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Full text of "Proceedings in connection with the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of West Boylston, Massachusetts, held in the town hall, Thursday, January 30th, 1908, and the centennial celebration held Thursday, July 16th, 1908. Also the dedication of the town hall held Monday, January 18, 1904"

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PROCEEDINGS 

IX  COXXECTIOX  WITH    THE 

One  Hundredth  Anniversary 

Of  the  Incorporation 


OF    THE   TOWX  OK 


West  Boylston,  Massachusetts 

HELD  IX  THE  TOWX    HALL,  THITRSDAY 
JAXUARV  30th,    1908,   AXD  THlv 

Centennial  Celebration 

HELD  THURSDAY,   JLLY    16TII,    190S 


ALSO  DEDICATIOX  OF  THE  TOWX  HALL 
HELD    .MOXDAY,    LVXFARY 

ISth,   1904 


PUBLISHED  1?Y  THE  CEXTEXXIAL  COMMITTl-;]-: 
19    10 


INTRODUCTION 


The  coniiiiittee  a})i)()inted  at  the  Town  meeting  held  ^lan-h 
25th.  1907,  to  Avhom  was  deh'gated  the  task  of  i)erfecting  plans 
and  carrying  out  a  programme  for  celebrating  the  One  Hun- 
dredth Anniversary  of  its  incorporation;  and  to  prepare,  and 
publish  in  book  form,  the  proceedings  of  the  same,  togethei" 
with  an  account  of  dtnlication  of  the   Toa\ii    liall    in  the  year 

Take  pleasure  in  presenting  the  I'esult  of  their  Ud)ors  and 
ask  that  it  may  receive  charitable  consideration. 

During  the  One  Hundred  years  of  West  Boylston's  existence 
as  a  Town,  many  men  of  intiuence  and  strength  of  character 
have  appeared  among  its  citizens  to  direct  and  guide  public 
afifairs. 

Industries  have  been  erected.  ui)hchl  and  sustained  Ihi-ough 
the  skill  and  energy  of  able  men.  Citizens  by  the  score  could 
be  selected  who.  for  the  important  part  they  took  in  furthering 
the  advancement  and  prosperity  of  the  town,  niei-il  honorable 
inenlio]!  in  a  summary  of  the  achievements  during  llie  past 
century.  But  it  certainly  is  beyond  the  charge  delegated  to 
this  committee  to  |)i'esent  tile  names  111'  ;iny  consiilerable  number 
of  liiose  beiiefacloi's.  It  Was  tliouglil.  howex'ei-.  Iliat  a  xci'V 
few  iniLllll  be  selected,  not  becnuse  (if  |i;i\ing  connection  with 
the  ofHcial  business  of  the  town  alone  and  theii'  identity  with 
the  material  advancement  of  the  connnunitw  or  bec:iuse  thi'\- 

iMijoyed    popularity   to   a    gl'eat    degl'ee.    but    more    es])eci;illy    t'of 
specific  work-  they   left   behind   them. — Tlistmical   data   and    in- 


4  \\(si   Uojil.ston 

formatiou  which  Avoukl  uoav  be  ijraetieally  lost,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  marks  of  their  pen :  and  whieh  must  ])rove  dnrino:  the 
years  to  come  of  untold  value  to  the  student  Avho  would  learn 
of  the  early  life  among  the  families  of  West  Boylston. 

Centennial  Committee : 

AV.  B.  WOOD 
LEON  A.  GOODALE 
DANIEL  A.  LYNCH 
WAKREN  E.   GAMMELL 
WALTER  E.  CHAP:\1AN. 


Uk£^^ 


MAJOR  EZRA  BEAMAN,  THE  FATHER 
OF  WEST  BOYLSTON. 


To  ^lajor  Ezra  Beaman  the  inhabitants  of  "West  Boylston 
are  more  deeply  indebted  than  to  any  other  individual  for 
the  public  benefits  they  enjoy  as  a  corporate  body. 

Born  in  Bolton.  Mass.,  October  16th.  1736 :  his  father.  Jabez 
Beaman.  having  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  westerly 
part  of  the  town  of  Shrewsbury,  situated  on  both  sides  of  the 
Nashua  River,  removed  thence  with  his  family  in  1746.  The 
father.  Capt.  Jabez  Beaman.  died  Sept.  22nd.  1  ('57.  in  his  53rd 
year:  the  mother.  Dinah  (^looret  Beaman.  died  Dec.  5th.  1774. 
aged  60  years.  11  months.  5  days:  date  of  marriage.  Oct.  4th. 
1732.  Ezra,  the  eldest  son.  coming  into  possession  of  the  home- 
stead, thought  it  necessary  to  take  unto  himself  a  wife,  and 
Jmie  1st.  1758.  he  married  Persis.  daughter  of  Cyprian  Keyes 
of  Shrewsbury,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  His  wife  died 
Nov.  7th.  1788.  and  he  married  2d.  ]Mary.  daughter  of  Richard 
Boylston.  who  survived  him:  but  died  June  6th.  1813.  aged  62. 
iNlajor  Beaman  died  June  4th.   1811. 

Having  been  endowed  with  a  remarkable  spirit  of  enterprise, 
reinforced  by  sufficient  energy  and  resoluteness  to  enable  him 
to  surmount  almost  every  obstacle  that  stood  across  his  path- 
way to  success;  and  having  withal,  an  excellent  foresight,  made 
Major  Beaman  throughout  his  business  life  a  successful  leader 
of  men :  and  he  readily  gained  the  confidence  of  his  neighbore 
and  the  people  who  knew  him  generally  :  no  public  work  of  auy 
magnitude  was  undertaken  in  the  town  without  first  obtaining 
his  approval.  AVhen  the  clouds  began  to  gather  along  the 
political  horizon,  threatening  a  coufiict  Avith  aims  against  the 
mother  coiuitry.  he  was  found  on  the  side  of  the  patriots  and. 


The  1>f.ama.\  Oak 
kkfkkkki)  to  in  ti i k  kaki.y  sihykys 


CnitcHiiidI  7 

as  L-aptiiiii.  drilling;'  a  compaHy  of  militia  in  th('  North  Parish 
of  Shrewsbury;  preparing'  for  the  death  struggle  should  it  be 
forced  upon  the  people.  All  through  the  war  of  the  revolution 
he  was  faithful  to  the  cause  of  ]il)erty  and  the  independence 
of  the  colonies.  At  the  ncAvs  of  the  Lexington  alarm  he  res- 
ponded to  the  call  serving  nine  days  as  first  lieutenant  in  the 
company  from  the  2d  Parish  of  Shrewsbury,  Robert  Andrews, 
captain.  On  reenlisting.  he  Avas  commissioned  first  lieutenant 
May  25th  1775,  in  captain  Jol)  Gushing 's  company,  and  was 
present  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  ever 
untiring  in  his  efforts  to  supply  demands  for  men  and  means 
for  jirosecuting  the  war;  serving  as  selectman,  member  of  the 
committe(>  of  coi'i'espondence.  safety  and  inspection,  looking 
aftei-  the  welfai-e  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field  and  various  other 
public  affairs  of  the  town. 

The  dwelling  house  he  built  in  1764.  which  stood  on  the  tract 
of  land  his  father  purchased,  was  a  spacious,  well  appointed 
and  well  constructed  building,  known  as  the  Beaman  Tavern, 
which  foi-  a  century  served  as  a  typical  AYayside  Inn.  having 
been  kept  as  a  public  house  about  that  length  of  time  by  Ezra 
Beaman  senior  and  his  son  Ezra.  Sul)se(|uent  to  the  l)attle  of 
Bunker  Hill  and  the  construction  of  crude  fortifications  by  the 
Ameri<'ans.  there  came  a  lull  in  the  strenuous  activities  of  that 
army,  and  lieutenant  IJeaiuan  sent  colonel  Ward  the  following 
connnunicat  ion  : 

"Doi'chestei'.  Octobei'  27th.  1775. 
To  Jonathan  AYard.  Esq..  Commander  of  a  Regiment  of  Foot 
in  the  Continental  Army  at  Dorchester. 
Sir: — iJeing  requii'cMl  by  Gen'l.  Orders  to  make  i-etuiMi  in  this 
way    of    my    Design    whethei-   to    continue    in    said    Coiilinental 
Ai-my  oi-  not  and  being  first  Lieutenant  of  a  Company  whereof 
.Ml-.  Jolt  Cushing  is  ('apt.  in  your  Honors  Regiment  (5c  therefore 
of  little  Importance,  which  is  a  strong  argument  for  my  being 
excused:  notwithstanding  am  willing  but  Desirous  to  use  and 
exei'cise  the  utmost  of  Liide;t\dui'  to  pi'eser\'e  and  Defend  the 
l\iv;lits  c^   1  il)ert\' "s  of  iii\-  ('ouiitrx'  both  Civil  &  Sacred  :    \-et  the 


Cfiitcintiiil  9 

many  hicdiix  (Miiciiccs  cV:  (iliimst  liii|»nssihi]itie.s  that  attend  my 
continuauee  in  Sd  Aiiny  urges  in  favor  of  my  Dismission  at 
the  last  of  Uecem'i  next.  Reing-  assui'cd  that  1  can  he  ten  fold 
more  Servieeahh'  to  the  Ai'my  being  in  my  usual  Busiiu'ss  than 
present  with  it. "' 

Am  >Sr  Your  lioni's  most  Ubdt  lV;  lluml  Servt. 

EZRA  15EAMAX."' 

It  a|)i»ears  that  his  i'ei|uest  foi-  dismissiun  was  granted  as  the 
roll  of  the  company  reports  him  in  sei-\-i('e  eight  nu)uths  from 
A]U'il  lltth.  177').  And  at  the  annual  town  nuMding  in  Slirews- 
bury,  in  177(i.  he  was  (dioseii  one  of  its  ('ommittee  of  Corres- 
pondence. Saf(dy  and  Inspeidion. 

It  is  our  pleasure  to  call  attentimi  to  his  ohi(dal  pronu)tion 
in  the  unlitary  ser\'ice  by  the  following  orders. 

"To  Samucd  Andre\\s.  ('orporal 

You  are  Iveipiii-ed  foi'thwith  Accurding  to  the  Trust  Reposed 
in  me  by  Direction  of  tlu^  (Jomnumder  of  the  Colony  of  the 
IMassaehusetts  Bay.  to  .Xotifie  &  warn  all  the  Soldiers  under  my 
Command  Li\ing  u|)oii  the  south^\ard  side  of  the  River  above 
the  Sear  I^ridge  So  eaHed  and  I  hence  to  the  meeting  house  all 
to  the  Road  leading  to  Woi-cester;  But  Not  on  Sd  Road;  to 
Ap})ear  at  the  fleeting  house  in  the  Second  Parish  in  Shrews- 
l)ury  on  Wednesday  the  oth  Day  of  June  1776,  at  tAvo  of  the 
Clock  in  the  After  Noon  with  their  Arms  Compleat  for  exercise, 
there  to  attend  further  orders  from  myself  or  some  one  of  their 
officers;  hearof  fail  not  &  make  Return  of  this  warrant  Avith 
your  Doings  thereon  to  myself  or  in  my  Absence  to  Lieut. 
FaA\cett  at  or  Before  the  Hour  mentioned. 

Given  under  my  Hand  and  Se;d  this  28  Day  of  31ay. 

Anno.  do.  1776. 

EZRA  REA:\1AN.  Capt." 

Tie  Inning  been  commissioiK^l  Captain  April  oth.  1776. 

To  Capt.  Ezra  Deanuni  or  the  Chief  officer  Present  of  said  ('om- 
pany,  Shrewsbury. 
You  are  Requireil  forthwith  to  Inlist  into  the  Colony  Service 
or  Di'aft  e\-erv  2r)th  m;in  in  tlie("ompan\-  uiuh'r  voui' Conuuand 


('riifonnttl  11 

Both  of  the  ti'tiiniiif^'  Baiul  and  of  tlie  Alann  List  aiul  see  that 
they  are  a(|uipt  AVith  Arms  and  annnunition  according  to  law 
and  Ready  to  march  at  the  Shortest  Notice  to  Dorchester 
Eights,  according'  to  Resolve  of  Council  of  the  Colony  of  the 
^Massachusetts  Bay  at  AVatertown  July  22  and  make  a  Return 
of  their  Names  so  Iidisted  or  Drafted  to  me  -Inly  27  oi-  on 
]\Ionday  morning  July  2nth. 

(xix-eii  under  my  hand  at  Crafton  this  24th  Day  of  July  177(i. 

•JOllX  (iorLDlXG.  COL. 

On  Scplciiiher  loih.  177(i.  ('apt.  Lzra  Beaman  was  order(Hl 
through  Col.  John  (iouhliiig.  to  mustei'  the  company  under  his 
command  and  draft  cxcry  fifth  man  according  to  a  resolve  of 
the  Great  and  (lenei'al  Court  of  the  Colony  of  Afassachusetts 
Bay,  and  to  make  retui'n  to  him  hy  Tuesday  night  oi-  Wednesday 
morning  next. 

June  IGth.  1777.  i-a|i1ain  Ezra  l>eaman  was  commissioned  a 
IMajor  in  the  Sixth  Worcester  regiment,  commanded  I)y  colonel 
Job  Cushing  of  Shrewsltury.  This  i-eginuMit  was  sent  forwai'd 
to  reenforce  the  northern  army  and  took  part  in  the  i>attle 
that  resulted  in  the  surrend(M'  of  general  Burgoyne  and  his 
army. 

Tt  setMus  unn(M'essarv  to  ]")r(^sent  further  docuui'Mitarv  pi'oof 
of  the  acti\'e  pai't  tak'en  by  Ezra  Beanum  in  the  sti'uggle  for 
American  independence.  l)Ut  we  ar(^  (piite  sure  thai  the  public 
will  more  fully  appreciati'  his  civic  ser\-ices  when  the  histoi'y 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  West  l)o\lston  is  fully 
undei'stoock  Eor  that  I'eason  the  following  (piotations  on  the 
subject  are  made  : 

To  the  i]dial)itants  of  the  toAvn  of  Boylston.  Gentlemen  : 

The  petition  of  the  Subscribers  Humbly  Sheweth. 
That  your  Petitioners  \iew  the  time  as  being  near  at  hand  when 
circumstances  will  admit  of  their  enjoying  Ecclesiastical  priv- 
ileges in  a  more  conscientious,  agreeable  &  in  a  much  more 
con^■enient  e^-  eidarged  manner  than  they  have  hitherto  done.  & 
being  sensible  that  Religion,  the  basis  of  human  happiness,  is 
a  natural  concomitant  of  these  privileges,  we  thiid\  it  oui-  duty 
to  re<pu'st  that  you  would  fully  consent  to  oui'  being  incoi-por- 
at(Ml    into   a   separate  Town.  District   oi'  Society,   as  yon   think 


12  W'vHi   Ji()i/lsf(,u 

inosl  [)i'(»p('i'.  W'c  do  not  solicit  this  t';i\dr  wholly  with  a  \'i(MV 
to  i)i"()m()te  our  intrests,  enioluineiit  or  i-onveiiiencc.  hut  for 
the  good  of  a  respeetal)le  numl)er  of  our  u.eighliors.  the  \v(dfare 
of  oiir  own  &  their  cliildi'cn  &  succeeding  generations. 

Your  compliance  or  non-coini)liance  with  our  rerpu'st  we  do 
not  consider  as  decisive  of  the  cause  wc  have  undertaken;  hut 
we  view  it  in  your  present  power  eitlier  to  aid  oi'  o])])ose  our 
pursuit  of  the  ohject  we  aim  at. 

AVe  now  declare  unto  you.  Gentlemen,  that  we  do  not  wish 
to  ohtain  the  prayer  of  our  Petition  to  ynu.  or  of  a  similar  one 
to  higher  powcM".  hy  any  unhiwful  or  unfaii'  means;  i)ut  l)y 
contrary  means. 

We  are  inllexihly  determined  to  use  our  utmost  efforts, 
because  we  are  persuaded  that  our  re(|uest  is  not  only  reason- 
able but  that  tliei'c  is  a  fair  prositect  of  our  being  separated 
from  you.  That  is  the  case  we  think  you  will  not  deny.  If  so. 
will  it  not  be  consistent  with  your  own  &  our  Intrest  to  grant 
US  our  request.    AVe  think  it  will. 

Consider  your  Petitioners  as  sei)arate  from  you.  and  you  will 
still  he  a  respectable  society,  mure  munerous.  of  greater  ability 
than  many  (Hher  Towns  in  this  State.  Is  a  forced  connc^ction 
with  us  worth  contending  for?  Again,  we  ask  what  injury 
can  you  sustain  by  i)arting  Avith  us. 

To  this  you  may  rejily  that  your  Alinistcn-s'  tax  will  be  a  little 
augmented.  This  will  not  wc  think  afford  suthcient  plea  to 
withstand  or  even  induce  you  to  engage  in  an  uncertain  contest. 
These  tb.ings.  Gentlemen,  we  request  you  will  wisely  consider  & 
your  petitionei's  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

HZIJA  BKAMAX  AND  27  OTHERS. 


This   petition   the  town   refused   to   grant    and    the   following 
Avas  sent  to  the  (ilreat  and  General  ("ourt: 

To  the  nonoi-able  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
General  Court  Assembled. 
Humbly  shew  tlu^  Subscri1)ers  your  petitimiers.  agents  for 
the  second  pai'ish  in  IJoylstoii.  lloldeii  and  Sterling,  in  the 
Gount\'  of  W'oi'cester,  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  parish  are 
desirous  that  the  Tenitory  belonging  to  said  parish  m;iy  he 
constituted  and  incorpoi'atc(|  into  a  District  h\'  sonu'  proper 
name  and  \-ested  with  all  the  powers  and  prixileges  which  l)y 
law  aititeitain  and  hehuiu'  to  l)islricts. 


('cnfoniidl  13 

Your  pclitiotici's  believe  that  the  Happiness  and  ('Dnirocl  of 
the  Parish  aforesaid  will  he  [)rouu)ted  by  an  ineorporat  i(»ii  into 
a  District,  that  their  eoiu-eriis  will  be  managed  Avith  more  facil- 
ity, convenience  c^  with  less  difficulty  than  in  their  present 
situation,  that  no  possible  injury  can  accrue  to  the  toAvns  of 
Boylst(»n.  llolden  .V:  Slerlin.u'  or  any  other  place,  by  your  <i'i-ant- 
ino'  their  re(|ues1. 

Vonfidently  i-elyin,u'  on  the  duslice  &  Wischnn  of  the  Legis- 
lature they  luuubly  hope  thai  theii-  petition  will  be  granted 
ami  as  in  Duty  bound  Avill  ever  i»ray. 

Jan'v  ISOT.  EZKA  HEAMAN  i  Agents  for  and  in 


j  Agents  I  < 
f  behalf  of 


JONATHAN   PLY^MPTON    f  behalf  of  the 
PAT^L  GOODALE  i  Parish  in  Poylston 


WlIddA.A!   FAIHHAXK         )lIol(hMi  &  Sterling. 

In    House   of  Re])resentatives 
•lulv  2:').  1807.  Peceived  v.V:  Committed  to  Committee  on  Towns. 

Sent  up  for  Concuri'enee.        1>EREZ  .MORTON.  Speaker. 

Tn    Senate   -lan'v    'JM.    ISOT.    IJead   tfc    Concurred. 

J.  BACON.    President. 

The  Connnittee  of  both  Houses  appointed  to  consider  tiu'  ap- 
plication foi-  the  incorporation  of  Towns.  &c..  on  the  Petition  of 
Ezra  lieaman  and  oth.ei's  reported  the  following  order  which  is 

submitted. 

SALEM  TOAYNE.  Pr.  order. 

C()MAH)X\viv\i/ni  OF  AIassachusetts. 

Ordered  :  That  the  petitioners  cause  an  attested  Copy  of  their 
Petition  witli  this  order  thereon,  to  be  served  on  the  i-espective 
Town  Clerks  of  the  Towns  of  Boylston.  Holden  &  Sterling. 
Forty  days  at  least  before  the  first  Tuesday  of  the  first  session 
of  the  next  Gener;d  Court,  that  all  persons  may  then  appear 
and  show  cause  (if  any  they  havej  why  the  prayer  of  said 
petition  should  not  be  granted. 

Tn  Senate,  dan'y  241  h.  ISOT 

Read  and  i)assed.     Sent  down  foi'  ('(nieurreiice. 

•J.  BACON.  President. 

In  House  of  JJepreseii1ati\-es  -lan'y  26th,  1807. 
Read  and  Concui'red. 

PEREZ  .MORTON,  Speakei-. 


k 


I 


Centennial  15 

A  copy  of  this  petition  \v;is  scr\('<l  upon  the  lo^vii  drik  of 
Boylston  by  Silas  Beaiuaii.  A  copy  was  sci-\c(l  upon  the  town 
clerks  of  Ilolden  and  Stei'linu'  by   K'obcrl   15.  Thonuis. 

This  pdition   bi'nu^hl    out    tbe  foUowiiiK   I'ciiionsl  rain-c : 


To  the  Honorable  Senate  &  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court    Assembled. 

The  inhabitants  of  tlie  town  of  Hoylston  in  the  ("oijnty  of 
Worcester  being  cited  on  the  Petition  of  Ezra  Beanian  and 
others  to  show  cause  wliy  the  second  Precinct  in  the  Town  of 
Boylston.  Sterling  &  Ilolden  should  not  be  lncor[)orated  into  a 
Distinct:  The  snl)scribers.  agents  for  said  Town  duly  anthor- 
ized  &;  appointed  for  that  [)urpose  Respectfully  sulnnit  to  your 
consideration  their  answer  to  the  prayer  of  said  petition. 

An  unfortunate  division  having  arisen  in  said  ToAvn.  in  the 
year  179-1,  relative  to  the  location  of  a  ^Meeting  house,  then 
about  to  be  erected,  a  few  disaffected  individuals  have  from 
that  period  been  indefatigable  in  their  exertions  to  produce  the 
dismemberment  &  eventually  tlu^  total  ruin  of  the  Corporation. 
In  persuanee  of  this  object  the  leading  petitioner  availing 
himself  of  the  itowei-  and  iiitluence  dei'ived  from  an  ample 
fortune,  erected  a  Meeting  house  at  his  own  IndiNidutd  expense 
within  the  limits  of  the  present  prcM-inct.  publicly  proclaiming 
his  intention  to  bring  a  separation  as  the  most  direct  and 
certain  means  of  destroying  the  Toami.  A  p(ditiou  was  accord- 
ingly presented  to  the  Legislature  for  the  incorporation  of  a 
new  Town  to  be  composed  of  certain  sections  of  the  towns  of 
Boylston,  Sterling  &  Ilolden  :  on  this  petition  the  said  toAvns 
were  cited  and  their  opposition  ha\ing  proved  successful,  the 
next  effort  was  to  obtain  an  Incorjjoration  of  the  present 
Precinct.  Not  satisfied  Avith  the  accomplishment  of  this  pur- 
pose, a  petition  Avas  soon  after  preferred  for  an  enlargement  of 
the  precinct  by  lopping  off  another  section  of  the  said  toAvn 
of  Boylston.  The  inhabitants  Avere  again  cited  and  notwith- 
standing their  strenuous  opposition  the  object  Avas  eff'ected. 

Having  thus  gradually  scA'ered  fi-om  the  original  Corporation 
by  far  the  most  valuable  and  fertile  portion  of  the  Territory  »S: 
more  than  one  quarter  of  the  Avhole  nund)er  of  ratal)le  pol's.  the 
remaining  Inhabitants  had  flattered  themselves  that  the  enemy 
Avould  "Cease  fi-om  ti-oubling'"  and  that  they  should  be  ]ier- 
mitted  to  enjoy  in  tranquility  the  pri\il(^ges  ^vllich  had  been 
left  to  them  after  this  injurious  encroachnu'iit. 


('('iitciiitidl  17 

It  Ix'iiiL;'  (lisciix'crccl  Iidwcnci'  tli;i1  the  Town  would  sui'vive 
lilt'  shock  and  tlint  soiiict  liiii^'  mm-c  rcinaiucd  to  lie  done  before 
tlic  Aiiticiit  Corporation  would  l>c  coinpletely  sid)\'<'i-ted,  anew 
Project  is  deviseil  jVc  an  attempt  is  now  made,  (with  a  spirit  of 
obstinate  perse\('j'ance  for  whi(di  our  leading'  opponent  is  ]>arti- 
culai'lx"  (list  iii<^uislied  1  to  c(iii\-ei't  the  Precinct  into  a  district 
nu)re  el'l'ect  ually  to  Impaii'  our  j)ri\ileg('S  and  to  acconi[)lish  this 
systematic  work  of  Destruction. 

Possessing  advantages  for  an  increase  of  popnlatiiin  mueli 
superior  to  the  first  Precinct  (fi-om  the  better  (piality  of  their 
land  (S:  other  local  canses).  it  is  calculated  with  confidence  l)y 
the  Petiticmers  that  the  I'atable  polls  Avithin  the  intended 
district  whitdi  are  now  nearly  etpial  will  soon  exceed  in  mimber 
those  Avitliin  the  Town  of  Poylston.  \\\  thus  bringing  to  their 
aid  a  small  i)ortion  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Sterling  and  Ilolden 
(who  will  coni])ose  a  })art  of  the  district)  it  is  intended  by  our 
enemies  iidiabiting  this  disatit'eeted  section  to  de|)rive  the  Town 
of  the  important  privilege  of  Representation.  Such  will  l)e 
the  Inevitable  consequence  of  incorporating  the  petitioners  into 
a  district.  Pi-o\-ided  su(di  district  is  aftatdu'd  to  the  ToAvn  of 
Boylston. 

Siudi  we  know  to  be  the  object  of  their  leaders  because  it  has 
lie(Mi  o])enly  avowed,  and  all  hough  the  i)etition  is  silent  on  the 
subject  of  annexation  they  have  publicly  declared  thcui'  in- 
tention to  l)e  aniu^xed  to  the  Town  of  l)Oylston. 

With  this  impression,  with  an  anxious  desire  to  preserve  our 
Corporate  existance,  to  retain  the  i)rivilege  of  representation 
fully  &  earnestly  to  remonstrate  against  the  prayer  of  said 
petition,  provided  the  District  thus  to  be  incorporated  is  to  be 
annexed  to  the  Towu  of  Boylston  of  which  we  are  Inhabitants. 
At  the  same  time  we  wish  to  I)e  explicitly  understood  that 
all  opposition  on  our  part  is  withdrawn  if  it  be  consented  on 
the  part  of  the  petitioners  or  is  found  expedient  by  the  Legis- 
lature to  annex  the  intended  district  to  Sterling,  Ilolden  or 
any  other  Toavii  in  the  County.  For  although  we  have  most 
sensibly  felt  the  injury  resulting  to  us  from  the  partial  dis- 
membeiment  of  this  small  but  once  united  &  flourishing  Corpo- 
ration, yet  our  peace  has  been  so  incessantly  disturbed  by  new 
projects  of  encroachment,  ami  we  have  encountered  so  much 
trouble  and  expense  in  op[)osing  these  projects  that  we  are  now 
fully  persuaded  we  shall  never  be  at  rest ;  that  our  existance 
as  a  (corporation  will  l)e  in  perpetual  jeopardy  until  this  trou- 
blesonu^  and  offending  member  is  totally  severed  from  the  boily 
which   it  thus  threatens  to  destroy. 


18  M'vsi   Boijiston 

For  the  fourth  time  the  Town  of  Boylston  is  iioav  cited  l)efore 
the  Legislature  to  answer  to  the  petition  of  Ezra  Beaman  and 
others. 

The  object  of  each  of  these  petitions  has  been  most  essentially 
to  injure  if  not  destroy  us  as  a  Corporation.  Let  Ezra  Beaman 
and  others  become  a  Corporation  totally  detached  from  ns.  & 
whatever  may  be  the  evil  we  Avill  patiently  submit. 

We  trust  with  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Legislature  to 
discern  the  object  of  the  present  petition,  &  we  trust  with  equal 
confidence  that  they  will  be  influenced  by  a  desire  of  justice  & 
a  regard  to  the  essential  interests  of  a  small  but  peaceable 
community,  to  refuse  an  act  of  incorporation  annexing  the  pro- 
posed District  to  the  Town  of  Boylston  against  the  earnest 
wishes  and  settled  opposition  of  every  Individual  who  feels  a 
solicitude  to  preserve  our  existance  as  a  Corporation. 

Boylston,  May  26,  1807.  JA:\IES  LONGLEY      1  Agents  for 

ROBERT  ANDREWS      the  town  of 
AARON  WHITE  Bovlston. 


A  remonstrance  against  annexation  signed  l)y  Jonas  Temple 
and  sixty-one  others  was  also  presented  to  the  Legislature,  the 
principal  argument  being  that  it  would  affect  the  privilege  of 
representation. 

Some  time  afterwards  agents  of  the  town  of  Boylstdii  and 
of  the  precinct  in  Boylston.  Ilolden  and  Sterling,  met  and 
signed  articles  of  agreement.  Article  1st  of  which  was  as 
follows : 

"It  is  agreed  that  the  Precinct  shall  he  incorporated  into  a 
town." 

In  due  course  the  Legislature  granted  1lie  prayei-  of  the 
petitioners  and  the  following  act  of  incorjjoral  ion  was  issued. 

An  act  to  incorporate  a  part  of  the  towns  of  Boylston,  Holden 
and  Sterling,  into  a  separate  town,  by  the  name  of  West  Boyls- 
ton. 

Sect.  1.  Be  it  enacft'd  li\'  the  Senate  and  llonse  of  l\e])resen- 
tati\('s.  in  (lenei-al  Court  assend)led.  and  l)y  the  anthority  of  the 
same.  That  the  tract  of  land,  described  witliin  the  folloAving 
])oundaries.   with    the    iidiahitanfs    lliereon.    he.    and    Ihey   are 


Centennial  19 

hereby  iueorporated  into  a  separate  town,  by  the  name  of  West 
Hoylston.  viz. : — Beginning  at  a  black  birch  tree.  t)n  Shrewsbury 
line,  at  the  south  end  of  the  center  line  of  Maiden  farm,  so 
called ;  thence,  on  said  center  line,  to  a  corner  of  the  second 
precinct  in  Boylston,  near  the  dwelling  house  of  Reuben 
Dunton;  from  thence,  following  the  line  between  the  said  first 
and  second  precincts  in  Boylston,  to  Sterling  line ;  thence,  on 
Sterling  line,  to  a  heap  of  stone,  a  corner  of  said  precinct ; 
thence  angling  as  the  line  now  runs,  between  the  first  and 
second  precincts  in  said  Sterling,  to  Holden  line ;  thence,  from 
said  Holden  line,  one  hundred  rods,  to  a  heap  of  stones,  a  corner 
of  said  first  and  second  precincts  in  Holden ;  thence  on  the  line 
between  the  said  first  and  second  precincts  in  Holden,  to  an 
apple  tree,  on  Worcester  line,  near  the  dwelling  house  of  Art- 
emas  Bartlett;  thence,  angling  on  the  town  lines  of  Worcester 
and  Shrewsbury,  to  the  first  mentioned  bound;  And  the  said 
towTi  of  West  Boylston,  shall  have  and  exercise  all  the  rights, 
powers  and  privileges,  and  be  subject  to  all  the  duties  which 
appertain  to  other  towns,  according  to  the  constitution  and  laAvs 
of  this  Commonwealth. 

Sect.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted.  That  any  persons,  with 
their  families  and  estates,  w^ho  dwell  within  the  limits  of  the 
said  town  of  West  Boylston,  and  who  were  not  originally 
incorporated  in  said  second  precinct,  by  the  provisions  in  said 
act,  and  who  shall  choose  to  belong  to  the  town  to  which  such 
persons  now  belong,  and  shall  certify  such  choice  in  writing, 
to  the  clerk  of  said  town  of  West  Boylston,  within  six  months 
from  the  first  ^londay  in  ]\Iarch  next,  such  persons,  who  so 
certify,  shall  continue  to  ])e  inhabitants  of  such  towns  respec- 
tivel}^  according  to  such  choice. 

Sect.  3.  Be  it  further  enacted.  That  the  inhabitants,  dwelling 
within  that  part  of  the  town  of  Sterling,  which  is  by  this  act 
made  part  of  the  town  of  West  Boylston,  shall  have  their  equal 
proportion  of  all  the  public  property  of  the  town  of  Sterling, 
(excepting  real  estate,  weights  and  measures)  and  shall  pay 
their  proportionate  part  of  all  the  state,  county  and  toAvn  taxes, 
and  other  taxes  and  debts  due  from  the  town  of  Sterling,  pre- 
vious to  the  first  Monday  of  March  next,  according  to  the 
proportions  in  w^hich  they  have  heretofore  paid  all  public  taxes 
and  town  debts  and  the  said  inhabitants  shall  support  their 
due  proportion  of  the  poor  persons,  who  are  now  supported  by 
the  town  of  Sterling;  And  that  any  person  who  may  have 
gained  an  inhabitancy  at  any  time  before  the  said  first  ^Fondav 
of  JMarch  next,  within  that  part  of  either  the  said  towns,  whicli 
is  by  this  act  incorporated  into  the  town  of  West  Boylston. 


20  West  Boylston 

and  Avho  shall  hereafter  need  to  he  supported  as  poor  })ersons, 
shall  he  supported  by  the  town  of  West  Boylston.  And  in  the 
future  ])i'oportion  of  state  taxes,  \intil  a  new  general  valuation 
shall  he  made,  twenty-seven  cents  shall  he  taken  from  the  town 
of  Sterling,  as  it  stands  in  the  aggregate,  and  set  to  the  town 
of  AYest  lioylston  ;  and  the  pay  of  representatives  shall  be  ad- 
justed in  the  same  i)roportion,  until  this  act  shall  be  in  force. 

Sect.  4.  He  it  further  enacted.  That  all  that  part  of  the  town 
of  Ilolden.  which  is  by  this  act  made  part  of  the  said  town  of 
AYest  Boylston,  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  part  of  the  public 
property  of  the  town  of  Ilolden,  nor  chargeable  with  any  part 
of  the  expense  of  supporting  those  poor  persons  who  are  now 
supported  by  said  town  ;  and  any  person  who  hath,  or  Avho  may 
hereafter  gain  an  inhabitancy  or  settlement  in  that  part  of 
Holden.  whi(di  is  l)y  this  act  made  part  of  the  town  of  AYest 
Boylston,  shall  ])e  supported  by  the  said  town  of  AVest 
Boylston  :  and  all  monies  now  raised,  or  which  may  be  here- 
after raised,  for  public  purposes,  and  all  tax  bills,  which  may 
be  sent  by  legal  authority,  to  said  town,  before  the  tirst  Alonday 
in  March  next,  shall  be  assessed  and  i)aid  in  the  same  manner 
as  though  this  act  had  not  passed.  And  in  the  future  propor- 
tion of  state  taxes,  previous  to  a  n(Mv  general  \aluation,  there 
shall  be  seventeen  cents  deductetl  from  the  town  of  Ilolden, 
as  it  now  stands  in  the  aggregate,  and  set  to  the  said  town  of 
AYest  Boylston.  And  the  exi)ense  of  representative,  until  this 
act  shall  l)e  in  forc(\  shall  be  paid  by  the  said  towns  of  Ilolden 
and  AYest  Boylston.  in  the  same  ])roportion  which  they  have 
heretofore  paid. 

Sect.  5.  Be  it  further  enacted.  That  the  said  toAvn  of  West 
Boylston  shall  receive  and  support  four  tenths  of  the  poor 
persons  now  chargeable  to  the  town  of  Boylston  ;  and  that  they 
shall  receive  the  same  proportion  of  all  the  military  stores,  and 
of  all  monies  in  the  treasury  of  said  town,  excepting  the  dona- 
tion from  AYard  Nicholas  Boylston,  Esq..  as  a  fund  for  the 
support  of  schools  in  said  toAvn.  And  the  said  town  of  AA'est 
Boylston  shall  pay  their  proportion  of  all  debts  and  taxes  now 
due.  and  owing  by  the  said  town  of  Boylston.  previous  to  this 
act  being  in  force;  and  until  a  general  valuation  shall  take 
place,  of  the  ])rop()rtion  in  the  state  tax.  seventy-six  cents  shall 
be  taken  from  the  town  of  Boylston,  as  it  stands  in  the  aggre- 
gate, and  set  to  the  town  of  West  Boylston;  and  the  expense 
of  representative,  shall  be  paid  in  iiroporti(ni  in  which  it  has 
been  heretofore  ])ai(l. 


('<iit('uiii<il  21 

Sect.  ().  Be  it  fni'ther  eiiaeted.  That  the  prdxisioiis  in  the 
fourth  section  of  this  ad.  concerning  inhabitancy,  shall  have 
an  equal  and  uniform  etfect  and  operation,  alike  to  the  several 
towns  mentioned  in  this  act. 

Sect.  7.  Be  it  furtln^r  enacted,  That  either  of  tlie  justices  of 
the  peace  for  the  county  of  Worcester.  Ix'.  and  he  is  hereby 
authorizcMl  to  issue  a  warrant,  directed  to  some  inhabitant  of 
the  town  of  West  Boylston.  reciuiring  him  to  notify  and  warn 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  to  ineet  at  such  time  and  place  as  shall 
be  appointed  in  said  warrant,  for  the  choice  of  all  sucdi  officers 
as  towns  are  by  law  empowered  to  choose  at  their  animal  town 
meetings. 

Sect.  8.  Be  it  further  enacted.  That  this  act  shall  be  in  foi'ce, 
and  operate  on  the  tirst  ^londay  of  3Iarch.  which  will  be  in  the 
3^ear  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight. 

(This  act  passed  Jan.  30,  1808.) 


22  MVesi  Boylston 

ACTION  TAKEN  BY  THE  TOWN  FOR  CELEBRATING 
ITS  CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY. 

Tlie  citizens  of  AYest  Boylston,  Massaelivisetts.  Avith  eom- 
nieii(la!)'('  ])iil)li('  s;]:)irit,  out  of  respect  for  those  Avho  have  left 
the  imprint  of  worthy  deeds  nj^on  the  pages  of  the  Town's 
History;  and  through  their  thoughtfulness  and  generosity 
erected  monuments  for  the  use  and  l^enefit  of  those  who  suc- 
ceeded them ; 

Therefore  as  a  slight  token  of  gratitude  for  the  public 
benefits  thus  made  possible ;  Voted  in  Town  meeting  assembled, 
to  celebrate  in  some  proper  manner  the  One  Hundredth  Anni- 
versary of  securing  the  act  of  incorporation  of  the  Town. 

VOTE  OF  THE  TOWN. 

MEETING   OF   MARCH   25.    1907. 

Voted  tiiat  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  l)y  the  ^^loderator 
to  make  such  plans  and  final  arrangements  as  it  may  deem 
necessary  for  a  celebration  of  the  centennial  anniversary  of  this 
town ;  and  that  Two  hundred  dollars  b(^  raised  and  appropri- 
ated for  that  purpose. 

The  ^Moderator.  Frank  IT.  P>aldAvin.  appointed  Leon  A. 
Goodale,  AV.  B.  Wood.  Wari'en  P].  Gammell.  Daniel  A.  Lynch. 
Walter  E.  Chapman. 

MEETING  OF  MARCH  2:5.  1908. 

Voted  to  appropriate  One  thousand  dollars  for  the  further 
celebration  of  the  centennial  of  the  town.  th(^  money  to  be  ex- 
pended by  the  Centennial  committee  some  time  in  July. 

MEETING   OF   MARCH    22.    1909. 

Voted  to  leave  the  matter  of  pulilishing  the  ]n'oceedings  con- 
nected Avith  the  centennial  exercises  in  tli"  hands  of  the  Centen- 
nial committee,  said  connnittee  to  sell  tlic  coi)ies  at  its  discre- 
tion, and  Five  hundred  dollars  was  approjjriated  for  the  same. 

