian  and  the  student  of  English  and  American  lit- 
erature. 

James  Ripley  Wellman  Hitchcock,  who  signs  him- 
self simply  Ripley  Hitchcock,  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  July 


112  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

3,  1857.  He  prepared  for  college  at  the  Fitchburg  High 
School,  entered  Harvard  in  1873,  and  was  graduated  in 
1877.  For  the  next  two  years  he  pursued  special  post-grad- 
uate studies  in  Cambridge  and  at  his  home.  During  this 
time  and  also  while  in  college  he  wrote  articles  which  were 
published  in  various  minor  periodicals,  and  in  1879,  wnen  ne 
took  up  his  residence  in  New  York  city,  he  began  to  occupy 
himself  regularly  with  literary  work,  contributing  many  arti- 
cles to  magazines  and  newspapers.  In  1880,  he  accepted  a 
position  on  the  staff  of  the  New  York  Tribune.  Early  in  his 
college  course  he  had  begun  a  special  study  of  art,  which  he 
continued  after  graduation,  and  his  interest  in  the  subject, 
upon  which  he  had  already  written,  was  utilized  in  his  selec- 
tion to  perform  the  minor  work  of  the  Tribune  $  art  depart- 
ment. In  1882,  Mr.  Hitchcock  became  the  art  critic  of  the 
Tribune  and  he  remains  at  the  head  of  this  department.  In 
the  summer  and  autumn  of  1882,  Mr.  Hitchcock  travelled 
through  the  southwest,  Northern  Mexico  and  California  as 
the  correspondent  of  the  Tribune.  He  also  wrote  a  series  of 
letters  for  the  Boston  Herald.  In  1883,  he  went  through 
the  southwest  and  northwest,  visiting  British  Columbia,  and 
making  a  journey  to  the  glaciers  of  Mt.  Tacoma  on  Puget 
Sound,  afterward  described  in  a  magazine  article.  Since 
1883,  Mr.  Hitchcock's  journalistic  work  has  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  art  criticism,  with  some  book  reviewing.  His 
connection  with  the  daily  press  has  become  rather  that  of  the 
special  contributor  than  that  of  the  regular  journalist,  and  a 
large  portion  of  his  time  is  occupied  with  literary  work  out- 
side of  daily  journalism.  His  books  and  a  considerable  pro- 
portion of  his  magazine  articles  have  naturally  treated  of  art. 
He  is  the  author  of  "Etching  in  America,"  a  book  published 
in  New  York  early  in  1886,  which  received  favorable  reviews 
in  this  country  and  in  England.  He  is  also  the  author  of  the 
text  of  "Some  Modern  Etchings,''  published  in  1884  ;  "Recent 
American  Etchings,"  published  in  1885  ;  "Notable  Etchings," 
published  in  1886 ;  "Representative  American  Etchings," 
published  in  1887,  and  of  a  monograph  upon  George  Inness, 
N.  A.,  published   in    1884.       Mr.  Hitchcock,  who  is  a  keen 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  113 

lover  of  out-door  sports,  usually  spends  his  summers  in 
salmon  and  trout  fishing  in  New  Brunswick  and  Quebec, 
and  articles  by  him  upon  these  topics  are  included  in  the 
Century  Company's  "Boys'  Book  of  Sports."  Among  his 
contributions  to  monthly  magazines  have  been  articles  for  the 
Century,  St.  Nicholas,  the  Popular  Science  Monthly,  Out- 
ing, the  Art  Review,  the  Art  Amateur,  the  Book  Buyer 
and  others.  The  list  includes  some  half  dozen  articles  each 
for  St.  Nicholas,  the  Art  Review  and  Outing,  those  for  the 
last  named  magazine  dealing  with  fishing  and  incidents  of 
travel.  An  article  in  the  Century  magazine  entitled  "The 
Western  Art  Movement"  was  translated  into  French  and  re- 
published with  comments  in  Li  Art .  It  was  also  re-published 
in  pamphlet  form  in  Nova  Scotia.  Some  of  the  weekly  pub- 
lications for  which  Mr.  Hitchcock  has  written  are  the  Chris- 
tian Union,  the  Youth's  Companion,  Puck,  and  others.  In 
addition  to  the  work  of  his  department  of  the  Tribune  he  has 
for  some  years  contributed  occasional  letters  upon  artistic  and 
literary  topics  to  the  Boston  Herald.  Although  Mr.  Hitch- 
cock's writings  have  dealt  chiefly  with  art  and  literary  criti- 
cism, and  out-door  life  and  travel,  he  has  done  a  little  in 
fiction  in  addition  to  critical  and  descriptive  work.  In  1885 
he  was  chosen  a  trustee  of  the  National  Societv  of  Arts  and 
served  as  long  as  the  organization  lasted.  In  1886  he 
visited  Washington,  in  an  unofficial  capacitv,  to  examine  into 
the  possibility  of  securing  a  modification  of  the  tariff  upon 
works  of  art.  Mr.  Hitchcock  is  a  member  of  the  Authors* 
Club.  For  the  year  1887  he  is  a  member  of  the  executive 
council  and  of  the  committee  on  membership  of  this  club. 

Chari.es  Mason,  A.  M.,  for  a  little  more  than  forty-five 
years  a  resident  of  Fitchburg,  and  connected  with  its  educa- 
tional interests,  has  written  more  or  less  on  education,  and 
since  he  has  been  in  town  has  preserved  a  large  amount  of 
material  (probably  as  complete  a  collection  of  reports,  docu- 
ments, etc.,  as  can  be  found  in  the  city)  relating  to  the  his- 
tory and  progress  of  Fitchburg.  His  position  in  educational 
and  parish  affairs  has  brought  him  in  contact  both   personally 


114  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

and  by  correspondence  with  prominent  men  in  educational, 
political  and  ministerial  circles,  and  his  collection  of  letters 
received  from  men  of  that  stamp,  many  of  whom  are  now 
dead,  is  both  interesting  and  valuable.  In  1852  Mr.  Mason 
was  invited  to  deliver  the  address  at  the  centennial  celebra- 
tion of  his  native  town,  Dublin,  N.  H.  He  prepared  and  de- 
livered the  address,  which  was  printed  in  the  history  of  Dub- 
lin, N.  II.  His  book  on  "The  National  and  State  Govern- 
ments" has  been  used  as  a  text  book  in  schools  and  acade- 
mies. At  the  time  of  its  issue  it  received  the  approval  and 
commendation  of  eminent  educators,  lawyers,  and  the  press. 

Rev.  S.  Leroy  Blake,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Cornwall, 
Vt.,  Dec.  5,  1834;  fitted  for  college  at  Burr  and  Burton 
Seminary  at  Manchester,  Vt.  ;  entered  Middlebury,  Vt.,  Col- 
lege in  the  autumn  of  1855,  and  graduated  in  1859;  taught 
at  Royalton,  Vt.,  Lancaster,  Mass.,  and  Pembroke,  N.  II.  ; 
entered  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  May,  1862,  nine 
months  after  his  class  entered,  and  graduated  in  1864.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  at  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Dec.  7,  1864  ; 
in  1869,  was  settled  over  the  South  church  in  Concord,  N. 
H.  ;  came  to  Fitchburg  the  first  Sabbath  of  April,  1880, 
after  a  short  pastorate  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  was  installed 
over  the  C.  C.  church  in  Fitchburg,  Sept.  1,  1880,  remaining 
until  March  27,  1887.  The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  Iowa  College  in  1883.  While  in 
Fitchburg,  Dr.  Blake  published  a  volume  entitled  "The 
Book,"  which  has  attracted  the  attention  of  thoughtful  people 
and  received  the  indorsement  of  some  of  our  most  scholarly 
Biblical  commentators.  In  this  volume  Dr.  Blake  has  given 
to  the  world  a  convenient  summary  of  the  evidence  upon 
which  the  canon  of  Holy  Scriptures  rests,  and  the  authorship 
of  its  several  books.  He  brings  together  the  testimony  of  the 
apostolic  and  other  fathers,  the  historians  and  doctors,  and 
from  it  draws  his  conclusions,  as  to  the  time  and  authorship 
of  the  books  and  what  books  have  from  the  first  comprised 
the  Sacred  Canon.  Instead  of  beginning  with  the  apostles 
and  working  down,  Dr.  Blake  has  pursued  the  even  more 
convincing  method  of  working  back  to  them  from  the  time 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  115 

when  there  is  admitted  to  have  been  an  accepted  Canon. 
"The  Christian  Union"  says :  "Such  books  as  these  are 
needed  just  at  this  time  when  the  wave  of  unbelief  is  reced- 
ing, and  many  need  to  have  the  proofs  that  sustain  the  Word 
of  God  freshly  presented  to  their  minds."  Dr.  Blake  has  also 
published  during  his  ministry  several  sermons  and  pamphlets. 

Asa  Thurston.  Among  those  in  the  past  who  have  a 
name  for  literary  work  may  be  mentioned  Asa  Thurston, 
who  compiled  a  dictionary  and  grammar  of  the  Hawaiian 
language,  which  language  he  also  spoke  fluently.  He  was 
no  doubt  the  most  remarkable  man  Fitchburg  ever  produced. 
He  was  born  in  1787,  on  one  of  the  hill  farms  on  Ashbv  west 
road.  As  a  young  man  he  was  athletic  and  given  to  sports, 
having  no  high  aim  in  life,  but  meeting  with  a  change  of 
heart  he  became  an  earnest  christian  ;  prepared  himself  by  a 
course  in  Yale  College  and  Andover  Theological  Seminary, 
for  his  life  work  as  a  missionary  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  the 
natives  of  which  were  then  in  the  deepest  darkness  and  deg- 
radation. In  1819,  he  set  sail  for  the  Sandwich  Islands  and 
remained  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  died  at  Honolulu, 
March  11,  1868,  living  to  see  more  than  fifty  thousand  con- 
verts to  Christianity  and  a  corresponding  progress  in  civiliza- 
tion. The  value  of  his  life  work  for  humanity  can  never  be 
estimated. 

Rufus  Campbell  Torrey  was  born  in  Oxford,  Mass., 
Feb.  13,  1813  ;  fitted  for  college  at  Wrentham  in  1833  ;  spent 
the  next  four  or  five  years  in  Fitchburg,  engaged  mostly  in 
teaching  and  editing  a  newspaper ;  was  a  teacher  in  the 
Fitchburg  Academy  ;  wrote  the  well  known  History  of  Fitch- 
burg in  1836,  which  was  reprinted  in  1865  ;  removed  to 
Mobile,  Ala.,  in  1838:  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1840;  practised  his  profession  at  Grove  Hill  and  Clai- 
borne, Ala.  ;  was  judge  of  county  court,  1844-48  ;  prominent 
officer  in  the  Masonic  Fraternity  ;  was  state  senator,  1876- 
1880,  and  retired  from  the  practice  of  the  law  in  1879  :  died 
at  Claiborne,  Ala.,  Sept.  13,  1882.  In  the  preparation  of  Mr. 
Torrey's  History  the  manuscript  of  a  series  of  lectures  written 
by  his  friend  Nathaniel  Wood,  Esq.,  was  freely   used    and  a 


116  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

full  acknowledgement  of  its  use  made  in  the   preface.       This 
original  manuscript  is  now  preserved  in  the  public  library. 

Among  the  local  writers  whose  services  have  been  most 
valuable  to  the  city  may  be  mentioned  : 

Henry  A.  Willis,  author  of  Fitchburg  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  published  in  1S66. 

Eben  Bailey,  writer  of  the  Sketch  of  Fitchburg,  in  the 
Worcester  County  History,  published  in  1879,  by  C.  F. 
Jewett  &  Co. 

Ray  Greene  Huling,  a  book  entitled  The  Teachers 
and  Graduates  of  the  Fitchburg  High  School,  1849  t0  J^3, 
preceded  by  Some  Mention  of  Teachers  in  the  Fitchburg 
Academy,  1830  to  1848. 

The  Fitchburg  Agassiz  Association  have  prepared 
valuable  essays  from  time  to  time  on  various  subjects,  its 
members  having  interested  themselves  in  the  study  of  the 
plants  and  minerals  of  this  region.  "The  Flora  of  Fitch- 
burg,'' which  has  received  high  commendation  from  eminent 
naturalists,  and  the  unpublished  essays  on  Rollstone  and 
Pearl  Hills,  being  especially  worthy  of  notice  here. 

artistic 

S.  Herbert  Adams,  son  of  Samuel  Minot  and  Nancy 
A.  (Powers)  Adams,  was  born  at  West  Concord,  Vt.,  Jan. 
28,  1858;  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1863.  At  the  early  age  of 
nine  years  his  entreaties  for  a  teacher  to  instruct  him  "to 
make  pictures"  were  unceasing.  A  teacher  being  procured 
he  was  gratified  with  two  terms  only  of  instruction  in  draw- 
ing. Again,  when  he  was  eleven  years  old,  the  slumbering 
propensity  for  "making  pictures"  burst  forth  in  the  demand 
for  another  teacher.  He  was  put  under  the  tuition  of  Miss 
M.  Louisa  Haskell  (since  Mrs.  Dr.  Alden  Sylvester),  who 
was  his  teacher  in  drawing  until  it  was  introduced  into  Fitch- 
burg public  schools  in  '71.  Miss  Haskell  being  the  teacher 
of  that  department  of  education,  she  still  held  her  connection 
with  him,  and  by  her  influence  and  encouragement  may  have 


LITERARY    AND    ARTISTIC.  117 

done  much  to  shape  his  life  work.  lie  entered  Fitchburg 
High  School  in  74,  where  lie  remained  but  two  years;  en- 
tered Worcester  Technical  Institute  in  '76,  with  the  intention 
of  graduating  therefrom,  and  then  attending  the  Massachu- 
setts Normal  Art  School  in  Boston.  Before  the  expiration  of 
the  first  year  he  became  convinced  he  could  not  obtain  as 
much  of  artistic  knowledge  there  as  he  had  expected,  and 
deemed  it  wiser  to  relinquish  the  education  he  could  there 
gain  in  other  branches,  and  turn  his  whole  energies  to  what 
he  intended  as  a  life  work.  Accordingly  in  1877,  he  entered 
the  Massachusetts  Normal  Art  School.  After  successfully 
passing  class  A  in  "78,  he  took  the  supervisorship  of  drawing 
in  Fitchburg  public  and  evening  schools.  Here  he  labored 
for  nearly  four  years,  ever  impatient  that  he  must  relin- 
quish his  art  work,  and  always  availing  himself  of  any  little 
opportunity  to  continue  it.  In  the  spring  of '82,  he  re-entered 
the  Normal  Art  School  and  passed  the  examinations  of  class 
B — the  painting  department — at  the  end  of  the  school  year  ; 
and  in  '83,  graduated  from  the  school  with  high  honors, 
having  clone  the  work  of  the  mechanical  and  modelling  classes 
in  one  year,  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.  In  September  of 
the  same  year  he  went  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  as  first  assistant  in 
the  Maryland  Institute  of  industrial  and  fine  arts.  Here  he 
had  charge  of  the  modelling,  and  instructed  in  other  depart- 
ments. After  two  years,  increase  of  salary,  or  offers  of 
larger  remuneration  from  other  localities,  could  not  hold  him 
in  America.  But  with  his  prominent  characteristic,  to  over- 
come all  obstacles,  he  determined  to  carry  into  execution  his 
long  cherished  plan  of  giving  his  undivided  attention  to 
sculpturing.  He  arrived  in  Paris,  June,  '85,  and  almost  im- 
mediately entered  the  Julian  school,  soon  to  learn  he  could 
not  make  the  progress  he  desired  among  so  many  pupils. 
Consequently  he  began  work  under  the  instruction  of  the 
eminent  sculptor,  M.  Antonin  Mercie' ;  also  attending  even- 
ing schools  under  efficient  artists.  In  '86  and  '87,  he  had 
portrait  busts  accepted  at  the  Salon.  Of  the  last  it  has  been 
said  by  competent  critics,  "it  would  do  credit  to  an  older 
artist."  He  is  still  in  Paris,  studying,  and  also  engaged  in 
original  work  in  his  own  studio. 


118  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

S.  Augusta  Fairbanks,  birthplace  Fitchburg,  daughter 
of  C.  P.  Deane,  educated  at  Kimball  Union  Academy, 
Meriden,  N.  H.,  and  Worcester  Academy,  Massachusetts; 
was  a  teacher  for  several  years  in  the  public  schools  of  this 
city.  She  received  private  instruction  in  drawing  and  paint- 
ing of  J.  J.  Enneking  and  F.  Childe  Hassam,  also  attended 
the  famous  Julian  School  in  Paris  in  1883  and  '84  ;  is  at 
present  in  Fitchburg,  giving  private  instruction  in  drawing 
and  painting  at  her  studio,  238  Main  street. 

Eleanor  A.  Norcross,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Amasa 
Norcross,  is  a  native  of  Fitchburg  ;  graduated  at  Wheaton 
Seminary  ;  taught  drawing  one  year  in  the  public  schools  in 
Fitchburg  ;  studied  painting  two  winters  with  Alfred  Stevens 
in  Paris,  exhibited  a  portrait  in  the  Salon,  1886.  Miss  Nor- 
cross was  intrusted  with  the  selection  of  photographs  for  the 
Fitchburg  public  library,  and  a  similiar  collection  for 
Wheaton  Seminary,  together  with  five  oil  paintings  of  copies 
from  old  masters,  which  were  of  her  own  execution. 

Martha  Medora  Adams,  daughter  of  Samuel  Minot 
and  Nancy  A.  (Powers)  Adams,  is  a  native  of  Concord,  Vt.  ; 
graduated  from  the  Fitchburg  High  School  in  1879  >  studied 
with  her  brother  Herbert  for  a  few  months ;  in  the  spring  of 
1S80,  entered  the  Normal  Art  School,  Boston,  leaving  at  the 
end  of  the  school  year  in  1882,  having  passed  classes  A  and 
B  ;  gave  private  instruction  in  drawing  and  painting  for  one 
year  in  Fitchburg;  in  September,  1883,  re-entered  the 
Normal  Art  School  in  the  modelling  class  ;  January,  1884, 
went  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  she  was  for  a  short  time  a  de- 
signer of  ornament  in  Chesapeake  pottery  ;  in  the  following 
spring  became  a  teacher  of  painting  in  the  Maryland  Insti- 
tute, where  she  successfully  taught  until  the  close  of  the 
school  year  in  1885.  She  then  returned  to  Massachusetts 
resumed  private  teaching,  and  studied  with  Vonnoh  ;  has 
also  been  a  pupil  of  T.  O.  Longerfelt  and  Juglaris  ;  since 
September,  1886,  has  taught  drawing  in  the  girls'  High 
School,  Boston. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


MILITARY 


jHE  oldest  military  company  now  in  exist- 
ence in  the  city,  received  its  charter  in  1S16, 
and  was  known  by  the  name  of  the  Fitcii- 
burg  Fusiliers  from  the  time  of  its  organ- 
ization. By  petition  of  Ephraim  M.  Cun- 
ningham and  forty  others  the  company  was 
formed  from  the  "Old  South"  Company  be- 
longing to  the  4th  Regiment,  2d  Brigade, 
7th  Division,  M.  V.  M.  This  militia  com- 
pany, as  far  back  as  1807,  was  under  good 
discipline  and,  so  far  as  the  records  go  to 
showr,  was  well  officered.  The  commission  of  Isaiah  Put- 
nam, (grandfather  of  J.  E.  and  Lieut.  Daniel  C.  Putnam,) 
as  ensign,  is  now  in  existence,  dated  1S07,  May  5  ;  his 
resignation  taking  place  two  years  later.  From  that  time,  in 
common  with  the  militia  generally,  it  gradually  became  de- 
moralized, was  poorly  uniformed  and  undisciplined,  but  was 
usually  on  hand  at  "general  muster''  and  was  designated  bv 
the  boys  as  the  "Slam  Bangs."' 

The  charter  was  granted  to  the  new  company,  Dec.  14, 
18 16,  and  the  organization  was  perfected  at  a  meeting,  Feb. 
3,  1817,  at  which  John  Upton,  (uncle  of  Colonel  Edwin 
Upton,)  was  elected  captain;  Alpheus  Kimball,  (father  of 
General  John  W.  Kimball,)  lieutenant,  and  Walter  Johnson, 
ensign.  These  three  officers  were  of  equal  height,  a  trifle 
over  six  feet,  and  otherwise  well  fitted  to  command.  The 
uniform  adopted  by  vote  of  the  company  consisted  of  a  blue 
coat  trimmed  with  bell  buttons  and  lace,  pantaloons  of  the 
same  color    as  the  coat,  made  to  button  over  the  boots,  and 


120  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

trimmed  with  bell  buttons  from  the  bottoms  to  the  hips,  the 
caps  were  bound  with  red  morocco  and  varnished  and  other- 
wise "ornamented  as  a  committee  chosen  might  think 
proper."  The  officers  of  the  company  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee for  that  purpose. 

In  the  first  constitution  and  by-laws  adopted  by  the  com- 
pany appears  the  following  :  "Article  XII.  In  order  to  en- 
force the  principles  of  military  subordination  the  senior  of- 
ficer present  at  any  meeting  of  the  company  shall  be  mod- 
erator, and  strict  obedience  shall  be  paid  to  his  command,  in 
debate  as  well  as  in  military  manoeuvres,  and  the  members 
of  the  company  do  pledge  themselves  to  support  their  officers 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duty  on  all  occasions,  and  to  dis- 
countenance all  improper  conduct  that  any  member  of  the 
company  may  discover  towards  either  of  them  or  any  of  the 
members  ;  and  as  this  company  has  associated  not  merely 
for  the  purpose  of  parade  and  ostentation,  but  to  form  a  corps 
at  all  times  prepared  to  resist  sudden  invasions  and  repel  in- 
ternal commotion,  it  is  expected  that  every  member  will  hold 
himself  ready  at  a  moment's  warning  ;  and  whenever  ordered 
that  he  will  instantly  repair  to  the  rendezvous  appointed  by 
his  commanding  officer,  with  a  heart  resolved  to  support  at 
all  hazards  his  country  and  the  government  which  protects 
him,  and  that  unless  commanded  he  will  never  quit  his 
standard  till  freed  from  it  by  an  honorable  death." 

That  there  was  something  more  than  sentiment  in  taking 
this  pledge  is  proved  by  the  fidelity  with  which  it  has  been 
kept. 

The  first  public  appearance  of  the  Fusiliers  in  their  new 
uniforms  was  July  4,  181 7,  on  the  occasion  of  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  standard  by  the  ladies  of  Fitchburg.  The  presen- 
tation speech  was  made  by  Miss  Sarah  Richardson,  and 
replied  to  by  Ensign  Johnson.  The  account  of  the  celebra- 
tion, together  with  the  pair  of  white  kid  slippers  worn  on  that 
occasion  by  Miss  Richardson,  has  been  presented  to  the 
relic-room  of  the  Wallace  Library  and  Art  Building  by  her 
son,  Mr.  R.  W.  Kendall  of  Boston. 

On   the  occasion  of  a   muster   at  West  Boylston,  Oct.  7, 


MILITARY.  121 

1841,  the  company  on  its  return  marched  through  Lancaster 
and  Lunenburg,  and,  according  to  the  records  of  the  com- 
pany, ''upon  entering  the  latter  village,  about  five  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  they  met  with  a  warm  reception  in  the  persons 
of  some  of  their  own  townsmen,  who  had  hastily  formed 
themselves  into  a  company  and  come  down  for  the  purpose 
of  taking  the  Fusiliers,  and  marching  them  in  triumph  to 
Fitchburg.  Although  they  fought  valiantly,  like  men,  vet 
like  the  heroes  of  Bunker  Hill,  being  out  of  ammunition, 
they  were  compelled  to  surrender:  but  unlike  them,  they  re- 
tired more  covered  with  mud  than  glory.  The  company 
voted  not  to  go  home  till  morning  and  were  accommodated 
with  hot  coffee,  and  so  forth,  by  Captain  Putnam.''  Some  of 
our  present  substantial  citizens,  who  were  then  little  bovs, 
who  had  voluntarily  escorted  the  company  down,  well  re- 
member their  return  from  Lunenburg,  late  that  night, 
through  the  dense  woods  and  drenching  rain,  without  the 
military  escort  they  had  so  confidently  anticipated. 

About  a  week  previous  to  attending  the  muster,  the  Fusi- 
liers, then  under  command  of  Captain  James  Putnam,  were 
presented  with  a  new  standard,  purchased  by  the  ladies  of 
Fitchburg.  The  presentation  speech  was  made  by  Miss 
Louisa  Beckwith,  for  the  ladies,  and  Ensign  Edwin  Upton 
responded  in  behalf  of  the  company.  After  the  reception  of 
the  banner  the  Fusiliers  escorted  the  ladies  to  the  Fitchburg 
Hotel,  where  a  collation  was  prepared,  at  the  expense  of  the 
company,  bv  Landlord  Mclntire. 

The  banner  bore  upon  one  side  the  motto  :  "United  by  duty, 
to  defend  the  right ;  presented  by  the  ladies,  September, 
1841."  Upon  the  same  side  stands  the  goddess  of  liberty  by 
the  side  of  a  bust  of  Washington,  with  her  extended  hand 
holding  a  wreath  in  the  act  of  placing  it  upon  the  immortal 
hero,  who  rests  upon  a  monument  upon  which  is  engraved 
the  majestic  eagle  protecting  the  emblem  of  union.  On  the 
other  side  is  "Fitchburg  Fusiliers,  Instituted,  Dec.  14,  1816," 
with  a  bold  representative  of  the  aborigines  of  our  country 
standing  in  the  centre,  dressed  in  his  native  costume,  resting 
one  hand  upon  his  bow  and    holding  in  the  other   his  chosen 


122  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

arrow,  while  upon  one  side  is  exalted  the  horn  of  plenty  and 
above  rests  unsheathed  the  sword  of  Justice.  On  the  staff  is 
mounted  the  eagle,  with  his  folded  wings,  in  wakeful  com- 
posure. 

After  the  exercises    the  Fusiliers  in  the   evening,  by    re- 
quest   attended     a    lecture,    in    the    Second    Parish    meeting 
house,  by  John  Hawkins,  the  celebrated  temperance  lecturer. 
The  commanding  officers  of  the  Fusiliers  previous  to  the 
close    of   the    Rebellion    were   John  Upton,  elected    Feb.  3, 
1817  ;    Alpheus  Kimball,   Sept.   20,   1819  ;  Levi  Pratt,  May 
15,  1823;    Robert  Sampson,    Jr.,  March   27,  1826;    Stephen 
T.  Farwell,  July  5,  1827  ;  Levi  Downe,  April  16,  1831  ;  Dr. 
Jonas  A.  Marshall,  Jan.  21,  1832  ;    Horace  Newton,  May  12, 
1838 ;    John    Caldwell,   Sept.    14,    1839 :    James    Putnam    of 
Lunenburg,  Jul}-  5,  1841  ;    Edwin   Upton,  March   11,  1843; 
Alfred  White,   Feb.    28,    1849;    A-    R-    Ordway,   April    13, 
1850;    Joseph  Wood,    April   19,    185 1  ;    John    W.   Kimball, 
Feb.    24,    1855  ;     James    A.    Cunningham,     Feb.    3,    1858. 
Captain  Cunningham  when  in  the   Fusiliers   lived   in  Lunen- 
burg.    After  the  close  of  the  war,  Dec.  17,  1866,  he  was  com- 
missioned   major  general ;    was  adjutant    general  of  Massa- 
chusetts    from     Dec.    17,    1866,    to    close  of    1878,    and    is 
at    present    governor    of    the    Soldiers'    Home    at     Chelsea. 
John  W.  Kimball,  elected   Jan.  7,   i860;   Clark  S.  Simonds, 
appointed     Aug.    1,     1861,     killed    in     the    battle    of    An- 
tietam,   Sept.    17,   1862;    John    Markland,    appointed    Sept. 
18,    1862,    killed    at   Gettysburg,  July  4,  1863  ;     Charles  H. 
Eager,  appointed  Oct.  15,  1862  ;  James  May,  appointed  May 
22,  1863  ;    Eugene  T.  Miles,  elected  May  10,  1862  ;    George 
G.  Nutting,  elected  March,  1863,  killed  at  Fort  Bisland,  La., 
April    13,  1863;    George  H.  Bailey,   elected   May  21,  1863, 
wounded  May   25,   1863,  during  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson, 
died    May    27  ;    Jerome    K.    Taft,    elected    June    10,    1863, 
wounded  in  the  assault  on  Port  Hudson,  June  14,  died   July 
3,  1863. 

As  will  be  seen  the  Fusiliers  lost  five  commanding  offi- 
cers during  the  war,  and  it  is  rather  a  remarkable  fact  that 
the  last  three  named,  Nutting,  Bailey  and  Taft,  were  each  in 


MILITARY.  12?) 

turn  killed  before  their  commissions  as  captain  reached  them. 

The  history  ot  the  Fusiliers,  from  1861  to  1865,  is  given 
in  the  "sketch  of  Fitchburg  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion."  It 
may  not  have  been  generally  known  that  the  Fusiliers  and 
the  Leominster  Co.  A.  were  designated  to  be  attached  to  the 
6th  Regiment  for  the  purpose  of  going  to  Washington,  but 
the  Stoneham  Light  Infantry  and  one  other  company  were 
for  some  reason  assigned  their  places  in  the  regiment. 

After  the  war  the  Fusiliers  were  reorganized,  with  John 
W.  Kimball  as  captain,  and  called  the  50th  Unattached  Com- 
pany of  Infantry.  They  were  afterwards  attached  to  the  1st 
Battalion  Infantry,  1st  Brigade,  and  designated  Co.  B,  the 
same  as  before  and  during  the  war.  The  commanding  of- 
ficers of  the  company,  since  the  war,  have  been  John  W. 
Kimball,  elected   April   12,   1865  ;    G.   E.   Goodrich,   II.   G. 

Greene,    G.  E.  Goodrich,    George  Burford    and  T.  W.  Slid- 
es 

don.  The  1st  lieutenants,  E.  T.  Miles,  G.  L.  Lawrence,  R. 
O.  Houghton,  H.  E.  Caswell,  A.  R.  Fitts,  H.  A.  Willard, 
G.  A.  Bailey,  W.  F.  Page;  2d  lieutenants,  Merrill  Carleton, 
H.  S.  Hitchcock,  H.  C.  Cheeney,  Orlando  Wetherbee,  J. 
L.  Peavey,  F.  E.  Bruce,  B.  G.  Bagley,  F.  A.  Greer. 

The  present  officers  being  Tristram  W.  Sheldon,  cap- 
tain; Walter  F.  Page,  1st  lieutenant,  and  Frank  A.  Greer, 
2d  lieutenant. 

THE    WASHINGTON    GUARDS 

were  organized  in  July,  1855,  on  petition  of  Charles  II.  Foss 
and  fifty-nine  others.  The  first  meeting  for  the  choice  of 
officers  was  held  at  the  American  House  Hall,  Thursday 
evening,  July  19.  The  following  officers  were  elected  : 
Captain,  John  B.  Proctor;  1st  lieutenant,  Hiram  P.  Minot; 
2d  lieutenant,  Charles  II.  Foss;  3d  lieutenant,  Oscar  A. 
Battles;  4th  lieutenant,  Varius  Stearns.  July  25,  the  by- 
laws drafted  by  a  previously  appointed  committee  were 
adopted,  and  July  26,  the  name  of  Washington  Guards  was 
adopted.  A  committee  on  uniforms,  consisting  of  T.  B. 
Choate,  John  B.  Proctor,  Charles  H.  Foss,   H.  P.  Minot,  I. 


124  FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

C.  Wright  and  O.  A.  Battles,  was  chosen  and  after  several 
weeks'  consideration  a  uniform  was  adopted  by  the  company. 
The  cap  was  of  cloth,  smaller  at  the  top  than  at  the  base, 
and  surmounted  by  a  blue  pompon  ;  pants  and  coat  dark 
blue,  with  epaulettes  ;  patent  leather  body  belts  and  webbing- 
cross  belts. 

The  first  muster  attended  by  the  "Guards"  was  held  Sept. 
12,  13,  and  14,  in  West  Brookfield.  In  February,  1859,  tne 
company  purchased  seventy  bear  skin  caps  and  in  August 
following  a  supply  of  fatigue  caps.  After  the  opening  of  the 
war.  in  November,  1862,  they  removed  their  armory  to  the 
American  House  Hall,  where  the  last  recorded  meeting  was 
held,  April  1,  1864.  There  seems  to  have  been  so  few  mem- 
bers remaining  at  home  that  the  meetings  were  given  up  and 
the  company  lost  its  organization.  The  bear  skin  caps, 
which  had  originally  cost  the  company  nearly  four  hundred 
dollars,  were  left,  practically,  without  owners,  in  the  garret 
of  the  American  House  Hall,  and  were  after  a  time  af>f>rofri- 
atcd  and  made  up  into  sleigh  robes  by  outside  parties.  Soon 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  August  23,  1S66,  a  company  was 
formed  largely  through  the  efforts  of  Richard  Tucker,  whose 
name  appears  frequently  on  the  records  of  meetings  in 
1862  and  1864.  This  company  was  composed  entirely  of 
members  of  Taylor  Union  and  was  called  the  "Union 
Veterans;"  Hiram  P.  Minot  was  captain.  Sept.  11,  1868, 
by  a  vote  of  the  members,  the  name  of  the  company  was 
changed  from  "Union  Veterans"  to  "Washington  Guards," 
the  present  organization,  and  designated  Co.  D,  10th  Regi- 
ment, M.  V.  M. 

The  commanding  officers  of  the  "Guards"  have  been  as 
follows  :  At  the  organization  of  the  company,  Captain  John 
B.  Proctor,  who  was  succeeded  by  Captain  Jonas  Corey, 
Dec.  13,  1856.  May  5,  i860,  Colonel  Edwin  Upton,  who 
had  previously  commanded  the  old  9th  Regiment  Mass.  Vol- 
unteer Militia  for  several  years,  was  elected  to  succeed 
Captain  Corey  and  was  captain  of  the  "Guards"  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war,  when  he  was  commissioned  the  first 
colonel  of  the  25th  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. 


MILITARY.  12") 

The  "Guards"  formed  the  nucleus  of  six  companies  for 
the  war  and  their  captains  were  as  follows  :  Theodore  S. 
Foster,  Co.  D,  21st  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteer  In- 
fantry ;  Charles  H.  Foss,  Co.  F,  25th  ;  Thaddeus  L.  Barker, 
Co.  A,  36th  ;  Jonas  Corey,  Co.  B,  53d  (9  months  regi- 
ment) ;  Levi  Lawrence,  Co.  F,  57th  ;  Eben  T.  Hayward, 
Co.  IL,  4th  Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery. 

As  before  mentioned  Hiram  P.  Minot  was  captain  of  the 
"Guards"  when  the  name  was  restored  and  the  permanent 
organization  effected  in  1868.  Sept.  7,  1S69,  George  A. 
Whitcomb  was  elected  captain:  Aug.  14,  1873,  William 
Ewen ;  March  22,  1875,  Frank  W.  Bigelow  ;  May,  1876, 
Henry  McGrath  ;  April  16,  1877,  John  H.  Kirby  ;  1882,  T. 
H.  Shea;  1S85,  F.  S.  Lynch;  1 886  to  present  time,  John 
H.  Kirby. 

The  present  officers  of  the  company  are  :  captain,  J.  H. 
Kirby;  1st  lieutenant,  James  F.  Shea;  2d  lieutenant,  John 
King. 

Captain  John  B.  Proctor,  the  first  commissioned 
captain  of  the  Washington  Guards  is  a  native  of  Charlestown, 
Mass.,  where  he  was  born  in  1824.  His  parents  moved  to 
Lunenburg  in  1826,  where  he  lived  until  1844,  when  he  was 
appointed  purchasing  agent  of  the  Vermont  and  Massachu- 
setts railroad,  with  his  office  in  Gardner.  In  185 1,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  flour  and  grain  business  in  Fitchburg. 
In  1S58,  he  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  Middlesex 
railroad  in  Boston  ;  in  1873,  was  appointed  bv  Governor 
Washburn  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  all  the  counties  in  the 
state.  In  1864  he  was  appointed  by  the  president  a  commis- 
sioner to  examine  the  Union  Pacific  railroad,  which  required 
making  several  trips  across  the  plains  to  California. 

He  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  as  broker  and 
auctioneer,  in  Fitchburg  in  1868,  and  remained  in  that  busi- 
ness until  he  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Jaffrey,  N.  H., 
in  1881.  He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Worcester 
North  Agricultural  Society.  He  is  now  proprietor  of  the 
Proctor  House,  situated  on  the  pleasant  southern  slope  of 
Monadnock  Mountain. 


12!>  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Colonel  Edwin  Upton,  commissioned  the  first  colonel 
of  the  Massachusetts  25th  Volunteers,  was  born  in  1815,  in 
Fitchburg,  Mass.  By  trade  he  was  a  mason,  but  for  a 
number  of  years  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  was 
largely  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade,  in  which  he  accumu- 
lated some  property.  Under  the  administration  of  President 
Lincoln  he  received  an  appointment  in  the  Boston  Custom 
House,  which  he  held  and  surrendered  at  the  time  of  receiv- 
ing the  commission  as  colonel.  For  twenty-five  years  he 
had  been  actively  connected  with  the  Massachusetts  Militia, 
receiving  regular  promotion  from  a  private  to  the  rank  of 
colonel  of  the  Old  Ninth  Regiment.  He  had  held  that  com- 
mission with  great  credit  to  himself  for  a  number  of  years, 
bringing  the  regiment  to  a  high  degree  of  military  perfection, 
until  it  ranked  as  one  of  the  best  militia  organizations  in  the 
state.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he  was  captain  of  the 
''Washington  Guards."' 

Before  leaving  for  Worcester,  to  assume  his  command, 
Colonel  Upton  received  a  valuable  testimonial  from  his 
townsmen,  in  the  shape  of  a  fine  horse  and  set  of  equipments, 
and  was  subsequently  presented  by  his  brother  officers  at  the 
Custom  House,  with  a  complete  set  of  regimentals  as  an  ex- 
pression of  their  regard.  On  account  of  his  health  Colonel 
Upton  was  obliged  to  tender  his  resignation  on  the  28th  of 
October,  1862,  much  to  the  regret  of  his  command,  and  all 
who  had  the  welfare  of  the  regiment  at  heart.  On  his  retir- 
ing he  was  presented  by  the  enlisted  men  of  the  regiment 
with  a  beautiful  sword,  belt  and  sash,  costing'  one  thousand 
dollars. 

After  the  recovery  of  his  health  he  was  again  appointed 
to  the  Boston  Custom  House,  as  storekeeper  of  the  ap- 
praisers' store.  He  resigned  that  position  that  he  might 
accept  appointment  as  keeper  of  the  jail  at  Fitchburg.  In 
the  discharge  of  his  duty,  while  superintending  the  blasting 
of  rocks  upon  the  jail  grounds,  a  premature  explosion  occa- 
sioned such  injury  that  he  has  since  been  totally  deprived  of 
sight. 


Col.  H.  G.  Greene 


Surgeon,  Chas.   H.   Riee.  Maj 


Mai.  Thos     H.   Shea. 


Capt.  T.   W.   Shel 


don.  1st  Lieut.   W.    F.   Page 


2nd   Lieut.   F.   A.  Greer. 


Col.  Edwin  Upton. 


Capt.  John   B.   Proctor.  Capt.  J.   H     Kirby. 


MILITARY.  127 

SIXTH    REGIMENT    INFANTRY,    M.    V.     M. 

The  "Old  Sixth"  Regiment  needs  no  other  eulogy  than 
its  history.  From  the  time  when  it  received  its  baptism  of 
blood  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  to  the  end  of  its  second 
campaign,  the  same  spirit  of  patriotism  pervaded  its  ranks, 
and  ever  and  always  it  could  be  depended  upon  for  prompt 
and  efficient  service. 

The  headquarters  of  the  regiment  are  in  Fitchburg  and 
our  citv  is  well  represented  in  the  list  of  its  officers.  The 
companies  arranged  in  battalions  are  as  follows  :  F,  Marl- 
boro ;  I,  Concord;  L,  Boston;  M,  Milford ;  E,  Ashburn- 
ham  ;  B,  Fitchburg;  D,  Fitchburg;  K,  Clinton;  G,  Lowell; 
C,  Lowell  ;   H,  Stoneham  ;  A,  Wakefield. 

The  officers  of  the  regiment  are  Colonel  Henry  G. 
Greene,  Fitchburg ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Henry  Parsons, 
Marlboro  ;  Majors — Charles  F.  Woodward,  Wakefield  ; 
Thomas  H.  Shea,  Fitchburg;  George  H.  Chaffin,  Grafton; 
Adjutant  (rank  ist  Lieut.)  George  Burford,  Fitchburg ; 
Quartermaster  (rank  ist  Lieut.)  Ambrose  M.  Page,  Marl- 
boro; Surgeon  (rank  major)  Charles  H.  Rice,  Fitchburg; 
Assistant  Surgeon  (rank  ist  Lieut.)  William  M.  Hoar, 
Lowell;  Paymaster  (rank  ist  Lieut.)  Lewis  G.  Holt,  Law- 
rence ;  Chaplain  George  R.  W.  Scott,  Fitchburg  ;  Inspector, 
Rifle  Practice,  F.  II.  Parker,  Ashburnham. 

Colonel  Henry  G.  Greene,  present  commanding  of- 
ficer of  the  6th  Regiment,  has  for  several  years  been 
connected  with  the  state  militia,  having  been  present  at  nine- 
teen successive  annual  camps  of  the  state  militia.  In  July, 
1862,  he  enlisted  from  Southbridge  as  a  private  in  the  34th 
Massachusetts  Regiment  and  received  his  discharge  in 
February,  1864.  For  a  year  following  his  discharge  from 
service  he  had  charge  of  the  dispensary  of  the  Readville 
Hospital  in  this  state,  and  in  1865,  went  into  a  drug  store 
in  Fitchburg,  where  in  1868,  he  succeeded  to  the  business. 
In  1867,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Fitchburg  Fusiliers 
and  was  afterwards  promoted  to   corporal,  sergeant  and  first 


12.S  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

sergeant.  He  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  in  1871, 
first  lieutenant  in  1873,  captain  in  1875,  and  was  elected 
major,  Dec.  10,  1878.  That  year  the  militia  was  re- 
organized and  the  10th  regiment  was  swept  out  of  existence 
and  Major  Greene  was  transferred  to  the  6th  Regiment  as 
major,  and  upon  the  election  of  Colonel  Smith  M.  Decker  he 
was  chosen  lieutenant  colonel.  May  16,  1884  he  was  elected 
colonel. 

In  1878,  Colonel  Greene  received  the  appointment  of 
deputy  sheriff  from  General  A.  B.  R.  Sprague,  which  office 
he  still  retains. 

IN    THE    REBELLION. 

Fitchburg  has  a  war  record  of  which  every  citizen  may 
justly  be  proud. 

A  community  which  sent  nine  companies  into  the 
field  during  the  war,  which  promptly  filled  its  quotas  under 
all  calls,  and  then  had  seventy-five  men  to  its  credit,  above 
all  demands  upon  it,  has  a  record  well  worth  preserving  and 
it  is  gratifying  to  every  patriotic  citizen  to  know  that  such  a 
work  was  undertaken  and  most  faithfully  written  while  the 
scenes  and  events  of  the  war  were  yet  fresh  in  the  minds  of 
all.  We  refer  to  the  book  entitled  "Fitchburg  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,'"  by  Henry  A.  Willis,  adjutant  of  the  53d 
Regiment,  from  which  volume  we  select,  by  permission, 
some  interesting  facts  and  incidents  for  this  chapter. 

The  opening  scenes  of  the  Rebellion  are  well  remem- 
bered by  those  of  us  who  were  living  at  that  time.  The 
secession  of  the  southern  states,  the  attack  upon  Fort 
Sumpter,  its  gallant  defence  by  Major  Anderson  and  the  call 
of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers 
opened  all  eyes  to  the  fact  that  war,  so  long  feared,  so  much 
to  be  deplored,  so  uncertain  in  its  duration  and  consequences, 
was  at  last  upon  us.  Who  will  ever  forget  the  excitement  of 
that  memorable  day  ;  the  prompt  response  of  Governor  An- 
drew to  the  president's  call  and  his  order  for  several  regi- 
ments to   proceed  at  once  to  Washington.       We  had   at  that 


REV.   G.   R.   W.   SCOTT,   D.    D. 


Chaplain    6th    Reg.,   M.   V.   M. 


MILITARY.  129 

time  two  companies  of  militia  in  town  :  the  "Fitchburg  Fusi- 
liers," Captain  John  W.  Kimball,  and  the  ''Washington 
Guards,"  Captain  Edwin  Upton,  both  of  the  old  ninth  regi- 
ment, which  had  but  three  other  companies.  The  com- 
manders of  these  companies  reported  their  commands  ready 
to  go  forward  at  once,  if  called  upon.  All  was  excitement; 
little  business  was  done  ;  people  gathered  on  the  street  cor- 
ners with  saddened  hearts,  but  with  determined  looks, 
discussing  what  might  next  occur.  Tuesday,  Wednesday 
and  Thursday  passed  and  Friday,  the  ever  memorable  nine- 
teenth of  April,  came.  Late  in  the  afternoon  the  wires 
flashed  the  news  of  the  attack  in  Baltimore,  as  follows  :  rrThe 
sixth  Massachusetts  regiment  is  now  fighting  its  way  through 
Baltimore,  four  men  have  been  killed,  many  wounded,  and 
the  fighting  is  still  going  on."  What  a  shock  it  gave  us  ! 
What  patriotic  heart  does  not  remember  its  impulses  as  the 
terrible  truth  burst  upon  him  that  our  own  Massachusetts 
soldiers  had  indeed  become  the  first  victims  of  this  wicked 
outbreak.  Next  morning's  papers  gave  full  particulars,  and 
a  meeting  was  held,  that  same  afternoon,  to  see  what  this 
town  would  do  towards  sustaining  our  government  in  its  hour 
of  trial.  Alvah  Crocker,  Esq.,  presided,  and  opened  the 
meeting  with  a  few  eloquent  and  patriotic  remarks  and  was 
followed  by  several  other  gentlemen,  after  which  resolutions 
were  presented  to  meet  the  emergency  and  unanimously 
adopted. 

The  excitement  had  become  intense  and  almost  painful. 
All  felt  that  there  was  now  one  duty  above  all  others  de- 
volving upon  every  loyal  man  ;  to  give  personally  a  full  and 
hearty  support  to  the  government  by  all  means  within  our 
power.  The  next  day  was  Sunday,  the  first  Sunday  in  war 
time.  The  services  in  the  churches  were  of  a  patriotic 
nature,  but  the  day  was  not  altogether  a  quiet  one.  Notes  of 
preparation  were  heard,  and  many  of  our  ladies  were  busy  in 
preparing  clothing  for  the  brave  men  who  stood  ready  to  go 
at  a  moment's  warning.  On  Saturday,  the  twenty-seventh  of 
April,  the  town  voted  unanimously  to  appropriate  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  for  the  benefit  of  the  soldiers.       The  "Fusiliers" 


130  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

and  "Guards"  had  recruited  their  companies  and  they 
had  a  grand  parade  and  drill.  The  Leominster  company 
marched  up  and  joined  in  the  exercises.  The  preparations 
went  forward.  The  ladies  took  hold  of  the  sad  but  patriotic 
work  and  held  meetings  at  the  armories  of  the  soldiers  to  pre- 
pare bandages,  clothing,  etc.  The  physicians  of  the  town 
met  and  voted  to  tender  gratuitous  professional  services  to 
the  families  of  the  soldiers  of  the  town  while  engaged  in  the 
war.  Only  two  of  their  number  are  now  engaged  in  the 
pursuit  of  their  profession,  to-day,  Drs.  Jewett  and  Colony. 

Thursday,  May  16,  was  a  great  day  in  Fitchburg.  The 
High  School  and  Day  street  schools  had  procured  flags 
which  were  thrown  to  the  breeze  amid  booming  of  cannon, 
music  and  the  shouts  of  the  people.  The  same  evening  wit- 
nessed an  interesting  scene  in  the  town  hall,  which  was 
densely  crowded.  Hon.  J.  W.  Mansur,  who  was  one  of  our 
leading  manufacturers  at  that  time,  presided.  He  opened  the 
meeting  with  a  few  well  chosen  remarks,  defining  our  duties 
as  citizens  in  the  crisis.  At  the  close  of  his  remarks  one  of  the 
school  girls  stepped  forward  with  one  of  the  flags,  and  ad- 
dressing Captain  Kimball  of  the  "Fusiliers,"  presented  it  to  his 
company,  expressing  the  hope  that  if  called  upon  to  bear  it 
to  the  field,  they  would  stand  by  it  to  the  last.  Captain  Kim- 
ball responded  eloquently  on  accepting  it  for  his  command. 
He  caused  his  men  to  swear  that  it  should  never  trail  in  the 
dust,  while  a  single  arm  was  left  to  uphold  it.  He  spoke  of 
the  scenes  through  which  the  banner  had  passed  in  the  Revo- 
lution, and  of  the  defeats  and  victories  of  that  and  subsequent 
wars.  "Emblem  of  liberty  ;  if  struck  down  now,  the  hope  of 
men  for  free  government  would  be  forever  extinguished." 
Another  school  girl  then,  in  a  clear  voice  and  appropriate 
language,  presented  the  other  flag  to  Captain  Edwin  Upton, 
who  received  it  for  his  command  with  a  few  appropriate 
remarks. 

On  the  eleventh  of  May  the  "Fusiliers"  voted  to  volunteer 
for  the  war.  The  "Guards"  also  began  filling  up  for  the 
same  purpose.  At  last  the  "Fusiliers"  were  ordered  into 
camp  at  Worcester.      They  left  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June 


MILITARY.  131 

and  their  departure  was  the  occasion  of  quite  a  demonstra- 
tion. They  were  escorted  by  a  company  of  "Old  Fusiliers," 
men  from  forty  to  sixty  years  of  age,  who  had  served  in  its 
ranks  in  bye-gone  days.  At  half-past  ten  the  procession 
marched  into  the  town  hall  where  their  friends  had  met  to 
bid  the  "boys"  good-bye.  Speeches  were  made  by  Hon. 
Alvah  Crocker  and  others,  and  eacli  member  of  the  company 
was  presented  with  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament  by  the 
clergymen  of  the  city.  The  soldiers  were  then  vaccinated 
gratuitously  by  Drs.  Jewett  and  Hitchcock.  Prayer  was  of- 
fered by  one  of  the  clergymen,  after  which  the  company  was 
escorted  to  the  Fitchburg  Hotel  to  partake  of  a  dinner  which 
was  provided  for  them  by  the  citizens,  subsequent  to  which 
the  procession  was  again  formed  and  marched  to  the  Wor- 
cester railroad  depot,  followed  by  an  immense  crowd  of 
citizens.  Here  many  affecting  scenes  took  place,  the  tender 
parting  of  the  soldiers  with  their  friends,  (alas  !  to  many  the 
last  on  earth)  the  final  starting  of  the  train  amid  the  huzzas 
of  the  multitude,  made  the  scene  one  long  to  be  remembered. 
As  the  train  moved  slowly  away,  the  band  played  sadly  and 
slowlv  the  old  familiar  air  "Auld  Lany  Svne." 

And  so  left  us  our  first  company  of  Fitchburg  men  for  the 
war.  Did  it  occur  to  an}-  of  us  that  this  noble  company  of 
young  men,  the  pride  of  our  hearts  and  homes,  were  leaving 
us  for  three  long  years  of  hardship  and  suffering,  and, 
that  ere  their  return,  should  see  thirty-three  of  their  number 
killed  or  dead  from  disease  contracted  in  the  service,  while 
two-thirds  of  the  remainder  should  have  been  wounded, 
many  maimed  for  life?  wSuch  was  the  'tale,  and  such  is 
cruel,  heartless  war. 

The  first  company  actually  raised  and  accepted  from  this 
town,  under  the  call  of  the  president,  for  three  vears  troops, 
was  recruited  by  Captain  James  Savage,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  who 
was  well  known  by  many  of  our  citizens.  His  company  was 
attached  to  the  second  regiment.  His  record  is  a  short  but 
noble  one.  He  was  promoted  to  major,  in  June,  1862, 
wounded  at  Cedar  Mountain,  Aug.  6,  and  died  in  a  Rich- 
mond prison  the  nineteenth  of  September  following.        His 


l.'>2  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

company  was  always  known  as  the  Fitchburg  company, 
although  the  most  of  the  men  came  from  adjoining  towns. 

We  have  not  the  space  in  this  book  to  give  even  a  brief 
history  of  the  different  organizations  which  followed  this  one 
to  the  seat  of  war.  Fitchburg  was  largely  represented  in 
the  2d,  15th,  21st,  25th,  26th,  53d,  57th,  36th,  4th  heavy  ar- 
tillery and  on  board  sixteen  ships  of  the  navy,  and  there  were 
but  few  of  the  great  battles  in  which  Fitchburg  men  did  not 
participate,  and  the  record  of  the  organizations  to  which  they 
were  attached  are  among  the  most  brilliant  of  any  of  the  war. 

After  the  great  battles  of  the  war  in  which  our  boys  were 
engaged,  the  town  sent  committees  of  prominent  citizens  to 
the  front  to  look  after  the  dead  and  wounded  as  well  as  the 
sick,  taking  with  them  articles  of  wearing  apparel  and  com- 
forts in  every  form.  The  ladies  of  the  town  formed  a  "Sol- 
diers' Aid  Society''  and  carried  out  a  systematic  plan  for 
assisting  in  the  patriotic  work.  With  the  enlisting  of  the  first 
Fitchburg  men,  the  labors  of  the  Fitchburg  women  began. 
They  prepared  and  sent  to  the  soldiers  in  camp,  such  things 
as  would  best  contribute  to  their  comfort,  and  by  frequent 
visits  made  them  feel  they  were  not  forgotten  while  away 
from  home  sharing  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  a  bloody 
war. 

For  greater  method  and  efficiency  they  organized  on  the 
sixteenth  of  May,  1861,  "The  Ladies'  Soldiers  Aid  Society." 
The  second  article  of  their  constitution  read  as  follows:  "The 
object  of  the  Society  shall  be  to  furnish  to  the  soldiers  en- 
gaged in  the  present  war  of  our  country  such  aid  as  may  be 
in  our  power,"  and  from  that  day  till  the  war  closed  and  the 
troops  were  mustered  out,  most  nobly  did  they  carry  out  the 
provisions  of  that  article,  as  many  a  sick  and  wounded  sol- 
dier bov  has,  and  will  gratefully  testify. 

Of  the  residents  of  Fitchburg  who  went  to  war,  one  was 
brevet  brigadier  general,  two  were  colonels,  two  lieutenant 
colonels,  two  majors,  two  surgeons,  four  brevet  majors, 
seventeen  captains,  twenty  first  lieutenants,  seven  second 
lieutenants,  three  navv  officers  and  sixteen  seamen  in  the 
navy,  693  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians  and  privates. 


MILITARY.  133 

Of  this  number  sixty  were  killed  in  battle,  sixty-eight  died 
from  wounds  or  disease  or  from  starvation  in  rebel  prisons, 
while  eighty-four  received  wounds  from  which  they  recov- 
ered, twenty-five  were  taken  prisoners.  The  unwritten 
history  of  these  brave  men,  the  dangers  the}'  encountered, 
the  hardships  and  privations  they  patiently  endured,  the  hair- 
breadth escapes  and  instances  of  individual  heroism,  would 
fill  many  large  volumes.  They  never  faltered  in  their  love 
for  the  old  flag,  nor  in  their  determination  that  it  should  be 
maintained  unsullied,  and  their  memories  will  ever  be  held 
dear  and  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  their  grateful  country- 
men. 

ON    THE    FIELD    OF    BATTLE. 

We  are  glad  to  record  in  this  connection  a  few  of  the 
many  instances  of  heroism  on  the  field  of  battle  and  in  rebel 
prisons  : 

THE  25TH  MASS.  VOLS.  AT  COLD  HARBOR. 