Tlic  Centennial  committee  organized  Avith  W.  B.  Wood,  chair- 
man. Daniel  A.  T^ynch.  secretary,  the  other  members  being  Le(m 
A.  Coochdc.  AVarrcii  E.  (lammell.  AValtcr  L.  Chajunan. 


ONE   HUNDREDTH   ANNIVERSARY, 


TIU'R^iDAY.  .TAXTWRY  30.  1908. 


The  Town  Hall  had  Ixmmi  appi'oi)riately  decorated,  iindei* 
direction  of  ]\Ir.  Daniel  A.  Lynch,  and  all  things  were  in  read- 
iness for  the  opening  exercises.  The  Aveather  Avas  ch^ar  and 
cold  [M'oving  rather  severe  for  some  of  tln'  flch'rly  [)eople  to 
face,  allhongh  there  Avas  a  fair  i'ej)r('S('iita1  ion  of  tlicni  present 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Avhen  the  call  to  order  came; 
iiotahly.  .Mr.  Gardner  Emmons  Goodell.  of  Worcester,  fcn'merly 
of  this  lowii.  also  Thomas  Lynch.  Thomas  N.  K(\ves.  Jonathan 
^1.  Keyes,  AVilliam  AY.  Keyes.  Ashley  IL  AVood.  Cahin  Warner, 
Jonas  Alnzzy,  Lovell  A.  Lesnre,  Airs.  Lncrelia  Alorse.  and  Airs. 
Alartha  XcAvton.  all  o\ov  sev(Mity  years  of  age. 

AVhen  Air.  AV.  1>.  AA^ood.  chairman  of  the  t-ommittce  arose  to 
call  1lic  assend)lage  to  ordci-.  the  hall  was  well  filled:  and  after 
1lii'  1  wo  selections  announced  on  1lie  pi-ogi-jinnne  had  been  ren- 
ilei-ed  hy  the  orchestra,  prayer  was  offered  hy  Rev.  Lrnest  A. 
K'oy;d.  pasfoi'  of  the  First  Baptisf  chui-ch.  and  the  succeeding 
nnmliei's  on  the  official  programme  wei'e  rendered  as  they 
;i  pheai'. 


Programme 


MARCH— "Colonel  Donovan,"       .     .      .        Strachan 

STRACHAN'S  9th  REGIMENT  ORCHESTRA,  of  Boston 

OVERTURE— "Piqne  Danm/'      ....       Suppe 

ORCHESTRA 

PRAYER 

REV.  ERNEST  A.  ROYAL 

ADDRESS  OF   WELCOME 

LEON  A.  GOODALE 

READING   OF  ACT   OF   INCORPORATION 

ROGER  M.  LOVELL 

CHORUS— "In  Days  of  Old" 

HIGH  SCHOOL 

ADDRESS 

HON.  JOHN  R.  THAYER 

SONG — Shadow  Song  from   "Dinorali" 

MRS.  JEANNIE  CROCKER  FOLLETT 

SELECTION— "Mayor  of  Tokio,"      .      .      .     Liidero 
ADDRESS 

JUSTICE  ARTHUR  P.  RUGG 

SONGS—  (a)  "Christmas  Carol  of  Birds/  '   (  liaiiiijiade 

(b)  "Oh,  that  we  two  were  Maying,"   Nezmt 

(c)  "My  Lovely  Child,"        .    \         Lrliuiau 

MRS.  MARGARET  GUCKENBERGER 


Programme 


ADDRESSES 

WARREN  GOODALE  HENRY  F.  HARRIS 

ZYLOPHONE   SOLO 

HARRY  F.  CADE 

ADDRESS 

HON.  EDWARD  A.  COWEE 

SONGS— (a)  "Mattinata," Tosti 

(b)  "Cradle  Son.^," Gaynor 

(c)  "April  Morn,"         Batten 

MRS.  FOLLETT 

ADDRESS 

JOHN   S.  LYNCH 

POPULAR  SELECTION— "Shapiro's Hits,"  Shapiro 

ORCHESTRA 

SONG — "vScliwer  liegt  anf  dem  Herzen  " 

MRS.  GUCKENBERGER 

ADDRESS 

WALTER  D.  ROSS 

NATIONAL  SELECTION— 

"Tone  Pictures  of  the  North  and  South,"     Brudix 

ORCHESTRA 

ADDRESS 

LOUIS  CUTTING 

FINALE— "National  Emblem,"      ....      Baoley 

ORCHESTRA 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME  BY  LEON  A.  GOODALE. 


]\1r.  Chairman. 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

We  have  met  today  to  coiinnciiioi'atc  1lu'  one  huiitlrcdtli 
anniversary  of  tlie  iiicorpoi-alioii  of  the  Town  of  West  l)oylston. 

In  the  celebration  of  a  l)irth(lay  it  is  customary  to  cordially 
fi'rcet  the  guests,  to  heartily  Avelcome  the  visitors  and  to  show 
hospitality  to  all  the  friends.  AVe  want  to  iiii[)r('ss  upon  each 
of  you  today  that  AVest  J>oyls1(Hi  sincerely  extends  these  tokens 
to  all  who  gather  in  her  honor.  And  while  this  word  of  greeting 
is  said  to  those  of  you  who  are  gatlun'ed  here  to  pai-tieipatc^  in 
these  exercises,  it  is  extended  also  to  those  who  are  prevented 
from  hiMiig  pi'cscut  hut  whose  thoughts  today  are  of  their  old 
home  town. 

There  are  a  few  Avords  whi<'li  the  Centennial  committee 
Avonld  like  to  say  to  you   in  regard   to  these  exercises. 

AVe  have  planned  todax's  programme  as  a  snitahle  ohser- 
A'aiice  of  the  ceiileiinial  day.  if  is  not  intended  to  eox-er  the 
largei"  centennial  ceiehrat  ions  \\hicli  we  shall  recommend  later 
to  he  cai'i'ied  out  at  a   more  seasonable  time  of  the  year. 

We  have  li'ied.  howe\-er.  to  set  the  standard  so  high  that  the 
excnt    latei"  "will   exceed  this  in  magnitude  only. 

It  is  not  my  pui'pose  at  this  time  to  indulge  in  any  lengthy 
I'cmai'k's  upon  the  histoiy  of  oni-  town. 

In  order,  however,  to  ha\-e  a  proi)er  understanding  of  today's 
significance  thei'e  are  cci-tain  features  which  I  shall  try  to  point 
out  to  you  with  a  plain  statciuent  of  facts. 

it  is  generally  believed  that  the  tci'iMtory  now  West  Boylston 
was  settled  about  1720.  that  is.  it  had  been  inhabited  in^arly 
a  centni'y  befoi-e  it  became  this  town.  It  embi-aced  |)arts  of 
the  old  towns  of  Lancastei'.  Sln'cwshnrx'  and  Ilolden.     Ilei-e  the 


30  Wesi  Boi/lston 

early  settlers  established  their  homes  in  the  wilderness  far  from 
the  protection  furnished  by  their  home  towns. 

The  boundary  lines,  too,  were  changing  so  that  in  many  cases 
it  is  difficult  to  say  in  just  what  town  a  man  was  residing  at 
a  given  date. 

At  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War  most  of  the  town's 
area  was  embraced  in  the  towns  of  Shrewsbury  and  Ilolden. 

The  portion  belonging  to  Shrewsbury  was  part  of  its  North 
Parish  which  was  later  incorporated  into  the  town  of  Boylston. 

We  look  therefore  to  Shrewsbury's  North  Parish,  to  Ilolden 
and  to  Lancaster  to  learn  of  the  part  our  people  pbiycd  in  this 
great  contest.  And  it  is  with  pride  that  we  can  point  out  a 
goodly  number  of  our  early  inhabitants  who  not  only  responded 
as  jMinute  Men  on  April  19.  1775.  but  who  thi-oughout  the 
contest  were  staunch  supporters  of  the  cause  of  liberty.  This 
was  perhaps  the  more  remarkable  when  we  stop  to  consider 
that  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  ]Morse.  pastor  of  our  church,  that  is.  of 
the  Shrewsbury  North  Parish,  was  a  staunch  Tory  and  exer- 
cised all  his  great  influence  in  behalf  of  the  British  king.  So 
strong  was  the  minister  in  his  l)elief  that  it  was  not  until  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  disarm  him  and  keep  him  from 
his  pulpit  that  he  finally  subsided. 

During  this  exciting  period  one  man  stands  out  preeminent 
in  our  community.  A  selectman  of  Shrewsbury  as  well  as  an 
officer  in  the  army,  Ezra  Beaman  was  the  central  figure  around 
whom  all  gathered.  Possessing  all  of  the  qualities  of  a  leader 
as  well  as  great  wealth  he  became  the  determining  factor  in 
this  vicinity. 

Largely  through  his  eff'orts  the  North  Parish  of  Shrewsbury 
was  incorporated  into  the  town  of  Boylston  in  1786.  and  he 
became  chairman  of  its  first  Board  of  Selectmen. 

A  few^  years  later  the  church  in  Boylston  having  burned,  he 
advocated  having  a  new  one  built  a  half  mile  nearer  the  future 
AVest  Boylston.  In  this  he  was  unsuccessful  and  thereupon 
rallied  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  part  of  Boylston  and  others 
from  Sterling  and  Ilolden  and  built  a  churcli  on  our  present 
common,  which  was  dedicated  Januarv  1st.  1795. 


CentcHuial  SI 

The  contest  was  tlicii  start cd  wliidi  resulted  in  the  formation 
of  the  Second  Precinct  of  JJoylston.  Sterling-  and  Ilolden  and 
finally  on  January  30tli.  1808.  in  the  incorporation  of  this  town. 

Naturally  we  tind  that  Ezra  l^eanian  was  chosen  chairman 
of  the  first  Board  of  S(M(M'tmen  as  well  as  town  treasurer  and 
representative. 

While  it  is  prt)l)al)le  that  sooner  or  later  the  town  of  Boylston 
and  \A'^est  Boylston  would  have  separated,  on  account  of  the 
natural  division  of  the  two,  had  there  been  no  ^la.j.  Beaman, 
yet  he  was  the  man  to  accomplish  the  result  and  to  whom 
belongs  the  title  of  father  of  the  toAvn. 

That  you  may  more  fully  understand  the  nature  of  the 
document  which  created  the  town  we  will  now  ask  one  of  our 
boys,  Eoger  ]\i.  Lovell.  a  great-great-great  grandson  of  Maj. 
Ezra  Beaman  to  read  the  act  of  incorporation. 

The  Act  was  tlicii  read. 


Hon.  John  R.  Tiiayek 
i'ohmer  member  of  congress 


ADDRESS  BY  HON.  JOHN  R.  THAYER. 


There  are  certain  epochs  in  the  history  of  nations,  countries 
and  states  which  ahva.ys  attract  to  themselves  a  lasting  interest. 
They  fix  a  viewpoint  in  tlie  progress  or  doctrine  of  state  or 
empire  at  which  w(^  inA'ohintarily  pause  to  take  the  l)earings 
to  look  hack  upon  tlie  past  and  to  attempt  to  penetrate  the 
veiled  future.  Our  imaginations  embody  the  time,  the  place, 
the  circumstances,  and  fancy  we  breathe  the  air  and  spirit  of 
the  age  itself.  AVe  gather  up  the  fragments  of  facts  as  history 
or  tradition  has  scattered  them,  around  us. 

Of  memorable  events,  few  awaken  a  more  lively  interest  or 
greater  consideration  than  the  origin  of  states  and  luitions. 
Eacii  member  of  the  human  race  is  anxious  and  curious  to  know 
fi'om  whence  he  sprung,  from  what  particular  race,  unch'r  Avhat 
circumstances,  and  for  Avliat  purpose  in  the  order  of  the 
universe.  He  who  may  look  back  upon  a  long  line  of  illustrious 
ancestors,  cannot  forget  that  the  blood  stirring  in  his  own  veins 
is  drawn  from  a  common  soui-ce.  and  that  the  light,  reflected 
by  their  virtues,  casts  ui)oii  liis  own  ])ath  a  cheering  radiance. 

Ami  he.  who  may  not  claiiii  kindi-ed  with  the  illnslrions  dead, 
yet  feels  that  they  are  the  conimon  inheritance  of  his  country, 
or  state,  and  that  he  has  the  i-ight  to  share  in  their  fame  and 
Iriuinph  in  their  achievements.  And  it  should  no1  be  assumed 
that  this  propensity  of  our  nature  is  attributable  to  the  indul- 
gence of  more  pers(uial  (U'  local  vanity.  It  is  of  a  higlier  and 
noblei'  oi-igin  ;  it  is  closely  interwovcni  with  the  rexci-ence  and 
affection  with  which  we  regard  our  parents  and  the  ])ati"iarchs 
of  our  own  time — the  natural  respect  for  and  veneration  of  the 
aged.  The  toils,  llie  liardsliips,  the  inconvenience  of  (^arly 
settlements,  the  patience.  Ilie  i'orlilude  and  sagacity  displayed. 


J4  TTV'.v/   BojiJsfoji 

these  all  funiish  lessons  which  go  far  to  help  us  in  onr  every- 
day life. 

One  of  these  epochs  to  which  I  have  referred,  in  miniature 
form  I  confess  it  may  be.  we  have  gathered  here  this  day  to 
consider  and  to  study.  In  the  multiplicity  of  events  and  activi- 
ties of  a  nation,  or  even  of  a  state,  the  celebration  of  the  centen- 
nial anniversary  of  the  birth  and  founding  of  a  small  New 
England  town  attracts  but  little  attention  and  little  public 
comment,  but  to  you  sons  and  daughters  of  the  founders  of 
this  town  and  you  who,  by  adoption,  have  become,  members 
of  the  common  household,  heirs  and  joint-heirs  of  the  blessed 
inheritance  of  the  last  century,  which  has  been  handed  down 
from  generation  to  generation  for  these  hundred  years,  look 
upon  this  centennial  anniversary  of  the  founding  and  incorpora- 
tion of  your  town  of  AVest  Boylston  as  a  red-letter  day  in  your 
lives  and  as  fi  conspicuous  and  illustrious  epoch  in  the  history 
of  this  community. 

There  is  depicted  upon  your  every  countenance  an  earnest 
desire  to  hear  and  understand  every  fact,  event  and  incident  in 
detail  which  contribute  to  make  up  the  history  since  the  in- 
corporation of  West  Boylston  an  hundred  years  ago.  It  natu- 
rally requires  a  native  of  the  toAvn.  or  one  who  has  sprung  from 
the  loins  of  a  first  settler,  to  perform  this  task  most  acceptably, 
one  who  might  recite  much  in  your  local  history  which  may 
have  been  forgotten,  recall  incidents  and  events  not  generally 
laiown.  and  stimulate  you  to  action  and  aspirations  worthy  of 
the  memory  of  an  honored  ancestry. 

I  cannot  claim  this  much-coveted  distinction.  I  am  not  of  this 
manor  born,  despite  the  fact  that  some  political  wags  have  in- 
dustriously, in  time  past,  circuhited  the  report  that  I  have 
claimed  to  have  been  born  in  nearly  every  town  in  the  Third 
Congressional  District.  If  there  ever  was  a  time  when  I  would 
be  induced  to  so  far  trench  upon  fiction  as  to  claim  I  was  born 
anywhere  but  in  old,  rocky  Douglas,  this  is  the  time  and  the 
occasion  when  I  would  attempt  to  palm  myself  off  as  having 
sprung  from  the  Ezra  Beaman  stock,  or  some  other  of  the 
oriu'iiijil  founders  of  this  town. 


CciifciniidI  J  J 

But  I  must  t'oi'cgo  this  (list  itictiou  and  this  honor  and  openly 
confess  that,  instead  of  heino-  a  uative  or  an  adopted  son  of 
AVest  Boylston.  I  am  sini])ly  a  stranger  within  liei-  gates,  and  hut 
slightly  aequainted  Avith  her  people  or  the  history  of  the  found- 
ei's  of  the  town,  and  the  great  progress  and  (hn-elopmeiit  which 
lias  heen  witnessed  here  during  the  hundred  yeai-s  siuce  the 
incorporation  of  your  municipality.  And.  Avliile  I  cannot,  as  a 
son  of  West  Boylston,  enter  with  the  same  spirit  of  filial  love, 
affection  and  reverence  into  the  festivities  of  this  day.  as  the 
native  and  adopted  sons  and  daughters  of  West  Boylston  do. 
I  can  compliment  and  congratulate  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
upon  their  determination  and  purpose  to  fittingly  celebrate  this 
centennial  anniversary. 

The  average  citizen,  absorbed  in  strife  for  the  possession  of 
the  present  good  and  the  present  dollar,  or  in  tireless  pursuit 
of  a  better  future  for  himself  or  his.  too  infrequently  avails 
himself  of  the  opportunity  to  look  bacli  into  hy-gone  days  and 
acquaint  himself  with  the  conditions,  the  cause  and  effect  out 
of  which  the  present  day  came.  He  is  like  the  runner  referred 
to  by  St.  Paul  of  old,  "Forgetting  those  things  which  are  l)ehind 
and  reaching  forth  to  those  which  are  before,  he  presses  toward 
the  mark  for  the  prize  of  his  high  calling."  He  is  too  l)usy 
in  working  and  planning  for  the  needs  of  the  present  and  laying 
up  stores  for  the  future,  to  give  a  day.  or  even  an  hour,  in 
retrospect,  considering  events,  history  and  policies  which  can- 
not be  changed.  The  realities,  activities  and  demands  of 
American  life  permit  too  few  backward  views.  And  yet,  we 
must  all  concede  that  so  truly  and  with  such  constancy  does 
history  repeat  itself  that  there  are  no  safe  beacons  for  the 
future  without  light  from  the  experience  of  the  past. 


To  what  bettei'  purpose  then  can  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
this  town  better  devote  a  brief  time  than  to  the  earnest  and 
thoughtful  contemplation  of  the  Avays  and  means,  the  thought 
and  service,  out  of  which  the  great  present  lias  come,  and  to 
bring  into  lieitig  again  and  into  the  mind  and  imaii'ination  those 


36  UV'.s/    lioi/l.sfon 

conrnsi'cons  tii'st  settlers — the  lieroes.  the  stMtesmen.  the  tiUersof 
the  soil,  the  preaehers  of  the  .yospel.  the  teachers  of  the  youth, 
tlie  huihlei's  of  the  highways,  the  mills,  tin'  selioolhouses  and  the 
churches  in  the  first  and  early  limes  of  this  town — to  i-e\iew 
and  contemplate  the  customs,  the  ordinances,  the  polity  and 
everyday  life  of  that  sturdy  civilization  which,  not  only  laid 
the  foundation  deep  and  wide  for  the  mighty  growth  and 
development  of  New  England  towns,  and  especially  of  this 
distinguished  town,  Init  mingled  with  that  of  a  similar  nature 
in  other  towns  and  cities  of  the  broad  expanse  of  the  American 
continent,  subdued  a  country  of  Avild  waste  and  barbarism, 
revealed  the  majestic  resources  of  our  country  and  advanced 
our  free  Republic  abreast  of  those  grand  old  nations  of  Europe, 
from  whom  it  is  our  privilege  to  trace  an  honorable  descent. 

These  centemiial  celelu'ations  tend  to  hee])  united  that  thread 
of  historic  continuity  which  is  imi)ortant  in  all  civilized  lands, 
not  oiily  among  nations  and  countries.  Imt  among  states,  towns 
and  families. 


AYest  Boylston  was  incorporat<*d  by  Act  of  Legislature, 
Jaiuuiry  30th,  1808.  Its  population  did  not  exceed  600  and  it 
contained  less  than  100  houses,  with  ratable  polls  of  less  than 
160,  while  it  required  150  to  entitle  a  town  to  a  representative 
in  the  General  Court.  She  had  the  vecpiii-ed  number  with  six 
to  spare.  Her  population  consisted  chiefly  of  farmers,  either 
owning  and  operating  farms,  or  engaged  in  the  farming  in- 
dustry for  others.  There  were  only  about  twelve  mechanics, 
three  merchants,  one  minister,  one  tavern-keeper  and  a  few 
laborers  in  various  occupations.  There  was  one  small  cotton 
mill.  tAvo  grist-mills,  two  saw-mills,  one  cider  mill,  one  tannery 
and  four  blacksmith  shops. 


If  I  have  read  aright  the  history  of  AVest  Boylston.  the  idea 
of  equality  among  her  people  was  one  of  the  i)rominent  corner- 
stones upon  whicdi  the  toAvn  was  built,  and  upon  which  it  rests 


CcutcniiidI  37 

today.  ]n  some  of  the  sister  towns  of  jMassaehiisetts,  an  aristo- 
cracy both  in  church  and  state  was  iiot  only  asserted,  but  in 
hirge  measure  recognized.     But  not  so  in  AVest  Boylston. 

The  people  here  in  the  earlier,  as  Avell  as  in  the  more  recent 
times,  ])elieved  in  the  justice  and  necessity  of  securing"  for 
themselves,  and  for  those  Avho  should  come  after  them,  an 
equal  right  before  the  law  in  every  essential  phase  of  life,  and 
the  principle  came  to  be  a  solemn  article  of  faith.  They  insisted 
from  the  beginning  that  there  should  be  no  ''chosen  people", 
that  here  there  was  no  room  for  a  self-assumed  aristocracy. 
Whoever  came  to  join  those  who  had  a  few  years  preceded 
them  were  made  to  feel,  and  to  realize,  that  here  was  the 
adopted  home  of  the  free-men,  that  the  land,  the  rivers,  the 
schools  antl  all  the  institutions,  witli  their  sacred  privileges, 
were  not  foi*  the  few.  l)ut  f(U'  all. 

Tlie  fathers,  in  their  time,  and  the  sons,  in  theirs,  detected 
from  afar  the  first  approach  of  anything  like  an  exclusive  spirit 
and  attempted  monopoly  in  society  or  in  business,  or  in  any 
form  of  poAV(M'  which  tended  in  the  least  degree  to  subjugate  one 
man  to  the  will  of  another;  but  in  honor  only  preferring  one 
anotlier.  Here  was  presented  a  good  example  of  pure  democ- 
racy, exeept  in  its  political  sens(\  and  here  it  has  remained  to 
the  present  time. 

AYe  linger  to  listen  to  the  grand,  though  sim{)le,  story  of  the 
first  settlers.  That  fascinating  touch  of  the  mind,  which  ideal- 
izes and  glorifies  the  past,  made  so  intcMisely  interesting  by  the 
toilsome,  sacrificing,  frugal,  but  dignified,  life  of  those  vene- 
rated fathers  of  this  community,  who  lived  in  touch  with  the 
very  heart-throb  of  nature,  and  because  of  that  touch,  it  some- 
tinu-'s  seems  to  us  liiat  we  IcnoAV  them  better  than  Ave  knoAV 
those  of  the  ])resent.  The  siniple  cottage,  the  crude  and  in- 
artistic home  are  more  interesting  to  us  than  the  more  spacious 
mansions  of  today.  The  early  Avindiiiill  and  water-wheel  are 
iiioi-e  interesting  to  recall  than  tiie  air-shi|)s  and  steam-engines. 
AVe  pi-efer  to  reproduce  in  our  imagination  the  old  stage-coacli. 


38  irr.s/    Boijiston 

the  wooden  plough  and  saddle-bags  than  h)()k  upon  the  steam 
and  electric  ears,  the  automobiles  and  telephone  appliances. 


AVest  Boylston  is  one  of  the  younger  towns  of  the  state,  and. 
while  she  put  in  an  appearance  rather  late  in  the  sisterhood  of 
towns  in  this  county,  she  lays  claim  to  having  sprung  directly 
and  indirectly  from  five  other  towns,  and  as  having  taken  with 
licr  from  hei*  many  mothers,  what  was  best  and  most  useful  for 
a  prosperous  toAvn  out  of  each  of  the  towns  from  which  she 
sprung.  West  Boylston  has  within  luu-  boundaries,  territory 
Avhich  at  one  time  belonged  to  Boylston.  Ilolden.  Sterling, 
Shrewsbury  and  Lancaster. 

Nature  abundantly  provided  for  West  Boylston.  Here  when 
considered  in  connection  with  other  NeAv  England  towns,  she 
had  more  than  avci-agc  i-icli  and  j)roductiv('  soil,  covered  in 
many  parts  with  large  growth  of  valuable  timber.  The  surface 
like  most  other  towns  in  this  ccninty.  was  diversified  with  hills, 
plains,  valleys,  well  watered  with  springs.  V)rooks  and  rivers. 
The  Nashua.  Quiiuipoxet  and  Stillwater  Rivers,  with  their  tri- 
butaries, furnished  natural  power  for  manufactories  and  other 
industries.  e(|ua]led  by  that  of  few  towns  in  The  state.  The 
citizens  of  the  town  eai'ly  took  advantage  of  the  natural 
resources  and  estalilished  u])on  the  l)anks  of  these  streams 
many  large  and  imi)ortant  maiuifactories.  which  naturally 
contributed  much  to  the  Avealth  and  growth  of  the  town.  Alas, 
the  day  canu'  when  a  ruthless  Imnd  swept  them  off  the  face 
of  the  land. 

When  she  was  incorporated  as  a  town  in  LSOS,  with  her 
600  inhabitants,  she  was  the  pi-oud  possessoi'  of  thi-ee  school- 
houses,  one  tavern,  one  church,  one  minister,  with  a  bounteous 
yearly  salary  of  .$333. 

It  is  not  my  pur]>ose  to  allude  to  many  of  tbe  prominent  first 
settlers  in  youi-  town  and  the  part  they  tool\  in  the  first  years 
of  its  incorpoi'ate  existence.  An  occasion  like  this  should  not 
pass,  liowexci-.  without  some  uu^ntioii  nf  one  whom  liistory 
declares    did    nioi'e    to    bi'iiig    about    the    iiicor[)ofat  ion    of    the 


Centennial  39 

town.  ;iii(l  more  toward  its  maiiitenaiice  in  those  early  trying 
xcai-s  of  its  existence,  than   any  othci-  one  man. 

.Major  Ezra  Beaman,  in  his  younger  days,  was  a  resident  of 
Boylston  and  qnite  a  religions  enthusiast.  West  Boylston,  like 
many  other  towns,  can  trace  the  cause  of  her  existence,  back 
to  a  religions  controversy.  TIk^  time  came  in  1796,  when  a 
new  church  was  to  be  l)uil1  in  Boylston,  and  a  controversy 
ai'ose  as  to  certain  tempts  in  the  creed  of  the  church.  Tend- 
(Micies  toward  Calvinism  and  tcTidencies  toward  Unitarianism. 
w]ii(di  then  began  to  be  felt  in  the  one  and  only  cburch  in 
Boylston.  were  no  more  likely  to  assimilate  then  than  they 
are    now. 

Where  the  new  sti'ueture  should  he  located  was  another  vital 
(|uestion.  the  decision  of  Avhich  was  destined  to  play  a  most 
important  part  in  the  founding  of  this  town.  The  pious 
])arishioners  Avaxed  warm  in  tlie  contro\ersy.  and  being  unable 
to  agree  upon  either  question  in  dispute,  a  poi'tion  of  the  then 
tirst  parish  seceded  and  built  tlieii-  church  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  "Old  Common",  and  took  the  name  of  the 
Second  Parish  of  Boylston.  Sterling  and  Ilolden. 

The  ruling  spii-it  in  the  establishment  of  this  Second  Parish 
was  Ezi'a  Beaman.  who  Avas  at  that  time  one  of  the  wealthiest 
iidiabitants  in  this  \icinity.  a  man  of  rare  judgment,  upright 
chai-actcr  and  sti'ong  will.  ITe  conti'ibuted  most  generously  for 
the  l)uiUling  of  the  new  church,  took*  the  gtMieral  superintend- 
ence and  charge  of  the  huilding  and  also  took  a  deep  satisfac- 
ti(»n  in  constant  attendance  Avith  his  f(dlow-Avoi'shippers  there 
during  the  remaindei'  of  his  life.  ^Ir.  Beaman 's  opinion  and 
judgment  Avere  sought  upon  all  ([uestions  of  a  public  nature, 
and  usually  accepted.  Many  matters  of  the  deepest  interest 
might  this  day  he  recalled  in  comiection  Avith  .Major  Ezra 
lieaiiiairs  conspicuous  position  and  |)()Aver  in  the  early  history 
of  this  town.  For  many  yeai-s.  he  had  the  most  important 
puhlic  {)osition  and  office  in  the  toAvn.  represented  it  many 
times  in  the  General  Court,  aiul  Avas.  in  short,  the  one  conspic- 
uous leadei'  in  the  town  during  its  first  trving  A'ears. 


40  ~Wesi  Boylston 

But  tli(^  limited  time  allotted  to  me  will  not  pei-mit  me  to  go 
into  these  matters  of  history,  although  I  cannot  omit  to  recall 
the  fact  that  not  a  Beaman  springing  from  this  old  original 
stock  is  alive  today.  The  illustrious  name  and  all  it  stands  for 
is  only  a  blessed  memory  of  the  early  history  of  the  town. 

Next  to  him.  T  name  the  founder  and  author  of  the  old 
Farmers  Almanac.  Eohert  B.  Thomas,  who  was  another  of  the 
conspicuous  and  influential  first  settlers. 

Who  of  us  past  fifty  cannot  recall  the  advent  every  year  of 
a  new  copy  of  Robert  B.  Thomas'  "Old  Farmers  Almanac", 
our  regular  New  Year's  present  —  and  those  prophecies  of  the 
weather  made,  as  of  course  they  nuist  have  been,  nearly  a  year 
in  advance.  1  can  now  vividly  recall  one  of  the  weather  prob- 
abilities printed  in  italics  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  page, 
devoted  to  the  month  of  July,  beginning  near  the  top  opposite 
July  1st  and  ending  nearly  at  the  bottom  opposite  July  31st : 

"About  this  time,  look  out  for  heavy  thunder  showers." 

It  was  a  little  difficult  to  determine  what  day  or  week  in 
the  month  we  were  to  look  out  for  thunder  showers,  but  we 
accepted  the  warning  with  as  much  assurance  and  confidence 
as  we  do  now  the  prophecies  of  I\Ir.  Foster. 

Then  too,  later  on,  come  the  Bigelows,  Erastus  B.  and  Horatio 
N.,  inventors  of  looms,  and  afterwards  extensive  carpet  manu- 
facturers. We  might  profitably  s])end  time  in  referring  to  the 
conspicuous  services  and  untiring  etforts  to  promote  the  growth 
of  the  town,  to  such  names  as  Sawyer.  Houghton.  Dinsmore. 
Goodale,  Fairbanks,  jMoore.  Pierce.  Lovell.  Brigham.  ]\Iurdock. 
Wheeler,  Pratt.  ]\lason,  Ilosmer.  Kevins,  Harris  and  Cowee. 


In  ISIT).  September  2.")d.  occui'red  tlu^  "great  blow",  as  it 
has  bet'ii  called,  uprooting  trees,  demolishing  buildings  and 
fences  and  carrying  ruin  and  devastation  in  its  train,  and 
while  great  injury  was  caused  by  this  tornado,  the  injury  thus 
caused   is  nol   1o  be  compared  Avith  the   ruin  and  devastation 


(/ciifciniidl  41 

(•;iiis(m1  hy  the  " '  cyclDiic ""  Avhicli  sli'iick  tliis  town  in  1895,  when 
the  L('g'isl;ituft'  passed  what  is  known  as  the  "' .M('tro])olitan 
Water  Act."' 

By  the  |)rovisions  of  this  Ictiislativc  act.  authority  was  o^ix-cn 
for  certain  commissions  to  bnikl  just  l)ey()nd  the  boundary 
of  your  town  an  immense  dam.  which  was  estimated  to  cost 
ten  millions  dollars,  hul  did  cost  fifteen  million,  and  to  flow  a 
greater  pai-1  of  the  best  and  most  fertile  portion  of  your  town. 
By  that  act.  hundreds  and  thousands  of  acres  nave  been  taken 
for  a  part  of  a  basin,  and  its  protection,  to  store  water  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  the  cities  and  towns  from  here  to  the  Atlantic. 

AYe  can  gather  some  idea  of  the  spirit  ami  feeling  whicli 
actuated  those  having  in  charge  this  great  Avork  of  pro\iding 
for  the  necessities  of  those  wh(j  were  located  ui  Boston  and 
vicinity,  and  how  thoughtful  or  thoughtless  of  your  interest 
they  were,  hy  referrijig  to  this  statement  contained  in  the 
report  to  the  legislature  of  the  .State  Board  of  Health  in  1895. 

"In  considering  the  i)laces  foi'  the  pro})osed  resei-voir  above 
the  Lancaster  ^lills.  we  ha\('  been  impressed  by  the  very 
serious  changes  which  Avill  be  produced  in  the  towns  of  Boyls- 
ton  and  West  Boylston.  It  does  not  appear  to  us  to  be  a  very 
important  objection  to  oui'  plan  that  certain  mill-sites  will  be 
80  feet  beneath  the  sui'face  of  the  basin,  nor  that  the  homes  of 
many  industrious  people  de})en(lent  upon  these  mills  for  their 
living  will  be  also  submerged,  because  all  these  can  be  paid  for, 
and  an  equivalent  will  be  gixcn  —  damages  foi-  which  we 
have  caused  careful  estimates  to  be  made." 

It  is  not  my  i)uri)ose  to  enter  into  any  discussion  of  the 
necessity  for  this  act.  nor  do  I  intend  to  harrow  up  your  fec^lings 
by  a  recital  of  the  burdens  you  have  borne,  and  contiinu'  to  bear 
■ — the  sacrifices  you  haxc  nuide  f(»r  the  benefit  of  your  fellow- 
citizens  of  the  great  city  of  l^oston  and  its  suri'ounding  cities 
and  towns. 

Sufficient  it  is  for  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  which 
this  act  most  forcibly  and  huneiilably.  for  the  interests  of  this 
town,  exeiiiplilies.  namely,  that  in  this  fi-ee  America  excry 
man    avIio    is    the    owiiei-    of    his    home    deceixes    himself    if    he 


42  Wv^i   Hoijlsiou 

assuiucs  ttijit  he  ciiii  Idok  dill  ii\('i'  his  few  or  many  ar-res  and 
feel  that  he  is  ihc  pfoud  (•wiici-  and  possessor  of  the  soil  and 
Ids  lioiiic.  and  that  no  one  can  (h'i>ri\c  liiin  of  it  Avitliont  his 
consent. 

The  secni'ity  which  we  feel  in  tlie  ownecsldp  and  control  of 
our  lainhnl  possessions  as  coni|)ared  with  the  land  tenure  in 
other  countries  lias  been  foi'cihly  stated  l)y  another  in  these 
words:  ""'rhe  wind  and  rain  may  entei'  the  hunil)le  home,  hut 
the  King  cannot."  You  will  hereafter  look  upon  this  statement 
as  sim]ily  a  fisTTiri^  of  speech,  for  it  appears  after  all  that  we  are 
oidy  the  owner's  and  ])ossessors  subject  always  to  a  higher 
authority.  —  the  sovereignty  of  the  State.  —  that  while  we 
hold  our  land  estates  in  f(M'-sim])!e.  sonndimes  a  simple  fee 
deprives   us  of  them. 

Today,  looking  out  over  the  southeastei'ii  jxtrtion  of  your 
town.  Avhei'e  orn-e  were  many  happy,  flourishing  farmers  and 
tenants,  where  once  w^ere  large  and  flourishing  manufactories 
and  business  enterprises,  one  now  sees  oidy  a  wide  waste  of 
trackless  water,  upon  Avhose  surface  not  a  boat  or  sail  or  (»thei' 
evidence  of  life  is  permitted  to  a})pear.  save  the  few  minions  of 
the  law.  who  patrol  the  gravcdly  shores  of  this  lifeless  waste 
of  Avater  in  the  hopes  of  apprehending  some  one  who.  per- 
chance, may  pass  beyond  the  (h^ad  line  and  become  a  trespasser 
upon  the  realm  of  the  "^leli-opolitan  Basin.'* 

Not  satisfled  with  de^poilinu'  a  large  jtortion  (d'  the  fairest 
part  of  youi'  pi'oducti\-e  land,  they  ha\'e  added  the  teri'ors 
of  the  police  officers  and  the  jail  if  you  xcnturc  1o  pass  over 
a  rod  of  the  sacred  soil  or  rocks  which  form  the  shores  and 
boundaries  of  the  \"ast  watei-  waste.  To  he  sure.  I  should  not 
overlook  tln^  fact  that  a  fair  compensation  was  1o  he  paid  to 
the  oAvners  Avhose  homes  Avere  despoiled  —  the  coni|)ensat ion 
to  ])e  determined  1»\'  the  hai'd  and  fast  lines  of  a  pui'cly  husiness 
enterprise. 

The  sentiment  of  the  ohl  home,  the  place  (d'  lii1h.  the  com- 
panionship of  relatix'es  and  neighl)ors.  llie  scenes  of  (ddldhood, 
the  home  of  adxancing  and  maturing  yt-ars.  \vent  fiu'  naught 
in    this   purely    cuminci'cial    en1ei-|)rise.     -lusl    so    niuidi.    \\\\k\   no 


('('uictniidl  43 

inoi'c.  as  a  willinj/  huyn-.  thouirh  a  s1  i-aiiLTci-  from  the  IMiilip- 
l)in('s.  wnuld  i^ivc.  and  a  williiitr  si'llcr  would  accept,  was  the 
liard  and  fast  nilc  whicdi  was  to  ](i-c\ail.  ai)d  did  i)revail.  in 
deciding  tli(^  conipoiisation  which  youi-  citizens  received  for 
lieinjr  dcprix'ed  of  their  homes,  and  all  saciVMl  association 
of  home  life. 

Hnt  wht^thei'  a  fair  and  just  amount  was  paid  for  the  projx^rty 
taken,  imjjaii'ed  or  destroyed,  or  not.  the  pros]>ei'ity  and  natural 
•rrowth  and  devidopment  of  the  town  was  siM'ioiisly  i-etarded 
and  im]iaii'ed.  The  lar,ire  and  profitable  nminifacturinj^:  in- 
dustries wei'e  substantially  or  etitii-ely  desti-oyed  for  all  time 
and  till'  most  ])i'oductive  ])()rtion  of  your  town  for  agriciilture 
was  drowned  and  blotted  out  of  existence.  As  a  thrifty  and 
pi'osperous  manufacturin.sr  town,  you  are  seriously  and  sadly 
affected. 

Your  po]>ulation  deci'cased  fi'om  fd)out  'lM)()  in  1!)()()  to  about 
I.IOO  in  IfK).").  But  1h(^  i-esolutc  and  indomitable  spirit  Avhiidi 
characterizc^l  the  foundei-s  of  this  town  and  which  has  pre- 
vailed through  the  generations  since,  would  not  i)ermit  des- 
pondency, doubt  and  fear  to  long  ]-(4ain  an  abiding  place  here. 
You  would  iKtt  remain  demoralized.  You  would  not  down.  You 
determined  that  the  town  should  not  be  destroyed,  that  obsta- 
cles in  youi-  ])athway  of  progress  could,  and  should,  be  removed. 
You  saw  that,  while  youi'  numy  and  \ai'ied  manufactories  wei'e 
gone,  nevei"  to  return,  and  your  agricultui'al  industries  had 
been  most  seriously  in.jui-ed  and  largely  destroyed,  the  question 
before  you  Avas  Iioav  to  secui'(^  ot  hei's  to  take  i)laces  of  those  who. 
dependent  upon  your  many  and  flourishing  nuinufactories.  were 
forced  to  leave  you  and  find  business  and  emi)loyment  in  other 
places.  You  saw  that  there-  yet  remained  most  beautiful  and 
inviting  sites  and  locations  foi-  residences  where  those  seeking 
honu-s  away  fi'om  the  din  and  sti-ife  of  a  busy  life  could  find 
(piiet  and  peaceful  homes  in  an  intelligent  and  law-abiding 
comnuniity.  with  none  to  molest  or  mak'e  afi-aid. 

And  so  to(la\-.  while  the  manufai-tories.  mills.  slio]>s.  stores, 
schools  and  churches  ha\'e  (le[)arted.  ncNcr  to  I'etui'n.  and  your 
fields.  inea(lo\\-s.  foi-ests.  i'aniis  and  homes,  ai'e  now  co\-ered  b\-  a 


44  V\^esi  Bojilsfon 

broad  expanse  of  soulless.  iiei'\'eless  AvatiM'.  there  has  sprung  up 
in  the  western  part  of  your  tcwn  many  ncAV.  comfortable  and 
beautiful  homes,  inhabited  by  earnest,  learned  and  cultured 
people,  and  in  this  Avay.  Avith  the  ucaa-  blood,  youi'  poi)ulation 
and  your  i-cvenues  are  increasing.  There  has  been  already  a 
great  change  in  the  character  and  quality  of  your  residents. 
This  has  become  a  beautiful  residential  toAvn.  tlear  to  the  towns- 
people and  especially  attractive  for  those  in  other  cities  and 
toAA^ns  looking  for  a  location  for  a  home  in  a  healthy,  quiet  and 
attractive  sulnir])an  toAvn. 

You  haA'C  proportionately  excelled  your  sister  toAvns  in  the 
last  fcAV  years  in  the  number  and  quality  of  your  churches, 
public  buildings  and  private  residences.  Avhich  lia\(^  been  built 
here.  AVest  Boylston  is  destined,  in  the  years  to  come,  to  be 
one  of  the  most  attractive  and  beautiful  subui'ban  toAvns  in 
our  county. 

What  is  the  approju'iate  lesson  thi^  pres(Mit  residents  of  this 
toAvn  should  draAV  from  this  day's  (^xercises  and  the  eelebraticni 
of  this  centennial  anruA'crsary  ?  We  have  seen  the  toAvn.  Avith 
a  beginning  of  less  than  600  jieople.  groAV  to  more  than  2.")(ii) 
in  eighty  years,  and  in  Avealth  and  material  advancement,  she 
has  equalled  her  growth  in  popnlatioii.  You  nun4  today  a 
united  and  prosjxM-ons  people.  You  constitute  a  conspicuous 
component  part  of  a  thriving  and  prospei-ous  county  and  gi-cat 
community.  Your  advancement  lias  been  proportionate  Avith 
the  ad\'ancement  of  the  state  and  nation. 

The  old  Puritan  bb)<»d  of  the  founders  has  commingled  Avith 
that  of  the  ncAV  comer  from  foreign  shcu'es.  Amalganial  ion 
has  taken  place  here  as  (^Isewhere.  throughout  our  Re})ublic. 
What  a  radical  change  has  takeu  plac(^  in  your  po[)ulation.  and 
not  only  in  your  population,  but  as  avcII  in  the  trend  of  your 
industries  and  development,  and  yet  in  your  groAvth.  ful\an- 
cement  and  acquisitions,  you  have  only  kept  step  in  a  general 
way  Avith  all  the  other  communities  in  this  great  country.  You 
are  jnslly  proud  of  your  to\\ii.  \dui'  stale  and  your  country  — 
their  inslilutions  and   their  |>eo 


OltU' 


CcnlonndJ  45 

One  Iniiidrcd  ycai's  a^o  today,  tlicrc  was  hut  (Uic  pci'son  of 
foreign  l)irtli  in  this  town.  Today,  a  majority  of  the  iiilud)it- 
ants  can  traee  tln-ir  blood   to  foreign  countries. 

History  teaelies  that  great  raees  are  made  of  the  mixture  of 
i-aces.  The  hi'avest  and  |)Ui'rs1  Itlood  of  the  worhl's  great  race 
is  mixed  in  the  American,  and  I  in  no  respect  refer  to  the 
marriages  of  American  Avealth  and  \anity  with  the  crowned 
or  uncrowned  heads  of  the  ()ld  Worhl. 

You  are  a  part  of  the  great  American  Republic,  the  grandest 
country  the  sun  shines  upon.  Our  nation  contains  the  most 
diversified  and  assiniihiti\e  elements  that  ev(M"  composed  a 
great  nation.  It  is  the  l)est  k^cated.  most  compact  and  sym- 
metrical of  all  nations.  North  and  South  of  us  are  friends, 
from  whom  there  is  nothing  to  fear.  East  and  AVest.  the  ever- 
lasting seas  our  bulwark,  if  we  stop  meddling  Avith  the  islands 
ami  their  people  on  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  have  risen  to  great- 
ness as  a  nation  nioi'c  rapidly  than  ever  did  a  great  nation 
before,  and  our  ascendency  is  less  endangered  from  without 
than  was  ever  that  of  any  other  great  nation. 

AVe  have  outrun  the  prophecy  of  our  progenitors,  and  sur- 
passed the  ideals  of  our  founders.  Our  people  understand 
each  other  better  than  they  have  heretofore,  have  more  hearty 
feelings  of  friendship  and  sympathy  for  each  other.  At  home 
and  abroad,  the  princii)les  of  and  the  flag  of  the  American 
Union  Avere  never  more  res])ected.  This  is  our  country,  of 
which  this  state  and  this  toA\  n  compose  a  definite  part.  All  this 
vastly  rich  inhei-itance  which  we  in  common  Avith  f)()  million 
of  American  ])co])lc  this  day  enjoy,  has  been  made  possible,  in 
large  measure,  by  the  efforts,  judgment,  trial,  sacrifice  and 
suffering  of  the  fouiidei's  and  defenders  of  this  town  ami  other 
towns  throughout  th.e  states.  mal\ing  up  this  magnificent 
country. 

These  are  some  of  the  thoughts  Avhich  come  to  you  today, 
just  passing  the  first  centemiial  mile-stone.  AYho  can  penetrate 
the  future  to  foretell  Avhat  shall  be  the  hai-\'est  of  the  next 
hundi-cd  years?  Ts  it  possil)le  that  those  who  come  aftei"  us  shall 
Avitiu^ss  the  same  deerree  of  advanccnuent  and  de\-eloMiiient  that 


46  TTf.vf  Boylston 

you  have  witnessed  as  the  result  of  the  evolutions  of  the  last 
century?  Will  telephones,  electric  ears.  autom«.'  ^  ■  the 
thousand  and  one  uses  to  which  electricity  has  ^  ^iied. 

become  obsolete  and  out  of  use.  and  if  so.  what  will  have  taken 
their  places? 

One  hundred  years  ago  there  was  not  a  steamboat  in  exist- 
ence and  the  application  of  steam  to  maehineiy  was  unknown. 
In  1S<>7.  Fulton  launched  the  first  steamboat-  At  that  time. 
there  was  not  a  single  railroad  in  this  country  or  any  other. 
The  nrsr  I.  ..-'motive  in  our  cotmtry  was  built  in  ISoO.  The  first 
electric  telegraph  was  installed  in  1S43.  We  read  in  our  local 
.      \  .ig  what  transpired  in  the  countries  of  Europe 

-r  ^  :  next?  What  can  our  posterity  do  to  add  to 

these  mighty  achievements*    We  cannot  now  imagine  unless 
-  '  utilize  some  aerial  vehicle  which  will 

7     _.^    _  _     space  in  safety,  at  a  speed  exceeding 

the  railroad  cars,  and  p<^sibly  the  telescope  will  be  so  far  per- 
fected that  it  can  be  clearly  •"  -d  just  what,  if  anything, 
is  transpiring  on  the  planets,  i —  — i-d  stars. 

But.  whatever  the  future  has  in  store  for  West  Boylstou. 
may  those  who  come  after  res«:»lve  to  emulate  whatever  they 
find  ff«X!d  in  those  who  have  gone  before.  —  their  courage,  their 
sell-denial,  their  indtistry  and  their  thoughtfulness  for  every- 
thing which  works  for  the  uplift  of  the  town  so  that  those  who 
come  after  you  to  celebrate  the  second  centennial  anniversary 
of  West  Boylston  may  see  around  them  the  results  of  your 
efforts,  trophies  of  your  energies  and  usefulness  and  may  hold 
yorLT  names  in  affect:  "-'  '  :  '  •"  reverent  remembrance, 
which  you  this  day  s  -  vingly  pay  to  the  sacred 

memorr  of  vour  ancestors. 


ADDRESS  BY  JUSTICE  ARTHUR  P.  RUGG. 


The  anniversary  celebration  of  the  founding  of  a  town  is  an 
rveut  of  surpassing  interest.  "Age  cannot  wither  nor  custom 
stale"  the  sentiments  with  which  mankind  regards  the  recur- 
ring periotis  v.hieh  commemorate  the  establishment  of  civil 
institutions  and  their  preservation  through  times  of  darkness 
and  struggle.  Our  national  birthday  has  always  been  observed 
with  universal  rejoicing,  and  the  memorial  requiem  for  those 
who  fought  and  have  died  that  " "  government  of  the  people,  by 
the  people  and  for  the  people  might  not  perish  from  the  earth" 
commands  the  hushed  reverence  of  a  reunited  people.  If  the 
day  shall  ever  come  when  these  national  holy  days  no  longer 
hold  the  attention  of  a  country  of  intelligent  and  patriotic 
citizens,  then  will  the  eyes  of  Freedom  be  dimmed  with  tears, 
and  her  head  be  shrc>uded  with  dread  apprehensions  for  the 
future.  A  people  which  forgets  the  traditions  of  their  liberty 
ceases  to  prize  liberty  at  its  true  value.  When  compared  with 
the  hoary  antiquity  of  the  cities  of  other  countries,  the  oldest 
of  our  American  municipalities  seem  scarcely  to  have  com- 
menced a  career.  Not  to  speak  of  some  of  the  remains  of 
oriental  civilization  whose  history  stretches  back  before  the 
beginning  of  the  Christian  era  many  centuries  more  than  have 
elapsed  since  the  birth  of  the  Saviour,  there  are  towns  in  the 
fatherland  of  England,  whose  recorded  existence  is  at  least 
<-.^eval  with  the  lirst  of  the  Csesars. 

But  among  the  towns  of  ^Eassachusetts  none  have  more  hon- 
orable or  inspiring  annals  than  that  group  which  trace  their 
lineage  directly  or  more  remotely  to  Fair  Lancaster  by  the 
Xashaway.  The  oldest  town  in  Worcester  county,  dating  her 
corporate  existence  from  1653.  her  pioneers  were  as  resotircefi:! 
and  skilful  and  brave  as  anv  that  ever  --i^  .i^i— i    -^    -^'vasre 


IIox.  Airnii  i:  P.  Uvcc,  of  \\'oi{cester 

JUSTICE    .SUTREJIE  .ILDU  lAJ.  rorirr    OK    .MASiSAClIUSETTS 


^vil(l('l•n('ss.  and  turned  it  into  paths  of  i)leasantness  and  peace. 
IMidMiix-liUe  she  i'<ise  fi'oni  the  (h'vastation  of  Indian  eontiagra- 
tion.  and  renewed  her  strength  after  the  horrors  of  massacres 
l)y  the  I'edskins.  Her  first  settler,  John  Prescott,  not  only 
foniKh'd  a  township,  construeted  I'oads  and  bridges,  cleared 
forests,  and  l)uilt  settlements,  l)ut  he  estaljlished  the  first  saw 
and  grist  mill  in  the  county.  He  was  thus  the  prototype  of  the 
builders  of  the  great  manufacturing  industries  which  have  been 
the  foundation  of  th(^  prosperity  of  this  toAvn  of  yours  and  of 
our  great  county.  The  modern  i)hrase.  Captain  of  Industry, 
descril)es  hut  one  of  his  many-sided  activities.  Beyond  all.  he 
was  the  first  citizen  of  tlie  community  in  which  he  lived,  a  proud 
distinction,  than  Avhich  tliere  is  no  title  more  honorable  or  de- 
serving the  grateful  recognition  t)f  successive  generations. 

Lancaster  has  the  pre-eminence  among  all  her  sisters  of  this 
county  at  least,  and  perhaps  of  the  entire  Commonwealth,  of 
I)eing  the  mother  of  many  towns.  The  process  of  separation 
began  with  Harvard  in  1732,  and  was  followed  closely  by 
liolton  in  1738  and  Leominster  in  1740.  Then  after  an  inter- 
val of  nearly  half  a  century,  out  of  her  ample  boundaries  was 
carved  Sterling  in  1781  and  Boylston  in  1786.  whih_^  in  1762 
and  1781  small  parcels  were  set  off  to  Shrewsbury.  In  1850 
Clinton  claimed  for  the  hitest  townsliip  a  tract  small  in  area. 
l)ut  large  and  still  growing  in  manufacturing  industry.  In 
1784  Berlin  was  incorporated.  oAving  a  large  part  of  her  ter- 
ritory to  what  had  l)een  taken  from  Lancaster  by  Bolton,  and 
when  you  became  a  township  in  1808.  far  the  larger  share  of 
your  broad  acres  canu^  from  Sterling  and  Boylston.  themselves 
daughters  of  Lancaster.  On(»  of  your  representatives,  there- 
fore, once  appropriately  described  your  t(»wn  a  grand-daughter 
of  Lancaster.  Nine  towns  trace  their  lineage  to  Lancaster.  In 
the  circle  of  municipalities  owing  filial  fealty  to  this  beautiful 
mot  her  of  toAvns.  AVest  lioylston  has  her  honorable  place.  It 
is  a  group  remarkable  not  alone  in  inunbers.  but  in  all  those 
elements  which  go  to  uiak'e  the  sti'ength  and  i)urity  of  com- 
iiiunities  and  endui'ing  ])ower  and   x'ii-ility  of  states. 


50  ^y('st   Doijlsion 

In  your  town,  as  well  as  in  all  the  others,  the  standard  of 
citizenship  has  been  high.  Corruption  has  never  blistered  the 
walls  of  your  municipal  buildings,  nor  has  graft  gained  nor 
ever  attempted  to  secure  a  foothold  in  your  administration. 
West  Boylston,  in  common  with  the  other  Lancastrian  towns, 
has  illustrated  the  honesty  and  efficiency  of  town  meeting  gov- 
ernment. AVe  of  New  England  birth  and  ancestry  and  training 
sometimes  forget  the  incalculalile  debt  we  owe  to  the  town 
meeting.  It  is  peculiarly  a  New  England  institution.  AVhile 
it  is  i)ossible  to  find  a  few  of  its  distinctive  features  in  the  Parish 
of  the  sixteenth  century  in  England,  or  searching  further  into 
history  to  discover  some  of  its  principles  described  by  Tacitus 
in  his  Germania,  these  are  but  semblances.  All  systems  of 
government  have  certain  elements  in  common.  Local  self- 
government  is  one  of  the  characteristics  of  the  Teutonic  race. 
The  Saxons  carried  the  spirit  of  it  with  them  when  they  emig- 
rated from  the  banks  of  the  Elbe  to  the  downs  of  England. 
They  kept  it  alive  through  the  eleven  centuries  Avhicli  inter- 
vened before  the  landing  at  Plymouth  Rock.  It  was  bred  into 
the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  true-hearted  and  hard-headed  com- 
panions of  "Winthrop  and  Endicott.  But  the  town  meeting  is 
a  birth  of  New"  England  soil.  It  is  indigenous  here,  and  not 
transplanted  from  any  foreign  soil.  Under  its  beneficent 
training  the  places  of  prominence  have  fallen  to  those  who 
deserved  them.  The  only  greatness  it  has  recognized  has  l)een 
that  achieved  by  earnest  and  honest  effort. 

In  the  town  meeting  were  discussed  the  fundamental  human 
rights  which  led  to  the  separation  from  the  mother  country. 
Here  were  developed  and  formulated  those  principles  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty  upon  which  our  nation  is  founded.  It 
was  the  town  meeting  which  made  the  revolution.  But  for 
the  training  in  political  thinking  and  the  discussions  of  the 
work  of  the  committees  of  correspondence  in  these  assemblies, 
the  people  of  New  England  would  not  have  responded  to  the 
appeals  of  Adams  and  "Warren.  Nay,  more  —  such  leaders 
were  the  fruit  of  the  town  meeting.  Their  keenness,  sagacity, 
breadth   of  comprehension  and  soundness  of  .indgnient   conld 


Centennial  SI 

have  been  1)red  in  no  other  arena.  So  it  has  been  all  through 
the  years  of  your  life  as  a  town.  The  ignorant  have  been 
educated  in  affairs  of  government  in  the  forum  of  the  town 
meeting.  AYhenever  there  has  been  a  crisis  in  state  or  nation 
your  people  have  been  true  to  their  training  and  have  respond- 
ed bravely  to  the  highest  duties  of  citizenship. 

The  patriotism  of  your  citizens  in  the  war  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union  is  attested  by  the  example  of  one  of  your 
adopted  sons.  Sergeant  Thomas  Plunket,  "who"  (to  use  the 
eloquent  phrase  of  Senator  Hoar)  "gave  both  arms  to  save, 
the  flag  of  the  country  he  loved,  and  whose  stout  and  constant 
heart  has  never  yet  regretted  the  sacrifice."  Civic  philistinism 
in  larger  communities  has  been  rebuked  by  the  purity  of  your 
government. 

Education  in  free  public  schools  has  been  one  of  the  corner 
stones  of  our  ideal  of  government,  and  worship  of  God  accord- 
ing to  the  dictates  of  the  individual  conscience  has  been  the 
other.  Your  history  shows  that  you  have  been  true  to  this 
ideal.  The  country  town  in  all  its  history  has  shown  the  spirit 
of  charity,  Avliich  can  cope  with  the  larger  questions  of  humane 
service  in  congested  centres  of  population.  The  memory  of  each 
(me  of  us  calls  to  mind  a  farmer's  wife,  carried  on  the  ox  sled 
through  drifting  snow,  to  minister  to  the  suffering  neighbor, 
with  no  thought  save  to  relieve  distress.  More  than  one  such 
lived  in  every  school  district  of  our  childhood,  and  she  trod 
close  to  the  footsteps  of  the  Master.  Let  this  example  be  fol- 
lowed throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  and  the 
social  evils  of  our  time  will  cease  to  loom  so  large  on  the 
horizon. 

But  the  last  decade  has  brought  changes  in  the  conditions 
of  life  in  the  country  towns  undreamed  of  twenty  years  ago. 
The  rural  free  delivery,  the  local  telephone,  the  trolley  car 
and  the  auto'  have  made  a  revolution  in  the  surroundings  of 
those  who  live  outside  the  cities.  The  progress  of  science  and 
of  inventive  genius  have  accomplished  more  in  the  last  ten 
years  than  in  the  preceding  half  century,  to  make  life  in  the 
country  attractive  to  the  mass  of  people. 


52  Wc^t   Jiojilsfon 

Not  long  ago  there  was  mncli  discussion  tou('hiii<i'  the  de- 
l)letioii  in  popidatioii  of  the  fannintj'  eonmnmities.  Tiiat 
problem  has  been  solved  l)y  the  march  of  industrial  develop- 
ment. He  would  be  l)old  indeed  who  should  undertake  to  point 
out  the  path  of  progress  for  the  country  town  for  tlie  next 
hundred  years.  AVe  know  that  the  past  is  secure.  You  have  a 
noble  record  as  an  inspiration  for  the  future.  Whatever  may 
be  the  particular  manifestation  of  ])ul)lic  service,  you  will  not 
be  true  to  your  traditions  if  you  do  not  in  the  coming  century 
as  you  have  in  the  past,  furnish  the  highest  exam[)l('  of  efficient 
self-government  and  to  other  cities  and  towns  of  the  county 
no])le  types  of  W(unanhood  and  manhood.  Neither  a  man  nor 
a  toAvn  can  live  on  the  attainments  of  the  past.  Unremitting, 
intelligent  effort  is  the  essential  condition  of  usefulness.  "They 
must  upward  still  and  onward  Avho  would  keep  abreast  of 
Truth".  This  centeiniial  observance,  with  its  wealth  of  historic 
memories  and  complimentary  phrase,  is  but  an  incentive  toward 
richer  achievement  for  the  future. 

]\Iay  your  second  century  of  life  as  a  town  be  radiant  with 
the  wealth  of  the  education,  religion  and  patriotism  of  all 
your  peoi)le. 


Justice  Rugg's  address  was  followed  by  the  "Shadow  song," 
from  ''Dinorah."  by  Airs.  Jennie  Crocker  Follett   of  Boston. 

County  commissioner  AVarren  Goodale  of  Clinton,  spoke, 
taking  for  his  subject.  "The  district  school." 

Air.  Goodale  gave  a  sketch  of  the  founding  and  growth  of 
the  schools  and  of  the  district  system,  showing  the  gradual 
development  that  has  resulted  in  the  present  excellent  system 
and   facilities.     Six-aking  of  the  disti'ict  school   he  said: — 


L&^^^ 


ADDRESS    BY   WARREN    GOODALE, 
COUNTY  COMMISSIONER. 


District  scliool  (lays;  wore  not  those  the  days  when  the 
younger  hoys  suffered  as  today  at  the  hands  of  the  ohh'r.  when 
faces  were  washed  in  snow,  when  we  were  cautioned  hy  our 
mothers  to  hurry  to  school,  with  hands  in  thick  mittiMis  and 
ears  tied  up  with  a  tipjiet.  hooks  and  slate  in  one  hand,  dinner 
pail  and  sled  dragging  along  in  the  other,  oft'  to  school. 

How  some  hoy  with  frozen  ears  would  he  seen  ruhhing  them 
with  snow,  thawing  them  out.  Wiu^i  at  recess  or  noon,  soon 
as  our  dinners  were  eaten,  we  tund)led  into  our  sleds  for  a 
coasting  trip  down  some  nearhy  hill,  or  hastened  to  some  pond 
for  skating.  AVhen  toes  Avere  chilled,  from  skate  straps  too 
tight,  and  some  fellow  got  wet  and  had  to  liasten  home  for 
dry  clotlies.  from  skating  over  thin  ice. 

AVhen  snowltalls  were  soaked  with  Avater  and  laid  over  night 
to  freeze,  for  our  adversaries.  \\'h('n  on  the  opening  day  of 
the  school  there  was  a  grand  rush  for  seats,  and  how  some 
would  force  an  early  entrance  to  the  schoolroom  the  night  or 
day  hefore  and  take  possession  of  the  choicest  and  hest. 

AVhen  somehody's  frozen  ink  hottle  was  placed  too  near  the 
hot  stove  and  ink  flew  here  and  there  regardless  — and.  O,  that 
vision  of  ink  hotth's  around  the  stove  on  Avriting  day!  Ink 
has  always  been  a  great  factor  in  school  life.  Those  were  the 
days  when  water  was  i)assed  and  all  drank  from  the  same 
dipper  without  a  thought  of  germs.  When  a  thrashing  was 
in  order,  to  interfere  with  another  hoy's  things  in  liis  desk. 

Wlien  caught  whispering  to  stand  on  the  tlooi-;  missed  in 
spelling,  to  he  sent  to  one's  seat;  failed  in  aritlunetic  to  stay 


54  Vi'esi  Boylston 

after  school :  saucy  and  impudent  to  the  teacher,  feruled  on 
the  hand,  dose  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  tears  and  blub- 
bering. 

The  old  stove,  about  which  chattering  jaws,  cold  feet  and 
hands  gathered.  AYheu  at  the  end  of  the  term  we  received 
our  cards  and  booklets,  the  gift  of  the  teacher  for  merits  won. 

"When  the  tack  or  pin  incident  sent  many  a  boy  home,  or 
to  the  prudential  committeeman. 

AYhen  spelling  was  one  of  the  greatest  accomplishments,  and 
to  defeat  some  pupil  the  teacher  must  resort  to  the  dictionary 
for  words. 

The  winter  spelling  school,  with  every  scholar  liringing  a 
lantern  to  illuminate  the  schoolroom. 

"When  were  played  four  old  cat-collie  over.  puss,  puss  in  the 
corner,  fox  and  geese,  barn  tick,  snap  the  whip  and  other  old- 
fashioned  games. 

AYhen  the  boys  sat  on  the  east  side  of  the  schoolroom  and 
the  girls  on  the  west.  "When  it  was  a  misdemeanor  for  either 
sex  when  entering  or  leaving  the  school  to  pass  through  any 
but  their  respective  doors. 

When  teachers  assigned  seats  adapted  to  the  size  of  the 
scholars,  without  regard  to  classes 

]\Ir.  Goodale  gave  a  list  of  those  who  served  as  school  com- 
mitteemen between  1840  and  1870.    He  then  said: 

"I  am  now  going  to  call  the  roll  of  some  of  the  good  boys 
and  girls  who  went  to  school  and  were  neither  absent  nor  tardy, 
and  some  who  were  so  good  that  they  did  not  whisper  for  a 
whole  term ;  and  as  I  call  this  roll  I  wish,  if  there  are  any  here 
today  they  would  answer  the  roll-call  with  a  good,  strong 
"Here!" 

Of  a  list  of  about  300  names  read  by  :\Ir.  Goodale.  the  fol- 
lowing answered :  Susan  A.  Murdock.  Eddie  A.  ]\lurdock.  Ed- 
ward F.  Merriam,  Mrs.  Edward  A.  Cowee,  Frank  H.  Baldwin, 
Mrs.  :\Iattie  Houghton,  Hon.  EdAvard  A.  Cowee.  :\Irs.  Aaron 
Goodale  and  County  commissioner  "Warren  Goodale. 

Henry  F.  Harris  of  "Worcester,  a  native  of  "West  Boylston, 
and  for  most  of  his  life  a  resident  here,  made  an  address,  in 


CcnfrnnUil  55 

which  he  spoke  (tf  men  of  business  ability  and  energy  who  had 
estal)lished  industries  in  the  town  that  have  contributed  hirgely 
to  its  prosperity  and  progress. 

]Mr.  Harris'  remarks  were  followed  by  a  song  l)y  ^Irs.  Guck- 
enberger. 

Hon.  Edw;ii-d  A.  C'owee.  one  of  the  natives  of  AYest  Bovlston, 
in  a  happy  vein,  recalled  some  of  his  early  experiences  in  the 
town  when  a  boy.  His  remarks  were  of  a  personal  nature,  and 
he  brought  to  mind  many  of  the  old  scenes,  names,  faces  and 
incidents  of  the  time  when  he  -was  a  boy. 

Mr.  Cowee  recalbnl  the  fact  that  Ruel  G.  Cowee.  his  grand- 
father. Avas  the  iirst  man  in  the  state  to  ship  a  carload  of  corn 
from  Chicago. 

Mrs.  Follett  sang  '':\rattinata".  "Cradle  song"  and  "April 
morn.'' 

John  S.  Lynch  of  Boston,  a  native  of  the  town,  and  one  of 
the  first  graduates  of  the  high  school,  made  a  short  speech,  in 
Mliich  he  referred  in  pleasing  vein  to  his  life  in  West  Boylston 
and  liis  cherished  memories  of  the  days  he  passed  there. 

Remarks  l)y  AValter  D.  Ross  and  Louis  Cutting,  both  of 
AV(n"cester.  and  both  natives  of  the  town,  were  the  last  speakers 
of  the  afternoon. 

These  occupied  seats  on  the  platform:  AValter  D.  Ross. 
AVoreester:  John  i~>.  Lynch.  Boston:  Henry  F.  Harris.  Wor- 
cester: Hon.  John  R.  Thayer.  AVorcester;  Justice  Arthur  P. 
Rugg.  AVorcester;  County  Commissioner  AA'arren  Goodale, 
Clinton :  and  Roger  AI.  Lovell.  Rev.  Ernest  A.  Royal.  Leon  A. 
Goodale.  AA".  B.  AYood.  Daniel  S.  Lynch.  AValter  E.  Chapman, 
AYarren  E.  Gammell.  all  of  AYest  Boylston.  and  Hon.  Edward 
A.  Cowee  and  Louis  Cutting  of  AA'orcester. 

For  the  evening  entertainment  the  chief  feature  was  a 
grand  concert  and  the  centennial  ball.  Straehan's  9th  regiment 
orchestra  of  Boston  played  for  the  concert  and  the  dancing. 

The  march  was  led  l)y  tloor  manager  and  AH's.  AA".  B.  AYood, 
and  dance  orders  wei'e  distributed  by  AListers  Dwight  AI.  Gocul- 
ale  and  Tracv  S.  AVood. 


CeNTEN  NIAL 

Ball 


OF    THE     TOW  N     O  F 


West  Boylston 


THURSDAY      EVENING 
JANUARY       30th.       1908 


TOWN       HALL 

/EST      BOVLSTON      :      :      MASSACHUSETTS 


Concert  Programme 


FROM     8    TO    9    O'CLOCK 


1.  MARCH— "The  Fightins  Ninth"         Snacluui 

2.  OVERTURE— "Poet  and  Peasant  '  Sitpp,- 

3.  SELECTION— "Red  Mill"  He)be>i 

4.  CORNET  SOLO  Mr.  Ernest  S.  Williams 


5.  MEDLEY  SELECTION— "School  Days' 

6.  FINALE — "American  Republic 


F.cl -wards 
Thirle 


Strachan's  9th  Regiment  Orchestra 
of  Boston  Eight  Pieces 


Centennial  Committee 
W.  B.  Wood 


lyeon  A   Goodale 
Daniel  A.  L.vnch 


Warren  E.  Cammell 
Walter  E.  Chapman 


Floor   Director 
W.  B.  Wood 


Al  DS 


Daniel  A.  Lynch 
William  E-  Storms 
Carleton  A.  Cook 
Arthur  Ward 


Walter  E.  Chapman 
Myron  D.  Potter 
Joseph  H.  Cavanaugh 
Dr.  H.  W.  Trask 


William  J.  McGinnis       H.  Fay  Baldwin 
Arthur  H.  Sawyer 


Reception  Committee 

Frank  H.  Baldwin 
John  S.  Lynch  D.  Frank  Frescott 

W.  Clifford  Scarlett  Charles  C.  Landy 

Parker  M.  Banning  D.  Clifford  Lord 

Harry  E.  Lowe  Walter  G.  Boynton 

ORDER     OF     DANCES 


C  RAN  D      MARCH 

I.    WALTZ  One  Hundred  Years  Ago 


2. 

QUADRILLE 

Maj.  Erza  Beaman 

3. 

TWO-STEP 

Our  Former  Citizens 

4. 

PORTLAND  FANCY 

The  Old  Valley 

5. 

WALTZ 

Our  Mother  Towns 

6. 

OUARDRILLE 

Robert  B.  Thomas 

7. 

TWO-STEP 

G.  A.  R. 

8. 

WALTZ— German 

The  Ladies 

9. 

QUADRILLE 

Benjamin  F.  Keyes 

10. 

SCHOTTISCHE 

Our  Visiting  Friends 

11. 

CONTRA 

Sergeant  Plunkett 

12,    WALTZ 


Our  Silent  Water  Wheels 


'3s£^^ 


A  MEMOIR  OF  ROBERT  BAILEY  THOMAS. 

WRITTEN   BY   HIMSELF. 

(This   narrative  was    started    in    tlie    Almanac    of    ]S;>8    and    continued 
through   several   succeeding   nuniliers.) 


My  grandfather,  William  Thomas,  was  a  native  of  Wales,  (Eng.)  and 
l)orn  there  of  an  ojiulent  family,  and  received  a  liberal  education,  at 
Christ's  College,  Cambridge.  It  seems  he  emigrated  to  this  country, 
somewhere  about  the  year  171S.  Tradition  says,  he  with  other  brothers 
came  first  to  Stonington,  Conn.;  of  this,  I  shall  not  undertake  to  say; 
it  is  well  known  that  he  came  to  Marlborough,  (Mass.)  sometime  about 
the  year  1720,  and  married  Lydia  Eager,  a  daughter  of  a  respectable 
farmer  of  Shrewsbury,  and  resided  in  Marlborough  until  he  died  in  1733. 
Two  years  after  which,  my  grandmother  died.  He  had  two  sons  and  four 
daughters.  My  father.  William,  was  the  eldest  son,  who  w^as  born  in 
Marlborough,  March  17:2.");  he  losing  his  i)arents  at  so  tender  an  age, 
had  but  a  very  imi)erfect  recollection  of  them.  After  his  mother's 
death,  he  went  to  Shrewsbury  to  live  with  his  grandmother  Eager;  where, 
and  at  Jonas  Morse's  of  Mai  Ibordugh,  he  resided  some  years.  He  attend- 
ed the  town  school  in  the  winter,  the  limited  time  it  k'ept.  Being  of  a 
studious  turn  of  mind,  and  fond  of  reading,  he  purchased  numy  books, 
and  soon  became  quite  a  scliolar  for  those  days.  In  the  year  1744,  he 
commenced  school  keeping  at  Brookfield,  at  the  age  of  19  years,  which 
he  followed  winters.  nu)re  or  less  for  upward  of  forty  years.  The  same 
year,  commenced  in  llardwiclv,  being  the  first  school  master  in  that  town. 

In  April  1747,  he  left  this  country  for  England,  to  obtain  a  patrimony 
justly  belonging  to  his  father  in  Wales.  And  on  the  8th  of  May,  in 
going  north  about  was  taken  by  a  French  privateer  out  of  Dunkirk, 
and  stripped  of  all.  Afterwards  w^as  ransomed,  and  arrived  at  Boston 
in  October.  In  August  1749,  he  made  another  voyage  to  London,  where 
he  stayed  sometime,  and  visited  Wales,  with  the  expectaticm  of  obtain- 
ing the  right  of  inheritance,  but  was  unsuccessful,  on  account  of  the 
lai)se    of   time   since   my   grandfather    left    Whales. 


■y- 


Centennial  59 

It  would  be  (lilliciilt.  not  lo  say  impossible,  to  follow  step  by  step 
his  various  avocations  and  employments  for  a  j^eriod  of  14  years;  I 
would  merely  reniark,  in  this  time  he  received  a  lieutenant's  commission 
in  the  army,  not  pleased  with  a  soldier's  life,  he  left  the  army,  and 
followed  his  former  avocation  at  intervals,  of  school  keeping,  and  as 
an  assistant  in  a  store,  and  finally,  went  into  a  small  way  of  trade 
himself,  until  tlio  year  1 7(i4,  wlion  ho  bought  a  small  farm  situated  in 
tiie  north  parisli  in  Slivcwslinry.  In  176.")  he  married  Azubah  Goodale, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Coodale,  a  respectable  farmer  of  the  town  of  Grafton; 
at  whose  house,  the  subject  of  these  memoirs  w^as  born,  April  24th,  1766. 

I  removed  with  my  parents,  while  quite  an  infant,  from  Grafton  to 
the  farm  in  Shrewsbury,  north  ])arish,  now  West  Boylston.  The  farm 
was  situated  in  that  district  then  locally  known  l)y  the  name  of 
Shrewsbury-leg.*  (It  is  rather  paradoxical,  but  no  less  a  fact,  that  I 
have  resided  in  four  incori)orated  towns,  and  two  distinct  parishes,  and 
one  precinct,  yet  never  moved  from  the  same  farm.) 

I  had  one  brother  only,  born  .Tune  1768,  named  Aaion.  We  were  the 
only  children  my  father  ever  had.  In  our  youth  we  were  brought  up  to 
farming.  Our  father,  who  was  thought  to  be  quite  a  scholar  for  those 
days,  instructed  us  at  home,  and  sent  us  to  the  winter  school.  I  had, 
when  a  boy,  more  of  a  mechanical  than  a  literary  turn  of  mind,  though 
my  father  never  indulged  me  much  in  it,  wishing,  rather,  as  he  said, 
to  make  me  a  scholar,  giving  me  tlie  offer  of  a  lilieral  education,  which 
I  foolishly  declined.  In  1781,  I  lost  my  mother,  who  died  in  an  apoplectic 
fit.  She  was  naturally  of  a  feeble  constitution.  My  father  married,  the 
second  time,  Esther  Whitney,  a  maiden  lady,  in  178-,  but  had  no  issue. 
In  the  winter  of  1783-4,  my  father  sent  me  to  Spencer,  with  Major 
E.  Beaman 's  two  sons,  to  improve  my  hand  in  penmanshij),  (which  he 
was  very  fond  of.)  with  Dr.  1.  Allen,  who,  at  that  time,  wrote  the  most 
superior  and  beautiful  copy  hand  of  any  person  in  the  country.  I  boarded 
with  him  at  Mr.  J.  Stebbing's;  and  when  his  term  was  out,  I  followed 
him  to  Sterling,  and  continued  with  him  till  April,  and  much  im]iroved 
my  handwriting.  The  succeeding  winter,  T  was  agreeably  and  closely 
occupied  in  the  study  of  arithmetic,  under  my  father's  inspection,  who 
was  w^ell  versed  in  this  science,  but  had  never  before  allowed  me  to  pay 
it  any  attention,  saying  he  could  "learn  me  figures  at  any  time." 

My  father  was  a  great  reader,  and  ]iossessed  a  larger  miscellaneous 
library  than  was  generally  to  be  met  with  in  a  country  town;  of  conse- 
quence, I  sjient  most  of  my  leisure  hours  in  reading.  Among  many 
scientific  works,  no  one  engrossed   more  of  my  attention  than    l^'erguson 's 


*This  strip  of  land,  usually  called  Shrewsbury-leg,  was  united  to  Lancaster,  second 
parish,  by  an  act  of  incorporation,  February,  ITfiS.  And  in  1781,  said  parisli  was  incor- 
porated into  a  town,  by  tlie  name  of  Sterling.  In  179(i,  certain  inliabitants  of  Boylston, 
Sterling,  and  Holden,  obtaineci  an  act  to  form  themselves  into  a  precinct,  by  the  name 
of  the  Second  Parish  in  Boylston,  Sterling,  and  Holden;  ami,  in  1808,  thev  obtained  an 
act  of  incorporation  by  the  name  of  West  Boylston. 


60  Wesi  Boylston 

Astronomy,  from  which  1  derived  much  jileasure  and  satisfaction,  from 
the  plain  and  familiar  manner  in  which  he  treated  the  subject;  and 
from  the  pleasing  study  of  this  work,  I  first  imbibed  the  idea  of  calcu- 
lating an  almanack.  Previoush%  I  had  made  a  number  of  calculations  of 
new  and  full  moon,  and  taken  out  the  elements,  and  projected  several 
eclipses,  but  found  it  impracticable  to  make  all  the  necessary  calcula- 
tions for  an  almanack.  In  1786,  I  had  an  application  to  keep  school, 
in  my  native  town,  in  the  Fairbank  district,  so  called.  I  kept  out  the 
town 's  money,  satisfactorily,  I  believe,  (though  many  of  my  scholars 
were  older  than  myself,)  and  engaged  to  keep  three  or  four  weeks  more, 
by  subscription.  I  boarded  principally  at  Deacon  Israel  Moor's,  and 
agreed  to  go  about  in  the  district.  1  returned  home  in  April,  and  worked 
on  the  farm  through  the  summer.  In  the  succeeding  winter,  I  attended 
a  singing  school,  under  the  instruction  of  a  Mr.  Manning,  in  the  town  of 
Sterling. 

In  the  fall  of  1787,  I  had  an  invitation  to  keep  school  in  the  westerly 
part  of  Princeton,  near  the  house  of  Eichard  Baxter,  with  whom  I 
boarded,  he  being  a  sober,  worthy  man.  I  continued  in  the  school  until 
the  first  of  April,  1788,  embracing  a  term  of  three  months  or  more,  when 
I  returned  to  my  father's  in  Sterling  and  continued  on  the  farm  through 
the  summer,  alternately  studying  and  laboring  on  the  farm.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  I  was  applied  to,  to  keep  school  in  the  easterly 
part  of  Sterling.  The  school  house  was  located  on  the  old  road  leading 
from  Sterling  to  Lancaster,  and  near  the  house  of  Dr.  J.  Barnard,  in 
whose  family  I  boarded  very  agreeably,  he  having  rather  a  facetious  turn 
of  mind;  his  familj^  of  children  being  young  and  sprightly,  I  si)ent  one 
of  the  pleasantest  winters  of  my  life. 