Of  the  fighting  qualities  of  the  25th  as  shown  in  this 
battle,  we  shall  quote  from  a  narrative  of  the  battle  published 
in  one  of  the  Philadelphia  papers,  Jan.  31,  1885,  ov  Gen.  P. 
D.  Bowles  of  the  Confederate  army,  who  commanded  im- 
mediatelv  in  our  front  and  who  was  an  eye-witness  to  the 
gallant  charge  made  by  the  25th  in  that  engagement,  he 
says  : 

"We  were  not  long;  waiting.  Soon  the  woods  in  our  front 
resounded  with  the  cold  mechanical  huzzas  as  if  from  a 
myriad  of  voices,  and  a  general  advance  was  made  along  the 
whole  line.  They  came  out  of  the  woods  directly  in  my 
front  and  their  lines  extended  as  far  to  the  right  and  left  as 
the  eye  could  reach  ;  first  one,  then  two,  three,  four,  five,  on 
thev  came  until  the  eleventh  line  was  in  full  view.  I  ordered 
my  men  to  hold  their  fire  until  they  came  within  seventv 
yards  of  our  works.  This  command  was  so  well  executed 
that  the  first,  second  and  third  lines  of  the  enemy  looked  like 
one.    The  Federals  were  advancing  all  this  time  without  any 


134 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


caps  on  their  guns,  and  not  a  shot  had  come  from  the  Union 
lines  save  those  from  the  six-gun  battery  in  my  front,  which 
was  bursting  shells  high  over  our  heads  and  in  our  rear. 
Our  artillery  was  not  idle,  but  firing  double-shotted  canister 
from  the  two  rifled  guns,  and  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred 
yards  was  cutting  wide  swaths  through  their  lines  at  every 
fire,  literally  mowing  them  down  by  the  dozen,  while  heads, 
arms,  legs  and  muskets  were  seen  flying  high  in  the  air  at 
every  discharge. 

"We  were  not  long  in  discovering'  that  there  was  no  child's 
play  awaiting  us.  We  were  opposing  a  determined  and  gal- 
lant foe.  The  wide  lanes 
made  in  their  columns  were 
quickly  closed,  while  on, 
on  they  came,  swaying  first 
to  the  right,  then  to  left, 
^g  like  great  waves  of  the  sea, 
L  until  one  upheaval  from  the 
j|§rear  would  follow  another, 
2H  hurrying  them  nearer  and 
HII  nearer  each  moment  to  the 
£,  murderous  fire  from  our 
works.  There  was  a  ra- 
vine with  a  marsh  in  Gen- 
eral Anderson's  front  and 
just  at  the  edge  of  the> 
woods.  Here  the  enemy 
would  surge  to  the  right  to  obtain  shelter  from  my  men, 
only  to  be  raked  by  the  artillery  and  the  leaden  hail  from 
Anderson's  Brigade.  At  this  point  the  dead  were  piled  upon 
each  other  five  or  six  deep,  and  the  blood  ran  down  the 
branch  or  gully  until  it  flowed  past  our  line.  At  times  the 
smoke  was  so  dense  that  nothing  could  be  seen,  but  as  the 
wind  carried  it  away  the  solid  blue  mass  could  be  observed 
reforming  in  the  old  orchard  in  our  front. 

"About  this  time  the  excitement  ran  so  high  with  my  men 
that  the  surgeon  of  the  regiment  quit  his  litter  corps  and  was 
in  the  line    firing  before    I    discovered    him.     Some   of  the 


MILITARY.  135 

officers,  with  hats  in  hands,  went  up  and  down  the  line,  feel- 
ing so  much  elated  that  they  would  strike  the  men  over  the 
heads  and  faces  and  shout  with  all  the  joy  ever  expressed  at 
a  camp-meeting  by  a  new  convert. 

"Here  for  one  hour  and  a  half  a  solid  mass  of  humanity 
had  charged  and  charged  again  like  a  flock  of  sheep  against 
a  stone  wall.  Such  invincible  resolution  I  never  saw  before 
or  since.  They  would  advance  to  the  charge  again  and 
again,  only  to  be  shot  down  without  any  shadow  of  resist- 
ance, until  the  ground  was  blue  with  the  dead  and  wounded. 
Finally  the  Federal  columns  passed  back  out  of  sight  in  the 
deep  smoke.  I  then  had  a  good  supply  of  ammunition 
brought  into  the  line  and  everything  made  ready  for  the  third 
attack.  After  waiting  some  twenty  or  thirty  minutes  we 
again  heard  the  old  huzza,  but  in  such  a  feeble  manner  and 
from  so  few  that  it  caused  surprise.  Then  it  was  that  the 
videttes  called  out:  'They  are  coming  again.' 

"On  looking  over  the  works  I  discovered  what  I  supposed 
to  be  one  regiment  with  a  single  flag  and  an  officer  in  front 
with  sword  raised  hiffh  in  the  air,  calling  on  his  men  to 
charge.  I  ordered  my  command  to  place  their  guns  on  the 
works  and  wait  for  orders.  When  the  advancing  line 
reached  within  seventy  yards  I  ordered  my  line  to  tire,  when 
the  whole  of  the  Federal  regiment  fell  to  the  ground  save 
one  man,  who  ran  back  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  and  at- 
tempted to  hide  behind  a  white  oak  tree,  but  was  completely 
riddled  by  fifty  balls  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  it. 

"The  regiment  that  made  this  gallant  charge  was  the  25th 
Massachusetts,  which  was  the  only  regiment  that  obeyed  or- 
ders to  advance.  This  we  learned  from  the  twenty  odd  offi- 
cers and  men  who  fell  down  among  the  dead  and  wounded 
at  the  first  fire.  The  balance  of  the  brigade  had  refused  to 
go  forward,  and  not  since  the  charge  of  the  three  hundred  at 
Balaklava  has  a  more  heroic  act  been  performed. 

"Up  to  this  time  not  a  man  in  my  command  had  been 
scratched,  and  no  one  in  our  brigade  except  our  brigadier 
general,  E.  M.  Law,  who  was  struck  by  a  fragment  of  a 
shell    early  in  the  engagement.       It  was  the  most  sanguinary 


136  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

charge  of  our  civil  war,  and  no  more  heroic  act  was  per- 
formed by  either  side  during  that  unhappy  struggle  than  that 
on  the  part  of  the  Federals  which  I  have  just  described." 

While  the  battle  was  in  progress  the  following  inci- 
dent occurred :  Corporal  Orlando  P.  Boss,  with  Privates 
Aldrich  and  Battles  of  his  own  company,  was  in  a  rifle  pit 
half  way  between  his  brigade  and  the  enemy.  The  Union 
troops  were  behind  a  breastwork  from  which  the  enemy  had 
been  driven,  and  the  enemy  from  one  hundred  yards  away 
kept  up  a  tremendous  tire.  A  number  had  been  shot  en- 
deavoring to  return  over  the  breastwork  to  get  back  into  the 
lines.  The  call  of  a  wrounded  man  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  party  in  the  rifle  pit,  and  they  discovered  Lieutenant  W. 
F.  Daley  of  Co.  E  of  their  own  regiment,  badly  wounded. 
He  was  lying  on  the  ground  some  fifteen  paces  in  front  of 
the  breastwork  and  directly  in  line  of  fire.  Mr.  Boss 
crawled  back  and  threw  his  canteen  to  the  wounded  man, 
who  was  crying  for  water  and  then  taking  Aldrich,  who  was 
wounded,  on  his  shoulders,  crept  back  through  the  enemy's 
fire  and  over  the  breastwork. 

He  was  determined  to  rescue  the  unfortunate  lieutenant, 
if  possible,  and  with  Privates  W.  D.  Blanchard — now  living 
in  Leominster — A.  F.  Bartlett  and  W.  O.  Wilder — now 
Councilman  Wilder  of  Worcester — prepared  to  make  the  at- 
tempt. While  the  others  began  to  undermine  the  breast- 
works from  within,  Boss  and  Blanchard  crept  back  over  the 
works  and  up  to  where  Daley  lay.  The  enemy  observed 
their  motions  and  directed  their  fire  upon  the  daring  men, 
but  by  lying  low  and  digging  a  small  trench  they  escaped 
injury.  They  got  Daley  upon  a  blanket  and  dragged  him 
back  to  the  breastwork.  There  they  also  began  to  dig,  and 
finally  met  their  friends  from  within,  and  bore  their  wounded 
officer  through  the  hole  to  the  lines.  He  was  mortally 
wounded,  however,  and  subsequently  died  in  the  hospital. 

In  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  Fitchburg  lost  another  of  her 
brave  boys,  Lieutenant  James  Graham,  a  kind  and  genial 
comrade,    a    brave    and    fearless    officer,     beloved    by    his 


MILITARY.  l:i. 

associates  and  worthy  the  promotion  he  had  so  recently  re- 
ceived, and,  like  young  Upton,  he  had  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  superior  officers.  In  connection  with  the  death 
of  Graham  the  order  was  given  "Forward,  double  quick, 
charge."  Captain  Foss  fell  with  a  shot  through  his  right 
thigh,  saying  to  Lieutenant  Graham  :  "Go  on,  Jim,  I  have 
got  one  of  them."  Graham  replied,  "I  will  tell  Captain 
Tucker  he  is  in  command  of  the  division,"  (Foss  being  in 
command  of  the  second  division  at  that  time.)  Graham 
leaped  over  a  low  breastwork,  and  in  so  doing  lie  was  shot 
dead.  Captain  Foss  being  severely  wounded  remained  on 
the  field  under  a  severe  fire  for  about  two  hours,  but  was 
finally  carried  from  the  field  by  four  of  his  company,  who 
volunteered  to  risk  their  lives  to  save  their  captain. 

INCIDENT    OF    THE     ENGAGEMENT    AT    ARROWFIEEI)    CHURCH. 

On  the  ninth  of  May,  1864,  occurred  the  engagement  at  a 
place  called  Arrow  field  Church.  It  was  in  this  engagement 
that  a  singular  coincidence  occurred,  in  connection  with  three 
Massachusetts  regiments.  The  regiments  engaged  in  this 
battle  were  the  25th,  23d  and  27th  Massachusetts,  and  on  the 
opposite  side  were  the  25th,  23d  and  27th  South  Carolina — 
Massachusetts  versus  South  Carolina — "Mudsills"  versus 
"Chivalry."  The  rebels  came  rushing  forward,  four  lines 
deep,  with  their  own  peculiar  yell.  They  presented  a  bold 
front  and  charged  with  an  impetuosity  worthy  of  a  better 
cause  until  within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  of  our  line,  when 
their  column  began  to  waver,  a  few  arrived  within  ten  yards 
of  our  line,  but  few  of  that  number  ever  got  back  to  tell  the 
tale.  At  a  distance  of  less  than  fifty  yards  our  two  reei- 
ments,  the  25th  and  27th  forming  the  front  line,  opened  a 
deadly  fire  on  them  at  "right  and  left  oblique"  and  literallv 
piled  up  the  dead  and  wounded.  A  counter  charge  was 
made  and  the  audacious  foe  were  put  to  rout.  During  this 
engagement  the  25th  lost  a  brave  and  patriotic  voung  officer 
from  this  place,  Lieutenant  Charles  E.  Upton,  son  of 
Thomas  Upton  and  a  nephew  of  Colonel  Upton. 


138  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

INCIDENT    OF    THE    BATTLE    OF    BALL'S    BLUFF. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  terrible  defeat  at  Ball's 
Blurt",  our  men  were  driven  into  the  Potomac,  and  obliged  to 
escape  by  swimming  the  river.  Colonel  Devens  of  the  15th 
and  Lieutenant  Eager  of  our  Co.  B,  could  neither  of  them 
swim  and  were  taken  across  the  river  by  four  of  the  mem- 
bers of  Co.  B,  Walter  A.  Eames,  George  L.  Boss,  Fred  H. 
Sibley,  Alvan  A.  Simonds.  This  gallant  action  on  their 
part  was  duly  acknowledged  by  Lieutenant  Eager  in  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  a  letter  of  his  which  was  published  at 
the  time  : 

"You  asked  me  for  an  account  of  my  escape  from  the 
"sacred  soil  of  Virginia"  on  the  night  of  the  21st  of  October. 
I  must  say  I  feel  decidedly  delicate  in  furnishing  any  items 
relating  to  myself,  but  it  will  give  me  pleasure  to  put  on 
record  the  acts  of  those  four  brave  fellows  (God  bless  them  !) 
who  took  me  safely  across,  at  the  risk  of  their  own  lives, 
and  but  for  whom,  I  might  now  have  been  confined  in  some 
Southern  prison.  After  the  order  had  been  given  to  retreat, 
we  rallied  in  a  kind  of  bridle  path,  under  the  Bluff,  and 
near  the  river,  when  Colonel  Devens  ordered  us  to  throw 
our  arms  into  the  river  and  take  care  of  ourselves  as  best  we 
could.  There  were  a  good  many  of  the  company  who  said 
they  could  not  swim,  or  did  not  dare  undertake  it.  I  told 
them  I  could  not  swim  but  we  would  keep  together  as  much 
as  possible,  make  our  way  up  the  river,  and  perhaps  find  a 
boat  in  which  we  could  cross.  George  L.  Boss,  upon  hear- 
ing me  say  I  could  not  swim,  said  two  or  three  of  them  could 
take  me  across,  and  soon  appeared  with  Corporal  Fred  H. 
Sibley  and  Alvan  A.  Simonds,  who  insisted  upon  my  going 
with  them.  I  told  them  I  might  be  the  means  of  drowning 
them  all,  and  they  had  better  go  without  me,  but  they  still 
insisted,  and  seemed  so  confident  of  success,  I  told  them  if  I 
could  find  anything  that  would  float  I  would  make  the  at- 
tempt. Upon  going  to  the  river  edge,  we  found  a  limb  some 
six  inches  through  at  the  butt  and  perhaps  ten  feet  long,  and 
in  pulling  that  out,  pulled  up  a  common  floor  joist  about  the 


MILITARY.  139 

same  length.  Upon  seeing  that  I  told  them  I  could  "make 
the  trip"  with  it  on  my  own  hook,  and  not  endanger  their 
lives,  but  they  would  not  hear  a  word  to  that,  and  said  that  I 
must  go  with  them.  At  this  point  Walter  A.  Eames  offered 
his  services  in  assisting  us  across,  and  which  proved  to  be 
very  valuable.  I  certainly  think  without  his  help  we  should 
have  had  hard  work  to  have  reached  the  opposite  shore. 
Just  as  we  were  about  to  embark,  Colonel  Devens  came  to 
the  water's  edge,  stripped  of  his  equipments  and  clothing, 
when  Eames  asked  him  if  he  could  swim.  He  replied  that 
he  could  not.  Eames  said  to  him,  "Hop  on  to  our  craft  and 
we  will  take  you  across,  too."  After  satisfying  himself  they 
were  all  swimmers  but  me  he  waded  in.  In  spite  of  all  our 
efforts,  we  drifted  quite  a  distance  down  stream,  the  current 
being  strong,  and  finally  landed  on  a  small  island,  separated 
from  Harrison's  Island  by  a  stream  some  twenty-five  yards 
wide,  which  proved  to  be  fordable,  only  about  waist  deep. 
When  we  arrived  at  the  old  barn ,  we  learned  that  no  soldiers 
would  be  allowed  to  cross  as  they  were  very  busy  getting  the 
wounded  from  the  island  to  the  Maryland  shore.  We  found 
our  overcoats  and  blankets,  which  we  had  left  there  in  the 
morning,  wrapped  ourselves  up  and  laid  down  by  some 
wheat  stacks  till  there  was  an  opportunity  for  us  to  come 
over.  We  reached  Poolesville  about  twelve  o'clock  at  night, 
some  barefooted,  others  bareheaded,  and  some  with  nothing 
but  shirt  and  overcoat." 


CAPTURE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS  BY  FARRAGUT  S  FLEET. 

Perhaps  no  event  of  the  war  carried  greater  consternation 
to  the  hearts  of  the  rebel  leaders  at  Richmond,  and  the 
people  of  the  South,  than  the  capture  of  New  Orleans  by 
Farragut.  All  their  fears  were  centered  in  Admiral  Foote's 
operations  above  Island  No.  10,  where  they  made  a  most  de- 
termined stand  ;  and  there  was  good  reason  for  this  belief. 
The  obstructions  in  the  river  between  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip  were  of  the  most  formidable  character,  consisting  of 
hulks  of  sailing  vessels  anchored  in   a  row   across  the  river 


140  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

with  heavy  scows  between  the  vessels,  and  bound  together 
by  heavy  chains  and  with  long  spars  alongside  and  pointing 
down  stream  to  make  it  more  difficult  for  gun-boats  to 
approach  them.  It  soon  became  apparent  to  Admiral 
Farragut  that  nothing  could  be  accomplished  until  these  ob- 
structions were  removed.  A  council  of  war  was  held  on 
board  the  flagship  "Hartford,"  and  Lieutenant  Commander 
C.  H.  B.  Caldwell,  the  brave  and  intrepid  captain  of  the  gun- 
boat "Itasca,"  volunteered  his  ship  for  the  dangerous  service, 
and  his  offer  was  accepted.  The  story  is  most  graphically 
told  by  our  genial  letter  carrier  George  M.  Bowker,  who  be- 
longed to  the  Itasca,  and  was  therefore  not  only  an  eye 
witness  to  the  gallant  exploit,  but  took  an  active  part  in  it. 
He  says  : 

"Accordingly  we  ran  alongside  the  Hartford  and  had  our 
masts  taken  out  and  our  smoke  stack  covered  with  mud  from 
the  river.  The  ship  was  painted  the  color  of  the  muddy 
water  of  the  river  and  every  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent 
splinters  from  flying,  as  these  always  cause  more  wounds  on 
board  a  ship  than  shot  and  shell.  The  bags  in  which  the 
men's  clothes  were  kept,  with  the  hammocks,  were  secured 
to  the  side  with  rope  netting,  and  everything  movable  on 
deck  was  put  down  in  the  hold  or  secured,  the  air  ports  were 
darkened  though  no  lights  were  burning  except  those  which 
lit  up  the  magazine  and  shell  rooms,  and  those  were  in 
places  made  for  the  purpose,  below  the  deck  and  the  water 
line. 

"Everything  being  in  readiness  we  got  under  way  at 
nine  p.  m.  of  April  20,  and  started  up  the  river.  The  order 
was  given  that  not  a  word  should  be  spoken  above  a  whisper 
and  every  man  was  to  keep  a  good  lookout  and  report  any- 
thing unusual  that  might  be  seen.  We  were  followed  by  the 
gunboat  Tinola'  with  fleet  Captain  Bell  on  board,  and  they 
were  to  render  any  assistance  we  might  need.  The  orders 
from  the  admiral  were  to  'cut  the  chain  at  all  hazards'  and  it 
was  thought  if  it  could  be  accomplished  even  with  the  de- 
struction of  the  ship  and  the  whole  ship's  company,  we  should 
be   justified    in  making    the  attempt,  and  Captain  Caldwell 


MILITARY.  141 

promised  it  should  be  done  if  he  lived  long  enough  to  do  it. 
We  steamed  along  up  the  river  till  we  got  to  the  hulks  and 
were  trying  to  find  a  place  where  we  could  push  the  bows  of 
the  ship  between  one  of  the  scows  and  a  hull,  and  had  just 
begun  to  congratulate  ourselves  that  we  were  not  observed, 
when  a  musket  shot  was  fired  by  a  rebel  picket  which  proved 
to  be  the  signal  for  a  terrific  fire  which  was  opened  upon  us 
by  the  guns  of  Fort  Jackson.  These  were  immediately  re- 
plied to  by  the  mortars  which  were  discharged  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  and  which  served  to  materially  check  the  fire  from 
the  fort,  but  I  counted  fifty-four  shots  which  passed  over  us 
just  above  the  hammock  nettings.  The  scene  was  a  re- 
markable one,  the  night  was  very  dark  and  after  the  mortar 
shells  had  passed  a  certain  distance  from  the  piece,  we  could 
readily  see  the  course  they  were  taking  by  the  burning  fuse 
until  they  reached  their  height  and  began  to  descend  and  I 
counted  seven  of  them  in  the  air  at  one  time.  The  first  time 
we  attempted  to  make  fast  to  the  hull  we  failed,  the  current 
in  the  river  being  so  strong  we  drifted  back  and  the  grapnell 
we  threw  aboard  the  hull  having  caught  the  light  rail  which 
ran  round  her  quarter,  it  pulled  away  ;  but  the  next  time  we 
put  on  all  steam  and  our  vessel  forced  her  way  up  between 
the  scow  and  hull  and  we  made  her  fast  there.  The  captain, 
first  lieutenant  and  half  dozen  men  then  climbed  over  the  side 
of  the  hull  and  went  forward  to  see  how  the  chain  was  se- 
cured. An  order  soon  came  from  the  captain  to  the  powder 
division,  of  which  I  had  charge,  for  a  half  dozen  barrels  of 
powder  which  were  quickly  placed  on  board  the  hulk  with 
a  quantity  of  fuse.  But  before  it  could  be  placed  in  position 
for  use,  the  men,  who  were  trying  to  cast  off  the  chain  from 
the  capstan  to  which  it  was  fast,  succeeded,  and  the  chain  re- 
leased from  its  terrible  strain,  fell  with  a  crash  and  snapped 
asunder  like  a  piece  of  twine,  and  each  section  of  the  ob- 
struction swpng  down  the  river  like  an  immense  gate.  The 
hull,  to  which  we  were  fast,  swinging  against  us  we  were 
soon  fast  in  the  mud.  We  were  trying  our  best  to  get  off' 
when  the  'Pinola'  came  up  and  Captain  Caldwell  explained 
the  situation  to  him  as  best  he  could  amid  the  din  and  roar  of 


142  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

those  heavy  guns  in  that  narrow  space,  and  the  shriek  of  the 
great  projectiles  as  they  went  flying  over  us.  He  told  us  to 
stay  by  her,  do  our  best  to  get  her  afloat,  and  if  we  did  not  suc- 
ceed by  the  time  the  moon  came  up,  to  blow  her  up  and  get 
down  to  the  fleet  every  man  for  himself.  But  Captain  Cald- 
well sent  the  first  lieutenant,  with  the  first  cutter's  crew, 
down  to  Farragut,  who,  after  learning  the  situation,  promptly 
sent  the  'Pinola'  back  to  tow  us  off'.  After  two  or  three  inef- 
fectual attempts  we  succeeded  in  floating  oft'  into  deep  water 
and  got  down  to  the  fleet  just  as  the  moon  came  up,  at  half 
past  one.  It  had  become  known  among  the  ships  of  the 
squadron  what  our  errand  had  been,  and  that  we  had  been 
successful,  and  as  our  red  light  passed  each  vessel  as  we 
proceeded  to  our  anchorage  abreast  the  'Hartford'  we  were 
greeted  with  deafening  cheers.  We  had  not  been  long  at 
anchor  before  an  immense  fire-raft  was  set  afloat  and  came 
down  to  us,  sending  its  lurid  flames,  from  its  load  of  pitch 
pine  knots,  high  in  the  air  and  lighting  up  the  river  for  miles 
up  and  down.  She  drifted  lengthwise  between  the  'Hart- 
ford' and  'Itasca'  and  we  could  see  the  men  of  the  'Hartford' 
working  away  at  hand  force  pumps,  trying  to  keep  the  sides 
and  rigging  of  the  ship  wet,  and  in  case  of  fire  to  quickly  ex- 
tinguish it.  The  only  damage  this  fire-raft  did  was  to  raise 
great  blisters  on  the  sides  of  both  ships.  She  drifted  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river  and  burned  up.  All  hands  were 
called  to  'splice  the  main  brace,'  the  anchor  watch  was  set, 
the  rest  of  the  men  were  'piped  down'  and  comparative  quiet 
again  rested  over  the  river,  a  shot  from  the  mortars  being 
discharged  every  half  hour  through  the  night.  And  so  the 
weary  six  days  and  seven  nights  wore  on.  A  doubt  being 
expressed  by  some  of  the  commanders  that  the  river  was 
clear  from  obstruction,  Captain  Caldwell  took  the  admiral's 
barge  and  a  boat's  crew  from  the  'Itasca'  and  on  the  eve  of 
the  twenty-third  went  up  the  river  where  the  obstructions  had 
been,  and  with  a  'deep  sea  lead'  sounded  all  the  way  across. 
He  went  so  close  to  the  shore  the  voices  of  the  rebel  pickets 
could  be  plainly  heard.  Satisfied  that  our  work  had  been 
completed,  he  returned  to   the  fleet  and   made    his  report  to 


MILITARY.  143 

Farragut,  who  immediately  ordered   the  ships  to   prepare  for 
action,  in  accordance  with  plans  he  had  arranged. 

"The  main  features  of  this  great  battle  are  matters  of  his- 
tory,  but  an  article  appeared  in  the  Century  magazine  which 
reflects  so  severely  on  his  own  comrades-in-arms  that  those 
who  are  living  to  read  it,  will  do  so  with  a  smile  of  scorn  and 
with  feelings  of  indignation  at  its  manifest  injustice.  But 
Farragfut's  soldiers  who  read  it  will  regard  it  as  an  outburst 
of  Southern  braggadocio.  It  was  written  by  Beverly  Ken- 
non,  commander  of  the  rebel  gunboat  'Gov.  Moore,'  and  in  it 
he  says,  in  substance,  that  his  ship,  which  he  calls  an  old 
tinder  box,  defied  the  whole  squadron  and  did  nearly  all  the 
damage  to  the  'Varuna"  which  caused  her  to  sink.  When 
the  truth  was,  that  while  he  was  keeping  quiet  in  the  dense 
smoke  of  the  battle,  the  gallant  Boggs  in  the  fVaruna'  was 
righting  the  half-dozen  rebel  gunboats  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  river,  among  which  he  found  himself  after  passing  the 
forts,  and  four  of  which  he  blew  up  and  sunk  before  his  ship 
went  down.  Again  he  says  he  kept  such  a  good  look  out 
that  no  movement  of  the  Yankee  sailors  could  by  any  means 
escape  his  notice,  when  the  fact  was,  the  'Itasca'  was  near 
the  obstructions  some  time  before  being  observed,  and  the 
'Varuna'  was  past  Fort  Jackson  before  a  gun  was  fired,  and 
the  second  division  was  well  up  to  the  forts.  Unfortunately 
for  us  the  'Itasca,'  which  was  in  the  third  division,  was  de- 
layed by  getting  afoul  a  raft,  and  before  we  got  past  the  fort 
our  boiler  was  exploded  by  a  forty-two-pound  solid  shot, 
which  prevented  us  seeing  the  most  of  the  battle  with  the 
rebel  gunboats  above  the  forts.  We  could'  only  drift  back 
and  run  ashore  near  the  mortar  boats,  from  which  place  we 
saw  the  'turtle  ram'  swing  round  the  bend  of  the  river  with 
the  smoke  issuing  from  her  port  holes,  a  victim  to  the  terrific 
broadsides  of  the  old  'Mississippi'  frigate,  and  finally  with  a 
fearful  lunge  sink  beneath  the  muddy  waters  of  the  river 
never  more  to  rise.  And  more,  Beverly  Kennon  will  never 
succeed  in  making  the  sailors  of  Farragut's  squadron  believe 
he  is  guiltless  of  the  charge  of  inhumanity  which  was  pre- 
ferred against  him    at  that   time  and   which  caused  the  gov- 


144  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

ernment  to  keep  him  confined  in  one  of  our  forts  for  a  long 
time,  showing  that  the  government  also  believed  them.  But 
the  men  on  both  sides  will  wonder  that  the  man,  even  after 
the  lapse  of  half  a  century,  could  have  the  audacity  to  pub- 
lish such  an  article  as  that  was,  for  both  sides  know  that  a 
more  gallant  foe  was  never  met  in  deadly  strife.  They  fought 
with  a  desperation  worthy  a  better  cause.  They  were  sim- 
plv  crushed  by  a  superior  force,  and  not  many  days  later  sawr 
ship  load  after  ship  load  of  blue  coated  soldiers  landed  on  the 
levee  at  New  Orleans  and  go  marching  down  the  street  with 
the  band  of  the  gallant  old  26th  Massachusetts  Regiment  at 
the  head  playing  that  old  tune  so  familiar  thirty  or  thirty-five 
years  ago,  'Picayune  Butler  has  come  to  town.'  ' 

IN    REBEL    PRISONS. 

During  the  war  but  few  comparatively  of  our  citizens 
were  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  held  prisoners  in  the  hands  of 
the  rebels.  Seven  only,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to 
learn,  died  victims  to  the  systematic  devilish  treatment  of  the 
rebel  authorities.  Their  names  are  John  H.  Prichard,  died 
Jan.  18,  1865,  grave  identified  and  numbered  12,475  in  the 
Andersonville  cemetery.  Charles  E.  Goodrich  died  in  the 
"prison  pen''1  at  Florence,  S.  C  in  October,  1864.  William 
T.  Peabody,  died  Sept.  1,  1864,  his  grave  in  the  cemetery  at 
Andersonville,  numbered  7,556.  Henry  K.  Hill,  buried 
with  the  multitude  of  other  unfortunates  at  Florence,  S.  C, 
his  grave  unnoted  and  unknown.  George  P.  Cotting  went 
through  the  horrors  of  Andersonville,  reduced  to  the  point  of 
starvation,  and  exchanged  was  too  weak  to  proceed  further 
than  Annapolis,  and  died  before  his  friends  could  reach  him. 
William  H.  Hay  den,  enlisted  in  the  navy,  was  captured  to- 
gether with  the  rest  of  the  crew  of  the  "Granite  City"  while 
cruising  up  the  bayous  of  Texas,  imprisoned  at  Galveston, 
Texas,  where  all  the  systematic  cruelty  of  Andersonville, 
Salisbury,  Florence  and  Belle  Isle  was  practised.  He  soon 
fell  a  victim  to  disease  brought  on  by  the  miserable  quality  of 
the  rations  issued  to  the   prisoners,  was  removed   to  the   hos- 


MILITARY.  145 

pital,  little  better  than  a  slaughter  pen,  where  the  "let  "em  die 
poliev"  was  carried  out  to  the  fullest  extent.  After  untold 
suffering  he  died,  Sept.  16,  1864,  after  an  imprisonment  of  a 
little  more  than  four  months.  Cyrus  Putnam  was  taken  to 
Richmond,  subjected  to  the  miseries  of  rebel  imprisonment, 
which,  with  the  neglect  of  his  wounds,  soon  carried  him  to 
his  grave. 

The  horrors  of  the  prison  pens  of  the  South  have  never 
been,  can  never  be  half  told.  In  the  case  of  each  of  the  vic- 
tims of  rebel  barbarity  here  mentioned,  death  was  caused  by 
the  slow,  deliberate  process  of  starvation,  a  barbarity  that 
savages  would  scorn  to  practise.  Miss  Clara  Barton  who 
was  known  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  as  the  "angel  of  the 
battlefield''  and  whose  name  is  a  "household  word"  in  many  a 
soldier's  home,  visited  Andersonville  soon  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  caused  the  graves  of  soldiers  buried  there  to  be 
identified  and  properly  marked.  In  her  report  addressed  to 
the  people  of  the  United  States,  she  says  :  "But  after  this 
whenever  any  man,  who  has  lain  a  prisoner  within  the  stock- 
ade of  Andersonville,  would  tell  you  of  his  sufferings,  how 
he  fainted,  scorched,  drenched,  hungered,  sickened  :  was 
scoffed,  scourged,  hunted  and  persecuted  ;  though  the  tale 
be  lono;  and  twice  told,  as  you  would  have  your  own  wrongs 
appreciated,  your  own  woes  pitied,  your  own  cries  for  mercy 
heard,  I  charge  you  listen  and  believe  him.  However  defi- 
nitely he  may  have  spoken,  know  that  he  has  not  told  vou 
all,  however  strongly  he  may  have  outlined,  or  deeply  he 
may  have  colored  his  picture,  know  that  the  reality  calls  for 
a  better  light  and  a  nearer  view  than  your  clouded,  distant 
gaze  will  ever  g*et.  And  your  sympathies  need  not  be  con- 
fined to  Andersonville  while  similar  horrors  glared  in  the 
sunny  light  and  spotted  the  flower  girt  garden  fields  of  that 
whole  desperate,  misguided  and  bewildered  people.  Where  - 
ever  stretched  the  form  of  a  Union  prisoner,  there  rose  the 
signal  for  cruelty  and  the  cry  of  agony,  and  there,  day  by 
day,  grew  the  skeleton  graves  of  the  'nameless  dead.' 

"Thousands  of  our  brave  fellow-citizens  were  thus  cruelly 
murdered.     As  their  trials  and  sufferings  were  great,  so  shall 
10 


146  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

these  memories  be  precious  and  a  grateful  people  shall  ever 
hold  their  names  in  fond  remembrance." 


THE    ESCAPE. 

An  account  of  the  adventures  of  A.  A.  Simonds  and 
Roland  E.  Bowen,  two  soldiers  of  the  15th  Regiment,  who 
escaped  from  the  enemy  was  written  for  Mr.  Willis'  History 
by  Mr.  Simonds,  who  was  a  native  of  Fitchburg.  The  rem- 
nant of  the  15th  was  captured  June  22,  1864.  Mr.  Simonds 
and  Mr.  Bowen  were  taken  to  Petersburg,  Libby  prison  and 
Belle  Isle,  and  were  on  the  way  to  Andersonville  when  they 
made  their  escape.  The  first  night  out  they  were  on  the 
watch  to  make  their  escape  but  no  opportunity  was  offered. 
The  second  day  the  line  of  prisoners  had  got  well  strung  out 
and  the  head  of  the  column  was  halted  in  a  road  leading 
through  a  piece  of  woods.  It  being  very  hot  and  dusty 
every  man  made  for  the  shade.  It  was  planned  so  as  to 
have  a  guard  about  a  rod  in  front  and  none  for  several  rods 
in  the  rear.  The  two  men  then  slipped  into  the  woods,  ran 
for  half  a  mile  or  more  until  they  came  to  a  brook  where 
they  quenched  their  thirst  and  had  a  good  wash  ;  they  rested 
here  a  short  time  and  then  started  for  the  Blue  Ridge  of  the 
Alleghany  mountains,  taking  the  sun  for  a  guide,  travelling 
northwest  as  near  as  they  could  calculate.  The  second 
morning  they  came  suddenly  upon  a  man  dressed  in  gray, 
with  brass  buttons  upon  his  jacket  and  a  gun  over  his 
shoulder ;  as  they  could  not  avoid  him  they  walked  up  to  him 
and  were  greatly  relieved  to  find  he  was  not  a  rebel  picket 
but  was  out  hunting  squirrels.  They  travelled  nights  by 
taking  the  North  star  for  a  guide.  When  obliged  to  get  sup- 
plies of  food  they  were  seldom  refused.  At  one  house  a 
woman,  whose  husband  was  in  the  rebel  army,  gave  them 
bread,  thinking  they  were  going  home  on  a  furlough  over 
the  mountain  ;  a  young  lady  at  a  large  farm  house,  with  two 
children  and  a  negro  servant,  gave  them  half  a  loaf  of  bread, 
a  pie,  some  bacon,  and  some  milk,  also  a  copy  of  the  Rich- 
mond  Examiner.      One    day  they  overtook  a  negro  with  a 


MILITARY.  147 

wooden  leg'  out  picking  blackberries,  who  asked  them  to  his 
house,  where  his  wife  cooked  them  a  johnny  cake.  They 
rested  two  hours  and  the  negro  went  with  them  a  short 
distance,  telling  them  about  the  country  for  several  miles. 
He  gave  Bo  wen  a  canteen,  which  proved  very  useful  to 
them,  as  they  did  not  have  to  hunt  up  water  so  often.  He 
also  gave  them  some  meal  and  pork.  Near  the  close  of 
their  journey  they  narrowly  escaped  being  recaptured. 
They  were  nearing  Manassas  Gap,  while  passing  through  an 
open  field  and  within  a  few  rods  of  the  woods,  when  looking 
up  they  saw  a  squad  of  thirteen  rebel  cavalrv  men  in  the 
road.  They  ran  into  the  woods,  and  looking  round  found 
the  rebels  had  not  seen  them.  The  next  day  thev  passed 
Snicker's  Gap  ;  just  as  they  were  in  the  middle  of  the  road 
two  of  Mosby's  men  came  around  a  bend  in  the  road  and  saw 
them.  While  they  were  running  for  the  woods  the  rebels 
put  spurs  to  their  horses,  sending  a  pistol  shot  after  them. 
As  the  ball  whizzed  by  their  heads  Mr.  Simonds  stumbled 
and  fell ;  his  companion,  thinking  he  was  wounded,  cried 
out,  "we  surrender  ;"  "no  we  don't,"  Mr.  Simonds  cried,  and 
getting  up  they  ran  until  out  of  breath,  and  then  laid  down 
in  the  bushes.  They  were  not  discovered  and  the  next  day 
arrived  at  Harpers  Ferry  and  were  once  more  among  friends. 
It  was  twenty-three  days  after  they  made  their  escape  before 
they  reached  the  Union  lines.  They  had  travelled  four 
hundred  miles,  were  footsore  and  weary,  but  thankful 
enough  to  have  escaped  from  the  horrors  of  a  rebel  prison. 

CLOSE    OF    THE    WAR. 

The  following  clear  and  interesting  account  of  the  sur- 
render of  Lee's  army  was  given  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Frank 
H.  Snow  of  this  place  (an  agent  of  the  Christian  Commis- 
sion. ) 

Sunday,  April,  19,  1865. 

The  most  brilliant  page  in  the  military  history  of  our  na- 
tion has  been  written  to-day  in  characters  that  shall  never  be 
effaced.       The  Rebel    Napoleon  has  surrendered  his  entire 


148  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

command  to  the  Wellington  Grant,  and  the  rebellion  is  virtu- 
ally brought  to  a  close.  The  enthusiasm  of  our  troops  to- 
night knows  no  bounds.  The  air  is  rilled  with  the  sound  of 
glad  huzzas  as  the  great  news  spreads  like  wildfire  from  regi- 
ment to  regiment.  All  along  the  lines  hundreds  of  military 
bands  are  discoursing  martial  music  and  naught  seems  lacking 
to  complete  the  happiness  of  all.  For  the  first  time  since  the 
opening  of  the  war,  a  hundred  thousand  Union  soldiers  lie 
down  to  rest  with  the  certainty  that  they  will  not  be  summoned 
to  arms  before  morning.  [After  describing  the  movement  of 
the  two  armies  he  continues.]  The  circle,  some  six  or  seven 
miles  in  diameter,  was  now  complete.  Its  circumference  con- 
sisted of  a  hundred  thousand  Northern  veterans  and  the  Rebel 
army  was  in  the  centre.  Three  hundred  and  eighty  pieces 
of  artillery  were  in  position,  ready  to  concentrate  a  fire  of  an- 
nihilation upon  the  Confederate  host. 

Lee's  only  alternative  was — surrender  or  death.  Under 
the  circumstances  he  deemed  it  best  to  choose  the  former 
course.  The  articles  of  capitulation  were  made  out  by 
General  Grant  and  signed  by  General  Lee  at  the  house  of 
Wilmer  McLean,  who,  singularly  enough,  is  also  the  owner 
of  the  first  Bull  Run  battle  field.  The  negotiations  were 
completed  at  twenty  minutes  to  four  o'clock  this  afternoon. 
At  that  time  the  two  generals-in-chief  came  out  from  the 
house  and  rode  away,  each  to  his  own  army.  I  was  so  for- 
tunate as  to  be  within  a  rod  of  General  Grant  when  he  dis- 
mounted from  his  horse.  Some  traces  of  satisfaction  were 
visible,  even  upon  his  usually  inflexible  countenance.  He 
rilled  a  tin  cup  with  water  from  a  pail  near  by  and  allayed 
his  thirst,  then,  cutting  off  a  twig  from  a  little  bush  at  his 
feet,  he  sat  down  in  General  Gibbon's  camp  chair  and  be- 
gan to  whittle.  In  about  half  a  minute  he  coolly  turned  to 
Major  General  Gibbon  and  remarked  "General,  I  think  we'll 
begin  to  go  home  to-morrow."  Gibbon  replied  with  enthusi- 
asm and  the  conversation  became  general. 

The  whole  impression  of  Grant's  character  conveyed  by 
his  conduct  on  this  remarkable  occasion  was  that  of  a  great 
military  genius  whom  no  reverse  could  discourage,  no  victory 


MILITARY.  149 

unduly  elate,  and  no  obstacles  deter  from  the  successful  ac- 
complishment of  his  plan.  Amid  the  general  rejoicings 
which  followed  the  announcement  of  the  surrender,  an  inci- 
dent occurred  which  deserves  to  be  recorded.  When  the 
good  news  first  came  in,  Mr.  G.  S.  Chase,  the  agent  of  the 
Christian  Commission  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  remarked  to 
Brigadier  General  Gregory,  by  whose  side  he  chanced  to  be 
standing,  that  no  event  in  American  history  demanded  more 
hearty  thanksgiving"  to  Almiirhtv  God  than  this  glorious  ter- 
mination  of  the  great  Rebellion.  General  Gregory  immedi- 
ately ordered  his  brigade  to  be  drawn  up  in  solid  column, 
and  then  those  scarred  and  bronzed  veterans,  the  heroes  of  a 
score  of  battle  fields,  sung  together  and  with  impressive 
effect,  that  familiar  doxology — "Praise  God  from  whom  all 
blessings  flow." 

Such  was  the  fitting  termination  of  the  bloody  scenes 
which  for  four  years  have  been  enacted  on  the  soil  of 
Virginia.  God  grant  that  the  sword  need  never  again  be 
drawn  in  defence  of  Liberty  and  Union. 

THE    FITCIIBURG    SOLDIERS'    MONUMENT. 

After  the  close  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  which  took 
place  virtually  in  April,  1865,  having  continued  for  more 
than  four  years,  the  people  of  Fitchburg  began  agitating  the 
question  of  the  erection  of  some  suitable  monument,  memo- 
rial hall,  or  other  structure,  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  our 
fallen  heroes. 

April  9,  1866,  the  town  voted  to  appoint  a  committee  of 
five  to  report  the  names  of  seven  to  constitute  a  committee  to 
take  the  subject  in  hand.  This  committee  was  L.  H.  Brad- 
ford, Ebenezer  Torrey,  William  H.  Vose,  Amasa  Norcross, 
and  George  F.  Fay,  who  presented  the  names  of  Alvah 
Crocker,  George  E.  Towne,  Captain  Eugene  T.  Miles,  L. 
H.  Bradford,  Alpheus  P.  Kimball,  Stephen  Shepley,  and 
Henry  A.  Willis,  and  these  gentlemen  were  constituted  the 
Soldiers'  Monument  Committee. 


150  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

April  9,  1868,  it  was  voted  to  add  to  the  committee, 
General  John  W.  Kimball,  Colonel  Theodore  S.  Foster  and 
Walter  A.  Eames.  Later  on  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
investigate  and  report  upon  a  Memorial  Hall,  and  action  re- 
lating to  the  monument  was  suspended.  The  members  of 
this  committee  were  F.  F.  Woodward,  A.  A.  Simonds,  David 
H.  Merriam,  Gardner  S.  Burbank,  Jabez  Fisher,  George 
Robbins,  E.  P.  Monroe,  Hale  W.  Page,  and  Edwin  Upton. 
This  committee's  adverse  report  was  accepted  and  the  com- 
mittee discharged.  The  Monument  Committee  was  then  al- 
lowed to  proceed  with  their  plans. 

April  2S,  1868,  the  town  voted  to  purchase  the  property 
of  William  W.  Comee  and  Isaac  Hartwell  lying  contiguous 
to  and  bounded  by  Main,  Hartwell,  Elm  and  Church  streets, 
for  the  sum  of  $40,000.  The  purchase  was  made  and  in  the 
summer  of  187 1  the  lot  was  graded,  fenced  and  improved, 
substantially  as  it  now  is.  October  2,  187 1,  the  plans  for  a 
monument  were  accepted  and  the  committee  instructed  to 
carry  out  the  designs  and  plans  at  a  cost  of  $25,000.  On  the 
fifteenth  of  November.  1871,  the  contracts  were  made  with 
S.  A.  Wheeler  &  Son  for  the  construction  of  the  foundation 
to  receive  the  granite  superstructure  and  the  bronze  statues  ; 
April  1,  1872,  with  Martin  Milmore  of  Boston  for  the  execu- 
tion of  the  bronze  work,  including  the  statues  and  tablets  ; 
on  the  eighth  of  the  same  month  with  Messrs.  Runels  & 
Davis  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  to  erect  the  superstructure  out  of 
Concord  granite.  Messrs.  Wheeler  &  Son's  contract  was 
completed  in  May,  1873,  Messrs.  Runels  &  Davis'  with 
equal  promptness.  Messrs.  David  Damon  &  Co.  of  Fitch- 
burg  executed  the  work  of  the  granite  base  for  the  fence 
and  steps  at  the  openings.  The  iron  fence  surrounding  the 
inclosure  was  erected  by  J.  L.  Roberts  of  Boston. 

Although  the  contract  for  the  bronze  statues  was  made 
with  the  designer,  Mr.  Milmore,  it  is  but  justice  to  say  that 
they  were  made  by  the  Ames  Manufacturing  Company  under 
the  supervision  of  M.  H.  Mossman.  The  four  tablets  were 
made  by  Samuel  Hooper  &  Co.  The  inscription  on  the  first 
not  only  being  a  tribute  from  a  grateful  public  to  the  memory 


MILITARY 


151 


of  those  who  fell  on  the  battle  field,  but  equally  reeognizes 
the  sacrificing  services  of  thousands  now  in  our  midst  who 
went  out  and  fought  as  bravely  as  did  the  fallen  heroes. 
The  other  three  are  inscribed  with  the  names  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  of  the  citizens  of  Fitchburg  who  fell  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  expenditures  which  have  been  made  upon  the  monu- 
ment and  grounds  are  substantially  as  follow-  :  ^ue  cost  of 
the  lot,  $40,000;  granite  base  for  fence,  $3,0u.  ence, 

$3,000;   foundation    for    monument,  $2,000  per- 


COURT   HOUSE. 


(  HRIST  CHURCH. 


MONUMENT    SQUARE. 


structure,  $9,000;  bronze  statues  and  tablets,  $15,400; 
which  with  the  grading  and  miscellaneous  expenditures  make 
the  total  cost  at  least  $75,000. 

By  an  accident  in  casting  the  central  or  prominent 
figure,  "America,"'  a  delay  of  four  months  was  occasioned, 
and  the  dedication  was  postponed  until  June,  1874.  The 
seventeenth  day  was  selected,  it  being  the  ninety-ninth  anni- 
versary of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  but  circumstances  again 
intervened  making  further  postponement  necessary.  Finally 
on  June  24,  1874,  tne  dedication  took  place,  a  full  account  of 
which  may   be  found  in   the   committee's  published  report  in 


152  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

the  public  library.  The  grounds  in  the  inclosure  were  after- 
wards seeded  with  lawn  grasses  and  the  walks  finished  with 
paved  gutters.  Four  brass  field  pieces,  secured  to  Fitchburg 
from  the  national  government  through  the  efforts  of  the 
chairman  of  the  committee,  Hon.  Alvah  Crocker  (then  mem- 
ber of  the  United  States  congress,)  were  mounted,  regulation 
style,  and  placed  on  the  four  corners  of  the  square  equi- 
distant from  the  base  of  the  monument. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


ORGANIZATIONS. 


EFORE  the  civil  war,  for  many  years, 
there  was  in  Fitchbur^  a  musical  or- 
ganization  known  as  the  Fitchburg 
Brass  Band.  The  last  mention  that  we 
can  find  of  this  band  is  in  Willis*  "Fitch- 
burg in  the  Rebellion." 

"When  the  Fitchburg  Fusiliers  left 
for  the  seat  of  war  on  the  twenty-eighth 
of  June,  1S61,  they  were  escorted  to  the  depot  by  the  Old 
Fusiliers.  These  veterans  presented  a  very  creditable  ap- 
pearance, being  accompanied  by  a  portion  of  the  old  Fitch- 
burg Brass  Band,  composed  of  the  following :  Jonathan 
Farns worth,  Cyrus  Thurston,  Ebenezer  Thurston,  Jeremiah 
Kinsman,  Charles  Derby,  J.  K.  Gibson,  the  first  three  of 
whom  paraded  with  the  company  at  its  first  appearance, 
forty-five  years  before." 

From  this  time  to  1868  there  was  no  regularly  organized 
band  in  Fitchburg.  The  present  Fitchburg  Military  Band 
was  born  Jan.  4,  1868,  when  eight  gentlemen  met  in  an  un- 
finished room  in  Belding  &  Dickinson's  new  block,  and  or- 
ganized "The  Musical  Club."  This  club  held  several 
meetings,  adopted  by-laws,  and  purchased  a  few  instruments, 
but  never  appeared  before  the  public.  Starting  with  the 
club  as  a  nucleus,  on  March  26,  1868,  the  Fitchburg  Cornet 
Band  was  organized  with  thirty-three  members,  and  George 
Rich  as  leader  and  director.  Their  first  public  appearance 
was  with  the  Fitchburg    Fusiliers  on  May  27,  of  the  same 


154  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

year,  and  during  that  year  they  rilled  thirty-one  engage- 
ments. Mr.  Rich  left  the  organization  on  Jan.  16,  187 1, 
and  the  band  was  without  a  leader  until  March  11,  of  the 
same  year,  when  Ira  W.  Wales  of  Abington  was  elected 
leader,  but  he  only  held  his  position  for  about  one  month. 
On  April  19,  187 1,  owing  to  some  trouble  and  disagreement 
among  the  members,  a  vote  was  passed  to  discharge  their 
leader,  disband  and  close  up  affairs  entirely ;  but  on  the 
third  of  May,  nine  members  met  together  and  re-organized, 
taking  the  property  and  paying  the  debts  of  the  old  band. 
George  Rich  was  again  chosen  leader  and  held  the  position 
until  the  last  part  of  the  year,  when,  owing  to  a  general  feel- 
ing of  dissatisfaction  with  the  way  things  were  going  on, 
the  band  narrowly  escaped  utter  extinction,  but  five  of  the 
most  plucky  members  met  and  determined  to  keep  up  the 
organization  if  possible.  Through  the  efforts  of  the 
members,  Mr.  Warren  S.  Russell  was  secured  as  leader. 
January  11,  1872,  the  band  was  again  re-organized  and 
under  his  faithful  and  skilful  management  attained  almost 
the  highest  rank  among  the  musical  organizations  of  New 
England.  It  was  during  Mr.  Russell's  term  of  service  that 
the  name  of  the  band  was  changed  to  "The  Fitchburg 
Military  Band,"  which  name  it  has  retained  to  the  present 
time.  Mr.  Russell  was  a  most  estimable  man,  of  rare  musi- 
cal ability,  and  his  death  in  March,  1884,  was  a  sad  blow  to 
the  members  of  the  band  and  to  the  citizens  of  Fitchburg  as 
well.  At  his  funeral,  March  18,  1884,  the  floral  tributes 
from  many  musical  organizations  in  New  England,  the  pres- 
ence of  Mr.  D.  W.  Reeves,  always  a  warm  friend  of  Mr. 
Russell,  with  the  American  Band  of  Providence,  R.  I., 
whose  members  voluntarily  tendered  their  services  for  the 
occasion  gratuitously  ;  the  great  concourse  of  citizens  and  the 
general  suspension  of  business  throughout  the  city  showed 
better  than  words  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held. 

After  Mr.  Russell's  death  the  general  management  of  the 
business  of  the  band  w7as  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  committee 
of  five,  chosen  annually  by  the  active  members,  from  both 
active  and  honorary  members.     In  June,  1884,  the  committee 


t»-jl 


.  <A**tj     -  iat .  ■ 


ORGANIZATIONS.  155 

were  fortunate  enough  to  secure  as  leader  and  director  Mr. 
G.  A.  Patz,  formerly  leader  of  Gilmore's  celebrated  organi- 
zation in  Boston.  They  have  furnished  music  for  the  past 
thirteen  years  at  Lake  Pleasant,  and  tilled  engagements  in 
main-  other  places.  They  are  also  the  regimental  band  of 
the  6th  Regiment,  M.  V.  M.  They  now  furnish  music 
for  the  new  Carnival  Club  at  Cottage  Citv,  Martha's  Vine- 
yard.  Connected  with  the  band  is  an  orchestra  of  high 
standing,  which,  out  of  respect  to  their  former  director,  is 
known  as  the  Russell  Orchestra.  The  library  of  the  band  is 
very  large  and  complete,  containing  the  works  of  Donizetti, 
Meyerbeer,  Suppe,  Rossini,  Lachner,  Strauss,  Lumbye, 
Gungl,  Wiengarten,  and  all  the  noted  composers. 

There  are  now  more  resident  musicians  in  the  organiza- 
tion than  ever  since  the  band  was  first  started,  and  never 
before  was  the  band  in  such  excellent  condition  in  all  re- 
spects as  at  the  present  time. 

The  officers  of  the  band  are  :  Executive  committee — H. 
I.  Wallace,  president;  C.  E.  Ware,  Jr.,  secretary;  T.  S. 
Mower,  C.  A.  Dadmun  and  D.  F.  Manning ;  agent  and 
treasurer,  C.  A.  Dadmun  ;  agent  for  honorary  members,  C. 
H.  Wyman. 

Active  members:  G.  A.  Patz,  conductor;  Tafley  Mauch, 
solo  cornet;  Thomas  Kivlon,  ist  cornet;  J.  Keough,  2d  cor- 
net: I.  P.  Osgood,  3d  cornet;  C.  E.  Goodwin,  piccolo;  D. 
F.  Manning,  Eb  clarinet;  A.  Geoffrion,  solo  clarinet;  C.  E. 
Webber,  ist  clarinet;  A.  Da  Costa,  2d  clarinet;  Fred  Clapp, 
3d  clarinet:  Carl  Jasper,  oboe;  William  Putnam,  ist  horn; 
A.  A.  Holt,  2d  horn  ;  Fred  Latter,  3d  horn  ;  R.  N.  Davis, 
baritone  :  Albert  George,  solo  trombone  ;  A.  Maynard,  2d 
trombone;  W.  E.  Locke,  bass  trombone;  C.  A.  Dadmun, 
tuba  ;  J.  B.  Rockerfellow,  tuba  :  J.  L.  Miller,  bass  drum  ; 
E.  B.  Roncarti,  snare  drum  ;  Edward  Weston,  cymbals. 

The  Fitchburg  Military  Band  has  become  one  of  the  per- 
manent institutions  of  the  city.  It  is  held  in  the  highest  esti- 
mation by  our  citizens,  and  by  their  generosity  it  has  been 
possible  to  keep  up  the  high  reputation  of  the  organization. 


156 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


THE  GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 


This  organization  is  composed  of  honorably  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United 
States,  who  served  during  the  late  Rebellion,  uniting  to  es- 
tablish a  permanent  organization  of  these  veterans  and 
comrades-in-arms    based    upon  the    principles    of    fraternity, 

charity  and  loyalty.  Fraternity : 
To  assist  and  strengthen  those  kind 
and  fraternal  feelings  which  bind 
together  the  soldiers,  sailors  and 
marines  who  united  to  suppress 
the  late  Rebellion  and  to  perpetu- 
ate the  history  and  memory  of  the 
dead.  Charity:  To  assist  such 
former  comrades-in-arms  as  need 
help  and  protection,  and  to  extend 
needful  aid  to  the  widows  and 
orphans  of  those  who  have  fallen. 
Loyalty:  To  maintain  true  alle- 
giance to  the  United  States  of 
America,  based  upon  a  paramount  respect  for  and  fidelity  to 
its  constitution  and  laws,  to  discountenance  whatever  tends 
to  weaken  loyalty,  incite  to  insurrection,  treason  or  rebellion, 
or  in  anv  manner  impairs  the  efficiency  and  permanency  of 
our  free  institutions  ;  and  to  encourage  the  spread  of  uni- 
versal liberty  and  equal  rights  and  justice  to  all  men. 


EDWIN    V.    SUMNER    POST    19,    G.    A.    R., 

of  Fitchburg  was  organized  by  George  M.  Woodward, 
assisted  by  Adjutant  Brown  of  Post  10,  at  Room  2  in  the 
American  House,  Aug.  16,  1867. 