In  April  1789,  I  returned  to  my  father's  and  pursued  my  favourite 
study  of  astronomy,  occasionally  laboring  on  the  farm,  and  busying 
myself  with  book-binding  which  business  I  had  been  partially  fond  of 
for  years — binding  up  manuscripts  and  account  books,  and  repairing  other 
old   books,    for    m_y   neighbours. 

T  found,  with  all  my  reading,  the  want  of  a  }>ractical  knowledge  of 
the  calculations  of  an  Almanack,  which  I  could  not  obtain  by  reading — 
this  was  my  hobby.  In  September  I  made  a  journey  into  Vermont,  to 
see  the  then  famous  Dr.  S.  Sternes,  who  for  many  years  calculated 
Isaiah  Thomas'  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Vermont  Almanack,  but  failed  of  seeing  him.  I  passed  through 
the  towns  of  Athol  and  Warwick;  in  the  latter,  I  had  two  uncles  on 
my  mother's  side  then  living,  and  in  the  former,  an  aunt,  whom  I  visited. 
The  ensuing  winter  I  agreed  to  keep  school  in  Boylston,  (now  West 
Boylston)  near  my  place  of  residence.  But  the  district  disagreed,  respect- 
ing the  price  of  my  services,  as  they  could  have  another  teacher  for  a 
little  more  than  half  what  I  asked  them.  It  was  however,  agreed  that  I 
should   begin   and    kec]!   one   half  the   nuiney,   and   the  other   should   close, 


Cciitonnal 


61 


wliieh  terminated  soon  after  i  left,  the  other  kept  IniT  about  two  weeks, 
when  all  his  scholars  left  him.  F  l)oar(led  iu  Cajjt.  ,1.  Bigelow's  family 
near  the  school-house.  At  the  tin.e  I  engaged  at  Boylston,  I  agreed  to 
open  a  school  in  Sterling  in  the  district  known  by  the  name  of  Square- 
shire:  where  I  oi)ened  the  next  day  after  leaving  Boylston;  my  school 
here  was  very  numerous  and  a  large  pro])ortion  of  them  men  and  women 
grown — my  school  went  on  in  the  full  tide  of  success  for  a  few  weeks, 
when  all  at  once  tiie  whole  school  was  taken  down  with  the  measles,  and 
was  dismissed. 

I  pursued  ni\-  former  avocations  throujili  tlie  sunnuer.  in  tlie  course 
of  the  season  1  agreed  with  X.  ('overly,  a  }irinter  in  Boston,  to  print 
for  me  1000  of  Perry's  Spelling  Book  (being  used  exclusively  in  this 
section  of  the  state)  which  I  bound  up.  and  other  school  books,  and 
commenced  Bookseller.  There  being  Init  few  books  in  the  country,  I 
found  a  good  sale,  to  the  storekeepers,  schoolmasters,  &c.  Some  time  in 
the  fall,  I  called  on  Mr.  Isaiah  Thon.as  of  Worcester,  (no  relation  of 
mine,  as  I  know  of,)  to  purchase  KM)  of  his  Alnuuiacks  in  sheets,  but 
he  refused  to  let  me  have  them,  saying  he  did  not  sell  in  sheets  only  to 
those  of  the  trade.  I  confess  I  was  mortified,  and  came  home  with  a 
determination  to  have  an  Almanack  of  my  own.  I  very  well  knew,  that 
there  were  many  things  in  his,  that  were  not  generally  approved  of,  and 
which  I  knew  I  could  remedy. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1790,  I  had  a  jiressing  invitation,  by  one  of 
the  committee,  D.  Goodale,  to  keep  school  in  Boylston,  the  same  district 
in  which  I  kept  the  winter  previous;  it  seemed  they  had  become  recon- 
ciled to  the  price  I  had  asked,  as  he  made  no  ado,  as  heretofore,  about  it. 
I  comuiienced  my  school  sometime  in  the  month  of  December,  and  con 
tinned  it  through  the  winter.  I  now  boarded  with  Mr.  T.  Keyes,  a  man 
of  steady  habits  and  good  character.  His  wife  was  a  very  pleasant 
and  agreeable  woman;  the  family  was  small,  having  an  only  daughter 
and  the  two  youngest  sons  at  home,  excepting  an  adopted  daughter,  who 
was  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Keyes';  they  being  young  and  social,  I  enjoyed 
(piite  a  pleasant  winter. 

In  the  spring  of  1791,  1  returned  home  to  my  father's  and  pursued 
book-binding,  except  a  few  weeks  in  hay  time,  when  I  assisted  in  hay- 
making. Early  in  the  fall  I  had  several  applications  to  keep  school, 
but  1  gave  no  encouragement  to  any  applicant,  till  at  last  ('apt.  E. 
Allen,  one  of  the  school  committee  iu  the  north-east  jiart  of  Princeton, 
who  was  very  solicitous  to  have  me  keep  school  in  their  district,  and,  to 
accommodate  me,  agreed  to  postpone  the  school  until  the  first  of  January, 
1792;  at  which  time  T  commenced  Uiy  school,  and  at  first  boarded  with  J, 
Beanian  for  six  or  seven  weeks.*     I  then   agreed  to  continue  the   school 


*He  married,  November  17,  1803,  Hannah  Beaman  at  the  house  of  Phinehas  Beaman 
of  Princeton.    Probably  the  daughter  of  Phinehas  and  Hannah  (Buss)  Beaman. 


.*  m 


t^»w*-*>.« 


62  V^cHi  Boylston 

in  ;i  more  easterly  part  of  the  district,  near  Capt.  Allen's,  and  to  board 
with  him.*  Capt.  Allen  was  a  man  of  strong  passions,  though  humane 
and  affable  in  his  family;  he  sustained  the  office  of  deputy-sheriff  while 
I  was  in  his  family,  and  had  for  many  years  previous,  with  reputation — 
was  kind,  it  was  said,  and  an  obliging  neighbour.  Mrs.  Allen  and  the 
family  were  friendly  and  agreeable.  I  continued  the  school  for  five  or 
six  weeks  longer;  and  cultivated  quite  an  acquaintance  with  the  young 
people  of  the  place,  often  visiting  at  their  houses,  and  spending  many 
a  social  evening.  And  while  I  resided  here  I  formed  an  acquaintance  in 
a  family,  of  which,  some  years  afterwards,  I  married  one  of  the  daughters. 
At  the  close  of  the  town  school,  Mr.  A.  Herington  engaged  me  to  keep 
a  private  school  in  his  house  for  some  weeks,  for  the  benefit  of  his  son 
and  two  daughters.  After  finishing  n.y  school,  I  returned  to  my  father's 
sometime  in  April,  with  a  full  determination  never  to  resume  it  again. 
The  business  never  was  very  congenial  to  my  feelings;  I  had  pursued 
it  for  want  of  some  better  employment.  I  had  now  made  up  my  mind 
to  follow  the  binding  business,  there  being  a  call  from  Boston  and  other 
places  at  this  time  for  binding.  My  brother,  whose  health  was  not  good, 
concluded  to  go  into  business  with  me;  we  contracted  with  a  carpenter 
to  build  us  a  bindery  and  store  adjoining,  in  the  course  of  the  following 
summer,  near  my  father's;  prior  to  which  we  had  carried  it  on  in  a 
chamber  in  our  father's  dwelling  house.  Still  I  could  not  relinquish  the 
idea  of  publishing  an  Almanack  of  my  own.  The  last  of  June  or  the 
first  of  July  1792,  I  went  to  Boston  and  agreed  with  Osgood  Carlton,  then 
a  teacher  of  mathematics  in  Boston,  to  instruct  me  in  astronomy,  so  far 
as  related  to  the  practical  part  of  calculating  an  almanack;  which  he 
readily  consented  to  do,  for  a  stipulated  consideration. 

I  continued  at  Mr.  Carlton's  school,  kept  in  an  unfinished  building 
in  Merchant's  Eow,  till  the  latter  part  of  August,  and  made  all  the 
calculations  for  an  Almanack  for  the  year  1793,  being  my  first  numbsr. 
Before  T  left  town,  I  disposed  of  my  copy  to  two  young  printers,  long 
since  deceased — Joseph  Belknap  and  Thomas  Hall — for  a  certain  per 
centage  on  all  those  that  should  be  sold;  which,  with  a  very  trifling 
exception,  has  continued  ever  since  though  the  copy-right  has  been  repeat- 
edly transferred.  While  at  Mr.  Carlton's  school,  I  boarded  in  Milk 
street,  with  J.  Allen,  a  Scotchman.  Ilis  wife  was  a  young  Englishwom'an, 
with  whom  I  enjoyed  many  a  social  hour;  Mr.  Allen  was  bred  a  gardener 
in  Scotland,  and  at  this  time  had  the  sole  care  of  the  then  noted  Lady 
Hayley's  garden,  sitiuited  on  Pemberton  TTill,  later  the  estate  of  G.  Creen, 
but  now  entirelv  eradicated. 


*At  this  time,  the  noted  Sam.  Frost,  whose  singuhir  gestures  and  odd  motions 
attracted  so  much  notice,  supposed  by  many  to  be  an  idiot,  lived  with  Capt.  Allen,  whom 
Frost  afterwards,  in  July,  1793,  murdered  by  striking  him  with  a  lioe  on  the  back  of  his 
head,  while  he  was  stooping,  setting  plants.  He  was  taken,  tried,  condemned,  and 
executed  at  Worcester. 

He  had  killed  his  father  some  years  previous,  with  a  stake  from  the  fence.    He  was 
then  tried  for  murder,  but  was  acquitted  on  account  of  insanity. 


('ciifcmnal  63 

Mr.  Thdinas  avjis  elected  the  tiist  Town  Clerk  of  West 
Boylston.  Served  as  Selectman  antl  was  for  three  years  Chair- 
man of  the  l>oard.  also  sei-ved  the  town  as  Assessor  and  as 
]\loderatt)r. 

For  five  years  he  i-epresented  the  district  in  the  General 
Court,  and  was  a  Uelejiate  to  the  State  Convention  in  1820, 
for  revising  the  Constitution  of  ]\Iassachnsetts. 

Mr.  Thomas  died  in  West  Boylston  May  10.  184(),  and,  with 
his  wife.  Avho  died  Septenilx'r  28.  18-35,  is  buried  in  the  Leg 
Cemeterv.  Sterling. 


CEXTEXXIAL 
CELEBRATION 

OF  THE  TOWN  OF 

WTST  BOVLSTOX 

AL\SSACHUSFTTS 


THURSDAY,  JULY  16.  1908 


m- 


Hi 

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l|^ZfiPaB  >* 

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'    "     W;-^ 

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K^m.^^^ 

TV^^bL^^SH 

f:.. 

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V.  ■ 

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K      "   J^ 

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!UBb^ 

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MMto. 

' 

-'  -    ■ 

B**^- 

Aaro^;  (tOodai.k.  Chairman  op"  Selectmen  Hon.  John  R.  Thayer 

("OXORE.S.SMAN   ("HAKLES    G.   WaSHBLRX  MaVOR   JaXIES    L()(iAX    OF    WoRCESTEK 


^4jJ«4*— * 


T.  Frank  Hickey 

t  llAUniAN    OK   THE    SEI.PXTMEX   OE    SHREWSIURY 


CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Tlic  luoniiiig  of  tli(^  sixteenth  (»f  July  nshered  in  an  ideal 
summer  day ;  the  cooling  shower  during  the  night  before 
having  cleared  the  atmosphere  and  the  pealing  of  the  bells  at 
six  of  the  clock ;  also  the  firing  of  a  salute  of  one  hundred 
guns,  stirred  the  villagers  to  a  high  sense  of  the  importance 
of  the  occasion,  and  many  of  them  were  in  the  early  part 
of  the  day  kept  actively  engaged  in  greeting  old  friends, 
acquaintances  and  relatives  who  came  to  enjoy,  with  the 
people  of  West  Boylston.  the  festivities  of  the  day. 

There  was  a  little  delay  in  mustering  the  players  to  form 
the  rival  clubs  for  a  game  of  ball  which  was  played  on  the 
Goodale  field ;  some  of  the  old-timers  at  the  bat  evoking 
considerable  applause  as  they  gave  evidence  of  their  former 
skill  in  twirling  the  ball  and  SAvinging  the  bat. 

The  contesting  clubs  for  the  ball  game  were  made  up  as 
follows:  West  Boylston  A.  A.,  who  were  the  winners.  Ryan, 
Potter,  Marsh,  Day,  J.  i\r.  :\IcQuillan.  Fearigo.  ^IcCurdy. 
Snow.  Howe  and  Ivory. 

Old  Timers.  J.  McQuillan.  Jr..  J.  Bcllcvue.  J.  .Mc(^)nillan.  Sr.. 
^larsalis.  iMallett,  Murphy,  St.  Onge.  0 'Toole  and  (\  Bellevue. 

Next  in  order  came  the  Coaching  Parade.  Some  of  the  parti- 
cipants started  from  Oakdale  and  then  proceeded  to  the  High 
School,  where  the  line  was  formed  headed  l\v  Strachan's  f)th 
Regiment  Band  of  Boston.  The  route  was  then  by  the  way  of 
Crescent.  Central  and  AVorcester  Streets  to  ^Maple  Street,  thence 
countermai'ching  to  the  Cominon.  where  the  route  was  con- 
tiinied  down  Worcestei-  Street  to  ]*rospect  Sti'cet.  U])  Prospect 
St  reel   to  .Xcwton.  and  thence  out   Xewton  Street  to  the  Com- 


4>        ^^^f^ 


Uakdale  Lauies 


V  ' 


West  Boylsto.n  IIkjii  Sciiooi, 


('riifcniiial  69 

iiKMi.  Avlici'c  t  he  Jnducs.  Harry  W".  Smith  of  Worccsl  ci'.  Warren 
Goodale  of  Clinton,  and  Louis  .M.  llanff  of  JJutland.  awarded 
prizes  foi'  llic  most  attractive  (Miiiipa^'c 

For  the  liest  4  and  (Miorse  float  oi'  decorated  coach,  brake 
or  drag,  Lst  prize  of  .+20  was  given  to  Senator  p].  A.  Cowee, 
of  Worcester.  avIio  had  a  (i-hoi'se  stage  coach  decorated  in 
yellow  and  white  with  Senator  Cowee  driving.  Second  prize, 
$10.  was  given  to  the  Oakdale  ladies,  who  had  a  4-horse  stage 
coach  decorated  in  piid\  and  white.  Third  prize,  $5,  Ladies' 
■Tiide]iendent  Relief  ('orps.  of  AVest  Boylston.  who  had  a  4-horse 
float  decorated   in  hhie  and   white. 

For  the  best  decorated  Hoat  or  coacdi.  2  horses:  Fii-st  prize, 
$1.").  to  The  .^^aples,  of  AVest  Boylston.  a  laui-el  decorated 
coach;  2nd  prize,  $10,  to  West  Boylston  lieading  (Uub,  in 
white  Hoat.  trimmed  with  green  ;  8rd  jn-ize.  $5,  to  a  lanrel- 
decorated   barge   from  The   ^laples.  of  Oakdale. 

For  best  decorated  1-horse  float :  First  prize  to  the  sopho- 
mores of  W^est  Boylston  high  scdiool.  who  had  a  float  decorated 
in  red  and  white. 

Foi'  best  decorated  Idioi'se  c()a(di  or  hit(di  :  First  prize.  $10. 
to  Miss  Josie  Wihler.  of  Stei'ling.  in  a  butterfly  surrey  decor- 
ated in  piidv  and  wliite;  2nd  prize.  .Mrs.  .Alyron  I).  Potter,  of 
AVest  Boylston,  in  an  nmbrella  ])ha?ton  decorated  in  green  and 
white  .'^rd  pi'ize.  Miss  ILden  E.  3Iixter,  of  AVest  Boylston, 
in  an  nmbrella  plueton  decorated  in  pink  and  white. 

Foi-  the  handsomest  2-horse  hitch  not  decorated:  F.  W. 
Blancdiai'd.   of   Worcestei'. 

Foi'  the  handsomest  1-horse  liitch  not  decoi-atiMl  :  ^Mrs.  F.  N. 
Goddard.   of    Princeton. 

For  the  handsomest  horse  and  trappings  ridden  by  a  lady: 
First  prize,  Aliss  Alary  E.  Ivobbins.  of  West  Boylston;  2nd 
prize.  Miss  Blanche  E.  Kobbins.  of  West   Ijoylston. 

For  the  handsomest  horse  and  trappings  I'idden  by  a  man: 
First  prize.  Dr.  AVarren   S.   Thayei'.   of   Worcester. 

P^or  the  Arm  or  coinpany  making  the  biggest  and  most 
attractive  ad\ ci't ising  display:      Ivoss  Bros.,  of  Worcester. 


Mi.s.s  Mak.iorie  Cowee 


•'«•      •VJiW- 


WKST    I'.dVI.SKiN     KEAIlIXCi    ("LUIS 


Cenfoinidl  71 

For  tlir  most  iKH'i'ihlc  lookiim  team:  A.  J.  Scarlett,  Jr.,  of 
West  Boy] si  on. 

Special  prizes : 

Hon.  C'hai'les  (t.  Washburn,  of  Worcester,  made  a  special 
award  of  thi'ee  ])rizes  as  follows : 

First,  to  E.  P.  Rice.  motluM'  and  sistei-.  of  Sterling  Junction, 
who  appeared  in  a  pink  and  white  suri-ev;  2nd.  to  the  AVor- 
cester  County  training  school,  for  a  green  and  wliite  carryall; 
8rd.  to  Charles  L.  Tupper,  of  AVorcester.  for  a  pink  and  white 
depot-cart. 

Mr.  Harry  AV.  Smith  awarded  a  special  i)rize  to  Aliss  ^larjorie 
CoM-ee.  for  tlie  best  appearing  tandem-team. 

Hon.  E.  A.  Cowee  also  awarded  a  special  prize  to  Tracy  S. 
AVood.  of  AVest  Boylston,  for  the  smartest  pony-t(^am. 

Other  participants  in  the  coaching  parade,  aside  from  the 
prize  Avinners  and  those  of  wliom  xicws  ai'e  given,  were: 

Carriage  containing  Albci-t  W.  Minds,  ("luiii'nian  Kece])tion 
Connnitte(\  with  Aiajoi-  h-a  A'a\igliii  and  .Major  IMiilip  S.  Sears 
of  the  GrO\('rnoi'"s  Stalt'.  r('])i'('scnting  the  State. 

Carriage  i-ontaininu'  Ihc  ( '(MitiMinial  ( 'oininitlcc  and  teams  of 
D.  A.  Putnam.  Worcestiu":  .Mi's,  .lames  Allen.  Sterling;  Airs. 
Albei-t  Al.  Tyler.  Oahdale.  and  .Mrs.  Ai-thur  II.  Sawyer.  AA'est 
Boylston. 

The  vi(MVs  selected  of  the  Coaching  Parade  \\-ei'e  chosen,  not 
because  they  wei'e  prize  winners  alone,  but  on  ac<-ount  of  the 
•  piality  of  the  \iews  and  the  fact  that  they  seemed  io  best  repre- 
sent the  e\"(Mit. 

At  noon,  dinnei'  Avas  served  in  the  dining  tent,  while  the 
invited   guests  Avere  entertained  at  The  Alaph^s. 


Mrs.  Ai.MiitA  K.  Kice  and  Familv 


The  Maple 


6.00 

A. 

M. 

8.30 

A. 

M. 

10.30 

A. 

M. 

Centennial  73 

Programme. 

SALUTE  AND  KJNGING  OF  BELLS. 
BALL   CAME.      Goodale's  Field. 
COACHING    PARADE. 

1  Four  or  Six-IIorse  Float   or  Decorated  Coach,  Brake  or 

Drag. 

2  Decorated  Float   or  Coach    (Two-Horse). 

3  Decorated  Float  or  Coach   (One-Horse). 

4  Handsomest   Two-Horse   Hitch,  not   decorated, 
■l     Handsomest  One-Horse   Hitch,  not  decorated. 

6  Handsomest  Jlorse  and   Trappings.   Ridden  by  a   Lady. 

7  Handsomest  Horse  and  Trappings,  Ridden  by  a  Gentle- 

man. 

8  Firm  or  Company  making  the  Biggest  and  Most  Attract- 

ive Advertising  Display. 

9  Most  Horrible  Looldng  Team. 

12  M.  DINNER.      Served    on    the    Grounds   by   the    Ideal    Lunch 

Co.,  of  Worcester. 
1.30  P.  M.     AFTERNOON    EXERCISES. 

PRAYER,  -  -  -       Rev.    George    H.    Cummings 

ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME,  -         Warren   E.   Gammell 

HISTORICAL  ADDRESS,  -  -         Leon  A.  Goodale 

ADDRESS,  -  -  -         .         Hon.   Herbert  Parker 

3.00  P.  M.     BAND    CONCERT, 

CONCERT  PROGRAMME. 

:  MARCH— "Col.    Donovan."          -            ...  Strachan 

2  OVERTURE— "Poet  and  Peasant,"         -            -  -         Suppe 

3  SELECTION— "  Red    Mill,"            ....  Herbert 
■i  CORNET    SOLO— "Cliftonian    Polka,"          -          -  Williams 

Mr.  Ernest  S.  Williams. 

.5     MEDLEY  SELECTION— "  IHts  of  New  York,"           -  Helf 

6  CONCERT   WALTZ— "Golden   Sunset,"               -            -  Hall 

7  AMERICAN  FANTASIA— "North  and  South,"         -  Bendix 
S     FINALE— "National  Emblem,"           ....  Bagley 

SPORTS 

1  Tug  of  War  between  Oakdale  and  West  Boylstou.     8  men  on  a  side. 

Best  2  out  of  :!. 

2  Running  High  .Tuni|i. 

3  Ega'  Race.      WdiiuMi   o\er   18  vears. 


Tracy  8.  AVoon 


Miss  Hklkx  E.  Mixter 


M.    1'ai;ki:k   Hannixc; 


Centennial  75 

4  100-yai-(l    I):isli.     Koys   uii.ler   Ki. 

~i  3-Legged  Eace. 

6  Fat  Man  's  Race.     50  yards. 

7  100-yard  Dash. 

8  Tug   of   War  between    Oakdalc    and    West    Boylston    Boys   under    16 

years.     12  on  a  side. 

9  Potato    Race.     Girls   under   1(J. 

10  Running  Broad  .lumii. 

11  Sack  Race,  "id  yards.     Sack  to  be  not  over  3  feet  wide,  to  tie  around 

the   necl\  and   to   lie   furnished   liy   contestants. 

12  Half-n.ile   Run.      Handicap. 

13  Catch  the  Greased   Pig. 

EVENING. 
8.00  P.  :\r.     BAND   CONGE Wr   AND   JLLUMIXATIOX. 

EVENING     CONCERT. 

1  MARCH— "The   Fighting   Ninth,"  -              -             Strachan 

2  SELECTION— "O 'Neil    of    Derry. "  -          Chauncy    Olcott 

3  XYLOPHONE   SOLO— "The   Elks,"  -         -         -          Snow 

Mr.  Harry  F.  Cade. 

4  MEDLEY  OVERTURE— "Remick  No.  5,"  -  -  Remiek 
.1  IXTERMEZZO— "Ivanhoe."  -  -  -  Van  Alstine 
(i     SELECTrON—"Fifty  Miles  from  Boston."  -         -         Cohen 

7  COMIQUE— "The  Two  Thomas  Cats,"         -         -         -         Clark 

8  FINALE— "Our   Commander."  -  -  -  R.    B.   Hall 

Auld  Lan"-  Svne. 


CHIEF  MARSHAL 
Frank   11.   Baldwin 

AIDS 

Harry    E.    Lowe  W.   Clifford  Scarlett 

.Myr(.n    D.  Potter  Oscar  Burns 

Harry    \Y.    Trask  Aaron    Goodale,  .Ir. 

SPORTS  COMMITTEE 

Edward   A.   Waters 

Walter  G.  Boynton  Frederick   R.   Ivory 

HISTORICAL    LOAN     EXHIBIT    COMMITTEE 

Albert  ^Y.  Hinds 

KlJa    L.    Sawyer  .Mary    L.    Waite 

Warren    E.    (iamniell  D.  Frank  Prescott 

Luna  F.  Parker 


Centenmal  77 

RECEPTION  COMMITTEE 
Albert  W.  Ilimls 

Aaidii   (ioodale  Waldo    B.    Howe 

(ieoigo   W.   Reed  George  D.  Lawrence 

Joseph    M.    Lord  Charles  II.  Baldwin 

G.   Harvey   Keyes  Thomas  Lyiu-h 

William  P.  Chase  Harry  E.  Lowe 

.leieiiiiali   Fisher  Albert  B.  Pierce 

'riidiiias   W.  Shepard  George  F.  Keyes 

Edward  Lovell  W.   M.   Huntington 

(  harles    R.    Huntley  Edward   A.    Newton 

William    C.    Pierce  Bernard  F.  Moran 

M.   I'arker   Banning  Robert    W.  Morrill 

George   A.    Barker  Franklin    Sargent 

William   C.    Oveiiden  Arthur    Ward 

USHERS 
Frank  H.  Baldwin 

William   T.    lldlmes  Arthur   H.   Sawyer 

Arthur    L.   Bosworth  Carleton   A.  Cook 

William   .1.  Burns  George  M.  Lawrence 

Charles  AV.   Reed  Edward  Bond 

Joseph  H.  Cavanaugh  Archibald  R.  Davis 


AFTERNOON  EXERCISES. 

The  afterniion  exercises  were  held  in  the  huge  tent  erected  for  the 
occasion  on  the  common.  INir.  W.  B.  Wooil,  chairman  of  the  Centennial 
<  'nmmittee.  presiding. 

Those  occupying  seats  on  the  platform:  Maj.  Ira  A'aughn,  Maj.  Philip 
S.  Sears,  of  Boston,  both  members  of  the  Governor's  Staff;  Congressman 
Charles  G.  AVashburn,  Mayor  James  Logan,  Justice  Arthur  P.  Rugg,  Hon. 
Jidiu  R.  Thayer,  Louis  Cutting,  John  AV.  Sheehan.  AValtcr  D.  Ross,  David 
A.  Alatthews,  of  Worcester;  Hon.  Henry  O.  Sawyer,  of  I'itchburg;  AVarren 
Goodale,  Chairnum  of  the  <'ounty  (.'oiuniissionei  s,  of  ('linton;  George  L. 
Wright,  of  Boylston;  George  F.  Pjuttrick.  of  Sterling;  J.  Wintlirop  Holt,  of 
Holden;  Select  iiicu  .\ar(ui  (ioodale  and  Walter  E.  Cha]iman;  Albert 
W.    Hinds,    and    Tlioni;is    Lviich.    together    with    the    s})eakers. 

Prayer  was  olfered  liy  li'e\-.  (ieorge  II.  <'uininjngs,  pastoi-  of  the  First 
Congregational  ('limcli.  following  which  S(>lectman  Warren  E.  Gammell 
was  introduced   and  g:i\e  the   woi.ls  of  welcome,  subsl  ant  iall  \-  as  follows: 


78  ^Vest  Boj/Iston 


ADDRESS  BY  SELECTMAN  WARREN  E. 
GAMMELL. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen, 

It  hardly  seems  fitting  that  a  native  of  another  town  should 
l)e  called  npon  to  welcome  yon  to  the  birthplace  from  whence 
so  many  that  I  see  before  me.  have  g-onc  forth  to  try  their  for- 
tunes in  the  world. 

In  the  year  1850.  while  in  my  l)oyhood  days.  1  came  to  AVest 
Boylston.  and  with  the  exception  of  oiu^  year,  this  town  has 
been  my  home.  Here  I  found  my  helpmate,  and  as  we  have 
walked  in  and  out  among  the  citizens  of  the  town,  strong 
attachments  have  l)een  formed,  not  only  for  the  place,  hut  for 
the  people  as  well.  And  I  feel  that  I  can  extend  a  most  hearty 
welcome  to  every  person  within  the  sound  of  my  voice,  to  this 
our  Centennial  day.  The  coming  together,  the  exchanging 
friendly  greetings,  helps  to  strengthen  the  ties  that  bind  us 
into  a  community  of  townsmen  and  friends,  and  stimulates  our 
love  for  the  home  and  the  town  in  which  we  have  a  common 
interest. 

Many  of  you  can  recall  the  scene  of  the  once  prosperous 
village  of  nearly  fifty  years  ago.  Avith  its  Avorkshops,  where 
the  hum  of  the  machinery  was  heard  early  and  late;  the 
beautiful  river  in  the  \-alley.  the  old  red  cotton  mill,  the  saw- 
mill with  its  up  and  down  saw.  the  old  i)lacksmith  sho])  A\ith 
its  trii)-hammer.  the  grist  mill  with  its  dusty  miller,  the  old 
valley  stores,  or  the  farmers  and  the  ox  teams,  and  various 
other  signs  of  an  active  prosperous  town:  Avith  its  increase  in 
traffic  following  the  closing  yeai's  of  tlie  war;  of  the  increase  in 
population;  but  with  all  this  many  of  yon  are  familiar,  and  I 
will  not  weary  you  Avith  furthei-  citations. 

In  behalf  of  the  Centennial  Committee,  in  the  name  of  the 
officers  of  the  toAvn.  avc  give  you  a  most  cordial,  hearty  and 
heartfelt  welcome. 


J3fe^^ 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS  BY  LEON  A.  GOODALE. 

There  Mi'e  eei'taiii  f(^atui'(\s  which  stand  out  [)i'e-eiiiineiitly 
ill  tlu'  hist(»r\"  nt'  {'\^'ry  [)ei)ph\  and  each  nuuiicipality  lias 
some  historical  chai'actei'istics  \vhi(di  nioi'e  or  less  distinj^iiish 
it  from  others.  To  think  of  Monnt  X'ernon  is  to  think  of  the 
toml)  and  iniinortal  name  of  \Vasliiimt(»n.  The  history  of 
Boston  is  intimately  associated  with  P'aneiiil  Hall.  Charles- 
town  is  meaningless  withont  her  Bunker  Hill  and  her  monu- 
ment. Coneord  has  her  minute  man  keeping  wat(di  where  was 
fired  that  famous  shot  lieartl  around  the  world,  and  the  story 
of  American  lihei'tx-  centers  around  Iiulependeuee  Hall  in  old 
J'hiladelphia. 

Names  and  places  these  ai'e.  i)recious  to  every  loyal  heart. 
They  are  inseparahly  linked  with  American  history.  They  are 
shrines  of  freedom.  From  their  altar  fires  have  leaped  the 
flames  that  have  kindled  the  fires  of  patriotism  and  loyalty 
in  millions  of  hearts.  To  the  native  born,  they  make  real 
and  \ivid  those  early  scenes  and  awaken  anew  veneration 
anil  lo\e  foi"  our  country's  flag  and  institutions.  To  the 
stranger,  they  hear  silent  tt^stimony  to  the  grMiuleui'  of  our 
principles  and  the  gi-eafness  of  our  fathers.  They  are  a 
priceless  heritage.  Their  value  is  beyond  that  of  finest  .jewels. 
.Money  could  nol  Imy  them.  Rivers  of  i)atriot  blood  woiiKl 
riow  ere  alien  hands  should  desecrate  or  defile. 


"Breatlies  tlierc  tlic  iii;iii    with  soul  so  dcail. 
Who   ne\er   t(i   liiinsclf   liath   said. 
This    is    my    nwii.    my    native    land! 

Whose   iieart    iiatii   ne'er  within  hiiii  Vmnied, 
As   home   his   footsteps   he   hath   turned 

i'lnm    wanderings    on    a   foreign    strand!'' 

(Seott.    Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel) 


Centennial  SI 

The  native  of  AVest  Boylston  who  returns  to  his  childhood's 
home  is  confronted  with  a  strange  situation.  The  old,  historic 
landmarks  are  gone.  Beaman  Tavern,  the  famous  old  oak, 
Thomas  Hall,  the  mills,  canal,  pond,  have  disappeared.  Not 
only  are  his  old  friends  and  neighliors  scattered,  but  his  very 
birthi)lace  is  gone;  the  streets  that  teemed  with  business  and 
resounded  with  tread  of  mill  workers  is  now  a  lake  of  blue, 
tossing  waters. 

Barred  out  from  fields  and  Avood  where  his  childish  feet 
strayed  l)y  flaring  signs,  "No  Trespassing",  it  seems  a  strange 
land.  Stores,  streets,  railroads,  houses,  schools  swept  away, 
even  the  solemn  rest  of  the  dead  disturbed  and  their  ashes 
gathered  from  familiar  cemeteries  and  placed  elsewhere.  In 
fifteen  years  the  very  face  of  nature  has  undergone  more 
startling  transformation  than  usually  takes  place  during  the 
sloAv  sAveej)  of  almost  endless  geological  ages.  No  wonder  a 
feeling  of  bewilderment  comes  over  him.  He  feels  like  a  man 
Avithouf  a  birthplace,  barred  ruthlessly  from  the  hearts  of  his 
childhood,  cast  out  into  the  Avorld.  Ilis  home  is  gone.  Tlis 
West  Boylston  is  no  more.  The  ties  that  bound  him  to  this 
spot  have  been  rudely  severed.  They  are  but  a  menu)ry  fading 
with  the  passing  years. 

AYe  talk  of  the  changes  of  the  past  hundred  years,  yet 
greater  ones  have  taken  ])lace  in  the  last  ten  years.  The 
old  latidniark's  that  stirred  local  pride  and  kept  alive  local 
respect  and  loyalty  have  been  obliterated.  No  town  in  our 
country  has  ever  suffered  more  severely  in  pro])oi'tion  to  its 
size  than  West  Boylston. 

Tt  was  no  idle  statement  made  by  an  attorney  that  the 
destruction  of  West  Boylston  Avas  Avithout  precedent,  and 
that  llic  only  i)arallel  case  Avas  told  by  the  i)oet  LongfelloAV 
in   the  dramatic   classic  Evangeline. 

This  extraordinary  condition  imposes  unusual  duties.  Today 
a  generation  is  living  that  has  seen  the  historical  places,  and 
is  familiar  witii  their  story.  To-morroAV  a  ncAV  generation  Avill 
be  here,  and  the  memory  of  early  events  Avill  be  but  dim.  The 
duty  devolves  u{>on  us  by  every  means  in  our  poAver  of  making 


Vcnicun'ml  83 

the  coming  generations  familiar  with  past  achievement  and 
story.  The  facts  of  onr  history  must  be  put  on  record,  the  story 
of  former  days  and  i)laces  must  he  often  tolcf.  Charts  and  maps 
and  photographs  must  be  carefully  preserved.  Such  a  course 
is  necessary  to  awaken  local  pride,  to  stimulate  loyalty  to  local 
traditions  and  aspirations,  to  arouse  and  encourage  that  energy 
and  co-operation  that  shall  insure  a  future  as  prosperous  and 
honorable  as  the  past  has  been. 

As  a  river  is  sometimes  formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or 
more  streams  that  pour  their  currents  into  one,  so  West 
Boylston  has  been  formed  by  the  union  of  peoples  from  several 
towns,  lioylston,  Shrewsbury,  Holden  and  Sterling  have  each 
contril)uted  their  share,  and  these  in  turn  have  sprimg  from 
the  parentage  of  Lancaster,  AVorcester  and  Marlborough. 

The  territory  now  included  in  the  town  of  AVest  Boylston 
was  the  outskii'ts  of  these  surrounding  towns,  and  the  people 
were  left  largely  to  their  own  defence  and  resources.  It  soon 
attracted  the  sturdy  pioneers  by  its  natural  advantages.  Its 
scenery  was  varied  and  in  many  jilaees  romantic.  Here  were 
the  forests  furnishing  in  lavish  abundance  timber  for  their 
dwellings  and  their  fires.  Its  soil  in  the  fertile  valleys  and 
intervales  provided  plentiful  subsistence,  while  the  streams  with 
their  foaming  rapids  furnished  water  power  for  sawing  tim])er 
and  grinding  grain.  It  was  a  place  well  favored  by  Alother 
Nature,  and  was  well  adapted  to  become  the  center  in  future 
years  of  a  busy,  prosperous,  contented  maiuifaeturing  commu- 
nity. 

Here,  in  1720,  came  the  earliest  settler,  Joseph  Hinds.  Others 
soon  followed.  From  Alarlborough  came  Nathaniel  and  AVilliam 
Davenport.  Benjamin  BigeloAV,  Edward  Goodale,  Micah  Ilar- 
than,  and  many  others.  From  AA^oburn  came  Jonathan  Fair- 
b'anks;  from  Medford,  Jonathan  Lovell;  from  Boylston,  Simeon 
and  Thomas  Keyes.  From  far  and  near  they  came.  These 
early  settlers  were  a  hardy,  vigorous  race;  social  and  benevo- 
li'iit  :  kind  ;ind  gcnei'ous  to  each  other;  hospitable  to  strangers. 
They  were  strongly  attached  to  princii)les  and  customs  of  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers,  carefully  sustaining  the  institutions  of  religion 


Cenicnnial  85 

and  leai'iiiiij?.  They  were  conscientious  and  faithful  in  their 
attendance  on  public  Avorship  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  taught 
their  children  to  cherish  the  principles  and  to  adhere  to  the 
customs  of  their  ancestors. 

The  Indians  gave  them  comparatively  little  troul^le.  though 
for  many  years  the  settlers  were  ajiprehensive  of  attack  from 
tomahawk  and  scalping  knife.  A  block  liouse  was  built  in  the 
south  part  of  the  town  and  kept  as  a  place  of  refuge.  The 
natives  formerly  were  numerous  and  powerful,  but  disease  and 
war  reduced  their  numbers.  John  Eliot,  the  great  apostle  to 
the  Indians,  had  visited  Quinsigamond  in  1674  and  met  with 
some  success  in  Christianizing  the  red  man.  There  were  other 
dangers,  however,  beside  the  Indians.  It  is  told  that  Jonathan 
Lovell  used  to  come  to  his  place  in  the  springtime  with  a  yoke 
of  oxen  and  return  in  the  fall.  He  built  his  cabin  on  posts  and 
when  he  retired  for  the  night  would  pull  the  ladder  up  after 
him.  In  the  darkness  the  wolves  would  come  out  and  eat  the 
scraps  of  food  that  might  have  been  left  below. 

The  settlers  bore  their  part  in  the  patriotic  and  religious 
movements  of  the  several  townships.  They  were  represented 
among  the  soldiers  of  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  and  these 
had  no  sooner  ceased  than  the  war  of  the  Revolution  broke  out. 
taxing  the  patriotic  community  to  its  utmost.  The  record  of 
West  Boylston  is  an  honoralile  one.  Although  it  was  not  then 
a  separate  town  or  parish,  the  men  living  within  its  present 
boundaries  were  not  lacking  in  patriotism  or  devotion.  Be- 
cause their  citizenship  belonged  in  dift'erent  towns  the  name  of 
West  Boylston  does  not  appear  in  the  Revolutionary  annals; 
yet  the  men  who  won  fame  and  honor  in  that  glorious  struggle 
were  among  the  founders  of  our  town,  and  their  descendants 
are  still  with  us.  They  had  already  learned  the  art  and  spirit 
of  self-defense.  They  did  not  shrink  from  self-assertion.  Their 
zeal  and  activity  in  securing,  for  themselves  and  the  colonies, 
liberty  and  independence,  are  all  the  more  remarkable  when 
we  remember  that  communities  and  neighborhoods  were  divided 
by  that  struggle.  Some  of  the  leading  citizens  and  families 
remained   loyal   to  the   crown.     At   the  present  time   we   can 


CeiiicHnidl  S7 

rcadil.N'  ^I'.'iiit  llif  sincerity.  I)i-;i\('r>-  and  \V(iftli  oT  the  Tories  of 
those  days  as  well  as  Ihc  [)a1  riots.  Vuv  our  aneestors  the  ex- 
perience Avas  a  tryiiiii'  diic  for  it  meant  for  them  a  strno;p;le  M-itli 
a  loved  pastoi"  after  Iwcnly-Hve  yeai's  oi'  ix-accfnl  and  happ.x' 
rehitions.  Re\'.  Ehenezei'  .Morse  "was  the  ]>astor  of  the  Shre'ws- 
hnry  North  Parish,  lie  was  a  eultured,  ediiealed,  able  man, 
and  staiineh  and  iuiniovahic  in  liis  loyalty  t(^  his  king.  In  spite 
of  the  opposition  of  his  ix'ojtlc  he  insisted  on  in-aying  in  public 
for  the  king'.  (|ueen  and  Royal  family.  They  could  not  drive 
him  away,  so  at  a  Shrewsbury  toAvn  meeting  in  ITTo.  a  commit- 
tee was  a])poinlcd  to  examine  him  and  sex'ei'al  otliers  suspected 
of  Toryism.  Un  their  report  that  the  minister  had  in  sundry 
instances,  "appeared  not  to  lie  so  friendly  to  the  common  cause 
as  we  could  wish,  but  rather  in  some  instances,  unfriendly."  it 
Avas  voted  that  he  be  deprived  of  his  arms  and  ammunition  and 
wai'like  implements  of  all  kinds  and  that  he  be  not  allowed  to 
pass  oA'er  the  lines  of  the  Second  or  North  Parish  in  which  lie 
lived  without  a  |)ermit  from  two  or  more  of  the  committed'. 
As  one  has  said.  "All  the  more  stril^ing  is  the  patriotism  of 
these  men.  Avho  did  theii'  duty,  although  the  red  line  of  excision 
ran  through  theii'  oA\ti  ])ulpit." — (IT.  M.  Smith.  P>oylston  Cen- 
tennial. I 

In  1774  it  had  been  Aotecl  to  lia\'e  two  militia  companies  in 
the  Sjii'ewsiiury  South  Parish.  th(^  Xt)rth  Parish  already  having 
a  comijany.  whose  officers'  lunnes  sound  familiar  to  us.  They 
were  Ezra  l^eaman.  ("a]itain:  Ephraim  Peaman  and  Jonathan 
Fassett.  Lieutenants;  ami  Solomon  I^iigelow.  Ensign. 

On  February  IS.  177.").  a  letter  was  received  by  ('apt.  Ezra 
Beaman  from  John  Axcry  of  the  Committee  of  Donations  at 
Poston.  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  '>'■)  busluds  of  rye  and  corn 
.sent  by  North  Parish  of  Shrewsbury  "'for  the  distressed  in- 
habitants of  that  poor  devoted  town,  M'ho  were  groaning  under 
the  rod  of  despotism." 

The  dawning  of  the  memorable  l!)th  of  April.  1775.  found  the 
]\Iinute  nu'u  prepared.  Those  Avho  lived  within  the  present 
limits  of  oui-  town  Avere  far  fi'om  the  cent^M's  of  the  towns  of 
wiiicli   they  wei-e  citizens.      The    s1oi-\-    of    how    the    ci-v.    "To 


88  ^Nest  Boylston 

Arms,"  was  carried  over  the  hills  and  through  the  vales  of 
West  Boylston  till  it  reached  the  home  of  Serg.  Ingalsbe  on  the 
banks  of  the  Qiiinepoxet  River  may  never  be  told.  Whether  by 
horsemen  from  Shrewsbury  on  the  south,  by  spurring  rider 
from  Lancaster  on  the  north,  or  by  galloping  messenger  from 
Ilolden  on  the  west,  we  may  never  know.  The  poet  in  his 
immortal  lines  has  left  us  the  thrilling  story  of  the  ride  of  Paul 
Revere.  ITndoubtedly  during  that  night  and  the  following  day 
that  ride  was  duplicated  by  scores  of  fleeting  horsemen.  It  is 
on  record  that  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  a  post  rider  came 
galloping  in  hot  haste  through  the  town  of  Lancaster,  shouting 
to  every  one  he  saw,  that  the  red  coats  were  coming  out  of 
Boston.  Instantly  booming  cannon  summoned  the  ^Minute  men. 
^Mounted  messengers  spread  the  tiding  far  and  wide.  Undoubt- 
edly that  call  to  arms  resounded  by  many  a  AVest  Boylston  fire- 
side and  field  that  day.  Work  was  left,  hurried  farewells  were 
spoken,  the  powder  horn  and  bullet  pouch  with  the  old  flint  lock 
musket  were  thrown  over  the  shoulder  and  the  patriot  hurried 
away  to  the  scene  of  conflict.  To  Ilolden,  to  the  Company  of 
Captain  Paul  Raymond  went  Asa  Lovell,  Amos  Lovell,  William 
Raymond.  With  the  Company  of  Capt.  James  Davis  went  Isaac 
Temple,  Paul  Goodale.  Some  undoubtedly  marched  with  one 
of  the  six  companies  that  went  from  Lancaster,  perhaps  in  the 
Company  of  Capt.  Joseph  White.  By  far  the  greater  number 
marched  with  the  Company  of  Capt.  Robert  Andrews  from 
Shrewsbury  North  Parish.  Among  the  number  appear  the 
names  of  Ezra  Beaman,  Lieut.,  who  might  be  called  the  founder 
and  father  of  our  town ;  Jonas  Temjile,  Lieut.,  whose  son,  John 
Temple,  long  served  as  chairman  of  our  selectmen  ;  Sergt.  Eben- 
ezer  Ingalsbe  ;  Corporal  Thomas  Keyes,  grandfather  of  historian 
Benj.  F.  Keyes;  Corporal  Aaron  Goodale,  the  first  of  five  gene- 
rations to  bear  that  name ;  private  Abel  Bigelow,  grandfather 
of  the  great  inventor  and  carpet  manufacturer ;  privates,  Peter 
Goodale,  Abel  Holt,  Oliver  Densmore.  William  Winn,  and 
others.  Besides  these  minute  men  many  more  served  at  some 
time  during  the  war.  Israel  Keyes,  Jonathan  Gale,  Ebenezer 
Ingalsbe,  Jr..  William  Eames.  Stephen  Brigham,  Abel  Bigelow, 


CodcnniaJ  89 

Thomas  Keyes.  Aaron  Goodale.  were  among  those  who  marched 
to  Uadley  in  1777.  Other  names  are  given  by  historian  Keyes: 
John  Rixhy.  Joseph  Bixby.  Zaehariah  Child,  Joseph  Dwelly, 
AVilliain  Fairhaiik.  Oliver  Glazier.  Benjamin  Hinds,  Jr.,  Jason 
Hinds.  Ebenezer  Pike.  Isaae  Smith,  John  Temple,  Nathan 
Wilder.  These  names  constitute  a  roll  of  honor  of  "Brave  and 
patriotic  men  of  whom  we  may  well  feel  prond.  Their  memories 
will  ever  l)e  cherished  by  a  grateful  people  with  feelings  of 
respect  and  veneration.  ^lention  should  also  be  made  of  the 
fact  that  one  of  our  citizens.  Benjamin  Hinds,  loaned  .$60,000  to 
the  Continental  Congress. 

The  circumstances  which  led  to  the  formation  of  a  precinct 
and  ultimately  the  town  are  too  well  known  to  be  dwelt  upon 
at  length.  Shrewsbury  North  Parish  had  become  incorporated 
as  the  town  of  Boylston  on  ^larch  1st,  1786,  taking  its  name 
from  the  eminent  Boylston  families  of  Boston.  It  was  necessary 
to  build  a  new  meeting  house.  In  those  days  the  meeting  house 
was  the  center  from  which  radiated  the  religious,  political,  edu- 
cational and  social  life  of  the  community.  Perhaps  for  this  rea- 
son it  Avas  customary  to  locate  it  in  the  geographical  center  of 
the  town  as  well.  The  majority  proposed  to  build  the  new 
church  near  the  old  one.  The  minority,  headed  by  the  resolute 
Ezra  Beaman,  demanded  that  it  be  located  in  the  center,  which 
was  half  a  mile  nearer  the  residents  in  the  west  part  of  the  new 
town.  The  majority  persisting  in  carrying  out  their  wishes, 
the  minority  turned  itself  into  a  majority.  l)y  the  time-honored 
custom  of  withdrawing  and  starting  over  again  all  by  them- 
selves. They  built  the  new  church  with  commendable  zeal  and 
rapidity  on  a  piece  of  land  given  l)y  Abel  Bigelow,  Joseph  Bige- 
low,  and  John  White,  now  known  as  the  West  Boylston  Com- 
mon, on  which  historic  spot  these  exercises  are  now  taking 
place.  The  meeting  house  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  1795 
and  a  petition  for  incorporation  as  a  town  was  forwarded  to 
the  General  Court,  signed  by  ninety  inhabitants  of  Boylston, 
Sterling  and  Iloldcn.  This  petition  was  refused,  but  another 
was  granted,  incorporating  them  as  the  Second  Precinct  of 
Boylston.  Sterling  and  Ilolden,  in  June,  1796. 


('eiitciinial 


91 


111  aliout  twelve  years,  steps  were  taken  which,  though 
(ijiposed.  resulted  in  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  AVest 
Boylstoii  oil  .January  .SO,  1808.  At  the  time  of  iiicoi'jioration 
there  were  ahout  !)8  dwellino-  houses,  with  a  little  less  than  600 
inhabitants  in  the  new  towii.  There  were  60  farmers,  about  a 
dozen  mechanics,  one  clergyman,  no  physician,  but  one  ])erson 
of  foreign  birtji.  and  ai)iiai'(Mitly  there  was  no  need  of  an  under- 
taker. 

There  was  said  to  be  one  cotton  mill,  two  grist  mills,  two  s:iw 
mills,  one  clotliier's  mill,  one  tannery,  four  blacksmiths'  shops, 
one  ca])inet  maker's  shop,  two  book  binderies.  There  Avere  thi-ee 
schools  and  three  stores,  one  church  and  one  tavern. 

The  land  composing  the  town  in  shape  resembles  an  Indian 
toraahawdv  Avithout  a  handle.  The  history  of  the  various  land 
changes  is  somewhat  confused  and  complicated.  It  is  a  matter 
of  history  that  James  Tst  made  a  grant  to  the  Plymouth  Com- 
pany of  all  the  land  between  the  41st  and  45th  parallels  of  lati- 
tude, and  that  later  its  successor,  the  Ccnincil  of  Plymoutli.  in 
1620.  received  a  grant  of  all  land  Itetween  the  40th  and  48th 
parallels  of  latitude  and  extending  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific.  It  can  be  readily  seen  that  many  grants  made  in  this 
generous  off-hand  way  must,  by  the  limitati(ni  of  the  size  of  our 
contim^nt.  result  in  overlapping  boundaries,  disputes  as  to  titles 
aiul  changing  ownership. 

In  1655  the  first  grant  of  land  in  this  vicinity  was  nmde  liy 
the  General  Court  to  the  town  or  church  of  IMalden.  This  grant 
contained  about  one  thousand  acres.  A  memorial  of  that  grant 
is  still  found  in  the  name  of  ]\Ialden  Hill.  In  165!)  a  grant  of 
land  was  made  to  Ri(diard  Davenport,  a  commander  at  Castle 
Island  in  Boston  Ilarboi'.  It  comprised  about  650  acres  and 
extended  north  to  the  old  stone  bridge. 

In  1658  Lancaster  was  incorporated  as  a  town,  and  included 
the  territory  within  the  boundaries  of  Sterling  and  part  of 
West  Boylston.  In  1660  Marlborough  was  incorporated  and  in 
1727,  Shrewsbury  was  set  off  from  .Marlborough.  In  1722 
Worcester  was  incorporated,  including  the  territory  set  off  as 
Holden  in  1740.    The  boundarv  between  Lancaster  and  Shrews- 


jKAj^  a  41  'd  k 


92  M^esi  Boylston 

bury  was  several  times  changed.  x\  sti'ip  of  land  between  the 
two  about  four  miles  long  and  one  wide  was  known  as  the 
Shrewsbury  Leg.  It  belonged  first  to  one  town,  and  then  the 
other.  In  1781,  Sterling  was  incorporated  and  covered  all  the 
territory  belonging  to  Lancaster  now  lying  within  the  limits  of 
"West  Boylston.  In  1786,  Boylston,  formerly  the  North  Parish 
of  Shrewsbury,  w'as  incorporated  and  al)sorbed  that  portion  of 
"The  Leg"  not  covered  by  Sterling.  Then  in  1796,  the  Second 
Precinct  was  incorporated,  including  a  portion  of  Ilolden, 
Sterling  and  Boylston,  and  in  1808  followed  its  incorporation 
as  the  town  of  West  Boylston.  These  changes  resulted  in  a 
certain  portion  of  the  Shrewsbury  Leg  being  at  one  time  or 
another  within  the  limits  of  five  towns.  Other  portions  of  our 
town  have  been  within  the  limits  of  four  towns,  and  no  portion 
of  it  but  what  has  been  within  the  limits  of  three  tow^ns.  Robert 
B.  Thomas,  who  lived  in  that  district  known  as  the  Shrewsbury 
Leg,  said  in  the  famous  Farmer's  Almanac  of  1834:  "It  is 
rather  paradoxical,  but  no  less  a  fact,  that  I  have  resided  in 
four  incorporated  towns,  and  two  parishes  and  one  precinct, 
and  yet  never  moved  from  the  same  place."  At  the  Bi-Centen- 
nial  Celebration  of  the  town  of  Lancaster  in  1858,  the  toast  was 
offered  to  the  town  of  Boylston  :  ' '  Boylston  took  to  herself 
Shrewsbury  Leg  and  ran  away  from  her  mother."  AVest 
Boylston  took  to  herself  the  same  Shrewsbury  Leg  and  ran 
away  from  her  mother  and  grandmother. 

At  the  first  election  in  West  Boylston,  held  ]\larch  1.  1808, 
Silas  Beaman  was  chosen  jModerator,  Robert  B.  Thomas,  Clerk. 
Ezra  Beaman,  Jonathan  Plympton,  AYilliam  Fairbank,  Silas 
Beaman  and  Amos  Lovell,  Selectmen,  and  Ezra  Beaman,  Treas- 
urer. There  were  about  150  ratable  polls.  The  legal  voters 
numbered  105. 

It  is  a  matter  of  record  that  during  the  first  year  of  the 
town's  existence  warrants  were  issued  for  twelve  town  meet- 
ings. We  may  feel  sure  that  toAvn  affairs  that  year  occupied  a 
prominent  place  of  interest  and  were  well  eared  for.  The  same 
spirit  of  zeal  was  seen  in  the  business  affairs  of  the  town.  Its 
character  as  a  farming  community  soon  changed  and  it  became 


Centennial  93 

•A  iii;iimf;icturiii<:'  \illa,iic.  In  fifty  years  the  iiuinl)er  of  farmers 
increased  fi'oin  (iO  to  70,  a  liaiii  of  only  10  in  half  a  century. 
Some  of  the  fii'st  cotton  mills  in  the  country  were  located  here. 
The  Slatei's.  those  i)ioneei's  of  cotton  manufacturing  in  this 
c(uuitry.  were  interested  in  property  in  this  vicinity.  The  ex- 
cellent water  power  furnished  by  the  junction  of  the  Quina- 
poxet  and  Stillwater  Rivers  in  forming'  the  Nashua,  made  it 
certain  that  the  greatest  development  would  be  along  manu- 
facturing lines.  At  first,  saw  mills  and  grist  mills  were  multi- 
[)licd.  A  clothier's  mill  and  a  scythe  factory,  with  the  first  trip 
liammer  used  in  this  section  of  the  country,  gave  the  town  a 
distinction  that  attracted  strangers  from  a  distance. 

The  chief  industries  of  the  town  have  been  the  bottoming  of 
boots,  ami  cottcui  manufacturing.  At  one  time,  2000  pairs  of 
boots  were  finished  and  sent  to  Worcester  daily,  giving  lucra- 
tive employment  to  many  ]ieople.  Six  cotton  mills  gave  em- 
ployment to  hundreds,  so  that  in  ISO.')  the  population  had  in- 
creased to  about  8000.  Those  who  ha\'e  seen  the  town  in  the 
valley  k'liow  and  Avill  cvcm-  reuKMulxM-  th(^  beauty  of  the  natural 
scenery  for  which  it  was  famed. 

From  the  beginning  attention  has  been  ])aid  to  schools  and 
education.  At  the  time  of  incorporation  there  were  three 
schools.  Almost  the  first  business  of  the  \'oters  M'as  to  organize 
the  schools.  The  to^^■n  records  contain  the  following  interesting 
item  under  date  of  XoNcniber  8.  1808:  "After  much  debate 
respecting  districting  this  town  into  school  districts,  a  motion 
was  made  by  ]Mr.  Paul  Goodale  to  rescind  all  former  votes  for 
districting  the  town  into  school  districts,  which  was  ])ut  and 
declared  in  the  afiii'mative.  A  motion  Avas  then  made  by  ]\Ir. 
Goodale  in  substance  that  the  town  build  four  schoolhouses. 
two  on  the  west  aiul  two  on  the  east  of  the  Quinapoxet  River, 
and  that  a  committee  be  chosen  fi'om  the  east  sid(^  to  place  the 
schoolhouse  on  the  west  side,  and  vice  versa,  and  lastly  that 
tlie  school  money  be  divided  into  four  equal  parts  and  be 
schooled  out  into  each  s(dioolhouse.  which  was  voted." 

The  number  of  districts  was  increased  the  following  year  to 
eight  and   remained  at  that  number  till  1868,  after  which  the 


Centennial  ^j 

Dnmber  var                 .  eleven  to  nft*-en  until  1^*J2.  -^h&i  &s  & 

result  o"                -          "           -        ^    -  . 

•rentTci!              "                     _-                                 "         "  ■           -r 
seh-                 ns- 


1S6S-  It  reads:  ""The  eharaeter  of  a  town  mav  be  very  eor- 
reetij'  <r-  e  of  its  forms  d 

dition  »::-.--     -  .-       --     If  these  are  :r.   _  r:    ^_^ 

progre^ing.  the  seho«:»l  buildiiigs  seat.  e»>ir  —  -  and  ^rell 

famished,  the  ehildien  interested  and  c»>i]istant  in  liieir  atten- 
■lan«:-e.  the  t^-^  -^  ~-  '  "  -v  :«  _  ---  ^  -  -well  - '-^  '  '  '""? 
in  morals  ai.  -  ie  gwgV  :s 

as  anxions  to  improve  their  seho«:»is  as  they  are  their  farms 
mar""     *  ~-s  or  their  mer  '  ~   -    ~"      ""  ~  i> 

tru-'  ihat  that  toTm    -  _  -  _     —        -  f 

the  age  and  eontains  a  reading,  thmkmg.  virtuous  and  patriotie 
people." 

In  1S70.  two  high  schools  were  established,  one  at  <!>akdale 
and  one  at  West  Bc»ylston.  thus  showing  how  aneient  is  that 


ISSO  and  it  has  sinee  done  most  exeellent  work. 

The  town  library  was  es^        -  in  1S7S.     In  that  7 

legacy  by  David  Chiltis.  &  _:_i:      ;    Ms  widow.  Lydia  ii^:  .. 
Childs.  a  well-known  writer,  and  an  appropriatioD  of  several 
hundred  dollars  gave  it  a  g  iav  it 

numbers  over  7.  _  „.  >  and  supplier  ..       .  __^  .      ^  with 

magazines  and  periodicals.     It  is  fast  outgrc^w-ing  its  T'lvsent 
quarters  and  today  is  in  the  p^»sition  of  a  coy  your  - 
easting  areh  glances  and  waiting  the   -  -    -  -    -  -:  w..-.  __  ._e 

form  of  some  public  spirited  pers«>il  -  i^rr  his  ^rid"  ?. 

home  in  a  new.  attractive  library  buiidmg. 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  West  Boylst  - 
the  high  standard  of  loyalty  and  devotion  of  :  - 
Lincoln's  call  for  volunteers  found  rea«Jy  and  geneivus  res- 
ponse.   T^-- -           '        ut  25iX\  she  sent  t.   -       '       : 


96  We-s/   BoijJsfon 

252  men,  ten  per  cent,  of  her  inhabitants.  Of  the  able-bodied 
men  between  the  ages  of  16  and  60,  one  in  every  three  enlisted 
under  their  country's  banner.  Of  this  number  twelve  were 
commissioned  officers,  and  two  werc^  surgeons.  They  gained 
their  honors  liy  bravery  at  the  front,  and  while  the  privates 
and  non-commissioned  officers  were  as  l)rave  as  any  who  wore 
the  blue,  the  name  of  Sergt.  Pluidvctt  will  ever  he  a  household 
tiame  in  our  country  and  a  synonym  of  bravery  and  faithful- 
ness even  unto  death.  Thirty-one  gave  up  their  lives  during 
the  war,  on  the  field  of  battle,  in  the  hospitals  for  the  wounded 
and  in  prison  pens.  That  fast  diminishing  number  of  veterans 
who  yet  remain  with  us  shall  be  honored  as  long  as  Providence 
spares  their  earthly  lives. 

Those  who  remained  at  home  were  not  lacking  in  loyalty,  nor 
love  for  their  country.  Their  patriotism  was  manifested  in 
various  ways.  Many  maintained  liberty  ])()les  from  which  by 
night  hung  a  light  and  by  day  waved  the  glorious  stars  and 
stripes,  the  flag  of  a  united  land  and  the  greatest  and  best 
nation  of  the  earth. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  in  passing  to  call  attention  to  the  fact 
that  for  every  man  between  the  ages  of  15  and  (iO  who  remained 
at  home,  there  Avere  two  and  seven-tenths  women.  Their  pre- 
dominance and  prominence  has  outlasted  the  Avar.  It  has 
resulted  in  making  so  deep  a  religious  impression  upon  this 
community  that  though  it  came  through  the  devastation 
Avrought  hy  the  ]Metropolitan  Water  Hoard.  Avith  the  loss  of 
mills,  stores,  houses  and  tAvo-thirds  of  its  people,  it  came  out  of 
that  crisis  Avithout  the  loss  of  a  church,  having  just  the  same 
number  as  before. 

The  coming  of  the  Metropolitan  AVater  Board,  backed  l)y  all 
the  sovereign  poAver  of  the  state,  still  remains  to  some  t)f  our 
people  as  a  hidecms  nightmare,  and  it  takes  long  years  to  realize 
that  it  Avas  no  dream,  but  a  stern  reality.  In  1895  a  bbud^  om- 
inous cloud  Avas  seen  rising  over  the  state  house  at  Boston,  tliat 
great  center  of  wind  storms  and  fiery  eruptions,  and  moxed 
toAvard  the  peaceful  valley  of  the  Nashua.  As  it  grcAv.  a  fun- 
nel-shaped cloud  appeared  Avhose  eartlnvard  end  reached  the 


('(':t  I  en  II '((I  97 

•iToiiiid  ,'is  il  iicircd  West  I  mivIsI  (in.  \\yv  11ic  1  ciToi'-st  ricl^cii 
iiilialiiljiiit  s  had  I'aiily  rccoxci-cd  their  senses.  Ihe  toi-nado  liad 
])assed.  Sidi'es.  mills.  Iionies  and  (dnil'(dies  were  seattel'ed  in 
I'uins,  while  the  hui'st  itm  of  the  watei  spout  Avas  tilling-  ihe 
Forniei'  heaulirul  \alley  with  a  lake  eii;-lit  and  one-half  miles 
lonu'  tVcnii  tile  ( "1  i  lit  on  dam.  t  wo  miles  -wide  in  the  broadest  part, 
the  aica  siihmei'u'ed  ahout  si.\  and  onedialf  s(|uare  miles,  with  a 
cireumt'erence  of  ;].")  miles,  a  (h'pth  of  llO  feet  at  the  (him.  Avilli 
a  caiiaeity  of  fiM.OOO.OOO.OOO  i;-allons.  and  costing'  forty  millions 
of  (hillars.  h'rom  West  IJoylston  it  too]\  six  mills,  eio'ht  sehool- 
hovises.  four  (dmreiles.  M(K)  dwellinii'  houses  occupied  Ity  upward 
of  17(H)  peo|)le.  Of  course  they  [laid  for  it.  hut  money  cannot 
huy  the  feelinu'  of  atta(diment.  the  sentiment  that  (ding's  to  the 
iioiiie  of  (diildhoo(h  ( )f  necessity  the  old  West  l>o\dston  has 
Lione  f(n'e\-er.  ()f  necessity  a  new  West  l)oylst(ni  has  ariscMi 
without  e\'en  the  solace  of  heiiii;'  a  hie  to  say.  that  ' "  PlKeiiixdike 
it  has  sprunu'  from  the  ashes  of  the  old." 

It  is  difticiilt  for  stranii'ers  and  \isitors  to  realize  the  complete 
(dianu'c  that  has  lieeii  Avrouii'ht.  ()iie  single  illustration  may 
help  us  to  i-ealize  it.  Near  the  spot  Avliere  a  hundred  years  at>'o 
oxen  were  uiivoked  and  the  old-time  sta*;'e  coa(di  daslK^l  up  to 
the  old  lieaiiiaii  TaAcrn  with  ci'a(d';iii<i'  Avlii])  and  foaming 
horses,  today,  electric  cars  are  speedinu'  along  hfty  feet  in  the 
ail". 

In  \iew  (d'  su(di  startling  (dianges  how  significant  seem  IIk^ 
(dosing  words  of  Keyes"  History  of  our  town,  wi'itten  fifty  years 
ago  (page  S.'^  \  -.  "  In  1!)()S.  a\  hen  the  (Jentennial  Aniii\-ersary  of 
tiiis  town  shall  he  cehdirated.  jierhaps  some,  how  many  cannot 
he  conjectured,  who  are  now  here  enjoying  and  ])art  icipating 
in  cun-eiit  scenes  and  events,  may  he  present  with  others  yet 
nil  horn,  on  that  interesting  occasion  :  A\dii]e  mu(di  1  lie  larger  por- 
ti(ni  (d'  the  piesent  i  II  ha  hit  a  iits  (d'  the  town  will  then  he  num- 
hcre(|  wit  h  t  he  silent   dead. 

■'What  will  then  lie  said  of  us  who  are  now  here.  acti\(dy 
eiigaL;('(|  in  the  hiisy  scenes  and  transactions  of  life;'  Will  our 
liciieral  course  as  so(dal  lieings.  resitling  and  acting  in  this  eoni- 
iiinnitw  and  our  individual  moral  intlucMice  he  sn(di  thi-ouo'h  life 


Cenicun'mJ  99 

as  to  iiici'it  and  clicil  tlic  ui'atcful  i-ccollcctioii  and  ai)pr()val  of 
our  successors  who  nuiy  chance  then  to  hold  and  occupy  these 
dwellinji's.  Avhicli  avc^  umst  ere  loii"'  vacate,  and  leave  to  be  re- 
modelled and  IxM-omc  the  I'esideiices  of  our  descendants  and 
others.'  Shall  we  rightfully  deserve  the  same  tribute  of  venera- 
tion and  respect  from  those  we  leave  behind,  to  Avhicli  our  an- 
cestors and  {)re(lecessors  are  .justly  entitled  to  from  us?  Con- 
siderations like  these  might  ])rotital)ly  occupy  some  of  those 
leisure  moments  which  occasionally  overtake  us.  and  may  the 
effect  be  to  cause  our  mark  in  life  to  be  so  made  as  not  to  prove 
a  blot  on  our  future  memory." 

Today  the  future  is  before  us.  What  it  shall  be.  the  Almighty 
alone  knows.  AVhat  it  may  be  depends  in  large  measure  upon 
us.  Let  us  be  true  to  the  spirit  of  those  who  have  gone  before 
us.  and  by  our  integrity  and  devotion  bring  honor  and  Avorth  to 
our  lox'cd  town. 


''Our   ii;iti\'e   town;    W'e  hail   thee  luiw 

Aud  place  the  laurel  on  thy  brow, 

Aucl  as  your  joyful  birthday  bells 

The  peans  to  thy  glory  swells. 

We  stand  uncovered  at  thy  shrine. 

And  round  thy  brows  fresh  garhmds  twine.'' 

(  W.  N.  Davenport,  Bovlston  Centennial.) 


llo.N.   I  1i:ki!i;im    I'aukkk  oi-  La.nc  astkk 
i(>i;\ii  i;  Ai  toh.m:'!    <;k.nkkai,  <)|-   .massa(  u  i.setts 


^rs^K 


ADDRESS  BY  THE  HON.  HERBERT  PARKER. 


The  spcjikci-  (if  llic  (I;iy  wji.s  the  Ilmi.  Ilci'licrl  r;ii'kcr  of  Ij;iii- 
castcf.  .Mr.  I'jirkci'  di-cw  his  picture  of  |);is1  jiiid  cxisliiiii-  coii- 
(litioiis  in  the  Inwn  in  ;i  clcnii  cut  nnd  iniistcrl'ul  nuinncr.  rcfcr- 
riiig  to  the  li(innr;i  l)|c  jind  |)r;i  iscworl  liv  pjirl  1li;i1  1hc  town  and 
her  citizens  luid  ;d\\;iys  1;d<eii  in  \arious  nio\cnn'nts  atfeeting" 
the  welt'a  re  o1'  the  count  vy .  lie  a  I  so  I'oi'ecnst  ed  the  part  that  the 
town  ■would,  in  its  newly  organized  state.  I;d<e  in  t'niui'e  e\-ents. 
lie  told  (d"  the  intense  |o\-e  of  ^dl  .\ew  iMigland  as  it  dwelt  in 
the  breast  ol'  e\'ery  cit  izen.  ;i  nd  the  grjicious  hospita  I  ity  1  hat  AV as 
always  attributed  to  i1. 

"P(M'haps,"  said  .Mr.  Tarhei-.  ""the  s;ilai-ied  \\e;itllel'  men  -who 
forecast  Hie  at  niospheric  conditions  h'oui  ihe  mountains  of  J'at- 
agonia  to  the  lop  of  the  ivpiilable  binlding  in  Uoston.  were  able 
to  do  bettei-  than  .xour  ancestoi'  and  fello\\-  townsiuMn  in  this 
line.  Iioiiert  l'>.  Thomas  of  K;i  i  uiei-"s  Almnnac  fame,  bid  I  doubt 
it." 

The  ('entennial  ('onimittee  regrets  that  it  is  able  to  present 
su(di  a  meager  re|)oi't  of  Mr.  Parker's  address.  Had  th(^  ('om- 
mittee  foreseen  that  it  would  l;e  i-iMpiested  to  |tl;ice  the  events 
of  the  Centeiniial  n\)nu  pennanent  I'eeord.  1liis  misfortune 
eould  have  been  o\-ercome. 

Se\-eral  efforts  ha\('  been  made  to  secure  a  i'epi-oduct ion  of 
the  oriii'inal  address,  but  these  h;i\'e  been  unsuccessful  on 
account   of  the  bud';  of  ade(pi;ite   ne\\sp;i  pel'  l('|)oi-ts. 

'Pile  following  extr;ict  from  a  letter  from  .\lr.  Pari^er  is  self- 
explanat  oi'y  : 

"it  is  my  f;iull .  or  misfort  line,  eiil  ircdy.  that  my  piibl  ic  s|)eiik- 
iiig  is  ill  most  \\holl\-  exl  emp:M-;i  neons.  ;ind  that  I  liaxc  not  and 
did  not  h;i\-e  ;i  sci'ap  of  p;i|)er  in  the  form  of  notes.  I  use  this 
method,  not  from  ind  ifVereiice.  but  solely  liec;iuse  it  is  the  only 
iiiethod  I  can  use.  since  any  pre|)ared  discourse  is  xcry  distali-ful 
1"  aie  and   I  cannot  present    it   wit  h  a  n\-  eiit  husiasm  or  force. 


102  Vsvxi   J>(>!iJst(>ii 

■■  !  (l(t  ii;i1  now  I'ccall  ('\'(Mi  tlic  sul)s1;iiic('  of  'wliat  I  sMitl.  niid  it 
is  iiii|i(  ssililc.  1  licrcl'oi'e.  for  me  to  make  any  I'c  prod  net  ion  of  t  lie 
addii'ss.  If  tlicrc  is  any  n(Mvsi)ai)ei-  i-cpoi't  which  Avonld  aid  my 
nicm  11  y.  I  niiuhl  he  ahlc.  if  you  dcsii'c  it.  to  attempt  a  r('])i'odiic- 

tion  :    otherwise,    of    course,    you    wouhl     ha\'e    to    cnm])h'te    the 

recoi'd  Avithout  iiicoi-poratiny  what  1  have  said. 

■"T  thaid<  you  Ncry  much  for  your  cousideratiou.  and  your 
kindly  I'eference  to  my  couti'ihution  to  the  occasion,  whicli.  <-er- 
tainly.  in  e\-ei'y  othcu-  respect  was  most  successful." 


SPORTS. 

After  tlip  foriDul  mldiesses  came  the  sports. 
Running  High  Jumps. — Won  l\v  C  11.  C'ummiiiiis;  Andrew  J.  Scarlett.  Jr., 

2n.l:  Frank  H.  Evan,  3d. 
In   the    Egg   Race. — Mrs.    Charles   W.    Reed    captured    tirst    ribbon;    Mrs. 

Arthur  11.  Sawyer,  2<1;  ?i[rs.  Fred  R.  Tvory,  3d. 
Three-Legged  Race. — Andrew  .T.  Scarlett,  Jr.  and   Robert  E.  Lamb  made 

the  pair  that  came  in  first;  Oscar  Burns  and  Dr.  TTarry  "W.  Trask, 

2d;     Tracy  Wood  and  Allen  Luce,  3rd. 
Fat  Man's   Race. — Frank  Noble,   1st;   Charles   T.    Lamb,   2d;    William   L. 

s.-;irictt,  ;;d. 

Tug-of-War. — Won  by  Robert  E.  Lauil),  .loiin    li.  Moran,  James  E.  ]\Ioran, 

Ell)ert    II.   Boynton,  Chester  Smith  and  Charles  Johnson. 
Clothespin  Race. — ^liss  Mildred  Preseott  awarded  the  blue;  Miss  Xellie 

Lovcll,  tlie  red;  Miss  Lena  Bowen,  the  yellow. 
Running  Broad  Jump. — Robert  E.  Lamb  won,  coverinj:  14  ft.  5  in.;  Franl\ 

IT.   Ryan,   2d;     Andrew  J.  Scarlett.  Jr.,  3d. 
Sack  Race. — Frank  N.  Luce,  1st;  James  E.  ^NToran.  2d;   Robert  E.  Lamli, 

3d. 
Half-Mile  Race. — Won  by  Andrew  .t.  Scarlett,  Jr.;  Charles  TT.  CumminjiS, 

2d;  Robert   F.  L;ni,b.  :id. 
100  Yards  Dash  for  Boys— Won   by    h'obcrt   E.   l^auib;   Barton   E.   Ciiiu- 

mings,  2d;    R.    W.   Smitli,  ;'h1;    Elbert    If.  Boynton,  4th.      Time.    13% 

seconds. 
100  Yards  Dash  for  Men. —  Frank  II.    Hyan   crossc'd  the  tape  first;  C.  11. 

Cummin-s.    2d:    Andrew    J.    Scarlett,   Jr.,    :'.<!;    Osoar    Barnes,    4th. 

Time,    12   scciinds. 


A  collection  (it  anti(pies  was  on  exhibition  in  the  First  Con.ure,uational 
meeting  house.  Many  of  the  articles  displayed  were  of  sjiecial  local  in- 
terest and  formed  no  little  .-ittractiun.  cs)>ccially  those  connected  witli  tlie 
Ezra  Beainan   and    I.'obert  B.   Thomas  families. 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  KEYES. 

Boii,i;nniii  I'.  Kcycs.  son  of  'rimnias  and  Lydia  (  llarthaii  )  Keyes,  was 
liorn  .\|iiil  1-1.  17M-'l.  His  liuyliood  days  were  passed  upon  the  home  farm, 
and  as  lie  i^rew  to  maiiliood  early  displayed  an  unusual  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  town,  becominji  an  ac-tive,  efficient  official,  serving  as  Town 
<.'Ierk,  Seleetuian  and  Representative.  At  the  annual  town  meetings  he 
was  repeatedly  chosen  as  Moderator,  a  position  which  bears  the  weight 
of  more  or  less  lionor.  ovou  at  tlie  present  <lay,  liut  in  the  days  that  are 
gone,  and  at  the  time  of  wiin-h  we  write,  it  was  held  as  at  distinguished 
honor  to  be  elected  Moilerator  of  a  Town  Meeting.  He  was  also  iiromi- 
nently  idei)tifie<l  with  tlie  Congregational  diurcli,  serving  as  clerk, 
chorister  of  tlie  choir,  and  deacon  of  the  churcji.  These  services  already 
mentioned,  valuable  as  they  have  been,  seem  to  be  overshadowed  by  the 
work  he  performed  for  present  and  future  generations,  in  writing,  pub- 
lishing and  donating  to  pul)lii-  use.  liis  ''Historical  Memorandum  and 
Genealogical  Register  of  the  Town  of  West  l^oylston,"  which  practically 
covers  the  first  fifty  years  in  the  history  of  the  town,  and  given  in  a 
concise,  attractive  luaniier,  furnishes  accurate  data  for  the  student,  dur- 
ing the  years  to  ionic  Mr.  Keyes  married  December  ]0,  ]822,  Lois, 
daughter  of  Thaddeus  ami  Eunice  (Glazier)  Xichols,  of  Iloklen,  by  whom 
he  had  four  children:  Jonathan  ^[.,  Thomas  X.,  AVilliam  W.,  L.  Eveline, 
each  of  whom  though  over  seventy  years  of  age  were  active  attendants 
at  the  Centennial  Exercises. 

Mr.  Keyes  clied  in  1870,  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  and  wliich  is 
now  owneil  by  his  son.  Tliomas  X.  Keyes.  Tt  is  interesting  to  read  the 
closing  ciiaiitei-  of  his  liisTorical  legister,  where  he  not  only  expresses  his 
clear  yet  seiious  views  of  life,  but  also  the  almost  prophetic  vision  of 
the  wondi-ous  changes  lie  felt  were  liable  to  come  over  West  Boylston,  and 
which  wc,  of  ;i  later  generation.  lia\"e  witnesse<l  in  tlie  disruption  of  the 
town. 


HORATIO  HOUGHTON. 

Iloiatio  lloniihioii  also  deserves  a  ]ilace  among  the  list  of  historians  of 
West  Boylston. 

He  was  son  of  K/.ia  and  Sally  i;.  llonghtoii,  born  in  FitzwilHam,  X.  11., 
September  1^.   Is^i.  and   nianicil  September  i".  lS4(i,  ^Nlary  S..  daughter  of 


('('iifcnuidl  105 

C-iiiliii'i-  ;tiiil  S(>liMi;i  I'I'cinplci  Dnvis.  He  tillt'd  t  lie  (illicc  of  Town  Olork 
iiio.st  acccjitJilply  for  t  li  iit  y  four  ncjiis,  li;i\iiiu  hccn  chosen  a  ii  iiiuil  1\-  to 
succeed  liiniself  twciitN'  li\  t*  NC.-irs.  A I  tlioiiiili  not  iiossessini;  ;i  sti'on^i;, 
rol)nst  natnic,  he  w'lis  in  exci  y  \\:\\  ([n;i  I  i  fied  fin-  ;i  nioilel  town  clerk;  very 
(•oni]ietent,  nnusn.-illy  well  infoiiiie(l  not  onl\-  witli  reL;ni(l  to  the  annals  of 
the  town  ot'  West  lioylston,  lint  on  ;:(>nei-al  snl)jects  in  conn(»ction  \vith  iiis 
ollice.  II<'  had  within  him  the  ([naliti(>s  of  accuracy,  i-oni'teonsness  and 
alVaiiility,  whi<di  niaile  him  a  |i|ireciat('il  and  well  liiu'd  liy  those  having 
dealini^s  with   tlie  town. 