The  charter  members  were  Eben  T.  Hay  ward,  Charles 
H.  Foss,  T.  S.  Foster,  Gilbert  Thompson,  T.  L.  Barker, 
George  E.  Goodrich,  James  May,  George  B.  Proctor,  J. 
Myron  Goddard,  William  H.  Wheeler,  Henry  S.  Hitchcock, 
George  F.  Merriam,  John  Sullivan,  Calvin  A.  Bigelow,  John 


ORGANIZATIONS.  157 

Kemp,  Hiram  P.  Minott,  George  L.  Lawrence,  James 
Daley,  P.  Charles  Connor,  Henry  F.  Monroe.  Samuel  \V. 
Harris,  Alonzo  Parker,  and  James  F.  Bartlett. 

At  the  first  meeting  Charles  II.  Foss  was  elected  com- 
mander; T.  L.  Barker,  S.  V.  C.  ;  E.  T.  Hayward,  J.  V. 
C.  ;  George  E.  Goodrich,  adjutant,  (that  oflice  then  being 
elective,  and  George  B.  Proctor  having  the  same  number  of 
votes  on  the  first  ballot:)  George  F.  Merriam,  Q^  M.  Ad- 
journed to  meet  in  Wood  &  Torrey's  block.  The  organization 
was  called  an  Encampment  and  not  a  Post. 

The  second  meeting  was  held  Sept.  2,  and  all  the  mem- 
bers were  present. 

At  the  third  meeting,  a  photograph  of  George  B.  Taylor 
was  presented  as  that  of  the  first  soldier  from  Fitchburg  to 
fall,  and  that  hangs  to-day  over  the  chair  of  the  J.  V.  C. 
September  19,  elected  as  delegates  to  first  Department  con- 
vention, T.  L.  Barker,  E.  T.  Hayward  and  Calvin  A. 
Bigelow.  November  7,  1867,  Charles  D.  Nash,  present 
department  commander,  was  mustered.  May  30,  1868,  was 
the  first  celebration  of  Decoration  Day,  (Colonel  Loring  was 
the  orator).  At  first  officers  held  for  only  six  months.  June 
25,  1868,  Henry  A.  Willis  was  elected  commander  and 
declined.  T.  L.  Barker  was  then  chosen  commander. 
September  8,  186S,  the  name  E.  V.  Sumner  was  adopted  for 
the  Post.  The  design  for  a  seal  was  adopted  at  about  the 
same  time.  March  26,  1869,  lecture  committee  reported  re- 
ceipts from  lecture  course,  $366.00.  With  this  monev  a 
sinking  fund  was  created.  It  was  voted  to  deposit  this 
money  in  the  bank,  for  charitable  purposes  only,  to  be  drawn 
out  by  unanimous  vote  of  the  relief  committee,  or  by  vote  of 
the  Post.  Here  was  the  foundation  of  that  magnificent  fund 
from  which  has  been  drawn  the  means  to  do  their  noblest 
work. 

October  25,  1877,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  consider 
the  matter  of  inviting  the  ladies  to  organize  a  Relief  Corps. 
A  favorable  report  was  made;  and  Nov.  22,  1877,  it  was  re- 
ported that  a  Corps  was  formed  after  the  plan  of  Bosworth 
Post    in    Portland,  Me.  ;   and    in   January,    1878.   the    E.    V. 


158 


FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


Sumner  Relief  Corps,  No.  I,  was  organized,  and  it  has  since 
proved  itself  on  many  occasions  an  efficient  helper  to  the 
Post. 

Its  officers  are  :  President,  Mrs.  Emma  L.  Littlehale  ;  S. 
V.  P.,  Mrs.  Carrie  S.  Bagley  ;  J.  V.  P.,  Mrs.  Martha  Ham- 
let; treasurer,  Mrs.  Marcia  S.  Crowfoot;  chaplain,  Mrs. 
Martha  M.  Jaquith  ;  conductor,  Mrs.  Carrie  A.  Whitcomb  ; 
guard,  Mrs.  Olive  A.  Cilley. 

CLARK    S.    SIMONDS    CAMP,    NO.     28,    SONS    OF    VETERANS, 

was  organized  in  July,  1883.  Its  present  officers  are  : 
Captain,  D.  W.  Colburn ;  first  lieutenant.  F.  W.  Eager; 
second  lieutenant,  H.  L.  Damon  ;  camp  council,  N.  C. 
Upham,  I.  F.  Legrow,  E.  M.  Tennant.  Meetings  first  and 
third  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 

December  6,  1877,  voted  to  look  for  other  quarters,  and 
after  a  struggle  of  six  years  moved  into  the  present  elegant 
and   commodious  rooms  in  Rollstone    Bank    block,  whence 

it  is  not  likely  to  re- 
move till  it   occupies 
that      ideal      Grand 
Army  building  which 
is     to     be     erected, 
sooner    or    later,   on 
some     eligible     and 
appropriate  corner  of 
Main     street.      The 
Post    have    had     all 
told  upon  their  roster 
J   about    five    hundred 
^slHiflliBpi^^   and     thirty     names. 
the  g.  a.  r.  cottage.  They    have  in  their 

ranks,  to-day,  two 
hundred  and  fifty-three  comrades.  In  their  hall  hang  the 
portraits  of  twenty-six  comrades  who  have  answered  to  the 
roll-call  above,  and  recently  two  others  have  been  gathered 
in. 


ORGANIZATIONS.  1")|) 

The  amount  expended  as  relief  to  old  members  and  to 
families,  to  Aug.  28,  1887,  was  $8,091.39  ;  sick  benefits  from 
April  1,  1885,  to  Aug.  28,  1887,  was  $772.50;  contributed  to 
Soldiers'  Home,  $1,083.18;   total,  $9,947.07. 

And  this  charity  is  bestowed  as  silently  as  the  dew  falls 
from  heaven.  It  is  dispensed  by  a  relief  committee  whose 
left  hand  knows  not  what  its  right  hand  doeth.  In  order  to 
raise  funds  for  this  work  of  charity  the  Post  has  often  ap- 
pealed to  its  friends  in  Fitchburg  and  vicinity,  and  has 
never  appealed  in  vain.  It  has  given  fairs,  lectures,  con- 
certs, plays,  and  what  not,  to  raise  money.  It  gave  more 
than  any  other  Post,  in  proportion  to  its  numbers  and  means, 
to  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Chelsea,  $1,083.18. 

It  has  become  a  corporation  for  the  purpose  of  holding 
real  estate  and  owns  a  house  in  the  city.  The  following  are 
the  officers  of  the 

E.    V.    SUMNER    BUILDING    ASSOCIATION: 

Directors— E.  P.  Loring,  H.  A.  Willis,  Ira  G.  Wilkins, 
N.  F.  Bond,  C.  H.  Glazier,  J.  W.  Abbott,  John  W.  Kimball  ; 
president,  E.  P.  Loring:  vice-president,  I.  G.  Wilkins; 
treasurer,  Sidney  Sibley  ;  clerk,  Moses  Hoyt ;  executive 
committee — H.  A.  Willis,  C.  H.  Glazier,  N.  F.  Bond. 

The  rating  of  the  Post  at  department  head-quarters  has 
been  high,  they  have  always  had  their  share  of  the  honors  of 
the  department  and  of  the  national  encampment.  Three  de- 
partment commanders  have  been  taken  from  their  ranks ; 
John  W.  Kimball,  past  commander  department  of  Massachu- 
setts ;  Charles  D.  Nash,  present  commander  department  of 
Massachusetts  ;  Daniel  C.  Putnam,  commander  department 
of  Ohio. 

Names  of  the  commanders  of  Post  19  G.  A.  R.,  from 
organization,  August,  1867  :  Captain  Charles  H.  Foss,  25th 
Massachusetts  Infantry  ;  Colonel  T.  L.  Barker,  36th  ;  Ser- 
geant Walter  A.  Eames,  15th;  Colonel  John  W.  Kimball, 
15th  ;  Captain  Russell  O.  Houghton,  26th  :  Corporal  Edward 
B.  Macy,  36th  ;  Corporal  S.  B.  Farmer,  53d  ;  Captain 
George  E.   Goodrich,    34th;    Private    Sidney    Sibley,    21st; 


1(><)  FITCHBURG,  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 

Corporal  J.  F.  Bruce,  53d;  Private  James  Cuthbert,  44th; 
Captain  Ira  G.  Wilkins,  nth  New  Hampshire  Infantry; 
Colonel  E.  P.  Loring,  10th  United  States  Heavy  Artillery. 

Charles  H.  Foss  was  born  in  Scarboro,  Me.,  Oct.  18, 
1828  ;  received  a  common  school  education  in  Portland,  Me.  ; 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  went  to  Boston  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship with  Otis  Tuffts,  steam  engine  builder  ;  May, 
1852,  came  to  Fitchburg  and  entered  the  employ  of  S.  W. 
Putnam  &  Co.,  (later  Putnam  Machine  Co.,)  remaining  with 
them  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  ;  was  second  lieuten- 
ant of  the  Washington  Guards  at  date  of  organization  (July, 
1855 )  ;  resigned  as  first  lieutenant,  December,  i860;  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  the  same  company  when  the  war  broke  out. 
The  9th  Regiment,  M.  V.  M.,  of  which  the  Guards  formed 
a  part  was  not  called  upon  by  Governor  Andrew  for  the 
''three  months  service"  as  was  expected,  and  when  the  enlist- 
ment of  three  years  troops  began,  by  request  of  the  colonel 
of  the  25th  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry,  Mr.  Foss 
raised  a  company  for  that  regiment  and  was  commissioned 
captain  of  said  company,  (Co.  F,  25th  Massachusetts  Volun- 
teers,) Oct.  12,  1861  ;  received  a  gun  shot  wound  through 
the  right  thigh,  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  June  3,  1864; 
mustered  out  at  expiration  of  service,  Oct  20,  1864  ;  was 
chosen  first  commander  of  Post  19,  G.  A.  R.  ;  worked  for 
C.  H.  Brown  &  Co.  during  ten  years  after  the  war;  ap- 
pointed on  the  police  force,  Sept.  20,  1882.  In  making  an 
arrest,  Aug.  17,  1886,  the  main  bone  of  his  left  leg  was 
broken  near  the  ankle,  and  he  was  discharged  from  police 
force,  Jan.  4,  1887. 

T.  L.  Barker  was  born  on  the  seventeenth  of  June, 
1826,  at  Nelson,  N.  H.  ;  came  to  Fitchburg  in  July,  1855, 
and  entered  the  employ  of  J.  &  S.  W.  Putnam.  He  enlisted 
Aug.  19,  1862,  and  was  commissioned  captain  of  Co.  A,  36th 
Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  and  served  through  the 
war,  holding  and  serving  under  the  commissions  of  major, 
lieutenant  colonel,  and  colonel;  was  mustered  out  June  25, 


Walter  A.   Eames. 


S.    B.    Farmer 


John    F     Bruce. 


James  Cuthbert. 


Ira  G.  Wilkin^ 


Edward  P    Loring. 


PAST   COMMANDERS,    POST    19,   G.  A.  R. 


ORGANIZATIONS.  161 

1865,  when  he  returned  to  Fitchburg  and  was  again  em- 
ployed at  the  Putnams  ;  joined  Post  19,  as  a  charter  member, 
and  was  eleeted  senior  vice  commander  and  commander  in 
1868;  was  also  on  board  of  selectmen  the  same  year;  re- 
moved to  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1874,  ant^  m  J88o  to 
Waltham,  Mass.,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Waltham 
Watch  company,  residing  there  since. 

Walter  A.  Eames  was  born  in  West  Cambridge,  Mass., 
Sept.  30,  1841  ;  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1858,  and  engaged  in 
the  granite  business  with  the  old  firm  of  S.  A.  Wheeler  & 
Co.  He  enlisted  in  1861  in  Co.  B,  15th  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  (Fitchburg  Fusiliers,)  and  participated  in  all  the 
service,  marches  and  engagements  of  the  regiment  up  to  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  December,  1862,  in  which  en- 
gagement he  was  severely  wounded  (at  the  time  thought 
mortally)  and  disabled  from  further  service.  He  was  one  of 
the  early  members  of  Post  19,  tilling  the  various  offices,  and 
was  elected  commander,  Dec.  28,  1869.  In  1872  he  was 
commissioned  inspector  of  customs  at  Boston,  which  position 
he  now  holds. 

John  White  Kimball  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  Jan.  27, 
1828.  lie  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Fitchburg, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  scythe  making  with  his  father  and 
worked  at  this  business  up  to  the  time  of  the  war. 

From  1858  to  1872,  with  the  exception  of  the  three  years 
he  was  in  the  army,  he  was  constable  :  tire  engineer,  i860 
and  1861  :  selectman  in  1865,  assessor  in  1S64  and  1S65  : 
tax  collector  from  1865  to  1872,  inclusive;  alderman  in  1877  ; 
representative  in  1864-65-72  ;  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
Worcester  North  Savings  Institution  and  of  Fitchburg  Sav- 
ings Bank  ;  was  deputy  constable  from  Feb.  10,  1866,  to 
July  1,  1871,  and  from  that  time  until  Jan.  20,  1874,  was 
police  commissioner  of  the  commonwealth.  He  tilled  the  of- 
fice of  United  States  pension  agent  for  the  Western  District 
of  Massachusetts  from  Dec.  19,  1873,  to  July  1,  1877:  cus- 
todian of  rolls,  dies,  plates,  etc.,  used  in  the  printing  of 
11 


102  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

bonds,  National  Bank  and  United  States  Treasury  Notes, 
and  the  securities  of  the  United  States  in  the  Bureau  of 
Engraving  and  Printing  of  the  Treasury  Department,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  from  Nov.  i,  1877,  to  Feb.  17,  1879.  He 
was  postmaster  from  March  1,  1879,  to  March  16,  1887. 

General  Kimball's  military  life  began  in  1846  as  a 
"marker  boy"  in  the  Fitchburg  Fusiliers,  and,  passing  through 
the  different  grades  of  non-commissioned  and  commissioned 
officers,  was  made  captain  of  the  Fusiliers  from  Feb.  24, 
1855,  to  Jan.  7,  1858;  adjutant  of  the  9th  Regiment  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer  Militia,  from  May  1,  1858,  to  Jan.  7, 
i860;  captain  of  Fusiliers  from  Jan.  7,  i860,  to  Aug.  1, 
1861,  and  took  the  company  into  the  United  States  service 
June  28,  1861,  joining  the  15th  Massachusetts  Regiment 
Infantry  at  Worcester.  He  was  the  senior  captain  in  this 
regiment,  major  from  Aug.  1,  1861,  to  April  29,  1862,  and 
lieutenant  colonel  from  April  29,  1862,  to  Nov.  10,  1862; 
from  Nov.  10,  1862,  to  Sept.  2,  1863,  was  colonel  of  the  53d 
Regiment,  Massachusetts  Infantry;  March  13,  1865,  was 
made  brevet  brigadier  general,  United  States  Volunteers, 
"for  gallant  and  distinguished  services  in  the  field  during  the 
war;"  from  April  12,  1865,  to  Oct.  7,  1866,  was  captain  of 
the  Fusiliers,  then  called  the  50th  Unattached  Company  of 
Infantry  and  attached  to  1st  Battalion  Infantry,  1st  Brigade, 
and  designated  Co.  B,  same  as  before  and  during  the  war; 
engineer,  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Benjamin  F.  Butler, 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Militia,  from  Aug.  15,  1870,  to  April 
28,  1876  ;  colonel  of  10th  Regiment  Infantry,  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Militia  from  Aug.  1,  1876,  to  Sept.  21,  1878. 

General  Kimball  served  as  commander  of  E.  V.  Sumner 
Post  19,  G.  A.  R.,  1871-1872;  senior  vice-commander  of 
the  department  of  Massachusetts  G.  A.  R.,  from  January, 
1873,  to  January,  1874;  commander  of  department  of  Massa- 
chusetts from  January,  1874,  to  January,  1875. 

Russell  O.  Houghton  was  born  in  Boxboro,  Mass., 
Oct.  7,  1835  >  went  to  Lunenburg  with  his  father  in  1840, 
and  lived  in  that  town  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when 


ORGANIZATIONS.  163 

he  came  to  Fitchburg  and  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  of 
A.  S.  Dole;  after  finishing  his  trade  in  1857,  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, remaining  two  years  ;  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
enlisted  in  the  Massachusetts  6th  Regiment  for  three  months 
as  a  private.  After  the  sixth  regiment  was  discharged,  Mr. 
Houghton  assisted  in  raising  the  26th  Regiment  for  three 
years,  and  entered  Co.  B  as  orderly  sergeant ;  while  in  this 
regiment  was  promoted  to  all  of  the  grades  in  his  company 
and  left  the  service  as  captain  in  October,  1865.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  settled  in  Fitchburg  ;  was  appointed  on  the  board 
of  tire  engineers  in  1872  ;  in  1873,  when  the  first  city  gov- 
ernment was  formed,  was  appointed  chief  of  police,  holding 
the  position  for  two  years  ;  in  1877  was  appointed  on  the  po- 
lice force  again  and  has  held  the  position  until  the  present 
time,  filling  the  office  of  night  and  day  patrolman  and  captain 
of  police  ;  was  commander  of  Post  19  in  December,  1872. 

Edward  B.  Macy  was  born  Aug.  25,  1843,  at  Nan- 
tucket ;  removed  to  Boston  and  was  for  several  years  in  the 
dry  goods  business  there;  Aug.  25,  1S62,  enlisted  in  Co.  F, 
36th  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  serving  until  Nov.  24,  1863, 
when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  a  sunstroke  which 
disabled  him  for  further  service  ;  returning  to  Boston  he  soon 
afterwards  came  to  Fitchburg,  and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
business  here.  In  1875,  after  ten  years  as  a  dry  goods  mer- 
chant, he  embarked  in  his  present  wholesale  and  retail  fruit 
and  provision  business.  lie  became  early  connected  with 
the  G.  A.  R.  Post  here,  held  the  various,  offices,  and  was 
elected  commander,  March  5,  1874. 

S.  B.  Farmer  was  born  in  Nashua,  N.  H.,  Dec.  31, 
1832  ;  came  to  Fitchburg  at  age  of  twenty-one  and  went  to 
work  tor  the  Putnam  Machine  Co.,  where  he  remained  until 
the  war;  enlisting  in  Co.  B,  53d  Regiment,  in  September, 
1862,  participated  in  the  service  and  engagements  of  the  reg- 
iment, returning  to  Fitchburg  at  expiration  of  term  of  service 
and  again  entered  the  employ  of  the  Putnams,  continuing 
there   until    1876,  when   he    bought  a    farm   in  Windham,  X. 


164  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

II.,  and  removed  to  that  place,  where  he  has  since  devoted 
his  time  to  farming.  He  joined  E.  V.  Sumner  Post  19 
while  in  Fitchburg,  held  the  various  offices  in  the  Post  and 
was  made  commander  in  1874. 

George  E.  Goodrich  was  born  in  Stow,  Mass.,  April 
29,  1S3S.  His  parents  removed  to  Fitchburg  the  same  year, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  In  1855,  when  seventeen 
years  of  age,  he  joined  the  Washington  Guards  at  the  time  of 
its  organization,    and   at   the   commencement  of  the    war   of 

1861  and  1865  entered  the  United  States  service  in  that  com- 
pany, which  was  known  as  Co.  D,  21st  Massachusetts  Regi- 
ment, and,  with  his  two  younger  brothers,  was  mustered  into 
service  July  19,  1861.  After  one  year's  service  in  the  21st 
Regiment  he  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  and  as- 
signed   to    Co.    I,    34th   Massachusetts    Regiment,    Aug.    6, 

1862  ;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  Co.  A,  34th  Regiment, 
Sept.  6,  1863,  and  captain  of  Co.  C,  34th  Regiment,  Oct. 
18,  1864.  Captain  Goodrich  was  discharged,  with  his  com- 
pany and  regiment,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  final 
payment,  July  6,  1865,  having  been  in  the  United  States  ser- 
vice within  a  few  days  of  four  years.  He  was  on  every 
march  and  in  every  battle  or  skirmish  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged,  more  than  twenty  in  all.  He  was  at  the 
capture  of  Petersburg  and  the  surrender  of  General  Lee  and 
his  army  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Virginia,  April  19, 
1865.  Since  the  war  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  mili- 
tary affairs,  joining  the  Fitchburg  Fusiliers,  Co.  B,  10th 
Regiment,  M.  V.  M.,  in  May,  1867,  serving  as  captain  of 
that  company  eleven  years  ;  major  of  the  10th  Regiment  one 
year  ;  lieutenant  colonel  three  years,  and  colonel  one  year, 
making  a  service  in  the  militia  and  United  States  service  of 
twenty-six  years.  Mr.  Goodrich  was  postmaster  of  Fitch- 
burg from  Nov.  1,  1866,  to  March  1,  1879,  and  now  works 
at  his  trade  as  machinist  for  the  Putnam  Machine  company  ; 
was  a  charter  member  of  Post  19,  G.  A.  R.  ;  has  held  various 
offices  in  the  Post  and  was  its  commander  in  1876-77. 


ORGANIZATIONS.  165 

Sidney  Sibley  was  born  in  Barre,  Mass.,  Oct.  9,  1843  ; 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  in  Co.  K,  21st 
Massachusetts  Regiment,  Aug.  18,  1S62,  and  was  discharged 
therefrom,  May  23,  1864;  joined  the  Grand  Army  during 
the  winter  of  1867  at  Paxton,  Mass.  :  became  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  Post  50  at  Barre,  Mass.,  in  1868  ;  came 
to  Fitchburg  in  April,  1872,  and  joined  Post  19,  May  28, 
1872.  He  was  commander  of  the  Post  from  Jan.  1,  187S,  to 
Jan.  1,  1880. 

John  F.  Bruce  was  born  at  Lempster,  N.  H.,  Aug.  10, 
1833  ;  moved  to  Fitchburg  in  1851  ;  worked  for  A.  A.  Beck- 
with,  manufacturer  of  doors,  sashes,  blinds,  etc.,  until  Aug. 
26,  1862,  when  he  entered  the  service  as  a  corporal  in  Co. 
A,  53d  Regiment,  M.  V.  M.,  serving  a  little  over  one  year; 
was  discharged  Sept.  2,  1863,  being  very  much  disabled  by 
chronic  diarrhoea  and  fever  and  ague  :  after  one  year  he  en- 
gaged  in  the  manufacturing  and  lumber  business  with  his 
former  employer,  Mr.  A.  A.  Beckwith,  as  a  partner;  sold 
out  his  interest  in  the  business  in  1871  ;  in  1872  he  engaged 
in  the  grocery  and  mineral  water  business,  which  he  still 
continues.  He  became  a  member  of  Post  19  in  1867  :  served 
in  minor  offices  and  was  commander  of  the  Post  in  1880  and 
1881  ;  served  on  the  council  of  administration,  department  of 
Massachusetts,  G.  A.  R.,  in  1879  anc^  I88o,  and  on  the 
national  staff  in  1884. 

James  Cuthbert  was  born  in  Tilacoultry,  Scotland, 
April  19,  1842  ;  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  North 
Andover,  Mass.,  July,  1852;  removed  to  Lawrence  in  1S56, 
and  to  Queechy,  Vt.,  in  the  spring  of  1858.  The  spring  of 
1861  found  him  in  Bridgton,  Me.,  making  army  blankets  for 
the  boys  at  the  front,  and  thinking  that  his  duty  also  lay  in 
that  direction  started  for  home  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting  ; 
passing  through  North  Andover,  was  prevailed  upon  by 
Mr.  Davis,  (of  the  firm  of  Davis,  Wiley  &  Stone,)  to  learn 
the  machinist's  trade;  he,  however,  enlisted  in  1862,  in  Co. 
A,  44th  M.  V.  M.,  and,   after  his  term   of  service   expired, 


166  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

finished  his  trade  in  Windsor,  Vt.  :  came  to  Fitchburg  in 
1866  ;  became  a  member  of  Post  19,  G.  A.  R.,  in  1868  ;  has 
filled  various  positions  in  the  Post  and  was  commander  in 
1882-83  ;  was  elected  in  1883  one  °f  three  trustees  of  the 
Post,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

Ira  G.  Wilkins  enlisted  at  Manchester,  N.  H.,  Aug. 
21,  1862,  in  the  nth  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Volunteers; 
was  promoted  in  May,  1864,  to  second  lieutenant,  and  in 
November,  1864,  to  first  lieutenant;  served  on  staff  of 
Brigadier  General  S.  G.  Griffin  from  May,  1864,  till  the 
close  of  the  war;  wounded  April  2,  1865,  in  the  assault  be- 
fore Petersburg  ;  appointed  captain  United  States  Volunteers 
by  brevet  to  date  from  April  2,  1865  :  mustered  out  June  4, 
1865.  He  came  to  Fitchburg  in  May,  1880,  with  Messrs. 
Parker  &  Co.,  furniture  manufacturers;  joined  Post  19,  G. 
A.  R.,  Aug.  5,  of  same  year,  and  became  its  commander  in 
December,  1883,  holding  that  office  two  years. 

E.  P.  Loring  was  born  in  Norridgewock,  Me.,  March 
2,  1837  ;  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College,  August,  1861  ; 
entered  13th  Maine  Regiment  in  October,  1861,  as  first 
lieutenant  of  Co.  B  ;  went  to  Ship  Island  with  General  Butler 
in  March,  1862  ;  August,  1863,  was  made  captain  of  Co.  A, 
1st  Louisiana  Heavy  Artillery,  colored;  August,  1864,  pro- 
moted to  major,  10th  United  States  Colored  Heavy  Artillery  ; 
same  year  on  staff  of  General  T.  W.  Sherman  as  assistant 
inspector  general;  was  mustered  out  Feb.  22,  1867,  as 
brevet  lieutenant  colonel ;  graduated  at  Albany  Law  School, 
1868,  and  settled  in  Fitchburg  in  April  of  that  year;  went  to 
house  of  representatives  in  1872  and  1874,  an<^  to  ^ie  senate 
in  1883  and  1884;  was  chairman  of  the  somewhat  famous 
Tewksbury  committee  ;  was  for  several  years  clerk  of  the 
district  court  and  is  now  comptroller  of  county  accounts  ;  was 
commander  of  Post  19,  G.  A.  R.,  in  1886  and  1887. 

The  present  officers  of  Post  19  are  :  Commander,  Charles 
H.  Glazier;  S.  V.  C,  J.  W.  Abbott;  J.  V.  C,  Andrew 
Conner}-;    quartermaster,    Sidney   Sibley;    surgeon,   F.    M. 


49fr   ^ 


JOHN    W.   KIMBALL, 

Commander  Department  of  Mass.,  G.  A.  R.,    1874. 


ORGANIZATIONS.  1G7 

Peckham ;  chaplain,  Ernest  Schragle ;  O.  D.,J.  N.  Cutler; 
O.  G.,  B.  Parkhurst ;  adjutant,  Charles  W.  Gale;  sergeant- 
major,  J.  A.  Fuller;  Q^.  M.  S.,  F.  H.  Whitcomb  ;  hall 
trustees,  C.  H.  Glazier,  J.  C.  Bruce,  James  Cuthbert. 

John  W.  Kimball,  commander  department  of  Massa- 
chusetts, sketch  already  given. 

Charles  D.  Nash,  commander  department  of  Massa- 
chusetts, is  a  native  of  Abington,  Mass.,  and  was  born  Dec. 
4,  1842  ;  enlisted  as  corporal  in  the  38th  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  July  24,  1862  ;  moved  to  Fitchburg,  March  24, 
1867,  and  joined  Post  19  in  1868;  has  held  the  following  of- 
fices in  the  G.  A.  R.  :  Q^.  M.,  adjutant,  surgeon,  J.  V.  C, 
commander,  aid  to  department  commander  and  commander 
in  chief,  J.  V.  department  commander,  S.  V.  department 
commander  and  department  commander  of  Massachusetts. 

Daniel  C.  Putnam,  commander  of  department  of  Ohio, 
is  the  son  of  the  late  James  P.  and  Abbie  S.  Putnam,  and 
was  born  at  the  old  Putnam  farm  on  the  Pearl  Hill  road, 
March  10,  1844.  His  early  life  was  spent  upon  the  farm  and 
in  the  schools  of  the  countrv  and  town  until  his  eighteenth 
birthday,  when  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  there 
enlisted  on  March  21,  1862,  in  Co.  F,  25th  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  at  that  time  commanded  by  his  uncle,  Colonel 
Edwin  Upton.  The  regiment  was  at  this  time  in  North 
Carolina,  and  he  joined  it  at  Newbern  on  April  1,  1862,  and, 
at  once,  shouldered  his  musket,  and  as  a  .private  participated 
in  all  the  services  and  campaigns  of  his  regiment  until  May 
23,  1864,  when  he  was  promoted  to  regimental  commissary 
sergeant,  and  on  May  16,  1865,  was  made  regimental 
quartermaster  sergeant.  On  May  17,  he  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant.  He  was  discharged  July  29,  1865,  having 
served  a  little  more  than  three  years  and  four  months.  He 
removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Clark  county  in  1868,  and 
was  engaged  in  clerking  for  one  year,  when  he  commenced 
teaching    and    taught    six    years,   the    last    two   years    being 


1T>8  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

superintendent  of  the  public  schools  at  Yellow  Springs, 
Greene  county,  Ohio.  During  this  time  he  completed  his 
education,  which  he  had  dropped  at  the  time  of  his  enlist- 
ment. In  1873  he  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Central  Normal 
School  at  Worthington,  Ohio.  During  the  year  1875  he 
took  up  some  special  lines  of  study  at  the  Ohio  State  Univer- 
sity at  Columbus,  Ohio.  In  January,  1876,  he  went  into 
business  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
house  furnishing  establishment  of  Andrews,  Wise  &  Putnam. 
This  firm  has  the  largest  and  most  profitable  business  of  its 
class  in  central  Ohio.  Mr.  Putnam  joined  the  G.  A.  R., 
Feb.  18,  1 88 1,  as  a  charter  member  of  Mitchell  Post  45,  de- 
partment of  Ohio,  and  was  elected  its  first  commander,  and 
re-elected  for  a  second  term.  He  was  district  mustering 
officer  in  1883,  and  served  for  three  years  as  a  member  of 
the  council  of  administration.  On  April  29,  1887,  at  the 
twenty-first  annual  encampment  of  the  department  of  Ohio, 
G.  A.  R.,  he  was  elected  its  commander.  The  Springfield 
Sunday  News,  in  speaking  of  his  election  to  this  position, 
says  :  ,fIt  is  universally  claimed  a  well  deserved  honor.  Not 
only  is  Commander  Putnam  one  of  the  most  eminent  and  de- 
voted G.  A.  R.  men,  but  he  was,  also,  a  good  soldier,  and  is 
one  of  the  best  and  most  accurately  informed  military  men  in 
Ohio  as  to  history,  work,  and  tactics. 

TAYLOR  UNION  NO.  I,  ARMY  AND  NAVY  VETERANS. 

One  evening  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1865,  five  veterans 
of  the  arm}-,  W.  A.  Hardy,  S.  W.  Harris,  W.  S.  Hersey, 
Robert  Elliott  and  Richard  Tucker,  having  met  casually  on 
the  cross-walk  at  the  junction  of  Mill  and  Main  streets,  were 
discussing  military  matters.  One  of  this  party  suggested 
that  it  would  be  well  to  form  an  association  to  care  for  dis- 
abled comrades  like  their  then  deceased  Comrade  Greene. 
To  make  a  long  story  short  the}'  voted  to  hire  a  hall,  and 
made  Sam  Harris  a  committee  of  one  to  make  arrangements 
for  a  meeting.  The  next  day  Washington  Hall  was  secured 
and  posters  put  out    for  a  meeting   at  which  a   temporary  or- 


DANIEL  C.    PUTNAM, 


Commander  of  the   Department  of  Ohio,  G.   A.  R. 


ORGANIZATIONS.  1  •'>!' 

ganization  was  formed,  and  on  the  following  night  there  was 
a  permanent  organization  of  the  "Army  and  Navy  Veterans- 
Union."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  name  was  changed  to 
that  of  "Taylor  Union  No.  i,  Army  and  Navy  Veterans,"  in 
honor  of  George  C.  Taylor  of  Co.  B,  15th  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  killed  at  Hall's  Bluff — the  first  volunteer  from 
Fitchburg  who  gave  his  life  to  his  country.  The  early 
records  were  kept  in  a  memorandum  book  and  have  all  been 
lost  except  the  financial  secretary's  book,  now  in  the  hands 
of  Comrade  Harris.  From  the  charter,  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Richard  Tucker,  we  copy  the  following  list  of  the 
charter  members  :  Walter  A.  Eames,  William  S.  Hersev,  P. 
H.  Fletcher,  William  A.  Hardy,  Edwin  II.  Minot,  William 
H.  Green,  Samuel  W.  Harris,  Aaron  G.  Buttrick,  Patrick 
Lennon,  Warren  P.  Boutwell,  Joseph  L.  Moody,  Richard 
Tucker,  George  B.  Proctor,  Henry  L.  Sheldon,  Charles  R. 
Briggs,  Charles  M.  Billings,  Abner  G.  White,  John  Sul- 
livan, Amos  C.  Plaisted,  Cyrus  Nickerson,  Timothy  S. 
Marsh.  The  charter  was  dated  the  second  day  of  January, 
1866. 

Afterwards  a  Dorcas  Union  was  also  instituted,  out  of 
which  also  may  have  grown  the  present  Relief  Corps.  Sept. 
28,  1865,  the  Leominster  Union  was  formed  with  one  hun- 
dred members — the  members  of  the  Taylor  Union  assisting 
at  the  installation.  Soon  after,  Unions  were  formed  in  Gard- 
ner, Templeton  and  other  places  to  the  number  of  seventeen 
or  eighteen.     A   grand   lodge   was  organized   in    December, 

1865,  the  seal  bearing  these  words  :  "Grand  Army  and  Navy 
Veteran  Union." 

Comrade  Harris  says  a  purchasing  agent  from  Illinois 
was  in  Fitchburg  at  about  that  time  :  that  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Taylor  Union,  and  procured  a  copy  of  the 
by-laws  of  the  Order,  took  it  West,  lost  it  and  sent  for  an- 
other,  that  five  copies   in   all    were  sent,   and   in   February, 

1866,  Dr.  Stephenson  of  Illinois  suggested  the  formation  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  and  published  the  first  draft  of  a  constitution 
for  the  same.  From  the  Grand  Army  and  Navy  Veteran 
Union,  it  would  be  easy  to  form  the  title.  Grand  Armv  of  the 


170  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Republic — the    name    of  a  society  which  will  live   while   the 
Republic  itself  shall  stand. 

All  the  correspondence  and  records,  except  as  stated, 
were  burned  up  by  a  good  wife  in  her  annual  house  cleaning, 
and  we  can  only  say  that  it  was  not  wholly  a  success,  having 
been  organized  on  an  extensive  basis,  and  naturally  gave 
way  to  what  promised  to  be  a  more  successful  association  of 
veterans,  the  G.  A.  R. 

SECRET    AND    BENEVOLENT. 

The  large  number  of  beneficial,  secret  and  similar  socie- 
ties that  are  in  successful  operation  in  Fitchburg  indicate  a 
very  social  and  philanthropic  spirit  on  the  part  of  the  people. 

Masonrv  is  represented  by  four  bodies.  Aurora  Lodge, 
F.  and  A.  M.,  the  oldest,  instituted  June  9,  1801,  at  Leom- 
inster, and  removed  to  Fitchburg,  March  17,  1845.  Regular 
communications  are  held  the  first  Monday  of  each  month  ; 
annual  communication  in  September. 

Charles  W.  Moore  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  instituted 
Oct.  9,  1856.  Regular  communications  third  Tuesday  of 
each  month  ;  annual  communication  in  September. 

Thomas  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  instituted  Dec.  21, 
1821,  at  Princeton;  removed  to  Fitchburg,  Nov.  13,  1847. 
Regular  convocation  second  Wednesday  of  each  month  ;  an- 
nual convocation  in  September. 

Jerusalem  Commandery,  K.  T.,  instituted  Oct.  13, 
1865.  Regular  conclaves  third  Thursday  of  each  month; 
annual  conclave  in  September. 

The  Masonic  Hall  is  in  the  upper  stories  of  the  Fitchburg 
Savings  Bank  building,  and  comprises  some  of  the  finest 
rooms  in  the  state. 

The  Odd  Fellows'  organizations  are  also  four  in  number. 
Mt.  Roulstone  Lodge  No.  98,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  instituted 
Dec.  12,  1845.     Regular  meetings  on  Friday  evenings. 

Pearl  Hill  Degree  Lodge  No.  47,  D.  of  R.,  I.  O. 
O.  F.      Meetings  first  and  third  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 


ORGANIZATIONS.  171 

King  David  Encampment  No.  42,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Reg- 
ular meetings  second  and  fourth  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 

Grand  Canton  Hebron  No.  4,  Patriarchs  Mili- 
tant. Regular  Cantonment  first  Thursday  evening  of  each 
month. 

The  Odd  Fellows'  rooms  are  in  the  upper  story  of  the 
Rollstone  Bank  block,  129  Main  street. 

The  Knights  of  Pythias  are  represented  by  two  bodies. 
Alpine  Lodge  No.  35,  K.  of  P.,  instituted  March  12, 
1879.     Meetings  Thursday  evening  in  each  week. 

Red  Cross  Division,  Uniform  Rank,  K.  of  P.,  in- 
stituted January,  1887.  Meetings  every  other  Monday 
evening.  The  Knights  of  Pythias  rooms  are  in  Crocker 
block,  234  Main  street. 

other  orders. 

Fitchburg  Lodge  No.  797,  Knights  of  Honor  ;  Roumania 
No.  312,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor;  Overlook  Council 
No.  972,  American  Legion  of  Honor;  Castle  Fitchburg  No. 
195,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  the  Golden  Rule  ;  Local  Branch 
No.  390,  Order  of  the  Iron  Hail;  Council  No.  777,  Royal 
Arcanum  ;  Shakespeare  Lodge  No.  121,  Sons  of  St.  George  ; 
Wachusett  Council  No.  21,  O.  U.  A.  M.  ;  Fitchburg  Asso- 
ciates No.  22,  N.  M.  R.  A.  ;  Wachusett  Division  No.  191, 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers ;  Guard  Lafayette ; 
George  Lodge  No.  538,  German  Order  of  Harugari ;  W.  A. 
Foster  Lodge  No.  216,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen  ; 
Railroad  Men's  Relief  Association  ;  Fitchburg  Lodge  No.  1, 
Brotherhood  of  Section  Masters  ;  Firemen's  Relief  Associa- 
tion ;  E.  A.  Smith  Division  No.  146,  Order  of  Railway  Con- 
ductors ;  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians ;  Societe  St.  Jean 
Baptiste  de  Fitchburg  ;  Ancient  Order  of  Red  Men;  Rail- 
road Men's  Christian  Association  ;  Fitchburg  Woman's  Suf- 
frage League. 

TEMPERANCE    SOCIETIES. 

Fitchburg  Reform  Club  ;  St.  Bernard's  Total  Abstinence 
and  Mutual  Aid  Society  ;    Wendell   Phillips   Division  Sons  of 


172  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Temperance  ;  Monadnock  Temple  of  Honor  No.  17  ;  Aqua- 
rius Council  No.  10,  Select  Templars  ;  Silver  Spray  Temple 
of  Honor  No.  3;  Falulah  Lodge  No.  n,  I.  O.  of  G.  T.  ; 
Henry  A.  Reynolds  Lodge  No.  81,  I.  O.  of  G.  T.  ;  The 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union ;  The  Young 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  ;  Unity  Temperance 
Society. 

WORCESTER    NORTH    AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 
(Incorporated  in  1852.) 

Including  the  city  of  Fitchburg,  towns  of  Leominster, 
Sterling,  West  Boylston,  Princeton,  Lunenburg,  Ashburn- 
ham,  Westminster,  Gardner,  Templeton  and  Royalston  in 
Worcester  count}',  with  Ashbv  in  Middlesex,  though  persons 
from  any  part  of  the  state  may  become  members. 

The  annual  exhibition  is  held  on  the  grounds  of  the  Park 
Company  on  Summer  street,  on  the  last  Tuesday  and 
Wednesday  of  September,  in  each  year.  These  grounds 
comprise  about  thirty  acres  of  land,  well  fitted  up  with  half 
mile  track,  stable,  cattle  sheds  and  a  large  building  contain- 
ing two  halls  for  exhibition  purposes  and  the  annual  dinner, 
with  several  smaller  rooms  for  other  purposes.  The  annual 
meeting  and  election  of  officers  takes  place  on  the  first  Fri- 
day in  December.  The  present  board  of  officers  are  :  Presi- 
dent, J.  A.  Battles,  Fitchburg;  Vice  Presidents — L.  C. 
Albee,  Fitchburg,  George  Cruickshanks,  Lunenburg;  Sec- 
retary, C.  S.  Keith,  Fitchburg;  Treasurer,  F.  C.  Currier, 
Fitchburg.  Delegate  to  state  board  of  agriculture,  George 
Cruickshanks,  Fitchburg. 

The  board  of  trustees  from  each  of  the  towns  is  made  up 
as  follows  :  Ashburnham,  three  ;  Ashby,  two  ;  Leominster, 
seven;  Lunenburg,  five;  Princeton,  five;  Westminster, 
three;  one  from  each  of  the  towns  of  Greenville,  N.  H., 
Oakdale,  Sterling,  Templeton,  Winchendon,  Groton  ;  and 
twenty-five  from  Fitchburg. 

Joseph  A.  Battles,  president  of  the  society,  is  a  native 
of  Fitchburg,  where  he  was  born  April  5,  1835,  on  a  farm  at 
the  foot  of  Monoosnoc  mountain.      His  early  days  were  spent 


JOSEPH    A     BATTLES 


ORGANIZATIONS.  1  7."> 

(in  the  farm,  remaining  there  until  he  was  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  P.  Smith  &  Co., 
bakers,  and  was  afterwards  admitted  to  partnership. 

In  1866  he  started  in  the  livery  business  at  the  Rollstone 
barn  with  only  three  horses  and  the  necessary  outfit :  after- 
wards removed  to  Oliver  street,  and  in  the  spring  of  1869  to 
Day  street,  where  for  a  few  months  he  was  assoeiated  with 
Mr.  L.  M.  Wheeler,  in  the  firm  of  Battles  &  Wheeler,  and 
since  carrying  on  the  business  alone  until  in  the  spring  of  the 
present  year,  when  he  decided  to  go  out  of  business  perma- 
nently, selling  his  livery  property  at  public  auction  ;  finding, 
however,  that  he  needed  some  active  employment  to  take  up 
his  mind  he  has  gradually  worked  into  his  accustomed  busi- 
ness, although  not  so  extensively  as  before. 

Mr.  Battles  began  with  very  little  capital,  but  his  genial 
ways  and  accommodating  spirit  insured  popularity,  and 
prosperity  as  well.  lie  was  the  first  owner  of  a  hack  in 
Fitchburg,  and  anticipated  the  needs  of  the  public  by  adding 
hacks  and  barges  as  they  were  needed,  until  his  investment 
in  livery  property,  after  twenty  years  in  business,  amounted 
to  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

THE    WOMAN'S    CHRISTIAN    TEMPERANCE    UNION. 

This  organization,  the  outgrowth  of  the  "crusade  work"  in 
Ohio,  begun  by  christian  women,  who  felt  they  could  no 
longer  keep  still  under  the  terrible  burden  which  the  liquor 
traffic  was  laying  upon  them  and  upon  the  whole  nation. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Fitchburg  W.'C.  T.  U.  was  held 
the  third  Tuesday  in  January,  1875.  The  first  practical 
work  was  the  circulation  of  the  pledge  throughout  the  town. 
a  work  in  which  a  large  number  of  ladies  were  engaged, 
thus  bringing  this  question  very  plainly  before  many,  who 
had  given  it  but  little  thought  before.  Since  then  petitions 
to  the  legislature  have  been  presented,  again  and  again,  to 
the  people  for  signature,  witli  other  Unions  of  the  state,  to 
secure  better  legislation  on  this  subject.  Conventions  have 
been  held,  almost  as  many  as  years  have  gone  by.       A  large 


174  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

number  of  public  meetings  and  the  best  lectures  that  could 
be  secured,  have  been  given  to  the  people  to  influence  public 
sentiment.  For  the  same  purpose  thousands  of  pages  of  lit- 
erature have  been  distributed  in  public  places,  as  well  as 
given  quietly  by  the  visiting  committee. 

Early  in  the  work  an  invitation  was  extended  to  Dr. 
Reynolds  to  visit  the  Union,  and  through  his  influence  the 
Reform  Club  was  formed,  and  for  some  time  meetings  were 
held  with  the  Club. 

The  treasury  of  the  Union  has  never,  with  one  exception, 
lacked  the  funds  necessary  to  meet  the  obligations  at  the 
close  of  the  year,  and  then  was  only  two  or  three  dollars 
lacking.  Some  fifteen  hundred  dollars  have  passed  through 
the  hands  of  the  treasurer  during  this  time,  aside  from  that 
used  by  the  relief  department. 

The  watchword  of  the  organization  has  been  "Prayer," 
but  working  has  gone  hand  in  hand  with  praying,  and  the 
time,  thought,  patience  and  faith  expended  have  brought 
forth  fruit  none  the  less  real  and  lasting  because  of  the  quiet, 
unostentatious  methods  employed. 

THE    YOUNG    MEN'S    CHRISTIAN    ASSOCIATION 

as  now  existing  had  its  origin  among  the  young  men  of  the 
First  Baptist  church,  in  the  fall  of  1886.  Two  preliminary 
meetings  were  held  at  this  church  by  a  number  of  young 
men.  A  third  meeting  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Association  in  October,  1886,  with  George  Winch  as  presi- 
dent. 

Following  the  organization  a  parlor  conference  was  held 
at  the  residence  of  J.  Parkhill.  Twenty-three  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  the  city  were  present,  and  the  conference 
was  conducted  by  Russell  Sturgis,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  and  R.  M. 
Armstrong,  state  secretary.  A  citizens'  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  solicit  funds  for  the  year's  work,  in  union  with  the 
finance  committee  of  the  Association.  The  citizens'  commit- 
tee consisted  of  Dr.  George  Jewett,  J.  H.  Daniels,  H.  M. 
Francis,   Dr.  C.  H.  Rice,  and  E.  N.  Choate.       The  sum  of 


ORGANIZATIONS.  175 

$1,425  was  raised.  Two  rooms  in  Twichell's  block  were 
opened,  Dec.  27,  1886,  and  four  others  added  in  July,  1887. 
The  Association  is  now,  (November,  1887,)  in  possession  of 
a  reading  room  well  equipped,  a  comfortable  parlor,  a  game 
and  recreation  room,  a  room  for  boys,  and  a  hall  for  social 
and  religious  gatherings.  The  membership  is  nearly  two 
hundred  and  fifty  and  is  constantly  growing.  A  course  of 
entertainments  of  high  order,  practical  and  medical  talks, 
educational  classes,  boarding-house  register,  employment 
bureau  and  many  other  privileges  are  open  to  members, 
though  most  of  these  privileges  are  free  to  any  young  man. 

The  work  is  mainly  dependent  for  support  from  the  busi- 
ness men — $2,000  will  be  raised  for  the  year  1887-88. 

On  July  25,  1887,  William  P.  Taylor,  a  graduate  of 
Yale  University,  entered  upon  his  duties  as  general  secretary 
of  the  Association,  and  under  his  charge  the  work  has  shown 
a  rapid  increase  in  growth  and  usefulness.  The  publication 
of  a  monthly  organ,  ''Beacon  Light,"  has  been  one  of  the  re- 
cent additions  to  the  work. 

THE    FITCHBURG    BENEVOLENT    UNION 

was  organized  as  a  society,  March  6,  1876,  and  incorporated 
Feb.  10,  1886.  Its  object  is  to  have  one  comprehensive,  1111- 
sectarian  organization,  which,  as  far  as  possible,  shall 
distribute  charity  wisely  and  endeavor  to  help  the  poor  to 
help  themselves.  The  board  of  managers  are  :  President, 
Ebenezer  Bailey;  \ricc-Prcsidcnts — Rodney  Wallace,  Mrs. 
A.  Crocker,  Sen.,  Lewis  H.  Bradford. 

Executive  Committee — Mrs.  George  D.  Colony,  Miss 
Mattie  D.  Tolman,  Mrs.  B.  D.  Dwinnell,  Mrs.  S. W.  Put- 
nam, Miss  Anna  S.  Haskell,  Amasa  Norcross,  James 
Phillips,  Jr.,  Dr.  Thomas  S.  Blood,  Mial  Davis,  Dr.  D.  B. 
Whittier. 

Secretary,  Rev.  J.  M.  R.  Eaton  ;  Assistant  Secretary, 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Wallis;    Treasurer,  Albert  C.  Brown. 

Life  Members — Amasa  Norcross,  Benjamin  Snow,  C.  T. 
Crocker,  Rodney  Wallace,  Mrs.  William  B.  Wood,  Mrs.  G. 


176  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

S.  Burbank,  Mrs.  James  Phillips,  Jr.,  Mrs.  C.  T.  Crocker, 
Mrs.  Rodney  Wallace,  Mrs.  A.  Crocker,  Sen.,  David  Bou- 
telle  (deceased),  Gardner  S.  Burbank,  George  F.  Fay,  Miss 
Eleanor  A.  Norcross. 

Annual  meeting  last  Monday  in  September.  Meetings 
of  the  board  of  managers  on  last  Monday  in  December, 
March  and  June.  Meeting  of  relief  committee  second  Mon- 
day of  each  month,  at  4  P.  M.  Headquarters  of  the  Union 
in  the  office  of  Mrs.  A.  Crocker,  Sen. 

THE    FITCHBURG    AGASSIZ    ASSOCIATION, 

Chapter  No.  48  of  the  National  Association,  was  formed  in 
January,  1886,  by  the  consolidation  of  four  chapters  of  the 
Agassiz  Association  and  the  Young  American  Industrial 
Society.  It  is  doing  much  to  promote  the  personal  study  of 
nature  by  the  young  people  of  the  city.  The  officers  are  : 
President,  W '.  G.  Farrar  ;  Vice-President,  George  B.  Hitch- 
cock; Recording  Secretary,  William  B.  Page;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Frank  A.  Marble  ;  Treasurer,  E.  Adams 
Hartwell  ;  curator,  C.  E.  Burnap. 

Executive  Committee — W.  G.  Farrar,  George  B.  Hitch- 
cock, G.  V.  Upton,  II.  C.  Patch,  C.  E.  Burnap,  Nellie  M. 
Silsby,  Mary  L.  Garfield,  Cora  P.  Blanchard. 

THE    FITCHBURG    HOME    FOR    OLD    LADIES. 
In poratecl  Sept.  -1,  1883. 

The  project  of  establishing  a  home  for  aged  women  in 
Fitchburg  originated  in  a  society  of  benevolent  ladies,  who 
had  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1879,  under  the  name  of  the 
"Ladies'  Union  Aid  Society,"  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  aid- 
ing young  girls,  teaching  them  to  sew  and  kindred  employ- 
ments. The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  Dec.  6,  1883. 
In  January,  1884,  the  corporation  received  a  generous  gift 
from  Dr.  A.  W.  Sidney  of  a  deed  of  land  lying  on  Marshall 
street,  to  be  used  as  the  managers  might  think  best  for  the 
benefit  of  the  home.     Soon  after  this  the  society  was  called 


ORGANIZATIONS. 


177 


upon  to  part  with  their  friend  and  generous  supporter,  Mr. 
L.  J.  Brown,  the  first  president  of  the  corporation.  Whose 
faithful  services  and  generous  support  had  been  most  cheer- 
fully given  and  to  whose  unfailing  interest  and  substantial  aid 
the  early  success  of  the  enterprise  was  mainly  due.  Upon 
the  death  of  Mr.  Brown  the  society  elected  as  his  successor 
Dr.  Sidney,  who  has  been  spared  for  active  labor  in  that 
position  until  the  present  time. 

In  August  of  1885  occurred  the  death  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Boutelle  Robinson,  a  life  member  of  the  corporation,  and  one 
who  had  given  her  cordial  interest  to  the  establishment  of  the 

Home.  Mrs.  Robinson 
left  a  legacy  to  the  Home 
which  was  amply  suffi- 
cient to  warrant  the  pur- 
chase and  the  opening  of 
a  Home  at  an  early  day. 
This  bequest  was  a  signal 
assurance  of  God-speed 
to  the  work  which  had 
been  progressing  through 
two  years  of  corporate 
existence.  Accordingly, 
after  due  consideration, 
and  after  weighing  the 
relative  advantages  of  several  places  available,  the  estate  lo- 
cated on  the  corner  of  Summer  and  Beacon  streets  was 
secured,  as  best  adapted,  both  for  situation  and  household 
convenience,  to  the  requirements  of  the  Home.  Through  the 
generosity  of  friends  the  Home  was  furnished  and  ready  for 
opening  in  June,  1886. 

The  present  officers  are  :  President,  Dr.  A.  W.  Sidney  : 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Wilder;  Treasurer,  Mr.  B.  F. 
Wallis;  Secretary,  Miss  M.  I).  Tolman. 

Executive  Committee — Mr.    I.    C.    Wright,    Mr.    William 

M.    Leathe,    Mr.    H.    A.    Willis,    Mrs.    I.    C.   Wright,    Mrs. 

Laban  Cushing,  Mrs.  Lowell  M.  Miles,  Mrs.  M.  C.  Crocker. 

Matron,  Mrs.  Z.  A.  Rich  :  Physician,  Dr.  A.  W.  Sidney. 

12 


HOME    FOR    OLD    LADIES. 


17(S  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

UNION    AID    HOSPITAL    OF    FITCHBURG. 

The  question  of  the  establishment  in  this  city  of  a  hospital 
for  the  care  of  the  sick  or  injured,  who  are  without  the  means 
of  suitable  treatment  elsewhere,  has  been  raised  from  time  to 
time  among  benevolent  and  philanthropic  persons  and  the 
medical  profession  for  several  years.  Recently  such  an  in- 
stitution came  to  be  regarded  as  more  and  more  a  necessity 
and  the  eighth  of  January,  1885,  a  few  persons  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  matter  associated  themselves  together  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  corporation  to  be  known  as  the  Union 
Aid  Hospital  of  Fitchburg.  The  first  meeting  of  the  sub- 
scribers was  held  on  the  nineteenth  of  January.  At  this 
meeting  by-laws  were  adopted,  directors  chosen,  committees 
appointed,  and  all  necessary  steps  taken  in  compliance  with 
the  laws  of  the  state  to  obtain  incorporation. 

A  certificate  of  incorporation  was  issued  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  March.  Monthly  meetings  of  the  board  of 
managers  have  been  held  since,  and  all  persons  chosen  for 
different  positions  entered  upon  the  work  with  a  readiness  to 
commence  active  measures  for  the  achievement  of  their  pur- 
pose. The  object  sought  to  be  accomplished,  the  relief  of 
suffering,  especially  the  distress  of  the  unfortunate,  is  one 
that  appeals  to  the  noblest  instincts  of  our  nature,  and  one 
that  is  entitled  to  the  most  cordial  sympathy  from  the  com- 
munity at  large. 

The  officers  of  the  incorporation  are :  President,  Dr. 
George  D.  Colon}';  Vice-Presidents,  Mrs.  Dolly  Marble, 
E.  R.  Turner,  A.  F.  Whitney  ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer, 
S.  W.  Huntley:    Clerk,  H.  E.  M.  Young." 

Directors — Dr.  George  D.  Colony,  E.  M.  Dickinson, 
George  E.  Waite,  J.  W.  Kimball,  Dr.  F.  H.  Thompson, 
Mrs.  W.  O.  Brown,  George  E.  Clifford,  Walter  A.  Fair- 
banks, Charles  F.  Putnam,  George  F.  Simonds,  Mrs.  H.  J. 
Putnam,  Mrs.  L.  O.  Allen,  W.  R.  Deering,  Dr.  C.  H.  Rice, 
H.  G.  Morse. 


ORGANIZATIONS.  17!) 

THE    PARK    CLUB 

was  organized  Jan.  i,  1S81  ;  having  for  its  object  the  promo- 
tion of  social  intercourse,  the  cultivation  of  a  better 
acquaintance  among  business  men  of  the  city.  The  officers 
are:  President,  Dr.  E.  P.  Miller:  Secretary,  Herbert  I. 
Wallace  ;    Treasurer,  C.  E.  Ware. 

Directors — R.  Wallace,  James  L.  Chapman,  L.  Sprague, 
G.  H.  Spencer,  O.  II.  Lawrence, 

Executive  Committee — Leander  Sprague,  George  II. 
Spencer,  Eli  Culley. 

THE    WINDSOR    CLUIi 

was  organized  with  the  same  social  features  as  the  Park 
Club,  but  its  membership  is  principally  made  up  from  the 
younger  business  men  of  the  citv.  The  officers  are  :  Presi- 
dent, J.  W.  Palmer;  Vice-President,  W.  M.  W.  Spring; 
Secretary,  \Y .  E.  Sheldon  :    Treasurer,  F.  D.  Page. 

Directors— C.  E.  Wallace,  J.  H.  Scott,  C.  A.  Hubbell, 
J.  W.  M.  Brown,  O.  F.  Lord. 

Executive  Committee — Dr.  O.  F.  Lord,  W.  M.  W. 
Spring,  J.  W.  M.  Brown. 

THE    CHAPIN    CLUB 

is  a  social  and  literary  society  connected  with  the  First 
Universalist  church,  organized  the  first  of  January,  1884. 

Its  officers  are  :  President,  Edward  A.  Brown  ;  Vice- 
President ,  N.  B.  Stone :  Secretary,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Brown  : 
Treasurer,   II.  A.  Damon. 

Executive  Committee — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Sibley,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  A.J.  Litchfield,  II.  A.  Sargent.  Walter  Hardy,  G. 
H.  Carter,  Mrs.  W.  L.  Humes,  Misses  Kate  Challin,  Ilattie 
Dudley  and  Lucy  Brown. 


180  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

THE    ARLINGTON    CLUB 

was  organized  Jan.  i,  1886.  Its  membership  is  limited  to 
married  men  under  thirty-seven  years  of  age.  It  is  a  bene- 
ficial as  well  as  a  social  organization  and  has  a  fund  from 
which  a  benefit  of  fifty  dollars  is  paid  upon  the  death  of  a 
member,  or  twenty-five  dollars  upon  the  death  of  the  wife  of 
a  member.  Frederick  Ryan  was  instrumental  in  securing 
the  organization  of  the  Club  and  was  its  first  president. 

The  present  officers  are  :  President*  Thomas  H.  Doherty, 
Vice-Presidents,  Charles  Smith,  J.  F.  Ward ;  Recording 
Secretary,  William  Ryan  ;  Financial  Secretary,  Joseph 
Flynn  ;    Treasurer,  Frederick  Ryan. 

Board  of  Directors — T.  II.  Doherty,  John  Screenan, 
Bernard  H.  Flaherty. 

Sick  Committee — Michael  Kennedy,  John  Mally,  Michael 
Lynch.     Sergcant-at-Arms,  Michael  Kennedy. 

THE    PINE    TREE    CLUB 

held  its  first  meeting  at  the  office  of  Colonel  E.  P.  Loring 
on  the  evening  of  Nov.  30,  1886,  at  which  time  thirteen  per- 
sons gave  in  their  names  for  a  permanent  organization.  It 
was  quite  a  surprise  party,  as  friends  and  neighbors  met  that 
had  known  each  other  for  years  in  this  city  and  learned  for 
the  first  time  that  they  were  not  strangers  in  their  native  state 
of  Maine. 

The  following  persons  were  present  on  that  occasion  :  E. 
P.  Loring,  Norridgewock  ;  B.  G.  Bagley,  Clinton  ;  Mrs.  H. 
M.  Francis,  Skowhegan  ;  Dr.  Francis  B.  Joy,  Starks  ;  Seth 
E.  Brigham,  Bridgeton ;  Joseph  T.  Goodwin,  Dresden  ; 
William  R.  Deering,  Saco  ;  Sumner  E.  Bowman,  Norridge- 
wock ;  James  M.  Appleby,  Canaan;  John  A.  Whitcomb, 
Biddeford  :  Samuel  T.  Johnson,  Windham  ;  Henry  M. 
Saunders,  Wiscassett ;   Henry  B.  Dyer,  New  Sharon. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


PAPF.R    MAKING. 


APER-MAKING,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  valuable  industries  of  Fitehburg, 
was  commenced  in  a  mill  built  by 
Thomas  French,  on  the  site  of  the 
Rollstone  Machine  Company's  works 
on  Water  street,  and  was  owned  by 
Gen.  Leonard  Burbank.  It  was  after- 
ward owned  by  Crocker  and  Gardner, 
and  later  by  Alvah  Crocker. 
The  second  paper-mill  was  built  bv  A.  Crocker  &  Co., 
in  West  Fitehburg,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Rodney  Wal- 
lace middle  mill.  Being  successful,  Alvah  Crocker  began  to 
increase  his  business  and  took  Gardner  S.  Burbank  into  com- 
pany with  him.  The  firm  of  Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.  was 
formed  in  1850.  They  soon  began  to  enlarge  their  business, 
building  and  purchasing  new  mills  until,  at  the  present  time, 
the  firm  owns  six  large  mills  :  The  Cascade  Mill,  built  in 
1847  ;  the  Upton  Mill,  on  the  road  to  William  Woodbury's, 
built  in  185 1  ;  the  Hanna  Mill,  built  in,  1852  ;  the  Lyon  Mill, 
in  Rockville,  built  in  1853  ;  the  Whitney  Mill,  also  in  Rock- 
ville,  built  in  1847  ;  and  the  Stone  Mill,  below  the  Snow  and 
Cascade  Mills,  built  in  1854. 

Mr.  Crocker's  native  place  was  Leominster,  his  parents 
poor,  his  father  being  a  vatman  in  the  Nichols  and  Kendall 
paper-mills,  and  there  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  Alvah  was 
put  to  work.  His  habits  of  industry  and  economy,  and  de- 
sire for  knowledge  were  early  manifested,  and  his  plans  per- 
sistently carried  out  in  spite  of  difficulties.      His  employer's 


182 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


library  furnished  the  first  source  of  book  knowledge,  and  his 
inquiring  turn  of  mind  led  him  to  make  the  most  of  his  sur- 
roundings for  the  acquisition  of  practical  ideas. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  had  saved  fifty  dollars  with 
which  he  entered  Groton  Academy,  and  remained  until  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  to  obtain  more  money.  Not  receiving 
encouragement  from  his  father,  he  gave  up  all  ideas  of  get- 
ting a  college  education,  and  made  the  most  of  his  limited 
opportunities,    managing    in    one   way  or  another    to    obtain 


■uuaniinHuuui  ■■iiuiiiuiUiEUJ  j  i  ii  1 1 1  •  mi  ii  ■  ■  i  ■  uiinmy|mm  mmu2*«yf  i|H!^^gBJB^^ 


OFFICE  OF  CROCKER,  BURBANK  &  CO. 


books  and  continue  his  studies  outside  of  his  regular  hours  of 
labor. 

In  1820,  he  went  to  work  in  a  paper-mill  in  Franklin, 
N.  H.,  and  in  1823,  removed  to  this  city  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Gen.  Leonard  Burbank,  the  pioneer  paper-maker  of 
Fitchburg.  Three  years  later,  becoming  dissatisfied  with 
working  for  wages,  and  impelled  by  his  active  and  ambitious 
spirit,  we  find  him  embarking  in  business  for  himself.  Se- 
lecting a  spot  of  land,  in  West  Fitchburg,  he  built,  with  the 


PAPER    MAKING. 


is:; 


aid  of  borrowed  capital,  his  first  paper-mill,  its  locution  be- 
ing in  a  birch  swamp,  and  not  easily  accessible  as  the  river 
road  was  not  then  built. 

In  addition  to  the  natural  disadvantages  of  location,  soon 
after  starting,  changes  had  to  be  made  from  hand  labor  to 
machinery,  in  order  to  compete  successfully  with  other  mills, 
and  to  add  to  his  difficulties,  the  mill  building  was  injured  by 
a  freshet,  calling  for  expensive  repairs.  The  times  were 
hard,  threatening  financial  disaster,  but  through  it  all  he 
worked  on  with  untiring  energv,    hopeful   and    determined. 


THE    "BRICK"    MILL. 

and  finally  weathered  the  storm.  Some  idea  of  the  obstacles 
he  encountered  at  this  time  may  be  learned  from  the  fact  that 
he  then  owed  twelve  thousand  dollars  on  his  original  invest- 
ment, and  an  expenditure  of  ten  thousand  dollars  had  to  be 
made  for  machinery,  beside  the  amount  due  his  commission 
agents.  Up  to  this  time,  he  had  sent  his  product  to  a  com- 
mission house  in  Boston,  as  an  offset  to  rags  and  chemicals 
used,  and  the  returns  made  by  them  showed  that  some  of  his 
paper  had  been  sold,  but  much  of  it  had  not,  and  they  in- 
formed him  "they  had  concluded  not  to  guarantee,"  Inning 
against  him  a  balance  of  $4,000  in  their  favor  :  this,  although 
not  due,  was   loudly  and   unscrupulously  called   for.     There 


1S4 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


was  but  one  course  open  for  him  to  pursue.  He  began  to 
sell  his  paper  directly  to  consumers,  opening  accounts,  with 
yearly  settlements  only,  for  what  stock  he  wanted,  through- 
out the  country,  working  month  after  month  by  day,  and 
frequently  taking  his  product  to  Boston  by  night,  working 
incessantly  to  pay  back  debt  and  interest. 

In  1834  Mr.  Crocker  was  employed  by  the  town  to  get  a 
road  further  up  the  Nashua  river,  but  meeting  with  opposi- 
tion by  the  landholders,  he  bought  the  whole  Nashua  valley 
to  the  Westminster  line,  gave  the  land  for  the   road,  and  by 


THE  "STONE"    MILL 


this  investment  laid  the  foundation  of  financial  success.  All 
the  mills  of  Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.  have  since  been  located 
in  this  valley. 

In  all  of  the  interests  of  the  city  with  which  Mr.  Crocker 
became  identified,  he  exhibited  the  same  rare  business  sa- 
gacity and  foresight  shown  in  the  management  of  his  private 
affairs.  He  saw  that  whatever  would  increase  the  business 
facilities  of  the  city  and  build  it  up  would  benefit  the  individ- 
ual as  well,  and  pay  for  all  the  effort  necessary  to  its  accom- 
plishment. 

At  this  time  Fitchburg  was  without  railroad  communica- 
tion with  the  outside  world,  and  Mr.  Crocker  bent  his  ener- 


PAPER     MAKING. 


IS.") 


gies  to  the  securing  of  a  railroad  from  Boston  to  Fitchburg. 
In  the  prosecution  of  this  work,  he  went,  in  1836,  to  the  leg- 
islature and  began  to  publicly  advocate  the  measure.  His 
first  idea  was  to  secure  a  branch  road  either  from  Lowell  or 
Worcester,  but  later,  in  1842,  he  came  out  boldly  in  favor  of 
a  direct  line  from  Boston  to  Fitchburg,  and  in  spite  of  all  op- 
position and  ridicule,  the  Fitchburg  Railroad  was  built. 
March  5th,  1845,  Mr.  Crocker  rode  into  Fitchburg  on  the 
first  locomotive,  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  road.  The 
first  (stone)  depot  was  built  on  land  owned  by   Mr.   Crocker. 


THE    "HANNA"    MILL. 

It  was  thought  by  many  who  favored  a  different  location, 
that  the  railroad  could  not  be  extended  farther  west  on  ac- 
count of  the  heavy  grade,  but  three  years  afterwards,  the 
Vermont  &  Massachusetts  Railroad  was  in  running  condi- 
tion, with  Alvah  Crocker  for  its  first  President.  Mr.  Crocker 
was  afterwards  actively  engaged  in  railroad  operations,  es- 
pecially in  the  Troy  &  Boston,  and  in  the  completion  of  the 
Hoosac  Tunnel.  In  1847  and  1848,  he  delivered  several 
hundred  lectures  in  their  behalf,  doing  probably  more  than 
any  other  man  in  the  state,  to  insure  the  completion  of  the 
Tunnel,  and  was  one  of  the  commissioners  when  the  work 
was  put  into  the  hands  of  the  state. 


186 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


In  January,  1872,  he  was  chosen  Representative  to  Con- 
gress from  the  ninth  district,  was  afterwards  re-elected,  and 
was  a  member  at  the  time  of  his  death  which  took  place 
Dec.  30th,  1874. 

Beside  the  railroad  enterprises  to  which  so  much  of  his 
public  life  was  devoted,  a  greater  work  was  undertaken  at 
Turners  Falls,  which  however  was  left  unfinished  at  his 
death.  The  magical  rise  and  growth  of  that  place  was  due 
to  his  sagacious  energy  and  enterprise.  While  searching  for 
a    more    direct    railway    route    between    Millers    Falls    and 


fHE     'LYON    AND    WHITNEY       INHLL. 


Greenfield  than  the  one  pursued  by  the  Vermont  &  Massa- 
chusetts railroad,  he  saw  the  magnificent  water  power 
possessed  by  the  Connecticut  river  at  Turners  Falls  and 
rightly  concluded  that  nature  had  thus  furnished  the  means 
at  hand  for  a  great  manufacturing  city.  He  entered  at  once, 
with  his  characteristic  promptness,  upon  the  prosecution  of 
his  scheme,  which,  to  the  exclusion  of  nearly  every  other  in- 
terest, took  possession  of  his  mind  at  that  time.  In  company 
with  other  capitalists  the  Turners  Falls  Company  was  or- 
ganized for  the  purpose  of  controlling  and  utilizing  the  water 
power  at  that  point.  They  purchased  largely  of  land  lying 
on  the  river  front  near  the  falls,  and  a  dam  having  a  fall  of 


PAPER    MAKING.  187 

thirty  feet  and  a  capacity  of  30,000  horse-power  was  built. 
From  that  time  until  the  close  of  his  life,  the  daring  projector 
worked  hard  for  the  prosperity  of  the  enterprise,  spending 
large  sums  of  money  in  promoting  its  interests.  It  was  his 
ambition  to  make  Turners  Falls  not  only  rival  Lowell, 
Holvoke  and  other  large  manufacturing  centres,  but  to  pass 
by  and  above  them.  What  he  would  have  accomplished  for 
the  place,  had  he  been  spared  to  test  his  energies  to  the  full, 
no  one  can  say,  but  estimating  the  probable  results  of  the 
future  from  the  "Teat  attainments  he  had  effected  in  the  few 
years  he  was  permitted  to  devote  to  the  task,  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  he  would  have  left  Turners  Falls  as  a  splendid 
monument  to  his  greatness. 

While  directing  his  energies  to  the  consummation  of  this 
great  work,  he  was  not  unmindful  of  his  own  citv  and 
labored  steadily  and  persistently  to  secure  needed  improve- 
ments, being  largely  interested  in  getting  a  water  supply. 
During  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  Mr. 
Crocker  was  a  staunch  patriot,  a  strong  sympathizer  with  the 
national  government,  and  a  liberal  donor  of  time  and  money 
to  the  triumph  of  the  great  and  good  cause.  Governor 
Andrew  entrusted  him  with  the  honorable  duty  of  caring  for 
the  wounded  Massachusetts  soldiers,  and  more  than  one 
patriot  can  testify  that  when  the  funds  were  not  available  for 
the  relief  of  his  need,  the  money  of  Mr.  Crocker  was  at  once 
and  judiciously  drawn  upon  to  convey  the  aid  desired. 

RODNEY    WALLACE    PAPER    MILLS. 

In  1S53  Rodney  Wallace  came  to  Fitchburg  and  entered 
upon  his  business  life.  He  formed  a  co-partnership  with 
Stephen  Shepley,  known  as  Shepley  &  Wallace.  They 
were  wholesale  dealers  in  books,  stationery,  paper  stock  and 
cotton  waste.  This  firm  continued  under  the  name  of 
Shepley  &  Wallace,  and  R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  till  July  1,  1865. 
On  this  day  the  firm  was  dissolved  and  the  business  was 
divided.  Mr.  Wallace  took  the  department  of  paper  stock 
and  cotton   waste,  which  he  still   carries  on.      To  what   pro- 


188  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

portions  it  has  grown  under  his  management,  may  be  judged 
from  the  fact  that  the  business  done  amounts  at  least  to 
$200,000  a  year. 

December    31,  1864,  Stephen  Shepley,    Benjamin    Snow 
and   Rodney  Wallace  bought  the   Lyon  Paper  Mill   and  the 
Kimball    Scythe   Shops   at  West  Fitchburg,  and  began  the 
manufacture    of   paper,    under    the    name    of  the    Fitchburg 
Paper   Company.       Stephen   E.  Denton  was   taken  into   the 
firm  as  a  partner  soon  after.       He  had  charge  of  the  business 
at  the  mill.     In   July,  1865,  Rodney  Wallace  and    Benjamin 
Snow  bought  the  interest  of  Stephen  Shepley  ;  and  the  Fitch- 
burg Paper  Company  was  then  Wallace,  Snow  and   Denton. 
Mr.    Denton    died  '  in   June,    1868.       January   7,    1869,   Mr. 
Wallace  bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Snow,  and  Jan.  23  of  the 
same  year,  he   bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Denton's  estate  of 
his  widow,  who  was  at  that    time    residing    in    New    York. 
From  that  date  till  the  present  the  Fitchburg  Paper  Company 
is  Rodney  Wallace.       He  retains  the  old  firm   name.       His 
two   sons,  Herbert  I.  Wallace   and   George  R.   Wallace,   are 
associated  with  their  father  in  the   management  of  his  busi- 
ness.    The   former  is  a   graduate  of  Harvard  in  the   class  of 
1877.      The  latter  of   the  Institute  of  Technology  in    Boston. 
Since  becoming  sole  owner  Mr.  Wallace    has   added   largely 
to  the    original    property.      A    neat    village    has    sprung    up 
around   his  mills.      He  has   put  in  a  substantial   stone  dam  at 
great  expense  and  in  1878   he  erected  a  new  brick  mill,  with 
all  the  modern  improvements,  doubling  the  capacity  of  the 
establishment.     Just  across  the  Nashua  river  is  the  Fitchburg 
railroad.      He  has  a  freight  station  of  his  own,  where   he  re- 
ceives all   his  freight  and  ships  all    his   paper.      During    the 
past  year    he    has    completed    another    large    mill    in    West 
Fitchburg,  greatly  increasing  his  facilities  for  business.     The 
present  capacity  of  the  mills  is    from  thirty  to  forty   thousand 
pounds  per     day     of    hanging,    coloring    and    lithographing 
paper. 

Aside  from  his  own  business,  which  makes  large  drafts 
upon  his  time,  strength  and  thought,  Mr.  Wallace  has  been 
closely  identified  with  numerous  other  corporate   and  mone- 


^-^f/^C^^i 


T  C^C^ 


PAPER    MAKING.  [  81) 

tary  interests.  He  has  thus  had  a  large  share  in  contributing 
to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city. 

Since  1S64  he  has  been  president  and  director  of  the 
Fitchburg  Gas  Company  ;  a  director  of  the  Putnam  Ma- 
chine Company  since  the  same  year  ;  a  director  of  the  Fitch- 
burg National  Bank  since  1866  ;  a  partner  in  the  Fitchburg 
Woolen  Mills  since  1867  ;  a  trustee  of  Smith  College  since 
1878.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Fitchburg  Mutual  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company  ;  a  trustee  of  the  Fitchburg  Savings  Bank  ;  a 
director  of  the  Fitchburg  Railroad  ;  a  director  of  the  Park- 
hill  Manufacturing  Company.  Besides  these  he  has  had 
the  settlement  of  large  and  important  estates.  We  would 
especially  note  the  large  estate  of  the  late  Ephraim  Mur- 
dock,  Jr.,  of  Winchendon,  and  that  of  the  late  Hon.  William 
H.  Vose,  of  Fitchburg. 

In  1873  he  was  representative  to  the  General  Court,  to 
which  office  he  was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1872,  by  nearly 
every  ballot  cast.  He  was  re-nominated  the  next  year, 
without  dissent  or  opposition,  but  declined  a  re-election  on 
account  of  ill-health.  While  a  member  of  the  legislature  he 
was  on  the  committee  on  manufactures,  a  position  which  his 
abilitv  and  experience  fitted  him  to  fill.  The  most  conspicu- 
ous political  office  he  has  held  is  that  of  Councillor.  While 
holding  that  position  he  represented  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  important  districts  in  the  state.  In  it  are  included  the 
thriving  city  of  Worcester  and  the  sister  city  of  Fitchburg, 
which,  with  their  varied  industries,  needed  a  man  of  large 
and  ripe  judgment  to  represent  them.  He  served  three 
years,  during  1880,  1881  and  1882,  or  throughout  the  entire 
administration  of  Gov.  Long.  While  in  the  Council  he  was 
a  member  of  the  following  important  committees  :  On  par- 
dons, on  harbors  and  public  lands,  on  military  affairs,  and  on 
warrants. 

At  the  close  of  Gov.  Long's  administration  he  refused  to 
allow  further  use  of  his  name  for  the  office  he  had  so  ably 
filled  for  three  years,  and  celebrated  his  retirement  from  this 
position  as  a  servant  of  the  public  by  a  brilliant  reception 
tendered  to  Gov.  Long,  in  the  city  hall,  Fitchburg,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1882. 


190  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Largely  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Wallace,  various 
improvements  have  been  made  in  Fitchburg  which  contribute 
to  its  attractiveness.  Prominent  mention  may  be  made  of 
the  beautiful  union  railway  station  at  Fitchburg,  in  securing 
its  erection  and  in  planning  which  he  was  largely  instru- 
mental. But  the  most  conspicuous  act,  by  which  he  showed 
his  public  spirit  and  generosity  of  purpose  as  a  citizen,  was 
his  gift  to  the  city  of  Fitchburg  of  the  beautiful  public 
library  which  by  vote  of  the  city  government  is  called  by  his 
name.  This  act  of  beneficence  secures  to  the  city  for  all 
coming  time  a  "people's  college,"  where  the  child  of  the 
poorest  as  well  as  of  the  richest,  the  toiler  as  well  as  the  man 
of  leisure,  may  get  a  very  important  education.  No  one 
knows  better  the  educational  needs  of  the  people,  and  the 
gift  therefore  seems  all  the  more  appropriate,  coming  from 
Mr.  Wallace.  His  early  life  was  spent  among  the  hills  of 
New  Hampshire.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  started  out  to 
make  his  way  in  the  world.  He  let  himself  to  a  farmer  for 
forty  dollars  for  the  first  year,  with  the  privilege  of  attending 
school  eight  weeks  in  the  winter.  That  first  forty  dollars  he 
earned  was  the  beginning  of  a  large  fortune,  and  the  eight 
weeks  of  schooling  of  that  winter  on  the  farm  was  the  be- 
ginning of  a  knowledge  gleaned  here  and  there  as  opportu- 
nity offered,  which  has  fitted  him  for  prominent  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  At  an  early  age  (sixteen)  he  was 
charged  with  the  responsibility  of  driving  freight  teams  from 
Bellows  Falls,  Vt.,  and  Rindge  to  Boston,  returning  with 
loads  of  merchandise,  taking  his  first  lessons  in  the  school  of 
business,  in  which   he  proved  an  apt  scholar. 

In  1843,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Dr.  Stephen  Jewett.  The  energy  which  young  Wallace  had 
already  shown  induced  Mr.  Jewett  to  put  the  whole  business 
of  selling  his  medicines  into  his  hands.  In  selling  these 
medicines  he  traveled  over  five  of  the  New  England  states, 
becoming  acquainted  with  the  topography  of  these  states  and 
the  location  of  all  their  important  places.  Such  were  the 
beginnings  of  a  business  career  of  great  prosperity.  It  was 
in  these  ways  that  he  got  his  start  in  life,  and  in  these  lesser 


I:!;!,, 

i    II   III.,   , 

IHiSIHIilllll,',;  , 

ill 


:;'!!:!:!:!;'■"!!!"' 

:;■'" 

flf/ffii 


iiiii"" 


1<J2  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

employments  he  proved  himself  worthy  of  and  equal  to  the 
greater  tasks  yet  before  him. 

THE    WHEELWRIGHT    PAPER    COMPANY    MILL. 

The  paper-mill  of  George  W.  Wheelwright  &  Son  was 
built  in  1864,  and  the  manufacture  of  paper  commenced  the 
same  year.  The  mill  is  located  on  Fourth  street  and  has  a 
capacity  of  10,000  pounds  of  book  paper  per  day.  The  office 
of  the  company  is  in  Boston.  Officers  :  George  W.  Wheel- 
wright, president;  H.  T.  Page,  vice-president;  T.  E.  Blake, 
treasurer. 

THE  FALULAH  PAPER  COMPANY  MILL. 

The  mill  of  the  Falulah  Paper  Company  is  located  in 
South  Fitchburg,  on  the  site  of  the  old  scythe  manufactory 
of  A.  P.  Kimball  and  John  Chandler,  which  was  built  in 
1848,  and  where  Edwin  Richardson  commenced  his  scythe 
business  in  1852,  continuing  for  twenty-five  years.  The 
present  mill  was  built  by  the  Snow  Paper  Company  and 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Falulah  Paper  Company  in 
October,  1886.  The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  about  six  thou- 
sand pounds  of  manilla  paper  per  day.  The  members  of  the 
linn  are  S.  L.  and  A.  N.  Lowe. 


CHAPTER  X. 


.MANUFACTURING. 


**" JjjjHE  starting  of  the  Parkhill  Manufacturing 

IHliiil  iiiijii!  Company  marks  an  era  in   the  History  of 

iBiiiiIiiiFltchb;:rvi   ,ts     stnes;  .tbro.u«ht 

-       .>    II!  D  W    an    entirety    new   enterprise   to   the    place, 
''"i'^Bill'l1:  - 1  ^lH  lor,  previous  to  this,  cotton  manufacturing 

-     iii/Ji    (   was    not  a   leading  industry,  although  one 

■'■IIDSiBIBIIII      .    .  -,,•', 

iiiiiiii!Bip!|iii  "I    the  first  cotton  mills  in  the  country  was 

illllliilllill  built   >"    Fitchburg.     The    Parkhill   enter- 

■WiBlMJBiiMiiiMHIiiMi  prise   brought    in    a    new  class   of  workers 

gBmiiiiiB~j||!!liiiii|||HWir 

and  stimulated  the  growth  ot  the  place  to 
a  remarkable  extent.  Its  success  encouraged  the  starting  of 
the  Cleghorn  mills  and  later  the  Orswell  mills. 

At  the  time  the  Parkhill  mill  was  put  in  operation  it  was 
unusual  to  start  mills  for  weaving  only,  and  many  predicted 
the  failure  of  the  experiment,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  it 
was  customary  for  weaving  mills  in  England  to  buy  their 
yarns.  The  success  of  this  concern  has  been  closely 
watched  by  many  who  are  interested  in  the  cotton  industry. 
The  firm  was  formed  in  the  fall  of  1879  an^  was  composed 
of  John  Parkhill,  Thomas  R.  B.  Dole  and  Arthur  II.  Lowe. 
Mr.  Parkhill,  having  had  practical  experience  in  cotton 
manufacturing,  assumed  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the 
mill.  Mr.  Dole  was  at  the  time  connected  with  the  Fitch- 
burg National  Bank  and  he  was  made  treasurer  and  broker. 
Mr.  Lowe,  who  had  had  an  extensive  business  experience, 
assumed  the  business  management.  They  bought  of  Alonzo 
13 


194 


FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT 


Davis  (who  rendered  valuable  encouragement  to  the  new 
enterprise)  his  chair  shop  property  on  Circle  street.  New 
machinery  was  put  in  to  the  extent  of  thirty  looms,  and  the 
mill  was  started  as  a  colored  cotton  weaving  mill  about  the 
middle  of  February,  1880.  The  company  continued  as  a 
co-partnership  until  January,  1882,  when  a  corporation  was 
organized  with  $100,000  capital.  With  increased  capital  the 
business  was  enlarged  to  meet  the  demands  for  its  products, 
an  addition  was  built,  135x35  feet,  two  stories.  The  next 
season    this  was    made    three    stories    and    additional    looms 


'■5f-W\ 


PARKHILL    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY'S    MILLS,    CIRCLE    STREET. 

were  put  in.  Another  building,  150x55  feet,  three  stories, 
together  with  a  new  engine-house,  was  built,  and  this  season, 
1887,  a  new  dye  house,  140x55  feet,  two  stories,  and  a  new 
steam  chimney  have  been  added.  In  addition  to  what  has 
been  done  on  Circle  street  the  company  have  bought  the 
Fitchburg  woolen  mill  property  and  have  converted  it  into  a 
cotton  mill,  thus  restoring  to  the  first  mill  built  in  Fitchburg 
its  original  industry.  These  improvements  and  additions 
show  the  continuous  growth  and  enterprise  of  this  concern. 
By  November  1  the  company  will  have  grown  from  its  small 


MANUFACTURING. 


195 


beginning  to  have  about  one  thousand  looms,  will  employ 
about  four  hundred  and  fifty  hands,  and  annually  pay 
its  employes  about  $250,000,  with  a  production  of  about 
9,000,000  yards  of  cloth.  They  make  the  justly  celebrated 
Toile  tin  Nord  goods,  and  their  success  attests  the  care,  per- 
severance and  enterprise  of  its  management.  A  sketch  of 
John  Parkhill,  president,  will  be  found  in  the  city  government 
chapter. 

Arthur  H.  Lowe,  treasurer  and  general  manager,  is  a 
son  of  John  Lowe,  and  was  born  in  Rindge,  N.  H.,  in  1S53. 
At  the  acre  of  about  two    vears  he  came  to  Fitchburg,  where 


PARKHILL    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY  S    MILLS,    FACTORY    SQUARE. 


he  has  since  made  his  home  ;  was  educated  in  our  public 
schools,  leaving  the  high  school  before  graduating  to  assist 
his  father.  At  majority  he  became  partner,  with  his  brothers, 
in  the  firm  of  I.  A.  Lowe  &  Co.,  and  continued  with  them 
till  he  became  connected  with  the  mill  business.  He  was 
foremost  in  starting  the  Cleghorn  mills,  and  at  its  organiza- 
tion, he  was  made  treasurer  and  general  manager.  In  1S86 
he  became  a  partner  of  Lowe  Bros.,  and  is  also  a  director  of 
the  Fitchburg  National  Bank  and  a  trustee  of  the  Fitchburg 
Savings  Bank. 


196 


FITCHPURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


CLEGHORN     MILLS 

is  an  incorporated  company  having  a  capital  stock  of 
$100,000.  Its  officers  are  Andrew  Cleghorn,  president  and 
superintendent;  Arthur  H.  Lowe,  treasurer.  The  directory 
consists  of  Andrew  Cleghorn,  Arthur  H.  Lowe,  George  F. 
Fay,  John  H.  Daniels,  D.  M.  Dillon,  George  Crocker  and 
George  R.  Wallace.  The  mills  are  located  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city,  and  embrace  a  substantial  brick  structure 
170  by  60  feet,  four  stories,  and  an  annex  of  wood  170  by  60 
feet,  two  stories.       The  mills  began  operation  in  December, 


illlli  Pilll'  VMm  |yaiiii'iiiiii| 

CLEGHORN    MILLS. 

1885.  The  product  is  fine  dress  goods,  and  about  225  per- 
sons are  employed.  A  spur  track  connects  the  mills  with 
the  main  line  of  the  Fitchburg  railroad  and  Hoosac  Tunnel 
line.  The  product  of  Cleghorn  Mills  embraces  the  most 
recherche  novelties,  entirely  different  from  the  product  of 
most  any  other  manufacture. 

Mr.  Cleghorn,  the  superintendent  of  the  mills,  has  been 
engaged  in  manufacturing  since  boyhood,  and  understands 
every  detail  of  the  cotton  business.  He  was  born  near  Glas- 
gow,   in    Scotland,    came    to    this    country    and     located    in 


MANUFACTURING. 


107 


Adams,  Mass.,  in  1848,  where  he  remained  until  he  removed 
to  North  Adams  in  1862.      From  there  he  came  to  Fitchburg 

in  1885. 


THIi     ORSWELL    MILL 

is  the  latest  addition  to  the  industries  of  Fitchburg,  its  loca- 
tion is  on  River  street,  bordering  on  the  Fitchburg  railroad. 
Ground  was  broken  for  the  mill  May  1,  1886,  and  a  sub- 
stantial   brick    building    346  by    78    feet,  four    stories,   built. 

The  product  is  fine 
numbers  of  cotton 
yarn.  The  capac- 
ity ot  the  mill  is 
20,000  spindles  ca- 
pable of  producing 
24,000  pounds  of 
yarn  per  week. 
The  capital  is  at 
present  $150,000. 
Its  officers  are 
orswell  mill.  Warren    M.    Ors- 

well,  president  and  general  manager;  W.  F.  Stiles,  treas- 
urer. Mr.  Orswell  has  long  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  cotton  yarn  elsewhere,  and  with  his  practical  knowledge 
of  the  business  and  executive  ability  has  already  made  the 
Orswell  mill  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  Fitchburg. 


THE    FITCHBURG     COTTON    MILL, 

located  on  Main  street,  better  known  as  the  Pitts  Mill,  is 
used  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  and  carpet  warps,  batting, 
twine,  etc.  This  enterprise  was  founded  in  1867  by  Mr.  H. 
W.  Pitts,  who,  on  the  fourth  of  February,  1882,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  the  present  proprietor,  Mr.  B.  Marshall 
Pitts. 

The  plant  comprises  five  buildings,  the  main  one  being  a 
four  story  brick  structure  50  by  100  feet  in  dimensions. 
The  machinery  is  operated   by   water  power,  and   an  engine 


198  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

and  boilers,  each  of  one  hundred  horse  power,  are  brought 
into  service  when  the  water  supply  proves  deficient.  The 
mill  has  a  capacity  for  producing  sixty  thousand  pounds  of 
warp  per  month  and  ninety  hands  are  needed  to  carry  on  the 
operations  of  the  concern. 

THE    FITCHBURG    DUCK    MILL, 

near  Water  street,  South  Fitchburg,  is  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  duck.  The  mill  is  owned  by  David 
Nevins.  Samuel  Clough  is  treasurer,  and  Thomas  H.  Clark, 
agent. 

James  McTaggart,  Jr.,  began  the  manufacture  of  fancy 
cassimeres  at  the  Berwick  mills,  in  West  Fitchburg. 
This  plant  comprises  three  buildings,  the  main  one  being  a 
three-story  frame  and  brick  structure,  40x100  feet  in  dimen- 
sions and  equipped  with  the  necessary  machinery.  The 
driving  force  is  furnished  by  water  and  steam. 

The  demand  for  the  product  of  his  mill  induced  the  pro- 
prietor, in  January,  18S6,  to  increase  his  facilities  for  pro- 
duction. He  accordingly  acquired  possession  of  Baltic  mills, 
located  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Berwick  mill.  The 
product  of  these  mills  embrace  a  fine  line  of  fancy  cassimeres 
for  men's  wear. 

The  leading  representative  of  the  woolen  business  is 
James  Phillips,  Jr.  Mr.  Phillips  is  the  owner  of  the 
Wachusett  Mills,  in  West  Fitchburg,  which  were  built  in 
1864  and  purchased  in  1872  by  Rockwell  &  Phillips.  At 
this  time  the  mills  contained  but  twelve  looms.  In  1875  Mr. 
Phillips  became  sole  proprietor,  and  the  business  has  steadily 
grown  until  now  the  mills  give  employment  to  nearly  four 
hundred  hands  and  contain  one  hundred  and  fifty  broad 
looms,  weaving  worsted  coatings  and  suitings,  the  annual 
product  amounting  to  over  $1,000,000. 


MANUFACTURING. 


199 


The  Fitchburg  Worsted  Company,  at  South  Fitch- 
burg,  was  incorporated  in  1880  with  a  capital  of  $250,000 
— James  Phillips,  Jr.,  president,  and  George  N.  Proctor, 
treasurer.  This  concern  manufactures  worsted  suitings, 
operating  two  hundred  and  fifty  narrow  looms,  turning  out 
$1,000,000  worth  of  goods  per  year,  and  employing  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  operatives. 


THE    FITCHBURG    WORSTED    COMPANY'S    MILL. 

The  Star  Worsted  Company  began  operation  in  1882 
and  occupy  a  mill  on  West  street — James  Phillips,  Jr.,  presi- 
dent, and  George  N.  Proctor,  treasurer.  They  employ  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  worsted 
yarn.  Six  Noble  combs  are  operated,  the  product  aggre- 
gating $400,000  annually,  which  is  all  used  by  the  Fitchburg 
Worsted  Company  and  James  Phillips,  Jr. 

The  cloth  of  these  mills  is  all  of  high  grade  and  is 
considered  equal  to  any  manufactured  in  the  United  States. 


200 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


The  first  establishment  in  Fitchburg  for  the  manufacture 
of  shoes,  by  machinery,  was  that  of  E.  M.  Dickinson  &  Co. 
Mr.  Dickinson  was  born  in  Northfield,  Mass.,  Aug.  i,  1816  ; 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  worked  on  a  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-two,  when  he  went  to  Marlboro,  Mass., 
in  1838;  commenced  making  shoes  in  Marlboro  in  1842. 
In  1854  ne  removed  to  Fitchburg  and  continued  the  same 
business,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Laurel  streets.  Soon 
after  he  built  a  shop  on  Oliver  street,  where  he  remained  for 
six  years.  During  this  time  but  little  machinery  was  used, 
most  of  the  work  being  done  by  hand. 

About  i860  he  moved  into  S.  F.  Atherton's  building,  in 
Newton  lane,  and  commenced  the  use  of  machinery.  Here 
he  remained  about  ten  years  making  ladies',  misses'  and 
children's  pegged  shoes,  and  then  moved  into  the  building 
owned  by  the  Simonds'  Manufacturing  Company,  on  Main 
street,  where  he   continued  to  manufacture   until   1881  when 


E.    M.    DICKINSON    &    CO.  S    SHOE    MANUFACTORY. 


he  built  the  four-story  brick  factory,  corner  of  Main  and 
North  streets,  which  the  company  now  occupies.  The  firm 
is  composed  of  E.  M.  Dickinson  and  his  son,  C.  P.  Dickin- 
son, who  has  been  associated  with  him  for  ten  years.  They 
manufacture  a  grade  of  misses'  and  children's  fine  boots  and 
shoes,  which  are  sold  principally  in  the  west  and  northwest. 
The  capacity  of  their  present  factory  is  fifteen  hundred  pairs 
per  day,  and  they  employ  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  hands. 


1 


DICKINSON. 


MANUFACTURING.  201 

The  Messrs.  Dickinson  are  also  owners  of  the  Sole 
Leather  Tip  Company,  located  in  the  same  building  with 
their  shoe  factory.  This  business  consists  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  sole  leather  tips,  the  tip  which  is  most  universally 
applied  to  children's  shoes  to-day.  They  are  the  only  parties 
who  produce  tips  from  the  rough  leather,  and  are  the  largest 
manufacturers  in  the  trade,  sending  their  goods  to  shoe 
manufacturers  all  over  the  United  States  and  into  Canada. 
Their  product  is  several  million  pairs  annually,  cutting  up 
over  fifteen  thousand  sides  of  leather. 

Mr.  E.  M.  Dickinson,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  has 
for  more  than  thirty  years  been  identified  with  the  various  in- 
terests of  Fitchburg.  He  was  on  the  first  board  of  aldermen 
when  the  city  government  was  organized  in  1872,  and  a 
director  in  the  Safety  Fund  National  Bank  from  its  organiza- 
tion. 

THE    FITCHBURG    SHOE    TIP    CO., 

incorporated  in  1884,  with  a  capital  of  $30,000.  Henry  A. 
Willis,  president;  treasurer  and  manager,  E.  F.  Belding. 
Manufacture  sole  leather  tips  for  youths',  misses'  and  chil- 
dren's shoes.  They  do  an  extensive  business  in  these 
specialties  and  sell  to  many  of  the  leading  shoe  manufacturers 
in  New  England,  Southern  and  Western  states.  Mr.  Beld- 
ing was  one  of  the  first  manufacturers  to  introduce  these  tips 
to  the  trade,  and  for  over  eight  years  has  been  engaged 
largely  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  them. 

The  company  own  valuable  patented  machinery  built  ex- 
pressly for  the  manufacture  of  these  tips..  The  leather  from 
which  the  tips  are  made,  and  of  which  they  use  many 
thousand  sides  a  year,  is  all  finished  expressly  for  them. 
The  Boston  office  of  this  company  is  at  112  Summer  street. 

E.    F.    BELDING    &    CO., 

manufacturers  of  misses',  youths'  and  children's  boots  and 
shoes,  106  Water  street.  Mr.  Belding  is  the  only  one  in 
this    company.        He    commenced    manufacturing    shoes    in 


202  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Fitchburg  about  ten  years  ago  ;  was  associated  as  a  partner 
with  others  for  eight  years  and  Nov.  i,  1885,  started  a  shoe 
factory  at  106  Water  street,  where  he  is  making  a  fine  grade 
of  misses'  and  children's  shoes.  He  employs  from  75  to  80 
workmen  and  makes  about  700  pairs  of  shoes  a  day.  His 
business  is  growing  rapidly  and  he  intends  building  a  factory 
which  will  double  his  present  capacity.  He  has  an  office  at 
112  Summer  street,  Boston. 

THE    WALTER    HEYWOOD    CHAIR    MANUFACTURING    CO. 

wrorks,  located  on  River  street,  comprise  three  main  build- 
ings, two  of  which  are  300  feet  by  50  feet,  and  one  300  feet 
by  40  feet,  each  factory  being  two  stories  writh  an  attic. 
There  is  also  a  building  for  office  and  store  rooms,  a  boiler 
house  and  sheds.  The  premises  of  the  company  extend  over 
an  area  of  about  nine  acres.  A  railroad  track,  belonging  to 
the  company,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long,  connects  the  premises 
with  the  main  track  of  the  Fitchburg  railroad,  every  thing  is 
arranged  for  convenience  and  economy  in  doing  business. 
The  corporation  was  originally  the  Walter  Heywood  Chair 
Co.,  but  in  order  to  settle  the  estate  of  Walter  Heywood  in 
1885,  the  company  sold  out  to  the  Walter  Heywood  Chair 
Manufacturing  Co.,  the  business  continuing  as  before,  with 
all  the  old  members  remaining  in  the  firm,  and  is  at  present 
conducted  by  L.  Williams,  president,  and  George  H. 
Spencer,  treasurer. 

Walter  Heywood,  founder  of  the  Walter  Heywood  Chair 
Co.,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  chair  business  of  the 
country.  He  was  born  in  Gardner,  Mass.,  where  he  early 
began  the  manufacture  of  chairs.  In  1841  he  gave  up  his 
business  in  Gardner  and  removed  to  Fitchburg.  In  com- 
pany with  Leander  P.  Comee  he,  in  1842,  built  the  block  on 
Main  street,  more  recently  known  as  Sprague  &  Comee's 
block,  and  in  1842  the  firm  opened  a  store  for  the  sale  of  dry 
goods,  groceries,  hardware  and  other  merchandise  at  the 
sales  rooms  now  occupied  by  L.  Sprague  &  Co.  In  the  fall 
of  1844  the  firm  hired  a  part  of  the  "Old  Red  Mill"  on  West 


oA\v\^   \ V)  V.^wJ^ 


MANUFACTURING.  203 

street,  afterward  used  as  a  cotton  factory  by  H.  W.  Pitts  & 
Son,  and  commenced  to  manufacture  chairs  employing  about 
ten  hands.  In  1846  the  chair  business  was  removed  to  the 
upper  story  of  a  new  building  which  Alvah  Crocker  had 
erected  on  Water  street  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the 
Fitchburg  Steam  Engine  company's  shop.  This  shop  was 
burned  Dec.  7,  1849,  an<^  tne  ^rm  ^ost  heavily  by  the  fire. 
The  partnership  was  then  dissolved  and  Mr.  Heywood  di- 
rected his  whole  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  chairs.  Mr. 
Crocker  erected  a  new  building  130  by  40  feet,  and  three 
stories  high,  on  the  site  of  the  burned  shop  and  Mr.  Hey- 
wood hired  the  whole  of  the  new  building. 

In  1852  he  received  as  partners  Alton  Blodgett,  who  had 
entered  his  employ  in  1833  and  who  continued  a  member  of 
the  company,  till  his  death,  Sept.  19,  1878  ;  Lovell  Williams, 
still  a  member  of  the  company,  and  George  E.  Towne,  who 
continued  with  the  company  till  1874,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  interest  to  H.  A.  Blood.  G.  H.  Spencer  the  present 
superintendent  of  the  works,  was  admitted  to  the  firm  in 
1864.  Soon  after  the  new  company  was  formed  they  erected 
two  large  buildings  in  the  rear  of  the  shop,  on  land  leased  of 
Mr.  Crocker  and  with  increased  facilities  they  greatly  en- 
larged their  business.  In  1856  the  firm  opened  a  foreign 
trade  which  eventually  extended  to  England  and  the  conti- 
nent of  Europe,  the  West  Indies,  South  America,  Australia, 
New  Zealand,  Africa,  China  and  Japan. 

The  Walter  Heywood  Chair  Co.  was  organized  as  a 
stock  company  under  a  special  act  of  the  legislature,  May  31, 

1869,  with  a  capital  of  $240,000.       On  the  night  of  July  21, 

1870,  the  most  destructive  conflagration  that  ever  visited 
Fitchburg  laid  the  entire  establishment  in  ruins.  Fortunately 
the  loss  on  the  chair  company's  property  was  fully  covered 
by  insurance  and  preparations  were  made,  shortly  after  the 
lire,  to  rebuild  the  works.  A  lot  of  land  on  River  street  was 
at  length  purchased,  and  the  present  commodious  buildings 
were  erected. 

As  the  result  of  close  application  to  business  Mr.  Hey- 
wood   accumulated  a  handsome  property.      He  made  large 


204  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

investments  in  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city,  and 
his  counsel  was  sought  in  the  management  of  concerns  in 
which  he  was  interested.  He  was  formerly  one  of  the 
largest  stockholders  in  the  Putnam  Machine  company  and  a 
director  from  1867  to  the  time  of  his  decease.  In  1866  he 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  Fitchburg  Iron  Foundry  and  at 
his  death  was  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Heywood, 
Wilson  &  Co.  He  was  a  director  of  the  Fitchburg  Machine 
Company  from  1870  until  his  death,  and  a  partner  in  the 
Fitchburg  Machine  Works  from  its  organization  in  1877. 
He  was  a  director  of  the  Burleigh  Rock  Drill  Company  from 
its  organization  in  1867,  a  director  of  the  Fitchburg  State  or 
National  Bank  for  thirty-seven  years,  a  trustee  of  the  Fitch- 
burg Savings  Bank  from  its  organization  until  June,  1877. 
He  was  also  town  treasurer  of  Gardner  from  1834  ^  ms 
removal  to  Fitchburg  in  1841. 

His  success  in  business  was  the  growth  of  patient  years  of 
toil  rather  than  any  series  of  brilliant  exploits.  He  was  no 
adventurer  in  doubtful  projects,  but  his  energies  and  his 
counsels  were  always  in  the  line  of  discretion  and  prudence. 
If  ever  his  judgment  was  waived  in  business  matters,  it  was 
generally  observed,  in  the  end,  that  his  views  were  sound 
and  reliable,  and  would  have  yielded  the  largest  measure  of 
success. 

He  was  plain  and  unostentatious,  solving  his  problems  by 
a  careful  process  of  reasoning,  rather  than  by  jumping  at 
conclusions.  He  was  conservative,  persevering,  yet  ener- 
getic and  thorough  in  everything  he  undertook.  From,  the 
one  horse  load  of  chairs  which  he  made  in  1824,  his  business 
grew  until  he  was  president  of  one  of  the  largest  chair  manu- 
facturing establishments  in  the  world.  Mr.  Heywood  was 
fortunate  in  calling  around  him  a  class  of  men  who  rendered 
great  assistance  in  the  management  of  the  extensive  business.- 
His  associates,  with  few  exceptions,  grew  up  with  the  busi- 
ness under  his  training. 


MANUP'ACTURING.  205 

FITCHBURG    CARBONIZED    STONE    AND    PIPE    COMPANY, 

located  on  North  street,  near  Main,  was  incorporated  in 
1882,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $5,000,  for  the  manufacture  of 
artificial  stone  and  brick  for  building  purposes,  drain  pipe, 
vases,  paving  stones,  carriage  blocks,  etc. 

This  company  furnished  material  for  the  Knights  of  Honor 
and  Dickinson's  blocks,  new  Universalist  and  new  Methodist 
churches,  residences  of  E.  N.  Choate  and  U.  E.  Cleveland, 
and  many  other  public  and  private  buildings  in  the  city- 

The  officers  are  A.  N.  Lowe,  president;  S.  S.  Law- 
rence, vice-president,  and  A.  B.  Peck,  treasurer  and  super- 
intendent. 

EDWIN    A.    GOODRICH,    BRICK    MANUFACTURER, 

owns  and  operates  three  brick  yards  in  Fitchburg, — one  lo- 
cated at  South  Fitchburg,  one  on  Summer  street,  and  the 
other  in  the  northwesterly  part  of  the  town,  and  known  as 
the  Pound  hill  brick  yard.  During  the  present  year,  1887, 
owing  to  the  increase  in  building  operations,  the  production 
of  the  three  yards  is  greatly  in  excess  of  any  previous  year. 
Outside  of  his  manufacturing  business,  Mr.  Goodrich  has 
been  for  several  years  an  active  member  of  the  Worcester 
North  Agricultural  Societv,  and  was  at  one  time  its  execu- 
tive officer.      He  also  served  the  city  as  alderman  in  1879. 


CHAPTER  XL 


IRON    INDUSTRIES. 


ACHINERY  manufacturing  was 
first  begun  in  Fitchburg  in  1838  by 
two  brothers,  Salmon  W.  and  John 
Putnam,  their  business  being  mainly 
in  repairs  and  only  furnished  work 
for  the  two  brothers,  but  important 
changes  were  brought  about  in  the 
construction  of  their  machinery 
which  soon  created  a  demand  for 
their  productions  and  increased  their  business  accordingly. 

While  in  the  midst  of  a  growing  business  the  machine 
shop  with  all  its  contents  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the 
seventh  of  December,  1849,  occasioning  a  loss  of  $12,000, 
without  insurance.  Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  this  loss 
the  debts  were  all  promptly  paid  and  the  next  year  the  shop 
was  rebuilt  and  put  in  running  order. 

In  1858,  Salmon  W.  Putnam  secured  the  organization 
and  incorporation  of  the  Putnam  Machine  Company  of  which 
he  was  chosen  president  and  general  business  manager. 
From  the  first  he  showed  himself  thoroughly  competent  to 
guide  and  control  the  affairs  of  this  large  business.  He  was 
not  only  an  enterprising  business  man,  but  was  naturally  en- 
dowed for  this  business,  being  in  the  third  generation  of  iron 
and  steel  workers.  He  was  early  schooled  in  a  life  of  self- 
reliance,  beginning  as  he  did  at  eight  years  of  age  to  earn 
his  own  living,  as  "bobbin  boy"  in  a  cotton  factory,  and  ob- 
taining his  education  of  three  terms  schooling  with  money  he 


y 


/  //  /  r,,,  . 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  207 

had  contrived  to  save  from  his  small  earnings,  and  afterwards 
devoting  what  he  could  afford  to  the  purchase  of  substantial 
and  useful  books,  such  as  would  best  contribute  to  his  ad- 
vancement and  success. 

At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  company,  the  cap- 
ital stock,  which  was  originally  forty  thousand  dollars,  was 
increased  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars,  after- 
wards with  a  surplus  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
dollars.  The  business  having  outgrown  the  capacity  of  the 
old  shop  of  the  Putnam  Machine  Co.  on  Water  street,  they 
were  forced  to  locate  elsewhere.  Accordingly  having  pur- 
chased sufficient  land,  amounting  in  all  to  some  twenty-six 
acres,  they  began,  in  July,  1866,  the  building  of  their  present 
extensive  works  at  a  cost  of  over  two  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

The  arrangement  of  the  buildings  and  machinery  was 
devised  throughout  to  ensure  facility,  effectiveness  and  econ- 
omy of  operation.  The  main  machine  shop,  in  which  the 
working  tools  are  located,  is  a  building  of  brick,  one  story 
high,  running  north  and  south,  six  hundred  and  twenty-five 
feet  long  and  forty-eight  feet  wide,  supported  in  the  centre  by 
thirty-five  iron  columns  upon  which  the  main  line  of  shafting 
for  driving  the  entire  machinery  is  fastened.  The  building 
is  devoted  to  seven  different  departments  of  work  but  is  with- 
out partition  or  obstruction  to  the  sight  from  end  to  end.  It 
is  lighted  by  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  large  windows, 
five  hundred  gas  burners,  and  heated  by  over  six  miles  of 
steam-pipe,  and  has  a  floor  room  of  thirty-seven  thousand 
square  feet. 

From  its  west  side  extend  seven  wings,  six  of  them  being 
fifty-two  by  thirty-six  feet  and  one  fifty-two  by  forty-four  feet, 
each  of  these  being  devoted  to  the  setting  up  and  delivery  of 
machinery  made  in  the  corresponding  department,  and  are 
all  furnished  with  powerful  cranes  for  handling  the  heavier 
articles,  while  between  the  wings  are  spaces  for  the  tempo- 
rary accommodation  of  castings  used  in  each  department. 
Extending  from  the  east  side  of  the  main  building  are  five 
small  wings,  twelve  feet  square,  suitably  fitted  up  as  offices 


208 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


for  the  foremen  of  the  various  departments.  The  large 
wings  are  furnished  with  folding  doors  opening  into  a  road- 
way which  extends  the  whole  length  of  the  shops  to  the 
main  line  of  the  Fitchburg  Railroad  and  Hoosac  Tunnel  line 
which  passes  by  the  southern  end  of  the  company's  works,  so 
that  a  machine,  when  complete,  can  readily  be  transferred  to 
the  cars  and  freighted  without  delay  to  its  destination.  At 
the  extreme  south  end  and  connected  with  the  main  machine 


WORKS    OF    THE    PUTNAM    MACHINE    COMPANY. 


shop  is  located  the  blacksmith  shop  with  its  forges  and  heavy 
hammers. 

The  power  used  in  driving  the  machinery  of  the  works  is 
three  large,  powerful,  automatic  cut-off  steam-engines,  of 
their  own  manufacture. 

Parallel  with  the  main  machine  shop,  and  divided  from  it 
by  the  roadway  on  the  west  side,  are  located  the  several  iron 
and  brass  foundries,  pattern  and  box  shops,  store-house,  and 
other  buildings  for  various  purposes,  all  arranged  systemati- 
cally for  the  saving  of  labor  and  convenience  of  supervision. 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  20U 

The  classes  of  machines  manufactured  are  known  and 
termed  machine  shop  and  special  railroad  tools.  It  may  be 
mentioned  as  an  indication  of  the  extent  of  their  business, 
that  the  first  two  fully  equipped  machine  shops  in  China  were 
furnished  throughout  by  them  with  engines,  shafting  and 
hangers,  lathes,  planers,  drills  and  other  tools  complete. 

For  fourteen  years  after  its  incorporation,  until  his  death, 
Feb.  23,  1872,  Salmon  W.  Putnam  continued  to  conduct  the 
affairs  of  the  company  with  signal  ability,  and  such  was  the 
place  he  held  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow-citizens  that  on 
the  day  of  his  funeral  business  was  generally  suspended. 

Since  the  death  of  the  father  the  four  sons  who  survive 
him  have  been  actively  engaged  in  the  business  of  the  com- 
pany. Charles  F.  Putnam  was  elected  as  president  and 
financier,  to  succeed  his  father  in  the  general  management 
of  the  company;  Salmon  W.  Putnam,  Jr.,  as  superintendent 
designer  of  the  company,  having  in  charge  the  pre-arrange- 
ment,  designing  and  mechanical  construction  of  the  different 
kinds  of  machinery  made  by  the  company ;  Henry  O.  Put- 
nam, as  superintendent  of  that  department  of  manufacture 
devoted  to  the  building  of  special  tools  ;  and  George  E.  Put- 
nam, the  youngest  son,  engaged  in  the  office  affairs  of  the 
company  in  connection  with  his  brother,  the  president. 