Thirty  years  at;o  Mr.  Ilon^hton  wrote  an  interesting;  sk(>trh  of  tlie  town, 
covering'  fifteen  printed  i)ages,  for  Messrs.  ( '.  I",  .lewett  tV:  ('onijiany  of 
Boston,  who,  at  tliat  time,  ])ul)lished  a  two  xolnme  Avork  entitled,  ''His- 
tory of  Worci^ster  ('onnty.'"  ^fr.  Ilon.i^hton  was  no  doubt  limited  to  the 
s|i;ice  he  was  to  occnpN'  in  the  implication,  but  ne\'ertlieless  those  two 
(diajiters  |iresent   a   remarkably  ;^ood   e.xjiosition  of  his  subject. 

'I'en  yeais  later  (  iSSi)),  he  |ire]iared  aiiotiiei-  sUetcIi  of  the  town,  coxer- 
ini;  tw(Mity  two  l:J-n.'o.  |ia.i;es  for  .\ressrs.  .1.  W,  Lewis  &  ('omjiany  of  Phila- 
delj)hia.  who  also  |iublished  a  history  of  Worcester  ('lumty.  in  two  vob 
nmes.  As  nn.Liht  be  reasonablx-  expecteil,  iiis  second  effort  far  exceeds  the 
first  in  \olnni(>  and  in  importance,  haviny  been  allowecl  more  than  double 
the  s]iace  than  that  <;i\en  him  in  the  fornuM'  work,  and  the  reader  must 
certainly  acknowledjzf  that  Mi'.  Ilonuhton  im]iro\('(l  the  o|i|iortunity 
allowed  him  to  the  best  adx-.-intaue.  lie  was  also  assessor  for  th(>  town 
(1850-1 8o7),  ami  (derk  of  the  Conure.Liational  Chnrcii  ten  years  (IS.l.S- 
1868).     Tie  died  in    West   lioylston   dune  i:i,   istn;. 


REV.   JAMES  HILLS  FITTS. 

Another  jierson  to  whom  the  |>eo]ile  of  West  l>oylston  are  indebted  is 
Eev.  .lames  II.  l-'itts,  many  years  pastor  of  the  ( 'oniircLiat  ional  ('hui'ch. 
from  September  :;,  jstii',  to  December  :;,  1S7(I;  was  born  in  Candia,  N.  II.. 
.March  .1,  1SL".>,  died  in  .Vewfields,  N.  11.,  N()vend)er  1'2,  1900.  Son  of  John 
ami  Abi.Liail  (Laru-i  Fitts.  Durin.u  the  little  more  than  ei,;:lit  years  he 
nia<le  this  town  his  home,  not  only  was  he  acti\i'  in  nunisteri  ni:  for  the 
good  of  tin'  spiritual  \\(dfart>  (d'  the  peojde,  but  was  .i:atheri  ni;  data  rela- 
ting to  the  town,  the  (  lini'(di,  and  the  iidiabitants  iionerally.  for  the 
benefit  of  those  imnu'diatcdy  interested,  .-iml  allowing  it  to  be  |iassed  down 
tliroui^h  the  years,  from  ,L:eneration  to  iienera t ion,  thioui^h  the  medium  of 
till'  piinteil  pa-e.  His  story  of  life  in  tlu>  chnrcdi,  ;ind  inidnding  that 
important  liraucdi  of  the  idiurcdi,  the  Sabbath  Scho(d.  is  a  nnist  interesting 
one. 


106  We6'f  Boylston 

His  object  in  prepariiiji-  1lie  address  was,  as  lie  stated  to  tliose  who 
asked  for  its  publication  (and  Ave  quote  from  liis  own  lines),  "Messrs.  A. 
F.  Knight,  Lyman  I'ierce  and  others,  it  was  a  desire  to  preserve  from 
oblivion  these  fast  fading  mementos  of  a  former  generation  which  first 
led  to  the  preparation  and  delivery  of  the  address,  and  the  same  desire 
does  not  permit  Ui'e  to  withold  it  from  ])uhlication  now.'' 

No  person  at  all  familiar  with  the  topography  of  the  town  but  what  in 
reading  that  historical  diseouise  must  he  impressed  with  the  clearness  of 
his  pen-pictures  as  he  leads  the  reader  up  and  down  the  roads  and  streets 
in  the  town  and  points  out  the  homes  occupied  by  the  various  towns- 
people fifty  to  eighty  j'ears  ago.  In  fact,  the  three  pamphlets  bearing  his 
name,  entitled,  "Commemorative  Services  of  the  Semi-Centennial  Anni- 
versary of  the  Sabbath  School,"  "Manual  of  the  Congregational 
Church,"  and  the  "Historical  Address  delivered  at  the  Re-Dedication  of 
the  Brick  Meeting  House,  West  Boylston,'"  are  exceedingly  valuable  con- 
tributions to  the  local  history  of  the  town,  including  a  large  portion  of 
her  inhabitants  past  and  present. 


Venicunidl  107 


DEDICATION  of  the  WEST  BOYLSTON  TOWN  HALI. 


YOU     ARE    CORDIALLY    INVITEID    TO    ATTEIND    THE 

DEDICATION    OF    THE     WEIST     BOYLSTON     TOWN     HALL 
ON    iyiONDA.Y.   January   the   EIighteenth 

NINETEEN     HUNDRED     AND     FOUR 
AT     T'WO    O'CLOCK,     P.  M. 


LEION     A.     GOODALE 
A.LBERT     W^.     HINDS 
EDGAR     P.     NEAL 

COMMITTEE! 


WEST    BOYLSTON,    MASS. 

JANUARY     SIXTH,     1<504 


DEDICATION 

OF 

THE  TOWN  HALL 
WEST  BOYLSTON 
MASSACHUSETTS 


MONDAY,  JANUARY  THE  EIGHTEENTH 
AT  TWO  O'CLOCK  IN  THE  AFTERNOON 

19  0  4 


The  Brick  Meeti\(,  llui  sk 


Centennial  111 


Building"  Committee 

Artemas  C.  Smitlr-'  Andrew  J.  Scarlett 

Alexander  Snow  AVillie  B.  AVood 


Dedication  Committee 

The  Selectmen  : 

Andrew  J.  Scarlett        Alexander  Snow 

AYillic  P..  AVood 


Programme  Committee 

Leon  A.  Goodale        Albert  AV.  Hinds 
Edsar  P.  Xeal 


Reception  Committee 

John  C.  Hastings        Jeremiah  Fishei" 

Charles  E.  Alerrifield  Charles  AY.  Reed 

Arthur  A.  Caldwell 


'Died  December  10,  1902. 


PROGRAMME 

Mi'Sic,    ScJunnaiiu  Male  Quartette 

Prayer,   Rev.  John  E.  Dodge 

Address  of  Welcome,   Andrezu  J.   Scarlett 

Alusic 

Historical  Address,  Re:\  Julius  B.  Robinson 

Music 

Address,   Dr.  G.  Stanley  Hall 

Music 

Greetings  from  Former  Citizexs 

]\Iusic 


At  eight  o'clock  there  icill  be  a  concert 
and  social  in  the  Toiun  Hall. 


DEDICATION  OF  TOWN  HALL, 

MONDAY,   JANUARY    18th,    1904. 

"With  clear  skies  and  bracing  air.  with  a  good  attendance  of 
old  friends  and  residents  of  the  town,  the  new  town  hall  in  AVest 
Boylston  was  dedicated  today.  The  exercises  were  marked  for 
the  old  home  spirit  that  they  stimulated,  the  Avords  of  former 
residents  bringing  forth  hc^arty  a])planse. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  hall  had  no  clock.  EdAvard  A. 
Cowee.  a  former  n^sidcnt  and  business  man  of  the  toAvn.  noAv  of 
AVorcester.  said  that  he  Avould  ])resent  the  toAAui  a  clock.  This 
is  the  only  gift  that  the  toAvn  has  receiA^ed  for  the  ncAV  hall. 

The  guest  of  honoi'  for  the  day  Avas  Dr.  G.  Stanley  ITall  of 
Worcester,  president  of  CUark  UniA'ersity.  His  address  AA'as  on 
"Good  citizenshi])."'  and  AA-as  an  exhaustive  and  comprehensive 
treatise  on  that  subject.  Rev.  Julius  P>.  Rolunson,  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church,  Avho  made  the  historical  address,  also  came  in 
for  a  great  share  of  the  applause.  His  essay,  Avhich  was  com- 
pleted under  adverse  circumstances,  Avas  a  model  of  its  kind, 
and  Avas  attentively  listened  to. 

As  Avas  expected,  there  Avas  not  a  larg(^  attendance,  the  exer- 
cises in  the  e^•elling  draAving  thc^  larger  croAvd.  The  afternoon 
gathei'ing  Avas  a  representative  body,  and  the  younger  element 
Avas  not  as  Avell  represented  as  it  Avas  at  the  dedication  ball  in 
th(^  (telling. 

The  i^xercises  began  a1  2  u'cl()cl<.  AndreAv  J.  Scarlett.  Chair- 
man (»f  the  Board  of  Selectmen.  ])residiiig.  The  tirst  number  on 
the  ])r(igi-ani  Avas  singing  by  tlie  Sehnmaini  (juartet  of  Worces- 
ter, coinjxjsed  of  Walter  S.  KnoAvles.  W.  K.  Little,  B.  A.  Barber 
and  II.  ('.  Robinson.      Their    first    selection    Avas    "Loyal,"    by 


Sr.  Anthony's  Catholic  Chukch 


Ceiifeiuiial  IIS 

KiR-kcii.  I'r;i\i'i-  wris  tluMi  offered  l)y  Rev.  Jolin  E.  Dodge, 
pastor  of  the  West  I>()\ls1(»n  Congregational  church. 

Chairman  Scarlett  made  a  short  address  of  welcome,  telling 
of  the  work  of  tlie  huihling  committee,  and  spoke  of  the  death 
of  Artemas  C.  Smith,  ^vllo  died  December  10.  1!)02.  ]\Ir.  Smith 
Avas  one  of  tlie  meudx-rs  of  the  Iniilding  committee. 

Mr.  Searlett  heartily  welcomed  all  the  former  residents  of 
West  Boylston  and  referred  with  pride  to  the  sons  of  the  town 
who  had  gone  out  and  made  a  name  for  themselves,  thus  reflect- 
ing credit  on  the  town  and  the  community.  ^Ir.  Scarlett's 
address  was  greeted  with  applause.  Following  this  the  Schu- 
mann quartet  sang  '"Xight  AVitchery.'' 

Chairman  Scarlett  then  introduced  Rev.  Julius  B.  Robinson 
who  delivered  the  followins-  Historical  Address. 


(^^^^ 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS  BY  REV.  J.  B. 
ROBINSON. 


After  a  century  of  existence  lacking  hari^ly  four  years,  this 
town  dedicates  today  its  tirst  town  hall.  Not  always  has  it 
been  a  homeless  vagrant  heretofore,  for  after  alternating  be- 
tween the  Baptist  Vestry  and  Thomas  Hall — owned  and  occu- 
pied by  the  Congregational  Society — from  184H  to  exactly  the 
middle  of  the  century,  it  held  all  meetings  for  the  remaining 
half  century  in  that  Hall.  From  1902,  when  the  Baptist  Church 
left  its  building  in  order  to  occupy  a  new  (Uie  near  the  Common, 
all  town  nu^etings  have  been  held  in  the  Baptist  Vestry  again. 
Associations  inseparable  from  the  two  places  where  public  busi- 
ness was  transacted  have  thus  been  api)ropriately  moral  and 
dignified. 

Another  suitable  association  atta(dies  to  the  location  of  this 
new  building,  reinforced  in  interest  by  inclusion  of  the  Public 
Library,  for  on  this  ground  the  IMurdock  public  school  has  long 
contributed  to  the  intelligence  of  successive  accessions  of  fresh 
citizenshi]).  Surely,  such  a  building,  replacing  those  long  used, 
and  standing  on  this  ground,  is  the  natural  home  of  seriousness, 
earnestness,  dignity,  and  maintenance  of  high  ideals  of  ])ublic 
life  and  service. 

To  the  Congregational  church  the  town  owes  its  political 
origin,  and  the  geographical  centre  of  its  history  is.  therefore, 
the  Common,  broadly  laid  out  for  church  location  and  occupied 
by  an  elegant  edifice  a  year  and  a  half  before  ecclesiastical 
organization  was  efifected.  Attem])ting  to  make  the  ucav  i)arish 
a  town,  the  people  of  this  region  succeeded  only  in  obtaining 
from  the  Legislature  incori)orfition  as  the  second  precinct  oi 
Boylston,  Holden.  and  Sterling.  The  Act  was  signed  June  14. 
1796.   l)v   Governor   Samuel   Adams.     Twelve  years  later    the 


Ccutenmal  117 

l)rpciii('1  w;is  (M-cctcd  iiilo  Jill  iiidcpciKlciil  lowii.  'riiouyh  its 
limits  (li'cw  ill  ;in  fjistcni  section  of  Iloldt'ii.  as  Avell  as  a  seg- 
111,. lit  of  Stcrliiii:-.  |)afish  secession  had  l)een  from  IJoylston  and 
the  clnifcli  common  had  been  within  that  town.  Naturally  the 
old  desiiiiiat  ion   passed  o\  ei'  into  llie  new  name. 

The  Ilohh-ii  line,  thus  carried  westward  to  the  outer  edge  of 
the  new  town,  ran  pei'haps  half  a  mile  or  so  west  of  this  hall. 
Sterling  furnished  the  noiilieast  section,  IJoylstoii  all  the  rest. 
T.efore  becoming  a  separate  town.  Ilolden  had  heen  the  north 
part  of  Worcester.  Sterling  was  at  first  a  west  part  of  Lan- 
caster, while  Boylston  had  itself  been  set  off  froni  Shrewslniry. 
AVhile.  therefore.  West  IJoylston  Avas  tlireetly  made  up  from 
Boylston.  Sterling,  and  Ilolden.  it  oeeui)ied  territory  Avhich. 
before  these  intermediate  towns  began  their  separate  existence, 
was  Lancaster.  AYorcester.  and  Shrewsbury.  This  building 
stands  on  ground  that  was  first  in  Shrewsbury,  then  in  Boyls- 
ton. and  the  same  is  ti-iie  of  tln^  other  public  buildings.  Boun- 
dary lines  were  shifted  and  nanu-s  were  changed  a  good  deal  in 
the  early  times.  In  his  autobiography  Kobert  B.  Thomas  said 
he  had  ••  resided  in  four  incorporated  towns  and  two  distinct 
parishes  and  one  precinct,  yet  never  moved  from  the  same 
farm."  lie  did  not  mention  living  in  tw(»  countries.  Great 
Britain  and  the  I'nited  States. 

In  yet  earlier  tinu^s  there  were,  probably.  Indian  Ikuucs.  The 
soil  has  been  somewhat  fei'tile  in  arrow  heads  antl  other  Indian 
relics,  some  (d'  which  seem  to  suggest  more  than  hunting  ex- 
cursions and  appear  to  indicate  settled  residence.  Wdiere  the 
reservoir  IxmI  widens,  the  level  intervale  may  have  invited 
settlenuuit.  with  ample  corn  fields  near  at  hand,  and  surround- 
ing hills  wlier<'  deer  and  wild  turkeys  tempted  foraging  arrows 
of  dusky  huntsmen.  (Certain  it  is  that  a  Kutlaiul  trail  from  the 
heacbpuirters  of  the  X-ishaway  tribe  at  Lake  AVaushakum 
crossed  Still  ii\-er  and  passed  near  where  the  Methodist  (duirch 
now  stands. 

.\s  three  towns  parted  with  territory  to  make  West  IJoylston, 
whi(di.  ill  tnrn.  were  sections  lost  from  three  eai'lier  and  larger 
(Mies,  so  were  there  three  yet  earlier  cessions  of  liitliaii  territory. 


Centennial  119 

Sliohin.  sadieiii  ol'  llic  XasliawMv  ti-il)(\  wliosc  scat  ol'  g'oveni- 
ineiit  and  foyal  I'csidciicc  was  at  Lal^c  Waiisliakuiu.  made  a 
^rraiit  of  tci'ritory  to  'I'lioiiias  l\iim-  in  \<\\'.\.  less  than  a  quarter 
of  a  eeiitury  after  PlyinouHi  Laiuliiiu'.  Tliis  warx  Xashawogg  or 
Xashua.  which,  liciiig  inach^  a  town,  was  named  Lancaster 
Georg-e  Tahanto.  Indian  Saganioi-c  and  nephew  of  Sholan,  en- 
larged this  grant  1)\-  a  tract  west  of  the  other,  whicli  included 
Chocksett  noAv  called  Sterling.  Other  Indians  present  and 
setting  their  mark  on  the  ch^^d  whi(di  Sagamore  George  Ta- 
hanto signed  with  liis  mai'lv.  were  ^Fary  Annsocamaiig.  John 
AVons(|non.  .lojui  A(]nitticns.  and  Teter  Puekataugh.  Ont  of 
Qninsigamon.  now  AV()rcest(M'.  Sagamoi'c  ())ninr(onassett.  who 
lived  at  Packachoag  Hill,  sold  a  ti'act  to  Danitd  Gookin  and 
others  Jnly  13.  KiT-t.  Tln-ee  triads  of  Indian  territory,  eai'ly 
township,  and  ncAvei'  town.  Avent  successively  to  form  this  con- 
glomerate unit  with  the  dually  composite  name.  AVelded  and 
annealed  the  I'csnlting  product  lu'eaks  up  hard.  We  have 
lu'ought  (Uir  nine  lixcs  out  of  ttie  wre(dc  of  the  once  charming 
but  now  desolated  \alley  and  huilded  hetter  on  the  highland. 
••After  us  the  deluge." 

Earliest  white  settlement  is  credited  to  Jacob  Hinds,  and 
dated  1720.  one  hundred  yc^ars  after  settlement  at  Plymouth. 
Within  ten  or  fift(M-n  years  other  settlers  began  to  come,  aiul 
slow  immigration  ap])ears  to  hav(^  continued  through  the  eight- 
eenth centui'y.  Nearly  one  hundred  families  Avere  here,  and  not 
(piite  600  people  living  in  !>8  houses.  wIkmi  the  toAvn  Avas  incor- 
porated in  1808. 

]\Iore  than  LIO  i-atabh^  polls,  then  lUMpiii-ed  for  town  incoi-po- 
ration.  incduded  oiily  105  legal  voters.  Among  those  debarred 
the  franchise  Avere  nine  heads  of  families.  It  is  easy  to  suspect 
the  disci-epancy  partly  due  to  that  union  of  church  and  state 
nevei"  fully  dissolvcnl  U)itil  exactly  a  (piarter  of  a  century  after- 
Avard.  in  IS.'!:],  a  date  Avcdl  within  the  memory  of  men  iioav 
living. 

Like  men.  toA\ns  have  persoiudity  and  distinetixc  (diai-actei", 
though  simple,  unified  ])ersonality  may  s(ddom  appeal'  in  a  man 
or  a  toAvn.     Geography  seems  a  deternnning  factoi'  in  the  ])i-ob- 


120  V^Gst  Boylston 

lem  of  every  grejit  i»e(»])le"s  develoi)iuent.  and  often  operates 
even  in  restricted  local  limits.  A  salient  feature  here  is  the 
river,  Avhich,  to  this  day.  has  played  an  olivions  part.  But  for 
the  river  there  would  have  l)een  no  town  hall  dedication,  and 
rivers,  like  town  halls,  are  not  sure  to  prove  always  pure  and 
unmixed  blessings.  The  once  beautiful  valley  has  its  river  still, 
but.  f(n'  that  river,  is  at  last  shorn  of  its  charms  and  denuded. 

Still  River  stole  away  from  ^It.  Wachusett  to  uum^  (^uina- 
poxet  here  and  form  the  south  branch  of  the  Nashua  ;  this  joiiKMl 
its  north  mate  just  below  Lancaster's  Colonial  burying  ground, 
and  they  went  on  together  to  the  ]\[errimac  where  busy  Nashua 
was  yet  to  be.  The  oMerrimac  system  is  throughout  industrious 
despite  the  idling  disposition  of  the  ('Oncord  dreaming  ])hil()So- 
phic  and  historic  di-eams.  Along  these  ri\er  lines,  from  Pena- 
cook  and  beyond  down  to  Lowell  and  beyond,  is  an  incessant 
hum;  unnumbered  turbines  churn  the  exuberant  flood  into  golil- 
en  product,  hi  every  act  and  feature  the  ^Mei-rimac  system  is 
like  a  group  of  busy,  thrifty,  enterprising  women.  New  P]ngland 
born  and  brecL  Hardly  anywhere  in  the  country  was  there  a 
cotton  mill  before  a  "West  Boylston  spindle  was  Avhirring  and  a 
West  Boylston  power  loom  turning  miles  of  river  current  into 
yards  of  cotton  fabric.  Enterprise  has  always  spurred  the  in- 
dustrious town  :  a  saw  mill  would  be  re})laced  by  a  scythe  manu- 
factory ;  a  grist  mill  grew  into  a  lousiness  having  salesrooms  in 
Worcester  and  requiring  a  private  spur  track  for  shipment 
here;  two  book-binders,  one  of  whom  was  a  [)ul)lisher,  were 
already  here  when  the  precinct  became  a  township;  the  cabinet 
maker,  shoe  manufacturer,  machinist,  and  clothier,  the  florist, 
the  organ  builder,  these  and  more,  have  manifested  the  enter- 
prising tendency  which  began  before  the  life  of  the  town.  A 
farm  develops  into  a  dairy;  physicians  reared  or  practising 
here  go  as  specialists  elsewhere  or  hold  wide  practice  at  home; 
teachers  from  our  schools  go  to  positions  in  city  schools  or  col- 
leges; their  pupils  keep  an  eye  out  beyond  pul)lic  school  bound- 
aries toward  institutions  of  collegiate  grade.  This  tendency 
has  not  come  l\v  sh»w  de\elo[nnent  and  is  not  characteristic  of 
later  times  ah»iie.   hiil  can   be  traced   i'l-oiu  the  site  of  the  lower 


CrufoiuUil  121 

f<u-t(»ry.  thr()U<zh  the  \;illcy.  iiiul  ui»  hotli  sli'ciiiiis  heyoiid  Axlicrc 
till'  Nashua  itself  heg'aii. 

While  local  eirenmstailees  ha\c  ihcil-  I'eeouiiized  (le\-el()])illg 
effect,  blood  too  Mill  tell  and  le;)dei'shi|)  also  tells.  Karl\-  leader- 
ship was  strong.  .\'o  man  rc^presented  it  more  than  Ezra  l>ea- 
iiiaii.  The  largest  [)roi)erty  holder  haj^pened  to  ])ossess  the  ])er- 
sonal  endowments  of  a  leader  of  men.  In  Keyes'  Biographical 
sketch  he  is  nsuall>-  gi\-eii  his  niililary  title  of  .Major.  l)nt  in  one 
place  a  mis])rint  makes  him  Ma\'or  Heamaii.  \Voi-se  mistakes 
occur,  for  whatev<'r.  and  howex'er  important,  his  militaiy  and 
numerous  ci\'il  offices,  no  one  donhts  that  Ezra  Beaman  was 
]\Iayor  of  West  Pxjylston.  As  a  citizen  of  Shrewsbury  when  this 
was  Shrewsbury,  then  of  Boylston  for  the  setting  apart  of 
Avhich  he  was  head  petitioner,  ami  afterAvard  of  AVest  l>oyls- 
ton  of  which  he  was  the  father,  he  was  an  efficient  leadei'.  Ten 
times  elected  as  one  of  the  Selectmen  of  Shrewsbui'y.  he  was 
Chairman  of  the  Board  first  in  Boylston  then  in  West  Boylston. 
Nothing  was  more  natural  than  that  he  should  be  first  town 
treasurer  first  chairman  of  the  selectmen  and.  without  «»ne 
opposing  \()te.  first  representatix'e  to  the  Legislature  where  h(^ 
remained  until  he  dietl.  To  trace  highways,  note  |)rominent 
buildings,  and  track  ])rogressive  businc^ss  enterprises,  would  be 
to  encounter  vestiges  of  the  judgment  and  efficitMit  acti\ity  of 
this  remarkable  man.  Followed  as  a  leader  while  lie  li\(Ml.  when 
buried  he  was  attended  by  a  funeral  procession  whi(di.  return- 
ing from  Beaman  burying  gi'ound.  i-(-a(died  batdv  to  his  house 
before  the  last  of  the  long  column  had  started  toward  the 
grave.  As  a  soldier  he  had  been  at  Bunker  Hill  when  his 
townsman  General  W'ard  was  connnander  in  chief  at  Cam- 
bridge, as  a  citizen  he  had  been  at  the  froid  in  every  new  enter- 
prise and  taken  the  brunt  of  e\ crN   battle. 

If  he  is  better  known  by  deeds  than  words,  no  lack  of  either 
was  left  by  Kobert  B.  Thomas,  first  town  clerk,  several  times 
chairman  of  the  selectmen,  repeatedly  a  nu-mbci-  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  well  as  i'epresentati\-e  of  the  town  in  the  Con\-en- 
tion  of  1820  Avhich  revised  the  Massachusetts  State  Constitution 
of  1780.     lie  was  a  large  propei'ty  lioldci-.  and  conducted  a  book 


122  TFe.s/  Boylston 

l)in(lery  out  of  which  developed  the  Old  Fanners'  Almanac 
which  he  founded  in  1798  and  edited  more  than  half  a  century. 
lie  was  the  larg-est  contributor  to  Thomas  Hall,  named  for  liim, 
in  Avhicli  a  t(»\vn  meetinti'  was  fii'st  held  four  months  and  four 
days  after  his  death  in  1S4().  Tf  these  and  men  associated  with 
them  set  the  pace  for  this  Town,  and  if  its  river  naturally  ])ore 
their  influence  alono'  on  an  nni'nilin.u-  current,  its  business  enter- 
prise does  not  ^\  holly  lack  a  ]<ey  to  interpretation. 

Add  to  this  int"lli.yen('e  and  lo\-e  of  knowled.ee  sudi  as  drew 
together  the  little  elul)  of  students  in  science  that  gathered 
about  the  veneraltle  hoi'ologist  and  with  him  studied  the  stars, 
that  mc^anwhih'  not  oidy  di'ew  upon  scliools  but  also  fostered 
them,  add  I'eliu'ious  eanu^stness  which  sonietiuies  burned  its  fire 
on  the  altar  of  controversy,  with  moral  charactei-  that  makes 
the  gi'a\es  of  oui'  j^reibM-essors  hoimraltle.  and  we  may  find  at 
once  interi)i'etation  of  the  past  and  incitement  for  the  future. 

Not  one  of  those  first  \'otei's  will  cast  a  ballot  in  this  hall. 
Struggles  and  di\'isions  of  counsel  they  had  in  their  time  Init 
old  controvei'sies  are  silent,  the  houi'  of  final  adjourmnent  has 
made  ]^eace  and  tog(^ther  they  ha\'e  ])assed  o\'er  to  the  majority. 
As  Ave  who  follow  them  enter  this  new  hall  coming  from  a 
building  dedicat(^d  to  that  govenuneut  whi(di  is  supreme,  let  us 
see  to  it  that,  as  heretofore  so  hereaft<M'.  (vn-h  innv  voter  coming 
to  the  place  where  he  assumes  the  high  duty  of  suffrage  shall 
find  its  associations  bracing  his  chai'acter  and  guiding  his  duty. 
Let  us  resolve  that  \ve  will  do  our  part  to  nnike  its  acts  of  legis- 
lation worthy  of  conscientious  cil  izeiiship  ;  its  elect  i\-e  utterance 
consistent  \\itli  the  loyal  |)ast.  encouraging  t(»  a  hojx'ful  future; 
its  uses  harmonious  with  the  )n)rmal  and  digiiified  |)urposes  of 
th(^  building;  its  doors  Avide  open  e(|ually  to  all.  and  its  honor- 
aide  record  kept  w(»rtliy  of  |)ristine  ,\mericanisni  ami  the  starry 
flag  that  ne\-er  Hoated  fi'eely  sa\-e  in  the  oi)en  air. 

Ever  in  a  fi'ce  ( 'ommouAveidth  are  two  great  combinations  of 
forces  and  tendencies  o])erating — the  constructive  and  destruc- 
tive. Parties  come  and  go  and  party  nanu's  cease  oi'  change, 
yet  two  parties  abide  immortal  througli  all  convulsion,  all  ])i'o- 
tracted    altei'iition   oi-  decaA'.      Kver  fresh   and   acti\'e,   ■thev    in- 


Centennial  123 

elude.  ros])('cti\"('ly.  tlic  Dicii  who  hiiild  up  jiiid  llic  humi  wlio  tear 
down,  l^ctwccn  these  the  light  is  ahvHvs  on.  The  brigades 
make  Inigc  din  in  Commonwealths,  companies  and  scouts  fight 
more  ol)sciii'ely  in  e\ery  little  town.  We  cannot  evade  the 
battle;  we  ought  neithei"  to  Avish  nor  darc^  to  h't  ibis  new  garri- 
son house  see  the  rt^-reaney  of  degenerate  sons  of  noble  sires. 
Churches  have  gi\en  this  town  birth  and  po]i1i<-:d  home.  Rich 
Avith  churehly  association  and  inheritance,  to  what  do  av(^  now 
dedicate  this  new  building?  How  can  Ave  belter  dedicate  a 
building  representing  government  than  to  the  King  of  Kings? 
Can  Ave  rise  to  the  high  conception  and  dedicate  it  noAV  to  God? 

After  the  siuging  of  a  selection  by  the  quartet,  <!'hairmaii  Scarlett 
introduced  Dr.  G.  Stanley  Hall  of  Worcester,  j^resideiit  of  Clark  Univer- 
sity.    Dr.  Hall  took  for  his  subject.  "Good  Citizeiishii>. " ' 


J)K.    <;.    ST.VM.KY    IIaIJ.    Ol-     \V()l!t  ISTKU 
I'KKSIDK.NT    OF    CLAHK    f  M  \  KKSITV 


'W^^. 


ADDRESS  BY  DR.  G.  STANLEY  HALL. 


"Although  pcrsoiuilly  a  sti'aiig'ci'  to  many  of  yon.  Ave  are  not 
only  neioiilxirs.  but  h;i\e  today  one  conimon  bond  of  synij)athy, 
for  in  a  peculiar  sense  1  regret  with  you  the  absence  from  this 
program  of  the  Ex-Seeretary  of  the  Navy,*an  illustrious  patriot, 
statesman  and  orator,  who  is  liound  to  you  by  loeal  ties  that 
made  him  your  logical  spokesman  to  bring  out  the  lessons  of 
the  day,  and  whose  words  would  make  even  a  less  occasion 
memorable.  The  recollections  of  the  dedication  of  our  own  City 
Hall  are  so  fresh  in  the  minds  of  "Worcester  citizens  that  I  know^ 
I  may  present  their  hearty  congratulations,  as  well  as  my  own. 
for  we  know  something  of  the  satisfaction  you  mast  all  feel. 

"AVhile  our  edifice  Avas  Imilding,  and  still  more  just  after- 
ward, we  experienced  something  of  a  revival  of  loeal  pride  and 
interest  in  good  citizenship.  AVe  revised  and  improved  our 
charter,  and  there  Avas  a  marked  aAvakening  of  zest  in  public 
affairs.  Positions  in  the  city  government  became  more  dignified, 
Avere  filled,  on  tlic  Avhole.  by  l)etter  men.  and  there  Avas  especial- 
ly in  the  community  at  lai-ge  a  broader  and  more  intelligent 
vicAV  of  local  problems.  It  is  this  that  suggests  to  me  that  I  can 
choose  no  titter  theme  than  to  try  roughly  and  briefly  to  in- 
dicate a  fcAv  of  the  ti'aits  that  mark  the  good  citizen. 

■'But  1)efore  entering  upon  this  topic.  1  must  make  one  pre- 
mise, it  is  on(^  duty  of  the  academic  teacher  to  everyAvhere  seek 
to  cultivate  idealism,  so  if  as  T  proceed  it  shall  occur  to  any  of 
you  that  the  good  citizen  I  descril)e  may  live  in  Plato's  ideal 
state  or  in  the  Xcav  -lerusalem,  but  not  in  Worcester  or  in  West 
Boylst<»n.  and  perhaps  not  aiiywiiei-e.  i  begin  Avith  a  fraidv  con- 
fession tiiat  this  is  ti'ue.  and  that  my  oAvn  practice  is  not  up  to 
my  theory,  and  that  as  I  proceeded  in  preparing  this  address  I 
realized  more  and  more  that  in  maiiv  of  the  foUoAving  items  I 


*JIoii.  .Idlin    ]).   Ijoiiy. 


126  VCesi  Boylsfo)! 

have  lint  niNsclf  in  the  past  l)eeii  a  very  good  eitizeii.  and  that 
from  this  tini(^  on  I  am  resolved  at  legist  to  try  to  be  a  better 
one. 

"There  ha\c  hecni  times  and  i)laees  in  the  past  when  citizen- 
ship was  an  honor  reserved  for  the  few.  Plato  would  have  it 
conferred  almost  like  a  university  degree.  It  has  involved 
oaths,  consecrations  and  qualifications  of  birth,  wealth  and  in- 
telligence now  quite  olisolete.  Indeed  Ave  have  now  gone  quite 
to  the  opposite  extreme  and  its  prerogatives  have  been  so  chea})- 
ened  that  instead  of  being  a  special  boon  it  has  become  so  com- 
mon-place and  matter  of  course  that  its  h(»meliest  duties  and 
obligations  are  often  forgotten.  So  far  has  this  gone  that  some 
eminent  students  of  government  have  deli1)erately  advanced  not 
only  a  progressively  higher  scale  of  educational  qualifications 
and  probationary  tests.  l)ut  have  even  proposed  to  insist  upon 
moral  standards  by  disfranchisement  not  only  for  all  those  con- 
victed of  certain  crimes — 1n-ibery.  corruption  and  vote  selling — 
but  for  quite  a  list  of  dishonorable  acts.  By  these  means  they 
have  hoped  slowly  to  raise  the  standard  of  full  membership  in 
the  ])ody  politic  and  to  invest  it  with  more  dignity  and  honor. 
Let  us  try  then  to  count  off  a  few  of  the  attriluites  of  an  ideal 
good  citizen. 

"1 — He  should  know  something  of  the  laws  under  Avhicli  he 
lives ;  should  have  read  and  studied  the  charter  of  his  own  city : 
should  know  personally  something  of  its  institutions,  its  lil)rary. 
hospitals,  houses  of  detention  and  correction,  its  provisions  to 
insure  the  public  health,  and  all  that  immediately  jiertains  to 
his  own  rights  and  duties.  In  our  early  New  England  commu- 
nities many  men.  as  they  advance  in  years.  ])ec(ime  squires  who 
were  authorities  even  in  the  smallest  communities  on  all  minor 
and  most  local  matters.  This  does  not  mean  that  every  man  can 
become  his  own  lawyer,  still  less  that  he  should  know  the  con- 
tents of  the  tons  of  law  books  a  recent  writer  says  are  necessary 
in  a  large,  model  law  oi!ice.  but  he  should  know  what  pertains 
to  all  local  chai'ities.  and  should  consider  lioth  local  economies 
and  deficiencies  and  their  metlutds.  To  this  end  I  have  long 
urged  instruction  in  what  is  often  termed  civics  in  our  schools. 


Centennial  127 

jxn'haps  with  A'isits  to  institutions  ns  object  lessons  in  onler  to 
make  the  duty  to  the  coinniunity  a  moral  obligation,  and  also 
to  make  it  intelligent,  llo-w  many  of  ns  here  today  have  satis- 
fied this  requirement?  Certainly  I  foi-  one  have  ]iot  lived  np  to 
the  full  measure  of  this  ideal. 

"2 — The  good  citizen  will  do  all  in  his  power  to  obey  and  to 
help  enforce  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  the  hiws.  He  will  not 
seek  to  evade  them  in  his  individual  or  in  Ids  corporate  capa- 
city. Of  course.  Ave  must  not  carry  this  so  far  as  tt)  disallow  the 
right  of  revolt  or  e\en  re\-olution  against  laws  that  are  really 
iniquitous.  This  is  always  a  sacred  palladium  of  liberty  in  the 
community  and  of  the  individual  conscience.  Even  defective 
la^vs  should  be  ti'eated  with  respect,  and  when  in  doubt  the 
decision  should  ahvays  be  conformity  and  not  violation.  (3ur 
statute  books  are  full  of  inoperative  laAvs  that  are  a  dead  letter, 
and  the  enforcement  of  some  has  never  been  seriously  attempt- 
ed, but  Ave  have  often,  especially  since  Roosevelt  tried  it  as 
police  commissioner  of  Xcav  York,  learned  that  the  best  Avay  of 
securing  the  repeal  of  unjust  laAvs  is  to  enforce  them  literally. 

"Man  is  a  iiolitical  animal,  and  liy  his  very  nature  must  Iioav 
to  the  collective  Avill,  because  not  only  in  general  everybody  is 
AA^iser  than  anybody,  but  because  bad  laAvs  are  often  the  fault 
of  the  citizens'  lack  of  vigilance.  Even  Jesus,  the  founder  of 
our  faith,  submitted  to  injustice.  When  Socrates  Avas  imprison- 
ed and  aAvaiting  the  fatal  hemlock,  and  friends  paved  the  Avay 
for  his  escape  and  urged  the  gross  injustice  of  his  sentence,  in  a 
vision  a  veiled  figure  of  the  hiAA's  of  Greece  stood  before  him  at 
night  and  said  :  "  I  hav(^  nurtured  you  from  infancy.  I  protected 
and  educated  you  so  that  in  a  spiritual  sense  you  are  my  child 
and  OAA'e  me  allegiance."  and  thus  he  preferred  to  die  rather  than 
to  violate  even  an  unrighteous  decree.  In  this  sense,  then,  the 
good  citizen.  knoAving  Avell  the  laAV,  Avill  respect  not  only  its 
letter,  but  its  spirit. 

"3 — The  good  citizen  Avill  pay  his  taxes  cheerfully,  promptly 
and  completely.  lie  Avill  Avish  to  reserve  nothing  from  the 
appraisal  list.  This.  too.  he  Avill  make  a  matter  of  civic  honor. 
He  Avill  reflect  that  he  profits  to  the  full  extent  bv  the  roads. 


128  ^Vest  Boy  1st  on 

the  {protection  of  the  laws,  schools  and  other  pulilie  institutions. 
and  will  desire  to  do  his  full  share  to  support  them.  The  very 
term  taxes  and  tax  collector  is  sometimes  obnoxious,  especially 
in  these  days  of  increasing  rates,  but  here  again,  under  the 
great  law  of  division  of  labor  there  is  probably  no  investment 
that  brings  a  larger  return  than  for  taxes.  To  shirk  or  evade 
these  and  thus  throAv  our  burden  upon  others,  especially  for  the 
rich  to  throw  the  expenses  of  local  government  upon  the  poor 
in  a  community,  is  bad  citizenship.  We  must  probably  expect 
that  tax  rates  will  increase,  and  Ave  must  do  all  in  our  jiower  to 
ensure  their  more  and  more  equitable  distribution. 