Under  the  management  of  the  sons  the  business  has  con- 
tinued to  prosper,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  short  period 
of  business  stagnation  in  1873,  the  company  has  run  its 
entire  works  with  nearly  its  full  complement  of  men. 

In  1882  the  Putnam  Tool  Company  on  Walnut  street  was 
founded,  with  Salmon  W.  Putnam,  Jr.,'  as  president,  and 
George  E.  Putnam,  treasurer.  Four  years  later,  March  18, 
1886,  the  Putnam  Machine  Co.  and  the  Putnam  Tool  Co. 
were  consolidated  under  the  title  of  Putnam  Machine  Co., 
a  controlling  interest  being  vested  in  the  four  brothers  and 
their  mother. 

The  wrorks  now  have  a  capacity  for  over  500  hands.  A 
New  York  house  is  maintained  at  115  Liberty  street,  as  an 
exhibiting  and  distributing  establishment,  by  the  company. 
The  Putnam  Machine  Co.  is  officered  as  follows  :  Charles  F. 

14 


210  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Putnam,  president;  S.  W.  Putnam,  vice-president;  Henry 
O.  Putnam,  treasurer;  George  E.  Putnam,  general  superin- 
tendent;  Henry  Allison,  secretary. 

Directors — Rodney  Wallace,  Henry  Allison,  Frank 
Leighton,  Henry  O.  Putnam,  S.  W.  Putnam,  Charles  F. 
Putnam  and  George  E.  Putnam. 

THE    FITCHBURG    MACHINE    COMPANY. 

The  works  of  this  company  are  located  near  the  foot  of 
Main  street,  opposite  the  Brown  Engine  Works.  Every 
class  of  iron  working  machinery  designated  as  machinists' 
tools  is  manufactured  by  them,  including  engine  lathes, 
wagon  axle  lathes,  iron  planers,  drill  presses,  shaping  ma- 
chines, and  so  forth.  Mr.  J.  L.  Chapman  is  superintendent 
and  treasurer  of  the  company,  and  upon  him  devolves  the 
general  management  of  the  works. 

Mr.  Chapman  came  to  Fitchburg  in  the  spring  of  1864, 
and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  tools  in  Atherton's  block, 
so  called,  in  Newton  lane,  in  company  with  S.  C.  Wright, 
under  the  firm  name  of  S.  C.  Wright  &  Co.  This  was  a 
most  unfavorable  time  for  the  starting  of  such  an  enterprise, 
there  being  a  great  scarcity  of  machinery,  while  the  price  of 
labor  and  material  was  much  increased  by  reason  of  the  war 
then  in  progress.  The  outfit  of  the  shop  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing tools  to  start  with  :  An  old  chain  lathe,  bought  out 
of  the  Old  Stone  Cotton  Mill,  (now  owned  by  Joseph  Cush- 
ing,)  and  of  which  Jonathan  Gill  was  then  superintendent; 
an  old  chain  planer,  from  out  of  a  country  blacksmith  and 
machine  shop  in  Townsend  ;  a  second-hand  Gould  shaping 
machine,  bought  in  Newark,  N.  J.  ;  an  old  pattern  maker's 
lathe,  and  a  second-hand  engine  lathe,  out  of  an  old  shop  in 
Newton  lane,  which  was  remodelled  before  it  could  be  used. 
This  list  of  machinery  included  everything  that  could  be 
purchased  at  that  time.  The  firm  then  employed  but  four 
men.  They  immediately  went  to  work  and  made  their  own 
patterns   and  tools. 

After  remaining  about  a  year  in  Newton  lane  they  moved 


212  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

in  1865  into  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Laurel 
streets,  now  occupied  by  I.  C.  Wright  as  a  hardware  store. 
Here  they  employed  thirty  men,  taking  into  partnership  with 
theni  Hale  W.  Page  and  Artemas  R.  Smith,  the  firm  name 
remaining  unchanged.  February  22,  1866,  they  removed  to 
their  present  location,  occupying  the  easterly  half  of  the 
building,  a  little  later  on  they  bought  out  Sylvanus  Sawyer, 
who  occupied  the  westerly  half  of  the  same  building,  and 
Jan.  1,  1867,  formed  a  stock  company,  under  the  firm  name 
of  the  Fitchburg  Machine  Company,  with  the  following 
stockholders:  S.  C.  Wright,  J.  L.  Chapman,  A.  R.  Smith, 
Hale  W.  Page,  Augustus  Whitman,  Eugene  T.  Miles,  Low- 
ell M.  Miles,  Jared  Whitman,  Jr.  ;  and  officered  as  follows — 
S.  C.  Wright,  president;  J.  L.  Chapman,  secretary; 
Augustus  Whitman,  treasurer.  Out  of  this  list  of  stock- 
holders but  three  are  now  living,  J.  L.  Chapman,  Lowell  M. 
Miles  and  Jared  Whitman,  Jr. 

In  1867  Mr.  Chapman  became  both  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, remaining  in  that  capacity  until  the  closing  up  of  the 
company's  affairs  in  1877,  when  the  Fitchburg  Machine 
Works  was  formed  under  the  laws  of  general  co-partnership, 
the  firm  consisting  of  S.  C.  Wright,  superintendent;  J.  L. 
Chapman,  treasurer;  Walter  Hey  wood,  Harrington  Sibley 
and  Joseph  S.  Wilson.  Since  its  organization,  Mr.  Wright 
and  Mr.  Heywood  have  both  died,  and  since  the  death  of 
Mr.  Wright,  in  December,  1880,  Mr.  Chapman  has  acted  as 
superintendent  and  treasurer,  having  the  full  management  of 
the  business. 

THE    UNION    MACHINE    CO. 

was  incorporated  in  the  year  1867,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$60,000,  the  officers  being  Francis  Sheldon,  president;  G. 
S.  Burbank,  treasurer;  S.  S.  Dow,  superintendent.  They 
commenced  business  by  manufacturing  machinist  tools  and 
doing  general  repairs,  after  which  wood  working  machinery 
was  added. 

The  manufacture  of  the  "Jucket"  steam-engine  was  intro- 
duced in  1870,  and  carried  on  for  about  two  years,  when  it 


' 


wo  it  auy^tco^y^ 


■ . 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  213 

was  given  up  and  the  manufacture  of  paper-making  machin- 
ery of  all  kinds  was  commenced,  which  business  is  the  spe- 
cialty at  the  present  time. 

In  the  year  1869,  S.  E.  Crocker  was  elected  treasurer,  to 
fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  G.  S.  Burbank  ; 
the  following  year  S.  E.  Crocker  resigned  the  position,  in 
favor  of  R.  R.  Conn,  who  held  this  trust  one  year,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Geo.  F.  Fay  who  retained  the  office  until  1876, 
at  which  time  the  company  wound  up  its  affairs,  transferring 
all  stock,  etc.,  to  Messrs.  Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.,  who  re- 
tained the  services  of  S.  S.  Dow  as  superintendent,  added 
new  machinery,  and  continued  the  building  of  paper  machin- 
ery, under  the  old  name  of  Union  Machine  Co.,  in  connec- 
tion with  their  paper  business.  In  1882,  J.  E.  Morse  was 
called  to  fill  the  position  of  superintendent,  owing  to  the 
death  of  S.  S.  Dow,  which  position  he  held  until  October, 
1887,  when  a  stock  company  was  again  formed,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  John  Burney,  president;  S.  E.  Crocker, 
treasurer ;   and  Emmons  Crocker,  secretary. 

This  company  again  added  new  and  modern  machinery 
and  continued  the  manufacturing  of  paper  machinery,  and 
to-day  ranks  among  the  best  establishments  in  this  line  of 
business.  Their  machines  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
United  States,  Canada,  Japan,  etc. 

Mr.  Burney,  the  president,  has  been  for  a  long  time  iden- 
tified with  the  machine  business  of  Fitchburg. 

George  Frederick  Simonds  was  born  in  Fitchburg, 
Jan.  12,  1843.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Fitchburg,  and  between  his  sixteenth  and  twenty-first  birth- 
days, (with  the  exception  of  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he 
was  in  the  army,)  he  was  engaged  in  his  father's  office  and 
works  and  during  this  four  years  he  familiarized  himself 
practically  with  every  department  of  the  business.  His 
father  was  a  manufacturer  of  scythes,  pickaxes,  etc. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  organized  the  firm  of 
Simonds  Brothers  &  Company  and  rented  his  father's  old 
works  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  mower  and  reaper 


214 


FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


knives  and  sections,  and  planing  machine  knives,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  actively  identified  with  the  manu- 
facturing interests  of  Fitchburg. 

Three  companies,  the  Simonds  Manufacturing  Company 
of  Fitchburg  with  a  capital  of  $150,000,  the  Simonds  Roll- 
ing-Machine Company  of  Boston  with  a  capital  of  $400,000 
and  the  Simonds  Steel  and  Iron  Forging  Company  of  Lon- 
don with  a  capital  of  $750,000  are  the  result,  mainly,  of  his 
inventions  and  energy.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Fitchburg 
National  Bank,  and  a  trustee  in  the  Fitchburg  Savings 
Bank. 

THE    SIMONDS    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY 

was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  in  1868,  with  a 
capital  of  $150,000.  Their  extensive  works  in  Fitchburg  are 
located  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  North  streets.  They  have 
also  branch  works  in  Chicago  and  San  Francisco. 


WORKS    OF    THE    SIMONDS    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are  George  F.  Simonds, 
president ;  Daniel  Simonds,  vice-president  and  treasurer ; 
Edwin  F.  Simonds  is  manager  of  the.  Chicago  Branch  and 
John  Simonds  that  in  San  Francisco. 

The  products  of  this  company  are  machine  knives  of 
every  description  and  the  well  known  Simonds'  saw. 

The  founder  of  this  industry  was  Abel  Simonds,  who  was 
born  in  Fitchburg,  Dec.  10,  1804,  and  commenced  the  man- 
ufacture of  scythes  in  1832.  He  was  well  versed  in  the 
manipulation  of  steel,  which  knowledge  he  handed  down  to 
his  sons. 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  215 

In  1S64,  when  Mr.  Simonds  went  out  of  business,  the 
firm  of  Simonds  Bros.  &  Co.,  was  formed,  consisting  of 
George  F.  Simonds,  A.  A.  Simonds  and  Benjamin  Snow, 
their  works  being  located  in  West  Fitchburg.  The  new  firm 
that  year  began  the  manufacture  of  machine  knives  and 
mower  and  reaper  sections,  building  up  a  large  and  flour- 
ishing business. 

The  present  company  organized,  as  above,  in  1868,  and 
moved  from  West  Fitchburg  to  the  location  now  occupied  by 
them  where  the  manufacture  has  been  continued  until  the 
present  time.  A  consolidation  of  all  the  western  manu- 
facturers engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  mower  knives  and 
sections  having  been  effected  in  1878,  this  company  sold  to 
them  that  department  of  its  business  and  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  saws  by  an  entirely  new  system  of  tempering 
and  straightening,  which  produced  results  superior  in  every 
respect  to  what  had  before  been  accomplished. 

The  company  also  have  valuable  patents  covering  radical 
improvements  in  the  adjustment  of  circular  saws  and  in  cross- 
cut and  changeable  tooth  saws. 

The  company  has  in  its  employ  about  two  hundred  men 
and  its  goods  are  sold  in  every  state  in  the  Union,  while 
many  are  exported.  A  somewhat  remarkable  result  has 
been  obtained  by  this  company  in  entering  a  field  long  held 
by  old  established  concerns,  and  building  a  large  and  flour- 
ishing trade,  at  prices  in  advance  of  all  competitors. 

THE    SIMONDS    ROLLING-MACHINE    COMPANY. 

Adjacent  to  the  works  of  the  Simonds  Manufacturing 
Company  on  Willow  Street,  is  the  plant  of  the  Simonds  Roll- 
ing-Machine Company,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  erected  in  the 
Spring  of  the  present  year.  This  Company,  incorporated  in 
November,  1886,  with  a  capital  of  $400,000,  acquired  by 
purchase  all  of  the  patents  for  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
which  have  been  granted  to  Mr.  Geo.  F.  Simonds,  relating 
to  the  forging  of  metal  articles  by  rolling,  a  new  process  of 
metal    working    which   had  attracted    wide-spread   attention, 


216  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

patents  having  been  secured  in  the  principal  countries 
throughout  the  world,  and  a  company  known  as  the  Simonds 
Steel  and  Iron  Forging  Company,  Limited,  with  a  capital  of 
£150,000  having  already  been  organized  in  London  earlier 
in  the  same  year  by  some  of  the  leading  manufacturers  of 
England. 

Near  the  commencement  of  the  year  1884,  an  incident  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  Mr.  Simonds  to  the  possibility  of 
moulding  metal  articles,  circular  in  cross  section,  to  any 
given  form,  while  rotating  them  on  their  axes  between  oppo- 
sitely moving  surfaces,  and  experiments  were  made  with 
putty  as  a  material,  between  wooden  surfaces,  with  results 
that  warranted  the  construction  of  a  substantial  machine  by 
which  were  successfully  rolled  various  small  articles  such  as 
spheres,  small  projectiles,  machine  handles,  etc.,  etc. 

At  the  works  in  this  city,  which  were  built  for  experi- 
mental purposes,  development  has  been  continual,  and  it 
would  seem  that  the  scope  of  the  machine  and  the  variety  of 
articles  that  can  be  made  to  advantage  by  it,  are  practically 
unlimited ;  the  productions  are  turned  out  with  wonderful 
rapidity,  with  an  accuracy  and  of  a  quality  superior  to  those 
made  by  any  known  process. 

Companies  are  at  present  being  organized  to  manufacture 
under  these  patents  in  several  cities  of  the  United  States,  as 
well  as  Canada,  and  it  is  believed  that  it  will  effect  a  com- 
plete revolution  in  the  manufacture  of  many  articles  as  to- 
day produced. 

Some  sixty  skilled  workmen  are  employed  at  the  shops 
in  this  city,  engaged  in  experimental  work  and  in  develop- 
ing the  scope  and  efficiency  of  the  machines  which  are  to  be 
supplied  to  the  various  sub-companies  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada  ;  while  incidental  to  the  work  of  development 
there  is  undertaken,  to  a  limited  extent,  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  a  few  articles  such  as  armor  piercing  projectiles, 
axles  of  different  kinds,  spindles,  etc. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are  George  F.  Simonds, 
president;  Thomas  L.  Livermore,  of  Boston,  vice-presi- 
dent; Edward  Sawyer,  of  Boston,  treasurer;  and  George 
E.  Downe,  secretary. 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  217 

FITCHBURG    STEAM    ENGINE    COMPANY. 

This  plant  was  founded  in  187 1  and  was  known  as  the 
Haskins  Machine  Company's  Works.  In  1876,  the  Fitch- 
burg  Steam  Engine  Company,  composed  of  Hale  W.  Page, 
president,  Frederick  Fosdick,  treasurer,  and  Charles  Fos- 
dick,  superintendent,  purchased  the  entire  plant  and  good 
will  of  all  the  interests  of  the  Haskins  Machine  Company, 
and  changed  the  name  to  the  Fitchburg  Steam  Engine  Com- 
pany. The  works  are  situated  on  Water  street  and  have  a 
capacity  for  sixty  hands,  the  greater  number  of  whom  are 
skilled  mechanics. 

The  engines  manufactured  by  this  company  find  a  market 
in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  South  America,  Germany, 
Holland,  and  throughout  the  western  continent.  The  suc- 
cess of  this  company  has  been  largely  due  to  careful  super- 
vision and  close  attention  to  the  details  of  the  business  bv  the 
active  members  of  the  corporation,  the  Fosdick  Brothers. 

Mr.  Page  held  the  position  of  president  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  May  17,  1887.  He  is  remembered  by  many  in 
Fitchburg  as  one  of  the  pleasantest  of  men,  genial,  warm- 
hearted, enterprising,  always  ready  to  aid  others,  thoroughly 
honest  and  reliable. 

The  present  president,  Frederick  Fosdick,  is  also  mayor 
of  the  city.  Charles  Fosdick  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  in 
March,  1848  ;  came  to  Fitchburg  and  was  in  the  Burleigh 
Rock  Drill  Company's  office  a  year  ;  then  went  to  work  in 
the  machine  shop,  at  the  west  shaft  of  the  Hoosac  tunnel, 
where  he  was  employed  about  a  year,  returning  to  Fitch- 
burg in  187 1  to  take  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the 
machine  company,  organized  by  John  Haskins  ;  when  the 
Haskins  Machine  Company  was  succeeded  by  the  Fitchburg 
Steam  Engine  Company  in  1876,  he  became  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  latter  company,  which  position  he  still  holds  ; 
in  1886  he  served  as  president  of  common  council,  declining 
a  re-nomination. 


218 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


C.    H.    BROWN    &    CO.,    STEAM    ENGINE    BUILDERS. 

C.  H.  Brown,  the  founder  of  the  steam  engine  business  in 
Fitchburg,  was  born  in  Blackstone,  Mass.,  March  9,  1820. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  in 
1828,  working  at  farming  summers  and  attending  school 
winters  until  1835,  when  his  parents  returned  East.  In  1836 
he  commenced  to  learn  the  machinist's  trade  near  Greenville, 
R.  I.,  and  afterwards  worked  on  cotton  machinery  at 
Blackstone,  Newton  Upper  Falls,  Providence,  R.  I.,  and 
Whitinsville,  Mass.  In  1845  went  to  Northford  and  Water- 
bury,  Conn.,  and  worked  on  machinery  for  the  manufacture 


WORKS    OF    C    H.    BROWN    &    CO. 


of  solid-headed  pins.  From  Waterbury  he  went  to  Boston 
and  was  employed  by  Otis  Tufts  in  the  manufacture  of  steam 
engines  until  1849,  when  he  removed  to  Fitchburg  and  pur- 
chased one-third  interest  with  J.  &  S.  W.  Putnam  in  the 
machine  business,  the  new  firm  being  called  J.  &  S.  W.  Put- 
nam &  Co. 

A  new  industry  was  now   commenced  in   Fitchburg,   the 
manufacture  of  steam  engines,  of  which  Mr.  Brown  had  the 


C.    H.    Brown. 


C.    H.    Brown,   Jr. 


F.    E.    Brown, 


J.    F.    Brown 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  *21!> 

entire  management.  In  1855  a  new  engine  was  brought  out 
and  patented  in  1S56  by  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Charles  Bur- 
leigh, then  in  Mr.  Brown's  employ.  The  patent  was 
assigned  to  the  Putnam  Machine  Co.  and  is  now  known  as 
the  "Putnam"  engine.  This  engine  was  built  under  Mr. 
Brown's  supervision  until  1859,  when  his  health  became  so 
much  impaired  by  too  close  application  to  business  that  he 
was  obliged  to  give  up  the  active  duties  in  the  shop  and  soon 
after  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  Putnam  Co. 

After  a  rest  of  about  four  years  he  commenced  business 
in  a  very  small  way  in  Newton  lane.  Business  soon  in- 
creased to  such  an  extent  that  more  room  was  necessary  and 
in  1866  one-half  of  the  second  story  in  Sylvanus  Sawyer's 
brick  block  was  leased  of  S.  C.  Wright  &  Co.  In  1871  he 
invented  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  "Brown  Auto- 
matic Cut-off  Engine,"  and  so  great  was  the  demand  for  this 
engine  that  he  was  obliged  to  lar<>-elv  increase  his  facilities  in 
order  to  supplv  the  demand.  In  April,  1873,  a  building  lot 
was  purchased  of  Jacob  II.  Fairbanks  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Willow  streets,  and  in  May  a  new  brick  building 
was  commenced.  In  1S75  the  company  moved  into  their 
new  and  commodious  quarters. 

The  present  firm  of  C.  H.  Brown  &  Co.  is  composed  of 
C.  H.  Brown,  C.  H.  Brown,  Jr.,  F.  E.  Brown,  and  J.  F. 
Brown,  father  and  three  sons,  who  manufacture  the  "Brown" 
engine  exclusively.  They  are  made  in  a  great  variety  of 
sizes,  both  large  and  small,  and  are  now  in  use  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States. 

BURLEIGH    ROCK    DRILL    COMPANY. 

Charles  Burleigh,  founder  of  the  Burleigh  Rock  Drill 
Co.,  one  of  Fitchburg's  most  ingenious  mechanics  and  most 
competent  business  men,  died  May  28,  1883. 

Mr.  Burleigh  was  born  at  Waterville,  Me.,  Aug.  30, 
1824  ;  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he  left  his  native  town  and 
was  on  a  whaling  voyage  three  years,  visiting  all  quarters  oi 
the  globe,  and  penetrating  nearly  to  the  northern  limits  of 
navigation.       He    returned    to   Waterville    when    twentv-one 


2:20  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

years  of  age,  and  soon  after  went  to  East  Boston,  where  he 
was  employed  for  several  years  by  Otis  Tufts,  a  pioneer  en- 
gine builder.  He  was  married  in  1850,  and  in  October  of 
that  year  came  to  Fitchburg,  where  he  afterward  resided. 
He  commenced  working  as  a  machinist  for  J.  &  S.  W.  Put- 
nam at  their  shop  on  Water  street. 

When  the  Putnam  Machine  Company  was  organized,  in 
1856,  Mr.  Burleigh  became  a  stockholder  and  was  elected  a 
director,  holding  that  office  more  than  twenty  years.  He 
was  superintendent  of  Department  Number  4  of  the  Putnam 
Machine  works  for  several  years  previous  to  1869,  when  his 
large  business  enterprises  outside  the  works  commanded  his 
whole  attention.  About  1865,  Mr.  Burleigh  at  the  request,  it 
is  said,  of  the  late  Alvah  Crocker,  applied  himself  to  the  diffi- 
cult work  of  perfecting  a  power  drill,  for  the  primary  pur- 
pose of  making  the  completion  of  the  Hoosac  Tunnel  practi- 
cable, all  previous  attempts  had  failed.  The  large  amount 
expended  upon  the  Tunnel  was  wasted  unless  the  enterprise 
could  be  finished.  The  work  was  prosecuted  at  a  discour- 
agingly  slow  rate  with  hand  drills  and  its  completion  seemed 
more  remote  than  when  it  was  first  commenced,  before  the 
difficulties  were  appreciated.  Mr.  Burleigh's  drill  proved  a 
practical  success  and  its  invention  enabled  the  Shanley 
Brothers  to  push  the  work  to  its  completion.  It  was  the  first 
successful  power  drill  invented  and  its  features  have  been 
copied  in  other  drills.  Mr.  Burleigh  also  invented  a  com- 
pressor, which  is  an  essential  accompaniment  to  the  drill,  as 
well  as  various  other  styles  and  kinds  of  mining  machinery. 
In  1867  the  Burleigh  Rock  Drill  Company  was  organized, 
with  a  capital  of  $150,000,  to  make  and  sell  these  two 
machines,  since  which  time  they  have  found  a  ready  market 
in  nearly  every  quarter  of  the  globe,  the  product  of  this 
company  in  the  aggregate  forming  no  small  item  in  the  ma- 
chinery business  of  Fitchburg. 

These  inventions  have  carried  Mr.  Burleigh's  name 
wherever  great  engineering  feats  have  been  accomplished. 
They  were  used  at  the  Hoosac  Tunnel,  the  Brooklyn  Bridge, 
along  the  line  of  the  Union  and  Central  Pacific  railroads,  in 


CHARLES    BURLEIGH. 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  221 

removing  obstacles  at  Hell  Gate  and  in  various  works  of 
lesser  magnitude.  Mr.  Burleigh  made  many  valuable  in- 
ventions and  improvements  in  other  departments  of  mechanics 
and  took  out  a  large  number  of  patents. 

He  was  a  director  of  the  Boston,  Clinton,  Fitchburg  and 
New  Bedford  railroad  for  several  years  previous  to  its  con- 
solidation with  the  Old  Colony  railroad,  and  after  the 
disasters  of  1877,  he  rendered  signal  service  in  saving  the 
common  stock  from  wreck  and  in  placing  the  preferred  stock 
on  a  basis  which  secured  to  the  creditors  who  accepted  it 
more  than  the  full  amount  of  their  claims  ;  was  one  of  the 
promoters  of  the  New  York  &  Boston  inland  railroad.  He 
was  a  charter  member  of  the  Wachusett  National  Bank  and 
a  director  from  its  organization  in  1875.  He  was  a  director 
in  several  mining  companies  in  the  West,  and  was  interested 
in  various  railroad  and  manufacturing  companies. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Burleigh  Rock  Drill  Company 
are:  Henry  A.  Willis,  president;  John  Burney,  treasurer; 
C.  R.  Burleigh,  superintendent. 

The  Burleigh  Tunnel  Company  was  organized  in  1869, 
with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  Lowell  M.  Miles  is  president,  D. 
A.  Corey,  clerk,  and  C.  R.  Burleigh,  treasurer. 

ROLLSTONE  MACHINE  COMPANY 

was  organized  in  1867,  for  the  manufacture  of  wood-working 
machinery,  and  dealers  in  all  kinds  of  tools,  saws,  belting, 
knives,  emery  wheels,  etc.  The  business  of  this  company 
has  largely  increased  the  past  few  years,  and  now  machines 
of  their  manufacture  can  be  found  in  operation  all  over  the 
continent.  This  company  control  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  the  celebrated  Hodge's  Universal  Angle  Union,  for  plumb- 
ers' use,  in  connection  with  steam,  water  or  gas  works. 
Thev  are  also  manufacturers  of  the  C.  F.  Smith  system  of 
ice-making  and  refrigerating  machines  ?  also  the  E.  N. 
Gates'  system  of  hot  water  heating  for  private  houses,  fac- 
tories, etc.  The  company,  as  at  present  organized,  consists 
of  II.  F.  Coggshall  and  C.  T.  Crocker,  proprietors,  and 
George  L.  Stearns,  manager. 


222  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Richard  A.  Leonard,  manufacturer  of  agricultural  im- 
plements and  packing  boxes,  West  Fitchburg.  For  upwards 
of  thirty  years  Mr.  Leonard  has  been  connected  with  the 
mowing  machine  industry,  and  was  one  of  the  first  salesmen 
to  introduce  them  into  New  England,  when  the  business  was 
in  its  infancy.  Born  in  the  town  of  Raynham,  Mass.,  Oct. 
5,  1830,  and  his  early  years  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm. 
His  ancestors  were  iron  workers — the  first  in  his  line  in  this 
country  having  settled  in  that  town  and  established  a  forge 
in  the  colonial  days.  In  1858  John  P.  Adriance,  who  first 
introduced  the  two-wheel  mowing  machine  into  New  Eng- 
land, secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Leonard  as  travelling 
agent.  In  1861  the  business  had  increased  to  such  an  extent 
that  it  was  found  necessary  to  divide  it — one-half  being 
moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  again,  in  the  season  of  1864-5, 
another  division  was  made,  and  one-half  of  the  business 
transferred  to  Fitchburg,  Mr.  Leonard  acting  as  general 
agent.  The  manufacturing  of  horse  rakes  and  laundry 
machinery  was  also  carried  on  in  connection  with  the  mowing 
machine  business  here.  In  1S76  Mr.  Leonard  bought  out 
the  business  in  Fitchburg  and  began  the  manufacture  of  the 
Leonard  mowing  machine,  and  packing  boxes,  and  for  a 
time  made  creameries.  In  February,  1886,  the  works  were 
totally  destroved  by  fire  and  the  same  season  his  present 
factoiy,  opposite  the  site  of  the  old  shop,  was  built,  and  he 
commenced  again  the  manufacture  of  packing  boxes,  the 
mowing;  machine  business,  in  which  he  still  retains  an 
interest,  being  removed  to  Worcester.  Mr.  Leonard  served 
the  city  in  the  common  council  in  i878-'79-'8o  and  '82,  and 
as  representative  to  the  legislature  in  1886. 

The  works  of  David  M.  Dillon,  boiler  manufacturer, 
are  located  on  Crocker  street,  below  Rollstone  foundry,  on 
the  line  of  the  Fitchburg  and  Old  Colony  Railroad.  The 
business  was  started  in  1870,  at  the  corner  of  West  Main  and 
River  streets,  where  he  remained  two  years.  The  neighbors 
not  being  accustomed  to  so  much  noise  circulated  a  petition 
for    the    removal    of    the    works.       Not    having    shop    room 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  22i\ 

enough,  and  wishing  to  accommodate  a  long-suffering  public, 
Mr.  Dillon  built  a  shop  and  removed  to  his  present  location 
on  Crocker  street,  where  he  continues  to  do  business  and 
make  quite  a  noise.  You  will  rind  boilers  of  his  make  in 
nearly  every  state  of  the  Union,  and  he  has  exported  quite  a 
number  to  foreign  countries. 

Mr.  Dillon  was  the  pioneer  in  making  steel  boilers  and 
was  laughed  at  by  other  boiler  builders  and  called  a  crank 
for  attempting  to  make  a  boiler  of  steel,  but  did  not  have 
long  to  wait  to  find  the  public  calling  for  steel  boilers. 

HEYWOOD,    WILSON    &    CO.    FOUNDRY. 

This  industry  was  started  at  the  old  Greene  foundry  on 
Water  street  opposite  the  Union  Machine  Company's  works. 
The  business  was  started  by  Asher  Greene  who  was  after- 
wards associated  with  David  Ware.  The  business  was  car- 
ried on  afterwards  by  Waldo  Wallace  until  1866,  when  Geo. 
Wheelock  and  J.  S.  Wilson  bought  a  one-half  interest  with 
Waldo  Wallace,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Wallace  the  same 
year,  Walter  Hey  wood  and  Harrington  Sibley  bought  his  in- 
terest, and  the  firm  was  known  as  Heywood,  Wheelock  & 
Co.  About  the  time  the  present  foundry,  adjoining  the 
Fitchburg  Machine  Company's  works,  was  built,  Mr. 
Wheelock  sold  out  his  interest  to  Hale  W.  Page,  and  the 
style  of  the  firm  was  changed  to  Heywood,  Wilson  &  Co. 
Mr.  Page  retired  from  the  firm  in  1875,  a°d  since  the  death 
of  Mr.  Heywood,  Aug.  1,  1880,  the  business  has  been 
owned  and  carried  on  by  Mr.  Wilson  and  .Mr.  Sibley,  but 
retaining  the  old  firm  name. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  a  native  of  Dover,  Mass.,  born  Jan.  29, 
1827.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  went  to  Waltham,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  iron  moulder.  After  serving  his  ap- 
prenticeship, he  went  to  Boston  to  work,  and  in  1861  and  '62, 
was  employed  at  the  Charlestown  Navy  Yard,  making  shot 
and  shell  for  the  Government,  after  this,  removed  to  Nor- 
wood, and  in  1866,  came  to  Fitchburg  to  engage  in  the 
foundry  business.       Mr.   Wilson   has  served    as  councilman 


224 


FITCIIDURG,    PAST    AND    I'RKSENT. 


and  alderman,   and  the  past  two  years  represented  the  city  in 
the  legislature. 

Mr.  Sibley  is  a  native  of  Sutton,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
born  June  4,  1814.  At  two  years  of  age,  he  moved  to  Troy, 
N.  H.,  where  he  remained  until  1841,  having  learned  and 
worked  at  the  scythe  maker's  trade.  He  came  to  Fitchburg 
in  1 841,  living  here  since  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
when  he  resided  in  Troy  and  Littleton,  N.  H.,  and  Athol, 
Mass.  He  was  employed  by  Farwell  &  Co.,  Abel  Simonds, 
and  Whitman  &  Miles,  on  scythes,  mowing  machines  and 
farm  implements,  until  he  became,  in  1866,  a  partner  in  the 
foundry  business.  Mr.  Sibley  has  for  the  past  seven  years 
been  a  director  in  the  Wachusett  National  Bank,  and  has 
served  the  city  five  years,  two  years  as  councilman  and  three 
years  as  alderman. 

THE    ROLLSTONE    IRON    FOUNDRY. 

under  the  proprietorship  of  L.  H.  Goodnow,  was  established 
here  in  1867,  for  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of  machinery 


THE    ROLLSTONE    IRON    FOUNDRY, 


castings,  such  as  fly-wheels,  pulleys,  gears,  segments,  en- 
gine work  of  all  kinds,  and  wire  drawing  machinery.  The 
works  are  thoroughly  equipped  with  improved  machinery, 
tools  and  appliances  for  heavy  work,  and  furnish  employ- 
ment to  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  hands.  Prominent  among 
the  list  of  products  of  the  foundry  is  the  great  variety  of  fly- 
wheels and    pulley  patterns,   ranging    from    three  inches  to 


IRON    INDUSTRIES.  22f) 

twenty  feet  in  diameter,  any  number  of  inches  in  width  of 
face,  and  any  weight  required,  made  whole  or  in  halves, 
turned,  bored  and  slotted  ready  for  the  shaft.  Particular  at- 
tention is  also  paid  to  getting  up  iron  fronts  for  buildings, 
and  everything  adapted  to  the  use  of  millwrights  and  man- 
ufacturers. 

Mr.  Goodnow  is  a  native  of  Northboro,  moving  to 
Worcester  when  eight  years  old,  learning  the  iron  trade,  and 
was  in  that  business  until  moving  to  Fitchburg  in  1875,  at 
which  time  he  entered  into  co-partnership  with  Hale  W. 
Page  in  the  foundry  business,  and  remained  with  him  some 
two  years,  at  which  time  he  assumed  control  of  the  business 
himself  alone.  He  was  connected  with  the  city  government 
as  alderman  in  1886,  and  has  been  on  the  school  board  for 
the  past  six  years,  and  is  a  director  in  the  Wachusett  Bank. 

M.  j.  perault's  iron  foundry. 

This  industry  located  opposite  the  Union  Machine  Com- 
pany's works  was  started  in  1883,  by  Marshall  &  Farnsworth, 
for  the  manufacture  of  fine  castings.  It  was  carried  on  by 
them  only  about  ten  months,  when  in  July,  1884,  M.  J.  Pe- 
rault  succeeded  to  the  business.  Mr.  Perault  has  been  in 
the  foundry  business  for  the  past  thirty-four  years.  He  is  a 
native  of  Canada,  at  the  age  of  four  years  removed  to  New- 
ton Upper  Falls,  afterwards  went  to  Waltham,  where  he 
began  work  in  the  Davis  foundry,  removed  to  Worcester  in 
1861  and  was  employed  in  the  foundry  of  the  New  York 
Steam  Engine  Company.  In  187 1  he  came  to  Fitchburg 
and  took  the  situation  of  foreman  in  the  Smith  &  Page 
foundry,  continuing  in  that  position  after  Mr.  L.  II.  Good- 
now became  proprietor  until  the  year  1884,  when  he  started 
in  business  for  himself. 

WM.    A.    HARDY'S    BRASS    FOUNDRY, 

located  opposite  the    Union    Machine    Company,    has    been 
under  the  present  management    for  a  period    of  thirty-four 
15 


CHAPTER    XII. 


COMMERCIAL. 


S  a  commercial  center  Fitchburg  exerts 
a  wide  influence,  attracting  trade  for 
many  miles.  The  business  blocks, 
many  of  them,  are  substantial,  and 
the  stores  large  and  attractive. 

The  financial  institutions  of  the 
city  are  seven  in  number — four  of 
them  are  national  banks  and  three 
savings. 

THE    FITCHBURG    NATIONAL    BANK 

is  the  oldest,  having  been  chartered  in  1832  under  the  state 
banking  laws.  It  was  reorganized  in  1865  under  the 
national  banking  act  and  has  a  capital  of  $250,000,  with  a 
surplus  of  $140,000.  Its  first  president  was  Francis  Perkins, 
and  Ebenezer  Torrey,  cashier.  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Perkins,  in  1859,  at  the  next  annual  meeting  which  occurred 
in  a  few  months,  Ebenezer  Torrey,  who,  until  this  time,  had 
been  cashier,  was  elected  president,  and  Charles  J.  Billings 
chosen  cashier.  The  first  banking  house  was  a  small 
granite  building,  which  was  succeeded  in  1853  by  a  new 
brick  building  built  on  the  same  spot,  now  occupied  by 
Crocker,  Burbank  &  Co.  as  an  office.  In  187 1  the  bank 
moved  into  its  present  quarters  in  the  Fitchburg  Bank 
building. 

Its  officers  are  :     Ebenezer  Torrey,  president ;  Charles  J. 
Billings,   vice-president;    B.    N.    Bullock,    cashier;    H.    G. 


COMMERCIAL.  229 

Townend,  teller ;  William  Kimball,  book-keeper ;  H.  A. 
Damon,  clerk;  Thornton  K.  Ware,  solicitor;  directors, 
William  D.  Peck,  Ebenezer  Torrey,  Timothy  S.  Wilson, 
Gardner  S.  Burbank,  Charles  J.  Billings,  Rodney  Wallace, 
George  F.  Fay,  Charles  T.  Crocker,  Joseph  Cushing,  Henry 
F.  Coggshall,  Thornton  K.  Ware,  Carmi  M.  Parker, 
George  F.  Simonds,  Arthur  H.  Lowe. 

Ebenezer  Torrey — born  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  Aug.  16, 
1801.  His  parents  were  John  and  Sally  (Richardson) 
Torrey,  both  natives  of  the  same  town.  His  preliminary 
education  was  received  in  the  academies  of  Leicester  and 
Lancaster.  In  1818  he  entered  at  Harvard  and  graduated  in 
1822.  After  graduation  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  in 
Fitchburg,  in  the  office  of  John  Shepley,  an  eminent  lawyer, 
who  subsequently  removed  to  Maine.  In  1825  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  alone.  In  1827  he  associated  him- 
self in  business  with  Nathaniel  Wood.  The  firm  of  Torrey 
&  Wood  lasted  for  nearly  half  a  century  and  its  members 
ranked  with  the  acknowledged  leaders  of  the  legal  fraternity 
in  Worcester  county.  Several  Fitchburg  lawyers  of  present 
prominence  began  their  career  under  the  tutilage  of  these 
two  men  whose  firm  relation  was  dissolved  in  1873.  While 
active  in  his  chosen  profession  Mr.  Torrey,  from  the  time  of 
his  enrollment  among  the  members  of  the  bar,  almost  always 
held  offices  of  trust  and  honor.  For  thirty  successive  years 
he  was  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Fitchburg,  serving  for  one 
year  after  its  incorporation  as  a  city,  declining  further  ser- 
vice. In  1832  he  became  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the 
Fitchburg  Bank.  In  addition  to  his  connection  with  the 
banking  business  he  was  elected  in  1829  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  Worcester  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  and  has 
ever  since  sustained  the  same  relation  to  it.  Mr.  Torrey  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  house  of  representa- 
tives in  1832,  and  again  in  1847.  In  1849  ^ie  served  in  the 
senate  and  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  banks  and 
banking.  In  1853  he  was  a  member  of  the  council  of  Gov- 
ernor Clifford  and  in  1854  of  that  of  Governor  Emory  Wash- 


230  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

burn.  In  1825  Mr.  Torrey  was  married  to  Frances  Hough- 
ton of  Fitchburg,  who  died  in  183 1.  In  the  following  year 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  Arnold  of  Uxbridge,  Mass. 

THE  ROLLSTONE  NATIONAL  BANK 

received  its  first  charter  in  1849  >  was  ^-incorporated  in  1865  ; 
its  capital  is  $250,000,  with  a  surplus  of  $140,000.  Moses 
Wood  was  the  first  president  and  Lewis  H.  Bradford  the 
first  cashier.  Upon  the  death  of  Moses  Wood,  in  1869, 
Alvah  Crocker  succeeded  him.  Mr.  Crocker  was  succeeded 
by  Henry  A.  Willis,  as  president,  which  office  he  now  holds. 
L.  H.  Bradford  served  as  cashier  until  1856,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  William  B.  Wood,  who  resigned  in  1858. 
Henry  A.  Willis  was  then  chosen  cashier,  and  upon  his  ap- 
pointment to  the  office  of  president,  January,  1873,  John  M. 
Graham  was  chosen  in  his  place.  In  1881  Wilbur  B. 
Tenney  was  made  cashier.  The  first  banking-house  of  the 
Rollstone  Bank  was  a  small  granite  building,  which  stood 
where  the  Rollstone  Bank  building  now  stands.  This  latter 
building  was  erected  in  1869.  The  bank  is  officered  by 
Henry  A.  Willis,  president,  (sketch  and  portrait  in  Chapter 
III);  Wilbur  B.  Tenney,  cashier;  W.  J.  Stearns,  teller; 
Charles  W.  Spinney,  clerk;  Amasa  Norcross,  solicitor; 
directors,  Henry  A.  Willis,  Amasa  Norcross,  Louis  D.  Bart- 
lett,  E.  Foster  Bailey,  I.  C.  Wright,  Charles  H.  Brown, 
George  H.  Spencer,  James  Phillips,  Jr.,  Edgar  F.  Belding, 
H.  T.  Page,  M.  D.  Haws. 

SAFETY    FUND    NATIONAL    BANK. 

authorized  by  Comptroller  Knox,  June  9,  1874.  This  was 
before  free  national  banking,  consequently  the  first  ninety 
thousand  dollars  of  circulation  was  purchased  from  another 
National  Bank.  The  stockholders  paid  in  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  in  addition  to  the  capital,  to  offset  the  premiums 
paid  on  United  States  bonds  and  circulation,  which  enabled 
the  bank  to  declare  a  dividend,  at  the  close  of  the  first  year's 


1  <C^71y 


4  crti/^ 


COMMERCIAL. 


231 


business,  from  the  earnings.  Since  then  the  bank  has  paid 
regular  semi-annual  dividends.  The  bank  commenced  busi- 
ness July  i,  1874,  m  tne 
second  story  of  Belding 
&  Dickinson's  brick  block, 
and  removed  to  its  pres- 
ent location  in  Crocker 
block,  March,  1875,  the 
building  having  been 
erected  by  Hon.  Alvah 
Crocker,  under  an  agree- 
ment for  a  twenty  years' 
lease  of  the  banking 
rooms  to  the  Safety  Fund 
National  Bank.  Present 
capital,  $200,000;  own 
$200,000  United  States 
four  per  cent,  bonds  ;  sur- 
plus, $31,000.  The  first 
president  was  Henry  Alli- 
son and  the  first  cashier 
F.    F.    Woodward.        In  crocker  block. 

1883  Mr.  Woodward  resigned  to  engage  in  other  business 
and  George  K.  Tapley,  of  the  John  Hancock  National  Bank 
of  Springfield,  was  elected  his  successor.  Joel  G.  Tyler, 
book-keeper,  has  been  identified  with  the  bank  since  Septem- 
ber, 1882. 

Mr.  Allison  is  a  native  of  Rome,  N.  Y.  ;  came  to  Fitch- 
burg  in  1858  to  take  a  clerkship  in  the  post-office,  under  the 
Hon.  J.  W.  Mansur,  entered  the  old  Fitchburg  State  Bank, 
April,  1864,  continued  there,  with  Fitchburg  State  and 
National  Banks,  until  April,  1874,  at  which  time  he  was 
elected  the  first  president  of  the  Safety  Fund  National  Bank, 
in  which  position  he  has  continued  until  the  present  time, 
this  being  his  twenty-fourth  year  in  banking. 

The  present  board  of  directors  are  R.  R.  Conn,  E.  M. 
Dickinson,  Lyman  Patch,  George  Hall,  Charles  F.  Putnam, 
Wilder  P.  Clark,  Frank   Leighton,  J.  F.  D.  Garfield,  F.  F. 


232  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Woodward,  George  R.  Wallace,    Myron  B.  Damon,    Henry 

Allison. 

WACHUSETT     NATIONAL    BANK 

was  incorporated  May  20,  1875,  with  a  capital  of  $500,000, 
which  has  since  been  reduced  one-half,  leaving  the  present 
capital  $250,000,  and  surplus  fund  of  equal  amount, 
$250,000. 

This  bank  was  opened  for  business  June  1,  1875,  in 
Belding  &  Dickinson's  block  and  continued  in  that  loca- 
tion  until  Jan.  1,  1876,  at  which  time  the  present  banking 
house,  corner  of  Main  and  Day  streets  was  completed.  Its 
first  oiHcers  were  A.  W.  Seaver,  president;  H.  A.  Blood, 
vice-president,  and  George  A.  Seaver,  cashier;  but  the  latter 
being  removed  by  death  before  the  bank  was  opened  for 
business,  Henry  L.  Jewett  was  elected  his  successor. 

The  present  officers  are  O.  H.  Lawrence,  president; 
William  O.  Brown,  vice-president;  George  E.  Clifford, 
cashier;  W.  G.  Corey,  teller;  H.  G.  Morse,  book-keeper; 
E.  B.  Farrar,  messenger. 

Directors — William  O.  Brown,  H.  A.  Hatch,  O.  H. 
Lawrence,  George  N.  Proctor,  Harrington  Sibley,  A.  B. 
Sherman,  W.  A.  Fairbanks,  L.  H.  Goodnow,  John  Burney, 
J.  S.  Bradley,  Thomas  Rice,  George  F.  Morse,  S.  K. 
Pierce. 

THE  FITCHBURG  SAVINGS  BANK 

was  incorporated  Feb.  12,  1846,  and  went  into  operation  the 
first  of  June  following.  Francis  Perkins  was  the  first  presi- 
dent and  Ebenezer  Torrey  the  first  treasurer.  On  the  death 
of  Mr.  Perkins,  in  1859,  Nathaniel  Wood  was  chosen  presi- 
dent Aug.  15,  1859;  Ebenezer  Torrey,  June  27,  1876; 
Thornton  K.  Ware,  Sept.  26,  1877. 

In  187 1  the  bank  erected  one  of  the  largest  and  costliest 
business  buildings  in  the  city,  in  which  they  now  have  their 
rooms.  The  officers  are :  President,  Thornton  K.  Ware, 
(sketch  in  Chapter  V.)  ;  vice-president,  Samuel  E.  Crocker; 


v 


COMMERCIAL. 


233 


Ebenezer  Bailey,  clerk;  Charles  J.  Billings,  treasurer:  An- 
drew Jewett,  assistant  treasurer. 

Trustees :  Thornton  K.  Ware,  Samuel  E.  Crocker, 
William  D.  Peck,  Ebenezer  Torrey,  Justin  Stearns,  Timothy 
S.  Wilson,  Jacob  Haskell,  George  F.  Fay,  Rodney  Wallace, 
Charles  T.  Crocker,  Gardner  S.  Burbank,  Leander  Sprague, 


FITCHEURG    SAVINGS    BANK    BLOCK. 


Daniel  Cross,  Henry  F.  Coggshall,  Joseph  Cushing,  Albert 
L.  Fessenden,  John  W.  Kimball,  Carmi  M.  Parker,  George 
F.  Simonds,  R.  R.  Conn,  Henry  G.  Morse,  B.  D.  Dwinnell, 
Arthur  H.  Lowe. 


THE    WORCESTER    NORTH    SAVINGS    INSTITUTION, 

incorporated  May  26,  1868;  organized  June  13,  1868;  com- 
menced business  July  6,  1868;  deposits  Jan.  1,  1887, 
$2,488,327.22  ;  location,  Rollstone  National  Bank  building. 
The  first  officers  were  Moses  Wood,  president;  David 
Boutelle,    vice-president;  H.    A.    Willis,    treasurer;   L.    II. 


234  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Bradford,  clerk.  Upon  the  death  of  Moses  Wood,  Augustus 
Whitman  was  elected  president  and  held  the  office  until  1880. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Benjamin  Snow,  who  resigned  in  1883  » 
followed  by  Lowell  M.  Miles,  who  resigned  in  1886,  when 
Amasa  Norcross  was  elected. 

The  present  officers  are  :  Amasa  Norcross,  president, 
(sketch  and  portrait  Chapter  III.)  ;  H.  C.  Hartwell,  vice- 
president;  H.  A.  Willis,  Treasurer;  B.  F.  Wallis,  clerk 
and  assistant  treasurer  ;  A.  C.  Brown,  book-keeper. 

Trustees — Amasa  Norcross,  George  Robbins,  E.  N. 
Choate,  L.  D.  Bartlett,  E.  F.  Bailey,  Henry  A.  Goodrich, 
I.  C.  Wright,  John  Upton,  S.  Haynes,  A.  B.  Sherman, 
Edwin  Upton,  E.  B.  Rockwood,  S.  A.  Childs,  J.  L.  Chap- 
man, James  Phillips,  Jr.,  Frederick  Fosdick,  Asa  S.  Lawton, 
Mial  Davis,  Fitchburg  ;  William  Baker,  Lunenburg  ;  Anson 
D.  Fessenden,  Townsend  ;  Walter  R.  Adams,  Ashburnham  ; 
Charles  O.  Green,  Ashby  ;   M.  D.  Haws,  Leominster. 

THE    FITCHBURG     CO-OPERATIVE    BANK 

was  incorporated  Oct.  27,  1877,  under  the  name  of  the 
"Fitchburg  Co-operative  Saving  Fund  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion." The  name  was  changed  July  1,  1883,  by  legislative 
enactment,  to  the  "Fitchburg  Co-operative  Bank." 

Its  objects  are  the  periodical  savings  of  money  paid  in  by 
the  shareholders,  which  money  is  at  once  invested  by  loaning 
it  among  the  shareholders  only,  secured  by  first  mortgage  on 
Massachusetts  real  estate,  or  by  pledge  of  the  shares  them- 
selves, or  by  both.  One  dollar  for  each  share  held  is  paid 
in  by  the  holder  at  meetings  held  every  month,  and  these 
dues,  together  with  all  other  accumulations,  are  put  up  at 
auction  to  the  highest  bidder  as  soon  as  the  amount  on  hand 
is  ascertained.  These  monthly  payments  continue  until  each 
share  attains  the  value  of  $200,  when  it  is  said  to  mature  and 
no  longer  participates  in  the  profits,  but  is  withdrawn  by  the 
holder.  The  shares  are  issued  in  series  six  months  apart, 
and  all  the  shares  in  each  separate  series  have  the  same 
value  and  mature  at  the  same  time,  while  the  different  series 


COMMERCIAL.  235 

mature  in  the  order  of  their  issue.  Each  borrower,  by  pay- 
ment of  dues  on  his  shares,  is  laving  by  a  sinking  fund  to 
meet  his  mortgage  at  maturity,  and  he  receives  his  mortgage 
cancelled  instead  of  the  cash,  which  is  paid  to  the  non- 
borrower. 

The  influence  of  this  institution  has  been  very  marked, 
for  through  its  workings  many  persons  have  been  induced 
to  commence  the  acquirement  of  wealth  in  a  small  way. 
Others  have  been  able  to  secure  a  homestead  at  a  cost  of 
monthly  payment  but  little  above  that  of  necessary  rent.  It 
tends  to  encourage  industry,  economy  and  thrift,  and  opens 
an  easy  way  for  every  person  whose  income  exceeds  his  ex- 
penses, by  which  something  tangible  may  be  laid  aside 
against  adversity  or  old  age. 

The  following  persons  have  held  their  offices  during  the 
life  of  the  bank,  with  the  exception  of  the  treasurer,  who 
was  preceded  by  George  E.  Clifford  for  the  first  four  years  : 
Jabez  Fisher,  president;  Henry  L.  Rice,  vice-president; 
Joseph  F.  Simonds,  secretary,  and  Charles  F.  Baker,  treas- 
urer. A  board  of  directors,  consisting  of  the  above,  with 
fifteen  additional  names,  constitute  the  management.  Its 
office  and  the  office  of  its  secretary  is  at  room  No.  5  Roll- 
stone  Bank  block,  129  Main  street,  and  its  meetings  for  busi- 
ness are  held  on  the  third  Thursday  evening  of  each  month. 

THE    FITCHBURG    POST-OFFICE. 

In  1827  David  Brigham,  Esq.,  as  postmaster  had  his  office 
for  a  time  in  the  "Abram  Dole  house,"  on  "\Vest  Main  street, 
but  soon  removed  to  the  dwelling  house  now  in  Wesleyan 
Place,  in  the  rear  of  the  Methodist  church,  but  which  then 
stood  on  Main  street,  and  which  even  now  show  traces  of 
its  former  use  in  the  letter  drop  in  what  was  the  office  room. 
All  the  equipment  used  was  a  wheel  about  two  feet  in  diam- 
eter provided  with  divisions  of  the  several  letters  of  the  al- 
phabet. 

Mark  Miller  was  the  next  postmaster,  being  appointed  by 
President  Andrew  Jackson,  in  October,  1834,  an^  removed  the 


230  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

office  to  a  frame  building  adjoining  the  Fitchburg  House, 
located  about  where  the  Emory  House  now  stands,  and 
the  building  is  now  removed  to  Oliver  street.  He  occupied 
the  first  floor  as  a  book-store  and  the  second  floor  for 
the  printing  office  and  publishing  office  of  a  weekly  news- 
paper ;  but  on  his  failure  in  business  after  holding  the 
office  only  a  few  months,  the  Hon.  Nathaniel  Wood  was 
appointed  by  President  Jackson,  early  in  1835  >  ne  moved  the 
office  to  the  building  standing  nearly  opposite  the  present 
Sentinel  office,  and  during  his  term  the  first  attempt  at 
use  of  call  boxes  in  aiding  in  the  delivery  of  the  mail  was 
made.  His  principal  assistants  were  his  brother  and  after- 
wards Charles  and  Stephen  Shepley.  The  office  was  re- 
moved, about  1841,  to  Wood  &  Torrey's  brick  block,  in  the 
store  now  occupied  by  Davis  &  Rogers'  market,  and  at  that 
time  and  until  the  completion  of  the  Savings  Bank  block  oc- 
cupied by  Shepley's  book-store.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1849, 
by  his  partner,  Hon.  Goldsmith  F.  Bailey,  who  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Taylor,  and  who  retained  the  office  in 
the  same  location  and  Mr.  Stephen  Shepley  as  his  assistant. 

The  postage  in  those  days  wras  5  cents,  6j^_  cents,  12 }4 
cents,  18^  cents,  and  25  cents,  according  to  the  distance, 
and  was  very  seldom  prepaid.  The  letters  for  every  town 
were  done  up  in  a  wrapper,  and  the  destination  written 
thereon,  and  a  way  bill  sent  for  amount  of  postage  due,  re- 
quiring a  large  amount  of  work  for  the  business  transacted. 

At  the  arrival  of  the  stage,  which  would  only  wait  about 
five  minutes,  rapid  work  wras  required  to  open  the  mail  bag, 
take  out  mail  for  the  office,  and  substitute  the  outgoing  mail. 
In  1853,  John  Todd,  Esq.,  was  appointed  by  President 
Franklin  Pierce,  and  soon  after  removed  the  office  to  the  new 
town  hall  building  just  erected,  a  considerable  increase  was 
made  in  the  number  of  boxes  and  other  facilities  for  trans- 
acting the  business.  He  had  as  his  assistant,  (and  acting 
postmaster  in  fact,)  Martin  Giles,  now  of  Westminster.  In 
1859  Mr.  Todd  resigned  on  account  of  removal  to  New 
York,  and  J.  W.  Mansur,  Esq.,  was  appointed  by   President 


COMMERCIAL.  237 

Buchanan.  He  retained  Mr.  Giles  as  assistant,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Henry  Allison. 

The  salary  of  the  office  as  re-established  in  January,  1S60, 
was  $1,727.26. 

About  i860  the  post-office  was  burglarized,  but  an  en- 
trance to  the  safe  not  being  effected,  the  loss  was  very  small. 

Mr.  Mansur  was  removed  by  President  Lincoln  in 
September,  1861,  and  Judge  T.  K.  Ware  appointed,  who 
had  as  his  assistant  General  John  W.  Kimball.  Judge  Ware 
was  removed  by  President  Johnson  and  Colonel  George  E. 
Goodrich  appointed  in  1867.  His  assistants  were  Albert  A. 
Marshall  and  Charles  E.  Wallace. 

On  Nov.  18,  1872,  the  office  was  moved  to  its  present  loca- 
tion, corner  of  Main  and  Church  streets,  in  the  old  Trinitarian 
church  building,  which  had  been  remodelled  for  the  office, 
and  room  that  was  imperatively  needed  by  the  rapid  growth 
of  the  city  was  secured. 

On  the  expiration  of  Col.  Goodrich's  third  term,  in  1879, 
Gen.  John  W.  Kimball  was  appointed  by  President  Hayes, 
and  retained  as  his  assistant  Charles  E.  Wallace,  during  his 
entire  term  of  eight  years. 

In  1882  the  post-office  building  was  greatly  improved  by 
alterations  that  brought  the  office  down  to  the  level  of  the 
street  and  secured  for  the  office  all  of  the  first  storv.  During 
the  repairs  the  office  was  temporarily  removed  to  Spaulding's 
building,  corner  of  Main  and  Grove  streets. 

In  November,  1884,  the  free  delivery  service  was  com- 
menced with  five  carriers,  all  of  whom  still  remain  on  duty. 
And  the  office  was  again  altered  by  the  removal  of  a  large 
number  of  the  call  boxes  which  were  no  longer  needed. 
The  special  delivery  service  was  commenced  Oct.  1,  1885. 

On  the  expiration  of  General  Kimball's  second  term  in 
February,  1887,  the  present  postmaster,  Frederick  A.  Cur- 
rier was  appointed  by  President  Cleveland,  after  a  spirited, 
but  good-natured  contest  by  four  candidates.  An  additional 
carrier  was  secured  Sept.  1,  1887,  and  Frank  J.  Dwyer  was 
appointed  and  carriers'  limits  somewhat  extended,  an  in- 
creased deliveries  of  business  mail  provided  for,   and  addi- 


238  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

tional  street  letter  boxes  added.  He  retained  as  his  assistant 
Charles  E.  Wallace,  and  nearly  all  of  the  other  employes 
and  carriers. 

The  present  office  force  consists  of  Charles  E.  Wallace, 
assistant  postmaster;  Frank  H.  Damon,  Albert  H.  Harris, 
D.  Irving  Damon  ;  Miss  Elizabeth  F.  Delahanty,  money  order 
clerk ;  Miss  Mary  P.  Arnold,  stamp  and  registered  letter 
clerk. 

The  six  letter  carriers  are  Albert  S.  Pierce,  George  M. 
Bowker,  Patrick  B.  Purtill,  Eugene  Forest,  Charles  F. 
Lamb,  Frank  J.  Dwyer.  Special  delivery  messenger, 
Walter  F.  Oxford. 

There  are  now  about  fifty  street  letter  boxes,  distributed 
so  as  to  accommodate  as  large  a  number  of  people  as  possi- 
ble, taking  into  account  also  the  convenience  of  the  carriers 
in  making  collections. 

The  business  of  this  office  as  shown  by  the  returns  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1887,  was  :  Receipts  from  sales  of 
postage  stamps  and  stamped  envelopes  $22,709.67  ;  2,533  reg- 
istered letters  and  packages  forwarded  and  2,433  received  and 
delivered;  830  special  delivery  letters  delivered  and  1,142 
special  delivery  stamps  sold  ;  3,798  domestic  money  orders 
issued,  amounting  to  $37,814.11  ;  2,553  postal  notes  issued, 
amounting  to  $4,777.17  ;  641  foreign  money  orders  issued  to 
points  in  England,  Ireland,  Scotland,  France,  Germany, 
Italy,  Portugal,  Switzerland,  Canada,  etc.,  amounting  to 
$7,756.38;  and  2,868  money  orders  and  3,476  postal  notes 
paid,  amounting  to  $38,995.30.  The  letter  carriers  deliv- 
ered 431,542  letters,  94,548  postal  cards,  299,484  newspapers 
and  packages  ;  and  collected  from  street  letterboxes,  333,174 
letters,  85,913  postal  cards,  33,560  newspapers  and  pack- 
ages; showing  a  total  of  1,278,221  pieces  handled  for  the 
year. 

Frederick  A.  Currier,  the  present  postmaster,  son  of 
Festus  C.  and  Joanna  M.  Currier,  was  born  in  Worcester, 
December  24,  185 1,  but  his  parents  removed  to  Holliston 
when  he  was  about  a  year  old  and  he  received  his  early  edu- 


1& 


COMMERCIAL.  2.*)i) 

cation  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town.  He  removed  to 
Fitchburg,  in  January,  1869,  and  entered  the  insurance 
agency  of  his  father,  and  at  the  time  of  his  appointment  was 
a  member  of  the  firm  F.  C.  Currier  &  Son,  insurance,  rail- 
road and  steamship  ticket  agents.  He  was  connected  with 
Whitney's  Opera  House  for  three  years  as  treasurer,  and 
afterwards  for  three  years  as  business  manager.  He  was 
for  four  years  secretary  of  •  the  Worcester  North  Agri- 
cultural Society,  and  declined  a  re-election.  He  has  also 
assisted  his  father,  who  is  secretary,  in  the  work  of  the 
Massachusetts  Mutual  Aid  Society.  He  is  a  firm  democrat 
but  has  never  been  an  offensive  partisan  or  active  politician. 
He  received  the  endorsement  of  the  business  men  irrespec- 
tive of  party. 

Charles  E.  Wallace,  assistant-postmaster,  was  born 
in  Clinton,  Mass.,  Sept.  3,  1847  ;  removed  to  Fitchburg  in 
the  fall  of  1S61,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  store  of 
Waldo  Wallace,  corner  of  Main  and  Laurel  streets,  and  was 
also  employed  as  clerk  in  various  places  until  Jan.  1,  1872, 
when  he  entered  the  post-office  in  the  city  hall  building 
under  Postmaster  George  E.  Goodrich.  He  has  served  as 
assistant-postmaster  under  George  E.  Goodrich,  J.  W.  Kim- 
ball, and  F.  A.  Currier,  the  present  postmaster,  to  date. 

Albert  S.  Pierce,  carrier  1,  was  born  in  East  Jaffrey, 
N.  H.,  March  15,  1845,  and  lived  at  home  on  a  farm  until 
seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  enlisted,  Aug.  11,  1862,  in 
the  14th  N.  H.  Volunteers  for  three  years,  or  during  the 
war ;  he  remained  in  the  regiment  during  its  entire  term  of 
service  of  nearly  three  years,  and  was  discharged  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  After  returning  home  he  learned  the  machinist's 
trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  until  Nov.  1,  1884,  when 
he  was  appointed  letter-carrier. 

George  M.  Bowker,  carrier  2,  is  a  native  of  Fitchburg 
and  educated  in  its  public  schools.  He  has  a  good  war 
record,  having  served  five  years  in  the  United  States  Navy, 
participating  in  the  great  battles  fought  by  Admiral  Farragut 
in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  on  the  Mississippi  river.     Since 


240  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

the  war  he  has  travelled  extensively  in  Europe  and  Africa. 
When  the  free  delivery  system  was  given  the  city  he  was 
appointed  to  the  service  by  Gen.  Kimball,  as  a  veteran  of  the 
war. 

Patrick  B.  Purtill,  carrier  3,  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1846,  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1S64,  and  commenced 'working 
for  the  Putnam  Machine  Company,  learned  the  machinist's 
trade  and  remained  in  the  company's  employ  until  1879, 
when  he  began  work  for  the  Fitchburg  Steam  Engine  Com- 
pany, continuing  with  them  until  his  appointment  as  letter- 
carrier  in  1884. 

Eugene  Forest,  carrier  4,  a  native  of  St.  Bock,  P.  Q^., 
was  born  in  1850  of  French  parentage.  He  was  educated  in 
the  St.  Viatem  school  and  graduated  in  1866.  He  came  to 
Fitchburg  in  1868  and  has  been  a  resident  since,  with  the 
exception  of  four  years  when  he  was  in  the  employ  of  W.  F. 
Whitney,  chair  manufacturer,  at  South  Ashburnham,  in  the 
cane  work  department.  He  received  his  appointment  as 
letter-carrier  in  1884. 

Charles  F.  Lamb,  carrier  5,  was  born  in  Phillipston, 
Mass.,  Nov.  6,  1856,  and  named  in  honor  of  John  C.  Fre- 
mont, the  first  Republican  candidate  for  the  presidency.  He 
was  brought  up  as  a  farmer  and  lumber  man  until  April, 
1879,  wnen  he  came  to  Fitchburg  to  enter  the  employ  of 
Sylvanus  Sawyer  as  gardener;  in  1880  began  work  for  the 
Putnam  Machine  Co.  and  remained  about  three  years  ;  re- 
ceived his  appointment  as  letter-carrier  when  the  system  was 
first  adopted  here. 

Frank  J.  Dwyer,  carrier  6,  a  native  of  Fitchburg,  was 
born  Dec.  3,  1859;  employed  by  E.  M.  Dickinson  &  Co., 
shoe  manufacturers,  from  1877  to  1887  ;  was  warden  in 
Ward  6  from  1882  to  1886,  and  appointed  letter-carrier  Sept. 
1,  1887. 

John  F.  Shea,  postmaster  at  West  Fitchburg,  was  born 
in  Fitchburg  in  1840  ;  is  a  machinist  by  trade  and  worked  for 
the  Union  Machine  Co.  until  November,  1885,  when  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  at  West  Fitchburg. 


^ 


* 


*\ 


& 


Albert  S.   Pierce. 


Geo     M .    Bowker 


Patrick   B.    Purtill. 


C     E    Wallace,  Assistant  P.M.        J.    F.  Shea,  P.  M.,  W.  Fitchburg. 


1 


Eugene    Forest. 


Chas,   F.    Lamb. 


Frank  J.   Dwyer. 


COMMERCIAL.  241 

THE    FITCHBURG    MUTUAL    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY 

was  organized  June  29,  1847.  Nathaniel  Wood  was  the  first 
president,  serving  in  that  capacity  for  over  twenty-six  years 
and  as  treasurer  for  twenty-four  years.  The  first  secretary 
was  Ivers  Phillips,  who  was  succeeded  by  Abel  Thurston  in 
1850.  Mr.  Thurston  held  the  office  of  Secretary  for  upwards 
of  fourteen  years.  He  was  succeeded,  on  his  death  in  1864, 
by  Charles  Mason,  and  he  by  L.  H.  Bradford,  who  was 
made  president  on  the  resignation  of  Nathaniel  Wood.  E. 
P.  Downe,  the  present  secretary,  was  then  elected  and  upon 
the  death  of  L.  II.  Bradford,  Amasa  Norcross  was  made 
president. 

The  present  board  of  officers  are  :  Amasa  Norcross, 
president ;  William  Baker,  vice-president  and  treasurer ; 
E.  P.  Downe,  secretary  ;  directors,  William  O.  Brown, 
Amasa  Norcross,  Daniel  Cross,  Gardner  S.  Burbank,  Rodney 
Wallace,  George  H.  Spencer,  George  Jewett,  II.  G.  Morse, 
William  D.  Peck,  Orlando  Mason,  S.  R.  Merrick,  John  M. 
Lockey,  Simeon  W.  A.  Stevens,  William  Baker. 

The  company  has  a  fine  suite  of  rooms  in  the  savings 
bank  block.  From  the  beginning  it  has  been  prospered  and 
now  carries  insurance  amounting  to  $15,800,000. 

Nathaniel  Wood,  the  first  president  of  the  company,  for 
nearly  fifty  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Fitch- 
burg,  was  born  in  Holden,  Mass.,  Aug.  29,  1797.  lie 
graduated  at  Harvard,  in  182 1,  and  was  an  instructor  in  that 
college  and  also  in  the  academy  at  Lancaster  after  gradua- 
tion. After  studying  law  and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
Boston  he  came  to  Fitchburg,  and  in  Feb.,  1827,  formed  a 
partnership  with  Ebenezer  Torrey,  under  the  well  known 
name  of  Torrey  &  Wood,  remaining  in  partnership  until  the 
latter  became  too  infirm  to  attend  to  office  duties.  Mr.  Wood 
was  an  able  lawyer  and  especially  successful  as  a  conveyan- 
cer. He  had  not  only  agreeable  qualities  of  disposition  but 
was  endowed  to  an  unusual  degree  with  sound,  sterling  qual- 
ities of  mind  and  character.  One  who  had  known  him  inti- 
16 


242  FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

mately  for  more  than  fifty  years,  and  who  for  more  than 
forty  years  was  associated  with  him  in  business,  spoke  of 
him  as  "  being  characterized  during  the  whole  period  of  his 
business  career  for  an  unswerving  integrity  and  honesty." 
This  is  no  slight  eulogy  coming  from  a  business  associate  of 
so  many  years  who  must  have  known  him  so  intimately,  and 
have  watched  him  in  the  midst  of  those  crises  of  temptation 
which  happen  in  the  career  of  every  business  man. 

He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  power  of  religion  to  make 
men  better,  and  so  long  as  his  powers  lasted  took  an  active 
part  in  the  word  of  the  church  and  Sunday  school.  We  will 
not  attempt  to  give  a  complete  list  of  the  offices  filled  at  dif- 
ferent times  by  Mr.  Wood  ;  the  records  of  the  town  of  Fitch- 
burg  show  that  he  was  one  of  our  most  active  and  conspicu- 
ous citizens.  He  was  moderator  of  many  of  the  town  meet- 
ings from  1830,  a  member  of  the  school  committee  for  many 
years,  selectman,  president  and  director  of  the  Fitchburg 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  from  its  organization,  di- 
rector and  solicitor  for  the  Fitchburg  National  Bank,  and 
president  of  the  Fitchburg  Savings  Bank.  He  was  a  life- 
long democrat  and  often  the  candidate  of  his  party.  He  was 
in  the  lower  branch  of  the  legislature  in  1839,  47  an^  50, 
and  was  also  once  elected  senator,  and  was  the  candidate  of 
his  party  for  congress  in  1841. 

Mr.  Wood  was  an  industrious  man.  He  believed  in  hard 
work,  and  loved  to  the  last  to  keep  to  that  regular  routine  of 
labor  and  duty  which  characterized  him  in  his  earlier  life. 
Probably  the  hardest  thing  he  ever  did  was  to  relinquish  ac- 
tive duty,  and  it  was  only  the  irresistible  force  of  infirmity 
and  disease  that  could  compel  him  to  surrender.  After  a 
sickness  lasting  some  two  years,  he  died  of  paralysis,  Aug. 
3,  1876,  in  his  seventy-ninth  year. 

THE    MASSACHUSETTS    MUTUAL    AID    SOCIETY 

of  Fitchburg  was  among  the  first  of  the  mutual  benefit  socie- 
ties organized  in  this  state,  having  been  incorporated  Feb. 
17,  1879,  an^  us  first  certificate  was  issued  March  26,  1879. 
Its  object  is  to  furnish  protection  and  relief,  such  as  is  sought 


COMMERCIAL.  243 

in  life  insurance.  It  is  founded  on  the  mutual  co-operative 
plan,  and  is  a  purely  mutual  association,  the  members  having 
full  control  of  all  its  business.  It  is  established  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  mutual  aid  and  assistance,  so  that  the  husband  and 
father,  or  wife  and  mother,  whose  income  may  be  limited, 
can  through  its  means  easily  provide  for  their  dependents  in 
case  of  their  death.  The  law  of  the  state  requires  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  emergency  fund,  (one  assessment  from  each 
member)  which  now  has  reached  the  sum  of  $5,000,  and  will 
constantly  be  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  new  members  and 
its  own  accumulations  of  interest.  There  are  now  upwards 
of  2,400  outstanding  certificates  in  force,  representing  an  in- 
surance of  nearly  $5,000,000,  and  it  has  paid  out  on  account 
of  death  claims,  more  than  $150,000.  Most  of  this  large 
sum  has  been  paid  to  the  widows  and  children  of  its  deceased 
members,  whose  entire  future  support  is  dependent  upon  this 
money,  a  relief  that  in  their  condition  in  life  could  not  other- 
wise have  been  secured  for  them.  It  has  a  steadily  growing 
membership,  no  institution  of  this  kind  in  this  state  has  a 
better  record  for  promptness  and  square  dealing,  and  it 
already  has  obtained  a  high  standing  in  insurance  circles. 
The  board  of  managers  are  nearly  all  residents  of  this  city, 
and  most  of  them  have  continued  in  office  from  the  begin- 
ning. The  first  president  was  Henry  A.  Willis,  president  of 
the  Rollstone  National  Bank,  who  served  in  this  office  for 
five  years.  Henry  F.  Coggshall,  secretary  and  manager  of 
the  Fitchburg  Gas  Company,  was  his  successor  and  served 
three  years,  when  Henry  A.  Goodrich  was  elected  as  its 
third  president  and  is  now  in  office.  The^  other  officers  are 
as  follows  :  Harris  C.  Hartwell,  vice-president  and  solicitor; 
Ezra  B.  Rockwood,  treasurer;  D.  S.  Woodworth,  M.  D., 
medical  director;   F.  C.  Currier,  secretary. 

The  board  of  managers  are  H.  A.  Willis,  H.  F.  Coggs- 
hall, L.  Sprague,  A.  S.  Lawton,  George  Robbins,  H.  A. 
Goodrich,  H.  C.  Hartwell,  D.  S.  Woodworth,  J.  P.  Farns- 
worth,  Aaron  F.  Whitney,  F.  C.  Currier,  C.  W.  Goss,  J.  II. 
Putnam,  H.  A.  Currier. 

Festus  C.  Currier,  secretary  of  the  society,  was  born  in 
Holliston,  Mass.,  Oct.  6,  1825,  and  resided  there  for  many 


244  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

years,  engaging  in  mercantile  and  insurance  business.  lie 
removed  to  this  city  in  1868  and  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  and  built  up  a  large  insurance  agencv  in  this 
vicinity.  He  disposed  of  this  business  in  1875,  anc^  was  soon 
after  appointed  by  Governor  Gaston  on  the  state  detective 
force,  proving  a  very  successful  officer.  He  was  especially 
detailed  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  inspection  of  manu- 
factures and  public  buildings  and  visited  nearly  every 
manufactory  in  the  state.  His  extensive  insurance  experi- 
ence particularly  fitting  him  for  the  work. 

On  the  expiration  of  his  commission  he  did  not  ask  for  a 
re-appointment,  but  again  entered  the  insurance  business  in 
company  with  his  son  (Fred  A.)  and  has  also  done  a  large 
business  in  railway  and  steamship  tickets,  foreign  drafts  and 
investment  securities. 

In  1879  he  was  the  principal  mover  in  starting  the  Massa- 
chusetts Mutual  Aid  Society,  and  was  elected  secretary, 
which  position  he  has  retained,  and  as  the  active  business 
manager  has  built  up  a  large  and  prosperous  society. 

He  served  as  alderman  in  1874  anc^  '75'  anc^  was  again 
elected  in  1881.  He  has  served  as  treasurer  of  the  Worcester 
North  Agricultural  Society  for  the  past  six  years  and  has 
been  a  director  of  the  Fitchburg  Co-operative  Bank  for 
several  years.  He  has  been  active  in  politics  and  has  always 
acted  with  the  democratic  party  :  has  been  honored  by  nomi- 
nations for  various  offices,  having  been  the  candidate  for 
county  commissioner  in  1874,  coming  within  a  few  hundred 
votes  of  an  election  for  representative  to  the  legislature  in 
1880,  also  was  on  the  Cleveland  electorial  ticket  for  this  state 
in  1884;  and  as  candidate  for  congress  in  1886,  received  a 
very  flattering  vote,  reducing  the  majority  of  Mr.  Whiting, 
his  successful  opponent,  by  about  forty  per  cent  over  his  pre- 
vious election. 

THE    UNITED    STATES    MASONIC    ACCIDENT    INSURANCE 
COMPANY, 

incorporated  Sept.  1,  1887,  insures  only  Masons  over  twenty- 
one  and  under  sixty  years  of  age.       President,  ex-Mayor  Eli 


«. 


<■ 


COMMERCIAL.  245 

Culler  ;  vice-president,  General  John  W.  Kimball  ;  secretary-, 
C.  S.  Perry  ;  treasurer,  J.  G.  Tyler. 

Directors — Eli  Cullev,  Gen.  J.  W.  Kimball  and  Charles 
F.  Baker  of  this  city,  George  F.  Morse,  Joel  G.  Tyler,  Dr. 
H.  R.  Brown  and  Charles  S.  Perry  of  Leominster. 

The  office  of  the  company  is  at  Room  14,  Savings  Bank. 
block. 

WORCESTER    NORTH    UNDERWRITERS    ASSOCIATION. 

President,  J.  M.  Lockey  ;  treasurer,  F.  A.  Currier;  sec- 
retary, C.  E.  Kirby. 

THE    FITCIIBURG    GAS    COMPANY 

was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts in  1852,  with  a  capital  of  $60,000.  Rodney  Wallace  is 
president,  and  H.  F.  Coggshall,  treasurer.  The  board  of 
directors  are  Rodney  Wallace,  Charles  T.  Crocker,  G.  S. 
Burbank,  T.  K.  Ware,  and  Francis  B.  Sheplev.  The  com- 
pany's plant  is  located  on  the  Old  Colony  and  Fitchburg  rail- 
roads, in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  and  consists  of  the 
necessary  works  with  two  gasometers,  one  having  a  capacity 
of  65,000  and  the  other  28,000  cubic  feet,  with  twelve  miles 
of  street  mains.  The  company's  office  is  located  at  331 
Main  St. 

THE    WACHUSETT    ELECTRIC    LIGHT    COMPANY 

was  incorporated  in  1883,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  The 
first  officers  were  L.  J.  Brown,  president,  Geo.  E.  Clifford, 
treasurer. 

The  central  station  is  located  on  Water  St.,  and  is 
equipped  with  a  275  horse-power  engine  and  the  usual  ac- 
companiments. The  capacity  is  about  140  Thompson-Hous- 
ton arc  lights.  The  company  are  about  putting  in  the 
Thompson-Houston  system  of  incandescent  lighting,  which 
is  specially  intended  for  residence  and  interior  lighting  at  a 


246 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


long  distance  from  the  station,  or  in  any  part  of  the  city. 
The  company  are  also  making  arrangements  to  furnish 
electric  power  for  mechanical  purposes.  The  officers  are 
Walter  A.  Fairbanks,  president,  Geo.  E.  Clifford,  treasurer, 
O.  H.  Lawrence,  James  L.  Chapman,  directors,  A.  H. 
Kimball,  superintendent.  The  company's  office  is  located  at 
162  Main  St. 

THE  FITCHBURG  STREET  RAILWAY  CO. 

was  incorporated  April  10.  1886,  with  a  capital  of  $60,000, 
and  is  officered  as  follows  :  President,  H.  A.  Willis  ;  vice- 
president,  H.  I.  Wallace;  treasurer,  B.  F.  Wallis  ;  clerk, 
H.  C.  Hartwell  ;  superintendent,  W.  W.  Sargent. 

Directors— H.  A.  Willis,  H.  I.  Wallace,  H.  C.  Hartwell, 
J.  Phillips,  Jr.,  E.  F.  Belding,  G.  W.  Weymouth,  G.  H. 
Spencer. 

The  road  commenced  business  July  1,  1886.  It  is  three 
and  one-half  miles  in  extent,  from  Sanborn  road  to  the  Fitch- 
burg  park  and  the  Lunenburg  line,  extensions  have  been 
authorized  to  Waite's  corner  and  city  farm.  The  road  is 
supplied  with  first-class  equipments,  horses,  cars,  etc.,  and 
has  done  a  very  successful  business  for  the  one  year  it  has 
been  in  operation. 


THE    FITCHBURG    BOARD    OF    TRADE. 

The  principal  mercantile  organi- 
zations of  the  city  are  the  Board  of 
Trade  and  the  Merchants  Associa- 
tion. The  Fitchburg  Board  of 
Trade,  the  oldest  organization  of 
the  kind,  is  an  association  of  busi- 
ness men  that  has  made  itself  felt  in 
public  as  well  as  commercial  affairs. 
It  was  organized  in  May,  1874.  ^n 
1876  the  board  moved  into  its  rooms 
in  the  Post-Office  and  Board  of  Trade  building.  Its  officers 
are:  President,  Dr.  George   Jewett,  (sketch  in  Chapter  V.,) 


t      ■    '      r 


COMMERCIAL.  247 

vice-presidents,  H.  A.  Goodrich,  C.  H.  Greene  ;  directors — 
Charles  T.  Crocker,  Rodney  Wallace,  James  Phillips,  Jr., 
Joseph  G.  Edgerly,  Jabez  Fisher,  H.  C.  Hartwell,  H.  A. 
Willis,  T.  C.  Upton,  George  H.  Spencer,  B.  D.  Dwinnell, 
W.  A.  Macurda ;  secretary,  E.  P.  Loring ;  treasurer,  Eben 
Bailey. 

THE    MERCHANTS    ASSOCIATION 

includes  in  the  list  of  membership  nearly  every  merchant  in 
the  city.  The  first  officers  elected,  March  24,  1886,  were  : 
President,  Daniel  Cross,  the  oldest  merchant  in  Fitchburg, 
whose  business  career  covers  a  half  century  ;  vice-presidents, 
H.  A.  Goodrich,  Walter  P.  Guy,  W.  C.  Emory;  Secretary, 
H.  E.  Jennison  ;  treasurer,  D.  H.  Pierce.  Regular  monthly 
meetings  are  held  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  each  month. 

The  present  executive  officer,  Henry  A.  Goodrich,  has 
been  in  business  thirty-two  years.  He  was  born  in  Fitch- 
burg in  1830,  entered  the  Fitchburg  Academy  in  1841, 
worked  in  a  factory  during  his  vacations,  left  the  High 
School  in  1849  to  take  a  position  as  overseer  in  a  woolen 
mill,  where  he  accumulated  enough  to  start  in  business  with 
his  own  money  in  1855.  Like  many  other  active  and  ambi- 
tious men,  he  has  met  with  reverses,  but  by  industry,  energy 
and  perseverance  has  quickly  overcome  them  and  is  to-day 
at  the  head  of  one  of  the  finest  and  best  regulated  clothing 
and  furnishing  establishments  in  New  England.  He  has 
twice  represented  the  city  in  the  state  legislature,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  Massachusetts  Mutual  Aid  Society  and  one 
of  the  trustees  of  the  Worcester  North  Sa'vings  Bank. 

The  other  officers  of  the  association  are  :  Vice-Presidents, 
A.  R.  Ordway,  S.  G.  Frost,  W.  S.  Harris;  directors— W. 
P.  Guy,  D.  G.  Wallace,  F.  A.  Wood,  C.  M.  Parker,  J.  F. 
Bruce,  M.  W.  Fitz,  J.  F.  Stiles;  secretary,  J.  P.  Farns- 
worth  ;  treasurer,  D.  H.  Pierce. 

In  1868  Joseph  dishing  took  the  stone  mill  on  Laurel 
street,  formerly    occupied  as  a    cotton    mill,  and    converted    it 


248 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


into  a  flour  and  grain  mill.  He  is  now  doing  a  large  busi- 
ness there  in  flour,  grain    and  feed.      The  premises   are   con- 

5^  veniently  fitted  up  for  the 
^^  business  and  are  connected 

*S£    by     a     turnout     with     the 


^ti!i|--IJ-*l.=l-l-i.BJIM 


ti^S  main    line    of    the    Fitch- 
fSk  burg  railroad.     There  are 


in  addition  to  the  main 
g§  mill  two  large  buildings 
for  storage  purposes,  also 
an  extensive  saw  mill  and 
lumber  yard  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Mr.  dishing 
is  a  native  of  Ashburnham,  Mass.,  and  has  been  a  resident 
ol  Fitchburg  for  nearly  forty  years.  He  was  first  engaged 
in  the  livery  business,  afterwards  in  the  lumber  business,  and 
in  1858  opened  a  flour  and  grain  store  under  the  American 
House,  where  he  remained  until  he  bought  the  stone  mill 
and  started  his  present  business. 

In     1881    Charles    P.    Washburn   bought    the    flour    mill 
and    elevator  formerly    owned    by    the  Fitchburg  Flour  Co., 


WASHBURN    &    WOODWARDS    MILL. 


and  converted  it  into  a  corn  and  grain  mill.  In  1883  Frede- 
rick F.  Woodward  bought  a  half  interest,  since  which  time  it 
has  been  operated  and  managed   by  the   firm  of  Washburn  & 


■;■ "  ;    .'-:'--  ■■'■  -:: 


iy      /  / 


COMMERCIAL.  249 

Woodward.  The  premises  are  admirably  fitted  up  Tor  doing 
a  large  wholesale  and  retail  business.  In  1884  a  storehouse 
100  feet  long  and  thirty  feet  wide,  was  built  to  accommodate 
their  increasing  business.  Mr.  Washburn  is  a  native  of  Mid- 
dleboro,  Mass.,  where,  before  removing  to  Fitchburg1  >  he 
was  engaged  in  the  coal  and  grain  business.  Mr.  Wood- 
ward is  a  native  of  Fitchburg.  He  was  a  member  ot  the 
53d  Regiment  during  the  Rebellion  ;  afterward  in  the  hard- 
ware business,  and  for  ten  years  cashier  of  the  Safety  Fund 
National  Bank  of  Fitchburg. 

Whitney's  Opera  House,  the  only  place  of  entertain- 
ment in  the  city,  is  centrally  located  at  208  Main  St.,  and 
was  built  by  Andrew  Whitney,  the  largest  owner  of  build- 
ings occupied  for  mercantile  purposes  in  the  city.  It  is  sub- 
stantially built  of  brick,  and  in  its  arrangements  will  com- 
pare favorably  with  houses  in  cities  of  equal  size.  It  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  about  one  thousand.  It  was  managed  by 
Mr.  Whitney  during  its  first  three  years,  having  been  opened 
to  the  public  Oct.  20,  1881.  In  1884  the  management  was 
assumed  by  Fred.  A.  Currier  who  had  acted  as  treasurer  of 
the  house,  for  Mr.  Whitney,  from  its  first  season,  and  during 
Mr.  Currier's  mariagement,  wrhich  continued  for  three  years, 
(until  his  appointment  as  postmaster,)  many  of  the  leading 
musical  and  dramatic  attractions  made  their  first  appearance 
in  this  city,  and  the  reputation  of  Fitchburg  for  good  "paying 
houses"  wras  established.  During  the  last  season,  ninty-two 
evening  and  eight  matinee  entertainments  were  presented, 
with  total  receipts  of  nearly  $25,000.  Mr.  John  W.  Ogden 
is  the  present  manager,  having  been  connected  with  the 
house  for  several  seasons. 

The  house  draws  a  large  patronage  from  the  neighboring 
towns,  and  an  established  attraction  is  always  sure  of  a  laro-e 
attendance. 

In  referrinir  to  the  business  houses  of  the  city  no  effort 
is  made  to  give  a  director}'  of  all  who  are  engaged  in  the 
dirTerent  branches  of  trade,  but  simply  to   make   mention   of 


250  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

some  of  the  representative  firms,  or  individuals,   who   have 
been  a  long  time  in  business. 

GENTS'    FURNISHINGS. 

Daniel  Cross,  the  veteran  merchant  tailor,  is  also  the 
senior  merchant  in  active  business  in  Fitchburg,  at  the 
present  time.  Mr.  Cross  was  born  in  Swanzey,  Cheshire 
county,  N.  II.  ;  served  his  apprenticeship  in  Keene,  N.  H.  ; 
came  to  Fitchburg  in  1833,  and  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness in  a  small  building,  where  the  city  hall  now  stands. 

The  following-named  merchants  were  in  business  at 
that  time  :  Kimball  &  Farwell  kept  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries ;  E.  F.  Bunnell  kept  a  dry  goods  store  on  the  corner 
of  Central  and  Main  streets,  now  occupied  by  E.  M.  Read. 
In  the  same  building  was  a  jewelry  store,  kept  by  Silas  H. 
Goodnow. 

Mr.  Cross  remained  in  his  first  location  only  about  a 
year ;  after  this,  for  about  eight  years,  he  carried  on  business 
in  a  two-story  building,  over  Kimball  &  Farvvell's  store, 
which  building  is  now  the  two  lower  stories  of  the  present 
Sentinel  office.  From  there  he  moved  across  the  street,  into 
Heywood  &  Comee's  block,  where  John  F.  Bruce  now  is, 
remaining  there  for  about  thirty  years,  when  he  removed  to 
his  present  quarters  in  Stiles'  block. 

Henry  A.  Goodrich,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  H. 
A.  Goodrich  &  Co.,  commenced  to  sell  gentlemen's  furnish- 
ing goods  in  1855.  F°r  fifteen  years  his  familiar  sign  was 
over  the  door  of  the  store  now  occupied  by  J.  C.  Sanborn, 
under  the  Fitchburg  hotel.  In  1867  he  removed  to  quarters 
in  Belding  &  Dickinson's  block,  and  in  1885  moved  into  the 
new  building  erected  by  Mr.  E.  M.  Dickinson.  Among  the 
many  clerks  and  salesmen  who  have  graduated  at  Mr.  Good- 
rich's establishment  may  be  mentioned  E.  H.  Spencer,  the 
hatter,  in  Central  block ;  J.  R.  Wood,  now  furnishing  sales- 
man in  Chicago,  111.  ;  A.  J.  Litchfield,  afterward  with  Farns- 
worth  Bros.,  now  Litchfield   &  Stebbins  ;    E.  B.  Sears,  now 


!{Y,\^W€tl/l£^L 


COMMERCIAL. 


251 


in  the  fur  business,  on  Sumner  street,  Boston  ;  Robert 
Brooks,  head  salesman  with  Max  Stadler  &  Co.,  New  York; 
H.  E.  Taylor,  late  United  States  Revenue  Collector  at  Brat- 
tleboro,  Vt.  :  Charles  Smith,  now  bank  cashier  in  Minne- 
apolis ;  Elijah  Stebbins,  Jr.,  of  Litchfield  &  Stebbins  ;  L.  A. 
Smith,  salesman  for  J.  J.  Rav,  Boston  ;  Foster  E.  Beaman, 
book-keeper  at  Hook  &  Hastings' organ  factory,  Boston.  E. 
Stebbins,  Jr.,  was  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Goodrich  eleven 
years;  F.  E.  Beaman,  as  partner  and  salesman,  thirteen 
years,  and  W.  L.  Humes,  now  the    junior  partner,  has  been 


INTERIOR    OF    H.    A.    GOODRICH    &    CO.  S    STORE. 

with  him  most  of  the  time  for  twelve  years  past.  The  other 
leading  gents'  furnishing  houses,  in  the  order  of  their  estab- 
lishment are,  E.  H.  Spencer,  Farnsworth  Bros.,  Albee  & 
Lyons,  Edward  Connor,  Litchfield  &  Stebbins,  U.  E.  Cleve- 
land, the  Globe  Clothing  Store,  and  H.  E.  Goodere. 

DRY   GOODS. 


James  F.   Stiles   commenced  the  dry   and  fancy  goods 
business  in  1845,  and  is  now  the  senior  in  that   branch.       He 


252 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


is  a   native  of  Cavendish,   Vt.,    and   came   to  Fitchburg   in 
March,    1841,    and  entered  the  employ  of   T.  C.  Caldwell, 

who  kept  a  country  store. 
He  remained  with  Mr.  Cald- 
well three  years,  when  he 
started  in  business  for  him- 
self, in  the  room  now  occu- 
pied by  R.  R.  Conn  as  a 
jewelry  store,  in  the  build- 
ing- known  as  the  Torrey  & 
Wood  block.  After  two 
years  he  removed  to  where 
Warren  Upton's  market  now 
is,  then  across  the  street  to 
what  is  now  the  Emory  mar- 
ket, under  the  Calvinistic 
church  ;  here  he  remained 
for  some  ten  years,  remov- 
stiles'  block.  jng  to  Central  block,  where 

he  remained  until   he  built  the  Stiles  block,  in   1875,  moving 
into  his  present  store  on  the  first  of  January, 1876. 

L.  Sprague  &  Co.  established  their  business  in  1851. 
The  members  of  the  firm  are  Leander  Sprague  and  F.  H. 
Colburn. 


A.  B.  Sherman  started  in  business  in  Fitchburg,  Feb. 
15,  1855,  in  the  building  one  door  below  his  present  location, 
the  Rollstone  Bank  building,  into  which  he  moved  as  soon 
as  it  was  completed,  February,  1870. 

The  L.  J.  Brown  Store,  for  several  years  past  the 
leading  dry  goods  house,  is  now  owned  and  managed  by 
Nichols  &  Frost,  the  individual  members  of  the  firm  being 
F.  I.  Nichols  and  W.  A.  Frost.  It  has  been  under  the 
management  of  the  present  firm  since  Oct.  1,  1884. 

Luther  J.  Brown,  the  founder  of  the  establishment,  was 
born    at    Eden,  Vt.,    Dec.  31,  1827,  and    was    the    oldest    of 


COMMERCIAL.  2.">."> 

three  children  of  Luther  H.  and  Bersheba  (Shattuck) 
Brown.  He  was  educated  at  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
at  an  academy  at  Johnson.  Yt.,  and  at  Appleton  Academy, 
New  Ipswich.  His  first  experience  in  mercantile  business 
was  at  Eden,  Vt. ,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
and  grocery  business  with  his  father.  He  soon  after  went  to 
Hyde  Park  in  the  employ  of  Noyes  Bros.,  who  kept  a  large 
country  store:  afterwards  to  Manchester,  N.  H.,  where  he 
was  employed  in  a  mill.  When  twenty-three  years  of  age 
he  went  to  Boston,  and  was  employed  for  several  years  by 
Brett  &  Ellis,  at  that  time  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  dry 
goods  on  Federal  street.  In  1853  the  firm  placed  him  in 
charge  of  a  branch  store  at  Xatick,  where  he  remained  about 
a  year.  Mr.  Brown  came  to  Fitchburg  in  August,  1855,  and 
soon  after  formed  a  partnership  in  the  dry  goods  trade  with 
A.  B.  Sherman,  which  continued  nearly  three  years.  The 
firm  of  Sherman  &  Brown  occupied  the  store  next  to  the 
Rollstone  Bank  block.  He  married  Jan.  13,  1856,  Miss 
Sarah  P.  Harding  of  East  Medway,  who  was  a  most  efficient 
helpmate  in  building  up  his  large  business.  In  i860  Mr. 
Brown  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles  Kimball  of  Haver- 
hill under  the  firm  name  of  Kimball  &  Brown,  which  con- 
tinued about  a  year  and  a  half,  at  the  store  which  Mr.  Brown 
afterward  occupied,  but  which  was  very  much  enlarged. 

In  April,  1862,  Mr.  Brown  commenced  business  for  him- 
self, and  his  energy  and  business  tact  soon  developed  a  large 
and  thriving  trade.  In  1865  his  increasing  business  required 
a  large  addition  to  his  store,  and  five  extensions  were  made, 
at  various  times,  till  two  large  stores  in  front  were  occupied 
and  the  space  between  Main  and  Crescent  streets  mainly  de- 
voted to  mercantile  purposes. 

Mr.  Brown  commenced  with  dry  goods  and  cloak-mak- 
ing, but  dressmaking  was  added.  In  1882  the  carpet 
department  was  established,  and  the  milliner}'  parlor  a  year 
later.  Mr.  Brown  leased  the  store  for  several  years,  but  ac- 
quired the  propertv  by  purchase.  The  store  front  has  been 
rebuilt  twice  since  he  owned  the  block.  In  1882  the  tasteful 
brown   stone   front  was   erected,   making   it  one   ot   the   finest 


254 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


blocks  in  the  city.  In  addition  to  this  he  also  had  a  branch 
store  at  Shelburne  Falls  for  three  years.  Mr.  Brown  was 
thoroughly  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  city  and  made  invest- 
ments where  they  would  increase  its  prosperity.  He  was  a 
director  in  the  Wachusett  National  Bank  from  its  organiza- 
tion in  1875,  vice-president  of  the  Worcester  North  Savings 
Institution  and  trustee  from  the  time  the  bank  was  incorpo- 
rated, president  of  the  Wachusett  Electric  Light  Company 
from  its  organization.  He  was  also  a  vestry-man  of  Christ 
church,  and  a  member  of  Jerusalem  Commandery,  Knights 
Templar,    a    prominent  Odd   Fellow    and    first  president   of 

the  Old  Ladies'  Home. 
pr  Mr.  Brown  represented 
5L  the  city  in  the  legisla- 
|T  ture  in  1878  and  79, 
g,  serving  on  the  impor- 
?J  tant  committee  on  fi- 
nance. 

His  active     interest 
in   whatever    tended  to 
=    promote  the  growth  of 
1    the  city  and  his  willing- 
ness to  aid  worthy  ob- 
■n    jects,  and   his    business 
'    capacity,    made    him  a 
^rf    most    valuable    citizen, 
while  his  social  qualities 
^P    made     for     him     many 
the  l.  j.  brown  block.  warm  personal  friends. 

His  hall  was  freely  open  to  meetings,  whether  political, 
religious,  or  in  the  interests  of  temperance.  For  several 
years  he  furnished  the  hall,  warmed  and  lighted,  for  meetings 
of  the  Railroad  Men's  Christian  Association. 

The  death  of  no  citizen  could  have  produced  a  profounder 
sensation  ;  his  had  been  a  busy  and  a  useful  life  and  his  loss 
was  deeply  felt  in  this  city  where  the  best  part  of  his  life  was 
spent.  On  the  day  of  his  funeral  the  city  was  draped  in 
mourning  :  the  stores  and  post-office  were  closed  and  business 


COMMERCIAL.  255 

was  generally  suspended  throughout  the  city.  Business  men 
very  generally  expressed  the  universal  sorrow  at  the  loss  the 
community  had  sustained,  by  placing  the  emblems  of  mourn- 
ing in  their  windows.  The  dry  goods,  millinery  and  clothing 
stores  were  most  prominent  in  this  public  expression  of  feel- 
ing, recognizing  in  Mr.  Brown,  an  active  but  honorable  rival 
in  his  department  of  trade,  whose  energy  and  skill  had 
brought  trade  to  counters  other  than  his  own. 

Among  the  later  dry  goods  establishments  may  be  men- 
tioned :  E.  G.  Stowe's,  M.  W.  Fitz  &  Co.,  Boston 
Store,  L.  U.  Hammond,  Girard  &  Irish,  E.  J.  Moore  & 
Co. 

GROCERIES. 

The  grocery  store  of  Warren  S.  Harris  was  estab- 
lished by  T.  C.  Caldwell  in  1835  5  tnat  °f  S.  D.  Baldwin 
by  J.  Baldwin  in  1837.  The  store  of  H.J.  Lacey  in  West 
Fitchburg,  known  as  the  "old  Baldwin  store,"  has  also  been 
long  established.  H.  A.  Hatch  &  Co.,  are  the  oldest  es- 
tablished grocerymen  now  in  active  business.  The  senior 
member  of  this  firm,  H.  A.  Hatch,  has  been  in  the  business 
since  1844.  He  m'st  started  in  the  old  Rollstone  block,  in 
that  portion  now  occupied  by  George  H.  Chapman  as  a  shoe 
store.  In  1870  he  built  Hatch's  block,  at  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Prichard  streets,  a  portion  of  which  the  firm  has  since 
occupied.  Of  the  thirty  or  more  now  engaged  in  this  line  of 
business  the  following  have  been  the  longest  established : 
W.  P.  Guy,  C.  A.  Cross,  (wholesale,)  J.  A.  &  E.  A.  Jos- 
lin,  Josiah  Spaulding,  John  F.  Bruce,  Daniel  Boyle, 
M.  N.  Benjamin,  John  D.  Morrill,  G.  II.  &  T.  Cutler, 
Hiram  A.  Goodrich,  Charles  R.  Conn  and  E.  M'.  Read. 
Cobb's  Boston  Branch,  A.  L.  Williams  &  Co.  proprietors, 
although  more  recently  established,  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  city. 

MEAT   AND    PROVISIONS. 

The  oldest  meat  and  provision  house  in  the  citv  is  that  of 
the  Lowe  Brothers,  which  was  established  by  John  Lowe, 


256  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

whose  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  town  of 
Fitchburg,  and  whose  father  was  David  Lowe.  Of  this  large 
family  only  four  sons  are  now  living,  two  worthy  citizens  of 
their  native  city,  one  in  Michigan,  and  one  in  California, 
while  one  died  at  the  close  of  the  war,  having  served  three 
years'  time  in  the  army.  John,  the  eldest  of  these  boys,  by 
his  early  marriage,  was  brought  into  connection  with  A.  & 
O.  W.  Mead,  now  wealthy  commission  dealers  in  Boston, 
but  then  neither  of  the  three  had  any  capital. 

They  suggested  that  he  should  ride  through  the  country 
in  this  vicinity  and  buy  whatever  produce  he  could  find  for 
sale  among  the  farmers,  and  they  would  sell,  and  divide  the 
profits.  The  business  suited  him  ;  the  rapid  drives  about  the 
country,  the  meeting  with  all  classes  of  men,  developed  his 
powerful  will  and  wonderful  perseverance,  which  were  con- 
trolled by  strict  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose. 

He  soon  conceived  the  idea  of  supplying  his  own  towns- 
people. Like  all  new  ventures,  the  idea  was  ridiculed  and 
opposed  ;  but  believing  in  the  law  of  supply  and  demand,  he 
pushed  on,  and  soon  had  a  market  established  in  Guy's 
block.  Leaving  his  brother  in  charge,  he  moved  his  family 
to  Rindge.  For  the  next  few  years  he  could  not  be  said  to 
live  anywhere,  for  his  days  were  spent  between  scouring 
Cheshire  county  for  supplies  and  looking  after  the  store  here, 
sending  his  supplies  to  Boston,  and  spending  most  of  his 
nights  in  driving  from  one  place  to  the  other.  His  brother 
leaving  for  the  West,  Mr.  Lowe  bought  a  place  and  removed 
his  family  to  Fitchburg  again. 

In  the  financial  crisis  of  '57  he  lost  all  he  had.  It  was  a 
crushing  blow.  So  many  years  gone,  and  nothing  left  but 
an  honest  name  and  what  the  "law  allowed."  Meeting  W. 
C.  Emory  one  day,  they  talked  over  the  situation.  Putting 
their  money  together — between  seven  and  eight  dollars — Mr. 
Lowe  said  :  ffI  will  go  and  buy  something  and  you  may  sell 
it."  Then  came  the  reward  of  honest  dealing.  It  was  won- 
derful how  the  farmers,  with  whom  he  had  dealt,  sustained 
and  trusted  him.  The  business  steadily  increased,  he  sup- 
plying most  of  the  markets  with  dressed  beef  at  wholesale, 


COMMERCIAL. 


257 


the  amount  of  which  was  many  thousands  annually  during 
and  since  the  war.  He  was  always  his  own  cashier  and 
book-keeper,  carrying  every  account  with  him  in  a  pass-book 
(or  memorandum).  Having  established  a  flourishing  and 
successful  business  he  sold  out  the  same  in  favor  of  his  sons, 
whose  long  training  as  "helps"  had  fitted  them  to  be  worthy 
successors  of  the  father.  They  had  greatly  increased  the 
business,  having  added  the  manufacture  of  pork  products, 
when  a  disastrous  fire  occurred,  completely  destroying  all 
their  works,  and  as  such  supplies  can  be  obtained  direct  from 
Chicago  it  is  not  likely  that  they  will  soon  be  rebuilt. 

FURNITURE    DEALERS. 

Eugene  W.  Willis  is  proprietor  of  the  oldest  furni- 
ture house,  which  was  established  by  his  father,  S.  D.  Willis, 
who  commenced  the  manufacture  of  coffins  and  mattresses  in 
1845,  occupying,  for  thirty  years,  the  store  adjoining  the 
present  National  house,  at  first  alone  and  later  with  his  son, 
Eugene.  His  health  failing  he  retired  to  a  farm  among  the 
New  Hampshire  mountains,  but,  with  health  restored,  he  re- 
turned to  the  furniture  business,  at  306  Main  street,  with  his 
son  and  grand-son. 


Martin  Webber,  a  resident  of  Fitchburg  for  twenty-four 

years,  has  been  engaged 
in  the  furniture  business  in 
his  present  location,  221 
Main  street,  for  the  past 
eleven  years.  Mr.  Web- 
ber is  a  cabinet-maker  bv 
trade,  and  was  employed 
by  F.  A.  Beckwith.  man- 
ufacturer of  doors,  sash 
and  blinds,  for  eleven 
years,  previous  to  pur- 
chasing his  present  busi- 
ness of  R.  I.  Lawton. 


258  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Fitchburg  Furniture  Company. — (Mr.  C.  M.  Par- 
ker) succeeded  J.  K.  P.  Wood,  in  the  retail  furniture 
business,  335  Main  street,  in  1884.  Mr.  Parker  had  been, 
however,  for  a  long  time,  connected  with  the  furniture 
business  as  a  manufacturer.  He  was  born  in  Merrimac, 
N.  H.,  in  1835,  where  he  commenced  manufacturing.  In 
1880  he  removed  to  Fitchburg  and  has  since  conducted 
the  business,  under  the  name  of  Parker  &  Co.  The 
manufactory  is  located  in  Newton  Place,  comprising  a  fac- 
tory, with  engine  and  boiler-house  adjoining.  Employment 
is  given  to  about  forty  hands,  nearly  all  skilled  workmen, 
and  the  product  includes  house  and  office  desks,  secretaries, 
hall  stands,  etc.,  in  mahogany,  walnut,  cherry,  oak  and 
other  popular  woods  now  in  use.  Mr.  Parker  is  a  member 
of  the  New  England  Furniture  Exchange.  Upon  coming  to 
Fitchburg  he  took  a  lively  interest  in  town  affairs  ;  was  rep- 
resentative to  the  legislature  for  two  years,  and  held  various 
offices  of  trust ;  has  served  the  city  in  the  common  council  ; 
is  a  director  of  the  Fitchburg  National  Bank,  and  a  trustee  of 
the  Fitchburg  Savings  Bank. 

Hartwell  &  Reed. — This  is  one  of  the  oldest  estab- 
lished marble  works  in  the  country.  Its  origin  dates  back  to 
a  period  of  fifty-six  years  ago,  and  was  founded  by  Mr. 
Isaac  Hartwell,  and  conducted  by  him  alone,  until  1848, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  George  Reed, 
under  the  style  of  Hartwell  &  Reed.  Mr.  Hartwell  has 
since  died,  and  the  surviving  partner  is  now  the  proprietor. 

T.  S.  Blood  is  the  oldest  established  dentist.  He  was 
born  in  Sterling,  June  23,  1810;  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Worcester,  in  1837,  and  afterwards  moved  to 
New  York  City;  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1840;  since  1852 
has  occupied  his  present  office. 

Thomas  Palmer  began  the  practice  of  dentistry  in 
Fitchburg  in  1844.  For  the  past  fifteen  years  his  son, 
Joseph  W.  Palmer,  has  been  associated  with  him  in  business, 
under  the  name  of  Palmer  &  Palmer. 


COMMERCIAL. 


259 


J.    C.   Moulton    is  the    oldest    established  photographer 
in  the  city,  having  been  in  business  here  since  184S. 

R.  R.  Conn,  watchmaker  and  jeweller,  is  the  oldest  in 
his  line  of  business,  commencing  Aug.  24,  1855. 

W.  A.  Macurda,  apothecary,  began  business  in  1868. 


PROCTOR  S  BLOCK 


EMORY  S  BLOCK. 


The  following  are  also  seniors  in  their  respective  lines 
of  business:  Charles  Mason,  insurance;  S.  A.  Childs,  real 
estate;  J.  F.  D.  Garfield  (Garfield  &  Proctor),  coal;  F.  A. 
Beckwith,  lumber  ;  G.  B.  Knowlton,  hardware  ;  Baker  Bros., 
booksellers  and  stationery  ;  George  H.  Chapman,  boots  and 
shoes;  S.  G.  Frost,  harness  maker;  Peter  B.  Howard,  hair 
dresser. 


Charles  G.  Giles,  referred  to  in  the  post-office  sketch  as 
M.  Giles,  died  of  paralysis  at  Westminster,  Dec.  3,  1887,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG. 


The  first  printing-office  and 
newspaper  in  Fitchburg  was  estab- 
lished in  October,  1830,  by  J.  E. 
Whitcomb  &  Co.  It  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  no  files  of  the  early 
volumes  of  papers  printed  here 
have  been  preserved,  and  that  only 
a  few  scattering  numbers  are  now 
to  be  found  as  memorials  of  the  in- 
troduction of  printing  into  the 
town. 

Jonathan  E.  Whitcomb  was  a  son  of  John  Whitcomb,  a 
farmer  then  living  in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  Young 
Whitcomb  had  served  a  year  at  the  printing  business  in 
Greenfield,  and  in  the  fall  of  1828  went  to  Boston,  where, 
after  working  a  year,  he  purchased  a  small  office  and  com- 
menced the  business  there.  In  the  autumn  of  1830,  being 
then  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  moved  his  office  to 
Fitchburg,  and,  in  connection  with  John  Page,  started  the 
Fitchburg  Gazette,  the  first  number  of  which  was  issued  on 
or  about  the  19th  of  October.  Mr.  Page  was  a  son  of  Enoch 
C.  Page,  of  Lunenburg,  and  had  served  his  apprenticeship 
to  the  printing  business  in  the  office  of  Col.  Edmund  dishing 
of  that  town.  He  was  younger  than  his  partner,  Whitcomb, 
being    at  that  time  only  twenty  years  of  age. 

The  size  of  the  Gazette  was  what  was  called  super-royal 
(about  22  by  28  inches).     The  paper  was  manufactured  \>y 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCIIBURG. 


2(U 


Mr.  Alvah  Crocker,  at  his  mill  at  West  Fitchburg.  The 
first  number  was  issued  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  sub- 
scribers,— the  price  being  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  year, 
or  a  dollar  and  twenty-five  if  paid  in  advance.  The  printing- 
office  was  in  a  wooden  building  just  below  the  entrance  to 
the    Fitchburg    Hotel.      The    driveway   to   the   hotel   stables 


FITCHBURG    HOTEL    AND    PRINTING-OFFICE. 


passed  through  between  the  printing-office  and  the  hotel  en- 
trance, the  dance  hall  of  the  hotel  being  over  the  driveway, 
and  connecting  the  two  buildings.  The  second  story  was 
used  for  the  newspaper,  and  the  lower  for  printing  Bibles 
from  stereotype  plates,  for  Col.  Edmund  Cushing,  of  Lunen- 
burg, and  for  a  small  circulating  library  and  book-store. 

In  March,  1831,  only  four  months  after  the  first  issue  of 
the  Gazette,  Mr.  Page  left  the  firm,  and  Whitcomb  carried 
on  the  paper  till  December  following,  when  he  sold  a  half 
interest  to  Beniah  Cooke,  then  principal  of  the  academy. 
The  firm  of  Whitcomb  &  Cooke  continued  as  publishers  till 
March,  1832,  when  Whitcomb  disposed  of  his  remaining  in- 
terest to  Cooke,  but  continued  to  edit  the  Gazette  till  Septem- 
ber following,  when  he  left  town  and  the  paper  was  edited 
for  three  months  by  Nathaniel  Wood,  Esq.  Whitcomb's  last 
issues  were  decidedly  outspoken  in  opposition  to  the  princi- 
ples and  policy  of  the  Jackson  administration.  During  the 
political  campaign  of  1832  the  Gazette,   under  Mr.  Wood's 


262  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

editorial  care,  supported  Levi  Lincoln  for  Governor  of  Mas- 
sachusetts and  Henry  Clay  for  the  presidency, — candidates 
of  the  "  National   Republican"  party. 

Among  the  local  advertisements  in  the  Gazette,  in  Au- 
gust, 1832,  were  the  following:  Cyrus  Thurston,  singing- 
school  ;  William  Torrey,  high  school ;  Marshall  &  Aber- 
crombie,  drugs  and  medicines  ;  Julian  &  Safford,  carriage 
and  harness  making  ;  M.  Sawyer,  Abel  Thurston  and  Cyrus 
Thurston,  assessors'  notice  ;  Elbridge  Wright  and  Horatio 
Fairbanks,  blacksmithing  ;  B.  Cooke,  book-store,  circulat- 
ing-library, book-binding  and  printing;  Fitchburg  Fusiliers' 
notice,  Rufus  C.  Torrey,  clerk  ;  Boston  and  Keene  line  of 
stages,  and  Fitchburg  and  Lowell  accommodation  stages. 