'•4 — Next  to  this  duty  I  should  place  that  of  attending  the 
caucus.  This  in  wards  and  precincts  has  inherited  not  a  iew  of 
th(-  functions  of  the  old-fashioned  town  meeting — the  palladium 
of  liberty  in  the  early  rural  communities.  A  voice  here  is  often 
far  more  effective  than  a  vote  in  elections.  The  chief  business 
of  the  caucus  is  to  steer  good  men  in  and  bad  men  out  of  can- 
didacies. The  briefless  lawyers,  the  men  out  of  a  job.  petty 
l)osses  with  their  still  pettier  henchmen,  boodlers  and  chronic 
office  seekers.  $800  men  seeking  $3000  places,  schemers  with 
their  slates,  those  who  trade  and  dicker  with  patronage — some 
or  all  of  these  exist  in  most  communities,  large  and  even  small, 
and  they  are  best  antagonized  in  the  caucus,  which  is  often  the 
storm  center  of  the  fight  for  good  local  government.  Every- 
thing here  ought  to  be  free  and  questions  and  candidacies  open, 
but  now  we  sometimes  have  even  the  prelimiiiary  caucus,  and 
wherever  this  is  held  the  good  citizen  will  ])i^netrate  and  let  his 
voice  be  heard. 

"5 — The  good  citizen  will  have  it  on  his  conscience  to  vote  at 
ever}'  election.  Every  real  vote  involves  intelligent  and  moral 
purpose.  It  is  our  duty  to  know  something  of  the  candidates 
whose  names  appear  upon  our  ticket  and.  if  possible,  to  be  able 
to  give  an  intelligent  and  truthful  reason  for  our  choice.  The 
effects  of  weather  upon  elections  is  not  an  edifying  topic  to  n 
truly  democratic  republican.  He  woukl  brave  a  storm  and 
penetrate  to  the  farthest  corner  of  a  gerrvmandered  district  if 


Centennial  129 

his  pcisotijil  husincss  were  at  stake:  \\\\\  not  all  tlie  more  wlieii 
tliat  of  the  pnljlic  is  concerned? 

•One  of  the  most  impressive  facts  to  me  has  always  been  that 
of  the  i)resitlent  of  the  United  States,  often  journeying  far.  to 
cast  his  singh^  vote,  although  he  knows  that  some  unlettered  and 
unwashed  renegade,  just  naturalized  and  l)rihed  with  a  dollar, 
can  mniti'alize  his  vote.  There  is  a  good  ohl  ring  in  the  well- 
woni  phrase,  "the  freeman  easting  Avith  unpurchased  hand  the 
vote  that  shakes  the  turrets  of  the  land."  AVe  should  reflect 
more  upon  the  fact  that  each  individual  does  count  for  one  than 
ni)on  th(^  fact  that  he  counts  for  only  one. 

■■fj — My  ideal  citizen,  if  sought  for  an  office,  will  accept  it. 
however  humble,  and  Avill  not  let  it  go  begging.  lie  will  feel 
that  the  voice  of  the  people  in  this  respect  is  the  call  of  God. 
The  ideal  office  holder  in  (Uir  smaller  communities  will  be  a  nmn 
with  a  business  of  his  own  aiul  not  dependent  on  the  public  crib 
for  his  daily  food,  and  In-  will  gladly  bear  some  personal  incon- 
venience and  make  some  sacrifice  of  personal  interest  if  he  is 
called  to  do  so.  Sometimes  I  have  even  thought  that  the  Euro- 
pean Avay  of  man.  who  knows  he  is  fit.  announcing  his  candida- 
cy wnth  no  secret  overtures,  pledges  or  backers,  would  in  some 
cases  make  for  both  the  dignity  and  efficiency  of  an  office.  All 
these  public  functions  should  be  exercised  by  people  known  to 
the  community  at  large  that  the  voter  may  be  freed  from  the 
suspicion  that  unknown  men  are  unworthy  and  also  relieved 
from  th(^  onerous  duty  of  investigating  each  name  upon  his 
ticket.  China  and  Germany,  under  two  very  different  systems, 
may  be  said  to  almost  confer  the  degree  of  fit  for  office.  Every 
position  has  its  educational  qualifications.  As  the  student  goes 
up  the  grades  each  opens  more  offices  to  him.  Alayors  are  edu- 
cated and  have  a  diploma.  Their  function  is  a  profession,  and 
cities  sometimes  rival  each  other  in  bidding  for  those  of  proved 
efficiency. 

"AVhen  the  Niagara  Improvement  Company  advertised  for  the 
best  physicist  in  the  land  to  tell  them  how  they  could  overcome 
the  enormous  fi-iction  of  a  stream  of  water  12  feet  wide,  falling 
l^Ofect  on  a  tnrl)ine.  Avith  a  12-inch  sliaft  of  the  same  weiglit.  a 


130  VCesi  Boylston 

friction  that  involved  great  loss  of"  power.  Professoc  Kowlaiul  of 
the  John  Hopkins  University  came  forward  with  the  sinii)l(^  plan 
of  having  the  stream  curve  around  at  the  bottom  and  strike  the 
turbine  from  below  upward,  thus  almost  exactly  uvcrconiing  the 
friction.  He  wrought  the  scheme  out  in  a  few  raimites  and 
charged  $10,000.  at  which  the  Company,  which  could  easily  have 
afforded  to  pay  twenty  times  that  amount,  demurred,  and  in 
the  trial  the  professor  was  asked  whom  he  regarded  as  the  most 
eminent  physicist  in  the  country.  He  replied.  'I  am.'  Avhich 
everybody  would  have  admitted  was  true.  AVhen  afterwards 
his  friends  remonstrated  with  him  for  this  reply,  which  seemed 
to  them  egotistic,  he  replied.  'But  I  was  under  oath  and  had  to 
tell  the  truth.'  Thus  a  just  sense  of  one's  qualifications  for  any 
duty,  office  or  function,  justifies  seeking  it.  but  this  alone.  I 
have  tried  to  study  education  for  3'ears  but  I  never  sought 
office  and  do  not  believe  I  could  be  elected  on  a  "Worcester 
school  board  in  my  own  ward,  but  what  troubles  my  conscience 
is  that  if  I  were  elected  I  fear  I  should  not  have  the  virtue  to 
serve  because  of  the  sacrifice,  and  I  think  it  would  not  be  ego- 
tistic to  confess  that  I  would  be  a  bad  citizen. 

''7 — Another  duty  of  the  citizen  is  to  speak  out  when  things 
go  wrong.  I  have  no  sympathy  with  the  chronic  grumbler  and 
critic  who  finds  everything  rotten  in  our  civic  life,  who  is  always 
scenting  corruption  where  it  does  not  exist,  who  accepts  no 
explanations  but  the  worst :  but  I  have  no  whit  more  respect 
for  the  citizen  whose  maxim  is.  'Make  no  enemies.'  I  believe  it 
is  everyone's  duty  to  make  enemies  and  to  let  his  virtue  be 
known  by  the  kind  of  enemies  he  makes.  There  is  enough 
virtue  in  every  town  to  keep  it  ])ur('.  if  it  would  only  come  for- 
ward and  be  patent  and  not  latent.  I  love  to  hear  the  pulpit 
sometimes  speak  out  with  emphasis  where  moral  questions  are 
involved  or  to  see  signed  letters  of  remonstrance  in  the  press.  I 
deem  it  cowardly  to  let  evil  go  un rebuked.  The  strenuous  life 
demands  that  the  individual  should  judge  and  judge  intensely 
and  vigorously.  Gossip  at  its  best  is  a  potent  psychological 
engine. 


Centennial  131 

The  good  citizen  should  also  feel  it  his  duty  to  let  no  good  act 
go  unpraised.  Quintillian  declared  that  one  of  the  chief  offices  of 
the  orator  was  to  eulogize  every  good  and  great  deed  done  in 
the  community,  and  Beecher  said  that  no  funeral  sermon  should 
be  preached  that  did  not  discriminatingly  sum  up  and  award  its 
meed  of  praise  to  the  best  qualities  of  the  dead.  Tacitus  tells 
us.  if  I  remember  aright,  that  the  ancient  Scythians  had  a  large 
chair  upholstered  with  the  leather  made  from  the  skins  of 
judges  who  had  pronounced  unjust  judgments,  and  in  this 
chair,  as  an  awful  warning,  every  judge  must  sit  when  he  ren- 
dered a  verdict.  But  it  is  much  better  for  us  as  we  sit  in  our 
untanned  hides  to  remember  the  moral  of  this  custom  when  we 
are  tempted  to  violate  the  Bible  adage.  ^Judge  not,  lest  ye  be 
judged. ' 

"8 — Local  pride  and  even  patriotism  begins  in  each  man's 
dooryard.  It  is  the  very  kindergarten  duty  of  good  citizenship 
to  keep  this  tidy  and  to  make  it  add  something  to  the  beauty  of 
the  street,  to  adorn  it  with  flowers  and  shrubs,  to  perform  the 
homely  function  of  shoveling  our  paths  promptly  after  storms 
and  scatter  ashes  on  the  ice.  Like  everything  else,  the  best 
virtues  begin  at  home.  Zeal  for  good  roads,  drinking  fountains 
and  watering  troughs,  numbers  on  the  houses,  street  signs,  and 
I  would  even  add  public  latrines,  every  monument,  inscription 
on  an  old  site  or  dwelling,  or  on  a  stone  to  mark  an  historic  spot, 
every  act  of  village  improvement — all  these  are  items  of  signifi- 
cance and  tend  to  make  even  the  smallest  localities  attractive  to 
the  young,  who  are  too  prone  to  leave  them,  and  also  to  create 
a  wholesome  local  pride. 

"0 — I  M'ill  even  venture  to  add  another  duty  with  which  you 
may  not  all  agree.  I  believe  that  the  good  citizen  and  voter, 
unless  there  is  some  special  reason  to  the  contrary,  will  marry, 
have  a  home  of  his  own.  be  the  head  of  a  household  and  the 
father  of  children.  I  am  no  faddist  on  this  theme.  I  recognize 
that  there  are  exceptions.  I  am  not  ready  to  vote  a  progressive 
tax  on  all  bachelors  after  the  age  of  thirty,  but  I  do  believe  that 
public  opinion  is  now  slowly  beginning  to  set  in  this  direction 
and  that  in  the  future  it  is  liable  to  ask  more  and  more  insist- 
ingly  of  every  able-bodied,  intelligent  man.  who  can  earn  the 


132  West  BoijIsto7i 

means  of  supixu't,  and  who  does  not  marry,  why!  Not  only  is 
the  home  the  heart  of  the  town,  the  state,  the  country,  the 
world,  and  lieredity  the  most  aneient  form  of  wealth  and  worth, 
but  the  science  of  hiology  is  urging  with  more  and  more  in- 
sistence that  the  best  test  of  an  individual  or  the  race,  is  the 
power  to  In-ing  healthy  children  into  the  world  and  to  rear  them 
to  full  and  complete  maturity.  The  promise  to  Abraham  of  old 
was  that  if  he  kept  covenant  with  God,  his  seed  should  be  as  the 
stars  of  heaven  for  multitude,  and  the  enormous  growth  of  the 
Jews  in  all  lands  seems  like  a  fulfillment  of  this  prophecy.  If 
this  be  true,  the  decay  of  American  families  and  the  increase  of 
abandoned  farms  is  a  sad  commentary  upon  our  solution  of  per- 
haps the  greatest  of  all  the  tests  of  pulilie  and  private  well- 
being. 

"10 — Once  more,  and  wnth  some  hesitation.  I  w^ould  raise  here 
the  question  whether  it  is  not  the  duty  of  every  man  of  means, 
wh.o  makes  a  will,  to  becpieath  in  it  something  for  the  benefit  of 
the  community  in  which  that  wealth  was  acquired.  ]\[any  laws, 
ancient  and  modern,  not  only  tax  inheritance,  but  by  years  of 
jubilee  and  in  other  ways  sequester  large  fortunes  for  the  good 
of  the  public.  1  know  the  dangers  of  mortmain  or  the  dead 
hand  and  how  in  older  countries  large  properties  are  tied  up  by 
conditions  of  donors  generations  and  centuries  ago.  who  in- 
sisted on  attaching  conditions  that  in  later  generations  were 
fomid  to  actually  violate  the  purpose  had  in  mind.  Next  to  the 
virtue  of  being  ashamed  to  die  rich,  however,  is  that  of  so 
making  one's  last  will  and  testament  that  it  shall  bring  relief 
to  suffering,  service  to  the  i)ublic.  advantage  to  higher  educa- 
tion, oi'  in  some  other  way  recognize  the  great  fact  that  no  man 
liveth  or  dieth  to  himself.  In  those  communities  sure  to  in- 
crease with  tlie  progress  of  years  in  a  country  like  ours,  where 
the  living  thus  profit  l\y  the  thoughtfulness  of  the  dead.  1  would 
have  their  memories  kept  green. 

"We  need  not  worship  ancestors  like  the  Chinese,  but  we 
should  rciiicnihci-  with  gratitude  all  those  great  and  thoughtful 
souls  that  liave  attempted  to  make  the  world  that  was  to  come 
after   them   bett(M-  and    riclnn-  in   o]>i>oi'tunities  than   it   would 


Centennial  133 

otherwise  have  been.  1  wouhl  have  something  of  the  lives  of  all 
great  local  benefactors  piously  tanght  in  the  schools,  that  their 
purpose  be  kept  living  and  their  names  known  and  respected  by 
the  yonng. 

"11 — In  times  of  great  crisis,  when  vital  national  issues  are 
at  stake,  no  one  need  to  be  reminded  that  the  good  citizen  will 
fight,  and.  if  need  be,  lay  down  his  life  for  his  country.  War  is, 
alas,  sometimes  a  stern  necessity,  and  Avhile  most  men  in  most 
times  can  bt^st  serve  righteousness  by  their  lives,  they  are  some- 
times called  to  die  for  what  they  live  for.  There  is  no  nobler 
exhibition  of  man's  profoundly  social  and  gregarious  nature 
than  that  he  is  ready  for  great  causes  to  make  this  supreme 
sacrifice.  The  lives  of  those  who  have  answered  thus  the  call  of 
the  state  make  the  purest,  best,  reddest  blood  of  heroism,  on 
which  the  souls  of  youth  grow  to  be  themselves  heroic.  1  have 
little  faith  in  the  programs  of  universal  peace  and  I  am  not  sure 
that  in  the  present  estate  of  men  the  wager  of  battle  is  not 
sometimes  necessary  to  weed  out  the  unfit  and  to  bring  to  the 
front  the  power  of  higher  motives  that  slumber  through  the 
entire  lives  of  most  of  us. 

"12 — Have  we  not  nearly  reached  a  point  where  municipali- 
ties, large  and  small,  should  be  administered  on  business  prin- 
ciples? I  l)elieve  in  parties  and  belong  to  one,  but  I  have  for 
years  felt  it  my  duty  in  local  afifairs  to  vote  for  the  best  man 
irrespective  of  party  as  Avell  as  creed.  This  is  not  mugwumpery. 
Everyone  knows  that  if  any  man's  private  affairs  w^ere  admin- 
istered with  the  same  loose  and  uneconomic  methods  as  those 
with  which  most  towns  are  managed,  his  business  would  fail. 
Is  this  right?  Is  it  necessary?  ]\Iust  there  be,  should  there  be 
jobs,  soft  snaps,  precious  franchises  freely  given  for  long  ten- 
ures, uniu^cessary  work  provided  to  keep  the  unemployed  busy, 
or  high  wages  for  poor  work  ? 

"Here  is  the  weakest  point  in  our  whole  American  system, 
and  one  in  which  we  may  well  hang  our  heads  in  shame  when 
we  compare  our  local  government  with  that  in  most  European 
lands.  I  lielieve  there  is  progress,  however,  even  here,  very 
slow  though  it  be.     Boards  of  trade  have  done  something  to 


134  Vi'est  Boy  1st  on 

stimulate  better  methods,  but  the  public  purse  is  rarely  safe- 
guarded and  a  quid  pro  quo,  dollar  for  dollar,  rarely  exacted, 
such  as  we  would  all  require  in  private  expenditures.  Business 
is  an  immense  machine,  the  laws  of  which  no  one  knows,  not 
even  the  political  economist.  It  is  more  and  more  controlling. 
Its  methods  are  pervading  church,  school,  public  life,  giving  us 
new  ideals  of  art  and  even  manners  and  absorbing  the  best 
young  talent  of  the  world.  Init  it  is  not  yet  recognized  that  the 
city  is  only  a  big  corporation  and  should  be  administered  with 
severe  and  rigid  enforcement  of  every  principle  of  economy  and 
efficiency.  Ideally,  it  should  set  fashions  in  these  respects  to 
every  business  in  it. 

"13 — Finally,  the  school  and  its  administration  is  a  civic 
duty.  Xo  institution  is  so  world-wide  in  its  extent  or  so  influen- 
tial. Comprehensive  school  systems  are  found  in  Africa.  North 
and  South,  and  in  India,  and  Professor  Fitch  has  told  us  that 
one  of  the  l)est  in  the  world  is  in  iMadagascar.  open  there  to  the 
savage  ]\Iaori.  There  has  prol)ably  never  l)een  such  a  universal 
consensus  as  that  which  supports  education  today.  ]Men  differ 
in  everything  else,  but  believe  enthusiastically  in  the  schools. 
The  world  goes  to  school.  In  very  many  smaller  communities 
school  buildings  are  the  largest  and  best  in  town,  and  this  is 
well.  The  condition  of  the  schoolyard  is,  I  believe,  a  matter  of 
civic  pride,  and  I  have  heard  it  called  an  index  of  the  vigor  of 
local  patriotism.  School  boards  of  communities  often  have 
charge  of  the  largest  of  all  expenditures.  These  boards  should 
be  small  and  given  great  responsibility,  and  held  to  commen- 
surate accountability.  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  our  governor 
that  on  these  matters  women,  who  constitute  today  more  than 
three-fourths  of  the  teachers  of  the  country,  should  have  a  vote 
if  they  want  it,  and  should  want  it.  Its  members  should  always 
be  the  best  and  wisest  men  in  town.  Into  their  hands  the 
future  is  committed. 

"President  White  has  told  us  of  a  school  board  somewhere  in 
New  York  state,  where  some  matters  of  school  hygiene  it  had 
passed  upon  were  brought  into  court,  and  it  occurred  to  a 
young  lawyer  to  ask  one  of  the  mem])ers  of  this  sapient  school 


Centennial  US 

lioard  what  hy^iciic  was.  ami  he  r('|)li('(l  tliat  it  Avas  a  sta<;iiant, 
slimy  pool  of  water  with  a  green  film  over  it. 

••Yon  remember  a  few  years  ago.  when  in  one  of  the  largest 
cities  of  the  eonntry  the  school  board  was  discussing  a  motion 
to  place  twel\-e  gondolas  n|)oii  a  sliallow  pond  in  the  i)ark  for 
the  delectation  of  the  children,  a  new  member  gravely  ai'ose  and. 
said  that  he  wished  his  first  word  in  that  board  to  be  for  econo- 
my, and  that  ihercfoi-e  instead  of  twehc  gomloias  he  would 
suggest  one  male  and  one  fetUfde  gondola,  •nid  trusl  natnre  to 
make  it  twelve. 

''A  colleague  of  mine  tells  the  story  of  a  southei-n  s(juire.  who, 
as  he  grew  old  and  tii-ed  of  judging  tedious  problems,  told  his 
son.  who  succeeded  him  in  office,  that  he  had  adopted  the  prin- 
ciple of  only  hearing  one  side  of  the  eases  brought  before  him 
for  decision,  because  hearing  the  other  side  confused  his  mind. 
School  matters  should  more  and  more  come  into  the  hands  of 
experts,  but  hei-e.  too.  1  am  no  pessimist,  for  I  Ixdieve  at  any 
rate  that  in  our  smaller  counnunitii^s  the  best  men  usnally  serve 
in  this  office. 

"You  will  all  thiidv  of  nmny  more  traits  of  the  ideal  citizen. 
The  gi'eat  enemy  of  ninnicipal  life  in  this  country  toda>'  is 
absorption  in  individual  gain  and  neglect  of  public  duties.  This 
has  been  pointed  out  a  thousand  times,  but  there  is  no  real 
remedy  except  to  lay  the  matter  upon  our  consci'ence  on  every 
occasion.  Some  compensate^  for  the  neglect  of  near  duties  by 
entluisiasm  fo)-  those  that  ai'e  afar.  I  have  read  of  a  lady  in 
N(nv  York  attending  a  missionary  meeting  and  Aveeping  over 
the  sutfering  and  death  of  Alexander  Mackay.  the  hero  of 
Uganda,  while  her  coatdnnan  Avas  frozen  to  death  Avaiting  for 
her  outside.  I  Avas  invited  to  dine  Avith  half  a  dozen  others  at 
the  house  of  a  prominent  lady.  Avho  kept  us  Avaiting  and  hungry 
for  half  an  hour  Avhile  she  Avas  attending  a  meeting  of  a 
Avoman's  (dub.  Avhi(di  Avas  worked  up  to  a  Avhite  heat  over  the 
question  whcthei'  Hepresentati\-e  Smoot  of  Utah  had  one  Avife  or 

tAVo. 

■■()ui-  philanthro|)y  in  these  days  of  expansion  is  xcry  lial)le 
to  diffuse  its(df  to  cosmic  dntics  and  nmke  us  foi'gct  the  neai-est 


136  IFf'-s/   Boylston 

duties  for  those  tliat  are  farthest.  The  |)r(>l)lenis  of  eitizenship 
are  many  aiul  great.  In  Russia  I  onee  attended  a  meeting  of 
the  mir.  It  was  a  town  meeting  of  those  who  a  little  more  than 
a  generation  ago  were  serfs.  It  was  held  out  of  doors  on  the 
common.  A  city  hall  is  the  slow  evolution  of  the  old  trihal 
house  of  the  primitive  elans  of  savage  men.  It  ought  to  he  the 
citadel  of  all  local  civic  virtue  kept  pure  from  every  touch  of 
corruption  and  be  forever  sacred  to  the  highest  interests  of  the 
town.  As  it  is  dedicated  today,  let  us  all  rededicate  ourselves 
to  the  cause  of  good  local  government,  to  doing  the  nearest  civic 
duty  and  to  subordination,  wherever  it  is  necessary,  of  personal 
to  communal  well-being." 

The  address  was  jiieeted  with  prolonged  applause. 

The  remainder  of  tlie  afternoon  was  taken  np  with  sliort  addresses  by 
fornier  residents  of  the  town.  The  first  ealled  upon  was  Henry  F.  Harris 
of  Worcester,  formerly  a  nienil)er  of  the  West  Boylston  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  now  one  of  tlie  leading  attorneys  of  Worcester.  Mr. 
Harris  said  that  he  was  proud  to  be  a  native  of  the  town,  and  that  he  had 
taken  part  in  the  town  affairs  for  many  years.  He  expressed  his  sorrow 
of  learning  of  the  demolition  of  the  town,  but  added  that  he  was  glad  to 
see  that  it  had  arisen  from  tlie  ruins  and  become  a  town  of  progress  and 
industry.  In  closing  he  ]>redicted  a  l)ri]liant  future  for  the  town  with  a 
clianco  of  liecoming  one  of  the  leading  towns  of  the  commonwealth. 

Warren  Goodale  of  Clinton,  recently  elected  county  commissioner,  was 
next  called  upon  by  Selectman  Scarlett.  Mr.  Goodale  had  been  asked  to 
speak  of  his  early  reminiscences  of  the  town.  In  his  address  he  paid  a 
tribute  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Brown,  for  many  years  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools,  and  one  of  the  teachers  that  were  responsible  for  Mr.  Goodale 's 
education.  "She  gave  up  nearly  her  whole  life  for  teacliing, "  added  Mr. 
Goodale.  ''and  was  one  of  tlie  liest  teachers  that  the  town  ever  had.'' 
Mr.  Goodale  spoke  of  his  former  associations  and  brought  liack  old  scenes 
and  recollections. 

Rev.  P.  A.  McQuillian,  S.  .1.,  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  Holy  Cross 
college,  Worcester,  addressed  the  meeting.  He  had  been  asked  to  speak 
on  the  town  as  it  was.  First  he  congratulated  the  town  on  its  hall  and 
greeted  the  townspeople  cordially.  Fr.  McQuillian,  in  the  course  of  his 
address,  congratulated  Henry  O.  Sawyer  upon  his  recent  election  as  mayor 
of  Fitchburg.     This  gratulation  elicited  long  and  hearty  ajiplause. 

Fr.  McQuillian  spoke  touchingly  of  the  scenes  and  reminiscences  of  his 
(diildhood  and  closed  with  heartv  wishes  for  the  success  of  the  town. 


Centennial  137 

Mayor  llcniv  C).  Sawyer  of  Fitclibiir*;,  recently  of  West  Boylston,  was 
preetod  with  jir(il(ni<:c<l  ai)plause  when  he  arose,  and  it  was  some  time 
before  lie  was  able  to  s))eak.  Mayor  Sawyer  has  been  in  Fitchburg  but 
four  years,  but  was  elected  mayor  of  that  city  in  December  by  the  largest 
vote  ever  cast  in  a  Fitchburg  city  election.  He  brought  the  well  wishes 
of  the  city  of  Fitcliburg  to  the  town  of  West  Boylston,  and  offered  his 
l)ersonal  congratulations  to  the  townspeople. 

E.  A.  Cowee,  ex-re])resentative  from  the  district  to  which  West  Boylston 
belongs  and  a  former  business  man  of  the  jilace,  when  called  upon  pre- 
sented the  town  a  clock  for  the  hall.  Mr.  Cowee  said  that  he  had  noticed 
that  there  was  not  a  timepiece  in  the  hall,  and  thought  that  by  presenting 
one,  it  would  be  a  good  way  to  perjietuate  the  name  of  Cowee. 

Leander  Ross  of  Boston,  a  native  of  the  town  and  a  state  senator,  was 
called  upon  and  offered  his  congratulations. 

Tjouis  Cutting  of  Worcester,  who  was  asked  to  s])eak,  was  unable  to  be 
]iresent  on  account  of  illness. 

The  nshers  were:  William  T.  Holmes,  Walter  E.  Robbins,  Walter  A. 
Bowen,  Daniel  A.  Lynch  and  Lewis  W.  Sawyer. 

These  guests  were  seated  on  the  platform:  Dr.  G.  Stanley  PTall,  presi- 
dent of  Clark  university,  Worcester;  Mayor  Henry  O.  Sawyer  of  Fitch- 
liiirg:  Rev.  P.  A.  McQuillian,  Holy  Cross  college,  Worcester;  County  com- 
missioner Warren  Goodale.  Clinton;  Rev.  John  E.  Dodge,  West  Boylston; 
Rev.  Julius  B.  Robinson,  West  Boylston;  Atty.  Henry  F.  Harris,  Worces- 
ter- Samuel  S.  Russell,  Worcester;  Edward  A.  Cowee,  Worcester;  Myron 
W.  Ilougliton,  Worcester;  Frank  Hildreth,  Worcester;  the  selectmen  of 
West  Boylston,  Andrew  J.  Scarlett,  Alexander  Snow,  Willie  B.  Wood. 

In  the  evening  theie  was  the  dedication  ball.  The  attendance  was  the 
largest  that  has  ever  assembled  for  a  dance,  parties  coming  from  Clinton, 
Sterling,  Holden,  Boylston  and  SlnewslMuy.  Harry  E.  Brigham's  orches- 
tra of  Marlboro  gave  a  concert  program  of  five  numbers  from  8  to  9.  At 
0  o'clock  the  march  was  fornu'd  for  the  first  dance  in  the  town  hall,  Frank 
11.  Baldwin  and  Miss  Edna  C.  Baldwin  leading  the  march.  There  were 
.•ibout  50  couples  in  line.     Supjier  was  served  by  Whitney  of  Clinton. 

The  hall  was  decorated  witli  a  huge  inverted  Japanese  umbrella  hung 
from  the  center  of  the  hall.  To  each  corner  ran  streamers  of  red  and 
white  bunting,  tlie  whole  making  a  luetty  and  effective  decoration. 
Totted  jilants  and  ])alnis  were  used  on  the  stage. 

The  floor  director  was  Albert  ().  BuUard,  and  the  aides.  Alexander  Mc- 
Ken/ie,  Arthur  11.  Sawyer.  W.  B.  Wood.  W.  Clifford  Scarlett,  George  T. 
Rand,  William  E.  Storms,  Fiank  II.  Baldwin,  George  F.  Smith  and  Carle- 
ton  A.  Cook. 

The  reception  coinn.ittee  consisted  (if  Andrew  J.  Scarlett,  Alexander 
Snow.  John  C.  Hastings,  Walter  E.  Chapman,  Charles  S.  Whittemore,  War- 
ren ,1.  Meriiam,  Edward  A.  Cowee  and  Linus  G.  Harris. 


Centennial 


139 


LIST  OF  TOWN  OFFICIALS. 

A  list  of  certain  town  officials  elected  at  the  annual  March 
meetings  follows.  The  names  of  those  chosen  to  fill  vacancies 
do  not  appear  unless  elected  at  the  subsequent  annual  meeting. 

TOWN  CLERKS. 


Robert  B.  Thomas, 

1808 

Joseph  Hiuds, 

1809- 

-1812 

Ezra   Bigelow, 

1813- 

-1822 

Francis  Davis, 

1S23- 

-1824 

Seth  White, 

1825- 

-1829 

Ephraim  Bigelow, 

1830- 

-1836 

Benjamin  F.  Keyes, 

1837- 

-1839 

Barney  Howe, 

1840- 

-1849 

Oliver  B.  Sawyer, 

1850- 

-1854 

Horatio  Houghton, 

1855- 

-1864 

Henry  F.  Holt, 

1865 

Edward  Howe. 

1866- 

-1868 

Henry  0.  Sawyer, 

1869 

Horatio   Houghton, 

1S70- 

-1895 

William  T.  Holmes, 

1S96- 

-19— 

SELECTMEN. 


1808 


1810 


Ezra   Beaman,  Chairman 
Jonathan  Plimpton 
William  Fairbank 
Silas  Beaman 
Amos  Lovell 


Ezra  Beaman.  Chairman 
Paul  Goodale 
Barnabas  Davis 
Silas  Xewton 
.Jacob  Hinds 


1809 


1811 


Ezra  Beaman,  Chairman 
Paul  Goodale 
William   Fairbank 
Silas  Beaman 
John  Temple 


Ezra  Beaman.  Chairman 
William  Fairbank 
Barnabas  Davis 
Jacob  Hiuds 
Silas  Xewton 


140 


VCesi  Boylston 


William  Fairbaiik, 
Paul   Goodale 
Eobert   B.   Thomas 
Barnabas  Davis 
Jacob  Hinds 


1812 

Chairman 


1818 

John  Temple,  Chairman 
Joseph  Hinds 
Ezra  Bigelow 
William  Fairbank 
Ezekiel  Pierce 


1813 

John  Temple,  Chairman 
Joseph  Hinds 
Hiram  Howe 
Alpheus  Fairl)ank 
Ebenezer  Paine 


1819 

Robert  B.  Thomas,  Chairman 

Ezra  Beanian  (Jr.) 

Thomas  Keyes 

John  Lees 

Barach  B.  Fairbank 


1814 

1820 

John  Temple,  Chairman 
Joseph  Hinds 

Ezra  Bigelow,  Chairman 
Silas  Newton 

Hiram  Howe 

John    Read 

Ezra   Bigelow 
Caleb  Sweney 

Paul  Gerrish 
El>enezer  Paine 

1815 

John  Temple,  Chairman 
Joseph  Hinds 
Ezra  Bigelow 
Caleb  Sweney 
Jonathan   Plim})ton 


1821 

Ezra  Bigelow,  Chairman 
Silas  Newton 
Paul  Gerrish 
Levi  Goodale 
Francis  Davis 


1816 

John  Tem])le,  Chairman 
Joseph  Hinds 
Ezra  Bigelow 
Barnabas  Davis 
William  Fairbank 


1822 

Ezra  Bigelow,  Chairman 
Silas  Newton 
Levi  Goodale 
Simon   Plimpton 
Oliver  Moore 


1817 

John  Temjile,  Chairman 
Joseph  Hinds 
Ezra  Bigelow 
Ezra  Beaman  (Jr.) 
Will  in  m  FairV)ank 


1823- '24 

Robert  B.   Thomas,  Chairman 
Ezra  Beaman  (Jr.) 
Levi   Goodale 
Jacob  Pierce 
Abel  Goodale 


Centennial 


141 


1825-'26 

Joseph  Hinds,  Chainnaii 
Barnabas  Davis 
Thomas  Keyes 
Brigham  Prescott 
Silas  Newton 


1832 

Asa  Bigelow,   ('hairniaii 
Ezekiel  Pierce 
Aaron  Goodale 
John  M.  Smith 
Samuel  Brown 


1827 

Joseph  Hinds,  Chairman 
Thomas  Keyes 
Silas  Newton 
Seth  White 
Levi  Pierce,  Jr. 


1833 

.I(ise]>li    White,  Cliairman 
Ejyhraim  Bigelow 
Aaron   Goodale 
Dennis  Harthan 
Charles  Nash 


1828 

Francis  Davis,  Chairman 
Joseph  White 
Ezekiel  Pierce 
Thomas  Holmes 
Dennis  Harthan 


1834 

Dennis   Harthan,   Chairman 
Benjamin  F.  Keyes 
James  H.  Moore 
John   Lees 
■riidiims  White,  Jr. 


1829 


1835 


Joseph  Hinds,  Chairman 
Asa  Bigelow 
Ezekiel  Pierce 
Thomas  Holmes 
Dennis  Harthan 

1830 

Joseph  White,  ('hairnmn 
Francis  Davis 
Thomas  Holmes 
Aaron  Goodale 
Silas  Walker 

1831 

Silas  Newton,  Chairinan 
Asa  Bigelow 
Ezekiel  Pierce 
Levi  Pierce,  Jr. 
Amos  Lovell 


Dennis    Harthan,   Chairman 
Thomas  White,  Jr. 
Cicero  Hinds 

1836 

Benjamin  F.  Keyes,  Chairman 
Thomas  Holmes 
Amos  Lovell 

1837 

Thomas   Ilolnies,  Chairman 
Amos  Lovell 
Ebenezer  M.  Hosmor 

1838-'39 

Ebenezer  M.   Hosmor,  Chairman 
Moses  Brigham 
Levi  Pierce 


142 


^\esi  Boylston 


1840 


18i7 


Joseph  White,  Chairman 
Levi  Pierce 
Ezekiel  Pierce 


Lotan  Cleveland,  Chairman 
Eli  W.  Holbrook 
Addison  Lovell 


1841 

Joseph  White.  Chairman 
Ezekiel  Pierce 
James   H.  Moore 

1842 

Ebenezer  M.  Ilosmer.  Chairman 
Lotan  Cleveland 
Ward  B.  Harthan 
Samuel  Brown 
Edmund  F.  Brigham 

1843 

Lotan  Cleveland.  Chairman 
Ward  B.  Harthan 
Samuel  Brown 
Edmund  F.  Brigham 
David  C.  Murdoek 

1844 

David  C.  Murdoch,  Chairman 
James  H.  Moore 
Samuel  Lawrence 

1845 

David  C.  Murdoch,  Chairman 
James  H.  Moore 
John  May 

1846 

Lotan  Cleveland.  Chairman 
James  H.   Moore 
John  Mav 


1848 

Lotan   Cleveland,  Chairman 
Addison  Lovell 
John  D.  Lovell 

1849 

David   C.   Murdoch,  Chairman 
John  D.  Lovell 
Lemuel  D.   Newton 

1850 

David  C.  Murdoch.  Chairman 
I>eruuel  D.  Newton 
.liiliii    Lawrence 

1851 

David  C.  Murdoch.  Chairman 
Benjamin  F.  Keyes 
Lemuel  D.  Newton 

1852 

Benjamin  F.  Keyes.  Chairmau 
Addison  Lovell 
Jonathan  Pierce 

1853 

Addison  Lovell.  Chairman 
Jonathan  Pierce 
Linus  M.  Harris 

1854 

Jonathan  Pien-e.  Chairman 
Linus  M.  Harris 
Jnlui    Prentiss 


Ccuicnnial 


143 


1855 

Limis  M.   llairis.  (  li;iiiiii;in 
John  I'vt'nti.ss 
George   F.   Howe 

1856 

,Iohn  Trentisis,  (liainnaii 
George  F.  Howe 
Samuel   Lawrence 

1857- '58 

Samuel  Lawrence,  (hairmau 
I-evi  Goss 
Ilenrv  F.   Holt 


1865 

David  C.  Murdock.  Chairman 
Edmund  F.  Brigham 
J-afayette  Hawes 

1866 

Edmund  F.  Brigham,  Chairman 
John  Lawrence 
Wallace  McFarland 

1867 

Wallace  McFarland,  Chairmau 
David  P.  Waite 
Linus   AL  Harris 


1859 

Levi  Goss,  Chairman 
Henry  F.   Holt 
"Windsor  N.  White 


1868 

David  C.  Murdock,  Chairman 
Linus  M.  Harris 
.Albert  Hinds 


1860 

Windsor  X.  White,  Chairman 
Linus  M.  Harris 
John  May 

1861 

Charles  H.  Baldwin,  Chairman 
Levi  Goss 
William  Thomas 

1862-'63 

David  C.  Murdock.  Chairman 
Nahuni  Hastings 
James  H.  Moore 

1864 

David  C.  Murdock,  Chairman 
Nahiun  Hastings 
John  S.  Cutting 


1869 

Albert  Hinds.  Cliairman 
Linus  M.  Harris 
Stephen   Holt 

1870-'71 

Whipple  B.  Harris,  Chairman 
Edward  Howe 
Stephen  Holt 

1872 

Stephen  Holt,  Chairmau 
Linus  M.  Harris 
Thomas  Harlow 

1873-'74-'75 

Stephen   Holt.  Chairman 
Linus  M.  Harris 
Henry  Pierce 


144 


Wr.s/   Boylston 


1876 

Linus  M.  Harris,  Chairman 
Henry  Pierce 
Stejiben  11.  Smith 


1885-'86 

Stephen  H.  Smith,  Chairman 
Harrison  E.  Morton 
Samuel  P.  Halloclv 


1877 

Stephen  H.  Smith,  Chairman 
Samuel   S.    Russell 
John  F.  Knio-ht 


1887 

Harrison  E.  Morton,  Cluiiriiiaii 
Samuel  P.  Hallock 
David  P.  Waite 


1878 

Stephen  H.  Smith,  Chairman 
Stephen   F.  Hemenway 
David   P.  Waite 


1888 

Harrison  E.  Morton,  Chairman 
J.  Edward  Pierce 
David  P.  Waite 


1879 

Stephen  IT.  Smith,  Chairman 
Stephen   F.  Hemenway 
Henry  O.  Sawyer 


1889 

Harrison  E.  Morton,  Chairman 
J.  Edward  Pierce 
Samuel  P.   Hallock 


1880-'81 

Stephen   F.   ITeinenway,   Chairmai 
Aaron   Good  ale 
William  R.  Walker 


1890 

J.  Edward  Pierce,  Chairman 
Henry  O.  Sawyer 
Louis  Cutting' 


1882 


1891 


Aaron    Goodule,   Chairman 
William   R.  Walker 
John   C.    Hastiui-s 


.1.  Edward  Pierce,  Chairman 
Louis  ('utting' 
Samuel   P.  Hallock 


1883 

Stephen  11.  Smith,  Chairman 
Jdliii    ( '.    Hastings 
Ashley  H.  Wood 

1884 


1892 

.1.  Kdward   Pierce,  Chairman 
S;niiuel    P.    Hallock 
.\rteiiias  ('.   Smith 

1893-'91-'95 


Stephen   H.  Smith,  Chairihau 
Ashley   H.  Wood 
Harrison  E.  ^lortdii 


S.-iiimcl    P.   Hallock,   ('hairman 
Arteinas  C.   Smith 
-Charles   H.   Baldwin 


('('HtcHHial  145 

1896  1905 

Andrew  .1.  Scai'lott.  ( 'Imi  riiuin 

riuxrles   TI.   Baldwin  -^"l^"  ^'-  Hastings,  Chainn.-n,,  :!  yrs 


Edward  A.  Co  woe 

1897 

Edward  A.  ('i)wee,  Chairnian 
diaries    II.    Baldwin 
.l()se])h    L.    llowc 


Warren  E.  Ganimell 
Aaron    (ioodale* 

1906 

Aariiii   CiMiilale.  < 'hairnian.  .'!  yrs. 
Warren    10.    (laniniell^ 


Andrew  J.  Scarlett.  ('Iiairniai 
Charles   II.   Baldwin 
John   C.    Ilastiniis 


1898  A\'altor  E.  ("'hajmian,  2  yis. 

1907 


Aaron  (iondale.'  (hairnian 
1899  Walter   Iv  <  'hapnian* 

Wan-en   E.  (ianunell.  •"!  yrs. 
Andrew  J.  Scailett.  (iiainnan  1908 

John  C.  Hastinjjs 
Aaron    (ioodale  .Varon  (ioodale.*  Chaii man 


1900-"01-'02-'03 


Warren   H   (Jainnieir 
Walter  H.  ('hajnnan,  I!  yrs. 


l£Oi 


Andrew  J.  Scarlett.  < 'hairnian 

Alexander  Snow  1909 

Willie  B.  Wood 

WaltiM'   Vj.  ( 'liajiinan,"  ('iiainnan 
Warren  E.  (ianunell' 

John  C.  Ilastiii.ijs,  (  liai  iinan,   I   yr.        William   C.    Pierce.  .'!  yrs. 