Just  before  Whitcomb  &  Page's  dissolution,  in  March, 
1831,  a  new  publication  appeared  from  the  Gazette  office, — a 
monthly  literary  magazine,  entitled  The  Album;  or,  A  Pan- 
acea for  Ennui.  The  first  number  bore  the  imprint  of  J.  E. 
Whitcomb  &  Co.,  publishers  ;  the  second  and  third  were  pub- 
lished by  John  Page  ;  but  Whitcomb  is  understood  to  have 
been  the  moving  spirit  in  the  enterprise.  He  was  the  editor, 
as  well  as  principal  contributor  to  its  pages,  and  after  the 
third  number  his  name  alone  appeared  in  connection  with  it. 
The  first  six  numbers  each  consisted  of  sixteen  octavo  pages, 
with  fancy  covers,  after  which  the  work  was  enlarged  to 
twenty-four,  and  premiums  were  offered  for  contributions, 
viz.  :  For  the  best  moral  tale,  a  set  of  Byron's  works,  in 
eight  volumes,  elegantly  bound  in  gilt ;  for  the  second  best, 
a  volume  of  the  Gazette  and  Album ;  for  the  third,  a  volume 
of  the  Album ; — each  tale  to  occupy  at  least  eight  printed 
pages.  The  Album  was  "devoted  to  the  cause  of  virtue  and 
refinement,"  "dedicated  to  lovers  of  light  reading,"  and  was 
to  be  "  furnished  to  subscribers  at  one  dollar  a  year  in  ad- 
vance." The  contents  were  largely  original,  and  manifested 
a  good  degree  of  ability  ;  but  the  experiment  proved  an  ex- 
pensive one,  and  the  publication  was  suspended  at  the  end 
of  nine  months. 

In  October,  1832,  the  name  of  the  Gazette  was  changed 
for  a  time  to  the  Fitchburg  Gazette  and    Weekly  Advertiser ; 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG.  2fi3 

and  the  heading  was  embellished  with  a  wood-cut  of  the 
printing-office  and  Fitchburg  Hotel — then  a  wooden  struc- 
ture ; — but  sometime  during  the  following  year  the  original 
heading  was  restored,  and  the  wood-cut  omitted.  The  sub- 
scription price  was  raised  to  two  dollars,  or  one  dollar  and 
fifty  cents  in  advance. 

The  Gazette  started  as  a  neutral  paper,  but  under  the  ed- 
itorial management  of  Mr.  Cooke,  took  an  active  part  in  the 
political  campaign  of  1833,  in  support  of  the  democratic  party. 
During  its  first  two  years  the  heading  of  its  editorial  column 
was  ornamented  by  the  cut  of  a  flying  angel — represented 
with  an  open  book  bearing  good  tidings  earthward — which 
by  a  stretch  of  imagination  might  be  taken  for  Mercury,  the 
messenger  of  the  gods.  The  cut  was  accompanied  by  the 
Shakspearean  quotation, 

"I,  from  the  orient  to  the  drooping  west 
Making  the  wind  my  post-horse, 
Still  unfold  the  acts  commenced  on  this  ball  of  earth." 

Not  long  after  the  paper  took  its  political  stand  the  winged 
messenger  was  displaced  by  the  American  eagle,  and  Shak- 
speare  gave  way  to  the  famous  declaration  of  General  Jackson, 

"The  Union  !  it  must  be  preserved." 

In  January  or  February,  1834,  Mark  Miller  of  Peter- 
borough, N.  H.,  purchased  a  part  or  the  whole  of  Cooke's 
interest  in  the  Gazette,  and  continued  its  publication  as  a 
democratic  paper.  The  general  appearance  of  the  sheet  was 
changed  on  passing  into  Miller's  hands,  being  enlarged  by 
the  addition  of  a  column  on  each  page,  and  having  plain 
Roman  capitals  substituted  for  the  old  English  or  black  letter 
of  its  former  heading.  Mr.  Miller's  name  appeared  as  editor 
and  publisher,  but  Mr.  Cooke  retained,  wholly  or  in  part, 
the  ownership  of  the  printing-office. 

Within  three  months  after  Miller  assumed  the  editorial 
chair  the  publication  of  the  Gazette  was  discontinued,  having 
led  a  precarious  existence  of  three  and  a  half  years.  In  the 
Gazette  office  during  the  first  two  or  three  years  there  worked 
as  apprentices,  George  D.  Farwell,  son  of  Daniel   Farwell  of 


264  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Fitchburg,  John  Garfield,  who  was  afterwards  prominently 
identified  with  the  printing  business  in  the  town,  and  two 
brothers  by  the  name  of  Chapman.  One  of  the  latter  after- 
wards went  to  Indiana,  where  he  became  famous  in  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1840,  as  the  man  who  was  requested 
to  "crow." 

In  April  or  May  of  this  year  (1834)  Miller  and  Cooke 
separated.  Dividing  the  office,  Miller,  with  his  portion, 
moved  into  the  attic  of  the  building  opposite  the  Fitchburg 
Hotel,  now  owned  by  George  N.  Proctor,  where  he  com- 
menced the  publication  of  a  new  paper  entitled  the  Massa- 
chusetts Republican,*  the  first  number  bearing  date  the  16th 
of  May.  This  was  also  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  demo- 
cratic party.  In  size  and  general  appearance  the  Republi- 
can was  similar  to  the  Gazette,  being  printed  on  a  sheet 
22  by  31  inches,  and  having  six  columns  to  a  page.  The 
price  of  the  paper  was  a  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  year,  to 
which  twenty-five  cents  was  to  be  added  for  every  six  months 
delay. 

Miller  at  the  same  time  published  a  weekly  religious 
paper  called  The  Christian  Messenger,  edited  by  William 
Cushin"\  and  devoted  to  the  dissemination  of  the  doctrines  of 
the  Unitarian  denomination.  Mr.  Cushing  was  a  son  of  Col. 
Edmund  Cushing  of  Lunenburg,  and  was  at  the  time  princi- 
pal of  the  Fitchburg  academy.  The  Messenger  was  started 
in  April,  1834,  and  was  issued  in  octavo  form,  eight  double- 
column  pages  to  each  number ;  price  seventy-five  cents  a 
year.     The  heading  of  the  paper  was  ornamented  with   the 


*According  to  the  recollection  of  some  of  our  older  citizens  there  seems  to  have 
been  a  paper  printed  here  at  one  time  called  the  "Star;"  and  we  find  an  article  in 
the  daily  Sentinel,  in  its  first  issue,  May  6,  1873,  which  states  (on  the  authority  of 
the  late  Charles  H.  B.  Snow,  Esq.,)  that  the  Fitchburg  Gazette  was  bought  out  and 
converted  into  a  democratic  weekly  called  the  "  National  Republican  and  Worcester 
County  Star."  This  statement  tallies  with  an  item  in  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  of  May 
28,  1834,  referring  to  the  Worcester  County  Republican,  then  just  started,  as  an  ad- 
vocate of  whig  principles,  which  adds — "  In  this  respect  it  contrasts  favorably  with 
the  leetle  tory  Star  that  twinkles  so  lugubriously  in  the  same  neighborhood."  Pos- 
sibly the  name  Worcester  County  Star  may  have  been  an  appendage  to  the  title  of 
the  Republican  in  its  earliest  issues ;  but  if  so  its  name  was  very  soon  changed  to 
simply  "  Massachusetts  Republican.'" 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG.  2f>5 

cut  of  a  flying  angel,  bearing  in  one  hand  a  book  and 
in  the  other  a  scroll,  with  the  words,  "Behold  I  bring  you 
good  tidings — the  Everlasting  Gospel."  After  the  eighth 
number  the  name  of  William  Cushing  as  editor  disappeared, 
and  Rev.  Jonathan  Farr  of  Harvard  assumed  the  editorial 
charge.     The  Messenger  lived  less  than  three  months. 

After  dividing  with  Miller,  Mr.  Cooke  sold  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  Gazette  office  to  George  D.  Far  well,  who  had 
served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  office,  and  in  May,  1834, 
Farwell  printed  the  first  number  of  a  new  paper  called  the 
Worcester  County  Courier,  William  and  Rufus  C.  Torrey, 
editors  and  proprietors.  The  Courier  was  started  as  a  whig 
paper,  in  opposition  to  the  politics  of  the  Massachusetts  Re- 
publican; and  was  similar  in  size  and  general  appearance  to 
that  paper ;  was  published  weekly,  terms  two  dollars  per 
year,  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  if  paid  in  advance. 

At  this  time  there  were  three  papers  published  in  the 
town, — two  political  and  one  religious.  Of  course  the  three 
were  but  feebly  supported.  Up  to  this  time,  for  a  series  of 
years,  David  Brigham,  Esq.,  had  been  postmaster  of  the 
town  ;  but  through  the  influence  of  political  friends  Mr.  Mil- 
ler obtained  the  appointment  to  the  post-office,  with  the 
reasonable  expectation,  no  doubt,  that  the  income  therefrom 
would  materially  aid  in  the  support  of  his  paper.  But  finan- 
cial difficulties  were  already  upon  him,  and  he  very  soon 
resigned  his  position  as  postmaster  and  left  the  town — under 
a  cloud.  With  his  departure,  the  Massachusetts  Republican 
came  to  an  untimely  end,  leaving  the  Courier  the  sole  sur- 
vivor of  the  field.  The  career  of  the  Republican  covered  a 
period  of  not  far  from  six  months,  Miller's  appointment  to  the 
post  office  having  occurred  in  September  or  October. 

The  Worcester  County  Courier  was  continued  two  full 
years,  to  June  28,  1836,  when  its  suspension  was  announced. 
At  this  time  the  paper  was  conducted  by  George  D.  Farwell 
as  publisher  and  proprietor,  Mr.  William  Torrey,  one  of  the 
former  editors,  having  died  a  year  previously,  June  12,  1835, 
while  the  name  of  his  associate,  Mr.  R.  C.  Torrey,  had  also 
disappeared  as  editor,  he  having  succeeded  William  Cushing 
as  principal  of  the  academy. 


266  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

The  suspension  of  the  Courier  was  but  for  a  single  week, 
the  office  being  then  purchased  by  Mr.  John  Garfield,  who 
resumed  its  publication  as  a  neutral  paper.  It  was  reduced 
in  size  to  2  2  by  28  inches,  having  five  columns  to  the 
page  instead  of  six,  but  was  improved  in  its  general  appear- 
ance. The  name  was  changed  to  Fitchburg  Worcester 
County  Courier,  the  old  English,  or  black  letter,  dis- 
placed the  plain  Roman  capitals  in  the  title,  and  the  price 
was  reduced  to  $1.25,  in  advance.  One  year  later  the 
name  of  the  paper  was  made  to  read  simply  The  Courier, 
and  under  it,  as  a  motto,  were  the  words  "free  discussion." 

Soon  after  purchasing  the  Courier  Mr.  Garfield  em- 
ployed Mr.  Wm.  S.  Wilder  as  editor,  and  under  his  manage- 
ment the  paper  was  continued  till  the  winter  of  1838,  when, 
during  the  absence  of  Mr.  Garfield,  the  editor  changed  the 
character  of  the  paper  from  a  neutral  to  a  democratic  sheet. 
Party  feeling  was  running  high  at  the  time,  and  the  two 
political  parties  were  about  evenly  balanced.  Mr.  Wilder's 
course  in  running  up  political  colors,  created  a  sensation, 
and  resulted  in  a  suspension  of  the  Courier,  the  final  issue 
being  under  date  of  March  9,  1838.  In  announcing  the 
suspension  Mr.  Wilder  says  : — 

"We  are  no  less  convinced  than  ever  that  a  paper  might 
and  ought  to  be  well  supported  in  this  place,  yet  such  are 
the  sectional  party  feelings  that  we  despair  of  seeing  it 
done,  unless  some  one  can  be  found  to  conduct  it  who  is 
more  capable  of  the  task  than  ourself.        *  We  know 

that  some  felt  to  regret  that  a  political  stand  was  taken.  We 
appreciate  their  motives  but  do  not  admit  the  justness  of 
their  reasoning.  We  believed  that  the  times  loudly  called 
for    political    decision    and    political    action.  We 

believed  that  the  means  which  were  used  to  secure  the 
re-election  of  Governor  Everett,  by  representing  him  as 
favorable  to  the  views  of  the  abolitionists,  were  basely  hypo- 
critical ;  and  the  circumstances  of  some  special  efforts  to 
this  effect  served  to  hasten  our  departure  from  neutral 
ground." 

The  suspension  of  the  Courier  was  immediately  followed 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG.  2f)7 

by  the  appearance,  from  the  same  office,  of  a  small  sheet, 
half  the  size  of  the  Courier,  called  The  Times.  This 
appears  to  have  been  designed  chiefly  as  an  advertising 
medium,  and  was  printed  by  Garfield  for  Mr.  Wilder,  though 
no  name  appears  as  publisher  or  editor.  For  want  of  patron- 
age the  Times  was  discontinued  after  two  or  three  months, 
and  for  a  period  of  four  or  rive  months  no  paper  was  pub- 
lished in  the  town — Mr.  Garfield,  in  the  meantime,  continu- 
ing the  business  of  job  printing. 

On  the  twentieth  of  December,  1838,  the  first  number  of 
the  Fitchburg  Sentinel  made  its  appearance — J.  Garfield, 
printer,  Ezra  W.  Reed,  editor, — neutral  in  politics. 

With  the  starting  of  the  Sentinel  a  new  era  commenced 
in  the  journalism  of  Fitchburg.  The  paper  was  destined  to 
live  and  become  one  of  the  established  institutions  of  the 
town.  In  its  initial  number  the  intention  was  announced 
of  making  it  a  family  newspaper,  "devoted  to  the  interests  of 
the  farmer,  the  mechanic  and  the  manufacturer,  and  also  to 
the  interests  of  the  common  schools."  At  first  the  size  of 
the  sheet  was  19  by  26  inches,  but  at  the  end  of  two 
months  it  was  enlarged  to  20  by  28,  and  otherwise  improved 
in  appearance;  the  price  was  $1.25  per  year,  in  advance, 
or,  if  payment  was  delayed,  "twelve-and-a-half  cents  to  be 
added  at  the  end  of  every  three  months."  Mr.  Reed  con- 
tinued to  edit  the  paper  about  one  year  when,  owing  to  fail- 
ing health,  he  gave  up  the  position.      He  died  Jan.  9,  1840. 

During  the  first  two  or  three  years  the  columns  of  the 
Sentinel  were  enlivened  by  frequent  contributions,  both  of 
prose  and  poetry,  from  a  coterie  of  local  contributors,  some 
of  whom  developed  decided  literary  talent.  Among  the 
more  prominent  of  these  writers  were — Henry  C.  Whitman, 
then  a  law  student  with  Torrey  &  Wood — afterwards  judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  who  wrote  a  series  of  articles 
on  education,  over  the  nom-de-plume  of  " '  Publius ;"  Franklin 
Reed,  a  brother  of  the  editor,  who  wrote  on  moral,  historical 
and  society  matters,  over  the  initials  " T.  JV.  T.:"  Miss 
Louisa  Beckwith,  later  Mrs.  Leander  P.  Comee,  whose 
poetical    contributions    were    signed    "Louisa ;"    William   C. 


268  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Elleck,  a  harness  maker,  later  editor  of  the  "Cold  Water 
Cup,"''  who  wrote  under  the  nom-de-plume  of  " Conrad ,'" 
one  Patterson,  an  operative  at  the  Fitchburg  woolen  mill, 
whose  articles,  both  poetry  and  prose,  were  over  the  signa- 
ture of  "Syfihax;"  and  a  young  man  by  the  name  of 
Augustine  Joseph  Hickey,  then  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
— an  apprentice  in  the  Sentinel  office — whose  contributions 
bore  the  pseudonym  of  "yulian."  It  was  during  this  period 
that  a  spicy  controversy  arose  between  the  three  writers  last 
named,  in  which  the  articles  of  "yulian"  (whose  identity 
was  unknown  to  either  of  the  other  two,  and,  in  fact,  to  any- 
body save  one  or  two  confidential  friends,)  were  wrongly 
attributed  to  different  individuals  of  professional  or  classical 
education,  and  were  least  of  all  supposed  to  come  from  the 
printer's  devil.  After  leaving  Fitchburg  Hickey  assumed 
the  name  of  Duganne,  and  became  well  knowm  in  literary 
circles  as  an  author  and  poet. 

The  Sentinel  prospered  and  continued  to  be  published  by 
Mr.  Garfield  till  March,  1841,  when  William  J.  Merriam 
purchased  the  office  and  continued  the  paper.  In  January, 
previous  to  Mr.  Merriam's  purchase,  William  S.  Wilder 
again  took  the  editorial  chair,  "with  a  full  assurance  that  the 
management  of  a  neutral  paper  is  a  task  replete  with  diffi- 
culties and  trials."  He  retained  the  position  during  the 
year,  but  in  January,  1842,  Mr.  Merriam  assumed  the  entire 
management.  The  paper  was  now  enlarged  to  21  by  30 
inches,  and  a  new  engraved  heading  of  fancy  letters  super- 
seded the  plain  Roman  capitals  which  had  been  in  use  from 
the  first. 

The  town  had  now  taken  a  start,  and  was  fast  increasing 
in  population  and  importance.  The  subject  of  railroad  com- 
munication with  Boston  was  beginning  to  be  agitated.  The 
first  public  meeting  to  consider  this  subject  was  held  at  the 
town  hall  on  the  evening  of  Nov.  12,  1841,  pursuant  to  a 
notice  in  the  Sentinel  of  the  nth.  The  Sentinel  columns 
were  freely  opened  for  the  discussion  and  furtherance  of  the 
project.  The  railroad  was  completed  from  Boston  to  Fitch- 
burg in  February,  1845,  and  opened  for  use  on  the  5th  of  the 
following  month. 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG. 


269 


The  paper  was  again  enlarged  in  August,  1845,  to  24  by 
34  inches,  by  adding  a  column  to  each  page.  The  suppres- 
sion of  the  liquor  traffic  and  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of 
temperance  in  the  town  was  then  agitating  the  public  mind. 
The  Sentinel  took  strong  ground  in  favor  of  legal  measures 
against  the  traffic,  and  its  editor,  by  this  means,  brought 
upon  himself  the  wrath  of  the  dealers,  one  of  whom  threat- 
ened to  publicly  horsewhip  him  for  articles  published  con- 
cerning liquor  prosecutions  in  which  he,  the  dealer,  was 
defendant. 

About  the  time  the  Sentinel  was  started  the  printing  office 
was  moved  to  the  second  story  of  a  wooden  building,  a  little 
to  the  rear  of  the  old  office — about  in  the  present  driveway 
to  the  hotel  stables.  Its  entrance  was  through  an  alley,  and 
by  a  flight  of  outside  stairs,  between  the  old  office  and  the 
present  Emory  House.  The  room  vacated  was  used  for 
years  afterwards  as  a  lodge  room  by  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
In  February,  1849,  the  office  was  moved  into  the  present 
Sentinel  building,  then  owned  by  Crocker  &  Caldwell.  Pre- 
paratory to  re-build- 
ing the  hotel,  in 
1850,  the  old  office 
building's  were  re- 
moved,  the  Gazette 
building  to  the  lot 
now  known  as  Mon- 
ument square,  where 
it  was  fitted  up  for 
tenements.  It  was 
afterwards  removed 
to  Oliver  street,  cor- 
ner of  Adams,  and  is  now  owned  by  Marraton  Upton.  The 
old  Sentinel  building  was  moved  to  Central  street,  between 
Brook  and  Vine,  where  it  still  stands. 

In  December,  1850,  Mr.  Merriam  sold  out  to  Elisha  and 
John  Garfield.  The  Sentinel  now  appeared  with  new  type, 
the  heading  was  changed  to  a  text,  or  old  English  shaded 
letter,  and    the    amount    of  reading  matter  was  considerably 


270  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

increased.  About  this  time  the  project  of  a  new  county, 
with  Fitchburg  as  a  shire  town,  was  being  pushed,  and  the 
Sentinel  entered  into  the  discussion  with  a  lively  interest  in 
its  favor.  In  September,  1852,  J.  F.  D.  Garfield  bought 
John  Garfield's  interest,  and  in  connection  with  his  brother, 
Elisha,  continued  the  business  eight  years,  to  October,  i860. 
At  the  commencement  of  1853  the  paper  appeared  in  a  new 
dress  ;  it  was  somewhat  enlarged,  and  had  seven  columns  to 
a  page  instead  of  six.  From  October,  i860,  through  the 
war  period,  the  Sentinel  was  conducted  by  Elisha  Garfield 
alone.  In  April,  1864,  John  Garfield  again  became  a  half- 
owner,  and  in  September,  1865,  sole  owner  of  the  establish- 
ment. Mr.  James  M.  Blanchard  became  a  partner  with 
him,  from  April,  1866,  to  March,  1867,  when  Mr.  Charles 
C.  Stratton  succeeded  Mr.  Blanchard  as  partner.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1870,  Mr.  Bourne  Spooner  took  a  third  interest  in  the 
concern,  and  the  style  of  the  firm  was  Garfield,  Stratton  & 
Co.,  until  January,  1871,  when  Mr.  Garfield  sold  his  interest 
to  Messrs.  Stratton  &  Spooner.  In  March,  1873,  Mr.  John 
E.  Kellogg  was  admitted  a  joint  partner,  the  new  firm 
taking  the  name  of  The  Sentinel  Printing  Company.  In 
July,  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Spooner  withdrew,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Hale  of  Keene,  N.  H.,  a  former  editor  of  the  Keene 
Sentinel,  purchased  Spooner's  interest  and  became  associ- 
ated with  Messrs.  Stratton  &  Kellogg  in  the  editorial  man- 
agement. Two  years  later  Mr.  Hale  retired  from  the  firm, 
and  from  that  time  to  the  present,  Messrs.  Stratton  &  Kellogg 
have  constituted  The  Sentinel  Printing  Company,  and  had 
the  entire  management  of  the  paper.  In  May,  1873,  the 
Fitchburg  Daily  Sentinel  was  started,  the  first  number  being 
issued  May  6.  It  was  an  evening  paper,  in  size  21  by  30 
inches.  The  Daily  Sentinel  has  been  well  conducted,  and 
has  continued  vigorous  and  healthy  to  the  present  time.  In 
October,  1881,  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  23  by  35,  and 
again  in  September,  1885,  to  25  by  39,  and  in  October,  1886, 
to  27  by  44  inches,  both  the  daily  and  weekly  being  now 
of  the  same  size.  At  different  periods  in  its  history  the  col- 
umns of  the  Sentinel  have  had  the  benefit  of  valuable  editorial 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG.  271 

services  from  different  individuals,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  Hon.  Joseph  W.  Mansur,  William  B.  Town  and 
Charles  H.  B.  Snow,  Esqs.,  and  Col.  E.  P.  Loring. 

In  February,  1842,  a  small  sheet,  13  by  20  inches,  was 
started,  christened  the  Cold  Water  Cup  and  Fitchburg 
Washingtonian.  It  was  issued  weekly,  devoted  to  the  cause 
of  temperance,  edited  by  William  C.  Elleck,  and  printed 
and  published,  at  the  office  of  the  Sentinel,  by  W.  J.  Mer- 
riam.  With  the  twelfth  number  the  Cold  Water  Cup  was 
discontinued,  and  its  list  of  subscribers  transferred  to  the 
Waterfall,  a  similar  sheet  then  recently  started  at  Worcester. 

In  January,  1845,  a  new  paper  called  The  Wachuseit  In- 
dependent was  started  by  William  S.  Wilder  and  E.  R.  Wil- 
kins.  Wilder  was  formerly  editor  of  the  Courier,  and  for 
one  year  edited  the  Sentinel.  Wilkins  was  a  printer.  The 
paper  was  devoted  to  the  "working-men's  cause,  genuine  de- 
mocracy, anti-slavery,"  etc.,  published  weekly,  terms  $1.25 
per  year.  The  office  was  at  first  located  in  the  attic  of 
Snow's  building,  opposite  the  Fitchburg  Hotel,  now  owned 
by  G.  N.  Proctor  ;  but  was  soon  moved  to  the' building  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Laurel  streets,  now  known  as  the  Citi- 
zens House.  This  was  the  first  printing-office  in  that  part  of 
the  village  then  known  as  the  "old  city."  The  Independant 
was  discontinued  at  the  end  of  six  months,  and  its  subscrip- 
tion list  transferred  to  the  Sentinel. 

The  Voice  of  Industry,  a  weekly  paper  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  labor,  was  started  May  29,  1845,  "by  an  association 
of  working-men  ;"  W.  F.  Young,  editor;  terms,  one  dollar  in 
advance;  the  size  of  the  sheet  being  21  by«28  inches.  The 
printing-office  was  opposite  the  Fitchburg  Hotel,  in  the  quar- 
ters vacated  by  the  Waehuseti  Independant .  As  stated  un- 
der its  editorial  head,  the  Voice  professed  to  "labor  for  the 
abolition  of  idleness,  want  and  oppression — the  prevalence 
of  industry,  virtue  and  intelligence."  The  editor  was  a 
harness  maker  by  trade,  had  practiced  the  profession  of  a 
dentist,  and  could  do  a  "good  job"  at  either;  as  demonstrated 
by  his  labors,  daily,  while  carrying  on  his  editorial  work. 

The  shares  in  the   Voice  "association"  were  placed  at  five 


272  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

dollars  each,  and  a  goodly  number  of  working  men  were  in- 
duced to  invest  in  the  enterprise  ;  but  when  the  original  in- 
vestment was  exhausted,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  assess 
the  shares,  there  was  trouble  in  the  camp.  The  Voice  con- 
tinued to  be  published  here  five  or  six  months,  and  was  then 
transferred  to  Lowell,  where  its  publication  was  continued 
for  a  time. 

In  February,  1847,  a  paper  called  the  Fitchburg  Tribune 
made  its  appearance  from  a  printing-office  located  in  Roll- 
stone  block;  George  A.  White,  publisher  and  proprietor. 
The  size  of  the  sheet  was  23  by  34  inches,  published  weekly, 
at  $2.00  a  year.  It  was  well  printed  and  its  editorials  well 
written,  but  it  failed  to  receive  the  patronage  necessary  to 
become  firmly  established,  and  was  discontinued  in  May  fol- 
lowing its  first  appearance.  Its  editorial  department  was  for 
a  while  in  charge  of  Charles  C.  Haswell,  Esq.,  of  Concord, 
an  experienced  journalist,  though  his  name  did  not  appear. 

In  January,  1852,  The  Fitchburg  IVezvs,  a  weekly  paper, 
made  its  appearance.  Its  size  was  23  by  34  inches,  price 
$1.25  a  year  in  advance,  and  was  printed  in  Rollstone  block, 
the  former  office  of  the  Tribune.  The  News  was  edited  and 
published  by  Dr.  Charles  Robinson,  afterwards  Governor  of 
Kansas,  and  was  at  first  announced  as  "neutral  in  politics 
and  religion  ;"  but  its  editor  was  a  man  too  decided  and  posi- 
tive in  his  ideas  to  remain  long  on  neutral  ground,  and  the 
paper  soon  took  a  stand  in  support  of  the  Free  Soil  party. 
It  was  spicy  in  its  criticisms  and  newsy  in  its  treatment  of 
local  affairs.  Dr.  Robinson  continued  the  publication  of  the 
Nezvs  one  year,  to  January,  1853,  when  he  sold  out  to  Rol- 
lins &  Knowlton,  publishers  of  the  Winchendon  Itfirror, 
which  latter  paper  was  discontinued.  Under  its  new  man- 
agement, the  News  took  a  rapid  decline,  and  in  June  follow- 
ing, it  died  a  natural  death. 

The  Fitchburg  Reveille,  the  first  number  of  which  ap- 
peared March  30,  1852,  was  a  political  paper,  established  to 
advocate  the  principles  and  policy  of  the  old  whig  party.  It 
was  published  semi-weekly,  on  a  sheet  23  by  33  inches,  the 
terms  being  $3.00  a  year  in  advance.      Mr.  John  J.   Piper 


JOURNALISM    IN    F1TCHBURG.  273 

was  the  editor  and  proprietor,  and  the  offiee  was  in  Central 
block,  (third  story.)  next  west  of  the  city  hall.  Mr.  Piper 
was  not  a  practical  printer,  but  had  had  experience  as  a 
newspaper  editor  and  manager  previous  to  his  coming  to 
Fitchburg,  having  been  for  some  years  connected  with  the 
Semi-weekly  JVe-ws,  published  at  Gloucester,  Mass.  He 
conducted  the  Reveille  with  marked  ability,  during  a  period 
of  nearly  seventeen  years,  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  3d  of  February,  1869.  An  interesting  sketch 
of  his  life  appeared  in  the  Reveille  of  the  nth  of  that  month. 
Mr.  Piper  was  a  fluent  and  forcible  writer,  and  at  times 
tipped  his  pen  with  a  raciness  and  keenness  of  satire  that 
caused  his  paper  to  be  frequently  quoted,  and  made  his 
columns  the  field  for  many  a  sharp  skirmish  with  political 
opponents. 

In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1856,  the  Reveille  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  republican  party,  advocated  the  elec- 
tion of  Fremont,  and  was  thereafter  a  staunch  advocate  of 
the  principles  of  that  party.  The  paper  was  enlarged  in 
April,  1859,  to  24  by-  36  inches,  and  continued  to  be  issued 
as  a  semi-weekly  till  October,  1S61,  when  it  was  changed  to 
a  weeklv,  and  the  price  made  $2.00,  or  $1.75  in  advance. 
In  October,  1866,  it  was  further  enlarged  to  26  by  38  inches, 
and  again  in  April,  1869,  to  27  by  41  inches,  having  eight 
columns  to  the  page.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Piper,  in  1869, 
his  brothers,  Joseph  L.  and  Henry  F.  Piper,  continued  the 
publication  of  the  Reveille,  and  soon  removed  the  office  to 
Rollstone  Bank  building.  J.  L.  Piper  retired  from  the 
concern  in  May,  1874,  anc^  tne  paper  was  conducted  by 
Henry  F.  Piper  alone  till  Frank  L.  Boutelle  became  a  part- 
ner with  him  in  May,  1875. 

On  November  24,  1875,  Piper  &  Boutelle  started  a  new 
daily  paper  in  connection  with  the  /Reveille,  entitled  the 
Fitchburg  Daily  Press.  It  was  an  evening  paper,  in  size 
21  by  31  inches,  and  was  announced  as  a  campaign  paper  to 
discuss  the  issues  of  the  then  pending  municipal  election.  It 
favored  the  election  of  H.  A.  Blood  for  mayor,  who  was 
elected.  The  Press  was  continued  after  the  election  till  Au- 
18 


274  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

gust  following,  when  the  firm  of  Piper  &  Boutelle  disap- 
peared as  publishers  of  the  Reveille,  and  the  Daily  Press 
dropped  out  of  existence. 

The  suspension  of  the  Press  was  immediately  followed 
by  a  new  daily  from  the  same  office,  called  the  Fitchburg 
Evening  Chronicle,  the  first  number  appearing  August  ioth, 
with  the  name  of  Mr.  Ezra  S.  Stearns  as  editor  and  mana- 
ger. The  Chronicle  was  republican  in  politics,  was  neatly 
printed  on  new  type,  and  ably  edited  ;  but  the  enterprise  was 
started  during  a  period  of  general  business  prostration,  and 
the  time  had  not  fully  come  for  two  daily  papers  to  be  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  in  the  place.  Soon  after  the  Chronicle 
was  started,  the  printing  and  publication  offices  were  re- 
moved from  Rollstone  Bank  building  to  Rollstone  Block, 
over  the  office  of  Norcross  &  Hartwell.  Here  the  two  pa- 
pers, the  Reveille  and  Chronicle,  were  continued  to  Febru- 
ary 15,  1877,  when  they  were  both  merged  in  the  weekly 
and  daily  Sentinel.  Thus  closed  the  career  of  the  Reveille, 
which  had  had  an  existence  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
occupied  a  prominent  position  in  the  journalism  of  Fitchburg. 
Mr.  J.  J.  Piper,  its  founder,  had  at  the  time  of  his  death 
wielded  the  pen  of  a  skilled  journalist  for  a  longer  period  in 
the  town  than  any  other  person. 

In  January,  1881,  Mr.  William  M.  Sargent  commenced 
the  publication  of  a  weekly  paper  called  The  Fitchburg 
Tribune.  It  was  a  good  looking  sheet,  26  by  40  inches, 
and  was  issued  from  an  office  in  Goodrich  block,  Day  street, 
at  $1.50  per  year.  In  March,  following,  a  Daily  Evening 
Tribune  was  started  from  the  same  office,  on  a  sheet  18  by 
25  inches.  It  was  a  penny  paper,  the  yearly  price  being 
three  dollars.  In  the  summer  of  1881,  the  Evening  Tribune 
was  enlarged  to  22  by  30  inches,  the  price  remaining  the 
same  as  before.  In  July,  1882,  Mr.  Sargent  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  the  Tribune  to  J.  W.  Ellam  of  Clinton,  who  con- 
tinued it,  daily  and  weekly.  In  April,  1883,  Mr.  Ellam 
retired,  and  the  name  of  E.  A.  Norris  appeared  as  "mana- 
ger." In  September,  1884,  Albert  G.  Morse  became  the 
publisher,  and  continued  the  paper  to  February,  1885,  when 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG.  275 

the  daily  was  discontinued  and  the  weekly  Tribune  became 
the  Fitchburg  Weekly  News.  A.  G.  Morse  was  the  printer, 
and  J.  II.  White  business  manager.  The  News  was  issued 
in  quarto  form,  on  a  sheet  26  by  40  inches.  In  May,  1885, 
Mr.  White  became  the  publisher,  and  continued  the  News  to 
February,  1886,  when  he  changed  the  name  to  the  Monthly 
Visitor.  The  Visitor  has  continued  to  the  present  time,  un- 
der the  same  management ;  the  name,  however,  having  been 
changed  to  Ladies'  Home   Visitor. 

The  Fitchburg  Enterprise  was  started  in  December, 
1880,  by  Thomas  C.  Blood.  It  has  been  published  three  to 
live  times  a  year,  is  a  well  patronized  advertising  sheet,  and 
still  lives.  Each  number  contains  some  original  as  well  as 
some  selected  reading  matter  of  interest. 

The  United  States  Monthly,  a  sixteen  page  paper,  de- 
voted to  the  cause  of  temperance,  good  health,  right  living, 
intelligence  and  industry,  and  advocating  especially  prohibi- 
tory measures  against  the  liquor  traffic,  was  started  in  June, 
1885,  by  H.  C.  Bartlett;  price,  50  cents  a  year.  It  is  a 
neatly  printed  and  well  conducted  paper,  the  size  of  the 
pages  11  by  14  inches,  and  has  continued  to  the  present 
time,  doing  valiant  service  in  the  cause  of  temperance  and 
prohibition.  In  February,  1887,  the  price  was  reduced  to  25 
cents  a  year,  the  size  remaining  the  same. 

The  Beacon  Light,  organ  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  is  a  small  eight  page  paper,  published  monthlv. 
Its  first  issue  was  in  September,  1887.  The  Parish  Helper 
is  a  neat  little  monthly  published  in  the  interest  of  the  parish 
of  Christ  Church.      It  was  started  in  October,,  1887. 

A  sixteen  page  monthly  entitled  Good  Luck  has  recently 
made  its  appearance.  It  is  largely  devoted  to  advertising. 
Millard  F.  Jones  is  manager,  at  155  Main  street. 

In  looking  back  over  the  period  of  journalism  noticed,  we 
find  the  way  strewn  with  the  wrecks  of  numerous  enterprises 
that  were  from  time  to  time  launched  upon  the  waters, 
weathered  the  breakers  for  a  brief  season,  and  passed  to  the 
inevitable. 

In  1854  a  Dr.  R.  Parker  came  to  Fitchburg  and  offered 


27(i  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

his  professional  services  to  the  citizens.  In  August  of  that 
year  he  commenced  the  publication  of  a  monthly  paper 
called  the  Fitchburg  Homoeopathic  'Journal.  It  proposed  to 
treat  of  the  medical  science  of  homoeopathy  "and  many  other 
things  of  importance  to  every  family,  whether  they  believed 
in  homceopathy  or  not."  It  was  in  octavo  form  and  lived 
three  months. 

In  October,  1854,  a  smaU  sheet  appeared  entitled  The 
Fitchburg  Daily,  printed  and  published  by  Plaisted  &  Bax- 
ter, at  the  office  in  Rollstone  block.  This  was  the  first  at- 
tempt to  start  a  daily  paper  in  Fitchburg.  Its  size  was  18 
by  24  inches  ;  in  politics  it  inclined  strongly  to  native  Ameri- 
canism ;  and  it  survived  just  three  days.  Wm.  A.  Plaisted 
and  John  Baxter  had  been  printers  at  the  Sentinel  office,  but 
the  editor  was  an  adventurer  who  represented  himself  to  be  a 
doctor,  and  as  having  funds  enough  to  "stand  it"  should  the 
paper  not  pay  for  the  first  few  months.  The  fact  was  he  had 
little  if  any  money,  but  obtained  credit  more  than  he  de- 
served, and  very  suddenly  decamped,  leaving  his  printers  to 
explain  in  a  parting  editorial,  that  "the  human  heart  is  de- 
ceitful above  all  things  and  desperately  wicked." 

In  May,  1855,  the  Country  Journal,  a  literary  paper  for 
the  home  and  fireside  made  its  appearance  from  the  office  of 
the  Fitchburg  Reveille,  J.  J.  Piper,  editor  and  publisher.  It 
was  a  large,  handsome,  well  printed  sheet,  issued  weekly, 
— made  up  largely  of  original  contributions  by  well  known 
writers  of  ability,  whose  services  had  been  engaged  for  the 
purpose, — and  bid  fair  to  become  a  most  desirable  family 
paper :  but  it  failed  to  receive  sufficient  encouragement,  and 
lived  but  three  months. 

In  1857  a  small  sheet  appeared  called  The  Inkstand.  It 
was  published  monthly  as  an  advertising  sheet,  by  "Captain 
Sidnev,"  at  the  furniture  store  of  Sidney  D.  Willis,  and  run 
from  March  to  October.  It  was  a  combination  of  comicali- 
ties and  quaint  conceits,  characteristic  of  its  editor.  It  was 
well  patronized  and  at  the  end  of  two  months  had  to  be  en- 
larged, and  was  re-christened  Inkstand  and  Reporter.  It 
was    the   pioneer  of  all    the   advertising  papers.      Of  its   two 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG.  277 

editions  monthly,  the  first  was  on  sale  at  "one  cent  a  copy," 
while  the  second,  a  week  later,  was  distributed  gratuitously. 

In  November,  1869,  Rev.  George  Trask  published  the 
first  number  of  The  Anti-Tobacco  yournal.  It  was  octavo 
in  form,  with  24  to  48  pages  to  a  number,  and  was  issued 
quarterly  and  as  much  oftener  as  funds  came  in  to  enable 
him  to  do  it.  It  professed  to  be  the  organ  of  the  "one  man 
society"  in  the  anti-tobacco  crusade,  and  was  filled  with 
spicy,  pungent  and  readable  matter  in  the  editor's  own  pecu- 
liar style,  against  the  "use  of  the  weed  in  all  its  forms."  It 
was  never  issued  very  regularly,  but  was  kept  up  at  inter- 
vals for  twelve  or  fifteen  years.  The  first  few  vears  the 
printing  was  clone  in  Boston  ;  but  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
time  it  was  printed  at  the  Fitchburg  Reveille  office. 

In  December,  1865,  the  Rolhtonc  Mirror,  a  sheet  20  by 
25  inches,  started  off'  with  a  flourish  as  a  weekly  local  paper 
from  an  office  in  Washington  block.  It  was  too  spicy  to  last, 
and  only  survived  a  few  weeks.  No  names  of  printer  or 
publisher  given. 

In  June,  1881,  a  new  illustrated  paper  appeared  called  the 
Church  and  Home,  published  monthly  at  West  Fitchburg,  at 
30  cents  a  year.  It  was  edited  by  Rev.  F.  T.  Pomerov, 
then  pastor  of  the  West  Fitchburg  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  each  number  consisting  of  eight  or  ten  pages,  11  by 
16  inches.  It  was  continued  through  the  year  and  disap- 
peared. 

Among  the  many  advertising  sheets  of  greater  or  less 
pretension,  that  have  run  for  a  brief  season  and  then  gone 
"the  way  of  all  the  earth,"  may  be  mentioned  the  Trade 
yournal  issued  monthly,  in  1867,  by  L.  J.  Brown  ;  the  Wel- 
come Visitor,  in  1872,  by  O.  H.  Perry  and  M.  T.  Doten  ; 
the  Pioneer  Pictorial  Advertiser,  in  1872,  by  J.  E.  Man- 
ning ;  The  Railway  Globe,  started  in  1874,  issued  monthly 
for  distribution  in  the  railway  trains  :  Charles  B.  Dennis  and 
Charles  E.  Kirbv  were  the  publishers  as  late  as  1878  and 
'79;  the  Fitchburg  Monthly  Gazette,  started  in  April,  1879, 
by  L.  J.  Brown,  C.  E.  Kirby  manager,  continued  a  year  or 
two;   the    Commercial  Advertiser,   started   April,    1879,   and 


278  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

published  monthly  by  John  W.  Ogden,  was  continued  eigh- 
teen months. 

Some  amusing  amateur  papers  have  been  issued  from 
time  to  time  :  The  Pioneer  by  Charles  Shepley  in  1841  ;  The 
Old  Bachelor  in  1842  ;  The  Mt.  Rolhtone  Star  in  1848,  all 
by  boys  in  the  Sentinel  office  ;  The  Manifesto  in  1850,  by 
the  "Junto,"  at  the  office  in  Rollstone  block. 

The  pioneers  in  journalism,  whose  names  are  associated 
with  the  papers  here  during  the  first  twenty  years,  have  near- 
ly all  gone  to  their  reward.  William  dishing  still  remains 
doing  good  service  to  literature  at  his  home  in  Cambridge. 

J.  E.  Whitcomb  left  Fitchburg  in  1832,  changed  his 
name  to  James  E.  Wharton,  and  located  in  Wheeling,  Va., 
where  for  some  twenty  years  he  successfully  conducted  the 
Wheeling  Gazette  and  Times.  He  removed  to  Ohio  about 
1856,  and  for  a  year  or  two  published  the  Massillon  Nezvs  ; 
and  in  1859  started  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  a  new  paper  called 
the  Brooklyn  Daily  Transcript.  He  was  born  Sept.  2, 
1809,  and  died  in  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  November  2,  1881,  at 
the  age  of  seventy -two,  leaving  a  son  who  is  a  physician,  and 
a  daughter. 

John  Page  went  to  Norwich,  Conn., in  1832,  and  started  a 
new  paper  called  the  Independent  Republican.  He  spent 
the  last  years  of  his  life  in  New  York  working  at  his  trade  as 
compositor;  and  died  there  in  October,  1856,  at  the  age  of 
forty-six  years.  A  letter  in  the  Fitchburg  Sentinel  of  Aug. 
31,  i860,  gives  some  interesting  particulars  of  his  history. 

Benaiah  Cook  wenttoKeene,  N.  H.,  where  he  published 
for  some  years  the  Cheshire  County  Republican,  and  about 
1846  started  The  Philanthropist,  and  in  1850,  the  American 
Nezvs,  both  temperance  and  anti-slavery  papers.  The  latter 
paper  he  conducted  to  the  time  of  his  death,  August  8,  1852, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-one. 

Mark    Miller    went    to    Albany  in    the  autumn  of   1834, 

where    he  engaged   in  wood  and  copper  engraving,    which 

occupation    he    followed    in   that  city  and  at    Rochester    till 

1848,  when  he  removed  to  Racine,  Wis.,  and  published  the 

Wisconsin  Farmer  till   1854.     In  1862  he  removed  to  Des- 


JOURNALISM    IN    FITCHBURG.  279 

moines,  and  started  the  Homestead,  which  he  edited  till 
1870;  then  he  established  the  Western  Pomologist  which  he 
continued  till  his  death,  April  9,  1874,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four.  He  was  a  clear  and  fluent  writer,  was  thoroughly 
versed  in  the  practical  knowledge  of  horticulture,  and  being 
a  skilful  engraver  was  able  to  illustrate  as  well  as  write, 
which  gave  to   his  contributions  to  the  literature  of  horticul- 

o 

ture  especial  value. 

George  D.  Farwell,  Mr.  Cooke's  successor,  on  leaving 
Fitchburg  gave  up  printing  and  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  connection  with  steam-boating  on 
the  Mississippi  river.  He  died  at  St.  Louis,  Sept.  12,  1850, 
from  the  effects  of  cholera,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five. 

Rufus  C.  Torrey,  after  leaving  the  Courier,  turned  his  at- 
tention to  teaching,  and  while  thus  engaged  wrote  the  His- 
tory of  Fitchburg,  which  was  published  in  1836.  In  1S3S 
he  went  to  Alabama,  read  law  and  engaged  in  the  active 
practice  of  the  profession.  He  filled,  from  time  to  time, 
various  positions  of  honor  and  trust ;  was  state  senator,  state 
solicitor,  and  judge  of  the  county  court.  He  died  at  Clai- 
borne, Ala.,  Sept.  13,  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 

John  Garfield  came  to  Fitchburg  in  183 1.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Langdon,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  born  April  10,  1815, 
and   died  in   this  city  August  19,   1885,   aged  seventy  years. 

William  S.  Wilder,  after  retiring  from  editorial  labor, 
was  for  a  time  assistant  postmaster  of  Fitchburg.  He  left 
here  in  1846,  and  thenceforward  was  largely  engaged  in 
mission  work  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  died  there,  April 
18,  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

William  J.  Merriam,  after  disposing  of  the  Sentinel,  turned 
his  attention  to  the  law  ;  but  after  a  few  years  gave  up  that 
profession  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued till  his  death.  He  died  in  this  city,  October  7,  1887, 
at  the   age  of  seventy -two  years. 

The  facts  and  figures  in  the  foregoing  sketch  are  a  mere 
outline  of  journalism  in  Fitchburg.  It  remains  for  the  histo- 
rian to  clothe  these  bare  details  with  a  life  and  interest  which 
the  importance  of  the  subject  demands. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


N  the  history  of  Fitchburg  for  the  last  half-cen- 
tury there  are  those  who  have  been  identified 
with  the  manufacturing  and  other  business,  who 
have  not  been  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
pages.  Some  of  this  number  have  retired  from 
active  business,  while  others  are  not  now  living. 
Several  have  passed  away  during  the  present 
year. 


Colonel  Ivers  Phillips,  now  a  resident  of  Boulder, 
Colorado,  was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  manufact- 
uring and  other  business  interests  of  Fitchburg,  as  well  as 
the  railroad  interests  of  Worcester  county.  Both  of  his 
parents  were  natives  of  Fitchburg,  but  about  the  time  of  their 
marriage  moved  to  Ashburnham,  where  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  July,  1805,  their  son  Ivers  was  born.  At  the  age  of 
seven  years  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Fitchburg,  remain- 
ing until  1837,  when  he  removed  to  Worcester,  but  returned 
to  Fitchburg  in  1844. 

In  i860  he  once  more  made  Worcester  his  home,  giving 
up  business  there  in  1873  and  going  to  Colorado.  After 
spending  the  greater  part  of  nine  years  in  travel  he  built  a 
fine  residence  in  Boulder  and  settled  down,  probably  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Phillips  first  became  interested  in  the  manufacturing 
business  here  in  1844,  buying  two  mills  at  public  auction. 
These  he  operated  one  year,  in  company  with  A.  L.  Ackley, 


n^yis? 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  281 

when  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  stone  mill  to  Mr.  Ackley  and 
bought  the  latter's  interest  in  the  Rockville  Mill,  which  he 
continued  to  operate  until  the  flood  of  1850. 

During  the  six  years  previous  to  1850,  Mr.  Phillips  built 
two  mills,  with  stone  dams,  the  brick  house  now  occupied  by 
E.  D.  Works,  and  (with  one  or  two  unimportant  exceptions) 
all  the  houses  north  of  Mr.  Works'  on  both  sides  of  Phillips 
brook,  besides  several  other  houses. 

In  May,  1850,  a  reservoir  dam  in  Ashburnham  gave  way 
and  the  flood  came  rushing  down  through  the  valley,  carry- 
ing everything  before  it.  One  of  the  mills  recentlv  built, 
together  with  a  portion  of  the  dam,  was  made  a  total  wreck, 
and  the  other  mills  badly  damaged.  Mr.  Phillips'  Rockville 
Mill,  one  dwelling  house  and  store  were  totally  demolished. 
The  flood  came  so  suddenly  that  Mr.  Carter,  the  clerk  in  the 
store,  had  not  time  to  secure  the  money  in  the  drawer,  but 
seizing  the  books  upon  the  counter  "ran  for  dear  life.'' 
He  reached  the  door  none  to  soon,  for  the  books  were  swept 
from  his  arms  and  he  only  succeeded  in  saving  his  life  by 
springing  into  a  tree  and  remaining  until  the  flood  subsided. 

For  several  years  after  the  flood  Mr.  Phillips  continued  to 
invest  in  manufacturing  property,  buying,  building  or  sell- 
ing, but  did  not  confine  his  operations  to  that  alone.  As 
president  of  the  Hotel  Company  he  had  charge  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  present  Fitchburg  Hotel,  and  as  contractor  built 
the  present  city  hall ;  as  president  of  the  Fitchburg  & 
Worcester  Railroad  Co.,  took  down  the  four  wooden  bridges 
on  the  road  and  replaced  them  with  substantial  stone  arch 
bridges,  also  built  the  Old  Colony  freight  house  in  Fitch- 
burg. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  Mr.  Phillips  was  continu- 
ously employed  in  railroad  positions.  He  was  an  early 
advocate  of  the  Vermont  &  Massachusetts  railroad  and  a 
director,  also  a  director  of  the  Fitchburg  &  Worcester  rail- 
road and  the  second  president  of  the  board.  Subsequently 
he  was  a  director  and  president  of  the  Agricultural  railroad, 
now  a  part  of  the  Old  Colony,  and  also  of  the  Boston,  Barre, 
&  Gardner  railroad,  now  operated  by  the  Fitchburg  railroad. 


282  FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

Upon  taking  charge  of  the  Fitchburg  &  Worcester  railroad 
in  1849,  the  debts  of  the  corporation  amounted  to  more  than 
one-half  the  cost  of  the  road.  After  the  first  year  regular 
semi-annual  dividends  were  paid  and  when  Mr.  Phillips  left 
the  road  in  1866,  there  was  but  one  debt  outstanding  amount- 
ing  to  $2,000,  and  money  enough  in  the  treasury  to  pay  it. 

In  military  affairs  Mr.  Phillips  was  an  enthusiast.  In 
1827  he  was  commissioned  a  lieutenant,  in  1834  he  was 
colonel.  Declining  further  promotion,  he  resigned  May  26, 
1835,  having  been  an  officer  eight  years  and  not  yet  thirty 
years  of  age. 

In  1853  he  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  senate 
and  from  1862  to  1869  assessor  of  Internal  Revenue  of  the 
Eighth  Massachusetts  district,  also  for  several  years  a  trustee 
in  the  Fitchburg  Savings  Bank  and  a  director  in  the  Fitch- 
burg  National  Bank.  For  ten  years  past  he  has  been  a 
director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Boulder,  and  its  presi- 
dent for  a  portion  of  the  time. 

Stephen  Shepley,  son  of  Stephen  and  Amelia  Shattuck 
Shepley,  was  a  native  of  Shirley,  Mass.,  having  been  born 
in  the  south  part  of  that  town,  Dec.  29,  1818.  His  early 
ancestors  came  from  York,  England,  and  settled  in  Groton, 
Mass.  Of  one  branch  of  the  family,  Chief  Justice  Shepley 
of  Maine  was  a  distinguished  representative. 

Mr.  Shepley  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1844,  and  during  the 
winter  of  that  year  and  of  1S45  taught  school  in  the  brick 
school-house,  which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Blossom  and 
Crescent  streets.  Soon  after,  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  brother  Charles  Shepley,  in  a  wooden  building, 
nearly  opposite  the  Sentinel  office.  Here  they  kept  a  book- 
store and  also  took  charge  of  the  post-office.  In  1846  the 
firm  of  S.  &  C.  Shepley  moved  into  the  Torrey  &  Wood 
block  and  occupied  the  store  which  is  now  used  as  a  meat 
market.  Here  Mr.  Shepley  remained  till  187 1,  when  he 
moved  into  the  savings  bank  block,  then  just  completed. 

On  Jan.  15,  1848,  Charles  Shepley  (who  was  a  popular 
and    promising    young    man)    died,   and   Stephen    continued 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  283 

alone  until  1852,  when  he  sold  the  business;  but  the  next 
year  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Rodney  Wallace,  then  of 
Rindge,  N.  H.  They  bought  back  the  business  from  Mr. 
H.  R.  Phelps,  the  gentleman  to  whom  Mr.  Shepley  had  sold 
it,  and  opened  the  store  as  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in 
books,  stationery,  paper  and  paper  stock.  This  business 
was  a  successful  and  increasing  one.  Mr.  Shepley  and  Mr. 
Wallace  continued  in  partnership  for  twelve  years,  when 
they  dissolved,  Mr.  Shepley  taking  the  book  and  stationery 
business  and  Mr.  Wallace  that  of  paper  stock.  Afterwards 
Mr.  Shepley  took  as  partners,  successivelv,  Mr.  B.  W.  Eddy, 
Mr.  Henry  W.  Stearns  and  George  W.  Baker.  June  3, 
1879,  within  seven  months  of  his  death,  he  severed  his  con- 
nection with  the  store,  on  account  of  ill-health. 

In  1864,  in  company  with  Rodney  Wallace,  Benjamin 
Snow  and  S.  E.  Denton,  he  entered  into  the  business  of 
paper-making,  but  retired  from  it  in  about  a  year.  He  died 
Jan.  18,  1880,  of  heart  disease,  from  which  he  had  suffered 
for  some  years. 

Mr.  Shepley  was  an  active  business  man  and  was  pros- 
pered in  his  private  affairs  ;  but  not  only  in  business,  in  everv 
department  of  public  life  he  was  equally  active,  and  was 
honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  with  many  offices  of  trust. 
He  served  on  the  school  committee,  and  as  a  representative 
to  the  legislature  in  1853,  as  a  trustee  of  the  public  librarv, 
trustee  of  the  Fitchburg  Savings  Bank,  as  a  director  of  the 
Fitchburg  National  Bank,  as  a  member  of  the  State  Board 
of  Agriculture,  and  of  the  Massachusetts  Genealogical  and 
Historical  Society,  as  well  as  in  other  places  of  responsibilitv. 
He  took  great  interest  in  historical  subjects,  especially  in 
town  history,  and  many  valuable  facts  in  the  History  of 
Fitchburg  have  been  obtained  through  his  researches.  In 
1876  he  read  a  paper  on  John  Fitch,  in  the  town  hall  in 
Lunenburg,  which  was  carefully  prepared  and  very  valua- 
ble. In  agricultural  matters  he  also  took  great  interest,  and 
was  a  valued  member  of  the  Worcester  North  Agricultural 
Society.  He  added  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  meetings 
of  the  Fitchburg  Board  of  Trade  by  reading  papers   at  van- 


284  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

ous  times,  prepared  by  himself,  and  full  of  new  facts  and 
useful  information.  He  was  a  social,  genial,  practical  man, 
well  read  upon  almost  all  subjects,  and  a  most  agreeable 
acquaintance. 

Goldsmith  F.  Bailey  was  born  in  East  Westmoreland, 
N.  H.,  July  17,  1823.  When  he  was  three  years  old  his 
widowed  mother  removed  with  him  to  Fitchburg,  where  his 
early  education  was  obtained.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
began  an  apprenticeship  as  a  printer  in  the  office  of  the 
Bellows  Falls  Gazette^  of  which  paper  he  afterwards  became 
publisher.  In  1845  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  William  C.  Bradley  of  Westminster,  Vt.,  but  com- 
pleted it  in  the  office  of  Torrey  &  Wood  in  Fitchburg.  In 
the  year  1848  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  the  same 
year  he  became  a  partner  in  the  law  firm  of  N.  Wood  &  Co. 
In  1856  he  was  chosen  representative  from  Fitchburg  to  the 
legislature,  and  in  the  years,  1857  and  1859,  respectively,  he 
was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  where  he  served  first  as  a 
member  and  then  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee. 
Through  these  early  years  of  life  he  was  constantly  rising  in 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  in  the 
fall  of  i860  he  was  chosen  by  the  republicans  of  the  ninth 
congressional  district  to  represent  them  in  congress. 

Thus,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-seven,  he  found  himself 
on  the  threshold  of  an  apparently  brilliant  future,  with  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  lawyer,  a  legislator  and  a  citizen. 
But  now  it  was  that  he  found  himself  in  the  grasp  of  that 
fatal  disease,  consumption,  and  nothing  could  stay  its  prog- 
ress. He  visited  Florida  for  his  health,  and  returning,  took 
his  seat  in  congress  during  the  extra  session,  and  again  went 
to  Washington  in  December ;  but  was  soon  obliged  to  resign 
his  seat  and  return  to  his  home,  where  he  died  May  8,  1862. 

Mr.  Bailey  seems,  in  an  unusual  degree,  to  have  won  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
witty,  agreeable  companion  and  a  true-hearted,  generous 
man.  In  business  he  was  thorough,  in  thought  clear  and 
rapid,  with  almost  intuitive  perception  of  the  motives  of  men. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  285 

The  Boston  Advertiser  said  of  him  at  the  time  of  his  nomina- 
tion to  congress  : — 

"The  republican  convention  in  the  Ninth,  or  Worcester 
district,  yesterday  nominated  for  congress  Goldsmith  F. 
Bailey  of  Fitchburg.  This  is  a  strong  nomination.  We 
have  witnessed  with  pleasure  Mr.  Bailey's  course  in  active 
service  in  both  houses  of  the  legislature  ;  quiet  and  unob- 
trusive, he  has  made  his  influence  widely  felt.  Indefatigable 
in  the  committee  room,  with  a  mind  well  stored  with  the 
principles  of  law  and  of  justice,  in  debate  quick  to  appre- 
hend the  points  of  argument  on  all  sides,  impartial  in  form- 
ing his  own  opinion,  lucid  in  its  expression,  he  is  the  sort  of 
man  who  makes  the  most  useful  legislator."  Other  Boston 
and  Worcester  papers  spoke  of  the  nomination  in  a  similar 
vein. 

In  our  cemetery,  overlooking  the  village,  stands  a  plain 
marble  shaft,  erected  to  the  memory  of  Goldsmith  Fox 
Bailey  by  his  friends.  Upon  it  is  inscribed  the  Latin  word, 
resurgam  (I  shall  rise  again).  It  is  a  touching  tribute  to 
his  memory,  for  it  shows  that  the  instinctive,  consoling 
thought  of  his  friend  was  that  a  life  of  such  promise,  so  cut 
short,  must  be  rounded  out  and  completed  where  disease  and 
death  have  no  home  nor  abiding  place. 

C.  H.  B.  Snow,  son  of  Dr.  Peter  B.  Snow,  was  born 
Aug.  7,  1822.  A  native  of  Fitchburg,  as  was  his  father, 
and  here  he  spent  his  whole  life.  He  was  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College,  in  the  class  of  1844,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  1848,  having  studjed  with  Messrs. 
Wood  &  Torre)'.  For  several  years  he  was  a  law  partner 
with  Hon.  Amasa  Norcross,  but  for  the  last  eleven  years 
of  his  life  he  was  connected  in  business  with  Judge  T. 
K.  Ware,  under  the  firm  name  of  Messrs.  Ware  &  Snow. 
At  the  time  of  his  death,  Sept.  18,  1875,  he  was  state  senator 
from  this  district.  For  many  years  he  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  board  of  school  committee  and  board  of  trade, 
chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  public  library,  and 
clerk  of  the   vestry  of  Christ   church.      His  social  standing, 


28(5  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

his  gentlemanly  bearing,  his  courteous  and  affable  demeanor, 
all  combined  to  endear  him  to  his  fellow-townsmen,  beside  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances  throughout  the  state.  As  a 
lawyer  "he  was  learned,  sagacious,  faithful  and  honest ;  he 
won  and  retained  the  confidence  of  his  clients,  and  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  parties  to  whom  he  was  opposed.  In 
the  performance  of  his  various  duties,  both  private  and  offi- 
cial, in  his  native  city  and  in  the  senate  of  the  state,  he  was 
actuated  by  a  conscientious  regard  to  the  trusts  committed  to 
him,  uninfluenced  by  any  considerations  of  personal  benefits 
or  partisan  objects." 

Lewis  Hoppin  Bradford  was  a  lineal  descendant  of 
the  eighth  generation  of  Governor  William  Bradford,  who 
was  governor  of  Plymouth  colony  from  April,  162 1 — four 
months  after  the  landing  on  Plymouth  Rock — till  1633,  and 
whose  vigorous  treatment  of  the  "Indian  Question"  doubtless 
saved  the  infant  colony  from  extermination.  He  was  also 
a  lineal  descendant  of  the  second  Governor  Bradford,  son  of 
the  preceding  governor.  He  also  counted  among  his  an- 
cestors John  Alden,  the  "Scribe  of  Plymouth"  whom  all 
readers  of  Longfellow  recall  as  having  brought  the  "Court- 
ship of  Miles  Standish"  to  an  abrupt  termination. 

Deacon  Bradford's  later  ancestors  followed  Roger  Wil- 
liams to  Providence,  where  he  was  born  March  5,  1808.  He 
was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and 
while  a  young  man  was  in  the  wooden-ware  business  in 
Providence  and  New  York  city,  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Child,  Viall  &  Wood.  He  moved  to  Gardner  about  1845 
and  was  for  a  time  interested  in  the  South  Gardner  Chair 
Company.  He  was  also  interested  in  a  store  at  South 
Gardner  in  company  with  S.  W.  A.  Stevens  and  William 
Hogan.  He  served  on  the  board  of  selectmen  in  1848  and 
was  moderator  at  the  annual  town  meetings  in  1848  and  '49. 

When  the  Rollstone  Bank  was  organized  in  June,  1849, 
he  was  elected  a  director,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year 
he  was  chosen  the  first  cashier  and  resigned  the  position  of 
director — the  state  law  not  allowing  a  person  to  hold  both  of- 


»"^- 


Nathaniel  Wood.  Goldsmith  F.  Bailey.  Stephen  Shepley. 


C.    H.   B.  Snow. 


L.    H.   Bradford 


Charles  Mason. 


John   Lowe. 


George  Reed. 


Samuel  Burnap. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  287 

iices  at  the  same  time.  He  removed  to  Fitchburg  about  that 
time  and  was  cashier  till  December,  1856,  when  he  resigned 
to  engage  in  other  business.  In  1859  ne  was  again  elected 
director  and  held  the  office  till  his  death. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Fitchburg  Mutual  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company  June  29,  1847,  he  was  chosen  a  director  and 
has  been  re-elected  every  year  since  the  organization.  He 
was  elected  secretary  Sept.  25,  1869,  and  succeeded  the  late 
Nathaniel  Wood  as  president  and  treasurer  Oct.  22,  1873. 

Deacon  Bradford  was  early  interested  in  the  movement 
which  culminated  in  the  abolition  of  slavery,  and  in  1853  he, 
with  the  late  Stephen  Shepley,  represented  Fitchburg  in  the 
legislature. 

He  was  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  government  during 
the  war,  and,  though  too  old  to  enter  the  ranks,  his  time  and 
means  were  freely  given.  In  1862,  soon  after  the  battle  of 
Roanoke  Island,  he  and  the  late  Hale  W.  Page  were  sent  by 
the  town  to  look  after  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  Their 
mission  was  faithfully  and  successfully  accomplished,  and 
they  returned  north  with  a  number  of  disabled  soldiers, 
among  whom  was  Dr.  James  S.  Green,  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  2 1  st  Mass.  regiment,  who  was  lying  very  sick  near  Ilat- 
teras  Inlet.  Dea.  Bradford  rode  for  several  miles  in  a  heavy 
gale  to  rescue  Dr.  Green. 

For  several  years  before  becoming  secretary  of  the  insur- 
ance company  he  was  U.  S.  assistant  assessor  of  internal 
revenue  in  the  office  in  this  city.  He  was  president  of  the 
Worcester  North  Agricultural  Society  in  1S62  and  '63,  and 
secretary  of  the  same  society  in  1864,  '67,  '68  and  '69.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  this  city, 
and  has  been  a  deacon  since  May  5,  1865.  He  was  also 
clerk  of  the  Baptist  church  from  July  27,  i860,  to  Dec.  18, 
1883,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  for  fourteen  years  the 
church  treasurer,  and  treasurer  of  the  Wachusett  Baptist  As- 
sociation from  its  formation,  and  the  first  president  of  the 
Wachusett  Baptist  Sunday  School  Convention. 

He  has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  Baptist  Vineyard  Asso- 
ciation since  its  incorporation  Jan.  1,    1876,   and  was  one  of 


288  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

its  most  faithful  supporters.  He  was  also  treasurer  of  the 
Hospital  Cottages  for  Children  at  Baldwinsville,  and  has 
always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  its  work.  He  was  a  trustee 
of  the  public  library  from  April  9,  1866,  till  his  death,  Aug. 
23,  1887,  and  was  treasurer  of  the  board  most  of  the  time. 
He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Worcester  North  Savings  Insti- 
tution since  its  organization  in  1868,  and  was  secretary  of 
the  board  till  1880. 

Dea.  Bradford's  character  needs  no  eulogy.  Faithful  to 
every  trust,  honorable  and  kindly  in  all  his  relations  with 
others,  charitable  in  his  judgment  of  motives  and  acts,  cour- 
teous to  all,  he  attained  to  a  rounded  Christian  manhood  and 
leaves  the  record  of  an  irreproachable  life. 

Charles  Adams  Priest  was  the  third  child  of  Benjamin 
and  Nancy  Coolidge  Priest.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Hillsboro,  N.  H.,  May  3,  1832,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  fifty-five  years,  four  months  and  sixteen  days  old.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  town,  supplemented  by  a  short  course  at  the  Washing- 
ton and  Francestown  academies.  About  the  time  of  his 
majority,  he  engaged  in  trade  in  his  native  village.  In  1854 
he  married  Miss  Emily  Baily  of  Brookline,  N.  H.,  whose 
acquaintance  he  formed  while  at  school.  In  November, 
1865,  he  removed  to  Brookline,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  at  the  stand  of  his  deceased  father-in-law,  the  late 
Ensign  Baily.  He  remained  in  Brookline  until  February, 
1870. 

Mr.  Priest  came  to  Fitchburg  in  1870,  and  was  after- 
wards engaged  in  the  lumber  business  most  of  the  time.  He 
was  superintendent  for  the  Fitchburg  Lumber  Company  in 
1872  and  '73,  and  succeeded  the  company  at  the  yard  on 
Water  street  after  they  closed  business.  In  1878  he  leased 
the  works  on  Rollstone  street,  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Beckwith  Lumber  Company,  which  he  subsequently  pur- 
chased and  which  he  enlarged  and  improved.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  common  council  in  1879,  '^I>  ^2  anc^  '^3'  anc^ 
rendered  the  city  valuable  service  on  the  committees  on  high- 


UUL4 


<U£l. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  2S{) 

ways  and  city  property  the  first  two  years,  and  on  the 
committees  on  fire  department,  city  property  and  elections 
the  last  two  years. 

He  was  president  of  the  Worcester  North  Agricultural 
society  in  1885,  and  declined  a  re-election  on  account, of  im- 
paired health.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  been  Eminent  Commander  of  Jerusalem 
Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  in  1882,  '83  and  '84.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  Aleppo  Temple  of  the  Arabic  Order  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Priest  was  a  leading  democrat  and,  though  strong  in 
the  party  faith,  he  was  courteous  to  political  opponents  and 
had  the  respect  of  men  of  all  political  creeds.  He  was  the 
democratic  candidate  for  senator  in  1884  and  '85,  and  polled 
more  than  the  full  party  vote.  He  was  a  kind  and  consider- 
ate employer,  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  had  built  up 
a  prosperous  and  increasing  business. 


19 


CHAPTER  XV. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES. 

ITCHBURG  does  not  lack  earnest  and 
efficient  church  organizations  and  attractive 
houses  of  worship. 

The  First  Congregational  Church 
(Unitarian)  was  formed  Jan.  7,  1768. 
The  present  Unitarian  church  edifice  at  the 
head  of  the  upper  common  was  erected  in 
1837.  The  first  settled  minister,  Rev.  John 
y  Payson,  was  ordained  Jan.  27,  1768,  and 
remained  until  May,  1794.  His  successor.  Rev.  Samuel 
Worcester,  was  ordained  a  pastor  in  September,  1797.  Dur- 
ing the  interval  between  the  two  pastorates  the  pulpit  was 
supplied  by  Rev.  John  Kimball,  Rev.  John  Miles,  Rev.  Mr. 
Noyes  and  others.  Rev.  Samuel  Worcester's  relations  with 
the  church  were  dissolved  in  September,  1802. 

About  this  time  the  church  was  divided  into  two  societies 
and  the  parochial  powers  of  the  town  dissolved.  The  First 
Parish  held  the  church  property,  and  in  1804  ordained  the 
Rev.  William  Bascom  as  their  minister.  In  181 2  at  his  own 
request  the  parish  granted  Mr.  Bascom  a  dismissal  and  the 
societies  were  temporarily  re-united.  This  union  existed 
until  1823,  with  Rev.  William  Eaton  as  pastor  from  1815  to 
1823,  when  a  final  separation  took  place. 

Rev.  Calvin  Lincoln,  the  first  Unitarian  pastor,  was 
then  ordained  in  1824  and  remained  settled  over  the  parish 
until  1855  ;  Rev.  Horatio  Stebbins,  his  colleague,  from  1851 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES.  2!»1 

to  1854;  Rev.  William  P.  Tilden,  1855  to  1862;  Rev.  Jared 
M.  Heard,  1863  to  1864;  Rev.  Henry  F.  Jenks,  1867  to 
1870;  Rev.  Charles  W.  Emerson,  1871  to  1875  ;  Rev.  James 
T.  Hewes,  1875  to  1880;  Rev.  William  H.  Pierson,  from 
1 88 1  to  the  present  time. 

The  officers  of  the  church  and  Sunday  School  are  : 
Pastor,  Rev.  William  II .  Pierson  ;  moderator,  George  II. 
Spencer;  assessors,  Edwin  A.  Goodrieh,  John  F.  Bruce; 
Deacons,  A.  R.  Ordway,  T.  S.  Blood;  treasurer,  Joseph 
P.  Farnsworth  ;  sexton,  Nathan  C.  Upham  ;  organist,  A. 
S.  Belding.  Sabbath  school  held  in  the  vestry,  superintend- 
ent, Emory  A.  Hartwell. 

The  Rev.  William  H.  Pierson,  the  present  pastor,  was 
born  at  Newburyport,  Mass.,  Jan.  12,  1839.  ^n  January, 
185 1,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  went  into  the  printing 
office  of  the  Newburyport  Herald,  where  he  remained  six 
years,  when  he  entered  the  Brown  High  School  of  his  native 
city  to  tit  for  college.  He  was  admitted  to  Bowdoin  College, 
Brunswick.  Me.,  in  i860,  graduated  in  1864  and  then 
entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  where 
he  completed  his  course  in  1867.  From  January,  1868,  to 
July,  1872,  he  was  pastor  of  the  South  Parish  at  Ipswich, 
Mass.  From  August  1872,  to  January,  1881,  he  was  pastor 
of  the  Winter  Hill  Congregational  church,  Somerville, 
Mass.  During  his  pastorate  of  nearly  nine  years  in  Somer- 
ville, his  religious  opinions  slowly  undergoing  a  change,  he 
felt  called  upon  to  resign.  In  June,  1881,  he  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  First  Parish  (Unitarian)  church  in  this  city, 
Rev.  Dr.  Bartol  of  Boston  preaching  the  installation  sermon. 

THE    CALVINISTIC    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

The  early  history  of  this  church  previous  to  its  separation 
from  the  First  Parish  has  already  been  given  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  chapter. 

October  31,  1823,  it  was  voted  "that  this  church  remove 
its  connection  from  the  First  Parish  and  unite  with  the  Cal- 
vinistic  Congregational  society   formed  this   day   in   the  town 


292  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

of  Fitchburg."  At  once  the  church,  to  the  number  of  102, 
removed  to  the  small  house  of  worship  on  the  spot  where  the 
present  Calvinistic  church  now  stands,  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Rollstone  streets.  This  church  was  built  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Titus  Theodore  Barton  in  1805,  it  was  en- 
larged in  1828  and  used  until  the  present  brick  building  took 
its  place  in  1844.  The  pastors  since  1823  have  been  as  fol- 
lows : 

Rev.  Rufus  A.  Putnam,  from  February,  1824,  to  March, 
1831  ;  Rev.  John  A.  Albro,  May,  1832,  to  December,  1834; 
Rev.  Joshua  Emery,  May,  1835,  to  June,  1837  '>  Rev.  Eben- 
ezer  W.  Bullard,  July,  1838,  to  June,  1852  ;  Rev.  G.  Buck- 
ingham Wilcox,  June,  1853,  to  August,  1856;  Rev.  Alfred 
Emerson,  June,  1858,  to  June,  1870  ;  Rev.  Henry  M.  Tyler, 
December,  1872,  to  December,  1876;  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Stew- 
art, April,  1877,  to  September,  1880;  Rev.  S.  Leroy  Blake, 
September,  1880,  to  April,  1887. 

Pastor,  Rev.  Clarence  R.  Gale.  Sabbath  school  held  in 
the  chapel  on  Rollstone  street,  superintendent,  D.  B.  Silsby  ; 
assistants — I.  O.  Converse,  C.  A.  Phillips. 

Parish  Officers — Clerk,  Edward  P.  Downe  ;  treasurer, 
Eben  Bailey  ;  assessors,  Charles  P.  Dickinson,  Arthur  H. 
Lowe,  Daniel  Simonds. 

Church  Officers — Deacons,  John  Parkhill,  J.  Calvin 
Spaulding,  David  B.  Silsby,  Artemas  F.  Andrews,  Henry 
M.  Francis,  Irving  O.  Converse  ;  clerk,  Edward  P.  Downe  ; 
treasurer,  William  K.  Bailey ;  organist,  Mrs.  Holgate ; 
chorister,  William  Knowles. 

Although  without  a  settled  pastor  the  C.  C.  church  has 
extended  a  unanimous  call  to  the  Rev.  Clarence  R.  Gale, 
assistant  pastor  of  Memorial  church,  Springfield,  who  ac- 
cepts to  begin  his  labors  here  Jan.  1,  1888. 

FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

In  1831,  at  their  request,  five  persons  in  the  town  of 
Fitchburg,  members  of  the  branch  Baptist  church  in  Leom- 
inster, were  set  apart  as  a  branch  church  in  Fitchburg.       On 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES. 


293 


the  eighth  of  June  it  was  organized  with  the  powers  and 
privileges  of  an  independent  church,  and  public  religious  ser- 
vices were  for  some  time  held  in  Academy  Hall. 

In  the  summer  of  1833  a  house  of  worship  was  built  on 
West  street,  and  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  November  the 
branch  church  was  separated  from  the  parent  stock.      On  the 


J-  '■1-iLl 
FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 


same  day  Samuel  Crocker  and  Samuel  A.  Wheeler  were  set 
apart  as  deacons.  The  independent  church  now  consisted  of 
sixty-two  members,  and  in  the  next  twenty  years  226  persons 
were  baptized  into  its  fellowship.  The  increasing  congrega- 
tion   demanding    a    larger    house    of  worship,    the    present 


294  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

edifice    on  Main    sjtreet  was    built  at  a  cost  of  $25,000  and 
dedicated  March  1,  1854. 

The  audience  room  of  the  church  is  a  standing  memorial 
to  the  good  judgment  and  architectural  skill  of  the  building 
committee.  There  is  not  a  pillar  anywhere  in  the  way,  the 
pews  are  circular,  and  the  acoustic  properties  as  nearly  per- 
fect throughout  as  could  well  be.  A  whisper  can  almost  if 
not  quite  be  heard  across  it. 

Within  the  present  year  the  growth  of  the  Sunday  school 
and  the  general  prosperity  of  the  church  demanded  more 
room  and  improved  facilities  for  church  work.  Plans  of  en- 
largement that  had  been  long  considered  were  fully  matured, 
and  through  the  very  generous  offer  of  Mr.  Samuel  E. 
Crocker  the  society  was  encouraged  to  proceed.  The  entire 
space  in  the  rear  of  the  meeting  house  was  covered  by  a 
chapel  building ;  thus  securing  a  spacious,  well  ventilated 
room  for  the  school  and  social  meetings,  also  class  rooms, 
primary  department,  library,  pastors  study,  a  more  conven- 
ient baptistry  and  dressing-rooms.  The  old  vestry  wras 
utilized  for  ladies'  parlor,  dining  rooms  and  kitchen.  The 
auditorium  was  at  the  same  time  thoroughly  renovated,  fitted 
with  stained  glass  windows,  the  singers'  gallery  changed  to 
the  rear  of  the  pulpit  and  provided  with  a  magnificent  Hook 
&  Hastings  organ.  The  entire  property  is  one  of  the  best  to 
be  found  within  the  denomination  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

The  pastors  of  the  First  Baptist  church  have  been  settled  ; 
Nov.,  1833,  Rev.  Appleton  Morse;  resigned  Nov.,  1834. 
Feb.,  1835,  Rev.  John  W.  McDonald;  resigned  Oct.,  1835. 
Jan.,  1836,  Rev.  Lorenzo  O.  Lovell  ;  resigned  Feb.  1837. 
April,  1837,  Rev.  Appleton  Morse  ;  died  Oct.,  1838.  March, 
1839,  Rev-  N.  W.  Smith;  resigned  Feb.,  1841.  March, 
1841,  Rev.  Oren  Tracy;  resigned  Oct.,  1845.  March,  1846, 
Rev.  Stephen  Remington;  resigned  Nov.,  1846.  Nov., 
1846,  Rev.  Edward  Savage;  resigned  Oct.,  1851.  Nov., 
1851,  Rev.  John  Jennings;  resigned  April,  1855.  Dec, 
1855,  Rev.  Kendall  Brooks;  resigned  May,  1865.  Aug., 
1865,  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Collins;  resigned  Aug.,  1867.  Nov., 
1867,    Rev.  Stillman  B.  Grant;     died    Dec,    1874.       April, 


Rev.  Frank  Rector. 

*5> 

jfijfc 

^yj/ 

({    <4ff^^ 

\  «TM     IH 

^^e^^^fflar^^ 

Rev.  F.  T.  Pomeroy. 


Rev.  W.W.  Baldwin.  Rev.  J.  L.  Tarpey.  Rev.  C.^eau^oin. 

FITCHBURG  CLERGYMEN— PAST   AND   PRESENT. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES.  2i>5 

1875,  Rev.  Isaac  R.  Wheelock ;  resigned  May,  1885.     Oct., 

1885,  Rev.   George  W.   Gardiner,  D.   D.  ;    resigned,  June, 

1886.  Nov.,  1886,  Rev.  Frank  Rector. 

Church  Officers — Pastor,  Rev.  Frank  Rector  ;  Deacons, 
E.  G.  Stanley,  Mial  Davis,  M.  W.  Cummings,  C.  K.  Saw- 
yer ;  superintendent  Sabbath  school,  George  M.  Bowker; 
assistant  superintendent,  H.  C.  Hastings. 

Parish  Officers — Assessors,  Dr.  A.  W.  Sidney,  W.  A. 
Macurda,  John  II.  Daniels  ;  clerk,  J.  C.  Sanborn  ;  treasurer, 
W.  G.  Haves;  sinp-inp;  committee,  S.  E.  Crocker,  L.  M. 
Davis,  A.  W.  Sidney  ;  organist  and  director,  Charles  Smith  ; 
sexton,  Henry  Ames. 

Rev.  Frank  Rector,  the  present  pastor  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church,  was  born  July  20,  185 1,  near  Parkersburg, 
Wood  county,  W.  Va.  His  father,  one  of  the  pioneer 
Baptists  of  that  state,  was  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and 
his  mother  was  born  in  Vermont.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  made  public  profession  of  religion  and  united  with  the 
church  of  which  his  father  was  at  that  time  pastor.  The 
early  years  of  his  life,  including  the  turbulent  days  of  the 
war,  were  spent  on  a  farm  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river. 
In  the  autumn  of  1872  he  entered  the  preparatory  school  at 
Granville,  Ohio,  and  two  years  later,  in  the  same  town,  en- 
tered the  freshman  class  of  Denison  University,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  class  of '78.  The  fol- 
lowing summer  was  spent  in  travel  through  the  two  Vir- 
ginias, and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered  the  Theological 
Institution  at  Newton  Centre,  Mass.,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  school  in  the  spring  of  1881.  During  the  next  four 
months  he  acted  as  supply  for  the  Second  Baptist  church  of 
Newport,  R.  I.,  and  at  the  end  of  the  time  was  invited  by 
that  people  to  become  their  pastor.  The  call  was  accepted, 
and  Sept.  6,  1881 — known  throughout  New  England  as  the 
"yellow  day" — Mr.  Rector  was  ordained.  After  a  pastorate 
of  five  and  one-half  years  he  was  called  to  succeed  Rev. 
George  W.  Gardiner,  D.  D.,  in  the  pastoral  office  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  of  this  city,  which  position  he  now 
holds. 


296 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

This  church  and  society  was  formed  in  March  1834,  anc^ 
the  church  edifice  which  stands  near  the  foot  of  the  common 
was  built  in  1840.  In  October,  I885,  the  society  purchased 
from  Thomas  S.  Blood  a  lot  of  land  on  the  corner  of  Fox  and 
Elm  streets,  and  in  July  and  August,  1886,  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  their  new  church  edifice.  In  April,  1887,  work  was 
resumed  upon  the  building,  and   it  is  now  nearly   completed, 


NEW   METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 


Jan.  1,  1888,  being  the  time  set  for  its  dedication.  The  in- 
terior comprises  a  large  audience  room,  vestry,  ladies'  parlor, 
infant  Sunday  school  room,  pastor's  room  and  kitchen.  The 
church  organ  was  built  by  Holbrook. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  Joel  Knight;  in 
1 841-2,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitman ;  Rev.  Luman  Borden, 
1843-4;  Rev.  Amos  Walton,  1845;  Rev.  D.  K.  Banister, 
1846-7  ;  Rev.  A.  D.  Sargent,  1848-9  ;  Rev.  C.  S.  Macread- 
ing  and  Rev.  Daniel  Steele,  1850;  Rev.  J.  W.  Lewis, 
1851-2 ;  Rev.  Samuel  Tupper,  1853-4;  Rev.  George  M. 
Steele,    D.    D.,   1855;     Rev.   W.  A.   Bramon,   1856;     Rev. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES.  297 

Burtis  Judd,  1857-8;  Rev.  U.  K.  Banister,  1859;  Rev-  H- 
M.  Loud,  1860-1  ;  Rev.  A.  O.  Hamilton,  1S62-3  ;  Rev. 
George  M.  Steele,  D.  D.,  1864:  Rev.  L.  D.  Barrows,  D. 
D.,  1865;  Rev.  William  H.  Hatch,  1866-8;  Rev.  Joseph 
Scott,  1869-70;  Rev.  J.  S.  Barrows,  1871  ;  Rev.  D.  D. 
Hudson,  1872  ;  Rev.  W.  W.  Colburn,  1873-5  ;  Rev.  C.  T. 
Johnson,  1876;  Rev.  J.  O.  Knowles,  1877;  Rev.  Fred 
Woods,  D.  D.,  1878-9  ;  Rev.  J.  H.  Twombly,  D.  D.,  1880-2  ; 
Rev.  William  J.  Pomfret,  1883-4;  Rev-  T-  Berton  Smith, 
1.885-7. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  and  Sunday  school  are  : 
Pastor,  Rev.  T.  Berton  Smith  ;  Trustees — President,  Henry 
O.  Putnam  ;  treasurer,  E.  N.  Choate  ;  John  Putnam,  Lyman 
Patch,  Charles  A.  Morgan,  James  Puffer,  C.  S.  Merriam, 
William  E.  Henry,  Charles  Oliver,  C.  C.  Stratton,  Charles 
W.  Putnam  ;  stewards,  James  Phelps,  Edward  F.  Lincoln, 
Edward  Newitt,  J.  H.  Potter,  George  E.  Watson,  Fred  A. 
Hale,  David  C.  Sleeper,  J.  E.  Luscombe  ;  recording  stew- 
ard, Charles  A.  Morgan.  Superintendent  of  Sabbath  school, 
A.  E.  Joslin  ;  assistant,  Charles  Oliver ;  collector,  Edward 
Newitt ;  treasurer,  Charles  Oliver. 

TRINITARIAN    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

In  1843  the  intense  feeling  on  the  slavery  question  caused 
a  portion  of  the  Calvinistic  Congregational  church  to  secede, 
and  a  new  society  called  the  "Trinitarian  Congregational" 
was  organized.  They  erected  the  building  now  owned  by  J. 
M.  Carpenter  and  known  as  the  Post- Office  block,  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Church  streets,  in  1844.  They  were 
active  and  earnest  workers  in  the  slavery  controversy  and  it 
was  known  as  one  of  the  so  called  stations  on  the  Under- 
ground railroad  to  Canada,  in  the  flight  of  the  slave  to 
freedom.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  slavery  question  was 
their  only  uniting  force,  and  that  when  the  freedom  of  the 
slave  was  secured,  the  society  began  to  lose  its  cohesive 
power  and  its  last  sermon  was  preached  on  the  clay  that  the 
equality  of  the  negro,  before  the  law,  was  guaranteed.     And 


298  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

on  the  fifteenth  of  November,  1S71,  the  church  building  was 
sold  at  auction  to  John  M.  Carpenter  for  $14,300.  Largely 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  George  Trask,  of  "anti- 
tobacco  fame,"  who  was  for  several  years  the  pastor,  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  were  disposed  of  by  presenting  the  Rev. 
Elnathan  Davis,  a  former  pastor,  $2,000  as  a  token  of  appre- 
ciation of  his  earnest  labors  for  the  society,  and  the  balance 
was  given  to  the  Freedman's  Aid  Society. 

The  first  officers  of  the  Trinitarian  church  were  the  Rev. 
George  Clark,  pastor ;  Timothy  F.  Downe  and  Nathan  Tol- 
lman, deacons.  The  other  pastors  were  Rev.  Foster  Petti- 
bone,  Rev.  Charles  Bristol,  Rev.  George  Trask  and  Rev. 
Elnathan  Davis. 


THE    FIRST    UNIVFRSAEIST    CHURCH. 

This  church  and  society  was  organized  Oct.  9,  1844. 
Their  first  church  upon  the  corner  of  Main  and  Rollstone 
streets,  was  built  in  1847.  For  some  years  past  it  had  been 
felt  the  church  was  not  well  located  for  the  convenience 
of  worshippers,  and  that  a  new  and  more  modern  church 
building,  more  centrally  located,  would  tend  to  enhance  the 
material  and  spiritual  prosperity  of  the  organization.  In 
pursuance  of  this  idea  a  lot  of  land  on  the  corner  of  Day  and 
Union  streets  was  secured,  and  the  present  attractive  and  fine 
edifice  was  built.  The  doors  were  thrown  open  to  the  public 
in  February,  1886. 

The  pastors  settled  over  the  society  since  its  organization 
have  been  as  follows,  the  dates  given  being  the  close  of  the 
several  pastorates  :  Rev.  Mather  E.  Hawes,  spring  of  1849  > 
Rev.  Charles  Woodhouse,  fall  of  1852  ;  Rev.  Josiah  Marvin, 
spring  of  1856  ;  Rev.  A.  W.  Bruce,  spring  of  1859  '  Rev-  A. 
J.  Weaver,  spring  of  1864  ;  Rev.  E.  A.  Eaton  in  charge, 
spring  of  1865  ;  Rev.  J.  G.  B.  Heath,  spring  of  1866;  Rev. 
Joseph  Crehore,  July,  1870;  Rev.  Frank  Magwire,  spring 
of  1879  >  Rev-  R-  S.  Kellerman,  January,  1884  ;  Rev.  Frank 
O.  Hall,  from  June  1,  1884. 

The  church  and  Sunday  school  officers  are  :  Pastor,  Rev. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES. 


2  Oil 


F.  O.  Mall  ;  deacons,  Horace  Damon,  Joseph  S.  Wilson  ; 
standing  committee,  Henry  L.  Rice,  J.  D.  Littlehale,  F.  S. 
Lovell  ;  clerk,  J.  Frank  Fisher;  treasurer,  Walter  A.  Davis. 
Sunday  school  in  church  ;  superintendent,  J.  S.  Wilson  ; 
assistant,  Herbert  A.  Damon  ;   sexton,  Thomas  W.  Reynolds. 


NEW    UNIVERSALIS!'    CHURCH. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Frank  Oliver  Hall,  was  born  in 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  March  19,  i860.  He  resided  in  Cali- 
fornia and  Georgia  through  the  greater  part  of  his  boyhood, 
but  in  1877,  his  parents  having  removed  to  Maine,  he  entered 
Nichols  Latin  school  at  Lewiston,  with  the  purpose  of  fitting 
for  college.  He  entered  Tufts  College,  Divinity  School,  in 
1880,  was  graduated  in  1884  ;  took  charge  of  his  present 
pastorate  immediately  after  graduating. 


300  fitchburg,  past  and  present. 

st.  Bernard's  roman  catholic  parish. 

Religious  services  were  held  in  Fitchburg  for  the 
Catholics  as  far  back  as  1842,  but  it  was  not  until  1848  that 
the  society  had  a  church  and  a  resident  pastor,  Rev.  M.  F. 
Gibson,  with  800  souls.  Rev.  Edward  Turpin  succeeded 
Father  Gibson  in  1856  and  remained  ten  years.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  M.  Foley  in  1866.  Father  Foley 
built  the  present  church  edifice,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city, 
in  1869.  Rev.  P.  J.  Garrigan  took  charge  of  the  parish  in 
1875,  and  embellished  the  interior  of  the  church  and  dedi- 
cated it  1879.  He  also  purchased  land  and  built  the  present 
church  in  West  Fitchburg,  which  is  now  a  separate  parish 
and  sustains  its  own  pastor.  He  also  built  the  present  parish 
house,  a  neat  brick  edifice  on  Water  street,  and  the  parochial 
school  and  Convent  on  First  street.  The  number  of  souls  in 
this  parish  is  estimated  at  about  4,000. 

The  church  has  a  Sunday  school  of  900  children  taught 
by  some  eighty  teachers,  young  people  of  the  parish.  There 
are  three  temperance  societies  here,  one  for  men  twenty  years 
of  age  and  over ;  one  for  boys  from  fifteen  to  twenty  years  of 
age,  and  one  for  boys  from  ten  to  fifteen  years  ;  the  member- 
ship in  these  three  societies,  over  each  of  which  a  clergyman 
has  special  care,  is  about  500  men  and  boys.  There  is  also 
a  Christian  Doctrine  society,  whose  object  is  the  diffusion  of 
knowledge  of  Christian  Doctrine  and  the  establishment  of  a 
library  for  the  Sunday  school  and  members.  Then  there  is 
a  society  of  the  Holy  Name  with  about  100  men  ;  the  Sodality 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  for  young  (unmarried)  ladies,  and  the 
Rosary  Confraternity  for  all  ages  and  both  sexes.  These 
last  three  have  for  object,  growth  in  virtue  and  fidelity  in  the 
service  of  God.  Finally  there  is  a  Conference  of  St.  Vincent 
de  Paul  whose  object  is  the  care  of  the  poor  of  the  parish. 
The  members  meet  weekly,  have  a  perfect  system  of  assisting 
the  poor,  and  they  spend  annually  in  charity  about  $600. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES.  301 

CHRIST    CHURCH    (EPISCOPAL). 

This  church  and  society  was  organized  Oct.  7,  1863, 
with  the  Rev.  H.  L.  Jones,  of  New  York  city,  as  the  first 
rector.  Their  church,  which  is  a  tine  stone  building,  was 
built  in  1S67,  and  consecrated  in  April,  1868.  It  is  situated 
on  Main  street,  between  Hartwell  and  Fox  streets,  and  ad- 
jacent to  Monument  Square,  (as  shown  in  the  view  of  Monu- 
ment Square  in  the  military  chapter.) 

In  February,  1875,  the  Rev.  H.  L.Jones  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  T.  Logan  Murphy,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  who  re- 
signed Nov.  9,  1876.  The  Rev.  Emilius  W.  Smith,  of  Mc- 
Keesport,  Penn.,  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  church  in 
August,  1877,  and  resigned  June  2,  1884;  from  this  time  the 
parish  was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Porter,  D.  D.,  until 
June  1885,  when  the  present  Rector  was  settled. 

The  officers  of  the  church  and  Sunday  school  are : 
Rector,  Rev.  Charles  Morris  Addison  ;  wardens,  Dennis 
Fay,  George  D.  Colony;  vestry,  George  F.  Fay,  John 
Upton,  James  L.  Chapman,  Charles  T.  Crocker,  Henry  T. 
Page,  A.  B.  Haskell,  Alvah  Crocker,  C.  A.  Cross,  Eli 
Culley,  J.  W.  Ogden ;  treasurer,  George  F.  Fay ;  clerk, 
James  L.  Chapman;  organist,  William  H.  Gerrish ;  sexton, 
William  Wood.      Sunday  school  held  in  the  church. 

Charles  Morris  Addison,  the  present  Rector  of  Christ 
church,  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  July  16,  1856. 
His  early  life  was  passed  in  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he 
was  educated  at  the  Preparatory  Department  of  Columbia 
College.  He  was  prepared  by  tutor  for  the  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  studied  civil 
engineering.  In  1878  he  went  to  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and 
prepared  at  Harvard  College  and  the  Episcopal  Theological 
School  for  the  ministry.  Graduating  in  1882,  he  was  called 
to  the  Rectorship  of  St.  John's  church,  Arlington,  Mass.,  and 
appointed  missionary  at  Winchester.  In  1885  he  was  called 
to  his  present  parish  and  assumed  charge  June  1,  1885. 


302 


FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


ROLLSTONE    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 


In  1868,  owing  to  the  insufficiency  of  the  Calvinistic 
church  to  accommodate  the  increased  congregations,  and  the 
evident  need  of  a  church  in  the  easterly  section  of  the  village, 
a  division  took  place,  and  the  Rollstone  church  and  society 
was  formed. 


ROLLSTONE    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

Rev.  Leverett  W.  Spring,  a  graduate  of  Williams  Col- 
lege and  of  Hartford  Theological  Seminary  was  engaged  as 
pastoral  supply  for  one  year.  The  first  public  services  were 
held  in   the   hall  of  the   American   House,   March  8,   1868. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES.  ."><».") 

The  church  was  organized  on  the  sixteenth  of  the  following 
month,  comprising  150  members.  Oliver  Ellis  and  J.  A. 
Conn  were  appointed  deacons  -pro  ton  fore.  On  the  same 
day  Mr.  Spring  was  ordained,  and  installed  as  pastor.  Soon 
after  this  the  society  was  incorporated,  and  steps  were  imme- 
diately taken  to  raise  funds  for  building  a  church.  A  site 
was  secured  at  the  intersection  of  Main  and  Snow  streets, 
ground  was  broken  for  the  foundation  in  August,  1868,  and 
the  corner  stone  laid  Oct.  5,  of  the  same  year.  The  church 
was  dedicated  Feb.  24,  1870.  The  first  deacons  of  the 
church  were  Samuel  Burnap,  Oliver  Ellis,  John  A.  Conn,  S. 
Newell  Weston,  David  Boutelle,  William  L.  Bullock.  The 
pastors  have  been  Rev.  Leverett  W.  Spring,  from  April, 
1868,  to  March,  1875.  The  Rev.  G.  R.  W.  Scott,  D.  D., 
entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor  in  the  fall  of  1875,  continu- 
ing in  active  service  until  December  1885,  when  he  was 
obliged  to  give  up  his  work  for  a  time  and  seek  needed  rest. 
In  the  winter  of  1886  he  went  abroad,  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Alex- 
ander, D.  D.,  supplying  in  his  absence.  Dr.  Scott  finding 
that  his  health  would  not  warrant  his  return,  the  people  of 
his  charge  reluctantly  accepted  his  resignation,  and  Mav  11, 
1887,  his  successor,  the  present  pastor,  was  installed. 

Charles  S.  Brooks,  the  present  pastor  of  the  Rollstone 
Congregational  church,  was  born  in  New  Braintree,  Mass., 
Jan.  19,  1840.  He  graduated  at  Williston  Seminary,  East 
Hampton,  in  1858,  and  at  Amherst  College  in  1863.  After 
engaging  in  teaching  over  two  years  as  principal  of  the  high 
and  grammar  school  in  Rockland,  Mass.,  he  pursued  a 
course  of  theological  study  at  Andover  Seminary,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1869.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Tyngsboro,  Mass.,  from  September,  1869,  to 
August,  1872  ;  of  the  Congregational  church,  South  Deer- 
field,  Mass.,  from  January,  1873,  to  April,  1877  ;  of  the  Sec- 
ond Congregational  church  in  Putnam,  Conn.,  from  May. 
1877,  to  February,  1887.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  the 
Rollstone  church.  May  11,    1887. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church,  society  and  Sunday 
school  are  :     Pastor,  Rev.  C.  S.  Brooks  :   church  committee. 


304  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

in  addition  to  pastor  and  deacons — Ezra  B.  Rockwood,  R. 
R.  Conn,  Dr.  D.  B.  Whittier,  Charles  W.  Wilder,  S.  N. 
Weston,  D.  C.  Harrington ;  church  clerk,  S.  Newell 
Weston  ;  church  treasurer,  W.  E.  Clifford ;  executive  parish 
committee — R.  R.  Conn.,  S.  N.  Weston,  C.  H.  Doten  ;  par- 
ish clerk,  Frank  E.  Fairbanks ;  parish  treasurer,  E.  R. 
Farnsworth ;  sexton,  T.  R.  Lawrence;  Deacons — J.  C. 
Moulton,  Frederick  Fosdick,  Cyrus  S.  Tolman,  H.  S.  Hitch- 
cock, C.  H.  Doten,  F.  E.  Fairbanks.  Superintendent  of 
Sunday  school,  J.  C.  Moulton;  assistant  superintendent,  D. 
C.Harrington;  organist,  Lucy  Conn  Potter ;  chorister,  J. 
H.  Potter. 

WEST    FITCHBURG    M.    E.    CHURCH, 

as  an  organization,  was  established  Nov.  17,  1881,  with 
twenty-two  members  and  six  probationers.  About  the  time 
of  its  organization  there  was  unusual  religious  interest,  and 
several  persons  were  converted  and  joined  the  church.  The 
accommodations  of  the  chapel,  which  was  built  in  1874,  as  a 
mission  chapel,  were  inadequate  for  the  increasing  congrega- 
tion, and  the  present  church  was  built,  and  dedicated  May 
11,  1883. 

The  first  pastor,  Rev.  F.  T.  Pomeroy,  was  returned  by 
the  New  England  Conference,  after  three  years'  service,  for 
a  fourth  year,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  church.  This 
action  was  rendered  possible  under  the  mission  rule,  there 
having  been  no  church  organization  during  the  first  year  of 
Mr.  Pomeroy's  appointment.  The  second  pastor,  Rev. 
William  Wignall,  succeeded  to  the  pastorate  of  the  church 
April,  1884;  Rev.  Elias  Hodge  April,  1885;  and  April, 
1887,  Rev.  W.  W.  Baldwin.  The  present  officers  of  the 
church  are  :  Pastor,  Rev.  W.  W.  Baldwin  ;  stewards,  James 
Sheppard,  George  J.  Pethybridge,  Charles  Taylor,  Henry 
K.  Tucker,  Edward  Pickwick,  Hugh  Irving,  George  S. 
Coggswell,  George  Pierce,  Robert  Beer,  William  H.  Craig; 
trustees,  Charles  Taylor,  David  McTaggart,  George  S. 
Coggswell,  George  J.  Pethybridge,  Edward  Pickwick,  Cal- 
vin Beer,  James  Sheppard,  George  Pierce,  James  Pearce  ; 
sexton,  Fred  S.  Hedenberg. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES.  305 

The  Sunday  .school  has  been  in  existence  since  Nov.  15, 
1874.  W.  W.  Whiting,  superintendent,  and  Moses  Coggs- 
well,  assistant,  were  its  first  officers.  From  the  time  ot  its 
organization  to  April  18,  1875,  ^'hen  it  was  re-organized,  the 
average  attendance  was  about  forty-five.  The  attendance 
has  gradually  increased,  and  is  about  130  at  the  present 
time,  with  an  enrolled  membership  of  nearly  200. 

The  West  Fitchburg  Social  Circle,  an  auxiliary  society, 
was  formed  in  February,  1876,  its  object  being  to  bring 
the  people  together  and  help  in  enlarging  the  circle  of  ac- 
quaintance. It  has  been  a  help  to  the  community,  socially, 
and  to  the  church,  financially,  and  still  exists  as  the  "Ladies' 
Sewing  Circle." 

During  the  first  years  of  holding  meetings,  several  gen- 
tlemen having  large  business  interests  in  that  part  of  the 
town,  by  their  liberal  donations  of  land  and  money,  provided 
and  furnished  a  suitable  place  of  worship,  and  have  since 
generously  contributed  to  the  support  of  public  worship. 
The  mission  chapel  thus  erected  forms  the  chapel  part  of  the 
present  church  edifice.  The  church  membership  is  fifty-six, 
with  twelve  probationers. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Baldwin,  at  present  pastor  of  the  West 
Fitchburg  M.  E.  church,  was  born  in  Blenhiem,  N.  Y.,  May 
30,  1837.  He  was  educated  at  Union  College  under  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Nott.  In  June,  1862,  he  graduated  in  the- 
ology from  what  has  since  become  the  School  of  Theology 
of  Boston  University. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  August,  1859,  at  Seward,  N.  Y.  In  May,  1862, 
he  joined  the  Maine  Conference,  and  was  sent  to  mission 
work  in  Gorham,  Coos  County,  N.  H.  He  organized  the 
church  at  that  place  and  built  the  church  edifice  during  the 
first  year.  His  fields  of  labor  since  then  have  been  in  Maine, 
Colorado,  Michigan,  and  Massachusetts.  Three  years  ago 
last  April  he  was  transferred,  without  his  solicitation,  into 
the  New  England  Conference,  to  fill  the  pulpit  of  the  M.  E. 
church  in  North  Andover,  which  had  become  vacated. 
After  three  years  of  service  there  he  came  to  the  West  Fitch- 
20 


306  F1TCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

burg  church,  in  April  last.  His  present  efforts  are  directed 
toward  intensifying  the  religious  life  of  the  church,  and 
gradually  placing  the  church  on  a  surer  financial  basis.  In 
his  preaching  he  intends  to  be  catholic  to  an  extent  that  peo- 
ple of  all  denominations  may  find  themselves  benefited, 
while  in  his  pastoral  work  he  strongly  advocates  "organized 
Christianity." 

CHURCH  OF  SACRED  HEART  (CATHOLIC,)  WEST  FITCHBURG. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1878.  Its  first  pastor  was 
the  Rev.  James  Canavan,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
James  Donahoe,  followed  by  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Tarpey,  the 
present  pastor,  in  June,  1886. 

Connected  with  the  church  are  the  Sacred  Heart  Total 
Abstinence  and  Literary  Society,  for  young  men  ;  the  Young 
Ladies'  Sacred  Heart  Sodality  ;  Society  of  the  Holy  Name, 
for  boys  ;   and  Children  of  Mary,  for  young  girls. 

The  superintendents  of  the  Sunday  school  are  Michael 
Lee  and  Mary  O'Brien  ;  organist  of  the  church,  Miss  Lizzie 
McCann. 

FRENCH  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1886,  with  Rev.  C.  Beau- 
doin  as  pastor.  In  December  of  the  same  year  52,000  feet  of 
land  and  a  dwelling-house  on  Walnut  street  was  purchased 
and  a  chapel  with  basement  erected,  the  house  being  remod- 
elled and  used  as  a  parsonage  and  temporary  school.  It  is 
expected  that  a  church  will  be  built  within  the  next  two  or 
three  years,  when  the  chapel  will  be  used  as  a  school 
building. 

HOMES    OF   FITCHBURG. 

The  changes  in  Fitchburg  are  nowhere  more  noticeable 
than  in  the  style  of  building.  In  the  early  days  of  the  town 
the  settlers  located  round  on  the  hills  for  better  protection 
from  the  Indians,  or  for  other  good  and  sufficient  reasons, 
and  little  thought  was  given  to  the  architecture  of  their 
dwellings,   which    were  for  the    most  part  rude  log  houses, 


V05E   ESTATE,   PROSPECT   ST.,  RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN   PARKHILL. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.   EUGENE  T.   MILES,    BLOSSOM   STREET. 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES. 


307 


either  stockaded  or  garrisoned,  and  the  interiors  furnished 
with  only  the  plainest  articles  of  necessary  use.  After  this 
came  the  one  and  two  story  framed  farm  houses,  with 
their  enormous  stone  chimneys  and  fireplaces,  suggestive 
of  corn  bannocks,  pumpkin  pies  and  kitchen  dances.  The 
timbers  in  these  houses,  huge  beams  of  the  toughest  oak, 
were  well  calculated  to  stand  the  ravages  of  time,  and  it  is 
therefore  not  at  all  strange  that  some  of  the  first  of  these  old 
landmarks  remain  with  us  until  the  present  day.  One  of 
them  was  built  by  Amos  Kimball,  on  the  Samuel  Hale 
farm,  and  is  now  a  portion  ot   the  old  house  in  the  rear  of  the 


j.  Holland's  residence,   1840. 


present  residence.  Later  on  we  find  an  improvement  in  the 
style  of  building,  with  a  greater  variety  in  outward  form 
and  a  sensible  reduction  in  the  size  of  chimneys,  but  with  the 
same  unnecessarv  strength  of  beams  and  rafters.  A  house 
of  this  class  is  now  standing  on  the  corner  of  Charles  and 
Linden  streets.  It  was  originally  a  parsonage,  occupied  by 
the  Rev.  John  Payson,  and  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
residence  of  Samuel  Burnap  on  South  street.  Mr.  Burnap 
purchased  this  house  and  a  large  tract  of  land  of  Mr.  C. 
Marshall,  in  1838,  and  removed  the  old  house  to  where  it  is 
now  located,  to  make  room  for  his  present  residence.     Then 


308 


FITCIIBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 


came  the  more  modern  houses  built  according  to  the  taste  or 
fancy  of  the  owner,  and  with  better  interior  finish  and  fur- 
nishing- ;  among  these  were  the  square  cottage,  plain  but 
homelike,  the  octagon,  and  the  story  and  a  half  cottage,  with 
projecting  chamber,  supported  by  turned  posts,  thus  forming 
a  front  piazza.       The  transition   from  the  latter  to  the  more 


RESIDENCE    OF    HENRY    A.    GOODRICH,    HIGHLAND    AVENUE. 


pretentious  structure,  the  classic  mansion,  with  its  heavy 
columns  was  most  natural.  The  Mansard  roof  was  popular 
for  a  time,  as  well  as  the  Gothic  and  Italian  style  of  archi- 
tecture. Many  of  these  residences,  probably  more  than  five 
hundred  in  number,  were  built  under  the  direction  of  William 
H.  Goodwin,  our  present  inspector  of  buildings.  For  the 
picturesque  and  attractive  architecture  of  later  years,  the  city 
is    largely    indebted    to    Henry  M.   Francis.      Many    of  our 


CHURCHES    AND    HOMES. 


309 


modern  public  buildings  were  built  from  his  plans,  as  well  as 
a  large  number  and  variety  of  private  residences.  This 
variety  adds  greatly  to  the  general  appearance  of  the  city 
and  while  many  costly  and  elegant  dwellings  have  been  con- 
structed, in  many   instances  the   reasonable  cost  of  land   and 


DR.    THOMAS   PALMER'S    RESIDENCE,    184S. 


building  material  has  induced  individuals  of  moderate  means 
to  build,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  the  great  propor- 
tion of  dwellings  are  being  built  by  individuals  as  permanent 
homes,  rather  than  by  capitalists  for  an  investment.  Such  a 
condition  of  things  indicates  a   healthy   and   natural   growth, 


310 


FITCHBURG,  PAST  AND  PRESENT. 


and  will  serve  as  a 
permanent  founda- 
tion for  the  Fitch- 
burg  of  the  future. 
To  every  young  man 
thinking  of  settling 
down,  to  middle- 
aged  men  with  fami- 
lies to  bring  up,  who 
contemplate  making 
a  change  and    want 


RESIDENCE    OF    HENRY    ALLISON. 

to  find  a  place  where 
there  is  good  air  and  pure 
water,  the  best  of  schools 
and  churches,  the  best 
society,  the  fewest  rum- 
shops,  not  necessarily  the 
most  aristocratic  town, 
but  the  one  which  is 
suited  to  the  great  middle 
class,  who  pay  their  way 
as  they  go  and  either  own 


RESIDENCE    OF    DR.    A.    W.    SIDNI 

or  intend  to  own  a  home 
of  their  own,  to  such 
Fitchburg  offers  a  stand- 
ing inducement. 

Furthermore  a  de- 
scription of  the  advan- 
tages and  attractions  of 
the  community  may  be 
supplemented  by  a  refer- 
ence to  the  people.  You 
will  find  them  a  substan- 
tial   and  energetic    class, 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  CHARLES  H.  RICE. 


CHURCHES    AND    IIOMKS. 


311 


ready  to  welcome  new  comers  to 
share  the  advantages  they  them- 
selves enjoy.  Man}'  of  them  are 
well-to-do  mechanics,  mostly  na- 
tive born  citizens,  and  generally 
owners  of  their  homes. 

According  to  the  census  of 
1885  the  number  of  inhabitants 
was  15,375,  and  at  the  present 
time,  judging  from  the  usually 
accepted  bases  for  calculation,  it 
has  reached  at  least  18.000.  In 
this  busy,  thriving  little  city,  the 
seeker   for  a    home  will  find    all 


TWIN    COTTAGES,    CHARLES    STREET. 


e.  e.  Howard's  cottage, 
milk  street. 


the  elements  vitally 
essential  to  its  estab- 
lishment, and  may, 
if  he  choose,  par- 
ticipate with  others, 
who,  having  chosen 
Fitchburg  for  their 
abiding  place,  know 
the  truth  through  a 
personal  experience. 


FITCHBURG. 

BY    MRS.  CAROLINE    A.  MASON. 


Nested  among  her  hills  she  lies, — 

The  city  of  our  love  ! 
Within  her,  pleasant  homes  arise  ; 
And  healthful  airs  and  happy  skies 

Float  peacefully  ahove. 

A  sturdy  few,  'mid  hopes  and  fears, 

Her  fair  foundations  set  : 
And  looking  backward  now,  through  years 
Of  steady  gain,  how  small  appears 

Her  old  estate  ! — and  yet, 


312  FITCHBURG,    PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

She  dons  no  autocratic  airs, 
In  scorn  of  humbler  days, 
But  shapes  her  fortunes  and  affairs, 
To  match  the  civic  wreath  she  wears 
And  justify  her  bays. 

Honor  and  Truth  her  old  renown  : 

Conservative  of  both, 
The  virtues  of  the  little  town 
She  holds  in  legacy,  to  crown 

The  city's  larger  growth. 

Nor  ease  nor  sloth  her  strength  despoil : 

Her  peaceful  farmers  till, 
With  patient  thrift,  th'  outlying  soil, 
Her  trained  mechanics  deftly  toil, 

Her  merchants  ply  their  skill ; 

Her  ponderous  engineries  supply 

A  thousand  waiting  needs  ; 
Her  wheels  revolve,  her  shuttles  fly, — 
And  ever  where  the  prize  hangs  high, 
Her  foot,  unfaltering,  leads. 

Her  sympathies  are  large  and  sweet : 

And  when,  at  Freedom's  call, 
The  war  flags  waved,  the  war  drums  beat, 
She  sprang,  responsive,  to  her  feet, 
And  freely  offered  all  ! 

Alert  in  War,  she  emulates 
The  Arts  of  Peace,  as  well : 

Religion,  Order,  guard  her  gates  ; 

Wealth,  Culture,  Thrift,  like  happy  Fates, 
Her  destinies  foretell. 

So,  through  the  round  of  years,  she  keeps 

Advancing  on  her  past : 
Her  old-time  vigor  never  sleeps, — 
And  even  as  she  sows  she  reaps. 

God  bless  her  to  the  last  ! 


'■:  &  ■■';  k 


■';  J   .  i- 


^^^^}:'-"