Warren  E.  fianin.ell.  .'1  yrs.  ■ 

Aaron    Coodale.    2    vrs.  *lIo]d  oxer. 


TOWN  TREASURERS. 

Ezra  Beaman,  iSQS— ISl  1 

Ezra  Beamau  (Jr.),  1811—1814 

Barnabas   Davis,  181.")— 1816 

Ezra  Beaman   (Jr.),  1817 

.lonathan  Plimpton,  1818 

E/ra    Beaman    (Jr.).  1819 — 1820 

Haiiial.as  Havis,  3821—1822 

Andre  Tafr.  182:5—1824 

I'rancis    I)a\is.  182.1 — 1827 

Seth  ^\■llit(■.  1828 — 1S29 

'^ll^ma^    Ihilines.  IS.'iO — 1  s;52 


146 


irr.s/   Boylston 


Ezjkel  Pierce, 

1833- 

-1837 

Aaron  E.  Winter, 

1838 

Andre   Taft, 

1839 

Ezra  B.  Newton, 

1840- 

-1841 

Moses    Brigliam, 

1842 

Saninel   Brown, 

1843 

Tliomas  Holmes, 

1844- 

-1848 

Oliver  B.   Sawyer, 

1849 

Eli    W.   llolbrook, 

1850 

Dennis   llartlian, 

18.)1- 

-1  Sor^ 

Oliver  B.  Sawyer, 

1856- 

-1  861 

George  F.  Howe, 

1862- 

-1879 

Henry  0.  Sawyer, 

1880- 

-1883 

George  F.  Howe, 

1884- 

-180!) 

A]l>ert  W.  Hinds, 

1 000- 

-10.  . 

MODERATORS  AT  ANNUAL  TOWN  MEETINGS. 


Silas  Beanian, 
Silas  Newton, 
Paul   Goodale, 
AVilliani  Fairbanl^, 
Silas  Newton, 
Bobert  B.  Thomas, 
John  M.  Smith, 
Silas  Newton, 
John  M.  Smith, 
Andre  Taft, 
John  F.  Fay, 
Ebenezer  M.  Hosmer, 
Andre  Taft, 
Ebenezer  M.  Hosmer, 
David  C.  Mnrdoek, 
Benjamin  F.  Keyes, 
David  C.  Mnrdoek. 
Benjamin  F.  Keyes, 
Ebenezer  M.   Hosmer, 
David  C.  Mnrdoek, 
Benjamin  F.  Keyes, 
Joseph  C.  Lovell, 
Benjamin  F.  Keyes, 
David  C.  Mnrdoek, 
Ebenezer  M.  Hosmer, 
Joseph  C.  Lovell, 


ISdS 

1  soo- 

-isn 

1812 

1813- 

-1818 

1810- 

-1821 

1822- 

-1 823 

1824- 

-1 825 

1826- 

-18oU 

1831- 

-1 833 

1834 

1835- 

-1836 

1837- 

-1 838 

1839 

1840- 

-1844 

1 845- 

-1848 

1849 

1850- 

-1851 

1 852- 

-1853 

1854 

1855 

1  856 

1S57 

1858 

1 859- 

-1860 

1861 

1 862- 

-1864 

Centennial  147 

Ceorye  F.  Howe.  I860 — 1882 

George  II.   .lefts,  18S3 

Georji-e  F.  Howe,  1884—1899 

Edward  A.  Cowee,  1900— l!)()i: 

Warren  J.  Merriani,  1903—1904 

.h.hn  A.  Lowe.  1905—1906 

Frank   II.  Baldwin,  1907—1909 


REPRESENTATIVES  TO  LEGISLATURE. 

Ezra  Keaman.  1808—1811 

Barnalias  Davis,  1812—1817 

Joseph  Hinds,  "-1818— 1819 

No  representative  sent,  1820—1824 

.Tose])li  Hinds,  1825 

No  representative  sent,  1826 

Joseph  Hinds,  1827 

No  representative  sent,  1828 

Joseph   Hinds,  1829 

No  rejiresentative  sent,  1830 

Kobert  B.  Thomas,  1831—1836 

Thomas  White,   Jr.,  1837 

No  choice,  1838 


1839 


Benjamin  F.  Keyes 
Silas  WaHier, 

Levi  Pierce,  '  1840 

Dennis   Harthan,  1841 

Samuel   Brown,  1842 

Brio  ham  Prescott,  184.3—1845 
Addison  Lovell,  1846 

Amos   Child,  1847 

Eli  W.  Holbrook,  1848—1849 

Ebenezer  M.  Hosmer,  1850 — 1851 
Oliver  B.  Sawyer,  1852 

David  C.  Murdoek,  1853—1854 

Amos  Childs,  18.5.5—1856 

Since  1857   West  Boylston  has  been  districted  with  other  townis  for  the 
election    of    a    representative. 

Windsor  N.  White,  1859 

Linus  :\r.   Harris,  1862 

David   <'.   Murdoek,  1864 

Wallace  McFarland,  1867 


148  West  Boylston 

Stoi)hen  ITolt,  1870 

.Jose])h   W.   Cross,  ]872 

(ieorge  F.  Howe,  187o 

Henry  Pierce,  L876 

Henry  O.  Sawyer,  1880 

Horatio  Houghton,  1884 

Harrison  E.  Morton,  188(5—1887 

Edward   A.  Cowee,  189."i— 180(1 

\V;irron   E.   Oaninirdl.  lP(^o 


SCHOOL  COMMITTEE. 

Until  the  year  1892  the  Scliool  ("oininittec  varied  in  mniibers. 
For  some  years  ])revi(nis  to  that  date  it  had  heen  composed  of 
twelve  members,  a  imml)er  too  large  to  insert  foi-  each  year  in 
this  work.  It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  duties  of 
the  School  Committee  in  the  earlier  days  were  more  exacting 
than  at  present,  and  West  Boylston  was  particularly  fortunate 
during  that  period  to  have  a  number  of  clergymen  and  physi- 
cians to  direct  the  course  of  study,  a  duty  now  largely  delegated 
to  the  superintendent  of  schools. 

A  list  of  those  who  served  actively  on  the  school  committee 
prinious  to  1892  for  any  considerable  length  of  time  follows: 

Francis  Davis,  1S2()-1824,    '2(i,    '29,    '8(5 

Rev.  Leonard  Tracy,  1838-1849 

Rev.  Joseph  W.  Cross.  1840-1859,   '(52- '6(5,   '(59- '80 
Dr.  George  W.  Warren,       1847-lSoO,   '5.5,  '57,   '59- '(51,   '66- '69 

Joseph  C.  Lovell,  1868-1869,   '74- '82 

David  C.  Mnrdock.  1868-1887 

George  F.  Howe,  1868-1890 

David  R.  Lamson,  1870-1878 

Joseph  M.  Lord,  1872-1890 

Rev.  William  W.  Parker,  1880-1888 

1892  1893 

Thomas  Harlow,*  Chairman  Tliomas    Harlow,   Chairman,  3  yrs 

Samuel   S.   Russell'"  Samuel   S.   Russell* 

Albert  W.  Hinds,  3  vrs.  Albert  W.  Hinds* 


Centennial  149 

1894  1902 

Tlioiiias    1  l;iil()\v, "    (  li;ii  iiii;in  \\;in(Mi    .1.   Mcniiiiii.      < 'liai  ininii 

Albert  W.  lliiuls"  Albeit   W.   Hinds,  ;J  yrs. 

Dr.  David  B.  Lovell,  :>  yrs.  Eev.  Julius  \\.   Robinson* 

1895  1903 

Tlionias    ilailow,     <'hairniaii  Warren   .1.   Merviain,     Chairman 

Dr.  David   I'..   Lnv(dl^  Albert   W.   Hinds* 

William   K.  WalUei-.  :'.  yrs.  Kev.  . I  alius   11.    IvN.bi  iisdii.  ?.  yrs. 

1896  1904 

Dr.  David  P..  Lovell."-    Cliairnian  Kev.    .Tulius   P>.    Ifobinson,-    Chairman 

William    H.   Walker*  Arthur  A.  Cahlwell,  .".  yrs. 

Francis  II.   Hiee.  M  yrs.  Alliert    W.    Hinds* 

1897  1905 

Dr.  David  H.  Lovell.  Chairman,  :!  yrs.    Kev.  .lohn  E.  Dod-e,  Chairman,  1  yr. 

William    K.    Walker'-  A!l)ert    W.    Hinds.  ;!  yrs. 

Francis   II.    Hie'*  Arthur  A.   Caldwell* 

1898  1906 


Dr.  David   P>.  Lovell.*  ('hairman 
Albert  W.    Hinds,   1    yr. 
Warren   .1.    ^l(Miiani,  .">  yrs. 

1889 

Dr.  David  P.  Lo\(dl.*  Chairman 
Albert  W.   Hinds,  ;;  yrs. 
Warren  .! .  Merri.-im* 

irco 

Warren    .1.  ^leniam.     Ciiairman 
Albert  W.   Hinds 
Rev.  Julius   li.    Ixdbinson.  :'>  yrs. 
1901 


Rev.  .lohn   E.  Dodj^e.  Chairman,  3  yrs. 
Albert   W.  Hinds,  2  yrs. 
Arthur  A.  Caldwell* 

1907 

Kev.  Ernest   A.   Royal,  Chairman,  2  yrs. 
1-jnory  A.  L>aeon,  .">  yrs. 
Albert  W.  Hinds* 

1908 

Kev.   Ernest   .\.   Royal,*  Chairman 
Albert    \V.    Hi  mis,  ;;  yrs. 
Emor\-    A.    P>;ic(in' 

1909 


Warren  J.  Aleriiam.  ('hairman,  .'!  yrs.  Emory  A.  Paeon,"    < 'hairman 

Albert  W.  Hinds-  Albert    W.    Hinds 

Eev.  Julius  P.   Rnl)inson"'  Kev.   Ernest   .V.    Royal,  .">  yrs. 

*]lold    (IV.M-. 


('(llf('Hiii((l 


151 


NAMES  OF  GRADUATES  OF 

1883 

llnlhnd.   :\I;iiio    Al.hii' 
I'ierce.    Flov.-i    Melissa 
I'ievcc,  Sailif  iSdinl 
Stnrtcvaiit,  .hilia   Avimlil 

1884 

Doyle.  Mary  Ann 
Goodale.  Alice  Alniira 
Lesure,  Waldo  Haskell 
Reed,  Charles  Walter 
Waite,  Ed  par  Francis 

1885 

Drake,  Llewellyn  Henry 
Ilaskins,  Mary  Emerson 
Lnce,  llattie  Emma 

1886 

Harris,  Watio  Lmiise 
Hastings,  Annie  Gertrude 
Holmes,  Wallace  Eugene 
Newton,  Grace  Lamson 
Prescott,  Xettie  INiatella 

1887 

Boynton,  Walter   Grant 
Browne,  Albert  Watson 
Billiard,  Samuel  Eli 
Fisher.  Mabelle  Edith 
Hall,  Lena  J. 
McCarthy,  Nellie  Elizal)eth 
Warner,   Grace  ]\Iandaiia 

1888 

Baldwin,    William    Sanfurd 
Berry,  Arthur  Henry 
Berry,  Grace  Ella 
Chase,  Mary  Celinda 
Ilaskins,  Edith  Lydia 
Knight,  Dora  Fay 
Piere-e,  Harry  Lincoln 
Shepard.  Grace  Florence 


THE  WEST  BOYLSTON  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

1889 

Flagg,  Daisy  EmuiU 
Morton,   Addie  Frances 
Sargent,  Alice  Frances 
Toombs,  Eva  Frances 

1890 

Anderson,  Elizabeth  ^lay 
Berry,  Arthur  H. 
Daly,  Gertrude  Est  el  la 
Fletcher,  Bertha  Lillian 
Lynch,  .lohn  Sarsfield 
Mitchell,  Alice  Leah 
Moran,  Katie  Ann 
Waite,  Annie  Mabel 
Waite.  Louise  Elma 

1891 

Bosworth.  Eug.  INIanning 
Bullard,  Albert  Ovington 
Chase,  Lura  Burnette 
Hartigan,  Eva  Eosalie 
Hastings,  Foster  L. 
Jachson,  Henry  Winter 
Tivuch,  Matilda  Catherine 
Sargent,  Mattie  Augusta 

1892 

Broad,  Mabel  Stella 
Butler,  Mabel  Louise 
Lawrence,  Lutie  Smith 
Moran,  EHza   Jane 
Ryan,  Etta  M. 
Walker.  Alice  Elizaljeth 
Walker,  Lena  Ada 

1893 

Shepanl.    iiallic    Isabel 
Tobin.    Michael    Anthony 
"Moraii.  Eliza  .1.  (Post  Graduate) 


152 


IVr.y/   Boylsion 


1894 

Buck.  Lila  Ollie 
Eichard.  Marv  Emma 
Tower.  Freeman   Angust\is 

1895 

Harrington.  Ruth  Abbie 
Lyncli.  Theobald  Andrew 
McCarthy.  Annie  Theresa 
Eice.  Jessie  Mae 
Eoss.  Alida  Louise 
Warner.  Lvdia  Porter 

1896 

Boynron.  Florence  Christine 
Brown.  Ruth  Mabel 
Burns.  Marguerite 
Gammell.  Edirh  Florence 
Goodale,  Leon  Arvine 
Leonard,  Annetta  Theresa 
O  'Toole.  Kathryn  Agnes 
Styles.  Maude  Asenath 

1897 

Buck.  Alice  Elmiua 
Daly.  Clara  Frances 
Greeley.  Mabelle  Leona 
Kershaw.  Polly 
Lynch.  Carolyn  Idella 
Maney.  Kathryn  Maria 
Rice.  Charles  Franklin 
Rice.  Edward  Francis 
Ryan.  Kathryn  Pauline 
Sargent.  Jennie  Tylena 
Sawyer.  Ella  Louise 
Whiting.  Winfred  Ilolr 


1898 


II.  Fay  Baldwin 
Helen  R.  Goodell 
Alice  M.  Lovell 
Elsie  M.  Phelps 
Arthur  K.  Smith 
Josej>h  X.  Snow 
Mav  E.  Wilson 


1899 

John  H.  BassetT 
Herbert  M.  Cheever 
Florence  E.  Fairbanks 
Xetina  E.  Fairbank 
Walter  O  Toole 
Marion  E.  Phelps 
Susie  E.   Sargent 
Angeline   St.  Onge 
Delora  E.  Styles 
Ruby  E.   Warfield 

1900 

Carrie  Angenette  Bacou 
Walter  Andrew  Bowen 
Carleton  Allen  Cook 
Arthur  Stanley  Ovenden 
Cora  Thisbee  Peck 
Jessie  Freeman  Peirce 
George  Asa  Robinsou 
Lillian  Gertrtide  Ryan 

1901 

Edna  Caroline  Baldwin 
Eva  Florence  Bird 
Frederick  Howard   Brown 
James  Wilbur  Erviug  Cheever 
Mary  Caroline  Howe 
Vera  Amica  Johnson 
Walter  Ernest  Robbins 
Arthur  Hubbard   Sawyer 
Marion   Harris  Sheldon 
Helen   Reed  Warner 

1902 

Erma  I.  Bosworth 
Hattie  L.  Goodale 

1903 

Frances  Evelyn  Goodale 
Elizabeth  ^Mary  ^loran 
Kathryn  Anna  Moran 
Philip  Alan  Houghton 
Edwin  Reed  Warffeld 


Centennial 


153 


1901 

Rliih  E.  Burpee 
Joseph  Cavanaugh 
Teresa  Cavauaugh 
Mina  Chaee 
Chester  Cook 
Marion  C.  Honghton 
Marion  C.  Johnson 
George  M.  Lawrenee 
Ralph  H.  Oven.ien 
A.  Clavton  Parker 

1905 

R.  -—  -  ^1-  i'arker 
Mary  T.  Smith 

1£06 

Bvron  W.  Barker 
Osear  Burns 
Frank  C.  Cheever 
Corinne  M.  Ryan 
Andrew  J.  Scarlert. 
Arthur  F.  Snow 
A.  Carrol  Warfield 


Jr. 


1907 

Leta  Fairbank 
Helen  Caroline  Mixter 
Helen  Gertrode  Moran 
Blanche  Clarion  Bobbins 
Otis  Chaffin  Shel.len 

1908 

Annie  Matil-ia  Bancroft 
Bertha  Lnella  Bosworth 
Harold  Xewell  Keith 
Graee  Lillian  Mixrer 
James  E-iward  Ryan 
Louise  Marsh  Warner 

1909 

Ernest  Foster  Chase 

Charles  Henry  Cntt.Tnings 

Aaron  Goo«iale.  Jr. 

Gladys  :  "  -e 

Clarenc-r  Hnntington 

Raymond  >a  ington 

David  Josef- 

Anna  Elisabeth  Muzzy 

Bertha  Alice  Muzzy 

Earle  Warren  Reed 

Mvrtis  Florella  Smith 


154  ^^('xi    Boi/lsfoii 

SERGEANT  THOMAS  PLUNKETT, 
The  Armless  Hero  of  the  Battle  of  Fredricksburg. 

The  siiV)jec't  of  this  sketch  Avas  lioni  in  tlu>  ('muity  (tf  Mayo.  Ireland, 
October  13,  ]S39,  anil  came  to  An.eiica  in  1 S44  with  liis  ])ar(Mits.  Francis 
and  ("atlieriue  Plmikett.  AMieii  our  ureat  ci\il  war  bej^aii.  lie  with  his 
brotlier  Francis  were  employed  in  the  boot  shuji  of  .lohn  8.  <'ntting  in 
West  Boylston,  and  when  President  Lincoln  issueil  his  call  in  1*^(11.  for 
men  to  enlist  in  their  country's  service  for  three  years,  TlKunas.  after 
having'  l)een  a  resident  of  AVest  Boylston  about  ten  years,  resjumded  and 
was  mustered  in  Au.tiust  23.  bS(il.  at  the  a.^e  of  ill,  and  assigned  to  C'om- 
])any  E,  21st  Regiment,  I\Iassa(diusetts  A'ounteers.  This  re.gnmeut  was 
organized  at  Cam])  Lincoln,  as  it  was  called,  located  on  the  old  Agricul- 
tural Fair  Grounds  in  the  City  of  Worcester.  That  historic  spot,  now 
covered  with  attractive  and  substantial  homes,  occupied  by  a  later  genera- 
tion who  little  realize  that  the  dust  on  which  they  daily  tread,  was  once 
the  scene  of  many  a  s(den.n  jiartiug  of  friends,  brothel's,  sisters,  and  the 
sacred  ties  of  home,  in  many  instances.  ne\'er  to  lie  united  in  life. 

Fiiday  morning  of  the  same  day  our  suliject  was  musTer(>d  in;  marching 
orders  were  issued;  and  after  the  ceremonies  of  the  presentation  of  a 
regimental  flag,  by  lion.  Alexander  Bullock  in  behalf  of  the  ladies  of 
Worcester,  and  the  sad  farewells  spoken,  the  regiment  marched  to  tlie 
Norwich  depot  and  boarding  the  train  in  waiting,  started  at  about  five  of 
the  clock  in  the  afteruoon  for  the  front. 

September  17th.  at  Auuiqiolis,  the  regiment  was  again  mustered  in  on 
account  of  some  luevious  informality,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
battles  of  Roanoke  Island.  Febriiary  S.  18(32;  Camden,  April  10.  18(;2; 
Manassas,  August  2ii  and  30,  1S()2,  Avhere  private  Plunkett,  it  is  to  lie 
presumed,  was  always  at  his  post  of  duty  performing  fearlessly  whatever 
task  fell  to  his  lot.  But  it  was  not  till  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  Septendier 
1,  1862,  after  having  been  absent  from  home  littl(>  more  than  a  year  that 
his  name  came  jirominently  before  the  public  eye. 

On  that  eventful  1st  of  Septemlier  the  re.giment  weut  into  action  with 
four  hundred  men;  ,")8  were  hilled,  76  wounded,  and  26  taken  prisoners. 

When  the  respite  came  and  those  who  Avere  aide  to  withdraw  were  out 
of  the  woods,  a  roll-call  disclosed  the  missing  ones. 

Private  Plunkett,  finding  his  friend  Louis  Moultie  among  the  missing, 
went  back  without  his  nuisket  with  the  hope  of  finding  him  if  wounded. 
Moving  along  with  great  caution,  he  discovered  a  rebel  picket  standing 
behind  a  tree;  Plunkett  realized  in  an  instant  that  if  in  turning  liack  he 
attracted  attention,  death  was  likely  to  be  his  portion.  With  one  quick 
bound  he  was  at  the  rebel's  back  and  holding  fast  both  his  arms.  The 
rebel,  in  his  fright,  drojiped  his  musket  which  Plunkett.  while  pretending 
to  coN'er  him  with   a   revolver,  secured,  and  warnini;  him  not  to  make  a 


Centennial  155 

noise  luider  ]ienalty  of  death,  inaiH-lied  his  in-isoiier  into  the  T'liion  camp 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  for  wliich  exph)it  lie  was  I'ewarded  witli  a 
sergeant's  commission. 

Thirteen  days  later,  Septemlier  14th,  occurred  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain.  During  this  engagement,  Plunkett  discovered  a  severely 
wounded  officer  sitting  and  leaning  against  a  barn,  who  asked  him  for  a 
cup  of  water,  which  he  most  gladly  furnished,  and  during  .n  moment's 
conversation  learned  that  this  officer  was  from  Ohio.  When  President 
Butherford  B.  Hayes  visited  Worcester,  Sergeant  Plunkett  recognizing  the 
features  of  the  man  he  had  saved,  interviewed  the  President,  and  relating 
the  incident,  learned  that  it  Avas  the  future  President  of  the  United 
States  for  whom  he  had  done  that  act  of  kindness,  and  received  from 
President  Hayes,  as  he  grasped  the  stump  of  his  right  arm  with  Tioth 
hands,  such  cordial  and  sincere  expressions  of  gratitude  as  only  a  true 
soldier  can  give  another. 

The  17th  came  the  battle  of  Antietam,  where  the  regiment  en- 
tered the  engagement  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  lost  in  killed 
and  Wdunded  forty-five. 

The  next  severe  engagement  occurred  at  Fredericlvsburg,  December  13. 
1862.  The  21st  regiment  had  two  hundred  men  in  action;  13  were  killed 
and  52  wounded,  one  taken  prisoner.  The  following  is  taken  from  the 
official  report  made  by  Colonel  Clam,  December  l(3th: 

"The  2nd  brigade  was  now  ordered  to  the  front  and  formed  in  double 
line  of  battle  most  gallantly  and  steadily  mined  across  the  plain,  swept 
by  the  destructive  fire  of  the  enemy.  When  aVxnit  sixty  rods  from  the 
city,  tlie  color  sergeant  Collins  of  Conijiany  A,  was  shot  and  fell  to  the 
ground.  Sergeant  Plunkett  of  Company  E  instantly  seized  the  colors  and 
carried  them  promptly  forward  to  the  fartherest  point  reached  by  our 
troops  during  the  battle.  When  the  regiment  had  commenced  the  delivery 
of  its  fire,  about  forty  rods  from  the  position  of  the  rebel  infantry,  a 
shell  was  thrown  with  fatal  accuracy  at  the  colors,  which  were  again 
brought  to  the  ground,  wet  with  the  life-blood  of  the  lirave  Plunkett,  botli 
of  whose  arms  were  carried  away. 

"Color  Corjioral  Olney  of  Company  II  jmmeriiately  raised  the  glorious 
flag  and  defiantly  bore  it  tlirough  the  remainder  of  the  day.'' 

A  piece  of  the  shell  struck  Plunkett 's  right  arm,  nearly  severing  it 
from  his  body,  it  then  struck  a  book  with  thick  covers,  which  that  morn- 
ing he  had  picked  u]i  in  Piedericksburg  and  buttoned  inside  his  vest;  that 
book  turned  the  course  of  the  deadly  missile  a  little,  wliirh  doubtless  saved 
his  life,  but  it  struck  the  left  arm  above  the  Avrist.  At  the  improvised 
field-hospital  the  case  was  ]>ronounced  hopeless,  so  that  he  was  unattended 
for  two  hours  or  inore  lief  ore  his  arms  were  amputated  and  dressed.  He, 
however,  rallied  rajiidly.  and  on  Christmas  Day,  December  2-1,  at  noon,  the 
regiment  turned  out  to  escort  Sergeant  Plunkett  and  se\"eral  other  wound- 
ed men  fronv  the  field-hospitals  to  the  railway  station,  en  route  for  Aquia 


156  West  BoyJston 

Creek  and  Washington.  There  was  no  ornnibling  at  this  duty,  although 
exceedingly  tired  and  standing  at  present  arms  as  the  gallant  sufferers 
were  carried  along  the  line  to  the  cars,  there  was  many  a  warm  goodby 
;in<i  uttered  prayer  for  their  recovery.  He  was  taken  to  Washington, 
where  lie  remained  in  Emery  Hospital  until  May,  ]S63.  when  he  started 
for  home.  At  New  York  he  was  given  an  enthusiastic  reception  and  it 
was  ie]teated  in  Boston,  also  at  his  home  in  West  Boylston,  where  the 
citizens  generally  turned  out  to  do  him  honor.  Congress  awarded  him  a 
medal  for  his  bravery  and  he  was  also  granted  a  total  disability  pension 
of  seventy-two  dollars  a  month. 

In  L879  he  was  appointed  a  messenger  at  tlie  Htate  House  and  given 
chaige  of  the  coat  room.  AVas  also  foi-  a  time  messenger  at  the  Custom 
House.  February  1st,  L864,  at  a  time  wlien  the  21st  regiuient  was  en- 
joying their  veteran  furlough,  a  street  ]>arade  was  made  in  Worcester. 
Tlie  2.')tli,  the  ."i7th,  the  State  Guard.  Highland  Cadets  and  the  Pire 
Department  ]ierformed  escort  duty,  'i'lie  streets  were  covered  with  ice, 
snow  and  slush.  Sergeant  Plunkett  declined  to  ride  with  other  disabled 
n.en,  but  marched  just  in  advance  of  the  battle  stained  and  shattered 
tlags  of  his  regiment  in  a  Tilinding  snow  and  rain  storm  for  more  than  an 
lionr. 

.At  Mechanics  Hall,  Hon.  Alexander  Bullock  delivered  an  eloquent 
address  of  welcome  to  these  veterans  of  the  war,  in  which  reference  was 
made  to  the  plucky  color  bearer.  Sergeant  Plunkett,  who  was  present  and 
re('(>ived  a  royal  ovation.  For  some  time  Mr.  Plunlcett  was  far  from 
oeing  a  well  man,  and  by  spells  was  a  great  sufferer,  although  he  rarely 
uttered  any  com])]aint;  occasionally  he  might  be  heard  to  say,  "I  am  all 
light,  but  my  ston.ach.''  He  received  the  1)est  of  medical  care  and 
grjiduaily  improxed  in  health  and  was  discharged  from  the  army  'March 
9,   l,S(i4. 

In  ISO.)  he  married  ]Miss  Helen  Ijorinu'r,  and  five  years  later  removed 
to  Worcester.  At  the  conclusion  of  that  marriage  ceremony  he  overheard 
a  careless  remark  drop  from  the  li])S  of  a  bystander  that  made  a  lasting 
impression  nn  his  mind.  It  reflected  on  the  aliility  of  an  armless  man  io 
su]i]>ort  a  wife,  ami  he  there  inwardly  pledged  his  best  endeavors  to 
]>r()vid(^  for  his  \vife,  and  most  faithfully  he  kept  his  vow,  leaving  at  his 
decease  his  widow  and  two  sons  in  comfoi'table  circumstances.  During 
the  eaily  ])art  of  ISS.l,  the  warning  can.e  that  the  end  of  his  eventful  life 
was  ajiproaching.  The  jiosition  as  Messenger  at  the  State  House  was 
gi\en  u]>,  and  after  a  few  weeks  of  suffering,  without  a  murmur  of  com- 
]ilaint.  on  the  morning  of  March  10th,  ISS-l,  he  passed  on  to  be  numbered 
with  the  great  army  that  i)receded  him. 

Funeral  services  were  held  in  Mechanics  Hall,  which  was  thronged  with 
relatives,  friends  and  the  citizens  at  large,  anxious  to  ]»ay  their  last 
tiibute  to  the  patient  yet  courageous  Sergeant  Tom  Plunkett. 


CcufcnniaJ  157 

At  liis  request  services  in  the  i:all  were  condiicteil  liy  Rev.  (ieor_<-e  8. 
Jiall.  who  was  ("ha]ilaiii  of  the  L'lst  He.L'iiiieiit.  Ke\  .  .I(>s(>|ih  \V.  Cross  of 
West  Hoylston.  and  Rev.  .).  V.  I^overinii.  ("ha]ilain  of  tlie  Crainl  Arniv. 
Sinjiing  was  by  cliildrfMi    from  the  ]iuldic  scdiools  of  the  city. 

But  the  soleTnn  act  of  conimittinL;  to  tlie  tonil)  that  lifeless  body  failed 
to  completely  silenee  the  disposition,  the  eagerness  still  felt  to  do  honor 
to  that  intrepid,  self-reliant  yet  modest  man,  who  sacrificed  so  much  for 
his  country's  cause. 

On  Friday  evening,  Noven.ber  'I'l,  IS!)."),  exercises  attending  the  presen- 
tation of  a  memorial  portrait  of  Sergeant  Thomas  Plunkett  to  the  Worces- 
ter County  Mechanics  Association,  was  hebl  in  tlieir  spacious  hall.  The 
jioitrait  was  the  gift  of  his  brother  Francis,  an  hoiu)rable  member  of  the 
Worcester  County  Bar.  also  a  uiemlier  of  the  i^oard  of  Aldermen  for  the 
City  of  Worcester. 

The  late  United  States  Senator,  lion.  George  F.  Hoar,  was  expected  to 
lualve  the  presentation,  but  as  the  day  drew  near,  he,  on  account  of  failing 
health,  felt  obliged  to  decdine,  and  ('(donel  William  S.  1>.  lIo])kins  offi- 
ciated. An  ajipropriate  programme  had  been  arranged.  ]\Ir.  Edward  F. 
Toliuau,  president  of  tlie  Association,  received  the  ]>ortrait.  Other  speak- 
ers were  Rev.  Dr.  Conaty.  now  Bishoj)  Conaty,  and  the  late  Kev.  (leorge  S. 
Ball. 

The  audience  filled  the  great  hall  to  the  A'ery  doors,  and  the  masterly 
addresses  were  received  with  unusual  satisfaction.  The  fine,  life-like 
jiortrait,  the  work  of  Mr.  J.  Madison  Stone,  occupies  a  conspicuous  place 
upon  the  wall  of  that  attractive  hall,  reminding  the  thousands  of  on- 
lookers of  the  faithful,  courageous  Thomas  Plunkett. 


Civil  War  Record. 


The  following'  is  m  list,  as  far  as  has  l)eeii  aseei'tained,  of  those 
who  went  into  the  army  to  sei've  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
fr(ini  the  town  of  AVest  Boylston  or  were  eount(Ml  on  its  quota. 

There  had  been  a  eompany  of  militia  in  town  ])r('\ious  to  the 
Civil  AVar.  many  of  thos(^  members  enlisted  Avitli  Sergeant 
Plnid<('1t  in  Company  E.  21st  Regiment. 

l'])  to  March  1.  1866.  the  toAvn  had  paid  in  bounties,  expenses 
of  recruiting,  nniforms.  etc..  the  sum  of  •'1^22,784.90.  Avhile  the 
Ladies  Patriotic  Society  had  forAvarded  clotlics  and  supi)lies  to 
the  soldiers  to  the  value  of  ^1.068.17. 


158 


1T>.v/   B()}/Ist()it 


02 

M 
< 

Southern  recruit. 
Close  of  war. 

Close  of  war. 
Clo.se  of  war. 
For  100  days. 

For  100  days. 
Discharged  as  an  alien. 
Reported  as  deserter,  October,  '04 
Contraeted  fever,  died  at  home,  Feb.  12,  '04 
Died  at  Andersouville:   prisoner  Oct.,  '()4. 

W'd.  and  died  at  Gettysburg,  .luly  15,  '03. 

Close  of  War. 

1  year  on  gunboat   "South  Carolina." 

Close  of  War. 

Resigned. 

Southern  recruit. 

Close  of  War. 

Lost  at  Bca. 

Lost  an  arm  at  Newbern,  !S(i2.     Discharged. 

Southern   lecruit. 

Served  under  Ma.ior  Devens. 

Wounded  at  Newbern,  March  14,  1802. 

Deserted,   May  20,   1803. 

For  100  days. 

Close  of  War. 

Close  of  War. 

Discharged  for  disability. 

Reported   as  deserter,  January,  1804. 

For  100  days. 

Close  of  U'ar. 

Discharged  for  disability. 

Wounded   at  Antietani,  Sept.  17,  1802. 

For  100  days. 

Killed  at  Antietani,  Sept.   17,  1802. 

Killed  August  28,  1802. 

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Nov.     11,    '04 
May    30,    '02 

Mar.    18,    '03 

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Nov.    14,    '05 
.luly     20,     '02 

Nov.    14,     '05 

Au^r.       3.    '01 
Oet.       3,    '02 

July     10,     '05 
July    17,     '05 
July    27,    '63 
Jan.     '22,     '05 

Nov.    11,    '04 
.hme    10,    '05 
Jan.,           '02 
Nov.    23,    '02 

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Vlexander,  F.  M. 

\llen,  Joseph  O. 

\nderson,  John  E. 

Vndcrson,  John  E. 

5achel(lcr,  Arthur  li. 

5ailey,   Emery 

iardsley,  (icorge 

iarsley,   John 

Jeaeh.    William 

Jegley,   John 

Jigclow,  Charles  F. 

iigelow,   (ieorge  L. 

{igelow,  William  W. 

{Unit,  William  H. 

{olton,   Henry   F. 

{ond,  Andrew  S. 

iond,  Andrew  S. 

{radford,  Pelham 

{ridges,  Jacob 

{righani,  Klliot  F. 

{road,  Amos  W. 

{rown,   (ieorge 

{rown,   James 

{rown,  Justus 

Irown,  Justus 

{rown,   William   N. 

{runo,  John 

{rnno,  John 

{ruso,   WUliaiii 

{ulTuni.   ]{en,iaiiiin   W. 

{urns,   William   H. 

'adret,   Andrew 

'aldwell,   John 

'base,  Hanson 

'base,    James    H. 

'base,  William   P. 

'hilds,  Henry  W. 

'hilds    Isaac 

'lark,  George,  alias  Michael  Euan 

'larkston,  Nicholas 

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INDEX. 


PAGE 

Act  of  Incorporation 18 

Anniversary,  One  Hundredth 23 

Beaman,  Major  Ezra,  Sketch  of 5 

Centennial  Ball    .    . .     56 

Centennial  Celebration 65 

Centennial  Committee   4 

Civil  War  Record 157 

Coaching  Parade 67 

Dedication  Ball 137 

Dedication  of  Town  Hall 107 

Fitts,  Reverend  James  H.,  Sketch  of 105 

Gammell,  Warren  E.,  Address  of  Welcome     . .     78 

Goodale,  Leon  A.,  Address  of  Welcome 29 

Goodale,  Leon  A.,  Historical  Address 79 

Goodale,  Warren,  and  others.  Remarks 53 

Graduiites  of  High  School,  A  List  of 151 

Hall,  Dr.  G.  Stanley,  Address 125 

Harris,  Henry  F.,  and  others.  Remarks 136 

Houghton,  Horatio,  Sketch  of 103 

Introduction 3 

Keyes,  Benjamin  F.,  Sketch  of 103 

Moderators  at  Annual  Town  Meetings,  A  List  of 146 

Parker,  Hon.  Herbert,  Address 101 

Plunkett,  Sergeant  Thomas,  Sketch  of 154 

Representatives  to  Legislature,  A  List  of 147 

Robinson,  Reverend  J.  B.,  Historical  Address   116 

Rugg,  Justice  Arthur  P.,  Address 47 

School  Committee,  A  List  of 148 

Selectmen,  A  List  of 139 

Soldiers  in  the  Civil  War,  Names  of     .    158 

Thayer,  Hon.  John  R.,  Address 33 

Thomas,  Robert  B.,  A  Memoir  of 57 

Town  Clerks,  A  List  of 139 

Town  Treasurers,  A  List  of 145 

Votes  of  Town  relating  to  Centennial 22 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTR.A.ITS  PAGE 

Dr.  G.  Stanley  Hall 124 

Hon.  Herbert  Parker 100 

Justice  Arthur  P.  Rugg 48 

Hon.  John  R.  Thayer 32 

Views  taken  at  time  of  Centennial.  July  16.  1908. 

BUILDINGS 

Congregational  Church 76 

Ladies'  Relief  Corps  Hall 98 

Odd  FeUows"  Hall 94 

Town  Hall 108 

COACHING  PARADE 

Banning.  M.  Parker   74 

Cowee,  Miss  Marjorie 70 

Hickey.  T.  Frank  - . . 66 

Logan,  Hon.  James,  and  others 66 

Maples.  The 72 

MLxter.  Miss  Helen  E 74 

Oakdale  Ladies 68 

Rice,  Mrs.  Almira  R.,  and  family 72 

Washburn,  Hon.  Charles  G.,  and  others  66 

West  Boylston  High  School 68 

West  Boylston  Reading  Club 70 

\TEWS  now  partly  or  wholly  obliterated. 

Beaman  Oak.  The 6 

Beaman  Tavern.  The   8 

Beaman  Tavern,  The  Site  of    10 

Beaman  Farm,  View  overlooking  The 14 

Beaman  Cemetery,  The. .     16 

Church.  Baptist.  Stone 118 

Church.  Brick 110 

Church,  on  the  Common   104 

Church,  St.  Anthony's  Catholic . .     114 

Clarendon  Mills.  The 84 

High  School,  The  Old 150 

High  School  to  Brick  Meeting  House 90 

Oakdale,  A  General  View  of 80 

Stripping  the  Intervale 86 

Thomas  Hall    138 

Thomas.  Robert  B. .  The  Home  of 58 

Valley  from  French  Hill 82 

West  Boylston.  .\  General  View  of 28 

West  Boylston  Manufacturing  Co 64 


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